MAKE A NOTE!! -- July 1st, 1999

CIRCULATION 2,170+

A Free Twice Monthly Newsletter with (Hopefully) Useful Info on a Wide Variety of Topics

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In This Issue:

NOTE: Each entry has a suggested "POST IT..." location at the end. We recommend that you print out the newsletter, cut out each entry & post it at these locations to make it easier for you to find when you need it.

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INDEPENDENCE DAY DESSERTS

So many good recipes, so little time... but here is one of my favorite easy ones and a new one I came across. The first is called the Stars & Stripes Dessert. Line bottom of 9x13 dish/pan with 8 slices of pound cake, top with 1C each of strawberry slices and blueberries, then spread on an 8oz tub of whipped topping. Then use 3C strawberry slices to make the stripes, and 1/3 C blueberries to make the blue field of the flag. I have also seen this recipe double layered, but it seems like it would be too much. If you would like to see a photo go to http://www.kraft.com/html/subsearch/holiday.html and do a recipe search under "Make it Red, White, & Blue", then click on "Flag Cake". Here's a new one that sounded good. If you would like to just print it out & see a photo, go to http://www.pillsbury.com/ and do a recipe search for "Easy Independence Day Cookie Pizza". Here is it for you Juno folks...Spray 12" pizza pan or cookie sheet with Pam. Cut 18 oz roll of sugar cookie dough into 1/4" slices, place on sprayed pan(put in circle if on cookie sheet). Press over bottom to form crust. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min or til golden brown. Cool 25 min or until completely cooled.  Combine 8oz pkg softened cream cheese (put in microwave for 20 seconds if you forget to soften), 1/4 C powdered (confectionery) sugar, 2 tsp grated lemon peel (fresh better), and beat til fluffy. Spread over crust. Arrange 2C raspberries (or cherries from pie filling) in a large star shape in middle (use a string of dental floss to mark boundaries). Then place 1 1/2 C blueberries around raspberries. Drizzle or brush 1/4 C melted apple jelly over top. Chill 30 min or til set. Store in fridge. Another easy recipe is to just buy a prepared graham cracker crust, fill with softened ice cream of your choice, use blue berries, and red berries to make a flag pattern, then chill until set. POST IT...on your shopping list & in your recipe box.

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CHURCH & KIDS PART II

Well, I was expecting flames, but most people were very positive about last issue's article. In fact, there were so many wonderful additional suggestions, that I felt like I had to do a part II. Unfortunately due to a computer crash, I did lose some of the email I received, so if I don't mention you & you sent something in, please don't take it personally. :) Vanessa said that if at all possible, the father, as head of the family should be the one who does the discipline. She said (& I agree) that, "there is something about the father's business like manner that brings a special seriousness to the situation." Once children learn to behave most of the time, sitting in front seems to aid in their education. In fact a study showed that the closer children sit to the front, the better their grades (so on a side note, if your child is having trouble in a class, perhaps you should ask the teacher to sit them in front). Lynn Hogan, who also does a homeschool email newsletter (for a sample send an email to konos-korner-sample@egroups.com) suggested having the older children take notes. Not only would that help them pay attention more, but give them note-taking practice, especially homeschoolers who probably don't get as much practice note taking as some public/private school students. She also suggests making it a family affair & having your children sit with the family rather than other youth. Tina B. said their church has a children's bulletin with a space for coloring & Bible verses for the young children, and suggests having a time during the weekdays when they also sit still for lessons at home. Sometimes WE are so busy trying to find a Quiet Time for prayer, that we forget to teach our children the same habit. First thing in the morning, I send my kids to their separate rooms for a time of prayer, it is a good habit for them to get into. Kathryn M. suggested using sign language with children in church instead of whispering or talking, make up your own hand signs for the major things (bathroom, drink, etc) or go to http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/ and click on "ASL Browser" to learn the real thing. By the way, speaking from experience, sign language can come in handy in a lot of other places besides just church, not to mention being able to converse with those who use it as their primary language. My sister, Cori, wrote & also said that it is important, not just in church, but in all areas for your children to understand that you answer to a higher authority. That God has given us the responsibility to raise our children right and we have to answer to Him. So when she reminded her daughter of this, her daughter looked at her like, "Gee, Mommy, we wouldn't want you to get in trouble or anything." And finally Connie K. recommended a book that sounds excellent called, "Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship" by Robbie Castleman, the wife of a minister, and mother of boys. Book is divided into age appropriate suggestions. Retails for $8.99. Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful ideas!! POST IT...near your Bible.

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CHOLESTEROL RATIO

Having had problems with my cholesterol off & on over the years, I was pleased to find that many doctors believe that the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (good) cholesterol is much more important that the total number. While some doctors still just look at the total, others, if the total is high, will take a closer look at the ratio. For example when my total was over 200, the ratio was very good. But when it dropped down to the 170's the ratio was actually bad. Here is the way you figure it out.  Divide the total cholesterol by the HDL. So if your total is 240, and your HDL is 64, then you would divide 240 by 64 and your ratio would be 3.75. A ratio of 4.5 or less is considered good & suggests less of a risk than with a higher ratio. POST IT...in your medical dictionary or health book under cholesterol.

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TV STATIONS ON THE RADIO

This is a little item that you may not be aware of...did you know you can listen to some TV stations on the radio? Usually it is only one station and is found at the far left side of the dial on the FM. Usually 89.0 or lower. Also it tends to be at a lower volume than the radio stations, so you may have to crank it up a bit to find it. So if you have a favorite TV how & are on the road, check it out. I enjoy listening to the evening national network news, but am usually in the car, so it is nice to be able to at least listen. In our area is NBC. POST IT...on your radio in the car.

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WHAT CAN YOU DO ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB?

While I have plugged this site before, it is just too good not to do again, especially for all your newbies out there. And if you have seen it before...GO BACK & check it out again, he is always adding new sites. This site lists all kinds of wonderful links to things you can do on the web.  Things like avoid IRS audits, check out your IQ, find the perfect dog for you, learn a foreign language, and much, much, MUCH more than I could ever list here. Check it out at http://it.stlawu.edu/~tdil/index1.htm POST IT...by your computer.

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WOMEN'S CLOTHING CATALOGS

One reader has asked for catalog recommendations for reasonably priced women's clothing. While a lot of this really depends on each person's individual style. Here are some of my favorites...Chadwick's 1-800-525-6650, Blair 1-800-458-2000, Eastbay (for sports shoes & clothing) 1-800-826-2205, and Newport News 1-800-688-2830. Most of these catalogs, except for the sports one, are more traditional, classic, modest, styles of clothing. One nice thing about Eastbay is that once you are on their mailing list, you will also receive their separate clearance catalog Fast Forward, which always has GREAT deals in it. Because all of these catalogs do have such excellent prices and good quality, they do tend to sell out quickly on the more popular items, so call as soon as you know you want to order something, and also have a few items to substitute if they are out or you don't want to backorder. POST IT...by the phone.

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FREE OR INEXPENSIVE SUMMER FUN

Debi Taylor-Hough author of the Ezine Simple Times (for a sample send an email to simple-times-sample@egroups.com) put together a HUGE list of things you can do for little or no money for summer fun. Parks, museums, picnics, and so much more. Unfortunately I lost it when our computer crashed. She is also the author of the book on preparing meals ahead called "Frozen Assets". Check it out her web site at http://members.aol.com/Dsimple/index.html POST IT...by your computer.

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JOKE (FROM J.C. WALKER)

My wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to our 6-yr-old and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say, " was the reply. Mom smiled. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," my wife said. Our daughter bowed her head and said: "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

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QUOTE

"If I am to glorify God in the way I live, I must make God's glory my primary aim. All the activities of life should be pursued with the aim of glorifying God (I Corinthians 10:31). But let me get down to where the rubber hits the road. Pray that in my driving I might glorify God rather than trying to get to where I am going as quickly as possible. Pray that I would interact with people as I shop, buy gas, eat out, and so forth, in such a way that if they knew I was a Christian, they would see God glorified in me. I'm not dealing in trivialities here. Events like these make up most of our existence. Life is largely a mosaic of little things, routine events, every day duties, and ordinary conversations. How I conduct myself in these circumstances determines largely whether I glorify God in my life."

--Pastor James Braden (Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, NC)

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FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK-FEEDBACK

RE: Refrigerators

Laurie wrote & asked what renters could do to save with the fridge. Be sure to vacuum the coils that are either on the back or under the fridge to keep them free of dust & working well. The more full a fridge/freezer is, the more efficient it is. Also use a thermometer to make sure you aren't wasting money keeping things colder than is necessary. And if the fridge in the rental is very old or inefficient, a new fridge you buy yourself may actually pay for itself very quickly in energy savings and you could always take it with you when you move.

RE: Church & Kids

Linda B. wrote, "I appreciated the piece on children's behavior in worship.  It had some good reminders and advice for my family. Thank you for stepping out!

Deb K. wrote, "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your newsletter. I've been learning all kinds of interesting information and I'm particularly encouraged by the Christian values expressed."

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Thanks for joining us for another issue. Please forward the newsletter on to anyone you think might like it.

God bless,

Sharon ^i^

Make-A-Note@worldnet.att.net

Editor, Make a Note

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