WOW!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

Alex's Loft Bed Made From PVC Water Pipe

When Alex was 3 years old I decided to give him a little extra room in his bedroom by building him a loft bed with a lot of play room underneath. I had been using PVC pipe for other projects and thought it would be good for this one, too, so I made some measurements of PVC pipe fittings and created some 3D CAD models so I could construct the whole thing in the computer before ever cutting a piece of pipe.

PVC pipe is great stuff to work with. You can get it at any home supply store, it is cheap, strong, easy to cut, fast to glue, and there are enough standard fittings that you can make almost anything. There's no need to be particularly accurate or precise when cutting, and the fittings provide accurate 90 degree angle joints. The only tools you need are a tape measure, almost any kind of saw, and a rubber mallet. A drill comes in handy, too.

First I measured his mattress and figured out how big the mattress platform needed to be. I also had to figure out how he was going to climb up into the bed- a ladder, of course!

In the end, here's what I came up with (click the picture for a larger image):

So far the loft bed plans have been used to make two beds- my son's and my nephew's. My brother built the bed using my plans and everything worked out exactly as expected (though he left out the middle bar on the railing). I'd post a photo of Alex's bed but his room is so messy it's embarrassing. A photo my nephew's bed (made by my brother using my plans) has been on the web (here) for about a year and I've had about fifty requests for plans to duplicate it. I was hoping to get $10 for a set of plans, but so far everyone who has asked for the plans balked at the price, so I have decided to make the full set of plans available here, free. Don't say I never did anything nice for you! If you build the bed please send me an email and a photo and I'll post it here.

update October 2007:

Finally, after emails from about a hundred people about the bed I have a photo from someone who has built it!

Here's a bed that was made by Stacey S. and her son using these plans. Like my brother, she decided to leave out the middle rail.

Update August 2008:

I finally took a good picture of Alex's bed. Yes, here it is, the original! Note that I have raised the bed height because we moved to a place with higher ceilings. The ladder now has one rung more than shown on the assembly drawing. The vertical support pipes are now about 51 1/4" long and I wouldn't recommend going any higher. The bed starts to get pretty wobbly when they get that long.

The structural part of the bed is made entirely from 2" schedule 40 PVC water pipe and fittings. The railing is made from 1 1/2" schedule 40 pipe. I put a few pine boards on the mattress platform to support the mattress instead of using a box spring. Unless you have high ceilings, you'll want to do the same.

Tips on building the bed:

When you buy the fittings and pipe, buy a couple extra of each piece. You can return the extras when the project is finished. Nothing is more frustrating than making a mistake and having to make another run to Home Depot just before closing time so you can buy one lousy elbow or T.

I made the bed in sections then connected them together. The subassemblies correspond to the assembly drawings (see links below). I made them in this order- base, mattress platform, ladder, railing.

Cut the pipe pieces, then dry-fit everything before applying any glue. This is where the rubber mallet comes in handy! You will need the mallet to get the pieces apart after dry-fitting. Apply a little thought to the assembly sequence. I found for example, that the best way to make the ladder was to first glue a T to the end of a rung, then glue the other T to the other end of the same rung. How do you assure that the two T's will be aligned? When gluing the second T to the rung, quickly position it as close as you can by eyeball, then press it against the floor so that it will rotate into alignment with the other T. The glue sets in a matter of seconds, so time is of the essence! Once the rungs and T's are assembled, you can add the vertical pieces.

The same sort of process is used throughout the bed construction.

PVC pipe usually has some red or black ink markings on it. You can clean the ink off by wiping the pipe with a rag dampened with acetone. Clean off the ink before you glue the pipes together!

I left the main vertical supports unglued so I could take the bed apart easily to move it. It is a good idea to drive a single screw through the fittings and pipes at any unglued connection to ensure that they can't come apart.

The plans consist of shopping/cutting list that you can take to the store and five drawings showing how the parts fit together. Here they are:

THE SHOPPING LIST - Print it out and take it with you to the store. You can check off the items as you fill your cart.

THE CUTTING LIST - note: the lengths of pipe pieces on the shopping list are longer than the dimensions shown on the drawings. The drawing dimensions show the exposed part of the pipe and don't include the ends that are hidden inside the fittings.

ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS - These will show you how the pieces go together. Duh!

If you want to make a bunk bed, you just make 2 mattress platforms, add another rung or two to the ladder and you're good to go (you're going to need high ceilings):

Update July 30, 2009:

Joe "Nitro Joe" Higgs built a bunk bed based on my plans and sent me a photo. Click the image below to see a larger image. Joe has a pretty good science web site with lots of science demos for kids. Check it out here: http://www.nitrojoe.org/1.html Thanks Nitro Joe!

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HananiYah Gets a Hair Trim

HAIR TRIM!!!!

HananiYah get a hair trim tonight!

YAY!!!! Good bye friz

One of my favorite things about being a stay-at-home mom....

One of my favorite things about being a stay-at-home mom....

During my time of cleansing, I have the privilege of staying at home, getting plenty of resting, and being pampered my by sweet loving children that I adore so much.

Ahhhhhh.....*Sigh of relief and thankfulness*

PRAISE YAH!!!!

Some new pictures from 2010

My sweet sister in HaMashiach and me. Todah for being my best friend.

Picture taken by HananiYah.

An angel in disguise. *Smile*

My trip to CA with YKA.

My bestestest friend and me at the river.

My handsome prince charming with Momma.

HananiYah now has her permit. Yep....much riding for me insteading of driving. Now can relax and safely text to ya, YKA. hee hee.

My humerous JedidiYah playing around at the Dollar Tree. Too funny ya are...

HananiYah is cold while Daddy and JedidiYah are fishing.

My angel, JedidiYah.

This is me and the picture was taken by my HananiYah. Good job HananiYah. Ya well on your way to becoming a photographer.

My own self portrait. hee hee.

My dearest sweetest hubby in the universe cuddling with me on the couch.

My awesome hubby blowing the shofar to welcome in Sabbath.

This is my beautiful sis in HaMashiach and bestestestest friend in the universe!!!!! Sweet YKA!

This is my beautiful and very bright daughter, HananiYah.

Table Manners for Little Ones

This is from Home Dissertations,

Domestic Life, 1890

by Mrs. E. Stevens Tilton

In silence I must take my seat,

And give God thanks before I eat;

Must for my food inpatience wait,

Till I am asked to hold my plate.

I must not scold, nor whine, nor pout,

Nor move my chair nor plate about;

With knife, or fork, or napkin ring,

I must not play, nor must I sing;

I must not speak a useless word,

For children should be seen, not heard;

I must not talk about my food,

Nor fret if I don't think it good;

I must not say, "The bread is old,"

"The tea is hot, " "The coffee cold."

I must not cry for this or that

Nor murmur if my meat is fat.

My mouth with food I must not crowd,

Nor while I'm eating speak aloud;

Must turn my head to cough or sneeze,

And when I ask say, "If you please;"

The table-cloth I must not spoil,

Nor with my food my fingers soil;

Must keep my seat when I have done;

Nor round the table sport or run;

When told to rise, then I must put

My chair away with noiseless foot,

And lift my heart to God above,

In praise of all his wondrous love.

Being Frugal

Here are some various tips for saving:

• Do not do any impulse buying, and save for what you want instead of using credit cards.
  
• Shop thrift stores for clothes. You will be surprised at the bargains you can find. Or, make your own dresses/skirts. Patters are good investments since they can be used over and over.
  
• Use a clothes line to dry your clothes. Electric dryers can be costly. I cut my electric costs in half by hanging our clothes out.
  
  
• Always make a shopping list for the grocery store, and do not shop when you are hungry.
  
• Buy clothing that does not need drycleaning. Many items that are "dry-clean only" can be washed with Woolite.
  
• Use what what our grandmothers used to clean with: vinegar and baking soda. This will save you a bundle.
  
• Save leftover scraps of soap and put them in a jar with a little water for a handcleaner.
  
• Turn your thermostat down at night. Better yet, open the windows and leave it off until you can't stand the heat.
  
• Buy your husband a home repair book so he can learn to do those repairs himself. We just remodeled our rotten floor in the back bathroom and ended up having to do the biggest part of the work ourselves. :) We learned ALOT!!

There is great satisfaction and many rewards for spending less and using less, the most important being a stay-at-home wife and/or mother.You may even find that, instead of having less, you actually save money by working at home.

Teaching Your Family the Scriptures

Teaching Your Family the Scriptures

In the book of Deuteronomy, the Bible instructs parents to teach their children about the ways of Yahweh. In Deuteronomy 4:9, the Bible tells Yahweh's people to teach Yahweh's laws "to your children and to their children after them." Deuteronomy 4:10 goes on to instruct the Israelites to assemble so they "may learn to revere (Yahweh) as long as they live in the land and may teach (Yahweh's laws) to their children."

~

The Bible defines the type of teaching for the children to be all-encompassing. In Deuteronomy 11:19, the Bible says to teach children about Yahweh's laws in numerous ways, such as talking about Yahweh's laws "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." In Deuteronomy 11:20, the Bible even says to write Yahweh's laws "on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

~

So, don’t rely on the church, school, Sunday school, friends, or family to teach your family the scriptures. Yahweh gives that command to parents. It is a responsibility that parents (fathers) will have to answer. Mother, don’t try to take the leading role away from your husband. It is his Yahweh-given role. However, there are many things you should do to help him in his role. Thus, you are given the name…helpmeet.

1. Have your home in order in order to be comfortable during teachings.

2. Have your chores done in order to be in the right mindset for teachings.

3. Pray that Yahweh leads your husband in his teachings.

4. If you think he is not doing a good job of teaching, too bad. Just learn to love his desire to take on the role he has been given.

5. When Daddy is at work or busy, read bible stories to your children. I still do that and my children are 14 and 10.

6. Give the children memory scriptures. (As long as it is okay with Daddy.)

7. Quiz the children about previous teachings that Daddy gave.

So, as you can see, there are many ways for you to stand by your man and help him lead your family.

~

Blessings,

Amanda Gowan

Guarding our Mouth

It is written in the proverb:

Proverbs 13:3 - He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Here are some scriptures to consider:

Ecclesiastes 5:3 - For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Proverbs 15:2 - The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.3 - The eyes of YAHWEH are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4 - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Do you desire life?

Psalms 34:12 - What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 - Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 - Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Guarding our mouth is nearly impossible apart from Yahweh:

James 3:1 - My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 - For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

If we can bridle the tongue, we can also bridle the whole body!

James 3:3 - Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 - Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 - And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

Even so, the tongue is so set that it defiles our whole body!!

Proverbs 16:27 - A worthless man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

continuing in James..

James 3:7 - For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 - But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 - With it we bless YAHWEH our Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of YAHWEH. 10 - Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 - Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 - Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. 13 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct [that] his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

So in context, there is a certain danger that exists for those who are teachers of Yahweh as well as all of Yahweh's servants. Let us heed Yahushua's warning:

Matthew 12:35 - A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 - For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Truly this is a powerful saying! We need to always consider that every word we speak will be brought before the Judge. Can we stand before the Son of Man? If we can't bridle the tongue, who can? Surely we must be humble and ask Yahweh to put a guard on our mouths...

Psalms 141:3 - Set a watch, O YAHWEH, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 - Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

With Yahweh guarding our mouth, we can be preserved.

Proverbs 13:3 - He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Our own mouth can be a snare!

Proverbs 12:13 - The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

When we guard our lips, we preserve ourselves from potential troubles:

Proverbs 21:23 - Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

David knew this wise saying:

Psalms 39:1 - I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2 - I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

Yahushua also knew this:

Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 - And when Herod saw Yahushua, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 - Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

We need to ask Yahweh to help us be like Yahushua and hold back the tongue.

Proverbs 29:20 - Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Consider that! Of all the times that the word "fool" occurs in the scriptures, 55% of them are in the book of Proverbs where foolishness is condemned on no uncertain terms! And yet there is more hope for a FOOL than for one who is hasty in his words!!! Now let's look closely at another passage in James:

James 1:26 - If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion [is] useless.

The greek lexicon reveals that in this passage, 'religious' means to 'fear Yahweh'. "Religion" in this passage means 'Worship'. Therefore, a more accurate translation would be:

"If any man among you seem to be Yahweh-fearing, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's worship is vain."

Wow brethren, this is SERIOUS! Consider Yahushua's words:

Mark 7:7 - Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

The words and teachings of the scribes and pharisees were not of Yahweh. Therefore their worship was vain! So if anyone says they fear Yahweh but bridles not their tongue, then they deceive themselves and their "WORSHIP IS VAIN!"

Proverbs 10:18 - He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 - In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Proverbs 10:20 - The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 - The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Our words need to be like spiritual food. If we speak, to what should our speech be likened unto?

1Peter 4:11 - If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of YAHWEH. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which YAHWEH supplies, that in all things YAHWEH may be glorified through Yahushua the Messiah, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Yes, if and when we do speak, it should be as the oracles of Yahweh!

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart favor to the hearers.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech be alway with favor, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Yahushua commented on the speech of one:

John 1:46 - And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 - Yahushua saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Ephesians 5:3 - But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 - neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Jesting is a popular thing today. But Yahweh says:

Proverbs 26:18 - As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 - So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

We need to pay particular attention to our words on Yahweh's Sabbath day:

Isaiah 58:13 - If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of YAHWEH, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

"Nor speaking thine own words." Speak the oracles of Yahweh! Spiritual food! Like choice silver..refined 7 times!

Isaiah 58:14 - Then shalt thou delight thyself in YAHWEH; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of YAHWEH hath spoken it.

The heritage of Jacob is eternal life!!

Psalms 12:6 - The words of YAHWEH are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Therefore.. Let us beware lest we fall into condemnation!

Ecclesiastes 12:14 - For Elohim shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. .

So consider the ways in which you walk. Consider the words that you speak. Are they acceptable unto Yahweh? If not? Repent! Right now. I now repent. This is my prayer:

Psalms 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O YAHWEH, my strength, and my redeemer.

Following the Law of Yahweh-What Does It Mean To Me?

What does following the Law of Yahweh mean to wives/mothers?

We have a great challenge not only to follow Yahweh's law, but also to help guide our family. Don't get me wrong. It is your husband's responsibility to lead. I am speaking more along the lines of the daily time you spend with your children. If you are like me, you have more time with the children than your husband does. Since my family is new to the law, we have had to transform our whole way of life. Our Creator knows what is best for us so we are better off following his instructions for our lives. However, it has challenged me to come up with new meal ideas while spending the same amount of money or less. Our wardrobe had to change. We are instructed to only wear clothing without mixed fibers. We learned to to make tassels or fringes for our four corners. I am responsible for making sure all unclean foods and products stay out of our home. I have to educate our children in daily life as to how to do the research on products in order to know what has clean or unclean ingredients. I also have to make sure to set an example for my daughter when it comes to preparing for Sabbath, making clothing, preparing meals, submitting to my husband. These are important responsibilities for a mother/wife. I have to be on my face before Yahweh everyday bombarding the Throne for help with my responsibilities. I have to pray for my husband's walk, my children's future, their future spouses, my unsaved loved ones, my brothers and sisters that are struggling with issues. I have to show kindness ever when it don't think it is deserved. I have to be hospitable even with it isn't convenient. I have to encourage even when I need encouragement.

I have a daughter in training and I want this to be a way of life for her. I don't want her to struggle with obedience, meal ideas, clothing options, or submission issues. I need to be her example. I, as well as my children, learn lessons better by seeing than by hearing.

Blessings,
Amanda

Journal Making

This is Hananyah's first handmade journal. She put sticky butterflies on the front because they match the butterfly fabric.
Pretty beads enhance the purple theme.
The elastic hold the journal together for a smooth look.

The binding is nice and tight.

This is Jedidyah's first handmade journal. He covered it with "Woody" fabric.

We put elastic around it from the back to keep the journal closed.

There are about 50 pages in his journal.

He is showing off his many blank pages that he can draw or write on.

OH, he has filled the first page with a picture of our house.

(Except we don't have a wood heater, yet :)

This is the back side of the journal.

We tied some brown twine around the binding of the book because it looks just like the rope on the fabric.

Simple Lapbook Pt. 2

Simple Lapbook

Our Latest Camping Trip to David Crockett State Park

David Crockett State Part,

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

After 2 1/2 years of praying, God finally blessed us with a camper. Not just any camper, but the exact camper we were praying for. We love to be together as a family, we love the outdoors, and we love to camp. We can still enjoy the great outdoors, but with the conveniences as well.

So, we went camping last weekend for the second time in our new camper. We had a great time. Our camping neighbors were Christian and very kind folks. I have heard many people talk about campers being the nicest people in the world. Well, that has proven to be true.

We had a few problems since we are new to the camper part of camping. Our neighbors were so helpful (from 25 years of camping.)

Here we are having problems figuring out how to work the awning.

Here is our little fire bug.

CJ and Nick playing UNO with our camping neighbors.

CJ counting the leaves on the new flower she found.

Nick picked flowers for me on the trail walk. He even pushed the limits to lean to the edge of the water to get that special one (while Daddy cautiously watched on.)

CJ carving her name in the tree.

Nick looking at the small waterfall.

This is an unusual plant we found while walking on a trail.

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Saturday night, the family sat by the campfire and Daddy read scriptures to us. Luckily we had our own church service then, because we missed church the next morning. :)

Blessings,

Amanda Gowan