I had quite the interest in Essential oils for awhile but hadn’t jumped on board. Some friends had suggested using Essential oils from a store but I didn’t feel confident in knowing what to choose. I had been invited to classes where there was a fee but it didn’t feel right at the time. I was not feeling well, feeling pushed away from others and knew I wanted something healthy in my life. At that same time Renee had posted about an Essential oils class she was hosting. I decided I had to go! And I’m so glad I did! She broke down why Young Living was the best, how to use them and what each oil did. I loved everything I heard! I was hooked! I had extra money in my pocket and bought my starter kit that day!! Those same oils I use everyday still! My favorite is lavender and I love to use it to help support my emotions! It’s made a huge difference! Young Living has made a huge impact on my life I forward to learning more and sharing as I go!
Tag: Encouragement
Event Tonight
Kathy’s Essential Life Story
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Continue to Encourage One Another
As I take my journey with returning to college, dealing with my health issues, getting back to myself since my SCAD heart attack these words mean so much to me. I found them on a support group for SCAD heart attack patients. We all need encouragement no matter who we are and what the situation is. I do seek God in troubling times and in not any troubling times as well.
Received this book from E-bay to get ready for the HESI. Lord knows when that will be and how with this situation we are having with us right now. I look forward to the many and do I mean many purchases coming this week I can share with you!
Kathy
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Summer Adventures
I have been busy enjoying life to its fullest this summer! Whether you have money or not there are many ways you can do this. To me it begins with you inside your soul knowing who you are. Learn to love yourself. Work on what you do not like, if it truly needs fixing, see a therapist if some help is needed and/or speak with your primary physician if need be. Why not live life as it is short and you never know what can happen tomorrow.
Here is what has been blessed upon me and mine. I have had the chance to go back to college and in the nursing field. I start August 22nd for nursing school. I am so happy to finally be able to finish this dream in my life! I had to take care of some mental health issues along with physical health issues. I am stable on both ends. I follow up with my physicians and worked hard to get where I am. I even began to work again, part time in assisted living. It is just right for me. I even was blessed with a car from my pastor. What are the chances?
I prayed God you put it in front of me. You help me with my anxiety, depression, Bipolar, and PTSD. He did. I prayed help me with my Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease and I am stable with 20% kidney usuage. Scary at that amount but great compared to where I started nearly two years when diagnosed. I may not be in “perfect” health but what is the picture of health today? I feel that I am doing fabulous!
Don’t get me wrong that I still get fatigued, I am w working two nights a week and one evening shift. I do have a chronic illness with no cure and it takes a toll on me but I am managing it and found a way too.
So I decided to live life by doing what I like, get back to working in the health care field. It is where I was at my best. It is what I know and I enjoy the people.
I also decided to live life by getting outside by walking downtown in Galena. Attending church frequently, hard on the night shifts I work the night before. But I’m managing as I can listen to the service online.
David and I have been going to the lake this summer enjoying the boat, the pool, swimming and relaxing. 
Look for ways to enjoy your blessings in life. Find ways to do things without the cost so high. This can be year-round. The pictures below are from where we go in Apple River, Illinois called Apple Canyon Lake.
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encouragement from others
Photo by Helena Lopes on Pexels.com
We all need a little encouragement every now and again in this life. That is one of the reasons I got hooked up with WordPress to begin with. Thanks to a fellow blogger I was just reminded of that yesterday. His blog was one of the first ones I followed on here two years ago and I would check him out. http://makeitultrapsychology.wordpress.com
I want to encourage each of you out there to check out other posts and comment on them. We can learn from others everyday. It is a great idea to get to know the others in our blogging community. Plus what a great way to learn from one another. What a great way for us to support one another. #bloggingfundamentals
I have been taking the helpful classes for blogging through WordPress’s own https://dailypost.wordpress.com/blogging-university/.
I do suggest not taking “too” many courses at once. Actually pay attention to “how” many days each course is. Whether you are a new blogger or have been blogging for 2 years plus I feel you can learn something new or go back to your roots to spark something up. I have learned that from the many bloggers I read about here on WP.
During these courses I actually took notes to remind me of things for my knowledge of blogging. Hey they are right when they say “knowledge is power”. I also made folders in my email for each course so I could go back and if need be reiterate what I learned through the course. To be honest anything I have found about blogging has a folder labeled so I can check it out. I have downloaded some e-books in the past 10 days I plan to read and evaluate the information I want to take from it.
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com
I am your basic girly girl who loves things with color and glitter. I love all kinds of pens, pencils, markers and colored pencils. I love notebooks and planners. I love organization. I love to color code things. Yes I am considered weird but a good weird and I am fine with that. But the way I do that helps me feel comfortable and organized. My brain gets too messy with all the information so I need to shelf things and put them in the correct order. For example, when I went back to college I used the same color pen for a class so I knew the time. I continued this for all appts. I continued this in my planner as well as my cell phone. Now I have an iPhone and have not used any new plan since last summer. I am having a hard time to keep up but I am working on a new plan. These things make me feel safe.
Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com
I have posted about the blogging courses in the past called Under Construction. Please check it out as I am always finding ways to learn and hear from others. I have also learned a few things from another blogger as well recently, go and give her a look https://jennyinneverland.com
One thing I would love to add to my blog would be a guest blogger. Right now I cannot afford to hire anyone but I think when first starting out someone should just help out and do it pro bono basically. We all need to start somewhere. As I learn more and continue on there is so much more you can do with y our blog and it is so amazing! I say, let us all shoot for the stars! Have a great week everyone and get out there and have an adventure! Kathy
Photo by 嘉淇 徐 on Pexels.com
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Coffeeless
This morning that is exactly how I feel, coffeeless. I just made this word up. I was in the kitchen getting a cup of coffee. I was walking out of my kitchen with an empty juice glass. Yep I needed to wake up a bit more this morning. 
I really needed my coffee this morning. Well, technically need and want are two different words. And I am a true coffee girl! We all have our special likes and needs in this world.
Right now David and I are doing these “diets”. I just do not care for the way that word had been used in my lowly 49 years of life. “A diet” should be something we need to eat in order to nurish our bodies. We need to nurish our bodies to survive and live in a healthy way. I looked up the word diet on Google. This is what I found:
Well, there it is the restrictions, etc. But sometimes with your health you need to do that. The word diet in this search is a noun and verb. I find this interesting. I would love to hear from my readers as what you think about the word “diet”. I am up to learning something new everyday.
My diet consists of a renal diet. I do this because I have Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease. I also choose to do this because:
1. Nephrologist just says just watch your sodium intake and protein.
2. I personally feel I need to do more for my CKD with my research.
3. I spoke with my PCP, he is an internist and 5 minutes from me, he is pleased I want to take action.
4. Let’s do this meal plan for you and to help you have quality of life for your stage in CKD.
So I feel that since I have had this disease (15 months now) I speak up even more for myself. I have no problem following the guidelines for a renal diet. I just really want my coffee to wake me up!!
Oh I know with health issues we may need to eat less of something, etc. I want a good quality of life with my family, no doubt. Things can be enjoyed with moderation, I get that. But I feel we should also enjoy our lives.
So no more making me coffeeless and on a tangent of nothingness again. Hope you all have a great day! Please tell me what you think about diets and if there something you need or want to get started for your day. I do have more things to get my day going but I was stomped with this coffeeless feeling. I hope you are all smiling and laughing! 🤪🤪
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Suicide, what we need to understand
Many people think they can comprehend suicide. Their thoughts on someone committing suicide is they are weak and losers, etc. I do not care for those words. To be honest any human being is close enough to be close enough. You may not know what each individual is really going through.
The human being that commits suicide does not always look super happy or rather sad. The day/night before they could go out for a good time and you would never have seen it coming. It kills your heart when you lose your parent, sibling, child, and we could go on. You wonder how I know?
Let me tell you my story, not many people know what I struggle with. But I want to help you.
I have thought suicide for your one true love was special, like Romeo and Juliet. I was in school in the 80’s when we were reading about that. I doubt we did much discussion on a suicide pact. I do hope and that schools of any sect/organization discuss this. There needs to be an open door policy.
My high years were not the best for me. I was made fun of, I really did not have many friends come over, hang out with, or even have a date, nonetheless. One day I went to the guidance and counseling office at school. I mentioned how I am so tired of life, how depressed I feel, that I felt like death. They called my parents and I was completely embarrassed. I feel that could have been dealt with better judgement. They knew my background and history. I told them if I could I would swallow Tylenol to die but I would have to chew each one since I could not swallow them back then. I felt like a joke to my parents. And that’s exactly what I became in my family.
I have had years of depression and anxiety. I have thought about suicide numerous times. I even called my pharmacy to ask, “how many pills is too many to take?” It took him a minute to say, “whoa, wait a minute here.” I would say, “I am just in so much pain and not sure what else to do.” To be honest I was at that time in too much pain but had no clue how to fix it.
I am 47 years old and still struggle daily with different issues in my life. Not just physical and health issues. But my strongest enemy is my mental illness. I have BiPolar Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD. I think that covers it.I finaly have the right doctor’s in order for me. It is an answered prayer. I knew something was wrong and I could not quite figure some things out. I knew about the depression/anxiety and PTSD. But so glad it all makes sense now. After 47 years of life I know why I have ups and downs. I know why I have not been that stable at times. Oh I am not saying this is an excuse to work but it makes sense of my years past. I finally started medication in December 2016. It is going to take time but worth it in this journey. And yes there are moments I feel like I should not be on this earth. I have been told, “why don’t you go and kill yourself”. That’s the most ignorant thing to tell a person ever.Even today I felt like is this ALL worth it here on earth? No one really talks to me. I have no family for holidays, family please move on with me.
I know I have made many mistakes in my 47 years of life. but the last 5 years of life I have struggled daily if it was worth it. I prayed and prayed to rid this enemy out of my life. And not it will never be perfect. I see my therapist weekly and if need be twice a week. I see a psychiatrist for my meds once a month, my primary doctor once a month, and I have a case manager come over to my house weekly to see how I am doing. I do not like leaving my home. It is really hard for me. It really is. But these are things to help me.
I hope you have someone you can talk to. Whether it be a service at your job, school, church, therapist, friend, etc. But there might be that time you need to speak with a professional.
conta
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How Important Are Things To Us?
In life we are given “stuff”, know as “things”. They are a “keepsake”. But there can come a time, “Do they really matter in the end?” NO! You can’t take them with you to Heaven. People may put a special memento in your casket at the end but that’s going to be in the ground. I know that sounds morbid. I put a pink sponge in my mom’s casket. She was a big cleaner and I thought it was funny but yet sentimental of who she was in the bitter end. Yes, I do freak out that stuff in the ground but let’s not go there, okay? So back to my thinking about “things/stuff”. I was taking a bath this morning and God put this upon my heart so I knew I had to write this.
There was a time in my life I became homeless. I was homeless for my bad choice in dating the wrong man, a con artist who I let control me. At this time I lived at my parent’s home. It was barely 5 months since my mom’s passing. Even with the truth in front of me I could not see that this con artist did what he did and continued to do so. He destroyed my family. In a way I allowed it by my own ignorance of depression and non-focus. I put him first over God and my two teenage daughters. So dad said, “get out”. Of course the conversation was discussed differently but that is a round about way. So that night I became a homeless person on this earth. I always had “everything” when you look back at this. But I never had independence of myself. So I began a new life with the clothes on my back and a backpack filled with what I could take with me. Your choices at a time like that are very limited and so unsure of what the heck to do.
As time passed in my life I went on to do better things and a place to live. Actually I have moved twice. But I do miss some “keepsakes”. They were ornaments my kids made, or gifts that were made for me, or just special mementos from my mom. When I left the shelter I was hoping to receive my items back. However, it did not happen the way I expected it. It was a slice in the heart really. I was homeless and in a homeless shelter for about 15 months of my life, not bad considering what others go through. But I honestly hoped for was my special afghan my Great Aunt made me for my 18th Birthday back. It was silly things like that. A lamp I purchased, etc. It was okay at first, then the good ‘ole Holiday’s came through. That was rather hard, lonely, and feeling ashamed.
Time went on and the Christmas before my dad passed I knew something was not right. I received a Christmas present, pajamas. It had been tradition to get these in our family on Christmas Eve. It was the first ‘branch’ my dad gave me. I accepted of course. He passed away February of 2015. This is the step dad I called my dad all those years with my mom after my sister and I were found. I still have those jammie bottoms. I sometimes wore them in the summer months when I felt a need to feel closer to my family. I cherish them but there will be a time I have to let go. It is part of life. I actually thought that after he passed I would have been able to say goodbye but was not. I was not even able to go back to my home for so many years in Geneva with my kids and collect my belongings but was not allowed too. It hurt so much without seeing the things that meant so much to me to remind me of my mom, my dad, my kids growing up. Now with my grandma just passing away suddenly in August I have no pictures. My heart has been sad. Yes, in the past of my sins but also sadness that includes others sinful behavior of hate and claiming they love Christ as well. I needed to forgive them but I will have memories. I am not saying it is hard, trust me I struggle. I feel your pain and anguish. But know this, we are not alone in this world and those “things/stuff’ cannot come with us to Heaven.
Coming up I will share about “Homelessness”. It is not what everyone thinks it is. The media generally reports the crimes but not those who are struggling to make ends meet. Until next time, I will keep you all in my prayers as we “STAY STRONG”! I have been told whether it was with a job, a paper to write, or just anything in general, “LESS IS MORE!” It makes sense when we are not taking it all to Heaven in the end.
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Keep Holding On….
I believe in that you can “keep holding on” to those fabulous memories of your loved ones, and to use the words as encouragement as well. There are many statements and words that we can define in many aspects.
First let’s look at the “GOOD MEMORIES”! Always remember those, whether that person is on this earth anymore or not. I have a friend who lost her daughter to suicide. I love how she cherishes her beautiful daughter. She is representing the life her daughter had even though the last days were so dark for her baby girl. It is very unimaginable for any parent to lose a child, whether it be a serious illness, sudden accident, or suicide. We as a community of friends and family need to respect and love them. They are going through something unbelievable. God needs them to be lifted, not brought down. So “hold on” to your beautiful memories and NEVER apologize for loving your child.
We all need to “hold on” to something. We are feeling distraught and in pain. We need to encourage one another and help build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Inspiration is the best we can do!!
Many of you may think of Avril Lavinge’s song, “Keep Holding On”. I have enjoyed that song as well. So think of “HOLDING ON” to what is best for you to grow in life, not bring you down. Ignore the negative comments. Know in your heart of hearts what is right.
The Adventures of Kathy 