13th Anniversary for Heart to Heart - Beginning the 14th Year!

The Lord deserves all the honor and praise for this  ministry which He began and is allowing to continue.

Comment from Amanda from South Africa

I originally signed up for this newsletter years ago because of the lack of “older women” to teach us “younger women." Well, a few years have passed and I am now teaching some younger women.    

Just to encourage the missionary folk or those thinking of missionary work:

I am a South African, born and bred for 13 generations on this soil.  And though my skin isn’t black, I am as African as my roots.

     
If it wasn’t for God’s grace and for American missionaries that came to my country, I might never have been saved.

Or my husband, or my 3 children, or my parents, or my siblings.  Or the (I don’t know how many) people we have reached out to in 25 years of doing evangelism, children’s work, preaching (my husband), teaching at Bible colleges (dh again), personal discipleship… the list goes on.

     
This is because there were ordinary folk that left their families, friends, churches, homes, jobs, and country they love.

They were willing to give many, many years of themselves.

Not always did every disciple turn out strong.

Not always did they see the fruit of their labours.

But just to let you know: “… your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

I, for one, am the fruit of your labour, and my family, and the thousands of people we have reached through the years.

Without being cliched, I can truly pray, God bless you!

Comment from Joyce Quam in Virginia:
     Thank you so much for all you do...I hope to spend time reading your newsletters in 2012. They are packed with so much joyful and useful information shared with "heart" and "love." Thank you, my friend. 

Comment from Jackie Schlageter:

     I wanted to take the time to thank you for your wonderful Heart2Heart Newsletters.  I took the time today to go to your blogs (I have 2 yahoo groups for homeschool families: "WherecanIfindit" and "WherecanIfinditweekly."  When I was reading the January 2012 newsletter I saw the link to your recipe blog and your newsletter blog.  I have put those into my newsletter for Monday.
     I also take your newsletters and using my open office program, put the newsletter in a form and font that is easier for me to see and use.  I have macular degeneration and unless I do this I can't read them well.  One of these days I will read them and put them on Disk to have when my eyesight is gone.  Believe me when I say that I will even read the recipes because I love cooking.
     Thank you for your work for Christ.  One of these days I will have every newsletter that you have put out in PDF form and then I will put them into a Notebook so that when or if I am unable to read them someone can read them and put them on disk and I can then listen to them even if I can't read them myself.

Comment from Mary Lynn Barrett in Virginia:

     "I probably don't tell you often enough that I love your newsletters! You have, and continue, to make a very positive difference in untold numbers of lives all across the country....and probably the world! Plus, heaven alone will reveal the eternal results of your faithfulness to the Lord in sharing His Word. I really appreciated you publishing my "Lost and Found" article about my grandson, Noah, several months ago.

     As we head into 2012, I am praying with you and for you in every concern of your heart."

25 Tips and Tidbits

A Great E-mail Timesaver ~ In moving an e-mail to a folder, our e-mail service used to allow us to start typing the folder name, and the folder would instantly appear, making e-mails quick and easy to file.  Well, it no longer works that way and it takes wasted time to locate folders.  So I put a narrow strip of paper along the right side of our computer, and wrote the alphabet on it, signifying exactly where each letter in the file folder begins.  Now all I need to do to file something in a specific folder is to place the curser beside that letter along the side and left click.  That folder instantly appears!  Why didn't I think of this before?  Of course, as more new folders are added, the guide will need to be revised. This is a super great time saver!

If You Realize You Have Forgotten Fabric Softener as your clothes come out of the dryer, snapping and sparking because they're full of static, just grab a fabric softener sheet and rub it around on the clothes.  Problem solved!

Finding Tiny Lost Items can be found more easily by placing a man's handkerchief or thin fabric over the vacuum cleaner nozzle (using no attachments).  Vacuum where you think you lost a ring, earring or other small item.  This way the vacuum will suck up the item, but you will be able to retrieve it from inside the cloth.

Guest Book ~ We were given a beautiful guest book as a wedding gift, and after that one was filled, I kept buying others. It's so interesting to see a record of who has been in our home over the years.  In the last guest book I also have a section where I record all the trips that my husband and I make ourselves.  That comes in handy when we wonder how long it's been since we went to a particular place.  A journal works great as a guest book as well.

Furniture Restoration ~ If your dark wood furniture has scratches and dents, rubbing the meat of a walnut into the area will help disguise the blemish.

Stock Up on Clear Shoe Boxes so you have them when needed.  Clear boxes allow you to see what's in the boxes, but labels are still a good idea.  They can be found (with lids) for about a dollar.  I got mine at the Dollar General.

Closet Organization ~ Clear plastic shoe boxes are perfect for storing a variety of things in closets, especially on the upper shelves.  It's easier to pull out the box to retrieve what you need.  Be sure to label the boxes anyway.  Keeping a small stool in the closet will help in retrieving items on the top shelf.

The Biggest Storage Space Idea that works for Linda Bahn in Pennsylvania is to "clean the cupboards and/or closets."  She said she is always amazed at how much EMPTY space there is in an area after she cleans out what she doesn't need or use and organize what she has.  Very true, indeed!  I've been doing the same thing this month, with lots more to go!

Spray Bottle Storage ~ Hang a tension rod for storing spray bottles.  Hang the trigger portion of the bottles over the rod.  A great space-saver!

Organize Your Linens by neatly storing sheet sets inside a matching pillowcase.  I used a permanent pen to write the first letter of the bed size at the bottom of each sheet (K, Q, F, or T).

Cord Labels ~ If you have quite a few cords connected to an electrical outlet, you may want to use bread bag tags as labels.  Use a permanent pen to identify each cord.  This would be especially helpful when pulling a plug and later finding it belonged to the freezer!

Cutting Egg Cartons in Half with a serrated knife will sometimes help them fit better in the refrigerator when it's too full, especially if you stack them.

Slicing Spinach ~ Stack spinach leaves in your hand with all the stems together, facing you.  Place on a cutting board, and cut off the stems.  Then thinly slice through all the layers of leaves.  I like to use a chef's knife.  The end result will be nicely sliced strips of fresh spinach leaves, which can be added to a host of dishes, such as omelets, soups, great northern buttered beans, or a taco salad.  Use your imagination.

Spinach Omelet ~ For a tasty omelet, beat 3 eggs with a fork.  Add 1 Tbsp. water, salt, onion powder, and herbs.  Pour into a greased saute pan on medium heat.  As the omelet cooks, lift the edges with a rubber spatula, allowing the uncooked egg to go underneath.  As soon as the egg is almost cooked through, add sliced spinach and grated cheese.  Using a wide spatula (or two), carefully flip half of the omelet over on itself.

Sugar Shaker for Mixed Herbs ~ I blended a mixture of various dried herbs together to use in cooking and store them in a sugar shaker.  This is kept on the back on my stove, with a small piece of Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap on top. It's easy to retrieve when cooking.

Glad Press and Seal Plastic Wrap are both more expensive than regular plastic wrap, so I save it for special jobs and use Stretch-Tite Plastic Wrap for other jobs.  It clings real well, better than most, and isn't expensive.

Hand Mixer Storage ~ Storing is sometimes difficult with the cord, but I wrap the cord around the mixer, and secure with a rubberband, placing it through the center of the electric plug and around the mixer.  No more dangling cords!

Cupcake Carrier ~ If you don't own the real thing, improvise by using a shallow box lid (office supply box lid) and cutting criss-crosses (the width of each cupcake) where you want to place the cupcakes.

Baked Potatoes will bake (in a conventional oven) in less time if you push a metal skewer through them.  The skewer acts as a heat conductor.

Food that's Too Salty can be saved, by cutting a large potato into slices, adding it to the pot and cooking longer.  Potatoes absorb salt.  Toss out the potato slices after they absorb the extra salt.

Lids that Stick ~ Smear a little cooking oil around the necks of bottles that contain sticky substances like molasses or sauce, and they will be easier to open.  If you still have trouble, run hot water over the lid, and tap on the sink (covered with a dishcloth).  Also use a rubber grabber to help with opening lids.

Wax Cold Cereal Liners make excellent bags for freezing when used along with plastic wrap.  For example, shape  hamburger patties, separating them with wax paper squares.  Wrap a meal's worth in plastic wrap and pack several meals in a wax liner for protection from freezer burn.  The bags can be closed with a Pampered Chef Twixit or by folding down the opening and taping well with masking tape. 

A Quick Meal ~ Saute a large onion until tender.  Add the equivalent of a can of beans (making your own from dried is best) to a baking dish.  Cover with layers of grated cheese, mashed potatoes and more cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees until heated through.  Serve with a green vegetable.

Enjoy a Fresh Pineapple soon after purchasing.  A pineapple is ripe when the scent comes through the outer covering.  A fresh pineapple has stiff leaves, but not wilted.

Bone Broth is super healthy for us!  After cooking a turkey breast in the slow cooker, I bone the turkey, but return the bones to the cooker along with about 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and add at least 2-3 quarts of pure water.  The secret is simmering the broth for twenty-four hours.  Strain the broth, and toss the bones (which will be soft and easily broken after cooking in vinegar).  Extra nutrition comes from the bones when cooked in this way.  Freeze the broth for flavorful and healthy soups.  My nutritionist said it helps "leaky gut syndrome" which most people have, but don't realize they do.

25 Ways to Discover Lost Time

by Jamie Novak - Used by permission

1. When making an appointment, try to get the first one of the day or the first one after lunch. There is a better chance you will be taken on time.

 

2. Finally get rid of your stacks of magazines. Go through them at one sitting by skimming the table of contents and ripping out any articles of interest. Staple the articles together and place in a file labeled ‘to read’. Carry the folder with you when you may end up with spare time, like at a doctor’s appointment.

 

3. Change all of your bill due dates to the same day so you can pay bills one time a month. Call your creditors and ask them to change your due date. You might also try online bill paying or automatic bill paying to a credit card.

 

4. Run all your errands at one time. Start with the one farthest away from your house and finish up with the one closest to your house. Make a list before you go and gather all the things you need in one spot to ensure you have them with you while you are out.

 

5. Wear a watch and have clocks in all rooms. Use a timer when doing specific projects to keep you aware of how long it is taking you.

 

6. Remember that just because the phone rings does not mean you have to answer it. Allow your answering machine to screen your calls; you will avoid sales calls.

 

7. When you cook make a double portion and freeze the extra to have on a night when you are running late.

 

8. Call ahead before going. Call to confirm appointments. Call ahead for restaurant seating. Call to make sure the store has what you are going for.

 

9. Finish what you start. If you are in the middle of a project and remember something else you have to do jot it down do not interrupt your current project.

 

10. Buy a large variety of greeting cards. Keep in a file separated by category. That way when you need to send one out you do not have to stop at the store. Also keep a few generic gifts and gift-wrap or gift bags on hand.

 

11. Separate your to-do list from your ‘I wish I had time to do this list.’ Your to-do list is made up of the 5-10 tasks you actually plan to accomplish during the day. Create a separate list for all the tasks you would like to get to someday.

 

12. Create some sort of permanent desk space instead of using the dining room table. If space is a challenge consider a fold away desk or a simple slim table with chair.

 

13. Go through your mail one time a day. Open it near the garbage can (shredder and/or recycling can). Have your calendar and to-do list handy to jot down dates and tasks.

 

14. Type a grocery list of your most used items. Make 52 copies. Place one on the refrigerator a week to check off what you need instead of writing out the list.

 

15. Prepare for your morning the night before. Gather everything you will need, like purse, keys, and briefcase. Choose your cloths and set the table for breakfast.

 

16. Create caddies for commonly done projects. Like a bill paying caddy that has stamps and return address labels. A cleaning caddy with multipurpose cleaner and rags. A sandwich caddy that has all the items needed to make a sandwich so you do not have to search the refrigerator.

 

17. Try not to buy items that require extra care, like silver to polish and knickknacks to dust around.

 

18. Remember that emergencies cost more then planned maintenance. Take you car in for regular servicing and make doctors appointments for yourself and family.

 

19. Before you start a project make sure you have all the tools you will need to finish.

 

20. When you need to make a call to someone that you know can be chatty start the call off with “I only have a minute but I wanted to call to…”

 

21. Turn on the TV only when your show is scheduled to begin and turn it off when your show ends. Turning the TV off 1 hour a week gives you 52 extra hours.

 

22. The single most effective time management tool is ‘no’. Before you say yes ask yourself what will you be saying no to?

 

23. Return phone calls right before lunch or at the end of the day. There is a better chance you will catch the person and they will not be so chatty.

 

24. Adopt a ‘do it now’ mentality. Some projects take more time to write down on a to-do list than they actually take to do the task.

 

25. Consider delegating tasks to someone who capable of doing them. Or hire out projects. Is it worth the few dollars it will cost to hire a neighborhood child to mow you lawn, then the time it will take you to do it yourself?

Jamie Novak is a dynamic speaker, television personality, and best-selling author who inspires people to calm the chaos of clutter and live a life based on their priorities in a humorous and heartwarming way. Novak provides real solutions for those living in the real world, she promises never to suggest impractical solutions. http://www.jamienovak.com

Learning to Trust Him with Teenagers

by Julie Druck - Editor of A Heart for Home Newsletter - aheartforhome-subscribe@welovegod.org - Used by permission

Nobody told me. Or maybe I wasn’t listening. But here’s what I’ve discovered over the last few years – that raising teenagers is terrifying work.

 

Interested in a few case scenarios? How about the fear factor involved in climbing into the passenger seat to let my firstborn drive home with his brand-new permit. Or the almost-nauseating feeling from waiting to hear my oldest two pull into the drive after a late-night volleyball game. Or the mental tirade of trauma images that refused to be eradicated when we left the boys home alone overnight for the first time. Or the worry of the time Marty left them walk around the farmers’ market WITHOUT US. (He comforted my fears by reminding me that the boys were bigger than we were.)

 

What I am trying to say is this: That when my oldest son turned 16, I became a basket case.

 

And not just a basket case but a control freak in the bargain. Actually, this ‘control freak’ thing isn’t a new revelation. It’s the same old story bound up in a new cover. I’ve had an on-going wrestling match with God in this area for most of my life. But now the fight doesn’t just involve me – it involves my babies.

 

As I try to think this out rationally, trying to discern what I’m really afraid of, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not so much a fear of doubting my boys and the decisions that they’ll make. I’ve seen much evidence in their lives to have confidence in the fact that they know to Whom they belong and that walking in His ways is a wise and joyful thing. What I rail against is a fear of physical harm. A fear that teases that I may not have my boys as long as I want. A fear that maybe the plans I have for them aren’t the same plans that He has for them.  

 

And somehow I’ve managed to control that fear all these years by fooling myself into believing that I’ve been the one calling all the shots. That I’ve been the one whose protected my little chicks. Oh, my mouth said that God was the One doing it – but my heart knows different. And now, all of a sudden, I find that I’m not ‘in charge’ anymore. That I can’t be in every situation, every circumstance, every scenario – guarding my quickly-growing brood from all kinds of real or imagined danger. Now I must stand helplessly by and (gasp!) trust God with my nestlings! I have to let God take care of my children - as if He hasn’t been the very One doing that all along? Isn’t that ludicrous?! It looks even more ridiculous to me in print, but it’s oh-so-real in my head.

 

So, what to do about it? I certainly can’t continue in this line of thinking – it’s insanely hard on my nerves. The conclusion I’ve come to is that I’ve got two choices - I must trust God or go insane. (A friend once told me that there’s a thin line between faith and insanity – and she’s right.)   And since I’ve tried the worry route and it leads to nowhere good, I guess I’ve no choice but to trust God. Silly, isn’t it? Especially when there’s a Book in which He has stated dozens and dozens and dozens of times that He takes care of His children in His own good and perfect ways. And not only that, but I’ve experienced the reality of those promises through His goodness and grace and mercy over and over again in my life.

 

And so, with sheer willpower (actually, more like a good measure of the help of the Holy Spirit), I’m learning to trust God with my boys. I’m not always great at it – it’s a dance like anything else – but, in His grace, He is helping me let go of fear and, instead, trust Him. It’s a matter of mentally taking hold of those fearful, worrisome thoughts (so that they can’t run rampant) and, instead, reminding myself of the truths and realities of His Word. And you know, each situation I do that in, it gets a little easier. He’s helping me step-by-baby-step to trust Him - to surrender one more area of my life to His sovereign and good and trustworthy control.

Inspirational Quotes

Proper parenting God's way is to ponder and pray. ~ Joyce Rogers

To love your child unconditionally is to determine that no matter what, you will always seek his highest good, not your own. ~ Jan Silvious

A child's security is based not on how much his parents love him, but on how much his parents love each other. ~ Susan Alexander Yates

People before things; people before projects; family before friends; husband before children; husband before parents; tithe before wants; Bible before opinions; Jesus before all. ~ Jo Ann Leavell

Worry comprises your joy, cramps your peace, and confines your freedom. ~ Jane Hunt

 

I like to define forgiveness as "giving up the right to punish the one who has hurt you."  that's what Jesus did on the cross. ~ Jan Silvious

Whatever God asks you to be, He enables you to be! ~ Anne Ortlund

Pam's Story

Author unknown ~ Thanks to Linda Klein in California and Annamarie Kresge in Virginia for sending this!

In a recent email, I read about a woman named Pam, who knows the pain of considering abortion. More than 24 years ago, she and her husband Bob were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in  contaminated food or drink. She went into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant.

Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby. She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. Pam said the doctors didn't think of it as a life, they thought of it as a mass of fetal tissue.

While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused to consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband: If you will give us a son, we’ll name him Timothy and we’ll make him a preacher.

Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987. Pam’s youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes hospital visits, and serves with his father’s ministry in the Philippines. He also plays football. Pam’s son is Tim Tebow.

The University of Florida’s star quarterback became the first sophomore in history to win college football’s highest award, the Heisman Trophy. His current role as quarterback of the Denver Broncos has provided an incredible platform for Christian witness. As a result, he is being called The Mile-High Messiah.

Tim’s notoriety and the family’s inspiring story have given Pam numerous opportunities to speak on behalf of women’s centers across the country. Pam Tebow believes that every little baby you save matters. I pray her tribe will increase!

Parental Success

This is a wonderful parenting concept that really worked for Penny in Virginia!  Gracie is 9 and Joshua is 11.  I sure wish I had thought of this when our kids were small!

Mom: "Gracie, you need to put those socks in the laundry room." 
Gracie: "I'll do it in a minute, okay?" 
Mom: "Okay, but I'm not going to remind you.  And what should be your consequence if you don't pick them up in a minute?" 
Gracie: "Maybe I should do it now." 
Parental success for the day!

Mom: "Joshua, I need you to get me your backpack from the car." 
Joshua: "Can I get it in a minute?  I'm working on my Legos." 
Mom: "Sure, but I'm not going to remind you to get it for me.  So, if you forget, what should be your consequence?" 
Joshua: "Eternal suffering.  Oh, never mind.  I'll go get it now." 
Parental success #2 for the day!

Precious Gems

Feb., 2012

Here is something a very special friend shared with me that is just precious. Her son is a lawyer and recently relocated his family to a small town where the law firm is within walking distance of their home enabling him to spend more time with his family. One day he was home sharing lunch with his daughter, Sarah, around 2-1/2. That day as she was eating her pizza "Sarah style" (she would take it apart and eat the topping and work on the crust last). As she was breaking the crust, he heard her say, "This is the body of Christ broken for you." I am not sure if she dipped it into her milk or if "communion" ended with that precious comment, but Sarah's dad was so thankful for that moment with his daughter who seemed to "get it" at such a young age. Let us all be aware that little ones are watching and listening with their little minds and hearts and that communion with Christ can be as formal as worship or as simple and precious as "the breaking of pizza crust" by a child. ~ Joyce in Virginia

Austin (4) talking to his mommie on being born: "...and then I just popped out your belly...and daddy catched me." Yep, something like that. :) ~ Emily in Virginia

My kids spent the day with their Gramma and Papa the other day.  My mom was telling Madelyn (5) that Madelyn's oldest cousin couldn't wait to be old enough to stay home by herself so that she could watch TV and eat junk food.  Madelyn said she wished she could do that too.  When asked what junk food she would eat, Madelyn said, "Brussel  sprouts and broccoli." ~ Liz in Washington 

It's snowing!  Melody (2) said this morning while watching the snow fall, "Now, we got work to do.  GO build more snow penguins!" ~ Rosie in Central Asia

My granddaughter, Ryan Elizabeth (4) absolutely loves her purple unicorn pillow pet, named "Uni."  One evening after Ryan was sleeping, their dog got hold of Uni and tore her to shreds!  It was a good thing Ryan didn't see the destruction!  Her dad ran out that evening to get an identical pillow pet for his daughter.  The next morning, Ryan came downstairs and exclaimed cheerfully, "Uni looks so clean and shiny this morning, doesn't she!"  Thank goodness she never knew, but looked on the bright side! ~ Lois

 

During a heavy thunderstorm storm, my 8 year old grandson, Justin, said, "Apparently God got "Skylanders" for Christmas too!  Right now He is playing with "Lightening Rod!" ~ Lois

In the fall I helped two of our grandchildren, Justin, 8, and Ryan Elizabeth, 4, to sew their own machine embroidered designs and make them into pillows.  They loved that!  When our 3 year old grandson, Daniel, visited later, I started to do the same thing with him, and he chose his own embroidery design, a juicy watermelon.  He was sitting on my lap as I was threading my machine and having trouble getting it to sew on that particular evening (it needed a new needle).  Daniel grew tired of waiting, although he didn't actually complain.  Then he sweetly and kindly looked up at me and made this suggestion: "Grammie, why don't you just surprise me!"  He meant by sewing it myself and sending it to him! ~ Lois

A Great Mathematics Link

Mathematics ~ Thanks to Diana Bishop for sending this amazing link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=h60r2HPsiuM&feature=youtube_gdata_player