Blogging Break

Hey folks!  I am currently taking a break from blogging here at Stewardship Not Convenience.  You can catch me periodically at Keeper of the Home.  Thanks for your patience!!

Giveaway Winner

Thank you all so much for all your giveaway entries and lovely, encouraging comments! I really loved doing the tutorial for you. If you haven't gotten a chance to become a follower of my blog, I'd love it if you'd follow me along on my journey. My posting is sometimes a bit sporadic during the school year because with homeschooling and all our other activities, I get a bit swamped. And now, we've added two new foster children to our family this week, bring our child count up to 6!

Okay, on to the winner of the giveaway!

Congratulations to Jennifer @ A Heavenly Perspective. Please contact me shortly so I can get your address!

Again, thanks for all who entered the contest!

~Beth

Soap Making Giveaway

If you are wanting to enter my soap giveaway, just leave a comment on this post. Sorry for the confusion!

One lucky winner will receive 4 bars of soap (1 pound of soap) from the batch I made my soap making tutorial! This will give you a way to experience the homemade soaps before you actually start making your own. I love the mild, pleasant smell of fresh lye soap, and I hope you do, too!

• To enter, please leave a comment on this page with your name and some way to contact you.
• To get a second entry, please become a follower of my website, and then leave a comment that lets me know you did so.

I will leave the giveaway open until Saturday, April 24th. At that point, I will choose the winner with random.org, and I will contact the winner. Good luck!

Save on Scrapbooking

For all of you out there that have been thinking about digital scrapbooking, you can now get the scrapbooking program that I use--My Memories Suite--for 10% off. To take advantage of this, just click on the ad in the lefthand column, and use GMC10off as your coupon code. It's already a really good price for digital scrapbooking software, but an extra 10% is a nice perk. When I started with this program, I had to wait for the software to get shipped to me. But now you can just download it and get started today! You can check out their store, too, because they have some pretty cute new designs in the store!

Note: I am an affiliate with My Memories Suite, so I do get a small percentage of each sale, but I only promote products that I really believe in, and as you have seen previously on my blog, I really love this scrapbooking software! Actually, I even designed my blog background with MMS!

Check It Out!

I'm so happy to let you know that I am a new guest contributor on one of my favorite blogs--Keeper of the Home. The Keeper of the Home blog was one of the blogs I read a lot when I was first trying out a more natural approach to life. So I feel blessed to get the opportunity to contribute. You can find my article there today!

We're Sick Again

photo credit Glisglis

When I have spare time, one of my favorite things to read about is natural living. I particularly enjoy learning about natural remedies for illnesses. I find it so fascinating that God has given us so many plants and berries and herbs for our healing. I admit I am a novice when it comes to natural remedies, but there is one remedy that I have tried and am very excited about--black elderberries or sambucus nigra.

I first learned about this wonderful berry last year, just as the "swine" flu was sweeping the nation. Black elderberries--usually sold in syrup form--have a strong antiviral quality to them, which makes them great for fighting off colds and the flu. They also are packed with antioxidants, which are very beneficial in staying healthy. Here are two great resources:

• Click here for good information about the special properties of the black elderberry.
• Below is a good video on how to make your own elderberry syrup, which is much more cost effective than buying it. I might have to try this next year!

Well, to make a long story short, last October, I actually got the swine flu. So, I pulled out the elderberry syrup and took it several times a day. Within just a couple of days, I was all better. I was truly amazed, but at the same time, I wondered if it was the elderberry syrup or if I was just at the end of my sickness. But when my two year old daughter started getting really sick, I gave her the syrup as well, and by the next day, she was already getting better. At that point, I became a believer. I love that the syrup is safe to give to little ones, and it tastes pretty good, too, so my kids are willing to take it.

Okay, so you may be asking yourself why I am posting this now, even though cold and flu season is almost over. There are two reasons:

First of all, I have a cold now, so eldberry syrup is on my mind. My kids and I have managed to stay very healthy this winter (except for the flu in October.) But we all are sick now. So, as soon as I press "publish" on this article, I'm headed to the store to buy some elderberry syrup!

Second, you heard about it in the video, and it is also in the article I linked, but elderberry syrup is a great way to STAY well. With all the antioxidants, flavanoids, and antiviral properties, eldberries are awesome for staying healthy. You can just take a little each day for an antioxidant boost. This would be great to try as a daily supplement if you made your own syrup, since it is far more cost effective.

So, I'm wondering...do you take elderberry syrup daily as a supplement? Have you ever made your own syrup?

Prayer and Perspective

photo credit Ree Drummond

This week has been a very difficult week for me. I have found myself, at times, at complete loss as what to do as a parent. Every day is a new challenge when you are a mother, but this week has been especially hard, and I've had some difficult things I've had to face. God has been very faithful to comfort me and to remind me to turn to Him for my strength. And in my crying to the Lord for help, I pulled out one my absolute favorite books to read. It's called The Valley of Vision, and it is a compilation of Puritan prayers. I always love reading through what Puritans have written because it helps me put things in perspective. I think the Puritans had their view of man's relationship to God correct, and whenever I read their prayers, I am humbled. I think too often I start to complain about my circumstances and I start to feel like I am unfit for what God has called me to do. But then God gently reminds me that it is my pride that says that, and it is my pride that demands comfort on this earth.

I wanted to share part of one of the beautiful prayers with you. This has been a huge encouragement to me as I pray for my children and family. I pray it encourages you, as well. And if you can, I highly encourage you go out and buy this book. It is a great read!

Help me to hate and forsake every false way,

to be attentive to my condition and character,

to bridle my tongue,

to keep my heart with all diligence,

to watch and pray against temptation,

to mortify sin,

to be concerned for the salvation of others.

O God, I cannot endure to see the destruction of my kindred.

Let those that are united to me in tender ties be precious in thy sight and devoted to thy glory.

Sanctify and prosper my domestic devotion, instruction, discipline, example,

That my house may be a nursery for heaven,

My church the garden of the Lord,

Enriched with trees of righteousness of thy planting, for thy glory;

Let not those of my family who are amiable, moral, attractive, fall short of heaven at last.

Grant that the promising appearances of a tender conscience, soft heart, the alarms and delights of thy Word,

be not finally blotted out,

but bring forth judgment unto victory in all whom I love.