Quote from Forum Archives on June 1, 2009, 4:10 pm

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

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

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

6/1/09  20 Fun Concoctions, Tips, Recipes, Priorities, Proverbs 31 Gift, Cute Quotes, Children

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

Please let me know if you stop receiving the newsletter, but did not unsubscribe. 

Send ADDRESS CHANGES to Remain on the E-mailing List - Reply to newsletter with your name, plus your  old and new address.  

I suggest you PRINT this newsletter to read at your convenience, but save the original e-mail for checking websites.
If "Heart to Heart" fills a need in your life, bringing blessing and encouragement, please INVITE your women friends and family to subscribe and be blessed and encouraged as well.  Instructions appear at the very end of each newsletter. 

 

IN THIS ISSUE: 
TEA TREE OIL HEALING POWERS           

A DOZEN TIPS AND TIDBITS

TWENTY FUN CONCOCTIONS FOR CHILDREN

Silly Putty, Soap Crayons, Best Play Dough Ever, Bottled Goopy Squeezy Glitter, Goop, Macaroni Coloring, Peanut Butter Playdough (Edible), Fingerpaint, Kool-Aid Finger Paint, Rainbow Stew (non-messy fingerpaint), Bubbles, Bubbles Inside Bubbles, Puff Paint, Daddy-Smelling Puff Paint, Sparkle Gel, Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk, Magic Marker Tie-Dying, Salt Ceramics, Sun Clay, Beautiful Colored Crystal Garden
POLYNESIAN CHICKEN - A GREAT FREEZER MEAL 

CHICKEN OR VEGETABLE LASAGNA

PRIORITIES    

A VERY SPECIAL PROVERBS 31 GIFT

CREATE CARE PACKAGES TO STREAMLINE YOUR SUMMERTIME OUTINGS

CUTE QUOTES FROM KIDS! 
WHY DO WE LOVE CHILDREN?

 

TEA TREE OIL HEALING POWERS           
http://www.teatreeoiluses.com/ 

Tea tree oil has been proven to be a powerful yet natural antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal medicine (essential oil).

It is being used as a very effective first aid remedy and against countless skin ailments, infections, cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites and skin spots etc.

Tea tree oil is effective against nail fungus, ringworm, athlete's foot, dandruff, acne, blackheads and many types of infestations including lice, mites, scabies and mosquitoes etc... (For humans and animals alike).

Tea tree oil is not just soothing and disinfecting, it is capable of penetrating into the lower skin layers with its anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, analgesic (pain-killing) and cicatrizant (wound-healing) qualities.

It has a diaphoretic effect - It promotes sweating - which enhances the body's own natural preventative response when threatened by infection.

Tea tree oil exhibits expectorant and balsamic characteristics, which are especially beneficial in the case of throat or chest infections, having a generally soothing and clearing (mucus-expelling) effect on the entire respiratory tract. It is also effective against head colds.

 

A DOZEN TIPS AND TIDBITS

 

First Aid Kit in a Small Bottle ~  Tea Tree Oil from Australia!  Carry it in your purse or pocket for so many things (as listed above)!  You can order it from a Melaleuca distributor or find it at GNC or a health food store for a reasonable price.  Research the many additional uses of this natural "liquid gold" product.

 

Cloud Pictures ~ For something fun to do on a partly cloudy day is to lie on your back with your children and look for objects in the clouds!  This past Saturday my husband and I spent most of the day doing something we really enjoy - sailing.  The wind was perfect, and although it was a sunny day, there were beautiful puffy clouds in the sky.  John was the "captain," operating the main sail and doing the steering.  On long stretches down the lake when I didn't need to be operating the jib or moving from one side to the other because of the wind shifting, I enjoyed lying down, looking for pictures in the sky.  At different times I saw a running reindeer, fish, two elephants (one was a baby), a dog, and a little girl.  Test your imagination with popcorn as well.

 

Quickly Pretreating Laundry Stains ~ Remove the paper wrapper from a bar of Fels-Naptha soap.  Wrap all except one end of the bar in a washcloth and secure with two rubberbands.  Then when you find stubborn stains, wet the stain and rub with the bar of soap.  Rub the fabric and rinse out.  This works very well!!  If Fels-Naptha bars of soap can't be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store, ask to fill out a form to get it on the shelves.  This is the bar of soap also used to make homemade laundry soap which is so popular because it does such a good job for only pennies per load.  I figured my cost to be 3 cents per large load, and that's using a full cup, rather than half.  It's good stuff!  Recipes have been in the 11/1/08 and 4/2/09 issues.

 

Windex can be used for quick spot cleaning on carpets.  Spray and rub with a clean terry cloth.  Windex also helps remove rings from swollen fingers!  Spray around the ring and it should slip off much more easily.  Jewelry shops use this method. 

 

Good Quality Solid Wood Furniture can easily be found at yard sales and auctions for good prices.  Clean it with Murphy Oil Soap, cover scratches with Old English scratch polish and polish with Lemon Oil to bring restoration and shine to most pieces.

 

Great Savings on Supplements ~ I bought a bottle of supplements at a health foods store for $15, but was able to purchase the identical supplement for half the price at www.i-herb.com!  By ordering a certain amount, the shipping was free, and it also arrived very quickly!  Higher quality supplements are available at i-herb, compared to drug stores.

 

Charming Older Couple ~ YouTube - Mayo Clinic atrium piano, charming older couple...

 

Our Ever-Changing World ~ The following very enlightening and educational YouTube exposes the current demographics in the countries of today's world.  It shows how the world in which our children and grandchildren will grow up in is not the same world in which we grew up!  Amazing facts are shown!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU

 

Shocking ~ County puts kibosh on home Bible study ~ http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=546112

And now the rest of the story, thanks to Annamarie Kresge in Virginia: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/biblestudy.asp

 

Ideas for Kids on Long Car Trips ~ We were planning a week long trip with 4 young children, so for each day, I had a story tape (the story was continued for several days) and each day we would listen to one more.  Also, I wrapped a small toy or book for each day, and a snack, so 3 times a day or so, we would reach into the goodie bag and pull out something new!  To make sure we discussed something from the Bible each day, I made a picture of something ( bag of money, sheep, etc.) and held it up (one each day) for everyone to see. No talking was allowed for several minutes, while each one thought of a Bible story it reminded them of.  It was very interesting.  Even young children grasp the stories, and every day, we each thought of a different story! Fun! ~ Regina Landis in Pennsylvania

 

Sunny Yellow Yolks for Hard Cooked Eggs ~ Yolks that turn green is the result of cooking eggs too long.  Turn out hard cooked eggs with sunny yellow yolks every time by cooking in this way.  Put one layer of eggs in a pan and cover with cold water.  Cover with a lid and bring to a boil.  Immediately turn off the burner and let set (covered) for 20 minutes.  Set the timer.  You will save electricity with this method as well.  After 20 minutes, plunge eggs into cold water and peel.  

 

Easy Clean-Up When Crafting ~ Use a plastic tablecloth or shower curtain from the dollar store to cover the table before doing arts and crafts.  This way no paint or glue will ruin your table or regular tablecloth.  When finished, fold it up for next time.

 

Creative Water Color Gift Wrap ~ Buy a roll of white paper and let your children go to work at creating wrapping paper for all occasions.  The dull side of freezer paper can also be painted.  Wet the paper first to help the paint run and blend into beautiful splotches of color for creative wrapping paper!  Not only will this give your children something fun to do this summer, but they will feel accomplishment when going to birthday parties with gifts wrapped in their own creations.  Adults can have creative fun too!

 

 

TWENTY FUN CONCOCTIONS FOR CHILDREN

By Lois Breneman, © 2009, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected] 

 

Your children would love it if you would turn one, two or three mornings a week into a time for creative juices to flow around your kitchen table!  Making your own recipe concoctions will add to the excitement and fun!  Once you get the concoction made and give them instructions, in some cases, depending on their ages, you might be able to get dinner planned and thrown together while they are being creative.

Silly Putty

(This is similar to the flesh colored Silly Putty, but why not have fun making this with your children or grandchildren!)

 

1 1/2 Tbsp. liquid starch
Food coloring
3 Tbsp. white glue
1 plastic Easter egg or resealable bag

Newspaper comics

 

In a glass bowl combine the glue with a only few drops of your choice of food coloring for a lightly tinted putty.  In a second glass bowl, pour liquid starch.  Slowly pour the colored glue mixture into the starch.  Allow to stand for 6 minutes, or until the liquid starch has been absorbed by the glue.  Remove the Nutty Putty from the bowl and knead.  The more you knead the putty, the better the consistency becomes.  Don't give up.  You may have to add more glue and knead some more. If it is sticky add more liquid starch. If it is stringy add more glue.  You can add food coloring and store in an airtight container. Children need to wear paint shirts since the putty may stick to clothes and hair.  If it does, white vinegar will dissolve and remove it.   Store the Nutty Putty in the plastic egg or bag.  Children will have hours of fun bouncing their Silly Putty ball, or pressing it over the newspaper comics.  It also picks up the print of graphics printed with an ink jet printer, but remember that this concoction is not edible! 

 

Soap Crayons 
These are fun for writing on the side of the tub during bath time.
 
1 1/2 cup pure soap powder (Ivory soap bars cut up and pulverized in a food processor)
Food coloring
1/2 cup water
Small containers or ice cube trays
 
Mix water and soap powder together.  Add enough food coloring to get the color you want.  If you'd like more than one color, divide the mixture into two or three small containers  before adding the food coloring.  Pour the colored soap into small container, such as am empty plastic film canister, an ice cube tray, or you can mold it into crayon shapes.  Let harden before
using.

Best Play Dough Ever
Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon oil, food coloring.   
For birthday party favors, you can double the recipe.  Combine all the ingredients in a blender to assure you that all the lumps will disappear.  Cook in a Teflon pan over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. You can use unsweetened Kool-Aid instead of food coloring. The Kool-Aid will color it and make it smell great.  Try orange, purple, red, yellow and others.  This dough is very pliable and long lasting, with more elasticity than others.  Wrap in plastic wrap when not using and it will last a long time.  After months of use, if it does dry up a little, add a few drops of water into it and knead.

Bottled Goopy Squeezy Glitter
Ingredients: 1 part flour, 1 part salt, 1 part water, food coloring.   
Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water. Pour into plastic squeeze bottles, such as those used for mustard and ketchup. Add food coloring for variety. Squeeze onto heavy construction paper or cardboard. The salt gives the designs a glistening quality when dry.  You may want to remind children to make a design, rather than huge globs of squeezy glitter, since they take so long to dry.

Goop
Ingredients: 2 cups salt, 2/3 cup water, 1 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup cold water.   
Mix 2 cups salt and 2/3 cup water.  Heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly add mixture of 1 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water. Stir quickly.  Return to heat briefly if too "goopy".

Macaroni Coloring
Ingredients: Macaroni, food coloring, small Ziplock bags.    An easy, fun non-messy method of coloring macaroni.  In a small baggie add 2 handfuls of macaroni and food coloring. Seal the baggie and have a child shake the baggie until the macaroni is colored. Lay out on paper towels to dry.  String into necklaces and bracelets.  Glue onto boxes or heavy paper in the form of letters, flowers or animals.

Peanut Butter Playdough (Edible)
Ingredients: 18 oz. jar peanut butter, 6 Tablespoons honey, non-fat powdered milk (added until right consistency), cocoa for chocolate flavor.   Shape into animals, flowers, whatever you want.  Decorate with raisins, dried cranberries, slivers of dried apricots, and then eat your creations!  Note: Children under one year should never be given honey, because of the risk of botulism.

Fingerpaint
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
1/4 cup dishwashing liquid
food coloring or tempera paint
 
Mix sugar and cornstarch in a small pan. Slowly stir in water. Cook and stir over low heat until smooth and transparent. Remove from heat and cool. Stir in the dishwashing liquid. Divide into a few containers and color each with the food coloring or paint.

Kool-Aid Finger Paint
2 cups flour
2 packs unsweetened Kool-Aid
1/2 cup salt
3 cups boiling water
3T. oil

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients and have fun painting!

 

Rainbow Stew (non-messy fingerpaint)

Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar, 1 cup cornstarch, 4 cups water, Ziplock bags, food coloring.    Mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Heat, stirring often until thick. Let cool then divide and put in Ziplock bags. Seal the baggie and have fun mixing!

Bubbles 
3 cups water
1 cup dish liquid
1/3 cup corn syrup
 
Mix together. Keep in a jar and use within a couple of weeks.

 

Bubbles Inside Bubbles

This is a thick, goopy solution that forms bubbles strong enough to withstand a small puff of air.  You can blow bubbles inside bubbles with this mixture, and you don't need a straw.  Just make a bubble and blow!

 

2 1/2-3 parts water
1 part dishwashing liquid
Glycerine (found at most pharmacies)

 

Combine water, dishwashing liquid, and 1-2 tablespoons of glycerine in a bowl or plastic container.

Puff Paint 
Mix together equal parts of flour, sugar and water.  Add liquid tempera paint for color.  Put these in squeeze bottles and allow the paint to flow freely without pushing or dragging on it.  The pictures will dry with a puffy effect.

 

Daddy-Smelling Puff Paint
1 part shaving cream
1 part white glue
Food coloring

Mix first two ingredients and place into several custard cups.  Place a drop or two of food coloring into each cup and mix.

Sparkle Gel 

Stir together and paint over any finished art project for a beautiful sparkly finish.
1 large jar of hair gel
1 small container of very fine glitter

 

Eggshell Sidewalk Chalk
This recipe is for sidewalks only. Do not use this chalk on any other surface.

Supplies Needed:
1 tsp. very hot tap water
food coloring (optional)
eggshells
flour

1. Wash and dry the eggshells overnight.  Put into a bowl and grind into a powder, or do the job in a food processor, tossing out any remaining large pieces.
2. Place enough flour and hot water in another bowl to make a paste.  Add 1 tablespoon eggshell powder and mix until a paste forms.  Add food coloring if desired.
3. Shape and press mixture firmly into the shape of a chalk stick, and roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel.
4. Allow to dry approximately 3 days until hard.  Remove paper towel and you have a piece of sidewalk chalk!

Magic Marker Tie-Dying

This is tie-dying with much less mess than the original method of using dyes, but still lots of fun!

 

Supplies needed:

Permanent broad tip markers

White cotton T-shirts or socks

Rubber bands or cotton string

Rubbing Alcohol

Spray bottle

 

Wrap the shirt or socks tightly with the string, or tie them together with rubber bands.   Press the magic marker tip to the fabric,
leaving some areas of white.  Be sure to get some inside the folds of the fabric.  Fill the spray bottle with alcohol and spray
onto the fabric.  The alcohol will help blend the colors.  Allow fabric to dry completely, then remove the rubber bands or string. Iron to set the colors, using a moist press cloth and allow to dry again.  Before wearing, wash fabric using cold water, the gentle cycle and dry in the dryer.

Salt Ceramics
Ingredients: 1 cup salt, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 3/4 cup water, food coloring.   
Mix well and heat until mixture thickens.  Roll into ball and chill.  When cold, roll out mixture about 1/4" or a tiny bit thinner.  Cut into cookie cutter shapes.  Place on wax paper-lined cookie sheets.  Decorate with glitter, beads, sequins, poster paints, nail polish, old jewelry, felt, another color of ceramic dough or any scraps.  Be sure to make tiny holes with a large needle for hanging or insert a paper clip while wet.  These make wonderful Christmas ornaments that last for years if packed away carefully in a cool, dry place.  I have some ornaments that I made that will hang on our tree for the 37th year.  My favorites are gingerbread men, hobby horses, Christmas trees, angels, sleighs, bells.  A candy cane can be made by twisting two "snakes" together with the colors already mixed into the dough. The colors in mine didn't fade either.  I used pastels colors.  An ornament is nice to give to friends.  Everyone loves an unexpected gift!  A box of these hand-made ornaments would make a nice wedding gift, since most newlyweds don't have ornaments when they marry.  

Sun Clay
Ingredients: 2 cups salt, 1 cup cornstarch, and water.    Mix the salt and 2/3 cup water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring until the salt is dissolved. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, slowly add 1/2 cup water to the cornstarch. Stir until smooth, then add to the salt mixture. Return to low heat and cook until smooth, stirring frequently. Store in a sealed plastic bag.  Place the clay on a tray or paper plate and have children work outdoors or in a sunny area indoors. Give children a lump of clay to model. Children may decorate their sun sculptures with small stones, leaves etc..  Place the finished items in the sun to dry. Challenge children to predict how long it will take for the sculptures to dry. When this clay hardens in the sun, it won't crumble. 

Beautiful Colored Crystal Garden
This beautiful colored crystal garden will produce delicate crystals and will take up to two weeks to complete.  Adult supervision is advised.

Supplies needed:
1 pie pan (glass, not metal)
Small pieces of brick, porous stone or charcoal
Distilled water
Ammonia
Non-iodized salt
Glass jar or bowl
Bluing (in laundry department)
Food coloring

Break porous stone, brick or charcoal into about 1 inch pieces. Place into the glass pie plate in an even layer.  In a separate jar or glass bowl, carefully mix 1/4 cup water, 1 Tbsp. ammonia, 1/4 cup bluing, and 1/4 cup non-iodized table salt. Make sure the salt dissolves completely, before pouring the mixture into the pie plate over the porous stone, making sure that the pieces of stone, brick or charcoal are not completely covered with the liquid.  Sprinkle drops of food coloring randomly over the top of the stone or charcoal and wait for the crystals to grow. Growth starts in as little as two days and can last up to two weeks. 

 

 

POLYNESIAN CHICKEN - A GREAT FREEZER MEAL

Purchase enough of the following ingredients to assemble this recipe in multiples.  Then freeze for several easy carefree dinners this summer!  Just add a couple side dishes of vegetables to round out this meal or serve over hot brown rice.  You can easily cook a large pot of brown rice ahead of time and freeze it in Ziplock bags as well.  Then at mealtime, all you need to do is heat the rice in the microwave and add whatever spices you desire, unless you season it before freezing, which is what I prefer.

Add these ingredients to Ziploc Gallon Bag #1:
6 boneless, skinless  chicken breasts, cubed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
 
Add the following ingredients to Ziploc Gallon Bag # 2:
2 cups  pineapple chunks
1 cup water chestnuts
1 1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/2  cup chicken broth
2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
 
Add the following to Ziploc quart bag # 3:
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup diced green onion
1/4 cup cornstarch
 
Directions:  Thaw contents of all three bags in the refrigerator (in about two days).  Cook contents of Bag #1 in a hot skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil, lightly browning the chicken.  Add thawed contents of Bag #2 to the chicken and heat.  When completely hot, add contents of Bag #3, stirring until the sauce thickens.  Serve immediately over cooked brown rice or with two vegetables.

 

 

CHICKEN OR VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Thanks to Rhoda Long in Virginia for this delicious recipe!

 

Tomato Sauce:

            1 jar spaghetti sauce

            1 onion, chopped

            1 clove garlic, chopped fine

            1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped

            ¼ tsp. each – salt and pepper

            1 can black beans or chopped spinach or chopped squash

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped

(Add more vegetables in place of chicken for meatless lasagna)

Cheese Sauce:

            2 eggs, beaten

            2 cups cottage cheese

            2 cups shredded Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese (save half for top)

Lasagna Noodles, cooked

 

Spread half of tomato layer on bottom of a 9x13" pan.  Place layer of lasagna noodles on top.  Cover with half cheese mixture.  Repeat these layers.  Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese on top.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.        

 

 

PRIORITIES    

© 2008, Stacy R. Miller - Proverbs 31 Devotions - My Blog - Used by permission

Do you struggle to keep your priorities in the right order?  I certainly do!  It can be quite frustrating at times.  We try to keep our husbands happy, take care of the kids, manage a home, keep on top of all the outside activities, keep up with extended family, and suddenly, there is no time left for us, nor time to spend with the Lord.

 

Psalm 1 gives some wonderful insights into how to change this merry-go-round that seems to spin out of control.  Verse 2 tells us the godly delight in doing everything the Lord wants.  Hmm…..how many times do I find myself doing things everyone else wants me to do?  That happens more often that I care to admit.  Perhaps that is our problem.  Sisters, we need to learn to say "no!"  If you don't think you can say no up front to someone who asks you to do something, train yourself to say, "Let me pray about this and discuss it with my husband, then I'll get back to you."  This will train you to be a God-pleaser, rather than a man-pleaser.  You will learn to pray before saying "yes," and it may lessen your load because you may discover that God wants you to cut many activities from your life.

 

The second part of verse 2 says the godly think about God's law day and night.  This means they take time to read the Word, meditating on it until it is in their spirit.  This way, even when they are going about their daily grind, they can still be thinking about what they have learned.  This takes practice and diligence.  Ok, I can hear some of you saying, "I just don't have time for this!" 

 

Verse 1 tells us the godly don't follow the advice of the wicked.  We may claim to not have time to read the Word, but how often do we turn on secular TV and listen to the ungodly advice given there?  How often do we pick up a magazine or newspaper and read ungodly advice in those pages?  Verse 1 also mentions the joy the godly have because they aren't filling their spirit with ungodly advice. 

 

This verse also tells us the godly do not stand around with sinners.  In other words, they find wise, godly friends who will be like iron sharpening iron.  The godly also refuse to sit down and get comfy with those who scoff the very Lord they serve.  Yet, how many times do we sit down and turn on a situation comedy to relax and wind down for the night?  Often, these shows portray the fathers as idiots, and they frequently make Christians look like morons.

 

Verse 3 tells us the godly bear fruit in each season.  If we make time with the Lord a priority in our lives, it will enable us to stand firm regardless of what comes our way.  We can bear fruit:

n       when going through a desert experience,

n       when the children are squabbling,

n       when a family member is ill

n       when our marriage is in a rut,

n       in the midst of a job loss,

n       while grieving the death of a loved one.

 

I don't know about you, but with the trying times in which we live, I'm finding much more life in the Word than on television.  It refreshes my spirit and gives me hope, even when the evening news makes me want to tremble in fear.

 

Do your priorities need to be adjusted?

 

 

A VERY SPECIAL PROVERBS 31 GIFT

By Lois Breneman, © 2009, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected] 

 

A few weeks ago my sweet daughter-in-law and son gave me a Proverbs 31 Basket for Mother's Day, and I'd like to share the idea with you as a very thoughtful gift to give and certainly a wonderful gift to receive.  The two of them, my husband and I were in the family room as they presented me with a large gift basket full of items.  James sat in the rocking chair reading Proverbs 31:10-31 from the NAS version of the Bible, as Emily, who was sitting on the floor in front of him, presented me with (twenty-one gifts) corresponding with the various scriptures as he read slowly.  I was extremely touched, to say the least, by the thoughtfulness and love that went into this very special gift - one I will never forget!

 

¹⁰An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels (body wash with the word "diamonds").
    ¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain (Gain laundry detergent).
    ¹²She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
    ¹³She looks for wool and flax (flax seeds) and works with her hands in delight.
    ¹⁴She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar (bag of wheat berries) 
    ¹⁵She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens.
    ¹⁶She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard (Tuscan Vineyard candle).  
    ¹⁷She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong (Brawny paper towels).
    ¹⁸She senses that her gain is good; her lamp (glass lantern) does not go out at night.
    ¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.
    ²⁰She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.
    ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet (red dishcloth, hot pad, mitt).
    ²²She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen (lace doily) and purple (Lavender Fields fragrant sachet and a bag of lavender potpourri).
    ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
    ²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.
    ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles (toothpaste and toothbrush) at the future.
    ²⁶She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
    ²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread (homemade loaf of bread) of idleness.
    ²⁸Her children (pictures of each of my children) rise up and bless her; her husband (picture of our entire family from last summer's beach trip) also, and he praises her, saying: 

    ²⁹"Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all."
    ³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised (James then gave me a wooden plaque that he had made with this scripture verse painted on along with a flower he painted). 
    ³¹Give her the product of her hands (2 moisturizer skin lotions), and let her works praise her in the gates.
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ 
         

 

CREATE CARE PACKAGES TO STREAMLINE YOUR SUMMERTIME OUTINGS
By Debbie Williams - [email protected] - Copyright 2006 - Used by permission

Always Be Prepared: It's not just for the Boy Scouts anymore. Being prepared, and having items assembled in a kit or Care Package format, saves me a tremendous amount of time at home and in the office. 

Below are a few Care Packages you can prepare for your troops:
Mess Kit - Anyone who spends more than half an hour away from home realizes the importance of carrying snacks and drinks with them. Sales people driving in a car need coffee or a cup of water with a snack to keep them energized during those unending days of cold calling. Professional speakers wouldn't be without a snack and bottled water in their carry-on bag for long waits in an airport. And if you are pregnant, have low blood sugar, or have children, you need a granola bar and bottled water in your tote bag for emergency snacks on the go. Pack these in a zippered plastic bag or softsided lunch bag, and you're ready for just about anything your mobile life has to throw at you.

First Aid - Pack a simple first aid kit in a shaving kit, makeup bag, or zippered bag. The presentation really won't make any difference as long as you have it safe and dry and at the ready when you need it. Toss in a few bandaids, gauze with tape, fingernail clippers which will double as scissors, antibacterial cream, anti-itch cream, and sunscreen. 

Picnic to Go - If you're fortunate enough to have a pretty wicker hamper, just keep it packed full of your favorite picnic items and grab and go to your favorite hideaway with your family for a restful picnic. Or use an under-bed storage box or plastic tub to contain the nonperishable items your family uses on a regular basis when picnicking in the great outdoors: A plastic tablecloth, tablecloth clips, paper plates, plate holders, napkins, cups, wipes or hand cleaner, bug spray & sunscreen (or a combination of the two), can or bottle opener, plastic grocery bag or gallon zippered bag for trash, take out samples of salt & pepper. 

This is the bare essential version of an all-purpose picnic kit, but feel free to add other items your family needs to ensure a safe and fun outing. 

Diaper Bags for Big Kids - Once children are potty-trained, parents often don't feel the need to carry underwear or a change of clothes any longer. But long days away from home can invite all sorts of accidents into the lives of an otherwise fun day for you and your family.

Face these surprises head on with a bag filled with clean underwear, change of clothes, socks, and wipes. Roll or fold flat and stuff into a gallon zippered bag, then store discreetly in the trunk of your car so as not to embarrass your "big kid" or even bigger spouse. There's nothing wrong with taking extra clothes to prepare for a soccer game that turns muddy, or a favorite blouse that is christened with baby's spit-up. Diaper bags aren't just for babies any more.

Entertainment Kits - I fondly refer this to The Restaurant Bag, but feel free to use it for movies, church, theater, or any other quiet place you take your young child. Keep a canvas book bag or small backpack stocked with food and toys that your kids can use to entertainment themselves with quietly as you wait for food, watch a show, or listen to an aria. 

A snack of peanut butter and crackers, juice box, crayons and paper, toy car, and small books provide quite a few minutes of entertainment for your little one, and buy you some time before they get fidgety once again. Toss in a cup of milk or water, and Junior has dinner to go while you wait for your gourmet meal in a grownup restaurant. 

Spending time with your friends and family doesn't have to be hot and tiring all summer long. By having a few emergency kits ready for action, you will be prepared for just about anything that comes your way this summer. And before you know it, school will start up again and the kids will leave you with an empty house once again. (Now how many days is that, or are you counting?

Debbie Williams is an author and teacher who offers tools and training to help you put your life in order. Learn more practical tips like these in her book for home managers, Put Your House in Order.

 

CUTE QUOTES FROM KIDS!

Thanks to these three "Heart to Heart" ladies, we have three cute quotes from kids!  Please keep them coming, ladies!

 

Some years ago we lived in the downstairs unit of a 2-bedroom house.  To get to our domain you would first go through a gate which passes by the front door of the upstairs house, where lived a family with a dog named "Scrappy" who would bark 

ferociously every single time that front gate opened.  One afternoon my 6-year-old son and I were sitting at our dining table drawing in coloring books together when we heard the familiar bark of our upstairs neighbor's dog.  Glancing at the clock on the wall, and anticipating my children's excitement when Daddy gets home from work, I looked down at my son and said with a big smile, "Son, do you hear that?  Do you think that's Daddy???"  Not even looking up at me he stated matter-of-factly, "That's not Daddy, Mom.  That's Scrappy." ~ Jessica Kaauwai, blessed mother in Hawaii

 

My youngest daughter who will be 5 in August heard her almost 40 year old daddy complaining about aches and pains and getting old.  She said, " Daddy, I don't want you to get old!"  Daddy asked why and Jacqueline said, " Because then I won't have a Daddy I'll have a Grandpa!"  ~ Love, Robyn Armijo, Chile

 

As we were in Walmart's parking lot one day, about ready to load our purchases into the van, Sheri,5, spied some little birds in an empty parking space nearby and remarked, "Those birdies don't know where we live!" ~ Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania

 

 

WHY DO WE LOVE CHILDREN?

I thought you would enjoy these comments from young children.  The kids that I teach say similar things. ~ Becky Gardner in Louisiana 1) AMAZING ~ I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!' 2) OPINIONS ~ On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.' 3) KETCHUP ~ A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone.. 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.' 4.) LOST ~ A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, ''What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'' 5) POLICE # 1 ~ While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'  6) POLICE # 2 ~ It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked. 'It sure is,' I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?' 7) ELDERLY ~ While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!' 8) DRESS-UP ~ A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.' 'And why not, darling?' 'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.' 9) DEATH ~ While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' 10) SCHOOL ~ A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I  can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!' 11) BIBLE ~ A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. 'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out. 'What have you got there, dear?' With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

 

  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.

(¨`·.·´¨)                                                   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 [email protected].  New subscribers will receive a "Start-Up Kit." 

 

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

-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]