A

Permanent Link

L

ess  than seven months ago, this gal walked into our home with her husband and two adorable children, to fulfill a request from our son to help complete our bedroom remodeling.  We had never seen this family before, and little did we know that not only would they give us a major jump in our home repairs  that was needed after our son's death, but this couple would also be a part of healing in our personal lives, with their friendship.  I was not "looking" for another friend . . . continued here

Permanent Link

I

have known Kerri for over ten years now. We met at a support group for parents with children with heart defects.  We are both Christian homeschooling moms.  We both have children with heart defects.  We both have buried sons.  Her son, Sawyer, had several open heart surgeries, and then died about 6 years ago after a heart transplant.  It was devestating.  We continued to keep in touch . . . and then she understood our pain and grief when our son died. The last 18 months now, I have received e-mails from Kerri as she lives in Cambodia.  They went to Cambodia to  adopt a child - which has become several children, and an unplanned, extended missions trip.   CONTINUED HERE

Permanent Link

B

eing a mom with ten children all still at home, there are never dull moments here, especially with four teens and a 20 year old son, there is a LOT of activity. There is a lot of comings and goings, phones ringing and activities being planned.  Then of course the younger ones keep us hopping with their needing another drink, a nursing baby crying and the search for a bandage (again!).    There is rarely alone time.  Actually the last time I was totally "alone" was when . . . CONTINUED HERE

Permanent Link

Permanent Link

I

Permanent Link

Have you entered the Father's Day photo contest yet?  It ENDS TOMORROW! There are TWENTY-FOUR wonderful entries so far.  It's not too late for yours! On FridIay I will have a  post of links to all the submissions and sometime next week the winner of the scrapbooking prize of over $100 will be announced.  Details here along with links to the entries so far.

Permanent Link

 

"Lower your expectations of earth. This isn't heaven, so don't expect it to be."
~ Max Lucado ~

E

very where we turn, there is there is pain - from the headlines in the newspaper of yet another death in Iraq, more job layoffs, murders, drug deals gone wrong, and things uncomprehensible that our children have to face such as another 16 year old boy dying from the choking game, as our son did.  We get glimpses of heaven, with new life and a baby's first smile, spring blooms and autumn's full rainbow of colors, and music swelling our souls to lift praise up to heaven, but it certainly is not heaven on earth.  We cannot even fathom heaven here despite God's pouring out His handiwork and His unending care and love towards us.  Imagine going through a day with no conflict, no tears, no turning on a TV let alone the news that it bears on earth each day, no skinned knees or tangled hair, no long sighs of missing a loved one, no more rejections.  CONTINUED HERE . . .

Permanent Link

Permanent Link

ave you entered the Father's Day photo contest yet?  There are numerous heart-touching entries of precious dad and children pictures.  It will be hard to pick out one for the winning prize of over $110 worth of scrapbooking supplies!  The contest goes through the end of the month, so be looking for that treasured picture! 

Details here along with links to the entries so far.

Permanent Link

hat was the first thing I heard one morning last week!  One of my older girls will sometimes get the baby early in the morning so I can get some solid sleep.  He is not a good sleeper ~ therefore I am not either!  So after getting some much needed sleep, the first thing I heard . . . . CONTINUED HERE

Permanent Link

friend of mine read my post the other day about the very much loved Petunia books I would love to own. She told me about a paperback book swap.  Here is her experience using it:

When you first join, you have to post 9 books and then you get 3 free credits [books] right away.  You can "shop" for books or put some on your wish list.  CONTINUED HERE

Permanent Link

On Monday I shared about some new "old" books from the 1960's we discovered.  In sharing about these, I am seeing if anyone can guess my favorite childhood book.  Each day I am leaving hints with that post.  Come on over for a visit, and see if you can guess.  The first person who guesses correctly will have a little gift of stationary sent their way!

(P.S.  You might like the book review too . . . we LOVE these books for young children!)

Permanent Link

C

an you believe it?  He is 8 weeks old today!  Even his siblings are saying how fast it is going.  He has finally turned the corner with gaining weight, but not exactly the way I wanted it to.  Two weeks ago, he was back to his birth weight (5 lbs. 11 oz.) after losing over a pound.  But then he seemed to go under that weight again, and then back to his birth weight, and we just could not get him over his birth weight.  So, we decided to go back to supplementing with formula.  I felt (feel) like a failure doing it, but in the last two weeks, he has gained over a pound and now is 6.75 pounds.  He is given two 4 ounce bottles a day, along with me still nursing him.  The kids LOVE giving him his bottle.  I was just quite bummed but at least for now, it seems he needs this to catch up.  I think this will be his last week . . . continued here

Permanent Link

Loni shares on her blog, Finding JOY in the Morning, her thoughts on the above quote, interwoven with Scripture and the tragedies at Virginia Tech.  Join her and the writers from Chritian Women Online and add your thoughts (or blog post) as well!

Permanent Link

M other's Day is next month, Sunday, May 13th.  April is also National Poetry Month. 

I mentioned about this contest a few days ago, but here's an update (a few more prizes included!).  From now through the end of this month (ending Monday, April 30th), I will be hosting a writing contest - a poem you write to or about your mother - on your blog. 

There's no "rules" as what type of poem it should be or it's length.  It can be personal, funny, touching, in memory, sharing a story, rhyme, not rhyme, etc. 

SUBMIT YOUR BLOG POST HERE ONLY and fill out form.  On Wednesday, May 2nd, I will have a "Carnival of Poems" linking to all the submissions, on my other blog, Finding JOY in the Morning.  Then on Thursday, May 3rd, SIX winners will be posted, one from each of the following groups (be sure to read the submission guidelines below):

1. CafeMom blogger who posts a poem on her journal (If you don't have a blog, here's your chance to sign-up here, and start your first post - your poem entry!)
2. ClubMom blogger who posts a poem on her ClubMom blog
3. A blogger from HomeschoolBlogger.Com
4. A blogger from MothersClick.Com
5. A blogger on the Christian Women Online Blogroll
6. A blogger NOT in one of the groups above

The following gifts will be awarded:

1. A one-strand Mother's Bracelet from Bracelet Stories
   (includes birthstones of children only - no charms)
2. A one-strand Mother's Bracelet from Bracelet Stories
   (includes birthstones of children only - no charms)
3. Two handmade cotton dishclothes (made by a friend)
4. A personalized writing journal (made by a friend)
5. An assortment of 10 handmade embossed, greeting cards.
6. (Book) Things Pondered by Beth Moore

Here's a couple of guidelines for your submission being accepted:

• You must have a blog or a blog to post your poem on (one submission per blog please).
• The winner must e-mail me within 3 days of posting the winner with your address.
• You must live within the continental USA for free shipments of these prizes.  If you want to participate and live outside the continental USA, at the end of your post put "participant only" so you will not be part of the judging (by me and a friend).  If you want to be included in the judging, please e-mail me BEFORE filling out the form, and I can give you shipping cost details.
• Once posted on your blog, submit your blog post to me here only!
• At either the beginning or ending of your letter post please leave the following logo and words(the code for the logo is as follows:
  " />

Permanent Link

Permanent Link

esterday on the frontpage of the New York Times there  was an article all parents must read: Teenager Casts Light on a Shadowy Game.  Sixteen year old Levi Draher from Texas played the choking game three times and after the last time he says "I died and came back."  Last October he was declared "clinically dead".  Being unconscious for more than three minutes, he also had a heart attack, was three days in a coma, and still remains on anti-seizure medications.  He is now sharing his story in highschools with Police Office Scott Methey who does a presentation in school on the choking game.

On this powerpoint presentation, is pictures of numerous kids who have died from this "choking game".  My homeschooled 16 year old son is one of them.  He died just over two years ago from this foolish game.  My then 11 year old son found him - my then 15 year old son cut him down - we gave him CPR, but he was already with his Maker.

As Christian homeschool mom, I never imagined that something like this would touch our family.  We thought we had the hedges around our family, but satan has a way of sneeking in, especially wanting to get at our children.  Matthew talked of going into missions.  He had a heart for souls.  The summer before he died, he took his Bible next door to make sure the man next door knew Jesus.  A young man on fire for Jesus - and satan found his weakness . . .  we lost a son on earth . . . but we won't stop sharing of how he died and the power of Jesus to save lives.  Matthew's testimony does not end.

Readers, even if you homeschool, talk to your kids about this TODAY.  If it killed my son, it can kill your children too.  Visit my blog, Finding JOY in the Morning, for many links, including Matthew's memorial page, the article yesterday from the New York Times and links to the warning signs of this dangerous game.  I have another link to a mom who read our son's story and talked to her boys about it, to find out they were aware of the choking game and one had tried it. 

There are battles to fight to keep satan from our children.  This is one of them.

Permanent Link

H

ere is an idea for us homeschoolers. It's a "geography in a shoebox" swap.  Here is the specific information from the Yahoo Group where you can sign up for it:

This is a list for homeschool families to swap "shoeboxes" that reflect their geographical area and their family.  We do a list once a month (on the 2 or 3 of the month). . .

CONTINUED HERE:

Permanent Link

Permanent Link