Brr..Its Cold

It is so cold here in South Carolina it is crazy! It started raining last night and man has that made it even colder!!

But, this is a great excuse to cuddle up with blankets and such in the living room together. Even the dogs jump on in the fun and want to cuddle with a blanket and a person!

I hope you are all enjoying the weather wherever you are - Seasons are wonderful, and this season is about focusing on our Lord and his coming to this world!

Great Post

Eveyone needs to head over to Stacy McDonald blog
and look at it. This wonderful lady has put into words what has been my heart's cry recently. You will be blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope every single one of you have a great Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for!

Thank-you for being my cyber-friend, or real life friend in some cases!

Differing Thoughts

Wow, I am processing so much info lately. Differing thoughts on so many issues. Divorce and remarriage within the church, whether or not teens should date, and vaccines - whether they are safe or not. It is very hard to state your view point on these without sounding pious and very hard to tell someone it is flat wrong to do or not do any of these, when only one (divorce/remarriage) is addressed in the Bible.

I have enough to answer for myself when I stand before God, even sin I have done after I became a Christian. I know I am forgiven for I have confessed and God promises to forgive, but scripture still says I will give an account. So...

Even among professing Christians (and maybe because so) these issues can become so heated and even nasty. Just because my daughters won't date until they are ready to make a decision about marriage doesn't make us any "holier" than those who do let their children date. We all have made decisions regarding our children and feel that is best.

Vaccines are another big issue. We vaccinate. Just because others don't, does not make us any less saved or holy. I would never assume that about people. We have researched and prayed more about this decision than any other we have made as parents - including dating or even homeschooling. I have had a super super sick baby from a vaccinatable disease. Although - Praise GOD - he is better, I would never never wish that on anybody. And, I thank God I was an experienced mama for if not, I would probably have lost it when he got so sick.

Love is what God commands from us. Even if a person is divorced on non-biblical grounds and remarried, does that make them any less saved than me? No, how crazy to think that. Does it make me have any less faith because I vaccinate? What if I thank God for vaccines? Is that blasphemy because I don't trust him enough to take care of my kids without that? I don't hardly think so. If I have prayed and feel God has directed me to vaccinate, and others pull clearly biased info out to prove to me why they are so bad, what is this? Is this edifying? What if I say I feel this is where the Lord has led us? Why, when there is no scriptural basis for not vaccinating your children, do people feel it such their mission to point out why I am wrong?

I hope I never come across as knowing it all. I would never tell someone they are not in line with God because they don't vaccinate or date or eat shellfish or wear clothes of 2 different woven fabrics!

I have to lay my head down knowing I made the best decision I could, after prayer and discussion with my husband, for the children God has given me. Why oh why when there are hurting people all around us do we waste time on this issues? Hurting mamas who can't feed their babies, hurting daddies who can't provide safety for their families.

I yearn for heaven thinking about this, and yet pray for more time when I think of others who won't be going because they don't know, and I absolutely shudder to think that yet others are so turned off because of our actions as Christians they don't want any part...

Conference

The conference we went to was wonderful! Michael Farris was great, what he said was great, the books I bought have proved to be great - although I have only read one whole one yet.

We have been busy and fighting colds, but enjoying our weather and time together! I hope y'all are too!!

Mothering

Just returned from part one of the home school conference we are attending this weekend. I just sat and listened to a dear man give very real encouragement to homeschooling mama's. Mothering is natural to mama's, so natural in fact that God does not have to command us to do it in the Bible.

Michael Farris said it is as natural as breathing for us mamas to love and pray for our children. He also stated the importance of teaching our kids to love God, not just about God. Young adults are leaving the church and faith in record numbers. It is scary.

God can use us to impact many. God doesn't need a large number, he needs faithful followers. I want to be that faithful follower!!

Fall

I love this time of year. Warm days and cool nights can't be beat! I have been going going going since we started school, and now that my little Peanut is trying to walk, I am wondering where the time went! When we started school, he was just starting to crawl, now I am so sad. He is growing up so fast, and although I love this time of year, it reminds me that seasons come fast, and time keeps moving!

My oldest is driving, and my youngest is almost walking. How different but the same. They are growing, moving forward, changing faster than I can stand sometimes. I wake up in the middle of the night often, can't seem to sleep through the night myself. I sneak in to see them sleep and silently thank God for this life I have.

I am so blessed, and He is so gracious to give me these children to raise. That is my job. I don't get paid right away, somedays I want a long vacation or a temporary replacement for a day, but it is what He has called and therefore equipped me to do. Some days I wonder what some people do with their time. I guess a clean house and loads of free time are not what they think they have an abundance of.

I heard a lady on the radio this morning, who has been struggling with infertility for 10 years. Wow, I think about how different my life has been over the last ten years, and I cannot imagine waiting all those years for a baby. I was told as a teenager that I would probably have a hard time getting pregnant, and then after my 2nd baby they told me stop - no more. I thank God He saw things so different. I am so blessed, so very blessed. I love thinking about that this time of year.

I hope you enjoy your fall and your blessings today!

Since when are we NOT a Country founded on Christian Prinicples?

(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

Screaming

It is so interesting to type this tonight after reading my freind's Stacie post on screaming. But...

I have been telling my kids how God screams our name through the Holy Spirit to keep us from sin. Twice this week, my 2 older girls have seen this first hand. Right when they went to do something they knew they weren't supposed to, they listened to that voice and stopped.

Oh, Praise God for His mercies! I am so grateful for Him helping and guiding me in raising these kids!!

Isn't Life Interesting...

It seems like everyone is on Facebook. So, I decided to see if I could find some friends on there. I found several real life, local friends. Some were set to private and some were not. I was not shocked at anything any of these people had.

Then, I decided to look up people I knew from school. One is now a pediatrician, one is a a surgeon, one is an insurance agent, one is gay, several are married, several have kids. With the exception of one, no one mentioned God on their pages. Several had some pictures that would make me question if they even know Him. It was so sad to see this to me. People who were so popular in school, who I let influence my life and my decisions as a teen, are so lost. All the money in the world can't buy happiness, and certainly can't buy salvation. I am not trying to sound smug, I certainly am so glad for my salvation and so completely undeserving of it.

I was just so saddened to see some of what I saw. I said a prayer to God of thanksgiving. I am so glad He screamed my name loud enough that I heard. I also said a prayer for these people that someone, somewhere would witness to them.

I was unpopular in school, and let that determine so much of my teen years and my confidence. I thought about how God has so changed me to do what He has equipped me to do. I am sure if I made a page, people would be shocked to see who I am some 17 years later as well. Praise God I certainly am!

What is on your mind

Thoughts are so powerful. What you think about, you dwell on. The Bible is full of examples about what you should think on. God lets us know to dwell on him and not the world, for He is in charge not us.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" Hebrews 12:2

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

I have been trying to keep my focus on God. Outside circumstances makes this so hard. It is hard to keep my eyes focused on God when people I know make it so hard.

My crazy extended family is up to no good again. It is so hard to be the Christian example when anger and hurt is at work and has been for years. Two weeks ago the nonsense started again. Drugs, evictions, feel sorry for me sagas, etc. I refuse to be a part of it, it has been a 5 year battle and I refuse to put my family in the direct path of someone who clearly lives and relishes in sin.

I am keeping my focus on God and what he has called and therefore equipped me to do! I will praise God today for saving me from my own sin. Even if my sin was not as bad by the world's standard, it was to God.

I will praise Him today:

for saving me,

for directing my path,

for giving me my husband who I love so much

for my children,

for allowing me to privilege to raise them,

for the awesome country I live in that allows me to homeschool them,

for equpping me to be able to teach them about Him and about the studies we do,

for the wonderful community I live in that is full of homeschoolers,

for my hard-working husband who provides for us so we can enjoy this life,

for my local homeschool co-op whose mission is for all to know & make known our awesome God,

for the lady who started this co-op I so despartly prayed for,

for my friends,

for my neighbors,

for cool nights when we can lay in our grass and watch the stars,

for my great friend who encouraged me to keep homeschooling when I wanted to quit because it seemed like the whole world was against me,

for the decision we made a long time ago to not let our children date,

for the convictions I see in my own children,

for my lovely house that I was forced to move into when I didn't want to,

for my working van,

for books,

for my new roof,

for our animals that bark at strangers and cuddle with my children,

for the cool weather we are having,

for my computer and all the friends I have in blogland,

for dry erase boards,

for window screens that keep bugs out,

for my midwives,

for washable markers,

for johnny jump-ups, and

for the ability to see and read my Bible, the precious words of our Lord!

Wake-up or...

I'm sending your brothers in to tackle you...

My Little Fisherman

Oh how he loves fishing with his daddy!

(ETA: I only cook them if they come home cleaned already - I don't clean fish!)

Clarification

I realize my last post seemed like I agree with the religion of Glenn Beck.

I do not. I apologize if that is what I conveyed on here.

I simply meant that I don't understand why so many in the media are against what he is saying. I like him for political reasons, not religious.

Again, I apologize if that is what was inferred from my last post!!

Ten Commandments and Glenn Beck

So, I am sure everyone has seen the Glenn Beck rally news. I happen to like him. I watch him, and listen on the radio sometimes when we are out.

So, what is the big deal? Why can't Americans, or everyone, follow the 10 commandments? Even if you don't believe in God, if you followed them (except for maybe the first 2 if you were an atheist) would it really hurt you? Wouldn't the world be a nicer place if everyone followed them? What is really so bad about you shall not lie, murder steal? Most of these are laws anyway. Wouldn't it be easier for law enforcement if most if not all people followed these commandments?

I pray that people do wake up and reclaim this country. God blessed this country, His hand guided it's start and government. I pray for our government and His guidance on it all!!

Toddler Sayings

A blogging friend was talking about funny child sayings and I am going to post some recent ones from around here, funny words like this:

Piglet regarding Peanut wanting his pacifier "He really wants hims paci"

Pear regarding history last week "Pokelio crowned Charlemagne holy roman emperor" (rhymes with Pinocchio, is supposed to be Pope Leo)

Piglet regarding going to our home school co-op meeting "When I get big I'm going to co-op, because I am 5 actually" (He is only 3 and makes actually about 5 syllables)

What are some recent or funny sayings of your toddlers or young children? I love that God has given me the privilege of raising these children, and the patience to stop and listen to their funny sayings!!

The First Week of School

So, exactly what do homeschool shelves look like the first week of school when mama hasn't had time to make them great because of the sick baby?





All in all, we had a great week though, and I am really impressed that the kids kept up despite my un-organization! My plan this weekend is to tackle those shelves and get everything back together the way it is supposed to be.

Last year, I started early due to the baby being due in the fall. I wanted as much done before he got here as possible, because I don't like cramming and I like taking off between Thanksgiving and Christmas from normal school and doing a unit study on the holidays.

Note to self for next year, this should be done in June no matter if I am pregnant or not!

Meals

Meals these past couple weeks have been weird. First, I could have cared less about eating, I just wanted a well baby. But, I still have a family to care for, so eat we must.

So, one night I threw a chicken in the crock-pot with some spices and we ate that and salads.

Then, the one night I cooked ground meat and veggies and threw it in the crock with some basil from the garden and tomatoes and we had spaghetti.

Then, my 2 older girls made us a yummy fried fish dinner with noodles and green beans. They help me in the kitchen a lot and could probably run this house without me if need be, but i do not let them fry things because I am afraid too. They did an excellent job, and that was the first night I actually ate!

The one night I used the leftover chicken and rice and made enchiladas with it. What a great way to use a little meat and stretch it!

Then we had yummy salads one night. I toasted pecans that I tossed with melted butter, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar. Then I made a vinaigrette dressing and we ate spinach salads with strawberries, the dressing and goat cheese. It was so refreshing and took all of 10 minutes. They say necessity is the mother of inventions right? Well, my whole family wants me to make the salad again!

I was so glad for frozen pizza in the freezer one night too! And a frozen lasagna my family ate one night he was so bad.

We also had soup and grilled cheese two nights in there!

Fried eggs, toast and bacon were eaten one night as well as pancakes another and grits and eggs yet another.

It is amazing what you can pull together from your pantry and freezer when you must! I keep a box under my bed with canned soup, ritz crackers, goldfish, a box of special cereal, individual applesauces and pudding, gatorade and 7-Up for when someone falls ill. It helps not to have to go to the store when mama is sick, or tending to a sick baby or child. I started doing it one year after I got the flu. Although I don't like having to access the box, it sure does help when needed! I also keep a loaf of bread and a pack of bacon in the freezer for such an occasion as well!

Healing

Peanut is healing and doing so much better! He is eating and hursing and finally sleeping some. He is still pretty cranky, and does not want anyone but me, but is improving each day!

His coughing fits are getter fewer and less intense, and I am prepared for the long haul so it is okay.

We have not gone anywhere, and that is kinda nice to be honest. I am re-doing our schedule for now because I realize how fast things are moving by, and despite my trying not to be so rushed, this has made me see just how jam-packed our schedule truly is. Peach said on day number 2 of this illness that she wanted out of this house. Hmm... something tells me we got to much!

I am going to rejoin a warehouse club because we are visiting the grocery too often. Even if I can get things on sale, it is wasting too much of my time to go so often! My gas and time are not worth what looks like the savings!

Thank you for your prayers for Peanut's healing! You all are so sweet!

Sick Baby!!

My little Peanut is very very sick! I went to our pediatrician and told him none of my children have ever been like this. He examined him and agreed. He ran some tests, and the poor baby has Pertussis or Whooping Cough.

He is literally gasping for air. He spent Wednesday night coughing and gasping for 9 straight hours. I have had kids with croup and pneumonia, and I have never seen anything like it. He refused food for 4 days, and wouldn't nurse for almost 2. I was so so worried about him. They called on Friday to say he had it, and we all have to be treated, including anyone who was around my kids this last week. So, my very nice neighbor who watched Pear twice last week while I took him in has to be treated as well. UGH!

Friday night I almost went to the ER, he had only nursed one time since Wednesday evening. My Dr called that evening to check on him, and I was worried. I almost took him in for fluids, he was so sick. My wonderful Dr told me he would be praying for him, and to take him in or call back if things got worse. I called my friend who is in charge of our co-op and she said she would pray as well.

When I got off the phone, Mr. Brown prayed over him, and he finally nursed for about 10 minutes. He is slowly making improvements, but they said the coughing spells are going to last for weeks if not months. On Friday before Mr. Brown came home he spoke to someone whose daughter had it, her cough lasted for 6 months and she has asthma from it. So, we are praying for that not to happen.

DHEC has called me twice, they have to follow up on everyone who has had contact with us, and that nurse told me to be prepared for months of coughing, which my Dr had already warned me it will last for at least 6-8 weeks because the toxins are in his lungs!

So, anyone know of lung healing herbs? If so, let me know!

I am praising God for his healing hand on Peanut right now. Watching your baby gasp for air for hours is scary, no matter how many children you have had!

One more for the Kingdom

Sunday we had a guest speaker at church and he was talking about how many people die each and every day in this world and go to hell. Chances are, the majority of people actually dying (108 out of the 116 that die every minute) have never made a confession of faith. He was crying at the thought of these people crying out from hell, and with my heart's burden, it was almost overwhelming to hear for me.

Then we sung "Mighty to Save" and y'all my baby raised his hands during the song. It was so sweet. It was a sweet reminder that God is a long suffering God who doesn't want any to perish to hell.

Then, last night at evening service a grown man fell under conviction. He said he "could not know that he knows that he knows he was saved" He came down and accepted Christ, and spoke and said he was tired of being miserable and was ready to live his life for God. He has been coming to church for a while, works some for the church doing odds and end things. We should never ever assume someone is saved!

What a time of rejoicing we had knowing that one more name is in the Lamb's Book of Life now!

Pepper's little group of young ladies finished their Proverbs 31 summer study with an online fashione cut-out. They had to print up a dress for 20 bucks. She found a cute summer dress at JCPenney with matching earrings for 20 bucks. She also had a good time wrapping that up.

We hae a very busy week this week, but I am determined to show Christ's love where we go!

Hope for the Lost

As most of my readers know, I have been troubled over the lost lately. I have decided to write down and pray over those people I KNOW for sure are lost in a special notebook.

Now, isn't it funny to be able to pre-judge people based on how they look? Well, it is not funny it is wrong, but just because someone is clean-cut or looks "safe" does not mean they are saved.

There is a young man at Music lessons who is always so polite, so very nice. He holds the door open for me when I am holding the baby, he has come to worship night (something the instructor has started) and I just took for granted he was saved. He is not. He is, as he says "agnostic" I am burdened for this young man.

I hope we can be a light for this young man, as well as our wonderful music instructor, so he can come to know the redeeming power and love of our Lord.

He is entering my notebook tonight...

A recipe for Easy Goat Cheese

Here is the recipe I promised to another blogging friend for Goat Milk Cheese, it is a friends of mine who raises goats. It is wonderful. It is very yummy on crackers, or on bread with tomatoes and basil (see yummy pic several posts ago)

Heat milk to 206 degrees and immediately remove from stove.
(this is JUST before it boils, and if it boils you've probably scorched the bottom)

So, just as it hits 206 degrees, remove carefully from the eye and pour 1/2 cup lemon juice in the milk. Stir it around in the milk only about two swirls and walk away

When you come back in about 5 minutes, maybe ten, the "white" milk you left will now be a bright yellow liquid (called whey) and there will be chunks of cheese curds floating around. If you leave it setting in this liquid too long you will have mushy cheese.

Some people use a cheese cloth, I just use a metal mesh strainer, pour the entire thing thru the strainer and the whey runs off and the cheese curds are left in it. I let it drain for another 10 -20 minutes or so. Take the cheese out of the strainer and put into regular bowl and begin to season it however you like.

My favorite is garlic, salt & pepper and sweet basil. You can be very creative. eat with crackers warm or cold. Will last about a week in the fridge.

Changes in the blog background

I am not sure what happened to my other blog background - can't acces the site either. So, much like the other blogs I follow, I have changed to another. Hope you like it!

Summer, Fishing and Brothers

Well, summer is here. 100 degrees and over with humidity, it soared in like a fire. Being outside is almost always followed by a dip in water, whether the pool, the beach, or a sprinkler.

First, some fishing pics...

Piglet with his catch


Mr. Brown with his shark


Pear with her stylish hat in the strong breeze


Now, wouldn't it be nice if your brother could teach you to crawl?

Look, first you have to push up with your arms


Hey, your not supposed to be watching, this is between us boys



Lastly, I leave you with this picture of Peanut because I love it. It was as if he was expressing his disbelief that our fishing trip was over!

Why it is Delicious to Live in the South...

Summertime Tomatoes with Fresh Basil and Goat Cheese - Enough Said!

I Love Being A Mama

Just a little quick post...

I love being a mama. I still can't get over that the God of this universe would say to me, "I have 5 treasures for you. Love them well, they are mine. Teach them about me."

I can't even imagine how much God must love me when I think about how much I love my children.

My heart is breaking for the unsaved. I can't imagine how bad it must hurt God that people he created would turn their backs on Him.

Lord, help me raise these treasures you have given me to love and serve you first and foremost in all they do.

Does God amaze you? He sure amazes me.

When I am confused, He says "I've got this"

When someone is refusing the Lord and you see the hurt it causes, He says "Free Will"

And when you are on your face begging for God to intervene, He says "My grace is sufficient to those who want it"

I am not giving up praying! I know God is going to move and move in hard, and I am stepping out of the way for Him to do it. I know what is coming is a storm of unbelievable size, but the thought of eternal Hell for the unsaved compels me to pray. How can I have peace, because I know I wouldn't pray this hard for something that was not going to happen!

To All the Mama's...

I got this as an email and thought it was too funny not to pass on...


Why God made moms - from the mouths of babes . . .
Enjoy the answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of they're when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores.

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. and my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just got to work at work..
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power because
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she is perfect, on the outside some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, may be blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

Blogger problem

I have tried to leave comments on several sites, but blogger won't let me. So hopefully they will fix this problem...Until then, I have read your posts, just can't tell you so :)

Easter

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."


Easter!!

This is Piglet's new face when you tell him to smile, Peanut of course is just all smiles.


Here are all my boys.


And all my girls.


Peanut trying to figure out what we were doing with the camera. I swear he was looking at the little screen the picture shows up on while watching everyone get their picture taken.


The egg hunt at grandma's!!


My whole family, courtesy of my dad the camera man, and yes Pepper is now almost taller than me, Peach has been for a while!


One last attempt on my part for a smile from Piglet...


Praise God for his wonderful gift of salvation! I am so thankful for his willingness to take on my sins so I could spend eternity with Him!

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Spring

Spring is here! I love this time of year, and it doesn't last long in South Carolina. We had a very rainy winter and are excited to see it dry up. Warm days and then cool evenings that need jackets make for layering like crazy here. There is a joke that you know you live in South Carolina when you turn the heat and air-conditioning on in the same day - that is the weather here now.

In the big oak tree we find a new hide-out.



If we fall out of said hide-out and land on one of the tree's root, we end up with a chin like this...



This time of year has us playing so hard outside that we are so tired we can't even finish our supper!



I am zooming through spring cleaning like a mad woman. Tossing, purging, etc I am being ruthless with our clutter! My kids are happy to play outside while I am happy I can throw stuff away they would be asking to keep! I guess that is what happens when you have a baby over the winter, spring means energy you didn't have in the fall and a desire for more order and less stuff!

We are cleaning the mudroom/laundry/craft room today and tomorrow. It will take 2 days - I have a love/hate relationship with this room. I love it because of what it holds, for it contains stuff that would creep into the rest of the house if not contained there. I despise it for when it doesn't work right a bunch of stuff ends up in my house, all over my house, and it takes forever to get straight again. When you have a homeschooling family, you have enough stuff to begin with! But, I bought some space bags for winter coats, hats, etc and will be barreling through the room with no mercy! I will post some pictures when I am done...

You have got to watch this

An alternative to those who oppose the pledge (mute the music on my play list)

Updates on Us

Well, after my dishwasher disaster, the water heater broke. I do love indoor plumbing, but...I do not like the problems they provide! But for now, all water coming and going in this house is doing so correctly! So, for some updates...

Can you believe we got snow in SC?




Quick get a bucket so we can build a snowman!!



Mama - snow is cold!!



Our snowman is cool and big!!



Peanut found his thumb, but only for one night



A friend from church gave me this seat, he loves to sit up in it and concentrate on what everyone is doing, but it makes me sad how quick he is growing up!!

Why is this picture here?



Well, this morning my dishwasher was not draining properly. So, in my brilliance I decided that I should take matters into my own hands and not have to have my husband fix it when he came home. I thought that adding Drano would solve my problem.

Let me warn you - NEVER EVER PUT DRANO INTO YOUR DISHWASHER!!! It makes it overflow. And when I say overflow, that is an understatement!! There were Drano suds all over my kitchen. I stopped the dishwasher and it took three loads of the Shop-Vac to empty the thing out.

Then, Pepper and I took the thing apart. We disassembled the bottom of the dishwasher (I was impressed with our skills) There was nothing and I mean nothing clogging anything. So, we put it all back together and turned it back on. It is running now (empty) and we will see what happens. On the plus side, I have a sparkly clean Shop-Vac now :)

I wish I had a picture of the suds to share, but it was so chaotic I just wanted that horrible smelling stuff out of my house.

So, be warned - Drano and the Dishwasher do not mix!!

I'm back and the Superbowl...

My computer is fixed and ahead of schedule :) I'm so happy!!

Now, this weekend is the Superbowl, and unless you live under a rock, you have probably heard of the ad that will be running about LIFE, directed or produced by Focus on the Family starring the Tebow family. After a similar experience with one of my pregnancies (advised abortion) I can relate to their story and so appreciate this commercial.

If one life, yes one, is saved from this ad it is worth it. If no lives are saved it is still worth it. It is a simple and loving message of "why we choose life"

Pro-abortion people are offended by this because it undermines their stance, they don't like the producers, they are scrambling to discredit it by saying the Tebow's are creationists, homeschoolers, take the Bible at full-value etc etc

BUT it is a loving and powerful message. Hope for those going through a difficult pregnancy, hope for those of us who oppose abortion deaths, and hope for those of us peacefully and prayerfully fighting abortion. Seeds planted without confrontation. Isn't that what Jesus did? Didn't he explain things in stories and parables with loving kindness and genuine hope for change in peoples hearts?

There is a time and place for directly confronting sin, but a Superbowl ad screaming at people wouldn't be it. First, it would be rejected. Second, even if it wasn't, I personally believe it would offend from the start and people wouldn't hear the message. Do not get me wrong, I am not a person who changes the Gospel message to be relative. I believe in the full Gospel and the need for true repentance and trust in Jesus alone, you should be offended from your sin - God is - but I do with all my heart believe in this message.

Why don't we as believers pray for this ad. Let's pray that it touches peoples hearts and can be a catalyst that brings about change.

Already, some pro-abortion people are defending the Tebow's right to tell a story, even if they don't like it or agree with it. Some pro-abortion people are starting to see that the people who label themselves "pro-choice" aren't really "pro-choice" - they are "pro-choice as long as you agree with my choice" people.

But - they can't discredit the Tebow's choice. And this drives the pro-abortion people crazy. True colors are emerging. Thank God.

Seeds planted...Thank God

Motherboard Issues

My computer is getting a new motherboard - Yes my NEW computer needs a new motherboard...

So, I will be on here very little during the next three weeks until it gets back from the manufacturer.

The Essence of Sweetness

I know I am biased, but is this not pure sweetness ? ...


(The lady at our tack shop gave this to him as a present.
It says "Pasture Bedtime" if you can't see it.)

Two-Year Olds

Don't you just love what Two-Year olds say and think? I sure do!!

Today, Piglet looked upset and like he was about to cry when we were running some errands. I said to Mr. Brown who was close by him "He looks in distress is everything okay with him?"

Piglet says very in a mad voice "I'm not in a DRESS mama, I have jeans and a shirt on"

I was laughing so hard I had tears. I guess two-year olds can't process the word distress!!

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's celebration.

I don't make resolutions, but have decided to make some goals this year.

First, I want to make it a point each day to say something nice, on purpose, to each member of my family. Sometimes it gets crazy around here, and the typical good morning or good night and bedtime prayers are the only time we really are face to face (besides school time, but we are always working on something then...) So, each day this year I want to purposely make a nice comment to each member that is not in our normal everyday interaction. Hope that makes sense.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Second, I want to find something every week to cut back on that would save us money. Whether it is food, or gas or electricity, or something else. I figure if I cut back on a least one thing each week, that is at least 52 money-saving things I will have done this year.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Third, I want to try not to get angry as easily. I have some extended family, who are far far far from saved, who can really rile me up. When it happens, it can make me have a bad day or even a week sometimes depending on the event. Sometimes I think these people sit around and try to come up with ways to destroy my day. Without all the gory drawn out details, think cops, drugs, suicide attempts, etc. I need to remember God is on control and I am called to live for Him and not look at our worldly circumstances or feelings to set my feelings. Anger is a sin for me in this case, because it is not Godly sorrow I am feeling, it is pure anger and I let it affect my life too much. So, more prayer for sure this year!!!
Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

By making some goals like this before, I have seen some positive changes. I used to always think in the future and not enjoy each day. I would always be thinking well, when the baby starts crawling or sleeping through the night then I will...fill in the blank here. Or once we get through this school year...As I was looking back over the notebooks from when my oldest was a lot younger I remember making our time lines for history and deciding then to enjoy the time. It was so neat to see the time lines and remember the sweet time we had making them. I know my children will not always be young or even living in our home with us. I want to relish the crazy noisy times, and the dirty floors, (and even the shoes that no one can manage to get on the shoe shelf I so diligently designed and Mr. Brown implemented for us. Back to point number 3 right? Slow to anger...) Seriously, I love the noise and chaos our house has. It makes it OUR house and not some magazine picture that no one lives in.
Romans 14:5-6 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God.


So, I hope each of you that visit my blog have a wonderful year in 2010 and enjoy each day. Each day is a gift from God, to be treasured and thankful for. Happy New Year!!
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!