Little House in the City

Best Recipe I have Found

I checked out a book from my local library titled, "Jane Watson Hopping, The Pioneer Lady's Country Kitchen".  I decided to browse through it while my dear little ones were in their guitar class.  As I was looking through, I found a recipe for HAPPINESS CAKE.

I cup good thoughts

I cup kind deeds

i cup consideration for others

2 cups sacrifice

2 cups faults, well beaten

3 cups forgivesness

Mix thoroughly, add tears of joy, sorrow, and sympathy.  Fold in 4 cups faith.  Blend into daily life.  Bake well with warmth of human kindness and serve with a smile any time.  Yeilds a lifetime of joy and contentment. 

Enjoy!

-Mrs. Daniel Ferreira

Quick blog before bed...

I just had to blog a little before bed.  I am new to this, and learning a lot!  I love to read all the other blogs and I find I have to MAKE myself walk away from them sometimes because they have sooooo much information on them. 

So this morning I was at church assisting in a homeschool class while the Mother's are in a Bible study.  The person I am voluteering with, whom I can now call a friend, revealed to me that she liked to "encourage" her husband when he is feeling discouraged.  "Wow!  Just like me!!!", I thought.  But she went on to say how disasterous that can be.  And I thought, "Uugh, just like me!!!" 

Then she went on to say that she had learned that sometimes you just have to be "still" and let God work.  Sometimes you just have to pray and "say" nothing at all.  I was so convicted by that because I often times want to "encourage" my husband with words.  Being a new Christian, I am still learning to let go and let God do what He needs to do.  I left the church this morning so inspired.  I had a new way of "encouraging" my husband.....simply by not "encouraging" him.  :)  Now, I can "encourage" him with prayer.  That way I can know that it is God's will being done and not mine. 

Thank you friend for telling me exactly what I needed to hear.  And, that is so God!!!!  I love when He does that!!!

God bless you all tonight.  I pray that you are safe and sound.

Mrs. Daniel Ferreira

God is so good to provide what we need.

Today came with an incredible blessing!! 

A little history here, my dh is in the realestate industry.  As most are aware...that is not a great business to be in these days.  Being faithful has been hard for him since he is a new Christian.  He is definintely in a battle and I am praying really hard that he can see God's work in our life.  That said...this morning he told me that he just feels like he is about to fall off a cliff.  The kids and I prayed for him today that he would be blessed and see God's hand in his life.  Well, we go to the mailbox today and there is a card in the box.  On the card is a picture of a mouse hanging from the cliff and it says how when it gets hard to hang on, God will catch you.  We couldn't believe that!  Dh had just said that this morning, there is no way anyone could have known that!  When we open the card, there is $300 inside.  What a blessing!!  God is so good to provide just when you need it the most.

God bless all of you today- Mrs. Daniel Ferreira

Homemade Laundry Soap

I found this recipe for Laundry soap online and decided to give it a try.  A seventh grader used it for a science project and noted that it worked better than one of the leading brands. 

1/3 bar of Zote or Ivory Soap

1/2 cup Washing Soda - Not baking soda

1/2 cup Borax

Chop soap up or grate and put in large pot.  Then add 6 cups hot water.  Heat and stir until dissolved.  Do not heat too hot, do not boil.  Try not to breath the fumes too much because I believe it isn't  very healthy for you.

Next, add the washing soda and borax.  Stir until dissolved.  Pour 4 cups hot water into a bucket.  Add the soap mixture to the bucket and stir.  Then, add 1 gallon of water plus six cups.  Stir and pour into a two gallon container with lid.  Let sit for 24 hours so that it will gel.  Use 1/2 cup per load.

I haven't tried this yet.  We just made it tonight!!! I will let you know.  If anyone has tried it, let me know what you think.

God bless - Mrs. Daniel Ferreira

What Proverbs 31 Means to Me

I read Proverbs 31: 10-31 often. It reminds me, energizes me, rebukes me, and keeps me focused on my job as a wife. I have not mastered the verses. I may not ever. But this chapter, these verses, keep the standard fresh in my mind.

As a wife you can sometimes look at yourself through eyeglasses clouded with the standards of the world. You can justify yourself with comments such as, "I am a better wife than so-and-so", or "at least I don't do such-and-such". But that isn't the standard!!! We can all find someone of "lesser" character than ourselves. That is easy. Just watch the news and you'll feel pretty comfortable about your moral standards. Unfortunately, that is deception!

The Bible is the only standard in which we can live our lives. Everything that we may go through as a wife, a mother, a daughter, is explained through God's Word....The Bible. In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul writes, "All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" KJV

So, I look to scripture now. I search for lessons in love and kindness, in being a good wife and mother, in what it is I am supposed to do in order to serve God by serving my husband. Proverbs 31: 10-31. I think it is kind of cool that God ended Proverbs 31 with verse 31!!!

Let's take a look at why I decided to name my Urban Homestead, Proverbs 31 Homestead.

1. A Proverbs 31 wife is virtuous and trustworthy. She does her husband good all the days of her life. (Prov. 31:10-12)
2. A Proverbs 31 wife seeks the best for her family, works with her hands, rises early to make breakfast for her family. (Prov. 31: 13-15)
3. A Proverbs 31 wife finds land, plants it, and in turn becomes physically strong. She trusts that her work is good and even after all of the work, she still has energy for her husband at night. (Prov. 31: 16-18)
4. A Proverbs 31 wife cares about the poor, her community, and the world. (Prov. 31: 19-20)
5. A Proverbs 31 wife is prepared for storms that may come in life. She does not worry about what will come because she is spiritually, and physically prepared. (Prov. 31: 21)
6. A Proverbs 31 wife is dressed nicely, clean, organized, and shows well that her husband is a blessed man. This is not to say that she is wearing expensive clothing that she can not afford, but that she is well dressed within her means and is clean and put together. (Prov. 31: 22-23)
7. A Proverbs 31 wife speaks wisely to her husband. She counsels him with kindness and love. Her husband trusts her words. Her husband, in turn, praises her. Her children praise her as well. (Prov. 31:26-28)
8. A Proverbs 31 wife excels in all aspects of being a wife and mother. She does not charm her way through life, but works specifically for God's will to be done. She fears the Lord and HE blesses her for it. (Prov. 31:30)

These verses describe everything I pray I can become. For now...I start small. Just one day at a time.

God bless - Mrs. Daniel Ferreira