2015

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2015

As we go forward into a new year I often recount the past year and the events that have occurred. Seeing how the Lord has fit unseen pieces together of this puzzle called "life" always makes me feel both blessed and loved by Him. I, daily, feel overwhelmed with amazement at the beautiful way He has kept me all of my life. Also, with the knowledge that not only has He completed my life, but His family was made complete when I entered it. No matter how small or insignificant I feel to this world, I was created for a HUGE purpose for Christ! We ALL were! I was reminded of that through a conversation with my son about why we have eyelashes...
"Why don't boys have eyelashes?"...not sure why this was asked when he has more eyelashes at 8 years old than I have ever had in all of my 35 years. So I proceeded to explain just how important those tiny hairs are to the health of our eyes and that every human and most other animals do have them...with the exception of a few species. Now that was the end of our conversation, and the "All- knowing Mom" had conquered again!!! Then later that night I was reminded by the Lord that I may be a tiny speck of His body, but oh how important my "job" is in the body.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 teaches us that when we enter in God's family we become a part of the body of Christ. Paul actually uses a human body example to illustrate his explaination. Each one of us has a purpose in this body that, by the Creator's hands and plan, only we can fulfill.  
That explains it! That explains why I often feel out of place! Am I trying to be a part I wasn't created to be? 
Paul teaches that no other parts can say to one part "we don't need you" because...

"..those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment...." 1Corinthians 12: 22-24

No matter what our part is we are Indispensable to the body of Christ! Our bodies may adapt when missing God-given parts with which to live, but each one of us...His children, are Indispensable to His body. Doesn't that blow your mind!?! It does mine, and I wanted to just share it with you. 
Life gets so busy and hectic this season, but don't let unfinished plans or unreached expectations get your focus off of who you are to God. Remember, He sent His only son, Jesus, here to die for your sins. So that you would repent and live for Him. That's why we are celebrating Christmas, New Years, Easter, any holiday really, and especially each day of life. Life's not perfect, but once we get our eyes focused on our reason for being here...it's a lot more enjoyable. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Love,
The Heltons 

First Day Jitters...

Are You Ready For School?!!?

Seems like no matter how many years we have been homeschooling, I still feel inadequate at what I am to do.  I guess that's part of the Lord keeping me humble in it.  If I get too confident then will I depend on Him to get us through the year?  As I've been purging and refilling my kids school bins I feel the joy, the excitement, anticipation, and some doubt rising up inside.  "Is this going to be a successful year?  Will my kids be "on-track" scholastically?  How will we fit it all in?", are just some of the questions that echo in my mind as I finger through the pages of books yet to be explored. I know most of us homeschool moms, if not all, have the same concerns and questions about our children's educations.  I think every parent, regardless of where the child attends school, actually does.  There's a lot riding on those who educate the next generation, it's no small task.  Anyone who educates others knows how it feels to see them succeed and the heart break when a student fails.  We had an incident a few years ago, after the addition of our fourth baby, where I was not as on top of things as I had thought I was.  It all looked great on paper, but being consumed in "new mommy-hood" again, a lot went over looked.  By the time I realized my mistake it was a long time of recovery for one of my little learners and I carried the guilt of that for long into the next school year.  Determined to never let that happen again!  We, as home school moms, won't do it all perfect everyday, but we don't give in and give up either.  As we begin our upcoming year I know there will be mistakes both on my and the kids parts. I also know the one who lead us to this journey of homeschooling and that these children are first and foremost His and only He has control of how everything goes.  We each do our part, of course, but only through trusting Him and His ways will we be able to succeed.

"The lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord." Proverbs 16:33

Happy School Year!!!!

Love,

Colleen

Coconut Oil

This has got to be the most versatile product that I have ever come across!!   I use it for almost everything beauty or health related. 

Here are my top 5 uses for Coconut Oil:

1.    Homemade Baby Wipes: makes little bottoms clean and nourished...tutorial will be added soon.

2.    Shaving Cream: great, great, great replacement for shave cream. Leaves skin super soft and silky...

3.    Homemade Deodorant: one key ingredient in my homemade deodorant, but I have read where some use it as deodorant all by itself...tutorial will be added soon.

4.    Lotion, body butter, or lotion bars: very moisturizing addition to any recipe or by itself.

5.    Butter or oil replacement in cooking: great replacement for regular butter or margarine and oil in recipes. Simple easy swap and much healthier.

Hope you enjoy trying Coconut Oil for yourself! Let me know how you like to use yours in the commentsJ

Love,

Colleen

Vinegar

Mama always said “Vinegar is a woman’s best friend...”

Okay, well mine didn't, but I’m sure someone at some point in history has and if not then I am the one doing it!! My mom has promoted vinegar to me for years and it really is as good as she has said. 

My Top 5 Uses for Vinegar:

1.    All-purpose cleaner; floors, mirrors, and more... Throw vinegar and water in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go!

2.    Laundry additive: From fabric softener to laundry freshener... Dump some in either part of your laundry cycle and see the difference!

3.    Fabric freshener: Mix vinegar, water, and your favorite essential oils in a spray bottle and you have a homemade, non-toxic, “febreze” type fabric and carpet freshener.

4.    Facial Toner: Mix water and apple cider vinegar for a cool, tingly, skin refreshing toner after washing your face.

5.    Hair rinse/conditioner: Mix vinegar and water in an old shampoo bottle and squirt through hair after washing... also part of the No ‘Poo approach, then rinse.

     Now I know there are sooo many more ways I use vinegar, but other than cooking, these are my favorites!

Let me know what your favorite uses for vinegar are in the comments.

Love,

Colleen

Baking Soda

Like the bag states...One Bag So Many Uses...

Here are my top 5 uses for baking soda:

1.    Shampoo- mix ¼ cup of baking soda and ¾ cup of hot water in an old shampoo bottle and shake. Squirt all over wet hair, massage through, and leave on for a few minutes. Rinse. Now you just did a No ‘Poo shampoo!

2.    Homemade Deodorant- one of the key ingredients in my homemade deodorant recipe!

3.    Facial Scrub- mix 1 Tbsp. baking soda with enough water to make a paste and rub all over clean face to gently exfoliate. Rinse with cool water.

4.    Stain Remover- when mixed with hydrogen peroxide and a little dish soap, baking soda is a powerful stain remover! I use this exclusively for all of our stain removal needs.

5. Cleaner for Stoneware- Just because you 

   can’t use soap on stoneware doesn't mean      you can’t clean it. I scrub a little          baking soda, under hot water, on my            stoneware when they seem a little greasy      and it freshens them right up!

So there you have it! My top 5 uses for my beloved baking soda!  Have fun experimenting with it yourself!!!

Love,

Colleen

Three Secret Ingredients I Can't Live Without!!!

OK, actually there are more than three things I can't live without,  but this is my secret ingredient list for almost all of my DIY beauty treatments and cleaning needs!

1.  Baking Soda

2. Vinegar (white or apple cider)

3. Coconut Oil

Oh, the possibilities that I have found for these three things in my life have been endless!!!!

From shampoo to stain remover, facial toner to all purpose cleaner, hair treatment to homemade deodorant...

It's amazing how versatile just a few items can be! 

Stay tuned next week for DIY creations to try with each of these incredible ingredients!

Love,

Colleen

Can you actually Home School through High School?

Home Schooling the High School Years...

When we were first blessed to start this journey of home schooling, there 

was A LOT to learn!!! So much more than I had ever even thought.  All I knew 

was the Lord had laid it on my heart, and my hubby was for it, so we 

started... I thank the Lord for making me so brave during that time to even 

attempt to try it out.  Now as I look back on the past 10 years, I can hear all 

of the questions I have been asked about our decision and the answers, even 

unsure ones, ringing in my ears...What about socialization? What qualifies 

you to home school? How long are you going to home school?...just to point 

out a few that everyone I know have been asked.  I have always felt 

 confident in answering those questions and over looking the judgement,

but one question I was a little nervous about...Are you going to home school 

them all the way through?  My answer was always, "I hope to", and is still

my hope today.  The thing that changed inside that response was my 

confidence, from seeing the Lord provide what we needed in school year after 

year and him sending others who have gone before me to graduate their 

children has boosted my confidence to home school through high school. 

Recently I was blessed with a CD on Home Schooling through High School, 

and I was so encouraged once again to keep on the path that I wanted to 

share it with you.  It is an older recording from the writer and teacher of the 

Apologia Science curriculum, Dr. Jay Wile.

Here is a highly educated, college professor, and scientist who saw first hand 

through his college students the differences between traditional schooling 

and home schooling.  His observed such a huge and positive difference that 

when he and his wife adopted their daughter he knew there was no other 

option but to home school.  There were a few really encouraging things he 

said that I know I won't be able to quote exactly, but I wanted to at least try 

to share the encouragement: Your home school experience is NOT going to 

look like anyone else's, that's OK!  Our kids are getting everything they need 

from home schooling.  Studies show that a home schooled child tests as well 

or better than public or private schooled children no matter the highest 

education level of the home schooled child's mother or the income level of 

the household.  Home schooled students seem to do better in college 

because they are self-learners/teachers. We as home school "teachers" serve 

three roles from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  Grades K-5 we are the 

teacher, 6th-8th grades we shift more responsibility to the student and 

become more of a tutor, and 9th-12th grades we give almost total 

responsibility to the student and become a fellow learner.  That is how the 

self-learning/teaching is created.  If we learn something on our own it 

becomes ingrained and we will have learned it for forever.

WOW!! What an encouraging thing to hear after the day some of us have 

had, right!?  The message from this CD is so encouraging and I urge you to 

try and hunt one down if you are faced with any doubts at all about if you are 

capable of doing this "home school thing".  We ALL need a little 

encouragement and reassurance from time to time~

    Love,

Colleen