Tales of a humble homemaker

Super Tunic Pattern

2010-12-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

I finally have something new to post, yippee! I have been looking for a nice super tunic (just an extra long tunic) pattern to make, but I hadn't found a pattern that would look nice with the length added. Here is the finished product of 5 days worth of ripping and sewing, configuring and brainstorming. I am really happy with the results, especially since I made the pattern from just looking at a picture! I don't know if I will ever make another one like it since I had no idea how it turned out the way it did! True to style, I didn't have any pattern pieces and I didn't write anything down, because I was just sewing and fixing as I went along. It worked though, so I'm happy with it!

here is the picture that used from http://www.shukronline.com/

Howdy Ho!

2010-11-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

Hello to all out there in blogland, I know that it has been a long time:) I have basically quite blogging for now due to moving and being totally unplugged from the world ( no cell phone, or internet). This has been a blessing in more ways than I thought, but has resulting in a complete stand still with blogging. So sorry for that, I still hope to put posts on here whenever I am able and have something worthy, but it will be infrequent. I will also keep adding links whenever I find good ones. Until next time... Adeu

Meal Plan for August 9-15

2010-08-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have been pretty busy this past week with hardly anytime on the pc. That's good in way, but I like to keep up on my blog more than just once a week:) I'm sure we all have those days. Anyways, I have a few recipes to post on in the near future and I hope to contribute more on a blog that I partner on called Frugal Home and Health.

Last week Joanne gave me a big Kombucha Scolby and I made a gallon of tea. The only problem is I'm the only one drinking it! I hope to convert some Kombucha drinkers in this house before it gets to be like vinegar.

I am also experimenting with sewing a new tunic, so once I get the pattern down, I will put that up also

Here is the menu for this week:

Week 2

Monday- Authentic Beans and rice

Tuesday-Grilled BBQ Chic with baked fries and grilled veggies

Wednesday- LO

Thursday-Philly steak cheese sandwiches with Salad

Friday-Spaghetti and “Meat A Balls”

Saturday- LO

Sunday- Roast with herbed onion gravy and potatoes and veggies

Check out all the other great cooks at Organizing Junkie to get some inspiration for your meal plans

Meal Plan for August 2- August 8

2010-08-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get an early start this week with meal planning, so that I don't have such a busy day on Sunday planning it. I really needed some inspiration and spent a little longer that I wanted to find what sounded good for the coming weeks menu. As of right now, we have about 5 gallons of ground beef in the freezer, so I'm trying to think of some good healthy recipes to use it in. Any suggestions? Well, here is what I have planned for this week.

Week 1 for August

Monday- Chicken Tortilla Soup with Cheesy Crescent rolls
Tuesday-Grilled Talipia with ~~Brown Rice and Broccoli~~ Sweet taters and fresh salad
Wednesday-L/O
Thursday-Poor Man's Swiss Steak with Baked Potatoes and Corn
Friday-Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Homemade Vegetable soup
Saturday-L/O
Sunday- Crockpot (Roast with onion soup gravy?)

Today I did a few things to help with our food budget-made Instant Oatmeal Packets, and Homemade Egg, Ham and Cheese HotPockets (recipe coming soon) for my hubby. I would really like to have a lot of homemade convenience food on hand to help with saving time and money and I am spending some time lately finding a lot of great ideas! I hope to post on them soon when I can get some of them made.

What do you have on hand for convenience to help make your kitchen run a little bit more smoothly?

Yarrow Herbal Bug Spray-Herb Mentor News 53

2010-07-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Here is the newest newsletter from Herb Mentor-HerbMentor News 53: Yarrow Herbal Bug Spray. They use alcohol for the recipe, but I'm sure that vinegar would work just fine. Let me know how this works if you make some.

I was also going to start my bulk baking series yesterday, but I was up to my neck in pickles:) I canned quite a few and it was my first time doing pickles, so it took most of the day. I am planning on doing a separate post on the whole process for those of you that would like to know How to can pickles in the next few days.

So back to the bulk baking thing... I've been thinking this over and I thought that doing a series on Homemade Convenience foods and mixes would be better instead of a series just on baking, what do you think? I figured that I could do some on baking, some on soups, some on pre-made things like Homemade Riceroni etc, and some on spice and dressing mixes. I am gathering some recipes for this and hope to get them all selected for the post soon. If you make some mixes yourself, what are they, and how has that helped you in your kitchen?

Meal Plan for July 26-August 1

2010-07-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I haven't really kept to last weeks meal plan, so some of it will be on this week's l plan. I'm still a little new with this whole meal planning dealy, so I hope that the different meals that I do put on this week's plan won't bore anyone, and yes, I'm really bad with run-on sentences ( my husband gets a daily laugh since this is the way I talk too :)

Meal Plan July 26-August 1 ( Last week of July)

Monday- Pork and Broccoli Stir Fry with brown rice
Tuesday-Cream Cheese Chicken with Pasta and Salad
Wed- Egg Sandwiches with Zucchini Soup
Thursday-Mexican Fiesta Casserole (Mom's recipe with a little twist)
Friday- L/O
Saturday- Philly Cheese Steak with Baked Fries
Sunday- Crockpot?

Well, at least I got a good start on my week:) Tomorrow, I will be starting a post series on bulk cooking, mainly baked goods. I hope that you will join me and if you have anything to contribute, please leave a comment. In the meantime, check out this ex-cel-lent site called Good(Cheap)Eats for some inspiration.

Cheap and Easy Taco Salad with Baked Taco Bowls

2010-07-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

My dad loves taco salad, so I wanted to give it a try. It was very easy and cheap to make. I made the meat a little different then what most taco salad recipes call for by using my mom's secret recipe. I'll share that a little later:) The thing I liked most about the taco salad was that you can fill it with just about anything you want; spouts, any kind of beans, any kind of meat, or just leave it vegetarian. It's a good recipe if you have health issues in your family or want something simple and healthy to make in a snap. Let me know if you make taco salad and what kind of things your family enjoys on or with it. This was also very filling, so it was low cost because the meal stretched further than I anticipated, we will be enjoying it again tonight.

The verdict
My mom and dad liked it a lot, and wanted to have it at least once a month. My hubby liked it too and with his mouth full, pointed to it and gave the thumbs up! My boys didn't like it as much as I thought they would, but maybe it was because of the lettuce that was all mixed up in their food?

Baked Taco Bowls

non-stick cooking spray
tortillaas (store bought or homemade, small or large size, we used the small ones)

Medium sized oven safe bowl

Take your tortillas and lightly spray both sides of each tortilla with the cooking spray. Heat your toaster oven or oven to 400 degrees. Place tortilla in oven safe bowl and push down it down to the bottom of the bowl.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until you see the sides browning.

Remove bowl with oven mitts (don't forget this step) and take the tortillas gently out of the bowl and lay out to cool.

Taco Meat (Mom's secret recipe, which I altered a little bit)

However much meat you want to cook ( I cooked about 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef)
1/2 Onion
1 T Cumin
Ketchup
Mustard
Salt
Pepper

Cook meat thoroughly then add chopped onion, cumin, salt and pepper. Add a good squirt of ketchup and a big spoonful of mustard. Mix and taste; if it is not quite sweet, just add a little more ketchup.

Fresh Lime Salsa

Roma tomatoes ( I used about 8 small ones)
1/4 Onion
fresh Cilantro
fresh Limes or Lime juice

Dice your romas and onions and put in bowl. Pull the leaves off the cilantro and finely chop, then add to the bowl with about 1 T lime juice.

Take your taco bowls and fill with whatever makes your heart content. Add fresh avocados, peppers, cheese, beans lettuce, salsa, sprouts, plain yogurt, or sour cream. Ole'

I linked this recipe to Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays over at Blessed with Grace. Check out her site, it has alot of good recipe links:)

Baked Herbed Pork Chops with sweet taters and veggies

2010-07-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

This would be a great meal for those busy nights or for when you forgot to plan anything for dinner. Not only is it healthy and a stick-to-your-ribs type of meal, but it only took me around 20 minutes to prepare it. The chops were still a little bit frozen, and I wanted them to be tender, so I baked them for about 1hr and 15 minutes with the sweet taters baking right beside them wrapped in foil.

The Verdict
Way thumbs up! It was easy, delicious and healthy not to mention cheap. We picked up the chops for $.88 a lb, so a whole family pack was $3.22!

Baked Herbed Chops

4-6 pork chops( bone in or out)
1 cup of vinegar (I used apple cider)
1 1/2 cups water
about 4 T of Hidden Valley Italian dressing mix ( skip the vinegar and water and just pour some of your favorite Italian dressing over the chops)
2 T Butter
1/4 cup flour(wheat or white)

Put the chops in a 9x13 baking dish and pour dressing over chops until they are mostly covered. Wrap pan with foil and bake for 1hr @ 300 degrees. Poke your sweet taters with a fork or knife then microwave them for 5 mins. Wrap in foil, and place in over next to baking dishes. Wait for approximately 1 hr for the savory aroma of your very easily prepared supper to make it's way around the house, then it's time to make the gravy and heat up your veggies.

Make a gravy base by melting 2 T butter then adding your flour. If you still have a little bit of dry flour that is hanging out in the pan, add a little bit more butter. Slowly add the juice from your baking dishes and mix continuously until it thickens into gravy. While you are doing this, have your veggies steaming in another pan.
Viola!! Everything is done and ready to be served, enjoy:)

Meal Plan for July 19-25

2010-07-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be experimenting with some interesting and new recipes this week and I really hope they turn out! If you have similar recipes, feel free to leave a link in the comments:)

Week 4 Meal Plan
Monday-Herbed Pork Chops with sweet taters and mixed veggies
Tuesday- Greek Chicken Pasta with artichokes and homemade french bread
Wednesday-L/O ( maybe meatloaf that's in the freezer)
Thursday-Bulgogi with rice and steamed broccoli
Friday- Philly Steak Cheese with baked potato fries
Saturday- Taco Salad with homemade taco bowls

I'm connected with Meal Planning Monday @ I'm an Organizing Junkie, check out some of the other menus that are listed on her site.

Garden Fresh Sushi- Made at home for under $3!

2010-07-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

I love sushi!! If you love sushi, then you know what I'm talking about:) I know that some people don't want to try it because they believe that it is only made with raw fish, but that's not true. Sushi is so versatile, you can put anything you want to in it that you like. I made some of this the other night, and it was so easy, that even if you've never seen a sushi roll, you can make this in under 10 minutes flat! Not to mention that it only cost about $3 total! ( that may even be way over the cost) compared to the $15 per roll you would pay at your favorite sushi spot. This is made with veggies from the garden and a little extras.

Garden Fresh Sushi rolls( for 1-2 people)

2 dried nori (dried seaweed)sheets. These can be purchased at any Asian market. They usually come in a pack of 10 or more for under $4.
1/2 cup hot rice, whatever kind you have on hand. It's better to use left over rice that has been reheated, as it is not as mushy, but use what you got.
1 Ripe Avocado
3 thinly sliced sandwich slices of Tomato
1/2 small cucumber
2 T cream cheese (optional)
3 T Soy Sauce or Braggs Liquid Aminos
Sriracha Japanese hot sauce

Reheat the rice by steaming it a little. While that is steaming, slice up your avocado, tomato, and cucumber, all julienne style (in long, thin strips). Get out your two sheets of nori and lay them on a plate, then pile 1/4 cup of hot rice at one end of each of the sheets, leaving about 1 inch of nori without rice on that same end, and spread the rice out like you would when filling a burrito.

Next, lay strips of your veggies on top of the rice. Grab that end of the sheet where you put your filling and wrap it gently over the filling until it is completely encased. Then continue to roll up the rest of the sheet. Lay the roll so that the end of the sheet is under the roll, so that the heat from the rice seals the roll.

Now get a very sharp knife and lay your rolls on a cutting board and slice thin circles like you would a cinnamon roll. Move your rolls to your plate, grab you some soy or whatever in a separate bowl and your hot sauce. I like using chop sticks too:)

If you want to put cream cheese on them, just cut off a little and put little dabs on each piece with a dot of hot sauce then dip it in your soy.

These are sooo simple and so good, I've made them twice in 3 days! Let me know how you like them, or if you make other sushi concoctions at home.

Meal Planning

2010-07-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Since we moved in and I'm having to feed a lot more people, I have taken up meal planning. I don't know why I never did it before; looking back, that seems crazy and such a waste of time, not to mention the added stress of what to make for dinner 30 minutes before it's time to eat! I would recommend meal planning to anyone that is the cook of the family. And we really have no excuse these days, with the Internet and all and all the wonderful resources like blogs and free recipe sites. Now it's easier for anyone with any cooking skills to learn new meals and cooking habits. If you are not that good at cooking( you can cook some Kraft mac and cheese and that's about as good as it gets) then take some time and look at some of the links I have under meal planning. These have helped me tremendously! I hope to log all of the meals that I make each week, and this will not only help others, but it will help me to be consistent (which I have a real problem in:) I will try to include picture when I can, and if it's something that I've never made before, I'll try and do a tutorial. So get ready to gather round' the good stuff ( and no, I'm not talking about Pizza Hut, unless it's homemade:)

L/O is for leftovers

July

Week 2
Monday- Ground Turkey Stroganoff with Peas
Tuesday- Fish Tacos with Corn Salsa and Rice
Wednesday- L/O
Thursday- Healthy Italian Meatloaf with Mash Potatoes and Corn
Friday- Authentic Orange Chicken with Broccoli and Rice
Sat-L/O
Sunday-N/A

Week 3
Monday-Beef and Cabbage with Potato Pancakes and Steak Sauce gravy.
Tuesday-Grilled Tandori Chicken with Steamed California Blend Veggies and Basmati Rice
Wednesday-L/O
Thursday- Turkey Enchiladas with homemade sauce and Mexi Cornbread
Friday- Pizza
Saturday-L/O
Sunday- Crockpot?( not decided yet)

Summer Citrus Slush-Yummers!

2010-07-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

I found this great recipe on Finding Joy In My Kitchen( she has a terrific recipe index, you should check it out, really), and adapted it to our liking, enjoy!

1 3/4 cans of Orange Juice Concentrate
1 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice
1 cup Real Lemon Juice
1 1/2 cups Sugar( I used raw sugar)
1/2 bottle of Club Soda
1 can of Squirt, Sprite, 7 up or Ginger Ale ( we used Squirt)

In a saucepan heat the water, then add the sugar to dissolve. Once it's dissolved, add the rest of the ingredients, except the soda pop. Freeze in a large ice cream container or a gallon sized jug with a lid.

When you are ready to serve, let it thaw in the container for about 30 minutes, then fill a glass 3/4 of the way full. Add the soda of your choice and mix it into a slush.

Caution: This is a smack-you-in-the-face kinda taste, but really good. Let me know how you like it :)

Frugal Square Foot Gardening- Update

2010-07-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well, we ended up moving last week, so I won't be close to my garden this year, but it's at our church, so I can still check up on it twice a week. I got some picture of the progress of my plants about a week ago and wanted to give an update of how it's doing. To be quite honest, it is exploding with tomato plants! My poor pepper plants are getting buried and my zucchini looked like it had 1. a disease or 2. a lot of happy little insects that have full tummies:) I'm not sure what it was but it totally rotted out my plant! Oh well at least I had 1 big nice zucchini from it. My squash is looking a little sad too, but it's still too early to tell how it will do. If I gained any knowledge so far from this garden, it is " DO NOT put you plants so close to each other!" I thought it would work out, but hey, it's a learning experience, and I'm learning what not to do!

These pictures do not reflect the open space where my poor zucchini plant lived and died:( it only shows it's happier days)

Tomatoes on one of my plants

Lil baby crookneck squash

My green beans, they look a little sorry, don't they?

It's obvious this is my first garden:) Well, at least I tried! I don't do pestisides and I don't do measuring, but at least most of my plants are still alive:)

How to Make Your Own Cheese

2010-06-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago, I did a post about how to make cheese from powdered milk. We were living in the Philippines at the time and they do not have dairy products like what we have here. They mainly have powdered milk or milk that is processed for a long shelf life, and both are pretty pricey. I was really interested in making yogurt and simple cheeses like cottage cheese, or "farmers cheese", and some spreadable cheese. Well, I was never able to make any before we returned to the states, so I just posted the recipes that I had found. So now that we are back, I thought a post on making your own cheese would be fitting.

We are starting to receive an abundance of goat's milk from some of the families that we fellowship with here, so Joanne has started making things like yogurt( made with the crockpot) and herbed farmers cheese. I have 2 quarts of goats milk in the fridge right now and was looking up some information about liquid rennet and found this useful site-Fankhauser Cheese Course

Wow, this website has so much useful (besides my most favorite word when it comes to this kind of stuff)practical information, plus the next best thing; great step by step pictures:) Here are some links from this site for:

I think I'm going to make yogurt first then experiment with some other cheeses. Let me know if you make any of your own cheeses and if you have links to some of your creations, great!

Where can I buy Medicinal Herb Plants?

2010-06-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

I have recently wanted to grow my own medicinal herb plants, so that I can have the ones that I am planning to use on hand year around. I looked for awhile and was surpirsed that it took a long time to find this website- Crimson Sage Nursery.

They offer medicinal plant sets like:
Cold and Flu sets
Salve Making sets
Respiratory support sets
and many more.

I would like to eventually have a little greenhouse like the one I posted about a few weeks ago for just medicinal herbs, but probably not this summer.

How to make Herbal Popsicles- Herb Mentor Newsletter 52

2010-06-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

I just recieved my new e-newsletter from Herb Mentor. I really like this website as it has so many practical how-tos and recipes with great pictures. This edition is a recipe for how to make Chamomile Popsicles.

HerbMentor News 52: How to Make Chamomile Pops

Enjoy:)

Exciting News!

2010-06-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our family has lived at our church since we returned from living in the Philippines for 2 years. It has been a real blessing and it has helped us to get back in the swing of things. Last year, we had a visiting family that came to see what our church was like and they decided to move here a few months later. Joanne is a single mom with 3 wonderful, godly children. She has had alot of hardships in life and has found and followed the Lord, and has led her family also in this path. We have become very close and we consider her family as our own. I appreciate her in so many ways! She has helped me to be frugal and has taught me some things about homemaking. Since we both have a heart for a godly home and have alot of ideas of how to make it run smoothly, we have decided to partner up on her Frugal Home and Health blog. Feel free to stop by and check out what's new. It will mainly focus around cooking, preserving, and how to do it in a healthy way. Here is a picture of Joanne

God Bless,

Make your own body products-Homemade Homemaking part 2

2010-06-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

I recently got my order from Azure, and made my own shampoo using this recipe-Make your own herbal shampoo. I had stop using commercial shampoo for about 3 weeks when I made this, so my hair had been clean of all that extra gunk for a while. I did a few things differently than the recipe; which is probably why I got the results that I did. Instead of using rose buds, I used packaged tea that had some rose blossoms along with chamomile, lemon grass and mint. I also used a handful of fresh mint and made the "tea" to add to the shampoo. I left out the jojoba oil, since I was using Dr.Bronner's tea tree soap which has jojoba in it, and I left out the essential oil too. When I washed with it the first time, I was pretty disappointed. It felt dry and brittle and also like there was a big glob of hair gel on some of my hair. When it dried it was really yucky feeling and greasy, like I hadn't washed my hair in a few weeks. I know that it is supposed to be different that using commercial shampoo, but it didn't do much of anything except put more stuff on my hair. I will try it again sometime when I can make the recipe the way that it was supposed to be made.

In the meantime though I will use what I was using before I made this shampoo. This combination might sound a little strange to some of you, but I had been using this for three weeks , and it works really well. My fellow sister and churchmate Joanne shared this with me after she received it from a friend. It is a bar of unscented homemade soap that you scrub into your hair, then you rinse it with powdered ascorbic acid. I know, sounds crazy huh! But it really works! We are almost out of the bar, so we will make some ourselves using this recipe-Homemade Borax Soap.

I've gathered a list of some sites that have more homemade recipes for body products such as;

Soap- Homemade bath recipes, Great soap and scrub recipes, Borax Soap (This is what I use for my hair with the ascorbic acid rinse)

Homemade shampoo and conditioners- Pioneer Thinking, Long Locks

Homemade Deodorant- How to make your own deodorant

Toothpaste, Mouthwash- Make your own toothpaste and mouthwash, Tammy's Recipes( all kinds of homemaking stuff here from homemade laundry detergent to whole wheat tortillas

Where to get supplies for these recipes- Mountain Rose Herbs, Bulk Herb Store, Glory Bee Foods, Azure Standard, Places to purchase lye for soap

If any of you are making and using your own homemade body products, how are they working for you? Please share in the comments.

Training up our children

2010-06-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I have heard in the past that this verse is talking about a promise. The promise is that if you raise your children to love and fear the Lord, then they will not leave that path when they are old. I believe this promise and have seen it as truth in some families who are sincerely and whole-heartedly following the Lord. I also believe that there is another side to that promise, which is the direct opposite of what most people think when they read that verse. If you train up a child in the way he should go, and the path you train him on is blotted with the world and bad influences, he will most likely not depart from that path. I have seen more cases of this kind of training than the one mentioned above in families whose lives are mixed with the world and claim a little of Christ too.

Which path are we supposed to lead our children on, to the world or to Christ? If we mix a little of both in, which one do we think will win? The world is pinning after our children's souls and will use any kind of device necessary to draw and entice them. Is it really so innocent to let them play with the world just a little bit? If we are claiming to be Christians, do we walk a straight and narrow way and show it to our children? Or do we walk a not so straight, almost narrow path that strays a little on the broad path and let our children deal with the consequences of teaching them this kind of confusion?

Is there a middle road? Is there a grey area between white or black? When I read the bible, I only read of two roads, the broad way and the straight and narrow way. I only read of good and evil; not good, a little bit of good and evil, and evil. There is no middle road, and there is no grey area. If we try to make a middle road, it will end up on the broad road to destruction and if we make a grey area we will not be white as snow. Can we have both the world and Christ? Here are some answers from scripture:

Mattew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed (to fashion alike, to conform to the same pattern) to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world

1John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you

The only time that a third option is ever mentioned is by our Lord in:

Revelations 3:15-16
15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth

This third option of being lukewarm is a mixture of hot and cold. The outcome of mixing the two is not a good one. This is the same as mixing a little of the world with Christ.

Having children puts the biggest responsibility on us as Christians that we can bear. Not only are we accountable for our own choices for our own lives, but we will also be held accountable for the souls that God entrusted to us to raise up for Him and His glory. If we drop the ball a little bit here and there, we will reap the consequences 10 fold. If we are diligent and guard our children from harmful influences, they will reap the rewards when they are ready to face those things. There will be no confusion and the choice to do what is right will be second nature when they are presented with those influences.

When we walk the narrow way, it often causes division and strife from those that are not walking with us. Often times, they do not see that they are walking the middle road or living in the grey area. Why? Because they have been influenced by both. At times it becomes very difficult when we have to make decisions that go against others wishes. It often looks as though we are being cruel or heartless, or that we are control-freaks with our children. In the world, it is acceptable to let your children have their say, or to run all over you. It is thought that you are to make them as happy as they can be and to go back on your boundaries to do so. This is how the world loves. This is not what will make a child truly happy; in fact, it will more than likely ruin their character and eventually their soul. God has given us so much instruction in regard to child training and none of it says to make them happy and give them what they want. The bible mainly tells about how to train, or guide a child. Let us lean on the Lord in this area and ask often for wisdom to fulfill His command to us as parents; to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

I had come across this website a few years ago and it has been a real blessing and has helped and encouraged me to train my children biblically. I do not endorse all that this website says or has on it, but I do endorse what is biblically correct. It is called Raising Godly Tomatoes. If you can, please take the time to look over all the website. If you have any feedback, good or bad, please share in the comments.

God Bless,

Make Your Own Natural Cleaning Products-Homemade Homemaking Part 1

2010-06-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of research and learning a lot about herbal and natural products. I'm not interested in the New- Agey stuff or homeopathic, as I have read lot about these types of alternative medicine/natural practices and think that they are just plain ridiculous or they have some kind of weird "spiritual" foundation or idea. A long time ago I read this book- A Look at the Facts on Alternative Medicine, and it was very informative.

So I have been looking at natural products and how I can use them to help my family save money and for our health. I started finding all sorts of neat and cheap ways to use things like vinegar, backing soda, lemon juice etc... around the house and for our bodies. I was pretty excited as I went through all the information about these types of cleaners and quickly became convinced of their value. I just wanted to share what I found regarding using natural cleaners.

Here are some benefits of using natural cleaners:

•Less packaging waste. You’re not buying new bottles over and over.

•Less expensive. You probably have some in your kitchen right now, so you wouldn't have to go buy a seperate cleaner

•Less harmful (often not harmful at all) to humans, animals, and the earth.

•Less noxious home smell. Homemade natural cleaners always smell better than store bought. Well, except vinegar, that can be worked around somewhat by using Lavender essential oil and lemon juice, or I have boiled Cinnamon and let it sit where the smell was strong and "steam" the smell out.

I have gathered a list here of some sites that give information on how to use and make your own Natural Cleaning Products;

I'm sure that there are oodles and oodles of websites out there that you can find, so if you stumble across any that are note worthy, let me know:) If any of you use natural cleaners already, how and for what do you use them, please share in the comments!

If you are not really interested in making your own cleaners, you can get great natural, non-toxic cleaners from Meleleuca.

Most of their products are cheaper than commercial ones you get at you get at your local grocery store and they are do the job well. I have used the tub and tile cleaner for getting soap scum out of the bathtub, and it works better than Kaboom!

Frugal Square Foot Gardening

2010-05-29T13:51:00.000-07:00

Frugal: entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager

Yep, that pretty much describes my first Square Foot Garden. Here is a run down of the expenses that I put into it:

1. FREE wood from one of the brothers at our church. He got it from his work, since they were just going to throw it all away.

2. FREE soil composed of hay, cow manure, and whatever else was lying around. It was all super composted when we pick up a load, so no, there was no smell. We got it from an elderly lady that still lives on her farm. If you live by farm land, you could probably ask some of the farmers if you could get some dirt that was dug up for a pond or whater they would have lying around like it.

3. Bundle of wooden stakes-$8.99

4. 5 yards of fabric netting(in the fabric section, not the garden section) from Walmart- $5.99

5. 8 Tomato plants-$12.00

6. 8 Pepper plants-$8.00

7. Seeds for lettuce, spinach, beans-$8.00

8. 3Squash and 3 Zucchini-$6.50

9. FREE nails

10. FREE rope

11. FREE kite string

12. 1 1/2 bags of good top soil-$4.50

TOTAL-$53.98

I think the box is about 8'x 5'or so, yeah, we were not real accurate, but it still worked just fine. I'm not sure what kind or size of wood was used, but when I find out, I will include that. Here is how I planted everything....

First, we loaded all the compost into the box and spread it all even, then we watered it really good. I really think that whatever kind of compost you can get for the cheapest price will work just fine also. This happened to be free, but the SFG that I had made earlier this spring was a whoppin $50.00 just for the compost that you are told to buy in the book, and it was only 4'x4'. So I was determined to find it MUCH cheaper, and I think free stuff is pretty cheap, don't you?

Next I got some a tape measure and some nails. I measured everything off by foot and screwed in a nail at every foot. After that, I got my kite string and wound it around all the "pegs" to make the grid.

Now that everything was measured properly, I started my planting. I put my pole beans, sugar snap peas along this edge so that they could climb up the trellis:

I also planted 3 yellow squash in the far right corner, and 3 zucchini plants in the far left corner along this same edge . Since the squash will climb up the trellis, I didn't need to worry about putting something in the square next to it, but that isn't the case with the zucchini. I left one square beside, diagonal and in front of the zucchini empty. That is also why I planted it in one of the end squares, so that it can grow over the side of the box and not disturb anything.

Next I planted my pepper plants in the same squares as the vining beans, since they would be up the trellis and out of the way of the peppers. The first pepper plant was planted 2 squares away from the zucchini and then I planted a tomato plant in the middle square of this row. I finished the row with pepper plants to even it out.

I then planted the next two rows with pepper plant in one square, then tomato plant in the next square, rotating until the end of the rows.

Finally in the last 1 1/2 rows, I planted lettuce and spinach.

All of my plants besides the beans and lettuce ,which I started from seed, were Bonnie brand and I got the plants that just plant right into the ground, pot and all. Yesterday, I put stakes next to all the tomato plants and tied them to the stake with some soft rope, not twine or coarse rope as this would cut into the stems. Today, my hubby used some of the stakes and made the shade cloth frame. Then we nailed the cloth to the angled points.

And there you have it. I just water once a day, in the morning, as this "soil" really holds water well. I'll keep an update on how it is growing and what we harvest out of it. Next year, we may do a Frugal Green House like this one-PVC Greenhouse

Are any of you doing any frugal-type gardening? Please leave a comment, as I'd love to hear about it!

Garlic Ginger Cough Syrup

2010-05-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a great video on how to make cough syrup. This syrup is excellent for treating coughs that are deep and won't go away. I have used this with my children and they like the taste and the relief it provides.

Here are the ingredients used:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup Honey

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 large garlic cloves

1 t. grated ginger

dash of cayenne pepper

Enjoy:)

The Best Herbal Remedies Book!

2010-05-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

My husband took me out for a "date" last night. Our place of choice-Barnes and Nobles:) We looked around for a good hour or so, and while I was over in the Alternative Medicine section I came upon this book.

It's put out by DK Publishers and it isTHE BEST book on this subject that I have found so far. Why is it so great, you might be asking? Well, because it is full of beautiful pictures, accurate resources and information and it is just plain simple to use! It tells you the history of herbal medicine, the safety of herbs, how to make remedies, where to look for the plants, how to harvest them, how to store them on so much more. It even tells you how much scientific research has been done on a certain plant. I have not found anything that comes close to how organized and simple this book is. The main reason I like this book so much is that it is geared more towards the "visual learner", which I am totally. Even if you are not interested in herbal remedies, just by glancing at it, you would learn something. I was practically begging to get it and my husband could read the delight on my face, so he gave me a very sweet "yes" to my asking for it ;)

I realized after we got home, that I could have found this book on the internet for cheaper, but hey, you live and you learn. This is a great site that I go to when looking for books on discount- fetchbooks.info. So far I have found every single book that I have looked for on this site. Anyways, just wanted to share my excitement with the rest of the world.

Home Remedies 101- Onion, Mustard and Garlic poultice

2010-05-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

My little boy has had so many issues with his lungs as he was born with 2 collapsed lungs from having GBS (Group B Step) when he was born. We have had to get him antibiotics too many times to count. I was determined to put an end to this cycle, so when he got this round of respiratory problems like coughing and deep congestion, I was prepared(sorta).

I gave him some JC Tonic everyday before breakfast, some Immune booster from the Bulk Herb Store that I had made into a glycerite throughout the day. I also had some honey ginger onion cough syrup that I had made for coughing fits. It all helped it to not be so severe, but it was not helping him to get rid of it. So I was going to buy the cough tea from the BHS in hopes that it would help. Then, I stumbled upon an old timey recipe for an onion garlic poultice, and was like OH GOODY GOODY!

I used a cheese grater and grated one whole onion, then pressed 2 cloves of garlic. I put this in a steamer and steamed it for about 2 minutes. I had lined the streamer with cheesecloth so that all the good stuff would stay in the cheesecloth. I removed it and dumped it into a bowl , then added 2T cider vinegar and 1/2 cup flour and about 1t dried mustard. I mixed this all together, then I spread it into a big rectangle in the cheesecloth and wrapped it up with the rest of the cheesecloth. I then made it a little hot by nuking it for about 25 seconds in the m-wave. I also had a rice bag that I made and heated it up for about 1 minute in the m-wave to keep the poultice warm on his chest for about 20-30 minutes.

I put the poultice on his whole chest from the neck to the abdomen and put the rice bag on top. I waited until it was cool to the touch before I took it off and also checked to see if his chest was red( which is what you want to see) I did this last night right before bed and also first thing this morning.

All I have to say is WOW! His coughing has basically stopped completely and he does not sound congested! (sigh of relief) It feels so good to be able to help your children with simple remedies that work! Praise God for giving us what we need to help our bodies fight off things naturally and safely.

This is my first real big step forward with home remedies and I will be trying more after the amazing results from this. The best thing about this is that what he received was all natural and had no side effects. I feel quite empowered now to not ever use another over the counter cough syrup or cold medicine again!

I hope that this will be helpful to some, let me know if any of you have used some similar home remedies and how they worked for you.

Blessings,

HerbMentor News 51: How to Make Herbal Shampoo

2010-05-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

I recently joined this website-learningherbs.com, and they send out a really neat newsletter about twice a month. This was the first one that I recieved. I will post more when I get them . Enjoy:)

HerbMentor News 51: How to Make Herbal Shampoo

New to herbs? Want to learn how to use them for FREE?

2010-05-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled onto this site- learningherbs.com and was like YIPPY! I am not good at learning from books, especially about stuff like this with all those scientific names and things. They have all sorts of neat stuff on this site and they also have another site called herbmentor.com. I will post the articles that I receive, which have herb news, how to videos, and remedies. Check back to get the lastest ones.

How to make "Recycled" Cloth Diapers- All In One

2010-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm not the best seamtress, in fact I pretty much wing it every time I sew. But it's fun and I like the challenge. I started looking into making cloth diapers for people that I know as a gift for the new baby and found some great things at the thrift store here in town that would work well. My friend just had twin girls and I made some for her in newborn size. I made the soaker pad pattern myself by just taking the diaper pattern and cutting it a little smaller to fit inside the cover part.

Here is the link for the pattern that I used. I like this site and plan to use alot of there patterns. I will try to get a list of patterns and where to get supplies together for those of you who want to sew your own diapers.

Okay here goes:

Materials that I used:
1. 100% polyester mattress cover without plastic backing- for the outer layer, pretty much water-proof because of the thick weave
2. 1 yard of micro fleece- found at Walmart
3. old washcloths, cloth diapers, towels etc- for the soaker pads
4. flannel pillow cases- to sew onto soaker for being against baby's skin
3. the smallest elastic I could find at Walmart
4. soft touch velcro
5. White all purpose thread

Step 1.

Cut out outer layer on fold

Step 2.

Cut out inner layer on fold using the same pattern as the outer layer

Step 3.

Cut out the soaker pad and liner

Step 4.

Pull out your sewing machine and get your velcro and elastic handy

Step 5.

Match your outer and inner layer up and begin zig zag or serge on one side of diaper

Sew all around diaper until about the middle of the top. You want to leave enough open so you can turn it out to the right side.

Step 7.

Trim off the excess material so that it cuts down on the bulk

Step 8.

Attach the elastic between the front and the side tabs and stretch it as much as it will stretch. Pin it, then back stitch it so that it will stay in place when you sew it on the other side.

Step. 9

Turn diaper right side out and make sure that the elastic is where you want it to be-along the seam line. Begin straight stitching at 5/8" seam to the side of the opening where you turned it out and pull it straight where the elastic is so that it does not get caught in the stitch.

I also added an elastic piece to the back before I turned it out where the opening was and stitched it closed. This will make it a little more snug for newborns that are premmie.

Step 10.

Attach velcro to the tabs, front and on one of the tabs front side.

Step 11.

Serge or zig zag the soaker to the lining. Here is how it will lay in the diaper.

There you have it, the

finished product!

I made about 6 diapers and about 12 soakers for each baby, since the soakers will be changed out more and the diaper cover will stay dry if you can catch it early. I will post when I get feedbback on how they held up.
If any of you sew your own diapers, what patterns and materials do you use? Please share in the comments.

Do you ever feel helpless when your children are sick?

2010-05-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

What a silly question! Of Course we do! Well, I do every time my little ones are sick and I have no idea of what to do to help or relieve them. So I started looking up sites that give a "Children's herbal remedy medicine cabinet" list of what people have on hand to treat their children at home. I don't know about some of you, but every time in the last year that we have taken our children to the doctor, they basically told me what I already knew. I feel like I should have a little more control over the health of my children, so I hope to invest some time and money into making some remedies to have in our medicine cabinet. Here is a pretty good site that I found that looks very informative. Do any of you have some remedies that you have on hand that have worked for your family? Please do share in the comments and maybe we can get a good list going...
God Bless

Christian Modesty and the Role of Women

2010-04-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

MODESTY and the role of women

Here is a topic that a fellow sister addressed, please share your thoughts. If you would like to read more articles here is her blog- Narrow is the way

The question has come up on facebook - "How are you so sure that YOUR picture of modesty is the "right" one?" I answered quickly with the intent of addressing it more fully at another time. Now is that time. Here is what I said in brief: I do not think I am the one that has this all figured out and I do not think that people who do not dress just like me are immodest. I do however think there are basic things that do and do not reflect modesty as stated in God's Word. [I should have said, "I do not think that ALL people who do not dress just like me are immodest", because clearly I do think that many women dress immodestly] I believe that modesty cannot be looked at by itself; rather, it must be looked at coupled with the role of women in general. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First, what the Word of God says to women: 1 Timothy 2:9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1 Peter 3:1Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Ephesians 5:22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Col. 3:18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Titus 2:4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
1 Cor. 11:3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Deut. 22: 5The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Besides those specific verses about women's dress and behavior, here are a few more that can be included in that:
Matthew 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mark 12:29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now some definitions of words found in the scriptures above, in alphabetical order.
BROIDED What is woven, plaited or twisted together
CHASTE Free from obscenity; pure from carnality; pure from all unlawful commerce of sexes.
COSTLY ARRAY Precious, of great value.
DISCREET Prudent; wise in avoiding errors or evil, and in selecting the best means to accomplish a purpose; circumspect; cautious; wary; not rash.
GOLD / JEWELS Jewelry
MEEK Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
MODEST Not bold or forward, not loose, not lewd [unlawful indulgence of lust], not excessive or extreme, not extravagant
OBEDIENT To submit to one's control, to obey
QUIET Calm; undisturbed; peaceful; not agitated.
SHAMEFACED A sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect, excessively modest.
SOBER Moderate, control, curb
SUBJECTION / SUBJECT / SUBMIT To submit to one's control, to obey
USURP One who acts on his own authority, to govern, exercise dominion over one ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All right, based on the verses and the definitions, here is what I conclude: From 1 Timothy 2:9-14 (my words are in [brackets]) In like manner also [see below for my comments on the previous statement], that women adorn themselves in modest apparel [dress in modest clothing - clothing that is not bold, flashy, or lewd ... it does not cause someone else to look at you with lust; it is simple and utilitarian], with shamefacedness [excessively modest in look and action - not loud, bold, and so on; downcast eyes, bashful] and sobriety [moderate in look and action; controlled]; not with broided hair [nothing fancy], or gold [no gold], or pearls [no pearls], or costly array [nothing expensive or fashionable]. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works [we are to be adorned with good works]. Let the woman learn in silence [be quiet] with all subjection [obedience to those over her]. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority [over the man - to govern, exercise dominion over him], but to be in silence [be quiet ... and being quiet does not mean giving 'the silent treatment'! Do not nag or force your opinion on him. Do not get an attitude, give a nasty look, roll your eyes, or whatever else you can fill in the blank with. You are to be meek, quiet, chaste, sober, and so on. Love him, pray for him, be his helper in whatever it is he is trying to do. If you have been ungodly towards him in the past, you must work on earning his trust (read Proverbs 31) and maybe he'll actually want your opinion ... but don't force it on him if he does not want it.]. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. [clearly this is NOT a "cultural thing" as many would like to believe; it is not something that Paul or Peter started ... the Word takes us right back to the beginning and reminds us that we are the weaker vessel 1 Peter 3:7, thus God put a protection over us ... MAN ... things have not changed today, although people would like to believe they have.] Ephesians 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands [be under his authority and control], as unto the Lord [this is explained in the next 2 verses -- > ]. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. [wives, submit to your husbands just like the church submits to the Lord ... he is your head, just like the Lord is the head of the church 1 Cor. 11:3. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:32)] Titus 2:4-5 That they may teach the young women to be sober [moderate], to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet [Prudent; wise in avoiding errors or evil, and in selecting the best means to accomplish a purpose; circumspect; cautious; wary; not rash.], chaste [Free from obscenity; pure from carnality; pure from all unlawful commerce of sexes.], keepers at home [take care of the home - this includes caring for the husband and the children], good, obedient to their own husbands [submit to his authority, obey him], that the word of God be not blasphemed. [if you do not do these things, you are blaspheming the word of God ... how is that? Because you are claiming to be a follower of Christ yet not obeying His words. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)] 1 Peter 3:1-6 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands [submit to his authority; obey him ... you are not submitting to him if he is afraid to do something that will make you upset.]; that, if any obey not the word [if he does not obey the word of God], they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives [he can be won to the word by the way YOU act ... and of course he can also be turned away from the word if you are not acting in a way that is in line with the word]; While they behold your chaste conversation [your life that is free from obscenity and pure from carnality] coupled with fear [your reverent fear of the Lord]. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel [you are not to be adorned with these things - this is fleshly and worldly]; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [more on this below]

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. [Sara is our example - how did she obey? Look it up to find out. The Lord God gave us our husbands and they are our head, our protection, the ones we are to submit to.
If we do not submit to them in everything, then we are not trusting in God, because He is the one who put them over us - please search this out if you do not agree.] Mark 12:29-31 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. [are you really loving your neighbor when you are dressing in a way that invites him to lust after you?] 1 Cor. 11:3-5 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head [men, do not pray with your hats on ... this is dishounoring to the Lord. If this simply meant hair, men would have to take their hair off before they pray. Men are to come before the LORD with boldness, lifting up holy hands 1 Timothy 2:8] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. [women are to have covered heads - in 1 Timothy 2:9 it says "in like manner also" ... as the man is to come before the LORD boldly with his hands raised up and his head uncovered, the woman is to be covered, shamefaced, shy, meek, and so on.]

The Lord made men and women DIFFERENT!!! He gave us each different roles ... this is nothing to be ashamed of. Brother David actually spoke of some of these things in his message yesterday, so I'll use a few things here that he said. Man is the aggressor. Notice how the Lord says that 'whoseover looketh on a WOMEN with lust in HIS heart commits adultery WITH HER'. He said nothing about a woman looking on a man with lust in her heart. Yet today, with all the confusion in gender, roles, and so on, women can do this too. But, in the beginning it was not set up that way; it's not God's fault we have perverted it. So, I'll only deal with the way the Lord made it, not the way man perverted it. Since men are the agrressors, women are to be shy, shamefaced, meek and so on, as to not attract undue attention to her beauty, shape, etc. For this reason, modesty is always directed towards women in the Bible. We must be very careful that we do not become a stumbling block to any man, whether our 'brother' or not. Notice the Word says if a man looks on a woman with lust in his heart, he commits adultery WITH her. If she is dressed in an impure way, to draw attention, showing skin, wearing fancy clothes, face painted, jewelry, and so on, she is a partaker in this adulterous act. Notice also that in 1 Peter 3 it says that a meek and quiet spirit is something of GREAT VALUE to the Lord. He loves this and wants us to be this way. On the other side, what does the Lord think of a woman who is loud, obnoxious, and so on? If a woman is not in her place yet claims to be a follower of Christ, she is blaspheming the Word of God. This is not my idea though, it is the Lord's Word. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what does a Christian woman look and act like? She is properly covered with nothing showing that does not need to be shown. Her clothing is loose so as to not attract attention to her shape or form. There is enough fabric in her skirt or dress so she can walk naturally; it is not so tight that it needs a slit and shows the shape of her backside. She does not wear pants because those are clearly for men, and why would she want to wear men's clothing? Besides that, pants show too much of her shape - especially the shape of her backside. Her skirt or dress is long enough so she can bend over to pick something up [ideally though she would stoop down instead of bend over] or sit down without her legs showing; if there is a chance of a small part of her leg showing, she should have on socks so her naked skin is not exposed. A little 'peak' of naked skin could cause a man to stumble - she knows she must be very careful. Her clothing is plain and simple - worn for utilitarian reasons rather than for fashion or show. The pattern is not flashy and the color is not bold so as to attract attention. She does not wear jewelry or make-up ... she realizes that these things serve NO PURPOSE other than vanity and to attract attention, which is clearly unpleasing to the Lord. She knows too that make-up and jewelry alter the way the Lord made her and gives her a 'false front'. Her head is covered with a flowing veil. She does not try to leave some of her hair out in the front so she can style it a little bit - this is vanity as well. She wears the veil as a sign of submission to her husband; if she is not married, she wears the veil as a sign of sumbission to the Lord. If she is not in submission to her husband or the Lord, yet still wears the veil, she is blaspheming the Lord. She realizes too that a meek and quiet spirit is of great price to the Lord. She can be the most modestly dressed person one has ever seen, yet if she is not modest on the inside as well, she is blaspheming the Lord. Her movements are subtle and her voice is quiet and calm so as not to attract attention. She speaks gently to those around her; she does not raise her voice, get frustrated, or any other such thing. She is cautious and does not act in haste. She is content and happily serving the Lord in her rightful role He has given her. She does not try to lead the family or the church; she is a helper in every way that is pleasing to the Lord and to her husband. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I must also say that as Christians, we are called out from the world. We are to have NO FELLOWSHIP with it. Fellowship means, "Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse." We are not to be CONFORMED to this world. Conformed means, "Made to resemble; reduced to a likeness of; made agreeable to; suited; to fashion one's self according to." If we claim to be a Christian yet look and act like the world, are we really following Christ? Do sheep dress in wolves' clothing? No. John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 2 Peter 2:20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thought it would be nice to end this by quoting from some early Christians. I obtained all of these quotes from David Bercot's book, "The Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs". He got the quotes from reading them first hand out of the early Christian writings (commonly known as the Ante-Nicene fathers). I have all of their works on my computer and I have read most of these quotes in context before.

These first set of quotes are all from Clement of Alexandria (c. 195AD) "By no manner of means are women to be allowed to uncover and exhibit any part of their person. Otherwise, both may fall - the men by being excited to look; the women, by drawing to themselves the eyes of the men." "Let women be fully clothed: by garments on the outside and by modesty on the inside." "They must not do as some do. For some women imitate the acting of comedy. They practice the mincing motions of dancers, and they conduct themselves in society as if on the stage. That is, they go around with voluptuous movements and gliding steps, pretentious voices, and casting languishing glances round." "How much wiser to spend money on human beings, than on jewels and gold ... For women should be adorned within, and show the inner woman beautiful." "Let not their ears be pierced, contrary to nature, in order to attach to them earrings." "Neither are we to provide for ourselves costly clothing." "Luxurious clothing that cannot conceal the shape of the body is no more a covering. For such clothing, falling close to the body, takes its form more easily. Clinging to the body as though it were the flesh, it receives its shape and outlines the woman's figure. As a result, the whole make of the body is visible to spectators, although they cannot see the body itself." "Buying, as they do, a single dress at the price of ten thousand talents, they prove themselves to be of less use and less value than cloth." "Those who glory in their looks - not in their hearts - dress to please others." "It is never suitable for women whose lives are framed according to God to appear in public clothed in things brought from the market. Rather, they should be clothed in their own homemade work. For a most beautiful thin is a thrifty wife, who clothes both herself and her husband." {I thought that was interesting ... why buy something and spend so much money if you can just make it yourself and save the money for better uses?} "He takes away anxious care for clothes, food, and all luxuries as being unneccessary. What are we to imagine, then, shold be said about love of embellishments, the dyeing of wool, and the variety of colors? What should be said bout the love of gems, exquisite working of gold, and still more, of artificial hair and wreathed curls? Furthermore, what should be said about staining the eyes, plucking out hairs, painting with rouge and white lead, dyeing of the hair, and the wicked arts that are employed in such deceptions?" "Those women who wear gold imitate the Egyptians. They occupy themselves with curling their locks. They are busy anointing their cheeks, painting their eyes, dyeing their hair, and practicing other pernicious arts of luxury. The truth is that they deck the covering of their flesh in order to attract their infatuated lovers." "If anyone were to refer to these women as prostitutes, he would make no mistake. For they turn their faces into masks." "Nor are the women to smear their faces with the ensnaring devices of wily cunning. But let us show to them the decoration of sobriety."

These quotes are from Tertullian (C. 198AD) "Most women ... have the boldness to walk as if modesty consisted only in the bare integrity of the flesh and in turning away from actual fornication ... They wear in their gait the same appearance as do the women of the nations, from whom the sense of true modesty is absent ... In short, how many women are there who do not earnestly desire to look pleasing to strangers? Who does not on that very account take care to have herself painted out, yet denying that she has ever been an object of carnal appetite?" "Why, therefore, excite toward yourself that evil passion? Why invite that so which you profess yourself a stranger?" "Are we to paint ourselves out so that our neighbors may perish? What happened to, "you will love your neighbor as yourself?" "She should not show off [her beauty], but should rather obscure it." "[Was it] God who introduced the fashion of finely-cut wounds for the ears? Did he set so high a value upon the tormenting of His own work and the tortures of innocent infancy? For they learn to suffer with their earliest breath, in order that from those scare of the body ... should hang I know not what." "Concerning modesty of dress and embellishments, indeed, the commandment of Peter is likewise plain, restraining as he does with the same mouth ... the glory of garments, the pride of gold, and the showy elaboration of the hair." "First, then, blessed sisters, take heed that you do not admit to your use flashy and sluttish garbs and clothing." "For those women sin against God when they rub their skin with ointments, stain their cheeks with rouge, and make their eyes prominent with antimony. To them, I suppose, the artistic skill of God is displeasing!" "Whatever is born is the work of God. So whatever is plastered on, is the devils' work ... How unworthy of the Christian name it is to wear a fictitious face - you on whom simplicity in every form is enjoyed! You, to whom lying with the tongue is not lawful, are lying in appearance." "It was the fact that Tamar had painted out and adorned herself that led Judah to regard her as a harlot." "Draw your whiteness from simplicity, your ruddy hue from modesty. Paint your eyes with bashfulness, and your mouth with silence. Implant in your ears the words of God and place around your necks the yoke of Christ."

Hippolytus (c. 205AD) ""Now Susannah was a very delicate woman." This does not mean that she had flashy adornments on herself or eyes painted with various colors - as Jezebel had. Rather, it means she had the adornment of faith, chastity, and sanctity."

Novatian (c. 235AD) "She is not a modest woman who strives to stir up the fancy of another - even though her physical chastity is preserved. Away with those who do not really adorn their beauty, but prostitute it instead. For anxiety about beauty is not only the wisdom of an evil mind, but belongs to deformity."

Commodianus (c. 240 AD) "You are adorned at the mirror, with your curled hair turned back from your brow. Moreover, with evil purpose, you put on false cosmetics. You put antimony on your pure eyes, with painted beauty. Or you dye your hair, so that it will always be black ... But these things are not necessary for modest women." "It is not right before God that a faithful Christian woman should be adorned ... God's heralds ... condemn as being unrighteous those women who adorn themselves in such a manner. You stain your hair. You paint the opening of your eyes with black. You lift up your hair, one by one, on your painted brow. You anoint your cheeks with some sort of reddish color laid on ... You are rejecting the law when you wish to please the world."

Cyprian (c. 250AD) "But self-control and modesty do not consist only in purity of the flesh, but also in seemliness and in modesty of dress and adornment." "The characteristics of jewelry, garments, and the allurements of beauty are not fitting for anyone except prostitutes and immodest women." "Has God willed that wounds should be made in the ears, by which infancy - as yet innocent and unconscious of worldly evil - may be put to pain? Has He willed this so that, at a later time, precious beads may hang from the scars and holes of the ears? ... All of these things the sinning and apostate angels put forth by their arts, when, lowered to the contagions of earth, they forsook their heavenly vigor. They also taught women to paint the eyes with blackness drawn around them in a circle and to stain the cheeks with a deceitful red." "But self-control and modesty do not consist only in purity of the flesh, but also in seemliness and in modesty of dress and adornment." "both sexes alike should be admonished that the worked of God and His fashioning and formation should in no manner be adulterated - either with the application of yellow color, black dust, rouge, or with any kind of cosmetic ... God says, "Let us make man in our image and likeness." Does anyone dare to alter and change what God has made?" "In their manners, there was no discipline ... In women, their complexion was dyed. Their eyes were falsified from what God's hand had made them. Their hair was stained with a falsehood." "Do not paint your face, which is God's workmanship. For there is no part of you that lacks beauty. For God has made all things very good. But the wanton extra adorning of what is already good is an affront to the Creator's work."

Apostolic Constitutions (compiled in 390) I'd like to note that the early Christians did not question whether or not a women needed to wear a veil - they all knew that. Their question in the late 100's-early 200's was whether or not a virgin ("from the time they have passed the turning point of their age") should wear a veil. They agreed that yes, she should wear a veil. They also had different ideas on what the veil should look like. Some thought it should go over the face as well, however from what I can tell, all thought it was to be a veil and not a 'cap'. The early Christians also had much to say about men having beards - in brief, they called it 'deceptive trickery' to alter the shape of the beard, trimming it into a nice shape, plucking some of it out, shaving around the mouth, arranging the hair of it, etc. because the beard is the sign or mark of man. Only those concerned about their looks would trim it nice and neat. They also believed that men should have short hair - let the head of men be clipped; cut the hair on the head short. But this is a discussion about women so I'll leave that research up to you.

Being a frugal kitchen maid

2010-03-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Queen of Dehydrating... I have found so much invaluble info on this site...http://www.dehydrate2store/. Check out all her videos and recipes. Can't wait to start up a pantry this summer

Becentsable workshop

2009-09-22T12:53:00.001-07:00

My dh and I went to the workshop yesturday. In all honesty, I was not that impressed, but I did learn some things and I have more of an idea now of how to get started. We actually missed some of the first part of it due to bad weather, but we got caught up after a little while. Our educator was really good and knowledgable, but I think that the program could be a little more in-depth. They only have a very short time to go over awholelotta information. As I put these things into practice, I'll post about it. I did score 12 more sets of inserts at the gas station that I went to last week, so soon I will have quite a stash of coupons! If any of you are starting out in couponing leave me a comment as to how it is going for you

Buried Treasure!

2009-09-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so how many people that you know use coupons? As for me, I've never even seen anyone use them let alone used one myself. I thought that coupons were just for people that bought alot of junk food and wanted to save a very little bit on that purchase. That is until I found a blog that shows how this lady uses them. I had never in my life heard of people using coupons like this and I thought that it was not possible. That is until I found many more sites ( more than 50) that showed that these people were doing the same thing.

This was like finding buried treasure for me! My family has a budget of $47.50 a week for groceries. That includes perishables and non perishables. Talk about a daunghting task! I found the website Becentsable.net that offers workshops that teach you how to maximize your savings at the store using coupons. I am planning on attending on September 21( I'll blog about what I learned there afterwards). I also found wonderful sites ( I will add them into my sidebar later) that help you learn everything you need to know about couponing, stockpiling( here are some pics of stockpiles), rebates etc...

So lately I have made a major change in lifestyle. I am no longer ignorant to the major stores agenda, and plan to spend as little as need be to get the things we need.

I also found these great sites-Hotcouponworld.com and STL Mommy. They are so helpful and loaded with info that is essential for being a savvy saver. I had no clue of what to do, so I set out to learn as much as I could this past weekend. I read coupons inserts come mainly in the Sunday paper, and that sometimes you could get them for free if they hadn't sold. So I went to every gas station in town to see if I could get any for free and guess what? One place let me have 12 papers worth of inserts!! They said that I could do that every Sunday!! I decided to get alot right from the start, since I read and saw pictures of so many people that stockpile and they get 40 or more a week. I was excited and right away started asking questions on these websites to find out how to use what I had gotten. The first thing they told me to do was to organize them in stacks and then file them away with the name of the certain insert and date. They said not to clip them, but to just file them away and clip when I need a certain coupon. I thought that I would organize it a little bit more and used some sticky tabs to list what coupons I wanted from inside the insert, then I just stuck it right on the front of that insert. This is as far as I have gotten so far, but I will keep posting on this subject since it is completely new to me and I am learning from scratch. Hopefully I can complile a "how to use coupons" once I have gotten my feet a little wet.

New Cookbook and Meal Planning

2009-09-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Since returning to the US, we have really seen the need in our own lives to live and spend as frugally as we can. My husband is working only 4 days a week (and it depends on the weather most of the time since he is a construction worker) and attending Paramedic school for 2 days. We figured that our budget for food weekly comes out to be around 35$. So I have searched all over the internet and have been excited about all that I have found in regards to saving money by using coupons, rebates etc. I hope to add another section to my blog about this in the future when I have tried it and gotten past the "newbie stage". I will also be attending a Becentsable.net workshop, and will post about that after we go. I have been looking for good, simple, nutritious cookbooks and have had a real hard time finding one that I would use almost daily. That is until I stubbled onto this at the library. This cookbook is simply put -practical and fun. It has great recipes that are unique and simple. I made one the other morning called "Sausage and Egg gravy over biscuits" and my husband even told his boss about it at work since it was so good (a very rare occasion). It is in a format that works like a meal plan for the whole year! It has cute little ideas for kids like peanut butter playdough and cleaning and kitchen tips that are really useful. Kudos to Penny E. Stone for this cookbook. I plan to buy it and found one on fetchbooks.info for $ .60. Check it out. Let me know if you have a treasured cookbook that fits all your families needs, I'd love to find more like this one.

My 3-in-1 Vest Creation

2009-09-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

Ever since I had my first son, I have tried to find modest clothing that will fit into these 3 categories: Pre-pregnancy, Pregnancy, and Nursing. I was bothered with having to have separate clothes for during pregnancy, after and nursing. I couldn't really find any that were modest and that didn't squeeze me after the baby was far along, so I decided to start making my own "clothing line" that catered to all 3 stages. I have made a jumper that works for all 3, but these are worn out and I need to make more. It seems that some modest styles are coming back and I have found a few to work with. Here is the pattern that I used for the vest( McCall's M5703) This is the end result: I am definitely not a professional when it comes to sewing, but I like to change just about every pattern I come across to suite what I like. I brought the neck line up a bit and I also added a nursing panel to each side by cutting the middle pleat on the outer edges( on the wrong side)and sewed something that looked kinda like a pocket to each side to keep it discreet and far enough over to reach across the bust. It looks funny on the inside , but hey, it works! I liked it better with a gradual point in the middle, so I trimmed some off the bottom, and I added some side slits to give it a little more room for the pregnancy stage. I thought that this pattern was very easy to work with( except for having to rip it out about 4 times as I wasn't paying attention with which way the pleats had to go:) and I try to look for patterns that can be converted somehow for nursing(i.e. like they have an empire waist or pleats like this one). If any of you ladies have made any of your own 3-in-1 creations or have ideas for some, let me know!

Make your own Pouch Sling( similar to a HotSling)

2009-08-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

When we were in the Philippines I had to use what is called a pouch sling here in the US, except it was just a table cloth tied in the back. At first, I didn't want to use it because I thought that it looked really uncomfortable, but when my youngest was about 8 months and was not walking yet I decided to try it instead of toting him around and not being able to use my other hand. After the 2nd or 3rd time using it, he basically lived in it until he started walking good( about 14 months). He slept in it, I took him everywhere in it, and he was alot happier too. When we got back to the states, I longed to have the table cloth carrier again. I started doing some searching on google and found instructions for how to make the type of carrier that it was, except it had a bonus ( no uncomfortable knot in my shoulderblade) It took me a total of 5 minutes to sew it too! Here is the link for the video This is how mine turned out I used a heavy weight dark blue material that a friend gave me, and I cut the lining out of a jersey cotton sheet set that I bought at walmurt to use as fabric (it was cheaper to buy this than buying jersey cotton by the yard and it is easy to dye too) so that it is durable yet comfortable and cool for baby. This is how it looks on When you put baby in the "pouch" this is where they fit for the craddle hold and also for the hip carry position. You can go to youtube and find instructions for different positions. Just search for baby carrier positions I hope that this blesses someone the way it has blessed me

Homemade Crunchy Granola Bars

2009-08-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

I have attempted to make granola about 12 times and everytime, it was just a toasted pile of oats. I thought "it can't possibly be that hard to make granola", and the truth is that it's not (once you find a good recipe:))I have found an excellenct recipe that works great and turns out better than I thought. I even added more goodies to it and that didn't effect it like the previous recipes I had tried. For all you granola lovers out there here it is: Here are the dry ingredients you will need( plus whatever else you want to add i.e. coconut, choco chips etc..)

Gather your utensils:
In large bowl mix together:

2 cups oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ( I also sprinkled in some coarse ground wheat)
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup flour (white or whole wheat, it's up to you)
3/4 cup raisins (I just bought a bag of trail mix for 1 batch)
3/4 tsp. salt

If you use a bag of trail mix with all the nuts and fruit in it, you may want to grind it a little in the blender
Now put that aside and mix these ingredients together in a bowl:

1/2 cup honey (or Karo syrup)
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp. vanilla (I didn't put this in)

Now get your large bowl and make a well in the center to pour these ingredients
Mix with a spatula or, if you prefer, your hands:) until everything is moist. Line a cookie sheet or 9x13" pan( for thicker bars) with parchment paper and spread the granola out evenly to the edges, preheat the oven at 350* Bake at 350* for 30-35 mins, or until it's brown around the edges. Let cool for about 5 minutes then cut into bars, when the granola is still soft. You don't want to wait any longer than that or it may be too hard to cut. Let cool completely then put in air tight container. I like to crumble mine up and add it to cereal or yogurt. Makes a quick, healthy snack for the little ones too:)

Making Refridgerator Pickles

2009-08-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

I was given a lotta cucumbers this week so I decided to try to make my first batch of pickles. It was super easy (just what I needed for my first time), so I wanted to share the recipe with everyone out there

Wash 3-4 quart jars out with boiling water to sterilize them
Mix together in large bowl until sugar is dissolved( I used brown sugar since I was out of white)

4 cups sugar
3 cups vinegar( if mild then omit water and use 4 cups of vinegar)
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
1 1/4 tsp. tumeric
1 1/4 tsp. celery seed( I used celery salt and just omitted 1 1/4 tsp of salt)
1 1/4 tsp. mustard seed( I used ground mustard)

3.Skin the cukes and sliced them to 1/8-1/4" slices I had a little help:) 4. Get 3-4 medium sized onions and slice them up, then put them in the bottom of your jars 5. Put you cukes in until you can't fit anymore, then pour the vinegar mixture over them until they are completely covered. 6. Put your flats and rings on and screw down tight. Put in the fridge for 5 days before eating. These will keep for up to 10 months in the fridge. Enjoy!

Back to blogging

2009-08-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hi to all, It's been a very long time since I have posted anything new, maybe about 3 months or so. Well, I wasn't able to post much about us returning from the Philippines as I had planned on surprising my mom( which I did)and we were really busy preparing to leave. We returned June 13, and have just now gotten settled in. Let me tell ya, it is AWESOME to have a stove and a fridge!! You never know how much something is worth until you go without it! Just about everyday, I'm baking something that I have never baked, and I'm actually really enjoying it! I have also been doing some canning this year with the help of an encouraging older lady named Miss Fannie. She is a well of homemaking wisdom and she is happy to take me under her wing and teach me the ropes. She has made a name for herself in our area due to her cooking and homemaking skills. I wasn't able to take pictures of anything that we canned, but hopefully soon, I will start adding pics to all the new things I'm learning and doing in my home. In the near future, I'll be posting about baking(homemade pizza, granola, etc) and things to do with raw milk( yogurt, cream cheese, cottege chesse etc.) so keep checking back.

Blog goodies

2009-05-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

If you want to get your very own signature like the one that you see on this blog, just go to MyLiveSignature.com and get it for free!!

Making cheese with powdered milk

2009-05-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here in the Philippines, we can't really get fresh milk. It comes in powder or in little individual serving boxes. So as a result, we don't have cheese. Well, we have what is termed "cheese", but it's just the processed log-type that has more sodium in it than a salt lick! So I emailed a wonderful lady, Rachel Paxton who runs Creative Homemaking.com and asked if she knew of any recipes. She sent me these, Thanks Rachel!!

3-Minute (Fat-Free!) Powdered Milk Cheeses

Making cheese at home used to be an all-day process. Now you can have fat-free cheeses for salads, sandwiches or casseroles - ready in almost an instant! Nonfat dry milk, usually non-instant, is a good basic food to keep on your pantry shelf as a source of protein. If you are storing milk, 50 pounds of dry milk powder per person should be stored; over the period of one year, this amount would provide 22.2 grams of protein per day and could be consumed as three eight-ounce glasses of milk or ½ cup of cheese. The brand of non-instant milk I use requires three cups of dry powder to make one gallon of liquid milk. Adjust the recipes to the quantities given for your particular brand of powdered milk. Good-tasting whey from the cheese-making process can be used to replace water in nearly any recipe. The sweet whey changes the flavor of the finished cheese. Whey can be reused (in place of water) up to three times in making cottage cheese, resulting in a sweeter cheese with each use. The sweet cheese can be made into sweet dips and sauces for crackers and fruit salads. (Note: If you will get a stronger, less desirable flavor with each batch.)

Uses for Homemade Cheese and Cottage Cheese

Because most homemade cheese made from powdered skim milk have the unique quality of not melting, they are more versatile than commercial dairy products. The important thing to remember is that when heated at high temperatures, they become more firm and tough, so avoid boiling. Unflavored cheeses: Soups, salads, sandwiches taco filling, stir-fry, omelets, patties, loaves, casseroles, lasagna, on freshly sliced tomatoes, or mixed with one-half commercial cottage or grated cheese. Flavored cheeses: Chip dips, sandwich fillings, casserole toppings, jerky, mixed with parmesan to use on top of pizza and spaghetti, seasoned with curry powder to use in cracked wheat and rice pilaf. Flavor-causing enzymes come from bacteria which produce acid and then release enzymes. That bacteria is found in commercial cheese making cultures, but since those cultures are expensive and have a very short shelf life, I eliminate the long culturing process and use an acid to curdle the milk while the milk is heating, often adding buttermilk or other spices and herbs. When I want a different flavor or texture or a cheese that can be aged for one-two months, I use buttermilk, yogurt or acidophilus as cultures. Drain and rinse cheese made with old, strong milk powder to improve color and flavor. I rinse the cheese first in hot water which seems to take out the strong taste, ten in cold water, which lightens the color and firms the curd.

Cheese colorings can be added to any recipe during the blending process. Dairies, some health food or preparedness stores and mail order catalogs for cheese supplies carry liquid or tablet forms of yellow coloring. Paste coloring can be obtained from stores that carry cake decorating supplies. Ordinary food coloring made for home use is not permanent and will not work as it rinses out during the rinsing and draining process. Important Helpful Hint: Always spray the inside of a warmed saucepan with lecithin-based spray and re-heat until oil browns before adding milk to the pan.

Rennet Cheese
1 qt hot tap water
1 c. Buttermilk
2 junket rennet tablets dissolved in 1 T. Cold water
2 c. Dry milk powder
2 T. Vegetable oil (opt.)

Blend all ingredients and place in a heavy saucepan coated with a nonstick spray. Let sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Cut or stir to break into curds and cook over medium heat for five minutes. Pour curds into a strainer, rinse with hot, then cold water, and drain. Salt to taste, then refrigerate. Or, place in a cheesecloth bag and press. This is a very mild cheese, good with salt and chopped chives. Use within 3-4 days. To make cream cheese from this recipe, reduce rennet to ¼ table and add 1 c. Buttermilk when mixing ingredients. Set in a warm place overnight. After cutting set curds into cubes, place curds over medium heat, and cook five minutes. Pour into a cheesecloth lined colander and let rest 15 minutes. Gather edges of bag, secure with a rubber band and hang, or press until firm like cream cheese. Add salt if desired.

Soft Cottage Cheese
2 c. hot water
1-1/2 c. dry milk powder
3 T. Fresh lemon juice or white vinegar

Blend water and dry milk and pour into saucepan (foam and all). Sprinkle lemon juice or vinegar slowly around edges and gently stir over medium heat just until milk begins to curdle, separating into curds and whey. Remove from heat and let rest one minute. Pour into strainer or colander, rinse with hot, then cold water. Press out water with back of spoon. Makes about 1-1/2 c. curds. If desired, moisten rinsed curds with a little buttermilk before serving and add salt to taste. Refrigerate if not used immediately. Whey from fresh milk powder can be used in place of water in breads and soups.

Quick Soft Pressed Cheese
2 c. boiling water 1-1/2 c. dry milk powder
3 T. vegetable oil
1 c. buttermilk
3-4 T. fresh lemon juice
cheese coloring tablets (opt.)

Blend water, milk and oil, allowing foam to settle slightly. If colored cheese is desired, add ½ tablet cheese coloring (or cake decorating paste color) while blending. Pour into hot saucepan coated with a nonstick spray and heat to at least 160 degrees. Add lemon juice and continue to stir until mixture curdles. Pour into a cheesecloth lined colander. Rinse curds with warm water, then salt to taste. Place cheese in cloth between two plates or spoon into a cheese press. Apply weight and let sit for ½ hour or longer, depending on how firm you want the cheese to be. Remove from plates or cheese press, rinse, wrap in plastic and refrigerate. Use within one month or freeze. This cheese can be sliced, grated, or crumbled.

For Smoky Cheese, add
½ t. Liquid Smoke flavoring and
½-1 t. salt after rinsing curds.

For additional fast powdered milk cheese recipes, along with recipes for yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, order your copy of Rita's Powdered Milk Cheeses for only $5.50 (includes postage) by calling toll-free (800) 484-9377, ext. 6276.

The Highest Honor

2009-04-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to “honor thy father and mother”. We all know that we should honor our parents, and that our children should honor us. God has put us under our parents care, and he has given us children to care for. When I think about honoring my father and mother and how I want my own children to fulfill this commandment, I think of two ways to do it. The first would be to respect them, to obey them, to heed their wisdom and to follow their ways, if they line up with God’s ways. As Jesus says in the NT, no parent, even one that is evil, would give his child a serpent if he asks for food. Parents do care and love their children, even if they are evil, or live ungodly. They want what is best for their children and they make sacrifices for them, just as Christian parents do. But there is a difference. A Christian parent raises the child up for the Lord, to fear and love Him, to make the choice when they are raised to give their life to doing His will, and to hate and despise what is wrong and sinful. The parents take great care to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord by following the ways the Lord has given to do this. They lovingly train their children how to behave and how to obey. They protect them from wrong and harmful influences that would militate against what is right, and they go to great pains to teach them the difference so that the children are not lured into doing what is wrong. They correct them by the manner prescribed in Proverbs and other places, so that they will remember that there are consequences for wrong actions. This not only helps them to become self-controlled, but it helps them to understand “sowing and reaping”. If parents follow God’s ways for raising their children, there is no way the child can dishonor the parents or God. In fact, the highest honor that a Christian parent can receive is for their children to decide to follow the Lord. This is the second way that we can honor our parents, and our children can honor us.

Now I'd like to contrast the way a non Christian parent raises their children. Most Non Christian parents raise their children with uttermost care, and want what is best for their children: in this life. They want their children to obey, behave and to respect them. But usually, God’s way for doing this is not followed. Parents end up yielding their will to what the children want, and allow wrong influences into their children’s lives to appease them. They want their children to enjoy themselves, to have fun and to be successful: in this life. They usually don’t consider the spiritual aspect of how they are raising their children, but mainly look to the child’s physical wellbeing and happiness. Though their intentions are good, and they love their children just as much as Christian parent do, they will not get the results that they desire. Most often than not, the children grow up to become selfish, and their wills are not subject to the parents. They often rebel and the relationship between them and the parents becomes strained. They usually end up following the ways of the world, and this just makes the situation worse. Not only do they totally dishonor their parents by the way they act and the lives that they lead but, and most importantly, they totally dishonor God.

Now, I'm sure that there are situations that happen when the parents do follow God’s way for their children, and the children decide when they are able to forsake the way their parents have taught them. When they do this, they forsake the Lord in return, and choose to serve Satan. Deuteronomy 21 v18-21 gives this example. When this happened in the OT, the parents were not to just accept their son the way that he was” because he is their son, and they still love him”, but rather they were suppose to hand him over to be stoned for his rebellion, so that sin would not spread. What a heartbreaking ordeal for the parents. But what about this kind of situation: What if the parents are worldly and the children grow up to be apart of the world, but then later in life, the children see the error of their way and repent. What if they live the most ungodly lifestyle, then completely turn their life over to do the Lord’s will at whatever cost, mainly by rejecting the life that they formerly lived, and ceasing from the sin that they lived in. Would that be an honor to the parents if this happened, or would it be a shame? Most would say that it would be the highest honor to the parents, because their children would be reaching the highest place of success possible for any person, to be apart of God's Kingdom. This is more honorable than the most prominent position in the world, be it the President, some one like Bill Gates, or anyone who is remembered in this world.

For a child to become a Christian when they were formerly a follower of Satan is the highest degree of honor for their parents, Christian and Non Christian. Why? Because that is all that will matter when we are in eternity. As parents, I think that we need to see beyond this world and see the reality that our children's souls will be in eternity one day, either in heaven or hell. Do we realize the fight that we have on our hands to keep them on the way to the Kingdom of God? I often find myself wanting things for them that would draw them closer to the world, and further from God. I need to protect them from the tactics Satan will use to lure them into his kingdom and encourage godliness in them instead of worldliness. My only desire as a parent is to see my children fighting against the world and Satan’s kingdom by serving the Lord and obeying His Word. In my mind, this would be the highest honor.

Sarah, our example of submission

2009-04-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, two women came to the house to have a bible study. They were JW’s and we had talked with them the week before about the purpose of the covering in regard to headship. They wear a little scarf over their heads when they are in church, and also if they are in the presence of another man from their congregation and are asked to lead in the bible study or prayer. But they don’t believe that it should be worn at any other time than if they are asked to share around another man. This is a good practice and I appreciate it, but there is obviously a flaw. If we look at the headship order God has ordained, isn’t it understood that this headship is always in effect? Is there ever a time when God is not the head of Jesus, or when the husband is not the head of the wife? No, of course not. It is a permanent and constant order. So we asked them, “Is Jesus only the head of men on Sunday, or is he the head all the time?” They got the point, but they rejected the truth.

After this question, they gave many excuses in regard to the husband not always being the head of the wife. They talked about the unbelieving husband and said that there were examples of the wife disobeying her husband’s command to not attend their church. They said “We ought to obey God rather than man, so the wife needs to disobey her husbands command.” Of course, this would seem like the right thing to do, but the scriptures plainly teach that we as women are more subject to being deceived than men, hence the example of Eve given in 1 Timothy 2 v10-13. If we weigh all the scriptures together regarding the role of a wife, we see wisdom and protection in it. This brings me to what has been on my mind lately. Have you ever been talking with someone, where you were put in the place of making a decision for you and your family? Well, if you are in the right place of headship, you probably answered” I need to discuss this with my husband, and tell him the situation so that he can decide what is best.” After your reply, were you given a look of pity, mixed with disgust? I have often had that look thrown at me and even on occasion had a comment to express the nature of the look, such as,” why do you need to ask your husband for something like that,,” or “ God doesn’t expect you to obey him in everything.” It is most unfortunate for the female side of our race to have neglected and thrown away the blessings and wisdom of this teaching. Many homes are turned upside down by a willful and rebellious wife, who thinks that she knows better than her husband. I’m sure that some wives have better ideas of things, but the wisdom and accountability for the family rests with the husband, and God will make up for whatever the husband is lacking.

Before I was converted, I had no idea about submission in the role of a wife. I was heavily influenced with the feministic attitude that prevails in the world. You know, things like” the husband is equal with the wife and needs to do things that the wife does in the home”, or “my husband is not the boss of me, I can do what I want.” I’m not saying that the husband won’t help the wife if she needs it, but it is not his God-given responsibility to be a “keeper at home”, it is the wife’s. This was new to me, and it was difficult at first to agree with this teaching. A lot of the time, if my husband wanted to decide something a certain way, I would not be in agreement with it and would be pretty contentious about it. If the decision involved other people that did not agree, they would usually come to me and try to get me to compromise the decision or persuade my husband to change his mind.

I did give into this a few times, and after the fact, I realized my mistakes. I have learned, and many times I am still learning to trust in my husband and to heed his decisions for the good of our family. I believe that Sarah did the same thing. Abraham put her in a very awkward and sinful position by asking her to lie to save his life. I know that she had to struggle with this proposal. It was wrong, first of all, and it would cause her to sin against the Lord. If that same proposal was given today by the husbands of women who claim to be the daughters of Sarah, how many would choose to obey them? I can make a very strong estimation that not very many. In fact, these are some of the main points people usually bring out when they talk about submitting to your husband in everything, and justifying that wives do not need to submit to their husbands in everything. They ask,” Does the wife need to submit if the husband asks the wife to commit sin, or do something wrong?”

Well, according to the bible and the example given, the answer would be yes, in both cases. Do we really want to be called the “Daughters of Sarah”? Are we willing to stand against the tide and defend the truth in this matter when we are challenged to go against it? If so, then we need to raise our standards to make sure they fall in with God’s standards for the role of the wife. We have a tall order, sisters, and if we are sincere in our surrender to the Lord, then we will be sincere in our place as a wife. If the world looks at you with pity and they look at your husband as an overbearing tyrant because you love him and submit to his God-given authority, then REJOICE!! We are the better for it, and the wiser. God’s ways are opposite from the world and will always seem wrong and strange to the world. Let us be faithful in our calling and rest in the headship of our husbands.

Do Not Worry

2009-04-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Comforting words from our Savior. I'm so glad that I have Him when things go a certain way and I'm at a loss of what to do. Right now is one of those times. My baby has had a cough for about 4 weeks now that he could not shake. We live in a very moist area in the mountains( all of our thing get molded often and we have to set them out in the sun) and are sure that it has contributed to it getting worse. Well, then we all got a round of colds, and he had it the worst. I put him on a dose of antibiotics for resp. infection, but it has actually made him worse. So we are off to the doctors again. I know that the Lord sees my little baby, He knows how sick He has been and it's Him that will help his body to get well again. I know that it is according to His will whatever happens to this baby, either good or bad.

I know, Lord that you do all things good for those that love you and I trust in you. Help me when I worry or get distressed over earthly things and help me to have courage and strength when others are scared and weak. According to you will, help this child of mine to be well, if that is not your will, help me to accept what your will is and to be faithful. Amen Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer....Psalm 4:1

4 Days....

2009-04-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

My husband left Saturday morning to go on a preaching trip to Mindanao for 4 days. 4 days…. The day before he left, our youngest one was sick with a fever and deep cough. I felt nervous about being here alone with them. I was sick the next day also and it was a little difficult to get through the day with them. I felt better today and was blessed that I had both of them here with me. Our oldest keeps the youngest happy and they spend a lot of the time playing together. I had a visit from one of the brothers’ wives and I realized how much I needed my oldest around when she wanted to take him home with her. I knew that the baby would have a hard time without his bubby. So I was glad when he started to cry when she was about to leave, and he didn’t want to go with her. It has been a long time since I have had time alone with the boys. Since Sister Rose has been with us, it has been difficult to devote a lot of my attention to them. This time with them has made me see how important it is to show them attention in a godly way and that it is my responsibility to show them the Lord through my life and actions toward them.

Wow, what a huge responsibility. Do we mothers even realize how serious it is? Some do not, and their children will bring them shame when they are young and old and most likely go down the road to hell. Are we willing to sacrifice our whole life to minister to our children and raise them in the fear of God? Are we willing to be kind, selfless and understanding when they are sick and cry all day, needing to be held and we get nothing done except throwing together some food (which they don’t want to eat anyways), or when we really want to do something and they want you to talk with them or sit on the floor and play blocks. Is that too much to ask? Sometimes, we feel like it is.

We must be willing to sacrifice everything for our children for their sakes and their souls. We must die on our daily cross when we want time for “me” and the children need it. They truly are like sponges and soak up everything they see, hear, feel and experience. Are they soaking up God and His ways by our example, or are they soaking up a selfish, impatient, and prideful attitude and spirit? I have to admit that I see more of the second example in myself than the first. I need the Lord’s help to show Him to my children, but I have to do my part. This is where the dying is felt in our lives. And if we don’t die to those things that militant against the Lord’s will for our children, we set them up for disaster. Do we see the big picture? Lord, help us to see ourselves clearly and help us to humble ourselves and repent. Amen

Hello

2009-02-10T16:53:00.001-08:00

Hello and welcome to my other blog dedicated to being a Christian homemaker, mother and wife. This has been the most humbling experience in my life as I was not raised to be any of these things. God has been faithful, and has brought me to the understanding of His will and highest calling for me. I hope that this blog will be a blessing for others who are going through and have gone through the same experience of "learning as you go". God Bless