Marriage Preservation II

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.