Suppose for a moment that you were allowed to enter heaven without holiness. What would you do? What possible enjoyment could you feel there? To which of all the saints would you join yourself, and by whose side would you sit down? Their pleasures are not your pleasures, their tastes not your tastes, their character not your character. How could you possibly be happy, if you had not been holy on earth?
J.C. Ryle

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Dec. 2011 Christmas, Life, Forgiveness, Healthy Recipes, Tips, Natura l Remedies, Gems

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#1 · December 1, 2011, 4:15 pm

Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>

HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER 
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN 
 
A categorized storehouse of information for you from past newsletters,
plus a second blog just for recipes!
 
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman  
 
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Dec. 2011  Christmas, Life, Forgiveness, Healthy Recipes, Tips, Natural Remedies, Gems
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IN THIS ISSUE:
 LOTS OF CHRISTMAS IDEAS
OF PUZZLES AND LIFE
A LESSON ON FORGIVENESS
TWO HEALTHY RECIPES FOR THIS VERY BUSY MONTH:
      QUINOA AND SMOOTHIES
TIPS AND TIDBITS
GETTING OVER SICKNESS NATURALLY
PRECIOUS GEMS
 

LOTS OF CHRISTMAS IDEAS
 
It's so easy for us women to become overwhelmed at this time of the year, convince ourselves that we have to do it all!  You may want to step back and take a minute to observe the big picture of Christmastime in your home.   Please realize that by giving you lots of Christmas ideas, I am not saying you should do everything - nor even half of these ideas.  These are simply ideas from which to chose the best possibilities for your family, as we all remember the "Reason for the Season" - Jesus, and sharing His love with family, friends and strangers.  These are all more important than a perfectly decorated home with lots of gifts under the tree! 

Rather than sending the eight Christmas newsletters from the past again this year, or taking extra space in this newsletter, I'm passing on these Heart to Heart links (below), now that the blogs have been in operation for almost a year.  How I remember last year at this time, working feverishly as I learned how to do a blog with help from friends, and posted so much information to the two Heart to Heart blogs!  The links are always shown below the heading of this newsletter, by the way.  I hope you will all check them out and give me your feedback.

 
 
http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/p/desserts.html   Christmas recipes are included in this link.

More great Christmas ideas from Real Simple:

 
 
OF PUZZLES AND LIFE
by Jalisa Wenger - Used by permission
 
 
A little girl just five years old
She called for Mama’s aid
To put the pieces that she held
Into the puzzle’s frame.
 
But when her Mama tried to help
And show her where they go,
She fussed and tried to make them fit
Her way– not Mama’s– no!
 
Oh, Mama, now let’s do this one!
But Mama thought it best
To lay that piece aside awhile;
It did not fit the rest.
 
And as they worked together on
The puzzle piece by piece,
They found the one they’d laid aside
Now fit right in it’s place!
 
This little girl, she is my own
And I’m her Mother dear.
While watching her, I saw myself.
It really was quite clear!
 
"But Lord," I whined, "I do not want,
To put this piece that way.
It would be nicer over here!
Please tell me that I may!"
 
Or "Father God, let’s do this now."
But Father knows it’s best
To lay that piece aside awhile
Until we’ve pieced the rest.
 
As He and I work on my life,
Together piece by piece,
I later see just why ‘twas best
To heed His tender voice.
 
He saw the big scene of my life
But I saw just a part.
He knew the choice that I so craved
Would draw me from His heart.
 
And so in love He bid me lay
The treasured piece aside
That I might learn to yield to Him
And in His will abide.
 
And now as I continue on
The pathway that He’s planned,
My heart is full of thanksgiving;
I hold to His dear Hand!
 
And when we reach that Heavenly Shore
And know as we are known,
We’ll praise Him for His grace and love
Together ‘round His throne.


A LESSON ON FORGIVENESS
Thanks to Stacy Miller for this!

We had a fantastic lesson today on forgiveness.  Since that is an issue we all have to face at one time or another in our lives, I posted the lesson on my blog, along with adding my own story of dealing with a bitter root.  I hope it helps some of you who may be currently dealing with this issue.
 
 
TWO HEALTHY RECIPES FOR THIS VERY BUSY MONTH
Thanks to Rachael Breneman, my daughter-in-law, for sending these quick and easy recipes!   With all the sugar and fat laden foods before us at this time of the year,  more than ever we need to eat healthy foods on a regular basis.  These two recipes for quinoa and smoothies are a good start!
 
Here is a yummy quinoa recipe.  I like it warmed up or cold and have even eaten it for breakfast.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quinoa-and-black-beans/detail.aspx

 

 

Original Recipe Yield 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
  2. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes,
  3. Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro.
Note: Other beans may be substituted.

Also I've been enjoying smoothies lately.  Great way to get raw greens!  Really hits the spot when I'm craving something sweet.  No specific recipe but here are the ingredients I use:

Frozen blueberries and or strawberries
water and or unsweetened almond milk
sometimes ice cubes
vanilla (no corn syrup added)
stevia
flax seed meal
a couple handfuls of baby spinach or kale
(sometimes wheat grass or spirulina powder)
You could also add some nuts or nut butter.
 
Smoothies are quick and easy to eat. I like them because I don't have to sit down at the table to eat it like I would a salad but I'm getting just as many greens.  You can really experiment to your liking.

 
TIPS AND TIDBITS

Make Ahead Recipes are definitely a great time saving tip for Christmas, just as they were for Thanksgiving!  I was able to spend more time with our family last week when they were all here because of this time-saving tip!   

 
Push Pins Help in Painting ~ While painting a stool for the smaller grandchildren to stand on while washing their hands, my husband stuck a push pin in the bottom of each of the four feet of the stool.  That enabled him to neatly paint all the way down to the bottom of each foot without making a mess.
 
A Great Mathematics Link ~ Mathematics ~ Thanks to Diana Bishop for sending this!

Winterize Your Home by making sure you have enough insulation.  Having insulation blown into your attic will pay off in not only your heating bills but also during the summer when your air conditioner is running.  Even if you don't have air conditioning, your home will stay cooler.  Check all your windows, and if you have storm windows, make sure they are secure.  Do an internet search for many more ideas on winterizing your home that could save you much more.  This is only a start!

 
Natural Antibiotics - Oil of oregano capsules, echinacea, goldenseal root in capsule form and goldenseal tea.  The tea flavor is not bad after adding stevia, a natural sweetener, and it beats getting on an antibiotic from the drug store.
 
 
GETTING OVER SICKNESS NATURALLY
by Meagan DeLong - Used by permission
This informative article was included a year ago, but hopefully more of you will be saved from the misery of colds, flu, sinus infections and more by following this advice! ~ Lois

I know I posted about this last year when Karlie had strep throat and I chose to not give her antibiotics, but I have found several more effective natural remedies since then and wanted to list them all in the same place. These natural solutions really work!!!! If you can only do the first one, you will still lessen the duration and intensity of your sickness. If you do multiple ones, your ailments simply don't have a chance!! There is really no reason to buy all those over the counter cold and flu medicines filled with chemicals!!

1. Oregano oil -- Personally, I think this is THE MOST EFFECTIVE natural remedy available! If you don't do anything else, please stock up on oregano oil. It is simple and effective. If I start taking it at first notice of a scratchy throat, I can pretty much avoid a bad cold because most symptoms are gone within 24 hours. If I don't start it right away, it might not go away as quickly, but it will still help a ton! I put a few drops in an empty pill capsule and take about 3 times a day. For children, just rub it on the bottom of their feet. Oregano oil is a hot herb and kills bacteria and viruses, very much like an antibiotic but without the dangerous chemicals. Make sure you read the label, though, and buy some that is not watered down with olive oil.

2. A tsp. of raw honey with 1/4 tsp. of good quality cinnamon. Both of these have great anti-bacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. If I'm feeling sick, I will mix up a bowl full of honey and cinnamon and take a spoonful about 3 times a day. It soothes a sore throat tremendously, helps fight your sickness, and tastes great, too! For even stronger honey for medicinal purposes, purchase raw Manuka Honey.

3. Gargle with hydrogen peroxide or put drops in your kids ear.

4. Garlic -- If you google garlic you will be amazed at how effective this anti-bacterial natural remedy is. You can simply cut it up into pill-sized bites, or (if you are like me and don't like swallowing those pointy edges 🙂 chop up finely and put in an empty pill capsule. For my girls, I slice it and just rub it on their feet. Their feet are very porous and absorb it very well. I also try to make meals that contain large a mounts of garlic when we are sick. For instance, I will make a pot of our favorite cheesy potato cheddar chowder and add a whole bulb of chopped garlic to the recipe. Or you can generously spread Donielle's "Cold Kicking Garlic Herb Spread" on your favorite bread or crackers 🙂

5. Probiotics -- These are so important for replenishing your good bacteria! You want to take them on an empty stomach if at all possible.

6. Collodial Silver -- Another super effective way to fight bacteria and viruses. You have to make sure you have a good source, but it really works! I take a mouthful about 4 times a day when I am sick.

7. Unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar -- If you can, taking a mixture of 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar with honey and plenty of cayenne pepper really works well. Take it 3-4 times a day. I can't do the pepper, but I just pour a little ACV in my water or tea and drink it throughout the day.

8. Steam Pot for chest/broncial/mucus issues. -- boil water on the stove in a glass pot – if you don't have a glass pot, boil the water in a tea pot and then pour into a glass bowl. When the water is boiling hard, remove from heat and add three shakes of Euchalyptus, lavendar, and pine oils into the hot water. The oil effectiveness lasts about 15-20 seconds so move quickly to get yourself over the steam. Breathe in through your nose, turn your head to the side and breathe out through your mouth. Continue this process until the scents aren't as strong. Be sure to close your eyes. With children, place a washcloth over their eyes as it can burn. You could also make a tent over the top with a towel for really young infants, but if they can get the concept of breathing through their nose, then it will get deeper into their lungs. You're doing it right if it just about takes your breath away or make you cough!

9. Grapefruit Seed Extract -- I add it to my smoothies, tea, or juice all year long just to boost our immune system. When I am sick, I take it in a capsule with my oregano oil.

10. Elderberries -- anti-viral, contains high levels of flavonoids and antioxidants, has cell-protecting components, soothes sore throats, and supports the immune system and respiratory system. I add some dried ones to my morning tea or make a simple elderberry syrup for the girls when they are sick. Lindsey gives a great little video of how to make your own on THIS post.

11. Kombucha -- it cleanses the body from toxins and aids in digestion and metabolism. Click HERE to see my review of it and some links explaining why I love this drink and how to make it yourself. My toddler and I drink this regularly (I'm still working on my husband :), and I was amazed that mybaby would even take sips of it when she was sick! When I make it, I usually try to leave a small jar of it fermenting for several weeks so that it will be even more potent for killing off illness.

12. Mullein for chest/cold issues -- Take mullein capsules – The amount taken depends on the size of the capsule. The larger 0 sizes can be 1-2 capsules 3x per day. The small 000 capsules can be 3 capsules 3x per day. This is not a hard science, can take larger doses if the lung infection is bad or persistent. Mullein is a safe herb. You can also make a tea for kids who can not swallow pills. Or add a small amount to applesauce or yoghurt and have them take it that way. I add it to bone broth through out the winter.

13. Home-made Chicken Stock -- Your grandma was right to tell you to eat chicken soup when you are sick because it is chock full of immune-boosting nutrients! But don't buy the store-bought kind full of chemicals, bad salt, and MSG. It is so simple to make your own with nourishing sea salt and immune-building herbs. Everytime I cook a chicken, I make stock for soups. Any time a soup recipe calls for water, I use my stock instead and it adds tons of flavor and nutrients! And anytime we are sick, I reach for my chicken stock!

14. Home-made ear drops -- these are helpful even if the sickness is not an ear infection, because it helps to get garlic and GSE into the body which fight infection. Click HERE for 2 different home-made ear drops, one that you can use right away and one that you can make ahead of time and store.

15. Cod liver oil -- Vitamin D is so important for your immune system and I prefer to take real food rather than just a vitamin D supplement that my body might have a hard time digesting and utilizing. I take it every day but take extra when I am fighting an illness. Don't be deterred by the gross-sounding name -- it comes in pill form so you don't have to taste it 🙂

16. Herbal Teas -- so healing! Click HERE for a list of which herbs help different ailments.

17. Stay away from sugar and white flour!!! This is so important, because they inhibit the natural workings of your immune system.

18. Let the fever run its course -- (That means NO Tylenol!) This is probably the hardest, yet most important thing for me to do when my girls are sick. God made our bodies to have a fever because the high temp. kills the virus or bacteria. Using Tylenol ruins this natural process and makes the body unable to fight the disease. It can also cause a fever convulsion by bringing the fever down too quickly. Without Tylenol, your fever will naturally break when it gets too high, then climbs back up and breaks again, etc, until it has killed the infection. So I just try to make my girls as comfortable as possible and if utterly miserable, I give THIS special bath for helping with the fever. The main thing you have to watch out for with a high fever is dehydration, but I will write about that soon...

19. Coconut water -- This is truly nature's Gatorade or Pedialyte without all the added flavorings and sugar! I get in the organic section at Kroger or buy when on sale at Amazon and always keep it on hand for any time we are sick. Coconut Water is rich in many vital minerals, vitamins, and proteins, not just the basic "electrolyte essentials" found in a lab-formulated drink. And believe it or not, the natural electrolyte & pH balance of coconut water even make it suitable for a rehydrating IV solution! And my girls love it! Smart Water/ Trinity Mineral Water is also a good option for dehydration because it has a lot of electrolytes, but my favorite is coconut water.

20. Lemons -- high in vitamin C, which is important when sick. Once again, I'd rather take real food than a processed pill, so I add a ridiculous amount of fresh lemons to my tea or water all day long when I am sick.

21. Chiropractor! The relief a chiropractor can bring during illness is simply amazing. I can see immediate relief in my girls' eyes once the chiro has finished. And the amount of drainage that immediately is released is even more proof 🙂 A chiro is particularly useful if you think your child has an ear infection and can bring immediate relief to the pain. Our family chiro has a lot of medical training and gave me much encouragement and more advice on beating sickness naturally. If you live in my area, I can recommend a fabulous Christian chiro who charges a reasonable rate and doesn't even deal with insurance. I just love her! I take my girls to a chiropractor before I even think about taking them to a doctor.

22. Coconut oil -- Filled with anti-viral and anti-biotic properties -- I eat a few spoonfuls or spread it on toast or mix in my tea. But make sure you buy the raw, cold-pressed kind.

23. Smoothies with coconut milk, coconut oil, frozen fruit, raw honey, and grapefruit seed extract --The best tasting medicine ever! It is really the only thing I can get my girls to eat when they are absolutely miserable. It is dairy-free so it won't add to drainage, has tons of vitamin C from the fruit, contains bacteria fighting GSE and coconut oil, all the nutrients of coconut milk, and the honey is soothing and has many other benefits. We actually eat these all the time to try to boost our immune system. My husband likes them so much that he was willing to give up his nightly ice cream treat for them (and if you know my husband, that is saying A LOT!)

24. "Remedies" from my Christian Holistic Doctor -- I know not everyone has this resource available but I wanted to include it because if you live in my area, I can refer you to the BEST natural doctor ever. She can pinpoint any illnesses/ allergies without invasive treatment and makes remedies based on your body's particular needs. She has such a heart for helping others and I just love her!

25. Homeopathic remedies -- I've recently started trying out Homeopathic options like teething tablets and allergy tablets. I've used the Hyland's andBoiron brand and they both seem to work well. I plan to try out the cold remedy next time any of us get sick and I have the flu remedy in my medicine cabinet just in case! Homeopathy seems to be very safe and effective. It treats the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. The idea is that by giving a small dose of the very thing that could trigger the types of symptoms that a person is experiencing, you can actually bring about a natural healing response that will help to relieve those symptoms! Pretty neat!


PRECIOUS GEMS
I appreciate the following ladies giving me permission to include these gems in Heart to Heart!  Everyone is welcome to send quotes to be considered for posting.

Savannah (4) said, "Mommy, I love you because you can always find my tag on my blankie even when it's dark.  and you are warm.  You are the bestest mommy in the whole wide world."~ Lauren in Virginia


Today on the way home from dance class Eva asked me, " Mommy, if God is the father, then who is the mommy when we get to heaven?"  ~ Elizabeth in Virginia

Alex (5) was just sitting on my back while I lay in the floor.  Logan (3) walked over, pushed him off, and said, "Hey!  That's MY momma! ~ Amanda in Virginia

Abbi recently learned to pull up and will use anything she sees to get her where she wants to be.  Today I was in the kitchen and I heard Karlie (2) scream, "Mamma, she's trying to pull down my underwear!" ~ Meagan in North Carolina

I had forgotten Sam brought books home from school to read, and when looking for some, he says, "Mommy, you're so forgettable!" ~ Beth in Virginia

After a long day of hearing Halle (5) say over and over and over "Henri" (to the dog they were sitting for a week) and repeatedly getting in his face, which he did not like at all, I said, "Halle, if he bites your face I am NOT taking you to the hospital!"  She looked up at me and said, "Well, will you put a Bandaid on it?" ~ Becky in Georgia

I overheard one of my little girls in class today saying, "I want to be a cowgirl when I grow up.  I don't want to live on a farm--that would be too messy.  I just want to be a cowgirl."  Oh, to be 7 years old again!! ~ Cindy, a teacher in Georgia

 
Joshua (11) was talking to one of his friends and telling him about why he shouldn't buy a particular game station.  He says, "My dad is into social security and stuff like that."  I had to come upstairs to laugh out loud because his (young) dad is in Information security--not Social Security.  So funny! ~ Penny in Virginia
 

 
Merry Christmas!
Ladies, I would love to hear from you anytime!
Simply reply to any newsletter and share your thoughts with me.
I'm always looking for cute quotes from kids (old or new quotes would be great)!

I pray each of you found something to bless, encourage and teach you in this edition!
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!
God bless you and your family and keep you in His loving care!
Your Heart to Heart friend
Lois

Disclaimer: Various websites may be given as credits or to supply additional information for readers. However, all the views and advertisements represented by websites in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the editor. Please use your own discretion and common sense regarding all information given in this newsletter.
 
 
 

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