Blessing your children

It is customary to bless your children at the Shabbat table if your are Messianic Jewish or Jewish. Shabbat is Saturday. But any day that you set apart for the Lord will work. In our family my husband blesses the children every night before they go to bed. He holds them in a hug and puts his hand on their head. He ends each blessing with the words “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

According to Genesis 48:20, the traditional blessing uses Joseph’s sons and the matriarchs. (We do not do this.) Parents may add their own blessing or additional words of love and appreciation of your children. My husband blesses each child individually, but you could bless your children as a group.

Grandparents can bless, too. Or mothers could if they have a husband who will not.

 

Traditional Jewish blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.

 

There are a lot of books on blessing your children and the father’s role in giving blessings. On the other hand, there is also a lot on this subject online. You could do a search on it and pull up a storehouse of information!

 

Helpful Hints for Everyday Things

 

Helpful Hints for Everyday Things

(from BHM magazine)

Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per serving.

Refrigerated baked goods
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass. The fibers catch ones you can't see!

No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila - static is gone.

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.

Shave with Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2-inch full with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid. Mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it home, and can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Take Baby Powder to the Beach
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you're ready to leave the beach, sprinkle yourself (and kids) with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin.

A Thankful heart

Thankful heart

A great deal of my time, that is not spent being a wife and mama, is spent encouraging and ministering to women. Especially Christian women. The Lord keeps putting ladies in my life who need His love and His encouragement. I love being used this way.

Lately, I have had some very difficult things going on in my own life. In the midst of it all I find my faith is weak - which never happens. I also find myself all poured out with barely anything to bless others. Naturally, I have stepped back and am focussing on my family.

Isn't it wonderful when you find yourself in the middle of the fire- to find that there are others holding out their hand to help you along? I have had so many people genuinely concerned for my family and I. They have said they are praying. Even here on HSB. My friends here have prayed. Thank you so much. Your love and encouragement means a great deal to me and I can certainly feel it. It is very moving to me and has touched me deeply.

This Thanksgiving season, I feel myself very grateful... thank full... for my friends- wherever they may be. God bless you mightily as you rest in His mercy, grace and peace that passes all understanding.

Tagged

I've been tagged by MidwifeMom

Here are the rules:

Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.

Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.

Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

       7 Random And/Or Weird Facts About Me:

1. As a girl, I trained horses and competed. I got a lot of my self esteem and determination from that.


2. I absolutely love to dance during worship at church.


3. I met my husband while he was moving my neighbor's furniture out.


4. I used to be agnostic. I did not get saved until I was 20. Had to hit rock bottom before I could see Jesus.


5. I make my own kefir and also kombucha tea. Much to the delight of my family. I do not grind wheat or have a clean home, though! Betty Crocker does not live here.


6. I dropped out of highschool (because I moved out at 17) and later got my diploma via a work at your own progress school in only a couple months. Against all odds!


7. I used to be on an itinerant healing team. I saw the Lord do some incredible things I will never forget. He loves us so much.

I am not tagging anyone back. I feel guilty asking someone to do a tag.

 

Flies in my soup

 

September and the first part of October flew by for me. Usually I am more on my game and have things in some kind of groove by the end of September. Not this year. But I was making the best of it.

Then our family got hit with one thing after another from the enemy. An example: my parked van was hit and run at Walmart. (Praise God for security cameras.) This thing and that thing really added up and normally I can bounce right back. I was really beginning to lose heart. Seriously... lose heart.

Now I have a real serious case of bad things happening to good people. Last week we were served papers from my exhusband from 12 years ago. He is a horrible deceptive manipulative and lying man. Very very bad man. He is lying in these legal papers, of course. He is biofather to my sweet near 13yr old girl. She knows what he is and wants nothing to do with him. In the meantime, my husband and I are so burdened by it all. I feel as if a dark cloud has moved over us. Real despair. Even when you know that God is in control, it is still a hard place to be. We will protect her with the last breath in our bodies. I dread telling her what is going on as it will genuinely devastate her.

I realize that this is not in my usual vein of blogging. But LIFE happens.

Would you find it in your heart to pray for my family to have complete victory over my exhusband's attacks and that we will have abundant finances to keep a good lawyer paid? Even further... that my ex would give up his "rights" and my sweet godly husband will finally be able to adopt our girl and make her dreams come true. Thank you and blessings on those who pray.

 

Crockpot to the rescue

 

 Fall weather gets me in a crock pot and oven using mood! Thought I would pass along this recipe I got from my Fix It And Forget It cookbook.

A crockpot is a homeschool mama's best friend! Is your's still in the pantry from summer time neglect? Pull it out and shine it up! Dinner will be healthy and ready on time!


-- Hamburger Potatoes --

3 medium potatoes sliced
3 carrots sliced
2 Tb dry rice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb ground beef browned and drained
1 1/2 to 2 cups tomato juice, as needed to keep dish from getting too dry

Place veggies on bottom of slow cooker to keep them moist during cooking. Add other ingredients and set cooker to Low for 6-8 hours.
I always add extra powdered garlic and onion to everything. Tomato soup mixed up (reconstituted) will substitute for the tomato juice.
 

 

Frolicking at the pool

 

 Several of my homeschool mama friends and I are getting together to bring our children swimming 2 Friday mornings a month during the rainy season. Looks like I will finally have to buy a swimsuit that fits.
Aside from trying to find a suit that doesn't look like Grandma Moses wore it, I do want something that is fairly modest with a skirt or shorts. I refuse to pay $80 for one I like. SwimModest, which is vigorously promoted by LoveToLearn, is very expensive. Not only that but, I bought a boy's swim top from them last year and had the worst customer service!

Another problem I have is that I am "tall". I need a long torso suit or I am (ahem!) "flossing". Not enough going north to south, ya' know!
I have decided on a black skirt with tummy control and bought it on Ebay. Now I must continue the hunt for either a longer tankini top or a one piece that I can put the skirt on over.
Does anyone else hate swimsuit shopping?

What a mom does in a day...

 Seriously.... you gotta see this. So funny.

Healthy what? This chick IS healthy!

 

 

Make your own Cream Of Chicken Soup

For years I have used white sauce instead of Cream Of _____ Soup.

We used to buy Campbell's Healthy Request cream ones because they did not have MSG in them. Two people in my family have a major sensitivity/mild allergy to  monosodium glutamate so we really avoid it. Campbell's does not make these anymore- or at least is not shipping them to any stores around here! Here is a good alternative for us...

 

Are you out of Cream of Something soup?

Make your own.

Just mix 2 tsp. of chicken bouillon granules or 2 cubes with 1 cup water. (In my case, we use MSG free boullion, which is hard to find and more expensive- of course )

Microwave until it boils. While you are zapping get ¼ cup water and 3 Tbsp. Cornstarch then bring them to a boil. Mix both mixtures together and stir until they are thickened like the Cream Of soups. One recipe is the same as one can of soup. Turn it into Cream of Mushroom Soup by using beef broth. Simple and delicious!

More info on MSG: CBN News (aka 700 Club)

Planning a hostile takeover... of my house!

 

  

I am still in the vein of trying to get organized, plan my year out and streamline
what I feel I am capable of. (Hah! )
On that embarassing note, I am including an article here I found today.

Their printables are much better than DonnaYoung.org has, in my opinion.

Cuter, too.

OrganizedHome printables:   Printable Planner Forms for Home Management

More great links at the end of the article. Without further ado....

Household Notebook: Planner for an Organized Home

 

Posted September 8th, 2007 by Cynthia Townley Ewer 
(in other words...NOT ME "HOMEFree") 

Personal organizers are hot, hot, hot. Smart home managers tackle time management and goal setting with the help of an all-in-one calendar, scheduling and information retrieval tool.

Families need a organizer, too! Whether it's called a household notebook, a home management binder or family organizer, this simple idea saves time, cuts stress, and enhances communication in any-sized family or household.

A standard-sized binder stocked with calendars and schedules, planner forms and inventories, a Household Notebook creates a one-stop information center for busy families. Whether it's a carpool schedule or a co-worker's phone number, the Household Notebook holds the information you need to check each day.

Ready for an evening out? Flip the Notebook open to the "Emergency Information" page, and the babysitter will always know where to find you.

Time for dinner? Menu planners, recipe organizers and shopping list make it easy to feed the family night after night. Clean house fast with cleaning schedules, chore lists and seasonal checklists for home maintenance.

Stay-at-home parents and homeschool families add scheduling features to the Household Notebook. Daily morning and evening checklists and family schedules make it easy to organize life in busy families with small children.

Ready to create your own Household Notebook? Click the links below for more information about making and using a Household Notebook ... to get organized at home.

• What's A Household Notebook?


• How To Make Your Household Notebook


• Suggested Dividers for a Household Notebook


• Create A Christmas Holiday Planner


• Resources For A Household Notebook


• Specialty Notebooks: Occasions, Hobbies and Crafts

Mini-book: Old Testament - Men Of The Bible

 

I came across this and thought younger children may enjoy making it while older siblings are learning through Old Testament scriptures. You need to scroll past the directions to get to the templates.


Old Testament Men Mini-Book
"The mini-books are quite simple with images that should appeal to young children and simple, repetitive words that early readers should be able to read themselves. This particular one introduces a number of Old Testament characters using simple words."

Liberty & justice for all, Amen!

 

 

I got a copy of this article sent to me via email a couple weeks ago and thought I would share it here. 

Since then, I have received comments and personal emails about this post. People think it is my son. It is not. I cannot take credit for this sweet boy and his generous heart.

So, I must stress that...

this article was not written by me and it is not my son.

How long has it been since you've had ice cream?
By Lilly Walters

Last week I [not HOMEFree] took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads, he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray! Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.

"Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper the gentleman added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is already good."

 

 

Isn't that cute? What a sweet boy. And I am sure that woman took a look at her heart and actions. She may have though that his mommy put him up to it, but I hope not!

My children do know how to pray. And always  "in Jesus name". But we should not judge others, nor their children, for not praying the way WE think they should. Isn't praying really a conversation between the Lord and them?

  

Do you see what I see?

Not sure if this is real or staged, but rank none-the-less and hilarious in a demented way.

(Photo courtesy of http://www.backwoodshome.net/nl/nl0709.html)

 

Waiter! There's something alive in my food!

 I have been pining away for some kefir grains to make my own kefir for quite some time now. We drank it as children and adored it!! I enjoy kefir quite a lot as an adult and hate paying so much for it at the health food store! Because it is so spendy, I rarely will buy it. I found a place online that sells kefir grains for $20. I thought, hey that would be great! Live culture kefir to give to my family regularly!

Kefir: A fresh cultured milk with probiotic cultures, billions in every sip. Good for you bacteria. Not only does it keep digestive and immune systems intact, it helps prevent common side effects from taking antibiotics, helps with lactose intolerance and weight loss. Plus, it's an excellent source of calcium, protein and fiber. In short, super healthy!!

I was getting up the nerve to blow $20 once and for all recently when a friend of mine and I were talking. The subject of kefir and kombucha came up. I know I have had kombucha iced tea that I bought somewhere. I cannot remember what it tasted like. Well, my friend said she has been brewing her own kombucha tea and said she loves it. She said she knew where I could get a better price on kefir if I was going to get some. I was so intrigued!

Right away I ordered the kefir grains and kombucha! (Okay, I am a little nervous about the kombucha!!) The kefir grains are here already and we drank our first batch this morning. YAY! Kefir is soooooo good for you! I put some in my little one’s bottle to share the probiotic lovin’!

Now when the kombucha shows up later this week, I will have to make black tea with sugar and cool it. Then add the kombucha “starter” (aka scoby) to the tea, at which point it should set for 7-10 days.

Clearly there is more involved when you make kombucha. In contrast with kefir- just pouring some milk over kefir grains and letting set 24 hours!

If you want to know more about live culture foods and what an amazing thing this is that God gave to us for our health, just do a search on “fermented foods health benefits”, “making kefir” or “making kombucha”.

See this cool site!  HOW TO MAKE KEFIR

Rollin' rollin' rollin'!

Yes, it is September.
I always try to be sooooo organized and I plan plan plan. But when the year starts up for us- the kinks and the REAL LIFE schedule starts to float to the top. Sometimes I get a little stressed about it, but then I realize- all over again- that I just need to focus on the Lord's direction.

So, that is what I am up to right now. Working out the "Real Life & Real Timeframe" plan for the day, week and year. Maybe, just maybe we will get to art and spanish. But really I doubt it. And I cannot guilt myself over it. When my life is all said and done- did I train my children in the Word? This is my focus. Everything else in school is secondary-- or third-ary (LOL!)

The Illiterate Bride

 

 

It grieves me when I think of how Christians absolutely REFUSE to make the Bible the center of their homes. 
 

 

Even worse, Christians that homeschool.

 

Churches are full of children and teens who do not know the Bible!
Beyond a couple stories of Noah, Adam & eve and Jesus walking on water, they do not know a thing. They hear stories. And those stories have remained just that, stories.

 

 

They are, in effect, illiterate.

 

 

Biblically illiterate, and spiritually illiterate as a result.

 

 

Illiterate: 
1 : having little or no education; especially : unable to read or write

2 a : showing or marked by a lack of familiarity with language and literature 2 b : violating approved patterns of speaking or writing
 

3 : showing or marked by a lack of acquaintance with the fundamentals of a particular field of knowledge 
(Taken from Merriam-Webster.com)
  

The Bible tells us to make the Bible and study of it your priority, as a parent.
Most homeschoolers will nod and say "I know" or "I do", but what they really mean is that they have a Bible workbook or textbook and teach Bible as a class or subject. And that's that.
 

 

The Lord is clear what He means.

 

The Word should be infused into the Christian.

That begins as a child. All day. Every day. All day. Every day. Trained. Integrated. Trained in the Word of God, the true wisdom of God.

They should be taught in the ways of God and the scriptures, just as God ordained it. Read here:

 

4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  (Deut 6:4-9)

 

 

The Lord commands us clearly here. He says we cannot be lazy about teaching our children about Him. Full throttle teaching, 110%. We must do this during our entire day's routine- sun up to sun down. All day and every day.

 

 

 

 

Einstein was no lemming

"He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."

- Albert Einstein

 

Kill 'em or Train 'em

 

Are you planning to have teenagers? If you're going to let your children live past twelve years old, you better get used to the idea. Adolescent changes often startle parents. They feel threatened by the new thinking and behavior. In fact, it's hard to not feel threatened knowing that a teen may attack or explode at the slightest irritation. Teen actions and questions are often perceived as forms of rebellion and parents have a hard time knowing whether this is a phase to be ignored or the beginning of a problem that needs urgent action.

It’s important to know where to draw the line. Independent thinking is healthy but disrespect is not. Choosing one's own values is necessary but can't be an excuse for dishonor. Parents who don't realize the difference, miss valuable teaching opportunities.

Teens may appear hard but they're still very sensitive. When parents dish out criticism the same way teens do, teens get hurt. Their understanding of themselves is much more fragile than their actions lead you to believe. Teens are at a prime time for life-altering experiences. An offhand comment may make a lasting impression so be careful what you say and how you say it.

Tie privilege and responsibility together. A young person shouldn't be able to experience the benefits of family life without also abiding by the principles that make it work. "I feel uncomfortable taking you to the mall right now because of the way you asked me to leave your room a few minutes ago. First, let's deal with the way you're treating me and then we can talk about the privilege of going to the mall."

 

From the book, "Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids."

Jesus appearing to Muslims!

 

CBN News - Christian News 24/7

Watch Christian World News Now!

MUSLIMS SEE JESUS.... unbelievable video!

Irony is...

 

Whilst (I like that word!)... Ummm okay- Whilst walking through the living room a few moments ago I came upon a book lying on the floor. When I picked it up this is what I found...

 

Creative math counters

 

We have a lot of army guys we got from the Dollar Store recently and yesterday it dawned on me to use these guys for math counters! Much better than pinto beans like we always have used.
How cool is that?
Then I started thinking that hotwheels cars, Legos, toy lizards and frogs would work great, too.

For girls you could use Barbie shoes, beads, and barrettes.
Maybe everyone else in the world does these things already- but I thought I would share.

Do something nice for your husband!

 

Okay, I know we "do" lots of little things all the time for our husbands.

I know we all tell them how much we appreciate them, how important they are to you & your children and that we tell him that we pray for him (and really do).

Can you think of something you can do just for him that is "different" today?

-- How about washing the inside windows of his vehicle?
-- Do you ever iron his shirts or pants (if he doesn't wear these kind of thing to work, how about for church?)
-- Write him a note and put it somewhere he will be surprised to find it.
-- Is there a movie or music CD you would NEVER watch or listen to, but he has been dying to?
-- Fix something to eat that you know he likes and you really don't. In my house that would be "bachelor food" like macaroni with chili. Or make "from scratch" something he liked a lot as a child but never gets now. In my house that would be Chex Party Mix or haystacks.
-- Get up early and make him a real breakfast!

When he notices this special treatment, tell him you wanted to show him that he is the coolest guy you ever met, irreplaceable, and you couldn't live without him! Telling him he is "hot" doesn't hurt either!

Applications being accepted to the H0MEFree Fan Club

I have a little acceptance speech prepared around here somewhere... now where did I put that?
Oh it doesn't matter... I'll just shoot from the hip here. Can you hear me in the back?

I won the Random Blogger Award this week.
Thanks Tia of HSBCompanyBlog for the hat tipping! Much love to you!

It is probably the only time being random is a good thing!

As we speak, a special song is being written in my honor...

and a statue of my head has already been placed in front of The Old Schoolhouse company building. I preferred it to be made of marble, but I was told it was going to be alabaster instead. Oh well, what can you do?

I'll probably be the top story on the news tonight. Make sure you tape it!

 

Seriously though, thanks HSBCompanyBlog and Tia Linschied, Senior Editor!!