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uniquely made

How to Find Your Unique, God-Pleasing Purpose in the World

November 22, 2024 by Jennifer Schmidt

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Welcome! I’m Jennifer Taylor Schmidt.

In my journey to better health and well-being, I’ve learned that physical healing is not only about the body. My mind and thoughts have power over my physical health. My restless soul needs steady nourishment from God’s word. Join me as I share real food resources to nourish your body, mind, and soul.

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Have you ever had this happen? I had a very, very

Have you ever had this happen?

I had a very, very busy school year. It was overscheduled with clients, writing projects, homeschool responsibilties, and extra curriculars (my fault). I made it through the year, but it was a grind. Every single week was exhausting...a carefully curated schedule that kept me busy all day, every day, on the weekends, and often into the evenings.

So here's the thing. When I came to the end of my school-year responsibilities, I expected to feel amazing...free...lighthearted...relieved. Do you know what really happened? A wall of fatigue and even depression slammed into me. For a whole week, I sat in my house unable to fucntion at all. I've mostly emerged from that sad stupor, but why did it happen?

I had been living in a heaightened state of stress. My body was probably over producing cortisol all year long to keep me functional. Instead of feeling better when the stress lifted, I felt worse because my cortisol production crashed. This was the second time in my life I've experienced this phenomenon. I distinctly remember feeling the same way after leaving a very stressful teaching position.

I've already restructured next year's schedule so that I don't do this to myself again. We have to learn to listen to our bodies. Rest is essential to well-being. It can't just be rest every 9-10 months. We need rest built into every day of the year. This means built-in time without responsibilities. Time for hobbies. Time to be in nature. Time for prayer and Bible study.

After doing nothing for a week, I slowly began to feel better. The list in the image is a to-do list I made of all the tasks I ignored while being over-scheduled. I've been using the past few weeks to slowly tick them off. The fact that there are so many is just another sign that my world was out of order. I'd lost balance.

I speak from experience: If you're living a high-stress life, it's time to re-evaluate your choices. How can you build in time for rest? How can you find everyday moments of peace?

The truth is, our health and well-being depend on balance.

#realfoodrealhealing #stressresponse #prioritizeyourhealth #hobbiesareimportant #natureheals #prayerchangesthings

Happy Mother's Day! I was blessed with a wonderfu

Happy Mother's Day!

I was blessed with a wonderful, faithful, loving mother. I have known many others in my life. Whether your Mother's Day is happy or painful, filled with the children you prayed for, or missing faces that you desperately wanted, know that you are loved. You are seen.

Sometimes Mother's Day is hard. Our broken world makes this day hard. But even in brokenness, we can look for beauty. Look for a memory that radiates joy, laughter, and togetherness.

Sometimes "mothering" comes from our mother and sometimes it comes from one who steps in to mother well. Sometimes, as mothers, or women who want to be mothers, our hearts can be poured out for one who needs a mother, even if they're not ours. This too is beautiful. This heals our broken world.

Happy Mother's Day! Love big. Love well. Remember joyful memories. Look for laughter. Find togetherness...in your own family, or with those who need the heart of a mother. You have enough love to give.

I learned something new today. My son and I were

I learned something new today.

My son and I were at our local garden store chatting with one of the employees about tomato plants. The employee suggested that we bury a raw, whole egg beneath each of our tomato plants this year. In theory, the egg decays over time, slowly releasing a steady supply of calcium into the soil. This helps to prevent blossom end rot, which sometimes plagues tomato plants when the soil is not rich enough to support their needs. We came home and buried an egg beneath each of our tomato plants.

Have you ever done this?

#realfoodrealhealing #growyourownfood #gardeningtips #buryanegg

ANNOUNCING THREE NEW SPEAKING TOPICS! Do you have

ANNOUNCING THREE NEW SPEAKING TOPICS!

Do you have a women's retreat or pastors' wives conference seeking a speaker/Bible study leader for the 2025-2026 academic year? I'd be honored if you'd consider me for your event!

As a writer, educator, and pastor's wife, I often find myself writing about faith. Given my personal experience with chronic illness and mold toxicity, I am especially drawn to the intersection of faith and suffering. I also gravitate toward the topics of Christian identity and the trials and beauty found in the pastor's-wife-life.

You can find a description of each of my speaking topics (Waiting on God, The Story of All Things and You, and Called to Be...) on my website. Use the contact form through the link below for inquiries.

https://realfoodrealhealing.com/speaking/

#realfoodrealhealing #womensretreat #christianwomen #christianspeaker #waitingonGod #thestoryofallthingsandyou #calledtobe

Over the years, we have spent tens of thousands of

Over the years, we have spent tens of thousands of dollars on my health care needs. Most of that was spent doing "all the things" as we were searching for a root cause to my many mystery symptoms. In more recent years, my expenses have leveled out to the cost of a functional practitioner and various supplements to keep my body working optimally. I'm sharing all of this because I want to tell you what I've found to be the biggest return on investment.

It's a garden.

Seriously.

A garden.

I was not a gardener, but since changing to a diet of real food, I very much enjoy fresh produce. Lots and lots of fresh produce. When we bought our home five years ago, we decided to invest in a garden. I think that investment has been the single most valuable thing we've spent money on (when it comes to my healing journey).

🌱🫑🥦 A garden requires physical labor. When I first began gardening, I was too weak to exercise. Gardening made me stronger.

🌱🫑🥦 A garden keeps my hands in the dirt. That regular contact has helped to increase the diversity of my microbiome.

🌱🫑🥦 A garden encourages me to spend time in the sun. I feel happier and stronger after a few hours spent outside in the sunshine.

🌱🫑🥦 A garden is a journey of growth. That journey continually teaches me to hope for the future and wait patiently for results.

🌱🫑🥦 A garden forces me to find moments of peace. Watering, planting, and harvesting are quiet activites that force me to slow down and destress.

A garden of raised beds, soil, seeds, and water might cost $400-500 in its first season. That's a drop in the bucket compared to my other medical expenses. My garden has done more for my health and healing than any other supplement or therapy. The garden is where it's at!! Go grow something!

#realfoodrealhealing #gogrowsomething #backyardgarden #gardeninglife #growyourownfood #growyourown

I spent this morning updating the navigation menu

I spent this morning updating the navigation menu on the website. It should be much easier to find resources that speak to your needs. I pray that the things I write may be a blessing to you and something that you can share with others who are walking through chronic illness, mold toxicity, or suffering of any kind.

You'll now find a drop down box under each of the BODY, MIND, and SOUL headings. Check them out! Let me know if they are helpful to you.

(The attached image shows an example of the new simplified navigation.)

www.realfoodrealhealing.com

#realfoodrealhealing

Last night I went to my local "Ladies Mold Support

Last night I went to my local "Ladies Mold Support Group." There were eight warrior women present. All had their health (or the health of a child) absolutely obliterated by toxic mold in the home. One had written her own eulogy. Another had been writing letters for her young daughter. They both thought they were going to die. They had no answers. No doctor could help them. And then they found the mold.

Before we found the mold in our home, a doctor told me she suspected a brain tumor. Another told me I probably had breast cancer. I had to see an oncologist for a full year before being cleared. A rheumatologist suspected arthritis. A hemotologist told me it was probably a blood disorder. I was diagnosed with an new autoimmune disease or related condition every three months for three years. I too feared that I was dying.

Toxic mold can ravage the body. It can cloud the mind. People within the same house may react differently. (On average, men are less susceptible.) The thing is, it's easy to suspect mold when it's visible. But when mold is not seen, people sometimes live for years with debilitating symptoms. I did. So did many of the women there last night.

When you're not getting answers from the medical community...when no one can help you (or they don't believe you)...look to your home. Hire a mold inspection company like Hope the Mold Dog or Home Safe Mold Inspectors of NWA. Some mold inspectors are more educated than others. Some are just better than others. Do your research!

Be safe, friends! Be educated. Be strong. Be your own advocate. Fight for your family's health. Trust your instincts. Persist, like the eight women I met last night! They are healing and thriving because they pushed for answers. They didn't give up.

#realfoodrealhealing #toxicmold #waterdamage #moldtoxicity #moldtoxicityawareness #CIRS

Thank you for stopping by.

I hope that you have found inspiration, information, and hope here. May your real food choices (for body, mind, and soul) lead you to better health and wellness.

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