In 2000, I was blessed with a beautiful bundle of joy. She was full of energy, and we named her Mackenzie — our Kenzie.

Within weeks, after many tests and many very long nights filled with tears, the doctors returned with a triple diagnosis. They told us Kenzie was very sick and might only be with us for a short time.

As a family, we had to completely change the way we lived. We learned to cook and eat in ways that felt like stepping back into Little House on the Prairie days — gluten-free, dairy-free, and at the time, utterly tasteless. But we did what we had to do to give her a chance.

Over the years, I planted gardens and grew herbs to support her immune system and create the foods her body needed. That was the beginning of my homeopathic journey. We harvested herbs, diffused and preserved them, and created things like honeysuckle jelly. I listened to doctors, read every book I could find, searched the internet — and still felt there was more I could do
for my daughter.

My Grammy, who lived with me for sixteen years, was my inspiration. She cooked everything from scratch. She gathered lamb’s quarter for salads and dandelions to make dandelion wine. She used lily leaves to help heal cuts. She believed the earth provided what we needed if we paid attention.

Watching her, I began to believe that if Kenzie could live from this kind of cooking — simple, natural, intentional — maybe she wouldn’t just survive. Maybe she would thrive.

In biblical times, healing came from herbs and what was grown from the land. That thought stayed with me: why not my daughter?

So we started small. I named our project Grams Old Chest — because, like opening an old wooden chest, you never quite knew what you might discover or create inside.

We began with soy candles and cotton wicks for a clean burn. Then came soaps and lotions. From there, we expanded into chapsticks, jellies, balms, creams, and more. Each product was created with love, intention, and the knowledge I gained along this journey.

Creating became more than a craft — it became a bond between my daughter and me. It became purpose. It became hope.

As our journey continues, I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned with you. I hope you enjoy these products as much as I have loved creating them. And if there is something special you would like to try, reach out — I will gladly do my best to create it for you.