Archives of Thanksgiving and Christmas Ideas

Rather than repeat a lot of holiday ideas and information from past newsletters, please feel free to take a look at recipes, how to cook ahead for the holidays, gift ideas, crafts, the real reason for the holidays, and much more.  All these have been included in newsletters since 1999.  You will find Christmas photos as well.  I hope you enjoy it.

http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Thanksgiving

http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/p/desserts.html

http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/p/christmas.html

Precious Gems

Ladies, your Precious Gems are welcome any time!  We all need to laugh and this is a great source to bring a smile to our faces!  Aren't children such precious treasures given by the Lord?

When my grandson, Justin, was 3 years old, one evening his daddy noticed that some important checks from the top of the office desk were missing. The next morning Justin's parents asked him if he had seen the checks.  Justin gleefully replied with excitement, "That's my pirate money!"  Then he showed them where had had hidden the treasure! ~ Lois

My daughter said they have been talking about "grace" at church - getting something you don't deserve.  Our grandson, Justin (now 8), told their dog, Bailey (after he was acting up), "This is an example of grace because you so don't deserve this dog biscuit!" ~ Lois

Overheard: Annabelle (6) said to her baby sister, "Charlotte, sometimes I think you're cooler than a puppy." ~ Promise in Virginia

(To my girls, getting married means holding hands, singing, and dancing around in a circle)

Karis (4): Please marry me, Karlie!

Karlie (2): Ok, but just for a minute.

Karis: And then we can have babies! ~ Meagan in North Carolina

"I recently spent time with our daughter and her family in another state. I stayed with our two year old  granddaughter while the family went to their church family camp. The first night Samara had a difficult time going to sleep. She didn't want to go to bed! When she finally went to sleep, I thought she would be down for the night. But, she woke up crying around 11!  Evidently she was having a bad dream and calling out for her mommy. I was on her parents' bed and she wanted to lie down with me. Finally, I yielded to her wishes and she snuggled under the cover and put her head on her Daddy's pillow. As a 2-year-old does, she wiggled around, occasionally lifting her head off the pillow to look at me. Twice she scooted her little body closer to me and gave me a kiss. She also put her hand on my arm and gently stroked. She was so restless and just couldn't stay still! Then this precious little girl turned to me, folded her hands, and said "pay"!   So we did...we prayed for Mommy and Daddy and that she would have a good night, too. Shortly after our prayer, she wanted to go into her crib where she soon was sleeping soundly for the rest of the night!" ~ Nancy in PA

My granddaughter (Sarah's daughter), Halle (5), said, "Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her courage away!" ~ Becky in Georgia

Wisdom from a 4 year old: "I hate it when you go through the ATM. It doesn't give out lollipops." ~ Lauren in Virginia

I told my granddaughter, Halle (5), that we were going to go wading in the creek and she said, "Who are we 'waiting' for?" ~ Becky in Georgia 

Gracie (9) says to Joel this evening: "Daddy, you have a lot of white hairs on your head.  Does that mean you're becoming a blonde?" ~ Penny in Virginia

Me: Karlie, you have scratches on your arm!  Why did kitty scratch you?

Karlie (2): I tried to put a ponytail on his tail! ~ Meagan in North Carolina

One night my grandson, Justin (8) thought he was too tired to brush his teeth before going to bed.  He pleaded with his mom, saying that he'd use twice as much toothpaste in the morning!  Didn't work!  His Paw Paw tells him to only brush the ones he wants to keep! ~ Lois

Daddy: "I brought you a surprise. These flowers are for you."

Savannah (4): "Wow! For me? I love them! Thank you!"

Momma: "You need to give Daddy a big hug and put your flowers in water."

Savannah: "I don't want to put them in water! I want to be able to carry them in my wedding."

Momma: "Well, they won't last that long, Sweetie."

Savannah: "Daddy, will you buy me more flowers for my wedding?"

Daddy: "Sure I will."

Savannah: "Okay, and make sure they are pink. Thank you, thank you!" ~ Lauren in Virginia

While watching "The Great Pumpkin" with Annabelle (6), so far I've answered - "What's a blockhead? "Why is that little boy so dirty?" "What is World War 1?" And my favorite: "Why doesn't that dog know that his house can't fly?" ~ Promise in Virginia 

I just had to share this exchange between my daughter-in-law, Kristin, and grandson, Joseph (almost 4 yrs old).  Kristin gave me permission to share it with you and for you to publish it in Heart-to-Heart if you’d like. Joseph’s brother, Samuel, recently turned 2 and baby sister, Anna, is 4 ½ months old. ~ Miranda in Hawaii
           First off, let me say that this is not a pregnancy announcement. If God wants to give us another child He can, but we're not asking quite yet--well, at least, I haven't been asking very urgently. =) This morning, though, I sat down on the couch to feed Anna, bringing with me a book I received in a birthday package yesterday, A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family, and opened to the first chapter--"Growing a Family: Are We Crazy to Want Another Baby?" As I started reading, Joseph climbed up next to me and asked, "Can you get some more children please, Mommy?" "Why do you ask that?" I replied, startled that he should say something so pertinent to what I was reading when I hadn't said anything about it--and he certainly can't read yet. "Because we only have only three [yes, there were two only's], so I want some more children, Mommy." When questioned further he first said he wanted four children. "Four more or just four--one more?" I asked as I sat at the computer typing this out. He thought a short moment, then said, "I would like five, please. Are you asking God to give us five, Mommy?" "Umm, not yet." "Why not yet?"

Pumpkin Seed Fall Craft

Pumpkin Seed Pumpkin Fall Craft   www.allkidsnetwork.com    Thanks to Leslie Lobdell in Arkansas for this link!

 

Fall themed pumpkin seed craft for toddlers. Kids will enjoying making this pumpkin craft out of pumpkin seeds. They will enjoy painting the pumpkin seeds and then putting this craft together.

Life Lessons: Tailor-Making An Older Child's Education

Written by Julie A. Druck of York, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. - Used by permission

To subscribe to her free e-mail newsletter, A Heart for Home, send a blank e-mail to:
aheartforhome-subscribe@welovegod.org, 
Personal e-mail: thedrucks@netzero.com    
Julie's blog:  www.lifeinskunkhollow.blogspot.com

Note from Lois : Julie has been homeschooling her three sons and sharing her experiences in an e-mail newsletter through the years.  Whether homeschooling or not, we can all learn from Julie.  I certainly have!  It's interesting how we "met."  My Aunt Marian was her mentor in MOPS years ago, and told Julie about the Heart to Heart Newsletter that I send.  Julie subscribed, and we have been communicating through e-mail for quite some time.  A year receiving the Heart to Heart Newsletter, Julie decided to send her own newsletter, and I've been so blessed by each edition!

 

In the last issue of “Life Lessons,” I wrote about how our family developed its philo-sophy of education – determining what objectives and goals we desired for our children regarding their futures. I shared that in their early years, we gave the boys a broad overview of lots of different subjects to whet their appetites for learning. (You’ll find specific examples of how we did that in “The Learning Journal”) As they grew, and their talents, gifts, and interests began to emerge, we began designing their course of study to meet their individual needs. I thought that this month it might be helpful to share how we set out to tailor Ben’s homeschooling in relation to Ben and his needs. And his needs being, to develop his gifts, abilities, interests, future career path, character, and personality – all that Ben is and will be.

Benjamin is our oldest son – he will be 18 in January. This is his last year of homeschooling, and he plans to attend Thaddeus Stevens’ College of Technology. He’ll be taking their two-year Electronics course for an Associates Degree.

      
Ben has always been a thinker – logical, analytical, always trying to figure everything out. When he was a little boy, he was constantly asking how things worked and taking things apart. He was his daddy’s shadow and watched as Marty fixed various things around the house. It wasn’t long before we began encouraging him to do simple repair jobs on his own. From yard sales I would often bring home inexpensive items for Ben to take apart and see how they worked – computers, VCRs, an old recording machine, tape players, etc.

      
Benjamin was especially fascinated by electronics equipment, and as Marty works in the field, he would teach him simple things such as the names of electronics parts and their purpose. To foster his electronics fascination, one year for Christmas we gave Ben a kit called Electronic Snap Circuits with 60 basic electronics parts and directions to assemble them in various applications.
      
Ben also became interested in computers early on as well. And so, to foster that, I would often bring home from used book sales various computer manuals for him to read (like novels!) and mess with on an old computer in his room. We also purchased a computer science curriculum for him when he was 12. He still works on that from time to time even now – adding to and updating projects he did when he was younger. Ben quickly became the “go-to guy” in our family whenever a computer issue came up.

      
Not a surprise, Benjamin has always gravitated towards the maths and sciences. And so, that’s where he’s camped out in his high school years. Along with having him learn communication skills, a large chunk of history and Creation science, and a solid foundation of economics principles, most of his time has been spent in the math and science arenas. Marty gave him several of the textbooks he had in tech school – and so Ben has learned physics, electronics concepts and higher math. Actually, he’s taken math farther than we required – he felt that learning trigonometry and calculus might be helpful in the electronics world and so has been tackling them this year.

      
Enjoying sports as he does, Ben began joining in on the once-a-month softball games that Marty’s company has for fun. From the various managers getting to know Ben through this activity, a summer job opportunity opened up for him at the company this past summer. That opportunity expanded into a part-time job through the school year – working two days a week, doing school three days a week. This, of course, has been an incredibly practical, hands-on way for Ben to be introduced to the electronics world and to see if it is the field in which he wants to spend his working days.

      
My purpose in sharing a bit about Ben’s interests and talents is to show that Ben’s future career path grew out of his hobbies and pastimes – he didn’t decide to go into the electronics field when he was 5. We simply watched where his interests and talents were and chose to foster them through providing resources and opportunities in the area of his interests. By providing these things, as well as time to pursue them, it gave Ben opportunity to experience a possible career path and decide if such a career would be of continued interest.

      
Equally important, we wanted to allow Ben the opportunity to decide if such a career was not of interest. Though we made provisions for his focus and encouraged him in those interests, we also made sure not to tie Ben down to eating, sleeping and breathing any one thing. We desired him to be a well-rounded individual – with time and opportunity to pursue other directions. Our ultimate goal for Ben is to encourage and help him to become the man whom God has designed him to be.

      
Whether you have younger or older children, I would encourage you to be a student of your child. Watch what they gravitate to, what grabs their interest – and provide them with books, resources, etc., to foster those interests. Be looking (and teach them to look) for opportunities, mentoring relationships and ways in which they can enhance their bent in life. And then watch as God uses those things to lead and guide their future.

Tips and Tidbits

Make Your Own Mixes ~ Rather than purchasing mixes like pumpkin or banana bread, why not make your own mixes?  When making a batch, line up several Ziplock bags.  Then as you put each dry ingredient into your bowl, add the same dry ingredient to each bag.  Label the bags and store them in the freezer until you need them.  The next time you want to make banana bread or another "mix," grab one and simply add the wet ingredients!  Recipes for various mixes: http://heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/p/mixesmiscellaneous.html

"Do Not Call" Phone Registry ~ If you no longer want calls from telemarketers, the number to call is (888) 382-1222, the Federal "Do Not Call" registry.  You must be calling from the number you want removed from the list.  I had called years ago, but for some reason we are getting bombarded with unwanted calls again.  It's possible that it only last for ten years or so, so I called again to be sure we are on the list.

 

Practical, Fun and Affordable Birthday Gifts for Kids ~ If your children get invited to lots of birthday parties, and you can't find a nice inexpensive gift, here's a creative idea that the child's parents will also love.  Make an invitation for the birthday child, inviting him or her to a birthday dinner in your home or to go on a hike with your family.  Coordinate the time with the parents so they can take advantage of that time, planning a date or a special time with another child.  This can be a fun and special time for your own children as well.

 

Have Your Children Help Pack Lunches and they will be more apt to eat them.  If they help, they can get to choose from various healthy foods you have on hand and even add others to a shopping list. For lots of creative ideas, go to http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Lunch%20Packing%20Ideas

 

Sneak in Vegetables and Beans ~ Freeze pureed carrots, beets and beans in ice cube trays.  Then when you're making spaghetti sauce, throw in some extras.  The beets and carrots will disappear among the tomato sauce, and the flavor will not be distorted. When making meatloaf, do the same.  They'll never know they are getting extra goodness!  For more ideas: http://heartfilledhome.blogspot.com/search/label/Children%20-%20Food

 

Repelling Critters ~ Spray a mixture of vinegar and water in and around your garbage cans to repel raccoons and squirrels.

 

Removing Odor and Stains from Plastic Containers ~ Baking soda and vinegar (together) works even better than just baking soda.  Just be sure not to put on a lid and shake it up. Here's why:  If you put these two ingredients into a soda bottle, and quickly put a balloon over the opening, the gas from these two ingredients will blow up the balloon.  This is a fun project to do with kids!

Shine Copper with Ketchup ~ Simply rub some ketchup on copper and give it a few minutes to begin working.

Double Duty Kitty Litter ~ Add baking soda to kitty litter for a more effective job of removing odors.

Other Uses for Freezer Paper ~ Tracing, finger painting, shelf paper, chopping board, wrapping paper, and forming a pastry bag.

 

When My Shampoo, Conditioner, or Body Wash Gets Low, I go ahead and swap it out for full ones (I *hate* getting in the shower only to find the conditioner got all used up by the last person [read *Kids* :)] ). I have a couple sets of travel size bottles and use the last few squeezes out of the big bottle to fill them up little by little. Works great and I have bottles of my regular products ready to go when we travel. ~ Thanks to Tracy Coupe in Ecuador, South America, for this tip!

 

Painting over Paneling, Cabinets, Walls, etc. without Sanding ~ I've seen this amazing paint demonstrated!  It even works on paneling without any sanding!  They said it will work on any surface, even painting pumpkins.  My sister-in-law painted cabinets for a friend with this product and said they turned out great.  Caromal Colours, 507 N York St., Mechanicsburg, PA  17055, 866-620-0015, www.CaromalColours.com

As We Process the Pain of Our Yesterdays

Thanks to Joyce Hundley in Virginia for this wonderful short devotional from Prov. 31 Ministries! 

 

As we process the pain of our yesterdays and live through the disappointments of our todays, doubts may still creep up, threatening to steal our hope.  But each time that happens, we can stop and seek God in that place.  We can ask Him to show us His purpose by revealing  what is true about who we are and what we have been through to make us start doubting.

Then we can ask Him to help us re-define our future, not through the filter of our past and pain, but through the power of His life-giving truth.  And do you know what happens when we do that moment by moment, day by day, doubt by doubt?  God tells us in Jeremiah 29:14, "I will be found in you...and will bring you back from captivity."  (Prov. 31 Ministries)

God's Answers

Thanks to Linda Crosby in Virginia who sent this very useful information shared by one of the Liberty University students at their Fellowship Church.

 

I renounce the lie that I am rejected, unloved, dirty, or shameful because in Christ, I am completely accepted. God says:

I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:5)
I have been justified (Romans 5: 1)
I am united with the Lord and I am one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6: 17)
I have been bought with a price: I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
I am a member of Christ's body (1 Corinthians 12:27)
I am a saint, a holy one (Ephesians 1:1)
I have been adopted as God's child (Ephesians 1:5)
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 2: 10)

I renounce the lie that I am guilty, unprotected, alone, or abandoned because in Christ I am totally secure. God says:

I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1, 2)
I am assured that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
I am free from any condemning charges against me (Romans 8:31-34)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39)
I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21,22)
I am confident that the good work God has started in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6)
I am a citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20)
I am hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3)
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)
I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18)
I renounce the lie that I am worthless, inadequate, helpless, or hopeless because in Christ I am
deeply significant. God says ...
I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5: 13, 14)
I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus, a channel of His life (John 15:1, 5)
I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit (John 15: 16)
I am a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ's (Acts 1:8)
I am a temple of God (1 Corinthians 3: 16)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21)
I am God's coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)
I am God's workmanship, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10)
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13)

Good Friends Are Like Stars