A Prayer For You

Lord I pray for my friends who are single moms by circumstance or by choice.  I pray that You lift them up and comfort them in their time of need.  That they recognize Your influence in their lives.  I pray for healing, strength and power.  Healing from pain, strength for today's challenges and power to walk away from sin and all the calamity that comes with it.

My friends I have walked in your shoes down the same path and into the same blazingly wrong choices.  There is redemption and forgiveness.  Do an about face and walk in the opposite direction.  That takes courage.  I know you often wonder if there's life out there, to quote Reba...there is.

For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

When God says He will, count on it.

Lady Bugs in my garden

If having lady bugs in my garden is the sign of a healthy garden then I am set!  It's strange rummaging through the plants looking for veggies ready for the picking and seeing these cute little bugs crawling all over the leaves.  They're quite harmless to humans but are nature's assassin for those pesky garden troublemakers the aphids.



I found this image online of the current shade of lady bug that I found today.  Not the vibrant red one you're used to seeing huh?  They have a ravenous appetite for aphids which is good because earlier in our season the aphids were having "a party in my garden so yummy so yummy". (a little shout out to Yo Gabba Gabba) 

I'm having the time of my life learning new gardening techniques along side Larry as we become less dependent on grocery stores and more dependent on ourselves.  Life is adventure.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

 Ingredients  Things You Will Need VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Soap:  Fels Naptha, Ivory, Irish Spring

Washing Soda:  NOT baking soda.  This removes dirt and odors.  Found in laundry detergent aisle.  I use Arm and Hammer.

Borax powder:  A naturally occurring mineral, sodium borate.  It is a laundry whitener and deodorizer.  Found in laundry detergent aisle.  I use 20 Mule Team.

Essential Oil:  My favorite is Peppermint.  This can be found at your local herb store.  In Clarksville it’s Herbs and Vitamins by Kohl’s.

A large bucket maybe 2-4 gallons.  Personally I like the big buckets because I’m messy.

Recipe:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha  or a whole bar of any other soap.
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
Essential Oil (optional)
Large Bucket

Grate the soap.  I usually grate the whole bar and save it in a  jar.  Put 1/3 of your Fels Naptha in a sauce pan.  Add 6 cups water and heat until soap melts.  Add washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket.  Add soap mixture in sauce pan and stir.  Add 1 gallon plus an additional 6 cups of water to the bucket and stir.  Let soap mixture sit for 24 hours until it has become gelled.  At this point I mix the soap really good and then pour it into empty containers like clean gallon water jugs, detergent bottle, etc.   I filled four 64 oz bottles. 

I use 1/2 cup per load.  *Do not use to cloth diapers.  It tends to build up on them quick and affects the absorbancy.

This is not a high suds producing detergent so don’t panic.  It’s not suds that cleans your clothes.  The cleaning agents are what's working here.

My approximate calculations:
Fels Naptha costs approx. $1.20
Washing Soda costs approx. $2.30
Borax costs approx. $3.50
My Essential Oil option is .60 (total drops in a 1/3 oz bottle @$6.52 is roughly 225 so that breaks down to .03 per drop.  I use about 20)

TOTAL= $7.60/for 256 oz of natural laundry detergent

Keep in mind the essential oil is optional but I really like it and it lasts a long time.  Your other ingredients are still on hand for 2 more complete batches and then you’ll have to buy more Fels Naptha. 
All of this information I found at www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm and adapted it to what I thought would be quick information.  Check out their site for more information.

A note about bleach.  I try not to use it.  It really breaks down your clothes.  Hanging your clothes out on a clothesline is the best thing ever.  Not only does the sun whiten naturally but it doesn’t run up your electric bill.

Marriage is Work

I've got a lot on my mind tonight and fortunately my blog is like my best friend.  I'm hurting.  Hurting for marriages that seem to dissolve into nothingness.  There are so many marriages crumbling apart just in Clarksville that it's truly a staggering feeling.

Have you ever had an arguement with your significant other and been so angry that you couldn't be objective enough to wonder how it's affecting the kids?  Well, meet me...Mrs. Objective.  I have in the past been a caregiver to parents who were going through very difficult times.  I prayed for them and hoped with everything in me that they would push through the tough sometimes impossible to forgive garbage and FIGHT.  During all that praying I always lifted up the little one and asked God to protect their heart.  They were obviously hurting.  Maybe they didn't understand what was going on but they felt this presence in their world that scared them.  You see, I have been that parent.  We didn't fight.  We just didn't speak.  And in the end two people chose to divorce and leave 3 children without a stable home.  Oh I remarried years later and yes I'm happy now but let me tell you something...My kids still hurt.  Still. Are you reading that?  Still, after 12 years post divorce my kids still have a hole in their heart.  So, is it worth it?  Have you done everything possible to work at your relationship with your husband/wife?  I mean everything.  Yeah?  What about praying?  What about asking for help?  What about begging that they go to counseling?  How about you go first and get the ball rolling?   See that face that is a beautiful blend of the two of you...that wonderful creation needs both of you.  NEEDS.  You're all they have.  Fight for your marriage.  The hard thing is staying and trying harder and harder each day. 

I will always be praying for you.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil is nature's antiseptic.  Take a look at this website and see the many uses of this amazing oil.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-great-uses-for-tea-tree-oil.html

I use tea tree for a natural home deodorizer, like some popular "breeze"y kind.  I also use it for acne breakouts, diaper wipe spray and in my vaporizer.  I've used it for 3 years and love te many uses.  You can find it at any pharmacy including the local "marts".

Enjoy the link and if you have any questions feel free to post them here.

~Theresa

Being Held

I just left the funeral home after briefly attending a visitation.  To lose someone is heart wrenching.  To lose someone suddenly must be heart numbing.  I see strength in her eyes that I cannot comprehend.  It is amazing how she keeps her dignity in a time of grief.  To know her is to know that she loves the Lord with all of her heart. 

Please appreciate every moment of every day, every arguement, every conversation spoken in whispers while your heads on on your pillows, every shared meal, every squeal of delight from a child in the arms of their mom or dad,  every brief moment of sweetness...because in an instant your life can change. 

And to my precious sister in Christ:
The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8

Natural Laundry Care

For the next few postings I'm going to be focusing on natural homemaking.  Through the years I've come across so many amazing blogs filled with tons of wonderful information that I wanted to share with you.

My first focus blog in www.passionatehomemaking.com .  The blog is written by the Edmonds family, primarily Lindsey.  She offers a practical and Christian filled blog with so many resources that you simply have to view it to find a treasure...nd you will.

She has many recipes both for cooking and natural homemaking and is truly practicing being a good steward of what God has given to her.

Below is a page from her blog showing how you can wash and condition your hair naturally and very inexpensively.  Try it, I have and really enjoyed it.  I'm actually thinking about going back to this particular recipe again soon.

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/01/natural-body-products-on-a-budget-part-2.html 

Today I started makng my own laundry detergent again.  It's so much cheaper to make your own.  And just like food...when you make it you know exactly what's in it.  Here's my favorite recipe:

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm 

Enjoy the homemaking tidbits!