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HEART TO HEART BLOG
MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN
BEATITUDES FOR HOMEMAKERS
ANGELS FROM A BIBLICAL VIEWPOINT
TO THE MANY MISSIONARIES RECEIVING THIS – IS THIS TRUE?
PREGNANT TURKEY
FUN CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS – ONE EVEN TEENS MAY ENJOY
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
GETTING OVER SICKNESS NATURALLY
ADVANTAGES OF MILLING YOUR OWN FLOUR
TIPS AND TIDBITS
PRECIOUS GEMS
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HEART TO HEART BLOG
For those ladies who want the eight Christmas newsletters that were sent in past years, please go to the archives link: http://freegroups.net/groups/heart2heart/ and download the ones sent near the end of 2009. For those of you without Internet access, could you possibly download them at a library, unless you had saved them from previous years?
Adapted by Ella May Miller
Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a work of love; for her willing hands and
happy heart transform duty into joyous service to all her family and God.
Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved
friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.
Blessed is she who mends clothing and toys and broken hearts; for her
understanding is a balm to her husband and children.
Blessed is she who scours and scrubs; for well she knows that cleanliness
is one expression of godly love.
Blessed is she whom children love; for the love of a child is of greater value
than fortune or fame.
Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest
load and brightens the dullest chore.
Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs
of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.
Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her
cheerfulness is an aid to mental and physical digestion.
Blessed is she who introduces Jesus Christ to her children; for godly
sons and daughters shall be her reward.
Blessed is she who preserves the sacredness of the Christian home; for
hers is a divine trust that crowns her with dignity.
He also wrote a book on angels from a biblical point of view and he is offering it for a gift of any amount sent to his ministry, when you ask for the book.
The 2nd year, she finds a fly in her water glass, picks it out, shrugs, and drinks the water.
The 3rd year, she finds a fly in her water glass, smiles, and says, "Oh good! Soup!"
PREGNANT TURKEY
Thanks to Eva Murdock who shared this practical joke. Sounds like fun!
One year at Thanksgiving, my mom went to my sister's house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. She told my sister that she needed something from the store.
When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, and inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird.
With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Patricia, you've cooked a pregnant bird!" At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry. It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!
FUN CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS – ONE EVEN TEENS MAY ENJOY
While your children are home over Christmas vacation, why not have some special fun times with them, doing a few of these crafts from Kidsolutions? Even teens would have fun painting the windows with a Christmas message. While in college our dorm rooms had large windows with no dividers. One year my roommate and I painted two girls, looking similar to ourselves, kneeling beside the baby Jesus in the manger, with the scripture verse, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" If you want to include any writing, remember that you need to paint a mirror image, so it can be read from the outside. We simply used acrylic paints, and it all washed off easily after Christmas break.
Window Paint
Ever wonder how stores and supermarkets get those neat paintings on their windows? It's really very easy and a great project for kids. Let them paint the kitchen window or design their own masterpiece for their bedrooms. It's safe, fun and washes off with a dry or damp paper towel. Have fun!
1/2 tablespoon powdered tempera paint
1 tablespoon clear dishwashing liquid
muffin tin lined with tin foil
masking tape
old newspapers
paintbrushes, Q-tips, sponges
Mix the powdered tempera and dishwashing liquid until creamy. Mix different colors and put into each cup of the lined muffin tin. This keeps colors separate and easy to use. Line windowsills and floors with newspaper and secure with masking tape. This will keep the mess off the floor. Let the kids paint the inside of the window with whatever they wish. Some ideas are below...
Summer flowers Stained glass
Animals, dinosaurs Cartoons with captions
A story, told pane by pane Handprints (perfect for wee ones)
Bubble Art
This is a great project for the kids. Remember to cover your table with newspaper!
(Note from Lois: If your young child uses the straw, be sure he/she knows how to blow out rather than suck in!)
2 tablespoons tempera paint
1 tablespoon clear dishwashing liquid
1 cup water
aluminum pie plate or deep dishes
plastic straws
white paper
Mix the tempera paint, water and dishwashing liquid well. Pour mixture into pie plate or deep dish. Stick one end of the straw into the paint and blow until you have big bubbles. Carefully remove the straw and gently lay a sheet of white paper onto the bubbles. The bubbles will pop and make neat designs. Lift the paper and let it dry. Did your bubble make a design you can recognize? Does it look like a dog or fish? Outline the designs and add details (like eyes or noses) with markers or crayons. Hang for everyone to admire!
Gooey Gunk (Similar to Slime)
from The Ultimate Book of Kids' Concoctions by John E. Thomas & Danita Page
They say: "This slimy, stretchy, goody recipe has become one of the most popular concoctions of all time and kids love it."
Solution A:
1 cup water
1 cup white glue
2 Tbsp liquid tempera paint or 7-10 drops food coloring
Solution B:
1 1/3 cup warm water
4 tsp borax laundry booster
1. Mix ingredients in Solution A together in a medium bowl.
2. In a second medium bowl, mix the ingredients in Solution B together
until the Borax in completely dissolved.
3. Slowly pour Solution A into Solution B. (Do not mix)
4. Roll Solution A around in Solution B 4-5 times.
5. Lift Solution A out of Solution B and knead for 2-3 minutes.
6. Store Gunk in a airtight container or plastic zip bag.
other ideas: use red liquid paint/food coloring to create Lava Gunk,
green to create Slimy Gunk, or black to create Tar Gunk. Have fun!
Karen in Oregon - This recipe is used at the Seattle Pacific Science Center.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
by Maxine Sprague
(Note from Lois: Keep the learning going during Christmas vacation! Here are some basic ideas of things to work on!)
Teaching kids how to learn will go a long way in helping them be more successful in school. With all the educational materials marketed to parents, one would think it takes a sizeable budget to teach kids the skills they need to succeed in today's electronic world. This is simply not true. Basic skills required for learning are the same as they have always been. Children need to have inquiring minds that propel them to find out about the world around them.
They need basic decoding skills that will help them learn to read and an understanding of fundamental concepts that will help them become proficient at Math. There are many easy and inexpensive activities you can do with your children that will help them become keen learners. Try some of the following and reap the spin-off rewards of spending time with your children.
1. Read, read and read some more. Kids learn from your example, so make reading a part of their lives from Birth and beyond. You will probably want to buy some new books for your child's collection but there are also lots of inexpensive ways to get your hands on books. Garage sales, secondhand stores, clear out sales, friends and relatives, and the local library are some resources you can tap into.
2. Experiences teach children a bundle about their world. If you live in the city, schedule a trip to a friend or relative's farm. Don't know anyone? Ask around and let your friend's know you want to visit a farm and there will be someone who knows someone who will help you out. If you live in the country, take a trip to the city for no other reason than to explore with your child. Visit high rises and ride the elevators, stop by repair shops such as shoe and bicycle stores to see how things are fixed. Some larger cities have underground tunnels that allow you to visit many places in the city center while remaining indoors. Other places to visit include the airport, fire station, ferry dock, farmer's market, television studio, garden center, and pet stores. Pack a fun bag lunch and you're sure to have a great day.
3. Stock up on inexpensive craft items. Keep a box handy to throw in items such as tin cans, cardboard, used ribbon and wrapping paper, old jewelry, sewing supplies, Styrofoam, wallpaper and whatever else you might have. Buy craft items such as googly eyes, sparkle glue, beads, felt and craft foam when they are on sale. These items will inspire creativity in your child for some great homemade fun. Borrow craft books from the library and make inexpensive gifts for friends.
4. Make some homemade play dough by mixing 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup flour, 2 tsp. cream of tartar, 1 Tbsp. oil and 1 cup water, plus a couple drops of food coloring. Stir and cook over low heat until it turns rubbery. Knead. Roll out long snakes of dough and use to shape letters of the alphabet and numbers for beginning learners. Make cookie cutter cutouts and use to solve number sentences. For example: Tracy had 5 stars. Her teacher gave her 3 more stars. How many stars does she have in all? Make game pieces for games like Tic Tac Toe. Try making play dough dice to use with other games. Let their imaginations be your guide.
5. Save containers from food products and help your child set up a store with a toy cash register. Cardboard apple boxes from the grocery store make great shelves. Use money to teach them how to buy items and make change. A shopping cart and grocery bags add to the fun.
6. Get together with other parents and plan an educational play day. Each family is responsible for providing one educational game or activity. Make a station for each activity so the children can rotate and try each one. Use simple math, spelling, vocabulary and language games. You could set up stations involving measuring using sand or dry cereal. Don't forget puzzles, blocks and water play areas as well. This is a great way to share ideas while having fun and learning together with others.
GETTING OVER SICKNESS NATURALLY
by Meagan DeLong
Meagan DeLong is a wife and mother who enjoys blogging as a way to preserve family memories and encourage others about the blessings of having a family. She has a passion for taking care of her family as naturally as possible and recently shared these tips for getting over sickness without the use of antibiotics and over-the-counter medicines. She has no medical training other than personal research, so please consult a doctor for serious illnesses. She is simply sharing resources that have worked for her family to fight ear infections, strep throat, colds, and other minor illnesses. Feel free to ask her questions by commenting on her blog (http://markandmeg04.blogspot.com/ )or e-mailing her at markandmeg04@gmail.com.
1. Oregano oil -- Personally, I think this is THE MOST EFFECTIVE natural remedy available! If you don't do anything else, please stock up on oregano oil. It is simple and effective. If I start taking it at first notice of a scratchy throat, I can pretty much avoid a bad cold because most symptoms are gone within 24 hours. If I don't start it right away, it might not go away as quickly, but it will still help a ton! I put a few drops in an empty pill capsule and take about 3 times a day. For children, just rub it on the bottom of their feet. Oregano oil is a hot herb and kills bacteria and viruses, very much like an antibiotic but without the dangerous chemicals. Make sure you read the label, though, and buy some that is not watered down with olive oil.
2. A tsp. of raw honey with 1/4 tsp. of good quality cinnamon. Both of these have great anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. If I'm feeling sick, I will mix up a bowl full of honey and cinnamon and take a spoonful about 3 times a day. It soothes a sore throat tremendously, helps fight your sickness, and tastes great, too! For even stronger honey for medicinal purposes, purchase raw Manuka Honey.
3. Gargle with hydrogen peroxide or put drops in your kid's ear.
4. Garlic -- If you google garlic you will be amazed at how effective this anti-bacterial natural remedy is. You can simply cut it up into pill-sized bites, or (if you are like me and don't like swallowing those pointy edges 🙂 chop up finely and put in an empty pill capsule. For my girls, I slice it and just rub it on their feet. Their feet are very porous and absorb it very well. I also try to make meals that contain large a mounts of garlic when we are sick. For instance, I will make a pot of our favorite cheesy potato cheddar chowder and add a whole bulb of chopped garlic to the recipe. Or you can generously spread Donielle's "Cold Kicking Garlic Herb Spread" on your favorite bread or crackers 🙂
5. Probiotics -- These are so important for replenishing your good bacteria! You want to take them on an empty stomach if at all possible.
6. Collodial Silver -- Another super effective way to fight bacteria and viruses. You have to make sure you have a good source, but it really works! I take a mouthful about 4 times a day when I am sick.
7. Unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar -- If you can, taking a mixture of 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with honey and plenty of cayenne pepper really works well. Take it 3-4 times a day. I can't do the pepper, but I just pour a little ACV in my water or tea and drink it throughout the day.
8. Steam Pot for chest/broncial/mucus issues. -- boil water on the stove in a glass pot – if you don't have a glass pot, boil the water in a tea pot and then pour into a glass bowl. When the water is boiling hard, remove from heat and add three shakes of Euchalyptus, lavendar, and pine oils into the hot water. The oil effectiveness lasts about 15-20 seconds so move quickly to get yourself over the steam. Breathe in through your nose, turn your head to the side and breathe out through your mouth. Continue this process until the scents aren't as strong. Be sure to close your eyes. With children, place a washcloth over their eyes as it can burn. You could also make a tent over the top with a towel for really young infants, but if they can get the concept of breathing through their nose, then it will get deeper into their lungs. You're doing it right if it just about takes your breath away or make you cough!
9. Grapefruit Seed Extract -- I add it to my smoothies, tea, or juice all year long just to boost our immune system. When I am sick, I take it in a capsule with my oregano oil.
10. Elderberries -- anti-viral, contains high levels of flavonoids and antioxidants, has cell-protecting components, soothes sore throats, and supports the immune system and respiratory system. I add some dried ones to my morning tea or make a simple elderberry syrup for the girls when they are sick. Lindsey gives a great little video of how to make your own on THIS post.
11. Kombucha -- it cleanses the body from toxins and aids in digestion and metabolism. Click HERE to see my review of it and some links explaining why I love this drink and how to make it yourself. My toddler and I drink this regularly (I'm still working on my husband :), and I was amazed that my baby would even take sips of it when she was sick! When I make it, I usually try to leave a small jar of it fermenting for several weeks so that it will be even more potent for killing off illness.
12. Mullein for chest/cold issues -- Take mullein capsules – The amount taken depends on the size of the capsule. The larger 0 sizes can be 1-2 capsules 3x per day. The small 000 capsules can be 3 capsules 3x per day. This is not a hard science, can take larger doses if the lung infection is bad or persistent. Mullein is a safe herb. You can also make a tea for kids who can not swallow pills. Or add a small amount to applesauce or yoghurt and have them take it that way. I add it to bone broth through out the winter.
13. Home-made Chicken Stock -- Your grandma was right to tell you to eat chicken soup when you are sick because it is chock full of immune-boosting nutrients! But don't buy the store-bought kind full of chemicals, bad salt, and MSG. It is so simple to make your own with nourishing sea salt and immune-building herbs. Everytime I cook a chicken, I make stock for soups. Any time a soup recipe calls for water, I use my stock instead and it adds tons of flavor and nutrients! And anytime we are sick, I reach for my chicken stock!
14. Home-made ear drops -- these are helpful even if the sickness is not an ear infection, because it helps to get garlic and GSE into the body which fight infection. Click HERE for 2 different home-made ear drops, one that you can use right away and one that you can make ahead of time and store.
15. Cod liver oil -- Vitamin D is so important for your immune system and I prefer to take real food rather than just a vitamin D supplement that my body might have a hard time digesting and utilizing. I take it every day but take extra when I am fighting an illness. Don't be deterred by the gross-sounding name -- it comes in pill form so you don't have to taste it 🙂
16. Herbal Teas -- so healing! Click HERE for a list of which herbs help different ailments.
17. Stay away from sugar and white flour!!! This is so important, because they inhibit the natural workings of your immune system.
18. Let the fever run its course -- (That means NO Tylenol!) This is probably the hardest, yet most important thing for me to do when my girls are sick. God made our bodies to have a fever because the high temp. kills the virus or bacteria. Using Tylenol ruins this natural process and makes the body unable to fight the disease. It can also cause a fever convulsion by bringing the fever down too quickly. Without Tylenol, your fever will naturally break when it gets too high, then climbs back up and breaks again, etc, until it has killed the infection. So I just try to make my girls as comfortable as possible and if utterly miserable, I give THIS special bath for helping with the fever. The main thing you have to watch out for with a high fever is dehydration, but I will write about that soon...
19. Coconut water -- This is truly nature's Gatorade or Pedialyte without all the added flavorings and sugar! I get in the organic section at Kroger or buy when on sale at Amazon and always keep it on hand for any time we are sick. Coconut Water is rich in many vital minerals, vitamins, and proteins, not just the basic "electrolyte essentials" found in a lab-formulated drink. And believe it or not, the natural electrolyte & pH balance of coconut water even make it suitable for a rehydrating IV solution! And my girls love it! Smart Water/ Trinity Mineral Water is also a good option for dehydration because it has a lot of electrolytes, but my favorite is coconut water.
20. Lemons -- high in vitamin C, which is important when sick. Once again, I'd rather take real food than a processed pill, so I add a ridiculous amount of fresh lemons to my tea or water all day long when I am sick.
21. Chiropractor! The relief a chiropractor can bring during illness is simply amazing. I can see immediate relief in my girls' eyes once the chiro has finished. And the amount of drainage that immediately is released is even more proof 🙂 A chiro is particularly useful if you think your child has an ear infection and can bring immediate relief to the pain. Our family chiro has a lot of medical training and gave me much encouragement and more advice on beating sickness naturally. If you live in my area, I can recommend a fabulous Christian chiro who charges a reasonable rate and doesn't even deal with insurance. I just love her! I take my girls to a chiropractor before I even think about taking them to a doctor.
22. Coconut oil -- Filled with anti-viral and anti-biotic properties -- I eat a few spoonfuls or spread it on toast or mix in my tea. But make sure you buy the raw, cold-pressed kind.
23. Smoothies with coconut milk, coconut oil, frozen fruit, raw honey, and grapefruit seed extract --The best tasting medicine ever! It is really the only thing I can get my girls to eat when they are absolutely miserable. It is dairy-free so it won't add to drainage, has tons of vitamin C from the fruit, contains bacteria fighting GSE and coconut oil, all the nutrients of coconut milk, and the honey is soothing and has many other benefits. We actually eat these all the time to try to boost our immune system. My husband likes them so much that he was willing to give up his nightly ice cream treat for them (and if you know my husband, that is saying A LOT!)
24. "Remedies" from my Christian Holistic Doctor -- I know not everyone has this resource available but I wanted to include it because if you live in my area, I can refer you to the BEST natural doctor ever. She can pinpoint any illnesses/ allergies without invasive treatment and makes remedies based on your body's particular needs. She has such a heart for helping others and I just love her!
25. Homeopathic remedies -- I've recently started trying out Homeopathic options like teething tablets and allergy tablets. I've used the Hyland's and Boiron brand and they both seem to work well. I plan to try out the cold remedy next time any of us get sick and I have the flu remedy in my medicine cabinet just in case! Homeopathy seems to be very safe and effective. It treats the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. The idea is that by giving a small dose of the very thing that could trigger the types of symptoms that a person is experiencing, you can actually bring about a natural healing response that will help to relieve those symptoms! Pretty neat!
ADVANTAGES OF MILLING YOUR OWN FLOUR
by Lois Breneman
A food mill is an excellent investment, if you want to grind your own grain into flour for baking bread. You will never eat any better tasting or more nutritious bread than that made from 100% freshly ground grain! It doesn't compare with using bagged flour from the grocery store or even a health food store!
Wheat germ must be removed from whole wheat flour before being sold in the grocery stores, because the oil in the wheat germ would cause the flour to become rancid with the long shelf life. When you realize that 90% of the nutrition in a wheat berry is in the wheat germ, that is enough motivation for one to mill your own flour to bake bread!
I used to mix half whole wheat flour and half unbleached to make bread, but since milling my own grain, I am able to use only freshly ground flour from whole grains and have a much more nutritious and better tasting end product.
Dried beans can also be ground in a blender, although a food mill will grind them much finer. Ground beans can be added in making bread or in soups as a thickening agent, after stirring in cold water just as you would make gravy.
Rita Bingham is known as “The Bean Queen” because she likes to sneak beans into just about everything she cooks. They are quick and easy to add and she has cookbooks available on details of how to do that. Just do a search for her to obtain additional information.
Help for Blended Families ~ The week of November 15, 2010, Focus on the Family had a very helpful three-day series about blended families on their radio broadcast. If you are a step-mom, you will find valuable help by going to www.focusonthefamily.com and either listening or ordering the CD. There doesn’t seem to be enough Christian information on this subject, so here you go!
Jojo (9) and Boom-Boom (6) have been reading their kid's dictionary. I thought, "I am going to have genius kids!" Until... I heard them reading the Garfield comic strips in it! Hahahahaha! Well, at least the strips use voabulary words from the dictionary. ~ Darlene Weber in Thailand
I evidently crash into the couch, exclaiming over my aching back a little too much... Karis (3) has started complaining about her back, asking us to pray for it at night and putting pillows behind her just like I do. Last night Mark told her that she should not say that her back is hurting is if it not, because that it a lie. She replied, "But I just want to be like Mama!!!" I was laughing and tearing up at the same time (stupid pregnancy hormones again 🙂 ~ Meagan DeLong in North Carolina
Sam (4): "No, Mommy, when you are not here, and it is just me, Sierra, and Daddy, we get to do whatever we want!" ~ Tiffany Bowles in Colorado
Your Heart to Heart friend,
Lois