...for trusting

We are often asked about our parenting practices - especially in regards to our daughters. Most of those we know cannot understand our desire to instruct our daughters in being keepers at home and to use these years of singleness to develop an intimate relationship with the Lord. However, we know that now is the time for the Lord to build a strong foundation in their lives while they are not directly responsible for others.

We have been blessed with two very charming daughters.

Our oldest daughter is a lovely 17-year-old young woman. Here she is having some fun at Christmas:




Our younger daughter is a beautiful young lady of 10 (tomorrow *smile*).



Our journey with the Lord started just a short eight years ago, however, He has been merciful in blessing us with two young women that seek Him daily. It is our desire to follow His plan, and to trust that He will see it to fruition for wherever the path leads.

Yes, we like our daughters to look feminine and modest. Yes, we want our daughters to feel well-equipped to manage their own homes one day. Yes, we want our daughters to see that right now is the time to serve their family. Yes, we want our daughters to remain pure in heart and flesh for the one God has chosen for them. Yes, we want our daughters to pursue the highest calling there is for women...that of wife and mother. ...and yes, we want them to do all this with the Lord Jesus at the center of their thoughts, motives, and heart.

This is contradictory to the world. This is contradictory to how both my husband and I were raised, and how we began raising our oldest two children. However, God is good. God is amazingly merciful. God has truly transformed our minds so that we can live for Him. A new pattern is being set in our family. A multi-generational pattern. We thank the Lord every day for the renewing that has been going on in our household.

We trust Him for everything. We trust Him with our daughters. We trust that by following His word and His desires that He will see our daughters through.

People may not understand. People may not agree. However, we will only answer to One.

Here is a beautiful example of raising maidens of virture. Grab a tissue, you will need it!!

...for home decorating!

Those who know me well know that I am no Martha what's her name! I do not have that 'eye' for interior design. As a matter of fact, I even prefer white paint - well, maybe prefer is too strong of a word - I like white paint because everything matches white...which makes decorating, for this decorating-challenged wife and mother - much easier! I think part of my interior-design block is the cost of items to decorate!!! I've searched all the cheap places - and typically all I find is stuff that looks like it came from the cheap places *smile* - so I don't buy anything. As for the upscale places - forget it! I cannot justify spending top dollars that the Lord has blessed us with for dust collectors on my walls and/or table tops.

On with the story - this year we moved to a new home. The gal who lived here before DOES have a knack for interior design, so the walls are all these wonderful shades of neutral colors - which are still daunting to me - but at least we are beginning to more resemble a home instead of a surgery *smile*!!

Well, the walls have some color - but they have no decoration. However, we are beginning to remedy this room by room - starting with the family room. I have found a solution, that is not only affordable - but will do more than just collect dust!

We ordered some wonderful Wall Lettering from Fruitful Vine Creations. A once blank wall is now a beautiful wall - with a message!!! I have not thrown the talents away, nor buried them in the ground. I have used them to produce a bountiful return!

Here is the story in pictures:

Before

Our Goodies arrive in the mail!


With the Wall Lettering you will receive your Wall Lettering (of course!), an instruction sheet, a tool to use, and a very nice thank you note with encouragment.

First step: Burnishing


This is very easy to do. You are transferring the letters from the back sheet to the sticky front sheet.

Next, you hang your wall lettering on the wall



This is also very easy. Be sure to use a level to make sure you are hanging the letters straight.

After this, peel the backing off. I didn't get a picture of this, but it was easy, too. Are you seeing a 'theme' yet? I'll give you a hint - easy!

Next, burnish again - this time transferring the letters from the sticky paper to the wall with the handy-dandy tool included!


...or if you're a guy, with your ball cap - whatever works!


This step proved to be a bit more challenging than is typical. Against the suggestion of Tonya, we chose a different font. The letters were very thin, making the application to the wall a bit trickier. Also, we have textured walls, so trying to get a little sliver to stick to a 'bumpy' wall proved to be a bit challenging, but well worth the labor of love!

The end result


Doesn't that look wonderful?!?!? Even though it took a bit longer than typical, again, because of the font, it still turned out fabulous!!

After

If you have read this far, I'm so glad!! I wanted to remind you that currently we are hosting a giveaway for a $25.00 gift certificate for Wall Lettering from Fruitful Vine Creations. You can find the contest here.

...for learning more about the blogosphere!

Recently, I learned about the 'I Follow Movement' which allows comments on a blog to be followed through for the search engine spiders. I wanted to add the CommentLuv Plugin, but I don't think it is available for blogspot just yet. However, if you have a different type of blog (don't ask me what kind because I'm still trying to figure all this stuff out) it will encourage people to comment because it will automatically link back to their last post on their blog...that is very cool, indeed.

While we welcome all comments...and absolutely adore receiving them (hint, hint!), comments will remain on moderation.

Thanks again to Jennifer for being my tutor even when she didn't know that's what she was doing!! (Hmmm...I wonder what her fee is?!?!? *hehe*)

Blessings.

...for Home School Conferences

Have you heard about the Ultimate Home School Expo?? It not, now is your chance to join in on the fun!! I am 'attending' this year, and the first day was a BLAST!! It is not too late to join. Head on over to Molly's Blog for a thorough explanation, and a link to join in on the fun.

Lots of goodies, great talks, fun fellowship, and all from the comfort of your own home!!!

...for encouraging our youth

Over on John Piper's site Desiring God he is doing a five-part series on "our vision for the rising generation of young people and how all of us—parents, wider family members, empty-nesters, single folks, and the young people themselves—can help make that vision a reality." The series is called 'Let No One Despise You for Your Youth'.

Here is an excerpt:


I am looking forward to hearing this whole series, how about you??

**If the video is not showing for you (it works fine in the 'Preview' for me, but when I actually view my blog, it's not there! - another thing about computers that confuse me...) - any way, if for some reason you can't view the video, please follow the link above. The full message is there in audio and video!

...for learning new things!

I was over at my friend Jennifer's blog this morning, and learned something new. Well, I learned more about a new concept that I came across yesterday. Have you ever heard of a Blog Carnival?? I hadn't either until yesterday!

Did you click the link to learn more about it? Okay, then you know all I know. Jennifer is taking part in her first carnival this year. You can go visit her site and enter her carnival and then follow the links from her site to enter at the other participating carnival booths! If you win, please come back and let me know!!! I love to hear when people win stuff!!

We also LOVE to host give-aways at our house!! The kids are still working on putting together May's contest...AND there are still a few days left to enter to win a $25 gift certificate for Wall Lettering from Fruitful Vine Creations for April's contest.

Why are you still here reading??? Get on over to Jennifer's Blog to enter in her give-away, and then come back over here to enter our April Contest.

The Blog Carnival that Jennifer is a part of ends this weekend...so hurry on over and enter all over the place. Our April contest ends the 30th. We will draw a winner on May 1st.

Now...go have some fun!!!

...for Mother's Day

Growing in Grace Magazine wants to honor Christian mothers and daughters in May for Mother's Day!

They will be planning a special article just for this occasion and here's what they would like to do:

Send them your best photo of mother with daughter(s).

-Girls: Tell them what makes YOUR mom so special.

-Photos may be of you doing something together, participating in a favorite hobby, or just a still pose. Your choice.

They'll choose one winning article to be featured in May's issue, but all participants photos will be featured in honor of your moms.

For more information - and to view the prizes click below!!

...for baseball

Baseball season has begun! The weather is a bit chilly yet, but the kids are having a blast. This may be Marlee's last year to play, as we pursue more feminine past-times for her, but for now...enjoy the pictures!!

Great stance!

A little high for the swing, but when you're strike zone is non-existent, you WANT to hit that ball!!!

Such concentration!

...and she swings!!!!

Coming home!

A Victory Battle Cry at homeplate

Tigers took home a win 15-10 this game!! Marlee hit one single, one double, and had an automatic walk because she was hit in the head with a wild pitch. David also had two singles with one strike-out. They had a blast!

...for crafts and learning

Marlee busily working on her diorama of Jesus and Nicodemus:



and the completed project:



The story of Nicodemus and Jesus from the Gospel of John, chapter 3:

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

...for seasons

Here are some pictures from last weekend. We had glorious weather!!! Nearly 80 degrees. We had some lawn tractor driving practice:



I was actually supposed to be going backwards through the cones, but I end up jack-knifing the trailer every time. Hopefully, I'll have the mechanics figured out by the end of the summer!

The kid's had Hawaiian Night at Awana...and the weather couldn't have been more perfect!!!




....and then, here is a picture outside right now (2:58 pm, April 20, 2008):



Yes, that is snow, Snow, SNOW! (Somehow, it's more exciting in October than in April...go figure!)

We don't know whether it's Spring or Winter!!! The garden spot is ready for vegetation! Now, we are waiting for Spring to arrive and stick around!!

...for magazine subscriptions and FREE gifts!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Spring Promo is in full bloom.

Subscribe now to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and receive
25 BONUS gifts valued at over $550!
The Winter Promo sold out, don't miss out on the free gifts this time!

The HSB Front Porch is having a contest
and you can win a $50 gift certificate
just for blogging about the Spring Promo
before midnight April 30, 2008.
Click HERE for details.

They are also giving away a $150 gift certificate to the Schoolhouse Store. All print subscribers (new or renewing) between April 3 - 30, 2008 will be automatically entered into a drawing. No purchase neccessary to win. To enter without subscribing, please send a postcard with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to:

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Spring Promo Contest
PO BOX 8426
Gray, TN 37615

...for riding

Giddy-up

Cool down


Headin' home

Marlee is wearing a split riding skirt that a wonderful seamstress made for us last year. I sent her a picture of a woman's riding skirt and Marlee's measurements. The skirts turned out fabulous!!

...for 'You've Got Mail'

We have a new 'first' at our house. After moving into town proper nearly 12 years ago (when we first moved here, we lived 20 miles north of town - out in the country), we have our very own mailbox!! This is the first time in Marlee's and David's lives that we have had mail delivery at the house. Prior to our move across town late last year, we had to go to the Post Office to receive our mail like the majority of the folks that live in town.

We are very excited about this...so excited in fact, that we took pictures of the very first letter mailed from our brand new mailbox!!

...for yardwork

Yesterday we enjoyed another truly Spring-time day!!! Now, I know, it's April, and most of you out there have had an abundance of Spring already; however, we still have frost on the ground every morning, and I hear they are calling for more snow next week...BRR!! So, while we have our 60 - 70 degree we enjoy them to the fullest!

The day started out with a bit of yardwork.

Jacob was busy mowing the front lawn -

Okay, he was mowing. He saw me with the camera and was trying to hide - I'm not sure where - but I got him anyway!

Marlee and David were cleaning up the straw from the knife-throwing targets -



Dad was supervising -



David finished up with a bit of weed-eating -

Model: Shetland Super Muncher Year: 1995 - Kids, please get your parents permission before attempting to operate

We played some catch, and then had a barbecue. Grandpa Ron joined us for dinner.




All in all, it was a fantastic day!!

...for another contest!

Well, it's time!! April's contest has arrived!! I am so incredibly excited about this month's contest, and I'm sure you will be also.

If you remember back in February, I posted about the beautiful plaque that I bought for my incredible husband, Troy, for Valentine's Day from Fruitful Vine Creations. Well, are you holding on to your hats?? Tonya, the wonderful gal behind the artwork has generously donated a $25.00 gift certificate towards Wall Lettering at her store. How fantastic is that?!?!? (Thank you, Tonya!!! You're the tops!)

So, you know what the prize is...how do you have a chance to win??

Remember I told you to be thinking about 'writing them on your door posts'?? Well, it's time for you to share one of your favorite Bible verses, and tell how it has encouraged you in your walk. I hear you, I hear you...Just ONE, Camille?!?!?

Yes, just one verse...however, you have an opportunity for two, yes two, more entries. For your second (optional) entry all you have to do is mention the Fruitful Vine Creation Gift Certificate give-away on your blog and link back to this page. For your third entry, all you have to do is link to Tonya's site on your blog. Please add a link in the comments telling me where you posted. We will do a random drawing of all entries on May 1st, at which time we will announce the winner.

The contest will be open until April 30, 2008.

Okay, here's a re-cap (which is hopefully less confusing...lol!):

1. Submit a verse, and tell how it has encouraged you. (Required for all contestants)

Optional Entries:
2. Blog about the contest, linking back to this page.
3. Link to Fruitful Vine Creations on your blog.

**For the optional entries, please be sure to include a link in your comment so that I know where you spread the word!

Blessings!

PS - Tonya wanted me to let you know that the verse you enter does not have to be the verse you choose for your Wall Lettering if you should win.

** If you do not leave your email in your comment - please come back and check to see if you won! Thanks!!

...stories

Once upon time, God created the earth and all living things. Although this happened many, many years ago, we still can enjoy His handiwork every day! While out enjoying the beautiful sunshine, and long awaited for spring-time weather, I happened to notice a wonderful example of His creation:



This pretty bird was merrily cleaning herself upon the still yet bare, winter branches of a tree in our backyard. She was enjoying the sunshine as much as I! She seemed to crane her neck every which a way so that her face was towards to the sun.



All of a sudden, something caught her attention in the upper branches of the tree. She seemed rather nervous, so I cautiously moved away.



As I diverted my attention from the bird to the area of interest...I noticed something...but what was it??




Ah ha!!! Another wonderful, marvelous example of God's creation!! I suppose this young warrior was taking dominion over the birds of the air! His prey flew away, but, a true warrior, he was not dismayed. He delighted in the creation of trees to climb!!




(Disclaimer: Writing, for the most part, is not my forte. However, I hope you enjoy my little story any way *smile*!)

...for losing teeth

We have two different kinds of kids in our house. One kind, when they get a loose tooth, will not touch it, bite anything with it, or allow anyone else to touch it. This kind of child can have a loose tooth for months on end! These are our boys.

The other kind is the child whose tooth, once it's loose, doesn't stand a chance of staying in the mouth at all. Our daughters were this kind. If the tooth even wiggled a little, they would work it and work it and work it until it came out.

So it goes, Ms. Marlee, lost two teeth in one day. One was perceptibly loose...the other was not *smile*. However, it was loose enough for her to work it all day and get it out before the clock struck 9 pm!

Our days of loose teeth are numbered now. It is with delight and a bittersweet melancholy that I greet each tooth that falls out. In childhood, we typically will lose 20 'baby teeth' according to this picture:



Out of a total of 80 exciting shouts of 'Mom, I have a loose tooth!!!!', 'Daddy, I lost a tooth today!!!', we are now done to about 20. Enjoy those days while you can...they pass all too soon...and go into the book of 'lasts'. The last time I will hear 'Mom, I have a loose tooth!' is just a few short years away, and I will cherish that just as much as I cherished the 'firsts'.

...for getting paid to blog!

I was over at my friend's blog, and I learned about PayPerPost! What a tremendously awesome opportunity for those of us that LOVE to blog! There are many ways to get paid for blogging, but this one is unique. You can pick and choose whom you will blog about! This is what sent me over there to see what it was all about.

I look forward to making a bit of 'extra' to help off-set the cost of out-of-town field trips...especially with gas prices! We have also 'adopted' a little boy through Compassion International, and this will be a way for ME to contribute to the fund...the kids are already contributing!

Why not go check it out for yourself? It's simple, it's fun, and if you blog...well, you get to keep on doing what you do AND get paid at the same time!

drive traffic

...for making liquid laundry soap!

Last year, or was it two years ago??...we started making our own laundry soap. It's quite easy, and, I truly believe economical. I'll have one of the older kids do a cost-analysis on that, but for now...here are step-by-step instructions on making your own laundry soap!

Step 1:Gather your ingredients and supplies.



You will need 3 pints + 1 quart water for the initial step. Fels Naphtha Soap, Borax, and Washing Soda. You will also need a bucket large enough to hold 2 gallons of water, a wooden spoon, 1/2 cup Measuring Cup, and a grater. (We use a hand grater that is typically used for grating hard cheese and/or chocolate). When the soap is ready, you'll need two 1-gallon jugs and a funnel. Optional ingredients are Grapeseed Extract and any essential oils you may like.

Step 2: Put two pans of water on the stove. Put 3 pints of water in one pan, and 1 quart water in the other pan. You want the water in both pans to be very warm - too hot to touch - but not boiling.

Grate 1/3 bar of soap into the pan with 3 pints water.

Stir until all the soap dissolves.

Step 3: Add 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup Washing Soda to the dissolved soap mixture.



Stir this until the Borax and Soda are combined.



Step 4: Pour this mixture into your bucket.



...and then pour in your 1 quart hot water.



Stir a couple of times and then...

Step 5: Add cold water until you have 2 gallons in the bucket.



As you can see, we marked off a '2-gallon line' on our bucket.

Step 6: Stir every 15 minutes until the mixture thickens. This step is very important. If you don't stir, you'll get big clumps of stuff. Every one in the family takes part in this step. If you happen to be in the kitchen when the timer goes off, you get to stir and re-start the timer. After about 2 hours, or so, I decrease the time to every 10 minutes. Continue in this fashion until the soap cools. After the soap has cooled, you can add your GSE and/or essential oils, if you'd like.



Step 7: Pour into gallon jugs and then get to washing!

We had some gung-ho stirrers this time...notice the bubbles on top

This was a good batch...no clumps whatsoever, notice the nice stream!

Two Gallons, 64 loads, $1.00...Excellent!

* Use 1/2 cup per full load. That's 64 loads of laundry...or a little less if you have a front loader.

Thank you to Headmistress, Zookeeper for the cost analysis she has on her site. She estimated it costs about .50 to make each batch (including the cost of the ingredients, the water, and heating the water). So, that's 64 loads of laundry for 50 cents!! On her site, she mentions 80 loads of laundry..but I'm not sure where she gets that number. If I'm doing my math right, there are 16 cups in a gallon. So, one gallon is 32 loads of laundry x 2 and you get 64. Maybe she'll post again *smile*. So, using the $0.50/batch you come up with $0.008 cents per load of laundry. Can't beat that can you?? I'll get our cost analysis for our area soon!

Okay, we did our cost analysis. Our ingredients are bit more expensive in our no stoplight town, but still very, very inexpensive. The Fels soap is $1.55, the Washing Soda is $2.49, and the Borax is $4.05. This breaks down to $0.92/batch. I figure if you add another $.08 for the water and heating it, that brings it to $1.00/64 loads of laundry and $0.016/load of laundry. Still a pretty good deal!