~ BabyLicious! ~

Baby Myahna and I decided to have a little photo shoot. It was all about the celebration of body rolls, baby Myahnas body rolls, not mine...

Ahem.



Just look at that 4 pack! Oh my word! If only I could boast of such a wonder, oh wait... never mind.

Do you remember being able to do this? Not sure Id ever recover, and um, thinking it might not look as charming.

That's right baby, only you can pull this kind of stuff off!

Chunky, bald and drooly ~ Who knew that those words could actually describe something this delicious!

Well, as you can see its been a very long hard winter for my little one and she has practically withered away to nothing.

Enough with the paparazzi!

I am outta here!

Oh alright!

One more, just 'cause I want to be absolutely sure everyone knows that fat and roly is cute...just like my mama.

What?!!

~ Resurrection Eggs ~

It's that time of year again where we really spend time reflecting on the sacrifice of our Lord and celebrate his miraculous resurrection.

My sister in law (have I mentioned before how wonderful she is?) gave my children these really neat eggs years ago. Since then it has become a very much anticipated tradition in our home.
We spend time each day on the 12 days leading up to the anniversary of the resurrection reading through a devotional retelling the story of Christs death and Him rising again.

Each egg possesses an important part of the story. It is a tangible way to portray the story from beginning to end. It also helps to set the tone in our home, and make sure the focus is where it ought to be. There weren't any chocolate bunnies and easter baskets at the cross.

Even the big boys look forward to opening an egg to again see whats inside. Each egg has a corresponding devotional to be read aloud as well as scripture verses to look up.

If you are looking for something like this to add to your family traditions, you can purchase this at familylife.com. You might be able find it at your local Christian bookstore as well.

I hope and pray that your week is filled with activities and thoughts that focus on the incredible sacrifice of our Saviour, and may you be blessed because of it.

Love,

~ Against the Norm ~

Sometimes I just feel weary, spent and persecuted. I feel like the oddball, the weirdo, the crazy zealot lady.

Did I get to this place by accident? Or has there been something bigger in play? Has maybe some of my own experiences, and mistakes led me here to this place where not many want to dwell?

Why is it that if we are all following the same Big God and reading his precious, truth filled unrelenting Word are we all sometimes still on different pages?

So many questions, but what am I getting at.

Tradesman and I want so much to equip our kids with hearts of purity. We want them to be unwavering in their choices, unwilling to compromise, unyielding in their beliefs.

This is no easy task in this crazy, self-absorbed, anything goes world.

The world just screams at us from every angle all that it has to offer.

Its like a dark monster lurking around every corner wanting to steal the innocence from our children, bait them into sin and rob them of their joy.

So why as Christian mothers and fathers do we feel we can flirt, tinker, dally a little in this worldliness and not get burned.

I'm so tired of this wishy, washy feel good gospel that seems to be permeating the churches and taken in by so many that sit in the pews every week.
A little of the world never hurt anybody, we aren't all bad people, we can handle it, there is worse we could be doing.

Choose this day whom you will serve!

We are called to be set apart from this world. SET APART...what does that mean? Does that mean watch what those that don't love Jesus watch? Listen to what they listen to? Laugh at what they laugh at?

We need a wake up call!

How can we even begin to share Gods love and His perfect plan when we stumble around in our own darkness.
Shining His light for all to see so to Him we can bring glory and honor. That should be our goal. It has to be our goal if we are going to raise kids that stand out in a crowd. They need us to walk the talk. You can't fool your kids.

When our older children were little, tradesman and I could get away with mediocre Christianity. We weren't always careful about the movies we watched, the shows that made us laugh, we didn't worry about the lyrics playing on the radio, and it never bothered us to walk around a mall.

Slowly, but surely God started working on our hearts. We suddenly started seeing how lazy we had become, how very desensitized we were.
As our boys got older we started really wanting to raise the bar high.
Funny thing happened, we had no choice but to examine ourselves in that light. Not pretty.

If you think your kids aren't going to call you on your sin, you are wrong! Do you think they won't recognize a sham when they see one? A fraud?
There is nothing more refining then examining your life through the eyes of your child.

Around 85% of kids who grow up in Christian homes leave the faith. So sad, but really not surprising. So many are not willing to do what it takes.
This parenting job is not for wimps! It is tough, and brings me to my face in prayer often.

Why??
I feel a burden so huge! For my children, for other children. I am truly afraid for the next generation. Compromise has reared its ugly head into so many homes.

When my son asks me again why our family has this rule or that rule, why we think this way or that way about particular situations, when we sit up listening to his heart, connecting with him, building a relationship of mutual respect with him, I will tell him.

If 85% of Christian kids are leaving the faith, then we will not be doing what 85% of Christian parents are doing. With strength that can only come from God and a grace that can only be given by Him we will hopefully be doing what the other 15% are.

Going stick to our guns and be the odd ones out,

~ Children Learn what they Live ~

If a child lives with criticism,

He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,

He learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,

He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,

He learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance,

He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,

He learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,

He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,

He learns justice.

If a child lives with security,

He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval,

He learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance,

and friendship,

He learns to find love in the world.

~Dorothy Law Nolte

~ Soothing to the Soul ~

Click on link below.

Amazing Grace

Be blessed this day.
Love,

~ A Responsibility ~

"You may speak but a word to a child...and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come."

~Charles Spurgeon

~What Are You Raising?~

Raising kids is messy...can't get around it, just no way, no how.

Though I must admit that my mind has contemplated the many ways that I might be able to avoid it. Unfortunately, all of those ways amount to zero fun for my children, and maybe an overuse of duct tape...

It was one of those weeks where I found myself constantly behind. You know the one where you are trying to get ahead of the game but you keep finding yourself two steps back.

Upon completing one long overdue chore you find that one or two others are now ready to be done again.

I was feeling frustrated with my progress, irritated with the insurmountable (or so it seemed) piling up.

I came down from upstairs where I had been working on something to find 3 of my children in front of a drawing tutorial on DVD. They had set themselves up with pencil and papers on the piano bench parked in front of the television. All seemed well until I noticed that my 3 yr. old had also wanted to take part in the lesson and had situated himself also with a paper and was happily drawing on the sofa chair behind them.

The difference became glaringly obvious when I suddenly noticed what he was drawing and "missing" with. It was a dry erase marker! Otherwise known as "permanent, never to come out, make me cry, stain !"

I quickly surveyed the damage. He had not only hit the sofa chair but also the big pretty show pillow that rests there. Oh mercy, I thought I was going to pop a blood vessel or at least a varicose vein. I was mad!

I think I let out a huge gasp followed by many short breaths which might have resembled a little hyperventilating. All four faces looked quite distressed by the sounds that were coming from me, not to mention the facial expressions I was probably making. I knew I had to make a quick exit or I was going blow!

I ran to the bathroom so I could gather myself. I knew that in the great scheme of things this was no big deal. In that moment I could do great damage to my children's spirits if I let my anger get the best of me. My little guy hadn't taken the marker and purposely drawn on the chair. He had only intended to take part in what his older siblings were doing. His childish actions were an accident and in all his focused drawing he hadn't even noticed his mishaps.

It's the moments when we are already overwhelmed, tired and feeling a little defeated that we are at most risk to think less clearly, to make bigger deals out of something that really isn't.

Sure it stunk, it felt huge at the time. Partially because I waited almost 12 years of marriage to buy one stitch of new furniture. Up until that point, we had never owned anything new. Everything was either garbage picked or someone else's giveaway. In a 1 and 1/2 year time span we had been blessed to be able to buy a fair bit of new furniture and had outfitted a couple of rooms in our new home. So I've been a tad bit "protective" we'll say of that furniture the last 3 years.

When reflecting on this I came across an article where Harmon Killebrew had told a story when he was being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Him and his brother had been playing in the yard and their mother had gotten upset.

"You're tearing up the grass!" she complained.

Harmons dad replied, "We're not raising grass; were raising boys."

We have to be so careful not to value stuff, order, a perfect schedule, a spotless home over all the messiness that children bring into our lives. Kids require so much work and so much of ourselves to raise them. However, we should never make them feel guilty because of that.

That being said, I'm now going to remind myself that I'm not raising furniture; I'm raising kids.

~ Him First ~

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her. "

~ Maya Angelou

~ A Valentines Day ~

I Love any excuse to celebrate, and since Valentines Day involves love, romance and mushy stuff well then in this passionate housewives' mind you have just the right ingredients for a perfect day!

Since times are a bit tough and money is a tad shy right now, we had to make sure every bit of fun was homemade. I am really not very creative, but my girls are, so I put them to work.

We have recently just hit the bottom of our very large freezer but unknowingly I had some hidden treasures buried in there. Some yummy ribs would be just the break we needed from endless days of pasta, and bread. Did you know that there are countless ways you can make spaghetti? I'm telling ya, I am now the official expert!

Anyhow, the girls got busy making a mess, um, I mean they got busy being cre-a-tive.

We planned a fun night with a nice dinner, family charades, homemade sticky buns and a tad bit of "mushy."

The girls decked out the table...ain't it pretty? We had a leftover bottle of sparkling juice from Christmas. Nothing like sparkling juice in pretty glasses to get my girls excited!

Don't you go trying to tell them that there are far too many sparkles. Apparently, there is no such thing.

Aren't these glow cubes just the coolest?

We learned that confetti sparkles can stick to anything if they are just a little bit wet, including cute, chubby babies.

This is soooo NOT spaghetti, excuse me while I salivate.

Oh baby, come to mama...

The girls had given each of us our own paper heart with our names printed on them. After we ate, we passed our "hearts" around the table one at a time. When someone was holding your "heart" they would then proceed to tell everyone what it was they loved about you.

The things that were said ranged from downright hilarious to quite endearing. Even our 3 yr.old had plenty to say about each of us. Everyone left the table feeling affirmed, appreciated, and truly loved. I think this new tradition is a keeper!

Hot out of the oven sticky buns and silly family charades made our night complete.

Hope you and yours enjoyed your Valentines Day,

~ A Little Cold ~

We had a day without heat last week, always fun to shake things up a bit!




We just went on our merry way throughout our day eating, carousing and such.





You know us homeschool moms, we are all about the fun.




Hey Kids, lets see what it feels like to hang out in 53 degrees Fahrenheit/12 degrees Celsius all day?! We can be like real pioneer people who have no furnace, no electricity, and no running water...okay never mind about the electricity and running water thing...that's just dumb.



Here's our little pioneer baby, she's sporting the "Rudolph look" a little.


The frigid indoor temperatures weren't phasing her a bit.


All that lovely insulating baby fat kept her quite content.

I tell ya, I looked down at my jiggly love handles with a new found appreciation and respect.
Gives a whole new meaning to pleasantly plump.


Pleasantly plump and thankful,

~ Are You Weary ~

I'm weary. I feel overwhelmed.

I am burdened by the tasks at hand. It just seems too large, too much these days.
I'm sure many would have answers to my multitude of dilemmas...

~Put your kids in school.

~Have your baby on a strict feeding schedule that's convenient for you and when she needs to sleep, let her cry it out.

~Hire someone else to come and clean your house once a week.

~Expect more from your husband.

~Get out for girls nights and have your "me~time" more often.

~It's not going to hurt anyone to cook out of convenience packages.

And Gasp...

~Stop having children.

While these are all fine and dandy answers to some, they are not what I NEED.
I need a fresh outlook, I need strength that can only come from him.

Matthew 11:28-30~"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

On this incredible journey of motherhood we WILL grow weary, we WILL feel burdened, it WILL at times be difficult and a challenge.
Does that mean we throw in the towel? Do we give up and lower our standards and compromise on our expectations?
Well, that would be easier wouldn't it.

Suppose an Olympic athlete stop training hard everytime he was a little wounded, suppose everytime he felt overwhelmed by the sheer energy and self discipline it takes to compete he just lowered the bar a little.
That would be absurd you say! How is he ever going to win the race and gain the prize!

Exactly!
We are on a race here ladies...there's no time to wallow in our wounds, there's no time to complain about how hard it is! We have been called to this great task. God never promised it would be easy.

Isa 40:31 ~ but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

I know that everyday that I invest into my children having them home, guiding their steps, educating not only their minds but their hearts is for His glory.
He needs leaders that are ready and equipped to further His kingdom! Do you know that mamas? Do you know that you are furthering His kingdom by your sacrifice each day?

I know that by gently nurturing, and caring for my baby girl that I'm preparing her for her relationship with her Heavenly Father one day. She will know that He will ALWAYS be there for her, that He will never leave her in her distress. She is internalizing trust and learns she will be comforted.
I love seeing the intimate relationships that have developed between my older children and their God. Every bit of inconvenience in the early years is worth that!

If someone else cleaned my home I would miss out on the great sense of accomplishment I feel when my home is orderly and tidy. I will have left out the great training opportunities I have to equip my children with wonderful life skills. Learning and achieving acts of service that benefit others. Raising them to think outside of themselves, to do what isn't always easy or fun but for the betterment of others.

I can honor my husband by serving him, by showing him the work that he does each day does not go unnoticed. Because of his daily diligence I have the privelege of being home with our children.

When it comes to "me~time" why do we feel so indebted? Like it is owed us?

Phil.4:19~"My God shall supply ALL of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"

Being a mother at times means sacrifice, unselfish love, and faithful dedication. It means denying ourselves. (Matt. 16:25) His word tells us "it's not all about us...it is all about Him!"(Matt.10:38-39)

Yes, I'm tired. But thats okay. I know I am running the good race, I'm aware of all that is at stake. I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad!

~ Potential ~

I don't think much needs to be said here.
(turn off music in my sidebar)



Life circumstances should NOT determine whether "God given" life is important or not.

~Shaper of Destiny~

"If the woman is true and tender, loving and heroic, patient and self-devoted she consciously or unconsciously organizes and puts in operation a set of influences that do more to mould the destiny of the nation than any man can possibly effect...Neither woman nor the nation can afford to have home demoralized or in any way deteriorated by the loss of her presence, or the lessening of her influence there. As a nation we rise or fall as the character of our homes, presided over by woman, rises or falls; and the best gauge of our best prosperity is to be found in the measure by which these homes find multiplication in the land."

~Dr. J.G. Holland

~A New Skill and a Gift for Little Sister~

My 8yr.old daughter received some knitting rings for Christmas. These fun new fancy gadgets make knitting a little easier. She busied herself right away making something special for her baby sister.Can you guess what it was?

Here's our little plus-sized model to show it off for you.

Yes, I said "plus sized" ...don't worry honey, I hear chunky thighs are all the rage right now.

And we can't forget chubby cheeks...thats totally the look people want.

I tell ya, you are just owning that cute, new little handmade hat.