Back to Reality . . .

Back to Reality . . . 

We are back from our long-awaited vacation. Photos to come . . . 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

It Could Be Any Day Now . . .

Ron DiCianni

"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other these words . . . Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night . . .

"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

~I Thessalonians 4:16-18, 5:1,2 & 23,24

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to heaven. To be in the Presence of the Lord forever . . . & ever . . . & ever . . .

I have been so encouraged while reading the assigned Scriptures our church is going through for this week's portion of "The Story." Paul's teachings are unlike any other ~ perfect for after Easter ~ what a testimony, what a life lived to the glory of our resurrected Jesus Christ.

But my favorite part of Paul's writings, the ones that encourage me the most, are his passages about the Second Coming of our Lord a Savior Jesus Christ! Paul said to "encourage each other with these words" ~ so I want to encourage YOU . . .

JESUS CHRIST IS RETURNING SOON!

All Biblical prophecy concerning Him, our Messiah and Savior, have been fulfilled EXCEPT His Second Coming! We need to keep our hearts turned to prayer and attuned to the stirrings of His heart for the lost while we wait, as it could be any day now. How blessed we are and what joy and hope fills our hearts because of His sacrifice. I can hardly keep the tears from starting ~ O Glorious Day!

"One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies, with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior, Jesus is mine!
One day He's coming ~ O, glorious day!"
John Mark Hall;Michael Jr Bleecker

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#152~ 4/17/12

For today . . .

Outside my window . . . lovely sunshine & blue skies.

I am thinking . . . that I'm so glad to be off tomorrow!

I am thankful . . . to have a job I enjoy in order to be off tomorrow!

From the kitchen . . . possibly eating out tonight b/c of my long work day.

I am wearing . . . olive capris, rust shirt, black drapie, olive & rust long scarf.

I am creating . . . a peaceful Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to take DD#2 & a co-worker/friend to work.

I am wondering . . . how much I can get accomplished in 2 days.

I am reading . . . "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly.

I am hoping . . . for a fantastic out-come.

I am looking forward to . . . coming plans.

I am learning . . . that God has me where I am for many reasons.

Around the house . . . finishing a project, preparing.

One of my favorite things . . . the Gulf of Mexico.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . planning, preparing . . .

A favorite quote for today . . . "I am God's living proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!" ~ from Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "When they saw the courage of Peter & john & realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished & they took note that these men had been with Jesus." ~Acts 4:13. Can anyone who knows me say that they believe that Jesus Christ is real because of MY life & the changes they have seen in me?

A peek into my day . . .

I need to plant some more sunflower seeds.

Read 100's of other Daybook's at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

This Little Piggie . . .

I suffer from Plantar Fasciitis. I only recently realized what my symptoms where a product of, so it made perfect sense why my Earth Shoes are such a life-saver for me . . . maybe literally.

In case you are unaware, my mom passed away in September. She had Alzheimer's, & although it highly contributed to her death, what actually took her life was that her feet literally DIED.

She had worked at a local high-end department store for about 40 years & managed their she-she-foo-foo clothing department. And as such, she had to dress the part everyday ~ high-fashion clothes & high heels 8-10 hours a day, everyday. And she paid for it with her life.

I, too, worked retail at the same chain of stores (Revlon & Clinique make up artist) for many years in my teens & twenties &, 2 years ago I went back to work outside the home (b/c of my husband's lay-off) in a health food store, at which I am on my feet all day.

A few years ago, I began to notice that my feet would hurt when I got up in the morning & whenever I sat down for a while. Nothing terrible, but it would take 4-5 steps to "work out the kinks" & then the pain would go away & all would be well. Last year, I discovered that Anne Kalso Earth Shoe were again being sold in the U.S.A. & I was thrilled. I wore them in my teens & early 20's until they disappeared from the scene. After that, I wore Birkenstocks, which I also REALLY like. But when I got my 1st pair of Earth Shoes after so many years, the negative heel simply did wonders for my foot pain.

I recently found out that my foot pain is a condition called Plantar Fasciitis ~ generally caused by high arches (check), walking or standing for long periods of time (check), tight Achilles Tendons (check) &/or packing on some excess weight (gulp), common in middle-aged people ( :-/ ) . . . with the tale-tell signature symptom being "Most people with plantar fasciitis have pain when they take their first steps after they get out of bed or sit for a long time. You may have less stiffness and pain after you take a few steps" . . . CHECK!

So, after some research, advice from fellow sufferers & my own experience, here are the 3 things that help me the most:

~before I get out of bed, I flex my feet up as far as I can, count to 10 & do it again about 3 times; plus throughout the day, I press my hands against a wall or desk & press my feet forward

~I faithfully use BAXIL, a liquid Hyalauronic Acid, twice a day (awesome product)

~I wear Kalso Earth Shoes or Birkenstocks almost exclusively. Their negative heel keeps my tendon flexed all through the day. They are not cheap & I have to save to get them, but losing the use of my feet or my life would be far more costly. After what I watched my mom suffer, I don't think I'll ever wear shoes w/over a 1" heel again.

With all that said, I thought you might like to see my sweet summer Earth Shoes called The Rhyme.

My little piggies say, "Ahhh . . . " all the way home!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Worth of a Stay-at-Home Mom

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." ~II Timothy 1:5

"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."

I'm SURE that by now you have heard of the ridiculous, incredibly rude, self-centered, uneducated, uninformed, prejudicial (but I sugar coat) remark made by Hilary Rosen, one of B.O.'s head strategists about Ann Romney AND ALL stay-at-home moms in America ~ "She's never worked a day in her life." It reminded me of something that happened to me a while back . . .

About 15 years ago, I lead a homeschool Girl Scout troop. Our local council was in the midst of brain-storming for a function about "career choices" for women; so that "our girls" could start thinking about what they wanted to do when they started considering their careers & college choices. Oh, they were SO excited about it . . . they were going to have all local career women with tables & booths & each one would talk about their fantastic jobs. Woohoo!

They had booked a local realtor, a teacher, a scientist, a business owner, an artist, a Mary Kay lady, a police woman, and some others that I can't remember . . . but . . . I happened to notice that there was NO STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

I brought this up to the leader of the project ~ "Excuse me, but are there any plans for a stay-at-home or homeschool mom?" ~ & she & the ladies standing in the group with her looked at me in stunned silence. When they finally got their collective whits together, they smiled that "oh, she must be humored" smile & stutteringly said, "Oh . . . well . . . if YOU would like to bring THAT aspect to the floor, YOU are welcome to." I think I shocked them even more when I said, "I would LOVE to!" You could nearly read their collective thoughts ~ "Oh, crud!" . . . or . . . um . . . something to that effect.

So, the day of the program, I set up my little table. I brought our Prairie Primer unit study that we were doing that year & all sorts of projects the girls had done, books they'd read, photos of field trips and activities; I even had some homemade soap I'd made. Everyone dutifully went around to every table & looked at all the goodies the ladies had brought and asked any questions they had. When they got to mine, many moms seemed "suddenly" a little sheepish & embarrassed, but I joyfully told them our story & answered their obligatory questions.

I think the most chilly the room became was when I got up to make my presentation. I told them that I had the high honor & privilege of NOT ONLY taking care of my family, but I was our daughters' teacher, as well! I went over the chores that I did on a daily & weekly basis ~ yes, I did laundry with homemade laundry detergent, I made soap, I tried to cook from scratch, I mopped & swept, I dusted ~ you could see many of the moms snickering & the little girls looking at me with a look of dread. BUT ~ the clincher was my closing ~ it went something like this . . .

"The very best part of my job is that I GET to stay home with my girls all day long! I GET to not only work with them, but to play with them any time I want. I GET to be home with them when they are sick & not HAVING to worry about losing my job by taking off work to be with them, I GET to take them on fun field trips. And most of all, I GET to hug & kiss them & tell them & show them how much I love them any time I want!"

My applause was a little tepid & I didn't have many moms gathering around my table while I was tearing down, like some of the other presenters did, but I think I made many of the attendees ~ young & not so young ~ think & take notice of the worth of a stay-at-home-homeschool mom.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Spray Deodorant

I had 3 problems I needed to find a homemade answer to:

1) I just love the recipe I found for homemade solid deodorant, but since it needs to be kept in the refrigerator, it doesn't travel well. Bummer.
2) THE Man has a . . . "wetness issue" . . . & I don't like for him ~ or anyone else in our family ~ to use anti-perspirants. Time & time again, they are linked with certain cancers (specifically, breast cancer in women).

3) Can I find the answer to these dilemmas with 1 product?
YES!!

The Answer: a homemade SPRAY deodorant :-)
Sage has always been a great natural deodorant. It can reduce sweat gland function by as much as 50%; it is also anti-septic, astringent & reduces pore size. Sage deodorant also works great on foot odor, just spray in your shoes & on the bottom of your feet.

WARNING ~ **DO NOT use sage if you are pregnant or have epilepsy!!! You may substitute cypress essential oil.**
You will need:

~2/3 c witch hazel
~2 ts zinc-oxide powder
~2 TB aloe vera juice (NOT gel)
~30-40 drops of sage essential oil **or cypress essential oil**
~8 oz (approximately) dark glass (preferably) or plastic spray/mist bottle

Directions:

1. in a bowl, pour in the witch hazel, add the zinc-oxide powder to it, stir a little to blend
2. add the aloe vera juice & sage essential oil
3. carefully pour the mixture into the spray bottle

BONUS!!!

Here's a spray deodorant for sensitive skin ~

You will need:

~spray bottle, witch hazel, zinc-oxide & aloe vera juice listed above
~30 drops of calendula extract (I recommend a tincture from Herb Pharm ~ you can get these at your local heath food store)
~10-20 drops of lavender essential oil

Directions:

~Same as above.

Calendula & lavender are powerful yet gentle germ, bacteria & odor fighters.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Resurrection Day 2012

Because of the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ made to become our once-for-all-time sacrificial Lamb, we Christians are blessed & spoiled with a day to celebrate His power over & defeat of death, hell & the grave. Thank You, Jesus, that the tomb is EMPTY!

We were blessed on our Resurrection Day in so many ways. The most special being that DD#2 went with THE Man & I to our church (instead of her own) to worship with us. I miss worshipping as a whole family. Worship time was a blessing & our dear pastor & friend's sermon stirred our hearts. But I have to say that one of my favorite moments of the service was when my dear Man sang "The Day He Wore My Crown."

An oldie but a goodie by Phil Johnson ~ not only do the words stir the soul, but it was the 1st song I ever heard him sing way back in 1982 & so it holds a special place in my heart in many ways.

Then, after service, we met DD#1 & her fiancee'

& DD#2's BFF at Olive Garden.

Food, fun & laughter had by all. I love those kind of days.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

A Fond Farewell to the "Painter of Light"

Rest in Peace Thomas Kinkade ~ Painter of Light.

As Chandler is my maiden name, The Chandler Cottage is a family favorite & we have a few pieces that grace our home.

"Well done, good & faithful servant." ~ Matt. 25-21

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Man of Sorrows! What a name for the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Did my Savior bleed for me? Did He die to set me free?
His forgiveness pardons me, Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Drops of grief can ne'er repay my great debt of love this day.
Lord, I give myself away; Hallelujah! What a Savior!

I will praise His glorious Name, As His grace heals all my shame.
May my life His love proclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
{Words by Philip P. Bliss}

Easter Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Last to Leave, the First to See

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance . . . So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb . . . He saw and believed . . . Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying . . . At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that is was Jesus.

"'Woman,' He said, 'why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?'

"Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.'

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary . . . '
~selected verses from John 20:1-16

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know it's safe in their mouth." ~quote from a child

I am one of those people who always seem to be one of the last to he leave many events ~ family functions, church, receptions, get-togethers with friends. Maybe it's because I'm a social person, maybe it's because I hate to see a good thing end, or maybe it's because I hate good-byes; I really don't know why, but it seems to end up that way.

But in being one of the last people to leave I am often rewarded. My favorite "rewards" come in precious conversation and sharing with those who are also some of the last to leave. I have had some of the best personal time with friends and family by simply hanging around after the gang has left.

It's also hard to leave someone that you know you may never see again; at least in this lifetime. Mary Magdalene must have been like that, too. Her whole nasty world was turned up-side-down by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. She was hanging with a whole new group of people ~ people who loved her for who she was becoming, not condemning her for who she had been ~ and it was all because of Jesus, the Lover and Savior of her soul.

Now, Jesus was viciously and cruelly taken from the world, hastily laid in a borrowed tomb without the benefit of preparation or ceremony. And now . . . NOW . . . Jesus was GONE!

But there was the gardener . . . he may know! When she asked the "Gardener," He lovingly let the most beautiful sound she had ever heard flow from His lips: "Mary." Oh, how lovely that must have sounded! It was Jesus . . . living again . . . raised triumphant over death, hell and the grave . . . and He was saying her name.

The last to leave was the first to see. Rewarded again.

Blessings, Kim<><

Homemade Anti-Airborne Infections Spray

This is a great spray to have on-hand at ALL times of the year . . .

• if someone has a cold, flu or virus
• if you are having company & don't know what strange germs they may be bringing in ~ especially if they are from out of state or out of country; this will benefit BOTH you & them
• to take with you on vacations & spray in your rental car, restrooms, hotel/condo/cabin/cottage/RV/etc
  
• spray on your sheets

You will need:

~1/2 oz eucalyptus essential oil
~1/2 oz bergamot essential oil
~1/2 oz lavender essential oil
~amber or blue glass mixing bottle (around 2 oz)
~distilled water
~atomizer/spray/mist bottle {**all bottles pictured are available through Frontier Natural Products OR from your local health food store**}

Directions:

1. Mix all 3 essential oils in a small, dark (amber or blue) glass bottle w/a good lid; you will not use all of the oil mixture at one time & the remaining will need stored in a cool place
   
2. fill the atomizer/spray/mist bottle almost full w/the distilled water ~ leave room to add the essential oils & still have some "shake room"
3. Add at least 30 drops (or more, to your preference) of the oil blend to the distilled water
4. shake well to blend; shake well before each use
5. use as desired

I really like having this w/us on vacations. You never know who was in the room/condo/cabin/cottage/RV/etc before you or what they left behind. :-?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><