The Problem

However, one of my comments during the day gave me reason to pause. I stated I wanted to share how oils have changed my life, which immediately caused an almost audible pause in my conversation. Why am I willing to share about oils but not about my faith and the change it’s brought to my life? As I considered it, I came up with several things my oil group does that encourages its members to tell others about essential oils that many churches lack.

1. Resources for New Members

When was the last time you went to church and had someone ask you what your daily routine is for Bible study? However a weekly question in the oil group is what our daily oil routine is. Besides this, basic beginner information can be found in the photo albums. Some churches have classes for new believers, but many don’t have anything available.

2. Personal Contact

Most churches can be impersonal crowds of people where you can enter and leave without having any personal greeting other than a designated person at the door. New people have no clue where to get questions answered or who to contact when things go wrong.

3. Admit Issues

In our oil group we’ll easily admit when we’ve had a bad day or don’t feel well, and we’ll say what we did to overcome or ask for suggestions of what to do. How often do we admit failures in the church setting or ask for help?

A couple of weeks ago, several men from church went to a retreat. From what I heard, during that time men were able to let their guard down and share with one another, but that’s a once a year event–not a weekly thing.

4. Testimonials

With oils we’re encouraged to share how they’ve changed our lives, or an oil will be posted, and we’ll be asked to share how we’ve used it. Growing up, I remember Sunday evening church services where the song leader would ask for testimonies, and people would share how God had answered prayers. This thankful attitude should be the norm.

Solution:

Oils may make my life easier and healthier, but it’s Christ who’s sealed my eternal state. Eternity is so much more important than day to day. However, Jesus should influence my daily life. Yesterday at church someone shared this definition for worship: “responding to all God is with all that we are”. That is what life should be–a responding to all God has done for me with every bit of who I am.

My challenge to myself and to you is to build the community of the church just like my oil community. We need to encourage one another to build each other up to love and good works. That means asking those hard questions and being free to share when we’re struggling. It takes a humility to say, “I can’t do this on my own.” That’s the exact heart God is looking for.

When I truly think on what all Christ has done for me, I am awed and fall to my knees in thanksgiving. That’s when I should be shouting from the mountain tops, “Guess, what Jesus has done for me!” What’s one thing He’s done for you this week? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Singing through Tears

Our feet made no sound as they walked the needle strewn forest floor. The greens of huckleberry bushes and salal surrounded us while the contrasting shade of the evergreens covered our heads from any chance of late fall rain. Birds chirped around us oblivious to the pain in our hearts. Then softly almost hesitantly my friend began to sing. Her clear voice wavered over the familiar words to the hymn.

“O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. . .”

I glanced over in awe that she could be singing at such a time as this, but my voice at first shaking joined with her on the chorus. “How great Thou art, How great Thou art…”

Praying in difficulties

Saying that the days leading up to that moment had been stressful would have been an understatement. My friend, Donna, had called me several weeks earlier to say that her nineteen-year-old daughter, Christina, was in the hospital. In shock I had listened to her explain that Christina was suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. My brain couldn’t comprehend the thought. The girl I knew was talented and beautiful. She could draw anything she set her mind to; give her a paintbrush or a sponge and she could put what was on paper onto a wall. How could this young woman who had so much to live for, be struggling. I had prayed with Donna for healing.

Several days later, I had received the news that Christina had been released from the hospital and was to go to counseling and take some medication. Surely everything would be fine, but I was proved wrong the next Sunday when Donna walked into the church.

She had greeted me with just two words, “She’s gone.” All I could do was give Donna a hug. Tears had streamed down both of our faces.

Helping a friend

Somehow we had made it through that day. The next day was Monday. My husband and I had gone to Donna’s house to help comfort her and her husband. When we arrived, Donna had asked to go for a walk. We meandered through the path until she opened in song.

I will never forget that moment. The clouds wouldn’t let lose any rain, but they hid the sun to go with our mood. I had no answers for my friend. What do you tell a parent who has lost their child? All I could do was walk and listen, give her hugs, and cry with her. We cried until we had no tears left to cry.

Moving past pain

As the days moved along, we went through numerous emotions. First, I was just numb. It didn’t make sense. The wonderful girl I had painted the Sunday School room with was gone. I couldn’t believe it. “She was just gone on one of her missions trips,” I’d tell myself. “She’d return, and we’d paint yet again.” After the numbness wore off, I was in disbelief. I couldn’t understand how such a talented, gifted, beautiful young woman could think that she was not worth something. When there was standing room only in a church packed to overflowing, how could she think she was not loved? Anger was the next to plague me and my husband. We watched as Donna and her husband, Dave, and the remaining three children struggled. How could Christina leave them to this grief? How could she be so selfish? Why would she do this to all of us—her family, her friends, her church family?

Healing in time

Over time, I watched Donna and Dave deal with the situation. We saw the pain, the hurt, the drawing into themselves and away from the body of Christ. They felt as if they had no one to talk to. No one understood what they were going through. At times, the pain showed through when someone would ask about their children and the wound was brought fresh to mind. Gradually, they were able to go back to whatever normal would be. That Sunday in October had irrevocably changed ‘normal’ for them.

Hope for our future

Is it possible to sing through loss? Can God use even bad things for His glory? I can sit back and say with my friend, Donna, that yes He can because I’ve seen it happen. Many times since that day in October, 2006, I’ve sung through my tears. God seems to honor our heart. He knows we hurt. He just asks that we trust Him. We may never see what He has planned, but we can trust Him to care for us and to work everything out for His good to draw us closer to Him, to make us more like Jesus.

Today as we face uncertainty with weather, fires, and even memories from 9/11, remember God is in control. He wants to mold us into the image of His Son. That means hardships will come our way. The question is how will we face them? Will we turn away from Him or to Him?

1. Someone to share your joys.

Wednesday at 1:15 I walked down an apple orchard path with my oldest son at my side. He led me to a seat in front of an apple tree decorated with tule, lanterns, and wood rounds covered with mason jars and flowers. A few moments later, my youngest son pulled a little red RadioFlyer wagon down the aisle with an eight-month-old little girl staring around in awe followed by her older sister who spread rose petals on the ground. Behind them came my husband with our daughter on his arm as strains of Pachabel’s Cannon in D Minor floated through the trees.

Yesterday at church I had one of those moments only females can understand. I went to use the restroom, and found myself standing and chatting with friends for five minutes or more. The first lady is someone I really don’t know well, but she asked how my week was. I paused to reflect on the wonderful day Wednesday had been and the packed-full two weeks leading up to it. Then several more friends entered and joined our conversation. One of the ladies had been to the wedding, but the other had been too sick to come. We stood and shared the joy of my daughter’s beautiful day.

2. Someone to pray with.

Back before my youngest was born, I had a lady ask if she could be my prayer partner. Little did I understand the power that request would have or the circumstances we’d encounter along the way. Each Tuesday and Thursday, I learned to expect a phone call at 10:00. If my phone didn’t ring, I’d drop what I was doing and call my friend. We’d chat about our week, share our heartaches and blessings, and pray together. Sometimes those calls would be as short as fifteen minutes, but other times, they lasted for an hour or more. Knowing I had someone to share my burdens with, kept me sane through my mother’s heart attack, a step-daughter’s rebellion, and the everyday turmoil of a young mom dealing with five kids newborn to thirteen-years-old.

3. Someone to challenge you.

One of my friends lives in Michigan, but we met in Ecuador. We can go months without calling each other and talking, but when we do, we’ll talk for hours on end–part of that’s because she’s friends with the whole family and everyone wants their turn to chat with her. Early on in our relationship, I discovered she had a way of asking questions that challenged me. “What are you learning in your quiet time with God?” “What are you studying now?” These questions kept me on my toes to make sure I was spending time with God. Following on their heels would be a suggestion of a book, a Bible study she was working through, or a discussion of how God was working in our lives. It was through this friend I discovered Kay Arthur and her wonderful Bible studies and learned how to study the Bible for myself.

4. Someone to share heartaches with.

I alluded to heartache when I mentioned my prayer partner. Over the course of the last fifteen years we’ve shared many different prayer times each one being slightly different. The majority of our prayers were said while on the phone, but others happened in person when we’d meet up to have fun together, and still others through our tears. The most poignent of those times came eleven years ago this September when she told me her daughter had committed suicide. My husband and I spent the next day with her and her husband. I remember walking wooded paths and praying, singing, and crying together as we tried to understand God’s plan. Friday my friend shared a devotional with me of what she’s learned from that experience. God is so good. It is a pleasure to help bear each other’s burdens.

5. Someone to refresh you.

After two and a half weeks devoted totally to wedding preparations, a friend figured I’d be exhausted and would need some time to relax. So on Friday she invited me to come spend time at her place. We rode horses (something I’ve not done in years and thoroughly enjoyed), had a picnic lunch in the woods, talked, laughed, sang worship songs together, enjoyed a devotional, and planned to get together with our husbands the next time. Although I hadn’t felt worn out, I loved every minute of the time spent with her. The journey on the horses brought back other trips with her and made me realize how much I’ve grown in being around the animals. Our worship time refreshed me like nothing else could.

I know I’m only scraping the top of the barrel of the benefits of good friendships. I’d love to hear what you think. What other points am I missing? What have you discovered over the years?

Father’s in Classic Young Adult Fiction

The Phantom Tollbooth has Miles escaping through a tollbooth to travel another land while his parents know nothing of his adventures. Little Women have an absent father in the war as does the Chronicles of Narnia. These stories show children in action, but not with parents. They do have guiding characters who help the young people on their way.

Father’s in Modern Young Adult Fiction

Absent Fathers

Modern fiction isn’t much better. In D. J. MacHale’s Pendragon series, Bobby’s trying to find his parents while Mark and Courtney’s parents are present but not active. Brandon Mull’s Beyonders series isn’t much better. Jason’s parents don’t understand or know about the other world he falls into. Both of these authors do have characters who help mold and shape our young heroes. Bobby has his Uncle Press, and Jason has the Blind King. Jace and Clary in the Mortal Instruments don’t have fathers to assist them on their way.

Present Fathers

Some of my favorite young adult books have good fathers. This year I introduced a class of sixth and seventh graders to Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. My students loved reading the story and even some non-readers wanted to learn more about the Logan family. What struck me the most was the powerful father-figure the children had in Papa. He worked hard and held them to strict respect and obedience and yet at the same time he loved them unconditionally.

In Cornelia Funke’s books parents have a good role. The Inkheart trilogy introduces Mo and Meggie, a father and daughter duo who can read characters and items out of storybooks into the real world. Even with a father around watching over her, Meggie still manages to have interesting adventures. In The Dragon Rider Ben doesn’t have a father, but he meets Professor Greenblum who is a father and acts as a father-figure to Ben, while in The Thief Lord the children are searching for parents.

The Redwall series is another strong set of books with role models for young readers. Mariel and Joseph the Bellmaker are just one set of father and child pairs that play an important part in the plot. Peter and the Starcatchers shows Molly Aster and her father working together to save the world, while Peter ends up mixed up in the whole mess.

Father’s in Indie Young Adult Fiction

Indie authors seem to have more involved fathers. The first indie authored book I heard of was the Inheritance Trilogy. Eragon’s fatherhood created a driving plot, but the book also showcased other successful fathers with Garrow and Roran and Ajihad and Nasuada. In the Godsland series, Catrin and Wendel Volker have a strong relationship, and Catrin’s love for her father drives her to return from her mission. The first trilogy also shows several good relationships between the young characters and older male characters.

If those two larger names aren’t enough to show you how indie authors showcase fathers, let’s look at two other series. L. R. W. Lee’s Andy Smithson series has Andy’s parents as a key to his whole adventure. Andy doesn’t have his parents right with him for most of his journey, but he has others who are like parents supporting him as well. Lea Doue tells the story of twelve princesses and their coming of age. With the advances of an unwanted suitor, the oldest inadvertantly entangles her sisters in a wizard’s web. It is with the help of their father they are rescued.

The teen years are the ones where parents and children conflict the most. Mark Twain said when a boy turns twelve to put him in a barrel with a knot hole, but when he turns sixteen block the hole. Parents with teens can laugh at this and yet relate. However, I say, if you can build a relationship with your child between seven to twelve years old, you can salvage many of the potholes of the teen years. Give your child books to read with good parents as role models. and you’ll be able to give them a hunger for good relationships with you.

1. Find locations you can hangout at for the day

Around here, we have the ocean beaches, river banks, lake, and creeks to go relax. The kids and I have lazied away many summer afternoons on the shore of Floras Creek. While the kids played in the water, I drew, read a book, or just soaked up the sun. I miss those days; with the kids growing older, we’ve not had a lazy afternoon at the creek in over two summers! You might not have a creek to go to, but you can hangout at the swimming pool, park, or other location. Take a lunch, a snack, sunscreen and have fun.

2. Check out the summer program at the library

Our family hasn’t taken full advantage of the summer programs in our areas, but I know they include reading incentives, crafts, prizes, and guest speakers. Librarians spend many hours planning how to help your child engage and learn. Besides, who doesn’t want their child enjoying a good book?

3. Go camping

I remember many nights growing up that we went camping, but not in the normal sense of the word. We grabbed old blankets, threw them over the clothesline, and made a tent. During the day, it was our play house, and at night, we slept out under the stars. Some of my kids’ favorite memories are camping in Ashland, Oregon. Find a place that has a little something for everyone to enjoy and try it out. Then make it a tradition.

4. Join a club

My sister-in-law and her boys are heavily involved in Boys Scouts, while my backyard has two lambs in it for 4-H fair. Over the years, my kids have participated in 4-H several times. My youngest’s first entered a Lego creation in fair when he was four or five years old. The older kids had photography, drawings, and other projects in 4-H. 4-H enables your child to explore and learn many skills they wouldn’t normally have access to.

5. Help in a community garden

I remember one year growing up when we participated in a garden. It was so fun to watch the plants grow and then be able to eat the produce. I don’t have a green thumb; in fact, I’ve killed a cactus! However, I appreciate those who can plant a seed, water it, weed around it, nurture the fledgling plant, and bring fruit to bear.

6. Sign up for a class

Our local art gallery often has art classes for kids. The dance studio has special classes in the summer as well. You may want to try something different. One year, we joined a martial arts dojo. It became a staple for the next couple of years until our Sensai moved and I had a baby. (Yep, I actually tested for a rank at eight months pregnant.) When I write a fight scene, I draw from my experiences in Aikido.

What are your ideas for keeping sane through the summer? Need some more ideas? Check out my blog post from last year.

1. Peace with God

I’ve talked about the peace chart I used for my kids when they were younger. It was with the idea to help them get along and for me to keep my sanity. When they kept the peace, they experienced an absence of conflict (which pleased me to no end) and harmony. With Christ’s death and resurrection, we can experience this same lack of conflict and harmony with God. This takes on an even bigger meaning when we realize that on the scale of goodness, God is a 10 while the best person you can think of may come to a 9. This is important when we take into consideration that nothing below a 10 can get into heaven! Due to Christ’s sacrifice, we can have peace with God.

2. Grace to stand

Not only can we have peace with God, but we can find grace to stand. Here on the Oregon Coast, we have massive wind storms. We watch as trees topple and waves roll. However, there is one thing that stands the storms–the lighthouses. They can take the beating and still guide ships safely ashore. That’s the idea behind the word to stand. It’s an immovable object. Taking into consideration the idea of our good deeds being no better than filthy rags in comparison to Christ, we can’t stand on our own. We need His grace–undeserved merit.

image credit: disneyclips.com

I think of the movie The Fox and the Hound when I think of grace. There’s a scene at the end where the hunter has Tod in his sights and is ready to shoot, but Copper steps over Tod and fills the gun sights. This is what Christ’s resurrection has done for us. God the hunter sees our sins and knows the penalty is death, but Christ steps in front of us and says, “I paid that penalty.”

3. Hope of heaven

How often have you said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today”? If you live on the Oregon Coast that’s a pretty weak hope considering we’ve received almost 45 inches of rain so far this year! (Yep, it’s been a wet winter.) Our hope of heaven is much more secure than a hope it won’t rain. It’s more of the expectant anticipation of a child on Christmas morning who’s seen the pile of presents and knows there’s several under the tree for her or him. We can know we’re headed to heaven because Christ has paid our debt.

I love singing the song Because He Lives by Bill and Gloria Gather. I remember singing it growing up. When I was in high school, I’d sing for special music at church. One lady always enjoyed hearing me sing, but due to cancer she soon wasn’t able to come to church. One day during a phone call to see how she was, she asked me to sing for her. She requested this song. The words of the final verse always bring tears to my eyes now because of that memory. “And then one day, I’ll cross that river. I’ll fight life’s final war with pain, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.”

4. Experience God’s love

Love fills our culture, but the love shown in movies, books, and TV is a conditional love based on what we can receive back. God’s love is unconditional; it is given even when we are His enemies! Because of this, once we experience His love, we can share it unconditionally as well. It’s like a full cup of coffee that’s filled to the brim and overflowing.

5. Joy of God

One final benefit of the resurrection is we can experience joy. This is one of those elusive ideas. Many people think of joy as happiness or walking around with a smile on our faces even though things go bad. That’s not what joy is. I can tell you there was no smile on my face when my friend told me of her daughter taking her own life, and yet the days that followed contained a peace, a contentment knowing God was in control, and an ability to sing. Last April, when I discovered I needed to publish my books independently, saw many ups and downs as well as a bucket load of tears. However, through it all, I could rest assured knowing God had it all under control. That is my definition of joy.

In today’s society, we have become an unchurched people; yet if someone is to attend church, it mostlikely will be on Christmas or Easter. I link the two holidays in my mind. My Christmas plays blend the story of Christ’s birth with his death and resurrection. I could not live without the firm assurance that I can face uncertain days because my Savior lives.

Design

The oriental dragon is seen just about anywhere one looks–from temple walls to pagoda arches, from Mulan to The Dragon Pearl, from chopsticks to china plates.

Toes

They are long, serpenty creatures with whispy whiskers and pointy toes. Before writing this post, I didn’t realize that you can tell where a dragon is from based on those toes! Most oriental dragons have either three, four, or five toes. Japanese dragons have three toes. Korean dragons have four, and Chinese dragons have five. Each of the three countries have myths about why there are different amount of toes. The Chinese believe dragons lose toes as they travel away from China; hence no dragons made it to the western hemisphere because they had no toes by the time they would have gotten there. The Japanese believe dragons gain toes as they move away from Japan. While Koreans believe dragons either gain or lose toes depending on where they go.

Males vs Females

According to blackdrago.com, you can tell a dragon’s sex by their tail. Females hold fans in their tails, while male dragons hold clubs. Different horns indicate the different sexes as well. Male horns are almost a reverse cone in that they’re thinner at the base and get thicker and stronger as they move away from the head. Females are given the rounder and fuller manes with straighter noses and smaller bodies granting them thinner scales, and yet they have fuller, thicker tails compared to males.

Wings

Most oriental dragons do not have wings and yet they can fly! How can that be? Most say it is due to their magic. Dragons after all are magical creatures.

Temperament

Dragon temperaments may vary from country to country, but overall dragons are benevolent, wise leaders. Often embodying the spirit of the elements, they are friends, like in Spirited Away. In fact, they can be seen with a pearl which is called the Pearl of Wisdom. Dragons bring good luck. Just like in Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke.

“These people believe that a dragon brings a year of good luck–good luck and rain, which is the best luck of all in these parts.” ~Zubeida in Dragon Rider

Similarities

I never realized eastern dragons had any similarities to western dragons, but I discovered they do! The life-cycle of an eastern dragon actually involves wings. When a dragon reaches his thousandth birthday, he gains wings. I imagine there aren’t a ton of art with thousand-year-old dragons, and hence, the lack of pictures of oriental dragons with wings.

Another similarity comes from Japan. As I stated earlier the average oriental dragon is seen as benevolent and wise. However, in Japan dragons were known to kill innocent people and demand young maidens for food. This is much like the European dragons.

What does all this have to do with if dragons really existed? One of the main points to know if something actually was, is to study the different myths of different cultures. When many cultures separated by long distances have similar myths, there has to be a grain of truth somewhere. So, if cultures all around the world have similar stories about dragons with similar body types and abilities, just maybe it’s possible that dragons really did exist!

Find out more at my other blog posts:

Responsibility

Over the last two and a half years that my youngest son has been involved in theater, I have seen his sense of responsibility increase–at least where stage presence is needed. (I’m sure it will continue to spread through other areas of his life.) As he fulfills his role as class officer and leadership member at school, I see him take the same responsibility for his actions as he does in a play. He makes sure his part is covered and he doesn’t leave any other classmates in a lurch.

As I sat in the theater last night with the curtain drawn waiting to watch the story unfold, I read the playbill. Inside it stated:

“Teaching a child to act independently and make decisions without parental authorization for every action is no small task. But, that is the essence of responsibility…It is an inherent part of the theater experience.” ~Dan Almich, producer ‘Fiddler on the Roof, Jr’ at Sprague Theater, 2017

Responsibility on stage

How does this work out on the stage? First off, there are no prompts from the sidelines in kids’ theater. They are responsible for learning their lines, the prop placement, and the final show. They become accountable to their peers. As students progress in theater, they are the ones that model behavior for newcomers. They are the ones who are prompt, learn their lines, and keep the younger ones inline.

Responsiblity in teamwork

Not only do students learn to be responsible on the stage, they begin to form a team–just like any sport, if not stronger. As students grow and learn their parts, “they then must learn to be members of the team, or a part of the cast. Teamwork is essential in producing a coherent and consistent play. In theater, teamwork is based on relationship building, a skill necessary for all social activities.” (Almich, 2017)

Community

As young actors create the play, they build a sense of community. Anyone who has worked on a play can tell you that by the time the final curtain closes, each actor now has two personalities–their self, and the part they played. By next Sunday at this time, my youngest son will not only be David Wyatt, he will also be Motel (not the place you rent a room, but pronounced Model) the Tailor. The gal acting alongside him, won’t just be Natalie, she’ll be David’s bride. In some plays, the actor will lose his or her real person and only be known as the part to those in the play or those who saw it.

This is the other sense of community that children’s theater brings. As a play is produced, it is brought to the larger community–those who come to see it, and the community where the theater building resides. Children need to know that they are doing something beyond themselves. There are others outside of their immediate family or even cast family that are depending on them. At any opening night or showing of a play, a sense of excitement permeates the theater as attendees wait for the curtain to rise and transport them to another time and place. This excitement transfers to the actors and brings both actors and community members into one larger group. Where kids’ theater differs from adult theater is at the end of the show. After the final curtain call, the actors head back to the foyer to greet the attendees and thank them for coming. This final greeting clenches that sense of community.

Etiquette

Another benefit of kids’ theater is the etiquette that actors learn. They are trained in bowing, stage directions, listening to their director, as well as greeting people at the end. These manners carry over to other areas of their lives. They also learn how to be in front of people. After the play ‘Bethlehem Road‘, I saw a shift in my youngest son. Any time he stood on stage–from concert introductions to assemblies–he suddenly stood taller, projected his voice, and made his point succinctly and articulately. This change came about due to the training he received from theater.

Magic

No, I’m not saying your child will become a wizard if he or she joins kids’ theater. Instead, they will be a part of transporting their audience from the real-world to a world where anything is possible. The stage can send people back in time (think King Henry) or forward in time (A Wrinkle in Time). It can also move people to tears, laughter, and all emotions in between.

These emotions came to the fore last night as I heard the haunting melody and words of Sunrise, Sunset.

I’ve always loved the words to the song, but to hear them sung with my baby-boy suddenly grownup-looking and being ‘married’ made the words take on a totally new meaning.

As parents, we want our kids to have all the good experiences. Often we’re running from one activity to another. In our family, we’ve limited the kids to one sport per season. Our youngest has chosen his ‘sport’–drama. He sets his schedule based on what kids’ theater has planned. Even though this decision has required a commitment not only from our son but from us as parents, last night will stand out as a highlight as my parents, sister and her family, daughter and her boyfriend, and two of our sons sat in the seats and watched Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. If your child has any desire to join theater, I’d say go for it. You have a lot to gain.

Herbs show up in my books and will continue to show up. Kyn is a healer as is Carryl and Allesandra. In Dragon’s Heritage, Allesandra teaches Mere about herbs. I’ve been learning how these wonderful plants can help us. Here are a few of my favorite oils.

Tea Tree

This oil was one of the first ones I discovered. Ever since my mother-in-law handed me her bottle of this powerful little plant, I’ve made sure to have some on hand. This natural antibacterial oil is great for cleaning out cuts and scraps, but it doesn’t stop there. It also helps with itching. You know those bug bites in the summer? A bit of tea tree oil will help sooth away the sting. Speaking of summer, that’s when poison oak is rampant in our area. My son discovered he could lather himself in tea tree oil to get rid of the nasty reaction to poison oak. As if that wasn’t enough, tea tree oil will help with migraines, sores in the mouth (just be sure to spit it out unless you have a FDA approved version), and is great for sinus pain.

Lavender

I’ve commented before on the greatness of lavender, and it’s one that’s mentioned in Dragon’s Heritage with Mere and Allesandra. Lavender was probably the second oil I ever purchased. I use it for migraines by rubbing it on my temples and on the pressure point on the bottom of my foot or between my thumb and forefinger. However, this wonderful oil is good for a lot more than just headaches. If you can find a FDA approved edible version of the oil, you can add it to lemonade or hot cocoa or tea to help with upset stomach. Rubbing some lavender oil along your sinuses can help clear them and can help you relax to go to sleep. I’ve just recently learned that this wonderful oil can also help with immune support and to detox. Lavender is also great for supporting healthy, glowing skin.

Lemon

My family loves lemon; they’ll drink tart lemonade, use it in bar-b-que sauce, and just eat the fruit plain. My son loves to use the ingestible lemon oil in his water to create a lemonade. I love the smell of it in my diffuser. Kyn would tell you that lemon’s great for supporting the immune system and for detoxing. The scent often reminds people of cleaning. That’s another thing lemon oil is great for–cleaning! You can use just a few drops to clean up that nasty scorched pan or those dark spots from a pan scraping against a white sink.

Frankincense

Wait, isn’t this what the wisemen brought to baby Jesus? Yes, it is. It can be expensive, too! However, I’ve found it to be invaluable to me. I use it to support clear sinuses. It’s also wonderful for soft skin. It’s also helpful in supporting your immune system. (See a pattern here? I’ve been down sick this winter and need all the immune support I can get.)

These are just a few of the oils I use each day. I’m learning and growing in the use of oils. With that in mind, don’t be surprised to see them come into play in future stories. It’s fun with fantasy and reality collide. Do you have a favorite oil you use? Feel free to share in the comments. Don’t know where to start to purchase oils? Take a look at this link or comment on my Facebook page for an invite to a basic oils Facebook class tonight at 9:30 EST.

Nyssa Glass Series

H. L. Burke has a wonderful, whimsical way of telling a story. Her Nyssa Glass series is a steampunk fantasy that introduces you to a young girl whose former life involved pick-pocketing and cat-burglering. Her safe and secure life changes, however, when she finds her employer murdered and she’s accused of his death. Nyssa is blackmailed into entering a deserted mansion and getting company secrets. Along the way, she meets a unique computer and tries to escape robots and other attempts on her life.

I loved the first book but haven’t made it to the rest of the series, yet. Each of the books in the series is on sale for 99 cents right now on amazon. There are five in the series and a prequel, which is free.

Beggar Magic

This past fall, Fellowship of Fantasy put on a cosplay contest. My youngest son entered as Kirito and The Black Butler, and he won the juvenile division. His prize was supposed to be paperback books, but when the authors discovered he loves audiobooks better, they offered him audio versions of their books. Beggar Magic was one of H. L. Burke’s that David received.

In my life as a mom, I’ve learned to listen when my kids come up to me and say, “Mom, you’ve got to read this book!” I discovered Cornelia Funke’s Dragonrider and Inkheart as well as the Pendragon series that way. Well, at dinner one night, David asked if I’d read Beggar Magic. I had to ask what it was. He then proceeded to tell me it was one of H. L. Burke’s books. His eyes lit up as he talked about a story. Now, in his fifteen-year-old mind, the story started out slowly, but then (and this is where his eyes lit up) things started happening and he couldn’t put it down.

In and of itself, that should be enough to say, go get this book! However, I’ll tell you more. In a world where people are divided between Highmost and Common, two girls one from either of the two classes become friends. As they move to their apprenticeships, they discover a sinister plan that will threaten their very friendship. It’s a fun-loving story of good and evil and trying to manuever through the two.

Dragon’s Curse

This weekend, I had the privilege of traveling four and half hours to a conference. So, on my way there, I listened to Beggar Magic, and on my way home, I listened to Dragon’s Curse, another H. L. Burke tale. I was impressed with the variety of stories this author has. Dragon’s Curse is a bit more grown up. A young girl heads out on her first assignment after the academy. However, Shannon finds she must tread carefully in the court of the new king. He seeks revenge on the dragon that killed his brother. When a dragon comes to live on the mountain outside the king’s castle, Shannon’s world is turned upside down.

This tale is almost a fairy tale, and as I looked it up to give you a link, I discovered it’s a series. That means I have to add three more books to my to-be-read list! Just when I thought I could cross three off, I’m adding three more.

Firethorn chronicles

At the beginning of the year, Fellowship of Fantasy started a book club. (If you want to join, just tell them I sent you.) Each month the group chooses a book to read and then we interact with the author and other readers. February introduced me to Lea Doue and this fairy tale series. I’d not really read a retelling of a fairy tale before I read The Firethorn Crown. I became ill and had to stay home from work one day which enabled me to read most of the first book of the series in one sitting.

The story gives an intriguing look into the story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. We are introduced to the first princess as she’s preparing to choose a prince and take over the kingdom. As she runs from one eligible suitor, she and her sisters are pulled into a secret passage under the maze in their garden. To rescue her sisters from a curse, she returns to the secret realm.

I really enjoyed the story. Not only did it have intrigue and romance, it also held some underlying themes of redemption and temptation. Again, it’s book one in a series. I believe, we’ll be introduced to each of the princesses through different books and fairy tales. So, if that’s true, I have another eleven books added to my to-be-read list.

Dragon Friend

This month the book club is reading Dragon Friend by Marc Secchia. I was excited to sit down and read this book because it’s been in the “also bought” section of Dragon’s Future in Amazon. I haven’t finished the book, but I am definitely giving it a thumbs up!

Lia has been thrown overboard, left to try to fly on her own, befriended by a dragonet, and now’s trying to restore the rightful heir to the throne. That’s all within the first half of the book. When a book has dragons, adventure, and romance, and it’s clean for my kids as well, it’s a book to put on my recommend list. Again, it’s the first of a series. So, I have even more books to add to my reading list, but it’s more than worth it.

What books are you reading? Any good recommendations? Please share in the comments.