Friday, July 20, 2007

Frugal Friday Tip

This may seem trivial, but why spend any more money than you have to? Thanks to the Internet, we no longer buy newspapers which is where I usually got my supply of rubber bands from. I have come across something else I can use as rubber bands while recycling at the same time. I like to use rubber gloves when I wash my dishes. Of course, over time the gloves get holes in them. Rather than just pitching them in the trash, I cut them into to rubber bands. Just start at the bottom of each glove and cut across. You can get several rubber bands from each glove.

Another trivial thing I do is use the ball of cotton that comes in medicine containers. I normally pull each of my cotton balls in half and just use one half every time I put toner on my face. This makes the bag last twice as long. You can get about three cotton balls out of the cotton that comes in medicine containers.

These things may seem silly, but they save money and help cut down on waste!

Frugal Friday is hosted by Crystal at http://biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/blog.htm.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Poetry by Me

(scroll down for my Frugal Friday post)

My Little Light

My little light is sleeping,
Extinguished for the night.
Sucking on his blanket,
His "Chipper" gathered tight.

My little light has faded,
Though in dreamland he may play.
Running, jumping, shouting,
As he does throughout his day.

My little light is dim now,
His breathing slow and deep.
If I had a camera,
His tranquility I would keep.

My little light just flickered,
He gave a quiet sigh,
I smile in my contentment,
Oh, too soon our days go by!


I wrote the first two stanzas while watching my oldest son sleep one night in our bed; March 20, 2000.
-----------------------

I wrote this next poem after the Columbine massacre. It was published in two local publications in my area. One of them paid me $50 for it!

days of long ago

breeze blowing on my face
lifting me to lifetimes past

bluer skies
lullabies

days of long ago

kind neighbors met daily
expressions of only truth

taller trees
skinned knees

days of long ago

children selling lemonade
baseball's just a game

porch swings
friendship rings

days of long ago

television still a dream
friendship is for life

less population
no x generation

days of long ago

material goods have no hold
stress is out to lunch

no pollution
simple solution

days of long ago

babies born to loving arms
multitudes flock to church

murder none
caring spun

days too long ago

It's Frugal Friday!!

This may seem gross to some of you hard core coffee drinkers. And......I wouldn't subject a guest in my home to this, but it's okay for my husband and I. We drink a pot of coffee until it's gone, even if it's 24 hours old. We just reheat it in our microwave. (I'm drinking some right now....mmmmm!) With coffee as expensive as it is, I can't see wasting it. I've tried using the grounds twice to extend our coffee supply, but it tastes really weak. (So I just add them to our compost instead!) I heard recently that the reason the coffee at Starbuck's, Dunkin' Donuts, and McDonald's tastes so good is because they will throw a pot out after a certain amount of time......like if it's more than 17 minutes old! I guess my coffee will never stand up to theirs!!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Godlessness in the Last Days

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

No, I am not suggesting that we are in the last days even though all of the above seems to have come about. God's timing is only known by Him. What caught my eye was the last part of this --having a form of godliness but denying its power. I see this in myself and am sure others see it in themselves.

What I believe this scripture is saying is that many people are Christians (or proclaim themselves as Christians), but they don't fully live their lives as a Christian should. I'm not pointing the finger here because I'm just as guilty!

One of my biggest downfalls as a follower of Jesus is my lack of time spent in the Word. I have done many Bible studies through MOPS, church, and work, but my own daily time spent reading the Bible is pitiful! I try to walk the walk and talk the talk, but how can I if I'm not studying His Word?! I can't be godly if I don't spend time getting to know Him!

I am about to begin my fifth year as a teacher at a Christian preschool, and it will be my second year serving as its Director. Needless to say, this work and my family keep me very busy. My prayers are said on the run, and my Bible time is next to nil. I've been lying to myself by thinking, "Oh, but I'm doing God's work. I'm running a ministry for His glory." Thus far, the Lord has blessed me in this ministry, but I keep thinking, "How many blessings have I missed because I'm not consistently spending time with Him?" I'm denying God's power in my life by not following Him completely. This saddens me greatly.

I challenge myself and all of you to choose to have more than "a form of godliness". Take a good look at what is missing from your Christian walk, pray about it and then act upon it according to God's will. If we do this, I'm sure we will begin to experience even more of God's power in our lives. Amen!

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Frugal Friday Tip

First let me say that I have a huge black thumb.......with that said, my Frugal Friday tip is grow your own lettuce. I tried it this summer and can't believe how easy it is! My family has been enjoying tasty salads this summer thanks to my homegrown lettuce. My rabbit, Daffy, has been reaping the benefits, too! I should be able to sow several crops of lettuce this summer. Eventually, our tomatoes will come in and our salads will be even better! Another easy crop is radishes. If I can do this, anyone can! (Seriously, whenever I shop for a new plant, my kids will pretend they're the plants and will speak in little voices saying, "Don't pick me! Don't pick me!")

Click on Biblical Womanhood under my Favorite Blogs and Sites for more Frugal Friday tips!