Quote from Forum Archives on June 22, 2009, 4:57 pm

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

  HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN

Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman

 

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6/22/09 Poem about Dad, Surviving Tough Times, Family Fun, Poultry, Money-Saving Tips, Cuteness Alert

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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:  

A WORD ABOUT THE HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER 
BACK FROM VACATION

SAND AND STONE
A POEM TO HONOR A SPECIAL FATHER AND UNCLE -- DAD AND UNCLE BILL

SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES - DAY-OLD DEALS
ANYTIME FAMILY FUN
CRAFTS & THINGS
TIPS AND TIDBITS 
CROCK POT - POULTRY
PRACTICAL AND USEFUL  MONEY-SAVING TIPS
CUTENESS ALERT! 
BABY CONGRATULATIONS!

QUOTES WORTH THINKING ABOUT
DEAR MOMMY FRIENDS
THE MUSIC OF HIS PROMISES

 

A WORD ABOUT THE HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER

        For the past ten and a half years I have thoroughly enjoyed putting together the Heart to Heart Newsletter with the Lord's help for the purpose of blessing and encouraging other women.  It barely takes any more time to send the newsletter to additional ladies who hopefully would benefit by receiving it, and there's an easy way you can help share it with others. 

        If you would like to invite your friends to receive Heart to Heart from me, at no cost to them, of course, please feel free to take a printed copy of one of the newsletters that has meant the most to you to your Sunday school class, Bible study, ladies' retreat, or any other group of women and extend a personal invitation to them.  That is how most ladies learn about it - through a personal invitation from a friend or family member.

        All I need for new subscribers is the information below - with their e-mail address printed very clearly.  You might want to pass around a paper for them to give the necessary information to start receiving the newsletters themselves.  I will get everyone started by the end of the month, by sending a Welcome Letter, "Start-Up Kit" and the last few newsletters.

 

Example of a Sign-up List:         

 

Name                    City and State     E-mail address         Referral Person         Phone number in case of ???. about e-mail

                                                                                                                                                               

Laura Sunshine    Lancaster, PA    [email protected]      Julie Shivley            (717) 848-9999

 

There are three ways your friends could start receiving Heart to Heart:
1. You could mail a "Sign up" list to me with the info above.  Let me know if you need my mailing address.

2. You could type out the list and e-mail it to me.
3. Each new subscriber could e-mail me, listing her name, city, state, e-mail address, and the name of her referral person.

 

BACK FROM VACATION
Sorry for the delay in sending this newsletter before Father's Day, intended for a week ago.  We were on vacation in Tennessee and Georgia with our daughter's family, and although I had the newsletter finished, it just didn't work out to send it while there.  Although it was terribly hot, we had an exciting, yet relaxing time.  We even rode two different wild roller coasters - the ones that go straight up, straight down, and even go upside down in loops!  Oh my goodness!  We experienced additional fun and adventure, riding on at least three breath-taking water rides.  We thought this might be our last chance before old age sets in!  Actually I had to talk my husband into going with me!  After a while, he said, "If you really want to go, I'll go with you."

 

SAND AND STONE
Author unknown - Thanks to Margie DeMonbrun in Missouri for sending this important reminder!

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert.  During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.  After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
"Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away.  But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your "Hurts" in the Sand, and to carve your "Benefits" in Stone!

A POEM TO HONOR A SPECIAL FATHER AND UNCLE

        This sweet poem was written by a childhood friend of mine, who graciously allowed me to include her delightful poem in Heart to Heart.  Janis Weber Williamson in Tennessee has grown even more dear to me in the last several months.  My family and hers knew each other well through our church, the York Gospel Center in Pennsylvania, where our beloved pastor, Ralph Boyer, shepherded the flock with Bible teaching, true to the Word of God.  The Weber family and Walker family were friends, and even after the Webers later moved to California, we managed to visit them there.  Janis' mother was my Sunday school teacher and my mother was hers and Janis' dad and mine both loved the Lord and their families.  These two men also both had such grins that made you wonder what they had hidden up their sleeves!  And they often did have things up their sleeves, the pranksters that they were! 
        Janis and I both have such wonderful and precious memories of our growing up years in Pennsylvania, and since we have just recently reconnected, we've enjoyed e-mailing back and forth, as well as having several enjoyable hours of catching up over the phone.  Here is one of Janis' precious memories of her dad and Uncle Bill.

         

DAD AND UNCLE BILL

I am looking through a window

Carved in memories

As my tears spill down

Upon the windowsill

For there in the distance

Of forty years or more

Are two fishin' buddies

Dad and Uncle Bill

They're sitting in a boat

In the middle of a lake

And quite frankly

Where the fish are___I'm not sure

But the laughing and the quaking

And the ruckus they are making

Would cause any fish with sense

To swim for shore

The sandwiches were plenty

The Thermos jugs were full

With coffee strong enough

To sink the boat

Armed and ready for the wait

Tin cans crawling with live bait

These two dived into

Their arsenal of jokes

And the day just floated on 'til the setting of the sun

And the silence and the talk drifted in and drifted out

And the mystery of fishermen, the friendship and the bond

Lured me into wonder I'm still wondering about

Through my naïve childhood eyes

I could not have realized

The treasure….

They were painting on my mind

In that rowboat far away

I saw Tom and Huck at play

And it helped my fear

Of growing old subside

I was only twenty-one

When God called my father home

While He left his fishin' buddy

Here below

Summer days spent on the lake

Stood locked in picture frames

Reminding me that what I had

Was mine to hold

And the years kept moving forward

And the miles kept growing long

'Till the ebb and flow of living

Finally brought me back to home

He was standing in his doorway

Like a lighthouse on a hill

Ever patient__ever loving__

Ever there__my Uncle Bill

I ran into the arms

I hadn't felt since I was ten

There inside his bear hug

I found my dad again

And the seasons kept on turning

Like the changing of the tides

'Till the fishin' buddies met again

On the other side

I know we can't be certain

All that's on the other shore

But I'll cast my bets…

Their nets are fuller than they were before!

So the living keep on living

And the love grows deeper still

And I cannot help but linger

Upon this windowsill

For through tears that taste of sea salt

Two fishermen I spy

Who taught me how to keep

The child in me alive….

Two fishin' buddies

Dad__and Uncle Bill.

I miss you both so much.

Love,

Jannee

J. Bernadette Williamson

8-25-99

 

 

SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES - DAY-OLD DEALS
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant - www.skilledquill.net - Used by permission

This article originally appeared in The Dollar Stretcher.com - where we make "Living Better...for Less" possible for readers every day. Not only does the site host thousands of articles on various ways to save money, but you'll also find a vibrant forum <http://community.stretcher.com/forums/> where people share their dollar stretching ideas. Subscribe to our new free weekly "Surviving Tough Times: Inflation fighters" newsletter [email protected] which features 6 or 7 articles to help you stretch your dollar! ~ Dollar Stretcher Editor, Gary Foreman

 

Your grocery store discount shelf could provide lots of great foods...if you know how to use them.

Most bargain-savvy shoppers head straight to the clearance bin or discount shelf in the grocery store to score a low price, but if the goods go bad before you can use them, you save nothing. Instead of lamenting their demise, use them up in dishes to eat right away or to pop in the freezer for later. Here are a few ways to use and/or preserve perishables so your "day-old" deals will prove to be frugal.

Fruit is commonly discounted when it's on the verge of spoilage. Of course, for bananas that are really brown, banana bread, muffins and cake can make good use of them; however, for those still firm and just flecked with brown, pop them in the freezer (right in their peels) and peel them later for use in smoothies.

Bananas will last a little longer for fresh consumption sliced and put in a gelatin dessert or tossed with fruit juice in a fruit salad.

With most fruit that is still firm and wholesome, you can also prepare it as if you're going to eat it and puree it for convenient baby food (add a little water if needed) or use in future smoothies or sorbet. Frozen in ice cube trays, fruit cubes may be stored in freezer bags for a few months.

Who says it always has to be applesauce? Try saucing pears, peaches, pineapple and other firm-flesh fruits and freezing for enjoying later.

Don't let fruit have all the fun. Orange-colored veggies just past their prime like sweet potatoes and carrots can also sneak into smoothies. Try grated carrots and sweet potatoes in spice muffins and cakes. As with fruit, cook and puree veggies for baby food cubes.

Soft avocados work best in guacamole. Clean and freeze spinach for using shredded in lasagna, quiche and frittata later. With many veggies, bad spots may be cut out and discarded and the rest may be used, but to prevent illness, thoroughly cook the produce.

Hard cookies? You know the drill. Pop a slice of bread or apple in an airtight container with them. Ground-up, day-old cookies also make terrific crumb crusts for tortes, pies, and cheesecakes.

Bread usually dries out even more in the freezer; however, if your intended use is for stuffing (it's not just for Thanksgiving and try it with chicken and pork), French toast, or for topping casseroles or grinding into breadcrumbs, just transfer the loaves to freezer-safe containers for long-term storage. If you plan to use it within three weeks, the original wrappers work.

Day-old pastries and doughnuts can be revived to moistness by microwaving them for a few moments. Or cut them up for using in a trifle (layer pastry cubes, prepared pudding, whipped cream and chunks of fruit with juice in a trifle pan).

Depending on the variety, over-the-hill cereal can also be blended into smoothies, ground into crumb crusts and used to top casseroles. Be careful about using it to make cereal bars or marshmallow-based treats because adding just a couple of ingredients won't mask the stale taste for discriminating palates.

Dairy products remain wholesome a week after their expiration date. Skim and low-fat milk tends to freeze better than whole milk, but transfer it to a freezer-safe container to allow room for the milk to expand. If you find the milk isn't palatable after freezing, it may be used for cooking, as long as milk isn't the star ingredient, such as pudding or a white sauce.

If the milk has really gone downhill, whip up recipes calling for sour milk. Some baked goods use it and you can freeze them for later use.

Most kinds of firm cheese freeze well, but as with bread, repackage it for freezing long-term. To use up cheese in a hurry, you can add it to many dishes to pump up the protein and calcium. Use it in soups, pre-made dishes that already have some cheese (like frozen pizzas), tuna casserole, and scrambled eggs.

Speaking of eggs, you can use them up in a jiffy if you fire up your oven and bake. Quiche, frittata and cheesecake use up lots of eggs and they freeze well, too. Double or triple the recipes and divide the dishes into family-sized portions for handy defrosting. 

 

ANYTIME FAMILY FUN

By Betty Benson Robertson - Used by permission

Balloon Basketball - Use laundry baskets or large waste baskets as the "goal." Divide into teams and play like regular basketball. Balloons must stay in the container for points to be scored. Minus 2 points for broken balloons. Be sure to have ample balloons blown up and ready to use, as many will be popped during play!

Crazy Olympics - Think up as many fun things as you can, such as:
Javelin Throw - using straws
Discus Throw - using paper plates
One-Yard Dash - taking off shoe and kicking a large marshmallow with the foot
Indoor Mile - go 50 feet with hands on ankles
Shot Put - throwing cotton balls
Hammer Throw - stuff newspaper into the bottom of small paper sacks; squeeze top of sacks together and tie on long strings each player throws a sack, holding the string by the end and swinging several times
Diving - each player has 5 jellybeans; place a small container half full of water at a certain distance from line; see how many beans can get into receptacle
Bicycle Relay - three people for each team; two hold right or left hand facing each other; third person straddles the hands; all three run to goal line; and so forth.

Fling Sock - A major part of the appeal of the FlingSock is that just about anyone plays reasonably well from the moment they pick it up. With about 20 seconds of instruction, kids will be immediately having fun. They'll be delighted with how easy they can throw and catch this thing. The FlingSock is simple and versatile enough to be used for casual, simple games as well as intensely competitive sports. FlingSocks may be ordered at www.funattic.com/ffm1.htm.

Frisbee Golf - Each person needs a Frisbee. Collect carpet squares and set up a "golf course", using the rugs as greens. Play as regular golf, each toss counting as one stroke until the Frisbee makes it to the green.

Oops! That's Okay - No net is needed. A beach ball or heavy-duty balloon can be used. The object is for each team to keep the ball from touching the ground by batting to the other team. When the ball touches the ground, everyone hollers "Oops! That's okay!" The opposing team gets 10 points and the ball continues where dropped. 100 points is a game.

Water Balloon Toss - Fill up enough small balloons with water, so every two pupils has a balloon. The children line up in two parallel lines, facing toe-to-toe with their partner. Every time the leader says "Back up", both children take one foot step backwards. Pretty soon the teams will be far apart. The object is to see which two are the last with a balloon still full of water!

After all these fun activities, head inside to view Mary Rice Hopkins & Puppets With A Heart DVD which is non-stop fun!  Available from www.MaryRiceHopkins.com. 

CRAFTS & THINGS
By Julie Druck, A Heart for Home Newsletter -  [email protected] - Used by permission

* Beanbag Balls – We made these beanbag balls one summer, and the boys really enjoyed playing with them.  The directions come from "Family Fun."  Stretch an 11" round balloon by inflating it halfway, holding it closed for about 30 seconds and then deflating it.  Place a funnel in the balloon's neck and gradually pour in 3/4 C. of dried lentils, pushing them in as you go.  The balloon should be firm but squeezable.  Snip off the balloon's thick rubber lip.  Cut the neck off a second balloon and gently stretch the opening.  Ease the second balloon over the filled balloon, tucking in the neck as you go.  The original instructions say to add a third balloon layer, but we just did two. 

* Button Candles – Fill a jelly jar 1/3 of the way up with buttons of desired shape and color (smaller ones work best for this project).  Place a votive candle on top of the layer of buttons.  Tie raffia around the lip of the jar to finish.  OR glue a strip of ribbon around the middle of the jar and then glue a large button in the center to finish.

* Eraser Note Cards – Create designs, flowers and geometric shapes in different colors with eraser tips to decorate note cards.  Holding a new pencil vertically, with a sharp knife, vertically slice off 1/2 of the eraser.  Take another pencil and vertically slice off 1/3 of the tip.  Dip each eraser end into an inkpad and use them to stamp designs onto your note cards.  You can also dip a whole pencil eraser to form complete circles.   

* Tea Cup Night Light – I found these directions somewhere in blog land to create a pretty little night light.  With a glue gun, place a few drops of hot glue to the base of an electric candle with a low watt bulb so that it adheres to a tea cup saucer.  Take a 2" clay pot and place it upside down on top of the bulb so that the tip of the bulb rests in the hole on the pot.  Put a few drops of glue on top of the clay pot and carefully place a tea cup upside down on the top of the clay pot.  The tea cup serves as the shade of your night light.  Make sure everything is completely dry and then plug in your new night light. 

* Button Doilies – To dress up a plain doily or other piece of linen, simple sew some pretty vintage buttons to it around the edges or in a design.  I added gold heart buttons to an old doily and placed it under a potted plant on a saucer.  Simple yet elegant.

* Teapot Notecard – Cut the shape of a teapot out of cardstock and write a short note on the back.  To the front, staple a tea bag.  If desired, also staple a small bag of goodies to the back of the card for an instant tea-party-for-one.  Deliver to a friend.  
 

TIPS AND TIDBITS 

Colorful Marbled Card ~ Fill a large pan (9x13) pan with shaving cream, then add drops of food coloring.  Swirl with a knife and gently press a piece of card stock paper onto shaving cream and food coloring.  Lift paper off and squeegee off excess and you have a "marbled" card.  Sounds fun for a Father's Day card or any occasion! ~ Thanks to Julie Karsten in Washington for this great craft idea!  By the way, Julie's my niece!

Father's Day Card Ideas ~ http://familycrafts.about.com/b/2009/06/09/home-made-fathers-day-card-gallery.htm?nl=1

Frugal Father's Day Gifts  ~ Tips from Mommysavers Newsletter - www.mommysaver.som - Used by permission
This will be my husband's first father's day. I plan to buy a nice container and fill it with little notes saying things that his son loves about him, so that he can read one each day. As our son grows, we will add to the container. -- Linda from VA

This is my husband's favorite gift: My husband works on the road so he is in his truck most of the day. But I think this could work for anyone. I make him a goodie bag for everyday of the week, the week of that special occasion. 5 bags. In the bags I put coffee and lunch money, snacks for the day and a nice note from us. You could put anything you know he likes in the bag, favorite gum, etc... Surprise him with a new theme everyday. My husband looks forward to his "bag" every morning. My husband usually has a wonderful week knowing he is all taken care of. And he doesn't have to worry about money all week!!!! Also he loves getting a picture of all the kids. -- Joy from MD

We started a tradition for Father's Day. Each year we stamp our daughter's hand print on a piece of canvas and get a simple 8x10 black frame to go with it. That way dad gets to see how she grows each year and by getting a simple black frame, they are all the same and can be displayed together over the years. And for Mother's Day we do our daughter's feet prints the same way. -- Stephanie from TX          Click here for more ideas

 

Packing for Road Trips ~ Go to www.mommysavers.com and scroll down a bit for a video on tips for traveling with children and an offer of Kim Danger's free e-books.

Grease Stains Too! ~ I had previously mentioned using a Fels-Naptha bar of soap to pretreat stubborn stains, by wetting the spot, rubbing the bar into the stain, and rubbing or using a toothbrush on the stain before throwing in the laundry.  Last week I found it even works on black grease stains.  My husband used the soap to get out the grease stain on a pair of his shorts!  I told him I thought the Fels-Naptha bar might get it out and he beat me to trying it!

Mr. Rebates ~  Julie Karsten in Washington says, "I found this great site, tons of online shopping, rental cars, hotels etc. (stuff you already buy) and they will give you a percent back, in cash, depending on which one you buy from. Check it out."
You can shop at hundreds of online stores like Dell, Office Depot, Target, Overstocked, J.C. Penney, Staples, Old Navy, Home Depot, Macy's, Best Buy and many more. You can get up to 30% cash-back!  http://www.mrrebates.com/default.asp?pid=10&refid=340409

Advice for Christian Teens ~ http://christianteens.about.com/od/advice/Advice_for_Christian_Teens.htm 

Born Again American ~ This is really something to see!  You will be blessed!  http://www.bornagainamerican.org/index.html
Thanks to Becky Noell in Georgia for sending this!

Changing Places: A Christians' Guide to Caring for Aging Parents ~ Betty Robinson says, "Our family cared for my parents in our home the last years of their lives and from those experiences I ended up writing Changing Places: A Christians' Guide to Caring for Aging Parents."  This book by Betty Robertson can be obtained at Christian bookstores or http://www.amazon.ca/Changing-Places-Christians-Caring-Parents/dp/0834120240.

CROCK POT - POULTRY
From Marilyn Moll's newsletter, The Urban Homemaker - www.urbanhomemaker.com
Keep the house cool by using your crock pot!  Here are 62 recipes!

90s Style Crockpot Coq Au Vin	Bacon Wrapped Chicken	Baked Cajun Chicken	Baked Chicken Breasts in Crock Pot
Basil Chicken	Broccoli Rice & Chicken	Caf?? Chicken	Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken
Caribbean Chicken	Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken	Chicken & Cherries Jubilee	Chicken a la King
Chicken and Cherries Jubilee C/P	Chicken & Rice Casserole	Chicken and Artichoke Casserole	Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Breasts Supreme	Chicken Creole	Chicken Crock Pie	Chicken Curry
Chicken Curry #2	Chicken Curry Hurry	Chicken Hearts Crockpot	Chicken in the Crock Pot
Chicken Marengo	Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms	Chicken Ol??	Chicken Paprika
Chicken Parisienne	Chicken Parmigiana	Chicken Sesame < /div>	Chicken Stew
Chicken Stroganoff in Crock Pot	Chicken Taco Filling	Creamy Chicken with Vegetables	Crockpot Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
Crock Pot Chicken	Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore	Crock Pot Chicken Dinner	Crock Pot Chicken in Mushroom Gravy
Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki	Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla	Crock Pot Garlic Chicken	Crock Pot Lacquered Chicken
Crock Pot Robust Chicken	Easy Chicken Noodle Soup	Forty-clove Chicken	Garlic Lemon Chicken
Ham 'n' Swiss Chicken	International Chicken	Italian Chicken and Potatoes	Italian Chicken Breast
Lemonemonade Chicken	Lemony Roasted Chicken	Lo-Cal Crock Pot Chicken	Low-Fat Glazed Chicken in Crock Pot
Mama's Chicken Stew	Pat's Creamy Chicken	Portugese Garlic Chicken	Turkey Casserole 20
Turkey Rice South with Tomatoes	Working Woman's Chicken and Rice

Note: Look for natural chicken without hormones, and remove all fat for the healthiest chicken.  Can be found at Kroger.

PRACTICAL AND USEFUL  MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Reader's Tips from The Dollar Stretcher - www.stretcher.com - Used by permission from Gary Foreman, the Editor  

Wise Words ~ I ran across some wonderful quotes about being thrifty and frugal. Cicero in  46 BC said, "Men do not realize how great an income thrift is." Thoreau said, "Almost any man knows how to earn money, but one in a million knows how to spend it." Aristotle said, "Men are divided between those who are as thrifty as if they would live forever and those who are as extravagant as if they were going to die tomorrow." ~ Bee J.

 

Basement "Air Conditioning" ~ Our basement is very cool in the summer. The temperature generally runs in the sixties. So we opened a panel of the heating duct leaving a clear passage between the basement and our living room via the intake air vent. On top of the grate (on the living room floor), we placed a regular fan flat over the grate so that it will pull the air up into the living room. Within minutes, the temperature drops in the living room and eventually circulates into other parts of the house. During the day, we keep our insulated curtains pulled on the south side of the house to keep the heat out. Finally, I do most of my cooking in the early morning. ~ Sarah C.

 

Refreshing! ~ Fill a gallon jug with water and freeze it. Set the frozen water jug in a shallow dish in front of fan and let her rip! This is especially good at night beside the bed. The shallow dish lets condensation drip without marring any surface. ~RPB

 

Better Grillin' ~ My children grill a great deal over the summer and I noticed an aluminum pan filled with water. I asked my son-in-law about the pan and he said it keeps everything he grills moist. What a great idea! ~ Jeanne W. in Dublin, OH

One Penny Solution ~ While purchasing live plants for my 90-gallon aquarium, I noticed that one had a snail on it, which is BAD NEWS! Not knowing any better, I left it in the tank and they multiply like rabbits. Soon the tank was overrun with snails. I called the local pet store for a solution and was told to toss a penny in the tank. It doesn't hurt the fish, but it changes the pH balance of the water and the snails die. Now where can you get a solution for anything for just a penny? ~ Carol from Sand Lake MI

 

Time for Coupons ~ I cut coupons from the Sunday paper and put them in the back of my coupon organizer (looks like a fabric wallet). Then when I'm delayed, waiting for someone, or otherwise stuck in the car, I flip through, throw out expired coupons, and put the new ones in place. I keep two organizers, one for food and one non-food items. Be sure to label one section NOW for especially good offers.  They stay in the car, inside a cloth bag along with a couple of other cloth bags. Krogers doubles coupons (50 cents and under) everyday and gives 5 cents for each bag of your own that you use. ~ Jeneene

 

Sun Tea ~ In our household, a two-liter plastic bottle is perfect for holding four bags of green or black tea in water; an hour after putting in the sun, it's ready to pour over ice and drink. It's as expensive as Kool-Aid, but green tea is a cancer fighter. Sugar is not required, and I don't get "coffee" (caffeine) nerves after drinking tea all day. (I stop at dinner or I might stay awake until dawn!) Removing the soft drink label does make a difference, about an hour's time. One does NOT get the same effect with three bags. I mix two green, plus two black, for my best "sun tea mix." ~ Ed S.

 

No Need for "Scrubbies" ~ Here's what I have been using to clean pots that have food stuck to them. I use a plastic phone card that has all the minutes used up. I have also used a plastic credit-card-sized gift card. Just scrape the gunk that is stuck in the pot or pan. For really tough jobs, I let it sit overnight with detergent in it. These plastic cards work really well and you don't have to deal with the gunk on your scrubbies or steel wool pads. Don't use expired credit cards, however, as these should be cut up when they expire to prevent credit card fraud. ~ K.  (Editor's note: somehow it seems a shame that we can't use old credit cards for the job!)
 
Kid's Craft Trays ~ The styrofoam bases from various kinds of vegetable and meat packages can be washed in the dishwasher and be used as "paint trays" for children when they do their crafts. ~ Terri D. 

 

Protecting Boy's Pants ~ My son goes through pants at an amazing rate. After he wore through the knees on several pairs after only wearing them a couple times, I decided I had to do something. I've found that sewing or ironing knee patches on the inside of the jeans or pants before they get holes will extend their life dramatically. Initially, I was concerned the patches would rub my son's knees, but he says he doesn't even feel them. Since I've started doing this, he actually outgrows his pants! ~ Karen G. in Haymarket, VA

 

A Plethora of Plants ~ This time of year a lot of grocery stores and home stores will have plants on sale in racks out front. Sometimes these plants won't sell fast enough and they start to wilt so they may put them on a major discount.  I was buying some of these discounted plants one day when the store manager approached me and asked me if I wanted everything on the racks. He told me that they were going to throw the plants away at the end of the day. So I ended up getting over a 100 plants for $3! I shared some with friends and neighbors and still had plenty for our garden. My husband and I planted them the same day, fertilized and watered them and now they look great! I would definitely recommend talking to the store manager about the sale plants. It saves them on their trash bill and it will save you money on buying new plants. ~ Tamara S of Bellevue, WA
                         
Ask the Chamber ~ When I plan a vacation, I will write or email the Chamber of Commerce of the area I will be visiting. Often I will chose between two or three cities. The chamber or even a visitor center will email me back or send a package with coupons and information. I can then plan my get-away with more knowledge than ignorance. I homeschool so I can also schedule field trips for the children this way at the same time! ~ Staci

 

Mom's Laundry Tip ~ My mother recently gave me a tip to whiten up dingy whites when nothing else works. Pour approximately 1/2 cup Cascade powder automatic dishwasher soap into a bucket or the washing machine with enough cold water to just cover the clothes, and let whites soak for one hour or more. Then put the clothes through a regular wash cycle and you will have sparkling whites! ~ Laurie

 

Soak It First ~ Blood is not the only stain that requires cold water soaking. In fact, soaking some stains in hot water will set them further into the fabric. Other stains that should be soaked in cold water are milk, cream, ice cream, mud, any beverage, tomato products, chocolate/cocoa, egg, meat juice, gravy, and fruit. ~ Donna

 

Stain Remover ~ With three males in the household, I need to spray every item of clothing before washing and I didn't want to go broke on laundry stain remover. So after experimenting, I found a mix that is not harmful (WARNING: mixing chemicals can be dangerous!) and works on the typical stains, such as dirt, grass, ink, and food.  Mix the following in an old spray bottle: (1/3rd rubbing alcohol, 1/3rd hydrogen peroxide, 1/6th Dawn dish liquid, 1/6th water).  The Dollar Store always has the items in stock. I spray the stains and brush the mixture in with an old toothbrush before washing. I am very pleased with the results. I keep a stock of the supplies on hand, which saves time and prevents running out. ~ Jean H.

 

Clothes Dryer Efficiency ~ Recently my husband and I had our clothes dryer repaired. The repairman gave my husband a great tip. Dryer sheets leave a gum-like residue on the lint catcher, which reduces airflow. This causes the appliance to run less efficiently and costs you more money to run. He suggested soaking the lint catcher in hot water and scrubbing it with a toothbrush on a regular basis to keep those energy bills down! ~ Kim in Southern NH 
 
Ants ~ Remember that large ants often mean damp rotted wood (kitchens, bathrooms, and basements). Get rid of the rotted wood, and you'll get rid of the ants.  Smaller ants like sugar and other foodstuffs. Keep counters, cupboards and garbage areas spotlessly clean of food droppings. ~ Ida-Mae K. in Proton Station, Ontario, Canada
 
Plastic Odors Gone ~ This tip is wonderful for plastics that have picked up an odor from food or just being closed up. Place a piece of crumpled newspaper inside, close the lid, and let it sit for a couple of days. Coolers that may not have been left open after use can benefit from this tip also. ~ Nancy F.
 
Cleaner Dentures for Less ~ I was tired of paying high prices for those drop in cleansing tablets and remembered a tip using baking soda and vinegar to freshen sink drains. So I tried it on my dentures. Not only did it work, but my dentures were cleaner than ever. Add just enough water to cover the dentures, a couple teaspoons of baking soda, and a tablespoon of vinegar to your cup. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and voila! The dentures rinse clean with no vinegar residue! Pour the remains down the  drain for an environmentally safe drain cleanser. Be careful with the vinegar. If you add too much, it will bubble out of the cup all over your counter. ~ Holly K
 
Anti-Perspirant Trick ~ When shopping for antiperspirant, you will notice that most brands have a different roll-on or stick for men and women, but they are priced the same. So if you're a woman and you buy the lady's scented stick, you're paying the same and getting the same, right? Wrong. The lady's version is exactly half the size of the men's stick, so in reality you are paying twice as much. Buy the men's stick (unscented or powder scented) and avoid being ripped off. ~ D

 

Easier-Clean Shower ~ My mother used to have a house-cleaning service for years and passed this tip along to me. After cleaning the bathtub, shower doors, tile, and fixtures, dry the surfaces with a clean rag (or paper towel). Once they are dry, apply a light coat of lemon oil over them all with a clean rag. The lemon oil (use a generic brand, no need for the expensive stuff) stops soap build up, repels mold, leaves an excellent sheen, and also has a nice smell. ~ S.  (Editor's note: be careful not to create a slippery floor. You want to be very careful with anything that you put on a shower or tub floor.) 

Protecting Valuables ~ If you use a regular camera to take pictures of your valuables, do not put your address on the envelope for development. Someone I worked with had a large collection of Hummels, took pictures for insurance purposes, took the film to the drugstore for developing, and two weeks later was robbed. The insurance company told her this had happened before.  If you take any pictures in your house that might show items of value, use a phony name or phony address, preferably both. Just make sure you remember what you used! ~ Arlene
 
Lower Hotel Rates ~ Almost all the services (like Orbitz) charge a small fee for booking the hotel. We check those services for the best rate and then contact the hotel directly.  Don't call the chain's 1-800 number, but use an Internet phone book to find the number and call the hotel during normal business hours. Ask them for their best rate. If the rate they give you is more than you found online, tell them that. They will often drop it to match the online service. ~ C.

 

CUTENESS ALERT! 

This evening I took my granddaughter, Emma Rose, 7, with me to visit and bring joy to a dear old lady on the eve of her 89th birthday. When Emma discovered how old Georgette is, Emma perkily piped up, "Oh my! You must be about to go to heaven but I think my great-grandma is going to beat you there because she is 92!" Georgette said she didn't know which made her laugh the most, what Emma Rose said or the expression of horror on my face. ~ Janis Williamson in Tennessee

 

My 3 year old grandson is all excited that the "spider-flies" are finally out. YIKES! Can you imagine? (He means fireflies). ~ Janis Williamson in Tennessee 

          I had lunch with my daughter and five year old granddaughter, Olivia.  She said, "Do you know I'm special to your heart?"  "How do you know that, I asked?"  She answered, "Because of the way you act to me!"  Now there's a good lesson in "our actions speak louder than our words!"  "Your walk talks, and you talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks."
         Olivia also told me she was very creative.  I asked what creative meant.  She said it was someone who was very good at artist work and someone who had good ideas.  She's got it! 

        When it was almost time for Olivia's mom to return, on her own without any suggestion from me, Olivia picked up all her toys and had me rewind the 2 Precious Moments' videos she had watched and she returned them to the shelf in her room (here).  I was speechless.  No kid does that!  I said, "Whatcha doin', Olivia?"  She told me she had watched the clock and she knew it was almost time for her mom to come back; so she knew it was time to, "Clean up, clean up!" ~ Margie DeMonbrun in Missouri

 

When Jubal was 4, he was having a hard time understanding why he has some clothes that were labeled 3T. He is 5 now and the 4T size is still baffling him. The concept that if it still fits, you can wear it, no matter the size is really stumping him. It's gotten kind of funny. I have tried to make it fun for him since he was kind of upset when he discovered it. (He is such a detail-oriented little guy.) He has not said anything about it in the past few weeks so I thought maybe we were through that little phase. Well, I was wrong .... Last week we bought him some new rain boots. He was sitting on the floor and I was watching him admire his new frog boots. Then he looked up at me in complete 5 year old innocence and said, "But mommy, I am not 13. The boots say 13. That's not right."  Too cute! I love it..... Kids are great! ~ Rhonda Janes in North Carolina 

 

Like Father, Like Son ~ Our grandson, Daniel, 14 months, didn't like wearing hats when he was very small, and his parents had trouble keeping one on him when necessary in cold weather.  Then one day he watched as his daddy put on a hat, and that did it!  He's loved hats ever since and now as he plays, he's wearing a hat from his collection almost all the time - usually sideways or backwards!  So cute!  Funny thing is that his daddy used to wear hats a good bit too as a young child, especially a yellow hard hat! ~ Lois

 

 

BABY CONGRATULATIONS!

Caleb Michael Quam was born on June 11, 2009.  He is the first grandchild of Mike and Joyce Quam in Virginia, and the first child of Brett and Ashley Quam, living in South Carolina.  A very special and beautiful baby boy, indeed!

 

QUOTES WORTH THINKING ABOUT

 

"When a society rejects God, it will increasingly look for someone else to save them. That 'savior' often becomes the 'king'... (Hegel's "March of God on the Earth")

 

"Five attributes marked Rome at its end: a mounting love of show and luxury; an obsession with sex, including homosexuality; freakishness in the arts masquerading as originality; enthusiasms pretending to be creativity; and an increased desire to live off the state." (Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire). ~ Thanks to Eileen Rife in Virginia for these two quotes!

 

"To see the Storyteller we need to slow down our interior life and watch. We need to be imbedded in the Word to experience the Storyteller's mind and pick up the cadence of his voice. We need to be alert for the story, for the Storyteller's voice speaking into the details of our lives. The story God weaves...always involves bowing before his majesty with the pieces of our lives." (A Praying Life by Paul Miller) ~ Thanks to Julie Pizzino in Virginia for this quote!

 

DEAR MOMMY FRIENDS
From Jalisa Wenger in Pennsylvania, who says, "My sister-in-law's friend sent her this and she shared it!  So true!"

Dear Mommy Friends,
The house is still - all the dear children are sweetly tucked into bed. I have a moment to finish tidying the corners and reflect on the day.  What did I imprint on the heart of my children today?  What will they remember me for? Lately, I have been pondering the character of Jochebed and the training that she instilled in her precious son Moses' heart at such a young age.  I am committing to not overlooking the little moments in my day that can be used for the Lord . . . changing a diaper, combing hair, just those little moments that I can tend to be mapping out the strategy for the next hour instead of delighting in and focusing on my precious children's hearts and souls.

    Many blessings to you, may you find much fulfillment in your calling!

        Love,

                    Jamila

 

If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.  Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 

 

THE MUSIC OF HIS PROMISES
From The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

"If we are bent on a mad tear through life, God will allow us that liberty, but He will not tear madly with us.  He will wait for us until we quiet down and wait on Him.  Sometimes we are not interested in quietness until things have suddenly fallen apart or come to a screeching halt, and the, in the ensuing silence we know that we cannot cure our evils and neither is God going to cure them.  What He has been waiting for is our attention, our eyes turned to Him who is the very Life of All the Ages, the Light that our darkness can never overcome, Christ Himself, with us, in us, suffering, loving, and transforming us into the same image." 

 

 

  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 Welcome Letter, "Start-Up Kit," and a recent newsletter or two.

 

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