The Life of Mrs. Miles

Mmmm - Nummies!

Ok, so now there is a little TRENCH around our mailbox. I was heading out for a walk yesterday and checked BEFORE walking {like how silly is THAT?} and what should I find to my complete and utter astonishment? Another parcel!

I was in disbelief! So, I did a few little loops round the boxes {neighbors must really wonder!} and even though I was on my way TO my walk, I could not resist. I was careful to check the package cuz it was from my sister, and she knows I'm such a kid that I can't wait to tear open a parcel. Sometimes she puts a caution on the package, like "do not open till ???-day" Sometimes she's even MORE clever, she will address it to Mr. Miles and have him be the gaurdian.

But this parcel had nothing on it, so I opened it immediately.

It was these neat candies and a beautiful card! Or should I say a BOO-tiful card as it was a halloween themed one. I'll really have to take a pic of that too! She rocks at card building, I'm envious of her paper-craftiness!

The candies taste great - the ones in the far dish are like tiny wine gums, VERY sticky to the teeth, but they almost have a floral taste, cuz Sis knows I love the taste of Thrills gum. Do any of you remember thrills?

LOL - the picture I picked of the gum has been altered!

Mr. Miles agrees with this pic tho. He won't kiss me {well he would never REFUSE to kiss me} when I chew thrills, cuz to him they DO taste like soap. I do have to admit that I can only chew it for like 10 mins then it turns to hard rubber, but I do enjoy the flavour.

The other candies are sours - cute shapes!

Fangs Sis!

Speaking of TREATS - KimB has a nice QP for download today, click HERE, and Linda is supposed to be offering another part of her rain kit today... click HERE.

Barb's Apple 'Slaw' or 'Apple 'Sgetti"

I know I've been baking bread almost daily and on the other hand telling you the Miles household is on a diet. We only eat a slice or two a day, thats it. Mr. Miles likes cutting of the 'bumms' - good thing I make round loaves so then he gets 4 on each loaf LOL!

But for breakfast, I've never been a big breakfast eater. Its hard for me to put food in my tummy till noon. But I know I must to have proper nutrition so I created this recipe. Its fast, easy and healthy. And I think Kids would like it because it looks like spagetti, sort of.

1. I take 1 apple. Wash it carefully and dry it. Grate it with the cheese grater into a bowl.
2. top it with any variety of fresh nuts, snipped dried fruits, raisins, raw bran, oats etc
3. season with cinnamon, nutmeg or whatever you wish.

Thats it. I could easily see making a Apple Sketti 'Bar' for kids - grate the apples, have everything else ready to sprinkle on. I think kids eat more if they are given the choice to build it for themselves, no?

I'd love to know if you try this!

Shoeboxes DONE!

I finally got my shoeboxes ready for giving. Last year I totally got behind and had to rush putting them together. This year I put it high on my priority list. I have discovered a few helpful things this year.

1. If you don't have your own custom shoebox you decorate, simply take the flat, unfolded box that Samaritan's Purse supplies and lay it down on the undecorated side of christmas wrap (or any pretty wrap) Use double sided bits of tape to secure the wrap in a few places around the edges so that the wrap and box hold together. Make sure you have a good cutting surface underneath and then, using a sharp xacto knife cut all around the edges. When you are finished you simply have to fold the box together. It helps to use some packing tape to make the box more stable (that the wrap won't rip off on handling) I understand some of the children like the boxes almost as much as the gifts!

2. Make a THEMED kit. What do YOU like to do? If you are like me, put together an ART kit, with brushes, sketchpad, paints, pastels etc. If you are a musician, how bout a harmonica, a recorder or any other instruments that will fit in a box. Some friends of mine take little TOOLBOXES and fill them with inexpensive tools from the local hardware. These may even help a child earn a living one day!

3. Use plastic 'tubs' or containers - the see thru ones. It saves the people who inspect them time of having to open each single one.

4. Start collecting for next year's boxes NOW. A year slips by pretty fast.

5. Collect as a GROUP - if you're on a team or group of any kind, get a box started as a group - many hands make light work!

6. A church member showed us that if you use your own shoebox, a good way to judge the size (cuz there ARE rules) is to lay the Samaritan's Purse BROCHURE out over the top of the box, it should not measure bigger than that. If you don't have a brochure handy then spread your hands wide - the length should measure the span of your two hands, the width one hand span.

Oh, and if you don't know about Samaritans Purse Operation Shoebox, you can find out more by clicking HERE.

*****

I've been really used this week to have my eyes opened to some needs. Some needs I can address in a physical way, some only by prayer, but I am so grateful for having been made aware of them. Now I'll do whatever I can to help.

Find out where you can render a service;
then render it.
The rest is up to God.

~ S.S. Kresge

"Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all people..."

Galatians 6:10

The one thing we can ALL do, is lift these needs. Can you do this for me today, please? These are the specific prayer requests I have.

1. For G. for her son.

2. For Barb - who has hurt her back. Her son was in a motorcycle accident this past summer, losing some of his limbs. The family has been through so much. She needs a rest.

3. For G. a friend of ours who lost his wife to cancer a few years ago. He's alone, they had no children. He's hurt his back too. Can't work. Won't accept welfare. Living in lesser circumstances.

Please pray we will be used to help these people. Thank you.