HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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7/18/07 HOUSEWORK, HOPE, SLEEPY, SALADS, BUGS, SCARS, ADVICE, BABES
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HOUSEWORK: THE THANKLESS JOB
IS YOUR HUT ON FIRE?
ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE
TRYING TO GET PREGNANT? THERE IS HOPE!
SLEEPYTIME FOR LITTLE ONES
A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT BUNK BEDS
MANDARIN ORANGE COCONUT SALAD
ARTICHOKE - VEGETABLE SALAD
KITCHEN TIPS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY AND PROMOTE BETTER HEALTH
REMOVING PESTICIDES FROM PRODUCE
PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITOES
CREATIVE FRUGALITY EXPLORED: DEALING WITH BUGS FRUGALLY
THE SCARS OF LIFE
ADVICE THAT'S WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD
THE FAMILY TREE OF VINCENT VAN GO
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
ANOTHER GRANDCHILD EXPECTED ANY DAY NOW!
We clean and we clean, and nothing ever stays done. We clean and we clean, and no one ever seems to appreciate it. It's easy to cop a bad attitude if you dwell on that fact.
God has placed us in our homes to be homeworkers, and we need to keep our focus in the right direction. Psalm 16:6 says that the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage. (Amp. Bible) Do you really believe that the lines have fallen in good places for you -- even while you are doing housework -- the job that seems so "thankless"?
Jesus calls us to be faithful in the small things. Luke 16:10 says that he who is faithful in the very little things is faithful in much. Sometimes the small things for us may be cleaning the toilet, wiping a runny nose, filling up a sippy cup, or taking out the trash. You see, those "little things" do matter to God. God entrusts the little things to our care to teach each of us faithfulness in bigger things. He also wants you to see how even those little things can have an eternal effect.
Matt. 25:34-36 says "...for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me." (NIV) Think of it this way: When you give your child a bath, you do it for Jesus.
When you scrub the stains that are so often on the clothing of small children, you do it for Jesus. When you sew a button on hubby's shirt, you do it for Jesus. Even speaking a word of encouragement to someone can have an eternal impact.
A word of caution though - Col. 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord, as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving." (NIV) So, what is your motive and your attitude when you do these "little things"? If we grumble and complain, or do it to receive the applause of man, we can't expect a reward.
Let's look at some of the things which Jesus did.
1. He helped to settle arguments between people. (Mk 9:34-35) Any mothers out there who have done that recently? 🙂
2. He served a meal to others. (Jn. 6:11)
3. He even cleaned house, so to speak. (Jn. 2:15-16)
4. He washed feet. (Jn. 13:5)
Do you see it? Jesus did the SAME LITTLE THINGS which we are doing, and we get the privilege of doing them on a daily basis!
Get this in your spirit, and remember that when you are cleaning the house, you are doing it for Jesus, and He does care that you are doing it, He does see that you are doing it, and He does appreciate that you are doing it, as long as you do it with a joyful heart, and with the right motive. I had to learn this recently because I was really getting a bad attitude. It has really changed my way of thinking. I have a whole new attitude when I approach housework now, and it is absolutely wonderful!
That's all for this time. I think I'll go scrub a toilet! 🙂
IS YOUR HUT ON FIRE?
Author unknown - Thanks to Annamarie Kresge in Virginia for sending this.
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives.... even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
ASK A NURSE MIDWIFE
Please send your personal questions relating to pregnancy and childbirth that you would like to see addressed by replying to this newsletter. Names of those sending questions will not be included in this column, and the answer will be e-mailed to you before it appears in a newsletter .
Question:
Ive been nauseated a lot. What can I do to help get through this?
Answer:
Nausea up to 22 weeks is normal. Eating small meals and avoiding heavy perfumes and odors may be all that is needed for some women. Other measures to help nausea include:
Seabands - You can buy these at the drug store. They were originally developed for seasickness. They are elastic bands you wear around your wrists. They have a little button on them that presses on an acupressure point on the inside of your wrist.
Ginger capsules - Start off with 250 mg bid. May go up to 1000 mg per day in capsule form. Ginger tea, real ginger ale, or chewing on candied ginger may help.
Papaya - either fresh or dried. Eat a few bites several times a day.
Sniff fresh citrus peel - The aroma of the peels of an orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit has been helpful to some women.
Taking Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 10-25 mg three times a day up to a maximum dose of 100 mg/day has helped some women.
If none of these help you may try an over-the-counter remedy: Doxylamine (Unisomâ) ½ tablet twice a day along with Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) 10-25 mg three times a day works well for some and has been studied in pregnant women. But beware, not all Unisom has doxylamine as an ingredient. Some bottles have benadryl instead, which will only make you sleepy.
If you are vomiting frequently try sipping on real lemonade and munching a few potato chips to try to replace electrolytes and fluids. If you are getting severely dehydrated you may require a trip to your health care provider for IV fluid replacement and prescription medications.
TRYING TO GET PREGNANT? THERE IS HOPE!
A young woman was unable to get pregnant while trying for eighteen months. A doctor suggested she have her fallopian tubes cleaned out to be sure there was no blockage, which she did. Another helpful suggestion was to wear a fertility watch, available for women trying to conceive. The watch is to be worn at least six hours each day, and can be worn only while sleeping, so as not to provoke questioning by those who notice it. It will tell exactly which days a woman is fertile. The watch will say, "Fertile - Day 1," "Fertile - Day 2," etc. This young woman shared with me how she bought a fertility watch at the suggestion of her doctor and was pregnant within one month, after trying in vain for so long! She later loaned her watch to a friend, who was soon pregnant! The watch is on loan again to another young woman hoping to have a baby soon. The cost of a fertility watch is about $200 or less, and there is an additional monthly cost of about $30 for the sensor. Learn more about fertility watches by doing an Internet search. This helpful invention brings more hope to couples wanting a child of their own.
SLEEPYTIME FOR LITTLE ONES
A "Heart to Heart" subscriber recently wrote to me, asking for advice on how to get her fourteen month old daughter to go to sleep on her own. No matter what age your little one may be, you may find a new tip in this article to make bedtime for your child or grandchild go more smoothly.
Get her into a specific routine before each nap and bedtime.
Read a few story books to her, and include a "Sleepytime Book" at the end. Yawn as you read. It's contagious and soon she will be yawning along with you. You might want to sort out those Sleepytime books to keep separately.
Sing, "Jesus Loves Me" to her as you hold or rock her. If you want to be real creative, make up a cute little "Sleepytime Song" with your child's name in it to sing to her as well.
While still holding her, say a little "Sleepytime Prayer" with her, asking Jesus to help her to close her eyes and sleep real well, so she can enjoy the next day - tomorrow.
At night you might look outside and say, "It's all dark. Time to go to sleep now." (If it is dark when she goes to bed.)
Run a small enclosed fan in her room for a soothing noise. Have fun and refer to it as her "Sleepytime Fan!" Don't aim it toward her while she sleeps, but away from her or toward the ceiling. Many adults run a small fan in their own bedroom for that reason, and it helps to drown out other noises.
Lay her down in bed. and tell her you will turn on her "Sleepytime Music." Play a CD of soothing music while she is going to sleep. My grandson listens to Baby Einstein music, but just about any classical music, lullabies or soothing Christian praise music should be soothing to her too. Play scripture songs later - children can learn verses so easily at a young age, and they will hide God's word in their heart, through repetition, as they go to sleep.
Be prepared. She will no doubt cry - she may even sound desperate. When I made the transition from rocking my babies to sleep to putting them to bed to go to sleep on their own, I wrote this scripture verse on an index card and stuck it to the baby's bedroom door:
Chasten your son while there is hope, and let not your soul spare for his crying. - Prov. 19:18
Remember that you have given your baby much love and cuddling for many months, and will still do that every day, but now it's time for her to learn how to sleep without your help.
If she has a security blanket, doll, stuffed animal, or something special that she always sleeps with, be sure she has that. Otherwise she will be sure to let you know. If she is teething, rub her gums with a numbing gel. Then if her diaper is dry and clean, if she isn't hungry or thirsty, and if she isn't sick, she will be okay. If she cries fitfully for 20-30 minutes, you might want to go into her room and reassure her, but gently lay her down again, telling her she needs to lie down, close her eyes and go to sleep - that you will be nearby while she sleeps and will hold her when she wakes up.
It should get easier each day, until she has mastered going to sleep on her own. To be sure, this can be more difficult on the parents than the child. You may even want to use earplugs for a while. Hopefully all these ideas will help to make your child's bedtime a more peaceful event for the entire family. I wonder why I've been yawning all through this article! Are you?
A WORD OF CAUTION ABOUT BUNK BEDS
Just my own personal word of caution about bunk beds, if you'd allow me to share this with you. Over the years I have heard of two different boys right here in our area of Virginia who have fallen from a top bunk, hit their heads, and ended up with severe brain damage - for the rest of their lives. One story was told on Focus on the Family. I'm not saying this to scare anyone, but bunk beds can really be quite dangerous for children if they happen to fall from the top bunk. It's just something to think about. I'd hate to see something serious like that happen to any of your children, when they could be sleeping down closer to the floor, where a fall wouldn't be nearly so serious.
Listen to what this doctor has to say and then you decide. Vincent Iannelli, M.D. reported, "Each year, thousands of children under age 15 receive hospital emergency room treatment for injuries associated with bunk beds. Most of these injuries are fairly minor and occur when children fall from the beds. Horseplay frequently contributes to these accidents. There are other less obvious yet potentially very serious hazards associated with bunk bed structures that have entrapped children and resulted in suffocation or strangulation deaths."
MANDARIN ORANGE COCONUT SALAD
Out of necessity one evening when I didn't have the energy to slice and dice vegetables for a salad, I decided to use these ingredients on hand, and came up with this very quick and easy, yet delicious and refreshing salad. Having slivered almonds and unsweetened coconut already toasted, in freezer bags in the freezer, helped make this much quicker and easier, and I would recommend that. Arrange on individual salad plates to serve.
Green or Purple Leaf Lettuce Unsweetened coconut, toasted
Mandarin Oranges, well drained Salad Dressing, Sweet and Sour or a Fruit Dressing
Slivered Almonds. toasted
ARTICHOKE - VEGETABLE SALAD
Recipe from our daughter-in-law, Emily Breneman, and our son, James, in Virginia, who enjoy cooking together. They served us this salad when we visited them recently.
Pour a jar of undrained marinated artichokes (from Costcos or Sam's) into a salad bowl. Chop the artichokes into smaller pieces if necessary. Add fresh sliced basil, sliced hard cooked eggs, diced green or red peppers, sliced grape tomatoes, and sliced cucumbers. There's no need to add dressing, as the marinade from the artichokes provides the dressing. Top with feta cheese. Delicious! Emily said this is a salad where you can just use what you have on had or in the garden to add to the jar of artichokes.
KITCHEN TIPS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY AND PROMOTE BETTER HEALTH
Separating Hamburger Patties ~ While reading about freezing hamburger patties, you mentioned putting wax paper between the patties and carefully prying apart later with a knife. I've always put two layers of wax paper between patties -- its amazing how much time and frustration it saves later! Simple but effective. ~ Thanks to Mary Eggleston in Virginia for this great tip! One I will definitely try!
Freeze Milk and save many extra trips to the grocery store - trips when you might pick up extra things you don't need. With only two of us remaining in the home, I buy a gallon of milk and freeze half in either two quart jugs or several 2 cup Tupperware glasses. It's important to leave about an inch of space at the top for the milk to expand as it freezes. The milk can be thawed in the refrigerator, but when I've forgetten to thaw it on time, I've partially thawed it in a sink of cold water. Just shake it up before using.
Less Fat ~ Up until about a year ago we used 2% milk, but I have gradually weaned us down to 1%. Sometimes I even combine vanilla soy milk with 1% and it goes completely unnoticed.
Help with Washing Dinner Dishes ~ Just before putting dinner on the table, run a sink full of very hot soapy water. When everyone is finished eating dinner, you could have each person wash and rinse his own plate. If you have a dishwasher, you could have each one rinse his own dishes and silverware and load them into the dishwasher. Another alternative would be to assign your children to take turns doing the job. It teaches them responsibility in learning how to operate a household, as well as being a help to the family.
A Refillable Wand is helpful in washing dishes (available at the grocery or dollar store). Dishwashing liquid is slowly dispensed as you use the brush to wash dishes. Saves the hands.
Less Expensive Beverages and Much Better for You ~ Drink lots of pure water. Distill or filter your own water, rather than purchasing bottled water. Eliminiate soft drinks and juices containing sugar or artificial sweeteners from your family's diet. Juices that are labeled as cocktail drinks are loaded with sugar. Look for 100% juices without sugar by reading the labels. Then dilute them some and add ice. A little goes a long way.
Fewer Sugary Drinks During Childhood May Cut Disease Risk ~ Symptoms of heart disease and diabetes usually seen in adults increasingly are being found in adolescents, according to a study at Penn State's Center for Childhood Obesity Research, which suggests that reducing the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages during childhood may lessen the risk of chronic disease in later life. Read more at
http://live.psu.edu/story/21400
Meatless Meals ~ Incorporate one or two meatless dinner meals into your family's lifestyle. Eggs are a good meat substitute, as well as the combination of beans and a grain such as brown rice, corn or other whole grains for a complete protein. Serve meatless tacos also, with beans and corn forming a complete protein. A green salad including seasoned brown rice (recipe in July 3, 2007 newsletter), hard cooked eggs and a slice of whole grain bread is another idea. Bean soup or a dip from beans will supply protein. For more digestable beans, be sure to pour off the water in which the dried beans were soaked overnight, and replace with fresh pure water for cooking. Read more about complete protein at this link:
http://www.vegsource.com/attwood/complete_protein.htm
Question: Hi there, I am looking for a homemade spray for vegetables to remove pesticides etc. I heard that vinegar and water are good for this, is this correct? If so, would you know how much vinegar to water? Are there other sprays to wash veggies with that I can make myself? Thanks a bunch ... Linda
Answer: Great question! Since many of the pesticides are sprayed on with waxy substances, removing them is tough. You may not get it all off, but you can reduce it with one of the following ideas:
SCRUB: Dampen the produce. Shake baking soda on it and rub all surfaces with your hands. Rinse well.
SOAK: Mix a 50/50 solution of water and white distilled vinegar. Let the produce soak for 5-10 minutes. Rinse well. (Never soak mushrooms since they absorb water).
SPRAY: Mix 1 T. lemon juice, 1 cup water and 2 T. baking soda in a spray bottle. Shake well, spray on produce and let sit a few minutes. Rinse well.
WASH: Consumer Reports suggests scrubbing the produce with a drop of Palmolive Dish Detergent and then rinsing well.
TIP: Don't wash produce before storing them. This accelerates rot. Wash before eating/cooking.
Note: Melaleuca also has a product that works very well for cleaning produce, as well as doing household cleaning. Tough and Tender is concentrated and goes a long way as you dilute it. [email protected]
PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITOES
Even while working in their vegetable garden a lot, James and Emily Breneman have not gotten one mosquito bite this season, yet they have not used insect repellant! They said I may share their secret with you. 1) They don't eat bananas during the mosquito season because mosquitoes are attracted to people who eat them. 2) They take 200 mg. of Vitamin B-1 daily.
CREATIVE FRUGALITY EXPLORED: DEALING WITH BUGS FRUGALLY
Readers' Tips from Counting the Cost Newsletter with Nancy Twigg - Used by permission
I love summer but I hate all the creepy-crawlies that summer brings with it! In our last Creative Frugality question, we wanted to hear how your creative and low-cost ideas for dealing with
summer insects. We asked, What tried-and-true strategies do you use to ward off mosquitoes, ants, flies, aphids, and all the other bugs that could put a damper on your familys summer fun? Here are some of the responses we received:
"We recently had a problem with bumblebees living in the ground under our deck. Being the humane type, I was fully willing to just live and let live, until one of them stung my 3-year-old on his nose, right between his eyes. After doing a little Internet research, I tried mixing 1 part laundry detergent to 3 parts water, and dumping it down their nest entrance. The sentries survived, and I still saw a few errants flying around. So very early the next morning I attacked the area with a garden rake, then reapplied the detergent solution (I probably used a gallon all told). We have since been bee-free. According to the Internet, this is the same procedure you would use for yellow jackets, wasps, etc." ~ Emily in Ohio
"Here are some tips for dealing with bugs:
* Ants outside - Surround their area with grits. The workers carry the grits to the queen to eat. When she drinks water, the grit expands killing her. The rest can't live without her and die too.
* Slugs and earwigs - Place a shallow dish of old beer where you see bugs. They'll be attracted to the yeasty smell, drop into the beer and die happy.
(Lois: Soft drink with yeast added also works.)
* Aphids and other bugs that crawl on garden plants can be kept to a minimum by spraying plants with plain water mixed with dish soap. Just wash off any produce you pick for eating.
The best thing about these methods is that they are all chemical-free!" ~ Jill
"Having a small farm with horses, dogs, ducks, cats and other critters, our back porch can become a haven for flies and the biting black flies at that! On one of our Sunday drives through the country years ago, we stopped at an old time country store. Upon entering, the first thing you see is a plastic Ziploc bag tied to the roof rafter by a string. My curiosity got the best of me, and I just had to ask. A simple bag of water, sealed, with a small hole punched at the top, tied to a roof rafter, beam, porch rail, etc. is a natural FLY DETERRENT. No chemicals, no additives, no bug poison. Nothing but plain water in a clear bag! The flies shed away from the horses as they enter the barn or the arena! The flies dont migrate to the patio. The flies are absent from everyones food bowls and watering troughs! Now, if I could just find a designer way of hanging them!" ~ Denise
"This will not kill the bugs but the bites seem to come to an end. I asked two of the grandmothers of my next door neighbors how they handled bugs before the advent of sprays, etc. These women were raised in the Deep South at the turn of the century. Both told me that they would take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (the real stuff not just flavored vinegar) every day from the day the first daffodils were seen coming up until the first frost. Their mothers made everyone in the family do it. They said they rarely had a mosquito problem and they never had ticks on them. I tried it and I had almost no bites from mosquitoes, flies, or gnats. I did not use any chemical sprays and still I was rarely bitten. In addition I am highly allergic to poison ivy, oak and sumac. Although I came in contact with all three I only developed a very small rash on my arm and I did not need the usual prescription of steroids and cream. I take the vinegar by mixing the tablespoon of vinegar with about 6oz of ice cold water. After the first week I hardly noticed the vinegar." ~ Linda
Thanks to this reader for responding to the question. If youd like to read all of the answers we received or read previous discussions, visit the Creative Frugality page at:
http://www.countingthecost.com/cf/creativefrugality.htm
THE SCARS OF LIFE
Author unknown - Thanks to Joyce Cronin in Virginia for sending this touching story!
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could. Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.
God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person's scars, because you don't know how they got them.
ADVICE THAT'S WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD
Readers Poll Question from Nancy Twigg -
www.countingthecost.com - Used by permission
Note from Lois: This is long, but there's a lot of wisdom here. My parents gave much of this advice to us kids. Why not choose a few that would be appropriate to discuss together at the dinner table.
One of my all-time favorite pieces of advice came to me from a Counting the Cost subscriber. Rhonda Hohlt is a professional organizer whom I met while we lived in Memphis. In one of her classes on decluttering, Rhonda said, Space promotes peace. When I heard her say that, I had an Ah-ha moment of sorts. No wonder Michael and I both felt tense when our home was a wreck. No wonder we couldnt function up to par when we let clutter control slide. More clutter in our home meant less peace and harmony. Less clutter meant more peace and harmony. Rhondas advice was so good that Ive passed it on many times since then.
Proverbs 25:11 says, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. In our last Readers Poll Question, we wanted to hear about some of the apples of gold you have received in your lifetime. We asked, What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
We received so many good responses to this question. Here are only a few of them:
"Does it have to be advice we actually used?! The best piece of advice I ever received was: (this was in the seventies, so consider that women were just making an impact in the workforce) 'If you both work, live on one income.' Now that we DO live on one income, I realize what he meant!" ~ Anonymous
"After experiencing a horrific marriage and finally being set free, the pastor's wife shared with me the advice she had given to her girls. It helped me immeasurably and I have passed it on to my girls: 'If he doesn't treat you like a princess, he isn't the prince.'" ~ Jacqui
"I once heard the adage: 'Never stop hugging first.' I have used this advice with my children and believe it to be a wonderful way to connect with my children at their comfort level." ~ Bobbie
"My mother always told us not to ask our dad anything before dinner. She was so right! After he had come home from a long, hard day at work, sitting down with the family and having dinner together made him much more receptive to what we had to say than hitting him with it as soon as he walked in the door." ~ Candy
"My husband's grandmother (whom I love and listen to intently) told me to forgive the little things when it comes to my husband's mother. I have taken this to heart. The Lord has showed me that thinking negative thoughts can birth negative actions and then your whole household is in bondage to negativity." ~ Charlotte
"I once heard this on the radio: 'The difference between a marriage and a good marriage is 50% left unsaid.' There were many times when I wanted to say something to my husband (usually along the lines of 'I told you so'), but I remembered to use up my 50% quota." ~ Sandra in San Francisco
"A wise lady once told me, 'Don't forget in the dark what God told you in the light.' Sometimes, when God tells us to do something like simplify, homeschool or something else (fill in the blank), it seems such an easy thing when we are first told and we are filled with emotion. But then when we are in the dark (stress, fear, worry etc.), we have to remember what God told us in the light, and trudge on!" ~ Carrie, VA
"When my children were small my mother shared this advice: If you say 'no,' mean it and follow through. If you don't mean it, don't say it. My children soon learned that if we said no, we meant it. It eliminated a lot of problems through the years. We've stuck to this advice with our grandchildren too." ~ Nancy
"Know when NOT to talk.
Pick your battles: Dont fight tooth and nail over the things that dont really matter all that much. Give others some wins too. Then when you do speak up, they know it is something important to you.
Its not about you. People tend to like you more when they do the talking. They feel that you are interested in them. Also, there are a lot of misunderstandings and hurt feelings because someone took something personally that was never intended that way.
You dont have to like everyone, but you do have to get along with everyone. " ~ Jeanette
"Long ago when my Dad considered marrying a young lady, his older brother told him to watch how she treated her family because ultimately that is how she would treat him. He decided not to marry her and married my Mom instead! Wise words to live by!" ~ M
"My mom has a saying that I still quote today: 'Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without!'" ~ Christine
"In raising children, 'Be the person you want them to be.'" ~ Anonymous
"I think it is important to have family mottoes. Ours are, 'What return will I make to the Lord for all He has done for me?', from Psalm 116, and 'If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.' ~ Kathy
"Life advice I wish I had known since youth. 'People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'" ~ Lula
"Don't mess in your own nest." ~ Katrina
"'Wait on the Lord. " Life just became so much better. Contentment came and security in knowing the Lord is in control. This is the best advice I have ever been given. " ~ Francine
"Quote from a minister one Sunday night: 'It is better to wish that you were married than to wish that you were not'". ~ Judy
"My mother had a rule for everything. As I got older I really understood what a smart person she was. Here are a couple of her rules:
1. Midnight was good enough for Cinderella and it is good enough for you. Nothing good ever goes on after Midnight.
2. A child belongs in a child's place.
3. You can't have two Mommas in one house." ~ M
"In regards to poor service at a business: 'The first time is their mistake; the second time is yours.'" ~ Sherrie
"The best advice I ever got was from my friend, Judy Baer, the author of 'The Whitney Chronicles' as well as many other books. She was famous in our small town as an author of books geared toward teen girls before she moved to Minneapolis, started writing adult fictions and became a Life Coach. I knew her, but we did not become friends until after she experienced two devastating, life changing events. During one of our long talks she gave me this wise counsel: 'It is hardly ever necessary to be unkind.' Over the years, those words have helped me to think before I speak or act." ~ Brenda
"Upon having my first child, a good friend of mine said, 'Never say never!' In other words don't start judging other mothers and say, 'Oh, I will never do such and such with my child,' because you just never know what you may end up doing. It is so true. I've tried to live by that and it does help me to refrain from judging the practices of other mothers." ~ Liz
"A friend who was dying once told me, 'If you can't change your situation, change the way you look at it. It may take some work but how you react to things is a choice.'
My favorite piece of advice to my kids: 'You'll never be happy if you look at the world through green eyes.'" ~ Mary Ann
"My mom always told me that 'you can catch more flies with honey.' When I was younger I was quick to speak my mind -- pleasant or not -- which caused me trouble on occasion. My mom always said it was better to be sweet than sour and words once spoken could not be taken back. This still holds true today." ~ Rhonda
"My mom always quoted 'Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee' from Proverbs. I want my friends and acquaintances to be glad when I come, not when I leave!" ~ Esther
"The best advice I ever received was, 'You can choose to have a good day or you can choose to be miserable. Which do you choose?'" ~ Barbara
"'If you're going to be able to look back at this someday and laugh, you might as well laugh about it right now.'
'I wept because I had no shoes. Then I saw a man with no feet.'" ~ Beth
"My mother always said, 'Actions speak louder than words.' When I was younger I would get my hopes up about different boyfriends' promises, promotions, and various things people would offer throughout life. I would, of course, be disappointed when their words proved to be empty promises or just words. So I started watching folks after they spoke to see what would happen. It didn't take me long to realize who would treat their words as an oral agreement or it was just verbal hogwash. While this has proven to be helpful in avoiding disappointment in life, this has also made me a better person since I watch my words closely to avoid hurting others. Thanks, Mom!" ~ June
"Someone once told me to look at all problems from the vantage point of the future. For instance, when an accident happens or someone mistreats you, how important will this seem to you next year, five years from now, 25 years from now. This really helped one summer when my husband caused two minor traffic accidents in which no one was injured and the cars were able to drive away. I didn't freak out and I didn't accuse him of being a poor driver, which I would have done in the past. This helped my stress and our relationship. A similar tactic is to remove yourself from planet earth. In other words, would the crew of the space shuttle flying around the planet be able to see this 'disaster'? If not, maybe it's not so bad after all." ~ Melody
THE FAMILY TREE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH
Some humor - The little bouncy nephew is my favorite!
Source unknown - Sent by Karen Coughlin in Florida
His dizzy aunt ----------------------------------------------------- Verti Gogh
The brother who ate prunes ------------------------------------ Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store ---------- Stop n Gogh
The grandfather from Yugoslavia ------------------------------- U Gogh
His magician uncle --------------------------------------Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin ---------------------------------------------A mee Gogh
The Mexican cousin's American half-brother -------------- Gring Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach------------------ Wells-far Gogh
The constipated uncle ------------------------------------------- Can't Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt ------------------------------------- Tang Gogh
The bird lover uncle ------------------------------------------- Flamin Gogh
The fruit loving cousin ------------------------------------------- Man Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking -----------------------Way-to-Gogh
The little bouncy nephew ----------------------------------------Poe Gogh
A sister who loved disco ------------------------------------------Go Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in an RV ------Winnie Bay Gogh
I saw you smiling ------------------------------------------ there ya Gogh!
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
I had always called my daughter "Missy" or Little Miss (her real name is Natalia). One day hen she was 4 years old we were going out to the car and I said, "Come on "Missy." She said very upset, "I'm not messy!" Poor thing! For 4 years she thought I was calling her "messy!" We sure have to be careful of the nicknames we call our kids. ~ Robyn Armijo, Missionary in Chile
When my son Gabriel (now age 9) was in preschool he learned the names of animals, but for years referred to the skunk as a "stunk", not believing that skunk was the correct term. I agree that "stunk" is much more appropriate! - Sarah Zipfel Hillyer in Georgia
Lois: I used to care for Sarah Zipfel (the Mommy in quote above) in my home when she was four years old. A precious little girl! My youngest child, Jamie, was three at the time, and they enjoyed each other's company and always played so well together. One day they heard, "It shocks me ..." on Arthur Godfrey's TV advertisement for Medicare. Then Jamie and Sarah went on to discuss whether or not they were on Medicare. Jamie said he was, but Sarah said she wasn't! Another day while keeping Sarah, I found a long strand of her blonde hair on a toy and showed it to Jamie, 3. He said, "Ahhh! Let me take it to her and give it back to her!" He thought it must have hurt her to lose that strand of hair.
ANOTHER GRANDCHILD EXPECTED ANY DAY NOW!
We are so excited about the birth of our second grandchild, whose due date is July 22. Please pray for a safe delivery and a perfectly healthy baby, as well as a safe flight as I fly to be with our daughter's family on the 25th and return home on August 3. My husband has a list of freezer meals ready and waiting for him. Although he is capable of putting together meals for himself, I had to practice what I preach. I enjoyed getting things ready to make it easier for him, to have food ready after a long day of his working for us. On Saturday when I was feeling rundown all day, he made us a delicious pot of potato-celery soup. All I did was go outside to cut fresh basil and parsley and chop it. It was so delicious that I'm going to try to duplicate his recipe today to freeze ahead for lunches, after buying four bunches of celery on sale yesterday. Thanks so much for your prayers!
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,
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, a "Start-Up Kit," and several recent newsletters.
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