I have blond hair naturally but it's not as light as it used to be years ago. There are times I look at my kids who are towheads (really light blond haired) and start missing that color!!

I have tried so many boxed dyes in my life and still I have a hard time reaching the color that I want. So one day I was looking through my favorite book that my sister got me for my birthday (Reader's Digest: Homemade). This is the best birthday gift I have gotten in a long time!! Anyway, back to what I was trying to say, I can across this recipe to naturally lighten hair.

I had all the ingredients in my pantry and so I thought I would give it a try. I was pretty impressed with the results, so this is now my go-to hair lightening trick!!

Wanna know what it is???

2 teaspoons of chamomile tea and juice of 1 lemon.

YUP, that's it!!

You will need to juice the lemon into a bowl, and I brew my tea in about 1/2 cup water to 1 tea bag. This makes it extra potent and not so watered down. Then put this into a spray bottle and drench your hair, then go sit in the sun for 2 hours. Longer in the sun is always better, but at least 2 hours. You could always try using a dryer too if you cannot get into the sun, but I haven't tried that yet.

Wanna try highlights instead of doing your whole head?? A tip from the book says to get an inexpensive straw hat that has lots of holes in it and pull strands of hair through with a crochet hook or a pencil.

Have fun with this!!

Romans 8:18 ' For I reason that this temporal suffering is not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.'

There are many of us that are suffering from painful or disabling ailments. We have many reasons to complain, have pity parties, and WHOA IS ME!! But as Christians, we should not complain, but use it as a testimony.

I have suffered for most of my life with depression and anxiety, along with severe acne, and tons of back issues. These combined have at one time led me into using pain medications inappropriately. I knew better, but I fell into that temptation and it overcame me. My addiction may not have been as severe as others, but for me it was enough to shut down my relationship with Christ.

I knew that this addiction have become my "idol" and that the only way out was through the blood of Jesus. So on one Sunday morning on the way to church I prayed with all that was in me for God to heal this sickness and make me right before Him again.

And boy did He hear that prayer!! As service began, our service leader asked if anyone would like to give a testimony. A few people had stood and took their turn, and all the while I kept feeling the Lord tell me to stand and ask for prayer. Finally, I stood, shaking and full of fear.

I wept before the church and spilled the beans about the addiction I had after an injury I received that gave me the pain meds. The church gathered around me and prayed. I felt the Lord release some tension and suffering, but I knew I was not yet set free.

The service continued with others standing and confessing sins and asking for prayer!! WOW!! That is a hard thing to do!! People were set free that morning!! One lady who NEVER stands up and is quiet as a mouse stood up and said she smoked cigarettes her whole life and wanted free. I felt to go and pray for her, get my focus off myself and pray for someone else.

Not even a few minutes into praying for her need, I felt the Lord come over me and wash me clean. I began to scream at the top of my lungs and started to weep in anguish. God was removing my sin, guilt, shame and grief. I was being set FREE!!

Today, 8 months later, I am still FREE. I still have back pain, and I take my meds like I am supposed to, just like the doctor prescribed. But I asked to doctor to put me on something that was narcotic free and less addictive. The meds do not work as great as the other stuff does, but I refuse to go back to that pit I was stuck in.

I will deal with my suffering for the glory that is to come.

If you are struggling with the weight of addiction and sin, I understand. Please feel free to email me, and I will pray for you. All information is kept confidential!! Please, don't suffer alone!!