HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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11/2/05 THANKSGIVING, GIFT IDEAS, A MOMMA'S TRUST, APPLES, SOUP
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IN THIS ISSUE:
BASKET OF BLESSINGS
THANKSGIVING: A TIME TO REMEMBER - A NEW BOOK BY BARBARA RAINEY
THANKSGIVING LINKS
THANKSGIVING FUN
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS THAT OTHERS WILL LOVE
A MOMMA'S TRUST
TASTY TIMELY TIDBITS WITH APPLES
GREAT TO FIGHT OFF COLDS AND FLU IN THE WINTER! - CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP
INDOOR RICE SANDBOX
NEVER COMBINE BLEACH AND AMMONIA! IT GIVES OFF A DEADLY GAS!
HOUSECLEANING
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
INSPIRING QUOTES
BASKET OF BLESSINGS
By Nancy Twigg - Used by permission
I wanted to share something weve been doing in our home recently to help us remember to be thankful. On a piece of poster board, I drew a picture of a basket and wrote the words, Our Basket of Blessings. This poster was placed prominently in our kitchen so we can all see it. At Wal-mart, I purchased a package of Post-It Notes in the shape of flowers and leaves. Now each time we have something special for which we want to give thanks, we write it on one of the flower or leaf post-its and stick it on our poster.
Although weve only had the poster up for a few weeks, its already beginning to look like a big bouquet of flowers! This activity is a fun and festive way to help us remember to count our blessings. The package of sticky notes also included some in the shape of hearts. When this poster is full, I plan to do another one with a love theme -- maybe Our Love Notes from God or something like that.
Nancy Twigg is a Christian author and speaker who loves inspiring women to K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simpler, Sister! In addition to her two books, she is the editor of Counting the Cost newsletter and website. For more information on Nancy's speaking and writing ministry, visit www.countingthecost.com
THANKSGIVING: A TIME TO REMEMBER - A NEW BOOK BY BARBARA RAINEY
This week I heard Nancy Leigh DeMoss talking on her radio broadcast with Barbara Rainey. Nancy said how last Thanksgiving there was an editorial that appeared in the Washington Times entitled, "Pilgrims' Progress?" She went on to read a horrifying excerpt to show what we are up against in the government-run schools today in our post modern culture. Allow your eyes to be opened as you read this editorial, and see how our American history is being omitted and twisted as it is being taught to our children!
The article said, "The anti-Pilgrim agenda is now national policy. Schools that celebrate Thanksgiving with classroom skits about Pilgrims and Indians do so in violation of federal curriculum guidelines." And one of those federal curriculum guidelines actually says, "At Thanksgiving, shift the focus away from reenacting the first Thanksgiving."
Nancy commented to her guest, Barbara Rainey: "God had a hand, a huge hand, in the founding of this nation and in why we celebrate Thanksgiving. So we need to make sure that we know that, that our children know it, and that they know it so well that they can tell it to the next generation."
So the book that Barbara Rainey just wrote,
Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember, is a book that is much needed today. This book, with it's interesting true stories, will make Thanksgiving come alive as you read it aloud to your family. It also includes a CD of Thanksgiving music. $20. How to order: 1-800-569-5959,
www.ReviveOurHearts.com or Christian bookstores.
THANKSGIVING LINKS
Thanks to Barb Campbell in MS for her research several years ago. These links are still active.
The First Thanksgivinghttp://www.night.net/thanksgiving/first.html-ssiTerrific resource with links to The Mayflower Compact 1620 -- in the original and modern style; The Peace Treaty with Massasoit 1621 -- and an etching of the ceremony; The First Thanksgiving Proclamation 1676; The 1782 Continental Congress Thanksgiving Proclamation -- and a photocopy of the original document; George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation -- the "lost" document; Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation; A First Thanksgiving Lesson Plan -- and link to Caleb Johnson's Factual Rebuttal; and Thanksgiving Graces and Psalms -- family favorites, traditional, and some especially for children.
Annie's Thanksgiving Just for Kids Page
http://www.annieshomepage.com/thanksgiving2.html includes prayers for kids to learn; craft instructions; links to stories, poems, games, jokes, coloring pages, icons, graphics, even an e-mail Thanksgiving card to send to grandparents.
Thanksgiving Fun
http://www.night.net/thanksgiving/Fun.html-ssiLinks to fun Thanksgiving activities include: Rosie's Thanksgiving Dinner; Alpha-Click ; We're Goin' on a Turkey Hunt!; Rosie's Thanksgiving Songs and Music!; Grandpa Tucker's Thanksgiving Poems; More Thanksgiving Poetry; Sammy, the Turkey Snake; Thanksgiving Power ; Thanksgiving Games; Thanksgiving Pictures to Color; "Thank You! for..."-- Special certificates to download and color; and lots more.
THANKSGIVING FUN
By Julie Druck - Used by permission
Here are a few simple ideas to make the season of Thanksgiving even more special:
* Cornucopia Table Favors Take sugar cones and write each guests name on them with a small tube of decorators icing. Lay one cone at each place and fill to overflowing with little fruit-shaped candies. I used Runts, but you could also use candy corn or other miniature candies.
* Nature Turkeys Our little family spends several days in the mountains over the Thanksgiving holiday. As a simple project during that time, I showed the boys how to make nature turkeys. I first had them collect nature treasures from outside small sticks, pieces of leaves, parts of pinecones, etc. Inside, they traced one of their hands (as the turkeys body) with a colored pencil and then added features with autumn-colored glitter glue and their nature treasures to resemble a turkey. They came out really neat, and we hung them on the fridge as festive decorations.
*
Thanksgiving Quiz Last year at Thanksgiving time, Marty printed out a quiz from the Probe Ministries website to test the youth groups knowledge of the history of Thanksgiving. You might be interested in reading the questions and answers for yourself! To find the quiz, go to
www.probe.org and type in: Thanksgiving Quiz at the sites search prompt.
* Oreo Turkeys At our homeschool support groups Thanksgiving party, someone made turkeys out of Oreos for a snack! Heres the way to assemble them: take the top off of an Oreo cookie and stand it upright in the bottom half. Place 3 or 4 pieces of candy corn against the standing Oreo as feathers. Then put a malted milk ball in the front of the corn as a head.
* Glove Turkeys These turkeys made from disposable plastic gloves came out really cute when we made them last fall and then gave them to friends. I bought a pack of gloves at the dollar store, and we filled each fingertip with Reeses Pieces candies (8 in the fingers, 10 in the thumb). We then filled the rest of the glove with caramel popcorn and tied the bottom with orange yarn. The boys colored eyes on with black permanent marker and taped red construction paper waddles onto each glove. We used 1 3/4 lbs. caramel popcorn and a 1 lb., 1.25 oz. bag of Reeses Pieces which made 8 turkeys.
Julie Druck is the Editor of A Heart for Home Newsletter
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS THAT OTHERS WILL LOVE
Reader's Tips from the Counting the Cost Newsletter - Used by permission from the author
"For the past several years I have made pumpkin butter for my family and friends. They now look forward to receiving a jar and I can't tell you how many people have asked for the simple recipe. It is absolutely yummy on an English muffin or graham crackers with cream cheese. Another suggestion is to use it as a topping on cheese cake or ice cream. Here is the recipe:
Pumpkin Butter
1 large can pumpkin puree
1 cup natural apple sauce
1 cup dark brown sugar
Pumpkin pie spice to taste (about 2 tablespoons)
I put a big batch in the crockpot and let it cook all day. The house smells wonderful!" ~ Alisa
Grandmother's Candy Recipes
Last year I decided that I would pull out some of my late grandmother's candy recipes and make them for gifts. You would not believe how the recipients raved about this homemade-with-love treat. And guess who cheered the most? The men! ~ Candy
Nancy Twigg is a Christian author and speaker who loves inspiring women to K.I.S.S. -- Keep It Simpler, Sister! In addition to her two books, she is the editor of Counting the Cost newsletter and website. For more information on Nancy's speaking and writing ministry, visit www.countingthecost.com
"A MOMMA'S TRUST"
By Sharon Glasgow, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member
Encouragement for Today Daily Devotional October 12, 2005 - Used by permission
Key Verse:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, "You shall teach my words diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." (NKJ)
Devotion:
When I was a little girl, I remember vividly a night that affected my life as a maturing young teenager. The memory still lives in my mind and heart today.
My mom and the four of us kids were walking to our car, when we were approached by a woman wanting talk to my mom. She said very proudly, as if she were a child-rearing specialist, "Louise, you've got good kids now, but you just wait (snarling giggle), one day they're going to grow up and let me tell you, teens bring trouble and you'll be no exception to that rule."
My mom had always been an insecure person because of her childhood - her father had been abusive, and she constantly struggled with thoughts of failure because of her lack of confidence.
All of a sudden, my mom's countenance changed. It seemed as if the wind stopped blowing and the stars grew brighter and time stopped. Mom looked at me with eyes that penetrated to my soul, and then she locked eyes with Susan, Scott and Sandy. Her 4'11'' stature seemed to grow to 6 feet tall in a matter of seconds; confidence and joy swept across her face and she replied to the woman, "My children will be the exception. I have total trust in my kids, through the help of my God."
We didn't say a word on the way home that night. It was after that night that I remember my mom setting aside an hour every night to pray for us. I felt my mom's prayers as temptations came when I was a teenager. Every time I was faced with tough decisions, I would remember how much my mom trusted me, believed in me and prayed for me that I would choose the right path.
Today, I'm the mother of five daughters. People have made similar comments to me in front of my girls, and I count it a privilege to carry on the legacy of what my mom instilled in me that night.
Just the other day, I over heard Heather, our 22-year-old, talking to her sisters about what the worst punishment in this world would be. She said it would be to disappoint Mom and Dad, because they trust us so much. I smiled and thanked God for the legacy my mom had given to me. I can't wait to see the legacy lived out in the next generation!
Kids need to know you love them, but just as importantly, they need to know you believe in them, trust them, and are proud of them. How can we have this confidence? Only through seeking God's help, strength and His wisdom everyday.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Please give me Your wisdom in raising the children with whom You have entrusted me. Help me not to lean on my own understanding but to rely totally on You for my guidance. Thank You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
1. Pray for your children.
2. Your children should know without a doubt that they are a high priority to you.
3. Care about every detail of their lives.
4. Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind, and love others as yourself. When you do this, they will become imitators of what they see in you.
Power Verse:
Titus 2:4, "Admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." (NKJ)
Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (KJV)
* Copyright 2005 Salem Web Network and its Content Providers. All rights reserved.
A Mommas Trust is a devotional written by Sharon Glasgow, Speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries. For more information, visit www.proverbs31.org or www.sharonglasgow.com. Used by permission from the author.
TASTY TIMELY TIDBITS WITH APPLES
Favorite Apple Crisp
(A favorite recipe of mine on a 34 year old yellowed index card, typed for me by Linda Klein, living in California!)
Peel, core and slice 8-10 apples and put in a greased baking dish. Add 1/2 cup water and sprinkle 1 tablespoon cinnamon on top.
Mix in a bowl:
1 cup sugar (or half Slenda) 1/2 cup butter
1 cup unbleached flour 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal, uncooked
Use a pastry blender or cut together with two table knives, as for pie dough. Sprinkle on top of apples and bake in preheated oven at 350º for 40 to 50 minutes.
Walking Apple ~ This is called a "Walking Apple" because you can go for a walk and eat this apple without littering. Great for lunches too! Core an apple, plug up the bottom hole with a prune or dried apricot, fill with peanut butter, raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts, and plug up the top hole or dip in wheat germ. These can be made ahead for up to two or three days, wrapped in plastic and stored in the fridge until needed. Kids and grown-ups love these! It also prevents kids from wasting the apple by leaving a lot of fruit around the core.
No More Brown Apples ~ Ever notice how apple slices turn brown after they have been exposed to air a bit? An easy way to prevent this is to soak them in a lemon-lime carbonated soft drink (like 7-Up or Sprite. You can also soak them in lemon juice, but that sometimes effects the taste - the soft drink doesn't. Slice the apples, pop in a bowl with the drink and let soak for about 5 minutes. Drain and put on plate. This will keep them pretty and crisp! - This tip is from Barb Campbell, MS
GREAT TO FIGHT OFF COLDS AND FLU IN THE WINTER!
CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP
Contributed by Rachael Walton of Ohio
1 pound (approximately) precooked chicken, shredded (I use Brinkmens canned chicken and reserve the broth to use)
7 cups chicken broth (I use Brinkmens unsalted if possible, many canned broths contain MSG which is not good, but Brinkmans is all natural)
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)
1 cup chopped onion
scant 3/4 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
¾ cup wild rice
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
¾ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
¾ teaspoon dried rosemary (optional)
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
I also add about a ½ teaspoon of sea salt if broth is unsalted. Combine everything in a 4-quart pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 55 minutes or until rice is cooked to desired tenderness.
Note from Lois: This is a good recipe for leftover turkey. Brown rice is a good substitute for wild rice, but white rice is a waste of time, with very little nutrients after it is bleached. This recipe could also be made in bulk to freeze, if the celery is left out until later, since celery gets mushy when frozen. Cooked celery could be added before serving.
INDOOR RICE SANDBOX
The next time my 2 1/2 year old grandson comes to visit, I have an indoor sandbox ready for lots of fun - using rice! A large plastic under-the-bed storage box is perfect for this activity, and can be covered with the lid when not in use. I poured a large bag of inexpensive white rice into the box. The only reason I buy white rice is for filling beanbags, scented hot pads and heat or ice packs. Natural brown or wild rice is for eating, in my opinion, with it's wide spectrum of nutrients, as opposed to beached white rice. So if you want to make this change in your diet, the white rice you already have won't be wasted!
For sand toys, there are several colorful laundry lids for pouring. My grandson loves those in the bathtub too. Last week he enjoyed filling a small laundry detergent container with water, tightening the lid, and telling me how it won't spill now. In his new sandbox, the rice will make a great sound inside this dry container, when shaken! A small bucket, scoop, shovel, rake, funnels, small child's dish, cup, saucer, some spoons for stirring, and a few cars will provide lots of fun! If anything spills, Justin can clean it up with my swivel sweeper! For grownups who would like to join in the play, without stooping and bending so much, this box would also work well on a table, and most spilled rice could be saved and poured back into the box.
NEVER COMBINE BLEACH AND AMMONIA! IT GIVES OFF A DEADLY GAS!
I just want to be sure that none of my readers ever mixes these two chemicals! In the October 6, 2005 issue of Heart to Heart a tip from another newsletter was given for a 30 cent per gallon all-purpose household cleaner. Although the tip was correct and did not say to combine bleach and ammonia, it could have been easily mistaken.
The tip said, "I have always said to clean a house you only need four basic items: liquid bleach, white vinegar, baking soda and ammonia," BUT when the recipe was given, the bleach was not included. The recipe said to "Combine 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar with a gallon of water. Shake well and pour the solution into a spray bottle." (No bleach)
Better SAFE, than sorry! Because of the combination of bleach and ammonia giving off a deadly gas that is undetected, we don't want to take any chances! Educate your family and friends about this fact.
Now that we're on the subject of "Housecleaning," let me share one of my mother's poems with you, as she shared many years ago how housecleaning can be a spiritual concept.
HOUSECLEANING
By Dorothy Elizabeth Kohr Walker
There's one room upstairs that no one sees
Where during the year things have collected;
Good things, others too, that just take up room,
To be shared or thrown away, but I neglected.
So I cleaned out the clutter and cobwebs,
Swept and scrubbed everything in sight;
Covered up the ugly marks with fresh paint,
Washed windows -- in came sun and light.
Order out of chaos; oh what a change!
Now that it's done, it's a real joy to me;
All the time as I worked, I thought again
Of the cleansing I, myself, need daily.
There's a room in my heart no one sees;
During the day some things collect there -
The dust of gloom, envy, thoughtless words,
Even wondering, "Does Jesus care?"
So I cleaned out a secret grudge, cobwebs
Of jealousy, washed walls of prejudice too;
Then covered up a lot of things with love -
Yet the Lord had some cleaning to do.
My hurting heart He calmed and healed,
Washed my eyes with tears, many bitter too.
That I might see the brightness of His love.
Yet it's not because of what I could do
That makes me joyously happy and clean -
'Tis the cleansing blood of God's Son -
For when looking into the mirror of His Word
I was only willing to let it be done.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
By Erma Bombeck - written after she found out she was dying from cancer
Contributed by Elinor Wright in Virginia
*I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
*I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
*I would have talked less and listened more.
*I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
*I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
*I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
*I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
*I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
*I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
*I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
*I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
*Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
*When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
*There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."
*But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back.
*Stop sweating the small stuff.
*Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
*Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
*Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.
INSPIRING QUOTES
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. - Helen Keller
Lift up your eyes. The heavenly Father waits to bless you -- in inconceivable ways to make your life what you never dreamed it could be. - Anne Ortlund
As the years add up, God's faithfulness keeps multiplying! - From Steve and Mirian Cox, Brazil
Please remember to pray for each Heart to Heart lady as you receive your newsletter.
(¨`·.·´¨) God bless you and your family in a special way!
`·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) Your Heart to Heart friend,
`·.¸.·´ Lois
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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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