A Pioneer Story

"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie with the goat, the calf & the lion & the yearling together; and a little child shall lead them." ~ Isaiah 11:6

". . . but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." ~ I Thess. 2:7

A few years ago, when we were still homeschooling, we were studying the Pioneer Era. Of course, any excuse to watch PBS's "Frontier House" series is good w/me! But I also checked out a few books on the subject; one such book was "Pioneer Women" by Linda Peavy & Ursula Smith (consultants on the Frontier House project). While reading it, I came across a story that really touched my heart . . .

I hope you don't find this morbid, but once you have lost a child, the story of others who have lost catch your attention. There is an odd comfort in numbers.

Unfortunately, a sad but common occurrence on the frontier was the death of mothers & children ~ usually, mothers were lost in childbirth. In a chapter entitled "Behind Closed Doors", Peavy & Smith deal w/this very issue. I found this story so sad, yet so precious . . .

"When Oregon pioneer Martha Gay Masterson’s little son Freddie died after a sudden and brief illness, the family buried the boy in a place where he loved to play, so that ‘the little birds he loved in life sang their evening songs over his grave.’ His little playmates ‘came loaded with lovely white flowers’ which were strewn over his grave. Only a day or so before he grew ill, Masterson had cut his curls for the first time, and asked what should be done with the ringlets, Freddie had answered, ‘You take one curl, Mama, then I will put the others out by the big tree and the birds can have them to build their nests.’ Busy with her work, Masterson did not follow him outside and had all but forgotten the incident until late in the fall when one of her daughters called her outside to see a bird’s nest she’d found. There in the tangled mass of sticks were little Freddie’s golden curls. Twenty-one years later, Masterson still had that little nest."

Isn't the Lord good?! How meaningful & precious it must have been to that family to be assured that the Lord loved their little Freddie so much as to grant his wishes ~ & to make sure that the family knew that He did. What comfort in their grief. I'm sure that meant more than words could ever have expressed. I hope someone in their family line still has that little nest.

As mothers & keepers of our homes, I am hoping that something of me ~ as the Lord has led me ~ is woven into the walls & nooks & crannies of our home.

What is it that you leave behind? Something to think about.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homeschool Objectors ~ Why So Afraid?

{Originally written 5/2008}

(1 Peter 4:4-5) – “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

I knew from the moment I heard about homeschooling that that was the choice for my future family! I knew how government schools had damaged my life, my self-perception, the negative influence of peer- and teacher-pressure that nearly ruined my life; the shock of finding out, as I lived out in the world, the difference between real truth and the revisionist science and history we were force-fed in school. Coming to terms with the fact that NO WHERE ELSE in my life would everything be provided for me in one building…that NO WHERE ELSE in my life would I spend the day locked in a building with only those of my own age…that NO WHERE ELSE in my life would there be someone to spoon-feed information – true or false – into my mind as a member of a captive audience where freedom of thought and creativity was disallowed.

Was THAT really the REAL world?!

We were forced to stunt our mental and emotional growth by spending 12+ years in a false environment. It was bad enough when I went to school…it was worse when I saw my beloved niece grow up knowing all the in’s and out’s of “the system” so that her parents hands were nearly tied and they lived in fear when they needed to discipline her. And every time I go to a mall, movie theaters, a carnival, or to a park, I see for myself that the failed social, mock-educational “project” of the John Dewey’s and Horace Mann’s of the world and other elitists who envisioned a state (government) educational system that would raise “good little soldiers for the state.”

Here’s something to chew on from Chris Klicka’s excellent book, The Right Choice: Home Schooling. Did anyone ever tell you this?:

“…[E]ducation is the transmission of basic skills and values to the next generation. It is inescapably religious, and it cannot be neutral…How we educate our youth, therefore, is crucial for the future of our nation…The training of our minds ultimately affects all our action in this life…Taking place at this moment is a major battle for our children’s minds. This is a philosophical battle which has significant spiritual ramifications. The battle for our children’s minds is being waged by those who have a Christian mind-set (requiring the teaching of Scripture as the basis of all knowledge), and the humanists (who believe man is the measure of all things)….education is never neutral. Someone’s values will be applied to each and every subject…The humanists’ goal, as envisioned by many of the founders and present operators of the public school system, is to use education to manipulate and control masses of students…Today, we see the direct ‘cause and effect’ of the public school system on our youth and our nation…State education, as we know it today, did not begin to exist in the United States until the 1840s in Massachusetts. It was not until the early 1900s that state education became widespread. As a result, by the early 1900s the authority and responsibility of education shifted from the parents to the state. This shift was the beginning of the decaying process of American education…Horace Mann, called ‘the father of public education,’ led the crusade to establish a public school system throughout the country…He wanted to establish ‘a new religion, with the state as its true church, and education as its Messiah’.’” [Emphasis mine.]

Would you like to know what these founders of modern public/government education think about God and your family as pertains to their educational goals?

John Dewey: “Faith in the prayer-hearing God is an unproved and outmoded faith. There is no God and there is no soul. Hence, there are no needs for the props of traditional religion. With dogma and creed excluded, the immutable truth is also dead and buried. There is no room for fixed, natural law or moral absolutes.” [John Dewey, “Soul-Searching,” Teacher Magazine, Sept. 1933, p. 33.]

Paul Blanshard (author of The Humanist magazine): “I think that the most important factor moving us toward a secular society has been the educational factor. Our schools may not teach Johnny to read properly, but the fact that Johnny is in school until he is 16 tends to lead toward the elimination of religious superstition.” [Paul Blanshard, “Three Cheers for Our Secular State,” The Humanist, March/April 1976, p. 17 ~~Emphasis mine.]

John Dunphy (another writer for The Humanist): “The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new – the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.” [John Dunphy, The Humanist, Jan./Feb. 1983]

How about Dr. John Goodland in his report to the National Education Agency: “Our goal is behavioral change. The majority of our youth still hold to the values of their parents and if we do not resocialize them to accept change, our society may decay.” [Dr. John Goodland, from the report “Schooling for the Future.”]

Now here are two of my “favorites.” First, from Harvard Professor Dr. Pierce in a speech delivered to over 2,000 teachers at a seminar in Denver, CO: “Every child in America entering school at the age of 5 is mentally ill because he comes to school with certain allegiances toward our founding fathers, toward our elected officials, toward his parents, toward a belief in a supernatural being, toward the sovereignty of this nation as a separate entity. It’s up to you teachers to make all of these sick children well by creating the international children of the future.” [Chester M. Pierce, 1973 International Education Seminar; Denver, CO ~~Emphasis mine.]

Secondly, a past state superintendent of California (from 1863-1868), John Swett, helped form the government schools. Here’s a tell-tale quote from him: “Children arrived at the age of maturity belong, not to the parents, but to the state, to society, to the country.” [John Swett, History of the Public School System of California, p. 113]

Why do government school agencies – the NEA, in particular – and others involved with our failing public/government school systems fear the GOD-GIVEN power of parents to properly educate their children? Because they know that we are raising future family leaders…future moms and dads who will actually teach their children the truths they were taught in OUR homeschools. We are raising future political leaders…future college educators…future pastors and missionaries…and those who are just plain happy with their life! Those who will influence society for the good.

In his research study, Homeschooling Grows Up, Dr. Brain Ray (National Home Education Research Institute) found that “over 74% of home-educated adults ages 18-24 have taken college-level courses, compared to 46% of the general U.S. population.” Civic involvement: “…76% of homeschool graduates…between ages 18-24 voted within the last 5 years, compared to only 29% of the relevant U.S. population…” Older homeschool grads were even more active “with voting levels not falling below 95% compared to a high of 53%…” With 73% of the more than 7,300 homeschool grads who were surveyed said that they were “very happy” or “pretty happy” with their lives! According to Dr. Ray’s study, homeschool grads are more content and happier with their lives with 95% of them being glad they were homeschooled and with 74% of those having children 5 or over homeschooling THEIR families!

I’d say that our homeschooled children ARE a threat to the bogus, damaging effects of the government schools that we have worked so hard to escape. And rightly so. Yes, someone somewhere will bring up some mal-adjusted homeschool family that they’ve heard of, but NEVER on the scale or severity of what is suffered by so many children and teens in the government schools. But when they can’t dispute the well socialized people or the excellent education that homeschoolers receive, then they have to attack us personally. And we thought we left the bullies behind when we left government schools. At least for now they can’t come into our homes…unless they are invited.

Keep them home where they belong! They are the hope of our future.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#115~ 3/22/11

For Today . ..

Outside my window . . . a little grey, sun trying to break through; typical Ohio spring weather.

I am thinking . . . of how the news sometimes simply wears me out, but that's all the more reason to stay on our knees!

I am thankful for . . . my new glasses that I got today!!! I broke & then lost my old pair w/bi-focals back in the summer & have been going back & forth from an old 15 yr old pair for distance & driving to a pair of readers for close up. :-/ No mon, no fun. So happy to have my bi-focals again! Thank you, Sears, for your special!

From the kitchen . . . I think I'll fix my chicken/stuffing/mushroom soup casserole tomorrow since 3 of the 4 of us will be here for supper. Hmmm...I might have to share that recipe w/you. :-)

I am wearing . . . jeans, blue shirt.

I am remembering . . . my dear, sweet Grandma ~ Bigmom. Today would be her 124th birthday. How I wish she could have met my husband & daughters, she would have loved them so & they would have adored her.

I am going . . . to do some general cleaning, go to work at the health food store tonight.

I am reading . . . Bible ~ Esther: for such a time as this!

I am hoping . . . for a waterfall of answered prayer. Hoping that when it rains, it pours.

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

I am hearing . . . the radio, typing fingers, my bracelet jangling as I type.

I am noticing . . . that since I had to get regular bi-focals w/my new glasses instead of the no-lines, I actually like them better than I thought I would. Thank You, Lord.

Around the house . . . general cleaning, picking up . . .

One of my favorite things . . . a sermon I can 'take home' & apply to my life.

Plans for the week . . . family time, work, watching American Idol, Sunday worship w/the saints!!

Pondering these words . . . I am treasured by God ~ the Creator of everything! There is something special about being chosen, loved & preferred. [from my sermon notes, based on Scripture below . . . ]

Scripture thought . . . Deut. 7:6 ~ "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession."

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .

Since I don't have a picture of my Bigmom scanned, here's her 2nd McGuffey's Reader. I cherish anything she put her sweet hands to.

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

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Banana Bread

I have made banana bread from the same recipe since my Sophomore year home-ec class ('74-'75)! I've tried several others over the years, but I always come back to this one. It is consistently moist, soft & tasty. So . . . if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? '-)

You will need:

~1/2 c. shortening OR butter OR margarine (if you use margarine, use a non-hydrogenated brand like Earth Balance)
~1 c. sugar OR 2/3 c. honey
~2 large eggs
~1 to 1-1/2 mashed ripe (RIPE) bananas
~1/3 c. buttermilk OR 1/3 c. milk & 1 ts. vinegar
~2 c. bread flour
~1 ts. baking soda
~1/2 ts. salt (I use sea salt)

Directions:

1) Cream together the shortening (or butter or margarine) & sugar (or honey) with an electric mixer

2) Then blend in the eggs & mashed ripe bananas

3) Add in the buttermilk (or milk & vinegar); sift the bread flour, baking soda & salt & then add it to the mixture. HINT: sifting helps make your bread nice & soft

4) Grease & lightly flour a 9"x5"x3" loaf pan; pour in the batter & bake 50 - 60 minutes at 350*

5) Serve warm with your homemade butter. Enjoy!!!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Strawberry Pot Herb Gardens

About 3 years ago, we had a huge Blue Spruce pine tree cut down. It had taken over a large part of our front yard, right in front of our corner porch & front window. And . . . it was dying. When we took it down, the big circle that it left was the perfect place to expand my window herb 'garden' to the outside!

I planted as many perennials as I could & a few annuals. But the Lord is gracious to me & a few of the supposed annuals resurface the next year, from time-to-time. :-) Generally, I have echinacea, rosemary, dill, sage, flax, black-eyed Susans, cilantro, garlic, flox, lavender & a cucumber vine on a lovely trellis my DH got me that's next to the house; that year, it not only covered the trellis (see photo) but it eventually spread almost the whole length of the front porch! And we have tomatoes in the back yard. This year, I'm adding yellow AND deep red/Moulin Rouge sunflowers (can't wait to see how the red ones turn out!!), chamomile, basil; & in the back yard, tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini & MAYBE a few peppers & peas.

[Moulin Rouge Sunflowers]

Something that I've wanted to try for a while has been a Strawberry Pot. Ideally, I'd like to set it right in the middle of the circle ~ EXTRA ideally, I'd like to find a bird bath w/a strawberry pot for the base like I saw a couple of years ago! It is SO cool & would be the perfect center of my little herb garden. How pleasant it would be to sit out on my log front porch swing & watch the little song birds splish & splash around.

I'm attracted to strawberry pots b/c they are so odd looking & b/c you can plant so many different things in them. If I lived in an apartment w/a balcony or if I rented a house whose landlord wouldn't let me have a little garden in the back yard, I would think that a strawberry pot would be the perfect thing.

I've done some research & asked a lot of questions & this the the advice that I've gotten for using strawberry pots:

~before filling w/potting soil, place terra cotta over the drain hole to hold in the gravel

~add a few inches of potting gravel; small enough to drain, large enough not to drain out w/the water

~the best advised herbs to plant in these pots are: thyme & oregano on the bottom, chives & dill in the middle, basil & parsley in the middle or upper-middle (depending upon the size of your pot), & a beautiful spray of rosemary on top.

We had such a long winter, I'm SO looking forward to spring, to watching my garden grow (if I can keep the varmits out of it!!!) & enjoying the fruits (& veggies & herbs) of my labors.

Do you keep any window herbs? Kitchen herbs or kitchen garden? Salad garden? Big garden? Are you changing or adding anything this year? What are some of your plans?

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Patrick's Day

"And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." ~Matt. 24:14

What was so special about the man who became known to the world as "Saint" Patrick & why is he so celebrated?  
Irish folk lore has it that he rid Ireland of snakes . . . but, being an island in the North Atlantic, there aren't any snakes there, anyway. (Wow . . . how nice!) But, what he DID do was to rid Ireland of the 'serpent' of its former mystical beliefs & worship of fairies & sprites & forces of nature & such by bringing the Word of God to pagan Ireland; he was their 1st evangelist. And that is why he is so loved.
 
A few years ago, I attended a small local seminary & one day Patrick was the subject in a Church History class. His story was far more amazing than I had ever thought . . . beginning with the fact that he was Scottish, NOT Irish. And since my ancestry (on my Daddy's side) hales from Scotland (many generations removed), it really made my ears perk up. We also watched a great DVD about him from the History Channel (backed by Faith & Values Media), narrated by Liam Neeson. Filmed entirely in Ireland, not only did the scenery take my breath away, but Patrick's story became more real to me.

"To begin at the beginnin' . . . " . . . Patrick's story begins as a young Scottish man, of about 16, living a life of relative ease in a very well-to-do family of means. He & a brother were fishing when slave traders kidnapped him & took him to Ireland . . . at the time, a land of pure paganism & dominated by the beliefs of the Celts. For 6 years as a slave, he had to live out in the wilds, in the cruel, fierce Irish weather while he watched his master's flocks. But, as God would have it, THIS was where he was to draw closer to the Lord & learn of His great provisions & mercy. Astounding.  

"The love of God, & His fear, came to me more & more. And my faith was strengthened." ~Patrick

He saw God, His provision & His mercy in all of nature; & he worshipped the CREATOR & NOT the creation. He began to pray daily, almost unceasingly, & to fast; in the midst of a fast he heard a Voice tell him, "It is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country." NO ONE had ever escaped Ireland to return to Britain.
 
How would he get out of Ireland? Then, during another time of prayer, he heard, "Behold, your ship awaits you." He was 200 miles from the sea!  

So, in faith & knowing God was on his side, he risked death ~ both from being caught & from the wilds of nature ~ & he escaped. He trusted God to show him the way. Even when he found a ship, he had to risk death again by telling them he was a run away slave & beg them to take him. They did.  

He went home . . . home! And was reunited w/his family! NO ONE had EVER escaped slavery in Ireland & the whole town celebrated his return!

But . . . he couldn't get the lost & pagan Irish out of his mind & heart. In a dream, an old Irish man came to him, handed him a scroll which read, "The voice of the Irish . . . come back to us, holy boy."  

Patrick knew he wasn't prepared to teach the Irish people the things of God & he was ashamed at his lack of education because of the his years in captivity. So, he went into the priesthood, both to learn more of the Lord & to make up for his lack of education. But the church leadership did NOT want him to go back, but he persisted & finally, understanding that he WAS being led by the Holy Spirit, they let him go.

And, in 432 A.D., he set out, sent by God, to evangelize a WHOLE nation! In a time when church leaders chained the Bible to the pulpit, forbade "folk" from reading their own Bible (IF they had one & IF they could read); in a time when the church leaders DID NOT even preach from the Bible but made their own 'rules' & their own traditions, he went as one who WOULD teach the Word of God to a lost & dying country.  

Knowing the customs & superstitions of the Irish, Patrick presented the Gospel of ONE TRUE GOD & salvation ONLY through Him in ways that they understood: He used water, not only to teach about the Living Water, but to baptize; he used the Shamrock to introduce the 3-in-1 ~ the Holy Trinity of Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Using the Bible, he brought literacy to Ireland so that they could read it for themselves. And . . . he preached the Gospel in their own language when Latin was dominate in the church of Britain.

And, of course, with great godly success comes opposition from the enemy of our souls, & in Patrick's case he used opposition from "the powers that be" in the church hierarchy. But he kept on.  

Something I so appreciate about Patrick is that he knew of & used the influence of the women-folk to evangelize their families. If God converted the women, THEY would convert their whole families!

In many ways, & in spite of the selfishness of the British church leadership, Patrick brought God's Word & His salvation to Ireland & became one of the world's most beloved Christian leaders . . . " 

You men of letters listen & pour over this: Who was it that rose me up, the fool that I am? HE inspired me, the outcast of this world, to faithfully serve the people for the duration of my life. This is my confession before I die." ~Patrick

[Celtic Knot representing Father, Son & Holy Spirit]
 
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#22~ 3/16/11

Lifestyle Evangelism

PASSAGE: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you & falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice & be glad, because great is your reward in heaven . . ." ~Matt. 5:11-12(a)

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known & read by everybody." ~II Cor. 3:2

LESSON LEARNED: Let me ask you a question: If being a Christian would put your life in danger or become illegal, would your lifestyle be enough to "convict" you?

I hope so.

I'm not talking about the size of your Bible, the crosses or pretty plaques you have hanging in your home . . . I'm talking about YOU. What does your LIFE say about your walk with Christ? What does my walk say about me?

In many surveys, it is often discovered that the majority of people, not raised in a Christian home, came to a saving knowledge of Christ because of the influence of a friend or relative. I am a testimony to that ~ I was led to the Lord through the witness & lifestyle of a few dear friends. Yep, they ganged up on me & loved me to the Lord. :-)

To me, from the vantage point of my life of sin, those friends glowed! They were able to find comfort & a smile somewhere in the darkest of times, they were encouraging in ways that no one else was; they would come along side someone in need &, sometimes, simply BE there. There was internal joy & a light of hope around them & I wanted what they had.

Can anyone say that about you?

This life is not perfect & on many days we groan inwardly for the return of Jesus & for Him to take us home. But while I'm here, I want to glow! I want the unsaved to see that I'm different & want what I have, to want the Jesus in me . . . I want my life to reflect the life-giving reality that Jesus saves us from our shameful lives of sin. And, if the time ever comes, I want my lifestyle of evangelism to ''rat me out"! To be "known & read by everybody."

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#114~ 3/15/11

For Today...

Outside my window...grey & gloomy . . . March in Ohio.

I am thinking...that I still have a little bit of a headache from my pupils being dilated yesterday.

I am thankful for...Sears having a special on eyeglasses! We haven't had insurance since DH was laid off in '09, so this wasn't quite so hard to squeeze into the budget.

From the kitchen...flaxseed bread baking; I'm very tempted to have chocolate for lunch . . . it's a veggie, right? '-)

I am wearing...jeans, my favorite dusty brown "Lakeside" hoodie, blue socks.

I am remembering...1) the great time we had Saturday night! A group birthday supper at a new BBQ place. DH, DDs #1 & #2, #1's boyfriend & some other friends to add laughter to the evening. 2) the incredible Night of Worship at our friends' church on Sunday night. 3 wonderful hours of worship...heaven on earth.

I am going...to go to work later today.

I am reading...Bible ~ II Peter; would like to read the book in my "picture thought,' below.

I am hoping...for miraculous, answered prayer; waiting on the Lord's perfect timing.

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

I am hearing...the radio, wind past the windows, a little traffic now & then, typing fingers.

I am noticing...how some house-hold things just don't get done when Mom has to go back to work. :-/

Around the house...some general pick up, running sweeper, getting some baking done, laundry...

One of my favorite things...worshipping w/my family.

Plans for the week...family time, work, praise team practice, birthday, Sunday worship w/the saints!

Pondering these words..."Jesus has set such a high standard of love that many of us think we can't live up to it & we end up settling for mediocrity."

Scripture thought..."I have been crucified w/Christ & I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me & gave Himself for me." ~Gal. 2:20

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


Enjoy 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><

Daylight Savings Time ~ Why Do We Spring Ahead?

OK ~ I have to admit it ~ I DO NOT like to "spring forward" for Daylight Savings Time! I much prefer to "fall behind" when I can gain an hour's sleep. But for those of you who also value your warm, kooshie, snuggly, cozy bed like I do, here's why we do what we do (courtesy of The Old Farmer's Almanac):

"[All states change their clocks for Daylight Savings time] except Arizona, Hawaii, [& the U.S. Colonies of] Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands & American Samoa. Credit for Daylight Savings Time goes to Benjamin Franklin, who 1st suggested the idea in 1784. The idea was revived in 1907, when William Willett, an Englishman, proposed a similar system in the pamphlet The Waste of Daylight. The Germans were the 1st to officially adopt the light-extending system in 1915 as a fuel-saving measure during WWI. The British switched 1 year later, & the United States followed in 1918, when Congress passed the Standard Time Act, which established our Time Zones. This experiment lasted only until 1920, when the law was appealed due to opposition from dairy farmers (cows don't pay attention to clocks). During WWII, Daylight Savings Time was imposed once again (this time year-round) to save fuel."


Don't forget to set your clocks FORWARD before you go to bed on Saturday night . . . we don't want to be late going to church on Sunday, do we?!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Tomato Soap

A friend of mine was telling me about how much she loves Burt's Bees' Garden Tomato soap for oily/acne-prone skin. And it is a great product ~ I enjoy a lot of Burt's Bees products (especially the Cocoa Lip Shimmer!).

But we were wondering if we could find a really good recipe for homemade tomato soap . . . & I believe I have! Best of all, it's a glycerin soap, so if you're a newby to soap-making or just don't like to work around lye, THIS recipe will be really workable for you.

I have done a little research & have tweeked this recipe; since I have had oily/acne-prone skin nearly all my life & I know, through trial & error, tears & frustration :-( what has & hasn't worked for me, I have made a few modifications to to original recipe I found.

So, if you prefer a bar facial soap instead of a liquid facial soap, you may want to give this one a try. You can find all these ingredients at a good health food store, except the glycerin soap chunks, which you can find at Hobby Lobby.

{A cute display or gift presentation idea similar to what I do}

Here's what you need:

~glycerin soap chunks
~5 TB tomato juice OR peeled & pureed tomatoes
~1-2 ts tomato powder (**optional** use this if you want an exfoliating-type bar)
~1/2 ts red wine vinegar
~15 drops lemon essential oil
~1 ts baking soda
~wooden spoon OR rubber spatula
~2 c glass measuring cup/pitcher
~soap molds

Directions:

1) In a 2-cup measuring cup/pitcher with a pour spout, fill with glycerin soap chunks & melt in your microwave at 20 second intervals until melted; stir w/spatula & work all soap away from side of glass so that you don't waste any.

2) Quickly add lemon ess. oil, tomato juice & red wine vinegar; mix well w/wooden spoon.

3) The soap will be cooling quickly, so now add the baking soda & as much tomato powder as you want; mix well.

4) Pour soap into molds. Let them set for 1-2 hours.

{Some of my glycerin soaps}

5) Carefully remove soaps from molds & onto a wire rack; let them set for 5-7 days.

{Google photo}

6) Wrap in pretty colored cellophane, tissue paper & craft paper with a little twine, raphia or ribbon tied around it, to display until you use them or give them away.

Blessings from Ohio...Kim<><