Archive | January, 2009

Mission Minded Family book giveaway!

By on January 31, 2009 in building the family, missions & ministry, news & giveaways
The following article was originally published at Extending Our Reach.

I have had the wonderful privilege of meeting Ann Dunagan, author of The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny recently, and as I have witnessed her passion and enthusiasm for the family working together to serve the Lord in missions and fulfilling the Great Commission, I am compelled to highly recommend her book. Her life speaks volumes! This is a resource for every Christian family to be devoted together with joy and enthusiasm to focus on the lost.

As Gregg and Sono Harris share in the forward: “Contrary to what some in missions have mistakenly thought, we do not have to neglect our family responsibilities in order to accomplish God’s will in our ministry to others. Sacrificing our children on the altar of missions is very close to a modern form of Molech worship, which God continues to abhor. The family is not an obstacle to ministry; it is a vehicle for ministry.  But like all road-worthy vehicles, the family must be maintained in order to go the distance and finish the course over a lifetime. And it has been made for the road, not for the garage. It actually becomes stronger and more effective as all of its members devote themselves together as a team for service to others outside the family.”

We are each called to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ and our homes to be embassies of the kingdom of God. It is designed to be a place of hospitality, welcoming others in and displaying the glory of God. This book is a powerful tool in making the family and home the centerplace of evangelism and ministry and contains a wealth of resources and ideas to mobilize and equip each family member to work together in being lights in this dark world. It provides means for being more mission-focused through prayer resources, missionary skits, enjoying missions throughout the year incelebration of international holidays, and also an excellent chapter on missions and the family finances. She maintains the proper balance of prioritizing everyday life and God’s call to fulfill the Great Commission without leaving our children behind.

“Look beyond your children’s faces and see the potential of a new generation – the families they will guide, the friends they will lead to Jesus, and yes, even the nations they will impact.” – Ann Dunagan

Ann has written two other excellent books as well!

The Mission Minded Child is filled with facts, information and tools for teaching. It focuses on the “why” of missions, including the biblical basis, historical heritage, and the world’s needs. It contains short missionary biographies, dozens of mission stories, hymns, and classic poems. Many skit ideas are included as well! An excellent tool for your home education or for a Sunday school environment.

Hand Commands: The Ten Commandments for Little Ones is a fun means of teaching your little ones the ten commandments. It is so creatively written. Karis loves this book and has learned many of them already!

Giveaway

Ann Dunagan has graciously donated one copy of each of her books,The Mission-Minded Family,The Mission-Minded Child & Hand Commands: The Ten Commandments for Little Ones. We would love to give them away and bless a few readers and their families!

Entering is easy: Choose which of the three books you would like to win most and enter your choice in the comments below. To enter twice, simply share about this giveaway on your blog, come back and enter a new comment with the web link. We will then randomly draw three winners.

Giveaway is closed.

P.S. Check out Ann’s wonderful blog, Mission Minded Life, which contains great resources and ideas for becoming a mission minded family.

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Natural Diaper Rash Solutions

By on January 29, 2009 in bellies & babies, natural & green

Who likes to see their baby suffering with a diaper rash? We have been plagued with frequent diaper rashes on my little Karis’ bottom for a long time. I have been determined to find a natural solution to this issue. I have tried a lot of various natural cremes (Weleda, Burt’s Bees, etc) without too much success…

UPDATE: Why look for a natural alternative in the first place? Your traditional Desitin and other store brands (including dusting powders) contains methylparaben, talc and fragrance (which is a friendly alternative word for phthalates). Studies link these ingredients with bioaccumulation in humans and wildlife, cancer, endocrine disruption and hormone mimicry, allergies and skin toxicity, tissue irritation, and toxicity to various organs, to name a few. Talc especially is known for being commonly contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Two keys I have found to avoiding and dealing with rashes is to change diapers frequently, and making sure the bottom is dry completely after changing. I recommend having a hair dryer near your changing table to speed up this process!

Continue Reading →

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Homemade Pregnancy Tea

By on January 28, 2009 in bellies & babies, recipes & kitchen tips

Red raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat canker sores, cold sores, and gingivitis in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. Brewed as a tea it is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine/pregnancy tonics. It tones the muscles of the pelvic region. It also contains vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium. It can increase fertility, prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage, ease morning sickness, reduce pain during and after birth, and also increase milk supply.

For a delightful and frugal homemade pregnancy tea, try this simple recipe:

Fill a quart size glass jar with boiling water and 1 ounce  (which is approx. 2 handfuls) of red raspberry leaf. Cover and allow to steep for 4 hours. Strain the leaves, sweeten as desired, and enjoy! Refrigerate the remaining tea for future use. Recommended dosage is usually 2-3 cups per day.

Another helpful herb that you can add to the above combination or to alternative with would be nettle leaves. It is known to have more chlorophyll than any other herb. The list of vitamins and minerals in this herb includes nearly every one known to be necessary for human health and growth. Nettle is beneficial in aiding the functionality of the kidneys,  nourishing mother and fetus, easing leg cramps and other muscles spasms, preventing hemorrhage after birth and reducing hemorrhoids, in addition to increasing the richness and amount of breast milk. According to the Wise Woman Herbal, “some pregnancy women alternate weeks of nettle and raspberry leaf brews; others drink Raspberry until the last month and then switch to Nettles to insure large amounts of vitamin K in the blood for the birth.” Nettle leaves can be brewed in the same manner as raspberry leaf described above or try a combination of 1 handful nettle and 1 handful raspberry leaf.

You can find quality organic red raspberry leaf and nettle leaf in bulk through Mountain Rose Herbs.

It works for me!

Thanks to my friend Mandy, and the excellent resource of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed. This book has some wonderful ideas for all natural brews and remedies for pregnancy issues, before and after, and natural remedies for infant related problems.

Other Homemade Varieties:

Tammy’s Pregnancy Tea

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Sucessful Homemade Bread – the soaked way!

By on January 27, 2009 in recipes & kitchen tips

I am excited to annouce that I have finally had some great success with making homemade whole wheat bread while including the benefits of soaking the flour (why soak? read here).  It worked for a while but then in the last few months it has been sinking terribly and rather dense (cold weather may have been contributing to this as well). I have been doing further experimenting and believe I have finally solved the problems (but don’t take my word on that!). I am absolutely thrilled! It was so light and delicious! My husband, who is really not a bread fan as I am, said it tasted very good (which is a first!). Check out my updated bread recipe here. This recipe includes both methods – soaking and not soaking as you prefer. It also includes options for dairy intolerant folks that still want the benefits of soaking!

A few helpful keys I have learned lately:

1. Less yeast is better to avoid over rising (thus I revised the recipe so!).

2. Dough enhancer is a excellent conditioner to make a more moist dough. (I love this dough enhancer sold by Urban Homemaker)

3.Your choice of bread pans is really important! According to Urban Homemaker, “Wider pans are often a source of “fallen” loaves as the heavier whole wheat dough cannot support itself over a wider surface area.” Your traditional store bought loaf pans or glass pans run wide. I have two of the pans recommended by Urban Homemaker here and they work great! They are approximately 10” long by 3” wide, but I believe the 8” size might be a better option.

UPDATED: Some may be concerned with the materials that these pans are made of. Is tinware safe? I inquired of Urban Homemaker as to the safety of these pans, and this was the response I received:

“The pans are tinware.  They do have a very light non-stick coating on them, but they are not like teflon that peels.  They should only be used for bread, greased with each use, and wiped out with a paper towel after each use.  Tinware is NOT aluminum.

I have had mine for years and years and been very satisfied (about 15 years).  I like the dark exterior finish which cuts the baking time, and I like the shape. I know that non-stick coatings have received a lot of bad press, but I think it is more applicable to when used as a skillet and there is stirring going on. Since the pan really just is like a mold, I don’t have the same concerns, but I don’t have any scientific research on this.” – Marilyn Moll

4. Rising in the oven is very beneficial to avoid contact with cold air – but don’t let it rise too high – just above the edges of the pan is important!

For a yummy homemade whole grain bread recipe, check it out here.

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Practical Theology for Women

By on January 24, 2009 in faith & womanhood

We women are practical, aren’t we? I have recently completed reading Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives by Wendy Horgen Alsup and I cannot recommend it more highly. It is a short easy read and yet very meaty and rich with sound theological truth for every day life addressed specifically for women. Studying theology (which basically means the study of God) is not just for seminary students, pastors, or the men in our lives, it is practical for every Christian who desires to know Christ and have wisdom and discernment to walk it out in our lives.

Wendy shares: “God has both called you and equipped you to know him. We have no excuse to remain ignorant of his character. Seek God’s face. Understand his character. Pursue knowledge of him, for apart from the ‘fear of the Lord’ and the ‘knowledge of the Holy One’ (Proverbs 9:10) we have no hope for being a wise mother, sister, wife, or friend.”

As a mother, I need to be studying the Word and theology in order that I might be prepared to teach and train my children in the truth of God. As a homemaker and ambassador for Christ, I need to be equipped with biblical understanding in order to share the love of Christ with others. And above all, I need to be storing up sound doctrine in my heart so I have a firm foundation upon which to stand when the worries and fears of this life battle in my soul. Christ is the only firm foundation upon which I can stand and if I do not know Him and study His Word, I will become a wimpy women. As John Piper says, “Wimpy theology makes wimpy women.”

An excellent read!

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Entertaining Littles with a New Baby

By on January 23, 2009 in bellies & babies, building the family

Amber asked:

I am expecting a new baby girl in May and I also have a daughter that will be two years next month.  I am trying to think of some things that will keep my older daughter busy and not bored for those couple months after the new baby’s arrival when it will be hard for us to get out of the house and my attention can’t be on her 100%.  Any suggestions?

Sounds like you are in the same boat I am, Amber. For me, I am always seeking to give my daughter plenty of time to explore and learn how to entertain herself.  I think this is a place to start, removing ourselves from the mindset that we must provide them with entertainment. Karis has lately been entertained for quite some time with the large cardboard box that we received in the mail the other day. This may just very well be a new season to allow them to explore and develop their creative abilities.

 I am thinking it may be wise to have a good supply of books and crafty things (simple paper, crayons, playdough, etc) on hand that she can explore with without much supervision. I would imagine they will also just want to spend a lot of time with the new baby, so it may not be so necessary to find other entertainment. Knowing my Karis, she absolutely loves babies and I want her to have time to really nuture her sisterly and motherly instincts. I have no doubt she will want to be near me when we change diapers and take care of our baby. 

We would love to hear from our readers on this one! I would love to hear thoughts on how to remain on top of being consistent with discipline as well during this new baby season? 

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Women as Homebuilders: Full-Time Ministry

By on January 23, 2009 in faith & womanhood, making a home

In conclusion to our series on being workers at home, I wanted to share some resources and final thoughts on this all important topic.  I wish to thank all the ladies who have shared their thoughts on our panel and amidst the discussion over the past week.

As we have seen, being a worker at home, as described in Titus 2:4-5, means that we are called to be first and foremost homeward oriented, whatever season we are in (whether single, married, children grown, etc). We must never loss sight of this orientation even when different seasons may open up various outside opportunities. We are guardians, protectors, managers of this domain. We are to passionately seek the well-being of our husbands/father’s, children and home, prior to any other pursuit. Home building is ministry. It is our mission field. As Mark Driscoll challenges, home building is full-time ministry, why look elsewhere? This is the beautiful domain that God has placed women since creation. Nurturing and building our homes is a high and holy calling!

I personally can testify to the joys of being a worker at home. It may require sacrifice in material things, but what does that matter in eternity? Seek first the Kingdom of God, the Word commands, and all our essential needs will be supplied (Matt. 6:33). Giving up future security in retirement in order to invest in eternal souls of those of your children and others around you is worth the sacrifice. There is eternal treasures stored up for those who are willing to give up extra comforts in the present, in order to store up future treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21).

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Workers at Home: Thriving on One Income

By on January 22, 2009 in faith & womanhood, making a home

I invited Michele @ Frugal Granola to share further ideas and encouragement on how she has creatively sought to live well on one income. You can read more about her story and journey through her husband’s unemployment here. Thank you Michele! This is part of our Titus 2 Talk on the topic of being workers at home.

One of the biggest steps toward staying home, was realizing how little we really need.  We didn’t need the two cars, large home, or new purchases.  God’s blessings abound when we learn to be content with what we have.

One example as a way we have saved money on living expenses, is by renting a one-bedroom apartment.  We use a futon for sleeping in the living room (the bedroom has always been for our daughter.)  I have a friend with a couple children, who has a similar living arrangement.

In order to live well on a one-income budget, we strive to eliminate unnecessary costs and activities, in order to promote a better quality of life.

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Workers at Home: Testimony from a SAHM

By on January 21, 2009 in making a home

This is such a sweet testimony from an 80 year old woman who mothered 20 children. It is a beautiful picture of a family that trusted the Lord to supply all their needs. May this provide encouragement to those who might be struggling financially during this current economic downturn. We serve a mighty God! Thanks to Rosie (whose testimony we shared here, for interviewing Rosella). This is part of our Titus 2 Talk on the topic of being workers at home.

Rosella, an 80 year old mother of 20 children

Rosella’s white hair framed her kind eyes.  She leaned forward in her favorite rocking chair and gave a dimpled smile when I asked her about being a stay-at-home mom.  I was eager to hear the advice of this “seasoned” saint, who, with her husband Jesse, had raised 20 children (eleven biological and nine adopted).

“I believe that as a mother, staying at home was the best means for me to teach my children about God and invest in them in order that they would grow up knowing about God and strong in the Lord. Sometimes women work when they need money for necessities like food.  (Once, I did some ironing in my home to bring in some extra money.)  But lots of times, women work for ‘things’.   I mean stylish clothing and new toys for the children for example. You don’t have to have the best of everything.

“There’s a lot of joy in teaching your children to pray for things, then watching God provide.

Continue Reading →

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Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival

By on January 20, 2009 in recipes & kitchen tips

Welcome to our Nutritious Freezer Meal Carnival! So glad you could join us! Today we are joining forces in providing a selection of meals that are easily freezable to simplify your homemaking and time in the kitchen.

TO start off, here is a book recommendation if you are new to the world of freezer cooking, you may want to check out The Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet: A Month of Meals Made Easy. This resource comes highly recommended by one of our readers with tips and ideas on making freezer meals.

Freezing Methods

There are several options for freezer containers.

1. One suggestion is to layer your baking pan with aluminum foil, and then fill with your contents. Once frozen, you can simply remove from the pan and slide the frozen contents into a freezer ziploc bag or another container of some sort (vacuumed sealed packages is an option here for extended freezer time). This will reduce the amount of space required for storage in the freezer.

2. Disposable aluminum pans are reasonably cheap, especially if you find them at your local dollar store. You can often find a pack of three for just $1. These are especially nice when you are making a meal as a gift for someone else (then they don’t have to worry about returning your pan). Cover your pan with aluminum foil followed by completely wrapping with freezer paper to avoid freezer burn. Freezer paper is necessary if you are planning on freezing for a longer length of time (more than a week), otherwise it can be skipped.

3. If you desire to avoid aluminum or disposable products, I would highly recommend investing in some glass pyrex containers with the plastic lids. These are very reasonably priced and are easy to freeze. They stack very easily as well. Costco sells a similar set for a great price as well.

4. At our house, I like to multiply pretty much every dish I make, but most commonly with casseroles. I will multiply the recipe to make one dish for the evening meal and freeze the other. This is a wonderful way to simplify and have a meal ready on hand for a busy day. I use pyrex glassware for these purposes or glass canning jars for such freezing purposes.

Now on to the recipes…

Here are our family favorite recipes that freeze extremely well. With each recipe, you will find basic instructions on how to freeze it. One requires pre-baking (as marked), but most freezer recipes can simply be assembled, frozen, and then removed from the freezer and baked. Overall, both methods work well.

Main Dishes

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Divan

Chicken & Dumplings (requires pre-baking)

Homemade Pizza Crust & Spaghetti Sauce – I often make 4 pizza crusts at a time, using one for the evening meal and freezing the other three portions of dough. I also make a large batch of spaghetti sauce at a time and freeze in small glass jars for topping our pizzas. To keep things simple we don’t use a special pizza sauce, as the spaghetti sauce has a ton of flavor. I make a large batch not only for pizza but also to serve for spaghetti.

Chicken Curry- you can layer in a pan with brown rice or simply freeze the curry sauce on it’s own!

Shepherd’s Pie- one of my all time favorite freezer meals!

Soups

I have had great success freezing all my soup recipes. I simply cook as instructed in the recipe, allow to cool completely and then place in Ziploc bags or as I prefer, put into quart size or half gallon size glass jars. Make sure to allow at least 1 inch for breathing room.

Garden Chowder – despite the combination of multiple vegetables in this soup, it freezes just fine after being cooked.

Chili & Cornbread -I will often multiply and freeze both the prepared chili and baked cornbread for a future meal. We love chili topped with cheese on nitrate free hot dogs! A yummy high protein lunch!

Stocks

I like to make a large batch of chicken stock at a time and freeze in smaller quantities. I recommend freezing this in large Ziploc freezer bags. Glass jars just have not worked for me. They break too easily as the stock expands.

Desserts

I often like to prepare a batch of cookie dough for the freezer. This is a wonderful way to be prepared for last minute or unexpected guests. Simply pull the dough out of the freezer and bake! Yum! Our favorite recipe is the Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies….they are not healthy but are a delicious special treat, easy to make and great for company. Ice Cream is another dessert that can be made ahead and frozen. Try our Coconut Ice Cream or Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

Further Resources

Foods that Do Not Freeze Well

30 Day Gourmet Online Cooking Resource

Resources for Freezer Cooking

Now it is your turn…Please share your favorite freezer meal recipes and provide the link to your direct post with the recipe. Make sure to include a return link to this post! If you don’t have a blog, share your favorite recipe in the comments below!

Do you have any tips to share for freezer cooking?

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