Gratituesday: God honors Himself through our prayers

Nervous about the potentially coming storm?

Me too.

James 5:17 - 18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Why did Elijah pray that it wouldn't rain? Back in 1 Kings 17, we learn that Ahab was the reigning king in Israel at that time. Ahab was a man about whom God said "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." (I Kings 16:33). In short, Israel was in trouble, going down the wrong path. God sent Elijah to warn them of the consequences if they didn't turn around. Elijah was banned.

So Elijah prayed for consequences - the drought. I'm guessing that he knew God would use just this sort of thing to bring the nation to its knees. It took three and a half years of no rain to prepare the hearts. Then this three-and-a-half years culminates in the famous standoff between Baal and God, Ahab and Elijah on Mount Carmel. After watching God blow up the sacrifice in one breath, guess what. The people fell down and worshiped God.


Do you see what happened? The entire nation of Israel turned around because of Elijah's prayer. Mission accomplished. Elijah prayed again, and it rained.

Look at the verse one more time:
James 5:17 - 18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

God used the prayers of one man to turn the nation around. And that man was just like us. Isn't that hard to believe -- that Elijah was not superhuman, he wasn't particularly spiritual or in better standing with God. But no. He was like us. We, like him, are declared righteous by God. And we, like him, have access to God through prayer.

Our God wants to work through our prayers. He wants to glorify Himself, not just in Israel, but in every nation and every people. Elijah was one man, but he prayed earnestly and changed the course of the nation. Notice that it wasn't immediate or painless. But wow, did God ever honor himself!

People, let's pray. (And maybe be nervous about the potentially coming drought).

Moreover let's take comfort in knowing that God glorifies himself in the end. I sure am grateful for that!

Nature Walk: Autumn Colors

Sometimes I think we're at a nature disadvantage living in suburbia. No small farm, no livestock nearby (to smell and hear), no endless fields... But it's definitely not devoid of nature. Just this week we were invaded by millions of ladybugs. And last week I was photographing some scarves that my Mom made to sell on Etsy, and a snake crawled under one of them. Yes, plenty of nature.

One of my favorite ways to get outside and enjoy nature, even in the city, is to take a Nature Walk. Usually we pick one theme for observation ("What do you hear?" "What kinds of bugs can we find?" "What sorts of seeds are there around us?") Today we did "What colors can we find?"

Not everyone wanted to go.


We looked for colors in our walk. Instead of picking up the colors and bringing them home, we took along the camera.





Yes, it's beautiful here too. Even Josephine enjoyed it.

Let's introduce ourselves

I'd like to introduce myself, and tell you welcome. I'm honored that you chose to visit.

First things first, my name is Amy. I live in the midwest USA with the best husband in the world, Chester. He is a Dad and a student, studying Mechanical Engineering. I am a Mom and a computer programmer. I work 20 hours a week (Chet stays home during them). Now you know why we live frugally.

We have four kids whose bloggy names are Bennet, Lisel, Josephine and Matthias (or some shortened variation of those names).


Bennet is 6, and homeschooled for kindergarten. He loves turkeys. Lisel is 4, and proud to be the family drama queen. Jo is two, and a very typical third child -- always taking care of others, and wanting to cuddle. Finally Matt is nearly 18 months, and definitely all boy. The day before his first birthday he had his first trip to the Emergency Room (for a swallowed coin). I don't think it'll be his last.

This blog is really to just explore (and celebrate) the unconventional family life and journey that God has given us as a family of six, living on a half-time income that I provide while my husband is in school, homeschooling, pursuing our dreams of being missionaries, and enjoying life frugally. John 15:5 says “Apart from me, you can do nothing”. (Yes, we've noticed!) As we cling to Christ, however, He carries us and inspires us to keep going. And we really do enjoy life. Thank you Lord!

Drumroll Please!

Whew!

After a whole week of giving away stuff, I think I've learned a lesson.One at a time, please

In any case, it's been fun. And maybe I'll plan better for the next carnival and be able to do one every day again.

This morning, comments were closed, and Random.org so gladly generated numbers for me.

Kindergarten learning cards: number 14 was selected -- Jill!

Homemade wool hat: number 32 was selected - Hayley!

Home-mixed herbal tea with tea bags: number 25 was selected - creme!

Kindergarten homeschool books: 35 was selected - silverhartgirl!

And

The Mikasa Nativity: number 13 was selected -- windycity!


You've all been emailed. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and visiting my blog!

More giveaways coming soon, but not one everyday!

Don't tell yourself

This kids were talking about my upcoming birthday this morning.

"Mom, your birthday is coming!"

"Mom, do you like it when we make you things?"

"Mom, we're making you something. But you're not supposed to know, so don't tell yourself!"

Handmade Gifts part 2: from Kids (to Adults)

Is it just me, or is it really hard to find things that kids can make and give to others that aren't pre-fabricated and expensive, or completely dorky?

I've had a hard time coming up with things that kids can make and give, anyway.

Just in case you have too, Here's a few things we've done in the past, and many of the ideas I hope to try in the future. They aren't all stellar, and none of these ideas are original with me. But I hope you like them anyway. I'm providing links to the projects where appropriate.

Oh, and another disclaimer, I tend to like gifts that are at least a little bit useful. So most of these aren't of the "refrigerator art" variety. Except the first one.

A year of kid art. Have one, or a few, of the kids make a new art project every month and mail it to the recipient. We did this for and aunt a few years back. She loved it, and still has all the ones we sent. Moreover, it provided a nice way to try new art projects without inviting a lot of clutter. It's also a nice way to let far away family know that you're thinking of them. I think we'll probably do it again.

Jewelry
Have you tried finger knitting? It's fun! Even the kids think it's fun! I can finger-knit a scarf in about an hour, but my oldest is only six, and definitely won't be sitting for an hour finger knitting (even if he was that fast). Instead, he's made a finger-knitted necklace and bracelet out of fancy yarn for his aunt. And that was really cute. Here's a good tutorial on 1-finger knitting, and another on 4-finger knitting (which is really better for kids over about 6 or 7).

Another easy popular craft around here is bangles. Cut a strip of a round plastic bottle (something big enough to go over your hand), and wrap fancy yarn around and around it. This is easy for kids above about 4, and really turns out cute! Kid's Craft Weekly has a good tutorial for these. And on the bracelets thread, my kids love to string beads pipe cleaners.


Stamping
Use apples, potatoes, carrots, sponges, cereal boxes folded into shapes, and whatever you can find as a stamp with acrylic paint to decorate hand towels, handkerchiefs, a tote bag, or just about anything. Might be kind of messy, but it's sure to be a big hit with both the kids and the lucky recipient, don't you think?

Nature gifts
Kids love to plant seeds, water them and watch them grow. It's a science lesson and a gift in one. Why have I not done this before? If I can find those seeds we never got around to planting last spring, we'll have a potted spice garden to give away. Thyme is supposed to be particularly easy, and sprouts quickly. We have some miniature basil just begging to be grown in a pot, and I'm wanting to try wheat grass too. Maybe we'll even decorate the pots with stickers or paint.

I also love these nature texture prints made from polymer clay. Or twig stars like these (I'm working on a tutorial for them now).

And maybe you'd like to consider some garden art.

Food
Don't forget the value of a good food gift. We often give away homemade jelly that the kids helped stir. Or give a Pie-in-a-jar, or a jar-mix for some favorite cookies. Or just make the cookies and give them away. Of mini-loaves of banana bread. These are school-lessons and gifts too -- all that measuring! Food is a great gift for men -- how could you go wrong?

Others
And one last one -- another great gift for a man is a stress-ball or hackey sack. The link I had for this has been deleted, but you basically take a balloon, use a funnel to fill it (without stretching the balloon much) with sand or flour or split peas or rice, whatever you have.... Then you tie the balloon and stuff the knot inside. Cut the neck off of a second balloon, and stuff the first one inside of this (if you used flour, don't cut the neck off, I hear it makes a very big mess). Then you repeat this -- cutting the neck off of a third and fourth balloon to make a rather strong ball. You can cut many holes in another balloon if you wish for decoration. Here's another way to make one.

No, wait, one more. You can re-cover a pillow to make just about anything. (Your kid could even draw a design on the fabric!).

Speaking of gifts for adults. I have one for you. It's a Mikasa ceramic Nativity. Brand new in the box. Keep it, or give it to someone without young kids who will destroy it :)

Just leave me a comment to enter. Contest ends November 1st, just like the others. Don't forget to tell me your email address in it!

Oh, and don't forget to read part 1 of this series: Handmade gifts for teenage boys.


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Doin' the Turkey Dance

We finally decided to let our kids attend a local church's halloween party.

That means that costumes are in order. Bennet insists on being a turkey. (If you know him, you're so not surprised). Apron Queen's Reviews is having a challenge which involves doing the chicken dance. You know where this is going....








Here's how we made this really last-minute costume:

Tail: A red and orange shirt, torn into strips and tied around a piece of elastic that then is pinned to orange shorts

Head: A piece cut from a red felted sweater and sewn into a curve above the face-hole (which was already ripped in the sweater. A felt beak sewed on, as well as a strip of red fabric for the over-the-beak thingy. A love red hanging-thingy out of the same sweater, just a long strip cut, sewed and turned. Google eyes glued on.

Wings: Two wing-like shapes cut from same felted sweater and pinned on to an orange tee shirt.

Legs: Red tights borrowed from the box for when Lisel gets older.

The great thing about pre-schoolers is that they don't mind (or know) if it's totally dorky!

I still have to make unicorn and kitty costumes for the girls. Matt will be lucky if he gets to dress up, it's a good thing he's too young to care!