"Proof of Heaven"... and the Power of Prayer

 " A  Single  Prayer  Moves  Heaven . "

~ Japanese Proverb

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"Dr. Eben Alexander's near death experience is the most astounding I have heard in more than four decades of studying this phenomenon... one of the crown jewels of all near death experiences... Dr. Alexander is living proof of an afterlife."  

 ~  Raymond Moody, MD, PhD

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"Proof of Heaven" is a very thought provoking book.  I read it a few weeks ago and each chapter is fascinating.  Yet, I can't stop thinking about the segment where the author tells us he fell into the depths of despair after being informed he was to leave the Heavenly place.  Deeply saddened at his impending loss he absentmindedly observed what looked to be a sea of butterflies fluttering beneath him.  A closer inspection revealed that it was NOT a sea of butterflies at all but an ocean of prayers.  The frequency/vibration of the love, good thoughts and faith were delivering them from Earth to Heaven.  They served to immediately lift him out of despair and back into the happiness he had felt only when he was 'within the gates that housed the One.'

Reading this book impacted me profoundly... the butterfly scene especially brought an entirely new dimension to my own prayers.

  What a gift... to be given a glimpse of what our prayers look like on the receiving end!  

It is such a wondrous reminder of the power we each hold... recourse to prayer !  Yet... sadly... some individuals barely recognize they possess this power.   

During this hallowed and gracious season I felt a strong need to share this information with you kind souls who visit.

  As the kids and I used to pray when they were little (on the way to school each morning): "Thank you Lord for making the bad people turn into good ones... and the good people of this earth to have perfect wisdom, truth and understanding... and to take action with that truth, wisdom and understanding in a perfect way for all concerned."  

I give thanks to Dr. Alexander (a highly respected neurosurgeon) for having the courage and taking the trouble to share his amazing... after-life affirming... experiences with us via his book and media appearances.

Sending love and good thoughts to all for a blessed and happy Christmas and Holiday season.

Warmly,

Tracey and Family

x0x

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http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net/http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net/

How to Find the Time...Getting Things Done During the Busy Holiday Season...Without Losing the Joy!

Frugal Luxuries: Newsletter Classics

Here are a few strategies for finding the time to make gifts and get things done during the busy holiday season...while keeping the joy alive.  Note: This article is an excerpt from a 1998 issue of our newsletter, Frugal Luxuries.  At the bottom of the page you'll find a scan of the original page!

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• Every evening, after dinner, I would choose an old movie to watch on video or television (I enjoy watching those with a holiday theme...to spark my enthusiasm).  I settled myself in a comfortable seat in the family room to prepare the apples [for the apple pies I planned to give as gifts]. Flanked by two large mixing bowls, I peeled and cored apples over bowl #1.  Next I cut the peeled apples into slices directly over bowl #2 (I also added a bit of lemon juice at the bottom of the bowl beforehand, to prevent the apples from browning).  This process continued until all of the apples were processed, taking about two hours.  I then seasoned the apples with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and cloves and set them, covered, in the refrigerator.  The following evening, while playing my favorite Christmas music, I prepared a quantity of pie crusts, and proceeded to bake the apple pies. [See HERE  for more on easy food prep.]

• My "movie watching strategy" is also quite effective for many craft projects as well.  You may settle yourself in a comfortable chair and hand sew or craft over a deep (2 inch) lap-size tray (you may substitute cardboard boxes, or jelly roll pans if you have no trays available).  Doing this keeps your mess within a confined space (the tray) and makes clean up simple and easy.  If your project requires several days, you may set aside your tray (perhaps on a closet shelf) until you have a chance to finish.

• Create a master craft and cooking/baking list helps you to budget your time.  Because you are able to see at a glance the many projects you wish to accomplish during the holidays you may easily prioritize and edit your plans if necessary.

• Another self-induced incentive to action is to invite friends over for a few hours, and host a cooking, baking, or craft night.  The old saying that "many hands make light work" is drenched in truth.  I have done this and find that at least twice as much gets done when you have help.  As well, the simple fact that time has been set aside for you to specifically accomplish such tasks makes it more difficult for you to procrastinate or become sidetracked, before they are completed.

•  Perhaps the most important thing to remember when performing any task is to make them as enjoyable as possible.  If you look at something as a chore you will naturally find ways to put off doing it.  Listening to your favorite music, watching a favorite holiday video, listening to [audio] books....or visiting with friends (remember the efficiency of the old~fashioned quilting bee?) will most definitely enhance any project.

 (Zucchini spice bread, using the farm stand zucchini I saved by freezing...I wrote about it HERE.)

I made these while implementing my classic "Movie Watching Technique"... all accomplished within a few episodes of "Downton Abbey" season 2! 

 

This page scanned from the 1998 Holiday Issue of our original newsletter, Frugal Luxuries.  To enlarge right-click and choose "view image"...then click the image to view a larger size.

Homemade Holiday: The Gift of Dinner

"I am in the habit of looking not so much to the nature of a gift as to the spirit in which it is offered."

~~Robert Louis Stevenson

To print a larger view of this recipe right click "View Image" and then enlarge the image before printing.

I've been putting together a few Frugal Feasts for the Gift Pantry to give as token gifts to neighbors, friends and hosts/hostesses.  It's pretty simple, as you can see from the photos!  I take a collection of different types of beans and lentils, mix them nicely in a big bowl and then package them in pretty vintage or recycled jars.  Sometimes I make homemade chile'/taco seasoning and put three tablespoons of it, along with a dry bay leaf, in a small cellophane bag.  I've also used the taco seasoning mix I buy in bulk at Costco for this gift, in a pinch.  I'll carefully fold this packet, seal it with a small sticker, and place it atop the beans before I close the jar.  Other times, I'll simply include a store bought packet of chile seasoning: Slipped inside an appropriately sized envelope and hung like a tag along with the recipe (you will find the printable above) it creates a pretty presentation.  There are numerous variations of this gift, of course, depending upon my time and resources.  Sometimes the Calico Chile' is included as part of a larger gift basket that also offers side~dishes such as cornbread (a mix or freshly~baked), a small jar of honey butter and a bottle of sparkling cider.  Sometimes I'll include vintage silver spoons and/or servers (as in the picture above) and line the basket or box with a pretty table cloth or set of hand towels... or ... !  Quite often it's imagination and resources that make the decision.  It's all about using what's inexpensively and easily available to you at the time!  

Sending love and good thoughts to all, as always!

Warmly,
Tracey and Family
x0x   

Sending Out Thoughts of Gratitude and Appreciation...A Blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Classic Turkey Noodle Soup made from the

"

Remains of the [Thanksgiving] Feast".

  

 CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE.

Sending good thoughts and love to all.
x0x 

Frugal Gifts from the Kitchen: Gift~Pantry Vanilla ... Hand Crafted With Love

The irregular and intimate quality of things made entirely by the human hand.

~Willa Cather

This make~ahead gift began last August with re~purposed vinegar bottles... a bundle of fresh Vanilla beans... and a liter of plain vodka.  I placed about a dozen, split, whole beans in each bottle then covered them with vodka and allowed Time to work its' magic.  Note:  While I left my vanilla to steep for several months... homemade vanilla can be ready for gift~giving in as little as three to four weeks.  Also, I included two vanilla beans in each bottle so that the bottles may be refilled and left to steep and thus create more vanilla! 

Into the back of the pantry they were tucked for several months... until I took them out a few weeks ago to decant into these cute little bottles and they instantly transformed into... gifts from the kitchen!

I found this simple round template at the Graphics Fairy and printed out several on a sheet to make my labels and tags.

Old~school (semi) ruled the day as I hand wrote the "Vanilla" on the labels... and let my friends and family know these gifts were "Hand Crafted With Love". 

The Rosemary bush in the front garden offered wisps of evergreen to attach to the tags.

 

 

This is such a simple, easy and frugal gift...a welcome addition to the pantries of your family and friends! 

Sending good thoughts and love to all!

Warmly,

Tracey and Family x0x

P. S.  I've been peeking in on your blogs and Pinterest boards and am getting so inspired! 

Easy Organizing...Very Simple Ways to Preserve Farm Stand Bounty...and Other Saving Graces

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Here are some of the ways I've recently exercised the art of frugality.

Is it my imagination or is the cost of just about everything rising?

 

Found Storage

•  As you probably know, I've long been a collector of vintage linens.  Over time my collection has obviously grown, finding us currently bursting at the seams and looking for storage solutions.  (I am seriously thinking of conducting a thinning the first of the year...but more on that in a future post).  In the meantime I needed more storage boxes...and a place to store the boxes!!!  Before I headed off to Ikea (which offers many budget friendly storage options ;) I decided to shop my house to see if there was something that would serve my storage purposes.  Happily, I spied this suit case tucked into the back of our closet.  We inherited it from Mike's mom and kept it for sentimental reasons.  However, once I rediscovered it, I knew it was just the thing to help solve my current storage problem!  Once it was filled with vintage linens (neatly rolled and tucked inside of cotton pillow cases) I had to find a place to put it.   After wandering around the house a bit, brainstorming, I asked Mike to help me slide it...along with our vintage steamer trunk (which already holds some of our most beloved vintage linen pieces, such as my wedding dress)... atop one of our larger armoires.  Don't you love discovering solutions that don't cost a penny...and add a bit of pretty character to a room?!

One Potato, Two Potato...

• After finding out that potatoes, zucchini and bell peppers are included in the "dirty dozen" list of foods to avoid due to pesticides and the like we often spend a little more to buy the organic varieties.  Thus...I am especially diligent and frugal about finding ways to use up leftovers.  Above, I peeled leftover baked (organic) potatoes then grated them onto a lined cookie sheet and froze them to use as organic hash browns!

• While the shredder was out...I decided to shred the remainder of the farm stand zucchini to freeze for future stews, soups and baking.  As well, the last three green peppers were also washed, seeded, sliced and frozen for future breakfast frittatas and marinara sauces.  

Well my kind friends, like you, there are dozens of other small ways we are trying to be good stewards of our money and resources but I will save them for another post...as I am off to an early sleep.  Mike and I will be up at dawn to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and some bargain hunting at the local yard sales...with our wish/shopping list in hand!

  What things have you been doing to "plug the small leaks in your ship"? 

Sending love and good thoughts to all!

Warmly,
Tracey and Family
x0x