I Heart Walgreens

"Cha-CHING" was the sound coming from the cash register when I checked out at Walgreens today.
Deodorant
2 shaving gels
Children's cold medicine
2 body washes

I paid $2.45 out of my pocket for these items which I estimate to be worth more than $20.00. I got only the items that we would use. I passed on other deals. I had to add one of the body baths to keep the register from going into the negatives. Crazy, uh!! But, that is not all... the register printed $10 worth of register rewards that I can use like cash on my next shopping trip as a souvenir.

The best part is that my husband appreciates when I spend his money wisely, and make his dollar go farther. I love to make him HAPPY!!

Meat Processing

You shall eat the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. ~Psalms 128:2

Alexey is cutting away anything we would not want to eat. She identifies the types of tissues found on the muscle. This is science, folks!

One big way we save money on our grocery bill is by slaying and processing our own deer. This is a family effort.

Catherine cleaning meat. She is developing a work ethic.

Vince usually gets 5 or so deer each year and that is enough to feed us until next season. We grind most of it, but we slice the tenderloins and keep about 8 roasts.

On this day, we ground over 80 pounds of lean, grass-fed meat and that doesn't include the roasts and tenderloins. Eventually, we hope to get the equipment to make cube steaks.

Brother gets involve when the motorized equipment is put to work.

This is the second year we have done this, so everyone knows just what to do. On this particular day we had 3 deer to process. Daddy spent one weekend this season at a hunting camp and got these 3 kills in that one weekend. We always give God ALL of the glory for His provision.

Catherine and I cutting butcher paper for the wrapping procedures.

We really are at His mercy as we have taken a few leaps of faith. One is that I stay out of the workforce and in our home raising and educating our children. The other is that we have opened our hearts to more children by allowing God to be sovereign over our family size. We are willing to give up luxuries in order to follow His will for our lives, but it looks like He wanted to bless us this year. And, to that we say thanks and YUMMY!!

Building Boys

In addition to chore training and our read aloud routine, I try to have an engaging activity for my preschoolers everyday. At this age, they seem to enjoy repeating the same activity each day for a week adding variations and new twists to it as we go along.

My just-turned-3-years-old really enjoyed this weeks activity so I thought I would share:


I found a scrap piece of soft pine wood and some small penny nails. I got about 6 nails started into the wood then taught him how to hold the hammer, which was a little too heavy for him, to finish driving the nails into the wood. It took some encouragement at first as he had a few misses then wanted to give up. Hoping to build a little character, I encouraged him to keep trying. By the end of our session this skill was still difficult for him, but he had some success, so I had something to build on the next day.

Each day he practiced hammering the nails and each day it became easier for him. By Thursday he could nail them in quite easily.

On the second day, after his nailing practice, we decided to cut electrical tape and put it on his board. He cut the tape himself, and was quickly bored of it. :)

However, he loved to measure the board with the measuring tape. I placed the tape on the board and counted inches as I pointed to each number. I showed him how to hook the end of the tape measure onto the end of the board. I took a marker and drew the inch marks onto the board. Again, I named the numbers as I wrote them above the inch marks.

We played a game with the numbers. I named a number and he pointed to the one I named. When he pointed to the right number I gave him a tickle. He almost always got them right so he got lots of tickles.

On the last day we did this activity, after he drove a few nails "just like Daddy", I showed him how to connect the nails with lines. He used a marker and connected the nail heads like connect-the-dots. Finally, he personalized the board by drawing what we are calling "fire crackers". ;)

Learning how to use a hammer gave him a real sense of accomplishment and a confidence that he is making progress toward becoming a man like his Dad. He really admires his Dad and has a natural desire to work at his side. I will cherish these times I have with him.

The New Kitchen Help

Come on in and meet the girls...

I had never cooked with cast iron until about a year ago. The cookware that I had received when we got married 15 years ago was looking pretty bad, so I began to shop for some new stuff. I wanted something that would not leach metal toxins into our food, and Hard Anodized just wasn't suiting me. I found a cast iron pot at my friend's moving sell, and was soon hooked.

This 7 quart beauty was a Christmas gift from my Mother-in-law.
I cook an extra large pot of soup or a roast with veggies with this girl.
Despite her size, she never scorches.
*Ain't* she sweet!!

Old-fashioned cast iron, it is a basic element. I have pretty much used it exclusively for several months now and I find it user-friendly. I seasoned everybody well when they came to live with me and the more I use them they seem to season themselves, now.

My griddle *ain't* stained and dirty, she is well-seasoned!
Can you picture a row of yummy turkey bacon?

I may be cooking with cast iron, but this isn't your usual country fried cooking. Remember, we choose iron for its health benefits, Ya'll. (LOL!! I am Paula Dean gone healthy!)

[clearing throat] My husband is NOT laughing. Anyway...

They distribute heat better than ANY cookware I have use before. (Now, I have cook with some fancy pans.) They hold heat for a very long time so once I get the food to the desired temperature I can turn the eyes off, close the iron lid and leave, and the girls continue cooking for HOURS. I am so pleased.

If you use them often, even eggs will not stick.
This stuff is more stick-resistant than Tephlon.

As far as the toxins I was concerned about, these ladies actually leach good minerals into our food. Here it is from the notable Dr. Weil:

"A study published in the July 1986 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that cooking in cast iron skillets added significant amounts of iron to 20 foods tested. For example, the researchers reported that the iron content of three ounces of applesauce increased from 0.35 mg to 7.3 mg and scrambled eggs increased from 1.49 mg to 4.76 mg of iron. "

This is one I got from my friend's yard sell.
I cook rice in her last night. Again, NO sticking.

The only downsides are that you cannot leave them to soak or they will rust, but maybe that is not such a downside as I should be more inclined to wash them right away and am happier that way.The other downside is that they are heavy, especially the big dutch oven when loaded with food, but nothing I can't handle.

Thank you, Ladies.

Reaction of an Ordinary Citizen to the Gifford Shooting

Prayers and tears flowing...

Though I vehemently disagree with some of what she stands for, I would not wish this on my worst enemy. NEVER!!

In moments like these it is not about the politics, but rather human life which is precious. The blame game frenzy has already begun, but let us remember where the true blame lies - Criminal Complaint.

I hope that the truth will stand that though there are bad apples in every group, the vast majority of Americans still stand for the beautiful value of life above all things.

It will be a joy to see her pull through.

We must pray for our public officials everyday.

Was Darwin a Racist?

I have read many articles like this and shall I say that the notoriety given to Darwin (and Huxley) in public school textbooks are among the more predominant reasons our children will never be educated there.

http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/12
Was Darwin a Racist?

The Family Catechism

Okay, bear with me and all of this catechism talk. This is good stuff.

Today's society seems to be bent on separating the family unit. Children are away at school, fathers AND MOTHERS who work too much, hobbies and endless extra curricular activity like sports teams and music, technology like cell phones and video gaming, Facebook, I could go on and on and I am sure you could add more to the list.

Dare I say, even many churches hardly recognize the importance of nourishing the functioning, Biblical family. I am talking about the one found in Deuteronomy 6. Yes, local churches swallow the time of mother's, father's and youth in a manner that keeps them separated from worshiping, praying, meditating, witnessing with one another destroying Duet 6.

Busy-bodiness, lack of motivation or vision and a whole host of problems are tearing the Biblical family unit apart.

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum ministries has shared a great idea that he practices with his family to foster their unit and togetherness. He has developed a family catechism. Now, keep in mind that his family catechism can be changed and updated as the Lord shapes and hones them in their faith and vision. Most importantly, it will not replace their theological Catechism which is designed to help them know and love Christ more which is their first priority.

Their family catechism merely highlights what he calls their "family idiosyncrasies". Their unique calling and specific mission as a family and how it fits into God's master plan.

In his words: "I do believe that family catechisms are timely, beneficial, and wise. They represent a legitimate attempt to further implement the discipleship commands of Deuteronomy 6, Proverbs and elsewhere, by formalizing the godly instruction priorities of fathers for their children into pithy, terse maxims that will be remembered by the children and can be passed on for generations."

Find his tutorial here:
The Family Catechism

Here are a few examples:
Question #2:
What is the strategic mission
of the Phillips family?

To defend the crown
rights of Christ in our
wicked generation by
advancing the Kingdom of
God in every area of life,
and by fighting for the
Christian family.

Question# 4:
Who do the Phillip's fear?

Phillipses fear God, but
Phillipses fear no man. For
the wicked flee when no
man pursueth, but the
righteous are bold as a
lion.

Question # 13:
What lifetime Scripture goal
has your father set before you?

To read God's Word everyday.

The Key to a Happy Home?

Christ.

Who is the First and Best of Beings?

Vince has been asking the kids and me these questions and we have been memorizing them along with Scripture proofs during our family worship time together.

"Who is the first and best of beings?" This is the first question in The Baptist Catechism of 1689 which is a slightly altered version of the reformed Westminster Catechism. Hopefully, this question is easy for my readers to answer. The formal answer with Scripture is:

"God is the first and best of beings."

Is. 44:6 "Thus sat the Lord, the king of Israel and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last and beside me there is no god."

Ps. 97:9 " For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods."

Other good ones are Ps. 8:1 and Ps. 96:4

I like to attempt to answer the questions on my own then see how my answers compare to the given answers and their Scripture proofs. This helps me correct any false thought patterns that I may have going on in my head. Here is the next question:

What is man chief end?

Try answering it then head to this link to find the answer- http://www.desiringgod.org/about/our-distinctives/our-beliefs/a-baptist-catechism

Home Management and the Domestically Challenged

As we add children to our family, we are forced to deal with weaknesses that we were able to ignore or disguise before.

My name is Misty Smith, and I am domestically challenged. On so many levels, too, but I can only deal with them in baby step portions.

Home management is an area that I should have tackled with baby #3... NO, baby #1! But, I didn't so we have been suffering all of this time. Now baby #4 is a year old, and I am finally making some moves toward progress.

Recently, I have acquired the book Large Family Logistic which has helped me to improve.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!

The changes that have brought us a bit of success?

Giving each day of the week a theme: Monday is Town Day; Tuesday is Laundry Day; Wednesday is Kitchen Day; Thursday is Office Day; Friday is Bed, Bath and Beyond Day; Saturday is a day of fun/rest and Sunday is for the Lord.

If on one of these days "life happens" as it often does--like sickness, ministry opportunity, birthday, field trip, ect.-- I don't have to stress because the day will come again in its rotation soon enough; and I will have another opportunity to tackle that day's jobs in a more comprehensively manner.

For instance, on Laundry Day last week I was unable to get the shower curtains washed because I had a few sick children who kept me distracted. They weren't too bad and could wait a week and I DID get 4 huge loads washed and folded and culled unmatched socks while I sat on the couch snuggling my sick ones. Tomorrow is the next Laundry Day so I will wash the shower curtain, Lord willing along with a whole host of laundry goals I hope to accomplish. I am the type that thrives on 2nd chances... and 3rd chances and 4th chances... which is why this works well for me.

The other feature that I have added to my home management scheme is the use of a timer. On Office Day, for instance, I alternate 15 minutes of playing and teaching the littles with 15 minutes of bill paying, school planning, couponing or whatever seems office-like. This way kiddos are getting their fix of my attention and don't seem to notice when I turn away for 15 minutes to do my chore. I will come back to their world before they realize my attention had been elsewhere. Maybe, during my time segment with them I might have an office job that I can include them in, like opening junk mail envelops or throwing away a pile of expired coupons.

These Home Management improvements have worked beautifully. The question is, can I maintain these changes long enough for them to morph into ingrained habits? I think so... pray for me.

The Bible and Birth Control

I am assuming that there are not many who care to read about the topics of which I post and even fewer agree them. That is okay with me.

If there is one person who might be a little curious and is wondering what the Bible says about Birth Control, grab a cup of tea or coffee, prop up your legs and get comfy. Here is a free audio book called The Bible and Birth Control, The Classic Christian View. You will hear commentary from great theological students like Charles Spurgeon, Calvin, Luther, Wesley, the Pilgrims, Owen, Henry, Baxter and more. This is fairly comprehensive, so if you take the time to listen you are proving yourself to be serious about seeking after Biblical answers to the common practice of birth control even if you may not fully agree. Link below:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Charles^Provan