HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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9/23/06 REST YOUR MEMORY, MATH, FUN, JUICE, CARROTS, DEBT, LOVED
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A PLACE TO REST YOUR MEMORY ~ FROM A to Z
MENTAL MATH - SEEING THE NUMBERS
TEN FUN THINGS TO DO THIS FALL
JUICES THAT PACK A POWERFUL PUNCH OF NUTRITION
APPLE-BERRY BOOST PUNCH
BOLTHOUSE SMOOTHIES
APPLE-CARROT JUICE
PINEAPPLE-CARROT JUICE
GREEN PINEAPPLE JUICE
PINEAPPLE BARLEY JUICE
JUICE YOUR OWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
SNEAKING CARROTS & OTHER VEGGIES INTO FOODS YOUR KIDS ALREADY LIKE
CARROTS ARE A SUPER FOOD
HOW TO PUREE CARROTS, YAMS AND SWEET POTATOES
OATMEAL RAISIN WALNUT CARROT (Shhh!) COOKIES
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
DEBT-BUSTERS
MISCELLANEOUS TIDBITS OF INFORMATION
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Devotions of a Woman, Ideas for Family Devotions and Sunday School Teachers, Register to Vote - Online, Saving Perennials in Cold Weather Climates, Send ACLU a Christmas Card
A SPRINGBOARD TO CREATIVELY MANAGE YOUR OWN UNIQUE HOME
"I FEEL LOVED"
A PLACE TO REST YOUR MEMORY ~ FROM A to Z
Anne Ortland explains in her book, "The Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman," about the use of an organizational notebook as a great tool in becoming an organized woman. There are several methods you could use to rest your memory, based on an alphabetical filing system. A notebook, a filing system using 3 x 5" or larger index cards in a recipe box, a large filing cabinet system, and your computer file folders are a few ways to rest your memory from A to Z. When using a computer, a good backup system is essential, because you certainly don't want to lose your information after all your hard work. The important thing is to find a system that works for you. Either method will save you much time and frustration!
Here are just a few ideas of suggestions to include in your notebook or filing system:
* When a friend or family member mentions they would like a certain item or service sometime, make a note of it under gifts. This will really help at birthday or Christmas time or whenever a gift is needed. Also list gift suggestions for yourself - for when others ask for ideas.
* List things you borrow along with the date, so you can return them promptly.
* List things you loan out, along with the name and date, so you know where books, videos, etc. can be found when you need them.
* Record birthdays and anniversaries either on a heavy card stock master list kept with your assortment of cards - or keep your records on index cards or in your organizational notebook. Use one card or page for each month. When there is only one name, you know it's a birthday - if two names, it's an anniversary. All you need for each month is the name of the month at the top of the card, names and the dates of birthdays and anniversaries as shown below. If you want to remember the birth or anniversary year, record that after the name.
MARCH
Aunt Marian - 1928 10
Daddy - 1916 11
Jim - 1953 15
Victoria - 1997 25
Ed & Nancy - 1965 30
* Record a chart of all doctor's appointments for each family member, after the appointments. List the name, date, name of the doctor, reason for the appointment and detailed instructions. It will come in handy when scheduling checkups, and knowing when certain shots were given.
* Keep an up-to-date record of all immunizations, and don't forget that everyone needs a tetanus shot every ten years.
* Keep a record of each family member's ailments, regardless of seeing a doctor or not.
* Make a list of things that might be important for you to carry in your purse. Here is a list to jog your memory as you decide if it is necessary for your list. Example: Keys, driver's license, library card, checkbook, cash, small calendar, nail file, tiny perfume, breath mints, gum, small hand cream, safety pins, tiny sewing kit, small scissors, tissues in tissue holder, lipstick, chapstick, powder compact with mirror, comb, Tylenol for kids, aspirin, Benadryl capsules and a few vitamin E capsules in case of a bee sting, tea tree oil for first aid, a couple band aids, small toothpaste and toothbrush, large index cards for writing down ideas and for postcards (stamps already on), envelope with blank stationery and stamp, pens, measuring tape for measuring waists, etc. at the store or yard sales, eye glasses, sunglasses, coupons, extra keys in change purse. If you have ever locked your car keys in your house, car or trunk, this next tip may save you a heap of trouble. Attach your house and car keys to a zipper tab of your purse with a shoestring or sturdy ribbon (black for a black purse, etc.). This also prevents your keys from getting lost deep inside your purse. With your purse right beside you as you drive, your keys never need to be detached from your purse. As long as you keep your purse out of the trunk and out of the car while you are outside, you will be fine. As for locking yourself out of your house, you may want to find an inconspicious place to hide a key outside of your home.
* Keep a small index card in your wallet with the following information written on it: license plate numbers, insurance policy number, birth certificate numbers, blood types for each family member, various doctors' phone numbers, husband's work number, and phone numbers of close relatives and friends. This helps when filling out forms at the doctor's office. Add whatever is appropriate, but memorize your social security number, rather than having it written out in case of theft.
* Store all your Christmas items in boxes and number the boxes. On an index card, record the contents of each numbered box, and file under "C" for Christmas. This saves digging. To save even more time, store all decorations for the living room together, as well as for each room.
* List your obligations or priorities. This will help you not to have a guilt complex when you know it is in the best interest of your family to say "no" to worthy causes. List wife, mother of three or _, church responsibilities, school commitments (list homeschooling, carpooling, volunteer work, etc. separately), each taxi obligation, hospitality in your home, caring for a parent or handicapped child, any part-time work, and on and on. If you sew or make crafts for your family or to use as gifts, take the time to prepare good home cooked meals for your family rather than eating out often, write that down. Don't spread yourself too thin, or you won't be able to do any of your jobs to the Lord's glory. Remember to put God first, your husband second, your children third, then other obligations.
* Under trips you can save directions to people's homes - places you might go every two years and may possibly forget in between times. When you go to your home state, you may need certain phone numbers to take along. File those under "trips" also.
* File titles of good books to read or buy, when you learn about them.
* If you have a fireproof box or vault in your home or bank, list everything you have inside and file under fireproof box or vault. Keep a copy of the list in the fireproof box as well.
* Make a list of things to carry in your glove compartment or to keep handy in your car trunk. Example: Proof of car ownership, listing of insurance policy, policy number, agent's name, address and phone number, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, ice scraper, tire gauge, fuses for car, Tylenol, aspirin, maps, stamps, some change, wash and wipes, scissors, small sewing kit, spare hosiery, nail file, glass cleaner and clean cloths, spare diapers (if this applies), blanket (in winter), etc.
* This method (notebook, index cards, filing cabinets or computer system) can be expanded and used in any way you would like - to record your monthly or long term "To Do" lists, addresses, Christmas ideas, college info (grant, scholarship and loan info, etc.), correspondence (cards and letters sent), crafts (directions as well as crafts I'd like to try), possible sources of income, exercise, gardening, friends I'd like to invite to our home, record of gifts given, health, holidays, home decorating, jobs, meals to freeze or serve on Sundays, politics/voting, nutrition, prayer, priorities, scripture for various topics, seniors, sewing (projects you need/want to do), telephone long distance services, clothing sizes of yourself and family members, wardrobe ideas, things to buy in the future, topical Bible studies, songs, thriftiness tips and ideas, long-term and short-term goals, and various miscellaneous lists.
As a bird enthusiast, over the thirty plus years in our home, I have listed fifty varieties of birds seen around our house, and several years ago I began to record the dates as well. I keep this and other records under lists. The great part about this A to Z System is that you can make your notebook to suit your own needs and interests. If you think of other ways to use this system, I would love to hear your ideas!
MENTAL MATH - SEEING THE NUMBERS
Editor of An Ounce of Ketchup - A Newsletter for Moms of Children with ADD or ADHD
Right brainers see math problems in their head. I don't see anything much in my head. I think in words and concepts, which my whole family thinks is a sign of brain dysfunction! When the phenomenon of seeing an image of a math problem was presented to me, I began asking everyone how they did mental math. I asked my brother, who is very right brained, and he assured me he saw the problems in his head. Later that day, he heard me prompt one of the boys to "drop the zero." He looked at me in amazement, and said, "I just saw the zero fall
and bounce." Find some math problems for your kids to do in their heads. Teachers have books of them, and you can Google for webpages of problems and techniques. My very favorite mental math resource is
Fun with Figures! It's full of brilliant mental math shortcuts that are truly amazing. When I first read the book, I kept calling the kids in the room to try each 'trick'. If you prefer hard copy resources, try
Fast and Fun Mental Math.
TEN FUN THINGS TO DO THIS FALL
List compiled 2006 by Carol Vega in Pennsylvania, Christian homeschooling mother of 5.
Add fun to your Fall:
1. Carve pumpkins for fun and decoration: Instead of carving a grinning jack-o-lantern, try making patterns using cookie cutters. Stars, hearts, moons, leaves and circles are simple shapes yet make interesting patterns. Cut off your pumpkin lid, scoop out the insides, insert the cookie cutters into the sides of the pumpkins where desired. A mallet may be handy. Repeat this process until you have a pattern you like. Add a candle inside. Place them in a display on your porch with some hay bales or in a cute wagon.
2. Buy a pumpkin and a potted golden mum. Cut off the top of your pumpkin and clean it out. Place the plastic pot with your garden mum down inside the pumpkin. This is so simple yet is such a festive planter. Makes a great table centerpiece, too!
3. Compare and Contrast the pumpkins! Arrange an assortment of pumpkins on a table and give each of your children a piece of paper. Number the pumpkins and number the paper. For each numbered pumpkin have the child, weigh it, measure around the widest part, measure its height, measure just the stem, describe the pumpkin. Have them record their finding on their paper. Then ask them which pumpkin was the heaviest, the widest, tallest and funniest, etc.
4. Take this assortment of pumpkins (from #3) and write numbers, using a black marker on the bellies of the pumpkins (5, 10, 15, 20, 25). Place the pumpkins a few feet apart in your yard. Using a hula let the children toss the hoop and see if they can ring the pumpkins. Give them three tosses and see who can score the most points. After this game, you can still use the pumpkins to decorate with, just put the numbers to the back when displaying so they can not be seen!
5. Pumpkin pancakes: Add 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and 1/2 cup canned pumpkin to your favorite pancake recipe and you have a yummy festive taste to start off your day!
6. For lunchtime fun, buy the pre-made cups of orange gelatin (single servings) at the grocery store. They usually come in a 4 pack for about $1.00. Before opening the containers, let your children make a pumpkin-type face on the outside plastic using black magic markers. Let each child show his or her pumpkin face to everyone, then open and eat! Added fun to lunch!
7. Yummy Punch in a pumpkin: Make up an orange-colored punch using orange and pineapple juice as two of the main ingredients. Pour into a plastic pumpkin bucket. (These are sold in stores like Wal-Mart in September and October for children to use to collect Halloween candy. They are very inexpensive!) Serve the punch and enjoy! Refrigerate any leftovers!
8. Buy a small journal to use for the months of October and November. Write on the front "Things I am thankful for..." Each day of the month write about one thing you are thankful for! At the top of each page write the date and "I am thankful for..." Do this everyday in October and November and you will have 61 journal entries and remembrances of the blessings in your life! Great for homeschooling children as well as mom and dad!
9. Make a Thanksgiving Dictionary. Take a few sheets of lined paper, top it with a piece of black cardstock paper. Staple together across the top. Add a longer strip of black paper across the bottom that extends out about 2 inches on each side. Glue or staple in place. This will form a pilgrim's hat. Add a yellow square and glue a smaller black square inside the yellow one. This will make a buckle. With a white gel pen write "My Thanksgiving Dictionary" and your name on the cover. Inside write words in a column on the left side, leaving space for the child to fill in the definitions. Write words like: freedom, thankful, voyage, pilgrim, harvest, friendship, blessing, etc. (Make sure to write the child's age or the date on the back of this project, as this will surely be a great keepsake!)
10. Make a "Tom "Thumb." Using non-toxic ink pads, make a turkey using your thumb prints. Make a big thumb print horizontally for its body, a pinky-finger print vertically for the head and many small fingertip touches for feathers in the back. Clean your finger and add the feet and facial features of eyes, a beak and waddle using colored ink pens. A great way to decorate place cards, thank you notes or just make one for fun (inside your "Thankful for" journal)
JUICES THAT PACK A POWERFUL PUNCH OF NUTRITION
By Lois Breneman, © 2006, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
APPLE-BERRY BOOST PUNCH
Recipe created by our son, Jeff, and served at his wedding reception, on the day of his marriage to Rachael Walton. Incidentally, our younger son, James, proposed to Emily Dye on September 16, and she said, "Yes!" A very exciting time in our growing family! Now on to this recipe !
1 gallon apple cider
1 liter bottle of Bolthouse Berry Boost
Mix together and pour some into ice cube trays. Serve icy cold with frozen cubes to keep it chilled.
BOLTHOUSE SMOOTHIES
Bolthouse all natural smoothies with no sugar or preservatives are available in several varieties of flavors and colors - 100% carrot juice, Berry Boost, C-Boost, and Green Goodness (all delicious)! They can be found in the health food department of many grocery stores. Each 1 liter drink (about 4 cups) cost about $3.50 when not on sale. Although that is quite high, if your children won't eat vegetables and you aren't sure they are getting enough good nutrition, this may be a solution.
APPLE-CARROT JUICE
For delicious juice in an orange color for autumn or everyday, mix apple cider with freshly juiced carrot juice, Bolthouse carrot juice or pureed cooked carrots. If you have children who refuse to eat vegetables, try mixing 3 parts of apple cider with 1 part of carrot juice or puree. This worked for me with my grandson today! He said, "This is good!" Shake it up. If your children like pineapple juice, add some of that, because pineapple juice helps to disguise the carrot flavor even more. Later you may be able to add more carrot juice or puree.
PINEAPPLE-CARROT JUICE
Mix 3 parts pineapple juice with 1 part carrot juice. Or try the same thing with orange juice. Another idea if your child tends to want too much juice, is to water it down slightly.
GREEN PINEAPPLE JUICE
Bolthouse has several delicious healthy smoothies, including a green drink called Green Goodness, which is absolutely delicious - a very sweet and fruity flavor. It doesn't taste at all like vegetables, though some vegetables do pack a powerful punch of nutrition in this drink. If kids like juice, they will love this, regardless of the green color. You might play a guessing game with them, using a blindfold to see if they can guess what kind of juice they are drinking. If they think they don't like vegetables, tell them the names of the fruits in their drink. Maybe they will be more open to knowing the vegetables later, after they realize they love this green drink!
PINEAPPLE BARLEY JUICE
Green barley juice, a powerful super antioxidant, tastes like green vegetables, but you can disguise the taste for finicky eaters by adding the powder to pineapple juice. If you are interested, you can ask me more about barley juice, which research has found juice from the green leaves of barley to be the winner in having the widest spectrum of nutrients when tested along side of four hundred green juices! I've been using green barley juice since 1991 and rarely ever gotten a cold, sinus infection or the flu since that time. It's even better than spinach, as far as nutrients, and adds greatly in reaching the healthy quota of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables.
My grandson drank this pineapple barley juice with no problem when he was two years old, but when I gave him some last week at age three, he said he didn't like it and added emphatically, "This tastes like Brussels sprouts!" He's so silly! Now he has never tasted a Brussels sprout in his entire 3 1/2 years, but this is a child who won't normally eat vegetables. I'm certain he would have loved the green pineapple juice with the Bolthouse Green Goodness or the Green Goodness alone with it's delicious fruit flavor! But read on! I did get my grandson to eat carrots and love them! Just don't tell him!
JUICE YOUR OWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Using a Champion Juicer you can juice all kinds of fruits and vegetables yourself. If you are interested in purchasing one, reply to this newsletter and ask me for details on obtaining one.
SNEAKING CARROTS & OTHER VEGGIES INTO FOODS YOUR KIDS ALREADY LIKE
As many of you already know, sometimes moms need to resort to sneaking vegetables into our children and grandchildren's diets! Try adding pureed carrots to spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, soups, mashed potatoes, apple cider, pineapple juice and even oatmeal cookies. Autumn is a good time of the year to start this "motherly sneakery," featuring the color, orange! If your family asks why the food is a little yellow or orange, tell them that you are celebrating the season by trying a fall color with a few foods.
Mashed potatoes with an addition of pureed carrots, yams or sweet potatoes, also a super food, look like they have cheese in them, so why not add a few sprinkles of cheese on top? Hopefully the cheese will throw off your family. A small amount of pureed beets can be added to spaghetti sauce without being detected. Just start with a small amount and increase it. Pureed sweet potatoes make wonderful pancakes and my grandson loves those! Try adding pumpkin to pancakes, quick bread and muffins. Finely grated zucchini is delicious in quick bread and can be added to soups, as can all of the vegetables mentioned, though you may be able to disguise them more easily if pureed in a blender. If your children are skeptical and ask what's in the food you prepared, just tell them it's your "secret recipe," and they may have the recipe when they leave home to start their own family!
CARROTS ARE A SUPER FOOD
The nutrients in carrots:
- Strengthen the immune system
- Help regulate metabolish
- Help maintain heathy skin
- Help maintain vision
- Help protect cells
Studies show that the nutrients in carrots may reduce risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Some types of cancer
Carrots are nature's best source of the powerful antioxidant Vitamin A!
- Antioxidants protect cells from free radicals which can damage the basic structure of health cells.
HOW TO PUREE CARROTS, YAMS AND SWEET POTATOES
Use cooked carrots, yams or sweet potatoes, pureed in a blender with a little liquid, in soups, cookies, meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, mashed potatoes and cookies. In other words, for extra nutrition, first make baby food to add to these grownup foods.
OATMEAL RAISIN WALNUT CARROT (Shhh!) COOKIES
1 cup real butter, softened
1 1/2 cup or less sucanat (evaporated cane sugar found in health food stores)
2 eggs
2/3 cup pureed carrots or juice
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup spelt or whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. sea salt
3 cups old fashioned oats (With the addition of carrots, add 2 extra handfuls of oats)
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts, chopped
Cream butter and sucanat. Add eggs, carrots and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Add flour, soda, cinnamon and salt and mix well. Stir in oats, raisins and walnuts. Use a small ice cream scoop to place cookie dough on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 350º, making sure not to overbake. You want them soft and chewy. This recipe is great to freeze in snack bags (of 1 or 2 each) for school lunches and snacks! Or double the recipe! These keep best in the refrigerator. If your children like this recipe, you may want to experiment with the addition of even more carrots and extra oats. My grandson said, "I never tasted cookies this good!" He even helped to pour in the carrot juice, as I told him it was some juice like Aunt Rachael loves.
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
Ladies, please send in your kids' quotes for possible use in Heart to Heart, as these two gals did!
While watching a home video of our trip to Pennsylvania back in July, my four-year-old saw herself with her cousin, Kelsey. She said, "Mom, may I please go into the TV and be with Kelsey? I really want to play with her!" If only it worked that way ... like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. - Thanks to Alison Buck in Ohio for this kids' quote! Note from Lois: With all of the wonderful technology in the world today, how I wish this could really happen! We could spend more time with loved ones and I could meet each one of you dear ladies! J
My daughter Amber had broken her arm and while in the emergency room, the nurse was asking me questions. One of the questions was, "What's your relationship?" to which my other daughter, Katie, responded, "It's good." - Thanks to Laura Griffith in Virginia for this kid's quote!
Note from Lois: This is a testimony of a daughter's perception of harmonious family life in the home! Love it!
The Sunday school teacher was carefully explaining the story of Elijah the Prophet and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood upon it, cut the steer in pieces and laid it upon the altar. And then Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour it over the altar. He had them do this four times.
"Now," said the teacher, "Can anyone in the class tell me why the Lord would have Elijah pour water over the steer on the altar?"
A little girl in the back of the room raised her hand with great enthusiasm. "To make the gravy," came her enthusiastic reply.
Mother: "Why are you home from school so early?"
Son: "I was the only one who could answer a question."
Mother: "Oh, really? What was the question?"
Son: "Who threw the eraser at the principal?"
Five year old Billy helped do yard work and was paid $4. Later, his mother brought him to the toy store. Billy looked over a rack of action figures, asked how much they cost, then remarked, "It's a good thing I'm working."
DEBT-BUSTERSBy Cheryl Gochnauer, Homebodies,
[email protected], © 2006, Used by permission
The last debtors prison shut its doors more than a century ago, but many Americans still feel enslaved because of their financial choices. Thats one reason why radio and TV programs by money advice gurus and personal finance workshops are so popular today.
The main word I hear is freedom, says Carla Macias, who helps teach an overflowing Crown Financial Ministries class at her church in Lees Summit, Mo. Its such a good feeling to not be in debt, so much better than living paycheck to paycheck. Once you experience it, you never want to go back.
To start working yourself out of debt:
* Put together a reasonable budget. Dont max out your income with just your car and house, because theres so much more to think about, Macias says.
* Put yourself on a financial diet. Your future may feature $5 lattes. For now, however, Folgers will have to do. Better yet, have some water.
* Pay as you go. Use cash or a debit card when you shop. Out of money? Go home!
* Freeze your credit cards. Literally, as in a block of ice. Or stash them in a safe deposit box at your bank. Your credit score can take a hit if you suddenly cancel all your accounts, so simply make your cards harder to access.
* Target accounts for elimination. Some people pay off their smallest balances first; others zero in on accounts charging the highest interest.
* Shop interest rates. Visit sites like
www.cardweb.com to find lower rate cards, or consider getting a debt consolidation loan. Then call your current credit card company and ask them to match the lower rate. If they wont, switch.
* Piggyback payments. Every time you pay off one bill, take what you would have paid on it and put it toward the next one.
* Use low yield investments to pay off high interest debt. Why tie up funds in an investment earning 2 percent when you can use that money to pay down debt charging 21 percent?
* Consider a temporary job. Earmark the proceeds and work the extra job until the debt is paid.
Some helpful websites:
______________________________________________________________________
Cheryl Gochnauer lives with her family in Kansas City, Mo. You can write her at
[email protected]. Cheryl's books, "So You Want to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom" and "Stay-at-Home Handbook: Advice on Parenting, Finances, Career, Surviving Each Day and Much More", are available at your favorite bookstore or public library.
MISCELLANEOUS TIDBITS OF INFORMATION
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made ~ One inch of skin on your hand contains some 72 feet of nerve fiber. End to end the blood vessels in your body would go over 60,000 miles. That's enough to circle the earth twice. Isn't the body amazing? - Thanks to Dr. Chris Lauria for this fact!
Ideas for Family Devotions and Sunday School Teachers ~ Moms can ask questions and get input from other Sunday school teachers and parents on the best ways to teach children in Sunday school or during family devotions. As an example, to teach children the Books of the Bible, Bible book songs and games work well. Also, "Bible Stack-O!", a Bible book name memory game will be released very soon from SundaySchoolNetwork.com. Make sure you check the archives for more ideas. Check out a recent Fall Festival tract, listed in the Featured Resources section on the home page of: http://www.SundaySchoolNetwork.com Object lesson ideas and so much more can be found here. Thanks to Sarah Keith for her ministry to Sunday school teachers and parents!
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." --John Jay
Keep abreast of issues that affect the Christian family by subscribing for the free e-mail newsletter, CitizenLink, at www.citizenlink.org. Be a responsible citizen - pray and vote your Christian values! The stakes are high and just one vote can change a nation!
How to Save Perennials in Cold Weather Climates ~ To save money and plants in cold weather climates, cut the bottoms of plant containers that plants come in from the nursery and put them over delicate plants especially rose bushes, instead of buying collars at the garden center which break. Mound with dirt both inside and outside the container. You'll have beautiful perennials year after year. ~ Pat
Add the ACLU to Your Christmas Card List! ~ Want to have some fun this CHRISTMAS? Send the ACLU a Christmas card! Add them to your Christmas card list now. As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice CHRISTIAN card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world. Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it. Here's their Address: ACLU 125 Broad Street 18th Floor New York, NY 10004. Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing contributions. So spend 39 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Also tell them that there is no such thing as a Holiday Tree. And be kind. -Thanks to Jackie Schlageter in New Mexico for sending this great idea!
A SPRINGBOARD TO CREATIVELY MANAGE YOUR OWN UNIQUE HOME
Do you need a detailed schedule to help organize your home?
Thanks to Rose Shaw in Australia who pointed me to this link, telling how she thought of it as similar to FlyLady, but with a Christian emphasis: http://largefamilylogistics.lifewithchrist.org/. Thanks also to Kim Brenneman for the following excellent information about her link!
It is the blog of Kim Brenneman who with her family owns the website Large Family Logistics. The blog details home management in the life of a large homeschooling family. The purpose of Large Family Logistics is to help large Christian homeschooling mothers with the daily tasks of home management.
If your family is not large or you are not homeschooling, please do not feel that you are not welcome. There will still be things that apply to your life. Make the systems fit your family life. Use it as a springboard to creatively manage your unique home.
The Reminder System will help bring discipline to your life through email messages delivered throughout the day. Some of the things that are worked on throughout the days of the week are: cleaning, laundry, kitchen work, home office work, strategic shopping, homeschooling, gardening, preparing for the Lords Day, hospitality, service work, crafts. You can sign up for the Reminder System at, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LargeFamilyLogistics/
The website, http://largefamilylogistics.net/ has articles about home management that fill in the details of the Reminder System. There is also a store at the website that serves the unique needs of large homeschooling families.
Last week I received an e-mail from a new subscriber in Australia, saying she feels loved in receiving and reading the "Start Up Kit" to all new subscribers. I wrote back to her saying,
"It is truly an answer to prayer that you feel loved by receiving this newsletter! My husband and I pray for each one of you Heart to Heart ladies - that each one of you will feel loved, as well as receive blessing, encouragement and helpful teaching for your home and family, so thanks very much for sharing that you feel loved! I will be sure to let my husband know too!"
Welcome to many new "Heart to Heart" friends this month from Louisana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina, Michigan, California, Florida, Rhode Island, Australia, New Zealand, India, and a new country on the "Heart to Heart" list - Pakistan - the 52nd country on the e-mailing list! Welcome to all of you!
I thank God for each one of you precious ladies - the new ladies, as well as those who have been receiving this newsletter since February, 1999! I record the names of ladies in my address book as well as a hard copy in a notebook with each of their cities and states (or countries - capitalized). In addition, I record an asterisk behind the last name of pastors' wives or those in ministry and two asterisks behind the names of missionaries' wives, if I happen to know that information. That helps as I pray for ALL the ladies on the list.
Example:
Sunshine**, Caroline - BRAZIL (Missionary Wife)
Huffman*, Lillie - Kalamazoo, MI (Pastor's Wife)
So in case you let other ladies know about subscribing to "Heart to Heart," to hopefully receive blessing, encouragement and practical information for home and family, please ask them to let me know if they are a missionary, a pastor's wife or are in a ministry such as M.O.P.S., Women's Ministry or Children's Ministry, etc. Of course, I know very well that every single wife and mother has her own very important ministry in her home, and single gals also have important ways to serve the Lord and others every day!
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. 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."
Disclaimer: Various web sites are given as credits or to supply additional information for readers. However, all the views and advertisements represented by web sites given in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the editor. Please use your own discretion regarding all information given in this newsletter.
