Re-using Dover Little Activity Books--A Tip for Frugal Moms

A wonderful resource that I've found in my parenting is  Dover Little Activity books. These tiny activity books fit in the hand of a child and provide creative, constructive, and fun entertainment for various ages. 

They are a "lifesaver" ;-) in the car and at church. They are a fun alternative at home on a rainy day when the kids are tired of books or puzzles. 

They are inexpensive. I usually spend about $1.50-$2.00 per book. 

But when budgets are tight, even that amount may be a little much, as the books are not strongly re-usable. For that reason, I use these books more as a "treat" than an everyday item.

One day, while my son was working on an especially "cute" little Dover (a train station with supposedly re-usable stickers) I noticed that after he used the stickers once, they were not very "re-usable," as promised. The edges were curling and it was difficult to put the stickers back on the sticker sheet that they were originally from for use another time. 

An idea came to me. Why not cover the entire book in tape, including the stickers,  and use velcro to attach the individual stickers to the book for prolonged future use? 

I love tape. I am known to coat entire packages that I am mailing in the lovely substance for added security ;-). So this was right up my alley. 

I carefully coated the little book, and then went on to cover the stickers, front and back. Later, I made a trip to Wal-Mart, where I discovered tiny velcro circles. 

I attached the velcro pieces to the little book itself in various places, and then on the backs of each tape-coated sticker. 

Voila! Now the stickers could be used over and over and applied to different places on the book to create different scenes. 

I tried this with one of our Christmas Dover Little Activity books  after my daughter had completed it once.

My sister suggested using mailing tape (a bit easier than Scotch tape) and this worked even better and faster. 

The books are now highly durable and reuseable. :-) They and the accompanying stickers may be stored in a ziplock bag and brought to church or in the car and used over and over. 

It is a fun (and easy) idea to try. If your children are a little older, they may even enjoy covering the pieces in tape and attaching the velcro. 

Dover Little Activity books  may be found on Amazon (clickable links below and above). You may also find them in your local craft or gift store. There is usually a wonderful selection that continually varies. 

Happy Little Dovering! :-)

Note: In general, Dover Little Activity books are cute, sweet, educational, and innocent, but I have come across a few that I wasn't too keen on---you can pick and choose the ones that you think are edifying and appropriate when you shop. Here is a sampling of some Dover Little Activity books below. 

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Devotional Recommendations for 2017

The Lord has used the following devotionals to greatly bless me. I pray that they may be a blessing to you or to someone you know who is seeking a deeper walk with Christ! 

If someone were to ask me what devotional has had the greatest impact upon my life, I would immediately answer My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. This book spoke to me profoundly in my early years of following the Lord and beginning to learn the sweetness of surrender and obedience. The Lord was peeling away the crusty outer layers of my heart and pouring His truth into my soul. The fullness and richness of Chambers' devotional was daily nourishment to me. My early years as a Christian were years of sweetness and of sensing the Lord's presence and experiencing His nearness in a way that is indescribable. It was the spring of my life with the Lord, and I treasure those years and this devotional which the Lord used so powerfully to grow my heart in obedience and love for Him. 

My mother's copy of Chamber's devotional that she gave to me. 

As I began to grow in my faith, the Lord led me to another devotional which is equally precious to me, Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. There is so much to glean from Spurgeon, and I have used this book for years and continue to return to it. Spurgeon's wisdom and insights as well as his deep and intimate relationship to the Lord spoke to me--this devotional has been like water to my thirsty soul over and over again. 

A third devotional that the Lord has used in my life is Streams in the Desert. This book, compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, was recommended to me by several people, and I finally ordered a copy. I have been enjoying this one immensely. The "old-time" writers' words have been ministering to my heart, and I have been enjoying selections from Pastors and authors like George Matheson (who wrote the hymn "O Love that Wilt Not Let me Go"), Frederick Faber, and others.  If you are seeking a deeper, more intimate walk with the Lord, this is a wonderful devotional to slowly read through. 

 Two other devotionals that the Lord has used to encourage me in my walk with Him have been Charles Stanley's Every Day in His Presence and Elisabeth Elliot's Keep A Quiet Heart. While Keep A Quiet Heart is not a yearly devotional, it is one that could be used devotionally for a shorter period of time and is so rich in wisdom. 

I pray that these recommendations would be helpful! The Lord bless you as you seek His face daily . . . Please feel free to share with me in the comments what devotionals have been an encouragement in your life! 



You might find me on these link-ups:

Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday, Fabulous January Party Link Up

Mercy in the Winter

Sometime ago, I read a Pastor's article about God's justice. He compared it to a harsh winter in the Midwest--fierce, cold, and beautiful all at the same time. I struggled with his comparison and was left somewhat empty, yet feeling the truth at least in part, in his description. 

We moved to the Midwest last year from New England. I have gained a new understanding of a bleak, barren, unbreakable landscape, of miles and miles of empty, open fields whose crops have been harvested and whose surface has been stiffened and stilled by fallen snow. 

I have felt the loneliness and desolation that comes from looking only at that landscape, of dwelling only upon the justice of God, real as it is--of standing in the wind and feeling the cold creep into my bones, remembering the coziness of a New England winter, and longing for light and longer days. 

We've been experiencing temperatures dipping below zero this week (and it is not even technically winter yet). The birds at our feeder are hungry, thankful for the seeds that come easily. The deer and turkeys have come out of hiding, searching for food in all of this white stone stillness. 

I've been pondering that description of God's justice that I mentioned earlier, now that I am experiencing winter in the Midwest for myself. 

And I keep coming back to this truth that I hold near and close in my heart--the truth that sustains me through the cold and gives me hope.--

That His mercy is just as real as His justice--and that the two cannot be separated. 

And I see mercy all around--

Mercy in vast cornfields, their leftover fragments feeding hungry deer . . .

Mercy in birds nests, alone in the barren trees--reminders of the hope of spring--of life coming -even on the coldest days of winter . . .

Mercy in watching the tiny sparrow that the Lord keeps alive day after day--so weak it can barely stand at our feeder to eat--and yet, every morning, there he is . . . 

Mercy in the warmth of Christian brothers and sisters--their love in Him stronger than the grip of winter.  Mercy in their fellowship and kindness.

Mercy in the beauty of a sunrise stretching like a band of fire across the frozen sky. 

Mercy beneath the brittle ground, life buried there in the fallen seeds, waiting, hoping, ready to burst with breath when warmer days come. 

Mercy. 

And mercy will ultimately bury justice deep--place the white lilies of resurrection over its grave and laugh into glory.

Laugh into spring.

Laugh into eternity and song and light and warmth and hope. 

I want to share this story that I have shared before--because it is one that always deeply touches me--one that reminds me of our loving Heavenly Father's care--and one that reminds me--

That in Him there is always mercy--for those who run beneath His covering for shelter--

I read a story, a long time ago now, about a naturalist who was documenting the survival of a flock of juncos (snowbirds) in a harsh winter. She was to record what happened to the juncos over the course of an extremely cold night in blizzard conditions. The temperature dipped well below freezing and the little birds were fighting for their survival. She was not allowed to intervene in any way while she was documenting over the course of the assigned hours. 

The woman struggled not to intervene as she watched the little birds. One junco especially caught her attention; he seemed weaker than the rest. The wind howled and the night grew dark. The little flock flew into a bush as the snow fell hard and deep. The woman felt overwhelmed and finally went to bed, despairing of what would happen to them, especially the weak little junco who had gained her sympathy.

In the morning she flew to the window and beheld the world covered in a thick encrusting of snow. She felt that the juncos could not have survived such conditions until, all of a sudden, the bush where they had flown into the night before, covered completely in a thick layer of snow,  literally burst open. 

The snow from the blizzard had actually kept them warm, provided them a shelter from the frigid cold and preserved their lives. The snow that appeared to be the enemy had actually given them protection and warmth in the midst of the storm. It had been their salvation. (The woman records that then she joyfully threw out handfuls of seed to the birds; she was no longer recording and was so glad that they had survived, especially the weak little junco). 

And I have come to conclude that there is beauty in God's justice only because it is undergirded with mercy. For a just God alone would be a terrible God--and I borrow this thought from (I believe) George MacDonald--one to be feared but not loved. 

But He is not just only; He is a Father of mercy. Light in the winter, shelter in the blizzard, warmth on the coldest day. 

And He will give mercy to anyone who runs to Him for rest. 

And now I can see beauty here, in the unbreakable winter--

The winter broken by the breath of His love. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blessed Christmas, dear friends! May your day be filled with the hope of His mercy and may the year before you be shadowed by His love, provision, and grace. I am thankful for each one of you--for your encouragement, for your thoughts, for your love. 

~~Rebekah
In Him was light and that life was the light of men. John 1:4

You might find me on these link-ups:

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At the River

I can still hear her voice as she strummed her guitar and sang. The beautiful alto-earnestness, the love that she held there for the elderly folks who listened, the joy in heart that was so evident. 

She loved Jesus. And she loved those around her. She loved leading the Nursing Home Ministry those seemingly short years ago. 

Evie was a part of my life for so long. We served in church together. We sang together in the choir. She always had a kind word and a smile for me. She was unpretentious. She spoke simply and one knew that she could be trusted. 

Evie loved the Lord with all of her heart. I remember when she asked for help with the Nursing Home Ministry at church and I felt the Lord leading me to be a part of it. 

One of the greatest blessings in my life was being a part of that ministry. We would venture out on (I think) it was a Thursday night and we would mount up in a stuffy elevator to the third floor of one of the local nursing homes. She would lead the small group of people there in hymns with her guitar and then one of the men would give the salvation message. I think that I will always connect the song "Count Your Many Blessings" to Evie. She sang it with such earnestness and one could see that she truly wanted those men and women to come to know the Lord and that she loved them.

Her husband, Bob served on the Missions Committee with me and my sister. I remember his compassionate heart for the lost people of this world and it was a compassion that Evie shared, a compassion that reached out in faith and action.

Evie was a source of encouragement and grace in my life for so many years. Her Christ-like spirit shone so brightly and even in the past years when her health began to fail, she still had a kind word and a hug for those who came into contact with her. 

I heard about her passing into Glory on Thanksgiving day. It was late at night that my husband came into our room and whispered the news and the tears ran down my cheeks into the pillow. 

Evie was gone. Gone from this life, from this shadow, into the brightness of Glory. Glory. And she was, and she is-- with Jesus. Whole. Healed. Beautiful and bright and pure and perfect. 

And I cried because I was left and because I wanted to talk to her just one more time, to hear her strong alto voice just one more time, to see her there in the front of the church strumming her guitar just one more time. To hold the image of her smile there in my heart and to keep it always. 

But I will see her again. Soon. And the words of the old, beloved hymn came to my mind and they soothed my heart and played there--

Shall we gather at the river, 
where bright angel feet have trod, 
with its crystal tide forever 
flowing by the throne of God? 

Yes, we'll gather at the river, 
the beautiful, the beautiful river; 
gather with the saints at the river 
that flows by the throne of God. 
~Robert Lowry

And I know that I will see Evie again--precious, beloved saint--precious, beloved friend--at the river--the beautiful river, flowing with healing and grace from the throne of God.

And we will sing together to Him, when tears are no more and sorrow has passed.

There at the river. With Him. 

I love you, Evie, and I will see you again. 

Written in remembrance of Evelyn, beloved of Him. 


You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday
  

Sharing the Bread: A Wonderful Thanksgiving Story for Children

I love to read books to my children that "co-inside" with the seasons or holidays that we are celebrating. It's a way to create enthusiasm, excitement, and wonder in a child's heart while introducing them to basic concepts and ideas about a specific subject or time of year. So November means taking out our Thanksgiving books. 

This year, one of the Thanksgiving books that I am reading with my children is Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story. I found this book last year at the library and was so delighted by it that I wrote down the title hoping to purchase it the following year. 

I love the simple, old-fashioned illustrations, the careful attention to detail in words and pictures, the poetic style of this book, and especially the emphasis in the end of the book upon thanking the Lord for His provision. This book is just delightful for all of those reasons and more. It is a wonderful book for families and I am hoping to continue to read it to my children (ages 2 and 4 now) even as they grow a little older. 

Other Thanksgiving books we've been enjoying:

A Turkey for Thanksgiving, by Eve Bunting

Bear Says Thanks, by Karma Wilson

My First Thanksgiving, by Tomie dePaola

My Thanksgiving Prayer, by Crystal Bowman

Thankful Together, by Holly Davis 

What Thanksgiving books have you been enjoying this year? :-)







You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday

For Prayers Answered, Mercy Given, and Hope

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. "

Psalm 126:3

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end . . . they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness . . ."

My heart is so full this morning . . . full in the knowledge that God answers prayer, that He intervenes on behalf of His precious people, that He is merciful when we come to Him in humility and repentance, that He relents from doing harm. 

My morning glories are still blooming. Blooming in November, now. The day after the last debate, they opened up, gazing at the sky, their brilliant blue reflecting His handiwork and grace. They opened in October. When my heart was so, so heavy about the upcoming election. When my spirit was grieving over the response of many Christians and their attitudes towards it. My heart was broken as I thought about my two little children, sitting with me on that chair by the window as we had our Quiet Time. Thinking of what their future would be under a Clinton Presidency, and what that certainly would entail. My heart was broken. And then, He showed me the morning glories. Three beautiful morning glories and we read that morning the story of David and Goliath and of how the Lord silenced the threats of the enemy with a stone. I felt encouraged. 

And my heart was lifted up by the examples of other believers--some very close to me in my family who were praying earnestly and believed that the Lord would be gracious. Encouraged by the example of some Christian leaders like Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, and Wayne Grudem, among others. Encouraged by the witness of our friend William Levi and his family --who demonstrated a strong faith that the Lord would answer the prayers of His people and allow a Trump Presidency, even though it seemed like the odds were against him.

The Lord heard our prayers. The Lord heard the prayers of His people. My heart is filled with so much joy, it is difficult to contain it! I knew the Lord impressing upon my spirit that many--a remnant--were praying and fasting before the Lord about this election. I believed, (at times with a weak hope) that He would answer. He directed me through the time coming up to the election in His Word as I prayed about this to passages that directed me to hope that He would answer the prayers of His people and allow a Trump/Pence leadership. I felt strongly hopeful at times, and then I would see and read about what was going on in social media and become disheartened. But then, He would continue to strengthen my hope through His Word.

I was led by the Holy Spirit to encourage other Christians to vote for a Trump/Pence ticket. I felt nervous about doing so, as I knew that I would come under fire for such a position, but I obeyed the Lord anyway--only by His grace. I could not understand how believers whose concern was a "clean" candidate were casting their vote for a Mormon man (whose doctrines oppose everything that we believe as Christians) who was trying in some small way to sway the results of the election. I came under attack from other believers, I lost "likes" on my page, but I had decided in the beginning when I began my blog that I could not write to please men. If I did, it was not worth writing. That decision early on, has helped to strengthen me through the years to remain focused upon what I believe that the Lord is saying to me to write, no matter the disapproval from other Christians. He has been gracious to me. And this is why I obeyed the Spirit of the Lord regarding this issue and didn't stay silent. 

But I am grateful, so grateful for the other believers who have come up alongside me and encouraged me regarding this election. I am grateful for their prayers, their comments, their hope in our faithful God. 

So many believers across the nation, and possibly in other countries fasted and prayed in the days before the election. Our family joined them, and we experienced the blessing of the Lord answering our prayer in a truly miraculous way. 

The day before the election, the media was reporting a certain win for Hillary Clinton. I was weary and discouraged, trying to hold on to hope. 

And then there was a point yesterday, when I surrendered to God my anxiety over a Clinton Presidency. I accepted it if it were to happen. A strong peace flooded my heart, and I had hope in Him. 

I didn't listen to the news until later that night; at that point I was expecting to hear that Hillary Clinton was winning easily. 

But when we listened, she wasn't. 

And the rest is history.

The rest is a miracle.

The rest is God answering the prayers of His humbled people. 

I am so grateful to the Lord. I praise Him with all of my heart. 

He is truly a merciful Father who does not treat us as our sins deserve.

Because we deserved a Hillary Clinton Presidency.

And yet He gave grace.

Hallelujah. 

And so I pray that we will use this opportunity, this mercy to spread the Gospel while we still have time left. The darkness is surely coming.  

But the morning, for us now, is at hand. Our citizenship is in Heaven; and yet, He has placed us here surely for a reason--for this time. So may we spread the great news of His salvation to the nations with joy. 

And remember that He has been good to us. 

You might find me on these link-ups:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth, Inspire Me Monday, Literacy Musing Mondays, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, A Mama's Story, Mom's the Word, Rich Faith Rising, Cornerstone Confessions, Mom's Morning Coffee, Raising Homemakers, Classical Homemaking, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Ministries,  Testimony Tuesday, Tell His Story, Women With Intention Wednesdays, Messy Marriage,  Graced Simplicity, Children Are A Blessing, Imparting Grace, Thought Provoking Thursday, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, The Weekend Brew, Counting My Blessings, The HomeAcre Hop, Mommy Moments Link Up, Grace and Truth Linkup, Faith Filled Friday, Tell It To Me Tuesdays, SHINE Blog Hop, TGI Saturdays Blog Hop, RaRaLinkup, Word of God Speak, Booknificent Thursday, Living Proverbs 31, Sharing His Beauty Blog Linkup, Coffee For Your Heart Weekly LinkUp, You're the Star Blog Hop, Homesteader Hop, Fresh Market Friday