Laundry Soap

A few people have been asking for this recipe, since it's probably easier to copy it from here than me sending out a dozen e-mails I'll post it here.  This isn't my recipe I got it off a newsletter that I receive on a regular basis.  I've been using it for a number of years with good success.  I have quite a few peeps with sensitive skin and none of us have trouble with this detergent.  I suppose if you were allergic to Ivory you could substitute a different type of pure soap.

Laundry Soap
** you'll need to save up a few empty bottles first or store it in ice cream pails!!

1 bar of Ivory soap
1/2 c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
1/2 c Borax

1. Grate the soap
2. In a large pot (I use my canner) heat 6 cups of water and the soap over medium heat until dissolved.
3. Stir in Borax and A&H until dissolved.
4. Add 4 cups of HOT water, stir.
5. You can add essential oil or some commercial detergent to the mix if you want (sometimes I add a laundry booster)
6. Add 1 gallon + 6 cups of COLD water. stir
7. Let set without stirring for 24 hours. It will have the consistency of liquid gel. Stir (I use a whisk).

Pour into jugs with tight lids. Use 1/4 c for HE machines.

Pretty easy.

trust - round ??

I've posted before that our life with our #2 son is more than a little difficult.  We have had to make difficult decisions to ensure our family's health and safety.  We find ourselves at that point again.  How do you help someone who is desperate for help but is at a place of hopelessness?  We are exploring possibilities that no parent should ever have to.  Yet when I talk to another mom who has been making these kind of decisions longer than I have, she gave me a gentle rebuke...this life isn't guaranteed to be easy.  When Jesus said take up this cross there was a guarantee of pain. 
I'm not sure that I was prepared for this kind of pain, in fact I know I wasn't.  I've watched friends walk through horrendous things with their kids.  I watched them fold into themselves to conserve energy for the battle they were facing.  Now I find myself doing the same thing, there just isn't enough of me to give out much.  In order to survive emotions get a little numb, the brain only takes in so much, the body only puts out so much.
Would I change it?  I don't think so.  There is something to be learned from this journey that I can't learn any other way.  I pray that my trust will be strengthened.  That seems to be the theme word for this year for me.  The Lord has given me many different words over the years and perhaps there has been a trust year before, I can't remember.  Whether there was or not - I need to learn it afresh.  Trust that God can heal my son, my family, myself.  Trust that the wounds that are inflicted are going to bring about beauty of character and wisdom of soul.  Trust that we will somehow survive the ordeal and perhaps even thrive in it.

Father, I believe, help my unbelief...

revelation

Have you ever reveled in your child?
just stopped and stared
marveled at the wonder of this creation
that you are somehow just a little responsible
for

awed by the beauty
shocked that you had a part in it at all?

Hiding the Word in My Heart

I've been wanting to do this for awhile now.  In 2009 at the Pastor's Retreat we focused on memorizing the word.  The speaker was a fellow who had memorized several books of the Bible and encouraged his students and others to do the same.

In our church we are slowly memorizing 1John together...but I wanted to do something myself.  This post at Holy Experience encouraged me to start to do this thing for myself...something more than the nothing that I've been doing.  Something between me and Jesus.  I'm going to invite my children and husband to come with me on the journey.  I hope they do, and if they don't, I'm going anyway.

I'll be attempting to memorize the book of Colossians in 2011.  Just 2 verses a week.  That sounds achievable don't you think?  In her post, Ann has provided a download for all the weeks.  Today I spent putting my own little book together.  It was beauty in the making...pretty paper, ribbon and the Word...the Word becoming part of me, I look forward to see how it may change me, for surely it will.

I know it wasn't a Wednesday post, but oh well, I wanted to see if the button worked!

1000 gifts has been reached.

I was going to complete my 1000 gifts before 2010 ended, but alas, when I was near a computer, I kept forgetting to blog!  So now, it is time to finish that journey and begin a new thankful list...

I got this little gift in a newsletter I just received.  These 10 predictions are definitely gifts (976-986)

ENCOURAGING PREDICTIONS FOR 2011
Author unknown
With all the problems the world is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. It's wonderful to know Who really is in control and that "the Word of God endures forever." ~ I Peter 1:25

Top 10  Predictions for 2011
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the prayers of His people.
5. There  will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him

Okay, only a few more to go before we're at 1000!

987.  Playing games - we've spent the last three days playing games with our friends and family,  I love games!

988.  We had 7 days in a row without an explosion from our explosive son.  That's probably worth 7 gifts, but I'll just count it as one.

989.  Our vehicle did not break down during all the driving we did in the last week.

990.  I am very thankful that they changed the days of our Christmas vacation and therefore the kids aren't going back to school until Wednesday.  They can catch up on sleep the next few days.

991.  I am thankful for encouraging friends.

992.  Friends you can laugh with are a gift.

993.  Parents who invite you over for lunch on the spur of the moment are a gift.

994.  Watching my children play piano is a gift.

995.  Well-made, Canadian products that I can give to my children are a gift.

996.  My son asking for prayer for his 95 year old great-grandma this morning was a gift I will treasure.

997.  The thoughtfulness of our friend's son toward his mother was a delight to us and to the Lord (definitely to his mother).

998.  Following the Lord's leading and that obedience becoming a blessing to someone else is a gift.

999.  The thoughtfulness of our congregation in the cards and gifts we received - gifts!

1000.  The salvation given to me by my Saviour...a gift without number

and now, the gifting can continue as this list is not limited to 1000....

Blessings in the New Year to one and all.

(it took 2 years to get 1000 things on this list)