Work that takes time to produce fruit

Every November the sight of this orange tree makes me thankful.

This tree was already here when we moved in, the foresight of someone who planted it years ago but moved away before she could enjoy the full fruits of her labor. ⁣ A young fruit tree starts very small. You get maybe three pieces of fruit the first year, if any at all. To plant a fruit tree is to recognize that you will wait for years to see a harvest like this. In the meantime there’s so much work to do. Watering, pruning, and protecting the trunk from pests—all without an immediate benefit.

The woman who planted this tree will not see this tree weighed down with hundreds of oranges as often as I probably will, but she planted it anyway—in the hope that someone would enjoy the fruit of her labor. ⁣

I have felt this deeply during the past year as the daily grind of motherhood exhausts yet refines me: what I’m planting now, tending in my home, nourishing and watering within these walls, will produce fruit that I probably won’t see for some time. It may take years.

I’m finding that having a child on the cusp of “teenager” feels like that. I discovered I’m knee deep in a different kind of balancing act. Gone are the toddler and early childhood demands where they needed almost constant attention. Although every single action seemed to require five steps from me, from tying shoes to fixing lunches, there was peace in a quiet house after the bedtime routine.

Without quite realizing it, I’ve quietly slipped into the season of late-night-heart-spills on the couch long after bedtime prayers and hours after everyone should be asleep. It’s a new kind of balancing act where I find myself not always able to count on that quiet house after bedtime, which I had always cherished. Instead I find myself planting the seeds of availability. “Yes, I want to talk with you. I want to hear what’s on your heart. I absolutely can drop everything to sit and chit-chat with you.” A place where after bedtime “interruptions” are no longer interruptions, but a moment of connection and trust-building that bridges the span from childhood to early adulthood. And mean it with every fiber of my being.

And I’ll be honest: that’s a challenge for me. It’s hard for me to make that adjustment when I often (still) feel like I’ve given every bit of “mothering energy” that I have to give by the time prayers are said and all I want to do is curl up with a good book on my favorite chair. And the advice that I give is often not taken, and often snorted at. But it’s still worth my time.

Like that orange tree, I may not see the fruit of my quiet tending in this season. But it’s still worth my time and attention now; even if it’s years before I get a glimpse of the fruit.

Nighttime Glow Serum

⁣ If you are an oiler, you know it’s a big step when you’ve committed to making a bottle of a skin serum instead of daily dropping drops from four different oil bottles into your hands.

Last week I was finally able to commit to a full batch of a glow serum. It took a few weeks of testing ratios and ingredients before I was happy with the result, but once I was sure of my mix it only took about two minutes to add everything to a frosted bottle—one I’m swooning over because it’s BLUE!

⁣⁣ Here's what's in it:⁣

• Frankincense: Moisturizes but also boosts collagen production to fight the signs of aging (sign me up).⁣ ⁣

• Blue Tansy: Reduces redness and blotchiness which leaves skin brightened and feeling soft. It smells like blueberry cobbler, too - in the most relaxing way. Perfect for right before bed. ⁣

• Geranium: Gently tightens skin, which reduces the presence of wrinkles. Studies have also shown that it is beneficial for reducing acne breakouts and skin irritations.⁣

• Lavender: Besides being calming (perfect before bedtime), Lavender unclogs pores and evens out red areas on facial skin.⁣

You can give it a try using the recipe below. ⁣

⁣ Quick sidenote: I am picky about what oils I use for things like this. Where you purchase from really does matter if you are trying to get results. Before switching brands, I had tried other brands and was frustrated when nothing happened. Quality and purity really does matter, and it's my favorite thing about Young Living: that I can go and see exactly where each of these oils are first grown, then harvested, distilled and bottled. The attention to detail and the end quality product are often imitated, but they are never duplicated.⁣

I put together a skincare bundle (including my favorite morning skincare product) if you are looking to make this recipe yourself. Head here to see all my skincare favorites. ⁣⁣

Snippets of My Week

Eva hit a milestone appointment last week. It was her first “Survivorship” appointment. (Technically she isn’t categorized as “survivor” until December, but this was how the appointment dates lined up. Full heart appointment!)

Sorting and graphing candy after Halloween is always my favorite math lesson for first grade!

Saturday morning hike. We started in dense fog, but at about 900 feet in elevation gain we were greeted with sunrise above the clouds.

Thanks for reading! What is something that you feel like you are tending and watering right now, but not expecting to see the results for years? I’d love to hear about it–just hit reply if you’d like to share. I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.