Quote from Forum Archives on October 4, 2004, 10:56 pm

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HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman

 

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10/04/04 REFUGE, EAR INFECTIONS, CRAFTS, FALL DECORATIONS, LEFTOVERS

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CONTENTS:

HOLDING PATTERNS

MY REFUGE

VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

PROCTOR AND GAMBLE - INFORMATION FOR YOU, THE CONSUMER

HEALTH TIDBITS

        Ear Infections

        Heartburn

EASY CRAFTS -- ANYBODY CAN DO THIS SOAP STUFF! 
NATURE'S DECOR FOR FALL, ON A BUDGET!
FALL DECORATIONS THAT WILL LAST -- BEAUTIFUL  SIMPLICITY AND SAVINGS

CREATIVE MAKEOVERS FOR LEFTOVERS
KIDS' QUOTES

 

 

HOLDING PATTERNS
Author Unknown, Adapted from first IMPRESSIONS ~ Sent by Barb Campbell of Mississippi

 

        Many times, God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.

        God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart. Jonah was all alone. There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interferences, and no interruptions. He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray.

        When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

       

        A few of God's holding patterns:

 

1. When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but you're not yet healed, you are in a holding pattern.

 

2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.

 

3. When you have been praying for a loved one to return to God, and they have not come back yet, you are in a holding pattern.

 

4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

 

5. When the doors slam shut before you can even knock on them, you are in a holding pattern.

 

        When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray. Like Jonah, we cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden from Him.

 

        We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting, and remember three things:

1. The pattern has a purpose.
2. The pattern has a plan.
3. The pattern has a process.

 

        So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."

        Father, forgive my unbelief. I know you love me and I will come to see the benefit of everything in my life, even this holding pattern, and the manifestation of my good is assured through You. You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path.

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"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." -- St. Thomas Aquinas

 

 

MY REFUGE 

©By Linda J. Stevenson ~ Used by permission

I have a Rock of Refuge                                        My enemy cannot invade,
Where I can safely hide;                                        A guard's placed at the door.
A shelter from the raging storm,                           Inside I rest in love and peace
Far from the swelling tide.                                     Where fear alarms no more.

 

When wind and floods outside assail,                A mighty fortress that will stand,
I'm in a safe retreat.                                              Christ Jesus, it is He.
Or when the sun in beating down,                        I'll dwell inside where grace abides;
I'm shielded from the heat.                                    My refuge He will be.

 

 

VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

The deadline to get Absentee Ballots is October 25.  You can call the Registrar and get them sent to your child at college.  Of course, being registered to vote is a prerequisite and you can find that out when you call.  The deadline to have Absentee Ballots mailed back to the Registrar's office is November 2, Election Day. 

 

Who can vote by Absentee Ballot?

* Those who are unable to go to the polls in their hometown, because of being out of town on Election Day, being away at college, on a business trip, on vacation, having surgery, etc. - those who are unable to get to the polls on Election Day for whatever reason.

 

"Religion is the basis and foundation of government."  -- Quote by James Madison, 1785

 

 

PROCTOR AND GAMBLE - INFORMATION FOR YOU, THE CONSUMER

Information from Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman of American Family Association & CitizenLink

Contributed by Deborah Allen of Virginia

 

        Proctor and Gamble has given $10,000 in support of giving homosexuals special rights.  The company has aggressively come out in favor of repealing the law in Cincinnati, Ohio, which forbids giving homosexuals special rights, but at the same time has refused to support the Ohio Marriage Protection Amendment which defines marriage as being only between one man and one woman.  
        Remember, this is the company that said they "will not tolerate discrimination [against homosexuals] in any form, against anyone, for any reason." To keep homosexuals from being legally married is discrimination [for good reason] that P&G says they will not tolerate.
        American Family Association is asking individuals to:

(1) Boycott three products of P&G — Crest toothpaste, Tide detergent, and Pampers diapers.

 (Make sure your replacement is not a P&G product. Look on the back of the product.)  The company's shareholder meeting is the second week of October, so they should be feeling the effects by then.

 

(2) Call Chairman A.G. Lafley at 513-983-1100 and politely let him know that you are participating in the boycott and will ask others to do the same.

 

(3) Register your support for the boycott - www.pgboycott.com/PGContributions.pdf

 

This is not a hoax.  Focus on the Family has also alerted consumers to P&G's conflict with family values.  There is a shameful ad out urging us to purchase Downy Wrinkle Release.  You may want to add Downy to your list of products for which to find good substitutes.   Be sure you aren't replacing it with another P&G product, because there are many P&G products.

 

Focus on the Family's CitizenLink at [email protected] posted more information today regarding P&G, saying the P&G response to boycott is inadequate.   They seem to be evading the immoral stand they took.  Read how people who complain about P&G's support of the gay agenda get a confusing letter. http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0034006.cfm

 

Find out more about the P&G boycott and how you can participate at this CitizenLink Web
site.    http://www.family.org/cforum/extras/a0033726.cfm
 

 

HEALTH TIDBITS

 

Ear Infections ~ I was reading recently about ear infections and thought I'd pass on some tips to you.  Babies are most affected by ear infections up until eighteen months of age, though they may occur later as well.  A symptom is ear pain, which you may detect when your child rubs or tugs at his ear.  He may have loss of appetite, a fever of 100-104 degrees, trouble sleeping or more crying than usual, especially during feedings or when lying down.

 

There are prescription drops with numbing effects available for the ears that will calm the baby down immediately, but there are affective non-prescription methods as well.  A few drops of warm olive oil applied inside the ear with a dropper will help ease the pain, as well as a warm potato wrapped in a clean sock or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel held against the painful ear.  If a "bed buddy" is available it can also be heated to a lukewarm temperature and placed next to the child's ear to help ease the pain.

 

When our children were young, I massaged their feet to help ease ear pain, in addition to medical advice.  The nerve endings in the feet go to all parts of the body and increase circulation in corresponding areas, thus promote healing.  I've used foot reflexology on our family and a few friends for about 25 years and it is amazing how God designed our bodies!  Many times we saw benefits in just five minutes!  For the ears, the pressure points to massage are centered around the pinky and the next toe.  Massage on top, in between and on the foot at the base of those two toes.  For a painful left ear, massage the left foot, and so forth, though it doesn't hurt to massage both.  Babies love foot massages and a general foot massage helps relax the whole body at any age.  The foot may be a little tender on the spots mentioned, if there is congestion in the ear.  If you are pregnant, it is best not to massage your feet until after delivery, according to the book I use, Helping Yourself through Foot Reflexology by Mildred Carter.

 

As a prevention to ear infections, try limiting pacifiers to bedtime and removing them from your baby's mouth after he has fallen asleep, since constant sucking may keep the eustachian tubes from draining properly.  Studies show that when babies up to six months are given pacifiers only to fall asleep, rather than all day long, and stopping the use entirely by ten months, ear infections are about a third less common. 

 

Heartburn ~ Tip from Tami Lysczek in Maryland:  I had read before how milk is the cure for pepper mouth, but another great thing about milk is it helps heartburn.  When I got pregnant each time, I would get horrible heartburn.  My doctor told me to take Maalox, which tastes terrible.  My husband said, "Drink some milk," and although I didn't like that much better, it was at least palatable and it worked right away!  To this day, when one of the kids or I get heartburn, we drink milk, and it works every time!  

 

 

EASY CRAFTS -- ANYBODY CAN DO THIS SOAP STUFF!

By Leslie Sausage ~ Used with permission
 
This is a fun way to "dip your toe" into soap making!
 
Just grate up some pure soap and remix with water to make not only kids' gifts, but some nice little guest soaps as well.
 
Kids love writing on the tub when bathing and they can with soap "crayons!"
 
For soap flakes recipes, you can make your own with finely grated bars of pure soap to make soap powder. The amount of water may need to be decreased, so start with less water and add as needed. If you don't want to make your own pure soap flakes, you can buy a package in the laundry aisle at the grocery store.
 
***Do not use laundry detergent!***
 
* Bath Time Crayons
3 cups soap flakes
1/2 to 1 cup water, approximately
1 teaspoon vegetable food coloring
 
* Molded - Bath Time Crayons
Combine soap flakes and water. Add food coloring and put mixture into lightly greased ice cube trays, candy or soap molds. Press soap dough into molds lightly and let dry over night before un-molding.
 
* Shaped - Bath Time Crayons
Grease your hands with vegetable oil first! Mix the soap and water to make the consistency of play dough. Put a few drops of vegetable oil and your hands and rub between the palms of your hands so the soap won't stick to your hands while shaping it.
 
* Soap on a Rope:
You'll need some string. Shape the soap with your hands. Cut a piece of string and tie the ends together. Push the knot gently into the finished shape. Let the completed soap dry before hanging it by the rope.
 
* Cookie Cutter Soap Shapes:
Pat or roll out mixture and let kids use cookie cutters or theme cutters to make individual soaps. Make "soap on a rope" by cutting two identical pieces and sandwiching the string between the layers.

* Multi-color Soap or Soap on a Rope:
Make two-tone soaps by using identical shapes of different colors and sandwiching them together.
 
Small cookie cutters make nice shapes in guest-soap size that can be placed in a small wicker basket for a gift, bathroom display or drawer sachets.
 
Copyright (c) 2000 Leslie Sausage
 
About the Author:
Leslie Sausage is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of several e-books. For more creative, practical and fun ideas for your home visit Frugal Homemaker at http://www.frugalhomemaker.com

 
NATURE'S DECOR FOR FALL, ON A BUDGET!
By Kathleen Wilson ~ Used by permission
 
Fall is my favorite time of year for decorating. Well, ok, so maybe it's just behind the holidays, but you know what I mean! I think it's because it represents a time of coming home and cuddling in, preparing for the long cold days of winter. Cacooning in a home filled with warmth and personality … mmm, no better feeling, especially in times when life doesn't feel as secure as it once did for many of us. How do you decorate your home for the winding down of autumn when the money's tight? Read this article, and you're on your way!
 
Fall is the best time for decorating organically; that is, with natural elements. Natural ornaments for the home are abundantly available this time of year, are extremely cheap or free, and give us a good feeling of grounded goodness. So get the kids, and go on a nature walk! Make sure to take a bag with you, and be sure only to collect fallen items that are not protected, or on private land. (Don't worry, I'm going to tell you what to do with all this in a minute!) Everything that appeals to you is fair game here, and remember to look at texture, color, or even memories an item brings back for you. Acorns, pinecones, seed pods, sticks or branches, driftwood, shells, empty wasp nests, bird nests, or cocoons, pressed and dried flowers, back chunks, even pretty rocks!

And of course, cut and bring in those fall wildflowers! Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, 

chrysanthemums, even roses all bloom in the fall and make terrific bouquets. Even dried  grasses displayed in a pretty pitcher invoke those great feelings of autumn on it's way.
 
Now you're back home with all your treasures, you've started a big pot of soup on the stove … and you can't figure out for the life of you what you are going to do with all this stuff?  For starters, consider setting out simple ceramic or wooden bowls lined with a pretty cloth napkin or scrap, and fill with some of your goods.

Texture abounds with natural elements, and will warm up a tablescape, a coffee table, a fireplace hearth. Try getting out the hot glue gun and affixing your items to the candles you packed away at the first sign of summer. Small glass jars make great votive holders when dressed up with a few pressed leaves and acorns. Fill a bowl or plate with goodies around large pillar candles and use as a centerpiece. If you can't find enough natural material near your home, check out the bulk grain section at your supermarket. Fall is about harvest, so any grain can be used to add that element to your home. Even cracked corn meant for the bird feeder can look great in a jar as a base for a candle.
 
Lastly, don't forget the front porch when adding the element of fall! After all, Halloween and Thanksgiving are on the way, it's time to think about adding joy to our neighborhoods and communities. Ask a local farmer or produce stand owner if you can get some corn stalks, and display them on your porch with a homemade scarecrow. My kids have been making  scarecrows each year since they were little, and they have a great time! Use old clothing, a little
muslin or an old pillowcase for the face, stuff most of the body with newspaper or stuffing, then add a little raffia or straw at the sleeve and neck cuffs. Make the scarecrows representative of someone you know for fun…one year my kids made our whole family, and if you know anything about the size of my family, you'll understand it was quite a job! Draw on the face with  permanent makers and craft paint, and have a great time!
 
Lastly, don't forget to preserve some of this magical time. Press fall leaves, take pictures of your kids, and make some really great new comfort foods to warm your family. Set the stage for a wonderful place for your family to be this winter!
 
Kathleen Wilson is an author, national columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator. You can find more free ideas and projects, and info on her online workshop based on her book at
www.TheBudgetDecorator.com.   Copyright 2004 K. Wilson

 

 

FALL DECORATIONS THAT WILL LAST -- BEAUTIFUL  SIMPLICITY AND SAVINGS

By Lois Breneman ~ [email protected]

 

As nice as natural decorations are, last year I decided to switch to brightly colored pumpkins from Michael's and Walmart to use in my fall decorating for three reasons - beautiful simplicity, savings and less clean-up.  This way I don't have to continually buy pumpkins each fall at rather high prices only to find them thrown into the street or watch them rot on my sunny front porch.  The gorgeous colorful pumpkins, gourds and silk fall flowers will be a decorating investment for years to come, with no further expense each year.  This year it was so easy to get the fall decorations out of my fall storage box for my front porch and kitchen table - with no shopping to do this time.

 

For the front porch, in order to raise up the pumpkins in the basket a bit, so less decorations are needed, I stuffed the bottom of a large fall basket with newspaper and covered it with tissue paper, so the ink wouldn't rub off onto the pumpkins.  Different sized pumpkins and vivid fall flowers were arranged in the basket, covering all the tissue paper.  A few more pumpkins were arranged on the porch, in front of the basket, as an overflow from the basket.  Autumn decorations, rather than Halloween decorations are what I choose to display in my home and Hancock Fabrics had a vast array of scarecrows and lovely door decorations at half price.  I hung one decoration on the door and two more on the nails driven into the brick on either side of our door.  Then using small hooks at the bottom of our front windows, used each December for poinsettia swags, I hung strings of colorful fall leaves below the two center windows.

 

For the kitchen table I use colorful gourds, smaller pumpkins and fall flowers from Michael's arranged around an orange pillar candle or a jar candle in the center of a large doily. 

 

 

CREATIVE MAKEOVERS FOR LEFTOVERS
By Brandie Valenzuela ~ Used by permission
 
As a young child, there were never leftovers in our home.  We were lucky if there was enough to fill all of the tummies at our table.  So, when I married, I vowed to always cook enough to fill the bellies of my family and guests.  I am sure those bellies have been full over the years, but my fridge has also been full -- full of leftovers because I tend to always cook too much. 
 
When you frequently have leftovers in your refrigerator, you have three options.  One choice is to learn to not cook too much food so you won't have the leftovers.  The second choice is to continue to have leftovers, but regularly throw them out because no one wants to eat them.  A third option is to find ways to creatively use up those leftovers in other meals.  For the past 14 years of my marriage I have gone with option three.  I cook extra food fairly regularly and have learned how to use up all of the excess. 
 
Here are some ideas:
 
COOKED RICE: If you have enough leftover rice, you can make a wonderful rice pudding or fried rice. If you have a small amount, mix it into ground beef for your next meatloaf or into your meatballs. You can also add it to canned soup, such as cream of tomato, or mix it into a salad.
 
PASTA: Heat leftover pasta in a pan with some butter or margarine and parmesan cheese ... delicious side dish!
 
MEATLOAF: Crumbled meatloaf can be used in any meal calling for cooked ground beef, such as tacos.
 
BAKED BEANS: This summer I made a large batch of homemade baked beans for a family get-together, and I had quite a bit of leftovers. To makeover the baked beans, I put them in the crockpot with 1 lb. of cooked ground beef, a large can of crushed tomatoes, and chili seasoning to make chili.
 
BREAD: If your bread is getting a little stale, consider letting it dry out to make your own breadcrumbs. Another option is to make french toast with day-old bread. Just follow your usual recipe, and then place the french toast on a cookie sheet and "flash freeze" in your freezer. When frozen, remove and place in a freezer-suitable container for easy breakfast any morning.
 
HAMBURGER/HOTDOG BUNS: Do you have just one or two buns left in the package?  Freeze them each time you do, and when you have several saved up, make cheesy toast with them. Just remove them from the freezer, let them thaw slightly (no need to be fully thawed), separate the top from the bottom, spread with soft margarine or butter and top with parmesan cheese. Broil until lightly brown in your broiler.
 
ROAST: Leftover roast can be used in a variety of ways, but my favorite way is to cook it in a crockpot with seasonings until you are able to shred it.  I then use it to make shredded beef tacos.
 
STEAK: Much like the roast above, I enjoy using leftover steak by slicing it very thin, cooking it in a pan with sliced green bell pepper and onion, adding some fajita seasoning and making fajitas.
 
BAKED POTATOES: Never waste your extra baked potatoes! If you only have one or two, they are excellent cut up and fried in a pan. If you have several extras, cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the pulp. Place the potato pulp in a bowl and add any of the following until light and fluffy: milk, margarine / butter, shredded cheese, cheddar cheese soup, chives, bacon, sour cream.  Place the mixture back into the potato shells and top with additional shredded cheese, if desired. Place in oven until hot for yummy twice baked potatoes. If you prefer, freeze your twice baked potatoes in the freezer for a meal another day.
 
Still want another option?  Leftover baked potatoes are perfect for making Baked Potato Soup:
 
1 stick butter                                          1 1/3 cups potato flakes
1 small onion, chopped                        2/3 cups milk
1/3 cup flour                                           2/3 cups heavy cream
2 cups water                                          3 medium potatoes (baked)
2 cups chicken stock                            Salt and pepper to taste
 
Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, Saute' onions in butter and add flour, stirring constantly. Add water and chicken stock and keep at medium heat. Set aside. To onion mixture add potato flakes, milk, and heavy cream; let simmer. Cut baked potatoes into bite sized chunks, add to soup and heat until all ingredients are heated. Add salt and pepper as desired. Serve topped with cheese and bacon, if desired.
 
MASHED POTATOES: Mashed potatoes can easily be made over. Here is a page full of dessert recipes that use leftover mashed potatoes: http://www.practicalkitchen.com/frugal/mashed_potato_desserts.shtml
 
TURKEY OR CHICKEN: Leftover turkey and chicken is one of the most versatile leftovers. By using just meat (removing bone and skin), you can make sandwiches with the meat sliced, chicken or turkey salad  sandwiches, or even make enchiladas or tacos. I have also made a delicious turkey/chicken noodle soup by boiling the bones that still have some meat left on them. I carefully remove all of the bones, and then add carrots, onion, peas, and potato and cook until tender. Add egg noodles and cook until done.
 
STALE CEREAL: Just about any cereal, even Captain Crunch, can be used to coat chicken. Just crush the cereal well, dip your chicken pieces in an egg wash, and roll in the crushed cereal. Bake according to your favorite oven baked chicken recipe.
 
HAM: About once or twice a year, our family enjoys a nice ham for dinner.  We always have leftovers, most of which get used on sandwiches, but I always save some of the ham for a casserole and/or my Split Pea Soup:
 
1 lb. dry split green peas
2 quarts of water (8 cups)
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and coarsely copped
1 tsp. salt
2 cups ham, chopped
Rinse and drain peas. Combine with ingredients in pot. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 hour or until nearly  smooth, stirring occasionally. Makes 8 servings. 
 
Brandie Valenzuela is a wife and homeschooling mom of three, who loves scrapbooking, cooking, and spending time with her family.  In her spare time, she publishes "HomeMade Living", a popular weblog for mothers, at http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com   
<a href="AOL'>http://homemadeliving.blogspot.com">AOL users click here</a>

 

KIDS' QUOTES

My Cody, age 5, just started Kindergarten.  I've been drilling him about his address and phone number.  He gets quite exasperated with me asking him all the time.  I asked him again, this morning, on the way to school, "What's your phone number?"
He said, "Mommy, it's the same as yours!" ~ Billie Baskhshi of Pennsylvania

 

"Yes, Jesus Loves Me" - As I was rocking and cuddling my 18 month old grandson recently, while singing this song to him before bedtime, I paused for a short time.  When I did, he hummed a few notes with his head still on my shoulder.  Then he sang, "Yes, Je Je," - his way of requesting that I sing some more.  What a precious moment as I heard him include Je Je (Jesus) as one of his first sixty or so words!   It is my prayer that Justin will invite Jesus into his heart at an early age and love and serve Him all his life.  I'm sure that is your prayer for all of your children and grandchildren as well.  Let's pray for each other's families, okay? ~ Lois

  
"As a mother, my job is to take care of what is possible and trust God with the impossible." -- Ruth Bell Graham

 

Have an encouraging day in the Lord!

Love from your "Heart to Heart" friend,

Lois

 

The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to bring godly and practical encouragement to women through creative ideas for the Christian family – regarding homemaking, marriage, children and much more.  You may receive this bimonthly newsletter by sending your name, city, state, country and the name of the person who referred you to Lois Breneman at [email protected].

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