Helping in the Harvest - miss elaini ous'

I don't know if you remember or not, but a couple months ago JOY Blog featured Miss Elaini here on the blog. She was featured both in "By Faith" and in "Helping in the Harvest". I would like to once again share with you the interview from May 2011 that I did with her for Helping in the Harvest. I would also like to encourage you to give to this cause!

In 190 days, this wonderful lady has raised $45,000 for orphans!!! Misselainious' goal is to raise $50,000! Please, consider helping her reach her goal by the end of the year!!!

You can do this by:

1. going to her website (http://misselainious.com/) and then going to the link that says "GIVE NOW".

2. Or Text ORPHAN to 52000 to give $10.

Please consider how you can be "helping in the harvest"!

Below is the link to both of the interviews that miss elaini ous did for JOY Blog. Also below is the Helping in the Harvest article! 

Links:

By Faith...Miss Elaini!

Helping in the Harvest - Miss Elaini

P.S. Make sure you check out her "12 Days of Christmas"!

Helping in the Harvest - Miss Elaini

 Interview with Miss Elaini

This is the "one dress"!

Photo by Christ Taylor***

Photo by Christ Taylor***

• Can you tell us what you are doing right now?
I am wearing one dress for 100 days to raise $50,000 for orphans in India. I am blogging the picture of each different outfit daily. :)

• Why did you decide to wear one dress for a hundred days?
I saw another woman Sheena from the Uniform Project (she wore the same dress for a year!) and I decided that she had a brilliant idea.

• Who are you helping?
I am helping orphans in India through Warm Blankets Orphan Care.

How to Help

• How can we help and get involved?
Please spread the word. I have no illusions that I can raise $50,000 on my own. Or if you are really ambitions do a small fundraiser (bake sale, music night, etc.) in your community and then donate the money to the project.

Photo by Christ Taylor***

PRAY

• How can JOY readers pray for you and the people you are impacting?
Wow, thank you. Please pray for strength for me. Due to my health issues and a lot of responsibility I need grace. Pray that others would hear about this and give to hurting orphans. Pray for the orphans as they adjust to having a home and food. They have a lot of scars, pain, and insecurity. They worry if they will have food for the next day and often have to be given a loaf of bread to convince them to go to sleep.

GIVE

Photo by Christ Taylor***

• How can JOY readers give to this cause?
Go to misselainious.com and click on the Give Now button and donate! Even a dollar matters and counts. Everyone has 4 quarters right?



IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• What is something that JOY Blog readers can do right in their communities to help?
Become informed about orphans and then tell others. We have been given so much and it is a joy to give back.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:35-36 & 40 (NIV)

Links:

Website: http://misselainious.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Misselainious/163820663674079
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Misselaini

 Also, check out this month's By Faith for more on Miss Elaini!

***Used with permission from http://misselainious.com/

For the days after Christmas

Sometimes we get so catch up in Christmas that it passes us by and then there is the let down after Christmas... This song is for all the days after Christmas!

Day After Christmas by Matthew West 

From the album The Heart of Christmas

Happy "Day after Christmas"!!!

Merry Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas JOY Blog readers!!!

I pray you have a blessed day filled with loved ones!

Here is a passage from the the Bible. It is found in Luke 2. Remember this is what Christmas is all about!!!


Luke 2:1-20 ESV

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 2

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 2

I found so many great things that I wanted to share with all of you that there has to be a Part 2! Check out Part 1 for more ideas if you missed that article!

Remember most of these you can use lemon juice for and you do not have to use a whole lemon.

The ones that I have tried are marked with a star (*)! The others I hope to try at some point, but be careful when you try them because I cannot guarantee that they will work! Comment below and let me know what you have done with lemons. Have you found any cool uses for them?
 

All purpose cleaning solution *(I haven’t tried this on everything, but it is nice on counter tops!)
Add lemon juice, vinegar, and water in a spray bottle for a natural, all-purpose cleaning solution.

Clean your microwave - Got hardened food stuck in the microwave? Don't reach for harsh chemicals, use lemons instead! Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to 1-1/2 cup of water and microwave on High for about 10 minutes. The water will boil and steam will condense inside the microwave. The icky stuff will easily wipe away with a paper towel or cleaning rag.

Lift tough grease stain - Put lemon peel in a water with some water in a blender. Apply the mash to the tough grease stain and scrub.

Brightens aluminum pots and pans - Fill the pot with water and add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, then boil for 15 minutes. For the outside of the pots and pans, scrub with a half of a lemon.

Soften rough hands and feet - Soak in equal part of lemon juice and water. Rinse, then dry with a towel. Repeat daily as required.

Get rid of dandruff - Got itchy, scaly dandruff? Apply lemon juice directly to your scalp and massage it in before you hop on the shower. Then rinse away and wash your hair as usual.

Treat insect bites - Apply a slice of lemon onto insect bites to help soothe the irritation.

Treat acne and blackheads - Got blackheads? Dab lemon juice directly on the acne breakout once a day for several days until the condition improves.

Relieve a sore throat * - Either add lemon to Hot water, Hot tea, or just plain water to help with sore throat. If you are putting in hot water or tea, I recommend adding some honey, too. This will soothe the throat.

Air freshener - Put a mixture of lemon juice and water into a spray bottle. Voila! A natural and inexpensive air freshener. You can also put slices of lemon in a dish or a dish of lemon juice and baking soda mixture to help absorb bad odor and freshen the room.

Resources:

http://www.rd.com/home/34-reasons-to-load-up-on-lemons/

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/101-new-uses-for-everyday-things-10000001030084/index.html

http://www.cluebert.com/unusual-uses/unusual-uses-of-lemons/

(Or just google “uses for lemons”).

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 1

YOU - 10 Uses for Lemons – Part 1

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…” or you can do many other things with them! I found some fun things. The ones that I have tried are marked with a star (*)! The others I hope to try at some point, but be careful when you try them because I cannot grantee that they will work! Comment below and let me know what you have done with lemons. Have you found any cool uses for them?

(Most of these will work with just lemon juice, too.)

I found so many great ideas that there will be a “Part 2”!

1. Clean your face
A rinse with lemon juice and water will clean and exfoliate your face for pennies as compared to expensive facial soaps.

2. Clean your hands *
If your hands smell from peeling garlic or cleaning fish, rub your fingers with a lemon wedge to remove the odor. (Sometimes I use baking soda, too)

3. Spa Water* (Just did this yesterday)

For a nice, refreshing drink, fill a gallon (or quart or even just your glass) pitcher with water. Slice cucumbers and lemons and put them in the pitcher. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. Enjoy your refreshing water!!! 

4. Remove tough food stains (or tea stains) from plastic or glass *

Slice a lemon in half (or just use lemon juice), squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.

5. Neutralize cat-box odor
Cut a couple of lemons in half. Then place them, cut side up, in a dish in the room with the kitty-box, and the air will soon smell lemon-fresh.

6. Clean tarnished brass
Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute baking soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Let it stay on for 5 minutes. Then wash in warm water, rinse, and polish dry. Use the same mixture to clean metal kitchen sinks too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, and rinse.

7. Polish chrome
Get rid of mineral deposits and polish chrome faucets and other tarnished chrome. Simply rub lemon rind over the chrome and watch it shine! Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

8. Prevent apples and potatoes from turning brown
Simply rub them with half a lemon. Or put some lemon in the water that they are soaking in.

9. Get rid of ants
Squirt some lemon juice into holes and cracks where the ants are coming in. Place small pieces of lemon rinds or peels around the house.

10. Soften dry and scaly elbows
Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Rub into your elbows to exfoliate and soften the scaly skin. Repeat daily as required.

Resources:

http://www.rd.com/home/34-reasons-to-load-up-on-lemons/

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/101-new-uses-for-everyday-things-10000001030084/index.html

http://www.cluebert.com/unusual-uses/unusual-uses-of-lemons/

Author Favorites – Websites

You- author favorites

 

Author Favorites – Websites

Rachel’s Favorites

Picnik

http://www.picnik.com/app#/home/welcome

Picnik has so many effects you can use to edit your digital pictures- for free! It can get addicting to play around with...

Homeschool Writers

http://homeschoolwriters.com/default.aspx

Not just for homeschoolers. This website has a list of writing contests (that allow homeschoolers to enter) for each month and some that run all throughout the year.

American Sign Language Finger Spelling Practice

http://asl.ms/

After talking a few sign language classes over the summer, my sisters and I found this great website to help us practice our fingerspelling (for when we got tired of practicing on each other). If you don't know the ASL alphabet, go here, or here if you want to learn more.

Sense and Sensibility Patterns

http://sensibility.com/

Okay, I haven't actually bought anything from here, but I love to look at the patterns and the pictures of what others have made on here.

Project Hopeful

http://www.projecthopeful.org/

I found this website recently and learned so much about HIV, AIDS, and orphans affected by them. Watch out or God may touch your heart like He did mine!

Mandy’s Favorites

College Plus!

http://www.collegeplus.org/

College Plus! is an organization that helps you to earn a college degree “faster, for less, for sure”! It is a coaching program that helps you plan your degree and guides you through it in a Christian setting. For more information, click this link to fill out a free application: http://www.collegeplus.org/?requestinfo?tellafriend=7379

Christian Book .com

http://www.christianbook.com/

I like to shop online and this is a bookstore I really like. Great resources with great prices!

Rebelution

http://www.therebelution.com/

This website says, The official definition of the 'rebelution' is "a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture." 

Modesty Survey

http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/

This is something that is a part of the Rebelution. It is a survey that over 1,600 guys took telling us girls more about modesty. I find it very helpful!

Shabby Blogs

http://shabbyblogs.com/

This website has a lot of fun “decorations” for your blog! Backgrounds, buttons, and more…

A few more:

http://www.youtube.com/

www.facebook.com

www.amazon.com

Note from Mandy: I have many more websites that I like, there is just not enough room to post them all right now!!! These are some of the websites that I visit often…

What are your favorite websites? And why do you enjoy them???

Give Thanks!

Jesus - Devo, You - Activity

Give Thanks!

With less than a month from Thanksgiving Day in the United States, I want to draw your attention the importance of it. The Bible talks constantly about giving thanks. We are called to be thankful, give thanks to our Father, to remember our blessings, and to share them with others.

In celebration of being thankful, I have chosen to do a countdown to Thanksgiving Day by giving thanks every day and I am sharing it with everyone!

On my personal blog, Musing Made by Mandy, I am sharing sometime I am giving thanks for each day, along with a Bible verse. I would encourage you to join in me on this countdown. Feel free to read what I am thankful for!

Ways you can share what you are thankful for:

Journaling (personal and with God)

Writing letters to people

Blogging about it

Writing it on Facebook

Tweeting it on twitter

Other social media

Telling a friend

Thanking our Father in Heaven!

Here is a preview of what I am doing…(a post from Musings Made by Mandy blog)

Count Down to Thanksgiving

So yesterday marked one month until Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is on November 24 this year! I believe it is important to remember why we are thankful. My way of doing this, is writing down what I am thankful for. I find that when I remember all the blessings that God has given me, I have a much better day.

So for the next month, I will be sharing what I am giving thanks for.

Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

For the next month, I am giving thanks to God and sharing it with you!!!

What are you thankful for???

For more on what I am thankful for, check out Musings!

Author Favorites – Blogs

Author Favorites – Blogs

~Introducing Authors Favorites! This is where the authors will share their “favorites” of things. This will go under the YOU section of JOY. Hope you enjoy this new section! For more info on Author Favorites, read below!

Mandy’s Favorites

JOY Blog
http://joyfilledgirls.blogspot.com/
Check out the "about" tab above for more info!

miss elaini ous’

http://misselainious.com/

This blog is about a young lady that wore the same dress for 100 days and she is raising money for orphans!

Caitlin Muir – Confessions of a 20something

http://www.caitlinmuir.com/

In her own words, “...sometimes, the words just come out too quickly and I can't take them back. I'm a Christian, book reviewer, aspiring novelist, and singles columnist. Oh, and I'm adventure-prone. That sounds much more charming than accident-prone, doesn't it?”

Erynn Mangum (Author of great books)

http://erynnm.blogspot.com/

An author that writes about her life…She is fun. She writes Young adult novels, very fun!

Cross and Cutlass (MaryLu Tyndall’s Blog)

http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

A Christian author that writes pirate books!!!

Musings Made by Mandy (My blog!)

http://musingsmadebymandy.blogspot.com/

This blog is a place where I will write my thoughts, reflections on the day, and any other pondering or contemplating that I do!

Rachel’s Favorites

Just the Randall Crew

http://justtherandallcrew.blogspot.com/ 

This is my mom's blog, which she keeps updated with some of the many things happening around our house...just in case you want to see what life is like for a family of 9.

Girltalk

http://www.girltalkhome.com/

I found this while reading their book with my mom. These godly women have a blog that is both funny and encouraging to read.

Look for other “Author Favorites” coming soon! Also comment to add your suggestions. 

What would you like to see Author Favorite -

…websites

…books

…authors

…movies

…restaurants

…food

…etc…

Comment here with your ideas or email your idea to joyfilledgirls [@] hotmail [dot] com. 

*** Remember these are just personal opinions! Feel free to add your favorites on the subject!

10 (or more) Uses For…Vinegar

YOU - 10 (or more) Uses For…Vinegar

There are 100s of uses for vinegar. Many people use it for many different things. Here are a few ideas I found that I would like to try. I have used some of these, but not all of them. Please be careful in how you use these because I have not tried them all first hand. I would like to try all of these. If you have any suggestions on how to use vinegar, please post them! I love to hear how you have used vinegar first hand!

(The italic ones are the ones I have tried!)

Have fun trying!

Vinegar can…

1. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.
2. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around door and window frames, under appliances, and along other known ant trails.
3. Relieve sunburn by lightly rubbing it with vinegar.
4. Clean coffee and tea stains. A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from chinaware.
5. Deodorize the kitchen drain (and other thing;, mugs, water bottles). Pour some down the drain. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.
6. Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.
7. Remove decals or bumper stickers by soaking a cloth in Vinegar and cover the decal or bumper sticker for several minutes until the vinegar soaks in. The decals and bumper stickers should peel off easily.
8. Stop insect stings and bites from itching by dabbing them with a cotton ball saturated with undiluted white distilled vinegar.
9. Make nail polish last longer. Wipe fingernails with cotton balls dipped in white distilled vinegar before putting on nail polish.
10. Be used as bug spray. Combine equal amounts of water, white distilled vinegar and liquid dish soap in a spray bottle.  Use on skin, as needed. 
11. Be used as chewing gum dissolver. Saturate the area with vinegar. If the vinegar is eated, it will work faster.
12. Be used as a way to keep ice and frost of windshield in the winter. Wash your windshield with vinegar in the winter to help keep ice and frost away.
13. Help get rid of hiccups. One teaspoon to one tablespoon of vinegar gets rid of hiccups. Another reader writes: "I've found that gargling with cider vinegar will stop the most horrible case of hiccups!"
14. Can get the salt off your shoes from the salt used to get rid of ice in the winter. To remove it and prevent long-term damage, wipe fresh stains with a cloth dipped in undiluted white vinegar.
15. Be used as a hair rinse to restore hair shine. Vinegar works to restore luster by removing build up from other hair products. It leaves hair smooth and silky and may even remove tangles. It may cause dryness to your hair, so you may want to condition first, and then use a vinegar rinse. To make a vinegar rinse, add 1 cup vinegar to 2 cups warm water, add a drop of essential oil if you like, and work into hair. (Can also be used to fight dandruff.)

Resources I used to find all of these great ideas:

http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html

 http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=9

http://www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html

http://www.wisebread.com/254-uses-for-vinegar-and-counting

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/3-vinegar-uses-for-the-hair.html

Add your Comment Here... September 2011

Add your Comment Here... September 2011 

 

I want God to train me as a woman of...

ClipartHeaven.com

**Add your comment here by commenting with how you would finish the sentence!

Patience, Patience, Patience

Jesus - Devo

Patience, Patience, Patience

Clip Art from ClipartHeaven.com

Being patient is something I have never been good at. Just ask my mother. I do not like to wait for things. If something is not getting done, then I will just do it, so it gets done. For the most part I do not like to sit around and do nothing. I like to make things happen. Patience is not my style.

But there are times when I do need to be patient. The Bible says that we need to be patient. In fact, it has a lot to say about being patient. I looked.

When I am struggling with something, like being patient, I tend to do Bible searches on the subject. That is what I did this time. Being patient is definitely something I need to work on. It is something that the Bible commands us to do.

First, we are called to be still and wait patiently…

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Then the Bible tells us what some of the benefits are of being patient.

Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 16:32
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

The Bible asks us to…

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

James 5:8
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Then the Lord offers us a promise…

Hebrews 6:15

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Also…

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient…

Being patient is also a part of the Fruit of the Spirit that we are called to live out…

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

God calls us to be patient. He has a plan for us and we are called to wait on Him. And to be patient.

Will you work on being more patient in your everyday life? I am going to try!

Mandy H.

Intro to Weekly

Dear JOY Blog readers,

Sorry it has been a while since JOY Blog’s monthly post. (I have started college classes and have been quite busy.) JOY Blog is changing its format to something a little simpler. I hope you will enjoy it. JOY Blog is switching to a weekly/bi-weekly blog. There will be a new post once a week, instead of all of the posts being posted at the beginning of the month. Each part of JOY, J-Jesus, O-Others, and Y-You, will be on somewhat of a rotating schedule. You may not see all the parts of JOY in one month, but you will see them. 

Here are the 3 parts of JOY Blog.

JESUS

The JESUS part is dedicated to Him. It is to help girls of all ages to come to better knowledge of our Savior. There will be devotions and other ways to come to know Him better.  The overall purpose of this section is putting Jesus first in our lives.

OTHERS

The OTHERS part is about putting other people after Jesus and before yourself. It is to help girls to learn ways that they can serve others in their lives and reach out to people.

YOU

YOU is for you. In YOU, there will be fun activities, useful ideas, etc...

For more information about what JOY Blog is about click on the tabs above; About JOY, Jesus, Others, You, etc…

Let us know if you have any comments or questions: joyfilledgirls (at) hotmail (dot) com 

Or check out our contact page! Also, email to join the emailing list. You can also sign up on the right to receive an email when there is a new post.