Monday's MomE Musings...

The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom.
- H. W. Beecher

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.
All I am I owe to my mother.
I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
- George Washington (1732-1799)
By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1907- )

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
- Author Unknown

Original Poems for Infant Minds "My Mother"
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My Mother.

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.
- Cardinal Mermillod

Frugal Friday--Homemade Detergent...

This was really easy but like anything else...make sure you get the right ingredients. I accidentally bought Arm & Hammer baking soda...instead of washing soda. My gracious friend lent me some of her washing soda...which is different and contains Sodium Benz....which helps it set up like detergent. So, mine is a bit clotted looking...with clots of floating baking soda booster! Also, I used a huge red funnel to put some back in my Tide container for easy pouring...and now it's sort of a pearly blue! Neato! HA HA HA! Oh, the joys of frugality!
Ingredients....three gallons hot tap water, 1 five gallon bucket (Walmart has cute ones), Borax for cleaning boost, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, 1 bar of your favorite soap...I recommend Ivory like soaps...nothing with lotions.
Put three cups of water on your stove top...and as it comes to a simmer...shred your soap into the water and stir. Eventually, you will shave it all up! Really, you will!
Pour three gallons of hot tap water into bucket, add hot soapy mixture (fully dissolved soap ya'll), and stir for a bit. Add 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda and stir til dissolved.
Put on lid and let it set over night...it should be a nice syrupy mixture...if you got washing soda that is! Hehehe!

Oh, a little side note...this is really soapy so you might want to use vinegar in your rinse cycle...which I do anyway. I promise, you can't smell the vinegar after it's all washed. I don't smell like a pickle...Loverbrains wouldn't like that! Hehehe!

AND To give the appropriate credit, where it's due...this idea came from my frugal friend Sarah!

Super Mom Myths & My Big God!!

After a good cry to my mother (hahaha...no seriously, I did) I am realizing it's okay not to be Super Mom...and really nobody is...

She reminded me of a book we both read recently called, "When People are Big and God is Small." The author, Dr. Welch, explains how putting people ahead of God (making them "bigger") leads to anxiety and neediness. Instead of caring what others think of us, thus giving them power to control us, we must trust Him; we must submit to God's authority and obey Him.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

You'll remember my past struggles with Super Mom...where I profiled her character...It was for a laugh but the truth is...she is who I fear. I fear these supposed Super Mom's that really don't exist anyway. It's dumb. I want to be completely dependant on Christ...and the only Opinion that really and truly matters.
"If you have ever walked about giant redwoods, you will never be overwhelmed by the size of a dogwood tree. Or if you have been through a hurricane, a spring rain is nothing to fear. If you have been in the presence of the almighty God, everything that once controlled you suddenly has less power." (119)
The answer? Know God, and grow in the fear of Him. As we see God for who He really is, we will see ourselves (and other people) for who we all are: "someone completely dependent on Him." "Self-serving needs are not meant to be satisfied; they are meant to be put to death...We love not because people have psychological deficits; we love because God first loved us. The image of God in us is not about psychological need..." (163)
Welch compassionately reveals the depths and subtleties of our sin, but he doesn't leave us hanging. He provides us with a beautiful picture of the only Answer we need: Know your God. Always be growing in your knowledge of Him. He is a redwood not among dogwoods, but among blades of grass, and when once you understand that in Christ, His gaze is not one of wrath or condemnation, but of love and grace, you will realize that "this is the gaze that transforms. It will expel the fear of man and be a blessing for all God's people.' (239)

Tube Tuesday....Inspire...

I hope to inspire my children with music and clips like this...little man...just stared at this clip. I tell them they can plan any instrument they want!

MomE Moments..."Me wantsta play too!"

My children are close in age. This is a blessing...usually. My Curious Georgette got a Light Bright for her birthday...from "those-who-should-remain-unnamed" (cough, Grandma and Grandpa) and it has been a lot of fun. No, really...they love it! The Sweet Boobah...he also loves it. He "wantsta play too!" He's surprisingly good at poking the little light pegs in the holes.
Thankfully, she's been sharing pretty well. She won't let him touch her new Learn and Tie book though...which I have to say is probably wise. She also bought a tea set with her birfday monies and they have been serving tea...all the time. It's very cute. She dresses up...and they sit and clink the cups together and share cookies.
He did get Legos from before said Grandparents...and well, I just haven't gotten them out yet...maybe tomorrow. Or not.

If the Savior stood beside me...

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

If the Savior Stood Beside Me - Sally DeFord Music

I'm at it again...changing things...

Yes, I changed the border to another fabulous design by Shabby Blogs...cuz, well the yellow was blinding me and it's FREE...which totally rocks my little bloggy world! Hehehe!

I'm hoping to keep getting family pics...or at least kid pics for my header. This one still makes top pick for our summer thus far!

All that to say...SMILES...