Stelzl Family

January 3rd marked the beginning of a 4 month challenge for our entire family. Due to a number of health problems that have been present among various ones for years, we decided to try eating a very strict diet that has already helped some of us in the past (It was the Candida diet that cleared up Timothy’s rash that he had from just a few weeks old, until he was 3).

One of the challenges of the Candida diet is finding a variety of recipes to use that taste good and that meet the given requirements . My goal is to share some of those recipes here, over the 120+ days of our diet.

Last night we had a recipe that we’ve really grown to enjoy (most of us anyway !) With a few minor changes, we were able to mix up a double batch of this delicious Black Bean Chili for supper. Probably the hardest part was eliminating the usual toppings that make it creamy, more flavorful, and of course just plain unhealthy…

Black Bean Chili

Ingredients:

Directions:

Note; Rather than the usual sour cream, crushed corn chips and cheese for topping, we used rice or fresh avacado chunks…and of course a good healthy salad on the side!!!

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Let us remember with joy and grateful hearts the true meaning behind CHRISTmas!!! Jesus is the reason for the season!!!

He came not to a throne, but to a manger.

He lived not as a king, but as a servant.

He chose not a kingdom, but a cross.

He gave not just a little, but everything.

- Holley Gerth

Merry Christmas from the Stelzl Family!!!

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For Christmas this year, David and I decided to sell desserts to the people in our neighborhood. We chose 5 of our favorite recipes to offer: Frosty Peppermint Dessert; Coconut Cream Pie; Frozen Peanut-Butter Chocolate Pie; Sugared Nuts; and Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark. It was a huge success, and lots of fun! I really enjoyed working with David to calculate costs, call up neighbors, look for the best deals while shopping, and finally spend today (Christmas Eve) baking for our wonderful neighbors. It’s such a joy to work with siblings! And it’s a really neat opportunity to reach out to our neighbors, to be a light to them during the few minutes that we cross paths. We love these opportunities to bake for a special occasion, and it’s a neat way to learn new entrepreneurial skills, grow in our understanding of business concepts, learn important lessons, and make a little money in the process!

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It’s finally here! After much writing, editing, and designing, Vendor to Adviser is now published and available for purchase! 75 copies arrived at our house today, and tomorrow we will be sending out over 40 of them that were pre-ordered.

Next up ~ “Vendor to Adviser: the Young Entrepreneur’s Guide” and “Raising Entrepreneurs” – two books that we hope to offer in the near future on our Raising Entrepreneurs Blog, and also at our live Raising Entrepreneurs conferences.

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“A true home is one of the most sacred of places. It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms. It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow. It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded. Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing as the making of a beautiful and happy home. He who does this builds a sanctuary for God and opens a fountain of blessing for men. Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home, into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong–inspired for noble and victorious living. The children who are brought up in a true home go out trained and equipped for life’s battles and tasks, carrying in their hearts a secret of strength which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world’s severest temptations.”

“When we think of the importance of evenings at home it certainly seems worthwhile to plan to save as many as possible of them from outside demands for the sacred work within. It were better that we should neglect some social attraction, or miss some political meeting, or be absent from some lodge or society, than that we should neglect the culture of our own homes and let our children slip away from us forever.”

“To make a home godless and prayer-less is to send our children out to meet all the worlds evil without either the shelter of covenant love to cover them in the storm or the strength of holy principle in their hearts to make them able to endure.”

“It is impossible to estimate full influence of the reading of the word in a home day after day and year after year. It filters into the hearts of the young. It is absorbed into their souls. It colors all their thoughts. It is wrought into the very fibre of their minds. It imbues them with its own spirit. It’s holy teachings become the principles of their lives, which rule their conduct and shape all their actions.”

- By J.R. Miller

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This Saturday we invited mothers and daughters from our church to have breakfast and fellowship! One of the ladies planned a special devotional to share with us, and we participated in a fun gift exchange game. it was a really special time of fellowship and friendship with our church family!

One of the highlights of the morning was when Mrs. Wuerffel shared from the Gospel of Luke. She read portions from chapter one, where Mary encounters the angel and receives the news that she has been found favored and chosen to bring forth the promised Messiah. I think we are all pretty familiar with this story. But do we consider the price tag of being “highly favored”? Here are some thoughts that Mrs. W shared that we often overlook when we read this story.

- Mary was young, probably about 13 or 14 years old.

- Mary was betrothed, and had committed to keep herself pure for a year until she would go to live with Joseph. To be found with child during this time could have resulted in her death by stoning. Joseph’s accusation would have ended her life.

- Mary had to leave her family to go with Joseph to his home town. This meant a long rough journey in advanced stages of pregnancy, and an unfamiliar place without friends or family to help her deliver her child.

- Mary was rejected by the people who had loved her most. It is likely that her friends and family members doubted the validity of the truth she told them.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” What a response! Of all the things she could have said, all the questions she could have asked, all the doubts she could have raised… “Be it unto me according to thy word…” Interestingly, Mary is referred to several times throughout this passage as “highly favored”. But consider the cost of being highly favored. There must have been times when she felt afraid, lonely, rejected, misunderstood, and falsely accused. And yet, she was favored! She was chosen by the Lord to be the mother of our Messiah!

This was a really special time. What a blessing to spend time together in fellowship, and to remember the story of our Messiah’s birth. While some people idolize Mary as the mother of Jesus, we often pass right by her. There are so many timeless reminders, valuable lessons we can learn from her life and response to being a chosen vessel of God. May we learn to respond as Mary did, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me, according to thy word.”

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away…” (Luke 1:46-53).

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Two weeks ago I got to experiment with something I’ve always dreamed of doing – yes, I finally made my first candle!!!

I set aside some time to research different types of wax, wicks, fragrance, color, containers, etc. Our dear friends the Neelys make lovely jar candles to sell, so Jessica graciously offered me some tips and advice on where to start, what to use, etc. I did some further research and decided to use a natural wax! Since we have bee hives, I would like to be able to use our wax some day to make candles. But as our hives are still growing and there isn’t much wax to remove (we only have 2 hives at this time), I discovered a lovely alternative that I’m content to work with for a long time – palm wax! Natural palm wax makes a beautiful candle, that has a frosty outer appearance. It shimmers when you turn it in the light. I’m really happy with the candles I made from the kit I started off with. It included the basic tools I will need in the future, and enough supplies to make 6 votive candles – that was at my favorite craft store, Hobby Lobby, which offers a 40% off coupon you can print off online, like every other week!

For our Christmas party this year, I made a gift to contribute in the gift game we played. I bought a glass jar and chose my dye color, fragrance, wick, etc. I went with CranApple Spice fragrance and a cranberry color. one thing I’ve learned, is that you have to get your color right and then add more dye, because as the candle hardens it lightens up quite a bit. I used a wooden wick, which causes the candle to crackle when you burn it – a really nice added touch! Bethany quilled the little tag! My dad set aside an evening to make the candles with me. I’m always surprised at ALL the things he’s done. He seems to have experience with everything! Yes, he made quite a few candles growing up and has all sorts of neat helpful ideas – like simply using crayons you have on hand to color the candle with, rather than buying dye! Someday (soon!) we are going to make one of his favorite ice-cube candles together.

I’m really amazed at how easy candle making is, and such fun too! I’m going to enjoy this for a long time, and maybe sell them somewhere if I can find a place in town. I’m learning new things all the time and I can’t wait to try other shapes, colors, and fragrances!

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Today is the final day of our ThanksLiving Treasure box! The topic is provision, and a very fitting one as we so often and easily overlook the blessings of the Lord upon our everyday lives. The pilgrims rejoiced when spring arrived, and they were able to finish raising the necessary buildings for their settlement. They were surprised by an unexpected visit from a friendly Indian, which in turn led to them meeting another Indian, Squanto. Through Squanto’s help and advice, the Pilgrims learned to grow healthy gardens, hunt, fish, and a number of other useful things they would need to know to survive in this new place. Again, they were blessed by the Lord’s abundant provision to their needs, and thus they set aside a special time of giving thanks to God! Thanksgiving was a time for them to gather with family and friends, and to worship the Lord – with grateful hearts.

Family Insights ~

God as provided us with a beautiful home that truly lends itself to ministry and hospitality; He has faithfully provided us with food and other blessings each day; God has provided for our spiritual needs, even giving us men and women in history that we can look back at who inspire us toward faith, courage, and a closer walk with God; God has given us a large family – and we love each other! God has provided wonderful godly friends for us to fellowship with ; God gives us wise and godly authorities through which He works to counsel us and lead us in the proper path – our parents, church leaders, etc. God has provided us with a godly church, where we can sing and worship in a way that is pleasing to Him – with people that love Him! God provides hope, joy, comfort, peace, in Himself – because He is the ever faithful and true friend, the One that will never leave us or forsake us; He provides for ALL our needs, and far above and beyond!

“And my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory.” – Philippians 4:19

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