Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Thrift Store Bargains

Making money shopping?? Can such a thing be true?? Our own Michelle Chahine taught us all about shopping at Thrift Stores and how sometimes, shopping at Thrift Stores can actually make you money!

We learned that thrift store shopping can provide incredible savings on new and used designer, name brand and seasonal clothing for the entire family. It offers vast selections of fashion styles and sizes. The proceeds help support humanitarian community programs and efforts.

Consignment shops can provide an opportunity for an individual or family to earn money on items consigned.

We had the opportunity to share the stories of our own treasures we had found and then Michelle shared how her bargain hunting began and how she was able to turn her hobbie of treasure hunting into buying bargains and selling them on either e-bay or bringing them to a consignment shop.

Thank you Michelle for some incredible ideas and tips on how we can save money for our families while having fun "hunting" for treasures!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Teaching Nature to your Children

Tonight we were blessed to have Jenny Vandlen as our speaker. She talked to us about teaching our children about nature. She told us it's important to bring our children outside to get them away from tv, internet and video games and into God's beautiful nature. While we are out with them, it's an incredible time to talk to your children about Creation and dissolve some myths about creation vs. evolution.

She encouraged us to get excited about spending time outdoors with our children, learning together about the trees, animals and wildflowers. She gave us some fun ideas for hikes we can do with our children like an ABC Hike where we find objects that start with the letters of the alphabet, or an Onion Hike where you rub an onion along a trail and the child has to find the way using their nose!

She gave us several ideas for fun outdoor activities to do with our children like making a plaster mold of an animal track or playing a game of symphony where everyone is quiet and they need to count how many sounds they hear.

She even gave us activities to do on COLD days!! My favorite being "Freeze a Bubble"--when the weather is below 32 degrees, blow a bubble and catch it with your wand. Wait and watch as it freezes. It will turn into a crystal ball and then shatter like glass.

What a great reminder for us to take time with our children outdoors and explore the glorious world God gave us.


O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art.Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeurAnd see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art.Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,How great Thou art, How great Thou art

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Cooking Mama's



We got a new Wii game at our house called Cooking Mama and that's exactly what we did last night at Club Mom and Girlfriends! Except we used real food and we made them to freeze and give them to the families that are going through the Quality Living budgeting class at our church.

Even though it was a light crowd-most likely due to the extreme cold and horrible road conditions-we were able to put together 38 Pizza Burgers, 48 Chicken Chimichangas, and 4 pans of Peanut Butter Chocolate bars.

Our 7 families that are involved with Quality Living will be enjoying these meals over the next few weeks. They receive a few boxes of food each week from our Food Bank and these will be an addition to those boxes. A little love of a meal ready to go from our Club Mom and Girlfriends group.

Thank you ladies for all your work!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tending to your Children

We started the year off with a reminder to play...with our children.

Pastor Rich started our Bible Study tonight talking about Tending to our children. He reminded us that we are not the only "gardener" in our children's life. They are influenced by other adults, peers, media and more.

He encouraged us provide a solid community to surround our children. In that community, we should put marriage first and continue to build up the relationship between husband and wife so our children have a sense of stablity in the home. He also reminded us that our children watch our every move so only do things we want them to copy!

He encouraged us to spend time with each child individually, laugh and play with them, encourage proper interactions with other siblings and be an example of hospitality to others.

He told us that healthy parenting requires healthy parents so we should take time for yourself, let yourself de-stress, give yourself permission to ask for help and to be aware of what our stressers are and get strength from kindness to others.

He gave us three ways to set an example for your children:
1) Tkae time to play with them
2) Be kind to others
3) Keep a positive outlook

We spent time together reading what advice the bible gives parents, and then got through a few questions in a brainstorming session on how to handle parenting issues.

Thank you, Pastor Rich, for some great things to think about as we become more intentional about being better parents.

Join us next week as we make freezer meals for our Quality Living families. Bring an apron and a smile!