July Covergirl: Lady Jess, A Girl Growing in Grace

I'm pleased to present this month's GGM Covergirl, Lady Jess. I've only know Lady Jess for about 6months, but I've come to know her as a very sweet, caring, thoughtful person. She is also a big part of GGM as every month she designs our PDF layout. I know God is going to bless her abundantly for all her efforts and talents. I'm excited to see what He will do in her life!

The Bertolini Family...Monica, Gina, Sisterlisa, Mr. B, Timmy, and Jess

GGM: I know you are still young, but what has your childhood been like? I mean, where have you lived, and what are some memories you cherish?

Lady Jess: The only place ever remember living at, besides where I live now, is in a pretty small apartment. As for the memories: birthday parties, church activities, my friends, my salvation, which is a special one, and other decisions I have made.

GGM: What is your relationship with your sisters and your brother like? You and Monica are pretty close in age.

Siblings... Gina, Monica, Timmy, and Jess

Lady Jess: Pretty good. I babysit a lot, and homeschooling has helped me get to know them better.

GGM: Are you happy with being homeschooled?

Lady Jess: Yes. I would never go back to school if given the choice. And, if I were forced to go back, I would probably put up a pretty good fight, and if that didn't work, then I would outshine every kid there.

GGM: What are your favourite hobbies? And why do you like them?

Lady Jess: Reading, because it's fun, and it expands my vocabulary. Talking to my friends, and singing, even though I don't like to sing in front of people. I still enjoy it a lot.

GGM: Do you have a favourite memory?

Lady Jess: No. I can't possibly pick one to be a favorite because I have so many.

GGM: I know you like to design things. What got you started on that? Where do some of your ideas come from?

Lady Jess: (I think you are talking about Monica, she is the designer) I recently was given the opportunity to design the PDF of GGM and enjoy that type of designing.

GGM: You help your mom translate for the hearing-impaired. When did you start learning sign-language and what affect has it had on your life?

Lady Jess: I started learning it from my mom at age four, and it is neat to learn a 'second language', if you will. I find it neat that my best friend has started to learn it from my mom and me, and she is always asking me questions about it.

GGM: If you could change one thing about your lifestyle, what would it be?

Lady Jess: That I lived on a farm and had more brothers and sisters.

GGM: How did you become a Christian? Have you ever felt God calling you to do something?

Lady Jess: I first got saved when I was five, and I hardly remember it, so then I made assurance of it when I was ten. I've never felt God calling me to anything, but I continue to pray that God will reveal what he has planned for my life. My heart changed last year after our parents brought us home. I had a time when I thought I'd never want a large family, and I couldn't stand the thought of camping and getting dirty. But now I want a large family, to be a godly wife, and I desire to homeschool my children and live on a farm.

GGM: What are some of your favourite Bible passages?

Lady Jess: Proverbs 31, because it says how ladies should act, and also Proverbs 7 because it warns us how not to act. I also like Genesis 1 and the book of Revelations.

GGM: What have you read in your Bible lately that has really spoken to you?

Lady Jess: I recently read, in Daniel 1-2, that Daniel stood up to King Nebuchadnezzar and trusted in God to protect him as did his friend, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They also stood up to the King and trusted that God would save them from the fiery furnace. That told me that I need to stick up for God more and for the Bible, for example: If I go out soul winning and someone starts bashing the Bible or thinks that they can take verses out of context, I should be able to stand up for myself and tell them that they are wrong and the right verse is what it is.

Thank you Lady Jess for taking the time to answer our questions and thank you for all the hard work you do around here to help make GGM what it is. We are blessed by you, and so is everyone you meet and greet!

Freedom For All

The theme for July is Freedom. As Americans, this month is a special month to observe our freedom as a nation on its own, starting fresh. As Believers, we can celebrate Freedom in Christ each and every day!

FREEDOM by

July 4, 1776 was when America declared freedom. February 13, 2002 was when I declared freedom…freedom in Christ! Before that time, I had the impression that freedom was living the way I wanted to live, but little did I know that I was only living in bondage—to the world, my lustful desires, to fear, deceitfulness, and many other ungodly ways. That marker date in my history was when Jesus signed my declaration of independence, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!

INDEPENDENCE DAY
by Miss Amanda
I think freedom is something that many of us don't realize that we have. It is something that we have just been born into, and it is a way of life. As I get older I have come to realize that freedom really isn't free. It is normally paid for with blood.
The most important blood that was spent for freedom was Jesus' blood that was spilled to give us the freedom from sin.
Many martyrs gave their blood for the freedom to share the Word of God.
Many soldiers have given and are still giving their blood for the freedom to live in America the way we do.
Being free is so important and we need to remember all the lives that were given, so that we can have all the freedoms we do.



What is Freedom? by Miss Kaitlynn

Some say it is to be able to be free from everything: rules, authority, etc. But that is not freedom. That is anarchy.

I think freedom is being able to believe in what God has called you to believe in and being able to stand up for what you believe in.

Galatians 5:1

1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Freedom
by Miss Alyssa

True freedom is something no one can take away. True freedom is something that only you can decide to either receive or refuse. True freedom is receiving Jesus into your heart. Then, no matter what happens, you are free because Jesus has set you free from sin. Only then will you be truly free!

Romans 6:18
"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Freedom
by Lady Olivia

“Turn it up! Turn it up! Please!” I remember telling my mom repeatedly.

When I was about five years old I had a favorite song called Freedom by Darrel Evans. Every time I heard it on the radio I would ask my mom that same question over. I didn’t care what anyone thought about what I was doing. I had all the freedom in the world when I rejoiced and danced for the Lord.

Whenever I go out in public I sometimes lose what really is me inside and my shyness takes over a little too much. I think we all have that same problem at some point. God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. I hope that God will help me overcome that mistake and let me have real FREEDOM just like I did when I was dancing around in my living room as a little girl.

What is Freedom? An Interview by Mrs.D
Miss Hannah is 8. I asked her a few questions about Freedom.

Miss Hannah, do you know what Freedom is?

It is being set free from being a slave or a servant.

Is it a good thing to have your freedom? And why?

Yes. Because you can do things like grocery shopping. And you can play with your children.

What is an important Freedom we have as God's people?

Salvation

And what is our Salvation?

Becoming a Christian. And of the Holy Spirit.

And do you know how we get that Salvation?

From the Holy Scriptures.

Do you know what Salvation means? It means being Saved. What are we saved from as a Christian?

Our sin.

And, how are we saved from our sins? What one thing happened in all of creation that saved us from our sins?

Jesus died on the cross.

And, is that a freedom anyone can have? Did Jesus die for everyone?

Yes.

So we're talking about Freedom. What do you think about that? About Jesus dying on the cross for everyone?

Did He give us Freedom?

You tell me, Hannah, did He?

I think so.

Well, do want to be stuck in your sin?

No.

Then did He give us Freedom?

Yes.
Thank you Jesus.

I don't think freedom is what it used to be. I really think that satan has taken a hold of what that word means to a lot of people. However as a Christian freedom means that I'm free in Christ to do anything I please because I'm saved by grace, but it also means that I'm free from sin so I don't have to. I am free to follow Jesus with my whole heart, no matter what people tell me. I recently found this verse in Romans, which really got me. A lot of people really do think that because they're saved by grace that can do anything they please, but the Bible teaches that we are free from sin and are to be servants unto Christ, to live unto holiness and live forever!

Romans 6:22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

I thank God I am free of sin and free to follow Him! Christ has set me free!

National Postal Worker Day

Ever wondered how your letters and packages get around the world so fast? It usually takes just two days to send a letter from the East to the West, and it's all because the United States Postal Service workers work hard everyday to transport your mail. You may think that your mail is only transported on week days from 7am to 5pm. That's when most Post Offices close, right? Not exactly...The mail is always on the move. It's always being transported, scanned, and processed somewhere.

It completely boggles my mind how the USPS does it. It is very complex, but all so organized. There are thousands and thousands of letters and packages that goes through the Post Offices everyday. I got to see for myself how a "house-to-house" mail carrier sorts the mail, loads up the mail, and delivers it right to your door last year when I went to help my dad collect canned-food. My Dad has been working for the USPS for over two years now, and it's been very interesting hearing how everything works. When he started off he wasn't a mail carrier, instead he worked from 2am to ??? collecting and transporting the mail from city to city, on a split shift.

The US Post Office has been around almost as long as the Pilgrims. The first Post Service was established in February, 1692 by King William and Queen Mary, who charged the task to Thomas Neale. However on July 26, 1776 Benjamin Franklin built the first ever United States Post Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Because the post clause in Article One of the US Constitution the Congress was able to "To establish post offices and post roads", and it became the Postal Department in 1792. However, it was recognized as an independent agency and changed it's name to Postal Service. Because the mail had to get around things like the building of the federal railway across the entire country were set in motion. The Railway Mail Service was then created on the side just for the mail. The Mail Railway Service was a big deal to people, and those who delivered it were considered famous. There were even mail competitions to see who could deliver their mail the fastest.

As the USPS grew and gained respect and money, more political issues were involved. In the 1890s Anthony Comstock, working with New York Society for Suppression of Vice, made it illegal to mail anything obscene, indecent or involving abortion, alcohol, or contraception.

The sign of the USPS as not always been the Eagle's head. At first it was the Roman god Mercury but was replaced in 1837 with a running pony and after that the had a flying eagle. In the 1990s the eagle was redesigned again to just the eagle head.

In 1845 it would have cost you no more than 14.5 cents to send something through the general USPS and only 5 cents through a private USPS. Today the price of one letter to stamp is 42 cents. That may seem like nothing but when you add it up to as many letters as you're sending to grandparents it gets pretty pricey. Within the past few years the stamp as been raised several cents, but everyone still uses the mail and they always will.

The Postal Reorganization Act signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970, replaced the cabinet-level Post Office Department with the independent United States Postal Service. July 1, 1971 is the day the Act took effect and it's also National Postal Workers Day. The USPS does a lot of work to get those special letters, cards, and packages to your door.

This year, thank them.

National Postal Worker Day
My Dad is a U.S. Postal Worker. He delivers mail to people. He first started working for the Post Office back in 2004, driving a big truck, taking mail to the Post Offices in Fort Wayne (20 miles away). He would go in to in the morning and would not get home until 11pm. So when he switched to working in the town about 8 miles from us, his was closer to us and he was home more.

When the day came that we could go with him to work and help him collect cans for charity, I was excited. I had never been to work with him. He has about 10 miles route everyday that he delivers mail to. We got up with him and got dressed to go. When we got to the P.O., Dad had to sort the mail by the addresses and streets. We waited while he did that. Funny thing was, we were the only kids there. It was the can-drive day... all the other kids were in school.

Amanda, Eric and I had to walk while Dad drove the mail truck. We carried the bags of cans we got from people, and he delivered the mail to people. I remember we ate lunch around 3pm, at a fast food restaurant. Then it was back to work. When we got home, we were all so tired. I understood why Dad didn't want to do anything when he gets home at night. He must be really tired. He walks all day, and then he goes to Lowe's. My Dad works very hard to feed, clothe, and house us. I am very proud to say my Dad is a Postal Worker. :)

Can you imagine what it would be like with no mail or post office? Well for many years in the beginning of the United States, there was no post office. You had to hand deliver your own letters.
The first United States Post Office, USPO, was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia by Benjamin Franklin on July 26th, 1776 by decree from the Second Continental Congress.
The USPO was based off the Postal Clause in Article One of the United States Constitution, which empowered Congress "To establish post offices and post roads," it then became the Post Office Department in 1792.

When there was political corruption with the United States Post Office it was realized that in order for the Postal System to thoroughly do its job, it would need a building of a federal railway to transport mail all across America. The Railway Mail Service was then created. RMS workers were hired and became some of the most skilled mail sorters in the service.

From 1782 to 1837, the USPS used Mercury as its symbol, til it was replaced in 1837 with a running pony. The running pony stood for the Pony Express. The running pony symbol was then replaced with the eagle flight in 1970, and in the 1990's the eagle had a new design with just the head.

Nowadays we only get mail 1 time a day and 6 days a week, did you know that until 1912 mail was delivered 7 days a week at many different times? Every time you got something at the post office it would be delivered to you and you could mail things whenever you needed to.

When mailing letters you need to make sure you have your letter in a sealed envelope with the correct address and a USPS stamp.

A little trivia about the USPS... you have heard the saying, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" and that it is the USPS motto, well its not! The USPS does not have a motto, although for a brief time after the World Trade Center attacks, it did adopt the saying in a commercial.

Next time you go to mail something remember all the work that your postman and post office does! I have seen how much they have to do when I had the opportunity to go to work with my Dad who is a mailman. Sorting all his mail, then walking 10+ miles a day along with carrying all the mail is a big job and it is hard work! The USPS works hard to make sure you get your mail and your letters from pen pals or grandparents. When you see your mailman or postmaster on July 13th, tell them thank you for all the hard work they do!

Portfolio de Couturier: The First American Flag

Portfolio de Couturier: The First American Flag…

I have always enjoyed the story of Betsy Ross and the honor bestowed upon her to sew the first American Flag. She was a loyal Patriot to her country and I can imagine her surprise when General George Washington, along with Governor Morris asked her to make the first of our beautiful flags.

... Sewing the American Flag…

What kinds of fabrics would Betsy have used?

It is said that Betsy Ross was an upholsterer.
Now an upholsterer specialized in covering chairs and other furniture of the times with heavy and durable fabrics. Therefore the fabrics Betsy could have most likely used would have been linens and heavy silks. Everything would have been hand sewn and assembled with the utmost care to get the design correct.

Imagine if you will her excitement in making the flag, and perhaps her nervousness when she had to present it to the founders of our country.

Upon seeing the flag that Betsy created; she was asked to make the rest of the flags for the American naval fleet. After this, The Congress then commissioned her to make all of our government’s flags.

Did you know that Betsy was able to cut a five pointed start with one snip of the scissors?

As the story goes, at first General Washington originally drew the stars on our flag with 6 points; instead of five because he assumed they would be easier to cut. However, Betsy soon demonstrated that a five pointed start could be cut easily with a single snip, thus the 5 pointed stars still remain on our beloved flag.

- 5 pointed star in one snip…. Click on the link to learn how to cut it. It's really fun!

Betsy’s Battle flag

by Minna Irving

*****
From dusk till dawn the livelong night

She kept the tallow dips alight,

And fast her nimble fingers flew
To sew the stars upon the blue.
With weary eyes and aching head

She stitched the stripes of white and red,
And when the day came up the stair
Complete across a carven chair
Hung Betsy's battle-flag.
Like shadows in the evening gray
The Continentals filed away,
With broken boots and ragged coats,
But hoarse defiance in their throats;
They bore the marks of want and cold,
And some were lame and some were old,
And some with wounds untended bled,
But floating bravely overhead
Was Betsy's battle-flag.

When fell the battle's leaden rain,
The soldier hushed his moans of pain
And raised his dying head to see

King George's troopers turn and flee.

Their charging column reeled and broke,

And vanished in the rolling smoke,

Before the glory of the stars,

the snowy stripes, and scarlet bars

Of Betsy's battle-flag.

The simple stone of Betsy Ross

Is covered now with mould and moss,

But still her deathless banner flies,

And keeps the color of the skies.

A nation thrills, a nation bleeds,

A nation follows where it leads,

And every man is proud to yield

His life upon a crimson field

For Betsy's battle-flag!

Did you know that July 25th is Threading the Needle Day?

In honor of that holiday, what are you going to thread your needle for?

On July 1776 the founders of our country signed

the Deceleration of Independence that declared our country a free nation under God.

Many man and women have given their lives and dedication to keep our country free.
Remember to pray for our soldiers who are serving in Iraq and all over the world.

God Bless the United States of America!

Portfolio de La Vie: Betsy Ross

Betsy Ross is one of the most-well known ladies in history, but not too much is known about her except that she was the first to sew an American flag with the stars and stripes.

On January 1st, 1752 Elizabeth (Betsy) Griscom was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the 8th child out of 17, and was brought up in a household with strict discipline rules of Society. Being in such a large family plain, sensible dresses were a given, and Betsy was good at making her clothes having learned how to sew from her great-aunt Sarah.

Betsy attended a Quaker school, and after she finish her father apprenticed her to an upholsterer named William Webster. While working for the upholsterer, Betsy fell in love with a young man and fellow worker John Ross, who was the son of an assistant rector at a Episcopal Church of Christ.

Because Betsy and John were of different denominations, Betsy was voted out of Quaker meetings and the couple had to elope. They did so in 1773 when Betsy was only 21, marrying at Hugg's Tavern in New Jersey.

Because of the marriage Betsy was forced to split from her family and the Quaker congregation. The young couple decided to join the Christ Church and start their own upholstery business to make a way in life.

When the American Revolutionary War broke out it affected the Rosses and they were financially weakened because the fabrics they depended on became scare and there was no business. John decided to join the Pennsylvania Militia and was then seriously injured by an ammo explosion just before the war was about to end in mid-January of 1776. He soon died afterward and was buried in Christ Church cemetery. Betsy continued on with the upholstery business by herself.

Only supported by 18th century affidavits and family oral history shows accounts of the widowed Betsy Ross meeting with George Washington, George Ross, and Robert Morris at her small upholstery business where it's said to have been the birth of the first American flag, complete with stars and stripes. It's been said that these

men met there in silence because the men protested that these new [five-pointed] stars would be unfamiliar and difficult for seamstresses to make, she folded a piece of paper, made a single scissor snip, and revealed a perfect five-pointed star.

After John's death, Betsy joined a group called the

"Fighting Quakers", who were quite nontraditional and support the war effort. In 1777, June, Betsy remarried to a sea-captain named Joesph Ashburn in Philadelphia.

During the war the Ashburn's house was occupied and used by British soldiers, of course, forcibly when they controlled the city in 1777. Betsy nursed both American and British soliders after the Battles of Germantown.

Several years later Betsy was notified by her husband's old friend, John Claypoole, that her husband was dead. Betsy then married Claypoole and the couple had five daughters together. However, an unfortunate event kept being repeated in Betsy's life as Claypoole died after 20 years of ill health. Widowing her once again. She kept working at her upholstery business, which included the making of United States until 1827. Betsy then retired and moved in with her married daughter, Susannah Satterwaite, who continued with her mother's business.

Betsy died at the age of 84 in 1836, and her body is buried at the Free Quaker burial ground on South 5th Street. However, 20years later her remains were reburied in the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Cobbs Creek Park, a section of Philadelphia. In 1975 in preparation for the United States Bicentennial celebration the city ordered that Ross' remains be moved to the Betsy Ross House courtyard. The workers found no remains under her tombstone though, but bones were found in the family plot and were deemed to be her's. Her remains are now at the Betsy Ross House for tourists to see.

Thorns & Roses: Tolerance

In America we have a lot of freedoms. One freedom we have is the Freedom of Speech. However, we are losing this right under the guise that we are in fact gaining it. It is increasingly becoming common that we as Christians are not allowed to speak against people such as homosexuals or those who support abortion.

The freedom of speech is getting passed off, and we are told we just need tolerance. If we don't tolerate all these other practices that we don't believe as being holy as Children of God then we are either shut-up, fined, or discriminated against. In reality, we are having to tolerate such people or be punished because they won't tolerate us.

Tolerate

TOL'ERATE, v.t. [L. tolero, from tollo, to lift.] To suffer to be or to be done without prohibition or hinderance; to allow or permit negatively, by not preventing; not to restrain; as, to tolerate opinions or practices. (1)

A very dear friend and wise homeschooling mother of five wrote this on a public blog set up as "a brief commentary on government and home education in the news", which in the long run clashes with being a Godly parent and protector of the faith.

There's been a lot of talk of "tolerance" lately. I truly hate that word. I really do. Not because I want to go throw rocks at everyone I disagree with - I don't. But rather, I hate how misconstrued the word is.

If you believe that abortion is wrong, and use your voting power - campaigning for pro-life candidates etc., you are likely to be called "intolerant" because you're against a woman's right to choose. Of course, never mind that the right to life supersedes the right to well being. Anyhow ...

Is disagreeing and standing up for your beliefs really "intolerant?" What if those understandings I hold affect the way I vote? What if, regardless of my beliefs and understanding of how these things work, I am kind and loving to those I disagree with - because that is 1) how Christ taught me to be and 2) because I feel that love in my heart? Does that make me intolerant? Because I disagree and say so???

-Deb Turner (2)

A lot of Christians are becoming tolerant of "other" practices, which are all quite disturbing. Those who don't tolerate them in speech and thought are considered to be judgmental and unloving towards others. We're considered to be "trouble makers" because we can't just "live in peace and accept one another as they were made".

Jesus was not tolerant of sinful ways. He was not accepting of them, but that doesn't mean he didn't love the person and wouldn't forgive them if they asked. When the woman accused of adultery was brought to Jesus he didn't say "thou are a sinner but that's what you believe is right so go on your way". No, he didn't tolerate her sin, but he didn't condemn her either. He said "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more".

John 8:2-12
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

I have seen worldly-Christians come up against what Mrs. Turner said above and call those who are not tolerate "holier-than-thou" because "they can accept others and live in peace". It's not right. We, as Children of God, must become a holy people again. We have strayed so far. We can no longer tolerate or accept sinful ways because "that's what people believe". Taking this stance of not tolerating sinful ways doesn't mean are condemning or will condemn those who do. Remember that without the blood of Jesus we would have the same fate as the adulteress and homosexuals. All of our sin is the same in Jesus eyes and we all need to learn to love, not tolerate, one another.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

We need to learn how to love and teach, rather than tolerate and ignore. Jesus did not tolerate sin and to do so is sinful. The Bible forewarns of a peace and unity between all nations and religions. It is a peace that the Anti-Christ brings.

Daniel 11:21
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

People are searching and wanting people to just tolerate and accept them "as they are". The Bible says that the Anti-Christ will obtain the kingdom through flatteries, and because the human flesh is so weak and susceptible to flatteries (such as being accepted as a homosexual) they will cling unto him. We need to be really well-versed in the Word and know what is Godly and acceptable because the End Times are coming, and Christians who don't tolerate other religions or join the world in "peace" will be outcasts.

Blessings to you as you Grow in the Grace of our Lord!



Sources: (1) 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary, (2) Deb Turner @ Home Where They Belong

Think Pink: Hosting Your Own Cookout

With the 4th of July coming up many will be planning to host backyard cookouts or BBQs, but how is the "proper" way to do this and what kind of food is usually prepared?

FINDING A PLACE:
Depending on how many guests you have coming will determine where you'll want to host your cookout. Because people usually host cookouts in the warm weather you'll either want to host it where there is plenty of shade or a building where they can go in if the sun gets too hot. There are many places people choose to host a cookout.

A few are...

1) In their backyard
2) At a neighbourhood park
3) At a Church
4) Reception Hall
5) Community Building

Where ever you decide to have it you'll want to make sure you have enough space for everyone.

SETTING UP:
As I said above you'll need plenty of space for all your guests. Make sure you also have plenty of tables and chairs. You can either have circular tables with five or so chairs, or set up the long 6ft tables. They both work nicely.

You'll definitely want a few 6ft tables in a long line to set the food on so people can walk down it like a buffet to serve themselves.

Decorating for the cookout will depend on what the cookout is for. In this case the 4th of July so anything that is red, white, or blue will be great. You can buy streamers and twist them into a fancy fashion and hang them up where they're desired. Plastic tables covers are very inexpensive and are decorative for cookouts. Balloons are also fun and a nice addition to a your decorations.

It's always fun, even if you don't do the above, to buy matching cups, plates, and napkins. They look so pretty on the food tables and everyone will use them.

You'll also want an open area in case any games are played.

FOOD:
Along with the list of guests who are to attend, make a list of supplies you will need for the event and buy them at least five days ahead of time. Make sure you have plenty.

A traditional cookout food list...
Hot dogs & Hamburgers
You'll want to buy buns for each and make sure you have toppings such as onions rings, pickle chips, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Chips & Dips
There are many flavours of chips, but the main ones you'll want are original, sour cream-n-onion, and BBQ. The traditional sour cream and onion dip should be on the table, but if you have some special dip recipe, you use it!

I also like to have tortilla chips with salsa and nacho cheese dip on the table, and maybe some chili too. We really like making our 7-layer dip (refried beans, tomatoes, onions, black olives, cheese, lettuce) to eat with tortilla chips.

Fruit & Veggie Tray:
You gotta have that healthy stuff! Can't forget that! You can make the trays with whatever fruits and veggies you want, but the traditional ones include:

Fruit: apples slices, grapes, fresh pineapple chunks, cantaloupe/honeydew cubes, strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and orange slices.

Veggie: baby carrots, pepper slices, whole olives, pickle spears, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers

You can make dip to go with the each tray. Here's an easy recipe for each.

Fruit dip
1 8-ounce package cream cheese,softened
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Veggie dip
8 oz. mayonnaise
8 oz. sour cream
1 tsp. Beau Monde seasoning
1 tsp. chopped onions
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. parsley
1/8 tsp. onion salt
1/8 tsp. garlic salt

Just mix them together until smooth and serve on the tray in a small bowl.

Deviled eggs
These are a must! Have you ever gone to a cookout or party that didn't have deviled eggs? It's not to be heard of! You should have at least a dozen eggs for every 12 guests.

Cheese & Meat Tray:
An assortment of cheeses and coldcut meats such as Monterey jack and salami. You'll want to have a tray of crackers nearby as cheese, meat, and crackers are a favourite!

Green salad
You've got your fruits and veggies yes, but you still need your salad. Just buy some iceberg or greenleaf lettuce and set toppings (shredded cheese, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, peas, onions, and dressings) out next to it for guests to pick and choose as they please.

Homemade Potato Salad by Patty Kile
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
Pinch salt
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar
3/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
5 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green onions
salt and pepper to taste

Directions: In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, flour, mustard and salt. Combine egg, water and vinegar; stir into dry ingredients until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Stir in mayonnaise. In a bowl, combine the potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, celery, onions, salt and pepper. Add the dressing and toss gently to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Drinks:
Water is a given, but you may want to make punch, lemonade, ice tea, and have soda-pop present as well. Don't forget the ice! Have an ice bucket right next to the drinks and cups!

At the beginning of the food tables you'll want to place the plates, eating utensils, and napkins for guests to grab. The table with drinks should be place at the end.

GAMES:
At a cookout people usually have games after everyone has eaten. You'll want to have a rather large, open area to do this. Some fun games you can play are...

Horse shoes
Horse shoes are always a popular game at cookouts. The game has been popular for centuries now. You set up two stakes in the ground and each player then throws two horse shoes on their turn. You can play the game as individuals or with partners so you don't have to walk from one stake to the other after each round of throws. The game is played to twenty one, with their being no requirement to hit the total of 21 exactly to win. Of course if you want to make it more difficult you could add that as a house rule.

Lawn Darts
Lawn darts have changed quite a bit from the version many of us played as children with the steel spikes at the end. The government has decided that kids running around with sharp metal objects stuck in their head wasn't exactly safe. Now most versions of lawn darts include weight darts made of plastic that are filled with sand. The goal is to land them in a circle set as a distance of your choosing. As with horse shoes this can be played by two or four players. It depends on how many people you have that want to play and how much walking the participants want to do.

Capture the Flag
There were two teams. Team 1 had the front yard and Team 2 had the back yard, or a field was split between the two teams. The teams were given a time period, like 5 minutes, to hide their flag in their part of the yard. [optional] During this period spies were sent out to see were the flag was hidden as well as look-outs to catch the spies. When the flag was hidden you call out that you were finished. Then you simply try to get the other teams flag. If you get caught and tagged by the opponent on their territory you had to go to jail and could only be freed by a teammate who grabs you when your opponent isn't looking. The first team to capture the flag wins. In most versions you had to both get the flag, and bring it back to your side. This game is a totally different game at night in the woods!

Hide-n-Seek
First you pick someone to be it (the person to seek) then he/she turns around and counts with their eyes closed at the "base" while the rest of the people hide. Then "It" says "Ready or Not, Here I Come" and rushes to find everyone. Then the people try to get to base without getting tagged or else they are "It". If the person who is "It" doesn't get someone in three tries he gets to pick a man to be it!

Pickle
The rules of the game are pretty simple.
You'll need two bases (we used Mom's rugs), a softball and two softball gloves (if you don't have the gloves just use a ball that's not "hard."

Set up the two bases about 20 feet apart.
Two kids would be selected to be "it", one at each base.
The other kids would divide and go to the bases.
The game started by the two kids who were "it" tossing the ball to each other.
The object of the game was to time running from one base to the other without being tagged by the ball.
If you were tagged then you were "it" and the game continued, usually until all the kids were too tired to run anymore.
The fun of the game was getting the person who was "it" to throw a wide pitch or "steal" the base.

Red Light, Green Light
In this game, one person plays the "stop light" and the rest try to touch him/her. At the start, all the children form a line about 15 feet away from the stop light. The stop light faces away from the line of kids and says "green light". At this point the kids are allowed to move towards the stoplight. At any point, the stop light may say "red light!" and turn around. If any of the kids are caught moving after this has occurred, they are out. Play resumes when the stop light turns back around and says "green light". The stop light wins if all the kids are out before anyone is able to touch him/her. Otherwise, the first player to touch the stop light wins the game and earns the right to be "stop light" for the next game.

Simon Says
One person is chosen to be "Simon" the others stand in a strait line. The Simon then calls out an action for the children to follow. It can be anything like.... touch your toes jump 10 times on 1 foot...... The Simon when giving an action can simply state the action by it self..."touch your ears" and whoever does it is out and has to sit down. Or the Simon can say "Simon says, touch your ears" and them everyone must follow the instruction. You can vary the actions according to the age group of children you are playing with. The last person who is standing can then be "Simon"!

Egg Toss
Equipment: Two or more teams of two people each, and lots of Eggs - raw, in their shells (a least one egg for each team)

Description: Line up the teams in two rows. One player from each team stands in the first row, facing their teammate who stands in the second row. The rows should be about five feet apart.
Hand out one egg to each player in the first row. At about the same time, each player in the first row gently tosses the egg over to their teammate. If the person catching the egg allows it to break, they and their teammate are out of the game. Eggs can break by hitting the ground, or by being caught too roughly. For each team that catches the egg without breaking it, both players take one big step back. Take a moment to get all the remaining teams lined up again, then everyone who caught the egg tosses it back to their teammate. Continue tossing the eggs and stepping backwards until only one team is left. If the last two or more teams all break their eggs on the same round, you can declare a tie or you can hand out new eggs and let those teams try again.

By the end of the day you'll have quite enjoyed yourself with good food, conversation, and games!

Anything special you do when you host or attend cookouts? Any special food you like?

Beatrix Potter's 142nd Birthday

One of the most beloved children’s books of all time, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was written by a young woman named Beatrix Potter. Many have read all of her books and come to cherish them, generation after generation.

Helen Beatrix Potter was born on July 28th, 1866 in Kensington, London to a Rupert & Helen Potter, who were both from wealthy families. Beatrix had one brother, Bertram, who was born when she was nearly six. Not only was he younger then she was by six years but he was hardly ever home as he went to a school, leaving Beatrix to find amusement for herself. In the early 1900s young ladies received a home-education of doing everyday tasks and learning proper social etiquette. Beatrix Potter, however, was not like the rest of the girls. She did not enjoy dull conversation or being so proper that it became ridiculous. Instead she enjoyed art and story-telling.

Beatrix had many real life animals of which shed based her tales off of. One of those being Peter the rabbit. Beatrix's mother detested her stories and her fondness of animals. If her mother had gotten her way, there might not be any furry, little bunnies or prickly hedgehogs.

Beatrix was encouraged to write a storybook after sending a letter with the first version of Peter Rabbit to the five year old son of her last governess. She struggled to find a publisher who would publish her book and ended up having 250 copies privately printed. Finally 1892 Beatrix found a publisher, Fredrick Warne & Co., who agreed to publish her work. They scheduled to only print 8,000 copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in a children's book format, but her book was so well-received that by the end of the year there were 28,000 copies printed and sold. During this time Beatrix fell in love with her publisher, Norman Warne, but her parents did not approve of her marrying a tradesman. However, Norman fell ill of pernicious anemia soon after the engagement and died within a few weeks.

Heart broken Beatrix moved out to the Lake District where she had spent a lot of her childhood and bought Hill Top Farm. She later married William Heelis, who had helped her buy her farm and surrounding acres. She was a big conservationist and saved the Lake District from development. Beatrix Potter Heelis died on December 22nd, 1943 at her home Castle Cottage in Sawrey. Upon her death almost all of her property was given to the National Trust — 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land, cottages, and 15 farms.

Sites about Beatrix Potter & her writings:
The World of Peter Rabbit
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction & Exhibit
Kids Corner: Beatrix Potter
Miss Potter The Movie

Look for more info on Beatrix Potter and costume attire of her era in upcoming issues of GGM!

Blessed Girlhood: Freedom Or Chains?

Today we have a lot of freedoms as women, whether we really choose to invoke them or
not. The reason we have these freedoms and rights is because women did not see the
true value, freedoms, or blessings in being a Bibilcal woman. Women wanted to do everything that men did. They started thinking that the home was for weak little housewives, and to really be a woman, you had to define yourself by mingling with the men. It's very sad, but is the "norm" in most families. The average girl plans on attending a college to receive a diploma that basically says "Yes, I Can!".

As you may have guessed I disagree with the statement that women have to make something of themselves in the society to be free or something of worth. Being a woman in itself is freedom and a blessing.

We are free to do whatever we want, but if we eat of the fruit of "knowledge of good and evil", which is of this world, then we will surely die. Doesn't mean it will be immediately. Doesn't mean it will not bring us good before it brings the bad, but it will end with death.

Genesis 2:15-17

15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God gave woman a man to care for her in the Garden Of Eden. He gave her a man to love
and protect her for all her life. He gave her a man to support and lead her so she
wouldn't have to worry about doing that herself. God gave woman the blessing of the
womb and the ability to care and nurture her children.

All of these blessings and freedoms are being thrown aside for a plaque on the wall in an office building and the "right of passage" as a woman. It really has become a scary thing having all these women in roles of leadership, not only in the family, but in the workplaces, schools, and government. God made man and woman differently. He just did. They each have a different role to play, each worth as much as the other because without one they'd both fall apart, and that is the genius of God.

People refuse to see these things as freedoms and blessings, and continue to seek the freedom of being "up there" in the world. It truly saddens my heart. They see these blessings as bondage and to rid themselves of these chains, in exchange for "freedom", they are binding their souls to the Lake of Fire. "Freedoms" such as Money, social standings, gadgets, expensive cars, "time alone", a great body, and many other things will not end up with you in heaven or hell. They shall all pass away.

Matthew6: 19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal:

20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Because women are no longer fulfilling their designed roles many babies are being
aborted, children are filling the government schools, men are stepping down and
letting the women "take over", and children are not being taught morals because one
teacher cannot nurture 30 students the way a mother can. Women are trading all the
blessings of God for things that will pass away when this earth is destroyed.

We are all bound to hell by sin, but the Bible says that we have been made free through Christ. People may say we are "chained" to be our housework, children, and husband, but we're chained to righteousness and to Christ, which will result in everlasting life.

Romans 6:18-22

18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

What freedoms will you take? The freedoms and blessings of being "A Biblical Woman" or
"Free Woman"?

Blessings to you as you Grow in the Grace of our Lord!

Making The Home: Removing Stains

"Ack I just got chocolate ice cream on my white shirt!"

Ever heard or done that before? I will admit at times I tend to have a hole in my lip when I eat, which usually means my clothes catch everything!

In my last MTH article, I mentioned about using baking soda and vinegar in your laundry for odors, but I wanted to show you the other home-remedies we use. We try to use a lot of home-remedies so we don't have to worry about any of the harmful ingredients in laundry products. A lot of times using store-bought products, unless organic, will be harmful to your health in the long run.

One thing that my mom has always liked using for stains is Shaklee Basic-H because it isn't harmful and doesn't take the colour out of the clothes. Right now we're using a organic brand from the store, which I will post more about later. They also have a stain-remover, which my sister just found, so we've been using that along with these other home-removers:

Baking Soda - Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your detergent in the wash cycle. Then add 3/4 cup vinegar in the rinse. It gets the colors brighter and the whites whiter, and I rarely have to use any pre-treatments.

Hydrogen Peroxide - You can use peroxide for any blood stain on clothing. Don't rinse clothes with blood on them, especially with hot water, because this will rupture the red blood cell membrane and you won't be able to remove the red spots. Instead put some peroxide directly onto it and let it set for awhile. Usually you can keep adding peroxide until the stain in completely gone. This also works for blood-stains on carpets, couches, or any other cloth material.

Hand Soap - If you're not at home or a place where you can change your clothing when you spill something on it, apply soap on it. Hand-soap in a restaurant's bathroom will work just fine. Don't rinse your clothes though. Just add the soap. Adding water will wash the stain through the clothes an will be harder to get out.

I heard of using a paste made of meat tenderizer and water for sweat stains. Sounds kind of weird. Apparently you just rub it into the stains just before throwing in the washer. The tenderizer breaks down the proteins (your sweat) and loosens them to lift out of the fabric.

When you've applied soap, baking soda, or peroxide on your clothes and washed them, yet you still have a stain. Don't give up and throw in the dryer. It may take a couple washings to get rid of the stain. Every time you take it out of the washer add some more stain remover.

We never use bleach unless we absolutely have to, and organic bleach at that. Did you know that when you apply bleach to clothes it eats the fabric? That's how harmful it is.

Yes, they may just be clothes that you wear and not eat, but so what. They are touching your skin the entire day. We take precautions in wearing sunscreen to protect our skin from the sun, yet we don't often take the time to protect the clothing that touches our skin everyday. It is important.

I'm interested in hearing what you use on your laundry!

Blessings!

Making The Home: Washin' The Laundry

Everyone has laundry and everyone has their way of caring for laundry. Until a few weeks ago I had never really done the laundry because my older sister had always been the one to do it. I never really liked doing laundry whenever she'd have me help, but I think that was because I'd always have to fold. Some people like to fold while others might prefer doing something else.




There are four main steps to completely a load of laundry.
1. Washing
2. Drying
3. Folding
4. Putting away

It might seem a very simply task, but it is a little more complex than that. Before you wash your load you'll want to separate them into piles.

The main colour piles are:
1. whites
2. darks - blues, blacks, jeans
3. colours - greens, yellows, light blue, khaki
4. reds - reds, orange, pink
5. towels

The reason you want to divide these all up is mainly because clothes bleed and if you have something red in with something green it may bleed and ruin the clothing. Putting clothes into the same colour piles will also help your clothes keep their colour.

After you've divided them up, stick them in the washer. We use powder soap, baking soda, and vinegar in most loads. The baking soda and vinegar help with any odors.

When your laundry is done washing you can either hang them out on the clothes-line or stick them in the dryer. Because we have warm weather we have been hanging them