Thursday, July 11, 2013

A Kids Update!




 
Soooo..................
 It's been a while since I have really posted anything that was more on the personal side of things so I thought I would give you an up date on my kid's going on's...


Max
 
Max is now 15 months and has started walking! We are so thankful! We were worried that because he had a few seizures when he was younger that it might effect things like him walking and such. He is also talking up a storm!
He can say- Mom, Dad, hi, bye, no, more, eat, want, mine, Mimi, welche ( German for What), Love, liebe (German for Love), and I know that there are several more but for the life of me I can't think of them! He wears a 2T and we will call him Monster LOL He will always be our Monster Max.






Morgan
 
More is 7 now and will be headed into the 1st grade in the fall. He wants to play football again this year but he wants to play tackle although I see nothing wrong with tackle I'm not sure if he has enough size on him yet. Guess we will have to wait and see.  The school year went Perfect for him, he had an AMAZING teacher and never got a single grade below a 98%, we are so proud of him!


 
 
Melessa
 
Melessa has turned into quite the young lady, she currently has hot pink hair ( I dyed it for her) and is a social butterfly. I am starting to think the phone might be growing out of her head and that's why she is always on it! HAHA She did well in school this past year too, she had mostly A/B's and excelled in Science. In the fall she will be starting the 6th grade at the Middle School. I can't believe that she is so big already! I can't wait to see how she grows as a person this year. She is such a big help to me and her brothers. She  makes us so proud.   
 
 
 
 So that's my update LOL I know it's not much but there hasn't been anything exciting to write again in all honesty! It's just the same old same old here which is just fine with me! 
 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Healing Hearts Book Review

Healing Hearts

Written by

Hisashi Nikaidoh. MD

A Book Review

 
 
 
I have to start out this review by saying that I saw a request from the publisher for blog reviewers and I requested this book. Not because I have some weird twisted want to be broken hearted, sad, to cry, or to feel pain. But because I wanted to know How ones deals with the loss of what we know to be so precious... I have never ( thank the good Lord above) ever felt the loss of a child I have given birth to.
 
 I could not even start to understand the pain of losing a child that I have touched, held, kissed, loved on, or just simply looked in to the eyes of. I have lost a baby in pregnancy though and as horrid and heart breaking as that event in my life was, it still is not the reason I wanted to read this book.
 
 I wanted to read this book to understand just even a glimpse into what a friend is currently going through. They ( I will not be naming names of this family) lost their youngest son to childhood cancer. This little boy was an amazing bright star in all of the lives he came in contact with ~ his smiles, his dimples, even after he got sick and was going though treatments his adorably cute bald head. Everything about him just seemed to be a shining light of joy. And he had his treatments at Children's Hospital of Dallas, where much of this book takes place.
 
 
 
 

 
 
I was happily shocked at the "this is how I was and this is how I am" honestly of the book. This book is made up of the several different stories and encounters of several Moms whom have each lost a child, as well as Dr. Nikaidoh who so tragically lost his son.
 
 I have to admit that my copy of this book has become very tear stained as I made my way though it. This entire book is based from a Christian point of view and healing ( there are just NOT enough books like this is the world!) I love how boldly this book talks about each person's faith - having it and at times losing it,  and then finding it again.
 
There were several stories that really touched me, they all touched me don't get me wrong, but there are always those few that really stand out in your mind and in your heart.
 
 
One of those stories is chapter 6, Shanna Shield-Thomas. I don't honestly know why her story hit my heart so hard. It might be because I read through it at about 1 am, and reading her words of sorrow about her crying on the kitchen floor just stuck with me as I realized how quite my own home was at that moment. My own precious children tucked and sleeping in their beds.  Reading how she talks about Ethan, how "boy" he was reminded me of my own boys, who are currently 7 years and 15 months. Or maybe it's that I felt the need to pray, not just for her but for each person in this book after reading her story. Her story- one of joys, sorrow, pain, loss,  finding love again, and healing.
 
Honestly all the stories are this way, I cried and mourned over each one,  each child, each life lost, for each parent and the horrible loss they must feel. But by the end of each chapter my heart had been healed as well.
She puts it well talking about pain and grieving she says:
 
" But there's no roadmap, no shortcut, no tried-and-true prescription to get through grief whether your young or old. You just do the best you can."
 
Those words ring true not just for the loss of a child for but for any real loss in ones life. And although I wish I could say I haven't lost anyone in life, Oh to be oh so lucky; I am not. My Mother passed away in 2000 when she was 35 years old, I was 18 and my sister was 12. Even as a child losing a parent those words ring true.  You really just try to do the best you can, each day is a new day to try and it's up to you just how hard your 'try' is. And know that every step of the way the Lord our God is right there with you.
 
I couldn't agree more with this simple but, true review:
"Healing Hearts sends a clear message about a plan beyond human understanding, i.e. the Sovereignty of God. --C. Everett Koop, MD, ScD, Former Surgeon General of the United States"
 
I have a new found heart for the parents that have had to lay a child to rest. I see things through new eyes and a new heart thanks to this book. I pray that through my new knowledge I will be able to ' better walk' with those I know that have lost a child.
 
I am honored to be able to review this book, and learn how so many have been put whole again when in a time like that a parent thinks nothing will ever be whole again.
 
This is no doubt a 5 star rated book, 2 thumbs up in every way.
And to make matters ever more wonderful a portion of the proceeds from this book are donated to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals { just click to go right to their site}
 
I highly recommend that you go out and get your copy and read it. I promise you  your going to cry so have some tissues but your going to heal as well....
 
 
Want more information? Here are the links to their pages:
 
 
*Please take a moment to go like their Facebook page and follow their Twitter account!
 
Publisher:
Ambassador International
ISBN:
978-1-62020-128-2
 
*pictures taken from The Healing Hearts wed site

Friday, July 5, 2013

Egyptian Geranium Facial Scrub review

Egyptian Geranium Facial Scrub

           
 
by Pangea Organics

                       

 

 

      I was so excited when I found this in my mail box! I love trying new things out. I was a little disappointed in the size that I got ( just a small sample size) It's hard for me to review something on such a small amount.
 
 But here is what I think about it:
 
 I am a mother of 3 kids, 31 years old and my skin is starting to take "that turn" UGH.... 
 
The smell of this face wash was nice, not to over powering and not so little that it just smelt like mud. I normally have a 3-4 step process that I do every night ( or try to do every night) with Olay face wash. I like the feel of this scrub, it wasn't to much for my skin, I have very sensitive skin and a lot of times things make it worse more so then ever making it better.
 
This face wash didn't dry my skin out or make it patchy looking. After reading it and following what it said to do, it left my face feeling smooth, clean, and soft. I didn't have super tight feeling skin after, which for me is a big plus. I learned a while ago that tight skin feeling on your face is a bad thing- it means all the good 'stuff' for your skin has been stripped out along with all the bad. It can then make your face over-produce oils and such in order to try to rebalance it's self back out. If your anything like me, your skin will then break out like your in High School all over again! Not something that I as a 30 year old wants to go though!
 
Over all this facial scrub did just as it promised, it scrubbed all the days gunk and ick away, all the while leaving my face, smooth, soft, and clean feeling.
 
If this was a face scrub that I could find in a store ( Target, Wal-Mart etc... ) I would be buying it for not just me but also for my 12 year old. I do feel like if you used this for daily use or even a once/ twice a week as an extra scrub that it would help and maybe even work wonders on your skin depending on how 'bad' your skin is to start with.
 
Here is what the site says about the face wash:
 
 
About:
 
   Fresh face. This dual-action scrub polishes the skin's surface without disrupting its delicate balance. Never harsh, drying or stripping, this Scrub is gentle enough for daily use. Enzymatic exfoliants work to dissolve expired skin cells while mechanical exfoliants gently free them up to be rinsed away. Raw, ground-up adzuki bean has been used in skin preparations for centuries in Japan. It provides gentle, manual exfoliation while its astringent properties help clarify and tighten pores. Both cranberry seed and geranium oil offer skin-brightening attributes, which assist with reducing hyper-pigmentation (dark spots due to sun exposure and past acne breakouts). The ingredients in this Scrub nourish the skin with antioxidants that scavenge free-radicals and optimize cellular function, resulting in more radiant skin and increased cell turnover.
 

What's in it:

ADZUKI BEAN
exfoliating
clarifying
cleansing
CRANBERRY
antioxidant
nutrient-rich
brightening
 
 
 
 
Certified to NSF/ANSI 305 by QAI
Gluten-Free / Vegan
Award Winning Product
 
 
 
 You can buy it here
  See more at: Swaggable
*I received this product free of charge to review through Swaggable

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