Foundations

Paleo Pregnancy- Food

2012-01-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

The first installment in our series is the most important part- food!

I chose not to title this post "Paleo Pregnancy- Diet" because really, it is not a diet. It is more like an anti-diet. As my sister-in-law has marvelling lately: "I am not even hungry!" (And she has lost 6 pounds in 10 days!).

There are many websites that can accurately explain the nuances of paleo eating. But first and foremost, just for NetRaptor, we shall start with a definition:

"In simple terms the paleo diet is built from modern foods that (to the best of our ability) emulate the foods available to our pre-agricultural ancestors: Meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and nuts. On the flip-side we see an omission of grains, legumes and dairy". -Robb Wolf, robbwolf.com

There is not a lot to it.

If you have ever thought you would like to cut back on sugar and processed foods, this is a great lifestyle to adopt. If you have never thought you should cut back on sugar and processed foods, please stop reading. It is not my intent to make you feel bad. :)

One can do plenty of research to understand the science of health and disease and how food can either positively or negatively impact the body, both immediately and long-term. But most people don't really care about all of that. They just want to feel better, lose weight, and be healthy.

So here is how you do it:

Stop eating sugar.
Stop eating vegetable oils.
Stop eating processed foods (anything that comes with its own wrapper).

And follow our definition. Consume only "Meat, fish, fowl, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and nuts".

But, you may say, What about (x)? How can I give up (x)? And is (x) really that bad for me?

If you have to ask, the answer is probably: Get rid of it.

That is the beauty of eating this way. I don't count points. I don't even count calories. I just eat real, whole, unprocessed foods.

So how does this affect the pregnant mama?

I did months of research to find out. This is my fourth child and fifth pregnancy in 6 years! The outward effects of such wear and tear are definitely visible, and I was sure there were many things inside my body that were being affected as well. I wanted to make sure my baby was getting the very, very best nutrition that I could afford to give him. I wanted my to treat my own poor body as well as possible, building it back up instead of depleting it of its last resources.

I subjected you to a few posts on Dr. Cate Shanahan's Deep Nutrition, and this book served as the springboard into my research. She shows how poor nutrition now can affect one's body in the short term (e.g.- elevated blood sugar, sugar "crashes") and the long-term (diabetes, cancer). She also shows how a poor diet during pregnancy can negatively affect a growing fetus, and how that same poor diet will have lasting implications throughout the child's entire lifespan.

I came away with the understanding that I should try to follow these basic rules:

Stop eating sugar.
Stop eating vegetable oils.
Stop eating processed foods (anything that comes with its own wrapper).

It was a slow transition, and I don't perfectly follow these rules all of the time. But by drastically cutting back on my consumption of these "empty foods" and filling my body with whole, real food, I can tell a huge difference in how my body feels. I pray that this baby will be the healthiest of the bunch. I have high hopes, but only time will tell.

So how are some practical ways this plays out?

Instead of the USDA's recommended "fortified cereal with skim milk" for breakfast, I eat three eggs fried in organic butter and an apple.

Instead of the "fortified whole-grain bread" with peanut butter and jelly for lunch, I have a whole avocado, some organic roast beef lunchmeat, a few whole carrots, and an orange.

Our dinners look similar to the way they have always looked, but I just don't eat the bread. If I serve brown rice, I will occasionally only eat a few tablespoons with an equal amount of butter. Hee hee. Really. But for the most part, I eat a big serving of good protein, a big vegetable salad with a simple olive oil-balsamic-dijon dressing, and a roasted vegetable with lots of butter.

I am pretty sure that I eat between 2500-3000 calories a day, much more than the recommended 2300/ day for pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. But I have gained half the weight I usually do. I feel clear-headed and not as hormonal or emotional as I usually do during pregnancy. We will see if I struggle with the terrible insomnia I had after Roman, but my sleep even this late in pregnancy is deep, restful, and solid (oh, praise God!).

There truly are an abundance of resources online if you want to research this any further. I figured out that my nutrient/vitamin/mineral profile has far exceeded what it has in pregnancies past, just by changing my diet. I know now that I need good fats in order for my body to synthesize the vitamins it gets through fruits and vegetables. I am certain that I am lacking nothing nutritionally by cutting out breads, cereals, crackers, rice, oats, and the like.

From personal anecdotal experience and through plenty of reading, my conclusion is that this is a very healthy way to eat while pregnant and for the rest of my life. Meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is easy. It is inexpensive. It is do-able if you just decide to do it :) Your body and your baby will be all the better for it.

I will be posting more specific meal plans and recipes in the future, but my next two posts will be on an exercise plan during a paleo pregnancy and supplements during a paleo pregnancy.

Here are some resources if you want to poke around:

What is the Paleo Diet?

What are Some Recipes to Get Me Started?

What Are Some Real-Life Stories I Can Read?

Crawling Out From Under the Rock

2012-01-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

There are a few reasons I have not really felt like blogging lately, but I think I am ready to post. I am sure my posts won't be very regular, but I really do miss writing about things. And having a reason to upload my pictures to the darn computer.

Here is what is going on over in our little family...

- Less than a month to go until baby gets here

- Lots of sickness coming and going in the house

- School going well for Jackson

- I took a leave of absence from BSF leadership until after the baby. We still attend class, though.

- Reading and researching a lot of paleo/primal nutrition and creating a family framework

- Figuring out how to wisely deal with transitioning from disciplining/ teaching an older child for attitude instead of disobedience

Whew. While the blog has been quiet, we have been busy.

Of course, the two things that take a lot of my attention are preparing for baby and researching nutrition for my family.

This pregnancy, I have incorporated a whole new nutritional platform and I have seen the benefits so clearly during the last nine months. Are you familiar with the paleo/primal way of eating? I was not, really, so I got as much information as I could via books and my favorite, Google. How I love reading blogs :)

While in pregnancies past, I have struggled with nausea, excessive weight gain, a foggy head, carpal tunnel syndrome, achy legs, and insomnia, with this pregnancy, all of these problems have been lessened or removed. This is not to say I am scooting through an entire pregnancy as a smiling earth mama. There are hard days. But truly, it has been the easiest pregnancy so far.

God is gracious, and knew I could not handle another difficult pregnancy. But additionally, I was led toward this school of nutritional thought.

I hope to post a few specifics of what I have incorporated, just to share with you. Not everyone loves this kind of stuff like I do, but I hope that a few ideas can help mamas that are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

I plan to write a short, probably boring, series on Paleo Pregnancy.

Since pregnancy is such a large chunk of many of our lives, after all. ;)

Until then. Whenever that may be!

Christmas

2011-12-28T08:54:00.000-08:00

How was your Christmas? Ours was lovely. I thought I would not like having Christmas on a Sunday, but it was perfect. We saw my parents on Christmas Eve and drove to Northridge to visit family on Christmas Day. We saw Beau's parents the Monday before Christmas, and got to celebrate with all of the cousins on Thursday. That is a lot of Christmas! In the best sort of way.

My camera ended up falling apart completely, so I have very few pictures. But my sister got me a new little point and shoot, so I am waiting for my memory card, and then I can start taking pictures again!

33 weeks pregnant and feeling unmotivated to blog or do much of anything extra. He will be here so soon! We can't wait to meet him!

2011-12-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of switching all of my automatic bill pay accounts from Bank of America (boo!) to JP Morgan Chase (yay!). We are leaving random fees and poor customer service for the promised land of drive-through tellers and personal bankers that cater to the little guys.

Since I have used automatic bill pay for over 5 years, I don't have any paperwork anymore for any of the accounts. So I had to call each one of my institutions to get all of my information. Yuck.

PGE wait time: 18 minutes after automated answer

US Post office wait time: 16 minutes after automated answer

ADT alarm company: 7 minutes after automated answer

Bakersfield Californian: 13 minutes after automated answer

Barron's Financial Newspaper wait time: 47 minutes total after automated answer! I called three separate times and got hung up on by the system twice.

Oooooooooh. I stomp my feet in frustration.

Yes, I have learned my lesson to file all account information, no matter how much time has passed.

And that is just a sampling of the day. During the wait time, I got to input all of my new account information into my computer, set up the new budget, bake 6 dozen sugar cookies, make lunch, and get a new mattress delivered.

I was a little grumpy at the end of the day.

So when I went to go iron Beau's two new work shirts from Land's End at 9:45, I saw that the company had embroidered his initials on the pocket instead of the cuff. (I am not sure anyone wants to walk around with their initials put forth first thing.) So I gave up, packed the shirts away, and got ready for bed.

I dreaded making another customer service call this morning. I called Land's End after breakfast. To my great delight, the phone was answered by a real person after the first ring. The nice lady transferred me immediately to a nice man, who claimed the mistake was the company's fault (!) and told me they would immediately embroider and ship two new shirts. I could return the old ones at no cost to me.

Wow. If I wasn't before, I am a dedicated Land's End customer for life. I feel refreshed.

Sugar-Free Homemade Peppermint Mocha

2011-11-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Have you tried this yet? A Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. Oh. Baby.

But a $5.00 drink is not in the budget, even once a week. And this drink is so delicious, I set out to find a homemade suitable replacement. Can I share with you?
Start with this. I used the "subscribe and save" option on Amazon and have had enough decaf coffee to last this whole pregnancy. The organic label means that it does not have any of the 43 chemicals that regular coffee tends to have.

I measure out 16 oz. of boiling water and add two heaping teaspoonfuls of the coffee.

Add this. It is cheapest on Amazon. $3.99 gets you a whole bottle. You would pay $15.00 for this at the local health food store. I squeeze probably 20 whole drops into my coffee base.

Then add a heaping tablespoon of Trader Joe's unsweetened cocoa powder.
Next, add a generous serving of heavy cream. I like the organic cream from Trader Joe's. Milk just can't compare to a good heavy cream.

Then, either stir or use a frother to blend it all together. I cannot wait to wake up on freezing cold morning to drink one of these. Yummy!

Posting Time

2011-11-29T15:37:00.001-08:00

I am trying to keep up with everything.

Unfortunately, blogging falls into the "would like to do" category.

This a different category than "must do", like laundry, cooking, carpools, and frantically reupholstering furniture.

I have been keeping up with your blogs, sneaking away for a few minutes with my iPad. What did I do before that thing? I can check my email in the closet and read my favorite blogs in the garage!

What have we been up to?

We had a lovely Thanksgiving at home with family.

We went to Disneyland.The only pictures I got were of the children before we went into the park.And this picture, which is my sweet nearly-two-year-old's reaction to seeing the Big Thunder Mountain train whoosh by us for the first time. We got to eat at the fabled Club 33 for lunch! The food was amazing. It was special to be treated like royalty at Disneyland for no reason at all! My dad works for Bank of America, and after filling out some paperwork and waiting for a few months, he got our whole family in to this piece of Disneyana!This weird thing is happening to my stomach. It is growing and growing. This is one of the three official belly pictures I have from this pregnancy. The poor dear baby is quite neglected already.

I have been trying to mentally prepare for this new baby boy amidst the chaos that is the rest of our lives. I see God's hand protecting and covering and providing for me and my family in so many different ways. I was reminded this week that Christ is our appointed great High Priest who actually walked this earth. He was tempted in every way we are, yet He did not sin. And when His work was done on the cross, He said, "It is finished". That promise of provision has been one that I have been clinging to lately. He knows our weaknesses, sympathizes with them, and still loves us! Amazing. I want to prepare my mother's heart (re-prepare) in the same way.

Love to all in blogland. I miss you.

Daniel Boone Photography Shoot

2011-11-17T20:32:00.000-08:00

All Images Courtesy of Daniel Boone Photography

I can't believe that Daniel Boone and his lovely assistant were able to get our whole little family to stay still enough to capture a few good pictures.

They are a magical team.
We shot out at Cal State Bakersfield on a lovely November afternoon.
The kids
got a little crazy.
But our photographers were able to reign everybody back in.

Almost everybody. (Jackson Brooks, I am talking to you.)
7 months pregnant. Getting closer. At least our family pictures are out of the way and Christmas cards are in the works. How I love the fall and its holidays!

Message me if you need information about how to get amazing family pictures. We wholeheartedly endorse our photographer!

Fall Pictures

2011-11-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Patch
Before a classmate's Toy Story 3 on Ice Birthday Party
Halloween!
Trick or treating at both sets of grandparents' houses.
That is my dad. Yup.
More pumpkin patch.

It is windy and about to rain. These are my favorite days...they are so precious when one lives in the high and dry desert. Tea, sewing, and my favorite 5 year old's school holiday... it will be a lovely day.

Happy Friday!

Fruitless Addition

2011-11-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

Jesus + nothing = salvation.

Do you believe this?

Can you allow yourself to believe it?

I forget frequently.

I think:

Jesus + obedient children = salvation

Jesus + traditional sauerkraut = salvation

Jesus + a clean house = salvation

Jesus + eradication of this sin = salvation

Anyone know what I mean?

As a mother, wife, woman, and human, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my own inadequacy. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my own awesomeness as well...different sides of the same coin.

Three separate times this week, the Lord has reminded me that I bring nothing to the table. Try as I might, I am not good enough. Thank God. It would be a pretty poor offering. Additionally, I am not bad enough either. I can neither earn nor dis-earn my salvation.

Wow. What a relief.

No one can.

Good news: Christ already did it for me. He was tempted in every way I am, yet He never sinned. Where I yell, He is patient. Where I am bitter, He is loving. Where I fall short, He is victorious.

And therefore, I am victorious.

God is able to see the veil of Christ's perfection covering the ugliness of my shortcomings. To meditate on that, instead of ME, is so freeing.

Are you feeling similarly? Is there some area of your life that you can't control, try as you might?

Let it go. You will never be perfect. But there is One who was, is, and will be. And all you have to do is trust Him to do what He says He will do.

Jesus + nothing = salvation.

Whew.

Traditional Sauerkraut

2011-11-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

Would you like to start eating more "traditionally?" Are you confused as to where to start?

How about here? Sauerkraut.

Making sauerkraut is simplicity itself. You can even do it with little children. They love messy projects, and this can turn into a messy project. A fun, messy project.

Additionally, organic cabbage is quite cheap. I got two heads for under two dollars at Lassen's. You can make sauerkraut with red or white cabbage.

Supplies needed:

1-2 medium heads of cabbage
Sea Salt
Filtered Water
Homemade Whey
Shredded Carrots (optional)
Extra-Large Mason Jar

1. Use a large knife to shred the cabbage. Have your little ones stuff the shreds into the mason jar. If you want, shred some carrots into the mix. I added a few shreds at the very end for flavor.

2. Pound the cabbage down to release the juices. I do not have a mallet, so I used the wrong end of my large knife sharpener.

3. Pour 1/2 cup of homemade whey over the cabbage. Fill the rest of the jar with filtered water, just enough to cover the top of the mix. You want to be sure to cover the cabbage completely, as the process is anaerobic- if oxygen gets into the cabbage mixture, your batch may be ruined.

4. Add a heaping tablespoon of sea salt.
5. Loosely cover the jar with cheesecloth, secure with a rubber band, and set out in a fairly warm place to begin fermenting. After three days, put a jar lid on and move to the refrigerator. The good bacteria that will begin multiplying are very useful for repopulating your digestive tract with beneficial substances. Modern diets, toxins, and antibiotics wipe out these "pro-biotics", but you can easily reintroduce them into your body for less than $2!

I eat two or three spoonfuls a day straight out of the jar, but you can add your sauerkraut to hamburgers, stews, soups, and the like! Let me know if you have any questions.

Here is the only belly picture I have from the last few weeks. I am 26 weeks pregnant and growing!

PS- Homemade whey is also very easy to make. Buy a container of full-fat yogurt, dump it into a large, fine sieve and set it over a larger bowl, one that liquids can easily drain into. Leave it straining overnight. In the morning, you will have whey in your bowl, and the most delicious cream cheese you have ever tasted in your sieve!

Preschool Part 2

2011-10-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

Now that our eldest is in regular school, I haven't given up our "homeschool". I get more time to sit with Rebecca and teach her, one on one (on one, in my lap).

Jackson's progress has been amazing, and we are so grateful for Mrs. Sandoval and the program that Stockdale Christian uses. He is at the top reading table and in three short months, has progressed far beyond what I had labored to teach him for two years!

I have learned that I was not teaching reading correctly. I started with letters, then moved on to sounds, then had Jackson sound out each individual letter. I tried to have him smoosh the sounds together quickly. I hoped words would eventually come out. They did, but it was a long and difficult process.

His kindergarten program focuses on phonics and family sounds, like "at" or "ig". If he knows what a "b" says, he can more easily blend these sounds together to make words!

So, I have rethought my approach with Rebecca. She knows 90% of her letter sounds (sometimes B and D or I and L are confusing, but we will get there!) Instead of focusing on individual sounds only, I have started her on letter blends. I am interested to see whether she becomes a fluent reader more quickly than my guinea pig.

I have also simplified our homeschool this year. I am not worrying about math and science and art books. We just read a lot. I am focused on building a sturdy reading foundation, and then we will begin to branch out. I have observed that Jackson's class spends most of the day reading and writing. They read and write numbers as well, and they do other things, but all of his homework and "Station" work focuses on literacy.

So I am doing the same thing.

What am I using?
We read this Bible each morning. We have gone through the Jesus Storybook Bible, cover to cover, probably six times over the last few years, and so it is nice to have a new way of presenting Scripture. As my friend recently pointed out, "Wow! This Bible has a lot of words!". It does, but the stories are short and pointed. And the illustrations are vivid and beautiful. We can do basic art appreciation by observing the pictures and asking questions.We also use this book three morning a week. This has been great for phonics. Right now, we are sounding out words, focusing on word families at the end of the words.

After we finish the bookwork, we get out the Ipad for some real fun! This app can be found here, and is a very simple and straightforward way to reinforce sounds and blends. The letters all make their sounds when you touch them. I have Rebecca say, "A says.." and then have her touch the "A". After we run through all of the letters, we move onto the page where we build words in word families.

We are able to consistently do school two to three times a week, and that seems to be enough for now. I am enjoying the blessing of being able to teach Rebecca without Jackson being here. I can focus more on her strengths and weaknesses, and we have a lot of fun together.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-25T07:55:00.001-07:00

Going to the pumpkin patch with a school is very different than simply taking one's children on one's own schedule.

But we still had so much fun. Little siblings were not allowed to come, which ended up to be a Very Good Idea. Jackson and I got a whole morning to chat and spend time together.
I got to meet some of his friends and his friends' parents.
My mother is a public school teacher and says that her district has cut out all field trips. It made me appreciate our outing all the more. And we got the most perfect pumpkin!

Now for a return trip with the whole family, hopefully tonight. Happy Halloween!

Two Boys

2011-10-07T16:59:00.001-07:00

One of these boys is not even born yet. But here is his first picture. Well, his first picture in which you can tell he is a human.

To God's glory, he looks healthy. It is always nerve-wracking to go into the 20-week ultrasound. I am aware of the fact that God holds all of the control and I have none, and still I get anxious to see if that new baby is going to be healthy or not.

He is not named. If things are similar to the way they usually are, he will not be named until after we hold him for the first time. 19 weeks away!

Here is the other boy. This is his first school picture. Kindergarten, August 2011 at Stockdale Christian School. My goodness. The photographer got him to smile. He looks so big. And handsome. He is progressing in reading faster than I have been able to do and he is slowly making new little friends. It is a strange and familiar and big and small new world, but we are all hesitantly enjoying it. Today was Inflatable Day, and the little ones and I got to go meet him at school to watch him play in his hard-earned bounce house. He saw me and lit up, then ran away to join his classmates. Ah, heartbreak. Is this what growing up is like? At the end of the hour, he did hug me with tear-filled eyes, not wanting us to leave. Definitely growing up. Do I want to be independent? Do I want the familiarity of family? Luckily, these choices are small right now, but they are choices I know that I eventually need him to reconcile all by himself.

My heart swells to be a mother. I am assured all the more as the years pass by that this is the highest calling for a woman. I can't imagine anything better, more fulfilling, more stretching. I am grateful for the gift of one more little one to pass the slow days with. God is so good.

Fall Fair 2011

2011-09-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

I love all things fall. You already know this. One of the harbingers of my favorite season is the fair. (The other is apple picking, which I will post about soon!)

It is always hot when we go to the fair, and for some reason, I always seem to be pregnant. Or nursing. Or something.

But part of the magic of going to the fair is going with little kids! I ached for Jackson to be there with us this year, but little kids must grow up. And kindergarten is more important than the fair, for now.

We got a good hour and a half to pet some animals, eat a corndog and cotton candy, and play with friends.

Okay, October. We are ready for you now. Feel free to dance in with breezy days and falling temperatures. At your leisure, of course.

Camping 2011

2011-09-25T17:10:00.001-07:00

"How can we raise good kids?" we asked our favorite parents.

They did not hesitate.

"Go camping. A lot".

Luckily for us, they are gracious enough to invite us on their family camping trips.

They have raised four amazing children, and we hope our kids turn out just a little bit like theirs. Camping, they say, is beneficial in many ways. Something always goes wrong...you must be flexible...dirt is good for the body and the soul...being disconnected helps families come closer together...

Even though it was a short trip, we enjoyed ourselves so very much! The camp food was delicious, and the fellowship left us wanting for nothing. It is a blessing to have two seasoned parents and one amazing "camp counselor" love on us and our children for two whole days. Thank you, Stevens. :)

Deep Nutrition- Part 5

2011-09-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

Ladies! Who would like to talk about cellulite?

Me neither, especially with my growing baby body.

But let's do it anyways, shall we? It is absolutely fascinating.

Why do some people develop cellulite and some people don't? Why does it crop up on strange places on the body? After I had Roman, I decided I would try some P90X yoga to ease back into exercise. Imagine how motivated I became when whilst in downward dog, I had a close-up of the cellulite on the front of my legs! Not just my thighs, mind you- my shins. How the hell did that get there?

Allow Dr. Shanahan to teach us:

Our skin is generally collagen-rich. Right under our skin lies three layers of fat- we all have them, no matter what we look like. These fatty layers contain very little collagen. In people with cellulite, the fat in the layer right under the surface of the skin produces pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. (my synopsis).

"This weakens the collagen in the skin, literally melting it away to create thin spots in the skin and allowing the fat sitting below it to extrude upward, filling the defects. The resulting fingers of fat cause the skin to dimple, giving cellulite its lumpy, cottage cheese appearance."

How cool is that? I love the picture of what is physically happening inside our bodies. Doesn't it make sense when she lays it out?

The silver lining to the cloud is that you can't work out hard enough to get rid of your cellulite. Huzzah! You can start incorporating traditional, nutrient-dense foods into your diet, though. And you can quit the cytokine-producing process of consuming sugar and vegetable oils.

While there are no guarantees that pesky shin-cellulite won't pay me another visit quite soon, it has not bothered to come knocking just yet. This pregnancy, I eat plenty of eggs, butter, cream-top milk, meat, raw cheese, and bone broths. I have been limiting my sugar and vegetable oils. It is not hard to do when I am eating all of this delicious, satisfying real food. But I did make a chocolate pie for company on Friday night, and you can be assured I licked that spatula clean. But I didn't feel like taking taste after taste..after taste... 80/20, right?

I think pregnancy deserves more like 70/30, but that's just me.

What do you think? Would you rather spend two hours exercising each day or would you rather eat a steak with buttered mushrooms? Or maybe you don't give a rip about cellulite. In that case, my apologies. :)

2011-09-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

"It's a weenie, Mom!", exclaimed the nice-of-her-to-be-excited-for-us ultrasound tech.

And it was.

So there you have it.

Baby Boy Woodward, coming February, 2012.

Deep Nutrition- Part 4

2011-09-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

Odds are, you are a civilized, modern global citizen. You and I both probably do not know firsthand the lifestyle of a "third world" citizen. We have refrigerators and freezers and access to a grocery store.

My brain is not big enough to think beyond this paradigm all by myself. But let me share with you more information from Dr. Shanahan.

We will enter the book right after she gives an account of her friend Eduardo, who traveled to Africa and was a guest of the Maasai tribe. (The Maasai are an African tribe whose diet is composed mainly of raw milk, meat, and the blood of cattle.) Eduardo had been offered a still-beating goat heart. For dinner.

Disclaimer: No way, ever, would I ever, ever eat a still-beating goat heart. Not even if I were surrounded by five dozen large men clad in loincloths. Never. But it is an interesting story with a great application.

"The Maasai represent one of the rare surviving intact and functional indigenous cultures. These societies are, in essence, windows into our past. Reading accounts of travelers who have spent time among people like the Maasai, one could get the impression that as far as human health in concerned, once upon a time really existed. In the good old days, people enjoyed an almost idyllic physiological prosperity. This prosperity was earned, in large part, by the maintenance of an intimate relationship between themselves and the land, their animals, and the edible plans that rounded out their diets. As a result of this intimacy, they talked about food differently than we do. To us food is primarily a fuel, a source of energy, and sometimes a source of guilty pleasure. To people who remain connected to their culinary origins, food is so much more. It is part of their religion and their identity...

...As startled as Eduardo was when invited to take his share of a still-beating goat heart, he might have been more unnerved had they started talking about the total number of calories in their meal, the percentage of their daily intake of protein, carbs, and fat, and the benefits of eating fiber. Such reductionist terminology would have been out of step with the way the Maasai see the world. No matter where you live, talking about-and then envisioning-food in such arbitrary categories is bad for your health.

Of course, here in the US, we talk about food that way all the time. These days, very few of us participate in any deeply rooted culinary traditions...Like everything else, foodspeak has to meet the requirements of a sound bite culture and is limited to grunting imperatives such as 'eat your veggies', 'watch your carbs', and 'avoid saturated fat'. Having lost the old ways of talking about food, we have also lost the physiologic prosperity that once endowed us with the gift of perfectly proportionate growth. Orwell warned that the 'acceptance of newspeak is no small matter' it can ultimately convince us to trade liberty for totalitarianism. So what have we lost be accepting the reductionists' foodspeak?"

On and off during my life, almost every meal I ate was run through the mental gamut of calories, fat, protein, and the like. What a slavish practice! I was actually recently praying that God would free me from the bondage of...caring. What a waste of time and mental energy.

Since I have tried to incorporate more nourishing, traditional ways of eating into my life, I just eat good food until I am full. It is simple. Pregnancy is still a bit of a dance for me, but I feel peaceful about eating good fats and real food. I feel nourished. I hope little Woodward feels the same. If God made it, I eat it. If some man in a white suit and latex gloves synthesized it, I leave it alone.

Has this little snippet influenced the way you will think about food? Would you ever eat a fresh, hot goat heart? ;)

Deep Nutrition- Part 3

2011-09-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have read so many different books and articles on traditional nutrition that I have come to distrust the medical community as a whole. I am not proud of this, and my husband thinks I am a loon for my viewpoints. However, after working for a major pharmaceutical company and doing nutritional research for years, I cannot take any other stance on the matter. I believe most mainstream medical professionals are driven by profit because they have to be! Insurance companies, lawsuits, and drug-happy patients are all working against their presumably original desire to simply heal people. And this is not a hard and fast rule that applies to all doctors, I just think it is a general rule that has contributed to the sickening of the American people.

So let me share with you one medical professional's views on the subject:

"Doctors get their information from researchers. Researchers can only do research when they can get grant funding. These days, grants come from industry or special interest groups, and tend to support either the use of expensive medications and technology, or a demand for more medical coverage for one of many speical interest groups. I didn't know research had to fall into one of these two categories to be funded until Luke and I took a plane trip to California to meet with researchers at UCLA and UCSF. There, I met with over a dozen doctors and PhDs to bring up the possibility that there might be an obvious, though currently overlooked, relationship between modern food and disease.

The trip was a real eye-opener. These researchers held fast to the idea that their primary directive was improving human health. But it soon became clear that their more immediate goal, by virtue of the realities of economics, was the acquisition of grant funds, necessitating never-ending compromises between the exigencies of financing and the integrity of the science. I learned from an epidemiologist that various agricultural interests funded most of his research in nutrition, and out of financial necessity, he was directed toward the promotion of the largest crops: fruits. As an epidemiologist, he was unaware that excess fruit consumption leads to health problems due to the high sugar-to-nutrient ratio in fruit. And he was surprised when a collegue pointed out that she'd found, after advising her patients to eat the recommended three to six servings of fruit a day, that doing so raised their triglycerides to unhealthy levels.

Hoping to drive home the point that our bodies demand more nutrition than we can get from fruit, vegetables, grains, and low-fat meat, and hoping to stir up interest in doing more research on nutrition and optimal fetal and facial development, I described the research of a pertinent study. It showed that one in three pregnant women consuming what mainstream research suggests would be a healthy diet nevertheless gave birth to babies with dangerously low levels of vitamin A in their blood. Vitamin A deficiency is associated with eye, skeleton, and organ defects.

The epidemiologist was fascinated but admitted that his reliance on funding from fruit growers bound him to continue producing more and more research just like he'd already produced-showing fruits are "good for us". I learned that neither he nor anyone else at UCLA would likely be able to pursue this new nutritional issue or anything similar because there was no giant industry to support it."

I personally think fruit is healthy- the spectrum of fruit does carry a wide variety of bioavailable nutrients. However, the best way to assimilate these nutrients is to eat the fruit cooked with a bit of butter. Or a lot of butter. The butterfat has a component referred to as "Activator X" (Google this term with the name Weston A. Price to find out more) that allows your body to use more of the vitamins in fruits and vegetables. Have you ever baked an apple with raisins, cinnamon, and butter? Good heavens!

Have you heard this school of thought before? What do you think?

Our Family

2011-08-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

Can you see this picture?

My son hates to draw and color. However, he is very competitive, so apparently the class-wide mandate to draw one's family encouraged him to do just so.

He was very excited to show me when he got home.

"There's Daddy, holding Roman...and me...and you with the baby in your tummy....and Rebecca.

And I thought he never paid attention.

Kindergarten

2011-08-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to title this post eloquently, somehow expressing the deep feelings of joy, anxiety, excitement, nostalgia, heart-hurt, and sadness the first day of school brings.

But I will just call it kindergarten, for that is what it is.
We have been preparing and praying and for this day for so long.
First things first. A haircut! Much better. After homeschooling for two years, we sent our boy out into the new world of formal schooling. I am excited to see him blossom this year. He is my introspective, sensitive child and it will be so good for him to be around other children and the amazing Mrs. Sandoval. There is no way to describe her, really. We are so blessed.

This year will be another year of change and excitement. School, pregnancy, a new baby! God has worked out all the details of our year and I rest in His plan.

Congratulations on making it to kindergarten, Jackson. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for you this year.

Deep Nutrition- 2

2011-08-18T08:16:00.001-07:00

Shanahan has a chapter devoted to a short scientific discourse on beauty. I learned things that I would have never thought about! For instance, if we ate correctly, most women would have the typical feminine hourglass figure, the outward manifestation of inward fertility. It made me think of all of the reproductive problems we have in society. Could so many diseases of affluence be reversed by eating traditional foods?

"Voluptuousness is an indication of healthy female sexual dimorphism, while a lack of voluptuousness indicates a problem. Normally, the hips and bust develop during puberty as a result of a healthy surge in sex hormones. These developments involve expansion of the pelvic bones along with the deposition of fat and glandular tissue within the breasts. But women whose genetics are such that their spines are abnormally short or their hormonal surge less pronounced- or whose diet is such that it interferes with the body's respnse to hormones-end up with boxier figures. If they're thin, they'll end up as bananas. If they put on weight, it gets distributed in a more masculine pattern- in the belly, on the neck, and around the upper arms- and they'll become an apple. Today, after three generations of trans fat consumption (which interferes with hormone expression), and with daily infusions of sugar (which interferes with hormone receptivity), hourglass figures have become something of a rarity. According to a 2005 study commissioned to Alva products, a manufacturer of designers' mannequins, less than ten percent of women today develop the voluptuous curves they're supposed to." (54)

I have never loved my apple shape (getting more "apple-y" by the week, mind you!) but I desire lots and lots of grandchildren, so I want to feed my daughter the best possible food for her own future fertility. Could good food help ensure reproductive health from the inside out? I would like to think so.

As a caveat, the author is not a Christian and believes in evolution, although she references "Intelligence" in the design of the body on a genetic level. I do not believe in evolution, obviously; I know God is sovereign and is the Creator and Sustainer of our bodies.

Deep Nutrition- 1

2011-08-16T14:12:00.001-07:00

Have you heard of this book?

It is, hands down, the best book I have ever read on nutrition.

And I have read many. A vain, shameful amount, really.

The author, Catherine Shanahan, is medical doctor as well as a molecular biologist. She also is very involved in the science of traditional nutrition. That this book is written by someone of such credentials is very important to my husband, who has finally given some credence my mad rants about raw milk and bone broths.

Dr. Shanahan is highly trained and very technical in her understanding of the depth of the role that nutrition plays not only in our bodies, but the bodies of our offspring and so on. Therefore, a good portion of the book reads like (what I assume would be) a molecular biology textbook, but it is worth dissecting and understanding. I want to share a few of the most interesting things with you over the next few weeks. I always have it in the back of my mind that mommies are the first line of both defense and offense in the health of the next generation. I just never realized the extent to which this is true. What we put into our bodies affects us on the genetic level, and while anomalies may not manifest themselves in our own lives presently, be quite assured that a poor diet will negatively impact you in the near future, and your children exponentially more so!

Wow, that was kind of ominous.

There are plenty of easy, affordable ways to care for your "temple". And nothing that has been done cannot be undone, in time.

Will you scan through this book with me?

"You can see evidence of this retraining in laboratory animals. Dr. Randy Jirtle at Duke University studied the effects of nutrient fortification on a breed of mice, called aguouti, known for their yellow color and predisposition for developing severe obesity and subsequent diabetes. Starting with a female agouti raised on ordinary mouse chow, he fed her super-fortified pellets enriched with vitamin B12, folic acid, choline, and betaine and mated her to another agouti male. Instead of the usual, overweight, unhealthy yellow-coat babies she would normally give birth to, she instead bore brown mice that developed normally. You could interpret this study as follows: The agouti breed has regulatory DNA that has essentially been brain damaged by some past traumas in the history of the lineage. As a result, agouti chromosomes, unlike other mice, are typically incapable of building healthy, normal offspring. In this study, researchers were able to rehabilitate the agouti's genome by blasting the sleepy genes with enough nutrients to wake them up, reprogramming their genes for better function.

"This has enormous implications for us, as researchers are finding abnormal regulatory scars all over our genes, records of our ancestors' experiences- even with the weather. Toward the end of WWII, an usually harsh winter combined with a German-imposed food embargo led to death by starvation of some 30,000 people. Those who survived suffered from a range of developmental and adult disorders, including low birth weight, diabetes, coronary artery disease, breast and other cancers. A group of Dutch researchers has associated this exposure with the birth of smaller-than-normal grandchildren. This finding is remarkable as it suggests the effects of a pregnant woman's diet can ripple, at the least, into the next two generations. Unlike the agouti mice, which required massive doses of vitamins, these people would possibly respond well to normal or only slightly above normal levels of nutrients as their genes have been affected only for a short while- just a generation or two (unlike the mice)- meaning it might not take quite so much extra nutrition to wake them up".

It certainly has made me think twice about the food I am putting into this body with baby #4, especially since all of my pregnancies have been in the short period of 5 years. What do you think? Do you know the health your mother was in? Your grandmother?

Sewing Lately

2011-08-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

A minky blanket for baby Mads...
How did that get in there?
A corduroy and cotton blanket for little baby Lily (can you see her name camouflaged by the flower?)
And a sling for baby Emma.

All three little ones coming very soon! Another baby boom. My machine is smoking.

Rebecca in the Rain

2011-08-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Did it rain at your house on Sunday morning?

Our children have been waking up every morning before 7 am. In the winter, when it is darker outside, they will sleep until at least 8. The new wake-up time is seriously cramping my morning routine.

But Sunday morning, we awoke at 8 am to find every child still asleep. Glorious!

Then we looked outside. The sky was covered with clouds!

?

It actually rained twice, for a good minute each time. After the first time, Rebecca ran inside to get her raincoat.
Then it stopped.
Right after this picture, it started again. It has been almost 100 degrees and humid ever since. Yay, Bakersfield!

Vacation Bible School

2011-07-27T13:47:00.001-07:00

...or "GPS", as Jackson refers to it.

This was our first year. I am in love with Vacation Bible School. Having never had a "school" experience, I was a bit nervous to just... drop my kids off? And leave?

Apparently I was not the only nervous one. Poor Jackson was throwing up all Monday morning. I kept him at home. He was fine by 11:30 and we did not have another incident in the house. I think he just really, really did not want to go to school.

Days 2-5 passed quite uneventfully. I relished my one-on-one time with Baby Roman. We had so much fun together, quietly and simply passing the time. That was one reason I love VBS. crazy hat day
Reason 2: The Scripture songs my kids were singing in the car all week made me want to cry. I teach them this stuff and I am not ever certain they are retaining anything. But set it to surf music, and we all knew all the words to every song by Friday. We are still listening to the CD in the car every day. It is funny how the simple truths of Scripture are the most applicable and necessary.

Reason 3: My kids got to go to school with their cousins. Rebecca and Hudson were even in the same class! It was so cute to see those teeny little ones sitting side-by-side in a huge auditorium. I hope they will remember those days for years to come. The cousins; Jackson excited as usual

Reason 4: Saint John's School is three minutes away from my house. What a blessing for a procrastinator like me. I always feel like I can clean one more thing before we leave the house. We were even early a few times!

Reason 5: It was completely free. School, T-Shirt, CD, snacks. All free.

Can't wait for next summer.

The Bird Dog

2011-07-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, I was out in the backyard. My dog Shane was trotting next to me.

Shane darted into the bushes. He sat still for a minute, then pounced. He brought out a bird!
He proudly laid it at my feet. I looked at it, confused, then walked away. I wanted to use a badminton racquet to launch it onto the street, but I waited a few minutes to see what would happen.

Shane picked it back up, gave it a good shake, then started eating it. He ate the whole thing! Feathers and all. I watched him for the entire 30 minutes.

Fascinating. I considered waking the children up to watch, but decided against it.

Ah, the joys of suburbia.

* * *
9 weeks pregnant. I started bleeding last Tuesday and was convinced I had miscarried again. However, I had an ultrasound on Wednesday morning and I got to see the teeny little Woodward, heart beating quickly, very much alive.

Praise God. I didn't want to be pregnant at first. I was kind of mad. I had other plans. But then I began getting excited. Imagine my confusion when I thought I was losing the baby! What in the world is the Lord trying to teach me?

But at this point, everything looks okay. We are on track for a fourth biological child around February 19th.

That seems really, really far away.

Non-Kebabs!

2011-07-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

I went to make kebabs last night for dinner.

I had no skewers! Nuts.

I often get rid of unnecessary things around my house. My dear mother is a pack rat, and an abundance of "stuff" in my living space makes me agitated. However, this practice sometimes backfires.

Like when company is coming for dinner in 45 minutes.

I called my sister-in-law. She had skewers, but she lives 15 minutes away.

I called my dear friend who lives 5 minutes away. She had five skewers.

I called a friend who lives 2 minutes away. She had run into the exact same problem not a week earlier.

That friend and I. Our brains often misfire the same way.

During our conversation and commiseration, I realized I had a grill basket! Covered in pet fur (I have not had a cat for over a year...shame). and dirt, sitting on the side of my refrigerator.

I put that marinated kebab mess in my grill basket in two batches. Success!

Delicious success!

I get the most compliments on my dinners when I have no idea what the hell I am doing.
I wish I had a better picture, but that is it. Marinated in soy sauce, orange muscat vinegar, olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper. Yummy. Bell peppers, mango sausage, sun-dried tomato sausage, pineapple, mushrooms, steak pieces, tomatoes, red onion...

The peanut gallery.
And the quote for the day:

"Christian living is frustrating when we forget Scripture's basic ethical imperative: 'be what you already are'. Our repeated sins lead us to conclude that we are fundamentally unholy, as opposed to righteous in Christ. This often leads us to think that we must simply work harder. Such moralism pushes true sanctification far away, and it breeds discouragement, apathy, and the lowering of God's standards". -Putting Sin to Death (Ligonier.org)

2011-07-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have a funny story for you.

Let's look at a timeline, shall we?

April 28- Foster Care Classes Begin

June 3- Beau Gets a Vasectomy

June 6- Adoption Classes Begin

June 14- Positive Pregnancy Test

June 16- Last Day of Adoption Classes

June 17- Put Adoption Process on Hold. Waaay on Hold.

There you have it, folks. God's ways are not our ways.

Vacation

2011-07-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

We got an Evite in May. An invitation to a 4th of July party! The invite came from friends who live in Santa Barbara, and we thought we would get to travel to the coast for the holiday.

As we read through the invitation, we realized that the party would be in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ha ha. I deleted the Evite.

However, through the magic of frequent flyer miles, babysitters straight from the Lord, and a good month at the office, we were able to go on vacation.

All. By. Ourselves.

We spent two full days exploring Boston. We saw the "Make Way for Ducklings" pond and the swan boats. We took the map from our hotel and set out, with no worries of naps, snacks, or meltdowns.
We toured Paul Revere's house.

And saw the Midnight Ride memorial. Then, onto Cape Cod, the most unreal, idyllic place we could ever ask for. This was one of the views from our room.
The property had two giant homes, right on the Cape.
We kayaked, swam, met new friends, and laid around in the sun.
There was a "kid house" and an "adult house". We were the grateful tenants of the "adult house" during our stay. The families who brought their children all lived within driving distance of Cape Cod.
We spent time at the end of the dock each day, just looking out over the water and enjoying the peace.
The time away with Beau was such a blessing. We were so happy to come back to our happy children and clean home.

2011-06-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Rebecca started dancing today. Her grandmother bought her a leotard, tap shoes, and ballet shoes and signed her up for classes with her cousin, Mattie.
They were so happy to be in class together that I don't think they learned much today. But it was cute, nonetheless. I never took dance lessons and I don't see us doing them long-term, but we both had lots of fun this morning.

Outside

2011-06-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Our beloved church has planned a weekly play date at the park. Mommies and children will meet for the entire summer. When we started in June, the weather was lovely. I even wore pants and a light jacket one morning.
Ha. No more. If you come out, bring suncreen, hats, and plenty of water. The moms are miserable, but the kids have a blast.

Speaking of which, we will meet at the new splash pad, Greystone Park, this Thursday at 9 am.
Come if you can. My mom did :)

It has Beckoned.

2011-06-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

This car has served us well. Beau passed it down to me once we realized that all three of our children did not fit comfortably in the smallish SUV we brought home one day.

Actually, we brought home said SUV while I was still pregnant with Roman. No, we did not look to see if the car seats would fit in "my" new (used) car. No, we will not make that mistake again.

But. Lord willing, we will have a new little baby girl in the coming months. And try as we might, a family of 6 just will not fit in a truck. Therefore, we have been on the lookout for a new car.

We drove this.Mmm hmm.

We drove this.Yup.

I think we were quite convincing at making the poor salesmen believe we were actually interested in these cars. Well, we were actually interested. Until we saw the price tags. So Goldilocks and her Bear slunk off, tails between their legs, to drive this:

And saints be praised! We loved it.

We lit a candle and wistfully waved goodbye to the last vestiges of coolness we thought we carried. No, we did not do that.

He loved the price tag. I loved the space-age awesomeness of the center control station and the dual DVD players.

I was once one of those girls who scoffed at the huge SUV's and minivans, tooling about at night, DVD players ablaze with brain-cell-destroying waves of entertainment.

No more. Why have one when I could have two? Yes please. Will it guarantee me twice the peace and quiet? Can I have sound-proof glass behind the driver's seat?

Methinks if it could be done in a vehicle, the van would have it.

So in due time, we will make it our own. We will miss the truck, but we have good friends that will be lovingly making the truck their own. We are happy about this. We hope they are too.

If you see me, wave.

I will wave back, because I am no longer too cool to wave.

Heavenly Marriage: Part 4

2011-06-09T13:08:00.000-07:00

I am still reading this book- savoring it slowly during my quiet times, praying about it and trying to apply it to my life. We are only on part IV, and I feel like there is so much more to share. Hopefully, we make it through together ;)

Three Kinds of Men

Ms. Pearl and her daughter co-wrote Chapter 8- "Wisdom to Understand Your Man". You may or may not agree with her assessment that there are just three types of man, and all men should fall within this scope, but I will share with you the summary of their ideas. Onwards!

1. Mr. Command Man-
This husband is a born leader. He will often be in a place of authority, and he generally desires that his wife support this authority. He needs his wife to honor and reverence him daily.

"A woman married to a Command Man wears a heavier yoke than most women, but it can be a very rewarding yoke. In a way, her walk as his help meet is easier because there is never any possibility of her being in control. There are no gray areas; she always knows exactly what is required of her, therefore she has a calm sense of safety and rest".

2. Mr. Visionary-
Your man is a "mover, shaker, and dreamer". He is neither stagnant nor dull. His ideas and plans may work out, but they may not. He loves to have a patient wife who will listen to his every idea.

"Every Mr. Visionary needs a good, wise, prudent, stable wife who has a positive outlook on life...The wife of Mr. Visionary should be just a little bit reckless and blind in one eye if she is going to enjoy the ride. If this is your man, you need to learn two very important things (beyond how to make an appeal). Learn how to be flexible, and learn how to always be loyal to your man. You will be amazed at how much happier you will be and how much fun life can be if you learn to just go with the flow- his flow. Life will become an adventure."

3. Mr. Steady-
This man is not extreme. He is a behind-the-scenes worker, diligent. You can always count on him to do what he says he will do, because he makes steady, wise decisions.

"He will selflessly fight wars that Mr. Visionary start and Mr. Command Man lead...Your husband's gentleness if not a weakness; it is his strength. Your husband's hesitation is not indecision; it is cautious wisdom."

Most men are a combination of these three. Even with a careful examination and diagnosis of your man as one of these three, the message is the same: seek to be a student of your husband and address his needs, strengths, and weaknesses before he has to beg you to do so. Any one of these three men can be "praised in the gates" if he has a wife who honors, respects, values, and loves him.

My own husband is a combination of "Mr. Command Man" and "Mr. Steady". I would encourage you to read Chapter 8 for an in-depth study of these three types of men, along with the Scripture that supports it.

Heavenly Marriage: Part 3

2011-06-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

We all know one.

"By the time many women are entering their fortieth year, they are teetering on the edge of mental instability. They have spent several years of their life irritated at their husbands, daily feeling hurt and responding with coldness and bitterness. Instead of practicing being thankful and merry, they are practicing bitterness...
"In the course of time, as her edginess and moodiness grow, she realized that she can no longer control her nervousness. One day her "nerves" snap and she loses control, screaming like a crazy woman and calling loved ones terrible names...
"The disturbed woman expects her family to appease her and is offended when they act like life is just fine. God is visiting her soul with a terrible rot called madness. First, she is only mad at her husband. Years pass and she is mad at the family. As time goes on, she is mad at the church. Then she is mad at the mailman and the waitress. Practicing, always practicing, perfecting her madness. Mad, all the time mad. Madness." (62-63).

Well. That is quite the sobering picture. I told you, this book draws a line in the sand. Either you love it or you hate it.

I am thankful that I am getting to read it as a young wife. This "madness" temptation is a constant source of struggle for me, and I doubt I am alone. It is easy to fall into the trap of feeling hurt, ignored, disrespected, or discounted. Just because I feel that way does not mean it is true! Most times, it is not true at all. And the practicing of madness really does become insanity- living in a reality that is not there.

One thing I learned through trial, error, and imparted wisdom from women around me- marriage is work. I practice music. I practice language. I practice cooking and baking and mothering. I must also practice taking my sinful thoughts captive and replacing them with a treasured verse:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" Phillipians 4:8

Out with the garbage- the thoughts like He didn't even notice...He purposely left those socks there again...I made a new recipe and he hated it...blah blah blah. In with the honorable and lovely thoughts- He didn't say anything because he was playing sweetly with the children...Just pick up the socks, woman, and be thankful you have a man that comes home to you each night...Just because he didn't tell me he loved the recipe doesn't mean he didn't eat every bite, lovingly talking with me about our day over a family dinner.

Or something like that. Now, for every mad and bitter older woman who professes Christ, there are two or three dear saints who have heavenly marriages because they know the secret. They love to love their husbands. And their husbands adore them for it.

So what do you think?

Heavenly Marriage: Part 2

2011-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

"When he first fell in love with you, you were a sweet little thing, full of laughter and fun. From the very bottom of your soul you were thrilled with him. Every day you woke up planning some activity that involved you both. Is he still married to the same sweet little thing, or have you become a long-faced, sickly complainer? Love is like a flower: you can't expect it to grow without sunshine. Has your lover seen your sunshine lately? Is he still your lover? What would he say?" (27).

Do you like being around a complainer? I don't. I try to steer the subject of a conversation toward a different direction if I am talking to a complainer.

If that complainer is me, though, I think the complaining is perfectly justified. Ha.

Men are attracted to femininity. They want to be macho, and they want us to be coquettish, lady-like, and flirty. Obviously, only with them. Obviously.

We all tried very hard to be the perfect "sweet little thing" for at least some part of our dating or courtship. Of course I am easygoing. Of course I want to watch that movie. Of course I want to spend my time doing whatever you want to do. Of course I am naturally cheerful. Because as most women in the dating pool know, if you are not easygoing and cheerful, there are plenty of women who are.

Ladies, the rules have not changed. There are still plenty of easygoing, cheerful, adulterous women out there. If we don't provide the light, cheerful, everyday company a hard-working man needs, there is a woman who will.

This is a hard thing to hear, but it is truth. Satan hates a solid marriage. What better way to destroy society than to break up God's picture of Christ and His bride?

But we wise wives know the truth. We have Scripture to go to battle with. "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" (Proverbs 15:13). Battle for your husband. Be cheerful. Be feminine. Be coy in the way you know that he responds to. No man wants to come home to a "long-faced, sickly complainer"!

Of course we all have our days. We are women. (If there is a random dude reading this post, my apologies. You are exempt). We have very real fluctuating emotions. The Lord has made us this way so we can nurture children and husbands. But woman, you pull yourself together before your husband walks in the door!

Nurture your sunshine. Read Scripture and sit quietly before the Father. Schedule some rest into your day. Feed yourself good food. Walk outside. Listen to soothing music. Have the children play quietly in their rooms, all by themselves. Take every negative thought captive. God gives us the grace and capability to do so through the Holy Spirit.

Practice truly does make perfect. If we are not practicing contentment and joy, it is very, very easy to fall into practicing bitterness and long-faced-ness.

Our men desire heavenly marriages, just like we do. Ask the Lord for wisdom in how to serve your husband in the way he needs most.

It is hard to resist a sweet thing.

Heavenly Marriage: Part 1

2011-05-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

The quote from the end of my last post is from Debi Pearl. If you know of Debi, you probably could have called it.

She is a self-described "aged woman" who seeks to follow Titus II principles of "teaching the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God not be blasphemed".

Created To Be His Help Meet is the name of the book I am reading through for the third time. After the first reading, I decided I had to read this book at least once a year to remind myself of what God's plan is for me in my marriage.

A caveat: the Pearl theology is off. Our pastor calls their child-training book To Train Up A Child "To Train Up a Pharisee". No, you cannot raise a Christian. You cannot reach an unbelieving husband's heart all by yourself. God is the author and finisher of our faith, and our only responsibility is to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" and to trust God to to the rest. So read her books, as you would read all books, with prayer and discernment regarding spiritual matters.

But do read this book for its sound advice on practical matters. Oh, please. Read this book, wives.

I will be posting snippets of this borrowed wisdom for a little series on heavenly marriages. You may not agree. That is ok. Feel free not to read. It is hard advice that she gives, but I do believe it is God's wisdom. For ultimately, we do not serve our husbands. We serve our Father. And He is making us fit for our ultimate marriage as the Bride of Christ. That concept is heady and too esoteric for me, but I can read and apply practical advice on how to be a godly wife.

I like the book because Debi doesn't sugar-coat things. It is the first marriage book I have read where I don't feel like I am waaaaay down here and others are waaaay up there. Do you know what I mean? This woman has a great marriage, but not because she paints herself as super-godly and nearly perfect. She has to work hard at serving a man- difficult, rough around the edges, built for domination, less-than-emotional man. That is what most of us have. Many of them are saved, many of them serve the Lord, but they are still human. And we have to be their perfect help-meets. Can it be done? It has to. Is it easy? Never. Will it bless your home and marriage to do so? You bet.

Here is today's snippet. What do you think?

"Women who have difficulties in their marriages usually follow their feelings and just react. But you must stop trusting your hurt responses or the advice you receive from the world, for today's media communicates a worldview that is skewed at best...A woman's calling is not easy. To allow someone else to control your life is much harder than taking control of it yourself. It can be a challenge, even for veteran wives. Don't despair. With wisdom from on high, you can be the woman God uses, if not to change that old man into a wonderful fellow, then at least to ease your own burden and become a heavenly bride fit for the Son of God Himself" (50)

2011-05-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Foster care classes are taking over our lives.

27 hours in one month.

That is a fortune in babysitting.

But we decided to knock out all of the busywork in one month, so that we could enjoy our adoption classes a little more slowly.

We joke that this is like the first and second trimester. Well, not really. My apologies to pregnant readers everywhere. It is nothing like pregnancy in the physical aspect (obviously) but it is very similar with the waiting and planning and waiting.

We had a girl come talk to our class last week about her experiences as a Foster Youth. Tough stuff to hear, and her story was not as bad as others. When asked her advice to us as future foster parents, she looked the questioner in the eye and stated,

"Don't fake it. We know when you are faking it".

I have been chewing on this. It applies to many situations in my life. We will be, God willing, bringing another child into this home for the duration of her youth. I desire that my children, all of them, see that my faith is genuine, that my love for them is genuine, and that my love and respect for their father is genuine. We know when you are faking it. Most people do. That is not a way to live!

Truthfully, those words are the only encouraging or helpful thing to come out of 27 hours of government-run, liberal foster care education. Most of the time, I am consciously restraining myself from shouting out truth to counteract the psycho-babbly lies the teacher feeds us. But then those damn liberals won't let me adopt. The teacher doesn't know any better. It's her job. It just makes me all the more glad that we are there, and in this process. Sheesh.

On a different note, there is a quote I have been wanting to put up for discussion. It is something else that has been running through my head a lot lately. I wanted to know what you think:

"No man ever crawled out from under his wife's criticism to become a better man, no matter how justified the condemnation".

Hmm. Don't ask me why I have been pondering it. Just ponder with me. ;) I will share the speaker of the quote at a later date. because honestly, what post couldn't use a picture of a baby and a bunny?

May

2011-05-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

It is May.

I have not been blogging.

Or sewing, for that matter.

For the record, I did try to get on to Blogger at one point last week during a free 5 minutes. I was told that Blogger was down. Bummer.

But Blogger is up today! And here we are, checking in for an update. So many things going on...

Guess who finally started walking?
Well, he is not walking in that picture, but I don't have much footage just yet.

We have been enjoying birthday parties, park days, slip-n-slides, a concert even! We wake up on Monday morning, go to sleep Monday night, and all of the sudden, it is Sunday morning. The week flashes by like Scooby Doo running from a monster.

For 13 months now, we have been whispering a word around our house, almost scared to speak it out loud, praying together, praying alone.

Adoption...

Do we really want to add more chaos to this home? Do we really feel up to the challenge that an adopted child will provide us with? Do we really care about all of the stories the naysayers are excited to provide us with?

Yes, yes, and, well, no.

We have thought about and prayed through the challenges. We are excited about the opportunity that this new avenue provides for our family, spiritually and emotionally. We have no guarantee this child will be healthy or "normal" or a Christian.

But we have no guarantees on our biological children, either. We trust God and press on. I am sharing with my blog friends at this point because I know that many of you trust the Lord as your Savior and we ask you for your prayers as we begin this strange and wonderful journey.

We are halfway through the classes that allow us to get our Foster Care license. There is much more work to be done. How exciting it is to finally start the process, though! Our eyes are being opened to all of the Christian work that can be done right here in our city. The suffering is intense. The Gospel needs to be shared. Adults and children are hurting, sick, oppressed, abused- all in need of a Savior. Only Christ can fill that need. For the sufferings of this world are but "light and momentary afflictions" when they are looked at through eternal eyes. We know that the Lord is giving us this small chance to help just one more soul see His love and provision.

Our reasons are many. We have carefully thought through short- and long-term implications. We have been prayerful and quiet as we waited for the Lord to move in this way, and we now feel that this is the time. The privacy of the children in the system is guarded very carefully, so we will not be able to share specifics for quite some time, but please feel free to pray for our family in any way you see fit. I will share what I can. Four times the fun, baby. Bring it on.

I am...egg?

2011-04-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

At BSF this morning, our teaching leader brought up Easter egg hunts and why we use eggs as a Christian symbol.

Serendipitous.

It was explained this way: the egg has three parts- shell, yolk, and white- but is one entity. This is a very simple (and somewhat flawed) explanation of a concept that frankly, is beyond my understanding.

Go here for a more thorough explanation.

He is Risen!

2011-04-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

He is risen, indeed!

And, as my dear Aussie friend was carefully explaining to her children, we celebrate by...

hunting eggs?

Hmm.

Australians, it seems, do not hunt for Easter eggs at Easter. We hunt for eggs but don't know why. We don't even know where this tradition comes from! So resolved: next year we will start some meaningful Easter tradition. Stay posted.

Anyway.
Holidays are exhausting. Celebrating a holiday with two separate families is physically taxing. I suppose it is much better than sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, wishing we had family to celebrate with us. Our day was surely not boring. I was asked a question on my BSF lesson a few weeks ago, and I have been mulling it over ever since:

"Where do you feel the least authentic in your relationship with Christ?"

I think my answer is: church.

Allow me to explain: While I am at church, I am worried about the Sunday School lesson we will be teaching, I am worried about making sure I get to say hello to all of my friends, I am worried about not spilling anything myself the one day I actually dress up during the week, I am worried about losing one of my children, I am worried about one of said children doing something that completely embarrasses me...

You see what I mean?

But when I am at home, or going about my daily life, I see how completely I need my Lord. Things happen every day that make me feel humbled, inadequate, or in need of grace and mercy. As a caveat, once the sermon starts at church, I can settle down and learn and be fed. It is all the other busyness of the day that drains authenticity.

So this Easter, I was thanking God yet again that He died for a sinner like me. It looks fine on the outside, but oh, is it inadequate on the inside! The hope is not in self or others, but in Christ Jesus.

2011-04-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Now that I am a mother, I learn something every day.

I learn about me. I learn about my kids. I learn all sorts of things.

Sometimes I do not like what I learn. For instance, I learn that the things I don't like about me are very prevalent in my children. Well, one child in particular.

I am the oldest of three. He is the oldest of three. We have moments of joy and gladness, of getting along, of teaching and learning, of laughing and playing. We have moments of frustration and misunderstanding, of power struggles and sin nature.

Rebecca is so easy to get along with. She doesn't have both feet in this world, so that helps. She has dual citizenship on earth and in Rebeccaland, where I often like to visit. It is fun there. She loves to paint and draw. She loves to play by herself, quietly. She takes care of both of her brothers without being asked. She loves to cook and clean and help me. She even smiles while she is being willfully disobedient. She says funny things like "It smells like boogers in here" as she smiles at me with her finger up her nose.

Jackson is currently teaching me more. I have to address the sin in my own life that I see mirrored in him. He likes to yell. He has a quick temper. His feelings are easily hurt. He just wants me to play with him all the time.

God warns me of the hypocrisy of telling my son not to do something that I myself often do.

"Don't yell!"

Mmm hmm. Sure, Mom.

Now, on the other hand, the boy is exceedingly good compnay. He asks all sorts of interesting questions. He is usually respectful and considerate. I am sure that over our lives together, we will grow in friendship, and there are bits and pieces of that sort of relationship that are beginning to show. My hope is that someday he will be a brother in Christ. How amazing would that be! Jackson is my first, and he bears the brunt of all of my shortcomings and experiments. But we also get to explore all new things together first.

I have had lots of time to think about these things as we have been home sick again for many days. I never have just been still in my life. I like to be doing things. What things? I don't know. I just like to be busy. But that is kind of impossible for a mommy who is home tending to sick children. So I get to be still and listen to what the Lord is trying to teach me. And right now he is teaching me about a little boy's heart and my own heart. How wonderful! A lifelong learning experience, right in my own soul.

Picnic

2011-04-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

The warm weather beckoned to us. We packed a lunch and met our cousins at our favorite park.

Our 6-year old niece generously used her birthday money to purchase ice cream treats from the ice cream truck for all of the children. Dax thought Roman should have some ice cream, too. Roman agreed.

It took four children to figure out how to get one of them to the top of the volleyball pole.
Hudson had some pointers.
You don't see it here, but they succeeded.

2011-04-13T12:25:00.001-07:00

A wedding. A date. A babysitter for the ragamuffins. A good way to start spring.

Bigger

2011-03-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

My teeny, tiny baby is 5.

He was so small when he was born. I did not make enough milk and I couldn't figure out why my new baby cried all the time. After two weeks, we saw the lactation consultant and realized I was starving my baby. Thus began my love/hate relationship with the SNS.

Anyhow, you would never know that this kid was once skinny and underweight. He is, as they say, corn fed. He is a big five-year-old.

And that big five-year-old requested a Buzz Lightyear cake for his birthday. Since we all know how fabulous I am at making and decorating cakes, I am sure no one is surprised at this year's attempt. Actually, I was pointed to fondant by a dear friend, and I must say- fondant is a mediocre baker/decorator's best friend. Just color, roll, and cut.

"Like Playdoh", says Becca.

"Aye", says I.
Jackson has been talking about carnivals since November. It is not carnival weather in November. Unfortunately for the persistent child and his weary mother, it is not carnival weather in December. Nor January. Nor February.

But, hallelujah! March brings carnival weather. So we thought. Luckily for us, the stomach flu raged through our home on the morning of his intended birthday carnival. So we had to cancel. It poured rain that afternoon. Nice timing!

The next weekend, it was supposed to rain on Saturday but didn't. And the carnival was lovely. He enjoyed it, and that is all that mattered on that particular day. His daddy and I conjured up some low-budget games like magnet fishing, throwing baseballs to knock down our kitchen cups, popping balloons, and a Tootsie Roll Toss.
I hear you asking: "Is he always like that?" And the answer would be, "Well, kind of." Not that scary. But definitely silly. And moody. Having a few comfortable friends around coaxed our little introvert out of his shell for a few hours. Buzz Lightyear helps. Presents help. Silly, scary glasses help.

I love you, son. Happy 5th birthday.

Encouragment

2011-03-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

I mother very young children. There is a lot of this going on in my house:

"no!"

"ahh! don't do that!"

"obey or else!"

And other things to that effect. I think you know what I mean. Discipline sessions involve Scripture. Daily family time includes Scripture. I haven't really thought much about using Scripture to encourage. Encouraging times are outweighed by teaching times most days around here. Teaching times are good, as these three little hearts are young and tender. But I want to make sure I pepper the teaching with enough sweetness to keep us all going strong.

And at Bible Study this week, our "Home Training Lesson" was on Commending Spiritual Attributes. Can't we all use a little commendation now and again? Obviously, not too much. Not in a falsely flattering kind of way. But in a real, truthful, godly kind of way.

So here is what I will be trying to think about more during our days together. I want to "seek to encourage the development of worthwhile and eternal qualities in each child" I am entrusted with.

FORGIVENESS: (Matthew 6:14-15)

SELF-CONTROL: (Proverbs 25:28)

TRUSTWORTHINESS: (1 Timothy 3:11)

FAIRNESS: (Colossians 4:1)

PRUDENCE: (Proverbs 12:23)

OBEDIENCE: (2 John 1:6)

KINDNESS: (Galatians 5:22)

GENTLENESS: (Colossians 3:12)

PATIENCE: (Hebrews 6:12)

THANKFULNESS: (Colossians 4:2)

TRUTHFULNESS: (Proverbs 12:22)

DILIGENCE: (Hebrews 6:10-12)

FAITHFULNESS: (2 Peter 1:5-7)

ORDERLINESS (Colossians 2:5)

GENEROSITY: (Psalm 112:5)

LOVE: (Matthew 5:43-48)

LOYALTY: (Isaiah 26:3)

Do you have any others to share?

The Happiest Place on Earth

2011-03-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

It really is magical. I was telling my husband that Disneyland is just as exciting for me at age 28 as it has been at age 4, 10, or 15. It was even more incredible to get to see my children as they wandered through the wonder that is Disney.
This kid took not one nap in 30 hours.
We were so happy to find the little Winnie the Pooh ride around dinnertime on Friday.
This one was so, so, so, so proud of his birthday button. This is the requested "official" picture of the button. Everyone kept calling out, "Happy Birthday, Jackson!" I've never seen my little introvert so happy to be randomly social.
Our entire trip was a gift from Aunt Jessie. She is the best aunt. ever.
Roman is 13 months and we finally have a family picture. Sort of. We took it ourselves. But it might just be our Christmas card. These things don't happen very often.
A life-sized Lightening McQueen?! Could this trip get any better? Note the smile of pure contentedness on the birthday boy.
Our tired bodies won't be able to handle that trip for another 5 years, but it was super fun. I'm going to bed now.

2011-03-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

I am fully aware of what God hates. He tells me in His Word:

¹⁶ There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil.

Yet I persist in my haughty eyes. I persist in the other sins too, but my haughtiness is what God has been convicting me of lately.

Why is it that I so often think I Would Never? I think How Could They? I think I'm So Glad I. And I can only imagine what my God is thinking as I have those thoughts.

Yuck. To realize that I have had yet another conversation where I have been talking about or listening to how others fall short makes me frustrated with my deceitful and desperately wicked heart.

That fall is going to hurt.

But that is the sin, and here is the hope: Christ shed His blood for that sin, and all of my other sins. God is so good to convict me through the Spirit, and He is faithful and merciful to distance me from that sin, as far as the East is from the West. As I learned at a recent retreat, sin is not just saying, "I'm sorry"... it is saying, "I'm through.". That is much easier said than done, but I surely cannot do it on my own power. Let's hear it for grace!

It was this passage that God used to convict me this morning:

²⁵And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

If I am harboring even a little bit of bitterness, I have to confess it before the Lord can forgive me of that bitterness. OK, I think I got it.

It's Thursday. I like Thursdays.

Spring-y Ribbon Banner

2011-03-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

I had a tutorial all planned. Then I accidentally deleted 21 pictures. Not like you needed 21 pictures to figure this thing out. It was really easy. Maybe you don't need any pictures to figure this thing out. Want to try?

Get these things:
Printer paper
Assorted spring-colored scrapbook paper (4 12x12's will do)
Coordinating 1.5-inch ribbon (3 colors)
Cardboard Diaper Box
Thumbtacks
Hot Glue Gun
Tape

1. Find a cool text in Word. I used Didot. Enlarge it to 500 in your text size window. Each letter will take up one piece of printer paper. Let your children watercolor on the scraps, or you will feel bad for hours about wasting that much paper.

2. Print out the letters. Then, using a paper cutter, trim around your letters, allowing approximately a 1-inch margin around each letter.

3. Hot glue the letter to your scrapbook paper, allowing for another 1-inch margin. Cut out your mounted letter.

4. Cut 6 lengths of ribbon into pieces 12 inches long. Fold in half, and glue shut. Now glue your closed pieces to the back of your mounted letters. Make sure the ribbon is centered, and allow about 5 inches of ribbon to be visible from the top of the letter. You will hang your letter with these 5 inches of ribbon.

5. Cut the 2 long bottom flaps off of your diaper box. Trim them into pieces 4 inches tall by approximately 15 inches long (it depends on the size of your box- you just want your end product to be a really long strip of cardboard). Lay them side by side, lengthwise, and tape them together so you have one very long cardboard length.

6. Cut a piece of scrapbook paper into strips 4 inches tall by 12 inches long. You will have three. Hot glue these to the length of cardboard you just constructed. Trim any excess paper.

7. Lay your new pretty cardboard strip on a big table and arrange your letters underneath your hanging board. Take your thumb tacks and secure the letters to the cardboard by tacking on the ribbon to the board. Don't puncture your table!

8. Hang wherever you want. I placed mine on the inside of my front door with duct tape, but you can use something else if you want. Duct tape is so not a sexy craft item.

Since I deleted my pictures like a sleep-deprived mother of three, feel free to email me or comment with any questions. Sometimes writing down the steps makes a project feel more confusing, but trust me- this one is pretty straightforward. Send pictures to me!

The Bustle Skirt

2011-03-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

So spring-y.

I got the tutorial here. It was a fairly simple project, albeit more time-consuming than I had originally anticipated. I want to make one for me, but that is a lot of cutting. My hand gets tired easily. And there is no one around during the day who will listen to my whining about a cramped hand.

She wore it to church yesterday. I got asked a few times, Did you make her skirt? Hmm...the more I thought about it, the more I thought...it must just look really homemade. But that is ok. I love it. And I will have her wear it again.

If you make it, cut out more circles than you think you will need. Pack them in tightly. I used an old T-shirt for my base skirt. I think I would use a lighter-weight material next time, but you can't foresee all of the problems the first time around. I just love it when a project comes together. For the most part.

Happy, oh happy Monday. Off to clean the house.

The Big 6-3

2011-03-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

We are late in wishing our dear Papa Eggs "Happy Birthday". Beau and I were so sick on February 18 that we had to cancel our John's Incredible Pizza plans. Since our family makes up 5/8 of the celebration, the whole thing was abandoned. I felt bad.

It will be rescheduled, but for now, I wanted to share why I love my dad.

He had three girls. He loves football, baseball, and any other ball. I am sure he would have loved to play sports with a boy, but he loved to play sports with us girls as well. My fondest memories of a happy childhood involve me and my dad hitting a handball against the garage, playing catch in the front yard with a baseball and mitts, bumping a volleyball by the pool, or shooting baskets out in the driveway. He was never too busy to play a pick-up game with me and my sisters. He was never too busy to attend every game and tournament I had. He was never too busy to help me work on a particular skill of whatever sport I was playing that season.

My dad was the principal of my high school. I loved it and hated it. I loved walking into his office for a chat, or seeing him on campus. I hated it for obvious reasons, but those reasons faded as I spent more time at school. For two years, I got to ride into work with him every morning at 6, and I got to ride home with him every night at 6. I got involved in activities and sports I may not have otherwise been interested in, just because I was there and available. We would listen to Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story every morning. Each evening, we would talk about the day or just ride home in contented silence.

Another reason I love my dad is because he taught me that there is a God, and that our home respected that principle. He brought me to church and he took me to Catholic school even with money was tight. I didn't have a relationship with Christ as my Savior like I do now, but I knew without a doubt that there was a God, that He was real.

And my dad taught me how a man should act around ladies. He was always very respectful while being masculine. It shaped the way I looked for a husband.

So I wanted to say, Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you.

Niech zyje, zyje nam.

A Letter to the Bakersfield Californian

2011-03-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Bakersfield Californian,

I have subscribed to your paper for many years and enjoy reading about local events and perspectives. However, I am cancelling my subscription to The Bakersfield Californian, and I wanted to explain why.

On Sunday, February 13, I brought my paper inside only to find a stick-on ad for free admission into the Déjà Vu. I was stunned for a moment, then ripped it off and read the rest of the paper. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that ad and its implications. Your paper affects many, many people in Bakersfield and the surrounding areas. To know that every Bakersfield subscriber was confronted with the same ad on that Lord’s Day has been weighing heavily on my heart ever since.

One ad is really not that important. That ad will be forgotten. As the editor pointed out when one concerned citizen wrote in, “we received only 10 complaints about the ad”. He went on to state, “and the advertising works”.

So our men are able to more easily frequent the strip clubs in town because of the Bakersfield Californian and their effective advertising.

I would like to forget about the incident and continue enjoying the product of the hard work of many. But as I was reminded this weekend, tolerance is not strength, nor is it loving. Do I fear being labeled “narrow-minded” and “judgmental” or do I care about standing for Truth?

The Truth is that Christ died for all of these sins. Going to a strip club, working at a strip club, or advertising a strip club is no more offensive to a holy God than being self-righteous or judgmental about any of those things. We all fall short; no one can keep God’s perfect law. Christ’s death atoned for each sin, every hidden activity done in the dark. We are all guilty of breaking God’s law, but Christ offers the free gift of salvation. Turn from desiring to be god of your own life, and accept Christ’s death as the death of your own coming judgment. It will happen, and God is gracious enough to give us a little more time to answer His call.

I love the people of this city. I have grown up here and I am raising my children here. It would be encouraging to see your paper stand up for purity and truth. You have a wide area of influence. But Déjà Vu will bring in customers with or without you. Saving $10 is probably not the foremost thought of the patrons of our strip clubs. There are dozens of solid churches in town that offer free admission each Sunday. No coupon needed. Would you print that? Our own church meets at Liberty High School at 10:30 every Sunday.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Woodward

(I am happy to pare this down to 250 words. I just wanted you to read it all first. Thank you.)

A Happy Heart

2011-02-24T07:10:00.000-08:00

Do you remember things your own mother would say over and over again? Mine would say, "Because I am your mother, and I said so".

Beau's mother would say, "Cry softly!".

I say, "Have a happy heart".

All of these things, I am sure, grate on a child. Who wants to hear the same thing over and over again? All of these little sayings are rather hard to understand on one's own, especially if one is under the age of 4. Self-control is a virtue that I have to cultivate in my own so-called adult life every day. I can't expect my child to continually and satisfactorally "have a happy heart" just because I tell him or her to. What the heck does that even mean?

After another discipline session with my dear moody 4-almost-5-year-old son yesterday afternoon, I explained to him- again- that he needs to obey immediately, and with a happy heart.

Blank, teary stare.

OK, Mama. You can get through to this kid. Lord, I prayed, teach me so I can teach him. What do I say? I just kind of stared back at him for a minute.

He broke the staring contest. "Mom, I can't always have a happy heart. I just can't! Sometimes I am sad."

I glanced above his headboard, where I had posted three Scripture verses, sitting small and forlorn in the vast expanse of green wall above his bed.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ (1 Thess 5:16-18).

Ah. The Word of God never comes back void. How can we have a happy heart? By praying continually. By giving thanks in all circumstances. The children are familiar with giving thanks. Every day, we all tell God something we are thankful for, sometimes numerous times a day. This is mainly for the purpose of getting Mommy's heart in check while she feels overwhelmed or angry. The kids play along, usually enjoying this activity. Answers range from, "I'm thankful for this chocolate milk!" to "I'm thankful for Daddy!".

God was faithful to immediately answer my heart's prayer, giving me Scripture to teach with. And interestingly enough, as I tried to share this truth with an unsaved 4-year-old, God was working on my own stony heart too. I don't walk around joyful all the time. In fact, I was having a pretty crappy day yesterday. I yelled at all the kids before we even left the house at 8:30...for Bible Study. (Please, children, don't tell your teachers how Mommy yelled at you this morning already!) I didn't want to be back in my son's room for another discipline session. I just wanted to leave him in there for the rest of the day and go out back with some coffee to read a book. But the Lord was faithful to start working on my heart, showing me how to obey His command to be joyful continually.

So one of my little mental goals today is to not just tell the children to have happy hearts, but to show them through example- by praying aloud with them intermittently during the day and by giving thanks. Not because works please God, not to be some sort of pseudo-pious religious lady, but because my heart was changed ever-so-slightly yesterday and I want to reflect that back to my Father in gratitude.

2011-02-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

You probably guessed it. We've been sick. This time, the children were spared. It was poor Beau and myself that were nose-down in the couch for an entire week.

The up side- we spent more time together than we have in the past 5 years. The last time we got to be together for the greater part of a week, I was pregnant with Jackson and we were cruising the Mediterranean.

Things are sure different now.

Our flu has trickled down to just a bad head cold. He is back at work, I am back to whatever I do, the house is cleaner, the cupboards are once again stocked,

...but I am missing my man just a little. sniff.

More Slings?!

2011-02-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

I don't love doing very "boy-y" (yes, that is a word. Look it up) slings. I feel just fine sewing with flowery, pink and purple fabric, but I don't like to sew with cars or dinosaurs or pirates (or, God forbid, skulls- I know, Kara, I know).

Anyway, what the heck do I know? The consumer wants all of those things. Baby Sightings called back, wanting me to make some unabashedly tiny male slings. I obliged. I will take any excuse to visit the Wonderful World of Strawberry Patches. (Psst- they are expanding. Are you as excited as I am?!)

So here they are. I did get a photo lesson from Meg, but that was after I took this picture.

I am not too far away from picking up some skull and crossbones fabric. Oh, what a world! What a world.

The Break-Up

2011-02-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

It's just not working out any more. You take up too much of our time.

No, it's not you. It's us.

Good-bye for now, cable TV. You are expensive and unnecessary. I'm surprised we were together for this long, frankly.

I will miss all of the good times we had together. Goodbye, Curious George. How I loved that you would teach my children numbers and counting. Goodbye, Hawaii Five-O. I liked your music and your fun setting. Goodbye, CNBC's Fast Money. I really won't miss you at all. Now I get my husband for that 45 minutes every night. So there.

I had to console my son. No, we are not actually getting rid of the physical TV. It will stay in its place of prominence in our living room. We can still watch movies. Just not cable TV.

Oh, 30 Rock!
Oh, So You Think You Can Dance!

Really, it is better this way.
At least that is what I am told.

2011-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

We couldn't find Sheriff Woody last night.

For shame, Sheriff. For shame.

2011-02-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Are you troubled? In need of comfort? Aren't we all at times?

God desires to be our only comfort. Every worldly, temporary thing we put our trust in will fade away or disappoint us. The eternal God never changes, never fades, never grows weary.

By no accident, the Lord has me studying Isaiah 40 this week. I want to share it all with you. It is so rich and beautiful.

¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

This verse is my favorite, as it describes my stage in life right now and I feel the Lord speaks it to me daily. He speaks it to you, too. :)

²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

These verses also bring such comfort to my soul! My immediate family is not under direct attack right now, but the tempest is surely swirling around us. The steadfast word of the Lord is surely the anchor of our souls, and these verses do anchor my soul.

I love the contrast picture of human frailty and God's strength. We all grow faint and weary as we walk and run through life, but the God of the universe never faints and never grows weary. Thank the Lord.

One Year

2011-01-31T15:58:00.000-08:00

This is the perfect day. Puffy, rolling clouds...sunshine....a glimpse of warmth...we went to go watch Daddy play tennis at lunchtime and then came home and made worm houses in the backyard.

Hey, if it were like this all the time, we wouldn't appreciate it. That's why we love our town.
Look who had a birthday! Roman Bradley turned one year old this Saturday. We made cupcakes for the little guy and had a very small party. Just Mommy, Daddy, Jackson, Becca, and the birthday boy! After eating cupcakes, we all watched a movie together in the living room. It was really, really nice.
He finally has four teeth- the top two broke through last week. He is crawling and furniture walking, but no real steps yet. The other two kids walked on their actual birthdays, but Roman is not really close. He knows that speed-crawling is much better for chasing down older siblings.

Family Health: Movement

2011-01-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

Luckily for us mommies, little children naturally like to move. It is usually getting them to stop that is the problem.

How do you sustain that desire to wiggle as your children grow? I have not yet raised a child past the age of 4.75 so I can't speak from a mommy standpoint. But I did grow up in a house where both parents valued the idea of physical activity.

My mother is a Type I diabetic, and needs to stay active to keep her diabetes under control. Some would say that she overdoes it (she just broke her foot two months ago- the bone popped because she walks so much!).

My father coached football for most of my young life and loved to be outdoors. I have vivid and fond memories of riding bikes, playing handball, throwing baseballs, and bumping volleyballs with my dad. It is how we communicated.

Every night after dinner, since we had no TV, our family would go for a walk. In most families, this would be a leisurely stroll, ambling along while chatting. My parents would powerwalk through our neighborhood, fists pumping. After many years, my sisters and I got smart and starting riding our bikes. It was way easier.

My parents made us do all of our own chores. We had a sizeable house and yard, so Saturday chores would literally take all day. All day. We hated it. It was horrible. But now I see the value in what my parents taught us. We were too tired to misbehave on Saturdays, and our family got to spend the day together. On our weeks off, we would take a long bike ride with a picnic lunch.

For three-quarters of the year, my mom would often lock the door and tell us not to come inside. We had to play outside all day long. We could come inside in the winter, most days.

Anyway, we were an active family. We were tighter-knit than I thought at the time. My parents knew that a worn-out, well-fed kid was a better-behaved, better-disciplined kid. All three of us girls have "caught" a lifelong love of physical activity. As a mother today, I feel like I am swimming upstream in a culture that promotes laziness and inactivity. I have to be very intentional about making sure the children get outside play time each day. I, against every anal-retentive, type A- bone in my body, let them make forts and jump inside until their little hearts are racing and content. I finally won the battle to get a big trampoline outside, and they bounce on that thing every day. They put coats on in winter and string a garden hose up there in summer.

The dirt is good for them. The water is good for them. The sun is good for them. The Xbox? Not so good. Cartoons? A beautiful and lovely tool for a stay-at-home mommy, but not a crutch or babysitter. Well, not a crutch or babysitter most days.

I want them to want to love to move their bodies for the rest of their lives. God has been so good to our family to give us three healthy children who can move. He has given me, and Beau, good health at this point. Our bodies are made to move- to feel strong, and powerful, and fit. We are made to enjoy the whole earth, not just our beds, couches, and carpets. As keepers of the home, it is our job to nurture and protect the health of the little bodies and hearts the Lord has entrusted to us. I don't want to teach them that "exercise is necessary". I want them to know "God has gifted us with healthy bodies and we are so thankful that we can run and jump and swim!" I want them to love to move for the sake of moving. And I want our family to love to do this together.

One of Beau's favorite quotes is from Plato- "One can learn more about a man in an hour of play that in a year of conversation". Playing with our children can round out the picture of who they are and who they will be. What a gift to be able to do this!

How do you play with your family? How did your family nurture your playful side as you were growing up? Will you do things similarly with your own children?

Happy Friday, dear friends.

2011-01-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

Good memory, son. Good memory.

Family Health: Rest

2011-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

As a reminder, there is no perfect family. There is no perfect way to raise a family. Try as we might, we can't raise a Christian, or a perfect child. These posts are just my thoughts I want to share with you- things that are important to me. I could share with you all of my shortcomings and sin issues, but I think it is more appropriate to share edifying, encouraging things of the practical nature. These posts are simply food for thought. Thanks for taking the time to read.

On that note, let's talk about rest. If you are human, you have had a night or a few nights, or a year of nights that result in inadequate rest. For some reason, you cannot sleep (and I am grateful to report that the Lord has granted me deep, restful sleep for the past few months!) and you emerge from your bedroom the next morning bleary-eyed, confused, and on edge. Your self-control is at a minimal level. It is difficult to think straight.

You are a grown-up and you feel this way. Now, imagine a child who gets the same inadequate rest. I have a hard time getting my children to obey and be civil as it is. Throw in a poor day and night's rest, and I may as well not even try at all!

So I make sure that my children are well-rested. What does this look like?

First of all, they have a set bedtime each night. Do we stick to this bedtime like glue? No. But we try our best to get them in bed each night by 8:30. They sleep until at least 7:30 the next morning, sometimes later. The baby sleeps 7:30pm-8am. On our Bible Study mornings, they must be up by 7:15, so I move bedtime up by a half hour.

They also have rest time each afternoon. The big kids (relatively...3 and 4) don't necessitate a nap every day, but they go into their rooms every afternoon to play quietly, read, or watch a slow cartoon. We don't miss rest time. We all get time away from each other, which is very important for our mental well-being.

The baby still has a morning nap and an afternoon nap. We follow the Babywise principles, which are similar to the Ferber method, or the Contented Little Baby technique, which is what my Aussie girlfriend ascribes to. The principles are similar- eat, wake, sleep- with an emphasis on good rest.

We talked about breakfast earlier. A disastrous recipe for a child looks like this:

poor breakfast + inadequate rest= poor little kid.

It is not the fault of the child that they are in a store, screaming their heads off. A parent can nip this in the bud, or at least cut down these incidences, by ensuring proper nutrition and proper rest.

PS- this does not work all the time. We will no longer be going to Blockbuster video due to some unfortunate yelling/running incidents. Even with good food and sleep, kids are still kids and don't possess the self-control we hope they will. Heck, I don't possess all the self-control I hope I will.

All that to say, you can make your life a little easier if your kids get good rest.

New For Baby Sightings

2011-01-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

Baby Sightings called and wanted a new set of slings.
So I got to borrow a machine from a dear friend.

And sew for two whole hours, relatively uninterrupted. Hooray for daddies and the Australian open.
I have to give the machine back this week, but that little hit of sewing sure felt good. :)

2011-01-21T10:17:00.001-08:00

I am hating blogger right now.

Can anyone give me tips on how to make a small, unobtrusive header? I have been wasting too much time trying to figure it out.

Thanks. :)

Family Health: Breakfast

2011-01-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

They come out, one by one, bedraggled, rubbing eyes that are adjusting to the light.

First question: "What are we going to do today? Tell me everything we are going to do."

Second question: "Can I have a choice for breakfast?"

Sometimes the answer to the second question is "yes" and sometimes it is "no". It is very important to me that the children get a good breakfast. You can spot the children who have had a good breakfast, and the ones who have had a nutritionally poor breakfast.

I generally like to try to make my life easy. Especially with children. And giving them a good breakfast helps me accomplish this very self-serving goal.

Their little bodies have been fasting for 15 hours, so a good meal is essential. Here is what our typical breakfast looks like:

1 egg
1 piece of whole-grain toast with lots of real butter
banana, apple, or berries
whole milk (raw if budgeted for)
small cup of Daddy's leftover breakfast smoothie.

I make them eat pretty much the whole thing. I don't care if they finish lunch or dinner, but I really want a good breakfast in them.

Why? It really affects our tone for the day. Some fat and protein and warmth in their tiny stomachs helps them to be calmer and more obedient. Dry cereal is a treat, something that is given as dessert. I have seen my kids after a bowl of cereal, even "healthy" cereal. The sugar and simple carbohydrates turns them into crazy little bouncing things. This is not the type of child I would like to present to the general public, so I make sure they get some good nutrition at breakfast.

I am sure you have heard that ADD, ADHD, and other behavioral disorders have a nutritional link. I have read numerous times that a high-protein, low-processed-food diet improves the behaviors of affected children in a very measurable way.

If the kids are sick of eggs, I will give them whole-fat cottage cheese or whole-fat unsweetened yogurt (I add stevia and pumpkin pie spice). The key is to get something into their bodies that takes some time and energy to digest, maintaining steady blood sugar levels for an extended period of time.

Family Health: An Introduction

2011-01-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I want to blog, but I don't know what the heck to blog about. So I was thinking through my "foundations", and along with Scripture and my family itself, one of my passions is health and nutrition. So I shall share with you my thoughts.

As my husband routinely needs to point out to me (passion sometimes borders on obsession), I am not a doctor. Some of the books I read are not written by MDs. Some of the people I consult have non-medically-credible licenses. But I just think that makes them more fascinating. But don't take my advice blindly. Talk to your own doctor.

Nutrition became a passion to me while I was pregnant with my second child. I had a new friend over, and she had me buy a huge book called Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Dr. (that's right!...well, Dr. Dentist) Weston A. Price. Little did I know that there is a huge underground following of people who ascribe to the religion of Traditional Eating. Underground, because Traditional Eating goes completely against the "Diet Dictocrats" and the USDA. Religion, because some people literally put all of their faith in how they feed their bodies.

Most of us know a little better, thanks to the illumination of the Holy Spirit. We can't add a day to our life or a hair to our head. God is sovereignly in control of every part of our lives, no matter what we eat or don't eat. But this doesn't mean we can't exercise wisdom with how we nourish our families. It is our job, after all.

5 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks. (Prov 31)

So, armed with a bunch of new books and some Scripture to ponder, I began reading everything I could get my hands on concerning this traditional way of eating. I was fascinated by the notion that I could eat fat and protein and eggs and red meat and still be "healthy". Maybe even more "healthy". I read about diet's impact on pregnant women and growing children and even one's mood and immunity. I studied up on nutrients and vitamins and little components of food and how each one can impact one's physical and mental health.

Many times, I had to be reigned in my by exceedingly practical and cynical husband. He analyzes Big Things of the World for a profession, and he is fond of telling me that my information needs to be backed by data, research, and studies. One man's opinion, one woman's anecdote was not enough to convince him to spend $50 on a vat of expeller-pressed, extra-virgin organic coconut oil. And hell no, he would not use coconut oil in place of deodorant even if I backed up my findings with a peer-reviewed journal article.

In other words, he expects balance from me. He trusts me to feed and nourish the physical needs of our family, and I have to prove to be trustworthy. This includes keeping to the budget.

So I read new things, and I run them by him. I have to gear myself up for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate. I have to be really willing to defend my points, and if I am prepared and it is important enough to me, then the structure of how I nourish my family can slowly change.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to attempt a "series". There are a few cornerstones of our family's nutrition that I would love to share with you. There are some peripheral things that come and go. Let me know what you think. Ask me questions.

We could even set up a Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Up first: Breakfast.

If you are looking....

2011-01-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

I will tell you where we can be found.

Here I am, puttering about my kitchen and garden, trying to create something free and satisfying without my beloved sewing machine. (You will be happy to know I am hot on the trail of a very reasonably-priced fixit shop..thank you, Celina. And thank you Hayley, Celina, Caitlin, and Holly for kindly offering the use of your own machines!)

I found an old Pyrex bowl, some stones from my yard, some lovely winter flowering quince, and a few assorted serving dishes to make a centerpiece.

Jackson can be found in his favorite spot, hanging upside-down between the two living room chairs. Seriously. All the time.

Rebecca can be found silently scrounging up something to mother. If the Thing is alive, I must eventually rescue It from the tight grasp of Its pretend mother.

Little Roman can be found growing more adorable by the day, smiling at something, chasing brother or sister or left-up-toilet lid.

Daddy is on the couch, watching football playoffs. But you don't want to see a picture of that.

Monday, Gloomy Monday...

2011-01-10T07:49:00.001-08:00

Boo

Hoo.

It is a sad day when I cannot sew. If I have to take a week off, or- heaven help me-months (!)...I can't even think about it.

Ol' Brother had been acting up during the Christmas season. I knew what the problem was- this little metal thingy (that is what the manual calls it) had been getting weak and therefore my bobbin thread was unregulated. It kept getting bunched up while I would try to sew. I was able to wriggle it back into position many times. I was so very proud of myself, fixing my own machine like that. However, for anyone who has ever wriggled a soda can tab back and forth...back and forth...back and forth...you know the inevitable outcome.

Snap.

It died. That little metal piece just laid down and gave its life for the good of the machine. So the parts of the machine that don't want to work as hard can now have a little respite. It was so very socialist of my Brother. I hate socialism. And I am mad at my Brother. For my sweet husband has told me that I will not be able to get my machine fixed until April.

Not three days before the incident, we had been discussing my dire need to stick carefully to the budget for the coming months.

No outside spending, he said.

Aye, said I.

And then this. The Lord is testing my submission.

Of course, I called the manufacturer. I can work a power drill. I can program a garage door. I can refinish furniture. Surely I can uninstall and reinstall a teeny tiny metal part into an expensive machine.

But they were on to me. They referred me to an Authorized Service Dealer. Apparently many people such as myself want to save the $75.00 and just Fix It Themselves. And get mad at Brother when the process doesn't go quite as expected. Have they been monitoring my phone calls or something?

So I shall wait. And make bows. Or crochet. Or bake. Or something. It just doesn't seem like creating if there is not a whirring machine and crisp, expensive new fabric involved.

Boo Hoo.

Check this out!

2011-01-07T07:37:00.000-08:00

First Delivery Summary

Amazon Prime Member

Items:	$33.59
Shipping & Handling:	$0.00
Subscription Discount	-$10.08

Total Before Tax:	$23.51
Estimated Tax:	$0.00

Order Total: $23.51 What is this? you may ask. Well, let me tell you! Amazon Mom, the best tool out there for mommies! My sister-in-law told me about this Amazon site (I am a loyal Amazon customer anyways...cheap products, quick shipping!) and I just signed up. What I got: A giant box of Huggies brand diapers, sent to my house once a month, with free two-day shipping, for $23.51! What?! Costco sells these diapers for $39.00. Diapers.com got me to spend $33.00. But Amazon only charges me $23.51. Amazing. Moms everywhere, sign up! I wished they paid me to endorse their company, but alas, I am a lowly blogger on the blog totem pole. Plus I got my diapers for $23. I'll be okay.

Birthday!

2011-01-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Jessie's birthday. The llamas are a recurring birthday joke. We have forgotten why.
Guess who made the cake? I repeat, baking and decorating are not my strong points. If you saw the cake in person, you would know this is an understatement. Most of the cake is held together with frosting. Oh, the shame. At least a cake gets eaten. And it tasted pretty delicious. Especially souped together with ice cream.
The action was paused for a group photo op.
Yesterday was the second annual Jessie's Birthday Present Scavenger Hunt. We made up clues and had Jessie search around the house for her gifts. This was as exciting for Jackson as it was for Jessie.

Here is one of the clues, created by Jackson, verbatim:

Your little nephew, strong and thinking about it, is thinking your present is under the couch.

He tried. They will get better next year, I am sure.

In my Arsenal

2011-01-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

If my time with the Lord does not happen in the morning, it may not happen for that particular day. Then, Mommy is (wrongly) grumpy and (wrongly) full of guilt. She may yell more, too. (I think that is wrong).

So I have to stock my arsenal and prepare myself for the battles of the day. I have to get up earlier than I would like. I have to account for the time it takes to make Beau's breakfast and lunch. I have to exercise and then immediately sit down to study Scripture, chai tea in hand. I wouldn't choose this for myself, particularly. However, "In his heart, a man plans his day, but the LORD directs his steps" (or hers, if you like).

The key to a good battle plan is preparation. If I just sat down haphazardly, I may miss what God wants to teach me that day. What does the Lord expect from His children? He desires a "broken and contrite heart" (Ps. 51) and He desires that we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12). What does that look like? It looks like prayer and study of the Word.

So here is my plan:

1- Prayer. My heart is less likely to be broken and contrite over my sin if I don't take time to examine myself. I can then praise God, thank Him, and offer up my requests. I use a journal to track my prayer requests, what I am struggling with, what my family is struggling with, and any other important things I bring before the Lord. I do this mainly to look back and see how God has answered prayers I may otherwise forget about. I also got to make a prayer binder, thanks to my lovely and crafty sister-in-law. She helped me stock it with daily promptings of how to specifically pray for my husband and children. It also has pages on how to specifically praise God for His attributes. Staci's is cuter and more elaborate, and you can make yours any which way you would like, but the key is just to have one. Sometimes I don't know what to pray for, or how to begin my prayers, and the binder really helps.

2. Daily Scripture Reading. I think I have talked about the MacArthur Study Bible before, but it definitely deserves a second mention. Just find the date, open to the right page, and read consecutive passages from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. You don't need to fret over what to read, or if you are taking Scripture out of context, or how in the world you are going to get through the book of Isaiah. Little by little, bit by bit, and then...it is December of 2010 and you are plowing through the book of Revelation (all with commentary, which is just as good as the Scripture!).

3. Additional Bible Study. If you have time, of course. This year, I am studying Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship, so I do a few questions each day, and then my homiletics. My sister-in-law also gave me a study by Kris Goertzen that I can do intermittently. I also read bit and pieces of a book called Parenting with Scripture, so I can write down verses and pray them for my children (also helpful for discipline time).

4. A warm and caffeinated beverage. You know why.

Sometimes I am asked how to do one's daily quiet time. These are just some pointers. We don't gain favor with God by diligently reading our Bible or praying. We don't lose favor by going days or months without doing these things. Our favor is found in the person and work of Christ Jesus. God does desire a deep relationship with His children, however, and He knows that a deep relationship with Him does not just happen, or come about in the gym or at a soccer game or at the grocery store or while crafting. It comes through spending time with Him. Don't feel guilty if you aren't doing these things, just start small...little by little...bit by bit. It is true, though, that the more time you spend with the Lord, the more you desire to spend time with the Lord. And of course, the inverse is true as well.

Would you tell me a little about your arsenal?

"Jackson"

2010-12-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Rebecca is usually the first big kid up in the morning. She will come sit with me while I am finishing up my quiet time. She does her "Bible Study" while I do mine.

She likes to paint. Sometimes I paint with her. Yesterday, she started while I was still reading. She produced this painting. I am her mommy, and therefore I think it is lovely.

She called it "Jackson".

3 December Posts, Baby!

2010-12-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2010.

We had four last year, now we have five. The kids are getting more verbal and independent. I feel older. Beau feels older. He thinks his body is working against him. This, apparently, is a new feeling for the man. Myself, I have been pregnant multiple times and am thankful to the Lord whenever my body has a good day. Can I get an "amen"?

Rebecca got a LeapPad for Christmas. It has a pen that "reads" and asks questions to her. One of the questions was, "What is your favorite animal?"

The answer? "Heffalumps".

Of course.

Are you in my stage in life? Do you have older and wiser women regularly tell you that this is the best time in life with your children? It used to annoy me, I heard it so often. But I am thankful for this reminder. I can see how this is the best time in life with these little treasures (that often make me want to shut myself in a dark, soundproof room). One is napping, two are playing quietly with new, old-fashioned, uncomplicated toys. The house is getting clean on my slow schedule (with time out to blog, finally!). We don't worry about school, lessons, classes, friend problems, emotional outbursts. Christmas was magical and simple. We all eat meals together. We talk about all sorts of little things all day. We try to work as a team. I love this time. It is physically draining but emotionally fulfilling. God is good, to bring this formerly self-absorbed sinner into a new life with Him, and into motherhood. It is not what I planned for my life, but His ways are so much better than ours, no? PS- I am still self-absorbed. I just can't indulge that all the time like I used to....

I love to mother, to cook, to clean, to craft, to keep the home, to be with my family. I pray the Lord has this little simple bubble of a time period for me as long as possible. I can't think of anything more lovely. I hope I can be as genuine and loving as possible when I one day walk past a disheveled, exhausted young mother and quietly share with her how precious and fleeting this time is for her.

Scenes from a Soccer Game

2010-12-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

The difference between preschool boys and preschool girls:

Boy: "These are the rules. Kick it as hard as you can. Try to trip each other."

Girl: (Picks up ball with her hands as boy yells in frustration at blatant rule violation) "I am taking the ball on the swing. Mommy! Will you swing me?" (Trips, falls, gets muddy, starts crying).

Mommy: "Watch out for the dog po- oh, well."

And...

scene.

2010-12-14T12:29:00.001-08:00

Oh. Hello.

We are still here. My December blog post list will probably number "1". This may be it.

Right now, our home is cycling through the stomach bug (note to frugal moms-buying a large container of powdered Gatorade is inexpensive, never really goes bad, and is quite difficult to waste, unlike that darn Pedialyte. The ingredients are essentially the same, high-fructose-corn syrup be darned...I do add magnesium powder to a cupful of Gatorade).

I learn constantly that having children means I don't always get to do what I want to do. Like go to our last Bible Study Fellowship before Christmas break (8 home-made gifts sitting around the house for a month...almost more depressing than not going to BSF). It means sometimes missing two parties in one day, and that just has to be okay. It actually was okay. This time with the tiniest of tiny ones is so short, as people enjoy reminding me. I enjoy remembering that.

Presents are made, bought, waiting, miraculously still wrapped in a house with three little children.

At least, at last, the weather is wintry. It is overcast and a little windy. Ah.... I love it.

I've been enjoying catching up on all of your blogs as I get a chance during the day. Thanks for keeping me updated. Enjoy these pre-Christmas days!

Thankful

2010-11-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

Art

2010-11-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

"Art", says Edith Schaeffer, "satisfies and fulfills something in the person creating and in those responding."

"The only artist who is perfect in all forms of creativity- in technique, in originality, in knowledge of the past and future, in versitility, in having perfect content to express as well as perfect expression of content, in having perfect truth to express as well as perfect expression of truth, in communicating perfectly the wonders of all that exists as well as something about Himself, is of course God!"- says Edith.

What is your medium?

Is it this?
This?
This?
This?
Here is mine. It was worth dragging all three children into Strawberry Patches for. Freshly cut fabric holds such promise and intrigue. I love to touch it and smell it and gaze at it. I love to carefully pick which fabric I will use for which project, and for which person. I love that a handmade gift expresses my care and love for the recipient. I love getting handmade gifts which say the same thing to me. The season is here, and I am ready! What are you making for Christmas gifts?

9 months, 10 months, Something like That

2010-11-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Look! This:

Became This:

In, like, five weeks! Something like that, anyways. How is time speeding up so fast? It seemed the years used to fly by, but the weeks were long. The days were longer. It is not seeming this way anymore. With the addition of two days of BSF this year, our week just jumps by. This little guy is "something like 9 or ten months", which is what I tell people when they ask. I have to figure it out. But by the time I figure it out, it changes. Why bother? He's older than 0 and not quite as old as 1. Is that good enough for you? No really, it is nice and polite when people ask.

He cut a tooth on Thursday. His very first one. He drools all over me, and now I know why. I was at the park with my sister-in-law and her kids, and somewhere between all four big kids deciding to swim in the river in the 59 degree weather and a poopy diaper, I felt a tooth. It feels so victorious! Way to go, little guy.

The Lord doesn't care if my day-week-year is busy. He still expects me to put Him first. Every year I think this, but this year, I truly have had to rely on Him more than ever. Unexpectedly and unwelcomingly, life seems to get more convoluted and difficult as I become an adult. Relationships are difficult (although, as Chad preached to us today, the devil seeks to destroy our relationships because Christian fellowship glorifies God. The enemy doesn't like that...remember, Jennie, remember this....), taking care of one's family and oneself is difficult, and lots of other stuff that I can't quite remember is difficult. There are such shining times of joy and peace, but a lot of difficulty. Is it because I am getting older? Having more children? Deepening more relationships? Realizing this world is neither Home nor fulfilling? Hmm... The Lord guides me, sustains me, and keeps me. If nothing else, I have the promise of salvation. I fervently pray the same for my children and others in my life. I suppose life would be boring if it were easy and happy and lovely all the time. Who needs boring?

I am so in love with that Baby that is neither 0 nor 1. He is quite the charmer. That's all I really wanted to say. Thanks for stopping by!

A Few Pictures of the Season Thus Far..

2010-11-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

At the pumpkin patch...
All 9 cousins at little Mattie Grace's 4th birthday...
A forlorn Tigger...
Halloween costume a la Rebecca Sky...
Happily trolling for pumpkins with Daddy....

More to come. BSF is keeping us pretty busy during the week. It is also the season of baby showers and other fun things. I want to blog, but it has to be close to last on my priority list, unfortunately. How are you doing?

Onesie Cupcake Tutorial- No Sew!

2010-10-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend Lindsay decided she wanted to make a onesie cupcake tower for a shower we are throwing together. We looked online and were hardpressed to find a photo tutorial for what we wanted to do. We did read this webpage to get an idea of how to make our onesie cupcakes, but we wanted to put into pictures just how we did this cupcake tower. Want to play?

Get:
12 onesies (the cuter, the better!)
12 bitty rubber bands
12 safety pins
12 assorted colored pom poms
12 jumbo cupcake wrappers
cupcake tower

1. Lay your onesie flat.

2. Fold the sleeves inward. You can use a short-sleeved or long-sleeved onesie, but I assume the short-sleeves fold a little easier!
3. Fold the onesie in half.
4. Fold in in half again.
5. Securely grab one end of the onesie. Slowly roll it up like a burrito. Not too tight, not too loose.
6. Hold onto the onesie while a friend hands you a teeny rubber band (we used Rebecca's stash of itty bitty clear rubber bands from the 250 pack at Walmart)
7. Snap that band on like you mean it.
8. Nice! It looks like a rolled onesie!
9. Thread a pom pom ontot he end of a one-inch safety pin.
10. Find the center of the roll and slide the safety-pinned pom pom in like a cherry on top.
11. Pull the middle layers up a bit to look like swirled frosting.
12. Wow. Our demo is actually the funkiest looking cupcake. Play around with them until you get what you like.

13. Place each onesie inside a jumbo white cupcake wrapper to complete the effect. You could wrap the outside with a nice grosgrain ribbon for an extra aesthetic. Piled up on the cupcake tower, they make a lovely centerpiece!
Great idea, Lindsay! Check back soon, blogfriends, so you can read about Lindsay's new Etsy shop...she upcycles onesies into cool customwear for babies.

2010-10-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

That Rebecca is at it again! While playing with her brother, this is what I heard:

"T T F E!....Ta ta for ever! Hmph."

2010-10-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Overheard

2010-10-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Overheard while ironing:

"Hey Jackson! You throw him, and I will catch him. I promise."

Referring, of course, to her baby brother. What else?

The Liberry

2010-10-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

It is one of the places I sometimes forget about. I spent hours at the Southwest Library as a child. I could walk to it from my parents' home. In fact, it was my refuge every time I would run away from home. I would yell, "...and you'll never see me again!" and my mom would roll her eyes and wave me away. I would furiously pedal a good half mile before I would realize that I was really hot. And really thirsty. And doggone it, didn't I have a book report to write?

So I'd throw down my bike and trudge into the library. I was always welcomed with a blast of cool air, a free drinking fountain, and a nameless, kindly old woman who would smile at me. Mind you, I only ran away from home in the summer.

This is why I forget about it. Who wants to remember all the dumb things she ever did...repeatedly?

But now I have three children and I need a cool, welcoming, free place to go once again. So we got library cards. We will sit and the children will listen to two or three books before they become restless. Then we can walk to the Marketplace fountain or Rite Aid for ice cream. It is a lovely mother-children way to spend a few hours.

This time, in preparation for our Sacramento-Trip-That-Ended-Up-Not-To-Be-A-Sacramento-Trip, we rented Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Curious George Books on Tape. While we did not make our scheduled trip, the kids and I have been listening to the books as we drive around town. Yesterday, when we were lost in industrial Oildale for 23 minutes trying to find our raw milk pick-up spot, we listened to four Curious George books and no one was irritated. Well, Mommy was irritated. But you would be, too.

We love books. And we certainly love books on tape.

Monsignor, Pastor, Mommy

2010-10-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

I don't go to school anymore. I don't work in an office building. But I still am not fond of Mondays.

I kind of want that to be my whole post.

But here is what I have been thinking about for the past two days:

I grew up as a Catholic. Our family holidays often included the Monsignor of our local church. My father was the principal of our local Catholic high school, and we would spend time with the Msgr. outside of church.

It was kind of terrifying.

I would have to go to that same man on Sundays and confess my sins to him. Mind you, there was nothing inherently terrifying about this dear man. He was always kind and respectful to my family. It was just that he held a position of such authority. It was rather daunting just to be around him.

Back then, I did not have a real relationship with the Lord. I knew of Him, and about Him, but I did know know Him. By His grace, I do know Him now, and I sit under the teaching of another man and another church.

And this man preached this week on one's personal allegiance and love to one's church. Chad talked about what real biblical love is. He likened contemporary cultural love to a consumer product. When the product is no longer shiny and useful in our eyes, we discard it. This happens in many marriages. This happens in many churches.

It is a difficult thing to see something you hold to a high standard, fail to meet that standard. As Chad said, "People are surprised to learn that their pastors and elders are flawed".

So I thought about this. Yes, it is a bit of a shock to learn that. Throughout my entire childhood, I was convinced that the Monsignor never had to recite Hail Marys or Our Fathers as penance for his sin. He just didn't sin. Of course, now I can deduce otherwise. He drove a boring old gray sedan. He must have coveted something a little sportier every once and awhile.

As an adult, I am a bit taken aback to see that the leaders in the church are flawed and sinful. But we all are. Really.

As a mommy, I have to decide what I want my children to learn and emulate. Do I want them to see me as an authority figure who "never" sins? Of course not! I need Jesus' perfect, sinless atonement as much as they need it, and I want them to see that. Do I want them to see me in habitual sin? No way! I want them to see me "working out my salvation with fear and trembling."

I am encouraged that no matter what God calls us to in this life, He gives us all we need to do it well, to serve Him, and to glorify Him. It is a truly loving thing to come alongside a brother or sister and encourage them in righteousness, to humbly address sin in their lives, or to walk with them through a trial. Marriage is often hard. Being in the Body of Christ is often hard. Both places are populated solely with fallen sinners. But if we are looking to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith, our vision is less obscured by the periphery.

2010-10-08T08:48:00.001-07:00

Mommy to children: "A waterslide is kind of like a waterfall. You slide down a long chute, really fast, like a waterfall."

Jackson: "Can we do that today?"

Mommy: "Nope. It's too cold."

Jackson: "When can we do it? In the winter?"

Mommy: "No, in the summer."

Jackson: "Is it summer today?"

Rebecca: "No, Jackson. It's Wednesday."

(It's Friday).

Random Senseless Cuteness

2010-10-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

This is a mom blog, after all.

Is Anyone Else Glad it is Saturday?

2010-10-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Apple picking is my own personal harbinger of fall. This year, it was 90 degrees and a little windy up in ol' Tehachapi, but it still felt rather fall-ish.
We trekked up the mountain with our dear friends, the Highfills. After picking, we picnicked. Then, we hit the Apple Shed for some delicious fudge. Can it get any more Fall than that?

It was not yet jeans-wearing weather, but no one seemed to care.The apples taste like earth and sugar, crisp and delicious.
Can't wait till next year!

* * *
Daddy has decided it is time for the children to be exposed to Looney Tunes. I pick and choose my battles and this is one I will not fight. Bugs Bunny is not my first choice for a role model, but there are worse things my children can be doing on a Saturday morning than cuddling up to their father, giggling at the loony antics of Merrie Melodies.

So this morning, as I was brushing Rebecca's hair, I was just about to start singing our hair-brushing song, "Good Morning, God!".

And out from under a little ducked-down towhead, I heard this song:

"Kill the Wabbit...Kill the Wabbit...Kill the Wabbit".

8

2010-09-28T14:32:00.000-07:00

That is how many years I have been married today. I cannot believe my parents allowed me to get married at age 19, but they did. And the Lord had some growin' in store for me.

My "8" is a rock wall because that is what God provided for me in my husband. For every wacky idea I have, he has a thoughtful and reasonable alternative. When I am emotional, he is steady. If I have a problem, he has a solution. That man puts up with a lot. He is my earthly rock.

What I am most thankful for in my marriage is this: God has elected to save us both. We don't know why. We just know that He is good. And we know that we will spend eternity together. Odds are, we won't even notice each other because we will be so busy praising God; however, it is a small earthly comfort to know that Beau will be in heaven. It is also quite the gift to know that my husband is not living to glorify himself (no matter what I may say in an argument). He seeks to serve the Lord, and this wife is quite thankful for that fact. His authority is Scripture, and there is something so peaceful about knowing that I follow a man who follows the Lord.

There are lots of other cool things about him. But these are what I am most thankful for. Happy Anniversary, Beau Thomas.

Five in a Row

2010-09-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend lent me this book and it has changed the way I look at home learning. I love it! Instead of trying to do a mishmash of "subjects" (and feeling guilty when I fail) I just use this book.

The concept of Five in a Row is that you read a different classic children's book each day in a school week. After finishing the story, you use the guide to explore the story further and learn a little more about some particular subject.

For example, we are stuck on "The Story of Ping", an endearing children's book written in 1933 about a little duck who lives on the Yangtze River. So far, in just about 15 minutes each day, we have read the book probably 20 times (they want it for a breakfast story, a rest time story, and an evening story right now) and we have learned about the Yangtze River, why the water is "yellow", about the colored pencil technique of illustrating, etc.

Just wanted to share :)

Welcome To RebeccaLand!

2010-09-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

Population: 1.

Sometimes. Sometimes I think it is more like population: 3/4. Or 1/2. Where are you? I want to call. Even if she is standing there right in front of me.

I have always thought I fell along the more free-spirited side of the spectrum. I have nothing on my daughter. It is a sight to see. Sometimes I think, I should be mad. But I am laughing. Sometimes I think, I should be laughing. But doggone it, I am mad. What in the world is she doing?

Case in point: these.
Here is how the conversation went-
"Becca Boo- who ate your shoes?"

"Me. Becca did."

OK then.

I did not get an answer to "where is that missing piece?". I don't want to think about it.

Homemade Infant Formula

2010-09-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

I feel so organically domestic as I pull this stuff out of the fridge. It takes more work than the powdered formula, but it feels so much better to feed raw, whole, clean milk to my baby than processed white powder.

Don't get me wrong. I hold no judgment against the powdered white stuff. In fact, Jackson was supplemented with store-brand nonorganic formula until a year. He even got (dang it!) soy formula in spurts. Rebecca occasionally got organic formula, when I was given the "OK" to spend an extra $4.00 a week. But after considering the cost of money and time, I finally committed to making raw milk formula for Roman. There are opponents of raw milk, and I have read considerable research on both sides of the issue, but the conclusion I have arrived at is the same conclusion I have made when it comes to everything (well, most things) that goes into my family's mouth:

If the Good Lord did not make it, it is not worth eating.

This will hang in my kitchen when I finish my needlepoint. Maybe. No, I'm kidding.

Anyways, first allow me to reiterate- I never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or anxious over different eating habits. As Scripture says, "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable". That definitely pertains to food. Eat whatever the heck you want, and don't feel bad about it. But if you are interested in making baby formula some day, here be the recipe:

2 cups whole raw cow's milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
4 tablespoons lactose
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil
1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)
1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons coconut oil
2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes
2 teaspoons gelatin
1-7/8 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder

You have to put all this in the blender and blend really well. Coconut oil solidifies when chilly.

Here is why it is cost-effective for me: I already have on hand raw milk, cod liver oil, homemade whey, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional , and infant probiotics. I had to purchase lactose, gelatin, and sunflower oil. So the cost, per week, is about $15.00, compared to the $20.00 I was spending on store-brand organic formula. And you know I love a deal!

So feel free to comment or email if you have any questions about the formula. I will be in the kitchen with bare feet, wrapped up in my muslin apron, smelling of lavender.

Lymph System

2010-09-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

There are dozens of reasons to love exercise. My mother was constantly in motion when I was a little girl- she still is- and I grew to love exercise as a result. I don't feel right at the end of the day if I can't move a little during the day.

But here is a new reason I am loving it- it keeps my lymph system healthy. According to (yes) Suzanne Somers, author of Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness- Life-Altering Secrets from Today's Cutting-Edge Doctors, here is a synopsis of the Lymph System:

"The lymphatic system is a complicated network of vessels, ducts, and nodes that moves fluid between the cells and tissues and produces and distributes the infection-fighting and -scavenging cells of the body. It feeds literally every tissue and organ. It feeds the blood and is the transportation highway for the immune and repair functions of the body."

But the lymph system, unlike the circulatory or digestive system, does not regulate itself. We have to do our part to clean our lymph system. The only way to do that is to move one's body. Isn't that amazing?

Side Effects

2010-09-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

If I were to discourage you from eating a nourishing, "traditional" diet, I would tell you about one of its side effects.

It is almost a dealbreaker.

Why I Love Fall Reason #4- The Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. It re-emerges every September 1, and I have been waiting three whole days for the perfect time to go get one.

I got one this morning and was so excited to inhale the fall-ish aroma.

I took my first sip.

I almost spat it out.

Yuck! What in the world? It tastes almost exactly like how I remember it from years past...only...chemical-y-er. As if all I could taste were chemicals.

On the plus side, I will be saving approximately $70 this fall. Beau will be so proud. On that note, I'll re-share how to recreate pumpkin coffee at home. It looks like this will be the only way this mommy will be enjoying her spicy pumpkin goodness for the season.

In your grinder,
Pour in enough beans for a whole pot of coffee.
Add 1 tsp of Pumpkin Pie seasoning.

Brew and enjoy.

Grooming Girls on the Cheap: Homemade Detangler Spray

2010-09-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

The price of Johnson and Johnson's Detangler Spray runs between $3.29 (FoodMaxx) and $4.99 (Vons). I was buying one bottle every two months or so. My daughter's hair looks like this when she gets out of bed in the morning:My sister-in-law and I talk sometimes about how impossible it is to create a hairstyle on our daughters that stays in place all day.

Anyway. Sometimes wetting and detangling her hair helps in the short term. But I didn't want to pay for what is basically water in a bottle.

So, to make your own hair detangler, get out these supplies:

1- Spray bottle ($1.98 at Winco)
2- Your favorite hair conditioner (I have lots, loitering in my bathroom cupboards- free)
3- Filtered Water (essentially free)

Fill the spray bottle up with water. Add a generous dose of conditioner (maybe two tablespoons). Shake it up. With the cap on, of course. You clean up enough of your childrens' messes to add one of your own.

Spray away. A bonus- the spray bottle covers a wider area of Rebecca's head than the wussy little Johnson and Johnson's sprayer.

And it smells better.

2010-09-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

It is another day. Imagine that.

2010-08-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my morning of jumbled thoughts!

Forgive me, we were up early with a vomiting child...again. He is currently complaining of a tummyache, although he has not thrown up yet again since the first round.

Here is the difference between Jackson and Rebecca:

"Jackson, what happened?"
"My tummy felt all rumbly and then I barfed on my bed and then I came to your room and got you...can you put the bucket closer to me, please?"

"Rebecca, what happened?"
"My tummy huuuuuurt..."
"Rebecca, do you need to throw up?"
(Shakes head) "No..." (Throws up all over self, floor, and nowhere close to bucket).

But what I really have on my brain this morning is sin, legalism, and morality. Yikes. I will tell you why:

I sinned in my attitude and behavior recently and felt so justified in my anger...which gave away to sorrow over my sin and an overwhelming desire to repent. Here is the Holy Spirit at work, praise God. I would love to just sit in a dark corner with a pot of coffee and really unhealthy flavored creamer, stewing over this perceived affront to me. But I repented. And I was mulling over the reason for my response, where the sin was coming from. As I thought about the recesses of my dark heart, I asked the Lord, "How is it possible that you can forgive me for this? Just my thoughts are so very ugly!" And I realized-

The cross.

It hits me every so often. I read the Gospels and follow the events of the Crucifixion. I sometimes think a little deeper on the reason for the cross and the sin of the world that Christ died for. But when the true Gospel really becomes real to me is when I ponder my own sin. How can He forgive me? He already has. "It is finished." It makes the sun a little warmer, the sky a little brighter, the barf a little less disgusting. What a gift, what a Savior!

Afternoon Pictures

2010-08-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Power

2010-08-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

Can't live without it.

I'm not being metaphorical. I mean the power that comes from PG&E. Or wherever the heck power comes from.

Have you received your August bill? We have. It made my stomach drop a bit. So I started researching ways to save energy.

My mom raised us to be green before green was Cool. She never ran the air conditioner. She never turned on the heater. We did not own a clothes dryer. She did all of her baking in the toaster oven. She used her dishwater to water the plants. She would bang on the door of the bathroom incessantly if our cleaning process took more than the allotted five minutes.

Yes, even in high school. I started playing sports because I got access to free, long, hot showers.

That's a joke.

Anyway, somewhere along the way, while we had no children and both had lucrative jobs, I began turning the AC way down with relish. I nonchalantly ran smallish loads of dishes and wash through their respective machines. I bought more produce than we could eat in a week and I wouldn't think twice about throwing away a few rotten apples.

Not anymore.

Here is what I learned while talking to Pete, my friendly PG&E customer service representative:

1- Each home in Bakersfield is allotted 20 kWh daily.
2- Three (3) hours of running your AC eats up that entire 20 kWh
3- Each dryer load in an electric dryer eats 5 kWh.
4- Running every ceiling fan in your home 24 hours a day only costs about $5.00/ month
5- There is no "lower priced electricity time of day" for residents unless you sign up for a plan.
(so this means that having your AC on at night costs the same as having it on during the day).

I told Pete that PG&E must hate stay-at-home moms.

Pete said it was not his fault.

I agreed and we had a lovely chat about solar energy.

So we sit here, a little warmer, trying to brainstorm other ways to save power. We have cut out the dishwasher (redundant anyways), use the dryer only for necessary items (like Beau's work clothes- the rest dry on racks), leave the AC at 82 degrees (or "off", as it may well be!), and run those ceiling fans.

Ah, Humility.

2010-08-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my girlfriends and I talk about self-righteousness and pride. We know God hates it. We know we hate it- in ourselves, and in others. Yet it is a most insidious sin...creeping up, invading thoughts, manifesting itself in looks on the face. We would never say what we are thinking, but the judgment is still there. Are you with me?

I pray sometimes against my pride. I tentatively ask the Lord for release from pride. I ask for compassion and humility. While I abhor the sin that is in me, I know that I don't really want a disciplinary session from the Lord on account of my pride.

Been there, done that.

It was no fun.

Well, I guess I have been there and done that on many different occasions. You would think I would learn.

Anyway, for all of the dramatic prologue, this is just a mini-discipline session. I suppose I was getting too self-righteous. So I took a trip to Winco.

It was supposed to last 30 minutes. It took 90. We spilled grapes, pre-emptively opened a Lunchable and promptly spilled that as well, got quietly taken aside by a kind clerk and given our own check-out lane (to the verbal disapproval of two other patrons- yikes!), and had three different "if you don't stop whining, you know what will happen when we get home" whispered sessions.

I thought we were out of the danger zone. But as we walked out, with two kids and an infant carrier in the cart, I forcefully walked right into a big red pole.

The baby started crying. Rebecca dropped her Lunchable again and started crying because she thought she would be getting disciplined for spilling again. And Jackson got a bloody lip from banging his face onto the cart handle.

Awesome.

As I was slinking back to the car, trying to whisper kind words of comfort to my poor children, I had a tap on my arm. I literally jumped while walking. A thoughtful little boy had run after me to give me the phone I had dropped after our crash.

Humbling. Every day needs a little dose of humility. Who is up to join me for my next grocery shopping trip?

I didn't think so. :)