Keeping little hands busy

I've mentioned before that we're cutting down on watching TV. But as we walk this out there are certain struggles that have come up. One of these is keeping my girls busy! Because they are used to watching tv they tend to come to me saying "momma I'm bored". You'd think at 4 and 2 they wouldn't even know to say that! But sure enough after awhile it seems we run out of things to do and then the tv comes on.

What I've started doing is keeping an arsenal of shows that are approved, but that I know they won't just sit and watch. That way even though the tv is on they'll still be playing or even maybe trying to do what they see. One GREAT show for this purpose are the Homestead Blessings DVDs. There are a bunch in the collection and each video teaches different homesteading skills. The women in the videos are a mother and her three daughters. They are all modestly dressed and are a great example for showing that modesty doesn't have to ever be compromised, even with farm chores. (to find out where to purchase these and other dvds see this post)

Here is a sample video:

And here's a whole video:

Another thing that I'm starting to realize I MUST do is, include them more. I grew up with children being shewed out of the kitchen, so this is totally different than what I'm used to. But having my girls in the kitchen will keep them busy, while also training them for the future. So I've decided to take on certain projects to not only include them but also encourage learning a skill.

This week we made some raspberry jam and baked bread! For the jam I just took a bag of frozen berries cooked them down and added some sugar. That is my normal method mostly because we eat it right away. If I was canning them I'd use pectin. I let my 4 year old pour the berries and stir everything up.

The bread we baked is a quick bread recipe, because telling my girlies they have to wait 2 hours for the dough to rise just didn't seem like it would be a good idea lol. We bake bread weekly for Shabbat so they are pretty familiar with the process, but this time I let them help with everything not just the shaping.

showing all the ingredients



watching the yeast work

kneading the dough

getting to enjoy the fruit of their labor

The recipe (this makes 3 or 4 loaves):
2 1/2 cups warm water
6 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp oil
3 tbsp yeast
6 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp salt

Pre-heat oven to 400*. Mix the oil, sugar, water, and yeast then let sit for 5 minutes. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix, knead (about 5-10 minutes), and shape. Bake for about 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!

...with quietness they work, and eat their own bread... -2 Thesalonians 3:12

Linking up with Eco Kids Tuesday

Bloom where ever you're planted

Abba has been really been dealing with me about something. I was thinking it over and felt like I should share, so I pray it's a blessing to someone...

We all have plans and ideas of what we want for ourselves and our families. We pray about them, and we line things up to get to that place. There's nothings "wrong" with doing that. We should have a vision. After all the Scriptures say "where there is no vision, the people perish"! {Prov 29:18} But the danger comes in when that is our only focus. When we look forward so much that we forget to look around.

I was having one of those periods where I was ONLY looking forward, and quickly got discouraged because we are so far from the goal. I spoke to two good friends about how I was feeling and they both gave me advice that I mulled over and committed to prayer.

One of them told me that it's a daily journey to that goal and that I just need to take it one day at a time. As I was praying YHVH was showing me that I need to bloom where I am planted and work with what I have. I can't expect to be in the same place as someone who has been walking this road for 20+ years when I've only just begun. He is faithful and if I continue on He will continue on. I just have to focus on the now and plant the seeds so that one day there will be fruit.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. -2 Cor 9:6

Just like a tree takes years to grow, so do we and our families. It takes time, water (the Word), and sun (love). If we put in the time then He will put in the blessing to allow for a great reward. It's about the little choices you make, every single day. Keep your goal in mind and make the little changes necessary to get there. Seek YHVH and ask for His help.

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith YHVH, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. -Jer29:11-13

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Scripture Memorization Idea and a Printable!

 

I've blogged before about the importance of planting seeds of YHVH's Word in our children's hearts. But our family is trying a few new things so I thought I'd share them with you.

The first thing that we are trying is the scripture memorization technique from Simply Charlotte Mason. This technique will ensure that we are constantly memorizing new scriptures as well as going over the ones we've previously learned. To use this method you need a index card box, 41 dividers, and index cards. You label the dividers: daily, odd, even, Sunday-Saturday, and 1-31. Then you put the dividers in the box IN THAT ORDER. Place the cards you want to work on in the front and then your first card in the daily section.

 

As you memorize passages then you can move the cards back replacing older cards, with new cards. You will work on 4 different cards each day. So let's say today is Monday the 3rd you'd review your daily card, odd card, Monday card, and the 3 card. I know that might be a little confusing so here is a video that explains it way better :o)

 

In addition to working on the verses in our box we are learning the Shema (and it's blessing) in Hebrew and in English. The girls pretty much know it but I want them to understand it, so we will be singing (and discussing) it at the start of each school session. To help me (and you) out I created this printable of the Shema and Blessing! I'm hoping to move forward with more verses of this passage but right now I feel like there are some other verses I want to work on. Praying this will be a blessing to you as you hide Yah's word in the heart of your child.  

 

The law of YHVH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHVH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHVH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHVH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHVH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHVH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. -Psalm 19:7-10

Make Your Own Glycerine Tincture

Now that we've switched completely to natural medicine I thought it fitting that I learn to make tinctures. Because running out to the store to buy tinctures and syrups for $15 (or more) a piece just wasn't working out for us. I was a little nervous about tincture making at first, but now that I've given it a go I've learned that it's easy peasy! I personally prefer glycerin tinctures but you can use alcohol or even vinegar. I'm going to share with you the sealed simmer glycerite method. Hopefully after seeing how easy it is you'll be making tinctures yourself.

First we need the herbs that you will be using, a jar to put the herbs in, and a 40/60 mixture of water and vegetable glycerin. (this mix is your menstruum)

The general rule of thumb is  to use about one ounce of dry herbs per pint of liquid, and to fill the jar if using fresh herbs. I made mine with less than a pint of liquid so I adjusted accordingly. 

I made two tinctures at once. My "Be Well" blend and a Nettle tincture. After putting the herbs into the jar I added the water/glycerin mixture. I put the tops on and then shook them up. The shaking isn't really necessary I just wanted to make sure that everything was mixed up well. :o)

Next you put the jars in to a pot and fill it with water. You want the sides of the jar totally covered with water. Then you put them on the stove and allow it to boil for 20-40 minutes, or you can simmer them for 2-3 hours. 

Once the mixture is finished you will need tincture jars, a container to hold the liquid and a cotton cloth or a cheese cloth. 

Strain off the liquid, squeezing any excess out of the herbs. Then pour the liquid into a tincture bottle, put a lid on it, and store in the fridge. That's it! It's so simple and easy to make a glycerin tincture. It doesn't take much and you can do it, from start to finish, in an hour or so!  

So what do you think are you going to give it a try?

And Elohim said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. -Genesis 1:29

My how time flies...

Wow time as really zoomed by! Chag haMatzot (feast of unleavened bread) is over, and we're already on day 5 of counting the omer. These last few weeks have been pretty exciting. Our family has been enjoying fellowship with some new friends that have become very dear to us, and just getting to experience all that YHVH has in store for us. The next feast is Shavuot/Pentecost which will be at the end of the Omer count. But until then it's back to business as usual.

This last year has been a bit odd since my hubby has been home with us. But he has started back working again! HalleluYah!!! We are very excited and I'm getting readjusted to being home alone with the girls. The first day was a bit crazy but we're getting used to it slowly but surely.

Lately I have been in serious prayer about being a mom. This job is SO important and I really don't want to mess it up. So I've been spending lot's of time on my knees. With that YHVH has been showing me some things that have been a HUGE help.

One of the things that I'm working on is secular TV. We don't have cable but we use services like Netflix, and Hulu, so the girls have been able to watch different children's shows. But I've seen weeds that are sprouting up in them from these things so we are totally removing it with the exception of Shalom Sesame which we have on DVD so we get to avoid commercials. This isn't the first time we've done something like this but I think this is the most drastic change we've undergone.

Initially I tried to just keep the tv off but I noticed that it was a real struggle for us all. So now the plan is to just replace the "bad" with "good". We watch documentaries about families, or nature, as well as shows like 19 Kids and Counting. That's pretty much it, unless hubby decides to get a movie or something. It's been working for right now, and the ultimate goal is to cut down to practically no tv at all.

The other area that I'm working on is homeschooling. I am so guilty of expecting too much and then getting discouraged when it doesn't happen. If you remember at the start of the "school year" I had a great plan of action, but then when reading wasn't working out I got frustrated and then started trying other curricula. I didn't stick to my convictions and the plans that I had laid out.

That's not a cycle I'd like to continue, so I've been asking Elohim to show me the best way to teach the girls, so that my expectations don't hinder them. He has been leading me towards the Charlotte Masson approach, which is summed up in this quote: “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”

With using this approach there is A LOT of reading. Instead of texts books and worksheets, we read and learn through "living books" which are books that are usually a first hand account of some thing. Also we will be working on character traits (called habits by CM). I posted once before about our training Bible, and that will be our main text for all character lessons, copy work, and reading lessons. In addition we will be reading other books that reinforce what we are attempting to learn. Math skills will be taught using manipulatives.

I'm really excited about trying this new approach and I'm seeing that it really is very compatible with Deuteronomy 6:7 which is our personal education approach.

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. -Deut 6:7

Busy Season

So Sorry I've been MIA lately! have you ever just hit a point where everything seems to be taking up all of your time and energy? Well that's been me lately! I've been really busy with my husband, our girls, and life. It's like I can't get the time I'd like to just breath and write. Plus my computer crashed so that created a whole other slew of issues. I'll be getting back to regular posting soon.

But just to give you a little update:

-The eczema salve seems to be helping and I've been learning more about the root causes and have a few posts that I plan on writing to share with you all.

-We got a new (to us) car! Which is super exciting, especially if you remember what happened to our old one.

-The 90 day reading plan is going great and we're pretty far in. I really feel like I'm getting a lot from it. (still not too late for you to join in!)

I think that's all for right now. But I will definitely be back after the all the excitement from the chagim! In the mean time I pray that you all have a blessed Pesach, Chag HaMatzot, Frist Fruits and/or Resurrection Day!

90 Days in the Word: Wrap Up #2

I can barely believe we're just about a quarter way through reading the Bible chronologically in 90 days! If you started reading on March 1st then today is day 18, and if you've completed your readings that means... You've read all of Genesis, Job, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers! What an amazing accomplishment. If you haven't started it's still not too late. The plan has no dates so you can always start whenever you want. 

This week's group of scriptures contained one of my favorite passages. The one about Balaam and his donkey :o) I always get something when I read this passage but this time what stood out to me most was the questioning of Elohim's authority. In chapter 22 verse 13 we read: 

"And Elohim said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed."

That's an end of discussion answer. But when Balak sent his messengers to offer more to Balaam, he decided to ask Elohim AGAIN even though he had an answer. NO. 

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what YHVH will say unto me more. And Elohim came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. And Elohim's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of YHVH stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him. -Num 22:19-22

In the past I didn't understand why Elohim was angry. I always felt like it was a set up. One of those you tell me to go and then you get made kind of a deals. But verse 32 clears that up. 

And the angel of YHVH said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine donkey these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:

What Balaam did was perverse, or reckless, before Elohim. But what did Balaam do? He didn't obey. Instead of being obedient to the Word of YHVH he allowed his greed to give him reason to search for a way out. Like a child who says "I know you said I have to eat all me peas, but, look I ate three. Is that enough?"

That revelation really made me question my heart and my motives. Do I seek to obey YHVH even when I'd rather do something else? Or am I like Balaam seeking to please myself more then YHVH?

...choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YHVH. -Joshua 24:15