#77 New Year's Resolutions Edition

The year of 2008 seemed to go by so quickly in everyday tasks, but seemed to drag on through the trails and tribulations I faced. My unofficial motto became “Life is hard. God is good.” This year is going to be better than last. I'm going to strive even more to be better. To be the big person. To take the high road when everyone else seems to take the low one.

The year of 2009 will be remembered as one of the best years the Lord reigned in my life. I'm going to put my talents to more use and to learn some new domestic arts so I can better be a home-manager when I'm grown.

Every year I write out a list of goals I should like to complete before the next end of the year, and shamefully I still have things on my list from last year that were set aside due to situations or other activities. I suppose they weren’t in God’s plan for my life then.

• o Learn to sew well enough to make aprons, skirts, and bags.
• o Use the fabric I bought in 2007 for planned projects.
• o Dip and make candles
• o Master the art of bread-making
• o Master the art of soap making
• o Learn to embroider and crochet
• o Make a new quilt of quality

I know that for many of the above I can head over to HowToMe and learn something of worth. This week she presents How To Make a Bib from a Hand Towel posted at HowToMe.

Belle at Homesteaderbelle's Blog is putting her sewing skills to use. She offers custom-sewn items and is having a Quick-Change Cloth Pad Give Away!

• o Master the art of bread-making
• o Master the art of soap making
• o Grow a big garden and can enough food to feed us over winter

Ah, bread-making. Why do I have such trouble with it? Not sure, but with more practice and tips like Sourdough Basics Part 1 by Susan at Homemade Livin' I might get it sometime soon. You can enter to win a DVD on The Art Of Bread-Making if you're having trouble too.

Rachel has already put the recipes from above mentioned DVD to use. She made delicious Pizza Dough Or Bread Stick last week for lunch! Delish!

Kathi at Homestead Treasures shares some of her beautiful homemade Goat Milk Soaps that are just lovely - I bet they smell excellent too!

"Let Them Eat Pie!" says Miss Hannah as she shares some of her recipes on pies and crusts. Sounds tasty!

Shannon shares some recipes for cookies and fudge in Ornaments, Carols, and Other Traditions posted at Song of My Heart. Sounds yummy to me!

• o Finally complete my Hope Chest. I started building this a year ago and due to time constraints and supplies I wasn’t able to finish it in a timely manner. Winter always stinks too because we have no heated outbuildings I can use.
• o Learn Hebrew and Spanish fluently
• o Learn to play the piano, guitar, and clarinet
• o Rise earlier
• o Exercise daily
• o Grow a big garden and can enough food to feed us over winter

I'd like to think I'm a scheduled person, but a schedule or "get up" "go-bed" isn't exactly the right thing for everyday life. Ruth McLean at But First, We Have Coffee shares the Motivated Moms Scheduler.

Speaking of mothers, what kind of legacy did your mother leave you? Come share your story and enter to win a copy of an audio-workshop on Motherhood: Building A Legacy.

Jacque at Walking Therein shares about a legacy starting and going with her children in What A Beautiful Sight! "I woke up to a beautiful sight of my children learning to knit and crochet with Grandma this morning."

• o Complete my schoolwork, especially my algebra and mathematics.
• o Generate enough business to continue support my single-mom-friends and children.
• o Change the oil on the vehicles
• o Grow a big garden and can enough food to feed us over winter
• o Fence in our property for the goats
• o Own a dachshund
• o Go horse-riding
• o Learn to hunt

Grandma Rosie posts new things everyday and always has something that can help you in your home-management. She posted about Seasoning Cast Iron which I found very good. Nothing like old faithful..."Seasoned Cast Iron can be considered the "grandfather" to today's "nonstick" cookware. Cast Iron Cookware must be seasoned properly and it will last a life time."

Blogs can be a wonderful way to learn many different arts and skills. I find that blogging as been quite beneficial to my life in every aspect, and I plan on using both blogs and websites to help me this year and I complete my resolutions, what about you?!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Miss Jocelyn, founder and publisher of the Feelin’ Feminine site, is a senior homeschool student with a passion for writing truth. She blogs from her heart at A Pondering Heart, designs blogs at A Pondering Heart Boutique, and is also the Sr. Exec. Marketing-Manager for GGMagazine.

Reminder!

Just wanted to remind you that you need to send in your submission for the carnival by tonight 9EST! Looking forwarded to seeing them.

There is some beauty tips over at GGM that you should check out... the Beauty Planner: Soft Skin

Blessings!

Are You FIREPROOF!?

Have you seen FIREPROOF? We went to see Fireproof yesterday and it was completely wonderful. A very profound (ahem tear-jerker) movie that I encourage young adults and couples to go see! Wow. Kirk Cameron did a fantastic job, it was a great film for a b-budget, and astounded Hollywood by coming at #4 at the box-office opening weekend when they weren't even expecting it to hit #10!

Make a Date with FIREPROOF This Weekend
It’s the weekend ... what a great time to go see a movie!

If you have seen FIREPROOF, chances are you know a couple that could benefit greatly from the movie’s story. This weekend is a great time to invite them to go with you to see FIREPROOF.

If you haven’t seen FIREPROOF, what are you waiting for? This is the movie that is touching lives, reigniting marriages, and surprising Hollywood insiders!

Visit FireprooftheMovie.com

The Impact of FIREPROOF
This story was submitted by Keith on FireprooftheMovie.com:


“My wife of 13 years had handed me divorce papers on the Monday evening before the movie came out. The script for the movie could have been written about us. We are both good people, we were just not being good to each other. I got a call from a friend on Saturday insisting that my wife and I go see this movie. I was afraid to even ask her, but I did. We went to the afternoon movie on Sunday.

“Wow ... it was us on the screen. We went home and talked about a lot of things and both said that we were sorry. We decided to stay together, to start going to church together again, and to treat each other the way we should have been all along. My wife called her lawyer on Monday and told him that she didn't want a divorce and I did the same. We ordered The Love Dare book for both of us on Tuesday, and the marriage kit as well. Thank you so much for showing us that we aren't the only couple with the problems that these people had and for giving us a new direction to go in. I love my wife and am looking forward to our new life together!”


Adding Theaters
As FIREPROOF moves into its second week, it will be playing in 850 theaters. These are the towns where it will open today.

Allentown, Pa.
Franklin, Ohio
Kansas City, Mo.
Springfield, Mo.
Lithonia, Ga.
Carrollton, Ga.
Griffin, Ga.
Fort Benning, Ga.
Thomaston, Ga.
Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Anderson, S.C. Aiken, S.C.
Miami Lakes, Fla.
Orlando, Fla.
Winterhaven, Fla.
Baton Rouge, La.
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Westminster, Calif.
Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Flagstaff, Az.
Burlington, Wash.

While more theaters will be added next week (October 10), it looks like the majority of the new 300 theaters will be added on October 17. We'll keep you updated.


Making News
FIREPROOF has been highlighted by the media in all kinds of unexpected ways. On Friday evening, the movie is scheduled to be highlighted on ABC’s World News Tonight evening broadcast. Tune in and see what is being said.

But more importantly, be a part of the excitement and the impact: check out FIREPROOF this weekend ...and bring a friend.

Get Tickets

Reviews done on the film:
Miss Amanda
Jacque-Walking Therein
Trisch
FIREPROOF The Movie Now in Theaters!
Teri - Knowledge House

Low Immune System?

YoungMommy i'm sick... can you believe that? why must i get sick right before vacation? hope i'm better by saturday

Miss Jocelyn aww dear, how are you sick?

YoungMommy i seem to get sick before big trips... you know, stress lowers your immune system? i'll be fine, tho, it's just a cold.

Miss Jocelyn oh ok You need to take some raw honey, by spoonful or in something. :) VERY good for you. READ HERE: http://www.growingingraceonline.com/2008/05/making-home-spoonful-of-honey.html

YoungMommy does it have to be "raw" honey? where do i get it?

Miss Jocelyn it should be raw so none vitamins are gone, and you can get it at health store or if anyone has organic stuff they might have it. we get ours from a small, local market type place in town. wal-mart doesn't carry raw honey

YoungMommy calling hubby now to ask him to stop and get me raw honey... thanks!

HonCin Face Scrub

Since June I have been using a new face scrub that works wonderfully and is safe and all natural for your skin. I make it myself and the ingredients are very simple. You use cinnamon and raw honey, and that’s all. Honey contains many, many vitamins that are good for your body inside and out. A Spoonful Of Honey keeps the ailments down, but add cinnamon to the mix and you’ve got some powerful stuff.

CinHon Face Scrub:

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

2 tablespoons of honey

Now you can make the face scrub right when you’re going to use it or before and preserve it by sticking it into the refrigerator. I haven’t been able to do it yet, but I’d like to make some and put it in an old mask tube or face pump that way when I need it I can just squirt it out.

Because honey is naturally runny the scrub may run if you choose to leave it on for a while working like a mask, especially if it’s hot out. I prefer doing this over just washing my face with it because it is able to work on my skin longer. The info from where I originally got this recipe says to leave it on overnight but I have yet to figure out how this is done, especially because I do toss and turn during the night. If you use this scrub continually for two weeks, and especially leaving it on for at least half and hour, it is proven to remove zits from the roots.

The cinnamon is actually pretty grainy so when you go to wash it off go in a circular motion to scrub any dirt or dead skin off.

The first time I used this I was desperate to get rid of a nasty zit on my forehead and when I had applied it and rinsed it off half and hour later my zit had gone down a considerable amount. My face also felt SO soft and smelled like honey too!

I really enjoy using this and it takes nothing to make. Yes, the honey may be expensive but it’s natural and not anymore, if less, that what you’d have to pay for some good organic face wash. Go on and try it! You’ll feel the results instantly!

Blessings!