Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent 

So I have been making my own laundry detergent for a over a year now.  The reason I started making it was to save my family money. We were spending at least $20 every couple months buying detergent and that adds up. So this was and is a huge savings for our family. Now we can use the money saved for family fun instead. Several friends and family members have asked what is the recipe I use and I have shared it with them. But in case anyone who is reading this would like to know I thought I would share with you. I wished I knew where I got the original recipe but I don't have a clue. If I knew I would give credit where credit is due. There are several through out blogland.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 cup or bar of Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

All these ingredients can be found on the laundry aisle at Wal-Mart

Grate the soap with a hand grater

soap is kind of thick after grating

Measure out the washing soda and borax into a bowl together

and then add the grated soap

To make it more fine and get mixed really well I put the mixture into the food processor

after mixed together

This also helps break up the borax, it can clump, and it makes the soap more a powder form. 

Now it's ready to put into what ever jar or old Tupperware container you have. 

This is the first time since December 2011 that I have made detergent. At that time this container was full.

 Yields around 3 cups

And this is the best part you only use 1 Tablespoon of detergent per load, yes only 1 Tablespoon compared to a cup or more of the store bought stuff. You can use 2 Tablespoons for heavy soiled loads. Sometimes we do especially in house full of boys.

 And yes our clothes come out clean for A Lot less money.  And remember this mixture will not make suds so it is safe to use in the high efficiency washers. I will shake it up every few loads to make sure it's still mixed well and doesn't form any clumps. We also add a 1/4 cup of white vinegar for the fabric softener compartment and then fill it the rest of the way with water. Your clothes will not come out smelling like pickles, I promise. If any questions feel free to ask. I will answer to the best of my knowledge.

Happy Laundering!

hugs and prayers~ KM

Still Counting

So yes I am a slacker. I have failed behind once again with my Joy Dare. I printed it and like in the past other papers got put on top. And then I forgot. Or I would remember right before and be like I will do that first thing in the morning. And guess what I'd forget again. Does it mean because I am not actually following a list I'm not still counting my blessings.?.? No, I've just been saying Thank you as the day goes on. Have a done it every day  without a list to check off, probably not. Does the list help give me a starting point, yes. So I am human and not always the best. But that is the Great thing about living my life for Christ, he still loves me through everything. Even when I'm being a brat. Does God get mad at me for not following a list of Thanksgiving, that he didn't write in the Bible to a tee? Heck, No. What he truly wants is for me to talk to him, tell others about him and live my life for him. Am I doing that, some days are better than others. Has this list help me stop and think of new ways to say, Thank him, Yes. So do I go back to the being of Septembers list and start there or do I just pick up on today. Or does it matter if I start with a combination of the days I missed. See that's the cool thing about this Joy Dare, I can do it how it works for my life. Because it's truly about just saying, Thanks You God for all the blessings in my life; little and big. I can say that where I haven't been looking at this list of Gifts, life has seemed a lot more crazy and out of control. So to me this list of Gifts is another tool in my life to help me stay connected to God. And that is a Great thing. So I will continue to add to the list one day at a time because God has Blessed me with so much more than stuff.

Day 32 ~3 Something Cut: the lawn that Daniel mows that gives life to the yard, the wrapping paper I cut for a friends gift, the hair I cut off to give to Locks of Love for a child's wig

Day 33 ~  4 Gifts of Autumn: a pot of chilli to feed friends and family, birthdays to celebrate life, cooler evenings, football

Day 34 ~ 3 Gifts framed: Our marriage certificate, pictures of family no longer here, the addition we put on the house
Day 35 ~ 3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful: the scars from csections for healthy babies, the bruises that remind me that even in the fight something good can come out of it, the removing the stuff from life that hinders me from the beauty of God
Day 36 ~ 3 Gifts Growing: Amos, Carter, Isaiah- growing in their faith, Laura Mae holding her bottle and feeding herself, My mom, Jimmy and Me has we figure life with out my Dad
Day 37 ~ 3 Gifts Shared: laughter with friends, the struggles of life, and a spot on the front porch swing
Day 38 ~ 3 Gifts Given : The life God has given me, Family, tools to help me through this life

So today that's my list of Gifts from God. Are these the only things of the day I have been given? No, just a staring point of my day or days. It truly is in the little things. 

hugs and prayers~ KMS

Tuesday, September 11th

11 years ago…… Do you remember??? I had been up all Monday night cleaning our apartment and getting ready for Daniel’s brother Robs birthday dinner Tuesday night. I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I woke to Daniel saying Kim wake up and watch this. He had been at work the day before at the Fire Dept. in Murfreesboro and had just got home a little after 8. I was like hello I haven’t been asleep to long and don’t care to watch the TV. Daniel said, “You don’t want to miss this.  Planes have hit the World Trade Center in New York. And they are saying it’s a terrorist attack.” Well I was awake in a second then.  Next thing I know our neighbor was over and we all 3 sat glued to the TV. Daniel was supposed to be mowing but he couldn’t pull his eyes away from the screen or even move. We were all kind of numb. And wondering what all this meant.  What it meant was, America’s way of life was changed, and we weren’t immune to nothing anymore as a country. We had been attacked on our own turf.  Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day. Firefighters, EMS, Police were running into the buildings trying to save as many as they could.  Complete strangers were helping each other move to safety.  The number that stands out at our house is 343, that’s how many Firefighters were lost that day. Who only did the job they loved, Helping others.  Firefighters are the ones running in as everyone else is running out. With one thing on their minds, if there is someone inside get them out and put the fire out. John 15:13 states,  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. And I can say this is true for the Fireman I know.  They do it to save lives not for glory.  It’s not about them it’s about the ones they are helping, whether that’s them stopping the fire from spreading and putting it out, rescuing someone from a burning house or car, to helping a child breathe again, to even getting kittens from trees and under houses. They are here to serve and protect. 

And untimely we all should be living a life of serve and protect and not just for the ones we love.   We should be living out John 15:13. So, on this anniversary I first want to say Thank You to the Fireman, EMS, and Police who put their lives on the line for others.  These men and women are a breed of their own. It’s in their blood. And they love the job they do. The good thing about anniversaries is the remembering and the moving forward. America on that day 11 years ago pulled together. People were willing to help where ever needed.  And though it was a time of heartache it was a time to cherish the ones you loved. So as you move through the day, Remember. Remember God wants us to live a life to helping others and guide them toward him.

Just Some Mud

Labor Day

So this Labor Day weekend, I dropped Amos and Carter off with Daniel's Dad and Stepmom on Friday night for cousin fun and then went and dropped Isaiah and Laura Mae off with my Mom. I also had supper with my Mom, Grandmother, and Aunt. So my house was super quite Friday night with no kids and Daniel at the Fire hall. Saturday morning was a day of fun. Daniel along with a 4 other guys from the Fire Dept. signed up to do a Mud Run for Habitat Humanity at Cane Creek Park. A Mud Run is a type of 5K with obstacles course mixed in. Running up and down hills, through the woods, climb rope walls,get sprayed by a fire hose, climb over walls, run through tires, swim in the pond, crawl under rope, water slides, dive into a mud pit, a ring of Fire and climb over rolls of hay bales all before crossing the finishing line. A fun time for all involved as well as the ones sitting by and watching. The boys were back in time to cheer on their Dad. My Mom kept Isaiah and Laura Mae at home during the race. Isaiah would have wanted to play in the mud :)

This would be the second Mud Run Daniel as done this year. His first one was back in June to help raise money for United Way of Bedford County at the Tennessee Fire and Codes Enforcement Academy, also a portion of the proceeds went back to help Fallen Firefighters too. This run Daniel was joined by his sister, Sarah and her husband, Randy. I think it's more fun when done with friends and family.  So here are some pictures from both runs. Enjoy!

Fire Medic Mudslingers

Daniel and Me

Praying before the Race, Love this!

 

Fire Medic Mudslingers came in 14th place out of 150 teams. Not Bad guys.

the Cheering crew is ready for lunch

Randy, Daniel, and Sarah before the race June 9th

 

a little brother sister competition 

 We are looking forward to more races. The boys can't wait until they are old enough to run these races with their Dad. And I can't wait to cheer them on!

End of August

Day 21 ~ A Gift Straight, Curve, Turn : God's promise- In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.( Proverbs 3:6), Curve- the roads of life I usually take, Turn- when I remember I really do need God in EVERYTHING
Day 22 ~ 3 Gifts in Light: Sunshine in the midst of rain, the night light for kids, Jesus
Day 23 ~ 3 Gifts of Old: pictures that bring back memories, a pair of my Dad's army pants, Grandparents
Day 24 ~ 3 Gifts of Moving: my van that takes us where we need to go, figuring out how to move on without my Dad, the lawnmower that gives Daniel another job
Day 25 ~ 3 Gifts Fragile: my heart that is full of mixed emotions, my Granny Farless' china- my dad bought for her, my Faith at times- I know what I should do but don't always do
Day 26 ~ 3 Gifts Cut, Sewn, Buttoned: the trees my Dad cut for a living, the curtains my Mom made for me when I was little, the pants I have to wear
Day 27 ~ 3 Gifts New: Bible Studies that will challenge me, Friends God has put in my life, a New day of trying to get it right
Day 28 ~ 3 Gifts Long Awaited: peace for my Dad with no more hurting, a daughter to hold, the start of school again for Daniel
Day 29 ~ A Gift One, Two, Three: my One little girl, Laura Mae- who became my blessing in a hard time, the Two bikes Amos and Carter rode to school this morning, my Three boys- Amos, Carter and Isaiah- who are full of life
Day 30 ~ 3 Gifts Very Small: a pair of jumper cables to start my van, a phone call from a friend, a hug when needed
Day 31 ~ 3 Miracles: not having Laura Mae on the side of the road and making it to the hospital in the nick of time, having Carter 6 weeks early and still healthy, Amos and how God is still letting his eye work 

The Joy of counting my blessings from God. Yes this life is not about stuff but Living for God. I pray that this "stuff" is helping me and my family do his will in everything. I pray that we use what God has given to us for his glory. 

Keeping a track of his Blessings has shown me that God is truly in the little things as well as the big. This past month (August) I have found some peace in a emotion filled head. It has made me stop and see the good in my day. And that true JOY is in God. I can't wait to see how God can use my list of Blessings for his will.

Colossians 3

I feel as if I should share this. My prayer is for my Family to take these word to heart. I pray that we remember we are here to serve God, live for Him and share Him with others in everything we say or do and the things we don't do.

Colossians 3

New International Version (NIV)

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^{[b] 7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Households

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹ Fathers,^[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.