Monday, April 24, 2006

Little Women Home Companion-December 2002

Little Women Home Companion
December 2002
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2: 4-5
Christmas
People who hire all these things done for them, never know what they lose for
the homeliest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them, and Meg found proof of this,
that everything in her small nest, from the kitchen roller to the silver vase
on her parlour table, was eloquent of home love and tender forethought.
Lousia May Alcott
~*~
A Visit With Marmee
Sharing A Mother's Thoughts
Dear Mothers and Daughters,
The crackling of a warm fire, the scent of cinnamon, orange and spice in the air, a warm cup of cider nearby and my little ones gathered around the fireplace hearth as we read a Christmas story together. These are the kinds of times I wish to create with our children. These are the times I hope for them to remember....our times of togetherness, coziness and lots of love. However I often find myself busy and somewhat impatient as I try to do more than I really can get done in a short amount of time. This Christmas I hope to keep our times filled and focused more on Jesus Christ and the simple joys of homelife. Things such as making gingerbread houses, sledding in the snow, playing games, enjoying the old-fashioned Christmas movies, popping popcorn and roasting marshmallows over a campfire with warm mugs of hot chocolate and sharing the Word of God together will be our focus. I hope our children will remember and cherish these times and enjoy such times in their own families someday.
May you all find peace and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas.
Christmas Blessings,
Jenny
This issue contains many links on the web.
Please use caution when visiting these links.
We have been only to the suggested links
and have not visited the rest of these websites!
A Special Note
Many of you may find this time of the year
difficult due to the loss of a loved one.
There is a message just for you at the very end of this newsletter.
~*~
Poetry Thyme
And Blessed is she that believed:
for there shall be a performance of those things
which were told her from the Lord.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
Luke 1:45-50
Christmas Carol
God bless the master of this house,
Likewise the mistress too:
And all the little children
That round the table go.
Love and joy come to you, And to you your wassail too,
And God bless you and send you
A happy New Year.
~*~
Little Women Companion
Chapter 5Meg was sitting in the parlour reading. Jo kept going outside. I think it was because she
wanted to get Laurie's attention. She finally got it! She went to his grandfather's house and explored the mansion. She even saw the scary grandfather who was not so scary after all.
Dictation by Caiti
Edited by Mommy
~*~
Tea Thyme
Apple Cider Mix
I love those packages of cider spice that you
can get at the gift type shoppe this time of year.
I have been working on my own version and thought
that you might want to try this one out. It is very spicy.
You can also put this is cellophane bags and make labels to include in your gift baskets.
2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2-1 teaspoon orange peel
1/2-1 teaspoon lemon peel
Instructions:
Pour cider spice and one gallon of apple juice or apple cider into a
large pot and simmer for 20 minutes on medium heat.
~*~
The Work Basket
Gingerbread ornament
For a beautiful gingerbread ornament use brown sculpy clay rolled out and then cut with a gingerbread man cookie cutter. Use a small straw to make a hole in the top of his head so you can hang him up. Use red sculpy clay to make buttons for his belly and bake according clay package directions. When it is cool paint on white icing trim on his arms and legs. Paint dots for eyes and glue a pretty bow to his neck. Enjoy!
Gingerbread
We love gingerbread houses and have tried several different ways of making them. We have used graham crackers and icing with little candies and have went as far as purchasing the premade kits (at this point I would recommend these for ease). However this year I found a wonderful link to a website that shows you step by step how to make them. We have not tried this yet. It seems as if the process will take several days but for those of you that are more adventurous you may want to try this.
http://www.epicurious.com/b_ba/b02_class/gingerbread/dough.html
And this is a history of gingerbread:
http://wwwiz.com/issue04/wiz_d04.html
And some gingerbread stationary, gift tags, recipe cards, lists and note cards from
Country Angels Graphics:
http://countryangelsgraphics.com/index.php?cag=printables
~*~
Thimbles and Threads
Teapot Ornament
You will need:
Sculpy white clay
very fine glitter
white glue
sponge paint brush
1/8 inch sage green satin ribbon
1/4 inch sage green satin ribbon
pink satin roses
teapot cookie cutter
hot glue gun and glue
You will need adult help with this craft.
Roll out Sculpy clay with a rolling pin till about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Cut with a cookie cutter. Make a hole in the top using a small straw and place on a glass baking pan. Follow package label for baking instructions. Let cool and then apply a thin coat of white glue with a sponge brush. Sprinkle with fine glitter. Let dry for several hours. Cut a piece of 1/8 inch ribbon about 10 inches long and knot in one end. Run the unknotted end through the hole on the ornament and then run that through the middle of the ribbon in the back. Pull to make tight around ornament. Cut a piece of 1/4 inch ribbon and tie into a bow. Apply it with a hot glue gun to the top of the ornament. Apply a ribbon rose on top of the bow using a hot glue gun.
Enjoy!
~*~
From Jo's Writing Garret
Dear Mothers and Daughters,
My grandmother had made a lot of crocheted ornaments. We have some of these ornaments. They are so pretty. We hang them on the tree every year. They remind me of her. I am thankful to God that I had a grandmother who loved doing things like crocheting.
Caiti
~*~
Sparrow Post
A letter from Marmee to Father
Dearest,
It seems so long since we have all been together as a family and we all miss you so very much. Your dear little women are trying so hard to be brave for you while you are away. Each one carries their little burdens so gracefully. Jo continues to work for Aunt March. I do believe that they challenge each other in ways that will help them both to grow. Meg has found work watching children and I do not believe that she cares much for the work but I feel it is good preparation for the duties of motherhood that we both hope she will someday enjoy. Amy is studying at home. We have had some concerns with her teacher and decided that she would do well at home with Jo's help. Dear, dear Beth continues to practice her music and bring joy to the lives of sisters and friends. They all bring me so much joy dearest. We wish you peace as you help in this terrible war that has come to our nation. May God bless and keep you.
With love,
~*~
Our Window Seat
Book Reviews
We wanted to include the names of many of our favorite
Christmas books. We suggest that you read
these aloud with your children. As with any book
other than the word of God there will be problems
that you must discuss but we have enjoyed these all very much.
We hope that your family will enjoy these too!
The Bird's Christmas Carol
Kate Douglas Wiggin
This is a very special story of a little girl that through her suffering shares much with her family and friends. It is a bittrersweet type of story and very touching.
An Amish Christmas
Richard Ammon
We like to read about the Amish and have found this beautiful picture
book of their celebrations at Christmas time very enjoyable.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
Susan Wojciechowski
I think we read this picture book for the first time
right after the death of my father.
I cries and cried over the change in this man's life.
It is a wonderful story to share with your family.

Jotham's Journey
Arnold Ytreeide
We read this Advent storybook several years ago as a family.
Some of the choices that Jotham makes
are not the right choices but we learn from his mistakes.
We learn about forgiveness and the love of God through his journey.
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
This is for your more mature reader. It is a wonderful classic.
I am sure that most everyone knows the story.
I would suggest that Mommy read this one aloud.
The Christmas Doll
Elvira Woodruff
We just read this one this year. A friend let
us borrow it and we liked it so much that
I bought a copy. The best way to describe it is
to say that it is a girl’s version of Oliver Twist with a very happy ending.
You will need to have discussions with your c
hildren about some of the things the girls must face.
I would also suggest that Mommy read this one aloud.
Jenny
~*~
The Rose Garden
Websites that you may enjoy. We may not agree with everything that you find on these pages!
This month I am including links to websites that have many nice
Christmas crafts to make. We hope you will enjoy these as much as we have.
Herb and Botanical Crafts
We especially like the pomanders.
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/florcrafproj.html
Country Cottage Homemade Christmas
http://www.thefamily.com/christmas/
Debbie Mumm
She has some great holiday projects.
http://www.debbiemumm.com/
Easy Dried Apple Crafts
http://www.creativehomemaking.com/articles/102701c.shtml
The Crafter's Attic
http://oldfashionedliving.com/attic.html
Crocheted Snowflake Patterns
http://home.teleport.com/~noelvn/snowflakes/pattern_links.html

~*~
Marmee's Nature Journal
I so much enjoy the little scenes that Thomas Kinkaid paints. I also enjoy those by Linda Nelson Stocks. Both paint old-fashioned homelife landscapes filled with cozy homeplaces and people taking care of their families. One of my favorites by Linda Nelson Stocks is of a church with the lights all glowing inside at Christmas time. There are families doing their activities such as sledding all around the church and one can imagine the people inside praising God. When we travel and pass homes along the way I wonder about the people inside. I wonder about their lives. I also wonder about the other cars filled with people on their way somewhere. Where are they going? What are their lives like? I pray that their lives are filled with the love of God and that they know Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Let us all do all we can to fill those little homes and those cars with the love of Jesus Christ. There are the things that the Little Women did to comfort and help those around them. They took their Christmas meal to a needy family, gave their friendship to a lonely boy and gave their time to an elderly gentleman. Let us all be aware of those around us and ask God to show us how to meet the needs of others.
Jenny
~*~
Till Next Thyme
We hope that you and your family enjoys this very
special time of year with your family and friends.
Merry Christmas
Jenny and Caiti
~*~
Little Women Home Companion is a monthly
newsletter for mothers and daughters.
Copyright 2002-2003 Little Women Home Companion
If you would like to share this newsletter with a friend you must include the entire newsletter (do not copy and paste parts of it). Please also include our address as follows so they can have the opportunity to subscribe.
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~Blessings~
~*~*~*~
~*~
I know that many of you will find this time of the year bittersweet.
Perhaps, this is your first year without a loved one and you find yourself
hurt and struggling. I want you to know....
actually God wants you to know that He is there.
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior; then pray to God asking, forgiveness for your sins. Believe and confess that Jesus is God's only son and that He came as a baby born of a virgin to this earth. He was beaten and hung on the cross and died for your sins. He rose from death, victorious over hell and the grave. Invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior. If this is hard for you to understand talk with a Christian friend about how to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you are shy about speaking to someone here is a website link that can help:
http://www.momof9splace.com/easyas.html
IF you already know Him, remember His promises. This is the one that I hold as my own:
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them:
for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee;
he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6
I am certain of this for he has not failed or forsook me.
My father died by his own hand a few days before Christmas a few years ago.
I have never felt so much pain or hurt. The Lord held me in his hands. He gave me peace beyond understanding, He gave me joy for sorrow. It was not an easy time. It was only few years later when my mother also passed away. My Lord is still with me. He careth for me. He will "go with thee;" too. Just ask Him.
May God bless and heal you.
Jenny

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