In some of my earliest posts I have articles, quotes, and ideas about keeping our marriages happy and alive, but now I want to talk about keeping the concept of marriage alive. Marriage between a man and a woman is hard enough without the "world" trying to redefine and eliminate marriage....but that is exactly what is happening now.
California is a state that always sets the trend, and now there is a fight being waged for the sanctity of marriage and the family, against those who desire to make the world amoral. Those against the marriage amendment say that we who are for it are bigots, homophobes, and hate mongers, and that they only want what is fair. California already has a law in their constitution that gives domestic partners all the rights and priviledges as married couples...so what's the problem (see vote yes link)? The problem is that those people will never be happy unless they have a society where all religious values, beliefs, and traditions are eradicated. What will happen if the marriage amendment is not passed? Children will be taught about homosexual lifestyle at kindergarten age on up, and must be in attendance...no choice! Churches cannot preach from the Bible that homosexuality is a sin for it will be considered an unlawful act and they'll lose their tax free status. For those churches with adoption agencies, if they will not adopt to a homosexual couple then they will have to close their doors. The same consequences will occur to churches that will not perform marriages to homosexual couples....their doors will close....all churches, including temples. This is obviously not an issue of fairness....homosexual men and women can find a lot of people out there now who will perform marriages, or adopt children to them. The homosexual agenda is to completely destroy all churches and institutions that do not conform to their way of thinking!
Click on the "Preserve Marriage: Yes on 8" link if you want more information about this issue which not only concerns California, but all of society. Spread the word!!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
IS FOOD STORAGE NECESSARY?
“We encourage families to have on hand this year’s supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where he says, 'Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?' (Luke 6:46) How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so-called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says.”— Spencer W. Kimball
Food preparation is the area where we have the most control and influence over as stay-at-home moms. In learning how to be provident in storing and using food items we can become professionals in the art of economy. Here is our biggest opportunity to be true help-mates to our husbands by using our resources to their fullest and thus bring the greatest savings to the family budget.
There is such wisdom in the prophets’ counsel of obtaining food storage for times of need. This exhortation to secure food storage wasn’t just for relief in times of natural disasters, but
for any situation where you find yourself with a shortage. Can you think of any greater need than living in today’s world? Rising prices on food, utilities, clothing, house payments, rent, gas, insurance, etc..., become a tidal wave of helplessness to flood our faith and destroy the security of our homes and lives. We now see the epidemic of two income families becoming a plague to the spiritual safety of the home. Heeding the prophets will then literally save you
and your family both temporally and spiritually.
I have been contemplating the blessings of the necessity to use food storage for some time. In order to economise, I buy whole grains in bulk, grow and preserve fruit and vegetables in our garden, use soy and “wheat-meat” as a substitute for high priced proteins, use non-fat powdered milk and soy to make dairy products, and also use the other vegetable/protein sources of legumes. The nutrition value for these foods has enormous benefits to our physical health and yet they are the most economically sound on our budgets! Compare the nutritional and economical soundness of whole foods to the over priced packaged convenience foods, canned goods, sugary boxed cereals, packaged mixes or other products that have so many chemicals and preservatives that they can sit on grocery store shelves for years and cost us a fortune for their convenience! These foods can’t be good for us! Are we really willing to trade our family’s health and financial stability for a quick fix at the supermarket? The Lord’s way is always the answer! Gather and use food storage.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
STRANGE WARNING...
With the upcoming elections I'm always on the lookout for what the candidates (and their running-mates) say and do that can possibly help me in my decision process. I found this talk by Joe Biden that has a "creepy" warning for all that hear it. I'm adding it here because I feel that if he is correct, will we need to be prepared and keep our frugal skills honed. Here it is:
October 20, 2008 7:35 AMABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Sen. Joe Biden, D
-Del., on Sunday guaranteed that if elected, Sen. Barack Obama., D-Ill., will be tested by an international crisis within his first six months in power and he will need supporters to stand by him as he makes tough, and possibly unpopular, decisions."Mark my words," the Democratic vice presidential nominee warned at the second of his two Seattle fundraisers Sunday. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." "I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."Not only will the next administration have to deal with foreign affairs issues, Biden warned, but also with the current economic crisis. "Gird your loins," Biden told the crowd. "We're gonna win with your help, God willing, we're gonna win, but this is not gonna be an easy ride. This president, the next president, is gonna be left with the most significant task. It's like cleaning the Augean stables, man. This is more than just, this is more than – think about it, literally, think about it – this is more than just a capital crisis, this is more than just markets. This is a systemic problem we have with this economy."
This isn't the talk in its entirety, but the part that I felt pertained to being prepared as an at-home-mom. We need to know how to budget and use the resources we have at our access. Get a few months food storage in if you haven't started doing that yet. Learn how to use it! If our candidates already know there is going to be trouble and have already made a plan about it, then we had better take it seriously. I'm not a doomsday prophet(ess), but I do know that "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Check out www.lds.org and go to their provident living site if you want more information on using food storage and how to get it. I will also have more in the days ahead on using storage and different sources that I have found that are good bargains.
October 20, 2008 7:35 AMABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Sen. Joe Biden, D
-Del., on Sunday guaranteed that if elected, Sen. Barack Obama., D-Ill., will be tested by an international crisis within his first six months in power and he will need supporters to stand by him as he makes tough, and possibly unpopular, decisions."Mark my words," the Democratic vice presidential nominee warned at the second of his two Seattle fundraisers Sunday. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." "I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."Not only will the next administration have to deal with foreign affairs issues, Biden warned, but also with the current economic crisis. "Gird your loins," Biden told the crowd. "We're gonna win with your help, God willing, we're gonna win, but this is not gonna be an easy ride. This president, the next president, is gonna be left with the most significant task. It's like cleaning the Augean stables, man. This is more than just, this is more than – think about it, literally, think about it – this is more than just a capital crisis, this is more than just markets. This is a systemic problem we have with this economy."This isn't the talk in its entirety, but the part that I felt pertained to being prepared as an at-home-mom. We need to know how to budget and use the resources we have at our access. Get a few months food storage in if you haven't started doing that yet. Learn how to use it! If our candidates already know there is going to be trouble and have already made a plan about it, then we had better take it seriously. I'm not a doomsday prophet(ess), but I do know that "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Check out www.lds.org and go to their provident living site if you want more information on using food storage and how to get it. I will also have more in the days ahead on using storage and different sources that I have found that are good bargains.
Oh, and by the way..... I'm NOT impressed with Joe Biden or Barack Obama as future leaders of our great country! I actually fear for this country if they are elected, and now my fears seem to have been well grounded. Enough of politics.... for now.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
JUST FINISHING UP
Wow, my garden was great this year! I've harvested all the potatoes (both red and russet), all the carrots, beets, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes. The freezer is full, the storage room shelves are filled to overflowing with canned produce, and I still have a lot of fresh carrots, beets, squash, and potatoes waiting to be eaten through the winter months. Gardens are such a blessing to the soul! Wholesome food for the body, and yet nourishing to the spirit also. There is such joy in the harvest... seeing the results of all your hard work sitting on the shelves in sparkling jars. I've often thought a jar of newly canned peaches, pickles, or tomatoes is beautiful enough to paint. Autumn is the masterpiece of the garden, and now I can sit down and enjoy it. Hope you had a good summer and harvest this year!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
BUSY GARDENING!
I feel bad that I've been neglecting this blog, but my garden is in the producing mode and I can't keep up with everything AND the garden. I've been canning and freezing lots of raspberries, currants, zuchinni, green beans, and beets. I'm thankful that the tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and cucumbers still have some time to go. Anyway, I'm writing this just to let those of you who read this that new posts may be less frequent while gardening season is in full bloom.
Philosophy of a Tightwad
I just recently had an article done in the newspaper about the fact that I economise to stay at home. It was a good article, but I felt a little disappointed that the true message didn't get out...that economy is a philosophy of life.
- To really be a stay at home mom both you and your husband have to believe that your family is more important than everything else of worldly importance. Together you would sacrifice all in order to keep the influence of mother in the home.
- Mother is REALLY in the home.....not just sitting in front of the tv watching soaps and yelling at the kids to be quiet, or to stop fighting, or to stop running in the house. Mother gets actively involved nurturing, teaching, playing, training, feeding wholesome food, and giving LOTS of love and attention to her children.
- Never pay someone to do something in your home that you can do for yourself. You are the co-executor in your home and if you know how to do something....do it!
- If you don't know how to do something....learn how to do it!
- Learn the difference between disposable purchases and investment purchases. Disposable purchases are things that are used up quickly... this would be stuff like food, clothing, toiletries, paper goods, etc... Believe it or not a car is a disposable purchase because it will not increase in value over the years, in fact, it loses quite a bit of it's value just leaving the dealership parking lot. Clothing is a disposable purchase because it can be ruined easily. Have you ever bought a $30 blouse only to get a stain on it the first time you wear it?Learn to make do with the cheapest items that you can find in the disposable purchase category. Investment purchases have to do with items that increase in value through time. This would inclued homes, antique furniture, artwork, etc.... Save for the best you can afford, but get the best deal that is out there. For example, if you need a 5 bedroom home because you have a large family, don't make the mistake of buying a new home with outrageous payments because it is the right size. Find a "fixer-upper" in the price range that you can afford and then put your time and energy in painting, mending, cleaning, and improving the home, which makes it an investment purchase because you've already made it worth more than when you bought it.
- Gratitude!!! If you learn to be grateful for what you have, then you won't sit around wishing that you had more.
- Patience!! Learn to wait til you have saved enough money to purchase an item outright, and/or learn to wait til it comes down in price.
- Learn to be happy with less. If we learn to value the worth of a child and what they learn under our care, over that of expensive cars, houses, jewels, clothing, etc..., then our perspective changes and we can be genuinely happy with less. As Andy Dapper, the author of "The Two Income Myth" states, "...you won't have it all, but you'll have enough."
I haven't hit on all the points of tightwad philosophy, and if any of you who read this can think of something that really inspires you I would encourage you to leave your comment to share.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
NATURAL BEAUTY TREATMENTS- 3
MASKS
The fun part of facials! Masks should be used from 1 to 3 times a week. Apply mask to clean, damp skin, and leave on for 20 minutes. Remove with a warm washcloth, then splash face with cold water. Use toner and moisturizer.
STEAMING- This step isn’t necessary but can be very beneficial before applying your mask.
Steam helps open pores and loosens dirt, oils, and blackheads. Steam also prepares your skin
to be more receptive to all the nutrients that the mask has to offer.
Prepare a pot of rapidly boiling water. If you desire the added benefits of herbs, add them
just before taking pot off stove. Place hot pads on counter or table, wherever you can be
situated comfortably over the steaming water, and place pot of boiling water on hot pads.
Place towel over head and hold head over steaming vapours for 3 to 5 minutes or until steam
fades away, whichever you can tolerate the longest.
If you grow herbs, or have cheap access to them, here is a list of beneficial herbs that you
can put in your steam facial. When facial is over, line colander with washcloth and pour water
and herbs from pot into colander. Smooth herbs evenly over washcloth. Carefully pick up
washcloth out of colander and place over face for an instant herbal mask. Leave in place for 5
to 10 minutes. Remove and pat dry.
Helpful to Oily Complexions: Lemon slices, Rose petals, Chamomile, Rosemary
Helpful for Dry Skin: Clover, Elderflowers, Violets, Fennel, Yarrow
Disinfecting and Soothing for Skin: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Sage (also good for
clearing sinus passages when you have a cold.)
FRUIT MASKS - Puree enough fruit to cover face and throat. If you have dry skin, add 1 tsp.
milk, oil, or 1 egg yolk. If skin is oily, add 1 tsp. lemon juice or 1 egg white.
Apples- Gentle tightening qualities drawn from pectin.
Apricots- Nourishing to skin due to vitamin A.
Avocados- Gently astringent and nourishing.
Bananas- Relieves dry skin.
Grapes- Moisturizes all skin types.
Melons- Refreshes and tightens pores.
Oranges- Erases fatigue and slows aging.
Papayas- Heals blemished skin.
Peaches- Refreshes tired skin.
Pears- Astringent qualities, beneficial to oily skin.
Pineapples- Enzymes create good skin texture.
Plums- Good for oily skin.
Strawberries- Cleans and tightens pores.
EGG MASKS - Everyone knows the benefits of eggs as natural skin beautifiers!
Whole Eggs- Beat until frothy and apply to face. Let dry, then rinse. For all skin types.
Egg Whites- Refines pores and draws out impurities. Smooth on with fingertips, let dry and rinse. Good for oily skin.
Egg Yolks- Gentle skin firmer. Beat yolk and apply to face. Let dry then rinse with warm
water. Good for dry and normal skin types.
MILK MASKS - Good by themselves or combined with other ingredients.
Buttermilk- Blanches skin to create an even tone.
Canned Milk- For delicate skin. Apply thin layer and let dry. Apply second layer and let dry. Do this again and again until you have applied 4 layers and face is stiff. Rinse with warm water.
Dry Milk- Tightens skin’s pores. Make a paste with water and apply to skin. Add a little peppermint extract for a cooling mask.
Skim Milk- Aids oily skin.
Sour Cream- Soothing skin tightener. Good for dry skin.
Yogurt- Helps thicken other masks, has anti-bacterial qualities and can be used to lighten skin. Good for all skin types.
HERB MASKS- Blend fresh herbs in blender with yogurt to create paste for mask.
Aloe Vera- Soothing and healing. Use sap from leaves by itself.
Borage- Good for dry, sensitive skin.
Calendula- Heals damaged, problem skin.
Comfrey- Soothing and healing to skin and blemishes.
Dandelion- Rich emollient for mature skin.
Fennel- Soothing to skin.
Lavender- Gentle healing properties. Good for all skin types.
Mints- Refines pores. Stimulating.
Parsley- Conditioner for dry, problem skin.
Rosemary- Invigorating and antiseptic.
Sage- Astringent qualities and tightens pores.
VEGETABLE MASKS- Who hasn’t used a cucumber mask? Vegetables are great beautifiers.
Carrots- Helps firm skin. Cook and mash carrots. Apply while still warm (not hot!)
Cucumbers- Tightens pores and refreshes skin. Puree in blender, apply to skin and relax for 15 minutes.
Peas- Evens out skin tone. Puree peas in blender and pat over skin.
Tomatoes- Refines pores and acts as a mild astringent. Place thin slices or pulp over skin and relax for 10 minutes.
HONEY- A soothing facial all by itself. Smooth on skin and allow to remain for 5 min.
The above ingredients can also be mixed to create your own personalized masks. For
example, if you are having a problem with oily skin and your skin looks blotchy, try whipping
up an egg white with some lemon juice for a mask. Study the benefits of all the ingredients
and then experiment and create your own special recipes!
Here’s a great recipe.
MAGIC MASK
1 Tbsp. Oatmeal
½ tsp. Cornmeal
1 Egg White
Combine ingredients and mix well. Apply to face. Let mask dry, then remove it by rubbing
gently with your fingers until the mask flakes off. Rinse face with hot water, then splash on
cold water. Use toner and moisturizer.
The fun part of facials! Masks should be used from 1 to 3 times a week. Apply mask to clean, damp skin, and leave on for 20 minutes. Remove with a warm washcloth, then splash face with cold water. Use toner and moisturizer.
STEAMING- This step isn’t necessary but can be very beneficial before applying your mask.
Steam helps open pores and loosens dirt, oils, and blackheads. Steam also prepares your skin
to be more receptive to all the nutrients that the mask has to offer.
Prepare a pot of rapidly boiling water. If you desire the added benefits of herbs, add them
just before taking pot off stove. Place hot pads on counter or table, wherever you can be
situated comfortably over the steaming water, and place pot of boiling water on hot pads.
Place towel over head and hold head over steaming vapours for 3 to 5 minutes or until steam
fades away, whichever you can tolerate the longest.
If you grow herbs, or have cheap access to them, here is a list of beneficial herbs that you
can put in your steam facial. When facial is over, line colander with washcloth and pour water
and herbs from pot into colander. Smooth herbs evenly over washcloth. Carefully pick up
washcloth out of colander and place over face for an instant herbal mask. Leave in place for 5
to 10 minutes. Remove and pat dry.
Helpful to Oily Complexions: Lemon slices, Rose petals, Chamomile, Rosemary
Helpful for Dry Skin: Clover, Elderflowers, Violets, Fennel, Yarrow
Disinfecting and Soothing for Skin: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Sage (also good for
clearing sinus passages when you have a cold.)
FRUIT MASKS - Puree enough fruit to cover face and throat. If you have dry skin, add 1 tsp.
milk, oil, or 1 egg yolk. If skin is oily, add 1 tsp. lemon juice or 1 egg white.
Apples- Gentle tightening qualities drawn from pectin.
Apricots- Nourishing to skin due to vitamin A.
Avocados- Gently astringent and nourishing.
Bananas- Relieves dry skin.
Grapes- Moisturizes all skin types.
Melons- Refreshes and tightens pores.
Oranges- Erases fatigue and slows aging.
Papayas- Heals blemished skin.
Peaches- Refreshes tired skin.
Pears- Astringent qualities, beneficial to oily skin.
Pineapples- Enzymes create good skin texture.
Plums- Good for oily skin.
Strawberries- Cleans and tightens pores.
EGG MASKS - Everyone knows the benefits of eggs as natural skin beautifiers!
Whole Eggs- Beat until frothy and apply to face. Let dry, then rinse. For all skin types.
Egg Whites- Refines pores and draws out impurities. Smooth on with fingertips, let dry and rinse. Good for oily skin.
Egg Yolks- Gentle skin firmer. Beat yolk and apply to face. Let dry then rinse with warm
water. Good for dry and normal skin types.
MILK MASKS - Good by themselves or combined with other ingredients.
Buttermilk- Blanches skin to create an even tone.
Canned Milk- For delicate skin. Apply thin layer and let dry. Apply second layer and let dry. Do this again and again until you have applied 4 layers and face is stiff. Rinse with warm water.
Dry Milk- Tightens skin’s pores. Make a paste with water and apply to skin. Add a little peppermint extract for a cooling mask.
Skim Milk- Aids oily skin.
Sour Cream- Soothing skin tightener. Good for dry skin.
Yogurt- Helps thicken other masks, has anti-bacterial qualities and can be used to lighten skin. Good for all skin types.
HERB MASKS- Blend fresh herbs in blender with yogurt to create paste for mask.
Aloe Vera- Soothing and healing. Use sap from leaves by itself.
Borage- Good for dry, sensitive skin.
Calendula- Heals damaged, problem skin.
Comfrey- Soothing and healing to skin and blemishes.
Dandelion- Rich emollient for mature skin.
Fennel- Soothing to skin.
Lavender- Gentle healing properties. Good for all skin types.
Mints- Refines pores. Stimulating.
Parsley- Conditioner for dry, problem skin.
Rosemary- Invigorating and antiseptic.
Sage- Astringent qualities and tightens pores.
VEGETABLE MASKS- Who hasn’t used a cucumber mask? Vegetables are great beautifiers.
Carrots- Helps firm skin. Cook and mash carrots. Apply while still warm (not hot!)
Cucumbers- Tightens pores and refreshes skin. Puree in blender, apply to skin and relax for 15 minutes.
Peas- Evens out skin tone. Puree peas in blender and pat over skin.
Tomatoes- Refines pores and acts as a mild astringent. Place thin slices or pulp over skin and relax for 10 minutes.
HONEY- A soothing facial all by itself. Smooth on skin and allow to remain for 5 min.
The above ingredients can also be mixed to create your own personalized masks. For
example, if you are having a problem with oily skin and your skin looks blotchy, try whipping
up an egg white with some lemon juice for a mask. Study the benefits of all the ingredients
and then experiment and create your own special recipes!
Here’s a great recipe.
MAGIC MASK
1 Tbsp. Oatmeal
½ tsp. Cornmeal
1 Egg White
Combine ingredients and mix well. Apply to face. Let mask dry, then remove it by rubbing
gently with your fingers until the mask flakes off. Rinse face with hot water, then splash on
cold water. Use toner and moisturizer.
NATURAL BEAUTY TREATMENTS- 2
MOISTURIZERS:
Natural oils are nourishing to the skin and are absorbed quickly. Pat a few drops around
eyes and any trouble spots first. Add a few more drops to your palms and gently pat around the rest of your face and throat. If you have time, just let the oils soak in naturally into the skin, but if you are in a hurry, rinse a washcloth in warm water, ring out excess water and lay over face for a minute. Your skin will feel wonderful! Health food stores carry a lot of these oils. Grocery stores also carry some of these oils. Try to find oils that are cold pressed. Processing temperatures destroy the benefits of natural oils.
Almond Oil- Good for all skin types. Best if used as a message oil, it relieves itching, dry
skin. Will go rancid quickly, so buy in small amounts.
Apricot Kernel Oil- High in vitamin A, apricot kernel oil is rich and nourishing. It is especially
helpful for dehydrated, mature or sensitive skin.
Avocado Oil- A rich, heavy oil that is high in vitamin A and E. Good for dry, dehydrated or
mature skin. Goes rancid quickly.
Borage Oil- Stimulates skin cell activity and encourages skin regeneration. Beneficial to all
skin types.
Canola Oil- Penetrates the skin quickly and softens skin. It has a high content of linoleic acid,
which promotes skin health. Resists rancidity.
Evening Primrose Oil- High in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and helps the skin repair itself.
Good for dry and premature aging of the skin.
Flaxseed Oil- High in vitamin E, making it useful for preventing scarring and stretch marks. It
nourishes the skin and helps in cell regeneration.
Grapeseed Oil- A light oil that easily absorbs into the skin. Good for all skin types.
Jojoba Oil- Very similar in composition to natural skin oils and penetrates the skin rapidly to
nourish it. Has antioxidant properties and when combined with other oils will help keep them
from going rancid as quickly as they otherwise would. Excellent for all skin types and is very
healing.
Olive Oil- Soothes, heals and lubricates the skin. However, it has a strong odor.
Soy Oil- A light oil that can be used for all skin types. It is nourishing to dry skin and is readily
absorbed into the skin.
Sunflower Oil- Easily absorbed into the skin and can be used for all skin types. High in vitamin
E, which makes it especially helpful for delicate and dry skin.
Wheat Germ Oil- A thick, sticky antioxidant oil that is rich in vitamin E. Beneficial to all skin
types.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Adding essential oils to the natural vegetable oils not only adds fragrance but adds special
properties that are beneficial to the body and spirit. Just add 1 drop of any favorite essential
oil to a teaspoon of your favorite vegetable oil before using as a moisturiser to your skin.
Essential oils can be very expensive*, however, and are not “essential” to add to your
moisturizers.
Basil Oil- Enlivens dull looking skin, improves skin tone and gives the complexion a rosy glow.
Bergamot Oil- Antiseptic action makes it useful in treating acne and skin infections. A nice
orange smell. May make skin photosensitive.
Clary Sage Oil- Promotes regeneration of skin cells, helping skin to look young and healthy.
Geranium Oil- Helpful to most all skin types. Speeds healing of acne, soothes dry skin, and
imparts a healthy glow to the complexion.
Lavender Oil- Reduces inflamation of acne and soothes sunburned skin.
Lemon Oil*- Helps control oily skin.
Orange Oil*- Promotes the production of collagen which helps keep skin younger looking. An
interesting note: the big news in the beauty world is vitamin C serum for younger looking skin.
However, people are being charged exorbitant amounts for practically sample sizes. Orange
Oil has the vitamin C in it that penetrates the skin easily and deeply and costs only pennies in
comparison. May cause sensitivity to sunlight (but so does the expensive vitamin C serum).
Patchouli Oil- Regenerates skin cells and reputed to ward off wrinkles.
Rosemary Oil- Stimulates cell renewal. Improves dry skin and improves circulation.
Rosewood Oil- Balances all skin types.
Ylang Ylang Oil- Effective in treating oily skin by reducing excessive oiliness. Antibacterial
properties help fight and heal blemishes.
*These oils are the least expensive of all essential oils and have the overall benefits for all skin
types.
Natural oils are nourishing to the skin and are absorbed quickly. Pat a few drops around
eyes and any trouble spots first. Add a few more drops to your palms and gently pat around the rest of your face and throat. If you have time, just let the oils soak in naturally into the skin, but if you are in a hurry, rinse a washcloth in warm water, ring out excess water and lay over face for a minute. Your skin will feel wonderful! Health food stores carry a lot of these oils. Grocery stores also carry some of these oils. Try to find oils that are cold pressed. Processing temperatures destroy the benefits of natural oils.
Almond Oil- Good for all skin types. Best if used as a message oil, it relieves itching, dry
skin. Will go rancid quickly, so buy in small amounts.
Apricot Kernel Oil- High in vitamin A, apricot kernel oil is rich and nourishing. It is especially
helpful for dehydrated, mature or sensitive skin.
Avocado Oil- A rich, heavy oil that is high in vitamin A and E. Good for dry, dehydrated or
mature skin. Goes rancid quickly.
Borage Oil- Stimulates skin cell activity and encourages skin regeneration. Beneficial to all
skin types.
Canola Oil- Penetrates the skin quickly and softens skin. It has a high content of linoleic acid,
which promotes skin health. Resists rancidity.
Evening Primrose Oil- High in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and helps the skin repair itself.
Good for dry and premature aging of the skin.
Flaxseed Oil- High in vitamin E, making it useful for preventing scarring and stretch marks. It
nourishes the skin and helps in cell regeneration.
Grapeseed Oil- A light oil that easily absorbs into the skin. Good for all skin types.
Jojoba Oil- Very similar in composition to natural skin oils and penetrates the skin rapidly to
nourish it. Has antioxidant properties and when combined with other oils will help keep them
from going rancid as quickly as they otherwise would. Excellent for all skin types and is very
healing.
Olive Oil- Soothes, heals and lubricates the skin. However, it has a strong odor.
Soy Oil- A light oil that can be used for all skin types. It is nourishing to dry skin and is readily
absorbed into the skin.
Sunflower Oil- Easily absorbed into the skin and can be used for all skin types. High in vitamin
E, which makes it especially helpful for delicate and dry skin.
Wheat Germ Oil- A thick, sticky antioxidant oil that is rich in vitamin E. Beneficial to all skin
types.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Adding essential oils to the natural vegetable oils not only adds fragrance but adds special
properties that are beneficial to the body and spirit. Just add 1 drop of any favorite essential
oil to a teaspoon of your favorite vegetable oil before using as a moisturiser to your skin.
Essential oils can be very expensive*, however, and are not “essential” to add to your
moisturizers.
Basil Oil- Enlivens dull looking skin, improves skin tone and gives the complexion a rosy glow.
Bergamot Oil- Antiseptic action makes it useful in treating acne and skin infections. A nice
orange smell. May make skin photosensitive.
Clary Sage Oil- Promotes regeneration of skin cells, helping skin to look young and healthy.
Geranium Oil- Helpful to most all skin types. Speeds healing of acne, soothes dry skin, and
imparts a healthy glow to the complexion.
Lavender Oil- Reduces inflamation of acne and soothes sunburned skin.
Lemon Oil*- Helps control oily skin.
Orange Oil*- Promotes the production of collagen which helps keep skin younger looking. An
interesting note: the big news in the beauty world is vitamin C serum for younger looking skin.
However, people are being charged exorbitant amounts for practically sample sizes. Orange
Oil has the vitamin C in it that penetrates the skin easily and deeply and costs only pennies in
comparison. May cause sensitivity to sunlight (but so does the expensive vitamin C serum).
Patchouli Oil- Regenerates skin cells and reputed to ward off wrinkles.
Rosemary Oil- Stimulates cell renewal. Improves dry skin and improves circulation.
Rosewood Oil- Balances all skin types.
Ylang Ylang Oil- Effective in treating oily skin by reducing excessive oiliness. Antibacterial
properties help fight and heal blemishes.
*These oils are the least expensive of all essential oils and have the overall benefits for all skin
types.
BEAUTY TREATMENTS FROM NATURE
Pampering yourself is soothing to the spirit and quite refreshing to the soul. Take a few
minutes each day to do something special for yourself. “Because your worth it!” can take on
a whole new meaning!
Try these beauty treatments that come out of your kitchen. They work as good if not
better than the expensive commercial cosmetics, but cost only pennies. In fact, all the
recipes I have included in this section are made from the simplest pantry items which produce
the best results.
CLEANSING: The first basic step in skin care, cleansing can be done simply and
inexpensively with just a few staples from the kitchen. Recipes are good for all skin types.
FARI-OAT SCRUB
1 cup oatmeal (uncooked)
1 Tbsp. farina (uncooked)
Grind oatmeal to a gritty powder in blender. Add farina and blend throughly. Store in closed container.
To use: Splash face with hot water several times to help dissolve accumulated dirt and grease.
Use about a Tbsp. of fari-oat powder and gently scrub over your face. Rinse well. Repeat if
you have very oily skin.
GENTLE FACIAL SCRUB
½ cup oatmeal (grind to powder in blender)
2 Tbsp. powdered milk
1 tsp. cornmeal
Combine ingredients in container or zip-lock bag and shake well. Combine 1 Tbsp. of mix
with enough water to make a creamy paste. Spread over face and throat. Message for a
minute and then rinse.
FACE AND BODY SCRUB
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup warmed olive oil
Stir salt and oil together and apply over face (and body if desired). Massage until a rosy glow
appears, then rinse with water and blot dry with a towel.
SKIN BALANCING SCRUB (Good for evening out blotchy skin and fading tans.)
1 Tbsp. yogurt (plain)
2 tsp. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
Combine ingredients and apply to face and throat. Massage for 5 minutes. Rinse and towel
dry. Use weekly until skin begins to become more uniform in appearance.
HONEY CORNMEAL EXFOLIANT
1 ½ tsp. cornmeal
1 tsp. honey
½ tsp. water
Combine ingredients and let soften for 2 minutes. Massage onto face and throat and let set for
20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and towel blot dry.
CREAMY OATMEAL CLEANSER
1 cup ground oatmeal
1 cup powdered milk
Combine ingredients in bag or container. When ready to use, mix 2 tsp. of mixture with
enough water to make a smooth paste. Massage onto face and let set for 5 minutes. Rinse.
GENERIC PANTRY INGREDIENTS AND THEIR USES IN SKIN CARE:
BAKING SODA -Baking soda has an anti-inflammatory agent as well as being a good exfoliant. Make a thin paste of baking soda and water, then smooth over face and throat. Do not scrub, simply rinse off with warm water.
MAYONNAISE-Amazingly effective as a cleanser! Spread over face and remove with warm, damp washcloth.
SHORTENING-This is good for very dry skin. Use the white, all vegetable shortening and smooth over your entire face. Let remain on face for a few minutes and remove with a warm, damp washcloth.
POTATO-Raw, grated and then massaged onto face, potatoes are a great cleanser with blemish healing properties. Remove raw potato with a warm, damp washcloth.
WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR-Mix flour with a little water to make a smooth paste. Massage onto skin and then rinse. Cleanses and smoothes skin.
CLEANSING MILK-In small saucepan combine ½ cup milk, 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and 2 Tbsp. chamomile flowers. Heat together over very low heat for 30 minutes and do not let boil or form a skin. Let stand for 3 hours, then strain. Pour in jar and keep refrigerated. Apply with cotton ball, then wipe off. Will keep for 1 week.
A quick and simple cleansing milk is to combine 2 Tbsp. milk and ½ tsp. oil in small jar. Apply
with cotton ball, then wipe off.
minutes each day to do something special for yourself. “Because your worth it!” can take on
a whole new meaning!
Try these beauty treatments that come out of your kitchen. They work as good if not
better than the expensive commercial cosmetics, but cost only pennies. In fact, all the
recipes I have included in this section are made from the simplest pantry items which produce
the best results.
CLEANSING: The first basic step in skin care, cleansing can be done simply and
inexpensively with just a few staples from the kitchen. Recipes are good for all skin types.
FARI-OAT SCRUB
1 cup oatmeal (uncooked)
1 Tbsp. farina (uncooked)
Grind oatmeal to a gritty powder in blender. Add farina and blend throughly. Store in closed container.
To use: Splash face with hot water several times to help dissolve accumulated dirt and grease.
Use about a Tbsp. of fari-oat powder and gently scrub over your face. Rinse well. Repeat if
you have very oily skin.
GENTLE FACIAL SCRUB
½ cup oatmeal (grind to powder in blender)
2 Tbsp. powdered milk
1 tsp. cornmeal
Combine ingredients in container or zip-lock bag and shake well. Combine 1 Tbsp. of mix
with enough water to make a creamy paste. Spread over face and throat. Message for a
minute and then rinse.
FACE AND BODY SCRUB
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup warmed olive oil
Stir salt and oil together and apply over face (and body if desired). Massage until a rosy glow
appears, then rinse with water and blot dry with a towel.
SKIN BALANCING SCRUB (Good for evening out blotchy skin and fading tans.)
1 Tbsp. yogurt (plain)
2 tsp. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. salt
Combine ingredients and apply to face and throat. Massage for 5 minutes. Rinse and towel
dry. Use weekly until skin begins to become more uniform in appearance.
HONEY CORNMEAL EXFOLIANT
1 ½ tsp. cornmeal
1 tsp. honey
½ tsp. water
Combine ingredients and let soften for 2 minutes. Massage onto face and throat and let set for
20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and towel blot dry.
CREAMY OATMEAL CLEANSER
1 cup ground oatmeal
1 cup powdered milk
Combine ingredients in bag or container. When ready to use, mix 2 tsp. of mixture with
enough water to make a smooth paste. Massage onto face and let set for 5 minutes. Rinse.
GENERIC PANTRY INGREDIENTS AND THEIR USES IN SKIN CARE:
BAKING SODA -Baking soda has an anti-inflammatory agent as well as being a good exfoliant. Make a thin paste of baking soda and water, then smooth over face and throat. Do not scrub, simply rinse off with warm water.
MAYONNAISE-Amazingly effective as a cleanser! Spread over face and remove with warm, damp washcloth.
SHORTENING-This is good for very dry skin. Use the white, all vegetable shortening and smooth over your entire face. Let remain on face for a few minutes and remove with a warm, damp washcloth.
POTATO-Raw, grated and then massaged onto face, potatoes are a great cleanser with blemish healing properties. Remove raw potato with a warm, damp washcloth.
WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR-Mix flour with a little water to make a smooth paste. Massage onto skin and then rinse. Cleanses and smoothes skin.
CLEANSING MILK-In small saucepan combine ½ cup milk, 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and 2 Tbsp. chamomile flowers. Heat together over very low heat for 30 minutes and do not let boil or form a skin. Let stand for 3 hours, then strain. Pour in jar and keep refrigerated. Apply with cotton ball, then wipe off. Will keep for 1 week.
A quick and simple cleansing milk is to combine 2 Tbsp. milk and ½ tsp. oil in small jar. Apply
with cotton ball, then wipe off.
SELF PRESERVATION
“...One of the adversaries favourite tactics among righteous LDS women is busyness -getting us so preoccupied with the flurry of daily life that we fail to immerse ourselves in the
gospel of Jesus Christ.” – Sheri L. Dew
Taking time for ourselves is vital for our self preservation as stay-at-home women. This helps us to reestablish our self-worth and reduces the stress of day-to-day living by slowing us down. Elder Ballard counseled women last April conference to cut out all the extras that make us too busy as women and mothers. "... As you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more. And don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the time-wasting, mind-numbing things like television soap operas or surfing the Internet. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it."
BEGIN WITH YOUR FOUNDATION
The most essential daily thing that we can do for our self-preservation is to take the time to
replenish our spirits by reading the scriptures. This is the foundation of our very essence and
connects us to God. If we are to have the moral strength, commitment and courage to stand
for women and families, then we need to re-fortify daily by immersing ourselves into the
scriptures and other words of church leaders. This is just the beginning of taking time for
ourselves.
NATURAL BEAUTY VS GLAMOUR
Another important part of self-preservation is taking time to care for our outward bodies.
Each of us needs to feel beautiful and pampered, but do we confuse beauty with that glamour
that bombards us on the television and other media? When I think of glamour I think of artificially contrived beauty. A counterfeit to natural beauty, it is designed to keep our minds and hearts upon ourselves. Glamour is an illusion and nothing is as it seems. Glamour involves the purchase of exorbitant amounts of make-up, creams, lotions, patronizing expensive big name salons, spas, and health resorts. Skin deep is a concise way of describing glamour.
The most essential daily thing that we can do for our self-preservation is to take the time to
replenish our spirits by reading the scriptures. This is the foundation of our very essence and
connects us to God. If we are to have the moral strength, commitment and courage to stand
for women and families, then we need to re-fortify daily by immersing ourselves into the
scriptures and other words of church leaders. This is just the beginning of taking time for
ourselves.
NATURAL BEAUTY VS GLAMOUR
Another important part of self-preservation is taking time to care for our outward bodies.
Each of us needs to feel beautiful and pampered, but do we confuse beauty with that glamour
that bombards us on the television and other media? When I think of glamour I think of artificially contrived beauty. A counterfeit to natural beauty, it is designed to keep our minds and hearts upon ourselves. Glamour is an illusion and nothing is as it seems. Glamour involves the purchase of exorbitant amounts of make-up, creams, lotions, patronizing expensive big name salons, spas, and health resorts. Skin deep is a concise way of describing glamour.
Contrast that with natural beauty. Natural beauty begins deep in our souls, after all, real
beauty comes from the serenity and joy that we radiate. When we truly know that we are
daughters of God it shines for all to see. Beauty is only then enhanced by a healthy body and
clean appearance. Of course, make-up can be used to augment our features, but, if used in
excess can destroy our beauty.
Natural beauty is not expensive to reach. Healthy glowing skin, shining hair, sparkling
eyes and gleaming teeth, all stem from a little personal attention, cleanliness, exercise,
nutritious foods, a positive attitude and spirituality. Even if vibrant health is unattainable we
can still have the truest beauty available...the “goodness and beauty of angels”.
beauty comes from the serenity and joy that we radiate. When we truly know that we are
daughters of God it shines for all to see. Beauty is only then enhanced by a healthy body and
clean appearance. Of course, make-up can be used to augment our features, but, if used in
excess can destroy our beauty.
Natural beauty is not expensive to reach. Healthy glowing skin, shining hair, sparkling
eyes and gleaming teeth, all stem from a little personal attention, cleanliness, exercise,
nutritious foods, a positive attitude and spirituality. Even if vibrant health is unattainable we
can still have the truest beauty available...the “goodness and beauty of angels”.
Monday, June 30, 2008
CLOTHING CARE
Keeping clothing “neat and comely” can be a constant challenge. Just remember to read the care label on each article of clothing and keep whites, darks, and colors separated when you wash.Try to keep away from purchasing “dry-clean only” items as this increases the price of the clothing article every time you clean it.
GENERAL METHODS OF STAIN REMOVAL
Always remember to treat stains as soon as they happen. If a stained article of clothing slips
past your notice, the heat of the dryer may set the stain permanently. Try these economical
methods of stain removal before you go out and buy the more expensive cleaners.
STAIN....... METHOD OF REMOVAL
BLOOD: Treat spot with hydrogen peroxide. After foaming has stopped soak in cold water for 30 minutes. Wring out garment and apply laundry detergent to spot and rub in. Launder as usual. Warning- when removing blood from colored fabrics, make sure it is colorfast by applying peroxide to an area that cannot be seen. If the peroxide doesn't bleach out the color then it is safe to use on blood stain.
CATSUP/TOMATO: Soak in cold water and treat spot with Dawn dish soap. Wash.
SAUCE
CHOCOLATE: Wash stain in warm, sudsy water with a few drops of ammonia rubbed in. Rinse.
CRAYON: Loosen stain with small amount of shortening. Apply detergent on stain, working until outline of stain is removed. Launder as usual.
GRASS: Rub detergent or Enzyme detergent into stain. Wash with bleach safe for fabric.
GREASE, OIL : Treat spot with paint thinner. Rub detergent into spot and wash.
GUM: Harden gum with an ice-cube. Scrape off as much as possible with a dull knife. Dab a few drops of Orange essential oil on residue spot until remaining gum is loosened and blot with paper towel. Wash as usual.
INK : Spray spot with hairspray or alcohol. Blot with paper towel until ink is gone. Launder as usual.
MILDEW: Pretreat stain with hydrogen peroxide. Rinse and then wash with bleach safe for fabric.
MUD: Allow to dry. Brush off dirt. Pretreat with liquid laundry detergent and wash as usual.
NAIL POLISH: Do not use nail polish remover! Treat spot with a solution of equal parts of alcohol and ammonia. Scrub and wash as usual.
PAINT: Work quickly before paint is dry. Most paints today are acrylic and water based, so quickly scrub spot with soap and water. If paint is still there, scrub spot with paint thinner, pre-soak with laundry detergent and wash.
RUST: Apply lemon juice and salt and place in the sun. Keep area wet with lemon juice until rust stain disappears. Launder.
YELLOWING: (For white fabrics only)
1/4 cup dishwasher detergent
½ cup bleach
1/4 cup soda
Dissolve and agitate in hot water. Add whites and soak for 1-8 hours. Drain and wash as usual. *This method is great for getting formula stains out of baby tee shirts and for getting the pink out of whites that accidentally got a red sock in them!
RECYCLING CLOTHING
Clothes can be made for all member of the family from used clothing or items around the
house for little to no cost. By using your creativity and artistic abilities you can create clothing for your family. You can accomplish this in several ways– by adding an accent, an additional piece (as in a new collar, cuffs, pockets, etc...), refitting a size or making an entirely new outfit for a small child from an adult’s piece of clothing. Make sure fabric is not so worn out that it will fall apart when being remade.
IDEAS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED:
ITEMS AROUND HOUSE- RECYCLED INTO...
Yarn Scraps- Granny Square Afghan, Poncho, Skirt
Potholder, Doll Clothes, Crafts
Old Levis- Purses, Skirts, Patchwork Jacket, Quilt,
Small child's pants or jackets
Old Acrylic Blankets- Coats, Inside batting for Quilts, Bunting
for baby
Old Coats/Furry linings- Stuffed Animals, Slippers, Child’s coat
Torn Sheets- Pillow cases, Costumes for Halloween (I
made a cute Indian girl costume by using
using an old, white flannel sheet that I
dyed tan, fringed the edges, added beads
and then sewed moccasins to match
from the scraps of leftover sheet. The
texture looked like real buckskin.
Man’s White Shirt- Child’s Slip, small boy’s White Shirt
Old Nightgowns and Slips- Children’s nightgowns, Underwear
Old Woolen Sweaters- Mittens, Caps, Child’s Sweater
Jumpers, Dresses, Skirts, Slacks, Shirts- Children's clothing
The ideas are only limited by your imagination.
house for little to no cost. By using your creativity and artistic abilities you can create clothing for your family. You can accomplish this in several ways– by adding an accent, an additional piece (as in a new collar, cuffs, pockets, etc...), refitting a size or making an entirely new outfit for a small child from an adult’s piece of clothing. Make sure fabric is not so worn out that it will fall apart when being remade.
IDEAS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED:
ITEMS AROUND HOUSE- RECYCLED INTO...
Yarn Scraps- Granny Square Afghan, Poncho, Skirt
Potholder, Doll Clothes, Crafts
Old Levis- Purses, Skirts, Patchwork Jacket, Quilt,
Small child's pants or jackets
Old Acrylic Blankets- Coats, Inside batting for Quilts, Bunting
for baby
Old Coats/Furry linings- Stuffed Animals, Slippers, Child’s coat
Torn Sheets- Pillow cases, Costumes for Halloween (I
made a cute Indian girl costume by using
using an old, white flannel sheet that I
dyed tan, fringed the edges, added beads
and then sewed moccasins to match
from the scraps of leftover sheet. The
texture looked like real buckskin.
Man’s White Shirt- Child’s Slip, small boy’s White Shirt
Old Nightgowns and Slips- Children’s nightgowns, Underwear
Old Woolen Sweaters- Mittens, Caps, Child’s Sweater
Jumpers, Dresses, Skirts, Slacks, Shirts- Children's clothing
The ideas are only limited by your imagination.
SHOPPING, "SAILING," AND THRIFT STORES
I detest clothes shopping! It makes me tired and discouraged, besides the fact that itdepletes the pocket book very quickly. Because of this hatred for shopping, I’m probably the last person that could give any amazing tips on shopping for clothes, but I do have a few strategies that are helpful to those of you who are shopping fanatics.
First of all, never buy anything full retail price. In her book, “Tightwad Gazette”, Amy
Dacyczyn explains the differences between disposable purchases and investment purchases
. Disposable purchases are items we buy for short term use, such as, food, clothing, toiletries, etc... When we pay high prices on disposable purchases we are basically throwing money down the drain. That is what we do when we pay full retail on clothing. Clothing goes out of style, is grown out of, can be irreparably damaged or soiled which makes that purchase a waste of resources. (Read Amy’s article as soon as possible!)Next, shop the clearance racks. Stores always have racks at the back of the clothing
department with items marked down at great savings. My daughter and I went shopping at an
expensive department store and found a formal dress on the clearance rack marked down from
$129.00 to $19.00 and it was darling on her! Shop for the seasonal clearances. Usually, stores will clear out their winter clothing in January/February and their summer clothing in July/August. This may mean you’ll find a nice coat for the next winter but the savings will be over half the price. If shopping for growing children, buy larger sizes that they can grow into. It also helps to buy “unisex” styles so the article of clothing can be passed down from one child to another.
“Sailing” is what I like to call garage sale hunting. This is one of our family’s favourite things to do together on a summer Saturday. We live in a small town and many times we would just hop on our bikes and ride to the sales that were closest to us. Garage sales are vehicles in which God has seen that many of our needs are met. We’ve had some amazing miracles happen through garage sales. When my husband’s job was transferring him from St. George, Utah, to Southeastern Idaho, we were concerned about the need for winter clothing. We were living in a place that rarely, if ever, got snow to a place where snow was measured in feet during the winter. The
Saturday after we received the news of the transfer we went “sailing” with the sole purpose of
finding winter clothes and boots. At our very first house we found BOXES of coats, sweaters, snow suits, boots, mittens and whatever we needed for the snow in varied sizes! All of these winter clothes in a place that gets so hot that the Devil doesn’t even want to live there! And what was even more incredible was the price...a dollar a box full! There is no one that can convince me that God didn’t watch out for us and fulfill our every need. And this isn’t an isolated experience either. Many times we would make our list of things we would need and find it at garage sales. On several occasions I remember our eldest daughter, when she was little, would decide what special item she really needed for that “saling” day. She was so darling, as a little five year old, darting over to the area, scanning sharply for that item that she wanted and immediately wanting to leave if she didn’t find it. Nothing distracted her and without fail she’d come home that day with new shoes, or a dress, or whatever happened to be what she felt she had need of at the time. As I have said many times before, God wants us to succeed. He will provide us with our needs if we just have faith. Garage sales are a simple way for this to happen.
It is important to make a list out for garage sales, otherwise, purchases can be wasteful and all you end up is having a lot of other people’s junk messing up your house. That isn’t to say
that if you discover a real find that you shouldn’t buy it because it isn’t on the list. Just make
sure it is truly worth buying. Make sure you involve the children. Garage sales are a great way to teach children the difference between needs and wants, how to economise and how to use money. These are ideas that I would use for garage “saling”. You will probably want to add your
own needs to the list. Write them on a 3x5 card and carry it with you.
1- Clothing items and sizes (boy, girl, man, woman, baby)
2- Shoes and sizes (colors)
3- Books
4- Children’s toys (legos, porcelain dolls, stuffed animals)
5- Dishes, Cookware, Tupperware
6- Tools
7- Frugal Elegance (china pieces, crystal glasses and vases, silverware)
8- Craft/Decorating items (silk flowers, baskets, paint, frames, etc...)
9- Special Need Items_______________________________________
Thrift stores are just organized garage sales. Most of the time the prices are a little higher
than what one can pay at a garage sale, but many store’s profits go to helping those who
cannot help themselves, so I don’t mind paying a little more. Be mindful about prices. There
have been times that I have gone into our local thrift store and found a used item higher in
price than a brand new store purchased item.
CLOTHING: THAT WE MIGHT BE... “ NEAT AND COMELY”
“And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the
poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet
they were neat and comely.”
— Alma 1:27
poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet
they were neat and comely.”
— Alma 1:27
I find it interesting that repeatedly in the Book of Mormon, a symptom of the moral decay
of the people was pride and the wearing of costly apparel. (See 2 Nephi 28:13, Jacob 2:13,
Alma 1:6, Alma 1:27, Alma 1:32, Alma 4:6, Alma 5:53, Alma 31:28, Helaman 13:28, 4 Nephi
1:24, Mormon 8:36‑37.) In contrast, when they were humble, they gave of what they had to
others and were modest, clean, neat and attractive. (Alma 1:27)
There is a danger when we become too obsessed with expensive designer clothing. Bruce
R. McConkie said, “Worldly styles and fashions in women's dress, whatever they
may happen to be at any moment, being of the world, which those who join the Church are commanded to forsake, are improper and to be avoided. Almost always the apparel so involved is excessively costly, with those who wear it being lifted up in the pride of their hearts. The Nephite prophets repeatedly identified the wearing of costly clothing with apostasy and failure to live by gospel standards.”1
The prophets have stated the standards which correlate well with Alma 1:27.
“Wear modest, clean clothing. Your clothing doesn't need to be new and [it] should have some fashion of course, but [it] should be clean, modest, and neat. Be dignified in your outward manner and in your inward morality.”2
of the people was pride and the wearing of costly apparel. (See 2 Nephi 28:13, Jacob 2:13,
Alma 1:6, Alma 1:27, Alma 1:32, Alma 4:6, Alma 5:53, Alma 31:28, Helaman 13:28, 4 Nephi
1:24, Mormon 8:36‑37.) In contrast, when they were humble, they gave of what they had to
others and were modest, clean, neat and attractive. (Alma 1:27)
There is a danger when we become too obsessed with expensive designer clothing. Bruce
R. McConkie said, “Worldly styles and fashions in women's dress, whatever they
may happen to be at any moment, being of the world, which those who join the Church are commanded to forsake, are improper and to be avoided. Almost always the apparel so involved is excessively costly, with those who wear it being lifted up in the pride of their hearts. The Nephite prophets repeatedly identified the wearing of costly clothing with apostasy and failure to live by gospel standards.”1The prophets have stated the standards which correlate well with Alma 1:27.
“Wear modest, clean clothing. Your clothing doesn't need to be new and [it] should have some fashion of course, but [it] should be clean, modest, and neat. Be dignified in your outward manner and in your inward morality.”2
“Have your dresses neat and comely, and conduct yourselves, in the strictest sense of the
word, in chastity. If you do this you set a good example before the rising generation. Use good
language, wear comely clothing and act in all things so that you can respect yourselves and
respect each other.”3
“Let the sisters take care of themselves, and make themselves beautiful, and if any of you
are so superstitious and ignorant as to say that this is pride, I can say that you are not informed
as to the pride which is sinful before the Lord, you are also ignorant as to the excellency of the
heavens, and of the beauty which dwells in the society of the Gods. Were you to see an angel,
you would see a beautiful and lovely creature. Make yourselves like angels in goodness and
beauty. Let the mothers in Israel make their sons and daughters healthy and beautiful, by
cleanliness and a proper diet. Whether you have much or little clothing for your children, it can
be kept clean and healthy, and be made to fit their persons neatly.”4
How beautiful! To keep ourselves as “angels in goodness and beauty.” What a wonderful
ideal, yet it is an ideal that is possible to achieve. All it takes for us to be as “angels in goodness and beauty” is to be clean, modest, neat and comely in our clothing, reflecting an inner purity and radiant spirituality. As at-home-mothers, virtue is our clothing, our beauty and our wealth (see Proverbs 31:10-31). We exchange the worldly, expensive designer clothing for the opportunity to be with our children and raise them in loving, caring homes. It isn’t even an equal exchange. We are getting the far better end of the deal...one where the value is priceless.
word, in chastity. If you do this you set a good example before the rising generation. Use good
language, wear comely clothing and act in all things so that you can respect yourselves and
respect each other.”3
“Let the sisters take care of themselves, and make themselves beautiful, and if any of you
are so superstitious and ignorant as to say that this is pride, I can say that you are not informed
as to the pride which is sinful before the Lord, you are also ignorant as to the excellency of the
heavens, and of the beauty which dwells in the society of the Gods. Were you to see an angel,
you would see a beautiful and lovely creature. Make yourselves like angels in goodness and
beauty. Let the mothers in Israel make their sons and daughters healthy and beautiful, by
cleanliness and a proper diet. Whether you have much or little clothing for your children, it can
be kept clean and healthy, and be made to fit their persons neatly.”4
How beautiful! To keep ourselves as “angels in goodness and beauty.” What a wonderful
ideal, yet it is an ideal that is possible to achieve. All it takes for us to be as “angels in goodness and beauty” is to be clean, modest, neat and comely in our clothing, reflecting an inner purity and radiant spirituality. As at-home-mothers, virtue is our clothing, our beauty and our wealth (see Proverbs 31:10-31). We exchange the worldly, expensive designer clothing for the opportunity to be with our children and raise them in loving, caring homes. It isn’t even an equal exchange. We are getting the far better end of the deal...one where the value is priceless.
1 “Doctrinal New Testament Commentary,” Bruce R. McConkie, Vol.3, p.80
2 “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, p.379
3 Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.299 ‑ p.300, Brigham Young, October 8th, 1868
4 Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.201 ‑ p.202, Brigham Young, April 8, 1868
2 “The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, p.379
3 Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.299 ‑ p.300, Brigham Young, October 8th, 1868
4 Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.201 ‑ p.202, Brigham Young, April 8, 1868
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Supplements to Build Faith
BOOSTER SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements are needed when there is a deficiency and our normal nutrition and activities
prove to be insufficient. Spiritually, we can notice a deficiency beginning in our faith when any
negative emotion shows itself. Boosters are needed when we are easily offended, or feel fear,
anxiety, criticism, ingratitude, insecurity, self-doubt, animosity, anger, pride, self-righteousness,
depression, selfishness, hate, indecision, vacillation, faltering, etc... The list can go on forever!
When there is an increase for good in our lives there will be an equal increase of evil from the
adversary in order to stop our progress. We can fight this by immunizing ourselves with the
“boosters” whenever needed.
1. FASTING: Sometimes we need the extra power that fasting can give to our prayers. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17:21)
Spencer W. Kimball said about fasting, “Fasting brings spiritual blessings. The law of the fast is another test. If we merely go without food to supply welfare funds, it is much of the letter, but in real fasting, for spiritual blessings, come self-mastery and increased spirituality.”
2. TEMPLE ATTENDANCE: Howard W. Hunter admonished the members of the church to attend the temple often, and if that wasn’t possible, to at least be temple worthy and hold a temple recommend. The temple is God’s holy house. The quiet reverence inside is conducive to pondering and receiving the will of the Lord. Answers to our deepest needs are always to be found there. A rejuvenation and rebuilding of our spirits is a result if we go with real intent and humble hearts.
3. PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS: “The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven...” (D&C 121:36) Ever since I’ve become a member of this church I’ve recognized the might of God behind the incredible power of the priesthood! God works through righteous men in this intimate and powerful channel, to bring about His work and glory. A priesthood blessing is the greatest “super vitamin” and “mega supplement” available to us ever! The priesthood has been restored to earth for our benefit from our loving Father in Heaven. We would be very foolish not to make use of this magnificent and powerful gift frequently!
4. WORDS OF THE PROPHETS: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
“...Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1:38)
“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me.” (D&C 84:36)
Between the revealed word of God in the recorded scriptures and all that He will reveal through His prophets, we have the security of knowing God’s will for us in all areas of our lives....if we humble ourselves and listen! Reading and rereading the conference reports can keep us committed and informed as to what the Lord has in mind for us today. Figuratively speaking, it is a booster shot in the arm!
It is my hope that this “exercise” program will be the help that you need to gain a stronger testimony of the importance of being home with your family. That you will be able to "lift the
weight" of fear from your shoulders and replace it with faith in Jesus Christ. That your hearts will be "made strong" with hope, love, joy and peace. That your homes and families will be "fortified" against evil by the protecting influence of the Spirit and mother in the home.
Remember, nothing is impossible for two [people] to do if one of them is God!
Supplements are needed when there is a deficiency and our normal nutrition and activities
prove to be insufficient. Spiritually, we can notice a deficiency beginning in our faith when any
negative emotion shows itself. Boosters are needed when we are easily offended, or feel fear,
anxiety, criticism, ingratitude, insecurity, self-doubt, animosity, anger, pride, self-righteousness,
depression, selfishness, hate, indecision, vacillation, faltering, etc... The list can go on forever!
When there is an increase for good in our lives there will be an equal increase of evil from the
adversary in order to stop our progress. We can fight this by immunizing ourselves with the
“boosters” whenever needed.
1. FASTING: Sometimes we need the extra power that fasting can give to our prayers. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matt. 17:21)
Spencer W. Kimball said about fasting, “Fasting brings spiritual blessings. The law of the fast is another test. If we merely go without food to supply welfare funds, it is much of the letter, but in real fasting, for spiritual blessings, come self-mastery and increased spirituality.”
2. TEMPLE ATTENDANCE: Howard W. Hunter admonished the members of the church to attend the temple often, and if that wasn’t possible, to at least be temple worthy and hold a temple recommend. The temple is God’s holy house. The quiet reverence inside is conducive to pondering and receiving the will of the Lord. Answers to our deepest needs are always to be found there. A rejuvenation and rebuilding of our spirits is a result if we go with real intent and humble hearts.
3. PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS: “The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven...” (D&C 121:36) Ever since I’ve become a member of this church I’ve recognized the might of God behind the incredible power of the priesthood! God works through righteous men in this intimate and powerful channel, to bring about His work and glory. A priesthood blessing is the greatest “super vitamin” and “mega supplement” available to us ever! The priesthood has been restored to earth for our benefit from our loving Father in Heaven. We would be very foolish not to make use of this magnificent and powerful gift frequently!
4. WORDS OF THE PROPHETS: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
“...Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1:38)
“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me.” (D&C 84:36)
Between the revealed word of God in the recorded scriptures and all that He will reveal through His prophets, we have the security of knowing God’s will for us in all areas of our lives....if we humble ourselves and listen! Reading and rereading the conference reports can keep us committed and informed as to what the Lord has in mind for us today. Figuratively speaking, it is a booster shot in the arm!
It is my hope that this “exercise” program will be the help that you need to gain a stronger testimony of the importance of being home with your family. That you will be able to "lift the
weight" of fear from your shoulders and replace it with faith in Jesus Christ. That your hearts will be "made strong" with hope, love, joy and peace. That your homes and families will be "fortified" against evil by the protecting influence of the Spirit and mother in the home.
Remember, nothing is impossible for two [people] to do if one of them is God!
Nourishing Faith
DAILY NOURISHMENT FOR DEVELOPING FAITH
The right foods are important for physical health, so it is logical that we need to keep our faith nourished in order to have spiritual health.
1. DESIRE RIGHTEOUSNESS: Before we can have anything, we first have to want it.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matt. 5:6)
2. SCRIPTURE STUDY: This is our spiritual dietary daily requirement! Hungering and thirsting, we need to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,”(1 Tim. 4:6)
“That they might be...nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way,” (Moroni 6:4).
The word is nourishing to our faith, but how should we consume it? “Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3)
“Feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.” (2 Nephi 9:51)
“O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.” (Jacob 3:2)
The Lord does leave us with a warning, “Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger." (Luke 6:25) Apparently, feasting on the scriptures is one meal that should never leave us satiated!
3. KEEP COMMANDMENTS: “If it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them;” (1 Nephi 17:3)
These are the daily “musts” if we want to keep our spirits fat! We can not afford to become anorexic with our faith and spiritual well-being.
The right foods are important for physical health, so it is logical that we need to keep our faith nourished in order to have spiritual health.
1. DESIRE RIGHTEOUSNESS: Before we can have anything, we first have to want it.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matt. 5:6)
2. SCRIPTURE STUDY: This is our spiritual dietary daily requirement! Hungering and thirsting, we need to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,”(1 Tim. 4:6)
“That they might be...nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way,” (Moroni 6:4).
The word is nourishing to our faith, but how should we consume it? “Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3)
“Feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.” (2 Nephi 9:51)
“O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.” (Jacob 3:2)
The Lord does leave us with a warning, “Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger." (Luke 6:25) Apparently, feasting on the scriptures is one meal that should never leave us satiated!
3. KEEP COMMANDMENTS: “If it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them;” (1 Nephi 17:3)
These are the daily “musts” if we want to keep our spirits fat! We can not afford to become anorexic with our faith and spiritual well-being.
Exercise Program for Developing Stronger Faith
The Lord said, “If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is
expedient in me.” (Moroni 7:33) He also said these words on faith, “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.” (Moroni 7:26; see also James 1:5) In this same discourse, Moroni states, “for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.” (Moroni 7:37)
Faith precedes the miracle. Let us all believe the Lord and take Him at His word! Let us
exercise our faith on Him daily, by expecting the blessings to come and recognizing His hand in all things. Great miracles will occur when we do!
DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINE FOR BUILDING FAITH
These “exercises” should be done daily if we are to keep our spiritual bodies strong in order to
build our faith.
1. PRAYER: Essential to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health! This is one essential element of our program that we dare not go without! Start each day with prayer to organize your thoughts and find what God desires for you. End each day in thank and prepare for the morrow. Always keep a prayer in your heart.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
(Jer. 29:13)
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt. 21:22)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes. 5:17)
“For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” (2 Nephi 32:8-9)
“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37)
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers on his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may b purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:48)
“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” (D&C 10:5)
2. COMMITMENT: After prayer each morning, recommit your heart, mind, and energy to the gospel ideals that are most important to you in your effort to stay home with your family. This is the best time of the day for me. It helps me get focused and I’m able to ponder on the goals that I want to accomplish during the day. More importantly, I’m able to bring to heart what the Lord wants me to do that day.
“Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5)
“Choose ye this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15)
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,” (James 1:22).
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” (2 Nephi 31:20)
“Come unto Christ....and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him,” (Omni 1:26)
3. HUMILITY: Without humility it is hard to see where we can improve. It is also hard to hear the Lord’s will concerning us because we are too busy saying, “My will, not Thine, be done!” Each morning as we recommit ourselves to living the gospel, we need to repeat to ourselves that we want what God wants for us...even if it makes us a little uncomfortable for awhile! It isn’t called the “refiner’s fire” because it is such an easy and pleasing experience to go through! But it is ALWAYS for our good and ultimate happiness. Remember, the opposite of humility is pride. If we are not humble, we are automatically lifted up in pride. Think about it.
“Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” (D&C 112:10)
“For the natural man is an enemy of God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)
“Always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come...” (Mosiah 4:11)
4. REPENTANCE: A daily necessity to recover from spiritual weakness. “I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”(Alma 34:33)
Mormon tells us what the fruit of repentance brings to us. “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” (Moroni 8:26) The Lord’s mercy is so beautiful!
5. GRATITUDE: Have you ever been around anyone that constantly complains about all of their problems? They are in essence telling God and all within their voice, “I can see no blessings in my life, therefore I have no blessings to be grateful for!” Ingratitude is one of our greatest sins against God. “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” (D&C 59:21)
“Thou shalt thank the Lord in all things.” (D&C 59:7)
“...Let thy heart be full of thanks unto God...” (Alma 37:37)
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)
“Remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.” (2 Nephi 9:52)
“To the end that, my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Psalm 30:12)
Gratitude is the joyful way to grow in faith!
6. SERVICE: Not only a great way of being useful to God and man, service can help us forget our own problems. When we assist others in their trials, ours don’t seem quite as bad. Whether it is family, neighbors, community or church responsibilities, find ways of serving others. One act of service, consciously given daily, is a healthy dose to begin with.
“As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” (Eph. 6:6-7)
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)
If we did all our service to other people, as though we were actually serving the Lord in his own presence, what a difference our attitudes would be!
7. COURAGE: This step in our “exercise” program is the most frightening to face. Men and women become heroes, not because they feel no fear, but because they ignore their fears for a greater good. Of necessity, we must place before our minds “spiritual blinders” to block out the fears that can distract us from our righteous course! The scriptures reveal to us a lot about fear and I have found immense comfort from these verses.
“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” ( 2 Kings 6:16 )
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” ( 2 Timothy 1:7 ) My eldest daughter used this as her missionary scripture!
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear...” ( 1 John 4:18 )
“Fear not to do good...” ( D&C 6:33 )
“...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” ( D&C 38:30 )
“Fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;” ( D&C 98:1 )
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you...” (D&C 68:6) This scripture leads us to our next “exercise” for faith.
8. CHEERFULNESS: Cheer, Gladness, Delight, Joy, Happiness, being Merry are all attitudes the Lord asks us to have concerning this life. I believe when we feel these things in our hearts it is easier to feel gratitude.
“Let thy heart be of good cheer before my face...” (D&C 112:4)
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance...” (Prov. 15:13)
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...” (Prov. 17:22)
“My heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.”
(2 Nephi 45:49)
9. MUSIC: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord... Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2)
“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” (D&C 25:12)
Beautiful music is so uplifting to our spirits. It is critical that we include a dose of it every day! Inspiring music increases our hearts with stronger testimonies, faith, understanding, joy, and peace. Could these be some of the added blessings promised in D&C 25?
expedient in me.” (Moroni 7:33) He also said these words on faith, “Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.” (Moroni 7:26; see also James 1:5) In this same discourse, Moroni states, “for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.” (Moroni 7:37)
Faith precedes the miracle. Let us all believe the Lord and take Him at His word! Let us
exercise our faith on Him daily, by expecting the blessings to come and recognizing His hand in all things. Great miracles will occur when we do!
DAILY EXERCISE ROUTINE FOR BUILDING FAITH
These “exercises” should be done daily if we are to keep our spiritual bodies strong in order to
build our faith.
1. PRAYER: Essential to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health! This is one essential element of our program that we dare not go without! Start each day with prayer to organize your thoughts and find what God desires for you. End each day in thank and prepare for the morrow. Always keep a prayer in your heart.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
(Jer. 29:13)
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt. 21:22)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes. 5:17)
“For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” (2 Nephi 32:8-9)
“Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37)
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers on his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may b purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:48)
“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” (D&C 10:5)
2. COMMITMENT: After prayer each morning, recommit your heart, mind, and energy to the gospel ideals that are most important to you in your effort to stay home with your family. This is the best time of the day for me. It helps me get focused and I’m able to ponder on the goals that I want to accomplish during the day. More importantly, I’m able to bring to heart what the Lord wants me to do that day.
“Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5)
“Choose ye this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15)
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,” (James 1:22).
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” (2 Nephi 31:20)
“Come unto Christ....and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him,” (Omni 1:26)
3. HUMILITY: Without humility it is hard to see where we can improve. It is also hard to hear the Lord’s will concerning us because we are too busy saying, “My will, not Thine, be done!” Each morning as we recommit ourselves to living the gospel, we need to repeat to ourselves that we want what God wants for us...even if it makes us a little uncomfortable for awhile! It isn’t called the “refiner’s fire” because it is such an easy and pleasing experience to go through! But it is ALWAYS for our good and ultimate happiness. Remember, the opposite of humility is pride. If we are not humble, we are automatically lifted up in pride. Think about it.
“Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” (D&C 112:10)
“For the natural man is an enemy of God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)
“Always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come...” (Mosiah 4:11)
4. REPENTANCE: A daily necessity to recover from spiritual weakness. “I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”(Alma 34:33)
Mormon tells us what the fruit of repentance brings to us. “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” (Moroni 8:26) The Lord’s mercy is so beautiful!
5. GRATITUDE: Have you ever been around anyone that constantly complains about all of their problems? They are in essence telling God and all within their voice, “I can see no blessings in my life, therefore I have no blessings to be grateful for!” Ingratitude is one of our greatest sins against God. “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” (D&C 59:21)
“Thou shalt thank the Lord in all things.” (D&C 59:7)
“...Let thy heart be full of thanks unto God...” (Alma 37:37)
“Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)
“Remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.” (2 Nephi 9:52)
“To the end that, my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” (Psalm 30:12)
Gratitude is the joyful way to grow in faith!
6. SERVICE: Not only a great way of being useful to God and man, service can help us forget our own problems. When we assist others in their trials, ours don’t seem quite as bad. Whether it is family, neighbors, community or church responsibilities, find ways of serving others. One act of service, consciously given daily, is a healthy dose to begin with.
“As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” (Eph. 6:6-7)
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)
If we did all our service to other people, as though we were actually serving the Lord in his own presence, what a difference our attitudes would be!
7. COURAGE: This step in our “exercise” program is the most frightening to face. Men and women become heroes, not because they feel no fear, but because they ignore their fears for a greater good. Of necessity, we must place before our minds “spiritual blinders” to block out the fears that can distract us from our righteous course! The scriptures reveal to us a lot about fear and I have found immense comfort from these verses.
“Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” ( 2 Kings 6:16 )
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” ( 2 Timothy 1:7 ) My eldest daughter used this as her missionary scripture!
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear...” ( 1 John 4:18 )
“Fear not to do good...” ( D&C 6:33 )
“...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” ( D&C 38:30 )
“Fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;” ( D&C 98:1 )
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you...” (D&C 68:6) This scripture leads us to our next “exercise” for faith.
8. CHEERFULNESS: Cheer, Gladness, Delight, Joy, Happiness, being Merry are all attitudes the Lord asks us to have concerning this life. I believe when we feel these things in our hearts it is easier to feel gratitude.
“Let thy heart be of good cheer before my face...” (D&C 112:4)
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance...” (Prov. 15:13)
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...” (Prov. 17:22)
“My heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.”
(2 Nephi 45:49)
9. MUSIC: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord... Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2)
“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” (D&C 25:12)
Beautiful music is so uplifting to our spirits. It is critical that we include a dose of it every day! Inspiring music increases our hearts with stronger testimonies, faith, understanding, joy, and peace. Could these be some of the added blessings promised in D&C 25?
Finding Faith to be an At-Home-Mom
The ancient people of the earth had major insecurity problems. For many of them, their fears made it difficult to believe in an invisible god that would save them from all their troubles, so they clung to their statues of stone, wood, or metal. Those idols gave them the false security of putting their faith in something that was tangible and visible. Yet, no matter how much they worshiped their graven images, those gods in effigy had no power to deliver them.Are we any different today? How many of us go to work outside of the home because of the
security that a second income gives us? Do we place our faith in a paycheck because we can see and feel it, believing it has the might to rescue us from the difficulties of life or even give us things we desire, and like the ancient people who worshiped idols, put our trust in something that makes us feel safe, yet has no power to save?
Fear is deadly to our faith! When we let fear and worldly voices overwhelm us, faith cannot grow. The Savior taught this throughout His earthly ministry and a great example is in Matthew 14:26-32.
When the disciples were in a boat on the sea of Galilee, they saw Jesus walking towards them
on the water and were frightened, thinking him to be a spirit. Christ calmed their fears and Peter called to the Lord to bid him come unto Him. Christ did so, and Peter left the boat and began walking on the water to meet the Master. The winds, however, began to be very strong and becoming afraid of the wind and waves around him, Peter began to sink, calling out to Jesus to save him. Jesus, immediately reaching out to Peter, caught him and said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Peter’s faith sustained him for a little while and he was actually walking on the water, but then fear for the raging elements caused his faith to falter and he sank into the waves of the sea.
Fear can cripple us from following God’s commandments. Fear of not having enough for the
bills can keep us from paying our tithing. Fear of rejection can prevent us from asking a neighbor if they want to hear more about the church. Fear about the lack of security can cause us to continue to work away from our homes and our children. When we realize that fear is the
opposite of faith, it can help us recognize the stumbling blocks when they come.
How can we achieve the kind of faith the Lord asks of us? Alma, gives us a key to tapping
into the source of greater growth for our faith. “But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your
faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye
can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner
that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” (Alma 32:27) Exercise, Desire, Work. Alma
didn’t casually use these words. Increasing our faith is an actual physical effort! Everyone
knows what an effort it is to stay physically fit. Constant exercise is necessary for our bodies to
stay fit, and so it is with our spiritual health! Our faith cannot grow to deeper levels if we do not
exercise it, constantly work at it, and desire to make a greater commitment to take our Heavenly Father and His Son at their word.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Doing Less
This woman is Julie Beck, the General Relief Society President. In a talk given in October General Conference 2007, she counseled the women of the church to know who they are and know who God is. Once we know these things we will have great power to influence our children. One of the best things we can do for our children is less. Julie Beck states, "Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power."
It is not only our women leaders who are counseling mothers to do less. Elder Ballard of the Twelve Apostles, in a talk given during April General Conference 2008 entitled "Daughters of God," says, "The first question: What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?
First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.
Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).
Second, don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, Scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, “Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.” Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.
Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more. And don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the time-wasting, mind-numbing things like television soap operas or surfing the Internet. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.
Fourth, pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.”
This is wise counsel, women!
First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.
Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).
Second, don’t overschedule yourselves or your children. We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, Scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, “Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.” Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.
Third, even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them. Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Avoid any kind of substance abuse, mistakenly thinking that it will help you accomplish more. And don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the time-wasting, mind-numbing things like television soap operas or surfing the Internet. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.
Fourth, pray, study, and teach the gospel. Pray deeply about your children and about your role as a mother. Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, “We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised.”
This is wise counsel, women!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Joy of Raising Your Own Children
“We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn’t have that we have neglected to give them what we did have.”
– Author Unknown
– Author Unknown
Homemade Baby Food
At about six months babies start to need something a little more substantial. Find a good baby book to help on what kinds of foods to introduce and how quickly. When it comes time to introduce solids, special store bought baby foods are not necessary. And there is no need to prepare two different meals for family and baby. Babies can eat what the family eats as long as it is not overly seasoned, salted or sweetened.
Cereals: Rice is usually the easiest on digestion. Prepare rice or other grain for family (wheat and corn are the hardest on sensitive digestive systems) and place a small amount in blender for baby. Add water and blend to a creamy consistency. Freeze leftover rice in ice cube trays, pop out when frozen and store in labelled freezer bags. Defrost and heat in microwave oven or in saucepan and serve when ready to feed baby rice cereal again.
Vegetables: Prepare cooked vegetables the same way as cereal preparation.
Fruit: Can be prepared by either pureeing fresh or slightly cooked fruit.
Meats: Can be processed the same way but need a sauce, gravy, or cream soup added to give it a creamy consistency and ease for swallowing.
Desserts: Puddings make a good treat for baby but do not give often.
Teething children often enjoy chewing on large chunks of frozen broccoli, carrots, and
apple slices. Large, hard cookies are also good for teething, but make cookies with fruit juice
concentrate instead of sugar.
Cereals: Rice is usually the easiest on digestion. Prepare rice or other grain for family (wheat and corn are the hardest on sensitive digestive systems) and place a small amount in blender for baby. Add water and blend to a creamy consistency. Freeze leftover rice in ice cube trays, pop out when frozen and store in labelled freezer bags. Defrost and heat in microwave oven or in saucepan and serve when ready to feed baby rice cereal again.
Vegetables: Prepare cooked vegetables the same way as cereal preparation.
Fruit: Can be prepared by either pureeing fresh or slightly cooked fruit.
Meats: Can be processed the same way but need a sauce, gravy, or cream soup added to give it a creamy consistency and ease for swallowing.
Desserts: Puddings make a good treat for baby but do not give often.
Teething children often enjoy chewing on large chunks of frozen broccoli, carrots, and
apple slices. Large, hard cookies are also good for teething, but make cookies with fruit juice
concentrate instead of sugar.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Homemade Cleaning Aids
Through the years I have gleaned files and files of ideas that help me as a wife,
mother, homemaker.Some of my favourite ideas are the homemade cleaning products. I love the feeling it gives me when I measure and brew, creating all sorts of concoctions that I can use to clean my house. I should have been a mad scientist!
Before you begin making your own cleaning aids remember to NEVER mix chlorine bleach
with ammonia products, lye, toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, vinegar, oven cleaner or any
other cleaning agents. Such combinations release a dangerous gas that if inhaled, can cause
injury or death. Remember that some scouring powders contain chlorine bleach also.
Here is a list of cleaning products and how to make your own homemade version. They are all economical...you don’t have to have money to be clean! In fact, I went to a thrifty living class on cleaning and the woman had ALL store bought cleaning products! I almost fainted! The only time that you should have commercial products in your cupboards is if you bought them on sale and with a coupon! : )
HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Chemically treated dust cloth: Soft rag (soaked in vinegar and then dried.)
Treated floor mop: Soft rag (treated in vinegar as above) over broom or mop.
Tile Mildew cleaner: Bleach in spray bottle. Spray and leave on area for 15 min. Rinse with water.
Sticky Goo Remover: Orange essential oil (will have a reaction with some plastics, test small area first.)
Window cleaner: Combine and mix well in a gallon container- 2 Tbsp. non-sudsy ammonia, 1 tsp. liquid dish soap, 1 pt. rubbing alcohol, 1 or 2 drops blue food color, and finish filling with tap water.
Fine Wood Furniture Polish: 1/3 cup boiled linseed oil, 1/3 cup turpentine (not paint thinner),
1/3 cup vinegar. Combine and mix well. Wipe on with a slightly damp soft rag. Polish and shine.
Scented Furniture Wax: ½ cup beeswax, 2 ½ cups turpentine, 1 Tbsp. soap, 1 ½ cups strong herbal infusion (herbs and water boiled down to make a concentrated brew.) Lavender, roses or lemon peels make a wonderful scent.
Melt beeswax in turpentine over LOW heat source. In another pan, bring infusion to a boil and add grated soap until melted. Allow both mixtures to cool and then blend together until it is thick and creamy. Store in container.
Disinfectant spray: 1 pt. alcohol, 1 pt. water, 6 drops lemon essential oil, 6 drops orange essential oil, 12 drops tea tree essential oil. Combine in quart spray bottle. Some may question the use of expensive essential oils, however, a little goes a long way and they can also be used for medicinal purposes.
All-purpose cleaner for woodwork and painted walls: 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, 3/4 cup sal soda (found in grocery stores in laundry section.) Wear gloves when using.
Drain Opener: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt, ½ cup vinegar, 1 qt. boiling water
Pour soda, salt and vinegar into drain. Wait 15 min. and then flush with boiling water. If this doesn’t work, rent a snake, then use drain opener weekly.
Oven Cleaner: 1 cup ammonia, 3 cups boiling water
Warm oven to 200 degrees for about 20 minuets, then turn off oven. Fill a 9 x 13 pan with water and place on bottom rack in oven. Place small bowl of ammonia on top rack in oven and quickly close the oven door. Open windows, doors, etc..., to ventilate vapours. Leave cleaner in oven over night. The next day, ventilate room and stand back as you open oven door. Leave room until strong vapours are gone. Wash off the inside of oven with a liquid dish soap and water. Luckily, more modern ovens now have the self-cleaning feature.
Abrasive cleaner for porcelain: Flannel cloth sprinkled with salt.
Upholstery and carpet shampoo: Suds from detergent OR 6 Tbsp. white soap flakes, 1 pt. boiling water, 2 Tbsp. ammonia or borax
Dissolve soap in boiling water. Add borax or ammonia. Let stand until it jells. Brush in circular motion over area that is soiled. Wipe up the soiled suds with a clean, dry terry cloth. If necessary, repeat. Let dry completely before using.
Wallpaper cleaner: Stale chunks of bread, rubbed over wall-paper in even, vertical strokes.
Ceramic tile cleaner: Equal parts of ammonia and vinegar mixed with water.
Copper cleaner: Dip half a lemon in salt and rub the object. Rinse in hot water and polish with a soft cloth.
Silver polish: Place silverware in an aluminum pan and fill with a gallon of hat water to which one Tbsp. salt and 1 tsp. baking soda have been added. Swish silver around for several minutes, rinse well and polish with a soft cloth.
Aluminum cleaner: If pan is discoloured, boil rhubarb or tomatoes in it to remove stain.
Scratch remover: Dark woods- dye the scratches with iodine. Repeat application until scratch disappears. Light woods: rub the scratched area with the cut surface of walnut or Brazil nut meat. Natural woods: treat the scratched area with mineral oil.
Carpet Deodorizer: 1 box baking soda, 12 drops of favourite essential oil. Mix together in jar. Sprinkle on rug, let set for a couple of minutes then vacuum.
Degreaser: 1 Tbsp. deodorized kerosene, 1 quart water. Mix and wipe over area with soft cloth then dry.
Soft Scouring cleanser: 1/4 cup soap flakes, 2 tsp. borax, 1 ½ cups boiling water, 1/4 cup whiting (hardware or paint store). Dissolve soap and borax in boiling water. Cool. Add whiting and mix well. Store in plastic squeeze top container (an empty catsup bottle works well). Additional whiting may be added if you want a more abrasive cleanser. Shake well each time you use.
Lime remover: Vinegar, Salt. Mix equal parts and apply to area. Let set for 30 minutes. Scrub off with scouring pad. Larger batch can be made by adding water into container with vinegar and salt and soaking item (such as shower head) for specified time.
Toilet bowl cleaner: 1 tsp. ammonia, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, ½ gal. water. Mix water, ammonia and peroxide in large container. Plunge toilet to remove water. Pour mixture into toilet and let stand for 1 hour. Scrub and flush.
Rusty bowl ring cleaner: Borax, Lemon juice. Make a paste and rub on rust stains. Let set for 1 hour. Scrub throughly with a pumice stone.
Pewter Cleaner: Rub with cabbage leaves
There are so many great sites on the internet for homemade cleaners! Here are a few of my favorites: http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/cleaner.htm
http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home/cleaning-recipes.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html
mother, homemaker.Some of my favourite ideas are the homemade cleaning products. I love the feeling it gives me when I measure and brew, creating all sorts of concoctions that I can use to clean my house. I should have been a mad scientist!
Before you begin making your own cleaning aids remember to NEVER mix chlorine bleach
with ammonia products, lye, toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, vinegar, oven cleaner or any
other cleaning agents. Such combinations release a dangerous gas that if inhaled, can cause
injury or death. Remember that some scouring powders contain chlorine bleach also.
Here is a list of cleaning products and how to make your own homemade version. They are all economical...you don’t have to have money to be clean! In fact, I went to a thrifty living class on cleaning and the woman had ALL store bought cleaning products! I almost fainted! The only time that you should have commercial products in your cupboards is if you bought them on sale and with a coupon! : )
HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS
Chemically treated dust cloth: Soft rag (soaked in vinegar and then dried.)
Treated floor mop: Soft rag (treated in vinegar as above) over broom or mop.
Tile Mildew cleaner: Bleach in spray bottle. Spray and leave on area for 15 min. Rinse with water.
Sticky Goo Remover: Orange essential oil (will have a reaction with some plastics, test small area first.)
Window cleaner: Combine and mix well in a gallon container- 2 Tbsp. non-sudsy ammonia, 1 tsp. liquid dish soap, 1 pt. rubbing alcohol, 1 or 2 drops blue food color, and finish filling with tap water.
Fine Wood Furniture Polish: 1/3 cup boiled linseed oil, 1/3 cup turpentine (not paint thinner),
1/3 cup vinegar. Combine and mix well. Wipe on with a slightly damp soft rag. Polish and shine.
Scented Furniture Wax: ½ cup beeswax, 2 ½ cups turpentine, 1 Tbsp. soap, 1 ½ cups strong herbal infusion (herbs and water boiled down to make a concentrated brew.) Lavender, roses or lemon peels make a wonderful scent.
Melt beeswax in turpentine over LOW heat source. In another pan, bring infusion to a boil and add grated soap until melted. Allow both mixtures to cool and then blend together until it is thick and creamy. Store in container.
Disinfectant spray: 1 pt. alcohol, 1 pt. water, 6 drops lemon essential oil, 6 drops orange essential oil, 12 drops tea tree essential oil. Combine in quart spray bottle. Some may question the use of expensive essential oils, however, a little goes a long way and they can also be used for medicinal purposes.
All-purpose cleaner for woodwork and painted walls: 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, 3/4 cup sal soda (found in grocery stores in laundry section.) Wear gloves when using.
Drain Opener: 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup salt, ½ cup vinegar, 1 qt. boiling water
Pour soda, salt and vinegar into drain. Wait 15 min. and then flush with boiling water. If this doesn’t work, rent a snake, then use drain opener weekly.
Oven Cleaner: 1 cup ammonia, 3 cups boiling water
Warm oven to 200 degrees for about 20 minuets, then turn off oven. Fill a 9 x 13 pan with water and place on bottom rack in oven. Place small bowl of ammonia on top rack in oven and quickly close the oven door. Open windows, doors, etc..., to ventilate vapours. Leave cleaner in oven over night. The next day, ventilate room and stand back as you open oven door. Leave room until strong vapours are gone. Wash off the inside of oven with a liquid dish soap and water. Luckily, more modern ovens now have the self-cleaning feature.
Abrasive cleaner for porcelain: Flannel cloth sprinkled with salt.
Upholstery and carpet shampoo: Suds from detergent OR 6 Tbsp. white soap flakes, 1 pt. boiling water, 2 Tbsp. ammonia or borax
Dissolve soap in boiling water. Add borax or ammonia. Let stand until it jells. Brush in circular motion over area that is soiled. Wipe up the soiled suds with a clean, dry terry cloth. If necessary, repeat. Let dry completely before using.
Wallpaper cleaner: Stale chunks of bread, rubbed over wall-paper in even, vertical strokes.
Ceramic tile cleaner: Equal parts of ammonia and vinegar mixed with water.
Copper cleaner: Dip half a lemon in salt and rub the object. Rinse in hot water and polish with a soft cloth.
Silver polish: Place silverware in an aluminum pan and fill with a gallon of hat water to which one Tbsp. salt and 1 tsp. baking soda have been added. Swish silver around for several minutes, rinse well and polish with a soft cloth.
Aluminum cleaner: If pan is discoloured, boil rhubarb or tomatoes in it to remove stain.
Scratch remover: Dark woods- dye the scratches with iodine. Repeat application until scratch disappears. Light woods: rub the scratched area with the cut surface of walnut or Brazil nut meat. Natural woods: treat the scratched area with mineral oil.
Carpet Deodorizer: 1 box baking soda, 12 drops of favourite essential oil. Mix together in jar. Sprinkle on rug, let set for a couple of minutes then vacuum.
Degreaser: 1 Tbsp. deodorized kerosene, 1 quart water. Mix and wipe over area with soft cloth then dry.
Soft Scouring cleanser: 1/4 cup soap flakes, 2 tsp. borax, 1 ½ cups boiling water, 1/4 cup whiting (hardware or paint store). Dissolve soap and borax in boiling water. Cool. Add whiting and mix well. Store in plastic squeeze top container (an empty catsup bottle works well). Additional whiting may be added if you want a more abrasive cleanser. Shake well each time you use.
Lime remover: Vinegar, Salt. Mix equal parts and apply to area. Let set for 30 minutes. Scrub off with scouring pad. Larger batch can be made by adding water into container with vinegar and salt and soaking item (such as shower head) for specified time.
Toilet bowl cleaner: 1 tsp. ammonia, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, ½ gal. water. Mix water, ammonia and peroxide in large container. Plunge toilet to remove water. Pour mixture into toilet and let stand for 1 hour. Scrub and flush.
Rusty bowl ring cleaner: Borax, Lemon juice. Make a paste and rub on rust stains. Let set for 1 hour. Scrub throughly with a pumice stone.
Pewter Cleaner: Rub with cabbage leaves
There are so many great sites on the internet for homemade cleaners! Here are a few of my favorites: http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/cleaner.htm
http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home/cleaning-recipes.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html
Friday, May 16, 2008
Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Part 4- A Plea of Urgency
A PLEA TO FATHERS AND HUSBANDS
Our husbands have as much responsibility in supporting us in our efforts to live righteous lives as we have in supporting them in all they do.
“Verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown.” (D&C 75:28)
“Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken” (D&C 83:2).
Referring to these scriptures, Ezra Taft Benson petitions husbands to give serious thought to their role in the family. “ This is the divine right of a wife and mother. While she cares for and nourishes her children at home, her husband earns the living for the family, which makes the nourishing possible. In a home where there is an able bodied husband, he is expected to be the breadwinner. Sometimes we hear of husbands who, because of economic conditions, have lost their jobs and expect the wives to go out of the home and work, even though the husband is capable of providing for his family. In these cases, we urge the husband to do all in his power to allow his wife to remain in the home caring for the children while he continues to provide for his family the best he can, even though the job he is able to secure may not be ideal and family budgeting may have to be tighter.
Also, the need for education or material things does not justify the postponing of children in
order to keep the wife working as the breadwinner in the family. I remember the counsel of our beloved prophet Spencer W. Kimball to married students. He said, “I have told tens of thousands of young folks that when they marry they should not wait for children until they finished their schooling and financial desires....I know of no scripture where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and go to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time.”38
“Sometimes the mother works outside of the home at the encouragement, or even the
insistence, of her husband. It is he who wants the items or conveniences that the extra income
can buy. Not only will the family suffer in such instances, brethren, but your own spiritual
growth and progression will be hampered. I say to all of you, the Lord has charged men with the responsibility to provide for their families in such a way that the wife is allowed to fulfill her role as mother in the home.”39
Spencer W. Kimball asserts, “The Lord said women have claim upon their husbands for their maintenance until their husbands be taken. Women are to take care of the family – the Lord has so stated – to be an assistant to the husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living, except in unusual circumstances. Men ought to be men indeed and earn the living under normal circumstances.”40
The responsibility of keeping mother in the home is a joint effort between family members.
Elder Richard G. Scott advocates, “As a husband, don’t encourage your wife to go to work to
help in your divinely appointed responsibility of providing resources for the family, if you can
possibly avoid it. As the prophets have counseled, to the extent possible with the help of the Lord, as parents, work together to keep mother in the home.”41
Affirming all that has been stated by all the prophets from the beginning of time, Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, announced in a
proclamation to the world, “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their
families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred
responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.
Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.”42
I wonder how many women notice that men are responsible only to “provide the necessities of life...,” and not, all the luxuries that his wife wants? We have been so affluent as a society that we have forgotten the difference between needs and wants. Hopefully we will pause for a moment and truly examine what are needs are and what we can sacrifice in order to be home with our children.
A PLEA TO WIVES AND MOTHERS
Speaking of the break down of society, Spencer W. Kimball asks, “Can it be arrested? Can we turn the tide and bring back decency and order out of chaos?
The answer is yes- a positive, stentorian yes. But the solution is not easy.... The Lord has given us a plan, within our capacity to follow, but ignored by the masses because it requires that sacrifice and dedication that men are reluctant to give.”43
And what is that sacrifice and dedication of which President Kimball was speaking? He gives us the answer in this urgent, heart felt plea to the women of the Church.
“I beg of you, you who could and should be bearing and rearing a family: Wives, come home from the typewriter, the laundry, the nursing, come home from the factory, the café. No career approaches in importance that of wife, homemaker, mother – cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one’s precious husband and children. Come home, wives, to you husbands. Make home a heaven for them. Come home, wives, to your children, born and unborn. Wrap the motherly cloak about you and, unembarrassed, help in a major role to create the bodies for the immortal souls who anxiously await.
“When you have fully complemented your husband in home life and borne the children,
growing up full of faith, integrity, responsibility, and goodness, then you have achieved your
accomplishment supreme, without peer, and you will be the envy [of all] through time and
eternity.”44
And finally, Gordon B. Hinckley pleads, “If anyone can change the dismal situation into which we are sliding, it is you. Rise up, O Women of Zion, rise to the great challenge which faces you.”45
Women, we are at the very root of the problem and the solution! If society is to change, it
will be because of righteous women. If children are to be able to stand valiant against ever
increasing wickedness, it will be because of righteous mothers in the home.
Please, Come Home!
(Bibliography and references upon request.)
Our husbands have as much responsibility in supporting us in our efforts to live righteous lives as we have in supporting them in all they do.
“Verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown.” (D&C 75:28)
“Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken” (D&C 83:2).
Referring to these scriptures, Ezra Taft Benson petitions husbands to give serious thought to their role in the family. “ This is the divine right of a wife and mother. While she cares for and nourishes her children at home, her husband earns the living for the family, which makes the nourishing possible. In a home where there is an able bodied husband, he is expected to be the breadwinner. Sometimes we hear of husbands who, because of economic conditions, have lost their jobs and expect the wives to go out of the home and work, even though the husband is capable of providing for his family. In these cases, we urge the husband to do all in his power to allow his wife to remain in the home caring for the children while he continues to provide for his family the best he can, even though the job he is able to secure may not be ideal and family budgeting may have to be tighter.
Also, the need for education or material things does not justify the postponing of children in
order to keep the wife working as the breadwinner in the family. I remember the counsel of our beloved prophet Spencer W. Kimball to married students. He said, “I have told tens of thousands of young folks that when they marry they should not wait for children until they finished their schooling and financial desires....I know of no scripture where an authorization is given to young wives to withhold their families and go to work to put their husbands through school. There are thousands of husbands who have worked their own way through school and have reared families at the same time.”38
“Sometimes the mother works outside of the home at the encouragement, or even the
insistence, of her husband. It is he who wants the items or conveniences that the extra income
can buy. Not only will the family suffer in such instances, brethren, but your own spiritual
growth and progression will be hampered. I say to all of you, the Lord has charged men with the responsibility to provide for their families in such a way that the wife is allowed to fulfill her role as mother in the home.”39
Spencer W. Kimball asserts, “The Lord said women have claim upon their husbands for their maintenance until their husbands be taken. Women are to take care of the family – the Lord has so stated – to be an assistant to the husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living, except in unusual circumstances. Men ought to be men indeed and earn the living under normal circumstances.”40
The responsibility of keeping mother in the home is a joint effort between family members.
Elder Richard G. Scott advocates, “As a husband, don’t encourage your wife to go to work to
help in your divinely appointed responsibility of providing resources for the family, if you can
possibly avoid it. As the prophets have counseled, to the extent possible with the help of the Lord, as parents, work together to keep mother in the home.”41
Affirming all that has been stated by all the prophets from the beginning of time, Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, announced in a
proclamation to the world, “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their
families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred
responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.
Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.”42
I wonder how many women notice that men are responsible only to “provide the necessities of life...,” and not, all the luxuries that his wife wants? We have been so affluent as a society that we have forgotten the difference between needs and wants. Hopefully we will pause for a moment and truly examine what are needs are and what we can sacrifice in order to be home with our children.
A PLEA TO WIVES AND MOTHERS
Speaking of the break down of society, Spencer W. Kimball asks, “Can it be arrested? Can we turn the tide and bring back decency and order out of chaos?
The answer is yes- a positive, stentorian yes. But the solution is not easy.... The Lord has given us a plan, within our capacity to follow, but ignored by the masses because it requires that sacrifice and dedication that men are reluctant to give.”43
And what is that sacrifice and dedication of which President Kimball was speaking? He gives us the answer in this urgent, heart felt plea to the women of the Church.
“I beg of you, you who could and should be bearing and rearing a family: Wives, come home from the typewriter, the laundry, the nursing, come home from the factory, the café. No career approaches in importance that of wife, homemaker, mother – cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one’s precious husband and children. Come home, wives, to you husbands. Make home a heaven for them. Come home, wives, to your children, born and unborn. Wrap the motherly cloak about you and, unembarrassed, help in a major role to create the bodies for the immortal souls who anxiously await.
“When you have fully complemented your husband in home life and borne the children,
growing up full of faith, integrity, responsibility, and goodness, then you have achieved your
accomplishment supreme, without peer, and you will be the envy [of all] through time and
eternity.”44
And finally, Gordon B. Hinckley pleads, “If anyone can change the dismal situation into which we are sliding, it is you. Rise up, O Women of Zion, rise to the great challenge which faces you.”45
Women, we are at the very root of the problem and the solution! If society is to change, it
will be because of righteous women. If children are to be able to stand valiant against ever
increasing wickedness, it will be because of righteous mothers in the home.
Please, Come Home!
(Bibliography and references upon request.)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Part 3- A Voice of Promise II
PROMISE OF HOMES FORTIFIED AGAINST EVIL
“To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home – which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife.”30 This incredible promise by Spencer W. Kimball, epitomizes the very essence of what a woman and mother should and can be.
Ezra Taft Benson was a great advocate for the home and family. The following quotes are just a few of the promissory statements that he made.
“The family is the most effective place to instill lasting values in its members. Where family
life is strong and based on principles and practices of the gospel of Jesus Christ, problems do not
as readily appear.”31
“In such homes there is no generation gap. This deceptive phrase is another tool of the devil
to weaken the home and family. Children who honor their parents and parents who love their
children can make a home a haven of safety and a little bit of heaven.”32
“Remember, the family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help
keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings. As you do,
you will receive faith and strength which will bless your lives forever.”33
“Home is love, understanding, trust, welcome, and a sense of belonging. If you, as wives,
mothers, and daughters take proper care of yourselves, your families, and your homes, and keep close to each other as sisters in Relief Society, many of the problems of the day troubling youth
and parents will pass you by.”34
PROMISE OF ENDURING FAMILY UNITS
The eternal family unit is our ultimate goal. Elder Robert D. Hales of the twelve apostles has
spoken on the importance of the eternal family and the promised blessings that can be ours only in the sanctity of the family unit. “...It is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality.”35
We are able to gain greater comprehension of the importance of the family and the immense
blessings to be obtained from that union, through these heart felt expressions of Ezra Taft
Benson.
“To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home – which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife.”30 This incredible promise by Spencer W. Kimball, epitomizes the very essence of what a woman and mother should and can be.
Ezra Taft Benson was a great advocate for the home and family. The following quotes are just a few of the promissory statements that he made.
“The family is the most effective place to instill lasting values in its members. Where family
life is strong and based on principles and practices of the gospel of Jesus Christ, problems do not
as readily appear.”31
“In such homes there is no generation gap. This deceptive phrase is another tool of the devil
to weaken the home and family. Children who honor their parents and parents who love their
children can make a home a haven of safety and a little bit of heaven.”32
“Remember, the family is one of God’s greatest fortresses against the evils of our day. Help
keep your family strong and close and worthy of our Father in Heaven’s blessings. As you do,
you will receive faith and strength which will bless your lives forever.”33
“Home is love, understanding, trust, welcome, and a sense of belonging. If you, as wives,
mothers, and daughters take proper care of yourselves, your families, and your homes, and keep close to each other as sisters in Relief Society, many of the problems of the day troubling youth
and parents will pass you by.”34
PROMISE OF ENDURING FAMILY UNITS
The eternal family unit is our ultimate goal. Elder Robert D. Hales of the twelve apostles has
spoken on the importance of the eternal family and the promised blessings that can be ours only in the sanctity of the family unit. “...It is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality.”35
We are able to gain greater comprehension of the importance of the family and the immense
blessings to be obtained from that union, through these heart felt expressions of Ezra Taft
Benson.
“Marriage, home, and family are established by God as part of His divine plan for the
blessing of His children. The richest blessings and deepest joys of this life and the life to come are tied up with the performance of these sacred duties. In fact, our very exaltation in the celestial
kingdom is directly related to the family and the eternity of the marriage covenant.”36
“Home and family. What sweet memories surge up in our breasts at the mere mention of these cherished words! May I wish for you prayerfully, and with all the fervor of my soul, that
you may know the unspeakable joy and satisfaction of honorable parenthood. You will miss one
of the deepest joys of this life and eternity if you wilfully avoid the responsibilities of parenthood
and home building. As revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the glorious concept of home
and the enduring family relationship lies at the very basis of our happiness here and hereafter. I
trust you will make your happiness secure.”37
The greatest guarantee we have that these promises are sure, come from the Lord, as He
gives us this avowal, “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I
say, ye have no promise.” (D&C 82:10) And, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven
before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated– And when we
obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated.” ( D&C
130: 20-21) What sweet blessings can be ours and all we have to do is be obedient!
blessing of His children. The richest blessings and deepest joys of this life and the life to come are tied up with the performance of these sacred duties. In fact, our very exaltation in the celestial
kingdom is directly related to the family and the eternity of the marriage covenant.”36
“Home and family. What sweet memories surge up in our breasts at the mere mention of these cherished words! May I wish for you prayerfully, and with all the fervor of my soul, that
you may know the unspeakable joy and satisfaction of honorable parenthood. You will miss one
of the deepest joys of this life and eternity if you wilfully avoid the responsibilities of parenthood
and home building. As revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the glorious concept of home
and the enduring family relationship lies at the very basis of our happiness here and hereafter. I
trust you will make your happiness secure.”37
The greatest guarantee we have that these promises are sure, come from the Lord, as He
gives us this avowal, “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I
say, ye have no promise.” (D&C 82:10) And, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven
before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated– And when we
obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated.” ( D&C
130: 20-21) What sweet blessings can be ours and all we have to do is be obedient!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Quit Work and Give Yourself a Raise
“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour.”– Henry David Thoreau
QUIT WORK AND GIVE YOURSELF A RAISE - NET VALUE OF SECOND INCOME
After my first two children were born I sat down and decided to make a list of how much I
saved my family by staying home and doing much of the necessities myself, compared to going
out to work and being able to purchase what was needed. I was enthralled with the outcome.
Listing the services I performed for my family I wrote down everything I could think of
down to the smallest detail and then put a price next to it of the going rate to have that service
done by another. These were things like haircuts, sewing, cleaning, baking, cooking, child
care, etc... It was a great boost to my morale to see exactly how much I did for my family, but what was really exciting was seeing how much I was worth! I figured that what I did was
worth $20,000.00 in the job market of 1981...two or three times that now in the new millennium. It was an eye opener for me because in Provo, Utah, jobs were very poor paying...if you didn’t do it, some other struggling college student would...thus employers didn’t have to pay much to their employees. Yet staying home I found I was worth twice that of someone who left their home to work for someone else. I may not have brought that amount into our home physically but I saved the equivalent yearly by being in my home.
Today it is being discovered that the second income structure is extremely inefficient. It is
estimated that the average two income family has to earn at least 35 percent more money in
order to have the same standard of living as a single income family. The second income loses
27%-30% of it’s value to taxes alone! Then there is the consideration of all the extra expenses
that occur when you leave the responsibility of caring for home and family. Daycare averages
$100.00 a child per week! Convenience and fast food are possibly the biggest budget busters
and if you doubt that statement keep a tally of how many times you stop for a quick bite and
what it costs for the week. You’ll be amazed! Extra transportation and rising gas prices
crunch a large chunk of your change. Costlier clothing and hair care are another big
consideration. Expenses for household repairs and maintenance are also a huge price to pay
for joining the two income club. It is obvious that the second income lifestyle is expensive and
there are great benefits to staying home. The real benefits, however, are not so obvious. In the August 1999 issue of the Reader’s Digest, Andy Dappen’s article, “Live Well on One Income,” makes a statement that I would hope all of us would remember. He states that our lives can become less stressful, happier, more directed and fuller by embracing one simple idea... that we can’t have it all. He then calms everyone’s anxieties by claiming that we can have enough.
Living in a materialistic world is a burden to us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
When we choose to live in a way that gives us just enough, we have to make clearer choices
and establish our priorities with an eternal perspective. Maybe we will have a smaller home or
an older car but we will also be able to enjoy a life that is more relaxed and freer from stress,
realize the joys and heartaches of raising our own children, serve more fully in the church and
the community, and even have the time to discover personal interests.
Take the time now to discover for yourself what your true net worth is. It takes a little time but the effort is worth it because it firmly establishes in your mind and heart what your true net worth is.... both temporally and spiritually.
After my first two children were born I sat down and decided to make a list of how much I
saved my family by staying home and doing much of the necessities myself, compared to going
out to work and being able to purchase what was needed. I was enthralled with the outcome.
Listing the services I performed for my family I wrote down everything I could think of
down to the smallest detail and then put a price next to it of the going rate to have that service
done by another. These were things like haircuts, sewing, cleaning, baking, cooking, child
care, etc... It was a great boost to my morale to see exactly how much I did for my family, but what was really exciting was seeing how much I was worth! I figured that what I did was
worth $20,000.00 in the job market of 1981...two or three times that now in the new millennium. It was an eye opener for me because in Provo, Utah, jobs were very poor paying...if you didn’t do it, some other struggling college student would...thus employers didn’t have to pay much to their employees. Yet staying home I found I was worth twice that of someone who left their home to work for someone else. I may not have brought that amount into our home physically but I saved the equivalent yearly by being in my home.
Today it is being discovered that the second income structure is extremely inefficient. It is
estimated that the average two income family has to earn at least 35 percent more money in
order to have the same standard of living as a single income family. The second income loses
27%-30% of it’s value to taxes alone! Then there is the consideration of all the extra expenses
that occur when you leave the responsibility of caring for home and family. Daycare averages
$100.00 a child per week! Convenience and fast food are possibly the biggest budget busters
and if you doubt that statement keep a tally of how many times you stop for a quick bite and
what it costs for the week. You’ll be amazed! Extra transportation and rising gas prices
crunch a large chunk of your change. Costlier clothing and hair care are another big
consideration. Expenses for household repairs and maintenance are also a huge price to pay
for joining the two income club. It is obvious that the second income lifestyle is expensive and
there are great benefits to staying home. The real benefits, however, are not so obvious. In the August 1999 issue of the Reader’s Digest, Andy Dappen’s article, “Live Well on One Income,” makes a statement that I would hope all of us would remember. He states that our lives can become less stressful, happier, more directed and fuller by embracing one simple idea... that we can’t have it all. He then calms everyone’s anxieties by claiming that we can have enough.
Living in a materialistic world is a burden to us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
When we choose to live in a way that gives us just enough, we have to make clearer choices
and establish our priorities with an eternal perspective. Maybe we will have a smaller home or
an older car but we will also be able to enjoy a life that is more relaxed and freer from stress,
realize the joys and heartaches of raising our own children, serve more fully in the church and
the community, and even have the time to discover personal interests.
Take the time now to discover for yourself what your true net worth is. It takes a little time but the effort is worth it because it firmly establishes in your mind and heart what your true net worth is.... both temporally and spiritually.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Part Two- Words of Promise
WORDS OF PROMISE
As a rainbow follows a storm, so do sweet words of promise follow the warning cries of all
the prophets. These are the promised blessings for those who heed God’s counsel pertaining to
mothers staying in the home.
PROMISE OF JOY AND PEACE
“I wish to say without equivocation that a woman will find no greater satisfaction and joy and peace and make no greater contribution to mankind than in being a wise and worthy woman and raising good children." These words spoken by Spencer W. Kimball bring comfort today just as they did when he first uttered them. Who wouldn’t want these promised blessings in their lives?
Ezra Taft Benson gives us this assurance of blessings that await those who are obedient to God’s word, “We need to arise and shine and to get the vision of this great work and to incorporate it into our lives and homes and our families. If we do so the Lord will bless us because He loves us. We are His people. We have accepted His gospel. You have taken upon yourselves sacred covenants and He wants to bless you. He wants to pour out His blessings, the blessings of heaven, upon you and your families. In those homes where you live the gospel, where mother and father and children are skimping just a little more to make ends meet, He will bless you even more, much more than He will in those homes where we find so many mothers unnecessarily working outside the home in order to get better clothes, a new living room suite, a new rug on the floor.”26 Despite their circumstances, Ezra Taft Benson, laid claim to great blessings promised to those who are faithful. “Regardless of how modest or humble that home may be, it will have love, happiness, peace, and joy. Children will grow up in righteousness and truth, and will desire to serve the Lord.”27
As a rainbow follows a storm, so do sweet words of promise follow the warning cries of all
the prophets. These are the promised blessings for those who heed God’s counsel pertaining to
mothers staying in the home.
PROMISE OF JOY AND PEACE
“I wish to say without equivocation that a woman will find no greater satisfaction and joy and peace and make no greater contribution to mankind than in being a wise and worthy woman and raising good children." These words spoken by Spencer W. Kimball bring comfort today just as they did when he first uttered them. Who wouldn’t want these promised blessings in their lives?
Ezra Taft Benson gives us this assurance of blessings that await those who are obedient to God’s word, “We need to arise and shine and to get the vision of this great work and to incorporate it into our lives and homes and our families. If we do so the Lord will bless us because He loves us. We are His people. We have accepted His gospel. You have taken upon yourselves sacred covenants and He wants to bless you. He wants to pour out His blessings, the blessings of heaven, upon you and your families. In those homes where you live the gospel, where mother and father and children are skimping just a little more to make ends meet, He will bless you even more, much more than He will in those homes where we find so many mothers unnecessarily working outside the home in order to get better clothes, a new living room suite, a new rug on the floor.”26 Despite their circumstances, Ezra Taft Benson, laid claim to great blessings promised to those who are faithful. “Regardless of how modest or humble that home may be, it will have love, happiness, peace, and joy. Children will grow up in righteousness and truth, and will desire to serve the Lord.”27
In his counsel to the women of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley pledged, “To the mothers of this church, every mother who is here today, I want to say that as the years pass, you will become increasingly grateful for that which you did in molding the lives of your children in the direction of righteousness, integrity, and faith. That is most likely to happen if you can spend adequate time
with them.”28
The joy that comes from living the great plan of happiness was at the heart of what Elder Richard G. Scott bore witness to, when he uttered this promise. “As a mother guided by the Lord, you weave a fabric of character in your children from threads of truth through careful instruction and worthy example. You imbue the traits of honesty, faith in God, duty, respect for others, kindness, self confidence, the desire to contribute, to learn, to give in your trusting children’s minds and hearts. No day care center can do that. It is your sacred right and privilege.”29
with them.”28
The joy that comes from living the great plan of happiness was at the heart of what Elder Richard G. Scott bore witness to, when he uttered this promise. “As a mother guided by the Lord, you weave a fabric of character in your children from threads of truth through careful instruction and worthy example. You imbue the traits of honesty, faith in God, duty, respect for others, kindness, self confidence, the desire to contribute, to learn, to give in your trusting children’s minds and hearts. No day care center can do that. It is your sacred right and privilege.”29
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