Giving Generously – The Tale of Two Grandfathers

Grandfather One was a good man. He was given some pretty hard circumstances early in his life. His mother deserted him while he was very young and he was given a not-so-kind step-mother.  He grew up to be an honest and hard working man, often working a full time job as he established a family

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Life Lessons of Working Along Side Your Children

If you want to know someone, to see what they are made of, roll up your sleeves and work along side them.  Nowhere is this more true than with your family, especially your children! Whether doing daily chores or working for pay outside the home it is your duty to train your children to work

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What would happen if we removed government control from the educational system?

Bigger schools, more books (think about who is writing the books) and more teachers are not going to solve the education crisis in America. Public education is about control and money. How about parents keep their money and their children? What if your tax dollars were spent on an education that

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Giving Generously- Unique Stockings (videos)

I love unique stockings, they are a great way to package gifts (think homemade candies, cookies, fudge)  to give and they can be made very frugally. I've crocheted each of our children a stocking that have been used every year.  I love these that have been made from sweaters!    �

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Building a Family Economy – Cleaning as a Family Business

An elderly neighbor whose wife was suffering with a fatal disease, called me to see if I or one of my daughters (then age 13 and 17), could come help him once a month to clean his house. He was 80 and had a bad back and just refused to do housework. Caring for his wife was a full time job for him. H

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Girls!!! LIVE 31!!!

Having 2 girls in our home that are of marrying 'age', courtship, romance and marriage is the topic of conversation quite often.  As we keep our eyes open and wait for the right ones to come calling...and wondering where they are...we have to keep our focus. Our focus is on: Doing Today's Work- T

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Fitness Team Report – Week 1, so far so good

As I told you Monday I am part of a fitness team, don't laugh! December is probably the hardest month to take on a fitness challenge, but it is proving to be the best month to do so. With holiday get-togethers and extra sweet treats being made it's easy to consume lots of extra calories and find exc

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When a school board member took the standardized tests forced on kids

More proof that the institutionalized education system is so messed up: "...on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading tests for 10th grader

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Fiber Arts Monday – Crochet the night away…

I'm still working on scarfs here for Christmas gifts. One thing I love about the weather getting colder and the day light hours being shorter is that I spend more time crocheting. :o) I kick back in the recliner, usually with a hot rice pack on my feet, a quilt on my lap and yarn in my hands and the

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Entitlement Makes You Full of Self-pity and Anger

Are you ever around people that feel sorry for themselves a lot? They complain about their circumstances, act as if everyone is out to get them? Do you know people who get angry because they feel like they have been given a raw deal in life? The problem here is PRIDE. Why do we think we

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Sausage Bread

  Sausage Bread Makes 2 loaves 1 pound of sweet or hot Italian Sausage 1 pound of Mozzarella Cheese 2 pizza or bread dough Italian Seasoning Optional: 1 onion, 1 pepper, mushrooms, black olives Use Italian Sausage. If you cannot get it in bulk, use the links, just slide the sa

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Do you have a special warm place?

Tonight it is coooold in Alabama. My 87 year old grandmother from upstate New York is here visiting until January. She is so gentle and meek, I wish I could be like her! Tonight we have Bing Crosby's Christmas album playing, the aroma of popcorn popping all around me and listening to Jeff, the gi

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Gifts that Can Be Handed Down Generation After Generation!

There are few things that truly last for generations. Unfortunately, for the last 100 years or so our American culture has lost the vision of passing down practical skills and family trades. Most of our time and energies have been spent outside of the home and loosing the core skills and values t

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Thanksgiving Day 2011

Our Thanksgiving Day was fairly quiet this year.     I was pretty bummed because we had no extra people at our table. But the Lord did bring us an opportunity to fill a need for someone else so we were able to cook 2 meals and deliver 1! While Jeff and I were out deliveri

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Sewing Kit 4 Kids Giveaway Day 5

Melissa, you are the winner of the  Pocket Caddy Sewing Kit 4 Kids. Send me your mailing address and I'll get this out to you!     Today's giveaway is a Techno Tote Sewing 4 Kids Kit.     You will need to enter each day for each item.  Leave a s

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Thanksgiving and Seperation

Today we'll spend a pretty quiet day (Lord willing) at home with just our immediate family. This is what happens when there are miles between you and your family. Sometimes the miles are an actual physical distance and then there are times when the miles are measured in conviction, faith and worl

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Sewing Kits 4 Kids Giveaway! Day 2

The winner of yesterday's Sewing Kit 4 Kids, is Jennifer N! Jennifer, please email me your mailing address and I will get this out to you!       Today's giveaway is for the Sweet Dreams Set: Lori Barrett, is the winner of the Sweet Dreams Sewing Kit  

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Thanksgiving Video Tutorials

A couple pie crust hints: Use a deep dish pie plate (as seen on the left). Roll your dough out thin. Use a little sugar in your dough recipe. Before placing in the oven, use your finger tips to rub some milk on the top, just enough to moisten it, then sprinkle a little sugar. This will hel

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Fiber Arts Monday – Scarves

Scarves are great gifts to give for winter birthdays or for Christmas. I'm working on a few for gifts. I started this one last week using this pattern. Scarves are a great way to Give Generously without Breaking the Bank. Here are some other patterns I really like (pictures are

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Andrew Peterson – “God of My Fathers”

I'm not usually a big fan of most contemporary Christian music, but Emma recently turned me on to Andrew Peterson; he is now my current favorite! His songs are so rich in meaning and enjoyable to listen to, not to mention easy to understand. :o) The first time I heard this song I almost cried. 

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Giving Generously – A Christmas without Regrets

I admit, I have always had some regret after the holidays season, spending too much, stretching myself physically and emotionally so thin that I could not really enjoy the season. In my constant efforts to cause Christmas wishes to come true,  'make memories' and establish traditions it was ea

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You can’t go wrong with Vision Forum products!

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Giving Generously – Learn to Give with Pure Motives

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 I don't know anyone who does not enjoy giving a gift. There is something satisfying in knowing that you brought some happiness to a person. Learn to Give wit

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“This Ain’t Normal Folks”

The other night we watched Forks Over Knives, a documentary about choosing more of a plant based diet for life. It gave some great information about studies connecting the typical American diet (high meat, dairy and sugar) with such high cancer and heart disease rates. About a year and a half ago

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How to Use a Jointer – Woodworking Video

What a jointer is use for: How to use a jointer:

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