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11/25/03 AMERICA, THANKFUL HEART, HUMOR, GIFTS FOR TEACHERS

#1 · November 25, 2003, 2:43 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on November 25, 2003, 2:43 pm
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

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

11/25/03 AMERICA, THANKFUL HEART, HUMOR, GIFTS FOR TEACHERS

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

CONTENTS:

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

TIDBITS OF INFORMATION

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

TACO SOUP

CORNMEAL PIZZA DOUGH MIX

PRACTICAL HELP FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ADD OR ADHA

MAY I HAVE A THANKFUL HEART

A LITTLE THANKSGIVING HUMOR:

TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING

THE 12 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT IDEAS

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Contributed by Helen Rutrough of Virginia ~ The following is a moving poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was recently sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

America the Beautiful, or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters, Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty, your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine,
Choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain.
From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love and a need to always pray.

So many worldly preachers tell lies about our Rock,
Saying God is going broke so they can fleece the flock.
We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool, and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes?

  How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful, if you don't then you will see,
A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from Thee.

~Judge Roy Moore

TIDBITS OF INFORMATION

Thanksgiving Do-Ahead Preparation ~ Delegate some of the work to your family!
Peel potatoes, place in a pot of cold water in the refrigerator until ready to cook them.
Clean vegetables and refrigerate.

Be sure your bathrooms have extra toilet paper and hand towels available.

Refer back to the Heart to Heart Newsletter (November 11) with Make-Ahead Recipes.

If it's cold where you live, you may want to put out your snowmen decorations early.

Marriage ~ For those of you who want to preserve the institution of marriage, I urge you to sign the Federal Marriage Amendment Petition at www.onemanonewoman.com. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have already signed this petition that will soon be forwarded to President Bush and members of Congress. This petition is a powerful tool to lobby fence-sitting lawmakers that the majority of Americans want them to preserve traditional marriage. It will make a difference to you, so please do get involved.

Packaging Material ~ Shredded paper makes ideal packaging material, and is lightweight at no cost to you, if you already use a paper shredder.

Birds and Blooms ~ is a wonderful family magazine that may be the perfect gift for some people on your Christmas list. Great ideas are given on attracting birds to your yard, landscaping, birdhouses, crafts and the pictures are exceptional - even good enough to frame! If you have Internet access and want fast answers to your birding and garden dilemmas, post your questions on the Birds and Blooms bulletin board. Log onto www.birdsandblooms.com to share information and ideas on-line. E-mail: [email protected]

Birds and Peanut Butter ~ The Birds and Blooms Magazine, with reliable experts on birds, reports that peanut butter is a good cold weather treat for birds because they need extra fat in their diet to keep their tiny bodies warm. Contrary to popular belief, peanut butter is perfectly safe for birds. They will not choke on it.

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

Author Unknown ~ Contributed by Ruth Ann Assaid, Virginia

There's one flaw in women. By the time the Lord made woman, he was into His sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered, "Have you seen My spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -- and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to My own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days." The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, ......"That's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can help to heal a broken heart.
Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning!
They bring joy and hope. They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

TACO SOUP

Contributed by Kathy Kramer of Pennsylvania

Kathy says, "Here is a recipe that I just tried out that was a smash at my house. It would be great during the busy holiday season when time is tight.

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained        1 package taco seasoning mix

2 cans corn                                                          nacho chips

2 cans kidney beans                                            shredded cheese

2 cans diced tomatoes

*To save time, I brown my ground beef in bulk, all at once, and freeze it in one pound packages so it is ready to use in recipes. Add first five ingredients to large pot and mix well. Bring to a boil over med/high heat stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese on top and nacho chips. Makes 6 servings. This could also be made in a crockpot.

CORNMEAL PIZZA DOUGH MIX
Courtesy of www.homemakersjournal.com ~ Used by permission

(Note from Lois: When purchasing any grain product, especially cornmeal, place in the freezer for 3-4 days, in order to prevent it from becoming bug-ridden later on. This mix would make a nice gift or addition to a gift. Be sure to include a copy of the recipe, and some baking yeast as well. Then with the addition of water and oil, the gift recipient is all set!)

8 cups unbleached bread flour                   1/4 cup sugar
4 cups unbleached all purpose flour            3 Tbsp. salt
1 cup cornmeal                                            3 Tbsp. baking powder

Mix together all ingredients. Store in airtight container or plastic bags.
Yields: one 16"-20" round pizza or one 17"x11" rectangle pizza. Shelf life: 4 months

PIZZA DOUGH
1 cup warm water                                        3 cups dough mix
1 tsp. fast-rise yeast                                     2 Tbsp. olive oil

Combine water and yeast. Mix and allow to sit five minutes. Add pizza mix and oil. Knead on slow speed of electric mixer 5-7 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate dough one hour. Punch dough to deflate. Prepare pizza as desired.



PRACTICAL HELP FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ADD OR ADHA

"An Ounce of Ketchup" is an e-mail newsletter sharing ways to help keep your child focused, organized, encouraged, and successful.

www.goaskmom.com ~ You may also e-mail us at [email protected].
Mom's To Do List ~ Ten ways to cope with the challenges that face our kids.
That Works for Me ~ Practical tips from Mom and from other parents like you.

Discover the The 101 Best Remedies for Your Child's ADD/ADHD from HowtoLearn.com.

An Example of Practical Help Given by Kayla Fay:

Divide and Conquer ~ When your child has a list of vocabulary words to learn, have her divide them according to type: people's names, places, ideas, special vocabulary. The categories will vary according to the list, but it certainly makes memorization easier and more meaningful. Different words need to be learned in different ways some should be pictured as an object or a place on a map. Some words are meaningful in relationship to others, such as the life cycle of a butterfly. As your child gets older, social studies and science expand into history, civics, and science, with ever more difficult words. Learning how to study and learn vocabulary will prepare your child for the more advanced subjects that are on the horizon.

Note from Lois: In talking with some mothers of children with ADD or ADHD, they have told me what a difference it makes in their childrens behavior when they take them off sugar and red and yellow dyes, found in so many processed foods. Red dye is also in some hot dogs. Along that same line, Nutritionist, Dr. Ted Broer, reports findings in research which state that children who eat a hot dog three times a week have nine times the chance of getting leukemia, over children who eat none!

MAY I HAVE A THANKFUL HEART

© by Linda J. Stevenson of Virginia

It's so easy to be thankful when our barns are brimming o'er, when earth's harvest fills our tables, doting friends knock at our door.

It's so easy to be thankful when our paths are bright and fair, when we walk in perfect wholeness, when we have enough to spare.

But what about the barren times when thick darkness clouds our day -- Do we offer God thanksgiving for the trials that come our way?

For our earthly tribulations are a blessing from God's hand, and there are lessons to be learned that adversities demand.

So may I have a thankful heart, one that's full of grateful praise. May I recognize blessings come disguised in different ways.

A LITTLE THANKSGIVING HUMOR

Both were contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi

TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Tis the night before Thanksgiving
And all through our house
No turkey is baking; I feel like a louse,
For I am all nestled, so snug in my bed;
I'm not gettin' up and I'm not bakin' bread.
No pies in my oven, no cranberry sauce
Cuz I give the orders, and I am the boss.
When out in the kitchen, there arose such a clatter
I almost got up to see what was the matter.
As I drew in my head and was tossing around
To the bed came my husband, he grimaced, he frowned.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He scared me to death and I thought, "Here he goes!"
He spoke not a word as he threw back my quilt
And the look that he gave was intended to wilt.
So up to the ceiling my pillows he threw
I knew I had had it, his face had turned blue.
"You prancer, you dodger, you're lazy, you vixen
Out yonder in kitchen, Thanksgiving you're fixin."
But he heard me explain, with my face in a pout:
"I'm JUST PLAIN TOO TIRED and we're EATING OUT."
~ Copyright © Mariane Holbrook ~

THE 12 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
On the First Day..... We give thanks for the fresh turkey feast and its hot trimmings.
On the Second Day..... We bless the cold turkey sandwiches, sloshy cranberry sauce, and hard rolls.
On the Third Day..... We praise the turkey pie and vintage mixed veggies.
On the Fourth Day..... We thank the pilgrims for not serving bison that first time, or we'd be celebrating Thanksgiving until April.
On the Fifth Day..... We gobble up cubed bird casserole and pray for a glimpse of a naked turkey carcass.
On the Sixth Day..... We show gratitude (sort of) to the creative cook who slings cashews at the turkey and calls it Oriental.
On the Seventh Day..... We forgive our forefathers and pass the turkey-nugget pizza.
On the Eighth Day..... The word ''vegetarian'' keeps popping into our heads.
On the Ninth Day..... We check our hair to make sure we're not beginning to sprout feathers.
On the Tenth Day..... We hope that the wing meat kabobs catch fire under the broiler.
On the Eleventh Day..... We smile over the creamed gizzard because the thigh bones are in sight.
On the Twelfth Day..... We apologize for running out of turkey leftovers. And everybody says Amen.

TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT IDEAS



The following are suggestions for helpful and often inexpensive teacher appreciation gifts for "Teacher Appreciation Week," the holidays or the end of the school year:

1) Letter or card from the student (and/or parent) telling what they enjoyed about the year or the teacher's input into the child's life

2) Gift certificate to a school supply store

3) Gift certificate for a video rental

4) Homemade fudge or gingerbread men in take-out meal containers

5) Pencils printed with their names on them or "Best Teacher in the World"

6) Painted glass ball ornaments

7) Flavored coffee, hot chocolate or tea mixes

8) Coffee and cup decorated by your child

9) A candle or a candleholder

10) Anything for the classroom: games, construction or other paper, books, rulers, masking tape, Scotch tape, rubber bands, things to decorate or theme objects

11) Handmade items from the students (potholder, pencil holder, etc)

12) Concert or movie theater passes

13) Small basket of lotions or soaps or a gift certificate to a Bath store

14) Shoe box-sized plastic storage box full of school and classroom supplies that you can stock up on throughout the year at sales, clearance stores, etc.

15) House plant that you started and established earlier in the year - Pothos is a good hardy plant that lives through most anything

16) Child-made apple-shaped something or other (although over the years many teachers end up with more apple decorations than they have room for in their house).

17) Baked goods (bread, cookies, candies, quick breads, yeast breads, etc.).

18) Chocolate dipped pretzels

19) Chocolate anything!

20) Christmas ornament (These are fun for teachers to take out each year and remember students from years past. Write your child's name on them.)

21) Rubber stamps to use on papers (100%!, Good Job!, Excellent!, Improvement!, etc.)

22) Stickers!

23) Massage (several parents might go together for this)

24) Stationery or note cards

25) Postage stamps

26) Book about birds, flowers, house plants, science experiments, riddles or jokes

27) Silk flower arrangement

28) Decorations for various holidays

29) Bag of popcorn and a flavored salt sampler

30) Pretty Storage Boxes - Cover sturdy shoe boxes and lids with fabric, wallpaper or contact paper

31) Home grown herbs and spices - Children can help with this.

32) Fresh fruit, dried fruit or nuts

33) A coupon for a main course, dessert or complete dinner--in Jan. or anytime you say

34) Handmade gift tags for all year round--birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas

(Punch a hole in one corner and add a few rolls of ribbon to tie on the tags

35) Devotional book, music tape

36) A tape from Focus on the Family (1-800-A-FAMILY)

37) Donate a book to the school or the public library in the names of all the people who have been part of your child's life this year. Then give a card to each individual, telling them why they were so important to your child and how this gift will help other children as much as he/she helped your child

38) A meaningful poem from a book or one that you wrote yourself

Ladies, I pray that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. God bless you in a special way!

In His love - your "Heart to Heart" friend, Lois

The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to bring godly and practical encouragement to women through creative ideas for the Christian family regarding homemaking, marriage, children and so 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].

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

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

11/25/03 AMERICA, THANKFUL HEART, HUMOR, GIFTS FOR TEACHERS

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~

CONTENTS:

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

TIDBITS OF INFORMATION

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

TACO SOUP

CORNMEAL PIZZA DOUGH MIX

PRACTICAL HELP FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ADD OR ADHA

MAY I HAVE A THANKFUL HEART

A LITTLE THANKSGIVING HUMOR:

TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING

THE 12 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT IDEAS

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Contributed by Helen Rutrough of Virginia ~ The following is a moving poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was recently sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

America the Beautiful, or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride; I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters, Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty, your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly poisoned by cocaine,
Choosing to indulge their lusts, when God has said abstain.
From sea to shining sea, our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love and a need to always pray.

So many worldly preachers tell lies about our Rock,
Saying God is going broke so they can fleece the flock.
We've kept God in our temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool, and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God, from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children, will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful, if you don't then you will see,
A sad but Holy God withdraw His hand from Thee.

~Judge Roy Moore

TIDBITS OF INFORMATION

Thanksgiving Do-Ahead Preparation ~ Delegate some of the work to your family!
Peel potatoes, place in a pot of cold water in the refrigerator until ready to cook them.
Clean vegetables and refrigerate.

Be sure your bathrooms have extra toilet paper and hand towels available.

Refer back to the Heart to Heart Newsletter (November 11) with Make-Ahead Recipes.

If it's cold where you live, you may want to put out your snowmen decorations early.

Marriage ~ For those of you who want to preserve the institution of marriage, I urge you to sign the Federal Marriage Amendment Petition at http://www.onemanonewoman.com. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have already signed this petition that will soon be forwarded to President Bush and members of Congress. This petition is a powerful tool to lobby fence-sitting lawmakers that the majority of Americans want them to preserve traditional marriage. It will make a difference to you, so please do get involved.

Packaging Material ~ Shredded paper makes ideal packaging material, and is lightweight at no cost to you, if you already use a paper shredder.

Birds and Blooms ~ is a wonderful family magazine that may be the perfect gift for some people on your Christmas list. Great ideas are given on attracting birds to your yard, landscaping, birdhouses, crafts and the pictures are exceptional - even good enough to frame! If you have Internet access and want fast answers to your birding and garden dilemmas, post your questions on the Birds and Blooms bulletin board. Log onto http://www.birdsandblooms.com to share information and ideas on-line. E-mail: [email protected]

Birds and Peanut Butter ~ The Birds and Blooms Magazine, with reliable experts on birds, reports that peanut butter is a good cold weather treat for birds because they need extra fat in their diet to keep their tiny bodies warm. Contrary to popular belief, peanut butter is perfectly safe for birds. They will not choke on it.

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

Author Unknown ~ Contributed by Ruth Ann Assaid, Virginia

There's one flaw in women. By the time the Lord made woman, he was into His sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered, "Have you seen My spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, have a lap that can hold four children at one time, have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart -- and she will do everything with only two hands."
The angel was astounded at the requirements. "Only two hands!? No way! And that's just on the standard model? That's too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."
But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to My own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18 hour days." The angel moved closer and touched the woman. "But you have made her so soft, Lord." "She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."
"Will she be able to think?", asked the angel.
The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate."
The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."
"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected, ......"That's a tear!"
"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.
The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride."
The angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."
And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can help to heal a broken heart.
Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning!
They bring joy and hope. They have compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

TACO SOUP

Contributed by Kathy Kramer of Pennsylvania

Kathy says, "Here is a recipe that I just tried out that was a smash at my house. It would be great during the busy holiday season when time is tight.

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained 1 package taco seasoning mix

2 cans corn nacho chips

2 cans kidney beans shredded cheese

2 cans diced tomatoes

*To save time, I brown my ground beef in bulk, all at once, and freeze it in one pound packages so it is ready to use in recipes. Add first five ingredients to large pot and mix well. Bring to a boil over med/high heat stirring often. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Serve with shredded cheese on top and nacho chips. Makes 6 servings. This could also be made in a crockpot.

CORNMEAL PIZZA DOUGH MIX
Courtesy of http://www.homemakersjournal.com ~ Used by permission

(Note from Lois: When purchasing any grain product, especially cornmeal, place in the freezer for 3-4 days, in order to prevent it from becoming bug-ridden later on. This mix would make a nice gift or addition to a gift. Be sure to include a copy of the recipe, and some baking yeast as well. Then with the addition of water and oil, the gift recipient is all set!)

8 cups unbleached bread flour                   1/4 cup sugar
4 cups unbleached all purpose flour            3 Tbsp. salt
1 cup cornmeal                                            3 Tbsp. baking powder

Mix together all ingredients. Store in airtight container or plastic bags.
Yields: one 16"-20" round pizza or one 17"x11" rectangle pizza. Shelf life: 4 months

PIZZA DOUGH
1 cup warm water 3 cups dough mix
1 tsp. fast-rise yeast 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Combine water and yeast. Mix and allow to sit five minutes. Add pizza mix and oil. Knead on slow speed of electric mixer 5-7 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate dough one hour. Punch dough to deflate. Prepare pizza as desired.

PRACTICAL HELP FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ADD OR ADHA

"An Ounce of Ketchup" is an e-mail newsletter sharing ways to help keep your child focused, organized, encouraged, and successful.

http://www.goaskmom.com ~ You may also e-mail us at [email protected].
Mom's To Do List ~ Ten ways to cope with the challenges that face our kids.
That Works for Me ~ Practical tips from Mom and from other parents like you.

Discover the The 101 Best Remedies for Your Child's ADD/ADHD from HowtoLearn.com.

An Example of Practical Help Given by Kayla Fay:

Divide and Conquer ~ When your child has a list of vocabulary words to learn, have her divide them according to type: people's names, places, ideas, special vocabulary. The categories will vary according to the list, but it certainly makes memorization easier and more meaningful. Different words need to be learned in different ways some should be pictured as an object or a place on a map. Some words are meaningful in relationship to others, such as the life cycle of a butterfly. As your child gets older, social studies and science expand into history, civics, and science, with ever more difficult words. Learning how to study and learn vocabulary will prepare your child for the more advanced subjects that are on the horizon.

Note from Lois: In talking with some mothers of children with ADD or ADHD, they have told me what a difference it makes in their childrens behavior when they take them off sugar and red and yellow dyes, found in so many processed foods. Red dye is also in some hot dogs. Along that same line, Nutritionist, Dr. Ted Broer, reports findings in research which state that children who eat a hot dog three times a week have nine times the chance of getting leukemia, over children who eat none!

MAY I HAVE A THANKFUL HEART

It's so easy to be thankful when our barns are brimming o'er, when earth's harvest fills our tables, doting friends knock at our door.

It's so easy to be thankful when our paths are bright and fair, when we walk in perfect wholeness, when we have enough to spare.

But what about the barren times when thick darkness clouds our day -- Do we offer God thanksgiving for the trials that come our way?

For our earthly tribulations are a blessing from God's hand, and there are lessons to be learned that adversities demand.

So may I have a thankful heart, one that's full of grateful praise. May I recognize blessings come disguised in different ways.

A LITTLE THANKSGIVING HUMOR

Both were contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi

TIS THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Tis the night before Thanksgiving
And all through our house
No turkey is baking; I feel like a louse,
For I am all nestled, so snug in my bed;
I'm not gettin' up and I'm not bakin' bread.
No pies in my oven, no cranberry sauce
Cuz I give the orders, and I am the boss.
When out in the kitchen, there arose such a clatter
I almost got up to see what was the matter.
As I drew in my head and was tossing around
To the bed came my husband, he grimaced, he frowned.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He scared me to death and I thought, "Here he goes!"
He spoke not a word as he threw back my quilt
And the look that he gave was intended to wilt.
So up to the ceiling my pillows he threw
I knew I had had it, his face had turned blue.
"You prancer, you dodger, you're lazy, you vixen
Out yonder in kitchen, Thanksgiving you're fixin."
But he heard me explain, with my face in a pout:
"I'm JUST PLAIN TOO TIRED and we're EATING OUT."
~ Copyright © Mariane Holbrook ~

THE 12 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING
On the First Day..... We give thanks for the fresh turkey feast and its hot trimmings.
On the Second Day..... We bless the cold turkey sandwiches, sloshy cranberry sauce, and hard rolls.
On the Third Day..... We praise the turkey pie and vintage mixed veggies.
On the Fourth Day..... We thank the pilgrims for not serving bison that first time, or we'd be celebrating Thanksgiving until April.
On the Fifth Day..... We gobble up cubed bird casserole and pray for a glimpse of a naked turkey carcass.
On the Sixth Day..... We show gratitude (sort of) to the creative cook who slings cashews at the turkey and calls it Oriental.
On the Seventh Day..... We forgive our forefathers and pass the turkey-nugget pizza.
On the Eighth Day..... The word ''vegetarian'' keeps popping into our heads.
On the Ninth Day..... We check our hair to make sure we're not beginning to sprout feathers.
On the Tenth Day..... We hope that the wing meat kabobs catch fire under the broiler.
On the Eleventh Day..... We smile over the creamed gizzard because the thigh bones are in sight.
On the Twelfth Day..... We apologize for running out of turkey leftovers. And everybody says Amen.

TEACHER APPRECIATION GIFT IDEAS

The following are suggestions for helpful and often inexpensive teacher appreciation gifts for "Teacher Appreciation Week," the holidays or the end of the school year:

1) Letter or card from the student (and/or parent) telling what they enjoyed about the year or the teacher's input into the child's life

2) Gift certificate to a school supply store

3) Gift certificate for a video rental

4) Homemade fudge or gingerbread men in take-out meal containers

5) Pencils printed with their names on them or "Best Teacher in the World"

6) Painted glass ball ornaments

7) Flavored coffee, hot chocolate or tea mixes

8) Coffee and cup decorated by your child

9) A candle or a candleholder

10) Anything for the classroom: games, construction or other paper, books, rulers, masking tape, Scotch tape, rubber bands, things to decorate or theme objects

11) Handmade items from the students (potholder, pencil holder, etc)

12) Concert or movie theater passes

13) Small basket of lotions or soaps or a gift certificate to a Bath store

14) Shoe box-sized plastic storage box full of school and classroom supplies that you can stock up on throughout the year at sales, clearance stores, etc.

15) House plant that you started and established earlier in the year - Pothos is a good hardy plant that lives through most anything

16) Child-made apple-shaped something or other (although over the years many teachers end up with more apple decorations than they have room for in their house).

17) Baked goods (bread, cookies, candies, quick breads, yeast breads, etc.).

18) Chocolate dipped pretzels

19) Chocolate anything!

20) Christmas ornament (These are fun for teachers to take out each year and remember students from years past. Write your child's name on them.)

21) Rubber stamps to use on papers (100%!, Good Job!, Excellent!, Improvement!, etc.)

22) Stickers!

23) Massage (several parents might go together for this)

24) Stationery or note cards

25) Postage stamps

26) Book about birds, flowers, house plants, science experiments, riddles or jokes

27) Silk flower arrangement

28) Decorations for various holidays

29) Bag of popcorn and a flavored salt sampler

30) Pretty Storage Boxes - Cover sturdy shoe boxes and lids with fabric, wallpaper or contact paper

31) Home grown herbs and spices - Children can help with this.

32) Fresh fruit, dried fruit or nuts

33) A coupon for a main course, dessert or complete dinner--in Jan. or anytime you say

34) Handmade gift tags for all year round--birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas

(Punch a hole in one corner and add a few rolls of ribbon to tie on the tags

35) Devotional book, music tape

36) A tape from Focus on the Family (1-800-A-FAMILY)

37) Donate a book to the school or the public library in the names of all the people who have been part of your child's life this year. Then give a card to each individual, telling them why they were so important to your child and how this gift will help other children as much as he/she helped your child

38) A meaningful poem from a book or one that you wrote yourself

Ladies, I pray that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends. God bless you in a special way!

In His love - your "Heart to Heart" friend, Lois

The purpose of the Heart to Heart Newsletter is to bring godly and practical encouragement to women through creative ideas for the Christian family regarding homemaking, marriage, children and so 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].