tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17919853854618209092024-02-06T21:31:01.135-08:00The Epsteen ChroniclesOur life is an adventure of laundry mountains, poopy diapers, runny noses, dirty hands, and full hearts. We are simply a family trying to live simply before the Lord, attempting to give Him glory in all we do. This blog is my attempt to chronicle that journey. I will write about anything and everything pertaining to our adventure including natural living, homeschooling, organizing, breast-feeding, gardening, our spiritual journey and pretty much anything else. Enjoy and God bless!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-62317211737446651902011-05-24T12:47:00.000-07:002011-05-24T13:48:04.648-07:00MooLast week our family was able to fulfill a longtime dream of ours of purchasing livestock. Granted, Cara didn't come to us in the traditional way, but she is ours nonetheless. Well, at least 1/14th of her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22aU6PYhIV8no9e8I341GOUvWzqPFJAIwYvQjcFcxh00RDVElCj5YtGW65-9qY9JlPqK8j8EjJ9qtV17rNv2oZi74exV8hA2z81YXxaLGXqDoQlbwgP0YUGux6-CE3hyZrf3j-Y7fuqqz/s1600/cara+blog+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22aU6PYhIV8no9e8I341GOUvWzqPFJAIwYvQjcFcxh00RDVElCj5YtGW65-9qY9JlPqK8j8EjJ9qtV17rNv2oZi74exV8hA2z81YXxaLGXqDoQlbwgP0YUGux6-CE3hyZrf3j-Y7fuqqz/s320/cara+blog+2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet Cara</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuwbqBZTwMbda6RGyb3YoGmq_ZmSCKxsTlz5lftsgQysar_3vxzJxC_lrNHNwntVbbcakk9UsbJXQnaM1Q_bZL64fMZMixrgQBEX7geZzM-cSgwlrh9yC4d2qH0Op4Ldz09kj3fS_fAO_/s1600/cara+blog+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuwbqBZTwMbda6RGyb3YoGmq_ZmSCKxsTlz5lftsgQysar_3vxzJxC_lrNHNwntVbbcakk9UsbJXQnaM1Q_bZL64fMZMixrgQBEX7geZzM-cSgwlrh9yC4d2qH0Op4Ldz09kj3fS_fAO_/s320/cara+blog+3.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cara, blog readers. Blog readers, Cara</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BNcqerwKi1YLvxvUx508dGFKjQ0b25HAVhnj32enbhMVZbYRKlyUXOUW9XefUyoUXJUzgOOBcCVovAFWFgWG3bSSt9YmyRSpq3bLNn3cMXFPjPPFeiaXxxqPH_XtB1pZf0fxsco5MZnv/s1600/cara+blog+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BNcqerwKi1YLvxvUx508dGFKjQ0b25HAVhnj32enbhMVZbYRKlyUXOUW9XefUyoUXJUzgOOBcCVovAFWFgWG3bSSt9YmyRSpq3bLNn3cMXFPjPPFeiaXxxqPH_XtB1pZf0fxsco5MZnv/s320/cara+blog+1.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">She's a little camera shy. But isn't she beautiful?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We purchased what is known in the state of Indiana as a "cow share". You can also purchase a herd share, but at this particular farm there are only five such "Dairy Queens" so for now, a cow share it is. In purchasing a cow share we became legal owners of Cara, and we pay for her upkeep and boarding. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl4dcz3njpjTka8gMpgBUEq772Eflq6bn7LAPdNhC8a-88HVdWPvTAn4LLkDhBTzqvAi8g-r3GtAazIyV2FNf_4GQf_l689BlDQvYrn3sVxdMtZdK6aE6ATtfZ3FEfs1ZSm3z6TbEBGlG/s1600/herd+blog+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl4dcz3njpjTka8gMpgBUEq772Eflq6bn7LAPdNhC8a-88HVdWPvTAn4LLkDhBTzqvAi8g-r3GtAazIyV2FNf_4GQf_l689BlDQvYrn3sVxdMtZdK6aE6ATtfZ3FEfs1ZSm3z6TbEBGlG/s320/herd+blog+1.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All five ladies, doing what the ladies were made to do. Cara is in the middle.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Cara comes to us from <a href="http://www.thisoldfarminc.com/">This Old Farm</a>, located in the rolling countryside of Darlington, IN. Cara lives on a beautiful, expansive farm of 22 acres and is quite spoiled by farm owners, Erick and Jessica Smith. She thrives on acre after acre of beautiful, nutritious, fresh green grass. As you can see in the above pictures, she quite enjoys her feast. She is living the pampered life, as a cow's life goes. She has lots of freedom and plenty of room to move and live and breathe...and gestate. That's right, Cara is also going to be a mama come fall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PHVHoVoqvYfRguRQTIZJZD5rLtLuQ_5FT0NOs7uPPtEselFglnFKMkOsG14OkZv0cagx0kLow2IQHeHsSzsKka-GeqROUrljAEZcrmaS5H6T-Os4pMbUyGNNuZJrSwqfkdsgODufMe47/s1600/entrance+3+robin+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PHVHoVoqvYfRguRQTIZJZD5rLtLuQ_5FT0NOs7uPPtEselFglnFKMkOsG14OkZv0cagx0kLow2IQHeHsSzsKka-GeqROUrljAEZcrmaS5H6T-Os4pMbUyGNNuZJrSwqfkdsgODufMe47/s320/entrance+3+robin+blog.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance to "This Old Farm". I love how the robin so nicely posed for us.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cara is a dairy cow and as her owners we are blessed to share in the bounty of her silky smooth, fresh, raw milk. We also enjoy skimming the cream off the top and making homemade butter and buttermilk. The taste is incredible, the health benefits are plentiful and it sure doesn't hurt that we know where our food comes <br />
from and that we are supporting an incredible, local, sustainable farm and more importantly, farm family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRO1st6LW0-9QZx2x9gZran878HovWhGCZUtbJnl1P_sRzMKPzpZdj6T1R6yY9YNhrXlFU8CA7wC63BfLASsROBPgm1bD8M93EBcpB2bdsQpvjZG2dv62_2mr5OTZyqIjvxyWvz_h-w2b/s1600/occupational+therapy+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRO1st6LW0-9QZx2x9gZran878HovWhGCZUtbJnl1P_sRzMKPzpZdj6T1R6yY9YNhrXlFU8CA7wC63BfLASsROBPgm1bD8M93EBcpB2bdsQpvjZG2dv62_2mr5OTZyqIjvxyWvz_h-w2b/s320/occupational+therapy+237.jpg" t8="true" width="260px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yummy goodness.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfnm7koDtIeC2FD1PdJMfjMv9vDgf-KfRwxkthgrZM1GGv78FdnHjl_NIoS9z-km5dnU84k8abzV9B2k2RZ68FF42wQRsjefleqY75Bn-0OOtFXH2z1ufxAC8VgPByMMvXHh9oERA4L1E/s1600/raw+milk+family+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfnm7koDtIeC2FD1PdJMfjMv9vDgf-KfRwxkthgrZM1GGv78FdnHjl_NIoS9z-km5dnU84k8abzV9B2k2RZ68FF42wQRsjefleqY75Bn-0OOtFXH2z1ufxAC8VgPByMMvXHh9oERA4L1E/s320/raw+milk+family+blog.JPG" t8="true" width="250px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A proud, raw milk family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Each Sunday, we travel to the farm, which is about 35 minutes one-way, to visit Cara and pick up our milk. Cara is milked Sunday morning for us and we like to go directly after church. This means there are approximately 2 hours, give or take a few minutes, between the time of her milking and the time we pick-up our milk. It doesn't get much fresher than that! In fact, this past week, we got there so close to her milking time that the milk was not even completely cold by the time we got it. We take it home immediately, put it in the coldest part of our refrigerator and it is ready for us to enjoy in just a few hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KyOu9IagulSrR1V-JXUTbQeUO3YeJMu9Wz3Mxr5l6UTZDQr2UZkSqDfSi1BN1z-7Hm2uZvqTV1JCbSve9lyQ66KectnmgRpkw0r18L9UI7vleUy0_jEGrFvrOmqT9_-TctBGAynbjyMi/s1600/occupational+therapy+245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KyOu9IagulSrR1V-JXUTbQeUO3YeJMu9Wz3Mxr5l6UTZDQr2UZkSqDfSi1BN1z-7Hm2uZvqTV1JCbSve9lyQ66KectnmgRpkw0r18L9UI7vleUy0_jEGrFvrOmqT9_-TctBGAynbjyMi/s320/occupational+therapy+245.jpg" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying a fresh cold one.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We are so thankful for the way God has provided this resource for our family. We are taking baby steps toward a more natural and healthful lifestyle and teaching life's valuable lessons along the way. This isn't necessarily how we saw the dream of livestock ownership taking shape, and as much as we would love to have Cara for our very own, we recognize and accept God's provision and blessing no matter the form it takes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzo_Dr8KToHgOKxj1buRXPZK6ljONUUiKYoQPNDV_PC8cxU0wmYPopKfrrrdWqJm_4Vv1l7eKe6vjX79o6EO8twrXHyuowWB_wjVPr0e51nybBKYvNlioMs4Hd0tF22sGSAyBFq0UQddi/s1600/old+farm+lane+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzo_Dr8KToHgOKxj1buRXPZK6ljONUUiKYoQPNDV_PC8cxU0wmYPopKfrrrdWqJm_4Vv1l7eKe6vjX79o6EO8twrXHyuowWB_wjVPr0e51nybBKYvNlioMs4Hd0tF22sGSAyBFq0UQddi/s320/old+farm+lane+blog.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So long, Cara. See you next Sunday!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>In future weeks I plan on sharing how we came into cow ownership and why we feel it is important to drink raw milk. In the meantime, share in the comments how God is blessing YOUR family these days? And I'm curious, have YOU ever had raw milk?<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/2011/05/working-together-simple-homemaking.html">I'm linking up over at Raising Arrows' Simple Homemaking Link Up.</a></span></em><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/"><img src="http://www.raisingarrows.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/simplehomemaking125x175.png" /></a></center>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-78371473858434786842011-05-15T20:07:00.000-07:002011-05-15T20:07:06.364-07:00Boy CrazyI love my boys! So many people have assumed that we were disappointed when we found out our most recent child was going to be a boy. And while it is true that my heart longs for another daughter and a sister for Madison, I was thrilled to hear that we were expecting our third boy. We are truly outnumbered in this household and I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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But sometimes? The testosterone can be a bit overwhelming. <br />
<br />
Take yesterday for instance. I was summoned outside by Madison shouting, "Come quick, Mom! You've got to see this!" And, as I've noted before, those are words every mother dreads. It can mean something very, very good, or something very, VERY bad. <br />
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If any of you have boys, I am sure you could just let your imagination run wild considering what Madison could possibly be so excited about. Instead of me telling you though, I think you can only truly appreciate this heart-stopping moment by seeing what I saw.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3NJZKRSrAbUw0SZJ-_QRMRIH56EMY8Xost6i-YjLmHbCyFXP1sBOW2uqA7jr65TWHc0oUO4UoUBQToDD0MSHQ27Ncymv4J-nCUvuVDIAiyNyrQFCjNgIoxlGy5HN4pk04osrYcUevkTf/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+080+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3NJZKRSrAbUw0SZJ-_QRMRIH56EMY8Xost6i-YjLmHbCyFXP1sBOW2uqA7jr65TWHc0oUO4UoUBQToDD0MSHQ27Ncymv4J-nCUvuVDIAiyNyrQFCjNgIoxlGy5HN4pk04osrYcUevkTf/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+080+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a ... tree???</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table> Let's have a closer look, shall we? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP72WHyGM2hmeX8j6ADQUlZ6YQzs1Hqua3hqIMF3A4EfNfySStgRnKkLPyG_ODrBTk2ZhWKLQYQGJfvAfukbhLS6bpNt6Mrc2iJJutVo8JG6a1BaL-f-L_Ff4yTUkHvkLGzSHOyNB8hS2w/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+081+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP72WHyGM2hmeX8j6ADQUlZ6YQzs1Hqua3hqIMF3A4EfNfySStgRnKkLPyG_ODrBTk2ZhWKLQYQGJfvAfukbhLS6bpNt6Mrc2iJJutVo8JG6a1BaL-f-L_Ff4yTUkHvkLGzSHOyNB8hS2w/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+081+blog.jpg" width="291px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why, yes, that is a boy in that tree. Why do you ask?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiB7OshaiXC2sqshOZuTLgycrrbQP9KnsNOQ1RiEVna06Fo-0rA4twgNs12WS9l4J3FM2OSn9jMqAak_DdpGKi3Hvkg1otGU0H1VeyIlUJYPo27jyCwKGiE6JhP8wdjy9T2SouQo7cH6k/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+084+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiB7OshaiXC2sqshOZuTLgycrrbQP9KnsNOQ1RiEVna06Fo-0rA4twgNs12WS9l4J3FM2OSn9jMqAak_DdpGKi3Hvkg1otGU0H1VeyIlUJYPo27jyCwKGiE6JhP8wdjy9T2SouQo7cH6k/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+084+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peek-a-boo, Mom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, that's not really all that big a deal is it? I mean, climbing trees is just a typical right-of-passage for any young lad, right? Well, let's get a little bit of perspective.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90U9DhR16zC1_BokQBV62mBgg7e96cevDCk4hS7l4kJVVBXxgUFDyb6H_DWqeVXOrnKfoSfEIh46HjFurjbvEcJmdUGbBbr7Sw2nsh42ndnnhF5vYFh3aHBXOxdcVT1o87Ww35i_U_GSg/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+085+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90U9DhR16zC1_BokQBV62mBgg7e96cevDCk4hS7l4kJVVBXxgUFDyb6H_DWqeVXOrnKfoSfEIh46HjFurjbvEcJmdUGbBbr7Sw2nsh42ndnnhF5vYFh3aHBXOxdcVT1o87Ww35i_U_GSg/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+085+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Hmm...he's kind of high up there. Uh, maybe you should think about climbing down now, my sweet! <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5phMGONxUwCkNlIIyPp3ervR5Yn4jTH-0spewMbdTMSEZ5SI-l_VoSns1TseE31CV6BGCPuQpdK0u1SI5Hd0sN6-hVul-ThrAyGP_oCFz1EmJkQ5vWPaoAaWnPefkLoVI1TR8g3JiL9pG/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+086+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5phMGONxUwCkNlIIyPp3ervR5Yn4jTH-0spewMbdTMSEZ5SI-l_VoSns1TseE31CV6BGCPuQpdK0u1SI5Hd0sN6-hVul-ThrAyGP_oCFz1EmJkQ5vWPaoAaWnPefkLoVI1TR8g3JiL9pG/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+086+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Might it be a big deal now?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Am I allowed to get nervous now?</div><br />
Something about seeing my first-born son dangling 12 feet in the air just makes me a little uncomfortable. Can you say HEART ATTACK??? Needless to say, I demanded he come down immediately. (But Mooooom, why do you always have to go and spoil our fun?) These boys are going to do me in! Testosterone, I tell you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppV2-jWBDK-yvqYPmcz06IwSL-ylHETUgvRJk5MEtFpViGHOspSWXAKoWlAjncge2iH86d47seDiRY0IJuVgfC5E3GFvXJDN0PZqPQpC6eaaVEhL1mUBPtdY319W-6Ea6OVpVmravW8AF/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+091+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppV2-jWBDK-yvqYPmcz06IwSL-ylHETUgvRJk5MEtFpViGHOspSWXAKoWlAjncge2iH86d47seDiRY0IJuVgfC5E3GFvXJDN0PZqPQpC6eaaVEhL1mUBPtdY319W-6Ea6OVpVmravW8AF/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+091+blog.jpg" width="227px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The harrowing descent </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yes, as a matter of fact, there was some serious, fervent prayer going on at that moment!<br />
<br />
Wait a minute. How did he get in that tree to begin with?<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxCi77zhmL6qawYVj-fw5uzPhj2tK1pISWsWtgc4g40SnqYVC_nCbxBZ65feMLn2GufybPVRyhWdJKP48dKFZbrlj6uehEBRxugBk933OcWsZcFGI45OVVAnc0mVqGb8jY9bgkpmg-Cf-/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+092+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxCi77zhmL6qawYVj-fw5uzPhj2tK1pISWsWtgc4g40SnqYVC_nCbxBZ65feMLn2GufybPVRyhWdJKP48dKFZbrlj6uehEBRxugBk933OcWsZcFGI45OVVAnc0mVqGb8jY9bgkpmg-Cf-/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+092+blog.jpg" width="274px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aha! Caught red-handed!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tell me, who do you think is the bigger kid?<br />
<br />
But Moooom, it was just a little afternoon workout! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5CVS4K3mr2hEUl-Ait5sw3ELYmbKvnJQo7KUBstjjkfR4MVWCkjImVHE_o8fDseYscglky_bEpPOp_w8mkMMuT8IxYYEEP9RbEb0rqYWlgeFUnjctL85sg-wXdXiF5owv4gl4NcrwGr5/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+101+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5CVS4K3mr2hEUl-Ait5sw3ELYmbKvnJQo7KUBstjjkfR4MVWCkjImVHE_o8fDseYscglky_bEpPOp_w8mkMMuT8IxYYEEP9RbEb0rqYWlgeFUnjctL85sg-wXdXiF5owv4gl4NcrwGr5/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+101+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hey Mom, check out the gun show going on over here!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5U8cf_TExWYAgn3vGXJUQhUbTxdR_QhmHuFDoDKEcfAbwrMUlvjmW-Mey4owAvii6ng7gnRDRExwmx7kP6dnUQP6dcvt4C1tTR9og2cd-GKtqBWvDOPdtcC33eOEVcpMaz_uMvA8ZWqf/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+102+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5U8cf_TExWYAgn3vGXJUQhUbTxdR_QhmHuFDoDKEcfAbwrMUlvjmW-Mey4owAvii6ng7gnRDRExwmx7kP6dnUQP6dcvt4C1tTR9og2cd-GKtqBWvDOPdtcC33eOEVcpMaz_uMvA8ZWqf/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+102+blog.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">BOOM! BANG! FIRE POWER!!!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Oh my! What's a mom to do? Ah well, at least I have two younger boys, maybe I can correct my mistakes with them.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis4iGbr0-bFc2HShK-i_Q4o3DvzhgJ0ALnvVY4QUBlUDRMuhhaqEJ4_Vsk8nIdLUNXpz-FFD7y1B2p_d4uVUFhl0pV2zpk0ZUr5sBdrtGP80chjWE3pizgZzkTWw7alO5dXm9UNG-vZYP/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+079+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis4iGbr0-bFc2HShK-i_Q4o3DvzhgJ0ALnvVY4QUBlUDRMuhhaqEJ4_Vsk8nIdLUNXpz-FFD7y1B2p_d4uVUFhl0pV2zpk0ZUr5sBdrtGP80chjWE3pizgZzkTWw7alO5dXm9UNG-vZYP/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+079+blog.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wait a minute!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's true. There is never a dull moment in our house full of boys. It's quite an adventure for sure! Sometimes I wonder if I'm really cut out for this. I'm a mani-pedi, bubble bath, give me a massage kind-of-girl being thrown into a world full of wrestling, epic war battles and hilarious farts at the dinner table. But then I remember:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Sons are a heritage from the LORD, <br />
children a reward from him. </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Like arrows in the hands of a warrior </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>are sons born in one’s youth. </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>Blessed is the man </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>whose quiver is full of them. </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>They will not be put to shame </em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>when they contend with their enemies in the gate. <br />
Psalm 127.3-5</em></strong></span></div><br />
So, is it all worth it? The loud burps, the stinky feet, the pure wildness, the testosterone-filled days?<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOD4iNbAuFY2Rhyphenhyphenkak0yAomzwzyZ2sIbfCeVWGnziMFSH8Sj-knxvaDYRAeQJeTwObT1vaJnskKwVuvPcIRiHeNierJawD9j0f4vHkEi2RLG4gXPmIeAXQX0UiNrNtFe-ARF2PBU7UJt9/s1600/WASHER+AND+DRYER+107+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOD4iNbAuFY2Rhyphenhyphenkak0yAomzwzyZ2sIbfCeVWGnziMFSH8Sj-knxvaDYRAeQJeTwObT1vaJnskKwVuvPcIRiHeNierJawD9j0f4vHkEi2RLG4gXPmIeAXQX0UiNrNtFe-ARF2PBU7UJt9/s320/WASHER+AND+DRYER+107+blog.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You tell me.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yep, livin' the dream. And loving every minute of it!<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-27282797035580485982011-05-08T00:00:00.000-07:002011-05-08T00:00:06.892-07:00Ten Things I Swore I Would Never DoI used to be a judgmental mom. I had a whole list of things I swore I would never do as a mother, or allow my children to do. And then I had kids. I am sure there are more, but here are 10 things I never thought I would do, in no particular order:<br />
<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never allow my children to sleep with me.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Oh my, where do I even start with this one? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I broke this "never" before we even left the hospital with Madison. She stayed in our room for five months. And has slept in our bed many times since. Let's just say, this mama likes her sleep, and it is so much easier to roll over and nurse a baby back to sleep than it is to become fully awake, walk down the hall, nurse the baby, rock the baby, try to gently maneuver baby back into bed without waking the baby (an exercise in futility), and then attempt to get back to sleep if this routine happens to be successful. Yeah, I'm a lazy mom. What can I say? <br />
<br />
I also have allowed children into my bed for any one of the following <strike>excuses</strike> ahem, reasons: "I'm puking", "I think I'm going to puke", "I just puked", "I'm scared of the dark", "I'm scared of the thunderstorm", "I had a bad dream", "I want to snuggle with you, Mama", "I wet the bed", "My brother wet the bed", "My sister wet the bed", "The dog pooped on my bed" (I wish I was joking), "Can I please sleep in your bed tonight?", "Daddy's not home and you need someone to keep you company", "It's really cold in here because the furnace is broken and it's 52 degrees in our house". Yeah.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never breastfeed longer than a year.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Again, this was one that I knew I would break from the word go. There is no way to describe the relationship and bond that is established when a mother nurses her baby. I remember the first time I nursed Madison, all I could think to say was "WOW!" I just kept saying that over and over because I was so in awe. And because she was a Hoover. Since then, I have become comfortable in my skin as an exclusively, on-demand, breastfeeding mama who practices baby-led weaning. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never let my daughter play with Barbies</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I used to hate Barbies. I mean LOATHE them. With a passion. I don't really know why. I guess maybe I thought they were degrading to women or some such nonsense. But my daughter, she is a girly-girl through and through. She is pretty much out of the Barbie phase now but she used to love Barbies. I am not sure how it started. I think someone got her one for Christmas one time and it was all downhill from there. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We still have some rules where Barbie is concerned. She has to be fully and appropriately clothed. No pregnant Barbie, no tattooed (nothing against tattoos) Barbie, and definitely no MasterCard Barbie. Thankfully we successfully avoided the Bratz phase. No way! Madison actually did get one for Christmas once and looked at it and said to me, "Why does it look mad?" I don't know baby, I just don't know.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never say "because I said so" or "because I'm the mom, that's why"</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I always told myself that I would have a good reason for telling my children "no" and when they asked the inevitable "why", I would tell them. I would never use the above cop-outs. However, I have one particular child, that can be a bit, shall we say, obsessive? When this child gets an idea in his head, there is just no derailing that freight train. And then come the questions. And more questions. And arguments. And debates. And negotiations. And begging. Okay, I'll admit it, I'm the one doing the begging. "PLEASE STOP ARGUING WITH MOMMY. I'M THE MOM, I GET TO MAKE THE RULES. SOMEDAY YOU WILL GET TO MAKE THE RULES BUT THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY." Sometimes, "because I said so" is a perfectly legitimate reason. Yes, I know I have turned into my mother.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never let my child go into a store with dirty feet or a dirty diaper.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh man, was I ever naive! My child crawls across my kitchen floor and the tops of his feet are covered in dirt. I swear I mop my floor. But it is impossible to keep a child clean. And the degree of dirtiness increases in direct correlation with the importance of the occasion. Upcoming doctor's visit, and I want to look like a good mom who actually washes her child? Guaranteed diaper blow-out. Family picture day? Someone will puke, no doubt about it. Sitting on Santa's lap? Let's not even go there, shall we? Needless to say, we are now THOSE parents. The ones who let our kids take their shoes off in a restaurant. The ones who run out of diapers or wipes or changes of clothing when you need it most. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There was one particular occasion with Brady where we were out to eat and he had such an enormous explosion that by the time I had gotten him into the bathroom for a change, his entire back, neck, and arms were covered in...well, you get the idea. I am telling you, there were not enough wipes in the world to clean up this mess. So what did I do? Well, what any resourceful mother would have done! I held him under the faucet and cleaned him with soap from the soap dispenser. And Madison was my lookout. And then I proceeded to walk out of the restaurant with my freshly diapered (and bathed) baby. Unfortunately, all he was wearing was a diaper. In January. I'm telling you...THOSE parents!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never give in to one of my children's tantrums.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have to admit, this is one I am pretty good at. I am no sucker, that's for sure, and my children know for the most part that if they throw a fit about something, they will not get that something. Then I had child #3. Let me let you in on a little secret about having your third child. Now this is highly advanced mathematics so try to keep up. YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED!!!! And we thought it would be a good idea to name our third child Brady. Does anyone happen to know what Brady means? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller? Brady means "spirited". That's right. And we're Irish. Sometimes you have to pick your battles and with my "spirited" child the battles are frequent. And don't forget, I'm a lazy mom. Sometimes, it's just easier to give 'em what they want. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never yell at my kids.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This one would be pretty funny, if it weren't so sad. I come from a family of yellers. I'm pretty sure that until I met my husband I didn't even realize people could communicate without yelling. It was seriously a novel concept to see his family sit down and resolve conflict without going on a tirade. In fact, in over 10 years of marriage, I can honestly say, Rick has never raised his voice to me once. I didn't want my kids to take after me in their communication skills so I resolved to never yell at my kids. This is one I try very hard to achieve, but way too often fall short. I guess one good thing has come from it though-I have mastered the art of apologizing to my kids.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never wear my baby in a carrier.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I never thought I would be one of THOSE moms. The ones who never put their babies down, who never have a moment to themselves, whose lives are dictated by the whims of an <strike>screaming</strike> adorable 7 pound bundle of joy. Well, my babies were closer to 9 pounds, thank you very much. I first became a "baby-wearer" out of sheer necessity. Need I remind you that I am sorely outnumbered? Not only that, but I actually have things I need to do that I use my hands for, so my carriers are invaluable to me. Add to that the fact that I can't stand to hear my babies cry, and I have become a full-fledged, card-carrying member of the baby-wearing club. And I love it! Tell me there is nothing more sweet than having a sweet baby snuggled up on your chest. I didn't think so. Don't knock it til you've tried it! Maybe I am a sucker after all.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never reward my child with food.</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't judge me. Don't you judge me. When you have tried for the seventeenth time in one day to get an uninterrupted 5-minute shower, that Easter basket full of candy looks pretty tempting. Please, go have a peace of candy...and be sure to share with your siblings!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I will never lose myself in my kids.</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Some women think in order to be a real woman you need to do it all. You need to have the career, and the perfect marriage, and the nice house, and maybe, if you have time, you can throw motherhood in there too. But be sure you stay true to yourself. Don't lost your identity. BALONEY!!! This is one I have NO regrets about. I AM A MOTHER. That is who I am. You cannot separate my identity from that of me as mother. It's not just a role I play or a hat I wear when it fits in my life. IT IS WHO I AM. I AM MOMMY, MOM, MAMA, MOTHER. And that's okay with me. I don't want to be anything else. Sure there are other things I do that are important, there are other things I could say to identify myself. But this one? This one defines me. And I wouldn't have it any other way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">What about you? Are you a judgmental mom? Were you ever? What made your top-ten list?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today is also my mother's birthday. Our relationship isn't perfect but she's my mom. It's who she is. Happy Birthday, Mom!</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-76483436726097477662011-05-03T17:32:00.000-07:002011-05-03T22:18:16.527-07:00Have You Ever Canned Sweet Potatoes?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoqj-QWVxVHNGyt6QDVTzDURDgd_9yUvW_BIoc2ukeRQxb2KRuvf3siOr0sMjhKB9QK8VlLJCaFCE6_mRxCZzjRjl8ESB1Wy7DdHMCjmEgo28dSjp8ShF8k_GYfCfdDB-F-iRUDZzWeAR/s1600/sweet+pot+edit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoqj-QWVxVHNGyt6QDVTzDURDgd_9yUvW_BIoc2ukeRQxb2KRuvf3siOr0sMjhKB9QK8VlLJCaFCE6_mRxCZzjRjl8ESB1Wy7DdHMCjmEgo28dSjp8ShF8k_GYfCfdDB-F-iRUDZzWeAR/s320/sweet+pot+edit1.jpg" width="258px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z7eiSHXKWaXvxCRRWRUFjWoRV2k20_Bvmp_Ojv7dwikaf_OgS7QODte8wcXGKQ6_NeE5nN5_KyI0R7EerkB1gp92xHC7Y1wu3jloXcly9IlXBnf_yPpNRDbAZNiegUitn93ecaLTn1iL/s1600/sweet+pot+edit4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z7eiSHXKWaXvxCRRWRUFjWoRV2k20_Bvmp_Ojv7dwikaf_OgS7QODte8wcXGKQ6_NeE5nN5_KyI0R7EerkB1gp92xHC7Y1wu3jloXcly9IlXBnf_yPpNRDbAZNiegUitn93ecaLTn1iL/s320/sweet+pot+edit4.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ethan checking out my new canning pot my in-laws bought me...just because. Wasn't that sweet of them?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, we are THOSE parents.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1_4hWo5vI0jnaESkZcGp385GWqnex0Alvlccjb3GV1d5UhjCPAu7XQUGk-A5h76bQU3n_n924udbDn-KQH69FcG3QqjLkZwCmW1AgfqbAENhYtzOhDEyfatj-SFn-Sc2ULTPyRNn3L_a/s1600/sweet+pot+edit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1_4hWo5vI0jnaESkZcGp385GWqnex0Alvlccjb3GV1d5UhjCPAu7XQUGk-A5h76bQU3n_n924udbDn-KQH69FcG3QqjLkZwCmW1AgfqbAENhYtzOhDEyfatj-SFn-Sc2ULTPyRNn3L_a/s320/sweet+pot+edit2.jpg" width="276px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please don't turn us into CPS...we're just having a little fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZPbVi9u5z0U62S2oV2oe8oxLNVzs-vocSSnsOknO67cOk8GaBtpWp3HEZZO_l7tjIeGE_6KlpXt-Kp86NxPnTx7tp2tQWu_Ap__k0cFlHlIBu87XuqhzSFCftqsVBcU7FVz4TMEgwlGj/s1600/sweet+pot+edit5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZPbVi9u5z0U62S2oV2oe8oxLNVzs-vocSSnsOknO67cOk8GaBtpWp3HEZZO_l7tjIeGE_6KlpXt-Kp86NxPnTx7tp2tQWu_Ap__k0cFlHlIBu87XuqhzSFCftqsVBcU7FVz4TMEgwlGj/s320/sweet+pot+edit5.jpg" width="236px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And tell me, is that not the sweetest potato you have ever seen?</span></td></tr>
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I'm linking this post up over at <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/">Raising Arrows</a>.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/"><img src="http://www.raisingarrows.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/simplehomemakingbutton.jpg" /></a></center>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-72270815330308865402011-04-28T15:14:00.000-07:002011-04-28T15:17:20.487-07:00Physical Education, Epsteen-StyleToday, after the kids had completed their assigned work for the day, they built a fort with the cushions of the couch and enjoyed a little physical activity. I snapped a few pictures of our highly advanced homeschool physical education curriculum. Enjoy! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiBv6zTTrSrYb4WvTHWC7vhKQOniKatzkOWyoxJT98UAPcVtQIAh2ApnghXqXxwUvcF9gAGMrYQmzrGVTcBNneQow4I6Uz1F1aVL2wX7gyNJ_y5XPvTtHlr7YwKX668MXfjNoGzlfW4Hj/s1600/noah+gets+pushed+blog+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiBv6zTTrSrYb4WvTHWC7vhKQOniKatzkOWyoxJT98UAPcVtQIAh2ApnghXqXxwUvcF9gAGMrYQmzrGVTcBNneQow4I6Uz1F1aVL2wX7gyNJ_y5XPvTtHlr7YwKX668MXfjNoGzlfW4Hj/s320/noah+gets+pushed+blog+edit.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJNFryiGXT_uibWS0_wmwAQ-Z271-vL9h09Zv4G63omiiuc9w5TCDpWTL_zJzhoLBry_QwQwvHq_CAC8xpp8PZj5fUd5-uwnc69G7Rw6w4Cv3YJAIk3Osz8_flgH9O8riuTHGmZG2HeGR/s1600/noah+flies+blog+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJNFryiGXT_uibWS0_wmwAQ-Z271-vL9h09Zv4G63omiiuc9w5TCDpWTL_zJzhoLBry_QwQwvHq_CAC8xpp8PZj5fUd5-uwnc69G7Rw6w4Cv3YJAIk3Osz8_flgH9O8riuTHGmZG2HeGR/s320/noah+flies+blog+edit.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Yep, that's how we roll. Good times.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-88255746899457189922011-04-27T16:23:00.000-07:002011-04-27T16:25:27.433-07:00Green Smoothies<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYRlntaFe6f8A3rhZsCO6g0PsPDOy1JSBfTdiFdJ2xxMy8hjR0o1YDxezi0gKWcRTIBDrfyZM2aUg8UJGX29kPeRuEgLVccu5ayXm8xunk_M19X-3aK79VT8APF2UD3yTq7i_MoON0Z50/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYRlntaFe6f8A3rhZsCO6g0PsPDOy1JSBfTdiFdJ2xxMy8hjR0o1YDxezi0gKWcRTIBDrfyZM2aUg8UJGX29kPeRuEgLVccu5ayXm8xunk_M19X-3aK79VT8APF2UD3yTq7i_MoON0Z50/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+235.jpg" width="212px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A thing of beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I've written recently about our <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-does-it-mean-to-be-healthy.html">green smoothies</a>. This is a yummy treat we try to enjoy every day or every other day at the very least. What makes our green smoothies so beautifully green? Why, spinach of course. Today's particular smoothie was made with 3/4 banana, a whole pineapple, 3 cups of spinach and about a cup of almond milk.<br />
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The ingredients I use varies daily based on what I have on hand. I like to buy my produce in season because it's cheaper and fresher, although there are certain seasonal fruits that I will buy frozen because we love them in our smoothies but don't want to buy them out of season-particularly strawberries and other berries. A bonus to having them frozen is that they act like ice in our smoothies-I love me some cold smoothie!<br />
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I choose my ingredients based on what looks like it might go bad first. Oh so very scientific! Today I had a pineapple that was starting to get soft. We were having peanut butter and banana sandwiches for lunch and I had one banana already open so I tossed that in there too. Spinach (or kale-though I personally like spinach better because it's easier to clean-you really can't taste it) is the key ingredient. The greener the smoothie, the better. I used to add strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries at the end to mask the green color. But, my kids knows what goes in them so the color doesn't bother them. I just toss it all in the blender and we get what we get. It's actually a fun experiment to try and see what color we are going to get. I thought today's was just beautiful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZUGOPV1ttlrar6ZEY4n3JVODZevyqJVzPY-udziVDUcnQe0HrcdMmcindLARfxJ1MrJCcT_zAJKcq1Wxk4ueWBPZx5PPSoFBBE1XXhiL_ApawPvQQHbwvWXtCKQGhYn_TIJfQGer2eaO/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZUGOPV1ttlrar6ZEY4n3JVODZevyqJVzPY-udziVDUcnQe0HrcdMmcindLARfxJ1MrJCcT_zAJKcq1Wxk4ueWBPZx5PPSoFBBE1XXhiL_ApawPvQQHbwvWXtCKQGhYn_TIJfQGer2eaO/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+236.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you think?</td></tr>
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What ever possessed me to do such a thing? Well, the whole point of a green smoothie is to add more raw food to our diets. Ideally, AT THE BARE MINIMUM, 51% of every meal should be raw foods. This is such a simple way to achieve that goal. And SO yummy! If you have a sweet tooth, I definitely recommend trying out a green smoothie. The fruits in the drink are so flavorful that they definitely make-up for the veggies you add (although I like fresh spinach, but I know some who would not go within 10 yards of fresh spinach who will eat it this way).<br />
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So, are you ready to take the green smoothie plunge like we have? The sky is the limit on what ingredients can go into your smoothies. Here are some we have tried and some we would like to try: mango, papaya, any type of berry, apples, grapes, carrots, tomatoes, avocado (yum!), yogurt (Greek, plain or vanilla), kefir (going to write a post about this soon!), flax meal, wheat germ, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit. <br />
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To start with I recommend using mostly fruits that you know that you like and then slowly increase the amount of veggies you add and playing around with new things that you haven't tried before. Green smoothies can also be frozen with popsicle sticks to make a yummy treat.<br />
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Here is a list of benefits we have seen in since starting our green smoothie regimen:<br />
<ul><li>Increased energy levels-with the addition of child number 4, I have rarely the opportunity to take a nap during the day, when I used to need one on an almost daily basis, and if I couldn't get one I would totally crash in the afternoon (and be thoroughly cranky).</li>
<li>Better digestion-do you really want me to give more details about this one?</li>
<li>Better sleep-For years, I have struggled with sleep issues, insomnia and the like, even getting to the point of doing an overnight sleep study, it was that bad. I struggled to fall asleep (sometimes taking hours to do so), and once asleep I struggled to stay asleep. I never felt refreshed. Lately though, I am out like a light as soon as my head hits the pillow, I am sleeping more deeply at night, rarely hearing Rick's alarm in the morning, and I wake up with more energy and feeling ready to conquer the day. Before, it was all I could do to get out of bed every day.</li>
<li>Weight loss-after struggling pretty much my whole life with my weight, I decided that I wasn't going to fight it anymore. I was going to be healthy but not so much concerned about the number. Even when I was thin my weight was a struggle to maintain. An added benefit of consuming more raw foods is that I am losing weight, slowly and more naturally, without the aid of any fad diet-just by making this one choice. I'm not even trying to lose weight. I am just trying to live responsibly, eat healthy and naturally. I have a very long way to go to get to a more healthy weight, but I am pleasantly surprised at this particular side effect.</li>
<li>Decreased cravings-this to me, is nothing short of super-natural. I have been longing for years to just be able to have better control of my eating habits. I can honestly say I am addicted to food. It's been a source of heartache and struggle for me for as long as I can remember. Many people (usually skinny people) just see fat people and think we have absolutely no self-control and are just lazy slobs. Many people think it is just a matter of will power and choosing not to eat certain foods or too much a particular food. It's hard being judged before someone ever gets to know you. Honestly? I don't even want that stuff anymore. I mean, sure I enjoy a brownie as much as the rest of you, but I don't CRAVE it. And when I do have the <span style="background-color: white;">occasional</span> treat, I don't have to have a huge portion or second-helpings. I am just not as hungry as I used to be. I have no desire to eat fast food ever again-the thought just literally sends chills down my spine. I rarely eat processed foods and refuse to eat anything with high-fructose corn syrup. I can't even begin to put into words how incredible this is for me-to not even want some of the foods that used to be my favorites. </li>
</ul>While all of the above advantages are not directly related to green smoothies per say, they are definitely related to actively and intentionally eating a more whole foods/raw foods diet. And our green smoothies are a very important part of that diet. It doesn't hurt that they are yummy either!<br />
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So who's with me? Has anyone tried to make green smoothies? What are your favorite ingredients? Have you seen any positive side effects?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-55024739462196710212011-04-23T21:46:00.000-07:002011-04-23T21:46:55.121-07:00Home Sweet School<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uQs7Q44k-_U2T0byP3T0Ww0f3iy7EvcnoUIcofNudrNKiiQ8mJvVceS4TRwW5sXOYNMCER_XQE54_Emr7_-aS51b7Uh5SMq-6WekP2mVBXqNgIYN0yCw96RpO0UHmX9xbtkYf1X-u9Qo/s1600/IMG_4870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uQs7Q44k-_U2T0byP3T0Ww0f3iy7EvcnoUIcofNudrNKiiQ8mJvVceS4TRwW5sXOYNMCER_XQE54_Emr7_-aS51b7Uh5SMq-6WekP2mVBXqNgIYN0yCw96RpO0UHmX9xbtkYf1X-u9Qo/s320/IMG_4870.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our school room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am always curious about how other homeschooling families organize their school rooms. Organization is one of the things I am passionate about. I tend to feel a lot of anxiety and tension when my environment is out of order. I try not to be super-anal about it, and with four kids, it's pretty much a given that our home will be quite chaotic at times (just this weekend my dad told me I needed a maid! I agree!!!). But in order for our school day to run relatively smoothly I have to have a system of organization in place. Nothing can throw off a day like having to spend half an hour looking for paper and a pencil. So, without further ado, here is a peek into our homeschool "classroom". (Please, accept my apologies for the quality of the photos-I am not much of a photographer).<br />
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The above picture is what our whole school room looks like. I think the room is about an 8 by 10 foot space. Technically, it is supposed to be a living room or formal dining space, but for us it is perfect as our schoolroom. We are close to our kitchen where we do a lot of experiments and where I spend a better part of my day preparing meals for my family, but it also has the feel of a separate space. If you were to look directly to the right of the school room, you would see my front door, and directly left, conveniently, is a half bath. The rest of the pictures work their way around the room clockwise.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Reading Nook</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is where the kids can sit for some silent reading time. Brady likes to look at his picture books while big sister and brother are working on their school. Sometimes they sit together and Madison reads to her brothers. More often than not, these chairs migrate around the room as the kids find their most comfortable spot to do their work in. I'm not a stickler for making them sit still or stay in one spot. I figure as long as they can be focused and get their work done, they are free to do that in the place that is most conducive for them. They will even do their work walking around the room sometimes. If the boys are at a break time and being especially rowdy, sometimes Madison will choose to work quietly in her room. For the most part though, we all spend the better part of our day together, in this room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFIJw2Krb0XnhetPnOjLCGHqiEJNqHVw1_C5kwprTT-TNKL7gYjdFnPjE_xpWOM6uZK04yv9asFesdGYlgam-1Yg0sag56TKtKA4OUirdb8BX42eVWw3yEAVfoPzdWcBCSyE01FhPjaQ8/s1600/IMG_4874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFIJw2Krb0XnhetPnOjLCGHqiEJNqHVw1_C5kwprTT-TNKL7gYjdFnPjE_xpWOM6uZK04yv9asFesdGYlgam-1Yg0sag56TKtKA4OUirdb8BX42eVWw3yEAVfoPzdWcBCSyE01FhPjaQ8/s320/IMG_4874.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madison's desk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is Madison's desk, which is an antique and the first piece of furniture my grandfather and grandmother ever bought after they were married nearly 70 years ago. However, it is used more for storage than actual sitting. Like I said, the kids are free to do their work where they please, as long as they aren't too distracted. Madison rarely chooses to actually sit at her desk. But her desk is invaluable to our organization as it holds wipe-off boards, extra paper and craft supplies and other miscellaneous items we need to have close at hand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZJd8Mxq47a9F3vOP0zdsddmI6NodLIPQaMFUjnDJHnhm7gGMa0TojAljXG0o0UJi276hMT-sd7705Q1bl6r6CSA_z2InNZ_suxgJYwacmqdB5Jl2L6l_Xpg-apxizrSZb0zXOu0dDGRl/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZJd8Mxq47a9F3vOP0zdsddmI6NodLIPQaMFUjnDJHnhm7gGMa0TojAljXG0o0UJi276hMT-sd7705Q1bl6r6CSA_z2InNZ_suxgJYwacmqdB5Jl2L6l_Xpg-apxizrSZb0zXOu0dDGRl/s320/IMG_4875.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah's desk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is Noah's desk, and believe it or not he actually does love to sit here and do his schoolwork-especially his writing work. Brady also likes to sit at this desk to color and draw. A lot of Noah's school day is spent on my lap in reading and math instruction, but anything he does independently, he tends to do at his desk. The top of it also comes off and flips over and is a chalkboard on the other side, and there is storage under there as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_YlgT_H9G_4m3AektFCWsThp3mHqDovK5KgFUcjlTe-zeYwh0WYcyeiiNG-9oxGrf6oyq_kVJoy2QSynUIH7cwB9f6QLPV0w0VCQKtNIhqOchsZdsTnKQHH1iTzuhUC5wHE_GsLJsRF2/s1600/IMG_4877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_YlgT_H9G_4m3AektFCWsThp3mHqDovK5KgFUcjlTe-zeYwh0WYcyeiiNG-9oxGrf6oyq_kVJoy2QSynUIH7cwB9f6QLPV0w0VCQKtNIhqOchsZdsTnKQHH1iTzuhUC5wHE_GsLJsRF2/s320/IMG_4877.JPG" width="198px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bookshelf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I know this probably pales in comparison to a lot of bookshelves in most homeschoolers' homes, but I am scrupulous about getting rid of curriculum and books we don't need or aren't using. I have other hiding places for future curriculum or stuff we are storing for the younger kids, but this shelf mainly contains stuff that is used on a daily basis for easy access. You can't really see it in the picture but on the top of this shelf sits a microscope, a globe and one of those huge roll-out thingys with the huge paper roll on it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr4r4lm40nMJqu-6fC00of06Xpq-aOo3IdLX9Zl0rmJcvYIuKcqYQTUqG0zrlv0NtFGQjDDo9_06iZGIidOndFGYLKBeUR7Ds7JKGo7kHszCy-Ef4yiJVbF6T2nk9Hh9oKAa8TsddBm9L/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr4r4lm40nMJqu-6fC00of06Xpq-aOo3IdLX9Zl0rmJcvYIuKcqYQTUqG0zrlv0NtFGQjDDo9_06iZGIidOndFGYLKBeUR7Ds7JKGo7kHszCy-Ef4yiJVbF6T2nk9Hh9oKAa8TsddBm9L/s320/IMG_4879.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madison's shelf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Madison gets the top shelf. This is where we keep her books that she works in every day. Included here is math, language arts, Bible Study, and reading. The boxed-set of books is the collection of the Anne of Green Gables novels which we are working our way through as a read-aloud. This was an awesome and welcome Christmas gift from my in-laws.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLASlaycW-z7f8xWv07GHvQtHO_FhhLtnGVXiGk3RR6pTe4SB4-Of5FDyHRHvl5IoGtaGgV6A_Rj0ZfAV4RvSanodBR_R-gdc70c_PPOcXbwbf_YznX0UeqCoVme_VYxgVHDmRuwNBap6/s1600/IMG_4880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLASlaycW-z7f8xWv07GHvQtHO_FhhLtnGVXiGk3RR6pTe4SB4-Of5FDyHRHvl5IoGtaGgV6A_Rj0ZfAV4RvSanodBR_R-gdc70c_PPOcXbwbf_YznX0UeqCoVme_VYxgVHDmRuwNBap6/s320/IMG_4880.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Math Manipulatives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The basket and tote below it hold our math manipulatives. These include items such as play money, clocks, flash cards, geoboards, teddy bear counters, a balance, rulers, plastic shape pieces, dominoes, decks of cards-basically just about anything you can think of that we could use to make math real and tangible. These are so helpful in the early elementary years before children have developed the more advanced skill of thinking abstractly. They are also very important for the tactile/kinesthetic learner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAUpS_WBfvoizqGmEKgTMs8iLJPnatWFZkwfKfskjPIg856TmSP0nc1wL1Pq8_78LtSj28VMNlni8wPU-wx9zvQ87JlzlBJelUPEAPXULdZF0FyMi-9GH92pmPbkN2Das3_64P2WaEkZ2/s1600/IMG_4881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAUpS_WBfvoizqGmEKgTMs8iLJPnatWFZkwfKfskjPIg856TmSP0nc1wL1Pq8_78LtSj28VMNlni8wPU-wx9zvQ87JlzlBJelUPEAPXULdZF0FyMi-9GH92pmPbkN2Das3_64P2WaEkZ2/s320/IMG_4881.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah's shelf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Noah doesn't have a whole lot on his shelf yet. In pre-school and kindergarten, I like to focus on building a strong foundation. primarily in reading and phonics instruction. We also work on Math, handwriting and thinking skills. The box to the right of his books holds cards for sight words, sentence/word games etc... The shelf just below it is for books that we read together as a family or that Madison can read (longer chapter books that don't hold the boys' attention too well just yet). That big gold one there is The Chronicles of Narnia which we are working through as a family in our before-bed reading time. The blue and yellow book beside it is one of my favorite homeschooling books of all time, The Well-Trained Mind. Next to that are lots of classical literature and poetry books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNnVLefTljeONUIaZgQyWP2D6tr8ghR4F2M9roc-48KBnUoAJZkRxnzLtNgIMSPQ83hbGpjGX8ahU2PEXrTEpQ70IKMzVXQqWFhKFeEeF_Wt6WSTwACIdkd1qlSkd9GpNCau5QgebDQky/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNnVLefTljeONUIaZgQyWP2D6tr8ghR4F2M9roc-48KBnUoAJZkRxnzLtNgIMSPQ83hbGpjGX8ahU2PEXrTEpQ70IKMzVXQqWFhKFeEeF_Wt6WSTwACIdkd1qlSkd9GpNCau5QgebDQky/s320/IMG_4882.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toys/Board books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Next we have some items for Brady that he like to play with. In the box is a LeapPad-we've had this since Madison was young and all the kids love it. There is also a play computer in there that Brady uses to work on letter sounds and early math concepts. The books on this shelf are story books that Brady and Noah love to read. The last shelf holds a basket of toys for Ethan and our board books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKaF-xDygokgJ-VmWcz3iGioU5r9wjPf7MckCyrgihqqo1-Rvjae1Sxqa-KKPanWYAAH67mwLNEgr7KTVsIhryUBZjOqOmzU4BjPjA-pqHkAA5tGrcZTCpnkxXB_dAnoC4YgHVJaQZEWS/s1600/IMG_4883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKaF-xDygokgJ-VmWcz3iGioU5r9wjPf7MckCyrgihqqo1-Rvjae1Sxqa-KKPanWYAAH67mwLNEgr7KTVsIhryUBZjOqOmzU4BjPjA-pqHkAA5tGrcZTCpnkxXB_dAnoC4YgHVJaQZEWS/s320/IMG_4883.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most comfortable chair in the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is the chair I gravitate towards when I am in the school room working with one of the kids. It is SO comfortable and makes for a nice cozy area for us to work together. Bonus, I get lots of snuggle time in the middle of the school day! To the right of that chair you will notice I have a decent-sized wipe-off board. That seriously needs hung on one of the walls. I also want to find some really good maps-hopefully a United States map and a world map-to hang on the walls. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21k1ZEfDIZjTeqchya322_wL6R6Qdo0ikGwq0FStIcraPyppPUad1tUWBuEW-4sJ9xsguw3RiwFEZVqCwG_wwwRFsdFT8-lAQ4kmzPWslBgFFEiwH1AODeS9cOWKGr6ysqbLfoSy2wd31/s1600/IMG_4884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21k1ZEfDIZjTeqchya322_wL6R6Qdo0ikGwq0FStIcraPyppPUad1tUWBuEW-4sJ9xsguw3RiwFEZVqCwG_wwwRFsdFT8-lAQ4kmzPWslBgFFEiwH1AODeS9cOWKGr6ysqbLfoSy2wd31/s320/IMG_4884.JPG" width="283px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supply/Extra books cabinet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This is my cabinet from IKEA. The front can be used as a chalkboard. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmM-2jsUOCxbJuUmbQ0PJG__RSTupl0iaXz2IO3mkCA06TDWg0BLj8EgAlrftoIqRxgucDByqynCic3KrSp1bWH1jlbMp_nA6oUXY5ADCe3dipYuir7Nyi8fWoaQ1XtwliN4OVKXvDW7c/s1600/IMG_4886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmM-2jsUOCxbJuUmbQ0PJG__RSTupl0iaXz2IO3mkCA06TDWg0BLj8EgAlrftoIqRxgucDByqynCic3KrSp1bWH1jlbMp_nA6oUXY5ADCe3dipYuir7Nyi8fWoaQ1XtwliN4OVKXvDW7c/s320/IMG_4886.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The containers aren't very pretty, but these sturdy paper boxes are where we keep our library books. I am VERY strict about this rule as we have learned the hard way what happens when we lose a library book. As soon as we get home from the library the kids know that they unload their bags and put the books away in the boxes right away. They also know that when they are not in use the books go right back in the boxes. I would eventually like to get some prettier containers for this purpose, but this works just fine for now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41n4frcyBYvd3WaWi5jRf9GYAb4i4yd1dmv1T1pGWsJkp_yvJZ_rUzNZO4nW5TOkLA-wyRIwXI0VgCjVUX3cWqQVLHMjB_OUV3D9QUKBIGTQeJCu3RmhrOQk9YjrVryl5m2dnbZRdCrFC/s1600/IMG_4888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41n4frcyBYvd3WaWi5jRf9GYAb4i4yd1dmv1T1pGWsJkp_yvJZ_rUzNZO4nW5TOkLA-wyRIwXI0VgCjVUX3cWqQVLHMjB_OUV3D9QUKBIGTQeJCu3RmhrOQk9YjrVryl5m2dnbZRdCrFC/s320/IMG_4888.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the cabinet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Inside this cabinet is where we keep all of our extra books that we use frequently, but not daily. On the bottom shelf are all manner of reference books. The middle shelf holds our school supplies, some books we aren't currently using but will in the future, a bag of activities for Brady and some readers for Noah. The top shelf is where we keep Madison's other school books. Included here are history, science and other electives. Currently we have Art, Manners, Fitness and Money Management.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLDa1adMINP5eCmM_jA241NH9e9wq9jEcwRfY24KWOqUzIRaV8l5_5cFh9CYWyu7EhopKgfGIgKxtdxw6oWy-AuBHJXXZ49yHr3peo19sQZGL7JSMiW3R6IKYRvOT4EO6I4__GWJkBFyn/s1600/IMG_4889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLDa1adMINP5eCmM_jA241NH9e9wq9jEcwRfY24KWOqUzIRaV8l5_5cFh9CYWyu7EhopKgfGIgKxtdxw6oWy-AuBHJXXZ49yHr3peo19sQZGL7JSMiW3R6IKYRvOT4EO6I4__GWJkBFyn/s320/IMG_4889.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closer look at our supplies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pardon the baby head! I have several plastic boxes filled with extra supplies. We have one each for crayons, markers, pens, pencils, glue, dry erase markers, and colored pencils. This is all easily accessible for the kids so they can get what they need, when they need it. And as long as the door is shut, Ethan can't get to the contraband!<br />
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So there you have it, that's our school room. It's pretty simple but it's constantly evolving. I find that my systems only work well for so long. Then the kids get bored with them, or we run out of room somewhere and have to re-think things. I have yet to come up with something completely fool-proof. Once every few weeks we have pretty-much a complete overhaul of the whole room where we toss old papers and broken crayons, purge drawers and shelves and just generally try to streamline everything again. In the very near future, I plan on getting set-up with a <a href="http://www.workboxsystem.com/">workbox system</a>. I can't wait to try that out and see how it works.<br />
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What about you? If you are a homeschooler, how do you organize all of those papers and supplies and books that we seem to accumulate exponentially year after year? Anyone have any great tips of organizing to share?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-70562737166711217502011-04-17T14:04:00.000-07:002011-04-17T14:04:23.239-07:00ONE<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5_qWUwP9d8H6CXPjlPbLY8SODXOPrwOOLhEtH0T8CUpqocf4helbs_wueJV8__UBIESk4MnTVX-yN9BoQpw9ophW5jRLpqKMMLyJyM8Za8bQ5DTl7Br_YBB8eWgP8X2Zwij74UijbJRg/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5_qWUwP9d8H6CXPjlPbLY8SODXOPrwOOLhEtH0T8CUpqocf4helbs_wueJV8__UBIESk4MnTVX-yN9BoQpw9ophW5jRLpqKMMLyJyM8Za8bQ5DTl7Br_YBB8eWgP8X2Zwij74UijbJRg/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+110.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to admit, I am having a very hard time knowing where to begin on this post. It is hard for me to really even write. But yesterday marked an important milestone in the life of our family, so I feel I must celebrate it here.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj_G-r98z_bc2yMK0uHNRlnNdtV1kX-2CeNcxCkHLmDd5TEREbs9WkKcO1tDMraTWLzmlw_JRNXFUyvueHGU9QKL9_OO_5bk5rAht49dYFPSXAv53Jc8qejkGvaPPG74VWVrSFZ3EbTki/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj_G-r98z_bc2yMK0uHNRlnNdtV1kX-2CeNcxCkHLmDd5TEREbs9WkKcO1tDMraTWLzmlw_JRNXFUyvueHGU9QKL9_OO_5bk5rAht49dYFPSXAv53Jc8qejkGvaPPG74VWVrSFZ3EbTki/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+121.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan opens his birthday present...with a little help.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>One year ago yesterday, at 9:24 am, Ethan Richard Epsteen came into this world. And the world was never the same. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aEC7EzZe7Yg06f0wG_mytVq17vGQ0Fa1UThzJEn0GH_BqdRyDwrhl__RWWdfbDSe8knNK2FUfUsmrGiRRvgQGfubdxfpZYUFWe1nX7iJbSFLWMIwkUhPtDW7-1ycBHxuqJMwteZl7EDe/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aEC7EzZe7Yg06f0wG_mytVq17vGQ0Fa1UThzJEn0GH_BqdRyDwrhl__RWWdfbDSe8knNK2FUfUsmrGiRRvgQGfubdxfpZYUFWe1nX7iJbSFLWMIwkUhPtDW7-1ycBHxuqJMwteZl7EDe/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+101.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan on the horse at Texas Roadhouse. Yes, we are THOSE parents. Don't worry, <br />
he was only on there long enough for the picture. Priceless, don't ya think?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I don't know what it is about this first birthday. I don't know if it's <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/05/story-of-you.html">the journey we traveled to have our miracle baby</a>, the fact that we could have lost him again at five weeks old when he was VERY sick, the fact that he may very well be our last baby, or if it is just that mother/son bond we share, but this first birthday has been a hard one for me.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6n4f8BWIeIBGU0I-ra6XoZYCQTKUl09tgMwRIRLkwN0_5LmsyL_8P3uDpFhn1zlfYXuS93w8ksf5M4lqvHPqMxskFWKF3wN14TLCRt_wB7DfQ2N3bAytT-xpFcMc0pqHLT4lJfVqmX8f/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6n4f8BWIeIBGU0I-ra6XoZYCQTKUl09tgMwRIRLkwN0_5LmsyL_8P3uDpFhn1zlfYXuS93w8ksf5M4lqvHPqMxskFWKF3wN14TLCRt_wB7DfQ2N3bAytT-xpFcMc0pqHLT4lJfVqmX8f/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan and his "fake" birthday cake. See the one candle lit-you can actually blow them out. So cool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Sure, I want to and DO celebrate our sweet Ethan. I am so proud of him and what a sweet baby he is. In his short little life he has totally and completely captivated my heart. I can't imagine loving him more than I do. And yet with each new day I find I love him more than the one before. We are SO blessed to have him as part of our family.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZprRmDDMVVfehr-1bCQkql65KywNcFMne2HxIjT6IV5Xq0CpYvU88g7hoNLMmq_iqtenqZ22BusDhAtGHBsFM4FwEE219dOsBVgG_drETCNqo-s85Nj67mA57SNUQZRWrNrWdwrGFSnuV/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZprRmDDMVVfehr-1bCQkql65KywNcFMne2HxIjT6IV5Xq0CpYvU88g7hoNLMmq_iqtenqZ22BusDhAtGHBsFM4FwEE219dOsBVgG_drETCNqo-s85Nj67mA57SNUQZRWrNrWdwrGFSnuV/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+132.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, that's more like it. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I just see time moving by so quickly and I already feel like I miss it. It really does seem like it was just yesterday that I saw him for the first time, heard his first cry, felt his little fingers wrap instinctively around my own, and held and touched him. It is so hard to believe that a year has passed, that he will be a full-fledged walker any day now, that before I know it he will be talking a mile a minute, potty-training, riding a bike, learning to read, tying his shoes, playing soccer, wrestling with his brothers, driving a car, leaving home, getting married. It seems like a dream, an impossible dream. Sometimes I just sit and marvel at what a wonder he is. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC1Up9B30LtA6x60czgzUdjYqSsj5jLKoMERCXXq2OeFBIaRNZiPVXuImGMEpOmFxqxqEADgTO5rz_4c_iTRbdDfQQ_NqpnljIZwb4V2Cl0KfxCT6E6oDQcoWHDWi8olPRJPHkulEwanZ/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieC1Up9B30LtA6x60czgzUdjYqSsj5jLKoMERCXXq2OeFBIaRNZiPVXuImGMEpOmFxqxqEADgTO5rz_4c_iTRbdDfQQ_NqpnljIZwb4V2Cl0KfxCT6E6oDQcoWHDWi8olPRJPHkulEwanZ/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+137.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What am I supposed to do with this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Lately, thanks to <a href="http://www.lafayettenaz.org/sermons/">my pastor and his incredibly convicting and inspiring sermons</a>, I have been trying to work on a bad habit I have of complaining, of being discontented with where I am in life. Not that I'm not happy-just that I expect perfection and get frustrated when I don't receive it...RIGHT NOW! God has been working on my heart a bit and convicting me about that age-old "why me?" question. I have been trying to replace that whiny "why me?" with the same question asked a different way.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqkbFns3_K-EaVs_OFHOy5d_jHtx70qjAQizDlrevW3K1oWjkP1YilEkRzi4qXvpwN1jw5MGZksZTlNiCGcQZDtv5XoD8eqiD_3E1BjcXM9EHKxBRsfUbKtc11tyAtLTManQyabTwbhoY/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqkbFns3_K-EaVs_OFHOy5d_jHtx70qjAQizDlrevW3K1oWjkP1YilEkRzi4qXvpwN1jw5MGZksZTlNiCGcQZDtv5XoD8eqiD_3E1BjcXM9EHKxBRsfUbKtc11tyAtLTManQyabTwbhoY/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm...cake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't stopped asking God, "why me?" I just am trying to choose to change the tone of that question. Instead of focusing on all the things that aren't perfect in myself or my life and my circumstances, I am trying to be more consistent about praising God and being thankful for how far I've come. For who He is and what He's done and does. For redemption and grace and beauty and love. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVEffV-QRhEPUjxOllKch8IYOJjvksoLH3l38gZmAqV66fEK2v8hvL73gYAmBx8Zgvx2AGscU_42XUWLVzu6vmKi9aK3Bc-MZWKGIpvp7Pi1CMWTvf7PPHzWAR_UjO_zamrFzECFK8xGo/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVEffV-QRhEPUjxOllKch8IYOJjvksoLH3l38gZmAqV66fEK2v8hvL73gYAmBx8Zgvx2AGscU_42XUWLVzu6vmKi9aK3Bc-MZWKGIpvp7Pi1CMWTvf7PPHzWAR_UjO_zamrFzECFK8xGo/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+146.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always wondered what I would look like with blue hair.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So here are some "why me" questions I asked God yesterday. Why me, God? Why did you choose me to be this child's mother? What was there in me that You thought I would be the right mother for this sweet, sweet boy? Why me? Why choose me to get to be the one, the ONLY one, to be called "Mommy" of this baby? Why me? You could have given him to anyone. Why do I get to be the one to watch him grow, to love him and be loved by him? Why me God? I know it certainly isn't anything I've done. I know without a doubt I am completely undeserving. Why me? Why are you so good to me? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGF7tgfXhcHMEC5gW_kyTaSkE6r-Wt0M_GtZQGUOZK5W1XOIkLq-MxYmhRSrZevLN1O-Blu5NoGFztwJrAGN50lR7VzARmMnLEyW6holTCRVl9-JfOHJgYfYOTvf6L1Q0zLbnB20nkHQT/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGF7tgfXhcHMEC5gW_kyTaSkE6r-Wt0M_GtZQGUOZK5W1XOIkLq-MxYmhRSrZevLN1O-Blu5NoGFztwJrAGN50lR7VzARmMnLEyW6holTCRVl9-JfOHJgYfYOTvf6L1Q0zLbnB20nkHQT/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+149.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, now we know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">The things that our family has journeyed through in the past year are just unbelievable at times. I feel like I need to be pinched to see if it's all a dream. Then I hear that familiar cry in the middle of the night and I know it's not. And instead of asking "why me?" (wah, wah, wah), I ask "why me, God?" and in hushed whispers I pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise to my God. For ONE. Lord, I thank you for THIS one. Even if it's my last ONE. It is still ONE. And I will celebrate.</div> <div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVbA4mMX8Azdck8JIM6kqKPP-a6EElRZ5zcCF2WY2MrINoX0QlU4BRohuV7iXn7mLLTcFAR6eiVZUJgmVyUdEO4J7zo__gDvW7-esHuWqYsn5apoKskzd6hEp2PBCHGlnKDjiUJJejtXX/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVbA4mMX8Azdck8JIM6kqKPP-a6EElRZ5zcCF2WY2MrINoX0QlU4BRohuV7iXn7mLLTcFAR6eiVZUJgmVyUdEO4J7zo__gDvW7-esHuWqYsn5apoKskzd6hEp2PBCHGlnKDjiUJJejtXX/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+177.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All right people, I've had enough! Quit taking my picture and get this stuff off of me!</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOT7cRZk9nq3VP2oT2tOePkjhET6EmOZdX-_0hQErL0UYdzIAkF4igM7psXN4FpLWMxHfipckd1c7-GyBRgpBeKRkOPqBxC1ZgPWTQ3Fx7t9LTGZj-IJ2oRLuvQnEDJxeCNl_lL38jKqO/s1600/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwOT7cRZk9nq3VP2oT2tOePkjhET6EmOZdX-_0hQErL0UYdzIAkF4igM7psXN4FpLWMxHfipckd1c7-GyBRgpBeKRkOPqBxC1ZgPWTQ3Fx7t9LTGZj-IJ2oRLuvQnEDJxeCNl_lL38jKqO/s320/Garden+beds%252C+tball+2011%252C+Ethan+turns+1+186.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, much better. Sweet birthday boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-69285871018595581502011-04-09T17:52:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:00:08.038-07:00All Creatures of our God and King<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2ixet7DIFpte_4Xsp-2GbwpSbIrpQ8SRHlbRMb7lxuveA60cpkS2bWQcAyB6ofBBbW0jmvVw3I5xw1yOKqcncvboFZEIzAkkIEF4WDAW25DwkoU3W7OrjUa047PAK-ZjZG5qvUgAnWds/s1600/Florida+Trip+2011+018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593759134303494306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2ixet7DIFpte_4Xsp-2GbwpSbIrpQ8SRHlbRMb7lxuveA60cpkS2bWQcAyB6ofBBbW0jmvVw3I5xw1yOKqcncvboFZEIzAkkIEF4WDAW25DwkoU3W7OrjUa047PAK-ZjZG5qvUgAnWds/s320/Florida+Trip+2011+018.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tweet, tweet...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
One of the activities I like to do with the kiddos for "school" (not sure you can call it that when it is so darn fun and exciting) is just exploring creation. And that is much easier to do these days than it was during the winter months. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>We enjoy taking nature walks, observing plants, animals and yes, the occasional insect that we have never encountered before. I love it. L-O-V-E it! It might be one of my favorite things to do with the kids. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>I was one of those kids that hated science growing up. I did well enough in it to make the grade, but I never found it the least bit interesting (math was more up my alley). In fact, I dreaded it. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Now that I am a homeschool mom I see science in a whole new light. The process of discovery is what gets me. It is so exciting to learn new things about the world around us. I am convinced the reason I hated science was because it was never taught in this way before. I was never encouraged to wonder and awe and marvel. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Creation is just truly, absolutely, unequivocally amazing. Not sure if you know this, but God made some pretty interesting, fascinating creatures. Sometimes, I just shake my head and ask Him why He did that. And most of the time, the best answer I come up with is, "Why not?" He is just such a creative God. It is really, truly marvelous. And sometimes, I think He created certain creatures in certain ways to bring us closer to Him, so we would see the beauty of it and be more in awe and more in love with Him than we were before. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>That's one thing I love about homeschooling. I get to be there to guide and encourage my kids and see the wonder in their eyes when they see something amazing for the first time. To tailor our curriculum to the delight and wonder of the hearts of my children is such a blessing. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>This morning I got to witness such an event as Madison called to me. I was in the bathroom getting ready and I hear, "Mommy, come quick, come quick!" Those of you who are parents know that can either mean something very good or very bad. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Thankfully, in this case it was something very good. Madison had been looking at the tree outside my bedroom window and she spotted a new bird she had never seen before. I had her run and grab the camera quickly and we were able to snap a few pictures. Thankfully, our new little friend didn't seem to mind being the subject of our impromptu photo shoot. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQpqDtA6GGHUJxwOchZR9oMDkG-JmhdSt34eLE4LleiCvc7ZzHKKY4RmUA6ExOcFbC0Eu_YlKiSU8T6ib1n9mZmwhuFBb3NsXCZ092KIpUyBKabZMev-xsqpmsC4a4dL2v8cw4-Tc_Ndc/s1600/Florida+Trip+2011+016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593759083212263778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQpqDtA6GGHUJxwOchZR9oMDkG-JmhdSt34eLE4LleiCvc7ZzHKKY4RmUA6ExOcFbC0Eu_YlKiSU8T6ib1n9mZmwhuFBb3NsXCZ092KIpUyBKabZMev-xsqpmsC4a4dL2v8cw4-Tc_Ndc/s320/Florida+Trip+2011+016.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why, hello there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593759074897458674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7jCg88PXu1QyhYS_Ung28FbHfnCJDsQD2MIGYRwnVlHNRrcB1R1oXnJsTzdSYnxxPmqXCLvM8ITkxychlf1HkcN-h_sVjTkuHHaFekVYg7_xUJZ_GHH8itqft7-RAujFgfKPzgVsYDjD/s320/Florida+Trip+2011+014.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he magnificent?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<blockquote><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fafFOy7BgHlaoleJriGnjhN6O7ngCH6l6oDss434UxPEMehzlNuOIqP3iuNiawOXDq-V7E3EUDbGPMTXoOWlIGxW-hruVQqfDh4OBI-thyphenhyphenPMc2QNO-CTzGsgaaGPaUWjAThJqBGfbK2k/s1600/Florida+Trip+2011+012.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593759069711448674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fafFOy7BgHlaoleJriGnjhN6O7ngCH6l6oDss434UxPEMehzlNuOIqP3iuNiawOXDq-V7E3EUDbGPMTXoOWlIGxW-hruVQqfDh4OBI-thyphenhyphenPMc2QNO-CTzGsgaaGPaUWjAThJqBGfbK2k/s320/Florida+Trip+2011+012.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
<div align="left">After our friend flew away, we quickly went downstairs to try to figure out what kind of bird this was. I could have gotten upset that we spent half the morning "wasting time" instead of getting our school work done (yes, we do school on Saturdays). I could have gotten my panties in a bunch that we were falling behind. I could have ignored my children's curiosity and put out the spark of delight at their discovery. </div><br />
<blockquote></blockquote><br />
<div align="left">Instead, I chose to embrace it for what it was-a beautiful moment where we could share in something eternal. I am so glad I chose to capture their hearts in that moment rather than hurry them along in their phonics and times tables. I am even more grateful for the way God used that very experience to bless us so richly, to help us to delight in the simple beauty of His creation and to deepen our relationships with each other. </div><br />
<blockquote></blockquote><br />
<div align="left">And then, as if that weren't enough, we came downstairs for our Bible Study time, and what verse do we end up reading but this: </div><br />
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<div align="center">Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? </div><br />
<div align="center">Matthew 6.26</div><br />
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<div align="left">I'm sorry. Call me simple, but there are no words in my vocabulary to describe just how beautiful and good my God is.</div><br />
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<div align="left"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What do you do to create and capture wonder and awe in the hearts of your children?</div></div></div></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-71860112492280748432011-04-08T13:37:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:05:15.880-07:00What does it mean to be healthy?<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxDYmjddVU24LbYVeHBk3MbEz-8mpP-0Tb43jvWVktDhGqLmtH20oDl6TKkDlkbg2LJEghBCu57tPkgGzAx2z2HQqmT3h8IauiS7ozrv7Ez5y1aUDnazs3zKOog-2MfFfQOn2NZF8NF6z/s1600/Ethan+cuteness+April+2011+043.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593324230046655602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxDYmjddVU24LbYVeHBk3MbEz-8mpP-0Tb43jvWVktDhGqLmtH20oDl6TKkDlkbg2LJEghBCu57tPkgGzAx2z2HQqmT3h8IauiS7ozrv7Ez5y1aUDnazs3zKOog-2MfFfQOn2NZF8NF6z/s320/Ethan+cuteness+April+2011+043.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> Ethan enjoys his green smoothie-yum!</div><br />
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<div align="left">Our family has been on a quest of sorts for about 3 years to become more healthy and physically fit. It all started when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes with my third child. </div><br />
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<div align="left">At that time I was sent to a registered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dietitian</span> for a meal plan that was intended to help manage the diabetes without pharmaceutical intervention. The result of the appointment was me counting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">carbs</span> and limiting all carbohydrates during my pregnancy. It didn't work, despite me following it religiously, and I became dependent upon self-injected insulin to manage my blood glucose levels. </div><br />
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<div align="left">Thankfully, everything worked out fine and Brady was born perfectly healthy with no ill effects whatsoever.</div><br />
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<div align="left">One positive result of this process was that I began doing a lot of research. A LOT a lot! I began to learn more and more about what it meant to be truly healthy. </div><br />
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<div align="left">News flash: the key is not a low-fat, low-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">carb</span>, super restrictive diet. Sure you could lose weight that way, but would you really be HEALTHY? And who would want to?</div><br />
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<div align="left">My weight and dieting have been something with which I have always struggled. Shocking, I know. Even when I was skinny (yes, it's true-I should post some pictures sometime so you'll believe me) it was a constant struggle and a constant source of hardship and pain for me (think starving myself for a week at a time to get to where I thought I should be-yeah, not good). I used to think I had to count calories, eat a bunch of stuff I didn't like, deprive myself of foods I loved, and eat low-fat, low-calorie, low-flavor food.</div><br />
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<div align="left">However, over these past few years as I have learned more and more, my thinking on what it means to be healthy has changed. My basic, simple philosophy on food and diet now is this: the closer a food is to the way God created it, the better it is for you. That's it, in a nutshell. I figure God knew pretty well what He was doing-why mess with it?</div><br />
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<div align="left">So, how has that changed the way we eat? Well, no more fast food for one. The thought of a McDonald's hamburger totally disgusts me now. That one seems pretty obvious though-we all know fast food is bad for us right? RIGHT?</div><br />
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<div align="left">I also have cut out most forms of processed foods (I will buy the occasional box of healthy cereal for convenience sake). If I don't know what an ingredient is or I can't pronounce it, most likely it will not go in our shopping cart.</div><br />
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<div align="left">There is nothing low-fat about our diet, because most foods that carry that label are full of preservatives and man-made fillers and sweeteners that are way worse for you than natural fats. I REFUSE to count calories and fat grams. We simply eat good, wholesome, almost always made from scratch foods, and lots and lots of raw foods.</div><br />
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<div align="left">One way I have started helping my family increase their intake of fresh fruits and veggies (preferably organic, in-season, local produce) is by making smoothies. Smoothies are so awesome because you can put just about anything in them and they taste great.</div><br />
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<div align="left">Some of my favorite smoothie ingredients are bananas, mango, strawberries, blueberries (any kind of berry, really), clementines, grapes, apples, spinach, kale, avocado, carrots, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tomatoes</span> etc... Pretty much any combination that sounds good to you will work, but you want to get to the point where your veggie content makes up the majority of your smoothie. </div><br />
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<blockquote></blockquote>You can make some pretty colorful, flavorful, interesting combinations. If your kids are particular about color, you probably want to go heavier on the berries as they tend to do a good job of masking the green/brown color of the veggies you want to add. I also add homemade yogurt and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">kefir</span> (a natural <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">probiotic</span>). </div><br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1wxNxSeuhuZzydQQg2VBGZh5liYWOEWbAyzMw_ku2DN1G5xl7sF77RF9JvljKOI0K_E33irjLkfJdml-w5w2WR_KKjBYeXYjTWvg0R4PeeRbtuLkHfL-VntJ9S5jtWzkfIHLpe0GxDrO/s1600/Ethan+cuteness+April+2011+027.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593315530651236626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1wxNxSeuhuZzydQQg2VBGZh5liYWOEWbAyzMw_ku2DN1G5xl7sF77RF9JvljKOI0K_E33irjLkfJdml-w5w2WR_KKjBYeXYjTWvg0R4PeeRbtuLkHfL-VntJ9S5jtWzkfIHLpe0GxDrO/s320/Ethan+cuteness+April+2011+027.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>I think he likes it! </div><br />
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<div align="left">Here is a link to <a href="http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/">The Green Smoothie Girl</a>, who first got us started on this idea-well after a <a href="http://www.smoothiestreet.com/">sweet friend</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">referred</span> me there. There are a lot of awesome resources on her site if you are interested in pursuing a more whole foods kind of diet. </div><br />
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<div align="left">I hope to blog about our food choices a lot more in the future. We are venturing into the world of gardening for the first time this summer-wish us luck!!! Hopefully, I can remember to blog about that adventure!</div><br />
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<div align="left">What about you? What do you think it means to be healthy? Have you been successful at making dietary changes in your family?</div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-58672457458349818152011-04-04T09:34:00.000-07:002011-04-12T16:06:22.589-07:00Menu-Plan MondayOne of the best ways I have found to stay organized as a homeschooling mom is to menu-plan. I cannot live without my menu plan. All sorts of bad things happen when I don't menu plan. I have found that we eat out more often, we eat fast food (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blech</span>!) more often, my kitchen stays messy and I am generally grumpier when I don't menu plan. It's true! <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>I think the reason why menu-planning affects my mood the way it does is that making healthy, yummy meals for my family is an extreme passion of mine. You might say I am a bit <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">obsessed</span> with it. I get highly irritated when I can't get some time in my kitchen. I love cooking from scratch. I love coming up with new recipes and finding ways to stretch our budget in the kitchen. I love knowing that the work I do in my kitchen is one major way I can show my family that I love them. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>But, I am not one of those fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girls. I HAVE to have a plan. I cannot look into my fridge at 5 p.m. and wonder what is for dinner. That is a recipe for disaster in our household. I need the comfort of knowing I have everything I need rather than realizing at the last minute I am missing a vital ingredient and trying to get 4 kids out the door and to the store and still have time to get everything ready. I do try to have a few back-up meals that I can whip up on the fly for those days when things get crazy-hectic and my schedule falls apart, but for the most part I like to stick to my menu-plan. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>I also have found that I save more money at the grocery store this way. Plus, it just gives me piece of mind knowing in advance what we are going to have. I can plan for leftovers on our busy evenings where we won't be at home for long. I know when to take out meat for thawing. I can throw stuff in the crock pot in the morning on days we are extra busy and I know that my family will have a nutritious, yummy meal ready for dinnertime. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>I will let you in on a little secret. My grocery budget for our family of 6 is $100 per week. This budget includes all types of toiletry items as well as all food items. With the rising costs of foods, this budget can be a bit difficult at times, but I am grateful for it because it also requires me to be creative in the kitchen. <br />
<blockquote></blockquote>So how DO I plan my menu? I have a process that I go through every Sunday to plan my meals for the upcoming week. I plan for three meals a day, plus sometimes snacks/treats, for Monday through Sunday. Some like to plan by the month and just rotate many of the same meals on a monthly basis. While I like this idea in theory, I have found it hard to implement because I like to take advantage of weekly deals to make my meals for the week. So here are the steps I use, which can be adapted to suit anyone-there is no one right way to menu plan: <br />
<ol><li>Rick brings home the local Sunday paper each week. I sort through all the ads, making notes of things we need and ideas for meals planned around the good deals. Most supermarkets have what are called "loss-leaders" which are items that are deeply discounted, that they are taking a loss on, in order to get you into the store. I have done this long enough that I know what the best prices are, when things are likely to go on sale, and how much I am willing to pay for certain items. I also clip coupons and like to pair coupons with sales to get a good price on certain items. I am not an extreme <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">couponer</span> because a lot of the things I buy (mostly perishables) you can rarely find a coupon for. </li>
<li>After I have made a tentative list, I will then go to my recipe books, box, or my favorite online resources and round out my meal list. If I am using a recipe book (which I rarely do anymore) I will make note of the book I found the recipe in and the page the recipe is on so I can find it quickly. If I am getting recipes on-line, I will write them on a 3 x 5 index card. All of the recipes for the week will be brought to the front of my recipe box so I can find them very quickly. If I try a new recipe and we like it, I add it to the box permanently.</li>
<li>Then I expand my grocery list based on my recipes. I check my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">refrigerator</span>, freezer and pantry to be sure I have the items I need for a particular recipe and whatever is missing then gets added to the list. This helps me avoid buying things that I already have in the pantry and helps me stay organized. Plus it ensures my fridge and pantry get cleaned out once a week-BONUS!</li>
<li>I get out my calendar and pencil in what I want to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day that week. It helps me to use my calendar because I can see at a glance days that will be particularly busy or evenings where we have something planned and I might not need to make anything that night.</li>
<li>Then I go shopping on Monday. Rick is home on Mondays and we like to shop together, or sometimes he goes for me-what a relief! Have you ever tried to drag 4 kids in and out of several stores in one day-it's not a pretty sight! I do shop at multiple stores to get the best deals on particular items. If you don't have the time or desire to do this I suggest shopping at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Aldi</span> if you have one in your area, as they tend to have the lowest prices on just about everything. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wal</span>-mart is not my favorite store but they do price match and we have one very close to our house, so if I am in a hurry and don't have time to run all over town to the different stores, I will just take the ads into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wal</span>-mart and get the same price. If you do this, make sure to clearly mark what you want and read the fine print carefully for sizes of items. This will help you get through the line faster and is courteous to those who may be behind you in line. I also like to shop at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Meijer</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Payless</span> and Marsh as well because they double coupons. </li>
</ol><br />
And that's about it. I post my menu calendar on my fridge and check it every morning and evening so I can see what is coming up next. It's not a perfect system and I don't always stick to it but it helps keep me sane. <br />
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I don't know about you, but dinner-time in our house is chaotic. Daddy is coming home, we are picking up and finishing up schoolwork, and I am trying to get dinner on the table for 6 hungry mouths, one of whom is usually a VERY vocal baby! So anything I can do to help myself accomplish this more efficiently is great for me. I can chop veggies for a salad while the baby is napping, throw oatmeal in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">crockpot</span> the night before so breakfast is ready in the morning, assemble the ingredients of a casserole in the morning before the kids get up and pop it in the oven before Rick gets home. It's what works for us!<br />
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This week's Menu Plan:<br />
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<ul><li>Monday: B ~ bagels; L ~ peanut butter and honey sandwiches, cottage cheese, celery; D ~ dinner out</li>
<li>Tuesday: B ~ crock pot oatmeal; L ~ ham and cheese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">quesadillas</span>, fruit; D ~ pork roast, sweet potato casserole, green beans</li>
<li>Wednesday: B ~ cereal; L ~ peanut butter and banana sandwiches, carrots & dip, fruit; D ~ spaghetti & meatballs, salad, homemade garlic bread</li>
<li>Thursday: B ~ breakfast cookies; L ~ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ramen</span> noodles, fruit; D ~ leftovers</li>
<li>Friday: B ~ homemade granola & yogurt; L ~ PB&J, cottage cheese, banana/mango/blueberry smoothies with homemade <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">kefir</span>; D ~ beer-battered fish, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, beer bread</li>
<li>Saturday: B ~ cereal; L ~ black bean, corn and cheese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">quesadillas</span>, fruit; D ~ <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">linguini</span> with clam sauce</li>
<li>Sunday: B ~ muffins/bagels; L ~ lunch out (we usually eat out after church but not always-if we come home we usually just munch on whatever we can grab or leftovers from the week); D ~ leftovers</li>
</ul><br />
What about you? Do you menu plan? How do you do it?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-45010000717628548582011-03-15T16:12:00.000-07:002011-03-15T20:11:42.810-07:00Teaching Our Children to Read<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0H6aDT0lMxgis4gB70PVsGpbE0dlwJGobp-6h7gEK3eFqjq99H7ASLMDoWnxkSyFztm-dxg1EF0A-sbrK2ki_2MunzAL_TxciiFvRPm0HKc4zw3SxRUBUBb16mRVBvgX0IodfsF79Xds/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584481540715061810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0H6aDT0lMxgis4gB70PVsGpbE0dlwJGobp-6h7gEK3eFqjq99H7ASLMDoWnxkSyFztm-dxg1EF0A-sbrK2ki_2MunzAL_TxciiFvRPm0HKc4zw3SxRUBUBb16mRVBvgX0IodfsF79Xds/s320/IMG_0537.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One of the hardest, yet most rewarding tasks I have accomplished as a homeschool mom has been teaching my children to read. I have to admit that I was more than a little intimidated when we first started our homeschooling journey. We were doing this thing for real now and the pressure was on. At least, that's the way I perceived it. So I was determined to do everything right.</div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div></div><br /><div>Ha! Boy, did I have another thing coming. So far, I have taught two children to read and am working on a third. And I have been through 5 reading curriculum! Yep, that's right. I've failed. I've spent money on curriculum only to toss it later.<br /><blockquote></blockquote></div><div>Anyone who knows me, knows that is a very hard thing for me to do. Not only do I detest wasting money, I can't stand to leave things unfinished. It goes against every fiber of my being to not read a book all the way through, even if I don't like that book. I can't stand it. Ooh, and admitting failure? OUCH. Especially where my kids are concerned!<br /><blockquote></blockquote></div><div>However, throughout the last few years of homeschooling I have learned to let a lot of that go. I am so thankful for the counsel of some veteran homeschool moms who let me know IT'S OKAY. In fact, I have really started to embrace it. I try to remember not all children are alike and what works so well for some, may not be a good fit for others (one of the plethora of reasons why we love homeschooling-individualized curriculum). I love each of my kids' personalities and uniqueness. Each of them learn in a completely different way. And I love that I am so blessed to be able to tailor their education to that which best suits them. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>At any rate, I really struggled through the beginning days/weeks (oh who am I kidding? MONTHS!!!) of homeschooling. I focused on reading and phonics instruction to the exclusion of all else because it was THAT important to me that I get this one thing right. I knew all other learning hinged on them learning this one thing well. And if I had to do it all over again, I would do everything the same, flubs and all. I have learned so much just through trial and error. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>And believe it or not, after all of that, I discovered it's not all that hard to teach a child to read. After a few bumps in the road, and some studying and reading and learning on my part, I feel like we have a pretty good system in place for the process of teaching our children to read. Each child goes at his/her own pace, but the process is pretty consistent. Of course, I am always open to changing things up, should a particular child require it.</div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have had many people ask me about how we go about teaching our children to read, so I thought I would share what I have learned here. </div><br /><div><blockquote></blockquote><br />As I said before, I have used several different curriculum over the years-<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300232457&sr=8-1">Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Phonics-Beginning-Samuel-L-Blumenfeld/dp/0815969163/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300232534&sr=1-1">Alpha Phonics</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/McGuffeys-Eclectic-Readers-William-McGuffey/dp/0471294284/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300232587&sr=1-1">McGuffey Readers </a>and the Classic Curriculum workbooks, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Parents-Guide-Teaching-Reading/dp/0972860312/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300232639&sr=1-1-spell">The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading</a>. All of these are good programs and each has its own pros and cons (I can discuss those in another post or if anyone leaves a comment and wants a more specific review, I'd be happy to give it). </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>That being said, I think success in teaching your child to read has less to do with what curriculum you use (there are so many to choose from and most are really good and effective) and more to do with your attitude. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>Most of all I want my children to develop a love for learning so I introduce them to quality literature at a young age-no junk allowed in our house! I am intentional about working to give our children a print-rich environment. We turn off the tv (and computer and video games-we actually don't watch tv or play video games but that's another post for another day), curl up in a chair and read, read, read together many times a day. This is the absolutely most important and first step to teaching your children to read. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>As I am reading, I try engage my children's minds with lots of open-ended questions. I read with lots of expression and attempt to make the story exciting and fun. We also read together as a whole family on a nightly basis (we are currently working through the whole Chronicles of Narnia series, something we do every other year-right now we are in the middle of Prince Caspian). We make it a point to let the kids see us reading as well.</div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>Learning to read should also be an exciting and fun, low-pressure kind of a thing. I take a heavily phonics-based approach (why I do so is another involved discussion, but I would be happy to answer any questions about that as well) and start teaching our kids at a young age (2/3) letter names and sounds (in a low key way, a-a-apple, when eating an apple for example) and then move on to a more structured approach at around 4 years of age. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That is not to say I want my children reading fluently at 4, just that's what I have found to be a good age in terms of the child's motivation level and excitement about learning to read. They really begin to see how limited their world is when they can't read. My goal is to try to capture that spark and run with it. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>I also want to be sure to go at the child's pace-it shouldn't be a frustrating, pull-your-hair-out kind of thing. If they don't get it right away, I am persistent, unafraid to go back and review and repeat a lot, and most importantly, I try to be exceptionally patient. I don't ever want reading to become a chore for my children. If your child is struggling, stop and try again in a few weeks if you need to, being sure to keep up with reading good stories frequently in the meantime. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>I always start by teaching individual letter sounds, teaching the difference between the consonants and the vowels. Then, I move on to teaching how to blend the letter sounds together, once they are able to recognize each letter and say its sound without really thinking about it. I will start with three letter words with short vowel sounds that follow the consonant-vowel-consonant pattern (C-A-T). I also like to teach in word families, so along with cat, I teach hat and mat and rat and sat etc... I continue this way until I have done each vowel.</div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>Once they have mastered these words and can say them as soon as they see them (not having to sound them out letter by letter) I move into more complicated things such as consonant blends and digraphs (two or more letters that when placed together make a single sound-sh, for example), still sticking with short vowels. </div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div></div><br /><div>After that I will move onto long vowels and all the ways to make them. We start with the most common ways (silent e) and move on to the lesser ways (igh says long i, for example). Along with this, I will start to teach phonics rules and have them memorize these rules to help them learn new words. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>Next, I will do words that are exceptions to the rules (although I will have been teaching some of the very common sight words already-words that don't follow a phonics rule and can't be sounded out such as the, of, two, have, give, love etc...). You will find that once you get to this point your child will naturally start sounding out bigger, multi-syllabic words on their own. </div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div></div><br /><div>Another thing I like to do is get the kids reading right away. Teach them a few short words and then use them in a "story" they can read all on their own (the cat sat on the mat), and then keep having them read stories the whole time, not just words (Bob Books are great for this). Let them taste success! </div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, that's pretty much it, those are the basic steps I follow to teach our children to read. As I am teaching them I like to engage as many senses as possible so we will do different activities to reinforce whatever we are learning, but the foundation is pretty much the same. </div><br /><div></div><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div>If you have any questions or you are struggling with the process, I would be happy to help any way I can-just leave me a comment, and I promise to respond. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have done tons of research and hopefully someone can learn from my mistakes besides me! Almost all children will start to learn to read using these simple steps. This may not apply to the struggling learner or the special needs child, but it often will even in those cases. Just remember to be patient and go at your child's pace.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There is nothing that makes my heart swell with pride like seeing the light bulb go on in my kid's head and see them truly start to get it. To see them pick up a book off the shelf and start sounding out words. To watch them get so excited as they taste the success of reading their very first sentence, and then their first story and later, their first book. Oh, it's so, so sweet.</div><div><blockquote></blockquote></div><div>What about you? Do you have any tricks of the trade that you like to use when teaching a child to read?</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-76089785806402533702011-02-09T07:49:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:16:11.261-08:00True Romance<a href="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j367/jny4u2nv/happy_valentines_day-300x248.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j367/jny4u2nv/happy_valentines_day-300x248.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I have never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day. I think it's a silly holiday invented for the purpose of increasing sales for retailers after the post-Christmas lull. I find a lot of that stuff really, really sappy.</div><div><br /> </div><div>But what I don't find sappy is true romance. The kind of romance that causes your husband to wipe your tears away in the middle of the night when you are so sleep deprived you can't see straight. The kind of romance that causes your husband to quote your marriage vows to you when he sees you at your worst and you are humiliated and don't even want him to look at you. The kind of romance that enables a husband to be a solid rock when you need him to be, even though on the inside his heart is breaking too after you lose a baby.</div><div><br /> </div><div>Most of you who read this blog are our friends and family and you can probably tell from the above paragraph that those are all experiences that have happened in our lives. And let me tell you, my husband knows about true romance. He knows about commitment and loyalty and dedication to his family and loving his wife. Really loving her.</div><div><br /> </div><div>And I am not the best wife. I am high-maintenance and emotionally needy. My favorite coping mechanism when I am hurt, confused or angry is to withdraw. I am impatient and I demand perfection way too often of those around me, without ever feeling the need to deliver that myself. I am terribly selfish. And, I hate to admit, I am not a very good housekeeper.</div><div><br /> </div><div>And yet, he stays. He supports me in all of my crazy ideas (and I have a lot of them). He has never once raised his voice at me. Not once and I swear I am not exaggerating. I never have to be afraid in his presence. He protects me and he loves me, even when I am unlovable.</div><div><br /> </div><div>Ladies, that is true romance. You can keep your flowers and your chocolates and your cheesy cards and gifts. I'll take my real man any day of the week. </div><div><br /> </div><div>So for this Valentine's Day, I am taking the <a href="http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/30DayChallenge.pdf">30 Day Challenge </a>, from <a href="http://www.reviveourhearts.com/">Nancy Leigh DeMoss</a>, to encourage my husband. I found out about this through one of my favorite bloggers, Kathy over at <a href="http://teachinggoodthings.com/">Teaching Good Things</a>. </div><div> </div><div><blockquote></blockquote></div><div>Wives, won't you join me? If you are interested, check out <a href="http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/a-30-day-challenge-for-wives/">Kathy's post about the challenge</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.reviveourhearts.com/challenge/husband-encouragement/">sign-up here </a>to receive the daily e-mail updates about the challenge. </div><div> </div><div><blockquote></blockquote></div><div>If you are interested in taking the challenge, leave a comment here. If you blog, feel free to link up to your blog. I plan on blogging about the challenge as much as I can. Ladies, let us understand the power of our words and give our husbands this awesome gift of encouragement for Valentine's Day. I would love to hear how it changes your marriage over the next 30 days.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-31552837096603666672011-01-28T08:40:00.000-08:002011-01-28T09:37:52.242-08:00Why in the World Would You Want to DO THAT?Do what you ask?<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong><em>HOMESCHOOL</em></strong></span></div><blockquote></blockquote><br />Yes, that.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />Yes, we are a proud homeschooling family. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the above question. SO. MANY. TIMES. So, why in the world would we want to homeschool?<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />I have lots of answers to that question because there are lots of reasons why we homeschool. Most people I encounter usually just nod and smile and think we're a little crazy. <a href="http://www.nheri.org/HomeschoolPopulationReport2010.pdf">Though homeschooling is increasing in popularity with more and more families choosing this mode of educating their children every year</a>, we still don't know that many homeschoolers and most of the people we are close with really don't understand why we do it.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />I have always wanted to, but never have, sit down and write out in clear and concise language why we do it and what our philosophy on home education really is. And I still want to do that. And someday when I have lots of free hours (which is pretty much never if you are a homeschooler) I will do just that.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />But today I came across <a href="http://anneelliott.com/blog/2011/01/homeschooling-adam-clarke-style-adam-who/">this blog post </a>and <a href="http://anneelliott.com/blog/2011/01/homeschooling-adam-clarke-style-part-2/">this blog post </a>(it's a 2-part series on the same blog) that really put into words our primary motivation for home teaching our children. This particular post is based on a biblical commentary written in the early 1800s, looking primarily at Deuteronomy 6, a chapter of the Bible that contains one of the most oft-quoted verses of Scripture given by Christian homeschoolers when asked that WHY question. Specifically, verses 6-7:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div align="center">These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. </div><div align="center">Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and </div><div align="center">when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. </div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div>What commandments are THESE, you ask? Well, maybe you didn't, but it's my blog so I am going to share anyway. In chapter 5 of Deuteronomy, the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=deut%205&version=NIV">Ten Commandments </a>are repeated again to the Israelites. And then in chapter 6, verse 5, we find what <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:37-38&version=NIV">Jesus referred to as the GREATEST commandment</a>:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div align="center">Love the LORD your God with all your heart and </div><div align="center">with all your soul and with all your strength. </div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">So there you have it. It's pretty simple really, but in these few verses lie the answer, for us, to that WHY question. That is the ultimate answer anyway-there are many, many others which I will eventually be sharing here, along with answering some of the other typical questions we get, like:</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What about socialization? (Although most who know our kids don't really ask this anymore because they know they are VERY social).</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What DO you do all day? (Very soon I will be doing a "Day in the Life" post complete with pictures and hour-by-hour commentary on HOW we homeschool and what we do all day. I will probably eventually do several days because what we do is different every day. *hint* We don't REALLY stay home all the time).</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">How do you choose your curriculum?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What curriculum do you use?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">How do you have the patience to homeschool?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">How do you stay organized?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What about high school/college?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Aren't you sheltering your kids?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Do you ever get time to yourself?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Don't you think your kids would be better used by God in public school, to witness (can't stand that word but can't think of a better one) to other children who need God?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Is this even legal?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What made you choose to start homeschooling in the first place?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">I'm thinking about homeschooling, can you give me any advice?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Aren't your kids going to be asking "Do you want fries with that?" for the rest of their lives? (Yes, someone once said this to me).</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Is there something you have always wondered about homeschooling? If so, ask it in the comments or on my facebook page (you can find me @ Lisa Brady Epsteen) and I will be happy to do a post about it. But please be patient, after all, I do have to do some teaching! In the meantime, read the blog posts I linked to. They really well describe where my heart rests on this issue.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-85651277328784017052010-09-13T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-13T09:25:44.126-07:00The Realness of God<a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/09/she-walked-with-god.html">The other day I was reading from Genesis 5. </a> One of the last verses of that chapter reads like this:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><div align="center">He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed." Genesis 5.29</div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">This is the first time we read about Noah and in one sentence we learn more about him than about most of the characters in this chapter. "He will comfort us."</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">For those of you who know us, you already know we have a son named Noah. And it is because of this very verse that we chose the name Noah. Before conceiving Noah we had a miscarriage and a couple of months later we were pregnant with him. So he was literally our comfort.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">This what I wrote in my journal about this verse: "Noah, great-grandson of Enoch, who walked with God, and my son's namesake. If you ever read this son, remember who you are. Noah sounds like the Hebrew word for comfort. You comforted your Mommy and Daddy after the loss of Alida. I have no idea what God has planned for you, my son, but I know this: You will be a comfort to a great many people. You are the most <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sensitive</span> of my children and it seems comforting is what you were born to do. Your name was truly God-given."</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">I am big into names and their meanings. <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/03/consecrated.html">I wrote a post about this very thing a while back.</a> This is why we have such a hard time coming up with names for our children. Names are so significant and it is such an awesome task to have the sole responsibility of giving our kids the names they will be called for the rest of our lives. For that reason, all of our children were painstakingly named and all of our children have names that have some sort of special meaning or significance to us and our family. Noah is obviously no exception and it took us months to settle on his name. I cannot imagine him being named anything else. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Imagine my surprise and delight when Noah walked in after taking the dog out, less than five minutes after I had written that in journal and asked, "Momma, what do you think are God's plans for me?"</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Talk about a jaw-dropping question. I mean, what five year old do you know that asks a question like that? It was totally a God moment, a beautiful thing that only He could have orchestrated. And so, I read Noah what I had only moments before finished writing. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Frankly, if I may be truly honest, I don't know how anyone can read or hear a story like that and not believe that God is real. There is NO WAY you could ever convince me that things like that could ever be explained away by merely coincidence. They happen way too often in my own life and in the lives of people I know for me to ever believe that coincidence has anything to do with it. In fact, I wrote a <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/10/coincidencei-think-not.html">post about what I think of coincidence </a>a while ago too.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Just in the past week, I have had two other circumstances happen that some might want to call coincidence, but are what I call the goodness and faithfulness of a God who loves me and cares about my situations-no matter how seemingly small and insignificant. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">The first happened at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Aldi's</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">grocery</span> store. I had all my stuff ready to go when I realized I had forgotten my wallet at home which NEVER happens. I was getting ready to walk out of the store because I had no way to pay for what I got. I was by myself with all four kids, mind you, and it was quite the trip to just make it into the store in the first place, let alone get what I needed and get home in one piece. So imagine my dismay when I learned I had no way to pay and it was all going to be for naught. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">It was at this moment, the lady in behind me told the cashier that she wanted to buy my groceries. You heard me right. BUY. MY. GROCERIES. Seriously? Who does that? I tried telling her it was okay but she would not be swayed. By the time it was all over I was a bawling, blubbering mess, hugging a complete stranger who had totally been Jesus to me right in the middle of my crazy day. The funny thing is, I had prayed before going in that day that Jesus would use me. Ends up He used a complete and total stranger to minister to ME instead. Try and convince me He's not real. You can't do it. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">By the way, the other customers were totally in awe too and the poor cashier was probably crying harder than I was. I was profusely grateful and the lady just said that I would have an opportunity to do it for someone else some day. I cannot wait for that day!!! Add that to the sweet family who when we were walking in gave us their cart and would not take out quarter in return and I am <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">thoroughly</span> overwhelmed by the goodness of God.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">second</span> situation happened just yesterday when we received a flat tire on our way home. Rick's phone was dead, my phone was at home and the jack to change the tire was broken. Here we were, still a few miles from home, four kids who were hungry and tired on a hot day, pretty much stranded on the side of the road. So what could we do? Rick could try to walk home and leave us there. We could try to see if someone would let us borrow their cell phone-but then who could we call since no one memorizes phone numbers anymore-all the numbers were in our phones <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol</span>. So we did the only logical thing we could do. We prayed. Rick prayed specifically that God would send someone to help us.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Lo and behold, not 30 seconds after we finished praying, we see a van pull over on the other side of the road. They were travelling the opposite direction so they had to turn around, cross two lanes of traffic and back up to get to us. A man hops out of the van and it turns out he is the pastor of a local church and he said he felt that God had told him that "these people need your help" and that he should stop. He and his wife and their five kids. They had all the necessary tools and were able to get the spare on and send us on our way. Before he left, he leaned in the window, as we were again thanking him profusely, and he told the kids to give their thanks to God because He is the one who made him stop. Coincidence? You decide.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">What an awesome lesson that was for my kids to witness the realness of God. As we were driving (slowly <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">lol</span>) home I asked them if they learned anything about that experience and they said "to help others and that Jesus answers our prayers." How awesome is that? I praise God for that flat tire! What seems like a major inconvenience turned out to be an amazing opportunity to witness the hand of God at work in our lives. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Coincidence? I think not.</div><div align="center"> </div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-16423974191116685292010-09-10T06:23:00.000-07:002010-09-10T08:37:21.451-07:00She Walked with GodThis morning I read from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%205&version=NIV">Genesis 5</a>. Genesis 5 is not the most exciting part in all of Scripture to read. It is basically a genealogy of Adam and his sons and his son's sons and his...okay, you get the picture.<br /><br />This chapter traces the descendants of Adam up through Noah. Verse after verse after verse is the same. Here's the pattern: When so and so had lived so many years, he became the father of so and so. After that he lived how ever many years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, so and so lived this many years, then he died. Over and over and over again. I told you-scintillating.<br /><br />But then you get about 2/3 way through the chapter and the pattern all of a sudden changes with Enoch (Adam's great great great great grandson). Here is what we learn about Enoch.<br /><br /><div align="center">When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, <strong><em><span style="color:#00cccc;">Enoch walked with God</span></em></strong> 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5.21-24 (Emphasis mine)</div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Whoa! When you go to bed late and get up early and read a chapter like I read this morning, I will admit, sometimes it's hard to stay interested. Sometimes it's hard to understand how that part of Scripture can be relevant today. I know I sound super spiritual right now. But this verse stopped me in my tracks and woke me up. No caffeine needed. See, the Bible IS exciting!</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Six generations of Adam's family go by and suddenly we see there is something special, something different about Enoch. He walked with God. This is the first person this has been said of thus far in Scripture. We might be able to assume that Adam and Eve had walked with God since He walked in the garden (Gen. 3.8) and surely no one else ever shared the same type of relationship with God as had Adam and Eve when they were still perfect, but the Bible does not expressly say that Adam walked with God. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">So, to me, this verse is significant. Enoch walked with God. And how does this verse relate to marriage or parenting you might be wondering? (Remember my <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-ones-for-fellas.html">project</a>?) Well, I am so glad you asked. For the answer (at least what my tired brain was thinking of this morning-not sure very many pastors would use this verse in a sermon on godly parenting), we have to keep reading. Next we learn about Enoch's son, Methuseleh.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center">When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died. (Genesis 5.25-27)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">It's all becoming clear to you now right? Yeah, me either. Well, here's a little trivia fact that I remember from my days of studying theology in college (see Dad, I told you my education would be useful someday!): Methuseleh was the longest living person ever recorded. Don't ask me how that little nugget of information stuck in my head all these years when some days I don't remember the names of my children, but it did. And you can look it up and research it, or you can just trust me that it's true. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Now, I don't really know if this is a significant fact of history or not. Maybe Methuseleh ate healthy and exercised more than others. Maybe Methuseleh stayed away from all sorts of unhealthy habits. Maybe he lived by the adage, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't chew. And I don't go out with girls who do." Who really knows? </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">But maybe, could it be possible, that Methuseleh's longevity had to do with who his father was. That his father walked with God? Maybe not, it could be purely coincidental. But if the writer of Genesis thought it an important enough detail to share then I think it's significant. Or it could just be that in all my bleary-eyed tiredness this morning, I was looking for a way to connect the dots.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Here is my journal entry for this morning: "Saying that Enoch 'walked with God' is a deviation from the pattern of the previous verses (Lord, may the same be said of me.) Enoch's son Methuseleh was the longest living person in recorded history. This is interesting given the obvious faith of his father. I wonder if the two are connected? I don't know for sure, but I do know one thing: my own children will be blessed if it can be said of me that I 'walked with God.'"</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">She shoots. She scores. And the crowd goes wild. Or not. I don't know, maybe it's a stretch. Maybe I am reading way too much into the text. But I do know the one fact is true. If I walk with God, my children (and probably my children's children, and my children's...okay you get it) will indeed be blessed. The Bible clearly speaks to that fact in a multitude of places, like <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2020.6&version=NIV">here</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%205:10&version=NIV">here</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%206.1-3&version=NIV">here</a>, to name a few. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">The truth is, as Christian parents, our children should clearly see us walking with God. One of my favorite passages of Scripture, one I refer to often when the going gets tough with homeschooling and I need a reminder of WHY IN THE WORLD I would want to do such a thing. One that has often brought me to my knees, crying out to God for myself as a mother. One that has the power to make me desperate for Him and reminds me where my focus needs to be in this crazy adventure we call parenting. Here it is-you ready for it?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center">Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6.4-9)</div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Whoa! Go ahead, read it again. Soak it up. God sets a pretty high standard doesn't He? I could write a blog a day for a year and still not touch the surface of all the implications and meaning of these verses. And if you remember, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:37-38&version=NIV">Jesus Himself said that this was the greatest commandment </a>(verse 4). </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">How are YOU doing with it? I'll tell ya, most days, I suck at it. I mean, really, really suck at it. I am all about being honest and transparent. I am in no way the perfect parent. I fail at this much more than I succeed. So I hope no one thinks I am trying to hold up some impossible standard. The truth is, without God, it IS impossible. But it MUST somehow be possible because we all know plenty of parents and children who are awesome examples of this. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">How do they do it? How do I do it (when I do succeed? and I may be biased but I have a bunch of pretty darn good kids who are much better than me at this whole loving God thing, so I must be doing something right)? How do YOU do it? Well, to quote one of my favorite authors, Beth Moore, "With Christ, you can do the things you can't." She has a great way of putting things so obviously and simply. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">The truth is, I CAN'T do it. The truth is, I'm NOT doing it. I have to tell ya, it always makes me feel so good when someone complements the job I am doing with my kids or tells me how great they are. But, as much as I would like to say it is because they have me for a mother, I know deep in my heart of hearts, that couldn't be further from the truth. I know it's not about me at all. And I'm okay with that. In fact, I am more than okay with it. I am happy to give the glory to God for all His goodness and faithfulness to this wandering heart.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">We were out to eat with the kids yesterday for lunch. And the kids were awesome! We always get comments wherever we go just because we have more than the "normal" amount of children. Comments like, "are they all yours?" and "you have your hands full" and "how do you do it?" All. The. Time. Yesterday was no exception. There was a couple sitting behind us and as they left they remarked to us about how well-behaved our kiddos were and how hard it must be to take care of all of them and how busy we must be. I, of course, beamed with pride because of course I know my kids are great. </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Fast forward to dinner last night, also eaten out. What can I say? It was a hard day! My boys are literally wrestling on the floor in the lobby of the restaurant. They are so loud I want to pretend like I don't know them. They completely forget their manners. Everyone around us assumes we ordered hay for them to eat, since they were, after all, obviously born in a barn. Truth? I wanted to crawl under the table and hide. I would have found plenty to eat under there with the mess they made.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Thank God it isn't about me!!! Thank God for His grace and mercy. Thank God that my children have a perfect heavenly Father, who more than makes up for my own weaknesses and failures. Thank God for His Holy Spirit residing in the hearts of my children that can help them recall the times when I do succeed at this and help them to live more and more like God. Thank God!</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Be diligent about pursuing God and let your children see you doing it. You can give them no greater gift. Our children see and hear everything we say and do. How many times have you said something to your kids, totally forgotten about it, and they are the ones to remind you? If you are like me, probably too many times to count. Yesterday was a hard day, like I said, and I was giving Rick a kiss in the van to encourage him, and you should have heard the kids laughing and squealing with delight to catch Mommy and Daddy in a moment of intimacy-it totally made our day. We like to embarass them like that. They see EVERYTHING! Be diligent about making sure what your kids see is your intimacy with God. But don't beat yourself up when you fail. The great thing about our kids is that they are resilient and love us anyway. And the great thing about God is that He gives us as many do-overs as we need. It's never too late to start over.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left">Can your children say of you, "She (or he) walks with God."?</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-14998013366964112782010-09-08T06:09:00.000-07:002010-09-08T09:50:28.448-07:00This One's for the FellasSo, I have started this crazy project that has sort of been in the back of my head for a few years now. Who knows how far I will actually get but I am going to give it a valiant effort. The project is this: I am attempting to go through the Bible, front to back, and write a commentary on all the verses that apply to marriage and parenting. Yes, that's right. In the ENTIRE Bible. And in case you weren't aware, God has a lot to say about these topics.<br /><br />Why would I want to do this, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. My life is all about being a wife and mother. And I love that. I don't feel like my identity has been swallowed up by the fact that I am a wife and mother. That IS who I am. God made me to be Rick's wife, Madison, Noah, Brady and Ethan's (for now) mommy. Not that it's ALL I am or my life is ONLY about my family. But I cannot be separated from who I am as a wife and a mother. These are the most significant relationships in my life (apart from my relationship with Christ) and I know that if I fail here, I may as well not do anything else.<br /><br />Now, I am not naive enough to think that I will NEVER fail. I know I will. I know I have. Epicly. On more occasions than I ever care to admit. But my heartbeat is to come closer and closer to what God desires of me in these relationships. And what better way than to see what He has to say about them?<br /><br />So you, dear blog reader, get to read my ramblings. I would love for this to become a discussion. I am not using any commentaries or going back to the original languages or reading other books on these topics. These are just my impressions/thoughts/ideas on what I am reading out of Scripture. I am always open to correction if I say something inaccurate so please hold me accountable and let me know what you think of my analysis.<br /><br />Today's verse that I want to focus on comes from Genesis 3. This is not the first verse that I have come across that speaks to these relationships, but I just really felt like I had a lot to say about this one. You can find the whole text for Genesis 3 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%203&version=NIV">here</a>.<br /><br />I am sure many of you are familiar with this portion of Scripture, but let me give a little background. Genesis 1 & 2 give the accounting of God's creation. Chapter 1 takes us through the six days of creations and chapter 2 focuses on the creation of man and woman. Chapter 3 tells the story of the fall of man, the entrance of sin into the world and the consequences of that sin. The verse that caught my attention this morning was this:<br /><br /><div align="center">When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.</div><div align="center">Genesis 3.6</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Let me preface what I am about to write by saying this is not an attack on the male gender. These are just my observations. And many men I know struggle to understand the depths of a woman's heart. So fellas, this one is especially for you. I am going to let you see a little of my heart and I what I truly believe is the heart of most women (if you are a feminist, you probably won't like this!). I pray that my words/thoughts are tempered with grace and truth.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Here is my free-style, stream-of consciousness style writing copied directly from my journal.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">First, here we see the first time a woman is tempted by food. Oh, Eve, could you have known the pain you would cause?</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">"desirable for gaining wisdom" Knowing evil is the opposite of gaining wisdom.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">"<strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">who was with her</span></em></strong>, and he ate it" (emphasis mine) Oh Adam, you were so powerful. You could have stopped it all with a single word. You were there the whole time. You stood by and let it happen and did nothing to stop it. And thus, in that moment, you ceased being Eve's protector and marriages have never been the same since. Marriages from then forward have suffered the same fate. Women NEED men who will stand up for them, be strong for them and most importantly, continually lead them to the heart of God. But Adam, you KNEW what would happen to Eve if she ate that fruit. YOU KNEW!!! And still you stood silent, And the world has never been the same since. If it's this hard for the perfect man and the perfect woman (can you imagine how incredibly beautiful Eve had to have been-she was PERFECT!), what chance do the rest of us have? Thank you God, for your son Jesus Christ, who is our redemption and our restoration.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So there you have it. Those were just my thoughts/impressions as I was reading this morning. This is not a commentary on my own marriage or an attack somehow on men. I have read these verses many times before and somehow I always imagined Adam was somewhere else in the garden, out of earshot, doing his thing, blissfully unaware of what was going down. It never hit me before but this verse makes it very clear that Adam was there all along. He could have stood up for Eve but he didn't.</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I am in no way saying that Eve is not responsible for her own sin or that what she did was somehow Adam's fault. It just occured to me that Adam could have done something, anything to stop her. Maybe he wouldn't have been able to, but he did NOTHING to keep it from happening. Nothing to protect Eve. Nothing to stand strong for her. And later in the chapter (verse 12) Adam blames both God and Eve for his failure. "The man said, "The woman <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">YOU</span></em></strong> put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." (emphasis mine).</div><div align="left"><blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Guys, hear this: we need more. We need our men to stand up for us and be strong for us. I know this is not PC at all. But our culture has done both genders a disservice by pretending there are no differences in the sexes. We have masculinized women and feminized men. But God made us differently. You men were made to be strong for us and to be our protectors. Yes, sometimes, we even need protection from ourselves. We most certainly need protection from those things which tempt us, which threaten us, which scare us. Step up, men! Don't be afraid to be strong for us. Seek God first and foremost so that you can lead us to Him. Don't be passive and stand by and watch us fail. Take your rightful place as the protector of our hearts and homes. I promise you your marriages will be better for it.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-64750869951109780242010-07-13T15:11:00.000-07:002011-04-13T06:41:56.537-07:00By RequestI have had several people ask me to write out my birth story for Ethan, so, without further ado, here it is. I have included a little background information on my other births to help you see what lead me to the choices I was making for Ethan's birth. I know some of this is controversial so if you want to comment or ask questions, I just ask that you do it in a respectful way. Happy reading!<br />
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My journey to plan for a HBA3C (home birth after 3 c-sections for those of you who aren't indoctrinated in the world of birth terminology) started 7 1/2 years ago with the birth of my first born. I had who I considered to be the best doctor in the area (I still do think that by the way-shout out to <a href="http://www.clarian.org/video/clarian-arnett/Birth-Experience.html">Dr. Debra Madura </a>with <a href="http://www.clarian.org/portal/Clarian/clarian-arnett?ContentID=/hospitals-locations/clarian-arnett/index.xml">Clarian Arnett</a>-arguably one of the more progressive physicians in the area in terms of allowing women to have choice in their birthing options and supporting natural labor) and was fully immersed in the medical model of birth. I lived and breathed the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/076115079X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279060450&sr=8-1">What to Expect </a>books. I mean, that's just what you are supposed to do right? RIGHT????<br />
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I did plan for a natural birth, that was a deep heart's desire of mine, but I had no idea how impossible that was to achieve in a hospital setting. I went past my due date with no signs of labor and my OB asked if I wanted to be induced. SURE! I just wanted to meet my baby! <br />
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So at five days past my due date I went in for an induction, completely clueless about what it meant to be induced. Sure I knew all about the pitocin and what they were going to do, but I was clueless about risks etc... I completely expected to have my natural birth. My mom never had any issues so why should I? I never even really considered csection as a possibility. It wasn't until I got to the hospital that I learned an induction could fail and I could be sent home. Well, I was determined that wouldn't happen to me-no way I was leaving that hospital without a baby! No one told me that being induced INCREASES YOUR ODDS AT HAVING A C-SECTION BY 50%!!!! (Yes, you read that right!)<br />
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What ensued was what I have since learned is a very typical story known as the cascade of interventions-intervention after intervention to try to move things along, never dilating past a 1-artificially broken waters, internal monitors, nubain, epidural-and after 16 hours of labor with no progress and broken waters, my daughter was born via csection.<br />
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She was perfect, I was fine, no indication for the csection except FTP (failure to progress, or as I like to refer to it, FAILURE TO BE PATIENT). She was a bigger baby, 9 lbs, 3 oz and VERY broad shouldered. Everyone said thank God you didn't have to push her out-like that was funny or something. But I was happy to have my baby and not too upset about the csection.<br />
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That is, until the next day when they got me out of bed. The pain was unbelievable. They always talk about it like it's no big deal just a little surgery, so that was my expectation. Don't be fooled. IT IS MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY. They pull your insides out-your bladder and intestine and uterus-and then put you back together. Under no other circumstances would someone be awake during such an ordeal, much less told to "be grateful" and "be happy" and "get over it".<br />
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My recovery was absolutely horrid. Every time I stood up I felt as if my body was ripping in two and my insides were going to fall out. I couldn't cough, laugh, cry, sneeze, use the bathroom without excruciating pain. Not to mention, I felt like a complete and total failure but I couldn't quite figure out why. I was so excited to have my baby and loved her fiercely from the moment I saw her, BUT I started to realize even then, within days of her birth, that having a perfectly healthy baby, while vitally important, was not the ONLY important thing. Having a physically and emotionally healthy mom was just as important. Usually, once the baby comes, Mom is taken out of the equation and everyone says oh-so-helpful things like, "Be grateful you have a healthy baby." or "What are you upset about? You have a healthy baby." or even the hurtful "Get over it. Lots of women have c-sections and are fine." I had the baby blues and grieved the loss of my birth and determined to do it differently the next time.<br />
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Fast forward to pregnancy number 2 (technically number 3-we had a miscarriage in between which I now attribute to the previous csection). I was SO determined for a VBAC, but again buying into the medical model, with the exception that my doctor wouldn't induce (this can introduce a whole host of <a href="http://pregnancy.about.com/od/induction/a/risksinduction.htm">extra complications</a>, even more so when you have had a previous csection) so I knew I had to go into labor on my own-not that I wanted to repeat that experience anyway.<br />
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However, since I never dilated with my daughter, nor had so much as a contraction without the pit, I was convinced something was wrong with my body, I would not be able to do it because I would never go into labor on my own. WRONG! I had an appointment on Friday and I was still tight and closed and my OB said, "see ya next week." I was having plenty of contractions but quite discouraged that yet again nothing was happening.<br />
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I was 38 weeks, 6 days pregnant. I was completely unprepared for labor, had no bags packed because I had convinced myself it wasn't happening. That night at 2 am my water broke in a huge gush. Like a good little patient I called immediately and after waking my daughter, getting ready and dropping her at a friend's we got to the hospital around 4 am. I had started contracting, hard and fast, 2-3 min apart. Man it hurt!<br />
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But I was so flippin' excited! I couldn't believe it, I was doing it! It was the first time I actually believed it might happen. I labored like that, contractions 2-3 min apart all through the night and until about noon the next day. I was in a lot of pain but I didn't want any interventions-no drugs, no epidural.<br />
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I had fairly supportive nurses and I was concerned about the 24 hour rule but the doc on call was so laid back-he said since I was getting antibiotics for <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/group_b_strep/article.htm">GBS</a> anyway, that I could labor as long as I wanted. They didn't check me, they basically just left me alone to do my thing-with one exception. I live in a town where there are three nursing schools so of course they asked if the nursing students could "study" me, since VBACs are so rare. So I agreed, but man was that annoying.<br />
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So anyway, I did everything I could to get this baby moving-walked the halls, hot showers, birthing ball. I was crying out for my mommy and right about the time she came contractions just stopped. I would have maybe one or two an hour and that was it. Things stayed that way for 24 hours. They moved me off of L&D to an empty hall because they needed the room for women who were really in labor, of course. I was never told at the time that this was perfectly normal and actually quite common. As you can imagine, I was incredibly discouraged. And hungry-I hadn't eaten for 48 hours and was utterly exhausted.<br />
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At this point I had a few nurses telling me to give up-that was frustrating, but thankfully I am very stubborn. So that night (it was Sunday evening by then) I asked for them to bring the birthing ball into my room. Rick was gone with Madison to change clothes and shower and such and I was all alone in my room. I just sat on the birthing ball and cried out to God, pleading with him to bring the contractions back. I can only think of one other time I have prayed so hard and so fervently and wanted something so badly.<br />
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Within an hour contractions were 7 minutes apart, then 5, then they finally moved me back to L&D and I labored like that through the night. I was able to relax and laugh between contractions but I really had to work through them. The hospital was really flexible and didn't require continuous fetal monitoring or anything like that so I was able to be as mobile as possible. They even let me go outside at one point-I remember it being the first warm day of the year-this was early March-and begging to go outside since I was so tired of being in there and so they let me-in a wheelchair, but I didn't care, it was fresh air. <br />
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My OB came in Monday morning, shocked to find me still there and asked if she could check me. I hadn't been checked yet so I consented and I wasn't even a 1. I couldn't believe it-it was like my world came crashing down in that moment-all my hard work was for nothing. At 12:14 Monday afternoon, 58 hours after my water broke, my son was delivered via csection for FTP...again. My body had failed me...again.<br />
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Fast forward 2 more years to baby number 3-diagnosed with GD (gestational diabetes), insulin-dependent, had the fear of God put in me that the baby was going to be huge, was measuring five weeks ahead. So, I did something I never thought I would do and had an elective repeat csection. Turns out, he was my smallest baby at 8 lbs 6 ounces and perfect in every way.<br />
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Two years later and I'm pregnant again and determined to do it differently this time. Each of my recoveries had been horrible,<em> </em>I had had to wait hours to even get to meet each of my babies because of complications with anesthesia and hospital protocol, I had <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/05/story-of-you.html">complications</a> at the beginning of this pregnancy which were caused by the previous csections and I longed so badly to be the first one to hold my sweet baby and to nurse him right away and not feel so disconnected from the births of my children. I wanted to join the ranks of millions of women the world over and do what I was created to do and birth my baby naturally.<br />
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I had learned a lot from the GD experience and I was determined to not have that again, even though they told me at every appt I WAS GOING to have it-I am overweight and there is a 70% recurrence rate so it was a done deal right? I was taking really good care of myself and eating right and so nervous when the time came for the GD test. All this time I had been doing more and more research, reading books like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Knife-Cesarean-Prevention-Vaginal/dp/0897890272">Silent Knife</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pushed-Painful-Childbirth-Modern-Maternity/dp/0738211664/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279062012&sr=1-1">Pushed</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279062079&sr=1-1">Ina May's Guide to Childbirth</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birthing-Within-Extra-Ordinary-Childbirth-Preparation/dp/0965987302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302700624&sr=8-1">Birthing from Within</a>. I KNEW I wanted a homebirth.<br />
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I did so much research and reading that my eyes started to go blurry. I learned so many new and startling things that I had never considered before about the modern medical-model of maternity care (a whole other post in itself which I would love to write sometime-but if anyone is interested in the research or questions whether what I was planning was really safe, feel free to ask). Mainly, I became convinced that I would never have the birth I desired in a hospital setting, no matter how wonderful and family-friendly the hospital and it's staff may be. Secondly, I was convinced by scores of compelling research and evidence that this was indeed a very safe way to birth my child.<br />
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I NEVER would have put him at risk, but it was amazing the number of people who thought I was doing just that and had no problem sharing their opinions on the matter with me-despite having known me for years and never once questioning my commitment to caring about the safety of my children or doing something without their best interest at heart. That was probably the hardest part of the whole journey. I felt incredibly lonely and judged for the decisions I was making, by people who knew me, to whom I was very close, who knew the kind of mom I was. None of that mattered. I was considering something non-mainstream, and instead of supporting me and looking at the research, snap judgements were made and I felt incredibly ostracized. It was a very hard time and very hurtful for me. I understood their concern for me, but at the same time I just needed some understanding and support.<br />
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It was at that time I connected with some women from <a href="http://ican-online.org/">International Cesarean Awareness Network, ICAN</a>, and that was so helpful to be heard and to connect with women who knew exactly what I was going through and had been there themselves. I cannot overstate the importance and value of the support I received there, and how much I would recommend the site to someone in our situation. <br />
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So, I started talking to all the HBMWs (home birth midwives) in my state. I had lots of interesting conversations, but NO ONE wanted the risk of a 3-peater, especially with the threat of GD. BUT-I PASSED THE TEST!!! I could not have been more excited, I was on cloud nine and so mad at the u/s tech who told me she'd see me again "you know, because of the diabetes" like it was a given. YES! I proved them wrong!!<br />
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Then I really started to hunker down and get serious about this home birth business. I had to convince Rick that it was a good idea, which wasn't too hard to do after I started reading him the research on the risks of csections and especially repeat csections and he read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Partner-Third-Childbirth-Companions/dp/1558323570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279062782&sr=1-1">Birth Partner </a>on his own. He agreed with me that this would be the best, most beautiful, natural way to bring our son into the world.<br />
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Long story short, I finally found a MW willing to take a chance on me and she was the first person ever to tell me I could do it. I had no idea how badly I needed to hear that. I remained under the care of my OB as well, just in case I needed a transfer but I was so sure that this would be my time. I did everything right.<br />
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Of course, many of you know the rest of the story. My little guy was breech and big and despite trying every possible thing-chiropractor, acupuncture, moxibustion, pulsatilla, standing on my head-among many other positions I tried to get him to turn-he wouldn't budge. He wasn't even in a good position to deliver breech which I was willing to try-he was oblique, almost transverse, laying sideways facing my right side with his butt in my pelvis and head and feet up under my ribs.<br />
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Another long story short, all the research I did said vaginal breech birth was a viable option, IF the baby was not big. A late term u/s confirmed that he was good size (I know, I know they can be inaccurate, but my u/s tech is notoriously accurate and had been right on target for all of my kids, plus he was right around the same weight as they were at that point so I didn't think by some miracle I would all of a sudden be popping out a 7 pounder. I have big babies, that's all there is to it-and that didn't scare me one bit when I thought about delivering a baby head-down). So my MW risked me out-she conferred with another MW who was to be her back-up and they both agreed I should have a csection, as did my OB of course.<br />
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I was crushed beyond belief, but there was NO WAY I was delivering breech unassisted. The most heart-breaking moment came when my husband deflated the pool in our room-it was like I could physically feel my heart deflating as well. I had a visceral reaction to it, like it was somehow symbolic of my failure and even typing it out is bringing me to tears remembering those emotions again.<br />
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So, at 2 days past my due date, I had ANOTHER ERCS (elective repeat csection-something I had sworn to never do again).<br />
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However, this time around it was a little different-and this is where the story gets better. Because I had done all my research and had been around this block a few times, I knew exactly what I wanted out of my csection. The decision to do the csection was made on a Wednesday and the surgery was scheduled for that Friday. I went home, typed out a birth plan and took it into the hospital the next day when they had me do all of my pre-testing.<br />
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In between my 3rd and 4th babies a new hospital had opened so I had no idea what kind of response I would get. I was asking for a lot of unusual things-no narcotics in my spinal, to have my husband present for the administration of the spinal, to be able to see my baby being born, for him not to be suctioned or bathed, to wait for the cord to stop pulsating before cutting it, among many, other things. I figured they would laugh in my face but I tell you what these nurses were top notch, so sweet.<br />
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I was afraid even if they did do what I wanted they would be resentful about it and I would feel that. But they bent over backwards to give me everything I wanted. One nurse even said, in complete sincerity, "we will do everything we can to give you everything you want." Every nurse who came into my room acknowledged, without me asking, that they had read my birth plan. My OB and my anesthesiologist happened to be there while I was in for pre-testing, both read the birth plan and were fine with most of it. My anesthesiologist really tried to convince me to take the narcs (I don't do well at all with them and basically slept through my first two csections and had a long and difficult time coming out of recovery so I wasn't able to see my babies until many hours after their births). But I had done it that way with my last birth so I knew it could be done. She thought I didn't know what I was in for pain-wise and I assured her I most certainly did and I would take the pain any day over not being present and fully aware at the birth of my own child. She accepted that and even let my husband be there the whole time-he walked me into the OR and walked out with me (well I rode on the bed but you know what I mean).<br />
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They lowered the curtain so I could see my baby right away-the first time I saw my others they were already bundled up and bathed. I loved seeing him all goopy and messy-it was beautiful. The whole experience from start to finish was surreal. I never thought a csection could be beautiful but his was. I had him on my chest nursing when he was 30 minutes old. He was awake and alert. I had never seen any of my other babies like that. I was awake and alert and had I had the narcs I would have missed that completely. It was amazing! He latched on right away and nursed for 35 minutes the first time-it was awesome!!!<br />
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He was so much easier and I fully believe it was because he had no drugs in his system, nor did I. My milk came in before I left the hospital and his poop was already yellow (that's a good thing for those unfamiliar with babies) by the time we left as well-it was five days before my milk came in with each of my other kids, and in the meantime I had to listen to them cry because they were so hungry by the time it came in fully. I had none of that this time around. In fact, the nurses were coming into my room asking me to give nursing lessons to the other moms on the floor. After four kids, it is kind-of second-nature.<br />
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It was all around just an awesome, amazing experience that I never would have had had I not done my research, stood up for myself and asked for what I wanted. Finally, I felt empowered, like my voice mattered, like I wasn't just a vehicle to get the baby here but that what I felt and wanted was important. FINALLY!!!<br />
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Now my recovery this time around was the worst yet-I ended up with a spinal headache which was horrible, I seriously thought I was dying. Then I ended up with my scar opening up and an ecoli infection at the incision site, which Rick had to pack daily for a couple of weeks. It was humiliating and disgusting and just all around awful. I was completely disgusted with myself and Rick was so gentle and tender with me. I was a big baby about it all and he was absolutely perfect, my rock through it all. It was the first time in ten years of marriage that he had to quote our marriage vows back to me and reassure me he was there for the long haul, no matter how bad things got. And it was bad.<br />
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So even though the actual birth and hospital stay was awesome, I still firmly believe CSECTIONS SUCK!!! Here I am 12, almost 13 weeks later and still having pain (edited: it is now a year later, and I still experience pain). So when we get pregnant again I will try again for my HBAC. Yes, I will! The hard part for me was that my csection this time around had nothing to do with the fact that I had already had 3 csections-it was something completely out of my control. But I am still determined for the birth I want.<br />
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I was talking to Rick the other night telling him how I would have ten more kids if it weren't for having the csections. I said something about not being able to give birth normally. And he said the sweetest and most meaningful thing. He said, "It's not that you can't. It's that you haven't yet." God, I love that man!<br />
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Anyway, I know this was really long (you are used to that by now if you have read any of my other posts) and if you read all the way to the end , God bless you and thank you.<br />
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I hope that if you are a woman facing similar decisions as mine, you can be encouraged by my story to stand up for yourself and not back down and that even if you have to have a csection that it can be a better experience than you can imagine-you just have to ask for it. Not saying that all hospitals will be as great as mine was, but it never hurts to ask and keep on asking if need be. I found a lot of healing this time around. I still wonder what would have happened if I went into labor and question whether I should have waited. I am sure I always will. But I don't regret my decision. My boy is beautiful and our journey taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for that!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-15277061487111515312010-05-16T18:37:00.000-07:002010-05-16T18:49:24.006-07:00The Story of You<div align="center">Today is a very important day. This is what I see as I sit here typing this: </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472047899469684850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0azE6Odj4Y-EY2H-DZU5IajgVnOUGLPzIN9ms7vgJlLpMhajAvKD8ZL6ugLGkmAFloxBXzTaRfLH23DKozHEF1sNJM8Ks6MyPQAZ5Nyxq_j8dSvwZMNjTfSOjTDAhFqt9C9IAX5BmF0ge/s320/0516001631.jpg" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is my sweet one month old snuggling on my chest. I cannot even begin to describe how faithful and loving and gracious my God is. Especially when I pause to consider that my son should not even be here. Yet here we are, celebrating one whole, perfect, beautiful month with our sweet, sweet boy. </div><div><br />As we have journeyed through this pregnancy there were so many times I wanted to pour out my heart through writing our story, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Somehow, in the back of my mind I had this completely irrational fear. My fear was that if I put it out there, what God was doing in our lives, then I would somehow jinx it. Somehow, someway, it would all come crashing down.</div><div><br />I know it seems really silly. But here’s what you have to understand about me. I am one of THOSE people. You know the type. I believe the word used to describe us is “pessimistic”. I really hate that word. Mostly because I don’t want to be that way. But I am not the type of person who trusts easily or believes that good things will happen to me if I just have enough faith or pray enough or whatever. In fact, usually the opposite is true. I generally have a conscious thought process that goes a little like this: “I am going to expect that the absolute worst is going to happen. That way when it does happen I am prepared for it and not too disappointed. And if by some slim chance the worst that I am expecting doesn’t happen, well then I will be pleasantly surprised.” I prefer the term “realistic” to “pessimistic”. But, I guess if I am realistic with myself I have to admit that I am a pessimist. </div><div><br />And let me just tell you, it totally sucks being that way. I hate it sometimes. I hate that I drag other people down with me sometimes. I hate that it can make life pretty darn depressing sometimes. But I can never seem to rise above it. </div><div><br />I mean, sure, I have hope. I know what hope is and I can say with all sincerity and honesty that I am a hopeful person. Because I guess at the end of the day, even though I am expecting that worse-case scenario, I am hopeful for something more. Well, that is where the story of my son begins and ends. </div><div><br />Rick and I decided about a year ago that we wanted to start trying to conceive again. So I started all my usual routines to be sure that happened-taking my temperature each morning, charting and writing everything down so we would know exactly when the best time to try was. Luck favors the prepared, you know. </div><div><br />I thought it would be so nice to have a spring baby. Our last son has been born in the thick of the cold and flu season and I had wanted to avoid all of that and get past the stress of the holidays before having another baby. So we thought we would shoot for April, hoping that we would get pregnant within a couple of months. </div><div><br />The first month went by and nothing. I charted and tracked my temperatures and did everything I was supposed to. And nothing. I took a pregnancy test as soon as I could and it was negative. I was sad, but expecting that, not totally devastated. We still had a couple of months left to hit that magic window of having our spring baby. </div><div><br />Not surprisingly, 28 days after I had my last period the next one came-I’m telling you they wrote the text books after me (my apologies if that is way more information than you wanted to know about me but it is important to the story). So we decided we would start trying again. </div><div><br />However, 2 weeks later, as I was sitting in church on a Sunday morning-August 16 to be exact, I could feel that something wasn’t quite right. I started having some unusual cramping and I went to the bathroom and sure enough I was bleeding. Because I am so particular about tracking my cycles I knew that this was not normal. It had only been two weeks since my last cycle. I was at church by myself because Rick had worked the night before and needed to sleep. So I made the decision to go ahead and leave and I called him on the way home. I was almost 100% positive that I was having a miscarriage. </div><div> </div><div>I made two more phone calls on the way home. The first one was to the on-call OB/GYN explaining the situation. He lovingly tried to calm me down and reassure me that this was probably perfectly normal bleeding and that I was just early. I assured him that doesn’t happen to me, that I am very regular and I was sure I was miscarrying, even though I had had a negative pregnancy test. He told me to go home and take a pregnancy test and call him back if it was positive. My third phone call was to my dear friend Melissa, who was with her family in Chicago. I am pretty sure she stopped right there on the streets to pray for me. I am sure I was a total blubbering fool at that point as I don’t remember much of what was said, but I know she cried and prayed with me.<br /><br />So a few minutes later I arrived home and took a pregnancy test. Sure enough, as I thought, it was positive. I just didn’t know what to do or think or feel in that moment. It was one of those worst case scenarios/hoping for something better moments. I called the OB back and he told me to go to the Emergency Room. So I gathered up the boys (Madison was in Florida) and Rick and we all headed to the ER. </div><div><br />By this time the cramping and bleeding had become quite severe. I was an emotional wreck and there was very little they could do at the hospital to make anything better. They drew some blood to check my hormone levels. They measured at 2700, which basically meant that they could not tell me anything I didn’t already know. Hospital policy dictates that they cannot do an ultrasound until your HcG levels reach 3000 so there was no way of knowing if the baby had implanted in the wrong place, was viable at all, or if a miscarriage was inevitable. As I walked out of the ER, a nurse said, “Congratulations” as she handed me my take-home instructions for impending miscarriage. It was like a total slap in the face and to be honest I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to ask her what in the world she was thinking telling me congratulations when my baby was dying. I wanted to tell her she was the most insensitive person I had ever met. But I didn’t say any of those things. We just went home in a cloud of confusion and despair, with no more answers than we had come in with.<br /><br />Over the next two days the bleeding slowly faded and I assumed that the miscarriage was complete. Let me back up a little bit here and say that we have travelled this road before. In 2004 we buried our second baby, lost in my first trimester. All of those emotions and questions came flooding back in an instant when we realized we were losing another baby. I remember asking God why? You know, that question that we all ask when tragedy strikes, that we rarely receive answers for. I remember being so angry and telling God, very matter of factly, that I absolutely, unequivocally could not do this again. Yet here we were. </div><div><br />I was instructed by my OB’s office to come in that following Tuesday so that they could repeat the blood draw to be sure that my hormone levels had returned to normal. This would help them to determine if I had retained any of the tissue and if I would need surgery. I told my doctor’s nurse that the nurse at the ER had told me “congratulations”. I asked her to be straight with me. I just wanted someone to give me the odds that this was actually a viable pregnancy. She said with the amount of bleeding I had and with the cramping, probably not. Oddly enough, I took some comfort in her words. At this point I just wanted it to be over with and I so desperately wanted someone to tell me the truth so I could stop hoping for something I could never have and I could begin the recovery process. </div><div><br />Late Tuesday afternoon that same nurse called me and said, “Your numbers went up.” She said she didn’t know what that meant except that I was still pregnant and that I needed to come in so they could verify that it wasn’t an ectopic pregnancy. I still had been bleeding this whole time so of course now I feared that next worst-case scenario-an ectopic that would lead to surgery that would damage my chances to ever have children again. </div><div><br />On Wednesday morning, with much anxiety and fear, we stepped into the OB’s office for an ultrasound. Lo and behold, as soon as she turned on the machine, what did we see but a tiny little heart beat? This was totally unbelievable to me. The baby was right where he was supposed to be and was measuring right at 6 weeks. That meant that when I took that pregnancy test before it was a false negative. We had gotten pregnant our first try. </div><div><br />The ultrasound technician noted a spot in behind the placenta that was causing the bleed. The official diagnosis was that of a “subchorionic hematoma”. Basically, that meant that the placenta was having trouble attaching completely and that there was a bleed in behind it. I went home with instructions for modified bed rest­-no lifting, no exercising, limited activity. She could have chained me to my bed and I couldn’t have been more elated. The tech also remarked that it was a good thing that they had not done an ultrasound in the ER because they would have only seen an empty sac with no heartbeat. The baby’s heart had probably just started beating that very day. If they had done the ultrasound they may have recommended a D&C to remove the rest of the fetal tissue. Oh my, God is good!!! </div><div><br />So, true to form, I came home that night and did lots and lots of internet research on subchorionic hematomas. I realized that we were not completely out of the woods. Many people with these kinds of bleeds go on to have other issues later in their pregnancy, such as placental abruption-where the placenta detaches prematurely from the wall of the uterus-a life-threatening condition for both mom and baby. Another common problem is pre-term labor. </div><div><br />So over the course of the next week, as my fear and worry got the better of me I placed numerous calls to my OB’s office asking questions about this and that. And while they were gracious each time to answer all my questions, the nurse finally said, “You know, we just need to focus on getting you out of the first trimester. We can’t do anything about any of those other things yet.” I realized she was right and I started to relax…a little. </div><div><br />Unfortunately, on August 30, at Chuck E Cheese of all places, where we were celebrating my daughter’s birthday, again I started to feel like not everything was right. It started off slow, but before too long I was having cramps so bad I could barely stand. I was determined to make it through the birthday party but when we got home I immediately got in bed. I was crying from so much pain but I was having no bleeding or anything. However, some part of me just knew it was only a matter of time. This was it: we were losing the baby for sure this time. </div><div><br />As I was lying in bed, and Rick was struggling to find a way to help me and the kids were getting more and more concerned about Mommy, I felt myself start to bleed again. But I was completely paralyzed-there was so much blood I could feel it coming out in huge clumps and gushes. I couldn’t even get to the bathroom. Finally, after several minutes I made it there and was completely devastated by what I saw. I was passing clots the size of my fist. I just cried and cried to Rick that we were losing our baby. I have never been so scared in my whole life. </div><div><br />Finally, I have no idea how, I got myself composed enough to call the OB who of course instructed us to head to the ER. First we met my in-laws who took the kids for us for the night and then we headed to the ER. We debated this decision because we knew if we were miscarrying that they could do nothing for us. But the next day was Madison’s birthday and I didn’t want to remember that day forever as the day we learned our baby had died, so we went to the ER. </div><div><br />Once at the ER they ran all the usual tests and did all the usual exams. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, the ultrasound tech came in. There in plain sight was our little baby’s heartbeat, beating stronger than ever.</div><div><br />We were utterly and completely shocked. Our baby was still hanging on! His growth was perfect. He was beautiful. But we still weren’t out of the woods. We knew the chances of our baby’s survival at this point were very slim-the hematoma was growing and the cramping and bleeding weren’t showing any signs of slowing down. My OB’s office wasn’t giving us a whole lot of hope. They even told me I couldn’t stand up in my sister’s wedding, which was scheduled for September 9…in Las Vegas. After much crying and pleading on my part, my OB relented, giving me strict instructions to go to the wedding and come back, no walking, no sight-seeing, nothing! </div><div><br />Over the next couple of months, I continued to bleed. It was a scary time. During this time, I had to learn to trust more, even though it is never my first inclination to do so. God was asking me to trust Him. It is a hard time in a pregnancy anyway-that time before you feel the reassurance of daily movement and sweet little flutters in your belly, before your belly has grown big enough that you are confident of the new life developing within you. It was a time of complete and utter trust in God. Not even so much trust that everything would work out, or the baby and I would be okay-but trust that this whole time God knew what He was doing, and that no matter what happened He was holding me. </div><div><br />Then at around 16 weeks of pregnancy I started to feel this new little life within me. I could hardly believe it. I treasured every movement. I am sure there were plenty of times standing in line at the grocery store, or waiting on Madison at the gym or sitting in church that I just sat there with a silly grin on my face feeling the miracle of life and looking like a complete fool.</div><div><br />Three weeks later another ultrasound confirmed that the truly amazing had indeed happened…a miracle in my own life. My SON (this was the point at which we found out it was indeed ANOTHER boy) was perfectly healthy, as was his placenta which gave absolutely no indication of ever having a problem to begin with. </div><div><br />I have to say, that although I believe in miracles, I never really thought one would happen to me. I always thought that was just something that happened to other people, never really anyone I knew. I had heard the stories though, and of course believed in the miracles described in the Bible, but they always seemed so far removed from my everyday life. I had prayed for miracles before, only to have my prayers go unanswered (or not answered the way I wanted). Of course, I prayed for a miracle for our baby but never really thought I would get one. We had thoroughly prepared ourselves to bury another child. </div><div><br />But a miracle he is. The rest of my pregnancy had its ups and downs and gave me plenty of more opportunities to learn to trust. I never truly settled in and felt completely comfortable that I would deliver a healthy baby boy. There was always the question in the back of my mind, up to the moment they pulled him out, is he really okay? Did God really intend for us to have this child? </div><div><br />Yet despite all my doubt and lack of trust here sits my son, Ethan Richard, whose name means strength. Not only has he proved himself strong over and over, the journey we have had with him has afforded us many opportunities to grow and strengthen our faith and trust in our faithful God. </div><div> </div><div>I cannot explain how Ethan is here or why God chose to give him to us and not our other baby. I cannot explain why God allows some women to endure untold pain through infertility and pregnancy loss, and yet others get to hold their babies safely in their arms. All I know is that our God is a God who still works miracles, who is still on the throne and who is forever faithful in ALL things. God gives and God takes away and His name will forever be praised.<br />Happy 1 month birthday Ethan!</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-29906783619576659292009-03-03T05:30:00.000-08:002009-03-03T05:58:02.126-08:00The GraduatesSome of you may know, and some of you may not, that Rick and I have been taking a class at a local church for the last 13 weeks. The class was <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/">Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University </a>and last night we celebrated our official graduation. God is so good!<br /><br />Over the course of the last three months we have paid off about $1500 in debt, including one of my student loans and our furniture. We have our van and one other student loan to pay off and we will be DEBT FREE!!! Well, with the exception of our mortgage. Though the average family pays that off as well in 6 to 7 years.<br /><br />We have also been able to build up our savings, save for things we need (like a new car), pay cash for everything and basically just change the way we think about money in general.<br /><br />We were not in horrible financial shape to begin with. We have no credit card debt-we don't even have a credit card. But I was always worried about money. Frantic even. I know, big shock, seeing as though I tend to be fearful about many things. But one thing is for sure, I was not walking in faith in regards to our finances and it was taking its toll physically, emotionally and spiritually.<br /><br />There were two things that came out of the class that I had not anticipated which are just absolutely amazing to me. Being in the class has given us many, many opportunities to share with people in less fortunate circumstances, but also with those who don't know Christ. I can't tell you the number of times I have been asked in the grocery store about my envelope system. God has really opened the doors for seeds to be planted where I never would have imagined. I am so glad He has a better and bigger imagination that I do. Only makes me wish we had taken this class years ago.<br /><br />The second change the I did not anticipate was how it has radically altered our marriage. Most of you who know us would probably say we are a pretty solid couple, and we are. But I had no idea how much the tension over financial issues was eroding our communication. It is amazing what happens when you get on the same page. I wasn't even aware it was happening until it changed. And while it was hard to go through this together, we are all the stronger because of it.<br /><br />So I can say with confidence that God is SO good! If you're not sure about that, talk to me, please, so I can share more with you about this journey He has had us on for the last couple of years.<br /><br />Also, if you want any more information about the class, please let me know. I would be glad to give you more information and help you get into one yourself. Trust me, you will never regret it.<br /><br />The class is not just for those who struggle financially. Like I said, I thought we were doing pretty good. We don't make big bucks but for a family on one income, paying all of our bills on time and no credit card debt-well, that is just about unheard of in America (so sad, another post for another day). But, it changed our lives and continues to change our lives every day as we relate with each other and manage our money (GOD'S money) in a godly and biblical way. And it is so much fun-who would have thought? Anyway, whether you are a single mom struggling to make ends meet, or you make six figures year, trust me your life will not be the same after you take this course.<br /><br />Giving God all the praise and glory!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-54706354699806827882009-03-02T04:37:00.000-08:002009-03-02T05:41:55.122-08:00ConsecratedI have always been fascinated by the idea that God has a special name for each of us.<br /><br />"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." (Revelation 2.17)<br /><br />Throughout the Scriptures God places a significant emphasis on a person's name, indeed on His own name. A person's name is demonstrative of his or her character, who God has created them to be. God's name is synonymous with His character. God uses many names for Himself, all which highlight a different aspect of who He is.<br /><br />Repeatedly, throughout the Bible, being obedient to His name or submitted to His name means nothing less than being submitted to Him. Examples of this can be found in both the Old and New Testaments, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=5&verse=43&version=31&context=verse">here</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=29&chapter=12&verse=4&version=31&context=verse">here</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=40&chapter=4&verse=5&version=31&context=verse">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=17&verse=11&version=31&context=verse">here</a>-just to list a few. In fact, in doing a simple search of the word "name", you will find it used over 900 times throughout the Old and New Testaments.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago our <a href="http://troyhochstetler.wordpress.com/">pastor</a>, preached a sermon about Jesus' calling of the first disciples. He talked about how Jesus called Simon, whose named <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">referred</span> to a reed, being tossed about and blown in the wind-unable to withstand the storms of life. Yet, Jesus renamed Simon. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=48&chapter=3&verse=16&version=31&context=verse">He called him Peter</a>, which means rock. Jesus gave Peter a name which was wholly different from his given name. It was significant and demonstrated the kind of man Peter would be. Sure he had his mishaps along the way (which is why identify with him the most, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lol</span>), but Peter became one of the most powerful and effective <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">evangelists</span> of all time. ROCK!<br /><br />There are many other stories like this one where God changes the name of a person in the Scriptures. The name always describes something significant about that person or about an event in their lives. The name always reveals something about the character of the person.<br /><br />I like to think the name God has chosen for us does the same. I have often let my mind daydream about what it will be like when I hear Jesus call me by the name He has chosen for me. What will it reveal about me? I imagine that it will be the most wonderfully intimate and private moment with my Savior. I imagine it as a perfect name, one which when I hear it I nod my head and say "yeah" and become overwhelmed at the way God sees me, at who I really am. I imagine it is beautiful. I pray that it reveals my character to be that of a woman who was set apart to her God, a woman who followed her God passionately and devotedly, a woman who dedicated her life to service of her Savior.<br /><br />This year I decided I wanted to read through the entire Bible. Right now my Old Testament readings come from Leviticus. Yeah, fun stuff. Leviticus is full of the ceremonial laws and ancient Jewish customs that are mostly no longer practiced today. To be honest, it's kinda boring. And there are some things in there that when I read them I wonder, "what was God thinking?" But not today. Here is what I read today:<br /><br />" 'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20. 7-8)<br /><br />A few years ago, I discovered that my name means "consecrated". I just love that. I often fall short of what my name means, but for some reason it gives me so much hope. I am not sure at what point in my life I became fascinated with this idea of names and their significance but I think it has to do with this discovery.<br /><br />I looked up "consecrate" in the dictionary and here is what I found:<br /><br />verb (used with object)<br />1. to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity: to consecrate a new church building.<br />2. to devote or dedicate to some purpose: a life consecrated to science.<br /><br />Just the thought of that sends chills down my spine. How beautiful would it be if I lived up to the meaning of my name? I pray for nothing less than that.<br /><br />Jesus, consecrate me unto you today. I want to live for you. I know I will fail and mess up, like Peter did, but Lord I want to show you that you were right when you called me "consecrated". Help me to love you above all else.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-21401767658748364642008-11-22T20:23:00.000-08:002008-11-22T20:59:26.225-08:00Birthday Boy!Okay, I know I said my next post would be more of the Bible Study I am working on but I had to post this. As many of you know, our sweet baby boy celebrated his first birthday on November 2. I can hardly believe it has been a year. I am delayed in posting this because I wanted to wait until my sister sent me the pictures from his party so I could share them with you. I hope you enjoy! Happy Birthday Baby Boy! <blockquote></blockquote>(I am sorry-I tried to get the pictures in a proper order and either I am too tired or my computer is intentionally frustrating me and I can not figure it out-at any rate-I am sure you will enjoy my little darlings!)<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP1DKTZld_n5u5Cu5OoAH44mfw5Zp1kIoto0ATatP0GcHm17xSR-cpt3L93mBN3pHXvPMEeIcjEA34RoAVMJm2Nf2R3BufP4kL-NguZtkg17UbocCRqgtSBKMmKvri3rRispcTYoXO3YP/s1600-h/DSCF0647.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271709805640374722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP1DKTZld_n5u5Cu5OoAH44mfw5Zp1kIoto0ATatP0GcHm17xSR-cpt3L93mBN3pHXvPMEeIcjEA34RoAVMJm2Nf2R3BufP4kL-NguZtkg17UbocCRqgtSBKMmKvri3rRispcTYoXO3YP/s320/DSCF0647.jpg" border="0" /></a> My three musketeers</div><div align="center">(This was supposed to be the last picture-</div><div align="center">this is after the party when Brady was actually cleaned of all of the cake mess)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-UHRQ8AXCqdgD8cqCxqBk_2BmZl7h54p9mLzSFoVLFlBJ0q8uLJjP7oYu_qr0rVD0a782hR56Kf1I7FbodkmB4dqDTtcFDoNuHlGf4EzmFNCtmL0daN6AbRNiwiaqsrmLVO_gefPUg4S/s1600-h/DSCF0638.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271709802935595474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-UHRQ8AXCqdgD8cqCxqBk_2BmZl7h54p9mLzSFoVLFlBJ0q8uLJjP7oYu_qr0rVD0a782hR56Kf1I7FbodkmB4dqDTtcFDoNuHlGf4EzmFNCtmL0daN6AbRNiwiaqsrmLVO_gefPUg4S/s320/DSCF0638.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is the aftermath<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiry6eZxnXE_-TxwD0UILQyg_LvLiXrTTO-9RYN8F7D9gy1xGVy7juE2M5SemLlvSdGL7IrOd19GWhMf-9uc8-DRhsVu20MCQmdfX1yRf12Phhk1OhgpGvCDJc4dKQrxT6kdQwgR-qGVUb/s1600-h/DSCF0637.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271708317412311890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiry6eZxnXE_-TxwD0UILQyg_LvLiXrTTO-9RYN8F7D9gy1xGVy7juE2M5SemLlvSdGL7IrOd19GWhMf-9uc8-DRhsVu20MCQmdfX1yRf12Phhk1OhgpGvCDJc4dKQrxT6kdQwgR-qGVUb/s320/DSCF0637.jpg" border="0" /></a>He's thinking, "I can't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">believe</span> Mommy is letting me do this...shhh...don't anyone tell her, she might come and spoil my fun!"<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEdrwyfMDySlXnW05yrT9hcBdfKTKRiQjBQSILHpVe9R028SfiI7i07QTOulU4yL3BSH5rN-_P1QIqR3p1WZpQOqLYdr477HWmSUdiyCFnBBR7wNO9eNe_ptMPEJ8sQisXxv4oP33lOt0/s1600-h/DSCF0632.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271708311756859074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEdrwyfMDySlXnW05yrT9hcBdfKTKRiQjBQSILHpVe9R028SfiI7i07QTOulU4yL3BSH5rN-_P1QIqR3p1WZpQOqLYdr477HWmSUdiyCFnBBR7wNO9eNe_ptMPEJ8sQisXxv4oP33lOt0/s320/DSCF0632.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mmmmm</span>...cake</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAiCBmJFM3j_QcO_QI7pUJtGjwyY60cvZfXReBR5N3tOYTPSuSZB0_SIYr2_hFDa8v9FIlpVF78QgDDInTNHk1i29Zz9mMHbSOLSKXhdXjmQD7GXeOYL-lvYpoM0TPZqSYu-tpPDuoxF4/s1600-h/DSCF0628.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271708307546362098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAiCBmJFM3j_QcO_QI7pUJtGjwyY60cvZfXReBR5N3tOYTPSuSZB0_SIYr2_hFDa8v9FIlpVF78QgDDInTNHk1i29Zz9mMHbSOLSKXhdXjmQD7GXeOYL-lvYpoM0TPZqSYu-tpPDuoxF4/s320/DSCF0628.jpg" border="0" /></a>See what a good sharer I am? Want some Sissy?<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271708303926242306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF6DyMwI19ahaaBoZoXIi5udInYo7piGygxLmC5wh2vkbB6KF9Irk9H3Yq3cUvFPOUVgYnu0J7Kxcgx6d65RtB5eTC_ju5T-pM0Z6GMI-QiwIN8-6eMUTcQLrjRHaDhijc-EJ1mY1juWU/s320/DSCF0624.jpg" border="0" /><br />Showing off!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrc7c0IBm0rkdu_u7jAOo4lYWamn_e9iKWOOPLiRTmUU7QP2XQaGzh9Nvrqt44IAV-sNMMhyphenhyphenj8lcC9sAm1wpYoV19OrBfo3iBkUnEAd55LKF52MUudO-rGxuln4zE9JgoDQfZB7CS8X_r/s1600-h/DSCF0623.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271708300671347298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrc7c0IBm0rkdu_u7jAOo4lYWamn_e9iKWOOPLiRTmUU7QP2XQaGzh9Nvrqt44IAV-sNMMhyphenhyphenj8lcC9sAm1wpYoV19OrBfo3iBkUnEAd55LKF52MUudO-rGxuln4zE9JgoDQfZB7CS8X_r/s320/DSCF0623.jpg" border="0" /></a>The face plant<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271706203953599730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 354px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhua3GZvLBZJ3iXxnSTuZYYF_m8PfiqdmlFntkEkVKofN6yxm2yabNLSD3OaOwvRcqtPdooU8ItlpAQDfDWq-fmagetIGBvhTiYnk0Qr_XLbR1iCJr-ymNCZSm9pgOaYIClvMQBy2TBm/s320/DSCF0605.jpg" border="0" />Prezzie time!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmJruTbfJiK5q8DAaDH8tf99imBChY6W2Lb0O55OJmGa_ZYiHcaE074HNA9lxjwE-ew-FOPY0NADVyFC5CMJM9m_WaquTmCyjn6SEQ5_XSPlJGKtPAqSVZUeeTI0zMa4G10erocuB6ggI/s1600-h/DSCF0607.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271706200647352290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmJruTbfJiK5q8DAaDH8tf99imBChY6W2Lb0O55OJmGa_ZYiHcaE074HNA9lxjwE-ew-FOPY0NADVyFC5CMJM9m_WaquTmCyjn6SEQ5_XSPlJGKtPAqSVZUeeTI0zMa4G10erocuB6ggI/s320/DSCF0607.jpg" border="0" /></a>Does it get any cuter than this?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4nV6f5Jv0n772fDd5tookY0bqG8COJwNBsuSsKvZwBFojK2bZfwZrqGuLQAQVho1iJTlIBqPTPmAI88xqkHgSSZ8tTrcZmljDDsOXyXiNQ2kM-iszAPYni75vs8QSorKn9W2BPwMwCFq/s1600-h/DSCF0592.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271706196982075170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4nV6f5Jv0n772fDd5tookY0bqG8COJwNBsuSsKvZwBFojK2bZfwZrqGuLQAQVho1iJTlIBqPTPmAI88xqkHgSSZ8tTrcZmljDDsOXyXiNQ2kM-iszAPYni75vs8QSorKn9W2BPwMwCFq/s320/DSCF0592.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hmmm</span>, I really like this box-what a cool present!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl4-zYMcqgvJr0cwUtFIBf5Je6aGHObI2LI995jbURcYKmx93c4Fiw1dBnVtwHO9v9Fp3XA2s8gj5r5CIUW8_PXR8EnNsAAh23_sVzn-9PHQwL5zR10hFh9ENyRq-OiYR23DoEvO-mDSk/s1600-h/DSCF0578.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271706189955766930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl4-zYMcqgvJr0cwUtFIBf5Je6aGHObI2LI995jbURcYKmx93c4Fiw1dBnVtwHO9v9Fp3XA2s8gj5r5CIUW8_PXR8EnNsAAh23_sVzn-9PHQwL5zR10hFh9ENyRq-OiYR23DoEvO-mDSk/s320/DSCF0578.jpg" border="0" /></a> Brady and "Uncle" Shannon (my sister's fiance)</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWke81sT2oPWE296R3u3YSRGqQoyngQ3VsQdFLl8o3mfthuwDSBut_1B4yDVgg6L_yqyAg0cMoNBp99TGXEjPryTwHFxEb6waHFBKKSpgHm9DWpIhn7pULCJ38BV7aauJ8CnhXbOcqAjH/s1600-h/DSCF0581.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271706186189173234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWke81sT2oPWE296R3u3YSRGqQoyngQ3VsQdFLl8o3mfthuwDSBut_1B4yDVgg6L_yqyAg0cMoNBp99TGXEjPryTwHFxEb6waHFBKKSpgHm9DWpIhn7pULCJ38BV7aauJ8CnhXbOcqAjH/s320/DSCF0581.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our sweet Birthday Boy!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-808877080107721932008-10-15T04:43:00.000-07:002008-10-15T05:45:48.645-07:00My One True DesireI have made a commitment to God, my husband, my family and myself that I wasn't going to go through this study quickly. I am going to take it slow, chew on it, meditate on it, apply it. I want to be real about it. I don't want to say I am going to do something about it and then just stuff in the back corner of my mind for "someday". I want it to be my heart beat that I am to first submit my heart to Christ and die daily, and secondly submit willingly to my husband and serve my family.<br /><br />Because of that, I am still stuck on the introduction. I'll probably be there for a month! But I have to tell myself that is okay. I am one of those types of people who loves to make lists. And I love even more to mark things off of my list. I guess it gives me a some sense of control and accomplishment. But I don't want to add this study to my to-do list. I want it to BE my to-do list. I want my life to be about this one thing. I know that may sound extreme, but really I am a control freak who needs to let go.<br /><br />One thing Sunny said in the introduction was to pray for the Holy Spirit's pruning in your life. But you know, I am like just about every other American Christian I know. I like to be comfortable. It doesn't feel good to go deeper because most of the time I don't like what is there and it hurts. I mean, really, really hurts.<br /><br />My childhood was not the happiest of childhoods and I had huge resentment issues with my parents. I ran away from home on several occasions, was kicked out on probably even more occasions, lived with my grandparents for a time and on and on. It was rocky to say the least. But all of that led me to run away for good when I went to college. I just wanted to get away, far away. Little did I know it was that very decision that would bring me back home.<br /><br />While at college I became a Christian after reading a required reading assignment from one of my classes. The reading assignment was Ephesians. You can read more about it <a href="http://theepsteenchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/09/you-are-near.html">here.</a> But when I became a Christian I made a deal with God. No, actually it was more than that. I told God what I was NOT going to do. I told Him I was not going to forgive my father. Well, I bet you can guess what God thought of me telling Him what I was going to do (there's that control thing again, rearing it's ugly head).<br /><br />Little by little, God began to work on my heart. He began to show me who my father was, where he had come from, the hurts he had endured. He opened my heart and eyes to the fact that he was just a single dad trying to do right by me the best way he knew how. Yes, those hurts I experienced were very real, but God took the sting away. And after a couple of years, I finally let all of that go. I mean I really let it go. Sometimes I share things with people if it gives them hope, but the hurt is just not there anymore.<br /><br />I share all of this to tell another story. Even though I had forgiven my dad we still fought like crazy when we were together. It is true, we just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. I had just come to the conclusion that I would have to keep putting my heart out there and keep forgiving. I really felt that was what God was asking me to do.<br /><br />A couple of summers ago my dad and I got into this huge fight. He was here in town and I stormed out, (I am good at running away) taking my kids with me. Rick stayed behind to try to talk to my dad. He was defending me. As I stood outside of the door to my grandparent's house listening to them talk my dad had some not very kind words to say about me to my husband. Oh my, did those words sting. My dad said I was using my kids against him by taking them away and that I was being manipulative. He said he feared for my marriage because of the way I acted sometimes. You know why those words were so incredibly hurtful? Because they were true.<br /><br />It took me all of about five minutes after we left to realize it and to say to Rick, "I can't just let this go." You see, I come from a family of yellers and I am a reformed yeller myself. It was amazing to me when I met Rick and his family that they didn't scream at each other. He helped to see something better. But my family would fight and scream and yell daily, and then act as if nothing ever happened. But I would hold onto these things on the inside and tear myself up. But this time was different. I decided to put a stop to all of that.<br /><br />In an unprecedented move, I put down my pride, picked up the phone and called my dad. I told him that his words hurt, that I was an adult and I didn't appreciate being screamed at like that. I have always been very sensitive and for the first time I tried to make him understand how the yelling just hurt. Why couldn't we just talk like normal people? I am not an unreasonable person and usually if someone points out something I did wrong in a gentle way I listen and take it to heart. And I was in the wrong for sure. And you know what my dad said? He said, "I'm sorry". Those are two words I have never heard him say before.<br /><br />He also said other things. We talked about some of the things that had happened in our past. You see, I had never told him I had forgiven him because I didn't think it was necessary. It was just a work that God had done in my heart and I just loved my dad. All of it was water under the bridge to me. It had been 12 years in the past when some of this stuff had happened. But Dad says to me, "But it's still right here for me, Lisa." Wow. That just broke my heart. I finally saw the forgiveness I needed. And you know what I said? I said, "I'm sorry." I had said it before, but it was different for some reason. I meant it before but I guess I never realized how much I had hurt him. I was a different person back then. That is not an excuse but I guess I figured since Jesus forgave me, then it was taken care of.<br /><br />My dad said one more thing before he hung up. He said "I love you Lisa." Those were words rarely heard as well. And you know what? We have not had one single fight since that day. God has done something truly amazing. He has opened doors that I considered sealed shut. I had lost hope and faith that things could ever be right.<br /><br />I share all of this because this is the awesome power of God at work in my life. And I know this is what happens when I submit. But it is so hard. There is so much unspoken hurt that comes to the surface when you allow him access to every little corner of your heart. But there is healing on the other side. And oh how beautiful that is. You walk through fire to get there, but you realize that the fire is what brought the healing. That is God's purifying work in the heart of one who lets go.<br /><div align="center">Deuteronomy 4: 35-36</div><div align="center">35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; </div><div align="center">besides him there is no other. </div><div align="center">36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. </div><div align="center">On earth he showed you his great fire, </div><div align="center">and you heard his words from out of the fire. <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Here is a quote Sunny shares with us in the introduction: <blockquote></blockquote></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;">Fran Sciacca:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#663366;">"A major distinction exists between the ancient marble-crafters and the God of eternity, however. They worked with lifeless stone, and what emerged was the product of their own skill and choice. But God depends upon us to hold His chisel and welcome the blows of His tools. A necessary cooperation exists between the Master and His work. We must submit to become what He so faithfully wills to form. Becoming like Jesus Christ must be at the center of our understanding of what it means to be a child of God on this side of eternity. And like the artisans of old, God's methods necessitate pain, the removal of what we might rely upon, and great amounts of time and patience....There's much within each of us that would implore the Master to quit the work, to let us be content as an unfinished piece. We are frail people living in formidable times. Pain, difficulty, suffering, loss, and rejection are regarded as enemies in our postmodern world. But in the hands of a loving Father, afflictions and difficulties are meant to be the agents of glorious change for those who submit to the work of the Master's hand."</span></div><br /><div align="left">I am not saying that I have mastered this by any means. This is just one example in my life. Too often I am way too prideful and caught up in myself and my own selfish desires to see what I really need. And that is for Him to prune me. So here is my prayer today:</div><br /><div align="center">Holy Spirit, prune me, refine me, shape me. Help me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind more and more into the likeness of my Savior. Allow me to submit my heart to your discipline, so I may share in your holiness and righteousness. May my life bear the fruit of your work in my heart. Make this my one true desire. Amen.</div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-40439268655755885092008-10-14T05:54:00.001-07:002008-10-14T18:06:18.472-07:00Coincidence?...I think notWow, two times in as many days. I know you are all amazed!<br /><br />Well, I jumped in, with both feet, to that new Bible Study today. You know the one. The "S" word, remember?<br /><br />Anyway, today's homework from the introduction to the study has to do with writing some thoughts on a couple of verses Sunny posted, but before I do that I have to back up to yesterday.<br /><br />One of the things I have committed to doing in order to fully commit to this study is to get up earlier. I did not want the time I spent studying to interfere with my pre-designated family time. While, I realize that ultimately, what I am doing here, has the potential to have an eternal impact on my family and hopefully many generations after me, I know my family needs me fully present at certain times of the day-so earlier rising seemed the best option.<br /><br />I have to say that 6 am rolls around awfully early for me. But I have made a commitment to an hour a day and I need to be up before Rick and the kids in order to accomplish that. So anyway, I get up yesterday, fairly awake, ready to go. I was seriously pumped. And so I started journaling.<br /><br />Journaling is something I LOVE to do. Yes, even at 6 am. I wrote out this prayer to God: "Lord, be with me. Search my heart and see me. See if there is anything undesirable there. Make my desire for you. Help me to fight and defeat the schemes of the enemy, who seeks to keep me in the pit. But even there you are. Help me to bring honor and glory to you in my role as wife and mother. You are my King. Amen"<br /><br />I realized, starting this study, that in order to biblically submit to my dear husband, I had to submit to my dear Lord. I shared in my last post about how incredibly difficult this is for me. Look up "strong-willed" in the dictionary and there you will see my picture. So, that was my prayer to start this journey. Nothing fancy or deeply theological about it. Just an admittance of my great need for help.<br /><br />From that prayer this thought has been stuck in my head since yesterday morning. "Search my heart Lord." Sometimes I like to memorize little portions of Scripture and keep repeating them to myself throughout the day when my thoughts get off track. For example, when I was overwhelmed with the busyness that is the life of a homeschooler, and I FINALLY recognized that I had lost my focus, I would repeat this to myself. When I got impatient with the kids, there it was again. When I was tempted to argue with my husband...yep, you guessed it, there again. Now don't get the wrong impression. I am not this super-spiritual person who knows all this Scripture and goes around quoting it all day long. No, it is TOTALLY and COMPLETELY the power of the Holy Spirit. God's Word says that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is%2055.11&version=31">it will not return void</a>. What a beautiful truth that is.<br /><br />I just love it when that happens-when God brings to mind a certain Scripture throughout the day. I will say, that I have learned the hard way, that I should probably listen. (Yeah, my picture is next to hard-headed too). I think that is probably why God feels the need to repeat Himself. And honestly, I never cease to be amazed.<br /><br />Have you ever read a Scripture during morning devotions and then had the opportunity to speak about it with a friend later? Have you ever thought of a song and then find it playing on the radio as soon as you turn it on? Have you ever had a sermon on a particular passage of Scripture and then you go home and you have en e-mail that talks about it as well? That happens to me ALL the time.<br /><br />Coincidence?...I think not! (Not that I believe in them anyway).<br /><br />We have been studying the life of Joseph in our Bible lessons at home. And lo and behold, what do you think the pre-schoolers did for a craft and story a couple of weeks ago. Joseph! Our pastor talked about a <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/ziggurat">"ziggurat"</a> during a service where Madison was with us and that very week one of our assignments was to make one. Talk about experiencing the Word!<br /><br />Coincidences?...well, you know what I am going to say.<br /><br />Anyway, imagine my surprise this morning as one of the Scriptures Sunny wanted us to comment on was this:<br /><div align="center"><br />Psalm 139:23-24 </div><div align="center">23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; </div><div align="center">test me and know my anxious thoughts. </div><div align="center">24 See if there is any offensive way in me, </div><div align="center">and lead me in the way everlasting.</div><br />The exact same Scripture that had been going over and over in my mind yesterday! How cool is that?<br /><br />Coincidence?...oh no, it's a God-thing!<br /><br />I am not sure exactly how to answer Sunny's question about how these verses have impacted me and my family. But I can't wait to find out! So these verses have become my prayer for the week and for this study. I know that without some serious self-confrontation that I will not willingly submit my heart to my Lord and to my husband. Instead, I will continue to do what I have always done-look out for my own good, fight to get my way. (Stubborn-that's my picture too.) I want God to expose my sin and discipline me in His righteousness. I want to be God's girl.<br /><br />Incidentally, here is the second passage we were asked to comment on:<br /><div align="center"><br />Psalm 19:14<br />14 May the words of my mouth </div><div align="center">and the meditation of my heart </div><div align="center">be pleasing in your sight, </div><div align="center">O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.</div><br />I am adding that to my prayer. I love this verse because it is basically saying, I want to glorify you in all I do. When you say the "words of my mouth" (the things you speak) and "meditations of my heart" (the things you think)-that pretty much covers it all. In all I do, I want to please my Lord-even if that means not being pleased myself. I want to put aside myself-strong-will, hard-headedness, stubborness-all of it. I choose to lay it all down for my Lord. After all, look what He laid down for me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSdV2OGoQ7ck4lcKD602n8wXEKxGNkJnFEJwD-URGxwTrLH4aFOuiDJea0vY0KAr-xiSeHFQF21sD7_5Bwd4ypny2nXk3EQI4gstdmzTttccKEBSy6YOYCAO2iPllgGQyaeUPg_R2PhC8/s1600-h/passion08_cross_jesus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257040360058990978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSdV2OGoQ7ck4lcKD602n8wXEKxGNkJnFEJwD-URGxwTrLH4aFOuiDJea0vY0KAr-xiSeHFQF21sD7_5Bwd4ypny2nXk3EQI4gstdmzTttccKEBSy6YOYCAO2iPllgGQyaeUPg_R2PhC8/s320/passion08_cross_jesus.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:0;"><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791985385461820909.post-69932813238176143142008-10-13T04:58:00.000-07:002008-10-13T05:41:29.292-07:00Biblical SubmissionNow there's a title that will grab your attention! <blockquote></blockquote><br />You know what I am talking about, right ladies? That one word in the Scriptures, that many of us, if we were truly honest with ourselves, would rather it not be there. BUT, you know what? It is, so we have to deal with it. We can try to explain it away. We can pretend it only applied in a certain time. It certainly isn't for us "liberated" women is it?<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />Sorry, sistas! WRONG-O! Life will not get easier if you just ignore this one little word. So I have decided not to.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />(By the way, for all of you guys who read the blog, don't stop reading, remember <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%205.21&version=31">you are to be submissive as well.)</a> <blockquote></blockquote><br />I used to teach a ladies' Bible Study at my church. In just about every study I did, this word would come up. I always wondered why it was such a stumbling block. Part of it has to do with our culture I think, and the lies Satan would have us believe about who we are supposed to be as women. We don't have to take nothin' from nobody, right? Don't tell me you haven't thought it. I have actually had a strong Christian woman tell me that Paul was a chauvinist for what he wrote about women. Part of it has to do with our own sin nature, whose roots we can trace all the way back to the Garden. We just don't wanna!<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />I can't tell you how much this perspective breaks my heart. And let me tell you, if there was once a woman with more of a rebellious, independent spirit than me I would be amazed. So I am not speaking as one who does not understand. I do. I know. I have bucked every authority God has placed in my life. My father, my pastor, my government, my husband and my God. I have been there and I am here to say it isn't pretty.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />The purpose of this first post on this topic, however, is to guide you to the study I am doing. There is a link on the left side of our blog or you can find it <a href="http://biblicalsubmission.blogspot.com/">here.</a> The study is being led by a sweet sister in Christ with a passion for directing people, women in particular, to the Word of God and to living lives in passionate devotion and service to Him (at least that is my impression).<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />But she also tends to be a bit of a slave-driver. Just kidding Sunny! Actually there is homework that goes along with every lesson and one of the assignments is posting an entry on our personal blog about what we are learning and how we are growing as we are journeying (is that a word?) to become biblically submissive women.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />So my first assignment is to write a little about myself, how I came to find the blog and why I want to do the study. Is this not the coolest? This is Bible Study the 21st century way (but the message is the same), connected with women around the globe. I mean, is that just not so neat? Who gets opportunities like that on a daily basis, to join hearts and prayers with sisters on the other side of the world, and right next door? Very powerful stuff, but I digress. (Shocking I know).<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />My name is Lisa. I am an almost 31 year old woman (Yikes!). My wonderful husband is Rick, God's gift to me. We have been married for nearly 8 years and together for about 11. This, in itself, is a miracle. Just ask my dad. I was raised by a single dad and he will tell you that I am an extremely difficult person to live with. You might call me high maintenance. While motherhood has mellowed some of that out of me, my husband does not have it easy. A sad truth? Rumor has it that people were placing bets at our reception on how long our marriage would last. An even sadder reality? I think we have beaten them all! Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy and for a most patient, loyal, faithful and loving husband. Love you sweetie! It's been a wild ride but there is no one I would rather share it with.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />I am also a mother of three. We have a 6 year old daughter, a 3 year old son and our second son will be one in less than a month (yikes!). And just to answer the question everyone always asks, yes there will be more little Epsteens. I am a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom. So that pretty much sums up my life.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />I am a former Director of Women's Ministries for <a href="http://www.lafayettenaz.org/">my church</a>. (Be patient with the website, it's under construction). I share this part of my life not to toot my own horn, but to show how God has been working in my life recently. I LOVE women's ministries. My background is in biblical counseling and I love speaking to, encouraging and teaching women. It is one of my greatest passions. However, as the demands on my schedule have increased with homeschooling and other responsibilities I started to realize that my family was getting my leftovers. Don't get me wrong, I loved my ministry and my church. But after much prayer and seeking the guidance of my husband I realized I had to step down. This was such a hard decision to make, but I have recently come to realize that my primary biblical responsibility and ministry is to my family. Even more important is maybe the realization that that is okay. We stay-at-home moms often struggle to find significance in what we do. But I cannot sacrifice my family for my church. And I know my church does not expect me to. I was very nervous as I turned in my resignation but the outpouring of love and support I received from my church body was overwhelming to say the least.<br /><blockquote></blockquote><br />So my family is my ministry. Husband first, kids second. I cannot really remember how I came to find the study but when I did I knew I wanted to do it, that I needed to do it. I ask that you, our faithful blog-readers, and you, the ladies participating in the study, join me in prayer as I seek to remain faithful to my commitment to complete this study. My deepest hope, sincerest desire and most lofty prayer is that I can become more and more like the One who saved me from my desperate life of sin and bring glory to Him in all that I do. Dirty laundry, poopy diapers and all.<br /><br />And if you feel so led, won't you consider joining me on this study? If you do, leave me a comment so I can encourage you and be in prayer for you.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08130423275018373500noreply@blogger.com7