Quote from Forum Archives on February 22, 2004, 3:22 pm

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

 

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

 

2/22/04 COLOR, HOUSEPLANTS, TRADE, TIPS, MOUTHS OF BABES

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CONTENTS:

TIDBITS OF INTEREST

(The Passion of the Christ, Eating Out, TV, Entertainment, Computers, Hoaxes, Sugar)

BRING COLOR TO YOUR HOME

HOUSEPLANTS IN LIVING COLOR

TRADE YOUR EXPERTISE  

KITCHEN TIPS

JUDGE GENTLY

A WISE OLD BIRD

PLEASANT TO LIVE WITH

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

ANOTHER SMILE FROM A SWEET LITTLE ONE

 

TIDBITS OF INTEREST

(The Passion of the Christ, Eating Out, TV, Entertainment, Computers, Hoaxes, Sugar)

_________________________________________________________________

* MON., FEB. 23 ~ HEAR MEL GIBSON ON FOCUS ON THE FAMILY *

 

I am sending this newsletter early, hoping you will have a chance to hear this radio broadcast.  Please be in prayer as many people in the United States and all around the world go to see this film out of curiosity.   www.family.org

 

The International Dining Club offers "Buy One/Get One Free" for approximately 80 different restaurant locations and possibly playhouses.  This will vary depending in which city you live.  This is a money-saving tip, even if you don't eat out very often, because the annual cost of $40 (or $37.95 for renewal) will be redeemed in a short time.  Most restaurants offer 12 visits per restaurant.  Find out more by calling 1-800-849-4432. 

 

Two web sites to check out movies, music, video games, etc. : www.pluggedinonline.com and www.screenit.com.  Thanks to Christy Johnson of Virginia!

 

MTV and other channels do not have to be part of your TV selection, even if it comes with your cable package.  If undesirable and objectionable channels appear on your TV, you have the option of having them removed.  Even if your children aren't interested in watching those channels, parents are wise to have them removed, so they will never be a temptation.  Simply call the cable TV number.  When I did this many years ago, they tried to tell me there would be a service charge to have several stations removed, but after a little bit of firm but kind conversation, they said they would do it at no charge.  It's worth a try.

 

Ways to keep a close watch on your computer ~  For the sake of your children, teens and even your entire family, place your computer in a location where the screen is visible to others -- certainly not in your child's room.  Keep pornography and other filth from coming into your home by way of your computer.  Thanks to several "Heart to Heart" friends who have given these pornography filter solutions for homes, churches and businesses:

 

1)  We think this is an important element to any Christian Internet user's family.  It is called BSafe Online through American Family Radio (out of Little Rock, AR operated by Dennis Rainey).  Here is the direct link.   http://www.afafilter.com/?13850   

I highly recommend it!!! It works - running constantly while your computer is on.

2)  American Family Association offers a pornography filter at www.afa.net.

3)  Sonic Wall is a subscription service primarily used by churches or businesses.

 

How to avoid forwarding e-mail messages that could possibly be a hoax ...

Please check out these web sites before forwarding "stories":

http://urbanlegends.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true

www.snopes.com

 

124 Ways Sugar Ruins Our Health ~ Thanks to Tami Lysczek of Maryland for this web site about sugar and how it feeds cancer cells!  At the end of the article are links to Dangers of Sugar-which lists 124 ways sugar ruins our health.

http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/8/sugar_cancer.htm

Note from Lois:  It has been well documented that sugar breaks down the immune system.

 

BRING COLOR TO YOUR HOME

(On a Pennypinchers Budget!) ~ By Kathleen Wilson ~ Used by permission
 
In the first few months of every New Year, most of us are thinking about change. One of the fastest, most effective and least expensive ways to change your rooms is to use color! The color forecast for 2004 is one everyone can appreciate…it’s all about comfort! Shades from nature, warm rich colors from exotic parts of the world, or well-worn colors are all great choices for a comfort filled home. Here are some great ways to add color to your home, without breaking the bank!
 
1.  Paint. Yes, you all knew I was going to say that, but try something a little different this year! Learn to sponge paint or rag roll, tape off wide stripes in a different shade of the same color, combine a painted wall with stamping or stenciling. Use a rich color in at least one room, and paint your ceilings and woodwork too! Or try that brave new color on a key piece of furniture.

2.  Use fabric. Fabric can be expensive, but there are ways to cut the costs dramatically. Shop your thrift stores for sheets, blankets, and quilts to use as tablecloths and window coverings. Check the bargain bin at the local fabric store.  Often they have beautiful fabrics at discount prices simply because they have been discontinued. Use cheap muslin, then add a border of a decorative fabric to save lots of cash.  Use worn sweaters to stitch up a throw pillow cover. I once used a “never to be used again” maternity blouse to create gorgeous silk pillows for my living room. Look in your closets and linen chest for items in your color scheme that can be pressed into service.

 

3.  Cover the matting in your wall art with colorful paper or fabric to coordinate with your room. Or paint your picture frames!  This brings color and interest to your walls, guides the eye upward, and ties your room together.

4.  Look for accessories at the local dollar store. Many colorful candles, baskets, bowls, and statuettes can be found for just a buck!

5.  Add plants. Every room comes alive with plants, and they add a neutral but uplifting amount of color to your home. Think you have no green thumb? Sprout carrot tops, ivy cuttings from the yard, or potato cuttings, then pot up and put in a brightly lit spot…even if your thumb fails you, they cost you nothing, and can easily be grown again!
___________________________________________________________________ 
Kathleen Wilson is an author, magazine columnist, and editor of her free ezine, The Budget Decorator. You can get more great ideas  and sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com.

 

HOUSEPLANTS IN LIVING COLOR

By Lois Breneman ~ Heart to Heart Newsletter ~ jhbreneman@juno.com

Houseplants add so much to any home.  Life, for one thing!  And color, for another!  But don't forget that it's been shown by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that many common household plants help clean indoor air, according to Effie Moore of Plant Culture, Inc.  She says the fiscus tree, peace lily and Chinese evergreen are but a few that can clean your indoor air of toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.   These toxins are emitted to our indoor air by such common items as tobacco smoke, carpeting, paints, inks, dyes - even facial tissues and detergents.

 

Pothos is extremely easy to grow and is a plant with lush, beautiful foliage.  If you think you don't have a green thumb at all, or even if you do, this is a good one for you.  There are several varieties - some with dark green leaves and others with yellow specks in the green leaves.  For years I have kept four pots of pothos which have thickened to appear as one, on a little round table - about 2 1/2 feet in diameter.  A round tablecloth drapes down to the floor, covering the inexpensive table and a round piece of glass covers the top, in case water gets spilled while watering the plants.  As an additional function, the table also provides great storage underneath, hidden by the tablecloth. Pothos needs to be trimmed in order to grow thick and bushy.  For additional plants, stick the trimmings in water to root them.  Each time I water my plants (about once a week or less - whenever they dry out), I pull off any yellowed leaves.  This is truly one of the most carefree and forgiving plants you can grow.

 

The peace lily, sometimes referred to as the plantation lily, is another favorite of mine and is also very easy to grow.  When I see my peace lily droop, that is a reminder to water it and it revives in no time.  It is a beautiful plant which does very well in front of a northern window, or a few feet from a sunny east, south or west window.

 

African violets are easy to grow as well, and add so much color to any room, even during the frigid and sometimes dreary months of January and February!  In fact, they seem to show off their colors best during those months for some reason.   Maybe they know that we all need the cheery colors of purples, fuchsias, pinks and blues to give us hope that spring is near!   In January my African violets are especially loaded with blossoms and they will bloom sporadically throughout the year with very little care.  I simply water the violets from the bottom up, by pouring water into the clear plastic saucer with sides - available in garden centers.  They like to soak up the water, rather than having it poured over them.  Sometimes I give them a little liquid fertilizer for violets and they stay happy and brighten up many months for me.  They set on a table in front of my southern exposure window with a porch roof helping to protect them from too much sunshine, though I've read that they prefer an eastern window.  You might want to start with just one or two bright violet plants and see how much you enjoy it.

 

A few other plants that are easy to grow are spider plants, philodendron and Swedish ivy.  You might want to try a sweet potato plant, simply by cutting a sweet potato or yam in half and placing it in a half inch of water.  Beautiful green leaves will grow from each sprout in a short time.  Keep the plant trimmed if you want it to grow into a thick and bushy plant.  Or how about a citrus plant?  Plant 8 to 10 orange, lemon or grapefruit seeds about 1/2 inch deep in the soil of a 4 inch flowerpot.  They will produce a lovely citrus bush with shiny leaves within a year. 

 

If forgetting to water your plants is the reason you've given up on live houseplants, or haven't even tried them, check into a large variety of cactus plants (succulents), since they need much less watering.  Not all of them are prickly.  One succulent is the snake plant which is very easy to grow, also referred to as the mother-in-law plant!  I'd hate to know how it got that name! 

 

If houseplants have always made you nervous, but you are going to be brave and just start out with one houseplant, I'd recommend the pothos.  Happy indoor gardening!

 
TRADE YOUR EXPERTISE 
By Colleen Langenfeld ~ Copyright (c) 2003 ~ Used by permission
  
Do you have a hobby or skill you really enjoy and do very well?  Do you have a repair job around the house that needs to be done? Or maybe you have no time to cook or clean regularly?
 
Start a Skills and Services Co-op within your circle of friends and make everyone's life a little easier.  To start, simply call up some friends. Or better yet, have them over for an evening of appetizers or do lunch together. 
 
Each person in the group needs to consider what common task she does very well and would be willing to trade to another in exchange for that person's skill.  Then organize a basic list of services complete with contact information, and give everyone in the co-op a copy.
 
Here's how it might work.  Sue works 40-plus hours each week as an office manager and comes home in no mood to cook complicated dinners. She brings home takeout food twice a week and the family members go their own way a couple of nights as well. What she really needs is a meal waiting for her when she gets home two evenings a week. Meals she can just pop in the microwave or oven while she's helping the kids with homework.
 
In comes Judy.  Judy loves to cook. But you should see her desk! And her closets! So Judy agrees to cook two meals a week for Sue. The meals will be ready to heat up after work. Really, all Judy does is make an extra batch of her own meals a couple of times each week and pops them in the freezer for Sue. Sue buys the groceries for her own meals, of course. And in exchange for the meal service, Sue comes to Judy's house and helps her put her desk in order. Plus, Sue comes back to Judy's house every couple of weeks to go through a closet and help Judy get her home back in tip-top shape.
 
Of course, these trades need to be equitable. And there are details to be worked out. Trades don't need to be ongoing, either. Just a one-time deal can really help when you're in a pinch.
 
Working moms have tremendous skills they have developed over the years in the workplace and as parents. Trade your drudgery for someone else's and lighten both your burdens a little in the process.  It's the least a couple of friends can do for each other!
___________________________________________________________________
Colleen Langenfeld delivers deals, tips and creative resources to working moms who want
the most out of their homes, families and careers at http://www.paintedgold.com . Sign up for our free newsletter and get an online Creativity Toolkit as our gift to you!

 

KITCHEN TIPS

* Use a garlic press to crush bouillon cubes, while still in their foil wrappers.  They dissolve more quickly.
* Baking powder substitute: 1/4 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar = 1 tsp. baking powder

* Sprinkle mashed potatoes with powdered milk or cream while mixing - for fluffier potatoes.

* To make croutons, butter each slice of bread lightly (ends work great) and sprinkle paprika, garlic or onion salt and dried sweet basil.  Cut slices into small cubes and place on a cookie sheet and toast.  Cool and store in zip lock freezer bag in the freezer until needed. 

* To make "sharp" cheddar cheese, if needed, add dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce to taste to mild cheddar cheese.

* Lemon garnish: Cut 1/4 inch lemon slices.  Dip half the edge of each slice into minced fresh parsley and half into paprika.

* Save butter wrappers to butter homemade loaves of bread or to grease pans.

* Cornmeal gets buggy faster than most grains.  To prevent that from happening, store cornmeal products in the freezer for 4 days, then store on the pantry shelf.

* Celery will stay fresh so much longer in the refrigerator, if wrapped in foil.

* Use the Tupperware midget cups or snack ziplock bags to pack lunch snacks ahead of time.  Some examples are dried apricots, raisins, almonds, cashews, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and peanut butter or almond butter for dipping apple slices.

 

 

JUDGE GENTLY

Author unknown ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road,
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears, or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt, though hidden away from view,
Or the burden he bears if placed on your back, might cause you to stumble too.
Don't sneer at the man who's down today, unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame that only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows that were his, if dealt to you,
In the selfsame way at the selfsame time might cause you to stagger too.
Don't be too harsh with the man who sins or pelt him with word or stone
Unless you are sure - yea doubly sure that you have no sins of your own,
For you know, perhaps if the tempter's voice should whisper as softly to you
As it did to him when he went astray, could cause you to falter too.

Note from Lois:

Things are not always as they might appear to us who look on and observe the lives of others.  We need to show love and kindness to those who are misunderstood or hurting.   May we all avoid slandering anyone by spreading gossip.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us ... - Ephesians 5: 2a

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32

 

 

A WISE OLD BIRD

Author unknown ~ Contributed by Angela Thompson of Virginia

 

A wise old bird sat on an oak.

The more he saw, the less he spoke,

The less he spoke, the more he heard;

Lord, make me like that wise old bird.

PLEASANT TO LIVE WITH

By Wilhelmina Stitch ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi

Blessed are they who are pleasant to live with --
Blessed are they who sing in the morning;
Whose faces have smiles for their early adoring;
Who come to their breakfast companied by cheer;
Who don't dwell on troubles or entertain fear;
Whose eyes smile forth bravely, whose lips curve to say,
"Lord, I do thank you! Good morning, new day!"

Blessed are they who are pleasant to live with --
Blessed are they who treat one another,
Though merely a sister, a father or brother,
With the very same courtesy they would extend
To a casual acquaintance or dearly loved friend;

Who choose for the telling ENCOURAGING things;
Who choke back the bitter, the sharp word that stings;
Who bestow love on others throughout the long day --
Pleasant to work with -- and blessed are they.

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE

Contributed by Annamarie Kresge or Virginia

Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd.
Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ.
There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith, which is over troubled water.
When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and  Keep Straight.  You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound.
Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son, and One for the Holy Ghost.
Then exit off onto Grace Blvd.
From there, make a Right turn on Gospel Lane.
Keep Straight and then make another Right on Prayer Road.
As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on Temptation Ave.  Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END.
Pass by Envy Drive, and Hate Avenue.  Also, pass Hypocrisy Street, Gossiping Lane, and Backbiting Blvd.
However, you have to go down Long-suffering Lane, Persecution Blvd. and Trials and Tribulations Ave.
But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead!

 

 

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

Contributed by Jo Ann Taylor, a sweet Grandma in Arkansas ~ Ladies, you will love these!

Jo Ann has a wonderful ministry, Operation Angel, for women who have lost a child through miscarriage.  http://fly.to/OperationAngel        http://opangel.angelcities.com/index.html

About a year after Jo Ann received "Heart to Heart," I was privileged to meet her when she came to Roanoke, Virginia, last summer!  She is one very special lady!  ~ Lois

 

        An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.  "You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella. 

        Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"
        The boy looked up, "Really?"  "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."
        The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles."

After putting her children to bed, a mother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.  At last she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard her three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

A mother was telling her little girl what her own childhood was like.  We used to skate outside on a pond.  I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods."  The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?"  I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike? You're both old," he replied.

A little girl was diligently pounding away on her father's word processor. She told him she was writing a story. "What's it about?" he asked.  "I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off thy neighbor's wife." 

Our five-year-old son, Mark, couldn't wait to tell his father about the movie we had watched on television, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." The scenes with the submarine and the giant octopus had kept him wide-eyed. In the middle of the telling, my husband interrupted Mark, "What caused the submarine to sink?" With a look of incredulity Mark replied, "Dad, it was the 20,000 leaks!"

When my grandson, Billy, and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights!"

When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure."  To which he replied, "Look in your underwear, Grandma!  Mine says I'm four!" 

 

 

ANOTHER SMILE FROM A SWEET LITTLE ONE

By Julie Druck of PA, Editor of A Heart for Home Newsletter  (the-drucks@juno.com)

 

        Sometimes little children say the most profound things. My friend, Suzie, shared a story with me about her two-year-old daughter, Chloe. Chloe’s dad was fixing their dryer when he discovered her little pink Bible which had somehow fallen behind the dryer. When it was handed to her, Chloe promptly sat down, opened up her Bible and proclaimed: "Now what does the Lord say?" A moment later she answered her own question by replying: "God says, "I love you too much." Suzie explained that Chloe meant to say "I love you very much," but frequently gets this phrase mixed up a bit.

        Actually, I think Chloe’s translation is right on the nose. The message of the Bible is simple enough for a two-year-old to sum up in five words - "I love you too much." God does indeed love us "too much" - far more than we shall ever deserve. I’m so glad that my salvation isn’t based on my performance. I’d be found far-lacking. God’s grace makes our salvation possible. His incredible love for us is never-ending and never- changing. May I never forget the Truth that Chloe so eloquently stated.

 

Keep smiling!

God bless each of you this week!
Love from your "Heart to Heart" friend,
Lois

 

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