A Winter Doxology February 8, 2009

I realized that winter is coming to a close and I forgot to post the Winter Doxology as a sequel to the Autumn Doxology.

So, in the spirit of the new Saturday meme: Saturday Psalm and Praise- A Winter Doxology.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above each heavenly host!

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

Amen.

Sale Saturdays Hiatus

Hey Ladies, I know many of you come to my page to check the Walgreen’s Sales. I will continue to post links to the sales each Saturday but I am no longer going to work up my own list of the deals.  My super cheap newspaper subscription has come to an end and I am working out of my stock piled Walgreen’s deals for a while as finances are tight.  I know you will all be super understanding and thanks in advance.  I will be adding a new Saturday meme during this brief hiatus from Sale Saturdays.

As for this weeks Walgreen’s Deals, they are as posted by  Common Sense with Money:

WEEKLY DEALS

Progresso Soup 4/$5 after in-ad coupon
Use $1.10/1 internet printable coupon
Pay $0.15 a can after coupon

Scrubbing Bubbles Wipes or All purpose Cleaner 2/$5
Use $3/2 internet printable coupon
Submit for ESR rebate: get $2 back when you buy two
FREE after coupon and rebate

Windex Wipes 2/$5
Use $1.50/1 internet printable coupon
Submit for ESR rebate #30: Get $1 back wyb one (Limit 4)
FREE after coupon and rebate

Windex Spray 2/$5
Use $1/1 internet printable coupon
Submit for ESR rebate #30: Get $1 back wyb one (Limit 4)
FREE after coupon and rebate

Drano 2/$7
Use $1.50/1 internet printable coupon
Submit for ESR rebate #30: Get $1 back wyb one (Limit 4)
Pay $1 each after coupon and rebate

Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair 2/$7
Use $2/1 internet printable coupon
Submit for ESR rebate #30: Get $1 back wyb one (Limit 4)
Pay $0.50 each after coupon and rebate

REGISTER REWARDS DEALS

Gillete Fusion $8.99
Get $6 in Register rewards back when you buy one
Use $4/1 from 2/8 P&G inserts
FREE plus $1.01 in overage after coupon and register reward

Venus Embrace of Breeze Razor $8.99
Get $6 in Register rewards back when you buy one
Use $2/1 from 2/8 P&G inserts
Pay $0.99 each after coupon and register reward

Colgate Wave toothbrush 2/$3
Get $1 in Register rewards when you buy two
Use $0.40/1 from 2/1 inserts
Pay $0.60 each after coupons and register rewards
MONTHLY FREE AFTER REBATE ITEMS

Zucol Cold Care Lozenges 18pk Up to $7.99
Use $2/1 coupon from 2/1 SS insert or $2/1 Internet printable coupon
Free plus $2 in overage

Revlon Age Defying Spa Concealer or Spa Foundation up to $10
Use $2/1 coupon from 1/11 inserts
Free plus $2 in overage

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers 6.8-13oz up to $4.29
Use $1/1 from 1/4 inserts
Free plus $1 in overage

Revlon Creme Lip Gloss up to $10
Use $2/1 coupon from 1/11 inserts
Free plus $2 in overage

Walgreens Multi-Purpose No Rub Solution 4oz up to $1.99

ThermaCare Trial Size Neck, Shoulder & Wrist heat Wrap up to $2.49
Use $1/1 from 1/4 inserts
Free plus $1 in overage

Tales from the Home Keeper February 5, 2009

Ara playing in the most recent snow we received.

Last Saturday was my birthday and we spent it at my parent’s house doing all sorts of fun things including shopping for sewing patterns and material for some new dresses and skirts for Ara and I.  It was a blast but I had to share a story with you of something Ara said that still gives me the giggles when I think about it.  For clarity, Ara calls my Mom Mimi. Mimi and Ara are reading a book about horses and the conversation goes something like this:

Mimi: Ara look at these brown horses.  I like the Thoroughbreds.

Ara: I like cornbread.

Cornbread is a favorite in our house, can you tell?   Here is a gluten free recipe that we like:

Jen’s Gluten Free Cornbread

1 c. Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour

1 c. Yellow Cornmeal

1/3 c. Sugar

1/3 c. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Salt

3 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 Egg

1 c. Milk

1/3 c. Melted Butter

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Butter the sides of a round pie dish.  In a large bowl, soak cornmeal in the milk for 10-15 minutes.  Then add gf flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.  Stir in egg and butter until well combined.  Pour batter in pie dish.  Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes.  Enjoy!  Wonderful served with honey butter.

Book Update and Family Goals February 3, 2009

So, the book update with a few reviews and our Family Spiritual Goals:

UPDATE:

Already Read in 2009:

*Mother by Kathleen Norris

*The 15 Minute Organizer by Emilie Barnes

*Simply Organized by Emilie Barnes

*Real-Life Homeschooling by Rhonda Barfield

*The Home Schooling Father by Michael Farris (I know I am not a father but it was still an interesting read)

*Parenting from the Heart by Marilyn Boyer

*The Family Worship Book by Teri Johnson

*The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson

In the Process of Reading:

*Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem ( I may be crazy for adding a 1167 page book to my 2009 reading list but I started out using it for reference as I was reading the book of Isaiah and was so interested that I started reading straight through it. I am currently reading through Part 6 on The Doctrine of the Church. Interesting stuff.)

*Keeping Our Children’s Hearts by Steven and Teri Maxwell

Books Supposedly in the Mail on Their Way to Me:

*An Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. Nancy- I am looking forward to working through this one with you.

Still on the List to Read this Year:

*Becoming a Woman of Discretion: Cultivating a Pure Heart in a Sensual World by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

*Dumbing Down our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves but Can’t Read, Write or Add by Charles Sykes

*Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper

*Family Integrated Church by J. Mark Fox

*Marriage to a Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards by Elizabeth Dodds

*Proverbs for Parenting: A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs by Barbara Decker

*Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald

*Teach them Diligently: How to Use Scriptures in Child Training by Louis Paul Priolo

*The Ever-Loving Truth: Can Faith Thrive in a Post-Christian Culture by Voddie Bauchaum Jr.

*The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom by David Kupelian

*The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

*The Voice of Matthew by Lauren F. Winner

*When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling by RC Sproul

I highly recommend the latest books I have read. I wish that I owned many of them for reference instead of just borrowing them from the library but lest you think that I am complaining- I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE A CHRISTIAN LENDING LIBRARY from which to borrow them!

In the last week I have worked my way through Parenting from the Heart (wonderful!), Mother (a wonderfully surprising read seeing as I didn’t realize it was a piece of fiction until I started in on it. It was a quick read and delightful), The Family Worship Book (amazing, wish I had it at home as a reference), The Fruit of her Hands (I highly recommend this book both for its scriptural basis and practicality), and now am in the process of working through Keeping our Children’s Hearts. Reading in Keeping our Children’s Hearts the chapter about setting Family Spiritual Goals, Paul and I have come up with our list stealing some from the examples given in the book because we felt they were solid scriptural goals and adding a few of our own.

Family Goals

That each member of the family would have a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him (John 3:16, Hebrews 9:14) and:

1. Be obedient to parents and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 6:1-2, John 14:15)

2. Joyfully serve others. (Galatians 5:13, Colossians 3:17, Romans 12:1)

3. Be self disciplined. (Galatians 5:23)

4. Pursue holiness (Romans 12:1, Titus 1:8, 1 Peter 1:15)

5. Seek God’s will in everything. (James 4:15, Psalm 40:8)

6. Live as ambassadors for Christ, including:

a.speaking, writing, and dressing appropriately. (Colossians 3:17)

b.learning to edify rather than criticize. (Romans 14:19)

c.being content. (Philippians 4:11)

d.giving Him glory in all things. (Psalm 86:12)

7. Love God’s Word, have a good understanding of the Bible and its doctrine. (2 Timothy 2:15)

8. Love others and Christ loved us. (John 15:12-13)

Side Note: Send some prayers up for my little girl today who has the nasty stomach flu. She is peacefully sleeping as I type this and I am praying the worst of this virus has left us.

Mason Jar Monday February 2, 2009

This is a great idea for Valentine’s Day coming up for Grandparents, teachers, close friends etc. From Sugar Bush Kids website:

Material

• Glass Jar (Clear..Interesting shape is best)
• Cut Magazine pictures of flower or some other theme or tissue paper.
  • Old Kid’s photos works well too, use the ones that did not turn out quite right and cut out what you want
  • Great way to use up your small pieces of left over wrapping paper (Christmas, Birthday, Shower…)
• Modge-podge or white glue that dries clear
• Acrylic Craft Varnish

Instructions

• Glue pictures onto the glass jar in a hap-hazard mosaic with pictures facing out. Cover sides of jar completely and let dry.
• Cover jar with Acrylic craft Varnish to seal and shine (Easy alternative to varnish …just use more white craft glue that dries clear)
• Fill with dried flowers