Reflections on Home and Travel
Although all my travels might suggest I have an insatiable love for exploring the world, the truth is more nuanced. At heart, I am very much a homebody. I delight in creating a warm haven—sewing, gardening, knitting, quilting, and spending precious hours with my grandchildren. I cherished my days as a stay-at-home mom, and I still find deep contentment in being a wife who prepares a comforting meal.
Yet, I’ve come to realize that there are lessons and opportunities beyond the walls of my home—experiences I would never encounter if I chose to stay in my comfortable routines. Through travel, I have helped more people, expanded my perspective, and gathered memories that have profoundly enriched my life.
If I had never left home, I wouldn’t know the intoxicating scent of melissa from a distillery in St. Maries, Idaho—a fragrance so heavenly it felt as though I’d stepped into paradise. I wouldn’t have the indelible memory of standing atop the Great Wall of China, or the poignant experience of serving in Russia, anointing people with oils day after day, hearts full despite three sunless weeks in Moscow. I would have missed the awe of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, and the collective amazement when, after days of gray, the sun finally broke through the clouds, if only for a moment, on our journey home.
I would have missed the privilege of planting pine trees and participating in the winter harvest at Highland Flats, Idaho—connecting with the land and the rhythm of the seasons firsthand. I wouldn’t have toured the Mt. Nebo farm in Utah, walked through the golden helichrysum fields of Croatia, or visited the shell ginger farm in Japan, each experience offering its own unique lessons and quiet beauty.
I’ve watched the Finca Botanica farm grow from a dream—just a vision and a field of ylang ylang trees with nowhere for guests to stay—into a living reality, complete with beautiful bungalows for visitors and a clinic serving the local community. I’ve also found fulfillment in rallying support for YL Foundation projects, witnessing the heart-expanding power of people coming together to make the world a little brighter.
So while my spirit finds rest at home, it is through stepping beyond my front door that I have truly learned, served, and gathered a treasury of memories. Both home and the wider world have shaped the person I am today.
Sometimes we wonder about others instead of focusing on our own selves and sometimes we think too much on ourselves and not enough about others. Life ebbs and flows this way. This 'little' and 'hidden' sin could have gone unspoken of, but I know there is truly nothing hidden and any wrong thinking is really like little waves of poison since every thought is a frequency. I truly desire to emit life giving vibes and Be Light in this world.
Today I am reminded to keep the logs out of my OWN eyes by Proverbs 24:17 Do not exult when your enemy falls, and let not your heart rejoice when he stumbles.
I then opened Pinterest- I keep several boards running for my own inspiration, mostly fiber arts and artsy home building and garden ideas. When I'm not actively helping others with healthy lifestyle needs, I am generally creating with fiber arts of one sort or another and like to look for inspiration there. Today I clicked on Bible verses and found this new word, Epicaricacy.
Confessing my sin today: Epicaricacy is a noun that describes the pleasure or satisfaction derived from the misfortune of others. It's essentially the feeling of rejoicing at someone else's bad luck or suffering. The word is synonymous with the more commonly used German term "schadenfreude".
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Meaning:Epicaricacy is the act of taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others, whether it's a rival, someone you dislike, or even a stranger.
- Origin:The word has Greek roots, derived from "epikhairekakia" (ἐπιχαιρεκακία), which combines "epi-" (upon), "khairo" (to rejoice), and "kakos" (evil).
- Usage:While the word is relatively rare, it's used to describe the feeling of satisfaction when something negative happens to someone you don't like or feel competitive with.
- Example:If someone learns that their rival has lost their job, they might experience a sense of epicaricacy.It saddens me to say that indeed I have been guilty of this a time or two when people have made decisions I knew would result in something not good. Instead of praying good for them, I did indeed take a little pleasure when their choice resulted in failure. Upon this repentent line of thinking it ocurred to me that this would be another reason to be careful what calamaties and misfortunes we share with the rest of the world, as it is fodder for folks who feed themselves this way. I am thankful for this revelation and pray forgiveness and to merely mind my own business and bless the person the next time this situation arises.
I didn't write the below, but one of our upline leaders did and I thought it was so good I wanted to save and share it from here.
“Do you understand now why I didn’t sell my oils to a health food store?” —Gary Young 
A long time ago, a big-name company tried to buy out Young Living.
But Gary said No.
Not because he didn’t want to “make it big.”
But because he believed in us—the people.
And the mission.
He knew two things were non-negotiable:
Relationships.Gary saw how powerful this model could be when it’s done right.
Real friendships.
Real impact.
Real community.
Not some product gathering dust on a store shelf.
Education.He didn’t want someone buying an oil with zero support or understanding.
He wanted every bottle to come with a person—someone who could say, “Here’s how this changed my life.”
That’s why we do what we do. Why you matter.
And why the Young Living model still works 30+ years later.
Did you know? 
Young Living was the first essential oil company to bring oils to the world through network marketing. We created the trend.
We built the farms.
We ran the tests.
We wrote the books.
Some of the other companies out there today?
Yep… they started here too.
But they don’t own a single farm.
They buy oils through brokers and slap on a label.
But here’s the deal: quality isn’t negotiable.
There’s a buyer for every oil out there—no matter how diluted or doctored. But not us. Not YL.I can stand here today and tell you—with full confidence—our oils are the real deal.
The testing, the transparency, the farms… it’s unmatched. #SeedToSeal isn’t just a slogan.
It’s our standard.
If you’ve never flipped through the Essential Oils Desk Reference, it’s a goldmine.
YEARS of research and wisdom packed into one resource.
Ask who you work with how to get your hands on one.
You’ll be obsessed.
I’m just so dang grateful Gary never “sold out.”This community? These products?
They’ve changed lives! Including mine.
TY @debrastarkey 
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Read more...Ai generated answer?:
Chamazulene is a blue-colored compound primarily found in the essential oil of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita). It is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Chamazulene is formed during the steam distillation of chamomile, particularly from the breakdown of the compound matricin.
Elaboration:
- Source and Formation:Chamazulene is a natural compound derived from the essential oil of German chamomile. It is formed during the distillation process, where a precursor compound, matricin, is transformed.
- Color and Aroma:Chamazulene is responsible for the distinctive blue color of German chamomile oil. The oil also has a sweet and complex aroma.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties:Chamazulene is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. It can be used topically to reduce redness and inflammation in skin conditions like eczema.
- Other Uses:Chamazulene is also used in aromatherapy and as a coloring agent in some food products.
- Research and Development:Ongoing research explores the potential of chamazulene for various therapeutic applications, including treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders.
