Now, I am not what you call a football fan. But I married one. So I have taken an interest in the playoff games. I find them more interesting because the stakes are higher, I guess. There's more real drama than hype. We watched the game between the Cardinals and the Eagles.
Now, I live in Pennsylvania, so you would think that I would be rooting for the Eagles. But I was hollering for the Cardinals.
First, because my husband was yelling for the Eagles. It put a little more interest in the living room to have us pulling for the opposite teams.
And second, because I happen to remember when Kurt Warner was the quarterback for the Rams and they won the Super Bowl way back when. And Kurt Warner is an outspoken Christian. And if I recall correctly, he and his family have experience with autism.
Go, Cardinals! Yippee!
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Knowing What You Are Eating
A couple of women from my church have started organizing and offering different events to help re-introduce the skills of homemaking that used to be commonplace. Yesterday was our bread-making event.
When I found out that 14 people had signed up, I was surprised. I said to my husband, "That shows there is an interest and a need in these things."
So even though the weather wasn't the best--albeit cooperative in the form of a lull in the storm--a number of us had fun baking bread!
Did you know that once wheat is ground into flour, it only has 72 hours before it is no longer good, if it is kept at room temperature? But if you store the flour in the refrigerator or freezer, it will keep its nutritional value more effectively.
Did you know that there are different kinds of wheat--spring, winter, red, white--and that one type of wheat does better for one type of baked good than another?
I am reminded of the saying that "knowledge is power." Having this kind of information empowers a person to make more knowledgeable choices about the food he or she eats. With all the health issues that people face today, wouldn't it be wiser to know what exactly we are eating, what benefits it has (or even if it has none), and what effect it has on our bodies?
I am reminded of another saying, one from the Bible: "My people perish for lack of knowledge." That's the opposite of the saying that "what we don't know won't hurt us." Hmm. I think I pick what God says.
He knows more.
Till next time,
Jeanette
When I found out that 14 people had signed up, I was surprised. I said to my husband, "That shows there is an interest and a need in these things."
So even though the weather wasn't the best--albeit cooperative in the form of a lull in the storm--a number of us had fun baking bread!
Did you know that once wheat is ground into flour, it only has 72 hours before it is no longer good, if it is kept at room temperature? But if you store the flour in the refrigerator or freezer, it will keep its nutritional value more effectively.
Did you know that there are different kinds of wheat--spring, winter, red, white--and that one type of wheat does better for one type of baked good than another?
I am reminded of the saying that "knowledge is power." Having this kind of information empowers a person to make more knowledgeable choices about the food he or she eats. With all the health issues that people face today, wouldn't it be wiser to know what exactly we are eating, what benefits it has (or even if it has none), and what effect it has on our bodies?
I am reminded of another saying, one from the Bible: "My people perish for lack of knowledge." That's the opposite of the saying that "what we don't know won't hurt us." Hmm. I think I pick what God says.
He knows more.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Pretty Cool Dream
Sometimes the dreams you have while dozing during that in-between stage of awake and asleep are more significant than you think. This one certainly was.
It was one of those mornings when John David, our six-year-old, had gotten us up at 4:15 a.m. or so...and I rolled over and went back to sleep while my husband got up with him. But wives and mothers don't really go back to sleep (depending on how tired we are); we just doze with one ear open to hear what's going on in the rest of the house.
'Twas while I was in this in-between stage of awake and asleep that I had this dream...
In the dream, we were living in a small rancher home. And then it was like I opened a door off the kitchen at one end of the rancher, and there was more house! I walked into more rooms....another dining room, living room, even a music room with a piano/organ-type instrument in it. One room's walls were painted a pleasing shade of green and had a Victorian-looking lamp. There even were old-fashioned upholstered chairs with the doily on the top like the grandmothers of past years used to have on their furniture. There was so much more house, even friends of ours who have six children all fit and we couldn't hear the kids playing, it was so big.
I woke up and thought, "Wow." And the meaning hit me almost immediately. We are living in half a house...in only half or less of all that God has for us. There is so much more out there that we could be living in, that God has for us. And it's good. And it's restful. And we'll like it.
We just need to open the door to it.
A pretty cool dream. For 2009, I want to move into more "house"!
Till next time,
Jeanette
It was one of those mornings when John David, our six-year-old, had gotten us up at 4:15 a.m. or so...and I rolled over and went back to sleep while my husband got up with him. But wives and mothers don't really go back to sleep (depending on how tired we are); we just doze with one ear open to hear what's going on in the rest of the house.
'Twas while I was in this in-between stage of awake and asleep that I had this dream...
In the dream, we were living in a small rancher home. And then it was like I opened a door off the kitchen at one end of the rancher, and there was more house! I walked into more rooms....another dining room, living room, even a music room with a piano/organ-type instrument in it. One room's walls were painted a pleasing shade of green and had a Victorian-looking lamp. There even were old-fashioned upholstered chairs with the doily on the top like the grandmothers of past years used to have on their furniture. There was so much more house, even friends of ours who have six children all fit and we couldn't hear the kids playing, it was so big.
I woke up and thought, "Wow." And the meaning hit me almost immediately. We are living in half a house...in only half or less of all that God has for us. There is so much more out there that we could be living in, that God has for us. And it's good. And it's restful. And we'll like it.
We just need to open the door to it.
A pretty cool dream. For 2009, I want to move into more "house"!
Till next time,
Jeanette
Monday, December 22, 2008
End-of-the-Year Note
Just a note for the end of the year, since I haven't been too consistent lately...
I'm starting to think of my New Year's resolutions. Last year I had about 5 resolutions. I wrote them down and put them above my desk in the office. Do you know, that made a difference? I actually worked on each one of them. Some I did better with than others, but I made an effort on all of them.
So I am going to do that again this year--write them down.
One of them is to consistently write once a week on my blog!
Stay tuned, beginning in 2009!
Jeanette
I'm starting to think of my New Year's resolutions. Last year I had about 5 resolutions. I wrote them down and put them above my desk in the office. Do you know, that made a difference? I actually worked on each one of them. Some I did better with than others, but I made an effort on all of them.
So I am going to do that again this year--write them down.
One of them is to consistently write once a week on my blog!
Stay tuned, beginning in 2009!
Jeanette
Sunday, November 9, 2008
My Life in a Month
Okay. I'm still here!
Have you ever experienced the moment when you have something to say, or in this case write, but don't have the time? Then time slips away from you and, lo and behold, a month has passed.
Well, that's what happened here.
What have I been doing in a month? Let's see. I am learning more about homeschooling. I have joined with a few other friends to begin a new organization to help women learn about homemaking skills. And we finally got another vehicle! Yea! Having two vehicles instead of just one is so much more convenient.
Our church hosted a conference, I started officially working again as a freelance editor and proofreader, and I lost a total of 18 pounds since May!
And now it's almost Christmas!
Wow. I think time flies faster around the holidays because there's so much anticipation.
Hopefully I'll get a few more posts in before the year turns into 2009.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Have you ever experienced the moment when you have something to say, or in this case write, but don't have the time? Then time slips away from you and, lo and behold, a month has passed.
Well, that's what happened here.
What have I been doing in a month? Let's see. I am learning more about homeschooling. I have joined with a few other friends to begin a new organization to help women learn about homemaking skills. And we finally got another vehicle! Yea! Having two vehicles instead of just one is so much more convenient.
Our church hosted a conference, I started officially working again as a freelance editor and proofreader, and I lost a total of 18 pounds since May!
And now it's almost Christmas!
Wow. I think time flies faster around the holidays because there's so much anticipation.
Hopefully I'll get a few more posts in before the year turns into 2009.
Till next time,
Jeanette
Friday, October 3, 2008
A New Fan of Cayenne
Cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar are my two newest favorites.
It all started with researching information for my six-year-old. One of the websites that I found and now love to peruse is earthclinic.com. It's a great collections of folk remedies that people have used and found to work (or not, as the case may be).
(Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Make your own judgments and remember to consult your doctor!)
So this past week my husband and I both got sniffles and snorts...and we both decided to use apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper. (You can go to earthclinic.com to read the particulars.) We added a tablespoon of one and a shake or two of the other to a glass of apple cider and drank it twice a day for about four to five days.
It worked for us!
No long-drawn out cold with sneezing and hoarseness for my husband; and no coughing or sneezing for me! (And believe me, in the past enduring a cold with my husband was no party.)
So now I'm a fan of cayenne.
Next I think I'm going to try a remedy for gray hair........
Till next time,
Jeanette
It all started with researching information for my six-year-old. One of the websites that I found and now love to peruse is earthclinic.com. It's a great collections of folk remedies that people have used and found to work (or not, as the case may be).
(Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Make your own judgments and remember to consult your doctor!)
So this past week my husband and I both got sniffles and snorts...and we both decided to use apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper. (You can go to earthclinic.com to read the particulars.) We added a tablespoon of one and a shake or two of the other to a glass of apple cider and drank it twice a day for about four to five days.
It worked for us!
No long-drawn out cold with sneezing and hoarseness for my husband; and no coughing or sneezing for me! (And believe me, in the past enduring a cold with my husband was no party.)
So now I'm a fan of cayenne.
Next I think I'm going to try a remedy for gray hair........
Till next time,
Jeanette
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sisters' Fun
Today was our second annual sisters' day.
What is a sisters' day? Well, it all started after our mother passed away a few years ago. We realized that our family was pretty much anchored around our mother. We all called her, and she would pass on everybody's news. When she was no longer here, we decided it was worth the effort to keep in touch and do what it takes to keep up the relationships our family had enjoyed for so long through our parents.
So today was a laid back sisters' day; just hanging out and eating and talking. And LOTS of laughing.
Telling stories about kids and grandkids (some of my siblings are older!) and husbands and friends. And laughing about our own idiosyncrasies. I'm sure no one else has ever dealt with such things... Did no one else but me, when growing up, claim certain possessions of their grandparents for when they were gone? That was one of our favorite pastimes! We would go through our grandmother's kitchen, put our names on slips of paper, and stick them in her dishes! (She told us we could!)
The thing was, when she did pass away years later, sometimes those slips of paper were still there, and whether we wanted that item anymore or not, we got them!
"No, Mom! I don't want that old glass jar!"
"Too bad--your name is in it!"
Of course, this made for some fun stories.
But in going through some items of my mother's this morning, and remembering other items we have from grandparents, we were making guesses at where some things came from. And it's sort of sad, in a way, that we no longer have the ability to ask and find out the history of these things. For instance, where did that pin come from? It says 50 years of Lion's Club, but neither of our parents were involved in the Lions. So how did that pin end up in my mother's jewelry box? We had to guess.
I would encourage you to write those things down. It will help those left behind to have a sense of personal history.
Till next time,
Jeanette
What is a sisters' day? Well, it all started after our mother passed away a few years ago. We realized that our family was pretty much anchored around our mother. We all called her, and she would pass on everybody's news. When she was no longer here, we decided it was worth the effort to keep in touch and do what it takes to keep up the relationships our family had enjoyed for so long through our parents.
So today was a laid back sisters' day; just hanging out and eating and talking. And LOTS of laughing.
Telling stories about kids and grandkids (some of my siblings are older!) and husbands and friends. And laughing about our own idiosyncrasies. I'm sure no one else has ever dealt with such things... Did no one else but me, when growing up, claim certain possessions of their grandparents for when they were gone? That was one of our favorite pastimes! We would go through our grandmother's kitchen, put our names on slips of paper, and stick them in her dishes! (She told us we could!)
The thing was, when she did pass away years later, sometimes those slips of paper were still there, and whether we wanted that item anymore or not, we got them!
"No, Mom! I don't want that old glass jar!"
"Too bad--your name is in it!"
Of course, this made for some fun stories.
But in going through some items of my mother's this morning, and remembering other items we have from grandparents, we were making guesses at where some things came from. And it's sort of sad, in a way, that we no longer have the ability to ask and find out the history of these things. For instance, where did that pin come from? It says 50 years of Lion's Club, but neither of our parents were involved in the Lions. So how did that pin end up in my mother's jewelry box? We had to guess.
I would encourage you to write those things down. It will help those left behind to have a sense of personal history.
Till next time,
Jeanette
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