Caring for the umbilical cord with Goldenseal

If you have had children, you know all about caring for the cord after birth. The huge clamp, the worry of infection, the stink. We all make a sigh of relief when it eventually falls off.

I am very excited to announce, that there is another way! My midwife introduced me to a new techniques.

Firstly, rather than a clamp, she used a very small rubber band. This means you don't have this big clip to worry about that gets pulled about my clothes and is cumbersome. The band is so tiny that it also is so much easier to take care of the cord stump, you are not trying to work around the clamp.

Secondly, rather than using alcohol or water to clean the cord - you just use goldenseal powder!

Goldenseal is a natural antiseptic that comes in the form of a pleasant smelling goldenish powder.

You sprinkle in on at each diaper change and it keeps the area sterile and dry.

Here is more information...

http://www.ehow.com/how_4886993_care-cord-stump-using-goldenseal.html

The Servant Mother

Sometimes I am exhausted by the amount of complaining that mothers do about their children. I am saddened by their sarcastic remarks, devaluing jokes, focus on lack of me time, conversation on what a brat so and so is or how terrible the two's are, how little sleep they are getting... you get the picture.

I am not by any means saying that at times these feelings are not valid - yes, it's tiring, there are a lot of icky bodily functions you deal with and you're right - it's not about you any more.

However, when we focus on this in our conversation with other mothers it is not edifying, healthy or bringing glory to our heavenly Father. If all our time with friends are spent sharing horror stories of parenthood and battle scars - this is what our hearts and minds are focusing on.

We are to be servant mothers, as we model the servant God, our Savior. We serve with joy, giving praise for these little blessings that God has given us. We lift up His name as we tenderly love, sacrificially His little children.

In conversation, we talk about the sanctifying work the Lord is doing in our hearts as He teaches us to love our husbands and children. We lift each other up with prayer and encouragement. We share stories and experiences with a heart of pure motives. We listen to other moms with compassion and give them advice that brings glory to God.

Ladies, we have a Savior that died on the cross for us despite our sin, failures and rejection of Him. Let's serve our children as He serves us - despite their sin, failures, tantrums, back-chat...

These little people are made in the image of God, as are we. When we complain, 'gossip' and groan about our children, are we not saddening the Father as we would be if we were doing the very same about our neighbors?

When you are tired - Praise the Lord for His abundant grace in your life that He has given you stewardship of your child despite your failings. Praise Him that you are tired in His service - that through His blood you are deemed worthy.

When your child is disrespectful, Praise God for the mercy He has shown you and be moved with mercy towards your child.

If you feel like you have given all your emotional, spiritual and physical energy in service to your family - draw on the Father for strength through prayer as did Jesus when He faced the cross.

Rejoice and find joy in your children, correct them patiently with grace and let's not sit around for hours moaning and complaining about the high calling we have been given.


Motherhood is a high calling - whether through birth, adoption or being a mother in your church or community, to teenagers who need a maternal figure... it's your commission.

In the details...

As a mother, I am constantly aware of my own fallen nature and sin. It's easy to get caught up in all the things we feel will negatively impact our precious children rather than noticing all the things we are doing right. The Lord reminded me of this in the sweetest way recently.

As I watch Esther and Rachel together, I see how gentle and kind they are. They talk to each other in sweet voices, are happy to help each other, share beautifully and even at this young age make sacrifices in small ways for each other. They adore each others company and do thoughtful things for each other on their own initiative. I watch Esther comfort her little sister when she falls and see Rachel's heart break when her 'Idy' is crying.

Another beautiful thing to witness is their tenderness and thoughts towards babies. They see a baby as someone to be nurtured. They are doting and complimentary of visiting babies, lavishing affection on them, singing them songs and looking at them with that innate desire to nurture that little girls have.

Even more telling, is the way Esther handles Rachel when she does something 'naughty'. Esther is very patient, she explains things to her carefully, does not scream, shout or lash out, but carefully re-directs her in a positive way. Sometimes, she will put her hand on her little hip and look exasperated at her younger sibling then quickly recompose herself and firmly but lovingly correct her sister.

Most wonderful, is seeing the Holy Spirit working in my tiny Christian's life. For her heart to be burdened with prayer for friends or family. When she identifies sadness in someones life and says ' I think that person needs Jesus!' or she is torn up about injustice that she sees. The most amazing experience is when after making a bad choice, comes to me hours later, despite the apology she made at the time of the incident and genuinely apologises from the bottom of her little heart.

Yes, I am a sinner... and my parenting will never be perfect, but how wonderful it is that I have a heavenly Father, so merciful and graceful that teaches me to be a mother after His own heart, to improve each day...

I must say... my kids are pretty amazing... and i give thanks to the Lord alone for it!

Blessed are the Meek.

I recently wrote this short devotional for the Metochai Newsletter. Our theme this year is the Beatitudes. I thought I would share this!



I have given my life to ministry, joyfully following the Lord on this difficult journey. Each day I ask Him 'Lord! Transform my heart, so that I can be used for your Glory!' I repent of my flaws that I battle incessantly, asking Him for personality traits that are noble and righteous.

I contemplate the characteristics of the Godly women I respect, desiring to have the qualities of Christ, that they have put on so that they may minister to their families, their brothers and sisters in Christ and the lost. I have come to the conclusion that 'meekness' is the very heartbeat of what makes them effective in God's work.

Meekness is not to be confused with being weak or timid, indeed it requires incredible strength from Christ, self control and self assurance.

Meekness is having a profound understanding of God's mercy and grace in response to our sin, thus coming completely under the authority and control of God.

As we serve, we are humbled, looking on each other with the grace and mercy of our Lord. In our interactions, in the most trying circumstances we are mild and even tempered. We are compassionate and patient as we minister, in the very heat of this battle for the lost.

Creative and Thrifty Play Kitchen

I came across this and thought it was a wonderful idea, so I wanted to share it with you! It shows you how to make an old entertainment center into a play kitchen for a super thrifty price!

Wooden Play Kitchen

The Namesake Keepsake...

A few weeks ago, I went to a Just Between Friends Sale and was accosted by a man who was selling print outs of your child's name, with birth date and poem on pretty paper. He was selling them for $7 plus extra for a frame.

They were really cute, but I had a feeling I could make my own for much less. Here is the cost breakdown per 'Namesake'.

Cardstock: 25c (50% off at Michaels)
Border, cut from a scrapbook paper sheet: 59c
Frame: $1 from the Dollar Tree.

Instead of a poem, I picked a scripture for each of the girls. I hope they are something they can keep and be encouraged by when they are older.

Here are the finished products...I intend to hang them above the girls beds.

The non-toxic cleaning kit.

I have wanted to make my own cleaning kit for a while but since I already had cleaners, it would not have been cost efficient or thrifty. However, since we are moving to a new apartment and currently have no cleaning products, I have no choice but to make new supplies (We got rid of the old stuff, because we didn't want bottles of half full cleaners in storage for 4 months!).

Not only is it cheap, it's also safer and gentler for those of use with little curious children... who will happily eat from the floor, dunk their hands in the toilet and lick the windows. To add to the excitement... its a little better for the environment!

Here is the 'tutorial' I plan on using... I will update you when I have made my cleaning products.... with pictures of course!

CLICK HERE FOR TUTORIAL