The Lord has promised us the knowledge of "witty inventions" (Proverbs
8:12). He also gives us wisdom in our everyday affairs. Following are
twenty-two helpful hints that are guaranteed to make every mother's life
easier.
1. Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hairspray and they will
take a quick dive.
2. Sealed envelope: Place in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a
knife under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. Now, who would
want to do this?
3. Crayon marks on walls? This works wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in
baking soda. Comes of with little effort (elbow grease that is!).
4. Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt
BLUE!)? Use rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
5. Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little peroxide on
a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works every time!
6. Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for
inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. If both
sides show streaks, go to Red Lobster for dinner.
7. Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash
windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably
streak.
8. Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will
smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels
and linen.
9. Expensive candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for
at least 3 hours prior to burning.
10. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent
ice cream drips.
11. To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water
before hard-boiling.
12. Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats
in the pan and the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.
13. Spray Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato
based sauces and there won't be any stains.
14. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in
a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix me
up."
15. Green tomatoes ripen in darkness; hence, placing them on a window seal
will keep them green longer. To ripen them quicker, store them in either a
paper bag or a dark place.
16. My personal favorite: When boiling corn on the cob, add a tablespoon
of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
17. Have you ever noticed that bananas sometimes over ripen before they
can be eaten? You can make them last several days longer by placing them
in the refrigerator. They will taste great even though the peel may darken.
18. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool,
salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh, but if it rises to the surface,
throw it away.
19. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub
raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
20. To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area
and you will experience instant relief.
21. Paint primer usually comes in either white or gray. If you are priming
a surface that is going to be painted any other color, have the primer
tinted to that color. This does away with brush strokes and uneven areas.
Moreover, one coat usually covers.
22. Another personal favorite: To remove rust from any metal surface; for
instance, car bumpers, outdoor furniture, tools, etc., take a length of
aluminum foil and wad it up. Place the foil in water and rub the rust
spot. Rust be gone. :)
--Author unknown.
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into
the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever
mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the
situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that
neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead,
he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and
enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put
him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his
neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought
struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of
dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he
did, blow after blow.
"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and
step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the
blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic"
and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and
exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed
like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner
in which he handled his adversity.
THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and
refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES
THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO
BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS -- FAITH -- PRAYER --
PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP"
out of the wells in which we find ourselves!
- Author Unknown. Message distributed by E-Mail Ministry.
