Christmas in the Heart

As Christmas approaches – it’s only a few days away now – is your heart prepared?

We always try to make sure Jesus is “the reason for the season,” and we’re on our platforms about the resistance of businesses to use even the word Christmas. We try and remind our children about the importance of giving in this season because of His gift, usually by giving either our time or our resources (or both if we can) and showing by example. Maybe your family is like mine and has a heart to give more than we keep because we really understand what it is to do without some basic things.

But how is your heart?

Worship is a heart attitude. Sometimes we have to go through the motions and be “purposefully obedient” even if and because our hearts and minds aren’t there yet, and when we discipline ourselves to do those things as an act of obedience then we are rewarded for that. (Often the reward is simply that our hearts get where they should have been in the first place.)

But sometimes we get too caught up in it all, and our actions are more out of habit than out of obedience, and our heart’s attitude has nothing to do with it.

I invite you, in these last few days before Christmas, to spend some time each and every day until your own personal celebrations in one-on-one heartfelt worship and meditation on the Lord Jesus Christ. I invite you to think on how He, in all His glory on the throne of heaven, chose to become mortal. He chose to come live among us, to guarantee in our own hearts that He knows the trials we face, to experience for Himself the evil and persecution of the enemy in the world, even unto death. I invite you to think about the prayer of Jesus at Golgotha – if there is any other way Lord, please don’t make me do this! But He didn’t stop there. He didn’t. He wanted to! But He didn’t.

I invite you to think about how it was for Mary and Joseph. The persecution, the assumptions and judgments made falsely against them. They were the most blessed people on the planet! But their circumstances caused judgments of evil against them. If those people only knew! And can you imagine being the mother of the only son of God? That’s one that always blows my mind; she was indeed chosen and blessed among women, to be trusted with the babyhood, toddlerhood, childhood of Him who would save us all.

What was it like for them? What things entered Christ’s mind? The Word says He dealt with every temptation known to man. What things have I dealt with in my life, and even privately in my mind, and how would – did – Jesus handle those same temptations? What a standard!

He was all God, but He became all Man so that I could think on those very things. This weekend, friend, make an effort to truly remember the reason for the season and to appreciate not only His sacrifice on the cross but what it meant and means now that He chose to come in the first place. Before He died, He lived, and He still lives! Praise Jesus!

Whole Wheat Biscuits

Biscuits are one of our favorite way to help spread a meal. My guys love them. It’s expected for me to make them whenever we have something like chili or soup. But we also enjoy them for breakfast and for dinner with out meal.  While these are not soaked, they do include fresh ground flour.  One of these days, I’ll get around to converting these to a more Nourishing Traditions  based recipe, but for now, we eat them as they are.  I’d also like to try converting them to gluten free.

[gmc_recipe 729]

Simple Christmas Decorating

This Christmas isn’t going quite the way we’d planned it. Tomorrow or the next day we were supposed to be boarding a plane to be with family on the other side of the country. But it turns out we aren’t going anywhere for Christmas; it will be just the four of us again -and the cat.

It casts a shadow on the holidays that is true but it doesn’t have to be melancholy the entire time. I’d like to make a statement that is stated often but overlooked by so many: Jesus CHRIST is the reason for Christmas. Sometimes even in families where that is understood the mentality to commercialize the holiday has infiltrated and taken some of the meaning away. It’s been replaced by stress of what to give and what do we want.

This post however is about how we’ve decorated our home to give it a more cheerful atmosphere. We can’t replace family with decorations; of course not. But looking at them and making them make some good memories and give us times of happiness.

Last year we made cloth ornaments to send to family that was far away. This year we made cornstarch/baking soda dough ornaments. We even added cinnamon to a few in hopes of creating a pleasant smell. (The dough by itself doesn’t smell like much; it’s not offensive.) They didn’t ‘cure’ in time to send them away so when they are finished, we’ll add them to our tree.

If you are on Pinterest (if not, you should be *wink*) here is a search for Christmas crafts. I’d written a post a few weeks ago about preparing for Christmas here that includes some of the things I’ll talk about in this post, but no worries! It’s not a duplicate post. Besides ornaments, snowflakes are something that always adorn our home this time of year. Paper snowflakes of course. It is something that my daughter started many years ago.

Here are a few of ours:

You might recall that tree from a previous post I’ve done- Thankful All Year Long. We still have this tree from last year -2011, Thanksgiving. I just love that tree…

Another bit of decorating we do to first take our minds off of being far away from those we love at this time of year and to make our house more ‘festive’ are cone trees –everywhere. This is something we started last year and it’s just grown! 

The photo abover were the first ones we made and that’s where their designated spot has been. We stack these to store them away. These were originally made for an Advent activity that the kids were doing. Now they are part of our holiday decorations.

Here are more trees, placed randomly throughout our home.

Perhaps you noticed that the above photo has a paper tree that isn’t like the rest. We got the idea from a Family Fun magazine to make trees from…magazines! It is really easy to do and it doesn’t destroy the magazine (in case you would like to read it again at some point). This is something new for this year.

Perhaps the first thing that others think of when they want to get into the Christmas spirit is the Christmas tree. Since we thought we weren’t going to be here, this bit has been done in stages. Originally we were not going to put up the tree but it did indeed go up shortly after the first of December. It got decorated days later and little by little it has ‘come together’. It still does not have the topper. She is sitting among some paper trees, waiting for her moment of greatness *smile*.

The ornaments on the tree are ones we’ve carried with us for years. We’ve not bought ornaments for at least 6 years. Many are from previous years that were specially chosen for us from my mother-in-law. Each year we do add something to the tree but it’s not something we bought and sometimes it may not have even been intended for the tree.

Finally, the last thing that *I* look at to keep my spirits from getting low during the holidays that can’t be spent with family, is a gift a friend sent to me. It is a reminder that every single day is the true gift.

That is above one of the doorways in my house where it is easily visible. (I added the heart while making snowflakes; it was a result of cutting out the design.)

And I hope that I remember, as well as my family, that Jesus is the ultimate gift. His birth made it possible for his gift of redemption.

I hope that all have a wonderful Christmas season, wherever you are.

Creative Food Storage

The wheat berries we purchase come in food grade plastic buckets, so we save them up. Each bucket holds a different item beans in one, rice in another and lentils in a third, and so on. This works well for us. We’ve also stored them inside those big plastic storage tubs. While not food grade, they do work, especially for food that is already wrapped in plastic (like beans and rice). These things are all easy to store and you can hide them out just about anywhere. Closets, under the beds, and placed like that. Don’t be afraid to use these areas of extra space as temporary pantries.

I have a bunch of gallon sized glass jars that I use to store enough of the items right in the kitchen. When empty, I just refill them. I store them in the pantry. They work fine there and I can just pull them down and use as needed. I got the gallon jars from Freecycle, but since my kids LOVE pickles, I’ll probably start buying 1 of the big gallon jars of pickles every couple of weeks so I can get more. When they get empty, they get filled back up from the more long-term storage.

There are so many ways that you can store your food in your home. Just get creative! Hide food storage under beds and other big furniture. Inside closets, your garage, barns and out buildings. The important thing is to make sure they are rodent and bug proof. There’s nothing more frustrating than to be in a situation where you need the food only to find it’s been infested by bugs or eaten by rodents.

Root Cellars

Root cellars can come in many forms. You can dig a formal root cellar to store your foods in, this is a pretty simple way to do it, but it does require a lot of work. There are lots of videos online that you can find out how to build a root cellar. Here are a few examples:

To read more about root cellaring, I can highly recommend the book, “Root Cellaring” by Mike and Nancy Bubel. It is available in most bookstores and at Amazon.

Other Underground Storage

You can also bury a big plastic or metal trash or barrel can to use as a “root cellar”. You could have several of these located around your property with each one storing a different vegetable. These are really simple to build and maintain and are a quick and easy solution to storing garden produce for the winter. Below is a video on how to make one out of a 55 gallon plastic barrel.

Another way to create underground storage is to bury old refrigerators and or freezers. These make good underground food storage containers. Below is a video for making one out of an old refrigerator.

You could easily do the same sort of thing with an old freezer. If you don’t have any of these laying around, you could probably find a few by using Freecycle or simply asking around. You can usually get these for free or very inexpensively.

I have also seen people bury shipping containers, the refrigerator units off of ice cream trucks and things like that. Another popular way to create underground storage is with old military “bury” boxes. These come in a variety of sizes and are great for storing food and supplies underground. There are so many ways to create underground storage cheaply and easily, so this is a great option for storing your food and supplies.

Above Ground Storage

Above ground storage of food can be anything from barns and outbuildings, which are simple ways to do it, to more elaborate or unusual storage containers. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Shipping containers can make fantastic above ground storage and can be had relatively cheaply.

Whatever you do for above ground storage, you will want to make sure it is insulated to help keep the food from getting too hot or too cold. It should also be vented in such a way that hot air can escape. You will also probably want to build shelves to help store the items efficiently.

Recommended Storage Times

The recommendations at the link below are helpful to keep in mind when storing food and to help you know how long you can store for and when you need to use the item up by.

https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/storage_life_of_foods.htm

Lentil Chili

I am always looking for inexpensive ways to feed my family. Lentil Chili is one of the easiest and also one of my family’s favorite. It’s a simple meal that leaves enough leftovers for a second meal, which makes it extra economical. This is my recipe, along with the price breakdown.

1 lb. dry brown lentils ($0.99)
8 tbsp. apple cider vinegar ($0.12)
1 lb. ground beef ($7.00) (Grass-fed Beef)
2 (8-oz.) cans organic tomato sauce ($2.00)
1 can organic Rotel style tomatoes ($1.00)
2 tbsp. chili powder ($0.17)
1 organic onion powder ($0.75)
1 tbsp. Redmond’s or himalyan salt ($0.01)

Now, of course, the price goes up if you change the ingredients around. When I can, I do use organic. Also, what you serve with the chili will raise the price of the meal. We often serve it with a salad out of the garden, which is free, except for the salad dressings. Almost always, my husband requests flour tortillas and cheese. Another favorite way to eat this is with corn bread. So, all of these things will vary the cost per serving. However you serve it, Lentil Chili is a cost effective meal that’s cheap, filling and healthy for you!

[gmc_recipe 706]

Reducing How Much Trash We Produce

We haven’t had trash service for a long time. Since we live in the country (way in the boonies!), we would have to pay for it and it’s rather expensive. So instead we reuse what we can, recycle (glass/plastic/metal/aluminum), burn in a burn barrel(paper and cardboard) and compost. Below are some of the ways that we recycle our trash to make useful items out of.

I save all glass jars with lids because I use them to water bath can (mayonnaise jars, jelly, etc.) If a canning lid & ring will fit on them, I save them! They work well for me! Plus these recycled jars make excellent food storage for dried staples and leftovers in the refrigerator.

We’ve even started saving toilet paper tubes to use for starting our seeds! I have them all year in a tub. To save room and make fore fit, I flatten the tubes first before storage. To use, just cut them in half and un-flatten them. Fill with potting soil and plant your seed. Then when it’s time for your seedlings to go into the garden, you can just plant it tube and all. The cardboard paper tube just composts away!

I also rinse out our cans and use some of them to make emergency candles…they work GREAT for that! I keep a stack of them in the pantry (I use used wax I buy at garage sales, via old used candles or Gulf Wax used for canning). I make my own wicks by using cotton crochet thread, braided and dipped several times in wax.

We have a big covered cage in the back yard that we put all our aluminum cans and foil in. Then when it’s full, we haul it off to sell…last time we made over $100 that way!

I take the paper we receive and roll it up into a tight twist and then dip them in wax…fire starters!

Any plastic tubs with lids get saved for storing leftovers, especially those that go to work with my husband, as they often never make it back home. This includes cottage cheese, butter, and sour cream containers.

I even reuse old worn out clothing! Most of them have buttons, zippers, etc that can be saved. You can also usually get some usable fabric from them. I cut out what I can save and smaller pieces get cut into 3 inch quilt squares…when I have enough I’ll make a quilt!

There are so many ways you can use up your trash to make useful things. Before I throw anything away I consider it and see if it has another use. We burn our trash as needed, compost all food and paper scraps (what can compost), and recycle once a month. We have to take the trash to a couple of different places to recycle, but it’s not that big of a hassle, as we just plan on making a whole day of it and we do the recycling, plus hit a couple of farmer’s markets and do any of our major shopping that we need to do in Waco (hit Hobby Lobby, homeschool store, etc.). It works out pretty good for us. Plus the boys try to hit the Army surplus store, Academy and The Outdoor Store.

So tell me, how do you reduce the amount of trash you produce? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup

It’s getting that time of year here in Texas where things are finally starting to cool off and I start craving soup! It’s also the time of year when sweet potatoes are in abundance and can be found at really great prices. But as I’ve stated before if my recipe for Maple Pecan Sweet Potatoes, I REALLY am not a big fan of sweet potatoes.  There are really only a handful of sweet potato recipes that I like.  This recipe for Jalapeno Sweet Potato Soup is actually one of my favorite ways to each sweet potatoes.  This soup is a real favorite around here! It’s creamy, sweet and smokey with just a hint of hotness.

I first discovered this recipe at a local deli and just fell in love with it.  I was lucky enough to be able to get the recipe and have updated it to adjust it to my family’s likes and to make it a bit more healthy.  Now for people who think this is an odd combination, don’t let that stop you from trying it. It is delicious!  It’s not too spicy and the “hotness” can always be adjusted by using less jalapenos or even by using the type of jalapenos that aren’t hot.  Enjoy it, it’s a favorite around here!

[gmc_recipe 680]

God’s Workmanship?

We are a kind of a miracle. Not that we always feel like it, no .But we are God’s intentional highly cherished creation. Paul said it beautifully…”We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus” Eph.2:10 Do you feel like God’s workmanship today created specifically for a life of purpose and significance? i hope you do. But i didn’t this morning. I felt permanently burdened by injuries from past events, yeah, I felt more like a bruised cull or a sorry mess than God’s own one-of-kind marvel, created in Christ Jesus. Living for years , wondering if I could make one certain one happy, living in fear that the next time he was unhappy it would be my fault all over again, for what I didn’t do or know about;and now in later years the same feelings I allowed to be put on me by someone I can never hope to please, and no matter what is said all is questioned, and no amount of apologizing is ever enough. Do you understand what kind of feeling its like? But My husband once again helped me this morning to see that as much as satan would like to destroy what God created for me to do , satan does not have that right! I am alive in Christ no matter what the past injuries, my branch may not look quite the same , but there is no plan B! God is picturing your life and mine brimming with extraordinary abundance! Feeling like I did this morning , is simply crippling unbelief that would have liked to cloud my day to keep out the sun of God’s pleasure and strength that He reserved for me today!

 

–Luella

Gluten Free Spicy Sugar Cookies

Over the course to the Gran Mill Wagon challenge, I have mostly been experimenting with cookies–simply because that’s my family’s go-to sweet. Since we’re cutting out gluten, it was important that I re-create our family favorites as gluten-free alternatives. We live on a very TIGHT income and simply cannot afford the expensive gluten-free flour options from the grocery store. So that’s why I was so thankful to receive the Wonder Mill grain mill. It’s not only one of the best grain mills I’ve ever used, but it has literally saved us a TON of money! Instead of having to purchase expensive gluten-free flours and products from the grocery store, I am now able to make my own! I’ve been experimenting mostly with rice flour and I can buy the organic brown rice MUCH cheaper than the organic brown rice flour. It simply makes more sense (and cents!) to grind your own!

Over the course of this challenge, I’ve used home ground rice flour the most. I’ve used it in my Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies, my Raisin Spice Cookies, and my Chocolate Cookies with great success. My family has adapted to the rice flour very well.  I’m pleased with that, because it’s saving me money and allowing us to eat more gluten-free without breaking the bank.

This recipe for my Spicy Sugar Cookies is the latest recipe that I’ve adapted to gluten-free with rice flour.  These turned out really flavorful and crunchy. I was hoping for a softer cookie, but these turned out really well anyway. The fellas ate them all up quickly, so they must have been okay.

[gmc_recipe 662]