Another Great Idea!

The following is posted by Diane Hopkins of Love to Learn. You can visit her blog at http://www.dianehopkins.blogspot.com/

Secret Service Star

Posted: 17 Dec 2008 11:20 PM CST

Christmas is a time when we try to do lots of service for those in need. What memories we have from all those good times. But, sometimes we can forget the truth that "charity begins at home".

That's why one of my favorite traditions of Christmas is our "Secret Service Star". In the past, we've used a wooden star painted gold. When that got broken by my energetic young sons, a cardboard star covered in aluminum foil took its place. Doesn't matter so much what the star looks like in our family anymore, it is the idea it represents. In fact, this year I just quickly drew a star on a post-it note! And it works just fine.

The important thing about the Service Star is that it initiates a very fun and good-feeling game of "you're it!". You can only hang on to the star for an hour if you get tagged. And how you get tagged is that the possessor of the star does a good deed for you, in secret, and leaves the star in its place.

I started off the game this year by doing my son Ammon's chore: unloading the dishwasher. Then I left the empty dishwasher open with the post-it note star on the rack. Ammon noticed it, was surprised and delighted to have his chore done, and went quietly and secretly made Louisa's bed, leaving the star on her pillow. Louisa was now "it" and got dressed to go out in the snow and help Emily to do a task she didn't want to do. The star did its magic and again transferred to a new owner. And around and around it goes, making us all feel happier and more thoughtful of each other!

Eventually someone did a secret service for my grown son Mark when he came home to visit. Since he had to pass it on quickly and didn't have much time, he brought a big cool glass of water to my husband at his desk . . . along with the Service Star! And he remarked quietly to me, "I need to be nicer."

Around and around this star goes, making everyone a littler kinder, providing plenty of smiles and making Christmas come alive at our house."

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas." -Dale Evans Rogers

Advent Activities for Families

I just ran across a great website that has something called Advent for the Family which includes "Daily Bible readings, craft, activity and recipe suggestions to enhance your holiday season!" It is amazing and right up my alley since I need something in my hands explaining exactly how to celebrate Advent.

I know it's late to start it this year, but we are just going to skip all of the crafty stuff and recipes up to todays lesson. Even if you don't do it this year, bookmark it and try it next year. What a great way to keep Christ the center of Christmas!

There is also another way to celebrate the Advent season by creating a Jesse Tree. "It is a small, leafless tree decorated with symbols portraying Jesus' spiritual heritage." It's kind of like a study of Jesus' Family Tree which you make as you go. We made our tree out of long sticks and hung it from a light fixture above our table. Each day you read a passage and hang the symbol for it. We have sort of made a game out of figuring out which symbol goes with the day's reading and then guessing what it represents. Here is a similar picture of how our's looks.Here is another website with Jesse Tree directions and a little different pictures. Let me know if any of you decide to try these out!

CHRISTmas!

This Christmas REMEMBER:



Jesus is Better than Santa!

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks...and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and our future.
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO!
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry!"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me, for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle, but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree,
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you
and your loved ones this Christmas 2008.

And may He prosper and bless
the work of your hands in the New Year!
********************************************
Although I did not write the above words (this is an email floating around), they represent what our family believes. We do not celebrate Santa at Christmas at our house, we celebrate Jesus! We teach our children that Christ was a gift to us from God and then he gave his life for us on a cross, so during the holidays we can give to others as a way to give back to God. It's not about what we want but about how we can bless others!

May you truely know the real reason for CHRISTmas!

Winter Wonderland!

We are still in disbelief, but we were blessed with snow at our house this week! Not only did we wake up to a mostly white outside but after it began to melt away in the afternoon, it began snowing again and snowed for about 4-5 hours. This accumulated and stuck amounting to around 2 inches. Our children have never seen snow, so this was an extra special treat. We touched, tasted, threw, built, snow-angeled, and played until 10pm. It was so amazing to walk out of our house and the whole yard was solid white. Unfortunately, the one time it snowed in our neck of the woods, Kenneth was out of town at a conference :( so he missed the whole thing. But, of course, we saved some in the freezer and Cody has already pelted his daddy once with a snowball. Here are a few pictures of our snow day fun!

Thankgiving Joys!

Here is a brief look at our Thanksgiving for 2008. We hope you all had a blessed day and much to be thankful for.

May the Lord bless you for another year!

Above Rubies-Home Destroyers (2a)

HOME DESTROYERS
Part 2a

Jeremiah 4:22 RSV, "For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are stupid children, they have no understanding."

Today we continue talking about things that destroy the home.

2. FOOLISHNESS

Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."

What does it mean to be foolish? Simply, it means to do it my way rather than God's way. God's way, although different to my way always ends in blessing. My way, although it may look good, always ends in destruction.

If we are not building our home, we are pulling it down. How do we pull it down?

We pull it down by vacating the home. God wants the mother in the home--nurturing, nourishing and training her children. We can't do everything successfully. We either build up a business (usually someone else's business) or we build up our home. God has given us a full time job to tend our little flock. God gives a warning to the mother shepherdess when He says in Zechariah 11:17, "Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock!" Notice that this Scripture has an exclamation mark!

We pull it down by our words. Negative words. Critical words. Reactive words. Spiteful words. Angry words. And on it goes.

We build our home with words or
we destroy our home with words!

When God allowed Satan to get at his servant Job, he smote him with terrible boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet Job was in agony and pain. Instead of encouraging him, Job's wife said, "Do you still hold on to your integrity? Curse God, and die." Job replied, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:9-10)

Do you speak as one of the foolish women, or one of the wise?

Sometimes it may not be negative words. It may be wasteful words. Proverbs 15:2 says, "The mouth of fools pours forth foolishness." Often we speak unnecessary words when we should keep out mouths shut. I am always challenged by Proverbs 10:19, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." The more we blab on about anything and everything, the more opportunity there is to sin with our mouth. The NLT makes it clearer, "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!"

We pull it down by spending frivolously and unwisely. The foolish woman buys according to her whims and what takes her fancy. She buys groceries without thought for nutrition or without reading the ingredients. She fills her cupboards with devitalized packaged foods instead of cooking from scratch. She purchases unnecessary "things" to fill her home which could be used for wiser needs.

Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man (or woman) spendeth it up." The foolish woman spends more than her husband can afford. The wise woman lives frugally within her means. I often have to remind my new adopted daughters that we don't have to eat what we want whenever we want. We must learn to live thriftily rather than extravagantly.

We pull it down by wasting. Many women not only waste time but waste products. They throw out everything. It is not wise to be a hoarder and clutter up your home, but there are many things that can be re-used to save re-spending.

Many mothers allow their children to pick at their food and leave it on their plate without teaching them to eat what is in front of them. Good food is thrown in the trash. This is wasteful.

May God deliver us from being in the "foolish women category" that pulls down their home.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Father, please touch my lips with coals from off the altar. I don't want to speak negative words. Fill my mouth with encouraging and life-giving words that will build up my husband and my children. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Building up my home with uplifting words,
To do anything else is utterly absurd!

Fall Fest Fun!

I have officially decided that Fall is my favorite season.

I love the smells of Fall best-apples, pumpkin, and spices!

I also love the cooler weather, especially after our hot 90-100+ degree days of summer.

I love the few trees with leaves that change color around here too! Kenneth recently planted a tree in the front yard that he transplanted from a job he was working on. One morning as we were leaving the house I actually drove through leaves on our driveway. For those of you who know me well, know how much I have longed for trees on our property. I was so excited to see those leaves! No matter that they were probably just falling off the tree from the shock of transplanting, I had a Fall moment in my driveway! I am so thankful to have a handy hubbie who can do things like moving 20 foot trees!

I also love how motivated we get to make things during the Fall, like breads, cookies, art projects, and yummy smelling soups. We also get motivated to have a Fall Festival at our house.

Today was our 2nd Annual Davis Fall Festival and what fun it was! We had around 90 Moms, Dads and children outside at our house-whew! We had bobbing for apples and caramel to dip them in, a calk walk, a leaf pool to frolic in, crafts, and pin the hat on the turkey. After all of the booth games, we did relay races. We did sack races, 3-legged races, and pumpkin rolling races. It was a treat to watch some of the moms join in the fun! After the races everyone enjoyed a healthy and nutritious lunch of hotdogs and chips and desserts. Hopefully everyone left with a belly full of lots of yummy treats and was so tired they slept well for their mothers??

For those who couldn't make it, we missed you, and hope to do it again next year!

Dish Detergent

Here is a recipe for Dish Washer Detergent. I haven't tried it yet but have bought everything to make it and plan to soon! It is so simple. Anyone can do this! I am still making and using clothes detergent too. It works great and I haven't had any problems with it at all. Look under my recipe tab on the right side for that recipe.

Dish Detergent

1 cup Borax
1 cup Baking Soda
Orange or lemon essential oil

Mix in a small container with a TBS measure inside. Use 3 TBS per load. You can use vinegar as a rinse aid if you like.

Happy Homemaking!

Presidential Voter's Guide

Why we don't celebrate Halloween

This is what I posted last year about halloween but it still pertains this year. I wrote below to do some research yourself on the origins of halloween and here is a link to my friends blog who has done some research already for you.

My aim is never to offend anyone, we all have to do what we feel is right for our own family and what the Lord is leading us to do. I do pray that if the Lord wants to use what I right on this blog to spur another person on, that the person be willing to receive it. You may take what I write and throw it out the window and may even think I am nutty or you may earnestly pray and see what the Lord would have you do. Either way, please know that my heart is pure in my desire to see others brought closer to the Lord and I love sharing what the Lord is doing in our lives. I also want a written account of my life to share with my children when they are older and they are wanting to remember what their mother and family was like.

Blessings to you all!






(Sorry this is sideways. It would take another 15 minutes to try to figure out how to turn it, so this is how it will stay!)

I get asked this often around this time of year, so here are my thoughts.
I believe that we, as Christians, are to be innocent of all evil and are called to be set apart from the world. We have to stand out in some bold way! Yes, it's fun to dress up in costumes and get candy, but if my children look and act exactly like every other child, then we are not shining our light for an ungodly world. If you leave it at costumes and candy, then there's really not an arguement. But, if you research the history behind Halloween (i recommend it) and it's roots in devil worship, how can a Christian even consider giving Satan glory by particapating in this "holiday?"


My children are not deprived by missing out on this event. They dress up in costumes on a regular basis and eat candy way too often. At this young age, their hearts are so tender and moldable that I can not subject them to so many images of death, evil, witchcraft, sorcery and not expect them to remember it and be affected by it. An image can never be erased once it is in your mind. As parents, we are responsible for what they see, learn, and hear. I take my job as a mother very seriously and don't want to look back with regret that I didn't do all i was able to protect them. To keep them innocent of all evil, i have to shield them from evil, including the movies they watch, the people they are around, the toys they play with, and who is allowed to influence their thinking.


This is where the Lord has us right now and it's not the same for every family. If the opportunity arises, when my children are older, to help at a festival to lead others the Christ, then we will participate. This year we celebrated October 31st just as any other beautiful day the Lord had made by roasting hotdogs and smores over a fire pit with our friends.


When ever i start to doubt they way the Lord has us doing things, i remind myself, "Our purpose is to please God, not people." 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Texas Voters-

For those of you who are fellow Texas voters, here is a link to a list of candidates that support homeschooling put out by the Texas Home School Coalition Political Action Committee. If you are unsure of who to vote for in certain races, just print this list and take it with you to vote.

As a homeschooling family, our rights are at stake this election if we don't elect pro-homeschooling candidates. Even if you don't homeschool, please consider voting for these candidates too. We all have the choice at this point to homeschool or not, but if this election does not go in our favor, we may be stripped of the right to choose to homeschool or be extremely limited in how we do it.


http://www.thscpac.org/thscpac/endorsements.html

I just checked the link above and it doesn't work. Just click on www.thscpac.org then click on endorsed and it should be there.

What is your Legacy?

What is the legacy you will leave? What will people remember about you?

I think about this often, especially when i think about my husband and children.

Will my husband remember a wife that loved and cared for him? Will he see a picture of me as the young, beautiful (to him) wife of his youth? Will he remember the way i loved, nurtured, and cared for his children? Will he remember me as a keeper at home and a fruitful vine throughout his house? Will I be remembered as his best friend and help meet?

What will my children remember about their mother? Did I love them, teach them, and comfort them enough? Will they remember all the hugs and kisses and not all the swats? Will they remember me always being there for them and sacrificing myself just as Jesus did? Will the image in their minds be one of a femine woman who loved the Lord, her husband, and her children? Will their overall memory of me be that i was a picture to them of how God loves them and cares for them?



All of these things are good and important and ones that I do hope they remember them about me. But, more than anything else, I pray that they remember that I loved and served the Lord with all of my heart. That I read my Bible daily and was always growing and learning how to be a better wife and mother. That I imparted to them the love of their Heavenly Father that is better than any material thing on this earth. That He will always be there for them, even when I am long gone.

I am not perfect. I make mistakes and sin just like everyone else. I do not claim to have this life all figured out. I just take it one day at a time and constantly ask the Lord to guide me and help my though each day. I pray for peace and wisdom many times a day just so i can get through it. But that's it, I can't get through it by myself, I have to surrender my plans to the Lord. Whenever i try to do anything in my own strength, I fail and mess up. He is the only reason I can be the wife and mother I hope to be. He is the reason why I am here today.

Everyday we have a choice to be one thing or another in the eyes of those watching us. I pray, with God's help, that I will be remembered by all of the right side words below. We all have the same choices to make. Will we show ourselves to be:

Selfish or selfless?

Material or eternal?

Greedy or giving?

Faithless or faithful?

Arrogent or humble?

Fearful or peaceful?

Angry or joyful?

Hateful or loving?

Rushed or patient?

Rough or gentle?

What will your legacy be?????
_____________________________________________

This song has captured the essence of what I want my legacy to be. Nothing earthly, that moths and rust destroy, but that I blessed Jesus's name unapologetically!

I hope you can hear the song with the slide show above. Here are the words in case you can't!

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father!
*********************************************
Legacy by Nichole Nordeman




I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me

And I enjoy an accolade like the rest

And you can take my picture and hang it in a gallery

Of all the Who's Who's and So-and-So's

That used to be the best at such and such

It wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights

We all need an "Atta boy" or "Atta girl"

But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides

The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Did I point to You enough

To make a mark on things

I want to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed Your name unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile

To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy

It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile

Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Did I point to You enough

To make a mark on things

I want to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed Your name unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy

Not well-traveled, not well-read

Not well-to-do, or well-bred

Just want to hear instead

Well done, good and faithful one

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Did I point to You enough

To make a mark on things

I want to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace

Who blessed Your name unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me

Last Day to Register to Vote!

Today is the last day to register to vote. You can still do it if you print the form online and it is post marked with today's date.

Go to www.votexas.org to print a form.

We all need to exercise our freedom to vote. Even if you don't care about all this stuff, it can and will affect your children one day so just do it for them!

Here's a couple of other websites:

www.sos.state.tx.us

www.brazosvotes.org

Children are a Gift from the Lord!

Wow- I am again so blessed by what Nancy Campbell has to say. Even though we only have 4 children I get the many of the questions she lists below all the time. My favorite response to "You have your hands full" is "I'd rather have them full than empty!" This usually catches most people off guard and they respond "I guess you're right."

It's always my goal to have strangers look at us and ask themselves "what is different about them?" Oh, they may think we look different, dress different, act different....but hopefully what lingers in their mind is that something is different, and that is my point! We are called to be different from our culture. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." We are to purposely be different. When we dress like everyone one else, how can they see Christ in our lives. Unfortunately today, the way women dress is very unmodest and masculine. We have to look different from them. For me, that means wearing a longer skirt and not too tight shirt. It may be something else for you, but either way, we must not copy the worldly way of dressing. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says this about the way women dress, "I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."
There are many more areas that we can purposely look different from this world. Ask the Lord to show you the areas you may need to change and he will!

I love this quote from Evangeline Howard, who just happens to be one of Mrs. Campbells daughters.
"Freedom mothering...it's not about getting out of it, it's about getting into it! Taking the world for Christ one birth at a time!"

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DISARMING THE GAINSAYERS

Zechariah 8:12 (NLT), "I believe, therefore have I spoken."


"Who am I? Have you sighed these words on your difficult mothering days?

It's a good question, for if you don't know who you are, you will flounder in life. Fortunately, it's not a hard question to answer. God created you uniquely, like nobody else on earth, with special gifts that no one else has. But, transcendentally, you are a mother. You have an inborn urge to nurture. If you don't want to mother children, you will find yourself mothering something else, maybe your pet dog or cat. It is distinctive to us as females.

God created you with a womb and with breasts to nurture and nourish life. Why not embrace who you are? Be the best at who God created you to be instead of running from it. Start enjoying it. Disarm the feminists! Disown the lies! Destroy the deceptions and delight in motherhood.

How? By exploding with joy. You have the privilege of bringing children into the world for God's purposes, children who will live forever. By telling the world you are proud to be a mother. Away with inferiority that's a lie! Away with feeling insignificant; that's not true! Away with the thoughts that you were called to do something more important; that's a humanistic lie!

Next time someone asks you what you do in life, beam with joy and shout, "I am a mother! I have the most blessed career in the world."

The next time someone sees you with all your children in tow and asks, "Are all these yours?" put on a bigger smile, from ear to ear, and shout, "Yes, I am so blessed." Or, "Yes, we love children so much we are hoping for more." Or, "Yes, we're just getting started!"

Or you could even say, "Yes, they are. But where are your children?"

"Oh, they're' at school. We could only afford to have two."

"How very sad," you reply. "You must often feel bored and lonely. We live such a full and exciting life." Give another beaming smile and leave them speechless, ready to disarm the next person who makes a negative comment.

Going out with all your children will become such fun. It will be even more exciting as you train your children for adverse comments about family. When you have answered your critic, the children can also put on their beaming smiles and all say in unison, "God bless you, Madam."

What if someone says, "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO STOP HAVING CHILDREN?" Or "Are you planning to have any more?"
\
With a smile and twinkle in your eyes, you could answer, "It's conceivable."

What if some dear soul comments, "You have your hands full."

"We're working on it," you reply. "We are blessed with five; only five more to go!"

Put your shoulders back. Lift up your head. Put a big smile on your face and disarm the anti-child advocates. You'll begin to change the world around you! You'll be speaking on the behalf of God who loves life and loves children. You'll be destroying the deceptions of Satan who hates life and seeks to destroy it.

What a mission. Have fun.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"I thank you, Lord, that you created me to be a mother. Help me to shine with your glory and lift up your truth wherever I go."

House of the Lord

Another Nancy Campbell post-be encouraged!

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE

Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

David longed for the "House of the Lord." It was his favorite place to be. But David could not be in the house of the Lord continually, as much as he longed to. He was king of a nation. He had battles to fight; administration to attend to. But dear mother, we have the opportunity to live David's longing. Let me explain.

The house of the Lord is no longer one temple as it was in David's day. It is not even a church building where we attend on Sundays or Saturdays today. The house of the Lord speaks of His presence. God wants your home to be His house where His presence dwells; a place where you abide in Him and He abides in you. The house of the Lord is abiding fellowship with Christ. The house of the Lord is your kitchen where you prepare the meals; the house of the Lord is your dining table where you feed your family and make every meal a love affair; the house of the Lord is any room in the home where you are working or interacting with your children.

In your home you can behold the beauty of the Lord. As you abide in Him and look to Him, He will impart His grace to you in your time of need. He will show you that He is the God who is Enough for every challenge and every situation. He is with you, in your home, and will never leave you or forsake you. No, not even when everything seems overwhelming and you feel like tearing your hair out! You are still in the house of the Lord at this moment. Instead of despairing about the situation, stop for a moment and realize that God is with you. He has promised that He will not fail you. Thank Him that He is with you. Thank Him that He cannot fail you.

In your home you can inquire in His temple. David had to go God's temple to inquire of the Lord. He faced battles, enemies and challenges; He needed God's discernment, wisdom and strength. You also long for God's wisdom. You are desperate to know what to do. You cannot go on without His strength. Praise the Lord, you don't have to get into your car and rush off to a church building. You are in the house of the Lord right now. You can inquire in His temple right now. He will give you His wisdom. He has promised, remember.

All you have to do is abide--that literally means to live in His presence. It means to acknowledge that Christ is living within you and that you are in Him. You are inseparable. You are one. He is your life source. You can't live without Him (well, I can't anyway!). Your own strength wains; you need His. Your wisdom is human; you need His divine wisdom. Your love runs out the door; you need His agape love. You are depressed and down in the dumps; His joy does not depend on how you feel. You feel your life is worthless; you can only bear fruit to bless your family and touch other lives as you abide.

John 15:4-5 says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me can do nothing." There it is. The secret to living in the house of the Lord all the days of your life.

How I love those words... "all the days of my life." It doesn't matter what my day is like, God is with me. It doesn't matter whether I think God has left me; He is bigger than my thoughts. My thoughts deceive but God doesn't change.

See your home in a new light. It is the house of the Lord. You can live in it all the days of your life.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Thank you, Lord, for showing me that my home is the house of the Lord. Help me to enjoy my home in a new way. Thank you that I don't have to visit the house of the Lord. I live in it! Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am not a visitor but a dweller in the house of the Lord.

SCRIPTURES REFERRED TO IN THIS DEVOTION:
Look up Isaiah 41: 10, 13; Hebrews 13:5-6; James 1:5-8.

The Sounds of Life

This is such a beautiful picture of the home I pray for daily. The one I hope my children can look back on their childhood and remember. This is what I want my earthly family life to look like. I love this part the most, "fathers eating the fruit of their labors, of moms who radiate the glory of being fruitful vines, and of brothers and sisters who gather around the family table like precious olive plants (Psalm 128)." I encourage you to read Psalm 127 and 128. They are the perfect picture of what a biblical christian family should look like. These verses encompass all of who I am and daily strive to be.

******************************************************************

By Douglas W. Phillips:

Fatherhood and the Sounds of Life

Every day there are thousands of sounds competing for the attention of fathers.
There is the sound of the television set. This is the intoxicating call of the ancient siren, lulling men to slumber, urging them to check their brains at the door of their homes and float into a sea of passivity until they crash upon the rocks of life. There is the sound of the city and the business world. These sounds sometimes give men the false assurance that corporate success is the true test of manhood.

Then there are the diverse sounds of the world in general — a never-ending barrage of sound coming from the hum of machines, the chatter of people, and the background music that follows modern man from elevators to his car to the local coffee shop. These sounds remind us that we are not alone. But they also train us to be incapable of sitting in silence and communing with our God. Like a drug that takes away the pain of life at the expense of the clarity of the mind, these sounds often fill our heads with unnecessary distraction, such that it is a struggle to focus on the most important things.

We live in a world of sound pollution — too much sound, all the time. We spend so much time listening to indiscriminate sounds that we often fail to hear the music of life. We need to reduce the pollution and start listening to the most important music — the sounds that make a Christian household a Christian household.

There is music in the sound of a family worshipping the Lord together. There is music in the sound of babies laughing, of children studying at the family table, of sisters preparing meals for their family, and of moms reading bedtime stories to little ones. When these sounds truly reflect hearts that long to please their Heavenly Father, they make up the aroma of a life well-lived before the Lord.

Of course, the most beautiful music to a father’s ear are any sounds which allow him to experience the blessing of watching his children walking in truth. On this point, Jesus Christ, the author of Holy Scripture, wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4).

I am persuaded that the sounds of a household are a window into the soul of the family.
For most American families today, the sounds being projected are filled with the noise pollution of the television or even with the discordant shouts of family turmoil. In other cases, the modern household is an empty tomb — a shadow of what family life was meant to be. In these households, there is little sound because there are no children. Or perhaps the silence stems from years of family fragmentation in which mother, father, and children each have their own individualized lives largely lived out far from home.

The Christian household is meant to be different. It is a place of love and living
And that means noise. It means houses filled with the glorious echoes of babies crying, of children playing, of mothers teaching, of fathers training, and even a few animals chirping, meowing, or woofing. It means life — with all of its glory, sadness, and joy. It means happy homes of highly eccentric families, each with their own unique vision, style, personality traits, and expressions.

These homes are not museums. That means they are rarely immaculate. Gloriously organized chaos is sometimes a more apt description. They are homes made up of grateful and forgiven sinners who recognize that there is no greater joy than to daily experience the nobility of the commonplace, from the simple disciplines of Christian life — prayer, studies, work — to the thrill of watching fathers eating the fruit of their labors, of moms who radiate the glory of being fruitful vines, and of brothers and sisters who gather around the family table like precious olive plants (Psalm 128).

Look for these households. For their number is growing. They are part of a great spiritual work where the hearts of parents are turning to their children and children to their parents (Malachi 4:6). And when you find them, listen.

Excerpted from the chapter “The Art of Home School Opera: The Blessing of Family Eccentricities,” from The Little Boy Down the Road: Short Stories and Essays on the Beauty of Family Life, by Douglas W. Phillips, to be released from Vision Forum, October, 2008.

Pox, Flu, & a Hurricane, Whew!

My previous post called "What a Day" should be renamed to "What a Week!"

Here's a day-by-day guide to my weekend. Just add it on to Tuesday when i got locked out of my car at Sam's and then went looking for my lost Ergo, wah!

Thursday:
This morning Claire woke up with spots all over her belly. Some even looked like a clump of spots, more like hives. Since she was exposed to Chicken Pox 2 weeks before, I just assumed it was beginning. We got lots of oatmeal ground up for oatmeal baths and i kept close watch on her spots all day. She also started running a fever that night.

Kate also popped up a really spotty looking diaper rash which i assumed might be chicken pox since she had possibly been exposed too. She was also finishing up antibiotics for an ear infection though, so it could have been a rash from that??? Very fussy!

Then Kenneth started running a fever and feeling sick/sleeping all day. Stomach flu???

Friday:

Claire woke up with no spots, hmmm...interesting. But within an hour, new spots emerged. Not definite raised pimple-like spots, like the books say, just red dots all over her lower body and arms. The fever continued all day and night getting up to 102.7. She loved her special oatmeal bath twice today. Girls are so girly!

Kenneth felt much better today, but then Owen started running a fever. By Friday night, he threw up all over the couch and continued throwing up all night. Poor guy even slept on the floor in our bathroom because he didn't think he'd make it to the toilet in time if he went to his bed : ( Lots of laundry today!

As if all of this wasn't enough, we had a major hurricane, named Ike, coming up our alley. What time i didn't spend bathing, holding, rocking, giving medicine, cleaning up throw-up, etc, i was running around outside cleaning up all our stuff and "hunkerin' down" as our neighbor called it. We were told to expect hurricane strength wind and lots of flooding rain beginning during the middle of Friday night.

Between the itching, crying, nursing, head-holding, tylenol giving, and crazy hurricane winds tonight, i think i slept about 10 seconds. One time, all 3 of the kids were crying for me at the same time, what to do? Of all times, out of 365 days a year, a major hurricane, chicken pox and a stomach flu all hit my house in the same night. Amazing! It is amazing how God gives us the strength to get through what ever may come our way.

Saturday:

Owen woke up feeling fine, hmmm. Claire woke up with new spots again, hmmmmm. Kate was extremely fussy, ugh, and outside the wind was blowing so hard that when we tried to open the door it actually came flying open into the house along with rain, yikes!

The blessing of all of this happening at the same time was that Kenneth wasn't able to go work at all today, yay! So I did get to sleep a little extra in the morning and even take a short nap in the afternoon. He and Cody even "braved" the hurricane force winds to go get us all donuts! I was watching the news while they were gone and the reporter was laughing that Starbucks was actually open during a hurricane. Several cars drove by and he laughed more wondering where all these people would be going in the middle of a hurricane. If i was not so shy, i would have called in and told him they were probably all headed to the donut shop just like my hubbie! We wound up watching movies and eating donuts in our pajamas most of the day, how fun! And of course, Claire and Kate enjoyed more oatmeal baths. We did actually drive into town Saturday evening to pick up some dinner and check out all of the damage.

Sunday:

We spent today cleaning up all of the wind blown stuff and assessing the storm. The only major thing we had happen was the trampoline net enclosure ripped almost all the way around. So now the enclosure is not really "enclosed." The kids think its fun to wrap their bodies all around in it like fish, though. We were very blessed to get through a hurricane this easily. We never even lost power once!

Claire spots are the same as yesterday, finally, but only one spot has opened and scabbed. I could just as easy think it was a scratch??? So, i have no idea if she really does have chicken pox, maybe just a mild case or something totally different. She's acting and feeling great. And Kate, i'm not sure about either, maybe just a mild case too. I guess we'll know in 2 weeks if she or the boys show up with chicken pox.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with chicken pox?

I have some great pictures of all the shannanigins this weekend, hopefully i can post them soon.

Hopefully this week will be better!

Palin Puns!

I had to post these, just for a laugh!

More Sowing Seeds of Peace

Here is Part 3 of SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE from Nancy Campbell of Above Rubies. May you once again be encouraged in your walk with the Lord!
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Psalm 34:14, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." (1 Peter 3:11)

Nothing in this life happens by chance. What we sow we reap. It is an eternal principle. I love what Henry Drummond says, "The Christian life is not casual but causal." To live in peace, we must sow seeds of peace. Jesus said,"Blessed are the peace-makers..." Peace doesn't just happen; we have to make it happen.

Let's look at a few more today.

Love Righteousness

Psalm 85:10 says, "Righteousness and peace have kissed each other." You can't have peace without righteousness. They are inseparable. But righteousness is more than turning away from evil. It is doing righteous deeds. Righteousness is not stagnant. It is alive. It is revealed in your facial features as you smile at your family and speak positive things; it comes out your fingertips as you work and toil for the blessing of your family or hug and embrace your children; it shows itself as you walk to do good deeds for your family and others.

We see this in Isaiah 32:17, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." Do you notice that righteousness is a work? And do you notice the cause and effect? The effect is peace!

This following verse says, "And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." If we want peace in our home we must sow seeds of righteousness. That will mean saying No to certain TV programs, DVDs and websites. It will mean taking a stand against the spirit of the world entering your home. Peace does not come by compromise or even by feeling good. Sometimes people equate peace with calm. Anyone can have peace when everything is going perfect. True peace rests on a foundation of righteousness. (Hosea 10:12)

Seek Reconciliation

You cannot have peace if you have estranged relationships. To enjoy peace you must seek healing and restoration. Sow seeds of reconciliation. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. You won't have peace unto you do. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Forget your Worries

Ephesians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." In other words, don't worry about anything! Easier said than done! But if we want peace in our hearts and homes it is habit we must practice.

Each time you face another problem, instead of worrying, choose to turn it over to the Lord. Look to the Lord rather than your circumstances. It takes a while to get into this habit, but it will change your life. You can then walk in peace even in the midst of the storm.

My favorite Scripture, a special one for mothers, is found in Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." When we sow the habit of bringing our thought life to the Lord, we will have peace. Not only peace, but perfect peace. It is actually a double word in the Hebrew meaning, peace, peace!


Husband/Wife Unity

Sow unity in your marriage relationship. If you don't have unity together, you won't have peace in your heart or home. And nor will your children know peace. When there is estrangement between you and your husband, the children will feel the brunt of it. Once again, you have to sow the seeds. It won't just happen. Realize the truth that God has made you one--not two, but one! Sow seeds to make this oneness a reality. Say Sorry. Forgive. Swallow your pride. Humble yourself. Shut your mouth. Speak soft words. Submit for your own blessing. As you sown these seeds, you'll reap peace.

Order your home

It is difficult to have peace when you live in a mess. 1 Timothy 5:14 tells us that the young women are to "guide the house." This phrase is translated from the Greek word, oikodespoteo, coming from two words: oikos - home, and despotace - master. God has given you the responsibility to manage your home--to keep it in order and running smoothly. Don't forget the principle of cause and effect. If you want peace, do things that will bring order and peace.

Declutter your home

If you have clutter everywhere, if your dishes and laundry are piling up, you will not be able to think straight. Order brings serenity. Sow seeds for a harvest of peace by de-cluttering your home. If you have loads of junk it can be daunting to start on this venture. Take one room at a time. Be ruthless. Get rid of everything you don't need. Purge. The more you eradicate, the more serenity will come to your soul.

Keep sowing your seeds of peace daily and your harvest time will come.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord, thank you for reminding me that you want me to make peace. Help to be a peace-maker! As I sow seeds of peace, you will bring the wonderful harvest. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Peace-making is my job today!

Only at a Homeschool Conference!

A couple of weekends ago, I was blessed to be able to attend a Homeschool Conference in the Woodlands. My friend Kim kept my children one night and Kenneth the next. Of course I had the baby with me. It was so nice to be encouraged by all of the great speakers and I learned lots of great tips on HSing. I also loved getting to go through the vendor hall with lots and lots of neat and fun curriculum, books, etc. I was able to get everything I needed for this school year except one item.


One thing that struck me as I spent these two days trekking up and down escalators, elevators, and through mazes of people, was how kind and helpful everyone was to me and the baby. So here is my list of things you will most likely find or experience only at a homeschool conference:

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*Complete strangers you don't know at all will offer to hold your baby while you go to the bathroom just because they remember those days of having a little one and only 2 hands, and you let them!


*Vendors notice your struggle with choosing between curriculums and let you just take anything you want over night so you can sift through them and choose. He didn't even want my name and number, just said to bring it back the next day!



*People offer to hold your baby during a speaking session just so you can take notes without a squirmy baby in your arms! They will get the notes from a friend.


*You are not the only one walking around with a baby in an Ergo and most people actually know what an Ergo is!


*You attempt to go up the escalator with a baby in your arms and a stroller loaded down with everything but a baby and stuff starts to slide out the back of the stroller basket all over the escalator and people run up to grab it all and help you get off-yikes!



*Everywhere you look you see other mothers nursing their babies under a nursing cover and no one looks at them funny or gets mad that they are nursing in public!

For my fellow homeschooling mama's out there, if you ever get the opportunity to go to one of these conferences, do it! You won't regret it.

Happy Homeschooling!!!

What a Day!

Actually, couple of days.

Yesterday, Monday, was a crazy day. I don't know why. Maybe the weekend was so full that Monday got the brunt of not enough sleep and moodiness. Either way, it was an unpleasant day and everyone got to bed early!

So when Tuesday got going, everything was great. We got all of our school work done and everyone was in a great mood.

After nap time, i thought we'd quickly run to Sam's to get some grocery's. As we were getting out of the car, i had already locked the doors and put the keys in the diaper bag. Realizing my Ergo (baby carrier) wasn't where i normally keep it, i walked to the back of the car to see if it was there. As soon as i realized i had already locked the doors as started walking back, bang, the door was closed by one of my children. Of course the diaper bag with my wallet, cell phone, and keys, not to mention my other sling and the baby's paci were locked inside. I was so wanting to get one of those nice big cokes for us all to share too! Oh well!

So we went in looking for a phone to call Kenneth. Of course I couldn't get ahold of him, so i tried our neighbor also, but couldn't reach her either. I left messages for both and told the clerk to page us if either one called.

So off to the book section we went. The kids love looking at all the books and I actually got to look through a magazine and even got some really cute decorating tips (the high light of the day : ) It was probably only 20 or so minutes before we were paged. Kenneth said he would head home and get the spare keys and bring them to us. So we went on with our shopping and mozied around the store for probably 2 hours until he finally showed up.

All-in-all, we were there over 2 1/2 hours, but of course we made do. Free cookies from the bakery were a plus!

As if that whole escapade wasn't enough, when we finally got home around 5:30, I began thinking again about where my Ergo might be. My stomach sunk as I remembered the last place I used it was on Sunday at the GOODWILL store. I'm sure you all know that Goodwill is a resell store based on donations. Can you see where my story is headed!!! If someone just happened upon this crazy looking contraption called an Ergo and wanted to buy it with out a price tag, the clerk would just slap some ridiculously cheap price on it because they would have no idea what it's real value is (over $100!). Sick feeling again!

(Side note-I do not normally spend so much $ on stuff, but i had literally tried just about every baby carrier sold in the stores with my 1st 3 children and none of them held a candle to the Ergo. It really is that good and worth the price, assuming you only have to buy one ever!!! Thankfully we got some Christmas money the year Claire was born, so that's what paid for ours.)

I immediately called the store and of course no one knew anything about it. So i picked up my overly tired sleeping baby from our bed and loaded everyone back up in the car to drive back into town to the Goodwill store to go look for myself.

We looked for an hour and a half with no sign of it and picked up a few bargains along the way (I can't pass up a good deal), then left empty Ergo handed : (

So somewhere out there, someone is so excited that they just got the bargain of a life time. A $100 Ergo for $5 or some crazy price like that! Or someone saw it just draped there over a rack and thought, hmmmm, this looks neat, i'll just stick my baby in it and walk out, no one will ever know. Either way, I lose and so does my baby (she loves the Ergo!)

As we were going through the Arby's drive thru (since i was in no mood to still get home and cook dinner at 7:45), my dear, sweet children were plotting in the car, under their breath (not very quietly), about how they could save enough money to buy me another one for Christmas. I felt a little better listening to all of their giggling as they discussed it. Then, not long after that, my hubbie called and consoled me that we could buy another one, but of course me being so thrifty, it really kills me to do that.

Maybe the store will call and say they found it or someone amazingly turned it in after seeing the very tired woman with 4 children in tow helplessly searching the store for hours. That would be the hand of God!

But, for now, i will wait a few days, then go to Cloud Nine, here locally, to pick out a new one. This could be fun since they have updated them since i bought ours 3 years ago. I also love looking at the selection of cloth diapers she carries there. If you live in the B/CS area and are interested in any of this kind of stuff, stop by and check out Cloud Nine (its in the little strip where Bea's Alterations used to be just off Hwy 6 on Harvey).

So when you see me with a new Ergo on, just remember my totally crazy day and smile. Maybe it will make your day seem a little better!

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I woke up this morning and remembered that my nursing cover was not in the diaper bag either. As i mentioned this to my hubbie he said that i also used it in the store. So now, not only did I lose my ergo, but also a nursing cover. I am totally kicking myself!

In the future, i will be putting my name and phone # in all of my stuff like this!

The Battle is ON!

I read somewhere that if we as parents, who love and care the most about our children, don't pray for them, then who will?

Well, maybe grandparents or really good friends on occassion, but ultimately it is our job as their parents.

Recently, the Lord has been teaching me what it means to be a prayer warrior on my family's behalf. As i have been pondering this and learning about this, i've noticed the spiritual warfare beginning. Satan likes it when we are complacent and mainstream, that's where he wants us, not making any waves. Only when we choose to go against that, does the battle begin. And it is so real!

To fill you in a little, ever since Owen was born, i have felt strongly that the Lord is going to use him for His glory in some way. Of course, i have no idea how that will look, but my friend Kim told me that we, as his parents, have an even greater responsiblity to train and guide him in his early years. This way when the Lord calls him, he will be ready to answer (as it should be with any of our children).

So recently, it was like a light bulb went off when the Lord showed me why Owen has been our most challenging child. It's not because he just likes irritating us or making things difficult, but because Satan wants him and is willing to do all he can to divert him, and us, from training and disciplining him the way God wants us to.

Owen wants so much to do good and be "good" but he will honestly look at me and say from his heart, "Mommy, I just don't know how to do it" or "why can't I just be good?" It almost breaks my heart to hear this, but I now realize that the turmoil in his heart is a raging battle between good and evil, even at his young age. He really can't do it himself. It is only going to happen when he surrenders his life to Christ and lately, he has been asking lots of questions about that. However, I know that I am to gently and lovingly and constantly redirect him to the Lord every single time he does something wrong. Even when its the 20th time that day, i am to faithfully train or discipline him again and again.

Those who know Owen, know he has a wonderful, funny, sweet side to him also, which thankfully is what most people see, but for some reason, he is the one we struggle with most. When he is happy, he is such a joy to be around, but when he gets upset, hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy ride!

(The pictures above were taken and compiled by Amber Butler Photography. She tries to catch children in their own and of course, Owen showed his own to her. I will always love these pictures! She has lots of pictures on her website of our children at http://www.giggleboxphotography.com/ that are great!)

Back to my original story.

I have heard it said, that dreams involving snakes, can represent a struggle with satan. Every time i have a dream with a snake (which thankfully isn't often), it is chasing me and i can't get away. I wake up feeling as if the dream was so real that i have a strong hatred towards snakes. I can't even look at pictures of snakes and am constantly on the look out for them since we live in the country. (I will spare you and myself from a snake picture here!)

So, as i have been praying consistently for my family, another snake dream came recently. I share this not because i want you all to think i have really fallen off the deep end, but to show you how amazing God is and that He can speak to us even through a dream.

Here's my dream:

My children and i were all together somewhere, i don't know where, but it was a room. A snake aggressivly began chasing and striking at my children. I was running after it, not afraid of it, but so determined to protect my babies. However, it struck at Cody and got him on the leg, but he was ok. I reached down and grabbed it by the back of the head and began trying to squeeze it in my hand. When i realized i couldn't kill it that way, i pushed it down on the ground with my hand and then took my heel and crushed it to death.

For the first time, I beat the snake in my dream! I didn't wake up scared and exhausted from running from it, but i woke up feeling victorious!

That i could win the spiritual battle for my children's souls through prayer and sound, biblical parenting!

That they belong to Jesus Christ and are His only, bought with a price, His chosen people!

That Satan can't have my children's minds, thoughts, dreams, or actions anymore!

They belong to God!

I also was immediately reminded after waking up of how similar my dream was to the excerpt in Genesis where God cursed Satan after tempting Eve:

"From now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15

The footnote in my NLT bible says this:

"Satan is our enemy. He will do anything he can to get us to follow his evil, deadly path. The phrase 'you will strike his heel' refers to Satan's repeated attempts to defeat Christ during his life on earth. 'He will crush your head' foreshadows Satan's defeat when Christ rose from the dead. A strike on the heel is not deadly, but a crushing blow to the head is. Already God was revealing his plan to defeat Satan and offer salvation to the world through his Son, Jesus Christ."

I don't know for sure what it all means, but I do know that God will be victorious! It doesn't mean that there won't be struggles or trials or even temptations, but in the end, He will win!

So all you parents out there, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

It's is so important!

Your children's eternity depends on it!

It's not hard to do, just commit to doing it everyday. Right now for me, I pray specifically for this every night when i sit down in the rocking chair to nurse Kate before bed. It can be when you're driving, or taking a shower, or making dinner. It doesn't matter when, just faithfully commit to a time and do it!

Sowing Seeds of Peace

Seems like every time I read these emails, they are so convicting and worth sharing. Visit Above Rubies (links) for more!

Discipline for Peace

This doesn't sound very peaceful, does it? We often think that if we rock the boat we won't have peace! But the opposite is true. Discipline precedes peace! Read that again. Yes, discipline precedes peace! If your children are playing up, disobeying, being defiant and causing havoc in the home, you won't have any peace. To get peace, you must deal with the disobedience or bad behavior.

One of my favorite Scriptures for parenting is Proverbs 29:17, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."

Do you want rest and peace in your home? Don't gloss over disobedience. Deal with the issues. Sow loving but firm discipline for disobedient behavior and you will reap a reward of rest. Many parents have no rest. Their children are a constant hassle to them because they have not been trained. They constantly yell at them but their behavior doesn't change.

It is a joy to watch parents who live a life of rest. I think of my daughter, Evangeline, who has nine children. Her husband, Howard and she have trained their children to respond with instant obedience from the time they were very little. They have never allowed disobedience or defiant behavior. They dealt with it immediately. They have reaped a wonderful reward of rest. Their children, aged from 15 years to 16 months are extraordinarily behaved. They give delight to their parents and everyone who is around them. They can take them anywhere and trust their behavior. Evangeline lives a life of a queen for her children give her no bother.

Hebrews 12:11 reiterates this, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I was quite taken aback when reading Romans 16:20 recently, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." You would think that when it speaks of God defeating the devil that He would be referred to as the God or War or the Lord of hosts (which is the Lord of the armies of heaven). It will not be a peaceful task to conquer Satan. It will be war and blood and tears. But, no. He is called the God of peace. I am sure this is because there can never be true peace while evil reigns and therefore it is the God of peace who wages war to bring peace.

If you have to have a little war before you have peace, don't be afraid. Covering over things will not bring peace. It is like a festering sore that will not heal until it is totally cleansed.

Keep sowing seeds of peace.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

The Clothesline...

A clothes line was a news forecast

To neighbors passing by.

There were no secrets you could keep

When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link

For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For then you’d see the ‘fancy sheets’

And towels upon the line;

You’d see the ‘company table cloths’

With intricate design.

The line announced a baby’s birth

To folks who lived inside

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

So readily be known

By watching how the sizes changed

You’d know how much they’d grown.

It also told when illness struck,

As extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, ‘Gone on vacation now’

When lines hung limp and bare.

It told, ‘We’re back!’ when full lines sagged

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If wash was dingy gray,

As neighbors carefully raised their brows,

And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past

For dryers make work less.

Now what goes on inside a home

Is anybody’s guess.

I really miss that way of life.

It was a friendly sign

When neighbors knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

Author unknown

I ran across this at www.homesteadoriginals.com They have lots of great tips and homemaking info along with a store monthly giveaway. This month's giveaway is a bar of their homemade soap. If you like free stuff, check it out!

Homemade Laundry Soap

If you are interested in saving your family some money but not willing or able to go as far as something like cloth diapers or make your own bread, (yet!), here is a great project for you (and your children) that will wow everyone when you say, "we make our own laundry soap!"

I ran across this recipe in a free quarterly magazine that Beeyoutiful (link on right) sends out. (FYI-More Than Alive and Bulk Herb Store also send out free magazines/catalog full of lots or great tips and info!) It was originally a conversation from a forum board at http://www.welltellme.com/ on how to make homemade laundry soap. I am so amazed at how well this works every time we make it. There are lots of differing opinions as to how much bar soap to put in the recipe and how much to put in the washing machine but this will get you started. Then you can play with it and figure out what works best for you! Post a comment if you find something that worked well for you or you have any other tips.

Homemade Laundry Soap:

2 bars soap (Ivory is cheapest but has a strong scent; a natural soap is best but costs more; some recipes say to use less soap??)

1 cup Borax (detergent aisle; some like to omit this item & just use 2 c. washing soda instead-this will make your soap more "green" (edible if you use gray water to water a garden /lawn with)

1 cup Washing Powder (Arm & Hammer makes a big yellow box found on the detergent aisle)

5 gallon bucket

Essential Oils-optional-whatever scent you like; lime, lemon, orange, etc.

Grate soap bars with a cheese grater, put in a small saucepan , & cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill 5 gallon bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add washing soda and borax, mix well. As it cools it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1-2 cups per load.

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I put the 5 gallon bucket in the bath tub, fill it with everything, and give my children yardsticks to stir until their hearts content. This way the spills are contained and the bath tub getts a little free cleaning : ) It is so cool how it starts to thicken and get globby. Then we use a 1 cup measuring cup and keep it by the machine so Cody, my loader, can just scoop up a cup and put it in.

I sometimes use vinegar as a fabric softener, so a couple of times we added vinegar to the bucket. I will warn you however that if you wait to add it until everything else is already in and the bucket is full, you will have a mess and waste quite a bit. The next time we did it, we added the vinegar to everything else but only filled it with half water. What happens is a great science experiment making lots of fizzing and bubbling. It's like a volcano explosion experiment on a much larger scale and your not wasting all the ingredients. Lots of fun!

Let me know how it goes or if you have a questions.