Quote du Jour - Audrey Hepburn

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others."

Audrey Hepburn

Soil Amendments for the Frugal Mama

For the gardening mama's (and daddy's) out there, you know that there is a never ending list of supplies, tools, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides that you could use in your home garden.


And the costs can really add up!

I hope to share with you some of the tips I have learned to have a flourishing garden with LITTLE to NO cost for some of these items.

For those who are trying to build up their soil, or add more content to their composting, you know that there are many 'Soil Amendments' that you can purchase.  You can buy bags of manure, you can buy bales of hay or straw, you can buy wood chips and leaves.

But you can also get these items for FREE sometimes!

I have found that through nickel ads, local facebook groups (search by your county and/or town's name), freecycle and craigslist, you can connect with locals who have what YOU want and need and are more than happy to give it to you.


MANURE
MANY owners of horses, cattle, sheep, goats and chickens will GLADLY accept someone's offer to shovel out their pens for a free load of manure.  Even as a mother, with my littles tagging alone, sometimes even pregnant, I have been able to go to a local animal owner and shovel out a couple carts full of manure.  I have even been able to use some of my sterilite (or rubbermaid) totes to carry this manure in the back of my vehicle when I did not have a truck available.
ALSO if you have a local livestock auction house, they often have copious amounts of manure that they will very GLADLY load into your truck and have you cart it away.  Call them and ask.  Worst they can say is 'Nope.'

HAY and STRAW BALES

While hay and straw bales usually cost a pretty penny, you can put the word out that you are looking for OLD, MOLDY, WET and ROTTEN bales.  Sounds gross?  But that is what you want!!!  Decomposing organic matter.  You don't need the feed quality hay!  And you certainly don't want to pay those rising prices for something you are going to hose down and compost in your yard or in your bins anyway.  Sometimes you can get find people who will give them to you for free, sometimes for a small fee.  Afterall, someone did go to all the trouble of collecting and baling it up

WOOD CHIPS

Look in your local phone book or local.google.com for tree services.  Many of them cut down more trees and branches than they know what to do with and sometimes have to PAY to dump the chips somewhere.  Let them know that you would WELCOME them dumping a load or two or all that they have on your property!  I called a few in my area and while only one actually returned my call he HAPPILY brings a truckload of chips whenever he works in my area!


For more tips for the Frugal Mama......

La Soñador ~: Cloth Diapering for the Frugal Mama
Cloth Diapering for the Frugal Mama. Since moving out to my country home, hanging the laundry on the line, trying to grow and raise my own food, I also made another big change in my day to day routine. I switched to cloth ...

La Soñador ~: Renewing the Wardrobe for the Frugal Mama
Renewing the Wardrobe for the Frugal Mama. I recently had to replace much of my wardrobe. While we constantly make sure the children have clothing that fits, looks nice and meets their needs, my husband and I 'make do' ...

Quote du Jour - Gilbert K. Chesterton

Marriage is an adventure, like going to war.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

Counting the Omer - Memory Verses

To make our Feast of Weeks more fruitful, meaningful and memorable we will be studying a verse a day (hoping to memorize many) with the children.  May YHWH open His word to us and write it on our hearts!

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

I have included links on the verses that I have collected a graphic for.

****

Counting the Omer Day 1 ~ Memory Verse

"The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish."

Proverbs 14:11

Counting the Omer Day 2 ~ Memory Verse

Without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to Elohim must believe that He is,

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

Counting the Omer Day 3 ~ Memory Verse

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Counting the Omer Day 4 ~ Memory Verse

"Trust in YHWH with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;"

Proverbs 3:5

Counting the Omer Day 5 ~ Memory Verse

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Counting the Omer Day 6 ~ Memory Verse

"To the Torah and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word,

it is because there is no light in them."

Isaiah 8:20

Counting the Omer Day 7 ~ Memory Verse

"And the dragon was enraged with the woman,

and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring,

who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF ELOHIM

and HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF YAHSHUA MESSIAH."

Revelation 12:15

Counting the Omer Day 8 ~ Memory Verse

Yahshua Wept.

John 11:35

Counting the Omer Day 9 ~ Memory Verse

Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah,

he is a new creation; old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Counting the Omer Day 10 ~ Memory Verse

I will praise Elohim's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

Counting the Omer Day 11 ~ Memory Verse

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

Counting the Omer Day 12 ~ Memory Verse

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with ELOHIM, and the Word was EL.

John 1:1

Counting the Omer Day 13 ~ Memory Verse

For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

Counting the Omer Day 14 ~ Memory Verse

All things were made through Him,

and without Him nothing was made that was made.

John 1:3

Counting the Omer Day 15 ~ Memory Verse
He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Proverbs 28:9

Counting the Omer Day 16 ~ Memory Verse

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4

Counting the Omer Day 17 ~ Memory Verse

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love Elohim,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Counting the Omer Day 18 ~ Memory Verse

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

Counting the Omer Day 19 ~ Memory Verse

Happy is he who keeps the law.

Proverbs 29:18

Counting the Omer Day 20 ~ Memory Verse

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life.
Proverbs 6:23

Counting the Omer Day 21 ~ Memory Verse

I agree that the law is good.

Romans 7:16

Counting the Omer Day 22 ~ Memory Verse

For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments;
and His commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3

Counting the Omer Day 23 ~ Memory Verse

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Adonai (master) and not to men,

knowing that from YHWH you will receive the reward of the inheritance;

for you serve the Adonai Ha Mashiach (master, the Messiah).

Colossians 3:23-24

Counting the Omer Day 24 ~ Memory Verse

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and

petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Elohim.

Philippians 4:6

Counting the Omer Day 25 ~ Memory Verse

That YHWH your Elohim is Elohim; he is the faithful Elohim, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Counting the Omer Day 26 ~ Memory Verse

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Counting the Omer Day 27 ~ Memory Verse

The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom:

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

his praise endureth for ever.

Psalms 111:10

Counting the Omer Day 28 ~ Memory Verse

"Here is the patience of the holy ones, those who keep the commandments of Elohim, and the faith of Yahshua."

Revelation 14:12

Counting the Omer Day 29 ~ Memory Verse

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5.

Counting the Omer Day 30 ~ Memory Verse

“If YHWH delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us;

a land which flows with milk and honey.”
Numbers 14:8

Counting the Omer Day 31 ~ Memory Verse
Fear Elohim and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Counting the Omer Day 32 ~ Memory Verse

Are we then nullifying the law thru faith? No. May it be we are sustaining the law.
Romans 3:31

Counting the Omer Day 33 ~ Memory Verse

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me DRAWS HIM;
and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44.

Counting the Omer Day 34 ~ Memory Verse

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4

Counting the Omer Day 35 ~ Memory Verse

And because lawlessness shall abound,

the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:12-13

Counting the Omer Day 36 ~ Memory Verse

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
Deuteronomy 30:19

Counting the Omer Day 37 ~ Memory Verse

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away,

one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Matthew 5:18

Counting the Omer Day 38 ~ Memory Verse

Blessed is everyone that fears YHWH, that walks in His ways.
Psalm 128:1

Counting the Omer Day 39 ~ Memory Verse

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud and your sins like the morning mist.
Return to Me.  For I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22

Counting the Omer Day 40 ~ Memory Verse

Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23

Counting the Omer Day 41 ~ Memory Verse

Test all things; hold fast what is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21

Counting the Omer Day 42 ~ Memory Verse

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears YHWH, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

Counting the Omer Day 43 ~ Memory Verse

I, even I, am YHWH; and apart from me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 43:11.

Counting the Omer Day 44 ~ Memory Verse

I believe that I shall see the goodness of YHWH in the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13.

Counting the Omer Day 45 ~ Memory Verse

Love YHWH your Elohim

Walk in His ways

Hold fast to Him

Deuteronomy 11:22

Counting the Omer Day 46 ~ Memory Verse

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32

Counting the Omer Day 47 ~ Memory Verse

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of Elohim will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

Counting the Omer Day 48 ~ Memory Verse

May they know that you alone, whose name is YHWH, are the most high over all the earth.
Psalm 83:18

Counting the Omer Day 49 ~ Memory Verse

For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.
Proverbs 4:2

Counting the Omer Day 50 ~ SHAVUOT/Pentecost ~ Memory Verse

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says YHWH:
I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;
and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Hebrews 8:10

Quote du Jour - J.R.R. Tolkien

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Quote du Jour - J.R.R. Tolkien

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Yahshua Jesus, Our First Fruits

Tonight begins The Feast of First Fruits!

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

Leviticus 23:9-14

After the sunset on the sabbath.... something amazing happened!
The Feast of First Fruits was FULFILLED!
The Sign of Jonah was FULFILLED!

Yahshua Jesus, our Messiah, rose from the dead!

In the morning the women went to the tomb to find Him gone.  And the angels said,
"HE IS RISEN!"

They ran back to tell the others.  Some had to see for themselves.
And for the next forty days Yahshua Jesus walked with them,
ate with them, and talked with them,
and prayed with them.


But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Let us Celebrate Our First Fruits!

Now begins the countdown to
Shavuot/Pentecost!

For more information

http://www.new2torah.com/2012/10/the-scriptures-and-first-fruits/

http://teshuvaministries.net/appointed-times-feast-days/firstfruits-prophetic-holy-feasts/

Reading Between the Lines - Ukraine, Russia and US Politics

I admit, when I first heard that Jews were being required to register, my heart quailed.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/

Was it happening again?  Would we soon be seeing refugees, ghettos, round ups..... and eventually deaths beyond count?

And to strengthen that FEAR and imagery, other mainstream media is pushing pieces like this....

Forbes Attempting to Connect Dots Between Putin and Hitler
http://www.forbes.com/sites/currentevents/2014/04/16/is-vladimir-putin-another-adolf-hitler/

But now I see....

Russian President and Authority who 'Signed' The Letter Claim it is Fake
http://rt.com/news/fake-news-ukraine-russia-364/

Ukrainian Rabbi in the Area Claims it is Fake
http://nypost.com/2014/04/18/fliers-ordering-jews-to-register-in-ukraine-a-hoax/


And THEN I remember, that recently something very, very BAD was passed by our own local government.  Not just bad, heinous, decietful, and shall I say, OUTRIGHT EVIL.


NDAA and Overturning of Smith-Mundt Act[edit]
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (NDAA) allows for materials produced by the State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to be released within U.S. borders and strikes down a long-time ban on the dissemination of such material in the country.[14][15][16]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_the_United_States#NDAA_and_Overturning_of_Smith-Mundt_Act

In case you don't know what ^^^^ means.... This is also called "The Propaganda Law" which allows our government to disseminate propaganda, aka lies, within our country to assert their agenda.

So, next time I warn ALL OF US, if it is being touted by main stream media, wait for confirmation by independent sources.  Our media has been compromised.  Our government feels the necessity, AS SHOWN BY THE PASSING OF THIS LAW, to lie to us.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd (wise, wary) as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16



On a similar note....
Why is it CLEARLY a negative thing to register being a jew...
But not CLEARLY a negative thing to register being a gun owner?

Quote du Jour - David Hood

The Israelites had just heard God speaking from the top of Sinai. They had seen the fire and smoke. They had felt the earth tremble. They built a golden calf to worship THAT god -- the correct God -- but it was still idolatry. This caused Moses to smash the original set of Ten Commandments on the ground, symbolizing their breaking of God’s commandments in their idolatrous worship.

We can have the correct God in mind, but if we worship Him through things we tried to make holy -- which He never made holy -- we are guilty of the exact same idolatry -- and it doesn’t matter if those things are gold or days.

First shared at - https://www.facebook.com/davehood?fref=nf

Quote du Jour - J.R.R. Tolkien

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."

J.R.R. Tolkien

Last Night's Blood Moon Near Mt. Hood - Blaine Franger 2014

A photo from late night/early morning of April 14/15th of the Lunar Eclipse "Blood Moon", stars and Mt Hood. It took a lot of searching and patience to find an interesting composition that included Mt Hood in the distance, trees in the foreground, and the eclipse moon to all be visible. During the exposure, I tapped my vehicles brake lights, which threw some light onto the trees for an added element of interest. The lights seen bottom left in the distance are Parkdale, Oregon. These kinds of images are technically very difficult. A wide angle lens and long exposure was used for the overall photo, while a telephoto lens and fast exposure is used for the moon exposure. The images are then composited in the digital darkroom to convey what my eyes saw. Not an easy task to make it all look realistic because our brains are trained to see images differently than what we actually see with our eyes. Sometimes when techniques like this are utilized, the viewer says it looks "fake" or "photoshopped" which is true, because photographs typically look different than what we actually see with our eyes, and it's hard to break that mentality. Anyway, here's my version of what I saw with my eyes, not just what my technically limited camera saw  - See more at: http://beautifulhoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=396
©Blaine Franger 2014 — with Alejandra Garcia.

Passover and the Bruised Heel

The Hebrew word for "Passover" comes from a verb pasach (פָּסַח) that means to "pass over," though it also can mean "to limp," recalling the "heel of Messiah" that was bruised in the battle for our deliverance (Gen. 3:15). It is written in the Torah, "the life (i.e., nefesh [נֶפֶשׁ], breath, "soul") of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to cleanse (i.e., kafar [כָפַר], cover, atone, ransom, purify) your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Lev. 17:11). When Yeshua offered his blood upon the cross for our purification, he poured out his very soul, his final breath, and his last extremity for the sake of our healing... Since blood is the carrier of life, it has its own spiritual "voice" that intercedes on our behalf in the Holy of Holies made without hands (Gen. 4:10; Rev. 6:10; Heb. 9:12, 12:24). The great passion of our Lord still speaks, since Yeshua always lives to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).

First shared by Hebrew for Christians - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hebrew-for-Christians/56347292809

Guest Post - Our Unblemished Lamb

"Yahshua never said change My Father‘s law. No!! To the contrary He obeyed and said, “do this in remembrance of Me.” The Last Supper was actually the Passover Feast that Yahshua remembered and celebrated with His Apostles in obedience with the same ordinance His Father has commanded us to keep forever.
This time however, circumstances were different. Egypt was no longer the oppressor keeping His people in bondage to slavery. This time the bondage was of a different nature and reached much deeper. It reached deep into their minds with philosophies, religions and other forms of worship based in the mystery religions of Egypt not allowing Yahshua‘s truth to be made known or manifested.
Although their bondage was of a different nature, redemption still followed the same pattern; a covering was offered for His people that they may live, a sacrifice of blood in their place and the power of choice. Now, as His people and through the exercise of our choice we are offered the very same gift of redemption by choosing to put His blood, not on the door posts of our house, but inwardly on the door of our hearts that we would also be spared of death through our willful obedience.
This time and for all time, Passover was different. It had been fulfilled! The fullness of its understanding had been reached. No longer would they be following a man like Moses they could see, but instead someone they could not see, the King of Kings!
Can there be any other choice other than that which offers life?
Yahshua was sacrificed after the Last Supper as the perfect unblemished lamb of all time. He now offered Himself as a covering, for any and all who would accept His truth.
Hallowed and blessed are His Sabbaths each and every one. The set apart times we are called upon to rest and to remember not only what He has done for us, but what He continues to do for all those who will seek, follow and obey.
The Passover, in the Old Testament Covenant commemorated the redemption of His people from bondage, slavery and oppression. The Passover still stands as a Scriptural command, however, the focus in the New Covenant or New Contract is redemption for those who willfully accept and willingly come out of the mystery religions; those who return to Him and obey His Law!
There still exists today the same elements and forces that existed when Israel was in Egypt. Only today‘s deception has been so acutely refined, you now unwittingly "request" your slavery and bondage (generally with a pen) while expressing gratitude to those who have put you in shackles." ~ Christianity Unmasqued, Chapter 6: It's About Time

Christ, Our Passover Lamb

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Egypt's 10 Plagues and Their 'Gods'

A friend told me that each of the plagues directly attacked one of Egypt's many 'Gods'.  I found this nice chart that shows the Egyptian 'Gods' that had dominion over each of the plagues objects.

http://biblecharts.org/oldtestament/thetenplagues.pdf

16 Signs That Most Americans Are NOT PREPARED For The Coming Economic Collapse

16 Signs That Most Americans Are NOT PREPARED For The Coming Economic Collapse
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/16-signs-that-most-americans-are-not-prepared-for-the-coming-economic-collapse


Reading this article was really troubling for me.  While I don't worry too much about people not having all that cash and gold on hand (you can't eat a dollar) some of these statistics really concern me.


* 44 percent don’t have first-aid kits

* 48 percent lack emergency supplies

* 53 percent do not have a minimum three-day supply of nonperishable food and water at home

Really???


And one that I was completely shocked by....

* It has been estimated that there are approximately 3 million "preppers" in the United States.

3 Million???  Out of 313.9 million?  That is less than 1%.

Even if this statistic meant 3 Million Households, out of 115 Million?  That would be 2.6%.


So MORE than 97% of people are NOT preparing for any emergency or disaster to come their way.  This is a serious concern for those who believe that a disaster or emergency could and probably will occur.

The prepper stocks their pantry, learns skills, and encourages others to do so.  The prepper plants their garden, saves their seeds, raises their meat and learns to butcher it humanely and safely.  Every prepper I know also tries to stock extra for their loved ones who are not so moved.

But the others.....
Shall I say, those who ignore the passage of history and the tales it tells, of hardships, of disasters, toil and hard times...


They will loot, they will pillage, they will kill for a loaf of bread.

And while they may find a prepper and steal every ounce of food and supplies that he has.....

They will still eventually die, having sold their soul for their belly.

Thought of the Day: Psalm 51:2

Thought of the Day:
After you take your shower or bath, scrub off all the dirt and grime, and get newly dressed....
Do you return to pick up all your dirt again and keep it with you?

Greater Exodus and Crossing Oceans

I often hear about the 'Greater Exodus' and wasn't sure where they discuss it in scripture.  But it fits with the majority of scriptural story lines and I knew in Revelation that it said we would all be at the New Jerusalem.

Here New2Torah shares a few of the scriptures that speak directly of this greater exodus. The words about crossing the seas..... wow.  I never really personally imagined being one of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea that day thousands of years ago.  But this struck me so.  I imagined in the Greater Exodus, with my husband and my children and maybe our animals and some bags of clothing and such.... walking across the parted ocean to the land that YHWH made for us.  Just wow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgstM3t1fPY

Changing The Tone For The Day

Sometimes a mama just has to rest.  Today was one of those days for me.  But it wasn't going well.  The children were restless, fighting, arguing over toys and fake hurts, and climbing on top of me in the interim.

Put this on and the ENTIRE house calmed.
I'm considering making it a daily addition to my home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCnrX1w5luM