If you're looking for an experiment in frugality I'd highly recommend trying some homemade cleaning supplies! When we first got married, I received a Martha Stewart Homemaking Book which I've enjoyed as a reference for all sorts of things. She recommended some homemade cleaning supplies, so I thought I'd give it a try. She was onto another one of her "good things" in my opinion. So for about two years now I've been cleaning everything with the following...
"heavy duty" bathroom cleaning (toilets, bathtub, counters sometimes)
Soapy Ammonia
1 c ammonia
1 c water
2 TBSP liquid Ivory soap
glass windows (also mirrors and dusting)
Glass Cleaner
1 c ammonia
1 c water
soap scum remover (as a daily shower spray and also while cleaning)
1 c water
1 c white vinegar
counter-top kitchen cleaner (also could be for dusting)
1 c water
2 TBSP liquid Ivory soap
I bought plain spray bottles that I found at the grocery store and labeled. Super cheap and easy to remember what's in each one. While there are some "start up" costs to buying these items, they've lasted me a long time through many batches and refills so it's very, very economical over the long run. The most expensive item to buy was the liquid Ivory soap, but even that is used in such small portions it will last a really long time! As a side note, make sure you'd never use bleach around any of the ammonia-based cleaners. The combination is one that causes really dangerous fumes, don't do it!
Now, as a new experiment I'm trying Grace's Laundry Soap. I'm sure she'd tell us it's not "her" idea, but I got it from her, so to me it is :) I just made it last night for the first time and haven't used it yet, but I figure if it can thoroughly clean Grace's laundry with cloth diapers, a little kid stains, it will do the same for ours! So here it is:
Laundry Soap
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar, grated finely
1 c washing soda
1 c Borax
Mix all together. I plan to sort of "pre-mix" it before I use it, in the following way: use 1-2 TBSP per load, mix with water in a Mason jar right before use and then pour into washing machine as you would use liquid soap normally.
The more amazing thing is the amount of money saved... you can read the detailed breakdown here, but the final cost is 1 cent per load! Seriously, it's true and amazing I think :)
I hope you enjoy the blessings of some frugal finds if you get a chance to try these out. It certainly has been a blessing to us!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
a giveaway... but not here!
My fun friend Grace who is way more creative than I am, is hosting an amazing Giveaway on her blog... you should check it out for lots of cute things:
http://wheelsoffun.blogspot.com/
In other news I've been quite inspired by lots of friends who are blogging more frequently, and I'd love to do the same... right now I just have this list in my mind that comes and goes of ideas, so I'll work on it!
~sharing baby sewing projects, and baby decorating projects
~funny school stories
~yummy recipes we're enjoying (with pictures, that's always better for me!)
~thoughts from great examples of faith in a little country church
~the Lord is always teaching me more
Well, the list seems to get longer as I start it, so I really should use some Spring Break time to "debrief" sort of, look for that next week! :)
http://wheelsoffun.blogspot.com/
In other news I've been quite inspired by lots of friends who are blogging more frequently, and I'd love to do the same... right now I just have this list in my mind that comes and goes of ideas, so I'll work on it!
~sharing baby sewing projects, and baby decorating projects
~funny school stories
~yummy recipes we're enjoying (with pictures, that's always better for me!)
~thoughts from great examples of faith in a little country church
~the Lord is always teaching me more
Well, the list seems to get longer as I start it, so I really should use some Spring Break time to "debrief" sort of, look for that next week! :)
Monday, March 15, 2010
why I LOVE Kindergarten :)
After returning to work today from a week and a half stint at jury duty, I was thrilled by many sweet moments with the little ones, as chronicled here...
* little boy: "Who's going to be here tomorrow Mrs. Peery?"
"Me, I'm staying now!"
little boy: "Good!"
*While reading a traditional tale (think "Tortise and the Hare"), we started predicting which event would come next... the cat wanted milk, so the monkey would ask the cow, etc... the river needed rain...
"Who do you think the monkey will ask for rain from? Where does rain come from?"
students: "God!"
little boy: "He just pushes the button!"
*While beginning our informational writing unit, we "shared the pen" and wrote together about the day we built gingerbread houses...
"Who remembers who came to school that day to help us build our houses?"
(their parents, I was going for)
students: "Matt!" (which was also true, and stood out more to them I guess)
*While introducing the concept of maps and globes, we read about different homes all over the world, one mentioned "cement"...
little girl: "What did you say about a house being made out of mint?"
"Oh no, I said 'cement' like concrete, it makes houses strong. What were you thinking of?"
little girl: "I thought you were talking about, you know, 'mints' that make your breath smell good!"
*At the end of the day as we were lining up, one little boy poked my growing belly...
little boy: "Your baby's growing Mrs. Peery, does it move?"
me: "We can't feel it move on the outside yet, and I don't think I can feel it on the inside yet either..." (his mom is having a baby in April, so he's felt it move)
me: "I don't know when I'll be able to feel the baby, soon I think"
4th grade boy: "Ya, Mrs. Peery, I'm not sure when that'll be, I really don't know" (a 4th grade helper in my class, one student from last year, a boy!)
me: "Well Josh I think it could be any time now really"
4th grade boy: "Ya, I think it probably will be Mrs. Peery!"
(since when do 4th grade boys know much about pregnancy!)
This is why I do LOVE Kindergarten :)
* little boy: "Who's going to be here tomorrow Mrs. Peery?"
"Me, I'm staying now!"
little boy: "Good!"
*While reading a traditional tale (think "Tortise and the Hare"), we started predicting which event would come next... the cat wanted milk, so the monkey would ask the cow, etc... the river needed rain...
"Who do you think the monkey will ask for rain from? Where does rain come from?"
students: "God!"
little boy: "He just pushes the button!"
*While beginning our informational writing unit, we "shared the pen" and wrote together about the day we built gingerbread houses...
"Who remembers who came to school that day to help us build our houses?"
(their parents, I was going for)
students: "Matt!" (which was also true, and stood out more to them I guess)
*While introducing the concept of maps and globes, we read about different homes all over the world, one mentioned "cement"...
little girl: "What did you say about a house being made out of mint?"
"Oh no, I said 'cement' like concrete, it makes houses strong. What were you thinking of?"
little girl: "I thought you were talking about, you know, 'mints' that make your breath smell good!"
*At the end of the day as we were lining up, one little boy poked my growing belly...
little boy: "Your baby's growing Mrs. Peery, does it move?"
me: "We can't feel it move on the outside yet, and I don't think I can feel it on the inside yet either..." (his mom is having a baby in April, so he's felt it move)
me: "I don't know when I'll be able to feel the baby, soon I think"
4th grade boy: "Ya, Mrs. Peery, I'm not sure when that'll be, I really don't know" (a 4th grade helper in my class, one student from last year, a boy!)
me: "Well Josh I think it could be any time now really"
4th grade boy: "Ya, I think it probably will be Mrs. Peery!"
(since when do 4th grade boys know much about pregnancy!)
This is why I do LOVE Kindergarten :)
Friday, February 26, 2010
encouragement
We just returned from a wonderful date to the Andrew Peterson concert on campus in conjunction with the Adopting for Life conference. While we didn't attend the conference, we're thrilled that Andrew Peterson was here and that we could buy tickets to enjoy the great songwriter on a Friday evening! Many songs are wonderful of course by Andrew Peterson, but a few struck me more so this evening...
"Cannan Bound" was encouraging as we think upon the great faith of Abraham and the great faith Sarah exhibited as she followed
"The Far Country" was another which focuses upon Abraham's journey of faith and ours today
Then Andrew Peterson introduced Ben Shive, who Matt and I both enjoyed during the "Behold the Lamb of God" tour where we saw them both with others in December. He shared sad news of a close friend's coming death, and sang the song "Rise Up". The lyrics are important and are below...
Rise Up
Ben Shive
Every stone that makes you stumble,
and cuts you when you fall;
every serpent here that strikes your heel,
to curse you when you crawl,
the King of Love one day will crush them all.
And every sad seduction
and every clever lie,
every word that woos and wounds
the pilgrim children of the sky,
the King of Love will break them by and by.
And you will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
I know the night is cruel, but the day is coming soon
when you will rise up in the end.
If the thief had come to plunder
when the children were alone,
If he ravaged every daughter
and murdered every son,
Would not their Father see this?
Would not His anger burn?
And would He not repay the tyrant
in the day of His return?
Await, await the day of His return.
Cause He will rise up in the end.
He will rise up in the end.
I know you need a Savior. He is patient in His anger.
But He will rise up in the end.
And when the stars come crashing to the sea.
The high and mighty fall down on their knees.
When you see the Son descending in the sky.
The chains of death will fall around your feet.
You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
As the song continued, and I'd heard it before, I was deeply pierced by the darkness which I'm so surrounded by day in and day out in the lives of many little children I teach. I've been so surrounded that it's almost become an unfortunately new "normal" that I often feel desensitized to... that should never be the case. As this song reminds us, we have GREAT HOPE in Christ's death and the power of His resurrection. I wept for my children in a new way tonight, and pray with all of me that they too will know of Christ's victory over the stings of death they have come to face at such vulnerable and young ages. Please pray for them too. Andrew Peterson followed with his song "All Things New"... quite fitting:
Come broken and weary, come battered and bruised
my Jesus makes all things new, All things new
Come lost and abandoned, come blown by the wind
He'll bring you back home again, home again
I was then struck by the absolute passion which was displayed in Ben Shive as he sung, and obviously as he previously wrote these words. His passion conveyed a deep sincerity. Matt and I have been discussing a similar sincerity among many godly people recently... Dr. Tom Schreiner, John Piper, and David Platt specifically. Their messages are hard and deeply challenging, but they are always delivered out of a sincerity and passion (I have no other words for it) which is captivating. No one else could re-package the same words and convey the messages they do. Their lives are lived in such a way that displays the authenticity of their belief... I can gather that from afar in each case.
I pray that as I close my last year of teaching in these tough places, for this season of our lives (with a baby on the way), I would teach and love little children with a sincerity and passion that conveys the Lord's work even in my daily interactions. There is no other option for which we are called as Christians. Some more fitting Andrew Peterson lyrics from "Let There Be Light"...
The work of our hands is the salt of the earth
The music we make is the light of the world
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
"Cannan Bound" was encouraging as we think upon the great faith of Abraham and the great faith Sarah exhibited as she followed
"The Far Country" was another which focuses upon Abraham's journey of faith and ours today
Then Andrew Peterson introduced Ben Shive, who Matt and I both enjoyed during the "Behold the Lamb of God" tour where we saw them both with others in December. He shared sad news of a close friend's coming death, and sang the song "Rise Up". The lyrics are important and are below...
Rise Up
Ben Shive
Every stone that makes you stumble,
and cuts you when you fall;
every serpent here that strikes your heel,
to curse you when you crawl,
the King of Love one day will crush them all.
And every sad seduction
and every clever lie,
every word that woos and wounds
the pilgrim children of the sky,
the King of Love will break them by and by.
And you will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
I know the night is cruel, but the day is coming soon
when you will rise up in the end.
If the thief had come to plunder
when the children were alone,
If he ravaged every daughter
and murdered every son,
Would not their Father see this?
Would not His anger burn?
And would He not repay the tyrant
in the day of His return?
Await, await the day of His return.
Cause He will rise up in the end.
He will rise up in the end.
I know you need a Savior. He is patient in His anger.
But He will rise up in the end.
And when the stars come crashing to the sea.
The high and mighty fall down on their knees.
When you see the Son descending in the sky.
The chains of death will fall around your feet.
You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
You will rise up in the end.
As the song continued, and I'd heard it before, I was deeply pierced by the darkness which I'm so surrounded by day in and day out in the lives of many little children I teach. I've been so surrounded that it's almost become an unfortunately new "normal" that I often feel desensitized to... that should never be the case. As this song reminds us, we have GREAT HOPE in Christ's death and the power of His resurrection. I wept for my children in a new way tonight, and pray with all of me that they too will know of Christ's victory over the stings of death they have come to face at such vulnerable and young ages. Please pray for them too. Andrew Peterson followed with his song "All Things New"... quite fitting:
Come broken and weary, come battered and bruised
my Jesus makes all things new, All things new
Come lost and abandoned, come blown by the wind
He'll bring you back home again, home again
I was then struck by the absolute passion which was displayed in Ben Shive as he sung, and obviously as he previously wrote these words. His passion conveyed a deep sincerity. Matt and I have been discussing a similar sincerity among many godly people recently... Dr. Tom Schreiner, John Piper, and David Platt specifically. Their messages are hard and deeply challenging, but they are always delivered out of a sincerity and passion (I have no other words for it) which is captivating. No one else could re-package the same words and convey the messages they do. Their lives are lived in such a way that displays the authenticity of their belief... I can gather that from afar in each case.
I pray that as I close my last year of teaching in these tough places, for this season of our lives (with a baby on the way), I would teach and love little children with a sincerity and passion that conveys the Lord's work even in my daily interactions. There is no other option for which we are called as Christians. Some more fitting Andrew Peterson lyrics from "Let There Be Light"...
The work of our hands is the salt of the earth
The music we make is the light of the world
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
the eyes of the Lord
D)">The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
~Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord" - an obvious personification of our great God who is beyond the physical limits of "eyes" that we have. He can see "every place", we realize that He is all knowing, and present everywhere; so of course, His eyes are "in every place". Sometimes I'm all to quick to forget such a simple truth. In the midst of my school days when it seems as if the lives of the little children around me are SO difficult, and I'm caught in the middle of it all - I forget the Lord's good and sovereign hand over their circumstances and my involvement in their little worlds. I desire that as the Lord keeps watch over me and watches, He is providing me the grace, which is all sufficient and comes from Him alone, to respond with kind words, love, compassion, and lots of patience. I desire that maybe He uses some small "good" for His glory, that the darkness of this world full of evil will be for a moment brightened. Please pray that it is so.
Pray for one little boy "A" in my room who was very sick and vomiting often today. The phone numbers we had were all disconnected, except for one which had a recording of someone by a different last name... so we left a message hoping it really was a family member. Hours later, after he had fallen asleep and then rolled over to continue getting sick his mom called. She had no car, would need to take a bus to the school - but needed directions as she didn't know where it was! She asked if we could send him home in a taxi... a 5 year old who was vomiting, in a taxi.
Another little girl "J" arrived today as a new student. She rode the bus this morning all alone with no siblings in our school, after moving here from a city that is about 2 hours away. Needless to say she was scared and crying upon arrival, too anxious to talk for awhile.
Pray also for another little girl "S", who is very troubled as we realize more and more by the day. She has been suspended (the longest suspension our district has - 6 days), sees an out of school counselor, but continues to struggle to function for a full school day. Her "melt downs" are extreme, unpredictable, and long-lasting. From the school's stand point there isn't much else we can do. I know that prayer is powerful beyond all human reason. I know that she attends church and hears of the Lord - pray that according to His plans, he can bring restoration to her young life and the circumstances she lives in.
I am thankful to serve a God who listens to our cries... it is easy to shed tears over these stories and others. I was quickly reminded of the Lord's purposes for me when I watched this video on Dollie's blog. (I'm trying to see if I can include it here...)
hmm - maybe that works? if not, check it out here on YouTube
Its called "The Invisible Woman" and really speaks to the unseen joys and seeming "burdens" of motherhood at times. I look forward to those moments now (knowing we'll be adding a baby to our family around August 11), but also realize that even they won't also feeling rewarding. For now, I'm taking courage from this video as I desire to be used according to the Lord's plans in the lives of 23 little ones at Semple Elementary each day. I wish I could share their names and their little faces, but privacy laws forbid it... if you pray for them our all-knowing God, knows even these little ones who are unknown to you.
~Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord" - an obvious personification of our great God who is beyond the physical limits of "eyes" that we have. He can see "every place", we realize that He is all knowing, and present everywhere; so of course, His eyes are "in every place". Sometimes I'm all to quick to forget such a simple truth. In the midst of my school days when it seems as if the lives of the little children around me are SO difficult, and I'm caught in the middle of it all - I forget the Lord's good and sovereign hand over their circumstances and my involvement in their little worlds. I desire that as the Lord keeps watch over me and watches, He is providing me the grace, which is all sufficient and comes from Him alone, to respond with kind words, love, compassion, and lots of patience. I desire that maybe He uses some small "good" for His glory, that the darkness of this world full of evil will be for a moment brightened. Please pray that it is so.
Pray for one little boy "A" in my room who was very sick and vomiting often today. The phone numbers we had were all disconnected, except for one which had a recording of someone by a different last name... so we left a message hoping it really was a family member. Hours later, after he had fallen asleep and then rolled over to continue getting sick his mom called. She had no car, would need to take a bus to the school - but needed directions as she didn't know where it was! She asked if we could send him home in a taxi... a 5 year old who was vomiting, in a taxi.
Another little girl "J" arrived today as a new student. She rode the bus this morning all alone with no siblings in our school, after moving here from a city that is about 2 hours away. Needless to say she was scared and crying upon arrival, too anxious to talk for awhile.
Pray also for another little girl "S", who is very troubled as we realize more and more by the day. She has been suspended (the longest suspension our district has - 6 days), sees an out of school counselor, but continues to struggle to function for a full school day. Her "melt downs" are extreme, unpredictable, and long-lasting. From the school's stand point there isn't much else we can do. I know that prayer is powerful beyond all human reason. I know that she attends church and hears of the Lord - pray that according to His plans, he can bring restoration to her young life and the circumstances she lives in.
I am thankful to serve a God who listens to our cries... it is easy to shed tears over these stories and others. I was quickly reminded of the Lord's purposes for me when I watched this video on Dollie's blog. (I'm trying to see if I can include it here...)
hmm - maybe that works? if not, check it out here on YouTube
Its called "The Invisible Woman" and really speaks to the unseen joys and seeming "burdens" of motherhood at times. I look forward to those moments now (knowing we'll be adding a baby to our family around August 11), but also realize that even they won't also feeling rewarding. For now, I'm taking courage from this video as I desire to be used according to the Lord's plans in the lives of 23 little ones at Semple Elementary each day. I wish I could share their names and their little faces, but privacy laws forbid it... if you pray for them our all-knowing God, knows even these little ones who are unknown to you.
Monday, November 2, 2009
pumpkie pie oatmeal
Matt and I really enjoyed this delicious breakfast Saturday morning... maybe you'll like it too! I'd highly recommend it, especially to pumpkin lovers - Matt thought it was better than pumpkin pancakes even.
Here's a picture of mine:
Follow this link for the recipe...
just it case it doesn't work for some reason, here's the web address:
http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2009/09/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal.html
Oh yes, a PS... if you're like me and have never cooked in (or owned) "ramekins" any glass oven-safe dishes will work, as in my Corningware "French white" from a wedding gift (above) or even a small Pyrex (what I used for two other "ramekins"). I found out this would work thanks to my mom's always on-call kitchen and cooking advice, which saves me every time!
Here's a picture of mine:
Follow this link for the recipe...just it case it doesn't work for some reason, here's the web address:
http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2009/09/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal.html
Oh yes, a PS... if you're like me and have never cooked in (or owned) "ramekins" any glass oven-safe dishes will work, as in my Corningware "French white" from a wedding gift (above) or even a small Pyrex (what I used for two other "ramekins"). I found out this would work thanks to my mom's always on-call kitchen and cooking advice, which saves me every time!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
selfishness and God's self-sacrifice
I've been very convicted about my own utter selfishness lately. I'm too quick to share my complaints or daily difficulties. I'm less quick to ask about the struggles of others or to be prayerful on their behalf. I'm quick to plan things that I want to do, when I want to do them, as it is most convenient for me. I'm slower to consider the needs of others and the desires they may have to maintain their own plans as well. It all showed up yesterday in the simplest scenario.
I'd been invited to a play out of town with a friend.
She wanted us to go together as we don't see each other as often as either of us would like.
She realized she had obligations and couldn't attend the show I wanted to go to.
I didn't want to drive alone, or drive in the dark, or be away from Matt overnight... all things about "me" which made the other show times seem "impossible" from my perspective.
So I asked another friend to attend the ideal show time with me.
We enjoyed the play and began driving home in a rush...
because I had other previously made plans with other friends and Matt last night.
In our rush, I totally forgot that I'd mentioned to my first friend that maybe I could stop by and say hello when the play ended, since I was after all going to be in her new town.
So about 45 minutes into our drive home, she called and asked if I was stopping by as she'd been waiting to go to the grocery store in case I wanted to say hello as I'd mentioned.
Needless to say, because of time changes and a longer play I also didn't make it home in time to keep our plans with other friends - so those were canceled too.
In the end, I upset (and rightly so) my husband, a dear friend, and two other close friends all because I demanded to have things (and petty things at that) MY way. That's a terrible feeling which upset me greatly last night, as I cried and asked the Lord for His forgiveness.
So then God's self-sacrifice comes to mind as He displayed in Christ the most selfless act of dying on behalf of sinners who would lead selfish lives as I have been doing. I deserve at this time, and at all times, His wrath and condemnation and death. However, the Gospel has changed that, for God's great glory to be seen. And how thankful I am for this God who cares to know me, and made a way to do so. I clearly am undeserving as my faults are before my eyes and within my heart every day. He however reassures me that "For our sake he made him to be sinB)"> who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Each day I desire His righteousness to over take my sin more and more, that I might see evidences of grace in the fruit He bears in my life. May it always be so.
I'd been invited to a play out of town with a friend.
She wanted us to go together as we don't see each other as often as either of us would like.
She realized she had obligations and couldn't attend the show I wanted to go to.
I didn't want to drive alone, or drive in the dark, or be away from Matt overnight... all things about "me" which made the other show times seem "impossible" from my perspective.
So I asked another friend to attend the ideal show time with me.
We enjoyed the play and began driving home in a rush...
because I had other previously made plans with other friends and Matt last night.
In our rush, I totally forgot that I'd mentioned to my first friend that maybe I could stop by and say hello when the play ended, since I was after all going to be in her new town.
So about 45 minutes into our drive home, she called and asked if I was stopping by as she'd been waiting to go to the grocery store in case I wanted to say hello as I'd mentioned.
Needless to say, because of time changes and a longer play I also didn't make it home in time to keep our plans with other friends - so those were canceled too.
In the end, I upset (and rightly so) my husband, a dear friend, and two other close friends all because I demanded to have things (and petty things at that) MY way. That's a terrible feeling which upset me greatly last night, as I cried and asked the Lord for His forgiveness.
So then God's self-sacrifice comes to mind as He displayed in Christ the most selfless act of dying on behalf of sinners who would lead selfish lives as I have been doing. I deserve at this time, and at all times, His wrath and condemnation and death. However, the Gospel has changed that, for God's great glory to be seen. And how thankful I am for this God who cares to know me, and made a way to do so. I clearly am undeserving as my faults are before my eyes and within my heart every day. He however reassures me that "For our sake he made him to be sinB)"> who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Each day I desire His righteousness to over take my sin more and more, that I might see evidences of grace in the fruit He bears in my life. May it always be so.
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