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Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

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

 

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8/3/06 SOLUTIONS, GRANOLA, BACK TO SCHOOL, MOMS, TO DO LISTS

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IN THIS ISSUE:

PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF E-MAIL ADDRESS CHANGES

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS: Boredom, Taxes, Swimmies, Odor, Insect Repellant, Ants, Ticks, Fungus, Illness, How to Pray, Garden

HOMEMADE GRANOLA  (CEREAL OR SNACK - NICE FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES)

CREATE CARE PACKAGES TO STREAMLINE YOUR SUMMERTIME OUTINGS
STRETCHING YOUR "BACK TO SCHOOL" DOLLARS

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
MAKE YOUR OWN "STRATCH-N-SNIFF" 

MOM’S IDENTITY CRISIS
A SIMPLE "TO DO" LIST FOR EACH DAY - WITH GREAT RESULTS

IMMEDIATE AFFIRMATION PRODUCES RESULTS

DETERMINATION

THERE IS NO GOD...HUH?

 

 

PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF E-MAIL ADDRESS CHANGES

        When you change your e-mail address, please send me your name, old e-mail address and new e-mail address, in order to continue receiving the Heart to Heart Newsletter. 

        One way for you to keep a record of all your personal newsletter contacts would be to file a copy of each different newsletter you receive in a file folder named, "Newsletters."

        Simply "reply" to any newsletter to send any message to me.

 

 

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

 

Problem: Summertime Boredom ~ Just wanted to thank you for the 200+ summertime activities (in the July 21st issue of Heart to Heart).  My kids have been thrilled with them!  We have printed them out, and they are making lists each day of about 10 things that they want to do from the list that day.  It has helped to take away some of the summertime boredom that was starting to set in.  Thanks. ~ Stefanie Flack, a "Heart to Heart" friend in Delaware

 

Problem: High Taxes: A total of 13 states plus Washington, D.C. are offering Tax Holidays primarily for purchasing Back to School items - most during the first weekend of August. Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. 
For details and exceptions, check http://www.bankrate.com/brm/itax/news/20050804b1.asp

 

Problem: The High Cost of Swim Diapers ~ I've read how many moms successfully reuse swim diapers, by machine washing and air drying them.  Of course, any that are soiled badly, throw out.  Two to three uses per pair will stretch your dollars considerably.

 

Problem: The odor of mothballs or other odors in washable clothing ~ Try soaking and washing the clothing in a solution of white vinegar and water.  ~ Tested by Alison Buck in Ohio

 

Problem: Insect Repellant with Harmful Chemicals ~ A reader from the Counting the Cost Newsletter sent in her own bug lotion concoction which she said works great.  Kathy said, "It smells some better than the spray kind and is safer especially for children because it does not have dangerous chemicals in it."  She says to start with one bottle of lotion.  I would guess it should not smell of perfume.  To 8 ounces of lotion, add ten drops of as many of the following as possible: peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil,  lemon grass,  citronella,  lavender,  tea tree oil  www.countingthecost.com - Used by permission

 

Problem: Ants in the House ~ Using a cloth or sponge, wipe with Murphy's Oil Soap (full strength or almost full strength) around the door frame and threshold where it appears ants might be coming inside, as well as the edges of your floor.  If you see ants on countertops, wipe wherever you see them.  Murphy's Oil Soap is also great for removing stains on clothing and smells good too.  After cleaning with this soap years ago, one of my daughter's friends said she liked my perfume.  It was just Murphy's Oil Soap!

 

Problem: Finding a tick in the skin and not knowing how to remove it ~ When removing a tick, you want to get it all. The tick actually buries its tiny head under the top layer of skin. If you pull a tick off and leave that bit of head, you can get an infection. Growing up, we had our share of ticks to deal with from my grandparents farm and from the lakes we visited. We found that the best method for removing ticks involved nail polish. We would paint the tick with nail polish ... color doesn't matter. Once the polish dried, we could wash it off with soap and a brush or remove it with polish remover and the tick would come off with it. The polish would have suffocated the tick, forcing it to release the skin. A safe, easy and painless way to get rid of a summer time pest! ~ Barb Campbell in Mississippi

 

Another Solution: A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!  I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.  Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20).  The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me. Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"  ~  Linda Crosby in Virginia

 

Problem: Toenails with Fungus ~ Using a small cosmetic brush, "paint" nails with Vicks each morning and night.  Wear socks to prevent the sheets from getting greasy.  Trim nails after Vicks makes them soft, and continue for several months until the fungus is gone.

 

Problem: Poor Health and Eating Habits or the Need to Do Better for Your Family in this Area ~ Read Stormie Omartian's book, Greater Health God's Way.  She covers seven steps to improve your health and help prevent illness.  Stormie gives practical instructions that are interesting and easy to read.  She will help you to better health step by step.

 

Problem: Not Knowing How to Effectively Pray for Your Husband and Children ~ Read other books by Stormie Omartian: The Power of the Praying Wife and The Power of the Praying Parent. 

 

Problem: Missed Having a Vegetable Garden this Summer but No Space for One ~ Grow a fall container garden in an old plastic swimming pool (or two).  Fill it half full with mulch and good soil.  Then plant leaf lettuce, spinach, radishes, cauliflower and broccoli.  If you live in a colder climate, a cold frame will extend the growing season even longer.

 

 

HOMEMADE GRANOLA  (CEREAL OR SNACK - NICE FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES)

Recipe from Dorothy Walker, my mother

 

6 cups old fashioned rolled oats, uncooked

3 cups dry coconut, shredded and unsweetened

1 cup each of raw wheat germ, honey, corn oil, slivered almonds or walnuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and cold water

 

In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.  Toss together thoroughly.  Combine honey and oil.  Add to dry ingredients, stirring until well mixed.  Add the cold water, a little at a time, mixing until crumbly.  Pour mixture into a lightly oiled large shallow baking pan.  Place on middle rack and bake in a preheated 225 degree oven for two hours, stirring every 15 minutes.  Add one cup of nuts and continue to bake for ½ hour longer or until mixture is thoroughly dry and light brown in color and crispy.  Turn off oven and allow cereal to cool in oven. 

 

Note: For a quicker way to bake and brown the granola in smaller batches, without the heat of the oven, and stirring every 15 minutes, try the microwave method.  Put a layer of granola, except for dried fruit, in a greased baking dish and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes; stir and bake once or twice more for another 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn it.  Continue with small batches until it is all golden brown.  Place in a large container and allow to cool completely before storing.  Add dried raisins or cranberries at this point.  Cool and store in cool, dry place or freeze.  Serve with fresh fruit, with milk or just plain.  Pack in Ziploc snack bags with plastic spoons for school lunches or snacks.  I like to mix multiple batches of this recipe in a dishpan to bake and freeze.

 

 

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 & 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.  www.organizedtimes.com

 

 

STRETCHING YOUR "BACK TO SCHOOL" DOLLARS

By Lois Breneman, © 2006, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected] 

 

There are quite a few tips that can help you in preparing each of your children to be well supplied for school, without bouncing your checkbook or running up your credit card.  Plan out, discuss and list what each child needs before starting school.  Of course, those parents who teach their children at home will have slightly different lists.  Some things can wait until after school begins, so list those separately.  And remember that making lists is a very good habit to get into!

 

Go through each child's clothing for that particular season, and transfer clothing on to the next child, if the item is still in good condition.  Make an assessment of what is still needed.  You may want to take your children together or make it a special time to shop with each one alone, if you have time.  Or it may be easier to separate your shopping sprees into several categories, such as clothing, shoes, school supplies and lunch items.  Surf the Internet and newspaper for coupons.  It's possible that a grandparent would enjoy shopping with you.  If so, their senior citizen discount could stretch your Back to School dollars even more. 

 

Check out Goodwill Stores, Salvation Army and yard sales before department stores.  You can often find perfectly good dresses, skirts, blouses, shirts, sweaters, pants,  jeans, jackets and coats for only a few dollars. 

 

Buy clothing on clearance at the end of the season to save for the following year, or buy on sale throughout the year if necessary.

 

Buy jeans at Sears or Shopko and use their special child policy that allows you to exchange faded or ripped jeans for a new pair of jeans.

During August and September the Back to School ads offer you the best bargains.  Check out the dollar stores for school supplies too.  Find the best deals and buy enough to last all year.  Or if you look for special buys throughout the year and buy only when on sale, you will never need to pay full price for things like pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, notebook paper, notebooks, glue, tape, calculators, protractors, brown paper lunch bags, or sandwich bags.

 

Buy a backpack that carries a lifetime guarantee.  Then if it wears out, a zipper breaks, etc., return it for a repair or a brand new one.  A receipt isn't usually necessary - simply send it to the company.  You may even find one of those brands at a yard sale or Goodwill.  If buying new backpacks, September prices are usually their lowest.  Pattern companies also have designed backpack patterns, and if you sew, your child could have a personalized backpack.

 

Lunch boxes go on sale in September, but as you may already know, most teenagers prefer brown paper lunch bags, so stock up on them at the rock bottom price.  Some teens may allow you to sew them a few lined lunch bags in their own choice of cool fabrics.  I have sewn some fabric lunch bags in corduroy, the same color of lunch bags, with top stitching on the four creases of the bags, and my husband used them for years for lunches he took to work.  If your younger child has a tin lunch box that looks worn, he may enjoy helping you decoupage pictures (animals, John Deer tractors, trains, the family, your child's own art work) all over it, to stretch it's use. 

 

Stretchy fabric book covers can be found for a dollar or two each.  It's also easy sewing to make a few with stretchy fabric and doesn't require much yardage.  Swimming suit fabric works best, with the stretch going in both directions, and swim suit fabric is on clearance now as well. 

 

With teens, giving a practical allowance for their clothing and school supplies will go a long way in teaching them to use their money wisely, while still under your training.  Or better yet, expect them to purchase most of their own clothes from their earnings (babysitting, mowing, washing cars, etc.).  They will definitely learn responsibility, look for bargains and not go with the fads, if it's their money they are spending, rather than yours.  They will also take better care of their belongings.  It's so much better that your children learn money management before they are off on their own!  It can be a costly lesson to learn without parental guidance.

 

Have a wonderful school year with your family!

 

 

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
My husband and I went disc golfing and out to eat in a neighboring town. When we were done, we picked the girls up from our friend who lives near a cemetery. As we drove past it, Coryn said, “Look at all those little churches, Mommy!” pointing to the grave stones.  
The rest of the dialog was… Daddy: "Those are grave stones."
Mommy: "Sometimes when people die, we burry their bodies in the ground."
Coryn (with great thought and curiosity): "And they grow stones????"
We all laughed and laughed. 
Daddy: "We put the stones up to remember where we buried the person."
Mommy: "Sometimes we write verses, their names, even pictures on the stones."
Daddy: "Remember how after we put seeds in the ground of our garden we kept the packages on a stick to help us remember what we planted where? Well, they’re not seeds this time, but it’s to help us remember." ~ Alison Buck in Ohio

 

Three year old Justin was playing with and babying his boy doll baby the other day.  His mother asked, "Are you the baby or the Daddy?"  He looked at her very seriously and said, "I'm Justin!  What?  Don't you like my name?" - Lois

 

Hey...your Justin's little quip reminded me of a "quip" that you could possibly use in Heart to Heart.  This one really happened, but it was about 48 years ago.  One day at mealtime, we were all around the table including my then 3 or 4 year old sister, Kaye.  She wanted another biscuit and said: "Pass me the biscuits."  My mother, ever trying to instill some manners into her growing brood, responded by saying:  "What should you say now when someone passes you the biscuits?"  My little sister sat there a minute or two with a bit of a puzzled, look; pondered a moment and then said:  "Pass the jelly?"  We all just died laughing and mother of course had to laugh too ... but then reminded her to always add a "please" and a "thank you"!  We still remind her of that today whenever we get together around a meal.  We tease her and ask her if she'd like some jelly with whatever she's eating!  ~ Terrie Futrell in Virginia

 

My 3 1/2-yr-old daughter Lexi sometimes sings "You're my honeybunch" to her dolls or her baby sister. It ends with "...the apple of my eye". Lexi always sings, "the apple loves my eye." One time lately after she sang it, she assured her doll, "The apple loves your eye too."

- Kay, mom of 2 preschoolers.    From the newsletter, "Treasures from My Heart to Yours" by Donna Kauffman  http://treasuresbooks.bravehost.com  http://treasuresbooks.blogspot.com/

 

Adorable Song

That cute little song can be found online at http://mrmom.amaonline.com/special/huggies.htm

This little song is just adorable and I guarantee that you will listen to it more than once! ~ Lois

 

 

MAKE YOUR OWN "STRATCH-N-SNIFF" 

From Creative Kidstuff forum: http://mommysavers.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=32

Here's a great way to make paint with things that are laying around the house: Take a package of Kool-Aid or something like it. Add four tablespoons of water in a cup and mix it up. Then let the children use a paint brush to paint with it. After it dries they can scratch and sniff to see what flavor it is. Plus, it is nontoxic, so if they decide to taste it, no harm done.

 

 

MOM’S IDENTITY CRISIS
By Mia Cronan, Mainstreet Moms, [email protected], © 2006, Used by permission

Do you ever wonder what the rest of the world is doing while you are up to your ears in laundry, dishes and toys?

That can be a daunting thought, even on your best days or especially on those days when you know you won’t be leaving the house except to get the mail. Sometimes it can be hard to remember getting up every morning, showing up in peace, having a nice, hot cup of coffee, putting on pretty clothes that have no spit-up (or worse) on the shoulder, and leaving the house to go to a job where a raise is expected if you do your best.

Remember lunches out with the girls? They didn’t wear bibs or use sippy cups, did they? Remember being waited on by a friendly server (who also bears no spit-up on his shirt)? Can you recall not asking for crayons to go with the placemat? How about carrying that handsome briefcase into a meeting during which you could nod approvingly at intelligent comments and grin at corporate humor that only an adult can understand?

Or think back to shaking hands with a customer even if you are unable to agree on an issue, rather than threatening to spank your customer if he doesn’t promptly remove the Jell-O from his nose. Now THERE’S a stroll down Memory Lane, huh?

As time wear on, however, this reckoning with the more intellectual world gets easier to confront. We know we have brains in our heads. A successful company, educational institution or medical/legal practice hired us once, right? And don’t you forget it!

There is a lot to be offered, as well as gained, by those who are no longer in the corporate world. We’ve all heard the expression, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” I believe there is a lot of truth in that. The world needs mothers who are willing and able to be at home, sacrificing material things so that their children will be able to take a strong place in the world one day with good morals, strong values, spiritual backbone and the ability to contribute to the lives of those who are not as well-equipped.

Sometimes it might feel like you have given up a lot of yourself in order to provide your children with these things. However, when you give some real thought to what your children gain by your uncompromised presence, you will know that you are giving them everything you can to ready them for the world. In turn, you reap the benefits of being the one to witness the serendipitous wonders of the first wobbly steps, hearing the first magical words and seeing the first toothless grins. More importantly, when those questions come up that you’ve been waiting years to answer, such as “Where is God?” and “How come reindeer can fly?” you’ve got your chance. It beats hearing secondhand what another caregiver might tell the child in response to those inquiries.

Fortunately for us, there are many ways to combat those lonely feelings. Personally, I find e-mail to be a saving grace for those quiet times during naps when I need to communicate with the outside world. As silly as it sounds, you can feasibly feel more in touch with those with whom you would normally speak on only a monthly basis, by sending quick e-mails anytime you want. There are even more interactive ways, such as playgroups, to have a network of friends who understand the needs of a stay-at-home parent.

A routine can be as regimented or unrestrained as is best for you. In planning one, be sure to allocate plenty of play time just for you and your kids. You’re home for them, after all. And they will learn in time that Mommy needs time to do other things, too. Some people find it helpful to do laundry on one or two particular days a week and cleaning on one or two others. If this can be achieved, you will always have a feel for what kind of time you have available to spend outside the house with family or friends. Plan on some time for your own hobbies, too. The key is to stay balanced and avoid feeling like you are always facing another day of chores, so you can always be fresh and in a positive frame of mind for your children.

Without a routine, life can become drudgery. This can be said for newly retired people, those forced to be home while they heal from an injury or illness, or those who maintain jobs or businesses at home. At times, we all need to feel motivated by something in addition to our own impulses. So sit down and map out a plan for your day, if you have not already done so, even it it’s as simple as making a “to do” list. You may be surprised how much more you can accomplish with your time.

Mia Cronan is an at-home mother of five children, living in northeast Ohio. She owns and edits mainstreetmom.com, the magazine for modern mothers with traditional values. Mia can be reached at [email protected].

 

 

A SIMPLE "TO DO" LIST FOR EACH DAY - WITH GREAT RESULTS

By Lois Breneman, © 2003, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected] 

One of the most valuable things I have done through the years, as far as managing my time as a high school and college student, and later as a wife and mother, in order to accomplish as much as possible for myself and my family, is to make a "to do" list for each day.  There are notebooks that you can buy for this purpose, but here is a simple and inexpensive, yet highly effective way to plan each day:

(1) Each Sunday afternoon or evening, I use my Daily Planner or calendar as a guide to make an individual list for each day of the week.  Using a piece of 8 1/2 X 11" scrap paper, cut into four equal pieces, I write "Mon.- March 29" at the top.  I often save colorful advertisements and use the blank side for my lists.

(2) On the upper right corner, I block out a space to write in an idea for dinner. 

(3) On the lower right, I make a diagonal line, so there is a space to jot down things that I think of during the day to ask or mention to my husband.

(4) On the left side of the paper I list the important things I need to get done that day.

(5) On the right side I write down phone calls I need to make.

(6) On one last separate sheet of heavier paper (cardstock), I write down some goals to aim for -- specific jobs --and entitle it "DO THIS WEEK."  Then I try to fit those jobs in somewhere during the week, but some things do get pushed off to the next week.  Don't worry -- it's just a guide -- not a rigid plan, but I certainly get more done when I list specific things for which to aim.

 

(7) Put an *asterisk* in front of the jobs that absolutely must to be done that day.  
  

(8) Circle the appointments. 
  

(9) After a job is finished, cross it off your list.  I love this part! 

This list is only a guide and many days I find it necessary to change plans.  Anyone who has children definitely knows that "Plan B, C or D" often replaces "Plan A!" The list must be FLEXIBLE, in order for it to be effective.  A "To Do" List is not meant to be a rigid "must do" list nor is it used for the purpose of making you feel badly for what you did not get done, but to help you accomplish more, by using a written plan.  At the end of your day, just add those unfinished things to another day.  

  

A dull pencil is sharper than the mind.  I think you will find that a written list will definitely help you to reach your goals more effectively, as well as help you to be a more dependable person -- not perfect, however.  I certainly am not perfect!  But if you write down the goals you hope to attain, you are much more apt to reach them, than if you just think of all you have to get done. 

 

On days when you wonder what in the world you actually did, this list will help you to see that you really did accomplish some important things that day.  It may even come in handy if your husband comes home and sees a vast array of toys decorating your entire house and says, "Honey, what did you do all day?" 

 

 

IMMEDIATE AFFIRMATION PRODUCES RESULTS

This idea was taken from the audio CD series, Eight Secrets to Highly Effective Parenting, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.  Used by permission

Immediate praise for work well done is very motivating. It's important to catch your children doing something right. Not only do you want to affirm behavior but also you want to encourage the character development that you observe. Use words like, "You are becoming very cooperative." Or,  "I like the way you are learning to be kind." Praise goes a long way to build good habits.

When my (Joanne) son Timothy was four years old, we had a problem with him complaining at mealtimes. No matter what I served, he moaned. So I created a "Good Attitude at Mealtime" chart. It wasn't fancy or elaborate, just a piece of construction paper. I told him that when he saw what was for the meal, he could either say something positive or say nothing at all. If he did this then he'd get a star on his chart. If he complained, no star that meal. I drew cute little stars with different colors. I put faces on them and hats. Timmy loved it. He had so much fun with his chart that he would eagerly ask what was for each meal, just so he could respond rightly and get a new and different star. I told him that if he got 12 stars, I would give him a treat. The star chart helped us break the bad habit of complaining.

Look for ways to praise your children whenever possible. Don't just focus on a child's weaknesses. Praise goes a long way to develop a positive attitude in our kids about the changes they need to make. Remember to not just focus on behavior though. Tell kids what you like about the character they're demonstrating through those positive behaviors.

 

 

DETERMINATION

The highly successful businessman and devoted Christian, J. C. Penny, once spoke these words: "If I could get a message over to the youth of this country it would be that success in life does not depend upon genius. Any young man of ordinary intelligence, who is not afraid of work, should succeed in spite of the obstacles and handicaps, if he plays the game fairly and squarely and keeps everlasting at it. The possibilities before one are measured by the determination that is within one."      -- Robert G. Lee, Sermonic Library, pp. 114-15.

 

 

THERE IS NO GOD...HUH?

All of the wonders around us are accidental. No almighty hand made a thousand-billion stars. They made themselves. No power keeps them on their steady course. The earth spins itself to keep the oceans from falling off toward the sun. Infants teach themselves to cry when they are hungry or hurt. A small flower invented itself so that we could extract digitalis for sick hearts. The earth gave itself day and night, tilted itself so that we get seasons. Without the magnetic poles man would be unable to navigate the trackless oceans of water and air, but they just grew there.
 
How about the sugar thermostat in the pancreas? It maintains a level of sugar in the blood sufficient for energy. Without it, all of us would fall into a coma and die. Why does snow sit on mountaintops waiting for the warm spring sun to melt it at just the right time for the young crops in farms below to drink? A very lovely accident.
 
A human heart will beat for 70 or 80 years without faltering.  How does it get sufficient rest between beats? A kidney will filter poison from the blood, and leave good things alone.  How does it know one from the other? Who gave the human tongue flexibility to form words, and a brain to understand them, but denied it to all other animals?  Who showed a womb how to take the love to two persons and keep splitting a tiny ovum until, in time, a baby would have the proper number of fingers, eyes and ears and hair in the right places, and come into the world when it is strong enough to sustain life?  There is no God?
 
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God' " (Psalm 14:1).

 

 

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(¨`·.·´¨)                          God bless you and your family and keep you in His 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. You may 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." 

 

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