Guitar Lessons

So, we got the girls each a little guitar for Christmas and have started to teach them how to play. Needless to say it's slow going! But they pay attention and really seem to enjoy learning how to play. Can't hurt that Daddy is their teacher! William likes to sit and play the second acoustic while everyone else practices. He has claimed the Drifter as his own. Today we learned to go from E to F and back and forth and back and forth... then strumming practice. I know that to an adult this sounds incredible easy and probably pretty boring. But with kids you have to start small and simple. Besides we are hoping to teach them to read both notation and chords. So we start with notes.

I really enjoy sitting down with the whole family and doing lessons together. It just seems like such a great way to teach them, everyone does it together! This generally counts as a music lesson here, we had singing practice last night and later this week will be music theory. Yay for music!

Here is a picture of the family in guitars
Adult guitars, left to right,
Mommy, Daddy in the middle, William
pink guitars are Gwen and Annabelle!

New Years...

This is the time of year where everyone is making resolutions... lose weight, stop smoking, etc. What will yours be? Before you start making your list, here is something to think about.

A lot of times people make resolutions that they really want to keep but maybe they truly can't on their own. Like, for example, quitting smoking. While you may really mean it that you want to stop smoking, most people just can't do it on their own.
So, are your goals reachable? Last year I wanted to sell our house, and after months on the market we have pulled it off. In fact our realtor comes tomorrow to pick up her sign. The problem was that I set a goal that I alone could not achieve. Hard as we tried, it just wasn't meant to be. Does that mean that we shouldn't set goals? Of course not. Let me tell you what I am doing this year?

This year I have resolutions, and then dreams. My resolutions are things that I can control. Things like eat healthier, spend more quality time with my kids, read my Bible everyday, etc. Then my dreams are things that I would like to happen, but they are only going to happen by Gods will. Like getting on my church worship team, being a more patient person, not taking every persons slight so personally, getting over fear, etc. You see, no matter how I try, unless these are things that God wants and sets in motion, nothing is going to happen. I have lots of dreams that I am giving to God this year. And I am praying that He will answer in a positive way. And if He says no, then I am praying for understanding.

So, what are your resolutions and dreams this year? I pray that God will give you the ability to reach your goals and that He will give flight to your dreams this year!

Laundry Soap

So, we make our own laundry soap here at my house. It costs very little to make and lasts a long time! You don't use anywhere as much soap, so five gallons goes a loooong way! I thought that I would post my recipes here, so if any of you would like to try it!
This makes a great science lesson for your kids to!

Liquid
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated) I prefer Ivory
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

Step 1
You will need to add the Finely Grated Bar soap to the Boiling water, and stir until soap is melted You can keep the water and soap on low heat until all the soap is melted.

Step 2
Next you will pour the hot soap water into a clean 3 gallon Bucket or large pail, Then add the Borax and Washing Soda and stir until dissolved

Step 3
Then add 2 gallons of clean water and stir until mixed thoroughly, You will keep the laundry soap covered and use only 1/4 cup per load. The laundry soap will become a gel like substance. just give it a quick stir before every use.

powder
2 cups Ivory soap (finely grated)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container. Use 2 tablespoons per full load

We also use vinegar as a fabric softener and tennis balls in the dryer! I know that the recipes list a measure per load, but I can tell you that for a normal size load you can cut them in half. Now if you have really dirty clothes, use the full measure. Also, this stuff is safe for ALL washing machines, old and new, front load or top. And it DOESN'T make bubbles! It isn't supposed to! You can add essential oils to both soaps and the vinegar!

Hope that you all enjoy making some soap! Let me know how it goes for you!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!

This blog is mostly going to fill up with postings about my kids, raising them, teaching them, worship stuff and things along thoses lines.

If you are wondering about the name Raising Levites, it is based on the fact that the Levites in Biblical times, were temple workers and basically worship leaders in the temple. We are raising our children to be workers in the church and worship minded people.

Feel free to stick around, post will be unpredictable I am sure, but enjoy them anyway!

Leslie Nott