Quiet Time

  Today the 4 Moms, 35 Kids are talking Naps and Quiet Time!!!  So I'm linking up to Kimberly at Raising Olives and Connie at Smockity Frocks, some of my favorite blogs!!!

 

  Quiet Time is definately a must around our house in order to keep things sane!!!  I have tried a couple of different routines, but the one we are using right now, seems to fit us best.  I have used the timer before, but here recently the rule has been when the baby wakes up, the rest of the house may "be loud" again.  We eat lunch around noon everyday, so as soon as we're finished eatting, we try to clean off the table and wash up.  (The baby can make a huge mess out of bread!!!  Anyone else's kid like that?) 

   We try to lay the baby (that's 17 months old now) down by 12:30 and she normally sleeps until 3:00-3:30

Leah at 2 months during naptime

  For the first hour, the older two are aloud to play outside or quietly in Derek's room or finish up any school work they still may have.  Then at around 1:30 - 2:00, Lindsay lays down for her nap.  While both girls are napping, Derek has to read to me for 15  minutes.  And then he's allowed to play quietly in his room for the remainder of quiet time.  Derek is very good about playing quietly, so it has never been an issue for us to just let him play.  He plays really well all day with his sisters, so he definately enjoys some time to himself to play with his tractors and cars.  Lately he has been into building things, so he goes out to the barn to build with his Daddy's scrap lumber during nap time, and the the girls are always excited to see what he's made when they wake up!
    Lindsay has been my "problem" child lately on taking naps.  She was having trouble going to sleep the same time Leah was and would lay in her bed and toss and turn and whine and cry.  And it was just really miserable for all of us.  However, if I let her stay up the whole day like Derek, by 5:00 we were all ready to kill each other!!!  So, I finally decided one day to let her stay up and see at what point she started to get crabby.  2:00 is about her breaking point, so wa-la!!!  Derek was about 5 when he gave up his nap, but I still made him lay on his bed quietly until just recently. 
  Now this is what works for us, and I'm not saying that some day if we ever have more children that I won't make Derek lay quietly on his bed longer, but for right now, this seems to fit us just fine!!!

Skirt Wearing

 So I've been following Amy at Raising Arrows and Caroline at The Modest Mom in their series called She Wears Skirts. 

 

And this week they have a link up of skirts in pictures!  And I want to thank my 6 year-old, Derek, for taking the pictures...hehehe ;)  So here goes...

These are some of my very first skirts I actually have sewn myself!!!  I used the Homestead Blessings Sewing DVD's as a guide for meausrements and my dear friend Melisa came over and gave me lessons on how to use the sewing machine and cut and so on......Needless to say, I'm very proud of these, because I'm what you would call a sewing dummy!!!  ;)  Lindsay has been wearing skirts and dresses alot longer than me.  She loves to be in a dress and almost never wears pants or shorts anymore.  It's extremely difficult to find skirts that are decent enough for little girls anymore, so I thought, hey!  why not just start sewing them for her!  And she absolutely loves them!!!  I've sewn 2 now and have more to go!  She especially enjoys matching mama.

This is one of my favorite outfits!!!  I bought two denim skrits at a yard sale the other day, this being one of them.  They came from Catos and I found out afterwards, that Catos is about the only place left that sales denim skirts all the time.  Anyway, I love just wearing this outfit out grocery shopping or Friday nights when we all go out as a family.  You can always dress down or dress up a denim skirt.

And this is one of my favorite Sunday skirts!!!  I wear this year round.  I have a black turtle neck that I put with it in the winter.  I found it at a thrift store here in town for about $6!!!!  It's 97% cotton and 3% spandex so it's very stretchy!!!  I love this skirt!!  I wish I could find more just like it or at least material like it so I could sew my own.

So, I hope you've enjoyed, and I hope you also link up!!!!

 

What I'm feeling??????

  I'm just going to apologize for how this post may turn out in the beginning.  I have so many thoughts welled up that I wish I could share, but I'm just not sure how to put it all into words.  So first off, I'm going to put in this link to a wonderful blogging friend of mine, Kimberly at Raising Olives, who amazingly touched on this subject yesterday!  So here, go read this first and then come back and maybe it will put into perspective what I'm feeling.

Raising Olives ~ By Whose Standard


So, here goes......My family and I have made several changes in the past year and by some, I'm sure we look like hypocrites, because yes we are still human and flesh and we sin and mess up, however, we have decided to live differently.  I still struggle everyday with the idea that people think we are just "sheltering" our children.  And I guess in reality I should just not worry about what other people think, and that is probably just Satan attacking me, because he knows good and well I'm a people pleaser!  However, the bible tells us again and again, that the children of God were to be set apart.  And how can we truly be set apart if we just partake in every little thing that society deems acceptable.  How can I send my child to a school that teaches "not to discriminate against others, including homosexuality", when in reality that means be ok with it.  
    A family member of mine and I had conversation the other day about the idea behind homosexuality. They said, if it's their choice, what does it really matter?  And do you really think homosexuals are not going to heaven?  OF COURSE IT'S WRONG, the bible teaches this again and again!!!  God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, because of this very thing, The bible tells us that God or the king of the time rid the land of this time and time again.  And God makes it very clear in the old testament that "his people" are NOT to partake in this.  I'm not saying anything bad about this person, because they grew up in church next to me and spent their entire school career in public school just like I did, however, I will say, that I was much more strong-willed than this person and completely turned my head anytime anything was said like this is in school. 
  But this is my point, this is exactly what we are teaching our children in public school.  And yes, I said "we", because it is "we" that are putting them on the school bus and sending them.  For over 7 hours a day they are being taught by someone else than you.  And Deuteronomy is very clear that we are to teach our children the commandments of the Lord "when we sit at home, walk along the road, when we lie down, and when we get up".  Not does God say this once, but TWICE, in Deuteronomy ( 6:7 and again in 11:19)  Go ahead and argue with me, and tell me that you can do exactly what this passage says and send them to school too, but think about this.  You going to mention his name in the morning on the way to school, when you have maybe an hour together, then you're going to mention his name again when you pick them up, and two more times, at dinner, and before bed.  Now put that up against all the time they were with "the worldly views" at school. 
  I'm not going to even go into deep conversation on our sex-ed classes at school and that we no longer teach abstinense at all!!!  We tell them go ahead and sin, just be safe doing it!!!  I'm appalled!  And then someone argues, well we have to separate church and state we don't want to push our religion on anyone, ok that's fine, but why are we as christians still participating in this "public school" thing if we are to truly be set apart? 
  So you ask, why do I even care, because we have already made the decision to homeschool?  Well because I have several friends and their children, whom I LOVE dearly, that are affected by this.  And I'm constantly bombarded with the question, why we are doing what we do?  So I guess I'm just clarifying that this is not part of a cult, this is just trying to truly lead this life that I believe God wants us to lead. 

  However, Love should be #1 in my life, as Kimberly wrote in her post, and I don't, for one second, want any of my friends to think my life-style is any better than theirs.  Sin is sin, the new testament states that again and again.  And what I stuggle with daily is no different than what anyone else struggles with daily. 
  I think the one important thing that I have learned lately, that today's christians have gotten sooooo far away from, is the ultimate goal is to strive to be holy, not happy.  (Chip Ingram's parenting class taught to teach our children to be holy, not happy, and when they learn to be obedient and holy, they will be truly happy.)  And if you follow God's will for your life, then he will give you that more abundant life and in return you will be very happy.  But the sad thing about today's christian society is that we have gotten so used to the WWJD idea, let's just think what "good thing" Jesus would do, not the whole mindset behind and actually how holy he was.
   I don't think I've even realized a part of the whole idea behind holiness until just recently.  Society has warped us into thinking that christians are just "nice", and this is sooo wrong!!!!  Holiness is sooo much more!!!  God is not just "nice", is is just!!!  I've read time and time again, when he is not "nice" to people who sin against him.  However, he is LOVE and he will forgive, but we have to accept him and want him in our lives and OBEY his commands.  Good deeds will NOT get us into heaven alone, no matter what the world tells you! 
  I'm really sorry, it seems as if I've preached a long sermon today, and that was not my intent, and I really hope that you have read this with an open heart, and not for one second think I'm judging anyone!  I'm more on the defense, than anything, I just want people to understand this whole "homeschool" thing a little bit more, than just those people are weird or they had a bad experience in school. 

She Wears Skirts

I'm soooo excited!!!!  A dear blogging friend of mine, Amy, at Raising Arrows and a friend of hers is going to start a new series called She Wears Skirts and after reading through the introduction, I'm so excited to go on this journey with many other women who stuggle with the idea of wearing skirts and why other do it.  I encourage you to go read along and ask the questions we're asking.  Have I mentioned, I'm so excited about this!?!?!?    I'll be journaling here, my thoughts and feelings on the whole idea.  But again, please, go to Raising Arrows and read the intro!!!!

Guess What?!?!?!?.......That's Right, I...........

I MET THE DUGGARS!!!!!!!!!!!

This past weekend we attended the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention and had a wonderful experience!!!  I was really overwhelmed when I first saw the exhibit hall, but ended up feeling like I was in heaven with all of the different curriculum choices!!

While looking at some discounted curriculum, Ronnie grabbed my arm and whirled me around and whispered in my ear "There's the Duggars!"  Over behind us at the IBLP booth were all the kids.  I automatically about got weak in the knees, but Ronnie reminded me that they are people just like us.  So I just walked up and ask them if I could have a picture taken with them and then we just started talking!!  It was sooo awesome!!!  And I talked to them about curriculum!!!!  I ask them what all they used and then we discussed what I have been doing with Derek and Lindsay.  Anna and Jinger were behind me talking to other people.  And all the boys and Joy Anna were inside the booth talking to people.  It was so amazing to see them interact with people, yes they are just people like you and I, but have had fame thrown at them at lightning speed and they were handling it so gracefully.  They were very polite.

Then later on that afternoon, I attended a workshop that Michelle led, which was very, very good.  I left completely renewed as a mother and very encouraged!  If you've never heard them give their testimony, I recommend that you try sometime. 

That night, we had tickets to the Grand Finale with the Duggars.  We stood in line for over 2 hours because the tickets for our seats were first come first serve.  So after they opened the doors, Ronnie grabbed my hand and ran to the front of the room as fast as he could drag me!  And he did it!  He got me front row seats!!!!  It was amazing!!!

Sorry, the pictures are blurry, but you get the gist of how close we were.  The kids played and sang.  Which they are all very talented!  Then Jim Bob and Michelle gave their testimony, which was sooo good!  Ronnie isn't near the "Duggar fanatic" as I am, but he really enjoyed it too! 

I'll post more about the rest of our trip including pictures to the Creation Museum later this week.

No, We're not turning Amish,.......but I'd like too!!!!

Ok, so here it is.........musings from the last couple of weeks.  I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, as you all know we've had terrible sickness in our family lately, and still battling.  

SO..... lots of people have seen my posts on facebook and ask if we're turning Amish and the answer is:  Unfortunately not :(  I'd love to, but Ronnie says no. 

It's ok, they do have a lot of different views than I do, however, I love to have their simplicity way of life!!!!! 

So here goes, this is what's been going through my mind, going on in our house, books I've been reading, etc.

We have made the decision to stop immunizing our children....and though I don't have the time or the energy to go into detail about why, here's a run down.
It all started when a friend of mine told me that she did not with her children and to do my own research.  Come to find out looking back through Hannah's medical records, she did get sick for about a week after she received her first shot.  So I did, I started researching..... and I kept coming across the same thing over and over again.  Children getting sick after getting the shot, alot as far as having seizures!!!  But as we all know there are warning labels on the drugs themselves telling us to watch out for these things, in other words to protect the drug companies.  Then I read how it's "supposedly" safe to give a newborn 2 month old up 6 different shots but it's not safe to give a 7 year old the same dosage!!!!!  That was a really lightening strike for me!  Also, almost all of the immunizations contain live bacteria, of course to build up your body against these certain diseases, however in some cases (just like with anything else) they have had serious sideaffects.  And all along Americans have just been going on about their business, thinking that something else has affected their child, because the doctors have beat it into our heads that they need these immunizations in order to live "healthy" lives!!!!  WRONG!!!!  There have been recent studies done on the Amish communities, where they do not have autisim, SIDS, ADHD, and list goes on and on. 
  And everytime a new study comes out telling us that they have "proven" that autisim is not linked to immunizations, trace it back.......the studies are done by the actual drug companies that are selling your doctors office the drug, OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO TELL YOU THAT!!!! 
  My final straw was these past couple of weeks when I started noticing the government getting involved.  Each state is trying to pass it's own set of laws regarding who can have an exemption and who can not!  Thankfully, we homeschool, so my children will not be affected unless they would attend public school and then would be required to update their shots.  New Jersey just past a bill stating they are going to crack down on the "religious exemptions".  Well I'm sorry, but that is taking away my civil rights to parent my children, not to mention, you really see what's going on, don't you?  Too many lobbyist from these drug companies are paying our government leaders to pass laws that every child be vaccinated!!! 
  Anyway, I said I didn't have time and here I've went on and on......so, again, we've have made the decision to not vaccinate our children any farther.

  Other things that have been going on around our house.....we have been trying to simplify our lives and become more self sufficient.

  ~We of course have been homeschooling for about 2 years now.

                                                   The kids making homemade bird feeders.
                                                             
  ~I've been working hard at learning how to make my own bread, even though, I'm not good at it yet, I'm not giving up.
 
  ~I've started making my own laundry soap.  (A how-to post to follow soon, I promise!!!)

  ~My wonderful husband finally got my clothesline put up, so we've been drying a lot of loads outside.

               

   ~We've started gardening this year!!!!  My strawberries are in the ground, wish me luck on those!!!  And my tomato seeds have sprouted in the house and are growing strong!  (Pictures on all of that to follow)

   ~We've given up all tv except for our netflix, which is only $8/month, which we could now easily live without, because we barely even use it!

   ~I've been trying all kinds of new receipes for cooking from scratch.

   ~Eating dinner together every night as a family.

   ~We've also been getting back to the basics of parenting, the biblical way. 
            *Books we've read:
                -To Train up a Child    by: Michael and Debi Pearl
                -Effective Parenting in a Defective World     by: Chip Ingram

   ~And both Ronnie and I have been going to bed at night laying side by side reading our bibles.  Yes, we look like an old couple reading before bed, but I promise, we are the happiest we've both been in a long time!!!!

  We have been convicted on several things here lately.  I firmly believe America has gotten away from the basics we were founded on and we're paying for it now with our society.  I just pray my little family here just continues to grow in the way God will lead us to go. 
  I love you all and I hope you hear me with open ears and take some of what I've said and do your own researching or soul searching on what is best for your family.  And just know why you do the things you do.  I'm scared that most Americans just live their day to day lives not questioning anything, just doing it because the guy beside them is.  That's not the life God intended for his people.  And we are his people!!!!!

Sooooo tired of being sick!!!!

  WE ARE SO TIRED OF ALL THIS SICKNESS!!!  I am just about to my wits end!!! The baby has had this for 7 weeks!!!  I've taken her to the doctor 4 different times and she was even put on anitbotics and nothing has helped!!!  The other two also do not feel good, but are not nearly as bad as the baby.  She runs anywhere from 103 - 100 fever almost everday, coughs non-stop, and runny nose.  She's been on benadryl the full 7 weeks and she also takes her inhaler everday, we use the vaporizer every night, vapor rub on her chest, and tylenol and motrin for her fever.  So finally I broke down and took her to the Amish doctor yesterday and this is what he said.  Pour 2 cups of peroxide in her water for her vaporizer and 2 tsp of Silver Shield in with it.  Also I'm to give her 1/4 of tsp of the Silver Shield by mouth once a day.  I'm to try this for a week and it should break up all of the mucous and then she'll break her own fever once she doesn't have to fight the flem.  I was really nervous about going to this Amish doctor, but it wasn't that bad at all.  I might go into more detail about my experience in a later post, but for right now just pray that my baby girl gets to feeling better.

She falls asleep anywhere.....