What I have recently learned about our Creator and His creation:

In the beginning God SPOKE all things into existence. Gods voice gave off a frequency, giving all things form and life. He created Adam and Eve differently. He formed them by hand and breathed life into them. Every living thing has a measurable frequency because we are all made by the same creator. When that frequency is high in our bodies, we are healthy, but when the frequency is low, we are susceptible to disease, sickness and cancer. God's created plant life actually raises the frequencies in our body and keeps us healthy. Essential oils from God's plant life have been clinically proven to raise those frequencies. Essential oils are used in the Bible for healing and anointing people. They were burned as a sweet smelling aroma through out the temple. There is something about essential oils that God loved! That is why He calls our prayers a sweet smelling aroma, pleasing to Him!

God gave us everything we need to stay healthy and strong here on this beautiful earth He created for us to live and thrive in. He gave us life giving plants, fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, berries, spices. He made our bodies to run smoothly and repair themselves if we take care of them. As I heard last night, you wouldn't take your fancy sports car and fill it up with muddy water instead of gasoline. So, why would we take our bodies and fill it full of junk food? Our bodies are an AMAZING machine, FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made by the one and only GOD! They can thrive and live and do incredible things if we give it what it needs! What do our bodies need? Plant-based foods! New studies show that our diets should be made up of 90% plant based foods (vegetables, grains, reads, nuts, fruits, spices, greens)! Impossible, you might think. But consider the alternative! The life expectancy rate for our children is actually shorter than our own! Why? Because we put boxed foods, fast foods, candy, sugars and all other kinds on non-food items in their bodies and not any real, God-made foods! The average child eats 5 pounds of sugar a week! 5 pounds! That is just unacceptable!

What can we do? Can we reverse the effects of poor diet? YES! God created our bodies to recover once we start putting the right things into it. If you can not get 90% plant based foods into your picky little eater, than there is a product that can help! And it has been clinically proven to do so! It is called Juice Plus. Juice plus is a whole food supplement, not a vitamin. Americans are not vitamin deficient, we are nutrient deficient! Everything we eat from cereal to breads are fortified. Vitamins are not the answer, but real powerful antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables are! And juice plus can fill in the gaps! In just 4 months on juice plus, clinical studies confirm "a healthier immune system, improved cardiovascular health, reduced oxidative stress, reduced DNA damage, and healthier skin and gums!

Eat your veggies, fruits, legumes, beans, seeds, spices and grains! Supplement your diet with Juice Plus, use Essential Oils in prayer, and you are on your way to a healthier you.  I'd be happy to talk to you about any questions you might have!  email me kevinlaura519@gmail.com

Laura

http://lauramcfarland.juiceplus.com

http://lauramcfarland.towergarden.com 
www.youngliving.org 

The Lord really is AMAZING!

All this time I have been dreading the summer. I am not a hot weather kind of girl because I don't like to feel sweaty and sticky. I like to feel (and smell) clean...which is not that easy to do in the long hot summer months here. In fact every summer I long to move somewhere cooler. I have always had a "the grass is always greener on the other side" mentality, and I have always hated feeling that way. I yearn to be content in all things. The Lord has certainly been working on me with this over the years.

This evening we went out to the beach. There was a lovely breeze, and I watched my precious children, all 5 of them, play and laugh and swim and run. It seemed to me in that moment the most peaceful moment. I felt real joy, the kind that only comes from God. I felt blessed and complete and content. The clouds bellowed above me, the sounds of the ocean surrounded me and my sweet Caleb talked and talked to me with his sweet little smile and gestures. Claira fearlessly body surfed in the waves, Isaac poured buckets of water over his head and belly laughed, Kaylee and Koi body boarded, and my Love, still my Knight in Shining Armor after all these years told me I was beautiful. I am blessed.

 So, school is out, I have a busy, crazy, hectic home filled with kids who all want to be entertained at the same time, who all fight for attention and drive me up the wall. But I love them, and I love this life that the Lord has blessed me with, and I love my husband- the most wonderful blessing the Lord has ever given me. I love our little house, I love living in Charleston, heat and all. I love living by the beach.  And I love my Lord and Savior Jesus most of all.

  

In this place...for His glory

I learned from Thumper long ago that "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say anythin' at all"
It has been many moons since I have been able to say something nice about my current situation, and even longer since I've had any time to blog.

Things have been very hard. The transition has been hard, the bonding has been hard, life has been hard in every way. I often ask the Lord what in the world He was thinking, and why in the world did He chose us for this seemingly impossible task of raising two troubled older children from another country. Why? Why? When all I wanted was ONE BABY! Oh, how easy life would be if the Lord had just given us another baby! After all, both Kaylee and Isaac are a full time job by themselves, they max me out and I still have our other three kids to care for as well.  How can I be spread so thin and still do a good job of raising all 5 of them?

The answer is, I CAN NOT! I can't do it on my own. I cant stay sane on my own. I can't get through one day on my own. When I am weak, then He is strong. Why is He keeping me in this place of utter dependence? This thorn in my flesh is meant to stay there, to refine me. To make me more like Him.  Is there any better place to be?

When I watched the Lord move mountains to bring these two kids into our family, I thought that since it was so obviously the Lord's will that they be ours, that everything would be happy, perfect, joyful and complete. I was shocked, even horrified when things were absolutely in no way what I expected. I was thrown for a loop and started doubting that this really was the Lord's will.
Oh, how I have struggled. Alone.


Still here in this place of dependence, in this place of brokenness, humility, crying out, and wrapped in His love. Thankful that my kids will live and thrive and know the Savior. A vessel for His Glory.

Give thanks in ALL things.

Trunk or Treat

East Cooper Baptist had their Trunk or Treat last night, so we headed on over to fill the kids with free candy.  Isaac and Kaylee were delighted, and quite possibly thought it was the best thing that has ever happened to them.

Kaylee's Adoption Announcement

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Love getting $10 off my next order with Shutterfly. :) 

Finally a Family of Seven!

My week in Ethiopia went well. I got to pick up Kaylee on the first day. She came walking up and gave me a big hug. She was anxious to show me her yearbook from the school she was attending. She is so sweet. She is very loving and friendly. By the second day we discovered that she is extremely hyper active She is like the energizer bunny, she keeps going and going! I do cherish the time I got to have with only her. :) The travel part of it was hard, but God was merciful. My sister, Sarah, came with me who provided lots of comic relief. I am thankful for her companionship on the trip.

On the way home from the airport, Kaylee finally fell asleep in the van. She was not going to wake up, so Kevin put her in her bed. At about 4:00 in the morning, I was woken up to her crying. The poor thing had woken up not having any idea where she was.  Kevin and I both went in the room to comfort her and I laid down with her until she fell back asleep.

At 6:30 am the whole house was awake and Kaylee ran around the house with eyes the size of saucers and a huge grin on her face. I think she likes her new home. All 5 of the kids have been playing non stop ever since. They are all getting along very well. We are so happy to finally be complete!

Kaylee with Aunt "Zebra" (Sarah) lol! 

First Family Photo of All 7 of us. :) 

Africa, Here I Come!

Commence Survival Mode in 36 hours.