I Photoshop'd this picture of one of my daughters.
I'm just learning but pleased with the way it came out.

Spring Sunburn

We went to the beach yesterday and it was beautiful. Although sunny, the wind was pretty strong and so we never felt hot. In fact, once out of the water everyone was pretty cold. My youngest took a break on the blanket while wrapped in a couple towels because he was so chilly. The older three were in the water the whole time. And, since it was so cool, I didn't even think about putting sunblock on everyone. The sunblock just sat in the car while we baked in the sun. It wasn't bad until we got home last night, and then we all had a hard time sleeping. And, of course, this morning we all looked like a bunch of lobsters.

I spent the morning looking up natural helps for sunburn and tried a few, none of which actually worked.

Vinegar-I found a lot of sites suggesting that vinegar, either straight or mixed with water, would take away the burn. I tried it on myself and it did not work at all.

Then there was the cucumber remedy--we all stood around rubbing and holding cucumber slices on our faces, which cooled the skin for a moment, but didn't really help once you removed it.

Then I tried a baking soda paste made with baking soda and water. I initially tried this on myself and at first it seemed to cool my burn so I put it on the kids too. Our faces, shoulders, backs, and arms were coated in a white pastey mask. We were supposed to leave it on until it dried then rinse it off, which we did, but the kids didn't enjoy the rinsing part since it tastes horrible if it gets into your mouth and stings a little if it gets into your eye. Well, afterward, the sunburn pain was still there and the redness didn't seem to fade in the least bit.

I know that the most important thing to do with a burn is to keep it cool so it doesn't continue to burn. And also, I've heard from firemen, never put any cream or oil on any burn since it blocks the heat from escaping as it coats your skin.

So far, I haven't found anything that would actually help draw the heat out so I am going with drinking a lot of water and spritzing with water to keep our skin cool for now. After it cools down we can apply moisturizers to keep it from drying out.

Regarding baking soda; I have used it succesfully as a toothpaste, mixing it with peroxide. And, although it really does taste pretty awful, it does an excellent job and my mouth feels very clean when done. I have also recently starting using it in place of shampoo along with apple cider vinegar as a rinse. This has been the best thing for my hair, not stripping it of all its natural oils, but gently cleansing it and leaving it very shiny and full of body.

I know there are a lot of great uses for baking soda and vinegar, but I think treating sunburn is not one of them.

My New Mantra

"Let go of things, hold onto people."

A Full Belly

I have just realized that one of the most peaceful and satisfying parts of the day for me is in the morning just after everyone has been fed.

I've never felt this before.
I'm new to living in the country.
We have cats, and dogs, a horse, 75 hens, 3 roosters, and a handful of kids.
We've been here for less than a year and I am still adapting.

Upon waking, there is a lot of hustle and bustle and scurrying about within our modest little shack.
Once I get the coffee going, the kids start bumping into one another as they dress, wash, comb their hair, and make their beds. Then its time to feed the animals.

We didn't plan on assigning animals to each of us but it just kind of worked out that way. I greet and feed the horse, my 11yr. old daughter waters and feeds the hens, my 10yr. old girl takes care of the dogs, my 7yr. old son feeds the cats, and my youngest boy rotates, helping wherever he's needed most. After that, we all get into the kitchen to get our breakfast going. When breakfast is finished and everything is all cleaned up, I feel so good. There's a sense of accomplishment and peace knowing that everyone has a full belly and is ready for the rest of the day.

More and more I am loving this part of the day. Which is interesting because I am ordinarily not a morning person. But these chores can be done with minimal talking and this time of conversation-less activity gives me that little bit of waking time which I need before I have to start answering a million questions and giving instructions.

These morning have been good to me.
Thank God for the full belly.

My heart goes out to all of those individuals who are homeless, or penniless, or orphaned and in such great need and don't have the luxury of starting their day with a full belly. They are in my heart and mind and prayers. May those who suffer in this life experience great joy, peace, and happiness in the next life to come.

There is a Night So Dark

there is a night so dark
that there are never shadows

there is a night so dark
it blocks out all the sun

there is a night so dark
that grey appears as white

there is a night so dark
that morning never comes



there is a night so dark
the music heard is crying

there is a night so dark
there's talking but no words

there is a night so dark
the whispers are all screaming

there is a night so dark
your voice is never heard



there is a night so dark
that no one ever sees you

there is a night so dark
you never see again

there is a night so dark
the blind become the sighted

there is a night so dark
it's comfort is it's pain



there is a night so dark
you drink it 'til you're drowning

there is a night so dark
death is your welcome guest

there is a night so dark
it kills you as it holds you

there is a night so dark
it's solitude--your rest



there is a night so dark
life is a distant memory

there is a night so dark
that black is the new light

there is a night so dark
it's chills now soothe and warm you

there is a night so dark
so dark there is a night