1/1/10 Kitchen Organization, Clam Chowder, Servant, Answers, Fun Stuff , Tips, Gems, 2010
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
1/1/10 Kitchen Organization, Clam Chowder, Servant, Answers, Fun Stuff, Tips, Gems, 2010
The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to encourage women and build biblical values into daily living through practical creative ideas for the Christian family regarding marriage, children, homemaking, and much more. Receive this free bimonthly newsletter by sending your name, city, state, e-mail address, and name of your referral person to Lois at jhbreneman@juno.com. New subscribers will receive a "Start-Up Kit."
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KITCHEN ORGANIZING TIPS
TWO VERSIONS OF NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER
SERVANT FOR THE DAY
REAL LIFE ANSWERS
FUN STUFF
TIPS AND TIDBITS
THREE TIPS FOR ... SURVIVING MATH HOMEWORK
THE TEACHER APPLICANT
GOOD USES FOR CHRISTMAS CARDS RECEIVED
PULL THE KIDS INTO THE ACT
PRECIOUS GEMS
COULD 2010 BE THE YEAR?
KITCHEN ORGANIZING TIPS
by Debbie Williams, copyright 1999 - More Details at: http://www.organizedtimes.com - Used by permission
Did you know that 20% of the total items in your kitchen are used 80% of the time.
Wow! If we only use 20% of the stuff in our junk drawers and pantry, then why on earth do we think we need MORE storage space? That's a good question, and I'd like to offer a few tips to help you reclaim some of that precious cabinet space in your own kitchen.
*** Take Note!! Since most of you use some sort of calendar in the kitchen for the family to view, I recommend buying a magnetic clip for the frig to hold all those lists in place: grocery list (from Let's Get it Together, of course), toiletries list, freezer inventory, etc.
*** Take Stock!! Keep a current inventory of your freezer (especially if you do bulk cooking) on the side of the frig. Use a pencil so you can erase items as they are used. You'll love this feature if you ever have the flu and someone has to feed your hungry brood - afterall, there's only so much take-out pizza a body can stand in one week!
*** Stack it Up!! Use plastic or wicker "in" baskets and "go vertical" to utilize that counterspace. Don't spread, stack! I use a wicker "in/out" box for my husband's corner of the kitchen for his incoming mail and forms to be signed. He places them in the "out box" below for me to process. I'm the neatie, he's the messy, and this is working fine for now. When it stops working, we'll move on to another system that works for the BOTH of us!
Buy wire shelves for pantries and cabinets at your discount store. These double the space for dishes, pots, and pans. Get lid organizers and baking tray racks to store your stackable (and noisy) pots and pans.
*** Hang on!! Use over-the-door hangers or door-mounted holders for pantry items to keep them displayed. Not only can you create your own pantry, but you don't have to rummage through deep cabinets to find a small box of baking soda. Holders for seasoning envelopes, spice boxes, and plastic wraps consolidate these elusive items once and for all. You can even buy "under the shelf" organizers for paper plates, napkins, and coffee filters. Think "motor home" and "RV", and you can get some creative ideas for your own kitchen.
*** No more junk drawer?? No way! Some folks think it's against the laws of the great organizing geru to have a junk drawer, but perhaps they don't live with kids! Just use any type of plastic basket or cutlery organizer for your junk drawer, and clean it out the first day of each month. You really don't need 25 pens in that one drawer, do you? Send them to the craft box and the kids will have a blast with them! In fact, put those little "sorters and counters" to work with a fun math game and let THEM clean out your junk drawer. I used to get a quarter for doing this. Is that considered my first client as a professional organizer? (Thanks, Mom!)
*** Make it Pretty!! Since counter space is premium in our homes, don't display all your pretties on the countertop - hang pictures rather than resting them on the easels. Consolidate those frig photos with a magnetic "mat", or just adhere a magnetic sheet to each picture for your own photo magnets. No more falling on the floor each time the refrigerator door is slammed! Store tall items in a crock or your favorite pitcher (wooden spoons, spatula, etc.). This is making double duty out of your favorite things, and saving space in those drawers that we never have enough of.
Since families spend almost as much time in the kitchen as they do in the "family room", this is one area of the home that experiences constant change. Find a system of paper management and organizing that you think you'll really use, try it for 6-8 weeks, and if it doesn't work, go to Plan B. Do give it a few weeks to see if you can change your ways, though. And don't be afraid to try another system, rather than giving up on yourself entirely. What works in one period of your life may not work in the next one, and you have the added challenge of finding a system that works for the entire family. Be open to change, and to suggestions from other family members, even the smallest of ones have wonderfully creative ideas. And aren't they the largest contributors to the system anyway?!
TWO VERSIONS OF NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER
(Since clams are rather expensive, you may want to save these recipes for special occasions. I made the first recipe over Christmas, with a few additions - more vegetables and chopped pimientos, and we loved it!)
Thanks to Terrie Futrell in Virginia for this first recipe!
This recipe came from a friend who grew up in Manteo, North Carolina and lived right on the Roanoke Sound there. Her parents and ancestors were “lifers” of this area and were in the boat-building business. Their home was about 1 mile from the original “Lost Colony” area.
1 ½ cups (1 large) cubed raw potato
1 medium stalk celery, chopped
¼ cup chopped onion (or 1 Tbsp instant minced onion)
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp ground thyme
4 cans (6.5 oz. each) minced clams (drain and reserve 1 cup liquid -may use a bottle of clam juice for this also)*
¼ cup of flour
3 cups milk
3 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled
2 Tbsps butter or margarine Makes 4-6 servings.
In a large saucepan, combine potato, celery, onion, salt, pepper, thyme, and clam juice. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes until vegetables are tender. Gradually stir milk into the flour and add this mixture to the vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened. Stir in clams, crumbled bacon, and butter. Continue to simmer over medium heat until heated through; do not boil.
* I usually buy Snow’s minced clams in clam juice that comes in 6.5 oz cans.
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Thanks to Catie Long in Virginia for another New England Clam Chowder recipe!
2 boxes, large, fish stock (Fresh Market)
2 boxes, small, clam stock (Fresh Market)
6 cans chopped clams
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/4 cup flour
1 bag mirepoix veggie mix from Kroger (frozen section) I get it for .88 at times
1 cup potato flakes
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 lb. bag frozen corn
1 tsp. herbs de provence (cheap in a Fresh Market baggie in spice section)
1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning, to taste
1 tsp. dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 - 1 cup heavy cream, or whatever milk to make soup creamy
1. Saute mirepoix mix in butter for a while. Add flour and make a roux. Cook a while to cook out four taste.
2. Dump in all your stocks and potatoes. Add corn. Bring to a boil till potatoes are cooked through. Add dried seasonings; simmer for a while.
3. When you are 30 minutes away from serving, carefully mix in the potato flakes and make sure they do not clump. Add the clams with juice and milk. Do Not Boil Anymore! Turn on low and recheck seasonings.
This makes a family size batch - enough for two meals for a family of 5 with leftovers. I use a massive cast iron Dutch oven. It is fatty, expensive, and Gorgeously Delicious!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Carol_Wilson
This recipe for Pineapple-Ginger Pork Chops is quick and easy to prepare. You can have this dish table ready in half an hour. The sauce with this dish makes it perfect with rice, also easy and quick to prepare. Steam some broccoli for a side dish and you have a delicious meal to serve your family or friends in half an hour. And the clean-up with this easy meal is also easy; easy enough for your family to tackle that chore while you relax!
1 can (20 oz) unsweetened pineapple tidbits
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
4 bone-in pork loin chops
1 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup orange juice
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup water
Drain pineapple, reserving 1/4 cup of the juice; set aside. (Refrigerate remaining juice for other uses.) Combine the pepper and ginger; rub it over both sides of the chops. In a skillet, melt the butter, add the pork chops and brown for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Add orange juice, 1 cup of the pineapple, and the 1/4 cup of reserved pineapple juice. Bring skillet mixture to a boil. Reduce heat; cover the skillet and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the meat is tender and cook through. Remove the pork chops from the skillet and keep warm. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, and water until smooth. Stir the mixture into the pan juices and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for a couple of minutes until thickened. Serve mixture over the pork chops.
SERVANT FOR THE DAY
by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN - http://www.biblicalparenting.org - Used by permission
Children often compete with each other in order to be first or best. This tendency on the part of children comes from selfishness, a major roadblock to sibling harmony. The solution is to learn how to be a servant, but how do you convince a five-year-old or a twelve-year-old that being a servant is a valuable thing?
As parents we have to look for positive ways to frame the maturity issues that we know are best, but seem unreasonable to our children. In this case, you might try having a “Servant for the Day.” This child not only sets the table and takes out the trash but also gets some extra “Mommy time,” helps with dinner, and sits next to Dad during story time. Throughout the course of the day, Mom has an opportunity to talk about more subtle aspects of servanthood that involve how children talk, listen, and even think.
Take time to praise demonstrations of servanthood. One child may not get the first turn or the biggest piece, but he gets the praise of Mom for being the mature one. That's a far more valuable reward.
Teaching children to be servants will promote harmony in your family. Becoming a servant will help children deal with the continual desire to build themselves up while putting others down. Learning servanthood is a way to honor others in the family and it brings honor back as well.
Who demonstrated servanthood recently in your family? How can you point that out and encourage it today?
For more practical ideas on developing honor in your family consider the book Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, in You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
You can sign up to receive parenting tips at http://www.biblicalparenting.org.
REAL LIFE ANSWERS
Our 15 year old son refuses to participate in family activities. | ||
|---|---|---|
Our 15 year old son refuses to participate in family activities. He won't go out for dinner, visit relatives or even join us at his little sister's soccer games. I know he needs some independence, but he's still part of this family and we'd like him to realize that too. Any suggestions? | ||
Your son is moving rapidly from dependence as a child toward independence as an adult. I think you are right, he does need some more autonomy and freedom. However, he is only 15 and he is still very dependent on you and needs your family. I strongly believe that he should be included in many of the family experiences and on rare occasions given the freedom to not participate. Many families are helped in this situation when they choose to have a weekly family meeting where they discuss the weekly schedule. I have a feeling that your son doesn’t like having family outings and events sprung on him. Giving him a weekly notice it may help. Of course this isn’t the magic answer to your problem. You may want to become very logical and methodical with your son. Create family expectations when it comes specifically to the issues you mentioned like his sisters soccer games and going out to dinner. I might even ask, “Your sister has 8 soccer games this month, what do you think would be a reasonable amount of games you could attend?” “Our family is going to dinner on Friday night from 6:30 to 9:00. Would you like to have a friend come over from 9:00 to 11:00?” I find one of the keys to successful communication is to express your expectations with your teenagers and express them early. I’ll tell you how not to do it. Some time ago my 16 year old daughter was home packing for cheerleading camp. My wife, Cathy, and I picked up our other two daughters from another event. I thought it would be nice to take the family out to dinner together since our oldest daughter would be going to camp the next day for a week. Everyone thought it was a great idea in the car, except I forgot to take my oldest daughter’s desires into consideration. I rushed into the house with the van still running and told her to drop what she was doing because our family was going to dinner. She didn’t want to go because she had made other plans with some friends. I told her she was coming anyway and that I would drive her to her friend’s house after dinner. At this point her friends arrived to pick her up. I had to walk out and tell them she would get there about an hour and half later because she was going out to dinner with her family. She was not happy and she let us know it. The dinner was spent in discussion about the “need” for her to be with us. She didn’t order anything because she was going to eat at her friend’s house, and we all ate fast to try and accommodate her desire to not be with us! I ended up spending $40.00 on a meal none of us enjoyed and then had to take my daughter to her friend’s house and pick her up. She went to bed far too late and the next day probably left for camp grateful not to be going out to dinner with the family, especially me! In that case she had been given no notice and I was unwilling to change the plans that we had made up only 5 minutes before I saw her. We could have compromised with a quicker fast food type dinner or by saying to our daughter, “Well, it was a good try and it was last minute so the rest of us will go out and I would like you home early so we can send you off to camp with a family dessert and a prayer. Instead we settled for a more expensive dinner that no one really enjoyed and no dessert or prayer! As logical and left brain as this sounds I think your best results (and mine) will be found as you list out your family understandings and expectations ahead of time. How many family dinners would you like to shoot for a week? How many soccer games are realistic and acceptable? What are our expectations when the relatives come to town or the family visits them? Remember kids support what they help create so you may want your first attempt to be in a family meeting where you brainstorm those expectations. And keep in mind that what you are experiencing with your 15 year old comes with the territory called adolescence. | ||
FUN STUFF
by Julie A. Druck - [email protected] - Editor of "A Heart for Home" - To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: [email protected] - Used by permission
* Crystal Snowflakes – These homemade snowflakes are just beautiful! Twist three 5” pieces of pipe cleaner together to form a snowflake. Twist an additional 1 1/2” piece to each snowflake point to form what looks like a chicken foot on the end of each point. Tie a 2-3” piece of string to one of the points and attach to the middle of a pencil. Find a large jar that’s big enough to suspend the flake so that it won’t touch the sides of the jar. Fill with 3 tabl. of borax (found in the laundry aisle at the grocery store) and 1 drop of blue food coloring per cup of boiling water to completely immerse the flake. Lay the pencil across the top of the jar so that the flake hangs suspended in the jar. Let sit overnight; remove. The borax will have formed beautiful crystals on the pipe cleaners to create your snowflake!
* Bean Pictures – Eli’s friend, Kylie, made him a picture that she made with beans. Using a pencil, draw the outline of a simple picture. Fill in the sketch by gluing on different types, shapes and colors of dried beans. Such a neat effect and an easy project.
* A Snowmen Vignette – Make a pretty display for wintertime on your coffee table. Gather any type of snowmen that you may have from your winter decorations and place them all together on a tray. Sprinkle some rock salt on or around the tray to look like snow and keep the display up until the spring thaw.
* Ice Cream Volcano – Earlier this year, Eli was studying volcanoes and this fun (and slightly messy!) idea was in his science book. Form a large scoop of ice cream into the shape of a volcano. Add chocolate syrup for lava. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top for the bombs (which are hard blobs of lava). Toss a few cookie crumbs on that which represent ash and cinder. There you have it – a perfect ice cream volcano!
* Button Balls – Glue different shades of the same color of buttons onto styrofoam balls. Group a pile of the balls in a pretty bowl for a simple craft and decoration.
TIPS AND TIDBITS
If Out of Confectioner's Sugar ~ Here's how to save a trip to the store of you run out. Put granulated sugar in your blender. Blend at top speed and you will have powdered sugar!
How to Test the Freshness of Baking Soda and Baking Powder ~
To test baking soda, put 1/4 tsp. of baking soda into 2 tsp. white vinegar. If it fizzes, it is fresh!
To test baking powder, put 1 tsp. of baking powder into 1/3 cup of boiling water. It it fizzes, it's fresh. If not, toss it!
Clean Corn Silks Away by using a thick rubber band! Twist the rubberband, hook over forefinger and thumb, spread your fingers apart and wipe away the silks with a downward motion, while griping the husked ear of corn with the other hand. This was shown by a guest on Rachael Ray's cooking show. ~ Thanks to Elinor Wright in Virginia for sharing this tip!
Steamer to the Rescue ~ My electric can opener was sluggish, in that the knob used to insert the can under the blade was difficult to move. I used my hand-held steamer on the can opener and presto! All the goo or gunk that was inside, keeping the knob from turning easily, came oozing out and it works like a charm again!
How to Find Water Leaks in Your Home ~ Our water bills were higher than normal, so my husband and I set out to find the problem. After he thought he heard water running somewhere in the house, he used the "stick to the ear" trick, by touching a stick to a water pipe in the house and putting it to his ear, like a stethoscope. Next my husband made sure all the water faucets and toilets were turned off, one by one, while I held the stick touching the water pipe to my ear, until we found the one that was leaking. It was one of the toilets and after he replaced the float and valve assembly, the problem was solved, saving future high water bills. So if your water bills increase unexpectedly, try this.
Basket of Country Style Balls as a Decoration ~ Cut 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide fabric of country plaids and stripes into long strips. Using several sizes of wooden or Styrofoam balls, wrap a strip of fabric around a ball, securing with white glue as you go until it is completely covered. Use a variation of fabrics. Put them into a rustic looking basket to set on a coffee table or end table. ~ Thanks to my daughter-in-law, Emily Breneman in Virginia for teaching me how to do this fun project!
How Tall Will Your Child Grow to Be? http://www.babycenter.com/child-height-predictor?scid=preschooler_20091215:4&pe=2UfZZbo
Photo Technology ~ Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania shares this information:
If you have film negatives, did you know that CVS puts them on CD for a decent price? Then you can easily order reprints or view the pictures on a computer? Walmart does it too but their quality was awful. Lee’s Camera will do it as well but their price is awful (if you have a lot to do)!! CVS did it for my sister-in -law for $3.40 and the pictures looked good when I viewed them on our computer.
I enjoy mail time this time of year! Getting photos from family and friends is a highlight! Some photos and letters come by email and are welcome as well. I decided to try developing a photo that came by email and although the quality wasn't top notch, it worked amazingly well. I just saved the attachment, then inserted a memory stick (or camera card) into the correct slot. Then go into "My Documents" where it was saved and right click on the picture and go to "Send to" and click the appropriate destination for it. Then you can take the memory stick and develop it wherever you develop digital photos! (You could also burn the picture to a CD to take it to be developed.)
Spelling Is Important! ~ Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. If you can raed tihs, psot it to yuor wlal. Olny 55% of plepoe can. ~ Thanks to Lori Staley in Ohio and Nancy Marlow in Pennsylvania for this one!
THREE TIPS FOR ... SURVIVING MATH HOMEWORK
An Ounce of Ketchup - 2009 - http://www.goaskmom.com - Used by permission
An Ounce of Ketchup is produced by A. L. Dash & Sons, PO Box 714 Graham, NC 27253.
ADHD kids have a tendency to have difficulties with math facts, processing word problems and even following the order of operations. Special skills can help ease these troubles.
Here are three tips to help your kids survive and thrive math this year.
1. Make it fun. I know I keep saying this, but make the math fun. Despite common belief, you can make it fun. Let them do math facts online. Download a math game. In fact, you can even buy a math game for the Nintendo DS.
Several websites that may help are http://www.aplusmath.com, http://www.funbrain.com, and http://www.bigbrainz.com (which has a GREAT multiplication game that is free and downloadable).
2. Do what works. Math can be troubling because you have to keep track of all those darn numbers. Here's two ways to keep them in check. One unorthodox method is to take the notebook paper and turn it sideways. Then, when your student writes their numbers, they can keep them all in a row.
If you need a stronger way to keep track of the problems, have your student do their math homework on graph paper. If there isn't enough room, let them write in two boxes per number. Since going to this method, I can actually read my son's homework!
Another tip is to highlight the different operations in different colors. You could make addition green, subtraction yellow, multiplication blue and division pink. This will help remind our kiddos what operation they should be doing.
3. Practice, practice, practice. Unfortunately, the school day just keeps getting more and more busy. This means that there is less and less time for practicing basic math skills. Try to practice math facts 5 minutes a day or 10 minutes every other day. To make it easier, make a game of it. You can play bingo, have a scavenger hunt, play on the computer – whatever it takes.
Make sure they have samples of the exact type of problem they are working on. Modeling is very important with ADHD kids, especially since so many are visual learners.
Math can be fun...or at the worst, much less painful. Math is a necessary skill and all kids need to learn how to work problems effectively. Help take some of the stress out of math homework and become the math hero of your house today!
Do you have an ADHD/ADD educational issue you would like to see addressed? If so, please email me at [email protected] and I will try to feature it in a new column or on my blog at http://www.MommyADD.com.
Author unknown
After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, "Let me see if I've got this right? You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and do the following:
1. Correct their disruptive behavior
2. Observe them for signs of abuse
3. Monitor their dress habits
4. Censor their T-shirt messages
5. Instill in them a love for learning
6. Check their backpacks for weapons
7. Wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases
8. Raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride
9. Teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play
10. Teach them how to register to vote
11. Balance a checkbook
12. Apply for a job
13. You want me to check their heads for lice
14. Recognize signs of anti-social behavior
15. Make sure that they all pass the state exams
16. Provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps
17. Communicate regularly with their parents in English and Spanish by letter, telephone, conferences, email, homework hotline, web page, midterm newsletters, and report card
18. You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps
19. You want me to do all this and then you tell me I CAN'T PRAY?
There are several things you can do to recycle those beautiful cards you received! One idea would be to take one card each evening as you have dinner and pray for the people who sent it. You might do this after family members first mention several specific things you could pray about for that family.
Turn Christmas cards into postcard "Thank You" notes! Cut off the front of the card. Draw a line down the blank side of the card and write the address on the right, and your note of appreciation on the left. This works best if the back side of the card is smooth, rather than embossed.
Cards with a winter scene, but not necessarily Christmasy ones, can be used all winter long as postcard "Thank You" notes.
Transform old Christmas cards into gift tags for next year. They can simply be glued onto packages, or tied on, if a hole is punched in the top.
Ask school teachers or nursing homes if they can use old cards for art projects.
Paraffin candles can be and decorated with four cards. Please refer to the Christmas newsletter on Handmade Gifts for directions.
PULL THE KIDS INTO THE ACT
Kids love to plan surprises, especially for mom and dad! Why not solicit their help the next time you want to create a romantic interlude for you and your mate?
One year Eileen and her three young daughters surprised Chuck after work. They planned a "King for the Night" evening complete with crown, streamers, fancy table and foods, and a white butcher paper runner from the front door to the table. The kids had fun working on the event and were instructed that as soon as daddy came through the door and delivered hugs and kisses to each one, they were to go to their rooms where games and snacks awaited them. While Chuck and Eileen savored a candlelight dinner for two, the girls occasionally took a peak out their bedroom doors to see mommy and daddy enjoy their romantic feast.
Another time for Chuck and Eileen's anniversary, the girls helped mom decorate the deck with flowers, greenery, white mini-lights, and white cloth and candles for the picnic table. They were proud of their accomplishment and it boosted their confidence that mom and dad loved each other - an important thing in this age of rampant divorce.
Many times, Chuck has pulled the girls aside to help him surprise Eileen with a special gift to say, "I love you; you mean the world to me!"
Pulling the kids into the act helps them feel like valued team members, giving them the opportunity to invest in family love and togetherness.
PRECIOUS GEMS
Thanks to each lady who sent or gave permission to include these wonderful gems in Heart to Heart! Please send more! I hope all of you moms (and grandmas) are jotting down all the cute kids' quotes from your children and grandchildren! The dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind when it comes to remembering cute kids' quotes, so please do preserve these precious gems! For now, just scribble them down with the child's name and the date, and save them in an envelope. Then years later, type them to put in booklet form to give your first child as he/she is about to become a parent. It will be a priceless gift! I have compiled all the cute quotes and baby book information from our three children, and so far have given a notebook with all this information to our two oldest children.
Andrew, 7, thought it would be a good idea to organize his room today by labeling where to put everything. He did this on the walls, toy bins and dresser drawers with a permanent Sharpie black marker! Thankfully Daddy was able to get most of it off with a little elbow grease and Magic Eraser tonight! - Stefanie Flack in Delaware
My 20 month old son, Logan, stuffed my hair dryer, curling iron, 2 straighteners, 2 hair brushes, make-up bag and his sippy cup ... in the toilet. One straightener is ruined, the other didn't get wet somehow...thank goodness!! Make-up is ok, my bag is waterproof...and only one corner was actually in the water. Little booger! I took pictures of it, and he sat down in the floor and started saying "cheese!" 🙂 Needless to say, this isn't my best hair day! ~ Amanda Clarke in Virginia
On Christmas Day: Using their new doctor kits, Kylie and Rebekah, both 3, give baby Jesus His first postnatal exam. That's POST NATAL, not POST NASAL as I almost wrote since many of us are walking around with drippy noses. I'm sure the girls will try to fix those as well. They are doctoring everyone in sight! Yet another cutie in the ongoing saga of my three-year-old granddaughters acting out the nativity story: Kylie, posing as a very pregnant Mary, goes into labor. While lying on the floor in pain with Rebekah (Joseph) looking on, she cries out, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" ~ Eileen Rife in Virginia, http://www.eileenrife.com
We've been talking a lot with Karis, 2, about Christmas being Jesus' birthday, so we made a birthday cake for Jesus today. After she finished icing it, she told Grandma excitedly, "And when Jesus comes, we will sing Happy Birthday!!!!!" - Meagan DeLong in North Carolina
Question: How do you know you are in for a long road of parenting? I could have many answers, but my most recent is this from Caroline (4 yrs.) - "Mom, I can't wait to go to college so I can get married and stuff." ~ Jessica Gurley Jones in Virginia
My almost 4 year old asked me today what the name of his wife is going to be. I told him I didn't know and he responded that it wasn't nice to keep secrets. He then asked if we could go find her after his nap. ~ Anonymous
Our 6 year old grandson, Justin, was telling us a few months ago that his family was going to get a "Rescue Dog!" We imagined a large dog used to rescue people from harm and danger. Soon we learned that they were going to rescue a dog from a shelter! This new dog, Bailey, is a cute beagle "mix" puppy and loves his new family. When Justin is playing in another room, away from his two year old sister, Ryan Elizabeth, Bailey nips at their heels until he has them right beside each other. He always wants the whole family together in the same room! Then they learned from the vet what Bailey's other "mix" is! Here all along he was just following his God-given instinct as an Australian sheep herder or cattle dog! ~ Lois
COULD 2010 BE THE YEAR?
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. - I Thessalonians 4:16-17
Are you absolutely sure you will be caught up to heaven when this time comes? Please ... "Be there!" If I can help you to be sure, please reply to this newsletter. It would be my joy to help you.
"Though you cannot go back and start again, you can start from new and have a brand new end." - Unknown
Have a Blessed New Year in 2010!
Many Heart to Heart ladies and their families need our prayers,
so please remember to pray for each Heart to Heart lady as you receive your newsletter.
(¨`·.·´¨) God bless you and your family and keep you in His loving care!
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) And remember, I love to hear from you dear ladies!
`·.¸.·´ Your Heart to Heart friend,
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