Harvest Lane Cottage

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Prayer for America ~ July 2020

Dear Reader,

I ask you to pray in agreement.

Happy Independence Day 2020.

~~~~~

Father God,

I thank you for the privilege of living in the

greatest nation in the world.

I know that Jerusalem, Israel

is your chosen capital for the world.

But you have blessed the United States

in a way that no other country in history has been blessed.

We were founded on freedom.

We were founded on Biblical principals.

We were founded on equality.

Father God,

I thank you that you have given us a true

American president.

President Donald Trump

is doing everything he can to make America great again.

He is also bringing you, God, back into America.

I am thankful for that.

I ask you to bless him, his family,

Vice-President Pence and his family,

and those who are trying to truly do what is best for

our country and for our Christian faith.

Lord, You have been so merciful to our country.

We, as a country, have enemies.

The most dangerous enemies are those

within our own borders.

The most dangerous enemies are those

who choose to destroy our

faith, our freedom, our social infrastructure,

our borders, our values, our work ethics,

our marriages, our families,

and especially our children.

There are powers that are using media, television,

movies, magazines etc. to destroy America.

They are promoting division of every kind,

hatred, bigotry, racism,

violence, disrespect, and every evil they can

imagine.

Father God,

please forgive those who have chosen

to hurt us all for their own perceived good.

Turn them from their wicked ways.

May your Holy Spirit lead them into truth

and repentance.

Father God,

please forgive us.

Forgive us who call ourselves Christians.

Forgive us for not truly following Jesus.

Father God,

we are your people.

May each one of us who call you Father,

who call ourselves Christians,

turn from our wicked ways.

We have called on your name,

but we must repent.

We must look different than the world.

Father, forgive us for we have sinned.

Holy Spirit, please speak to each of us

individually.

Jesus, thank you for your salvation.

"For God so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten son

so that whosoever believes in Him

shall have eternal life."

John 3:16

Help us Lord!

God bless America!

Laura Lane

2020

Friday, June 26, 2020

113 Things to Do With Kids Without Electronics

113 Things to Do With Kids Without Electronics
by Laura Lane
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Are you running out of ideas to keep the kids busy and happy while they are home? I thought about some of the things we did when I was young long ago. I also included some of the things my four kids did with an abundance of time, no video games or tv, and limited videos. My daughters, Emily and Amy, then added their ideas as well. All in all, we came up with 113 things to do without electronics!
Here we go!

Blow bubbles
Catch fireflies
Make homemade ice cream
Read a book together
Play in the sprinkler
Ride bikes
Play with balls
Play dolls
Kickball
Play with cars and trucks
Learn to play jacks or marbles
Have a pillow fight
Water balloons
Science experiments ie. cola and Mentos
Picnic under the stars, under a shady tree or under the kitchen table with sheets over it
Sidewalk chalk
Whittle sticks
Playing outside
Dig in the dirt
Play in a sandbox
King of the hill or play set
Jump roap
Play in a creek
Build a fort with sticks or blankets
Find the thimble
Skits
Exploring
Trampoline
Roll down a hill
Play catch
Wiffle ball
Badminton
Volleyball
Hopscotch
Obstacle course
Climb trees
Garden
Look for 4 leaf clovers
Mow the lawn
Cook together
Blow leaves
Pick wildflowers
Write snail mail letters
Make homemade jam
Pick blueberries
Make slime
Bake cookies
Go to a drive in
Make ice pops with water, juice, yogurt or pudding
Sing
Dance
Teach your dog tricks
Karaoke
Dance party
Write a letter to the grandparents by snail mail
Play in a home pool big or small
Fashion show
Overnight hammocking challenge
Make a play
Reenact a movie
Wash the dog or pet
Write and perform poetry
Read a play together with parts
Weirdness contest
Staring contest
Walk
Run
Puzzles
Slap jack
Race hotwheels
Race bikes
Sing lots of rhymes and kids' songs
Egyptian Rat Slap
Spoons game
War card game
Go Fish card game
Board games like Monopoly, Battle Ship, Chutes and Ladders etc
Paint a room
Reading Marathon
Manicures and pedicures
Dress up
Makeover
Private concert for the stuffies (stuffed animals)
Bake cookies
Blind taste tests
Lemonade stand
Gymnastics— somersaults, cartwheels, etc.
String games
Clapping games
Magic tricks
Scavenger hunt
Ice cream run (in pajamas one night
Flash mob with just your family
Volunteer
Make daisy chains
Play house (this includes plant soup)
Climb a tree
Eat dandelions
Get ahead on school
Field trip!
Ride a bike
Crafts
Wash the car
Write stories
Swing!
Adopt a kitten
Take pictures
Draw pictures
Play the game "Twister"
Play hide and go seek
Eat popsicles (and try to get them open without scissors)
Sleep all night on a trampoline
Coloring

Amy, 18, added this.
And above all, give your kids freedom in their play. A lot of amazing childhood memories are made by kids using their imaginations and parents being loving and being supportive! Have fun with your kids, but let them also go and act like pioneers together, or build a fort with random things they find. This builds so much character, forms those memories (and isn't that what we want to do for our kids? Help them create wonderful memories?), and teaches them lots of good lessons. To learn, and be healthy, kids need to do things by themselves (and this can be with help). In doing so, they learn, and also learn independence, knowledge, and ultimately maturity, and sometimes wisdom (even from learning a hard way at times).

Enjoy this time with your children and teens. You may never have this much time together again. Make it count for good. Hugs to you all! Thank you for joining me here at Harvest Lane Cottage.

Laura
Happy at Home

P.S. Please share ideas that I've missed and your prayer requests as well.

Find me online here:

Goodreads: Laura Lane 2020 Goal 50 books ~ 20 Finished so far
Ravelry: HarvestLaneLaura
Facebook: Harvest Lane Cottage
Instagram: @lauraofharvestlane
Email: laura@harvestlanecottage.com
Paypal gifts: lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com
Address: Available by request

Inspire Me Monday Classical Homemaking

Monday, June 22, 2020

Help For Troubled Hearts

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27

Dear friends,

They are all looking at you—looking at me. They're watching to see what we do, what we say, whether we are stressed or whether we are peaceful. Many people are watching to see if this Jesus thing is real to us. Family, friends, strangers, co-workers are all watching. So, is this Jesus thing real to you?

When you face a crisis of any kind, first words matter. Are your words of hope? Of fear? Of thankfulness and praise to God? Of despair? Only you can control what comes out first and what comes out most often. Others will use your reaction to judge Christianity and God. Make sure that your first words and all words are life, hope, peace, and joy.

When we are pressed, we are not crushed. We have a father God who loves us and provides what we need and heals us. Do we believe that? I do.

I am an older woman. I've had years of experience with hard times both financial and health challenges. That's an advantage I have over many who are facing their first big challenges with this Covid-19 threat.

I've seen God provide when my husband's income was cut in half, because the company no longer wished to pay his salary. He was forced to quit. I've seen God supply when we had a long period of unemployment when my children were little. I've seen God supply when we closed a business and didn't have income for 4 months while my husband was looking for a position. God always supplies our needs. I've learned to pray and trust him. The trick is to do it without worrying. There's a lot of scripture about that. ~smile~

God has brought me through pneumonia three times, two for which I was hospitalized. He's brought me through more surgeries than most families have had in total. Lately, he's brought me through breast cancer. I have evidence that Holy Spirit will never leave me nor forsake me. I just have to keep paying attention and praying and praising and worshiping. My faith has been deepened by the numerous trials in my life. I have been refined.

We're all dealing with the virus in one way or another. I encourage you to speak life, speak truth, speak hope, speak faith, speak the Word of God. Now is a time to draw closer to Him, and He will draw closer to you.

Keep calm and pray on!

Laura Lane

Bio:

Laura married my high school sweetheart thirty-three years ago. You might say they're going steady permanently. Laura is married to her high school sweetheart and makes her home in Carthage, Missouri.She has four adult children. Two of her daughters live at home and attend colldege in the next town over.

She met my Jesus when she was fifteen, and her life has never been the same. She enjoys writing, knitting, sewing, quilting, crocheting, baking, cooking, making jam, and making soup. Her recipes have been included in Gooseberry Patch's Hometown Christmas, Grilling and Campfire Cooking and Secrets from Grandma's Kitchen, too.

Laura is the author of Harvest Lane Cottage encouraging others in their faith in Jesus, homemaking, books, and thrifty living. She is a breast cancer survivor since 2017.

Shared at Classical Homemaking.

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Thrifty Things Lately at Harvest Lane Cottage #154

Hello ladies,

Here are a few things I've done lately to save money. But first....

Thank you Dianna for your hospitality recently! It was so nice to get away and spend some time at the lake. ~smile~

Here I am sampling lake life at Dianna's.

Now onto the thrifty things.

~ I used some apples that were past their prime to make apple crisp. I've been using the same recipe since I was in college. The lay I lived with for awhile was a wonderful Christian wife, cook, and homemaker. I learned so much from her in the few months that I lived with her and her husband.

~ I made a batch of quick laundry detergent.

~I made ant poison. I'm going to have to make another batch. The critters came back.

~I listened to the New Testament on Bible.com. I'm in Acts right now.

~I've been reading and listening to a couple of books on Scribd. I received a month free because someone used my referral code. She got two free months. It's only $8.99 after that for unlimited ebooks, audio books, sheet music, podcasts and more.

~ We continued using tinkle wipes to reduce our toilet paper usage. In a home with three women, it helps a lot.

~ I went to a wig shop and the owner showed me how to keep my wigs on with a wig grip. She also cut some bangs into one of the wigs that a wig sister sent to me. The wig I'm wearing above is Sierra by Rene of Paris. It's also the one I've been wearing to work the last couple of weeks. I am just beginning to feel comfortable with a wig on my head. ~smile~

~ We enjoyed many beautiful bouquets made from our prolific peonies and lillies.

~ My husband and daughter planted some tomatoes and other herbs, flowers, and veggies in the garden.

~ I found a pillar candle at the thrift shop for $.50.

~ I bought some cards at Dollar Tree. It was a quick run in and out with a mask. I've been wanting to send more snail mail. I sent several cards and decorated the outsides with pink pen. It's obvious to the post office and the recipients that it is happy mail. ~smile~

~ We enjoyed homemade dump stew. I collected leftover veggies, some leftover roast beef and gravy, and some leftover hamburger. I added a couple handfulls of pearled barley, a bag of mixed veggies, a box of Aldi's beef broth, and a single chopped potato. It made a plentiful, delicious soup for Sunday.

Blessings to all of you!
Remember... keep busy.
This too shall pass.

Have a homemade, handmade, heartmade thrifty week!

Laura

P.S I highly recommend using Scribd. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 210 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too. Cancel at any time. My daughter uses it, too.

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2020 18 Finished Books

Goal 50

HarvestLaneLaura on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com

Shared at:

Classical Homemaking

Monday, June 8, 2020

Summer Reading List ~ 2020 ~ Harvest Lane Cottage

Reading is one of my cherished ways to relax or learn. I am fond of losing myself in a book or pondering as I read non-fiction. I make time daily to read or listen to good books. There's nothing that can make housework go quicker for me than listening to the Bible or a marvelous book. I especially like to use the the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle Fire 8 Tablet or listen to some audio books on Scribd* while I work or knit.

Reading a lot of books is as simple as using every free moment. Even when I had small children I read a lot. Many of those books were educational kids' or teens' books. ~smile~

I've included affiliate Amazon links for your convenience. I listen to many books on Scribd for a single fee of $8.99 a month. Details are below.

It's a long list, but I've already started some of these books. Ambitious lists help me to read and listen more while I'm doing other things. Have you made your list yet?

Here's what's on my book pile, my Scribd app, and in my Kindle for summer reading:

The Time of Jacob's Trouble

by Donna VanLiere on Scribd
I finished it!

Stepping Heavenward

by Elizabeth Prentiss on Scribd

a book club selection
I finished it!

Mother Culture

by Karen Andreola

A gift from the author

Close to the Wind

by John Harris

Old book borrowed from the coffee shop
I finished it!

The Fallacy Detective

by Nathaniel Bluedorn

One of my kids' old homeschool books

Make Something Good Today

by Ben and Erin Napier on Scribd

Moby Dick

by Herman Melville on Kindle
I finished it! I deserve a medal!

The Masterpiece

by Francine Rivers on Scribd

a book club selection

Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe

by Debbie Johnson on Scribd

Biblical Minimism

by Cheryl Smith

a review book

Persian Betrayal

by Terry Brennan

a review book

The Gentleman Spy

by Erica Vetsch

a review book

Using Bible.com to read:

Acts ~ finished!

Romans ~ finished!

1 Corinthians ~ finished!

2 Corinthians ~ finished!

Galations ~ finished!

Ephesians ~ finished!

Philipians

Colossians

As you can see, I use Scribd a lot. You get unlimited ebooks and audio books plus sheet music, articles, and other reading materials for just one low price. $8.99 a month. You don't have to pay per book. It's all included in the one price. It's the best money I've spent this year!

If you use my link, you'll get a 2 month free trial of Scribd, and I will get a free month as well. I'm not an affiliate, it's just a neat perk that they have for their subscribers who tell their friends. I've earned 180 free days just sharing how much I love their service! You can too.

Blessings to you all! Seize the day! Bring a book!

Laura

Find me online here:

Laura Lane on Goodreads

2020 16 Finished Books

Goal 50

HarvestLaneLaura on Ravelry

Harvest Lane Cottage on Facebook

@lauraofharvestlane on Instagram

laura@harvestlanecottage.com

Address available by email

Paypal donations to lauraofharvestlane@gmail.com