A Holiday Blessing Opportunity

Through Friday, December 21, you can get a great deal on ebooks and at the same time help a homeschool family who has taken on the care of ten additional children, ages 2-16, who need a safe and loving home.

The mother of these ten precious kids has terminal cancer and is no longer able to care for them. And unfortunately, the situation with the father is such that the children cannot live with him either. So to provide a safe and stable environment for these children, and to keep the siblings together, the cousin of Joy @ Five J's has been working with social services and has opened her home to these ten children. (It's a complicated situation, and because of the sensitive circumstances, Joy is keeping the names of both families private.)

The children arrived at Joy's cousin's home a couple weeks ago with pretty much just the clothes on their backs and in great need of love, attention, and prayers. To help her cousin care for these ten children, Joy, with the help of several awesome bloggers, has organized a simple way for everyone to help.

Right now you can get this wonderful ebook bundle worth $50 for just $5, with all proceeds going to help provide food, clothing, homeschool curriculum, and other needs for these ten children. Money raised through this benefit will help keep these ten siblings together in a safe and loving home.

Click here to buy the ebook bundle for just $5.

How else can you help?

Share this sale with your family and friends!

Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter | Share on Google+

Donate in a couple different ways.

1. Donate money directly to the family through PayPal (you don't have to have a PayPal account to donate this way). Click the button below to donate.

2. Donate Walmart eGift Cards which the family can use to purchase what they need for the children. If you choose to donate a Walmart eGift Card, please use benefit@fivejs.com as the "recipient email address" when you purchase the card. Joy will then consolidate the cards to deliver to the family. Click here to donate a Walmart eGift Card.

What's Included in the $5 Ebook Bundle Sale

Here is what is in the ebook bundle. You can click on the links to preview the books, but then you'll need to come back here to purchase the bundle for $5, and all the proceeds will go to help care for the children.

• Teaching Kids to Clean! by Dana of A Slob Comes Clean. Based on her experiences teaching her own kids to clean, Dana shares advice, lesson plans, supply lists, age-appropriate task lists, and printables to help you teach your kids the skills necessary for big cleaning tasks.
• My Buttered Life (Gift & Baby Editions) by Renee of MadeOn (HardLotion.com). The Gift Edition includes the following recipes for making your own skin care recipes: chocolate body mousse, flavored lip balms, chocolate peppermint lotion bars, scented & shaped lotion bars, and beeswax candles. The Baby Edition includes these recipes: baby massage oil, baby balm (Beesilk Jr), creamy baby lotion, diaper rash cream, and oatmeal milk bath. Each ebook includes instructional videos, a cost analysis, and information about where to buy ingredients.
• 3-2-1 Stop, by Lorilee Lippincot of Loving Simple Living. 3-2-1 Stop is a how-to memoir of learning to love simple living. Lorilee uses personal stories, as well as tips learned along the way, showing how to create a life that makes space for what is most important.
• How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too, by Mandi of Life Your Way. This book is for every mother who's ever wondered if it's possible to pursue her own passions while investing in her family and managing a home. It's a handbook to give you the tools to juggle your many responsibilities and to do it with intentionality rather than living under the burden of mommy guilt.
• Heavenly Homemaker's Guide to Holiday Hospitality & Guide to Holiday Hospitality for Kids, by Laura of Heavenly Homemakers. Heavenly Homemakers's Guide to Holiday Hospitality is filled with ideas and encouragement to help you stay organized and relaxed while you prepare for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year celebrations with family and friends. In the kids' guide you'll find page after page of craft ideas, games, activities and recipes that kids can make and do on their own or with a little help from you.
• A Simpler Season, by Jessica Fisher of Life As Mom. With over 200 pages of ideas, recipes, and printables, A Simpler Season provides you with practically everything you need to get from Thanksgiving to New Years in a calm, cool, collected manner.
• The $5 Dinner Mom's Holiday Entertaining Guide, by Erin Chase of $5 Dinners. This is an entertaining guide to help you be the best hostess or guest during this holiday season. This guide is the antidote to every other holiday entertaining guide out there. Includes 30 simple recipes, from side dish to main dish, dessert to appetizer, that will not disappoint your guests. And, that won’t drain your budget either.
• Quick & Easy Breakfasts, by Lynn of Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. This cookbook is full of simple and delicious breakfasts your family is sure to enjoy.
• Homeschool Printables Pack, by Joy Miller of Five J's. This single volume includes all of Joy's homeschool printables, worksheets, and charts that she offers on her website. Includes a variety of subjects and is helpful for non-homeschooling families as well!

Click here to buy the ebook bundle for just $5.

Online Christmas Shopping?

Last year, for the first time, we purchased many items online for Christmas.  That is largely because we got a free gift card, which I will discuss further in another post.  But I'm curious, how many of you do a lot of your Christmas Shopping online?

How many of you use gift cards that you were given as a gift to buy other people gifts?


Has anyone else been intrigued by the vast number of gift card designs available?  Nearly as much thought is needed for picking out what the card looks like as would go into picking out another gift.

I wanted to share with you Amazon's gift card variety for this year: There is a card style for everyone.  And if you aren't happy with that, they also offer cards with your own picture on them! 

Check out the link in my sidebar if you are interested in checking out or buying Amazon gift cards for Christmas this year.

All Time Favorite Children's Books

Hello!  I am embarking on a new adventure!  I am planning to write my novel this month.  I'm a little lot nervous because since so many people know, I feel the pressure to actually accomplish it.  But that is probably a good thing.

I am writing a children's novel.  I'm asking you to comment with your favorite or (if you are like me and don't have just one) one of your many favorite children's books.  And if you have a reason it is your favorite, I would love to hear it. 

I'll start.  I've always loved the Boxcar Children (the original.  I enjoyed the series, but it has nothing on the first book as far a quality goes).  I really like the way as a kid I felt like I was part of the adventure.  I can remember thinking that I could have a real adventure even as a kid.  And I could taste the berries and cold milk, and though I was not a fan of either in real life they sure sound yummy in the story.

Please comment below with your favorite book(s).  Thanks!

Day 31 of 31 Days of Peace

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Numbers 6:24-26
“‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’ 

All month we have devoted time toward how we are to try to gain self control and guard our mouths to help regain peace in our homes.  We have considered how we are to model the peace we desire to see.  The above verses, however, remind us of the most important way we are to gain peace.  Each verse tells us something about how peace comes to us.   The following verbs are used "give", "fill", and "leave".  These are active verbs.  Someone is giving us His peace, filling us with peace and leaving us with peace.  

We need to go to Him who gives peace and request the gift of the giver.  We need to daily take captive our thoughts and tongues.  We need to make the effort necessary to achieve the goal.  But mostly, we need to ask the gift of the Giver and be willing to do the work necessary to unwrap the gift.  

As we close this month of "Peace" take a moment to review in your mind the verses we've read.  Choose the one or two that speak deep to your soul.  Begin to pray those words back to God as you seek His help in establishing an environment of peace in your home.  No situation is too great of the grace of God. 
 

Day 28 of 31 Days of Peace

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Against such things there is no law.

One cannot do a series on peace without including this well-known and well loved passage.  Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit.  Peace is not really optional, if you look at it in this sense.  We are supposed to seek His Spirit.  We are to develop the Spirit in us to resemble Him more each day.  Part of that "resemblance" is peace. 

Each day, choose peace.  Choose to conform your Spirit to His and grow the fruit that shows that we belong to Him.

Day 27 of 31 Days of Peace

Jude 1:2

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

This is the opening of a letter to " those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ"

How often do we really pray this for ourselves and our families and our brothers and sisters of the faith?  For as often as we whine, roll our eyes and complain about the lack of peace in our homes, how often do we come before our Lord, Jesus and ask him for the mercy, peace and love that He desires us to have in abundance?   

Today, take that time and pray.  Pray for the peace.  Pray that the verses we have been reading will penetrate first your heart and allow you to overflow with peace and joy to change the environment in your home.


 

Homemade Play Dough

My kids take random bouts of interest in playing with play dough.  I rarely buy store bought play dough, but occasionally the kids will get interested so we whip together a batch of "Kool-Aid Play Dough"

2 packages Kool-Aid
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
mix dry ingredients together

Add 2 cups boiling water and
3Tbsp vegetable oil

Mix together to form a ball.  Sprinkle table with flour and knead dough.  Be careful, it will be HOT!


Once kneaded to desired consistency, play.  Can be stored in zippered bags for several weeks.

Day 26 of 31 Days of Peace

Today's verse is Isaiah 32:18, but I wanted to include the entire passage.

Isaiah 32:17-19

¹⁷ The fruit of that righteousness will be peace;
    its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
¹⁸ My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
    in secure homes,
    in undisturbed places of rest.
¹⁹ Though hail flattens the forest
    and the city is leveled completely,

This passage shows us what God intends for his people:  quietness, confidence, peacefully dwelling places, secure homes, undisturbed places of rest - regardless of circumstances.  I desire all the good things God has for me and my family.  Do you believe these blessings can be yours?

 

Salsa!

6-8 Large Tomatoes (chopped)
3-4 Green Peppers (chopped) Zucchini works also
2 Onions (chopped)
4 Cloves Garlic
3 Tsp Chili Powder
1 Package Taco Seasoning Mix
1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Salt
2 Tbsp Parsley
1 Tbsp Cilantro
2 Limes (don't leave out) zested and juiced
1/3 cup jalapeno peppers (optional)

This is the recipe as I was given it. I made a few (slight) modifications.  I added extra lime juice.  I was freezing the tomato, peppers, etc. mix because they were going to go bad before I could get the limes and jalapeno peppers bought.  I forgot to add the parsley.   I only used 2 oz (per batch) of jalapenos.  I doubled the recipe and got 5 pints of salsa.  Even my children, who don't generally like salsa, were eating it!

I must admit, it took a while.  I'm not a fast cook.  I blanched the tomatoes to make peeling easier.  I stood and chopped for a long while.  I don't have a food processor, I'm not sure how well it would have worked.  

I was very pleased with how my first batch of salsa turned out.  After it was heated for the canning process, I was less pleased with the flavor, but it had been very runny before and was much better after. 

Day 24 (and 25) of 31 Days of Peace

One of the greatest difficulties in this series, besides doing it daily, has been finding my own words to add any measure of understanding or reflection upon what God says in His Word. So today I offer to you two verses from God's Word about being a peacemaker and ask you to reflect for yourself upon two questions:  Am I a peacemaker?  How can I become one (or a better one) in my home?

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Day 23 of 31 Days of Peace

Proverbs 12:18
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,

 but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

We read previously about the healing power of words.  Again this verse tells us that words are powerful.  They can be destructive or healing in power.   Why do I keep harping on our words when I'm talking about the peaceful homes? 

In my experience, it is words that most disrupt the calm, peaceful attitude of the home.  It is the spoken word that upsets children, causes mothers to get irrational and fathers to get frustrated.  Any scuffle is escalated in intensity by the verbal reaction of the parties involved.  A well placed spoken word can reduce the intensity, returning all involved to a state of relative calm rather than creating an environment of hostility. 

Day 21 (and 22) of 31 Days of Peace

Okay, wives, I"m not letting up on you tonight.  Wish I could, but it seems pretty clear that this is an important issue in creating an environment of peace.  

Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 25:24
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

No, that is not a typo.  You read that correctly.  Twice in the book of Proverbs we have the same passage.  Not just pretty similar idea, the same.  Admittedly, I haven't read it in the original, if you have please let us know, but when you check the different versions, they still match.

If the previous verses we discussed on Days 19 and 20 say it is better to live in the desert than with a nagging wife and compare a nagging wife to a leaking roof, and twice we read it would be better to live outside on the roof than in a (many translations indicate large) house with a nagging wife, can we really deny the need to address this in ourselves?

Remember, moms, what you model becomes acceptable to your sons.  Would you be happy to hear a daughter-in-law talk to your son like you talk to your husband? 

Day 19 (and 20) of 31 Days of Peace

Some of us had better hope our husbands don't read these verses too carefully.

Proverbs 21:19
Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Proverbs 27:15
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm.


I've been focusing most of my thoughts of how to bring about peace in my home toward my interaction with my children and their interaction with each other.  But it is equally, if not more, important to have a peaceful interaction between husband and wife.  I'm not a husband and don't feel qualified to give much advice to them.  But I am a wife and have struggled through the above verses, and can share my experiences to encourage other wives. 

The Bible, the book that we as Christians look to for advice on how to live a full and rich life, mentions nagging quarrelsome wives, not once but multiple times.  Perhaps we ought to take a look.  A look at ourselves.  Are we nagging?  Quarrelsome?  Show of hands time, who here has had an argument in your head with your husband while he's gone at work which ends with him coming home in trouble for "his end" of the argument that he wasn't even part of?  I knew I couldn't be the only one!

I once had a pastor ask whether we would rather be "right" or "in relationship"?  That is not to say we never have opinions, never voice concerns, never disagree.  But there are many arguments in marriage that are simply about being right.

"Turn left.  It's the fastest way to get there this time of day."
"No, going straight is faster."
"No, I'm telling you, turning left will save 2 minutes with traffic like this."

And on and on this discussion goes until one party is mad that the other didn't listen to them and they arrive at the restaurant two minutes later than they would have.  Both spouses are angry and a nice dinner is ruined because we care more that we are right about the traffic than that we enjoy a few minutes with each other.

While that argument sounds silly, I encourage you, look at your interactions with your spouse.  Have you ever, upon retrospect, had an argument over things that are of similar importance?  Things with no eternal value?  Does it matter which way the towels get folded?

Share your experience, what is a ridiculous argument you felt justified in participating in, knowing you were "right" that you now realize was of no lasting value?

Day 18 of 31 Days of Peace

Proof positive that I am not yet wise:

Ecclesiastes 10:12

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, 
but fools are consumed by their own lips.

 I often wonder if I will ever learn to manage my tongue and not become consumed by my own lips. 

Day 16 (and 17) of 31 Days of Peace

Proverbs 15:26
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, 

but gracious words are pure in his sight.

This verse equates thoughts with words.  We need to take our thoughts captive and use gracious words to honor and please the Lord.  

Proverbs 16:24
Gracious words are a honeycomb, 

 sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Here we see that gracious words are healing.  How often do we damage and destroy with our words?  Are we using them to heal, to build up our friends and loved ones?  Our enemies?

Now that we are half way through our 31 Days of Peace, I want to encourage you to review the verses we've studied so far.  What do they say to you about creating an environment of peace by controlling the use of our mouths?  What practical ways can you use words to further the peace in your home?  I encourage you to choose a verse and begin to recite it to yourself, I personally like Proverbs 16:24 above, to help you begin to develop the habit of speaking kindly and carefully to your loved ones. 

Day 14 (and 15) of 31 Days of Peace

How do we foster an environment of peace in our homes?  We've been looking at verses from the Bible that teach us that our actions, and more specifically our words, are what create the environment in which we live.  Below are two more verses about our mouths:

Matthew 12:34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil 

say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Proverbs 36:3

The words of their mouths are wicked and 

deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.

We are plainly told that in those who are evil reside mouths that are evil.  From that, can we extrapolate that in those who are good reside mouths that speak good?  "The mouth speaks what the heart is full of."  What is coming out of your mouth?  Are you speaking good in front of your children? 

Day 12 (and 13) of 31 Days of Peace

My apologies for missing yesterday.  As I sat down to write, my wrist ached too much, forcing me to postpone.  When I pulled up today's verse, I was amused to see that, much to my surprise, it was pretty well the same as yesterdays.  So I will share them both here:

Matthew 15:11 "What goes into someone’s mouth 

does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:18 "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth

 come from the heart, and these defile them."

This entire passage, Matthew 15:1- 20 deals with the Pharisees coming after Jesus for not following "traditions", specifically ceremonial hand washing before meals.  Jesus retorts that they break God's law to uphold their tradition (please read the entire passage for better understanding).  Then He explains that which we put in of our mouths isn't the problem, it's that which we spew from our mouths that shows our true heart.  

One can eat all the right and good things, but that will never make them "good'.  It seems to me that this is a comparison of works versus faith.  Relying upon what you put into your body to make you holy and pure is tantamount to relying upon works to make you pure and righteous.  But that can never change our heart.  We must receive a heart change in order that we can put forth good and pure things from our mouths.  

We are defiled by what we speak, the words that portray the inner heart that we try to hide.  Ask yourself, have I defiled myself with my words recently?  Pray for the heart change necessary to change the words of your mouth.   

Day 11 of 31 Days of Peace

Proverbs 20:3

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.

 

Do you ever feel the need to bicker, argue and fight to defend your "honor", your pride?  Ever feel like if you can just get one more word in the world will see that you are right and revere you for the amazing genius that you are?  Me neither.  

Day 10 of 31 Days of Peace

Proverbs 15:18

 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

I don't know that there is much I can add to this.  We must choose which disposition we desire to put on ourselves, hot-tempered or patient.  We must practice patience, failing often but picking up and trying again at every opportunity.  

Day 8 (and 9) of 31 Days of Peace

2 Timothy 2:23-24

Don’t have anything to do with arguing. 

It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights.

The two verses we are discussing today are taken from the New International Readers' Version, designed to make more sense to kids.  This is the version my kids are memorizing because the NIV says "stupid" and my kids aren't allowed to say that, so they were happier with this version.  This verse comes directly before the verse I blogged about on Day 5.  But it relates well to the verses we were discussing on Days 6 and 7.   If the verses so far have left any doubt, this surely does not.  "Don't have anything to do with arguing.  It is dumb and foolish."  Well, okay then. 

James 4:1   

Why do you fight and argue among yourselves? 

Isn’t it because of your sinful longings? They fight inside you.

This verse is not fun.  Instead of just telling you not to fight, it makes you look into yourself, look at your heart.  I don't know about you, but often when I do that, I find that I don't like what I see.  This makes sense in light of the verses admonishing us to drop our quarrels.  If, in fact, our fights and arguments are based upon sinful longings, then we out to be willing and in fact eager to take each opportunity to take captive those thoughts and yearnings and drop whatever is causing divisive, sinful feelings.