Verse to ponder and grandmothers

Luk 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Before this verse, the word speaks about Jesus eating with publicans and sinners. If I was to apply this verse to my life and the life of those who came before me, I can say that a wise woman truly has a lot of children.

My grandmother on my father's side was a school teacher in a small one-room public school. She had 10 children and 26 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. All 8 of her children stayed in steady relationships with one spouse. The other two were single. Some children/spouses have fallen for evangelical feminism but have not let it ruin their lives. She lived her last days listening to the bible on tape as she lost her sight in the end.

My grandmother on my mother's side grew up in a catholic environment. She had nine children. 15 grandchildren and thus far my children are the only great-grandchildren. One died early in a car accident. 3 of the nine remained in stable marriages. 4 had unstable/divorced or non-religious marriages and 1 had children out of wed-lock. She died in her own home but surrounded by catholic rituals. I loved to watch her work on the farm, but I did not like the religious routines.

My husband's side:
His grandmother on his mother's side fell for evangelical feminism. She had her tube's tied after only 3 children. Had 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren First child is single, gambles, smokes, drinks and lives in a garage. She is lovable and listens to bible teachers but sometimes the feminist sarcasm is spiritually dangerous. Second child, divorced and lost oldest child through drowning accident and died while involved in an affair out of marriage. Third child, husband's mother, had three children out of wedlock. Grandmother is not fond of in-laws but constantly suspicious of them and not very relational to the community. Although, she reads her bible every day and fell for "worldly" things herself, she has hope for the future generations.

His grandmother on his father's side, I do not know. But I would like to know more about in the near future. Perhaps as a project in Micah's school curriculum.

If we can learn from the past and make better choices for the future, let it be so, and let God be our guide.

Can you guess which woman inspires me the most??? Can you guess which woman is easy to understand where things went wrong especially for those who have knowledge of God's word??

Teaching Music

Here is a link to an old book which is designed as separate lessons to help students recieve an introduction to the world of music. I thoroughly enjoy the structure of this book because it directly exposes the student to the structure of musical cords and such. These are often difficult concepts to grasp and many never attain the ability to discern between cords and such their entire life.

http://books.google.com/books?id=hz0uAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=html


Although I do not suggest early music study for youngsters under the age of 6 because many youth can become disinterested and burnt-out by constant musical study. It seems that self-made child prodigies are the result of over-pressuring parents and guardians who really don't consider the need for child-hood play. Rather, musical study should wait until the child shares a definite interest and desire in learning music. When the child is interested, it is so much easier to ensure that the child would like to learn the material at hand and continue with it or perhaps make a career out of it for the rest of his or her life.

However, as a disclaimer, I DO NOT consider the use of musical instruments to be a vital and necessary part while worshiping our LORD. The reasoning is basically because as Christians we are heavenly minded and we really can't take our musical instruments with us to heaven, nor is the pride of knowing certain selections of music vital in our walk with Christ. Music through the ages has been used to worship pagan gods in the past and in modern times musical works are sometimes used to curse God. We must be careful in the study of music to ensure that our spirits aren't entwined in the masses of unnecessary rituals and routines rather than devoting a daily walk in bible study and prayer fellowship with our savior.

New Baby Supply List

Continuing on with the proverbs 31 series I would like to speak about homebirth and baby today.

Homebirth/Natural birth
-girdeth her loins with strength

New mothers often worry that supplying for their new born baby will be too expensive. But this is simply not true, especially if the mother has much creative ability and sewing expertise as well as many friends and relatives who are eager to give baby much needed love and cute little outfits. I have comprised a simple list of resources where a new baby's supply can easily be obtained with a few resources from around the home, from garage sales, dollar stores, craft supply stores and household goods supply stores.

Here is the supply list for a home birth without a midwife. The cost for all items can be under 200$ if purchased wisely.

The total cost for new baby supply according to the list below is between 150-200$ depending on the location where supplies are purchased and items that are given to the new couple.

Happy shopping for the new baby ;)




The basic baby supply list is below:

Clothing:

Simplicity Baby Patterns
4.29$ + 2-5$/yd fabric and 2$ sewing supply
Turn old stuff into baby clothes
scraps free 10$ if buy used clothing
Knitting Patterns for Baby
booties,mittens, blankets, clothing, hats, socks, toys, washclothes 5$ for yarn

Lots of used clothing at garage sales. Often find all that is needed for under 25$

Crib and sleeping:

Co-sleeper bed used in the bed
a co-sleeper bed is really all that is needed 50$
at times we have also simply used a wedge
Flannel Fabric for receiving blankets sewn around the edges 5$
Knitted Blankets Patterns
Knitted blankets work as well 2$ for yarn

Diapers:

Diaper Free Baby
A site for those who would like to try diaper free baby. We do this occasionally but not full time. A portable potty is under 10$

Frugal Diapering Patterns
Sew all the diapers and covers you will ever need for under 50$

Wipes: I bought a package of washcloths, cut them in quarters and sewed around the edges to make a large supply 3.50$

Diaper pail: use a five gallon bucket with lid to keep the smell contained. Free buckets can sometimes be found at local grocery stores. I also use an icecream bucket with lid. If a person chooses to wash diapers every day on a small load this size is often the best size.

Ointment, Powder, wipes spray etc:
Can be found very cheap at a local dollar tree store for 1$ each or homemade solutions work as well total 2$

Baby Wipes Recipes
contains many various diaper wipes recipes 1$ per batch plus 1$ for a spray bottle

Feeding:
Breast feeding is best...There really is not need for bottles and supply especially for Christian homemakers.

Baby led introduction to solid foods
A baby who can feed his/herself is much easier to manage. A supply of baby spoons and bowls can be found under 5$ at a dollar store.

Leaking happens quite often for some women and I have made breastfeeding pads with several layers of felt in a five inch circle. 2$

Grooming and Bathing:
Lotion, baby shampoo, cotten swabs and such are easily purchased for under 10$ especially if purchased at a dollar store

Baby bathtub is not needed as baby may simply recieve a bath in the sink.

Hooded towels can sometimes be found at garage sales as well but a regular towel works just as well. 5$

I would also recommend purchasing baby tylenol, medicine or other remedy supply as needed before the event of baby illness during cold/flu season. 10$


Here is a typical supply list found from online organizing.com. Of course, for the frugal mother this list can be adjusted.



CLOTHES


* outfit to wear home from hospital
* 6 to 7 "onesies"
* 6 one-piece pajamas
* 2 to 3 sweaters, mittens, and hats (if cold season)
* 4-5 pairs of booties or cotton socks
* miscellaneous other newborn outfits



CRIB SUPPLIES


* 4 receiving blankets
* 3 contoured crib sheets
* 2 to 3 absorbent rubber crib lining pads
* 2 quilted mattress pads
* blanket
* wedge for sleeping baby
* mobile or other musical crib toy
* night light



DIAPER CHANGING


* diaper pail
* 2 packages diaper pail liners
* 1 to 2 dozen disposable newborn diapers
* 2 to 4 dozen cloth diapers and diaper pins (if not using disposable)
* nail scissors with a blunt edge
* diaper rash ointment
* 2 packages of wet wipes
* rubber pants



FEEDING PARAPHERNALIA


* 6 to 7 bibs
* 10 to 12 bottles with nipples (if not breast feeding)
* bottle warmer
* breast pump
* bottle washing brush / dishwasher rack
* breast feeding pillow
* 5 to 6 burp cloths



GROOMING


* 4 towels and 4 washcloths
* cotton balls and cotton swabs
* baby shampoo
* baby lotion
* baby soap
* baby comb and brush
* infant bath tub
* bath water thermometer

Gnosticism in the Church

It has been a while since I have posted. I plan to continue posting on the proverbs 31 series very soon again.

An interesting article that puts the church back in perspective. Accurate history clears the smoke quite a bit.

http://endtimepilgrim.org/gnostic.htm

Without accurate history the church suffers.

Gardening: Managing without a Garden....

Gardening
-plants a vineyard

It has been awhile since I have posted. This has mainly occurred because our family has had to attend a funeral for my husband's cousin last week. Sad occurance especially since he was not living a godly life before encountering the drowning accident. Although the event was sad, it was an opportunity to meet several members in the community where my husband grew up and be a light in the community.

We are back to a normal routine around here. Continuing with the Proverbs 31 series I would like to write about Gardening today. However, even though I will be writing about gardening, we are currently not gardening because we have moved away from our current garden patch and to raise a garden would be more time consuming and financially consuming than we are capable of managing at this time. I really love to garden and believe it should be an important part of every woman's life.....whether they are a Christian or not. In many cultures people cannot survive without raising a garden.

So how can a person live a simplistic life without a garden? For one, during the time of waiting for a garden patch it is important to cultivate your relationships. Secondly, you can seek to buy whole fresh foods whenever possible from a local market or store. I much prefer to cook and eat whole foods than foods which have been canned or processed. Without a garden it is difficult to "experiment" with new or unusual foods such as okra, various herbs and other oddities because our American diet does not usually consist of those types of items. However, by bringing those types of foods home, we are able to incorporate those foods into our diet. Typically, the cost for buying produce at the store far exceeds the cost of growing one's own food. However, if the location of your current home is not near a location where food can easily be grown or you are living in a location where the owners of the land do not want the property to be "disturbed" one must make do with what is available at the time. All in all, a garden can be grown on any property that is filled with soil......there is no need for such large lawns, it is only an American version of "perfection". The large green lawn vision heavily distorts people view of reality as far as knowing where food actually comes from.......it comes from the soil ;) And it takes a lot of work to grow it too.

Giving: Use caution in Giving

Continuing with the Proverb's 31 series I am going to write about Giving today.
Giving
-gives a protion of meat unto her maidens
-stretcheth out her hand to the poor and reacheth forth her hands to the needy

A few times during the year I go through our stuff and give some items to Good Will. I know that at times ungodly items end up infiltrated into our supply items. Mostly because outside family members have given the items to us. For example, I refuse to allow my son to have any vehicle representing a sports car because it will give him the appetite to purchase such an item later in his life. Also, we have had movies and video games that are unprofitable or damaging to our spiritual life and have either had to throw the movies and video games or sell them. Now considering giving......we must be cautious about what we give. In the recent past, I would give anything and everything that is ungodly to Goodwill/used goods store or sell the items. But we as Christians MUST be cautious about this. If we must remove this world of sin and the lusts of the flesh even in giving....we must make sure that we are giving godly items that are commonly needed in the community. If we come across and ungodly item in our supply, it is best to either purge it completely or transform it into something else if all remnant of the labeling and identification of the item can be removed.

As people who live in consumerist United States, as Christians we must use more caution in areas relating to support or giving of idols (1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?) I know we are all imperfect and not as cautious as we should be but here is a list of things to consider when giving:
1. Does the item you are giving have a label (Nike, Sports Team, Popular movie or book title etc.)
2. Does the item support an ungodly holiday (Christmas, Halloween, Valentines Day etc.)
3. Does the item promote in-fashion lifestyle (string camisoles, short shorts, woman's manly clothing)
4. Does the item support living an ungodly lifestyle (television viewing, woman's work suits, specialized sports clothing, inappropriate swimsuits)

So what items are good to give
1. Baby items...many woman married and single need the basic items for baby.
2. Sweaters, sweatshirts, coats, hats and warm clothing
3. Household items for cooking and cleaning and repair
4. Socks, underwear and modest underclothing
5. Men's work clothing.
6. Long woman's/girls dresses and skirts
7. Educational/How-To books that do not portray support of evolution, big bang theory, ungodly religions/holidays etc.
8. Godly Christian books by good Christian authors......often those that are not "popular" are the best.

All in all remember the following verse:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
(Luk 6:38)

God will give us good Godly items if we give good Godly items to others ;)

Food: Homemade Noodles

Continuing with the Proverbs 31 Categories, I am going to write about the food category.

Food
-giveth meat unto her household

One of my favorite dishes to make is chicken noodle soup. On the days that I make Chicken Noodle, I often make my own homemade noodles. It is so simple, even a child can help with the process.

There can be several variations to this recipe as well as many different ways to complete the steps.

First of all the basic ingredients include the following:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 Egg
1 Eggshell full of water = 1 tablespoon full of water

Mix the batter until firm but not too sticky or dry, adding water or flour as needed.

Let the dough set for about 5 minutes and then roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick.

Cut the noodles into thin strips 1/4 inch or less if possible. Let the noodles set for about 30 minutes to dry and then add to boiling water. It takes about 10 minutes or so for the noodles to cook.

You may add the noodles to any chicken noodle recipe that you enjoy.

Blessings.