Okey, Dokey...ARTE Y PICO

Up until recently we had a WONDERFUL FAMILY that lived across the street from us. We knew when the landlords put a for sale sign in front of our neighbor's house that our time with them that close was limited. We didn't get together as much as either of us would have liked, but we did share some good times. Sharon made some exquisite cakes for our daughters' birthday party one year. She and her Mister came over for fireworks one Fourth of July. Things like that. I know that it was a good move for them to be closer to the Mister's job AND they own their own home for the first time in their wedded life. I still miss their quiet presence across the street. I miss Sharon's face at church much of the time. I am thankful for the internet so we can still be involved with each others' lives. Sharon awarded our blog the ARTE Y PICO AWARD. In honor of her I am taking the time to pass on this lovely award.

Here are the awards. I have many blogs that I get an incredible amount of encouragement and insight from. I cannot list them all so here are the requisite five.

I must give the first award to my first blog friend ever: Valerie at Bound by Grace. We connected on a weblog a couple of children ago. She was brave enough to send me her e-mail. She then got a blog. I had never seen one by an average person only those gnarly ones that people pay money for others to design for them. If it hadn't been for this wonderful lady on the other side of the country I would probably still not be part of the blogasphere.

Number 2 needs to go to Carmon Friedrich. My friend, Valerie (mentioned above), recommended this lovely lady's blog. She is the woman that enables me to not delve into controversial subjects too much. She is so very intelligent. She seems to always be very mindful of the Biblical reasons for the way she lives her life. She graciously disagrees with her opponents. I can only remember one time, out of all the years I have read her blog, that she let her ascerbic wit get "a bit out of hand." She then apologized to the one on the receiving end. As an aside, I thought she showed great restraint even in that situation. I thought the woman deserved it, honestly. She probably could have used the dictionary Carmon offered her as well:) So if you want a look into a wonderful mom's life (one that has even more children than I do as well as more brains) check out her site.

Even though she is on a blog break I still have to honor the Engstrom Mama. I met her online through Carmon's blog a few years ago. Then I checked out her blog. THEN I recognized her youngest girl (so far) at a Desiring God conference almost two years ago. We met face to face. It was so fun. That summer her family took a chance and hosted our family for the Love and Respect conference their church did. Unfortunately, PapaPyro was detained on business so we didn't get to see him that trip. We did get to stay with some other wonderful people. We have since then gotten to visit them a few times. They are neat people with a down-home hospitality that says CHRISTIAN. MamaK inspires me quite a bit.

Okay, number four...I will have to do the next logical blog...
Looking Through the Lens. This young lady is a beautiful person inside and out. If you look at her pictures on her blog you can catch her artistic eye. She has some photos (okay, some of them are of MY kids) that made me cry from sheer beauty. Check it out, I think you will be impressed too.

Last, but definately not least...
I am going to award Frugal Granola. I have been acquianted this lovely lady for a while. It has been through the blog world that I have gotten to actually know her. She is very transparent and inspiring with her posts. Her love for the Lord, her family and simple living is beautifully displayed on her blog. Everything on it is tranquil from her music to the lovely layout. Take time out to add her blog to a ritual in your life, you won't regret it.

Rules:
1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award, be it through creativity, design, or interesting material, and that also contributes to the blogger community, no matter the language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4) Award winners and the one who has given the award have to show the link of "Arte y pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) Show these rules.

One down.................

I have much to do....

I have quite a bit to catch up on. I am not very quick when it comes to the computer techy stuff. It takes me a bit to post something with links and the like in it. I have been awarded a few different things that I am going to attempt to get on my blog today. If you haven't noticed I have also been trying to do the Simple Woman's Daybook every Wed.

I have still to e-mail a beautiful, young lady to see if I could use one of her copyrighted pictures on my blog. It is such an incredible picture and since I know the models it is even more so to me.

I think I fixed the mess up on my camera-computer link, but I have no batteries for my camera. It is one of those items that when someone says they are going to town and if I need anything, my mind blanks. I then remember after everyone is in bed for the evening. Oh well. The pictures are on the camera and my children will not grow up thinking their mom didn't care (well, at least about getting them captured on film:).

Onward....

The Pig Story

Thirteen years ago today I was planning my wedding which was still three weeks away. I was giddy and excited. THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OR TALK ABOUT WAS THE WEDDING. I admit that I probably was a very boring conversationalist at the time. We were on a fixed budget that we were trying to stay within. We were blessed with so much help and lovely things (like all the flowers were donated by one of my mom's student's family).

I learned a great many things during this time. I hope that I learned my lessons well considering I HAVE FIVE DAUGHTERS to eventually marry off. One thing I learned was that often busy-body, no scratch that, well-intentioned friends and relatives have ideas about your wedding. Every body seems to have an idea of what they think your wedding needs to entail and they are personally affronted when you don't incorporate said idea/s. They also want you to pay for said idea/s. When you get his and hers friends and family it can get crazy exponentially very quickly.

Now enters the pig...

My mom was a teacher at a christian school so she had lots of contacts and resources. She also was trying to lighten the mood, bless her socks off! One night, as I was feeling overwhelmed by all the hoopla, my mom opened up the prom decorating catalog she had stolen, er, um, borrowed from school. We all proceeded to pour over the pages and laugh at all our ideas. You could have any theme you wanted! There was the Hawaiian one, the Country one...we some how got stuck on the huge paper mache' volcano. Then the full-size pig cut-outs and hay stacks for the barn theme. It was funny. My mom made an imitation invitation for our wedding (much harder in those pre-computer days). It has something to do with the full-moon we would be sacrificing a couple of pigs to the volcano...
It was so funny and broke up all the gloom of overblown expectations. We would joke about the pig or volcano kind of thing often when things got too serious.

I mean really...A marriage is serious. We make vows before God and man. On the other hand it is a party and we should have fun, right? It probably is a good idea to have all the pressure beforehand so maybe the bride and groom will know if they can make it through such family heated things. How do so many couples make it through this pressure then divorce later over trivial things? I don't know-rabbit trail...

Back to the story...

My mom then bought a pig. No, not a live one. One of those old-fashioned, toy kind that took batteries and would move and oink. She decorated it with green ribbon. Then when Mr. and Mrs. Brian Heath were announced at the reception there that thing was oinking all over the dance floor. Those in the know thought it was hysterical. We laughed.

A while later when we were announcing the expectant arrival of our first child to my mom...
I dressed the pig up like a baby and gave it to her. Thus beginning a thirteen year tradition of pass the pig. It has been passed between my mom and I for Christmases or announcements. You never knew when the pig would show up. The pig disappeared for a number of years only to resurface last year. My sister had it. She unearthed it and sent it up here to announce her move to the area from CA. The pig is now in my mom's possession. Who knows when and how it will pop up...

Every once and a while my mom and I come across some cute pig things. We try not to overdo it because, as with anything, pigs can become too much. People find out you "collect" something and then you wind up with all kinds of yard sale material (or another town's thrift store dependent on the giver of said item). Unless, of course, you collect money... Maybe I will try that tack some time.

There you have it. The legendary pig story.

Trying to stay regular

FOR TODAY July 23, 2008...
Outside My Window...is overcast and cool. It is actually a nice change from all the really warm weather we have been having.
I am thinking...so many random thoughts I don't have room to write them down.
I am thankful for...how my life has turned out. I never thought I would have all these kids or be married let alone STILL married to the man I STILL WANT to be married to.
From the kitchen...come the lovely sounds of my oldest son washing dishes.
I am wearing...a navy blue sweat shirt, navy blue sweat pants, funny (but warm) socks and hair up in a clip.
I am creating...children to be motivated to do their chores. Ha-ha.
I am going...to have to get the electric cattle prod out.
I am reading...I need to find a new book to read, Ephesians, Pearls of Great Price by Joni Eareckson Tada, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by the Mali Siblings (with my children), Proverbs and Romans.
I am hoping...that I can wait to go to the bathroom until after I have this post done.
I am hearing...children playing and chattering when they SHOULD be doing their chores.
Around the house...morning stuff that needs to be done. It will get done eventually.
One of my favorite things...is having friends know that they can drop off their laundry at our house.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...have extra kiddos over Thurs. and Fri. Checking out a friend's garage sale, Sat. Prep. day and Sunday sabbath fellowship.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

The Bible says the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are saved. The man in this picture had stepped out to see if it was the rescue helicopter coming for them. Reportedly he stepped back into the lighthouse moments before he would have been swept off by that huge wave. Contrary to popular saccarine christian teaching, life isn't a cake walk when you become a christian. We still are subject to the storms of life. We just have the strong tower to run into instead of being left awash in the sea with no anchor.

I forgot the link in my hurry for the bathroom!

Mr. Incredible Does It Again!

There are tragedies and then there are TRAGEDIES! One such TRAGEDY hit our household yesterday afternoon (with a house full of people no less). Our washing machine bit the dust. That might be ho-hum to some folk, but to a mom of seven it is cataclysmic. When it is summer time, I have extra children over AND everyone is in the water it is horrible exponentially! The worst part is that it is mostly my fault that the washer is broken. I have overworked the poor thing with loads too big for it. I have also heard it spinning with a sickening "thud-thud-thud" sound (more often than I care to admit) and run in to rebalance or thin the load. When that happens I correct my mistake, but the damage has been done.

My friend's dryer is currently broken. She has been line drying a bunch and using my dryer a bit. She sent a load over to dry with some kiddos and the babysitter (to dry the load of laundry not the kiddos and the babysitter that is). So I had lots of wet kiddos and no towels. I had huge mounds of building up laundry. I had TODR and his best buddy getting in my smallish laundry room trying to figure out the problem. I had my friend's laundry to dry. I did what any self-respecting woman would do: I moved the laundry to my room, told the kiddos to dry out in the sun and put my friend's laundry in the dryer. Then I got out of the way of the menfolk.

We had a total of 7 adults and 11 eaters (that is children old enough to consume food on their own) as well as two babies in our house while this all was going on. You know what? We had fun anyway. The menfolk hauled the dryer out onto the back porch. They found the problem and what part needed to be ordered. We all ate some really awesome prime rib (I can say that because my brother-in-law made it and it was FINE. Bucca we have a wee little bit of leftovers, in case your are interested). The kiddos played dress-up and were hysterical. We played music, talked and ate some great strawberry shortcake. Everyone pitched in to help clean up.

Today TODR took Second Son to the appliance store and got the part. They "made" a friend of ours take 'em out for a burger (at least that is the report I got:). TODR got the washer to work for a grand total of $20.00 and a bit of sweat and blood. Right now there is a second load of wash being agitated in that faithful appliance.

I know TODR had some help, but I am still so impressed with him. I enjoy flowers and all the fee-fee stuff. I have to say that my washer being restored to me with a small amount of money and no recriminations from my hubby has got to be at the top of the list. Hmmm....I wonder what I can do to thank him.....

WARNING:HEA(L)TH NUT TESTING

When TODR and I got married we had vastly different eating habits. I was a happy vegetarian whilst he thought the four food groups were Burger King, Wendy's, McDonald's and Carl's Junior. Now TODR is not really fussy about food. His dislikes don't even make up a whole hand full of fingers. That made it pretty easy.

Through out the years I have learned to cook with meat. Admittedly I do still have a steak disability. If TODR really wants steak he gets it while we eat out (which is few and far between). That is okay because I have yet to find a good recipe for broccoli cheddar soup so I usually have to wait for a trip out as well. During our first year together I had to learn how to cook for us as a couple. I worked at a bank when we first got married. I also was the happy owner of a small crockpot and a bread machine. A staple meal in our new little home was soup, bread machine bread (it had a timer) and a salad. Now I use a huge crockpot (I really want a bigger one:) and make hand make bread or muffins to go with the contents.

Each additional child makes the cooking needs for our family a new frontier. I have a hard time serving junk to my family. I also have a hard time paying the prices for much of the pre-packaged food. I have always made most of my own baby food. I order the brown rice organic baby cereal from our co-op. My children usually have choices for snack like pretzels, fruit or yogurt. It is also extremely hard for me to buy food at a restaurant that I know I can make better, tastier and cheaper at home. (That leaves me eating broccoli cheddar soup or Chinese when we go out. I don't seem to be able to get the hang of those.)

Last month I ordered 25 pounds of whole wheat pastry flour by mistake from our co-op. It turned out to be a great mistake. I had no idea how well this whole wheat would work. I went back and put it on our favorites so I can purposefully order it next time. So I am experimenting with our breads. I am also making new and different breakfast muffins. I used strawberries two mornings ago. Those turned out pretty fine. I used oranges this today. I have found that if I use applesauce no matter what "flavor" then the muffins turn out really moist every time (so much for Costco.:) I can't wait until our local blueberry farm is open for business!

I also got a Smoothie maker for Christmas. I am learning some basic smoothie recipes. My big experiment right now is a Green Tea Frappe'. I have my favorite lemongrass green tea steeping right now so I can freeze it into ice cubes. I intend to see if I can't make a yummy drink that is more healthy than Starbucks. My children are loving all the experimenting and are willing guinea pigs. They are anxiously awaiting the green tea.

Anyone have any smoothie or bread recipes to share? If you happen to have a really good broccoli-cheddar soup recipe let me know!

Why is simplicity so hard?

FOR TODAY July 16, 2008...
Outside My Window...are sheets that still need to come in now that they are dry.
I am thinking...I am so thankful for my thoughtful husband for giving me a night off. I desperately needed it.
I am thankful for...the Lord still working with me and conforming to the likeness of His Son even when I don't see much hope.
From the kitchen...I have taco soup in the crockpot keeping warm for TODR, "moldy" chips (guacomole), sour dough starter starting and my husband's lunch packed and in the fridge for tomorrow.
I am wearing...an anklet, green nail polish on toenails and fingernails, brown bohemian skirt with peach in it, peach shirt and hair in a clip. Still no shoes.
I am creating... a new attitude, I hope.
I am going...to let my nail polish finish drying and then I am going to take a really long shower.
I am reading...3 Steps Forward and 2 Steps Back by Chuck Swindoll, Pearls of Great Price by Joni Eareckson Tada, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by the Mali Siblings (with my children), Proverbs and Romans.
I am hoping...that the baby will go back to sleep if I give her the binky back that I am sure she spit out and ended up under her crib.
I am hearing...fans going and a baby crying.
Around the house...everything is as tidy as it is going to get tonight. I still have my foot bath/massager out and it needs to be emptied.
One of my favorite things...is taking care of my feet and painting my nails wild colors.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...finish off V.B.S. with the kids, try to keep Sat. as a preperation day, go to Love and Respect Sat. night, rent a movie for the kids for that night, hopefully make some decent bread for lunches that my husband likes.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Most of the time I am the happy ball. Some times I get blue. I love this picture TODR found on the internet. He finds such cool pix for his weblog!
The Simple Woman's Daybook Link!

Humble Heaths

Last night at Vacation Bible School our oldest son answered a question. The girl asking mentioned HOW SMART HE WAS. Our oldest daughter piped up, "Well, we are homeschooled!" I had to leave the fellowship hall for laughing so much. We might be smart, but I have doubts on the humility trait:)

Changes to the Household

I have felt the need, intensely lately, to simplify my life. I need to institute some major disciplines in our household or as one movie character said, "I will go insane and I will take you with me!" Now I do constantly have people tell me that they are amazed at how I "do it all." My house is definately not in the running for Country Living Magazine. Neither is it just this side of condemned.

It just seems that my household doesn't lack ability they lack incentive. If the Mama is home then everybody is forced to get their chores done, school is accomplished and everything runs smoothly. Of course, children always try things when a babysitter is present or life is a little different. I am not expecting perfection. I do however want to some how motivate my children to learn CHARACTER. As I was sharing with my sil the other day; I would rather have strange looking children (maybe some dyed hair or something silly like that) with a heart for God than children that are clean-cut, toe-the-line and have pharaisical hearts far from the Living Lord. So how do I do that?

The Bible says that if the Lord doesn't build the house then we labor in vain. It also says that I can do and be many things, but if I have not love I am nothing. It also warns of the woman whose feet are never at home, but constantly running around spreading gossip. Of course Proverbs 31 has much to say on a keeper at home's character. Hmmmm...

How does that all come into play? I do believe that the Lord's Word is sufficient for all of life. What does that really mean in the day to day grind of my life?

I have been truly convicted as of late, ironically enough, from a couple of lines from Sense and Sensibility. Elinor asks Willoughby about Colonel Brandon, "Why should you dislike him so much?" To which Willoughby replies, "Why should I like him? A man that everyone speaks well of, but never speaks to." I don't want that to be like my relationship with the Lord of the Universe. Do I speak well of Him? Do I read about Him? Discuss Him? Think about Him? Then fail to speak to Him and LISTEN to Him?!?!

I am not feeling like I need to have "the sacred quiet time." I do feel that I need to institute some major core changes in our household so the Mama can spend some intimate time with her Savior. I recognize the truth one author on Ladies Against Feminism wrote about: Me time can turn into a quest for yet more me time that turns into shirking our familial duties and giving into selfishness. We do however need to get time alone with the Lord. That refreshes us and envigorates us to serve our God-given blessings. So Lord willing I am getting things in order.

Some changes I have made are to the chores. We don't have allowances, but we have instituted Heath tokens. Each Monday Kindergarten and above children receive eight. It is up to them to keep them. Chores rotate on a chart so no child is stuck with a chore they detest. They might have to do it today, but they know they won't have to do it tomorrow. If they aren't finished with chores at devotion time in the mornings then they give up a token. Tokens are good for computer time, movies and gum. If another child does a person's chores for them then that child gives a token to the chore doer. It is an experiment right now. We will try it and evaluate it. It seems to be a pretty good deal right now.

I am also really trying to have Saturday be my Day of Preperation! The Jews took their Sabbaths seriously. We generally have guests on Sundays. I LOVE having company and an open home. That has translated into no days off for the Mama. I have tried a few times now to do all the work for Sunday on Saturday. It has turned out really well. While the boys work outside on Sat. I work inside. This last Saturday I made pancakes that lasted until Sun. morning. I baked four loaves of bread and had our contribution to the Sunday Potluck done. While we have Love and Respect on Sat. nights this month I can't have everyone bathed before bed, but we will get back to it. I usually have little girls bathed and in their jammies. The boys usually take showers Sunday morning (they don't need mom's help anymore). This past shopping trip I even figured out menus for Sundays. When the food is at our house, I can make sandwiches ahead of time for lunch. I also can put stuff in the crockpot and just pop it in on Sundays. I hope to really establish this as a routine. It makes Sundays time I can relax and enjoy our company.

I think we can benefit from the wisdom of our forefathers if we care to pay attention:) I also know that if we ask God, He is faithful to give us wisdom. So here goes...

Doesn't Surprise Me

Take the Quiz here!

Another Simple Day

FOR TODAY July 9, 2008...
Outside My Window...is sunny and beautiful. My boys are outside working. They are cleaning up the branches that got trimmed off of two trees out by our fence.
I am thinking...of child discipline ideas, what I should get to take on my anniversary trip next month, ways to get away and not be selfish, and balancing fun things this summer as well as taking time to read.
I am thankful for...beautiful summer days, TODR, my children and friends.
From the kitchen...my oldest daughter is making lunch for all the small girls. She complained about her chores and that mommy was mean. We switched chores for the day.
I am wearing...toering (a birthday gift from TODR), funky aqua skirt, plain fuschia tunic top and my hair up in a clip. Funny it is the same thing I was wearing last week! I am still wearing "skin shoes" too.
I am creating...a healthy attitude towards the essentials of life and a big family. I also need to get some new check-off charts for reading and assignments done. We seem to do better with charts.
I am going...to stay home today and have a normal routine.
I am reading...I Dared to Call Him Father (still)! How to Make Children Mind without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman, Pearls of Great Price by Joni Eareckson Tada, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by the Mali Siblings (with my children), Proverbs and Romans.
I am hoping...that two of the couples that were iffy about Love and Respect come and turn out to be glad they did.
I am hearing...my boys now making their lunch in the kitchen and my girls eating their lunch in the dining room.
Around the house...the stuff is put away from our trip this weekend, the baby is peacefully sleeping in her bed, the small girls are eating their lunch, the boys are making their lunch, the temperature is warm, but not unpleasant so the windows are open. The sun is streaming through the windows. I am typing semi-peacefully on our blog on our computer that is placed in the kitchen (it actually ends up being inbetween the kitchen area and the dining room).
One of my favorite things...is having people over (it is better when my house is clean, but I am learning that people are more important than housework).
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...tomorrow go to the bank and run errands, Friday go out-town and do bulk shopping, Saturday starts our five week video series of Love and Respect, Sunday is church and potluck. I also need to make an orthodontist appointment and dentist appointments.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Sharing treasures and new experiences. I am a lot like my daughter pictured here. I try to be friendly even though I feel timid inside.
The link for The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Bucca showed me something new

FOR TODAY July 2, 2008...
Outside My Window...is one Chevy 3/4 ton green truck named "Mater," one Dodge Ram 12-seater van (also green) named "The Pickle," and a white Toyota truck a.k.a. the Tweekermobile.
I am thinking...my new computer tricks are so cool as is the friend that taught me how to do them.
I am thankful for...all the wonderful ways my friends and family have made me feel so special today because it is my birthday.
From the kitchen...issue smells of popcorn.
I am wearing...toering (a birthday gift from TODR), funky aqua skirt, plain fuschia tunic top and my hair up in a clip.
I am creating...a new blog post, duh!
I am going...to go to Plaza Jalisco tonight for dinner with the family.
I am reading...I Dared to Call Him Father.
I am hoping...to be grateful for all the blessings that I have and not be silly by dwelling on what I don't have.
I am hearing...Silverado in the background, Bucca making ice tea and talking to my Tiger girl and to the cool music I have added to my blog.
Around the house...is laundry that really should get folded and put away on my couch, my children playing outside with a friend, trash from oatmeal cookies on my table and babies sleeping. All is fine because the laundry will get put away and it will come again, but special time with friends is to be treasured above the "shoulds."
One of my favorite things...is swinging on my swing holding my baby.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...going to visit the Engstroms for 4th of July weekend and recovering from that trip.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Here is the link.

The Hand of Providence

TODR and I have had some really rocky points to our marriage. Now we know that God had us for one another from the beginning. Statistically we shouldn't be together still. In fact, according to statistics, both of should be in some really undesirable places. Thankfully God is not a God of statistics. We are coming to realize that He does delight in using the foolish things of this world to show His Glory. That is why we were pretty reluctant to offer the Love and Respect stuff.

The truth is we still spin on the crazy cycle. It is heartening to know that the Eggerichs do to. They get to practice what they preach. So maybe we do too. I think the key is not to NOT FAIL, but when we fail to not think everything is over. TODR came from a household of two divorces and two remarriages. I come from a line of divorce, my grandparents even divorced in a time when that was almost unheard of. So you can see why the only reason that we are together and not in jail is God. I think that is one of the reasons God has decided to use us in presenting the Love and Respect conference to our church family. I know from experience that it is hard to take even well-meant help from someone I may perceive as not having a clue of what I am going through. It is so much easier from someone that has been there.

That said...
God has just put so many things in motion. We have been coralled into presenting this stuff. All of it would take to much to post so I want to narrow it down to the funds aspect of it.

We feel convicted to use our money to present this stuff so it doesn't cost others to attend. We went ahead and put a sign-up sheet out to see if people wanted even to participate. We found out how much the conference books were ($7.00 a piece), how much shipping would be (free with a $50.00 min. purchase) and how long it would take to get to us (about a week). So we put this past Mon. down as the day we needed to order the books. Thursday we received an unexpected check for $51.47. Sunday we counted up how many books we needed to order: 10. Okay, so that made our order for $70.00 right? Now we figured that it would be costing us roughly $19.00 above our unexpected windfall. Not too bad. We could swing that. We ordered and it came up for $70.00. Our confirmation e-mail the next day quoted $50.00!?!? I called Love and Respect this morning. It seems that their website hasn't been updated and if you order 10 or more of the conference books they drop down to $5.00 a piece. So we just made the minimum for the $5.00 rate and the minimum for free shipping and handling and God sent us the money to cover it all! If you figure in the $$$ to make the phone calls everything comes out to the check amount.

Do you think God could be anymore obvious? I don't either.

Perspective

Finally, realize that God doesn't make mistakes. One of my closest friends relates that when she was a new bride at twenty-three years old, she was very shaken up when she discovered that her sweet husband had this thought-life issue. She cried out to God, "Why did You create him like this?" And then she realized: God did create him like this, and He said His creation was good. We may be fallible, but we are created the way we are for a purpose.

This quote from Shaunti Feldhahn's book For Women Only captures the essence of her book. Since TODR and I have gone through the Love and Respect seminar the concepts in this book are not new to me. They were new to me just a year ago and I believe they are incredibly important. We women think, breath and function in the language of love. Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs would say that we have pink hearing aids, pink sunglasses and pink megaphones. I think many people in our "love dominated culture" assume that men and women speak the same language. This book with its myth-shattering titles blow the pink whistle for us loud and clear. Titles like "Your love is NOT enough, Why Your Respect Means More to Him than Even Your Affection" and "Sex Changes Everything, Why Sex Unlocks a Man's Emotions (Guess Who Holds the Key?) Again Eggerichs would put it in terms of color; Men have blue hearing aids, blue sunglasses and blue megaphones. This book translates our men's respect issues or blue needs into pink so we women can understand.

Our culture often depicts men as a bunch of clods who have no desire to be romantic. We even put that kind of sentiment on everything from cards and magnets to T-shirts. It is considered acceptable. Yet if we said that all blacks were idiots, we would be racist. If we said women were subhuman, we would be chauvinist pigs. So why is it okay to do that to our men that were created in the image of Almighty God? I think the Biblical answer is that it isn't acceptable. I think this book also helps women understand why it is also downright detrimental to our marriages and relationships with our men. It also tells us why. Isn't it easier to meet a need when we understand where that person is coming from? If we marginalize a person's needs simply because we don't understand we have marginalized that person.

I have come to see how we women can unwittingly marginalize our men simply because we don't understand their needs. If you want to join me in unlocking the secrets of the great guy you are married to then I would highly recommend this book. Warning: It has brain-twisting ideas in it that you might need to pray through, but you and your men will appreciate the effort. I say men because it helps with all relationships from brothers to sons and even our girlfriends because of how we talk about our men to them.

So buy, borrow (just don't steal) a copy of this book. Strap yourselves in, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

And the winner is.....

REBECCA!!!

Yes, ladies and gentleman the one and only Bucca is the winner of our contest. She will receive a copy of the book For Women Only. This wonderful woman actually doesn't need much help when it comes to respecting her man, but hopefully she will enjoy owning and reading it.

Congratulations and thanks for your prayers.

Congratulations!

This lil' beauty joined the Coghlan Family this morning. This brings their blessings to 1 boy and now 8 girls. Thank Heaven for little girls! We like the boys too. No matter their gender it is the beginning of an incredible love story the first time slapping eyes on them.

The Mommy Card

I used to ask my mom how she knew so many things. Things like knowing we were messing with a no-no or eating something we shouldn't in the kitchen when she was in a different room with her back turned. She said the ability came with the mom card. Now I know it really was the fact that most no-nos are extremely loud. The rustle of contents in the fridge are also easily distinguished. This coupled with the fact that children think they are being noiseless when truly they are louder than a 747 taking off. Still my mom seemed to hear everything, see everything and know everything. I thought (and still do) that you got some cool abilities with that ole card.

We also hear much about "race cards" or "gender cards." I think the "mommy card" trumps 'em all whatever card you want to play. Probably not PC, but I am playing MY mommy card and it is MY family blog...

The man shown above said that his mother was the making of him. He is probably one of the best arguments for large families, stay-home moms and homeschooling. One of his famous inventions was supposedly finished on August 12, 1877. TODR and my anniversary is the same date except in 1995. What a cool coincidence! Anyone know who he is? Anyone know what the invention I reference is? I didn't know he was the inventor, but my boys did. Another argument for homeschooling.

Make sure you read our contest post!

A more fair contest

I have many thoughts rambling around in my brain. One is that I need to have a more fair contest here on our blog. So here goes...

Explanation: We are going to do the Love and Respect series at church in the month of July. From experience we know that when people step out to do ministry kind of things the devil likes to zoom in. We need to be in prayer. We need others to lift us up in prayer as we do this.

The Contest: Everyone that commits to pray for us everyday from July 12 to August 9 and leaves us a comment to let us know will be placed in the drawing. The contest begins now and will end Sunday, June 29th at midnight. Every entrant's name will be placed in the hat (or container) on Monday. A name will be drawn by the helper of the day. The contest is open to anyone and any age. One person, one entry, no limit per household. The prize will be an age/gender appropriate book.

Edit: I realized after I posted this that some of my devoted readers (you know who you are) are unable to leave a comment. I am ammending the comment portion of our contest. Anyone that leaves us a comment OR calls me to let me know that they will be praying for us will be eligible. I will add your name in the comments so everyone knows the odds. Is that better?

On your marks, get set, GO!

Okay, okay, okay....

I answered it in the comments, but I guess I should write a post about it...

The answer was number 60! I have only had surgery of any kind once and it was to remove my gallbladder. I have never had laser surgery minor or major. I just thought about a couple of ladies I know that have had eyes laser surgeried (or whatever the proper verb of that would be). I also know a girl that had tattoos removed that way. So that is why that particular untruth popped into my head at the time.

The funny thing is that I thought that it would be kind of obvious. My husband had a hard time picking it out. My Bucca had a hard time figuring it out. My mom even struck out completely. I am not too sure what that means.

I do know that it means I owe no one blueberries:) Maybe I should come up with another contest. Something more fair. Other contests I have seen in the blogasphere usually include drawings. Maybe I should consider that tack.


There you are for all three of you that were holding your breath to find out the answer to our 134 post.

Fun Foot Friday

I have never been a big poetry fan. I do, however, quite enjoy alliteration (can you tell?). Dr. Seuss is right up my alley.

I am hereby declaring Fridays Fun Foot Fridays in the Heath Household. I so enjoy my foot massage stuff. I am also willing to share with the kiddos. I have non-scented cream for after foot bath massage. I also have some wild polish for the girls' toenails. Even the two year old likes to have her nails painted. I have found that toenail polish seems to hold up well on the little guys. I am probably starting some kind of foot fetish in our house, but it is another good memory maker. Maybe I like the foot stuff so much because I remember that being a treat way back when at my Nana's house. I also LOVE getting my hair washed at a salon.

Another little tidbit: I purchased an Elvis song I really like from itunes this morning. Do you want to know which one? I Can't Help Falling in Love With You. I have sung this song to each one of my precious children. I am not a big Elvis fan, but I do like that particular song. I like itunes as well because you can just purchase one song. I remember liking many a fine tune on the radio only to purchase the album and be greatly dissapointed with the rest of the songs. Now I can purchase the song I like, add it to my playlist and enjoy all "my" songs.

I also don't believe in "love at first sight," except when it comes to children. I fell in love with my children the first time I laid eyes on them. When it comes to a mate I think it is wise to consider whether he can love her as Christ loves the church and whether she can respect him as the leader of her home. I have come to believe in courtship and LOVE AND RESPECT before marriage. Some may argue with me, but we have one of the highest divorce rates in the world. Clearly we must re-evaluate our methods. Anyway...

We are off on another fun filled day. I think we definitely have precedence for foot washing, don't you?

134

My friend Bucca recently blogged 132 things about herself in honor of how many posts she had written. I think it was a great idea. Here is my challenge. This is post number 134 so if I am going to do it in the same way as she did I have to list 135 things about our family and one in there is not true. Then you get to guess. Hmmm. Let's see if I am up to the challenge:

1. I love crawling into bed with clean sheets (especially ones that have been dried out on a line).
2. I met the Ole Daddy Rabbit at his baptism when I was 18 and he was 25.
3. I never thought I would be a Baptist, but I am.
4. I was born the year of Roe v. Wade.
5. I have had 6 out of 7 children at home and all were born with a midwife.
6. We all have birthday buddies or something memorable about our birthdays: Our oldest boy and oldest girl are 10/4 and 9/4, second son and third daughter 6/22 and 9/22, second daughter and me 9/2 and 7/2, Ole Daddy Rabbit and his grandma 9/11 and 10/11, the firecracker girl was born 5/17 on my Nana's birthday and our latest model was born 12/26 during a black-out and a major snow-storm! Of course, her birthday buddy would be Jesus:)
7. My hair is dark brown, straight and long (okay, I am starting to get some gray) and my eyes are green.
8. My mom lives four houses down from us and I am so thankful to have "free" babysitting these days. I really hope to not ever take her for granted.
9. I have always done well in English, but I struggled with math. For some stupid reason the public school system thinks that if you are "gifted" (whatever that means) in one area that you should be in Honors everything. I would plot something in Advanced Math on the computer and everyone else's would come out correctly and mine would be screwy. I hated that class. I felt better when I got into regular math.
10. My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
11. My favorite movie is While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.
12. I think Bill Pullman is kind of cute while I can't understand a friend of mine's opinion of Richard Gere (her husband is a decent looking chap so I know she doesn't have completely bad taste).
13. Every time I hear my children's heart-felt prayers I cry. I try to be inconspicuous about it especially at corporate prayer time.
14. I am realizing more and more how fleeting time is with our children. I wish I had spent more time holding, rocking, and cuddling my older ones. I am determined to not let anymore opportunities pass us by.
15. I like a little known christian artist by the name of Julie Miller. My husband and most of my friends don't understand my interest. I am okay with that.
16. My favorite movie as a child was Star Wars. I had Star Wars sheets and Star Wars action figures.
17. My mom wouldn't let me have a light sabre or blaster gun. She didn't let us have "violent weapons."
18. Number 17 is okay because my hubby bought me a .410 Stoeger, double-barrell, double-trigger shotgun for my last birthday. I love owning a gun even if I don't use it much.
19. Annie Oakley is a heroine of mine.
20. Other heroines include Joni Eareckson Tada, Carmon Friedrich, Stacy McDonald, Denise Sproul, and my mom.
21. My children each have six siblings, but I only had one.
22. My children have eight cousins on their daddy's side and none on mine.
23. I have no first cousins.
24. The Lord touched my life when I was 14. He used a man named Doug Croucher. He was a man that walked what he talked. I will forever be grateful for him in my life.
25. I went to Africa when I was 16. The country of Malawi to be exact.
26. I went to Hawaii and then Russia when I was 18.
27. I have tried caviar, champagne and Swiss chocolate. Of these "finer" things in life I only understand the chocolate:)
28. I would like to visit 6 of the 7 continents on the earth before I die. Antarctica doesn't excite me.
29. I have been to 3 so I am half way to that goal.
30. I had to look up how to spell Antarctica.
31. We have given out mini-Heath bars for all of our girls to announce their births. We couldn't find them for the boys now they are everywhere.
32. My husband doesn't care for Heath bars. 3 Musketeers is more up his alley.
33. My favorite chocolate bar right now is Newman's Own Organic Dark Chocolate with Orange.
34. I have a Whirley Pop and I LOVE popcorn made this way. Microwave doesn't cut it anymore.
35. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Prince Caspian.
36. We own all the Pixar movies except Ratatoullie.
37. I don't know if I spelled Ratatoullie right or not. I am thinking not, but I can't find it in the dictionary. Moving on.
38. I love the movie The Quiet Man, but no other John Wayne movies appeal to me.
39. Some samples of the movies we own: A&E's Pride and Prejudice, Victoria and Albert, A Knight's Tale, Captains Courageous and Victory at Sea.
40. I have worked at Sears' Watch Repair, Clothworld, As a Nanny, Great Western Bank and Kindercare.
41. My current job of wife and mom is the best and most challenging. It keeps me on my knees the most. That is the best place to be and the hardest for my fallen nature.
42. I love my husband's blue eyes. They are what I noticed about him first.
43. I am a very blessed woman. I currently live with eight of my biggest blessings.
44. I have gotten fireworks for my birthday not once, but twice.
45. I am not fond of fireworks as birthday gifts.
46. I love garage-saling, but as of yet have never had one.
47. The only piece of furniture in our house that was bought new is our bed. Everything else was either bought second-hand, was free second-hand or a gift.
48. I have never really liked pink, but it has been growing on me since our girls are pink freaks. I have even contemplated purchasing some brown and pink combo. things for me.
49. I really like shoes, but hardly ever wear them.
50. I own a foot massager and have started using it on a weekly basis. Of course, I have to share with the kiddos. I even have some special Sea Salt to use with it. I purchased some special non-scented cream to rub on afterwards so the boys can do it too.
51. A foot massage is my idea of bliss.
52. Our first date my husband made me dinner and massaged my feet.
53. Our first date my husband burned the chicken on the outside and it was raw on the inside. Today he is one of the meanest chicken BBQers I know. Yum-yum!
54. I feel pretty when I have my toes painted.
55. I like toe-rings and wild skirts. I think they are fun.
56. I have a tattoo of a cross on my back.
57. My first car was a '78 Ford Fiesta named Felix.
58. My friends made up a funny song about my car to the tune of Felix the Cat.
59. I have had my gallbladder removed.
60. I have had minor laser surgery done (I am not going to mention why).
61. I have been pregnant for 67 months of my life which translates into over 5 and a half years. Which translates into almost half of our marriage.
62. I have breastfed for almost 4 years. You can do the math with us celebrating 13 years this August:)
63. One of my favorite sounds is my husband laughing especially with the kids.
64. I love when my husband dances with the kids. He puts on his 70's and 80's music and they all boogey. It is fun. I know it will be one of our cherished family memories.
65. I think my husband is smart. He doesn't think he is smart, but thinks his wife is. I don't think she is as smart as he thinks. We have great discussions though usually about theology.
66. My husband and I agree on the Sovereignty of God, all points of doctrine, John Piper, R.C. Sproul and Joni Eareckson Tada.
67. We do NOT agree on Miracle Whip, Tuna Casserole or Brussel Sprouts.
68. We love the beach.
69. I like Sunflowers because I think they are cheerful.
70. I think it is possible to go overboard with Sunflowers.
71. I have 6 blueberry bushes and 2 rose bushes that seem to be doing well despite my black thumb.
72. We have a cat name Sally that my husband made fun of me for paying $30.00 for. He loves that cat and she loves him. She is a great hunter and pal.
73. We had a dog named Grizzly. I wish I had been sweeter to my husband about that unfortunate animal. He did not turn out to be as good of a deal as the cat even if was "free." We will not enumerate on his bad habits here.
74. I have a hard time sharing deep secrets for fear of being made fun of.
75. I can sew and crochet, but I don't have the time for that now.
76. I can't knit.
77. I love when people ask me if I made my daughters' darling dresses and handmade sweaters that they usually sport at church. Of course! That is what I do in my spare time. That is a joke! I have no spare time. My mom is the creator of the lovely handmade outfits.
78. Jesus is not my crutch. He is my life support system.
79. The year I turned 19 I lost three people in death. A friend summed it up well when he said, "That sucks."
80. I think some people are a little too uptight when it comes to some words like sucks and crap.
81. I think some people are not uptight enough when it comes to using the Lord's name in vain and modesty.
82. I have read Harry Potter, Left Behind, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and all of The Chronicles of Narnia.
83. I didn't care for Left Behind or The Lord of the Rings.
84. I know admissions in numbers 82 and 83 might tweek out people that I love and respect.
85. I have gone through the Eggerichs' Love and Respect 3 times now. This July will be four. Maybe God is saying something to us!
86. While my husband and I like tools like Desiring God and Love and Respect we know that they are not the final authority as are the Scriptures.
87. As of today 6/17/2008 my husband can quote up to Chapter 2 verse 18 of Romans.
88. As of the same day I can quote three verses of the first chapter of Romans.
89. Our second son can quote up to Chapter one verse 16.
90. Our oldest son can quote up to verse nine of Chapter one.
91. I have taught three children to read so far.
92. I can use a "honey bucket" without sitting on the seat or touching anything except the door handle with my hands even when I am 8 months pregnant.
93. I prefer wearing skirts, but it doesn't work well when riding a bike.
94. I like biking.
95. My husband would like to get a bike like they have at the beach. You know the canopied kind so we could all go biking as a family. I think that would be really cool.
96. With gas prices going up #95 might be a very practical idea.
97. I love my 12-seater van that we call The Pickle. It is so roomy and comfortable even if a bit hard on the gas.
98. I like coffee with sweetner and cream. I like green tea and most fruit teas.
99. I do not like chamomile tea.
100. My favorite candy used to be red and white striped peppermints.
101. After my first pregnancy when I ate and drank lots of peppermint because of my queasy tummy I don't care for peppermint.
102. My husband and children like the sweet and sour candies while I think chocolate is the only legitimate candy.
103. When given their choice of ice cream...
The Ole Daddy Rabbit: Tillamook Vanilla Bean
104. Mine would be Tillamook Chocolate and Peanut Butter
105. Oldest Son would be Chocolate.
106. Second Son chooses Blackberry.
107. Oldest Daughter goes for Strawberry (I think it is because it is pink not for flavor necessarily).
108. The younger girls all go back and forth between chocotate, vanilla and strawberry. Neopolitan was made for such folk.
109. I could happily be a vegetarian.
110. My husband would not be a happy vegetarian.
111. I am the only one in my house that likes soy milk.
112. We all like artichokes. Everyone likes melted butter except I have taken to garlic mayo for dipping.
113. My mom didn't let us have cereal if sugar was in the first four ingredients when I was a kid.
114. That same mom wanted to feed my precious first-born child ice cream when he was a baby.
115. I have loosened up enough to not think ice cream offered by a grandparent to be a big deal.
116. When we first got married my husband said he wanted a baseball team. If you count the parents then we have achieved this goal.
117. Before I got married I never thought we would have a baseball team, but God changed my heart about children.
118. My husband is the oldest of four children; two boys and two girls.
119. My husband is still close to his sister just under him. They spend 11 days a year being the same age. They irritate each other the most, but stick by each other the most.
120. I used to pray for a "hedge of protection" around people, but can't bring myself to do it since seeing Tim Hawkins on that subject.
121. I have a hard time with the song Refiner's Fire. My friend, Yutaka, in YWAM made a funny song about it. I can't sing it with a straight face.
122. My husband makes me laugh. Sometimes in not socially acceptable places. Goofy guy. He does a great rendition of "Jesus Freak."
123. My husband can do a very hilarious dance.
124. My husband wore a hideous maternity shirt I had been given to model its atrociousness to friends over for dinner once.
125. I am not musically gifted while my husband and children are.
126. I am gifted when it comes to cooking and letter writing while my husband isn't (with the exception of the grill).
127. My husband thinks I am beautiful and is great about letting me know that.
128. I think my husband is more handsome now than he was when we got married.
129. I like getting new clothes, but I hate buying new tennis shoes.
130. I don't like shopping, but I do like being able to do it from my computer.
131. I love having pictures of events and have a great camera.
132. I often forget to take pictures of events because I am so involved with the people to remember to do it. I am getting better though.
133. I don't have it together, but am learning that it is okay. I am also learning that it might be used more by God because it shows our dependence on Him and others see our imperfections and feel more comfortable.
134. I hate plastic on furniture and on walkways.
135. I pray for family and friends often because I have their names and Bible verses tacked all over my house. Yes, even in the bathroom. I desire to pray more because I know that a relationship with God is the most important. My husband and I both agree that we are smitten by His love shown to us on the cross and hope to "never get over it."

Okay, that wasn't as hard as I thought. Maybe because my thoughts are usually random anyway. Please, leave a comment on what you think.

What we have been up to.

I had trouble with my camera so it turned out a little red and wasn't exactly the shot I wanted. We had a wonderful family over for dinner one night. My husband has made a window box seat for us. The children are all sitting on it. My oldest boy was reading a story to all the little ones. Our friends' son was going to sleep on his shoulder. It was really precious. Unfortunately, I got the camera and had some technical difficulty so I didn't get THAT particularly sweet shot, but I tried.

Last week we finished up school with the boys going for annual testing. We will still be reading and doing devotions, but those I consider necessities in life. The boys had to be up and out of the house at 7:00 each morning for three mornings. A lady from church carpooled them out there. What a blessing! The boys both did extremely well on their testing. I don't mean that they both scored way above average or anything. The scores don't mean as much to me as their attitude. They got ready to go in the mornings. They both did their best on the tests. The one that had gone to testing before is getting a better hang on taking tests. They were both well-behaved. We were very proud of both of them. We rewarded them with that highly educational game: BATTLESHIP!

Last week, while the boys were at testing, I started cleaning stuff out so we can have a garage sale. Where did we get so much stuff? Now my laundry room is cleaned out, under the stairs is cleaned out, the children's rooms are cleaned out, my closet is cleaned out...
Now where is all the stuff that is waiting to be sorted? You guessed it-my room. Oh well. It will get done. If we ever get some warmer weather. Yesterday I actually asked my husband to build a fire. It felt really good too. (I am tired of rain and am ready for some nicer weather:)

Saturday we cleaned and sorted as well. We are getting stuff done for doing a five week thing with Love and Respect this summer. Sunday we had church and the Second Sunday Soup and Social. Then family came over to visit. The menfolk sat around a fire and enjoyed a message by John Piper. We womenfolk walked down to Oma's for a visit.

Monday the Ole Daddy Rabbit had a chiropractor appointment out town. Oma watched some kiddos. We also took the opportunity to do our once a month grocery shopping. Prices are creeping up, but I was really struck how much so at the bread store. I am rethinking how I might actually make our bread now. I have this summer to try to get that into our routine.

Tuesday we went to a Kick off for Summer BBQ sponsored by a Don't Drink and Drive program. There were lots of sherriffs there. My boys think they are soooooo cool. One of the sherriffs is a great man that attends our church. He is quite the hero as far as the boys are concerned. Hey, free food and some fun activities and home at a decent hour...not too bad. I asked the children what they liked best: 2 of them liked the seatbelt crashing (the sherriff department has a "ride" that demonstrates why it is good to wear a seatbelt), 3 liked the Jolly Jump, and 1 liked the sherriffs. Tiny Tim didn't really have an opinion. Oma seemed very impressed with the Great Horned Owl. A sherriff had it on a gloved arm. It was tame enough that even our Firecracker got to stroke it. I liked the free food and I didn't have to clean up afterwards. I think the jury is still out on the Ole Daddy Rabbit.

I used to be more of a perfectionist. Everything had to be just so. I could get away with it when I only had two children and they were young enough not to do school. These days with 7 children and homeschool responsibilities I have been forced to evaluate the priorities. I do believe we all need structure and discipline. If we don't have that the house/family will blow apart. All of our children have chores that they are responsible for. The older ones each have a younger buddy that they help out (help them brush their teeth, find jackets and shoes, get in their carseats etc.). That said...

I want my children to look back at their childhood and have good memories. Now memories can't be purchased. They have to be made. They are not made by sitting in front of the boob tube or without any effort from the parents. I wish those were true. I am finding that most things in life are simple, but not easy.

Some things we have planned for this summer:
-The boys are going to Bible Smugglers.
-A wonderful friend has a birthday coming up and I would like to do something with her.
-A special boy's birthday. He wants to camp out (if it isn't raining we will let him sleep in the tent outside with the Ole Daddy Rabbit and some friends). We have s'mores makings already.
-We are going to our friends' house for Fourth of July weekend. We expect to have a blast. Quite literally since PapaPyro is doing the fireworks.
-We are going to the NW Trek with a generous lady from church.
-We are going to try to make it to the Blueback submarine at the Oregon Museum in Portland.
- I hope the Ole Daddy Rabbit is planning something fun for our anniversary:)(Edit: The Ole Daddy Rabbit has gone above and beyond my expectations. He has booked a hotel at a beach in Newport with a jacuzzi in the room! I am breathless with anticipation!)
-The boys have an invitation to go camping. We have lots of invitations to go visiting folk that we HAVE to take advantage of.

Good hard work coupled with friend, family and fun. That builds community contrary to what the school bond propaganda signs said. I am hoping to have a great summer that is full of memories. What are you planning on doing this summer?

I like blogging.

I like blogging because...

...somedays when things are hectic I think about how I would blog about the situation and gain some perspective.

...I have found quite a few like-minded folk and friends through it.

...my kids can read it and it is soooooo much easier than scrap-booking (less messy too).

...it hones my writing skills so someday I might be able to co-author a book:)

So after getting a bunch of necessary things done I am sitting down to post some tidbits.

Scary or what?

Talk about congratulating yourself!

This is what it feels like parenting this little tike sometimes:) She has that much love to give, though, too.

Didn't know I had a twin, did ya?


All pictures were taken by the Ole Daddy Rabbit. He is too funny.

Who wants to be normal?

Our oldest son has been playing baseball this season. He has also gotten a lot of flack for being homeschooled. The children display their (and might I say actually their parents'?) prejudice and ignorance of homeschooling. To my mind it is sad. His best buddy also isn't playing anymore, making it doubly hard for him. We are so proud of him that despite these things he is determined to finish the season.
I read a recent poll that showed people believed homeschooling was just as viable education-wise as public school. They also believed, some what contradictorally, that homeschool doesn't prepare you for the adult world as well as public schools. I have heard those sentiments repeated often in our small community. Those spewing such nonsense often point to the homeschoolers that are now adults and working at the mill. They point out that they don't fit in with others their age. It is true to some extent. I ask, though, what are they not fitting in with?
In our area we have an epidemic of meth use. We also have an incredible number of drinkers (not that I am against drinking in moderation). Am I to be upset if I or my child doesn't fit in with that?
I think Kevin Leman put it perfectly in his book Adolescence Isn't Terminal; It Just Feels Like It!:

I think it's good to be different. I think it's healthy to raise
kids to stand apart from the crowd.
If your son isn't "different," his adult life may look like this:
He may marry and divorce within the first five years of his adult life.
He may drift from partner to partner. If he marries or moves in with a
woman who has already been divorced, he will merge his life with someone
whom somebody else has already discarded.
If your daughter isn't "different," she may have half a dozen
sexual partners before she graduates college. She may also contract a
sexually transmitted disease. Her sexual experience will actually make
her less likely to have a successful marriage, leading to a number of
broken relationships....
I think it's good for kids to be different. When the
popular route leads to disaster, I want my children to choose a unique
path. If I raise my kids to be exactly like everyone else-letting them
watch whatever they want to watch, turning a blind eye to premarital
sexual activity, running them ragged from morning to night so that the
the family never bonds, being too tired on Saturday or Sunday morning
to take the family to synagogue or church-I should expect them to grow
up to be like everyone else.
And that thought terrifies me.

I don't want my children to be average, I want them to be great. I am so blessed because my children already are great. They are a blessing. I am so very proud of them, especially my oldest boy in this situation. Way to stay at it buddy!

One...Two!

Our Lit' Firecracker just turned two! She is pretty wild and sweet. Happy Birthday you special girl. We love you so very much.

I don't remember THAT!

We saw the first Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in the theatre when it came out. We enjoyed it. We promised the oldest children that we would see the next one, Prince Caspian, when it came out. So we went to the theatre last night to see it. We took the oldest three, three stayed with Oma and we had to take the latest model.
We met some new people at the theatre and some old acquintances. That was fun. We parked next to a white 15-passenger van. It turned out to be the vehicle for another family of seven that homeschools. We had some good conversation before the movie started and that was great. We got popcorn and soda. All a big treat.
Now I think I would have enjoyed the movie greatly if I hadn't read the book. I am placing this movie on my list of It-bears-the-same-name-as-the-book-but-that-is-about-it. The two glaring changes they added, that I thought took away from the story, were a rivalry between Peter and Caspian and a romantic intensity between Susan and Caspian.
The screenwriter seemed to add a whole tone of coming of age angst and rebellion that is not in any of the books. One telling line, for me, was when Peter is encouraged that, "This is not the time for chivalry!" Hello? The book is always clear about the good guys acting honorably in contrast to the villains acting dishonorably. When is the time to act chivalrously? Integrity is demonstrated when the circumstances are hard. That defines character. All the Narnia books are infused with the idea of character.
C.S. Lewis didn't believe in talking down to children. He had many children write to him and he wrote back. His letters always had a man to man tone to them. Children responded well to his tone of respect. He used this tone in his books. I think that is why they were so immensely popular. I think it all got lost in this movie.
The Pevensie kids are argumentative with each other. Peter is excessively rude to Caspian. In the book Peter is very clear that he did not come to rule, but to aid Caspian. They add a whole ivasion of the castle that doesn't exist in the book. It detracts from the whole overall story. Susan also figures prominently in the battles as opposed to being with Lucy in awakening the trees. So much for "battles are ugly when women fight." A quote thoughtfully altered in the first movie and completely dismissed in this one. The romance between Caspian and Susan is pretty nauseating. She even kisses him before crossing back into our world. Blech! Definately not in the book.
On a whole I was dissapointed. There were some bright spots. Edmund was pretty cool in this movie. I liked his character. Reepicheep was wonderful! He was even better than I imagined. He is worth renting the movie for when it comes out on DVD.

They're Here!

Yes, my new Official Homeschool Cartoon Books Volumes 2 and 3!
I will try to share a couple of my favorite/convicting cartoons by that funny man, Todd Wilson.

I don't have a scanner so here is my best attempt at these great exerpts. I know that Mr. Wilson lives in Indiana, but I suspect he might lurk under a bed around my house every once and a while:)

I don't know why they were small.

Here are the pictures that turned out small in my previous post and a couple of new ones.

Tiptoe-ing through the tulips.

My great friend Bucca took these lovely pictures. I framed some for my mom for Mother's Day and I also framed some for my wall:) I thought they were great.

Admissions of a Recovering Perfectionist

I was awarded an "E" for having an excellent blog by a very sweet lady. She wrote a very nice blurb about me on her blog. It made me think about my life. I really think I appear better in print when I can modify what I share and even make my blatant sin have a funny twist.

There are days when I think I have it all together. I have cleaned the house, fixed a great dinner, and wonderfully educated my children. Unfortunately, the truth is that the more children I have and the older I get those days are fewer and much farther apart. Maybe I should say fortunately because it does drive me to my knees. If I only had, say, two children I would probably be one of those annoying individuals that think they have it all together and give advice to everyone. Maybe not considering the disposition of the eldest. He is enough to take all the parenting techniques I knew would produce perfect children and send them up in flames.

I have a list of "bad mom" moments that I wouldn't share on the blog. I don't want them to be in permanent print. It is enough that they pop up every now and then in conversation with the children. Like, "Mom, do you remember when we had to go to the doctor for ipecac when T.... drank all the Tylenol?" I will never live those moments down so why torture myself? They do come in hand, though, when another mom feels down. Then I can assure her that if my children have lived then hers will too. I will offer her a listening ear over tea and hopefully make her feel like a great mom.

Guess What I Got!

If you guessed a brand-new Fuji Film 10 megapixel digital camera complete with camera bag you would be right!

How do you spell LOVE to a man?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

If you are a woman, like me, that probably sounds weird to you. My husband and I were privileged to go to a Love and Respect Conference last July. It was great. So much so that MY HUSBAND bought the videos and small group books. We are going through it again with some dear friends of ours. We would also like to some how touch more people at church with it (our group is discussing how God would have that to look). I am trying to learn to speak the language of respect. It isn't my native tongue. I figure if I can work on Greek and learn essential phrases in Russian then I can do something in Respect.

With that in mind, I get excited when I run across more on how to speak to my man in particular and then men in general. It changes how I mother my sons and my daughters. I pray every night over my small girls (daddy usually prays with the older ones:). I pray almost every night that God would help them become Godly women and that their mother would become a good example to them. I pray that as I learn to speak and act respectfully to my husband that my daughters would pick the language up far better than I ever could. Children tend to pick languages up easier than adults. My husband gets Family Life Today podcasts. Yesterday's was with an authoress that wrote about this subject. The show was an incredible little tidbit. I am wanting to burn it to CD to give away at church. I am also going to try to link it here Hopefully, that worked.

When I was going back to try to link that show I saw that there are 5 whole days on this subject. Maybe I will wait until Friday to burn them all to CD. I think that might be a great Mother's Day gift at church. I would also like to get that book For Women Only. They even have it on audio CD for those that would rather listen than read.

Anyone else interested in taking language lessons with me?

Prayer

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. I also recently read an incredible book, Passionate Housewives. In that book Stacy McDonald encourages us to not feel guilty about the "sacred quiet time" or lack there of in your life. She says to pray in "droplets." She also says, "but PRAY!" (emphasis added) That has really inspired me to pray more often and more specifically. The practical aspect of that is that I have written sripture, dear people and prayers down. I have contact papered them and stuck them in various areas of the house.

For instance, I have my husband and children written down with scripture that I am praying for them tacked above the kitchen sink. Since I spend a good amount of time there I pray for them often:)

My husband gave me a great devotional book by one of my favorite authors, Joni Eareckson Tada, for Christmas. I wrote out one of the scripture verses and the prayer at the end of one recent devotion. I have been praying it every day. Let me share it with you: Just for today, Lord, keep me and guide me, just for today. For the next twenty-four hours, fill me with grace to face each setback with patience and joy beyond my own.

I am not into those silly prayers that people often send via e-mail (or snail mail sometimes) that involves some financial payoff. Or the ones that promise all kinds of problems from hemmoroids to acid reflux if I don't pass it on. I am encouraged, however, by the prayers of saints past and present. It reminds me that we are part of a greater fellowship than what we may suspect. I once stood in a thousand year old church. It hit me that the Lord always has a remnant. I could almost see the saints from the past holding hands throughout the ages down to me. We all need to remember that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We are not alone. That is part of being in the body of Christ, who said he would never leave us or forsake us. His body is made up of believers throughout history. I am strengthened when I think of my fellow members:)