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:)

The Children of Caesar

Preach it brother! I have long respected this man.

I have to add about socialization. When people ask about socialization I just ask, "Have you met my children?" Take last night for instance. I took #1 daughter out for dinner and discipleship (translated that means tacos at the local diner and doing her About Me Journal, she's only six). She talked and waved to all the patrons. One woman had a small child. My daughter engaged in conversation with both. The waitress was so impressed when my daughter said, "Yes, ma'am." Another woman walked in with a sour expression on her face. It might have been a long day for her. My daughter waved and said, "HI!" The woman's face brightened. Maybe that was the first kind word she had all day. The cook came out to serve some food. He had no hair and a beard and a tattoo. My daughter engaged him in a little- Hi-how-are-ya conversation. He went back to the kitchen with a smile on his face. Now we have specific rules on talking to strangers. We are not stupid when it comes to pedophiles and the like. Our children are instructed to only speak to strangers when mom or dad is with them. A stranger is anyone that mom and dad do not know their first and last name. If a stranger approaches them in our yard, they are to all get into the house (boys protect girls and the like). They are not drilled to NEVER talk to strangers and left on their own too much. These simple rules allow our children to be social without being in danger. So what about socialization?

Tips on how to be a great mom.

This was the title on a Chuck Swindoll message that I listened to today. I have taken to riding my exercise bike and listening to a podcast when I get the chance. It was so encouraging. He looked at Mary for his example. This is a good thing because Chuck Swindoll might be a great teacher, but no matter what he does he will never be a great mom. He will never be a mediocre mom or any other kind of mom.

Anyway...

His first tip was to realize the sacredness of each conception and pregnancy. The whole message was great, but that was the point that struck me the most. In this age of birth control we have some how come to think that we are the determiners of conception. We can do all kinds of things to prevent it. We can even do all kinds of fertility things from charting to IVF to encourage it. No matter what we cannot MAKE conception happen. Each child is a beautiful gift. If that child were conceived at a different time it would not be that child. I have often marveled at how a soul is knit together with a body. We have never been able to plumb those depths of the esoteric. We can clone DNA, but we cannot make a spirit. That belongs to God alone. Even identical twins with the same DNA are different people because they don't share a soul.

I have had the privilege of carrying 10 children. Seven I carried to term. Three might have only lived to be weeks old yet their conceptions were sacred. What a beautiful way to think about those precious souls that already rejoice around our Lord's throne.

I may not ever have any more children. I can get caught up in all kinds of cyclical thoughts. I can get caught up in the drudgery of diaper changes and laundry. Or I can do what I have chosen today: sipping ice tea with a dear friend as my children play outside on a lovely day, letting the little girls play in bubble water in the sink, swinging with my baby on the swing, nursing the baby and holding her close, rejoicing in how big, strong and thoughtful my oldest son is becoming. I pray that I will continue to focus on the blessings and the sacredness and not to get sucked down into the mire. I have been truly blessed.

A little bit personal.

I like to read. If you know me at all, I know that is no surprise to you. I have become more selective in what I read. I have been burned too many times to just pick up a book from the local library because the blurb on the jacket sounds interesting. Two instances should give you ample example (that is my only contribution to Poetry Month, if you want more go check out Carmon's website, she is very poetically inclined).

A few years ago now some customers of my husband's loaned me a book. I read it and enjoyed it. I then went online to our library catalog and ordered all of the books written by that author. I received the books and went home to read them (this was before our oldest was "school age" and I had a lot more time). I was horrified at about page 45 with an explicit sex scene! I learned that was also typical of this author's books. What I had failed to realize was the book I had originally read was a Reader's Digest version and all the smut was cut (oh-oh that rhymes as well). I shame-facedly returned those books to the library. We live in a small town and I really didn't want our librarians to think I deliberately read such trash.

The second incident was when I picked up a book on the new release shelf. I read the jacket and it sounded very creative. It had great reviews on the back. Of course, I realize that they aren't going to pick a review that says it was the worst book that critic has ever read. I may be naive, but not THAT naive. I think it was only about page 18 on this book when it turned crude. Another shame-faced return to the library.

Now some might use this to prove that I am prudish. To be frank; I have a husband and I believe sex is a beautiful gift from the Lord. I am not relegated to reading about it. I mean seriously folks, I have seven children. So some can think me prudish, but I hold that they have to read about it and I can experience it.

So all that to say that I have found some great books ABOUT SEX! I had a dear friend refer me to the first one. It is called Sheet Music by Kevin Leman. I have to agree with that friend about it having a lot of healing in it. I would recommend this book to any married couple. I would recommend it especially to those with a past. In our culture today that means almost everyone. In Steele Magnolias one character quips, "These days if you can achieve puberty, you can have a past." So true and so sad. Yet where sin abounds grace abounds that much more. This book is a very gracious book.

The second book is by Kevin Leman and Kathy Flores Bell. I had to get the book so I can get the title right: A Chicken's Guide to Talking Turkey with your Kids about Sex. I purchased Sheet Music because it was so good. I am going to get this one too. It really covers the subject well. It focuses on having a relationship with your children. It reinforces how my mom talked to me about sex and my changing body as well as how I talk to my children. The reason I want to buy the book is its wonderful "hands on" examples it gives. I figure by the time I xeroxed all the copies I would need to help me remember and purchasing a folder to put them in I would spend just as much as the book would cost me. I will give you one example that we used successfully for all ages in our house last week.

Supplies you need: Hand Lotion, cinnamon, soap and water. Explain to the children that we have natural oils in our hands. The lotion represents those. Have the children apply hand lotion. The cinnamon represents germs (I called them germies for who-knows-what-reason, I am usually pretty specific on what things are called). Sprinkle cinnamon on their hands. Then show them how germs can get trapped on their clothes if they just wipe their hands on them or on anything else. Then show them how to wash their hands and the germs get washed down the drain.

After our hand washing lesson my children have an obsession with hand cleanliness. Lesson learned and applied.

Okay, okay, okay, we went anyway....

I hadn't planned on going to the Blog Sistas' BBQ. I had many good reasons to not go. It worked out for the children (minus the oldest boy) and I to go. We were all so blessed. It was a great time to pray and sing on our way there. It was a great time while we were there (I mean there was GREAT coffee and chocolate-how could we lose?). It was also a great time with the Lord on the way back.

Our SamBoy defended the known world with a bunch of his buddies. Nothing like boys getting together to defend the cause of justice with weapons:) Our oldest girl helped out in the kitchen and made new friends. The three middle girls got to play with many their own age. Tiny Tim was just plain perfect. We visited and put names to faces. I got second place on the "How Well Do You Know Kim" game. I only placed so highly because I had been talking to her before hand and unknowingly found out some of the answers. If I had been smarter I would have taken a gander at the test and asked her. I think that is called cheating though.

Blog Sistas

I was graciously invited to go to a "Blog Sista" BBQ hosted by my friends, the Engstroms. It is an opportunity to get to know some folks that I know only from the blogasphere. I, unfortunately, have too much going on so that it is wiser that I stay close to home instead of attending. Even the temptation of home-roasted decaf. coffee wasn't enough to get me to go (even though it was a GREAT TEMPTATION!).
I find it ironic that I even have blog sistas. I am not very computer literate. I am still struggling with getting music to play on my blog. I am not losing sleep over that how ever. I look back on how I got to have cyberfriends. It is a funny journey.
I attended a Ligonier Conference in Portland a few years ago (four children ago). RCJR was there with his Highland Study Center booth. I looked at some information and found it interesting. I looked them up on the web. I commented from time to time. There was one lady that I connected with on the comments section. She was brave enough to send her e-mail address. She is my Val-Pal in NJ. She was doing the blog thing (note she is also much more technically savvy than I am). She recommended Carmon's (Not San Diego) Buried Treasure site. Wow-what kindred spirits I found there. From that website I have found some other kindred spirits. I feel as Ann Shirley said, "I don't think kindred spirits are as few as I once though."
I have been blessed with some REAL friendships through these weblogs. I have benefitted in so many ways. I have been challenged in my thinking, encouraged to keep going on the narrow path and felt loved through real tokens of friendship. It is so easy to give up when you feel like you are the only one. It is so wonderful to have a group of like-minded folk to chat with on our journey. It is even better when we can get together and share chocolate. I believe Stacy MacDonald says that is can be catagorized as medicinal after childbirth:)
There is so much garbage on the internet. Like any tool, though, it can be used for good or ill. I have been much blessed by this technological advance.

Amazing

I am amazed at how my children are growing. I have heard it from many older folks since we have started having wee ones. They tell us to enjoy our children because they grow up so fast. I am seeing the truth of it. I believed these lovely folks, I just hadn't experienced it until now.

My oldest boy just finished cleaning off the roof. This boy is now big enough and capable enough to do many things. He can chop fire wood, start fires, and change bike tires. He does a good job when he puts his mind to it. I am so proud of him.

The second son is a calmer. Like when we lost power and my water broke with our latest model. He gathered the younger girls together and read to them while the Ole Daddy Rabbit drove down the road to get my mom. What a way to think and be helpful.

Our oldest girl is really starting to draw. They are even recognizable pictures. She also is very helpful with the baby. All three of the oldest are capable of picking the baby up and helping out with her.

The three oldest have rotating chores. Some of their chores include the dining room area. It is so wonderful to cook a meal and then go bath small children. When I come out the dining room is clean.

It is such a blessing to have children capable of helping. I listened to one teacher that quipped how she was training herself out of a job. I am doing just that. I can see how teaching them to cook and clean and be part of a team is going to pay off the more that they grow. It is so bittersweet. We are training them to be able to be responsible adults and one day be part of their own family team. It is the way it is supposed to be. It still seems like yesterday when that big boy on the roof was the one I held in my arms like I hold his small sister now. I sure miss that baby, but I wouldn't trade that strong boy back. I do realize that I need to treasure them as much as possible at each stage they are in. It is fleeting. Let's treasure today. It is a gift.

You Know You're A Redneck When...

Your husband fixes your son's bike intertube with duct tape. When your sons want to build a robot and actually find enough scrap metal buried in the backyard for their project.

Note: The metal was not thrown in our backyard by us. It was probably quite a few owners previous to us.

Tidings of Sloopy Chickenbutt

Yes, I got that forward from a friend too. You know the kind that you get to have a new name using different letters of your real name. I have a new friend now. Her name is Doombah Dippintush. That is right. Can you guess what mine is? That is right Sloopy Chickenbutt! True life is stranger than fiction.

Pleased With Myself

I was the happy recipient of some Amish Friendship Bread a little while ago. It made me wonder about some things. Things like how Amish is it really? Why do they call it bread? It is more like cake. Why the "friendship" after distributing it to my small circle of friends, who else can I pawn the stuff off on without losing their friendship?

Our particular starter came from a good friend that asked me if I would want some before bringing it over. It makes some really good cake-like stuff. This particular one also makes four new starters every ten days. So every ten days I need to find another three friends to give it to. Unfortunately, my mom can't have wheat products. She's out. The friend that gave me the starter already has her own. My sister-in-law isn't really into cooking. All that and I would have to think of three new people every ten days. I also have this horrible problem of not being able to throw out food or potential food. I am such a cheapskate. What was I to do?

Well, I did go ahead and throw out the extra three. It was a challenge, but I did it without too much remorse. Then when I made the new friendship bread I quartered what I was to add to the starter. Then I only put 1/4 of a cup of new starter in one bag. Then on day 5 or what ever day I am supposed to add more stuff I add 1/4 of what is called for. Today I made a thing of my Amish Friendship Bread and I have one starter! I can keep making bread every ten days. I don't have to stress out about to whom I need to pawn this stuff off on either! I am very pleased with myself. I am also going to enjoy a nice, warm piece of bread.

Fixed

Okay, I fixed my over-exuberance of Tim Hawkins :)

A New Blog

I promised our boys that when they had a perfect spelling test then they could have a blog. Of course it will be duly supervised. It is a great way to get them to write too. So number 2 son had a perfect score today. We set him up with a blog spot. We will work on adding pictures and all soon.