Eternal perspective.....

Tonight was our monthly homeschooling support meeting. You know there are times when you feel that you need to be somewhere, and the enemy tries every which way he can to thwart God's plan? Well...today was one of those days. But...again, the enemy was defeated.

We had a speaker tonight who's topic was eternal perspective...eternal focus in our homes...with our children. This is her last year of homeschooling...I think it's her 20th year. She, her husband and children are in full time missionary ministry thru Heaven's family. http://www.heavensfamily.org/ The most important thing that she spoke on, and the reminder for me was so timely, was keeping our focus on things/activities/homeschooling that have eternal value. Not that academics are not important, but that teaching about who God is, and what His word says and helping them have a personal relationship with Jesus has so much more importance than any 'schooling' that we do.

We all spoke a lot about things of eternal value and eternal perspective. Becky shared all about the different missionary ministries that they have, particularly about the orphanages that they support and help run. Three weeks ago, she just got back from Myanmar. (formerly Burma...which I didn't know) Myanmar is a 3rd world country in Asia. As she described her trip and her journey to one particular orphanage, my thoughts listening to her ran the gamut from "oh, those poor children! And, how do people live like that?!" to...".oh, my goodness how can we (meaning our country) be so very focused on money and the economic climate, recession, depression that we are experiencing now, when we are and will continue to be the richest country in the world?! Wow...does our family have so very much of everything we need...and we have it in abundance! As simply as we live, we could live so much simpler...and we could live everyday with gratitude and contentment. Money has no eternal value. People have eternal value. Caring for each other, our brothers and sisters in Christ has eternal value...whether the caring is done here or overseas. But these children! They have so little, especially compared with my children...they don't even have parents...and yet, they know the Lord, they are joyful and grateful....she told a story that thanks to this ministry, one particular orphanage was able to have rice and vegetables everyday and they were especially grateful to now have chicken once a week. They were GRATEFUL to have chicken once a week!

I wanted to post all of this while it was fresh in my mind. I wanted to write it down to talk about with my children tomorrow...and to remember as we're doing our schoolwork, that the time I spend with my children reading and discussing God's word, the time that we sing worship together, the time we spend praying together has much, much more eternal value than any books or knowledge we get from academic studies.

We will be looking into ways that we can help these people and orphans...even in our uncertain economic climate. Because...I know that our God provides...and if He is leading us to provide for the 'least of these'...then I know He will provide for us as well. And, oh, Dear Father...forgive me for my times of ungratefulness and discontent! Help me to avoid worldly distractions and spend as much time as I can with my children praising You and reading your word as we study your world....raising these children to know you and love you is our greatest ministry as parents. May you all have a blessed day! ~Sue~

Giveaway Winner

The giveaway is over, and we had the same winner! Bella won the Valentine's Day giveaway! Congratulations Bella,

and look over at http://unendingjoyfilm.blogspot.com/ for a movie-related giveaway!

Creative frugality....& Menu plan Monday!

As we continue to pour our researching skills and creativity into living a "creatively frugal" lifestyle, our menus will reflect that. Recently, I've done some bulk shopping and am pretty well stocked in freezer and pantry....it's become fun to look thru what I have and come up with some frugal, but good tasting meals. This is a busy week coming up, and two nights we won't even be home for dinner. But..."Mama said there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this my mama said!" It is a very good "busy"....fun activities, spending the day with special friends, my mom coming to stay for two days (Hooray!!!! We can't wait!), Cubscout activities and a church 'progressive dinner'. (never went to one of these....we're looking forward to it.) All of this to say, I guess, that I'm trying to encourage you to "accentuate the positive" and "keep on the sunny side"...and enjoy God's blessings and provision! He IS faithful to provide! He WILL meet all of your needs! (maybe not all of our 'wants')I've been reading in 1 Thessalonians and I pray that these scriptures encourage you: 1Th. 4:11-12 "...that you may aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward thoses who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." And, one of my very favorite verses, 1 th. 5:16-17 " Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

So... get your kids excited about being creativily frugal...using the God given creativity and promoting contentment....kids (if there are any kids reading this) get yourselves excited about being creativily frugal....make something out of nothing....CREATE! Especially, get creative in the kitchen...look up some 'Great Depression' recipes online...surprise your mom! LOL We're created in our Creators image....therefore....be creative! Of course, it takes more work...but it can be fun....make it fun! And...remember to laugh....life is way to short NOT to! Here's our frugal menu for the week!~Sue~

Monday
GF blueberry pancakes (the only day I have time to make them!)
chicken veg't soup with brown rice
GF chicken pot pie, green beans

Tuesday
cheesy eggs, potatoes, fruit
GF pancake & nut butter sandwiches with fruit
Dinner at the Goettel's! (friends we don't get to spend time with very often...she is making GF spagetti and meatballs, and I'm bringing the salad and dressing)

Wednesday
Brown rice custard with apples
quinoa lentil casserole, beets & cucumbers
GF fettucine alfredo, green beans with mushrooms

Thursday
cereal, bananas
leftovers/pbj
crockpot/ swiss steak with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, & peppers over brown rice, and salad

Friday
oatmeal with raisins, bananas
GF steak pizza, salad
Church progressive dinner (chicken parmesean, pasta, mine gluten free of course)

Saturday
GF banana nut bread, fruit
leftovers
GF pierogie casserole, green beans

Sunday
cereal, bananas
good Sunday soup, GF crackers
potato pancakes, sweet/sour red cabbage with bacon, homemade applesauce.

Be anxious for nothing...Sabbath Rest.

~In these very uncertain economic times, and the headlines predicting a Great Depression worse than the Great Depression....on this Sabbath, let us remember what God's word says...and cling to it as we rest in the surety and knowledge of His love and provision for us today...and everyday. Have a blessed Sabbath! ~Sue~

"In nothing be anxious" (Phil. 4:6).

No anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in Heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

"In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of life, bring everything before God, the little things, the very little things, what the world calls trifling things -- everything -- living in holy communion with our Heavenly Father, arid with our precious Lord Jesus all day long. And when we awake at night, by a kind of spiritual instinct again turning to Him, and speaking to Him, bringing our various little matters before Him in the sleepless night, the difficulties in connection with the family, our trade, our profession. Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.

"By prayer and supplication," taking the place of beggars, with earnestness, with perseverance, going on and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.

"With thanksgiving." We should at all times lay a good foundation with thanksgiving. If everything else were wanting, this is always present, that He has saved us from hell. Then, that He has given us His Holy Word -- His Son, His choicest gift -- and the Holy Spirit. Therefore we have abundant reason for thanksgiving. O let us aim at this!

"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be, if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done. --George Mueller, in Life of Trust

Twice or thrice a day, look to see if your heart is not disquieted about something; and if you find that it is, take care forthwith to restore it to calm. --Francis De Sales (from devotional 'Streams in the Desert'

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

*UPDATE: This giveaway will be closing 2/23/09: TODAY IS THE LAST DAY!*
I love 'Love' don't you? Not just a friend or family member's love, but Christ's love he shows to us each day. John 14:23 says, "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." How amazing to know that the Lord God accepts us and loves us so much, all the time! What an awesome God we love and serve!

On a slightly less deep level, I have another giveaway for y'all! These are home made jewelry sets for, of course, valentines day! We also have a guest giver, Lainey! She is one of our latest followers, a dear friend, and a jewelry maker extraordinaire! She generously donated a pair of earrings, while I made a necklace/earrings set. Sorry, but there are no clip on earrings in this one... sorry! Same as last time, just comment and you will automatically be entered. If you have a blog, you have a chance to earn an extra entry: make a post about the giveaway, then tell all your friends! We will enter your name twice if you do that. Here are the pictures of the jewelry!
These earrings are called Rosy Love, hence the red beads, it goes along with the necklace below

The giveaway also has designer earrings, made by none other than a sponsor, Lainey's Lovely Beads who makes lovely jewelry. These are called Cotton Candy Love.

Remember, when you comment if you're doing the extra entry, to state that in the comment so I can check it out! Feel free to use a picture, but please credit this blog. Thanks, and happy belated Valentines Day!

Hospitality and eternal value....

~This evening....I have been listening to A LOT of giggling, out-loud laughing...lots of gabbing....and more giggling! Ron and I have been enjoying it.

Meghan and Sara have had two very good friends over for dinner and a movie. The 4 girls opened up the pull-out couch downstairs, and are watching 'Pride and Prejudice'. They came up a little while ago for 'intermission'...which consisted of making their own 'decaff lattes' and then they decided to add icecream sundaes to go with them. Can you all say "sugar high"?!

I love, love, love having my children's friends over! I love having Ronnie's little friends here...and someday, Anna's as well. I love hearing them share their thoughts, I love hearing them laugh and enjoy themselves. I love offering them hospitality where (I hope) their friends know that they will always be welcomed...and their company enjoyed. ( I made the girls, whom I've know since they were both little, to promise that even when they are grown and my girls don't live here anymore, that they will still pop in and visit "Mrs. G"....or I wouldn't give them any icecream! LOL Just kidding!)

When we first moved into this house 3 1/2 years ago, Ron and I prayed that it would be a home of hospitality...that everyone would feel welcome here, that whoever might need it, would always have a meal, a bed if needed, and people who were genuinely glad to see them....and we have people here quite frequently. Years ago, when my daughters had a "keepers at home" group....I guess Meghan and Sara were probably 6 and 4 when we started it, we did a meeting on hospitality. One of the things that stuck out to me the most ( and I found out recently that it stuck in others memories as well) was that biblical hospitality is not only a command, but is supposed to focus on the other person...NOT on how clean your home is, or how tired you are, or if you only have soup and bread to offer (which we had tonight) instead of steak.....we should go out of our way to make them feel welcome and special.

For years, I was mortified if someone stopped over unexpectedly and the house was messy or I didn't have a full meal....or even if I just wasn't "in the mood" for company....I had a very close friendship that was very hurt by my attitude. My attitude worsened in direct proportion to my fibromylagia getting worse. Then, at the Keeper's meeting, I was teaching the lesson on hospitality and in my preparation, God clearly showed me that focusing on myself or the state of my home, was NOT God honoring OR showing biblical hospitality. As I taught the group of girls this lesson...it was a lesson that has stuck with me all these years.

Now...thru the fibro getting worse, having 2 more children, moving, and various other interesting scenarios....I've learned to value the people in my life....not the things. Would I like my home to be spotless? Sure! Is it likely to happen anytime in the near future...not likely....and that is alright. Focusing on people, not things, having a warm home ( sometimes messy) instead of a sterile showplace is what is important to me now. Relationships have eternal value....making memories with my family, welcoming family and my children's friends into our home has eternal value...and teaches my children by example. I know that my mom always welcomed our friends into our home and always had snacks or dinner for them...and I know that my friends loved my mom and the example that was set for me.

So come on over and visit, we would love to have you! And, most likely, as I did when my friend Linda stopped over today, I will move some books and stuffed animals and sit down to chat for a little while. You may have to step over the Lego creations, move past the dollhouse, and be careful not to squoosh Anna's favorite stuffed animals ( they are ALL her favorites!)...at the table, some homeschool papers and books may have to be moved...but we'll be so happy to have you here! I hope my children learn by example that PEOPLE have eternal value, not things...including houses. Home really IS where the heart is! God bless! ~Sue~

Simplifying, health and Nourishing Traditions...

Along with our simplifying as well as trying to save money like crazy...the first thing I thought of was meal planning, eating healthy and saving money. Ok...I'm working on that, and it seems to be working out well. The second thing I thought of was saving money on supplements. So...again, I poured over all of my books, prayed, and God has showed us (and is still showing us) a plan for health and thrift....as naturally as possible. I've been reading and putting some things into practice from Nourishing Traditions. It is a book by Sally Fallon, who follows the health studies from the Weston A Price Foundation. You can check out their extensive website here (hope the link works) Most of what is in the book is really good old-fashioned common sense, as well as centuries old practices of preparing food.

Here is some of what we are doing. You'll see jars sitting out on counters here, or in cupboards. The one on the left is 'beet kvass'...a wonderful blood and liver tonic, the one in the middle is my 'kombucha'...also a good liver tonic as well as loaded with enzymes and 'good' bacteria. The white one on the right is my kefir. I culture this daily, and make smoothies with frozen unsweetened strawberries that everyone likes...and it has so much more good bacteria even than yogart does...and is so much easier to make than homemade yogart!

This is not a complete tutorial...you can go to youtube and watch any tutorials on making these things that explain it very well. This is what my kefir 'grains' look like when strained. There are different schools of thought as to using metal utensils/spoons or not....from what I've read it doesn't make a difference.

Here is how I drain the kefir into my blender. Simple, isn't it?

This is a picture of the tea for the kombucha brewing while the 'mother' kombucha culture (some call mushroom) waits to be added.

And here is my glass of cold kombucha with ice ready to be enjoyed as well! It is really good...tastes like a cross between 'sweet' iced tea and ginger ale.

Along with doing these things, we're eating lots of broth. I've been making my own homemade broth for years....origionally because it tasted better. Then, because it was cheaper....now I know how rich in health benefits homemade bone broth is! I make chicken, turkey, beef, and vegetable broth...and even when I make the veggie broth, I throw in 1 or 2 beef bones to the broth.

What does this all have to do with supplements? Well...since we're boosting our nutrition thru food, and getting our good bacteria from yogart and kefir....I'm not buying probiotics anymore, and not giving a multi-vitamin everyday. We're also drinking our 'green lemonade' and carrot juice....the only supplements that I haven't figured out how to cut down or out completely is evening primrose oil for me, and cod liver oil.

So...as we're on this journey to simplify, save money, cut costs and do it in a healthy manner....cutting back on our meat consumption, eating more 'raw' foods....making everything we can from scratch and focusing on our meals and supplements has allowed us to save money...and be healthy. Does all of this take time and planning? Absolutely! Doing things in a simple way doesn't mean easy. Would it be easier for us to not cook everything from scratch? Sure! But it is so much cheaper and healthier for us to cook and eat whole grains, salads, fruits and veggies, and culture some of our food. I will say, that shopping at Aldi's once a week for our main shopping has saved us a ton! And, what I buy there is very healthy. Buying in bulk once a month from a natural foods co-op, Trader Joe's once a month, and costco once a month...then planning my meals accordingly also saves us quite a bit. We're still praying and planning on other ways to save money and cut costs as well. More in future posts as the Lord leads. I'm also reading everything I can as to the 'old-fashioned' ways of doing things....and now have 3 nice long clothes lines in my basement, more planned for outside when Spring arrives, and a garden this year. ( we haven't had a garden since we moved 3 years ago)....also learning to dehydrate, canning more and now...even making homemade ketchup! (did you know ketchup is loaded with high fructose corn syrup, and how bad it is for your health?!)

Anyway....off to get snacks for the kids, switch loads of laundry before Ty wakes up from his nap, then make our kefir smoothies. May the Lord bless you abundantly! ~Sue~

Unending Joy

Just a quick post here, because I need to go help with dinner. There is a new blog in town and I created it. Not for personal use, but as an updater of sorts. On it will be Lydia, myself and other girls who will be participating in the new documentary, Unending Joy. Here is the blog link:
http://unendingjoyfilm.blogspot.com/ so you can read all about it. It will be similar to the dvd Return of the Daughters only for younger girls ages 10-15. I will be posting the teaser trailer on the other blog soon, so watch for it and follow the blog so you can stay in-the- know about what's happening with the production!