Joyfull Living

These useful tips and great pictures came through an email last week. Loved some of these tips and plan to put them to use soon! Why didn't I think of these???!!!

  Recently at our church, we had “Children’s Ministry Day” which offered our children the opportunity to do some service acts for others.  Our project was for the children to take our widows a Valentine bag filled with cookies, candy etc. and let them know that they are loved and a special part of our church.   One of our stops was to Mrs. P.’s home.  Mrs. P. is the oldest living member of our church.  She is now 93 years old and has been a part of our church since she was born.  She always adds 9 months because she tells that “her mother carried her to church even in the womb!”   When we arrived at her home, she invited us in and was sitting in her recliner with her Bible in her lap.  When asked how she was doing, she said that her 93 year old body was wearing out.  But, as we found out, her spirit was alive and vital!  She then looked at us with a vibrancy and life in her eyes and shared how she was reading her Bible and it became alive to her.  She took notes and told us

Right now we are in the midst of soccer season!  My youngest son has played soccer since he was 5 years old and absolutely loves it!  Here are a few pictures of him in action – he is in the green:

I used to be a little dogmatic about family pictures. Wanting everyone to match somewhat, to smile and mostly be agreeable!  But...it never got very good results!   The look of matching or coordinating clothing wasn't something that came natural for me.  After the arguments of what to wear, the settings to be 'just right', when it came time to say 'cheese', no smile could be found or forced. Now that my boys are older and it is rare that I can get a picture with all of them at one time, I don't obsess so much over it, I'm simply thankful they will stand still long enough for a shot.   I found an article that gave some fantastic tips for coordinating colors for the best family portrait.  Melody Coursey shares these ideas and this will revolutionize my portraits!    Tip #1: Choose a Color Palette. What does this mean? Pick 3 or 4 colors that look good together & start from there. The shots below show a few color palette choices. Remember t

I've just finished a fabulous book about how a mom impacts the life of her son.  What a Difference a Mom Makes - The Indelible Imprint a Mom Leaves on Her Son's Life.   All moms of boys know that this can be an adventure - a fast, fun and furious adventure!  But we don't usually stop and consider the power our influence in daily life, words and encouragement has on our boys.  We are the ultimate trainer for our guys to how they relate to women.  Boys definitely need a father and/or godly male influence in their life to follow,  but may us moms remember and be purposeful in our role to train them up.  The book offers The Top 10 Countdown to Being an Awesome Mom   10. Remember, he’s a boy, not a girl. 9. I know he’s adorable, but he needs to be held accountable. 8. Don’t always pay attention to how he looks; pay more attention to his heart. 7. How you handle his failures is more important than how you handle his victories. 6. No two children in a family sho

Every Monday morning I get this newsletter in my inbox from Creative Homemaking.   It is a short email usually containing no more than 5 fantastic tips/articles on keeping a home.  Today's edition contained two do it yourself projects I couldn't resist sharing.    Since being creative isn't one of my talents, projects that require much effort usually get overlooked...but, these two were easy, can save a few dollars and are things you can use.   DIY Vicks VapoRub   I remember as a child my mom rubbing VapoRub on my neck and chest when I had a cold.  Even today, if I go to bed stuffy, a little Vicks under my nose helps me breathe much better.  Two simple ingredients can produce a DI 1/2 c. coconut oil and 10 drops or so of eucalyptus oil in a half pint sized canning jar mixed  together. Use just as you would Vick's VapoRub. It smells exactly like it!   DIY Homemade Ranch Dressing   I use the dry ranch mix in many things.  Those packets aren

For years I have read about 'green smoothies' and how healthy they are for you.  Healthy is good, but tasty is better!!   Green smoothies are typically made with any variety of greens - kale, Swiss chard, spinach, lettuce etc.  along with fruits and/or flavors - apples, lemons cucumbers...the sky is the limit!  I have tried many varieties over the years and am slowly acquiring a taste for smoothies, even green ones!  My favorite secret is to get a chocolate protein powder base (or vanilla and add cocoa)...add frozen fruit, honey and greens.  The chocolate covers any green taste and the honey adds a touch of sweetness.  I have felt a difference since drinking smoothies...more energy, the confidence in knowing you are getting some great nutrients and less calories consumed.  Drinking a few smoothies a week is a great way to digest more vegetables and nutrients. I found this free Kindle book - 31 Green Smoothies: Heal your body and lose weight with nutritious and deli

Recently in preparation for a bridal shower at church, I was appointed to pick up the hostess gift.  The agreed upon choice was a new cookware set by Wolfgang Puck.  All the ladies raved how wonderful this set was. I picked it up and set it in my kitchen, near the door to take to the bridal shower which was in just a few days.  This box drew my eye each time I passed it. It's new, updated and improved styles were glaringly different from my cookware stemming from over 20 years of marriage.  This new set was shiny, complete and wonderful!  As I would pull out my cookware (mismatched, scratched, stained and dented) to prepare dinner, I would glance at the box on the floor with a little bit of envy!  Knowing that thankfulness is the answer to discontentment, I began to ponder when I was a new wife and the blessings God has given through the years. Those old pots and pans with their scratches hold dear memories of cooking for a family, taking food dishes to church and family

Being an avid web surfer, I find many amazing web sites and/or blogs that I really like and want to go back and visit.  One little solution I find is to subscribe to the site if I want to stay in touch with it.  That happened recently when I found a challenge for a simple, organized Christmas - with a day by day post from Kathi Lipp.  Apparently, this site is on to another challenge:  "Praying God's Word For Your Man".     Between today's challenge and a podcast I heard this morning, I got a clear message in my heart - Be an encourager and start at home!   Each woman is either building up or tearing down their homes.  Usually I relate this to 'making' the home, keeping it in balance, doing what is good, putting effort into making it a place of comfort, peace where the family can come and find a haven.    I read a fantastic article about encouragement over at Revive Our Hearts .  It told about the power and need for encouragement and then admonished

Being a woman is a wonderful thing!  In our day and time, women are told that they are the underdog and that they need to live up to the "superwoman" model in order to be successful.  Much pressure is put upon us as women to compete, to be and to do things better.  I found a recent article that outlines some ways that women are special.  How God has created us and equipped us to be unique and special.  This isn't a line drawn in the sand on what we must do, but rather beautiful attributes to celebrate that will make us shine where ever we are because of who we are. We can affirm these God given attributes by declaring that "I am" created by God to be unique and celebrate His gift of being a woman. I am a woman, therefore I am feminine. I will glory in my femininity in order to give glory to God. I will dress femininely, speak femininely, walk femininely, and act femininely. I am a woman, therefore I am a "life-giver." The first woma

Did you know that, in 2012, 3 of the top 5 resolutions made were:   Lose Weight Be Fit and Healthy Enjoy Life to the Fullest     So often, we look at the desired results without counting the cost or making a plan to get there.  Extreme diets or severely limiting foods we love sound like a good, healthy plan,but they rarely work, because we will eventually go back to what is 'normal' to us.  Changes must be incorporated in our day to day lives. We are never 'suddenly healthy', but we can always be working towards making better choices. Here are 5 easy changes to help you on your way to a healthier lifestyle.  Remember, these are new habits which will replace old (bad) habits!   They can be easily incorporated in our daily routines, bit by bit.     #1. Drink more water: According to the December 2012 issue of Women’s Health, drinking 2 cups of water before meals can make you lose an average of 4.5 pounds more than if you don’t. Drinks can be a