Verses of Comfort

During my Bible study of Paul, I learned that he encountered some truly frustrating circumstances. His trials and his faith in the face of those trials are an inspiration to me. After all, if he can keep on with what God wants him to do even after being beaten, stoned, flogged and imprisoned, why can't I?

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. I Corinthians 10:13

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  II Corinthians 1:5

Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
II Corinthians 1:9

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  II Corinthians 4:7

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  II Corinthians 4:17

Homeschool Art Project: Collaborative ArtPrize Collage

This past September, we went to see ArtPrize, a huge outdoor art competition held in downtown Grand Rapids.  Artists from all over the world find a place to exhibit their art and people from all over can attend and vote for their favorite art.    Most of the artists had business cards, postcards, or pamphlets about their piece for visitors to pick up, so I had the kids grab the cards of the pieces that they really liked. 

I pulled those cards out today and RJ and Emily made a collage with them.  We talked about visual balance, layers, color schemes and more.  This project was a lot of fun for them and it got them excited to go to ArtPrize again this fall!

Click on the picture to see more pictures of the work in progress.  


ArtPrize Collage

 

What I Learned From "Squeaky Green"

I've just recently read "Squeaky Green," by Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry and I liked it! Its an easy read and gives some great tips for detoxing your home. Here are my notes:

1. Living Room

• Leave the shoes at the door.
• Use a steam carpet cleaner (2x a year) instead of a shampoo-er
• Use vegetable, milk based, low VOC paints, rugs and carpets.
• Use microfiber cloths to dust.
• Don't use ammonia based glass cleaners. Use vinegar instead.
• Older furniture has less harmful materials. Buy furniture that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
• New car/carpet/plastic smell is not good to inhale. 
• Clean the vacuum every 6 mos.
• Use non-toxic paint strippers.
• Buy PBDE-free furniture.
• Particle board is made with formaldehyde.
• Get a high efficiency pleated furnace filter.

2. Kitchen

• Get rid of antibacterials.
• Get rid of chlorine bleach.
• Replace plastic microwave containers with glass/Pyrex.
• Use wax paper instead of plastic wrap.
• Buy phosphate free dishwasher detergent.
• Buy produce locally.
• Don't buy cleaners that say "toxic, corrosive, caustic."
• Use a microfiber mop with non-toxic floor cleaner.

3. Bedroom

• Buy a PBDE-free mattress, such as organic natural latex.
• Buy un-dyed linen, organic cotton or bamboo sheets.
• No-iron (sheets or shirts) are treated with formaldehyde.
• Use paraffin wax candles only.

4. Bathroom

• 'Hydrosol' in beauty/body products means nothing.
• 'Extracts' just means water.
• Try to buy 95% or higher of natural ingredients in beauty/body products.
• Triclosan in toothpaste is dangerous.
• Buy bar soaps that are EDTA free.
• Avoid lotions, shaving gels, shampoo and toothpaste that have parabens or other "-abens".
• Buy an non-PVC shower curtain and liner - like hemp, cotton or canvas (which are also machine washable).
• Put the lid down and then flush.
• There's propane in aerosol air fresheners. Use essential oils instead.
• Hang a sprig of eucalyptus from the shower head. It released essential oils and helps relieve congestion.
• Squeegee the shower.

5. Laundry room

• Use nontoxic, concentrated un-chlorinated bleach that's biodegradable or hydrogen peroxide (16 oz.)
• Use 1 cup of white vinegar in the "clean" cycle on the washing machine.

6. Kids' Rooms

• Use paints and markers certified by the ACMI.
• Check out www.thegreenguide.com, it has a list of clean and dirty arts and crafts supplies.
• By organic cotton, snug fitting PJs instead of the flame retardant ones.
• Buy PVC free toys (AKA: the #3 in the recycle triangle or the letter "v").

7. Pets

• Avoid flea shampoos and collars. Use eucalyptus oil or cloves instead, as well as feeding dog a few cloves of garlic daily.
• Give the dog a bath 1x a week with a natural soap.
• Use PVC free toys.

Step by step...

Natural Cleaner 'Recipes'

I wanted to share these recipes since this is the time of year that we tend to focus on organizing and then Spring cleaning. 

It is possible to keep your home clean without toxic chemicals!  I use scented vinegar, baking soda, Dr. Bronner's, Sal Suds, and dish soap for all of my household cleaning.

Multi-Purpose Scrub: 
16(or 22) oz bottle:
Mix 1 2/3 (2) cups  baking soda with 1/2 cup Dr. Bronner's in a bowl. 
Add 1/2 (2/3) cup of water. 
Add 2 Tbsp vinegar.
Stir until the lumps are gone.  If it pours into the bottle easily, it is the right consistancy - if not, add a little more water. 
Shake well before using.

A great 'Softscrub' for tub, sink, toilet, garbage cans. 
Can also be used to deckscrub linoleum floors with heavy buildup - squirt on floor and scrub.  Let sit and then scrub again.  Dry wipe with towels.  Spray with vinegar and wipe/mop again.

Kitchen Cleanser (I use a plastic parmesan cheese container with the label peeled off)
Fill Shaker 1/2 full with baking soda
Add 15-20 drops essential oil (Optional) and stir
Fill shaker to the top with baking soda
Put top on and shake

This 'Comet' of a cleaner is great for sinks, tubs, pots and pans.  Rinse and spray with vinegar to dissolve residue.

Glass Cleaner:
Fill a spray bottle with scented vinegar or club soda.

Scented Vinegar:
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.  I like lemon or tea tree oil.

Oven Cleaner:
Mix 1/4 cup salt and 3/4 cup baking soda in a bowl and put into a shaker bottle.
Spray Sal Sud's spray in oven and then shake soda/salt mixture on.
Spray again with Sal Sud's spray.
Make a paste with soda/salt mix and 1/4 cup water and spread on sides/top of oven.
Let sit over night.
Scrape or scrub off and wipe down with Sal Sud's spray. 
Spray with vinegar to dissolve residue.

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Sal Sud's Spray: from Dr. Bronner website
Fill 1 quart spray bottle nearly to the top with water
Add 1 Tbsp Sal Sud's

This is a 'Fantastic' multi-purpose spray cleaner!

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Bubble Juice: (Not really a cleaner, but good clean fun!)
1 1/2 cups water
3 Tbsp or more dish soap
Glycerin (optional)

Angie's New Year's Resolutions

I really want to lose some weight, but with my knee problem, I can't exercise like I'd like to...So, I resolve to:

1.  Eat more healthfully and make sure to get enough fiber and veggies in my diet.
2.  Go out with Matt once a month.  Now that he's employed and Audrey's getting a little older I think that this needs to be a priority again. 
3.  Get Megan off the pacifier.
4.  I also have plans to declutter room by room and get ready for a mega garage sale in April. 
5.  After that declutter is done (end of Jan or mid Feb) I am going to work on scanning all of our snapshot photos into our computer from 2001-2005.
6.  Finish RJ's sweater that I started in May...I have half a sleeve left and just need to make time to finish it before he outgrows it. 
7.  Read the Bible - for real, not just stopping when it gets boring at Numbers (I've read the first 3 books many, many, many times) 
8.  Keep working to incorporate crafts (aka: the things I'm not so good at) into our homeschooling.