Sorry, Ladies! Please disregard the first copy of Heart to Heart. This is the corrected copy. ~ Lois
A categorized storehouse of information for you from past newsletters,
plus a second blog just for recipes!
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
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Apr. 2014 Random Things about Me, Lazarus Craft, Tips, Road Snacks, College
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IN THIS ISSUE:
LADIES, DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE TWO BLOGS FOR HEART TO HEART??
25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME
EASTER INSPIRATION, IDEAS AND RECIPES
LAZARUS: A CRAFT FOR CHILDREN USING A TOILET PAPER TUBE
TEN TIPS TO SAVE TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY
MOM'S CARE PACKAGE
DAILY SURVIVAL KIT
BAKED CHICKEN STRIPS WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE
REAL FOOD ROAD TRIP SNACKS
I NEED PAINT
COLLEGE INFORMATION FOR YOU AND YOUR TEENS
THE LITTLE THINGS
PRECIOUS GEMS
QUOTE
LADIES, DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE TWO BLOGS FOR HEART TO HEART??
They were both set up at the end of 2010, but I'm learning of women who still don't know about them.
Just click on the links below to check them out! They are more like websites, because I do not post often, but they are there when you need to find specific information. I hope they will be helpful to you and your family!
http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com
You will find a categorized storehouse of information from past newsletters, as well as a search bar, and lots of photography.
http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/
You will find Recipes divided into 10 categories.
25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT MEby Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2014
Normally I don't share this much about myself at one time in Heart to Heart, and some of these details have never been shared at all, but for the sake of "keeping it real," here it goes. Numbers 24 and 25 are matters for prayer, please.
1. At the age of six I invited Jesus into my life as my Lord and Savior. I still remember the exact moment, where I was, and how I felt, as I cried over the fact that my sin caused Jesus to die on the cross.
2. My mother had a great influence on my life in every way, and it was terribly hard for me when she died of cancer at the young age of 63. My dear father joined her one week before 9/11. I thank the Lord for them and have so many wonderful memories of them both. In fact, I married a man very much like my dad. I look forward to joining both of my dear parents in our Heavenly Home someday.
3. I credit the Lord as well as my mother for any creativity I have. I love to do many crafts including handmade cards, jewelry, and enjoy trying to make new things. Sewing, machine embroidery, quilting, and photography are probably at the top of my list right now, and I enjoy making gifts for my family and others.
4. I loved going to our wonderful church camp in the woodlands of Pennsylvania by a lake. But I was so homesick that first year (age 8), and remember how soaked my pillow got one night from crying myself to sleep, although I stayed the whole week, and even learned how to swim in the lake that year. Then I went every year after that, and some years I earned a free week by learning lots of Bible verses.
5. For the first 5 1/2 years of school (Didn't go to kindergarten), I walked a mile each way to a one room schoolhouse in the country. After graduating from college in home economics and education, I taught elementary and high school home economics for a brief time before marrying the love of my life. Then I worked as an assistant food service supervisor at Penn State for three years, but I have especially loved being a stay-at-home-mom ever since our first child was born, and did sewing alterations, custom sewing, made cut-up cakes for others, did child care, and other small jobs at home.
6. I have always found it fun and rewarding to organize spaces in our home, but now I find I'm running out of energy to get everything done.
7. I loved playing with dolls so much as a child. When I was 12 and my parents wouldn't buy me the doll I really wanted for Christmas, I bought her with my babysitting money. I still love dolls and have several sitting around in my home.
8. I used to play an accordion, but now I enjoy playing a keyboard at home, with the appropriate keys lighting up for the notes to 100 different songs. It also plays the background music. It's so enjoyable and relaxing. Now I wish I had continued taking piano lessons. Maybe I didn't because my older sister played so well by ear, and I knew I'd never be as good as her, but we are the best of friends.
9. John and I have been happily married for more than 45 years. 
He was born 9 months before me. Interesting numbers: My birthday is on the 10th, John's is on the 6th, and we were married on the 16th of different months (10+6=16). A blind friend pointed out that math equation to me just recently!
10. As a child I drove a tractor on our farm, rode on the back of an old hay rake and lifted the lever every time my dad yelled, "Dump," jumped out the barn door onto a big pile of straw, helped to butcher cattle, rode a goat and promptly fell off, milked a cow, helped to thrash wheat the old-fashioned way, caught lots of frogs in our pond, helped our family to plant a thousand strawberry plants (and pick them), learned to work hard, and loved to go ice skating on our pond.
11. When each child of ours was expecting their own first baby, I gave them a notebook including the kids' quotes from our three children, as well as all the baby book information from each one. Then when their first baby was born, I made them each a cloth quiet book of thirty-two pages to use with their children. Now I am making a large heirloom quilt for each of our five grandchild in their own color choices, and am almost finished with the second quilt.
12. My husband is my best friend and we pray together. Many evenings we love watching Hallmark or other good movies together that we've taped on the DVR, so we can save time by skipping the commercials. John made dinner for us both last night (his idea) so I could continue working on the newsletter, and he brought me a waffle this morning! What a guy! Yes, I always knew how very blessed I am to have John as my husband! He has built so many things for me around the house - an entertainment center, lamps, three bridges, rose arbor, hanging suet feeders, to name a few, and he fixes everything.
13. Essential oils (doTERRA) are a recent fascination for me, after my daughter shared with me a year ago some of the many things they can do. I have been learning which oils will help specific ailments, and love it. We've made several healthier concoctions for everyday use, using the oils, and enjoy sharing with each other what we have learned. Our daughters-in-law are learning along with me, and we've made some concoctions together as well.14. I have always enjoyed finding ways to be thrifty, maybe because my parents lived through the depression. Making my own laundry soap is one way I enjoy saving money (3 cents per load)!
15. It is my passion and prayer that every baby in the womb will have the opportunity for life and love.
16. John and I have lived in the same ranch style home for forty-one years, and he finished off the walk-out basement years ago. All three of our children were raising in this house.
17. We have 3 awesome kids, 2 amazing daughters-in-law, a great son-in-law, and 5 precious and adorable grandkids - so far (ages 1 to 11)! All of our children and other family members live out of state - one child's family lives in state, but 2 hours away. We spend a week at the beach together most summers, and they all come here for Thanksgiving. Now that my husband has retired from engineering, we are able to visit each of them more often, and we enjoy helping them with projects while in their home.
18. My husband and I each grew up on Pennsylvania farms and had lots of "pets." Now we are content to go without.
19. We have never been on a cruise. Canada is the only other country we have visited (4-5 times), but we'd love to go to Israel sometime to walk where Jesus walked. There are thirteen states I haven't been in - yet. John has been in a few more than I have, because of business. Neither of us has been to Hawaii, but maybe someday.
20. I was so blessed to have grown up in a loving Christian family with a older sister and two younger brothers, go to a great church and church camp, where we heard the Word of God taught faithfully. I also loved going to Youth for Christ every Saturday night, where John and I met, and started dating at nineteen! His entire family came to YFC.
21. I'm directionally challenged - I get lost easily, especially downtown. Thank goodness for the invention of the GPS!
22. My husband and I used to ride together on short trips on his motorcycle, but now we enjoy sailing together in our very old Hobie cat when the wind and weather cooperate. In 2001 we were shocked to have come in second place overall and in our division in our one and only regatta, and soon two tall trophies came in the mail! My husband does most of the work in sailing. I just act as ballast and operate the jib. We really enjoy sailing.
23. My greatest times of intimacy with the Lord have been in the midst of brokenness, pain, and suffering, but living daily in His Presence is a wonderful blessing I wouldn't trade for the world. Two weeks ago I had a needle biopsy on a lump I found in my neck, and give God all the glory for the results being completely clear, especially ruling out lymphoma.
24. I see the value of eliminating certain foods (and substances most people consider to be foods - like sugar ...) from my diet to help in minimizing muscle and joint pain that I deal with constantly from head to toe because of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and arthritis. After being off a very restrictive diet for almost a year, I know that I must get back on it again. I know now that as difficult as it was to be on it, the diet actually was helping to relieve some of the pain. I don't normally take OTC pain relievers because of how they attack different organs, nor am I on any prescriptions. Prayers are very much appreciated, so I can continue doing as much as possible for as long as possible.
25. It has been my special joy and privilege to send the Heart to Heart Newsletter to many women in 62 countries, including all 50 U.S. states for more than 15 years. I thank the Lord for this ministry opportunity to bless and encourage women in this way since February, 1999. You ALL mean so much to me! I will continue as long as I am able, but recently I do feel I might need to send it less often before long (will keep you posted). If that happens, I would add to the Heart to Heart blog more often, http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com which was set up at the end of 2010, but contains contents from many past newsletters.
EASTER INSPIRATION, IDEAS AND RECIPES
LAZARUS: A CRAFT FOR CHILDREN USING A TOILET PAPER TUBE
Thanks to Elinor Wright for this adorable craft idea!http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/TP-Roll-Mummy.html
This is a super simple craft that can be incorporated into a resurrection lesson on Lazarus! It almost resembles a Veggie Tale character. Very cute! Glue two large eyes near the top of an empty toilet paper tube. Look for those movable eyes in a craft store. In a pinch large buttons or eyes drawn on will do. Wrap self-adhering gauze all around the tube and up over the head, leaving only the eyes showing. Even very small children can fiddle with the little doll and wrap and unwrap him as they play with him. Look for an adorable picture of Elinor's craft on the blog - with the gauze wrapped over the head!
TEN TIPS TO SAVE TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY
Down to the Last Drop! When you think you have squeezed out all the contents of plastic tubes, you can be sure that there is still more in there - more than you imagine! Try cutting plastic tubes of hand cream, makeup, etc. across the middle with scissors and be surprised! I often find more than a dozen days' worth of makeup inside a tube, or lots more hand cream or toothpaste that was unable to be squeezed out. Usually there's lots more product on one end of the tube. The empty end will slip right over the end with more contents (with just a tiny overlap) so the leftover contents won't dry out before getting used up. For chapstick, when you can no longer get anymore out, dig out the remaining half inch or so with a sharp, narrow knife and insert it into another tube! There's no use in tossing out before the contents are all used up!
Ginger Paste ~ Save lots of money and make your meals tastier and healthier with your own homemade ginger paste! It builds up your immune system. Peel and chop ginger, then drop it into a powerful blender. Add enough oil and/or water to make it easier to blend up, and process until smooth and creamy. Store it in small amounts in the freezer, but keep some in your fridge for adding to meat dishes, salad dressings, and many other dishes. I store mine in Tupperware midget cups. You could even freeze and use it as tomato paste in the next tip!
Tomato Paste Savvy ~ Many recipes call for a small amount of tomato paste, and what remains invariably turns moldy in the fridge, right? Try this instead! Open both ends of the can with a can opener. Remove and discard one end of the can, but leave the other end in place. Wrap the entire can in plastic wrap and freeze overnight. When frozen, use the remaining metal end of the can to push out the frozen tomato paste. Discard the can, and tightly wrap the tomato paste in plastic wrap, and store in the freezer. Slice off only as much as you need for recipes.
Clean Tough Areas of Refrigerator or Microwave Overnight ~ Saturate a terry cloth dishcloth with hot water. Pour about a tablespoon of liquid castile soap such as Dr. Bronner's onto the cloth. Rub together and lay over a tough, gooey spot in your fridge. Let set for an hour or overnight. The goo will wipe off with little effort.
Boredom on the Treadmill or Stair Climber ~ At gyms everyone watches TV while they use these exercise machines, so if you have one at home, why not do the same? You can make a firm "table" across your treadmill to hold your Kindle or laptop computer. During this time I enjoy reading or listening to the Bible, praying through my prayer list, memorizing scripture verses, or watching sewing and quilting videos. It takes my mind off of this necessary activity.
Make Your Own Birdhouses (Recommended Diameters for Birdhouse Entrance Holes):
Wrens - 1 1/8"
Nuthatches, Chickadees and Tufted Titmice - 1 1/4"
Bluebirds - 1 1/2"
Make Your Own Peanut Butter Suet to Attract all the Birds Listed Above (and More)! These are the birds I've seen eating our tasty homemade suet: Bluebirds, Carolina wrens, nuthatches, chickadees, tufted titmice, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, yellow-bellied woodpeckers, mockingbirds, house finches, goldfinches, white-throated sparrows, and more! Mix together inexpensive peanut butter and shortening with a mixer until creamy. Add flour and/or cornmeal (a great use for even buggy flour or cornmeal). Mix with electric mixer until it is the consistency of play dough. Form it into suet cakes and wrap in plastic wrap and store in waxed cereal liners to keep the grease from seeping through. If you have night predators like raccoons or bears, I'd advise bring it inside at night, unless they are unable to get into it at night. http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Birds%20-%20Suet
Frame Your Own Nature Photography ~ My husband built a shelf on our sundeck, directly in front of our kitchen window. By setting a custard cup full of peanut butter suet in front of our kitchen window (raised up), I've been able to get lots of closeup pictures of our beautiful birds! An adorable Carolina wren is feasting there right now! Off he goes, and now a bluebird! There is so much beauty in God's creation to photograph and frame for your home.
Spring Flower Arrangement ~ For a beautiful spring floral arrangement, make a bird's nest vase by wrapping grapevines around a basket! Insert a real vase inside the nest if using fresh flowers. If using silk flowers, use floral foam inside the basket and insert the stems in a symmetrical manner. This was seen on Martha Stewart's website. For a picture and more ideas, go to http://shout.lt/rnTp.
Now That You've Saved All that Time, Money and Energy ~ Take a break and enjoy some delicious tasting tea that I recently discovered at the grocery store! Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea with no caffeine!
MOM'S CARE PACKAGE
A stick of gum - to remind you to stick with it
A candle - to give you light when you feel burned out
A chocolate kiss - to remind you that someone cares
Smarties - to help you on days when you don't feel so smart
Lifesaver - to remind you that everyone needs help once in a while
A Snicker - to remind you to see the funny side - there is one!
A rose - to remind you to take time to smell the flowers
Confetti - to help you celebrate the good times
A penny - with thanks for sharing your thoughts
A bag - to help you keep it all together
DAILY SURVIVAL KIT
Items needed:
Toothpick
Rubber Band
Band Aid
Candy Kiss
Why??
Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. - Matthew 7:1
Rubber Band - to remind you to be flexible; Things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out. - Romans 8:28
Band Aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s. - Colossians 3:12-14
Pencil - to remind you to list your blessings every day. - Ephesians 1:3
Eraser - to remind you that every one makes mistakes, and it’s OK. - Genesis 50:15-21
Chewing Gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything. - Philippians 4:13
Min - to remind you that you are worth a mint! - John 3:16-17
Candy Kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday. - 1 John 4:7
Tea Bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of blessings. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
BAKED CHICKEN STRIPS WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE
*Update: If you can tolerate eggs, I suggest substituting the olive oil with 2 beaten eggs as this helps hold the coating on better. I’ve also found that if you place a wire rack over the cookie sheet and bake the chicken strips on the rack it helps get the coating even more crispy.
If there’s one thing that frustrates me the most, it’s having to make 2 different meals at dinner time. I try to feed my son what we are having for dinner that night, but sometimes the flavors are too mature for his pallet, so I like to keep some more kid friendly options in the freezer.
My son, like most kids, loves chicken nuggets. It’s pretty hard to stay away from some of the frozen foods they sell when you have a toddler who wants to eat on his own watch, but luckily there are a lot of organic (and even gluten-free!) versions out there right now. This time though, I wanted to make a grain-free, paleo, and SCD chicken finger that both he and I could enjoy. I served half for dinner, and froze the other half for those unpredictable nights where he immediately throws the food I serve onto the floor!
1 pound chicken tenders
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup dried shredded coconut, unsweetened
½ cup coconut flour
½ teaspoon coarse salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon ground mustard seed
¼ teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
4 teaspoons honey
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix all of the spices and coconut flour in a shallow bowl.
- Pour the olive oil into a separate shallow bowl, and the shredded coconut into a third bowl.
- Dip each tender in the coconut flour first, then lightly shake off the excess. Next, dip in the bowl with the olive oil and shake off the excess oil. Lastly, dip the chicken in the coconut shreds and use your fingers to press press the coconut onto the strips.
- Place the chicken strips on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken over and bake another 10 minutes.
- Turn the oven to broil, and continue baking for another 3-5 minutes until the chicken has evenly browned.
- While the chicken is cooking, mix the mustard and the honey in a small bowl.
- Serve the chicken strips hot with the honey mustard sauce or sauce of your choice!
REAL FOOD ROAD TRIP SNACKS
by Kathryn Milliron, Holistic Health Coach - Real Foodhttp://www.simplecleanliving.com/real-food-road-trip-snacks/
Summertime meals vacation time for many families. But often, when on the road to your vacation destination, the choices that you have for food are, shall we say….less than healthy. But you don’t have to be stuck with only fast food and convenience store fare this year. You can bring plenty of healthy, real food snacks that will make everyone happy.
Now when my family travels, we always bring a cooler. It simply gives us far more choices in the snacks that we can bring with us! And unless you are traveling by air, I can’t recommend bringing a cooler with you more!
- Homemade Larabars-if you like Larabars, you can make them at home from scratch. These taste great and travel very well too!
- Yogurt-whether you make homemade yogurt of have found a good whole fat variety, with a cooler, regular or Greek yogurt is a great addition to your travel cooler.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables-chop up some fresh veggies and bring them in containers. You can bring fresh fruits whole, or cube fruits like pineapple and melons.
- Dried fruits-homemade or store bought unsulphured dried fruits are great snacks to bring.
- Hard boiled eggs-boil up some eggs and throw them into the cooler for a protein rich, hand held snack on the go.
- Nuts-nuts that have been soaked and dehydrated are great, healthy, filling snacks for any trip.
- Seeds-along with the nuts above, seeds like sunflower and pumpkin seeds can help to fill your tummy on a trip.
- Sandwiches- bringing pre-made sandwiches can really help you to avoid the fast food joints along your route.
- Hummus-hummus is a great dip for cut veggies or crackers. You can easily make this at home and bring it in a container.
- Cheese-bringing cheese cubes is an easy snack that most kids and adults enjoy.
- Kale chips-If you are looking for something tasty, but without all of the nasty vegetable oil found in potato chips, then kale chips are a great substitute. These are also pretty simple to make at home and can be made in advance….if you can keep everyone away from them before the trip!
- Homemade trail mix-combine your favorite nuts, seeds, dry fruit, and maybe even some dark chocolate chips to share….so good!
- Jerky-I do recommend homemade jerky if you are going to bring jerky with you, but this snack is protein rich and tastes wonderful.
- Popcorn-I love to pop a big batch of popcorn and snack on it throughout the trip. Easy to make and very portable too!
- Homemade chocolate snacks-if your family likes chocolate, you can make your own chocolate snacks in a variety of flavors to bring with you….just make sure you keep them in the cooler if it is hot out or you will end up with a chocolate mess!
- Crackers-crackers are easy travelers and can be paired with cheese, hummus or even nut butter! There are some great, easy recipes that you can make at home, to help you avoid the processed ingredients in store bought varieties.
- Cookies-bring a batch of homemade cookies and your family will be happy.
- Homemade muffins-muffins are very portable, and can be made from scratch with any fruits or even bacon and cheese!
- Nut or seed butter- use these to spread on crackers or to dip fruit.
- Pickles or olives-easy finger foods to bring along…and if you happen to bring fermented pickles, even better! They will help to keep your digestion on track during your vacation.
Try to plan ahead for the foods that you are going to bring on your vacation. If making homemade snacks, most of the ones on the list can be prepared well in advance and some can be frozen as well (like the cookies and muffins). Most of all, enjoy your vacation!
I NEED PAINT
by Nina Graff - from: www.highwayc.wordpress.com
Note from Lois:
I hope you take the time to go to Nina's wonderful website! She and I learned that we share several passions in life, other than the Lord and our families - sewing and photography! You will love Nina's unique photography there, where she shares the journey she is on for now. By the way, Nina is the one who helped me set up the lovely banner of bleeding hearts (This one is her own photography) for the Heart to Heart blog, http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com!
This cold COLD winter on top of our move, and my dominant melancholy personality has taken me on a ‘blue’ journey. I try my best to keep it inside, this storm. I try to focus on:
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely… worthy of praise…dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
My sister once told me, “It seems the best way to get you out of the doldrums is to slap a paintbrush in your hand!” I think she was right.
I wish I was a painter of canvases, but it is simply rooms and furniture. So, I started painting more this week. Just some basement window trim, and then some shelves up in the loft. It really does help my mood!
Not sure what it is? Transformation. Yes…. that’s it.
This song from a while ago..(yes… a WHILE! I have the vinyl LP!)…has been playing in my head as I dip my brush into the paint can. You can listen to it here if you aren’t familiar with it.
Paint my life with Your Charity,
Paint my life with Your Mercy,
Paint my life with Your Humility,
And I’ll share in Your Glory, Jesus,
Paint my life.
Color Your brush with Your Kindness,
Color Your brush with Your Meekness,
Color Your brush with Your Gentleness,
Color Your brush with Your Forgiveness, Jesus…
Paint my life.
(portion from ‘Paint My Life’, by John Michael Talbot and Terry Talbot)
So the question is: Will this stubborn canvas of my life resist the touch of the Master Painter? Or will I surrender daily to what His never ending palette might hold for me? After all, He does KNOW which colors best blend with blue!
COLLEGE INFORMATION FOR YOU AND YOUR TEENS
How to Help Your Teen Choose a College
THE LITTLE THINGS
by Sheila J. Petre - Used by permission
Sometimes I weary of the little things, the relentless role of referee, Isaiah in our bed at two in the morning, Isaiah back downstairs at two in the afternoon, the sticky cake-sprinkle containers, the memory game with only two matching sets left, Laurel's endless "What should I do now?", the plugged vacuum cleaner hose, the little notch in the silverware drawer where Rachael sawed a knife against it, a broken fingernail clippers, the burp cloths in the drawer I used to keep the candles in, promising gladly to do something only to find myself under Michael's disapproval, losing the checkbook, losing my temper. I used to be able to keep them both so nobly! Stuffing size-one baby clothes into the drawer still too-full with newborn sleepers, reading thirty-seven books in one week, including Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake nine times, putting thirty-seven books back on the shelf for the second time in one morning, the three uncut threads dangling from the end of the sleeve of a dress I sewed eighteen months ago, not being able to afford boneless skinless chicken breast, the marbles which nobody but Allegra can find, being asked where to find scissors when they have six pairs and two are right under their noses, being asked what I'm doing when I'm kneading bread, the cracked highchair tray, feeling guilty for buying disposable diapers, Joshua's thumb where his broccoli should be, the drain-catcher full of flotsam right after I took out the slop...so many things I can do something about and so many things I can't...
"When people like me tell you children are only in your home briefly, believe them!" wrote an older mother in a letter I got yesterday. And this younger mother presses her hands together and squeezes her eyes shut but it doesn't send the prayers further or keep the tears back.
Sometimes Michael, in a few simple sentences, explains five difficult verses in the book of Romans; sometimes I walk across the floor with Allegra, esteeming the weight of an entire person in my arms, sometimes Isaiah really does go potty in the potty chair, sometimes both of Joshua's dimples show at once, sometimes Laurel asks a question which proves she understood that Bible story, sometimes I look into Rachael's eyes and she giggles, and I take a step back and crack the only pink cup we had left and it doesn't matter.
I sit down with my nursing baby and write down all the little things I weary of, pause a moment, and add a few things to balance those, reassured by the way the scale tips sharply in Motherhood's favor; at how little a sticky cake-sprinkle container weighs.
I write these things for the days these children, here such an endless briefly, are gone and I can read both lists and find them both positive, transformed by the perspective of the years. Perhaps then I will press my hands together again--and be wise enough to cry.
PRECIOUS GEMS
Thank you, ladies, for your permission to include your children and grandchildren's quotes in Heart to Heart!
Amiya (6): "I have used all the thinking in my brain for today." ~ Danielle in Alabama
Friday is career day at school and the kids can dress up like what they want to be when they grow up. There seems to be a differing opinion in our house...is a princess a "career?" ~ Danielle in Alabama
Marcus (10) calls a buddy (land line) and gets a busy signal. He comes running to me yelling "MOM!!! Something's wrong!! It is making this weird beeping sound and I don't know what to do!" Guess I hadn't thought about these sounds that we had growing up that my kids have NO clue what they are (busy signal, left the phone off the hook, dial-up, the sound of a VCR or cassette eating a tape, etc.). ~ Michelle in Virginia
I was babysitting my 5 year old and 2 year old granddaughters this week and the 2 yr. old didn't want to eat what I gave her. The 5 yr. old said, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Then the 2 year old bowed her head and was (I think faking) crying. The 5 year old then said, "A little drama there!" ~ Ruth Ann in Virginia
Sounds like my house. And this girl cracks me up.
Between two children: "Homemade pizza?? Ugh..." (Last night (every element made lovingly from scratch).
And one child this morning: "These eggs don't taste normal. They are weird..."
And another kid: "You bought bad Greek yogurt! You KNOW what brand I like!"
In the last two days, these children are on thin ice. I sincerely hope they do not risk their own lives by complaining at dinner tonight. Retribution will be swift and fierce and people will probably cry. It's like that. ~ Lauren in Virginia (sharing a friend's gem)
Mommy: "Charity, you are 4 today! Do you feel 4?"
Charity, after a thoughtful moment of silence: "Well, I feel kind of three-ish."
Children say the cutest things! ~ Charlene in Texas
Amiya (6) singing loudly. Malakai (6) says: "Why do you always sing 'joyce'?"
Amiya: "Because I got a lot of 'joyce' in me!" ~ Danielle in Alabama
Samara (4) just asked me if we could go on a hike today, and find some palm trees and knock a coconut out of them. Hmmm....let me think...... ~ Diane in Montana
As we are entering daycare this morning...
Lexi (4): I can walk inside my class by myself today, Mom.
Me: Well, I wanna give you a hug good-bye.
Lexi: Well, You can do that in the hallway! ~ Vera in Virginia
Made a stop at Laura Little's Fudge Shop. Malakai (6) said: "There's nothing healthy in here!" Exactly! ~ Grandma Bernadine in Missouri
So while putting Raylie (8) to bed today, I told her, "I think you got more beautiful today!" and Raylie responds, "It's not easy being meeee!" ~ Julie in Washington
Lexi (4): Mom that steak was soooo delicious! If we have that every night for dinner it would open my heart! ~ Vera in Virginia
Ellie (3) is currently taking the 'baby beans' out of her green beans, asking when the baby eggs will hatch, and rocking them while singing, "Rock a Bye Baby." ~ Alisha in West Virginia
Little Johnny comes downstairs crying. His mother asks, “What’s the matter now?”
“Dad was hanging pictures, and just hit his thumb with the hammer,” said little Johnny crying.
“That’s not so serious,” soothed his mother. “I know you are upset, but a big boy like you shouldn’t cry at something like that. Why didn’t you just laugh?"
“I did!” sobbed Johnny.
QUOTE
"There are three stages in the work of God: impossible, difficult, done."
James Hudson Taylor
HAVE A BLESSED EASTER, AS YOU REMEMBER OUR WONDERFUL RISEN LORD!
Ladies, I would love to hear from you anytime!
Please tell me what you liked, didn't like, or what you'd like to see included.
Simply reply to any newsletter and share your thoughts with me.
I'm always looking for Precious Gems from kids (old or new would be great)!
I pray each of you found something in this edition to bless, encourage and teach you!
Please remember to pray for each dear Heart to Heart lady and her family,
because so many ladies are going through very tough times and need our prayers!
Some have lost loved ones, others have lost jobs, homes, or their good health.
Pray each day for the protection of our troops, and for their families left at home,
as well as adjustment and employment after they return home.
God bless you and your family and keep you in His loving care!
Your "Heart to Heart" friend
Lois
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