You’ve heard of free-range chickens and other poultry?  Well, we now are the proud parents of a free-range baby boy.  You may ask, “What is a free-range baby?”  Well, the answer is much simpler than you might imagine.  Simply put, a free-range baby is one that becomes mobile.

Our youngest son has discovered the joy of motion.  Yes, it’s true that crawling is lots of fun.  However, baby walkers with wheels are a true joy to curious almost 9 month olds. 

Now, that we have taken the leap of equipping our youngest with wheels, he is quite a determine mischief-maker.  He currently enjoys opening doors, drawers, and dismantling carefully organized shelves.  We anticipate that soon he will revel at pulling neatly folded laundry and sending it crashing to the floor and delight at stalking and de-furring our tabby cat.  FYI: from past experience with our other 3 sons... de-furring occurs when a baby grabs a handful or handfuls of fur and does not let go, thus causing the feline victim to flee furiously with such force therefore dislodging the tuft in question.

So, during this moment of reflection, we are reevaluating our recent purchase of the “walker” a.k.a. the vehicle of mass destruction.

Blessings,

With Spring in the air, our boys have been a bit distracted lately.  Some would say, "Well, that's just boys!"  However, since we have 4 of them, that trite saying will just NOT do.  So, for a while now, our boys have been doing some physical work every day.  My dear husband lays out an outdoor job (or part of a job) for them to complete every day.  As the Mom, I have the option of using the job as a re-focusing tool when necessary... meaning that if schooling is just not happening, then they use their morning for outdoor work and afternoons for schooling.  As a book my DH has been reading says, men (young and old) were "created for work". 

On a different note... has anyone else besides me ever had the burning desire to write a book?  I have always known or felt that I would some day write something for someone... really... something more in the format of a book or curricula, but something!  For years, I have prayed about this longing and that God would reveal what He would want me to write.  Now, I don't know if this will be His answer or not, but I have been asked to help write workbooks to go along with a very popular early reading program.  They are currently checking into the legal aspects of the endeavor.  So, this could lead to something or nothing, but it is quite exciting.  IF this project does NOT work out, I have also had another option graciously God-whispered to me.  I (and our whole family) continue to pray about all of this, but we are encouraged that these possibilities may be answers to many fervent prayers.

Now, back to the duties of the day.

Blessings to you!

:)Michelle

It is interesting to watch the media frenzy surrounding our country’s new administration.  Although I am 39 years old, I have never known of such a celebrity status attached to any elected official.  JFK seemed to share some of the same charisma and idol-istic attraction from Hollywood, but still nothing of this magnitude.  Now there are product lines and advertisements and fan clubs surrounding everything Obama.  It is most concerning to observe so much of the country placing such complete, unadulterated trust in previously untested leadership.  I do hope that he can do ALL that he said he would to improve the country’s economy, etc., but fear for the reality that always sets in once new presidents fully realize their true limitations.  No matter Democrat or Republican, so many promises of candidates remain left undone once they take office.  The ebbs and flows of political tastes and economic trends combined with the candidate who can best sway voters to believe their party’s propaganda gain the prize of responsibilities for the next 4 to 8 years… then the tide again changes… and the opposing “team” comes in and repairs the damage… and so on and so on.  Our president is… just like every president before him… JUST A MAN!  I can’t help but wonder how long (and what) it will take for that inevitable reality to strike America.  God help us.

I overheard a celebrity say during last night’s evening news, in regards to our new president, that “now America is cool again”.  That statement truly appalled me.  Do we really want the world to think of America as “cool”, with a “cool” president?  If we think about the “cool” kids we knew way back when we were teens, those teens were NOT the ones we’d want to hold high as godly role models for our own children today.  If we think about the “cool” parents we knew (usually of the “cool” kids), those were definitely NOT the ones we’d want as mentors for Christian parents.  If we think about the “cool” celebrities… well, you get the idea.  I don’t like the idea of our president and our commander-in-chief being called “cool”.  Leading our country has NOTHING to do with the petty worldwide popularity contests of pubescently-minded celebrities!  His responsibility is much greater than the trivial fad of being “cool”.  Whether we are pleased or displeased with our current administration, we are commanded by God to show them honor.  We should be diligent to graciously give them our prayers.  We should plead with our Lord that these leaders be filled with His guidance, His wisdom, His protection, and that this new administration would set aside their own wills and focus wholeheartedly on His will for our nation.  May God bless our country!

Well, I it would be much more interesting to say that I’m having steroid injections so that I can pursue a life-long desire to travel about the country and Europe as a world renowned champion female body builder.  However, the reality is nothing quite so glamorous… hmmmm… scandalous… hmmm… well, you understand that I do not have ANY desire to pursue the above-mentioned endeavor. J 

Indeed, my steroid use is merely a survival tool until I can have shoulder surgery in both shoulders to repair torn rotator cuffs.  Why would a 39 year old have torn rotator cuffs you ask???  Well, evidently I have faulty genetics which affect my ability to produce collagen… collagen is evidently very important to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and overall joint health.  My grandmother had similar joint issues… I suppose I share her genetic deficiencies.  Anyway, my diagnosis is calcific tendonitis and tendonosis with bursitis, significant calcification due to osteoarthritis in my joints, and tears in my supraspinatus tendons and likely tears in the other rotator muscles as well.  YIPPEE!!!  With a 6 month old… not to mention a 4, 9, 11, and 40 year old, having my arms strapped down to my side for 3 to 6 months is just NOT an option.  So, I asked my orthopedic surgeon to treat me like a professional football player who has to play in the Super Bowl every day for the next 3 to 5 years!!!  He was, indeed, mildly amused, but still insists that surgery is inevitable.  However, with the comment that steroid injections were “not his treatment of choice and only temporary”, he shot me up!!! 

FYI:  I have not started growing hair in unusual places and my voice has NOT deepened, but my shoulders are already feeling MUCH better after just one day.  I LOVE steroids!!!!!  The pain had gotten so severe that I could not sleep (even if our infant son did) due to the pain, I was not pain-free in a chair, I was not pain-free in the air, I was not pain-free on the stairs, I was not pain-free any where.  You get the idea… it was bad!!! 

So, now I’m feeling MUCH better, am rather giddy (can you tell?), and should only continue to feel less pain… oh… for about the next year hopefully.  This is my brain; this is my brain on STEROIDS!!!!  Any questions?

Blessings,

Well, it is amazing how it seems you only BLINK and it's already a new year!!!

We have had good, but busy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's vacations.  There was travel, family, food, illness, games, fun, more travel, more family, more fun, more games, and not enough nearly enough sleep during the past month.  Now, we are getting ready to settle back into schedules, routines, and normalcy.  We are all ready for life to get back to normal.  Holidays are always fun, but our family tends to be home-bodies and enjoy the peace and quite of our familiar ruts.

Our boys are growing like... yep... weeds.  Avery has grown dramatically over the holidays, finally bi-passing my height (and he is SO proud).  Joshua and Jacob are also growing steadily, but not any "super spurts" lately.  Caleb, at his 4 month check-up, was in the 25% for his weight and in the 98% for height... tall and thin like his daddy.  I won't go into details on how Bobby and I have or have not grown due to the holiday treats and sweets, but we HAVE resolved to exercise more in the new year. :)

So, now, it is time for preparing lesson plans, catching up on filing/paperwork, and ironing... ah, normalcy!!!

I pray you and yours are happy, healthy, and blessed!

:)Michelle

Here is an article I wrote some time back.  I ran across it recently, and felt led to share it with y'all.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

A Garden Full of Friends

Like-minded gal pals are especially important for those of us who are called to the sometimes very isolated career of home education.  Oh, how I love my dear Titus girlfriends!  For years, I struggled to surround myself with sincere Titus women.  I longed for and prayed diligently for the companionship of like-minded gals seeking God while honoring their husbands and cherishing their children.  I yearned to sharpen steel with women after God’s own heart. 

All too often, women get caught up in unhealthy friendships where complaining, negativity, and whining are the primary purpose… instead of being only momentary lapses of God-focus.  All too often, these misguided relationships breed bitterness, discontentment, and despair with in our marriages and motherhood. 

The following insight comes from Renee, a homeschool mom, from Lubbock.  What an honoring way to view life’s friendships! 

Friends are like flowers… some are annuals, some are perennials, and some are wildflowers.

Those that are annuals… just like the name implies, are only good for one season.  We all have encountered friends like this.  They are in our lives for a short time, but while they were there, they brought a source of joy and beauty. 

Those that are perennials… again just like the name suggests, come back year after year and have a good root system.  These are the friends that you can depend on being there.  Though they may only bloom one season, they are always there...growing. 

Those that are wildflowers… just as the name hints, are wild and you don't know where they came from.  They may be native to the area, but nonetheless, you don't know exactly how they got there.  These friends are wonderful surprises...they just pop up!  They may look like a weed to begin with, but grow into something beautiful.  The best thing about them is they continue to spread, making more beautiful flowers to enjoy. 

Like every garden, weeds are bound to pop up.  But as my father-in-law once told me even a flower can be a weed when it grows where it is not wanted.  Even though the flower may be beautiful, it is still a weed.  In order to grow an abundant garden, you must get rid of the weeds.

Where is the wisdom in all of this?  As I look into my past and the friends I have made and lost, I can pick out those who fall into each category.  We have to be willing to let our flowers grow or go.  Sometimes friendships turn out to be weeds, but we do not need to get our feelings hurt or be bitter. We have to realize that they are beautiful, but maybe they just weren't meant to grow in our garden. 

I absolutely adore this analogy!!!  I adore it because it makes perfect sense when I think of all the “flowers” that have budded, wilted, or grown throughout my life.  I adore it because it removes the soap opera, junior high, cat-fight, juvenile drama by still honoring each woman as a loved child of God (in spite of whatever may have transpired within the relationships).

For years, I struggled with feeling guilty about spending an occasional night out or for an inadvertently lengthy counseling session via telephone with my Titus friends.  I love my husband and children more dearly than I ever thought possible to love any human beings, and, therefore, continued to grapple that maybe I was neglecting them by spending any moment away from them.  However, I was recently blessed with an epiphany!

Several scriptures, Holy Spirit whispers, and God-guidance given through God-loving preachers, teachers, and friends perfectly came together at one incredible, freeing moment.  Even bible women needed their God-given girlfriends around them.  Ruth, Naomi, Mary, Martha, Mary, Elizabeth… the list goes on… these women needed their God-given Titus friends (and yes, relatives can be friends, too).  We all need cherished friends who can completely understand us without our ever having to speak out loud a single solitary word. 

I am so amazingly blessed to have several Titus friends who mentor me, ground me, refocus me, encourage me, scold me, laugh at me, laugh with me, comfort me, pray with me, and pray for me… just to mention a few of the numerous ways they point me back to God on a regular basis. 

***WARNING:  If your friends are not pointing you back to God… RUN AWAY FROM THEM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this need for girly buddies in any way imply that husbands are inadequate to meet the needs of wives?  Concluding from scripture, I do not believe so.  God graciously provides us with dear “flowers” to make our lives more beautiful as we grow along side each other toward His plan and for His glory. 

A couple of additional warnings… know that complete transparency is vital with any friendship outside a marriage.  In these friendships, there are NO secrets kept… not wives from husbands or husbands from wives.  Also, be extremely cautious… Satan can quickly and effortlessly gain a sinful foothold in male-female relationships outside the marriage relationship.  Finally, be certain that a friendship does not cause any of us to covertly avoid growth issues in our Christian walks, our marriages, or our motherhood.

So, are your friends annuals, perennials, wildflowers, or weeds?  Perhaps God is prompting you to seek new Titus “flowers” OR to simply cultivate the healthy “gardens” already growing within your life.

Thank you all for excusing my absence over the past couple of months as we have been trying to get into a new routine.  With starting our school year, adding some pre-schooling, and satisfying the needs of an infant, we have been and still are VERY busy.  However, everything is going much more smoothly for the most part.  After some normal struggles surrounding childbirth, our home is just about back to a new "normal".  Most nights are filled with sleep, most mornings are filled with happy boys, and most days are filled with a pleasant routine.  We are truly amazed by so many incredible blessings... faith in our loving Lord, a wonderful marriage, beautiful & bright boys, dear family & friends, scenic surroundings... I could go on for quite a while.  All in all, God is so very good!!!

I pray you all are enjoying a super school year and a fantastic fall!

Blessings,

:)Michelle

As we are finishing up a HUGE list of summer projects, I am so grateful.  Grateful for my dear husband, the patience of our boys, the help of family, the energy to accomplish tasks, the willpower to persevere, and the sanity to survive it all... just to name a few of the many things I'm thanking God for repeatedly.

Yes, we are still waiting for our 4th son to arrive.  He, too, has been very patient as his mommy has done some MAJOR nesting... including waxing floors last night at 11 p.m.!  Oh, but they do look pretty.  Now, as the project list is almost complete, I feel sure that He will allow him to come very soon.  It's funny how that always seems to happen... the "list" gets accomplished, then labor starts, but I know it's all in His timing.

So, for now, I'll just say, "We'll keep you posted on boy #4!"

Blessings,

:)Michelle

I LOVE summer!!!  Not because of the heat, not because of the humidity, not because of the relaxed schedule, and not even because of the weightlessness provided to a huge pregnant body in a cool swimming pool.  No, I love summer because of having my dear husband home full-time!!! 

For those who did not know... my husband is a former research scientist/analytical chemist who (in 2000) changed careers in view of a calling to teach in public schools.  Since that time, he has taught high school math and/or science and thoroughly enjoys it. 

With my husband home, our household feels complete.  We function so much more smoothly and peacefully.  I have great difficulty understanding how some wives feel "out of sorts" when their husbands are home for merely a week of vacation time.  Our family would find it such a joy to be blessed enough to have him home 24/7, however, God has not yet provided that privilege. 

So far this summer, we are enjoying spending time as a family accomplishing all those things that must be done before our new baby boy arrives sometime within the next month and a half or so.

I pray that your family is enjoying summer as much as mine.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

Well, we were ALMOST financially stress-free.  My DH had the opportunity to win $1 million dollars in a hole-in-one contest last Sunday afternoon.  No one, since 1984, had ever gotten so close as my DH (the previous closest shot was over 5 feet away).  And... the funny part is that he has not even played a round of golf since last summer, and only hit balls across our smaller pond a couple of times last week!  He said that his near shot was definitely NOT due to skill on his part.

Here are links to the newspaper article and the TV coverage (I don't know how long they'll work, but they were still working today).

We just pray that God has other plans to relieve our many financial pressures.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

In case you didn't notice... IT'S ALMOST SUMMER!!!  Our school year is winding down with our boys finishing up several subjects already.  Our school days are getting shorter, and playtime/outside is increasing.  There is an excitement permeating our home as we eagerly anticipate Daddy being home full-time.  We all LOVE our family summers!

Recently, we officially became gardeners.  Not knowing exactly what we're doing, we only planted 2- 6 X 6 raised beds this year.  We figured that (since there is much junk left from the previous owner literally buried in the only place sunny enough to have a garden) raised beds were the logical choice.  So, after the generosity of a family whose college-age son I had been helping with several essays, research papers, etc., we felt that a garden would be a wise investment for the $$$.  One garden square is for veggies and herbs.  The other is for melons.  So, we'll be enjoying a new baby and our first harvest at about the same time!

Well, Friday means test & check day at the Painter house, and I'm running behind because I slept late trying to deny that I'm coming down with a head cold.  So... TTFN, TGIF, be sure to LOL, and have a ROFL day!

Blessings,

:)Michelle

Well, regarding the "high" blood sugar level mentioned in my last post... it was wrong! 

Instead of being given only 50 grams of the yucky orange sugar drink to consume, the lab technician gave me 100 grams by mistake.  Understandably, my levels came back "high" according to the grams that I should have drank. 

However, because of the "high" level on the 1st Glucose Screening Test and not yet knowing of the mistake, I had to endure an additional 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test with 4 needle sticks and more of the syrupy orange drink... which, by the way, wipes me out physically for about 3 days leaving me headachy and exhausted since I tend normally toward being hypoglycemic.

It was only AFTER returning home from the lovely 3-hour test that I (after doing some internet investigation) realized the mistake made on the 1st test.  I informed my OB, and she was not surprised since my 2nd test (the 3-hour one) came back completely normal.  I must say that she also made a call to the director of the lab and that we won't be charged $$$ for either test.

We are very grateful that I do NOT have gestational diabetes; that, even though I am of "advance maternal age", I'm having a healthy pregnancy thus far; and that my very caring doctor took care of the $$$ issues with the lab.  My needle sticks (although now turning a beautiful shade of jaundice yellow) are healing nicely, and my 3-day headache is finally gone.

Enjoying the blessings of spring,

:)Michelle

Ah, the joys of a good ol' fashioned family meeting!!!  It always seems that everyone at our house gets spring fever this time of year making it miserable to teach, miserable to learn, and miserable to do most anything.  So, my very dear, amazing hubby called a family meeting... my hero!!!  With just a few moments' conversation with each son, he adjusted attitudes and diligence, thus shortening our school days back to the previous non-procrastination, whining, arguing length.  Plus, he made wife/teacher/mommy very happy.  Hooray!!!

On a totally different note... my blood sugar and pregnancy "of advance maternal age" have apparently collided.  Last Saturday, I endured the lovely orange syrup drink/blood test to check for gestational diabetes.  Now, tending normally and all my life toward being hypoglycemic, you can imagine my surprise when my blood sugar level came back 170!!!  FYI: according to a medical website... 110 or less is normal, 110-125 is suspicious, and above 125 is diabetes.  So, this coming Saturday, it's back to the lab for another blood sugar test, but this time it will consist of drinking the sickly sweet concoction and having blood drawn after 1, 2, AND 3 hours to see how my body is or is not metabolizing sugar.  Oh goodie, just what I wanted to be doing on my Saturday morning... not!!! 

However, I have figured out a few of reasons why my blood sugar might have been so high... not eating right last week, not resting enough, and starting to take fish oil capsules again.  The first 2 mistakes are obvious, but apparently fish oil can greatly increase blood sugar levels.  Go figure!  So, now I must become Super Health-Conscious Old Pregnant Lady!!!  I'm even thinking of embroidering a cape! :)

TTFN and thanks for letting me vent just a bit. :)  I hope you all are enjoying the beauty of spring as much as we are, and that spring fever is not too much of a distraction for your kiddos.

Blessings,

:)Michelle

Truly, there is NO place like home with my dear husband and sweet boys!!!  My 38-year-old pregnant body is just almost recovered from my sister-get-a-way trip.  It was an enjoyable time with my sensational sister with lots of food, fun, and fellowship.  We saw lots of interesting sights, and some very disheartening ones as well. 

Until this trip, I had never really seriously considered how many, many, many places exist HERE in the good ‘ol U.S.A. that remain in desperate need of a Savior.  I won’t mention where exactly we went, but know that we ALL need to spend much more time on our knees for the lost and for missionaries… in the U.S. and abroad. 

During my time away, I considered how incredibly challenging it must be to be a missionary in foreign countries where the name of Jesus has never been heard and/or is not even safely spoken.  However, I continue to struggle with how difficult, and near impossible, it must be to try and reach those who have not only heard the name of Jesus, but also have become utterly and contentedly numb to it.

Also, I stand amazed at how God-focused missionaries can remain pure and uncontaminated when constantly surrounded by the EXTREME, in-your-face temptations, trepidations, and wiles of this world that lurk like a cunning lion waiting patiently for an opportunity to strike the jugular!

Oh, how I praise God that His salvation has provided eyes to discern, strength to resist, and moments to plant seeds!

Living In His Blessings Undreamt of,

Michelle

Well, when my sister offered to fund my part of the trip too, I just could NOT refuse!!!

My sis and I are taking a trip... kind of a celebration of the year that our mom would have turned 70, kind of a much needed vacation before new baby comes, but definitely a sister bonding time. 

I'm VERY nervous about being away from dh and the boys for 4 days since I am very much a home body and don't like being away from them hardly at all, but dh is encouraging me to enjoy the break and change of scenery.

In the meantime, I'm trying to prepare home, family, and myself for the trip... so I'll be absent from blogging for a while.

Take care and blessings,

:)Michelle

Well, I know that it's been a LONG time since I last posted.  We're all okay, just busy.  Not really busy with anything in particular, just life.  We've done some re-vamping of schedules, family rules, chores, etc., and that has been somewhat time consuming, but very needed and amazingly God led. 

We also had an unexpected 2-day trip to my precious uncle's funeral 6 hours away.  It was a wonderful celebration of an incredible man who will be dearly missed until we meet again in heaven. 

Also, I was a HUGE idiot and thought that I'd limit fluids so that we wouldn't have to pit stop so much while traveling.  BIG mistake.  I ended up swelling terribly and with a multi-day headache.  However, after MUCH water, MUCH rest, and generous help from my family and friends, I am MUCH better.  I suppose that I'm finally realizing that my normal high-speed tendencies must be slowed WAY down... at least for the rest of this pregnancy.

Well, life is calling.  I pray you all are happy and well!

Blessings,

:)Michelle