ChristianMilitaryWives

    
Fountain of Youth is the debut Christian short film from Light in the Dark, Inc.  The film is only 12 minutes long, but the story is timeless.  Light in the Dark, Inc. is a unique production company with high standards and a promising future.

     Fountain of Youth is the story of a young man struggling with being in a rut.  When he hears tale of a “fountain of youth” he is intrigued.  He talks with an elderly man that tells him where the fountain can be found.  He and a young female friend set off on a journey to find the fountain.  What they find is inspiring.  The cast, although debuting in this film, is talented.  Much thought was put into every scene.

     Light in the Dark, Inc. was started in 2003 by Allen Carrescia.  It is run by Allen and his brother Reid.  Allen graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Reid is currently at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  They are presently working on other short films with a feature film in the near future.

     Fountain of Youth is an inspirational film that will touch many of lives.  The simplicity will draw viewers in to the story.  The cast does a great job of keeping your attention.  The film is available for only $5 (free shipping) at www.lightinthedark.com.

We promised our listening audience that we would post recipes for the homemade bath and beauty products we discussed on our Friday night show about a month ago! We may be slow, but we always deliver!

If you are looking for a good, creative, homemade gift to give to friends and family members this Christmas season, they you are in for a treat -- and if you make these things for them, they will be in for a treat too! Enjoy and feel free to post your questions here and we will answer them as we are able!  

Bath Fizzy Bombs!

All the ingredients I use:


Dry ingredients: (I measure by weight)
Baking Soda - 8 ounces

Citric Acid - 4 ounces
Corn Starch - 4 ounces
Salts - 4 ounces (Dead sea salts, mineral or epsom salts all work fine. I use epsom since they are the most affordable and they make the fizzies sparkle a little)

Wet Ingredients:
Water 1 T
Essential or Fragrance Oil - 2 tsp (Below I listed the supplier I use for fragrance oils)
Oil  2.5 T (I use almond oil a lot because it's light scented and feels nice on skin. If you use olive oil or other pungent oils consider how it may smell with the scented oils.)

Food coloring - 1 or 2 drops. (I personally don’t like using color. Just remember the color could stain skin and tubs, although not likely if it’s very light.)

1. Dry Ingredients:
 

Combine all dry ingredients in a (preferably glass) bowl. Whisk all of the clumps out. Be gentle with the whisk because the powders are all fine and you will be in a cloud before you know it! Your ingredients should have a fine consistency throughout.

2. Wet Ingredients: 

Blend your wet ingredients together. Do not worry if they do not mix well. You have water and oil in the same small bowl. I use a whisk and whisk it right before I pour it. You can also, alternatively, shake it in a small jar with a lid on it. 

3. Combine Ingredients:

I make a small well in the center of my powder and I use my hand to mix at this point. Take off all your jewelry if you do this. As I pour the mixture I use my hand to quickly and evenly distribute the moisture. If your mixture has a “reaction” (begins to fizz) quickly mix it into a drier (non-reactive) part of the mixture. The goal is to get the ingredients well blended and moist enough to mold, but you do not want the fizzy reaction to happen yet. That’s the reaction you want later in the tub! Add liquid about 1 tsp at a time. The consistency of the mixture, when you are all done, should be like damp sand that is easy to mold. When you grab a handful of it and squeeze it should be molded when you open your fist like in the picture above.

4. Give them shape!

Once your mixture is together, you have a pretty limited amount of time in which to get it into molds. A lot of people who make the bombs (myself in included as you see in pics) use the hollow Christmas tree ornaments you can find at your local craft store. They come apart at the center and are made to fill with stuff. 

To do the big bombs like these, you have to pack each side first and then overfill at the center and press the two sides together. You will eventually learn how much you need but you always need both sides of the orb full and then a heaping amount in the middle. This allows you to press the two sides together and hold it for 30 seconds or so until it molds them together. You don’t pull them apart, but rather you will gently shake or tap them and they will unmold. 
 

This recipe makes 4 good sized bombs and one half of a bomb. You can use smaller ball molds or use molds that have a shape to them (you can get these at the craft stores in the soap making section. 

When you unmold them there are a few things to remember:

1. Store them in a dry area, but do not do anything to dry them quickly. If they dry too quickly they will crack (no fan and no putting them in a warm oven, etc). They take approximately 24 hours to dry completely.

 2. As they dry, let them rest on a dry, white towel. I also turn them often for the first few hours. This keeps moisture from building up under them on the towel. The softness of the towel will keep the balls from developing a flat side. 

3. Some times small “warts” will appear. These are just small areas where the fizzy was has activated either because the mixture was not mixed really well OR there is too much moisture. It’s best to make them on a dry day. 

4. When they are hard and completely dry they can be stored in a bag or airtight container.  The shelf life for these is about 6 months. I have never had to find out if they last longer than 2 weeks! 

The only instructions you need to add, if you give them as a gift, is “Fill tub with hot water, drop in bath bomb, watch it fizz, enjoy its scents, feel the oils release on your skin.... sit back and relax!”

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Sugar Scrubs 


I have discovered that a good sugar scrub is the best way to exfoliate and add moisture to your skin in one step. I looked for many recipes this summer, but basically what I do is add brown sugar (or white if you want a harsher exfoliant) to pure vegetable glycerine. I mix in my essential oil and my favorite moisture oil - which again I use almost or sunflower oils for their light scent. 

Vegetable glycerine can be a little hard to find, but there is a link at the end of this article to an herb store where I get my ingredients. They have glycerine that is inexpensive and very good to use.

With a body scrub the key thing is to suspend the sugar in a main substance that will not dissolve the sugar. Many other recipes omit the glycerine and use a light oil such as safflower, sunflower or almond and a fragrance oil.  

Regardless of what you use the portions tend to be as follows:
1 Cup of brown sugar
1/2 to 3/4 Cup of glycerine or oil
1-2 tsp essence oil (based on your preference)
other additives like berry seeds for extra exfoliation or honey for added moisture.

Get creative! Put the mixture in a pretty jar, add a label and give it to a friend who would enjoy the wonderful mixture for her skin! Quick hint: The best batch I made was with a chocolate scented oil, brown sugar, and a little cocoa butter mixed in! YUMMY!

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Milk Bath 
Last year my mother in law asked me to make baskets filled with homemade goodies. The milk bath I made was a huge hit. I made it and filled up small old fashioned glass milk bottles I found at Hobby Lobby. 

Again the ingredients are basic and you can make it in many ways -- look in your pantry and get creative!

What you will need:
Dry milk (2 Cups)
Almond or other light scented oil (2 Tbs.)
Essence/Scented oil (1-2 tsp depending on preference)
Bath salts 1/2 C.
Optional: honey, oatmeal ground in a food processor, etc. 

Add the ingredients until well blended! Put in a nice container with instructions to add about 1/2 C. of the dry mixture to a running bath! Enjoy!  

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The next two recipes are from the book "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox.  Janice was kind enough to give us permission to publish them in this article for our military wives! Thank you Janice! I encourage you all to check out her book for other ideas!

Oatmeal Cleanser/Facial

1 Cup Oatmeal
½ cup Powdered Milk
Herbs of your choice (Green tea, Chamomile, Peppermint, Lavender)

Place oatmeal, powdered milk, and herbs (one tea bag worth is good) in a food processor  or blender and process till powdery. Store in an air tight container. To use as a cleanser mix two tablespoons of the mix with just enough honey and water to make a paste. Gently scrub face with the mixture. Rinse with tepid water. To use as a facial use enough of the oatmeal mixture with an egg and some honey to make a paste. Leave on face for at least 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.

Green Tea Toner

1 cup boiling water
1 Green tea teabag
1-2 Tablespoons Witch Hazel

Steep tea for 15 minutes. Discard tea bag and allow tea to cool completely. Add in Witch Hazel, 1 Tablespoon if you have dry, sensitive skin, 2 Tablespoons if you have oily skin. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To use dampen a cotton ball with the toner and gently wipe face. 

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Our final recipe comes to us compliments one of Linda's good friends! I hope you all enjoy the recipe... the name sure may give you a boost of confidence!

Katie’s Super Sexy Silky Smooth Leg Scrub

1 cup Cornmeal
1 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Coconut Oil

Mix the ingredients till it is the consistence of wet sand, adding more Coconut oil if need be. Store in an airtight container. Has a very long shelf life as Coconut oil is very stable and takes a long time to reach rancidity. Use after shaving in the shower. Take two Tablespoons of the mixture and exfoliate well. Rinse with warm water. Dry with a soft towel and work the remaining  Coconut oil into the skin. This can be used as a full body scrub. Do not use on the upper chest as the skin is very sensitive. Do NOT use on the face. The cornmeal can get in the eyes and scratch your cornea. 

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Things to keep in mind if making for gifts:

Small pretty canning  jars are fairly inexpensive to use. You can also find a lot of cute jars and bottles at craft stores. Be sure you always use very clean containers (I sterilize mine in my dishwasher -- just the jars no other dishes in while I sterilize them).  I also use very fresh ingredients and I use organic when I can. Good luck, and if you make anything, please post about it here and give your own tips and tricks! 

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**I use sweetcakes.com as my supplier for fragrance oils. They have great oils and wonderful prices! 
I also use www.mountainroseherbs.com for my almond oil and my citric acids. I also buy my vegetable glycerine from them.  

 

     Now available on DVD, THE PERFECT GIFT is an inspirational Christian movie about the reason behind the Christmas holiday.  It is an extremely well-made production for the entire family.  This is sure to be a Christmas classic.  Like other Christmas classics it makes viewers seriously think about situations/relationships in their own lives and leaves them feeling hopeful in the end.  It explains the sad truth that Christ is being excluded from Christmas – it is like the whole world throwing you a birthday party… and you weren’t invited!  This question in the movie urges viewers to think how the world has commercialized Christ’s birthday, does not even acknowledge Christmas as His birthday.  An example of this is that in America it is not widely acceptable to say “Merry Christmas”; we are expected to say instead “Seasons Greetings.”  The film highlights the meanings of some popular Christmas symbols like the tree, wreath, candy cane, and the nativity. 

      THE PERFECT GIFT is the story of a spoiled young girl, Max (Christina Fougnie), who feels cheated that Christmas is on her birthday.  Max is too consumed with her birthday gift list and cake to be concerned about Christmas.  Her overworked mom must ask neighbor, Tony (Matt Wallace), to watch Max after school.  While hanging out at the church where Tony works, Max meets a mysterious drifter, Jess (Jefferson Moore).  Jess helps Max, Tony, and the whole community understand why we celebrate Christmas.

     THE PERFECT GIFT reveals in a loving way the meaning of the perfect gift.  A hint – it is NOT something you can buy.  It tells the unchangeable story of Christmas in a humorous and exciting new way.  The film has an uplifting message about standing up for what you believe.  The film has a very talented cast and high quality production.  The theme song Emmanuel (You are with me) written by Tim Brown and Mark Smeby is extremely moving.  It is performed by Mark Smeby who also acts in the movie as bad guy, Blaine Pollett.  You can find out more about the movie, view a study guide, and purchase the film at www.perfectgiftmovie.com. 

     THE PERFECT GIFT is a great way to start the Christmas season and is a Christmas must see movie!

    I thought I would share with you ladies a book that changed my whole perspective on marriage.  It is called ''CREATED TO BE HIS HELP MEET'' by Debi Pearl.  It influenced my life and my husband's life.
    This book reminds women that we are created to be helpers to our husbands, not the other way around.  We all have things our husbands ask us to do and we grumble about it.  Mine has always been when my husband asks me to hold his green army bag open so he can pack it.  Don't exactly know why, but I really dislike this job.  However, I realize God wants me to help and honor my husband by holding his green army bag open...so I will, and now without complaint.
   Sadly, we live in a society where husbands are expected to always do things for their wives.  What is in it for me?  My husband is supposed to fufill all my needs and wants.  Wrong! We are to be our husband's help meet, not the other way around.
   Recently My hubby and me went on a trip to the beach for his leave. We had a 4 hour drive. I decided to bring this book along and maybe read some.  Well, my hubby was interested in the book, since I had told him it had greatly influenced my life. He asked me to read it aloud.  I read the section about 3 kinds of men.  They are Mr. Command Man, Mr. Visionary, and Mr. Steady.  Many men have a combination of 2 or all 3.  When I started reading about Mr. Visionary, my husband kept laughing.  He told me he was probably 60-70%  Mr. Visionary.  My husband was happy to learn who he was, and it was helpful for me as well.  There were some things he did that I totally did not understand till I read this.  For instance, my hubby would always be gung-ho about starting a project and often leave it unfinished. I thought my husband was lazy with these projects and it really irritated me.  What I came to realize, is that the visionary will often start a project and get distracted with another one and never finish the one they started.  Wow! It changed my perspective!  He hadn't realized he had been doing this till I pointed out some specific examples. We were both floored.  It helped me be more understanding, and him to be more aware.
   This book also shares mistakes other women made in their marriages. These womens' only goal is to warn you not to make the same mistakes they made and risk pushing your husband away...maybe forever. Be prepared, you will need a box of tissues.
   The 2nd part of the book goes in depth on Titus 2.  How the older women are supposed to teach the younger women. Each chapter focuses on what kind of women we are to be.  We are to be sober, lovers of our husbands, lovers of our children, discreet,chaste, keepers at home, good, and obedient to our own husbands.
   Debi answers some tough questions from women, backing up her responses with scripture.  It  is a changing book! At times it can be hard to swallow, but if you let it change you, it will.  It will change your marriage!
   My husband was so impressed, he told me if I found some good books on marriage for men, he would read them.  My hubby has never been much of a reader.  So, I found 3 books that were recommended to me, ''MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART, HUSBAND AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART, and POWER OF A PRAYING HUSBAND.  He told me he has started reading the books( over seas) and that they are actually pretty good!  Wow!  I wonder if I had never shared this book with him, if he would be reading books on being a better husband!
   The book ''CREATED TO BE HIS HELP MEET'' is a great book on becoming a godly wife. It is both helpful and convicting!  If you read it with a right heart and open mind, seriously desiring to be a better Christian wife, then God will change you and bless you with a better marriage.  You will be amazed how God will change your husband as well!
   So, I urge you to get this book!  You will not be disappointed!  It may just be a turning point in your marriage as it was in mine.

The Wives Who Wait

Twas the night before Christmas
And there all alone
I saw a young woman
Who sat by the phone

For what was she waiting
On this holiday night
Where were the stockings
Christmas tree, lights?

I saw one little tear
As it rolled down her face
And she curled up in a blanket
Then looked round the place

Something was missing
Someone not here
In her face I saw sadness
Did I also see fear?

I paused and I wondered
What could it be?
That would cause a young woman
To look so lonely

How could anyone so precious
Choose such a life?
Then I realized this woman
Was a soldiers wife.

Her gift for this Christmas
Is to hear that phone ring
“Hey baby, I miss you
Don’t worry about a thing”

Each day I thank God for the soldiers that serve
Ever willing to fight and lay down his life
But how often do I ever remember think
About the young woman who is that soldier's wife

Thank you God for these women
They are just as strong
They sacrifice daily
And without help get along

So God please protect our soldiers
On this holiday eve so late
And give an extra hug
To their wives who wait

(written by Jeannie Lining, my mom, during OEF deployment 2008)

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to try a new recipe.  While shopping for chocolate at one of the craft stores, I stumbled upon a package of Andes Peppermint Crunch.  Of course, I didn't literally stumble.  That would have been a site.  ;-)

On the back of the package I noticed the Peppermint Crunch Cupcake recipe.  It was a smash hit, so I thought I would share it with you.

Ingedients:

1 package (18.25 oz.) Devil's Food cake mix
(Eggs, oil, and water according to package directions)
1 package (10 oz.) Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips
1 container (16 oz.) white ready to spread frosting

Directions:

Preheat oven according to cake mix package directions.

Prepare cake mix; stir in 1 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips; reserve remaining chips.

Divide batter evenly into cupcake pans lines with foil baking cups.

Bake according to cake mix package directions.

Cool cupcakes in pans for 15 minutes; remove to cooling racks and cool completely.

Frost each cupcake with 1 rounded Tbs. of frosting and sprinkle with 2 tsp. reserved chips.

Yield:

24 Cupcakes

On Black Friday, Claire Shackelford and I teamed up to tackle the topic of Keeping The Spirit of Christmas.  So often times, stores spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to create promotional ads about upcoming sales that will take place on Black Friday.  The commercials are always geared to targeting individuals that celebrate Christmas in one way or another.

On the podcast, Claire brings up the fact that we have seen deaths in the United States associated with Black Friday.  Store workers who have been trampled to death because of eager shoppers trying to find a great deal.

We talk about how we can all remember how to keep the focus on Christ.  If you have not heard the podcast, you can download it and listen free by clicking HERE.  I hope you are blessed by listening.

Here's a wonderful poem that Claire read when she opened up the show...

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "it's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

-Author Unknown

Be sure to listen to the podcast, Keeping The Spirit Of Christmas with Hostess Claire Shackelford and Co-host, Patti Katter.  Also note, we talked about BRONNERS Christmas Store.  Here's the BRONNERS website.

    Recently I heard a sermon about how we are to give thanks in all things. Yes, all things.  The key is ''in'' all things, not ''for'' all things.
   When our car breaks down, our Dr. tells us we have cancer, or a close friend dies, We are not expected to jump up and down and praise God for that particular situation.  What God does want is for us to find something ''in'' that situation to be thankful for.
    One of the most recent examples I saw of having thankfulness ''in'' all things, I saw by watching my older sister.  She was 12 weeks along in her pregnancy; and  she was going in for her first checkup.  She had been anticipating this appointment for some time.  What she did not anticipate was that there would be no heart beat coming from the little one inside her.  Her baby had passed away before it was born.
    How devastating!  This is what she had wanted... to get pregnant!  She had so badly wanted this baby inside of her, to hold this baby in her arms.  That however, was not to be.
    Thankfully, my sister is a Christian.  She is also close to the Lord.  So, while this was painful;and she is still grieving, her response was, ''The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. '' Blessed be the name of the Lord!''  
     That was her conclusion regarding her miscarriage.  How did she get to that conclusion?  Did that kind of response just come naturally?   No, it came from a thankful heart, and one that trusted God.  She found things ''in'' the situation to be thankful for.
    First of all, she was thankful her baby would not have to live in a sinful world and endure pain.  She realized and trusted that God knew what was best for her baby.   She also was thankful that God had already blessed her with one living son.  She was very comforted with the fact that Jesus was the first face her baby got to see.  Now that is pretty amazing!  
In spite of her loss, pain and grief, She was thankful!
     God loves and hears a grateful heart!  When we are thankful, God will bless us.
    So, your car breaks down.  Hey, you have a car.  You can be thankful that God has given you that car. I know people who don't even own a car!
Also, you can be thankful in advance for how God is going to work the situation out.
     You have been told you have cancer.  Be thankful for the life God has given you.  Thankful that you have a God who will never leave or forsake you.  Thankful that through this, you may be brought closer to him.
    Though you feel loss when a friend dies; if they were a believer you will see them again one day.  You can be thankful that you had that person in your life, thankful for all the wonderful memories.  You can be thankful you have a God who understands and will be your comfort.
    Are you beginning to understand thankfulness ''in'' all situations?  The more you practice being thankful, the easier it will become!
     The last example  I have is one we all know well,when your spouse is deployed.  True it is easy to find much to grumble about, but don't miss the opportunity to be thankful!  Be thankful you have a husband who is providing for you, that he even has a job.  Be thankful that you now have more time to draw closer to God and study on how to be a better wife!  Be thankful that your faith is about to increase!  Be thankful that you have a God who you can turn to for everything.  Yes, everything!  No problem you face will be too hard for your God to handle.   God has so many lessons to teach you at this time.  Are you willing to learn?  Can you show gratitude to God, even in this?
    Are you willing to be thankful ''in'' all things, in every situation?  I urge you to do just that.  See how the Lord will bless you as you continue to come before God with a grateful heart!