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Holiday Pecan Log
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons plus 1/2 cup butter, softened, divided
3-3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (14 ounces) caramels
1 tablespoon milk or half-and-half cream
2 cups chopped pecans
Directions:
Butter an 8-in. square pan with 2 teaspoons butter; set aside.
Combine confectioners sugar and milk powder; set aside.
In a heavy saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, sugar and corn syrup; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil.
Stir in confectioners’ sugar mixture, about a third at a time, until blended.
Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla.
Continue stirring until the mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon.
Spread into prepared pan. Cool.
Cut candy into four strips; cut each strip in half.
Shape each into a log; wrap in waxed paper and twist ends.
Freeze or refrigerate until firm.
Meanwhile, in a microwave, melt caramels with milk, stirring often.
Roll logs in caramel mixture, then in pecans. Wrap in waxed paper.
Store at room temperature in airtight containers.
Cut into slices with a serrated knife.
Yield: about 3-1/4 pounds.
3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe
Filling in The Gaps: What Really Happens in Other People's Homes
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I've written before that it can be so easy to feel like magic and wonder happens nonstop in our friend's houses, or others whom we admire, while life at our own home can be so lackadaisical. We imagine (or hear about) happy picnics, creative crafts, and loving interactions; meanwhile, we're buried in laundry, dishes, and undone chores, while our children squabble with each other, whine, complain, and fail to respond cheerfully, quickly, and obediently at times (many times). Reading whimsical status updates on Facebook or inspiring blog posts only serves to makes us feel more discouraged about real life in our very real home.
For example, awhile back, I read about a good friend's homeschool day. Her sons reenacted Jamestown by building forts out of Lincoln Logs (my boys just throw Lincoln Logs every which way and have yet to build any kind of structure). She shared that her sons went outside to "build wattle and daub [mud] walls just as the colonists did for their homes and buildings inside the fort." They "drove stakes (small sticks) into the ground, intertwined vines...in between the stakes and formed mud around the structure to dry and harden."
Doesn't that sound highly creative and tremendously impressive? The sting of comparison began; I wished we could have a day like that, where the boys were that creative with their play and got along well enough and long enough to work together on projects like that.
And yet...
My friend was honest enough to "fill in the gaps." With her permission, I'll share what really happened (from her post):
We can live our lives comparing ourselves to a standard that doesn't exist, because we are all imperfect people. Or we can embrace the days that we have been given and live them out fully, to the best of our ability. With heaping spoonfuls of God's grace, we can aim to make magic within our own walls. But when we hit reality, as everyone does (even though you won't hear about it on Facebook), know that you're not the only one. Most people simply fail to fill in the gaps.
(P.S. I really recommend Amanda's blog, Spilled Milk and Wet Kisses. Especially for homeschool moms, I think it will inspire and encourage you, as it points you closer to the Lord. Take a look around; you'll be glad you did)
Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Works for Me Wednesday
For example, awhile back, I read about a good friend's homeschool day. Her sons reenacted Jamestown by building forts out of Lincoln Logs (my boys just throw Lincoln Logs every which way and have yet to build any kind of structure). She shared that her sons went outside to "build wattle and daub [mud] walls just as the colonists did for their homes and buildings inside the fort." They "drove stakes (small sticks) into the ground, intertwined vines...in between the stakes and formed mud around the structure to dry and harden."
Doesn't that sound highly creative and tremendously impressive? The sting of comparison began; I wished we could have a day like that, where the boys were that creative with their play and got along well enough and long enough to work together on projects like that.And yet...
My friend was honest enough to "fill in the gaps." With her permission, I'll share what really happened (from her post):
"Today was honestly a very frustrating day...I felt that nothing was getting done to the level that I had expected it to. My plan for sitting and reading turned into a disaster as books were falling off the couch, Hannah was all over, drooling over everything and screeching. Austen kept zoning out, Moriah was being a complete 'Ramona' and Jay was fine.---What I love about Amanda's post is--it's real. And it made me feel better about my own situation. (Ha ha). I love the crackers and ice water part, too. It's just real life.
When we were outside building our walls, Austen kept asking me over and over if there were ants outside, and if they were going to climb up their wall (to see my son's opinion of ants see this post nature walk turns deadly.) Then, when the boys went upstairs they kept coming down over and over because "so-and-so was not helping, they weren't sure how to do it....". I had imagined them upstairs for hours playing and creating this fort. Darn you expectations. THEN, our Lincoln Logs kept falling over, Hannah again, crept upstairs and tried to be the jolly green giant and overtake the poor Indians and Colonists. Then, after it was all over, Moriah destroyed the entire fort. The icing on the cake.
To say that I felt quite defeated today was for sure. It was just a frustrating day. I want every day to move seamless and smooth and that is an unrealistic expectation, I want Moriah to be a "big helper" everyday and that is unrealistic. Finally, tonight, the kids were told to go upstairs to brush teeth.....we hear run, laugh, run, laugh, scream.....run upstairs and Austen caught a corner with his forehead, huge bump, huge gash that by God's grace did not break open and averting a trip to the Urgent Care and huge screams. Ok, breathe, God give me grace right now because more than anything I feel angry for their disobedience. Needless to say, I am thankful they are in bed...
Anyone else ever have days like mine? More than anything I want to down an iced mocha with whip....more than anything....but since we have no coffee and I am too tired to go out , I"ll settle for crackers and iced water instead. Here's to a new day tomorrow."
We can live our lives comparing ourselves to a standard that doesn't exist, because we are all imperfect people. Or we can embrace the days that we have been given and live them out fully, to the best of our ability. With heaping spoonfuls of God's grace, we can aim to make magic within our own walls. But when we hit reality, as everyone does (even though you won't hear about it on Facebook), know that you're not the only one. Most people simply fail to fill in the gaps.
(P.S. I really recommend Amanda's blog, Spilled Milk and Wet Kisses. Especially for homeschool moms, I think it will inspire and encourage you, as it points you closer to the Lord. Take a look around; you'll be glad you did)
Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Works for Me Wednesday
Replacing "I Can't" with "I Can"
To contact us Click HERE
"Mommy, will you build a castle tower with me?" asked my little three-year old buddy.
"I can't right now," I was about to say, but I stopped myself. Why couldn't I? What was I about to do? Putz around the house and look for stuff to pick up? Load dishes into the dishwasher? Throw laundry in the wash? Important tasks, yes, when it comes to keeping our home running smoothly, but so important that I couldn't sit on the floor and build a castle tower with my son?
On the heels of my friend's post about playing with our kids, I resolved to say, "I can't" less and "I can" more.
We sat on the floor with the instruction booklet, and we built the castle out of blocks. It really didn't take that long (maybe 15 minutes), and it was actually quite fun. The laundry didn't mind waiting. My son treasured his little castle that he built with Mom (until baby sister crawled over and knocked it down).
Yesterday, after the boys woke their baby sister up from her nap too soon, I was rather frustrated. "Will you read me this story, Mommy?" one asked. Feeling a little grouchy, I was about to respond, "I can't right now; let's go downstairs." But I stopped myself and tried the "I can" challenge.
We all curled up on the bed with pillows piled all around, cuddled up together, laid with heads touching and read Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
I realized then that it will be the "I can" moments that reward us with the sweetest memories of motherhood. We can so easily miss out on them with two seemingly simple words, "I can't." Yet, they'll rob us of the joy we could experience in everyday moments at home if we resolved to say "I can" more often.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).
Sharing with:
We are That Family
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
"I can't right now," I was about to say, but I stopped myself. Why couldn't I? What was I about to do? Putz around the house and look for stuff to pick up? Load dishes into the dishwasher? Throw laundry in the wash? Important tasks, yes, when it comes to keeping our home running smoothly, but so important that I couldn't sit on the floor and build a castle tower with my son?
On the heels of my friend's post about playing with our kids, I resolved to say, "I can't" less and "I can" more.
We sat on the floor with the instruction booklet, and we built the castle out of blocks. It really didn't take that long (maybe 15 minutes), and it was actually quite fun. The laundry didn't mind waiting. My son treasured his little castle that he built with Mom (until baby sister crawled over and knocked it down).
Yesterday, after the boys woke their baby sister up from her nap too soon, I was rather frustrated. "Will you read me this story, Mommy?" one asked. Feeling a little grouchy, I was about to respond, "I can't right now; let's go downstairs." But I stopped myself and tried the "I can" challenge.
We all curled up on the bed with pillows piled all around, cuddled up together, laid with heads touching and read Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
I realized then that it will be the "I can" moments that reward us with the sweetest memories of motherhood. We can so easily miss out on them with two seemingly simple words, "I can't." Yet, they'll rob us of the joy we could experience in everyday moments at home if we resolved to say "I can" more often.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).
Sharing with:
We are That Family
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
What's On My Floors Could Be the Death of My Daughter
To contact us Click HERE
My three sons have learned a new phrase in the past few weeks:
Choking hazard.
A curious, crawling eight-month old baby loves to find things and put them into her mouth--things that I might miss, that the boys lazily leave lying around. Things like candy wrappers, coins, band-aid peels. Things that could easily cause a baby to choke.
We've had a few incidents.
The first involved the peel from the back of a band-aid. I didn't know one of the boys had gotten a band-aid, unwrapped it, and left the wrappers on the floor. Little Lauren was crawling around the kitchen, and suddenly, I heard her gagging. Nothing puts more panic in the heart of a momma than to see her baby's face turning red as she's gagging and struggling to get air.
I turned her over my leg, thumped on her back several times, and prayed. Fortunately, a few days before, I had asked my husband what you're supposed to do if an infant is choking on something, if turning them over and thumping them on the back doesn't help. He reminded me that you're supposed to look in the mouth and finger sweep the item out if you can see it or feel it.
That's when I could see the band-aid peel stuck far back on the roof of her mouth, going down her esophagus. I prayed that I could quickly get it out, without pushing it down further.
Doing this on a frantic baby is about as easy as it would be on a cat. It was sight unseen, but it worked. The wrapper came out.
It took all day for my nerves to calm down.
Since then, we've had another scare with another kind of wrapper or piece of construction paper(I can't remember what it was; I only remember the gagging and turning red). Just today, I had to fish a Hershey's kiss foil wrapper out of her mouth.
While extremely scary, these ordeals have been a great kick in the pants for the boys to learn better habits. They cannot be so lazy, for lack of a better word, to just peel something and let the wrapper drop and lay. They cannot take coins out of their piggy banks and leave them on the floor. Everyone must pay super close attention to what is on the floor and remove anything that could be a choking hazard.
As for me, I need to diligently sweep the kitchen and vacuum other rooms, watching closely for little items that may not be a big deal normally but are a huge deal with a baby.
Looking on the bright side, having a baby can be a huge motivator to step up one's home management.
Choking hazard.
A curious, crawling eight-month old baby loves to find things and put them into her mouth--things that I might miss, that the boys lazily leave lying around. Things like candy wrappers, coins, band-aid peels. Things that could easily cause a baby to choke.
We've had a few incidents.
The first involved the peel from the back of a band-aid. I didn't know one of the boys had gotten a band-aid, unwrapped it, and left the wrappers on the floor. Little Lauren was crawling around the kitchen, and suddenly, I heard her gagging. Nothing puts more panic in the heart of a momma than to see her baby's face turning red as she's gagging and struggling to get air.
I turned her over my leg, thumped on her back several times, and prayed. Fortunately, a few days before, I had asked my husband what you're supposed to do if an infant is choking on something, if turning them over and thumping them on the back doesn't help. He reminded me that you're supposed to look in the mouth and finger sweep the item out if you can see it or feel it.
That's when I could see the band-aid peel stuck far back on the roof of her mouth, going down her esophagus. I prayed that I could quickly get it out, without pushing it down further.
Doing this on a frantic baby is about as easy as it would be on a cat. It was sight unseen, but it worked. The wrapper came out.
It took all day for my nerves to calm down.
Since then, we've had another scare with another kind of wrapper or piece of construction paper(I can't remember what it was; I only remember the gagging and turning red). Just today, I had to fish a Hershey's kiss foil wrapper out of her mouth.
While extremely scary, these ordeals have been a great kick in the pants for the boys to learn better habits. They cannot be so lazy, for lack of a better word, to just peel something and let the wrapper drop and lay. They cannot take coins out of their piggy banks and leave them on the floor. Everyone must pay super close attention to what is on the floor and remove anything that could be a choking hazard.
As for me, I need to diligently sweep the kitchen and vacuum other rooms, watching closely for little items that may not be a big deal normally but are a huge deal with a baby.
Looking on the bright side, having a baby can be a huge motivator to step up one's home management.
Religion (Faith) IS For Children: A Response to an Athiest Who Doesn't Want Her Child Invited to Church
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I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo Credit
The vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit
This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo CreditThe vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“I understand why these children feel it is imperative to invite Miss N tochurch. It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat a snack and talk about theunderlying fear of what happens after you die. These children love Miss N andeven though they can't quite articulate it in this way, they think we'refailing Miss N and her brother by not taking them to church.Ms JoyFG is sadly mistaken, in my opinion.
This part will be touchy for people who do not believe the same as we do andI respect that; I'll raise my kids and you can raise yours. I do notthink religion is for children. I think that they should be exposed tothe beliefs of all people, and while I will tell my children "this is whatMommy and Daddy believe," I do not expect her to believe the same thing…
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
2 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba
"Iron Chef" Contestant Viet Pham Inspires Us
To contact us Click HERE
My first Chew and Chat column forthe Standard-Examiner http://www.hersutah.com/story/utah-restaurateur-gets-cooking-iron-chef serves as a pep talk for those of us who lost jobsin the recession. Pick yourself up andget going, because success may be just around the corner.Case in point: Utah chef Viet Phamlost his job at the Provo restaurant Spark in January 2009. Now on Jan. 6, he's competing against Bobby Flay on the Food Network's "Iron Chef." He made it to the finals of "Extreme Chef" last fall. He and his business partner, Bowman Brown, were named among Food & Wine magazine's Best Young Chefs in 2011 and were nominated for a James Beard Award as well.
I met the two chefs in the spring of 2009, whenthey were still working on getting Forage up and running. It sounded like a unique concept for Utah: serving just one fixed-priced, small-plates meal each night,with the menu changing every day based on what was fresh and in season. But I wondered if it would fly, because it was pricey for cost-conscious Utah. Also, our winters make seasonal cooking a lot more difficult than, say, California. Sothey were building their own greenhouse to raise their own produce.
My first Chew and Chat column forthe Standard-Examiner http://www.hersutah.com/story/utah-restaurateur-gets-cooking-iron-chef serves as a pep talk for those of us who lost jobsin the recession. Pick yourself up andget going, because success may be just around the corner.Case in point: Utah chef Viet Phamlost his job at the Provo restaurant Spark in January 2009. Now on Jan. 6, he's competing against Bobby Flay on the Food Network's "Iron Chef." He made it to the finals of "Extreme Chef" last fall. He and his business partner, Bowman Brown, were named among Food & Wine magazine's Best Young Chefs in 2011 and were nominated for a James Beard Award as well.
I met the two chefs in the spring of 2009, whenthey were still working on getting Forage up and running. It sounded like a unique concept for Utah: serving just one fixed-priced, small-plates meal each night,with the menu changing every day based on what was fresh and in season. But I wondered if it would fly, because it was pricey for cost-conscious Utah. Also, our winters make seasonal cooking a lot more difficult than, say, California. Sothey were building their own greenhouse to raise their own produce.
Filling in The Gaps: What Really Happens in Other People's Homes
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I've written before that it can be so easy to feel like magic and wonder happens nonstop in our friend's houses, or others whom we admire, while life at our own home can be so lackadaisical. We imagine (or hear about) happy picnics, creative crafts, and loving interactions; meanwhile, we're buried in laundry, dishes, and undone chores, while our children squabble with each other, whine, complain, and fail to respond cheerfully, quickly, and obediently at times (many times). Reading whimsical status updates on Facebook or inspiring blog posts only serves to makes us feel more discouraged about real life in our very real home.
For example, awhile back, I read about a good friend's homeschool day. Her sons reenacted Jamestown by building forts out of Lincoln Logs (my boys just throw Lincoln Logs every which way and have yet to build any kind of structure). She shared that her sons went outside to "build wattle and daub [mud] walls just as the colonists did for their homes and buildings inside the fort." They "drove stakes (small sticks) into the ground, intertwined vines...in between the stakes and formed mud around the structure to dry and harden."
Doesn't that sound highly creative and tremendously impressive? The sting of comparison began; I wished we could have a day like that, where the boys were that creative with their play and got along well enough and long enough to work together on projects like that.
And yet...
My friend was honest enough to "fill in the gaps." With her permission, I'll share what really happened (from her post):
We can live our lives comparing ourselves to a standard that doesn't exist, because we are all imperfect people. Or we can embrace the days that we have been given and live them out fully, to the best of our ability. With heaping spoonfuls of God's grace, we can aim to make magic within our own walls. But when we hit reality, as everyone does (even though you won't hear about it on Facebook), know that you're not the only one. Most people simply fail to fill in the gaps.
(P.S. I really recommend Amanda's blog, Spilled Milk and Wet Kisses. Especially for homeschool moms, I think it will inspire and encourage you, as it points you closer to the Lord. Take a look around; you'll be glad you did)
Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Works for Me Wednesday
For example, awhile back, I read about a good friend's homeschool day. Her sons reenacted Jamestown by building forts out of Lincoln Logs (my boys just throw Lincoln Logs every which way and have yet to build any kind of structure). She shared that her sons went outside to "build wattle and daub [mud] walls just as the colonists did for their homes and buildings inside the fort." They "drove stakes (small sticks) into the ground, intertwined vines...in between the stakes and formed mud around the structure to dry and harden."
Doesn't that sound highly creative and tremendously impressive? The sting of comparison began; I wished we could have a day like that, where the boys were that creative with their play and got along well enough and long enough to work together on projects like that.And yet...
My friend was honest enough to "fill in the gaps." With her permission, I'll share what really happened (from her post):
"Today was honestly a very frustrating day...I felt that nothing was getting done to the level that I had expected it to. My plan for sitting and reading turned into a disaster as books were falling off the couch, Hannah was all over, drooling over everything and screeching. Austen kept zoning out, Moriah was being a complete 'Ramona' and Jay was fine.---What I love about Amanda's post is--it's real. And it made me feel better about my own situation. (Ha ha). I love the crackers and ice water part, too. It's just real life.
When we were outside building our walls, Austen kept asking me over and over if there were ants outside, and if they were going to climb up their wall (to see my son's opinion of ants see this post nature walk turns deadly.) Then, when the boys went upstairs they kept coming down over and over because "so-and-so was not helping, they weren't sure how to do it....". I had imagined them upstairs for hours playing and creating this fort. Darn you expectations. THEN, our Lincoln Logs kept falling over, Hannah again, crept upstairs and tried to be the jolly green giant and overtake the poor Indians and Colonists. Then, after it was all over, Moriah destroyed the entire fort. The icing on the cake.
To say that I felt quite defeated today was for sure. It was just a frustrating day. I want every day to move seamless and smooth and that is an unrealistic expectation, I want Moriah to be a "big helper" everyday and that is unrealistic. Finally, tonight, the kids were told to go upstairs to brush teeth.....we hear run, laugh, run, laugh, scream.....run upstairs and Austen caught a corner with his forehead, huge bump, huge gash that by God's grace did not break open and averting a trip to the Urgent Care and huge screams. Ok, breathe, God give me grace right now because more than anything I feel angry for their disobedience. Needless to say, I am thankful they are in bed...
Anyone else ever have days like mine? More than anything I want to down an iced mocha with whip....more than anything....but since we have no coffee and I am too tired to go out , I"ll settle for crackers and iced water instead. Here's to a new day tomorrow."
We can live our lives comparing ourselves to a standard that doesn't exist, because we are all imperfect people. Or we can embrace the days that we have been given and live them out fully, to the best of our ability. With heaping spoonfuls of God's grace, we can aim to make magic within our own walls. But when we hit reality, as everyone does (even though you won't hear about it on Facebook), know that you're not the only one. Most people simply fail to fill in the gaps.
(P.S. I really recommend Amanda's blog, Spilled Milk and Wet Kisses. Especially for homeschool moms, I think it will inspire and encourage you, as it points you closer to the Lord. Take a look around; you'll be glad you did)
Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Works for Me Wednesday
Replacing "I Can't" with "I Can"
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"Mommy, will you build a castle tower with me?" asked my little three-year old buddy.
"I can't right now," I was about to say, but I stopped myself. Why couldn't I? What was I about to do? Putz around the house and look for stuff to pick up? Load dishes into the dishwasher? Throw laundry in the wash? Important tasks, yes, when it comes to keeping our home running smoothly, but so important that I couldn't sit on the floor and build a castle tower with my son?
On the heels of my friend's post about playing with our kids, I resolved to say, "I can't" less and "I can" more.
We sat on the floor with the instruction booklet, and we built the castle out of blocks. It really didn't take that long (maybe 15 minutes), and it was actually quite fun. The laundry didn't mind waiting. My son treasured his little castle that he built with Mom (until baby sister crawled over and knocked it down).
Yesterday, after the boys woke their baby sister up from her nap too soon, I was rather frustrated. "Will you read me this story, Mommy?" one asked. Feeling a little grouchy, I was about to respond, "I can't right now; let's go downstairs." But I stopped myself and tried the "I can" challenge.
We all curled up on the bed with pillows piled all around, cuddled up together, laid with heads touching and read Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
I realized then that it will be the "I can" moments that reward us with the sweetest memories of motherhood. We can so easily miss out on them with two seemingly simple words, "I can't." Yet, they'll rob us of the joy we could experience in everyday moments at home if we resolved to say "I can" more often.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).
Sharing with:
We are That Family
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
"I can't right now," I was about to say, but I stopped myself. Why couldn't I? What was I about to do? Putz around the house and look for stuff to pick up? Load dishes into the dishwasher? Throw laundry in the wash? Important tasks, yes, when it comes to keeping our home running smoothly, but so important that I couldn't sit on the floor and build a castle tower with my son?
On the heels of my friend's post about playing with our kids, I resolved to say, "I can't" less and "I can" more.
We sat on the floor with the instruction booklet, and we built the castle out of blocks. It really didn't take that long (maybe 15 minutes), and it was actually quite fun. The laundry didn't mind waiting. My son treasured his little castle that he built with Mom (until baby sister crawled over and knocked it down).
Yesterday, after the boys woke their baby sister up from her nap too soon, I was rather frustrated. "Will you read me this story, Mommy?" one asked. Feeling a little grouchy, I was about to respond, "I can't right now; let's go downstairs." But I stopped myself and tried the "I can" challenge.
We all curled up on the bed with pillows piled all around, cuddled up together, laid with heads touching and read Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
I realized then that it will be the "I can" moments that reward us with the sweetest memories of motherhood. We can so easily miss out on them with two seemingly simple words, "I can't." Yet, they'll rob us of the joy we could experience in everyday moments at home if we resolved to say "I can" more often.
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13).
Sharing with:
We are That Family
Women Living Well
Raising Homemakers
What's On My Floors Could Be the Death of My Daughter
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My three sons have learned a new phrase in the past few weeks:
Choking hazard.
A curious, crawling eight-month old baby loves to find things and put them into her mouth--things that I might miss, that the boys lazily leave lying around. Things like candy wrappers, coins, band-aid peels. Things that could easily cause a baby to choke.
We've had a few incidents.
The first involved the peel from the back of a band-aid. I didn't know one of the boys had gotten a band-aid, unwrapped it, and left the wrappers on the floor. Little Lauren was crawling around the kitchen, and suddenly, I heard her gagging. Nothing puts more panic in the heart of a momma than to see her baby's face turning red as she's gagging and struggling to get air.
I turned her over my leg, thumped on her back several times, and prayed. Fortunately, a few days before, I had asked my husband what you're supposed to do if an infant is choking on something, if turning them over and thumping them on the back doesn't help. He reminded me that you're supposed to look in the mouth and finger sweep the item out if you can see it or feel it.
That's when I could see the band-aid peel stuck far back on the roof of her mouth, going down her esophagus. I prayed that I could quickly get it out, without pushing it down further.
Doing this on a frantic baby is about as easy as it would be on a cat. It was sight unseen, but it worked. The wrapper came out.
It took all day for my nerves to calm down.
Since then, we've had another scare with another kind of wrapper or piece of construction paper(I can't remember what it was; I only remember the gagging and turning red). Just today, I had to fish a Hershey's kiss foil wrapper out of her mouth.
While extremely scary, these ordeals have been a great kick in the pants for the boys to learn better habits. They cannot be so lazy, for lack of a better word, to just peel something and let the wrapper drop and lay. They cannot take coins out of their piggy banks and leave them on the floor. Everyone must pay super close attention to what is on the floor and remove anything that could be a choking hazard.
As for me, I need to diligently sweep the kitchen and vacuum other rooms, watching closely for little items that may not be a big deal normally but are a huge deal with a baby.
Looking on the bright side, having a baby can be a huge motivator to step up one's home management.
Choking hazard.
A curious, crawling eight-month old baby loves to find things and put them into her mouth--things that I might miss, that the boys lazily leave lying around. Things like candy wrappers, coins, band-aid peels. Things that could easily cause a baby to choke.
We've had a few incidents.
The first involved the peel from the back of a band-aid. I didn't know one of the boys had gotten a band-aid, unwrapped it, and left the wrappers on the floor. Little Lauren was crawling around the kitchen, and suddenly, I heard her gagging. Nothing puts more panic in the heart of a momma than to see her baby's face turning red as she's gagging and struggling to get air.
I turned her over my leg, thumped on her back several times, and prayed. Fortunately, a few days before, I had asked my husband what you're supposed to do if an infant is choking on something, if turning them over and thumping them on the back doesn't help. He reminded me that you're supposed to look in the mouth and finger sweep the item out if you can see it or feel it.
That's when I could see the band-aid peel stuck far back on the roof of her mouth, going down her esophagus. I prayed that I could quickly get it out, without pushing it down further.
Doing this on a frantic baby is about as easy as it would be on a cat. It was sight unseen, but it worked. The wrapper came out.
It took all day for my nerves to calm down.
Since then, we've had another scare with another kind of wrapper or piece of construction paper(I can't remember what it was; I only remember the gagging and turning red). Just today, I had to fish a Hershey's kiss foil wrapper out of her mouth.
While extremely scary, these ordeals have been a great kick in the pants for the boys to learn better habits. They cannot be so lazy, for lack of a better word, to just peel something and let the wrapper drop and lay. They cannot take coins out of their piggy banks and leave them on the floor. Everyone must pay super close attention to what is on the floor and remove anything that could be a choking hazard.
As for me, I need to diligently sweep the kitchen and vacuum other rooms, watching closely for little items that may not be a big deal normally but are a huge deal with a baby.
Looking on the bright side, having a baby can be a huge motivator to step up one's home management.
Religion (Faith) IS For Children: A Response to an Athiest Who Doesn't Want Her Child Invited to Church
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I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo Credit
The vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit
This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo CreditThe vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“I understand why these children feel it is imperative to invite Miss N tochurch. It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat a snack and talk about theunderlying fear of what happens after you die. These children love Miss N andeven though they can't quite articulate it in this way, they think we'refailing Miss N and her brother by not taking them to church.Ms JoyFG is sadly mistaken, in my opinion.
This part will be touchy for people who do not believe the same as we do andI respect that; I'll raise my kids and you can raise yours. I do notthink religion is for children. I think that they should be exposed tothe beliefs of all people, and while I will tell my children "this is whatMommy and Daddy believe," I do not expect her to believe the same thing…
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
1 Ocak 2013 Salı
Religion (Faith) IS For Children: A Response to an Athiest Who Doesn't Want Her Child Invited to Church
To contact us Click HERE
I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo Credit
The vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit
This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
I realize that I am preaching to the choir here, for my regular readers. This post is my response to a post I read called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religionis Not for Children.” I hope that sharing my thoughts will help us become more confident in shining as a light in an increasingly relativistic culture.
Photo CreditThe vibrant hues of sunsets and sunrises, the intricatebeauty of flowers like irises, lilies and orchids, the melody of birds chirping, thecomplex structure of a cell and the total failure of brilliant scientists tocreate “even the most basic chemicals used as building blocks for the largerchemicals of living cells” all attest that nothing is here by accident, butrather by the work of a brilliant and benevolent Creator. [1]
As I sat outside, reading with my children, and marveling atthe sheer glory of the early summer day, it all evidenced to me, as philosopherBlaise Pascal has written, that one has only to look outside in nature tobelieve there must be a Creator. Consideringthe wonder of all living things and how everything fits together so perfectly, itseems absolutely absurd to believe—as many do—that this is all the result offreak of nature, a big bang.
Even my seven-year old son sees holes in evolutionary logic.“What caused a big bang?”, and “How do people get their ideas to make and buildstuff? And how are there ants and bumblebees and hornets and flies?”
Photo Credit This conversation commenced after I told him about anarticle I read this weekend, called “Stop Inviting My Kid to Church: Religion is Not for Children.” In it, the author—Ms Joy FG, an atheist—expresses herangst for people who invite her children to church. She believes that children areeasily impressionable and will believe whatever they are taught, so she aims tostay neutral (or so she says) on the “big beliefs” and not steer her childrentoward any belief, but rather let them arrive at their own beliefs.
She writes: “There are a lot of things I believe in. Love.Family. Honesty. Gravity. Kindness. Nature. Science.”
But where do virtues like love, honesty, and kindnessoriginate? Where does one’s conscience come from? The big bang?
She goes on,
“I understand why these children feel it is imperative to invite Miss N tochurch. It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat a snack and talk about theunderlying fear of what happens after you die. These children love Miss N andeven though they can't quite articulate it in this way, they think we'refailing Miss N and her brother by not taking them to church.Ms JoyFG is sadly mistaken, in my opinion.
This part will be touchy for people who do not believe the same as we do andI respect that; I'll raise my kids and you can raise yours. I do notthink religion is for children. I think that they should be exposed tothe beliefs of all people, and while I will tell my children "this is whatMommy and Daddy believe," I do not expect her to believe the same thing…
“Religion” (although I wouldprefer to use the term faith, as it involvesthe mind and the heart, rather than a weekly ritual) is absolutely forchildren. Here’s why.
If we were made, not by a chance explosion (which just happened to be themost brilliant accident ever) but bya Creator, then wouldn’t it make sense to introduce the children the Creatorhas made to their Creator at an early age? Wouldn’t you want to teach themabout the Creator who created them? Yes, going to church (“religion”) is partof that process, but there’s so much more. And it doesn’t involve a treat-bag“bribe,” as Ms Joy FG states. (But isn’tshe for acts of kindness?).
It’s like this: If I was invited to a famous movie-star’s house for dinner,one of whom I was, and I could invite a friend, I would want you to go with me.Simply because you’re my friend. I care about you, and I want you to meet him,too. I want you in on the experience.
Ms Joy FG writes that there are many “right ways in the world”, but whathappens if my right way clashes with your right way? Whose is wrong? The flawin this logic can be seen in something as simple as streets. In America, theright way to drive is on the right side of the road. In England, you drive onthe left. If you both try to follow your right way in the other’s country, youwill have a head-on collision). People cannot always be right, at the sametime. Absolutes are necessary (although they’re getting much harder to find inculture today).
I am unapologetically a Christian, just as Ms Joy FG is unapologetically anatheist. My right way is Jesus, and yes, I believe there is enough proof fromboth history and written texts to make that an absolute. But I also understandthat many do not believe the same. We can debate ideas, while respecting peopleand treating them kindly.
No matter what we believe, I think we can all agree that Jesus was an actualhistorical figure. And he was quoted as saying, “Let the little children cometo me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such asthese.” (Matthew 19:14).
That’s what we’re doing when we’re taking our children to church, andinviting other children to church. We’re extending an invitation for them tomeet the one we believe created all that is seen and unseen. We want to get toknow Him better and follow His ways. And yes, sadly, not all churches orChristians are great examples. But we don’t throw the baby out with thebathwater.
While Ms Joy FG defends her view that religion is off-limits for childrenbecause we shouldn’t talk with them in absolutes, does her absolutes-are-out-of-styleapproach to child-rearing extend to other beliefs, such as what foods they eatat meals and snacks, what kind of shows they watch, what kinds of behaviors herchildren engage in? Or are setting, and sticking to, absolutes there as parentsok?
Despite her efforts to keep herdaughter from any sort of religion (because she’s too impressionable), she has indeed done what she set out not todo: gained a follower in her atheism, which is—ironically--a religion. “I amvery proud of Miss N,” she writes, “that she tells her friends that she has herown beliefs and their church is not the place for her -- it's like school forpeople who believe in their god, it's not really our place.”
Ms Joy FG says she doesn’t judge us and asks us not to judge her, but yet,her statement about church—“It is a fun place where they sing songs, eat asnack and talk about the underlying fear of what happens after you die”—soundspretty judgemental to me.
What if Ms Joy FG is wrong in her assessment that the invitations aremotivated by fear?
Could it all be motivated by love (and truth)? Everything. The creation we see—nature,like trees, flowers, stars, and people—our beautiful children, friends, family,neighbors; and the things we do, like learning about God, and even, invitingothers to church.
As you go to church, read your Bible, and learn about Jesus, you realize thereis no fear of what happens after death. We’ll all come to know the absolutetruth of what he said in the end. In the meantime, I’m taking my kids tochurch, and we might even invite some kids to come with us…
Although I would not normally quote the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), our state's ACLU director was quoted as saying (paraphrased): when we disagree on issues, we don't silent discussion. We have more discussion. That's what I'm aiming to do with this post.
Sharing With:
Women Living Well
We Are That Family
Raising Homemakers
[1]Institute of Creation Research (http://www.icr.org/creation-cells/)
Letting Go of Stuff
To contact us Click HERE
As we prepared to move, my husband and I were rather ruthless when it came to getting rid of stuff. A friend, who is a mom to eight, once shared that when they moved, she threw away seven garbage bags full of stuff. I've always kept that in the back of my mind and aimed to do the same. We not only pitched seven huge trash bags (the big, black kind you use for raking leaves), we exceeded it. I think we ended up with at least nine big black bags, plus lots of smaller ones.
What were in those bags? Lots of odds and ends. Lotion bottles less than half full, partially burned candles and ones I didn't like the scent of, broken toys, toys that we no longer needed (and no one else would want), lots of papers, magazines, mismatched linens, dusty decorations, clothes not suitable for donating (or not worth going to the trouble of donating), books (being a book lover, this was hard for me, but at some point, some of it--in the words of Charlotte Mason--is just twaddle and can go), and on and on.
I realized that I didn't want the clutter that was at home in my home to go with us to our new home. We wanted a clean, fresh slate, surrounded only by the things we love the most. (I've blogged about paring down to what you love the most here).
Now that we are moved in and busy unpacking, the culling continues. Call this the second round of cuts. We're still finding things that we don't want or need. We'd rather have the space and the uncluttered look. Today, we worked on going through toys again. Some will be donated, others discarded.
Here's an organizing tip that's guiding me right now:
Photo CreditPretend your home has a doorman out front, guarding who (in this case what) is allowed to enter. You are that doorman.
You've got to decide, before something ever enters your house, if it's worth it to you. It will take up valuable space and require effort on your part to find a spot for it, use or read it, maintain it, etc. So do you really want to let it get passed the door?
Here's an example:
Your friend asks you if you want a stash of her cooking magazines. Do you really want them to come into your home? Do you have time to go through them? Do you have a spot to put them? Are you really going to use them?
Be ruthless when it comes to acquiring and then letting go of stuff!
Another couple of tips that are helping me immensely come from Raising Olives. Kimberly wrote that when her children are given toys, they assume that the giver did not intend for them to keep them forever and pass them onto their children. Rather, the gift was meant to be used and enjoyed for a season. When it has lost its charm or usefulness for that child or children, it can happily be passed onto some other child who will, in turn, love and appreciate it. (I can't find the exact post, but here is another good one).
In another post about keeping up with keepsakes, Kimberly offers great advice concerning those special things that have been passed down or kept from your own childhood: Use them, and, in her words, "as things wear out we throw them away, happy that our children were able to enjoy something that we loved when we were young."
That even goes for fragile items. Kimberly writes, "I figure that something that belonged to my great grandmother, but is stored in a box in the attic throughout my kid’s childhood will have little meaning to my children. The things that we’ve chosen to keep, we’ve also chosen to display and enjoy. (Yes, with 10 children sometimes things get broken, but my children have many happy memories of playing with and listening to the music box that played with and listened to at my great-grandmother’s home when I was a girl.)"
So, in my zest to pare down, I kept that advice in my head as I went through toys and stuffed animals today. The little yellow bunny I apparently had as a child? It didn't make the cut. I don't remember it; it means nothing to me, and my kids have other stuffed animals they like more that are filling our bin for stuffed animals. The bear the OB/GYN gave one of our children at birth? It didn't make the cut either. They've never played with it, it isn't as cute as others we have, and is it going to be like my yellow bunny when they're grown? They'll take it out of a box, look at it, wonder why Mom kept it for them, and wonder if they should get rid of it, or keep it "just because." We're sparing them that guilt by making the decision now. (A word of caution--we are letting them make decisions about stuff we know is important to them. I know this bear is not one of those things, so I am making the decision).
As the new year approaches and many of us make resolutions to become more organized, I encourage you to go through your stuff as if you're moving, and let it go!
A final thought...isn't it interesting that when we, as believers in Christ, die and go to heaven, we don't take anything with us. What is truly important is already there. We don't need to say, "Hey, can I just grab this one thing real quick to take with me?" We won't miss it. So why is it so hard to let go now?
Look toward heaven, our true home. Keep in this life the things you love the very most. Let go of the rest. You'll experience less stress, more peace, and time to enjoy your husband and children to the full.
Sharing With:
The Better Mom
What were in those bags? Lots of odds and ends. Lotion bottles less than half full, partially burned candles and ones I didn't like the scent of, broken toys, toys that we no longer needed (and no one else would want), lots of papers, magazines, mismatched linens, dusty decorations, clothes not suitable for donating (or not worth going to the trouble of donating), books (being a book lover, this was hard for me, but at some point, some of it--in the words of Charlotte Mason--is just twaddle and can go), and on and on.
I realized that I didn't want the clutter that was at home in my home to go with us to our new home. We wanted a clean, fresh slate, surrounded only by the things we love the most. (I've blogged about paring down to what you love the most here).
Now that we are moved in and busy unpacking, the culling continues. Call this the second round of cuts. We're still finding things that we don't want or need. We'd rather have the space and the uncluttered look. Today, we worked on going through toys again. Some will be donated, others discarded.
Here's an organizing tip that's guiding me right now:
Photo CreditPretend your home has a doorman out front, guarding who (in this case what) is allowed to enter. You are that doorman.You've got to decide, before something ever enters your house, if it's worth it to you. It will take up valuable space and require effort on your part to find a spot for it, use or read it, maintain it, etc. So do you really want to let it get passed the door?
Here's an example:
Your friend asks you if you want a stash of her cooking magazines. Do you really want them to come into your home? Do you have time to go through them? Do you have a spot to put them? Are you really going to use them?
Be ruthless when it comes to acquiring and then letting go of stuff!
Another couple of tips that are helping me immensely come from Raising Olives. Kimberly wrote that when her children are given toys, they assume that the giver did not intend for them to keep them forever and pass them onto their children. Rather, the gift was meant to be used and enjoyed for a season. When it has lost its charm or usefulness for that child or children, it can happily be passed onto some other child who will, in turn, love and appreciate it. (I can't find the exact post, but here is another good one).
In another post about keeping up with keepsakes, Kimberly offers great advice concerning those special things that have been passed down or kept from your own childhood: Use them, and, in her words, "as things wear out we throw them away, happy that our children were able to enjoy something that we loved when we were young."
That even goes for fragile items. Kimberly writes, "I figure that something that belonged to my great grandmother, but is stored in a box in the attic throughout my kid’s childhood will have little meaning to my children. The things that we’ve chosen to keep, we’ve also chosen to display and enjoy. (Yes, with 10 children sometimes things get broken, but my children have many happy memories of playing with and listening to the music box that played with and listened to at my great-grandmother’s home when I was a girl.)"
So, in my zest to pare down, I kept that advice in my head as I went through toys and stuffed animals today. The little yellow bunny I apparently had as a child? It didn't make the cut. I don't remember it; it means nothing to me, and my kids have other stuffed animals they like more that are filling our bin for stuffed animals. The bear the OB/GYN gave one of our children at birth? It didn't make the cut either. They've never played with it, it isn't as cute as others we have, and is it going to be like my yellow bunny when they're grown? They'll take it out of a box, look at it, wonder why Mom kept it for them, and wonder if they should get rid of it, or keep it "just because." We're sparing them that guilt by making the decision now. (A word of caution--we are letting them make decisions about stuff we know is important to them. I know this bear is not one of those things, so I am making the decision).
As the new year approaches and many of us make resolutions to become more organized, I encourage you to go through your stuff as if you're moving, and let it go!
A final thought...isn't it interesting that when we, as believers in Christ, die and go to heaven, we don't take anything with us. What is truly important is already there. We don't need to say, "Hey, can I just grab this one thing real quick to take with me?" We won't miss it. So why is it so hard to let go now?
Look toward heaven, our true home. Keep in this life the things you love the very most. Let go of the rest. You'll experience less stress, more peace, and time to enjoy your husband and children to the full.
Sharing With:
The Better Mom
FREE ebook!!! The Blogger's Holiday Heirloom Recipe Collection
To contact us Click HERE
Today we are celebrating all the food and family recipes that have come before.We are sharing the best of the best recipes our family recipe boxes have to offers - the true "heirlooms" if you will!
Does your mom make the best corn casserole (mine does!!) or does Aunt Jamie make the most fabulous pie you've ever tasted? My mom makes the BEST sweet tea!
Find the recipe for my mom's favorite sweet tea and many more heirloom recipes in thie FREE ebook!
Simply click the image below to download the FREE ebook or click the SECOND photo to open the book magazine style!
Did you appreciate the free ebook? We'd really appreciate it if you'd follow along with us on pinterest as we source new recipes and creative ideas! Just click on each name below to follow along! A Nest for All Seasons | The Bold Abode | The Happier Homemaker | Ginger Snap Crafts | Unskinny Boppy | Setting for Four | A View Along the Way | The Creek Line House | Shaken Together
Does your mom make the best corn casserole (mine does!!) or does Aunt Jamie make the most fabulous pie you've ever tasted? My mom makes the BEST sweet tea!
Find the recipe for my mom's favorite sweet tea and many more heirloom recipes in thie FREE ebook!
Simply click the image below to download the FREE ebook or click the SECOND photo to open the book magazine style!
Did you appreciate the free ebook? We'd really appreciate it if you'd follow along with us on pinterest as we source new recipes and creative ideas! Just click on each name below to follow along! A Nest for All Seasons | The Bold Abode | The Happier Homemaker | Ginger Snap Crafts | Unskinny Boppy | Setting for Four | A View Along the Way | The Creek Line House | Shaken Together
Let's Wrap it UP! | Golden Gift Bags 3 Ways
To contact us Click HERE
Thursday, I gave you a quick little primer for making luminaries. Today, we are chatting about what to do with all those paper bags once the party is over! Some might be beat up and ruined, in which case you can toss them directly into the compost, but many of them will be perfectly fine and ready for some upcycling! Good thing it is Christmas time!
The easiest way to utilize the bag is to simply use them as is! The addition of a little wooden snowman with a baker's twine scarf is enough to bring some holiday cheer to a smaller gift.
Smaller gifts are doable too! Simply pile them into the bottom of the bag, fold a crisp fold 1/3 of the way down the bag and secure with a clothespin. I added little wooden tags and bows to complete the look.
If you were wondering, the little wood tag above says "Woof"! This is why...
If you have a long, flat object that peeks out of the top of a normal sandwich bag, slide it into one bag and then slide the whole thing into a second bag. Add a ribbon or bow to finish!
Ran out of bags? No problem!
Plain white tissue paper is a nice foil to the shiny gold bags and wrapped with the same orange polka-dot ribbon, a nice set of coordinated gifts is born. Now get wrapping!
Have a very. VERY Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. May your days be blessed and your heart be joyful! See you in 2013!
Thursday, I gave you a quick little primer for making luminaries. Today, we are chatting about what to do with all those paper bags once the party is over! Some might be beat up and ruined, in which case you can toss them directly into the compost, but many of them will be perfectly fine and ready for some upcycling! Good thing it is Christmas time!
The easiest way to utilize the bag is to simply use them as is! The addition of a little wooden snowman with a baker's twine scarf is enough to bring some holiday cheer to a smaller gift.
Smaller gifts are doable too! Simply pile them into the bottom of the bag, fold a crisp fold 1/3 of the way down the bag and secure with a clothespin. I added little wooden tags and bows to complete the look.
If you were wondering, the little wood tag above says "Woof"! This is why...
If you have a long, flat object that peeks out of the top of a normal sandwich bag, slide it into one bag and then slide the whole thing into a second bag. Add a ribbon or bow to finish!
Ran out of bags? No problem!
Plain white tissue paper is a nice foil to the shiny gold bags and wrapped with the same orange polka-dot ribbon, a nice set of coordinated gifts is born. Now get wrapping!
Have a very. VERY Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. May your days be blessed and your heart be joyful! See you in 2013!
FREE January Calendar Download
To contact us Click HERE
Each month this year, I will be offering a free photo-calendar download for you, complete with dates, a seasonal, original photo and the words I will be focusing on for that month. This month it is all about magic...
Go to Control Panel> Display (or Appearance)> Change Desktop Background and then retrieve the photo where you previously saved it.
Alternative: Go to the link, right click the photo and click "save as desktop background"!! Easy!
Questions? Just ask! ...and make sure you come back for February's new calendar!
Happy January!
Each month this year, I will be offering a free photo-calendar download for you, complete with dates, a seasonal, original photo and the words I will be focusing on for that month. This month it is all about magic...
Download this month's calendar HERE!
Instructions: Simply click the link above and it will take you to the download site. Click the size you want (based on your desktop size) and download. Save the photo to your desktop or a pictures file where you can easily find it.Go to Control Panel> Display (or Appearance)> Change Desktop Background and then retrieve the photo where you previously saved it.
Alternative: Go to the link, right click the photo and click "save as desktop background"!! Easy!
Questions? Just ask! ...and make sure you come back for February's new calendar!
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