Walking in Grace Daily

Feb. 21, 2009 - Testing

This is a test of the EBS - (That ' s the Emergency Blogging System)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

EEE EEEE EEEEEE

If this had been an actual Blogging Emergency - or a Post - The sound you just heard would have been followed by about 100 paragraphs explaining where I've been and why I haven't been blogging. You'd hear all about the baby, my health issues, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Inauguration Day, Ground Hog Day, Valentine's Day and President's Day. You'd hear about how not busy I've been because I've had to completely tone things down around here. You might even see a picture.

But since this is only a test to see if anyone out there even noticed I wasn't around for a while, or maybe still has me on an RSS feed :) all you get today is a "Hi, I'm hanging in there. We've had quite a winter, but God has taken us through it. I've missed doing alot of things these past few months and blogging and reading blogs are two of them. I hope everyone is doing great and I am looking forward to catching up with people very soon. Still waiting on some tests results, but Lord willing, I'll be on the mend shortly."

This was only a test :)

~Cindy

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Oct. 23, 2008 - Power Blogging

Power Blogging - Blogging as fast as you can to get several weeks worth of thoughts down before pandamonium breaks out in the living room

"Georgie Porgie" will have been with us for six whole weeks tomorrow. Unbelievable. Life since then has been..........if my organizer is any indication, it's been absolute chaos. In a good way most days, but chaos nonetheless. If you're looking for a poster child of seamless transitioning from New Baby to Homeschool Year you're at the wrong blog. I fall into the "If anyone has any idea how I am supposed to being doing all this I'll give you a million dollars and my organizer".

He is definately the Most Popular Guy in our school right now. Especially with the Toddler and Pre-school class. There, they learn the finer points of eye-poking, arm shaking, and sock pulling. Both our students are excelling in all areas. The older classes really seem to like him until he spits up. The All-Girl's class has made him their mascot and looks for every opportunity to hold him, pick him up, put the pacifier in his mouth, kiss his head and in general - love him!

I do need to check the ingredients on my Pre-Natal vitamins because apparently they have been laced with some kind of Growth Fertilizer. PeeWee here, who was about 11 lbs. at his 2 week check up, is now pushing 15lbs at six weeks. Think I am kidding? I just bought him new onesies Tues. night, washed them in cold water, dried on delicate low heat and put one on him last night. It just barely fit.
Size : 6 to 9 months The weight chart for them is 12.5 to 16.5 lbs. and the length is 25-27 inches. Yikes. It's a good thing he isn't a turkey, because he'd be about ready for Thanksgiving dinner. That's Butterball with a Big B.

Want to see him?? You and everyone else. About the pictures...I am hereby stopping the practice of saying that I will post pictures. When I do, you can all be surprised. (Sorry mom) The problem is that my camera is FULL and to download them I really need to put them in somewhat organized files, at least by month taken. This requires some time that I really truly seriously (all one word) have not had. As someone told me recently, if you put all seven kids to bed at night - you've had a good day :) So far I haven't lost any of them. And we are making progress. Everyone tells me this is building character too - I'll let you know if I see any.

OK, I've just been informed of a jail break - The Toddler/Pre-schooler class just ran down the hall...

Until later,

Cindy

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Sep. 24, 2008 - Took long enough!!

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get a post up - well, yeah I guess I can. We have had a lot going on

Friday, September 12, 2008 at 5:37 pm our newest little flake arrived! He "floated" in at 10 lbs. 1.6 oz and 21 1/14 inches. All went well and we are both doing great. I don't usually use our children's names, but by way of introduction (which I'll probably delete in a few days) his name is Keller Micaiah B-- .

Yes, pictures are forthcoming. We have some great ones so I'll pick some favorites and get them up this weekend.

Thank you so much to those of you that were praying for us. The Lord was so faithful and merciful to us, and we are all so very thankful for this new little life.

Until later,
Cindy

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Aug. 24, 2008 - Are there chickens in Wyoming? (or " I don't think I can take much more)

Painting with a very broad brush, I contend that there are three types of people:

Those who want to hide from the World

Those who want to join the World and

Those who want to change the World

Have you ever thought about which one you are? I would say the second is never an appealing option to me. I vacilate between the first and the third. Some seasons of life, you wake up each day ready to tackle it all. You have the energy and the drive to feel passionately, act decisively, and live victoriously. As a mother, you vow to instill in your children, by God's grace, all of the positive, much needed character traits that society is lacking. You're going to change the world one nose wipe at a time!!

Then there are the seasons when you want to move to Wyoming and raise chickens.

You just feel tired. Weary. Like a dog that just doesn't have the fight in him anymore. Like taking on City Hall. Like going after a grizzly bear with a butterfly net. You just don't want to put forth the effort anymore to try and make a difference. Who cares anyway? Then you join Elijah under his juniper tree and lament.

But God still sends ravens doesn't He? And there's water. And rest. And you find out you're not alone. Slowly, strength returns, the brook dries up and you find yourself heading back into the fray to try again. Knowing ,again, that you're not without an External Power source.

Aren't you thankful that God's mercies are new every morning? Isn't it encouraging to have God pick you up, dust you off and say - OK, get in there.

Whether it's battling a severe medical issue with a family member or friend, facing unbelievably hard financial times, or homeschooling your brood another day, God has the strength that we need.

He was truly serious when He said "Be not weary in well doing..."

**This post brought to you by a mother who was feeling totally overwhelmed, tired, agitated, irritated, and above all very pregnant, before she sat down to write. Thank you. :)

(and no, I do not want to do a unit study on raising chickens, in Wyoming or anywhere else. I appreciate the eggs, but don't feel compelled to have backyard access to them)

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Aug. 19, 2008 - Quick update, again

In keeping with our family's summer theme of "God is totally in control and we are thoroughly aware of it" we were told yesterday that our new little one may be making his appearance sooner than expected. I will be 35 weeks tomorrow and I am measuring 39 weeks, so he's still growing well :) He's also at -2 and I am 3cm and 50%. So I am going to take it easy for the next two weeks (until I hit 37 weeks) and then I can go jogging :)

We are praying that he will stay put until then so his lungs can mature fully and since I have dear friends who are giving me baby showers the end of next week. I'd like to be there :) God's timing is not ours, so I will take what He gives.

We "officially" started school yesterday, more for my oldest son's benefit than anything. It went fairly well, although the younger ones are only doing a few things. And I am Commanding from the couch :)

We talked this morning at devotions about the Season's of life and how we don't need to wish away the one we are in because it's chaotic or difficult. We need to enjoy the times we have because they will pass away quickly and another will come to take it's place. The times of trying are the times when we learn and grow the most. Ecclesiates 7:3 says " Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."

We don't have to spend our lives looking sour to be holy, but we don't have to hate the tough times that come either.

Until later (maybe with new baby at home?)
~Cindy

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Aug. 7, 2008 - Big babies, big plans

Just an update...

I didn't post Mon. after my OB appt., but after consistently measuring 4 weeks bigger than I should, my mid-wife wanted an ultrasound to rule out extra fluid, funny positioning, etc. Went to day and we have a nice fat 33 week old boy in there. His little legs measured about 33 weeks but his belly is almost 38 weeks :) Everything averaged together, he's about 3 weeks large - about 6 1/2 pounds right now. If I go full term, he'll be another whopper like his siblings have been - around 10 lbs. maybe more if he doesn't slow down his weight gaining. So far we've had weigh ins at (in lbs. and oz.) 7-12 (three weeks early) 8-12, 8-13, 8-15, 9-13, and 10-7. We don't exactly have teenie weenie newborns around here. Skip the newborn daipers and 5-8 lb. clothes. We go straight to size 1 and I have fold the tops or cut a notch for the cord. But I like it! I get scared holding tiny babies - they seem so much more fragile. Mine you can toss a football :)

And since we're talking about growing, I'm trying to decide if we should have a ceremony for my 14yo when he offcially hits 6 ft. tall. He is 5'11 as of last night and has grown 3 inches since Feb.!! Being a little over 5'8'' I don't look up at many children or ladies - I'm not liking this. Not too mention the skis 'aka' as his shoes laying around the house. And now my almost 12 yo is only 2 1/2 inches away from looking me in the eye. What's a mom to do? Keep having "little babies" I guess :)

On the planning front, I'm glad all is well and that I may have seven weeks to keep preparing. I need it! I bounce between house organizing, baby preparations and school planning. I wanted to start this week, but just no way! I finally got my 9th grader taken care of, since his was the most time consuming. Hopefully the rest will be a breeze. His line up looks like this:

Semester one:

Bible - The Kingdom of God, Francis Breisch (an OT survey)
History - BJU World Geography
Economics - Uncle Eric Series (the first 2 books) Instead of one year of Economics tacked on in 11th we're learning some each year. I think there is just so much to learn.
Literature - Teaching the Classics (IEW) , Andrew Adams - after we go through this we'll read several books and plays
Compostion - Classical Rhetoric through Structure and Style: Writing Lessons based on the Progymnasmata (IEW)
Logic - Intermediate Logic, Jim Nance
Greek - A Greek Alphabetarion/A Greek Hupogrammon, Harvey Bluedorn - depending on how fast we work through this he'll move into Homeschool Greek 1
English Grammar/Mechanics - (last year!! yippee) Jensen's Grammar and Punctuation (2 books)
Math - Algebra 2, Saxon
Science - Biology, Apologia

Semester two looks the same except we'll be done with Intermediate Logic and doing an Intro. to Speech and Debate working through Christy Shipe's (Michael Farris's daughter) book - An Introduction to Argumentation and Debate. We are using a guide by Deanna Stollar of Antithesis Debate Publications.

I've spent much time on the phone with my "Secretary" and on www.donnayoung.org getting forms together and folders and files made. I feel somewhat ready...

I also tackled the bi-annual chore-redistribution - that is sooo much fun. Everyone is figuring out their new jobs and the house is staying very tidy. But we haven't started school yet! All in all, though I don't see the progress daily, when I look back over the last month I have accomplished quite a bit. More to go, but hey, I've got seven weeks to get it all together, right? hahahaha I've had too crazy a summer to think I'm coasting until Sep.

We'll see...

~Cindy

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Jul. 30, 2008 - What a wonderful world???

It's almost the perfect writing day - a little rainy, no outside time commitments, kids are playing somewhat happily; Only thing off is I just ran out of coffee. Can't have it all can we?

I read through alot of different devotions. Sometimes Spurgeon, sometimes another book/bible study. Right now I'm reading Oswald Chambers - My Utmost For His Highest (again!) You know how you can read through things multiple times and each time different things will make an impression. If you're reading MUFHH right now, you know today was about Disillusionment. I have always looked at it as a 'bad' thing. But my thinking was set quite straight this morning.

In John 2:24-25 it says , " But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (in the context of the people asking for a sign from him as to why he came crashing into the temple and driving out the profiteers)

Chambers says this," Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgements in life; it means being free from these deceptions. " He goes on to say that our usual experience of disillusionment leaves us cynical and overly critical of others. "But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the point where we see people as they really are, yet without any cynicism or any stinging and bitter criticism." Read that again.

If we all saw it that way can you even imagine what life would be like? I have "suffered" from bad cases of disillusionment and seen those who have suffered - sometimes greatly. Christ didn't have that problem. He KNEW what was in man on the front end, yet he was not suspicious or bitter. Truthful, honest and direct about the condition of humanity, but not bitter. His confidence was in God - not things or people.

I think it's probably obvious why that strikes a chord with me as of late. Things will let you down. (multiple times!!!) No joy to be found there. People are not perfect and will not provide all the peace, joy and love we want either. Nor will an environment, a vacation, a church; you can make your own list.

In that constant Tetris game going on in my head, (you know where try to make all the pieces fit with as few holes as possible), two things today have confirmed these thoughts. #1 - At 7:00AM my dh called to say, Hi, I'm down the road - my car bit the dust. If you've been reading, you know we've tried. We let it sit and we tried to fix it. It is out of our hands :) Always was, but it's nice when you REALLY know it. So I smiled and said, I'll come take you to work - wonder what the Lord's going to do? Praise the Lord I do not have to trust in my 1991 Dodge Caravan with about 240,000 miles on it. Now we only have one car left to let us down :) Oops, that's probably too cynical isn't it? #2 - I read an article on some policies that it seems Univ. of California schools have adopted concerning the courses that Christian students take prior to admission to UC schools. Apparently if the courses are from a biblical worldview perspective they deem them as not being challenging enough to make it at UC, b/c they don't teach evoution. There are disputes on both sides as to what the policies actually say, but it seems that they are being interpreted that way by the schools, according to several parents. You can read it here .

Some people are disillusioned by what they see in society - bias against things of God, cruelty, injustice; But being the mother of almost seven and having brought several children through their toddler years, I ask WHY??? WHY are you so surprised and affronted? You expected differently? Sin nature is alive and kicking folks. No matter how God-ordained your country's Founding Documents may be. You can't rule men's hearts with a piece of paper. Only if the men believe in what's on the piece of paper. That requires a different heart up front. I don't expect my two year old to naturally want to obey me and stop drawing on the walls any more than I expect a Secular institution to naturally desire to tolerate Christians and their beliefs.

So do we just get mad? Cynical? Critical? I don't think so. Let's just understand what we're dealing with and then gird oursleves and our children up for the fight. Because it is a fight. That's why we homeschool. Not so that we can be "relaxed". Not to stay in our jammies until noon. It's because we take seriously the idea that we have to equip our children the best that we can to live in this world. Confident communicators for Christ. Biblical world-view minded scientists. Principled, trustworthy business owners or employees. Pastors, teachers....

So as I drove back from Carbs R Us (aka: Krispy Kreme) this morning (we decided to have a mourning party for Dad's car) listening to James Taylor, yes I am a closet James Taylor fan, I felt good. Not because the world is such a great place, but because we have such a great God - no matter how rotten things seem sometimes.

~Cindy

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Jul. 19, 2008 - Be fruitful...

Our pastor sends all the expectant moms in our congregation, as well as others in his aquaintance, encouragements throughout our pregnancies. I thought the one we received today was wonderful and wanted to share it.

"Dear Fruitful Vines,

One never knows in God’s mercy and kindness what a simple appeal to a Biblical passage can produce. As I was pondering my last encouragement to you all, I pondered Psalm 128. Verse 3 says, “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house.” I thought, “You know, instead of saying, ‘Dear pregnant moms,’ maybe, ‘Fruitful Vines,’ instead.” Now “pregnant moms” is a lovely term to me. Nevertheless, from the encouraging replies I received regarding the term Fruitful Vines, it will now be the address of choice!

This also pointed out to me again the importance of words and, especially in our society, of image. You dear sisters have to stand in the checkout lines of Wal-Mart and other stores all the time. Glaring at you are rows of magazines that virtually shout at you, “The Hollywood Harlots are the standard of beauty. You have to look like this, and display that, or you are not beautiful.”

Don’t listen to this. Reject it. Replace this lie with God’s truth.

Some of you mentioned waddling. Some of you mentioned that vines are thin. I was amused. Yet, I was also pierced to my very soul. Our society has made body-sculpting surgeons rich and constantly shoves its artificial, nip-and-tuck, silicone and Botox standard of beauty in your face. Let me tell you something: waddling, as your body bears the children God gave you, is holy. The changes, the aches, the pains, the swelling, the stretch marks, and all the rest—these are all beautiful in the eyes of the Lord and to any man who has his biblical wits about him. It is stunning beauty to see women submitting to the often painful changes that bearing the Lord’s children brings. Being fruitful and multiplying brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and is the holy act of bringing God’s elect into this world. Through virgin’s womb, our beloved Savior entered this world. Mary did the most holy waddling that has ever graced the planet. It was not the sultry, sensual sashay of seduction. It was the humble, load-bearing, groaning, aching waddle of the salvation of all God’s elect for all eternity. Waddle on, groan on, swell up to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ: you are displaying a true and holy beauty to your God and to anyone who has eyes to see.

My beloved wife used to say in her last trimester, “I feel like a beached whale.” I wish I had told her a million times and more, “But you are beautiful to me and to the Lord.” She was then and she is now the delight of my eyes. Dear Vines, there is a beauty in your fulfilling the eternal purpose of God to which all the airbrushed, surgically enhanced bodies on this planet will never compare. Your self-effacing sacrifice displays the glory of your Lord.

Waddle, swell, and groan to the glory of your Savior. He knows true beauty when he sees it."

I don't think I could have said it any better!
~Cindy

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Jul. 16, 2008 - The Conclusion of it all

I knew a joke awhile back where the punchline basically said, If you play a country song backwards the wife comes home, you stop drinking, your car starts and the dog comes home.

If you could play my last post backwards, that would be about the same idea. Well, God has blessed even as he continues to stretch. Update:

We got our car back. It's running! We just don't know how fast we're going or how far since the odometer and spedometer are not working. :-O Good thing my dh has always been a speed limit guy. He just goes slower than everyone else and figures he's ok. Yes, we're in the market for good, dependable wheels that get great gas mileage - Dh's work is only 5 miles away sooo, I think it will be a green Diamondback mountain bike for awhile.

All appliances are working!! Yes, the stove light keeps clicking off and on for no apparent reason, but food can be cooked. And this time of year who wants to use a an oven?

I found my debit card!! But not before I had concelled it and ordered a new one. At least it wasn't "out there" floating around. Oh, it was in 9yo son's drawer. The one we call the 'trash man'. We had to take him off trash duty because his drawer was so full of 'treasures' he 'found'. He claims he was set-up, but we're still investigating.

My curriculum seems to all be on the way!! There was a one week hold-up with Rainbow b/c of backorders but UPS should be bringing a whole truckload of boxes my way the end of this week-yippee. I'm also selling very well on www.homeschoolclassifieds.com all things that I didn't sell at the used curriculum sale here.

I have found a fantastic Secretarial service for homemakers and home educators. And it's FREE! The catch is, everyone has their own, generally speaking. They may or may not be local for you and experience differs greatly from office to office. MOM :) She is a typing whiz, is great with Excel and her brain came hard-wired for organization. She has been wonderfully desiging and re-doing forms and papers that I really need. THANKS!! (Hope it's still free after I embarrass you :) )

The kids are helping out by doing "Summer chores" each day. They get tasks done that I would have trouble with right now and I make sure they don't kill themselves or each other in the process. Yesterday for example was trash can and high chair scrubbing day. Things were going pretty well until I went inside to a do a few things.... Just so you know, sidewalk chalk is not deadly, but it is pretty hard to swallow. almost 2yo son ate a chunk of red chalk and my calm 14yos ran in shrieking - HE"S EATING CHALK!! I was on the phone with "my secretary" and had to very quickly go in a panic - not a good idea when it's grandma too - assessed he was not dying, scooped and rinsed until little guy was not coughing then out he went to suck on all the sponges they were using to scrub out trash cans. Isn't it amazing how resilient they are?

So, If I can keep the children well and uninjured for the next three weeks or so, we may start school slightly into August, the house may be relatively clean and organized, and at least DH will be getting great exercise.

Thank you Lord.

~Cindy

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Jul. 7, 2008 - Good news, bad news

The more blogs I read, the more I realize how many of me there are out there. The seriously overworked genre of " stay at home mom with multiple children blogging about the mayhem of her days" is appealing for a reason - We see some of ourselves there. I heard that in business if there is no competition, there is no market. I guess likewise, if no one can relate to what you're saying - they won't bother to read it.

So more of the same from me :)

Good news: We got the car back! Bad news: It cost more than we wanted to spend. Uber bad news: It is still doing the same thing it was when we took it in. Most Uber bad news: It's back in the shop.

Good news: The toilet isn't clogged now. Bad news: You can only go #1 Uber bad news: Oldest son has a stomach bug...

Good News: Had a Dr. appt. and baby is doing great. Bad news: Baby is doing too well, measuring 3 weeks 2 days big - so I will be giving birth to a toddler again.

Good news: Got curriculum ordered. Bad News: Lost my debit card.

Good news: We seem to have caught up on alot of the loose ends that have been hanging around : Bad News: Tomorrow isn't here yet.

I got an e-mail that a little used account I set up on a home-improvement site had been frozen because someone tried to log into it 5 times with the wrong password. We got the IP and found out it was some guy in Isreal. Thankfully I haven't bought anything there and they don't have any of my personal info. there.

Today the Water Utilities truck pulled up out front as my dh was leaving for work and I saw them talking to him. He came to the front door shaking his head. "Our water meter is broken. They can't get a reading so they need to shut off the water for a little while to fix it" I just started laughing. Now it's things we don't even touch! I felt a little like this....