Debi Pearl

BESTOWING FROM YOUR BOUNTY

Over two decades ago, someone gave me a painted tile for use in my kitchen. Hot containers of food rest on this trivet which protects the counter from burns. Though it’s been glued back together, chipped and lost the bracket for hanging, the tile remains in a place of honor, surviving several moves.

The painted tile is decorated with the last two lines from the poem “The Art of Living.” After all these years, I these words are meaningful to me as I consider the blessing of being able to share with others. I used to dread occasions when I might have to give because I was so focused on what I DIDN’T have. This changed when I began to take an inventory of my resources.

24 HOURS IN A DAY
Time is limited for all of us, making it a precious gift. Great wealth is not necessary for you to let someone know they are special. One of my boys still remembers a week from his childhood that he fell asleep hearing my used sewing machine grinding. By the end of the week, he had his own super hero outfit and cape. This past November, I was cleaning out a closet when I discovered he had saved that old mask and a shirt I had made for him long ago.

TALENTS
Several weeks each year were used by my grandmother to crochet special gifts to give to family members at Christmas. She didn’t get overwhelmed, rushed or overspend, but rather made good use of the time and materials she had on hand.

USE YOUR IMAGINATION
It’s nearly impossible for me to be creative if I’m not first grateful for all that I have. When my attitude is right, I’m then able to consider the possibilities. Paint and other decorations can give used and free items a second life. Children would thrill to have a chair with their name on it or a customized bike. Once you’ve trained yourself to spot creative opportunities, you’ll just need a little planning. What are your talents? Could you combine several small items to make one? Do you know of off-season sale items that could be given later? Do you have surplus items that someone else might enjoy? Craft items, sewing supplies and old tools are often available for the asking.

SHARING YOUR DELIGHT
It wasn’t enough for me to just give to my children, but I also wanted them to know the thrill of giving. A craft project may be too complicated for them to do alone, but they can help label, package and distribute the gifts. Sometimes, we just make things before we’ve decided who the recipient will be. Part of the fun might be trying to guess who will get the homemade cookies we’ve just spent a couple of hours baking.

Part of the fun for our family is being able to surprise others with unexpected gifts; it’s a rewarding experience.

I’ve located the entire poem and included it below. I don’t have the name of the author.

THE ART OF LIVING
To touch the cup with eager lips and taste, not drain it;
To woo and tempt and count a bliss, and not attain it;
To fondle and caress a joy, yet hold it lightly;
To watch the sunset in the west without regretting;
To hail its advent in the east, the night forgetting;
To smother care in happiness, and grief in laughter;
To hold the present close, not questioning the hereafter;
To have enough to share, to know the joy of giving;
To thrill with all the sweets of life -- that's living.

PARENTS PREPARING FOR UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES

When the unexpected happens, a parent will want to protect children. Whether utility service has been interrupted or you’ve been unexpectedly stranded, there are ways to be prepared.

PLAN NOT TO PANIC
Panic is a great danger in an emergency – as mentioned in the article: RULE OF 3'S TO SURVIVE. Children will pick up on your emotion. Your preparation will make you confident so that your children will draw strength from you. (see RULE OF 3'S TO SURVIVE)

ROUTINES ARE IMPORTANT
Look for ways to create a routine for children in the upheaval of the unexpected. This will give them a sense of stability and show that you are still able to function as parent and protector.

ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment is a must when you are stranded for a time. Batteries and generators won’t likely be available for games. Keep craft supplies on hand: crayons, markers, paper, play dough, scissors, tape, etc. Spend time with your children working puzzles, board games, dolls, blocks, toy cars, and reading books so that they have an appreciation for ‘low-tech’ entertainment. Have educational materials (workbooks, etc.) on hand in case organized schooling is not an option.

PREPARE FOR GOOD HEALTH
While you have access to treatments, make sure you are maintaining your health and dental care. By taking preventive measures now, you can meet the unexpected without neglected physical ailments. If you require certain medicines, be sure that you have a supply in stock. Observe closely the eating, sleeping and toilet patterns of your loved ones in order to catch and treat illness early and decisively. Train yourself to take note of the impact of circumstances on those around you. It is easy to become consumed with your own difficulties and overlook warning signals that others may need help.

EAT REAL FOODS
Today’s diet is in an investment in tomorrow’s health. Picky eaters can become ill if they refuse nutritious foods. A pallet can be taught to appreciate the taste and texture of REAL foods, but the exercise is complicated by taste buds dulled on sugars and processed foods. Take the time to introduce children to a wide spectrum of foods. Now is the time to learn about nutrition and food preparation.

BABIES AND INFANTS
Babies don’t require a lot of equipment in order to be healthy and safe In an emergency.. Contrary to advertisements, babies can thrive without cribs, bouncy chairs, carriers, disposable diapers, pacifiers, music boxes, and other assorted gadgets. What babies DO require is nourishment, and to be kept warm and dry.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill. Even if you should choose to give your infant bottled formula, it is in mother and baby’s best interest to invest the time to breastfeed during those crucial first months. This insures that the littlest members of your family will have a ready (and mobile) supply of nourishment if you aren’t able to secure formula. Keep a good supply of formula stocked and on hand for bottle-fed babies.

Infants need help regulating body temperature and should be protected from extremes of heat and cold. In summer, protect babies from direct sun. An umbrella is a good tool for this. In the winter, dressing little ones in layers protects them from the cold. Long-sleeved thermal underwear can be worn beneath zippered fleece sleepers for nighttime warmth. Sharing a bed with 2 or 3 others helps everyone stay warm at night. During the day, wool socks and a hat help little ones keep warm along with a zippered fleece jacket.

HYGIENE
When water is in short supply or the temperature becomes very cool, it isn’t necessary to enjoy the luxury of a daily bath. Find the warmest spot in your living quarters and teach your children that they should wash their faces, hands, feet and privates every day. Before meals, have them wash their hands. This is important for healthy hygiene in rustic conditions. Explain to older children the importance of a well positioned latrine and show them how to dispose of waste well away from living areas.

SKILLS
Children become more confident as they gain life skills. Give your children the gift of learning how to do such things as shop wisely, stock a pantry, pitch a tent, build a camp fire, cook, sew, garden, repair small engines, perform first aid, CPR, and swim. Knowing self defense, what to do in a fire drill and practicing other scenarios builds confidence. A prepared child is also less likely to panic.

Making preparedness a part of your life will help your children avoid panic when moments are crucial. Rather than face the unknown with desperation, you will have a plan and your little ones will know what to expect. These measures help families face uncertainty with strength.

MAKING WIPES – ECONOMICAL & HEALTHY

Rather than pay retail, I started making my own baby wipes. Even after my kids were all out of diapers, I found it useful to keep these wipes on hand. Whether you are going on a picnic, camping or traveling, these are most helpful to have on hand.

 

Making my own wipes allowed me the luxury of avoiding the chemical soup mixes sold as baby care items in stores. I’ve found that the precaution of cleaning the container with a vinegar rinse and using distilled or filtered water makes it unnecessary to add preservatives.

 

This is a bare bones recipe. Many other wipes utilize fragrances, oils, preservatives and lotions. Without using those ingredients, I am still able to have mold-free wipes.

 

Find a gallon-sized buck with a tight-fitting lid for this project. Use something sharp to poke a small hole into the lid’s center. Wash the bucket completely with soap and water. Rinse with vinegar and water. Mold will be discouraged by rinsing with vinegar. Moldy wipes will have a foul odor.

 

You will need to purchase a roll of Bounty Big Roll, the select-a-size variety. Other brands fall apart when used for wipes. Halve the roll of paper towels into two equal rolls. A long knife with a serrated edge works best for this. Two large buckets of wipes can be made from a single roll of paper towels.

 

Add a couple tablespoons hypoallergenic bath soap to a couple of cups distilled or filtered water. Once blended, pour the liquids into the bucket.

 

Extract the center cardboard tube from the ½ roll of paper towels. Set the cut side of one of the paper towel halves into the container, pull up a corner of one sheet and thread it through the lid before closing tightly. Your wipes will be ready for use in 5-10 minutes, when the towels have absorbed the liquid.

 

This solution doesn’t leave a sticky or slimy residue on the skin. My babies avoided rashes with the use of these wipes. My doctor couldn’t figure out how this was possible. My theory is that because it was so economical to use, I wasn’t trying to stretch time between diaper changes and my babies stayed clean and dry. In the long run, I saved even more because I didn’t have to invest in over-the-counter remedies for diaper rash. These wipes can be used for makeup removal. I also used my wipes as a gentle substitute for personal hand sanitizers.

 

THAT BUCKET WON’T FIT IN MY BAG!

Place several wipes into a smaller, re-sealable waterproof container. You could use a lidded container or a zippered plastic bag. Use a vinegar and water solution to clean and dry the container between uses.

 

HOMEMADE LIQUID SOAP

Grate Fels-Naptha or homemade bar soap (4 – 6 ounces). Bring about 4 cups of distilled or filtered water to a boil. Add your soap in small increments and stir between each handful to keep the soap from clumping. When melted, continue stirring and begin adding more filtered (or distilled) water until the volume is one gallon. When cool, the mixture will be thicker. This is a good substitute for baby bath soap and it also works in your soap dispenser.

 

GENTLE ALTERNATIVES TO BABY OILS

Coconut oil is a soothing application for skin irritations. It should be applied to skin that is both dry and clean. Manufactured products often are made from petroleum, and contain chemicals and fragrances. This isn’t a problem with coconut oil. Another choice oil for baby’s skin is EVOO (extra virgin olive oil).

 

 

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This article is written to inform and designed for the benefit of the reader. Use good judgment and discretion when utilizing these methods. Readers bear the responsibility to be informed and reach their own conclusions.<br/>

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FLOWER CHAIN SCHOOLING

How would you like to enjoy a project with your child that offers variety and repetition of needed skills? What if that same activity provided your children with precious memories of time spent knitting their hearts to your own?

 

Making chains and garlands of flowers can accomplish this and more. A son can be taught this skill so that he might one day present treasured keepsakes to his wife or daughters. Your daughter will feel much like a princess with a wreath of flowers on her head.

 

This project requires sturdy stemmed flowers. Some of the flowers that work well for this include: asters, black-eyed Susan, daisies, globe amaranth, red clover, zinnias, bachelor buttons, chrysanthemums, dandelions, marigolds, and tithonia.

 

Use flower-picking as an opportunity to practice counting. You’ll need twenty-five or more blooms. Once collected, you both can sort them into equal piles. Another alternative is to sort them by colors or sizes. These valuable skills are enhanced with repetition.

 

Plant identification is another practical skill to be learned. Note which ones are edible. Do the plants have other uses? Learn to identify the parts of the flower. Show your child where the stamen and pistil (the name for the style, ovary and stigma) are located. What are the functions of these parts? The ideas are endless.

 

Plucking a flower firmly but gently exercises fine motor skills. By reaching for the swaying flower blooms, a child develops hand eye coordination.

 

Find a cozy spot to sit with your child and demonstrate how to cut a slit just below the flower’s head using your thumb nail. Pick up another flower and place its stem through the opening. Make another hole in the new flower’s stem, just below the blossom. Encourage your child to help you place a new stem through the hole you created in the second stem. This builds fine motor skills.

 

This is repeated until your garland is long enough to fit your head, wrist or neck. Once you’ve reached the end of your chain, take the last stem and make an opening in it large enough to allow the first flower’s head to fit through. Use the last stem to tie a knot. The excess ends can then be woven into your garland or trimmed away.

 

 

Adorn your child with the finished project in anticipation of Daddy’s arrival home.

 

To your child, you just spent time with them, showed them how to make floral decorations and had a great time. You will know that you just used one outing to cover several subjects: sorting, color identification, counting botany and learning how to finish a detailed project. Not only will your child benefit from these things, he will be enriched listening to your stories and gain an appreciation of the beauty of God’s creation.

 

 

Page 224, THE VISION by Debi Pearl

"We lay there together, our heads close and our fingers intertwining. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she handed me a long-stemmed clover and ask me to teach her how to weave a crown for her head. . . . .
“She ran about picking clover to bring to me. I poked my thumb nail into the stems to make tiny holes in order to threaded another stem through it until I had made chains of red and white clover to wind around her head."

NEWBORN CARE

It can be difficult for a new parent to know when a baby is sick. Medical professionals field so many questions from mothers of newborns that they often treat concerns as nothing more than just new-mama nerves. Mothers can begin to doubt whether or not to trust their instincts.

 

The good news is that there are tangible and objective measures of a baby's health.

 

THE FIRST WEEK

During the first week of life a baby should nurse at least 8 times a day for more than 15 minutes at each feeding. You should be able to hear the baby swallowing milk. Baby's first sticky-black stool -- called meconium  -- should pass. You should see it progress from greenish-black to a brown soft play-dough consistency. By the fourth or fifth day, this will appear yellow. During the first two days of life, a child should begin to have wet diapers. At first this will be 2 or 3 per day and increase in number by the week's end.

 

That first week will also give you clues if a baby isn't doing well. If a baby has no desire to nurse, has a weak suck, feeds less than 8 times per day and can't manage to feed for at least 15 minutes, these are reasons for concern. If a baby falls asleep before nursing for 15 minutes, makes a clicking sound when nursing, and has dimpled cheeks when sucking, these are also indications that there is some difficulty. When the baby's diapers don't show stools progressing as they should and you don't see wet diapers within 48 hours after birth, there is something out of the ordinary. More than 2 days of these symptoms indicate that you should seek medical help.

 

THE FIRST MONTH

The signs that your baby is healthy will be pretty much the same throughout the next month. For weeks 2 through 4, the baby will continue to nurse at least eight times a day and have 2 to 4 yellow bowel movements per day. Wet diapers will likely occur between six to eight times per day with clear, not yellow, urine. The suck will strengthen and you should see milk and continue to hear swallowing during feedings. The baby should increase in weight and alertness.

 

However, in this 2nd to 4th week, you should make a note of anything that is out of the ordinary such as a baby not eating at least 8 times per day, infrequent or small stools, too few wet diapers, or if the urine becomes bright yellow. Measure your baby's length and weight; these should increase. Should the baby have a weak or tired sucking reflex, if you can't hear swallowing, if the baby becomes sluggish, slow to respond or refuses to sleep between feedings, these are all indications that something is not right. Should you observe these behaviors for a couple of days in a row, seek out a health care provider.

 

WEEKS 5 TO 10

In the second month of life, a baby might reduce the number of feedings to seven times per day. This is because he is growing and can take in more milk. Again, you will notice a change in bowel movements to either several small stools per day or a large one as infrequently as every couple of days. This is normal for a breastfed baby as the body is able to assimilate much of mama's milk with little waste. Six to eight wet diapers will continue daily, but check to be sure there isn't a concentrated yellow color. Along with increasing alertness, you should continue to see a strong suck, milk dribbles, and hear an audible swallowing at feeding time.

 

During the 5 to 10 week mark a baby that doesn't nurse at least seven times a day and produce the right amount of wet diapers (without dark yellow color) should be watched carefully. Make a note if your child stops gaining weight or doesn't grow in length. Weak, tired sucking without an audible swallow indicates the baby is not getting proper nourishment. Should the baby become sluggish, slow to respond and be unable to sleep between feedings, seek medical assistance in rectifying this problem. Two consecutive days of these behaviors indicate something is wrong.

 

KEEPING TRACK

Remembering how often and when a baby ate can be a challenge when you are well-rested. Asking this of a post-natal mama can be daunting. One simple way to remedy this is to leave a notebook and pencil near the baby's sleeping area. Whenever mama feeds or changes the baby, note the time and what was done along with your observations. An example might be: “2:00 a.m. Nursed 20 minutes, wet diaper/clear, bm -- greenish yellow. For clarity, you may want to start a new page each day with the date written at the top.”

 

This way, should anything seem out of the ordinary, you can refer to your notes and present them to a doctor if needed. This is also a good way for a new mama to bond with her baby. You may be too tired to figure out why your baby is crying, but a quick check of your notes will tell you if it's been too long since he ate (hunger) or if he hasn't had a bowel movement that day (constipation). In turn, you begin to interpret your baby's cries and what they mean. This goes a LONG ways towards helping a new mama learn to trust her instincts when it comes to her baby.

 

The BEST advice for new mamas, however, comes from not-so-new mamas. Enjoy these first few weeks to their fullest. Don't worry about filling your day with anything more than getting to know this new little one. Too soon, they are no longer little.