Managing the managing

We have all been through tough times, and we have all been asked. We have been asked, we have been told we have been preached to. I hear it too. All the time. Its a question with sincere intentions, yet a question that seems to do no justice to the hard work we do, to the tough times we push through, to the challenges we face and to the successes we achieve.
"How are you managing while your husband is away?" "How are you going to manage while he is away?" "Are you managing on your own?" Manage, manage, manage.
I used to answer just as despairingly as I was asked because I truly believed that all I could possibly do while my husband was away in camp, and more recently during his initial military chaplain training, was to just manage. "Yes, we are managing. We will manage and get through it."
Until one day it hit me. I am not JUST managing. I am NOT going to manage through the months alone while he is far away. I will not simply manage during his eventual long term deployments. I do not manage at all, and I will not manage in the future.
I used to manage. I used to hold my breath from the minute he left until the minute he got back, counting down the days until his return, coping, dealing, despairing. I would grumble about being left alone with more responsibilities I could juggle and I would let the stress of taking care of the kids by myself work its way deep into my bones. I would grow resentful, exhausted and firm in my convictions that he will never go away again.
And then I learned.Gd put each and every one of us exactly where are supposed to be and doing precisely what we are meant to be doing. I was wasting my time and talents surviving and getting by. I needed to step up, accomplish, achieve, take charge of the way I felt and what I did about those feelings. I didn't want to languish and tire every time my husband went away. And I knew that his absence during the summer months was just a taste and a preparation of what was yet to come. I knew I had to step up. And so as I watched my husband leave on his adventures and new journeys full of determination and enthusiasm, and I grabbed hold of some that and I didn't let go. Slowly things started to change. Signs of life and color were to be found around the house. I discovered that it was in fact possible to smile when my husband wasn't there. It was ok to enjoy myself and find a way to inspire and be inspired, to succeed and to grow, to rely on myself and others, to take care of everything and everyone, even while he was away. I learned it was OK to not get everything done perfectly, and I learned that most problems have fixable solutions that I could figure out on my own.
While he was away being formally trained in the United States Army, I was also being trained, although quite informally and in a very different, incomparable way. I was being instructed by my intuition, determination and faith, while he was being instructed by his officers and sergeants, both of us drilled, exercised and tasked to the bone, spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. He came back after three long months tougher, stronger and more determined than before. And I came away from this experience knowing myself better than I ever have and knowing that I CAN. 
So no, I do not manage anymore. I do my best to thrive and strive, I find my groove and I try to stick to it. I paint, I write and I go to bed early. And when people ask how I do it while he's gone, my answer is that I just do what I need to, with a lot of added color. No, I do not want him to be away, at all, ever. The fact is though, that he does go away often, and will be doing so for many years to come Gd willing. So what's it gonna be? Will I sink or swim?

The traveling medicine cabinet

Reflections and musings on the night before a journey...
I just packed up a first aid kit for my husband to take on his trip. I tried to be slim with my pickings so I wouldn't overload him on unnecessary herbs and remedies. I tried not to overlap on remedies that can do the same job but I also tried to include things thhat can serve multiple purposes. I tried to limit it but I kept getting carried away as I looked through my boxes and bags and bottles and jars. There's just too many good things to choose from.
So here goes...
Bentonite clay food grade and cosmetic
Goldneseal powder
Propolis powder
SA (sodium ascorbate)
Charcoal
Lavendar and tea tree oils
Throat spray
Arnica pellets and oil
Bidens tincture
Dried herbs of licorice, horsetail and nettles
Bag of dried ingredients to make elderberry syrup

Raw milk, bones for broth and raw honey can be gotten there Gd willing.
Maybe I should swap the charcoal out for the comfrey/calendula salve.
What about mag flakes for sore muscles?
What if I Just send some of everything that I have?
If I could only choose two items what would they be?
As I sink into bed with my propolis stained hands and iodine soaked teeth, I think that maybe I shouldn't send anything at all and hold strong to my emunah, no bags no jars no labels. Just pure faithg and belief that all will be ok. After all, emunah is the best remedy isn't it?

But wait...what about the rosemary?!

To let go, to hold on.

So here I am. Sitting on a muddy floor in the woods. It's not the typical place I would come and write or my usual go to to clear my head. But I'm here. I wanted to write and express all the thoughts and ideas I had as I was pulling out of Miami and I didn't have the time to do it. Our next stop was North Carolina and my husband dragged me out of my element, into the woods to sit and write. I can't help but think of all the things we need to do before our cross country road trip and how I left the house a huge mess. My husband says "just listen to the woods". And so for now, while I sit here surrounded by leaves, trees and fresh air, I shall try to just listen.

I have gotten really good at letting go. Letting go of bottled up emotions, difficult relationships, things I can't control about my surroundings and about other people. I have let go of lots and lots of junk and clutter and even sentimental junk that I have saved for many years. I have learned to let go of what I know and allow myself to fall into the unknown, into new un chartered territory. I have learned to let myself open up to new surroundings and to stumble down rocky paths full of uncertainties and difficulties. I have learned to toughen up and to let go of my emotional spiritual and physical comforts, to focus on the smaller and bigger picture. To open my eyes to letting go. Letting the mess just be. Letting the discomforts and challenges just be. Letting the kids just be. And most importantly, letting myself just be. I have learned to let go of myself in ways I never knew I could. I have learned that is indeed possible to push beyond my self imposed limitations, push past the difficulties that keep me tied down. I learned that I could learn many new things and that I can inspire and teach others. I have learned about my inner strengths and how strong they are indeed.
I have let go of needing to feel strong all the time and I have let go of needing to feel weak.
Yes, letting go is a skill we can all learn and live by. Its refreshing, releasing and invigorating.
Yet, there is also something about holding on. Holding on to those bits of sentimentality from childhood. Bits of memories, good and not good, that have made us who we are. Holding on to dreams and wishes and goals that may or may not ever come to be. Holding on to ourselves, believing in and nurturing our strengths and weakness, recognizing when to say no, accepting our own natural limitations. Holding on is a powerful tool to guide us on our journeys.

As we were cleaning out our storage closet before leaving Miami I stood there, sending almost everything to the garbage. I love throwing things out. I have been accused of chucking things that still had good use, but hey, I love to declutter. Haven't found a way of letting go of that one yet.
So as our storage closet was emptying out my husband picked up one last small box and as he peeked inside, he laughed as he saw a bunch of gold sparkley kitchen tiles that I bought 6.5 years ago in the hope of decorating my new kitchen when we bought our house. That never happened and the tiles went down to the basement. When we moved from NY three years later I insisted the tiles come with us because maybe, just maybe I would use them in my new house in Miami. That never happened either. And now, as we were leaving Miami, I insisted again that those tiles would be coming with us. Coming with us to where exactly I do not know yet.  But they would be coming. Now, and always, Because maybe just one day, I will use those sparkly gold tiles in a new kitchen. And if I never do get to use them, they will just be there to remind me of that dream I once had. Not just the desire of building a new kitchen, but the desire to tap into myself to help me grasp all the possibilities and opportunities I have to grow, all the challenges I have to face and all the smooth and bumpy roads I will have to walk down. I will forge ahead. I will let go and I will hold on.

And oh, he's right. Just listen to the woods. They have a lot to tell.

The power within

Its just too common. I hear it everywhere. We all fall for it at times. Its hard not to give in to the thoughts, the pressure, and the push we give ourselves to fit perfectly into the mold our society has deemed "normal".
But what if we didn't. What if we didn't care so much, didn't push ourselves so much to be like our sisters, friends, neighbors? What if we stopped, breathed, looked deeply into ourselves and decided just to be ourselves? Picture how much inspiration, color and energy there would be all around us if we were just.... ourselves. Imagine how free we would feel without the constant pressure to fit in.
You and I were created so wisely, with so much talent and creativity, so much potential to inspire, to change and to grow. Do we even know what our talents are? Has anyone looked at themselves lately and said "I love the fact that I have 6 month old baby and I still haven't gone back to work", or "I still have that baby weight even though my sisters lost it all so quickly", or "I don't need to get my baby on that rigid schedule like my friend does because I do what works for me!"  or "I don't need to start my own business in order to be successful!"?
Women, its time! The world is waiting. All we need to do is just to be. Be yourself. Breathe yourself, look into yourself, get to know yourself and most importantly, accept yourself for your strengths and for your limitations. You are a unique you and you don't need to be like anyone else. Follow your intuition, its a powerful tool we have been given by GD in order to help guide the steps and paths of those around us and of course, to help us lead our own journeys. The power is within us, each and every day, with every choice we make, every thought we think, every time we hold ourselves back and every time we break free.
 You know yourself best. Its time to let it shine...

Work for the day or week or month or year, or for the lifetime:
How do I compare myself to others? How would I like to fit in more? Is this a realistic desire for this time in my life? What do I enjoy doing and what am I good at? How can I focus more on the things that make me feel good, instead of focusing on being more like others?

Super nutritious bone broth

Good afternoon!
I wanted to give you some simple bone broth recipes and to tell you how incredibly nutritious and mineral rich a bone broth can be.

Making bone broth is basically taking beef or chicken bones, chicken carcass, or fish bones and simmering them for a minimum of 24 hours. Here's the recipe I use and here's how you do it...

Take 3-4 pounds of marrow bones
3-4 pounds of knuckle
some beefy bones
any chicken bones you have saved from previous meals (sounds weird I know, but saving bones from chicken dinners can add a lot to a broth!)
A whole unpeeled onion or two
Some rosemary sprigs
Note: when making bone broth it is really important to use bones from pasture raised, grass fed animals because the cooking process suck all the nutrients out of the bones, and you only want pure and clean broth.

Place the bones in a croc pot or large pot of good quality, like Le Creuset, or other similar companies.
Pour three table spoons of (unfiltered if possible) apple cider vinegar over the bones and press them down into the pot. Fill the pot with enough filtered water to just cover the bones and let it sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes.

Add whichever vegetables and spices you like, turn the croc pot to low and let it cook for a minimum of 24 hours. After your batch is finished it should be rich and thick and smell divine. You can pour your broth into storage jars, leave the bones in the pot and start all over again to make a second batch of rich bone broth.
If you are using a stove top pot, make sure that the broth never reaches a boil. It should always stay at just barely a simmer. If you notice the bones are sticking out of the water, add a little more until they are covered.

The benefits of adding bone broth to your diet are numerous and abundant. It has been used for centuries to cure all types of ailments like arthritis, digestive disorders, infectious diseases, mental illness and tooth decay. Because it is rich and gelatinous, it helps restore collagen in the skin and bones, and cartilage and helps keep bones and teeth strong.
The largest store of minerals in bone broth is calcium phosphate which is a combination of calcium and phosphorous, which are both essential minerals for bones and teeth. No wonder broth has been used over and over for people suffering from tooth decay. The calcium extracted from the bones into the broth is easily absorbed and available for use by the body.
Broth also contains four of the most essential amino acids, which helps keep our gut healthy, improves digestion and immunity, they keep our blood and fat healthy, they help us detoxify, and guess what, they help with "anit-aging".

Now lets talk about the marrow. Marrow is the creamy "filling" of the bones. It is highly nutritious and helps support brain growth and development. There are also small amounts of iron in the marrow which can help greatly in providing us with energy, especially those of use who tend to feel depleted from pregnancies and nursing babies. For these women, bone broth is a great solution for restoring and replenishing those lost, vital nutrients.

So yes, this really is a miracle food, and it has a great taste as well. You can eat the broth straight up, or you can filter out the veggies first, strain the fat, or even take small amounts and add it to your soups or dressings.
However you consume it, it's super nutritious.
If you want to know more, please email me and I can fill you in!
Happy brothing.
Mishi

Blackstrap molassas anyone?

Hey there Dear Readers,
Have any of you ever tried blackstrap molasses, or even heard of it? I was chatting with my friend today and she asked me about it. I had completely forgotten that I had this treasure of a food sitting in my fridge. I hadn't used it in a while because the last time I tried to, my kid's didn't seem to like it all that much, and I sadly forgot about it.
Well, as soon as  I got home after talking with my friend I grabbed that little bottle out and mixed some into my mid morning peanut butter and apples snack.
Blackstrap molasses is made from sugar cane. The sugar cane is crushed and boiled three times until a very thick, dark syrup is formed. So why am I telling you all of this?  Because blackstrap molasses is a nutritional powerhouse! Since molasses comes from sugar cane, which grows very deep into the soil, it absorbs and contains a broad range many nutrients which are usually lacking in top soil.  It's a great source of iron, calcium and magnesium. The great thing about this mineral combination is that the body needs magnesium (and other vitamins and minerals) in order to properly absorb calcium! Blackstrap molasses also has vitamin B6 (and some other B vitamins), which is a "brain" vitamin: it helps calm the brain and maintain the nervous system. Then there is also selenium which is a trace mineral and an anti-oxidant, manganese, copper and potassium, all essential minerals. Blackstrap molasses has a very robust, bittersweet flavor. It has the lowest amount of sugar than other sweeteners and it's the most nutritious.
Because of it's high nutritional content, blackstrap molasses is considered to be a health food and has many health benefits that go along with it's use. To find out more, you can always email me or post your question on my facebook page: The Natural Path: Nourishing through food, art and soul.
Its best to buy unsulfured blackstrap molassas from organic sugar, if possible. I buy mine from wholesome sweeteners.
Try some drizzled on your muffin, in your oatmeal, mix some into your peanut butter or smoothie, or even stir it up in a good stir fry! I will be trying again tonight with my kids, and this time I will explain to them it's amazing health benefits and I am almost sure they will each try some, Gd willing.
I'll let you all know how it goes, iyh.
Have a happy, sweet day.

Our Letters

I Wanted to share something beautiful that I have been learning about lately: The Alef Bet.
The Hebrew letters of the Aleph Bet are powerful, energetic forms that G-d uses to create the world each and every moment. Every letter has its own deep meaning and energy that gives us personal strength, direction and guidance. My letter is Mem. Understanding the Mem has given me much inspiration and guidance through the ups and downs of life. To gain some understanding of your life and yourself, look into your letter and try to use a creative outlet to express your letter's powers. At home, we like to paint, a lot. Here is some of our "letter" art work.