Making a bow holder

I enjoy finding ways to make gifts that are simple, practical and inexpensive.

I had bought a bow holder from a craft fair a few years ago. It was a simple wooden crown shape painted white and pink with a long wide ribbon glued underneath to hold hair bows.

What a neat idea! A few months ago, I was invited to a baby shower and thought I'd try my hand at making one myself using a wooden letter.

I painted it light green to match the baby's room. Then I added some little flicks of pink paint on the edge of the letter to give it a little more "character".

I also, made some bows for the baby to add to the gift. I thought it turned out so cute that I might do this next time I go to a baby shower for a girl. I don't have any ideas for a boy shower, but maybe I'll find something.

Since my girls have so many bows, I made one for them using colors to match their room. I think it turned out really cute. But the best part is that it is simple, practical, and inexpensive!!

Egyptian Meal

We are studying Creation to the Greeks with My Father's World. http://www.mfwbooks.com/

We are enjoying our study through Genesis. Today we finished up the story of Joseph and have been studying Egyptian culture and life. We had a meal of fish, cheese, pita bread, nuts, fruit and vegetables dipped in plain yogurt.

I borrowed these platters from my mom. I thought it looked nice served on them. :) I'm not usually too concerned about how things look when we're about to eat it, but I tried to make a nice presentation. Plus, lately I am all about some paper plates, which, by the way, we ate our Egyptian meal on, hee, hee. Kind of funny after being served on a silver platter. Oh well!

My eight year old daughter said this was the best meal she ever ate. Not sure if that's a compliment or not considering she eats almost anything.

By the way, the story of Joseph is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. I get teary eyed every time I read Genesis 50:20.

Making Homemade Laundry Soap

To save money, my husband put up a clothesline for me and I've also been making my own laundry soap. The funny thing is a few years ago I thought it was kind of crazy to do that, but it's so simple and cheap! Why didn't I try this before! Here's what you need: washing soda (Arm & Hammer) - NOT baking soda Borax (20 Mule Team) Bar soap (I use Fels-Naptha Laundry soap, but plan to try some Dial Mountain Fresh scent) You need a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. Mix 1 cup soda and 1 cup borax with 3 gallons warm water in bucket and stir. Bring to boil in large pot 4 cups of water. While water is heating up, grate the bar of soap and then slowly add soap pieces to boiling water and stir until all is melted. You will end up with a pot of soapy water. Pour soapy water into the bucket and stir over the next several hours. Each time you go by the bucket give it a stir. It will be ready to use after 24 hours. Use 1 cup per large load. If you don't believe how easy and cheap it is- give it a try! I won't say I told you so!

Easy Breakfast Idea

Quick and easy breakfast ideas are a necessity in our family. I try to find things that are quick and easy without just eating cold cereal every day. My mom made these for the kids a few years ago and they loved them. They are easy to whip up on a school morning. Ham and Cheese Biscuits 2 cups self-rising flour (I prefer White Lily brand) 1/3 cup shortening 2/3 cup milk, buttermilk or a mixture of plain yogurt and milk 1- 1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, or more if desired Cut in the shortening with the flour until crumbly. Add in the milk and mix together. Then, add the ham and cheese and mix together. Using a spoon, drop onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 14 minutes at 450 degrees or until cooked through. Yummy! *** If you don't want to make your own dough, just add the ham and cheese to any bicuit mix and it should work the same.

Make Your Own Play Dough

Our play dough stash was in need of some help so instead of pulling out some cash, I decided to try my hand at making it myself. The kiddos were very excited and I let them each pick which color to make. I have these moments every now and then where I try to do fun stuff without getting stressed out about messes. I am trying my best to make these moments more common. Yes, play dough is a mess to make-especially when you let the kids do most of it themselves, but it was worth it. My 8 year old girl and 6 year old boy had fun stirring it and putting in the food color. They had flour everywhere (translation- fun for them!) We made 4 colors. My two year old had to make lella (translation: yellow) since it's her new favorite color. Her 4 year old sister wanted to make red, but it turned out pink (she really loved the color anyway). The older two made blue and green. The mess turned into lots of fun for everyone- even me. I sat and made some shapes with them, too. We got out the cookie cutters and enjoyed ourselves.

Spilled Milk

Yesterday morning began with spilled milk at breakfast-not once, but 3 times by the same child! Yikes! Can I go back to bed and start over? I thought about going back to bed and letting the kids go play. I really didn't do that or even seriously consider that, but it did cross my mind. I was determined to press on and not let a small slip of the fingers determine how my day or my child's day would go. We continued on and I even let them play with play dough. I am trying to follow the leadership of my Lord and not allow myself to get caught up with selfish desires or thoughts. My job is to train and teach, not put down and demean. 1 Peter 1: 5-9 " And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see far off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." What a wonderful reminder of where these things come from. It is not from within ourselves or any of that psycho babble you hear from the world. It is from the Lord.

Tugging at my Heart

We took a day trip last week to a play place and the beach. We had a nice time and the kids had a blast playing and walking in the water. They didn't want to leave! It's so nice to be able to get away if only for a day. I needed it and so enjoyed it myself.

My heart has been so burdened lately. My children it seems are constantly arguing and fussing. The selfish behaviors are extreme. I have been trying to find the source. Well, I know the source of selfishness is sin, but I guess I was looking more at myself to see where I was teaching them wrong.

My heart has been convicted of my own selfish attitudes and actions toward my children. I realized that they are probably getting a bad example by looking at me. I'm not perfect by any means and I had to confess my sin to the Lord.

This morning before we started our lessons we had a time of individually talking through these things and I explained to them where this begins. Restoration is a wonderful thing! Even though I don't like seeing my own faults, I must as a Christian, turn from my evil ways and seek the Lord to help me and forgive me.