Thank You, Thank you

Yes, Thanksgiving Day is over, and even though I tried to tell those dear to me how thankful I am for them. . . I have a couple more ladies I'd like to thank:  Farmgirlcyn and Modern Alternative Momma!

Just last week I was the winner of this amazing Real Food Basics e-book by Modern Alternative Momma!  Farmgirlcyn hosted this giveaway, and I feel very blessed to have been picked the winner!  If you haven't stopped by to visit these ladies, please do so!  They are wonderful!  Also, check out the e-book!  It would make a great gift for you and/or a family member who wants to make real food, but isn't sure where to begin!

Here is a sneak peak at the Table of Contents:

Introduction
Our story
Fat’s real story
Real dairy
Grains and the Food Pyramid
A healthy diet, healthy lifestyle
Kitchen Tips and Procedures
Making stock
Sprouting grains
Making butter
Fermented foods
Sweeteners
Handy Kitchen Tools
Baby Steps
Shopping guide
Local resources
Recipes
Introduction
Main Dishes
Sides
Breads
Desserts
The End

What about the recipes?

• Chicken Marinade
• Roasted Chicken
• Fried Chicken
• Meatballs
• Tomato Sauce
• Chili
• Potato Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Roast Beef
• Mexican Chicken Soup
• Cheese Sauce
• Caesar Salad
• Cheesy Potatoes
• French Fries
• Salsa
• Sausage Gravy
• Buttermilk Pancakes
• Whole Grain Bread
• Pizza Dough
• Muffins
• Coffee Cake
• Biscuits
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Ice Cream
• Super Food Smoothies

Yummy, and good to the last drop!!  I hope you will check this out!  I am loving it!  Thank you, Thank you!

I Am Thankful For . . .

*God giving me life and freedom through Jesus!
*Having been given the Holy Spirit, so I can not just live for eternity, but live the abundant life here and now!
*The Word - Oh how I love the Word!!! A lamp unto my feet, and like honey to my mouth!
*Paul - When I get to heaven I will thank him for his ministry to the Gentiles!
*My amazing Husband who truly exhibits Christ's love!
*My family, friends, and neighbors - I could go on and on about each of them!
*The Church - the body of Christ!
*A warm home, and a comfortable bed.
*Hot showers
*Baby anything . . . new life in the midst of a dead, sinful world.
*The missionaries who are giving their lives to share the gospel.
*My students!  I really do love them!
*Our chickens and the healthy eggs they have started laying!
*Our dogs . . . and all the times they make me laugh!
*Laughter!
*Good Books
*The Internet - we have such a vast array of knowledge at our fingertips!
*Water - Do you realize that every other molecule that is closest in composition to water is a gas at room temperature?!  It is as if God made a special provision for water!  Because of hydrogen bonding . . . water is a liquid at room temperature, and indeed life would not exist without this!
*All the other immaculate details God considered when creating life on this planet!
*Our Founding Fathers and their vision for our country
*Soldiers that are and have fought for our freedom.
*Toilet's and toilet paper! (one of my students put his on her list - I would have to agree!)
*My 5 senses! Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, and Sense of Touch :)
*The way God made me!
*Games
*Fellowship and Fun!
*The warmth of the sun!
*Music and Dancing!
*The beauty all around us.
*Electricity:  blow dryer, refridgerator, washer and dryer etc. etc.
* Vehicle's to get us back and forth to work
*Being able to work at the same school as Skyler.
*Our Steel Horse (the motorcycle)
*Children and their perspective
*The Hope we have in Christ
*So much more . . . this list could be endless!

"Thankfulness is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent to all other virtues." ~Cicero

Apple-Raspberry Crisp

I love going to Thy Hand Hath Provided for recipes!  I saw this one on her site, and decided to modify it a bit.  See, we got this delicious apple crisp recipe from a lady at church a little while back and although it is probably not near as healthy as the one from Thy Hand Hath Provided, we splurge a little for special occasions!  I made this last weekend for one of the four family get-to-gathers we will be going to for Thanksgiving.  It was a hit!

Apple-Raspberry Crisp          Serves:  18

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups cold butter
2 quarts peeled, cored, and sliced apples
1 small container of raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl combine flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, and brown sugar.  Cut butter into mixture until crumbly.  Take half of the mixture and pat into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Cover crumb mixture with **apple slices and raspberries, then sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top of apples. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender.

** If you really want to celebrate I would sprinkle about 1/4 cup of real cane sugar (Sugar In The Raw) and a little cinnamon on the apples.  Mix up then put over crumb crust on the bottom of the pan.

Again,  I modified it some to make it a little healthier than the original recipe, but if you are wanting something even more healthy you can modify it yourself, or go to Thy Hand Hath Provided for her recipe.  I am sure it is superb!

Fire Safety

First of all let me say, we are so thankful for our wood stove!  It has been wonderful experiencing the warmth of our house without the cost, watching the fire glimmer as it burns, and being outside while smelling the sweetness of burning wood coming from the chimney!  As great as it has been to have our wood stove, I must admit . . . we did have a 'bit of a scare last week!  Yep!  We were on the verge of an all out chimney fire! Yikes!

Skyler had been noticing some black smudge on the inside of our wood stove, and determined that it was being caused by the wood we were using.  Since the wood came from our own property and it had only recently been cut, it was not seasoned. When unseasoned wood burns it produces a byproduct called creosote.  "Creosote is black or brown in appearance. It can be crusty and flaky…tar-like, drippy and sticky…or shiny and hardened. Often, all forms will occur in one chimney system. Whatever form it takes, creosote is highly combustible. If it builds up in sufficient quantities – and catches fire inside the chimney flue instead of the firebox of the fireplace or wood stove – the result will be a chimney fire. (www.csia.com)"  Fortunately, Skyler recognized the problem so he was careful to watch our fire.  He came in, started the fire, and since he needed to go out to the shop he put me in charge of keeping an eye on it . . . just in case it started roaring in the chimney duct (that would equal bad news!).  He told me if it did this, to turn the damper all the way to the right, and it should be fine.  Well . . . sure enough it started roaring!  I ran over to the stove, turned the damper to the right, but nothing was happening!  It kept roaring, and the next thing I knew the chimney duct was blazing red at the top and sparks were coming out!  I didn't know what to do so I ran to the back door, and yelled for Skyler.  He noticed sparks coming from the chimney, and he ran as fast as he could to the house!  With one look at the wood stove and fire that was burning inside, he checked the damper (which I had properly turned the correct direction just as he had told me!), and then he shut the front doors!  Immediately the fire went down, and all was good!  Our adreneline was on fire, but we were safe!  How silly of me to not shut the door!  Of course, shut off the fire's oxygen supply!  I guess I was too scared to think clearly!  Fortunately, Skyler knew exactly what to do!  This leads me to . . . Fire Safety:

Preventing a Chimney Fire:
1) Make sure you are properly maintaining your wood stove/chimney.  You should have an annual chimney sweep, to clean it of anything that might potentially cause a chimney fire.  Clean chimneys won't catch fire.
2) Use only seasoned woods (dryness is most important!) - THIS WAS OUR MISTAKE!
3) Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely, and produce less smoke.
4) Never burn trash, cardboard boxes, wrapping paper etc., as this can spark a chimney fire.
5) If your wood stove does not already have one, install a stovepipe thermometer to keep the flue temperatures in check and adjust burning as needed.

In Case of a Chimney Fire:
1) Get everyone out of the house, including yourself
2) Call the fire department, if possible
3) "Put a chimney fire extinguisher into the fireplace or wood stove . Close the glass doors on the fireplace . Close the inlets on the wood stove . Use a garden hose to spray down the roof (not the chimney) so the fire won’t spread to the rest of the structure. (www.csia.org)"

General Family Fire Safety:
1) Come up with a family escape plan in case of a fire.  There are several sites that discuss what this plan can consist of: USFA, Firehand, Fire Safety for Kids. 
2) Be sure to install smoke alarms on each level of the house, and test to make sure the alarms can be heard.
3) If there are members of the family who would not be able to escape unassisted, you may want to look into residential sprinkler systems.

Homeschool Resource: Thanksgiving Proclamations

As a history teacher, I am always looking for great resources for primary source documents.  This year I found an amazing tool to utilize in the classroom, and I hope to use it someday when I homeschool my own children!  It is called American Voices, and it is edited by Ray Notgrass.  Mr. Notgrass has published several Christian homeschooling books for the subject of history.  The high school series is excellent because the content allows you to gain one full credit for History, English, and Bible.  American Voices goes along with this high school series, and it includes primary sources from the 1600's to the present.

 Today my students will be looking at George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations.  In the past, Presidents issued many Thanksgiving proclamations.  Some were related to the national festival in November, while others were declared after significant events.  Here is one of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamations:

"By the President of the United States of American:

A Proclamation,

It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with his guardian care agaisnt unfriendly designs from abroad, and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household.  It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health.  He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while he has opened to us new sources of wealth, and has crowned the labor of our working men in every department of industry with abundant rewards.  Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of Freedom and Humanity, and to afford us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverence from all our dangers and afflictions.
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States , do, hereby, appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day, which I desire to be observed by all my fellow citizens wherever they may then be as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.  And I do farther recommend  to my fellow citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervant prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of events for a return of the inestimable blessings of Peace, Union and Harmony throughout the land, which it has pleased him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and , of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

By the President:  AMBRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."

You can find more Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamations by visiting www.whitehouse.gov, then doing a search on "Thanksgiving".  Look for "President's Thanksgiving Message."  Each year, the President issues a proclamation just a few days before the holiday.  It is interesting to note how the message has changed over the years from being a call to praise and thank Almighty God, to simply a call to be thankful.  This would be a great resource if you are looking to teach your children about Thanksgiving this week!  If you already have plans, I would love to know how you incorporate this wonderful holiday into your kid's curriculum!

Sunday Sweetness For Your Soul

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Intentional Living

 Photo Credit:  4girlsblog-running again

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ~ Hebrews 12:1

In this busy life, it is so easy to get distracted.  I try to be as proactive as possible, but sometimes it is easy to lose focus.  In an effort to live a more intentional life, I have written down several goals I would like to accomplish within the next year.  I know . . . you are probably thinking this sounds like an early New Year's Resolution list. . . kinda, but I am not very good at those!  Plus, I don't want to wait until the new year to start working on my list!  I am excited about it now, and I want to use this as momentum!  I have split my goals into 5 categories; so here it goes:

Personal Goals
 - Become more "other focused"
 - Display love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
 - Establish a morning routine that includes: the Word, prayer, exercise, food prep./breakfast.
 - Keep our home a haven! A place we love to come home to!

Nutritional Goals
- Drink more water!
- Eat out once/week max
- Only healthy/real food in the kitchen
- Cook and Freeze extra meals ( for those nights I don't have time to cook)
- Sugar only one day per week

Homestead Goals
- Plant lettuce in kitchen window.
- Go all natural beauty products (as much as possible)
- Go all natural cleaning supplies
- Make useful home remedies that work!
- Make homemade bread and butter more often.
- Learn to make a variety of bread doughs from wheat berries
- Plant Garden in the Spring
- Plant orchard/berries
- Can Can Can (yes, the "Can Can" song is going through my mind!)
- Have several months food stored away
- Get Milk Cow, Ducks, Sheep, Goats?
- Build fence for animals
- Build white fence for front yard
- Build fence around garden
- Paint barn/workshop
- Put up clothes lines

Handcraft Goals
- Learn to sew - basic mending, apron, refashioned clothing (see my friend's blog I Sew Do You)
- Learn to quilt - for our home, and as gifts
- Learn to Crochet - scarf, mittens, gifts, etc.
- Make an advent Calendar with Christmas socks
- Make jewelry as gifts.
- Organize Pictures in Photo Albums/Scrapbooks

Family/Ministry Goals
- "Men Tour" Camp
- Titus 2 Tour
- Read the Bible all the way through with Skyler
- Form deeper relationships with college students, and those at our church
- Look for opportunities to serve
- Love on students at school/build relationships
- Organize a Homemakers Binder

Do you have a list of goals for the various areas in your life?  If not, I challenge you to come up with your list.  Put it in a place you will see it often, and get excited about living intentionally!

Shutterfly Christmas Card Giveaway!

Yea!  This is the first year Skyler and I are sending out Christmas cards!  Last year we sent out of wedding thank you's as Christmas cards, so we are very excited for this "first".  A friend from college posted on her blog (twothingsincommon.blogspot.com) about a great promotion by shutterfly.com!   Bloggers can get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

Here are the cards we have it narrowed down to!  It was so hard to choose, because they have such a great variety!  Let me know which one is your favorite, and be sure to check out this promotion yourself by clicking on the link above! 

 

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord!

Wishing we were still in Hawaii!

Our Top Ten for 2010!

A Cheerful Spirit

 "A cheerful heart is a good medicine"

~Proverbs 17:22

***

"The Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot."

~Augustine of Hippo

***

"It's much better to choose a cheerful heart than to become an ugly pile of hurt feelings."

~Debi Pearl

***

"A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song."

~ Proverbs 15:15

 A cheerful heart equals visible JOY!  We should always be striving to make joy a visible reality in our lives.  Laughter always makes the ladder of life easier to climb!  Choosing a Cheerful Spirit has the greatest chance of keeping my marriage/family healthy & happy!  I am challenging myself to take responsibility for my spouse's SMILE today!  Will you join me in this challenge?

Getting Organized

First of all let me say, I am NOT a nerd.  In fact when it comes down to my husband and me, I am most definitely more of the free spirit.  I am also NOT a perfectionist.  I like to do things well, but something that could take my mom (a perfectionist to the extreme) several hours I can get done in one hour.  I am not saying being a nerd or a perfectionist is bad - sometimes I wish I would exhibit more of these qualities.  What I am trying to say is that I tend to be a little less than organized!  Not only this, but my husband and I both grew up being involved in just about everything possible.  Although we are learning to say no, we often over-commit ourselves.  This is why I must take special care to simplify my life as much as possible so that I can manage all the craziness!  Here are a few ways I attempt to stay organized:

Skyler made this refrigerator calendar out of an old wipe board from college.  It is a great way to organize because we are sure to look at it everyday.  Plus both of us have access to write on it.  If you are interested in something like this you can find a mountable wipe board calendar at Wal-Mart or Target.  If you can't find one, you can always just use a plain wipe board and make one like we did!

Here is the small calendar I keep in my purse.  Anytime I need to schedule something I scratch it in here first, then I transfer the info to the kitchen calendar and my homemaking binder (well sometimes the free spirit in me forgets to transfer it, and then I end up scheduling two appointments at the same time!). I bought this one last year and just bought a refill calendar a few months ago.  You can find an inexpensive calendar like this in an assortment of sizes at Wal-Mart as well.

Here is my newest attempt at getting organized! My Homemaking Binder! 

 This is a work in progress right now!  Once I get it completed I will devote a post to showing you all!

 Here is the inside.  I bought a calendar fit for a 3-ring binder, and it works perfectly.  The calendar is in the front and behind it 5 tabs.  Since I am not a full time homemaker just yet my tabs are:  home, ministry, school, baton, and misc.  Notice the pens on the left; I find it much more fun to write in my calendar when I can color coordinate - it's just prettier that way!  Also, note the mail I need to send out (I should have sent them out last week! I'm thinking I should put some stamps here along with the mail to simplify the mailing process!); the side pockets are nice for this!  I also have room in the back for extra copies of my menu planner etc. (more details later).

Well like I mentioned, organization doesn't necessarily come naturally for me.  I like the idea of it, but then after about a week I tend to lose interest!  I am still working on this, but the older I get the easier it's becoming!  As my husband's help meet, I am motivated like never before!  I desperately desire to be an excellent wife, and I believe organization is one area that will greatly help me as I strive to be a passionate keeper of the home!

What are some ways you have found to help you stay organized?

Sunday Sweetness for Your Soul

 But the Fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

~ Galatians 5:22~

She likes the way it's pullin' while we're TILLIN' up the land . . .

"I'm even kinda crazy 'bout [his] farmer's tan!  Well, we do have a tractor and of course I think he's sexy, but today he was just using a tiller to get our garden ready!

We are wanting to plant a pretty nice garden in the spring, so we thought it would be good to go ahead and till up the area.  It was a little tough trying to pick the best location.  We finally decided on the area with the most sunlight.  The only thing is . . . our two flags are going to be right in the middle of it!  Oh well, they'll bring a little decor to our garden!  Eventually we would like to put a white picket fence around it, and make it look really cute! Oh how I love when things are practical and adorable!  The best part:  I have a perfect view of the garden right outside my kitchen window!  I am looking forward to springtime already!!!

What do you do in the winter/fall to get your garden ready for spring? What advice do you have for a couple of newbies who are just getting started? 

Recipe for Happiness

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances 

. . . I've found the  

Recipe for Being Happy . . . "

~ Philippians 4:11,12 The Message

 Some days I get to thinking;  if only we didn't have debt . . .  I could stay at home right now, I wouldn't have to teach at a public school, I would be a great wife and mom!  God has been really working on my heart, and I must say this school year has been so much better than last! I love my students, and I know that God has given me this brief moment in time to show them Christ's love by being the best teacher I can be! I am thankful for this opportunity, and I am learning to embrace it!  It's all about surrendering my life to the Lord every day no matter what my situation! My prayer is that I will become less so He will become greater!

"The secret is Christ in me, 

not me in a different set of circumstances."

~Elizabeth Elliott~

***

"Discontentment is not a product of circumstances; 

it is a state of the soul."

~Debi Pearl~

Titus 2 Tour

"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." ~ Titus 2:3-5 

photo credit:  http://jonathandodson.org/2010/06/take-gospel-relationships-titus-2-woman/

My pastor's wife and I have had many discussions as to what it means to be a help meet.  God made each of us intricately so that we would be perfectly suited for a man.  Some women may be completely repelled by this statement.  Feminist thoughts are flying through some of your heads no doubt.  I find myself, at times, bombarded with the message the world gives as opposed to the message God gives us in His Word.  Even well meaning Christian women laugh and mock the idea of serving their husbands.  Unfortunately, these same women are usually the ones who are struggling in their marriages.  The very thing that could change their marriage and their life is what they ridicule.  How disheartening!  Over the past several weeks I have been thinking about this need for the church to speak truth to young women as well as older women concerning their role prescribed by the Bible.  Too many women are lost in the areas which they should be most comfortable.  This has brought me to an idea!  The Titus 2 Tour!

I was thinking of trying to do something with this in the spring at my church, and possibly at some other churches in the future if it goes well.  With the help of some beautiful Godly women I know who have mentored me, I would host a conference of sorts.  The details are not all hashed out, but here are some of my thoughts:

Older women and young women would join together for a Friday night and Saturday devoted to discussing Titus 2 and our Biblical role as women.  Activities would include; female speakers on various related topics, male speaker on true beauty and what they really notice, small group discussions, creative stations such as natural beauty products, soap making, sewing, crafting, organization, excersise, healthy foods, fashion etc.  Finally Saturday night the "men" would be invited (a husband, dad, brother, grandpa etc). to dinner which we will have made for them.  They will be given a handwritten letter expressing our gratitude for them, and we will have an awards show of sorts.  Prizes will be given for most creative at each station, as well as who displayed the various Fruits of the Spirit.

I was also thinking it would be great to provide each girl/woman with a home organization binder full of great recipes, calendars etc.  Also, I am going to see about getting everyone a copy of the book Created to be His Help Meet or Preparing to Be a Help Meet by Debi Pearl.

All proceeds could go to a local ministry that works with young girls in foreign countries who have been victims of sex trafficking.   

Finally, I would like to start a woman's discipleship program from here.  Older women could sign up to be mentors, and younger women could sign up to for discipleship.  The conference will be a kick start to what I hope will be a year long discipleship program! 

Photo Credit:  http://jonathandodson.org/2010/06/take-gospel-relationships-titus-2-woman/

What do you think?  Does this sound like something you would be interested in attending?  Do you have any other ideas?  Let me know!  I would love to hear your feedback.  Also, if you are from this area and you would be interesting in helping out let me know!

PS My husband is super supportive (it was actually his idea for me to do something like this with women/girls).  He is wanting to do something similar with boys/men; a "Men-Tour" sports camps for young boys and their Dad's (volunteer mentors for those boys who do not have Dad's in their lives).

Natural Beauty Updates!

As promised here are the natural beauty updates:

1)  Oil Cleansing Method  - So far I am very satisfied with this natural beauty face cleanser!  If you remember, I used 75% Extra Virgin Olive Oil and 25% Castor Oil.  It hasn't really helped with my acne, but I think most of that is hormonal.  It hasn't made it any worse, so that's a good thing!  Plus, my skin feels much softer!  I think I have been misled as to my skin type.  I have always thought I had oily skin.  I think I actually have balanced skin!  Who knew!?! Using my old cleanser was drying my face out to the point it was overproducing oil to keep up!   The 75/25 mixture of oils is actually probably a little too strong for me.  My face often gets dry, and I have to add more oil to my face as a moisturizer.  I think I am going to try a 80/20 mixture and see how it goes!  I am planning to stay with this method since it is so inexpensive and seems to be working well!  For those of you who have been trying this, what do you think?  Is it a keeper?

  2) Homemade Toothpaste - This natural recipe was not all I had hoped it would be. :(  First of all, it did not leave the best taste in your mouth.  Even with adding vanilla and mint extract it was still very salty.  It seemed to clean our teeth pretty good, but I dreaded having to brush - this is not a good thing!  Brushing my teeth is one of my favorite things! It is a vital part of my morning and evening routine.  I love the clean fresh taste it leaves in my mouth!  This homemade toothpaste not only made me gag several times, but it was also way too expensive!  One batch lasted us about 2 weeks, and the glycerin alone cost more than the price of buying all natural Tom's of Maine toothpaste (this will last us about 4 months I think)!  Anyway, it was fun to try, but it's going to be a no go for this toothpaste!  Have you tried this recipe?  What do you use for toothpaste?  What have you found works best and costs less?

 3) No 'Poo - I can't really say if I like this or not.  I tried it for a few days, and I most definitely enjoyed not having to wash my hair every day!  However, I read about a few people who felt the baking soda was making their hair thinner, and that is was too harsh!  This scared me!  I have very fine hair, and I would like to keep as much of it as I can!  Anyway, I went back to my regular shampoo! I know, I know . . . I have thought about giving it another try, but I am just uncertain!  There are too many people saying different things!  This method is very inexpensive, so that makes it appealing!  There is another method I would like to try that uses Dr. Bronner Castile Soap.  Be on the look out for that post!  I will be trying it soon!
Does no poo work for you?  Have you tried something else that you find works great for your hair?

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4) Homemade Deodorant - I like my homemade deodorant!  I do have to keep it in the refrigerator since I added a little too much coconut oil, but the coolness is actually pretty nice!  Some people have asked me if it really works . . . well that depends on what you mean?!  Does it keep me from stinking like B.O.? Yes!  Does it keep me from sweating?  No!  My classroom is actually kept on a pretty warm temperature setting, and every now and then I can feel myself start to sweat.  When I give baton lessons sometimes I will start to sweat as well.  However, I never stink.  It is important to remember this is a deodorant; not an antiperspirant.  You will likely still sweat; especially if you are really active.  I am not certain, but I think sweating is actually a good thing, and it might be better for us to avoid antiperspirants anyway.  I need to do more research on this.  I will say . . .  my husband has not tried this.  He uses a certain kind of deodorant (Right Guard Power Strip) because he sweats profusely!  I don't think this recipe would work for him, but I plan on keeping it!  It is inexpensive, and seems to be working pretty good for me!  How about you?  Did you try this?  What do you use for deodorant?

Well there you have it!  I plan on trying a few more homemade beauty products so be on the look out for:  homemade soap (I can't wait to try this!), homemade mascara, homemade hairspray, homemade mouthwash, and all the incredible uses for coconut oil!  Stay tuned! :)

"Heard It Through the Grape Vine"

Again, my life is a musical! Since my husband and I aren't experts at any of this yet, it is quite appropriate to say we "heard it through the grape vine" that we could buy these seemingly dead grape vines (or are they considered bushes at this stage?) and they would still produce fruit in the spring!

Well . . . there were a few stipulations.  First, we had to get the plants in the ground before the first frost.  I believe we managed that.  Second, we needed to put mulch around them because of some bug that loves the plant, but hates the mulch.  Finally, we needed to water the plants.  We decided it was worth a try, since the plants were on sale for $1 each. 

After doing some research, however, I am not sure how they will turn out.  We may not have dug deep enough for their root system.  We don't really have a slope anywhere on our 3 acres.  We did put them in a place they could get the most sun, and tried to shield them from wind the best we could!  We purchased Catawba grapes, which are supposed to be very winter resistant!  Maybe there is hope for these little guys! 

Anyway . . . just filling you in for now.  We will let you know how things go in the spring!  This year they are supposed and sprout a few vines, which we will prune at the end of the season.  Next year, they will start to grow two main vines, which we keep (we prune the rest).  The following year we should have some nice grapes vines producing good sized grapes!  This is what we "heard through the grapevine!"  We'll let you know how it goes! 

If you are interested in growing grapes, I would recommend checking out the information given by your state's college university.  If you are from Missouri you can find some great info here at Missouri State. 

Learn to Enjoy the Trip!

This afternoon we will be traveling north about 3 hours (in Missouri we tend to measure our trips in terms of time rather than distance!)  to visit my parents, brother, and some other family members I haven't seen in a while.  I enjoy traveling, and it is especially fun when you are with the one(s) you love!  Even the chaos can bring amusement if you have the right attitude! 

This summer my husband and I were blessed to be able to travel to Hawaii with both sets of parents.  We flew from Dallas, headed to Denver to meet of next plane which would take us to San Francisco, and then on to Hawaii!  The anticipation was building!  The excitement was almost unbearable!  When we landed in Denver, we discovered our flight had been cancelled!  Boo!!! We had to wait until the next day to fly out, and we missed a day in beautiful Hawaii!  At first, we were very annoyed and proceeded to complain about the rottenness of the situation.  Then we realized; Wait!  We are in Denver!  What a pretty place!  My husband and I had never been to Colorado together!  This was a first for us!  After changing our attitude, we were able to enjoy Denver even though it was not part of the vacation we had planned! 

Sometimes life can be much like our vacations.  We have these amazing things planned, and then BAM! Something unexpected gets thrown at you. Before you know it, you are living a life that looks nothing like you imagined!  This is when it is important to just lean back and enjoy the ride.  Even if you get re-routed from your original destination; learn to enjoy the trip!  It should prove rather interesting!

"God gives imperfect women to imperfect men so they can be heirs together of the grace of life and become something more together than either one of them would ever be alone." 

~ Debi Pearl

***

 "Wherever you are -- be all there!" ~ Jim Elliott 

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

 For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully 

and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, 

And that my heart known very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, 

When I was made in secret, 

And skillfully wrought 

in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, 

being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written, 

The days fashioned for me, 

When as yet there were none of them.

~Psalm 139: 13-16

Today is my birthday!  I feel like the most blessed woman in the world!  I am so thankful that God has given me life, and life abundant!  I don't deserve any of this!  I have wonderful friends, a loving family, and the most amazing husband!  I am thankful beyond what words can express!

Let me share with you what I woke up to this morning, and some of the lovely gifts my husband gave me!

Balloons filled our living room, and in each one contained a special note; a portion of a poem my husband had written for me!  
He is so sweet and creative!

He found this bird cage at an antique store and fixed it up!  I have been looking for one for our guest room upstairs! He did such a great job!

I sense some upcoming homestead adventures for winter!  

Scarfs?, mittens?, a blanket perhaps!?  What a great gift!

Of course, a practical gift is always nice!

My husband knows me so well!  This will look great in our laundry room! 

I do love decorating with antiques!

***

Thanks for sharing my birthday with me!  

I hope you have a beautifully blessed day with the ones you love!

Homesteading & Preparedness

When my husband and I started homesteading we were primarily concerned with being able to raise our own healthy food.  We knew God was wanting us to give this area of our lives over to Him, but it seemed the cost of buying organic foods was expensive and went against our desire to be frugal.  At that point, we were convicted to be good stewards of the three acres God had given us by raising some of our own food.

image from stock.xchng

Since that time, God has been showing us so much, and has blessed us for faithfully following His lead.  One reason we now feel He has blessed us with the means to homestead is to prepare us for the hard time that may be a comin'.

As Americans we tend to think that because things have been great for the past 20 years, this trend will surely continue.  Many people in the world have the idea of evolution so ingrained in their minds that they truly believe we are going to continue "advancing" in every area of life as time progresses.  Unfortunately, this is not likely, yet many people (including our nations leaders) don't see it or don't want to see it.

Over the past century, the average American family has been able to live better than the kings and queens from history.  Yet, we take this prosperity for granted.  Instead of being thankful, we have acquired an attitude of entitlement.  It doesn't matter what's going on or what problems we face - as long as we get what we want!  Individual families are in more debt now than they have ever been in the history of our country, and our government is now reflecting our attitudes (this should not surprise us since we're the ones voting!).  If a political hopeful were to stand up and say "alright, we are all going to have to make sacrifices if we will ever get back on track," this person would surely lose.  Whereas the politician who promises lower taxes, more hand outs, and tells us we are going to be just fine will win by a landslide! We don't care if what our government is doing is unconstitutional, if we are in debt $12 trillion dollars (when you add the amount we have promised to pay out like most businesses have to do, we are actually more like $60+ trillion in debt), if we have nothing backing our dollar but debt and the world's supply of oil (which has already peaked)!  We just want to get what we "deserve"!

We may indeed get what we deserve, but it might not be quite as pleasant as we had hoped!  The Bible says; "you will reap what you sow", and this is as certain as disease and death!  Our choices can bring us to miserable or miraculous ends!  Right now our choices are leading our nation in a direction we would rather not go!

With our future looking awfully bleak, Christians have an opportunity to offer hope!  We know that God is in control, He is good, and we win in the end!  Skyler and I feel that God is preparing us for the future by allowing us to homestead.  When (not if) our nation's economy plummets, we can rest in God knowing that He will provide for our family.  This is also where the idea of community comes in!  If as Christians we are not placing our hope in our government but in our God, and we are prepared to take care of one another the world will see this!  God will be glorified! Amen!

 image by Piku @ stock.xchng

I highly recommend you check out the book Bankruptcy of Our Nation by Jerry Robinson.  He is a minister of the Gospel and an economic advisor who gives 12 key strategies for protecting your finances during these uncertain times.  He also explains why these are uncertain times, and reveals the truth about many things we, as Americans, have no clue about.  Although this book will make you very dissappointed in the direction our nation has taken, it is an interesting read and well worth your time!

      

Homemade Deodorant

I have been waiting to try my hand at homemade deodorant for several weeks now.  I was waiting until I ran out of my current deodorant, so I could scoop the new stuff in the old dispenser.  I have never been so excited to run out of deodorant before!  But this weekend when I hit the bottom, I immediately went to the kitchen and got the supplies I needed for the all natural deodorant recipe!  I got this recipe from Passionate Homemaking.  She gives a great video tutorial, and answers several frequently asked questions. Be sure to visit her site, and check it out!

Here is the recipe:

 Ingredients:
6-8 tablespoons of coconut oil in solid state (I actually read somewhere to use 5-6 tablespoons.  I used six and I think I used too much.  You may want to start with 5 and add more until you get the consistency of deodorant.)
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrow root powder or corn starch (I used corn starch since I already had it, but it is said that arrow root powder is preferred)

Directions:
1. Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder.
2.  Slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon or hand blender until it maintains a firm but pliable texture. It should be about the same texture as commercial deodorant, solid but able to be applied easily. If it is too wet, add further arrowroot powder/cornstarch to thicken.
3.  You can either scoop this recipe into your old deodorant dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. Makes about 1 cup. This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.

I have been using this for two days now, and it has been working great!  Try it for yourself, and let us know how it goes!  If you are already using a similar recipe, let us know how you like it, or any tricks you may have discovered!

Four-Cheese Chicken Fettuccine

I found this recipe in a cookbook that was given to us as a wedding present.  It came from a lady from Big Timber, Montana.  She says:  "As a cattle rancher, my husband's a big fan of beef.  For him to comment on a poultry dish is rare.  But he always tells me, 'I love this casserole!'  I first tasted it at a potluck; now, I fix it for my family once or twice a month, and I'm asked to take it to most every get-together."

I prepared this recipe over the weekend for visiting family members!  I had hoped to get a picture of the finished product, but it was scarfed down before I got a chance! 

Photo:  Stock.xchng

Prep: 20 min        Bake:  30 min

8 ounces uncooked fettuccine (I used whole wheat)
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup butter
1.4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
2-1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken (We used free-range)
TOPPING:
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs (you can make these yourself using bread crumbs and season salt)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 to 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I like to use shredded)

Cook fettuccine according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the soup, cream cheese, mushrooms, cream, butter and garlic powder.  Stir in cheeses; cook and stir until melted.  Add the chicken; heat through.  Drain fettuccine; add to the sauce.

Transfer to a shallow greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish.  Combine topping ingredients; sprinkle over chicken mixture.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Yield:  6-8 servings.

You can also just make the sauce, chicken, and noodles and use this recipe without the casserole.  That is what I did this weekend!  It was a hit!  What a joy it is to cook for those you love!