Heart to Heart: September 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Learn How to Quilt

This is a great opportunity to watch these basic quilting lessons and learn at your own pace at no cost to you!

Watch Free Sew Easy Lessons from Fons and Porter
http://www.fonsandporter.com/sew_easy_lessons.html?utm_source=LOQI&utm_medium=email&am p;utm_campaign=Newsletter20130910

Grounding Kids from TV or Video Games ~ Rather than removing the children from the room where the TV or video games are located, buy a small lock and put it through a hole in the plug. That way the room can still be used for other purposes, like reading or playing, without the child being tempted or the parent needing to check to see that they are not disobeying.

Leaf Pigment Chromatography - Hands On Science ~ Hands On Learning 4 All.com ~ Got rubbing alcohol? Got coffee filters? Got leaves? Try this leaf pigment chromatography lesson with your kids. Awesome! http://www.thehomeschoolvillage.com/2011/10/leaf-pigment-chromatography-hands-on-science.h tml

Get 5 Tips for Keeping Your Produce Fresh Longer ~ http://www.therisingspoon.com/2013/06/five-tips-for-making-your-produce-last.html

Five Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Was Married

by Dave Boehi - October 19, 2009

Used by permission from Family Life

I've been thinking a lot lately about what couples should know before they get married. For one thing, I've been making some updates and revisions on FamilyLife's Preparing for Marriage workbook, which is used by thousands of pastors and counselors around the country each year for premarriage counseling. In addition, my younger daughter, Missy, was recently married. As a parent you think of all the things you should tell a child before marriage, and nothing ever seems to be enough.

When Merry and I were preparing to be married, we went through counseling and got a lot of good advice. But there are some important things that we did not fully understand. So if I were talking with a premarried couple, here's what I'd tell them about the "Five Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Was Married."

#1: Marriage is not all about you. It's not about your happiness and self-fulfillment. It's not about getting your needs met. It's about going through life together and serving God together and serving each other. It's about establishing a family. It's about committing your lives to each other even though you may be very different in 10, 20, or 40 years from the people you are now.
#2: You are about to learn a painful lesson--you are both very selfish people. This may be difficult to comprehend during the happy and hazy days of courtship, but it's true, and it shocks many couples during their first years of marriage. It's important to know this revelation of selfishness is coming, because then you can make adjustments for it, and you will be a lot better off.
#3: The person you love the most is also the person who can hurt you the deepest. That's the risk and pain of marriage. And the beauty of marriage is working through your hurt and pain and resolving your conflicts and solving your problems.
#4: You can't make it work on your own. It's obvious that marriage is difficult--just look at how many couples today end in divorce. This is why it's so critical to center your lives and your marriage on the God who created marriage. To make your marriage last for a lifetime, you need to rely on God for the power and love and strength and wisdom and endurance you need.

#5: Never stop enjoying each other. Always remember that marriage is an incredible gift to be enjoyed. Ecclesiastes 9:9 says, "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun."

Enjoy the little things of life with your spouse: the food you enjoy together at home or in restaurants ... the movies you like ... the little inside jokes nobody else understands except for you ... the times you make each other laugh ... the games you play together.
And focus on making memories together: Plan special dates and weekend getaways. Make sure you reserve time for each other after you have kids. When you are old, you won't look back and remember how great it was to buy that new furniture or watch that great show on television. You're going to remember what you did together and saw together and created together.

How about you? If you were talking to an engaged couple about what you wish you'd known before marriage, what would you say? Write me and I'll put your answers in a future Marriage Memo.

If you'd like to take a weekend getaway with your spouse, here are two suggestions. First, attend a Weekend to Remember conference. It could be the best investment you make in your marriage and family. Second, check out Bill and Carolyn Wellons' book, Getting Away to Get it Together. It will show you how to reconnect with your spouse and re-energize your partnership.

Marriage Memo archives

Personal Testimony Regarding Scripture Memory

by Madeline Trotman - Used by permission

Note from Lois about Madeline: Madeline has faithfully been ministering to international students at the University of Virginia for about twenty-eight years. Because of her great love for them, as well as her gospel witness, many internationals have put their faith and trust in the Lord. Many have also gone back to their native land as a witness for Jesus. She keeps in contact with quite a few international graduates after they leave, as they continue to look to Madeline for mentoring in the faith. She's an amazing lady!

Recently I was discussing with a friend the benefits of fixing the Word of God in our hearts. We were e-mailing, and I decided to put my personal experience into my communication with this person.

I wanted to share it with you, because I want to encourage you and be open about my own experience regarding Scripture memory.

"Dawson has started the book, Borden of Yale...from the 1800's. He read a thought to me last night, which has really grasped my attention. Borden said he wanted to be God-governed, not self-governed. This hit me between the eyes -- because the upshot of Scripture memory brings about the changing of our thought patterns. To me, to be God-governed...the bottom line is the way we think.

For example, at one time in my life, I deeply lacked His peace, because of accusing thoughts from the enemy...to drag me down and keep me from experiencing God's love and the renewing of my mind from His Truth. When I was younger, even in elementary school, any little party I went to, or a group I would be around, I always thought I was not as good as the rest of the girls, or that I was unimportant. I never saw myself as an equal, and I always felt other girls didn't like me. This may have resulted because of being raised in a poor family, and a family where my papa never hugged me or showed affection, or praised me, or cheered me on. And he was angry most of the time. So I lacked peace within.

Consequently my Heavenly Father had a big job to do in my mind and my thoughts...to change my thought patterns and teach me to think according to His love, the way of His Spirit, His love upon me, His call upon me, His purpose and worthiness of me because He dwells in me.

So I learned to repent of thoughts that were not Scriptural...and the enemy seems to know how to get us to focus on ourselves, rather than to think according to what He has said to us, revealed to us, and taught us. Deeply I had to seek God about my thoughts. I claimed Romans 8:1 in the King James. There is now NO CONDEMNATION (putting self down) to those who are in the Spirit. So God showed me that to be following the Spirit I was to repent of thoughts that were evil (down on myself), and claim, believe, and stand on the proclamation of His love, His heart for me, His substance within me. So. you can see that I had plenty of warfare to see the enemy defeated. And God tells us the Sword of the Spirit is His Word.

Praise HIM! It was reviewing, hiding, fixing His truth in my heart...and meditating on this, believing it, digesting, applying it, that changed my thought patterns and my life!!

WOW! How I praise HIM for the beauty and power of His Word."

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds." ~ Deuteronomy 11:18
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly..." ~ Colossians 3:16
"...the Word is very neat you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." ~ Deuteronomy 30:14
"Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." ~ Ephesians 4:23
"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." ~ Romans 12:1
"I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." ~ Psalm 119:11

The Versatility and Benefit in Using Essential Oils

by Lois Breneman - Heart to Heart - 2013 - Revised 2016

What are essential oils, anyway? We've all been hearing so much about them in the last few years. Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, and flowers of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant providing many benefits.

Due to FDA regulations, this helpful article on essential oils had to be removed from my blog. (See below)

If you are interested in knowing the brand I use as well as reading the entire article which was taken down, please contact me by e-mail. I hope you will find safe and non-invasive help for your family's health and wellness!

(New FDA regulations do not allow me to mention the brand of essential oils I use or tell more specifically how they help so many "irritations" or "discomforts" in life, since I am a Wellness Advocate, basically meaning I get their great discount. If you would like to know more about the therapeutic grade of essential oils I use and fully trust, please e-mail me and ask.)

Precious Gems

Ladies, thanks again for giving me permission to include your kids' quotes in the newsletter!

My granddaughter, Ryan (6) excitedly told her daddy that she was going to tell her teacher and her whole class that she was going to go visit all of her grandparents in Virginia over the weekend. Her dad mentioned to Ryan that if someone else heard that they'd be gone, they might rob their house. The next day Ryan came home and told her daddy, "I told my teacher and the whole class that we're going to Virginia for the weekend!" She quickly added, "But don't worry, Daddy! I made them all promise that they wouldn't rob our house while we're gone!!!" ~ Lois in Virginia

Savannah (6): "Nathan asked me to marry him today. I told him I'd need to consider it for at least a few days."
Dad: "Or about 25 years." ~ Lauren in Virginia

I asked Leila (1) what she was squealing about and Lexi (4) replied, "Maybe her feelings got broke." ~ Vera in Virginia

Amiya (5) was asking me if her principal was a medical doctor (Dr. ___). I explained it means she went to school for a long time and she's really smart. Next question: "Is that where she learned the song, 'McDonald's McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. Taco Bell & Burger King?' " (With motions, y'all!!) ~ Danielle in Alabama

John and I were both working on making dinner in the kitchen. I go to get the sugar and it is nowhere to be found. "John, you know where the sugar is?" "No." We canvas the kitchen and still couldn't find it. A minute or two later, Melody (4) comes in with a big grin on her face and the sugar container in her hand. "What were you doing with the sugar in the living room?" (HUGE smirk) "Snitching." ~ Rosie in Central Asia

Mia (4) prayed the other night, "Thank you for Oma (Name for her grandma) because even though she is Oma she is also like a friend." ~ Elizabeth in Virginia

Last night Caroline (8) asked me if babies come with directions. I was busy cleaning and quickly answered, "Heck no, we just have to figure it out." She promptly said, " I think you are doing a great job." I smiled and said a quick thanks, but today as I reflect on that, I am smiling from ear to ear. What better compliment could I have received? ~Jessica in Virginia

Amiya (5) has been talking about the "Nice ChristmasTreats" at school for the last 2 weeks. Finally figured out she means "Rice Krispy Treats!" ~ Danielle in Alabama

This is how prayer went over breakfast this morning:
Brooklyn (3): "Thank you for food and Mom and Dad and Sis and...
"Kendra (2): "Amen! Amen!"
Brooklyn: "Me not done! And baby Harper and Mimi and Grandad and..."
Kendra: "Amen!!!!"

Brooklyn: "NO! Me not done!!! Dats mine amen!!! And Becca and Mike and the beach and friends and trees and..."
Kendra: "Stop it! Amen!!!"
Gotta love our two and three year olds! ~ Lauren in Virginia

I told Malakai (5) I needed to take out the trash. He raised his eyebrows and said, "No no no no no! I will take it out!" #meltmyheart #littleman ~ Danielle in Alabama

Savannah (6): "I can't believe I cried when I found out Harper was a girl. She's the cutest baby in the world and a boy would just be stinky. I must've been crazy for wanting a brother!" ~ Lauren in Virginia

Halle (7) says, "Mom, was I right when I told Sarie (sister, age 5), that tomatoes grow on a plant?"
Mom says, "Yes."

Halle: "Then I don't stand corrected." ~ Grandmother, Becky, & Mother, Sarah in Georgia

Dinner conversation went like this: Gracie (9): Mom, Sophie (one of our neighbor's kids who is 5 or 6) told me she had a boyfriend, and his name is Andrew.

Me: Oh really.

Grace: Yes, but don't worry I told her she was too little for that and that she should wait until she was married to have a boyfriend.

WOW...where do I begin with that one! hahah! ~ Maria in Virginia

This has truly been 'one of those days' with my daughter (9). She keeps telling me she doesn't feel well, and I ask her 'how'? and she says I don't know...I just don't feel good at all. A little while ago, I am in my room and she comes in and lays on my bed and says, 'Mom, I feel like I have been run over by two cows and a girl on a pogo stick!' ooookkkaaayy.....maybe it was better not to know how she was really feeling!!! What a powerful introduction to the world of girl drama I am experiencing! ~ Maria in Virginia

Logan (5) walked up and started rubbing my belly with a tissue (expecting to deliver 4th baby any day). I asked him what he was doing, and he told me that Peyton has a runny nose. ~ Amanda in Virginia

Gracie (11) just told me, "Ya know, homework is a lot like love."
Mom: "Oh really? How so?"
Gracie, "Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's hard, but either way you have to do it."~ Penny in Virginia

Levi: "Mama, which one of your friends was alive when God created the world?" ~ Rachel in Virginia (That was probably me! ~ Lois)