Our Team

'daDad (38 yo), the Mama (36yo), FarmerBoy (19 yo ds), Gypsygirl (17 yo dd), Miss Petite (16 yo dd),LionHeart (14 yo ds), Red (12 yo ds), Belle (10 yo dd),Nae Nae (7 yo dd),Bunny (2 yo dd), Little Britches (3 months)







Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Eating the Elephant, One Bite at a Time......

I just got done reading a story on flylady(.net)'s daily email. It was about her dh dismantling a car one piece at a time until it was gone. It was funny, you should look it up.
Anyway, it got me thinking. Yesterday, I had a bad "I don't want to be here anymore (stomps her feet, acts like a two yo throwing a tantrum)" kind of day. It didn't help that I ended up with the stomach "bug" in the afternoon, either. But, oh, my attitude stank! God forgive me. (Back to the ranch...) The house is like that. Most weeks we get a few bites out of the elephant. Actually, according to our tax appraisal, already half of the elephant has been eaten. So, why should I complain? My problem is, it's not going along with my time frame. Me,me, me,and I,I,I. *sigh* I don't know how God, my husband,family, friends put up with me. I'm going to try to keep the elephant in my mind and look at this glass half empty ( as in, less to be done).
It sure has been hot. I'm trying to find some reason to thank God for this weather, maybe it's vital for some crops? Any way, fall is less than 2 months away. Fall is my favorite season and fall is when the baby comes!
Psalm 82 Proverbs 27

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Thanks

Thanks to those who prayed for our dirt work. It was completed last night, with no delays! I could pinch myself!
Yesterday, I went to see the chiropractor about some numbness I have been having in my hand and arm. He adjusted me, which always helps, but it didn't fix it. My problem has to do with my thyroid not working correctly, so he upped my kelp. If it doesn't get better after that, i guess we'll try another supplement he sells which has other things + the kelp. A few other nutritional issues have come up and he recommended going off carbs (no toast-boohoo) and adding in probiotics. So, today I am making kombucha ( fermented tea), and lacto-fermented sauerkraut. Both of these have probiotics, the kraut has enzymes and the kombucha has an acid that helps with detoxifying your body. I have also bought plain yogurt, which I will be eating....plain. Food is a lot cheaper source of these things than supplements, and they work as well and sometimes better than supplements. Now, if I can just avoid the coffee and chocolate....

Psalm 80 Proverbs 24

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Prayer Please

This evening the man who is doing our major dirt work will be bringing his equipment up and possibly starting work. This is a crucial step to getting some other major things done on the house. Please pray that the weather will cooperate and for safety and easy work for this man. Hopefully, he will be able to finish it this weekend.
We are doing pretty well. The heat has been hard on everyone (100+ heat indexes for almost 2 weeks). Farmerboy works out in the heat all day. So far he has done alright, he drinks plenty of fluids. He is pretty grateful to come home to the a/c. It's not real fun be pregnant during all this, but I'm glad to be looking forward to cuddling a new little person when cooler weather hits.

Psalm 78 Proverbs 22

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Things No One Wants to Talk About

(I hope I can remember everything I was going to talk about.......)

So much of the time bloggers only post the good stuff. I do not want to come off as having it "all together", because I don't. Occasionally, I seem to have my (and all the family's) life under control, but then life changes or circumstances occur that require adjustment. There is still peace, but life cannot continue on at the same rhythm.
Right now, our family is blessed with 8 children. Our oldest is 18, moved out to work, lost his job, and is now living with us again. Just yesterday we got him enrolled in college (he is actually working for 2 technical certificates). So, needless to say, it has been a challenge for him and us to acclimate. Our two older daughters are trying to finish high school and are learning to be home keepers. They have their needs and frustrations, too. Then, there is my 13 yo boy. He is just sort of starting to mature, so I have to think about how to enable and encourage him.
Of course the younger ones have needs too, but they are at times easier to meet, because as their physical needs are met, so are their emotional ones (this is less true for Red and Belle). Bunny is toilet training, and it's ..um..messy. I feel so inadequate at times. I am inadequate. But, I know the same God who gave us these children will enable us to raise,train, counsel, and encourage them. I merely need to ask for wisdom, which God gives liberally and does not make me feel dumb for requesting. Then, I have to obey Him.

I have been trying to gain extra understanding/refreshment regarding scriptures related to parenting. That is why I have camped out in Proverbs. I have also started reading a book "The Heart of Anger" by Lou Priolo. This book deals with the issue of anger from a biblical, no psychology perspective. It was written for parents so they can deal with their own sin and then their children's. It has been eye-opening. There are things I have been doing that contribute to my children's struggles, and I am trying to work on them.

Yesterday, as we were working on Andrew's enrollment I realized that some of his classes could have been avoided by accomplishing more in his High School years. When Home school parents purchase curriculum,they need to consider what that $50-100 book might save them. Classes are $95 per credit hour, not including books, fees, or travel expenses. Suddenly, those books just don't seem very pricey, do they.
Also, find out what your state graduation requirements are (or the state where they will be attending school) so you at least know what colleges are expecting your student to have completed. Just my 2 cents.

Be blessed.

Psalm 76 Proverbs 20

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Struggles and Answers

The last few weeks I have been struggling with feeling very inadequate as a mother. I have looked at others, and have found myself and my children lacking. This is something that plagues most (all) moms at one time or another.
I have been praying some about this. The Holy Spirit brought to mind the scripture about "judging themselves by themselves". This started me thinking, just who am I and my children supposed to be judging ourselves and modeling our life after? Why, it's Jesus! So, I asked the Lord what He thought, and asked Him to show me where I was failing. I have felt so condemned, as the enemy of my soul flung (some true, some half-true, some out right lies) accusations at me. I was listening and hearkening more to his voice than God's. But, you know what? God didn't do that. He reminded me of what I needed to be doing, and I realized I (really 'da Dad and I) have been doing it,mostly. So, if God is for me and my husband is pleased (he is- I asked, no one else's opinion/comments matter. We are not to fear men, but God alone. Also, please note how many times I used "feel" in the above. Feelings are not truth. Only Christ and God's word are truth.
Some scripture that came up in my quiet time reminded me that I need to be taking my refuge in the Lord when satan comes at me with his charges.
"In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape;incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually;You have given the commandment to save me,for You are my rock and fortress." Psalm 71:1-3
"For You are my hope, O Lord God;You are my trust from my youth.By You I have been held up from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day." Psalm 71: 5-8
That really helped my focus yesterday. I actually have these posted on the bathroom mirror ( a pregnant lady's favorite place) so I can memorize it. It helps so much to break the "crazy cycle" in my mind to switch over to God's thoughts, expressed through His word.
School is going well. I had a hard time getting much else done yesterday, so I need to work on that. (ok the computer won't go off italics.)

Be blessed.

Psalm 72 Proverbs 14

Monday, July 12, 2010

Moving On

Another weekend has passed. Saturday the big girls and I did a load of laundry a piece, and then, we went to the park. I think we all enjoyed a change of scenery. They played for a while and then we investigated the garden, fish pond, and creek areas. It's always fun to go on walks with children. It wasn't really planned to be a "nature walk" (as per Charlotte Mason), but it turned out to be one. Nae Nae has chosen 3 trees she wants to keep an eye on for the next few weeks. I believe that they are ginko, tulip, and a fir or pine. I was considering setting up a shared nature journal, where each of the children can add their "collections", notes, pictures,etc. to it, sort of as a nature through the year book. This might be a less laborious way to do nature study, by sharing their interests, and the responsibility of keeping it.
'da Dad worked half a day (at work) Saturday, so he could take Gypsygirl to her livestock auction. She did very well.
Sunday was good. I was out of church with Bunny. I need to ask the children what they remember:). We had 2 guests for the day yesterday. 'da Dad's mother and Farmerboy's friend were with us for lunch, and visited for the rest of the day. I think my honey really enjoyed playing cards with his mama. I plan to have her over more often. I know the children had a good time with their other company, too.
We are going back to a full slate of school work this week. I am excited and I hope the children are as well.
I have been trying to do some extra educational reading. Right now I am reading "The Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola. It is pretty good. I realize from this book, why the Robinson Curriculm fits this method of teaching so well. It is all about getting the student to find meaning and knowledge by themselves (self-teaching, advocated by both Robinson and Mason). She would have the lessons much shorter (ours are, but not as short as she would suggest) than Robinson, but much of their ideas are the same. Actually, the first book I read about the Charlotte Mason (or living book) method was "For the Children's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macauley (Sp?). It is a very good book, but made me feel very guilty, because of all the suggestions to "diversify" their education. Andreola's book has been a breath of fresh air. I have decided that just having some things available to them, instead of trying to build them into our program would be better. They will pick them up as interest and time allows. This way I can focus our attention on the basics.
I am planning on reading the "Original Homeschool Series" by Charlotte Mason. It is available free online (to read or print at Ambleside Online or An Old Fashioned Education). I will probably print mine, as soon as the internet works at the house again.

Be Blessed.

Psalm 70 Proverbs 12

Thursday, July 8, 2010

What We've Been up To

I am just about finished writing up the children's course of study. I may post it here (another day), just in case anyone is interested, or needs some fresh ideas. We have been doing schoolwork "lite" this week, because of Gypsygirl's 4-h fair.
She showed 4 goats, got 3 blue ribbons, a grand champion and one red ribbon. She seems pleased. She really enjoys working with animals.
I am helping with a wedding quilt. It is an Irish Chain, in black, white, and cream. There are some embroidered square between the chains. I have pieced 2 blocks, and Ms. Petite did 1 embroidered block. It is a poem taken from an Amish wedding invitation. Maybe I'll try to post it later.
We worked on the house this weekend. 'da Dad got 1/2 of the plumbing in and he and Farmerboy also got the treated boards put up for the porch. Once the flashing is on, the siding can be hung!
The ladies in the family were busy, too. Ms. Petite, Gypsygirl, and I finished painting the cabinets and cut and hung more insulation. After that, Gypsygirl fixed some fence (so we can move their ponies home) and Ms. Petite and I cleaned and reorganized the tool room. Of course, the littles helped with these projects as well, fetching and so on.
Today is my mom's birthday, Happy Birthday Mom! I love you! Thanks for always being there for me.
I need to scoot.
Be blessed.

Psalm 67 Proverbs 8

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Great News!

I was gone for a little while this morning . When I returned, Belle had a secret to tell me. She gave her heart to Jesus today, with Gypsygirl's help! This is so awesome, and generally made everyone's day at our house. She has been asking lots of questions during Lord's Supper (observed weekly at church) over the last few months, so we new she was getting close. Praise God!
On a side note: a few clarifications seem to be in order. A dear friend of mine has asked me about a few details on some recent blog entries, that she felt were giving the wrong impression. So, here goes. We do not home church. When I say "home church" I mean the one we are members of, and
attend regularly. We fellowship in an unbaptistical southern baptist church with a more or less family integrated congregation. This means that they support what we are doing as parents instead of complicating or competing with it. Our family is growing in the Lord and we are blessed. We consider ourselves Christians who happen to go to a baptist church.
Hope that clears any confusion.

Psalm 58 Proverbs 1