Please help a dear friend in need!! And get some great soap too!!!

Have you read about all the harmful ingredients in store-bought soap yet the thought of making your own is too intimidating? Would you like to wash with a gentle lather safe enough for a baby's skin? Then let me introduce you to Mae’s Handcrafted Natural Soaps. These natural soaps made with real tallow will delight your senses! Mae lovingly makes all her soaps in small batches to ensure the highest quality. She uses the best of the best ingredients: real tallow is gentle on your skin while at the same time is used for the bar's hardness, which means it doesn't get mushy in the shower. Olive oil is added for further gentleness along with a touch of coconut oil for a fluffy lather. Only high quality soap scents or essential oils are used, and even then they are added with a light hand. Mae's bars give you an absolutely delicious scent you can enjoy in the shower, without becoming obtrusive during the day. Even her coloring agents are of a natural origin. These unique combinations make long-lasting, gentle bars that your whole family will love.

You Can Win Natural Handcrafted Soap!

Would you like to win some of Mae's Natural Handcrafted Soap for yourself? Well, here's your chance! Enter below and be one of SIX winners for a $25 credit that you can use to chose your favorite soaps from Mae's delicious selections.
a Rafflecopter giveaway This review and giveaway is on behalf of a dear friend and sister in Christ who unexpectedly lost her beloved husband in February of this year. He left Mae and a young son behind, reeling from their loss. Mae’s husband had been out of work for a year, living off of a small military pension. The family, understandably, had to cut back on expenses - one of which was their life insurance policies. His sudden death now leaves Mae and their son with very little income (less than a couple hundred dollars a month). Because of different personal situations, she is currently ineligible for benefits like Social Security. Mae homeschools their son, and thanks to The Home School Foundation, she will receive a grant to cover homeschooling supplies and curriculum. She is asking the Lord to provide for her son and herself through her small businesses, one of which is making soaps and other body products. As you can see, the situation is dire for this sweet widow and her son, but we know that God is able to do more than we could ever think, or ask (Eph. 3:20), and we hope that you will consider joining up with us to help our dear friend by supporting her business. We're asking you, dear readers, to seriously consider the call of James 1:27—to care for widows and orphans and consider Mae's Handcrafted Natural Soaps for your next soap purchase.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1: 27

Anyone who knows Mae is touched by her. She is an incredibly godly woman, who acts as a Titus 2 mentor to those who know her. She is loved so dearly and we want to do all we can to support her during this incredibly difficult time! Please pass this on by sharing this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter.

 

If you'd like to give a donation, you can send via Paypal to RaymondBenevolentFund@gmail.com. Please remember to choose "Personal" giving so the Raymond family doesn't incur fees with your donation. If you need more details on how to do this, please contact sarahevan5@aol.com and she'd be happy to send you directions.

A big thank you to all the bloggers participating: Ann @ DuctTapeandDenim.com Anne @ Authentic Simplicity Tara @ Everyday Ramblings of My Life Jill @ Jill's Home Remedies Sara Elizabeth @ A Mama's Story Gail @ The Imperfect Housewife Renee @ I Am The Clay Del @ Devote & Seek Jill @ Blessed Beyond a Doubt Rebecca @ Rebecca's Ramblings Hilary @ Accidentally Green Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm Susan @ Learning and Yearning Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker Justyn @ Creative Christian Mama Chelsea Rebecca @ For Unmarried Christian Women Chelsea Rebecca @ Hearts for Home Paula @ Whole Intentions Amy @ A Heart Surrendered Blog Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation Dana @ Clan Chris Dean Kristen @ Smithspirations Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog Alicia @ Walking In Faith Stephani @ The Cheapskate Cook Amber @ Homemaker by Choice Marci @ Thankful Homemaker Katie Sullivan @ Brighton Park Blog Anjanette @ Raising the Barrs Pam @ Mom Does Reviews Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage Stacy @ Something Whimsical Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood Paula @ Beautiful Life of Joy Rachel @ Of Love and Beauty Reagan @ The Arsenal Kelly @ Generation Cedar Kelly @ Practical Savings Stacy Karen @ A Delightful Home Kristen @ Five in Tow Diana @ A Little Bit of Spain Elizabeth @ Yes They Are All Ours Jacque @ Deep Roots at Home Karrilee @ Abiding Love, Abounding Grace Karrilee@ Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee Shawnee @ The Apronista Adrienne @ Whole New Mom Janine @ True Aim Education Kathryn @ Singing Through the Rain Alicia @ Fun Reviews and Giveaways Deborah @ A Delightful Glow Stephanie @ The King's Bookworm Christy @ The Simple Homemaker June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home Shadedlily @ With Them Joy @ Artful Homemaking

Tartan Day!

Ok so my post is a couple of days late! We had a great time on Tartan Day!
We did a dance demonstration in St Charles and danced on the main stage. We had a great time but the wind was awful!
Tartan Days celebration is always such a fun event! We love seeing our friends and making new ones!

Heirloom Seeds

I do hope and pray that you only use heirloom non GMO seeds!
We are blessed to live very near to the famous Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Farm! No worries,they sell over the Internet and everyone has access to the best seed!
Hubby had a great long talk with Jer the owner about big bad Monsanto and current legislation here in Mo that affcts all of us and our future food security.
Aside from the health dangers of GMO seed, we need to realize that a hybrid seed is one in which, the seed from it cannot produce more fruit/ veggies-
God put seed within food that produces after its own kind- GMO alters and destroys that fundamental order. What good is a seed that won't produce?
So enjoy your gardens this year and may you plant non GMO seed!

This is the day........?

The world looks particularly ugly this morning. Monsanto, abortion, heinous crimes and threats, multiple constitutional violations, the enemy rages. It is no false rumors flying around either. Very real issues.
Comfort being- There is nothing new under the sun and our God reigns.
One of the dearest truths I hold is the fact that our Risen Saviour is Sovereign. He rules in the affairs of man. He is the Alpha and the Omega. In the beginning was God- He is with us now- He lives and reigns forevermore at the right hand of the Father and ever lives to make intercession for us.
Whew!!!And I thought it was going to be a bad day. Looks like the Son is shining after all and I just didn't see it. Thank you Lord.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

Fast food anyone?????

  Fast food! Yes I said it! And I mean it! You have to agree that there are just some days that are busy right? Some days that you don't have time to put a square meal on the table! So in that case, there is nothing to be done other than, fast food....
  However, not all fast food is created equally! Fast food doesn't have to be gmo, garbage, toxic laden and plastic! There are even healthy alternatives to fast food.
  For example, we got in around dinnertime, had to get half of the kids out the door to a dance, another child out the door to milk, say hello to the little who I hadn't seen most of the day, take a call, then strain the milk that came in then .....whew! I'm tired how bout you?  So fast food it is! All of these things by the way could be used on the go as fast food as well!
  So for dinner we had, hard  baked eggs, leftover rice, fruit and cold veggies. If I had cheese I would have thrown that in as well. Top it all off with a big glass of fresh farm milk. It was quick and easy and healthy. Home grown or organic food, fresh and fast. What kind of healthy fast food items do you use in your house?

A lovely spring Day????

Not! But a few of the kids and grand kids enjoyed a day of riding anyhow!
We can not keep the two year old off of the horse!
The day after this wet and depressing looking day , we were able to burn off the garden and put mulch around the trees.
We have our third raised bed prepared and the spinach will be joining the kale outside, tomorrow!
Three of the little kids started their garden plot! Little ones are so faithful with their gardens! Our 5&7 year olds grew 12 watermelon plants last year! They love it so be sure and let them have their own space out there! They help with the main garden as well if course! They are learning skills for a lifetime by gardening. Our children know by age 6 what a weed is and isn't! I'm pretty sure I was 30 before I knew that!
So were all mucking along in this wet weather and not letting it put a damper on our upcoming gardening season! Tomatoes are in our mini greenhouse, herbs growing in pots on the window sill and kale already in the garden!
What are you doing with your garden so far???