Heart Reflections Live

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I Love Cloth Nappies!!!



I love cloth nappies!- the kind my Mum used on us when we were babes in arms. Yes, I use terry towelling fold-them-yourself nappies (diapers) on our dear little twinnies and love them!

While I've always liked doing things the old-fashioned way, there's a bit more to it when it comes to things like baby care for me. I'm no New-Age Greenie, just a Bible-believing Christian Mama, whose been thinking a lot more about Christian Stewardship and what it entails the past few years. As I become more aware of something, then it becomes my duty to act on it, especially when it comes to the welfare of my children.

Did you know that on average, a single disposable nappy takes 6 months to decompose! We do buy disposables to use while I recover from my Ceaserseans, and I'm always shocked by how quickly the rubbish mounts up- double that for twins! After my 6 week recovery we use cloth at home, saving disposables for going out, and the rubbish pile reduces dramatically! This time round we are allowing disposables for night-time changes as well, but it's a good feeling knowing that each cloth one you use saves landfill.

Now, you may ask, is this a justifiable point for a Christian who believes that God will make new Heaven and a new Earth? I believe it is. As much as we'd all like to believe that we'll be the generation to see Christ's return, we may not be, for no man knows the time nor hour, and if Christ delays His Coming, I'd like to leave as little landfill as possible for my Grandchildren.

As well as the environmental issues, I've become more aware of the issues involving the chemicals used in many baby products and paper products , including disposable nappies. This is something I'm still looking into.

Financially cloth nappies save heaps of dollars. The disposables the boys currently use cost about 35 cents ea (AUD) That quickly multiplies with 2 babies. We buy generic brand nappy liners and nappy soak, we're on tank water- God provides-it's free, and unless it's raining we don't need to use the dryer. I still have to do a cost comparison of disposables verses using the dryer for those weeks when it's raining non- stop.

We were blessed to be given 2 big bags of cloth nappies before we had the twins- lovely thick soft ones! The old ones from Talitha and Zara have become burp cloths, or hand cleaning cloths for hubby when he checks the engine- they keep on keeping on! I fold my nappies in whatI believe is called the Scottish fold- a triangle shape with very thick padding between the legs. I've never ventured into the world of prefolds or modern cloth diapers. Having to upgrade nappies to bigger sizes seems a bit of a waste to me, when I'm 41 years old and up to babies 3 and 4! The beauty of the terry-towelling squares is that when they get a bit snug, just change the fold!

I find there is minimal time difference between changing a disposable or a cloth. The only difference really is adding a pilcher or nappy cover over the nappy, and that takes seconds! I use a snappy nappy fastener ( a plastic claw)- much quicker and safer than than a pin!

Have I whet your appetite for trying cloth nappies? You could start a college or private school fund for your child with the money you save buying disposables! Try it- you might just like it- and there's nothing like a line full of nappies happily waving in the wind. Satisfaction of a happy baby in soft white fluff...

Here are some links for you: http://www.punkinbutt.com/ Scroll down the left hand side to articles and read the whole or parts of Cloth Diapering 101. This is a great study on environmental damage, health issues, saving money, laundry tips and more!

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 9:52 pm 0 comments

Friday, February 08, 2008

Enriching Your Children's Lives through the World of Books


"About 30 years ago, Victor and Mildred Goertzel wrote a book called Cradles of Eminence . In it they described their research of the 400 most eminent people living in this (last) century. They were looking for common factors in the childhoods of these men and women, and a major influence was the home library. They wrote: "A rule of thumb for predicting success is to know the number of books in the home..."


- from "The Child Influencers- Restoring the Lost Art of Parenting" by Dan Adams.


I began to reread snippets of this book of ours last week, as I made preparations for home-schooling- I had forgotten how profound it was when I first read it. It lists typical child influencers such as parents, reading, family-based learning, TV, peers and school, and how you can change your lifestyle in small ways, so that the first 3 on the list become or remain the major influencing factors. I highly recommend this book, not only to people considering homeschooling, but to parents who have children in the State (U.S. Public) school system as well. The book doesn't condemn any schooling choice and has some great tips for parents of public schooled children too.


I don't know when my fascination with building a home library began, but I know as a child I was drawn to books, especially old tomes and Encyclopaedias with the gold engraved writing on them. When I was single and working, I would much rather spend my dollars on an old secondhand book than a new outfit. I rejected trendy fashions for a classic dateless wardrobe with literature to match!


As I grew in Christ it became more and more important to me to choose books that had a biblical world-view, and that is also an important criteria, now that we have children. If a book doesn't leave me wanting to know and love Christ more, then to me it's a waste of time reading it.


Some people say you're better off borrowing from a lending library, than spending money on your own books, but I beg to differ, though I use libraries as well. If I've heard good reviews on a book, then if possible, I prefer to borrow it to check it out first, and then if I really love it and feel it's worthwhile, then I'll shop for a second-hand or discount new copy.


Getting back to biblical world-view, I'm quite fussy on this point, and if a book is said to be Allegorical, I expect it to be a nice clear allegory, pointing clearly to Christ and His Word. I remember as a young Christian reading the Narnia series of books and coming away quite disappointed and disturbed by them- especially the mixing of a kind of Christian imagery with Pagan mythology, and some of Lewis's theology disturbed me in what I picked up through the allegorical/similarly setting. But that's my oppinion and my husband agrees with me, so you won't find Narnia on our shelves- I expect that many people have many differing views on C.S. Lewis.


My other criteria in choosing books for our children is that the hero or heroine must not do magic or witchcraft, as children generally emulate what they see. A bad guy or a witch in the same story is not so much as an issue as this can help them discern the good from the evil, especially if they come to a bad end.


While I've kept a few Disney books from my childhood, that's not the sort of thing I wish to spend money on now- literary wise they really aren't well written. As much as our children enjoy an occasional Pooh Bear DVD, they'd much rather I'd read them the real stuff by A A Milne.


We find the cheapest places to buy books these days are op-shops (thrift stores)- as these are often supporting Christian ministries, many of these places now give away Christian books, Hymnals etc, and also School fetes and spring fairs as the schools often have a library cull prior to these. Here we sometimes pay anywhere from 20 cents to $1 for a classic!


If you'd like some ideas of where to start with classic books, try googling 1000 great books- you'll be amazed!


If you don't own any books, where do I suggest you start? - A King James Bible, The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, Fox's Book of Martyrs, Han's Christian Andersen Fairytales(I assess these on their individual merits- some are beautiful allegories), "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dickens novels, Jane Austen Novels, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, "Little Women/ Good Wives" by Louisa May Alcott, Beatrix Potter, A A Milne, Little House Series by L I Wilder, Anne of Green Gables series L M Montgomery, Heidi by Johannah Spyri, Robinson Crusoe- does this whet your appetite?


I would never exalt any book above the Word of God- always give it priority. These others on the list, will not only improve your children's vocabulary, but will inspire them to live noble, Godly lives.

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 6:36 pm 1 comments

Thursday, September 06, 2007

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things...


In over a year of blogging, I don't think I've ever done a "getting to know me" type post- so here you are!
Here are some of my favourite things- are they some of yours too?
-A well-worn, well-thumbed, and well-marked King James Bible, of one long in the faith.
-Museums and Antique shops
-Amish culture, their wooden handicrafts & quilts (esp. the triple wedding band pattern). One day I might try to find one- or make one, if I ever get around to brushing up my dormant sewing skills- I'm sure I will- and get motivated enough!
-Having beautiful Hymns or classical musical, as a backdrop to much of our life.
-Being home
- Staying with my hubby in a cozy bed and breakfast in the mountains, while the rain softly falls
-Cuddling & reading to our children
-Being indoors on a cold, rainy day
-Family heirlooms
-Passing stories of our family heritage on to our children
-Being in Church
-Family photos- both old & new
-Old Books. I enjoy building up our family "library" when I can.
-Second-hand bookshops- the mustier, the better!
-Front porches & verandahs. Our current home boasts a 1970's sunroom, which is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the ocean views
-The country -not the city
-The hills- not the beach
-Lamplight
-Home-baked cookies
-wearing aprons
- Family Devotions-hearing our little one's questions and prayers
-Family breakfasts and dinners together-hearing our daughters say Grace
-Get togethers with our extended family from near and far
-Love songs from the 1930's to 50's- a little Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby etc
-Clean family movies- It's a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music, Bambi, Old Greer Garson Movies & some vintage Disney stuff
-watching Shirley Temple clips on U-Tube with the girls, enjoying the simple innocence of it & to see them mimic her & learn the happy little ditties.
-watching my husband enjoying his gardening
-Having the girls knock on the door, with flowers from the garden for Mama
-Watching my parents enjoy their Grandchildren
-Drinking tea from a cup and saucer. Is it just me or does it taste better?
-Using our good china, crystal etc
-Our rare family holidays away together
-Listening to Talitha reading and speaking French
-School concerts and mother's night
-Our girls laughing on the swing Daddy made outside
-Reading silently and reading aloud.
-Seeing our children gaze in awe at the beautiful old pictures in "Uncle Arthurs Bedtime Stories"-my husband and I both enjoyed them as kids.
-Blogging!
These are just a few of my favourite things!

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 10:45 am 1 comments