Beautiful Song about Adoption: I Almost Never Knew You

This is a beautiful and touching song about adoption!

I ALMOST NEVER KNEW YOU by Christine Wyrtzen

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A Tool to Suck Out Mosquito Venom

This inexpensive little tool has prevented all of our mosquito bites from itching, swelling, or leaving scars since it was ordered online in early spring. Even our four-year-old grandson was able to use it successfully to draw out the venom from his mosquito bites.

I would imagine it would lessen the effect of spider and tick bites - even snake bites. It's worth a try if such a tragic thing would happen. Carry this tool on hikes and keep it in the same spot in your home in case you need it in a hurry. At less than ten dollars buying two is a great idea too.

Do a search for: BUG BITE THING Suction Tool, Poison Remover - Bug Bites and Bee/Wasp Stings, Natural Insect Bite Relief

Grapefruit Essential Oil

Information by Carrie Vitt
Used by Permission

Grapefruit essential oil has a cleansing effect on the kidneys, lymphatic system and vascular system.

It blends well with Basil, Bergamot, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary and Ylang Ylang essential oils.

Apply 1 drop Grapefruit and 1 drop Basil over your adrenals or on the bottoms of the feet to support the adrenals.

Diffuse 2 drops Grapefruit, 2 drops Lemon and 2 drops Lime to freshen the air and reduce stress.

Put 3 drops of Grapefruit oil in a diffuser to help reduce sugar cravings.

Combine 2 drops with a bit of Fractionated Coconut Oil and rub directly over areas of cellulite. Grapefruit oil is a lymphatic stimulant, and because cellulite is stagnant lymphatic tissue, it can help reduce cellulite.

Dilute 2 drops with a little Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply to oily skin or acne to help manage breakouts.

Rub 1 drop Grapefruit and 1 drop Geranium over the liver each day. Both of these oils are fabulous for liver and gallbladder support.

Rub 2 drops Grapefruit on the feet to ease PMS symptoms.

How to Creatively Tie a Scarf Using the Bdazzle Scarf Curl

June Graber in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is the creator of an innovative scarf curl to dress up the way you wear a scarf. I saw her display at Root's Auction in Lancaster several years ago and was quite impressed. Later I ordered one and she was extremely helpful when I contacted her.

She says, "Watch our demonstration video for the Bdazzle Scarf Curl. You will see how easy it is to use and you will get some great ideas for other ways to wear your scarf using the Bdazzle Scarf Curl. Visit our web site at: www.bdazzlescarfcurl.com to purchase."

On her website you will see a video of the many ways this scarf curl can be used. I do not receive any kickbacks for recommending this scarf curl. I just think it's a wonderfully creative idea if you like to wear scarves.

Homemade Laundry Soap (The Most Simple Recipe)

 Advantages of making your own laundry soap:
Huge savings - It costs only pennies per load!
Safe even for washing baby clothes!
No harsh chemicals!
No fragrance!
Easy!
Satisfying and fun!

After making homemade laundry soap in various ways (liquid, gel, and sauce), I found that this recipe is the most simple and it works very well at getting clothes clean and smelling good without any perfumy fragrance.  Recently I made 15 gallons and it was a lot of fun.

4 cups or more of boiling water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar, shaved or shredded
1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 cup Mule Team Borax
5-gallon bucket
stick long enough for stirring contents of bucket

Boil the water while you grate the bar of soap and dissolve the soap completely while stirring often.  This will be the most time-consuming part of the procedure but it will be worth the time.

When the soap is dissolved add the washing soda and Borax.  Stir and dissolve.

Pour everything into a clean 5-gallon bucket.  Rinse out the pan with hot water and dump into the bucket.

Fill the 5-gallon bucket with hot water.  Stir well with a long stick.  Cover and don't disturb for 24 hours.  (This is hard when you first start making laundry soap but it is important!) 

After 24 hours it will have formed into a gel.  Stir well.  It can be stored in smaller containers such as Tupperware or smaller buckets to be used on laundry day.

If you want fragrance, simply add a few drops of essential oils on wool dryer balls.

Caution:  Always cover buckets of anything very tightly.  A toddler could fall into a bucket of liquid or gel and drown so please take care and avoid tragedy. 

A Recipe Analogy

by Lois Breneman

My dear mother taught me how to cook starting at a young age, but even more importantly, she taught me how to love and serve the Lord by her example.  This is a poem she wrote many years ago giving her own analogy of cooking and a personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I hope you will be blessed by reading it.

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily.
Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

This famous poem, The Weaver, is about life and God and was written by Benjamin Malacia Franklin. The verses remind us that we all have a purpose and that God is always with us moving us toward that purpose; we just have to remember to trust him!

Lift Up Your Heads and Bloom!

by Lois Breneman

A Poppy from Our Garden

A neighbor friend has grown beautiful poppies next to her house for years and I love going to visit and taking pictures of her gorgeous paper-thin beauties. 

She kindly gave me some seeds last year and we planted them early in the spring.  They didn't look like much in the beginning - only scrawny little sprigs sticking up from the ground, looking more like weeds.  But in God's timing they shot up quickly when the warm temperatures came.

As you can see in this photo the buds hang down before opening, looking sad and dejected.  But as the Creator gives them strength, they lift their little heads and open into breathtakingly beautiful delicate flowers!

So it is with us as we gain strength from walking closely to Him by reading His Word for encouragement and instructions.  Without His power guiding us we often hang our heads in despair with the cares of this world when we go our own way without Jesus. 

God has a special plan for our lives.  If we accept His payment for our sins, He gives us so much including His guidance, direction, and His presence on earth and eternal life in heaven.  The gospel changes everything!

God Is in Charge

by Lois Breneman

How amazing that God can use even destructive insects to create a work of art as in this lacy holly leaf.  Their intent was not to be creative but their Creator still brought exquisite beauty out of their munching away at the leaf as they destroyed it.  

Although it is difficult for us to see, God Almighty can also use destructive national and world leaders to carry out His divine and perfect plan.  

We cannot always understand but we can fully trust that the Lord God is always still in charge of the universe, in all its complexity, including our own little world.

Little Hands

Used by permission from Proverbs 31 Ministries 

Little hands to hold so tight. Hair to comb, and tears to wipe. Little feet that grow so fast. Teeth to brush and bedtime baths. Little cups that must be filled. Teething rings that must be chilled. Little dresses, spin and twirl. Little hair bows, little curls. Time is fleeting, oh so fast. What was just here, is now the past. Little hands that needed me. Now need me less, I start to see. She ties her shoes and combs her hair. Picks out her clothes, knows what to wear. She grabs her doll, heads to the door. I smile, she's still a little girl. We're at the park, we play pretend. She tells me I'm her favorite friend. Who, what, when, where, why and how? She needs to know these things right now. So full of life, so full of love. This gift sent from the Lord above. She's older now, my little girl. She's learning more about the world. Each night I ask the Lord above, to help me teach her how to love. There's so much that she needs to know, and I'm still learning as I go. Please, Lord... PLEASE help me get this right. I beg, as I lose sleep at night. Precious soul, undefiled. Lord, guide me as I raise this child. What just happened? Can it be? My little girl is now a teen. No more dolls, and no more bows. That happened fast, where did time go? Help me to listen patiently, as I instruct her, Lord guide me. May my words be gentle and kind. Loving, sincere, pure and wise. Her time at home, will soon be gone. It sure did fly, but it was fun. Her bags are packed and by the door. She's off to face a whole new world. It seems like only yesterday, as I would rock her… she would say. Just one more story, pretty please? Please would you read one more to me? Then I would tuck her in her bed, and kiss her on her precious head. No more ballet, no more tee ball. No more measurements on the wall. Today she'll leave this cozy nest, and spread her wings, and give her best. Five years later, long white dress. My heart is full, I am so blessed. My little girl, a woman now. So full of grace, I am so proud. A handsome man, I'll call my son. I've prayed for him, since she was one. Thank you Lord, for hearing me. For strengthening our family tree. Two young lives will now be one. A new love story has begone. Two years later, by her bed. The doctor says, he sees a head. A baby girl, wrapped up in pink. My daughter reaches her to me. I close my eyes, and smell her hair. The tears they fall, without a care. I lay her on my daughter's chest, The years ahead will be her best. It's true, she may not know it yet. But she will soon, that I can bet. Little hands to hold so tight. Hair to comb and tears to wipe. 

 {From our friend Vicki at Sit Down and Take a Brake: http://victoriabrake.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-poem-little-hands.html?spref=fb