Whole Grains and Bread Beckers

   I had a great time last night with three of my girls. Jessica, Jessica and Aimee.
   Last night we attended a seminar/workshop for Bread Beckers.  What is Bread Beckers?  Oh My! It's only the most wonderful place to order whole grains and mills and all sorts of things that are very healthy for your family. And since they are just over in Woodstock, Ga. they are practically local! Well, local to us.
   Mrs.Sue Becker spoke to us about the wonderful attributes of whole, freshly milled grains. It's hard not to catch her enthusiasm! She is very knowledgeable and sweet and lively when she speaks.
   She also brought to our attention several verses of scripture that speak directly to our health and regarding bread and milling of wheat. One of the verses was:  “Do not take a pair of millstones or an upper millstone as security for a debt, because that is like taking a life as security. Deut.24:6    She shared this verse last night and pointed out that to take a man's way of milling grains was to take his life. Pretty serious stuff, I'd have to say. Also some history of processed white bleached flour. And also the way our bodies work with real foods. Goodness, it's no wonder that we are such a sickly nation.  If you ever have a chance to hear her speak, please do! You will not regret it.
    Now before anyone starts thinking that I've just jumped on the latest bandwagon that is passing by. You are wrong this time. I've always tried to eat healthy, and I try to get my family to eat healthy. Not that they always want to. We've spent too much of our lives eating whatever was pushed at us as healthy by the processing plants and the grocery stores. Yes, I know that these things taste yummy, but so does real living food.
   Anyway, I could get up on my soapbox and go on for awhile about this, but I really just want to share how wonderful this company really is.
   My head was absolutely brimming over with information last night. And since some lovely ladies baked some goodies with the whole grains for us to try, my tummy was more than content last night.
  We bought a loaf or two of Crunchy Seed Bread, delicious! And, a cookbook so that we could make the bread at home.
   One of the things that I ate was blueberry muffins. On their website they have a recipe for Chocolate Chip Muffins, which is their basic muffin recipe only with chocolate chips or in this case blueberries. They were so good I had to not walk back up to the table because I was afraid that I'd get too many. I love sweet things and when it's sweet things that are made with natural good for you stuff instead of the processed sugars...
 Well, I just had to walk away so that others would have some too. :)
    Anyway if you read my blog and you live near Woodstock, Ga. or you follow the links above to their website, do yourself a favor. Check them out! I know if you do, you will love it too!
Blessings to All ~S~

Sunday Love

Hugs for All!

 What is it about HUGS that make one feel secure and loved?
  In the last week so many people have needed hugs. I love hugs. Hugs let people know that we love them, that we care. We need to sometimes be the arms of God and let people know that He loves them too. It's been a rough day, I need a {{HUG}} ! We greet those that we haven't seen in some time with a big HUG!
  Open your arms and wrap them around the person that needs comforting. Why does it work?
  Children run up and Hug Mama and Daddy. A hurt child clings to a Mama, arms wrapped around them keeping them safe. Hugs give us the warm fuzzies that make us feel all good inside.
   The truth is that God designed us to need touch. We need that interaction with each other and sometimes a hug can be the touch that is needed without being too in your space. Some people don't need hugs as much as others. But I've noticed that most of the friends that I have all need hugs! I'm so glad.
  Blessings to All ~S~

Vexillology

   This morning I read a post from another blog called Common Cents, about an 8th grade test from Kentucky schools in 1912. I realized how much I didn't know, in looking over this test. So I set out to find answers. In the process of finding the answers I ran a bit of a rabbit trail. Home school Moms tend to do this sometimes.
   Any way, I was reading about the Commonwealth States. There are four of them Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts. Which led to looking at their flags. Which brings me to the title of this post. Vexillology  -( Vexillology is the "scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general" (Smith 31) The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum ("flag") and the Greek suffix -logia ("study"). It is formally defined by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (known by its French acronym FIAV) constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge." ) 
  Amazing the things that you find out when you look at a states flag!  Some things I knew from earlier studies of flags and states. Like, each color means something. But then I started digging a little deeper, what did the symbols mean. Why St. Andrews cross on the Alabama flag? Why the motto: Sic semper tyrannis on the flag of Virginia? Fascinating! 
   If you are studying state history or American History this year I encourage you to throw in a little of the study of the flag(s). They really tell a lot about our forefathers and what was going on during the time that each state became a member or was ratified as a state.
   As always have fun teaching and learning with your kids! Enthusiasm is contagious. If you love learning so will your kids. 
  Blessings to All ~S~