Congratulations to Paul and Gena Suarez of The Old Schoolhouse on the birth of their precious little Miracle Baby Susanna Hope!

Okay - I was bad and snagged these great patterns off their blog, (patterns for FREE things to make for BABIES!)

Free pattern for adorable pattern for little baby shoes!
http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html

Free Maya Wrap Pattern.
http://www.mayawrap.com/n_sewsling.php

Free patterns for a lot of different baby slings. (Includes an adorable doll sling pattern!)
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/

Free Baby quilt patterns.
http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/QuiltCategories/FreeBabyQuiltPatterns.htm

Free baby knitting patterns.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/free-knitting-patterns1.htm

Thank you for finding these great resources!

Want to clean the air without distressing chemicals? Consider using essential oils to deodorize and clean the air instead of just covering odors with harmful chemicals. A simple recipe includes Rosemary with Lemon, Eucalyptus globulus with Lavender.

2 drops rosemary

4 drops lemon

3 drops Eucalyptus globulus

4 drops lavender

Mix into 1-quart of distilled water. Shake well and put in a dark-colored glass spray bottle. Spray the room as needed to freshen with this delicious and natural scent! You can make many bottles of non-toxic, aromatic room freshener!

You’ve heard that good manners are better than a good education—so how can you incorporate good etiquette into homeschooling? On this week’s Home School Heartbeat, HSLDA president Mike Smith will share four rules of thumb to keep in mind when teaching your children social graces.

Mike Smith:
This summer, I spoke at a homeschool graduation service and shared four principles for success. Parents were coming up to me one-by-one after the graduation asking, “What was that point two?” and “What was that point three?” and “Those rules are so simple and common sense. Where did you get them?” Well this week, I’ll be sharing these points with you. They are good rules of thumb for your kids to remember and practice on a day-to-day basis.

The idea for these principles came from a copy of the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail I picked up while I was visiting Canada this summer. I read an article by a person who had attended a motivational speaker’s event in Toronto, Canada. The author of the article wrote about one speaker who gave four rules for success.

As your kids begin their first job or venture to college, it is important that they know how to treat other people, and while these principles are pretty simple, they will help your child be successful at work and at college as well.

The principles are simple table and social manners: say please and thank you, be on time, keep your word, and complete what you start. I believe these take up Jesus’ Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

For more information please go to Home School Legal Defense Assoc, www.hslda.org

I really think the Lord is sending me a bevy of encouragement as my post-miscarriage inertia rolls on. Got this in an email today, from Mariln Moll, the Urban Homemaker. She writes :

Feeling Overwhelmed – Do the Next Thing
I learned years ago from Elisabeth Elliot, that when you are tired, discouraged, exhausted, or confused, to do the next thing. This simple advice has carried me through many a trial and many difficulties.

DO THE NEXT THING

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

Author unknown

www.theurbanhomemaker.com

Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.”
–Estonian proverb

The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! –Henry Ward Beecher

Thank God every day when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done whether you like it or not. Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle will never know.
–Basil Carpenter

O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! — William Shakespeare

One distinguishing mark of an unregenerate man is ingratitude. — E. J. Conrad

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. — A. W. Tozer

Napoleon Hill ~ Yesterday and Today

Drifting, without aim or purpose, is the first cause of failure.

Without a plan for your life, it is easier to follow the course of least resistance, to go with the flow, to drift with the current with no particular destination in mind. Having a definite plan for your life greatly simplifies the process of making hundreds of daily decisions that affect your ultimate success. When you know where you want to go, you can quickly decide if your actions are moving you toward your goal or away from it. Without definite, precise goals and a plan for their achievement, each decision must be considered in a vacuum. Definiteness of purpose provides context and allows you to relate specific actions to your overall plan.

Oh my - this is actually quite good! Much more eloquent but the same heart issue is addressed - If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Fabulous article on what it is like to suffer with a thyroid problem, and not get help for years and years. http://thyroid.about.com/cs/publicawareness/l/bloprahletters.htm

Is it SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or merely the “winter blues?” Sometimes it can be hard to tell as the dreariness of winter takes over.

Article on SAM-e http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/60312.php

FERTILITY AND MENSTRUAL TRACKING CHART