Friday, July 29, 2011

Magic Shell recipe

A while back, I had heard that you could make your own Magic Shell topping for ice cream! (The chocolate topping goes on runny and hardens as it cools!) I told my hubby and this week we finally got around to trying it- and it worked! I don't know where I saw this recipe originally, but this is similar to what I saw...







Homemade Magic Shell Topping
recipe found online here
1 ¼ cups Chocolate Chips (semi-sweet)
½ cup Coconut Oil (measured when solid)
Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave about 1 minute (depending on your microwave). Allow to sit a few minutes to allow the heat of the oil to melt the chocolate chips and then stir until smooth. It will be runny. You can store it in the cupboard for a couple of weeks and it should stay liquid. If you want to store it in the fridge, just zap it in the microwave to melt it before serving.


I have the ingredients in the house quite often (for this lotion)! Only two ingredients- wow! When we made it, we halved it, just in case it turned out weird, but it was great! I think we will be trying it again, and maybe adding some different flavors- i.e. dark chocolate chips, or adding some peanut butter or butterscotch chips! YUM! We put ours in a pint glass jar in the cupboard, the kids tried it tonight and loved it!

Enjoy- it's delicious! Let me know if you try it, I'd love to hear your review!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Games for kids

I posted a few weeks ago about how to make your own inexpensive games for kids here. My two little girls will play matching games with me and each other for quite a while. Yesterday we played several games to keep us busy in the morning. Since my youngest is 2 1/2, I still need to help her play sometimes. She is still learning the rules! :-D


Hope you enjoy the post! Have fun playing with YOUR kids this summer too!

_____________________________









Writing prompt: Share a game or craft that will keep your children busy for 20 minutes or more.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Camping

We had a great time camping last week with my parents and sister last week. My kids got to see their cousin too. Here are a few highlights from the almost 2 day trip...












During the rainstorm...
It was lots of fun, despite getting rained out & leaving early! I hope we can camp again later this summer!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Adventures in Potty Training!

My baby is growing up. It is bittersweet...We are starting to get rid of the baby things like sippy cups (yeah!), she's been in a toddler bed for about a year (hooray!), she sits in a booster seat at the dinner table (for over a year now!) She is quite the talker, and says LOTS of words that crack me up, which I talk about in this post. She has learned her colors in the past few months, and she is starting to count to 10 pretty well too!  Within the past month, we've been working on POTTY training! Or "teaching"-- as this blog likes to call it- which I like, and her approach to potty teaching. We had tried potty training a few months ago, and I decided she wasn't ready yet. We gave it up, waited a few months and tried again...

Here are some pics of our recent "work":
Using the potty seat while writing on the chalkboard wall and using magnets!
Reading one of the "Pookie" books by Sandra Boynton...

I've tried several approaches to potty training, since this is my 4th child. I've bought several books. For my first child, this book is the one I used...

Toilet Training in Less Than A Day, by Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx. It was a very concentrated, stay-at-home and feed the child lots of fluids approach. There were pros and cons to this book, and it really didn't work well with my stubborn 3 year old son. He was the toughest one. My cousin had recommended this book to me, but she didn't have any boys! (I also loaned this book to a friend & never got it back...) So back to the bookstore...


Toilet Training without Tears by Charles E. Schaefer and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo has a more relaxed approach, and tips on how to train a resistant child-- which described my boy well! They had a good list of clues that show when your child is ready for toilet training. They also talked about figuring out when your child urinates and try to use the toilet with them near then. (That's ok if you have one or two children, but really?!) There are even helpful charts in the book! There were some good things that I did enjoy about this book and I did find it helpful overall.
Potty Training 1-2-3 by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam was another book that I've used and liked, since I enjoyed and implemented their child-rearing approach. They talked about different approaches to potty training and benefits/ negatives about each one. I appreciated that a lot in this book. (They even discussed Toilet Training In Less Than A Day!)  The authors recommend getting your child into an activity- a puzzle, book, etc., to get them relaxed enough to go (elimination, they discussed here mainly). I know my children trained for urination and elimination at the same time. Actually, I think it was easier for me to tell when they were pooping, I could see the signs- face working, stopping what they're doing, and grunting. Oftentimes, I never knew when they peed! They discuss the use of a doll to teach the child what they need to do, which was also talked about in Toilet Training in Less than A Day. This is a great book for a first-time trainer, and also has lots of good tips and ideas.


This time I was at the library and happened to see this book...
Mommy! I Have to Go Potty! by Jan Faull, Helen F. Neville...So I checked it out. I liked it because it had a relaxed but consistent approach (I returned it already though...). The authors recommended having your child sit on the toilet every day even if they choose to wear diapers, just to be consistent about trying to learn using the toilet. I liked this idea rather than going off and on the potty train. 


A friend had also recommended to me that the Farmer's Almanac lists the best days in each month when it will be good to toilet train! I thought this was interesting, and found the information online here. I thought it was a little odd, but thought it couldn't hurt! The first day in July that we tried it was on "their" schedule (July 13) and my daughter was quite agreeable! Hmm... maybe there is something to it! We kept on, and she fell into her normal two-year-old independent stage quickly! We are STILL working on it, I hope she begins to be more independent about it soon. She does well once we get her there in time...


Here is my conclusion: Even if my daughter is not very consistent at hitting the toilet on her own every time, it is ok for me to get her there. She still will pee for me on the toilet almost every time we set her there. I think that is good, and I am ok with helping her for a while until she gets it on her own. I liked mothermode's idea (see link above) not to punish the child for accidents, which is also in the book above. When she misses, we tell her "Bummer, I bet you'll make it next time." We'll keep on trying, and I may update you again in another month or so. (This is just for day-time training, my older kids didn't stay dry at night until age 4-5, for the girls.)

Here is my SIL's approach that she used with her daughter recently:
http://snapshots-morgan.blogspot.com/2011/01/operation-potty-pro.html

What ideas or things have you tried about potty training your child? Any ideas to help?

Monday, July 25, 2011

Yellow

Yellow... not my favorite color, but the older I get the more I like it. I am more of a purple-loving girl. I had purple in my wedding. I wear a lot of purple. It makes me think of purple grapes, plums, eggplants, sunsets,  flowers, and royalty!

When I was 13, my mom and a consultant from BeautiControl "did my colors". They analyzed my hair & eye color, skin color and tone. This resulted in a card of colors that I looked good in. At the time I was wearing a bright yellow t-shirt, think SUN. It was the worst color for me, I looked awful in it that day, and I learned that I look best in blues, greens and purples. So, good-bye yellow shirt! I have not worn yellow since...


In July 2007, we decided we needed to sell our nicer extra car in order to pay off some big bills we had. My husband worked about 2-3 miles from our home, and we just didn't need a really nice five-year-old car to drive 30 miles a week, maybe a little more for errands. My hubby always wanted to get a VW Beetle, and started to look around for one, mostly unbeknowst to me!

I had a convention for the company that I worked for at the time, in another town about 4 hours' drive away. I stayed with my sister who lived there, and I brought our baby daughter with me. My hubby and I talked on the cell phone each night, since he was at home with our two older kids. One night I called him and he says, "I found a car today...I really like it, it costs $$..." We discussed the price (not too high) and that it was a VW Beetle. (He knows about my color preferences. He actually likes yellow a lot.) So after we discuss the basics about it, he says, guess what color it is? "Oh...uh... yellow?" I said, wincing a little. "YEP!" He says...

And that is how a purple-loving girl came to own a yellow car. I don't drive it much, and I don't look good in it, but it's a cool date car! My hubby really loves driving it! That's more important than color anyway, right?   :-D



Friday, July 22, 2011

Tomato Pasta Salad

Here is a salad that I got from my friend Kim, it is easy and delicious!

This salad works well with lots of different fun pasta-- wagon wheels, curly (seen below) bow ties and more! It is fun to feel odd-shaped pasta in your mouth- it's like a party! :-D

Here is the recipe:
Cook up the noodles- I usually do a box, but you can do less if you want a smaller salad.
Rinse the pasta in cold water, since this is a cold salad.
Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and mix.
Top with 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp basil, 1 or 2 minced garlic cloves.
Chop 1-2 tomatoes (depending on size, if Roma tomatoes, I'd even chop up 3).
Add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (sprinkle it well) and toss. Sometimes I will even just shake it in the plastic bowl to mix it up. You can also add green onions, if you have some on hand!
Delicious!



I make this often in the summer, it is quick and easy! 
Let me know if you try it, I'd love to hear your review!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Just a bad day...


Recently, I had a bad day. It all started with a round of medicine I had started the day before, and it was made me feel weird- not hungry, not sleep well and lots more! Yuck! My hubby had a appointment to donate blood and he left early in the morning (like 7:20-ish, early for us!). I got up with the kids about 8:00, and had to make the coffee. No big deal, I've done it lots of times...

Well, we put our old coffee grounds into our compost bucket in our kitchen. It was full, so I couldn't put any more grounds into it. I decided to take it outside to the compost bin in the glass Italian press and the compost bucket we have in our kitchen. So I had both of those in my hands and I was looking down, being careful not to spill as I went out of the kitchen to the back door. I hit my head, HARD on a high cupboard door that was left open by the children. I hadn't noticed it was open. As I got outside, I started to cry. This is NOT a good beginning to the day!

I came back in, made breakfast for myself and toddler, and then went to take a shower. After my shower,
we jumped in the car (all 5 of us, me and 4 kids) to bring my daughter to her music lesson. We got her there on time, and since it is only a half-hour lesson, I decided to take the kids to a nearby store. I needed to get a few toiletries, and wanted to check out a sale that I'd heard about there. My son decided to stay in the car and read, so I let him. I took the two little girls into the store with me, and of course, neither one wanted to ride in the cart. I dragged them around the store looking for the hair conditioner & gel I needed, and found one of them. Then I decided I had to go to the bathroom. BAD. NOW. So I asked an employee where the bathrooms were. She said, "Go through the storeroom, around the corner, up the stairs, down the hall, through the break-room and they're in the back corner."  Seriously?! Did I have to go that bad? Yes... dragged the girls to the bathroom with me and back downstairs.

I browsed another aisle (the sale items, quickly) and I heard a car alarm outside. I wondered if it was our van, since I had locked my son in, maybe he tried to get out... Sure enough, in he comes, crying and worried, because he "can't get the alarm to stop!" Poor kid. I tried to turn off the car alarm in the store, and it wouldn't work from my keychain. I had my son take the keys outside and turn it off. I actually laughed about it a little. Sometimes stress gets to be too much, and that's all you can do!

I grabbed my last few items and went to the register to pay. I checked my watch, it's 5 minutes until ten, I needed to pick up my daughter at ten. It's at least two minutes away... I waited behind one other customer, and was dragging my girls to the check out counter. "Stay by Mommy, please, we're almost done... No, you can't have that... Ok, you can share some M & M's..." We get to the checkout, and my shirt that was on sale (the whole reason I went to this store!) didn't ring up on sale. I told her about it, she keyed it in the register, and had to get manager approval... I'm thinking, I gotta go get my daughter from her lesson... She's gonna be waiting... Sigh...

We finally got out, picked up my daughter at the college nearby, and she had been waiting. Turns out her lesson was finished early. Sorry... Then I told her about our crazy trip to the store. She told me I'm crazy to try to do all that... No sympathy there...

When we got home, my son went to get his friend from the neighborhood, and my daughter checked our chickens. We let them out into the yard. We do that every few days, they like to explore and eat bugs. Usually they don't stray from the fence boundaries, even if the gates are open. But today, one of the chain-link gates was open, and a chicken got out into the side yard. My son discovered it and yelled for me to help him, so I went outside. The bird was trying to get back in through the fence, and of course, it couldn't. We couldn't get it to go back through the gate, so I got a broom from inside the pantry to help. We got the chicken back in with the broom, and my toddler was at the back door, following me. She pinched her fingers in the door, and cried... Sigh. I got her some ice.

My older daughter and her friend decided to make some crayon shaving art. I am not a big fan of messy art projects, but I said "yes" and allowed them to do their project with my four-year-old, as long as they cleaned it up. They got out the iron, and heated it up. They got out the crayons and began to grate them, onto my cutting board with the grater. The cheese grater came clean... the cutting board, not so much. It's still stained with purple, green and yellow wax. It makes it pretty, right?! We didn't have any wax paper so they used parchment paper. When they ironed it, it didn't stick together. Then... My 4-year-old burned her arm on the iron, and my older daughter performed first aid on her, with aloe vera from the plant and a bandage. "It stinks!" my 4 -year-old complained... I changed the bandage for her and it was better. Three injuries for different people in one day... ugh.

That was all before lunch! I wasn't feeling real hungry, but I ate anyway. I had some leftover salad, and it didn't taste good. My toddler has been fussy, becoming more independent and not wanting anything I do or give to her. "Do it my-helf, Mom!" OK, sigh. I did some cleaning, swept the floor, cleaned up some dishes and counted the minutes until nap time. I can make it...I folded some loads of laundry.

Then nap time came, I got my two little girls down, and went into my room. I folded another load of laundry and put it away. It was raining, and I was glad that I hadn't put any clothes on the clothesline today. I read the Bible, and was having a hard time getting into the passage, in 1 Corinthians, talking about being single and not getting married. A little too late for me... I took a short nap, awakened by my 4 year-old, who "can't sleep."

I changed the loads in the washer, picked up some things, worked on the computer and then my hubby came home. I told him about my day. He was sympathetic, mostly. He thought I was over-zealous trying to go to the store in a half-hour with our three younger kids. I still didn't feel good, didn't eat a huge dinner. After dinner, my hubby left again for more practice at the church, for the Sunday services, they always practice on Wednesday nights. I tweeted about having a challenging day, and asked for prayer.

My husband's aunt, uncle and cousin were getting ready to leave town the next day, they had been staying at his sister's home. They came over to say goodbye. It was nice to see them again, they are all so kind and enjoy the kids so much. Auntie read a book to my youngest daughter, and we talked. My older daughter told them, "Mom had a bad day..." and so I told them some of it. "Aw, we're sorry" and they gave me extra hugs. :'-)  They left, and I was sad again. I got the kids into the bathtub, and into bed, (with my oldest's help!) and then Daddy came home. Finally time to sit and relax. My brother had seen my tweet/ fb post and called me to check on me. That cheered me up a bit.

I thought about my kids' book by Mercer Mayer called Just a Bad Day. And another book called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst. That was how I felt... maybe tomorrow will be better and I won't move to Australia. ;-D

As I went to sleep that night, thinking about it all,  I thanked God that not all days are like this!
I laughed later about this crazy day. Sometimes stress gets to be too much, and that's all you can do! Except pray-- God is in control of it all, and I'm so thankful that He won't tempt us more than we can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13) And that "He will never leave us or forsake us." (Hebrews 13:5b)
___________________________________________

writing prompt #3 -"A bad day"

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

WFMW- Camping supplies list

It's been a while since I had a "Works for Me Wednesday" post, but since we are off camping this week, I thought I'd post my camping supplies list that I print when getting ready for camping. It is great because it helps me not forget something we may really need. I have forgotten minor things in the past, and we really could have used them- like a flyswatter, or toilet paper.

So I will post my list first:


CAMPING SUPPLIES 5/11
kitchen stuff-
  • utensils, knife, long spatula, measuring cup, spoon, SILVERWARE
  • griddle, cheese grater, bowl (s)
  • coffee, tea, cocoa, plastic cups
  • oil sprayer, salt, pepper
  • cutting board, scrubber, detergent-check it 
  • potholders, 2 hand towels, washcloth
  • long skewers, brickettes, tongs,can opener
  • Pie Iron & recipes;      jug for lemonade
  • cook kit (includes pans, plates, mugs)
  • cookstove and fuel (check)
  • cooler with food (see below)
Food-(breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner)
  • B-pancake mix, *syrup
  • B- biscuits, milk, sausage, flour, cheese
  • L-pitas/ bagels / bread
  • L/D-veggies, cheese               *not buy!?
  • *mayo, mustard, ketchup
  • *PB & J
  • S-granola bars, trail mix, cookies
  • S-*chips, apples, fruit
  • lemonade, soda?, tea/ coffee
  • D-burgers and buns, hot dogs
  • D-pasta, pasta sauce, bag of salad, dressing?
  • S-marshmallows, graham crackers,
  • Hershey bars
  • water, ice bricks and cubes (in bag)
Misc-
  • sunscreen (spray?), bug repellent
  • camera, wildflower book, bird book, Passport (in van?)
  • cards, paper, Farkel, Cinqo
  • garbage bags(small too), extra ziplocs, paper towels, foil, TP, napkins, wet ones
  • rain gear, blankets
  • matches, gray lighter, small shovel
  • swiss army knife, flashlights-check batt.’s 
  • pin hammer, duct tape, flyswatter
  • first aid kit           GUITAR?
  • tent, gray TARP, small broom, dust pan
  • sleeping bags (3), pad for R, air mattress, pillows?, air pump, blankets for baby?
  • lantern and fuel       clothesline, c-pins
  • crazy creek chairs, camp chairs
  • fanny pack for first aid kit
  • newspaper, wood- buy?
  • magnesium filings? bin for handwashing
Clothes-
  • jeans, sweats, sweatshirts, tshirts, etc
  • wool socks, undies, shorts
  • hiking boots, sandals
  • hats, swim suits? sunglasses  
  • alarm watch, windbreakers, Bible, hand soap, lotion
  • towel, washcloth, face soap, toothbrushes
  • neck coolers
  • aloe vera 
For Rebekah/ Caleb/ Mallory
  • diapers/ pull-ups, warm clothes, hats
  • swim suits?
  • food, spoons, bibs
  • stroller? awning, tray
  • back & front pack carriers
  • bug spray/ sunscreen
  • toiletries, toothbrushes, medicine?
  • toys, shovel, cars, flashlight toy, C’s mitt
  • magnify glass, paper?
  • camp chairs
For Bethany
___________________________
  • _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • OTHER_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  • MENU Plans
  • D-______________________________
  • B-______________________________
  • L-______________________________
  • D-______________________________
  • S-______________________________
  • B-______________________________
  • L-______________________________
  • ________________________________
  • ________________________________
  • ________________________________
  • ________________________________
  • ________________________________
  • ________________________________

I've left extra bullets and lines to add things that come to mind, like right now we are potty training some, so I will bring my toddler's seat adjuster on this trip!

I found another camping supplies list online a few years ago here: http://wondertime.go.com/create-and-play/article/camping-guide.html

And my father-in-law gave us this book for Christmas several years ago that has lots of great camping tips, ideas, recipes, and even educational things like constellations, types of leaves and trees, etc., I found it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Out-Ultimate-Kids-Guide/dp/0761141227
They have it listed for under $10! 
Hope these lists and tips helped you! I am a list-maker, and love being able to grab it off my computer and use it! So handy! :-D

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Things I wish I learned in science class...

As an adult, there are cool things that I have learned, and I think, "I wish I'd learned THIS in science class! Surely I would have enjoyed it more!" Here are some things I wish I'd learned way back then...

photo by my hubby, Joshua!
1. How to roast coffee- So cool! Coffee can have so much flavor and tastes in it, and roasting it different ways enhances the various flavors. Also coffee beans from different countries and areas taste varying ways. Interesting, I know!

2. How to make lotion by blending various oils- I'd like to have known how different oils affect the skin, which are good for the body and which are not. If you'd like to read what I've learned, check out this post. Some oils don't solidify well, and others shouldn't be mixed. Some oils and extracts are preservatives.
MAKING MY OWN LOTION...

3. How to make my own soap, by melting glycerin and adding different scented oils and colors. I've done this before, and it is cool!

4. How to enrich soil- There are different juices and chemicals that you can add to soil to give it more acid, more nutrients, and more. I learned that lilac bushes like the acids in pickle juice, so I always pour my pickle juice on my lilac bushes. (Unless a kid wants to drink it!)
MY OWN LAUNDRY SOAP...

5. How to make my own laundry detergent- how practical is that?! I'd like to have at least learned what is in laundry soap and how it can affect sensitive skin (like eczema!)

6. How different chemicals in shampoo and conditioner affect different types of hair- I've learned in the past few years that there is floor cleaner in shampoos! Why do we have to have such harsh cleaners going into our hair?! Here is a post where I share what I've learned about curly hair, and the different chemicals in hair care products.

7. How different foods effect the body- I'm sure I learned some of this, but now as a mom I am more interested in what goes into the body and how it changes it, and makes bones, tissues, and organs in different ways.

8. How to use herbs- I've learned how to use some herbs to cure different infections, including garlic, aloe vera, echinacea, and more. I'd still like to learn more about them, I think it is very interesting to use herbs in health care.

I am sure there are more... I can't think of them all right now. I may have learned some of these things and just not remember them!  How could that happen?! :-D

Maybe my kids will learn some of these things in homeschool science classes!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Music Monday- "Do Everything"

I have a new favorite song, it is by one of my favorite artists, Steven Curtis Chapman. I blogged about another song of his here.

This song is BRAND NEW, the CD is not even out yet! I've been hearing this song on the radio the past few weeks, and I really love it! Maybe since I can identify with the first several lines of the song so well, picking up toys on the living room floor... yeah, I do that every day! So it got me thinking, do I do everything and praise God, do everything for HIM, not for me? Convicting thoughts...

Here are the lyrics for his newest single, "Do Everything"


Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything Lyrics
You’re picking up toys on the living room floor
for the 15th time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost
Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
and head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you
Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do
OOoh ooooh oooooh
Maybe you’re that guy with the suit and tie
Maybe your shirt says your name
You may be hooking up mergers, cooking up burgers
But at the end of the day
Little stuff big stuff in between stuff
God sees it all the same
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all
We’ll let me remind you it all matters just as long as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you
To do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Well maybe you’re sitting in math class
Maybe anekatips on a mission in the Congo
Maybe you’re working at the office
Singing along with the radio
Maybe you’re dining at a five star
Or feeding orphans in Myanmar
Anywhere and everywhere you are
Whatever you do it all matters
So do what you do and don’t ever forget
to do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace as you do
Everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing that you do
Ooh oooooh
Every little thing you do
This song ties into the Bible verse found in Colossians 3:17, which says.."And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." I really like songs that tie into Bible verses, then I can sing the verse and thank God for amazing Christian artists that bring me right back to GOD! 
The new CD comes out on August 9th- I can't wait! I LOVE his songs! This is not the first one that has spoken to me as a young mom! 
You can listen and watch it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEqdDdvFXZ0
What are you still doing here? Go listen to it! NOW! :-D

Friday, July 15, 2011

Faithful Friday: Abraham

http://lifeontherock.net

This past Sunday, our pastor gave a great sermon about Abraham, who is one of my favorite Old Testament fathers. The sermon began in Hebrews 11:17-19, talking about Abraham in the "hall of faith." (He also referenced Genesis 22 a lot.) Abraham left his home and followed God's leading into a totally foreign land. God tested him by asking him to sacrifice his only son, the son that Abraham was promised and through whom God would bless him. This circumstance is what the sermon was about...
Abraham counted on God, in Genesis 22, to bring his heritage. God called him, and Abraham responded, "Here am I." He said yes to God, and God's leading in his life. Now, Abraham lived in a region of the world where sons were often sacrificed to a pagan god. Israel was confused if God wanted them to do this. The prophet Micah asked God, what do you require of us? And God said, "Love mercy, walk justly and humbly with your God." The greatest sacrifice is to give up your one and only son, and that was (maybe is?) the same as in pagan religion.
http://bibleencyclopedia.com/picturesjpeg/Abraham_and_Isaac_68a-2.jpg

There is a call on men throughout history to sacrifice sons as a soldier in battle. Patriotism is devotion to the "patros," or fathers, those who came before us, with their sacrificial living and their sacrificial dying. In Genesis 22:2, God asks Abraham to "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac...,"-- the one given as a possession to him by God. God gave Abraham the choice to make. The son whose name meant "laughter" and brought much joy to his home, and the one that you love-- God was asking to give as an offering. And not just any offering, but the entire sacrifice to be consumed. God had promised him, and Abraham may have been tempted to hold tight to Isaac. It was a huge trial, required much faith on Abraham'a part. 
God had told Abraham that through Isaac the seed would be reckoned (Gen. 21:12). THE Almighty God was speaking to Abraham, and though the act God was asking him to do was contrary to his dreams and promise, Abraham obeyed. Another thing to ponder is that Isaac was probably not complacent in it all, he was strong enough to carry the load of wood, of marriageable age, old enough to be a soldier. He could have resisted or run away, but like Jesus, he allows his father to bind him, and does his father's will. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham tells his servant, we will go, worship and we will come back to you. These are strong verbs that indicate Abraham's trust and certainty. 
http://extraordinarymomsnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/abraham-isaac.jpg
In Hebrews 11:19, Abraham received his son back from the dead, showing that "I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your one and only son." (Genesis 22: 12) 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God will make a way out of temptation for us, so that we can endure it. God provided an animal for Abraham to sacrifice on the mountain instead, and Moriah is what Abraham named that place-- meaning, "The Lord will provide." On that same mountain in Jerusalem, years later, God provided another son to be sacrificed for us-- Jesus! 
What a great God we serve! And what a great example to me-- that Abraham would give up his one and only son to and for God. I am not sure that I would be so faithful and willing to sacrifice my son for God like Abraham. It is definitely something to ponder, making me devoted to God and my 'forefathers' in the Bible! Would I be so obedient? Hmmm....
This was a great sermon at our local church, I hope you enjoyed my notes about it. I blogged about another good sermon here.

This is part of the Faithful Bloggers blogging prompts: What dad in the Bible do you most admire?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Necklaces I've made...

My sister-n-law has also given me some necklaces that I love. They are fun to wear since I can match my outfit if I want. I've gotten some neat beads and pendants at Michael's and Hobby Lobby, but also some small-twon bead stores. The first necklace I made was for St. Patrick's Day, and was patterned after one I saw in the newspaper, that a reporter had made. I followed her directions and love that necklace- it is a chunky one with a gold cross pendant (see below).  Of all the jewelry that I've made, necklaces are the most time-consuming. But I love making them, and wearing them! 

 This blue one is a favorite one of mine... I wear it often!
Mother-of-pearl cross

Purple necklace
Clear/ silver with cross
Pink/lt purple/silver with pink heart pendant
Green & gold with yellow/gold cross

My first necklace!
Red necklace with heart/cross
Three tier green/mint green choker
Two tier chunky cool green
Mothers' necklace, with kids' names and birthstone colors
Close-up of kids' names in silver beads
Two-tier pink
My most recent necklace...
A warm green-yellow one with leaves & pretty flower pendant!


You can look and see the bracelets I've made here and the earrings I've made here- fun stuff! :-D

Do you like or make beaded jewelry? I'd love to see it and get some new ideas!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...