Ready, Set, Go....

Happy New Year!! I love new beginnings, fresh starts, blank pages to be filled in. Our theme is the "Great Commission", the command from Jesus to all of us to GO into the world and TELL others about Him and the new chances, forgiveness, and eternal life He offers all who believe in Him.

Ready, set , go reminds me of this verse:
"...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1b-2 (NIV)

In another translation, it says:
"...we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever, And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long list of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (The Message)

I live in a household of runners. Two of my children made it to State in Cross Country, and both completed half and full marathons this year!! I have seen the effort it takes to focus on the finish and to keep running--no matter what! (I have tough kids--one ran Regional finals with the flu and couldn't even walk upstairs 4 hours before the race, another ran with a stress fracture in her pelvis) (They would tell you that was with God's help, of course!) They get up early to run. They run hills, run in cold and rainy, even snowy weather--they run when they don't feel like it, when people have made fun of them, when they would have preferred to do something else.
They kept the "finish line" in their sights and would not be led off course by distractions or discomfort. Runners know you have to endure many things to "win" the prize, just as Paul told us in the Bible.

Here's the thing: we all are in a race--to tell as many people as possible about Jesus and his saving grace. Just like runners who are trying to get to the finish line, we can not let the discomfort, pain, difficulty of the course, people's opinions, and our "busyness" keep us from running the race God puts before us. I love the parts in the verses above where we are told: "throw off every hindrance and sin that so easily entangles" (wanting our own comfort and way) and "strip down, start running-never quit! Keep your eyes on Jesus who began and finished this race we're in."

What things are "hindering" us? What keeps us from going and telling all about Jesus? For me, one would be "busyness" with things that aren't nearly as important, but that are comfortable. Others would be fear of rejection, people's opinions, and worry that I would mess up and drive people farther away than closer to Jesus! I am told to cast all these things aside, however, and trust that God, working through the Holy Spirit, will use my feeble attempts for His purposes.

My running kids, and my basketball player son had a reminder that they could persevere through whatever difficulties they encountered in their sports--a reminder to keep going. They all wrote this verse on their shoes, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."-Philippians 4:13
(We called this their shoe ministry!)

So there you have it--we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I have claimed this promise many times when called to do things I would have never dared otherwise! No more excuses! (Rats) My problem with the "Great Commission" verse has been a fear that God would tell me to put down my laundry basket and head to Africa. Maybe He will do that someday but actually there are a lot of things I can do right where I am to point others to Him.
(By the way, my daughter went on a mission trip to South Africa and absolutely loved it--she wants to go back)

I read an article once when my kids were young and I felt very housebound and encumbered. The title was "Ten Ways You Can Reach the World Without Leaving Home". (Talk about no more excuses!) It got me thinking about ways we all can tell of God's love and goodness, His redeeming grace and His Son right where we are. Even our work, done well, can be a testimony to our Creator. Here are some examples.

Go(or send) Locally-start in your church. Volunteer to help with VBS, Sunday School, or AWANA. Be a part of a bus ministry, host a Bible study and invite neighbors, attend a Christian concert or ladies' event and invite friends. (like a Lovely Branches event!) Send food to a hurting family. Send cards of encouragement to those who need a lift. Come along side those who are hurting. Help with community ministry opportunities-our town ministerial alliance has a food bank and a thrift store that needs workers .
For the world:
Support missionaries from your church who are called to serve in Africa! (or elsewhere)
Help send youth from your church on short term missions, go on a short-term mission trip yourself! Our family went together on a trip to an orphanage in Mexico--it was a great opportunity to work together and see what God is doing in other people's lives.
Sponsor a child or children through Christian relief organizations like Compassion, World Vision, Samaritan's purse. Children and their families receive aid and also the good news!! You can even write to your sponsored child and encourage your share faith in that way.
Sponsor a native minister. Gospellink is an orgaization that raises money to train and support people living in a country who already know the language and want to become ministers. Send support to those who translate the good news into other languages so that all may know--Wycliffe Bible Translators and other groups spend years studying languages so that the Bible can be given to more and more peoples.

(Show) andTell-If you shy away from going up to people and proclaiming the Good News, take heart--there are some other options. (However-we are still called to do this, so try baby steps first!)
You can share what God has done for you, your hope in God and His provision for your eternal life in these ways:
Facebook-many people have scripture quotes on their pages as a testimony. Sending e-mails of links that are meaningful(BUT-make sure they would be welcome, don't be sending random stuff to lots of people or become a nuisance!) Be winsome in conversations, get to know people and share how God has brought you through difficulties and provided your needs. Send verses of encouragement to people.
Be creative--I will always remember a sweet elderly lady who lived out in the country along a major highway. We passed her house on the way to Great Bend quite often. She tended a sign on her property out by the highway, changing the scriptures on it like a church way side pulpit, even adding seasonal touches with silk flowers. She's gone now, but I still remember her and how she did what she could, where she was, to spread the good news.
Music-playing Christian music gives others a chance to hear something new! Support your Christian Radio station and pray for their ministry.
Use whatever gift/talent you have to share God's love--cooking meals, giving financially, organizing donations or events, cleaning, landscaping, building and repairing, driving a car, shopping, designing church or event bulletins or artistic displays.
All these things, done with prayer and love in God's name can point people to Him and give you the chance to share more.

I gave my daughter (one of the runners) a book for Christmas called "Run Like a Girl" by Kathy Vick.(www.runlikeagirl.org)
Some of the page headings are : run with fierce conviction and resolute courage, run toward those who are hurting; run toward those who comfort you, run with forgiveness on your tongue, run with integrity, run for those who need a champion, run with kindness and compassion, and the heart of a true friend, run with your soul-full, run with a grateful spirit, run like you are brave, even if your knees are shaking, and run like the world depends on it, run toward the arms of God.
My prayer is that we all will "run like a girl" and spread the good news ...the world does depend on it!! So--grab your running shoes, cast off all hindrances and, as Nike says, Just Do It!

Joy to the World--the Lord Has Come!

Joy to the World, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare Him room...

At this Advent, the season of Jesus'coming, let's be sure to prepare not only our homes but our hearts to celebrate our Savior's birth.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (and women)

In the effort to make Christmas "special" for our families, we often go overboard. There are presents to buy/make and wrap, goodies to bake, a house to decorate, cards to mail, special events to attend--some of which require new clothes, we think. Throw in school and church activities, a case or two of the flu, and at our house, two birthdays and parties--and you have a frazzled, overwhelmed Mom. We have no time or room for the baby in the manger.
Carrie Hildebrand (a writer of Young Hearts blog) shared some great words of wisdom at our Bible study--write these on an index card like we did, and post it over your sink, on your bathroom mirror, on your dashboard or wherever to keep from feeling too overwhelmed and rushed this season.
Renew yourself in God's goodness (read His word, remember what He has done for you)
Enjoy the life God has given you (spend time with loved ones just enjoying them)
Simplify your life to magnify God (do mostly those Christmas things that point others to God)
Trust God with your everyday life!

REST--NOT STRESS!

Find something you can streamline or forget. The best gift you can give your family is you--a you who is in the moment, who is enjoying time with her family instead of rushing to get through a to-do list. (Too often I was so busy thinking of everything I had to do, I missed the joy of just being together) You set the tone for your home--concentrate less on"doing" and more on "being"--especially"being" in the presence of Jesus.

Call me Scrooge...but it's time for a Reality Check
Did you know the average American family spends over $1500 for Christmas? (if you used credit cards and pay finance charges, it will go even higher)
Do yourself and your family a favor and opt out of the mall, television ads and catalog scene--let's have a quieter, simpler Christmas--we concentrate on "being" instead of buying.

In the spirit of simplifying, think about what you could cut out or how some of that money could be better spent.
Samaritan's Purse, Compasion International, and other Christian Relief organizations send out catalogs that give ideas for "alternative gifts". One year I gave chickens to an African family, a goat to another in the names of my kids. We also just finished selecting gifts for Operation Christmas Child, also a project of Samiatan's Purse. When you give your kids the option of spending money on things that improve and even save people's lives, they can understand that this is a better use of money than just buying more "stuff" for all of us who already have too much!!
This teaches good stewardship of what God has given us, and hopefully teaches our kids to be content with what they have and not to expect more "stuff" to be happy!)

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive--let your kids have this joy by doing some of the above, or by taking baked goods to neighbors, helping someone who needs it, and by donating toys and food to community drives. One family had the tradition of doing a good deed each day, writing it on a piece of decorated paper and tying it to the Christmas tree--their love offerings, a sacrifice of love for Jesus.

Some other ideas are to cut down the gift list, or at least revamp.
My Aunt Sue tells all of us,"Don't give me anything that I can't eat, read or plant--I don't need more stuff to store!"
I agree --one way to cut clutter is to not let it in the door in the first place!! Keep this in mind when gift shopping--how many pieces do you want to pick up for your kids? (Yes, they should pick up, but we all know that sometimes Mom has to do it!)
I'm all for "re-gifting", too --if you get something that someone else could enjoy more, pass it on!
(Be careful of the giver's feelings in this, though)
I also like the idea of families choosing to spend their gift money on a shared trip or experience instead.
Simplify by working on"being" instead of buying--do things to build relationships and make memories.

Making things Merry and Bright (Deck the halls...)
Bring the love, wonder, and warmth of Christmas home. I love to use imagination and other people's ideas to create a special, welcoming atmosphere and make memories--instead of spending lots of money. These are some of our favorites:

* I love to decorate the house for Christmas, but have decided to scale back. One day I met a friend who was in her 80''s , going into our local store. l was tired and cranky from dragging out boxes of decorations, and cleaning up the mess. She cheerfully informed me,"Well, I'm all done with my Christmas decorating--it took 5 minutes for me to put out my manger scene."
I smiled weakly and thought, "duh"--that really is all the Christmas decorating we need! A tree is great, too--and you can explain all the significance of the decorations--stars, angels, and personal ornaments. Decide how much or little you really need--donate the rest to your local thrift store or to someone who can use them.

*Check thrift stores for decorations or gift ideas. We bought Christmas mugs for a quarter each and gave them with microwave cupcake mixes for college students. My kids wanted one of those game tables one year--pool, pingpong and table hockey. We found a slightly used one for $25--instead of $100.

*Have a tree trimming party with Christmas music and simple snack mix and warm apple cider.

*Spread a tablecloth or blanket beside the tree and have a picnic--sing Christmas carols and do Christmas devotions.

*Let kids grab their sleeping bags and "camp out" under the tree (on a weekend!)

*Choose a night to put the kids in their jammies and coats, wrap them in blankets and go "car caroling". Roll down the car windows and sing carols as you drive through town! (After dark, of course--you can see the beautiful lights and people can't tell who you are!!)(In case you're wondering--of course we've done this--too much fun not too!)

*The more boring but still a great time alternative is to simply drive around with Christmas music playing and look at the Christmas lights (without singing out the open windows)

*Serve hot cocoa with peppermint sticks or candy canes and hot cider or apple juice with cinnamon stick stirrers.

*Stock a "Hospitality shelf", full of instant party foods. I have chips, salsa (for nachos), crackers(for the cream cheese/pepper jelly snacks), brownie mixes and chocolate frosting that you can make and then sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy canes, hot cocoa mix, popcorn, and pizza crust mix and sauce. Stash some chili and some cookies in the freezer, too.

*Watch Christmas movies that tell the true message of the season. Our family favorite is "It's A Wonderful Life". We love the message that God has a plan for all of us and the world would be very different if we weren't here to do our part--and no life is insignificant! There is a new VeggieTales out , "It's A Meaningful Life". I can't wait to see this!!

*Burn candles at meal and story times, play Christmas music in the mornings and evenings, simmer homemade potpourri on the stove (in a small pan, put about 2" of water, some apple or orange peels, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Put on burner turned to low--it smells great!)

Silent Night,Holy Night
Share the wonder and awe of Jesus' birth with others in your life.

*Use an Advent wreath for a special devotion time with your family. The wreaths and devotions books are available at Christian bookstores, or you can make your own.

*Have a Nativity set or two for display. I made one of fabric that the kids could use to tell the story of Jesus' birth, and we had a "nicer"one in the living room . Some families only put baby Jesus in the scene on Dec. 24--and the wisemen travel from the east later! As you read part of Luke Chapter 2 each evening, you could add only those characters ..Mary and the angel, Joseph and the angel, Mary, Joseph and the donkey traveling to the stable, the baby Jesus being born, the shepherds coming and then the wisemen later.

*Give children props to act out the story of Jesus'birth. Dress them in Dad's flannel shirts(shepherds),his white shirts with tinsel halos and flashlights(angels), and bathrobes--wisemen. Read the story while the kids walk through it--special for everyone.

*Read Christmas stories by the tree/manger scene each night before bedtime. I had a collection from magazines or books, and we read them every night--even still do when the kids are here. (they're in their 20's now) All of the stories center on the theme of love and giving. One of our favorites was about a little boy who thought the baby Jesus looked cold lying in the manger, so he covered him (Jesus) with a "kleenex" blanket. For several years, someone would secretly put a kleenex blanket on the Jesus in our manger--I loved that!
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson are other favorites.

*On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, be sure to read the Christmas story, Luke Chapter 2
before opening presents. Attend a Christmas Eve service together as a family. Go out and look up at the stars before bedtime. It is a very special night--the night our Savior was born!

Love Came Down At Christmas

May the wonder Christmas surround you and yours. Don't be misled by all the noise, glitter, and commotion of our world--rest in God's love and enjoy "being" in His presence this Christmas.

Giving Thanks

One of my favorite t-shirts has faces of little Pilgrim and Indian children singing the praise chorus with these words:

"Give Thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks for He has given Jesus Christ, His Son--
And now, let the weak say I am strong,
Let the poor say I am rich,
Because of what the Lord has done for me,
Give Thanks."

This month I want to share some ideas to give thanks--and celebrate Thanksgiving. But first---some matters of "housekeeping".

We're making some changes in our newsletter, and one change is that I'm combining "Home Matters "and "Caring for Kids" into one column. After lenghty deliberation (and lack of better ideas), I'm calling it "Heart and Home Matters". I ruled out some other names--"Home Matters", it turns out is actually part of the website of Cynthia Heald, a wonderful Christian author who writes about home organization--I mentioned her book and website (http://www.hearthandhome.com/) in an earlier blog. "Home Base" sounded like a baseball blog, which I'm certainly not qualified to write. "Home on the Range" seemed appropriate, since I live in a small town in Kansas, but the title I really would love to use is "Random House". Goodness knows, I am certainly qualified to write about this(more on that later)--but alas, the big publishing company might take offense at me using their name. So,unless anyone out there has a better idea, we're going with Heart and Home Matters.

As always, my goal is to give you (and me!) ideas to express God's love in our homes and to our families and friends in practical ways.

So, then...let us be thankful before we "talk turkey" (I couldn't resist) let's focus on our "attitude of gratitude". Being thankful is a choice--we can see what we don't have and complain to God(as the Israelites wandering in the desert)or we can determine we will look for God's blessings and goodness in all our circumstances. (Which,by the way,we are commanded to do-"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of Christ for you."

Being thanks filled--remember the "Glad game"-Pollyanna style?

Remember the Pollyanna movie? (Watch it this month with popcorn and a hankie--tell the kids not to be scared when she falls from the window--that worried me a lot when I was little). Pollyanna's father, a minister, taught her to be glad or thankful in spite of their circumstances--we can play the "glad" or "thankful" game this month--Read on.

We all have so very much to be thankful for--our homes, families and friends, freedoms, country, talents, physical bodies, beauty all around us from God's creation, and most of all thanks for our Savior Jesus who offered us freedom from death in our sins, forgiveness and an abundant life!

This month, offer up a sacrifice of praise and "thanks offerings"--be glad for what God has done!

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."_Psalm 50:23

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord."-Psalm 92:1

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation."-Psalm 68:19

"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me."-Psalm 50:23

*Write these verses, plus other "thanksgiving verses" on index cars and post them around your house for your family and guests to also read.

*Each morning, think of 5 things to thank God for and you could even write them in a"Thanksgiving Journal".

*Encourage your family to share 5 (or 3) things about their day for which they're thankful at supper.

*Talk with your family about contentment--are we content with what God has given us? When we want more, or wish things were different, we're saying we don't like what God has done for us, that it isn't enough, or that we know better what is good for us than God does! Yikes!( Our country has a big problem with contentment--so many people go into debt to have more than they can really afford. Think of all the advertising devoted to making us want more and more! Contentment is a good isssue to discuss, especially with the commercialism of Christmas lurking around the corner ).

*Print off the words, or enlarge copies of the hymns, "Count Your Blessings", "Come Ye Thankful People, Come" and "We Gather Together" to read/sing with your family.

*Visit your Christian Bookstore or library to revisit the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Two wonderful books are Give Thanks by Karla Dornacher(full of beautiful illustrations and a month's worth of giving thanks devotions) and Thanksgiving, A Time To Remember by Barbara Rainey(a Family Life book--you could order it from their website, http://www.familylife.com/) This is the best blending of the historical story of the Pilgrims, Biblical teachings, and family activities I've seen.

(Remember my commenting that I should write a "random house" blog? Here's the story--I have been procrastinating writing this blog--yesterday I decided to clean out the frdge instead of writing, and this morning I decided to rearrange the living room furniture. In doing so, I remembered that I store the seasonal books in one of the end tables--I found these two books just in time to share with you--hurray!)

Now that our hearts are into giving thanks , we can focus on some other ideas for this holiday and hospitality.

1. Lower your expectations--the Norman Rockwell painting of the scrubbed and happy family gathered around the table with the beautifully browned turkey may not happen for you and yours. Our family has had some wonderful Thanksgivings, but we've also had our share of 7-up and chicken soup "feasts" due to the flu bug. My youngest was 5 years old before we celebrated with extended family again! Bad weather, schedule conflicts, family squabbles, tired and cranky adults and kids can all lead to a less than "perfect" holiday--remember to be thankful no matter what! (And remember to make good memories instead of making your ideal holiday)

2. Work ahead--if you're expecting company or hostessing the big Thanksgiving dinner, be a "Martha" now so you can be a "Mary" later and enjoy the time with others. I have learned to cook the turkey several days ahead of time, put the dark and white meat in freezer bags, save the juice in another freezer container and freeze it to be warmed up on Thanksgiving day. You can also make pies ahead of time, freeze rolls, and do your shopping days earlier also.

3. Prepare your home for hospitality--clean the fridge so you have room for all the food, clean the bathrooms and pick up clutter. Decide what plates--or paper plates you'll use, where everyone will sit, who will bring what food.

4. Enlist help from your family and guests--I love having people over, but get flustered when everyone arrives and needs something done in addition to what I'm trying to finish! Make a list of what needs doing, then cut apart and put each item in a "job jar". I put my wonderful nieces and nephews in charge of icing glasses, moving tables and chairs, serving beverages, clearing plates and serving desserts. It helps to put them in teams to complete different jobs.

5. Plan some meaningful and fun activities. You can have an "I'm thankful for.." index card at each place with 5 kernels of corn to remind everyone of the "starving time" the Pilgrims went through their first winter--be sure to sing a Thanksgiving song and pray at the meal.

Play flag football, (our family activity for over 20 years) take a walk and collect leaves, put together a new jigsaw puzzle, play games, watch a good movie or football game.

For our evening meal last year after the Thanksgiving turkey feast, I broke with tradition and we roasted hot dogs and made s'mores over our firepit in the backyard.(instead of leftovers) It was a big hit--and very simple!! Afterward,we sat bundled in blankets around the fire, sang, heard amazing poetry from my nephew Ryan, and talked under the stars--what a good memory.

6. Set up a self-serve coffee/hot cocoa/hot cider "bar" with mugs and some simple snacks.

7. Make Pilgrim hats for the younger boys out of ll x 13" black construction paper by cutting a u-shaped flap to stand up as the hat top, and rounding off the corners to be the bottom of the hat. For girls, use white construction paper and fold up long edge and shape rest to head, using another piece of paper to cut in a collar shape. Indian head bands and feathers are also fun to make from construction paper. A large box can be the Mayflower ship for the kids to play in, and an Indian tepee is made with a sheet over bamboo poles or tree limbs.

8. Another Thanksgiving afternoon or other time activity can be making caramel apples. Dip apples quickly in boiling water to remove wax coating, remove stems and refrigerate to cool. Put sticks in apples, melt a 1 pound bag of caramels with 2Tbsp. of milk in microwaveor on stove,dip apples, and roll in chopped nuts or mini-chocolate chips. Place on buttered wax paper to cool. Tell kids that the Bible tells us that "you are the apple of God's eye." (This idea from Karla Dornacher's book listed above.)

9. Ask your family what traditions are important to them for the holiday (s) and what is not. You may be surprised to find a labor-intensive food or activity doesn't really matter to anyone. Serve roast beef--or pizza-if that's what your family prefers. It may be time for new traditions --or not. I read a great story about a family that always gathers to make their great-grandmother's cookie recipe after Thanksgiving. The guys all go hunting, and the women, young and old, gather ingredients and dole out tasks to make a huge batch of the cookies. They call other family members on the phone who can't make it to cookie bake fest. The funny thing is, some of the women admitted that they don't even like the cookies that well--they're heavy, dense cookies--but they love getting together to make them!

So..however you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, give thanks--lots of thanks--with a grateful heart. Be sure to tell those nearest to you how thankful you are for them!

Set Your Course for Adventure!

My husband just returned home from a week backpacking in the Ansel Adams Wilderness near Yosemite National Park. A highlight was rappelling down a 200 foot cliff-gasp! The group he was with calls themselves "Men in Midlife". (they leave off "crisis", as in "midlife crisis") Every two years,these guys from a church in Wisconsin and some others challenge themselves with an adventure along with a time of devotions and Bible study. My role in this deal was to be sure Don had the right supplies and to be his training buddy sometimes--only I wouldn't carry the 50lb. pack! He came back with a bit of a sunburn, scraped fingers and legs from rock climbing,some soreness,some great memories--and sleep deprivation. He is very glad he went--but he wasn't sure that if he'd known what he would be doing he would have signed up for this experience.

Isn't that the way for all of us? If we knew what all was in store for us in this adventure of life, we might not sign up!! Our theme is Changing Seasons of Life--especially a woman's life. Ouch. As a fairly new,and often reluctant,empty-nester this is not a topic I really want to talk about. But I do talk about it--to my other friends who are also struggling with the empty nest thing. Mostly, we feel like "has-beens". What do we do now? Does anyone still need us? (Actually,yes--our husbands and even kids still do)

I remember as a young mom with 3 kiddos ages 6 and under shopping at our local grocery store. I was trying to keep 2 kids in the shopping cart, in the exact middle of the aisle,out of arm reach of the items on each side. A sweet older lady came up to me, patted me on the arm,and said,"Honey,these are the best days of your life." I remember thinking--"great,I never sleep the whole night,the kids just got over the flu, and these are the best days?" Actually,I had the strong feeling that she was right. There are days I still think that!

To all you young moms--I know the days can be really, really long sometimes--but the thing is, the years are so short!! Try to freeze some of those precious moments in your mind--when your kids are so adorable and cute, you're just too busy to really focus on and enjoy them sometimes.

When my three were so small,our joke here was that I could do whatever I wanted as long as I took all 3 kids with me and had supper on the table at 6:oop.m. (Not really--my husband didn't mind much if supper was late)There was a time when I lamented that I would never get out of the house by myself again. Now I lament that there's no one here!!

So,what's a woman to do? Finding our way through the ages and stages of life is not for the timid. To be honest, I'm not quite resolved to my stage of life. I find myself crying at the oddest times--driving by our county fairgrounds, remembering all the fairs when my kids were in 4-H.(Sometimes I cried trying to get ready for the fair, but that's beside the point) Mom's walking their kids home from school also triggers regret that is isn't me walking my kids.

Here's what I keep reminding myself: God still has plans for me in this season of my life. He gives me a future and a hope. He will bring those things that will give meaning and purpose to my life.

Because of my husband's experience,I've been using that kind of self-talk. It's time to pack up my tent from the valley of "oh,poor me" and head for higher ground--to set my course for adventure! (Did you see the movie, UP?I love that line )

I am not planning a back country trip to rapell down a cliff--but,I have been working on pushing myself into some smaller adventures,and saying yes to God is the biggest adventure of all!
As my sons and their friends say,"If you're not living on the edge, you're just taking up space."

Whatever your age or stage, you need some adventure,too. Sometimes our fears keep us from venturing out of our comfort zone,and sometimes our self-images do. We think,"Oh,I could never do that..." When in fact actually we can--Philippians 4;13 tells us we can do anything through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

One of my favorite magazines is a Christian one called, life:beautiful (Faith for your journey--www.lifebeautifulmagazine.com) In a recent article by Wanda Ventling and Allan Edeker, they say:

"Jesus uses adventure to confront who we are and make us who we are to be...God's adventures are personal, purposeful and productive."

They go on to give us some examples of adventures we can "rightsize" for ourselves--
volunteer in an inner city,chaperone a youth group trip,volunteer at a soup kitchen, sponsor a child, be a big sister,try out for a community band or play,take a day long hike or bike ride, share your faith with a friend or co-worker, go canoeing or whitewater rafting,go on a mission trip to a different city or abroad, start your own business,climb a mountain,run for an office,help build a home or clinic,confront abuse, injustice or gossip in your community, mend broken relationships, travel overseas, enter a contest,take a class,and the biggie--tell God, "Here I am, send me"--and mean it!

A popular book uses the term, "life bucket list". You're supposed to list some things you'd like to do/see in your life. Start a list--but remember to ask God what dreams He has for you,too! Anything that pushes you out of your comfort zone to rely on God is an adventure. And as my husband found out, we might not sign up if we knew what we'd be doing--but afterwards,we'll be glad we did!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,but a spirit of power,of love and of self-discipline. -II Timothy 1;7

Home Base
In between adventures, we all need to return to home base to recharge and regroup. Fall is the season to "cozy up" your home--bring in the smells,colors,and tastes of autumn. Heat some spiced cider,bake some pumpkin cookies or pumpkin bread,decorate with leaves,nuts and pumpkins,add some candles and afghans for a cozy feeling.

Be equipped for adventure--now is the time to trade out summer clothes from your closets and drawers,and move the fall ones up. Be sure everyone has jackets accessible. Give away clothes you no longer wear or need. I'm a substitute teacher (talk about adventure!) and I organize my closet for quick choices--I have a few basic pairs of pants and several tops I hang together by color. I put the jewelry that would work with each outfit in a ziplock bag on the hanger. This does save time getting out the door.

Mundane but important--to keep your home base really cozy, have your furnace checked and change your furnace filters.

Fall Cleaning--if you do some now,you'll be in better shape for the holidays.(in both ways--cleaning is good exercise and your house will look better,too) Start at the top and work down--Wash windows, use a broom with a tea towel over it to dust ceilings,clean walls of smudges, clean/polish furniture,and vacuum/mop floors.

Not only will you be in better shape,but a recent study has found that visual clutter can cause migraines in some people. Another good reason to clear out!Besides, we're busy having adventures--who has time to dust extra,unneeded stuff?

On the book shelf: One of my favorite ways to have an adventure is in a good book.I'm recommending three I've read recently that will provide you with all the adventure you can handle!

The Forgotten God by Francis Chan, teaches us about the power of the Holy Spirit. Having radical faith can make your life an adventure,and several examples are given.
Dangerous Surrender, by Kay Warren, shows us what happens when you say yes to God. Kay's heart was broken by the AIDS epidemic in Africa and she began an on-going adventure to help alleviate the suffering of the children.
In a Heartbeat, by Sean and Leigh Ann Toughey, tells of their adventure in radical giving. This is the couple who adopted Michael Oher. The movie Blindside was based on their story, They practiced giving to kids long before this event,however,and it changed lives.

Whatever your age or stage,set your course for some adventure with God!!
Cozy up your home and enjoy Fall!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H (It just makes my head hurt)

It's back-to-school time and our house has been in a frenzy getting ready. I have been in school as a student/teacher/volunteer for all of my life,minus my first 4 years. At this time of year,I'm programmed to buy back-to-school supplies,throw up some bulletin boards, fill out my lesson plan book or school calendar, and learn or teach something!

Besides getting our daughter ready for another session at the Physical Therapy school at KU Med, we got our son ready to study a semester abroad in Brazil. (See Caring for Kids and Others for more details and a big lesson I'm learning!) I also try to get major projects done before school starts(a long-time habit from when I was teaching full-time) Our lives have been full of applying for Visas, packing clothes,making sand hill plum jelly, gardening, freezing peaches, defrosting the freezer, taking off wallpaper and painting the basement, and steam cleaning the carpets. We've also been blessed to attend several weddings--with more to come!(One of our friends called it "the summer of love.")

Whether you're sending students off across the state or world like me, to your local school,or home schooling, we all need to remember how important it is to keep learning!

One of my favorite quotes is from Oliver Wendell Holmes, the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice. He said something like this: A mind stretched to new ideas never returns to its original size.

I find that where learning is concerned, this is so true.

Sometimes all this learning, or stretching of my mind can be painful--it just makes my head hurt. For example, I always wanted to study astonomy in college, but never had time. I bought a book and it literally opened new worlds (or galaxies!)to me--and stretched my mind way out of shape. Did you know that the closest star to earth is Sirius, the "tag" of the constellation called Big Dog? It takes 8.5 light years for the light from this closest star to reach us. Some stars are over 200 times the size of the sun and light can be travleing through God's space for over 600 years to reach us!! Stars can be burned out yet their light is still reaching us!It just hurt my brain to try to comprehend how amazing the universe is that God created!!(Please pass the aspirin.) Talk about a big God!!

What really stretches my mind is reading about God in His word... what He has done for us, and wants to do through us. (when we abide in His Son,Jesus Christ). Talk about mind-blowing! The thing is,it stretches my ideas and hurts to know how far off the mark I am. It also is painful to have to re-adjust my thinking in a lot of ways--that putting self last thing, the call to serve others,the forgiveness and love everyone no matter what deals--ouch!!! The funny thing is, when we can actually wrap our mind around those and manage to practice one or two--the world is amazed and thinks we're out of our minds!!

All the more reason to contemplate Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

No doubt about it, reading God's word will definitely stretch our minds--and hopefully change our minds,hearts and actions.

As a teacher, I'm all about learning and renewing our minds.
I read once that the best thing a mother can do for her family is to keep learning. Learning can keep you young--and your mind young as well. Keep those synapses firing--do and learn things that are completely new to you!

Be an example of learning--try some of these ideas:
-memorize scripture, your family will see your intent to hide God's words in your heart

-learn a new language, or brush up on an old one--I had flash cards in Portugese all over our house for our son to learn key words(baneiros-bathroom)for his trip to Brazil. I also bought a French CD at a thrift store to refresh my memory.(Most of what I remember from Mrs. Teel's high school french class is the picture of the cute guy in front of a chateau--which led to daydreaming instead of serious language study!)(Bonjour,Jean-Claude!)

-read a variety of books--fiction, biographies,historical, how-to,travel,etc. I've learned so many different things from doing this--and its free!! Check out movies and audio books,too. My daughter got me into the audio books--she listens on her commutes. I'm putting my French CD in the car when I'm traveling now.

-Learn a new skill--check out a web site or book--try something new, be it new recipes, fix-it skills, herbs for your windowsill, knitting,crocheting,sewing. Again,I saw a how-to-knit book with some needles and yarn at a thrift store and thought, "why not?" One of these days I'll try knitting something!!

-study a foreign place--pour over maps,learn about the lifestyles, prepare food,learn some of the language. (If I keep boning up on my French cooking terms, I'll go see Julie and Juliet!

So, there's your homework--stretch those brain cells! It's good for you! Class dismissed.

You've Got A Friend

Oi. Como vai? My typing is terrible and this may look like one of my mistakes, but this is "Hello" and "How are you?" in Portuguese. My son is leaving Sunday for a semester of study in Brazil, so I'm making signs all over the house with the Portuguese names to help him learn the language. (Especially"um banheiro"or bathroom!)

We're celebrating one year of Lovely Branches Ministries and friendship this month. Through other Vine Press blogs, I've gotten to know my friends even better. At our Lovely Branches events, I've begun new friendships and have gone deeper with old friends.

Here's the deal--Christian women speak the same language, the language of the heart. Sure, we may disagree about some things, but wherever I go, I feel "at home" with a Christian friend. I am notorious for talking to anyone, anytime--so I've made some great friends at some unusual places--and our common bond has been our faith. Women friends are special--we"get"each other. The Bible tells us, "A friends loves at all times", (Proverbs 17:17). Think what your friends have "loved" you through! Here's part of my list: friends who have prayed me through tough things God has called me to do, friends who have covered for me when I had to leave town to take care of my Mom or son, a friend who came from far away to talk to me after my Dad died, friends here who took care of my family with food and finished my VBS projects during the same time, friends who help with projects in which I'm involved.


Getting together with your women friends, especially Christian women friends, encourages us and keeps us going. Make some time to pray, play, laugh, cry, eat, or do good works with your gal pals!


"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the day approaching."-Hebrews10:24-25


Next week my family is headed to Horn Creek Family Camp in Colorado, where we go each year and I'm looking forward to seeing my friends there. We sometimes communicate throughout the year by e-mail or phone for prayer, or through our powerful "Mom's network", which strikes fear into the hearts of our kids!! You have a neighbor coming to my child's college? Sure, we'll see if they can get acquainted. Josh, my son, is heading to Brazil, the former home of one of our friends--so, I call for travel tips and information.


My Horn Creek friend Diane tells me about a group some of her church friends have started--the Hot Dishes! They get together in their church kitchen once a month and cook casseroles,etc. for families who may need a meal. Stored in the church freezer, they're ready to go. The Hotdishes then go out for coffee. (The ladies, not the casseroles) They pray for each other, especailly for those who are "on the hot plate", experienceing pain/problems. How cool is this?



There are so many ways we can be the "hands and feet" of Jesus, meeting needs all around us. So, keep spurring yourself and your friends on to good works. It's great to have fun with your friends, too. Some of my favorite books are the Sisterchick books by Robin Jones Gunn. She defines a Sisterchick as "a friend who laughs with you till you cry and cries with you till you laugh; a gift from God." These are travel adventures but have some great scriptural truths!


Celebrate your friends this month--see them as the gift from God that they are. For now, I'll just say: "Tchau, ma amigas", or Goodbye, my girl friends!

Free for All

Happy Independence Day! (See ideas to celebrate in the Kids & others blog).

We are doubly blessed to have certain freedoms because of our relationship with Jesus and more freedoms because we live in the United States of America.

Being a perpetual list maker, (things to do,things to buy, things to clean out, cook, redo, etc.)I made a list of freedoms we have that we probably take for granted without realizing how different our lives would be without them.

Most of these are"Freedom of Choice" issues which are free for all!!

We are free to choose:

-our work, our place to live

-our attitudes(The Bible has some things to say about this, however)

-how we use our resources-time, energy and money *more on this

-our thoughts-we are free to make up or change our minds

-who or what we serve and love

-what we read, watch, hear, even eat and drink (again, the Bible also guides us here)

-what we wear (we don't have to cover ourselves with burkas, veils, etc.--we could if we wanted)

-where we travel

-our words-what we say or choose not to say (even more important sometimes!)

-our feelings, to some extent (we choose what to think about and how to feel about it)

-our actions--or lack thereof -

-another direction, we can always have a new start with forgiveness in Jesus

While all these freedoms are"free for all", freedom is never free.

The rights/priviledges we enjoy and even abuse came at a great cost--Jesus gave his life to give us our freedom from death/sin/guilt and many people in our country gave their lives/energy/time to allow us many of the other freedoms we have.

Here is my question for us--what are we doing with all these freedoms? Are we using them to release ourselves and others from some type of bondage, or are we abusing our freedom to choose and making choices that are actually enslaving us and others?

What are you "enslaved" to ? What aspect of your life causes you to feel defeated? For some of us, it may be cluttered rooms, spending habits, disorganized paperwork, food/weight/health issues, relationship challenges, financial difficulties, time and energy shortages. Sometimes,we feel so defeated and overwhelmed we don't know how to get ourselves "free". The real kicker that makes us feel even worse is that we know our bondage is mostly our own doing--that some of our choices landed ourselves in this mess!!

I just got back from my Mom's. My sister was there from Washington,D.C.. When my Mom moved to her home 12 years ago, she had to move a bunch of boxes belonging to my sister,who has a tough time getting rid of things. We looked though some of the boxes last week, and she decided she could let go of old college notes, textbooks, etc. that had been boxed up for 30 years! I asked her if her life had been enriched at all by those boxes that had been sitting there all this time, and she admitted that they had not. She did find 3 or 4 things she wanted to take back to D.C., but since she couldn't bring herself to go through the boxes and deal with their contents earlier, she missed out on using those things. While this was very hard for her, she said an interesting thing. She said, "I feel free letting some of this go!" Then she cried because she said she had a room at their home that if she had gone through boxes and gotten rid of things, her daughter could have used it for a play room for friends coming over.

Jesus said that He came to give us life, and to give us an abundant life, (Not in terms of stuff!)

He also came to make us free--we always have a new start!

Pick one of the things keeping you in bondage and resolve to start breaking free with Jesus' help! Ask for wisdom, and break your problem into steps. Just start with one or two small changes--then keep going!

Clean out one drawer a day, throw away old newspapers/magazines(recycle), file some important papers, make those appointments you need to make, start moving more, get rid of junk food, drink more water, forgive someone, forgive yourself, change a lousy attitude, let go of a grievance--you see where this is going. Choose one or two things and get going in the direction you want to go--your choices determine your days!! And, you are "free" to choose!! (Not always, I know--we have some constraints because of others who need us and other obligations)

My sister felt empowered by throwing away some things, and thinks she'll go home and do more--when we get ourselves moving in the right direction, even little steps take us farther than we thought we could go! You have to let go of the old to make room for the new!

Celebrate your freedoms--make those choices that will set you free!

Summertime..and the Living is Easy

As I type this entry, I'm looking out at my backyard with 10 rose bushes blooming, my newly washed and trimmed dog snoozing on the porch, and mama birds busily grabbing worms for their babies nesting in trees nearby. I just love this time of year!!!

May has always been special, not only for its beauty, but because as any student or teacher will tell you, it marks the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. In the blog, Caring for Kids and Others, I wrote about the idea of rest and summer(not terms I would use together!)and also offered ideas for 3 different "R"s--Relax, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect.

I have great memories of summer as a kid and as a mom doing a lot of the same things with my kids--read the blog for more.

However, this year I'm sharing with the mama birds the leaving of my babies as they continue to "spread their wings" and leave the nest. This will be the first summer in 26 years I'll have no child at home! Our oldest son is married and finishing his teaching year in Lindsborg--he's off to State Track tomorrow with the qualifiers from his team. (It's the 100th anniversary of the Kansas High Schools State Track Meet) Our daughter graduated from KSU 2 weeks ago and we've been busy repurposing furniture(painting) and going to thrift stores to "feather" her new nest in Kansas City where she'll be attending the KU Med Center Physical Therapy School. We leave tomorrow morning! (We've been having cooking lessons so she can make more than peanut butter sandwiches) Our youngest son was home from KSU 1 week, and has"migrated south" to work at a children's camp in Arkansas this summer. I'll miss all the fun we had when they were younger but will still find ways to enjoy summer! I hope some of these will help you, as well.

Summer is a good time to.....

-Do some serious porch sitting. We have two porches and we alternate depending on the wind and time of day. Make a relaxing spot for your family and friends to gather outside--whether it's comfy furniture on the porch or out in the yard, it's a great place for visiting.(Don't forget iced tea with mint, lemonade or root beer floats!)

-keep de-cluttering. Have the kids help go through some of their things, school papers, clothes, etc. Donate to a thrift store--maybe offer a prize(a new item from the thrift store?) for a goodde-clutterjob.

-simplify meals. Eat fresh as much as possible. We have strawberries, lettuce, rhubarb and spinach that we're harvesting now. Support your local farmer's market. Make home-made ice cream. We're working on the perfect sorbet or gelato (my son became a fan in Italy)

Cook ahead--buy ground beef or chuck when it is on sale and cook 5 pounds or so--let cool and package in freezeer bags for easy meals(tacos,taco salad, spaghetti, BBQbeef cups, pizza, etc.)Use your crockpot to do roasts and a whole chicken and save part of the meat for another meal. Grill more hamburgers/hotdogs than you'll use for one meal to save for another.

Think Cold--freezer desserts and snacks. Buy some popsicle type plastic molds and make your own--we use banans, yogurt(plain or flavored), fruit juice and whatever left-over fruit we have and puree in blender,then pour into molds. Much cheaper and healthier than store bought treats. Frozen grapes are great,too.

-Equip your car for "day camping" or trips.
You never know when you'll happen on the perfcect spot for a picnic--equip your car with paper plates, plastic or real silverware, napkins, cups and a paring knife plus blanket. Always take water on trips in a jug, and some paper towels or wet wipes. Traveling with extra play shoes/clothes is a good idea, too.

-Take longer family trips

Traveling with kids, especially little ones is a challenge! We found that bringing some different books/toys than they usually have, snacks in individual zip lock bags, and waterbottles help. Cheese sticks are great snacks, as are fruit pieces. Books on tapes was another great car entertainment or I would read a book about the locale where we would be traveling. One year we followed the Platte River in Nebraska and the Oregon Trail. We had a great book on tape, WagonTrain 911, and I had made fruit leather for snacks--the kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot.

When packing clothes for the little ones, I would put clothes, socks,undies, hair bows,etc. for each outfit in 1 large ziplock bag. That way, to dress them, just pull out a bag and everything you need is all together!

-have fun--reconnect with your inner child,or borrow some kids--a lot of summer's best pleasures are the simplest--go barefoot, run through the sprinklers, eat watermelon, read a book in a hammock--you get the idea--and if you don't, check out the Caring for Kids and Others Blog!

I hope some of these ideas will make your summer living easier and may God Bless you and yours this summer!

May Musings

Happy May Day. Don't foget to celebrate--leave some May Day baskets at friends, neighbors, or even strangers' homes--practice hospitality! My mom was great at sending us around the neighborhood to older neighbors' homes with our construction paper/doily baskets filled with bridal wreath spirea, irises and cookies. I also have wound a Maypole(!!) in an elementary school program. Now those are ways to bring in May!

The National Day of Prayer is another good way to begin May. Attend a gathering, or open your home for a group, or pray by yourself--but pray!!

Your Prayer Closet
Do you have a special area set aside to have a quiet time with God and pray? Not a whole closet, but maybe a quiet, comfortable chair--make a prayer basket to have with you. This idea is either from Joyce Landorf or EmilieBarnes, or maybe both. Fill a basket with your Bible, Devotions guide, tissues, pens, paper, and "Thinking of you" note cards. Start your day here, or make an appointment that works for you. The things in your basket will keep you from wandering off--and help you to follow through on good intentions. Sometimes God brings someone to mind when you're praying and you think, "I should drop them a note", then you forget. Speaking as the poster girl for good intentions but lousy follow-through, having a card right there might actually enable me to get it done!
Cyndy Salzmann in her book, Making Your Home a Haven, has a great chapter called "Finding a Quiet Place". As all moms know, the only place you can really be alone is the bathroom--if you lock the door. Having tried this myself, I was not suprised with her experiences--the kids slipped notes under the door and spent their time talking/knocking on the other side. She then read about Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley. She would pull her apron up over her head to pray, and all the children would know not to bother her. When Cyndy tried this, she was constantly distrubed by the children's giggles and laughter. Not what she was going for. Her final try was a notebook to write her prayers--can be done anytime, anywhere. If you're interrupted, you can pick it right back up. I mentioned the Mom's prayer group I'm in (Caring for Kids blog) and when we look back over our prayer lists, we're amazed at how God has worked!
We're told in the Bible to "pray without ceasing", and of course, you can pray anywhere. Pray while you're ironing your husband's shirts, pray for your kids for their day when tidying up their areas, pray for your town while out walking/driving. I pray for students I work with at school. (You'd better believe there is prayer in schools--many of us have been doing it for years, just not always out loud--God hears us either way!)
Abraham Lincoln once said he had been driven to his knees to pray many times because he had nowhere else to go. So.....whether you find a quiet spot, keep a prayer journal, go about your day, or go to your knees, Pray!!!

Putting hands and feet to our prayers
Being a"Martha"type, sometimes when I'm praying I think about what that person needs done--what would bless them in terms of a physical action. I really need to be more intentional about serving others--again, I have good intentions but get distracted and forget to put the intentions into deeds. When I do manage to carry out my thoughts, it is such a blessing--to me! (Hopefully the other person feels blessed, but it is such a priviledge to try to be part of God's answers to someone's needs)

Practicing Hospitality--do it with heart, not perfection!
What do you think of when you hear the hospitality word? I always thought it meant having the house in order and a good meal ready at a moment's notice to entertain. Then I read the book Table Talk, by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg. Mimi recalls growing up as a missionary child in Zaire--the nearest grocery store was two countries away, but her family entertained any travelers needing a meal and a place to spend the night.(This meant Mimi would give up her bed and sleep in the bathtub, with the stopper in, to keep out snakes!)
This book pretty much takes away any of our slick magazine picture ideas of having to have things perfect before we open our homes and lives to others!

Some of the definitions I've come across for hospitality are: seeing needs in others and reaching out to meet them; encouraging others; and making people feel loved and welcome.

The Bible tells us, "Be hospitable to one another without complaint." God may want to accomplish something in our guests' lives, or in ours, if we're willing to share what we have to bless others. Mimi and Mary Beth change our ideas again by telling us to focus on what we do have, not what we don't--"a fireplace, a big shade tree, a patio, a great coffee cake recipe. It's not the decor or even the menu that's important." (p.91,TableTalk) You free other people to practice hospitality when you can have them over in less than perfect conditions!

The most important key to hospitality is having a giving heart attitude, focusing on the other person's needs instead of your desire to make a good impression. I really enjoy having company, but too often I think things have to be a certain way and wear myself out and then can't enjoy my company. Remind you of anyone? I have always identified with Martha in the story of Mary and Martha in the Bible. She wanted to honor Jesus with things being "just right". Mary made her guest feel welcome by giving Him her full attention.

Preparing to be Hospitable
For me, I've learned to be organized before-hand so I can relax when I have guests or can meet a need. This means:
- keeping living room, guest bath and kitchen fairly clean (or a fast pick-up routine!)
-having a guestroom or bed ready to go with clean linens and clean guest towels, even a basket with magazines, guest size samples of shampoos, etc.
-keeping snack foods in the pantry,cookies and ice cream in the freezer
-cooking ground beef and chicken ahead of time and freezing in meal-sized plastic bags to prepare quick meals (tacos, spaghetti, chicken enchiladas,casseroles)
NOTE--these things are not necessary, but helpful if you're a "Martha" like me--the most important thing is to make your guests feel welcome and at home!

Being hospitable away from home

This was a new concept for me, but one I was doing anyway--mostly. Now I pay more attention to those around me.
- if you carry a purse, stock it with some pain relievers, decongestants, safety pins, and band aids. As a parent, teacher and activity sponsor traveling with kids to events, I learned to be prepared even with tape and a mending kit. I love those Swiss Army knives and have a small one of those, too, with all the neat tools. You never know when a safety pin or something else will save the day. Once at State Music Contest, we made a quick fix of gum to hold a loose clarinet pad! (This is your chance to be a female McGyver--remember that show?) I don't always carry a purse, but I've made plastic bags full of these supplies plus plastic gloves for our car glove boxes.

-be hospitable, meet others' needs or show encouragement standing in lines, waiting for appointments, and traveling. Look for ways you can help, even if it is just by smiling and being welcoming to new people at church or those in other situations who are alone. A warm smile and a kind word don't cost us any'thing but could make someone else's day--or give them the strength to keep on. I've been in situations where someone's kind attention made me feel welcome and helped me through some hard times.


Keep praying and look for ways to be hospitable!

Spring Is Here!

Yes--it's finally here--Spring! Get out there and enjoy all the new life around us. Just as God lavishes His love on us extravagantly, He does some amazing things in Spring. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, birds are singing, little creatures are being born. Go ahead--if you know any of the words to "Spring Is Busting Out All Over" from the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, run out to the back yard, throw back your head, arms open wide and belt it out! (This feels great plus, it might stun the kids enough that they decide to behave because you've finally been driven over the edge). If you prefer to celebrate a little more quietly, plant a pot of pansies. Here are some other ideas to usher in Spring. (For ideas to celebrate Easter, please see the Caring for Kids & Others blog)

Let the Sunshine In
Spring Cleaning is a custom in many places to prepares homes for Easter. On a more practical note, it was done to clean all the grime left by coal/wood heating during the winter. Women scrubbed celings, walls, woodwork, and floors; washed heavy drapes and curtains, cleaned windows, beat rugs and polished furniture. Whew--feel free to mix and match! I save most of that kind of heavy cleaning for the fall, before the holidays and when we're not dragging in so much dirt from working outside. However, I do like the idea of a fresh, clean house for Easter. I would enlist the help of the kids during Spring Break or on a Saturday morning and we would do some of these things. Knowing what motivated my kids, we turned it into a competitive Olympic-like event with awards for different events. (I noticed the http://www.flylady.net/ site had a fun Olympic theme during the Olympics with an event for you to do each day)
Spring Cleaning as a competitive sport. Have your "team" dress in grunge wear, bandanas tied around their foreheads, wearing grubby clothes, holding brooms, mops, and dustbusters. For fun, take a picture. Events (based on age and ability) can be cobweb crashing(put a dust rag over a broom, go down corners of walls), blind buffing(dusting window blinds), my favorite, under-the-bed diving (vacuuming or sweeping)with a bonus for most amazing thing found under the beds. (We found lots of socks, toys, etc.) A similar event would be couch-cushion flipping. Kids can use a dust buster or vacuum attachment to vacuum furniture.
Polishing furniture, mopping floors with rags tied over their shoes(speed moppping) and filling trash bags with 5-20 items to throw/give away from their rooms are other events. Make a special fruit juice "power drink" and a snack for post event ceremony.
This is a good time to have the kids help change out closets and drawers, getting out spring clothes and storing winter ones. Sort out the clothes that need to be given-away, mended or dry cleaned. (I'm on my way to the thrift store with a load)

As a last part of spring cleaning, let the sunshine in by cleaning your windows. You may want to clean windows yourself. Just as clean windows let in more light, reflect (pun intended) on any cleaning that needs to be done in the windows of your soul to let more of Jesus' light in--or out!Now, things are clean and sparkling, and you can "lighten-up" your decor by putting away afghans, using fewer pillows, and putting away some accessories. Open windows on a nice day to let in fresh air. (unless you have allergies!)

Stormy Weather

Along with spring's beautiful weather, we can also get storms. We've had some close calls and even damage from tornados in the last couple of years so being prepared has become more important to me. Have a clear idea of where to take shelter and make everyone have shoes on and jackets with them. Take your purse, cell phone, laptop and any medications.

Before a storm hits, protect your family records and memories.
Scan pictures onto computers, and CDs. Store old negatives and new CDs in a safety deposit box at a bank, alongwith other important family documents. (Make copies of everything: birth certificates, social security cards, passports, drivers' licenses and credit cards. Keep these in a safe place at home.) As for all your records on the computer, be sure to transfer to zip drives or back up in other ways. My daughter transferred our old family videos onto dvds so they will last longer, and we need to store those in several different spots as well.
I helped clean up damage after the Greensburg tornado and that experience left me with some undeliable quirks, my family would say. (New quirks, additional quirks, as I had plenty already)
I had visited Greensburg several times for sports events, and though I didn't live there, while driving in the Monday after the storm, I was fighting back sobs. The devastation was incredible--4 foot high piles of debris everywhere but in the streets, trees stripped of any limbs over ten feet high, helicopters and national guard vehicles everywhere--it was a war zone.
The only things that lightened our hearts while searching for things that could be salvaged was the cameraderie of people there and discoveries of things that remained intact.
We were at my brother-in-law's family home and found an old trunk stored in a bedroom closet. With no roof overhead and with the houses's walls leaning out and gone, this trunk came through with the contents a little damp, but able to be saved. Inside were some quilts, an old wedding dress, a lovingly constructed scrapbook of family history, and love letters tied with pink ribbon that were 106 years old!


While the Bible clearly tells us we are not to lay up treasures on earth as rust and moths will consume and thieves steal (and tornado blow away), to find those family history pieces was such a God gift. Most people would tell you the stuff they lost can be replaced, but some things cannot be replaced, such as family pictures and momentoes. We also happened to find a hundred year old wedding ring that had been stashed in an envelope with some old eyeglass lenses--we almost threw it away, but happened to open the envelope and there it was.


So here are my quirks, courtesy of this experience:
1. Seeing all the piles of debris made me want to go home and clean closets--we all have too much stuff. (I know, how weird is this?) Actually we were collecting clothes and things for the victims, too.


2. Another quirk is grabbing my purse, jacket, and pictures that we don't have on computer(although we're scanning those now, too) when the sirens sound and we have to go to the basement. (Last spring I finally left the framedpictures stored in the basement and had blank walls as we had several warnings and I got tired of hauling them back and forth.)I've also purchased an emergency wind-up(no batteries)lantern/radio with a cell phone charger at the Coleman factory outlet store in Wichita. (I bought a 2 person boat, too, but that's another quirk for another time--purely for fun, not for emergency preparedness!)

3. If family momentoes/pictures are important, then they need to be stored appropriately. I have some pocket watches from my grandfathers that need to be stored better and I'm putting old family pictures in notebooks. (No throwing out the good stuff because it was stored with the mundane!)

In Your Easter Bonnet

Just as ladies used to set off their best spring outfits with a new hat, set off your home with a little cleaning and sprucing up of the porches or entry. It's been a long, hard winter and those areas have taken a hit. Being crazed with spring fever, I put a forsythia wreath (fake), real pansies, bird houses and a couple of bunnies (also fake) on my porch. I swept off both porches and got out the wicker furniture cushions, so I am ready. Unfortunately, I also had to put down more ice melt after our storm last weekend. Each time I sweep it up, we get more ice and snow. I may leave it there until July! Send the kids around the yard with trash bags to pick up all the debris that has blown in over the winter.

Happy Trails to You

However you choose to celebrate Easter and spring, remember the gift that is a fresh start, a"new life", that we are loved and forgiven, that Jesus said he came to give us abundant life. Throw off the sad, old, defeating thoughts and actions and take hold of what He offers us. Get out in the sunshine and enjoy a fresh start.

(If you are a fan of old musicals, you will have noticed several song titles in this blog. Can you name them?)

A Woman's Place

A Woman's Place is in the House...and in the Senate.
As we celebrate Women's History month, did you know that Kansas is the only state to have a woman governor, senator and representative at the same time? (Joan Finney, Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and I can't remember who was in the House of Representatives--does anyone know?) Women have made an impact not only in our state, but everywhere. Think of the women who have influenced your life--they may not have been famous, but they left their mark on your corner of the world.
We can all point to a special woman who helped us develop a character trait, spiritual insight, work habit, or skill set that has enriched our life and in turn, the lives of others. My mother was the oldest of six and helped take care of the others plus worked and attended college part-time in Missouri. Her dream was to attend Kansas State University, to major in Home Economics. It took her 9 years of saving money, but she did it! Due to this, I definitely viewed attending college as a priviledge with the responsibility to learn and make the most of the opportunity. (I had plenty of fun,too!) My mom taught me perserverence and optimism. She taught me practical skills that have saved me and my family tons of money over the years--how to sew my own clothes, mend, cook and preserve food. (I have fond memories of stemming strawberries or blackberries to freeze while watching The Johnny Carson Show and actually, I only learned how to bake--I was usually helping my Dad with farm work so didn't help in the kitchen much!)I learned how to garden, refinish furniture, paint rooms and houses. My Mom also taught me that faith was very important and that Jesus loved me. She worked with my sister and our friends in Girl Scouts, 4-H, and church and I was impressed by how much she wanted to help other kids achieve--something that I care about also. My Aunt Sue modeled hospitality and is the person I know who best exemplifies being the hands and feet of Jesus in her service to others. I can think of teachers who taught me about self-discipline and to aim for excellence. Some of the women who impacted my world (and still do) are real life women I read about. My heroes(heroines?) are women who, through their faith in God, kept their families and others going in tough times. (See the Caring for Kids and Others blog for more)
Leaving a Legacy
What will we be remembered for? What impact are we having on the lives of others--in our home? In our community? (Dream big-- we can impact our country and world, too!) I have pretty quilts and recipes from my grandmothers, flowers from my Mom and aunt, but memories of their faith and forbearance are of most value to me. I often wonder what am I modeling for my children and others?
It all begins at home --what do we model? Do we do our tasks at home with excellence and work hard? Do we show our appreciation for what God has given us by taking good care of it?(Stewardship) Do we complete our tasks in a timely manner?(the laundry is my downfall) Do we handle life's frustrations with patience and good humor? The tough thing about being a Mom or even a Christian is that we know what behaviors/traits we'd like to see in our kids and others, but we also know that we fall pretty short of the mark ourselves. Sigh.
This is when we get to model honesty, making a Plan B, laughing at goof-ups, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Just for starters--do your kids see you reading your Bible, praying, organizing your day, learning and trying new things? We have to walk the talk , or we'll be a "Do as I say, not what I do" kind of person, which is not a legacy we want to leave!

On the Home front...time for a Spring Fling!
One of the things we can model in our home is order and peace. Make room for the things that matter and improve your life by getting rid of those that don't.
Give Me Five
This idea comes from the book, The Art Of Home, by Hannah Keeley. Grab a trash bag and throw 5 things away everyday. ( Establilsh a give away bag, as well) If you get everyone in the family doing this, you can de-clutter a lot over several weeks. You can require everyone to do this little exercise and even offer small incentives...be sure to check kids' throw away bags and make it clear that they can only bag up their own stuff, not someone else's! Teach your kids that stuff is only stuff and God doesn't want us to love stuff more than Him. Some things are important and need to be taken care of, such as family memory pieces or equipment. Getting rid of stuff also teaches us that stuff can't make us happy and actually can make us unhappy when we have to pay for it, clean it, and store it. Let It Go!
See some Spring Break/Spring Cleaning ideas inthe Kids and Others Blog.

On the financial front
(Did you know the first woman cabinet member was Francis Perkins, Secretary of the Treasury for Franklin D.Roosevelt, from Kansas?) As I was de-cluttering, I was purely disgusted with myself for the money I had spent on knickknacks, magazines,and other things that I'm now getting rid of. Slap my hands if you see me near anything like that. Notice I left out books. Books are my addiction. I have been donating many, but have a gazillion still. (I do read them again, andmany are children's books I enjoy reading to young visitors) Even when I buy them at library sales, too many is too many! When you de-clutter, make note of what your spending downfalls are and try to steer clear in the future.
The Power of Women
If you go to Flylady.com, look for last March in the Archives. They had a challenge for women to pay an extra $16 off their credit card bills. Their goal was to pay off about 2 million. When the month was over, an amazing $9 million of debt had been paid--wow! Setting financial goals is important and even small amouunts paid to retire debt or to save can make a big difference.

A Woman's words to remember...
These words from Martha Washington are on a large poster hanging on one of our high school teacher's classroom door--they provide a good lesson for all of us.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that a greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

(This is the equivalent to the apostle Paul's statement that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he was in--even in jail for preaching about Christ. And one of my favorite bible verses urges us to..." be content with such things as you have for He himself has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake You.")

Kitchen Wonders

How are things going in your kitchen, the heart of the home? I am doing the things I write about so I have been decluttering, cleaning and improving my kitchen,too. I have turned up some interesting finds and discoveries.
For instance, cleaning out the pantry, checking expiration dates on cannned goods, I found a can of cranberry sauce that expired in 1995. We also have 4 more cans as every year I buy more at Thanksgiving when I am the only one who will eat it--why do I keep doing this? We also have, for reasons unknown to me, 12 cans of pineapple--crushed,rings and chunks. I don't even use pineapple much.
This leads me to wonder, "What was I thinking, buying so much of some things?" Note to self--just because something is on sale doesn't mean it's a good buy if no one eats it! I'm also wondering how to use all this pineapple!
I got really brave and cleaned out the broom closet, where we store (besides the broom!)cleaning supplies, dust rags, household tools and odds and ends. Some finds turned out to be odder than others, such as a bottle of stuff to take the chlorine out of tap water when cleaning your fishbowl. We haven't had a goldfish in the house since about 1998. From the number of different cleaners I have, you would expect our house to be a whole lot cleaner than it is. I end up using plain old vinegar a lot, but have been lately led astray by all the new aroma-therapy type cleaners. They do make mopping the floor more fun, though probably no more clean. Another note to self--quit buying this stuff when you still have plenty!
I am wondering if any of you want to share any of your unexpected "finds" with us--we'd love to hear from you!


Here's the big "I wonder..., as in I wonder what to have for supper/dinner?"
Cooking is not my favorite thing so I have struggled with this over the years. However, I firmly believe in the importance of family mealtimes and serving healthy food. Some of our best family bonding and just catching up happened at supper. I felt really good about those evenings when I had planned ahead and the food was ready, and not so good when meals were late or not all they could be. Just like with everything else, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Enlist everyone's help and fill out index cards with complete meal ideas starting with the entree, bread, a vegetable, fruit and/or dessert. Each person can plan one or two favorite meals and you can get 14-21 index cards of meals and rotate. Theme meals are my favorites--Mexican, Italian, BBQ, Cajun, Soup and sandwiches,etc.
Each week, pick 7 of your meal cards, then plan your grocery/shopping list. Make your list of needed items, (check your pantry first!) choosing entrees according to what's on sale. Keep an"emergency" meal on hand, such as makings for pancakes, spaghetti, or pizza. Just pull your index card meal for each day and you're good to go. I enjoy using the crockpot as I start supper at 8:oo a.m. and can do something else the rest of the day without having to stop to make suppper later. (Especially if spring ever gets here, as I will be outside gardening and I forget to come in to start supper!)
Adding wonder... since my cooking is so-so, I go for presentation or "style" points. Light candles, use different dishes, put some flowers or other decorative items on the table to make family meals special. A theme night meal with corresponding music is fun--we would replicate a meal we'd had on travels or from a book we'd read. Once we did a "land run" supper after reading a book about the settling of Oklahoma with the land run where people raced to stake out a claim. We ate beans and cornbread off granite wear plates (camping kind) and had used sticks and twine to make "claims" in the backyard. The kids lined up and raced to choose the best "farm" location, tying a bandana around the twig to "claim" it. Our next-door neighbor got in the act by being a "sooner", he tied a bandana to a claim before the "run" started! As you can tell, I enjoy the details surrounding a meal more than the preparation!
Whatever you serve, serve it with love. Remember to give thanks and ask God's blessing for your food. Ask too, for God to help you make your kitchen a fun, productive and welcoming place--and to use family mealtimes to strengthen and encourage your family.
I hope you've been able to add some fun and better function in your kitchen this month. And if you have a good recipe for canned pineapple,let me know!

The Heart of the Home

If your household is like ours, everyone spends alot of time in the kitchen.

The kitchen is truly the heart of your home. Think of the activites that take place here: food preparation, food storage, meals and snacks, clean-up, and possibly desk work or homework. Our kitchen has also served as the place for preschool activities, 4-H club crafts meetings, birthday parties from age one to 50, high school and college friends hang-out, and a home hair cut parlor. Throw in the occasional bedtime snack and late night talk session ,family meeeting and staging area and even science laboratory with experiments gone awry. (Some of these have been inadvertent--such as the time we tried to make root beer at home. My kids have a memorable impression of fermentation as upon uncapping our root beer, it sprayed all over the ceiling, cabinets and floor.)(This is what is called false economy--it would have been much cheaper to buy rootbeer!) Since our kitchens are so important, this month let's put our"hearts" into making them fun and functional.

Move It and Lose It--yep, just another way to say Declutter! Take back your "prime real estate", the areas best for storing the things you need/use the most. Get rid of duplicates(how many cool whip containers, let alone stray lids, does a family need, after all?) Make a game with the kids of matching up other plastic containers and lids--pitch loners and extras. Try to get as much off your counters and out of your cabinets as possible. I gave away a bread machine and a ice tea maker because I considered them space hogs. I'd rather have workable space than gadgets--I make tea by boiling water and make bread dough in my mixer. Move out what can be stored elsewhere--my canner and turkey roaster live on shelves in the garage most of the time. I use my coffee maker at most once a week, so it doesn't get a spot on the cabinet either. Move out seasonal or rarely used items from prime space.

Get In the Zone-in kitchen design,we try to store things at their point of use. In the mix/bake zone store mixers, blenders, food processors, baking ingredients, baking spices, measuring cups, spoons, and spatulas. In the cook zone around your range you would store pots, pans, potholders,utensils like spatulas, big spoons, cooking spices like basil, tumeric, dill, garlic salt, pepper, etc. I have acrylic cutting boards, knives and peelers next to my sink for food preparation.

You get the idea. A lot of frustration can be avoided if you have room to work and can find what you need.

Who's the Mom? Freeing up space can help you be amazing. Create an "emergency hospitality" shelf where you keep dips, chips, crackers, pizza crust mix, fancy cookies for tea parties, etc. You can freeze cookies, chili and other items also. (Just keep them hidden from your family) You will be prepared when friends drop by or your son brings 30 people home from school for lunch on the spur of the moment. (You will remember your emergency stash and can quit hyperventilating.) You can also use space to make room for other activities, too. I still have a cabinet full of play dough, crayons, coloring books, and puzzles that younger kids would use at our kitchen table while I worked.

Pace Yourself--do only 1 drawer, shelf, etc. at a time. Don't forget to clean out and reorganize your pantry. Throw out expired items and make a list of what is needed.

Heart and Soul-after decluttering and reorganizing, make your kitchen fun as well as functional. Clean, shine and add "heart". Display a few items that make your heart happy, play soothing or peppy music, burn candles at dinner, post bible verses and quotes to inspire you and most of all--do a heart check. Your attitude and energy put the heart into your kitchen and everywhere else. Nothing says love like a happy mom/wife and great smells coming from the kitchen. (I still remember the smell of blackberry cobbler greeting me after getting home from school--yum!) Remember, you're not just making supper--you're making memories! You're feeding body and soul, so do it with all your heart!

True Confessions--Jan. 20

So, I'm writing the blog on home organization/decluttering....surrounded by boxes of Christmas decorations to be put away and piles of stuff from the cabinets and drawers I'm cleaning out in the basement--I just had to laugh! Those of us who tend to get side-tracked start by cleaning out one area and before we know it, we've drug stuff out from all over--this is very discouraging. Trust me--it's much easier to declutter if you haven't wrecked a whole room/house in the process. Luckily, our mess was in the basment so the top floor remained fully functioning but I'm warning you all of what can happen if you get carried away'! The good news is that I cleaned out cabinets/drawers that haven't been looked through in a long time and got rid of a lot of stuff.
Decluttering is great, but remember to ask yourself about what works/doesn't work in your rooms--maybe some things are not serving their purpose and need to be given away or stored somewhere else to make room for things that will improve the activities in that room. Analyze your space for the activities that happen there when deciding what needs to be in each area. Good luck and remember--only tackle 1 space at a time.

Organizer Tip- one of the best things I've done is to buy an over-the-door shoe organizer to hang on the inside of our coat closet door. The pockets are great for gloves, scarves, hats, rain ponchos, sunglasses, camera, GPS,and anything that we grab to go out the door. You could do this anywhere you need extra storage--in the bathroom over the door for toiletries, in a baby's room for storing little socks, shoes, undershirts, etc. You could even store some kids' toys in the pockets.

Family Economics-I'm trying to take my own advice on curtailing spending in January. My daughter and I traveled out of town a few days ago to see one of her friends. I hit a new low in spending on the trip, $1.50. I spent fifty cents on two books at the library book sale and a dollar for hot cocoa at the drugstore. My daughter was impressed. (I've always tried to model cheap entertainment for my kids) If you got gift cards for Christmas, remember to use them!

Home Matters

by Suzanne

As we begin a new year and talk about New Beginnings, let’s devote some of our time, energy and even money to create homes that are less stressful and more orderly and peaceful.

RESOURCES FOR ORGANIZING YOUR HOME: There are some great books and websites I have used over the years in my own quest to improve the quality of life in our home. Each has its own “spin”, so visit these sites or find these books and see what works for you.

-Making Your Home a Haven (Strategies for the Domestically Challenged) by Cyndy Salzmann, available at www.christianpublications.com. Cyndy’s website is www.familyhavenministries.com. This is one of my favorites as Cyndy tackles home organization from a spiritual standpoint and I love her sense of humor.

- www.flylady.net: Marla Cilley started this website using tips that have worked for her and information she learned from, The Sidetracked Home Executives, a book written as a series by Pam Young and Peggy Jones. The flylady site is great even if you don’t sign up for daily e-mails. You can download zone(living room, kitchen,etc.) cleaning charts and have “secret mission” jobs daily in these areas to clean some areas you may not get to usually. This site really stresses de-cluttering and has other challenges to help get your home/life in order. Reader interaction is great, but be careful—reading all the responses is entertaining and even inspiring, but can take a big chunk of your time.

-www.messies.com: This site features books and insights by Sandra Felton. Some of her books are: Organizing by The Book-Devotional Ideas from God’s Word, Meditations for Messies, Living Organized, and The Messies Manual.

All would give you good ideas on getting different aspects of your home in order.

Quick tips from me—de-cluttering is a key. As Cyndy Salmann says, “If you don’t have room to store your stuff, you simply have too much stuff.” We have to buy boxes and containers for our stuff, then we have to buy bigger houses for our stuff, culminating in paying to store our stuff in storage units! The less “stuff” you have, the less time, energy and even money you’ll use to take care of it. Start with one room and use boxes or bags. One method is to have a throw away box, a give away and a put away box. Spend only 5-15 minutes a day until you work your way around the room. You can start with a drawer, or start at the left side of a door and work all the way around. The Flylady hums the song, “Please, Release Me, Let Me Go” while she de-clutters. It does make a difference as you free up space and even pass along things you don’t need/use to bless others. I was at our local thrift store and heard one of my friends say she was clothes shopping for some relatives in Wichita who had been laid off. I went home and even got my college age kids involved and we really cleaned closets, donating all the extra clothes they had but really didn’t need. It’s a shame and even poor stewardship to hang on to things other people can use in these times.

In addition to de-cluttering, another thing you can do to help your home become more peaceful is to analyze “trouble spots”. These could be physical areas that cause you frustration or routines, such as the out-the-door in the morning time, meal time or bedtime. Write down what makes this area so stressful and pray that God would give you ideas of solutions. Check the resources given already or e-mail us—maybe some of us have dealt with your problem area.

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? Here’s an interesting idea in the area of Family Economics, or as I like to call it, Dollars and Sense. Most of us probably spent too much during Christmas. An idea I read once was to see how much you can avoid spending in January to build back up your savings or pay off your credit card bills. This is how it works—declare a moratorium on spending except for the essentials. For family meals, use up your canned goods and freezer foods. (This also helps clean out items that are close to their expiration dates!) For entertainment, check books and videos/DVD’s out from your library. We checked out foreign travel videos once and made foods to go with the country. And most of all, stay out of the mall—no shopping! (You can use the time saved to de-clutter instead)