This is a place for lessons learned & shared. A love for the Lord & frugal living; for homemade food, personal care, health care, home care & Bible-centered herbalism. And, after having homeschooled for 16 years, a heart for the homeschool community.
Welcome to Marmee's Pantry
MARMEE'S PANTRY IS NOW A REALITY!!!
Bulk Food & Home Remedies 25 S. Miami St. West Milton, Ohio 45383
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Hello ~ I'm Marmee
"Feminism is mixed up with the muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands." ~G. K. Chesterson
I am a Christian wife & mom. We homeschooled for 16 great years, 11 of which I lovingly served as Miami County Ohio's homeschool co-ordinator, 7 years writing for The Old Schoolhouse homeschool magazine & serving as their Ohio coordinator & even though my heart will always be in the homeschool community, I feel the need to expand & move on into another area that is close to my heart ~ frugal living . . . including, but not limited to, money-saving tips; homemade food, personal care, health care, home cleaning; herbalism, etc. I am also a writer for the Christian Women's Voice magazine, a writer for The Biblical Herbal e-magazine, an herbalist, a free-lance writer, & a speaker on homeschooling, Christian women's issues, frugal living & herbs ~ I would be honored to speak to your group or at your retreat! Attempting to honor the Lord in all I do.
". . . when I found the one my heart loves. I held him & would not let him go . . ."~Song of Songs 3:4
I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day ~ My Girls!
"One thing remember, my girls: mother is always ready to be your confidant, father to be your friend; & both of us trust & hope that our daughters, whether married or single, will be the pride & comfort of our lives." ~Marmee~ Little Women
Jessica ~ An Angel Then, A REAL Angel Now ~ Read Her Story Here . . .
Oct. 1985~Jan. 1986
Many times in my life I have been asked something like, "How do you survive hard times or when bad things happen to you?" My answer is generally a version of: "You have to weigh your loses in light of the best & the worst ~ My best: this is not my eternal home, I have a Savior who paid for my sins & has prepared an incredible place for me to spend eternity w/Him; my worst: I've buried a child, all else pales in comparison." ~Kim Wolf<><
Grab My Button! ~Click, Scroll, Copy & Paste
Don't Believe The Hype of Some Higher Priced Products ~
Another dear blogger asked about rescuing an old, rusty cast iron skillet on her blog, so I thought others might be interested in my reply.....
Pantry Peeps!
A True Home . . .
"A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded." ~J.R. Miller
"In misfortune or disaster, what lofty heroism does she exhibit & what courage does her bravery kindle in her husband's heart! Instead of being crushed by the unexpected loss, she only then rises to her full grandeur of soul. Instead of weeping, repining & despairing, & thus adding tenfold to the burden of the misfortune, she cheerfully accepts the changed circumstances & becomes a minister of hope & strength. She turns away from luxury & ease to the plainer home, the simpler life, the humbler surrounding ~ without a murmur. It is in such circumstances & experiences that the heroism of woman's soul is manifested." ~Home-Making by J.R. Miller {1882}
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy leaves are so unchanging; O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy leaves are so unchanging; Not only green when summer's here, But also when 'tis cold and drear. O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy leaves are so unchanging!
Yes, to so many of us, this is an old, familiar tune. Brought out every Christmas just like the ornaments & tinsel we decorate our own Christmastrees with. But do you know why we decorate our trees? Here's a little bit of symbolism to help you ~ and your family ~ appreciate the tradition even more . . .
Many pagan cultures "worshipped" the Evergreen trees as a sign of immortality but to counter pagan falsehood with a degree of Godlytruth, believers started erecting Evergreens on December 24th. Then, to honor Christ's birth Martin Luther began the tradition of bringing inand decorating small Evergreensat around 1500. Then, by the 1800's the ChristmasTree was well established.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy candles shine so brightly! O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy candles shine so brightly! From base to summit, gay and bright, There's only splendor for the sight. O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Thy candles shine so brightly!
In the late 1700's, people started adding more decoration to the Evergreens. They added candles to symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ as The Light of the World (the same symbolism is why we decorate our homes with lights ~ to show the world that our Light has come!) [John 18:12]; ornaments of pine cones, baby's hair, embellished combs, hand-made paper snowflakesand chains, holly and ivy, fruit, cotton batting as snow or "angel hair" . . . items that were special and had meaning to the family. Christians also began to hang wreaths on their doors and in their homes and even small wreaths were hung on the trees. These never-ending circles of Evergreen represent eternity, endless hopeand even God Himself as our Alpha and Omega.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! How richly God has decked thee! O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! How richly God has decked thee! Thou bidst us true and faithful be, And trust in God unchangingly. O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! How richly God has decked thee! !"
And the crown of every Christmastree is either an angel or a star. Both recognise the fact that a heralding angel of God came to the Shepherds to announce the birth of God's only Son, Jesus Christ, and that a star led their way to the family, find the holy Babelying in a manger.
And gifts under the tree? Well, that has a couple of meanings. One is that after their long journey following the star, the three Maji (Wise Men) gave gifts of precious worth to the Boy King ~ gold, frankincense and myrrh. The other is that the Lord, in His love and goodness towards us, His children, has blessed us with the opportunity to celebrate His birthday by giving and receiving gifts.
We truly serve a wonderful Father God, a precious Lord & a tender Holy Spirit ~ they do all the work and we have all the fun.
I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse of our family Christmastree and the blessings wrapped in brown paper that wait for our family to open on Christmas Day.
From my family to yours ~ have a very merry and blessed CHRISTmas.
Okay...so now I want to come celebrate Christmas at your house, Kim! Your tree is SO pretty and I love that star! Did you make the star, Kim? Inquiring minds would like to know how to do it, if you did. And I love the gift wrapping idea! SO sweet! Thanks for sharing the stories behind the decorating of the tree, as well.
Kim, I hope you have had a awesome Christmas Day. I loved reading your thoughts on the Christmas Tree. I even learned something new. How grateful I am for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the opportunity to worship Him this beautiful Christmas day. Blessings and hugs!
Edinburgh
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Okay...so now I want to come celebrate Christmas at your house, Kim! Your tree is SO pretty and I love that star! Did you make the star, Kim? Inquiring minds would like to know how to do it, if you did. And I love the gift wrapping idea! SO sweet! Thanks for sharing the stories behind the decorating of the tree, as well.
ReplyDeleteI hate to admit it, but NO I did not make the star. It is from Hobby Lobby. They have wonderful rustic, vintage ornaments.
DeleteHope you had a wonderful Christmas, full of fun & memories.
Blessings from Ohio . . .
Kim, I hope you have had a awesome Christmas Day. I loved reading your thoughts on the Christmas Tree. I even learned something new. How grateful I am for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the opportunity to worship Him this beautiful Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs!
Kim I so enjoyed your post. It made me so thankful
ReplyDeletethat we have a wonerful Savior. Hope you had a blessed Christmas!
Have a Happy New Year!!
Sue