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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Mar. 2014 25 Tips, Equipping Your Children & Grandchildren before They Leave Home, Grandparents
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IN THIS ISSUE:
25 HOUSEHOLD TIPS
THE REAL SALARY OF A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM
EDIBLE APPLE SWAN
PHONE CALLS - HOW TO GET A REAL PERSON WITH A SHORTER WAIT TIME
A WORD OF WISDOM FROM A GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT
25 SPECIAL WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILD
EQUIPPING YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN BEFORE THEY LEAVE HOME
COCONUT CHICKEN TENDERS
WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP
PRECIOUS GEMS
25 HOUSEHOLD TIPS
Make Your Own Packing List in WORD in several columns with different categories (toiletries, clothes, summer, winter, things to keep handy in car, food, last minute items, etc.) and tweak it when changes need to be made. Print out a few copies on colored paper to have handy for trips. The colored paper helps you not to lose it during packing time. On my list I have phone numbers for holding the mail and newspapers, as well as a list of a few things for my husband to pack or do during that busy time. His section can be cut off of the main list. Having your packing list ready will free your brain from having to rethink what you need to pack each time you go on a trip!
Glow-in-the Dark Keys ~ Paint the head only with glow-in-the dark paint, so they are easier to find in the dark. Do not paint the area of the key that goes into the lock or you will distort it, causing the key not to work.
Neat Storage for Gift Wrap ~ Save and cut toilet paper tubes in half lengthwise to slip over opened rolls of wrapping paper to keep the paper from unrolling - one tube at each end.
When Lighting a Candle with a hard-to-reach wick, light a long stick of spaghetti with a match to use as a long match. When lighting a number of candles, a spaghetti stick also saves burning your fingers.
Hold Your Cell Phone in an Upright Vertical Position by placing it in an old cassette tape case.
An Ice Pack that Won't Drip When it Melts ~ Saturate a sponge with water, place in a Ziplock bag, and freeze it to use as an ice pack.
Hidden Cash ~ While on vacation or shopping at home, carry emergency bills in an empty chapstick container.
Save Your Fingers while Hammering Nails by holding the nail with a spring clothespin as you first get the nail to stick. Then hammer away!
Label and Organize Power Cords with bread tabs. In my sewing room I use different colors as well for quick recognition.
Unplug Power Cords Plugs on sewing machines when not in use.
Find the End of a Roll of Tape Easily, by sticking a bread tab on the very end. This saves time and headaches trying to find the end.
Renew Old Rolls of Tape by heating them in the microwave. They will work like new again.
Hidden Storage on a Bookshelf ~ Saw about an inch from old books you don't want, including the binding. Then glue then onto a wooden box, covering the entire front. Place the box on the bookshelf. The book bindings should cover every part of the box front.
How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal ~ Start by running hot water through your garbage disposal for a minute. Pour about 1/4 cup baking soda into the drain. Flip the garbage disposal on for 2 seconds, just to whirl the baking soda inside, and then leave it alone for 10-15 minutes. Follow with 1 cup of vinegar and watch as bubbles erupt out of your drain. Rinse through one last time with very hot water and run your garbage disposal for 5 seconds.
A Plunger Can Unclog Shower and Sink Drains even without chemicals.
Use a Pool Noodle as a Door Stopper to prevent toddlers from smashing their fingers. Cut off about six inches and slice one side lengthwise, then attach it to the door near the top (out of reach of toddlers).
A Remedy for Scratches on Hardwood Floors ~ here is a simple trick to try! Take a crayon (the color of the floor) and rub it on the scratch to fill the gap. Turn a blow dryer on high to heat the area where the crayon was applied. Then buff the spot with a soft cloth.
Remove Indentations from Carpet by placing ice cubes in the indentation. Allow them to melt. Vacuum when completely dry.
Grout Cleaner Recipe ~ 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup vinegar. Spray on, scrub, wipe off.
How to Clean a Stainless Steel Sink to a Beautiful Shine ~ Spray sink with white vinegar and sprinkle baking soda over the entire sink. Let it set for 10 minutes while you heat water to boiling in your tea kettle. Rinse sink with boiling water, by pouring it straight from the tea kettle. Spray sink with more vinegar and scrub all areas. Wipe dry with a dry terry cloth. Polish with a small amount of olive oil on a terry cloth, then buff with a clean terry cloth.
Control the Amount of Hand Soap being Dispensed ~ To keep kids from squirting too much soap when they wash their hands, tie a rubber band around the top so when they push the dispenser down, it only goes down part way. Another option is this wonderful natural hand soap, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap. It's $4.99 for 12.5 ounces, and comes in lemon, lavender, geranium, and bluebell scents. I stretch one bottle to fill 7-8 foam dispensers and it works great! Natural is better than using chemicals any day! I buy my foaming soap dispensers at a great price - www.AromaTools.com. The shipping is a bit high, but if you place an order with a friend or two, it's reasonable.
Make Lavender Water to spray on bed linens after you put fresh sheets on beds. Spray it anywhere for a lovely fragrance.
Keep Socks Together in the Laundry by clipping each pair of socks together with a binder clip before being tossed in the laundry.
Don't Lose Your Grocery Shopping List in the Store ~ Clip it to the grocery cart with a binder clip.
Make Your House Smell Delicious ~ Put a few sprigs of rosemary, lemon slices, and a teaspoon of vanilla in a pot and let it simmer on the stove.
THE REAL SALARY OF A STAY-AT-HOME-MOM
EDIBLE APPLE SWAN
All you need to make this beautiful swan is a cutting board, a sharp knife, and two table knives.
PHONE CALLS - HOW TO GET A REAL PERSON WITH A SHORTER WAIT TIME
Thanks to Joyce Quam in North Carolina for this tip! She suggests adding this useful resource to add to our contact listings. Joyce says: I have used this over the past months for State Farm, Home Depot, Best Buy when the wait times were long or "I could not reach a person" and have found it very useful.
If you need to reach the best number (in most cases) with the shortest wait time, type this into the search field: Example: Best Buy: Type "Get a human Best Buy" and the link below will appear with a telephone number that works and in most cases with a short wait time.
gethuman.com/phone-number/Best-Buy/
A WORD OF WISDOM FROM A GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT (Soon Nine!)
by Janis Williamson - 2/18/2014 - Used by permission
(Note from Lois: Janis is a dear friend of mine from childhood, and getting to know her even more in recent years has been very sweet! Her mother used to be my Sunday school teacher and my mother used to be hers!
By purposeful thought, we have one TV in our home. It is upstairs in the bonus room. My kitchen is quiet, peaceful, with a large farm table as its centerpiece.
My grandson, Ocean has been with me for several days, and during that time the TV has only been in use for two hours. He has spent the remaining hours, at the farm table building trucks, cars, and airplanes, and reading books to me while I cook his favorite food. The bonus room is a giant Knight’s Kingdom with medieval battles being fought, surrounded by more books piled high that take us into adventures far greater than the zombie-staring boredoms of an electronically talking box.
Dear Parents, you do NOT have to be so busy! Control your television. You can do it. Do NOT let it control you! Neither allow it to be the babysitter that will demand far more pay in future consequences than you will ever want to realize.
Your children are little people who have eternal souls to be nurtured for God and heaven. For heaven’s sake, as Frederick Douglass wisely said so many many years ago, “It is easier to build a strong children than to repair broken men.”
You want your kids to grow up and be your friends, right? You want them to have a heart for God, right? I do hope so! Well then, TURN OFF THE TV, and find the joy in the little people, the eternal treasures, gifted to you by God, your precious children.
25 SPECIAL WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILD
by Lisa Jacobson - February 3, 2014 - Club 31 Women (a passion for husband, home and family) - Used by permissionhttp://club31women.com/
He was a young man by then. Seventeen. Nearly grown and gone.
And at the time his mountain bike was a big part of his world. He had built it himself, piece by piece, and was anxious to take it over to the bike shop to get the necessary repairs.
Realizing this, I had put it on a long list of other errands I needed to run. That week was so busy that my head was spinning, so you can imagine the relief when my husband offered to go into town for me. Yes, please! And, I’ll love you forever.
But I saw our son’s face fall. Disappointment clear across his countenance. Not understanding, I reassured him that his dad would drop off the bike too and all would be well.
And then this came out of his mouth. Out of his heart. “But Mom, I was really looking forward to spending the time with you.”
Oh.
He doesn’t simply need a ride to the cycle shop. He’s not merely looking to have his bike repaired. He wants a relationship with me. His mom. Even at seventeen. A relationship that began from a very young age.
Surprising.
That a son – nearly grown and gone – would want to hang out with his mom. But that’s how our friendship began, by simply spending time together.
Now in case you haven’t experienced it yet? The years slip by faster than you think they will. The next thing you know that little boy – or little girl – is all grown up. Just like this. So don’t wait. Spend time together.
25 Special Ways to Spend Time With Your Child
1. Fix a cup of tea
2. Drive up to the lake
3. Find a fun playground
4. Play a board game
5. Go for a drive
6. Stroll along the river
7. Share a bowl of popcorn
8. Work on a craft together
9. Ski down the mountain
10. Go out for an ice-cream cone
11. Watch an old – or new – movie
12. Head over to the library
13. Dip into some frozen yogurt
14. Attend a music concert
15. Head up for a hike
16. Sip on a cup of hot chocolate
17. Cheer together at a sports game
18. Take a walk in the park
19. Sneak out for some breakfast
20. Go window shopping
21. Plan a special trip somewhere
22. Put together a picnic
23. Bake something yummy in the kitchen
24. Build a project – just the two of you
25. Curl up in a quiet corner to talk and laugh
Take the time now. Before they are truly grown and gone. Because what do your children really want? They want a relationship with you.
EQUIPPING YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN BEFORE THEY LEAVE HOME
Things to Consider Teaching Your Children
by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2014
Consider thinking about and listing the knowledge, experiences, and skills you would like your children to have a grip on before they leave the love and security of your home. What do they need to know to live on their own, and later as they marry and have a family of their own? Parents, as well as grandparents, teachers, aunts, uncles, and friends can all have a hand in the teaching, depending on the choice of the parents. Do all you can to help them prepare for every area of their lives, including the spiritual, physical, emotional, educational, vocational, and financial, as well as all that goes along with keeping a home.
I will never forget one of my friends telling me just before she got married that she had never cooked a meal in her entire life! Wow! And it's been known that, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I often wondered what they ate during their first year of married life!
It's just a fact that a child equipped with plenty of practical skills will do better in life than those who are lacking in them. It's never too late to start teaching your child the basics. It's also never too early to start! A toddler can learn scripture verses and songs, as well as how to do simple tasks such as taking trash to the trash can, running a cordless vacuum, helping to fold washcloths, matching socks, and picking up toys - a few jobs they are capable of doing and will gladly do for you. A five year old can unload the dishwasher, by first putting away the silverware, then stacking the dishes neatly on the counter top rather than in high cabinets, and putting pots and pans away in the lower cabinets, as my five year old grandson has been doing. I rarely ever had to unload the dishwasher in our home. First our daughter did this job. Then ever since our older son was six, it was his job to unload the dishwasher before I drove our children to school, and later our younger son took over the job until he left for college.
Using the internet, your children can learn a lot. After researching a subject, then comes the practical use of that knowledge! YouTube is a great source of learning how to do almost anything - many life skills such as sewing, cooking, crafts, DIY projects, how to fix a car, and an unlimited number of things. I'm not suggesting that your children simply know where to find that information, but to "do" many of those activities while they are still in your home. By doing that, they will learn many skills that will serve them well throughout their lives by increasing their creativity, giving them confidence, saving them a lot of money, and passing on their skills to their own children. Many skills are lost because we do not teach them to our children. Grandparents, do your best to revive the lost arts by instilling them in your grandchildren!
When teaching a child how to do almost anything, it is good to use this four-step process: (Show, Help, Do, Inspect)
1. Show the child how to do a certain job or skill.
2. Have the child help you do that same job or skill.
3. Let the child do it himself. 4. Inspect his work in an effort to have him do the best job possible.
If you or your husband do not possess the skill to teach your children in each of these areas, find someone who can. Possibly you can swap children with another family if another mom is more skilled in sewing, while you are more gifted in another skill. You may also need to hire someone to teach certain skills to your children. It will be money well spent if your child learns a skill that will be used throughout life.
I've listed various areas below with suggestions, but advise each family to sit down and make their own list. In the following segments below, when I say, "Know how to," I really mean that the child should "do" these activities. After all, that is how one actually learns - by doing!
For each child, keeping a notebook of knowledge, experiences, and skills learned would be most helpful! If a three-ring notebook is used, extra pages could be added along the way in this exciting journey to adulthood. Since children start their knowledge, experiences, and skills before they are able to write and keep a notebook themselves, of course, the parent or grandparent would need to start the notebook to record all that each child learns during the early years. During their first seven years, they will learn more than you realize they ever could in the areas of spiritual development, character development, and manners.
The following segments are just a guide for parents and grandparents. You will want to make your own list, but basically teach your children to have accomplished the goals in each of these areas before they leave home:
Spiritual Development
Know the good news of the gospel, and hopefully they have already accepted Christ as Savior - and experienced a real heart change.
Know various ways to have personal devotions and have meaningful personal devotions.
Have a clear understanding and practice of prayer.
Have a good number of scripture verses firmly etched in memory. A list for review is important as well.
Be able to sing some hymns - know the words and melodies. There is so much biblical truth in the hymns.
Character Development
Obedience to parents
Kindness - how to treat others
Self discipline
Self confidence
Forgiveness
Dependability
Truthfulness
Trustworthiness
How to control anger
Compassion for others
Helpfulness
Respectfulness
Joyfulness
Patience
Putting others first
Manners
Say "please" and "thank you" when appropriate.
Carry on a meaningful conversation - like playing tennis (taking turns speaking).
Write thank you notes.
Learn not to interrupt.
Learn how to introduce people.
Learn to share possessions.
Help others (siblings, friends, neighbors, and others).
House Cleaning
Keep bedroom picked up, organized, and clean.
Clean a bathroom (cobwebs, walls, mirror, tub, toilet, sink, shower, counter, floor, walls, knick knacks).
Dust with a lamb's wool duster and a cloth.
Polish furniture.
Remove cobwebs.
Wash windows and mirrors.
Polish silver and brass.
Sweep and vacuum hard surface floors.
Wet mop floors.
Steam mop floors.
Vacuum carpet.
Clean a microwave.
Clean an oven.
Wash and dry dishes by hand.
Load and unload a dishwasher.
Wash and/or polish kitchen cabinets.
Money Management
Write a check.
Balance a checkbook.
Pay bills (by actually doing it with parents).
Manage money wisely.
Tithe money.
Save money.
Spend money wisely.
Control impulse buying.Have a good work ethic.Take care of what you own.Repair things you own, rather than instantly tossing them.Earn money (babysitting, tutoring, mowing lawns, gardening, landscaping, shoveling snow, farm work, dog sitting, washing cars, etc.).
Clothing
Keep bedroom floor clear of clothing, and put clothes away properly.
Match separates to extend a wardrobe.
Shop at thrift stores to stretch dollars.
Do own laundry or learn to be responsible for part of family's laundry. Several children could take turns with various loads.
Learn basic spot removal tips.
Make homemade laundry soap (very effective at cleaning clothes and super inexpensive).
Use an iron (some things do need ironing).
Cooking
Properly wash produce.
Read a recipe and follow through.
Double or triple a recipe.
Freeze food (the basics).
Clean up after making a mess in the kitchen.
Use measuring spoons and measuring cups.
Know and understand measurements (3 tsp. = 1 Tbsp. and 4 Tbsp. = 1/4 cup, etc.).
Bake cookies from scratch.
Bake a cake and make frosting from scratch.
Know how to use an oven, microwave, blender, crockpot.
Know the basics terms of cooking and baking and how to do each one (check a cookbook for terms).
Pack balanced lunches. Be responsible for at least some of them.
Know the basics of meal planning.
Plan a week of meals.
Make coffee.
Make tea.
Know how to make eggs different ways, a breakfast casserole, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and oatmeal.
Know how to make a healthy smoothie.
Know how to make a meal of meat, potatoes, and vegetable.
Know how to make a casserole and salad meal.
Know how to make meatloaf.
Know how to cook brown rice.
Know how to bake potatoes.
Know how to make homemade soup.
Know how to make homemade pizza.
Know how to make muffins, biscuits, quick bread, and yeast bread - all from scratch.
Know how to use the crockpot to make meals, especially roast beef, roast chicken, and roast turkey breast.
Know how to make a homemade pie.
Cook an entire meal - then another and another (as in real life).
Gardening
Plant a garden and care for it:
Know how to grow several vegetables.
Know how to grow several herbs.
Know how to grow several flowers.
Know the difference between a vegetable, herb, flower, and a weed.
Know how to freeze vegetables and herbs.
Know how to dry herbs.
Sewing
Know how to sew on a button
Know how to hem a skirt or pair of pants by hand, using a simple blind stitch
Know how to mend clothes - fix a small rip or tear
Know the basics of sewing with a sewing machine and do at least a few projects (pillow, skirt, shirt, dress, quilt). Some young girls have made doll clothes for American Girl Dolls and put themselves through college by selling them. Having a sewing skill could also grow into a home business, so after marriage a young mother could stay home with her children, and sew doll clothes or possibly do custom sewing and alterations.
Other Skills
Explore the possibilities of playing an instrument or singing.
Explore the possibilities of taking a class to learn a craft, cake decorating, wood working, sewing, knitting, crocheting, etc..
Explore the possibilities of playing a sport, but don't allow this one to take over your life and squeeze out time for other things, as this often happens.
Organization
How to be organized - learning basic skills and following through by using a turntable, shoe organizer, boxes in a drawer.
Automobiles
How to change a tire
How to change oil in car
How to wash a car
How to wax a car
Know the rules of driving
How to drive a car
How to pack a car.
Practical Household Skills
Hang a framed picture or mirror.
Use a Magic Eraser for multiple uses.
Use a plunger.
Free a clogged drain.
Change a light bulb.
Know at least 6 basic essential oils and their many uses. Put some into practice. This will come in handy someday!
Make several DIY natural substitutes for products such as body cream, deodorant.
Tie various knots.Know how to pack for a trip.
Health and Safety
Know how to eat to be healthy.
Know alternative remedies for everyday ailments.
Know First Aid.
Know CPR.
Know measures of safety.
Building
Know how to use a hammer, screw driver (regular and Phillips), pliers,and other tools.
Learn how to make a woodworking project and follow through with making it.
Technology
(I'm laughing because the younger generations seem more equipped to teach us older folks in this area! Let them teach you then!)
How to use a computer
How to use a cell phone
How to use a Kindle and other technology
Fishing and Hunting
How to catch a fish and clean itHow to shoot a deer, and cook venison
Laws
Know basic laws.
Problem Solving
Give your child various problems which happen daily, and let him help solve them. Then discuss it.
Now, lest any of you parents feel like you could never teach your children all of these skills, please do not worry about that! My husband and I did not teach my own children to do every single one of these either. In fact, I never even thought of some of the things on this list at the time! Like I said, make your own family's list and it will work for you. In fact, you may want to add more to this list!
A Special Note to Grandparents
Grandparents, a wonderful gift for us to present to our grandchildren would be a personalized notebook with a list divided into segments, similar to this one! Tell each one of your grandchildren you will do all you can to help them learn many of the skills listed, so they will be well equipped as an adult, and they may have more ideas to add to the list. What memories you will give them, along with skills to last a lifetime! It's so easy to buy a gift at the store, but this is a gift of yourself for as long as you can have input into their lives. Of course, I believe the spiritual aspect on this list is of utmost importance, because of the eternal consequences of their decision while on earth to follow or reject Christ. Let's be a part of pouring good things into the lives of our children and grandchildren!
This notebook would be a very special gift to grandchildren - like an heirloom gift because the lasting benefits of what they will learn with your being intentional in teaching them. The benefits will last a lifetime and even into the next generations! I plan to make a personal notebook for each of our five grandchildren, starting with the older ones. There are two other heirloom gifts I have been making for our grandchildren. When our children's first child turns one year old, I've been giving that child a thirty-two page cloth quiet book (to be shared with siblings). The third quiet book will be given next weekend to our son's baby girl, Raelle Elizabeth! As I worked on the third quiet book, I was thinking I just might have to make extra books - one for each grandchild, so they can use them with our great-grandchildren some day. My six year old granddaughter was helping to sew Raelle's book last week, and was so excited that she had her mother get their own quiet book out again, and she enjoyed looking through all the pages once more. The third heirloom gift I am making for each grandchild is a large quilt that should last for many years to come. The second quilt is in construction right now. So, grandparents, please don't think you no longer have much to offer your children! You can be pouring your lives into your grandchildren's future. We certainly do have much to offer! Let us all be intentional in doing so!
COCONUT CHICKEN TENDERS
Thanks to Carol Miller in Pennsylvania for this recipe!(Gluten free, sugar free)
4 servings
1 1/2 lbs. natural chicken breast (cut into strips)
1 cup dried unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup coconut flour or gluten-free flour
1/2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 egg beaten
Dipping Sauce:
Dijon mustard and honey. Blend to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Beat egg in a medium bowl. Mix coconut, coconut flour, and spices in a separate flat pan. Dip chicken strips one at a time in egg, then dredge in coconut mixture making sure there is a nice thick coating.
In a large skillet, heat coconut oil over medium high heat. Place chicken strips in the oil & fry till browned on both sides. Transfer strips to a (parchment paper lined cookie sheet for easy clean-up) and place in oven. Cook until chicken is cooked through (about 6 to 9 minutes, depending on the size of your strips).
Mix Dijon mustard and honey (2 parts mustard and 1 part honey, but do it to taste). Dip the strips in honey-mustard and enjoy. (Equally as good without dipping sauce).
WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP
One spring afternoon, a man came home to find two little girls on the steps of his building. Both were crying hard, shedding big tears. Thinking they might be hurt, the man dropped his briefcase and quickly went over to them. "Are you all right?" he asked. Still sobbing, one held up her doll. "My baby's arm came off," she said. The man took the doll and its disjointed arm. After a little effort the doll was again whole. "Thank you." came a whisper. Next looking into the tearful eyes of her friend, the man asked, "and what's the matter with you, young lady?" She wiped her cheeks. "I was helping her cry," she said.
PRECIOUS GEMS
I had to share something a mom I know shared about her 7 year old daughter:
Today at school for a Martin Luther King assembly, I was able to sit near Addi. During the video it talked about little boys and girls not playing with each other if they were of a different color! And at that moment my sweet little Addi grabbed the hand of her friend who is black. She later told me she told her friend she would never do that, that they would always be friends! ~ Julie in Washington
Me: Brooklyn, you have to wear a coat. (Frigid temperatures)
Brooklyn (3): The cold never bothered me anyway. ~ Lauren in Virginia
Me: "Hold my hand in the parking lot."
Brooklyn (3): "So cars don't squish me?"
Me: "Yes."
Brooklyn: "Like a pancake?"
Me: "Yes."
Brooklyn: "And like bacon? I like bacon." ~ Lauren in Virginia
Daddy: "Camden and Aiden, start cleaning up the den and then get the toys out of the living room." Camden (4): "Hang on one minute, Daddy. That does not sound like a good idea." This boy cracks me up:) ~ Bethany in Virginia
A little boy (6) went on a roller coaster ride with his daddy. Afterward he said it scared his belly! ~ from Michigan
While watching football, Ryan Elizabeth (6) said, "Whoever wins this game is who I was rooting for the whole time!" ~ Joy in Georgia
Lexi (4): What is that, Mommy?
Me: A Q-tip.
Lexi: Oh! So you don't get yucky stuff on your fingers!
Me: Well, it's really because my fingers are too big to fit in there.
Lexi: Well I can help you! My fingers are little! ~ Vera in Virginia
Yesterday I sat down with Heidi (2) as she ate her yogurt and said, "Mommy wants the baby to come and it hasn't yet." Sensing I was down, she smiled at me and said "Here, let me pray for you." Then she thanked God for the baby and me in the cutest way that I wish I could remember verbatim. She gave me a huge hug, and I love how God used my precious little one to encourage me. I am so thankful for what the Lord is already doing in her heart and that she knew we needed to go to the Savior. Had the baby come...I would have missed out on this incredible blessing. ~ Rebekah in Virginia
Quote of the day, courtesy of Austin (6) who said, "I'm so glad I had a baby sister. She is just so sweet. Her face is so...amazing. See, just look at her!" ~ Emily in Virginia
Favorite part of my day at preschool was when we asked the children who was on the different coins we were studying and two of our responses were "God." ~ Nicole in Virginia
I had so much fun listening to Anna (6) give her baby dolls their "baths" tonight. It's obvious that we have some hot water issues when she says to them, "Okay, which ever one of you gets the last bath will have cold water." ~ Stacy in Virginia
(Girl and Boy Twins) Amiya (6) trying to keep Malakai (6) awake by asking if he wants to talk about race cars. Malakai adamant he doesn't want talk. Amiya says, "But I'm a girl and we're supposed to stay up all night talking." (We have a group of girls staying a couple nights this weekend). Malakai: "How bout you close your eyes, stop talking. Be still and just go to sleep!" ~ Danielle in Alabama
Samara (4) just had a "surprise birthday party" for me this morning. She brought special dolls, toys, blankets, etc... to the living room and set it up cute, and then she came to get me. She had me close my eyes and led me to the living room, where she presented me with a fresh glass of water, a piece of cheese, and a bag of "presents" (a few of her toys). I love playing with a 4 year old. - and she doesn't care that it's not really my b-day. She just loves to surprise me.~ Diane in Montana
I couldn't quite believe it when this sweet face just looked up at me in frustration and said, "Mom, my nail polish is jacked up." ~ Jennifer in Virginia
I've been sick and the kids (6 year old twins) asked if they could take care of me. They washed dishes, folded a basket of clean towels, and have played quietly so I can rest! So thankful!! ~ Danielle in Alabama
According to Lucy (3), the snow will melt on Threesday (not Tuesday)... just so you know. ~ Naomi in Maryland
The other day Livy (3) was looking for her cup of milk in our bottom freezer fridge... she spotted it on the top shelf and says with indignation...MY CUP DOESN'T LIVE UP THERE! ~ Grandma Janet in Virginia
Brooklyn (3), talking to Harper (few months): "Roll over! Go ahead and roll! Good girl! Mom, her do tricks!" ~ Lauren in Virginia
Four-year-old at my lunch table: "I don't like takin' naps. Do you?" Three-year-old at my lunch table: "Nope. But we don't have to like it. We just have to do it." 4 yo: "But I don't want to." 3 yo: "You don't have to want to. You just have to do it." Can you tell what two of this mom's mottoes are?~ Jennifer in Virginia
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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