Tominthebox News Network - Religious Humor/Satire: New Album: Weepy Whiney Songs for Today's Typical Christian Male

Tominthebox News Network - Religious Humor/Satire: New Album: Weepy Whiney Songs for Today's Typical Christian Male

Journal cover

Sew4home did it again! They posted a tutorial on how to make your very own journal. How cool is that?

I've been looking for a nice journal for some time. Either it was WAY over priced or it was just so common I couldn't bear buying it...hmm, I beginning to think I am a bit picky! =) Hey, I am a girl who knows what she wants. I also am a girl who can't stand to purchase something I know can make myself.

Anyhoo, this tutorial may look a bit overwhelming but believe me it is quick and easy to make. The fabric I used for this journal was scraps from the Christmas stocking and tree skirt. I found the button at Hobby Lobby....got to love that store! The suede cording I purchased at Walmart. I picked up the fusible interfacing there as well.

Over all, this project does not cost much. It is such an inexpensive, quick project I plan to make a few more as gifts.

DVD's we use for school

I have been on the hunt for high quality educational DVD's to use in our little homeschool. I have spent the past few years looking for science and history DVD's that are not only educational but will keep the kids attention so they will actually learn something.
Remember those LONG, BORING films we watched as kids in school. You know, the ones that came on a huge reel and the teacher used a projector and a white screen. Well, those days are long gone! Now, high quality DVD's are easily accessable for free! Just go check out you local library.

Here are a few suggestions for you to use in your homeschool, or just for your enjoyment. =)

History

*I really, really like History Channels "Digging for the Truth". There are 4 seasons, but we've only been able to hunt down the first 2 so far.
*"Drive Thru History" is a favorite of my kids....the host is a bit kooky. =)
*We've recently discovered A&E's series called "The States". It is a fast paced show about each state in America.
*For a more indepth look at each state check out the "Discoveries...America" series. The same company also produces documentaries around the world.

Science

*Moody Bible released an amazing set of science films back in the 70's. Never mind how old they are, they are WONDERFUL films. They are now in DVD format.
*Discovery Channel has made DVD's for just about any topic you may wish to study.
*If your into cryptozoology you got to check out "Monster Quest". Our whole family enjoys that show. I believe there are 4 seasons so far.

Hmm, I know there's more, but I can't recall them right now so come back for updates from time to time.

Have a nice weekend! =)

Get your kicks on Route 66...

Yesterday afternoon the fam and I loaded up in the car and went for a drive down Route 66. We started in Springfield and ended up in a little known living ghost town called Red Oak II. Boy, what an adorable little town. We had a great time.

I had planned a whole different blog posting for today, but becaue of our drive yesterday I have yet to gather all my library resources. I also broke my pinky toe last week. Boy, that hurts! I feel much better and am able to hobble around a bit more each day. It may take 6 weeks or more before I completely heal though.

Anyhoo, in the next few days I will get the list of the educational DVD's that we have and are using. We have gotten them all from our local library or have rented them from Netflix....basically, free =)

Until then, here are a few pics from our drive yesterday...enjoy!

The Beatitudes

"The Beautitudes can seem to be sacred paradoxes. Their value system is in contrast to everything the world values. Note the progression of thought: Matt. 5:3 speaks of "the poor in spirit". A person who is poor in spirit has the right attitude about sin, which leads to mourning (v. 4). When someone recognizes his sinfulness and mourns over it he develops meekness (v.5). That leads him to hunger and thrist for righteousness (v.6). Such a hunger manifests itself in mercy (v.7), purity of heart (v.8), and a peaceable spirit (v.9). A person who displays those attitudes can expect to be reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused (vv. 10-11). That's because that kind of life-style is an irritant to worldly people. But in the end believers will be able to "rejoice, and be exeedingly glad; for great is their reward in heaven" (v.12). He who lives in accordance with the Beatitudes will be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (vv. 13-14)" John MacArthur

Soon after our departure from spiritually destuctive, legalistic churches the Lord had the radio ministry of Grace to You cross our path. When we left these churches (or cult as some say) we found ourselves banished from fellowship from those who still attend like minded churches as well as from some family. (Kind of like when a mormon leaves mormonism. Some Friends and family act as if we no longer exist. That's not completely true, some do acknowledge our existence, but only to tell us how we violate their standards.)That time was very lonely and painful. But this post is not about that painful time of our lives. Instead, this post is about how God began a marvelous work in not only my life but in the life of my beloved. As a result our 4 children began to see what a true walk with Christ is.

At the beginning of our transformation from legalism (or traditions of men) to a true walk with God, He used John MacArthur in a marvelous way. At this time, his radio message was on the Beatitudes or better known as the Sermon on The Mount found in Matt. 5. Much of what was taught in our former churches were simply unbiblical. We now had such a strong desire to know the Word of God...no longer would we comprimise for the traditions of men (Matt. 23) that have been taught in the churches we attend most of our married life. My hunger for His Word was the strongest it has ever been in my life. I really wanted to know the Truth and would settle for nothing else. That desire to know Him for who He really is and not who a pastor or other professing christians told me He was drove me to my knees. So it is no coinicedence that John MacArthur was preaching on the Beautitudes at the same time the Lord was working mightly in my life.

Once I discovered that I could download study guides on the Grace to You website (which is John Macarthurs ministry website) I printed the Beatitude study guides out and began to carefully study the Word of God for the first time in my adult life.

Fast forward 5 years, I am doing this study once again. I have completed two lessons so far and can't wait to get the third one started.

At http://www.gty.org/Resources/Study+Guides/40-5201_The-Beatitudes you will find the first lesson. You can either listen to it online or print it off. I like to print it in PDF so I can do the questions at the end of the study. Also, so I can refer to it later on. I've discovered a neat online program that creates booklets from PDF files. For each lesson I create a booklet. I have also printed out the questions for each lesson for each of our children. We use many of GTY study guides for our Bible course since we homeschool. That gives us a double blessing. Not only do we get sound, Biblical teaching, but we get it for free!

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

but now I am found

Was blind, but now I'm free!

Jester Stockings

Well, for years and years now I have been wanting to sew the 6 of us new Christmas stockings. The ones we currently have are the knitted kind you buy at the store. You know, the ones with thousands of strings inside the stocking that get tangle up with the goodies Santa leaves. This has been a frustration for us all for the past 19 Christmas'.

The perfect elf/jester stocking had to have a curly toe nothing else would do. I searched for years, but to no avail. I almost resigned myself to the fact I would either have to continue using the knitted stocking we had or purchase some boring, run of the mill "santa" type stocking. How incredibly boring that would be! I wanted something unique not the same thing everyone else has. Just imagine my glee when the perfect elf/jester sewing pattern showed in my inbox of all places! I had recently come across the most wonderful sewing website called http://www.sew4home.com/. Each week I get an email with that weeks new FREE sewing projects. You should go check them out!

Anyhoo, here are four of the six stockings I have recently finished....aren't they just the cutest! The pattern called for pom poms but my oldest daughter came up with the jingle bell idea. We also lined them to make them more sturdy to hold the loot Santa leaves us...we've been good so far this year =)

I plan to make the tree skirt posted at sew4home as well. I will use the same fabric that was used for the stockings. Also, I will use the scraps from both projects to make "rag" garland for the tree. So stay tuned!

Have a great day!

Welcome =)

Welcome to my new blog. This blog will be a labor of love as I share my faith in the Lord as well as share my passion for getting back to the "basics". In that I mean getting back to the dying art of sewing, crocheting and cooking from scratch.
As my husband loving says, I am his domesticated nerd! I love being a stay at home, homeschooling mom. Our four kids are my God given missions field. I met fewer and fewer moms who are stay at home moms, which is sad. I find so much joy in being home with our kids. I also enjoy cooking from scratch which makes it possible for me to stay home. Cooking from scratch is time consuming, no doubt about that! However, you save alot of money when you cook this way. We buy very few convience foods. Instead we make them....yummy!
Staying at home has been possible for me because I have found ways to stretch our dollars. One way is by sewing. For a few years now I have made most all of the Christmas gifts we give to friends and family. I am not talking about gifts in a jar or homemade cookies, although there is nothing wrong with that =) I have learned to crochet dish cloths and potholders that are simply beautiful. So beautiful folks find it hard to use them when they get one as a gift.
I will share these and other crafts on this blog. I will also share how to save money by sharing recipes that are simple yet delicious. I will also share ways you can homeschool on a very small budget. You will amazed at how easily you can access your homeschooling needs at no cost.
So please, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy as I share the abundant life God has given me!