Five Minute Friday - OPEN

It's FRIDAY! And that means it's time for another 'Five Minute Friday'. 'Five Minute Friday' is where as, our hostess, and inspiration, The Gypsy Mama, says, we write "For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not."

Want to join us? Then be sure and visit The Gypsy Mama today! 

Now...for today's assignment...

 

GO!

Open...

I used to be a very open person. I still am to some degree, but not like I used to be. Dealing with negative people and negative situations has made me close my heart at times and put up walls that I thought would never be built. As we go into a New Year, my prayer is that God will give me all that I need to make me open again...open-hearted and open-handed when it comes to dealing with others...eyes wide open as, along side my husband, we seek His will for all that He has for us in 2012...spiritually, physically, and financially.

Stop!

Living On A Dime - 10 Ways To Lose Weight and Gain Money

10 Ways to Lose Weight and Gain Money
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

1. Eat smaller portions. The less food you eat, the less food you have to buy which means you spend less money on food.
2. Walk more. I have a grocery store 2 1/2 blocks from me. Shame on me for driving there, especially when I only need one or two items. I can't even use being in a hurry as an excuse because it takes me the same amount of time to walk as to drive. Stop complaining about gas prices and start walking.
3. Stop paying someone else to do your work. Start doing your own yard work and housecleaning. You don't think you have time to clean? Use that hour you would have worked out at the gym each morning to do your house work or yard work. Not only do you save the money you are paying someone to do these things, but you don't have to pay to go to the gym. Don't think you can lose weight cleaning your house? Trust me. If you are doing these things properly you will lose weight. You can clean and organize in five minutes.
4. Stop going out to eat as much. Not only does it cost so much less to eat at home but you can control how much you eat and what you are eating better. How often do you eat everything they give you in a restaurant just because you don't want to waste money? Make easy meals at home and save money.
5. Take the kids to the park instead of the movies. It doesn't cost a thing to go to the park and you get exercise. Plus there is the added benefit of actually talking and playing with you kids instead sitting staring at a movie.
6. Drink water and not pop (or sodas). We all know it. Pop is just empty calories with no benefit. Why spend the money or pack on the extra weight?
   That goes for Lattes too. It costs much less to just have a regular cup of coffee from home and is much less fattening. Save the lattes for a special treat or dessert.
7. Reduce excess scheduled activities. Many of us are just too busy with things that are often not really that important because we think that's the way it should be. Eliminating some of your excess commitments will save on gas and will reduce stress, which will make it less tempting to eat or spend as a stress reliever.
8. You don't need to bring out the fatted calf to entertain or impress people. Have simple cake and punch at your child's birthday party instead of going to Chucky Cheese's. It's funny how the expensive flashy things are rarely the things the kids remember fondly when they grow up.
   If you're having people over for dinner, keep the food simple. You don't need a 10 course meal that includes everything from lobster to an expensive cheesecake. There are very few people who wouldn't enjoy roast chicken with fresh fruit for dessert just as much, especially if the company is good.
9. Stop shopping and start exercising. When under stress there are two things at the top of the list that people do. Shopping and eating. Have a plan of attack so that when you start feeling stressed instead of grabbing your purse (or wallet) and heading for the mall you hit the yoga mat, hop on your bike or just start walking.
   Do you know how much money you would save if you exercised instead of shopping? Not to mention you probably would rid yourself of a lot of your stress. If you don't have as many money problems from over spending you wouldn't feel the need to go shopping or over eat and you would eventually break the cycle.
10. Drive quickly by fast food joints. Don't even drive by them. Don't drive on the same street where they are. If you have a big problem with this, don't drive in the section of town where they are. And if you have any in your town then move to another town! (This was my favorite son-in-law's idea. Guess where his weakness lies! HA! HA!)

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com , sign up for our free Living On A Dime Newsletter and learn to save more!

Living On A Dime - How To Save Money On Groceries

How To Save Money On Groceries
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com
If I said I would give you $150 extra a month to help you pay off your credit cards, lose weight and help your family become healthier, would you accept it? Does it sound too good to be true? The average American family spends 1/4-1/3 of their monthly grocery bill on things to drink but can't find any extra money to pay off their credit cards.
Do you buy sodas, coffee, tea, juice and milk, plus all the things that go into these drinks like creamer, flavorings and sugar? Do you grab a glass of soda, juice or milk instead of a cold glass of water? You may even argue that juice and milk are good for your children but fertilizer (food for you grass) is good for your lawn.
We all know that too much fertilizer will kill it and if you don't water it, it will die. I'm beginning to wonder if most of us are more concerned about making sure our yards are watered then our children. Of course they need some milk but like everything else do it in moderation.

Here are few tips to cut the costs of the drinks in your home and find some extra money to pay of your credit cards:

• Find out how much milk is actually needed for your child. The USDA recommends that children under 5 get three to four servings of dairy per day. That is 2 cups of milk OR one serving equals one slice of cheese OR 1/2 container of yogurt. Don't forget milk added to cereal.
• Juice is just sugar water. Eat the whole fruit instead and give one glass of juice as a treat for breakfast or snack.
• Limit the number of glasses of milk or juice given a day. After the allotted amount they get nothing else but water. If they are used to drinking it for meals, either give them one glass (1/2 cup) and when it's gone they drink water or have them drink water first and then milk after they finish their meal.
• Use small juice glasses. They give the appearance of more.
• Don't fill their sippy cups with juice or milk. Give them water instead.
• If you put some milk in a cup and they don't drink it all, put it in the fridge until later.
• Limit sodas to a treat once or twice a week.
• Don't dilute your juice with extra water. Not only does this not taste very well but by "stretching" the juice you teach your kids bad eating habits by giving into their demands for juice instead of giving them water.
• Keep water in the fridge. After water has set, the chlorine evaporates and the water tastes better cold.
• Add a small amount of lemon juice to your water if you don't like the taste.
• Be careful to shop wisely. Sometimes buying name brand flavored or specialty coffees on sale costs less than making your own.
• Use powdered milk instead of creamer in coffee or tea or try mixing your creamer half and half with dry milk.
• After making coffee save the coffee filter and the coffee grounds in the maker. Add your coffee for the next day on top of the old grounds. This way you can use each filter 2 or 3 times. Buy a reusable coffee filter. They last for years.
• If you run out of coffee filters use a paper towel until you can get to the store to buy more.
• You don't always have to make a full pot of coffee. Just make one or 2 cups at time.
• Save extra coffee in a thermos instead of making a new batch or buy a smaller coffee maker.
• To make flavored tea, add a package of flavored drink mix to each pot of tea.
• For leftover soda - Combine 2 cups of flat soda with 1 package of unflavored or same flavored gelatin to make a rich flavored gelatin. This is particularly good with root beer, orange and grape sodas.

Creamy Orange Shake (like Orange Julius)
1/3 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup milk
5-6 ice cubes
1/4 cup sugar
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup water (optional)
Combine ingredients in blender until smooth. Can be kept in the refrigerator 1 day. Serves 4.

Cafe Vienna
1/2 cup instant coffee
2/3 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. dried orange peel
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk (optional)
Stir ingredients together. Process in a blender until powdered. Makes 1 1/3 cups mix.
*Attach this note to the jar if making a jar mix:
Use 2 teaspoons to 1 cup of hot water.

Swiss Mocha
1/2 cup instant coffee
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 cup nonfat dry milk
Stir ingredients together. Process in a blender until powdered. Makes 2 cups mix.
*Attach this note to the jar if making a jar mix:
Use 1 cup of hot water and 2 tablespoons of coffee mix for each cup of coffee.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit http://www.LivingOnADime.com , sign up for our free Living On A Dime Newsletter and learn to save more!

Monday Afternoon And That Leftover Turkey Carcass

Good Afternoon, Dear Ladies!

Christmas is over and oh! What a lovely Christmas season it's been! We haven't had a lot of money and we certainly weren't able to give like we would like to have given (in fact...most of our money in December went towards fixing plumbing problems...roots in our sewer pipes...not so lovely!)...but, regardless...we've had a beautiful Christmas season spending special time with family, friends, and loved ones.

Our family Christmas (the one spent with all of our children and grandchildren) was the 10th of December. Christmas Eve was spent with our oldest daughter and her family; Christmas Day (after church) was spent at our oldest son and daughter-in-law's with two of our children and their families. Afterwards we visited with old friends from back home, then John and I spent Christmas evening together unwinding after a busy week of holiday and church activity.

To be honest...Christmas night a dark depression fell upon me, but after a good cry, a long talk with the Lord, and scripture reading I was able to rise above it. By this morning I was back on top and ready to go!

So far today I've straighten house, did dishes, two loads of laundry, and have deboned the leftover turkey, and am now cooking down the carcass for broth. In doing a search I found this great article on what to do with that leftover turkey carcass and it includes a whole host of recipes...

Save That Turkey Carcass and Your Leftover Turkey And Turn It Into Turkey Soup!

Next, I'm getting ready to plan my menus out for the next week or two.

I pray that you and yours had a beautiful Christmas, as well, and I wish each and every one of you a bright, prosperous, and happy New Year! God bless all here!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

Old Paths Ladies' Christmas Tea - 12/23/11/Tea-Time Recipes

What a busy week it's been! I've barely had time to catch my breath and oh! How I've missed visiting with you! I thought I'd take a quick minute to share a little bit about our annual Ladies' Christmas Tea that was held this morning. I served Mini Cream Cheese Sandwiches On Rye, Double Orange Scones, Cherry Bonbons (recipes included and I can't believe that I didn't even take one photo of the food!), thin mints, and three kinds of loose-leaf tea...Angel's Dreams, Blueberry Vanilla Cream, and Rhubarb Cream. I shared a devotional based on Isaiah 9:6...

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Not all of our ladies were able to join us, but I think that the ladies that did attend had a good time and I know I did! 

Now...for those recipes!

MINI CREAM CHEESE SANDWICHES ON RYE

1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1-8 oz. package cream cheese
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 package (2 1/2 oz.) thinly sliced cooked corned beef, chopped
2 tablespoons grated red onion
3/4 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound thinly sliced seedless rye bread

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, Miracle Whip, and mustard. Add corned beef, onion, dill, and salt; mix well. Spread 2 tablespoons of filling over half of the bread; top with remaining bread. Makes about 16 sandwiches.

DOUBLE ORANGE SCONES

2 cups flour
3 T. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. grated orange peel
1/3 c. margerine
1/2 c. manderine oranges, drained
1/4 c. milk
1 egg

Mix all ingredients together. Flatten dough into a disk in the middle of a cookie sheet. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of sugar over the top and, using a floured knife, cut disk into eighths. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with Orange Butter (recipe below). Make 8 scones.

Orange Butter

1/2 c. margerine
2 T. orange marmalade

Mix together until well blended. Serve on warm scones.



CHERRY BONBONS

Maraschino cherries with stems
Semisweet chocolate chips

Take the cherries out of the jar they come in and put them on paper towels so the liquid can drain off. Then, fill a small deep container (like a coffee cup) with chocolate chips and place in microwave. To melt the chocolate, heat it on high for 20 seconds, stir, then heat again for 20 seconds. Repeat until chocolate is just melted. Then, holding the cherries by their stems, dip them in chocolate. Set the dipped cherries on wax paper. Chill in the refrigerator.
 
Next it's time to get ready for tonight's Candlelight Service. Have a blessed evening and a wonderful weekend as, together in heart and spirit, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

Nathan Andrew - 12/19/82

It was exactly 29 years ago at this very time that Nathan Andrew was born. Something had been wrong for a very long time. I had been bleeding off and on since my second month of pregnancy...at times very heavily.

On the 18th of December I was out Christmas shopping with my mother, my aunt, my 1 1/2-year-old daughter, and my three little cousins. All of a sudden I went into labor. My aunt took my daughter home with her and her children, and my mother rushed me to the hospital. Next thing I knew I was being strapped to a gurney and was being shipped by ambulance to a bigger hospital...one that was attached by a walkway to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. Even though I had been given a lot of medication and was pretty much out of it, I could hear the doctors and nurses talking. If they didn't get me to the other, better equipped hospital soon, they were going to lose me AND the baby. It was one of the most frightening experiences I've ever had. All I could think about was what would happen to my little daughter at home if I died.

I arrived at the other hospital in record time and was immediately surrounded by all sorts of doctors and nurses. I was plugged into every kind of equipment they had...which wasn't nearly as good as the equipment that they have now, but, at the time, it was state-of-the-art. Immediately, the head doctor wanted to know who my doctor was and how long I had been bleeding. She said that the placenta had torn away from the uterus wall and that this baby should have been "taken" months ago. What was she talking about? I would never have allowed my baby to be "taken!"

Long story short...27 hours of intense labor later (I had been given every kind of pain medicine available and nothing seemed to be helping) Nathan Andrew was born...in the hallway on the way to delivery. He was immediately rushed across the walkway to Children's Mercy and I was taken on into delivery where a DNC was performed. A few hours later the doctor came into my room with a nurse who was carrying my baby. Nathan had fought hard and lived for two hours, but his lungs were just too little. Now days they probably could have saved him, but, back then...there was nothing they could do. There was just nothing that they could do. 😞

Nathan was perfectly formed. He had long, black hair, had perfectly formed features, perfect, tiny, little fingers and fingernails...toes and toenails...on the outside he was just that...perfect! Tiny, yes (he was 10 inches long and he only weighed a pound)! But still...perfect.

Not having money for a funeral left me with few choices. I would not be allowed to leave the hospital without signing papers for Nathan's body to, either, be donated to scientific research, or be cremated in the hospital crematory. Not wanting to do either I chose the lesser of the two evils...the hospital crematory. To this day I regret that, but I don't know what else I could have done under the circumstances. It still hurts me beyond anything that I could ever express and there's never been anywhere to mourn Nathan's loss. I came home on Christmas Eve with two very blurry pictures, a set of tiny footprints on a piece of paper, and a poem that the hospital chaplain had given me.

I've never written about all this before, but, tonight, I felt a need to do so. Perhaps there is someone else out there who has been through a similar experience...someone who needs a word of encouragement. Even though all that I went through was, and still is, very sad...there are two things that have ministered to me over the years since Nathan's death...


#1 - The poem that the chaplain shared with me. It was entitled FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND, and I had never read it until the night that she gave it to me there in the hospital. It is still very special to me.

#2 - There's a verse of scripture that the Lord gave to me many, many years later, and it is still the verse that comes to mind whenever I think of Nathan. The verse is found in Psalm 30...verse 5...and it says, "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that Nathan is with Jesus and that someday I will see him again! Not as a premature baby, but as the spirit man that God created him to be!

And, if you've suffered the loss of a child...whether it be at birth or beyond...know that, if you are a born-again believer then you will see that child again and be reunited with them in days to come! If you've not accepted Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life, know that it's not too late! Click here to find out more.

And as you remember that trial that you've gone through...perhaps you're asking (or have asked), "Why God? Where were You when I was going through all that? Why weren't you there for me?" I leave you now with that beautiful poem that was shared with me by that wonderful, old chaplain at Children's Mercy...

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.

This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.

The LORD replied, my precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.