Turning 30 with the Best

       So this year is the big 3-0 for my friends and I. I am the youngest out of the four us. We have been friends since elementary school. thats a long time to be friends. We have all been thru alot together. there have been ups and downs but we have all always found our way back to each other. 

i think as women, we need girl friends to talk about our problems with. Ones who will understand us and who knows you well enough to call u out when you are wrong, help you up when you are down. Really be happy and excited with you when things are going great. what is great about me having 4 of them is you can learn so many things from them when you do come to them with a problem. they are a great support system when times are tough. they also each provide their own advice rich with their experiences they have gone thru in life. makes it great to get all different views on things. 

Since we all turn 30 this year, i decided that instead of doing 4 separate parties we should all celebrate together with a pool gather and out little ones. With our busy schedules, its hard for us all to get together and the kids had never met before. It was the best getting to all be in the same place at once. So Happy 30 to my 3 bffs! love you guys! 

Got Milk?

      So as you know if you have read my past blog, I breast feed my little one, but I also have to do alot of pumping. Since my milk came in, I have froze alot of milk. I am blessed to have a deep freezer half full of milk. I never thought Id ever make that much milk. Now my little man has started eating foods, which i will be doing another post about later in how i do n all, i have a bit more extra milk. So what to do with all the extra milk?? These are the things i have found to do:

Milk Bath 



My little guy loves playing in the tub. I add some milk to his bath sometimes when he has some dry skin. The fat from the milk really helps make his skin nice and smooth. 

Cracked Nipples 

Put a little breast milk on your nipples and let it dry. I have used this method before. it does help to soothe. also if you dont have any lubricant when pumping use some breast milk. it helps in a pinch. 

Breastmilk Soap

Not sure if you’ve done some research about making soap with lye, which can be dangerous because lye burns when mixed with breast milk, so somehow to me it’s highly technical that I don’t want to try. As a person who wants to do things efficiently and easily, here’s an easy DIY recipe to make breast milk soap without lye.

The basic recipe is that you melt the soap (0.5lb) in a microwave at high the first 30 sec, and then 5-10 sec incremental until it’s all melted (careful not to have bubbles created when it gets too hot, the bubbles will not disappear and will make the soap look ugly). Once you’ve got it melted, mix in 1 cup of room temperature breast milk. Stir until it’s well mixed, and pour the liquid into any shape of containers that you wish to make your soap. (I’ve used empty plastic yogurt cups). Put the cups into your fridge and waited a couple hours, and that’s it! You’ll have beautiful breast milk soaps that you can store and use.

You can purchase those melt and pour soap base from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M6BCJK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B019M6BCJK&linkCode=as2&tag=first0ce-20&linkId=23c989ee535abff759cb53fcb52ecab7

Breast milk Lotion Bar

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces breast milk
• 3 ounces coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• A few drops of vitamin e oil

Directions:

1. Melt coconut oil and beeswax (I use a metal bowl and do a double boiler type thing)
2. Add in vitamin e oil
3. Slowly pour in breast milk and whisk aggressively.  This is important.  Pour a little at a time and really whisk it in
4. Pour into a silicone mold and let firm up in the freezer.  After firm, store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
5. To use, pull a bar out and warm in your hands.  The warmth will melt a little bit of it and then you can apply where desired.  You can also take a bar and rub directly onto skin.  The heat from your skin will melt a little bit of the bar.

The recipe originally said to pour it into a container, which I did.  However, because half of the recipe is coconut oil, it was so rock hard in the refrigerator I couldn't get any out unless I dug a spoon in.  This is a great use for milk that you don't want to dump out!  Save it for some lotion bars.

Breast Milk Lotion

Ingredients

• 100 ml grape seed oil
• 1 tbsp beeswax
• Few drops of Vitamin E oil
• 100 ml fresh breast milk, at room temperature
• Optional: a couple of drops of an essential oil for scent

Method

With the microwave set on Low, heat the oil and beeswax together until the beeswax has just melted – this will take about 3 minutes. Add the Vitamin E oil.

Slowly pour in the breast milk while whisking the oil mixture rapidly. The mixture should emulsify and thicken.

Leave to cool before using. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

A Letter to a Friend

I guess I take for granted that i was raised in church and i think everyone knows the basic things i know about God and Jesus, but not all religion is taught the same. I was recently reminded of that when I had to attend my husband's mom's church so they could see the baby. It was a Baptist Church and like I expected, it was alot of Hell, Fire and Brimstone..I grew up in a no denominational church. its more conservative I guess you would say. we sang songs of worship, had bible study classes, and of course preaching that is more like teaching which i like. I like to learn by someone teaching me the Bible as you would like in a classroom.

I am not saying that Baptist Churches are bad in anyway, but I feel like they really like to portray God as like an Angry God that will smite you with his glorious WRATH, instead of a God of Love who loves us sooo much that he sent his only son thru all this pain and suffering, to die a sinners death so that we thru Christ can be saved and come to live with him in heaven.  John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


1 John 4:9-11 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another

To me, when we sin it makes God sad that we chose the wrong thing to do, not furious with us and ready to punish us with his mighty hand. What is great about God's love is when we do sin, he doesnt leave us, but he is wait by ready for you to run back to his loving arms.

Revelation 3:2020 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Why does God love us? He made us and just like a Father loves his children, he loves us and loves us unconditionally. That is lucky for us because we could never earn his love and nor do we deserve it, but he loves us no matter what we do or how many times we mess up.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved

1 John 4:18-19  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

19 We love because he first loved us.

 Does Jesus love us? Of course he does. If he didnt love us he would have never went thru with the crucifixion. No one made him do it. Just like the old song says "He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy the world and set him free", but he went thru all that pain, suffering, heartache and betrayal because he knew that was the only  way we could be saved and go to live in heaven with him when we die. I mean, wow that is, to me amazing that someone cares about me that they would go thru all that just so i can be saved. Knowing and really realizing that, why wouldnt you want to live right for him? He gave so much for you and me. Jesus loves us very much.  More than we could ever imagine. I wish i could put into words how thankful I am for his love but I never could. I wish everyone could see and feel the love he has shown us and really get it. People get so wrapped up in this world and forget, we are only here for a season. We are just passing thru. We need to wake people up and show them the way. This world is so broken and full of sin. It is not meant for us to stay here forever. We have a place waiting for us that is more beautiful and more glorious than this Earth. Sadly for the sinner, this world is as good as it gets, but it doesnt have to be for you. To become a Christian you have to do 4 things.
-Admit you are a sinner
-Realize Christ died for you
- Repent of your sins
-Receive Christ into your life and be baptized

If you would like Christ to come into your life, pray this Pray with me. "Lord, I know I'm a sinner and I know you are the savior who died on the cross for me. I turn from my sin and ask you to come into my life to be my savior. I choose to follow you from this moment forward."

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me.


If you Prayed that Pray go to this website. it has some helpful guidance for new Christians. Also i suggest getting their Start Bible. its designed for new Christian to help them study. 

http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/new-believer/start-to-follow.html

Peace From God

I have been back to work now for 2 weeks and i was ok leaving Rowyn. i felt like since i had them change my schedule at work that getting home at 2:30 isnt so bad. Today for some reason i have been so sad to not be home with him. i dont know why today. Maybe its because Rowyn has to go have his 4 month shots today when i get off or maybe its just setting in me leaving him....its was so nice to tell him good morning when he wakes up and see him smile so big seeing me when he first wakes up. it just melts your heart. i loved starting my day out seeing him smile. 

Being down today and wanting some peace and comfort, i looked up some verses to help me get thru the day. John 14:27 popped up. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. A great verse, and i was passing it alone to my friends but i wrote John 14:12. 

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

I was like thats not the verse, but i was curious to see what it said. so i read from 14:12 to 14:27 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 

17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 

20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 

24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 

26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

Just reading those words today lifted me up to think that God is always with me and whatever i ask of him he will do. We are so blessed to have a savior that loves us and will take away our pain, sorrow, anxiety, depression,or whatever you are feeling if you have faith and follow his commandments. Worrying is hard not to do. i try not to worry. i know it does no good, but sometimes i get bogged down by the things of the world and forget that there is no reason to worry. God will take care of everything just like he always does. 

Matthew 6:25-27  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I hope this helps someone that is down, depressed or worrying over things they cannot do anything about. Just bring it to the Lord and let hem carry your burden. 

Breastfeeding: The Struggle Is Real

So like most every mom-to-be you probably have in you mind dreams of how breastfeeding your child will be. they will hand the baby to you and it will latch on naturally. you will bond and it will all be so magical and great. Maybe some people have that kind of breastfeeding story. Mine was sure not like that. I put alot of blood sweat and tears into making this golden liquid for my child. Its probably one of the hardest things i have ever done in my life. the hours of pumping, very sore sometimes bleeding nipples.....but its all worth it.

I had a c-section because my baby was way too big. with a c- section it takes longer for your milk to come in, (like 4 days after having a c-section is normal) i kept putting the baby on to feed even when there was nothing for him to eat, trying to coax my milk to come it..... by day 4 i did finally have some milk start coming out, but not enough to feed the baby.

It really makes you think, "why cant my body do this? its suppose to be natural. women have done this for years." i was lucky and took the advice of a friend to look into a lactation consultant. let me tell you, they are not all the same. The ones at the hospital, knew nothing compared to the wonderful consultant at my baby's peds office. she was sooo knowledgeable. she helped with positioning of the baby, foods to eat, vitamins to take and the most important thing, which really helped me, pumping. i was using the the pump my insurance gave me. for some women who have an abundance of milk, that would work fine. People like me who have little milk and its hard to get out you need something stronger and more efficient. At that time every drop counted. i was spending hour sometimes pumping and massaging trying to get the milk out with insurance pump and would only get like 2 oz...so discouraging. i switched to the hospital grade pump and it was such a difference. i was getting more out and it was taking less time.

(free pump from my insurance) im sure its great for some people but not for me



(hospital grade pump) works sooo much better

Even with the hospital pump, i still wasnt making enough milk to feed my child. it was like i was doing everything yet still just wasnt enough. so the lactation consultant told me to start pumping every 2 hour all day, so i did. i had a little notepad that i kept up with the times and amount i got every pumping. Around the clock i was pumping. it was like a full time job and then letting the baby eat in between. i felt like a milking cow and really wanted to give up. i would pray "Please Lord help me to make milk for this child" all the time. i didnt feel like i was seeing the results i wanted and i was really stressing over the whole thing, tired of not really being able to do anything because i would have to pump soon.  finally i got to a point where i was like im just gotta stop worry and feed the baby formula after i breast feed that way he is at least getting some breast milk and i am not so worn out for the lack of sleep.

The baby started having acid reflux issue and would want to suckle just to sooth his little tummy so he would be on me all the time. well i started to see a larger increase in my milk. so i just started to let him suckle whenever and i went from making only 2 oz every 3 hours to 4 oz every 2 in a half hours. i believe him breastfeeding like that really kicked my hormones into gear. now i still have to pump, but its because i have more milk than he can drink at one time. i truly, at the beginning, would have never thought i would every have enough to say that. what a blessing. Now i thank God all the time for every drop my body makes. Truly an answered prayer.

Breastfeeding was such a hard road, but it is so rewarding to know that even after birth you can still nourish you child with your own body.

Small Town Living

First Blog Post. How exciting and a bit intimidating...

So Hello. I'm Stephanie. Christian, Wife, Mom, Sister, Daughter. I live in a small town which i love dearly.  There are just so many special things about small towns. The closeness of the community, the safety and comfort of low crime, love that everyone knows everyone. And there is really a church around every corner. Nothing like a good Christian community. Growing up here was the best. Hiking with friends, camping n the woods, fishing, big bon fires riding the river, playing n the creeks....i could go on and on. This little town has some of the most beautiful places.

The Appalachian Trail runs thru our town so we get many hikers. there are also trails to waterfalls that are breath taking, trails that lead up to the tops of mountains with the most beautiful view and make you feel like you are on top of the world, swimming hole that are so cold but feel so good in the summer heat. there is even a old hidden ghost town in these mountains called  Lost Cove.





we also do alot of festivals in the south. Strawberry Festival, Blue Plum Festival, Outdoor Festival Our little town is famous for its Apple Festival. People come from all over to see all the art, handmade goodies and of course buy apples. I personally come for the delicious fried foods.





My little family is the best. I have a wonderful husband. i dont know any guy that would treat a girl so well. He is definitely my rock. i dont know what i would do without him. We just recently had a baby and he helps out so much. keeping the house clean, watching the baby so i can rest, always picking up the slack where a sleep deprived mama bear cant.

Our little baby is getting ready to be 4 months old on June 6th. i still don't know how time has passed so fast. it really feels like he was just born the other day. it amazes me how everyday its like he learns something new or is doing something new for the first time. i couldn't imagine life without this little guy <3.

i recently went back to work. its hard to leave your little one, especially when they are so small...
Man i thought when i was home with them there wasnt enough time to get things done during the day, but now that i have added work its like we are always playing catch up with house work and things.....especially sleep!  Use to, being up most of the night wasnt a big deal cause i would be able to sleep in that morning and catch a few Zzz sometime n the afternoon. Since i breast feed i have to do most of the feed, So its hard for my husband to help out at night. what we have started doing now is i will pump then go to sleep early (i go into work @ 6) then he will stay up til he is ready for bed and watch the baby and that gives me a couple hours of uninterrupted sleep so thats nice. We are figuring it out lol

so thats my intro to me and my lil family.