Lotion-making and other things

 Well, for us, I think this is pretty soon to be writing another post! Dani suggested that I write one today, so I did. Leah and I finished making (not long ago!) a batch of lotion. I decided to post the recipe. Tell me what you think if you try it!

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
3-5 drops lavender oil

Put all ingredients into a bowl. Mix on high for 6-8 minutes. Store at room temperature. It does not need any refrigeration.

It was really easy, fun and simple.

 Here, Leah took a turn holding the mixer

 The lotion-makers... Sisters are a blessing ♥

We have been so blessed already this year - the Lord is doing great things for us, which we are so grateful for. I would like to share a couple instances of how He is working.

The other day, mom, Dani, Amanda, and I went to town. While we were there, it was one of my goals to find some snow boots for the winter. We ended up looking at a few places, and either the price wasn't right, or it just wasn't what we were looking for. We didn't find any boots. The next day, the children came around to where Amanda and I were with a box saying, "What are your girls' shoe sizes?" It ended up that my aunt had gotten some boots, but they didn't fit her, so she gave them to us! They fit me well... it was such a blessing. It is a small thing - but the Lord provides!

Also - God has shown Himself faithful concerning dad's job... He is amazing! Dad has been able to minister to some people at work, which has been so wonderful. And some details for our trip (to Arizona - we're leaving in 9 days!!) have fallen into place - extra mercies from God. We are looking forward to what God is going to do!

 The other day, I decided to go outside and photograph the cold winter morning. It was too pretty to pass up.

A theme over the past year has been strong. Give thanks. Give thanks. Give thanks. On Sunday, someone mentioned that it is in the hardest times of discouragement, the trials, when it seems hardest to, that we need to turn around and give thanks. I know that we've all heard this many times, but we cannot only give thanks when things are good. We need to learn to be thankful in everything. Why not give thanks? We are commanded to. We also need to remember For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. ~ 1 Samuel 15:23 We need to remember that all sins are as horrible to God as witchcraft and idolatry are. There are NO "not that bad" or "lesser" sins.

 We had such amazing icicles... it was really pretty.

 It was also spoken about on Sunday what a double-minded person would look like.

• They are takers instead of givers
• Rebellious
• Unstable
• Confused
• Full of immorality
• They speak evil
• Judge others
• Focus on the temporal instead of the eternal
• Know what they should do and don't do it

The double-minded are unstable in all their ways... let's not be double-minded!

 Don't pay attention to the overall picture - the point is to see the moon... :D

 The other day, all of my family went over to my grandparent's house to celebrate mom's birthday. We had a fun evening, listening to both of them reminisce of days past.

 More winter pictures... this is kind of a traditional picture we take each year. But we were all marveling at the sparkles on the trees. It was so pretty to just look outside and see everything sparkle.

God blesses those who are humble, and who have faith.

May YOU be blessed today!

~Emily