Fresh Chamomile Tea

When my husband came home with our Abundant Harvest box this week, I never thought it would be such a learning experience for me.  As soon as I walked by it and smelled the sweet scent, I was taken back to my childhood in an instant.  Have you ever had that happen to you?  I couldn't remember the exact time, but that scent was so familiar, and one that I had not enjoyed for so long.  It was chamomile. 

I immediately grabbed my very helpful abundant harvest newsletter, which usually contains tips and recipes for unfamiliar produce.  (I am constantly surprised by how many unfamiliar produce items I encounter.)  All it gave was a small snippet about the stress relieving powers of chamomile, and a recipe for chamomile tea.  I was intrigued, because I have never enjoyed store bought chamomile tea.  It has an unpleasant flavor and smell, and really doesn't deliver what it says it will.  From my box: "DID YOU KNOW? An single cup of  (trademarked brand) tea has been known to have the same effect as sitting for 45 minutes in a mountain meadow on a sunny day with your shoes off."  Really?  As a mother of 5 I rarely get a chance to sit in a sunny meadow with my shoes off for an uninterrupted 45 minutes.  As that would probably rank in my top 3 things to do with my spare time, I had high hopes for my boxed chamomile tea.  However, it was more like taking medicine~ just drink it as fast as possible in hopes that it will at least deliver on the stress relieving properties and not leave as strange an aftertaste as I think it probably will.  Disappointed again.  Not that I expect a cup of tea to take away all of the stress from my day, that is what the word of God is for.  Still, it would be nice to know that they are somewhat accountable to what they say on the package.  I know, I know:  too high of standards.  Well, I did a little digging and found out that chamomile does in fact have many uses.  It may not deliver in the very small proportions(and probably somewhat altered states) you find at the grocery store, but it does, historically, have a record of doing a lot of good. 

If you google chamomile, you will find all sorts of wonderful things that it can be used for.  I will not try to cover all of the medicinal purposes here, but I would encourage you to look into it, it is well worth your time! Just a little teaser for you: chamomile is used medicinally to treat sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid. It is also used as a mild laxative and is anti-inflammatory and bactericidal.  Source  If you do get your hands on some fresh chamomile, it would be well worth looking into all of the other things you could do with it, besides tea.   Although I have to say that the tea I made with the fresh flowers was exceptional, and something that I am going to start doing a lot more often.  Here is the tea recipe that I used, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Things You'll Need:

*chamomile flowers

*a tea pot

*water

*strainer

*a tea cup

Pick the amount of flowers you will need to make your tea and wash thoroughly.  Discard the stems, only use the actual flowers.  (You will need approximately 1 TBS flowers for ever cup of tea.)

Bring the water to a boil.  After the water is boiling, add the flowers and turn off the heat.  Let steep for about 15 minutes.

When your tea is finished, strain the flowers out with a mesh strainer and add honey or lemon if desired.  Enjoy with a good book.  (TIP: wrap the flowers you have strained into some cloth and use on burns, bruises, or insect bites)  Source   I've also learned that chamomile can make a mean, muscle relaxing, stress relieving bath.  I'm excited to try that next! 

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Consider the Lilies

Right now in the central valley of California, wild flowers are painting the hills. It is not often that we get these breathtaking views, in fact, most of the year the hills are covered in dead grass, not able to withstand the scorching heat. However, a few weeks out of the year, God blesses us with a beautiful display. I decided today to take a couple of hours, even though I had ten million other things to do, to take my children out and enjoy them. I'm so glad that I did!

The verse that kept coming to my mind, was Matthew 6:28-29. "See how the lilies of the field grow? They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." After we got home, I looked up an old John Piper Sermon on this verse. I am often convicted of worrying too much about things. This sermon was very convicting! Especially lately, since learning about real food, and the effects the SAD diet, I've found myself finding new and more elaborate ways to sin in anxiousness. "What effect has this diet had on my kids? How long will it be until they will eat, willingly, all of the new nourishing foods I'm introducing to them, what if it is too late and they are already scarred for life???" However, that is not biblical.

Jesus taught that we should not worry about our clothes, our shelter, or our food. That doesn't mean that we don't take care to provide well for our families. We should be "looking well into the ways of our households, and not eating the bread of idleness." (Proverbs 31:27) Of course we should be doing the very best that we can, because that glorifies the Lord! Most of us seem to cross that line though. At least I know I do, I am the master of taking something good, and turning it into an idol. However, isn't it comforting to know the words of Jesus?

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Yes, it is important to take good care of our families. It is a blessing to be able to feed them well. It is true however, that we can not add one minute to our lives that He has not ordained. We don't have to be anxious about our lives, (not even about processed foods!) and that is such a wonderful thing to remember.

With Love, Jen

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Pretty Things In My Yard

Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love how beautiful my yard gets, especially my tree. I'm not exactly sure what kind of tree it is, but I love it. It blooms in the spring with these sweet little white flowers, and is spectacular in the fall.

It reminds me of how good God is! Being outside in the spring (or anytime, really) is so theraputic, everything from the grass to the sunshine to the sweet little sparrows singing point to a wise and beautiful heavenly Father.

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

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