Celebrating Reformation Day!

We don't celebrate Halloween or "Fall Festival" which is the church's Halloween without a bow on it. They call it an "outreach Program" but it is still Halloween. Anyway, October 31st is also a GREAT holiday for Christians. It is Reformation Day. If you don't know anything about it or you would like to let your kids get involved in the celebration of it, you can go HERE to my other site for a list of resources and activities! Enjoy and have a GREAT Reformation Day!

We hope you all had a blessed Memorial Day. We were thankful to be able to enjoy it with my parents, my husband's parents and grandmother. We grilled chicken and had lots of fixin's to go with it. We visited and they all wanted to see our garden, which is growing fast. Some of the time was spent in a game of dominoes, which many enjoyed :o) In fact, we were out weeding this morning. After my parents left to go home (my mom still works), we sat around and talked but we also came in the house and our oldest played the piano and we sang hymns with everyone. Then we were blessed to have my husband's 85 year old Grandmother, who plays purely by ear, to play the piano. What lasting memories were made! I am going to post some pictures here of our celebration! Enjoy!

Thinking of Others during the Holiday Season!

Today I will be talking about taking what you already have and using it to help others during this time of year. One thing my immediate family does, is save toiletries from hotels (we take our own) and save them. We also ask those that we know travel (in church or family) to collect these items throughout the year. There is a local homeless ministry here in the Atlanta area and we know the pastor (he used to be our pastor at a local church) a long time ago. At Church on the Street, Kurt not only ministers to these men and women, but helps show them a love, peace and contentment that can ONLY come from knowing Jesus. We asked Kurt what one of his biggest needs were and they were these bags. We are also thinking about having our Contenders group sponsor this as a project.

1 ziploc gallon bag
1 pr of gloves (can be found cheaply but if you tell the store what you are doing you will be amazed
1 pr of socks
1 warm hat
1 large garbage bag
1 shampoo
1 lotion (if we have it)
1 small bar of soap
1 deoderant
1 razor
toothbrush (ask your dentist! They might be glad to donate some!)
toothpaste

We fold the garbage bag and put all contents inside the ziploc. We also put the gloves and socks inside the hat. Kurt has these handy for the ones that are willing to not only change but those who need it.

We are also going to sponsor a group of soldiers through Any Soldier who might not be getting packages. I will have our children write letters to them using free handwriting paper from Donna Young. We will send it to them in a Flat rate box. You can use this because they are on an APO address. You can fill it (and I encourage you to) as packed as you can get it.

For more tips on Works for Me Wednesday, check out Rocks in My Dryer.

I am on a YAHOO group (my favorite one, WINK) for Homeschool Mom's around the country called Support4Homeschool. One of my Cyber friends has posted these suggestions at her blog at Not2Many which I am a frequent reader. There were too many good suggestions here, NOT to pass along! So thanks to DeEtta, here is the details on "Blessing Mix" for Thanksgiving.

Southern Belle

These directions are taken from Organized Christmas - you can find directions, tags, photos here


Thanksgiving Blessing Mix Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&Ms-brand chocolate candy
16 Hershey's-brand chocolate kisses

Directions:
In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses.

Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Thanksgiving Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.

Print 4 copies of the Thanksgiving Blessings Mix printable gift tagor hand-write your own tags with the following wording.

Cut out tags, and attach one to each bag.
Makes 16 Blessing Mix gift bags.
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Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.