Ruby for Women September October 2010

September / October, 2010 In This Issue:

* Frugal Frugal is the New Fashion!

Fashion! * Gardening with Aunt Dots

* Vintage Image Craft Project * Grammie’s Garden

* Make a Crafty Crafty CarryCarry-All

* Breast Cancer Awareness Skinny Scarf Pattern *What’s *What’s the Big Deal About the Proverbs 31 Woman?

* Secrets About Love: Chapter 8 * DIY Autumn Aprons * Footprints Footprints in the Mud * Chocolate and Coffee Women’s Ministry * Lil’ Mama’s Corner: The Benefits of Cloth Diapers

* Make your own diaper bag * Home School School 101 And so much more!

Editorial Staff for Ruby for Women Nina Newton, Sr. Editor editor@rubyforwomen.com Jackie Ladner, WAHM Business Editor Carla Gardner, Health & Wellness Editor Heather Miller, Home School Editor Lynn Mosher, Devotions Editor Keith Wallis, Poetry Beth Brubaker, Family Fun Editor Dorothy Kurchak, Gardening Editor Rochelle Martin, Quilting Editor Jennifer Cirka, Crochet & Cooking Editor Deborah Shank, Women’s Ministry Editor Scott Henderson, Crafts

On the cover

“Chocolate and Coffee”

by Debbie Shank, ministry to pastors’ wives and all women at www.debbieshank.blogspot.com

In this issue . . .

Page Title 3 Letter from the Editor Nina Newton 4 Jack Sprat’s Wife Carla Gardiner 6 Autumn Tears Keith Wallis 7 Who Is Your Coach?

Deborah Shank 8 Leaf Upon Leaf Keith Wallis 9 Yummy Autumn Recipes Vintage Mama 10 Autumn Wanderings Heather Miller 11 Vintage Image Craft Scott Henderson 13 Grammie’s Garden 14 Footprints in the Mud Beth Brubaker 15 Autumn Steals the Senses Keith Wallis 16 Breast Cancer Awareness Skinny Scarf Pattern Jennifer Cirka 17 Book Review: The Roller Coaster of Unemployment Vintage Mama 18 Home School 101 Heather Miller 22 Autumn Scripture Page Rochelle Martin 23 A Change of Seasons Lynn Mosher 24 New Equation Search Beth Brubaker 25 Friends and Neighbors Aunt Dots 28 DIY Autumn Aprons for the Happy Homemaker Vintage Mama 30 Autumn Word Search Beth Brubaker 31 Gardener’s Delight Quilt Block Rochelle Martin 35 An Important “Season” In Life Paula McVay 36 Cookbook Conundrum!

Beth Brubaker

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Contributors and Guest Authors

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Nichole Payton

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Amanda Johnson

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Tomica Bonner

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Paula McVay Dr. Yvonne Anderson

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www.foresthillsoaps.com

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Welcome to the Forest Hill Soap Company! We are a small, family-owned business specializing in luxurious homemade bath and body products.

Our cold process soaps are handcrafted, from scratch, in small quantities using

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traditional methods. Our ingredients include the finest vegetable oils, along with essential oils, quality fragrance oils and other skin nourishing additives. We invite you to browse our site and discover distinctive body care products to create a luxurious spa experience

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Autumn Double Puzzle Beth Brubaker Fun with Gina and Her Friends Rochelle Martin Interview with Deidra Hughes Nina Newton Kids’ Craft Corner Carolyn Arnold Planning Lessons for your Home School Classroom Heather Miller Back to School – I Remember Nichole Payton Are You a Proverbs 31 Woman?

Vintage Mama Secrets About Love: Chapter 8 Laura Day Lil’ Mama’s Corner Vintage Mama Make Your Own Diaper Bag Vintage Mama Joy of Giving Birth Tomica Bonner Cucumbers to Pickles!

Amanda Johnson Frugal is the New Fashion Vintage Mama Fight Through Prayer Amanda Johnson Harvest Update Amanda Johnson Make a Craft Carry-All Vintage Mama Meet the Editors Guest Authors and Contributors Autumn Word Search Answer New Equation Puzzle Answer Autumn Double Puzzle Answer Credits and Copyrights

in your own home.

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Letter from the Editor Nina Newton

Autumn is my favorite time of year! After the heat of the summer days, it is so refreshing to wake up in the morning to a cool, sunny day. It just seems like everyone feels so much more productive once the weather has a tiny bit of “nip” in the air.

Here in our little world, our summer was interesting . . . . lots of time here at home, we didn’t take a real “vacation,” just a couple of daytrips to local places of interest and a couple of week-end visits to family in Michigan.

One of the day-trips that we all really enjoyed was our drive about 45 minutes north of our home to the Amish community of Shipshewana, in NE Indiana. We love it there! It is so much fun to drive through the farmland and see the beautiful gardens of the Amish farmers. The horse and buggies always make me think of how much we all need to slow down a bit, and focus on the really important things in life.

Family, friends, church, and community are at the heart of Amish life. Of course, the Amish people are just ordinary people, just like the rest of us, with moments of discouragement and frustration, family and relationship obstacles, and the realities of the financial circumstances we are all dealing with these days.

There is a peaceful, quiet, consistent determination to stay focused on what is most important in life.

It is so easy for us to get caught up in the rush and tumble of our everyday lives. We have to go to work, take the kids to school or home school our children, buy the groceries, pay the bills, run our kids to soccer, piano lessons, dance class, football practice. We fly from one thing to the next all day long, especially those of us who still have small children at home.

In the midst of all that “busyness,” we are also bombarded with “information overload.” We have the television, the radio, and all of the other electronic gadgets that bring the latest, up-to-the-minute drama that is going on all around the world. Maybe I don’t need to know every detail in the life of this or that celebrity; I would probably get along just fine if I didn’t hear every, blow-by-blow event in the latest “trial of the month.”

I don’t know, but it makes sense to me to take a bit of time away from the cacophony of crisis that is exploding every where I look, and focus on those things that will bring peace to my mind. Invest in activities that will show my children that life can be steady, productive, consistent, and gentle. That’s my goal this fall!

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Health and Wellness

by Carla Gardiner

Jack Sprat's wife calls kettle black . . . .

Hey wait . . . that's not how the story goes! Here is the real nursery rhyme as I remember it:

Keep reading and you'll see that I was just like ole' King Charles and Queen Henrietta. How, you ask?

Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so betwixt the two of them They licked the platter clean

Well . . . I was covering up the reality with a fairy tale . . .read on my friends I am baring it all today!

What is obesity and what causes it?

But, did you know that the real story behind this nursery rhyme has a drastically different meaning?

I was shocked when I took a BMI test. That stands for body mass index. It measures the percentage of fat to your overall body mass.

The origin of the rhyme about Jack Sprat can be found in British History:

I know I'm overweight, but I was shocked and horrified to read the results of that test . . .I am obese!

The Jack Sprat alluded to in this English poem is reputed to be King Charles I (1625 -1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609 -1669).

Apparently, when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament.

Wow! Digging into the real meaning of that rhyme was fun. What wasn't so fun was finding out the underlying meaning of an otherwise innocent child's poem. Kind of puts a different spin on how I feel about Jack Sprat and his wife.

What does the real meaning of the Jack Sprat nursery rhyme and this article on obesity have to do with one another?

Well, it has to do with me! Yes . . . me calling the kettle black!

I have been kidding myself by comparing my body to others I see when I am out and about (I'm still reeling).

I used to think that there were overweight people, fat people and then really obese people. After taking this test and finding the truth . . .I needed to educate myself. I thought I'd share what I found with you.

The most important thing to realize is that obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than their body burns off for energy.

The cause of the imbalance is different from one person to the next.

Mine may result from environmental factors, while yours might be psychological and Mary Jane's could be from genetics.

Let's look at what each one of these factors mean to our health.

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We can not change our genetic makeup, but we can change our behavior, food choices and get up and move it. By doing this we can shed those pounds and more importantly, keep them off!

Psychological Factors The way we think can and does affect how we eat. Some of us are suffering from binge eating disorder.

If you fall into that category, you feel that you have no control over your eating. You eat big quantities of food in a short amount of time. Then you feel guilty and shameless.

Genetic Factors If you have ever noticed, obesity runs within families. Ever spent the day at the park and observed a large family gathering? The siblings and parents usually will be close in weight and size.

There are two types of binge eating, one is anorexia nervosa and the other is bulimia. Both are characterized by depression and low self esteem.

If you fall into this category you likely will have a harder time losing weight than others who do not binge.

This is what supports scientists' theory of genetics.

But, all is not lost, there is hope and with the right support, you can lose your weight, manage and control your eating habits and maintain a healthy normal life again.

Environmental Factors

Other Causes of Obesity

This factor is where I found my culprit environmental. I used to think being "stout" was in my genes. After all, my grandma, great grandma, my mom and sisters all battle their weight. Shall we say we have “meat on our bones”?

Some of us suffer from health issues like hypothyroidism, Cushing's Syndrome, depression, and some neurological disorders.

What I found was that genetics might be a part of my problem, but not all of it.

Lifestyle, behavior, food choices and physical activity (or the lack of) all play a part in our problem.

Some medications like steroids and antidepressants have been known to cause weight gain. Even some birth control pills will pack on the weight.

With these causes though, only your doctor can determine the underlying cause and help you come up with a plan that is right for you.

A few health risks associated with obesity

If we continually eat high fatty foods and sit on our butts all day long, we are going to be prone to being obese.

If we don't sit up and take notice, look it right in the eye…obesity can lead us down a very scary 5

road. By ignoring our condition, we will be just like Jack Sprat . . . .spreading a fairy tale and living a lie.

Being this overweight can cause diseases and medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

I didn't know that obesity is even linked to some forms of cancer. Cancers like breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer.

Other diseases linked to obesity include: • • • • •

Gallbladder disease and gallstones Liver disease Osteoarthritis Gout Pulmonary problems including sleep apnea, irregular menstrual periods and infertility

Whether you are a little overweight or morbidly obese, take action today, get your "5 Tips for Vibrant Good Health Overnight", my free gift to you! Do something to start reversing this condition.

I am no longer calling the kettle black. I've made some changes to my diet and sleep habits. Today, I am adding a few good products to my vitamin regimen that will help me with my food choices, too.

Depending on your situation and overall health, you can put together a plan to help you in your journey to eliminate obesity from your life, too.

Start today on your journey to vibrant good health!

Autumn Tears At Ashes ridge, in Autumn’s tears, the straggled path of understanding matures.

All regal gold is not ordained for wealth but, disguised for growth and revolution nothing is wasted.

The leafy carpet should be a sail yet lies in early decay its crisp reply to step of foot or playful kick destined soon to mouldered silence.

If I could wish a charm for you, in forming years and nested love, while adventure and perception meld, I’d pierce reality and stifle the rogues of hurt and care that lie in the ambush of years. ~~ Keith Wallis

Authors note: the picture is my grandson Cameron.

It was taken shortly after his mum and dad parted company – hence the tone of the poem. Sadly they are now beginning divorce proceedings – we are fortunate that we do have contact with Cameron on almost a weekly basis and after nearly three years of their being separated, he currently shows no emotional distress.

Here to Serve, Carla J Gardiner www.carlajgardiner.com

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Ministering to Pastors’ Wives and All Women

by Debbie Shank

Who Is Your Coach?

Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain, either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct, or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective given the circumstances. Confidence can be described as a subjective, emotional state of mind, but is also represented statistically as a confidence level within which one may be certain that a hypothesis will either be rejected or deemed plausible. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself when considering a capability.

Overconfidence is having unmerited confidence - believing something or someone is capable when they are not.

There is a wealth of material available regarding personal inner power and self confidence. I read an article recently that was very disturbing.

It was published by a Master Certified Coach and she teaches that self-confidence is all about personal power and an inner awareness.

An internal state of being, if you will. A power that makes us feel in control of our lives. An inner knowing that we are capable of achieving goals and our ability to attain what we want in life. I beg to differ with her philosophy.

As Christians, it isn't about us. Any talent or ability that we posses has been given to us from God. It has nothing to do with us. Our confidence and strength comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who encourages us to keep fighting the good fight. He encourages

us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and to achieve the goal He has set before us. SelfConfidence is a misplaced reliance and it is offensive before the sight of God. We sin against God when we think we can be self-sufficient and the masters of our fate. How many times do we shake our fist in God's face and tell Him we know much better than He does when we defy the Word because it simply does not fit our lifestyle?

God instructs us to study His Word daily so that we can reject the temptations of the enemy. But we think that we have it all together and we choose to trust in OURSELVES and OUR abilities instead of God. Whenever we turn our hearts from God, we are telling Him that we do not want to be connected to His life coaching class. We would rather coach ourselves and rely totally on our own abilities. But in the end all we will have conquered is to commit spiritual suicide. Our life coaching efforts will go right down the drain!

Our source of life is God. God says that anyone who turns away from Him to trust in his own sinful flesh for strength will, "be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt where no one lives" (Jeremiah 17:6).

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God tells us of consequences that will occur in this life and the next if we turn our hearts away from him and trust in ourselves. Isolation, deprivation and condemnation are the best we can expect if we choose that path. Bushes in the desert are small and their growth stunted because they are cut off from the rains that give life. Without God and His Word, which is the living water, we also will become like the dry lifeless bush living in a parched wasteland.

Jeremiah writes, "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

God is the exact opposite of a barren wasteland.

He gives confidence to His children. God always provided, always delivered, and always responded to the cries of His people for help. Our trust and confidence is often misplaced, often disappointed. Our ideals lie shattered, our goals unattained, our ambitions unfulfilled. In the end, we find that self-reliance and inner power are able to produce nothing but depression and despair.

Jeremiah reminds us to place our trust and confidence in God. God has given us His Word so that we can sink our roots firmly into His promises. God confidence instills self-confidence.

There is no inner personal power. Personal power CANNOT move mountains and personal power does not solve problems. Jesus Christ moves mountains. He provides Godly wisdom and coaches us when making life decisions. I rejoice today knowing that my confidence comes from God. He has blessed me with many talents and abilities but I realize that I am nothing without Him. Thank you Lord for being our source, our strength, and our encourager.

Debbie ministers through her blog www.DeborahShank.blogspot.com weekly. Her ministry website is www.DeborahShank.com.

Leaf upon leaf Leaf upon leaf golden gem upon crimson brother the finery of Autumn drips from weeping trees.

A regal carpet mantles the ground, for a while, then begins the cycle of decay.

Wind gathers them in huddlings, the scattering laughter of children blasts their dispersion.

A spun web of frost consolidates painting new hues upon their background canvas.

The residue of veiling greenery sacrificed to graven soil will return in its cycle. ~ by Keith Wallis 8

Yummy Autumn Recipes from Vintage Mama

Cheery Autumn Apple Salad Apple Cake-in-a-Jar

4 tart green apples, cored and chopped ¼ c. blanched slivered almonds, toasted ¼ c. dried cranberries ¼ c. chopped dried cherries 1 (8 oz) container vanilla yogurt In medium bowl, stir together the apples, almonds, cranberries, cherries, and yogurt until evenly coated.

Optional ingredients: raisins, celery, chopped nuts, poppy seed dressing.

Recipes adapted and based on recipes found at www.allrecipes.com

2/3 c. shortening 2 2/3 c. white sugar 4 eggs 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. ground nutmeg 1 ½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda 3 c. all-purpose flour 2.3 c. water 3 c. grated apple 2/3 c. raisins 2/3 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Lightly grease the inside of 8 wide-mouth pint canning jars. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Set aside.

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat in well. Add flour alternately with water and mix until smooth. Fold in apples, raisins, and nuts.

Fill jars 1/2 full with batter, being careful to keep the rims clean. Wipe off any batter that gets on the rims.

Bake at 325 degrees F (165 C) for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, sterilize the lids and rings in boiling water.

As soon as the cake is done, remove from oven one at a time, wipe rims of jars and put on lid and ring. Jars will seal as cakes cool. Cakes can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week.

For more autumn recipes, visit www.allrecipes.com 9

Autumn Wanderings

by Heather Miller The Fullness Thereof

by Heather Miller The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. ~Psalm 24:1 Here in my home state of Oklahoma, the fields are ripe for harvest. In some places, the harvest has already begun. Take a drive outside the city and you'll see freshly baled hay everywhere. Corn is heavy on the stalks, the alfalfa is in abundance. If you're really lucky, you'll see a field of heavy-headed sunflowers bending in the hot winds, and the pumpkins beginning to change from green to yellow. Autumn is fast approaching and the harvests are plentiful.

Isn't this world that God created amazing?

Take this wonderful season to impress upon your children God's bountiful abundance. Everywhere you look there are signs of God's loving provision for us. If your children (or maybe even you yourself) have never been to a real farm, find the closest one and visit it. There is something about seeing your food fresh and natural, growing right up out of the earth, that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Talk with your children about the tiny seeds that grow up into fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs for us to eat. Make sure they know that God provides this food for us, that in His original plan of creation he took the time to ensure that we would always have food.

While you're at it, pick a few plants to grow yourself next year, and let your kids enjoy the wonder and satisfaction of growing their own tomato plant, or lettuce heads, or pumpkin vines (as homeschoolers this counts as both Science and Home Ec)!

Share with your children the beautiful gift of sustenance that God has graciously given us. Cut open an apple, or a squash, or some okra, or a pumpkin, and let them explore it. Make sure they know that every tiny intricate working of seeds, shoots, and fruits is there by God's own design.

We live today in a failing economy, but we must cling to the promise of God's provision and pass along this faith to our kids. Make sure your kids know that every good thing is from above (James 1:17), including the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the shelter in which they live, and the loving families into which God has placed them.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.

And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.� ~ Luke 12:22-31 10

Vintage Image Craft Project Designed by Martin Bray from Vintage Image Craft

ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME An inspirational card craft created exclusively for Ruby for Women by www.VintageImageCraft.com.

Paper tole is the art of creating three-dimensional pictures by layering pictorial elements. This Victorian image of a host of angels lends itself beautifully to the paper tole technique. You can use any cardstock color or pattern you like, but we selected a simple powder blue to represent the heavens.

Materials Vintage images (following these instructions).

Premium matte or glossy photo paper.

Card stock, powder blue.

Spray glue, paper glue, glue stick, or double-stick tape.

Foam mounting squares or tape.

Craft knife or detail scissors.

Scissors or paper cutter.

Bone folder.

Self-healing mat, if using a craft knife.

Instructions Trim card stock to 10” x 7”. Fold it to a 5” x 7” vertical card, scoring and burnishing the crease with the bone folder.

Print the vintage images onto matte or glossy photo paper or cardstock (Choose Print in Adobe Reader and specify the Ruby page number of the vintage images).

Trim around the images carefully with detail scissors or a craft knife. You may also choose to trim the negative white spaces within the images.

Glue the full image to the center of the front panel of the card.

Apply several (5-8) small pieces of foam mounting tape to the backs of the three remaining cut-out images. Try to position the tape similarly on both images. You can apply the foam tape in a single layer, or double the thickness for a more dimensional card as we did Affix the image of the four angels to the full image on the card, aligned over the identical elements. Affix the final two individual angels, aligned with their counterparts on the second image.

Embellish the images with glitter, glitter glue, distress ink, or as your heart leads you. We applied crystal glitter glue to the rose crowns on the angels.

Handwrite, rubber stamp, or insert your personal message inside. For our card, we chose: “The guardian angels of life fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us.”

Jean Paul Richter

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Notes This finished card is 5” x 7”, which fits a common 5.25” x 7.25” envelope (also known as an A7 size).

Scott & Martin 2009 Brayerson Publications. All rights reserved.

VintageImageCraft.com is dedicated to providing ideas, instructions and resources to crafters, scrapbookers, artists, and all who are interested in creating new artistic works incorporating vintage images. To inspire and feed your creativity, we offer free craft and scrapbook project instructions and downloadable vintage images. 2010 Brayerson Publications

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Special thanks to Deborah Shank for sharing pictures of her grandchildren, Tori and Luke, having fun in their Grammie’s Garden.

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Footprints

by Beth Brubaker

The Really, Really Big, Bad, Nasty Terrible Day (So Why Am I Still Smiling?)

It started out to be a good day. I went grocery shopping, getting a few extra treats for the kids, listening to Gospel on the radio with the air conditioning on full blast, and planning a nice meal for when everyone got home.

I was headed towards one of the busiest intersections when I first noticed it - the speedometer no longer worked. The digital clock was blank. None of my gauges were working. Yet the car was still running. Sort of.

The engine seemed to be falling asleep - not the chug, chug, chug one normally hears when an engine decides to quit. I turned down the AC and though it helped, it didn’t for long, and a little angel whispered in my ear that I better pull over - and fast.

I was in the far left lane, yet traffic was clear enough for me to pull over (another miracle!), and I parked in a bus lane. The engine was still running (though a lot quieter), so I decided to call my husband on my cell phone to see if there was something I could do.

In mid-conversation with him, the engine died.

Completely. No sound as I turned the key - I might as well have tried to start a block of cheese, for all the good it did me. I was stuck.

Something like this happening under normal circumstances would send me into a flurry of yelling and crying, dancing about the car in a

maddened state. But this time was very different - I felt a calmness I never thought possible. A tow truck was summoned via my husband (I had no towing number on my phone), and I called a friend to come and get my groceries for me - raw meat in a hot car with no shade in ninety degree weather is not a good thing when waiting for a tow!

In the meantime I opened all the doors to get some air flow since there was a nice cool breeze blowing, and remembered that I had a book in my purse. So now I had something to occupy myself (and my mind) while I waited.

And I was still smiling!

The truck and my friend came at the same time, and the tow driver offered to help load my groceries in my friend’s car. I needed help because I had wrenched my shoulder the day before, and he must have overheard me telling my friend when she arrived. He didn’t have to do such a chivalrous thing, but he was a really nice guy who wanted to help a lady in distress!

Chivalry wasn’t dead yet, Lord! Thank you for putting that lovely thought in his head!

Once the groceries were loaded, off my friend went to drop them at my house. It only took a moment for the man to load up my poor mechanical baby, and I headed for the front door of the truck - which seemed impossibly high.

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Unfortunately, I wrenched my shoulder again getting into the tall cab of the tow truck, but as long as I kept it still (as still as one can in a bouncy tow truck!), I was okay. I was just glad he had air conditioning!

We arrived intact, and I was given a ride home by one of the mechanics. He seemed to notice that I was hurting, looked at the groceries piled at my door, and insisted that he help.

He didn’t just help though - he took everything into the house! I gave him a big hug and thanked him profusely for doing all of that lugging for me. He went back to work, and I sat in my air-conditioned home with the biggest glass of ice water I could make.

And I was still smiling! I wondered about that for a while. Usually I would be a big mess, upset and crying over our only vehicle dying on the street (and griping about how much my shoulder hurt), worrying about just how much the repair bill would be, and even planning out the worst scenarios, like living on the streets just so we can afford getting the car back (I’m not kidding either - I am very pessimistic about my pessimism!) As ridiculous as that sounds, it’s completely true. So why not this time? It was quite puzzling.

There is really only one real answer. God. He was the one that kept me calm- and still does, even as I write this. I have a sense that all will be well, no matter what- and it’s the first time I truly believed that. And I like that feeling very much. And yes, dear readers, I am still smiling!

Autumn Steals the Senses Autumn steals the senses, a crisp-gripping brightness in the playground of leaves.

Trees loft a light-show of dying greens, transparent yellows, polishings of bronze.

Impatient tomorrow waits its cloak of unshading the emptying branches, a chilling call to winter; the harbinger of fleeting days, dragging nights, and the mourning grey morning chill.

A dried leaf shuffle scoots on growing breezes percussion for the beat of the day.

Birds gossip, gathering on platform limbs waiting for their flight to be called, air traffic control – a wonder in the wind.

Autumn steals the senses, the incense of fruit beyond ripening beckons bee and wasp and drifts as a cloud.

The ghost of Summer smiles; its new apparel a golden expression, a regal farewell.

The enjoyment of temporary calm in this cacophony of colour and shifting light disguises the change.

‘To everything there is a season.’

In the wings, menace understates an insinuation of Winter. ~ Keith Wallis 15

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month BCA Skinny Scarf Crochet Pattern by Jennifer Cirka Jaybird Designs Materials •

Any worsted weight (CYCA 4) yarn of choice in two colors.

Photos used - MC: Bernat Soy (50% Soya/50% acrylic, 134 yds/122 meters per70 g/2.5 oz.), Raspberry- 2 skeins required and CC1: Bernat Soy (50% Soya/50% acrylic, 134 yds/122 meters per70 g/2.5 oz.), Oatmeal- 1 skein required • •

US H-8 /5mm crochet hook Yarn needle

One size, approximately 85” x 2.5”

Row 8: Ch1, turn. Sc in first 3 sts. *hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in last st.

Gauge

Fasten off and weave in the yarn ends.

Finished Size Not important

Pattern With MC, ch 301.

Row 1: Turn. Sc in second ch from hook and each ch across. (300sc) Row 2: Ch2, turn. 2dc in first st. *sk 2 sts, (sc, 2dc) in next st. Repeat from * across, ending with 2dc in last st.

Row 3: Ch2, turn. 2dc in first st. *sk 2 sts, (sc, 2dc) in next st. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning chain. Change to CC1 at the end of row 3.

Row 4-5: Ch2, turn. 2dc in first st. *sk 2 sts, (sc, 2dc) in next st. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning chain. Change to MC at the end of row 5.

Row 6-7: Ch2, turn. 2dc in first st. *sk 2 sts, (sc, 2dc) in next st. Repeat from * across, ending with sc in turning chain.

This pattern is for personal use only. You may not reproduce, transmit, or distribute this pattern in any form without author consent. This consists of ALL parts of the pattern including, but not limited to, images, diagrams, and text.

You may print out copies for your own, personal use, but they cannot be distributed for free, sale, or through any form or any venue, including, but not limited to, photocopying or other electrical or mechanical means, recording or any other information storage and retrieval systems. All violations of this copyright are punishable by law and include fines and/or imprisonment. © Copyright 2010, Jennifer J. Cirka/Jaybird Designs. All rights reserved.

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Book Review: The Roller Coaster of Unemployment

by Sarah M. Hupp Here is another in our series of book reviews on topics of interest to the members of the Ruby for Women community. One of our members, Katy Pent, is a publicist with Discovery House Publishers and she has graciously provided several books for us to review and then to feature in upcoming book give-aways. This month’s book review is on the book “The Roller Coaster of Unemployment: Trusting God for the Ride”

by Sarah M. Hupp.

This book is particularly relevant at this time of so much financial uncertainty in our country, and it is especially helpful to my family. My husband lost his job last year in April, and was unemployed until October, at which time I lost my job as a result of the bank collapse.

As it turns out, that was an opportunity for me to be able to take on the editorial responsibilities for the Ruby for Women ezine and ministry . . . . but our family, along with so many others, continues to feel the impact of the “roller coaster” of an economy that is still struggling.

As I read this book, I was so encouraged and inspired to face the difficulties with a completely new outlook on how God is present and active, even in the midst of all of our confusion and insecurities. He is always here . . . . we know that, but sometimes we need to be reminded that our struggles provide us with the opportunity to take a new look, and gain a new perspective on His love, grace, mercy, and never-ending care for us.

One of the things that I really appreciated about this book, “The Roller Coaster of Unemployment,” is the format. The author has provided us with brief chapters that are direct, relevant, and right to the point of our concerns. She addresses topics such as our priorities and our ability to face changes in our life, while trusting God with the outcome of our immediate circumstances at it relates to our work and career, our money and finances, and the real presence of stress.

In each brief chapter, the author provides insight along with Scripture in the each section entitled “Getting Through Your Day,” and then a section entitled “Today I Will . . . . ” in which we are challenged to make a commitment to move forward in a positive direction, in spite of our circumstances.

Ms. Hupp also addresses other issues related to the loss of unemployment such as feelings of failure, fear, and loss, and then offers encouragement to pray and trust in the assurance that God is very much aware of our circumstances. It all becomes so personal as she offers guidance to pray first and remember that God is here, in the midst of our distress, and that He cares.

Other topics covered include anger and discouragement, faith and trust in God’s sovereignty; how to handle worry, facing family and friends, being grateful for and having the courage to be generous with what we have.

Even though we may not have an abundance of money to share with others, there are so many other ways that we can be generous with our lives.

As we ride the roller coaster of unemployment, Ms. Hupp encourages us to look to the day when we see the “light at the end of the tunnel” – when there is renewed hope for stable employment. We are encouraged to have endurance, knowing that this is all in God’s timing not ours, and to be aware of ways in which God’s provision and blessings come to us in the midst of our uncertainty.

With personal stories, Ms. Hupp offers us a glimpse into the reality of unemployment, how it brings the possibility of despair and fear, but she also shows us a way to change our perspective on that journey. She encourages us to be determined to find the joy, peace, and strength that is ours through praising and worshiping our God in the moments of crisis, knowing that He is ultimately in control and He knows all about our needs.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling financially, whether through unemployment or underemployment, or any other reason. I have been so encouraged by reading this book, and it has helped me to remember that, even when things sometimes seem hopeless, He is there, He is working, and He is caring for me and my family. That is a message for you and your family, too!

17 ~ Reviewed by Vintage Mama

Home School Corner

by Heather Miller, Home School Editor

Home School 101 The thought of homeschooling your children can be exciting and terrifying all at once. I believe the one word that sums it all up best is: OVERWHELMING! I knew I wanted to write about the beginning basics of homeschooling, but even I was overwhelmed at the prospect of knowing just what to write. So I've been thinking and praying, and last night it hit me: you can succeed at homeschooling . . . it's just all about KNOWing some basic things.

KNOW that God is on your side. The first and most important thing to know and remember is that by homeschooling your children, you are following the biblical mandates given in Deuteronomy 6:5-7: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

If we want our children to learn about the world through a Godly, biblical worldview, we must teach them all day long about the things of God. If we want them to love the Lord with all their MINDS, those minds must be trained to think in the ways of God, not the ways of the world, which is what they would be learning in public school.

If you choose to take on the responsibility of homeschooling your children, know that you are doing God's will for your family, and with God on your side, you will succeed!

KNOW your facts. Sometimes (OK, a lot of the time) the biggest obstacle to starting homeschooling is the questioning and criticism you are afraid of facing (or maybe already are facing) from friends, family, and sometimes even complete strangers. The mainstream world has a hard time grasping the beauty and benefits of homeschooling. Here are some facts to help you explain to the naysayers how great homeschooling is. If nothing else, they'll help you feel better.

And also in Matthew 22:35-38: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is first and greatest commandment.”

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*Homeschooled students score an average of at least 30 percentile points above the public school average on standardized testing in every subject. *Homeschooled students maintain these high scores regardless of household income (meaning the low-income homeschooled kids score just as high as the high-income kids), regardless of parent's education level (even homeschooled kids whose parents have only a high school education score 33% higher on tests than public schooled kids), and regardless of whether or not one or both parents are certified teachers. *Homeschooled students score high regardless of how much money is spent on their education (so sometimes less is more). They also score just as high in no-regulation states as in highregulation states, proving that state interference does not a better educated child make. *74% of homeschooled students have gone to college, compared to 46% of the general population. *71% are involved in some sort of community activity compared to 37% of the general population.

Find out more about academic statistics and community involvement in any of the publications listed www.hslda.org/research .

Curious about research on the socialization aspect? Check out www.finehomeschooling.com

KNOW your laws. Laws pertaining to homeschooling vary from state to state. 10 US states require no oversight at all, seven states have high levels of regulation, and the rest fall somewhere in the middle. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) will be your best friend on this one. Check out their page on different laws at www.hslda.org/laws , click on your state for a legal analysis of home school laws in your area.

If you live in a state that requires any degree of oversight, make sure you go through the right channels and follow the laws. If you have questions, you can call HSLDA and the wonderful and knowledgeable people there will walk you through the legal processes step by step.

KNOW your methods. One of the big questions people have once they have determined to home school is simply, “Where do I start?” There are so many different books, guides, lesson plans, curricula, etc. that it's easy to want to throw up your hands in exasperation. The first thing you need to look into is different homeschooling methods. Keep in mind that most families will try more than one before they find the one that works best for them, and that's OK. Here are the main methods of homeschooling with a brief description of each: Charlotte Mason method – based on the teachings of the late nineteenth century educator Charlotte Mason. Advocates the use of “living books” (books written by one author truly passionate about his or her subject) over textbooks, early exposure to great literature, the use of narration to ensure learning retention, nature study, short lesson times and lots of time in the fresh air.

Classical education method – includes lessons in Greek and Latin, the use of logic, and often a circular route to learning, focusing on learning the same lessons over three times, once in each “tier” of the Trivium: grades K-6 is mostly about memorization, grades 7-8 brings logic and critical thinking, and grades 9-12 focuses on independent thinking and the art of rhetoric.

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Unit studies – takes a given topic (i.e. insects, transportation, food, etc.) and ties all subjects to that one topic. For example, if doing a unit study on food, you could study the growing of food for Social Studies, foods around the world for History/Culture, how seeds grow/the rate of growth/how the body digests food for science, figure how much seed needed to cover a field of certain proportions for math, make food mosaics for art, etc. There are many books providing ideas for unit studies, or you can make up your own. Easier to use in the younger grades.

and weaknesses, passions and interests.

Knowing what will work for your child is a good step toward avoiding burnout for both of you.

Sometimes it will take awhile to get into the groove of what works for each individual child, but stick with it. Realize that kids really do learn differently, and whatever struggles you may be having may be due to a bad fit of method or curriculum.

Above all else, love your child. Realize that you're in this together. When the days get too stressful, take a break and just enjoy your child!

Traditional schooling method – sometimes known as “school-in-a-box,” this is the use of a pre-made curriculum, usually available to order as whole grade-level sets, for example, an entire curriculum for the 3rd grade containing spelling, handwriting, English, reading, science, social studies, math, art, and music. Quick and easy, though not very flexible.

Unschooling – based on the teachings of John Holt, unschooling trusts in the idea that children learn best when left alone to follow their own interests. People who unschool do it to various degrees, the most extreme being families where no formal learning ever takes place. Children are allowed to read, research, and learn at their own pace only about those things which interest them. Possibly the most controversial of all homeschooling methods, yet firmly supported by those that follow it.

Eclectic – many homeschooling families fall into this category, taking bits and pieces that they like from each of the other methods and fitting them together into something that works for their children. For example, you may use the Charlotte Mason idea of living books to study history, use a traditional textbook to teach math, and use unit studies in your science lessons.

KNOW your child. If there was ever one thing that all homeschoolers could agree on, it's that all children are different. Your child is different from all other children, even his or her siblings.

Each child will have his or her own strengths

KNOW your choices. Once you've decided on a method to try out, taking into consideration your child's learning style and abilities, it's time to pick a curriculum. Curriculum is one of those scary words that makes a lot of people shiver in dread.

It doesn't have to be so. While not everyone will become one of those moms that loves searching for curriculum, you can learn to get through it without pulling your hair out.

The curriculum you choose will depend on what method you are using, the age/grade level of your children, and whether or not you are teaching multiple children at the same level.

I have known people (actually, we did it ourselves for a year) that existed on nothing but library books and free printables from the internet. Then there are the people that spend thousands per child. Studies show that either way, the kids do well.

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certainly cannot do it all in the beginning. For every veteran homeschooler you see who seems to have it all together, there were years spent getting to that point (and it's likely she doesn't have it nearly as “together” as you think anyway). Know that you will get stressed, frustrated, depressed, sometimes even angry. People will hurt your feelings. Some days your kids will think they hate you. Some days you'll not too be happy with yourself, either.

This is one of those things that is going to take some time on your part. Thanks to the internet, we now have literally thousands of different choices for curricula. Unschooling curriculum may simply mean picking up some books on whatever is interesting your child at the moment. Traditional schooling will mean buying a set of books from a publisher like Bob Jones University, A Beka, or Alpha Omega. There are countless books of ideas for Unit Studies (of course, those books will then tell you what other books you'll need).

Those using the Charlotte Mason method can use one of the many booklists available simply by searching “Charlotte Mason booklists” on your web browser. The same goes for Classical education – most of the websites devoted to this method will give you booklists to look over.

If you are doing Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason, or eclectic methods, you will also need to decide exactly what to study. If you live in a highly regulated state, this decision may have already been made for you. Be sure to check your state regulations! If you live in a state with minimal or no regulation, you can choose to follow the recommended course of study for your child's grade-level (easily found in most cases simply by doing a web search, for example: “Oklahoma education standards”) or you can plot your own plan of study, which takes a little more time but can give you a good deal of flexibility.

KNOW your limitations. Realize that you are not Super Woman. You cannot do it all, and you

Some things you have planned with high hopes will fail miserably. You may even lose a few friends. Some days you just won't feel like “doing school,” and that's OK. It's OK to take a break. It's OK if the laundry piles up for a few days while you teach, and it's also OK if school gets put on hold for a couple of days while you clean the house (hey, that's Home Ec, right?).

You are human.You will mess up. But those mistakes will not ruin your children unless you let them ruin you first. Sometimes the best thing your children can see is that Mom makes mistakes, too. Mom doesn't always know the answer, either. But Mom keeps on going, Mom apologizes when she's been cranky, Mom doesn't give up when the going gets tough, and Mom knows how to look up the answer she doesn't know.

What an amazing example Mom can be, even in her imperfections!

KNOW that you are not alone! You are NOT alone.

There are millions of homeschoolers in America, and I guarantee there are ones who are going through or have already been through whatever trials you are facing. The best four things a home school mom can have to get her through this journey are: 1) a close relationship with God, 2) a supportive husband, 3) a sense of humor, and 4) a good group of home school friends. I hope that you can find some “real-life” home school moms to connect with, but if you can't (and even if you can!), you can find some great friends through online support groups and social networking sites like Myspace or Facebook (you can even send me a friend request on Facebook if you'd like – just look for Heather Morrison-Miller, and let me know you're from Ruby magazine!). Always remember that homeschoolers are a great group of moms who are all about supporting and encouraging one another, and we really are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

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Autumn Scripture Page

by Rochelle Martin

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A Change of Seasons “And He changes the times and the seasons.”

(Dan. 2:21 NKJV) This time of year, the heat and humidity of the summer season is, hopefully, becoming a welcomed memory and cool breezes and the beauty of the reds, golds, and oranges of fall begin to emerge.

Don’t we all love it when the seasons change?

But what about our lives? Do we accept the seasons of spiritual change prompted by the circumstances in our lives? Do we see any beauty emerge from the myriad trials and afflictions that assault us? If “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” (Eccl. 3:1 NIV), how do we view the changes?

Where can the most beautiful vistas be viewed? From atop the summit of the tallest mountain, after the most strenuous climb.

Which valleys have the richest, green velvet pastures with the fullest spikes of wildflower colors?

Those that have withstood the greatest drenching rains.

What forests produce the most prolific new growth? Those that have suffered the hot, searing flames of destruction.

Which diamonds sparkle the most brilliantly? Those that have felt the cleaving of the jeweler’s sharp chisel and the friction of the polishing wheel.

An old Chinese proverb says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.”

Just as all of nature suffers contrary conditions in order to be expanded, improved, or strengthened, so, too, do we. Difficulties and trials will always be a part of our lives. We cannot separate ourselves from them.

And if we ponder it closely, we realize we will not grow as Christians if trials do not come to test and enlarge us that our greater beauty might emerge.

If we try to wiggle out of these times, we force premature deliverance, frustrating God’s plan. It is like prying open a cocoon before the caterpillar has finished its metamorphosis into a butterfly. Forcing open the cocoon too soon will render the caterpillar deformed for the rest of its short lifespan.

When we manipulate the hands of the clock to align with our own agenda, we destroy the beauty that God desires to emerge from His timing. Through our own efforts to “help” God out with our deliverance, do we come out of our cocoon of circumstance too early and spiritually deformed in some way? Or do we wait for the revealed transformation by God’s hand?

Is our cocoon of circumstance not intended, as for the butterfly, to deepen our richest colors and give us wings of flight, beautifying our character for a new season in life, all which we may not have had before the trial? While in that cocoon of circumstance, we “are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Cor. 3:18 NIV) 23

God knows the worth, the power, and the beauty hidden deep within our hearts and only that which is contrary to our comfort releases the precious qualities within us. As Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom 8:18 NKJV) God will work out all our circumstances for our benefit, from one spiritual season to the next, when we fully commit them and ourselves to Him, His Word, and His timing.

After experiencing a cocoon of contrary circumstance, are you able to say as David, “My troubles turned out all for the best”? (Ps. 119:71 Msg) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Rom. 8:28 NLT) From one season to the next…“being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV) ~~Blessings, Lynn~~

New Equation Search

by Beth Brubaker

Answer on page 77.

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Gardening with Aunt Dots

by Dorothy Kurchak

Friends and Neighbors Isn’t it great to have friends and neighbors who love your hobbies and passions as much as you do! I’ve met some great neighbors who love gardening as I do. Yesterday a friend brought over a couple of her friends whom she wanted to show my gardens to. I was very flattered.

But, when she said one of them was a Master Gardener I was nervous about an “expert” viewing my gardens. I feel like such a novice. It turned out to be a wonderful visit. They gave me many compliments and I gave them lemon cookies and iced tea. Great exchange, huh?

Well so much for me. I would like to introduce John and Diane. They are distant neighbors, actually my brother’s neighbors, about ten miles from me. They bought a two-acre empty field eight years ago. John is retired so he had some extra time and he certainly used it well. A few years ago when I first saw their little plot I was astonished. I walked by that plot many, many years ago on my way to grade school. At that time it had tall stately elm trees.

Over the years they died from Dutch elm disease and the farmer pulled the stumps and tilled the ground. Now there was this lovely house, and gardens filled almost every square foot. This is a drawing John made of the layout of their property:

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The brown color of the house fits right into the landscape and gardens. The south and west sides of the house are surrounded by gardens with hollyhocks, Russian sage, evergreens, perennials and an herb garden. There are also bird houses, bird feeders and a bird bath. Looking west from the porch on that side, there is an arbor, and beyond that is the vegetable garden and raspberry patch.

John has a large wild flower garden in the west lawn. He said it is a challenge to get the flowers established. He has had to redo parts of it a few times. This spring it was a sea of blue with flax. I missed getting a picture of the garden at that time. Then came daises and poppies.

Now the Queen Anne’s Lace is in bloom. I’ll have to save some annual Peony-flowered poppy seeds for him when they ripen. I tried a very small wild flower garden some time ago and had no success, so I admire John for his persistence with his garden.

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Diane is also a quilter! Which is a passion of mine, too! She had one wall hanging that I have to show Rochelle Martin, our very own Ruby quilter. A photo of the wall hanging would not do it justice.

You have to see it to appreciate the intricate design and quilting. I was so stirred up by the visit of my friends here and my visit with John and Diane yesterday that it was hard to unwind and get some sleep. Gardening and quilting, such wonderful hobbies and such a joy to share with others of like passion.

Since September and October are winding down months for gardeners, I would like to pass along some information I’ve gathered across the years. One important bit of advice is if you transplanted iris or other plants, you should mulch them after a hard freeze so they won’t be uprooted by repeated freezing and thawing. If the iris do become up-rooted, spread sand over the roots (don’t cover the rhizome) and re-cover with a light mulch. If you grew dahlias, cannas, caladium or tuberous begonias, dig them up after the foliage ripens and cut off the foliage. Let them dry in the sun for a day or so. Store them in a container of peat moss, sand or sawdust. Keep it slightly moist throughout the winter in a dark area of about 40-50 degrees. I’ll have to turn off the heat in my basement this winter to store my bulbs. Burr! I may have to do my craft works upstairs this winter.

After a hard freeze, mound dirt around the base of your roses and trim the plant down just enough to fit into the cone (if you use cones). Then punch holes in the top of the cone for circulation as there will be some sunny days during winter and without air circulation your rose will cook!

Then weight down the cone with a brick or stone. If you don’t use cones, then mound up the dirt six or so inches up the stem and trim back some of the growth. I’m in zone 5 of the U.S. and that is how I care for my roses in the winter and they do well. If you have asparagus, trim it off after the top dies. They turn a lovely golden color and look good in a big bouquet. If you leave the tops through the winter, they will topple over and form a good place for mice to live.

Well friends, another gardening season is about over. Did you enjoy your garden?

I worked hard and I’ll be glad I don’t have to mow grass any more. I’ve removed some plants and will look for replacements in the new catalogs when they arrive. I have to re-do the garden by the sun porch in the spring. And, I’ll have to make a new garden in the shade for the bleeding hearts I’ll be taking out of that garden.

One more garden to groom. That little garden is a challenge because it is shade and sunny different times of the day.

Also, wild ferns move into it from under the trees. I’m looking forward to spring catalogs to help me re-do it. We gardeners never give up, do we?

See you later,

Aunt Dots mailto: dorothykurchak@yahoo.com

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DIY Autumn Aprons for the Happy Homemaker

by Vintage Mama As the days become cooler, the leaves begin their bright autumn dance of colors, and the nippy breezes begin to blow outside our windows, many of us start thinking about our holiday cooking. At our house, we have so many traditional recipes that we love to pull out this time of year, and bake up all kinds of yummy autumn treats. Some of us have been wearing our “oldfashioned” aprons for many years . . . . I still have a couple of aprons I made way back when my big kids were just tots . . . . but recently it has become quite fashionable for the “modern housewife” to sport a trendy apron. There are so many different designs, styles, colors, and fabrics that are used in making these thoroughly modern little fashion statements!

Of course, you can always find ready-made aprons for chefs, as well as aprons for the macho “grillin’ guy” in your family. You can purchase aprons for holding tools, craft and scrapbooking supplies, crayons and scissors for the little people in your house. I think you could even buy an apron to hold your dog grooming supplies, too! Some of us, however, enjoy the creativity of making our own aprons, so we’ve included several links to free tutorials for making whatever style of apron you might be longing for as you think about the upcoming holiday cooking season.

Here’s a great apron resource if you are interested in creating a vintage-style apron: http://tipnut.com/projectfiles/freeapron.pdf This tutorial is from “Janie Belle’s Vintage Patterns” and it is called “1940s Bib Apron.”

This is a super-simple pattern, and it is SO cute! Take a peek and see what you think.

Another apron tutorial is for this utility apron and cap, and the vintage styling is so quaint, that even though it is designed to be practical, it is also really quite charming: http://tipnut.com/utility-apron-cap/ You can find links to hundreds of other apron patterns and tutorials at http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/ Then there are countless blogs where you can also find apron tutorials and patterns, most of them free, as well as patterns for sale in lots of little online shops.

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One of the blogs where I found a really cute little apron pattern tutorial for a “Country Cottage Apron” is Abby’s blog “A Feathered Nest” at http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/2008/01/apron-tutorial.html Abby has a wonderful blog about all things related to homemaking, including sewing, crafting, and cooking. Visit Abby and meet her . . . . and be sure to tell her that Ruby for Women sent you!

Here’s another one of her apron tutorials for a “Quick and Easy Apron” that is oh-so-sweet: http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/2008/04/quickeasy-apron.html

Then there is the “Make-Do Apron” which is made from a re-purposed shirt and the tutorial can be found on “At Home With the Farmer’s Wife” : http://athomewiththefarmerswife.blogspot.com/2008/07/m ary-jane-butters-apron.html

Another apron tutorial I discovered was the “Reversible Scalloped Apron” at http://www.warehousefabricsinc.com/blog/reve rsible-scalloped-apron-tutorial/ This adorable apron can be made from coordinating fabrics so that you actually have two aprons in one! If you spill or splatter on one side, just turn it around and you’re all ready to go again. Back to the kitchen in style!

If you want to check out a few other websites where you can find even more apron pattern tutorials, here is a list of just a few that I found: http://craftstew.com/sewing/38-free-apron-patterns www.apronista.com http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/ http://tipnut.com/free-apron-patterns-tutorials/ http://community.livejournal.com/sew_loli/395156.html http://www.craftbits.com/project/vintage-handkerchief-apron If you want to visit some of the craft / sewing blogs, you can also find free apron pattern tutorials there, as well.

Just search under “apron tutorials” and you’ll discover hundreds of blog and sites where I’m sure you will find a pattern that is just perfect for you and your autumn kitchen adventures!

Happy cooking,

Vintage Mama 29

What We Love About Autumn Word Search

by Beth Brubaker

Answer on page 76.

A note from Dr. Yvonne Anderson: Please join my organization, A.C.T. (the Association of Christian Teachers), for prayer each morning. We pray for our nation, educators, and A.C.T. itself. You do not need to be an educator to get on the line, just one who is willing to touch and agree. To learn a little more about A.C.T., please visit us on the web at www.theassociationofchristianteachers.org Days: Monday through Friday Times: 5:30 am - 6:00 am, 7:00 -7:30m (e.s.t.)

Telephone Number: 712.432.0075 Participant Access Code: 922796

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ZtÜwxÇxÜËá WxÄ|z{à dâ|Äà UÄÉv~ uç eÉv{xÄÄx `tÜà|Ç This issue of Ruby has the third block of Gardener's Delight which is the Aster Bouquet Block. 10 ½" (unfinished)

`tàxÜ|tÄá The yardage for the quilt is in the May/June issue. For this block you will need an 11" square of the tan tonal fabric, fabric from the fat quarter of purple, fabric from the ½ yard green tonal, fabric from the fat quarter of yellow and fusible web if you are using that appliqué method.

A block diagram of the Astor Bouquet Block has been included to help you place your shapes on the fabric 11" tan tonal square. It’s helpful to use a light box to see the lines of the block diagram through your fabric, or you can make a tracing from the diagram and use it as an overlay on top of your fabric block.

\ÇáàÜâvà|ÉÇá 1. Prepare your appliqué shapes (H, J and I) for the method you are using. If you want to use the needle turn method of appliqué then you will need to flip the templates so that they are not reversed.

2. Fold the block in half and finger press a vertical crease (figure 1). Open the block and finger press a horizontal crease. Use these lines to center your block design on the 11” tan tonal square.

4. Using the block design as your guide, position and appliqué the twelve (H) green tonal leaves.

5. Appliqué the seven (I) purple aster flowers.

6. Appliqué the seven (J) yellow aster flower centers.

7. Press the block and trim to 10 ½".

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TáàxÜ UÉâÖâxà Reversed Templates for Gardener's Delight Quilt Block size: 10 ½" unfinished after trimmed Make 12 of template H (green tonal) 7 of template I (purple tonal) (reverse 2 shapes) 7 of template J (yellow tonal) ©2010 Cottage Quilt Designs All rights reserved.

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ZtÜwxÇxÜËá WxÄ|z{à TáàxÜ UÉâÖâxà Left Block

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ZtÜwxÇxÜËá WxÄ|z{à TáàxÜ UÉâÖâxà Right Block

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An Important “Season” of Life

by Paula McVay

“What? No salt?” That was my reaction when I volunteered to cook for my friend and her husband during her recovery from surgery and found that he was on a special diet. After experimenting with different seasonings, I was able to come up with some tasty meals; however, I could still tell the salt was missing. This made me think about the words of Jesus from Matthew 5:13 where He said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

Getting prepared for my 30th year of teaching in the public school included praying for each teacher on my team in the middle school, the administrators, and the children and their parents with whom I would have the privilege of adding the salt and flavor of my wonderful Savior. I wanted to be prepared to get that salt “out of the shaker” at the correct time and in the precise amount.

That first week back, many of the teachers were catching up in the lounge during our 20 minute break. The teacher across the hall from me, Anne, reported that she had been bothered by those “born again” people that summer. Then she turned to me and asked, “Paula, you would know. Why in the world do they call themselves that and why are they so pushy?”

Whew! There it was….my opportunity to be the “salt.” The lounge grew uncharacteristically quiet with all eyes focused on me. I knew I needed to get that salt out, but I didn’t want to dump the whole shaker. As I breathed a prayer, God helped me to remember John 3 and the story of Nicodemus when Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus responded with, “How can a man be born when he is old?” Of course, I didn’t tell the whole story, but explained that when a person decides to ask Jesus to forgive him and accept him as His child, he is a new person . . . just like a baby. Just like little babies who are so precious, they do have times (you know what I’m talking about), when new Christians are excited and sometimes might show a little immature behavior such as “being pushy.”

The lunch bell rang about that time and, of course, I kept thinking, “Did I say the right things? Will they all think I’m crazy?” Peace flooded over me as I realized God had answered my prayer to be “salt.” I had done my best and would leave the rest to Him. God didn’t have to give me more assurance than that, but He did.

The next day, Anne asked me to repeat the text and story again. Then she asked me if I called myself a “born again” Christian. Just then two of my students walked in, waiting to ask me a question about the English lesson. I’m sure they were listening as God gave me yet another opportunity to share His wonderful plan of salvation. Christian teachers in the public school can share just by being loving, kind, giving, consistent, fair, hard-working and yes, they can even talk about Christ when a student asks.

Since our family moved 6 times during my teaching career, I knew God definitely provided positions for me when jobs were scarce. When asked by interviewers why I thought I could do the job, I responded by saying that I would do everything as if working for God, Himself. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men . . . . “ Colossians 3:23 Amazingly, I was accepted and able to be a witness in all six districts. I frequently had the opportunity to share my faith with my colleagues and students. There is definitely a ministry in the public schools for Christian teachers! Most people do like salt in the right amounts.

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Cookbook Conundrum!

Adventures in my Literary Kitchen

by Beth Brubaker

It all started as a simple hobby - I like to cook, and there are all kinds of wonderful recipes found in magazines and books, and the internet! But when your kitchen is starting to look like a library, it's time to do a little renovating. I wish I could say that renovating meant building a better(and bigger) kitchen, but it really meant that I had to downsize my collection of recipes. Follow me along on my adventure, and learn what I have learned - or better yet! - avoid the pitfalls of a literary kitchen!

It started with all those cooking magazines I'd saved. I had boxes and boxes of them, but if I ever needed to find a recipe, that would have been the very last place I'd ever look, because nothing was referenced. No notes, no post-its; nothing to allow me to pluck out a single issue and say “Yes! Here it is!� Just stacked boxes that made me cringe every time I walked past. So, I bought a brand new pair of scissors for the occasion and took one box aside to peruse the pages.

Do you know what I found? Most magazines have a ton of advertising in them. I think I had a million of those mail-in cards littering my table before I was finished with the first issue! What did I save from it? Two recipes. Just two. Ninety-nine percent of the issue wound up tossed into the recycle bin!

Even if I liked a lot of the recipes, I still had enough recycling material left over that I didn't need to save the entire issue itself. Yes, dear readers, not a single issue out of all those boxes was saved in it's entirety. The clippings were stored in a file folder until I had sorted through every single box.

When I was finished, I had two manila folders full of clippings - much better than four or five boxes worth, don't you think?

The next step was to buy a few binders and some tabs to make dividers, post-it notes, a ream of paper (a ream is a pack of 500 sheets), tape, and a three-hole punch. You can buy the paper prepunched too, but I used some of the paper for my printer. I wrote on the tabs so I could put the recipes into certain categories, just like a cookbook. I then taped one recipe onto each sheet of paper and threehole punched it, putting it into the appropriate spot in the binder. It sounds like a waste to leave all that open space, but there is a good reason!

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Cluttering pages with clippings is hard on the eyes due to the differences in each recipe's text, and there is a good chance that, if in a hurry, you might start with one recipe and end with another! Doing one at a time will allow you to focus only on that recipe, and leaves some “splatter forgiveness space” if you happen to get a little too enthusiastic with the ingredients.

This first one will be a “Recipes To Try” book, but you should also make a second, for “Our Favorite Recipes”, that way you can access something you like or make something new. Another reason you only put one recipe on each page is that, when you try it, you can either remove it from the page (if it was a dud) and stick on another recipe to try (so the paper isn't wasted), or transfer the page to your Favorite Recipes (if it was a hit). No having to mess with a ton of recipes on one page!

Recipes you find online are really easy to sort, once you have the initial binders made, just print, punch and add to your books! Just make sure the margin is moved over at least one inch from the left hand side before you print - I can't tell you how many times I picked out a recipe only to see the amount of one or two ingredients was punched out!

But what about all those recipe books on the shelves? You know you bought them for a reason (mine was usually 'It was only twenty-five cents at this yard sale!'), but now that you're really looking at them, maybe there are a few you can get rid of. Perhaps there are some diet recipe books you no longer need, or specialty books (something you tried but didn't care for, like the juice diet or microwave cooking) that can be donated or recycled without even cracking open the pages. For the books you want to look through, I suggest you do what I did - pick out the least used cookbooks and start marking pages!

I like post-its. I take a few of them and cut them into small strips, so each has a little of the glue on the end, and use them as markers for the recipes I want to try. When you're done with the book, take a look at the amount of tabs you have. Are there a lot? If so, this might be a keeper! But if there are only a few, then you set that book aside until you have at least a few of these “skimpy pickin's'’ cookbooks marked. Pick two or three cookbooks that have the least amount of pages marked, and start from there.

I like to work out of two cookbooks at a time. That way I have enough to choose from and I won't be hanging on to those books for very long! And don't forget, you're also going to use a few of those magazine recipes too! I planned out the menus so I wouldn't be cooking new recipes all the time; I would do at least three new recipes a week, two of them being dinners. Sometimes I did more than that, but I allowed myself the minimum of two new dinner recipes and let the 'extra' one float about the weekly menu. It could be a breakfast item, something for lunch, a snack or a dessert. You don't have to do this, but I like a little flexibility in my schedule. And I'm not cooking every night either. Twice a week is Leftover Night!

When you try a recipe and find you like it, mark it with a full-sized post-it note (or move the page to the 'Favorites' book). When you are 37

through making all the pre-approved recipes in the book, you can scan the recipe (if you have a scanner), or take the book to your local copy shop and make a copy of it (copies for personal use are not illegal - just don't pass them out to all your friends!) Do not cut the recipe out of the book! You now have your recipes, and the book can be donated or packed for a yard sale. (Trust me - no one will buy a book with the pages cut out!) The only books you keep are the ones that have more recipes you like than don't like. Once you finish one book, start with another, even if the second book you are working through isn't finished yet. It might take a while, but eventually you will have a few precious books and several binders worth of great recipes!

It’s That Time of Year!

Autumn Double Puzzle

by Beth Brubaker

Answer on page 77.

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Fun with Gina and Her Friends

by Rochelle Martin

Gina and Brett Adopt a Pet Gina looked into the big brown eyes of Cody, a 2 ½ year old King Charles Cavalier spaniel and knew he was the one for her! His beautiful Blenheim tan and cream coat was thick and silky. Cody snuggled up to Gina and her brother Brett asking for hugs and loving words.

“Good boy!” the Ross family said as his owner led Cody to sit, shake hands and walk obediently on a leash. Cody waved his tail and sat down for more petting. “What do you think?” asked Mother and Dad. “Oh yes!” Gina and Brett said. “We love him! Let’s take him home today!”

That afternoon after settling Cody into his new home, Gina and Brett picked out a sleeping pillow, dog food and a rope pull toy at the pet store with Dad. Cody eagerly gave Gina and Brett each a lick on the face as they came in the back door with his belongings. He had been waiting patiently with Mother for his first walk with his new family. “You take him first,” Gina said to Brett. “I’ll take him first thing every morning and you can have him for his evening walk.” “Oh boy,” said Brett. “I can’t wait to show my friends our new dog!”

©2010 Rochelle Martin Make Gina’s shirt and shorts from Kwik Sew’s pattern 3168 and Brett’s shorts from Kwik Sew pattern 3398.

Kwik Sew website: http://www.kwiksew.com

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40

Interview with Artist and Musician

Deidra Hughes

RFW: Tell us about your calling into this ministry. How and when did you know that God has this particular ministry for your life?

DH: I was called into full-time ministry when I was a child. I knew through the prayers of others and confirmation in my own heart that I would be ministering one day. However, it wasn't until I was 15 that I accepted that call and started to prepare myself spiritually, mentally and physically. I auditioned for a performing arts high school to study music and also began leading worship for my youth group.

I also started doing regular devotions and reading books on other well-known ministers. Even today, the vision of my ministry is ever changing . . .I am grateful He has chosen to lead me one step at a time. If I could have seen the whole picture at once, I might have run the other way. :) RFW: Please share a few stories of events and people you have met through your ministry.

How has God used your ministry to touch the lives of others, and how have you been blessed through the people that God has brought into your life?

DH: Oh my goodness, this could take a while! There are so many people that the Lord has brought into my life who have blessed me so much, and we have actually blessed each other. There are also many people I have met through youth ministry, concerts, and ministry engagements with other speakers that I have had the opportunity to pray for, and I have seen God move in their lives in a mighty way. There have been many instances where I have seen healings, deliverance from selfharm, salvations, and broken relationships mended. God is so good, and I can't even express how grateful I am to be called to ministry!

More specifically, I have been blessed through the ministry of others. I am not sure where I would be without the ministry of TRUTH and Roger Breland. Ministers such as Apostle Fred Price, Perry Stone, Floyd Lawhon, Benny Hinn, Natalie Grant, Anthony Evans and so many more who have invested in my life and ministry. People who believe in the calling that God has placed on my life and who actually gave me an opportunity to minister. Women such as C3 Communications, Church at Bethel, and my manager, Dina Busey, have invested in this ministry both financially and through prayer. ll of these people have brought me to a place where I could minister to see salvations, healings, brokenness, and deliverance brought to pass!

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RFW: There are moments in everyone's life when we wonder if we are truly doing what will most honor God. Have you had moments of questioning your calling, and how have you been able to resolve your questions?

DH: There is a scripture, Proverbs 21:2, that says "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." Like everyone else, I am only human, and as long as we live in an imperfect world we will continue to run into this question.

However, as long as we are continually renewing our mind in the Word and bathing our actions in prayer, the Lord will always keep our motives in check. The Bible also says to surround ourselves with wise counsel, and if the Holy Spirit doesn't get to me first, I know my family and friends certainly will. ☺ Since about 2000 to 2004, I was going strong in traveling full-time with the Christian music industry.

Then when I found out that I was expecting my first child, God turned my world upside down. I wondered if I was truly called to travel and minister the Gospel because I felt stuck ~ I had this beautiful family to take care of, but something inside of me was dying. All my life I had prepared and pressed toward the calling the Lord had placed on my life, but in this specific moment I just felt “shelved” . . . until I realized I was still being prepared. Anyone in ministry has to go through the wilderness . . .even Jesus! I was still in preparation! Even though my world had appeared to have been shaken, God was trying to shake me. Being a mother didn’t take away my calling . . . it enhanced it! I just needed a different perspective, and God gave it to me!

RFW: What is your greatest desire for God to do through your ministry? How do you see God using you in the lives of those who are touched by your music?

DH: For me, music is the avenue which the Lord has given me to minister back to Him and to others.

Beyond that, He has put a word in my heart and a desire to see His people free. Free from sickness, bondage, and brokenness. I don't want to be an entertainer . . .I want to be a minister of His truth! If people only leave a concert moved by the music, then it is meaningless. I want people to leave free and closer to the Lord.

RFW: What do you see in the future for this amazing ministry that God has given you? Please share some of your goals and aspirations as you move forward every day, using and sharing your gifts and talents to honor God. DH: The Lord is answering my prayers and birthing new music in me! One of the next steps is birthing messages in me through speaking, as well as singing. He has already begun to do that, and I speak on occasion. What was once one of my greatest fears is now becoming a passion . . . only God can do that!

My husband, Trent, and I have a desire to be in full-time ministry together. He is currently in the process of finishing his master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. We both have a passion for the family and the church. I love doing concerts and speaking engagements, but I would love to take that 42

passion a step further. Growing the body of Christ through conferences that equip the church through music, discipleship and family growth. Strengthening the church staff and the body to be prepared for the harvest.

RFW: What was the vision for your self-titled debut CD? Where can people purchase it?

DH: On my debut CD I chose songs that not only ministered to me, but that I felt I could use to minister to others ~ songs that I wanted to be worshipful and uplifting! I also wanted to give the audience a taste of what my heart and ministry is all about ~ without them having to adjust to a new artist as well as new material. I wanted my heart to be seen first and foremost. You can purchase my debut album at either my concerts or online at www.deidrahughes.com.

RFW: Do you have plans for a new CD? If so, what is your vision for it musically and ministrywise?

DH: I am currently working on my new CD right now!

For this project I have begun the writing process, which has been an amazing experience to see the ideas and concepts God has given me turn into a full song. My vision is to have an album that not only ministers to the church body, but gives my full expression of worship and devotion to the Lord! It will be a blend of praise and worship, as well as encouragement for the Church. I am extremely excited about it and can’t wait to see what God chooses to do with it!

RFW: Who helps you book your shows, and where can people get information about your tour / performance dates?

DH: As of right now my manager, Dina Busey, and I do most of my bookings. You can access my tour schedule at www.deidrahughes.com, and you can contact Dina Busey www.thelaneagencyonline.com at dina@thelaneagencyonline.com for booking information.

RFW: Now that we know about your back-ground, can you share with us some "stories from the road?"

DH: Road life can leave some pretty lasting impressions . . .☺ Some of my favorite memories are meeting new people. While ministering with Apostle Fred Price, my husband, Trent, and I had the opportunity to go on a cruise to Alaska. I think my husband stole the show . . . You just have to know him . . . he will keep you constantly laughing! He actually sang “Soul Man” on Karaoke Night and got a standing ovation!

One of my most recent memorable moments during 2010 was driving home from an awesome time of ministry with my manager, Dina. Dina was driving and we had just been discussing what we should talk about for our very first video blog together when we got home. We thought our trip had not had one “specific” event to discuss and weren’t sure what to do . . . be careful what you wish for! We had 43

gone in and out of some storms when the next thing we knew we were right in path of a tornado ~ SERIOUSLY!!! You'll have to check out our You Tube video to hear the full story! http://www.youtube.com/deidrahughes#p/a/u/1/9Av7m9kC9RU Suffice it to say, when it was over and the terror / shaking of the moment had finally passed, we laughed and laughed! What memories I gain while traveling!!!

RFW: Can you tell us about your family and share some great "family stories" with us?

DH: I have been married seven years to the most amazing man, Trent, and we have two little girls, Paris and Nadya. Paris is 5, and she is probably going to be a preacher because she is not afraid to call you out! Everything to her is black and white, wrong or right, and she will tell you! My husband’s family is from Alabama, so they have pretty thick Southern accents and Paris doesn't mind correcting them on how she thinks something is truly supposed to be pronounced. I always try to teach my children Godly principles so we have been teaching them about giving. My daughter Paris took this one and ran with it! Next thing I knew, their little friends where walking out of the house with arms full of toys she was giving away! That lesson was a challenge for me ☺ My youngest, Nadya, is 4 and she is our entertainer. It doesn't matter if she is in the middle of a restaurant, airport, or the mall, she will break out in song and dance. She writes her own songs on the spot, and although they don't make any sense, they are truly funny! The other day there was a storm that came through and Nadya stood by the window singing “Oh, no, you never let go! Through the calm and through the storm!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry ☺ Together they keep life pretty interesting and full. I wouldn’t trade my family for anything!!!

RFW: What would you like Ruby for Women's readers to know about you?

DH: I am human, and just because I stand on a platform doesn't mean I have all the answers, or that my life is perfect and free from struggles. We Christians are all in this thing together . . .so let’s learn and grow together. I would love to get to know you, so please contact me on any of my social sites. www.facebook.com/deidrahughes www.myspace.com/deidrahughesministries www.twitter.com/deidrahughes www.youtube.com/deidrahughes www.shoutlife.com/deidrahughes 44

Schedule of Upcoming Concerts by

Deidra Hughes September 17, 2010 New Life Christian Center Castro Valley, California

October 16 – 17, 2010 TBA – Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC

September 18, 2010 Life in Christ Ministries El Cerrito, California

October 25 – November 3, 2010 Benny Hinn Israel Trip Jerusalem

September 19, 2010 New Life Christian Center Castro Valley, California

November 6, 2010 5:00 P.M. 2010 Visionary Awards / Presenter www.hallmuseum.com/10awards.com Nashville, Tennessee

September 26, 2010 First Baptist Church Huntingdon, Tennessee October 2 - 3, 2010 Mountain View Baptist Church Johnson City, Tennessee October 8 – 10, 2010 South Canonsburg Church Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

www.netsurfcafe.ning.com

November 14, 2010 6:30 P.M. Souls Harbour Church London, Kentucky December 9 - 10, 2010 7:00 P.M. Benny Hinn Crusade Miami, Florida

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Kid’s Craft Corner

by Carolyn Arnold September: “A Hand for the Red, White, and Blue” for Patriot Day 1. Paint palm of hand blue.

2. Paint fingers white and red, alternating fingers.

3. Paint thumb black or gray (it’ll be the flag pole).

4. Making sure you have their hand facing the correct way (flags usually wave with the blue on the left and the stripes on the right), have child hold fingers close together with thumb away from fingers and press their hand firmly to a piece of construction paper (either sky blue or white makes a nice background).

5. You might have to press the child’s hand down with your own hand to get all of the paint on the entire palm onto the paper.

6. When the paint dries, add star stickers or just paint white dots on the blue ‘palm’ for stars and add background details as desired.

7. Do NOT forget to write the child’s name, age, and date on the flag or paper. * This will not be a perfect flag, but you can use it to teach your child the meaning behind the symbols on our real flag.

October: Celebrate Autumn with Creepy-Crawly Spiders 1. Trace child’s hands on black (or whatever color they choose) construction paper.

2. Cut out each one carefully.

3. With the thumbs together and fingers pointing out, glue one of the palms over the other.

4. Now you have your spider! Decorate with glitter or crayon or whatever your child fancies.

5. Don’t forget to write the child’s name, age, and the date on the spider!

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Planning Lessons for your Home School Classroom

by Heather Miller You've decided to home school. You've pored over curriculum catalogs, internet sites, and the local bookstore shelves and you've finally gathered together a huge stack of books to use to teach your children. You lay it all out on the dining room table. You open up that crisp new lesson plan book. You look over it all, and . . .you realize you have no idea what to do from here.

Of course, there's a possibility that you've bought a curriculum set complete with already made lesson plans, and that's fine. If you have, just save this article for later in case you decide to try this for yourself.

Maybe you started your homeschooling career using the pre-planned stuff, but now you're wanting to take more control of what happens each day. Or maybe you're jumping into homeschooling with plans to do your own lessons. Either way, when the books (with that wonderful book smell) have all come in, when the time comes to fill those blank pages in the planner with writing, you may have a sudden overpowering urge to sit down and cry from the sheer vastness of what you're about to undertake.

Take heart, have courage, and press on!

This afternoon I sat down with my sister-in-law, who is about to begin her first year homeschooling her kids, to help her with lesson planning. I have her some basic, simple, straightforward advice and I'm going to share that same advice with you, the readers! I know that I cannot, in one article, answer every question for every mom out there. I know that each one of us plans a little differently, and each book publisher sets their books and curriculum up a little differently, so take what you can from this article and make it work for you!

Since you already have all those books piled up on your table (or the floor, or wherever), I'm going to assume you already know what you hope to cover in the coming year. The next thing to do is to decide how often you want to do each subject. Some moms do every subject every day, some do History and Language Arts on Mondays through Wednesdays and then do Math and Science on Thursday and Friday.

Some cover the core subjects each day and alternate Music and Art. It's up to you, but decide now!

My first advice it to get the more basic subjects out of the way first.

Things like Math, Spelling, Handwriting, and English if you use English workbooks. Assuming that you use an 180 day school year (required in most states), this is how I break it down:

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Grab a book – we'll say it's a math book. See how many lessons are in that math book. My elementary age kids use Horizons Math, which have 160 lessons plus 16 tests. That's 176 things to do. 180 days in the school year, 176 pages to do . . .pretty easy, right? Assign one each day, and be done 4 days early!

Say it's your spelling book. Most spelling books will have 36 weekly units - easy, right? The next thing to look at is how many pages are in the book for each unit. Our spelling book has 3 pages for each unit. So we do a Pre-Test on Monday, the two pages related to the spelling list on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Final Test on Thursday, and on Friday we do the Dictionary Skills page at the back of the book that corresponds to that week's lesson.

Many handwriting books do not have nearly enough pages or lessons to make it through an entire school year, so either plan to work through two handwriting books each year or only do handwriting two or three days each week. You can supplement this with copywork related to your History or Science reading.

(Copywork is simply taking an excerpt from a book and having your child write it out in their best handwriting.)

Science and History are the subject that are the most fun to plan but also the most time-consuming. I like to break subjects like these down into manageable chunks, smaller units to work within. For example, this year we are studying American History up through the Civil War. Rather than trying to tackle several centuries of history all at once, I split our studies into six units: • • • • • •

The First Americans (4 weeks) Discovery & Colonization (8 weeks) Revolution (6 weeks) The New Nation (5 weeks) Westward Expansion (6 weeks) The Civil War (7 weeks)

I based the amount of time we will spend on each unit on how many materials we had to cover for that particular time period. You'll notice that altogether the units total 36 weeks, a full school year.

Once you have broken things down into smaller units, gather all the materials (books, movies, software, etc.) related to that unit into it's own pile. Get everything else out of the way and work only with that pile. This is where things get a little hairy. You'll likely have one main book that serves as a sort of backbone for the subject. For us this year, it's Joy Hakim's A History of US series. Deal with this book first.

Figure out how many chapters total you'll be reading for this particular unit, and then figure out how to fit them in to the time period allotted.

If you have twelve chapters for four weeks, that's three chapters each week. Or maybe you have 36 chapters and six weeks. That's a chapter each day four days a week and two chapters a day one day a week. Pencil all this in. Then it's time to fit the supplemental materials and activities in around this backbone. Try to alternate harder things (like writing assignments) with easier things (like art projects or field trips). Of course, what your children consider harder and easier will vary!

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Individual reading assignments will vary depending on the child's age and ability. Obviously, a six year old won't be reading as much as a sixth grader. I get most of our books for individual reading from the library, and so I have to write in these assignments as the year progresses. I think it's good to have kids reading on their own at least a little each day. Again, see how many chapters or pages are in a book and figure out how much will need to be read each day to get it all done during the weeks allotted.

To give you an idea of what a filled out lesson plan spread for one week might look like, here is an example from my own book. This is full lesson plans for three children. You'll notice that sometimes I write down whole titles of books, sometimes they are abbreviated, and sometimes I only put page numbers down. This is because I know what I mean, even if no one else does! “TG� stands for Teacher's Guide, by the way. The yellow Post-It notes on the right hand side contain the individual reading assignments for each child (you'll notice there are two, I couldn't fit it all onto one!).

If you are using a textbook for science (and if you choose to, I'd recommend using ones written by only one author who really has a passion for his subject, like Apologia's Science offerings), many times the book will be broken into separate lessons, or at least separate chapters. See how many chapters there are and then figure up how many weeks you can spend on each one.

If you have a science book with 36 chapters, great, that's one per week. Unfortunately, most books won't be quite so easy and you may have to do some creative scheduling. Say you have a book with 24 chapters. Well, that's not enough for one chapter a week but too much for a chapter every 2 weeks. It actually comes out to one chapter every seven and a half days! You can assign a chapter to last seven days, or pick half of the chapters to be seven days and half to be eight days. It's going to take some work and some time on your part!

In the end, even the best made plans will fail sometimes. Things happen. Something takes longer than you thought it would, or your kids complete the work that you thought would take all morning in half an hour. Kids get sick, you get sick, emergencies come up. Just because something is written in a lesson book doesn't mean it has to happen. Just because you wrote it for Tuesday doesn't mean it can't get pushed to Wednesday, or Thursday, or next week because something unexpected came up. Maybe you overload your plan book and there's no way your kids can keep up. That's OK, too.

Pare down to the basics and keep going. It takes a while to get a feel for how much of each subject and each type of assignment your kids can accomplish in a day, a week, or a school year.

Remember that homeschooling is about learning, not about checking off tasks in a book. It's about enjoying time together, not rushing and yelling at your kids to hurry up. Lesson plans are great, most of us use them to some degree or another, but the truth is that we can't control everything that happens in life and I can tell you from experience that it is normal to scratch things out, add new things as the year goes by, move things around from one day to the next, etc. Never once in my seven years of homeschooling have we strictly adhered to the lesson book. We're three weeks in to this school year, and already we've changed things around some! The best piece of advice I can tell you? It comes from a real wise guy: King Solomon: Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ~Proverbs 16:3 49

Scentsy Candles Maritza Bonilla Back To School….

I Remember I can remember when they were small and brand-new.

Now they are in elementary and high school.

I remember feeding them with a bottle last.

Now they are running just to get to class!

I remember them on swings and watching them twirl.

Now they are growing up and looking at girls.

I remember going on field trips and giving high fives.

Now it’s “See you later!” and soon wanting to drive.

All these memories from their childhood until now, makes me a cherish every moment and makes me very proud.

Beautiful Warmers, Plug Ins, Scentsy Bars, Scentsy Buddies, Scent Circles, Room Sprays, Travel Tins and much more!

Scentsy is the perfect gift for any occasion and the upcoming Holiday Season.

Visit my website at www.bonilla.scentsy.us and view our wonderful products.

Alabaster Box Publishing Company

www.alabasterboxpublishing.com

Vintage Image Crafts

Honor roll and good in sports . . .

I love them both so much.

My sons are both so very cool . . . but thank God, it’s back to school! ~~ Nichole Payton

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Are You a Proverbs 31 Woman? (and how would you know?)

So, what’s the big deal about the Proverbs 31 woman?

Seems like there is a great deal of discussion in books and blog posts on the importance of being like the Proverbs 31 woman, but what does that mean? For those of us who want to honor God with our lives, of course we strive to exemplify the noble qualities that are described in Proverbs 31. Probably if we are asking the question, then we just might already be doing some of the things that describe the Proverbs 31 woman. After reading about this topic and hearing about it for many years, I’ve decided to take a look at this again and see if there isn’t more to the story than we’ve been led to believe.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that most women who want to live a life of obedience to God, and who talk about being a Proverbs 31 woman are too judgmental.

I’ve often heard the following observation, usually by a husband speaking to his wife: “You expect so much more from yourself than anyone else does!” Women are sometimes just too hard on themselves! We judge our worth, and we estimate our value, based on what we do . . . . and sometimes lose track of the truth that our relationship with God is more about who we are.

Because, face it, most of us will never be able to do everything that is described in Proverbs 31, at least not all at the same time. There are seasons of life, and if we forget that there is a time for rocking babies, changing diapers, and reading to toddlers – and that time will probably be different from the time when we might then write the next Great American Novel, find a cure for cancer, or become an astronaut . . . . or whatever else you might dream up.

As we look at the passage in Proverbs 31, it is interesting that the very first line of this epilogue to the book of Proverbs states: “A wife of noble character, who can find?” Well, if it was THAT difficult way back then to find a woman like this, even ONE woman like this, what makes us think that such an amazing woman is to be found around every corner? This is such a high standard that even the writer of this portion of Scripture couldn’t find her! Don’t be so hard on yourself if you haven’t arrived at this state of incredible womanhood yet.

And while we are so intent on “doing it all,” we lose sight of the truth that our value and our worth is not dependent on what we DO but on who we ARE in Christ. Of course, as women we desire to be all that God would have us to be, but as we strive to live a life of obedience, we need to remember that God has already completed the work of our perfection through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

The description of this woman continues: “She is worth far more than rubies.” What else is described as being so valuable? In Proverbs 3:13-15 we read: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.” This personification of the concept of “wisdom” as a woman of noble character reveals to us that a life of wisdom, honor, and peace is to be valued above all else. Perhaps the specific activities of the Proverbs 31 woman reflect a lifetime of noble character, and not necessarily a life of daily frantic activity to do it all, right now.

Again in Proverbs 8:11 we read that wisdom is more precious than rubies . . . . there’s just something about all those rubies that are truly valuable! When a wise woman of noble character is described as being “precious as rubies,” that surely speaks of her value for who she is as a person. All of the other attributes seem to arise out of her character, her spirit, and her commitment to her family. When we look at this woman, this composite of a vast array of noble qualities, we realize that even if we desire to be a “wife of noble character,” that it may not be possible to be everything to everyone, every day, everywhere, all the time, and still maintain our sanity. At the end of your life, will you be able to say with confidence that you were a woman of noble character? What you do between now and then will add to your portfolio of accomplishments, but the foundation to build upon is to be found righteous in His sight through the blood of the Lord Jesus. Let’s talk about 51 this more next time!

Secrets About Love Chapter Eight ~~ by Laura Day

In the previous chapters of Secrets About Love, Jessica Amy finds herself in Cedarville, Michigan. She has newly moved into a house and is fixing her new home to her taste. She meets her new neighbor, Mark West, a helpful and very charming young man her own age. They strike up an unexpected friendship together as they both deal with issues in their separate lives. Mark and his girlfriend Fiona suddenly break up leaving the way clear for Jessica, but she still holds back for reasons of her own; because she carries a secret deep in her heart. When Mark has an attack of appendicitis Jessica takes him to the emergency room and stays with him. As the two grow closer together Jessica’s feelings flourish for Mark. In the meantime Macie, Mark’s sister is having problems of her own. Her boyfriend Howard is hurt in a car accident and she admits to Jessica that she harbors a secret from Howard. She saw another man behind Howard’s back and now she has to admit it. Will love blossom between these young couples or is fate due to take a hand? Find out in the next chapter of Secrets About Love!

Chapter Eight “Bad Cat!” Jessica cried as she looked at the disaster. Her feline friend, Jake, had been shut up in the computer room while she changed his litter box, and now a sea of shredded paper lay in front of her. Jake meanwhile looked triumphantly over his kingdom with three quick thrashes of his tail.

Her cell phone started ringing shrilly from the other room, and Jessica left the mess after a murderous look at her cat. Jessica rushed to the kitchen table where her phone lay and snapped it open on the last ring.

“Mark.” Jessica murmured, holding back a gasp. She slipped into a kitchen chair and placed her forehead in her hand. The one person she couldn’t bare to talk to, and yet she wanted to so badly. “How are you feeling?”

“Good, I’m out of the hospital now. Mom’s got me staying with her and Macie for a few days until I mend.” There was a pause when Jessica didn’t answer, so Mark continued. “How are things with you?”

“Hello?” Jessica said while trying to push back her frustration. She glanced back at her latest attempt at a good plot minced into a thousand pieces on the floor. Her computer had frozen and she had been unable to save her writing. Luckily she had printed the first ten pages, that now were no more.

“Oh, it’s this dratted book.” Jessica said in frustration before she knew the words were out.

She slapped her hand over her mouth after she realized, she’d almost given away her own secret.

“This book,” she quickly picked up a library book on gardening sitting on the corner of the table, “just can’t seem to put it down.” Jessica licked her lips, hating the white lie that ran off her tongue so easily.

“Jessica, this is Mark.” His voice reverberated through her head.

“Must be a doozy! Macie keeps trying to get me to read this romance novel by Jessica Mason.”

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“Which one?” Jessica asked eagerly and then bit her lip. “Uh, which of her novels is it?”

“It’s called Kiss and Tell, and as if the title isn’t bad enough, this poor sap keeps chasing this girl who swears she loves another. Come on, who would really do that?”

Jessica gritted her teeth and bit back her reply. The novel he spoke of was her first published, and even though she agreed it was a little silly, her agent had pushed that this was what the public wanted. “Well, I’m glad to hear you are recovering, listen Mark I really should go. I’ve got some work to catch up on.”

“Jessica wait! Look, the reason I called,” Mark sounded strained and Jessica held her breath, “is I was hoping you would come over for dinner tomorrow night. Mom and Macie would love to see you, and I would have to admit…” Mark took a deep breath into the phone and then continued, “I miss you.”

Tears came to Jessica’s eyes as emotions flooded her. How could things have come so far in only a week? It didn’t seem possible, but here she was, heart pounding, eyes misting, and emotions erupting. Jessica took a deep breath and steadied her voice before replying, “Mark, I can’t. Maybe another time.” Jessica slipped the phone from her ear and disconnected the call. It felt like her heart was disconnected as well.

She was just placing it back in the closet when she heard pounding on her front door.

Jessica jumped at the sound and then pulled her silk bathrobe more tightly around her. Quickly she hurried into the living room and flipped on the light.

She called loudly asking who was there before unlocking the door.

“It’s Macie!” came a voice she almost didn’t recognize.

“Macie!” Jessica unlocked the door and she burst in and flung herself into Jessica’s arms.

“What is it?” she asked, holding the inconsolable girl by the shoulders and looking down into her face.

“Michael is going to tell!” She sobbed. The tears ran unchecked down her face and her eyes were puffy and red from crying. “He just called me and he is on his way over to tell Howard right now!”

She leaned into Jessica and let her wrap her arms around her.

“Why?” Jessica asked, trying to understand why Howard’s brother would do such a thing.

“Michael asked me to see him again and I said no.” Macie cried into Jessica’s shoulder muffling her words. “What will I do? If Michael tells Howard instead of letting me tell him, he will make it sound so much worse than it is.”

Later that night, Jessica sat in bed with Jake lying comfortably on her pillow. She held a dusty shoe box in front of her. She slid off the top and looked down into the contents. Not much lay in the box: a few notes, a gold ring, and a photograph.

This is what Jessica was looking for.

Jessica thought quickly. She helped Macie to a chair and then sat down across from her.

“Macie, where was Michael calling from?”

She pulled out the picture and held it up looking at it. A man in an army uniform stood grinning leaning against a dirty green truck. His dark hair was wind ruffled and the sun glinted off his sun glasses, but Jessica knew what lay beneath those glasses. Eyes so brown they almost looked like onyx. How well she knew those eyes and how hard she had tried to forget them. Jessica placed the picture back in the box and slipped the lid back on.

“Listen,” Jessica jumped up and grabbed her keys, tossing them to Macie, “I’m going to pull on some clothes. You go out and start my car and wait in the passenger seat. I’ll drive you to the hospital and maybe we’ll beat Michael.” Jessica dashed into her bedroom and pulled on a gray hooded sweatshirt and some jeans. She slipped on some pink flip flops by the door and then ran out into the night.

“He just left his job across town.” Macie replied.

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The drive to the hospital could only be labeled one way: nerve-splitting. It was a miracle no police officer had been around; because if he had been, Jessica was pretty sure she would have been arrested for reckless driving. They parked and ran to the emergency room doors. These were the only doors open after hours. After telling security where they were going, the two women hurried to the elevators.

“I think we made it.” Macie said, panting a little. “I didn’t see Michael’s car in the parking lot.”

“Thank Heavens!” Jessica replied, leaning against the elevator wall. Her heart was pounding still from their wild ride, but she hadn’t felt so alive in a long time.

The elevator doors crawled open, and Jessica and Macie briskly walked down the hall together. Macie pointed ahead. “That’s Howard’s room.”

A figure stepped into the hall and Jessica blinked in the dimness, but then she felt a chill run down her back as she recognized the man waiting for them out in the hallway. Jessica grabbed Macie’s arm as she stopped dead in her tracks.

“No,” she whispered, while shaking her head slowly back and forth. Two identical tears trickled down her face and slid down her pale cheek. “How could you get here so fast?”

Michael held up his cell phone with a grin. “I called you from this very spot.” He replied with a triumphant grin.

“You told me you were at work!” Macie’s voice was beginning to rise now.

“But, I wasn’t. Because I knew very well what you would do. You would rush over here to fill my brother’s head with lies. Try to twist the story.”

Michael spoke with a sneer and his eyes were filled with hate.

“I want to talk to Howard.” Macie tried to take a step forward, but Michael stepping in her way.

“He doesn’t want to see you, ever again.”

Michael grinned down at her, his eyes cold as ice.

“Howard!” Macie suddenly screamed and she pushed hard against Michael, knocking him off balance. She rushed into the room Michael had been blocking.

Jessica stepped forward and tried to stop Macie, but she was too late. The situation was quickly escalating out of control. She entered the room after Macie and saw a dark-haired man sitting up in bed. The first thing she noticed was how tightly his fists were clenched into his sheets.

The second was the lone tear track that ran down his face. Howard was obviously heartbroken.

“I don’t want to talk to you Macie.” Howard said through gritted teeth.

“Howard! No! Howard, you have to listen to me! Please!” Macie was beginning to sound hysterical now. She reached out her hand to touch Howard’s face and make him look at her when a woman in uniform rushed in.

“What is going on in here? Shouting, pushing in the halls, and disturbing the patients are not permitted when I’m in charge! I’ve already called security.” At that moment a burley security guard appeared in the doorway. The nurse gestured at all three visitors. “They are all leaving!”

Jessica grabbed a sobbing Macie and led her past the security guard and Michael. All four of them took the elevators to the lobby, and then the security guard escorted the straight to the emergency room doors.

Jessica and Macie took off in one direction towards there car, but paused when Michael called out Macie’s name.

“Macie, my offer is still open.” He grinned maliciously with one eyebrow raised.

“I’ll be right back,” Macie murmured under her breath. She walked with all the dignity she had left up to Michael and gazed into his eyes for a moment.

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“Not if you were the last creep on earth!”

Macie replied with a slight smile and then she pulled back her fist and belted him as hard as she could. Michael doubled over and fell back onto the curb. He held his stomach and groaned.

“I’ve got to get him back somehow.” Macie turned and faced Jessica looking much calmer now. “He is the man I want to marry. I know I screwed up, but he has to give me a second chance.”

Macie laughed lightly before turning her back on him. When she reached Jessica she gave her a quivering smile. “That felt really good.”

“Second chances can be hard to come by, but I’ll do whatever I can to help you,” Jessica replied as they pulled up to Macie’s home. The door suddenly flung open and Margaret West ran out into the night and up to the car.

Jessica couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up, and she slipped her arm around the young woman who had become so important to her over the last few days. They walked back to her car together.

“I’ll drive you home.” Jessica turned her key and the engine roared to life. After pulling on her seatbelt she prepared for a much more sedate ride home.

“What are you going to do now?” Jessica asked after a few blocks.

“I don’t know.” Macie swiped away some tears from her cheek.

“There are napkins in the glove box.”

Jessica watched Macie pull out several fast food napkins and blow here nose into one and wipe up her tears in the other.

“Thank the Lord, you are all right.” Margaret pulled Macie into her embrace as she got out of the car. “Jessica, come in and have some coffee and apple pie. I’ve been up baking and praying ever since this girl ran out of her screaming like a banshee an hour ago.”

Jessica agreed to come in for a late night snack, but as she walked up the steps she remembered that Mark was staying with his mother and Macie; and there he was looming in the background, his eyes never leaving hers.

Don’t miss the next issue of Ruby for Women where you will be able to read chapter nine of Secrets About Love, and discover if Jessica and Mark can overcome the obstacles keeping them apart, and whether or not Howard will give Jessica a second chance!

Gifts by Katherine www.giftsbykatherine.com Go Ask Katie

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Lil’ Mamas Corner: The Benefits of Cloth Diapers

by Vintage Mama Really, it seems like only yesterday that I was changing diapers, wiping runny noses, rocking and cuddling those babies . . . . but now it is my daughter who finds herself running in circles trying to keep up with her three beautiful babies! So when she started telling me about the wonders of these new-fangled cloth diapers, you would have thought that I’d never heard of such a thing! But the more I heard about the innovations and improvements that have been made in the world of covering a babies bum, I really was impressed. No more of those crackly, crunchy rubber pants.

No more pins to poke precious babies tummy or mommy’s fingers.

I’m impressed!

Well, then the next thing I knew, she was telling me about how so many of the young moms she knows are making their own cloth diapers. Again, I’m thinking, “How hard can that be? After all, a diaper is just a piece of cloth, folded a certain way and wrapped around a bare little bottom!” Was I wrong again, or what? There are so many different styles, designs, features, and accessories for our little angels, that it almost feels like we ought to start Project Runway for Baby Bums! Maybe someone already has, and I missed it. So, I started researching this phenomenon (that just seemed like something all mommies are born knowing) and discovered a HUGE world completely devoted to cloth diapers.

Wow! Well, now that I know what incredible resources are available for all you young mamas, I thought it would be good to pull some of these ideas together here in the Ruby for Women community to share with you.

One of the main goals of the ministry of Ruby for Women is to touch the lives of women of all ages – including our “Lil’ Mamas” (which is the name of my daughter’s blog, by the way, in case you would like to visit her sometime!). We will be featuring articles and ideas for moms of young children in upcoming issues of our ezine, so please send us an email and let us know what you would like to see in the “Lil’ Mama’s Corner” in the Ruby for Women ezine. Here is some of the information about modern cloth diapers that I have discovered in my search, quoted with permission from “The Diaper Jungle.”

“Cloth diapering today is not what it used to be. When many parents think of cloth diapers, they think of flat diapers that need to be folded and fastened with diaper pins, and then covered with plastic pull on covers. Generally, they also think that the clean-up involved with using cloth diapers would be tedious and messy. It seems as though many parents have missed the total evolution of the cloth diaper that has occurred over the past decade or so. New choices in materials and high tech fabrics 56

are causing an increasing number of parents to reconsider whether disposable diapers are the best choice. We have options now that provide us with cloth diapers that are elasticized so that they are fitted and snug, waterproof in many instances, breathable, and manageable with velcro-like closures or snaps.

They are just as easy and as convenient to use as disposables.

Of course, it is not just their functionality and convenience that has been affected by this evolution either. Cloth diapers available today are absolutely adorable, available in a variety of gorgeous colors, prints, and luxurious textures and fabric. That is a big selling point for many parents because there is nothing cute about a disposable diaper. Quite simply, cloth diapers are convenient, cost effective, healthier for our children, and better for the environment. I feel as though the real question parents should be asking themselves is, why use disposables?�

Cloth Diapers Are Cheaper Than Disposable Diapers As a general rule, it is almost always cheaper to reuse than to buy new every time. This is no different with cloth diapers. Most parents go through 6000 - 8000 diapers per child, from birth to about age three. If we take an average of what those diapers cost, that equates to between $2000 and $3000 per baby. Once those children are potty trained those diapers are gone. They can’t be re-used. So a significant chunk of our hard earned money has gone to buying what is essentially garbage. In comparison, enough cloth diapers to last for three years will usually cost between $300 to $800 dollars. At a minimum that is about a $1200 savings. But wait! Consider, too, that those cloth diapers may last for one or more successive children and your savings doubles and even triples. Of course, it is difficult to make any hard and fast statements in this regard because of the varying costs of diapers, electricity, water, and detergents. Yes, cloth diapers will usually mean an extra one to three loads of laundry a week, but if everyone were to weigh the extra costs of their electricity, water usage, and detergent, I think they would be pleasantly surprised. These costs are infinitesimal compared to the cost of expensive disposable diapers.

Cloth Diapers Are Healthier For Your Baby What should be of serious concern to all parents are the toxic chemicals present in disposable diapers. Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases, and genetic damage, is a by-product of the paperbleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers. Trace quantities may even exist in the diapers themselves! Dioxin is listed by the EPA as the most toxic of cancer related chemicals. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. Disposable diapers also contain sodium polyacrylate. If you have ever seen the gel-like, super absorbent crystals in a disposable, then you have seen this first hand. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. No studies have been done 57

on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years. Studies have also been done to show that the chemical emissions from disposable diapers can cause respiratory problems in children. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers.

Cloth Diapers Are Better For The Environment According to the Sustainability Institute, eighty percent of the diaperings in the United States are done with disposables. That comes to 18 BILLION diapers a year, just in the U.S. alone! These throw-away diapers require thousands of tons of plastic and hundreds of thousands of trees to manufacture. After a few hours of active service, these used diapers are trucked away, primarily to landfills, where they sit as neatly wrapped packages of excrement, entombed or mummified, undegraded for several hundred years. The idea of a "disposable" diaper is a myth; the ramifications of which will stay with us for centuries to come. They are the third largest single product in the waste stream behind newspapers and beverage containers. The urine and feces in disposable diapers enter landfills untreated, possibly contaminating the ground water supply. When you consider the unnecessary depletion of our valuable forests, the huge volume of garbage created, the toxic air and water pollution, and the potential health risks to children, it is very difficult to comprehend how washing and reusing cloth diapers could ever be considered an inconvenience. They are a rewarding investment all around a financial investment, an investment in our children’s health, and an investment in our planet.

Cloth Diapers Are Every Bit As Convenient As Disposable Diapers The options available today prove that cloth diapering doesn't have to be inconvenient. Cloth diapers nowadays are fitted with elastic in the legs and back area and have easy hook and loop closures or snaps. Many different fabric choices and absorbency levels allow parents to choose the best diapering system for the individual needs of their child. It just can't get any easier. There is no time like the present to make a firm commitment to your child, to your pocket book, and to your planet.

Start using cloth diapers today!�

For more information about the benefits of cloth diapers, and to find free patterns to make your own cloth diapers, please visit one of these websites: http://webpages.charter.net/rhamley/index.htm http://sewyourown.blogspot.com/2007/04/cloth-diapersew-along.html http://www.diaperjungle.com/index.html

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Make Your Own Diaper Bag! If you want to get really crafty and make your own diaper bag, here are some links to FREE patterns. Most of them are simple and easy patterns, so get out your sewing machine, grab a few scraps of fabric, and before you know it, you’ll have your very own stylish diaper bag! http://www.diynetwork.com/decorating/simply-stylish-tote/index.html www.craftgossip.com www.makeforbaby.com www.crochetuncut.com www.bundlesoflove.org http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/freediaper-bag-pattern.html

Introducing: Tomica Bonner of “The Joy of Giving Birth” I have six boys and a daughter. My oldest is 17 and our baby is seven months. I met my husband the first week of school in the tenth grade, and we've been together ever since. We come from small immediate families, and we decided to create one big family of our own! Though we have our challenges, we truly love it.

What I found fascinating about childbirth is that no two are the same. I've had some wild experiences with three natural births, three epidurals, and my final one a scheduled c-section due to placenta previa. Knowing all this, my friends, family and just about anyone else who is pregnant has continually inundated me with questions about pregnancy and childbirth. My goal is to ease some of the fear that a new mom may feel, and let her know that most likely what she's going through is normal.

I have set up a network at www.joyofgivingbirth.ning.com to compliment my upcoming book on childbirth which I currently writing. My book will address a wide variety of topics of interest to young moms, from business and careers to pregnancy and family. I'm creating a section that will have helpful advice, tips and facts about childbirth and labor. If you have any questions please let me know. Your questions and ideas could end up in my book along with information about you and your website!

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Cucumbers to Pickles, It’s Really that Simple! ~~ by Amanda Johnson

Fall is just around the corner (we hope here in the south) or even at the doorstep for many in the north.

It’s a time of harvest; a time to reap what has been sown in the spring and summer months. It’s also a time to learn and try new things now that the kids are back in school and the craziness of summer has ended. Lucky for me, I had a few lessons in pickling and making jams at the close of the summer and I’m all set to experiment throughout the fall and winter!

Back in July, I was blessed to spend a wonderful week with my best friend from high school and her family in the western mountains of North Carolina. I’m not from a big city, but I don’t consider myself a country girl either. What I am is a girl who’s always up for an adventure and pickling cucumbers sounded like fun to me! We started off with 9 pounds of cucumbers fresh from a local produce stand and a packet of Mrs. Wages Bread & Butter Pickle Mix straight from the local grocery store. I had no idea there was such a mix of ingredients, but thank you Mrs. Wages because in no time we had pickles. Here’s how you can make your own pickles too!

What You’ll Need: • A packet of Mrs. Wages Bread & Butter Pickle Mix (or any other brand) • Quart jars and lids (Sterilized). You can buy these at Wal-Mart (I definitely did not know that!).

• About 9 pounds of fresh cucumbers (depending on the size of the packet of mix) What To Do: • Follow the directions on the packet of bread & butter pickle mix • While waiting for the water and ingredients to boil (as directed on the packet), wash the cucumbers, and then slice them up thin to medium.

Make sure not to cut them too thick or else you won’t be able to fit very many in a jar.

• Keep an eye on the pot of boiling mixture and in the meantime, start packing the cucumber slices in the sterilized jars. Pack as many as you can.

Once the mix is poured in and the jars set, the pickled cucumbers will rise leaving extra space at the bottom. You don’t won’t that, so pack those cucumbers tightly!

• Once the liquid mix is ready to go and the jars are packed, start spooning the liquid into the jars of cucumbers. Fill them about an ½ inch from the top of the jar.

• Once they’re filled, carefully wipe off the rim of the jar in preparation for sealing.

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•

Now that the jars are filled and the rims are wiped clean, place the inner lid on the quart jar and then screw the outer lid/rim on tight.

My friend and I placed the jars on the table to cool and (to my amazement) listened to the lids make popping sounds signaling the jars had completely cooled and sealed. This was a totally new concept to me. In fact, I wanted to push the lids down to sort of speed the sealing process up, but was told it wasn’t a good idea.

The jars popped throughout the day, it was so fun to hear them sort of wrapping up the process son their own!

The cucumbers, now pickles in the making, have to cool for at least twenty-four hours. After that, you’re free to open up a jar and try them out. I actually put my jar in the fridge for an additional twenty-four hours and boy were they crisp, fresh, and tasty!

It was such a wonderful experience. I am so thankful for best friends and the many things we continue to learn and discover together. Here are some pictures of our pickling event! Stay tuned because I can’t wait to share about my experience with homemade blueberry jam in a future edition of Ruby for Women!

Scentsy Fundraiser for the ministry of Ruby for Women!

Thank you to one of our members, Maritza Bonilla, for helping the Ruby for Women community with a fundraiser in September. From September 1 - 24, 2010 you will be able to support the ministry of Ruby for Women and get a head-start on your holiday shopping ;o) We'll have a link here for you to find all of the beautiful Scentsy products on Maritza's website, and you'll have most of the month of September to participate in this fund-raiser.

Helping Ruby For Women is really easy, just order online or call Maritza!

Ordering Online…just 4 easy steps: 1. Go to my web site at www.bonilla.scentsy.us 2. On the left side of my Home page is a box titled "My Open Parties" 3. Just scroll down until you find "Ruby For Women Fundraiser" 4. Click on "Buy from Party" Need help, have questions or to order by phone call: Maritza Bonilla at 702-738-6901.

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Frugal is the New Fashion!

De-clutter and Simplify Your Life ~~by Vintage Mama

In the midst of a struggling economy, so many families dealing with unemployment, and the financial realities we all must deal with, it is no wonder that frugal living has become quite popular recently.

Everywhere we look, there is information about budgeting, re-purposing, up-cycling, recycling, and living within our means. After years of seemingly unending wealth all around us, many families are beginning to realize the benefits of simplifying life and living on less. One obvious benefit to spending and buying less “stuff,” is that eventually you reach a place where you actually have more time to enjoy life because you don’t have to work so hard to take care of all that “stuff”!

We’ll be doing a series of articles over the next few months on frugal living, simplifying life, and opportunities to take control of all of the “clutter” in our lives. There are a variety of areas of life that we will address, including simplifying our budgets, our homes, and our schedules. Let’s start with an overview of some easy ways that we can all begin to clear out some of the overwhelming piles of “stuff” that we are tripping over every day . . . . . and once we can begin to see a path through the “clutter,” we can begin to make a plan. There are so many websites out there where you can find tips, advice, and information (again, we find ourselves inundated with more “stuff” to fill our brains!), and you will find a list of links at the end of this article, but how about if we start out by keeping that simple, too? Let’s start with our money . . . .

Once you know how much money you have to work with, and then you sit down and figure out how much money you need to cover your monthly expenses, you can begin to make decisions on how to spend your money. If you start with a budget that emphasizes frugal choices, you will be able to see what you can spend and what you can’t spend! In addition, this frugal budget will enable you to begin to see ways to pay off your indebtedness, perhaps begin even a small savings plan, and understand how to use your (limited) resources responsibly.

Frugal living includes choices. Sometimes these are not easy choices, but they must be made. Frugal living requires that we make smarter choices about our spending, our saving, and getting creative with our resources. It means that we need to make our dollars go as far as possible, realizing that there are a limited number of them to go around! For those of us who grew up shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, this isn’t a major adjustment. But for some of us, if we are used to shopping at department stores and malls, this might be a bit of a struggle. But the reward for getting our spending under control is a greater sense of control in our lives, and that always leads to feeling less anxiety and much more peaceful. It is definitely worth the effort to begin to live frugally.

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There are so many other reasons why you and your family will benefit from making frugal choices for your lives, but the greatest one is the joy that will be yours as a result of knowing that you have made responsible choices. It is not easy, but the benefits and blessings are definitely worth it! Here are some specific topics that we will address in the next issue of Ruby for Women: • • • •

What is frugal living?

Ten ways to start living frugally Let’s create a frugal budget!

Some easy ways to save on household expenses

Here is a list of links to websites where you can learn more about frugal living: www.frugalvillage.com www.frugalliving.about.com www.wisebread.com www.livingonadime.com www.budget101.com www.betterbudgeting.com

Fight Through Prayer ~~ by Amanda Johnson “Choose your battles wisely.” How many times have we heard that? Although it can be annoying especially at times when we don’t want to hear it, this little piece of advice packs a lot of truth. In Matthew 5:39 Jesus says, “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." There are times when we should fight and times when we should walk away. Choosing our battles wisely is understanding the difference between those times and knowing when to turn the other cheek as Jesus commands.

Life happens. Different situations cause us to grow angry and we feel we must lash out when faced with circumstances we have no control over. Physically, we’re walking and blowing off steam, but what are we doing spiritually? In Matthew 5:44, Jesus tells us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

Spiritually, we need to recognize just who is really at work here and realize that the best way to fight the enemy is through time spent on our knees in prayer. There will be times when it’s obvious that Satan is at work to destroy, but there will also be times when it’s not so obvious. We must learn to keep our eyes open and to be aware of his attacks. We must be ready for them and take action by taking it to the Lord in prayer. There is no task, no situation, no circumstance, no person for that matter that the Lord cannot work a mighty miracle through. Remember, the power of the church, the power of the believer, is prayer.

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).

Physically, choose your battles wisely. Spiritually, get up and fight through prayer for greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world (I John 4:4).

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Carla Gardiner Symmetry Direct and Symmetry Genesis www.carlajgardiner.com

Jaybird Designs specializes in unique crocheted photo hats and props for newborns, babies, and children along with women's hats and accessories, and original crochet patterns. www.jaybirddesigns.etsy.com www.jaybirddesigns.blogspot.com

Together we can take control of our income destiny, truly by believing in this one principle:

“TEAM� the acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More! www.southernbellemarketing.ning.com 64

Harvest Update! ~~ by Amanda Johnson Back in the late spring edition of Ruby for Women, I shared some interesting ideas about gardening on a small apartment balcony. It was a little unusual and it took a lot of trial and error on my part. Yet, here we are in the fall and while everyone is bringing in the crops from the fields, I am very excited to say that I was able to bring in a few (and I mean few) crops from the balcony!

Towards the end of the summer, I was ecstatic to find that for the first time I had managed to grow something edible!

That’s right, three green beans sprouted from the small plant I had been growing in the ice bucket from the dollar store! Here is a before and after photo: The blue bucket is where the green beans were planted.

This picture shows them just starting to pop up.

Here’s a picture of two of the three green beans. Nothing fancy, nothing big, but I did eventually pick them and put them in the freezer as a memento. My granddaddy (the professional farmer) was proud!

My wild flowers grew beautifully as well. Each morning throughout the rest of the summer bright orange, pink, and purple flowers greeted me on my small balcony. It was so amazing to see the growth and colors of such a remarkable act of creation. I am in awe that our Heavenly Father allows us to experience just a piece of His amazing creation!

On a sad note, my cucumbers died after being transplanted to a third pot due to their rapid growth. The hot sun was not good to them either. The cactus seedling, though once vibrant and promising, was just too tempting to my little green lizard and his family and they ate right through it one evening! As for the pepper plants, they are growing rapidly, but there is no sign of a pepper this time around.

It’s been a lesson in patience, perseverance, and more patience when it comes to the balcony garden, but I’m not giving up. I can’t wait to start the next round of experiments!

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Carry-All Make a Craft CarryHere’s a fun and easy DIY project that you can make to store your craft or scrapbooking supplies, or even use it to organize everything you need for your letter writing! ~~ by Vintage Mama

As we look forward to cozy days inside by the fireplace, playing games, reading together, family movie nights, and popcorn, one of our favorite activities on a snowy day is to work on our scrapbooks. I know that lots of our readers also love to create memory books, too, so we designed this super-simple and inexpensive little carry-all for you to make for storing some of your supplies. Or, if scrapbooking isn’t on your “to do” list for the upcoming months of autumn and winter, perhaps you will want to make one of these cute carry-alls for your letter writing supplies, or as a handy place to keep your bills. With a supply of ink pens, stamps, and your calculator, you’ll have everything right at your fingertips when it comes time to tackle your weekly or monthly bill paying adventure!

Or, if you choose to use your little carry-all for your letter writing supplies, you can stash some greeting cards, stationery in the decorated file folder, a calendar to keep track of everyone’s birthday, pens and stamps, and it will only take a minute to jot a note and get it in the mail. And if you want to use it for keeping track of some of your scrapbooking supplies, it is super easy to sort your photos and store them in a few decorated file folders that fit perfectly in the back of the carry all. You can also sort your papers into different colors or themes, and keep them in the file folders.

Then, there’s a place for your decorative ink pens or markers, scissors, and puncher, and there’s also plenty of room in the front for your photo tape, stickers, and other embellishments. I’ve found that by breaking my scrapbooking projects down into manageable segments, I am much more motivated to get that one page completed, or that one section, rather than trying to tackle the WHOLE album and getting overwhelmed with all of the photos and embellishments all at once.

So, if you want to make one of these quick and easy carry-alls for your craft or letter writing project, let’s get started!

What you will need: • Cardboard box, approximately 12” long X 6” - 7” long, and approximately 4” – 5” high.

• Various scraps of cardboard, decorative papers, ribbons, lace • File folders • Glue • Scissors

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What to do: • Begin by gluing decorative papers around the outside of the box.

We used several different designs.

•

You can use all one design, or use various designs to make a “patchwork” effect.

•

Once you have the outside covered with decorative papers, line the inside with a matching paper.

•

If you want to decorate the outside, glue on ribbons, lace, buttons, or beads.

•

On the inside, use a scrap of cardboard to make one or two dividers that run the length of the box.

•

If desired, you can also cover your dividers with decorative paper to match the box.

•

With another scrap of cardboard, cut a piece that will fit into one corner to make a pencil holder.

•

If desired, you can cover this piece of cardboard with decorative paper, as well.

•

Glue it on to both sides of the box, and hold in place with a strong clip.

•

While the glue is drying on the box, you can cover a few file folders with decorative paper.

•

Place the folders in the back of the box, behind the dividers, and use them to store photos or stationery.

•

Fill the pencil holder in the corner with a variety of pencils, pens, markers, and scissors.

•

Use the front of the carry-all for other supplies such as stickers, photo tape, stamps, or address book.

There you have it! A pretty and practical little carry-all that fits nicely on your kitchen counter or your desk . . . or is easily stored in a cupboard until you are ready to work on your next creative project. Have fun and be sure to send us your ideas for quick and easy projects that can be used around the house. ~~ Vintage Mama

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mamas*little*treasures

www.mamaslittletreasures.etsy.com www.mamaslittletreasures.typepad.com

Gossamer Wings Studio Vintage and “Almost Vintage� hand-embellished garments, shoes, and handbags

www.gossamerwingsstudio.etsy.com

www.ardysslife.com/determinedentertainment

Please visit Linda Jones at her Etsy shop to see all her amazing artwork! www.LindaGJ.Etsy.com

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Handmade with Love is actively recruiting designers from all genre. We’re currently looking for quilters, jewelry makers, crocheters, knitters or any handmade crafters who are ready to publish any original works. We offer several services including writing your patterns into PDF form (and delivering them securely to customers), consignment sales, and much more.

If you would like to submit patterns, books, etc. please send us an email at handmadewithloveonline@gmail.com www.handmadewithloveonline.wordpress.com

www.handmadewithlove.artfire.com

www.HarnessHope.com

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Ruby for Women. Please send us your comments and questions to editor@rubyforwomen.com and let us know what you would like to see in upcoming issues of Ruby for Women. You won’t want to miss the next issue . . . it will be available the first week of November, 2010. Be sure to let us know if you have ideas for topics or articles; recipes or crafts; patterns or tutorials; or anything else that interests YOU! Also, don’t forget the Family Photo Gallery. Please email your favorite holiday photos to me at editor@rubyforwomen.com See you next time ;o) Nina 69

Meet the Ruby Editors . . . .

Aunt Dots, our Gardening Editor, is a Master Gardener I believe I got my love for growing flowers from my mother. She had a large flower garden with annuals and dahlias. I had my first flower garden after I married and we lived in a garden apartment. I planted seeds in a small 4x6 plot in front. Then we moved to a house trailer next to my mother where I had annuals.

After my first husband died, I married Mike and we moved to the home where I presently live. The soil here is very good. Mike put in water lines to various points for watering. I use a lot of “weeping” hoses. It was at this time that I started trying perennials. I have a rose garden with about 35 bushes, a large perennial garden about 15x40, iris beds, a small square bed for perennials all attached by paths. I also have grape vines, asparagus, currants, gooseberries, walnut trees, apples trees and hazelnut trees.

Summer is a very busy time. There are a number of subjects I can cover in my articles. In the winter months I sew. I’ve made quilts from Rochelle’s patterns and donated them to a Mennonite Relief auction. I’ve made some hand-made paper. I make pictures and greeting cards with flowers I’ve pressed. I volunteer two afternoons a week at a nursing home. I’m on the mission board at church and teach adult Sunday school. I’ve had a major and a minor stroke within the past 3 ½ years. It is a very sobering experience, as I know what the future may hold. But I know the Lord is with me and will help me through whatever may happen. I hope I can handle the new challenge with Ruby. At this time I don’t believe it will be difficult to work it into my schedule.

In Christ, Dorothy A. Kurchak

Scott Henderson, Vintage Image Crafts Scott is the creator of Vintage Image Crafts, a website where vintage images are the inspiration behind all of the crafts and scrapbooking projects. From the romantic to the whimsical, Victorian and turn-of-thecentury illustrations can give your creativity a distinctive touch. These classic illustrations and photographs are rich in color, artistic technique and symbolism. This bygone art captures the essence of life's highlights holidays, celebrations and sentiments – vividly. You can find Scott at www.vintageimagecrafts.com

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Rochelle Martin, Quilting Editor, Paper Dolls and Coloring Pages Rochelle Martin lives in mid-Michigan with her husband, Randy. They have two married children who also live in Michigan. Rochelle inherited her artistic talent from her mother and grandmother and art was her main focus in high school and college. She met Randy at college and they married in 1974.

Rochelle put it all away when she was carrying her son and later her daughter.

When the children were in early elementary school she started quilting for herself and businesses. She is the owner of her quilt pattern company, Cottage Quilt Designs, which she started in December of 2004. Her quilt designs are in quilting magazines, books by House of White Birches, fabric companies and various shops and online shops.

After 20 years of quilting and using art in her appliqué blocks, she is enjoying once again picking up art tools and creating images. Dolls and paper dolls have been a long time interest. She has collected 19th century china head dolls and sewed period clothes for them in silk and cotton fabrics.

Cottage Quilt Designs www.cottagequiltdesigns.com www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/blog/ Rochelle has created a paper doll - Gina Ross - and will be bringing you new adventures in her life with each issue of Ruby for Women. You can even make her clothes - Rochelle has provided a KwikSew pattern number for her outfits! Coloring pages are fun for kids and moms too! Rochelle has provided a coloring page for mom, and templates as well, so she can use it on a quilt, a placemat . . . whatever! And a third coloring page correlates with Devotions. This is a great page to print out and put on the fridge - color it and memorize the verse. Have fun!

Laura Day, Story Editor My name is Laura Day. I have been writing since I was a child, but only recently was published in Cotton Spice Magazine. I’m married and have two cats, Zoey and Missy who are often inspirations for my stories. My hobbies are reading, writing, eating chocolate, and gardening.

Beth Brubaker, Family Fun Editor Good day to you! I am Beth Brubaker, editor of ‘Fun’ for Ruby! I’m a mother of two really active kids, and their antics will be sprinkled liberally in my columns. I have been married for 12 years to my Knight in Shining Armor, and we still hold hands in public.

During the day, I’m a fabric artist, homemaker, and I love to write. I enjoy making people laugh at life’s ironies! I also love animals, being creative, and cooking, yet I hate cleaning up my own messes!

My home is a disaster area (my sewing room is worse), but we always give a warm welcome to unexpected visitors - we just shove the stuff under the couch. I’ll be writing humor about life in general (Footprints In The Mud), puzzles, and an advice column (Ask Ms. Beth), based on reader questions and any hints and tips I find on my travels. My travels include the laundry room, the living room, and the kitchen, so be prepared!

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Nina Newton Sr. Editor, Ruby for Women When all of my four older children were in school, I returned to college.

Eventually, I earned degrees in Classics and Philosophy, and a graduate degree in Medieval Studies: History of Theology. After teaching at a small community college in Michigan for seven years, my husband and I were blessed with the adoption of our two beautiful daughters, Gracie and Annie.

Gracie is 9 years old, and Annie is 7. They were both born in China, and we were able to travel to China two times to bring our daughters home. We live in northern Indiana in a small farming community where I work from my home office. For the past five or six years I have been designing and creating children’s clothing and various crafts. I began writing eBook patterns for my designs in 2007 and have several patterns available for sale on You Can Make This at www.youcanmakethis.com More recently I have been working on vintage embellishment and reconstruction projects. I love everything vintage . . . . especially my husband! I have also been a free-lance writer for many years, writing for two local newspapers when we lived in Michigan. I am looking forward to the opportunities ahead as part of the Ruby family.

My blog can be found at www.mamaslittletreasures.typepad.com where I frequently post tutorials and patterns for crafts and other sewing projects, as well as daily reflections on life as a woman, wife, mother, and child of the King.

Lynn Mosher, Devotions Editor Since the year 2000, Lynn Mosher has lived with fibromyalgia and other physical conditions. During this time, the Lord placed the desire in her heart to write for Him. Now, armed with God’s purpose for her life and a new passion, she reaches out to others to encourage and comfort them through her writing, giving God all the glory. She lives with her husband in their empty nest in Kentucky. On occasion, the three offspring, who have flown the coop, come to visit, accompanied by a son-in-law and three granddaughters. http://lynnmosher.blogspot.com

Carolyn Arnold, Kids’ Craft Editor Carolyn Arnold is a stay-at-home mom. She has been married for fifteen years to Craig and they have five children. Carolyn has written many poems and has recently expanded her writing to novels. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Elementary Education and holds a current teaching license. Carolyn enjoys doing memory crafts with her children, teaching aerobics at the YMCA, tending her family's ducks and chickens, swimming, and reading.

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Heather Miller, Home School Editor Heather Miller, our resident Home School Mom, shares her wisdom and experiences with other moms. Her ideas for educational projects are a great source of inspiration and guidance for every mom and dad!

“I have been married to my amazing husband, Tony, for nine years. We have three children and are open to more if the Lord chooses to bless us with them!

We live in northeastern Oklahoma, where "the wind comes sweepin' down the plain." I started homeschooling six years ago when my oldest was in first grade. We are an eclectic homeschooling family (most homeschoolers are) and I hold firmly to the belief that children should be able to enjoy childhood without having to grow up too fast, and that learning is best accomplished when interesting and fun! When I'm not teaching (or cleaning!), I enjoy reading whatever books I can get my hands on, playing the piano, gardening, quilting, cooking and baking, and of course, writing!”

Visit Heather’s blog at www.growninhisgrace.blogspot.com

Deborah Shank, Chocolate and Coffee Women’s Ministries Deborah Shank, is married to an ordained Assemblies of God minister who is also her high school sweetheart. She is a mom, grammy, mentor, pastors' wife, speaker and also an Assemblies of God minister. Her passion is to encourage others to live large for Jesus Christ! You can find Deborah at her blog, “Chocolate and Coffee / A Pastor’s Wife” at www.deborahshank.blogspot.com Debbie, and her husband Bobby, pastor Belvoir AG located in Marshall, VA. They have been in ministry for 30 years. Debbie is the Women’s/Music Pastor at their church. She has also worked at the Potomac District Council of the AG in Gainesville, VA as the Executive Assistant to the District Superintendent for the past 11.5 years.

Keith Wallis, Poetry Editor Keith Wallis is an English poet with decades of experience from the era of the “small press” to the era of “the web.” He’s been on this planet since 1949 when, by a strange manipulation of the universe, he arrived early and half cooked. He is a husband, a father, and grandfather.

His first chapbook of poems, “Wordsculptures,” owes its title to him being called “Wordsculptor” by a colleague thirty years ago, and the name just stuck. His occupation is in engineering design, but he sees poetry as a “gifting” and works hard to keep it in shape. Relaxation comes via dabbling in artwork and photo manipulation. He is currently a moderator at ChristianWriters.com.

His particular interest is the use of the language of poetry within a worship environment – church (where he is on the leadership team) is getting used to being “experimented” on when he leads services!

Keith's blogs: wordsculptures Keith is a Moderator at: ChristianWriters.com ShoutLife profile : www.shoutlife.com/wordsculptor Wordling: wordbrief.blogspot.com/ 73

Jennifer Cirka, Crochet and Cooking Editor Jennifer Cirka, the designer behind Jaybird Designs, is never without a hook and some yarn in her hands! This Crochet Guild of America recognized Professional Crochet Designer has a book of her girl’s sweater designs with Leisure Arts and has been featured in major crochet magazines such as Crochet Today, Interweave Crochet, and Crochet World, with more publications coming out each year! She also independently sells her own crochet patterns at various online locations. For those who do not crochet, finished items such as infant portrait props, woman's hats and accessories, and lots of other goodies can be purchased online. Jennifer pledges that all of her handmade items are of the finest quality with excellent workmanship and amazing attention to details. When not crocheting, she also is learning to knit, and enjoys baking and spending time with her family. www.jaybirddesigns.blogspot.com www.etsy.com/shop/JaybirdDesigns

Carla Gardiner, Health and Wellness Editor Carla Gardiner of Symmetry Direct, has a passion for sharing vibrant, good health with the world. Many times we take our health for granted. The problem lies in that we only get vibrant, good health when we take care of ourselves. Being a working wife, mom and grandma, I got caught up in the rat race and didn't take care of "me.” Over time my health crashed and I almost lost it for good.

A good friend shared with me a way to regain my health and I'm so thankful that I eventually listened to her. Today, I look and feel ten years younger than I did thirteen and a half years ago when I heard of Symmetry. Everyone deserves to live a life full of adventure. To do that we need our health, and sometimes extra money. I can share a way with you that you can achieve both.

That is my passion, living a life full of adventure, one ounce at a time. www.carlajgardiner.com

Jackie Erwin Ladner, WAHM Business Editor Jackie Erwin Ladner, creator and owner of Southern Belle Marketing, and Southern Belle Shoppes. ”In January of 2010, we created Southern Belle Marketing and we wanted to create a place for those who work solo, and who are their own brand. We created Southern Belle Marketing because online marketing is necessary--to get business and get recognized as a company.

A few months later we created and opened a virtual online shopping mall called Southern Belles Shoppes. Our motto is:*It does not matter how many times you fail or you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because all what matters is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.

When we started the site, it was a hobby and we never thought about it in terms of a social impact it would lead into. It was really about helping people connect around a sphere of common interest so they could do business and have fun on the way!” www.southernbellemarketing.ningcom www.southernbelleshoppes.com 74

Ruby Guest Authors / Contributors Nichole Payton resides in Northern Va. She is a mother, a full-time employee with the Federal Government and still finds time to write as an author. She has a passion for writing, and she continues to conquer that journey. Nichole has a couple of short stories and poems that have been published. In June she will have her poems published in a poetry collection entitled Songs of the Unspoken Tongue Vol. 1 In the near future she will have an inspirational short story titled My Soul Says Yes featured in an anthology titled The Breakthrough. She is also an independent distributor for Ardyss International. nicholepayton@trpbooks.com

www.ardysslife.com/determinedentertainment Paula McVay is the mother of 3 sons and grandmother of 3 boys. She has earned a BS degree in elementary and secondary education, as well as a Masters degree from Syracuse University. Paula has taught in both private and public schools for 30 years, and she has worked as a day care and preschool administrator and teacher. She is a pastor's wife, ministering in her local church as the children's church and toddler nursery coordinator. God has blessed Paula’s ministry as a women's retreat speaker, and adult Christian education teacher. We welcome Paula to the Ruby team!

Tomica Bonner is the creator of “The Joy of Giving Birth.”

She is a consultant for young moms on all topics including pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for a family. Tomica is currently working on a book in which she will address these topics, as well as share questions and ideas from her readers. You can reach Tomica at www.joyofgivingbirth.ning.com .

Dr. Yvonne Anderson is the author of “Meditations of the Heart: Life Lessons for Renewing the Mind,” and creator of A.C.T., Association of Christian Teachers.

She is an educator, and her website at www.thedoctorsinnsite.org features inspirational and educational articles.

www.withthisrose.com

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Indiesmiles is your place for news concerning handmade and vintage shops in regards to marketing, business tips, Indie shop reviews and interviews and more, as well as off topic that relates to various subjects including how handmade (Indie) teams are making a difference with their charity and community work.

Indiesmiles is devoted to highlighting work from various venues, we are not only devoted to Etsy Indie shops, we are also interested in featuring work from Folksy Zibbet and Artfire as well as those Indie shops that are not affiliated with any one particular venue!

www.indiesmiles.com

What We Love About Autumn Word Search Answer

by Beth Brubaker

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New Equation Search Answer

by Beth Brubaker

It’s That Time of Year Double Puzzle Answer

by Beth Brubaker

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Credits and Copyrights All stories and articles are copyright by the authors.

All pictures and images are copyright by the authors and / or have been used by permission or are in the public domain.

If any pictures or images have been used inadvertently, and they do not belong in this publication, please email us and we will immediately remove them.

Nothing in this issue of Ruby for Women may be reproduced, copied, or shared without the permission of the author.

Advertising information is available from editor@rubyforwomen.com Questions? Email Nina @ editor@rubyforwomen.com Ruby for Women is published by rubyforwomen.com All submission inquiries should be directed to Nina Newton, Sr. Editor Ruby for Women editor@rubyforwomen.com Graphic design by Jorim http://jorimslist.com/portfolio

Special thanks to Maritza Bonilla for sponsoring the Scentsy Fundraiser during the month of September! Please visit our community website at www.rubyforwomen.ning.com to see how you can participate and help support the ministry of Ruby for Women.

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