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11/20/07 AUTISM, TIPS, EMOTIONAL PAIN, THANKFUL, STREUSEL, TOYS, BABES

#1 · November 19, 2007, 11:02 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on November 19, 2007, 11:02 pm
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman

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11/20/07 AUTISM, TIPS, EMOTIONAL PAIN, THANKFUL, STREUSEL, TOYS, BABES

~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~

Please share this complete newsletter with other women who might benefit by receiving it. Thanks!

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IN THIS ISSUE:

A SECRET TO A RELAXED HOLIDAY DINNER
ROAST A MOIST TURKEY WITH A MESSAGE!
HOLIDAY LETTER FROM AUTISTIC CHILDREN

MONEY-SAVING TIPS
ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE
HELP FOR EMOTIONAL PAIN WHEN IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR
A STORY OF LOVE
BE THANKFUL - LIFE IS A GIFT!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR PEOPLE
CORRECTION SENT AFTER LAST NEWSLETTER
GREAT NATURAL LEMONADE WITHOUT THE SUGAR
AS EASY AS PIE!
PUMPKIN APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS
LOOKING FOR TOYS NOT MADE IN CHINA DUE TO SO MANY RECALLS?
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
WELCOME NEW BABIES - A GIRL AND A BOY!
SOME FAMILY NEWS
         CUDDLE TIME, A FAMILY THANKSGIVING, A BOY OR GIRL? THEN SURGERY
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

A SECRET TO A RELAXED HOLIDAY DINNER
Copyright Deborah Taylor-Hough - Used by permission

Can you imagine a relaxed Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without needing to actually cook your turkey on the big day? You'd be able to enjoy the festivities as much as your friends and family!   Believe it or not, it's possible to roast your turkey ahead of time and store the cooked meat in the freezer to reheat and serve on the big day. If this sounds a bit too much like eating leftovers, let me assure you that by following these simple freezing and reheating instructions, you'll have the moist, delicious turkey -- and not one of your guests will suspect you didn't spend the entire holiday slaving away in the kitchen keeping watch over a hot oven.

Feel free to use your own favorite turkey recipe if you prefer, and then follow the freezing/reheating instructions at the end of this article (but I personally don't think you'll find a tastier turkey recipe!).

TO PREPARE TURKEY:

3 onions, quartered
6 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups white wine (or water)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon thyme
3 cups chicken broth, canned (reserve for freezing process)

In bottom of a deep roasting pan, place two quartered onions, four celery stalks, the carrots, bay leaves and white wine (or water). Remove turkey giblets, rinse bird inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. Stuff turkey loosely with remaining quartered onion and celery stalks. Brush turkey with olive oil mixed with salt, pepper, sage, and thyme. Cover turkey loosely with a large sheet of foil coated lightly with olive oil, crimping foil on to edges of roasting pan. Cook according to chart below. During last 45 minutes, cut band of skin or string between legs and tail. Uncover and continue roasting until done. Baste, if desired.

Turkey Roasting Chart (loosely wrapped with foil):

12-16 pounds / 325 degrees F / 4 - 5 hours
16-20 pounds / 325 degrees F / 5 - 6 hours
20-24 pounds / 325 degrees F / 6 - 7 hours

Testing for doneness:

About 20 minutes before roasting time is completed, test bird. Flesh on thickest part of drumstick should feel soft when squeezed between fingers, drumstick should move up an down easily, and meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of leg should read 185 degrees F. (Or follow manufacturer's instructions.)

- FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS -

DRIPPINGS: Pour liquid and drippings from roasting pan into a bowl. Remove vegetables. Allow bowl of liquid to cool in refrigerator until fat congeals on top. Scoop off fat with a spoon and pour drippings into a labeled freezer bag. Thaw to use for making gravy on serving day.

TURKEY: Allow turkey to cool in pan for 1/2 hour; then place turkey and its roasting pan into refrigerator. Allow to cool completely (several hours). When fully chilled, slice turkey as usual. Remove all meat from bones. Place breast and dark meat slices into labeled freezer bags. Pour canned chicken broth into bags over meat. Freeze.

TO SERVE: Thaw bag of meat and broth, and place into a covered baking dish for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Or place turkey and broth into a microwave-safe dish, cover with plastic wrap, and heat until hot (the time will vary with different microwaves, so check manufacturer's instructions). Drain off broth (reserve to make more gravy, if needed). Arrange the heated turkey slices attractively on a serving platter. Serve hot.

**Excerpted and adapted from the 10-Day Holiday Meal Plan in the popular book, Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month (SourceBooks).

Copyright Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Deborah Taylor-Hough (mother of three) is the author of several popular books including Frugal Living For Dummies(r); Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month; and A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving Your Time, Money & Sanity. For more tips and ideas on cooking, parenting, saving money, and homemaking, visit Debi online and subscribe to one of her free email newsletters at: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

ROAST A MOIST TURKEY WITH A MESSAGE!
First of all stuff a pricked lemon or orange into the cavity of the bird for an extra moist turkey.

You won't even be able to detect the citrus flavor - just the moistness. For a Thanksgiving message, write the word, "BLESSED" on your roasted turkey this year!  Cut out aluminum foil letters. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan and carefully position the foil letters on the turkey.  Roast according to your own recipe and serve. The foiled area will be lighter in color. Watch the smiles!

HOLIDAY LETTER FROM AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Author: Viki Gayhardt - http://www.autism-society-nh.org/

This was written for the purpose of it being sent to relatives, friends, and hosts of holiday gatherings that might need a crash course in what to expect from their guest with autism. This letter is written as if the autistic individual person is writing it personally.

Dear Family and Friends:

I understand that we will be visiting each other for the holidays this year! Sometimes these visits can be very hard for me, but here is some information that might help our visit to be more successful. As you probably know, a hidden disability called autism, or what some people refer to as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), challenges me. Autism/PDD is a neurodevelopment disorder, which makes it hard for me to understand the environment around me. I have barriers in my brain that you can't see, but which make it difficult for me to adapt to my surroundings.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the roughest holidays for me. With large crowds and holiday shopping it can be very overwhelming, even a bit scary. When planning a party remember that with my over sensitive hearing and eye sight, Christmas trees and holiday smells can cause me mild to severe pain or discomfort. If the noises are impossible to control a personal stereo with headphones set to a safe level for children may help drown out background noise and ease my discomfort.

Sometimes I may seem rude and abrupt, but it is only that because I have to try so hard to understand people and at the same time, make myself understood. People with autism have different abilities: some may not speak, some write beautiful poetry, others are whizzes in math (Albert Einstein was thought to be autistic), or may have difficulty making friends. We are all different and need various degrees of support.

Sometimes when I am touched unexpectedly, it might feel painful and make me want to run away. I get easily frustrated too. Being with lots of other people is like standing next to a moving freight train and trying to decide how and when to jump aboard. I feel frightened and confused a lot of the time. This is why I need to have things the same as much as possible. Once I learn how things happen, I can get by OK. But if something, anything, changes, then I have to relearn the situation all over again! It is very hard.

When you try to talk to me, I often can't understand what you say because there is a lot of distraction around. I have to concentrate very hard to hear and understand one thing at a time. You might think I am ignoring you - I am not. Rather, I am hearing everything and not knowing what is most important to respond to.

Holidays are exceptionally hard because there are so many different people, places, and things going on that are out of my ordinary realm. This may be fun and adventurous for most people, but for me, it's very hard work and can be extremely stressful. I often have to get away from all the commotion to calm down. It would be great if you had a private place set up where I could retreat.

If I cannot sit at the meal table, do not think I am misbehaving or that my parents have no control over me. Sitting in one place for even five minutes is often impossible for me. I feel so antsy and overwhelmed by all the smells, sounds, and people -- I just have to get up and move about. Please don't hold up your meal for me -- go on without me, and my parents will handle the situation the best way they know how.

Eating in general is hard for me. If you understand that autism is a sensory processing disorder, it's no wonder eating is a problem! Think of all the senses involved with eating. Sight, smell, taste, touch, AND all the complicated mechanics that are involved. Chewing and swallowing is something that a lot of people with autism have trouble with. I am not being picky - I literally cannot eat certain foods as my sensory system and/or oral motor coordination is impaired. Don't be disappointed if Mom hasn't dressed me in starch and bows. It's because she knows how much stiff and frilly clothes can drive me buggy! I have to feel comfortable in my clothes or I will just be miserable. When I go to someone else's house, I may appear bossy and controlling. In a sense, I am being controlling, because that is how I try to fit into the world around me (which is so hard to figure out!) Things have to be done in a way I am familiar with or else I might get confused and frustrated. It doesn't mean you have to change the way you are doing things -- just please be patient with me, and understanding of how I have to cope. Mom and Dad have no control over how my autism makes me feel inside. People with autism often have little things that they do to help themselves feel more comfortable. The grown ups call it "self regulation," or "stimming'. I might rock, hum, flick my fingers, or any number of different things. I am not trying to be disruptive or weird. Again, I am doing what I have to do for my brain to adapt to your world. Sometimes I cannot stop myself from talking, singing, or doing an activity I enjoy. The grown-ups call this "perseverating" which is kind-a-like self-regulation or stimming. I do this only because I have found something to occupy myself that makes me feel comfortable. Perseverative behaviors are good to a certain degree because they help me calm down.

Please be respectful to my Mom and Dad if they let me "stim" for a while as they know me best and what helps to calm me. Remember that my Mom and Dad have to watch me much more closely than the average child. This is for my own safety, and preservation of your possessions. It hurts my parents' feelings to be criticized for being over protective, or condemned for not watching me close enough. They are human and have been given an assignment intended for saints. My parents are good people and need your support.

Holidays are filled with sights, sounds, and smells. The average household is turned into a busy, frantic, festive place. Remember that this may be fun for you, but it's very hard work for me to conform. If I fall apart or act out in a way that you consider socially inappropriate, please remember that I don't possess the neurological system that is required to follow some social rules. I am a unique person -- an interesting person. I will find my place at this celebration that is comfortable for us all, as long as you'll try to view the world through my eyes!

MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Practical Tips from The Dollar Stretcher - www.stretcher.com - Used by permission

'Tis the Season ~ Every year during the holiday season, perfume companies give away extra gifts when you buy their perfume. Some give fleece vests, purses, tote bags, platters, etc. Check your fragrance counter at the store and see what the extra item may be with your perfume. They also like to sell in groups so you can get two or three items of your favorite perfume at a discounted price. ~ Theresa

Creative Gift Wrap ~ My four-year-old son is very creative and enjoys painting with washable kid's paint. For the past month, every time he wants to paint, I cut off large pieces of rolled paper and save the finished masterpiece for holiday wrapping paper. We also make stamps out of potatoes into holiday shapes (stars, Christmas trees, etc.). He gets to take part in the giving (while his self-esteem gets a boost as he shares his work) and I don't have to worry about buying any paper for our relatives' gifts. ~ Amber D.

Holiday Packages ~ I purchase remnants of fabric all year long and sew them into gift bags. I just sew it like a pillow slip. I sometimes use a decorative stitch around the top, and I often use the selvage edge for the opening, so there is no need to hem. I can sew more than a dozen of these in half an hour. All I need is a small piece of ribbon to tie them shut.  Most of the time people give them back to me, so I don't need to make very many any more. When people do keep them, they use them for things like shoe bags for traveling, and consider the bag a second gift. I can wrap all my gifts in less than half an hour, and after gifts are open, I just fold up the bags that I get back and put into a plastic container with a lid, which sits on a shelf. They are ready for the next gifting occasion. I purchase a lot of holiday prints, but I also use plaids and solids.  I also have bags in children's prints and florals, which I use for birthdays and other gifting occasions during the year. I probably spent $10 the first year I did this, and maybe a dollar or two every year since. This is much cheaper than wrapping paper. I buy a good quality ribbon, so I can recycle the ribbon as well. It only takes a little to tie these bags. ~ Sharon M.

Clearance Crazy ~ I am a stay-at-home mother of two little angels. My number one piece of advice for shopping is to check out the clearance first! If you are looking for clothing, you have to keep your eyes open, because the bargains are not always where you expect them to be. I don't like going to thrift stores, but I still find good deals. Most of my kids' clothing come from the Gap, but instead of paying $20 for a polo shirt, I wait until it is on clearance at $7.99 or $4.99. The same goes for me. I buy my clothes at Nordstrom and Ann Taylor. I just bought a beautiful printed silk skirt for $14, originally priced at $99. It is almost more exciting to find such great deals in a better retail shop! ~ Candy M.

No More Recreational Shopping ~ My biggest money-saving tip is to avoid recreational shopping and teach your kids to do the same. Turn of the TV, go out for walks, play board games and take advantage of everything your town has to offer for free, especially the library! ~
Martha G.

Stretching Milk ~ With milk being so expensive, we were having a rough time keeping it in the house with my five children, but we were getting plenty of instant milk from the food pantry. So with a little experimentation, I found that I can follow the instant milk recipe to make 1/2 gallon milk and then add 1/2 gallon of whole milk to it to make a full gallon. There's no change in taste and it makes the regular milk last a whole lot longer. ~ Janet

Ground Meat Stretcher ~ The easiest and cheapest way to stretch ground meat is to add fresh bean sprouts to the raw meat and brown it with the meat. The veggies will pick up the flavor of the meat from the meat juices, and once it is browned, you cannot tell which bite started out as meat and which was veggie sprouts. This works very well for strongly flavored foods like chili, taco meat, etc. I have often stretched two ground beef patties to enough to feed four to six adults this way. And it is lower calorie, higher fiber, etc.  I have used this for bulk sausage, ground beef and ground turkey and see no reason why it would not work with venison or chicken as well. ~ Debbie

Kiddy Napkins ~ When my children were a lot younger, I got tired of the napkin routine, which included washing, ironing, etc. So, I purchased colorful wash cloths and used them for napkins. They were fun and so easy to toss in the washing machine to use over and over again. ~ Lillian

Keep Them Lookin' New ~ I was thinking about the price of clothing. So many clothes still have good material, but have faded and are no longer useable for work. I learned this tip when something red faded, and I have been using it for years since then. When I wash something for the first time, I add about 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the wash and wash in cold water. This sets the color for the new item. After that, I'm able to wash the item with other clothes and it lasts so much longer. ~ SC

Connect the Dots ~ Growing up with two sisters, my mother would always take a Rub-A-Dub
Marker and dot our clothes. She would use one dot for the oldest, two dots for the middle child, and three dots for the youngest. They would be a small dot on the tag of the clothes or on the back of jeans. This works wonders and you can fold the clothes and sort them into piles easily. She would dot our undergarments, socks, jeans, shirts, etc. I now have three girls of my own, and this is working great for us! ~ Erin in Oklahoma

Organized Shelves ~ Shoe shops often have spare shoeboxes that people don't take home
after their purchase. These are fantastic for storage and free to boot! (Excuse the pun.) These boxes are usually clean, stackable, and often have holes in the middle for easier handling. They look great with labels and often give a nice official look to your shelves if you match the boxes. When you don't need them anymore, give them away, use for gift boxes, or simply recycle. ~ Gilla

Winter Car Trick ~ I hate to have to scrape the side view mirrors when it snows or sleets. So, I decided to try something and it worked. I slipped a freezer bag over the side view mirrors and then secured them with rubber bands so snow or sleet didn't get inside. Then I sprayed them on the outside with non-stick vegetable spray. The next time we had a snow or sleet storm, I just took the bags off! I didn't have to scrape the mirrors, and I got to work on time! ~ Aju P.

Tool Care ~ A good way to keep your lawn tools clean and rust-free is to build a small wooden box about 6" deep, two feet by one foot. Seal up the bottom, fill it with sand, and pour in enough used motor oil to keep the sand wet. When you are finished using a tool, work it into the sandbox. The sand removes any grime and scale, and the oil clings to it just enough to keep the tool from rusting. ~ Kurt B.

Recycling Magnets ~ My dad came up with a very clever idea to reuse those magnets that come glued to new phone books, with junk mail, etc. Turn them into photo magnets! Using a pair of scissors, cut the magnet to the size of your photo. My dad uses rubber cement to adhere the magnet to the back of the photo, but I've found that just about any glue will do. I use a crafter's stick glue.  Using this basic idea, I also came up with another we've found useful in our house; I adhere those junk magnets to the back of a blank notepad (no cutting necessary), and I've instantly got a magnetic notepad for grocery lists, taking phone messages, etc. ~ Suzanne L. CO

ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE

By Karen Winstead, ACC Certified Nurse-Midwife - http://www.newlifebirthcenter.net/

Please send your personal questions relating to pregnancy and childbirth that you would like to see addressed by replying to this newsletter. Names of those sending questions will not be included in this column, and the answer will be e-mailed to you before it appears in a newsletter.

Question:

What can I do if I am feeling depressed?

Answer:

Depression can be related to a physical problem like inadequate nutrition, wide swings in blood sugar, lack of sleep, or an imbalance of thyroid or other hormones. It can be emotional in origin such as a prolonged stressful situation such as an illness in the family, loss of a job, or financial pressures. Depression can have spiritual roots when a person is experiencing guilt, lack of a personal relationship with God, or disobedience to Gods will. Feeling depressed, especially when there is a loss or hard struggle, can be normal. Rather than avoiding the feelings, work through them. Medication is sometimes needed but often can be avoided by trying the following:

Exercise: 3-4 hours a week of exercise has been shown to work as good as prescribed antidepressants. It reduces stress, increases metabolism, and controls blood sugar.

Sunlight: Get a little every day, even if it is only a few minutes.

Nutrition: Cut out sugar and soft drinks. Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive and canola oil and quality meats. Take a good multivitamin that includes all the B vitamins. Avoid caffeine. In addition to exercise, multivitamin, and stress reduction, one serving of banana is recommended in the AM and PM with one square of Belgian chocolate between breakfast and lunch and/or between lunch and supper.

Take fish oil daily: Dr. Andrew Stoll in his book The Omega 3 Connection recommends a minimum of 1.5 g for overall health and states that 2-5 g should be a starting dose for fish oils. If symptoms are severe, it is safe to increase to 6-12g. Add Vitamin C and E to the regimen to prevent oxidation of the fish oil. The ratio should be at least 2:1 EPA to DHA. Apparently, the EPA is most effective for mood stabilization and the DHA addresses cognition and memory. Add the amount of EPA and DHA for total milligrams per serving.

Reduce stress: Do activities that bring pleasure and avoid stress. Stop watching TV two hours before bedtime Relax as much as possible. Pray and meditate on Bible passages daily. Ask for help from friends and family.

Herbal remedies: Susan Weed's postpartum depression brew has licorice, raspberry leaf, rosemary and skullcap. Licorice is not recommended during pregnancy (possible contractions), but okay postpartum. Skullcap is the most important. The strongest way to take it is in a tincture, but some have had success with infusions sipped on and off throughout the day. Remember some herbals interact with medications or can cause allergic reactions.

Chiropractic or acupuncture: These therapies can be helpful for mood disorders.

Investigate the other issues: Find someone to talk to such as friend, pastor or counselor. Just talking can be helpful. Seek professional help and talk to your medical care provider to see if there are hormonal imbalances such as thyroid, blood sugar problems, sleep apnea, or other issues.

HELP FOR EMOTIONAL PAIN WHEN IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR

By Lois Breneman, © 2007, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]



Depression not only affects a percentage of new mothers, but so many others (men, women and children), especially during the Christmas holiday season. Many say it is worse than physical pain.

In our fast paced world today there continues to be a growing number of unstable and broken families for various reasons. As a result, way too many children are also experiencing deep emotional pain.

Emotional pain is created by a lack of fulfillment in general and unfulfilled dreams in particular (Prov. 13:12). Even when devoted love is present, sensitive areas in a persons life bring pain when provoked, as in Hannahs life, when she was unable to conceive a child (I Sam. 1:5,6). Depression may be evidenced by crying, an altered appetite, a grief-stricken heart (I Sam. 1:7), and a sad countenance (I Sam. 1:18).

            Emotional pain is often misunderstood by others (I Sam. 1:13, 14). Misunderstandings by others can make depression even more difficult to bear. Pour out that deep inward pain to the Lord (I Sam. 1:15), since Jesus Christ has already borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isa. 53:4), and He does fully understand. He is the God who sees your pain as he did Hagars regarding her son, Ishmael.

            Share your pain with someone who is willing to listen and provide empathy and prayer support (I Sam. 1:16,17). That person needs to be someone you can trust, with a faithful spirit (Prov. 11:13). We as Gods children are to bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2). This type of godly support surrounds the grief-striken person with hope and helps lift the sadness (I Sam. 1:18).

            Sometimes the person experiencing depression cannot pray, no matter how hard they try. They don't know what they should pray, but the Spirit itself prays for them with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom. 8:26). Reading the book of Psalms can also be a healing balm for one with a down-trodden heart.

            An appropriate and helpful prayer to pray for yourself or a person experiencing depression is found in Romans 15:13. Turn it into a prayer such as this. May the God of all hope fill ___ with all the joy and peace in believing, that ___ may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.



A STORY OF LOVE

Thanks to Lydia Hostetler in Pennsylvania for sending this!

There was once a blind girl who hated herself for no other reason except that she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind. Not wanting to be burdened by a 'blind' person, she refused to marry him. Her loving, devoted and understanding boyfriend walked away in tears, his heart obviously broken.

The girl who had been so fortunate to have the world opened up to her, continued enjoying it; day in and day out, trying to never miss a single pleasure life had to offer. A while later she received a letter from her ex-boyfriend which stated simply:

"I sincerely hope you enjoy your life. Your happiness was all that ever mattered to me. I am so happy that you are enjoying life as I always hoped you could. I would like to ask one parting favor of you. my dear -- just take good care of my eyes."

BE THANKFUL - LIFE IS A GIFT
Today before you think of saying an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one Maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Life is a gift...
            Live it...
                     Enjoy it...
                                 Celebrate it...
                                                and fulfill it.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR PEOPLE

Author unknown - Thanks to Rosanne Ayers in Virginia for sending this!

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered:

"I saw that we have the one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

CORRECTION SENT AFTER LAST NEWSLETTER

Right after the November 7 newsletter was sent, I hurriedly sent out a correction to everyone on the e-mailing list, but about 200 of those e-mails bounced for some reason.

So to be sure everyone knows, please disregard the appeal to send Christmas cards to unnamed wounded American soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Although it sounded like a great idea, it is listed at www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp as a hoax. This site says cards and packages received at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center without a name will be refused, but other alternatives are given as ways to encourage the troops.

When I learned about this not being valid, I didn't want any of you wasting your time, effort and resources, because of my oversight. I'm very sorry for not checking this out before including it in the newsletter. By the way, if you are one of the fifty-two new subscribers since November 7, that section was deleted in your copy.

GREAT NATURAL LEMONADE WITHOUT THE SUGAR

Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for sending this!

For great tasting lemonade, juice eight peeled and cored apples and two peeled lemons in your juicer. You'll sweeten the lemonade with the natural sugar in the apples. It is so good!

AS EASY AS PIE!

Thanks to Jean Breneman in Pennsylvania for sending this!

http://www.maryricehopkins.com/viewcard.asp?code=HY27482779

Don't we wish baking a pie would be this effortless? The dishes don't even need washed!

PUMPKIN APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS

www.urbanhomemaker.com - Used by permission

Makes 18 muffins
2 1/2 cups whole grain pastry flour                        1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup honey                                                             2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk, buttermilk, or yogurt thinned            1 cup pumpkin
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice                                    1/4 cup oil
1 tsp. baking soda                                                   2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples
                                                                                   Streusel Topping* (recipe below)

Grease muffin cups well. In a large bowl, whisk together honey, eggs, oil, pumpkin and milk. In a medium mixing bowl, combine pumpkin pie spice, soda, salt, flour. Stir dry ingredients into moist ingredients gently, being careful not to over mix. Stir in apples gently. Spoon the batter into muffin cups filling 3/4 full. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Streusel Topping: In small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon. Cut in 4 tsp. butter, until mixture is crumbly.

Note from Lois: Substituting sucanat or Stevia for sugar would be a healthier alternative.

LOOKING FOR TOYS NOT MADE IN CHINA DUE TO SO MANY RECALLS?

Thanks to Carol Miller in Pennsylvania for sending this!

http://www.chinafreechristmas.info/ This site has compiled a list of toys not made in China.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

If you have kids quotes, please share them with the Heart to Heart friends!
These two quotes were sent by Amy Zimmerman in Pennsylvania. Thanks, Amy!

My nephew (about 3 yrs) was admiring his mommies pregnant belly one day soon after playing with a toy that required batteries. He promptly poked her protruding abdomen and with a puzzled look announced, Doesnt work!...Needs batteries!

When my sister was about 4 yrs old we used to comb her hair into a fountain on the top of her head. Her hair didnt grow fast so we combed it like that for quite a while. Our brothers got a big kick out of teasing her about her Waterfalltill one day she got extremely perturbed at them. I took her aside and reminded her of the nickname she called meRainbow, and explained that together we make quite a beautiful picture. She never minded being called Waterfall after that and to this day we refer to each other using our nicknames.

WELCOME NEW BABIES - A GIRL AND A BOY!
If you would like your babys birth announced in Heart to Heart, let me know.

Sarie Ruth Hillyer was born on October 26, 2007! She is the third child of Harvey and Sarah (Zipfel) Hillyer, living in Georgia. Her brother and sister love her very much already.

Joseph Cuy Ching was born on November 12, 2007. He is the son of Nathan and Kristin Ching and the grandson of Miranda Ching who lives in Hawaii.

SOME FAMILY NEWS

CUDDLE TIME, A FAMILY THANKSGIVING, A BOY OR GIRL? THEN SURGERY

        Last week I was privileged to spend almost a wonderful week with our daughter's family in Georgia, putting in some extra cuddle time with the grandchildren, 4 year old Justin and little Ryan Elizabeth. Justin and I did a lot together, including cleaning up his playroom. Ryan and I had such fun too, as she really stepped up her "talking" and squealing, with lots of smiles and laughing out loud! Sometimes it sounded like she was trying to sing - as many as six notes at a time! Joy was amazed at the big change in her verbal development. Ryan is such a happy and content little doll who rarely ever cries and has slept through the night almost from the start! So far, so good, but the teething has begun! She sticks her thumb, fingers or her entire hand in her mouth and really goes to town on them! With little Ryan's family coming to Virginia two consecutive weekends, I was able to hitch a ride down and back, while my poor husband had to continue at home with his job. On Saturday John and Justin blew and raked up maple leaves in our front yard for hours - a special time working and playing together.

        All of our family will be coming in for Thanksgiving again this year, which is always such a special blessing, having everyone together! Since last Thanksgiving the Lord has added two more family members - our son, James' wife, Emily, as well as Joy and Wayne's second child, Ryan Elizabeth, who will turn four months over Thanksgiving weekend.   Plus one more baby in the making - in Ohio - now eleven inches long and due in April.

        This afternoon our son, Jeff, and daughter-in-law, Rachael, learned whether they will be having a girl or a boy - through an ultrasound. Jeff called to let us know right away, and it's so much fun finally knowing if we're talking pink or blue! I can't wait to let you all know if it's a boy or a girl, but first they need some time to finish calling some family and friends who also receive Heart to Heart! To be continued ...

        Then the Monday after Thanksgiving, early on November 26 my husband, John, will be having rather serious ankle and foot surgery, as a torn tendon is repaired, among other things. He will be on crutches for a while and it will take over a year for complete healing, the doctor explained.  Your prayers for a successful surgery outcome are so much appreciated! John and I both say a great big "Thank You!"

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

                               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.

                 Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!

(¨`·.·´¨)                        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,

                                                                             Lois



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 <a title=mailto:jhbreneman@... href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]. New subscribers will receive a Welcome, a "Start-Up Kit," and several recent newsletters.

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HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman

~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~

11/20/07 AUTISM, TIPS, EMOTIONAL PAIN, THANKFUL, STREUSEL, TOYS, BABES

~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~:~*~

Please share this complete newsletter with other women who might benefit by receiving it. Thanks!

For any e-mail address changes, please send me your name, along with your old and new e-mail address. Otherwise your address will automatically be removed from the master e-mail list by the server I use.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

A SECRET TO A RELAXED HOLIDAY DINNER
ROAST A MOIST TURKEY WITH A MESSAGE!
HOLIDAY LETTER FROM AUTISTIC CHILDREN

MONEY-SAVING TIPS
ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE
HELP FOR EMOTIONAL PAIN WHEN IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR
A STORY OF LOVE
BE THANKFUL - LIFE IS A GIFT!
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR PEOPLE
CORRECTION SENT AFTER LAST NEWSLETTER
GREAT NATURAL LEMONADE WITHOUT THE SUGAR
AS EASY AS PIE!
PUMPKIN APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS
LOOKING FOR TOYS NOT MADE IN CHINA DUE TO SO MANY RECALLS?
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
WELCOME NEW BABIES - A GIRL AND A BOY!
SOME FAMILY NEWS
CUDDLE TIME, A FAMILY THANKSGIVING, A BOY OR GIRL? THEN SURGERY
HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

A SECRET TO A RELAXED HOLIDAY DINNER
Copyright Deborah Taylor-Hough - Used by permission

Can you imagine a relaxed Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without needing to actually cook your turkey on the big day? You'd be able to enjoy the festivities as much as your friends and family! Believe it or not, it's possible to roast your turkey ahead of time and store the cooked meat in the freezer to reheat and serve on the big day. If this sounds a bit too much like eating leftovers, let me assure you that by following these simple freezing and reheating instructions, you'll have the moist, delicious turkey -- and not one of your guests will suspect you didn't spend the entire holiday slaving away in the kitchen keeping watch over a hot oven.

Feel free to use your own favorite turkey recipe if you prefer, and then follow the freezing/reheating instructions at the end of this article (but I personally don't think you'll find a tastier turkey recipe!).

TO PREPARE TURKEY:

3 onions, quartered
6 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups white wine (or water)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons sage
1 teaspoon thyme
3 cups chicken broth, canned (reserve for freezing process)

In bottom of a deep roasting pan, place two quartered onions, four celery stalks, the carrots, bay leaves and white wine (or water). Remove turkey giblets, rinse bird inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. Stuff turkey loosely with remaining quartered onion and celery stalks. Brush turkey with olive oil mixed with salt, pepper, sage, and thyme. Cover turkey loosely with a large sheet of foil coated lightly with olive oil, crimping foil on to edges of roasting pan. Cook according to chart below. During last 45 minutes, cut band of skin or string between legs and tail. Uncover and continue roasting until done. Baste, if desired.

Turkey Roasting Chart (loosely wrapped with foil):

12-16 pounds / 325 degrees F / 4 - 5 hours
16-20 pounds / 325 degrees F / 5 - 6 hours
20-24 pounds / 325 degrees F / 6 - 7 hours

Testing for doneness:

About 20 minutes before roasting time is completed, test bird. Flesh on thickest part of drumstick should feel soft when squeezed between fingers, drumstick should move up an down easily, and meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of leg should read 185 degrees F. (Or follow manufacturer's instructions.)

- FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS -

DRIPPINGS: Pour liquid and drippings from roasting pan into a bowl. Remove vegetables. Allow bowl of liquid to cool in refrigerator until fat congeals on top. Scoop off fat with a spoon and pour drippings into a labeled freezer bag. Thaw to use for making gravy on serving day.

TURKEY: Allow turkey to cool in pan for 1/2 hour; then place turkey and its roasting pan into refrigerator. Allow to cool completely (several hours). When fully chilled, slice turkey as usual. Remove all meat from bones. Place breast and dark meat slices into labeled freezer bags. Pour canned chicken broth into bags over meat. Freeze.

TO SERVE: Thaw bag of meat and broth, and place into a covered baking dish for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Or place turkey and broth into a microwave-safe dish, cover with plastic wrap, and heat until hot (the time will vary with different microwaves, so check manufacturer's instructions). Drain off broth (reserve to make more gravy, if needed). Arrange the heated turkey slices attractively on a serving platter. Serve hot.

**Excerpted and adapted from the 10-Day Holiday Meal Plan in the popular book, Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month (SourceBooks).

Copyright Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Deborah Taylor-Hough (mother of three) is the author of several popular books including Frugal Living For Dummies(r); Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month; and A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide for Saving Your Time, Money & Sanity. For more tips and ideas on cooking, parenting, saving money, and homemaking, visit Debi online and subscribe to one of her free email newsletters at: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/

ROAST A MOIST TURKEY WITH A MESSAGE!
First of all stuff a pricked lemon or orange into the cavity of the bird for an extra moist turkey.

You won't even be able to detect the citrus flavor - just the moistness. For a Thanksgiving message, write the word, "BLESSED" on your roasted turkey this year! Cut out aluminum foil letters. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan and carefully position the foil letters on the turkey. Roast according to your own recipe and serve. The foiled area will be lighter in color. Watch the smiles!

HOLIDAY LETTER FROM AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Author: Viki Gayhardt - http://www.autism-society-nh.org/

This was written for the purpose of it being sent to relatives, friends, and hosts of holiday gatherings that might need a crash course in what to expect from their guest with autism. This letter is written as if the autistic individual person is writing it personally.

Dear Family and Friends:

I understand that we will be visiting each other for the holidays this year! Sometimes these visits can be very hard for me, but here is some information that might help our visit to be more successful. As you probably know, a hidden disability called autism, or what some people refer to as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), challenges me. Autism/PDD is a neurodevelopment disorder, which makes it hard for me to understand the environment around me. I have barriers in my brain that you can't see, but which make it difficult for me to adapt to my surroundings.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the roughest holidays for me. With large crowds and holiday shopping it can be very overwhelming, even a bit scary. When planning a party remember that with my over sensitive hearing and eye sight, Christmas trees and holiday smells can cause me mild to severe pain or discomfort. If the noises are impossible to control a personal stereo with headphones set to a safe level for children may help drown out background noise and ease my discomfort.

Sometimes I may seem rude and abrupt, but it is only that because I have to try so hard to understand people and at the same time, make myself understood. People with autism have different abilities: some may not speak, some write beautiful poetry, others are whizzes in math (Albert Einstein was thought to be autistic), or may have difficulty making friends. We are all different and need various degrees of support.

Sometimes when I am touched unexpectedly, it might feel painful and make me want to run away. I get easily frustrated too. Being with lots of other people is like standing next to a moving freight train and trying to decide how and when to jump aboard. I feel frightened and confused a lot of the time. This is why I need to have things the same as much as possible. Once I learn how things happen, I can get by OK. But if something, anything, changes, then I have to relearn the situation all over again! It is very hard.

When you try to talk to me, I often can't understand what you say because there is a lot of distraction around. I have to concentrate very hard to hear and understand one thing at a time. You might think I am ignoring you - I am not. Rather, I am hearing everything and not knowing what is most important to respond to.

Holidays are exceptionally hard because there are so many different people, places, and things going on that are out of my ordinary realm. This may be fun and adventurous for most people, but for me, it's very hard work and can be extremely stressful. I often have to get away from all the commotion to calm down. It would be great if you had a private place set up where I could retreat.

If I cannot sit at the meal table, do not think I am misbehaving or that my parents have no control over me. Sitting in one place for even five minutes is often impossible for me. I feel so antsy and overwhelmed by all the smells, sounds, and people -- I just have to get up and move about. Please don't hold up your meal for me -- go on without me, and my parents will handle the situation the best way they know how.

Eating in general is hard for me. If you understand that autism is a sensory processing disorder, it's no wonder eating is a problem! Think of all the senses involved with eating. Sight, smell, taste, touch, AND all the complicated mechanics that are involved. Chewing and swallowing is something that a lot of people with autism have trouble with. I am not being picky - I literally cannot eat certain foods as my sensory system and/or oral motor coordination is impaired. Don't be disappointed if Mom hasn't dressed me in starch and bows. It's because she knows how much stiff and frilly clothes can drive me buggy! I have to feel comfortable in my clothes or I will just be miserable. When I go to someone else's house, I may appear bossy and controlling. In a sense, I am being controlling, because that is how I try to fit into the world around me (which is so hard to figure out!) Things have to be done in a way I am familiar with or else I might get confused and frustrated. It doesn't mean you have to change the way you are doing things -- just please be patient with me, and understanding of how I have to cope. Mom and Dad have no control over how my autism makes me feel inside. People with autism often have little things that they do to help themselves feel more comfortable. The grown ups call it "self regulation," or "stimming'. I might rock, hum, flick my fingers, or any number of different things. I am not trying to be disruptive or weird. Again, I am doing what I have to do for my brain to adapt to your world. Sometimes I cannot stop myself from talking, singing, or doing an activity I enjoy. The grown-ups call this "perseverating" which is kind-a-like self-regulation or stimming. I do this only because I have found something to occupy myself that makes me feel comfortable. Perseverative behaviors are good to a certain degree because they help me calm down.

Please be respectful to my Mom and Dad if they let me "stim" for a while as they know me best and what helps to calm me. Remember that my Mom and Dad have to watch me much more closely than the average child. This is for my own safety, and preservation of your possessions. It hurts my parents' feelings to be criticized for being over protective, or condemned for not watching me close enough. They are human and have been given an assignment intended for saints. My parents are good people and need your support.

Holidays are filled with sights, sounds, and smells. The average household is turned into a busy, frantic, festive place. Remember that this may be fun for you, but it's very hard work for me to conform. If I fall apart or act out in a way that you consider socially inappropriate, please remember that I don't possess the neurological system that is required to follow some social rules. I am a unique person -- an interesting person. I will find my place at this celebration that is comfortable for us all, as long as you'll try to view the world through my eyes!

MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Practical Tips from The Dollar Stretcher - http://www.stretcher.com - Used by permission

'Tis the Season ~ Every year during the holiday season, perfume companies give away extra gifts when you buy their perfume. Some give fleece vests, purses, tote bags, platters, etc. Check your fragrance counter at the store and see what the extra item may be with your perfume. They also like to sell in groups so you can get two or three items of your favorite perfume at a discounted price. ~ Theresa

Creative Gift Wrap ~ My four-year-old son is very creative and enjoys painting with washable kid's paint. For the past month, every time he wants to paint, I cut off large pieces of rolled paper and save the finished masterpiece for holiday wrapping paper. We also make stamps out of potatoes into holiday shapes (stars, Christmas trees, etc.). He gets to take part in the giving (while his self-esteem gets a boost as he shares his work) and I don't have to worry about buying any paper for our relatives' gifts. ~ Amber D.

Holiday Packages ~ I purchase remnants of fabric all year long and sew them into gift bags. I just sew it like a pillow slip. I sometimes use a decorative stitch around the top, and I often use the selvage edge for the opening, so there is no need to hem. I can sew more than a dozen of these in half an hour. All I need is a small piece of ribbon to tie them shut. Most of the time people give them back to me, so I don't need to make very many any more. When people do keep them, they use them for things like shoe bags for traveling, and consider the bag a second gift. I can wrap all my gifts in less than half an hour, and after gifts are open, I just fold up the bags that I get back and put into a plastic container with a lid, which sits on a shelf. They are ready for the next gifting occasion. I purchase a lot of holiday prints, but I also use plaids and solids. I also have bags in children's prints and florals, which I use for birthdays and other gifting occasions during the year. I probably spent $10 the first year I did this, and maybe a dollar or two every year since. This is much cheaper than wrapping paper. I buy a good quality ribbon, so I can recycle the ribbon as well. It only takes a little to tie these bags. ~ Sharon M.

Clearance Crazy ~ I am a stay-at-home mother of two little angels. My number one piece of advice for shopping is to check out the clearance first! If you are looking for clothing, you have to keep your eyes open, because the bargains are not always where you expect them to be. I don't like going to thrift stores, but I still find good deals. Most of my kids' clothing come from the Gap, but instead of paying $20 for a polo shirt, I wait until it is on clearance at $7.99 or $4.99. The same goes for me. I buy my clothes at Nordstrom and Ann Taylor. I just bought a beautiful printed silk skirt for $14, originally priced at $99. It is almost more exciting to find such great deals in a better retail shop! ~ Candy M.

No More Recreational Shopping ~ My biggest money-saving tip is to avoid recreational shopping and teach your kids to do the same. Turn of the TV, go out for walks, play board games and take advantage of everything your town has to offer for free, especially the library! ~
Martha G.

Stretching Milk ~ With milk being so expensive, we were having a rough time keeping it in the house with my five children, but we were getting plenty of instant milk from the food pantry. So with a little experimentation, I found that I can follow the instant milk recipe to make 1/2 gallon milk and then add 1/2 gallon of whole milk to it to make a full gallon. There's no change in taste and it makes the regular milk last a whole lot longer. ~ Janet

Ground Meat Stretcher ~ The easiest and cheapest way to stretch ground meat is to add fresh bean sprouts to the raw meat and brown it with the meat. The veggies will pick up the flavor of the meat from the meat juices, and once it is browned, you cannot tell which bite started out as meat and which was veggie sprouts. This works very well for strongly flavored foods like chili, taco meat, etc. I have often stretched two ground beef patties to enough to feed four to six adults this way. And it is lower calorie, higher fiber, etc. I have used this for bulk sausage, ground beef and ground turkey and see no reason why it would not work with venison or chicken as well. ~ Debbie

Kiddy Napkins ~ When my children were a lot younger, I got tired of the napkin routine, which included washing, ironing, etc. So, I purchased colorful wash cloths and used them for napkins. They were fun and so easy to toss in the washing machine to use over and over again. ~ Lillian

Keep Them Lookin' New ~ I was thinking about the price of clothing. So many clothes still have good material, but have faded and are no longer useable for work. I learned this tip when something red faded, and I have been using it for years since then. When I wash something for the first time, I add about 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the wash and wash in cold water. This sets the color for the new item. After that, I'm able to wash the item with other clothes and it lasts so much longer. ~ SC

Connect the Dots ~ Growing up with two sisters, my mother would always take a Rub-A-Dub
Marker and dot our clothes. She would use one dot for the oldest, two dots for the middle child, and three dots for the youngest. They would be a small dot on the tag of the clothes or on the back of jeans. This works wonders and you can fold the clothes and sort them into piles easily. She would dot our undergarments, socks, jeans, shirts, etc. I now have three girls of my own, and this is working great for us! ~ Erin in Oklahoma

Organized Shelves ~ Shoe shops often have spare shoeboxes that people don't take home
after their purchase. These are fantastic for storage and free to boot! (Excuse the pun.) These boxes are usually clean, stackable, and often have holes in the middle for easier handling. They look great with labels and often give a nice official look to your shelves if you match the boxes. When you don't need them anymore, give them away, use for gift boxes, or simply recycle. ~ Gilla

Winter Car Trick ~ I hate to have to scrape the side view mirrors when it snows or sleets. So, I decided to try something and it worked. I slipped a freezer bag over the side view mirrors and then secured them with rubber bands so snow or sleet didn't get inside. Then I sprayed them on the outside with non-stick vegetable spray. The next time we had a snow or sleet storm, I just took the bags off! I didn't have to scrape the mirrors, and I got to work on time! ~ Aju P.

Tool Care ~ A good way to keep your lawn tools clean and rust-free is to build a small wooden box about 6" deep, two feet by one foot. Seal up the bottom, fill it with sand, and pour in enough used motor oil to keep the sand wet. When you are finished using a tool, work it into the sandbox. The sand removes any grime and scale, and the oil clings to it just enough to keep the tool from rusting. ~ Kurt B.

Recycling Magnets ~ My dad came up with a very clever idea to reuse those magnets that come glued to new phone books, with junk mail, etc. Turn them into photo magnets! Using a pair of scissors, cut the magnet to the size of your photo. My dad uses rubber cement to adhere the magnet to the back of the photo, but I've found that just about any glue will do. I use a crafter's stick glue. Using this basic idea, I also came up with another we've found useful in our house; I adhere those junk magnets to the back of a blank notepad (no cutting necessary), and I've instantly got a magnetic notepad for grocery lists, taking phone messages, etc. ~ Suzanne L. CO

ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE

By Karen Winstead, ACC Certified Nurse-Midwife - http://www.newlifebirthcenter.net/

Please send your personal questions relating to pregnancy and childbirth that you would like to see addressed by replying to this newsletter. Names of those sending questions will not be included in this column, and the answer will be e-mailed to you before it appears in a newsletter.

Question:

What can I do if I am feeling depressed?

Answer:

Depression can be related to a physical problem like inadequate nutrition, wide swings in blood sugar, lack of sleep, or an imbalance of thyroid or other hormones. It can be emotional in origin such as a prolonged stressful situation such as an illness in the family, loss of a job, or financial pressures. Depression can have spiritual roots when a person is experiencing guilt, lack of a personal relationship with God, or disobedience to Gods will. Feeling depressed, especially when there is a loss or hard struggle, can be normal. Rather than avoiding the feelings, work through them. Medication is sometimes needed but often can be avoided by trying the following:

Exercise: 3-4 hours a week of exercise has been shown to work as good as prescribed antidepressants. It reduces stress, increases metabolism, and controls blood sugar.

Sunlight: Get a little every day, even if it is only a few minutes.

Nutrition: Cut out sugar and soft drinks. Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive and canola oil and quality meats. Take a good multivitamin that includes all the B vitamins. Avoid caffeine. In addition to exercise, multivitamin, and stress reduction, one serving of banana is recommended in the AM and PM with one square of Belgian chocolate between breakfast and lunch and/or between lunch and supper.

Take fish oil daily: Dr. Andrew Stoll in his book The Omega 3 Connection recommends a minimum of 1.5 g for overall health and states that 2-5 g should be a starting dose for fish oils. If symptoms are severe, it is safe to increase to 6-12g. Add Vitamin C and E to the regimen to prevent oxidation of the fish oil. The ratio should be at least 2:1 EPA to DHA. Apparently, the EPA is most effective for mood stabilization and the DHA addresses cognition and memory. Add the amount of EPA and DHA for total milligrams per serving.

Reduce stress: Do activities that bring pleasure and avoid stress. Stop watching TV two hours before bedtime Relax as much as possible. Pray and meditate on Bible passages daily. Ask for help from friends and family.

Herbal remedies: Susan Weed's postpartum depression brew has licorice, raspberry leaf, rosemary and skullcap. Licorice is not recommended during pregnancy (possible contractions), but okay postpartum. Skullcap is the most important. The strongest way to take it is in a tincture, but some have had success with infusions sipped on and off throughout the day. Remember some herbals interact with medications or can cause allergic reactions.

Chiropractic or acupuncture: These therapies can be helpful for mood disorders.

Investigate the other issues: Find someone to talk to such as friend, pastor or counselor. Just talking can be helpful. Seek professional help and talk to your medical care provider to see if there are hormonal imbalances such as thyroid, blood sugar problems, sleep apnea, or other issues.

HELP FOR EMOTIONAL PAIN WHEN IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR

Depression not only affects a percentage of new mothers, but so many others (men, women and children), especially during the Christmas holiday season. Many say it is worse than physical pain.

In our fast paced world today there continues to be a growing number of unstable and broken families for various reasons. As a result, way too many children are also experiencing deep emotional pain.

Emotional pain is created by a lack of fulfillment in general and unfulfilled dreams in particular (Prov. 13:12). Even when devoted love is present, sensitive areas in a persons life bring pain when provoked, as in Hannahs life, when she was unable to conceive a child (I Sam. 1:5,6). Depression may be evidenced by crying, an altered appetite, a grief-stricken heart (I Sam. 1:7), and a sad countenance (I Sam. 1:18).

Emotional pain is often misunderstood by others (I Sam. 1:13, 14). Misunderstandings by others can make depression even more difficult to bear. Pour out that deep inward pain to the Lord (I Sam. 1:15), since Jesus Christ has already borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isa. 53:4), and He does fully understand. He is the God who sees your pain as he did Hagars regarding her son, Ishmael.

Share your pain with someone who is willing to listen and provide empathy and prayer support (I Sam. 1:16,17). That person needs to be someone you can trust, with a faithful spirit (Prov. 11:13). We as Gods children are to bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2). This type of godly support surrounds the grief-striken person with hope and helps lift the sadness (I Sam. 1:18).

Sometimes the person experiencing depression cannot pray, no matter how hard they try. They don't know what they should pray, but the Spirit itself prays for them with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom. 8:26). Reading the book of Psalms can also be a healing balm for one with a down-trodden heart.

An appropriate and helpful prayer to pray for yourself or a person experiencing depression is found in Romans 15:13. Turn it into a prayer such as this. May the God of all hope fill ___ with all the joy and peace in believing, that ___ may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A STORY OF LOVE

Thanks to Lydia Hostetler in Pennsylvania for sending this!

There was once a blind girl who hated herself for no other reason except that she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind. Not wanting to be burdened by a 'blind' person, she refused to marry him. Her loving, devoted and understanding boyfriend walked away in tears, his heart obviously broken.

The girl who had been so fortunate to have the world opened up to her, continued enjoying it; day in and day out, trying to never miss a single pleasure life had to offer. A while later she received a letter from her ex-boyfriend which stated simply:

"I sincerely hope you enjoy your life. Your happiness was all that ever mattered to me. I am so happy that you are enjoying life as I always hoped you could. I would like to ask one parting favor of you. my dear -- just take good care of my eyes."

BE THANKFUL - LIFE IS A GIFT
Today before you think of saying an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one Maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Life is a gift...
            Live it...
                     Enjoy it...
                                 Celebrate it...
                                                and fulfill it.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR PEOPLE

Author unknown - Thanks to Rosanne Ayers in Virginia for sending this!

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered:

"I saw that we have the one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

CORRECTION SENT AFTER LAST NEWSLETTER

Right after the November 7 newsletter was sent, I hurriedly sent out a correction to everyone on the e-mailing list, but about 200 of those e-mails bounced for some reason.

So to be sure everyone knows, please disregard the appeal to send Christmas cards to unnamed wounded American soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Although it sounded like a great idea, it is listed at http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp as a hoax. This site says cards and packages received at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center without a name will be refused, but other alternatives are given as ways to encourage the troops.

When I learned about this not being valid, I didn't want any of you wasting your time, effort and resources, because of my oversight. I'm very sorry for not checking this out before including it in the newsletter. By the way, if you are one of the fifty-two new subscribers since November 7, that section was deleted in your copy.

GREAT NATURAL LEMONADE WITHOUT THE SUGAR

Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for sending this!

For great tasting lemonade, juice eight peeled and cored apples and two peeled lemons in your juicer. You'll sweeten the lemonade with the natural sugar in the apples. It is so good!

AS EASY AS PIE!

Thanks to Jean Breneman in Pennsylvania for sending this!

http://www.maryricehopkins.com/viewcard.asp?code=HY27482779

Don't we wish baking a pie would be this effortless? The dishes don't even need washed!

PUMPKIN APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS

http://www.urbanhomemaker.com - Used by permission

Makes 18 muffins
2 1/2 cups whole grain pastry flour                        1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup honey                                                             2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk, buttermilk, or yogurt thinned            1 cup pumpkin
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice                                    1/4 cup oil
1 tsp. baking soda                                                   2 cups peeled and finely chopped apples
                                                                                   Streusel Topping* (recipe below)

Grease muffin cups well. In a large bowl, whisk together honey, eggs, oil, pumpkin and milk. In a medium mixing bowl, combine pumpkin pie spice, soda, salt, flour. Stir dry ingredients into moist ingredients gently, being careful not to over mix. Stir in apples gently. Spoon the batter into muffin cups filling 3/4 full. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter. Bake in preheated 350° oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Streusel Topping: In small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. flour, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon. Cut in 4 tsp. butter, until mixture is crumbly.

Note from Lois: Substituting sucanat or Stevia for sugar would be a healthier alternative.

LOOKING FOR TOYS NOT MADE IN CHINA DUE TO SO MANY RECALLS?

Thanks to Carol Miller in Pennsylvania for sending this!

http://www.chinafreechristmas.info/ This site has compiled a list of toys not made in China.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

If you have kids quotes, please share them with the Heart to Heart friends!
These two quotes were sent by Amy Zimmerman in Pennsylvania. Thanks, Amy!

My nephew (about 3 yrs) was admiring his mommies pregnant belly one day soon after playing with a toy that required batteries. He promptly poked her protruding abdomen and with a puzzled look announced, Doesnt work!...Needs batteries!

When my sister was about 4 yrs old we used to comb her hair into a fountain on the top of her head. Her hair didnt grow fast so we combed it like that for quite a while. Our brothers got a big kick out of teasing her about her Waterfalltill one day she got extremely perturbed at them. I took her aside and reminded her of the nickname she called meRainbow, and explained that together we make quite a beautiful picture. She never minded being called Waterfall after that and to this day we refer to each other using our nicknames.

WELCOME NEW BABIES - A GIRL AND A BOY!
If you would like your babys birth announced in Heart to Heart, let me know.

Sarie Ruth Hillyer was born on October 26, 2007! She is the third child of Harvey and Sarah (Zipfel) Hillyer, living in Georgia. Her brother and sister love her very much already.

Joseph Cuy Ching was born on November 12, 2007. He is the son of Nathan and Kristin Ching and the grandson of Miranda Ching who lives in Hawaii.

SOME FAMILY NEWS

CUDDLE TIME, A FAMILY THANKSGIVING, A BOY OR GIRL? THEN SURGERY

Last week I was privileged to spend almost a wonderful week with our daughter's family in Georgia, putting in some extra cuddle time with the grandchildren, 4 year old Justin and little Ryan Elizabeth. Justin and I did a lot together, including cleaning up his playroom. Ryan and I had such fun too, as she really stepped up her "talking" and squealing, with lots of smiles and laughing out loud! Sometimes it sounded like she was trying to sing - as many as six notes at a time! Joy was amazed at the big change in her verbal development. Ryan is such a happy and content little doll who rarely ever cries and has slept through the night almost from the start! So far, so good, but the teething has begun! She sticks her thumb, fingers or her entire hand in her mouth and really goes to town on them! With little Ryan's family coming to Virginia two consecutive weekends, I was able to hitch a ride down and back, while my poor husband had to continue at home with his job. On Saturday John and Justin blew and raked up maple leaves in our front yard for hours - a special time working and playing together.

All of our family will be coming in for Thanksgiving again this year, which is always such a special blessing, having everyone together! Since last Thanksgiving the Lord has added two more family members - our son, James' wife, Emily, as well as Joy and Wayne's second child, Ryan Elizabeth, who will turn four months over Thanksgiving weekend. Plus one more baby in the making - in Ohio - now eleven inches long and due in April.

This afternoon our son, Jeff, and daughter-in-law, Rachael, learned whether they will be having a girl or a boy - through an ultrasound. Jeff called to let us know right away, and it's so much fun finally knowing if we're talking pink or blue! I can't wait to let you all know if it's a boy or a girl, but first they need some time to finish calling some family and friends who also receive Heart to Heart! To be continued ...

Then the Monday after Thanksgiving, early on November 26 my husband, John, will be having rather serious ankle and foot surgery, as a torn tendon is repaired, among other things. He will be on crutches for a while and it will take over a year for complete healing, the doctor explained. Your prayers for a successful surgery outcome are so much appreciated! John and I both say a great big "Thank You!"

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

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.

Pray each day for the protection of our troops, as well as for their families left at home!

(¨`·.·´¨) 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,

Lois

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 <a title=mailto:jhbreneman@... href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]. New subscribers will receive a Welcome, a "Start-Up Kit," and several recent newsletters.

Disclaimer: Various websites are given as credits or to supply additional information for readers. However, all the views and advertisements represented by websites given in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the editor. Please use your own discretion regarding all information given in this newsletter

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