Darling Virtuous Daughters,
  
​As the beginning of the new year is generally a time when we all do a good clean up, I thought of some tips to help us clean up our spiritual lives as well...

“Children, it’s housecleaning day!” Mother’s cheerful words struck dread in my seven-year-old heart. Ever since I could remember, I hated to clean our home. Even the suggestion of a cursory tidying of the living room nearly sent me into convulsions; and if one should mention deep-cleaning my disaster of a bedroom, I would venture very close to death. However, my mother gently reminded me of Colossians 3:23, which says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Housecleaning certainly fit in this category! Over time, the stirring truth of this verse slowly dawned on my mind, and I began to realize I was definitely not performing my duties “unto the Lord.” I was, at best, a grudging worker who half-heartedly executed the minimal requirements so I could skip outside and play. As I focused my energies wholeheartedly on my housecleaning responsibilities, I discovered a satisfaction in joyfully fulfilling my tasks in a way that pleased and honored the Lord. And, ironically, I found that I actually enjoyed some aspects of housecleaning! I do still occasionally struggle with keeping a glad heart during chore time, but I try to remember the reward the Lord gives a cheerful attitude, the reward given on this earth and in the world to come. I would like to share with you the method I used to finally conquer my dusty room and beat the cobwebs into submission.  

From 1865 to 1900, America experienced a remarkable triumph of free enterprise. Our country saw the fruits of diligent willing work coupled with liberty and responsibility. The Protestant work ethic penetrated many, many lives. They viewed their ability to work as a tremendous blessing and recognized that labor is a way to fulfill life responsibility and to glorify God. Nehemiah 4:6 says, “The people had a mind to work.”

As we look at the subject of etiquette, it would be wise to go to the Bible as our source of wisdom. Etiquette books can be a help as we seek the proper way to do things, but if etiquette does not begin in the heart, it will be merely an outward show. Our etiquette needs to be genuine and prompted by a love for the Lord. As we learn and apply what God’s Word says about our interactions with others, we will be treating those around us in a polite, godly way.

Entrepreneurialism. What is it exactly, besides a big word that many people can’t spell? To be an entrepreneur is defined as: “A person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome.” Or, in simpler terms, having an idea for a way to make a profit and starting to do it. The business world is full of entrepreneurs, successful businesses, raising capital, and more, but what does entrepreneurialism have to do with young ladies?

Cooking—what a subject! It’s a word that brings to mind thoughts of steaming, cinnamony, hot Apple pie or a cheese-loaded, pepperoni-smothered, homemade pizza just out of the oven! It might also bring to mind some flops with less desirable smells and tastes. Now I don’t know about you, but I really like to cook and the Lord has blessed me with a Mom and Grandma that love to cook too. And of course as with anyone who cooks or bakes, I have made many embarrassing and inedible dishes, of some I will relate to you here.

Nearly everyone enjoys a tasty pasta dish. The variety of pastas, associated sauces, and serving methods seem endless. When properly selected and prepared, pasta can be a nutritious event, too. We’ve selected a handful of tips from our family which we hope will increase your enjoyment of pasta.

Dear Virtuous Daughters,

​Cleaning is one of those things I don’t like to do, but I feel very glad once I’ve done it. (Exercising is another!) What helps me the most is to make a list of tasks needed to be completed. Then I feel I can break it down into smaller jobs. I feel overwhelmed when there is too much to do. I have to see it as a smaller job, and then I can tackle it.

Darling Virtuous Daughters,
    
​Let’s first try to discern wants from needs.  Here is a partial definition in our dictionary of them both: 1. Want-to desire greatly; wish.  2. Need- a lack of something necessary.  Looking at these definitions we see that a want is a desire, while a need is a necessity.  It is apparent that we may not even want what we need.  It is also apparent that we may not even need what we want.  Does that confuse you?  Let’s consider both of these situations: