Knitting Socks Scrapbooking beaded bookmarks making earrings making chunky votives
Family Read Alouds
Kingdoms Dawn by Chuck Black
Our Curriculum
On my night stand
Bible
Reread Heart of Wisdom by Robin Sampson
7 Habits of a Healthy Home by Bill Carmichael
Learning In Spite of Labels~ Practical Teaching Tips and a Christian
Perspective of Education by Joyce
Our Father Abraham~ Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R.
Wilson
A Family Guide to Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson and Linda
Pierce
Good and Angry by Scott Turnasky and Joanne Miller
Having Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver
A Parents Guide to The Spiritual Mentoring of Teens ~Building Your
Childs Faith Through the Adolescent Years by Joe White , Jim Weidmann
Wild Days ( a book about language arts and nature journaling) by
Rackliffe
How to Create Your Own Unit Studies by Valerie Bendt
The Power of Parents words by H. Norman Wright
How to read the Bible for all it's worth by Gordon D Fee and Douglas
Stuart
Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes in You and your
kids by Scott Turnasky and Joanne Miller
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully Grades 4-8 by Ruth
Beechick
A Strong Start in Language
An Easy Start in Arithmetic
A Home Start In Reading by Ruth Beechick
Any Child Can Write by Harvey S. Wiener
" This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look: ask for
the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you
will find rest for your souls."
Jeremiah 6:16
Dec. 4, 2007~ Whats Up With Water ~
I thought I would up date those who wanted to know how our water situation was.
Well it is ....the same. It is STILL frozen. We have been playing with the idea of hooking a hose from my MIL's outside water tap to our outside water tap and wrap it with heating tape and insulation. We haven't done that ...yet. We are trying to count the cost. It is very expensive and we are trying to decide if it is worth it.
I was talking to a very good friend of mine and she asked how we were doing it. Well, I started to explain our typical day. We have 4 gallon pails and we need 2-4 of them of water for the bathroom. We need about 4 pails for drinking, cooking, and washing dishes. When it comes to washing dishes we are heating the water on our wood stove and if we need more we heat some water on our stove.
What I use to think was simple we have to think out in steps now.
~ For example :
brushing our teeth
is
step one: dip cup in water
step two: dip toothbrush in water then brush teeth.
step three: rinse mouth
step four: pour remaining water onto toothbrush
~Then there is washing hair
You mix heated water and cold water in a bowl.
Then you pour with a cup water over head leaning over the tub.
Wash hair
Rinse hair by pouring water over head with cup several times.
Conditioner ???? Forget that I couldn't be bothered. LOL Too much work for now.
~Laundry is done at my hubby's work or friends house.
Now, this is NOT done in a complaining spirit. I am just amazed what I took for granted before this all happened to us. My friend I was talking to told me that was how she grew up. ( in another country) It really me made humble and encouraged in a good way. It helped me not to expect so much and think I couldn't do without. It has given me a lot of understanding and thankfulness.
It has caused me to want to study more of the symbolism of the word water and flowing water.
I now have to say that I get frustrated and tired. I have cried sometimes through all this. I am human. But I keep looking to the Lord for my strength and He has sent people along the way. I am VERY thankful for all the prayers. ( I have truly needed them) The giving of my family and friends. I am truly thankful. It would be nice to get the water hooked up but if it doesn't I know God will see us through and I will be SO thankful when we get our water back. Sooner OR later.
You have no idea what an encouragement you are to me. I am not trying to make light of your situation at all, but I have been down lately over our financial situation and other situations that are going to adversely affect our finances. Yesterday, we just received news of yet another situation that is going to adversely affect our finances in January. It's all just about gotten to be too much for me. You have reminded me that it's not only my family that is going through difficulties right now - difficulties come in many shapes and sizes.
Mary,
Isn't it amazing what you learn you can do without? When we lived in our RV for a time, I learned that we could do without hot water and we did for quite some time. We heated water up in the microwave for dishes and cooking. We went without a stove for a time. Showers - you either took a VERY quick cold shower or you warmed water up in the microwave and sponge bathed. I learned there were things that you could work around if you had to.
I really hope for all of you that you will have water SOON. And BTW, I had days that I wasn't very thankful....:) In fact, the whole living in the RV thing took me quite a while before my mentality changed. But finally, God helped me change my mentality and I was a much more happy and content "camper" - literally. LOL
Take care,
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/SALT
P.S.
Sorry for the double post. I didn't get everything in the post so I had to post again.
When we renovated our bathroom, we went about 4 weeks without a toilet. Stuart built a box which was big enough for two pails to sit in (with a lid that lifted, like a tickle trunk).. one bucket we sat over (there is even a toilet seat, feels like a normal toilet.. the other bucket has peatmoss in it.
Potty - cover with peatmoss.. compost when the bucket is full.
The unit is still in our basement and acts as our emergency potty - for times like when mummy is in the bath and someone REALLY has to go.
this could be a solution to the load of water it takes to flush the toilet. It doesn't smell.
Hi Mary,
I know of missionaries who have spoken about how precious water is and how they've used it to do the same things you're describing - brushing teeth, washing hair, etc. Our close friends, who've been missionaries for many years, actually turn OFF the water whenever they do not need it (i.e., brushing teeth, washing hands, etc.) They cannot allow the water to just "flow"....I think they have an incredible appreciation for this particualar natural resource.
Mary,
we continue to pray for you all! Praying the lord will continue to give you the wisdom and the creativity to make do till this all works itself out!
So many things in life that we take for granted, the smallest everyday things that once taken from us seem so very important and needed! :-(
I have been waiting to see how things are going. Sorry it's still frozen. That happened to another family, and they had water trucked in one of those big barrel trucks they use. I'm sure it was expensive though. I pray things work out for you soon. You are truly an encouragement to read as you go through this time. :)
JoAnn
Oh Mary, you are handling this so well! I can't believe what you have to do just to brush teeth!
Our furnace died 5 days ago and it does make you think about what you take for granted.
We often take our convenience of water for granted. I feel for you. I've been in very short situations where we had to use buckets like that. I can't imagine doing it all the time for who knows how long. I really feel for your situation, and hope that something can be done before the spring thaw.
We had to brush our teeth pretty much the same way in Guatemala. We couldn't use tap water for anything that went into our mouths. After a while it becomes normal. We couldn't flush toilet paper there either. Even when we got home we were constantly thinking it all through - yes I can put this in the toilet instead of the trash; yes, I can rinse my toothbrush in the sink...Is there any way to rent a tank that can be filled/refilled outside of your house? I know that when the water tables get low here that is what many people have to do on the other side of the mountain... I don't know if that can be done in the colder climates though... Just a thought.
When I was a little girl, I spent the summers with my grandparents. They lived in the Cayman Islands. All their water was caught from the rain as if fell onto their roof. You have to think about how to use water the best way you can. Where I live now we are in a major water shortage. If you could only see our lakes, they are at the lowest leavel they have been at. It is not untill we have to do with out something that we relize how much we need it or how much we wasted it when we had it. I will be praying for you in this season you are in. {{HUGS}} Sister in Christ, Trina
We have been without water a few times. It's very difficult! We went without a water heater for MONTHS and that was really hard! I was working at the time in a candle factory and would come home covered with a waxy film on my skin. My hubby would have a bath ready for me. It would take him 2 hours to heat large pans of water on the stove and then fill the tub. I will always remember that and am forever grateful when we were able to afford a new water heater!! It truly does make you grateful for something that you take for granted! I will be praying for you and that you get your water straightened out really soon!
I want to come and dig you a cistern or find fifty gallon drums to make this a bit easier for you. We dug a cistern for friends in Colorado that were using 50 galloon droms for water. You at least need bigger buckets!
My mommie did the same things you are dong withus four little girls, but she had to pump the water and thaw the pump as well. I remember writing her from Italy where I had to do all our laundry in the bath tub and my hands were cracked and bleeding. Crying and tellingher how sorry I was that I didn't appreciate what she did for me.And I at least had running water, and even a bidet!
It sure makes Little house on the Prairie come to life doesn't it? And boy it sure makes your fudge more valuable!
I wish I had something really inspiring to say. Maybe just knowing there is one more person out there who cares and who is praying is enough? You are a testimony my friend. You are living in a trial and God is going to do something mighty....soon!
Jenn
Oh Dear Friend,
I feel for you. You get the badge of courage for sure! When do you finally get to settle this in court? Do you have a date yet? We stayed at a beautiful log cabin in the BWCA for 4 days a couple of summers ago and had so much fun. We didn't have any running water then either - but it was warm then too and I could live without a shower or washing hair for a week. It was a fun adventure but I don't think I would like to live that way too long - esp. the washing the hair thing and doing the laundry elsewhere. My hat's off to you! Praying the matter is remedied soon.
Mary, I am so glad that God is teaching you through this trial and that your spirit remains content. I am quite sure I could learn a few lessons from you!
I wonder how people who harvest rain water keep it from freezing?
Anyway, when I was in Haiti, I learned the value of available potable drinking water and saw the amount of work that went in to getting water for families each day... I realized that in America, I live in Disneyland. We waste more water than some countries have.
First , I am a daughter of the King almighty and a
a wife to my Handsome of 17 years. A mom of 4 on the go boys 15, 13, 10, and 8. I grew up in the states but married my Canadian sweetheart and moved up north.
We live in the southern part of British Columbia , Canada on our homestead. We have homeschooled our four boys from birth and plan to go the distance till all four graduate from our homeschool. I teach with a Charlotte Mason style and use the Heart of Wisdom Approach. I love to craft! I am a beader, knitter, x-stitcher, quilter. We have been on a journey of being apart of building "The House that God Built". I have been recording our journey on my blog. Go to my links and you will find it. I know God has a lot more instore for us and we just need to follow where our Lord takes us.
Not Written in Stone Blogging Schedule
Sunday and Monday Bloggy Break Tightwad Tuesday Anti Procrastination Challenge Show and Tell Friday Something to Share
First , I am a daughter of the King almighty and a
a wife to my Handsome of 17 years. A mom of 4 on the go boys 15, 13, 10, and 8. I grew up in the states but married my Canadian sweetheart and moved up north.
We live in the southern part of British Columbia , Canada on our homestead. We have homeschooled our four boys from birth and plan to go the distance till all four graduate from our homeschool. I teach with a Charlotte Mason style and use the Heart of Wisdom Approach. I love to craft! I am a beader, knitter, x-stitcher, quilter. We have been on a journey of being apart of building "The House that God Built". I have been recording our journey on my blog. Go to my links and you will find it. I know God has a lot more instore for us and we just need to follow where our Lord takes us.
