"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver...Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor. 9:6,7, & 15
There are so many ways God speaks to me about life and His awesome power and mercy, but the two that stand out the most are: the parent:child relationship and gardening. My child's behavior will often reflect my own rebellious behavior towards the Lord and it convicts me deeply. On the occasion that she is stubborn or acting out her frustrations, I see how I actually must be treating the Lord when He wants me to obey Him and I want to go my own way. This is usually a quick way for Him to get my attention.
On the other hand, when I am out in the yard tending to plants and sowing seeds, He shows me more of His merciful side. I see His power in the life He breaths into the garden and how we have to be watchmen/women over it. If f we just planted our seedlings and left them alone, they would be overtaken by weeds and bugs and destroyed. I compare the weeds and bugs to the things of this world. I am seeing new weeds pop up daily. Some of them I let get big enough to grab without bending so far and some I rip out as soon as they emerge. I guess it depends on how long I have been outside and how tired I am. Our spiritual gaurd can be down when we are tired or a little lazy too.
When I first started gardening, I was very naive and just planted my seeds in the grassy yard...that was stupid to an experienced gardener. Needless to say, they did not flourish. Then I bought seedlings and pot planted them with just water. These did okay, but they were small. Then I moved on to bigger pots and plant food and nearly daily attention for weed control. I started to put some into the ground and boy did it take off! The more I sweated and invested into them, the better they produced. It is the same way with my spiritual life. When we do not take time with the Lord, to seek out His ways and His will for our lives, it shows. We will reap what we sow in every aspect in our lives.
Now years later, I have learned things to do and things not to do. I am constantly seeking new tips to improve my bounty. I strive to remain in a close walk with the Lord and provide an abundance in the fruits of my labor (in any area). Last year, about half of the seeds that I sowed grew to transplant and harvest. This year, I think nearly every seed I put in the dirt germinated and grew to be transplanted. I had prayed that my garden would be a blessing to us & overflow so we could bless others.
This week, He made answered that prayer. I had about 45-47 tomato plants this season and for my little family of 3, we only needed a handful. I have managed to give away the last 25 or so leaving us with about 10. I will probably still be giving tomatoes away at harvest. I could not have tended to that many tomatoes nor canned them fast enough. Now, several of my dear friends have been blessed and will even be able to give from those and pass that blessing on. If I had tried to keep all of them they would not have thrived and would have been wasted. There are other things in our lives that we are blessed with that we can share in order to have the best harvest.
What are some things in your life that you can pass on to others that would greatly bless them and lessen your load? (outgrown clothes, toys, or shoes, cluttered furniture or books, extra food in the pantry, or money) I just recently went through my daughter's dresser drawers and closet to find some clothes she has not worn or been able to wear in over a year. I am working on losing weight (it has been slow lately) and am loving being able to wear some older clothes of mine, but as soon as the larger ones are too big...they are out, never to return again. I had a bunch of fictional Christian novellas that I ordered for gifts years ago and were left over. I do not read fiction, except for maybe once every 2 years, so I got tired of seeing them collect dust and take up space in our home. I bagged them up and asked my friends on Facebook for any takers. Now, they are in my trunk waiting for me to meet with her:)
Sometimes it is hard to part with "stuff" but once I do, I see the joy that it brings others, and it gives me joy in return. The Lord gave me a revelation years ago one morning in church...I was kinda down and needing a hug. The Lord spoke to me and said, "If you want something, give it to someone else, because you will get it back" I did. I got up from my seat and stopped thinking about myself and hugged on others...guess what?! They hugged me back. The Lord met their needs and my needs all at once with one act of obedience. I pray the Lord speaks to your heart and help you meet someone else's needs.
God bless you and yours.
Marla B.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Choose Your Weapon
This year so far south Mississippi has had a very mild but wet winter. That does not give us much reprieve from the pest population. Since we have been in full Spring mode for a few weeks now, I have noticed that this year is repeating 2001...another Year of the Mosquito. Our property is sloped and low in the back, so when we have a heavy rain it pools and the nearby branch overflows and our yard will not drain for weeks. This becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We use the county given tablets for standing water, but the nearby branch is wooded and privately owned so we do not have the ability to treat those mosquitoes (short of throwing a tablet over the fence). See picture below:
We have had a front blow through slowly that seemed to have stalled over us and dropped torrential amounts of rain in the last 24 hours and is still raining now. Once this stops, I will go get another slew of tablets and toss out back to help protect us, but that is only a small portion of protection since most of them are coming out of the woods.
I have heard some people say that mosquitoes do not bother them, well that is great! That may be true, they may be bitter and not as tasty, or they may not feel them. I on the other hand am sweet and will draw them in droves. My entire family does also. If you find that they do not bother you at all share your diet or blood type so we can learn and try to modify ourselves somehow. Until then we must pick up arms and defend ourselves.
I have been experimenting with homemade repellants. I have several bottles of DEET to use and I will when needed, but I do like the idea of using something a little less toxic. But these mosquitoes seem to be mutant and even get past the DEET for a bite or two! Since we have to spray down from head-to-toe every day several times a day when we go work in the yard or want to sit in the swing, this routine use just cannot be great for you in the long run. I have read many recipes and mixed up one for myself that has actually helped. This year in this swarming season, I have taken on the combat approach. I mixed up a bottle of 30% alcohol/70% water and added peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and lemon extract. I tried to find a lemon grass plant or oil all over town, but could not. I guess I will have to order it online or go to a large nursery. I also am seeking citronella oil (not the burning kind but the scent oil). I just threw in the lemon extract as a desperate measure until I find the lemongrass and citronella oil.
I lit my citronella candles and placed them strategically around where we were going to be working. I bought a Thermacell repellant and an Off clip on fan. I put the Thermacell near me and the clip on where my husband was working since he was not moving around as much. I think my husband had already used the DEET and I sprayed myself down with my new mixture 1st as I went out to pot some marigold plants (said to repell mosquitoes) and it worked pretty good! I would reapply it about every half hour to an hour because it was hot and I was sweaty and afraid I smelled louder than the spray. Then I needed to work on the chicken coop which is along the fence line...this is enemy territory. You can hear them swarming like bees. The brush has grown through the fence. So I sprayed again and added the DEET (I had had a citronella candle burning over there inside the coop for about 2 hours already. I walked over with my supplies and began to work. I could see them flying around my face, but at the end of the day, I think I may have 4 bites on me. I was wearing a T-shirt, knee shorts, and socks/shoes. I think I am going to go get me a few new citronella torches and I might even borrow my dads bug smoker. We have not had to use them in a while but this year calls for more of a militant approach.
Last year when we started the chicken coop, we sprayed with DEET alone every 30-45 minutes and still got ate up. This year I think we will have to use a combination of defenses. I personally do not believe that there is a "single" product out there tough enough to rid us of these dangerous pests. I am a nurse and I have seen first hand what the West Nile Virus can do to you. First of all, you must understand that it is a dormant virus. The virus today is not from your bite this past weekend...it was from a bite last year or years before. Your body just had to have a weak moment for it to come out and manifest into an infection/illness. Brain damage and death is a major complication from this virus, especially children, immune-compromised, and elderly. You cannot give your family too much protection from these tiny but deadly pests. They cause humans health risks and our pets as well. I had a dog that developed a severe case of heart worms years ago...this is from the mosquito. The worms can be killed but will still be present in their body. This treatment cost well over $400.00 and is hard on the animal. The phrase, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been more accurate here.
Do whatever it takes to protect yourself and your family including your pets. Monthly animal protection is worth its weight in gold. If one product works for you, great! But if it takes more than that, by George, use every resource available, even if you have to screen in that beloved porch. Soon I hope to get that fence row cleared off about 10-15 feet and that should help some. Nothing is more precious than life. These creatures are near about enough to make me move back to the desert. If you have found something that works great share it please. There are many that suffer from them more than others. From the land of the mosquito, I am choosing my weapons, what are yours?
God bless you all,
Marla B.
I have heard some people say that mosquitoes do not bother them, well that is great! That may be true, they may be bitter and not as tasty, or they may not feel them. I on the other hand am sweet and will draw them in droves. My entire family does also. If you find that they do not bother you at all share your diet or blood type so we can learn and try to modify ourselves somehow. Until then we must pick up arms and defend ourselves.
I have been experimenting with homemade repellants. I have several bottles of DEET to use and I will when needed, but I do like the idea of using something a little less toxic. But these mosquitoes seem to be mutant and even get past the DEET for a bite or two! Since we have to spray down from head-to-toe every day several times a day when we go work in the yard or want to sit in the swing, this routine use just cannot be great for you in the long run. I have read many recipes and mixed up one for myself that has actually helped. This year in this swarming season, I have taken on the combat approach. I mixed up a bottle of 30% alcohol/70% water and added peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and lemon extract. I tried to find a lemon grass plant or oil all over town, but could not. I guess I will have to order it online or go to a large nursery. I also am seeking citronella oil (not the burning kind but the scent oil). I just threw in the lemon extract as a desperate measure until I find the lemongrass and citronella oil.
I lit my citronella candles and placed them strategically around where we were going to be working. I bought a Thermacell repellant and an Off clip on fan. I put the Thermacell near me and the clip on where my husband was working since he was not moving around as much. I think my husband had already used the DEET and I sprayed myself down with my new mixture 1st as I went out to pot some marigold plants (said to repell mosquitoes) and it worked pretty good! I would reapply it about every half hour to an hour because it was hot and I was sweaty and afraid I smelled louder than the spray. Then I needed to work on the chicken coop which is along the fence line...this is enemy territory. You can hear them swarming like bees. The brush has grown through the fence. So I sprayed again and added the DEET (I had had a citronella candle burning over there inside the coop for about 2 hours already. I walked over with my supplies and began to work. I could see them flying around my face, but at the end of the day, I think I may have 4 bites on me. I was wearing a T-shirt, knee shorts, and socks/shoes. I think I am going to go get me a few new citronella torches and I might even borrow my dads bug smoker. We have not had to use them in a while but this year calls for more of a militant approach.
Last year when we started the chicken coop, we sprayed with DEET alone every 30-45 minutes and still got ate up. This year I think we will have to use a combination of defenses. I personally do not believe that there is a "single" product out there tough enough to rid us of these dangerous pests. I am a nurse and I have seen first hand what the West Nile Virus can do to you. First of all, you must understand that it is a dormant virus. The virus today is not from your bite this past weekend...it was from a bite last year or years before. Your body just had to have a weak moment for it to come out and manifest into an infection/illness. Brain damage and death is a major complication from this virus, especially children, immune-compromised, and elderly. You cannot give your family too much protection from these tiny but deadly pests. They cause humans health risks and our pets as well. I had a dog that developed a severe case of heart worms years ago...this is from the mosquito. The worms can be killed but will still be present in their body. This treatment cost well over $400.00 and is hard on the animal. The phrase, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" has never been more accurate here.
Do whatever it takes to protect yourself and your family including your pets. Monthly animal protection is worth its weight in gold. If one product works for you, great! But if it takes more than that, by George, use every resource available, even if you have to screen in that beloved porch. Soon I hope to get that fence row cleared off about 10-15 feet and that should help some. Nothing is more precious than life. These creatures are near about enough to make me move back to the desert. If you have found something that works great share it please. There are many that suffer from them more than others. From the land of the mosquito, I am choosing my weapons, what are yours?
God bless you all,
Marla B.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Rain, rain go away.
"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me." Psalm 139:1-5
On days like this when it seems to rain every other day all-day, you have to be creative in finding things to do to maintain peace and unity in the house. Everyone needs a little sunshine and gets cranky when we are all under-foot. It is so wet outside right now, that if I stepped out to my car I would be ankle deep in water. I love to do yard work when the temperatures are mild, but that is absolutely out of the question today. In fact, it will take several days for our front yard to dry out and several weeks for our back yard. I am thankful that yesterday was beautiful and my husband and I actually sat in our swing and enjoyed the sunshine. This morning, after breakfast I took the opportunity to help my daughter organize her dresser drawers and filter out things that no longer fit that we can give away while my husband was busy cleaning the kitchen (we share chores and take turns). I cleaned the baths and floors yesterday, so after laundry is done we do not have much left unless we get obsessive about it. My focus is to have less stress in my life, so I will save that for a day when everyone is gone and I am completely bored out of my mind.
Fortunately, I moved my seedlings inside the other day. I had them covered outside, but we had some nights that dipped down to 20 degrees and my corn sprouts died. But I replanted them and everything is coming up nicely inside. We are limited on space so they are on one end of my dining table in the west window. I have built my raised bed, but I need to find some 2x4 scraps to level it and secure it into the ground and finish lining it and get a load of top soil brought in. I plan on making row covers with pvc pipe this year in hopes of avoiding the bugs and reducing heat damage. For now, I have done all that I can do with this rainy weather pattern that we are in this week.
Yesterday I tried to make my first homemade yogurt. I have not tested it yet to see how it is. It smells great, but I have not mustered up the nerve to taste it. I have half of it straining in a coffee filter to make cream cheese. I am in the market for a local fresh milk distributor, so I can make more dairy products at home like cheese and butter. With a bit of elbow grease and time, you can make healthy homemade foods for your family that is not filled with unknown chemicals. I do not get psychotic about it and I do not pay 4 prices for it, but I do my best to find our best options. There is just something special about serving others something that you worked on with your own hands. I would much rather buy something from a carpenter that saw a piece of furniture through from the planning, nailing, sanding, and to the final staining than someone on an assembly line that had no personal care about it.
Last weekend, I made my laundry soap and fabric softener and yesterday, I cleaned up all of my new soap bars. I put the scraps and shavings into jars with boiling water to melt for bath gel. It smells sooo good, I can hardly wait to use them. One is peppermint and one is creme brulee'. There is nothing in the aroma area left to do. I had my initial personal Bible reading this morning and I will read again later before bed, but I will grade papers tonight when it gets dark. So I need to find something productive to do...huhm. I am not in the sewing nor crocheting mood. I may scrapbook or just organize my bedroom. My husband is working on his homework (online classes) and is on the computer. I do not, I repeat, I do not want to waste my time watching TV, but I have a feeling that we may be popping popcorn and watching something before the day is out. I do not know what to do. I need to practice my flute when everyone does not have to have a quiet environment (the focus is on practice). I think I will go in my room and put on some praise music and let the Lord lead me. He helps me turn work into fun. I do not mind scrubbing toilets as long as He is by my side. Who knows...I may just sit in the floor and listen for His voice. I think that sounds like the best idea. While my husband is preoccupied and my daughter is playing with her toys in her floor, I may go relax in mine.
I hope all of you that have yucky weather and cannot get outdoors can find something wholesome to do. Please share your rainy-day activities with me. I love board games and card games, but my husband and child...do not enjoy them as much. God bless and stay dry.
Marla B.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me." Psalm 139:1-5
On days like this when it seems to rain every other day all-day, you have to be creative in finding things to do to maintain peace and unity in the house. Everyone needs a little sunshine and gets cranky when we are all under-foot. It is so wet outside right now, that if I stepped out to my car I would be ankle deep in water. I love to do yard work when the temperatures are mild, but that is absolutely out of the question today. In fact, it will take several days for our front yard to dry out and several weeks for our back yard. I am thankful that yesterday was beautiful and my husband and I actually sat in our swing and enjoyed the sunshine. This morning, after breakfast I took the opportunity to help my daughter organize her dresser drawers and filter out things that no longer fit that we can give away while my husband was busy cleaning the kitchen (we share chores and take turns). I cleaned the baths and floors yesterday, so after laundry is done we do not have much left unless we get obsessive about it. My focus is to have less stress in my life, so I will save that for a day when everyone is gone and I am completely bored out of my mind.
Fortunately, I moved my seedlings inside the other day. I had them covered outside, but we had some nights that dipped down to 20 degrees and my corn sprouts died. But I replanted them and everything is coming up nicely inside. We are limited on space so they are on one end of my dining table in the west window. I have built my raised bed, but I need to find some 2x4 scraps to level it and secure it into the ground and finish lining it and get a load of top soil brought in. I plan on making row covers with pvc pipe this year in hopes of avoiding the bugs and reducing heat damage. For now, I have done all that I can do with this rainy weather pattern that we are in this week.
Yesterday I tried to make my first homemade yogurt. I have not tested it yet to see how it is. It smells great, but I have not mustered up the nerve to taste it. I have half of it straining in a coffee filter to make cream cheese. I am in the market for a local fresh milk distributor, so I can make more dairy products at home like cheese and butter. With a bit of elbow grease and time, you can make healthy homemade foods for your family that is not filled with unknown chemicals. I do not get psychotic about it and I do not pay 4 prices for it, but I do my best to find our best options. There is just something special about serving others something that you worked on with your own hands. I would much rather buy something from a carpenter that saw a piece of furniture through from the planning, nailing, sanding, and to the final staining than someone on an assembly line that had no personal care about it.
Last weekend, I made my laundry soap and fabric softener and yesterday, I cleaned up all of my new soap bars. I put the scraps and shavings into jars with boiling water to melt for bath gel. It smells sooo good, I can hardly wait to use them. One is peppermint and one is creme brulee'. There is nothing in the aroma area left to do. I had my initial personal Bible reading this morning and I will read again later before bed, but I will grade papers tonight when it gets dark. So I need to find something productive to do...huhm. I am not in the sewing nor crocheting mood. I may scrapbook or just organize my bedroom. My husband is working on his homework (online classes) and is on the computer. I do not, I repeat, I do not want to waste my time watching TV, but I have a feeling that we may be popping popcorn and watching something before the day is out. I do not know what to do. I need to practice my flute when everyone does not have to have a quiet environment (the focus is on practice). I think I will go in my room and put on some praise music and let the Lord lead me. He helps me turn work into fun. I do not mind scrubbing toilets as long as He is by my side. Who knows...I may just sit in the floor and listen for His voice. I think that sounds like the best idea. While my husband is preoccupied and my daughter is playing with her toys in her floor, I may go relax in mine.
I hope all of you that have yucky weather and cannot get outdoors can find something wholesome to do. Please share your rainy-day activities with me. I love board games and card games, but my husband and child...do not enjoy them as much. God bless and stay dry.
Marla B.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Fabulously Frugal
Anyone who knows me dearly, knows that I absolutely hate to pay full price for something, especially when it is over-priced to begin with. I imagine that the Proverbs 31 woman had good business sense. Although she lived in an era in which women were not highly esteemed, I can see her bargaining in her purchases. Her husband was presumed to be well respected also and if she was taken advantage of, you could probably expect her to send him to square the deal. I am not at all a feminist, but I imagine she was smart and frugal in her endeavors.
I always search the sale racks before I ever hit the main floor when shopping. I went to a local ladies store last night hoping to find a great deal on something nice. My husband and I were alone on a date night and we ate dinner in the same parking lot of one of my favorite dress shops that I rarely get to go to, soooo we whipped in for a few moments. I was not sure what I was going to find, but I wanted something nice I could wear for work or church. I asked my husband to come in for a second opinion (he usually waits in the car for this). There were not many clearance racks so I was a little disappointed and most were loaded down with sweaters (I am not crazy about them, since I am "hot natured"). As I was double checking the last rack, I ran across a sleeveless dress with bling on the neckline. I usually do not wear much bling on my clothes, but it went to the floor, so it had a bit of dressiness to it. I was so surprised to see the price was $13.99 marked down from $45.00. It was the last one in the store and it was "my" size! I immediately said, "Praise the Lord"! My husband and I both agreed that it was the best deal of the entire sale rack, especially since it covered my entire body. I had just lost 3.5 lbs and was looking for a mini/cheap celebration. I was tickled pink at what the Lord hid on that rack just for me. I was perfectly content to walk out empty-handed if I did not find a great deal, because I do not like to blow my hard-earned money. But I took this as a great blessing from a wonderful God that knows my heart.
I have been working so hard to be obedient lately. This obedience encompasses everything in my life from eating only when I am "physically" hungry, to turning off the TV and Facebook and having quiet family time, to watching my mouth and attitude with my husband when I do not get my way (I realize that I may have struck a few nerves there with those). There are numerous ways to practice our obedience to the Lord and these are just a few. I find that when I die to my flesh, the Lord gives me more life back in other ways. I get happys or jewels in return. The book of Proverbs is full of little nuggets of wisdom for all of us to chew on. When life gets rough and we feel as if we do not have any time to be alone with God (like when the alarm clock does not work or we forgot we needed to be somewhere earlier than usual) I can open my Bible to the Book of Proverbs or Psalms and find a few verses that I can meditate on all day. Sometimes, I learn more out of repeating a short few lines throughout the day, instead of reading several chapters. I prefer to study deeply, but sometimes life pops in unannounced. God has a way of making passages come alive when we seek His truth and revelation.
Now, I am not only frugal with clothes. I shop yard sales and do a lot of do-it-myself projects. I like to enjoy a good cup of coffee on a cold day, but I do not like to pay $3-4.00 for it. My goodness, I can make a meal for my entire family for $3-10.00! My husband and I will make these special treats at home. We get our instant decaf coffee with ice, cream, and sugar and make them at home. I use to buy a certain brand of vanilla syrup for my coffee, but I have not in over a year. The last time I saw it in the store it was well over $4.00 and I about had a fit. The other day when I was wanting some, so I just "Googled" it and found a good recipe to make my own. I whipped it up in about 3 minutes and now I have it in my fridge ready for my next cup of coffee.
Very simple vanilla syrup:
2 Cups of white sugar
2.5 Cups of water
3/4 Cups of brown sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of vanilla extract (like a lot of vanilla so I went for 4.5)
Boil water and sugar until dissolved then add vanilla. Store in a bottle or jar.
I have not tried it yet, but if you prefer sugar-free, I think Splenda should work fine. You would not have to boil it though.
We have a few salvage-type stores around our town and we love to go get great deals there. One time I bought a toaster oven for $1.90. It was new and has worked fine for over 2 years so far. I think I have gotten my money's worth. I think it is very important to be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with. I enjoy giving things to my family and friends and the fact that it did not cause me to go into debt to do it makes it all the sweeter. We do about 3/4 of our grocery shopping at our local salvage grocery store. It has cut our grocery bill down about 2/3-3/4 what it use to cost. We have to know the true prices of items and be picky about dented goods and we get our meats from other grocery store sale events. Every store tends to have a mark-down section. We go early in the morning and find meats less than half of what they were the day before. Pop them in the freezer or cook it that night. I know WalMart "ad matches", but I have not been too successful with that. I need someone to go with me and walk me through it a time or two. Coupons are a great way to save also. Again, you have to know your prices and not buy things that you would not normally buy in order for it to be cost effective.
I pray the Lord pours out His sweet blessings over you this week and helps you to see the best deals available to provide for your family. God Bless you and yours!
Marla B.
I always search the sale racks before I ever hit the main floor when shopping. I went to a local ladies store last night hoping to find a great deal on something nice. My husband and I were alone on a date night and we ate dinner in the same parking lot of one of my favorite dress shops that I rarely get to go to, soooo we whipped in for a few moments. I was not sure what I was going to find, but I wanted something nice I could wear for work or church. I asked my husband to come in for a second opinion (he usually waits in the car for this). There were not many clearance racks so I was a little disappointed and most were loaded down with sweaters (I am not crazy about them, since I am "hot natured"). As I was double checking the last rack, I ran across a sleeveless dress with bling on the neckline. I usually do not wear much bling on my clothes, but it went to the floor, so it had a bit of dressiness to it. I was so surprised to see the price was $13.99 marked down from $45.00. It was the last one in the store and it was "my" size! I immediately said, "Praise the Lord"! My husband and I both agreed that it was the best deal of the entire sale rack, especially since it covered my entire body. I had just lost 3.5 lbs and was looking for a mini/cheap celebration. I was tickled pink at what the Lord hid on that rack just for me. I was perfectly content to walk out empty-handed if I did not find a great deal, because I do not like to blow my hard-earned money. But I took this as a great blessing from a wonderful God that knows my heart.
I have been working so hard to be obedient lately. This obedience encompasses everything in my life from eating only when I am "physically" hungry, to turning off the TV and Facebook and having quiet family time, to watching my mouth and attitude with my husband when I do not get my way (I realize that I may have struck a few nerves there with those). There are numerous ways to practice our obedience to the Lord and these are just a few. I find that when I die to my flesh, the Lord gives me more life back in other ways. I get happys or jewels in return. The book of Proverbs is full of little nuggets of wisdom for all of us to chew on. When life gets rough and we feel as if we do not have any time to be alone with God (like when the alarm clock does not work or we forgot we needed to be somewhere earlier than usual) I can open my Bible to the Book of Proverbs or Psalms and find a few verses that I can meditate on all day. Sometimes, I learn more out of repeating a short few lines throughout the day, instead of reading several chapters. I prefer to study deeply, but sometimes life pops in unannounced. God has a way of making passages come alive when we seek His truth and revelation.
Now, I am not only frugal with clothes. I shop yard sales and do a lot of do-it-myself projects. I like to enjoy a good cup of coffee on a cold day, but I do not like to pay $3-4.00 for it. My goodness, I can make a meal for my entire family for $3-10.00! My husband and I will make these special treats at home. We get our instant decaf coffee with ice, cream, and sugar and make them at home. I use to buy a certain brand of vanilla syrup for my coffee, but I have not in over a year. The last time I saw it in the store it was well over $4.00 and I about had a fit. The other day when I was wanting some, so I just "Googled" it and found a good recipe to make my own. I whipped it up in about 3 minutes and now I have it in my fridge ready for my next cup of coffee.
Very simple vanilla syrup:
2 Cups of white sugar
2.5 Cups of water
3/4 Cups of brown sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of vanilla extract (like a lot of vanilla so I went for 4.5)
Boil water and sugar until dissolved then add vanilla. Store in a bottle or jar.
I have not tried it yet, but if you prefer sugar-free, I think Splenda should work fine. You would not have to boil it though.
We have a few salvage-type stores around our town and we love to go get great deals there. One time I bought a toaster oven for $1.90. It was new and has worked fine for over 2 years so far. I think I have gotten my money's worth. I think it is very important to be good stewards of what the Lord has blessed us with. I enjoy giving things to my family and friends and the fact that it did not cause me to go into debt to do it makes it all the sweeter. We do about 3/4 of our grocery shopping at our local salvage grocery store. It has cut our grocery bill down about 2/3-3/4 what it use to cost. We have to know the true prices of items and be picky about dented goods and we get our meats from other grocery store sale events. Every store tends to have a mark-down section. We go early in the morning and find meats less than half of what they were the day before. Pop them in the freezer or cook it that night. I know WalMart "ad matches", but I have not been too successful with that. I need someone to go with me and walk me through it a time or two. Coupons are a great way to save also. Again, you have to know your prices and not buy things that you would not normally buy in order for it to be cost effective.
I pray the Lord pours out His sweet blessings over you this week and helps you to see the best deals available to provide for your family. God Bless you and yours!
Marla B.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
What color is your thumb?
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15: 1 & 2
I have read this passage so many times in the past 20 years and have only had a generic understanding of it, until the last several years. When I started trying to grow plants, flowers, veggies, and fruit trees, I really saw the underlying meaning. If you have ever planted a seed or nurtured a seedling to fruition, you know that it requires tender loving care. It can be growing beautifully one day and the next day the temperature can change while you are at work and you come home and find a shriveled and unrecognizable excuse for a plant.
I will not claim to be an expert on growing anything and I am a novice at best, but I have learned a few things. Living in southern MS offers a few challenges that tempt me to drive my lawn mower over the whole mess and buy my veggie plants right before producing.
This year, I am considering all of my options to ensure a healthy and productive crop. I try to be as frugal and efficient as possible while getting the maximum results. This spring I will be trying out row covers to keep our hot July/August days from frying and stressing out my crops. Last summer was extremely hot and several of my plants could not tolerate it. Also, I fought an enormous infestation of squash bugs. I will need to make an investment this year to prevent a repeat event. I also want to try "lasagna" or "mulch gardening". This may be less torture on my back than shoveling and hoeing.
I also have one 3 year old and two new 1 year old plum trees to prune this season in hopes to have enough plums this year to make at least 1 jar of jelly. Last year I lost a plum tree to disease right before blooming and my other tree was left solo and unpollinated for the season. I do not even want to discuss the 4 blueberry bushes that I planted that turned brown and all of my berries wrinkled like raisins. I bought two from a nursery and two from a local department store. The two from the nursery showed symptoms first and then it spread to my other two. I was told that blueberries were hard to kill, but apparently they were not referring to me.
There is just something special about digging in the dirt, planting a tiny seed, watering it, and picking a full-grown vegetable that feeds your family. I just don't get the same revelation at the grocery store picking fruit out of a bin. It gives me a deeper glimpse into God's plans for us and how gloriously amazing He is. I love my God and I am always looking for his awesomeness in everything around me. I want to be a good steward of His blessings and give Him my best effort in this earthly life. I look forward to the day when I can sit at His feet and see His beautiful gardens all around without bugs or rotten fruit. Gardens that grow with only a breath and a word. Until then, I must plan and toil to the best of my ability.
I have been reading magazines and watching gardening videos to better prepare me for this spring. I will be more than happy to share the stages of my gardening with you in hopes of getting tips and reducing failures. If you have any expertise on the subject, I am open for any and all help to be a successful gardener. I pray this planting season will be rich in love and my thumb will turn to a nicer shade of green.
God bless you and good night,
Marla B.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15: 1 & 2
I have read this passage so many times in the past 20 years and have only had a generic understanding of it, until the last several years. When I started trying to grow plants, flowers, veggies, and fruit trees, I really saw the underlying meaning. If you have ever planted a seed or nurtured a seedling to fruition, you know that it requires tender loving care. It can be growing beautifully one day and the next day the temperature can change while you are at work and you come home and find a shriveled and unrecognizable excuse for a plant.
I will not claim to be an expert on growing anything and I am a novice at best, but I have learned a few things. Living in southern MS offers a few challenges that tempt me to drive my lawn mower over the whole mess and buy my veggie plants right before producing.
This year, I am considering all of my options to ensure a healthy and productive crop. I try to be as frugal and efficient as possible while getting the maximum results. This spring I will be trying out row covers to keep our hot July/August days from frying and stressing out my crops. Last summer was extremely hot and several of my plants could not tolerate it. Also, I fought an enormous infestation of squash bugs. I will need to make an investment this year to prevent a repeat event. I also want to try "lasagna" or "mulch gardening". This may be less torture on my back than shoveling and hoeing.
I also have one 3 year old and two new 1 year old plum trees to prune this season in hopes to have enough plums this year to make at least 1 jar of jelly. Last year I lost a plum tree to disease right before blooming and my other tree was left solo and unpollinated for the season. I do not even want to discuss the 4 blueberry bushes that I planted that turned brown and all of my berries wrinkled like raisins. I bought two from a nursery and two from a local department store. The two from the nursery showed symptoms first and then it spread to my other two. I was told that blueberries were hard to kill, but apparently they were not referring to me.
There is just something special about digging in the dirt, planting a tiny seed, watering it, and picking a full-grown vegetable that feeds your family. I just don't get the same revelation at the grocery store picking fruit out of a bin. It gives me a deeper glimpse into God's plans for us and how gloriously amazing He is. I love my God and I am always looking for his awesomeness in everything around me. I want to be a good steward of His blessings and give Him my best effort in this earthly life. I look forward to the day when I can sit at His feet and see His beautiful gardens all around without bugs or rotten fruit. Gardens that grow with only a breath and a word. Until then, I must plan and toil to the best of my ability.
I have been reading magazines and watching gardening videos to better prepare me for this spring. I will be more than happy to share the stages of my gardening with you in hopes of getting tips and reducing failures. If you have any expertise on the subject, I am open for any and all help to be a successful gardener. I pray this planting season will be rich in love and my thumb will turn to a nicer shade of green.
God bless you and good night,
Marla B.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Bringing in the New Year
It seems like I just adjusted to writing the year 2011 and here we are with 2012 upon us. I have had many ideas flow through my head about what I want out of this new year. I want fewer hassles and troubles and more blessings and opportunities to help others. Last year my husband fell and shattered his wrist while out doing routine yard work, Thanksgiving week feasts were replaced with a stomach virus, and bronchitis blew in during the Christmas holiday break.
This year I have a big list of things to get done:
If you have any great organizational tips, please share them. I am always open to new and creative ideas. God Bless you and I pray your New Year is full of love and grace...In Jesus mighty name!
This year I have a big list of things to get done:
- I want my family to have a significant spiritual growth. I believe our relationship with the LORD is the most important one to invest our time and energy in, all others will follow suit.
- I am seeking physical health and wellness for my entire family. We have much excess weight to shed and need more physical activity. The older we get, the more exercise is needed to maintain fitness. I use to feel strong and solid, but now I feel weak and fragile. I do not desire a luxurious vain physique, but I do want to be a good steward of this body the LORD gave me.
- I want to be wise with my time and spend more of it productively and less of it looking at the TV or reading Facebook. My in-laws are becoming more and more needy everyday and it is quite possible that we may become their care-takers this year. This situation needs lots of prayers. We do not have any answers, but we know the Lord has us all in His hands.
- I want to merge into online instructing and prepare myself to be home with my daughter next Fall. She will be graduating this May and since she has Down syndrome, she will need to continue a learning routine at home. I will have to construct a routine for her that will benefit the housework, hobby-farm, & her living-skills while allowing me to contribute to the income.
- I want to de-clutter my surroundings. We down-sized in space, but still are bursting at the seams. I want to have a bit more elbow room, but also organize and purge the unused items we have surrounding us. After hurricane Katrina destroyed about 40% of our possessions, we became less attached to things. We grew again in space over the years and last year we down-sized by half. I still love crafting and re-purposing items, but I have to be very picky about what I hold on to or things can pile up quickly waiting for me to find the time to complete a new project.
If you have any great organizational tips, please share them. I am always open to new and creative ideas. God Bless you and I pray your New Year is full of love and grace...In Jesus mighty name!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Lord is my helper
"Let brotherly love continue.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--
since you yourselves are in the body also...
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.;
So we may boldly say:
'The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:1-3, 5-6 NKJV
During the Christmas season, I start thinking about those that do not have family to celebrate with. My husband use to work on an ambulance and I am a nurse, so we have seen the lonely geriatric population that reside in nursing homes. As a child he and his family use to dress up and all go to nursing homes and jails to sing while his parents played the piano. When we first were married we went to a local nursing home and he sang (I ran the CD player). Life has gotten busy lately and we have gotten away from activities that are independent from church. This season has been filled with illness, so I will look for another holiday that we may be able to serve them. There are so many that do not have family to take them home for the holidays throughout the year. They just stay in the facility with the few left behind. There are lots of ways that entire families can show love to those without families. Children can make snacks, crafts, or simple holiday tokens can be purchased from the local dollar store. Whenever cooking for a large population, remember that many are on special diets, such as sugar-free, low sodium, and dysphagia (difficulty chewing or swallowing). While some may love cookies, others may need pudding.
I love to entertain guests. We presently do not have much room, but it is a joy for me to host someone a place to stay overnight, especially when the kids are out of school on break and everyone gets to interact. Also, we have a large dog and 3 cats. We have not finished our chicken coop, so we do not have our chickens yet. I hope we can finish the run soon and open it up for our future tenants.
We love our animal family and we try to include them in all of our celebrating. It can get expensive to treat them medically, so we try to save money any way we can. I made my dog some cookies last week and she loved them. It was a simple recipe of wheat flour, bacon drippings, eggs, and salt. You can make them in fun shapes with cookie cutters (bone-shaped), but I just rolled them in a ball and flattened them. I found the recipe at http://www.homemadedogtreats.net/ I made a half recipe and I am glad that I did, because they started going bad in about a week. So next time, I will freeze most of them and only get out about 3 days worth at a time. Next time, I want to try the chicken liver treats.
We have treats in their stocking and a big bone that will not quite fit.
This Christmas season, I hope you find a special way to include those extra people/pets in your celebrations. The gift of a giving heart always returns multiplied. There was one time that I was feeling kinda needy and lonely and the Lord told me that if I wanted something, to give away. I was needing a hug and fellowship at that time in my life, so I did just what He said...I stepped out of my shy shell and I gave others hugs and fellowshipped with them. I no longer felt alone and sad, the Lord filled me with love when I was willing to step out and not think about my needs, but look toward other people's needs. The Lord is my helper.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Marla B.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--
since you yourselves are in the body also...
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.;
So we may boldly say:
'The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:1-3, 5-6 NKJV
During the Christmas season, I start thinking about those that do not have family to celebrate with. My husband use to work on an ambulance and I am a nurse, so we have seen the lonely geriatric population that reside in nursing homes. As a child he and his family use to dress up and all go to nursing homes and jails to sing while his parents played the piano. When we first were married we went to a local nursing home and he sang (I ran the CD player). Life has gotten busy lately and we have gotten away from activities that are independent from church. This season has been filled with illness, so I will look for another holiday that we may be able to serve them. There are so many that do not have family to take them home for the holidays throughout the year. They just stay in the facility with the few left behind. There are lots of ways that entire families can show love to those without families. Children can make snacks, crafts, or simple holiday tokens can be purchased from the local dollar store. Whenever cooking for a large population, remember that many are on special diets, such as sugar-free, low sodium, and dysphagia (difficulty chewing or swallowing). While some may love cookies, others may need pudding.
I love to entertain guests. We presently do not have much room, but it is a joy for me to host someone a place to stay overnight, especially when the kids are out of school on break and everyone gets to interact. Also, we have a large dog and 3 cats. We have not finished our chicken coop, so we do not have our chickens yet. I hope we can finish the run soon and open it up for our future tenants.
We love our animal family and we try to include them in all of our celebrating. It can get expensive to treat them medically, so we try to save money any way we can. I made my dog some cookies last week and she loved them. It was a simple recipe of wheat flour, bacon drippings, eggs, and salt. You can make them in fun shapes with cookie cutters (bone-shaped), but I just rolled them in a ball and flattened them. I found the recipe at http://www.homemadedogtreats.net/ I made a half recipe and I am glad that I did, because they started going bad in about a week. So next time, I will freeze most of them and only get out about 3 days worth at a time. Next time, I want to try the chicken liver treats.
We have treats in their stocking and a big bone that will not quite fit.
This Christmas season, I hope you find a special way to include those extra people/pets in your celebrations. The gift of a giving heart always returns multiplied. There was one time that I was feeling kinda needy and lonely and the Lord told me that if I wanted something, to give away. I was needing a hug and fellowship at that time in my life, so I did just what He said...I stepped out of my shy shell and I gave others hugs and fellowshipped with them. I no longer felt alone and sad, the Lord filled me with love when I was willing to step out and not think about my needs, but look toward other people's needs. The Lord is my helper.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Marla B.
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