Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 24

Nancy writes: 

“This week's assignment is The Three R's -- Reduce, Recycle, and Re-use.  I thought since today is Earth Day and this month is Arbor Day that we all could share ideas or tips that we use for recycling, reducing or re-using items in our home.  Do you recycle at all?  Does it just seem nearly impossible to recycle?  Trying to catch every piece of trash that goes into the garbage is a hard one for me too.  I have a friend who is very diligent with it and so are her children!  It amazed me to see how they re-spect nature and use the Three R's in their home.  I challenge you all to write about your ventures with recycling, reducing, and re-using your trash and take a pledge to at least try to use some of the tips that you read about on this assignment.  Don't forget to add your favorite scripture for this assignment.”

I touched on this subject Monday.  We do recycle and try to reduce our trash creation and energy consumption.  It isn’t always easy, though.  It takes some effort.  The kids try to do what is right, but turning off lights seems to be one of the big issues with them.  I would love to say that we do all that we can to help the planet, but there is so much more that we can do.

When it comes to re-using things, though, that one is easy.  Here are some things that are most often re-used in our home.

1.       Plastic gallon milk jugs.

a.      We make bird feeders/houses

b.      If you cut off the bottom you have a big scoop for gardening or feeding large animals.

c.      They also make a great funnel without the bottom.

d.      What to do with the bottoms?  Put them under plants to catch water.

e.      After cleaning them out thoroughly, we fill them with water and freeze them for the cooler when we go camping.  This serves double duty.  Not only does it keep the food cold but when it melts we drink the water.

f.        I’ve made Easter baskets and bunnies to put candy in from them.

(Visit 35+ Uses for Milk Jugs for more ideas)

2.      Glass jars

a.      We use these most often for little critter jars.  What a great way for the kids to examine nature.

b.      The smaller jars, especially baby food jars, make cute little vases when the kids bring in those lovely dandelions with short or no stems. : )

c.      And who can not forget that they make great catch-alls for coins and other tiny things that you have no idea what to do with but are afraid to throw away because you just might need it someday.

d.      At one time, I made my husband a cabinet to store his nuts and bolts in.  I framed it out with scrap wood making two shelves inside, gathered up a bunch of baby food jars, nailed the lids to the bottom of the shelves and then screwed the nuts and bolts filled jars back on the lids.  Unfortunately this project has since disappeared, but it worked well.  My dad still sorts all his workshop items in jars.  Makes it so easy to find what you are looking for.

e.      We have painted the jars and filled them with candy and other things to give them as gifts. (My daughter made the two in the picture)

(Thrifty Fun has some wonderful ideas for reusing jars. Be sure to read the feedback for more ideas.)

3.      Egg Cartons

a.      Oh, the versatile egg carton, great for sorting small things. We always have one ready when we are making the furniture you get in kits.

b.      The crafty use of egg cartons are numerous.  We have made all kinds of things including games, critters, and strange creations.

c.      They make wonderful seed starter trays.

d.      We store those tiny ornaments for the mini- Christmas trees in them.

e.      I use them to store my quilling pieces.

(TIPical Mary Ellen, Green Living, Thrifty Fun, and Make Stuff have some other ideas you may use.)

Lastly, the newest item we found to reuse that really doesn’t pose a huge threat to the environment because it breaks down fairly quickly, is dryer lint.  My son has been collecting this for a while to use on his Boy Scout campouts.  Apparently it is a great fire starter.  Then I saw that you can make clay from it on School in Our Home’s blog.  After doing a little web search I found some other interesting uses that I might try.

(Check out All Free Crafts and Thrifty Fun for some ideas.)

The passage I have been thinking on this week is Genesis 1:26- And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Be sure to stop by Nancy's blog for more Blogger Friend School fun.  And while your at it, why not join the fun yourself.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 23

Posted in Blogger Friend School

Nancy writes:  "For this weeks assignment I decided to take an idea from a fellow BFS'r.  I'd like a Yea or Nay in a comment if you'd be interested in passing along an idea or you can just email me.  This week I'm using an idea from Sombra at More Little Wilsons.  I do have plenty of ideas that I've written myself, but thought it would be fun if we did a round of BFS on the blogs that participate.

Sombra wrote, "I think it would be interesting to find out if some of the other ladies have sunk their teeth into something new in the last year or so, what are they enthralled with, what has claimed the fires of their passion."  You can post pictures or as many things as you'd love to start doing for YOURself.  I stand corrected but I took it from Sombra's email that she meant OUR OWN passion and not something your children or husband would like you to learn.  Make sure you include a favorite scripture."

I love to learn.  Over the past year or so I have been messing around with HTML and trying to learn how to create my own web page designs.  I haven’t had much time to play with it during this school year, but every now and again I try something new.  I am trying to work my way into learning how to create software.  I have a strong desire to someday go to school to learn programming so I can create educational software that is both fun and informative for high school students. 

Most recently I have been enjoying working on my e-books.  I am really trying to create products that are not only useful but also have a multi-discipline appeal. 

I have also been striving to get my house to run smoothly.  My household binder has proven to be a valuable resource in that department and making the kids their own binders has worked wonders.  I am still working on getting things to the way I want them to be.  Not everyday runs smoothly, but being flexible and prioritizing has made all the difference: so much less stress.

There are so many other things I have a passion for that sometimes I am overwhelmed by the possibilities.  My deepest passion is always, first and foremost, to know my Father in Heaven better and try my best with His direction to live as He would have me live.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 22

Posted in Blogger Friend School

Nancy’s assignment for this week is:

“As spring is among us and summer is approaching my family and I slowly steer away from the big hot dinners and more to the salads, sandwiches and fresh fruit.  We'll be doing lots of canning and preserving foods this summer, so I won't feel like cooking big meals every night like I do now. 

For this week's assignment I thought it would be fun to share our dinner plans for the night or if you're organized enough for the week.  You can include pictures if you desire.  Also tell what your family likes to drink, if you have desserts or not.  If you want to then take this assignment and let all the children in your life make dinner for the night.   Please add your favorite verse for this assignment, as it might be an encouragement for someone else.  This week's assignment is short and sweet so have fun with it.”

Normally I plan our meals a week in advance but this week is a bit out of the norm for us because not only are we having a little Spring Break and the kids have had friends over but also my son stopped by last night for his birthday. He’s coming over again with his girlfriend for his special birthday dinner and cake on Friday and we are having my daughter’s Princess Ceremony on Saturday.  So it has been a bit erratic in the dinner making department.  Monday we had crock-pot BBQ chicken, corn and rice.  Last night we had hamburgers on the grill and our favorite macaroni salad that I usually make for my son.  Tonight is leftovers.  Tomorrow is Girl Scouts so dinner will be in a hurry, probably Tuna Casserole.  My son hasn’t yet told me what he wanted for his birthday dinner on Friday, but I won’t be surprised if I’ll be making lasagna.  On Saturday, we will be having finger sandwiches for the ceremony.  We usually drink milk with every meal, but when we have people over we offer an alternative of iced tea.  Most of the time the kids just have a snack after dinner of cookies, snack cakes, or ice cream, but I baked a cake yesterday, so we’ll be eating that for a few days and of course we’ll be having birthday cake on Friday. 

Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 21

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Nancy has come up with a tickling assignment for this week. We are to share a story or two about a “cheek hurtin', gut wrenchin', snortin' out loud, almost wet my pants laughing moment” This was a hard assignment for me.  Everyone’s definition of funny is different.  We laugh all the time here, so trying to remember a specific event has been hard.  There are two events that stick out in my mind.  

The first involves a slushy machine.  When my oldest was little, we used to go to a video store that had a ‘make-your- own’ slushy machine.  It was like a ritual, we’d rent a movie, and then we would get a slushy on the way out the door.  This one summer day, my son had decided he wanted a cherry slushy.  I placed the cup under the spout to get it and the thing went haywire shooting red syrup all over the place including down the front of the light blue t-shirt dress I was wearing.  All I could do is laugh.  It was like something you’d see on one of those hidden camera shows.  I looked like I had been shot.  The clerk was shocked, but when he saw that I wasn’t freaking out, he started laughing, too, as did a few other customers in the store.  From then on, I let someone else handle the slushy machines.

A more current incident involves our cat Willow.  Besides her recent adventures up the tree, she has proven to be a great source of laughter.  About a month or so ago, she was outside on the front porch guarding the birdfeeders.  She’s very good at this, making sure that no particular bird over eats.  Our porch is pretty high. (to get to the front door you have to climb 12 steps) I was doing something or another with the kids in the kitchen. Out of the corner of my eye I see her jump up to one of the feeders.  I figured she would land on the rail, but apparently she didn’t have her cat legs, because she went up and over the rail and tumbled through the azalea bushes below.  The kids had seen it, too and we ran to check and see if she was all right. She was fine and went right back to her post.  We thought it was hilarious.

Like I said, everyone’s definition of funny is different.

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 20

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Nancy has come up with a fun assignment this week.

“There are lots of windows in our lives, i.e., window of our soul, closed windows and open windows that God has for our lives, there's what some people call their, "window of opportunity", and there's "eyes are the window to our soul".  The assignment is to take a picture, if you're able, find a graphic if you can, and write about your favorite window in your home or the one you look out of when you have those 'daydreaming' moments.”

I love all the windows in my house.  There are different views from every one, but my favorite window doesn’t look so much into the outside world as to the inside.  Between the kitchen and the dining room we have a window.  I am able to watch my family at the dinner table while preparing meals or have conversations from where I sit while my children do the dishes after eating.  From this window I am able to look out the kitchen windows and the dining room windows without obstruction.  There is a small shelf in this window that serves as a resting place for the everyday ‘stuff’, the phone, a message center, mail, and other things that haven’t been put in their place.  Windows provide a connection and this one allows for my favorite connection with those I love.

View from the kitchen into the dining room:

View from the dining room into the kitchen:

This Scripture caught my attention this week.

1 John 1:6-7

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - Blogger Friend School Assignment 19

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Nancy has come up with a wonderful assignment this week to spread compassion. 

“What the assignment this week entails is for all of us to go and pick up the name and address of a child that we will pledge to send a card to.  You can even send it anonymous since I know so many people are worried about Internet safety.  I, personally, always feel a strong calling to help others, especially children who may not physically be able to help anyone because they're fighting for their lives.  The information for the company is below in case you're leery of sending a card to them.”

Founded in May of 1998, by Alexandra Bakker, the Make A Child Smile Organization,, also known as MACS, has been a source of support to children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their families. Emotional support is provided by creating the opportunity for people to visit the MACS website and learn about the children and their illnesses. 

Each month, new children are featured. A picture and biography describing the child and information about their family is published on the website. Hundreds of 'net surfers, schools, service organizations, girls/boys scouts and church groups use the MACS website as a philanthropic project where they can send cards, letters and small gifts to the featured children and their siblings through postal mail.

In December of 2000, MACS was granted tax-exempt status so that it could expand its mission to include fund-raising efforts in order to provide financial assistance to qualifying families for help with medical, funeral expenses or other costs associated with the child's illness.

Our Mission
To provide emotional and financial support to families whose children suffer from chronic or life-threatening illnesses and also give those who visit the MACS website the opportunity to participate by sending mail to the children.”

 

I decided that the kids and I would participate in this assignment.  We have chosen 3 children to send a homemade card to.  We have been thinking about ways to reach others and this is a small step in that direction.

Thanks Nancy for coming up with these assignments.

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - Blogger Friend School- Assignment 18

Posted in Blogger Friend School

 

This week’s assignment we are to tell about what we wanted to be when we grew up.  This has changed many times over the years and I’m still trying to decide what I want to do.

 

No kidding---I have always wanted to be a wife and mother to 3 children, two boys and a girl thrown in for good measure.  I even had their names picked out, but as my dream became reality the names were changed.  Probably a good thing or our family would have had a few cousins with the same names. Instead, we chose each child’s name to honor someone special in our lives.  (That story will make a good post for another time).

I enjoyed working with children. I started babysitting when I was 12 or 13, and did it pretty much every spare moment.  So I had mused about being a teacher.  I have done that and am still doing it only at home now.

I really wanted to be a singer/actress and was part of several different performances during my youth.  But alas, that wasn’t going to pay the bills.

I have been writing ever since elementary school, with a fondness for poetry and music.  I have a trunk full of songs I have written and cassette tapes of those songs that I recorded in my teenage years. I still dream of someday being published.

My mother and I often still talk about what I want to be when I grow up even now that I am over 40.  When the kids are grown and gone I would like to go back to school and learn computer programming and software design.  I would like to create educational programs for teens that keep them interested while they learn something.  I would also learn to write better so that perhaps someday I will be a published author that someone would like to read.

 

This Scripture verse seems fitting for this assignment:

Proverbs 3:5-6    Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths

 

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