Reduce ~ Reuse ~ Repurpose - Tip #14....or 15 ( I seem to have lost count)

With Earth Day approaching I thought it might be a good time to share a few more "Reduce ~ Reuse ~ Repurpose" ideas that I have been putting to good use as of late . First let us start with one of my favorite RRR topics , free materials . Whether it comes in the mail, is used to wrap a fragile item bought, bought at the grocery or given to you containing a gift ; we come into contact with containers that can be repurposed ALLLLL the time . Just today I flipped a box to use later for mailing purposes . Many companies make the outside of their box somewhat bland in order to keep it safe in case your mail person has to leave in on your porch . To make up for that blah outside they tend to spruce up the inside . This box was bright pink on the inside . Y'all know I love me some pink !!! To read about flipping a box you can check out THIS PREVIOUS POST  from November 2013 . It is super simple ! Now, back to the material at hand , Packaging/wrapping paper . It doesn't matter where you buy a glass from , if it isn't already boxed it will be wrapped before being placed into your bag . Usually it is wrapped with several pieces of what appears to be plain (possibly recycled) 11x11 ish pieces of paper . Not as thin as writing paper, but not as thick as scrapbook papers usually are . With its plain simplicity it is the perfect wrapping for one of those boxes that do not have a pretty enough inside to be flipped . If you desire design you can paint it , places stickers on it or my favorite do a little sharpie art prior to taping it up for mailing . I also save up this stuff to use for stuffing in a box if I am giving/sending something breakable . 

 

 

Next on my list stays with in the mailing family . I had been saving the plastic containers that water flavoring packets come in confident I would eventually find a good Repurpose for them . Several weeks ago I did . I needed to send some small , oddly shaped bday gifts to a friends children . Hot wheels don't exactly fit in a envelope . Just in case you debate mailing some at any point :-)

The label slips right off . Since it is plastic and hallow it is light weight and sturdy . Bonus , it comes with a lid !! After removing the label , writing a note and gathering the small toys I was ready to test out this new mailing cylinder idea .

I happen to have some mini-cards on hand that I had received as a gift once . They were the perfect fit for this container . I didn't want the recipient to be able to see the contents so I stuffed some paper inside and covered the outside with colorful packing tape that I also already had on hand . The front of the container is flat enough to attach a return mailing label and a label for the destination address perfectly !!! I covered both labels with clear packing tape , just in case ! I also secured the lid with packing tape . I don't want anything falling out during it's journey to my little buddy . To mail this with several hot wheels and one or two other odds and ends only cost about $2 . 00 . Since I had all my supplies and gifts already on hand I thought it was a pretty good $2 . 00 spent .

 

 

Last on this list of "Reduce ~ Reuse ~ Repurposes" is something for your lunch box ! Whether you pack a  lunch daily or just enjoy a good picnic now and then , I am sure you will find this one handy . Again , once a water flavoring container I Repurposed this little guy into a condiment to-go container . These flavorings are so great to keep around . Toss them in your lunch box , purse, keep one in your car or desk they are just super handy to have . And lets face it , sometimes getting in those suggested 8 glasses of water a day requires some jazzing up .

Once this container was empty of flavoring I took it apart and tossed it into the dish water to soak . After a thorough soaking and washing it didn't smell or have any lingering hints that it had once held flavoring in it . Making it the perfect container for some ketchup , mustard , or dressing !!!

Most come with a leak proof spout , but I have not tested it's strength with a condiment just yet . If you do , please report back !!!! If a restaurant never seems to carry your fave dressing or you use a reduced sodium or other special type of condiment this could be your new favorite to-go container .

 

 

I hope that the little bits of info are helpful for you as you look around for items that you can Reuse ~ Repurpose !!! What have you found lately that you can Repurpose ? Please share with us in my comment section ! To find other posts in my "Reduce~Reuse~Repurpose" series you can simply type "Reduce~Reuse~Repurpose"  into the search bar or follow HIGHLIGHTED links in this and other previous posts !!

 

 

Earth Day is April 22nd !!! How do you plan to celebrate and give back ?! This Earth may not be our forever home , but it is ours for now . So, I think we need to do our best to care for it while we are here .

image by http://www.clker.com/

 











~ The Laborers Are Few ~ Part Three ~ An Update from the Field

Romans 10:13-15
"As the Scripture says, “Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved .14 But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him ; and before they can believe in him , they must hear about him ; and for them to hear about the Lord , someone must tell them ; 15 and before someone can go and tell them , that person must be sent "

Crystals prayer for her time in Peru .
Crystals sending agent - Pioneers

 

For those of you that follow my blog you know I have already written two previous posts on my dear friend Crystal Snow who is currently serving as a full time missionary in Peru . Today I want to give you an update on Crystal , the work , the people and how you can help if you feel lead . Crystal and I have been IMing , Facebooking and e-mailing for the last several weeks . We are actually IMing as I write this post . She is currently back from a jungle trip , teaching Bible stories to local children , working on her Spanish and preparing for her next jungle journey . She had to leave our chat for dinner time which was soup....which she will possibly also have for breakfast . I'll give varied details through out the post .

 

Crystals passion is for the people of Peru , especially the children .  As I read through her e-mail updates and her telling stories not just of what she is doing , but about the people she is meeting I am brought to tears .  Brought to tears for the people , the work , but also for the beauty of what God has placed in Crystals heart . I had the pleasure of meeting Crystal when she enrolled as a freshman to a college I was working at . Right from the start she was a spirit I knew I would love . However, my dog did not immediately love her , you can read that story here and also learn more about Crystals beginning steps toward Peru . Well, my initial instinct was right on this one and Crystal has remained a cherished and encouraging friend . If I can do her story even a little bit of justice or add one more prayer warrior to her army then that would be great .

Me & CSnow - @ TTU - Creation Festival 
HARDEST CONCERT EVER !!
This day ended with us and the rest of the crew
quiet literally on the floor....not in prayer so much
as near exhaustion .



I've been reading our e-mails , messages and looking through her pictures praying for the Lord to direct my words . I so want to express the amazing thing that is going on in this young ladies life and because of this young ladies life . Just as we chatted today I wanted her to know and be encouraged by the idea that she represents so much more than herself . Many of us who would love to , but never will be able to tread the mission field in the way that she is find joy , peace and assurance through the work she is doing . My hope is that the idea of not just being the hands and feet of the Maker , but of those of His missionaries at heart would energize her .  I believe 100% that God is using Crystals life to change others lives for His glory ! There are many pictures and words straight from Crystal that I want to share with you . In our most resent chats we've discussed her health , her heart (not in a medical sense, but a spiritual and rather human one) , the teaching she is doing , needs and what's next . I am so grateful for technology and the ability it has to bring us close to those miles , countries and even oceans away . Since Crystal is currently in a village she has access now and then to the Internet and can message, email, facebook and what not . However, when she leaves again in the upcoming months to head back to the jungle she will more than likely not have such resources . I mean , this is the kind of ride she is hitchin' to the jungle y'all .

Per one of Crystals update a ride into the jungle can take up to 5 days . Stopping to stay in schools  along the way and of course with very few potty breaks . " If we got a boat of our own we would not have to rent one (way overpriced) and it will help our trip take 2 or 3 days instead of 5 or sometimes 6." - CSnow . Crystal and her team are hoping to fund raise for a new boat or (new to them) and motor as they prepare for their upcoming jungle trips . I will have a full "needs list" at the end of this post .  Here are a few pictures and words from Crystal on her jungle trip .  

 

John 15:5
 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing."

 

"Sunday morning we held our first service of about 15 people with the Enganu tribe . We sang songs in Spanish along with songs in their native tongue Quetcua and our missionary leader Jamer (Peruvian pastor) taught the story of creation . That afternoon , we went out along to each house on the river to invite the children to our classes . Monday through Friday we ate breakfast together with the people in the community and had about 30 minutes to get everything ready for our kids classes . We met everyday from 9:30-12 in an old school house and each day had 20-40 kids from ages 1-15 . We had 5 lessons throughout the week, one for everyday- 1. creation of the world 2. the first sin (Adam and eve) 3. the promise/need of a savior 4. the birth/life/death/resurrection of Christ 5. the salvation message . Each day we sang 3-6 songs and taught them hand motions that would help them remember the words . This was harder than normal because for all of them, Spanish is their 2nd language and for many of them they don't understand a lot. Daily, we also practiced our Bible verses Genesis 1:1, Romans 3:23, and John 3:16. We were quite surprised how well the kids understood and could memorize these verses . Lastly but very important, each day we played games outside. Relay games, games with water balloons and water, running, hopping, and games to build trust and team work."

Houses & Water Buffalo

Bathroom

 

Laycie washing dishes in the river .

 

CSnow (representing in her TTU shirt)

teaching on the topic of Creation .

 

A BABY Boa ! CSnow I get the creeps

just posting this pic . I mean....you are

super brave !!





Crystal & Oscar

"This is my little bud Oscar . He is a happy, funny 9 year old boy, who constantly has a smile on his face . He is missing his two front teeth and more importantly missing the relationship with King Jesus . He has not yet heard, but we have hope that he will soon. :) Oscar's daddy for all his life until recently has been an angry, abusive, alcoholic . A few years ago, the Brujo  (witchdoctor) told Max (oscar's dad) that he only had a few months to live and that his house was cursed with an evil bear spirit that would kill him before the sickness did . Max left the house to wander . He traveled from brujo to brujo trying to find a cure . He dressed in all black, was on a strict "diet" from the brujo and was told never to return... through this, he stopped drinking and after months of searching, went to the missionary's house and begged for her to heal him . She told him she would pray for him, but for him to be healed he must choose which God he would serve . He could not serve the dark and the light . He must choose . A week later, max returned and told her that he was ready to trust in God, return to his home, and asked if she would go with him to cast out the bear spirit in his home . Max is now a firm believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and is in our discipleship program. He reads His Bible everyday and is learning how to finally be a daddy to his 4 children ." That is one of several stories Crystal has shared about the people she has met in Peru . I loved this picture because you just never know what will make someone feel more comfortable and will show them love, compassion or kindness . For this lil' guy it was a double eyes closed pic !

 

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” -Steve Maraboli
Classes in the Jungle - From Crystals E-mail Update

 

Along with time in the jungle Crystal has also been spending time studying Spanish more intensively . She has been doing this by taking classes , helping tutor English , as well as using it in her every day life with her Peruvian family , locals and new friends . While in Peru since Crystal did not have her Visa during her education time , she had to take a break and leave the country . There are strict visitation laws with deadlines and fines if you break them . Crystal was not the only one in her class approaching this deadline so they took the opportunity of "needing" to leave the country to visit Chile . In January she finished her classes , but before graduation she had a very intense opportunity to test out what she had been learning when a fellow traveler came against some local authorities trying to reenter the country . " I stepped up to the glass wall and asked what the problem was . Calmly in my best Spanish accent explained that we were all here attending the same school in Arequipa , Peru and that after we finish school we would be traveling to different cities to work with the different tribes . The man was frustrated not buying our "story" and began to raise his voice . I took a  deep breathe and explained that Marcus was a doctor's assistant who would be working in a hospital for the next year, Sigrid is working with a kids program in Arequipa and that Drew and I would be working with tribes in Pucallpa . He called his boss over and explained the situation I had just explained . He asked me why he should give me more time - I had already spent my 5 months and more time was prohibited , I told him we were in the process of gaining our visas but that they had not arrived yet . He looked down at the passports, he looked back at us, he looked down again at the paperwork... they shared a few words and finally he stamped Marcus paperwork, then Digrid's , then mine , and finally Drew's . Never before had I felt so much like a secret agent in my life. :) haha God yet again opened the door . He gave me the words to say, and He softened the hearts of these two government officials. GLORY TO GOD we made it back to Peru . "

Crystals traveling buddies to Chile

while waiting to re-enter Peru .

Crystal and Meg - Arica, Chile

 

I mean , don't try to tell me after soup and rice for

days that this wouldn't look like manna from HEAVEN!!!

GIRL YOU SUPER SIZE THAT MEAL !!

#nojudgementfromthestates

 

I read that story of the law "forcing" Crystal and other students to leave Peru for a while , then see the pictures of her time in Chile and think only of Gods perfect timing and provision . Provision of funds , safety , friends , clearance back into Peru , rest and relaxation . While it may have been a inconvenience in "our" timing and plans it appears to have been a beautiful time of revitalization as well . Much need , I can only imagine .  In continuing to read Crystals updates , look at her pictures and pray for her and the work she is doing I realize that there is so much that a blog post will simply never truly do it justice . However , I am giving it my best try here .

 

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.”
― John Piper - From one of Crystals' updates -

 

Here are some quick facts - Crystal is in good health . She had some small issues when she returned from the jungle, but nothing to be worried about and is better now .  Her Spanish is getting better every day and I can tell it is becoming more natural to her by her messages and e-mails . They are starting to read like broken English :) WHICH IS GREAT !! Her family misses her a great deal . Apparently she was the noise maker in their home and things have gotten rather quiet . Imagine that ! LOL!!  She is currently in a village in Pucallpa and as I mentioned before , teaching Bible stories as well as hygiene , and general life lessons (why we get jobs , working , etc. ) each day , building relationships and most importantly loving on these people who have been in the dark for so long . So many of Crystals' updates mention the darkness of the people . The love they have never known , how they are considered replaceable or dispensable , and how so many of the females (and probably males) have never heard a encouraging or kind word in their life . Crystals' heart is growing more and more in love with the people of  Peru it would seem . I truly feel like God created her so very specifically and specially for this work . Her heart is so huge and loving towards everyone that I can't imagine someone walking away from her and not having felt cared for . I am asking the Lord to continue in keeping her well , giving her strength physically, mentally , spiritually and to strengthen her Spanish as she grows closer to the people .  I have told her repeatedly how strong she is . I absolutely believe she is a super hero of sorts . In my eyes anyway . As Crystal works on her Spanish , prepares for another jungle trip , and the rest of her time in Peru here are a few of the more current and possibly realistic needs . In Crystal's words :-)

 

-Chocolate - She said this jokingly , but I see that as a REAL NEED !! So, on the list it goes .

- " hmmm need list would for sure be anything useful in a classroom...

- we do a lot of teaching and are always in need of markers, construction paper, crayons... anything literally. we want to take supplies to give to the tribes and communities. they literally have nothing and the closest store is about 5 days away

- along with beads and string. we use a lot for the little beads tiny for fishing line or honestly any size. don't have to be fancy. the girls sit with us for hours and listen to Bible stories as we made necklaces

-thank so so so much!!!! we are also collecting money for a boat and motor if anyone would like to send money if we got a boat of our own we would not have to rent one (way overpriced) and it will help our trip take 2 or 3 days instead of 5 or sometimes 6. (painful on the butt) "

 

Crystal has far better and more detailed updates on the people she has met , classes she has taken , run ins with government , new custom's and varied other things available via her e-mail update . If you are interested in donating items/funds please feel free to message me and I can get your info to Crystal or if you would like to get updates from Peru or and find out how you can donate/mail items from the needs list you can private message Crystal through this link to her Facebook page . You can also donate funds for Crystal or any other Pioneer  missionary by going to the Pionerer Link Here .

 

While Crystal may be miles away these pictures assure me her beautiful, unique, spunky,

and loving spirit remains intact .

 

 

What in the world is that animal on your head DDP and can Jack have one ?!

 

You can read my first two posts on Crystals' planning and preparing for Peru HERE and HERE !

 

 

 

In all my posts you can click on any of the red highlighted links to see other related posts from myself , fellow bloggers and to go directly to businesses/deals/items I am bragging on .

Coming Soon ~ C.Snow Peru Update

To read my first two posts on Crystals preparing for her time in Peru you can click here and here ! I will be posting a update soon on how Crystal is doing since moving to Peru with some CSnow quotes and pictures from the adventurer herself !!

Apple Pie ~ A Quick Fix

Necessity is the mother of invention or so they say . I am not sure that this was a necessity so much as it was a snow day craving . I have a notorious sweet tooth and I blame my grandfather for it . I have seen him eat candy for breakfast when he thought no one was paying attention . Until now I have kept that secret safe for him . Anyway , after a trek in the snow chasing after my snow pup Jack Davis I really wanted something sweet . I did the normal combing of cabinets, fridge, and freezer looking for inspiration when I came across these two items I had purchased on a , "we'll see" basis .

 

I have become a Healthy Choice Frozen Greek Yogurt fan and shall proclaim it's awesomeness to all who will listen !!! They are 100 calories per prepackaged bowl and the box seen here comes with three bowls . They also have four flavors, but I lean toward the vanilla bean simply because you can add to it easier than say blueberry . The Dole Apple Crisp comes in a pack of two bowls and contains cinnamon apple squares and granola/oats . They can be eaten as is or heated . On this particular evening I heated up the apple bowl , poured its contents over a frozen Greek yogurt and then sprinkled the granola/oats over both of those . AMAZING !! Quick, simple , and bit lower in cals and fat in comparison to actual apple pie with ice cream . As I said this is a quick fix for a sweet tooth ! If you are a apple pie fan I would highly suggest this little mix .

 

What snack or meal creations have you made in this winter weather ?!

Coming Soon ~ Valentines Series ~ 2014

 

What Would Mamaw Hannah Think ?

Growing up I was what is called a "latch key kid". Meaning , I had my own key to my house and after school would go home alone until a parent came home from work . Prior to my latch key status I was baby sat after school and in summers by my grandparents as well as my great-grandma , Mamaw Hannah . All of the grandchildren call her Mamaw Hannah no matter where they fall in the line of secession . Anyway , I spent many a afternoon and summer day at my Mamaw Hannah's . Mamaw Hannah was a traditional, old, southern,  Christian woman . She was a wife of a miner , mother of 12 , faithful church member and friend to many . That's just part of who she was ,  to me she was much more , actually I am sure to all of us she was much more . I often find myself thinking of her when I am doing what I consider to be traditionally southern women things (I always puff my chest thinking she would be proud to know that some of her ways have stuck with me), such as breakin' beans on the porch , making sweet tea , and what not . Tonight as I sat listening to a debate online and letting beans cook on the stove I thought of Mamaw Hannah . I spent a lot of today cooking or preparing foods for cooking so , I guess she's kinda been on my heart all day . What would she think of us now ? I am sure the technology would impress and scare her all the same time . She would be excited to see how so many of us grew up , went to college , got married , had babies, those babies had babies and so on . She would be wearing us out on a daily basis for not being in church as much as she thought we should and she would be the first place we would all go to when feeling down .

Now that I am grown I have often thought how short changed other cousins might have been by not getting to have spent as much time as I did with Mamaw Hannah . But something my Mamaw said about Mamaw Hannah (her mother) has changed how I think on my memories , in a good way . One day when going through old family pictures we started discussing Mamaw Hannah when my Mamaw said , "She made all you kids feel special . I bet you thought the way she treated you was different than how she treated all the others ." I sure did , until now (insert sound of reality/glass shattering here) . What a revelation it was to me to think that she loved all of us as much as she loved me . I mean , she loved me SO MUCH !! That sounds so selfish and vain , I know ! I don't mean it in a , why would she love everyone as much way, but in a awe inspiring , HOW did she love us all so much way !?! I recall laying on her couch with twisted ankles , migraine headaches , and even just to be beside her and the amount of safety and love I felt there was immeasurable . To know that all of us got that kind of attention and affection was a wonderful revelation for me . It also helped explain a little of who I am, I think . I feel like we all at one time or another wonder how/when certain parts of who we are were formed . I wrote in a previous post about a child secretly telling all her friends that each of them was her best friend , and in her heart that was true . She genuinely loved each of them just as much as the other . While the story that came from wasn't about me , it might as well have been . For the most part , I genuinely love people , the ones that don't agree with me , the ones that are mean to me , all of them . I mean, I wouldn't go on vacation with all of them , but I have a genuine unexplainable love for them . And while I have had many experiences in my life with varied people, in varied countries and situations I think it may have been my time with Mamaw Hannah that shaped this part of my heart .

Tonight as the smell of something simmering on the stove & the sound of jack snoring in the floor fill the house I am taken back to evening time with Mamaw Hannah . Every morning she would sit on her brown couch brushing her long silver hair . She would braid it and then wrap it in a bun on top of her head , securing it with bobby pins and then every night she would undo the practically undone bun from her head , untwisting the braid and brushing her hair before she went to bed . I feel like I can hear her humming as I picture it all in my head . Tonight I am grateful for memories , revelations , and facts ! Odd combination perhaps , but thankful none the less . I hope that whatever else shapes my heart as time goes on that this influence of Mamaw Hannah never fades . Even if I forget how to cook beans or braid my hair I pray desperately that her consistent and unconditional love is one trait I never lose .

I will probably share more stories about Mamaw Hannah in the future . There are so many !!

Story Tellin' - #1- Coupon Boot Camp - Go On W/O Me the Missions is More Important

While this blogs purpose is to mainly share about my daily faith walk....or sometimes lack of faith walk I also like to take the opportunity I have here to share fun stories . I feel like a lot of my stories tend to have a little lesson to them , but I wanted to share this one and possible  a few others just for funsies !! My past stories have been centered around family , former roomies and besties . This one will be no different .

Today I had to wake up super early......for me . So, instead of going back to bed after my early morning to-do's I decided to make the most of my time . I must say between my coupon scores , to-do's marked off the list , and what not I am feeling pretty good about the day . While I was calculating my coupon savings and cutting coupons for future needs I was reminded of a hilarious incident with the friend that got me into couponing . I'm unsure if you ever give the cashier your e-mail when they ask , but I do . It has only profited me in the past with  amazing coupons . Todays memory is linked to one of those amazing coupons !! It was a spend $10.00 get $10.00 off your purchase . That's right , free money so if I only spent $10.00 I would walk out with a free item(s) . With my coupon & coupon mentor in tow we headed to the store rather excitedly to spend my "free" money !!! Now there is always fine print such as you have to spend $10.00 exactly . It can't be $9.99 and still receive the discount . My friend and I began our hunt in some of our favorite spots such as the jewelry section , stationary , etc . I found a journal and was determined to not spend more than the $10.00 coupon . With that exact $10.00 requirement it can get frustrating finding just the right priced item(s), especially if you don't go in with something in mind . I know you are thinking that is far too much trouble just for $10.00 . Well on this day I started to think the same thing . I literally found myself sitting in the floor of the sock section telling my friend I just wouldn't use the coupon ( in a "go on with out me , the mission is more important") tone . Then she leans down and in a very stern voice says ,"THAT'S FREE MONEY !! WE ARE SPENDING IT !!!" . I imagine this is what coupon boot camp might look like if coupon boot camp was a thing . P.S. DIBS on making coupon book camp a thing ! When the sales lady came over to see if we needed any help we , in unison , grumbled "NO!" I did end up with enough items to use my "free money" and we left the store laughing as well as victorious . Today I actually laughed out loud as I recalled her determination to help me save $10.00 . That's what good friends do.....in my book anyway . They alert you to freebies online , "remind you when your kohl's cash is going to expire" ,  and help you max out your "free money" coupons !!

 

Happy Shopping to You !!

May your friends be the discount drill sergeant you need in your weaker moments !!