Jump, when you get the chance!

It was mid-May, and I received an email from doTERRA that I'd been invited to tour the lavender fields in Bulgaria. We would land in Romania, then travel as a group to Bulgaria to not only see their lavender fields but also one of doTERRA's distilleries called Esseterre.

Doug was willing, yet lukewarm on the invite. My girls were unavailable, so I called my dear friend Britney. She loves to travel, and from working with her over the past few years on everything from websites & YouTube channels to a total house remodel, I knew she was organized and fun to hang out with.

Within a few hours after saying yes, she had our trip planned! It's a gift to have a friend who keeps it together. We would cushion our five-day trip with two days on either side and make it an adventure.

Meanwhile, after getting this trip in the queue, I restructured our rental business by buying a beach house that would require being furnished before we left on our trip. Yes, we closed escrow on June 18th and would be leaving for Romania on June 23rd. Something that we truly couldn't have pulled off without Britney's mad skills.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this also included Doug & me moving into our RV for six months before another one of our properties opens up in the fall. Knowing that I didn't want to cram all of my things into the RV and then try to pack, I packed the first week in June ~ before our big jump!

As we worked relentlessly during those four long days as we furnished the new house, the thought of lying down in a lavender field to take a nap was my ultimate carrot. The day was here, and I grabbed a shower and my suitcase that I had packed a few weeks prior and wondered, 'What did I pack?'... and off to the airport I went!

I caught up with Britney at the airport and headed off to Eastern Europe, a place that hadn't been on my bucket list but should have been.

We landed in Bucharest, Romania, and found our way to our hotel. It wasn't that simple, as someone mistakenly took my pink suitcase instead of theirs, and hours later we resolved it. But meanwhile, we were in Romania and eager to explore the next day. Luckily, with a good night's sleep and a fresh outfit!

Britney and I walked around downtown Bucharest, seeing lots of churches, cool architecture, and eventually came upon the gigantic (4 million square ft) Parliament Building. We signed up for a tour and took in a fraction of this majestic building. The woodworking, this pocket door that makes ours look like something from a dollhouse,

the art, and all of its wonder was something to soak up, and that we did.

That evening, I headed out to an AA meeting, something I enjoy doing while traveling. It's fun to see the miracle of our program all over the world and a great way to meet locals in a way that just doesn't happen otherwise.

I showed up at a church,

and a young man walked

up a few minutes later.

He introduced himself, and

we enjoyed chatting.

Next, someone else

walked up, and

he was also visiting

—from Los Angeles,

of all places.

What a small world!

By the time we were

inside the church in a small room,

there were seven of us,

five locals and two tourists.

The meeting was wonderful, and I enjoyed hearing everyone's shares. AA has only been in Romania for a couple of decades, so meeting two visitors with 19 and 36 years of sobriety was really something for them. I can't imagine how refreshing it was to hear new stories and fresh perspectives. I also took away a newfound respect for AA and how it has reached the far corners of the earth.

We decided to go grab a sparkling water afterward and continued our fellowship. It was one of the highlights of my trip and something that I will never forget. Those fellow

AA-ers were all heart and soul.

The person I met first walked me back to my hotel, and I learned about his childhood in communist Romania, the struggles of their country and how he was always so curious about Americans and our lives in the USA. It was a very touching story and, one that really hit home.

The next day was the day to move to the fancy hotel that was part of our tour package and meet 30 doTERRA friends. Two-thirds of them were from the US, and one-third of them were from Singapore, and all of them were delightful. We also had doTERRA staff to guide us along, and it was no surprise that this was a top-notch trip, both in itinerary but more so in the quality of people who represent doTERRA.

After breakfast, we loaded up in a chartered bus and headed south to Bulgaria. It was fun to meet other people and learn about their lives back home. Our stay in Bulgaria was at a seaside resort on the Black Sea, and it was so nice. The weather was wonderful, and the swim in the Black Sea was a memorable one.

As we sat on the shoreline on loungers for a bit after our swim, we were accompanied by countless ladybugs, or so we thought. "Oh, they are so cute," I would exclaim as I willingly shared my space and limbs for them to crawl about on, only to find out later that they weren't ladybugs; they were beetles, and I'm not talking the 'twist and shout' kind. Now we know!

We approached a beachside restaurant, and a character, or rather the host, named Top Dog George inquired if we enjoyed pizza. We answered yes but expressed a preference for something more local, like Mediterranean cuisine.

Unperturbed, he seated us at one of

the many available tables. When he returned to take our order, he listened to our order and then responded, well, we only have pizza, so that's what I'll bring! We were ready to eat and wrap up the day, so we settled for the

pizza he offered us.

Our new friends from Singapore approached with the same level of hunger coupled with hesitation to commit, as he lured them in just as successfully as he had done with us. By then, we had pizza at our table, and the second he sensed them wavering, he grabbed a clean plate and said, 'No, our pizza is great, you gotta try it,' and came over to our table and snagged a piece of our pizza to give to them. We all laughed and thought he'd be at the top of the rung with doTERRA with this kind of hustle!

The next day we went off to see the lavender field... ah, I can finally get that nap that I'd been dreaming of! It was one of many small fields, as we work with multiple farmers in the region. We are a Co-Impact Sourcing Company, meaning that we work closely with the farmers and eliminate the middleman. Consequently, the farmers are paid on time, receive fair wages, and are treated well. Most of all, our oils are not adulterated by a broker for profit, and they are tested for purity.

We make sure their farming is sustainable, and we also address community needs such as water treatment plants, schools, and health clinics. Consequently, 90% or more of our farmers are exclusive with doTERRA. I'm proud to be affiliated with a company of this caliber and level of care.

An interesting observation we made was that when these trips started, the roads were crowded with prostitutes attempting to attract business from those passing by. As doTERRA aims to address needs as they emerge, they decided to explore ways to make a positive impact in this area as well.

They established a tea house and taught the women to prepare tea and serve pastries, enabling them to earn a respectable living and stay safe. We noticed only one or two women on the roadside, whereas previously, many more were common. I admire this about doTERRA; they truly practice what they preach.

Following that, we visited the distillery. It reminded me of my daughter Daphne, who has been crafting different kinds of alcohol for about five years. Distillation is both an art and a science, regardless of the substance being processed.

We met the farmers and the employees in the processing plant. It is rewarding to see it go from raw material to pure essential oil! Here we are dancing in a vat of melissa.

We had a nice lunch on our way home that was several courses, and the first course would have satiated me. Delicious tomatoes with balls of cheesy something, oh Lordy, it was so good!

The next day we donned our doTERRA T-shirts and went off to visit a local orphanage. The kids were amazing, as you can imagine. Of course, no photos of them, but memories that will never fade.

Upon arrival, we had the choice of repainting a mural, making birdhouses, playing games, or flying kites. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed chatting with the kids. After having lunch altogether, we returned to our hotel.

That evening, we went to a dinner at a beautiful country club, complete with entertainment from both local talent and some of our very own doTERRA friends! Everyone was such great sports, and fun was had by all.

The following day, we returned to Romania. This tale wouldn't be complete without mentioning Britney's discovery of a day spa wonderland that she, Lori, Anne, and I visited. It cost just $35, and we spent the whole afternoon there. It was a fantastic way to relax after all our travels.

We embarked on a 12-hour tour to visit several castles and attractions, including Castle Bram, which inspired the Dracula story for our last day in Romania. Our driver, though a speed enthusiast who enjoyed weaving through traffic, was thankfully skilled. Overall, it was a fantastic day, and we headed to our new hotel near the airport to prepare for our journey back to our loved ones the following day.

Before signing off, do you ever wonder how doTERRA supports my health while traveling? Here are some of my top go to's that I had and used while adventuring:

• Frankincense - roll diluted solution around eyes (not in them) to address dry eyes.

  one drop under my tongue daily for reducing inflammation

• Fiber - 1 scoop daily with water to ward off diverticulitis, it's never returned!

• VMG+, EO Mega+, PB Restore & Advantage- vitamins, Fish Oil, Probiotic & collagen

• Breathe Oil & drops - supports my respiratory system

• Tri-Ease soft gels - a natural way to address my allergies

• Digestzen chewables - a natural way to address funny tummy

• Terrazyme - Barbara gave me some to minimize congestion at early signs, TY!

Although I had more items in my suitcase, these are my top 10 essentials! It reassured me to know I was taking steps to prevent illness, increasing my chances of staying healthy and independent while traveling.

Now that I'm up to date with my blogging, I'll switch gears and keep sharing our Great Lakes journey with you. I'm thankful for our community and this unique way to stay connected.

With gratitude,

Shari