Fresh Garlic Salve is an all-time favorite at our house. Although a bit stinky and messy, garlic is known to combat both viruses and bacteria. And, unlike antibiotics, rather than lowering your immune system, it actually improves it! Not only is it inexpensive and fairly easy to make, but it is safe for the whole family–even babies. The key to receiving benefit from it, though, is consistency. Once or twice a day is fine if you are just using it as a preventative, but if you are actually sick, you need to be rubbing it on your chest, back and the soles of your feet at least 4-5 times a day, and as much as every couple of hours. (As such, this is probably best used for children, or adults who are actually at home sick, as the general public might not appreciate the strong garlic odor. Further down in this post is a Super-Duper Tonic that can be used more easily by those who are needing to interact with the general public.) Garlic Salve will easily keep it’s potency for up to 2 weeks if left out on the countertop (which is where you want it if you are using it several times a day), or for much longer in the fridge. It is easy enough to make that I tend to just make a fresh batch when we start noticing that we are fighting something. Here is the recipe:

Garlic Salve
1/3 cup raw coconut oil
8-10 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled
up to 2 Tbs. olive oil (or I really like to use Wheat Germ Oil)

Put the coconut oil and garlic in the food processor and process until it is a fairly smooth paste. Add just enough oil to make it a spreadable consistency.

Another favorite of mine, once you have a cold, is a simple Peppermint/Eucalyptus Rubbing Oil. You rub it on the chest and back, and it instantly helps to clear congestion.

Peppermint/Eucalyptus Rubbing Oil
approximately 2 Tbs. Olive Oil (or any carrier oil of your choice–many people really like apricot kernel oil, but olive oil is much cheaper)
2-3 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
2-3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Store in a dark bottle, and rub on as needed. Note: you can adjust the essential oils up or down, according to your preference. Just be aware that essential oils are very potent, so be especially careful if using with young children. Better to start with less, and add more if you want it.

The final favorite Cold Preventative recipe that I will share from our house is Super-Duper Tonic. This is a bit more work to make, and it does have a strong taste, but we have found it very effective in fighting off colds if we take it faithfully at the first sign that we might be coming down with something. I make it by the half-gallon or gallon jar, which turns out to be about 1-2 quarts once it has been strained off. I then store the tonic in a dark bottle in the fridge, and when we feel like we are fighting something, we start taking 1 Tbs. every hour. Here is the recipe:

Super Duper Tonic
chop equal parts of onion, garlic, fresh horseradish (available at Meijer), fresh ginger root (also available at Meijer) and as much hot pepper (jalapeno or chiles work very well) as you can tolerate–up to equal amounts of everything else, but I usually use much less because it would just be too hot for us otherwise.

Put all ingredients in a glass jar and cover with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (available at health food stores–different than the pastuerized kind you can get at the grocery store). Let set on the countertop for 2-4 weeks, shaking daily. Strain off and store in fridge. If you use a 1/2 gallon jar, you will get about 1 quart of tonic in the end.

It seems many in our day put their trust in doctors and medicine; others put their trust in herbs and “naturalism.” While we are thankful for the wisdom God gives and for the herbs (and doctors, when we truly need them) that He has provided, we believe that true salvation–be it spiritual or physical–is found in Jesus Christ alone. There is no other Name (or “remedy”) under heaven by which we are saved! We do hope, however, that perhaps some of these simple recipes may prove helpful to some.

As a Christian, I can find joy and even delight in the “ordinary” days and tasks. Today I found joy in the strength that God gave me, even at 8 months of pregnancy, to process and can applesauce for my family. It was, to say the least, a bit more “challenging” than normal with my big belly and a very active 19-month-old little boy, but Judah is learning to be a “helper” (just look at the joy on his face in being able to hand me apples!) … and Mommy is learning patience and to look more fully to the Lord for wisdom and strength. So, in the end, we not only had 24 pints and 6 quarts of applesauce, but we also had some sweet (and sticky!) “working-together” time, and Mommy grew in character. What a precious opportunity, and what sound sleep at the day’s end!

Judah finds joy in helping Mommy

The canning “set-up”

Applesauce ready to be put in jars

Applesauce in the canner

The finished product!

This pregnancy has gone much smoother than the last one, and we are thankful to be planning for a home-birth.

What a blessing from God Judah is!

Birth facts:
Born 4/24 at 2:03pm
Weight: 8 pounds 15 ounces
Length: 21.5 inches

He is our miracle baby.

I am so thankful,
Giampaolo

“God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”–Psalm 67:7

God has graciously brought us through to 37 weeks of pregnancy and I am feeling quite large now. The doctor estimates the baby to be somewhere around 6 1/2 lbs. It is such a joy to feel the baby move inside of me and excitement is mounting for everyone as we begin to anticipate the birth of the baby! Yet we desire to wait patienty on the Lord, trusting that He will bring the baby in His perfect time.

Resting in Him,
Jackie

We are closely approaching the delivery time of the new baby due April 16, 2010.

Jackie just recently went in for a prenatal and ultrasound. Due to the early complications, we have had several ultrasounds. Also, the doctor wanted to see the position of the baby and the 4 fibroids that initially had posed a serious hindrance to any hopes of a natural delivery.

First, we found out that the baby is positioned perfectly with head down “ready to go” for the big day. Second, we were elated to discover that only 1 of the 4 fibroids could be located. Yes, our God is awesome! He showed His power early on in the pregnancy by moving the fibroids out of the way, now He has either moved them “out of sight” or completely re-moved 3 out of the 4. We know that God does move mountains and wants us to pray and seek His face.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God can and still does move mountains. There are many more mountains that He is willing and able to move! Will you surrender to His conditions, humble youself, turn from all sin and allow Him to work His mighty deeds in your life?

–Paolo

–Paolo

I have been experiencing quite a bit of pain and discomfort from the growing fibroids, and I have had to slow down considerably from my normal routines. It’s amazing how hard it is to slow down sometimes! The days can be slow and painful, but I thank God for each day that He gives us with this little one growing inside of my womb. Unless two of the fibroids move, I have been told that a c-section will be required. Fibroids are very unpredictable, but we know that with God nothing is impossible. We are looking to and waiting upon Him for deliverance.

We are blessed that our younger sister Ruth has started coming once a week to help with cleaning and other responsibilities that I cannot physically do at this time.

–Jackie

–Paolo