School's Out!

We finished school over a week ago, officially. We played our end of semester Jeopardy game and the kids did just great. They earned enough points for a School's Out Treat. It was such fun watching them answer questions about the ancient Israelites, Romans & Greeks, and the early church. I was very proud of them. Since homeschoolers don't have end of the year awards ceremonies and such, I have no place to brag on them and see them display their knowledge publicly.

Or, at least I didn't until I started this blog. (wink, wink)

I cleaned out the Tapestry of Grace (our history and literature curric) shelves yesterday to begin organizing for next year and as these stacked up, I was so proud of all we accomplished this year studying Creation through the Fall of Rome together. We read some really great books! We learned a lot. History was brought to life for us on many occasions. There is nothing better than really good books, except reading really good books together.

For their School's Out treat, the kids unanimously chose the opportunity to go play at an indoor inflatable play land. It was quite an indulgence. Our new neighbors went with us and some other homeschooling friends joined in on the last hour or so of fun. We spent almost four hours there.

Yes, I said four hours.

Yes, I was exhausted.

It was a fun end to a crazy school year!

Memorial Stones: A Longing

This Memorial Stone in Words is a bit different because the miraculous thing didn't exactly happen to me, but it's always felt like it did happen to me a bit and I was still involved (spiritually). I've always considered it a big event in my life, so I'm sharing it.

The moment I told a friend I was pregnant with HB will forever stand out in my mind. After I told her, tears filled my eyes and heart and I said, "I wish you were the one telling me this." See, my good friend Kim had been married for almost eight years at the time, almost all of them trying to have a baby. She and her husband walked a difficult road of hurt and disappointment for years more, but she never, ever lost faith that God was going to open her womb. Never. It was amazing, and, I admit, nervous to watch. It really sometimes seemed that she was the only one who never doubted that God would cause her to become pregnant.

When I became pregnant with our second child, The Boy, I sent Kim a letter. She had shared with me once that she was always very happy for friends the first time they became pregnant. It was the second time that she had difficulty with. She was still always joyful for her friends, but she grieved the truth that they were moving forward with having a family and she was still not getting to become a part of something, mothering, that she longed for greatly.

The day she and her husband came to see The Boy at the hospital is a memory etched in my mind. Seeing my two dear friends hold a baby and celebrate with us, when I knew such a big part of their heart was breaking was such a testimony to their love for others. They could have succumbed to selfishness, to hurt, to coveting... but they "rejoiced with those who rejoiced". The day they held The Boy was special to me in a way they didn't know about at the time.

Almost thirty days previous, Kim's sister sent out a letter, secretly, to Kim's close friends. She asked us to pray for forty days for Kim's womb to be opened and for the desires of Kim and John's heart to be given them. The forty days ended on Thanksgiving Day, 1998. I eagerly committed to praying and fasting for those days (don't worry, I fasted sweets since I was pregnant). It was such an amazing time to be going before the throne of God beseeching for a loved one. The day after my son was born, November 19, 1998, was the day John and Kim held him and rejoiced with us. The photo I have of that moment, John has tears in his eyes, but a smile on his face. It broke my heart and still makes me cry. How I wanted them to be parents.

The following April, I saw Kim's car drive on camp in the middle of the day. I walked out to the porch to ask her what she was doing. She couldn't even make it to me before she said, "I'm pregnant." My heart burst and my knees hit the ground. I couldn't even stand. I was bawling instantly. We held each other and prayed prayers of thanks. I was overcome. Truly. I think it was the first time in my life I had wanted something that desperately for someone else. To see this most wonderful gift being given to someone I loved dearly flooded my soul with emotion.

She came in and told me the story. She had suspected, but needed to be sure. She showed up at our doctor's office without an appointment and just said, "Tell Dr. R. that Kim is here and thinks she's pregnant." Since they had been trying for over ten years at this point, Dr. R. called her back himself, tested her, and cried with her at the beautiful results. Then he prayed with her. She next called and left a message for John asking him to meet her for lunch at the top of a hill they often went to together. As John walked up, Kim had her head down in prayer while she sat on a big rock. He was nervous that he had done something wrong and got down on his knees, looked up at her and said, "What is it, Kim?" She looked him in the eye and said, "The Lord has given us a child." He wept like a baby.

I asked her when she was due. "Thanksgiving," she said. My knees got weak. I asked her if her sister knew yet and she told me they were leaving that night to go surprise them in Houston to tell them in person. I started crying again, but this time Kim only thought she knew why. I was really praising God for His beautiful symbolism and for the way I knew Kim's sister was going to feel and react as soon as she heard the due date. A due date that was exactly one year after the forty days ended. Unbelievable, but not really. Our God is author of the unbelievable.

Kim and John's gift from the LORD in the form of a child was actually born November 19, 1999. The exact day they held my son one year earlier, rejoicing with tears in their eyes because of their longing. I was able to be there and see them born as parents that night. My spirit soared as John walked out of the delivery room holding his son. Tears again in his eyes, but this time in stunned praise at God's blessing of answering their longing. I wept as I hugged my friend Kim, the beautiful look of awe and gratitude on her face.

I was so very thankful for that precious baby and a God who loves to give abundantly more than we can imagine. Kim and John just had their third baby this past December! They couldn't be happier. I couldn't be happier for them.

Have a story to share about how God proved Himself to you? I'd love to read it! Post a comment telling me (and others) that you've posted a Memorial Stone in Words!

The Big Top

Monday night found the kids and I flipping through photographs from when My Sweetie and I worked here at the 'new old camp'. Lots of laughs for me, strange looks from the kids. The simple act of looking at snapshots started a ball rolling that finally stopped just before lunch today.

Cutie Pie saw a photo of a camper with face paint on. She looked up at me and said, "When are we going to have carnival?" (My kids' favorite activity at our 'old camp') I told her I wasn't sure since I don't think this camp has carnival any more. The disappointment on her sweet face was moving. Oh, so innocently I said, "We'll have a carnival at the house sometime, sweetie. I'll paint your face, ok?" Joy exuded from every pore in her little self. I thought the idea was quaint... and firmly planted sometime in the vague future.

The next morning I awoke to a circus tent in our living room. Big top and all. Cutie Pie greeted me with, "I'm ready for face painting, Mama!"

Uh... I saw she fully grasped the concept of "sometime".

Over breakfast I explained that we could have a carnival, but it needed to be planned out. That day, was booked, so was Wednesday, and Thursday too. I said, "Friday sounds great for a carnival!" Everyone but Cutie Pie agreed. Three days away feels like years to a three year old. The crocodile tears in her eyes barely contained themselves as I broke the news that there would be no face painting that day. As soon as she realized we would be going to the park, though (Tuesdays the homeschoolers meet at the park), she was bounding off with a smile.

The big top stayed. All week it has been up. I agreed to let it stay up, but I regretted that decision. I don't like clutter (contrary to the state of my bedroom). It irritates me. It almost speaks to me. And it doesn't use nice words.

Nevertheless, I let the tent stay. Another sprouted in the girls' bedroom. It's been much more fun because sleeping under it is uber cool and I haven't minded this one because I never really hang out in the kids' rooms.

So this morning the circus/carnival took place. We invited our friends from camp. They even brought a fun activity complete with prizes (big hit)- duck bobbing. Never been duck bobbing? You're really missing out! We had circus cookies, peanuts, and popcorn. We had a freak show. We had a horse performance. We had trained dogs do their thing. We had clowns. We had a parade of animals.

And, of course, we had face painting.

It was a grand time.

Summer Juice

It's official. Summer's here at my house. We've been swimming (When I say we, you know I mean the kids, right? I don't swim until almost August.). We're eating in the dining hall.

and

We've had our first watermelon. Wee Babe totally dug the delicious fruit and proceeded to devour plenty of slices (and wear most of the juice). It was his first time to eat it and now he recognizes it immediately. He's a big fan. (I think he looks a little crazed by the heavenly juice in this photo, but The Boy and Princess really wanted this photo on here.)

Welcome, Summer! Crazy juice and all!

New and Cheap Medical Treatment

Ok, it's not new. It's new to us.

My 'new' behavior did NOT cost us $25 for a doctor visit for pink eye (I diagnosed it myself) and at least $10 for a one time use prescription. The 'new medicine' cost me only $10 total, so we saved only the cost of a doctor's visit this first time, BUT I still have plenty of the 'medicine' to use down the road and/or to share with friends (I guess I'll be getting calls when readers' kids have pink eye. Fine by me.). That adds up to savings.

I used herbal medicine for the first time. Don't run away! Stick with me.

All I had to do was buy some Eyebright capsules at the health food store. I opened four capsules and brewed a tea (10 minutes of seeping time). I then used the slightly warm tea (had to let it cool down, of course) for compresses for our one year old three times a day. I also flushed his eyes with the tea just after using the compresses. The hardest part of the whole gig was having to hold the compresses on him for two minutes (It took my and My Sweetie to do this). He hated it, but he would have hated eye drops too (and it still probably would have taken two of us to get it done right!). This is better for him and has no side effects. I could use this treatment guilt free. It cleared up his pink eye in three days. And only one other child got it. We only had to treat her once.

So... give herbal medicine a try. It's not voodoo. No eyes of newt are called for in any of the treatments I've run across. Yet.

Check out Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family for hundreds of clever ideas on all kinds of things!

Neighbors & a Stompin' Ground

We've never really had neighbors. Well, for about two months, My Sweetie and I did. They loved very loud music in a different language and low riding cars and Jesus statues painted in really, really bright colors. Oh, and they also loved yelling from house to house. But that's not the point of this post...Our children have never had neighbors. The 'old camp' staff was always great to them and for awhile there was another camp family actually on that camp. On the other side of camp.



But for all practical purposes this is the first time my children have experienced neighbors in the typical way.


In the duplexes at our 'old new camp', we have a sweet couple, Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed Neighbor. Faith just loves Mrs. Neighbor. One morning, Faith didn't see me sawing logs in my bed (where I always am at 7a.m.), so she went and looked outside. Not seeing me, but seeing Mrs. Neighbor, she went to talk to Mrs. Neighbor. Mrs. Neighbor (being the smart woman that she is) asked Faith if her mommy knew she was outside. "I can't find her" was her startling comment. Mrs. Neighbor sent Faith back inside to check again. I felt a tapping on my head. Through the slits I saw Faith's big eyes. She said, "Can I go visit Mrs. Neighbor?"

"Uh, no." I didn't even have to look at the clock to know it was not proper visiting hours.


That's just one example of the kind ways of Mr. and Mrs. (Newlywed) Neighbor. The kids love them and enjoy sharing info with them. Family info, educational info, strange info. All of it is fair game. Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor take it all in stride.





Across the little field, or three doors down, or half a block, or the next house... however you want to say it ...are our other new neighbors. The King Family. They have three children, two of them close to the ages of Princess and Faith. My kids pretty much think we struck the mother load with these neighbors. The Boy barely notices that they don't have a son his age to play with. I think it helps that he gets to be head honcho in the group (HB does her own thing).


The games, giggles, and good times being had between my kiddos and The King Kids are nearly constant. My middle four and their two older kids get along famously. It's really wonderful. They've even created whole new games together involving Webkinz & screaming (not my favorite game), umbrellas & blankets, and dogs & mommies. While I am still focused on having my children prefer their siblings over others, it's nice to have some friends close by.


Here are daily dialogues at my house:

Children: "Can we call them now, Mom?"

Me:"No, it's not even 9am yet, guys."
**
Different Day, Same Children: "You said we couldn't play until our school work was done, so I did it as soon as I woke up. I woke up at 6am. I'm done!"

Me: "Uhh... that's great. We still aren't calling until after 9am.".
**

Children: "Do you think we could have the King Kids over after you do whatever you need to do today? We haven't been able to play with them in a long time."

Me:"You mean since yesterday?"

King Mom and I have worked out the boundaries, so we're all happy. The funniest part is that the kids also have a place to play when neither mom wants company: the field.








My Sweetie even mowed a path in the field from the King House to the duplexes. Mrs. King just remowed (if you're new here, I make up words 'cuz it's my blog) it for the kids. I think it's officially a stompin' ground.




How cool. We have neighbors and a stompin' ground. Life is good.

Signs You are Not a 'Young' Mom Anymore

1- You're kiddos go to spend the night with their grandpa unexpectedly and you can't think of anything to do.
2- Nothing sounds interesting at the theatre... except the second Night at the Museum movie.
2- You go to Walmart and HEB (grocery store) on your sudden date night.
3- The Dreyer's Double Fudge Brownie ice cream you eat at 10pm prevents sleep until almost 2a.m.
4- You think it's fun to clean out a kids' dresser and rearrange a bedroom while you are up until 2a.m.
5- You keep thinking about going ahead and cleaning the toilets at almost 2a.m.
6- You feel like you've been hit by a truck the morning after you stay up until 2a.m.

Transition

I love new clothes, new home decor, new shoes, new jewelry, new books, and new food. I don't like change though. Funny thing is that you have to have change to have some new things.
Oh, like a new home, a new job, new co-workers, a new ministry, and a new neighborhood.
I've had this weird feeling for a bit now. I couldn't pinpoint what it was until last night when My Sweetie and I were talking. During our nightly chat about his day, his words hit home. Now is a time of transition.

He may have started this new job last December and we may have moved here over three months ago, but right now is when the transition really happens.

My Sweetie doesn't know how his job will feel and we don't know how our family will fit into this new camp life. What our role, as a family, will be.

The changes we are experiencing are both physical and heartfelt. We live at the back of a 500 acre camp now, not a 30 acre one. There is no walking over to the dining hall or camp activities. This camp works with special populations, but it is not Christian. There are no Bible studies, no Scripture of the Day, no devotions, and no songs of praise. There are different definitions of modesty and appropriate behavior. The general atmosphere is different.

We've known all of that for months, but it hasn't been felt until now. Now camp is starting, so the change is real and we have to adjust. There are many good things here and we know that as more staff arrives, campers come and camp actually starts, we will see and feel even more good things. Honestly, I fluctuate between being giddy and wanting to bawl.

The camp staff started arriving last weekend. Leadership staff in particular, the rest arrive today. I've only observed things during dinner, but I've already picked up on the differences (so have the kids). I've even seen some attitude. The "you are the new guy and you need to prove yourself" & the "you're the new guy so you get the cruddy jobs" attitude. While that is to be expected somewhat, I've been surprised by some of it. It's also rough to take when you have worked five summers here, all in leadership, and then ran a camp for fifteen more. It offends me. I want to jump up and shout, "My Sweetie is the finest camp director I've ever seen! Stand back and be in awe! Don't treat him like someone beneath you! Give him more credit. Be ready to be amazed!" I don't shout it, but my heart does.

The best part, so far, is that My Sweetie is taking it all in stride. That man astounds me almost daily (usually in very good ways, rarely in the 'how in the world could I have fallen in love with a man that thinks fart scenes are funny' kind of way). His humbleness touches me. It defines him in many ways and it is helping to define this time of change for me.

I know this time of transition will not last forever.
I know that my God has good things in store for us.
I know that even loss is gain when it is in Christ.

I may not like change,
but I love the One who causes it.
Because He is 100% trustworthy, I have hope for what our life will be after we walk through this transition.

Free Clothes Works for Me

How would you like to save money, be 'green', get some 'new' clothes, and bless others?

For fourteen years some friends and I have been getting together every spring to swap clothes. We were green before green was the new pink! Nicole's clever idea has saved us money and shopping effort. Here's what we do. We go through our closets and bag up clothes (and shoes and jewelry) we no longer like, fit in, or wear (If I didn't wear it last time it was in season, it's outta there!). We show up at Nicole's house and put our clothing in designated size areas. WE visit and snack until everyone has arrived and put their items in place. Then at the bell, we start 'shopping'. It's a super way to freshen up your wardrobe and a wonderful way to help both friends and strangers (since all leftover clothes are brought to a women's shelter). I've gotten some super cute stuff over the years and I look forward to this fun time with friends every spring. We've even added kids' clothes to the mix!

This keeps clothes out of the landfill, keeps money in your pocket, and keeps your trousseau current.

Give it a try! You'll be surprised how much you find.

Happy Shopping, I mean, Swapping!

That's what works for me this Wednesday. Check out We are THAT Family for hundreds of clever ideas on all kinds of things. I always learn something!

Blue Binky

It's been her close companion for three years. Her constant comfort for bedtime and beyond.

There was none other for her. It had to be Blue Binky. On the occasion it was unaccounted for and had to be temporarily replaced by Pink or White Binky, the sadness was near overwhelming and the loss great. Just as great though, was the rejoicing and gladness when Blue Binky was found and the substitute flung from her mouth with obvious rejection.

The whole family was keenly aware of Cutie Pie's devotion to Blue Binky.

She turned three just a week after we moved, causing My Sweetie and I to favor the side of familiarity. The holidays distracted us and then we found ourselves facing another move and time of change with the family. Again, comfort won out for our daughter (It sure helped that it caused her to fall asleep the instant Blue Binky hit her mouth, I admit.). Our youngest little girl.

But the clock was ticking and it wasn't on Blue Binky's side.

The inevitable occurred recently. Blue Binky could not be found and I declared Cutie Pie's maturity and independence. She agreed with me (I thought) whole-heartedly shouting goodbye to Blue Binky, then announced with a grin, "Daddy will find it when we get home!" and rolled over to sleep. She slept soundly even in Blue Binky's absence, confident that Daddy would return it to her before long.

Cutie Pie clearly didn't understand parenting schemes because Blue Binky never reappeared. And she was sleeping without it (granted, it took longer to fall asleep) every nap and night. She hardly missed it. Rarely even mentioned it.

Until two days ago. That dastardly Blue Binky was hiding under The Boy's bed (you can never have just one, ya know) and beckoned Cutie Pie while she was playing with Wee Babe.

The best part of that moment was that she was super excited, but also smart enough to know that the need had passed. That she had moved on. That a new season had begun. She immediately knew that she needed to convince me that Daddy said, "Sometimes it's still OK for Blue Binky." I assured her that he didn't and that it wasn't.

There were tears, but not many.

I was proud of her and still am.

Bye-bye, Blue Binky! You served us well.

A Special Occasion

My homemaking skills made history. It's only occurred a handful of times since children joined the family over twelve years ago. I thought you should be privy to the special occasion.

Of course every member of the family will be taking off dirty clothes later today. The stinkers.

But I'll be basking in the accomplishment while I can.

Dolphin Bubbles: An Amazing Behavior

An amazing video to make you smile this weekend! Enjoy!

Creepy

When my first two kiddos were young, I really took advantage of teachable moments for science. Biology in particular. Actually, only Biology. Anyway...We would find creatures and look them up in books to learn about them. Maybe it's not related, but my first two kiddos love animals of all kinds and are not scared by them. When Princess came along... I didn't do as good of job with this. She was very bothered by bugs, but tolerated them just past arms' reach. I wasn't as purposeful in my bug looking and study. I grew more and more lax in creep crawly study. Faith would look at The Boy and HB with doubt and fear as they would show her bugs. Cutie Pie has always been scared of insects. Screams. Runs. Generally embarrasses me. I decided it was time to get back to nature, so to speak.

We've started studying them and being excited about finding creatures again. When I say we, you know that I mean me, right? A love of creatures and learning about them is contagious, so I have to be really, really contaminated to have enough 'love' to spread it to three kids. I guess it's been working because when we found this Sunday on the outside wall of the house the kids were all excited.

It was then that I realized I had must have gone a little too far. That Giant Red Headed Centipede ('cuz we looked it up, of course) gave me the creeps way down deep inside, to my toes, and out again to my fingertips. I think I actually shivered and made some kind of embarrassing girlie squeal. Then I photographed it.

It gets better though. Not an hour later, Princess stepped on one in her bedroom (we were at the 'other camp', not at our 'home camp'). She jumped up screaming from the wiggling sensation on her foot. She looked down and saw the animal that had been identified just minutes earlier as poisonous and proceeded to caterwaul (official Texas term: to wail loudly while bawling and generally looking hysterical). After My Sweetie conveyed to her sweet panicked self that the fangs, claws, and legs all missed her somehow (yes, each of those body parts can excrete toxin) , she calmed down. I know all of this because I was interrupted in the shower with exclamations and stunned faces telling me every juicy detail.

I gathered myself and camera and ran outside. Upon first seeing Princess, she was still shaken and unsure of her well being. We all started commending her on such strong survival skills. She cheered up. I was proud of Princess for calming down so quickly.

She was proud to have lived to tell about stepping on a Giant Red Headed Centipede.

Everyone was proud to poke the creature and watch it writhe in a bowl, determined to kill such a vile looking animal that dared to almost hurt a family member. There was talk of putting it on an ant hill and talk of releasing it. In the end, My Sweetie took care of it (he was the chief fan of the ant idea). I don't want to know how.

The whole experience was creepy to me, but I guess they are happy to learn about bugs again.

Yea?

Make memories AND good food!

Today I'd like to share something that has added to our chain of family traditions *and* added some wonderful vitamins to our family bodies.

I read somewhere years ago that one of the most important things we can do as parents to tie our children to the family (heartstrings people, not rope, ok?) is to create traditions. Traditions connect us as a family. They make us unique. When the children are grown, the traditions will be some of the important things they hold dear, they want to carry on, and they want to return home for enjoying.

We have several family traditions and are working on adding more, but the one I want to share today is super fun and uncomplicated: going to harvest fruit together.
For over eight years we have taken a trip to pick strawberries together, me and the kids. It's an easy trip (lots of room for kids to run and romp; it's outside so they can be loud; requires no talent; doesn't take long; doesn't cost a lot) and so it's a lot of bang for your buck in the tradition category. We've also done peach picking, but peach trees take more hits than strawberries, it seems. Haven't had as many good peach years in this area. Pick (pun intended) the fruit that best fits your family and your climate.

In addition to tradition building, you get the benefit of fresh, delicious, vitamin rich food to take home. My advice on that is to buy as much as you can afford and freeze it. Fresh fruit is great for smoothies, desserts, pancakes, oatmeal topping, and more all year long.

Other benefits are: science lessons on how fruit grows, science lessons on where are food comes from, cooking lessons on fruit prep, teamwork to collect... on and on.

Lastly, the photos you get.... well, they're to die for.

Happy picking!

Browse hundreds of all ideas on all kinds of things at We are THAT Family's Works for Me Wednesday!

Yes?

If you have a lousy husband and reading about amazing husbands stirs discontent within you, you should probably skip this blog post. I don't want to be a stumbling block to you.

I do want to sing my husband's praises, though.

Yesterday was Mother's Day. My husband went above and beyond to make me feel loved, to help me know I'm appreciated, to show me he knows I miss my mom and to generally be given the royal treatment.

Now My Sweetie has always been known to be an above and beyond the call of duty kind of guy, but...

But we were going to be at the 'other camp' for Mother's Day, so my expectations were lower. Ya' know: out of town, different house, an hour from a store, leave two days before the big day... all those can add up to disaster for a guy. And a mother.

Not my guy. Not this mother.

He made a carrot cake (the only kind of cake I really like) FROM SCRATCH with the kids the night before, being sure that every child was a part of the process. He had them present the cake and their gifts and their cards. The cake was beautiful! Their gifts were heartfelt! Their cards were homemade! Then, he had them present 'the' gift, a tiny wrapped box with a darling bow. I had been crying a bit earlier. The I-miss-my-mom-on-Mother's-Day kind of cry. But when they gave me 'the' gift, I started again. My Sweetie really thought it through. He gave me this for my Pandora bracelet:

Cousin Martha, Cousin Christy, Aunt Rita and Sis, you know why.

I blubbered.

See, before my mom's ALS got to the point of affecting her too much physically, all us girls took a cruise. It was before the blog though, so you've never seen photos.

We did something my mom had always wanted to do. This is why I was given that charm:

After I pulled myself from the puddle that I became, we had a nice rest of the afternoon. My Sweetie took 5 of the kids swimming while I stayed behind to nap with the baby.

Then we met Papalou at the Mexican restaurant that has become a family tradition. We went last year with him and my sis's family. It was closed for Mother's Day last year. We didn't remember that until we pulled up yesterday and saw the sign declaring the same thing for this year. Hilarious. Quite the memory we all have.

After dinner elsewhere, Papalou joined us for carrot cake (at a gazillion calories per piece...and I refuse to put it on my SparkPage, thankyouverymuch) and general silliness.

My Sweetie informed me last week that we were going on a date today. For Mother's Day and our last pre-camp date. I told him that was not necessary. He insisted.

We went to see "Star Trek" (it was really good... except for all the fight scenes) and then a quick dinner. He kept saying, "Happy Mother's Day! I love you!" I kept saying, "Here's to a great summer!" We even got ice cream (did I hear someone say, "No, really?" Pipe down peanut gallery!) and shared it with the babysitter.

Then, after coming out from checking on the baby, I found another tiny wrapped box with a darling bow on my keyboard (somehow he knew the first place I'd go... weird). Ya' know in the day and age of gift bags (of which I am a big fan), there is just something about a little wrapped box with a darling bow. Seriously.

It had this in it :

My man is beyond amazing.

Yes?

Not My Mom Moms

I sent off a little note to the most influential mothers in my thirty-nine years with a quick thank you a few minutes ago and then started blog surfing. I didn't get far. Pioneer Woman's post was along the same vein of my quick note to seven specific women and since she asked for us (and by us, I mean the 13,000 bazillion people who read her blog daily) to write about the women who shaped us, I decided to go ahead and write about the seven women I had just thanked. The seven women who aren't my mom (who influenced me like crazy), but have affected my mothering in most influential ways, in chronological order.

Jennie: As a college co-ed finishing up a degree in education of the deaf, God intervened in my life in a way that I would not fully appreciate for awhile. I transferred to Arkansas from Mississippi for the last two years of my education. So did Jennie. She needed a roommate to help defray costs. So did I. Our professor hooked us up and my life was to never be the same. Jennie brought her two young daughters to Little Rock. They were four and six at the time. The youngest, Amanda, had just been diagnosed with a profound hearing loss a year earlier. Jennie dove into the world of the Deaf. She took ASL and then decided to get her degree in teaching the deaf. Jennie blessed my life in a tremendous way. The way she lived her life sacrificing for her daughters was astounding. While my mom was the first mother in whom I witnessed sacrificial love, she was unfortunately not the first in which I truly realized what that meant. Jennie was. She arose at 4am to have a quiet time, to study, to get ready. I never heard her raise her voice. She was loving and gentle. She determined to teach God's Word in all areas of life. She was the first mother I saw live according to Scripture. It rocked my world. Truly. I'm confident that her prayers for me during those years were a big part of my being drawn to the LORD and saved. The LORD turned my heart toward godly mothering through Jennie's example.

Jenna: I forced my friendship on Jenna when I was pregnant with my first child. She was a mother of only nine weeks when I asked if I could spend the night to see 'this taking care of a newborn thing'. Can you believe she let me? Thus began a friendship that marks the beginning of my momhood. She was/is my first (as they call them in the media) 'play date friend'. We learned together how to comfort babies, how to help them sleep through the night, how to go to the Big City with babies (and then babies and toddlers), how to still have a fun social life with children, how to take babies and toddlers to the park, how to spank toddlers, how to get in a pool for swim lessons at 10am in the morning, and much more. All while praying for each other and studying God's Word together. Not only was she my first Mom Friend, she was my first Bible Study Friend. We met with many different women over the years. All moms. She's encouraged me and blessed me. I am so very grateful for her.

Gatrel: My church set up a Titus 2 ministry ten years ago and paired 'older' women with 'younger' women. When Gatrel and I were paired up, I knew little about this mother of seven, but it was a match made in heaven. Literally. It was to be a one year mentoring relationship. She was the first mother who discipled me. Who shared with me intentionally. Who gave me only Biblical advice (once she even made a point to come to be to apologize for giving anti-Biblical advice, weeping in humbleness... it was a moment I'll never, ever forget). She invested in my life self-sacrificially. I never realized how much she put her agenda for her day on the back burner to meet with me until I was schooling three children myself. She was also the first example of a submissive wife. Her loving submission spoke volumes to me at the beginning of my motherhood. She was also the first homeschool mentor in my life. Sharing with me. Encouraging me. Empowering me to live the life God called me to. Challenging me to rise to the challenge of good homeschooling. All the while, weaving God's Word through every conversation. This 'one year' relationship is going on eleven.

Robin: This mother is the finest example of 'bloom where you are planted' I have ever seen. She loves her children with a ferocious love and purposefully teaches them, challenges them and demonstrates generosity to them. Her marriage and first years of being a mother have not gone the way she thought they would, but she is not a complainer. She makes the most of every situation. She works around the difficulties and challenges with creativity, joy and determination. I am often floored by the way she loves her family and does things for them. She is the first mom I've watched work tirelessly at finding the right way to get something across to her children. To teach them God's Word in a way they can grasp it. To not give up despite how hard it is. To love someone so much even though they are an emotional work out for her. It's quite the example. She listens to me, challenges me, encourages me, and laughs with (and sometimes at) me. The fact that she is my little sister just makes it crazy awesome.

Maridelle: This pillar of the faith was the first woman who encouraged me and trained me how to care for my children through the food and nourishment I provide for them. From the moment I called her to ask if I could come over and pick her brain, she has been there for every little step towards healthy living. She would grind my wheat, give me recipes, share sample recipes, and pass on information as soon as she learned it. She is a wealth of information. But the best part of our relationship, is that it is bound in God' Word. I seek her input on so many issues, not just health, because she is a rock. The love for the LORD she has is like a garment she wears. While she is almost thirty years older than me, I feel a kinship that is a treasured gift. I am drawn to her and hope to grow to be the woman she is.

Lisa: I can't believe it was really only one short year ago God brought this mother into my life. She has been an encouragement to me since day one. She willingly spoke into my life during a dark time and helped me walk through it. She has some of the strongest and most different convictions I've run into, but never has she made me feel judged. She loves me and challenges me in softly firm ways. She is not afraid to talk to me about hard things and to say what needs to be said, yet is just as comfortable laughing a night away playing board games with our husbands. I always feel like I've been blessed when I am with her. She is the example of long-term homeschooling and raising counter culture children I needed this past year. She has helped me get back on track in many areas of my life. She's also helped me find the freedom in being me. She is my friend and her mothering challenges me daily.

Susan: This jewel doesn't even realize how much she's affected me. Yet. The last six months I have started a journey into naturalistic health care. I started looking into herbs, homeopathic remedies and essential oils. Susan is one big ball of this kind of goodness. She studies it with passion and loves passing the knowledge on. She was the first mother who gently challenged me to think outside the box when it comes to health care. To take up the responsibility myself and to not lay it at someone else's feet. She has some crazy sounding beliefs, but they are based on a love for God that permeates everything she says and does. You would never know to meet her that she is so adamant about her beliefs because her gentle voice and meek spirit is what woos you. Her style of mothering is like a balm to her children. And to me. While it's hard for me to imagine myself meek and gentle (quit yer guffawing!), I seek to be more like Susan in many ways.

Each of these women have taught me the truth of these verses:
Proverbs 31: 30-31
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I Promise, It's Legal!-- Updated

Can you guess what I did a couple of days ago? If you know me IRL and you know I was 'working on' this, you can't guess. That's cheating!

As I was prepping, I was worried Horatio might bust in on me and arrest me. Or maybe Grissom, but he retired. What I was doing was perfectly legal, it just didn't look like it.

Give me your guesses! First one to guess right gets a cyber pat on the back!

UPDATE:

No one officially guessed correctly, but I think Charlsie figured it out!

I was prepping for making my own homeopathic remedy kits. You can make them yourself, if you have someone who is willing to start each of your remedies. Thankfully, I did. It saved me a ton of money. Each remedy would cost about $8-15 dollars in a store. I was able to make 30 for only $45 (including the pills, bottles and two storage kits). Admittedly, I am nervous that they won't be as good as the store bought kits, but the friend who was my 'starter' is sure they will be. She's been using homeopathic kits for many years, so I trust her experience.

Pretty cool, huh?

Homeopathic remedies are something I wish I had heard of many years ago. I am new to the 'alternative medicine' side of life, but the knowledge I am gleaning from many people and references floors me. I have been in the dark about much, much useful and trusted information. Specifically, I am studying herbal, homeopathic and essential oil medicinal usage. I am excited to be learning so much, but am sad about how our culture has suppressed this knowledge for so long.

If you haven't looked into these things, check them out. They could enlighten you to how our Creator put so many things in place to help our bodies heal. And they could save you a TON of money. In this economy, that's an extra good thing.

Oh, and they are NOT voodoo, like some unnamed person in my home calls them (even though he keeps saying, "What are we gonna try next?").

Need a Movie for the Weekend?

We just watched a movie I have never heard of before. Sad, since it came out in 2006.

Anyway, I really liked it. Faith building. God glorifying. True life.

I recommend it for you and your family (kids over 9 or so... and then skip a scene [chapter 22, after the boy falls off the tractor; fast forward to hospital]). My Sweetie, the older kids and I really liked it. Click on the photo to read a synopsis. If you have already watched it, what did you think?

If you haven't watched this movie,

Go forth and rent.

Mindful Monday

I've seen two movies recently that really gave me pause. Two movies that showed glimpses into lives that are completely and utterly foreign to me, "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Soloist".

As I drove home tonight after seeing "The Soloist", I remembered a comment I once read by my favorite author (Randy Alcorn): what if God took away everything you've never thanked Him for? Gratefully, our God is not like that. He is not malicious. BUT it brought up the truth that we each have been given much and that we most often take all kinds of things for granted.

So, today, I want to stop and thank the LORD for ten things I've never thanked Him for. I challenge you to do the same thing, via your blog or a comment here. It was harder to do than I initially thought because when I first read the article Randy Alcorn wrote, I went to bed for weeks listing lots and lots of things I had never thanked God for (the ability to hear, the ability to see, always having a bed, the ability to read, the fact that I 'get' most jokes, etc.). This exercise really opened my eyes to the things I take for granted.

1) I'm thankful that I have the ability to hold my babies in my arms while standing up and doing the 'mommy sway'.

2) I'm thankful that I've always had a home that's bigger than I needed.

3) I'm thankful that I have the ability to appreciate good literature.

4) I'm thankful that I can walk into my kitchen and eat something I like every day.

5) I'm thankful that I have been taught the blessings of expository Bible teaching.

6) I'm thankful that I've always had a car.

7) I'm thankful that I've always had at least one friend I could turn to for help.

8) I'm thankful that I have Christian family members.

9) I'm thankful that I was had a healthy childhood.

10) I'm thankful I never lost anyone close to me when I was very young.

"You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God and I will exalt you." Psalm 118:28

I truly am very, very blessed.
Aren't you?

You're Never Too Old for New Toes

Cutie Pie taught me a lesson today. Turns out that I have two new toes and three old toes. I didn't know this information. She was happy to educate and impart wisdom via visual aides. Once she showed me, I understood.

Makes sense, right?

Now consider yourself informed and share the knowledge. I think there's a whole world ignorant of the facts regarding new toes and old toes.

You learn something new everyday, huh?

and

Rest in the knowledge that you're never too old to have new toes.