Breaking down idols

“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Joshua 24:23

I am going to confess here to an idol I struggle with that I think a lot of moms today struggle with.  This idea of "me time."  I know that there are benefits from getting out and refreshing yourself.  Whether that be with exercise, friends, a date with the Husband, anything really.  But it becomes a problem when you feel like you can't function in your home until you get one.  Well that has been me.  Since moving to the country I no longer go out 3-5 nights a week to work out.  I do it in my home.  And for me its the whole getting out of the house with no kids that helps me reboot.  It is harder to do that now.  So when you combine sick kids, visiting family and holidays I have been feeling like I need a break.  And even though its true, I have started to worship the idol of needing some "me time." 

They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall.  Psalm 106:36

Well this is me right now.  I am worshipping my idol and am not functioning in my home the way God has called me.  My kids are suffering, my husband is suffering, my friendships are suffering. And most importantly my relationship with God is suffering-greatly.  

I have a place to go other than reboot in a worldly way.  Because I have been feeling overwhelmed-stressed-suffocated- I have been walking away from the one that gives me all my strength and sustenance and instead been moping-complaining-getting angry.  Why I do this... well because I'm still living in my sinful fallen body and yet wanting the new world!  It's really the whole Romans 7 Struggle that Paul addresses:

 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power^[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

It is not easy to do this.  To say I'm not gonna mope and complain about my "hard" life (not really that hard- the real problem is my discontent heart.)  But I am thankful that God loves me where I'm at and is there to help me move out of myself and closer to Him.  Boy, I can't tell you how often I am SO  thankful that he doesn't get as angry with me when I screw up AGAIN, like I do with my kids.  His unconditional love blows me away.  I pray it never stops moving me.  

Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever. Micah 4:5

So today, through God's prodding, I am going to pray for a change of heart.  I am going to beg for His power to work through this day with a cheerful, gracious, loving heart.  I want Him to shine through me today.  Please know, that it is nothing in myself (because I am pretty ugly inside) that allows me to be a good Momma, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Friend.  It is only God's grace changing me, moment by moment that I am the person I am today.  PRAISE HIM!!!

French Toast Casserole

So I made this super easy delicious (can be healthy-ish) French Toast Casserole.  I had a whole bunch of bread that I had to use up.  So I found this recipe to make french toast casserole.  It uses about a whole loaf of bread- perfect!  And I have seen tons of recipes before but they were too involved or I thought not having the exact bread would ruin it.

Now this recipe did call for Texas Toast but I used just regular Whole Wheat bread.  I will post the recipe and give the original link.  I will then tell you how I adapted it twice!

Ingredient Checklist

1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)

1 cup brown sugar

1 loaf Texas toast
4 eggs

1 1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions

1. Melt butter in microwave & add brown sugar....stir till mixed.
2. Pour butter/sugar mix into bottom of 9 x 13 pan....spread around
3. Beat eggs, milk, & vanilla
4. Lay single layer of Texas Toast in pan
5. Spoon 1/2 of egg mixture on bread layer
6. Add 2nd layer of Texas Toast
7. Spoon on remaining egg mixture
8. Cover & chill in fridge overnight
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (covered for the first 30 minutes)
10. Sprinkle with powdered sugar
11. Serve with warm maple syrup

Ok so the first time I made it, I was using up my Whole Wheat bread and I made it for dinner.  So when I put the egg mixture on the layers, I just spooned enough on each layer to soak the bread.  So I probably had about 1/3 of the egg mixture left over.  I also made it around 10 in the morning and started cooking it around 5:00pm

Now for the more decadent version I made lol  My husband (and my kids) really loved this casserole so he begged me to make it again.  I had suggested doing a Stuffed version this time, and off to the store we went.

So for the bread, the first layer was the whole wheat bread and the second layer was Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bread :)  I still did the Brown Sugar bottom, then the Whole Wheat, spooned egg mixture.  Now this is where I changed it up.  I got Strawberry flavored cream cheese.  I spread a thick layer on each piece of the Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bread that I was using for the second layer.  After the second layer was laid, I again  spooned just enough egg mixture on that layer.  Now I did go back and put a second layer of egg on the Pepperidge Farm Bread because it seemed like it could use a little more.  This time because the dear husband was sooooo hungry I did not soak it but put it right in the the oven.  As my husband said "This is the single most amazing thing you have ever done in your life. I'm speechless"

If you have any questions, post them in the comments and I will answer them for you!

Veggie Pancakes

Ok So I posted a photo on Facebook about these Veggie pancakes I made, and there was some interest in the recipe and how they turned out so I thought I would write a blog post about them.

So they are definitely NOT a breakfast pancake.  But depending on how much you eat could be a meal or just part of the meal.

So I got the recipe from http://weelicious.com/2009/04/15/veggie-pancakes/ 

I doubled my recipe.  The adaptations I made are as follows:

-I used 3/4 White Whole Wheat flour and 1/4 cup flour.  I only did this because I ran out of the WWW flour.

-I used frozen carrots that I thawed and then chopped in my food processor

-I used the full amount of salt but I will be cutting it in half the next time.  

They are definitely a softer pancake, so if you want it more crispy, you will need to put them in the oven to dry them out a little bit.  I did freeze mine.  I let them cool and then portioned them out and into ziploc bags.  They reheat well.  I start in the microwave and then finish then in the toaster.  

The verdict?  I like them alot!  Especially with some dip.  Bella kinda likes them, Ada loves them (She's my veggie lover) and Caiden only eats them if he's really hungry and it's the first thing on his plate lol (he is not a veggie lover lol)  

I will definitely be making these again.  Not too much work and they are pretty healthy and filling!

Braided Curls/Waves

So in the heat and humidity of summer, I am a "Do as little as possible" kinda girl when it comes to my hair.  However my hair likes to go CRAZY in the humidity. I mean crazy wolf like hair (as a child I obtained the nick name SheWolf because of my hair)

So I can't just let it dry on its own.  It's very thick and when I let it go curly naturally it's very heavy and HOT!  

So my first hair tutorial.. and maybe my only haha

So this is the finished product....

All you do is a french braid starting at the temples.  If you start higher, the waves will be closer to the crown.  I like the loose wave look and straighter bangs - Hence starting down lower.

I do this after I take a shower and my hair is still damp.  So not right when you get out of the shower, but after your hair has some time to dry.

Then I sleep in it.  When I wake up I let it out and put some of this texture cream in.  I love this stuff.  It gives it some stick and volume but not crunchy!

There you have it! Hope you all enjoy my very amateur tutorial :)

"Give Them Grace"

I have been recently been feeling a "new" tug from God.  I have been feeling like my Faith needs to be more Christ centered and less Works centered.  Now I never would have said my faith was works centered, but what I was trying to get/learn from the bible was more How-to and less Jesus.

But God has been showing me that if I wanna know what to do in every situation, I need to look to Jesus. Not just as the Supreme example, but as my Source!

One specific area this perspective has changed greatly is my childrearing.  I found myself frantically trying to find ways, tips, advice on how to raise my children so that they had the best chance of being saved as they got older.  So because I was coming at it from the angle of "My acts save my children" or at least play the biggest role, I was going about parenting all wrong.  And I was living in an almost crippling fear that every time I screwed up, which is WAY more than I can count and probably even know, I was crushing their chances to be saved.  In all I do as a parent, my greatest goal is their salvation.  I want them to know the love of Jesus, so rich and so full, and His power for our lives.

So how did this look in everyday parenting?  It may not seem so bad- especially compared to how the world might parent- but it is light years away from how God really calls me to parent.

I would recite Scriptures to my children, as if these Laws of the Scripture would motivate them to obey.  Tell me- when does a law motivate you to obey???  Now I am NOT saying you should never quote Scripture to your children in the midst of their sin or even in an encouragement.  But it CANNOT STAY THERE.  The Law is meant to crush us and our utter inability to keep it.  This is then supposed to THROW us to Christ.  But I wasn't showing that to my kids.

So now instead of just saying,

 "Bella, Love is..."

Bella: "kind" (1 Corinthians 13:1)

I now then say "Now God expects you to be kind, and its really hard.  That's why we need Jesus. He was kind when we couldn't be, and he will help you be kind if you ask him to."  We then usually pray.  If she wants to I let her.  But if not I will pray for her.  I will pray the Gospel message so she can hear it even more.

I was also damaging the power of the Gospel and Love of Christ, by not accepting my own failures and expressing my need of Jesus in the midst of them.  I had this faulty view that by failing I was showing my kids that Jesus isn't big enough to help you.  Oh how twisted we make things.  NO, by my failure I can show them that God loves me if I'm Bad or Good and He GAVE ME JESUS.  I can show them that my faith is not dependent on how well I parent them (obey) but on Christ's blood and righteousness.  

So when we had devotions at breakfast, we talked about being thankful in all things and what Christ has to do with that.  When we prayed I asked God to save the children from their sins, then I asked that God would save me from my sins today and I became overwhelmed with His unconditional love for us and began to cry.  Bella saw mommy crying because of how much God loves her.  Now that is a beautiful picture for Bella to see.

Now to give credit where credit is due.   The Lord has used several books to help me see these truths.  "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic is so practical in everyday experiences and gives you specific words and ways to express these things.  "Give Them Grace" by Elise Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson will change you and your perspective on parenting.  My husband and I have been going through this book and we aren't even that far yet but it has been Christ centering.  And finally I have been going through a devotional "Just like Jesus" by Max Lucado.

May we love and live like Jesus.

Thankful for my Stubborn Child

So out of my 3 children, I have one that is particularly difficult.  The moment something is not their way, there is an immediate, usually full blown fit.

This entails screaming, throwing themselves on the floor, hitting the offender, flailing and so on.

As this happens SEVERAL times throughout the day (as this is the only way the child knows how to deal with their emotions at this point) there is a lot of disciplining and correcting.  But this also allows WAY more opportunities of pointing this child to Christ then my other children.

Yes, I often FAIL and don't correct them with the right motives, or the right way.  BUT what I am thankful for is as I finish the correction and I say to my child, "I love you and I hate to see you sin honey- it breaks my heart."  I often end up crying a little because I see the absolute struggle for them and my heart breaks because I know how hard of a battle this will be for them as they get older.

I desperately want to take away the deep struggle they face, and then as I think about those feelings of love and compassion I have for that child in the midst of those constant battles they face, I think about how every time I stubbornly disobey -kick and scream like a little child- my Heavenly Father weeps over me and lovingly disciplines me.

I would have NEVER understood the DEPTH of this love He has for us if it wasn't for my Stubborn Child.

So yes it makes for a difficult day, and I often would trade anything for a more pleasant child (usually when my focus is on me and not Christ's love and goals for us)  BUT I am so thankful for just another little glimpse into the depth of God's love for us!

Being a Sweet Aroma of Christ

Wow, today was one of those days where you come to the end and you start to cry.

Not because of how badly behaved the kids were.  Not because of how hard the day was for you.  But because of how badly you failed in those hard moments - and failed over and over and over again....

It doesn't really matter why the day was hard, what matters is that in my children's weakness I did not show love or grace.  This is especially hard for me right now because I have really been convicted and striving to be an aroma of Christ in very specific areas of life that I have been failing or misinterpreting at.


I read this post about how a son told a story about how
       "Parents are the first view of God kids will ever see."

Since reading this post I have really been thinking about this, not just in parenting but other facets of life...

    Friendships...
    Marriage...
    Being a woman in charge of events at my church....
    Familial relationships...



Then I have been going through Proverbs 31 in my devotions via GoodMorningGirls.org.  And wouldn't you know the verses we are focussing on this week are Proverbs 31:26

Other verses we are focusing on:

Proverbs 12:18

   Some people make cutting remarks,

    but the words of the wise bring healing.

Ephesians 4:29

   Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

1 Timothy 3:11

   In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

Proverbs 15:1

   A gentle answer deflects anger,
    but harsh words make tempers flare.

I have wept and pleaded for forgiveness through my devotions this week.

I have seen that if I want my kids to love Jesus, I should respond like  Jesus.  Have you studied JESUS?  He is incredible!  His love for others and for GOD is breathtaking.  I want to be like him.  I truly believe that I can look in the Bible ONLY and know how to parent, be a friend, wife, sister, leader, daughter and so on.  If I love like Christ...

I tear up as I write this, because I am so overwhelmed by His Love

...then these relations will see Christ, not me. HALLELUJAH!

Time Tested Beauty Tips

Time-Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

--Sam Levenson

1 Peter 3:3-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Today Is From My Loving Father

Today I was struck by the Psalm 118:24 verse. I know this verse inside and out, I sing it to my kids throughout the day. But today God hit me with a profound part of this verse that I knew but never took note of. I always took the verse as I rejoice in the day b/c God made it. But today I also realized that I'm rejoicing and I'm also supposed to be glad. And there are no pre-qualifications on it. It is not dependent on how well my day is going. I am glad and rejoicing, no matter what! 

How in the world is it possible to do this on those days when Bella is whining and playing selfishly. Caiden is crawling after me whining all day and Ada is yelling out and screaming because she is angry. And I still have all the house work to do? This is what I learned also:


1. This day was brought to me by my loving Father. He didn't forget me and my needs and accidentally handed me a hard day. He knows what I need and when I need it.


2.He also doesn't leave me on my own to figure it out. Like Phil. 4:13 said, It is CHRIST who helps me through my day. I tell Bella this ALL day, after she has been disciplined, is having a complaining spirit, does not want to share, etc. I tell her ask Jesus to help you. He loves you and wants to help you do the hard things. Wow if I only told MYSELF that more often!

Speak their Language

Ok so this was in my mailbox today, so I am literally just copying and pasting.  But I thought this was such a valuable idea, that even though I am not there yet for my kids, I want to do this when we get there.  I want to encourage those of you who are, PLEASE don't forget your kids, no matter their age!  You show them you love them and your love them for who they are by doing things like this.

May 18, 2012 Speaking Their Language By Melissa Taylor

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV 1984)


"I'm not joining Facebook and I'm not texting you. Don't text message me either. If you want to tell me something, you'll have to speak to me! You kids don't know how to have conversations anymore."


"But Grandpa, you are missing out on so much in my life."


The grandpa's scowl said it all: "I don't care."


This conversation, which I overheard, haunted me for days. I bet Grandpa did care. He just didn't know how to relate to his granddaughter, and new technology probably scared him. I admit it scared me at first too. I'm not fond of change.


When my children were younger, breakfast time consisted of a meal, devotion, and Bible-reading together. I didn't work outside the home like I do now, so I had more time in the morning.


Now I have to make sure the kids are ready, and I am too! There are six people running around, fighting for two bathrooms, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and racing out the door. I miss the intentional time spent teaching my children what I consider most important: God's Word.
Watching my now-teenaged son text message at lightning speed on his cell phone one evening, I wondered: Would it make a difference if I texted my kids a Bible verse each day? I dismissed the thought, thinking it silly to send a text when they should be reading God's Word for themselves.


Then I thought of Grandpa, his refusal to his granddaughter, and her reply. I didn't want to miss out like he was.


Texting my kids a verse each day may not radically change their lives, but then again it might. I wondered, would Jesus text if He were here today?


While on earth, Jesus used language that His audience understood, depending on where He was and the culture of that area. His purpose and message did not change, but His delivery and presentation sometimes did. Jesus reached people where they were. He walked, rode, sailed, and taught at homes, hillsides, banquets, and dinner tables.


It's been a year now since I've started texting Bible verses to my children. Usually I get a response like "thanks" or no response at all, but sometimes I'll receive a verse back. I send them the same verse so, if the opportunity arises, we can talk about it together.


Texting connects with my children because I'm speaking their language. The message hasn't changed, but for the purpose of effectiveness the delivery has, for me and my kids. And much to my delight, sometimes they forward the verse to a friend or two.


Texting may not be my favorite way to communicate, but if it ministers to my children, I don't want to miss it. It's just one more way I can continue to "train up" my children.


This week, let's be on the lookout for new ways we can share God's Word by speaking our kids language.


Dear Lord, change is hard for me, but if there is a way You'd like for me to change for the sake of another, then I will try. With Your help all things are possible. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Building a Bridge to Your Child's Heart (CD) by Lynn Cowell
Visit Melissa's blog and find out how you can receive Melissa's "Top 10 Ways to Connect with Your Children."
Reflect and Respond:
Think of one way you can better connect with someone in your life.
Are you stubborn like Grandpa or willing like Jesus?
Power Verses:
Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (NIV)
Proverbs 31:28-29, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'" (NIV)

© 2012 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Training in Grace

Recently I have been convicted and somewhat confused as to what it meant to give grace to your children.  I was thinking, young children don't need grace, they need discipline.  Otherwise its sends confusing messages to them as to when they need to obey and when its ok to do what they are doing.  So I thought, well I guess grace comes later.

Well God has been showing me on the side how he has been showing me grace on a day to day basis.  I started to realize that He doesn't stop from disciplining me, but he shows me grace in how he disciplines me.  He doesn't give me the full punishment of what I deserve - death.  He doesn't yell or become frustrated with me when for the umpteenth time I've had a complaining spirit (like my daughter, wonder where she got that from!) 

Romans 5:20

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

So I began to realize that that is how I am to be gracious to my children.  Instead of getting annoyed and tired of the complaining or arguing.  I need to respond in love and grace and TRAIN my children in the moment.  There is a difference between teaching and training.  I always new this and have actually been practicing this in our home, but it really was made clear when reading this post from Woman Living Well blog.  As she writes:

Teaching is giving my children the information they need to succeed. 

But training is giving my children the discipline to carry out what they have been taught.

So yes I discipline for disobedience.  But when they are not responding correctly to life situations, I show grace by not becoming angry that he have done it AGAIN.  But instead train them in how they should have responded.

I pray that God will give me just an ounce of the grace that he shows me.

Ephesians 2:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Beauty in Everything

1. I am loving watching Caiden crawl.  It has morphed from this belly flop to this crawl where he is up on his hands and knees but he is still only using his upper body to move. haha so his but just wiggles behind lol

2.  I love how Bella is loving learning.  She loves to sit (well she usually stands at the table, but oh well!) and see what I have planned for her that day.  I love this special time with her

3. I am thankful that I am getting to go away (overnight!!!!) with my husband this weekend!  I am so excited to spend some time with just him! and to sleep til however late I want :)

4. I am SOOO thankful for how God is encouraging me.  I have great friends and a sister who always keep me in check.  We also have a Parenting Sunday School going on at church that has been a great encouragement.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

 ¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Beauty in Everything

So it has been a very crazy week.  And let me tell you, I have failed often!  Thankfully God doesn't leave me there.  So for some of the Beauty in my week.

1. I am thankful for my family.  I am truly blessed with my family and my kids love their grandparents and aunts and uncles.  It is so awesome to see them in love with their family.

2. I am finding beauty in my husbands new job.  He is working further away from home now so he isn't home as much.  And he had an overnight training this week.  Even though its hard for him to be gone more, I am so thankful for this new opportunity.  I love seeing him in a job he loves and wants to do.  I also am thankful for the absence as it makes what time we do have more precious!

3. I am LOVING watching the twins learn new things and seeing their personalities flourish!  They are so different from each other.  Caiden has just finally started to crawl as opposed to belly flop everywhere (but he still mainly uses his upper body)  And Ada is an absolute crack up! Her facial expressions are hysterical.  I love that God has blessed me with them.  It can be very hard at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!



Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

 ¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Reframing

So I got a couple of our pictures printed from our last photo shoot with a lady in our church.  She is wonderful, check out her work here! 

So I had this frame laying around and I personally HATE it lol.  Sorry to all those who like this color wood, but I can't stand it lol.  So, I thought to myself, why not paint it black and put our one BW photo in it?!  So I asked my wonderful mother if I could use some of her black  acrylic paint.  So I used a sponge brush and started painting.  The front did take 2 coats of paint.

  

But I think the finished product is perfect.  I think I shall be buying more "ugly" cheaper frames and painting them to my liking!

So for my next picture project I wanted to make some canvases of the photo session we had done a couple months back.  So I had some canvases laying around and went at it.  So here are my supplies...

So here are the steps:

1. You need some Mod Podge.  Mine was homemade - 1/2 water, 1/2 elmers glue.

2. My pictures are just printed onto paper from my printer  

3.  You cover the canvass with the mixture

4. Lay the picture onto the canvass the cover the print with the mixture

Now this takes some finesse, and it ended up drying like this.....

So then, I rewet it with the mixture and it did lay a little better... but not perfect.  But that's ok, I will explain later.

Now I did experience some smudging in this picture.  I don't  know if you can tell in this picture, but you can't see it in real life anyway so no biggy!

5.  Now paint the edges black.  This is the beauty of this project.  You can cover all your goof ups in your work!  I painted it rough so that you can't really notice the "not so perfect spots"

This is the corner that wasn't laying perfectly.  Can't even tell :)

The finished projects and all hung up on the wall :) I must say, I like it a lot.  Thank you mommy for helping with the arrangement and hanging :)

Ambassadors for the King

So I was very encouraged and set straight during Sunday School this week.  Now I haven't been in Sunday school for a long time due to some family issues, so I'm not sure exactly what the series is about.  However this weeks topic was on being ambassadors for the King in you home/life.  We were working from the passage 2 Cor. 5:11-21.  

One of the main things that was discussed was the idea that some people need an ambassador that is gentle and encouraging, and others need a rebuke.  It is this idea that Christ meets us where we are at and asks us to do the same for others.  As I thought about this with my personal life I realized how, even though I have been very opinionated and felt very strongly about this meeting people where they're at idea, I am failing miserably at it.  And all because of my own convenience.  I realized that I have this idea that my children mainly need the harsh rebuking and not the gentle, coming along side love.  And that adults need the coming along side love.  As I looked at my heart to find out why I thought this way- I found its all for my comfort.   I don't want to be in a confrontation with adults, so I'm gentle at times when I need to be bold.  And with my Kids, I want them to be obedient and well behaved children (especially in public as I don't want to be embarrassed- not at all concerned about their hearts.) Not to mention it tends to be more work to come along side your children.  Now Im not saying I never do.  But in my selfish moments I do the quick barking of a command.  

I am so thankful that God put me in that Sunday School class and gave me the opportunity to be able to listen with an open heart to hear His Word.  I am and ever failing sinner, with a Great God who loves me and knows exactly what I need to hear, when I need to hear it, and how to deliver it to me.  Praise Him for his love and wisdom.  Through Him I can be the ambassador He calls me to be!

From bar to liquid

Ok, sooo I thought I would try another frugal idea I saw here.  It's taking  bar of soap and making it into liquid soap.  The direction are "simple." So here's my go at it.

First the supplies:
2Tbsp of Glycerin, found in the bandaid section
8 oz bar of favorite soap
1 gallon of water
grater
stock pot







So first things first, Shave that bar of soap!  I must say I really don't enjoy this step lol.  But hey, who said work is easy?!

Then you add your glycerin, and water to your soap shavings and heat on medium/high heat until the shavings melt.  It will look like soapy water, mine was quite clear, some are more milky.
















So that's it! Well that's supposed to be it.  Your supposed to let it cool for 10-12 hours.  Ya- mine was still water lol.  Well I wasn't willing to give up on it so I just let it sit lol.  And after two days its started to finally cloud up.  So I thought "Let's put it in the fridge and see what happens..."

 HAHAHA this is what happened!!!! A solid pot of gel soap!

Well that won't work, so the girl I got the idea from said she put hers in the mixer... Oh why not...     Well that made a mess cuz of course I put too much in lol  But it did get it more liquid like.  

So I poured it into these containers (later pouring it into 1 gallon jug) It still has some tiny gel clumps, but I think it shall work! It was an adventure but I'm hoping for the best!