As Stay at home daughters, many of us are able to spend time and
energy helping and serving our community now, that we would not have if we
  managed our own household. 

Bethany and I have been volunteering at a local food pantry and thrift store every week.
This has given us the opportunity to put together carts of food for needy families, sort through clothing donations, help in the
furniture barn, and talk with other volunteers.
 

The food pantry varies dramatically from week to week as all the
food is donated. Right now, they have more than 500 lbs. of prunes, but very
little of protein sources such as peanut butter, beans, and meat. They are
always in need of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sorting through clothing is sometimes a tough job, they have a large box to put ripped, torn, and stained clothing in, these clothes are shipped to Africa.
 

The furniture barn is fun, we have to go through a maze of
mattresses, couches and desks, or whatever else the customer may be looking
for. Though the furniture barn is organized several times a year, at the moment
it is in disarray.

 
There are many different volunteers, most are Christian, and some
are there for community service.
This has also given us ways to share our faith, both with other volunteers, and the people who come to the food pantry and thrift shop.

It has been very rewarding, and I look forward to finding more ways to serve our community.
What are some ways you like to serve your family and community?



Galatians  5:13
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to
indulge the flesh; rather, serve one
another humbly in love.

        Naomi

"Twilight", "Harry Potter", "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe".
 

What do these books have in common? More than you may think. They all portray evil things as good and upright. 
I haven't read the first two books but only summaries and reviews.

 Twilight is a book that follows the passionate romance between an average girl (Bella)
and her “good vampire” boyfriend (Edward). Edward drinks animal blood rather than human blood so that makes him “good”. 

Even if so many teenage girls (and even their moms) didn’t have such an unhealthy obsessive love for Twilight or its main character Mr. Edward Cullen, Twilight would still be an un-healthy literature to have in our diets. The fact that Edward is a
“good vampire” doesn’t make this a good book. This brings back memories of “The Wizard of Oz” with its “good witches” and bad witches- there is no such thing as a good witch! And there is no such thing as a good vampire.

Harry Potter- a novel of the life of an orphan boy named Harry who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I hate to be crass but wizardry is ranked right up there with some other totally disgusting sins. Why will some read books about such perverted acts as wizardry (in the name of entertainment) while other perversions are off-limits?

The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe- a mysterious wardrobe can transport children to the magical world of Narnia. The antagonist is a beautiful witch and the protagonist is the Lion, Aslan, who has magical powers of his own.

This time we have bad magic and “good” magic. There is no such thing as “good” magic- even if the book was written by a Christian. Even if  it’s written by C.S Lewis, Christian hero. While I believe that Mr. Lewis has some excellent arguments for the existence of God and some excellent arguments for the validity of YHWH God as THE God, I do not believe his Narnia books are the best reading material.

                                                           "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." 

                                                                                                  -  Bethany -

In the first week of December you can expect:
 
An article from Emily on the importance of spending time with your brothers and some ideas on activities that you can both enjoy. 

Also, Lydia will be posting an article on napkin folding that will consist of; directions for folding, pictures, and resources for more ideas. You can use your newly acquired skills to add beauty to any meal. 

Naomi will be posting in second week of December about volunteering at a local food pantry/thrift store. She will share some of her experiences and encourage you to be a servant in your community. 
 
I (Bethany) will also be posting in the second week of December. My post will be about book choices. Even if you don’t completely agree with the conclusions I draw, I hope you will be challenged to re-think your choices.  

For the second half of December we will be posting on:

Praising YHWH  (Emily)

Hairstyles Part 2 (Lydia)

Pumpkin Challah Reveiw (Bethany)

Contentment (Naomi)

                                                                                   Keep living (everyday) set-apart,
                                                                                                   -Bethany-


Dates and Themes are subject to change without notice.  ;)

"Raising Maidens Of Virtue" by Stacy Mcdonald is a book I have just finished reading. The topics include; guarding the tongue,
idleness, sibling relationships, honoring parents, contentment, modesty, purity, cleanliness, and
feminine biblical beauty. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to do a review on it.

I read this book for school but I was planning on reading it anyway. I liked it so much that not only did I read it for school 
but in my free time as well!

Stacy Mcdonald  recommends her book for girls ages 11-12 because there are a few chapters
that younger girls might have a hard time understanding.

It's a book you may want to read if you would like to know how to be set apart from the world.

It has a  section at the end of each chapter titled "share your heart" which is a question and answer about the chaper. I wrote my answers in a notebook, you could also discuss the questions with your mom and/or sisters (Or if you are the mom; your daughter).  
Another reason I enjoyed this book is because Mrs. Macdonald had Scripture to back up what she was saying.

Some of the things I liked about the book is it encouraged me to be more productive, not to be like the world, and that it's good to be set-apart.

The book also talks about modesty, its not only outward appearance but a heart issue too. If someone was dressed in a skirt to their ankles and a very modest shirt but did not have the right heart, then they might seem modest at first but once you get to know them then you might wonder why you thought they were modest in the first place.


                                                  Blessings,       
                                                             Lydia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All of us are waiting- Whether we are waiting for a loved one to come to the Truth, waiting for test results to come back, or waiting for an exciting event to take place- everyone everywhere is waiting. 
 
While we wait our spirits should be still, resting in God’s will. Yet God provides plenty of things for us to do while we wait. 
 
I got the idea for this blog post because I am waiting right now for several things. Sometimes the waiting can seem like an eternity even though it’s only been a week!

Keeping busy while I wait helps pass the time. For example; Un-packing from Sukkot, writing this blog post, and
fixing meals- not to mention we’ve been up to our elbows in tomatoes all morning! 

In the song I posted you will hear the line “I will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience, while I’m waiting”. 

Waiting on God is not an excuse to do nothing. We should be moving forward and trusting all the while that YHWH knows His plan for us and He is in control. 

Waiting can be boring or fun, it all depends on what we do while we wait. Are you wasting your time on frivolous activities that lead nowhere or are you busy with productive activities that the Lord has for you today?

                                                                                                                                          -Bethany-

Over the course of this year Lydia and I have been writing on our "doorposts" and "gates" by covering our bedroom walls in artistically written bible verses.
 
We took the time on Sunday evening to work on some of these verses. Lydia did Psalm 121 because it is one of her favorites. It reminds her that YHWH is her help and protecter.

I am working on writing out all my favorite verses from James. I just finished  James 1:19-20.

Reading these papers as they catch our eyes helps to adjust our attitudes, memorize scripture and is a great reminder of how Yahweh sould be at the center of our lives.

If you don't do this already it would be great to start now! You can put these in your room, in your car, inside your suitcase, inside someone elses suitcase, give them away as bookmarks or (if you're allowed) all over your house!

                                                                                                                  Have a blessed day!!
                                                                                                                                                               Bethany and Lydia

Disclaimer! I do not condemn or judge anyone who chooses to go to college or pursue a career. 
I understand that everyone has their own opinions and is in different circumstances. I am sorry
if this article comes across as rude or condemning- I assure you that is not my intention. 


Stay-at-home daughterhood
 
What it isn’t 

There are as many misconceptions and misunderstandings
about stay-at-home Daughterhood as there are about homeschooling and
stay-at-home moms. Here I will list a few of the possible misunderstandings
about Stay-at-home daughters (Also called Daughters at home).

 Controlling/abusive parents 
Just like homeschoolers, DAH (Daughters at home) may be viewed as victims
of abusive or controlling parents. While this may be true in some instances but
 in my case I have chosen to be a DAH because that is what makes the most sense to me. 

I have no plan 
I can imagine that upon hearing I am willingly staying at home after high school graduation,
some readers may assume I have no plan to further my education. Or possibly think I am going to
twaddle away the days dreaming of my prince charming. Again, this would be another false assumption to make. 

Filling my days with productive activities does take a little more creativity than if I took classes arranged
by someone else but it also makes me more flexible. Being more flexible gives me a great
advantage in helping my family. 


What it is 

Busy as a bee (or a Proverbs 31 woman in training)
I have recently graduated and already I see multiple areas that need a great deal of improving.
Cooking, quilting, sewing, gardening, and cleaning (and more)! But I love being at home where
my talents and skills are put to the best use.

What better place to practice love, joy, peace than in a busy, family atmosphere?
Living with 5 siblings is the perfect place to practice patience and kindness.
Goodness and faithfulness are exercised in any household task. Gentleness and
self-control take place when you cut your brothers hair :) .
All the fruits of the spirit are best developed in the home.

 Higher education 
Higher education is higher education whether you pursue it at a college campus, online or training at home.
Shouldn’t I go through some sort of college course just in case? You may ask; Well, I could.
But why spend the money and time learning things that don’t apply to my field of interest (Daughterhood and Motherhood)?
Yes, I could learn a few skills that would be useful to me but so could a career pursuant lady from training at home. 
 
What if I don’t get married? Then I don’t get married. It’s not my goal anyway.
My main goal is to please my Lord and Savior and if I can best do it by staying home then stay home I will! 

Real life tells us most women do get married. Why prepare to live my life single when most women get married?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to prepare to be married and trust Yahweh to work it out which ever direction He leads?

A few other potential objections to being a Daughter-at-home

Pursue your DREAMS! 
To help me get my point across I am going to make up a character. Let’s call her Nan.

Nan is a 30 something woman who has recently come out of the bondage of home life.
She has broken free from her role as wife and mother for the nobler title of  ‘Career woman’.
 Nan is going to dialogue with me about what society thinks of DAH (Daughters-at-home).

Nan: Why waste your time at home when you can be pursuing your dreams!
Times are changing and you are no longer a slave to the home and family. 

Me: If I should really pursue my dreams as you say, Nan, then I believe that I already am! My
dreams are nothing but following God’s will for my life. And His will for my life right now is
to be a Daughter-at-home. Being a DAH prepares me for what I hope to be some day. A stay-at-home mommy :) 

Nan: When I first got married I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom so that I could be home with my children.
 But trust me… after 3 years of crying babies and poopy diapers I had enough. Thankfully,
 I had the sense to go to college before I married and getting a job wasn’t too difficult.
 Go to school and get your degree so that when you get married and have kids you won’t have to
go to school later on to get your job.

 Me: Thank you for you suggestions Nan but the book of Titus says that a woman is to be busy at home.
 I know that it wouldn’t always be easy taking care of crying babies and changing poopy diapers
 but that’s not a reason for me to give up and leave my children. Sometimes life is hard and that goes for career women too. 
 
Nan: Don’t you see how selfish you are being- society needs more women in the workplace! 
  
Me: Actually Nan, I know you’re just trying to help, but we really need more daughters-at-home.
We have the time and skills to visit the elderly, the time and ability to mentor younger girls and
encouraging them in their walk with Yahweh. Society needs the single woman to focus on the things of God
and not on the things of the world! What society needs is daughters with a willingness to serve busy mothers and
their own families. 

This is why talking to people about my choice can be somewhat of a sticky situation.
 It’s very hard not to come across as rude or judgmental. For the most part people have been very nice
about my decision (at least on the outside!) but I have heard and read about girls who have made the same
 choice and have faced hearty criticism and snarky replies. 

Here are some examples of usual responses I get:

Man: So, when do you graduate?
Me: I have already graduated.
Man: Oh, where are you going to college?
Me: Actually… I have made the unpopular choice of staying home. 
Man: Oh, really?
Me: Yes, and I am training at home to be what I really want to be
Man: What is that? (eyebrows raised)
Me: A stay-at- home wife and mother 
Man: That is WONDERFUL! My wife was a stay-at-home mom and it was awesome! I think that’s just awesome! 

I have had quite a few responses like that from married men asking me where I am going
to college ( Men like; the father of a kid I babysat for a while, my friend’s dad, my mom’s chiropractor, the doctor who
pulled my wisdom teeth out…etc.) 

Women usually have a slightly different
response…

Here is the usual beginning of the conversation followed by a few responses I have gotten.

Woman: Where are you going to college?
Me: Actually, I am staying at home to prepare to be a stay-at-home mom 

Woman 1: Oh (in a cold voice)
Me: Yep, that’s what I’m doing heheh (nervous laugh because I know she’s a career woman)
Woman 1: well, we all have our own thing…Got to follow our own hearts…

Woman 2: Oh…
Me: I’ve always wanted to be a wife and mother…
Woman 2: Well you should at least take some classes on psychology. I did that and it really helped me raise my kids.
Me: Really?
Woman 2: Yep, my mom told me I should and it really helped

Woman 3: WHAT! You aren’t engaged are you?
Me: No. God will bring the right one at the right time 
Woman 3: phew! You don’t want to get married that young, honey.  
Another woman in the room: I was gonna say- don’t rush into anything

Many women offer me a suggestion or two while the men are usually very enthusiastic and commend me for my choice.

When I first chose to be a stay-at-home daughter I didn’t know how people were going to react!
I knew that when my older sister made the choice she had to face lectures and scorn from some people.
I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions of most people. But I also have not had to voice my choice to an out spoken feminist. 

Being a stay-at-home daughter is my choice and I must make the choice based on my undertanding
of Scripture and God's will for my life.
 
So what do you think? What lifestyle do you believe the bible supports for women? 

Serious question to think about: What defines your dreams and goals? God’s word or The World?

Blessings,

Bethany

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Last month my sisters, some of our friends and I went to a local nursing home to sing
for the residents, and to visit with them.

Lev 19:32 "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am YHWH. 

When we take time out of our schedule to spend time with the
elderly, we are honoring them with our time.

It is amazing what they can remember. Some can’t remember what
happened yesterday, but they can tell you all about their
childhood.

It is so fun to hear them tell you about their childhood, most
of them grew up on farms, and had many animals.

A lady I met grew up on a farm with her three brothers. 
 
Her name is Margaret and her family had a dairy farm with
30 cows. They grew 40 acres of corn in addition to Tomatoes, Carrots, and
lettuce. She also told me that she and her brothers would help deliver milk by
running it up to the door as their dad drove his Ford pick-up truck.

One of the most cheerful residents is Harvey he likes to
make people laugh and flatter the ladies.

He is always ready to tell you about his dog Newt who comes to
visit him every week. Most of the residents are in wheelchairs but not Harvey he gets a motorized
wheelchair, you can find him zooming around the building and getting plenty of
attention.

 While you are there you both get blessed, you get to learn what
it was like 50 to 80 years ago and they get someone to sit and talk to. 
 
I have really enjoyed going to the nursing home because I get to
learn lots of things and I get to have many stories to bring home to tell my
family.

The times we have gone we went with some of our friends.

My younger brothers have not been coming, but since hearing all the
stories we have brought back, they want to come next time.

It is a great time to reach out to the elderly.

 I hope you will visit a nursing home some time and bless the
residents with your time.’

1Corinthians 10:24 "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor."
 
 
                                                 YHWH bless you,

                                                                             Emily

 In this day and age, many people have not realized the
importance of encouragement, thoughtfulness, and consideration.

 Here is a short story to illustrate Thoughtfulness;

 In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10
  year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a
  glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?”

 “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his
  pocket and studied a number of coins in it. “How much is a dish of plain ice
  cream?” he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress
  was a bit impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she said brusquely. The little boy
  again counted the coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress
  brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy
  finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed. When the waitress came
  back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw.
  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies –
her tip.

Romans 16:1-16
"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant a of the church in
Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in
whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor
of many—and of me also.
 
Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, 
who risked their own necks for my life.
Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.
Greet also the church that meets in their home.
Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
Greet Mary,who has worked very hard for you. 
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners.
They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our coworker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 
Greet Herodion, my fellow countryman.
Greet those who belong to the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine. 
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 
Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ send you greetings."


In these verses,
Paul was thoughtful and considerate of many fellow Christians by recognizing
them. He even remebered many of them by name.


  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
   14 My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn't living right.
Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone.
15 Don't be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you.
Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else. 
16 Always be joyful
17 and never stop praying.
18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ.
This is what God wants you to do.


 
Matthew 14:13-21
  Feeding the 5,000
13 When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew
from there by boat to a remote place to be alone.
 When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns.
14 As He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick. 

15 When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said,
“This place is a wilderness, and it is already late.
Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 
 
16 “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them.
“You give them something to eat.” 

17 “But we only have five loaves and two
fish here,” they said to Him. 

18 “Bring them here to Me,” He said.
19 Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass.
He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave
them to the crowds.
 20 Everyone ate and was filled.
 Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!

21 Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. 
 
Yeshua was thoughtful toward the needs of the people who wanted to learn from Him.

Don't forget to be thoughtful and pray for others.
In Acts 12:6-17, Peter's friends prayed for him in prison with amazing results.

So, we can be thoughtful of others in person, and through prayer.

 Psalms 115:12 
Yahweh has been mindful of us: He will bless us; He will
bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of  Aaron.

 Yahweh blesses us with his thoughtfulness, so shouldn’t we strive to bless others
through our acts of thoughtfulness?

 Here is a passage from a book I have read by Sarah Bryant of KBR ministries titled “The Family Daughter” this
passage’s title is “Acts of Thoughtfulness”

“My younger siblings, Mom, and I attended a monthly science class for homeschool
families a few years ago, and most of the children in the class were under ten
years old. The second month we attended class, I was having a rough day. As I
stood in the shade of a tree watching the children eagerly catch butterflies, a
little girl shyly walked up to me. She reached for my hand and said, “You look
beautiful!”
 
Immediately my day was brightened by this girl who did
not even know me, who was a fraction of my age. I smiled and replied, “Thank
you!” She happily told me her name was Emma. At seven years of age, she was the
oldest of four siblings. I can only imagine what a blessing her thoughtfulness
is to her family and others around her. How often does a seven-year-old go out
of her way to bless others? For that matter, how often does anyone
joyfully reach out to everyone
around?

During the rest of the class, little Emma tagged along
beside me. She was so happy and full of life. I noticed that when the other
children needed something, Emma considerately helped and encouraged them. Once,
another child made a guess about a chemical reaction. When his answer turned out
to be correct, Emma exclaimed, “You’re a genius!” I had to laugh. The next month
as we arrived at class, I heard a joyful shout as Emma came running toward me,
arms open to embrace me. 

When we look around for ways to bless others we know-even if they are just
acquaintances- what a light for Jesus we can be! The little acts of
thoughtfulness can mean so much to someone-a happy smile, a kind word, a
birthday card, bouquet of wild flowers, Scripture bookmark, just a hug- these
seemingly “little” acts of thoughtfulness cost us little or nothing, but can go
a long way in witnessing to others of Christ’s love in our life. Let us ask
Jesus to make us a more selfless image of Himself, looking for the need of
others, giving to others who are hurting.”

So we can see that there are many ways to be thoughtful to others.
In our family, thoughtfulness can range from asking a younger brother what kind of iced tea he would like for supper,
to freezing in the car for the sake of car sick family members (no experience here, I am one of the car sick ones :) ).

Naomi