When Hope is Not Enough

Okay, bare with me so I can explain the title of this post. I've never done a post of this nature in the entire 6 years of having this blog, but when I was looking at the names and the amount of beauty products that I use each night, I couldn't resist! 

In 2010, just after the birth of Cayden Truth we took family pictures. Upon looking at these family pictures I noticed that my face had taken a downward turn....AGE SPOTS and WRINKLES had consumed me!!! OH MY!!! 

I was devastated!!! Crying I said to Clinton, "Why didn't you tell my face looked like this??? What has the Thailand sun done to me??? When did this happen?? I know I'm getting older but this is ridiculous!" 

When I saw this picture I freaked out!! Mind you I come from an extremely vain line of women. Because I have pastors who read our blog I'll leave it with saying that my mother and aunts and cousins have had one type of cosmetic surgery or another...my mother having had the same procedure done over three times!! 

When I got saved, vanity was actually one of the big demons that I had to get rid of....I think I threw it too far overboard and am trying to make my way back to the middle at the moment. ; ) 

Anyway, having just had a baby at 39, I began to grasp for something....anything....to help me look better and to help my poor face that now resembled something akin to the leopard family

I immediately began to scroll through our pictures to see when exactly this "downward spiral" started happening.... 

The picture that led to my frantic search for a good beauty regime 

When I found THIS picture! "Ahhhhh, 35. Look how creamy and soft". I reminisced. "Those were the days when I never even thought about my face" I barely had on any makeup in this picture. 

Now I'm not saying I'm the image of beauty here, I'm strictly talking about the texture of my skin, and color of my skin. I could hardly see a blemish and certainly no wrinkles. 

So my next question..."OMG! What do I do???" 

The other picture that led to my frantic search

I quickly began to search the web and read articles about what women approaching 40 should use as a daily facial regime. 

I went to the Oprah website, and even though I'm not a fan of hers, she alway has really good information on the Fashion and Beauty section of her website. 

I quickly learned that  I should be using a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against  UVA and UVB rays. To try and repair my damaged skin I needed creams and serums that contained vitamin C, E, B3, B5 peptides, antioxidants and glycolic acid. Sound pretty complicated if you ask me! 

So the search began. Where does a missionary wife on a limited income find adequate beauty products to help her skin regain some of it's resilience and to protect it from future damage?? The thought was a bit overwhelming. 

 THEN it happened the miracle moment......I found the Philosophy skin care products which are wonderful. Very affordable and their creams, washes and serums have every thing you need in them.

There are a few items missing because I'm out at the moment. The one that's highly recommend is the Hope in a Jar (it stinks but it's a wonderful moisturizing cream) It was on Oprah's favorite things list one year , and Purity Made Simple which is the face wash, I'm using the Olay Regenerist at the moment.

So here it goes. 

Are you ready??

1. I start out my washing with the Purity Made Simple face wash
2. Second, I use the When Hope is Not Enough, which saved the life of my skin. 
3. Not pictured, is a whitening cream with a small amount of steroids, that cost $20 that I bought here in Thailand
4. Next, I put the Hope in a Tube around my eyes and my lips
5. Lastly, I add the moisturizer which was Hope in a Jar but I'm substituting at the moment for Olay.

When I ordered this a year ago, I ordered a Basic Care Kit for only $100. 

With that kit came a sample of the Microdelievery Peel which I highly recommend!! I only had the samples they sent me, which I made stretch for a week, but I saw a HUGE difference with only one week of use. 

You'll notice a picture of Help Me. This is Retin A cream or Retinol. My skin did NOT like this stuff. It burned like crazy when I put it on and it made my skin more sensitive to the sun. So I didn't continue to use it.

Cast of Characters 

When Hope is Not Enough, which saved the life of my skin. I'm convinced! I could sing the praises of this stuff until the cows come home!!! "Amber, you don't have any cows! My point exactly!! I could go on and on and on about this stuff.

 It really did help repair my damaged skin! It's packed FULL of goodies that are wonderful for the skin. 

The most amazing serum EVER!!! 

The Hope in a tube is wonderful if you're in your 40's and starting to see wrinkles around your eyes and lips. I saw a visible difference in the area around my eyes..wrinkles that is

Hope in a Tube

All of these products I've been using faithfully for a year now. They've lasted me THAT long. The only two things that ran out were the Hope in a Jar moisturizer and Purity Made Simple face wash.

Night firming cream is VERY important when you're 40 or approaching 40!

The next thing that I MUST stress is the UTTER importance to keep your skin protected from the UV rays!! This Thailand sun is merciless!! (All sun is merciless for aging women) We are so close to the equator that the sun is extremely HOT and extremely damaging to the skin!!

Okay, so I don't really know if that has anything to do with anything but it IS HOT here and the sun IS brutal!! SO, I don't leave home without my hat, if I'm going to be out in the sun for any length of time AND I wear a moisturizer with SPF of 30 to 50. Got it? Good!

 Amen!

The hat that I don't leave home without.

Here is a very close up of my face one year after this beauty regime!! Now there's still some spots and mild redness, but for the most part it looks like I had some laser treatment done! And I DIDN'T.

Although, would you believe me if I told you that I was so traumatized by the first picture posted, that I went to a laser clinic to see what the price would be......let's just say WAAAY out of a missionaries range!

And that's when I took matters into my own hands. ; )

So this is for all of you my beautiful lady friends who might be having a mild panic of your own over the condition of your skin, or your age, or that you love sugar, or that your kids are driving you nuts, or any kind of panic at all. 

OR 

Maybe all of you are now convinced that I'm nuts. You were always thinking it in the back of your mind, but this post has now sealed the envelope.

Love

Amber

Another..............

Some of you have already heard the news, and for those of you who haven't we're expecting another baby in late July!!

We are overjoyed with the news!!! Life!! A new beginning! So fun and exciting!!

We found out on Friday that we're having another BOY!!!! The news hit us in the funny bone and we could not stop laughing! I, Amber, kept hitting the doctor saying, "Jing laaa?? Jing laaa Khung Moo???" Which means "Are you serious? Doctor, are you serious???"

Baby boy Garsee at 11w 4d

We couldn't be more happy that we're populating the world with boys!!  Garsee boys!

For those of you who don't know us.....there are regular boys and then there are Garsee boys which some have told us are a whole different breed of boy.   She smiles a cunning smile.  ; )

Baby boy Garsee at 18w

We're so happy the share the news with you.

What's going on at your house? Do you have any news to share?

12 inches long?!?

Here's our boy just out of surgery

Last night we skyped with Chase, in Mexico, and he didn't look too hot. For those of you who know Chase know that he must be dying to let you know anything's wrong.

After MUCH probing, he began to tell us that he was having some bad stomach cramping along with lots of vomiting. This had been going on for almost 24 hours by the time we talked with him.

He said he couldn't keep anything down and was beginning to hallucinate! This was all it took for Mamma!

Clinton called Andy Pricer, our good friend, in whose house Chase is staying and let him know the severity of Chase's situation, because, of course, Chase didn't mention anything to them. He's Mr. Don't bother anyone, Don't make a big deal out of anything, Suck it Up, Don't be a Chump.......as he's lying in his bed dying without anyone in the house aware!!

After Andy went up and probed Chase about symptoms he felt like he knew it was the appendix because just two years later he had dealt with this with another young man that was in their house.

Within just a few hours they had admitted Chase to the hospital and he was going in for surgery.

When he came out of surgery, the doctor showed Andy the appendix and told him the the average appendix is 3 1/2  in. long but Chase's was 12 in. with pus surrounding it!!

The 12 inch long appendix.

When I spoke with Andy last, Chase was in recovery still very groggy from the medicine and unable to move due to a spinal tap, but they thought he would be fine in the next few days and release him on Tuesday.

I also want to add that just last week, while playing football and doing a dive roll,  he broke his collar bone!!

Chase has been under tremendous warfare since arriving in Mexico and we're asking you all to pray for his protection and quick healing for both of the issues at hand!

Love,
Amber

Just Go With It AND General Tso's Chicken

Seems the life of a pregnant woman is never certain.

I was so excited to enter into the second trimester thinking that my energy would come back. Although, I don't ever remember it coming back when pregnant with Cayden, i thought it will come back with this baby.

To my utter dismay, most days, I HAVE NO energy!

NONE!

Somedays, it's 11am and I'm still in pj's lying on the floor trying to motivate myself for the day ahead.

One day last week I told Clinton that I would be perfectly happy if he got me a hotel room for week and let me sleep! Of course, that's not practical and didn't happen, and when I said it Clinton looked at me, with a very strange look head cocked to the side....like "Are you serious??"

Lots of days this is how I feel, "Someone get me my blankey. I just need to sleeeeeeep!!"

THEN there are days when this gush of energy hit's me and I'm ready to plan my meals for the month, scratch my creative itch in the kitchen making things my pregnant palate dreams about, clean out the cabinets, closets, and the toy boxes.

Friday was an amazing day! I homeschooled Joseph, did some Tot school with Cayden, and started my dinner prep at 2pm!! On that day we had Spaghetti and Meatballs that I got from the The Pioneer Woman and it was delicious!!! I mean good! So good I called Colton and told him, "I made some meatballs that will make you cry. Hurry and come get some."

Then Saturday, I couldn't seem to do anything!! I stayed in my pi's ALL DAY LONG!

I teeter between feeling like a total looser OR giving into my "hormonal state" and throwing a big slumber party watching movies and eating pop corn and staying up late because I have an "excuse".

 Tuesday, we had another wonderful day. I got school done with Joe by 1am laid the baby down at 1:30, gathered my ingredients for dinner, took a little nap and began dinner prep at 5:20.

We had amazing Butter Chicken (an Indian dish), and I made homemade Naan Bread that I got from Indian Simmer. It was an amazing dinner. I felt so good and productive, and I don't even have a picture.

 Today as I type, it's 11:17 and all I've done is read my Bible dress my children, call my husband and tell him I love him, and eat breakfast.

SO I've decided to just GO WITH IT. Chill out, Amber!

Hey! I'm 40 and pregnant AGAIN! Need I remind anyone that this is my 7th pregnancy and fourth in the last three years!!  What do I except of myself?!? Right?? ahem

 Right!

For some of the good days this week, here are a few pictures. ; )  

Last night, I made General Tso's chicken and it was DELICIOUS!!! I found the recipe on You Tube a while back and after making it several times (it's quickly become a family favorite) have tweaked the recipe to our liking. Started cutting chicken at 5:20pm and we sat down to eat at 6:20! How's that for fast!

Amber's version:
4 chicken breasts (cut very small)
2 eggs
flour

Sauce:
five garlic cloves
five slices of ginger about an inch a piece
1c chicken stock
7Tbls sugar
1/3c vinager
1/4c Hoisen Sauce (heaping)
1/4c Sesame Oil
1T + 1tsp corn starch
1/4c low sodium dark soy sauce
Sesame seeds(optional)

Directions:
Cut chicken in small pieces.
Whisk egg and put chicken in the egg
Dredge in flour and deep fry in hot oil  in small batches @375F until golden brown
Drain on paper towel

In a mixing bowel whisk chicken broth, sugar, vinegar, hoisen sauce, sesame oil, corn starch, soy sauce. Set aside.
Slice garlic and ginger into thin slivers then sauté in oil over med low heat until you smell the aroma of the garlic and the ginger. (about a min)
Mix sauce ingredients in with garlic/ginger until bubbles form.
Quickly add the chicken and stir fry until well coated and the sauce thickens.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds

Serve with hot white rice! YUM!!

Last night we had Baked Potato Soup. Talk about easy AND good! This whole dinner was ready from start to finish in 45min!

I like that! I'm into easy.

Baked Potato Soup

Cheddar Biscuits like Red Lobster

And here's a picture of Mr. Garsee playing "Mr. Wolf, what time is it?" with Joseph and Cayden.  I have this picture because I was sitting on the porch, which means it was another good day. ; )

Mr. Wolf has caught the Little Pig

Now Clinton's the Little Pig and he's being Chased by Joseph the Wolf

Tell me about your day!

Love
Amber