Need New Shoes? Make 'em.

At first it didn't occur to me to post about this but after mentioning them to some friends, they insisted I do so.

I think I mentioned before that Jamey is a runner.  He hasn't raced in a few years but still feels best when he runs regularly.  He's a long distance runner- preferring ultra-marathons over shorter distances that focus on speed.  This is why he recently picked up the book Born to Run.  The book highlights the Tarahumara, an indigineous Mexican tribe who have become well known for their physical endurance- specifically in long distance running.  In recent years the book has inspired interest in running barefoot or with minimal footwear.  The idea is that modern running shoes coddle our feet and cause a running form that makes us more prone to injuries. The book inspired him to try a different type of minimalist running shoe called 'huaraches.'  He was particularly interested in trying them because he could make them himself.  And, you know, we like to save money.

Not only has he made himself a pair (and has been running and doing yard work in them) but he also made pairs for all three of our kids.  On warmer days, the kids prefer to slip these on (they don't need tying each time) to go out and play. Jamey is impressed with how comfortable they are and how well they stay on his feet.  I have fussy feet that crave all kinds of support so I haven't accepted his offer to make a pair for me.  He thinks my fussy (and wimpy) feet would benefit from these and while I think he's probably right (please don't tell him I said so) I'm not sure I'm ready.  I mean, they're tire walls for heaven's sake.

I think all this is very amusing especially when a friend pointed out that they sell something very much like them online for quite a bit more than what Jamey paid to make his (which is nothing except for a few dollars worth of bungee-cord for the kids version and paracord for his - the old tire was free).

So, friends, there you have it!  Are they all you imagined? ;-) Pin It

The How

It's been awhile since I've come right out and talked about Living Simply In Order to Give.  The changing seasons make me think of fresh starts so I thought I'd put together some of the ways we try to achieve more simple living for the purpose of giving.

Before I jump in, I want to recognize that some of you may feel as if you have nothing to give.  You may be strapped for cash and barely able to make your own ends meet.  Or, you might be emotionally drained dry- unable to reach out because you need to be reached out to.  If you find yourself in either (or both) categories, it is my prayer that someone will give you whatever kind of support you need.  And I also pray that God will extend His mighty hand and bring you healing and hope.

It is for these folks that we cut corners and make do.  If you are living with bounty of any kind, I want to strongly encourage and challenge you to look outside of yourself and your immediate family and touch someone who needs to know they are cared for.  These needs lie across the street as well as across the globe.  May God connect your heart to those He knows need the gift of your unique self and your resources.

I recently put a link at the top of my side bar.  If your heart aches for the plight of women and girls in Southeast Asia, I strongly recommend you follow the link for concrete ways you can help.

Okay, here we go!

1) Don't shop!  It may seem obvious, but one of the easiest ways to part with your money is wandering around stores and looking through catalogs.  You come away with things you didn't know you needed (you don't need them!) just minutes before.  Stick to your list, don't browse and put those catalogs directly into your recycle bin or use Catalog Choice to control what comes to your mailbox.

2) Put those things you want right now on your birthday, Christmas or general wish list.  If you're using the latter, make yourself wait a week or two before buying it.  Most of the time, I change my mind by then.  We use this technique with our kids and it's an important habit for adults to consider, too.

3) Used items should not be thrown away!  Donate it or, if it's a rather expensive item, consider taking it to a consignment shop.  It might mean an extra trip to take it and collect your money, but it's money you can pass along that you didn't have before.  Of course, donating it is giving, too, but if you have a special cause you wish to give to, this can free up extra cash.

4) Cut out extras!  I might make a few of you squirm here, but do you really need cable?  Really?  Do you need the phone plan you have or could you make do with less minutes and less texting?  Instead of going to the movies, subscribe to Netflix and watch it in a couple months for much less.  YOU get to decide what extras you need, don't let society, your friends or your kids' friends decide that for you.

5) Use it until it is truly unusable.  I know the temptation is to replace something as soon as it starts to look less than desirable, but really.  Stop and think.  Could you make do?  If so, make do and free up that money for someone else who needs food or clothing.

6) Plan your meals.  I know it's not glamorous, but chances are if you have the ingredients and an idea for dinner, you're less likely to be tempted to go out to eat where you'll spend much more.  Save restaurant trips for special occasions only.

7) While we're talking about food, grow some!  Even if you don't put in a huge garden and an orchard, seeds are way cheaper than fresh, organic produce.  Every little bit helps.

8) If you use the internet (I know you do), let it earn you money!  Sites like Swagbucks and Ebates earn you gift cards that can off set your expenses for searching and shopping you do anyway.  Take advantage of this free money!

9) If you have an abundance of produce or flowers each summer, give them away or sell them.  While they do make for lovely compost, they can also help feed people or raise funds to help in other ways.

10) When you do need to shop, thrift shop!  My go-to place for clothes is our town's Goodwill.  They have a huge selection and I have much better luck finding what I want because the brands and styles vary so much. I also use thrift stores to find items not found in the hand-me-downs we receive.

11) Find a family with kids slightly younger than yours and pass along kids clothes that still have life in them. There are two families that give us clothes and I hope they know how much money this has saved us and allowed us to pass on to others (and we pass the clothes along as well!)  They've blessed us so we can bless others.

12) Feel like re-decorating or sprucing up the place?  Paint!  Wall color is easy to change, inexpensive and gives the whole room a new look without forking over hundreds or thousands of dollars for new furniture, couch pillows and curtains. Also consider just rearranging the furniture- that might just be all the change you need :-).

13) Budget your giving if it's important to you.  That way it will be there, ready to be passed along.

The next set of suggestions has more to do with giving of yourself than of your money.  Over the past couple years I've been challenged to give more of my-actual-self.  When you're running a busy household it's easy to feel as if there isn't much left to give.  Giving of yourself can also become messy and uncomfortable- our life might be disrupted by someone else's need for time and support.  It can also be just what both you and they need to be reminded that we are created for relationship- both with our God and each other.  So, take courage (I'm talking to myself, too!) and make that phone call, stop in for a visit, invite someone out for coffee and listen, encourage, extend a helping hand and pray for them.  Here are some other ideas.

1) Make double batches of meals so that you can pull one out and take it to someone who needs it. Sometimes my heart is in the right place but when it comes to figuring out what to make and when to make it, I lose momentum.  Having something on hand makes it much easier to respond to illness, new baby, or a prompting of the Spirit.  Staying and eating with the person if they're alone can be a greater gift than the food itself.

2) Invite people into your home and don't apologize for the state of things (dust, clutter).  It will likely make them feel better!  Inviting someone into your home is the start of inviting them into your life and it shows them that they are important to you.  A meal is nice but so is some iced tea on the porch or sitting around a camp fire.

3) Visit someone. The elderly, the sick, the new-to-the-area, those who've lost their job or are going through a tough time.

4) Stop and pray.  There are times after visiting with someone that I have kicked myself.  Why didn't I stop our conversation and pray with/over them?!  Prayer is a powerful thing and it reminds us to look up for help.

5) Mentor someone.  Match your gifts to someone in need who might benefit from your skill and friendship. Contact your local Boys and Girls Club and be a light in the life of a youth who needs encouragement.  Consider hosting a Fresh Air child.  Offer free childcare to single moms who need a back up when day care isn't open so they won't lose their jobs and then open up your home to the parent as well as the child.  Young, single moms need mentors, too.

6) This last one might require a post of it's own.  Many won't agree because of what it requires but here goes...if you want to give of yourself, you have to be available- not away every night and scheduled so tightly that you'll never have opportunities to help others. Our culture relishes busy-ness and many of us say we don't like it but I don't tend to believe that. Why is it that we can't just be?  Be with each other and be with others? Just like budgeting our monetary giving, we can budget ourselves for others.  Or, we can stay on the crazy, never-ending hamster wheel that we claim to dislike. Create and then guard those empty spaces in your schedules to allow for the unknown.

7) I must mention service as well.  It comes in all forms- local and foreign missions, volunteering, foster care, adoption, etc.

There was certainly a time when we were young-marrieds who were focused on learning to live together, acquiring full time employment and paying off school debt (we're still doing some of that).  There were also the early days of parenting young ones that encompassed our whole beings.  We didn't always focus outward and we still don't always do it well but making it a way of life and spending time in prayer about how God will choose to use us has opened up opportunity after opportunity and we are in awe (and often very challenged) when God places a new person or opportunity into our lives.

I'm always on pins and needles (in a rather good way) as I wait to see what is coming next and what ways God will enable us to meet the needs presented before us.  Join us, will you? Pin It

Yes, We are Rich.

Over the years each of our children has asked us at least once, "Are we rich?"  Our answer every single time is, "Yes, we are rich because we have everything we need."

What is it that we need?  Nutritious food, clean water, clothes, shelter, safety, the support and love of others, and, most importantly, relationship with Jesus Christ.

The tendency is to deny that we are.  It's hard to admit that we are.  I know the poor will always be with us (Mt. 26:11) but I don't like it and it doesn't seem fair.  If I can convince myself that we're not (and there were times we had a lot less than we do now) I'm just lying to myself.  I've never been truly poor a single day of my life.

I am not going to lie to my children because with the truth comes responsibility and I don't want them to shirk their responsibility because they've been lied to or lie to themselves.

While this passage gives me the chills, there is no ignoring it.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  

Mt. 19:23-24

We need to take these verses very seriously, however we might interpret them. We need to pray over them and ask God what we can offer- what of our lives, our finances and our resources.  It may not always be clear- we have many voices telling us that we earned it, we deserve it and the have-nots...have not. Those voices help no one.

Instead, we need to be honest with ourselves and our children.  And then we need to take very seriously our richness, commit it to God and be ready to give in whatever way He calls us.  And if we don't hear an audible "call", we need to do what we know His Spirit is leading us towards anyway.

No matter how uncomfortable it makes us.

This may seem cooky, but if you're brave and you can, take this pledge with me in the comments below: I am rich and I'm going to do something about it. You define what that "something" will be.

Let's stop pretending we aren't just to make ourselves feel better and to justify sitting on our hands (and wallets). We were created for so much more. Pin It

The Button Jar

A couple years after getting married, my Grammie learned that I was without a button jar.  She couldn't have this and proceeded to give me one of hers.

I treasured it because it came from her but rarely used it- only occasionally searching for a button to match one that was lost.

Babies came along and the jar needed to stay out of sight and reach for safety reasons.  But as the children grew and could be trusted, it started making appearances.

I remember being enamored with my Grammie's button jar when I was young so it didn't come as a surprise when I discovered that it provided hours of intrigue and fun for my own children.

You can dig out your favorites, group them by color or size, find matches, dump them from dump trucks, make button slides, pretend they are jewels, string them into necklaces, or actually use them for sewing projects.

They also come in handy during school when learning how to break large numbers of items into groups for counting...making multiplication not so scary and possibly even a little bit fun.

It's yet another example of how the simple things shine brighter than the complicated and expensive.

Please DO NOT let young children play with or around buttons as they are choking hazard.  Require that older children play with them in a pan or tray (to decrease spillage to the floor) while the littles are napping. Ensure that every last one is picked up by crawling around on the floor like a toddler to find any that may have strayed, make sure the lid is secure and store them out of reach before letting younger children back into the room.

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Homemade Sled, On the Cheap

On his way home from work yesterday, before the snow started falling, Jamey stopped a thrift store and bought two pairs of old skis for $1 a pair.  He and the girls used scrap wood to fashion sleds after dinner, as the snow began to fall.  Their test run last night was successful but right now the snow is too deep and fluffy to make them go.  They are waiting patiently to be run again.

Today is and will be full of shoveling, making houses in the snow (it's deep enough already to dig out paths and rooms), hot chocolate, board games with neighbor children, and grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch.  I love snow.  We have drifts of three feet and a good foot and a half everywhere else.  And the fact that it's still falling, makes me one happy girl.

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Butterfly Garland

For Sadie's 8th birthday, I wanted to decorate for her family party without spending money.  My ever-crafty sister sent me some links via pinterest and this one looked the most simple and promising.  Here's what the finished garland looked like.

I used to make my own greeting cards so I still had plenty of scrapbooking-type paper on hand.  I made my own butterfly pattern and starting cutting away.  I used off-white quilting thread and double-sided tape to string the butterflies and hold the two sides together.  I wasn't sure how they would hold along the thread but they have very well.  Bending the wings slightly makes them three-dimensional.

You could really take this idea any direction- hearts, animals, balls, flowers, trucks and cars- you name it.  It was a bit time-consuming (the cutting out part) so I'll be careful taking them down and will save them to re-use on Easter and for future girl birthdays.

A bonus was that those butterflies reminded us of summer...and we can't wait:-). Pin It

My Non-Fancy Camera

One of my new favorite things to do is traipse around our yard, looking for bees pollinating our flowers, fruits and vegetables.  I carry my camera along just in case.  I love capturing the little things going on around here.

My camera (an Olympus SP-320) is on the old side.  We bought it about 8 years ago, I think.  At the time, it was quite the big purchase for us.  I think it was around $200 on sale.  I still think that's a lot of money for a camera, but I know many people spend much more than that.  I just wanted to show you how an relatively inexpensive camera can take decent pictures.  And, it's compact, to boot.  No extra camera bag to tote along- it fits in my purse.

bee on strawberry blossom

bee on phlox

unripe blueberries

sweet cherries

young Robin

On an unrelated note, I had the privilege of introducing my cookbook at our local farmer's market last weekend.  Despite the dreariness of the day it was fun watching the vendors set up in the quiet, early hours of the morning.  I loved meeting customers and talking food and recipes with others who care deeply about what they feed their families. Pin It

The Terrible Sickness of Feeling Unloved

"There are many medicines and cures for all kinds of sick people.  But unless kind hands are given in service and generous hearts are given in love, I do not think there can ever be any cure for the terrible sickness of feeling unloved.

It may happen that a mere smile, a short visit, lighting a lamp, writing a letter for a blind man, carrying a bucket of charcoal, offering a pair of sandals, reading the newspaper for someone- something small, very small- may, in fact, be our love of God in action.  Listening, when no one else volunteers to listen, is no doubt a very noble thing."

In the midst of our busy lives, are we keeping something in our reserves so that we can reach out and give of ourselves in love?  As we pour ourselves into our responsibilities, families and gardens this spring, let us keep our eyes wide open for those moments when we can show others (even in very little ways) that they are loved.

If our lives are full to overflowing, will we be tuned in to these moments?  In what way can we free up time and energy to be available to do the small things?

"There are many people who can do big things, but there are very few people who will do the small things."

- both quotes courtesy of Mother Teresa


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A Simple Exercise

I expect we all could rattle off the things we'd like to change about our homes.  But what if, instead, we focused on the things we love?  Not material things like granite counter tops or walk-in closets, but feelings, ease-of-living, spaces.  This simple exercise turns my (occasional) negative thoughts about our house on their heads.  I'll go first.  I love our house because...

I can see the backdoor (our frontdoor) and the backyard from my kitchen window.

of the way the sun falls on the end of my kitchen counter in the late afternoon, making a perfect place to set my bowl of rising pizza dough every Friday afternoon.

our washer and dryer is on the first floor (which is preferable if you hang your clothes outside to dry).

of  the sound of both the rain and the large flocks of starlings that land on our metal roof.

of the shade trees.

of the beautiful breeze that blows into my kitchen and across the house almost every summer day.

of neighbors I trust who care about and look out for us.

of the circle downstairs which allows children (and grown-ups) to run laps, chase each other, stilt, roller skate and roller blade since our driveway is gravel.

of the old barns and outbuildings which require little to no upkeep because they are so far gone!


there are few closets which keep me from accumulating too much and help me pass along that which we aren't using (an attic with terrible access and a crude cellar also help with this).

it has plenty of windows (some of which are very old, caulked and painted shut) that make it almost impossible to miss the snow falling no matter where I look.

of being able to see both the driveway and into the wood stove door from my seat at the school table.

of all the south-facing windows that let in the winter sun, helping to warm the opposite side of the house as the wood stove.

of it's lived-in qualities all around which help me worry less about the (often) vigorous "living-in" that we do.

I know that all three children toddled around these corners when they were small, looking for mama, jibber-jabbering and singing their little songs.

When I think on such wonderful things, I never want to leave!

Now it's your turn.  What is it about your current living situation that you are thankful for?  As you leave comments and read others' comments, please be careful- this is an exercise to help us feel thankful and contented, not to produce additional home-envy.  Let's be happy for each other with each other :-). Pin It

An Opportunity to Give and Receive

About a year and a half ago I met an amazing sister.  Bethany is one of those dear, sweet people that you instantly feel somehow related to.  Her warmth and creativity cause you to look forward to getting to know her better.  And you are not disappointed when you do.

Bethany and her husband have begun an incredible journey for the Lord.  In an effort to raise support, she invited friends and family to purchase some blank cards depicting some of her amazing paintings.  I couldn't keep these to myself.  I wanted to share them with you AND share the opportunity to give in this very special way (while receiving beautiful pieces of artwork in the form of note cards in the meantime)!

I offer to you her work.  Below you will find details about their upcoming service and on how to purchase these incredible cards.

 "Let All Creation Dance" Detail of Bird

 "Thai Mandala with Four Living Creatures"

"Let All Creation Dance"

 "Sentient"

"Thai Dove"

"Let All Creation Dance" Detail of Tree

Bethany and her husband, Stephen, are beginning a time of cross-cultural Christian service in Bangkok, Thailand. While they will spend most of the first two years in language study, the long term vision is for a team of people with different gifts to be involved in missional engagement in the city. The vision for Bangkok responds to two challenges:

1) Young people move from poor rural provinces to Bangkok for work, fragmenting families and undermining the discipleship efforts of the fledgling Christian church. Like any other city, the idols of the city of Bangkok are status, money and sex. The door is wide open for workers to befriend these seeking young adults and invite them into a truly fulfilling relationship with Jesus.

2) The Bangkok Refugee Center connects with an isolated and disadvantaged population of refugees in Bangkok, but it needs more volunteers to respond to the need. The door is wide open for workers to volunteer in the refugee center as nurses, social workers, and teachers, reaching out with Christ’s love at a time of crisis for these refugees.

Steve and Bethany's vision is to befriend and invite young adults into the life of discipleship as they learn to live out what it means to be disciples themselves by reaching out with Christ's love in holistic missional service to refugees. In this way, they hope to nurture next generation leaders and help the church in Thailand live more fully into missional engagement in the city of Bangkok. 

To Purchase Cards:

Bethany, a visual artist, has created a selection of blank multi-purpose note cards featuring her artwork. All the cards come with envelopes and are compatible with standard US postal sizes for first class mail. A pack of 5 is $15.00 and a pack of 25 is $50.00. To submit your order, email me (Jane) at thyhand123@gmail.com.  Please identify which of the six images you would like and the number of cards (5 or 25) and we will respond with instructions for payment.  Please submit your order by September 30th! 

Thank you for helping support our dear friends!

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Phoenix Phaxx

Would you and your kids like to learn more about faraway countries and cultures and help reach precious people in those lands with the Gospel message?

If so, join our family!  We're participating in a mission project called Phoenix Phaxx sponsored by Sonlight and the Far East Broadcasting Company to raise money for radios so people can hear the message of Christ in their own language.

Don't hoard those living-simply-dollars.  Share them!

This is free and open to anyone who wants to participate.  You don't have to be a homeschooler!  In fact, I would think that an educational/missional adventure like this would be a great supplement to your child's schooling no matter where they attend.

If you'd like to participate, sign up here.  You'll get a Pocket Guide in the mail with details and emails letting you know when new videos are posted to the website.  Watch the videos and learn.  Think of fun ways to raise money and donate!

I hope you'll join us:-).

Love,
Jane

P.S.  No one asked me to write this.  I just think it's really cool (even if some of the promo is a little corny- no offense Sonlight!).  Our kids are really excited and that's what is important:-)). Pin It

Have You Taken the Plunge?

It's been eight months since we've been using the homemade laundry detergent that I posted about here.  We are super pleased with it and I can safely say that I'm never going back to buying laundry detergent.  I still pre-treat nasty potential stains and soak really soiled clothes, but I did that when I used commercial detergent, too.

If you haven't tried it yet, here's some encouragement.  I just discovered that a friend of mine made a YouTube video of the process using the recipe we use.  Tim shows that it's really as easy as it sounds. 

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Diamonds in the Rough

What do you see when you look at the photo below (other than a barn in need of repair)?

Yes, it looks like a bit of a mess.  For some of you, this may be hard to look at.  Some of you are used to neatly trimmed yards and are probably halfway out the door right now, weed-whacker in hand, on your way to hunt us down and take care of some things.  We are happy to let parts of our property grow up instead of insisting on subduing every last square inch.  What we see in the photo above is a nursery, a tree nursery.

While it is often tempting to pull out your pruning shears when a little tree starts to grow along your fences or in corners of your yard, letting them grow up and then transplanting them to other areas of your property can add to your landscaping at no cost to you.  And trees are just wonderful, you know.

Here's a red bud we moved to our front yard.

Here are a cherry and mulberry tree, both of which grew up into a flowering quince bush.  I'm not surprised in the least- all kinds of birds love our flowering quinces.  Jamey pruned back the quince to allow the cherry and mulberry to take off.  One may be transplanted out later if both continue to thrive.

Here is our large black walnut.  Below it is a baby black walnut which might one day take the place of the larger one.

We have countless trees springing up everywhere here.  Many will be left to grow (and may one day end up in our wood stove), others will be moved.

So next time you want to grab those shears or hack down that unruly corner of the yard, consider finding a home for young trees in your yard.  They'll bring shade, attract wildlife and one day, may add wood to your (or someone else's) fire. Pin It

Clarifying & A Giving Top Ten

I never want any of you to feel as if I have figured out *the* right way to do things- especially when it comes to giving.  I appreciate the kind ways some of you pointed that out in my post a couple weeks back.  God has given us each our own "soft spots" that help determine how we give and who we give to.  If we all had a passion for one organization or means of giving, many would be lacking in the other need categories!

With that said, this is a blog where I chronicle my thoughts on how our family feels lead to live and give.  My hope is that it will inspire you to be deliberate about how you live and give.  I may quote scripture that speaks to me in my current stage of my faith journey.  My hope is that you will seek out the scriptures to guide you in yours.

Blogging can be tricky because sharing your experience can so easily come across as presenting *the* way to do things.  My goal is not to convince you of anything, but to inspire you to seek out Truth (through scripture and prayer- I'm not apologizing for this piece- it is central to all we believe and do) and follow God's leading in your own life in your own way.  Oh, the many, many gifts we all represent! 

I wanted to especially attempt to clarify this today because I want to talk about ways to give effectively to the poor.  Here again, I hesitate to share personal giving preferences because I don't want anyone to believe our way is the right way.  So, instead, I wanted to share a resource that I came across recently that I thought was very helpful.

There are so many Bible references calling us to help the poor of this world- a quick search in your concordance or online will leave you swimming in them.  The one that send chills up my spine is this one...

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."  Ezekiel 16:49

Arrogant, overfed and unconcerned?  Um, yep.  If we're feeling super honest, that hits pretty close to home for many of us.

So we know we should give (our time as well as monies), but with all the different organizations out there petitioning us for our dollars and energies, how do we know which are the most effective ways to make a difference, particularly for the poor in developing countries?  Well, last month's issue of Christianity Today looked at that.  Here's what Bruce Wydick wrote....

"So what are the best ways to help the poor in developing countries?

To answer this question, I polled top development economists who specialize in analyzing development programs. I asked them to rate, from 0 to 10, some of the most common poverty interventions to which ordinary people donate their money, in terms of impact and cost-effectiveness per donated dollar.

Sixteen researchers responded to the survey. They are from Cornell, Duke, Yale, the University of Maryland, UC-Berkeley, Stanford, George Washington, UC-Santa Cruz, the University of Minnesota, Brandeis, Michigan State, Tufts, and the World Bank. Of the respondents, five are members of the Association of Christian Economists. And they showed remarkable consensus in their ratings. Virtually none of the highly rated poverty interventions received low marks from any of the responders. Likewise, virtually none of the lowly rated programs received high marks."

Here are the Top Ten, listed in order of most effectiveness...


1) Get clean water to rural villages.


2) Fund de-worming treatments for children.


3) Provide mosquito nets.


4) Sponsor a child.


5) Give wood-burning stoves.


6) Give a microfinance loan.


7) Fund reparative surgeries.


8) Donate a farm animal.


9) Drink fair-trade coffee.


10) Give a kid a laptop.


To read the article in it's entirety, go here.


Interesting, huh?  It is my opinion that making each of these strategies even more effective is to pair them with the Gospel.  If we can find organizations that serve the poor in the name of Jesus Christ we're introducing a hope that will transform their lives forever, no matter how destitute they are (I talk more about this here).


Before I sign off, I do want to highlight one organization that is near and dear to my heart- Compassion International.  If you'd like a little window into our passion for this cause (including some quotes from and pictures of our sponsored kids), you can visit my Compassion page here.  That said, there are other wonderful, Christian child-sponsorship programs out there as well, so browse around and see where God leads you if you're interested in sponsoring a child.

I hope this list is helpful and inspiring.  May we use our blessings to be blessings to others.

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A Wonderful Opportunity to Give

Christians in China are asking for Bibles.  Can you imagine not having one?

A Chinese woman named Yanqui was a Christian for 20 years before she finally received her own Bible.  She said, "It's better to read the Bible one time than to listen to a sermon ten times.  Getting my first Bible was like getting a key to many locks.  Very precious treasure."

The American Bible Society is currently able to put a Bible into the hands of a Chinese believer (or potential believer) for only $1 in a campaign to send 300,000 Bibles to China.  What an amazing opportunity to give.  If this is something your family would like to consider, go here.

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Head Over Heels And Back Again

Oh, I try my darnedest to live simply for all the good reasons there are out there for doing so.  Sometimes it's super easy.  I have no desire to buy shoes, make-up or new outfits.  I don't want a new car, new appliances or to redecorate.  I don't even care all that much that our house needs repainting or that our front steps need replacing or that paving the driveway would allow our kids to take bike-riding to a whole new level.

No, no.  When I'm tempted by something, I'm tempted BIG.  As in home-BIG.  Not a different home, mind you.  An additional home.    A home nestled in a valley with the most amazing views, down a most amazing gravel road, with cows and horses near by, with roads for walking and trails for hiking.  It would be a perfect home to retire to and rent out in the meantime and look at as an investment.  

Who in the world am I and what has happened to Jane??!!

The fact that we cannot afford another house is way-way-way-way beside the point!  We (in no way) need another house (obviously)!

So, not soon enough, I launch into the little lecture that I recite to myself.  The one that's grounded in faith and the desire to be obedient and do what Christ would want me to do.  The one that figures out how many Compassion kids could be sponsored for a year by this potentially insane and irresponsible purchase (over 500, by the way) and I slowly pull away from the sharp, yellow claws of greed and selfishness and shake my head clear.

Don't poo-poo this and tell me it's okay to dream.  I wasn't dreaming.  I was obsessed.  Obsessing and  dreaming can breed discontentment and envy.  The world says it's okay to dream because when we dream, our focus is usually taken off you-know-Who.

I'm sharing this with you because I want you to know that even though I blog about living simply, I am not immune to all the bells and whistles of this world.  Not in the least.

And so, I'm thankful.  Not just for what I have, but for living most of my days knowing that what I have is more than enough and keeping myself from actually acting otherwise. Pin It

{Price-less} Kitchen Cabinet Organization

If you're lucky, you're able to buy in bulk.  I'm not talking Costco-bulk, I'm talking items like oats, grains, and flours bought in bulk and then repackaged by your store into relatively smaller bags so the (bulk) savings is passed on to you.  Our local grocery store as a pretty good bulk section and I make good use of it.

This poses a problem for my kitchen organization.   All these bulk bags stuffed into a standard cabinet causes some angst. All this was shoved in the bottom left shelf of the cabinet behind.  No joke.

Not only is it a pain to find what you need when you need it, but it doesn't allow you to see what you really have (without pulling everything out) so sometimes I'd end up buying more oats when I had a couple bags hidden in the back.  Bags with only a little left in them would get lost in the mess and I'd end up having three small bags of popping corn and five bags with only a cup or so of oats in each (true, true).

To purchase one of those nice cabinet bins/drawers, would have cost me at least $50 or a lot of time and effort (and some cost) if Jamey used his precious time to make one for me.  I decided to take matters into my own hands.  We are women and we are resourceful!  Hear me howl!

I don't why I chose to howl instead of roar.  I just did.

I went to our stash of boxes ready to be recycled and found a few that suited me.  I trimmed off the lids and made a hole in the side for a handle where needed.  I pulled everything out of the cabinet, wiped it clean and combined all my duplicate bags.  Container lids are in the right side of this cabinet and I had been using a large shoe box for them (which worked great, but needed replacing after a couple years of use), so I found a new box to house them, too.

Next, I divided up the goods putting the items we use most in the most convenient box to slide out and the items we don't use as often in the middle box.  There was some space left in the back, so I stuck a few back-up items back there.  I know they're back there.  Really.  I do.

Now when we need a bulk item, we just slide out the box (or boxes, if we need to get to the center one) and we have a full visual to locate the item we want and survey our supplies.

No more frustration getting to the bulk items I need?  Price-less.

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