Teach Our Daughters, Teach our Sons

The Good Ole' Summertime!

Salvation Army Deals can't be beat!

This was a recent purchase at our Salvation Army! A wonderful way to spend $3.00!!! The cute doll baby was 99cents and the doll carrier was $2.00. See the smile on my real-live doll there. She was happy as can be... and that is priceless! :)

If you never shopped at a thrift store.. give it a try. We found bags full of great items so inexpensive ... and the money goes to help those in need!!!

Great Idea: Jewelry Organization!

I just found this wonderful idea while browsing through some of my favorite blogs.I have many hooks in closets to hold necklaces (in both my own and in my daughter's closets) but this idea is nicer because it can also hold earrings and bracelets.

I even have a very neat old shabby chic door I've had for years. I love the look of but never knew just what to do with it. I think that is what I will use.

Since I needed to bookmark and remember this idea to get this project done, I thought I'd post it here too because someone else might like this great idea as much as I do!

Here is the link to the blog with project directions for the above jewelry organizer!

Pray Often

Mothering: Greatest job ever!

Being a mother is the greatest job ever....

(Thank you Lord for the privilege of raising these children for you!)

Secrets of the Proverbs 31 Woman

This is a cross-stich pattern done by my mother-in-law. It hung in their kitchen. Upon her death, this is one of the two cross-stiches I got of hers.

And here is something I recommend you read....

It is just a very encouraging quick-read from this morning. I wanted to share it with you all!...

Check out this blog post: Here is the link

Sure her family saw this woman at her worst, but her best was what has been remembered by generations.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.”

Our 4th of July picnic!

For many years now, our family didn't really have 4th of July plans. We usually go to a fireworks display somewhere but our 4th of July was pretty open. My husband and I were talking about this a few days prior to the holiday and we wondered how many other people had no plans. We decided to do an impromptu picnic at our house. This can be hard for me sometimes because I like to have my house to a certain level (of cleanliness, organization, and food prep) but I am beginning to enjoy the last minute stuff just as much! This was one of our best 4th of July holidays so far! Thanks to all the families that came out and enjoyed celebrating with us! Just maybe... we'll keep this as an annual event! We are blessed by our American freedoms, and blessed with our wonderful family and friendships and we are all so abundantly blessed by God and His amazing love towards us!!

Here is a photo collage I made of some of the photos from our picnic. I used "Smilebox". Click the purple play button and the images should enlarge indidividually.

Create a free digital collage

We also had an uninvited visitor: No one seemed bothered by him for the most part. I didn't greet and welcome him (I do not like snakes!) but instead asked the kids to encourage him to wander back into the woods! :0

Happy Birthday!!

It's Happy Birthday time again!

Last post was to my youngest daughter. This post is for my oldest daughter!

(I am so blessed as a mother!....Thank you Lord!)

Happy Birthday! You are beautiful on both the inside and out. I hope you always put the Lord first in your life and continue to let Him lead your way! You are a wonderful, helpful, sweet, and creative person!

We love that you are part of our famly! :)

Birthday TIme

My daughter had a birthday party recently. I am late in getting photos up but it was a fun time celebrating. The theme was forest,butterflies, fairies, lady bugs, etc. My little girl will be grown up before I know it as time flies by and I wanted to make sure we had a "little girl" party! :) It was fun!

Butterflies were found everywhere.

This was the prize bar. Instead of making up favor bags ahead of time, I allowed the guests to pick out their own items and place them in a bag.

Some decorations...Have fun! :)

I loved the butterfly napkin rings (from Oriental Trading company)

~the cupcakes ~

Present time

Some of the little friends at her party. Aren't they cute?

Old-fashioned gals

Happy Resurrection Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

This is just a fun photo. My daughter thought it was funny that the store had bunnies bigger than her.

Some of our Easter eggs:

My 5 blessings on Easter morning:

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

He was pierced for us!

Today we wore red dots on our palms. It was a reminder that Jesus died on the cross for each of us. All day, when we looked at our hands, we remembered, and were thankful. We are thankful for this everyday but this reminded us over and over again what a Sacrifice was made on this day in history, for you and for me!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Thankful...

Glimpses of some of the things I am thankful for this week in our home...

This little truck driver...

Music in our home played by my children....

....music that gives glory to our Lord and Savior....

...music that sounds beautiful to the ear!

These little hands that joyfully help.....

Brother and sister as close friends!....

brother and brother playing board games....

Letters for my children, from their pen pals in Kenya....

Starting out... #1-8

The Old Paths Poem

I liked the old paths, when

Moms were at home.

Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army.

And sisters got married

BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;

Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook;

Dads would work;

Children would behave.

Husbands were loving;
Wives were supportive;
And children were polite.

Women wore the jewelry;

And Men wore the pants.
Women looked like ladies;
Men looked like gentlemen;
And children looked decent.

People loved the truth,
And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN,
Not to get OUT!

Hymns sounded Godly;
Sermons sounded helpful;
Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked;

Drugs were for illness;
And divorce was unthinkable.
The flag was honored;
America was beautiful;
And God was welcome!

We read the Bible in public;
Prayed in school;
And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for;
To be called a Christian was worth living for;
To be called a traitor was a shame!

Preachers preached because they had a message;
And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!
Preachers preached from the Bible;
Singers sang from the heart;
And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

A new birth meant a new life;
Salvation meant a changed life;

Following Christ led to eternal life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;
And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible;
Homes read the Bible;
And churches taught the Bible.

God was worshiped;
Christ was exalted;And the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians
on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,
on the creek bank, on the golf course,
Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!
~Author Unknown

Little Boy Loved

Each of these dots could represent a million things I love about that boy!

Happy As The Day

I am enjoying a wonderful book, called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I am sure many of you can say the same. This book is...well, it is just such a beautiful reminder that we are to be thankful in all things. I am thankful for Ann and the eloquent way she brings life to the mundane things of life. We are reading the book aloud in the evenings as a whole family. It has been a blessing. The book is a new treasure to me.

It just so happens that I picked up a book from our bookshelf this week too and this book is an old treasure. It is a very old tresure. It is from 1848. I have had a rekindled love of vintage things recently and this book made me smile. It is entitled Book That Will Suit You.

The messages inside are so wonderful. I hope to share some with you. I started writing notes in my journal and found there was great value in so-o much of the text, I might as well write out the entire passages. :)

The section I want to share here is from a chapter called:

Happy As The Day

" In Thy name shall they rejoice all day."- Psalms 89:16

"The believer has all the elements of misery in his nature, and he is often surrounded by the most trying circumstances; yet he has a source of joy, which is sufficient to enable him to rejoice all the day long. He may be happy every day, and all the day. He should rejoice but not as the world does in health, wealth,wisdom, skill, strength, station, or worldly prospects; but in the name of God.

The name of God assures us of pardon, full, free and immutable; a daily pardon, a pardon of all sin, for a part of His name is "forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." All manner of sin is forgiven. God pardons daily the sins of the heart, the sins of the tongue, the sins of the life; may we not well rejoice all the day in the name of our God, which forbids fear, generates confidence, and promises pardon.

For as unworthy as we are, we are accepted in "the Beloved".

The consistent Christian rejoices in God's name as containing all he needs, and as preventing all he fears. He rejoices in it in private and in public; in prosperity and in trial. His joy is holy and humble; it is abiding and sweet. Reader, a believer has always cause for joy, and the cause of his joy is always the same; and it is his duty as well as his privilege to rejoice in the name of God. The unhappiness of Christians often arises from their ignorance of God's name, or from the working of unbelief, which leads them to fancy that it will not be illustrated in their experience. Believer, do you know God's name? If so, rejoice in it, spread the knowledge of it, and let all see that it is the source of your sweet joy!"

This Moment: Sister Love

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

A Bunch of crafty things!

We love creative adventures in our house- especially us girls. Recently the creative juices have been flowing and we enjoy our relaxation time doing/making things.

Here is my (middle) daughter's second knitted hat. This one only took her 4 days and is a baby gift. She is certainly enjoying her new found ability to knit! :)

I started making fabric flowers. We may use some of these to embellish her knitted creations, but I turned a few into barrettes for my girls since large flowers in the hair are back in fashion. That's a trend I think is lovely!

Here is a floral one in my youngest daughter's hair. She is growing her "bangs" out so these will come in quite handy!

...and here my oldest is also wearing one. This one is recycled from one of her dad's old dress shirts that he thought was starting to look too worn out!

My oldest has also been helping me cover hangers. I started and enlisted her help as we hope to give gifts of 10 or twelve hanger sets next Christmas. The hangers are so nice and practical. THey make your closet look nice but also help your garments stay on the hanger - instead of slipping off and ending up on the floor. (ugh!) I will try to post how to make these later on!

Then if you are one of the many people out there reading and enjoying and being so inspired by this great book....

I thought you might like this link I found. They are inspirational quotes by Ann. It's a free printable. I printed them, laminated and cut them out and then tied each set of four with a ribbon. They make a nice small gift!

Here is where you can find these nice cards!!

Enjoy!