Hey April

Poop with your burger?

Before you sit down and enjoy that nice juicy burger you pulled off the grill I would think twice before sinking your teeth into it. I was lucky enough to finally get me hands on Fast Food Nation a book released in 2001 about the fast food industry and the changes it has brought to our economy, our health, our thinking, our habits, everything. I say lucky enough because I have been waiting for it from the library for about a month now.

First I should say that I have been a vegetarian for about 6 months now. I have been eating only chicken before that but as I have looked more into the production of our food I couldn’t really continue to eat chicken.With each bit of information I get about our meat production I get another disgusting picture to replace my love of meat. Anyway the book will make you sick for sure as you read not only about all the nasty things that end up in your meat but also the nasty way in which these factories are run. I am sure those meat lovers say, “oh that book was written years ago. Well I would love for you to visit the government site that announces the recalls and see some of the reasons meat has been recalled recently. http://www.fsis.usda.gov

Anyway here are some questions you should think about as you are trying to cook that burger at the right temperature. Why do I need to worry about salmonella or e-coli (not the good kind)? Where does it come from and how did it get in my meat (yuck)? Where did this meat come from? Was the place clean?
If you care to think even more about this would you want someone who enjoyed there job making your food or someone who was underpaid and overworked?

I was watching the news about the latest recall and my stomach was churning thinking of all that meat that had already been eaten and then of the B.S. we are being sold about our meat being safe and just needing to be cooked well and thought I should write about it to get it off my chest.

Basically most of the meat Americans eat today has poop in it among other things. If you need a picture think of preparing dinner then going outside and rubbing it in dog poop then bringing it back inside and cooking it. Then serving it to your family:) Yumm Poop!

Either way you should read the book Fast Food Nation it is mostly pretty objective and is very informative about the food we eat and how our habits have changed since the first Mcdonalds was opened.

Well I will let you get back to that burger. Happy Eating:)

The Daily Blog June 19, 08

2 Kings 3-4
Ok… this is just crazy it’s like some kind of mysticism in how Elisha deals with different people. I wonder if God told him to do so much weird stuff or if he felt he needed to do stuff in weird ways. It’s just amazing to see how God works differently through different people.

Psalm 138
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,but the haughty he knows from afar.
It’s so easy to forget that those who seem the weakest are regarded by God.

2 Peter 1-3
It seems like there are some really weird things in the bible I am sure that there has to be so me tie to culture or history. Anyway I thought it was cool he made the point that it was only for God’s own glory and excellence that he called us to Him.

When he says the heavenly bodies will be burned is he referring to the supernatural or the actual heavenly bodies? It’s a odd passage.

Quick and Clear - God is supernatural in ways we will never understand.

The Daily Blog June 13, 08

1 Kings 14-15
It’s really kind of silly the split between Judah and Israel it’s just crazy how something can grow into a feud. It seems is only being perpetuated by the thinking that that is normal. It’s also weird how without real explanation some kings followed God and some did not at all!

Psalm 132
It’s pretty amazing to see how David was praised and seemed to be loved by most people even in spite of his extreme passion for God.

Hebrews 11
Oooh the hall of faith. Abraham in his old age was considered “as good as dead ” in reference to having kids… that’s kind of harsh.
It’s really amazing what through faith was accomplished in these people and it’s not even a tiny piece of what God has done throughout time and is still doing today through our faith.

Quick and Clear - Reading the daily reading at 11:22pm is not always the most meaningful time to try to understand who God is in His word.

The Daily Blog June 9, 08

1 Kings 8
This event must have been really bloody to sacrifice so many animals they couldn’t be counted and figuring how many people were probably there that is just bordering on totally disgusting.
Ok I feel dumb asking this question but is this the temple that Christ is in when he reads and that the curtain rips on when he dies?
If so that’s kind of a cool connection.

Psalm 128
I like that you will eat the fruit of the labor of your hands. It doesn’t say you won’t work it just says you won’t be a slave to someone else. What you work for will be yours.

Hebrews 4-6
Ah rest…. I don’t think I have had sabbath in a very long time I always find ways to work when I have time to rest.

Quick and Clear - There is a season for everything.

The Daily Blog June 6, 08

1 Kings 3-4
I would have loved to meet solomon. It seems he was already wise in that he asked for wisdom and he was just a child. I think it’s also really sweet the way the talked about his love for God it seemed very pure and innocent. I think it’s also cool that he was so involved in learning he loved to write and speak about the many things he learned. It must have been exciting to hear from him.

Psalm 125
“those who trust in the Lord are like Zion they will not… no no not… they will not be moved”

Titus 1-3
Although there is a lot in these two chapters nothing really stuck out to me. It seems a great outline for the early church and us today in how to deal with each other and those who are not yet followers of Christ but other than that it nothing really popped out for me.

Quick and Clear - You will not receive a revelation from God everyday you read his word.

The Daily Blog June 5, 08

1 Kings 2
So David dies after a crazy life of people constantly trying to kill him or deceive him. I was just thinking Solomon was lucky to have him a a father and I am sure it’s part of why Solomon sought to be a wise ruler.
Anyway then Solomon takes care of business settling all the old debts and killing those who betrayed him or his father and then his kingdom is established.

Psalm 124
It’s crazy to think God did so many miraculous things for the jews and they forgot. They, like we do, kept forgetting but you think that if you saw these things you wouldn’t be able to forget. We are just forgetful humans.

2 Timothy 3-4
I heard yesterday on the news about a elderly man getting hit by a car and no one did anything people kept driving people just watched, no one called 911, some people just walked by as if they didn’t see anything, the police are offering a reward for bystanders to come forward and say what happened! If that doesn’t show what Paul is talking about in the first few verses I don’t know what would.
It’s seems like Paul senses his death. He seems sad or down as he writes about being alone and left by most.

Quick and Clear - We should always try to view everyone as loved by God.

Conquering the Laundry

Ok one of the biggest challenges I have had in my life as a homemaker is definitely the laundry. My mother never really taught me about the art of washing drying and folding and I was pretty spoiled in that I never had to wash my clothes and so I never really understood the tedious cycle that it can become if you are not careful. I have to say for the better part of my marriage our clothes have been very poorly treated and as I have grown in various hobbies and skills I have learned quite a bit about fabrics and washing them. This in no way is me saying I am a expert I’d just like to share what has worked for me and they lessons I have learned about those items we use daily and sometimes treat horribly.

Create a space you love
Since laundry is not going away anytime soon you should make sure the space you have for laundry is nice and clean, uncluttered, comfortable, if you can paint it with a cheery color, organized. Make sure you have all you laundering items within reach of you but not small children. Get fancy baskets that stack for clothes, recycle a jar for pocket items, keep a small mending kit in this area for quick button fixes, an ironing table and iron. Make sure you have everything you need in this area so you aren’t running around searching when an issue does arise. Since this is a place you will visit often try to make it as enjoyable as it can be.

How to get it done today!
As I now have four people whose clothes I am responsible for laundry can quickly become overwhelming and choke me out of my comfortable daily routine so here is what works for me and some other mommas I have talked to.

Set a schedule. I have a laundry day for every person in the house which lightens the load and leaves me only one load to fold and hang which makes it seem a lot less. Also it’s quicker to put away as everyone’s clothes are already together and I don’t have to sort as much. Since I do cloth diapers I just assume that I will wash them every 2 days and they aren’t really on the schedule. I make sure mine and Alf’s days are close to the weekend so we have clothes we like for church and the kids are early in the week as it doesn’t really matter what they wear and they have enough clothes to last about a week and a half. I also try to avoid laundry on the weekend so I get a break and don’t have to worry about it.

One momma I know does a load of laundry every morning as soon as she gets up and has it folded and put away before her kiddos get up. She also lets her kids put away there own clothes so they are involved in the process. The trick to this is not having high standards for the way your kids fold or put away their clothes.

Another momma I know does laundry day. She starts early morning on the weekend and gets it all done and put away. I hate trying to get things done all at once but for some people with busier schedules I see how this could work better.

Handle every piece of clothing!
It seems like this takes way too long but I have learned that it is sooo much quicker. When you do a load of laundry start the water running and turn all the shirts and pants right side out, put any delicates in a washing mesh bag, button buttons, zip zippers, check pockets (any money is yours!), treat stains, mend. If you do this before you wash you will save your clothes and machines from pens, screws, candies, and any weird items you don’t want all over your clothes, your clothes will last longer and the best part it will save time folding and hanging as the basic turning inside out has already been done.

Gets to know your fabrics
One of the best ways to help get laundry under control is to watch what you buy and know what you own. As I have become more aware of the importance of caring for my clothes I have become more aware of what fabrics really work for me. When I like a shirt I look to see how I like the feel of the fabric and next to see how it needs to be cared for. Avoid dry clean only fabrics and be very conscious of fabrics that shrink or felt like cotton or wool. Get rid of clothes that require too much attention and only keep a few special care items like jackets or sweaters that can be worn many times before washing like anything made from wool (which requires special attention but is extremely durable and doesn’t retain odor). Always read the labels the first time you buy something so you know it will fit the way you wash clothes.

Sort colors
After clothes have been washed a few times you will no longer have to worry so much about mixing but till then always sort. I only do two loads darks and lights. Our clothes are well worn so I don’t have to worry about bleeding the other good thing about sorting is since my lights are mostly undergarments it one of the fastest loads to get though and the darks are the longest so on our day I usually wash darks first and whites second so I can get the clothes hung and folded and then take out whites sort and toss in drawers.

Hot or cold
Change the setting on your machine based on what you are washing. I don’t think I ever changed a setting till about a year ago eek! They are there for a reason and they are your friends. Use hand wash or gentle on delicates, rugs, pillows. Use regular on most loads use heavy duty on soiled items.
As for cold and hot I like to wash our clothes in cold as they don’t get that dirty. I wash soiled clothes in warm and add tea tree to disinfect. Kids clothes almost always need to be warm or hot due to the fact they get clothes really dirty. Cold is great in saving energy and keeping certain items from shrinking. read your labels and within reason follow them.

Be aware of what you own
The less you have the more you care for what you have and this is true with your clothes. I have tried to keep my closet full of clothes I love to wear buy shopping in my closet once a month if there is something I wouldn’t buy I either mend it, change it, or pass it on. This saves alot of time getting ready and helps me to really value the cloths I have. I have enough clothes to last me a week and a half and nothing more. However if you want to do laundry less you could let you closet grow a little and do a load every other week. I just don’t like a lot of clutter and don’t have a huge closet so it’s easier to keep things simple.

Well good luck with your next laundry day and I hope this helped at least a little bit feel free to ask questions. I didn’t even address ironing which is another tedious laundry chore.

The Daily Blog June 4, 08

1 Kings 1
Ok let me get this right, King David is old and always cold and they find a hot lady to come and lay on him to keep him warm and yet he never “knew” her… Now that is craziness. It seems like there is constant deceit in the kingdom.. someone is always trying to steal the throne… Anyway it’s cool Solomon is finally king as he is one of my favorites and I love his already wise answer to Adonijah trying to steal his right.

Psalm 123
I wish I understood slavery better I think this would mean soo much more but it is still a beautiful plea to God to have mercy on our totally unworthy lives

2 Timothy 1-2
It’s interesting that Paul only lists the faithful women in Timothy’s life I wonder if he had a father. Wow these chapters have so many encouraging words and wisdom. I wonder what it was that Paul saw in timothy that he went out of his way to really invest and mentor him or if Timothy sought to be mentored by him. I like the point Paul makes about not getting caught in quarrels about stupid things. It seems that it is so easy to lose site of the gospel as soon as you get involved in “he said, she said” craziness. Anyway I really enjoyed this chapter and think I will read it a few more times just to let some of the stuff stick a little harder.
Quick and Clear - Be aware of the fact that our lives are purposed, every moment planned.

The Daily Blog June 1, 08

2 Samuel 20-21
I don’t think anyone would be proud to be written in history as a worthless man.The whole switching back in forth between the king and David is a little confusing… Anyway the crazy killing spree in this chapter is a pretty gruesome. Imagine being Sheba and your whole city decides not to give you up but to cut of your head and throw it over the wall to the people who want you. That had to be pretty upsetting.
I didn’t knoe there was another ginat named Goliath and then a freaky guys with lot sof hands and feet and where are these people’s descendants today?

Psalm 120
Wow psalm 119 has ended. I don’t know what to do… Is he talking about his own lies and deceit? It seems like it.

2 Thessalonians 2-3
I think it’s interesting that he noted not only teachings but actual letters that people would try to pass off as his. I wonder if there were a lot of false letters circulating at that time and how they would distinguish what was true… It’s not like that had the bible. I can’t even begin to count how many people I have wondered about them being the antichrist. It’s just crazy to think that could happen in our lifetime. It could be happening right now.
Here is the chapter about idleness I still struggle with this in the sense of people begging on the side of the street or asking for a few bucks at church. It sometimes just seems mean to say “no” but then again it’s rude to ask people you don’t really know for money. And I don’t even ask my family for money and yet I feel bad like I am not being giving. I usually say “no” I am just talking about my inner conflict.

Quick and Clear - The Bible is not for the those with weak stomaches or hearts.

The Daily Blog May 31, 08

2 Samuel 18-19
When it says the forest devoured more people than the sword I wonder if they meant wild animals and getting lost… Anyway it’s sad that Absalom died due to such a freak accident and he was just hanging there waiting to be killed it’s really morbid to think about. Then Mephibosheth was left all that time and no one cared for him. He was like the guy everyone likes when the king is around but everyone despises in secret. This chapter is full of such raw humanity to me people acting like they care, people hurting, people hating, people serving, people loving. I love it.

Psalm 119:169-176
I can’t remember how long ago it was I ended Psalm 118 but it feels like a year ago. I think this Psalm is great but I almost wish the reading was all together as it’s very repetitious and I feel I’ve read the same thing every day for a month:)

2 Thessalonians 1
It’s encouraging that he greets them and acknowledges that their love for one another is increasing as that would be a natural sign that they are serving God. The rest is kind of encouraging , kind of sad as he talks about the final judgement of their persecutors. It had to be hard to love people with the love of Christ and hope of their salvation and yet in the next moment rejoice in the time to come when those who have hated Christ will perish.

Quick & Clear - These are real people - real stories.