Kristina Seleshanko's Blog, page 98

Quick Tips: Opening Up Pierced Ears & Irritating Earrings

If you don't wear earrings every day, sometimes you'll try to put some on and find your pierced earring hole is shut, or so small it hurts to put on earrings. Fortunately, there's a simple solution to this problem:

Just dip a Q-Tip or cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub it over the front and back of your ear lobes. Your pierced holes will open right up, making it easy to get earrings on.

I also find that costume jewelry earrings irritate my ears, making them itchy and sometimes a little swollen. Here again, rubbing alcohol comes to the rescue:

Method 1 (preferred): Pour a little rubbing alcohol into the alcohol bottle's cap (or in a small bowl). Place the earrings in the cap, making sure the hooks or studs are completely submerged in the alcohol. Leave for a few seconds, then put the earrings on.

Method 2: Put the earrings on, then use a Q-Tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to swab the entire area (front and back) where your ears are pierced.

No more irritation!

Start Your Garden in December!

Itching to get a garden going? Want stronger, healthier plants? Want a jump start on your neighbors? Want healthy food (or pretty flowers) sooner? Then you need to try winter sowing. And you can do it today!

It doesn't matter if you have huge snow drifts or heavy rain at this time of year - your seeds will survive and thrive.

Learn how to winter sow in this 2010 Proverbs 31 Woman post, or in the FREE ebook Proverbs 31 Woman Guide to Starting Seeds.

Trust me. You can do this!

Merry Christmas

I will be taking a short break from blogging, but will be back with you shortly after Christmas. I hope you and yours have a truly joyous Christmas, full of the true blessings of the holiday.

How Much Should We Shelter Children?

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.Therefore be as shrewd as snakesand as innocent as doves."
Matthew 10:16

Last Thursday, as the news of the massacre in Connecticut was streaming in, I struggled with how much to tell my children. Once upon a time, I probably wouldn't have said a word. But that was before. Before I'd read that teenagers had no idea who Osama bin Laden was. Before I saw painful videos of teens not really being able to say what 9/11 was about. Clearly, these kids were sheltered too much.

I also believe there is a huge difference between sheltering our children on such matters as debauchery and sheltering them about the evil they can expect to face as their lives progress. Not preparing our children to live in a world that, as the Bible predicts, will only become more evil is not only cruel, but may cause their faith to fail when they need it most.

So, when my 7 year old caught me crying as I read the news, and when she asked me why, I discussed it with her. I think there are several keys to making this work:

* Be straightforward, but don't offer up more information than the child needs. Don't go into details - especially gory ones.

* One or two sentences is usually all that's necessary.

* Ask your child what she thinks about what you've just told her. If needed, guide her to what the Bible says on the matter.

* Ask her if she has questions. Answer them as simply as possible, again, not giving more details than necessary.

* End with a prayer.

I should note I did not talk to my 4 year old about the news. He's not yet mature enough to even begin to understand. But we must be careful not to wait too long, friends, or we may suddenly find they are adults and we have neglected our duty to prepare them.

Why I Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

A couple of years ago, I got a cold. Just an ordinary cold - but it turned into something pretty serious. I thought the cold was just a long, drawn-out one, so I didn't go to the doctor. I didn't want to go to the trouble of arranging an appointment (you moms of little ones know what I mean!) and pay the doctor's fee just to hear, "It's only a cold; there's nothing we can do."

Then one morning, I felt really cold. I cranked up our wood stove and bundled up in a blanket. I got the shivers and could barely walk. I took my temperature: 105 degrees. To make a long story short, my husband came home from work and took me immediately to the doctor, who said I had a "raging" sinus infection. He was so worried about me, he wouldn't let me walk out the door, prescribed a heavy duty antibiotic, and gave me an extra-long dose. Even then, I had to take an additional week of the stuff.

Ever since that serious bout with a sinus infection, it seems every cold I get leads to a sinus infection. The good news is, I now know that if a cold seems to last more than 2 weeks, I should seek medical help. I also recognize the extreme fatigue and sinus issues related to a sinus infection. Nonetheless, as you can imagine, I was tired of going to the doc for antibiotics every time I got a cold.

So I did a little research into preventing sinus infections. A lot of doctors recommend using a neti pot, which I already did. Further research showed that among experts in natural medicine, apple cider vinegar was recommended - but not the ordinary kind typically found in grocery stores. It must be the raw, unfiltered type with the "mother" still in it, like Bragg's.

So I bought a bottle and put it in my pantry.

Soon, I had opportunity to use it. I got another cold (a rather nasty one, in fact), and I began taking the apple cider vinegar every day. I continued until all my cold and sinus symptoms disappeared. And for the first time in years, my cold wasn't followed by a sinus infection! That was enough to make me realize raw apple cider vinegar is a worthy part of my health care.


How to Drink Apple Cider VinegarMeasure 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar into a drinking glass, then add 8 oz. water. Drink.

I recommend trying the drink just like this. For the first two days, I hated the flavor, but found I was absolutely CRAVING the drink. By the third day, I was not only looking forward to my daily glass, but was enjoying the flavor, too.
However, if you really can't drink it like this, you can add 1 or 2 teaspoons of real honey, 100% maple syrup, or molasses.
You may consume this drink 3 times a day - but I chose to do it only once a day. It is, after all, it is a diuretic, and you can expect it to make you urinate more than usual.



Why Does it Work?

It's certainly possible the diuretic action of the vinegar does a lot to get rid of illness. (If you've ever had a doctor tell you to "push fluids," this is why. The more you drink, the more you urinate and the more "bad bugs" your body gets rid of.) But the fact is, no one is exactly sure why apple cider vinegar seems to be so beneficial to health - although we do know it's packed with acetic acid, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

According to a conservative source, WebMD, raw apple cider vinegar:

* may help diabetes and cause weight loss
* helps lower high cholesterol and blood pressure
* may slow the growth of cancer cells

If you visit alternative medicine websites, you'll also find a great many other claims for what apple cider vinegar can do. (Here's a more moderate example of such a site.)

According to WebMD, there is also some indication that drinking apple cider vinegar every day for years could lower your potassium and bone density and that the chromium in the vinegar could alter insulin levels in diabetics - so if you choose to drink it daily, please discuss it with your doctor. Personally, I drink it only when I crave it, or at the first sign I could be getting a sinus infection.

Compost that Wrapping Paper!

With the Christmas season upon us, here's an important reminder: You can compost wrapping paper - and many of the other trappings of gift giving.

I know many people believe it's not safe to compost colored paper, but experts agree the inks used today are quite safe - free from harmful chemicals, or so extremely low in them that they just don't show up in finished compost. Most modern inks, in fact, are soy ink.

So rather than throwing away all that paper (a waste!) or recycling it (which uses more energy), compost it into something that is extremely beneficial to your garden. (For the basics on how to compost, visit this post.)

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension's website, all wrapping paper can be composted except :

* High gloss paper
* Paper with plastic or metallic coatings
* Paper that is "Astro bright" (i.e., "shockingly bright")

Glossy or Astro bright paper can be recycled. Plastic or metallic-coated paper must be thrown in the trash.

You can also compost:

* Cardboard wrapping paper tubes
* Cardboard boxes
* Tissue paper

While most composting experts recommend shredding, tearingm or cutting these items into small pieces because this will make them decompose faster, I don't find this necessary. Here's how I do it:

* No paper should go into the compost bin flat or relatively flat. This makes the paper stick together and become a slimy mass that takes forever to decompose. Generally, I just crumble it up and stick it in my composter.

* Cardboard tubes should not be flattened. Instead, leave them as is. Long tubes that don't fit in the composter can be cut, torn, or folded just enough to fit.

Doing something great for your garden in the middle of December? What's not to love! Happy composting!

Best Ever Cranberry Bread

I hear "This is the best cranberry bread ever!" a lot. This quick bread tastes not only of sweetened cranberries, but also of cinnamon, nutmeg, and oranges. A loaf makes a great gift - or pour the dough into muffin cups for serving sized treats for your family.

What You Need:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup halved fresh cranberries
1/2 cup raisins (I prefer golden but the photo above shows black)
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Mixing bowl and spoon
Medium bowl
Loaf pan
Oil, for greasing
Toothpick

How to Do It:

1. Place the raisins in a small bowl and cover with water. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the loaf pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Fold in the cranberries. Strain the raisins and fold into the flour mixture. Stir in the orange peel.

3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly, then stir in the milk, butter, and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined.

4. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire cooling rack and cool completely. Store at room temperature.

Making Salt Dough Ornaments

"It's easy!" they said. "It's fun!" they insisted. "Try it!" they encouraged.

Whether you're on Pinterest or just browsing in the Internet for fun Christmas ideas to do with the kids, chances are you've run across a website telling you making salt dough ornaments is a great family activity for December. Well, I'm here to tell you that every tutorial I read was WRONG.

My children (7 and 4) found the process mostly frustrating. In fact, my youngest gave up on it pretty quickly. But in the end, we were happy we stuck with it. So if you're thinking of making salt dough ornaments, please read this tutorial first! Unlike the others you may find, it is no-nonsense and gives you a heads up on the most difficult parts of the process.

What You Need:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup table salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
food coloring (optional)

Large mixing bowl and spoon
Baking sheets
Small rolling pin
Cookie cutters (optional but recommended)
Butter knife
Straw or similar stick-like object
Paints, markers, etc.

How to Do It:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

2. In the mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the warm water, a little at a time, mixing well with a large spoon. Finish by kneading the dough with your hands until it's blended and pliable.

(Already, we are faltering. I follow the recipe exactly but the dough is very sticky. Never having made salt dough anything before, we proceed to roll out and cut the dough. But the dough sticks to the cutters and makes the gingerbread man look like he's made of spikes. We re-roll the dough and try again - and fail again. My 4 year old son gets mad and leaves the kitchen. Are we having fun yet?? TIP: The dough should not feel sticky. If it does, add flour, a little at a time, until the dough is still pliable, but not sticky. If the dough is dry and cracks, add water a little at a time . A lso chill the dough for at least 15 minutes before rolling it out. Work in very small batches - just enough to use one cookie cutter at a time - and return the dough scraps to the fridge to chill again. )

You may now also add food coloring to the dough. 

(But let me warn you the colored dough will dye your hands, too. TIP: I recommend dividing the dough and adding just a tiny amount of food coloring to each piece. I used gel coloring - such as you'll find in the cake decorating section of a craft store; this made for nice, bold colors. You may also use liquid coloring, but you may need to add a bit of extra flour to prevent the dough from being sticky. The colors may also be more washed out.

While we wait for the dough to chill, the kids keep talking about eating the "yummy cookies" we are making. I explain that even though the process is similar to making cookies, these ornaments will be hard and taste awful. Still, I keep hearing, "I'm gonna eat a gingerbread man! I'm gonna eat an angel!")

4. (Once the dough is chilled, we try rolling out the dough again. But when we transfer the cut out ornament from the counter to the baking sheet, it stretches. "This is really hard, Mommy!" says my 7 year old. Next we try rolling dough as directed below. Definitely a better way to do it.)  

Take a small amount of dough and place it on a baking tray. Roll it out until it's about 1/8 in. thick; if it's thicker, it will take forever to dry. 

(TIP: Use a child-sized rolling pin - or, better yet, a Play Dough rolling pin. If you don't have either, a small, smooth jar will do.)

5. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes in the dough. It will still be tricky to get some shapes to come out "clean," so I recommend using simple shapes. Also, while pressing down on the cookie cutter, roll as much of the dough away from the outside of the cutter as possible. Use a butter knife to remove any bits of dough that cling to the outside of the cutter. Finally, lift the cutter. If necessary, use the butter knife to remove any stray bits of dough from the edges of the ornament.

(You would think that if your child can cut out cookie dough with cookie cutters, this project would be a breeze. Not so! And my 7 yr. old is frustrated she can't make these ornaments all by herself.)

You may also shape pieces by hand - and now is a good time to added pieces of colored dough as decoration.  

(I found this almost impossible because the heat from my hands made the dough super-sticky and very difficult to shape. Notice how stretched-out my red star is, to the right. Ah well; it makes it look more folksy...right?

You may also supposedly roll or cut out a shape and have your child press his or her hand into the dough - but ours didn't turn out. Once the dough baked, it was impossible to make out most of the hand print.)

You can also
Or add decorative holes, glitter, or ornaments like glass jewels. Other types of decoration should wait until after the dough is dry.

4. Use a straw or some other stick-like object to create a hole at the top of each ornament. This is where a ribbon or other hanger will go. The hole will shrink slightly when the ornament bakes. 

(Finally! A job that's easy for the kids!)



5. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until completely dry but not brown.  (This amount of baking time will burn the ornaments. In fact, I started checking the ornaments after 40 minutes, and some still browned. TIP: Start checking the ornaments for doneness after 10 or 15 minutes.)

If you have more trays than you can fit in the oven, place the extra trays in the fridge until ready to bake.

6. Remove trays from the oven and allow the ornaments to cool 1 or 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

7. Once the ornaments are completely cool, you may decorate them, if desired, with paints or markers. (TIP: I recommend making the ornaments one day and painting them the next. This allows recoup time after the more difficult process of cutting and baking the ornaments; my 4 year old even got excited about the project again!) You may even decoupage them.  

(Most tutorials say to expect "faded out" colors, but we used Crayola Washable Kids' Paint and our colors were nice and bright. TIP: Cover the work area with a cheap plastic tablecloth, such as you'd find at The Dollar Tree. It's best to stick to simple paintings that require only a couple of colors. Remind children to paint the main color of the ornament first, then allow it to dry before adding another color. For example, if you're painting a candy cane, paint the whole thing white, let the paint dry, then add the red bands. The good news is, the ornaments dry quickly.)

In the end, we were happy with our ornaments. Any frustrations we felt the day we cut out and baked them faded as we had fun painting them - and I was pleased the kids were able to make something to give away as Christmas gifts.

Using Scripture for Correction

It's never too early to read the Bible to your children. But there also comes a time when Proverbs 31 Women must start using the Bible as a tool for correcting her children.

I do not claim to be an expert on this topic. I have but two children, both still young. I have no seminary training. But I do know God admonishes me to correct and discipline my children. (See God's reaction when Eli doesn't discipline his sons, for example. See also 1 Samuel 3:13, Proverbs 29:15-17, Proverbs 3:12, Ephesians 6:4; and much more.) 

One of the most loving and biblical ways we can do this is by using Scripture.



Positive or Negative?

It is perhaps easiest to use Bible verses admonishing our children not to do something. For example: "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15) or "the Lord hates...a lying tongue" (Proverbs 6:16-17). These are important parts of scripture and should certainly be known by everyone - parents and kids, included. 

However, I feel it's important to temper these more negative verses with positive ones. So if, for example, your child has a problem with a sassy mouth, you might teach her Ephesians 4:29: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." But I also encourage you to include a verse phrased in a positive way, such as Proverbs 16:24: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." 

I also strongly believe these verses, whether positive or negative, should not be your child's only exposure to Scripture. That could result in a very slanted view of the Bible. So make sure you are reading the Bible to your child every day; be sure to talk about what you read, too.

Not only can verses be positive or negative, but so can you. If you read your child a Scripture with an angry tone of voice, or an attitude that is disrespectful or belittling, you will fail. You might make your child obey for the moment, but in the end, her attitude about the Bible and God will be greatly damaged.



Finding Scripture

There are a few books out there that help parents target Scripture to their child's behavior. Instruction for Righteousness comes to mind, as does The Child Training Bible. And any Bible concordance will help, too. But honestly, I find the easiest tool is Google. Just type in "Bible says about" plus the topic of interest. For example, I recently Googled: "Bible says about mouth" and a number of sites came up listing Scripture on our mouths and speaking. I find this works with most any topic.


Methods of Correction

Pre-Readers:

When your child is not yet able to read or write, I think the best way to use Scripture for correction is to simply read a Bible verse to them, then talk about it. I recommend you read directly from your Bible (rather than just reciting a verse or reading it from some other source) so your child has a visual reminder of where the Bible verse comes from. Be sure to explain any difficult words or concepts. Ask if your child has questions. Then read the Bible verse one more time. 

This sort of correction can be used alone for minor offenses, or alongside other correction (such as a time out) for repeated or more serious offenses. Whether you choose to read and discuss the Scripture before or after the additional correction depends upon your child. Consider when he or she will be most receptive. Try it both ways to see which works better.

Young Children Who Read:

Once your child can read and write reasonably well (usually by first grade), you can select age appropriate/reading-level appropriate verses for him to read by himself or with help. (I highly recommend using NIV, NAS, NLV, or NiRV versions of the Bible so as not to confuse children with difficult language.) Then I suggest you either:

1. Have your child write the verse repeatedly, making sure she reads back what she writes.

2. Have your child memorize the verse.

Either will help your child to remember the lesson being taught. Other ideas:

* Have your child write a paragraph or two about how the verse can be applied to the child's life.
* Have your child act on the verse right away. For example, let's say your child just called his sibling something mean. You might read him Ephesians 4:29, then have him say several uplifting things to his sibling.
* Have your child make a list of things to do/say that relate to the verse. Again, going back to Ephesians 4:29, your child could make a list of words of encouragement he could give to whomever he offended in the first place.
* Do an art project related to the verse. There's no reason this can't be fun! The idea is to help the Scripture stick in your child's mind.

Remember to continue explaining more difficult parts of the verse to your child, and be sure to ask your child if she has any questions about the verse.

Tweens and Teens:

By the time you child is in her tweens, you can ask her to find appropriate Bible verses on her own. Continue to discuss the Scripture with your child, and consider some of the options under #2 (above) to help cement them. Focus not only on helping your child learn about the Bible and what God wants from her, but also on teaching her how to use the Bible as a tool. She should learn how to easily find references on any topic in the Bible, for example.



How do you use Scripture to correct your children?

Best Christ-Centered Christmas Picture Books

Song of the Stars: Imagine how nature might have reacted to Christ's birth and you have the essence of this book. Animals, plants, the wind , skies, sea, and more all celebrate Jesus until finally we see Bethlehem with shepherds and angels, then a little barn, then a baby surrounded by animals, then the baby held by his mother. "Our Rescuer!" Mary cries, and all "gazed in wonder at God's great gift...Heaven's Son sleeping under the stars that he made."

The Christmas Troll: A boy is angry with his parents for not letting him open one of his Christmas presents early and takes his little sister and runs off into a nearby forest. There, they meet a troll - a wonderful, sweet troll. He is a fantastic, unexpected gift - one they hadn't deserved, yet received all the same - and now the boy can't wait to tell everyone about it. This is a well layered story that will lead to discussions such as: Do people put God in a box? Is God more unexpected and wonderful than we think? Are God's greatest gifts the surprising ones?

Tiny Baby Jesus: "Tiny, tiny fingers touch a piece of hay./Tiny baby Jesus born in Bethlehem today. Now those very fingers,/grown so sure and strong-/Jesus is a carpenter,/working all day long." So this book goes, highlighting some aspect of Jesus at birth, then some aspect of the rest of his life - up until the miracle of his resurrection.

The Christmas List: Everyone keeps asking Emily to make a Christmas list of things she wants - but she's uncomfortable with the idea and not very excited about the holiday. Then she learns that God's love - and the action it requires - is the most important thing to put on a Christmas list.

The Three Trees: Three trees have great aspirations, but when they are cut down, they think there's no chance they will do anything great. However, the first is turned into a feeding trough that later holds baby Jesus. The second is turned into a boat from which Jesus later calms the water. The third becomes Jesus' cross. This beautiful story highlights the idea that God often uses us in ways we don't expect.

Berenstain Bears Get Ready for Christmas: This simple lift the flap book shows the bear family preparing the nativity scene for their home. They find various parts (baby Jesus, Mary, the shepherds, etc.) throughout the house (and under the flaps) and each one is explained.

My First Countdown to Christmas: Actually an advent devotional, suitable for toddlers through perhaps first grade. In addition to the devotionals, some crafts are suggested, as well as prayers.

Touch and Feel Christmas: A great first Christmas book, it tells the basic story of Jesus' birth with highly attractive collage illustrations that have touch and feel elements.

Away in a Manger: In this simple book are the lyrics to the song "Away in a Manger," accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. It's a great way to both cement the reason why we celebrate Christmas and teach your child a simple Christmas song.
 
When Mother Was 11 Foot 4: A beautifully written story of a boy whose mother love Christmas. But one year, Mother, now single, is working but not making much money. There may be no huge Christmas tree and abundance of gifts. Mother is defeated , but her children work to raise enough to buy a meager tree. They decorate it (including a little Sunday School project of Jesus in the manger) and when Mother walks in and sees it, the little woman suddenly feels 11 ft. 4. The children have learned the power of giving.

Pine Tree Parable: A farmer and his wife plant Christmas trees. Years pass and finally the trees are ready for selling. But one tree, the farmer's wife just can't part with; she puts a not for sale sign on it. Then a very needy family visits the tree farm. The only tree they can afford is pathetic. The little girl in the family hopefully asks for the beautiful, not for sale tree instead; the farmer's wife cannot say no. As the tree falls, she thinks, "Yes, it was a great sacrifice. but it brought even greater joy. Isn't that just like Christmas?"

Saint Nicholas: This attractive book explains the man behind the Santa legend, telling the most famous parts of his story. A man has daughters who cannot marry because they can't afford a dowry. Nicholas secretly drops the needed cash into their shoes, set before the fireplace at night. The legend of St. Nicholas - a man who serves God - begins.

Josie's Gift: Josie wants a gorgeous blue sweater for Christmas. But it's the Depression and Josie's father just died. Christmas, she thinks, is about everything she doesn't have. On Christmas Eve, Josie spots a package under the tree and secretly opens it; it's her sweater! Yet moments later, she feels just as empty as she was before opening the box. She walks outside, asking God for answers. She discovers a man and his wife huddled in the barn, with an infant in their arms. They need a warm place to sleep for the night. Josie tucks her blue sweater around the baby. “Christmas is not about what we want. It’s about what we have.” Josie heartfully thanks God for Jesus and for Christmas. Because Christmas, the author concludes, is about “what she had, deep down in her soul that only God could give.”

Legend of the Christmas Stocking: There are a number of books out there explaining Christmas symbols with a Christian slant, but The Legend of the Christmas Stocking is by far the best-written. It's the story of a boy who longs for a beautiful model ship for Christmas - but there isn't much money for presents. Then the boy hears a sermon explaining why we use Christmas stockings - and the he decides to sacrifice his own desires so he can give gifts to his mother and sisters.

Gift of the Christmas Cookie: It is the 1930s, in the heart of the Depression. To one boy, Christmas doesn't seem very appealing without his father (who is far away, working) or presents. His mother makes some Christmas cookies for the poor, explaining such cookies were originally used to tell the story of Jesus' birth. Still, the boy is not happy the cookies will go to others, instead of him. Yet when his mother offers him the biggest of the cookies, the boy gives it to a vagrant man...then tells him the story of Jesus' birth.

Waiting for Christmas: Is a story about waiting patiently for Christmas. In it, a young German boy learns Jesus had to wait two or three years for his gifts from the wise men. To help the waiting, his mother gives him a daily advent cookie. “Christmas would come, he knew. For now, he would just have to wait. But that was all right. Some things are worth waiting for.”

The Tale of Baboushka: Baboushka ("grandmother" in Russian) keeps a very tidy house, and when three visitors come to her door, she makes sure they have exactly the food, drink, and shelter they need. When they tell her they are traveling to meet a new king (Jesus) and ask her to join them, Baboushka says she will follow -  but first she will tidy her home. By the time she gets around to Jesus, the star guiding the way to him is gone, so she travels around giving gifts to children around the world, ever in search of the king.