Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 41
September 11, 2012
Eleven Years Ago
This video is graphic and may not be suitable for younger viewers.
There are so many things on my mind as I watch the horrific September 11th videos on YouTube. Destruction. Devastation. Death.
They all got my attention. They all caused a pang of sadness and tears. Is this what humanity does to humanity? We hate each other this much that we're willing to kill others without reason or rhyme?
There once was a Man who decided to die for those that hated Him. He'd done nothing wrong. He didn't deserve to die. He chose to. Because He knew this was the only Way mankind could come to His Father. (John 14:6 - I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.)
He knew that one day, there would be a little, four year old girl that would ask Him to save her from her sins so that she could go to Heaven and be with Him when she died. You may think this girl was too young and didn't know what she was doing. Was an innocent. Naive.
No. This girl had endured pain. Betrayal. Tragedy. Things that could tear her apart if she thought of them too much. But this girl knew something. She knew she needed, nay, wanted Him in her life.
This Man listened to that little girl. Tiny, obscure, plain. Didn't amount to much because, hey. She was only a child.
But that day, New Years Eve, 1978, He answered the call of the pitiful. Helpless. Hopeless. Hurting. And He saved her soul. Even though He knew she'd mess up in her later years. He knew she wasn't perfect. But He loved her anyway.
When I watched this particular video, I knew this was what was going on my blog post. This was the one I wanted to share with you. And then, after it was finished, I wanted to ask you a question.
This is my question.
If you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?
This is the single, most important question you will ever be asked to answer. So don't hurry. Think about this for a minute. Be honest with yourself.
See, Jesus is that Man who died to pay for the sins of the world. The One who died when He hadn't done anything wrong, or anything to deserve it.
And He offers you the same thing he offered that little girl in 1978.
Hope.
Change.
(No, this isn't an election ad.)
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Doesn't sound very hopeful yet, does it? But, praise God, He doesn't stop there.)
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (There's that hope we were talking about ~ Amen!)
Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Even that pitiable little girl. Wait. That boy over there. And that older couple over there...everyone.)
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (commendeth = showed. Um, good thing I'm not God. Because I don't think I could take the place of a guilty person and die for them. Yep. Guess I'm a little shallow...)
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (And that's the change.)
Have you asked Him, Jesus, to save you? If there's only one more thing I accomplish in this life, may it be a soul won for Him.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
There are so many things on my mind as I watch the horrific September 11th videos on YouTube. Destruction. Devastation. Death.
They all got my attention. They all caused a pang of sadness and tears. Is this what humanity does to humanity? We hate each other this much that we're willing to kill others without reason or rhyme?
There once was a Man who decided to die for those that hated Him. He'd done nothing wrong. He didn't deserve to die. He chose to. Because He knew this was the only Way mankind could come to His Father. (John 14:6 - I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.)
He knew that one day, there would be a little, four year old girl that would ask Him to save her from her sins so that she could go to Heaven and be with Him when she died. You may think this girl was too young and didn't know what she was doing. Was an innocent. Naive.
No. This girl had endured pain. Betrayal. Tragedy. Things that could tear her apart if she thought of them too much. But this girl knew something. She knew she needed, nay, wanted Him in her life.
This Man listened to that little girl. Tiny, obscure, plain. Didn't amount to much because, hey. She was only a child.
But that day, New Years Eve, 1978, He answered the call of the pitiful. Helpless. Hopeless. Hurting. And He saved her soul. Even though He knew she'd mess up in her later years. He knew she wasn't perfect. But He loved her anyway.
When I watched this particular video, I knew this was what was going on my blog post. This was the one I wanted to share with you. And then, after it was finished, I wanted to ask you a question.
This is my question.
If you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?
This is the single, most important question you will ever be asked to answer. So don't hurry. Think about this for a minute. Be honest with yourself.
See, Jesus is that Man who died to pay for the sins of the world. The One who died when He hadn't done anything wrong, or anything to deserve it.
And He offers you the same thing he offered that little girl in 1978.
Hope.
Change.
(No, this isn't an election ad.)
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Doesn't sound very hopeful yet, does it? But, praise God, He doesn't stop there.)
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (There's that hope we were talking about ~ Amen!)
Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (Even that pitiable little girl. Wait. That boy over there. And that older couple over there...everyone.)
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (commendeth = showed. Um, good thing I'm not God. Because I don't think I could take the place of a guilty person and die for them. Yep. Guess I'm a little shallow...)
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (And that's the change.)
Have you asked Him, Jesus, to save you? If there's only one more thing I accomplish in this life, may it be a soul won for Him.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 10, 2012
Recipe For Fun!
My daughter is an amazing child who can turn almost any average everyday item into a recipe for fun. This is partly due to the fact that she is an only child and must entertain herself, but also because she has a very creative mind.
Recently my husband and I purchased a new computer chair which came packaged in a very large box. This large box seemed to scream to my daughter "PLAY WITH ME", and I can totally understand this because my brother and I made many a fortress from old refrigerator boxes in our day. My husband and I gladly let her play with the box while he assembled the chair. After playing for a while, she asked if I could cut a window in one side of the box which I was extremely happy to do.
I told her we wouldn't be keeping the box for long; and like any other red-blooded American children, she negotiated for more time. "A week," I said adamantly, "And no more." This is where we all laugh because that was two weeks ago. Yes, I'm a softy. Both her and Max, our cat who thinks he's a dog, have been having so much fun with this box I haven't had the heart to throw it out yet. Turning boxes into fun isn't her only specialty; she also does amazing things with spare work boot shoelaces. She has tied them together to make a jump rope, she has tied herself to the indoor min trampoline (not quite sure what that was all about), she has raced madly through the entire house dragging them behind her with Max in hot pursuit, and she has tied one end to the aforementioned mini tramp and held the other end high enticing Max to jump and attack the line. That is actually pretty funny to watch, I might add.
All of these recipes for fun that she creates for herself reminded me that winter will soon be upon us and children everywhere will have lots of indoor time on their hands. Hence, my own recipe for fun - homemade play dough. It is extremely easy and fun to make so your child can help and then it has the added bonus of being fun to play with afterwards! So here's what you'll need:
1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup Salt
2 tsp. Food Coloring
1 Cup Water
1 TBS Vegetable Oil
2 TBS Cream of Tartar
Mix all ingredients well and cook in a pot over medium heat. Stir often and when mixture forms a ball in the center of the pot, take it out and knead it several times on a floured surface. Store in an airtight container such as a margarine tub or cool whip container.
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 9, 2012
Christian Devotional - Spiritually Naked?
Did you leave the house naked this morning?
Certainly, if you did, you’re probably getting a lot of attention right about now. This morning, we’re going to take a look at a slightly different wardrobe we need to be putting on because we can be fully dressed in clothes and still be spiritually naked. Yesterday in my own quiet time I was struck with this idea so strongly that I wanted to share it with you.
Ephesians 6:11-13 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
As Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, seeking to live a life of obedience and love for our Savior, we face obstacles each and every day that are trying to conquer us. The evil forces of this world are looking for ways to distract us, depress us, devour us, and destroy us. I mean, if we’re really going to live a life of obedience to Jesus Christ, we’re going to face opposition and we will be tempted to disobey. It’s going to happen, count on it.
Yet, even when we can be so confident that we will experience an attack, a large number of Christians walk around completely stark naked and open to that attack. I can guarantee when we do that, we stand out to those evil forces just as surely as if we walked in a parade wearing nothing but a smile. Look back to those verses from Ephesians. We can choose to put on the full armor of God so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. The opposite is also true. If we don’t put on the armor, we can expect to be flattened and steam-rolled by every trick and scheme of the devil.
Feeling run-over spiritually? I may know why. You haven’t been putting on the full armor of God. Also notice that it talks about the full armor, not just a piece or two. I mean, a woman who’s topless in the parade would still draw as much attention as the gal in her full birthday suit. We have to put on the complete armor of God to be ready for these attacks and to have the ability to stand. Without it, we’re doomed to fall flat.
What is the armor of God? The following verses of Ephesians list out six important pieces that we need to add to our “get-ready” routine in the morning. We’re going to look at each of them in our devotionals over the next weeks, but here’s the list:
The belt of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
The shoes of the readiness to share the gospel
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
The sword of the Spirit, the word of God
So what about you, have you made a conscious decision today to walk in truth, guard your heart, share the gospel, live by faith dependent on our salvation, only using the words of the Bible? Or are you walking around naked?
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
**Check out my newest release: The Daily Devotional Series: Psalm, volume 3 now available on Smashwords and Amazon**Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
Certainly, if you did, you’re probably getting a lot of attention right about now. This morning, we’re going to take a look at a slightly different wardrobe we need to be putting on because we can be fully dressed in clothes and still be spiritually naked. Yesterday in my own quiet time I was struck with this idea so strongly that I wanted to share it with you.
Ephesians 6:11-13 – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
As Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, seeking to live a life of obedience and love for our Savior, we face obstacles each and every day that are trying to conquer us. The evil forces of this world are looking for ways to distract us, depress us, devour us, and destroy us. I mean, if we’re really going to live a life of obedience to Jesus Christ, we’re going to face opposition and we will be tempted to disobey. It’s going to happen, count on it.
Yet, even when we can be so confident that we will experience an attack, a large number of Christians walk around completely stark naked and open to that attack. I can guarantee when we do that, we stand out to those evil forces just as surely as if we walked in a parade wearing nothing but a smile. Look back to those verses from Ephesians. We can choose to put on the full armor of God so that we will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. The opposite is also true. If we don’t put on the armor, we can expect to be flattened and steam-rolled by every trick and scheme of the devil.
Feeling run-over spiritually? I may know why. You haven’t been putting on the full armor of God. Also notice that it talks about the full armor, not just a piece or two. I mean, a woman who’s topless in the parade would still draw as much attention as the gal in her full birthday suit. We have to put on the complete armor of God to be ready for these attacks and to have the ability to stand. Without it, we’re doomed to fall flat.
What is the armor of God? The following verses of Ephesians list out six important pieces that we need to add to our “get-ready” routine in the morning. We’re going to look at each of them in our devotionals over the next weeks, but here’s the list:
The belt of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
The shoes of the readiness to share the gospel
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
The sword of the Spirit, the word of God
So what about you, have you made a conscious decision today to walk in truth, guard your heart, share the gospel, live by faith dependent on our salvation, only using the words of the Bible? Or are you walking around naked?
Kristi Burchfiel, Christian devotional author and speaker
Living in the World – Living out the Word
Check out my website and daily devotions either on my blog or on my Facebook page
**Check out my newest release: The Daily Devotional Series: Psalm, volume 3 now available on Smashwords and Amazon**Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 8, 2012
Learning to Listen
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.(John 10:27)
When
I sit down, open my Bible, and take up my pen, it’s usually so I can tell God
every little detail and need of my life. Rarely do I stop long enough for him to
get a word in edgewise.
With all the distractions and to-do lists in our lives, how do
we quiet ourselves long enough to hear the voice of God? Like Martha, my mind
tends to think about all I have to do in the hours before me, not focus on what
the Lord might be saying to me in my quiet time. I sometimes struggle to let go
of my daily concerns so that I can receive the deeper things of God.
Although I am a big proponent of journaling and find it helpful in keeping my prayer life focused, sometimes the practice becomes more of a distraction than a spiritual discipline. Some days I need to lay down the pen, be still, and know that God is God. It isn’t necessary to continually remind him of my needs; he knows already, and he will not forget.
A few years ago, my son taught me a lesson I will never forget. As we were praying on our way to school, he ended his prayer with this statement: “Lord, I hope you have a good day.” His prayer made me stop and question how often I pray for God to be blessed instead of asking that he bless me. So often when I pray, my focus is usually on the needs of others or myself, not on God’s greatness or how I can be a blessing to him.
If we want to grow in our relationship with God, we must learn to listen. He has so much he wants to tell us, but he can’t get through to us if we don’t quiet ourselves and listen for his still, small voice.
From A
Pleasing Aroma: Inspiring Devotions for Joyful Living
Copyright ©
2011 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 7, 2012
Recipes...Articles...Crafts..and More
in the September issue of Ruby for Women magazine!
.
Frosty Drink Recipes - Nina Newton
"Lord, help me in my unbelief!" - Amanda Johnson
Hidden Word Puzzle - Beth Brubaker
The Uneducated - Amanda Stephan
Golden Owl Applique - Mama's Little Treasures
are just a few of the nuggets of gold you'll find inside
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
.
Frosty Drink Recipes - Nina Newton
"Lord, help me in my unbelief!" - Amanda Johnson
Hidden Word Puzzle - Beth Brubaker
The Uneducated - Amanda Stephan
Golden Owl Applique - Mama's Little Treasures
are just a few of the nuggets of gold you'll find inside
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 6, 2012
In the Eyes of Children
August always means new beginnings for me. This one was no different. August 20th brought forty-two bright-eyed third graders, excited to learn. And as always, the past two weeks have been one in which we have learned together. During our explorations as growing writers we have learned several truths. I'd like to share some of them with you.
1. Growing writers write about what is important to them. We learned that Kylee has three nieces and one of them has been in the hospital.
2. Growing writers sometimes write about things that have happened to them. We learned that William was in a tornado, and it was a very scary event.
3. Growing writers can add characters. As authors we have the right to choose the characters in our stories, and we can have more if we think it is necessary.
4. Growing writers try to use the best words to share their stories. Efrain described the Hulk to a "T". He is big and huge. He is green, so green! He has blue shorts and black hair.
5. Growing writers sometimes write about their future. Alex is going to work as one of those conference guys as Microsoft, because he really likes to talk.
6. Growing writers can write their words on different parts of the page. Todd had writing at the top and bottom of his page, with a large picture in the middle.
7. Growing writers sometimes use events that have happened to them, but tell them with other characters. "Like William did."
8. Growing writers sometimes write "How-To" books if they know how to do something really well. Peyton is a master at drawing flowers, and is going to make a book to teach us all how.
9. Growing writers think about how they felt and share those feelings with their readers. Olivia loved to sing in front of her parents. She felt so happy that they were proud of her efforts.
10. Growing writers always have a purpose. (My personal favorite observation of the week! This was one of those times when I wanted to do a snoopy dance right there in front of the class!)
Perhaps one or more of these truths have sparked an idea for you. I certainly felt my own thoughts growing as we discussed together ways we can write.
Happy writing,
Karina Harris
www.karinaharrisauthor.comLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
1. Growing writers write about what is important to them. We learned that Kylee has three nieces and one of them has been in the hospital.
2. Growing writers sometimes write about things that have happened to them. We learned that William was in a tornado, and it was a very scary event.
3. Growing writers can add characters. As authors we have the right to choose the characters in our stories, and we can have more if we think it is necessary.
4. Growing writers try to use the best words to share their stories. Efrain described the Hulk to a "T". He is big and huge. He is green, so green! He has blue shorts and black hair.
5. Growing writers sometimes write about their future. Alex is going to work as one of those conference guys as Microsoft, because he really likes to talk.
6. Growing writers can write their words on different parts of the page. Todd had writing at the top and bottom of his page, with a large picture in the middle.
7. Growing writers sometimes use events that have happened to them, but tell them with other characters. "Like William did."
8. Growing writers sometimes write "How-To" books if they know how to do something really well. Peyton is a master at drawing flowers, and is going to make a book to teach us all how.
9. Growing writers think about how they felt and share those feelings with their readers. Olivia loved to sing in front of her parents. She felt so happy that they were proud of her efforts.
10. Growing writers always have a purpose. (My personal favorite observation of the week! This was one of those times when I wanted to do a snoopy dance right there in front of the class!)
Perhaps one or more of these truths have sparked an idea for you. I certainly felt my own thoughts growing as we discussed together ways we can write.
Happy writing,
Karina Harris
www.karinaharrisauthor.comLonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 5, 2012
Forever Blessed, For FREE!
I’m writing a super short post this week. Hopefully things will be normal at our house very soon…although who really wants normal?
But, seeing as how we are still not quite settled and seeing as how I have a big promotion coming up this weekend, I thought I would simply provide the information and wish you a wonderfully blessed week.
On Friday, September 7th through Sunday September 9th, Forever Blessed will be free for your Kindle on Amazon. Yes, that is correct. You can download a copy for free this coming weekend.
Pass this info on to everyone you know who enjoys good Christian Fiction that makes a difference.
I pray you have a wonderful week!
Darlene Shortridge, Author of Until Forever and Forever Blessed, Fiction that makes a difference! Visit my website at www.darleneshortridge.com.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
But, seeing as how we are still not quite settled and seeing as how I have a big promotion coming up this weekend, I thought I would simply provide the information and wish you a wonderfully blessed week.
On Friday, September 7th through Sunday September 9th, Forever Blessed will be free for your Kindle on Amazon. Yes, that is correct. You can download a copy for free this coming weekend.
Pass this info on to everyone you know who enjoys good Christian Fiction that makes a difference.
I pray you have a wonderful week!
Darlene Shortridge, Author of Until Forever and Forever Blessed, Fiction that makes a difference! Visit my website at www.darleneshortridge.com.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 4, 2012
Reader's Favorite Award
Lonely Hearts earns Silver Medal!
The 2012 Reader's Favorite Awards have been announced and I'm excited to tell you that Lonely Hearts has been awarded the Silver Medal and Five Stars
"Amanda Stephan's 'Lonely Hearts'� is a charming, romantic read that will pull you into the story and keep you turning page after page until the end! ..."
Come celebrate with me!
eBook Only 99¢ on
Smashwords.com
If you like sweet Christian romance similar to Love Inspired, take a sneak peek at Lonely Hearts!
One lonely mother.
Two matchmaking kids.
Three eligible bachelors.
What could possibly go wrong?
Try before you buy!
Read an Excerpt
Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
September 3, 2012
Absolutely the *BEST* Upcycled Lip Balm Ever
If you haven't read my lotion bar recipe yet, you can do so here
One evening while I was sitting in my writing chair, I needed some lip balm. Because my hands aren't the only part of me that gets chapped. Trust me. A day on the boat in the hot, blistering sun will dry anyone out like a prune. But I digress. Knowing what was in the lotion bar that was sitting on my nice little table right…next…to…me, I swiped some across my prunish lips.
And they smiled. And pronounced to my children that this was the best lip balm in the entire world. (Yes. My lips did this of their own accord. I didn't force them to say it.)
Another great idea was born.
That night, I waited until everyone in our household was asleep and I snitched every half empty container of lip balm that no one wanted to use anymore for some reason or other. Some were said to be slimy. Some were accused of being chalky or gritty. (Ick. I know.) There were at least two that had melted almost entirely out of their tubes. Poor things. (No. You may not ask why these weren't just thrown away. See previous post regarding not wasting.) So I gave them a new lease on life. With my own homemade, non-greasy, gritty, slimy, or additive infested lip balm that my lips had already fallen in love with. Yep, I did. I made another batch of those little lotion bars, but instead of putting them all into the silicone molds, I squirted that warm balm into those now cleaned and rejuvenated cases. And let them cool down.
Apparently I need to make more. Because I can't find those tubes anywhere. I suspect my daughter, son, and husband have stolen them. Shameless hooligans.
Amanda's Upcycled Lip Balm
2 oz beeswax
2 oz coconut oil
1 Tbsp Olive oil
Essential oil of your choice ~ Eucalyptus, peppermint, vanilla, lemon
Recycled lip balm tubes ~ cleaned and dried
1 turkey/chicken marinade injector ~ cleaned or unused
Combine the beeswax and coconut oil in a microwave safe container.
Microwave on high, stirring at 45 second intervals.
While waiting for the mixture to completely melt, combine olive oil and several drops of essential oil. Cinnamon leaf or Vanilla are great ones to try. WAIT! We could try them together...ARGH! I have no beeswax left! If you try this, let me know how it turns out, please?
Stir until blended together.
Once beeswax and coconut oil are completely melted, stir in olive oil mixture until well mixed.
Using the new, unused Turkey marinade injector (the funny part? Hubby doesn't have a clue where all his injectors go) suck up some warm liquid. Make sure it's quite warm, or it'll be difficult to suction up.
Insert injector into cleaned and supported lip balm tubes. Inject liquid until it reaches the very top.
Set on countertop until completely cooled.
Once completely cooled and firm, twist bottom up until lip balm is slightly above the rim of the tube. Trim off uneven top and save the cut off part for another use!
Hide several in secret places from your husband and children or you won't have any... ;)
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Amanda Stephan~Christian Author
BooksByAmanda.com
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
I May Not Be A Princess, But I Am Getting A New Bed!
I have a confession to make: I have been sleeping on the couch. No, I have not been mad at my husband; it's much more complicated then that (sigh). When we were first married we had a king size waterbed which sprung a leak, twice I might add. So we decided enough with the soggy bed and sought to replace our mattress. At the time, two years ago, I got the bright idea to order a mattress online because all the area stores required us to buy a mattress/box spring set which we did not need. So I did a little research, little being the operative word here, and found a mattress with claims of grandeur and sleepful nights of comfort. This is the part where I start laughing madly.
Yes, you heard me correctly, laughing madly. Why you ask? Well, because what we received was nothing more then a oversize version of a futon. I tried sleeping on this futon replacement mattress, but I kept having shoulder and back pain so intense it drove me to the ... you got it, the couch.
So two years later and a mere few weeks ago, I made up the couch in the dark and went to sleep. I slept the semi sound sleep of someone on a couch who has no idea that her world is about to change. And change it did my friends as I awoke and found out that I am definitely not a princess. Much to my amusement, as I put my blankets away for the day, I found that I had slept on two small
bicycle helmets belonging to my seven year old daughter's Polly Pockets.
For those of you who are familiar with Polly Pockets,
you know they are very small dolls with a myriad of accessories and
rubber clothes. What you might not know, however, is the fact that there
are some pint sized Pollys about half the size of the originals. So you
can well imagine that the bicycle helmets for the pint size versions
are only about the size of a very large pea.
Picking up those two pea sized helmets from my couch bed, I began to laugh. What was going through my mind? Why the story of The Princess and the Pea
of course. You know, that old Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale that
tells of the princess who slept uncomfortably on a huge stack of
mattresses because someone had placed a pea underneath the bottom
mattress. Apparently the fact that she was able to feel the pea was the
tell tale sign that she was true royalty.
Since I
obviously did not feel the peas I was sleeping on, peas that were right
under me and not even under a stack of mattresses, I realized that I am not a princess.
Saddened as I was by that knowledge, I think I will survive. I might even
go to the library and see if I can find a copy of The Princess and the Pea to share with my daughter, who for some unknown reason, was playing where I usually sleep.
But this fairy tale still has a happy ending despite the fact that I am not a princess. This last week my husband and I finally went and bought a new bed. It's one of those new fancy beds with memory foam, memory gel for dispersing body heat, massage, and head and foot sections that raise. About the only thing this bed doesn't do is make itself, but that's okay because after I've slept in it I'm going to be so happy I won't mind making the bed.
So ends another episode of Kids Korner with me, Children's Author Aileen Stewart. Join me next week for another exciting episode same krazy time, same krazy channel. And feel free to drop by my personal blog Aileen's Thoughts any day of the week for even more on reading, writing, and life in general.
Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian Romance
The Price of Trust ~ Christian Romantic Suspense
http://www.booksbyamanda.com
God is Good, God is Great
A little of this, a little of that. I love doing many different things, but I'm going to share my love of good books, fun crafts, freebies, contests, and scrapbooking with this blog. Enjoy!
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