The number one priority in my household cleaning routine is to make sure the bathrooms are clean. We are a big family, and we spend a lot of time at home, so our bathrooms need to be cleaned every day. I used to hate cleaning the bathrooms, and I think it was because I didn’t have a good routine, and I hated using those toxic cleaners. I was convinced that I had to use them, or we would be very sick. Since we have changed our diet and got the toxins out of our cleaners, the opposite happened. We don’t get sick as often. Praise the Lord! Where we used to get the stomach flu at least twice (usually more) times a year, we sometimes have years that we don’t get it at all. Even with little ones. We may even have a few people get it, and everyone else is fine. I never use antibacterial anything like I used to do!

Our pigs get really spoiled with a variety of food and this makes a really flavorful meat. Asher is giving them 5 gallons of black walnuts. We foraged over 100 gallons from Larry and Barbs’ pasture and they will get most of them. They were recently moved off their pasture and into this area where they are finding potatoes we missed, sweet corn, and a few plants. We are feeding hay from our own supply, extra milk from our cows, corn from our neighbor , and plenty of kelp and real salt. Everything that is fed is raised at least organic. We truly appreciate the support and encouragement we have received with these truly pastured, beyond organic hogs. If you would like to get on our waiting list for 2023 let us know and we would be happy to add you at no cost.

I approached Alena this morning with an idea that has been on my heart for Wisdom Wednesday. My goal was to caution the reader that there are a lot of missionaries out there that may be doing more harm than good, and many that are living a very lavish lifestyle off of donations from hard working people, We talked about the story of Amy Carmichael and she retold the story so well that I asked her to write this for me. Thanks Alena!!

Are We Truly Serving Christ?

The sight of the four missionaries traveling up the mountain was one that couldn’t easily be forgotten. They traveled at the head of the procession in sedan chairs—chairs with long poles that were carried on the shoulders of servants. Behind them came the rest of the servants carrying all of the missionaries’ “necessary” supplies in heavy trunks and boxes that held things such as badminton rackets and nets and folding chairs. But these missionaries were being quite conservative in what they were bringing. Other missionaries they passed on the road were hauling objects as heavy as pianos and iron bathtubs.

It took thirty-six servants to get the four missionaries up the mountain. And why were they traveling? Because the city lower down was too hot, and so, the missionaries were heading to the mountains where it would be cooler and they could rest.

When Amy Carmichael arrived in India during the late 1800s, and witnessed how the missionaries around her acted, she was horrified. If questioned, each of the missionaries would have been quick to say that they loved the native people and that the reason they were in India was to show them the way to salvation through Christ. But that was not an impression a person could gather merely from watching them.

If I could only eliminate one commercial cleaner, I think it would be oven cleaner. It definitely does a great job, and that’s why it’s a huge temptation for me, but I don’t like the ingredients or the way I felt the one time I used it. A friend that has eliminated a lot of the toxins in her family’s diet and cleaning products also noticed that she didn’t feel well after using it recently. Once you start decreasing the toxins in your food and environment, it’s easier to observe how harmful they can be to your health.

As more time passes in this short life, I have come to appreciate this time of year more and more. There is more time for reading, planning, learning, and conversations. One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to grab a good book and snuggle up with the little ones on the couch in our cozy, warm farm house, that is heated by the work of our hands and was transformed by many people working together. I also enjoy being able to look out our big picture window at the cold and unpleasant Nebraska weather and know that I have a little more time before heading out for chores. I have come to love teaching, learning, and growing, and we have observed that the best and easiest way to do that is to read widely. Because our lives are so busy, I am intentional about setting times to read with our kids. We read after breakfast, lunch, and supper. We bring books along when we travel (which isn’t too often). I read to everyone on the way to church every Sunday, and our kids love to read on their own (sometimes too much). I have so many books that I love, and that have transformed my life and health, but here are my five recommended reads this winter.

I recently learned about a new line of skin care products from someone that I really trust. I have benefited so much from their natural health information that I was excited to check out what they were selling. The first thing I noticed when I went to their website was that they had large pictures of natural ingredients with the names under the pictures. Think of coconut oil as an example. As I scrolled to the bottom of the page, I found the list of all the ingredients. There were several preservatives and ingredients that weren’t natural or necessary for good skin health. Unfortunately, those harmful preservatives don’t even guarantee a safe product, because we see recalls all the time where harmful bacteria have proliferated in a product, despite those preservatives that are supposed to stop them. Not only did it contain harmful ingredients, it was very expensive!

Have you ever read the ingredients in commercial window cleaner? Until today, I had no idea what was in them, but I always assumed that it wasn’t good to be breathing in those strong smelling, toxic chemicals that would spray out each time I pulled the handle. After reading the list of ingredients today, I was even more thankful that I never use it anymore. I have worked for several years on a variety of ingredients to clean my windows, and I haven’t liked any of them until recently. I can honestly say that I have finally come up with a recipe that I love, and it’s so simple, effective, and frugal. I hope you will give it a try too!

As I looked around the table at the whole family gathered for our Thanksgiving dinner, I was reminded of what a wonderful life we live here in Nebraska. There is no one telling us where to go to church, how to raise our food, or why we have to wear a mask. Well, people have a habit of telling things like that, but nobody has authority to make our decisions for us.

It was just our immediate family this year, but the ten of us must surely have made enough noise for a big crowd. Our plates were full (probably over-full) with turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, corn, rolls, and pumpkin pie. But better even than the food was the conversation, the laughing, and the stories flying back and forth. I mean, seriously. If our happiness depended on my chocolate bears coming out of their mold perfectly, we would have been devastated. They were mush.

May your turkey be fat and juicy,

May your yard games not result in broken bones,

May the cell phones by forgotten in your vehicle,

May the laughter be so loud it alarms the neighbors,

May your gravy be smooth and truly without MSG,

May the kitchen be used and without smoke,

May the food be so natural that you feel energetic and fruitful,

May you be blessed with abundant health!

May you make great memories on this day, while giving thanks to our amazing creator God for His provision.

Psalm 106: 1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Mentinks!