Spring Break Road Trip~ March 2016

We just returned home from an early Spring Break road trip.  What a blessing this trip was!  We've dreamed for YEARS of going on a cruise as a family.  This was, in many ways, a dream come true! It was made even more special because we were able to 1) share it with Auntie Penny and 2) we were able to see some extended family in the days before the cruise.  Penny and the kids (and adults!) have voted unanimously to do it again, if at all possible! (and talk Taylor into coming along next time!)

A few highlights (I posted FAR too many on Facebook, you can see more there if you'd like!)

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bake Recipe!

3 cups dry oats (quick oats, old fashioned or gluten free)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (or raisins)

Combine butter, brown sugar and eggs.  Mix well.
Add remaining ingredients, mix and pour in a greased baking dish.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, serve warm (but cold works too!!)

YUM!!!

If I were a "hardcore prepper-type", I'd seriously be stockpiling these two oils (among others!) - because if I ever ran out of them, it really WOULD be the end of the world!!

A few nights ago, I had the start of a sore throat.  Usually one or two sprays of my homemade "Thieves Spray" stops it dead in its tracks.  On this occasion though, I noticed that my trusty Thieves spray didn't work its usual magic.  And, I didn't just have "slightly scratchy and a little bit sore" going on in the back of my throat.  I had that burning lump of fireball down low in your throat, when you try to swallow it away, but it persists . . . the kind that narrows its eyes, clenches its fists and threatens to take you down for several days.  I was actually a little bit worried!  Enter my trusty "heavy hitter" Oregano oil.  I put 4-5 drops in a capsule, with a little bit of coconut oil, swallowed it with some water and went to bed.  In the morning, I was good as new! . . . and in fact, had completely forgotten that I'd ever been concerned.  Yay oils!

Essential oils never cease to amaze me!  Thieves, in particular, has a very fun history.  You can read more about it at my oily website www.yldist.com/lisagrenier.  You can research Oregano oil online or ask me for more information.  I am almost ALWAYS happy to talk about my beloved essential oils, just ask!

Work night at youth group

I am SO incredibly thankful for our church!  If you read our Christmas letter, you know that our sweet little church closed at the end of 2015 and we approached 2016 needing to find a new church home.  We are SO thankful for the nearly seamless transition we have enjoyed moving over to New Covenant Church in Larkspur.  It is literally a stone's throw from our house, but we have never actually attended church there in all these years.  I'm sure I will be doing another post at some point in time about it, but for now, suffice it to say that we are utterly grateful for this body of believers.

Some pix from a recent 'work night' at youth group and an action shot of the youth worship 'band' practicing ~ they are awesome! I think they had as much fun with the "ghost busters style" vacuum than they did anything! Silly boys!