Thought for Tuesday

Waiting on Spring...

  I saw this quote and wanted to share it with you...


 "I’ve learned that happiness comes in different forms. It can be found in the blackest thunderclouds or when the earth is withering from heat. It is also in the warm rays of the sun in the midst of pouring rain. It is in the first green leaf of spring peeping out of the cracked bud of a poplar tree. It is in the little white petal working itself out on a branch of an apple tree. It is in the darkness of the night sky with thousands of twinkling stars. It is in the tender look of a loved one. It looks out through shining eyes in family photographs."

 it is everywhere 
 find happiness right where you stand

 Lidia Evgenevna Shmakova

Happy Weekend

                                                                                               Day 36 
What a happy weekend! We took the grandkids to a waterpark since they had spring break. It was so much fun!

                                                                                                   Day 37 
After that we went along to watch the girls perform their duet at a dance competition. They took home a trophy and lots of special memories!

Day 38

SO SO happy that Jerry worked on our taxes today. (He's the financial brains in this house!)

 

On the Happiness Track

I think I'm a little behind here posting photos so I'll try to get back on track--starting today!

       Day 32  Found time to clean cupboards and discovered a little treasure that got shoved to the back.

 Day 33  A model that took direction and didn't complain about how long she had to sit so I could  practice with my speedlight.

 Day 34  Happiness is buying fruit on sale at Aldi's!

Day 35  A selfie that actually, kinda turned out.

 

Praying for the Most Oppressed People in the World

It is Spring Break here so Jerry and I took three of the grandkids to a waterpark overnight. Everyone had so much fun. I was thinking how fortunate we are to be able to take these kids somewhere safe and fun with lots of snacks and games. But it's also Lent,you know. Time for prayer, alms and fasting. Yeah, that wasn't happening. 

Then I check my email and I find a newsletter all about girls in Kenya. Young girls that are victims of rape and violence--and I think of my own two pre-teen granddaughters. In the newsletter it told the story of one young girl in particular. She was raped on her way home from school, got pregnant and was sent to a city to be an indentured servant. While there she gave birth and she and her baby got sick. On the third day, both weak and wracked with infection, they were taken to the hospital and became residents of Mercy House. 

Do you know who the most oppressed group of people are in the world? 
 Girls. 

All around the world, girls  to want to receive an education, to live without the horror of violent sexual crimes committed against them at home, in their neighborhoods, as they walk to school. It's up to us, those who have so much, to help them out.

Mercy House is a shelter in Kenya for pregnant girls. From their website:
The Mercy House exists to provide alternative options for pregnant girls living in the streets of Kenya. The Mercy House will aid them in education, nutrition, housing, prenatal care, Bible study, counseling and job skills for sustainable living.

As a fundraiser they have bracelets that you can purchase for $10.
We are invited  to pray for the endangered girls in our world today with this simple idea:

It’s a bit of twine.

And a single heart.

It’s a simple reminder to pray.

It’s an easy way to share their story.

It’s a bracelet that’s supposed to fall off.

Get your bracelet here. They are $10 each, free shipping and 100% of the profit benefits endangered girls in Kenya. 

How to pray for the oppressed girls in our world:

1. Pray for their salvation.

2. Pray for their safety.

3. Pray that the cycle of violence that goes hand-in-hand with extreme poverty would be broken

4. Pray for the end to corruption of governments that are unjust and oppress girls

5. Pray for the shattered, violated hearts of wounded girls around the globe

6. Pray that the strongholds of violence, oppression and hopelessness would be broken in the name of Jesus.

Here is the perfect service project for you and your kids, family, and groups.

Order a Love Mercy Bracelet Kit (Makes 25 Bracelets):

This idea was inspired not only to raise needed funds to help more girls in Kenya; it was also inspired as a practical hands-on service project activity for families, kids groups or Bible studies to do together.

If you'd like to do a service project with your family, a church or children's group, you can order a kit of 25 for $10 (to cover expenses and shipping) and serve Mercy House by putting the bracelets together. You can return them for us to sell or you can help by selling them to friends and family for $10 each.

Prayer is the most powerful tool we possess to empower oppressed girls in our world. I am ordering my bracelet right now. I'm going to talk to my granddaughters and see if they would wear one too and pray for girls like them who have so little. It's such a small thing to do that could make such a big impact. Wouldn't you like to join us?  God is calling us to help.
 

Facial Oil Cleansing

Let your curiosity get the better of you, read the article, then decide if you should give this method of skin care a go.

Do not be afraid of applying oil to your face. Oil, alone, will not bring you blemishes. Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads...these are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the buildup of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil because it needs it. The oil is there for the benefit of your skin. Not only does your natural oil help lubricate, it also heals, protects, and moisturizes your skin so that it may function properly.
                                      The Method

1. Get Gathered’s Facial Cleansing Oil, washcloth, and a hand towel.
2. Wet your face with warm water.
3. Just a little bit goes a long way, so pour a pea-sized amount (add more if you need it) into your palm and rub hands together.
4. Rub fingers gently over your face in small circles for 30 seconds to 2 minutes to allow the oil to penetrate. Concentrate on areas with blocked pores. (Make sure you don’t pull your skin.)
5. Take a washcloth and soak it in clean, steamy water. We want the water to be warm enough to open your pores and remove the oil. We're not scalding our skin, we're steaming to coax our pores to release the oil carrying the impurities.
 6. Hold the washcloth to cover your face. Leave on until the washcloth has cooled to about room temperature and then wipe your face with the washcloth.
7. Wipe gently, rinse well, and repeat two or three more times. Avoid any temptation to scrub.
8. You have now oil cleansed. There should be a thin layer of oil still on your skin to balance and protect.
 9. If your skin feels tight after, it is recommended to rub a small amount of the cleansing oil in or apply Gathered’s Facial Serum. 

This deep cleansing method should be done regularly, but not too frequently. We suggest starting with a couple times each week. On the other nights, Gathered FromThe Garden’s Love My Face Wash will compliment your Oil Cleaning. This can be followed up by using Gathered’s Facial Toner and Facial Moisturizer or Facial Serum. 

There should be no need for deep cleansing in the morning if you're waking up with skin cleansed the night before. In the morning, a quick wipe with a warm washcloth should suffice. We don't want to over clean our skin.

Gathered’s Facial Cleansing Oil is a mix of very light oils to clean your face.You can find it on our website.

Wordless Wednesday

Button, button...who's got the button?

The Joy Diet

By this time of the year people are looking at their New Year's Resolutions and wondering what happened? So many people I know resolve to go on a food diet. But how about a Joy Diet?

This idea comes from Elisabeth Constantine's book The Light Diet. Instead of depriving yourself as with most diets-- with this diet you add something. Joy. 

Think of all the things you could add to your life to bring more joy into it. Small things like time to yourself to do whatever you wanted. Buy yourself some flowers. (I really need to do this!)Get a manicure or pedicure. Go see a movie. Spend time with your favorite people. You could really amp up the joy in your life by achieving one of your big goals: building the house of your dreams or taking an exotic vacation. 

Studies have shown that the more joy you have in your life , the healthier you will be. (This probably pertains to spreading joy around too.) I think as women we tend to get so caught up in being caregivers that we often forget to take care of ourselves. We really do deserve some pampering, some joy! 

Resolve to find time this week to add more joy to your diet--it could even become a wonderful habit. Gathered From The Garden has some great products to help pamper yourself or to give to others to help spread some joy. Check out our website.