Philosophy

No time to blog! House full of people in a few hours. But a friend emailed me this and it's too good to not share:

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.

2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.

4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.

5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.

8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.

2) Wrinkles don't hurt.

3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.

4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.

6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing up is mandatory; growing old is optional.

2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.

7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.

2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.3) You are Santa Claus.

4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . . having a big mortgage.
At age 55 success is . . . having no mortgage.
At age 70 success is . . . having friends.
At age 75 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way; BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
Have a wonderful day with many *smiles*

ANTICIPATION

We learned a long time ago that the waiting is just as important and enjoyable as the getting there and, in fact, adds to the gratification of whatever it is you have arrived at. Most folks understand how to relish the preparations that are involved in celebrating holidays but the F-Troop believes that any activity or event can be just as memorable by adding a little excitement to the time period preceding said event. Whether it be home improvements, a unit study, going to Home Fellowship, or waiting to see friends, getting ready is exhilarating.
At the moment, we are awaiting the arrival of our long lost friends, the Buchanans. They moved away several years ago and miss them dearly. We also miss Mick’s answering machine messages. (Examples of messages: "The Fechers…going boldly where no family has gone before…" "Fechers, Meet the Fechers…"sung to the Flintstones tune. "Here’s the story of a lovely family…" Brady Bunch, of course. And the one I have yet to forgive Mick for as he made the call 2 days after the 9-11 tragedy and used a heavy accent: "My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." The only part I understood was the "prepare to die" part. I thought, for a split second, that terrorists were now using telemarketing techniques to freak citizens out. I was freaked out but embarrassed when I was told it was just Mick.)
Anyhoo, we have been cleaning and cooking and looking forward to their arrival. The anticipation level has been raised a couple of notches as they were supposed to come last weekend but a death at their church caused them to postpone their vacation. To add to it, we have no clue as to when they are due to arrive. For weeks, the kids, even the ones that don’t know them (a few born after thet left), have been asking "how many more days?" Today, it’s been a constant "have we heard anything?" Benjamin has prayed for the years since they left that we would get to see them. We went to visit them awhile back but that wasn’t enough; Ben has continued to pray they would come here and that Jake, his buddy, would get to stay with us.
Now that I say that, prayer can add to the expectation as answered prayer causes one to celebrate and praise God for loving us and providing for us the blessings of family, friends, and memories made with them.
Anticipating sweet fellowship (and the boys undoing all of our cleaning).

The OTHER curriculum style

When I first signed onto HomschoolBlogger, I was asked to choose my curriculum style for my profile. I chuckled at the "Other" option as I thought to myself, "What on earth could the ‘Others’ be teaching and how?" Is it like the movie, "The Others," where Nicole Kidman’s character thinks her house is haunted but finds out it’s not her house that’s haunted? Her whole world was rocked when she became aware of the shocking truth that SHE was the visiting OTHER (I usually avoid ghosty movies but I was trapped in a hospital room and this was SO interesting). Are the "other" homeschoolers under the assumption they know what they are doing but then, one day, really figure it out and have to start over?
So, I started to check classical but that wasn’t right because we throw in unit studies here and there. So, I started to check unit Studies but that’s not right either because we use text books for certain subjects. I used to think unschoolers were a bad lot because the only ones I knew or heard of were doing NOTHING to teach their children ANYTHING. I have since met others and have learned more and realize we do a bit of "delight directed studies"ourselves. So, as I pondered being identified as unschoolers, I realized that after 15 years of homeschooling, I still don’t know what the heck I’m doing! WE ARE OTHERS! We do a little bit of everything, sometimes organized, sometimes not. I read about teaching each of my children according to their learning style and am tempted to throw them on the big yellow monster! I don’t care what the experts say; there are NOT 4 basic learning styles. At our house, there are 11, not including the parents.
Is there anyone out there who can describe what the "Other" homeschool means at their house? I was recently informed that I’m considered a "veteran homeschooler" but that doesn’t mean I don’t still need encouraged. I’m still learning and am new to homeschooling my younger bunch.
Would you look at that! Another benefit of large families; you experiment on the first 3 then the rest will be geniuses. (JK, kiddos – you older ones are a pretty clever band of smarty-pants).

I IS STUPID

I just heard on the radio why I go stupid when I have a baby. I understand the prenatal problems – pregnant brain rot – but why can’t I get it together after having a baby? And why does it get worse after each child?
Well, I just heard the results of a study in some European country (I just heard this report and have already forgotten the country). It seems that love causes people to do weird things and lose concentration. Fairly intelligent people lose concentration when shown photos of loved ones.
I AM IN SO MUCH TROUBLE! An amazing husband, 11 beautiful, awesome children, throw in a wonderful church family, great extended family, and being surrounded by friends and I just don’t stand a chance of ever being intelligent again. To add to the problem, I’m a part of the scrapbooking cult so I constantly have photos of loved ones in front of me so concentration is out the window. (My DD did just point out the fact, though, that I have so many loved ones running around, my concentration is constantly being interrupted by them.)
I have also heard of another study that shows certain chemicals are released each time you have a child that make you MORE intelligent. Why does God do that? Give you the potential for genius but then causes you to love so much it hurts and you lose rational and just go half-witted.
I know it’s happening to me: Lots of things like I can’t remember what day it is day-to-day, I feel confused and in a daze, I use to know ins-and-outs of current politics but now I just tell my husband to tell me who to vote for, and, the biggest confirmation…I’m starting to like the dog.

The Dog Next Door

Our neighbors must hate us. We don’t cause trouble. We keep the lawn mowed. We’re friendly. The music isn’t loud. Okay, sometimes we crank it for housecleaning purposes, but we are decent neighbors to have. Except for our dog. As I type, the pathetic whine of our basset hound is causing an irritation that can be compared to poison sumac of the eardrum. We are trying to teach him that he cannot come in until he’s quiet. I figure if my 6-month-old babies can learn that about getting out of the playpen, that dumb dog can at least learn to shut up. I swore we’d never have an indoor dog but we have a pet that proves evolution is only a theory and COULD NOT survive entirely out-of-doors.
I had a nice day as Mondays go; 7 loads of laundry, Luau dishes almost done, working on new homeschool management software, my DH took me out to Red Lobster – a very nice day! But I had to come home to that whimpering dog and it just made me want to throw rocks at him! "Do everything without complaining…" "Give thanks in all circumstances…" I’m thankful for shrimp. I’m thankful for my Neptune washer and dryer. I’m thankful Lenae gets to go to the neighbor’s and learn how to move a swarm and I pray she continues to work with bees without becoming allergic. I’m thankful Isaiah was so happy all through dinner (and, of course, fun to show off). I’m thankful dogs don’t live forever. There – I’m back to the right Christian attitude.

Kudos to my Kiddos!

My daughters are awesome! We pulled off Memoranza and had a great time doing it. The ladies were so tickled to be treated like it was THEIR day and it was mostly due to the hard work and big hearts of my four lovely daughters. Isabelle and Autumn were with us, too, and added to the day by making appearances and being adorable. Autumn helped with the cooking, as well. You know, "can I stir?" "Can I sprinkle the nuts?" At 3, she has started learning how to cook and how to be a part of the party. All of our kids love to be in the kitchen and don’t do too bad of a job cleaning up…for kids. I better stick to how awesome they are! They are the ones that insisted on serving smoothies and NOT having little paper umbrellas in the glasses was unthinkable! We couldn’t just serve fruit in a bowl; the fruit had to be skewered and stuck in a pineapple. I enjoy doing all this stuff, too, and that’s where they learned it, but I spend much of my days taking care of a newborn and could not have pulled it off without them.

To Stress Or Not To Stress

I want to cater when I grow up. I love to cook, entertain,
organize, fellowship, and make people feel special. Our
whole family prefers to be in the kitchen and to partAY.
We delight in celebrating and the preparations that go
into the gala. We have prayed about and discussed for some
time God’s leading toward a family catering business as a
learning/growing-together/blessing-others experience with
the added benefit of extra income, but I really thought it
would be years for this to come to fruition. This past
December, after our traditional Leftovers Party (see, we
celebrate anything), my DH informed me that he has been
sensing the Lord nudging him and that we are suppose to
start into this venture sooner rather than later. So there
I was, pregnant with #11, wondering how I can keep up with
laundry much less homeschool, and we’re suppose to start a
home business?! Which is not really a home business, BTW,
because here in Indiana, a licensed caterer’s cuisine must
be prepared in an approved commercial kitchen and I can’t
stand the idea of having to leave the house to do one more
thing.
Don’t get me wrong. I WANT to cater or do something similar
someday like a scrapbook retreat center – catering AND
scrapbooking – now that’s dreaming. BUT, I have an issue,
at least one, that I thought I needed to overcome before
even thinking about a family business. I stress. I freak
out. We approach the deadline and I tend to start yelling,
barking orders, I get so overwhelmed with my to-do list, I
don’t know where to begin so I go to the laundry room and
fold then I’m up until 2am trying to get everything done.
There’s NO WAY I’m ready to cater.
So, here I am, the day before my Memoranza scrapbooking
event, not getting anything done because I "have" to nurse
this adorable baby, and the thought occurs to me that, in
the same way I could NEVER have been "ready" to be a mom
of 11 without going through the process of BECOMING, I can’t
"get ready" to do anything God wants be to do. I can be
willing, but I don’t know what it takes until I exercise
the muscles necessary to be strong for the task.
So, today I’m exercising my patience muscle. I am remembering that I don’t stop being a mommy just because scrapbookers are coming tomorrow. We started the day with
family prayer and my goal is for us to have fun getting
ready, not to have everything ready. I’m mindful that if
I don’t have everything ready by tomorrow, it’s not my
kids’ fault so I should not let loose on them. I’m also
learning to not micro-manage and to bask in my children’s
willingness to help and they’re creativity. I WANT to make
the Hawaiian Meatballs, but my girls can cook just as well
as me (in most things ;o)). I WANT to prep the Flip-Flop
Make-It & Take-Its, but Natalie enjoys doing that, is good
at it, and it’s one less thing I have to worry about. For
some reason, I feel like I should be the one to run out to
get more bananas for the Tiki Bar Smoothies, but Lenae can
drive! Perhaps I’m a little OCD. Whatever it is, I believe
God is doing His Thing in me again because I really am off
schedule on our menu flow sheet and prep countdown checklist
and would normally be having a meltdown. But, instead, I’m
feeding my sweet baby and telling you all about it. Well,
I’ve made myself accountable so I’ll let you know if I make
it through the day.
Hugs!

Mystery Vaccines?

This wouldn't have a whole lot to do with our homeschooling family except that I have 5 sons who may want to go into the military someday AND we have had issues with vaccines for some time AND we are American and care deeply about what goes on in our country and to our nation's service men and women AND I'm holding my 5-week-old son as I type one-handed, watching him smile in his sleep and praying his precious body is never violated like this. Read 'em and weep...

Click here or read below if the click has lost its click: http://www.wlwt.com/news/13271378/detail.html

Former Marine Claims Illness From Mystery Vaccine Military Source Believes Experimental Shots May Have Been Given

POSTED: 3:03 pm EDT May 7, 2007 CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio -- Target 5 has discovered that an alarming number of U.S. troops are having severe reactions to some of the vaccines they receive in preparation for going overseas.

"This is the worst cover-up in the history of the military, said an unidentified military health officer who fears for his job.

A shot from a syringe is leaving some U.S. servicemen and women on the brink of death.

"When the issue, I believe, of the use of the vaccine comes out, I believe it will make the Walter Reed scandal pale in comparison," said the health officer.

Lance Corporal David Fey, 20, has dialysis three days a week. His kidneys are failing, his military career is over, and he feels like his country abandoned him.

"I can't look at my old pictures. I really can't," said Fey. "I start looking at my old pictures, and I start crying."

Fey grew up amid the farm fields of Clermont County.

"I never missed a day at school," he said. "I was never sick. I was never sick." A passion for sports and a sense of patriotism prompted the Blanchester High School athlete to join the Marines the day he turned 18.

"I looked at every branch, but I wanted the Marine Corps, because the Marine Corps was the few and the proud," said Fey.

Fey said he loved every minute of boot camp and combat training at 29 Palms in California. But on Nov. 28, 2005, his life would change forever. Fey was one of a group of Marines who lined up for an undisclosed shot.

"They asked us our name. We stood on these yellow footprints, and they gave us this shot, and we got the rest of the day off," he recalled. "After that shot, I started swelling up. I gained 30 pounds of water. My eyes swelled up where I couldn't see. I started snoring. I developed a rash on my hand."

Three weeks later, Fey was back in Clermont County on his death bed at Clinton Memorial Hospital. His kidneys were failing, and his body was so swollen that it left stretch marks.

"I would pray a lot," said Fey's mother, Cindy. "I would pray a lot, 'God take him.' When I couldn't hug my son because he would scream in pain or yell at me for touching him and stuff, I used to pray to God, 'just take him tonight.'"

Cindy Fey began pouring over medical records in search of answers. She said the shot was never listed in he son's medical records. The military claimed he never received a shot.

But as Target 5 discovered, the military's story would change.

The Department of Defense stated that "all service members' vaccinations are documented in the individual's permanent medical record." But Fey's military medical records revealed no shot on that day. Another Marine in Fey's unit told Target 5 that there is no shot listed in his medical records either and also said that the people who administered the shot never told his unit what it was.

When Cindy Fey called the U.S. Marine Hospital in 29 Palms to find out what kind of vaccine her son was given, she was told that the information was confidential.

Eleven months later, her son's medical records were mysteriously changed with a handwritten notation indicating that the mystery shot was a flu vaccine.

The military official who spoke to Target 5 on the condition of anonymity said that it was not surprising that nothing appeared originally in Fey's records.

"We have a lovely term for that," he said. "We call it C.Y.A. That's unfortunately an S.O.P. in the military."

Fey is one of a growing number of U.S. servicemen and women who are getting sick after receiving vaccines. And the highly praised Department of Defense medical officer who spoke with Target 5 said that the number is up in the thousands. The symptoms range from joint aches and pains and arthritic symptoms to death.

The Department of Defense said that it encourages "healthcare workers and vaccine recipients to report adverse (reactions) events." But the military never reported Fey's reaction to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FDA.

"I see the way the propaganda and information war is waged against America's sons and daughters and how patients are treated who claim to be injured from a vaccine," said the unidentified health officer. "That's troubling. That should trouble America." The officer said those who have claimed to have had adverse reactions to shots are treated like it is all in their heads.

Asked whether servicemen and women are receiving experimental vaccines, the officer said, "I would hope to God not. But from what I've seen, I would have to say yes."

The Department of Defense maintains that the vaccines given to U.S. troops are safe.

Meanwhile, Fey is still waiting for a kidney transplant.

"My biggest wish -- just to get up and be without pain," he said. "To get up and just be happy again."

Fey's mother has been in contact with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in an effort to receive some answers. Target 5 contacted Brown's office and received the following statement:

"My office is in frequent communication with the Marine Corps and the family, and we've requested answers to the family's specific questions. I have also assisted Mr. Fey in receiving his VA benefits for health care, service-connected disability, and education assistance. His mother has been a strong advocate on his behalf, and I look forward to continuing working with her to resolve outstanding issues. It is imperative that everything possible is done to keep the brave men and women serving in our military safe."

What Mothers Teach

In honor of Mother’s Day, enjoy the following if you haven’t already received this as one of those fun email forwards:
My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that’s why."
My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me."
My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident."
My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying; and I’ll give you something to cry about."
My mother taught me about the SCIENCE OF OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t exaggerate!"
My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
My mother taught me ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do."
My mother taught me ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."
My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"
My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."
My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?"
My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me."
My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up."
My mother taught me GENETICS. "You’re just like your father."
My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you’ll understand."
And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day.

ONE PERSON’S JUNK IS ANOTHER PERSON’S…IT’S STILL JUNK!

When we lived in Troy, Ohio, we had a garage sale and, if memory serves me correctly, did not do as well as we hoped. When we moved from Troy to Eaton, we transported boatloads of stuff that was to be put in a garage sale someday. We had a garage sale and the only stuff that really moved was the tacky rubbish my mom contributed. When we moved from Eaton to Richmond, we brought the same stuff and then some with us to put in another garage sale which never transpired after living here for 8 years. After re-reading Don Aslett’s Clutter’s Last Stand and moving on past my Fly-Lady baby steps, I started hauling everything to Goodwill and pitching. I was groomed by a professional pack rat so this has been quite the growing experience. I love my mom but she keeps everything! She’s getting there, though. She’s been getting rid of stuff, something that’s very hard for her, and me, to do. She’s more practical – "I might need it someday." I’m just sentimental – "Lenae wore that, and that, and that…" But the one thing from Mr. Aslett’s book that won’t leave me alone is where he states the truth that we spend so much time caressing our STUFF that we don’t have time to touch the people in our lives.
That being said, my daughters decided to have a garage sale. So I said, "Go ahead, but whatever’s left goes to Goodwill. No saving for the "next garage sale." Aren’t you proud of me? For the past 2 days, we have watched people come and take some of the weirdest stuff. We’ve learned what people want:
I use to put my designer clothes in garage sales, the ones from when I was a fashion major and wore a size 7. Nobody wanted them. They want the stained, faded, missing buttons, and/or torn clothes.
The stuff my kids bought at garage sales when they were small. Corinne bought a ceramic cat for $.25 when she was younger. She sold it today for a dollar. Junk appreciates.
The art kits they received as gifts that they never used did not sell. However, the baggies of "art supplies" that Natalie made up did.
Good clean toys did not sell near as well as the ones that are missing pieces, are broken, or that grew mildew after being in a leaky storage shed.
Some knew a good deal, though. My mom brought home tons of camouflage and hunting gear from my dad’s place in Kentucky after he died last May. Several fellas showed up with a determined look and you could tell SOMEBODY told them about this here garage sale with camo for sale! They made a beeline for that stuff.
So, back to stuff. It amazes me how we can accumulate SO MUCH! And it’s embarrassing to think we brought it into our lives, embraced it, wrapped our time and energy around it and made it apart of our family. Especially when it spent most of its life in a box in storage shed waiting to be worth 50 cents and sold in a garage sale. I could have started naming everything after relatives had I not finally figured out it’s just stuff!
On a positive note, I’ve decided to grow a dendrite or two so that whenever I see a garage sale, I’m reminded of Philippians 3:7, 8 and 13b & 14 – "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ… But one thing I do know: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

MOPS TESTIMONY

Yesterday was the last MOPS of the year. I have come across more than one person who has been living under a rock so in case anyone here has been as well, that stands for Mothers Of Preschoolers. Anyhoo, we had a "Tea and Testimony" and I was asked to share my testimony with no restrictions as to what to testify to. I did not realize until I was finished that there were only to be 2 of us sharing so I was bewildered and honored to have been asked. I had to follow a very passionate testimony, though, that had us all in tears. I deal by cutting up ‘cuz (we’z homeschooled) I don’t like to cry so the class clown had to follow the valedictorian of testimonies. It’s hers so I can’t share for her but her story is a testament to an amazing God.
Knowing most, if not all, of the members were curious about what "caused" us to have eleven children (was I dropped on my head as a child, do I know what "causes" that?, and I homeschool??), I focused my testimony on that little subject. I borrowed some of my material from earlier blogs so forgive the repeats. Here’s basically what I shared after a few examples of God’s provision in response to prayer (shoes, new oven, clothes, etc.):
20 years ago, if you had told me I would be homeschooling and have 11 children, I would have been ROTFLMBO. Not only did I have my future planned out, I knew I was destined to be a terrible parent due to my upbringing and therefore, should not be one. I lacked faith that I had a Father in Heaven who loved me dearly and had greater things planned for me than I could have ever dreamed. Just 4 short months after my 16-year-old brother died from a gun accident, I found myself an unmarried pregnant teenager and my whole world rocked. Right away, I felt that God was trying to get my attention and, though I had been told I was stupid, immature, and irresponsible my whole life, I knew He was telling me that right at that moment in time, I was mature, responsible, and smart enough to be a mommy. I had asked Christ to be my Savior when I was 16 but I had not made Him Lord of my life until that time. I needed Him desperately then and that desperate need has never diminished.
When Craig and I first sensed the conviction that God wanted us to trust Him with planning our family, it was not a difficult decision. We believed and still do believe children are a blessing, that God will provide, and that the Creator of the Universe might know something about family planning and what we can and cannot handle. Where I have struggled with most has been in what I can handle but God has proven faithful through the years. It’s when I come to the place that I can’t do it and I have nothing left that God reminds me that’s right where He wants me and can use me. I have to daily rely on His love, strength, creativity, and be listening for His Holy Nudges in order to be able to be a mom. You don’t have to be a mom of many to be busy or to need patience or to be organized or, or, or. Many Christian folk tell they couldn’t have a bunch of kids like me, they just don’t have the patience. If I’m on the ball, I’ll ask them if they have the Holy Spirit residing in them. After the funny look they give me, they say, "Well, yea."Then I ask them what the fruit of the spirit is. They usually know right away what I’m getting at. Galatians 5:22 &23 says, "But the fruit of the Sprit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." If we have the Holy Spirit then it is Christ who gives us the patience with everything else we need to be a mommy. I am convicted that what I am doing as a mother is supernatural and has eternal value. I am always mindful that I carry the heavy responsibility of being the example my children will see the most of so I better be walking in the spirit. Verse 25 of Gal. 5 says, "Since we live by the Sprit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Receiving God’s spirit is a gift but keeping in step with the Spirit is a choice we must make. It’s trusting He will provide and loving in faith even when the loving is hard that has enabled me to be committed to our family and not feel discouraged when I realize I will at least be homeschooling until 2025!We are enjoying youth group as God intended and together we are learning, celebrating, struggling, ministering together and making memories that are more precious than any career or church or school or club involvement could afford. I will have a season when other activities will be available to me but I intend to be busy as a grandma someday and helping young women in the fine art of mothering. To me, there is nothing more worthwhile that I could be doing.

Better not blog tonight...

Though I have a moment with free hands and could blog, I don’t want to tempt myself to whine so I respectfully submit the following:

A MOMMY’S INCARCERATION

Remember when Hillary Clinton likened stay-at-home mothering to slavery? Well, she did, if you miss that. I’ve decided that she was right. At 3:30 this morning, I could have been asleep. Isaiah is undergoing a growth-spurt which means it’s nurse-a-thon time and after hours of the nursing, burping, changing cycle, he was finally sleeping soundly. I was SO TIRED but, even though he was snoozing, he was keeping me awake! I was held hostage. I was being restrained and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Well, except take a picture.






Hillary was right; I’m being held prisoner and there is no place I’d rather be.

Retirement - just for fun

RETARDED GRANDPARENTS (this was actually reported by a teacher)

After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent
their holiday away from school. One child wrote the following:
We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa.
They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida.
Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass.
They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they
don't know who they are anymore. They go to a building called a
wrecked center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now,
and they do exercises there, but they don't do them very well. There is a
swimming pool too, but in it, they all jump up and down with hats on.
At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man
sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape.
Sometimes they sneak out.
They go cruising in their golf carts! Nobody there cooks, they
just eat out. And, they eat the same thing every night --- early birds.
Some of the people can't get out past the man in the doll house.
The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.
My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his
retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded someday too.
When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out so they
can visit their grandchildren.
PRICELESS

What a deal!

Okay, this could have something to do with homeschooling, I suppose, I guess I could talk to my kids about stewardship but they’re pretty smart and it would be a short class. Heck, you don’t have to be "real" smart to figure out this price is a little steep and that you can’t take it with you. Just in case you didn’t hear about it, seeing is believing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Charger-Charger-R-T-The-General-Lee-by-Bo-Duke-himself-John-Schneider_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6199QQihZ015QQitemZ250108256198QQrdZ1
John Schneider’s General Lee went for $9,900,500.00. But it did say low monthly payments were available. Sorry y’all missed out on this one.

The weekend was gorgeous and we enjoyed a full weekend:
On Saturday, Lenae and I went to Keepers at Home, a gathering of women to benefit from the blessings of Titus 2, Craig took Benjamin to a 4-H shoot (not to shoot 4-H members but to learn how to handle a gun), then, after a nap, a friend and her kiddos came to visit the baby. Everyone got ready for Sunday. On Sunday, we hosted a small gathering of the saints. We are members of the Home Church "cult," a movement that I’m thankful we are a part of but wishful that we had jumped on board a long time ago! The fellowship was sweet Sunday and the neighbors had to wonder what on earth was going on as there were 24 youngsters running around with ice cream cones, swinging, playing in the sandboxes, they were everywhere! And that was just 3 families including ours. And how relaxing to not have to worry about the kids our children are playing with. I know how they’re being raised and the other parents feel the same way- aaaaaaah. The moms and dads keep an eye out for safety but we don’t necessarily have to hover to monitor the conversations or be paranoid about what trouble they’ll be led into like we do in "those other" situations.
Anyhoo, we had a wonderful day but must get back to this wonderful day.
BTW, update on the play, the girls said that it did, in fact, come together and not only did the crowd not heckle, but they LIKED it!!?? Go figure.

The Play's the Thing...Just Not Sure What Thing It Is...

Our oldest 4 daughters and our 9 y.o. son, Noah, are all involved in Richmond’s Civic Theatre and, due to the "interruption" of baby, had to take a hiatus from any theater activities. It was especially hard to miss out on the current Stage 1 play (children’s theatre group) as it is a compilation of stories-turned-into-plays by area students and Corinne’s was chosen as one of the plays. It was actually a group effort with ideas thrown out by other students in the homeschool drama class but Corinne put them into story form and boy, was it a hoot. Betcha didn’t know Humpty Dumpty was pushed! Yep, a Nursery Rhyme whodunit. It was a scream. The play turned out pretty good- had me laughing.

Most of the stories performed took us back to the days of beatniks and poetry that you’re not sure what the point of is – high schoolers being artsy fartsy. Our youngsters kept asking daddy, "What’s that? What did he say? What is he suppose to be? What did she say? Why are they doing that? What did they say?" Craig just kept saying, "I don’t know." A couple were hysterical, though. Besides the Humpty thing, the 12 Days of School was a hoot as was a music video that had me rolling.
And, by dress rehearsal, everything and everybody is suppose to be completely ready by this time, a lot of folks didn’t know their lines. I bet the director is beside herself. There were a lot of newbies, though, and they didn’t do half bad. Okay, a couple did half bad, but they’ll learn. Stage One plays have always been incredible and even the ones that didn’t look like they were going to be ready have always come together. I hope this one does. Jillian and Natalie have gone back to work with this one as the only costume and make-up people and are getting ready right now to head out for the school performances. I feel for the kids and the director as they’re sure to be heckled. (Humpty Dumpty – The Other Side of the Wall was still funny, though). A few years ago, they performed "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," a very sobering play about children in a concentration camp during the holocaust. Very well done, very sad…and students disrupted that play! Of course, that school isn’t allowed to come to school performances anymore, but it’ll be hard for high schoolers to not make fun of this one.
The hardest part of having been out of the loop for awhile is we just found out yesterday that a dear lady and friend from theater passed away. She just loved Lenae, treated her special, and was always asking her to help with costumes or make up. She and her husband are special people and our heart goes out to this dear man.
We’ll miss you, Velda.

What the little big brothers and sisters said

I said I’d share the hysterical comments some of my youngsters made when Isaiah was born and plum forgot. (Is it plum or plumb? Oh well…)
Anyhoo, here they are:

Elijah, age 7 – After welcoming his new baby brother, Eli meandered about the room (we had a homebirth) looking in the laundry and trash bags, around the bed, etc. obviously investigating with a purpose. The midwife asked what he was looking for. He answered,"Where’s the blood? I don’t see any blood." He knew blood was somehow involved.

Later, after I had cleaned up and changed, I was sitting on a chux pad on my bed to eat my well-deserved eggs benedict from Bob Evans (I was SO HUNGRY!). After I was done and got up, evidence of one of those "gushers" you get after having a baby was left on the pad. Of course, Elijah had to be in the room: "Eeeuw. Blood…..Cool."

Judah, age 5 – Coming in after his 3 older brothers were already oogling over the baby, he made his way through the crowd, got a load of the small presence before him, and said, with the "this-is-so-heavy tone, …"Wo!"

Autumn, age 3 – "Is there another baby in Mommy’s snumuck? She’s still fat."

Elijah – "He has zigzag hair."

Isabelle, age 21 months – While pointing at the baby’s ear: "Eye." We’re off to a good start.

Autumn - Before the baby was born, one of my daughters was babysitting at our house. I carried the 3-month-old, fully-dressed baby into the room where Autumn was. When she turned and saw me, her eyes got as big as saucers and she asked, "Did that come out of your snumuck?!"

Elijah – Sounding so cute….at first, "Look at his teeny toes!…….They look like worms!"