Is America Going Down the Tubes, or Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

Vintage Postcard found on Wikimedia , David Slack.

Editor's Note: I was getting ready to post something red, pink, and cheery for Valentine's day, but I came across this article I had written a while ago and I thought it was a pity it was never posted. I don't know how this article got "lost" in drafts, but it is based on a class I attended and I think the thoughts are timely even though it will be "late" for whatever purpose I was saving it.
We had an interesting lesson on Christian Citizenship and the trite saying came up, "America is going down the tubes!" Our teacher pointed out a few things about that, and I would like to share them here:

In Scriptures, we have a few examples of a nation's or city's options when they are headed downhill. We discussed two. First there is the case of Sodom. The Lord was set to destroy that city, but He would have spared it if there were as few as 10 righteous people in it (you can read the story in Genesis 18:20-33). If you recall the whole story, Lot had moved into that city with his family (Genesis 13), but they had to leave before its destruction (Genesis 19).

The second example used was what the Lord told Solomon about the nation of Israel. He said in 2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

The conclusion was, that the state of the nation depends on the state of Christians and the church. We are living under the New Testament with Christ's Law, but what we learn in the Old Testament are principles and examples that apply to our lives. If you notice, in that scripture in Chronicles it says "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Folks that are waiting around for the whole entire nation to wake up at once and see how bad things are, and for everyone in the country to get down on their knees and pray in one body, will be waiting until the judgment day. It is the Christians in the land that are wearing the name of Christ that should be praying.

But not just praying. This lesson got me to thinking about some other things.

A song came to mind,

       Am I a soldier of the cross,
a follower of the Lamb,
and shall I fear to own his cause,
or blush to speak his name?

Must I be carried to the skies
on flowery beds of ease,
while others fought to win the prize,
and sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
to help me on to God?

I emphasized that last line, because my thoughts run like this: how many Christians think that they have to have one foot in the world in order to get along, or to be an influence, or to be relatable? Is a relationship with the world going to help us to be more righteous?

How many times have Christians thought that they can't give the impression of being too stuck up or something, and compromised with the world? Whole groups from church having a "movie night" and going to the theatre to see films that they should not be watching! Dressing immodestly! Wearing shirts and accessories with worldly messages on them! Getting tattooed! Social drinking! Using cuss/slang/swear words! Listening to music that only can be distinguished from worldly music by a few lyrics (if you can hear them above the din)! Reading unwholesome books or magazines! Young people living with each other, and not getting married or being reproved by their parents! Old people gambling their money away! Missing the gathering of the saints every week for communion and exhortation, to go to ball games or what have you! These aren't just "black sheep" I'm talking about, I'm speaking of groups of Christians, of whole families, as well as individuals.

The church needs to keep itself pure from the world. We are in the world, but not of it, so we need to be careful not to adopt worldliness and get sucked right into an on-the-fence way of life! Parents should train their children in the Bible and its living every day, by example and by teaching, not just expect a few Bible story hours to deeply root God's word in their lives. Young people need to take care, and walk the walk carefully, not letting anyone lure them off of the path of life! Older Christians-- don't rest on your laurels! Keep watchful!

America doesn't have to go down the tubes-- God's mercy will save it, if His people are walking uprightly.

Christian families are so important to a healthy state of the nation! That is why Satan tries so hard to attack the family unit. In the story of Lot and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, there were not found 10 righteous people there to save them. Wasn't Lot and his family there, though? The Bible mentions his sons-in-law. We aren't told the number, but I wonder how many people there were in his family. Just think-- if there were ten people in his family, and Lot had been more of an influence on them, they could have saved those cities and all of their inhabitants.

Watch Your Step

Today in the nursery corner, we are talking about watching your step. 

We want to be careful not to step on things that are not meant to be stepped on. 

The floor, steps, and rugs are made to be stepped on. 

Toys, books, clothing, and lots of other objects are not made for people to step on! 

Children in the...

Buy This at Allposters.com

Sometimes you may be so busy playing that you may not notice all the objects you have left on the floor. Maybe you left the toys you were playing with earlier there, while you went to read a book. Or you may have left your book on the floor, while you went to play with toys! If you step all over your books and toys, instead of picking them up and putting them away, you ruin them. Even if it looks like no harm was done, eventually that ill-used toy or book will wear away or tear. Even if you do not damage the toys, an older, bigger person might not see them, and tread on them and break them. Then you will have to throw your toy or book away.

You may think it is fun to step on something that someone dropped, or something that fell. It would be better to pick it up, than to step on it. Walking on items will ruin them. 

You may think, "I'll just buy another one," but you want to be a good care-taker of what God has given you already. Some of your things might not be replaceable. What if you became very, very poor? You would be sorry that you treated all your things badly, and wish you had them still. If you take good care of your toys and books, they will last a long time, and you will be glad someday that you were careful. 

Toys and books on the floor, or toys left scattered in the yard, can cause a person to trip and fall. Older people who cannot see well, or even little toddlers who are just learning to walk, can hurt themselves very badly on your things if you leave them laying around. You may even surprise yourself and trip over your own toys! 

Broken Flower Pot

Jan C. Verhas

Buy This at Allposters.com

Sometimes stepping on things without thinking, or checking first, can lead to cuts on the feet. Even with shoes on, you can still get hurt by not watching what you step on. Sometimes children will think that they are free to walk all over loose wood that is laying about the barn or wood shop-- but watch out because those boards can sometimes have nails in them that are dangerous to step on. Here is something to remember in places like that: Don't step on something that you can step around or step over. 

Children's...

Frederick ...

Buy This at Allposters.com

And of course, in the house try to pick things up instead of stepping on them, so they will not be stepped on by someone else!

Editor's note: The paintings accompanying this little lecture, that are without captions, are: "Christmas Morning" by Paul Seignac, "Christmas Morning" by Charles William Mansel Lewis, and "Die Kinderstube" [The Nursery] by Fritz Von Uhde. The title piece is "Storytime" by Charles Haigh-Wood. 

Not Missing Out

I hope my readers had a Very Merry Christmas! And now New Year's Eve is coming! I have been enjoying all kinds of tasty treats-- and drinks. With all the delicious, sweet, and sparkly juices on the market, I wonder why people think they have to have alcohol to make an occasion special. With good company, good conversation, and some delicious food, one cannot fail to have a good time-- no drunkenness required. 

It disturbs me to see Christians partaking of alcohol socially, just because they say they can, when it is not in the least bit necessary. We live in the 21st century-- there are so many more beverages to choose from. Why would a Christian want to dump such stuff down their throat and dull their brain, when they could keep their mind extra sharp so they can enjoy and edify others? If you take one drink of that junk, you are one drink drunk. Best not to get in the habit of taking any.

If you feel that you are missing out, that is no excuse. One can find fancy glasses to serve juice in to make the dinner table sparkle; and any juice is delicious well chilled. A plus of keeping your table sober is that the whole family can be present at a party where no alcohol is served. Children can benefit from seeing that adults can have a good time in their right mind, and that glasses of juice, pop, or mugs of cocoa are for keeping your throat from going hoarse when you are having so much fun talking with one another. Life can be enjoyed without spirits or substances.

If certain kinds of beverages are kept for special occasions, they will be special to your family. Sparkling grape juices and apple juices are abundant at holiday times, and fancy cocoas will do as well. If your family does not regularly drink soda pop, that can be a treat in a fancy glass over ice.

If you feel like you need to serve something different and rare, why not serve guests ultra-fresh juices? When did you last enjoy the sweetness of fresh squeezed and clarified orange juice (I mean the kind you make yourself)? Or gourmet juices and waters from the fancy food markets? I knew a fellow who was taken to a fancy restaurant as a company trip. While everyone else from the office was busy getting drunk, he ordered a tall glass of very, very expensive and gourmet fresh-squeezed orange juice (probably hand-squeezed by some famous international chef). He thought he had the best drink of anyone there!

Those with a craze for coffee can find fancy coffees and coffee makers, and that brew is a strong enough one for anybody.

But let's not forget tea!

If you are going to stay up to see the New Year in, you need a good strong cup of tea. Drinking from a thin bone china teacup, exquisitely painted, which contains perfectly brewed tea (made with boiling water), served by a gracious hostess in her right mind (not drunken) is a superb pleasure in life.

And remember--Tea cheers and invigorates, but does not inebriate.

Perhaps, if people feel the need to serve or take alcohol at parties and special occasions, they need to examine the company they are keeping. If you think you need a drink to relax, then maybe your company is too stressful. If you think you can't have a good time with your friends unless you are all drinking together, or if the guests are so dull or insipid that you have to get drunk in order to talk to them, enjoy them, or endure them, you need to find new friends. 

Update 2023: some good advice from others. 

https://www.amymyersmd.com/article/benefits-of-a-sober-curious-lifestyle (Advice from an MD. Many other articles on the site will enlighten you as to what alcohol does to you)

The graphic looks kinda -- well anyway the advice in this video is good: https://youtu.be/xxzjDAPBIOc

2013 Christmas Tree Inspiration and What It Did

After our trips to the hardware store to see their Christmas trees, I was eager to try out some things on my own. 

My mother said I could decorate her tree, so some of our Interns and I gave it a try. 

She had all the ornaments sorted by color, in boxes, and gave us permission to do it up how we liked it, and then left to run some errands. 

That may or may not have been a wise idea. 

As I looked over the choices of ornaments. I realized that, silly as it sounds, I needed more ideas! 

So, after all these posts I had done on Christmas trees on my own blog, I ended up on the Internet looking for yet another tree to inspire me. 

And this is what I found. I liked the way this lady had colors in her house decor that were the same as the tree--either the tree pulled the house colors together, or vice-versa. Well, there was something candy-jar exciting about the whole thing.

My Interns were a bit skeptical.

I looked around at the light pink walls, the white trim and furniture, the sea-foam green cushions on the couch, the coral pink throw, the bird cage collection and the silver accessories, and decided I would do ALL the colors. 

Fortunately, I remembered once in a while to take pictures of the decorating process:

First I added globe-lights to the already pre-lit tree. They gave an extra dimension to the lights. Then I put on iridescent white garlands. Then the interns started loading the tree with Christmas balls. Here, we have dark pink, sparkly white and really light sea-foam green balls. If we left the tree at this point, it would have been fine. 

I wanted to really cram it full of ornaments, though. 

After more balls, we put in little white sleds, sparkly white poinsettias, and birds. Some single ornaments went on too, including a glittery pine cone. 

If we had left it alone here it would have been fine.

Then I really went to town and started adding giant candy. One of my helpers started to get nervous and to object strongly-- it was too over-the-top! It was getting  a bit cluttered, so I edited it. We retained the blue birds, the pink birds, the words, and the pink and white icicles, though.

And here is the final result. My mother really was surprised, but it turns out, she likes it!

I noticed that we ended up with a bird theme going on, which wasn't planned, but it was too hard to resist all those sparkly cute birds. (Interestingly, the lady whose tree I used for inspiration recently posted another tree, which also has a bird theme!) 

I really wanted to try putting something large and unexpected in the tree, though. Just to see what it was like.  I looked around wondering what to do.  I was still nervous about putting heavy things in the tree, wired or not. 

 I remembered the little birdhouses in one of the hardware store trees. Maybe we needed some houses for all those little birds to live in.

So far, the only new items purchased for this tree were the poinsettias for the top. I thought instead of buying more items, I would make my own light-weight birdhouses out of card stock. 

And here they are. Quite unexpected.

I'm not sure I like it. 

But it was fun to make all those birdhouses!

Here are some close-ups of the other ornaments:

Chandelier

One of the birds

One of the poinsettias

One of the birdhouses. I did several different shapes, just freehand. This was the easiest one to do. 

How to make your own Family Newspaper

There is now a page on The Pleasant Times with ideas on making your own home family newspaper. I hope my readers will try making their own at least once, it is lots of fun!

Advice for Young Men

Painting: "Off" by Edmund Blair Leighton, wikimedia commons. It looks as though this fellow only lost the cost of the flowers in this situation--but I'll bet he picked them himself.

By The Pleasant Times'
Etiquette Lady and
General Advice-Giver

I have been acquainted with several sad situations where young men lavish gifts on young women, only to be "dumped."

In the get-acquainted stage (some "date" and some "court") these young men will do such things as rent a fancy car and drive to a far city to an expensive restaurant with their date, takes her on a vacation, or buy their girlfriend a car to show how much they admire her, or give her valuable gifts. Some of these young men get dumped at this stage.

Then there are the situations where there is an engagement; the young man not only gives the girl the customary ring, but he lavishes gifts (big and small, but mostly expensive) on the girl. From computers to cars to family antiques, some men seem determined to show how generous they are, or to prove their love with their pocketbook. One young man misguidedly gave a girl a home with himself, and a bank account, dozens of very expensive and generous gifts, and even a dog, all before the wedding.

Well just guess what happened in all of the above situations. That's right, the girls dumped the guys. "Stomped on their heart." Took all of the generosity, used it up and  threw it away. And it was easy to do-- there was no legally binding situation to cause these girls any pause in doing so. Some got away with the goods, some gave them back (the one girl kept the dog, though). Others got the expensive dates and experiences, which is money lost forever. Not only did the poor fellow's heart broke, his bank account broke, too; an added insult to injury.

Painting: "Signing the Marriage Contract" by George Sheridan Knowles, wikimedia commons. This couple seems quite happy to be legally bound.

It was easy for the girls to do this, because there was no or little commitment. An engagement can be ended by giving back the ring. And who cares if you are living with the guy-- you can easily walk out at any time. It drives me nuts that both young men and young women do not realize that living together before marriage brings no guarantees!

In some of these kinds of situations, the careful consideration of a girls' character, morals and home skills seems to be missing.

If a young man and young woman can thoughtfully and prayerfully come to the married state, and legally bind themselves to their vows, they probably have enough maturity and character to get over the bumps in life together, without giving up. I hazard to guess that there would be a little more thought before "dumping," (the situation or the person's character has to be pretty bad before going to all the legal trouble to end the marriage).

"Marriage License...
Norman Rockwell
Buy This at Allposters.com

Here is the advice I wish I could have given to these young men:

• Expensive gifts do not necessarily produce loyalty or gratefulness. 
• You cannot change the character of the girl by the amount of gifts you lavish on her.
• Appropriate gifts during the courting stage: Chocolates and Flowers. 
• Appropriate gifts during the engagement stage: A Ring and a Promise. 
• Appropriate gifts during marriage: Be as generous as you want! You are married now-- and this lovely lady you have chosen will provide you with a family and a life long friendship. Here are some beginning suggestions: Chocolates, flowers, rings, dates, dinner out, and NOW you can give a house, bank account, car, vacations, clothing, computer, insurance, (and don't forget the washer, dryer, dishwasher), etc. etc. And be prepared to get some gifts in return! She'll wash your socks for you!

Couple Admiring...

Buy This at Allposters.com

"God Thing?"

By The Pleasant Times' Etiquette Lady Miss Rose


As many long-time readers of this column would guess, I like to err on the side of "traditional." I think the "traditional" way of doing, dressing, saying or behaving is probably the safest way in many cases.  I feel very strongly that we should stay with tradition in our language. There are many areas of language I could write about today, but lately I am particularly rankled by some new (to me) religious terms that are being used, so that is what I will address today.

This article is not about criticizing people's feelings or their walk with God.
It is about criticizing some of the expressions used when referring to God, the Bible, Christ and His church.  I advocate that we be careful and reverent when referring to the Almighty, All Powerful, Holy God, no matter what the new trend is, or how it makes us feel. Let's all feel closer to God, yes, but let's speak of Him with respect!

Let me begin first of all by telling you that I love God. He has been with me all of my life. He is close to me and loves me. I feel that He is near to me and that I can always talk to Him no matter what. He sent His Son to die for my sins, and for your sins, too. He made a way for me to be with Him in heaven. He is my heavenly Father.

But I'm not going to call him by a nickname.

I want to be careful how I speak about Him. I want to show the Lord respect. I want to show Him that I am His humble and grateful servant, and that He is so much better than anyone else. When you feel that way about someone, you do NOT speak to them or about them casually.


Prayer
Henry Le Jeune
Buy This at Allposters.com


 The following is going to sound very picky, perhaps; but calling God "THE GOD" or "A GOD" without the "OF"  is a trend that I think is irreverent.

 The following combinations have been used to refer to the Almighty Lord and His wondrous works:
"The God vote" (referring to religious voters)
"The God people" (referring to believers)
"The God thing" (referring to spiritual life-- or some mysterious force?)
"The God _______" (what have you)
(Some of these phrases use "Jesus" instead of God)
This use not only grammatically changes God from His place in our language from a proper noun into an adjective, but it smacks of unbelief! I can see an atheist using similar terms, or a reporter using them when trying to take a jab at Christianity, but should Christians use them? They put God in a box. They turn Him into just an idea, which may or may not be real.  Remember the traditional "The God of Abraham" or "The God of the Universe?" Is there something wrong with those phrases that folks do not want to use them? They have a lot more depth of meaning to them than the other.

 Though some may innocently use "It's a God thing" to refer to blessings or the Providence of God, are they aware of what it sounds like?  Do we want to demote God and His gifts to a thing? Is this really the best way to talk about God?



"Saying Grace",...
Norman Rockwell
Buy This at Allposters.com

We should not lose sight of the old way of talking about and referring to God, Christ, the church and the Bible.

He sent redemption unto his people: He hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name. -Psalm 111:9

For a rich study, go to Scripture and see the many names of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, and the words used to talk about all of His wonderful works. Since they are from the Inspired Word of God, you cannot really go wrong using them!



Jean-François...

Buy This at Allposters.com

The Problem With Pink

Buy This at Allposters.com



Have you ever heard someone say something about "living in a pink and tea-cups world" or "ugh, I couldn't live with so much pink around" or the like?

 I think that the world should quit being prejudiced against pink. It is just another color. Pink is in the crayon box the same as orange, brown, and denim blue. Pink is in the sunset just as yellow, orange or red are.

 All colors bring out feelings in people, feelings of association, or feelings of well-being, and if pink happens to be your "feel-good" color, than you are no different from the person who happens to prefer blue as a "feel-good" color. For some reason, though, pink preferences are judged more severely than other color preferences, and I'm tired of "pink" being used as a bad word.





Buy This at Allposters.com


 If you like pink, it should be no big deal. If you like brown, or blue, or lime green, more power to you. It is a pity that pink gets such a bashing in the spectrum of colors.

People tend to have "favorite" colors. Children usually latch on to a favorite color and prefer everything that is of that shade. As adults we tend to dress or decorate in our favorite colors, or find that one color looks best on us, or around us, than others. There is nothing wrong with that

 Have you ever heard an acquaintance say,  "I was never one of those girly-girls who liked pink." I question why they feel the need to say that. Do they really think that we will judge them one way or another because they hated pink as a child? Do they really think we will change our minds about them if they admit that there was one color in the world they never could warm to? The reason they include pink in that statement is because pink has a connection with femininity in most people's minds. So a person who makes a statement saying they never liked "pink and ruffles" are really saying "I was never a feminine-minded girl." It just doesn't sound as good to say it that way-- it is sort of like admitting to contradicting themselves by being a girl and not liking femininity-- so they throw a color in there and some textures (ruffles, lace, frills, etc.) to soften the statement they just made about themselves. It is just a pity, though, that people tend to do that, because in some cases it comes across as pink-bashing. Or ruffle-bashing. Often is it said to someone who happens to be wearing pink, or has a bit of lace on, and then it comes across as offensive. If you are one of those who happens to be someone who never liked "pink" please just say what you really mean so as not to offend!

And again, I ask: is it really necessary to say anything like that at all? Do we really need to know that you were not a frills-and-pink girl as a child? Do we really? Does someone need to explain themselves in that way? Why not just keep quiet or comment on the weather? I doubt people really care that much about someone's childhood color prejudices.

But getting back to pink...





Buy This at Allposters.com


If you wish to avoid pink (if you are afraid people will give you pink things as a gift)  a good way to state your dislike is "pink just isn't my favorite color" or a similar phrase. Follow it up with a positive "I'm more attracted to greens" or whatever the color may be.  Most of the time people that know you tend to know what colors you like, so it may not be necessary to say anything at all.

Do not forget that over time, your color preferences may change. I do not care for orange-- yet. I like food that is orange, but I am not fond of orange flowers or orange fabrics. The time may come when I am really crazy about orange. I may state my current dislike to very close friends or relatives while out shopping or looking at furniture or the like, but it does not mean that I have a deep hatred for the color.  Is there a reason for me to make some comment that could be construed as insulting to orange lovers, to the face of someone who happens to decorate or wear orange? No.





Roses and Lilies

Alfred Godchaux

Buy This at Allposters.com


There is no reason to have a hatred for pink, or to use pink in a negative way, to put down pink, or put down people who adore pink.

I understand that pink will be forever associated with feminine things. I also understand that other colors are associated with other feelings and ideas-- white for purity, for example, or red for power. While studies may show all these associations to be prevalent in the minds of society, I think we should be careful not to put colors into a "box" (unless they are crayons-- but say- you could display them in a jar on the desk instead). While black may be a scary color to some because it is used by gangs and criminal minds, on the other hand some sweet and gentle women look great wearing black. You cannot put a color into a slot and say it is only for a certain kind of personality or group of people. But that is what has happened to pink. Taking the example mentioned earlier, do you ever hear a woman say "I was never one of those 'little black dress' kind of girls?" I suppose not-- pink is used instead. It makes pink "weak" to use it thus.

I applaud the bloggers who like to do a "Pink Saturday," and I think it is a fun idea, just as I think "Blue Monday" or "Rednsday" are fun ideas. They are equal in my mind. Colors are wonderful and should be celebrated. Pink should be celebrated by those who love it. Pink should not be singled out and beaten up by people who don't like it.





Rose

Pierre-Joseph ...

Buy This at Allposters.com






Linking this rant to Pink Saturday

Occupy Home

Editor's note: I have heard the word "occupy" so much in the news lately, I am getting rather tired of it! But to make note of the recent events, as is the wont of bloggers, I present to you Several reasons to occupy your own home:

• Keeps you off the streets. 
• Keeps you out of jail (as long as you have no vices).
• Keeps you healthy-- instead of pizza and donuts from who knows where (maybe corporations) and containing who knows what, you can make your own from organic ingredients from your local farmer's market. Have you ever tried to make home-made raised donuts? Mmmm!
• A house is sheltered from wind, rain, and snow, if you happen to keep the shingles on your roof nailed down. 
• You can take a bath with hot running water, and wash your clothes as needed.
• You can have your voice heard whenever you want. You can call your Representatives,  newspapers, etc. as many times as you wish, from the comfort of your own home. You can leave messages on your relative's answering machines, so they can hear your voice, too. You can even post opinionated signs on your own front lawn.
• You can decide what enters your own home, and boycott any company you choose. 
• You can stuff your money under your mattress, instead of giving it to bankers. 
• You can protect your property: Experts tell us that un-occupied houses, which show no sign of life therein, are more frequently the target of robbers. 
• If you are at home, you can feed your pets and care for your animals. If you do not have your own cat or dog, you can adopt one from the local animal shelter and give them a happy home. 
• You can recharge your i-phone with ease.
• You can invent all kinds of cottage industries. One young girl I know impressed the local fire dept. so much with her delicious cooking, they paid her to bake treats for them. 
• You can relax with a hobby, that can be fun, useful or profitable, and exercise the "creative you."
• You can clean your house without a group effort (you hope) and whenever you want to do it. 
• Saves your voice: You do not have to talk if you do not want to in your own home. No repeating phrases over and over again-- you can say just what you want, when you want, and yell or not yell as you please. 
• Saves your hearing-- you can turn off the phone, radio, tv, and other electronics as you wish, and ask loud company to leave. 
• Lowers your blood pressure: you can spend some time hyped up if you want, and then spend some time quietly relaxing when you feel the need to, with no one goading you on to constant 24/7 upset. 

So as you see, there is much freedom in the home should you occupy it as intended.

p.s.
Some encouraging bloggers have occupied their time by writing more useful  articles on the them of Occupy Home:
 Rightthinker: Occupy Your Home! Mess Vs Filth, Decluttering, and Maintaining a Home with Little Ones!
and at 
Home Living: Occupy the Home


Fall cleaning must be a virus. I caught it myself, when I was all ready with plans to sew and instead I ended up sorting boxes, culling and organizing bookshelves. I suppose the only way to avoid catching it is to leave home and camp out somewhere for a couple of weeks. Hmm.

ON WITH THEIR HEADS

Due to the recent riots in London, I propose the following new laws:

 All rioters that have been arrested will be serving a long, long jail time.

 These inmates will go and clean up the sites they have ruined, and dig ditches, etc. for the rebuilding, while in chains.

 These inmates shall live in tents as they travel (in chains) while doing the above, even if it happens to be cold November.

 These inmates will be taken to the dump, to sort through (while in chains) the debris from the houses and cars they have burned, into piles-- piles of glass, bricks, wood, etc. -- for recycling.

Inmates shall be assembled every morning to recite the Exodus 20:1-17 in unison from memory before they will be allowed their breakfasts, which will be an unvarying diet of oatmeal.  Select, pertinent portions of the Bible (such as scriptures from Matthew 5-7) will be read to them  every week. The entire book of Proverbs will be read every month, one chapter a day.

 Inmates shall be taught a trade while serving jail time that will bring in an income. The income they receive will be used to pay for the expense of keeping them in jail (food, power, water, sewer, clothing bills and guards' salaries), as well as paying back the home/car/business owners for the destruction of their possessions, and subsequent replacement/rebuilding costs; paying for the time of the police/fire men called in to restore order, and any repairmen. The money shall also be used to pay business owners for loss of income due to business destruction, taxes owed on the property that was destroyed or damaged, until said property is bringing in an income again; the inmates will not get out of jail until these expenses are paid in full.

 The inmates' i-pods, cell phones, computers, Nike shoes, brand-name jackets, video games and other items will also be confiscated to be sold to help pay for all of the above.

All rioters shall be interviewed to find out which publicly paid program was commonly used by all of them; that particular publicly paid program shall be closed down and the public shall be spared paying taxes for something that did no good (You'll know it by its fruits). All other publicly paid programs of a similar nature which have not shown fruits of useful, self-controlled citizens shall be shut down as well. When such programs are shut down, if there are any riots or gangs formed, they will start at rule #1 above.

Any rioters on the dole shall be cut off of the dole, no public assistance monies shall ever be paid to them again the rest of their lives. Any public monies that would have come to them shall be given to care for little old ladies in nursing homes.

If, after being released, the former rioters are brought back because of any mischief, or seem unrepentant in their attitude, will not get a job, etc. they will be shipped off to serve their time in the jungles and deserts of the poorest parts of the world to come to an appreciation of how "the other half" lives. Until they are sufficiently thin and find themselves in great want of any possessions but the rags on their back, they will not be allowed back into the country.

This document shall be left open to be continually updated with extra consequences as they come to mind.

~ELIZABETH R.

Proverbs 1: 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.






Proverbs 4: 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.


Proverbs 14: 16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.


Proverbs 14: 33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Preparation

The Flower Girl. Early 20th Century
Vernon, Emile

Buy This Allposters.com

What will your future be?

Do you have plans for your future?

This is the question asked to many high-school graduates. The idea is to get them into college. "Uncertain about which direction to take for your "future?" come spend 4 years and a tens of thousands of dollars with us!

"Shouldn't I have some plan for the future, just in case something disastrous happens? Should I have a back-up plan?"

Yes! 

You should prepare for the future!

You should have a back up plan!

When you are single is the time to prepare for the future-- get your back up plan* laid out and ready, get your preparations done now for the future. 

Washington's Courtship
Ferris, Jean Leon...

Buy This Allposters.com

In a young girl's dreams, the future is rosy. Prince charming comes, she marries him and lives happily ever after. Maybe they even have maids to do the housework! There are no such things in our castles of the air as bills, lean times, sickness or exhaustion. There are not even interruptions. Thus we are often not prepared for the things life throws at us, even in our imagination. 

There are numerous difficulties that may come to a wife and mother in her lifetime, that she labels "disasters," which may not be as bad as real disasters (like tsunamis). Everything from severe illness, times without income, frequent moves, to lonely days, late (or burnt) dinners and crying babies will be called "disasters."

Of Herbs, and Other Country Messes, Which the Neat-Handed Phyllis Dresses
Hughes, A.

Buy This Allposters.com

When I was younger, a daughter at home, I thought I was prepared for the future. I had a big trunk in which I put away dishes, cookbooks, a few small quilts and other household items in, and called it my "hope chest." I found treasures in antique shops and furniture in thrift stores that I hoped to take to my future home. I knew how to cook and bake, and sew.

Now I'm wondering if I perhaps needed a second or third "hope chest" for the times to come; one for baby things, definitely!

 The best preparation time for the future is as a single girl at home with her own family. Here are some ideas that I wish I had known, and some that I was glad to know already, as young women preparing for the future. There are more things mothers and grandmothers could add to this list, I am sure!

BE PRACTICALLY PREPARED IN THE DOMESTIC ARTS AND SCIENCES





Outside the Cottage
Strachan, Arthur...

Buy This Allposters.com

There are some things you learn along the way in life, of course, but I wish I had come into my new home with a few more memorized recipes in my repertoire, and ideas for quick (15-20 minute prep) meals that were also healthy. Knowing good food combinations for those back-of-the-pantry-shelves end-of-the-month dinners that need to be stretched is another skill that would be useful to tuck away for the future. I am glad to know how to make my own sauces and salad dressings, many times a sauce really makes a humble meal shine.

A girl needs to know how to double and triple recipes for a big family, or half a recipe for just two, quickly and without having to take time out to hunt up references.

Learn to stock a pantry well enough to minimize long grocery trips, what to do during lonely times or sick times, how to decorate a home and the principles of interior arrangement, some basic gardening, yard and home maintenance (on larger scales than just the small one room decor or tiny garden plot one has as a girl).





The Apple Gatherers, 1880
Morgan, Frederick

Buy This Allposters.com


With the world going crazy in dangerous experiments with food and medicines, a wise girl will know how to grow a garden and educate herself on health issues. 

Becoming a master at organization is wonderful preparation for the future! That is something that many struggle with and when you add a growing family, it becomes vital to a smooth working household. If you do not know how to organize, you will be continually sunk. 

Know how to do things so that you need not be dependent upon services. Knowing how to cut hair, for instance, is helpful when trips to the hairdresser may be squeezed out of the budget.

Ideally, a girl should be able to completely take over the housework and cooking for her mother and family by the time she is married.

Home Sweet Home by Walter Dendy Sadler
Learn some skills that will make your house seem "homey." Many girls learn to play an instrument-- try to memorize some pieces so that you can snatch a few minutes to fill the house with music. Or be the lilting bird of the house and sing while you work. Find some item to cook or bake that is your specialty, and fill the house with wonderful scents. Learn to grow flowers and fill the house with beauty. 

PREPARE YOUR MIND FOR THE FUTURE

Good Mornin', Baby

Learn hymns and lullabies to sing a baby to sleep, know how to teach a toddler a Bible lesson, know how to teach a neighbor the Gospel, and know how to be careful and moderate in all you do so as not to neglect your family, for needs that will arise. 

A library full of books, even for homeschool, will come in handy someday. I save my old books because I know that someone in the house will need to look up the book as a reference, or may be interested in the subject 10 years from now. 

Quiet Read
Blacklock,...

Buy This Allposters.com

Read widely! There is not a lot of time for reading when you start to share your life with others. Don't waste time on trashy novels- read books with good morals and strong characters that will be worth keeping. 

Write letters! Now is the time to cultivate friendships with your grandparents and friends that are far away. Later on there may only be time for a card on their birthdays. 

BE PREPARED FINANCIALLY FOR THE 'EXTRAS'





Afternoon Tea, c.1914
Fischer, Paul

Buy This Allposters.com

A girl need not sew to be prepared for the needs of clothing and home linens. A savings account with money put by for the future is a wise idea. There are many times after marriage when something is needed, perhaps a need that cannot be foreseen, and the family budget has no stretching room. A girl can dip into her personal savings and buy that new stroller, or crib mattress, sheets and comforter for the bed, or a kitchen appliance. 

There are always the things that one doesn't really NEED (as in life depends on it), but would be nice to have around to make cooking or cleaning easier, or help out in other areas. Special kitchen tools and gadgets, a good quality sewing machine, a vacuum that works better, a set of luggage, or items for hospitality & events are some examples. Sometimes there are lean times when these things cannot be purchased, and if funds were saved up they could be used judiciously for these items. 

A Woman Pegs Out Her Washing in a Country Garden
Buy This Allposters.com

Learn to make a budget and stick to it; learn ways to be frugal and save money so that you can keep adding to your savings account.

BE PREPARED FOR CHILDBIRTH

Willing Helper

Kilburne, George...

Buy This Allposters.com

It would not have occurred to me to think about nursing clothes as a girl in her late teens. Not to wear at that time, of course, but for the future. What teenager in her right mind would want think about that? Yet, after marriage, possibly being sick for 9 months with pregnancy, and then adjusting to the new baby, interrupted sleep, increased laundry and such, a new nursing mother may quickly find out that she has nothing to wear! Some new mothers are not even aware that there are special clothing items for nursing. If I could have seen into the future, I would have at least bought the patterns and maybe even some fabric so I could have them on hand, in my trunk.

(Speaking of fabric, have you ever lived in a place with NO fabric store? It could happen to you! Build up a stash of fabric and notions!)

Mother and Baby
Cassatt, Mary

Buy This Allposters.com

All the grand plans for sewing cute rompers and dresses for the baby go out the window once you have a baby-- for some it takes a while to get back into a regular schedule, and there may not be a lot of leisure time for the fine sewing. It would be nice to have a few wonderful little outfits prepared in the hope chest for a baby. 

Even building up health and strength for the time to come is preparation for the future. A teen-aged girl needs to make sure she is getting adequate nutrients and not eating junk food and drinking pop, and getting adequate rest (not staying up late to party or driving the car around to hang out with friends) to prepare her body for that time when she needs nutrition and stamina in childbearing years. 

BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE




A Little Coaxing
Bouguereau,...

Buy This Allposters.com

Life may not always turn out the way you planned it! A girl may grow up to marry a fellow whose work takes them on many moves. She needs to know how to pack and move quickly, and then to unpack and make the new house seem like home. Her homey ways and touches can mean so much to the family. 

A couple may start out in a small space, and a girl needs to know how to be flexible and not be depressed if she ends up in a less-than-grand house. 

Day at the Seaside
Morgan, Frederick

Buy This Allposters.com

One learns with a family the value of knowing how to be spontaneous, gracefully. Learn how to throw a picnic together for the times when hubby comes home from work and suddenly says "let's drive to the beach!" Or to take a dull day to a memorable one by having some treat in store for the children.

The Dancing Bear

Morgan, Frederick

Buy This Allposters.com

Learn to have a gracious attitude so that when your projects are interrupted by a toddler wanting to be rocked and read to, you can do it with love. 

Sunny Morning, Villiers-Le-Bel
Hassam, Childe

Buy This Allposters.com

There may be times when sudden company or spontaneous ideas throw your whole schedule out the window. Or maybe all the children discover mud puddles and make an extra big load of laundry on a day when you were planning on some other task. Learning to adapt gracefully is a great skill!

(It also does not hurt to know some super-quick housecleaning routines for the event of the aforementioned unexpected company!)

PREPARE YOUR CHARACTER FOR THE FUTURE

Spring, Picking Flowers
Glendenning,...

Buy This Allposters.com

Learning diligence in daily tasks should mastered when one is young. Learn how to avoid being sidetracked, and to stick to a project and see it through to the end are as much character traits as they are practical ones. If you find that you have a lot of un-finished projects, or that your mother is finishing your projects for you, determine to stick with it until it is done yourself. 

Learn how to manage time wisely, to look around and find a need and fill it, whether cleaning up a mess or jumping in to help a family member.





The Gossips, 1887
Epp, Rudolf

Buy This Allposters.com


Listen to your parents when they tell you what kind of person can waste your time and what kind of troubles to avoid. Tuck away their wisdom gleaned from their life experiences-- so you can minimize mistakes in yours. You don't have to "learn for yourself" or "sow your wild oats." Use your time more wisely in preparing yourself for the future.

Bible memory is so important-- there will be times when anxious thoughts arise and must be replaced with passages from the Bible, or there may be times when you need some quick advice from the scripture, but a Bible or a concordance is not handy. If you don't have it memorized, it can't help you.

It is hard to develop patience, and it is something to work on no matter how old we are! Here is a little poem taught to me when I was young:
Patience is a virtue,
Virtue is a grace;
Put both together
Makes a very pretty face.

(Just today I realized that the laundry will never, ever be done. It isn't like a project that you complete and put on the shelf as "finished." Ditto for the dishes. It is hard to have a patient spirit with these chores sometimes!)

A Woman and Child in a Sunlit Interior, 1889
Edelfelt, Albert

Buy This Allposters.com

Learn how to control your emotions and do your work through anxiety so that when disaster strikes, fear will not strike your soul and body numb. Add Fortitude to your character; try not to fold during an emergency. One new mother I know, for instance,  got a morning phone call with horrible news, and it rendered her almost immobile. It took a while to rouse herself up and take care of her toddler that morning. Whether it is bad news, hurt feelings, or some other thing that causes great worry, a girl should learn to keep in mind the others that still need her during these times. 

Girls are often accused of being "moody" and the teenage years are a good time to practice self-control in case of a future emergency. It is a time to learn that life is part good and part bad, and may not always go smoothly. It is difficult to predict when anxiety and upset may come, but one can weather it better with a strong foundation of self-control already laid. 

News from Sebastapol
Cope, Charles...

Buy This Allposters.com


And in the event of a true disasters-- wars, losses and tragedies-- it is most important that your character already be equipped with good traits, to help carry you through and to help others through, too.

There are so many more ideas, but these may help you get started thinking and planning. Be prepared for the future! Be far-sighted and try to see what you need to become and what you need to set aside for your future!

Summer Day
Baugniet, Charles

Buy This Allposters.com

Recommended reading (for ages 7 up to marriage) and Encouragement for stay-at-home-daughters:

Future Christian Homemakers

Polished Cornerstones

Keepers of the Faith

When Queens Ride By (online)

Fascinating Girl by Helen Andelin (especially the "Character" chapter)
Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills by Martha Greene

Beautiful Girlhood  (google e-book)

Mom's articles (she allows her articles to be printed out for homemaker's notebooks, which if you started one would be a great resource!)

Tips for healthier cooking (article and links)
12 tips for efficiency in the kitchen (article)

So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

The Pleasant Times  articles section (and while you are here already, please look around at the other columns!)

Aspiring Homemaker blog

For newlyweds:

Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin

Training up a Child by Gwendolyn Web, 1972

*Definition of a Back Up Plan: "Back up God's plan with action, by learning to be a good wife, homemaker and mother in the most difficult times." -Mrs. Sherman