Always Be Calm When You Punish.

When it becomes necessary to use the rod upon your child be sure you possess a calmness in your soul. It requires much grace for true parents to whip their children. Before you punish them you should show them what great wrong they have done and how God is displeased, and that you do not punish them for your own pleasure — but because you love them.

To the dear parents who read this we wish to exhort you to give great diligence in cultivating the affectionate side of your nature. Do not be careless and unmindful of the dear little ones happiness. Do not be cold and indifferent toward them. Enter into their joys and sorrows with a warm heart. Parents oftentimes remark when their child gets hurt in some way, "Well it is good enough for you; maybe it will teach you something." Oh, may that heart be softened to tender sympathy, so you will make the dear child feel how sorry you are because he has been hurt, then teach him how he must not engage in such things, and then he will avoid being injured. Your kind words of sympathy will relieve the pain by their influence upon the heart. Your cold indifferent words make deeper wounds in the heart than were made in the flesh.

Seek God in much earnest prayer to tender your affections, to refine your nature, to make you very sensitive to the feelings of your child, and to help you to love the tender "olive plants" round about your fireside. Some day there may be a vacant chair, and there can be no sweeter joy on earth to your sorrowing heart than to know you did what you could to make the little one happy and train its feet for the glory world.

Kind words are flowers of beauty rare;
Keep them blooming throughout the year.

-Charles Orr

(Successful Child Training)

Do You Grumble?

"The Lord has heard all your grumblings against Him!"

 Exodus 16:8

Does God really hear every discontented word which I ever speak?

Does He hear when I grumble about the weather . . .
about the hard winter,
about the late spring,
about the dry summer,
about the wet harvest?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about the frosts,
about the drought,
about the high winds,
about the storms?

Does He hear when I grumble . . .
about my circumstances,
about the hardness of my lot,
about my losses and disappointments?

If we could get into our heart, and keep there continually, the consciousness that God hears every word we speak—would we murmur and complain so much as we now do?

We are careful never to speak words which would give pain to the hearts of those we love. Are we as careful not to say anything that will grieve our heavenly Father?

"I tell you this—that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak!" Matthew 12:36

"He who complains of the weather—complains of the God who ordains the weather!" William Law

-JR Miller

If You Will Not Work, You Will Not Eat

"Every skilled woman spun with her hands—and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen." Exodus 35:25

It didn't harm their hands a bit either! Some dainty women are like the lilies, "They do not labor or spin!" 

They keep their hands soft and white. They think any kind of work would mar the delicate beauty of their fingers. But they make a great mistake. The hands that are beautiful in heaven's sight—are not the dainty ones that are never roughened or hardened by toil.

Anything is beautiful, just in the measure in which it fulfills the mission for which it was made. Hands were made to work; and an idle, useless hand, no matter how delicate and fair, is not a lovely hand!

These ancient women had learned to spin, and now they spun for God. Here we see how everyday talents and occupations, may be turned over into God's service. The young women of today do not spin much; many of them never saw a spinning-wheel; but they have other common talents and abilities which they may consecrate to Christ.

                                                               - JR Miller

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat"

2 Thessalonians 3:10

No Bake Cupcakes

      

     Okay, so you wanted to make some goodies like cupcakes but you have no oven. Don't worry you can still make cupcakes or cakes without a microwave oven. I too struggle with the desire and inability to do so then I found this recipe and viola! I've been using this moist, no-bake, steamed carrot cupcakes ever since and it never fails me.

      My mom also became a fan of this recipe and a friend too and soon became a family favorite. This recipe is so simple and it doesn't take so much time to make. Another good thing about this is that I used the same recipe to make banana cake. So here we go:

Ingredients:

½ cup sugar (I always use brown sugar but you can use white)

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 & ½ cup grated carrots

½ cup crushed pineapple or tidbits  

1 cup cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

   

Procedure:

1.     Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a bowl.

2.    Sift twice

3.    Mix the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, grated carrots and crushed pineapple in another bowl.

4.    Mix until well blended

5.    Pour dry mixture into the wet mixture (number 1 into number 3=)

6.    Mix until well blended. Make sure there are no lumps.

7.    Spoon the batter into prepared cupcakes molder.

8.    Steam for about 10 minutes.

9.    If the top cracks open or an inserted toothpick comes out clean then it’s good to go.

·        Top with whipped cream (optional)

·        You can also add chopped almond nuts or cashew nuts to the list of ingredients (optional)

Now for the Banana cake, I used the same ingredients except for the pineapple and of course I used banana instead of carrots =) Same procedure too.

 

       You can also make this using an oven toaster but it won’t be as moist as the steamed one.

There you go, as simple as that. Leave a comment for any questions and if you ever try this, tell me how’d it go.

      

     Happy Eating! =)

20 DIY Projects While Pregnant

           Can’t wait for the baby’s coming? Feels like it’s taking so long? For other people it may seem like time flies so fast but for the pregnant mother it seems like an eternity. That’s because you are waiting =) yes, waiting for someone or something is really hard. The feeling of waiting accompanies the “why? It’s-taking-so-long” feeling. So while you are waiting for that notable event to take place, why not busied yourself with some DIY projects you can surely enjoy making and will make your mind off thinking about that day.

1. Customize Onesies.

Personalize and customize your baby’s onesies by adding cute and cool designs. See full tutorial at eventstocelebrate and other alternative designs at mothersniche.

2. Burp Cloths

If there is only one baby project I could make I would totally go on making this one. It’s quite easy. Found the whole DIY thing at the happy scraps.

3. Crochet Beard.

I found this ridiculously cute! Wouldn’t you agree? This one is for the baby-boy-mom-to-be.

Via ashleemarie

4. Bows and flower clips.

Yes, that crochet beard thing is for boys so if you have a girl, this one is for you mommas =) Get your hand busy and make this adorable flower clips and get help from mothersniche.

5. Personalized Baby toms

Why not? I would love to do the toddler pattern since my boys are no longer babies. Take a look at these cute tom-inspired shoes at homemade toast.

6. Baby Tights

Oh yes, babies’ tights for cold weather. And one good thing is you can use your old tees if you may.  Visit Rae and say hi.

7. Barefoot Sandals

It may sound like.. whaaaat? Barefoot sandal? =) Yes, it’s actually super cute and super easy to make. You can make one out of elastic like this one mom did at mothersniche.

8. Soft Soled Baby Shoes

Those tiny feet mothers love to kiss but so delicate so cover them yet =) Find free pattern and the full tutorial on how to make this cuties at if only they would nap.

9. Baby Mittens

Two little hands, one-two! You and your baby will surely love these mittens. They have stretchy cuff that will keep them on baby’s hands but not too tight.

10. via treasuresunderthewillowtree

Baby Wipes Case Cover

Beautify your wet wipes case by making this simple covering as taught by fearlesslycreativemammas.

11. Warm Baby Bunting

Sleep tight little baby on a cold winter’s day! Keep you baby warm and cozy during those cold months by making a bear suit like this one at xoxograndma.

12. Nursing Scarf

For the breastfeeding moms out there, it’s not yet too late to make one for yourself. And for the nursing moms to be, start making now =)

via diary of a mad crafter

13. Quilt for the most awaited baby

Every baby’s arrival is considered most awaited, right moms? And while you are waiting for that little girl or boy, keep your hands busy and make him/her a quilt. Great thing about this is that you can use scrap cloths. See tutorial at fearlessly creative mammas.

14. Door Tag

What’s this for? Nap is a precious thing not just for the baby but also for the mother. They say that when the baby is sleeping, mothers should sleep too right? That’s for catching up those sleepless nights. So why not make this “Please Knock, Baby is Sleeping Tag”? It’s helpful!

via mothers niche

15. DIY Moby Wrap

It feels great to get so close to babies, snuggle them close to your heart and smell their baby scent. Who close their eyes after reading that? You bet =) This is super easy to do, even if you’re a novice.

via clarkscondensed

16. Baby Blankets

You can make a lot of cute baby blankets with the help of  melissa dark and help keep your baby cozy and warm.

17. Swaddle Blankets

Keep baby warm by swaddling them with your very own home-made blankets. See tutorial at

a lotta lotta.

18. Crib Bumpers

Protect baby from the sides of the crib by making this bumper like what mommy at Vanillajoy did .

19. Baby Mobile

Keep your little one occupied while being changed by looking at this mobile. See full tutorial at boxy colonial.

20. Seat Canopy

Guess you can make this cool and cute baby seat cover by yourself? Yes you can with the help from sawdustgirl. 

22 Mother's Day Ideas

22 Mother’s Day Ideas Every Mom Would Love To Have

            With Mother’s Day just around the corner, you might be wondering what to give or what to do on this special day. Below are some ideas that would surely make every mother get teary-eyed on this special occasion. Don’t forget the hugs and kisses to go along with these ideas =). 

1.  Top 52 of your favorite memories you made together. Include why they are your favorite. Mom could read this for the next 52 weeks until next Mother’s day.
2.  A video of children/grandchildren singing to them or giving them messages.
3.  Personalized jewelry with her favorite Bible verse.
4. A book from her favorite author.
5.  A video of the husband greeting her if she’s a military wife.
6. Cook her favorite dish and had a blast celebrating Mother’s day at home.
7. Gift cards for her to buy what she wants.
8. Bouquet of her favorite flowers.
9. DIY gifts she would have never thought you could make.
10. Breakfast in bed! Yes she would love that!
11. Doing the week’s laundry =)
12. Stylish scarves.
13. A collection of her favorite herbs arrange in a mini garden for her kitchen.
14. That one thing you think she’s been longing to have but just could not.
15. A quilt with all the handprint or footprint of all her children/grandchildren.
16. Bookmarks with a picture of children/grandchildren.
17. Love letters from the kids or grandkids hidden in unexpected places around the house.
18. A super mom declaration printed out with photos of kids/grandkids.
19. A card with greetings from all member of the immediate family.
20. A box of things she’d collected over the years about you, like your first cut hair, your nails, your bracelet from the hospital, the one baby clothes you worn that she’s been hiding all those years.
21. A video or record of you singing her favorite song.
22. A list of 22 things you love about her printed in a card and put in a gift box.

Some April quotes

“April weather, rain and sunshine both together"

“Come forth ye blossoms over hill and lea

 A breathe of sweetness wantons a=with the sea

 And mid the smiles and tears of tender spring

 On dripping boughs I heard the throstle sing

 Ye cups and stars that strew the fair, green field

 Ye wings of gold the prickly gorses yield

 Ye pensive bells to purple pageants born

 Ye milk-white may-buds of the mantling thorn

 Ye violet gems and eyes of sapphire blue

 Wan, flushing wind flowers and shy elfin crew

 Of every crannied wall, -come forth and fling

 Your vernal showers around me while I sing”

-E. M. Holden

“Soon o’er their heads blithe April airs shall sing

A thousand wild flowers round them shall unfold

The green buds glisten in the dews of spring

And all be vernal rapture as of old”

                                      -J. Keble

The young lambs are bleating in the meadows

The young birds are chirping in the nest

The young fawns are playing with the shadows

The young flowers are blowing toward the west

Go out children from the mine and from the city

Sing out children as the little thrushes do

Pluck your handfuls of the meadow-cowslips pretty

Laugh aloud to feel your fingers let them through

                     -The Cry of the Children, E. B. Browning

Again the blackbirds sings; the streams Wake,
laughing, from their winter dreams,
And tremble in the April showers
The tassels of the maple flowers.

-John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes , Source: The Singer (st. 20)

“I love the season well when forest glades are teeming with bright forms,
Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell The coming of storms.”

                                           -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Oh, the lovely fickleness of an April day!”

-William Hamilton Gibson Quotes 

“The first of April, some do say Is set apart for All Fools' day;
But why the people call it so, Nor I, nor they themselves, do know.”

-Unattributed Author Quotes , Source: Poor Robin's Almanac--All Fools' Day

“Now the noisy winds are still; April's coming up the hill!
All the spring is in her train, Led by shining ranks of rain;
Pit, pat, patter, clatter, Sudden sun and clatter patter! . . . . 
All things ready with a will, April's coming up the hill!”

-Mary Mapes Dodge Quotes , Source: Now the Noisy Winds Are Still

“A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew,
A cloud, and a rainbow's warning,
Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue--
An April day in the morning.”

-Harriet Prescott Spofford Quotes

“Make me over, Mother April, When the sap begins to stir!
When thy flowery hand delivers All the mountain-prisoned rivers,
And thy great heart beats and quivers, To revive the days that were.”

-Richard Hovey Quotes 

“The lyric sound of laughter Fills all the April hills
The joy-song of the crocus, The mirth of daffodils.”

-Clinton Scollard Quotes , Source: April Music

Today, not Tomorrow

"She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying." Mark 14:8

       Many people would have kept the jar of perfume until Jesus was dead, and would then have broken it to anoint his cold body. At least, that is the way too many of us do in these days. We wait until our friend dies—and then send our flowers and speak our words of appreciation.

      Should we not learn a lesson from Mary? The kind words we mean to speak when our friends are dead—let us speak while they can hear them! The flowers we mean to send for their coffin—let us send to brighten the rough paths for their feet. The epitaphs we mean to put upon white marble—let us carve in deeds of gentle love while our friends are with us. Words of cheer today—are what people crave.
     "Withhold all eulogies when I am dead, All noisy sorrow;Give me the tender word today Instead of tears tomorrow."
(JR Miller)

Walk with God

     

 "So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." Genesis 12:4

      

      That was faith. Obedience proved it. Abram did not know where he was going; he had simply the call of God and a promise. But he asked no questions. He did not insist on knowing how his journey would come out, how profitable it would be, just what he would get in exchange for the land he was leaving and the sacrifice he was making. Quietly, without question or hesitation, he arose, cut the ties that bound him to his old home, and departed.

      

      That is the kind of faith all of us should have, whenever God gives us a call and a promise. Some people want to see where they are going before they will begin to follow Christ; but that is not walking by faith at all.

      We should not trouble ourselves to know where we are to be led, if only we know that God is leading us. His guidance is safe; and we should be willing to trust him, do precisely what he says, and go just where he leads, without asking any questions. Abraham's life is a picture of a true "walk with God."
- JR Miller

Sorrows are but incidents in life...

        "After the death of Moses the LORD's servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said—Now that my servant Moses is dead—you must lead my people across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them." Joshua 1:1-2

          Sorrow came to you yesterday—and emptied your home. Your first impulse now is to give up and sit down in despair amid the wrecks of your hopes. But you dare not do it. You are in the line of battle, and the crisis is at hand. To falter a moment, would be to imperil some holy interest. Other lives would be harmed by your pausing. Holy interests would suffer—should your hands be folded. You must not linger even to indulge your grief. Sorrows are but incidents in life, and must not interrupt us. We must leave them behind, while we press on to the things that are before.

        Then God has so ordered, too, that in pressing on in duty—we shall find the truest, richest comfort for ourselves. Sitting down to brood over our sorrows, the darkness deepens about us and creeps into our heart, and our strength changes to weakness. But if we turn away from the gloom, and take up the tasks and duties to which God calls us—the light will come again and we shall grow stronger!

(JR Miller)

Jonah and the Whale

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

            Such words of wisdom from the Bible inspire me to teach Sunday School kids during my “single” days aside from the benefit I personally and spiritually gained from teaching.  I enjoyed teaching that I totally miss it when I stop to tend to my first born child.

            Then just recently I am challenge once again to teach and get involve in the ministry. We only have one Sunday school teacher in our mission church and I have to step in every time she is not able to teach. I never realize how I have missed teaching until I was once again in front of the children.

            More so I am challenge because I can see that there are a lot of things to be done in the children’s ministry. I am challenge when I saw that we lack lot of materials for activities and crafts. I am challenge that their classroom needed a makeover. And I am challenge to make a difference in the lives of these kids. I believe in a good foundation so it is but right to teach children the ways of God as young as they are.

I am grateful that brethren in our mother church are more than willing to give some materials for the Sunday school so we can have something to use. I also scoured some of my materials which I used and keep not so long ago (at this moment I thank God that I am quite such a hoarder) =) at least we have something to use and I don’t need to buy much.

            My journey once again as a Sunday school teacher began, this time it is more challenging and quite difficult because I have with me my one year old son as I taught. Just blessed that he is not so hard to handle during class time (though there are times =)

            Last Sunday I taught them about Jonah, his disobedience to God and him learning that Salvation is of the Lord. The kids are excited to learn, I can see that but they are more than excited during crafts/activity time. I can tell that they enjoy doing their crafts so much. Below is the picture of the craft they made to go along with the lesson on Jonah and the Whale.

            We made a boat and put some people on it. Use a popsicle stick to stand the sail. And write their memory verse on the sail. The kids then paste their boat on a piece of construction paper (some on bond paper), draw some waves and a whale. You can never tell how creative kids can be when it comes to arts and crafts, so just let them bring out their creativity. Some of them make a little Jonah in front of an open-mouthed whale as if ready to swallow.

            If you are wondering how we made the boat, check this out:

How to make a boat (paper folding)

            There goes our Sunday, how about you? If you are a Sunday school teacher too, you can use the crafts we had made. I forgot to take a picture of the crafts we made when we had our fruit of the spirit lesson. But I made the kids draw nine fruits of their choice, colored it and write the fruits of the spirit on each fruit they made. Never forget to tell them to write their memory verse on their crafts/activity so that they will not forget it. I made them bring home whatever crafts they made to show to their parents.

             If you used this craft, don't forget to leave a comment and maybe some pointers too=)

            Happy crafting! =) God Bless!