Hospitality Ministry

Hospitality is such a powerful way that families, especially women, can minister to anyone and everyone. It need not be burdensome either.

I was talking with a friend today, and she has had new neighbors move in across the road. These neighbors are not married, but living together. My friend made a little goodie basket full of homemade items and took it to them, as a 'Welcome'. A few days later the lady across street called my friend and thanked her for the basket commented on how people just don't do that kind of thing any more. Then she asked my friend where she went to church.

Now showing small acts of kindness/hospitality like this does not always bring such gratefulness or interest in spiritual things, but it can be a small stepping stone to building a relationship. It is very difficult and often impossible to share the Gospel with anyone when there is no relationship with them.

We don't have to travel across the ocean to be a missionary. We begin in our homes. And for most of us that will be our primary place to minister, not only to our family members and in our church, and but to those in our community that need the love of Christ shown to them, by Christians that walk their talk!

Josheph is Home!

I've posted on here several times about our friends that are/have adopted from Liberia. Last week they were able to bring their truly special child home. It has been a beautiful story of God's calling in their life and an illustration of redemption.


Joseph is still sick and will be needing surgery soon, so please continue to pray for him and his new family as they make decisions and care for him. Also remember his birth family as they have loved him enough to give him up so that he could have life!

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,

according to the kind intention of His will. Eph 1:5

Blogging From Miami

We are in Miami this week. Jeff and Josh are doing some work for my brother and we women folk were able to come along. I only get to see my brother once every couple of years, but this is the second time I've seen him this year. He recently started his own business and has done very well. (If you own your own jet and would like a theater installed, let me know and I'll give you his number! ;o) ) I've been very surprised and blessed that he has seen it as a priority to "spread it around" to family members. He has been very gracious to Joshua, he has contracted my other brother for some equipment, and this is the second time he has used Jeff this year, allowing the girls and I to tag along. Although he claims a different religion, I believe he is living God's way of taking care of family first, even if he has different name for it, it is GOD'S principle and you cannot change truth. For this I hope he will be blessed.

Although our lifestyles and world views are complete opposites we are still family. The older I get the more important I am learning that this is!

Edit: I just wanted to clarify that when I said 'spread it around', I am referring to the opportunities/work, not a hand out. Jeff has put in some very long hours, which is normal for his work ethic.

Too Many Blessings to Count!

What a pleasent day!

The girls worked at setting a beautiful table.

Adult Table

We were VERY blessed to have most of the White family over for dinner.

Their wife/mom and new baby brother are still in Liberia.

They were due home today but their plane had some machanical problems

so they are expected in TOMORROW! Lord willing.

Cullen and Cooper had fun proving to Joshua how strong they were!

Little people add so much fun to a house!
Emma and Taylor!

After feasting Olivia played for our listening enjoyment.

Remember Why

"Those that are not interested in History
are not concerned about the future."
R.J. Rushdoney

I have to agree with Mr. Rushdoney. I HATED school with a passion. There was not one subject that I cared anything about, I was simply there 'serving my time'. History was one subject that I thought was the biggest waste of time (confessions is good for the soul, right?). Oh what a fool I was! If you knew me now you never have guessed that! I LOVE history. I could sit and watch documentaries all day. I love to read and listen to anything that is about History. I use to live for the day, now I am very concerned about the future, not just for me, but my family and for everyone. This change in my perspective was done only by the Holy Spirit! Once we begin to understand that History is actually HIS-story, and that EVERYTHING was and is for a purpose THEN History comes ALIVE! Praise God!

While we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving, feasting and gift giving let's seriously REMEMBER the reason for all of it. Make an effort to really know FACTUAL History. Sadly alot of history in the Government text books is not correct, for example teaching that the Civil War was about slavery and that Columbus was a greedy man.

Let's remember the true reason and sacrifice that the Pilgrims, the Founding Fathers and the the early settlers made so that we can have the freedoms we have. Let's not forget the Veterans that have served to protect our rights. I believe the greatest crime is that most Americans don't know factual History, so they are ignorant and complacent as they constantly give up their/our rights and freedoms.

Want to know what the Founding Fathers had to say about our country?

William Bradford • wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
• 1) "a better, and easier place of living”; and that “the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]“
• 2) “The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world" The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620

Signing of the Mayflower painting | Picture of Compact “Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”

Patrick Henry:
"Orator of the Revolution."
• This is all the inheritance I can give my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”
—The Last Will and Testament of Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” [May 1765 Speech to the House of Burgesses]

READ MORE HERE!

***

Here is a FREE story of Pilgrims online.

Apple Pie

My mother brought a bunch of apples a few weeks ago. Olivia was able to make 2 apple pies (we took to church), 2 apple crisp (one for us, one for a neighbor), and then canned 4 quarts, leaving us a few to eat fresh! :o)

She used a cookie cutter and got creative with the crust.

Pie Crust

10 T of chilled butter
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. water
2 T sugar

Using pastry cutter, cut chunks of butter to flour, sugar and salt, until course crumbs. Add water slowly. Roll out until it is thin.

Filling

10 Apples, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
sprinkle of vanilla
lemon juice
Flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot for thickening

Preheat oven to 400°F, then reduce to 375°F after pie is in the oven. Bake 45 minutes.

Sufferings and Gratefulness

Things at our house are not perfect. We're all a bunch of sinners, saved by grace. We struggle with the flesh everyday, sadly sometimes the flesh wins. But we also run to Christ, repent and move forward.

One area that I have a tendency to do is to dwell on the things that are not 'right'. I would love a quiet, happy, peaceful home and family on a daily basis. Overall we are content, abiding in Christ, but there always situations in life that are a thorn. So the thing I need to change is MY way of thinking. Nowhere in Scripture does God tell us that everything will be perfect. We do not deserve to endure nothing but bliss.

Actually, God uses difficult situations to purify us, to make us more like Him. Examine His life here on earth, it was FAR from perfect bliss. So if the Son of God suffered, why do we think we should not? We are suppose to identify with Him through our sufferings. How do we do that? We die to ourselves that demand respect, acknowledgment, restitution, revenge, etc... We ask the Father for grace to respond correctly. By doing this we become more like Christ. The more we strive to respond as Christ would, the more we bring HIM glory. The more we focus on HIM, the more we will experience peace and joy, despite our sufferings.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow, so let our hearts be filled with gratefulness. Cast our cares on Him, focus on the good things we do have, give thanks for the hard times and rest in Him.

*******

Character Journal is one of my favorite resources for teaching Biblical Character. Here are some points from the Gratefulness category.

Ways to show Gratefulness:

to God

• List the ways God benefits you
• Recall God's help during crisis
• Learn and praise the names of God
• Choose to thank God when not thankful

to Parents

• Honour your parents' sacrifices
• Cherish what your parents taught
• Sit with your parents in public
• Choose to dress for your parents
• Redirect praise to your parents
• Celebrate parents' special days
• Give parents a grateful smile
• Thank parents for correction
• Find ways to please parents

to your Instructors

• Praise them for their dedication
• Thank their family members
• Praise their high standards
• to your Civil Authorities
• Trust God to work through them
• Thank them for their protection
• Pray for them and their families

to your Employers

• Be an energy-giver
• Focus on your work, not the clock
• Thank your employer for fringe benefits
• Look for ways to save him money
• Purpose to make him successful

*************

One assignment our family is doing today is to write a short letter/note to people that have truly blessed us this year and express our gratefulness.

Give Me Jesus

This is more enjoyable if you let it load all the way then listen to it.

Barvarian Cream Cake

Simple and Good!

I made this last weekend for a cake walk.

You will need:
1 yellow cake mix
3 eggs, oil and water
Mix and bake cake according to box directions
in 2- 8" round pans.
1 large box of vanilla instant pudding
1 can evaporated milk
1 container of chocolate icing

Let cake cool.
Beat pudding mix and the can of evaporated milk for 2 minutes.
Let pudding set,
then spread between the layers.
Heat your icing in the container
in the microwave for 30-60 seconds,
until it is melted.
Pour the icing over the cake.
After it cools it will stiffen.

ENJOY!

Logan

Turn your sound on!

From Rags to Gifts!

Today's Frugal Friday tip is yesterday's tutorial.

As I stated in the tutorial you can use just about anything to make these, so don't toss those flannel shirts that are missing buttons and have worn out elbows.

Yesterday we stopped by the thrift store and we found a light blue, king size flannel sheet in excellent shape for $2.50! What a great deal! This will make a couple of rag quilts for Christmas. btw, I also bought a king size set of flannel sheets and pillow cases for $7! They are so pretty and good quality...you just can't beat THAT!!! If I didn't love 'em so much they'd be cut up into rag quilts too! :o)

So be frugal, keep your eyes open for flannel and make everyone a warm, soft quilt this winter!

Rag Quilts

I absolutely love doing these! They are so easy and they do not need to be perfect. This is a great beginner's project.

For a baby rag quilt you will need:

a total of 2 yards of fabric
(for this project I have used 1 yard of each color).
If you want to use batting you will need about one yard.

You can use flannel or any domestic fabric.
You can use old flannel shirts, dresses, sheets...anything!
Choose any amount of colors you'd like, you can even just use one color!
Do not pre-wash.

Fold the fabric in half, holding salvage ends to the top, then fold again.
Cut every 8 inches.

Take each 8 inch strip just cut, and cut again into 8 inch squares.
I know I have 2 different fabrics showing,
but you will do this with all of your fabric.
Quilting rulers and a rotary cutter make this very easy and fast,
but you can do it with a ruler and scissors too.

If you choose to use batting, any type of batting will work.
This is another good reason to save your scraps, even of batting.
Cut your batting into 6" squares.
Place the batting in the center of an 8" square,
with right side of flannel square being face down.
Place another 8" square on top of the batting,
like a sandwich.
If using more than one color,
you will need to figure out before hand
which colors you want to back which color.
Because this is for a baby I chose not to use batting.

Using straight pins, place one pin on two opposite sides of your square.
Pin though both pieces of the 8" squares.

Using a ruler and an erasable marker,
draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.

Then draw another line in the opposite corners to make an X.
You can skip these two steps if you think you can 'eye' sewing
a straight line to make your X.
Sew a straight line on each of your marks to make an X.
You can use a straight stitch, a zigzag or
any decorative stitch you'd like.
You may use thread that blends in well or one that really stands out.

After all your X's are sewn in (this is your actual quilting),
you need to lay your squares out and see how you want to put them together.
I chose to alternate squares to give this a patchwork look.

Take your first 2 squares and
using a 1/2 inch seam, sew a straight stitch.
You will want to
make sure your seams are facing up toward you
(opposite of any other type of sewing you do).
DO NOT PRESS.

After you sew your rows together,
you will go through and sew your columns together.
Remember to keep your seams facing upward.

After all of the squares are together,

using a 1/2 seam,
sew a straight stitch all the way around your whole quilt.

Use your scissors to clip about 3/4 of the way down on all of the seams,
including the outside seams.
You need to make your clips about 1/4" apart.
If you clip too far apart, it will not 'fray' well.
Be careful not to cut into your seams.

This is what the back side of your quilt should look like.

After all of your seams are clipped,
run the quilt through the rinse cycle and then dry it.
This is what gives it the ragged look.
Be sure to clean your lint trap after doing this,
it will be full!
If you do a rag quilt larger than a baby quilt
you may want to take it to the laundry mat to wash and dry for the first time.

Update on Joseph

Our friends made it to Liberia safely. Joseph is now running a 103 temp. He does have a health condition with a hole in his heart, which is preventing him from walking or doing anything with alot of activity. Because he is in Liberia where the orphanage's power is from a generator and medical care is limited, when he gets sick it is a much more serious situation than if he were here in the USA.

Please pray that things move quickly and that Joseph will be able to tolerate travel. The Lord has done so many wonderful things all along this journey so far, we know He is FAITHFUL!

******

I have a few new tutorials I am dying to post but my compyter keeps crashing every time I go to load a picture. ugh!

Pray for Joseph

Sweet little Joseph will be home in 10 days! Our friend Robin, along with another friend Anna, are going to get him and bring him home from Liberia. Robin's husband Scott, is staying home with their 5 children. This family's love for each other and for children is so beautiful. Their children are kind to each other, and they put feet on their faith daily as they walk out God's command to love they neighbor, which begins at home.

Robin will be returning with Joseph on Thanksgiving Day! Please pray for their safety, and that all the paperwork and meeting with officials will go smoothly.

Also, pray for their children here at home. That they will have a spirit of peace and not worry about their mom while she is gone.

Older Sons and Chores

A reader asked:

How would you handle a 19 year-old son who must be continually prodded to help with the kitchen in the evening, and maintain a minimum of chore requirements. My husband and I recognize we are getting what we have trained for, as some of our convictions have been arrived at recently, and he is not openly rebellious, and he does work full time in my husband's business. We just don't feel like he his conduct shows that he wants to be on the same "team", so to speak. Thank you for any insight you might offer. Beth


Ooooh Beth!

I know right where you are! We too have a 19 year old we struggle with, although he has been taught his whole life to be responsible and work, both at home and he has had a job since he was 15. Even though he is very skilled in many areas, which I have to credit his dad for being so diligent in teaching him, as he has gotten older his heart has strayed away from our family. He is not on the same team as the rest of us. This makes home life VERY difficult. Knowing your duty is one thing, but having the heart to do your duty faithfully is another.

Because we are currently walking this path, I really don't have much advice, other than having your husband be the gate keeper. It is up to him to enforce what is expected of your son. And as his mother (a woman) be careful to not sound bossy (like a nag). Men have this attitude (sometimes spoken, and usually not spoken) of, "Ain't no woman gonna tell me what to do!" lol... So as our sons become men, we have to leave most of the direction, correction etc... up to dear ol' Dad! Norm Wakefield has a great CD about Mothers and Teen Aged Sons. It is great! I only wish I would have had it when our son was 12 instead of 18. sigh

One suggestion would be to keep his chores as masculine as possible. Not that he should never wash a dish or fold clothes, but the over all chores for guys should be more heavy duty. A young man doesn't feel very manly (respected) when he is folding underwear. lol :o) Although there are times when this may need to be done, but I think you get the idea. I just posted on our Teaching Good Things website a list of things guys can be doing around the house to get ready for winter.

If he is working a full time job then be careful not to expect more out of him than you do your husband.

I never dreamed that this would be such a hard transmission time for our son, or us. We are struggling to preserve our relationship (because this too shall pass), and at the same time stand for what is 'right'! It is hard. Every family is different, every child is different.

One last thing, be careful not to nag (not that you would, but I can if I am not careful) your husband about all of this. Kindly, gently make suggestions, but it is your husband's leadership he needs. I can say this because I am in that very place. I am waiting for things to improve and learning how to follow my husband's leading...which is not how I would do it, but God put him in charge, not me. lol

I hope this helps in some way. Please feel free to email me privately if you'd like. Sometimes it's just good to have a sounding board. kathy@teachinggoodthings.com

Fight For Life

At 8 weeks, this baby can kick and straighten his legs, and move his arms up and down.

Go HERE to see more fasinating pictures.

"Many people are concerned with children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is the greatest destroyer of peace today- abortion which brings people to such blindness."

"Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily"

"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you live as you wish"

"Any country that accepts abortion is the poorest of the poor"

Mother Teresa

We were blessed to be able to attend a Sav a Life Banquet this evening where Olivia and Emma helped served the meals, along with their closest friends, Katie, Laura and Hannah.

Tonight was a fresh reminder to pray more fervently for the Pro Life fight.

Joseph's Quilt

Some dear friends of ours are leaving next week to go get their little boy from Liberia. His birth mother had to give him up because she could not give him the care he needs, I wonder if I would be that strong if I had to. He has a heart condition and will need open heart surgery when he gets here.
So here is a quilt of many colors for Jo Jo. Note the African continent on the right, the air plane flying toward America and the cross in the center. If it weren't for the Cross and God's adoption of us we'd have no hope.

Please pray for the Whites as they bring their baby home. Pray that he bonds quickly with his new mom, that the trip home goes smoothly and also pray for his mother who must be grieving terribly. Pray that one day Joseph will be a mighty instrument for the Gospel.

Upon waking...

Josh (who is working out of town) called Olivia first thing this morning to SING Happy Birthday to her. Needless to say I HAD to wake her. hee hee Because she hadn't opened her eyes yet, she didn't know I had the camera.
I hope when they are 80 years old he will still call her on her birthday to SING obnoxiously to her. :o)

Even Sweeter...

If Sixteen in Sweet...then all I have to say is Seventeen is even SWEETER!

Today my little girl turns 17! There is no job harder than parenting, and at the same time there is no job that brings sweeter reward on this side of heaven!

Olivia is not only my daughter, but she is becoming more my friend that I can confide in and she sometimes surprises me with her Biblical wisdom and application to situations.

Please help us pray that she will keep her heart pure for the Lord, and that she will patiently wait for the husband God has selected for her. That one day God will abundantly bless her womb and that she will raise many, faithful warriors for Christ. But if the Almighty does not plan to give her an earthly husband that she will have a spirit of contentment and purpose as she gives herself totally to the Lord's work.

You can scoot on over to HER BLOG and leave her a happy birthday greeting if you'd like. This morning she and her favorite man (DAD) are out for a birthday breakfast. :o)

I am blessed!

It is Well With My Soul

The song says It is Well With My Soul, not it is well with my circumstances.

The other night I was watching Jennifer Rothschild
on TV and was so blown away by her wisdom. I think I will buy her book next. She became blind as a teenager. Her father was a pastor (not that that makes a difference). She never became bitter about her blindness. She is now married and has children. Towards the end of her interview she said that she would never want to trade her life of blindness for one of sight, that she has learned so much about God that she would have never learned if she had not been blind.

After being told that she was going blind, at age 14 I think, she went home and played It Is Well With My Soul on the piano. She said, 'It is about things being well with your soul, not being well with your circumstances'.

I can't tell you how convicted I felt. I have sat in the pit of self pity off and on for years over not being able to have more children, for having a rebellious teenager, and a dozen other situations. In all of these situations God has taught me so much about Himself. And the in most painful situations I have learned the most. Especially with children that disobey or rebel. How heart wrenching it is to love someone so much and have them reject the Truth and believe lies. God must experience the same (well worse) heart ache when we rebel against what is Truth.

Yesterday during our sermon I was crying out to God in my heart..."Lord, I love him so much, do you understand how much I love him (my not-so-little stinker right now)?" It was almost like God laughed at me! Reminding me that HE loves him more. Then I felt conviction about MY rebelling on a daily basis in one form or another. Then being the silly person I am I asked God, "Do You love ME this much?"

You see, this was another step in me learning more about God and the depths of His love that I would not have learned if I have not experienced the heart ache of a rebel, or a closed womb, or all the other struggles He allows me to have. Just as He allows others.

It's all for a reason, and only He knows. My job is to submit, learn, and trust Him. I need to thank Him for today's stripping away of my pride, thinking I do not deserve to suffer or be inconvenienced.

God is good, ALL the time.

On the local news

Our local news did a little spot on our Quilt Show held last weekend.
HERE
is the clip.
ENJOY! I love where we live!

btw, Olivia is towards the end in her hoop skirt.

The Winner of the Quilt Class...

is...
Melynda of Our Blessed Arrows.

Congratulations!!!

I am also offering ALL of you that commented on the give away a 50% discount if you buy all 5 lessons before next Friday, November 9th!

This class is sold as five separate lessons, so you can buy them as you need them, which helps families on a tight budget.

BUT if you buy all them by next Friday I'll give you 50% off. You MUST email me privately to get this offer, do NOT buy it through the website. This offer is ONLY for those of you that commented on the give away.

Regular $30.25
but commenters can receive the class for $15,
for one week only!