Wash Wednesday: Not All Laundry Detergents Are Created Equal

In my effort to save money, I made a horrible mistake. I bought "cheap" laundry detergent. It is made for washing clothes, right? So how bad could it be?

I was wrong. So VERY wrong. Not only did my clothes not get clean, they seemed to be dirtier than they were when I put them in! How is that even possible?

But like I say, if you learn from it, it really wasn't a mistake. So please, learn from me. I tried saving a few pennies and ended up spending even more in energy costs, water and additional detergent.

Not all laundry detergents are created equal.

Tip Tuesday: Dirty Shoes

We wash our clothes, we wash our cars...but the item that touches the ground the most hardly gets washed. Our shoes can get filthy...but what's the best way to get them clean?

With three boys under the age of 6, I don't have time to take a rag and spot clean our shoes. I remove the laces and just throw them in the washer on cold. Yep, that's it. I use detergent to get them clean.

Once they're done, I pull them out and stuff them with newspaper (yay! a practical use of the Des Moines Register!!) so they don't lose their shape. I let them dry overnight and voila! Clean shoes!

Make Monday: Create Paper Bag Pumpkins

It is pumpkin season and what better way to celebrate than make pumpkins to decorate your house for the season. So if you have a cold, rainy day stuck indoors that is keeping you from visiting the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, then get out your paints for some pumpkin fun. Judah and I created these brown paper bag pumpkins to add some decorations for around the house while at the same time enjoying season.

Supplies
Brown paper lunch bags
Orange, red, yellow, and green washable, finger paints
Green ribbon
Tissue paper or newspaper
Scissors
Clothespins or tape to hang bags
Glue

Instructions
Open your brown paper lunch bags to make the lunch sack flat including the sides of the bag. Using and mixing orange, red, and yellow paints, finger paint designs across the bottom 3/4 of the bag of the side that is flat. On the remaining space at the top, use green paint to cover the portion of the bag. Hang to dry with tape or clothespins. Do as many bags as you want.

The next day or once the paint is dry, you may open the bag up and fill with waded pieces of leftover tissue paper or newspaper. When the bag is full up to the top of the orange color, close shut and tie with a green ribbon to resemble the stem. Decorate as you desire.

Variations
For a more complete pumpkin look, paint the other side of the bag by adjusting the sides flat again once the first side is dry. You may otherwise glue orange tissue paper pieces to the outside of the bag instead of paint. To decorate faces, cut out eyes and mouth from black construction paper and glue to bag after painted. You may choose to use facial features found and cut from a leftover magazine for some weird, funny, or scary faces. Substitute filling the bag with candy and give to a special friend as a Halloween gift.



Lessons learned
Judah had fun with this activity as it was very simple for him to do. He enjoyed using his finger paints. We then hung up the bags with tape but when we took them down the tape ripped the bag a small amount.

Salvation Sunday: Let the Little Children Come!

Now that Judah is getting older, his child-like faith comes out in many different cute ways. While at an outdoor Christian concert this summer, the band took a moment to talk. The music was still playing but in hushed tones as the lead singer gave his testimony. Judah took a moment to turn to me with his hands folded and head bowed to tell me we were praying. His sincere countenance about broke my heart.

Likewise lately, I have been trying to squeeze in a morning devotional before my day gets too complicated. I put my devotional book in his room as he likes to play in the morning before or after breakfast. I then have a few minutes before we finish dressing that I can read the day's devotional. I usually read it to myself but I have talked to Judah about reading the verse for today meaning a quick short paraphrase for him to repeat. And he does repeat it as he plays with his toys and then we move on for the day.

One night as Tim was putting him to bed, Judah grabbed the devotional off his bookshelf and gave it to dad to "read verses." I about cried when Tim told me cause you never know if what you do is impacting and if they actually get it.

I tell you these things not to brag or say I got it together. Heaven knows the mistakes I make, the bad examples I set, and the times I forget to do devotions. I just want to simply share with you what child-like faith looks like.

Jesus' profound statement, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these," in Matthew 19:14, rings true today. Kids soak up these words fast as I am finding out. These Bible lessons for our life do matter and the seeds we plant take root in ways of child-like faith.

The lesson for us is too come to God through our own inner child. Having child-like faith as it resembles that of a child allows us to experience the kingdom of God in its truest form.

Have you ever really watched the child-like faith of a child? Children become animated and sincere in their excitement. They describe in detail their hurts, burdens, emotions, and even confessions. Their child-like faith allows them to forgive easily, love easily, and trust easily. They do not worry about days into the future.

Come to Jesus today! Share your heart with him in sincerity like a child would. Tell Him all your burdens and frustrations. Repent and ask for forgiveness. Love and trust Him completely. Guarante the kingdom of God will be yours if you do.

Shuffle Saturday: Bumbo Recall

Long story short, don't put your baby in a bumbo on an elevated location. EVER. ALWAYS use the bumbo on the floor.

Serious Head Injuries Prompt Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats - New Warnings and Instructions to Be Provided To Consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Bumbo "Baby Sitter" Seats

Units: About 1 million

Manufacturer: Bumbo International, of South Africa

Hazard: If the seat is placed on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface, young children can arch their backs, flip out of the Bumbo seat, and fall onto the floor, posing a risk of serious head injuries.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received 28 reports of young children falling out of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat, including three skull fractures, which occurred when children fell out of chairs that had been placed on tables.

Description: The bottom of the children's seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches. It is constructed of a single piece of molded foam and comes in yellow, blue, purple, pink, aqua, and lime green. The seat has leg holes and seat back that wraps completely around the child. On the front of the seat in raised lettering is the word "Bumbo" with the image of an elephant on top. The bottom of the seat has the following words: "Manufactured by Bumbo South Africa Material: Polyurethane World Patent No. PCT: ZA/1999/00030." The back of the seat contains the following "WARNING" - "Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement."

Sold by: Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, USA Babies and various other toy and children's stores nationwide, and various online sellers, from August 2003 through October 2007 for about $40.

Manufactured in: South Africa

Remedy: Consumers should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface. Consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain new warning label stickers and instructions, free of charge. The new warning label will state: "WARNING - Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface." Consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level, but should never leave a child unattended.

Consumer Contact: Contact Bumbo International at (888) 376-4763 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at http://www.keendistribution.com/customerCare.php