Making A Home

Polka Dot Happiness {And a Dayspring Giveaway!!!!}

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have a thing for polka dots. Polka dots feel happy and carefree.

Did you know that coffee tastes even better in polka-dotted mugs? :)

Smile.

A really cute stack of memo paper for the desk...

And you know my love for journals...

All of the above products are part of the Everday Joy Gift Collection from Dayspring. And the great thing about these products is that they have great reminders about the joy that is ours in Christ (because we all know that it never hurts to be reminded, right?)

As a Valentine treat, Dayspring is currently offering four of their gift collections at Buy 2 Get 1 Free. That also includes the individual items in each gift set if you don't want to purchase the whole set.

In addition, Dayspring has generously given me a $20 coupon to give to one of my readers. This $20 coupon code can be used towards any Dayspring products, but you must spend at least $20 for the code to work and you must also pay shipping and handling.

To sign up for the giveaway, just leave a comment here on this post. Simple as that. I will close the giveaway next Tuesday at midnight and announce the winner on Wednesday.

Anyway can enter. If you don't have a blog, just leave an email address at which I can contact you if you are the winner.

*Dayspring sent me the Everyday Joy collection for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.*

Craft Time

2012-02-14T16:01:00.004-05:00

I've been trying to find small crochet and sewing projects to have available at my disposable throughout the day when I have a free moment and feel the need to satisfy my crafting itch.

I made this fabric yo-yo necklace for Lily on Saturday using some of my fabric scraps. These are so simple and fun to make. I think I'll tweak it next time so it lays a little differently on the neckline.

I've also been busy crocheting food using this really fun book, Tasty Crochet: A Pantry Full of Patterns for 33 Tasty Treats. :) So much fun! I'll share some pics sometime soon!

Have a blessed day!

In Which I Share My Awe and Amazement...

2012-02-13T21:15:00.003-05:00

Our God continually amazes me.

Did you ever have a moment when everything just seemed so amazingly miraculous?

Brad and Ian were out having some male bonding time tonight (Brad tries to spend one-on-one time with each kid.) That left Sergei, Lily, and I at home.

After working on a project Sergei and I are presenting at his school on Thursday, I announced it was time to do our family devotions.

"Mom, I want to lead them tonight."

Well. Okay. My oldest son just volunteered to step up and lead family devotions with dad away. Who am I to argue with that?

After doing a little searching through his Bible, he told us he'd be reading from Joshua 1:7-9.

With wonderful understanding, Sergei went on to tell Lily and I what that passage of Scripture meant to him.

And then God clearly spoke to my heart....

"Amber, remember that time when you were getting ready to host Sergei and you were being tormented by your enemy and you asked me why?"

"Remember when I told you that a soul was at stake?"

"Well, here, right in front of you, sitting at your kitchen table is that soul that was at stake."

"And I've saved that soul."

Oh my gosh. You don't know how overwhelmed I felt at that moment. Not overwhelmed in a negative way, but just overwhelmed, completely overwhelmed by the goodness and power and saving grace of God.

Friends, adoption is not easy. Not in the least. And there have been many, many times when I've seriously just wanted to quit. And there have been times when I've really had to work at not becoming bitter towards God because of some of the things we had to experience after we got home from Ukraine. Honestly, there were times I wanted to kick the kid out of the house.

But, you see, this makes all that suffering worth it. This makes all of the trials worth it.

God let me be a part of the salvation of a soul.

Oh, if only you could all hear and feel the emotion I feel right now. The praises I'm lifting up to my Father in Heaven.

He is so good. He is so full of love. He is love.

And then Sergei flipped to another piece of Scripture after our family devotions were done and Lil was brushing her teeth.

"Mom? This verse is good. 'Even if your mother and your father forsake you, still I will never leave you.' That's like me."

"Yes, Sergei. God never left you. Even though your mom couldn't take care of you, even though she loved you but had to give you up because of bad choices she made, God never gave up on you."

"Yes, that's right, mom."

You see, this is what it's all about. This is life. Living for Him and pointing others toward Him. Pointing others toward their Creator.

To know Him and glorify Him. That is how life is meant to be lived.

And when I see the fruit of the Spirit in my son's life, a son who has experienced a lot more than any 15 year-old should and who has been fighting off some pretty nasty demons of his past, I really just feel myself crumble at my Father's feet. I crumble in humble adoration at His greatness.

He is the source of restoration. He quenches the thirsty soul. He feeds with the holy manna that gives life eternally. He comes in and He fills the empty places and gives life meaning.

And this girl here, well, she's just a little bit FULL of awe right now.

Signing off to go ponder these things in the quietness of my heart...

Amber

Saturday Evening Reflections...

2012-02-11T16:58:00.004-05:00

Snow, snow comes falling down...

After a relaxing day spent in our cozy home, family together creating, sewing, making birdie treats, building birdboxes, I'm standing at the kitchen sink, sink full of warm, soapy water, washing dishes by hand. Something I find satisfaction in when I'm not rushing...

Looking out my window, out into the big backyard we've been blessed with, admiring the snow God is pouring out of the heavens this day...

Listening to hymns on Pandora. Clinging to the promises of my Lord. The promises that strengthen this weak, feeble soul of mine. Because when the shadows feel close and cold, when they threaten to knock me down, His Word brings light and warmth.

Shine on me, Lord.

A most blessed weekend to you and yours...

In the Need of Some Homemaking Inspiration?

2012-02-10T07:33:00.004-05:00

It's hard to be a wife, mother, and homemaker sometimes. At times, I really enjoy my calling as a wife, mother, and homemaker, but at other times, I just feel plain burnt out.

And I really appreciate an honest, encouraging word every now and then. Sometimes I feel kind of lonely in my struggles as a wife, mother, and keeper of our home. That's why I appreciate resources that support our family's decision to keep me at home and encourage me in my role, my calling.

I had found Darlene Schacht's inspiring blog, Time-Warp Wife, sometime last fall. Instantly I was drawn to the vintage-inspired look of her blog. And then I began to read and browse her blog and was amazed at the massive amount of sound, Biblical, encouraging information she had written.

From encouraging posts on being a wife and mother to great housekeeping printables, Time-Warp Wife blog became a great source of motivation and inspiration for me as a wife, mother, and homemaker.

And I was greatly excited when I saw that Darlene was planning on releasing an e-book on being a godly wife and homemaker. And then one day I saw on Twitter that she was generously giving away copies to her readers to review on their blogs. Of course, I jumped right in on that opportunity!

I read Darlene's book, The Good Wife's Guide: Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet, in a couple of sittings. Not because it was a short book (it's actually 166 pages), but rather because I found it so inspiring and interesting. I have always been a sucker for books on homemaking. They have always seemed to re-motivate me to embrace my role as a homemaker, and that's exactly what this book did for me.

When I am looking at purchasing a book, I always appreciate good, thorough reviews that enable me to really see what the book is like from someone else's perspective. I also always really appreciate when the reviewer includes some of the specific content covered in the book; this always seems to help me decide on whether or not I think the book will be something helpful to me.

So may I share with you all some of the content included in this wonderful e-book?

Chapters include:

* Learning to Manage Ourselves
* Being Selfish Is Not Okay
* Group Your Life Inventory
* Time Well Spent
* My Desire For Curb Appeal
* Domestically Challenged
* What Will They Take Away?
* Repetition, Patter, Order
* Laughing Over Spilt Milk
* Biblical Submission Defined
* No Need of Spoil
* Living in Unity
* Toss Out 25 Things
* Organizing Your Home
* Housekeeping Schedule
* Deep Clean Your Kitchen in 5 Days
* Deep Clean Your Bedroom
* Deep Clean Your Bathroom

One of the things I really love about this book is how Darlene discusses discipline as an important factor in our success as wives and homemakers. There are going to be times when the last thing we feel like doing is another load of laundry or another sinkful of dishes, but we must remain disciplined so that we fulfill and complete our tasks so that our homes and our lives remain in order.

Along the lines of self-discipline, Darlene discusses the importance of prioritizing our lives and our days. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our individual relationships with God as a key factor in our success as wives, mothers, and homemakers.

Another great chapter was the one on time management. There are many distractions tempting us as homemakers. We must be very careful in how we spend (or waste) our time so that we can fulfill our roles to our full ability. In the days of Internet, homemakers have a big temptation right at their fingertips at any given time of the day. Darlene discusses managing our time wisely and how that benefits us in our daily lives.

In the chapter What Will They Take Away, Darlene devotes a section of the book to discussing our impact as mothers on our children's lives. What will our children take away with them when they one day spread their wings and leave the nest? How are we as mothers positively impacting our children and their lives? Are we approaching our roles as mothers with a good, positive, godly attitude? One of my favorite things about this chapter is that she includes Scriptures for each room or your house. For example, the verse for the laundry room is from Psalm 113:3 ~ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. I know that that is a good Scripture for me to meditate on as I stand, once again, in a mountain of laundry on Monday morning. :)

A chapter that I think a lot of women would be interested in is the chapter on Biblical submission. I have found that many women are confused as to what Biblical submission to our husbands entails. Darlene does a great job of clarifying this command for us as women to submit to our husbands.

The second part of her book is entitled "Practical Application." I loved this part of the book!

Basically, this part of the book included information and checklists on how to take control of our households. This is the part of the book where Darlene gives her readers tips on how to organize and clean.

I loved her very detailed cleaning lists. As I have discussed on here before, my time as a homeschooling mom leaves little time for the weekly deep cleans that I used to do before I had children. Although Darlene does include a weekly cleaning schedule that I probably wouldn't use at this point in my life, I did reap some information from it that was helpful. And her detailed cleaning lists for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom are awesome! I mean, really truly awesome and something that would be a great tool at spring-cleaning time! I really love these lists and will definitely refer to them in the future!!!

I also really appreciated all of her little tips and tricks on how to organize and store items in your home. Most of these were ideas that I either had already read about elsewhere or already utilize, but it's very helpful to have the ideas all together in one area to refer to as needed.

This was a great, encouraging book on the topic of being a godly wife, mother, and homemaker. I really enjoyed reading it, and I found it very motivating and inspiring!

You can purchase this book for your Kindle through Amazon.com (The Good Wife's Guide: Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet) or you can also purchase it as a downloadable PDF here.

Have a great Friday!

Weekend Book Review: Then Sings My Soul

2012-02-10T06:16:00.004-05:00

I recently had the privilege of being able to review Then Sings My Soul Book 3: The Story of Our Songs: Drawing Strength from the Great Hymns of Our Faith (Then Sings My Soul (Thomas Nelson)). This is the third book in a series of books that tells the story behind many of the great hymns that have been written over the years past.

The church we attend has a blended approach to music. Some contemporary. Some hymns. And this is something that I greatly appreciate because I love many of the great classic hymns of times past, hymns that many modern churches have completely set aside and forgotten.

Did you ever listen to the words, feel the words, of a hymn as you sang it? Hymns tell stories. Stories of great faith, great perseverance, great redemption, great salvation. Hymns, although many were written many years ago, are still applicable today. The problems that individuals faced one hundred years ago may have been different than the problems we face in the modern world, but human emotions have always remained the same.

And faith never changes. Our God never changes. The story of redemption never changes.

I remember the first time I heard the story behind the great hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. A hymn that I had always loved became so much more meaningful to me when I heard the story of Horatio Spafford and the suffering he endured that spurred him on to pen those well-known lines.

The first part of this book discusses and gives examples of hymns from different time periods and cultures. The categories include: Biblical Hymns, Ancient Hymns, Medieval Hymns, German Hymns, English Hymns, From Gospel Songs to Contemporary Praise.

After that section of the book, there are 56 hymns that the author shares the story behind. Each hymn that is discussed in the book (no matter what section of the book the hymn is included in) has the music and all of the stanzas printed with the story just like you would see it in a hymnal. Some of the hymns in this section of the book include: While Shepherds Watched Their Flock By Night; Wonderful Words of Life; Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It; What a Wonderful Savior; All I Need; Victory in Jesus; Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary; He Touched Me; Shout to the Lord; In Christ Alone.

In Part Three of the book, the author shares six hymn stories that he personally loves to share. These hymns include: It Is Well With My Soul; We're Marching to Zion; The Old Rugged Cross; Up On the Housetop (okay, yes, I was surprised with that one too because, yes, that is the song about Santa Claus); Who Is He In Yonder Stall?; One More Day's Work for Jesus.

The last section of the book is titled "Hymning in Private and Public." In this section of the book, the author discusses hymn singing as an important part of our private praise and worship of God. And he gives some practical tips on how to include hymns in our private times of worship. Morgan then also goes on to discuss his opinion of blended worship - the integration of the old hymns with the new praise music. He shares his opinion in why he feels an integrated music program in churches is important. This was an interesting section of the book.

This is a great book. Very interesting. In fact, I plan on integrating this book into our homeschooling lessons, reading to the kids about the history of some of the great hymns we sing in church (and some we don't.) A very interesting read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

May I Share a Yummy Quinoa Recipe?

2012-02-09T12:36:00.004-05:00

Okay, now that I got all of that off my chest in my earlier post, I wanted to share with you a yummy recipe that I made last night for dinner.

As you may know, I am on a gluten-free diet. Since going completely gluten-free about a year ago, I've been trying to be intentional in learning how to incorporate other grains into my diet. Going gluten-free can initially be a big shock. There are many foods that are no longer permitted. So in order to avoid a completely boring diet, I've been doing some experimenting instead.

I used to love couscous. In fact, I shared my friend Carmen's amazing couscous salad recipe here a while back.

But, alas, couscous is on the no-no list for me now.

Over the summer, I had learned about a new grain called quinoa. It looked similar to couscous in my mind so I thought that maybe I could substitute it in some of my couscous recipes. Which has worked fine.

But last night I wanted to try something completely new. I made grilled chicken breasts (grilled on my grill pan, of course, since it was snowing last night), roasted kale (which is, oh, so yummy) and a side of quinoa salad which currently is nameless.

I found a recipe on this awesome blog that is devoted to quinoa recipes, but I had to tweak it a bit to fit what I had on hand.

Here it goes...

Ingredients Needed:

1 cup dry quinoa
1 can diced tomatoes with the jalapenos in it
Approx. 2 tbsp. olive oil
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
5 garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin
salt as desired
feta cheese (optional)

Now bear with me hear as I put the process into words...

I cooked the 1 cup quinoa in my microwave rice cooker with 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Once it is done, let it sit undisturbed for another 10 minutes to absorb all of the liquid.

In the meantime, pour the olive oil in a pan, and saute the garlic (I had pressed mine through my garlic press) just until golden. (Beware, garlic browns {and burns} quickly.)

Once the garlic is browned, add the can of tomatoes, juice and all. Bring it to a simmer and let it simmer for approximately 5 minutes. Then add the can of drained and rinsed black beans, cumin, and salt.

Once this is all heated, add the cooked quinoa. Mix well and let cook for 10 minutes or so to distribute the flavor.

Once I dished the quinoa salad onto our plates, I topped it with a little bit of feta cheese, which I personally think really made it even more yummy. But I'm lactose intolerant too so I would only do this if I wasn't planning on going anywhere, because the yumminess wouldn't be worth the stomach cramps while I was out and about. (TMI??!! Sorry!) And I actually had the salad today for lunch without the feta, and it was still really yummy.

Anyway, a healthy, gluten-free alternative grain salad. Everyone loved it, well except Ian, my pickiest child, but even he ate, albeit it very slowly.

p.s. - Thanks for the kind comments on my last post. I hope I didn't come across as feeling sorry and pity for myself. It's not that at all. I felt convicted and felt I needed to make a public repentence. :)

When the Soul Feels Unsettled (As Mine Has Been Feeling)...

2012-02-09T07:29:00.005-05:00

(The view from my kitchen window this morning.)

I shared with the other ladies in my Bible study last night how I've been feeling unsettled inside. It's been going on for the last week or so, and I jokingly chalked it up to the month of February. You know the month. It's the month (poor thing) that's gotten a bad rap - stuck right in the middle of the hard frozen winter.

Once Bible study ended, I shared with a few of my close friends how much this unsettled feeling was really bothering me.

I have felt like there has been a wall up between God and I. And I haven't been able to identify how that wall became erected.

I've had times in my life when I've felt farther away from God; it's usually when I'm not devoting time to prayer and study of His Word. But I had been doing both of those things. In fact, as I sat silently partaking of the Lord's Supper during our church service this past week, though quiet on the outside, the inside of me was flung on the floor reaching for my Lord. "What is wrong? Why do I feel so far from You?"

And the answer I got was simply, "I am here."

Now, I've lived my life without God as the center of it plenty of times. It wasn't until my struggles with anxiety and panic attacks that I got really serious about my relationship with Christ. And I can tell you that now that God and I are tight, things just feel all off-skelter when I can't feel Him close. I feel unsettled. Ungrounded. Un-rooted.

Well, my Father decided that it was time for me to know what was going on down deep in my soul. He shared it with me this morning during my time of prayer.

I have been playing the very dangerous comparison game. And I've mixed some pride and envy in with it.

I have been looking at other women and their blogs, seeing all they seem to be doing, wondering how in the world they have the energy to upkeep large blogs, organize Christian women's conferences, write books, homeschool children, and keep homes.

And then the envy crept in. God, I want that influence. I want my borders expanded.

But, let's be honest (because this morning was a gritty, honest, painfully embarrassing prayer session with my Father), I want all of this because I want to make a name for myself.

Pride.

Oh, and let's not forget about pride's mate, envy.

I've been coveting a life that God doesn't have planned for me. God has given me a sphere of influence here in my home and my little country neighborhood. But I've been feeling unimportant, insignificant, because my sphere of influence feels small and tight.

But why has this mattered? So I could reach more people for Christ? Maybe. But I also know that deep down, I've wanted a bigger sphere because I want to be known.

So at the end of my prayer time, I decided on some things...

1. I need to set Christ alone as my standard of living. Instead of comparing myself to others, I need to compare myself solely to Christ. He is my standard. He is the only one I am to mirror.

2. I need to make Him my audience. I need to run away from making a name for myself, making my presence known, and focus on doing only those things that please Him. I only need to please my audience of One.

3. I need to set my face as flint and purpose in my heart to stand strong in Him, and Him alone. Not my abilities, not my influence.

4. I need to remember that He has called me to be a wife and mother right here, right now. That is my main mission field. If He sees it necessary to expand my borders, He'll do it when He knows I'm ready for it.

So, I'm not sure how to do this practically. My friend told me last night that she had once heard that you just have to know until you believe (or something to that extent.)

So I just need to know that I am significant in my Creator's eyes. I need to know that He has a good and meaningful purpose for my life (even if it doesn't look like purpose I think that I want.)

And I need to know that this verbal utterance of repentance will spur me on towards growth in my faith as I seek Him and allow Him to move freely in my life.

Whew. I'm glad that's all out now.

Have a blessed day!

The Scripture that the Lord spoke to me through this morning...

James 3:13-16 ~ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, or the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Celebrating Six Years...

2012-02-06T12:18:00.005-05:00

My little Lily turned six today. :)

15 Tips for Small Home Hospitality...

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

You can do it. You can have guests in to your small(ish) home and not be totally stressed out for the week prior. Sometimes it just takes a little thinking, ingenuity, and a willingness to be flexible.

(Photo credit)

Here are some tips for small home hospitality...

1. Get rid of clutter. Clutter will make your house feel even smaller and crowded. Even if this means dumping all of your clutter into a box and storing it in the basement until after the event, do it. This would also be a good time to temporarily put away any breakables that might accidentally get bumped and broken.

2. Keep your menu manageable. It's best to stick with tried-and-true recipes when entertaining. I usually stick with a few different dishes that I am comfortable with making and that I know should come out successful. This isn't the time to experiment with a new recipe. If you're feeling intimidated with serving dinner, especially to a large crowd, try an appetizer party or serving a sandwich bar at lunchtime.

(Photo credit)

3. Know how many people can fit comfortably in your home, and remember that you may be able to fit more than you think. I once hosted a baby shower for my sister in which almost every single guest came (when does that ever happen!?) Anyway, it was pretty crowded with 30-some people in our home, but we made it work. Now I know that I wouldn't want to have anymore than 30 people in our home if we were going to be confined to the inside of our home.

4. Set a warm ambiance in your home. A warm, welcoming, cozy ambiance will distract from the limited size of your space. The key here is to make your guests feel right at home. Light some candles, play some soft classical music, use soft, low lighting ~ these little things will go a long way in making the atmosphere cozy and warm. Also, keep the temperature of the home comfortable. This will probably mean turning down the thermostat an hour or so before your guests arrive. The more guests, the warmer your home will be.

(Photo credit)

5. Try to get as much cooking done ahead of time. This means choosing a menu that can be prepared in advance, even up to a couple of days in advance. By having most of the preparation, cooking, and clean-up done in advance, it will clear the kitchen space of mess and will free you to focus on your guests (not food preparation.)

6. Have a dedicated place for purses and coats. If we are having just a small gathering (for instance, just another family) we have a bench in our small entryway on which the guests pile on their coats. However, when we host larger gatherings, we make our master bedroom our designated "coat" drop-spot. Put one of your children in charge of gathering coats from your guests as they arrive and delivering them to the designated area.

7. Get rid of unnecessary furniture. If there are pieces of furniture in the area in which you will be entertaining that will not be used, temporarily move them to the basement or a bedroom to free up more floor space. This is especially helpful when hosting larger gatherings. Examples of furniture would be coffee tables, end tables, sideboards, etc.

8. On the other hand, you could actually utilize the coffee table and end tables as serving or eating surfaces. If your guests will be eating in the living room, for example, you could pull the coffee table up closer to the couch and use it as a makeshift table. It's also nice to have end tables for guests to set their drinks while they are eating.

9. Go buffet style. A smaller, intimate gathering is nice to have around the kitchen or dining room table, passing food around to the guests. However, if you're having a larger crowd, it is much easier to do a buffet. Line the food up on your kitchen counters, putting plates, napkins, and silverware on one end and food in a logical order down the counter (for example ~ buns before burgers, tortilla shells before taco meat.) If you have limited counter space, use your kitchen table and have guests eat in the living room. I actually also have a piece of our countertop that was left over when our house was built. It fits perfectly over our stovetop, so I always put it over the stove and turn that area into a serving surface.

10. Utilize the outdoors. If you have a back deck or patio, move the party outside. Or make the outdoors area easily accessible so that guests can mingle back and forth between the indoors and outdoors. We have a covered deck in the back on which we have a large table with chairs and we also have a covered side deck on which we have seating as well. There have been times when our guests have utilized both spaces. Also in the summer, we do a lot of cook-outs. A simple campfire, some hot dogs or sausages, and camping chairs makes for a quick and easy get-together. And since we do have a large, wide-open backyard, we've been blessed to be able to host our church's larger summertime picnics and get-togethers.

(Photo credit)

11. Eat in the living room. Allow your guests to mingle into the other living spaces of your home. This is when you have to go with the flow and expect that there might be some accidental spills. However, I have found that gathering with family and friends is worth a few leftover stains.

12. Borrow or invest in a long table and folding chairs to use in addition to your kitchen table. When I host Christmas dinner each year, we set up another long table alongside our kitchen table, and we borrow folding chairs from our church or our family for seating at the extra table. Buy a couple of matching tablecloths for a more seamless, pulled-together look. If you don't have room to set up another table in your kitchen, set one up in the living room and tear it down after dinner is finished to free up space for visiting.

13. Maximize counter space. Think tiered serving platters and cake stands. Serve food vertically to free up more space on the counter.

14. Have a designated "kid's space". You can look at this is several different ways. First of all, if you have a small card table, you could seat the kids around it while eating. And after dinner is finished, keeping a play area for the kids in one of the bedrooms keeps toy clutter and running, screaming kids out of the other entertaining spaces. And, of course, if it's nice out, have some outdoor activities for the kids to go out and play with.

15. Serve on sturdy, disposable pieces. I enjoy having my guests eat off of my nice dinnerware, but it's much easier when it comes to clean-up to use disposables when hosting a larger gathering. Just be sure to buy sturdy plates so that guests aren't dumping their food on their laps!

Hopefully you will find some of these tips helpful!

Happy hospitality!

Small House Hospitality - Attitude is Everything

2012-02-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

I have learned that my attitude towards hospitality is everything. How I feel about my guests, their comfort, and the reason I'm extending hospitality, have everything to do with how successful I am in making each hospitality experience successful.

(Photo Credit)

This means that even if I burn the food, things will work out if I have the right attitude. Even if we're short one bed to accommodate our overnight guests, things will work out (I will find a solution) if I have the right attitude. Even if I'm nervous about making conversation with my guests, everything will work out if I have the right attitude.

So, what is this "right" attitude I'm speaking about?

Simple. I need to be focused on my guests and their needs. Focused on making them feel welcome and loved. Focused on showering them with the love of Christ.

Contrast that to my selfish desire to be viewed as the "perfect" hostess. Or my desire to impress my guests with my "amazing" cooking abilities or perfectly clean home.

Because when I focus on my guests and have a positive attitude toward what hospitality really means to me as a believer (an opportunity to serve those God puts in our paths), I won't be worried about what others think about me. If I burn the food, I order a pizza. If we're short one bed, we borrow a blow-up mattress from a friend for a few days.

I have learned to approach each hospitality opportunity with prayer. This time of prayer puts my heart into focus on what is important. It brings me in line with God's portrait of Biblical hospitality.

My prayer is usually something along the lines of this...

Dear Father, thank You for this opportunity to extend hospitality. Lord, I pray now that You would help me to stay focused on what is really important ~ to make our guests feel welcomed, cared for, and loved. Lord, show me ways in which I can cover my guests in Your love. Lord, give me privy to what my guests needs are. Show me how I can serve them, love them, care for them.

I pray that the moment they enter our home, Your presence would be felt and would be real to our guests. Lord, I pray that You would expose any selfish desires I am harboring in my heart, and help me to replace them with an attitude of love and grace. Bless this time we have with our guests. Make Your presence known. In Christ's powerful name, Amen

Can I Really Extend Hospitality in a Small Home?

2012-02-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

As I said yesterday, I used to struggle with having guests over. Not because I didn't want to have people into my home. Goodness, that definitely was not the reason. In fact, I've had the desire to "entertain" from the very start of our marriage when we were living in a small basement apartment.

(Photo credit)

My problem was that I felt limited because of the size of our home. The livable space of our home is 1600 sq. ft. (not including a bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room we just put in the basement last fall.) I was looking at magazines and television shows that talked about the proper way to entertain, and I was seeing big homes with wide open spaces, large kitchens, and lots and lots of space for guests to mingle and socialize.

Immediately I began comparing my small house to these magazine-worthy homes and began to feel envious and inadequate.

But my problem was that I was looking at the "where" of entertaining rather than the "why" of entertaining. And I began to learn that the heart of the matter really had nothing to do with entertaining at all. I was looking at it all wrong. The magazines and television shows were showing me how to entertain so that my guests were impressed. The Bible shows me how to entertain so my guests are cared for and loved.

You can read more about what true Biblical hospitality is here in this post I wrote last year. It really clears things up and brings us to an understanding of what true hospitality is really all about.

So, yes you can extend hospitality even in a small home. Hospitality isn't about impressing our guests. It's not about showing off our cooking or decorating abilities. It's not about setting ourselves and our capabilities up on a pedestal for all the world to see.

It's about so much more. It's about thankfully taking what God has blessed us with (whether that's an apartment, a trailer, a small or a large home) and then using it to bless others. It's about providing guests with a warm, welcome place to come in, prop their feet up, and relax. It's about showering your guests with the love of Christ from the moment they step over that threshold until the time they cross over it again when leaving.

Biblical hospitality has nothing to do with the size of our homes. Biblical hospitality doesn't even necessarily have to do anything with our homes at all.

Because if we're having people into our homes to prove something, if we're having people in to show off our possessions, then we're approaching this whole hospitality thing with ill-motives and ill-intentions.

After all, would you rather spend time in a small home with hosts who make you feel accepted and at home or in a big house where you feel inadequate and inferior? A place where you feel loved and accepted just as you are or a place where you think, "boy, I can't ever have them to my place because I know I can't live up to this." A place where, when you enter, you are instantly filled with a sense of something deep and gratifying or a place where, when you enter, you feel envious and even intimidated?

Tomorrow I will be discussing how I "entertain" guests at mealtimes. I've had as few people as another couple in for dinner and up to a whole family-full for dinner. So I'll share about what I've learned in this area of preparing and providing meals for others in our small home.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Small House Hospitality - A New Series

2012-01-31T15:46:00.005-05:00

We have a small house by today's standards in America. Up until last fall, the livable area of our home was 1600 sq. ft. We finished 1/3 of our basement, putting in a bedroom, laundry room, and bathroom so that Sergei would have his own room just this past fall.

(Photo credit)

I used to think that the small-ish size of our home really limited me in doing things that I liked to do such as entertaining friends and having company over.

Then about three or four years ago, I got a grip. God brought me face-to-face with my problem. My problem was discontentment and an unrealistic understanding of what hospitality meant. I was comparing what I had to those around me, and then, subsequently, feeling insufficient to entertain.

I don't remember exactly how God spoke this to my heart. But when He did, I sprung forward in researching what exactly Biblical hospitality was supposed to look like, and I found out that it had NOTHING to do with the size of my house.

I did a whole series on Biblical hospitality last summer. But I never touched on small home hospitality so I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts regarding that this week.

Tomorrow will start the first post in this series. I will begin by answering the question, "Can I really extend hospitality in a small house?" During this series, I will also discuss having dinner guests, hosting small parties, and hosting overnight guests. And sometime in the near future I plan on expending this small home series by devoting some posts to embracing the delights that come along with living in a smaller home.

So, won't you join me over the next few days as I discuss the topic of small home hospitality?

See you here tomorrow!

This Mother's Humble Petition...

2012-01-30T06:34:00.006-05:00

Scratched into my journal this dark, quiet morning...

Father, I lift my children up to You. Father, my biggest desire and prayer for each of my children is that they would grow in love and fellowship with You as they grow in stature. That they would always understand the depths of Your love for them. That they would commit their lives to walking in the light and serving You in whichever way You call them.

Father, I pray that You would show me, as their mother, how to speak to their hearts. Show me how to love them deeply and fully. I pray that I would be able to discern their God-given abilities and talents and encourage them in those areas.

Father, sometimes (too many times, I'm afraid) I have the habit of tearing my children down with harsh words and bad attitudes. God, I don't want to be that kind of mother. I want to be a grace-filled mother who encourages her children. Who speaks softly and tenderly to them. Who guides them with a loving hand into Your truth, Your light.

Oh, but, Father, this does not come naturally to me. But You already know that. So help me, Father. Help me to not exasperate my children. Help me to discipline firmly but tenderly. Help me to speak to their hearts. Help me as I deal with the areas in which they struggle. Instead of getting frustrated with them, I pray that I would be able to see through their difficult places and see into the depths of their hearts.

I pray that I would be able to identify the needs in their life. Help me to focus on and encourage them in the areas in which they are strong and build them up in the areas in which they struggle.

God, I do not want to be an authoritative, gavel-beating, whip-lashing mother who turns the hearts of her children from You. I want to be a Spirit-filled, grace-filled, mercy-filled, love-filled mother whose words and actions lead my children to You.

In the power of Your Son's name, Amen.

How I Spent a Childless Saturday Morning (Plus my thoughts on cleaning)...

2012-01-28T12:07:00.006-05:00

It's noon here on Saturday. I just sat down at the kitchen bar with a banana smeared with sunbutter (it's really yummy, you should try it.) And I'm feeling rather content. I just cleaned my house really thoroughly for the first time in, oh, I don't know, a year. Maybe longer?!

The two younger kids stayed at their grandparents' homes last night, and Sergei, well he's a teenage boy, so he rather keep to himself anyway. But this all meant, that I could clean with no interruptions and no one underfoot.

So after I managed to pry myself away from The Help at 8:00am this morning, I set myself a goal of cleaning the entire house by noon. I figured that I used to do it (pre-children and pre-homeschooling) so I just needed to work up enough gumption to do it today.

I mean, I wiped down all the wood with Murphey's Oil Soap (I love the smell of that stuff), I wiped down the kitchen cabinets and appliances (they were embarrassingly dirty), I scrubbed the kitchen and bathroom floors, vacuumed (even used the attachment to get the corners), and we even managed to hang some photos that have been getting dusty in the corner of our master bedroom.

And now I feel good. But I did tell Brad and Sergei that since I scrubbed the kitchen floor, no one is allowed to eat in the kitchen for at least the day. Just so I can enjoy the shine for a little while. Until then, all eating must be done on the back deck. (Kidding, of course.)

But as I was running around crazy trying to meet my time goal, I found myself wondering why in the world I cleaned so thoroughly every week earlier in our marriage. I mean, we didn't even have kids for the place to even get really dirty. What in the world was I cleaning?????

Which leads me to the point I'm trying to get to. And forgive me if I've previously shared this before on here, but sometimes a point is worth repeating...

Don't do something if it doesn't need done.

A very wise, godly woman by the name of Victoria Botkin, spoke those words into my ears via a CD recording about a year ago.

As mothers (whether you stay-at-home, work, homeschool, whatever) we sometimes waste our time doing things not because they really need done but because everyone says that it's the right thing to do.

And she was speaking specifically about cleaning while in the midst of motherhood.

Basically, why dust every week, if your house doesn't even need dusted? Just to say that you did it?

Okay, okay, there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with a clean home. Oh my goodness, Brad knows how crazy I get when I feel the state of the house getting out from under my cleanliness control.

But when I heard Mrs. Botkin speak those words, it was like some of those heavy iron chains just fell to the floor. You see, I've tried many different "cleaning systems." Most of them left me feeling like I was constantly cleaning. I felt like it was never-ending.

I am not a slave to the feather duster. I am not a slave to the mop. I am not a slave to the toilet brush. So there.

And neither are you.

It's possible to have a nice, tidy house without killing yourself from exhaustion. It's possible to create a warm, cozy atmosphere for your family without neglecting them in the process.

It's called "doing things when they need done."

So, yes, sometimes I don't even dust if there's just a bit of dust on the furniture. But when it gets to the point of potentially being embarrassing if company unexpectedly shows up, I dust.

And there are some things that I do often because I would feel like the house was out of control if I didn't. For instance, I always like to have clean floors. The kitchen and the living spaces get vacuumed often. But (my husband thinks I'm kinda weird) I get a satisfaction from vacuuming; I actually enjoy it. Also, I don't like nasty, toothpaste-smeared vanity tops (although we often have them from the kids brushing their teeth). And I try to keep the toilets clean too, because I would be embarrassed if someone asked to use my bathroom and it was dirty.

Also, I've noticed that if I keep the clutter away, my house instantly feels clean. Mainly the coffee table, end tables, and end of the kitchen counter. These are the three place where papers and other odds-and-ends are likely to show up. If I can just keep these areas clean, I feel a lot better. And, admittedly, sometimes that means quickly shoving all that paperwork and mail onto my desk which is closed behind armoire doors. Then I tackle that at another time.

So, I hope you all don't judge me when I say that it'll probably be a good while before this little house of ours gets a good scrubbing again. I know that spring is coming, but I don't even know that I'll get around to spring cleaning this year. I did it last year, and whether it get done this year depends on how busy we are and if I can find a good chunk of time to work on it.

And, I must say, I do love a freshly spring-cleaned home. But right now I have a lot of family obligations, and those things have much more weight than greaseless-cabinet tops.

Have a great weekend!

p.s. - I'm reading The Help . This kind of book is the reason why I don't typically read fiction. I have found myself so glued to this book that I have had to force myself to go to bed at night and do other things like make dinner. Not a good thing. But, oh boy, do I love this book!

How to Squelch the Mean Mommy...

2012-01-25T07:48:00.009-05:00

This is turning out to be a busy week, packed full with appointments, obligations, etc. With one kid sick and whiny and the other already serving a time-out in the corner, I felt myself getting stressed.

I'm sure you've been there ~ I'm standing at the kitchen counter, buttering toast, I have one kid crying because she doesn't feel good and the other giving me attitude because he doesn't want to do his chores and get the day started. And I could feel it. The frustration welling up inside. The anger. The "I'm getting ready to spew mean words" feeling.

I mean it was right there. All ready to come pouring out like red-hot lava. And in that same instant, I began to feel overwhelmed. And it's only 7:30 in the morning. But I have a busy day, and I don't feel like dealing with a whiny child. And I want immediate obedience. I should have immediate obedience. Why can't my children just always act in respect and obedience?????!!!!!!

And then I hear God's small still voice, reminding me of what I read and prayed about in my quiet time this morning. I MUST walk in the Spirit.

Penned in my journal just this morning (oh, how He knew I would need this today...)

"Father, fill me up with Your Holy Spirit. I don't ever want to walk in the flesh. I want to walk in the power of Your Spirit.

Give me an extra measure of Your Spirit as I fulfill my calling as a wife, mother, and homemaker. Father, I know my tendency to complain and grumble in my soul occurs way too frequently. Father, I pray that that tendency would be suffocated by the indwelling powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in my life."

And so, the reminder from Him lit up in my mind, and instead of spouting out the fountain of ugliness and hurtful words, I (as calmly as I could possibly muster) disciplined my disobedient son, finished buttering the toast for the sick little one, and then discussed with the first child why it is important that he learns not to be disrespectful and disobedient.

And so I did okay this morning. But, boy, have I failed in the past, and I know there will be more failures in the future. But my prayer, each morning, is that I would be empowered by the Holy Spirit so that I can fully fulfill my calling as a wife, mother, and keeper of our home.

(Pictures of the two younger kids and I sometime in spring of 2008)

Because life as a homeschooling mom (life as a mom, in general) is busy and tough, but I really believe that I, that you, could be so much more, live in so much more victory, if we just asked Him. Asked Him to fill us to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. Because the key to victory in the believer's life is dependence on the Holy Spirit. And my personal prayer for myself is that I would depend fully upon Him.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Chasing the Elusive "Google Monster"...

2012-01-24T07:38:00.007-05:00

What began as a relaxing stroll through the snow-covered forest evolved into an imagination-filled journey, chasing down the "google monster" who feeds on the neighborhood ducks and chickens (but is nice and kind, otherwise.)

The boy of the bunch blazed the trail while fighting off the thorny bramble monsters with his wooden sword.

The tracks of the google monster were followed through the thick of the forest as the explorers traversed slippery slopes, climbed over fallen moss-covered trees, and wielded their wooden swords against the thick thorny monsters who threatened to grab a hold of the brave adventurers.

A little girl found the courage deep within to travel down the slippery, snow-covered mountainside, and then, filled with bravery and confidence, climbed the other side, leading the way to the victory.

And in the end, the brave knight battled the "google monster", defeating him with his sword, and saving the neighborhood flock of poultry.

And the brave hero and heroines traveled back to the castle and enjoyed a hot cup of cocoa while basking in the victory of a battle won.

Some Great Sewing Resources for Children...

2012-01-20T07:52:00.008-05:00

I am teaching a sewing class to our 2nd-6th grade students at our homeschooling co-op this semester. I am super excited about this class, because sewing (and domestic skills in general) are my passion.

In getting ready for the class, I utilized several of the books I own on sewing with children. These books focus on projects specifically for children, and most of the projects are very basic (although some of the books have more advanced projects for older children, say maybe tweens, teens, or even adults just beginning to sew.)

Here are a few of my favorites...

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make

This book has the easiest projects out of all the books I will be listing in this post. It has a section in the front that gives some basic sewing details, and then it goes on to give a variety of projects for your child to make on their own (or with minimal help from you.)

This would be a great book for those of you who have no idea how to sew. It really is very basic, but yet it still teaches your child (and you) the necessary basics. Most of the projects leave rough edges (rather than sewing right sides together and then turning out) so these project are pretty quick and easy.

I'm using the needle book idea with my co-op class this afternoon. I adapted their idea a bit to tailor it to teach the running stitch.

The kids and I tried the project out last night. The blue one is the one I made, Ian made the orange one (all by himself) and then Lily made a small pincushion (another project from the book) mostly by herself.

Ian (age 8) did not have problems doing this project. Of course, he has sewn in the past, but, still, this project is very easy and basic with only a running stitch and the sewing on of the button.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that this book comes with all of the patterns for all of the projects.

The next two books are actually gifts that we're giving Lily for her sixth birthday next month. She doesn't know about these yet, but I've been drooling over all of their goodness in secret. I can't wait 'til I can pull these books out and start working on some of the projects!

Sewing for Children: 35 Step-by-step Projects to Help Kids Aged 3 and Up Learn to Sew

This one has some super cute and fun projects. 35 to be exact.

And I'm talking drool-over cute projects.

Made By Me

This book is very pink. Very girly. Very much do I love this book. But this isn't just a sewing book, it also covers embroidery and knitting.

I could look at this book and the one above for hours, admiring all of the creativity and the bright, cheery projects.

Two other books we have and I've used with my kids are...

My Little House Sewing Book

My Little House Crafts Book: 18 Projects from Laura Ingalls Wilder's

The crafts book contains a couple of sewing projects and lot of other projects too. Both of these books contain crafts and projects that are written about in The Little House on the Prairie book series. These craft books were a great resource last spring when we were doing a unit study on one of the Little House books in our co-op. And they've been fun for personal use at home since my two younger kids both enjoy The Little House on the Prairie books.

And, of course, you can always find resources online for free. It just requires a little searching and some patience.

Have a blessed day and a wonderful weekend!

What to Do When the Winter Darkness Gets You Down (Ways to Embrace This Season)...

2012-01-19T07:49:00.009-05:00

I was just telling a friend the other day that this is the first winter I can remember embracing and finding enjoyable. Perhaps part of the reason for that is because it's been a very mild winter, not too bitterly cold (yet.)

But I think that another big reason is because it's been such a welcome time of rest.

When the winter season set in this year, I gave myself a good talking to. I told myself that I was going to make the best of it. You see, I know the potential winter brings to my mind. The potential to complain, gripe, be down and depressed. So I told myself that I was going to try my darnedest to remain positive. To see this as a season of downtime and rest, of coziness and warmth.

Every season serves a purpose. Even the dark, cold ones...

Just as God planned the winter as a time for the plants to hibernate, to gear up for the upcoming growing season, so God gives us seasons in our lives when we can (and should) rest and prepare to grow.

So as a way to boost my mood during these short, dark days of winter, these days when I'm prone to feel depressed and sad, I've been doing the following...

1. Lighting candles. When the sky starts to darken for the night, I light the candles. I bring light and warmth into the house. It's amazing how a couple of lit candles lift my mood and make the house feel cozy.

2. Play music. My choice of music is classical or instrumental on most nights. I also enjoy Shaun Groves and Andrew Petersen. The slow, soft music sets a mood of relaxation. But, I don't know, maybe you need some upbeat, praise and worship music. Whatever lifts your mood and makes your soul feel at ease.

3. Involve yourself in a hobby you can do at home. If you already have something you enjoy doing but have not done for awhile, pick back up on that. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, learn something new. For me, crocheting and sewing are big pick-me-ups this time of year, and are things I don't really have time for during the warmer, busier months of the year. I'm also appreciating more available moments to read and write.

4. Go outside. Even if it's only for five minutes, I've found that pulling on the snow boots and heading out for a couple of laps around our property, energizes me. In fact, last night, Lily joined me after dinner for a walk in the dark. And I came in feeling invigorated and much better.

5. Remind yourself to think positive. Hang reminders around the house. Use post-it notes on your bathroom mirror, little reminders of the things you have to be grateful for. Or use a gratitude journal as I do (read more about this here at Holy Experience) to number your thankfulness. Naming your blessings really does help!

6. Take care of God's creation. We have a bird feeder on the railing of our front porch that Brad built several winters ago. Every morning, I fill it up with bird seed for our feathery friends. We also have a furry friend visiting this year, a little chipmunk who has a burrow under one of our shrubs out front. There's just something so enjoyable about being able to provide for God's creation and then to observe their beauty as they visit.

7. Start planning for the spring. It really will be here soon. So if you garden, start planning your garden mid-February when the doldrums of winter are at their heaviest. Make lists of new plants you want to try or a new shrub or flower you want to add to your landscaping.

8. Embrace the winter as God's season of rest. Remind yourself that this is a season, and all seasons will come to an end. And before you know it, you'll be basking in the heat of the sun's rays once again.

Have a most blessed Thursday!!!!

Giveaway Winner!!!

2012-01-18T07:15:00.004-05:00

Okay, let's just cut to the chase!

The winner of the giveaway (chosen using random.org) is comment #51 - April Buckley!

Congratulations April, and I'll be mailing you out your package of goodies later this week!

Have a blessed day!

A Tip for Making Yummy Soup...

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

Soup is a staple at our house, especially this time of the year. I usually make some sort of soup at least once a week. And it's usually just a mumble jumble soup - a creation of my imagination. Which usually turns out quite delectable according to my critics (aka my husband and kids). The bad thing about making soup this way is that I often can't duplicate it. I have written some of my recipes down, but I often don't take the time to do this.

However, one thing I do is save all liquids that could be potential soup bases. Anytime I boil chicken, I freeze the broth. I save and freeze leftover gravy which is great for giving soups a rich, tasty flavor. When I make roasts in the crockpot there is always a prolific amount of yummy juicy goodness leftover which I freeze.

And here's another thing I do... I usually make my soups extra brothy. My first reason in doing this is because I'm not keen on a real thick, gummy soup. I like a bit of liquid in my soups. But another reason I make them extra brothy is because I then take the yummy, seasoned, rich leftover broth and freeze it for a base for a future soup. It's a great way to give extra yummy flavor to soup. (I just realized how many times I've used the word "yummy" in this post!)

Since I've been doing this over the last couple of years, I've really cut back on the amount of chicken and beef stock I have to buy from the store. I still buy it to add to roasts and occasionally
I have to buy it for a soup, but most of the time I have an ample supply of beef, chicken, or borscht soup base right in my freezer.

I just run the containers of frozen soup starter under some hot water from the spigot and pop it into the pop with the meat and water. Then bring to a boil on the stove before adding any veggies or rice/pasta/beans.

A big bowl of piping hot soup and a piece of crusty bread = one happy family at the dinner table.

And if you haven't already entered my giveaway, go here. Giveaway ends tomorrow night at midnight!

It's Giveaway Time Here at Making A Home...

2012-01-13T19:17:00.007-05:00

And for my dear, lovely readers ~ a giveaway to break through the winter doldrums. Some of my favorite things...

A roll of bright, cheery wrapping paper...

These things are amazing. Hands down my favorite candy...

A journal - to record your prayers, your gratitude list, or whatever else may be on your mind...

A cute little bowl I found at Ross's. I love the colors and pattern.

A spoon rest. I really do use my spoon rest; it keeps the stovetop a little cleaner. And this one has a nice little reminder...

A book about making our homes into dwelling places for our family and our friends...

Look at these cute little cupcake liners...

A cheerful grocery list for your refrigerator as well as pretty post-it notes...

And, of course, I always have to include a little package of cute greeting cards...

And last of all, four of my handmade crocheted coasters for your coffee table. Made with much love by me for one of you. : )

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is leave a comment on this post. If you are a follower and/or a facebook fan, please leave an additional comment for each for extra chances to win.

The giveaway will be open until midnight next Tuesday night (1/17/12) and the winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and announced here next Wednesday morning.

Today is a day of randomness...

2012-01-13T07:48:00.005-05:00

I declare today an official "laundry day." I have not graced the laundry room with my presence yet this week, and it's in need of some dire attention. So I will be spending much of my day traipsing up and down the stairs to the laundry room.

But do you wanna know something kind of weird? I actually enjoy doing laundry. Well, the actual washing, drying and folding part. I kind of get hung up on the "putting away" part. But God always seems to remind me of how blessed I am to have each person in my family as I fold their laundry. I love how He can bring inspiration and love to even the most mundane of tasks.

It snowed through the night. And it's supposedly supposed to continue snowing through tomorrow. Which, surprisingly, I'm kind of excited about. Snowy days always make me feel like cuddling up with my kiddos, candles lit, mugs of hot tea or hot chocolate and some good books read under the warmth of a blanket. And the wind is howling and whipping the snow past the windows, so I'm definitely planning on cozying up with the kids on this blistery day.

I've got 18 different books in my amazon.com cart and a $50 gift card. That means I have a lot of narrowing down to do. Such a difficult decision. Crochet? Sewing? Fiction? Nature studies? Christian living? Homeschooling? I've been mulling over this one since the first of the year.

Tomorrow's the annual Vacation Bible School workshop I attend every year. Could it really be that it's already time to start thinking about Bible school already???!!!

Oh, and I've been getting seed catalogs in the mail already. That's encouraging, but I'm afraid we haven't even had our hard winter here in PA yet. But it does remind me that I need to get planning our garden and the layout of our backyard since we're planning on putting in raised beds and raising some chickens this year. I'm excited about that. I can't wait to have several new beds to raise my herbs in (that means more herbs! Yay!) and fresh eggs and the opportunity to teach the kids (and myself) how to care for the chickens.

(Worm Coming Up Out of the Ground - created by Ian)

(God's Promise - created by Lily)

And another thing, I love all my readers. I really do. And every now and then I like to show you my appreciation by having a little giveaway. Which is exactly what I'm going to do. I think I'll probably post the official giveaway tomorrow (or Monday if I get too distracted tonight.) So you can come back then to see what I'd like to send one of you ladies. I think you'll like the things I've picked out. : )

Also, I want to thank you for your prayers and thoughts for my cousin. They are living a parents' worst nightmare right now, and my heart is aching for them. I pray that God would just use me to love them through this very difficult time.

Have a most blessed Friday!

When You Must Choose Between Two Doors...

2012-01-12T15:18:00.005-05:00

What do you do when the weight of this sin-stained world is threatening to suffocate you? When the pains of life meet you right on your doorstep? When you're stabbed with the reality of just how little control you hold over life. When things happen that are terrible and do not seem fair and remind you of just how frail life is...

That is when the mind becomes tempted to sink into despair. To sink into that dark slippery pit known as fear. That is when the heart has the potential to lose faith. To lose trust. To pose question after cynical question.

Because, honestly, a good look around this world can easily cause the heart to shudder.

But there are two doors. The black one is heavy and grimy and its nameplate says "Fear". The other door, gleaming white, bears the nameplate with the word "Trust" stamped on it.

And there are times when I must consciously tell my hand to reach past that black door to the doorknob of trust. Because truth lies behind that door; the other door is only a passageway to lies, darkness, and tormenting fear.

I must choose truth. So I must choose to pass over the threshold of Faith. He does, after all, tell me to trust Him always, give thanks always. He does tell me that He knows the plans He has for me (for my husband, for my children, for my family) and those plans are not to harm me but to give me hope and a future. And He tells me to think upon those things which are pure, honest, noble, true (not fear-filled, anxiety-producing.) And I know that He holds my life in His hand. And though storms will certainly still come, I will always be sheltered there in the cleft of the Rock as the storms rage around me.

And so I trust. As hard as that first step through the door of "Trust" can be, as hard as it may be to fight the enemies of the mind who want me to linger in the dark room of fear, that first step must be taken. And then I must set my face as flint, and rest in my Heavenly Father's arms, and resolve to know and believe that He works all things for good for those who love the Lord...

And a prayer request, dear friends...

For my cousin whose 19 year-old son died very unexpectedly yesterday morning while finishing up his basic training. The family was getting ready to travel to Illinois this weekend for his graduation, and now a mother and father, grandparents, family, fiancee, and friends deeply grieve over the loss of this young man's dear life. Details concerning his death and its causes are not fully known yet, but as I held his mom in my arms this morning as she wept, all of the world crashed down on the reality of that moment. And she needs prayers badly.

Tips for Raising Bookworms...

2012-01-11T05:30:00.001-05:00

I am a nerd when it comes to reading. I love to read. I always have. I'd much rather spend my money on books than clothing or shoes. The feel and smell of a new book excites me! (Right about this time, you're probably nodding your head in agreement saying, "yep, she sure is a nerd." Unless you're also a nerd too, at which point you are in complete understanding with me.)

One of the wonderful things about homeschooling my kids, is that I am really able to spend an ample amount of time reading with them. In fact, most of our learning is done through the use of living books. And I think that this has helped passed my love of reading on to my kiddos.

But here are some other things I have found helpful in fostering the love of reading in my children and may be helpful to you...

1. Start at a young age. I don't mean teach them to read at a young age. I mean set out parenting with the intent of raising your children to love reading and books. This leads me to the next point...

2. Read with your child. I think that this might be the MOST important and MOST successful way to encourage reading in your child. I spend hours each day reading TO my kids. We cuddle up on the couch under blankets and read. Sometimes I'll read to them while they do something with their hands like draw or play with Play-Doh.

3. Read books that they find interesting. Now here's where you need to be careful. Careful to steer clear of what some call "twaddle". Translated: books that are full of inferior and foolish content. There are a lot of those kind of books out there. Choose carefully with what you allow your child to fill his/her mind.

4. Read a bit above their level now and then. Your time of reading to your child is the perfect time to read content that is a bit more challenging. Using the Sonlight curriculum, I have found that many of our wonderfully enriching read-aloud books are more challenging and filled with very insightful content. Use your read-to-them time to start a classic book. Reading a classic with your young child is a good opportunity to expand their vocabulary and their appreciation of the fine books that have been penned in ages past. Discuss and define words and concepts to your child as you read. Right now, Brad and Ian are reading King Arthur together at bedtime. Ian enjoys it because his daddy is reading it to him, and Brad takes the time to explain difficult words and concepts.

5. Make books accessible. We literally have books in every room of our house (well except the hall bathroom.) Each bedroom has at least one bookshelf filled with books. I have baskets of books set about the living room in various places. I'll occasionally put an interesting book out on the coffee table for the family to browse through. I make it a point to place books everywhere where everyone can see them and use them.

6. Invest in a library membership. I pay $20 for a year's worth of library access. And my kids are always excited to visit the library. (And so am I.)

7. Build your home library. I've done this mostly through thrift store buys. It's amazing the amount of really good books you can find at thrift stores and yard sales. You just have to keep a look-out for them. I ALWAYS visit the book section of our thrift stores when I go there. Just be cautious not to buy a book simply because you can get it for a quarter. Remember, choosing quality book content is essential. You can also build your home library by buying books for your children for holidays and birthdays and requesting family members do the same.

8. Limit television, computer use, and video games. All three of the aforementioned are big black holes when it comes to time and mental energy. I'm pretty certain that if I gave my eight-year-old the choice of reading a book or playing a Wii game, he would pick the Wii game. Therefore, I restrict the video games to Saturday only and only for an hour, and we typically don't watch television in our home either.

9. When your child is first learning to read, don't force them to read on their own if they aren't ready. The last thing we want to do is make reading unpleasant for them. Children learn to read at different ages. Some children (particularly boys) aren't ready to read until around the age of eight. If we're constantly hounding our child to read before they are ready, we're going to frustrate them. If we frustrate them, they will begin to equate reading with something unpleasant. If you feel your child might not be ready to go solo yet, just continue to do all the reading together. Make reading a fun and enjoyable past-time.

10. Be an example. Children often follow in their parents' footsteps. If your child sees you reading and appreciating a good book, they are more likely to enjoy reading as well.

Here are some great online reading resources:

Ambleside Online Booklist - contains an extensive list of "twaddle-free" books for children.

A Charlotte Mason Booklist

A Simple Mom's list specifically for preschoolers

Homeschool for Free - an extensive amount of reading links; not just for homeschoolers!

Three books that offer insight and summaries of many high-quality children's books...

Honey for a Child's Heart

(I have the two following on my bookshelf...)

Books Children Love (Revised Edition): A Guide to the Best Children's Literature

Read for the Heart: Whole Books for WholeHearted Families

Happy reading!

A January Nature Walk...

2012-01-10T05:30:00.000-05:00

On this unseasonably warm day in Western Pennsylvania, we grabbed our baskets and headed outdoors in search of nature's treasures...

It felt good to get out into the fresh air.

Much gratitude and thankfulness for a mild day...

Blessings!

My 2012 Book List ~ Part 1

2012-01-09T10:07:00.001-05:00

Reading is a passion of mine. I have always loved to read. I still remember my first book - Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess. I remember proudly reading it to my Uncle Dan when he was back visiting from Maryland. And I'm guessing that I was probably somewhere between Lily and Ian's age when I read that book.

I usually write down the books that I read each year. The last couple of years I've been recording the books I've read in the sidebar of the blog. Last year I didn't keep up on that though.

This year, I've decided to post my reading list here on my blog and then mark the books "done" as I complete each one. Since I'm a little behind on getting this post up, I've already completed two books this year. Most of these books are ones that I had previously purchased over the last couple of years. Some I plan on purchasing with an amazon.com gift card I got at Christmas.

So, without further ado, here is my 2012 Book List (in two parts because I listed too many books to fit into one blog post. Yikes!)...

Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Children for the Real World ~ Christine M. Field ~ Just finished it. This was a great book discussing the importance of teaching our children the life skills that are necessary for successful living. Topics such as housework, money management, people skills, cooking skills, etc., etc., etc., are included in this book. This book is written from a definite Christian perspective, which I highly appreciated.

Here is an excerpt from the book - "One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the knowledge that the universe does not revolve around them.....We tend to indulge our children out of love for them, but love is not indulgence. Love is training your children and sometimes being tough with them, asking them to learn unselfishness, being strong enough to tolerate their not liking you when you try to do the right thing....this ability to look beyond oneself is a critical people skill." I found this book very motivating, insightful, and full of helpful tips. I read this book with pencil in hand, and found myself underlining a lot of information I wanted to be able to find again easily when referring back to the book in the future.

The Daniel Fast ~ Susan Gregory ~ See my review on this book here. I really enjoyed this book. Just finished it last night.

Educating the Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson - I picked this book up at a homeschooling conference in the spring, and I was so excited because I had heard such great things about it from other homeschooling blogs. With a bend toward the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling, the Clarkson's cover a large array of topics concerning educating your children at home. Here is a little snippet from amazon.com's description of the book:

* Make your home and family the heart of your children's education
* Train your children to become creative, self-directed learners
* Enrich your family's life and education with living books
* Identify and work with each child's learning style
* Help your children love to learn as naturally as they love to play
* Gain confidence to teach using practical, common-sense methods

Seasons of a Mother's Heart ~ Sally Clarkson ~ I started this book again last night after having read the first two chapters in the last part of 2011. This book has been awesome and very inspiring to me as a homschooling mama. Mrs. Clarkson speaks much on shaping our children's heart to love and know God and to love others.

From Amazon.com's description: Your life as a mom is a whirlwind of changing seasons that can just as easily exhaust as exhilarate you. Sit down, take a few moments, and allow yourself to be refreshed and encouraged by a few stories, insights, and lessons from a friend. Sally Clarkson opens her heart within the pages of this timeless classic, sharing what she has learned as a homeschooling wife and mother -- about herself, her children, and her Lord. Revised and expanded for today's moms, Seasons of a Mother's Heart includes four all-new essays by Sally, one for each season of a family's life, from the renewal of spring and the response of summer to the resolve of fall and the reflection of winter. So step in out of the whirlwind, pour a cup of tea, and take a deep breath of the Spirit with Sally.

The Ministry of Motherhood ~ Sally Clarkson ~ I know, this is the third Clarkson book I've included on my 2012 list (and I've already read others of hers), but this wonderful, godly woman is such an inspiration to me as a homeschooling mama who desires to serve God wholeheartedly and raise my children to do the same.

From Amazon.com's description :

• Make Life’s Mundane and Nitty-Gritty Moments Work for You and Not Against You.

• Discover Ways to Make Character-Building a Natural Part of Live.

• Teach Your Child in the Same Way Jesus Taught the Disciples.

• Pass on Crucial Gifts that Will Serve Your Family for a Lifetime.

A Charlotte Mason Companion ~ Karen Andreola ~ This is probably the style of homeschooling that I most closely practice, but I never have read a book on Charlotte Mason education. So, I'm looking forward to reading this book and getting some encouragement and tips.

From Amazon ~ A thorough chapter-by-chapter overview of the inspiring teaching principles of Christian educator Charlotte Mason, this book reveals the practical day by day method of how to teach "the Charlotte Mason way". The author offers friendly advice, and humor, along with the joys and struggles of real homeschool life. The book covers education, parenting, homeschooling and lots of encouraging advice for mothers.

Six Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl ~ Dannah Gresh ~ I've never been disappointed with a Dannah Gresh book. I'm super excited to read this book, because I often feel overwhelmed with raising my daughter up in this over-sexualized, grow-your-kids-up-too-fast world we live in today.

From Amazon:

Bestselling author, speaker, and founder of the Secret Keeper Girl conferences, Dannah Gresh shares with moms the secret to helping today’s girls grow up confident, grace-filled, and strong in their faith.

Studies show that the foundation for an emotionally healthy teen girl is built between the ages of 8-12 and that a good relationship with mom is one of the most important factors. So when the world wants girls to grow up too fast, how does a mother help her young daughter navigate the stormy waters of boy-craziness, modesty and body image, media, Internet safety, and more? With a warm, transparent style, Dannah Gresh shares six ways a mom can help protect and guide her daughter, including:

help her celebrate her body in a healthy way
unbrand her when the world tries to buy and sell her
unplug her from a plugged-in world
dream with her about her prince, and more

What Women Fear ~ Angie Smith ~ I love Angie Smith. Having read her blog for several years, I was very excited to be able to hear her speak at the Women of Faith conference this past fall here in Pittsburgh. And I got to speak with her in person and found her to be just as down-to-earth and kind-hearted as I imagined her to be.

From Amazon ~ A woman's faith in God is challenged by the first question Satan asks Eve in the Bible: "Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the garden?" That seed of doubt and the story it begins to unfold breed a concept of fear still haunting each of us on some level every day-the idea that our actions could ruin something beautiful, and God might not have control of things.

In What Women Fear, acclaimed writer and speaker Angie Smith admits, "fear is a major part of my testimony" and talks openly about her treatment for anxiety as a child. Giving a voice to the problem, she says, "I truly believe every single one of us struggles with some type of fear, whether it's fear of flying or fear of being 'found out.' Maybe you don’t worry about dying, but you get sick thinking about the fact that you might fail."

Rather than suggesting that those who truly love the Lord would never fear, Angie blends her own experiences with those of men and women from throughout Scripture to help us start dealing more effectively with these true, human emotions. Whether it’s a constant "What if?," a nagging fear of abandonment or betrayal, fear of your own or someone else’s death, fear of trusting God's plan, or even the fear that God's existence is a lie, Angie will walk you through stories of others who have simultaneously loved God and struggled with fear. Join Angie and discover how to let Jesus redeem this struggle as only He can, that He will be glorified, and you will be transformed!

Rumors of Water ~ L.L. Barkat - A book written from a writer's heart discussing the topics of creativity and life. What I appreciate about this book is that it is written from a Christian mother's perspective. I think I will find it very applicable to my life.

Storycatcher ~ Christina Baldwin - Another book for writers. Although this book is not written from a Christian perspective, it is a book that delves into the importance of recording our stories and the impact these stories have on others. I do believe the author does practice some kind of New Age religion just by reading up on some of her other books. By reading this particular book, I am in no way endorsing the author's religious opinions.

Family Driven Faith ~ Voddie Bauchman, Jr.

From Amazon.com -

More teens are turning away from the faith than ever before: it is estimated that 75 to 88% of Christian teens walk away from Christianity by the end of their freshman year of college. Something must be done.

Family Driven Faith equips Christian parents with the tools they need to raise children biblically in a post-Christian, anti-family society. Voddie Baucham, who with his wife has overcome a multi-generational legacy of broken and dysfunctional homes, shows that God has not left us alone in raising godly children. He has given us timeless precepts and principles for multi-generational faithfulness, especially in Deuteronomy 6. God’s simple command to Moses to teach the Word diligently to the children of Israel serves as the foundation of Family Driven Faith.

* Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens ~ Paul David Tripp ~ Another great author. And a must-read for me, who was recently thrown into the throes of raising a teenage boy. :)

Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter ~ Vicki Courtney

From Amazon.com:

From the cradle to college, tell your daughters the truth about life before they believe the culture’s lies.

For mothers with girls newborn to eighteen, Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter is simply a must-have book. Youth culture commentator Vicki Courtney helps moms pinpoint and prepare the discussions that should be ongoing in their daughters' formative years.

To fully address the dynamic social and spiritual issues and influencers at hand, several chapters are written for each of the conversations, which are:

1. You are more than the sum of your parts

2. Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up

3. Sex is great and worth the wait

4. It’s OK to dream about marriage and motherhood

5. Girls gone wild are a dime a dozen—dare to be virtuous

* Five-Star Families: Moving Yours from Good to Great ~ Carol Kuykendall

From Amazon.com:

What kinds of families do most moms want? Loving? Fun? Loyal? Growing? Faith-filled? How about all of the above? Five-Star Families takes a look at the five important qualities that matter most in a family and gives readers different ways to express and experience each. MOPS author Carol Kuykendall helps moms determine what kind of family they want by looking back at the family they had growing up, looking around at the family they have now, and looking forward to the family they want to have in the future. With real-life examples, helpful advice, and lots of fun tips, Carol shows readers how to build a healthy family that wants to be together, grow together, and stay together-a family that will shine from one generation to the next.

The Heart of Anger: Practical Help for Prevention and Cure of Anger in Children ~ Lou Priolo ~ This book sounds interesting to me because a have one child, in particular, who seems to struggle with some anger issues.

From Amazon.com: Does your children ever speak to you in angry, disrespectful tones? Christian families, especially those in which children are home for most of the day, especially episodes of frustration and anger. This new book deals with anger's root causes, offering corrective advice from a biblical perspective. Pastor and radio teacher, John MacArthur, Jr. has said, "This book goes beyond the external manifestations of anger and deals with the internal source - the thoughts and intents of the heart. I know of no other book that addresses this problem with such practical and applicable biblical wisdom."

Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World - Vicki Courtney

The Family - J.R. Miller ~ Geez. I've had this book for probably four years and have as of yet to read it. This is a result of my book addiction. Which is exactly why I've made it a goal to read all (or at least most) of the unread books on my bookshelves.

From Amazon.com:

Formerly published under the title Home-Making, The Family is an uncompromising vision statement for the domestic bliss and cultural dominion of the Christian family. The message of The Family is powerful: ''Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, Wives -- home life is meant to be beautiful, ennobling, and victorious!'' God intends for each person -- from parent to child -- to play a role in family life, the ultimate goal of which is the transformation of the individual, the home, and the society for the glory of God.

Miller writes truth that we need to hear, but are usually afraid to say. He carefully addresses each member of the family, managing to find the perfect balance between inspiration and exhortation.

Open Heart Open Home ~ Karen Burton Mains

From Amazon.com: Can a simple dinner party for the neighbors change the world? Karen Mains says, "Yes!" And in Open Heart, Open Home she shows how. In this classic on Christian hospitality, Karen Mains steps far beyond how-to-entertain hints to explore a biblical and spiritual approach to using your home to care for others.

This approach to hospitality can literally transform the fabric of your community and your world. If you labor under the illusion that hospitality requires Martha Stewart-like abilities, then Mains will free you from a load of guilt! Instead, she offers fresh and inspiring ideas for using your own resources to serve rather than to impress with new "opening the door" activities in each chapter.

You will discover how the Holy Spirit can work in and through you to make others feel welcome and wanted. Whether you are a business executive or a homemaker, a professional minister or a layperson, a seasoned entertainer or an entertaining klutz, you will find here the encouragement and skills you need to reach out with the gospel through daily acts of acceptance, belonging and love.

The Hidden Art of Homemaking - Edith Schaeffer - This is a re-read because I enjoy it so much. A very inspiring book.

From Amazon.com: The author reveals the many opportunities for artistic expression that can be found in ordinary, everyday life.

Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life ~ Margaret Kim Peterson ~ Because, frankly, who doesn't need a little encouragement in the area of housekeeping?!

From Amazon.com: Keeping House is a wide-ranging and witty exploration of the spiritual gifts that are gained when we take the time to care for hearth and home. With a fresh perspective, mother, wife, and teacher Margaret Kim Peterson examines the activities and attitudes of keeping house and making a home.

Debunking the commonly held notion that keeping house is a waste of time or at best a hobby, Peterson uncovers the broader cultural and theological factors that make housekeeping an interesting and worthwhile discipline. She reveals how the seemingly ordinary tasks of folding laundry, buying groceries, cooking, making beds, and offering hospitality can be seen as spiritual practices that embody and express concrete and positive ways of living out Christian faith in relationship to others at home, in the church and in the world.

Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way of Love ~ O.S.B. Daniel Homan ~ A book that is a great reminder and call back to true Biblical hospitality.

From Amazon.com: Today's culture is increasingly hostile and suspicious toward anyone who appears to be different--especially when tragedy strikes. Our instinct is to bolt our doors and protect the ones we love. But deep within the heart of Benedictine spirituality lies a remedy to hatred, fear, and suspicion: hospitality. At once deeply comforting and sharply challenging, true Benedictine hospitality requires that we welcome the stranger, not only into our homes, but into our hearts. With warmth and humor, drawing from the monastic tradition and sharing personal anecdotes from their own lives, Pratt and Homan encourage us to embrace not only the literal stranger, but the stranger within and the stranger in those we love.

Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small Space Edible Garden ~ Andrea Balleny ~ A "read-me-soon" book so I can get geared up for the spring! Must think ahead, you know!! BTW, this book is so stinkin' cute.

From Amazon.com: Imagine savoring fresh-picked strawberries on a weekend morning, plucking plump figs from your mini-orchard to quarter and serve at a farm-to-table meal with friends, or harvesting and sautéing the edible stalks of garlic bulbs. If the size of your space is bringing you back to reality, here’s the best part: you don’t need a big backyard to grow your own food. In fact, you don’t need a yard at all.

Andrea Bellamy, founder of the acclaimed blog Heavy Petal (HeavyPetal.ca), gives you the dirt on growing gorgeous organic food with very little square footage. Simple, straightforward, design and growing advice can help you transform just a snippet of space into a stylish and edible oasis. Bellamy goes beyond the surface and shows you how to create and maintain healthy soil, decide what and when to plant, sow seeds and harvest, and most importantly, enjoy the process. So go ahead, picture that tiny nook, corner, strip, porch, alley, balcony, or postage-stamp-sized yard overflowing with fingerling potatoes, fragrant herbs, sugar snap peas, French breakfast radishes, and scarlet runner beans.

Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther ~ Roland Herbert Bainton ~ I love biographies, and I find Martin Luther's life and works fascinating. Can't wait to dig into this one...

From Amazon.com: "I cannot.. I will not... recant! Here I stand." This authoritative and inspiring story paints a vivid portrait of the crusader who spearheaded the Reformation. Considered one of the most readable biographies of Martin Luther, this volume is an illustrated look at the German religious reformer and his influence on Western civilization.

My 2012 Book List ~ Part 2

2012-01-09T09:24:00.003-05:00

And it continues...

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys ~ Hal and Melanie Young

From Amazon.com: Raising Real Men looks beyond the untied shoes and dirty jeans to what the Lord means your son to be. Learn how to help him focus on schoolwork, find real heroes, stand alone when he needs to, and become a real man one day. Don t just survive raising boys, succeed at it and learn how to love them as they really are.

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families - How They Do It! ~ Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar ~ Okay, I admit it, I have a fascination with this family. And I'm really looking forward to some tips on how to stay organized and fuctioning effectively as a family unit. If they can do it with 20, then surely we can do it with our small family.

Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning ~ Karen Andreola

From Amazon.com: This unique book actually has a two-fold purpose. It's a story written especially for moms who get discouraged and feel like giving up on homeschooling, as well as a guide to nature study.

Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You ~ Clare Walker Leslie ~ Because I enjoy writing, nature, and drawing...

From Amazon.com: What makes KEEPING A NATURE JOURNAL so popular? It is inspiring and easy to use. Clare and co-author Charles Chuck E. Roth offer simple techniques to give first-time journal-keepers the confidence to go outside, observe the natural world, and sketch and write about what they see. At the same time, they motivate long-time journal-keepers to hone their powers of observation as they immerse themselves in the mysteries of the natural world. Clare and Chuck stress that the journal is a personal record of daily experience and the world around us. Nature's beauty can be observed everywhere, whether in the city, suburbs, or country.

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption ~ Katie J. Davis ~ I just recently found Katie's blog. And she amazes me. The calling on her life and her obedience amaze and inspire me. Can't wait to read this book.

From Amazon.com: What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference.

Hinds' Feet on High Places ~ Hannah Hurnard ~ Looking forward to digging into this classic Christian allegory...

From Amazon.com: Hannah Hurnard created the story of Much Afraid, a young girl hoping to travel from the Valley of Humiliation to the High Places. Along the way, she meets a number of memorable characters - including the Family of Fearings, Cousin Pride, Mrs. Valiant, Mercy, and Peace. Much Afraid also meets the ever-caring Shepherd, who helps her on her journey, at the end of which she receives a new name: Grace and Glory. This long-time best-seller is an intriguing perspective on the Christian life. Now in a deluxe collector's edition, this unabridged classic will thrill readers of all ages.

The Pilgrim's Progress ~ Paul Bunyan ~ Another classic Christian life allegory. Brad and Ian read the junior version of this book last year and had really enjoyed it. So I've decided it's time to read it myself. Only, I'm reading the original version.

Note: If you are a Kindle owner, you can get this classic for free on your Kindle! Use the above link and then click on the kindle option. Yay!

Uncle Tom's Cabin ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe - How is it that I have never read this great classical piece of historical writing?

Again, you can get the Kindle edition of this book for free! Use the following link:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ~ Betty Smith

From Amazon.com: The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

The Help ~ Kathryn Stockett ~ I found this book for $1.00 at our local library sale and snatched it up right away. Hardcover for $1.00!!!! Anyway, I've been anxious to read this book since hearing that it is similar to Susan Monk Kidd's, The Secret Life of Bees. In fact, I requested the movie version of The Help for over the weekend. Brad and I put it in the DVD player on Friday night, but I just couldn't bring myself to watch it before I read the book. My dear husband is so understanding of me. He didn't understand my reasoning, but he went along with it. So, needless to say, we turned it off and watched something else. I'll re-order after I read the book!

The Forgotten Garden ~ Kate Morton ~ I heard that this book is similar to The Secret Garden.

The Chronicles of Narnia Series ~ C.S. Lewis ~ Read some of these as a young girl. Was recently inspired to re-read them after watching the Narnia movies.

A Wrinkle In Time Books ~ Madeleine L'Engle ~ I read a couple of these books as a young girl and remember being fascinated by her writing. So I plan on re-reading the ones I've already read and look forward to reading the ones I haven't read yet.

Happy Reading!

Weekend Book Review: The Daniel Fast

2012-01-08T21:14:00.002-05:00

"Sometimes you are so hungry that the only way you can be fed is to fast." ~ Susan Gregory

That very profound quote is found in the book, The Daniel Fast: Feed Your Soul, Strengthen Your Spirit, and Renew Your Body, by Susan Gregory. This book discusses the partial fast that has come to be known as the Daniel Fast, named so after the Old Testament Jew, Daniel, who requested to be fed only food originating from seed and water while serving in King Nebuchadnezzer's court.

This very interesting book starts by discussing the history of fasting in both the Jewish and Gentile cultures of the Old and New Testament time periods. The author also includes specific examples with Scriptural references to the various different types of fasts found in the Bible, including Moses (who did an absolute fast - no food or water, in his case, for 40 days); Elijah and Jesus (who did normal fasts which included fasting only from food); and Daniel and John the Baptist (who participated in partial fasts in which some foods were consumed but others were restricted). Ms. Gregory also includes other specific examples for both personal and cooperate (group) fasting from the Bible.

Ms. Gregory discusses the purpose of fasting in a believer's life. She discusses the importance of it being practiced as a spiritual discipline. And (I believe most importantly) she discusses what fasting is not meant to be - a way to manipulate God into giving us what we want.

I have read several different books that have addressed the topic of fasting. I have done some casual research on my own, as well, over the course of the last year, and I have come to a renewed appreciation and understanding of the purpose of fasting in a believer's life. Fasting is not for God. It is not a way for us to prove how good or spiritual we are to Him. If we have excepted His gift of salvation, we are already saved by the blood of Christ. Rather, fasting is a way of drawing a believer nearer to God. It is a time of more intentional and focused meditation on God. It is a time to develop self-control and a time to learn how to let the Spirit work through us.

And through the reading and research I have done on fasting, I have realized the importance of fasting in a believer's life.

I actually read this book in about three hours. Partly because a large portion of the book includes recipes that are specific to the Daniel Fast but also because I found the content very interesting and I really enjoyed Ms. Gregory's conversational writing style.

I had originally heard of this book several months ago when my mom was reading it. I was somewhat turned off by it, thinking it to be another fad diet that some author pinned a spiritual tag onto to appeal to the Christian audience. However, my mom spoke highly of the book and the fast itself, so when I saw this book available for review I thought I'd read it for myself.

And I'm glad I did. It was a great book. It gave some great background info on fasting in general, as well as specific info on this particular fast, the Daniel Fast. And the thing I found fascinating is that it just makes sense. During this fast, you eat only fruits and veggies, legumes, spices, and whole grains. No fats, no meat products, no dairy products, no sweeteners of any kind, nothing artificial, nothing preserved, etc. Only whole, healthy, God-produced food. Eating the way God originally intended us to eat.

But here is where the whole "fasting" part plays in. Since most of us don't eat like this and never have, we are giving up many (if not most) of the normal foods we indulge in each day of our lives. And as we do this, we will suffer withdrawal of sorts (I can already imagine the coffee withdrawal I'd experience) and cravings and weak moments, and it is during those times when we will need to draw near to God and be reminded to seek Him, His strength, and His direction. That's the point of fasting.

This book approaches the Daniel Fast as a twenty-one day fast, although Ms. Gregory says that you can do it for a shorter or longer time period. She encourages you to pray and follow the Spirit's leading on how long you will fast as well as what you will focus on during your fasting.

One of the great things about this book are all of the food suggestions that she provides the reader. And even better is the twenty-one day meal plan and all of the recipes to go along with it. When my mom was doing this fast, she had given me a couple of the dishes to eat because they were gluten free, and I can testify that they were tasty. (In fact she has continued to make them long after ending her fast.) Reading through the recipes tonight, I found them to be interesting, whole, and extremely healthy. This section of recipes and the menu is very helpful in planning your fast.

I really enjoyed this book. It really did fascinate me. And I am going to be praying about when God might want me to do a Daniel fast and what part of my spiritual life He wants me to focus on during that time.

And I do want to reiterate that a believer should never enter a fast as a way to lose weight or as a way to attempt to manipulate God. Fasting is meant to be a deep-rooted response to our Father. It is an expression of our desire to know Him, love Him, draw near to Him, learn from Him, depend on Him, live in Him and through Him.

I recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Weekend Book Review: How Do We Know The Bible Is True

2012-01-07T08:02:00.002-05:00

Authored by Ken Ham and Bodie Hogue, How Do We Know the Bible Is True?, contains a collection of apologetic essays on over 20 issues that are relevant to Christians today. Issues such as the inerrancy of the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, miracles, evolution, interpretation of the Bible, and many more are included.

Mulitiple authors' writings were compiled into a topical format for this book. So each topic is addressed by an individual author. The book is formatted in an organized fashion in the table of contents so that it is easy for the reader to refer directly to the topic they are interested in.

Honestly, I have been dreading posting this review because I really don't know what to say about this book. And, being completely honest, I didn't even read this whole book. I started it with the intention of reading straight through from beginning to end (which is how I read every book that I read for review purposes), but I found the first few chapters dry and boring. So I began to skip around a bit and read on topics that were of interest to me. But, honestly, reading this book felt like a chore to me.

Having said that, some of the topics are more interesting than others. There were some that I simply could not focus on and found my mind constantly wandering. Honestly, I don't know if it was because the author wrote in a random way or if because I just didn't find the information interesting. This is why I have dreaded writing this review.

Another thing that I found to be a potential problem is that the book uses the Bible as its main source of evidence. This is fine and dandy for me, since I do believe in the inerrancy of Scripture. However, for a critic who is out to disprove Biblical accounts, they will simply tear this book to shreds. How can you try to prove the truth of the Bible by using the Bible (the book you're trying to prove) as the main source of proof and evidence. And, again, by saying this, I am not in any way discounting the accuracy of the Bible. I fully believe in the Bible and its truths. However, I know that someone who does not already have that deep-rooted belief is not going to find the supporting evidence this book provides to be anything substantial.

Having said that, this book was okay. Some parts were very interesting, and other parts were very dry and exhausting to read. I don't think that this would be a good book to give to a non-believer with the attempts of trying to persuade them to believe in the truth of the Word. However, this book does contain some interesting facts for a believer who already believes in the truth of God's Word.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from New Leaf Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.)

The Rhythm of Our Life...

2012-01-06T07:12:00.012-05:00

A post with few words, mostly photos to capture the rhythms of our recent days...

A precious, hold-close-to-my heart crayon drawing from one of our sponsored children...

Winter food for our feathery friends. Set up on the front porch for easy bird-watching...

Daily reminders of God's love, goodness, and mercy...

And old hand-me-down from my Gammy's farmhouse kitchen...

Family puzzle time. A challenging puzzle left out on the coffee table over the days for everyone to work on as they feel the desire to...

As usual, a silly Lily...

Learning multiplication facts and other things...

After dinner clean-up...

Taking time out to play a good game of checkers...

Light and warmth on these short, winter days...

Reminder that there is always joy found in Him and that He alone is the true source of joy...

A new baby born. My youngest sister and brother-in-law. Freshly born yesterday...

Feeling blessed to have experienced the birth of my sisters' children over the years...

A late-at-night quick crochet project to keep my fingers busy...

I pray that you would have a most blessed day and delightful weekend!

Love,
Amber

Teaching Your Young Daughter to Sew...

2012-01-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

I've always been very sure (since the time my baby girl was born) that I wanted to teach her to sew when she was old enough.

I introduced the concept of sewing when she was around four by giving her an embroidery hoop with some loose-weave fabric and a blunt plastic needle. I threaded the needle and let her go to town "sewing." And of course, the thread was wound all around the embroidery hoop, upside down and inside out. But I wasn't seeking to teach her anything but to have fun and get used to the feel of a needle, thread, and fabric.

Then last year, we did a patchwork quilt pillow together. She did some hand stitching and then I let her help me reinforce the seams with my Singer. She LOVED being able to "sew" with the machine.

Lily, who is now a month short of six, can follow a pattern on a simple embroidery project, can hand stitch in a much straighter line (although her stitches are still pretty big; we're working on that), and is showing much, much interest in sewing with the machine.

She started a plain two-piece pillow before Christmas. She hand stitched all the sides but one. Last night she asked if we could finish the pillow with the machine.

So, I went over some sewing machine basics - how to turn it on, how to raise/lower the presser foot, how to use the lines on the bobbin cover as a guide to make straight seams, etc. And then with her on my lap and me in control of the foot pedal, I let her guide her pillow through the machine.

And, of course, her pillow isn't perfect and her lines were a little wonky at times, but she was SO stinkin' proud of that pillow when she was finished. And she went to bed with it under her head last night. And the best thing? When I was tucking her in last night she thanked me for letting her sew her pillow and told me that she loved doing crafts with me. Sigh. And I love doing crafts with you, darling little girl of mine. These are memories I know will be written on the pages of my heart forever...

And here's something that may be helpful if your young one is beginning to machine sew ~ let her (or him) practice on a piece of plain paper. Unthread your machine, and let her go to town using just the needle. She can experiment with the different stitches and make designs on the paper. She can also practice making straight lines.

Last night, I wrote Lily's name in marker on a piece of paper and had her "stitch" over her name. Draw only straight lines vertically down the paper for an easier approach.

So, I have a feeling that maybe some of you think your little ones are still a tad bit too little to join you in the world of crafting. But I want to encourage you to think outside the box. Pick up some blunt needles, burlap and an embroidery hoop next time you're out. Or give your little one fabric just to play with, fold, or wrap around her dollies. I even used to just let Lily help stuff the pillows I would sew.

(She found her new snow boots to be a great help in reaching the foot pedal!)

This isn't about sewing a perfect line or making perfectly-sized stitches. It's not even necessarily about sewing. Whatever your form of art or craft is, this is about encouraging creativity in your child and bringing him/her alongside you to learn. This is about opening their little minds up to endless possibilities. It's about fostering the drive and desire to create. And it's about having fun. And, most importantly, having fun together.

Because There's Only 24 Hours in a Day...

2012-01-04T06:25:00.007-05:00

...and I've been pretty good at misusing them.

Sometimes I feel like I just can't possibly get everything done that I need to get done. Well, there's two ways of looking at this...

First of all, am I setting too high expectations for my day? Are my goals unrealistic and idealistic? Yes, sometimes this is the problem.

Second of all, if I could sit down and watch a slow-motion replay of my entire day, would I see moments in time in which I wasted away the moments? This is probably the more-likely scenario.

I've known myself to waste moments.

When I worked outside the home, I was pretty good at staying on top of things because I had to. I didn't have time to waste. And, honestly, it was pretty exhausting.

And then I became a full-time stay-at-home mommy. My dream. My calling.

And with being at home all day came the accessibility to things that could potentially waste my time, particularly the Internet.

You see, the Internet has been good for me as a stay-at-home mom. Being at home most of the time, I sometimes feel secluded from other people because I'm not out interacting one-on-one with them as much anymore. The Internet has opened up the doors to blogging, getting in touch with old friends through Facebook, and meeting some new ones (and a bestie, I might add). It has served some good purposes in my life.

But it's also been a time-hole. If I had to look at where most of my wasted moments are dumped, I could probably say with most certainty it's been on the world wide web.

But maybe you use your precious moments on phone calls, shopping, reading romance novels, crafting. I don't know. What I do know is that we all could find something that could tempt us to use our moments foolishly.

I'm not saying we shouldn't pursue these enjoyable things. Rather, life is about balance. It's about walking that fine line, keeping sure footing so as not to tread on the quicksand of excess and waste.

And so when we feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day, we would be wise to assess how we are spending those hours. Because if we were honest with ourselves, the hours we are blessed with really are plentiful. It's how we choose to spend each moment that has the potential to wreak havoc.

Father, I confess to using my time unwisely too often. Help me, Lord, to see each moment as the precious gift it is. Help me to fill each moment with meaningful things and activities. Help me to be disciplined enough to resist the temptation of wasting away moments. And when I am being wasteful with this precious commodity, convict me. I want to make each moment count. I don't want to waste the time You have given me. Rather, I want to wake each morning and commit each day to You. I want to live this life abundantly in You.

Introducing Our Chore Chart...

2012-01-03T05:30:00.002-05:00

Check "make a chore chart" off of my list of things to do...

I don't know about you other parents, but I have grown weary of hearing myself remind my children to do their chores. And then I look like the "parent who exasperates her children" because it appears as though I'm nagging when, in reality, they are just not doing what they're supposed to be doing without being told to do it.

I'm currently reading, Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Child for the Real World (affiliate link), and in this book the author talks a little about chore charts. By using a chore chart, the responsibility of remembering to complete their chores is totally shifted to the child. It's a way to keep them accountable. And, hopefully, a way to eliminate parental "nagging."

In the book, she had suggested a similar style of chore chart as I made. I knew that I wanted a pocket system. I believe that she had suggested a quick and easy way of constructing one using envelopes - one row for "to do" and one row below for "done."

But I wanted something a little more durable (and attractive) so I decided to make a fabric rendition of her chart.

I simply cut squares of fabric, stitched hems so they wouldn't fray and then stitched the squares pocket-style (leaving the top unstitched and open) to a placemat I had. If you know how to make basic straight line stitches on a sewing machine, this little project will be extremely simple for you. And if you rather not mess with that, use a heavy duty cardstock or posterboard and buy envelopes to glue on. You could even get fancy and make pockets out of scrapbook paper and mount them to a pretty piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook cardstock.

The top row of pockets are the "to do" pockets. The bottom row are the "done" pockets. The letter between the two rows are the first initial of each child's name (I used adhesive backed foam letters to keep it easy.) The lone pocket way on the left holds random chores and chores that are not necessarily done every day.

Chores are written on popsicle sticks. Or you could write them on paper and laminate, but Brad and I agreed that it would be much easier to make new ones if we just had to mark a popsicle stick rather than borrow the laminator from my friend.

Each child has sticks that are specific to them. For instance, Ian has feed the rabbits, dry dinner dishes, practice piano, etc. Sergei has unload dishwasher, wash dinner dishes, burn garbage. Lily has feed Molly, set table, clear table.

The sticks in the far left pocket include tasks such as dust, clean bathroom, vacuum carpets, sweep kitchen floor, laundry, etc. Those are assigned on an "as needed" basis to whatever child I decide will need to complete the task.

Then I mounted the chore chart to the refrigerator using heavy-duty magnet clips. I wanted the chart in a clearly visible and accessible area, and since the kitchen is the main "work area" of our home, the fridge was the chosen spot.

So, I am expecting that I will have to remind the kids to check the chart for a while until it becomes a habit. The "experts" say it takes about six weeks to make something a habit, but at least I'm not constantly reminding them of individual chores fifty times each day.

Have a blessed day!

My plans for more intentional and meaningful living in 2012...

2012-01-01T09:03:00.007-05:00

(Kiev, Ukraine - June 2010)

Here are my goals for the new year (in no particular order)...

1. Spend more one-on-one time with each individual child. This doesn't include our school time during which I spend a lot of time with each kid individually. This is fun time. Play time. Whatever-they-want-to-do time.

2. Practice more grace-based parenting. Especially in the area of how I speak to my kids. I need to replace harsh words with encouraging words. I'm not talking about deserting discipline. No way. I'm talking about weighing the words that I speak before I let them roll off my tongue. I've definitely spoken too many unnecessary ugly words during my years as a parent.

3. Spend more time outdoors. Not a problem during the warmer months, but definitely a challenge for this warm-weather-loving gal during the cold, snowy months here in PA. But, truth be told, I have noticed how invigorated I feel after spending time outside in the cold air. I feel more connected to God when I'm out in His creation. Time outdoors is good for my mind and my soul.

4. Spend less time on the computer. I have identified the need to set for myself a "plugged-in" schedule. I think it will look something like checking my email, facebook, and a few blogs first thing in the morning (but only after my quiet time with God) and then giving myself an hour in the afternoon after the schoolwork is done to update my own blog. No checking email or facebook updates throughout the day.

5. Be more intentional about creating. But I have realized that I need to go about this differently than I always have in the past. I've always tended to think of taking time to create as selfish, me-time. And I've always thought of it as something to do ONLY after all the "grown-up" tasks are done. Which means that I rarely got to pursue creative activities. But Who gave me my creative side? None other than the Mighty Creator Himself. And creating/crafting/writing makes me feel invigorated and more alive.

6. Along those same lines ~ create alongside my children. Show them the importance of creativity in their lives. Show them the importance of expressing the talents and gifts that God has blessed them with and encouraging them to use them for His glory.

7. Save more. Spend less. The second half of 2011, I found myself making purchases with less thought and intention. And I spent more money than I should have spent. This year, I want to weigh each purchase carefully before finalizing it. I want to get back to my frugal roots. I'm thinking maybe each Thursday here at Making A Home may turn into a "Thrifty Thursday" during which I share what I'm doing or what I'm learning.

8. Tame the paperwork lion. What can I say? Paperwork is my organizational downfall. As organized as I am in the other aspects of my life, paperwork pretty much gets the best of me. I NEED to fine a system and use it.

9. Recycle. This is something I've been wanting to do, but I've been putting it off. But we are called to be stewards of God's earth, and I definitely don't think that contributing to the already overfilled landfills is being a good steward. Plus, this will be a really good lesson for the kids too.

10. Be more of an encourager to others. I really do enjoy encouraging others, but sometimes I let my busy life get in the way of taking the time to do so. This is going to be the year for actively seeking opportunities to encourage.

And then, of course, there's the exercise more and eat healthier goals, but I'm not giving them their own number because those are every year goals and are kind of cliche, you know???

Shall we toast to a year of more intentional living?

I'd love to hear your goals...

Mentoring Our Daughters...

2011-12-30T07:37:00.009-05:00

My daughter Lily is almost six. I can honestly say that it has been sheer joy having a little girl in the house. Lily has two older brothers, and while I love them both and find joy in them as well, it's been great to have a little girl around who desires to be my little shadow and learn from me.

Neither my husband nor I would be upset with Lily if she decided not to go to college and pursue a career. Actually, our prayer for her is that God would send her a godly husband who would support the decision to keep her at home to be a homemaker and a mommy.

Sound too old fashioned for these post-modern days?

And so as I raise Lily, I keep in mind the importance of preparing her for her future as a wife and mother. And even if she does go to college and live on her own before getting married, she will be well-prepared to survive on her own having learned important domestic skills.

So I pull her in beside me in the kitchen or at the sewing machine. I teach her how to bake. I teach her how to embroider. I teach her how to sew. I teach her how to properly set the table for dinner. I teach her how to wash laundry and fold towels. I teach her these things because I want to equip her.

I think that many young women flounder about when they leave their parents' homes. Because many mothers are no longer at home, mother-to-daughter mentoring has become very rare. Many women find themselves unsure of how to prepare a healthy meal for their family, sew on a button, or properly manage a household. And those that do figure it out, do so after sheer determination to teach themselves the things they need to know.

But the days of mother-to-daughter mentoring can be resurrected again. The trends seem to indicate that more women are recognizing and acknowledging the importance of being at home, practicing domestic skills, and then teaching them to their offspring, particularly their daughters.

And something I've found fascinating is the many young daughters who decide to stay within their parents' fold until their daddy gives them away on their wedding day. But these young ladies do not lay around all day, sleeping in, playing on the Internet, and so forth. These young ladies pursue hobbies and entrepreneurship opportunities from the safety of their home. And they see this time at home as an intensive time of preparation for their upcoming calling to care for their home and their family.

I think of Jasmine Baucham the former blogger turned author of the inspiring book, Joyfully at Home: A Book for Young Ladies on Vision and Hope. I also think of Breezy and Emily Rose Brookshire, two industrious sisters and young women who created the fantastic line of historical paper dolls.

And I have great respect for these young women. They are pursuing industrious and God-honoring opportunities all the while learning the skills of domestic life from the safety and love of their parents' homes. And this is the direction I'd like to shepherd Lily.

And keeping these things in minds, gives me purpose and direction as I parent Lily. Knowing what I desire to teach her, keeps me intentional in my mothering of her. Instead of just floating through each day, I can approach each day as an opportunity to teach and influence her.

Writing Down Memories on the Pages of History...

2011-12-29T08:12:00.013-05:00

Writing down some precious Christmas memories on the pages of my heart...

Some crafting...

Gingerbread cookie decorating. An annual Christmas tradition in our home...

A tired teenage son, woken up early by his younger siblings Christmas morning...

Ian with his new Lego set Christmas morning...

Sergei with his surplus military gifts...

Lily and her Bitty Baby, Sarah...

Enjoying some Sherlock Holmes...

Impromptu science lesson. Daddy shows off his electronic skills with Ian and the snap circuit...

Christmas day celebrated with family...

My dad, who lost both parents in the past year, receiving a most precious gift from my sister ~ old family photos and albums...

Christmas evening dinner at our home...

"Happy Birthday" sang to our Savior...

Late night candlelit walk outside...

A last-minute visit from our Eastern PA friends who adopted two boys from the orphanage Sergei is from, one of them his best friend...

I hope you had a most blessed Christmas celebration with your family and friends!

Two Things Before I Go: My First Video Post and I Need YOUR Input!

2011-12-21T09:26:00.004-05:00

Because I'd like to be able to focus on this coming celebration of Christ's birth without the need to update my blog tapping on my mind's door, I'm temporarily closing up shop here until sometime after Christmas.

However, before I go, I've posted a little reader's poll over there in my sidebar.

I want to know what you, my most precious and appreciated readers, would like to see addressed here at Making A Home in the new year.

And if you would so like, you can watch my video. :)

Have a most blessed Christmas!

And so continues my love for the simplicity and practicality of mason jars...

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

This post really does not have much to do with mason jars. Only to emphasize again how much I really do use my shelves and shelves of jars. Mason jars are not just for canning anymore (although I do use them for that too.)

Rather this post is about herbs. Have any dried herbs left over from your herb garden? (Or perhaps you're one of those lucky gals who live in a climate that is conducive to a year-round herb garden...)

I dried my herbs in my dehydrator like crazy at the end of the summer with the intention of giving some as small gifts this Christmas. My parsley went strong until just about a month ago, so I was able to get a hefty amount of it.

Pour some into a mason jar, add a cute label, and a bit of twine, and you've got a cute little handmade gift. Perfect for the friend who enjoys cooking and will appreciate a good organic bit of herbs. : )

Have a most blessed day!

A Quick, Easy, and Very Yummy Edible Christmas Gift

2011-12-19T05:00:00.001-05:00

Chocolate. Oreos. Two of my favorites. Since going gluten free last winter, Oreos are no longer a treat that I can enjoy. But I still enjoyed making these quick, delicious, easy treats for my kids' Sunday School teachers.

All you need is chocolate (I used Baker's brand semi-sweet), Oreos, and sprinkles to decorate. The reason I chose Baker's is because that is a safe, peanut free brand which means Lily can enjoy these too. Most of the melting chocolate is not safe for her. But since most of you won't have to worry about peanut allergies, any kind of melting chocolate will do, even regular old semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Oh, and I must add that I picked up a package of regular Oreos and a package of the mint Oreos because I have a thing for chocolate and mint and chocolate-covered mint Oreos just sounded really yummy. And for two packages of Oreos, I used four boxes of the Baker's semi-sweet chocolate.

So here it is step-by-step. This is not hard to do. The trick is to keep your heat low enough that it doesn't burn the chocolate.

And if you don't have a double boiler like me, just do what I did. If you have two sauce pans that will nest inside one another, put about 2 inches of water in the larger pot, and your chocolate in the smaller pot. And then arrange them like this:

It works perfect this way.

Oh, and you could also probably just melt your chocolate in the mircowave, stopping it to stir every minute or so. But I've never had much luck melting chocolate in the microwave; it always seems to dry out when I try to melt it that way.

Once your chocolate is in the pot, make sure to stir it frequently to encourage melting and keep it from burning. Another tip is to only melt one box at a time. If you put all four boxes of chocolate in at one time, it would probably take a really long time to melt.

So once your chocolate is all nice and creamy and fully melted, you'll start the dipping process. I know that they sell special tools designed specifically for dipping stuff in chocolate, but I just used a fork.

Drop your Oreo in (I did one at a time) and push it and flip it around using a fork to get it all covered with the chocolate. Once it's completely covered, slip the fork down under the Oreo and use the fork to lift the cookie up out of the chocolate.

Then you need to transfer the cookie to a wax paper-covered baking sheet by kind of just letting it slide off the fork. The trick is to not touch it with your fingers. I don't think anyone wants to eat fingerprinted cookies.

After I had a full sheet covered with chocolate covered cookies, I sprinkled on a variety of sprinkles just to dress them up a bit. You could also melt some white chocolate and drizzle it on or dip in white chocolate and drizzle with dark chocolate. Be creative. Use your imagination. Go ahead, I dare you.

Once I had all of the cookies dipped, I moved the trays of cookies out to the table on our back deck. You need to get them cold so that the chocolate hardens. I don't have an extra fridge, so my only option was out on our covered deck. And goodness knows, it's cold enough right now.

And there you go. Then you can package them up and give them to friends, neighbors, mail carriers, teachers, or eat them all yourself.

I wrapped them in plastic wrap to keep them fresh, then I put them in containers to give.

I found these mini loaf stones at Michael's for $1.00 each. Cute. And they can be used again by the recipient.

Because I always feel the need to use a mason jar in many things I do...

Gift boxes...

The point is, they are easy, they are quick, and they are very yummy. And they're kind of pretty to look at too. :)

Sunday Afternoon

2011-12-18T14:02:00.003-05:00

After a wonderful morning of worship to the Most High with our church family at Mt. Union Bible Church, the kids have gone off sled riding with their daddy and their friends. And this mama is enjoying a hot cup of chai tea with a candle lit, Christmas carols playing in the background, and a stack of Christmas cards just waiting to be written in.

Have a most blessed Lord's Day!!!

Friday Night Freezeframe

2011-12-17T10:47:00.010-05:00

Because Sometimes My Heart Bursts Just Knowing This...

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

Because He came, there is hope in this otherwise hopeless world.

Because He came, there is peace even when the cities and governments of this earth crumble and fall to ashes.

Because He came, there is an easy load that is ours if we take it. An easy load despite of the heartaches and troubles we see here in this world and in our lives.

Because He came, there is redemption. Redemption for the sin-laden soul that just knows deep down that there has got to be something more.

Because He came, there is order and control even when chaos seems to rule here on this soil on which we dwell.

Because He came, there is joy even when life's circumstances would urge us to think otherwise.

Because He came, there is a plan. A holy, great, perfect, joyful plan for those who put their trust in Him.

Because He came, there is rest. Striving and laboring for earthly things can be laid aside as we rest in Him. A wearied mind and heart can lay down the burdens at the throne of the King and crawl up into His awaiting lap for much-needed rest and refreshment.

Because He came, there is an open doorway to wisdom for the child who asks. As King Solomon asked God for wisdom above all else, this same wisdom is for our taking when we too ask with humble hearts.

Because He came, there is light. It is not a light that can be squelched. It is not a light that grows dim and eventually burns out. It is not a light that can be overtaken by the darkness of this world. It is the light that shines brightly for eternity.

And because He came, this light is available for you and me. To shine in our soul, our heart, our life. And this light becomes our inheritance when we humble ourselves before our Creator, admit our sins and weaknesses and selfishness, and ask Him to be Lord of our lives. And when this prayer slips genuinely off of our tongues, we are instantly made heirs of eternal life.

Father ~ may Your light shine bright in the depths of my soul. May it light up all of the dark places. May it show forth any dark places within my soul that need dealt with, that need repented of and surrendered to You. May Your light shine so brightly in my life that those around me would not be able to deny Your existence. In that wonderful and glorious name of Your Son Jesus I pray, Amen.

*If you would like to learn more or have questions about the inheritance that is available to you through the Heavenly Father, I would love to hear from you. Just use the contact link under the header of my blog.*

Did You Know That...

2011-12-14T05:00:00.001-05:00

You are beautiful.

No matter what the world tries to whisper into your ear, know this. He, the King of all kings, the Creator of this wonderful universe, made you.

He fashioned you inside and out. He set forth your life and its exact date of commencement before the earth was spun into motion.

The enemy may taunt us. He may cause us to doubt our ability to be loved. He will whisper lies of discouragement and self doubt, feelings of insecurity and inferiority, into our ears. And he'll present falsehoods wrapped up in faux truth. He wants to render us helpless. He wants us to turn into ourselves so that we can't possibly be expended out to others.

But what I'm giving you (and myself) right now is not a pep talk made up of fluffy, fleeting words. What I'm talking about is straight from the Word of God. You are His creation. And He made you fearfully and wonderfully. And He fashioned your parts. And He made you, His daughter, for a wonderful, fulfilling purpose. His purpose. His good, perfect, "He's totally in control of your life when you let Him be" purpose.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 13-16

Book Review: Big Book of History

2011-12-13T16:30:00.003-05:00

Wow! If I've ever seen an informative and really colorful and cool timeline, this here, Big Book of History, is most definitely it! I was so excited to have the opportunity to receive this product for review, especially since I knew it would be awesome to use in our homeschool studies.

The timeline, published by Master Books, starts at 4004 B.C. at the creation of the world and ends at 2007 A.D. The wonderful thing about this timeline is that it supports the young earth theory which states that the earth is not millions of years old, but rather only about 6000 years old.

This timeline goes through all the major events in both ancient history as well as modern day happenings. Not only does it list the events but it also goes into more depth on some of them. This timeline also includes lots and lots of factual tidbits and Biblical and historical insights.

And one more thing: this book folds out to be a 15 foot timeline. It is huge! And every bit of each page is filled with facts, information, and knowledge.

I definitely recommend this book! It is a great resource, especially for us as a homeschooling family. A great history tool! And the fact that it is Biblically sound is most important to me as a Christian mom.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Master Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: His Little Princess: Treasured Letters from Your King

2011-12-13T16:04:00.005-05:00

His Little Princess: Treasured Letters from Your King is an adorable little book, especially for any of you who have young daughters who enjoy all things "princess."

In this pretty little hardcover book, Sheri Rose Shepherd has composed letters from the King to each of His littlest princesses. Each letter is based upon an included verse from the Bible. Each letter also has a sample prayer that you and your little girl can pray together. And each prayer pertains to the subject matter of the letter.

This is a sweet little book. Of course, I explained to Lily that God didn't write the actual letters in the book, but that the author took the Bible verse and then put it into words that God might write if He wrote letters to us.

Lily, loving all things pink and princess, really liked the look of this book. It really is a very pretty and attractive book. The beautiful colors and girly pictures really add to the charm of the book and its contents.

From the back of the book:

"Every little girl dreams of being a princess. And for the one who trusts in God, the Word heralds a most beautiful truth: She is the chosen daughter of the King of all kings. She is a true princess!

Here is a majestic gift for that special young one in your life - personal letters written from her King. Each day a new letter will inspire her to live and act like the radiant princess she is!"

So my opinion? A cute little book. Very appealing to a little princess's eyes. :) But would be best utilized if read with a parent who could expound on the letters and the prayers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Multnomah Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: The Lucado Inspirational Reader

2011-12-13T15:42:00.002-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to review the book, The Lucado Inspirational Reader: Hope and Encouragement for Your Everyday Life, which is a compilation of various quotes and stories from a variety of Max Lucado's books.

The book is divided into chapters, each which has a particular theme. Some examples of the chapter topics include: Comfort, Compassion, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Grace, Hope, Peace, Perseverance, Purpose, and Spiritual Refreshment (plus many more.) Each chapter contains Lucado quotes, stories, and word-illustrations specific to the chapter's theme.

This is a nice little inspirational book to have around. You could spend hours reading through it or you could simply pick a chapter and read a few selections from that chapter. The included selections are short which makes it easy to pick this book up when you only have a few minutes.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again ~ this is a great supplemental devotional-type book but it is man's interpretation of the Word. It's always best to devote the majority of your quiet time in the raw Word of God. However, because this book is organized into topical chapters, it does make it a nice and easy way to grab some wisdom and read a godly man's perspective on many of life's challenges.

And can I just add that this is a very handsome hardcover book? If you know a Lucado fan, this would be a great little faith-filled Christmas gift for them. Full of great wisdom and a very lovely looking book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cold Weather Fun (And Possibly Some Really Great Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for the Kids!)

2011-12-12T16:17:00.005-05:00

We are big board-game players here in our house! Especially this time of year. Almost every day we play one or more board games.

Board games are great because they draw the family together. They also present some great opportunities to teach your children about winning and losing gracefully.

I thought I'd share a few of our favorites...

Farkle - Easy, simple, and fun. All five of us can play this.

Good old checkers. I just started teaching Lily how to play a couple of weeks ago. Everyone else already knows how to play. I found a really cool oversized rug Checkers game at Cracker Barrel last year that we gave to the kids for Christmas. I found this one on amazon and I think it's the same as the one we have: Jumbo Checker Rug Game

Settlers of Catan - Fun for the older ones in the family. Ian actually just played this for the first time solo a few weeks ago, and did pretty good. Lily is still too young to understand the concept since it is a strategy game.

UNO - a classic; this game was a hit when we were in Ukraine

Perfection - Does anyone else remember playing this as a kid? I LOVED this game! This is the first year that I've seen it out in the stores. My mom recently bought a travel-sized version and the kids have really loved it. Shhh... Don't tell. I ordered the full-size original version for Christmas!

Scrabble - This is always the game Brad and I play together. I just recently downloaded the Scrabble app on my ipod and Sergei and Ian have had fun playing it that way.

Chess - I really kind of stink at chess. But only because I don't play it enough to remember what pieces can move where. But Brad, Sergei, and Ian really enjoy this classic board game.

Monopoly - Ian loves, loves, loves Monopoly. Great for teaching math skills.

Yahtzee - This one's great when you don't want to have to play a real strategic game like checkers, chess, or Catan.

Connect Four - Great game for younger kids.

Trouble - This game is another flashback to my youth. My sisters and I played this all the time!

Games that are great for the youngest ones:

Chutes and Ladders

Candy Land

Life on the Farm

Cootie

And I also purchased a few more games for Christmas this year: Bananagrams, Scrambled States of America, Blokus (a lady at Walmart told me this was a really fun game for her eight-year-old grandson and her to play), Dutch Blitz

In my mind, one of the perfect evenings on a winter's night is huddling in to our warm home with candles lit, classical music playing softly in the background, and the family gathered round a game board in the middle of the living room.

On Children and Chores ~ Part I

2011-12-12T10:27:00.006-05:00

I've recently begun reading this fantastic book, Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Child for the Real World, by Christine M. Field. As a mother, I desire to not only teach my children academically, but I also desire to equip them with the life skills they will need to survive on their own once they leave home and go out on their own.

I really don't want my children to go off to college one day with little or no knowledge on how to manage money, keep a clean and organized house, do laundry, and cook.

And as my children have gotten older, I've been more convinced that letting them off the hook in the chore department is much more detrimental to them than it is helpful. They may be happier being able to play or read or do whatever else they enjoy doing all day long, but I'm becoming convinced that this is very detrimental to their well-being in the long run.

I don't even remember where I read the recommendation for this book, but I do know it's been setting on my bookshelf for over a year. And this past weekend, I determined in my mind that it was time to tackle this subject matter. I've begun to notice some laziness in my children, and I want to stop that laziness before it becomes ingrained in their little heads.

So this morning I toted my little sweethearts to the laundry room with me for some laundry lessons. Per recommendation from the book, I had them watch me do the first load and then had them do the second load together with my help. Ms. Fields emphasizes in her book that it is absolutely necessary for the parent to be right there beside the child in the early stages of learning the task in order to ensure that the task is done properly.

They did the second load with instruction from me. It went fairly well except for a fabric softener mishap. Let's just say I only have about 1/2 bottle of fabric softener left and I'm going to transfer the rest of it into a squeeze bottle of sorts to prevent accidental spills in the future. :)

And here's one little tidbit of wisdom that I have heard more than once and from more than one source: We should not do things for our children that they could do for themselves. When we don't actively teach our children and then include them in household chores, but rather do them ourselves (maybe because we don't want to take the time to teach them or because we don't think they're capable), we're handicapping them.

And I have actually found that young children are quite capable of more things than we could ever think. It just takes some effort on our part as mothers (or fathers) to teach and guide them. And trust me when I say that I know it can be an annoyance in our minds to have to take the time to teach our children rather than just do it ourselves, but it's so beneficial for both the child and the parent in the long run. And, actually, for the home itself. Mom gets some help with household chores, and the child learns responsibility and some important life skills.

I've also decided that I'm going to make a chore chart of some sort. Each of my children have chores, but I'm constantly having to remind them to do them. I find this very annoying and my constant need to remind them makes me grumpy, so I've decided to make a chart and have them refer to it first thing in the morning as well as in the evening. I have an idea of how I'm going to do this, and I'll share it once I have it completed.

In fact, I figured that since I need some inspiration, guidance, and motivation to get my kids more involved in household maintenance, some of you may also need it too. So I'd like to occasionally share what I learn and the practices we institute here in our home over the course of the next month or so.

Oh, and much to my surprise, neither of the younger two whined when I told them my little plan. And they both actually enjoyed participating in the washing of the laundry. Sergei already does his own laundry himself, as I taught him previously. And as much as he didn't like the idea of having to do his own laundry, I think he'll appreciate it in several years when he's out on his own. Now I just need to teach him money management. :)

Have a blessed day!

For Those Low-Motivation, Grumpy, Can-I-Go-Back-To-Bed? Kind of Days...

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever received an encouraging word and just really, really appreciated it?

Wednesday was a horribly grumpy day. None of us slept good the night prior for various reasons, and so that made for grumpy children and grumpy parents when we had to rise out of bed Wednesday morning after too-few hours of sleep.

I got a slow start to my day and had about zero motivation to do our lessons. And once I did actually get started, Ian fought me tooth and nail, and seemed to be upset with everything. The day was not going well at all. Not one little bit.

And so finally, at 3pm, when I was about to throw my hands up in the air in despair, I decided to pick up the phone and call my mom instead.

And she encouraged me so much just by telling me that she remembered those days too. And she reminded me that all mothers have them, and the child-rearing years are some of the toughest years of parents' lives. And she encouraged me by telling me I was doing a good job. And that just made me feel so good. And my chest started to loosen and I didn't feel quite so hopeless.

And she also said that as she looks back now, with her daughters all grown and with children of their own, she remembers waiting for those young years that were so tough to pass in hopes that things would get easier. And then they really didn't get any easier anyway, and now she misses those years when we were young. So she encouraged me to really live in these years, these months, these weeks, these days, these moments. That, my friends, was good advice.

So, my whole point in writing this post is to let you know that, oh baby, I've been there too. I've had those days when I've seriously considered calling our local Christian school and enrolling the two younger kids in school. There's been times when I literally have just about given up (and I mean that seriously) with the issues we've faced in parenting an adopted teen. And there have been many days when I've stood in the middle of the living room, only able to shake my head at the disaster I used to call my home.

And I'm not a wreck. I'm not a failure. I'm not a loser. (Even though those very thoughts are often whispered into my ear by the enemy of my soul.) And neither are you. We're just normal mothers with flaws and weaknesses and imperfections, and we're not alone in our struggles.

And, wow, am I grateful that God doesn't kick me out of His "group" just because I don't keep a perfect house or always speak with grace to my children. But He takes me, He takes you, just as we are, and He uses us.

We are mothers by His calling. Hallelujah! Did you hear that????!!! You are a mother because God chose you for the job of raising the children that He sent to earth for a purpose.

Your little rambunctious, rowdy crowd was entrusted to you by Him. But, girlfriend, He doesn't want you to go it alone. He doesn't want you to work for Him in this mission field called motherhood. He wants you to work alongside Him as you raise your children.

Now, can we all take this load off? At least for the moment until we need reminded of all of this again?!

Have a most blessed weekend!

p.s. - The photos are courtesy of our first snow storm back in October. I know that they really don't relate to the topic of the post, but I've been meaning to post these for my Aunt Kathy in Texas who I'm so very envious of right now. :) I KNOW you miss Boston winters.

Giving A Gift That Really Makes a Difference...

2011-12-08T05:30:00.002-05:00

Do the holidays ever feel empty to you?

I love giving my children, family, and friends gifts. But, in all honesty, I can't think of one person that I actually give gifts to that is truly in need.

We are so blessed, so fortunate to have all the things we have. We may not all have well-padded bank accounts or hundreds of dollars left over after all the bills are paid each month, but I think it would be safe to say that most of us have enough money to eat and live in a comfortable, heated home with clean water and electricity.

Our family sponsors two children through World Vision. Bionelli, age eight, is from the Dominican Republic, and we just recently started to sponsor Cristofer, a two-year old from Guatemala.

And it was through our first sponsorship four years ago, that we became aware of a great, life-sustaining gift-giving opportunity through World Vision. And since then, it's become a family tradition.

Tuesday night after dinner, we cleared the table and laid out the World Vision gift catalogs. We each took turns picking out gifts. Brad and I contributed a larger sum of money and then each of the children were given the opportunity to contribute part of their savings, which all three did.

We had a great time. And the children loved being able to be part of something bigger than themselves.

So, how can you reach out and really impact someone else this holiday season? Think bigger than you and your little family. Think bigger than your little world.

Who needs to be blessed by you?

Handmade/Homemade Gifts to Give This Christmas...

2011-12-06T19:30:00.016-05:00

Edible Gifts...

Martha Stewart Afternoon Tea Set

Hot Cocoa Mix

Another hot cocoa in a jar recipe - this contains a link for several different variations

Cowgirl cookies in a jar

Yummy Chocolate Cookie Bark

For the ice cream lovers you know - Ice cream Sundae Kit

Spice Rubs

Yummy Coconut Snowballs

Walt Disney World Glazed Almonds - I made these last year for all the men in our family; very yummy

Peppermint Stick Cocoa in a Jar

Chocolate Dipped Spoons

Mocha Cocoa in a jar

Really easy nutty caramels

Perfect pancake mix

Chocolatey Peppermint Sticks - would go great given with a jar of homemade cocoa mix

Quick Bread in a Bottle - Is it just me, or is this gift gorgeous?!

Yummy chocolate-covered peanut butter cracker sandwiches

This is a great idea for the tea-lover - Homemade chai tea bags

For the Home....

Easy Handmade Burlap Napkin Rings

Easy and cute ModPodge coasters

Chalkboard Platter

Silhouette Words

Reusable Coffee Sleeve

Another cup cozy option

I think this is totally awesome - Map Coasters

Another cute homemade coaster idea

Crocheted dish scrubbies

Love this - Old mirror Transformation into stylish bulletin board

Great gift for grandparents - Silhouette photos of the grandchildren

For the Children in your life...

Cute Magnetic Tin Game for Kids

Really Cool Candy Cane Playdough

Adorable monster crayon/art tote

I love games - Large, homemade tic tac toe board

I'm making these for my kids - Homemade Eye Spy Games

I've been wanting to make one of these for a couple of years - Crayon roll

Notebook and pencil holder - Very cute; requires sewing; would be great for church

For the booklover...

Handmade fabric bookmarks

Homemade Bookplates - I'm such a book nerd, but I would totally dig a package of these!

Miscellaneous...

Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Sewing Kit in a Jar

Seriously cute dressed-up hair pins

Everything in a Jar - think jar gifts out-of-the-box

A few of my own...

Handmade, personalized baby block set

Ummm... I originally made these for Lily; I wear them more than her! :) Handmade barrettes

Good stuff - Homemade caramel corn - warning: this stuff is very addicting

Tomorrow... A gift you can give that will impact more than any other gift you'll give this Christmas.

Because I often appreciate a boring day at home...

2011-12-05T22:06:00.008-05:00

Wow. I have felt so busy lately. In the midst of some mindful intentions to sloooooowwwww down, it seems like these last two weeks have been busier than ever.

My college roommate, April, got married this past Saturday. It was a lovely wedding, and she looked absolutely gorgeous, but as I was driving home, I was pondering why I was so stinking tired. And then my husband pointed out to me that I was out every single night of the past week, only excluding Monday.

I really do not like weeks like that. I'm much more of a homebody. Call me boring if you want, but I would much rather be in my cozy home in the evening with my family playing board games or reading (especially this time of year) than out running around, busy outside of my home. I like to be home.

I'd like to say that I can do it all, or at least more. I used to really believe I could. But that was pre-anxiety/panic attack days, before God opened my eyes up to my stubborn, selfish, independent streak. Now I know better. I can't do anything. At least not for long or very successfully if I'm not doing it with Him right beside me. And I like it that way. It takes a load off, you know. (So, those of you who speak to me on a regular basis, remind me of that the next time I'm trying to analyze my way through my struggles.) :)

Today's plans include our homeschool lessons, the movie Robin Hood (we're studying the Middle Ages and finishing up the book Robin Hood), and staying home. Yay! The first day of not having to go anywhere in over a week.

So enjoy your day; I pray that it would be most blessed. And, Lord-willing, join me here tomorrow for a post on handmade gifts for Christmas. I found some good ones!