Current Web Readings

Battlefield For Our Mind and Heart
WONDERFUL read!

The Godly Home
What I am currently listening to.

Months Worth of Probiotics for Price of Cabbage
With JJ's new GAPS diet, we will be making our own sauerkraut. I love how she uses ROCKS in hers! I can't WAIT for her to get a Facebook page!

Watch This
This is a recent episode of the Glenn Beck show on how public schools and colleges are indoctrinating our children. This is a good watch. HT: Israel Wayne

Ressurection Lapbook

Current Web Readings

The Million Dollar Parenting Question
A must (but short) read for parents.

Swagbucks.com is a search engine that rewards you in the form of Swagbucks for searching. 45 Swagbucks can be exchanged for a $5 Amazon.com gift card. This generally takes about 2 weeks to earn. PLEASE use my link to join: Join Swagbucks as I do get a swagbuck every time you get one if you use my link. THANKS!!!

Solar Tube
NEAT idea - to keep in mind when we build a house or remodel.

Gluten - what you don't know may kill you
A must read.

Flourless Hemp Chocolate Chunks Cookies
I plan to make these for JJ using flax egg replacer and sunflower butter instead of egg and peanut butter.

Why Public School System Teaches Revisionist History
A REALLY good read.

Finding Coupons for Organic Groceries

Proverbs??

I went into the children's room to tuck them in for the night and read the catechism of the day with them (we just restarted this again, so it is still new). As I opened up the Bible, EE said "Proverbs?"

I knew that she was thinking that I was going to read the Proverbs of the day (you know, where you read the Proverbs that corresponds to the date, Proverbs 21 on the 21st and so on). And I had several thoughts at once:

1) I came in here to read and work on the catechism with you and that is what we are going to do.
2) If I read the Proverbs of the day AND try to do this, it will be too much for you girls and no one will pay attention to the catechism and we will be a day off.
3) If I try to read both, I do not have enough time and will be in here too long and not get JJ down too.

So I skipped the Proverbs of the day, which honestly I have not read to them in a long time (about a month or two).

So I am sitting here in bed listening to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I love her and her books and her broadcast - so godly. Anyways, she is interviewing Randy Alcorn and his book The Treasure Principle (which by the way as of this writing has 6 copies available on for free on PaperBack Swap - it had seven, but I just ordered my copy). :D

Anyways, he is talking about where your treasure in, there your heart is also. So if you want a more godly life, spend more time giving to God of your time, your money, your possessions, of yourself.

And I was totally convicted. I started thinking about what sort of example am I setting for my children? Am I showing them how important time in God's word is? Am I showing them how to cultivate a personal relationship with them?

The daily reading of the Proverbs is important to my daughter. When I was reading it daily, I noticed she was in the word at lot more herself. She was reading and UNDERLING and CIRCLING meaningful passages in her Bible. She was cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus.

It amazes me how sometimes what seems so little to us in HUGE in the lives of our children. Especially as they are growing in their walk with the Lord.

I Am ... Fun????

With me being a no Mom and all, I can be quite uptight at times. TOO often if you ask me.

And it saddens me. There is no joy like that of seeing your children happy. Of hearing laughter and knowing your children have joy. I don't hear it nearly as often as I would like. I really need to lighten up!!

I think to the Disney version of Pollyanna. I love how Pollyanna approached the pastor, who had was always preaching hellfire and damnation, and shared with him about joy. There are 800 texts that talk about joy, and if the Lord took care to mention it that many times, He must want us to be joyful. "The glad texts" are what her father called them.

Well, I am not quite sure how many times truly the Bible tells us to be glad or joyful, but I do know that it is a lot. And I do know that He WANTS for us to be joyful, and to enjoy Him and His creation.

For the past two days, with me working on being a yes Mom more, and working on being more joyful, I have heard my children laughing more. I see them smiling more. And I have heard them say "Mom, you make things fun." Things I heard on occasion before, are now becoming everyday sayings!

My children notice a difference in me, and it is a good thing. And I am trying. I am trying SO HARD and I fall so short so many times. It is so EASY to lose my patience, and with that goes my joy too.

I am reminded of how when my kids do something wrong, I always remind them that we are all sinners and fall short. It is EASY to do the selfish and sinful thing - we don't have to TRY to. But we do have to try to do the selfless thing and glorify God with our thoughts, words and actions. I apologize to my kids often and it seems I am always asking their forgiveness. I am so thankful they are so quick to forgive (though they do not as easily forget - but that is another subject). :D

And I notice, in working on joy, and being a yes Mom, that I am spending more time WITH my kids. They love spending time with me. And I love spending time with them. I think I sometimes get so caught up in other things, sadly, that I lose time WITH them. Oh how SHORT and precious is that time!!!

I don't like goofiness. I don't think it glorifies God. God never intended for us to be fools. But I do like being fun. Fun hats, fun noses, fun jokes... finding joy in the little mundane things. It brings a family closer. And I love it!

I AM ... A book lover/collector/reader

I cannot get enough of BOOKS!! My poor husband! Our house is overflowing with books. I just do not have enough bookshelves for all the BOOKS I have (nor do I have the time to READ all the books, but that does not stop me from collecting them). *hint hint honey, PLEASE build me that library bookcase you and I talked about when we first moved into the house hint hint*

This is the chair I got at a garage sale for only $18 when they were wanting $30. This chair was MADE for me! LOL!! I love to sit in it. And I LOVE to read. I will admit that I really do not like to waste my time on fictional books. I rarely read them anymore. But this one, Stepping Heavenward by Elisabeth Printess, is WONDERFUL! It is the diary of a young girl who just turned 16. And it travels with her through her life, marriage, kids (and that is as far as I have read). It encourages me in my walk with the Lord. THOSE are the kind of fictional books I like to read. Books that make a better person BECAUSE I read them.

And I have NOT found many books that are fictional that have that outcome (if you know of any PLEASE let me know!).

So most of the books I read are non-fiction. How to be a better wife... a better mother .. take better pictures... homeschool the kids.. raise Godly kids... well YOU get the idea. :)

But in all that reading, it does me no good without application. I realized that long ago, but tend to need REMINDERS every now and then. To be DOERS of the word, not just hearers.

George Muller decided early on in his walk with the Lord that he needed to stop reading books about the Bible and JUST read the Bible. There really is everything in there for us. And yet, I find little time to read it. But I can find plenty of time to read a book about the Bible (or specifically about a certain TOPIC within the Bible - like parenting, being a helpmeet, etc.). Is that because the Bible is difficult to understand?

I was listening to a local radio station the other day. He was talking about how he and his now wife used to live apart when they were dating/engaged. And by apart, I mean states apart. So they would write to each other. Every day he would get a letter, he looked forward to getting the letter, and would be standing at the mailbox when the mailman arrived. When we was reading her letters, he didn't need to look up words in the Greek or Hebrew dictionary. He KNEW what she meant. And none of it bored him. He loved hearing about her Aunt and cousin second removed. He loved all the begots. He loved every word of her letter, no matter what she said.

God's word is a love letter to US. To ME. To my children. We should love the begots. We should look forward to reading it with the same anticipation we look forward to reading a love letter from our spouse. We ... **I** need to fall in love with my Savior again. And savor His words ... His love for me. And I need to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer.

I AM .. a NO Mom

I think I have blogged about this before, but am unsure.

I am a no mom. Born and raised by a no mom (whose mom was also prolly a no mom).

You know the kind of mom, who says no to most anything and everything her kids ask her to do. And WHHHHHHYYYYYY does she say no? Well I cannot speak for other moms, but I know why I say no more often than not. More than likely it is because I am lazy. I don't want to have to clean up a big mess. Or I worry about something being being broken (when honestly, broken things are the BEST to let the kids tinker with and learn from - I know many a friend who has had her broken things start miraculously working after her kids tinkered with it).

So today I worked on being a yes mom. I had to remind myself quite a bit. But I did it. I said YES to more things than I said no to. In fact, I think I only said no twice, and then it was a wait until after Mommy gets back from the doctor thing because I had to leave. :D

And I wish I had taken a picture of the SHOCK on my daughters face when she asked me if *I* could do something and I told her *she* could do it. That brought her SO MUCH JOY!

Imagine all the joy I have robbed my kids of because I have been a no mom for too long. :(

And it is not that difficult to say yes! And it is not that time consuming. Usually they are more than HAPPY to clean up after themselves, especially when they are given the blessing of doing what they asked. The stuff they are asking to do requires so LITTLE of me (as in I do not have to make phone calls and arrangements for things to happen nor do I have to drive them from here to there and everywhere).

And the joy ... did I mention the JOY!! The squeals of delight as MM helped with dinner. When did I stop letting them HELP me so much? The shock on AA's face when I let her plant the seeds for lavender and decide where to place the pot for them to grow. The smiles when I told the girls they COULD open up and play with whatever was in those free bags I got from the homeschool fair. The laughter when they all ran outside to play after Mommy said YES.

I like this being a yes mom. I was a yes mom today. And it felt GOOD! Today (even with the illness and JJ backsliding with his allergies and such) was a GREAT day!

I pray that the Lord will help me to be a yes mom more more often than a no mom. And I pray that my children will become yes moms (and a dad) when they grow up.

Current Web Readings:

Clothes Pins
these are WAY cute!!!

Two Shirts
He who has two shirts, let him give one .... Are you able to give?

Complete Organizing Solutions
GREAT site!

Organizing Cash
A cloth envelope system! SO CUTE! And it solves the problem of the envelopes TEARING after so much use! I wonder if she has done a tutorial, or if there is a tutorial out there?? Anyone know? HT: Like Merchant Ships
P.S... this blog is GREAT! I am so loving it!!! take a peak around at more than just this post! :D

Parenting Follow Through
I love this! So many times I too wrestle with my laziness in inspecting something I have asked the kids to do. I ration is what they were to do that important. But I love how this author reminds us to look PAST WHAT they are to do to the character trait we are instilling in our children.

Mom's Smile
THIS IS PURE BRILLIANCE!!! It's not long, go and read it. Don't thank me. Thank the author!!! :D

Mom of Littles
Am I the LAST one to know that Crystal (Biblical Womanhood and Money Saving Mom) has another blog?

Mother of 20 is Interviewed

This interview is VERY inspiring. Whether you have one or twenty-one kids, you should read this.

Good Video: Accepting Our Children

Current Web Readings

Kitchen Tip - Washing Dishes With Baking Soda
I quit rinsing dishes before washing MONTHS go and it is amazing how much we save on our water bill!! But there are still a few dishes which have a little bit stuck to them. Usually only one or two dishes. I am going to try this baking soda trick and see if I have to use dish washing powder at all OR if I can just do the baking soda on the dishes and then the vinegar rinse (instead of Jet Dry, we have been using vinegar in the dispenser and it works WONDERFULLY!).

Vegan Baking 101
WONDERFUL list (BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!) of egg substitutes for baking. She lists different types of subs, what they are good for, what to be aware of...and all from personal experience. I have printed this out for my kitchen!

FREE BOOKS ONLINE:
Christian's Secret to a Happy Life - this is a WONDERFUL classic!
The Book Of Household Management
The Home and it's Management

Combating the "Mom Should Get Out Of The House More" Mentality
I love Jess' blog. I sadly do not get to read it as often as I would like. Life happens and I love it! But this has to be the BEST post on this topic I have read! I have felt this way for a long time. I do agree that we need help and a break, but when I break I want my husband to be the one watching the kids so at least ONE of us is watching the kids). And what about dating your spouse? Brian and I try to do this in the evenings after the kids are in bed. The kids are in bed by 7-8 (depending on if they had naps earlier in the day or not). keeping kids active REALLY help them sleep at night. :) This is a post (and a blog) I highly suggest you read!!

Merry WHAT??

It seems to come sooner and sooner every year. November barely begins and EVERYWHERE there is Christmas. Our Hobby Lobby is even in the process of marking down all fall and Thanksgiving items 60% off in order to make room for more Christmas stuff.

And yet, while every store in most every nation celebrates December 25th, more and more stores are removing the REASON. "Happy Holidays" ring through the stores with a "Don't wish anyone a Merry Christmas or lose your job!"

Wether you are a Christian or not, the reason the stores LOVES this time of year is for one and one reason alone - the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It brings the stores BILLIONS of dollars. Yet most fail to recognize WHY we celebrate at all.

Focus on the Family has started a campaign to find out which stores will wish you a Merry Christmas, which use it sparingly, and which stores are abhorrently opposed to Christmas (though will be more than happy to take your money for the season).

You can find the list here. It will be changing with updates regularly (so they said on the broadcast from Tuesday). I highly encourage you to print it out and bring it with you and not spend a dime in the stores that are so abhorrently opposed to Christmas. Spend your money and show your thanks to those stores who are willing to acknowledge what the season is about. (Be sure to watch the Merry Tossmass 2008 video while there!)

I want my children to not be afraid to wish others a Merry Christmas. I saw last year that my oldest, who is a little more observant of things, was reserved in wishing others a Merry Christmas. She even told her sister, who had just very enthusiastically wished someone a Merry Christmas, that we should not say that. OH how my heart broke. Of course I explained things to her, and we still need to talk about how we need to be a light in this ever growing darker world. But I think that this is a time for us to be a GREAT example to our children. Talking to them about WHY we are shopping at certain stores and not shopping at others. And what a great way to help our children focus on the meaning of the season by shopping at stores that acknowledge it!

Doing

I have come to the conclusion that the reason that I read and read and READ so many blogs is because I fear that I cannot do it. In reading about the life that I HOPE to live (more simple, hand making more things, gardening, preserving, etc.), I wonder where the time is. Where does it go? And then I realize that I am keeping myself from having the time because I spend so much time reading about it instead of doing it. I am afraid to fail.

I keep rationalizing that I need to read more and more and MORE about it. Saturating myself with knowledge before I jump in and do it. But in doing so, I realize that there is always one more thing to read and one more thing to learn. And nothing ever gets done, and a sort of depression seeps in. Not because I envy the life of others, but because I know, deep down inside, that I am preventing myself from having that life.

It is always one more thing. I need to know more, have more, read more. Where is the contentment and PEACE in that? My God is a God of peace and contentment. Whenever those two elements are missing in my life, it should be a little... no BLARING alarm that I am NOT right with God.

Honestly HE should be my ALL IN ALL. I should be seeking Him daily as to what He would have me do today. And yet, in an effort to try to do what **I think** would please and honor Him, I do not consult Him on the matter.

And I can see the effect this is having on my kids. They are like me, really wanting to do something, but never doing it. There is lots of talk about it, and even looking through books to learn more about it. But then nothing comes of it. And I know that I can see my oldest two getting deeply frustrated when things do not go their way. And I sit them down and comfort them and talk with them. That is their blaring alarm from God that they need to stop and pray and follow Him.

I can tell that my talks are helping because I do hear them suggesting to ME that I should pray more often. LOL! But it is always easier to see the speck in someone else's eye than the log in one's own eye. They do forget to stop and pray themselves. But prayerfully in reminding me, they will learn from me, and listen when Mommy reminds THEM. :)

I need to DO more and stop worry and going over everything in my head. If I am afraid to make mistakes, my children will grow up learning to be afraid to make mistakes. And as the THINKERS I am trying to raise them to be, they have to learn to LEARN from their mistakes (which cannot happen if they never make any). And it would be SO MUCH BETTER for them to make mistakes NOW, in a safe environment where they can be trained, than to get out into the world, and make mistakes and be bashed for them.

And to place a desire in my children's hearts (and mine) to seek Him. Not just daily prayers of praise and thanks to Him. Not just prayers asking for help and protection and guidance. But prayers in which we SEEK Him. Seek His will for each one of us each day.

Love Notes

A friend of mine posted about how she writes her children love notes. She said her kids LOVE them and it always encourages them and is a great way to tie heart strings with your kids.

I had the best intentions to do this with my kids, but always kept forgetting. Well a few nights ago, after a day where they kids were incredibly wonderfully sweet in spirit, I made SURE to write them each a letter. Since we have been trying lately to focus on the heart, I made sure to praise their sweet spirits.

I put all three notes on the floor so the girls would be sure to see them when they woke up. It was SO GREAT to wake up to giggles in the girl's room as I heard AA read everyone's letter to them. It really encouraged each of the girl's.

I am not sure that writing notes to the girls is something I will do every night. I don't want it to become something that they expect. But I definitely will be writing notes more frequently!

Changing The Heart of a Rebel

I LOVE listening to S.M. Davis. His stuff is convicting and empowering/encouraging at the same time. Right now I am listening to his Changing The Heart Of A Rebel sermon. This is good not only for those who have children who are rebelling, but those who want to PREVENT their children from rebelling.

Here are some personal notes:

The heart is the most important thing. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CHILD's HEART!

First you lose their heart, then they harden their heart, then their heart is able to be stolen from you.
lost heart > hardened heart > stolen heart

What if you have lost their heart? WIN THEM BACK! The same things that allow others to steal your child's heart, can allow you to steal it back!

If you have lost your child's heart be careful not to HARDEN the child's heart! ANGER hardens the child's heart.

Fear of explosions of anger cause a child to withdraw into a shell and they take their heart with them.

DO NOT PROVOKE YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH. Ways to provoke a child to wrath:
criticising or needling the child
holding them to too high of a standard or having high expectations of them
they have to do too much to earn your praise
compare them to others
make them do something they are terribly afraid to do
don't communicate enough with them
spend too much time outside the home
watch TV too much
get buried in books (or computer) too often
don't listen to them

LISTEN to your child and then SPEAK KINDLY while touching them.

Proverbs 24:3 says a house is build by understanding. Seek to understand your child. Tell them you WANT to understand them. Don't belittle them because you think they are making a big deal about nothing. LISTEN to them. If it is important to them, IT IS IMPORTANT!

Meet your child's needs. Not just what you think their needs are, but what she shares her needs are. (personal note here, a few nights back, beloved asked each of the girls what they need - without having heard this sermon - and it was amazing to hear their answers. Things as simple as more hugs!)

Only the heart can keep the heart. The first thing to do at any sign of rebellion is not to get frustrated and pull away. You need to pull them CLOSER!! Stop being so critical and harsh. PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE! They need to feel accepted. Praise is like a powerful magnet drawing the heart of a child drawing the child to you. But criticism is like a polar magnet pushing them in the opposite direction. When praise or criticism is done in the presence of others it multiplies the effect, drawing them even closer or pushing them further and further away.

Once you get a heart back, have a heart check EVERY DAY! Make sure there are NO BARRIERS! Do something EVERY DAY to tie new heart strings between you and the child. Spend at least ONE HOUR A DAY with the child.

PRAISE THE CHILD!

You can listen to it yourself free online! Changing The Heart of a Rebel by S.M. Davis
There is also a fill in the blank worksheet from Dr. S.M. Davis
Or read it online Part 1 and Part 2

Missing Out

The other day I was on the phone with a dear friend whom I rarely get the pleasure of talking with. I heard giggles in the other room and promptly ended the call saying

I have to go. I hear giggles in the other room and I am missing out!

How many times do I get busy and miss out on enjoying my children? It is no wonder so many parents don't see children as a blessing. They are probably missing out on the joy children bring because they are busy with other things.

Maybe most parents would try to quiet the kids down, or leave the room so they could carry on the conversation.

What would matter most when I am on my death bed? That I put my kids aside so I could finish an edifying conversation with a friend, OR that I enjoyed time with my kids? I am creating a legacy with them every time we laugh together! And what a GREAT legacy!!!

I think there is something special to the phrase LAUGH OFTEN!

This layout below is an older one, but one I felt went perfectly with this post. It is from 2006! It is amazing to look back and see how TINY they were, and how even my then 3 year old, now 5 year old looks so much older!

image is clickable

Side Note:

You have to have to HAVE TO take just 2 minutes and go read Best Prayer!

Mom Said Wow

I feel horrible.

My daughter came and showed me something that daddy had just taught her. She did it all by herself. She was so excited. I was excited for her and said "Wow! That's great honey." but I guess my mind was focused elsewhere.

She ran back to Daddy exclaiming with perfect happiness "Mommy said ... Mommy said WOW!"

It's the pause that gives me pause. (sorry, I had to do it) But seriously, why did she pause? I had to think about it. Why, out of all the things I could have said to her, did I say something so simple and unfeeling as "wow"?? A word that was not even around to be defined in Webster's 1828 Dictionary!

I need to increase my vocabulary! :D And guess which cute little youngsters will be doing it right along with me?! :D This will be fun! :) I plan on printing out a short list (maybe 20) of words that show a lot more care and concern than just "wow" for the excitement and joy that my daughters bring me when they share their life with me.

Current Web Readings

A Change Of Mind
A good reminder on how to be JOYFUL as a mother (of one or of many). WONDERFUL must read post!

Free Crochet Patterns
Fond this on Ravelry (Rebecca are you signed up for this yet?) Anyways, a VERY popular pattern for the socks (scroll down once on the page) brought me to this page, but she has this cute little collection of patterns for beginning kids!! Just scroll down to the almost bottom. :) FUN FUN FUN!

The Children's Hour
This is a list of books that are highly recommended by a highly respected preacher. I have been very pleased with all the recommendations I have seen so far, and really enjoyed his other blog.

Ugly-Beautiful and the Follow-up with pictures
How to take the ugly and se the beautiful. A wonderful post. I really liked the follow-ups with pictures. GREAT examples!!!

ABC Fabric Magnets
Oh it does not get ANY cuter than this!! What a GREAT way to use up your stash! These would make AWESOME Christmas gifts for young ones and would be pretty quick and easy to make! :) LOVE these!!!

Planner From Old Book
Check out this ADORABLE planner made from an old French Lesson book!!!

No Knead Dutch Oven Bread
Oh how I LOVE my cast iron!! I MUST try this!!

Sally Stitch
These are GREAT! Vintage sewing cartoons!!! HT: My Half Of The Brain

Chalkboard Placemat Tutorial
This is PURE GENIUS!! What a GREAT thing to make and take when you are going out to eat! I know what I want for Christmas!! 5 of these!! LOL!!!

Sponge Balls
What a GREAT alternative to water balloons! AND reuseable (the balloons aren't).

Fun For Nothin'

This is SO GREAT I had to share it RIGHT NOW!

Fun For Nothin'

An on going challenge THAT YOU MUST CHECK OUT!! This is a GREAT way to share and get ideas for having fun with your children without things like TV, lots of money or other material things. Jumping rope and spitting watermelon seeds are the kind of things you will find here!! I LOVE THIS! AND what a GREAT way to share two passions - enjoying my children AND photography (check out the Flickr Group)!

Here is a slideshow of pictures from there (you can also always scroll down to the bottom of this blog and see the same slideshow which is updated as pictures are added):

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Looking Up

Click image to view text and credits.

I never realized just how small my girls were until I saw this picture EE took of me. The angle of her looking up at me to be able to take my picture really hit me. I always thinking of them as SO BIG when they are really just so SMALL!!

It really makes me want to take some more time to truly treasure this time while I have it. I know they grow up fast. I have seen it (having four children, you look at your youngest and then at your oldest and you see it!) and been told it by COUNTLESS well meaning women whose children are grown and gone.

It was just very powerful to me to see how small my girls are. I guess it just gave me a realization just how fragile they are.

I must be doing SOMETHING right...

That was the original title of this post. 

While all three girls are playing with playdough at the table, I overheard EE (6yr) say, "I have something to say. I am sorry for losing my temper with you AA, do you forgive me?"

My heart was touched and blessed. And so I came up to write just a short blurb to remember this moment.

But as I typed out the title, I was so convicted about the heart of PRIDE I had towards this moment. As if **I** was the one doing something right, when in fact, it is my daughter who had done something right.

I am nothing and can do nothing except through Christ who strengthens me. It is Him who has touched my daughter and His work in her heart that has caused this wonderful moment.