Finding Happy With the Flu & Thieves Oil *recipe

On day one of our Influenza Vacation I felt so horrible I knew it was going to be a long couple of days. I had no idea a week later I would still be having trouble breathing and so weak I need to take a break after doing dishes. It has wiped me out. What a messy sickness. With care though our bodies have all fought off (or are fighting off) the sickness and there is finally a light at the end of this tissue laden tunnel. 

A few things made me so very happy whilst stuck in a constant state of I'm-not-sure-I-will-ever-be-better and tylenol haze. We must find the happy in the bad, right?

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.~ Philippians 4:11

My super amazing husband, took over my role and was a fantastic mom stand in. He took care of the sickies and even had time to go grocery shopping. He kept the healthy kids occupied and did some schooling one day! I was literally out of commission and he stepped up and fully acted on the "in sickness" part of our vows. What a guy! Happy.

My sister gave me a beautiful Teapot that she found out thrifting. Lots of Tea has already been made in this beautiful teapot. Happy.

Isn't it pretty?

Princess Peony shared this week of sickness with me and we spent all kinds of time watching stacks of movies and blowing our noses. We also read. And read. And read. Happy.

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Princess Peony and I found instant relief for the constant sinus pressure and sore neck with homemade heat packs. Happy.

Heat Packs.

Thieves oil! Makes. Me. Happy. Well it smells divine and when you are sick it soothes coughs if rubbed on your chest and neck. It helped with my sore muscles and joints by massaging it onto affected areas. We also used it in a spray bottle mixed with water as a way to disinfect the air, bedding, doorknobs, tables, and pretty much everything. It made a lovely bath oil and seemed to clear my sinuses briefly after the bath. 

I did not have any bought however and so whipped up my own. I used the recipe from The Hippy Homemaker. I modified it for a much smaller amount. So you can buy it for $35 a bottle or make your own. :)

Thieves Oil

25 drops clove essential oil
22 drops cinnamon essential oil
9 drops eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops rosemary essential oil

This is a hot oil. It is recommended that you mix 1drop of thieves to 4 drops of a carrier oil.

Have you ever used thieves oil? Share your story!

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

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Domestic Randomness~ Friday Fascinations

An Influenza Vacation

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Okay so not really a vacation.
More like a forced rest.
An unplanned break.
A rude visitor that just won't leave and interrupts your daily life.

Even though we have taken precautions and washed our hands. We have taken our vitamins and calcium with Vitamin D. I made Sick Tea at the moment we felt a tickle. I managed to fend off numerous sniffles and coughs with our Cinnamon and Honey Remedy. Yet, this was too much.

Since today I can finally sit for more than 30 seconds without coughing (my abs have been getting one heck of a workout) I have decided to let you in on my new 'stay healthy' research which while lying prone on the blow up mattress in my living room I was able to scavenge from my I pod.

1. De-stress. Duh. There is no wonder that I always get sick with some awful something in January. Now it could be that the germs are just more free flying in all these cramped quarters. It could be that we up here are in the shortest amount of daylight during December and January and that takes its toll. But, more that likely it is the stress of the just finished holidays that throw me for an unhealthy balance of stress. Mental note to place this verse in my bathroom mirror and read it three times a day:

²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ~Matthew 6:27-29

2. Eat Decent. Well we know this. However, do we know that all those splurges in November and December can truly affect more that our waistline? If we are eating less then healthy our bodies will in turn be less then healthy and have a much harder time fighting off potential sickness. Keep the veggies coming! (source)

3. Sleep. Go to bed. Turn off the T.V. and the laptop and go to bed. Get the rest your body is needing and it will fight off those flu strains. Or you can always spend a week in bed with the flu... (source)

4. Thieves Oil. There is a fair amount of research being done to support the use of Thieves Oil in the prevention of numerous maladies and also in the treatment of such illness. We used it to help sterilize the house and bedding as well as on sore muscles and noses. I made my own. This site has all sorts of great ideas and other resources. This stuff is amazing.


So now that I know what to do, I shall go and rub some thieves oil on Princess Petunia and feed Sir Bean and apple. Prince Ray is already in bed with a vaporizer and some eucalyptus oil. My goal: Sleep.

What do you use for staying healthy over the influenza season?


Always Blessed, (even after 7 days of the flu)
Gretchen :)

Possibly Linking With:
Cornerstone Confessions

Raising Arrows 

Modest Mom Blog 

Deep Roots At Home

The Better Mom Monday Link Up

Frugally Sustainable  
Far Above Rubies  
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home  
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home 

Wisdom Wednesdays and Link Up
No Ordinary Blog Hop
Frontline Moms Friday Fun
The Welcoming House