re.fresh.ing

I am taken back by the outpouring of support and care for our family.  To those who have come alongside, lifting us up with prayers and words to strengthen...thank you.  I want you all to know how much your kindness means to us.  Your prayers are being heard!!!  Things are looking better than they did a week ago.  We are so grateful to see His hand giving our boys a calm and confidence, and putting dear souls in their days to look out for them.

We had some others to say THANK YOU to this week.  

To all those who lent a hand (or a tool) in making this nasty house our home:  guys who spent a Saturday in a pile of rubble, wives who let go of their husbands and their own "honey-do lists" for a few hours, people who dropped off a tool to make the job easier, friends who made gluten-free meals for our family in those blurred days of unpacking and no oven, people who loaded and unloaded our stuff, parents and grandparents who have helped in ways I can only hope to do for my kids/grandkids someday, kids who have been just so darn cute (and understanding of all of the above).  

* Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. *

proverbs 11.25

This was our little attempt to "refresh" those who refreshed us, and to say:

Last year we bought our first lavender plant.  After the blossoms were harvested and dried, I wasn't sure what to do.  I stumbled on this youtube clip, a tutorial on making lavender honey.  It was super-easy, a little something special on bread, muffins, scones or in bedtime tea.  It has a pleasant aroma and calming qualities (which who can have enough of? :)  
Lavender is also an antiseptic, natural antibiotic, sedative, detoxifier.  It contains disinfectant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.  It is most commonly used for anxiety, depression, mental exhaustion, insomnia, scrapes and wounds, digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and women's health problems. In addition to this, lavender can be used to treat exhaustion, heat exposure, fevers, aches and pains, over-exertion, jet lag, rashes, sprains, sunburn, sunstroke, bruises and burns.  


After taking on this house, we have needed some lavender honey in our lives ...along with dear friends who keep us laughing :)