There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Secondhand Shopping Awesomeness
I think thrift stores get a bad wrap. Or maybe my old childhood fears of someone saying "Yo mama shops at the Salvation Army, Kmart & Payless Shoes" still haunt me. Ha! Of course after I was laid off and decided to stay home we went from really well off, to one small income, I had to re-learn how to shop.
Another reference to the Duggar family in the same day. Their family motto is "Buy used and save the difference". They rarely ever buy anything new, and they pay cash for everything. They have no debt, none, not even mortgage debt. Anyhoo, thrift store shopping is how they clothe and shoe their 19 kids. They are always nicely and modestly dressed.
Our town has about 5 or 6 secondhand stores. Some are better than others. The chain thrift stores like Goodwill tend to be a little expensive. Who wants to pay $10 for a used kids dress? Um, not me. I go there sometimes, and have found great deals, but I prefer to give business to the Church run stores.
Clothing a bunch of kids can get expensive. Especially with the smaller ones seem to grow out of clothes faster than they can wear them out. I have found some super great items. In fact most of what I find are expensive brand names. I have purchased two Janie & Jack items with combined retail price of $93 plus tax, in like new shape for only $4.00. This also helps our environment by reusing and not creating more trash. We should all be good stewards of the earth God has created for us.
This week I purchased 9 items from my favorite Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch Thrift Store (Saturday's everything is 50% off). For the little girls, 2 dresses, 2 skirts and 1 sweater. For the big girls 1 skirt and 1 dress and 2 skirts for myself. Not that I really care too much about brand name items but sometimes it's exciting, especially when you know how much someone else paid for the item you just bought for a dollar. The little girls clothes were all Gap, J&J, Gymboree & Old Navy, all places I can't afford to shop. The big girls items were nice quality brands too. All the items were in just like new condition.
I LOVE LOVE figuring out how much money I saved. I added up the approximate retail price for all 9 items purchased yesterday. It was roughly $345.00, including tax. I paid $18.11 (less than an hour of work for Adam), including tax, averaging $2.01 per item. Saving my husband $326.89 approximately 2 days of hard work. He should be so proud of me. haha!
I took pictures this time, because I'm a nerd like that. I'm missing the black skirt I got for the big girls. I think Kiley wore it today. It's a long, mid calf plain black skirt.
Another reference to the Duggar family in the same day. Their family motto is "Buy used and save the difference". They rarely ever buy anything new, and they pay cash for everything. They have no debt, none, not even mortgage debt. Anyhoo, thrift store shopping is how they clothe and shoe their 19 kids. They are always nicely and modestly dressed.
Our town has about 5 or 6 secondhand stores. Some are better than others. The chain thrift stores like Goodwill tend to be a little expensive. Who wants to pay $10 for a used kids dress? Um, not me. I go there sometimes, and have found great deals, but I prefer to give business to the Church run stores.
Clothing a bunch of kids can get expensive. Especially with the smaller ones seem to grow out of clothes faster than they can wear them out. I have found some super great items. In fact most of what I find are expensive brand names. I have purchased two Janie & Jack items with combined retail price of $93 plus tax, in like new shape for only $4.00. This also helps our environment by reusing and not creating more trash. We should all be good stewards of the earth God has created for us.
This week I purchased 9 items from my favorite Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch Thrift Store (Saturday's everything is 50% off). For the little girls, 2 dresses, 2 skirts and 1 sweater. For the big girls 1 skirt and 1 dress and 2 skirts for myself. Not that I really care too much about brand name items but sometimes it's exciting, especially when you know how much someone else paid for the item you just bought for a dollar. The little girls clothes were all Gap, J&J, Gymboree & Old Navy, all places I can't afford to shop. The big girls items were nice quality brands too. All the items were in just like new condition.
I LOVE LOVE figuring out how much money I saved. I added up the approximate retail price for all 9 items purchased yesterday. It was roughly $345.00, including tax. I paid $18.11 (less than an hour of work for Adam), including tax, averaging $2.01 per item. Saving my husband $326.89 approximately 2 days of hard work. He should be so proud of me. haha!
I took pictures this time, because I'm a nerd like that. I'm missing the black skirt I got for the big girls. I think Kiley wore it today. It's a long, mid calf plain black skirt.
Family Guidelines
I Love watching the show with the Duggar Family, 18 kids (no wait) 19 Kids and Counting. Any family with that many well behaved children must know what they're doing. I recently read their book, and enjoyed their list of guidelines/rules for their household. I am adopting these and posting them up in my home. I think I'll wall paper the pre-teens' room with them. ha!
1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through. (Romans 8:28)
8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
14. Never raise a hand to hit.
15. Never raise a foot to kick.
16. Never raise an object to throw.
17. Never raise a voice to yell.
18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and organized.
21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
22. Amendment J.O.Y. - Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.
FAMILY GUIDELINES
1. Always use soft words, even when you don’t feel well.
2. Always display kind actions and joyful attitudes, even if you have been mistreated. Have the right response by quickly forgiving others in your heart even before they ask.
3. Always be enthusiastic and look for opportunities to praise others' character.
4. Always deflect praise and be grateful to God and others for the ways they have benefited your life.
5. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
6. Always do what is right, even when others may not, or when no one is looking.
7. Thank God for how He made you, for what He has given you and everything He allows you to go through. (Romans 8:28)
8. Don’t mock or put others down. Develop compassion and pray for others.
9. Never argue, complain, or blame. Quickly admit when you have done wrong and ask for forgiveness (even if you were only 10% at fault). Don't wait till you’re caught. Be sure your sins will find you out. He who covers his sin will not prosper, but he that confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy.
10. Have a tough accountability/prayer partner to daily share your heart with and to keep you in line (your parents, spouse). The power of sin is in secrecy.
11. Be attentive and look for ways to serve others with sincere motives and no thought of self-gain.
12. Think pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:14).
13. Always give a good report of others. Don't gossip! Never tale-bear unless physical harm will come to someone. (Use Matthew 18.)
14. Never raise a hand to hit.
15. Never raise a foot to kick.
16. Never raise an object to throw.
17. Never raise a voice to yell.
18. Never raise an eye to scowl.
19. Use one toy/activity at a time. Share!
20. Do your best to keep your surroundings neat, clean and organized.
21. Never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Don’t go to bed angry or guilty)
22. Amendment J.O.Y. - Put Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Making the Waldorf Style Dolls
A Waldorf Doll is usually of wool and cotton, using techniques drawing on traditional European dollmaking, its appearance is intentionally simple in order to allow the child playing with it to improve or strengthen imagination and creativity. For instance, it has no facial expression. Its legs and arms are flexible, allowing natural postures.
A couple of months before Christmas, August saw a picture of some Waldorf style dolls in a natural toys magazine. She really liked them. She even slept with the magazine. I thought it was sweet. Here is my 11 year old daughter wanting a doll. She could be wanting a cell phone. The price of this doll was $165.00. OUCH! Of course I told her there was no way we could buy her that doll and she had just spent all her own money on the Ugg Boots she wanted so badly. I told her to pray about it. God answers when you ask him.
The next day I was looking for one of these dolls at a cheaper price, which I didn't find. I did, however find several different websites that teach you how to make the dolls and even sell all of the materials needed to make your own. YES! God had answered August's prayers. How sweet that he provided a way for her to have her doll.I ordered two doll making kits. Kiley had also shown interest in the doll, just not on the same level as August, so I decided to make her one also. My mom said she would help me make the dolls and I ordered the materials. It was roughly $100 to order both doll kits.
Making the dolls was a little more work than we expected. Still, it was a lot of fun. My mom and I had to work while the girls were gone at school. She did all the sewing machine work and the making of the bodies, and I did the heads. The heads were a lot of work. Each one took at least 4 hours. To attach the head to the bodies was almost an impossible feat, but I did it and walked away with about 100 needle pricks in my fingers.
Mom took on the task of sewing the doll clothes, which she said was a little more difficult than sewing people clothes. The first dolls clothing took her about 10 hours. I helped with the other set and that still took us 8 hours.When all was said and done, the dolls were beautiful. We were so happy with them, and a little proud we had done it.
When the girls received them Christmas morning, they were very excited. They are such sweet girls, they were even more excited when they found out Mom and I had made them ourselves.
My goal to preserve their childhood as long as possible was evident in their asking for dolls for Christmas. I hope to keep them young and innocent as long as possible, without making them childish, immature and naive. Girls these days lose their innocence far too young. There is plenty of time to be an adult later. Childhood, only comes once and it should be wonderful, memorable and last the entire time a person is a child. I feel so blessed that God chose me to be their mom. They are such a gift and a blessing to Adam and me.
A couple of months before Christmas, August saw a picture of some Waldorf style dolls in a natural toys magazine. She really liked them. She even slept with the magazine. I thought it was sweet. Here is my 11 year old daughter wanting a doll. She could be wanting a cell phone. The price of this doll was $165.00. OUCH! Of course I told her there was no way we could buy her that doll and she had just spent all her own money on the Ugg Boots she wanted so badly. I told her to pray about it. God answers when you ask him.
The next day I was looking for one of these dolls at a cheaper price, which I didn't find. I did, however find several different websites that teach you how to make the dolls and even sell all of the materials needed to make your own. YES! God had answered August's prayers. How sweet that he provided a way for her to have her doll.I ordered two doll making kits. Kiley had also shown interest in the doll, just not on the same level as August, so I decided to make her one also. My mom said she would help me make the dolls and I ordered the materials. It was roughly $100 to order both doll kits.
Making the dolls was a little more work than we expected. Still, it was a lot of fun. My mom and I had to work while the girls were gone at school. She did all the sewing machine work and the making of the bodies, and I did the heads. The heads were a lot of work. Each one took at least 4 hours. To attach the head to the bodies was almost an impossible feat, but I did it and walked away with about 100 needle pricks in my fingers.
Mom took on the task of sewing the doll clothes, which she said was a little more difficult than sewing people clothes. The first dolls clothing took her about 10 hours. I helped with the other set and that still took us 8 hours.When all was said and done, the dolls were beautiful. We were so happy with them, and a little proud we had done it.
When the girls received them Christmas morning, they were very excited. They are such sweet girls, they were even more excited when they found out Mom and I had made them ourselves.
My goal to preserve their childhood as long as possible was evident in their asking for dolls for Christmas. I hope to keep them young and innocent as long as possible, without making them childish, immature and naive. Girls these days lose their innocence far too young. There is plenty of time to be an adult later. Childhood, only comes once and it should be wonderful, memorable and last the entire time a person is a child. I feel so blessed that God chose me to be their mom. They are such a gift and a blessing to Adam and me.
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