Missions Monday

I love Samaritans Purse and will continue to post about them from time to time.  One of my purposes of this blog is to be able to sell some more finger puppets, so I can give more.  I believe that one component of being the feet of Jesus is giving of our resources, whether it be time, talent, finances, etc....  So I can make finger puppets, therefore, I sell to give.  I do give 10% of my proceeds and will post that at the end of each month and will give you an example of what can be purchased for a needy family around the world with what was given. 
So this month was slow, not that any month is crazy busy.  I sold a few items and well 10% would only be $4, but even $4 helps.
Here is an example from Samaritan's Purse:

Gift 21 - Milk

A cup of milk seems so simple, but its essential nutrients like protein and calcium are vital to poor children fighting malnutrition. That’s the reason we provide milk and other nutritious items to many schools, orphanages, and hospitals in poverty-stricken countries. A gift of $4 can provide a week’s worth of milk, so we can help a needy child grow “in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

Be encouraged that everything that is done in the name of the Lord, whether in word or dead, is a blessing.

Newbies in the Etsy Shop - The Mitten Characters

I'm so proud of myself for getting these done.  My little guy just loves the story of The Mitten.  This story has been retold by many people but we have been reading the version by Jan Brett.  We love how all the animals keep squeezing into the little boy's lost mitten until a little mouse crawls in, sits on the bear's nose, and causes the bear to sneeze and all the animals go flying out.  The little boy finds his missing mitten and wonders why it is so much bigger than the other one.  If you like this set, come visit my etsy shop at 2beautifulfeet.etsy.com and remember 10% of my sales go to Samaritan's purse.   

Moist Cornbread Recipe

I have always been a fan of cornbread or Johnny Cake as we like to call it.  But the reality is it tends to be dry.  So the other night I mixed a couple of recipes together, crossed my fingers, put it in the oven, and was pleasantly surprised a delicious, lightly sweetened, tender and moist cornbread.  Here is my creation, enjoy:

Moist Johnny Cake
1 c. cornmeal
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 Tb. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. honey
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. oil

Mix together and bake in greased 9x13 pan.

Grati-Monday

I was planning on doing a Missions update today, and a grateful item on Tuesday, but I was so thankful and grateful for something this morning. 
Lets set the stage, 2 story home, three bedrooms, 2 vehicles, freezer full of food, cupboards moderately full, telephone, computer, t.v., movies, games, toys everywhere, dressers full to overflowing, washer and dryer, warm house (sort of with zero degrees this morning : ) ), constantly sending stuff to the thrift store, etc....  Simple, ordinary, not extraordinary life - that is my life.  We are far from rich, but have all we need.  Sometimes I whine about this thing or that thing, need new paint here or there, this needs to be cleaned or fixed, etc...  pretty ordinary.   It wasn't until I started reading today about a woman on the other side of the world that I realized that my pretty ordinary life is extraordinary to so many people around the world.  That my non - fancy life is luxury to her.
Lets set the stage again:  Ethiopia, pregnant woman with one child, husband leaves, she's living on the streets, gives birth on the streets, no Social Services or welfare, begs to feed her children.  Hopeless!
Well, not hopeless for ever, Samaritans Purse came in, was able to share with her about the love of Jesus, and was able to give her a trade, making flat bread on street corners.  Now she has money to rent a small apartment, and has a group of people to call friends. 
Wow, her needs are met, she is content.  Puts everything in perspective!    

New Cuties in my Etsy Shop

I absolutely love felt, always have, don't you?  It's colorful, easy to work with, doesn't fray, and is cheap.  I remember a bag of precious scraps that I had when I was a kid that my mother innocently threw away, because it did just look like trash.  To me though, it was gold, little bits of this and that that I could create with.  I would make ornaments and glue them together to create all sorts of things.  Now, I create finger puppets with the precious felt.  I never realized how inexpensive felt was until I became an adult.  I truly believed that felt was expensive like velvet, and every piece was a treasure.  Never did I realize that you could buy them 3 or 4 squares for a $1.  Anyways, enough about that.  Here are my newest creations for my shop.  Sorry for the sideways skunk, he wasn't cooperating, but since when do skunks do. 

Please visit my shop at 2beautifulfeet.etsy.com and remember that 10%of all sales goes to support Samaritan's Purse.  Thank you.

Itty Bitty Crafty Thing - Valentines Wreath

Here is a cheap and cheerful heart wreath to make at home.  I absolutely love Valentine's Day and wanted something for my door.  I could have went out and purchased something but this was way cheaper and fun to make. 

I made a heart form from a piece of foam insulation, you could make it out of anything stiff enough.  I found out that you need to round off the points.  Then cut strips long enough to wrap around and tie into a knot. 

Push the strips close together as you go.   I am not sure how much fabric is needed.  I actually used an old shirt and scraps of fabric I had.  You can make this as big or as small you like.  You don't need to get fabric from the store, you could use old shirts, sheets, vintage fabric, etc....
Great way to use up old fabric and have something cheap and cheerful for free.

As you can see that the wreath looks different on both sides but is equally cute.  Sorry for the sideways picture, no time to fix it.

Snowy Morning

Here in Central NY there is a snow day for the kids.  For some reason that means donuts.  This will be my third try at donuts this wintery season and they have been good but not awesome.  My 2 year old absolutely loves donuts, my 14 year old is alittle apprehensive because they are not store bought.  But, never the less, I will plunge forward and update you later. 

Gratituesday

What am I grateful for today?  I was sitting and writing in my journal about starting this blog this morning and stressing out a bit.  You see, I am a formula person.  Give me the formula, or method, I'll plug in the info and voila, it all works perfectly.  Somebody please tell me how it all works, Monday do this, Tuesday do that, Wednesday etc.... You get the idea.  Then it occured to me that is not how God works.  He is in control though, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the creator of it all.  For that I am very thankful for.  I just need to relax and "enjoy the ride".

Missions Monday

I am was not raised a missionary kid, but in rural central NY.  I did, however, go to a Christian College and was intruduced to the whole world of missions there.  I must admit that we have not faithfully giving to ministries before the last maybe 2 years.  Kind of out of site out of mind.  Sounds terrrible but true.  We have however been supporting a missionary friend and a ministry that we love for about 2 years now and it is amazing to see how the Lord is softening my heart to the needs that are around the world and placing a desire in my heart to give more.  That is why I create finger puppets in my shop and sell them so I am able to give a bit more than my $10 a month. 
The ministry I dearly love is Samaritan's Purse.  This ministry is headed up by Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham.  They are a Christian Relief organization that help people anywhere in the world, including our country, recover from natural disaster, providing food, water, clothes, medicine, etc.... and hope.  Hope in Jesus!  I receive their mailings and am always amazed at how a little bit of money can go so far. 
Here is an example from Samaritans Purse Gift Catalog this past Christmas:

Gift 18 - Hot Meals

These little girls enjoy hot meals as part of a ministry outreach in Calcutta, India. At the same time, they are feasting on God’s Word, learning Bible stories and Gospel songs. Around the world, Samaritan’s Purse supports a variety of feeding programs like this that enable local believers to serve hot meals to malnourished children and impoverished families. Just $7 can furnish a week’s worth of dinners, so we can tell of the gracious Lord who “fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9, NIV).

Suggested Gift: $7

Please join me by giving even a small.  It all makes a difference.