Makin’ Do

Posted by Nikowa Lee | 0 comments

Every new year, people tend to think about goals for the year ahead. I even saw someone said that they have a Bible verse each new year. What a great idea! I saw someone else has one main goal with a lot of small corresponding goals. This got me to thinking: what can be my motto for 2009? What do I want to accomplish? And I’m not talking about losing 10 lbs on the Krispie Kreme diet, I mean REAL heartfelt soul changing goals.

After praying about my article, God showed me what message He wanted me to share. It seems my life is a constant testimony to Him, not that I mind one bit.

After getting a new griddle for Christmas, I was anxious to use it. Two days before New Year’s, I made pancakes with bacon. I saved the bacon grease thinking that I could use the grease for my New Years beans. Oh man! When looking through my pantry, I realized that I’d forgotten to buy greens & black-eyed peas BUT I do have other things. I have 15 bean soup and an entire head of cabbage! Those are beans…and the cabbage is green! That’ll work!

After cooking all day, it dawned on me. THAT is what I can write about! THAT is what my 2009 motto can be!

Makin’ do. Instead of going out and purchasing more food, we need to make do with what we have. Instead of buying anything new, first see what you have already. Improvise. Reuse even more so in this new year than you did in 2008!

Take that empty milk jug & reuse it by making a whale scooper*. You don’t have to buy new toys all the time. Make do.

Save your plastic (or paper if you use those) grocery bags & reuse them in the home. And take the rest back when you go back to the grocery store. Make do.

Don’t have the money to go out & buy seeds or fertilizer to make a family garden? Use the seeds from the fresh fruit/vegetables you purchase. Use dirt from the woods. Make do.

My life in 2009 will be focused around makin’ do. Life isn’t about getting “stuff”, it‘s about taking care of what God blesses us with.

Are you wasting your blessings? Or are you showing Him that you’re grateful for them?

You don’t need all that stuff, God provides. Make do.

*Whale Scooper *
You’ll need a few things to create this reused project.

• milk jug
• scissors
• permanent marker
• (googly eyes optional)

1. First, rinse out your empty milk jug thoroughly. Place the milk jug on the counter with the handle on the top.
2. Using the permanent marker, draw a mouth shape on the bottom of the jug, extending partway up the sides.
3. Then, use your scissors to carefully cut the mouth out; making the whole big enough to be used as a scoop. Make it bigger if needed.
4. Next using the permanent marker, draw eye’s & a blowhole. (this is where you can use googly eyes if you prefer)

Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. (Ages 9 and 5) With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, reading, and knitting. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.