"We were created to experience, interpret, and savor the world 

through our senses - our ability to 

smell, taste, hear, touch, see and intuit."

Sarah quoted Diane Ackerman.  

"Although we are sentient beings with the capability

'to perceive the world with all its gushing beauty and terror, 

right on our pulses,'

most of us journey in a dull trance, 

asleep...to everything about us.

In order for us to awake 

and 'to begin to understand 

the gorgeous fever that is consciousness,

we must try to understand the senses.'

...

Ask Spirit to awaken your awareness to the 

sacredness of your sensory perceptions." 

I never liked wearing glasses, and so I just went without.

Recently I realized that my vision is so much worse than it used to be, and that I'd been looking at a blurry world.

I just got contacts, and I've been loving seeing ever since.

I was struck still by the beauty of the sky tonight. 

I've made time to stop and smell the roses...literally. 

And my food.

And my kids hair (like right after a bath).

I still try not to smell dirty diapers, that's just gross.

Touch. Glorious touch. 

A little hand in my hand, little hands gripping my face tightly, little lips kissing my cheek, a dog nose nuzzling my hand, Robbie holding me tight, the feeling of my fingers on the piano keys...

Sound.

Waking up to kids laughing and saying "Good morning!" while the birds start to sing and the wind makes music with the wind chimes. 

Taste.

I'm still working on that. And so is Riley. 

She more inhales her food, I try to savor it.

What are some of your favorite senses? 

Your favorite sensory perceptions?

Have you even noticed?

***

Gratitude Journal

***

1) Yard sale finds. Every year, twice a year, our community has a yard sale. I limit myself to those two a year, because I always find things and that means spending money, and gosh darn it we're trying to save and we don't really NEED anything. I've loved yard sales ever since I was a kid. Nana would take us every time we spent the weekend and we would pick a new toy, we thought it was the greatest treat ever. Today I stocked up on clothes for Jacob for the summer and possibly next. He constantly runs out of them because he hides them or wears them all in one day and then I get behind on the wash. I also found out how important it is to get to know your neighbors, I got a lot of stuff for free and one neighbor has agreed to sell me super cheap her boy's clothes as he grows. I got at least 25 items of clothing for $20... Besides that a few other knick knacks, like a baseball glove for Riley so now all three kids have gloves, Chase found nerf guns, a frame to start our family tree wall art, some decorations, a new frisbee etc etc. It was a lot of fun.

2) Grandparents. My mother in law came with us to vintage days, and it was so nice to have some extra help, and Robbie's dad helped him almost finish the wall. Good family is hard to come by.

3) Vintage Days!!! Since my kids were 3 and under everything was free. Sure it was getting warm, sure I forgot sunblock, the lines were getting long so we only got to do everything once...It took about an hour to do a petting zoo, a reptile exhibit, and three bounce houses...and eat dippin dots for the first time. It was nice to see the kids have so much fun, and at so little cost.

I would have gotten a picture of Chase too, but as I was helping Riley out, he came barreling down the slide. Apparently, he booked it up the ladder and down the slide...my camera and I never stood a chance.

4) Pretty smelling natural soap.

5) We reached our 3 month savings goal. What?! Thank you Dave Ramsey and your 7 baby steps. Now we can FINALLY move onto steps 4-7!!!!!

I'm so excited. 

April 21st - Aromatherapy

Sarah became a "convert 

to the simple pleasure and power of scent 

to heal [her] body, mind, and spirit 

to enhance [her] moods and relieve stress...

Aromatherapy- the ancient therapeutic art

of blending essential oils or extracts distilled from aromatic 

flowers, plants, herbs, and fruit for medicinal purposes..."

Some of her favorites, and mine, are

lavender - relaxing

basil - stimulating

rosemary - memory

peppermint - clarity and sharpness

sage - tonic for stress

Scents are "pleasing and inspiriting"

How does it work?

"Our sense of smell is our primordial link to our brains. 

When we inhale a scent, neurotransmitters in our brains 

trigger the production of biochemical secretions 

that affect our moods, feelings, and emotions.

When an aromatic essential oil permeates our skin 

through the bath or a massage, the oil penetrates the epidermis, stimulates our sophisticated lymph duct system, 

and enters the bloodstream, 

eventually delivering well-being to our frazzled minds."

I've been loving DoTERRA, and some of my favorites are 

Citrus Bliss

Breathe

On Guard

Serenity

I also love Scentsy.

My favorite scents are 

A Wink & A Smile

Bonfire Beach

Honeymoon Hideaway

Sedona Sunset

These sometimes give me a headache...but DoTerra never does.

However you get the scents in the air, I hope you give it a try.

What are your favorite scents?

***

Gratitude Journal

***

1) Having nothing to do today, so just doing what I wanted. I finished that baby blanket finally, and the kids and I watched a lot of animal stuff.

2) Good family. My cousin just came over because she wanted to talk. And then that turned into girls night and getting ready for a prom. 

Aren't they so gorgeous!

Looking closely at the hair I did I could have done a better job, 

but it was really pretty and so much fun to do.

3) Family time.

Chase had a bucket on his head, and then decided to rush me.

4) Sitting out in the sun

5) Your show coming back on, and pizza

April 20th - A Bath

"There must be quite a few things a hot bath won't cure, 

but I don't know many of them."

-Sylvia Plath 

"Every woman should be aware that there is a significant difference 

between bathing and taking a bath."

Let me tell you, bathing is not all that much fun. 

Just take it from my three littles...

It's not even very nice to bathe, you're sitting in a pool of your own dirt...gross. 

But taking a bath? 

That's different.

"I believe in the rejuvenating power of hydropathy 

as a positive adjunct to psychotherapy."

Again, let me tell you, 

since I do suffer from depression and anxiety, 

that baths are part of my medicine. 

If I don't take one at least every two weeks I freak out. 

Literally.

When we moved that was the one thing I would not budge on...

I needed a tub in the master bathroom.

"Do not underestimate the blessings of a bath.

It can calm your mind, 

relax your tired, tense body, 

and soothe your stressed spirit.

It can help you drift off to the exquisite relief of sleep 

or wake you up and help you greet the day with enthusiasm.

My philosophy in life is very simple:

when in doubt, take a bath."

"I can't think of any sorrow in the world that a hot bath wouldn't help, just a little bit."

-Susan Glaspell 

Here are some bath Do's:

Warm Water

Bath Tray 

(what I'm asking for for Christmas)

Inflatable Pillow 

(it doesn't have to be expensive, I use an inflatable nursing pillow 

that I got for free in a nursing kit and it's amazing. 

I've even seen them at the dollar tree.)

Fluffy White Towels

(another thing I'm saving up for)

Salts, Oils, Bubbles, ext

I love lavender

And this is one of my favorites. It smells amazing and bubbles nicely. I pretty much love everything about The Body Shop. 

Candlelight

Relaxing Music

(it's a really nice station on Pandora)

A Cold Drink - necessity 

A Good Book

A Good Movie

Any other Affordable Luxuries 

Here are some bath Don'ts

Don't have the water too hot (or too cold)

If it's not relaxing, don't do it

If you suffer from anything, 

fidgetiness, anxiety, insomnia, depression, headaches, 

or just "hectic modern living", 

give a bath a try. 

You might be surprised. 

***

Gratitude Journal 

***

1) Help. I had a really bad depression episode this morning. I didn't want to get out of bed, even though Jacob was telling me to wake up and that it was time for food...I got the kids all prayed, and read a verse of scripture with them, and Jacob went and built a train set and the twins laid with me and combed my hair...After about 20 minutes Jacob came in again and told me it was time, and I started crying. I told them to head downstairs and I'd be there in a second. I rolled over and prayed. I cried and I prayed for help. I got my butt out of bed and I got myself downstairs. Jacob asked for pancakes and then changed his mind to yogurt, much easier. Tender mercy number one. I decided to take one thing off my list of things to do today, much easier. Tender mercy number two. I remembered a talk I listened to a few days ago about how service saved this woman's life and helped her through the dark times, and so I called my visiting teachers and told them I loved them and set up appointments. Help number 3. I called my best friend, and she came and spent the entire day with me. Help number 4. I went and finished a service project. Help number 5. I was intensely aware of how much these little things helped me get through today, and I know that God answered my prayer. 

2) One of my best friends. You know how you get tired of being around people, and you just need to be alone? There are only a few people on this Earth that I never get tired of, and she's one of them. We were serious sister wives today, and I'm so grateful for her.

3) Miracle Chicken Casserole. Comfort food is so good, especially when it's easy.

4) A productive day.

5) It's bed time. 

6) Robbie coming home after we've both had a very very long day, and while I'm finishing my blog he says "perfect! I'll use the time to do the dishes to show you that I care and want to do my part." I'm a lucky girl.