I have a few open discussion questions for you today, readers! I've been thinking a lot about this lately.
Where do you find modest clothing in your area?
Do you think it's possible to be fashionable and still modest? If so, how?
Do you think it's harder to find modest clothing in the summer?
How do you keep cool in longer skirts/pants and sleeves?
What are some reasons why wearing modest clothing is important?
We'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment (or two!) below. After a day or so, I'll chime in with my answers to these questions. I love open discussions, it's always an encouragement to everyone involved. :)
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
A Thought For Thursday: J is for Joy
This is a neat little memory tool for prioritizing your time and how you spend it:
J- Jesus First
O- Others Second
Y- Yourself Last
Although it seems so simple, JOY is a great way to remember to put the most important priorities first.
Many times (and I am guilty of this myself!), we put ourselves first, without thinking about others and what they might need. There are so many people who are hurting or just need a helping hand, and we are so occupied with ourselves that we miss the bigger picture. God wants us to help and be more mindful of others.
Sometimes we shove God aside, saying or thinking things like: "I will read my Bible later" or "Praying isn't that important".
God is the very backbone for my life. If He wasn't here, my life would be totally different. He loves and cares about me. If I truly loved Jesus, why would I put Him aside? I try to remember this before thinking of my own time.
JOY has really helped me place my priorities in order, and I know this will help you too! :)
You can feel free to place the graphic in your sidebar.
Wishing you all a lovely day!
~*~Courtney~*~
J- Jesus First
O- Others Second
Y- Yourself Last
Although it seems so simple, JOY is a great way to remember to put the most important priorities first.
Many times (and I am guilty of this myself!), we put ourselves first, without thinking about others and what they might need. There are so many people who are hurting or just need a helping hand, and we are so occupied with ourselves that we miss the bigger picture. God wants us to help and be more mindful of others.
Sometimes we shove God aside, saying or thinking things like: "I will read my Bible later" or "Praying isn't that important".
God is the very backbone for my life. If He wasn't here, my life would be totally different. He loves and cares about me. If I truly loved Jesus, why would I put Him aside? I try to remember this before thinking of my own time.
JOY has really helped me place my priorities in order, and I know this will help you too! :)
You can feel free to place the graphic in your sidebar.
Wishing you all a lovely day!
~*~Courtney~*~
Monday, March 24, 2008
Tuesday Talks: Knifty Knitting
It is Tuesday Talks once more here at Stay-At-Home Daughters!
As always, we would love for you to participate by leaving your link in the Mr. Linky below!
I am reviewing the Knifty Knitters by Provo Craft.
These are the neatest little looms! I have made several little hats with the round looms and I am currently working on a pretty blue scarf on the long purple loom.
The incredible, lightweight looms are perfect for any age! My little sister Jessica (who is 10), is in the middle of a project right now as well. I have found that I can knit a project much quicker than traditional knitting (with needles), and that the projects are things that you can actually use!
There are several books and looms that you can purchase for very little.
I was impressed greatly by this particular book:
It has lots of patterns in it- I am going to try the hooded chick blanket in there next!
I know that you will love using this! If you would like to know more about it, Provo Craft has a site filled with info and patterns.
Help us make "Tuesday Talks" a success! Leave your link below!
~*~Courtney~*~
As always, we would love for you to participate by leaving your link in the Mr. Linky below!
I am reviewing the Knifty Knitters by Provo Craft.
These are the neatest little looms! I have made several little hats with the round looms and I am currently working on a pretty blue scarf on the long purple loom.
The incredible, lightweight looms are perfect for any age! My little sister Jessica (who is 10), is in the middle of a project right now as well. I have found that I can knit a project much quicker than traditional knitting (with needles), and that the projects are things that you can actually use!
There are several books and looms that you can purchase for very little.
I was impressed greatly by this particular book:
It has lots of patterns in it- I am going to try the hooded chick blanket in there next!
I know that you will love using this! If you would like to know more about it, Provo Craft has a site filled with info and patterns.
Help us make "Tuesday Talks" a success! Leave your link below!
~*~Courtney~*~
Monday, February 11, 2008
Valentine's Day for Stay-At-Home Daughters
Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite times of the year! Even though it's emphasized as a holiday for couples, we always make it a wonderfully fun day for everyone in our house! Each year we make our own home-made Valentines and pass them out to everyone in the family... it's become quite a fun tradition! We try to 'out do' last year's Valentines with new fresh ideas!
Here are some of the cards I made for my family this year.
I can't wait to see what the rest of my family has come up with!!
Recently, I've been thinking about ways that a stay at home daughter can reach out to others on Valentine's Day. Last year, a good friend from my church held a Valentine's bake at her home. All of the single girls in our church got together and had a wonderful time socializing while baking cookies for the older members of our church, as well as those who were stuck at home or sick. It was wonderful fun and those cookies were such a blessing to our church members! I also love to voluteer at the local assisted living center and nursing home. The people there love to hear hymns and I love to play them on the piano. It's so much fun to spend time with older people-- they are so wise and have so much to tell!
This year, I've already been preparing and planning ways that I can glorify God on Valentine's Day as an unmarried daughter. First of all, I made Valentines and wrote lengthy letters to some of my more distant relatives telling them all about what our family is up to now and how much they mean to us. I know they'll love to receive those, especially my great-grandmother and great-aunt! I also helped my younger siblings with their letters and valentines for our relatives.
I love to serve my family by cooking and baking, and this year (shhhh, don't tell) I'm making a surprise Valentine's day dinner complete with a fancy cake. I even bought a special tablecloth to decorate our table.
Be sure to check back, I'll post pictures of the finished cake (and supper). Hopefully it will turn out well! I've already bought some frosting.... mmmm....
Another way I've helped others celebrate Valentine's Day is by babysitting for my family or the neighbors so that parents can enjoy a night out together. While their parents are gone, I help the children make special messages for their mom and dad... and leave them on their pillowcase! My parents love to receive cards and surprises from us!
These are just a few ideas for an unmarried young lady to be a blessing to others on Valentine's Day! I'd love to hear your suggestions! Leave a comment below!
Crystal from Biblical Womanhood is holding a great Valentine's Day contest for the unmarried, the deadline is tomorrow! Head on over there and take a look!
--Flibby
Friday, January 18, 2008
Dealing with "The College Issue" and Other Difficult Questions
As a follow-up on the last post, I'd like to address how I deal with difficult questions from family members and nosy neighbors. ~wink~
The most popular questions I get are:
The college question: This comes in the form "What college are you going to attend?", and more indirectly, "What are you doing after you graduate?"
For all questions I follow a simple rule of thumb: if the inquirer is genuinely interested in my convictions, I answer gratefully and sincerely all of the questions they ask. The purpose is then to benefit the inquirer. If, on the other hand, the inquirer is asking for the simple reason of trying to question my sanity, be rude, or they simply think it's their responsibility to make sure I "get started in the right direction", I answer briefly, change the subject, or "smile, nod and back away." I find with most people, when I state that I'm staying home after I graduate, they can't change the subject fast enough.. (My mother wrote a wonderful post on answering questions here.)
I usually answer with, "I'm staying home after I graduate and furthering my education on my own." and leave it at that. I have very rarely had to expound, because most people don't care. (my thoughts on this issue can be found here, here, and here.)
Testing: This is when someone tries to test me and my siblings by asking various academic questions. This is usually only performed by those who are against homeschooling or want to make sure my mother is doing what she should. I never answer these questions, it's simply not their place to test us. I have had to intervene when my siblings were being tested before. I never want to be rude, but I usually say lightheartedly that they get enough testing in school. It aggravates me that people try to mess them up by putting them on the spot. Most often, my parents intervene before this goes too far.
So, what do you do?: People ask me this question now, since I'm not bombarded with extracurricular activities, and I'm sure I'll get this question much more after I graduate. I answer truthfully with all of the things I do to help my family around the house. There is quite a lot when you think about it! Courtney wrote a lovely post about this very question recently.
"When are you going to get a job/your driver's license/etc.?": This comes from people who are quick to assume I'm not content at home. Once again, I answer with discernment, depending on what exactly their intentions are and I let them know that I am perfectly content to be at home with my family. (I am going to get my driver's license soon. But, the reason for having a license is not to be "free" from being tied down to my home, as most assume.)
Sometimes I get a snide comment which I have to answer. For example: "I know you just can't wait to get away from all these kids." (talking about my siblings). Most of the time, I ignore snide comments completely.
Whenever I know I'm going to be around those who are not like-minded, I prepare by reminding myself why I believe what I believe. Though, it's not very often that I get questioned thoroughly, always being prepared is a help to me. There was one evening when I stayed up very late into the night studying and reminding myself how to answer tough questions. I knew I was going to be around my extended family for a long period of time, and I was very glad to feel prepared. I never want to be prideful when asked questions like this, nor do I want to feel disheartened.
I don't answer correctly every time. When I was first asked to defend my convictions I made many fumbles and embarrassed myself continually. I was always too passive. I had to practice and learn to stand firm in my beliefs, without being rude, and now I can answer much more clearly and confidently. I still make mistakes from time to time, but I trust the Lord when I'm feeling inadequate.
Some very wonderful answers to some of these questions (namely the college question) can be found here at Visionary Daughters, the blog by the authors of So Much More and the documentary, "Return of the Daughters".
I hope this has been a help to you! God bless you as you live for the Lord as a Stay-At-Home Daughter.
~Flibby
The most popular questions I get are:
The college question: This comes in the form "What college are you going to attend?", and more indirectly, "What are you doing after you graduate?"
For all questions I follow a simple rule of thumb: if the inquirer is genuinely interested in my convictions, I answer gratefully and sincerely all of the questions they ask. The purpose is then to benefit the inquirer. If, on the other hand, the inquirer is asking for the simple reason of trying to question my sanity, be rude, or they simply think it's their responsibility to make sure I "get started in the right direction", I answer briefly, change the subject, or "smile, nod and back away." I find with most people, when I state that I'm staying home after I graduate, they can't change the subject fast enough.. (My mother wrote a wonderful post on answering questions here.)
I usually answer with, "I'm staying home after I graduate and furthering my education on my own." and leave it at that. I have very rarely had to expound, because most people don't care. (my thoughts on this issue can be found here, here, and here.)
Testing: This is when someone tries to test me and my siblings by asking various academic questions. This is usually only performed by those who are against homeschooling or want to make sure my mother is doing what she should. I never answer these questions, it's simply not their place to test us. I have had to intervene when my siblings were being tested before. I never want to be rude, but I usually say lightheartedly that they get enough testing in school. It aggravates me that people try to mess them up by putting them on the spot. Most often, my parents intervene before this goes too far.
So, what do you do?: People ask me this question now, since I'm not bombarded with extracurricular activities, and I'm sure I'll get this question much more after I graduate. I answer truthfully with all of the things I do to help my family around the house. There is quite a lot when you think about it! Courtney wrote a lovely post about this very question recently.
"When are you going to get a job/your driver's license/etc.?": This comes from people who are quick to assume I'm not content at home. Once again, I answer with discernment, depending on what exactly their intentions are and I let them know that I am perfectly content to be at home with my family. (I am going to get my driver's license soon. But, the reason for having a license is not to be "free" from being tied down to my home, as most assume.)
Sometimes I get a snide comment which I have to answer. For example: "I know you just can't wait to get away from all these kids." (talking about my siblings). Most of the time, I ignore snide comments completely.
Whenever I know I'm going to be around those who are not like-minded, I prepare by reminding myself why I believe what I believe. Though, it's not very often that I get questioned thoroughly, always being prepared is a help to me. There was one evening when I stayed up very late into the night studying and reminding myself how to answer tough questions. I knew I was going to be around my extended family for a long period of time, and I was very glad to feel prepared. I never want to be prideful when asked questions like this, nor do I want to feel disheartened.
I don't answer correctly every time. When I was first asked to defend my convictions I made many fumbles and embarrassed myself continually. I was always too passive. I had to practice and learn to stand firm in my beliefs, without being rude, and now I can answer much more clearly and confidently. I still make mistakes from time to time, but I trust the Lord when I'm feeling inadequate.
Some very wonderful answers to some of these questions (namely the college question) can be found here at Visionary Daughters, the blog by the authors of So Much More and the documentary, "Return of the Daughters".
I hope this has been a help to you! God bless you as you live for the Lord as a Stay-At-Home Daughter.
~Flibby
Friday, December 7, 2007
Questions For Suitors
"Imagine...the day comes when a suitor appears on the scene. Great! What
next?
An excellent next step is to determine whether a marriage between you
and him would be an equal yoking. That is, if you were to enter into a
relationship or courtship, could it culminate in a marriage? Do you
believe the same things? Is there anything which would hinder the two of
you from marrying? For example, for me, I wouldn't marry a man who
didn't want to educate his children at home. So when my suitor came
along, that was one of the first questions my dad asked him!
Your suitor might be a complete stranger or at least you may not know
him well enough to know whether you'd like to marry him. So, as well as
learning about his beliefs and convictions, it may be that you would
like to get to know other aspects about him: his interests and
preferences, likes and dislikes, views on various things, practices,
personal history and family background, etc
This is where the following list of questions for suitors is helpful.
They can help you get to know him. And as you ask him these questions,
he might use them too to help him get to know you!
As you read through these questions, there may be some that will make
you think, "I don't care about that. I don't need to know the answer to
that question." That is fine! We all have different things we are
looking for and wondering about. Maybe as you read through you'll think,
"What about asking him this or that?" Excellent!
There are over 70 questions on various subjects below.
Use them as a launching pad to help you think about other things you'd
like to discuss with a suitor.
A way that myself and other girls have used questions that we have
compiled is to go through the questions with our parents/family. This
can be a wonderful exercise. It can iron out what is really important to
your family and can help you and your father communicate accurately
about what he is looking for in a husband for you and what you are
hoping for in a husband for yourself. If you do that with these
questions, you might come up with others you'd like to ask in addition
to or instead of some of these questions.
~Questions~
Entertainment
Are sports just something fun to do, or are they a big part of
your life?
What music do you listen to? (some examples) Does your family
like/enjoy it too?
What is your standard for Godly music?
What are your views on television in the home, and what is your
family's history with television?
What are your thoughts on computer/video gaming?
What's your favorite sport?
What kind of music do you like?
Family
What family traditions, holiday or otherwise, would you like to
incorporate into your family?
Do you want your children homeschooled? What role would you play
in that? Would a 'hodge-podge' of curriculum be a part of the schooling
plan?
How would you go about testing suitors for your daughters? Or
mates for your sons?
What are your ideas when it comes to medical vs. natural/herbal
remedies, or emergencies?
Is homeschooling a preference or a conviction and why? What does
your family think about it?
What methods of discipline did your parents and grandparents
use, and what is your opinion about this?
If a visiting child misbehaves in your home, how do or would you
handle it?
What are your family's holiday and anniversary traditions and
how do you feel about them?
As an adult living with or away from your family, what parts do
your mother, father and grandparents play in your life?
In your family, whose responsibility is it to mow the lawn and
take care of other yard work? Is that the way you think it should be?
How do or would you establish division of labor indoors and out?
Does your family have an history of health challenges, and what
is their and your view on this?
How would you discipline a child if the child needed it?
Would you want your children home educated or sent to a school?
Finances
Do you only buy/wear name brand clothing/shoes, or are finds at
thrift stores just fine?
Would you be the only money-maker, or could (I) continue one or
more cottage industries (which were begun before marriage), either
throughout the marriage or as needed?
Do you have a student loan or credit card debt? If so what are
your plans for paying it off?
Food
Do you like 'leftover' meals or something fresh for each meal?
What food(s) will you absolutely not eat? :)
When your family visits friends for a shared meal, what do you
like to do after you've eaten?
Do you ever do the dishes? When?
What are your views on nutrition and supplementation?
Personal Habits/Skills/Hobbies/Direction
Is there anything about your current lifestyle or habits that
you would change if there were children being raised in your presence?
What are your views and practices regarding male
dress/appearance?
Are you a home handyman, do you hire a professional, do you
expect your mother/sister/wife to fix it, or do you just ignore it?
Do you enjoy and initiate intellectual stimulation?
What is your view on speech standards, in regards to education
as well as uprightness? Do you alter your speech style when evangelizing
or amongst differing levels of society and for what reason?
Why have you chosen courtship over dating? Was it your parents'
view to start with, or have you dug deeper yourself, and as you have,
has God spoken to you about it?
Would you rather make a large difference in one person's life or
a small difference in the entire world?
What God-given gifts and talents do you have, and how do you use
or plan to use them for God's service?
What weaknesses do you have that I can pray about for you? How
are you trying to overcome them, and is there any way I can help?
What ministry(s) do you have?
Is there any way I would be able to help you in this
ministry(s)?
Have you travelled much?
Do you have a vision for your future family? What is it?
Do you play any musical instruments?
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Politics
What's your view on our present government? Do you think people
should protest against some of the laws that have been passed or may be
passed soon? Or would you rather only pray about it instead of moving in
action?
Do you ever criticize the leaders of our country?
Would you spank your children?
Preferences
Do you like the town or the country better?
What's your favorite animal?
What kind of books do enjoy reading most?
What's your favorite kind of take-aways?
Theology/Church
What part does the Bible play in your life, and what is your
view on modern translations?
What do you consider appropriate music in the church and in the
home and why?
How do you spend your Sabbath and why?
If your church leadership taught or promoted something you
considered errant, how would you respond?
What is your view on mid-week or evening church meetings that
require the presence of husband and/or wife?
What is your opinion of youth groups and children's Sunday
school?
What is your attitude and activity regarding missions and
evangelism?
Do you believe in pre-destination?
Do you believe in "once saved always saved"?
How much time do you spend talking to God? Is He always the main
factor in all of your decisions? How has He impacted your life? When/how
did you become a Christian? Are all the members in your family
Christians or not?"
--Issacharian Daughters, No. 067
I received this earlier in the week, and thought it would be helpful to all of you!
Have a wonderful day!
~@~Courtney~@~
next?
An excellent next step is to determine whether a marriage between you
and him would be an equal yoking. That is, if you were to enter into a
relationship or courtship, could it culminate in a marriage? Do you
believe the same things? Is there anything which would hinder the two of
you from marrying? For example, for me, I wouldn't marry a man who
didn't want to educate his children at home. So when my suitor came
along, that was one of the first questions my dad asked him!
Your suitor might be a complete stranger or at least you may not know
him well enough to know whether you'd like to marry him. So, as well as
learning about his beliefs and convictions, it may be that you would
like to get to know other aspects about him: his interests and
preferences, likes and dislikes, views on various things, practices,
personal history and family background, etc
This is where the following list of questions for suitors is helpful.
They can help you get to know him. And as you ask him these questions,
he might use them too to help him get to know you!
As you read through these questions, there may be some that will make
you think, "I don't care about that. I don't need to know the answer to
that question." That is fine! We all have different things we are
looking for and wondering about. Maybe as you read through you'll think,
"What about asking him this or that?" Excellent!
There are over 70 questions on various subjects below.
Use them as a launching pad to help you think about other things you'd
like to discuss with a suitor.
A way that myself and other girls have used questions that we have
compiled is to go through the questions with our parents/family. This
can be a wonderful exercise. It can iron out what is really important to
your family and can help you and your father communicate accurately
about what he is looking for in a husband for you and what you are
hoping for in a husband for yourself. If you do that with these
questions, you might come up with others you'd like to ask in addition
to or instead of some of these questions.
~Questions~
Entertainment
Are sports just something fun to do, or are they a big part of
your life?
What music do you listen to? (some examples) Does your family
like/enjoy it too?
What is your standard for Godly music?
What are your views on television in the home, and what is your
family's history with television?
What are your thoughts on computer/video gaming?
What's your favorite sport?
What kind of music do you like?
Family
What family traditions, holiday or otherwise, would you like to
incorporate into your family?
Do you want your children homeschooled? What role would you play
in that? Would a 'hodge-podge' of curriculum be a part of the schooling
plan?
How would you go about testing suitors for your daughters? Or
mates for your sons?
What are your ideas when it comes to medical vs. natural/herbal
remedies, or emergencies?
Is homeschooling a preference or a conviction and why? What does
your family think about it?
What methods of discipline did your parents and grandparents
use, and what is your opinion about this?
If a visiting child misbehaves in your home, how do or would you
handle it?
What are your family's holiday and anniversary traditions and
how do you feel about them?
As an adult living with or away from your family, what parts do
your mother, father and grandparents play in your life?
In your family, whose responsibility is it to mow the lawn and
take care of other yard work? Is that the way you think it should be?
How do or would you establish division of labor indoors and out?
Does your family have an history of health challenges, and what
is their and your view on this?
How would you discipline a child if the child needed it?
Would you want your children home educated or sent to a school?
Finances
Do you only buy/wear name brand clothing/shoes, or are finds at
thrift stores just fine?
Would you be the only money-maker, or could (I) continue one or
more cottage industries (which were begun before marriage), either
throughout the marriage or as needed?
Do you have a student loan or credit card debt? If so what are
your plans for paying it off?
Food
Do you like 'leftover' meals or something fresh for each meal?
What food(s) will you absolutely not eat? :)
When your family visits friends for a shared meal, what do you
like to do after you've eaten?
Do you ever do the dishes? When?
What are your views on nutrition and supplementation?
Personal Habits/Skills/Hobbies/Direction
Is there anything about your current lifestyle or habits that
you would change if there were children being raised in your presence?
What are your views and practices regarding male
dress/appearance?
Are you a home handyman, do you hire a professional, do you
expect your mother/sister/wife to fix it, or do you just ignore it?
Do you enjoy and initiate intellectual stimulation?
What is your view on speech standards, in regards to education
as well as uprightness? Do you alter your speech style when evangelizing
or amongst differing levels of society and for what reason?
Why have you chosen courtship over dating? Was it your parents'
view to start with, or have you dug deeper yourself, and as you have,
has God spoken to you about it?
Would you rather make a large difference in one person's life or
a small difference in the entire world?
What God-given gifts and talents do you have, and how do you use
or plan to use them for God's service?
What weaknesses do you have that I can pray about for you? How
are you trying to overcome them, and is there any way I can help?
What ministry(s) do you have?
Is there any way I would be able to help you in this
ministry(s)?
Have you travelled much?
Do you have a vision for your future family? What is it?
Do you play any musical instruments?
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Politics
What's your view on our present government? Do you think people
should protest against some of the laws that have been passed or may be
passed soon? Or would you rather only pray about it instead of moving in
action?
Do you ever criticize the leaders of our country?
Would you spank your children?
Preferences
Do you like the town or the country better?
What's your favorite animal?
What kind of books do enjoy reading most?
What's your favorite kind of take-aways?
Theology/Church
What part does the Bible play in your life, and what is your
view on modern translations?
What do you consider appropriate music in the church and in the
home and why?
How do you spend your Sabbath and why?
If your church leadership taught or promoted something you
considered errant, how would you respond?
What is your view on mid-week or evening church meetings that
require the presence of husband and/or wife?
What is your opinion of youth groups and children's Sunday
school?
What is your attitude and activity regarding missions and
evangelism?
Do you believe in pre-destination?
Do you believe in "once saved always saved"?
How much time do you spend talking to God? Is He always the main
factor in all of your decisions? How has He impacted your life? When/how
did you become a Christian? Are all the members in your family
Christians or not?"
--Issacharian Daughters, No. 067
I received this earlier in the week, and thought it would be helpful to all of you!
Have a wonderful day!
~@~Courtney~@~
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Adding a Touch of Charm to Small Spaces!
Today I'm going to share some advice on how to decorate a small space (like your bedroom) inexpensively.
This summer, my sister and I moved into a much smaller room when we were preparing for the arrival of family member number 8! We painted the room a lovely green color and then we had the task of decorating within a budget of virtually nothing. We were given some hand-me-downs from our dear friends and we didn't spend a single cent! But, I'm aware that this doesn't happen every time, so here are some tips for decorating on a budget. This is also helpful for those who'd like to make their room festive by decorating for Christmas! Often the living room, kitchen, and outside of the house get decked out for Christmas while the other spaces in the house are neglected. I love to decorate my room for Christmas! It's amazing how much Christmas spirit can be cultivated just by having your one little spot of the house decorated.
Anyway, when decorating on a budget, some of the most expensive things are the bedding and furniture. I am partial to handmade quilts as bedspreads! I don't have one, but I know that these are things that are specially made, and will last for years to come! Furniture can be provided inexpensively through garage sales and thrift stores. My family goes garage saling every Saturday and we have found most all of our furniture from these inexpensive sales. You can see many a testimony in the archives of Where the Kudzu Grows and Whiskers on Kittens. My father is great at finding things that people are throwing away near his office and he brings home some wonderful finds at times! It's a great feeling to refurbish a tired item back to its former glory. Sometimes all it takes is some repainting. It's frugal and satisfying!
Very small and subtle things can be done to any room to add some charm and beauty... cutting fresh flowers for a vase, for example. One thing I like to do is reuse the decorations that my mother has retired. The old garland and ivy branches that she's used year after year, and just can't seem to find a spot for would normally be placed back in the attic with the empty boxes until Christmas is over. But, I can use them to do my own decorating! It's so much fun to add your own style to your surroundings and it's great practice for when you are married with your own home to decorate. I like putting small decorations in my hope chest to use later in life. Another great thing to do is to make a notebook full of your ideas. I used to cut out tons of magazine pictures and save them in a binder, commenting on each aspect and what I liked about it. It was so much fun, and now I have a huge notebook that I can look back on and get some wonderful decorating ideas!
When you have a small space, the most important thing is to eliminate clutter. No matter how much beautiful decorating you've done, your space will still look disorganized if there is too much clutter. Making the most of every possible area and using all unseen areas for storage are helpful tips for this. I make a point to go through my things every few months and make sure that I haven't acquired anything that I don't need. My room is still quite cluttered though! This is something that is the biggest problem in my room, and I'm having to be resourceful to find solutions. With the exception of valuable keepsakes, if I haven't used it in the past three months or so, it's usually okay to get rid of.
When decorating an area, it's so much fun to play with color combinations! I love to find things in nature and use the colors from an object when coming up with color palettes. I do this when I make graphics all the time. Nature is an amazing work of art! The Lord is truly the best Designer!
The part that is the most fun about decorating is letting my own personal tastes show through. My mother and I seem to have very similar tastes, and I love to help her with the decorating around the house!
I hope this has been a help to you as you endeavor to make your space a beautiful one and as you polish your homemaking skills!
God Bless You!
~Flibby
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
My Christmas Ideas
I was excited to see Flibby bring up the topic of homemade Christmas gifts! One of my favorite things to do is to craft and sew, so I have very much enjoyed getting ready for this coming Christmas!
In addition to Flibby's, here are some of my ideas (and I will share more after Christmas):
Homemade Aprons-
For my younger sisters Jessica and Emma, I made two aprons, just right for helping to cook!
Hand-Stamped Notecards/Stationary-
These are so easy and very nice! Who doesn't like personalized stationary????
Ribbon Bookmarks-
I posted a tutorial for these here These are especially nice to send through the mail, maybe to cousins or friends who live out of town?
Crocheted Dishcloths-
These go very quickly, and are very, very, useful. They work much better than store boughten ones, and can be made in a variety of colors and patterns.
Knitted Finger Puppets-
My Mom has a wonderful selection of knitted finger puppets here
Needlepointed Chunky Alphabet Letters-
These are very cute and easy to make! You can click here for the pattern.
I hope these are useful to you in your holiday planning!
Have a great day!
~*~Courtney~*~
In addition to Flibby's, here are some of my ideas (and I will share more after Christmas):
Homemade Aprons-
For my younger sisters Jessica and Emma, I made two aprons, just right for helping to cook!
Hand-Stamped Notecards/Stationary-
These are so easy and very nice! Who doesn't like personalized stationary????
Ribbon Bookmarks-
I posted a tutorial for these here These are especially nice to send through the mail, maybe to cousins or friends who live out of town?
Crocheted Dishcloths-
These go very quickly, and are very, very, useful. They work much better than store boughten ones, and can be made in a variety of colors and patterns.
Knitted Finger Puppets-
My Mom has a wonderful selection of knitted finger puppets here
Needlepointed Chunky Alphabet Letters-
These are very cute and easy to make! You can click here for the pattern.
I hope these are useful to you in your holiday planning!
Have a great day!
~*~Courtney~*~
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Homemade Christmas Gifts!
Tonight I thought I would share some lovely ideas for creating special Christmas gifts at home! Homemade gifts are much more meaningful, often higher quality, and can save your family a lot of money this holiday season.
Last year, I embroidered a pillowcase for every member of my family. (Click here, here and then here.) It was a time consuming task, but it was wonderfully fun and I learned so much about the fine art of embroidery. I started the embroidery projects in August and they were finished by the end of November. Evaluating how complicated your project is, how skilled you are at the task, and how many people you intend to make gifts for will help you judge exactly how long it should take to complete the project before the big day!
This year, I had a lot of trouble trying to come up with Christmas gift ideas, so I thought it would be nice to post some suggestions.
- Bath salt
This is a wonderful and easy gift to make! It's great for jars and containers that need to be used. All you do is mix 1 cup of epsom salt, half a cup of baking soda, and a third of a cup of table salt together. For scent, add essential oils (the kind found in bath beads) and for color, add a few drops of food coloring.
- Scarf
Knitting is not as hard as it looks! Here is a website that will help you learn the different stitches. Making a scarf is fast, and can be made very simple or with a more complex design.
- Rice Socks
There are so many things that you can sew for a family member, but you can make a rice sock with very little sewing skills! You can make a little pouch yourself (out of a lovely fabric) or use an actual sock. All you have to do is fill it full of uncooked rice and sew it closed. You can get creative with these! Rice socks are perfect when heated in the microwave or put in the freezer for relieving aches and pains. They are wonderful gifts for pregnant women, and they are also loads of help when dealing with menstrual pains!
- Food!
For people outside your family, the best gifts are baked goods or other consumables! Food can be enjoyed by the whole family and it's so easy and fun to make! In the past, we've made homemade hot chocolate mix with chocolate dipped (plastic) spoons, loaves of bread with embroidered breadcloths, "bear" cakes, peppermints, and much more! The sky's the limit when it comes to food! Pretty packaging makes it a gorgeous gift!
- Redeemable "coupons"
When all else fails, your family would love to get a "coupon" from you to redeem whenever they want. My mother loves these! They can be for extra chores like cleaning out the car, or a "coupon" for something like a quiet nap (while you entertain the children). Anything you know the person will love!
These are just a few suggestions. There are so many homemade gifts you can make for your friends and family. I know Courtney will have some things to add! I'd love to hear your crafty gift ideas and past successes! Please, leave a comment below!
Last year, I embroidered a pillowcase for every member of my family. (Click here, here and then here.) It was a time consuming task, but it was wonderfully fun and I learned so much about the fine art of embroidery. I started the embroidery projects in August and they were finished by the end of November. Evaluating how complicated your project is, how skilled you are at the task, and how many people you intend to make gifts for will help you judge exactly how long it should take to complete the project before the big day!
This year, I had a lot of trouble trying to come up with Christmas gift ideas, so I thought it would be nice to post some suggestions.
- Bath salt
This is a wonderful and easy gift to make! It's great for jars and containers that need to be used. All you do is mix 1 cup of epsom salt, half a cup of baking soda, and a third of a cup of table salt together. For scent, add essential oils (the kind found in bath beads) and for color, add a few drops of food coloring.
- Scarf
Knitting is not as hard as it looks! Here is a website that will help you learn the different stitches. Making a scarf is fast, and can be made very simple or with a more complex design.
- Rice Socks
There are so many things that you can sew for a family member, but you can make a rice sock with very little sewing skills! You can make a little pouch yourself (out of a lovely fabric) or use an actual sock. All you have to do is fill it full of uncooked rice and sew it closed. You can get creative with these! Rice socks are perfect when heated in the microwave or put in the freezer for relieving aches and pains. They are wonderful gifts for pregnant women, and they are also loads of help when dealing with menstrual pains!
- Food!
For people outside your family, the best gifts are baked goods or other consumables! Food can be enjoyed by the whole family and it's so easy and fun to make! In the past, we've made homemade hot chocolate mix with chocolate dipped (plastic) spoons, loaves of bread with embroidered breadcloths, "bear" cakes, peppermints, and much more! The sky's the limit when it comes to food! Pretty packaging makes it a gorgeous gift!
- Redeemable "coupons"
When all else fails, your family would love to get a "coupon" from you to redeem whenever they want. My mother loves these! They can be for extra chores like cleaning out the car, or a "coupon" for something like a quiet nap (while you entertain the children). Anything you know the person will love!
These are just a few suggestions. There are so many homemade gifts you can make for your friends and family. I know Courtney will have some things to add! I'd love to hear your crafty gift ideas and past successes! Please, leave a comment below!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Influence On Siblings
Welcome to our new blog! To start off, I thought I would post about a topic that weighs heavily on my heart as the oldest of six. I'm going to share some practical advice for maintaining a godly relationship between an older daughter and her siblings.
The relationship between siblings is, from the world's viewpoint, mocked and looked upon as a nuisance. Rivalry is considered normal, even for Christians. Is it not true that Christians should follow Jesus' example and show love and compassion for fellow man? Is not one's family more important than common man? It is quite crucial to consider the way Christians are represented in this corrupted world. If you are bickering with your siblings, you are showing those that are lost that Christians are no different from them. Why should they want what you have?
- First of all, to be a godly influence on my siblings, I need to be sure that my heart is right with the Lord. Prayer and the reading of Scripture are required if you want to become a virtuous woman in any regard.
- Take joy in caring for your siblings! I have found that caring for my young siblings is a wonderful training experience for future parenthood! In these years of preparation to be a wife and mother, I can have lots of experience with my siblings regardless of how old they are. It's true with so many years difference between my baby brother and me, I have been able to do nearly everything a mother would do for him including putting him to sleep, changing him, bathing him, and even staying up with him in the middle of the night. These things have been a wonderful learning experience for me as well as a tremendous help to my mother! Even with siblings closer to me in age, I learn patience, selflessness and the self-discipline that it takes to be a parent. I love being able to experience firsthand how the minds of children work and I can observe and learn from my mother how to rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
- I have learned that one of the most important ways to get along with my siblings and virtually all others around me is to remember to always treat them with kindness and compassion. A little respect goes a long way with siblings, especially those who are closest to you in age. They may be the hardest to get along with. The golden rule applies here: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
- Another thing that is crucial in building godly sibling relationships involves one little word, time. A very wise lady once told me, "Children spell love, T-I-M-E." There is nothing my little sisters love more from me than spending time playing their games, reading to them or teaching them a new skill. Though it's often a hard investment to make, the Lord blesses my efforts greatly! Sometimes I employ them in a very productive activity by making it into a game! They LOVE it when I play "restaurant" while fixing lunch. Sometimes I'm an Italian chef, sometimes a baker, sometimes a waitress at "Flibby's Sandwich Bistro." They also love to play things like "airplane" when I play the pilot, the stewardess, and a passenger all in one. Or, I simply come in and play a brief part in their game. A little goes a long way. They love it when I read to them, direct a play that they star in, or just play their favorite song for them on the piano while they sing.
- It's important to build your siblings up instead of always treating them in a condescending way. While, occasionally I must gently reprimand them, I never discipline or play the part of their mother. They should be loved and built up by their older sister, not constantly scolded or threatened.
- One of the more important things I've learned is that a great encouragement to younger siblings is to always model Biblical, feminine behavior. They are constantly around me so I have to be aware of the innocent little eyes that are watching me and looking up to me for an example. This is a sobering thought which I'm sure is greatly intensified when you become a parent yourself. I always need to be respectful and obedient to my parents, industrious, ladylike, and gentle in speech. Also, I should model patience, kindness, and be sure to encourage them to read Scripture and pray everyday by doing the same. Modeling my biblical calling as a woman is highly beneficial for my younger sisters because they get to see, firsthand, the kind of woman God wants them to become. They see me practicing my home-making skills and want to do the same. They walk with feminine grace. They prefer dresses to pants. This is also beneficial for my younger brothers because it encourages them to behave in a chivalrous fashion and to seek to use their time wisely- to pursue manly ambitions. It's easier to be a gentleman, when you are under a lady's influence. I always try my best to encourage them when they act in this manner. It's very important to encourage your siblings when you see them doing right and pleasing the Lord in their actions and thoughts.
- To be a godly sister, it's essential to practice selflessness and patience. These are necessary character traits for every Christian and require lots of prayer and help from the Lord to master. If you can master these, becoming a godly sister will come easily.
- Show genuine care for your siblings and their relationship with God. Your siblings are able to tell if you genuinely care for them and their well-being.
- Also, always remember to think on things which are pure:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phil. 4:8
When you have these things on your mind, it's easier to display them in your conduct. Be careful what you read, watch, and say. Little children remember these things. - Pray for your siblings! This is very important. When praying for yourself and asking the Lord to cultivate a godly character in you, do the same for your siblings. Pray for faults you may notice, pray that God will give them a vision for the future, pray that the Lord will keep them safe in the hollow of His hand, and most importantly, pray that the Lord will save their souls and that they would serve Him all the days of their lives.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter! Please leave a comment below!
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