Hi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Jane (PlainJane) and I am the blessed and happy wife to Jeff and doubly blessed mama of two perfectly wonderful daughters. Please join me as I share our Lifestyle of Learning through Christian homeschooling and homesteading on our little hobby farm with our prairie girls.
Amber (Bookworm) is our dd15/10th grader.
Our perfectionist and over-achiever. She loves reading, playing violin, all things vintage, riding her Paint horse, and being a farm girl.
Anna (Ladybug)
is our dd12/7th grader.
Our "girls just want to have fun" girl. She loves to play and has a great sense of humor, but also enjoys cooking, music, and riding her QH pony.
Okay, so I guess it's no secret that I'm against vaccines, ANY vaccines, but of course I'm not a doctor, it's up to you as an individual and as a parent to decide, all's I ask is that you...
Like most, I didn't know vaccines could harm my child and so for the first year and half of our our oldest child's life, she received the usual rounds of vaccinations that I was told were "required" -- DTP, Polio, Measles, Ruebella, and Mumps. And similarly, our second child also received her shots for the first year of her life, BUT THEN, THANKFULLY, I read the book "A Shot in the Dark", or rather, I devoured that book - and bawled at the end of each chapter as true stories were told of children that either died or were permanently damaged as a direct result of vaccinations they received. It was a terribly emotionally draining book for me, but I had to know the truth. That did it for me, my children weren't going to get any more shots! I knew it was only by the grace of God that our children were okay. I could go on and on why we don't vaccinate (or do the flu shot), but it would be better if the experts told you, so here are some resources I am recommending on the subject...
No, you dont HAVE to have your child immunized for anything and it's NOT required by law as some forms and people insist. I simply sign the "conscientiously opposed" part of the immunization record and have it notarized. The government is pushing to see that every person (not just child, but adult as well) receives all immunizations, but beware, it's all about the money and I don't believe it's safe. Whenever you have to sign a form at the doctor's office giving permission or as a release of liability before a shot or medication is given, think first! Ask why!
P.S. - We no longer vaccinate our animals either, and they have all been much healthier since we stopped.
And one last thought: A very close friend and I were recently discussing vaccinations and she pointed out that:, "One thing that got me thinking negatively on them [vaccinations] is that there is no precedent for ANYTHING like that in the Bible. You never give someone a little bit of evil to strengthen their immunity to it...". I thought that was a very good point.
So, I'm not telling you what to do, but all's I'm saying is get ALL the facts. The government won't tell you the down side of all these vaccinations and most often, your dr. is not taught the down side either and doesn't know the potential dangers. It's up to you as a parent to educate yourself - afterall, your child's life is at stake.
I first heard of this current best seller at a family gathering about a month ago. A relative (of DH) raved about the book from the moment she walked in the door and continued to talk about it for quite some time - giving the book to my MIL to read. Now, I must admit that I haven't read this book, but from what this relative was telling us, the word "blasphemy" immediately came to mind. She told of the The Shack portraying Jesus as a carpenter, the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman, and God the Father as a large black woman named ... Papa. It disturbed me that this dear lady was so taken in by the book, but what disturbed me more is that several others of those in attendance had also read the book -- many of them who proclaim Chirst, many of them had gone to some sort of Bible college; and even some of them are in ministry -- and yet not one of them denounced this New Age book or said anything negative about it. Now my MIL is almost finished reading the book and says that it contains some truth, but also some things that are perhaps only partly true or not true at all. Hmmm! Weren't we all taught that a half-truth is still a lie? I believe "The Shack" is a dangerous book indeed!
I am also disturbed that some "Christian" book distributors are proudly selling this New Age book, such as Christian Book Distributors (CBD) and our own local chain of "Christian" bookstores. It goes to show that just because someone or some business claims to be Christian, to be very careful - even in the Christian homeschool market.
Personally, I really don't belive that anyone who proclaims to be a Christian should even consider buying this book. Afterall, would you expect a Christian to read the Book of Satan? Why not? So what's the difference? Besides, should the $'s that God has given us to use for His glory be used to feather the pockets of such authors and the like?
I love this story...
"You must spend a lot of time handling counterfeit money to know what it looks like," said Ruth Bell Graham to a man from Scotland Yard, who was in charge of identifying counterfeit money.
"No," he replied. "We never touch the stuff. All day long we just handle the real thing: genuine currency. And when a counterfeit bill comes our way-we can quickly detect it."
As Christians, we could go nuts trying to keep up with the latest heresies and counterfeit teachings, but if we continue in the Word of God, reading it, studying it, living it, we will immediately know counterfeit teachings. We don't need to spend our time and money engaging in such nonsense!
Here are a couple of great articles on the leaven of The Shack to arm you so that when the subject comes up, you can explain why this is such a dangerous book...
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. II Timothy 4:3-4
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to distruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14
It's going to get worse. Many other heresies will continue to rise. Movies, novels, and TV will become increasingly blasphemous.
May the Lord find us faithful!
A dear friend emailed me this and I thought it was worth passing on. The article was erroneously entitled "Jay Leno on President Bush" but thanks to MrsKBrook, I have since been corrected... here is the correction: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/hitnail.asp and below I have linked the original source. I'm sure the "original" title would draw more readers, but it's a great read anyways.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did … insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.
I was more than a little appauled last week to find out our tax dollars are being used to make sure kids brush their teeth!
Last week, while waiting for the girls during their regular 6-month pediatric dental appointment, I overheard a hygienist asking a girl the same canned questions that they ask everyone, "Do you brush twice a day?" and the mother responds marrily in broken English, "Oh yes, she has too. All the children at school with braces have to go in to see the nurse every morning and brush their teeth in front of her [the nurse] to make sure they brush their teeth." EXCUSE ME. What did she say? You mean that is what we pay the school nurses to do now days? Isn't that each individual child's/parent's responsibility? Shouldn't they have brushed their teeth before they left for school? And so what if they don't brush - what ever happened to personal responsibility and consequences? Maybe they would get cavities and have to get all their teeth filled just like what happened to my dh & I - it's not the end of the world ya know!!! What ever happened to school nurses that put Bandaids on playground boo-boos, checked for fevers, and called parents to come get their child when they were sick? I'm tempted to call our school district and see what "my" nurse does with my tax dollars - but I'm afraid to ask.
I am ever so grateful for our recent Florida vacation. Everything was about as perfect as can be…except one airport incident that took place on our way home that still has me shaking my head in unbelief…
This was my first flight since 9/11 (and our daughters’ first plane trip ever), and as you seasoned travelers know, travel will never be the same again. Upon arriving at the Orlando airport, our happy little family returned our rental car and checked in our one bag. We then were rushed through the first security check of showing our tickets and dh & I, our driver’s license. I kept looking around for a cattle prod, as that is how I felt. No problems, so we then make our way to the concourse and the "big" security check. We put our shoes in the gray bin (in case we were hiding any explosives in our flip flops) along with our cameras, cell phone, purses, and carry-on’s to ride through the x-ray and meet us on the other side of the metal detector. First of all, I have to say that out of about 7 lines, I of course chose the slow one (never get in line behind me, I have this uncanny ability to pick the slowest one every time). They must have been trainees. Secondly, just ahead of us were a lovely Asian family (mom, dad & 2½ yr. old daughter). They made the little girl give up her pink stuffed bunny for the conveyor/x-ray ride – oh my, what a struggle. The little one got so upset, she couldn’t stop crying and the parents had to deal with the unhappy ordeal for a long time afterward. Anyways, back to us -- Ladybug, dh, and I make it easily through the metal detector and our stuff through the x-ray. But I guess because of the "random" checks, Bookworm wasn’t so fortunate. Now you have to picture our petite little Bookworm (a head shorter than all her friends - she looks more like 10 yrs. old). She was wearing a feminine modest white skirt and has the heart and disposition of an angel. They pull her aside and proceed to remove our very-organized little girl’s things from her carry-on. (A pocket New Testament, a Brio magazine, clothes, sea shells, her new Mini Mouse souvenir – things like that. They can’t find any weapons or bombs, so they proceed to wipe the zipper of her suitcase with some liquid (?). Then they call the supervisor over (all these guys look far more suspect than our little lamb). I’m trying to make light of it to our daughter (I guess as comic relief). They then escort her with a female security guard to frisk her. Just a half-hearted frisk, mind you. But all the same, I was about to lose it (in tears) and I could tell by my daughter’s stone-like expressions, that she was about to too. She was then finally cleared to join us. This is something she doesn’t seem to want to talk about. Oh, yes, and my dh later said that they were starting to do the same with an elderly lady just as Bookworm was finishing up.
Now, I ask you, when does common sense come into play? Did that 2½ year old girl, my little girl, or that elderly woman really appear to be a threat to security? I think not. Was this a good use of our time, their time, or our tax dollars. I think not. Now, I really do appreciate the added security, but do they really have to make such "random" checks to the least unlikely – I think it borders on harassment. Isn’t there a better way of doing this? I’m really not sure what it would be, but I would think somebody could come up with something.
Because of that single senseless act, I feel like my young daughter’s child-like innocence has diminished somewhat and it put a damper on an otherwise great vacation. What happened to human dignity? What happened to common sense?
I have heard it before... that tv, or books, or music, or movies, or video games, do not affect a child/person. That the healthy child will not act out what they see or hear and as long as the child is interested in a particular type of book; no matter what it is, it is okay to let them read it -- to get them into reading. We have a relative that thinks just that way. Of course, this person has no children (thankfully) and I wonder if any of those that make such statements know anything about children.
Our girls have always played out what they are experiencing in life, which for the most part, is good, very good. They learn to become mommies. They learn how to live out their Christian walk. They know how to handle (and practice) real life situations. A few years ago, when our girls were still quite small, our good friends (pk's) moved to a neighboring state. We were sad to see them leave and for many weeks following, the Barbies kept moving during play time. When we attend a history reenactment, once home, the girls can't wait to play that time period. Same with horse shows. Now, with all our vacation planning, you can be sure of what is being played around here - they are going on vacation everywhere, talking to travel agents, acting out real life. The suitcases are out - even though the trip is still a ways away.
On the flip side, I recall so vividly once when our oldest was only two years old. We still lived in our first house, in the cities, and enjoyed walking to a park at the end of our block to swing. One day, two young boys, possibly around four years old were playing and one boy evidently was a big Power Rangers fan. He had found a very large branch (one that could do serious damage) and proceeded to swing it at the other boy and threaten other children, while he acted out the show. I finally had to speak up as his violence progressed and I was fearful that he might hit my little one.
Oh how careful we must be to shelter our children. We have a rule at our house... we don't play (or watch on tv) sin. Whatever is displeasing to God, should be displeasing to us. I can't imagine if we could visibly see God "with us" at what many consider acceptable entertainment or sitting next to us, looking over our shoulder at certain books that some consider okay, that we would see Him nodding his head in approval. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- what was an abomination then, is still an abomination today. My relative doesn't see it this way. The world (devil) is cleverly infiltrating many who fill the church pew with lies in the acceptance of sin in the name of tolerance, love, and grace.
Oh be careful little eyes what you see..., Oh be careful little ears what you hear...
