Nov. 10, 2009
Fleeting moments of grandeur
Sometimes I feel as if I'm on top of the world, excelling as a wife and mother, ordering my home and tasks with ease, accomplishing more than I imagine possible. I am confident and energetic. I feel like an achiever and a conqueror.
Those moments of grandeur are fleeting. All too often they are followed by mediocrity -- days of chaos and struggling to keep all the plates spinning without dropping anything. Weeks when I am rushing from one task to another -- or simply wandering around somewhat aimlessly, overwhelmed by all that I SHOULD be doing. In these moments, I am merely persevering.
In the moments of grandeur, those near-perfect days when I am feeling that maybe, I might be, almost, just a little bit of a Super Mom -- I think I am doing it all. I am the great one. I have my act together.
But when the chaos returns, and I'm trying to figure out what I've done wrong -- I have to admit that I am not SuperMom. I can't maintain the grandiose days forever. I am merely an imperfect human relying on God's grace.
Everyone has revolving (and evolving) moments of grandeur and mediocrity. It is just life. And life is much less about me than I often believe. It isn't really about what I'm doing RIGHT or what I'm doing WRONG. It's not all about my success and failure.
So in these days of mediocrity, disorder, distraction, and even laziness -- I am once again humbled, but also hopeful that the more organized and productive days will return. I like those moments of grandeur more than the days of just trudging along.
But I persevere, each and every day -- even when I'm not in my most glorious state. Even when I'm merely mediocre.
Galations 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, ane let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith ... "
1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that our daily life may win the respect of outsiders ... "
Trusting In Him,
April
Those moments of grandeur are fleeting. All too often they are followed by mediocrity -- days of chaos and struggling to keep all the plates spinning without dropping anything. Weeks when I am rushing from one task to another -- or simply wandering around somewhat aimlessly, overwhelmed by all that I SHOULD be doing. In these moments, I am merely persevering.
In the moments of grandeur, those near-perfect days when I am feeling that maybe, I might be, almost, just a little bit of a Super Mom -- I think I am doing it all. I am the great one. I have my act together.
But when the chaos returns, and I'm trying to figure out what I've done wrong -- I have to admit that I am not SuperMom. I can't maintain the grandiose days forever. I am merely an imperfect human relying on God's grace.
Everyone has revolving (and evolving) moments of grandeur and mediocrity. It is just life. And life is much less about me than I often believe. It isn't really about what I'm doing RIGHT or what I'm doing WRONG. It's not all about my success and failure.
So in these days of mediocrity, disorder, distraction, and even laziness -- I am once again humbled, but also hopeful that the more organized and productive days will return. I like those moments of grandeur more than the days of just trudging along.
But I persevere, each and every day -- even when I'm not in my most glorious state. Even when I'm merely mediocre.
Galations 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, ane let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith ... "
1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that our daily life may win the respect of outsiders ... "
Trusting In Him,
April
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Click banner to visit AHEF website.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,
in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be."
~~ Thomas Jefferson
The American Heritage Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to help educate our children in the history of our nation and the philosophies upon which it was established. They believe that the focus on diversity in our schools is tearing the country apart and threatening its survival, and that it needs to be balanced with a study of our country's history. They focus on four themes in US history: Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility.
In order to promote these four themes, the American Heritage Foundation created an American history/citizenship curriculum for K-12. They provide this $150 value curriculum free of charge as a free PDF download, as PDF documents on a free CD-ROM, or for $19.50 in a printed notebook format.
The curriculum is provided in 3 levels: elementary, middle school, and high school. They also provide a Spanish language variation in the elementary level. Each level of curriculum is over 180 pages long, with information for the teacher, lesson plans, group activities and individual activities.
These materials are designed for public school use, and some of the activities are obviously created with a larger group in mind than a typical homeschool family (like the Colonial America Simulation Game). These could be adapted with some effort, or they could be used in a homeschool group or co-op setting. Now, I will admit that adapting materials intended for a public school classroom to the family homeschool isn't always easy, but sometimes it can be worth it.
Although the American Heritage Foundation is a secular organization, the curriculum refers to the founding father's belief in God and the Bible with factual respect. The Christian beliefs of the Colonial settlers and founding fathers is not ignored, but it is still a secular curriculum. This makes it suitable for classroom use, or use in a homeschool group with members of varying beliefs.
Some of the citizenship topics covered include:
For myself, I have to admit that I will not use all these lessons and activities, but I will use some of them. Most of our citizenship lessons are oral discussions. We aren't likely to use most of the worksheets, but we are more likely to use the activity ideas. I think this curriculum lends itself to a homeschool group or co-op more easily than to an individual family situation.
BUT, it's a FREE curriculum!! Request your own copy and check it out for yourself. Even if it's not something you'll use regularly, there may be some helpful information or even one activity that makes it worthwhile. Get it for your homeschool group ... or you might fall in love with it, and take the time to make it work for your family. You have nothing to lose!
If you'd like to help promote the American Heritage Foundation, you can donate to their non-profit organization. These donations will help them continue to share their curriculum free of charge to public schools, private schools, and home schools.
Trusting In Him,
April
Nov. 9, 2009
American Heritage Foundation -- free American history curriculum
Click banner to visit AHEF website."If a nation expects to be ignorant and free,
in a state of civilization,
it expects what never was and never will be."
~~ Thomas Jefferson
The American Heritage Education Foundation is a non-profit organization created to help educate our children in the history of our nation and the philosophies upon which it was established. They believe that the focus on diversity in our schools is tearing the country apart and threatening its survival, and that it needs to be balanced with a study of our country's history. They focus on four themes in US history: Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility.
In order to promote these four themes, the American Heritage Foundation created an American history/citizenship curriculum for K-12. They provide this $150 value curriculum free of charge as a free PDF download, as PDF documents on a free CD-ROM, or for $19.50 in a printed notebook format.
The curriculum is provided in 3 levels: elementary, middle school, and high school. They also provide a Spanish language variation in the elementary level. Each level of curriculum is over 180 pages long, with information for the teacher, lesson plans, group activities and individual activities.
These materials are designed for public school use, and some of the activities are obviously created with a larger group in mind than a typical homeschool family (like the Colonial America Simulation Game). These could be adapted with some effort, or they could be used in a homeschool group or co-op setting. Now, I will admit that adapting materials intended for a public school classroom to the family homeschool isn't always easy, but sometimes it can be worth it.
Although the American Heritage Foundation is a secular organization, the curriculum refers to the founding father's belief in God and the Bible with factual respect. The Christian beliefs of the Colonial settlers and founding fathers is not ignored, but it is still a secular curriculum. This makes it suitable for classroom use, or use in a homeschool group with members of varying beliefs.
Some of the citizenship topics covered include:
- The American Revolution
- George Washington
- U.S. Presidents
- The Declaration of Independence
- The US Constitution
- The Great Seal
- Thanksgiving
- The Bill of Rights
- Our National Documents
- Entrepeneurs in American History
- The United States of America's Flag
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- The Gettysburg Address
- The National Motto
- The Statue of Liberty
- The Pledge of Allegiance
- America the Beautiful
- What is An American?
For myself, I have to admit that I will not use all these lessons and activities, but I will use some of them. Most of our citizenship lessons are oral discussions. We aren't likely to use most of the worksheets, but we are more likely to use the activity ideas. I think this curriculum lends itself to a homeschool group or co-op more easily than to an individual family situation.
BUT, it's a FREE curriculum!! Request your own copy and check it out for yourself. Even if it's not something you'll use regularly, there may be some helpful information or even one activity that makes it worthwhile. Get it for your homeschool group ... or you might fall in love with it, and take the time to make it work for your family. You have nothing to lose!
If you'd like to help promote the American Heritage Foundation, you can donate to their non-profit organization. These donations will help them continue to share their curriculum free of charge to public schools, private schools, and home schools.
This item was provided free for our review as a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew. We received no other compensation, and this review is our honest opinion. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Do you remember the High School Guidance Counselor and all the tests you had to take to help you decide where your skills and interests were? I loved those tests! Well, ACT Advantage has an online career planning software called Discover.
As their website states, the Discover software helps students:
After seeing all the options the Discover assessment provided her, my daughter then started removing fields of study and career paths from her portfolio. Since she doesn't really want to go on to a master's degree, she removed jobs that REQUIRED a graduate degree, for instance. This narrowed her career planning portfolio down to a more realistic and manageable list of careers that interest her most. When she was done with her portfolio, we were able to print it so she could keep this idea list as she continues through high school. We discussed that the high school courses she chooses can be important, as well. If she wants to pursue a science career, she'd need to focus more on math and science in high school than if she wanted to pursue a career in art.
There were some weird things that came up. She isn't really interested in math, yet many science careers that lean heavily on math did appear on her final assessment. I'm sure they were triggered by other interests or values of hers. But it was still good for her to look at those options and consider them.
One of the benefits I see is that homeschool parents don't always know all the career options out there in a specific field, or what educational requirements that career path would have. 14 yo A was looking at careers I hadn't heard of, and wouldn't have been able to advise her on educational requirements at all.
Unfortunately, this is a secular software provided by a secular company. There were very few faith-based ministry careers listed and many Christian colleges were not included in the college database. I also had to remind my daughter that God already has a plan for her life, and that if she is following Him ... He'll guide and direct her into a career. For the Christian student, the Discover assessment can be helpful, but thankfully it is not all we rely on.
The Discover assessment is available with a 3 month license for $19.95, or a 6 month license for $24.95. This can be helpful both for freshman looking at what courses to study in their high school years, as well as for seniors preparing to apply for colleges and scholarships, and choosing their major course of study.
Working through the Discover assessment was a helpful process for my daughter. It helped her see what her options were, and also helped to take some of the fear and worry out of the future. It was a fun way for her to explore her future plans and goals.
Trusting In Him,
April
Nov. 2, 2009
ACT Inc. Discover -- Online Career Planning
Do you remember the High School Guidance Counselor and all the tests you had to take to help you decide where your skills and interests were? I loved those tests! Well, ACT Advantage has an online career planning software called Discover.
As their website states, the Discover software helps students:
- Assess interests, abilities and job values.
- Explore occupations, majors and schools.
- Build an education plan that relates to career plans.
- Improve job-seeking skills and develop a resume.
After seeing all the options the Discover assessment provided her, my daughter then started removing fields of study and career paths from her portfolio. Since she doesn't really want to go on to a master's degree, she removed jobs that REQUIRED a graduate degree, for instance. This narrowed her career planning portfolio down to a more realistic and manageable list of careers that interest her most. When she was done with her portfolio, we were able to print it so she could keep this idea list as she continues through high school. We discussed that the high school courses she chooses can be important, as well. If she wants to pursue a science career, she'd need to focus more on math and science in high school than if she wanted to pursue a career in art.
There were some weird things that came up. She isn't really interested in math, yet many science careers that lean heavily on math did appear on her final assessment. I'm sure they were triggered by other interests or values of hers. But it was still good for her to look at those options and consider them.
One of the benefits I see is that homeschool parents don't always know all the career options out there in a specific field, or what educational requirements that career path would have. 14 yo A was looking at careers I hadn't heard of, and wouldn't have been able to advise her on educational requirements at all.
Unfortunately, this is a secular software provided by a secular company. There were very few faith-based ministry careers listed and many Christian colleges were not included in the college database. I also had to remind my daughter that God already has a plan for her life, and that if she is following Him ... He'll guide and direct her into a career. For the Christian student, the Discover assessment can be helpful, but thankfully it is not all we rely on.
The Discover assessment is available with a 3 month license for $19.95, or a 6 month license for $24.95. This can be helpful both for freshman looking at what courses to study in their high school years, as well as for seniors preparing to apply for colleges and scholarships, and choosing their major course of study.
Working through the Discover assessment was a helpful process for my daughter. It helped her see what her options were, and also helped to take some of the fear and worry out of the future. It was a fun way for her to explore her future plans and goals.
This item was provided free for review purposes, as members of the TOS Homeschool Crew. There was no other compensation, and this is our honest review.
Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Click the image to read more about this great holiday supplement from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It's FREE for anyone to download.
Thanks TOS!!
Trusting In Him,
April
Oct. 31, 2009
Free Holiday Idea E-book from TOS Magazine!!
Click the image to read more about this great holiday supplement from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It's FREE for anyone to download.
Thanks TOS!!
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 30, 2009
My Fall Decor Project This Year -- Table Cloth
In the past I've made fall wreaths, and table displays with cloth leaves. It's been a few years since I created anything, and my original wreath has long since been tossed out.
This year, Steve found a Fall fabric on sale and asked me to make a table cloth. He had 3 yards of this plaid tablecloth with candy corn and pumpkins on it, but it wasn't quite wide enough for our table. So we also chose a burnt orange fabric that matched it to attach for the sides.
I cut the orange fabric in half, lengthwise, to make two sides for our table cloth. Then I sewed it with straight seams onto the long sides, and zig-zagged the seam edges for extra strength. After that I folded the short edges under and hemmed them.
It took less than an hour to sew our table cloth, and we all love it! We usually keep a clear vinyl cover on our table, so we slipped this under that. We can still wipe off our table after meals, but we also can enjoy the rich fall colors.
In retrospect, I wish I had cut the orange fabric in thirds, and then cut the dark plaid fabric in half. I think an orange stripe down the center would have been a nice touch.
Trusting In Him,
April
This year, Steve found a Fall fabric on sale and asked me to make a table cloth. He had 3 yards of this plaid tablecloth with candy corn and pumpkins on it, but it wasn't quite wide enough for our table. So we also chose a burnt orange fabric that matched it to attach for the sides.
I cut the orange fabric in half, lengthwise, to make two sides for our table cloth. Then I sewed it with straight seams onto the long sides, and zig-zagged the seam edges for extra strength. After that I folded the short edges under and hemmed them.
It took less than an hour to sew our table cloth, and we all love it! We usually keep a clear vinyl cover on our table, so we slipped this under that. We can still wipe off our table after meals, but we also can enjoy the rich fall colors.
In retrospect, I wish I had cut the orange fabric in thirds, and then cut the dark plaid fabric in half. I think an orange stripe down the center would have been a nice touch.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Perhaps you've spent time searching the internet for a free worksheet on bird anatomy to print before, and you've found one of the 5000+ free worksheets available at ABC Teach's website. I have. But I hadn't ever really looked at what was available with membership in ABC Teach until we were given a chance to review it for the TOS Homeschool Crew.
ABC Teach has over 35,000 worksheets that members can access, as well as worksheet generators for crossword puzzles, word searches, and handwriting worksheets. When we were reviewing the Sue Patrick Workbox System, I found myself searching ABC Teach's subscription database for logic puzzles, sudoku puzzles, grammar worksheets, and sentence-structure worksheets to place in their workboxes. I printed out worksheets that went along with our history studies, as well. When I wanted to give my daughters some math practice from a different perspective, I printed worksheets on fractions, multiplication, and algebra. They do have worksheets on just about everything, for pre-K through 8th grade!
The worksheets I printed from ABC Teach looked great. They printed clearly and had cute graphics. Their search engine worked well, and found all the Autumn worksheets for me when I was looking for another workbox activity. I printed Autumn acrostic worksheets for my children, to get them thinking and writing creatively.
Although we had a good experience with our ABC Teach review membership, it's not something I'm likely to purchase. To be honest, in our homeschool, I just don't look for worksheets to print often enough to justify the expense. We use curricula that includes its own worksheets, and we do lots of things via discussion instead of worksheets. I prefer having my children actively involved in something, or reading, and it isn't often that I need a worksheet to help them understand a concept. To make use of an ABC Teach membership in my home, I'd be assigning worksheets as busy work, and that isn't a direction I want to go. I'd rather spend the $40 on buying more curriculum or supplemental curriculum for my kids.
However, for those who are designing their own curriculum, filling workboxes, leading co-ops, teaching classes, or needing to complete portfolios of their children's work to show to school boards or skeptical family members, a membership in ABC Teach would save them a lot of time. They wouldn't have to search the internet for just the right free worksheet, and they wouldn't have to try to create their own worksheets each week.
ABC Teach's membership costs $40.00 per year, or $70.00 for a 2 year subscription. But you can purchase it for 50% off through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op, now through November 30, 2009. If you're intrigued by what ABC Teach has to offer, you can see a video tour, and a list of their worksheet categories HERE.
Trusting in Him,
April
Nov. 2, 2009
Homeschool Crew Review: ABC Teach
Perhaps you've spent time searching the internet for a free worksheet on bird anatomy to print before, and you've found one of the 5000+ free worksheets available at ABC Teach's website. I have. But I hadn't ever really looked at what was available with membership in ABC Teach until we were given a chance to review it for the TOS Homeschool Crew.
ABC Teach has over 35,000 worksheets that members can access, as well as worksheet generators for crossword puzzles, word searches, and handwriting worksheets. When we were reviewing the Sue Patrick Workbox System, I found myself searching ABC Teach's subscription database for logic puzzles, sudoku puzzles, grammar worksheets, and sentence-structure worksheets to place in their workboxes. I printed out worksheets that went along with our history studies, as well. When I wanted to give my daughters some math practice from a different perspective, I printed worksheets on fractions, multiplication, and algebra. They do have worksheets on just about everything, for pre-K through 8th grade!
The worksheets I printed from ABC Teach looked great. They printed clearly and had cute graphics. Their search engine worked well, and found all the Autumn worksheets for me when I was looking for another workbox activity. I printed Autumn acrostic worksheets for my children, to get them thinking and writing creatively.
Although we had a good experience with our ABC Teach review membership, it's not something I'm likely to purchase. To be honest, in our homeschool, I just don't look for worksheets to print often enough to justify the expense. We use curricula that includes its own worksheets, and we do lots of things via discussion instead of worksheets. I prefer having my children actively involved in something, or reading, and it isn't often that I need a worksheet to help them understand a concept. To make use of an ABC Teach membership in my home, I'd be assigning worksheets as busy work, and that isn't a direction I want to go. I'd rather spend the $40 on buying more curriculum or supplemental curriculum for my kids.
However, for those who are designing their own curriculum, filling workboxes, leading co-ops, teaching classes, or needing to complete portfolios of their children's work to show to school boards or skeptical family members, a membership in ABC Teach would save them a lot of time. They wouldn't have to search the internet for just the right free worksheet, and they wouldn't have to try to create their own worksheets each week.
ABC Teach's membership costs $40.00 per year, or $70.00 for a 2 year subscription. But you can purchase it for 50% off through Homeschool Buyer's Co-op, now through November 30, 2009. If you're intrigued by what ABC Teach has to offer, you can see a video tour, and a list of their worksheet categories HERE.
We received a free one-month trial membership in ABC Teach in order to write this review. Click the TOS Homeschool Crew banner at the top to read more reviews on this product by other Homeschool Crew members.
Trusting in Him,
April
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Oct. 30, 2009
Autumn ... through the ElCloud Lens
The leaves are half off the trees this week, but I wanted to share some Fall photos I took last week, when the leaves had just finished turning. It was one of those days where I just went, "Oh! Wow! Everything's yellow!" It may have been that way for a few days but it suddenly hit me, and I had to take photos. I'm so glad I took the time to do it since the tree is half-bare now.
The sweet little tree ...
My kids wanted to know why I took this picture ... I just liked it.
The canopy ...
Our friendly scarecrow, guarding the back door ...
The cute little tree from the side, looks a little different from here. I truly had not noticed its tilt before.
The scarecrow guarding our driveway ...
Just a couple of our pumpkins in the rain ...
That's what Fall has looked like at our house this year. Every now and then we just have to take a moment to enjoy (and capture) the beauty of a season.
Trusting In Him,
April
A yellow carpet across the lawn ...
The sweet little tree ...
My kids wanted to know why I took this picture ... I just liked it.
The canopy ...
Our friendly scarecrow, guarding the back door ...
The cute little tree from the side, looks a little different from here. I truly had not noticed its tilt before.
The scarecrow guarding our driveway ...
Just a couple of our pumpkins in the rain ...
That's what Fall has looked like at our house this year. Every now and then we just have to take a moment to enjoy (and capture) the beauty of a season.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 29, 2009
FIRST Wildcard Blog Tour: Mom NEEDS Chocolate by Debora M. Coty
Note: I was signed up to review this book, and I was really looking forward to reading it. I mean, its title says it all ... Mom NEEDS Chocolate. But I wondered what direction the author would run with that statement. I love chocolate, and my kids have been known to call Steve and tell him that he'd better stop at the store on his way home because "Mom needs chocolate, Dad."
Sadly, my review book never arrived. It probably was eaten up by a machine in Toledo and is now residing in a damaged or lost mail warehouse in Cincinnati. But it isn't here. So I can't write a review of the book; I can only give you the first chapter to read.
Scroll down to learn more about the author, and to read the first chapter.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Debora M. Coty is the author or contributor to several books, including Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood. A resident of Florida where she lives with her husband, Coty raised two children and enjoyed a dedicated career as an Occupational Therapist before beginning to chase her God-given dream of writing. She is known for communicating sound biblical concepts with a refreshing, light-hearted style. Her writings can be read in her monthly newspaper column, Grace Notes: God’s Grace for Everyday Living.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Regal (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0830745920
ISBN-13: 978-0830745920
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
Trusting In Him,
April
Sadly, my review book never arrived. It probably was eaten up by a machine in Toledo and is now residing in a damaged or lost mail warehouse in Cincinnati. But it isn't here. So I can't write a review of the book; I can only give you the first chapter to read.
Scroll down to learn more about the author, and to read the first chapter.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and the book:
Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood
Regal (April 1, 2009)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Debora M. Coty is the author or contributor to several books, including Mom NEEDS Chocolate: Hugs, Humor and Hope for Surviving Motherhood. A resident of Florida where she lives with her husband, Coty raised two children and enjoyed a dedicated career as an Occupational Therapist before beginning to chase her God-given dream of writing. She is known for communicating sound biblical concepts with a refreshing, light-hearted style. Her writings can be read in her monthly newspaper column, Grace Notes: God’s Grace for Everyday Living.Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $14.99
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Regal (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0830745920
ISBN-13: 978-0830745920
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
My Cups Runneth Over
Pregnancy
A baby is an inestimable blessing and a bother.
Mark Twain
As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.
Genesis 9:7, NASB
There are a few things I’ve learned while fulfilling the “be fruitful and multiply” mandate.
Pregnancy draws you closer to your spouse. During an emergency stop in our driveway while I tossed my cookies in the grass, my husband, Chuck, tried to comfort me. Soon we were throwing up side by side. It was the most romantic thing he’s ever done. Those two brown spots on our lawn were the envy of all my friends.
Childbirth classes are invaluable informational sources. At the country hospital we’d chosen, one young farmer raised his hand the week after we learned about Braxton Hicks false labor contractions. He earnestly addressed the nurse instructor, “Ma’am, my wife’s been miserable all week. Could you tell us again about them Briggs and Stratton things?” He was the same strapping fellow who confided the first week, “We ain’t ever had any babies, but we’ve birthed a lot of cows.”
The budding momma’s swelling belly and the ledge over her innie-turned-outie navel aren’t the only evolutions in the body’s profile. Average-sized breasts become huge globes that bump into everything. It’s like having volleyballs attached to your chest. These alien chest globes take on their own personalities. I called mine the Bobbing Twins, Freddie and Flopsie. I addressed them directly: “Freddie, stop bouncing around or I’m going to fall off this bike,” or “Flopsie, you’re gonna have to squeeze into this DDD cup—there is no E.”
Finally, you’re in your ninth month. Ah, but the surprises are not over. After hours of sweating, teeth grinding and PUSHing, you are rewarded with a tiny screaming miracle. The little bugger has a surprisingly strong sucking reflex, and when he latches on, it feels like a vice grip to this incredibly sensitive part of your anatomy. You’re awfully glad you did that desensitization with the washcloth beforehand. I once commented to Chuck after performing this unpleasant ritual that rubbing myself with terrycloth made me empathize with that old table he was sanding.
“Hmmm. Yes, dear,” he answered, only half listening. I later overheard him inform his sister on the phone, “Debbie uses sandpaper on her chest to get ready for the baby.” No wonder his family thinks I’m weird.
Shortly after giving birth, my friend Julia (also a nursing mother) and I decided to take a well-deserved tennis break. Leaving the babies with their daddies, we headed for the courts. The blissful quiet was shattered by a wailing infant in a passing stroller, triggering that mysterious internal milk breaker switch. Julia and I simultaneously clutched our chests like gunshot victims at the incoming flood.
“Stop it, Freddie! Not now, Flopsie!” I pleaded with the Twins as two dark, wet spots appeared in strategic locations on the front of my white tennis shirt. Julia and I mopped ourselves between points with a soggy sweatband, bringing strange new meaning to the term, “bosom buddies.”1
Son of Man, thank You for the blessing of family and the miracle of babies. Make me more like You because they may end up being like me.
Note
1. Adapted from “My Cups Runneth Over” by Debora M. Coty, first appearing in Today’s Christian Woman, November/December 2004 issue. Used by permission.
Pregnancy
A baby is an inestimable blessing and a bother.
Mark Twain
As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.
Genesis 9:7, NASB
There are a few things I’ve learned while fulfilling the “be fruitful and multiply” mandate.
Pregnancy draws you closer to your spouse. During an emergency stop in our driveway while I tossed my cookies in the grass, my husband, Chuck, tried to comfort me. Soon we were throwing up side by side. It was the most romantic thing he’s ever done. Those two brown spots on our lawn were the envy of all my friends.
Childbirth classes are invaluable informational sources. At the country hospital we’d chosen, one young farmer raised his hand the week after we learned about Braxton Hicks false labor contractions. He earnestly addressed the nurse instructor, “Ma’am, my wife’s been miserable all week. Could you tell us again about them Briggs and Stratton things?” He was the same strapping fellow who confided the first week, “We ain’t ever had any babies, but we’ve birthed a lot of cows.”
The budding momma’s swelling belly and the ledge over her innie-turned-outie navel aren’t the only evolutions in the body’s profile. Average-sized breasts become huge globes that bump into everything. It’s like having volleyballs attached to your chest. These alien chest globes take on their own personalities. I called mine the Bobbing Twins, Freddie and Flopsie. I addressed them directly: “Freddie, stop bouncing around or I’m going to fall off this bike,” or “Flopsie, you’re gonna have to squeeze into this DDD cup—there is no E.”
Finally, you’re in your ninth month. Ah, but the surprises are not over. After hours of sweating, teeth grinding and PUSHing, you are rewarded with a tiny screaming miracle. The little bugger has a surprisingly strong sucking reflex, and when he latches on, it feels like a vice grip to this incredibly sensitive part of your anatomy. You’re awfully glad you did that desensitization with the washcloth beforehand. I once commented to Chuck after performing this unpleasant ritual that rubbing myself with terrycloth made me empathize with that old table he was sanding.
“Hmmm. Yes, dear,” he answered, only half listening. I later overheard him inform his sister on the phone, “Debbie uses sandpaper on her chest to get ready for the baby.” No wonder his family thinks I’m weird.
Shortly after giving birth, my friend Julia (also a nursing mother) and I decided to take a well-deserved tennis break. Leaving the babies with their daddies, we headed for the courts. The blissful quiet was shattered by a wailing infant in a passing stroller, triggering that mysterious internal milk breaker switch. Julia and I simultaneously clutched our chests like gunshot victims at the incoming flood.
“Stop it, Freddie! Not now, Flopsie!” I pleaded with the Twins as two dark, wet spots appeared in strategic locations on the front of my white tennis shirt. Julia and I mopped ourselves between points with a soggy sweatband, bringing strange new meaning to the term, “bosom buddies.”1
Son of Man, thank You for the blessing of family and the miracle of babies. Make me more like You because they may end up being like me.
Note
1. Adapted from “My Cups Runneth Over” by Debora M. Coty, first appearing in Today’s Christian Woman, November/December 2004 issue. Used by permission.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 27, 2009
The farm cats God provided us
Last July we brought home a 2 year old dog we found on freecycle. She's a large Sheltie, really large ... more like a Collie. She looks like Lassie and is, for the most part, a good dog. She has a bad habit of pawing you when she wants attention, has occasionally jumped on the kids which scratched them, has a bad habit of cleaning the kids plates every chance she can get, and a worse habit of chasing chickens. But she's a sweet dog, and mostly gentle.
The first day we had her she sniffed around our burn pit, and out crawled a kitten. It looked to be about 2 months old, and we didn't see any mother or other kittens. We named her Silver since she was a pretty dilute tortie -- gray and cream. We were glad to have Silver, because we didn't have any outdoor cats. There had been a black cat who hunted the property the winter before, but we hadn't seen him lately and he didn't come near us. Someone else had offered us barn kittens in early summer, but we could never reach her to go pick out some kittens. We tried several times and repeatedly failed.
Silver, our female "barn cat" although she's more of a garage or porch cat. My sisters teased us that even our outside cats have long fur, but she really only has a medium length fur.
Trusting In Him,
April
The first day we had her she sniffed around our burn pit, and out crawled a kitten. It looked to be about 2 months old, and we didn't see any mother or other kittens. We named her Silver since she was a pretty dilute tortie -- gray and cream. We were glad to have Silver, because we didn't have any outdoor cats. There had been a black cat who hunted the property the winter before, but we hadn't seen him lately and he didn't come near us. Someone else had offered us barn kittens in early summer, but we could never reach her to go pick out some kittens. We tried several times and repeatedly failed.
Silver, our female "barn cat" although she's more of a garage or porch cat. My sisters teased us that even our outside cats have long fur, but she really only has a medium length fur.Later that year, in late August I believe, we found a litter of kittens in the ceiling of our barn, peering down at us. They appeared to be 2 weeks old, crawling around with open eyes, peering down at us from the ledge above. We worried they'd fall, so we got them all down. Unfortunately, the Mom decided not to return to care for them after we'd handled them, so we bottle fed the 5 kittens. The children named them after famous Revolutionary heroes like Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, and Thomas Jefferson since we were studying that period of history. Two survived, but one was hit by a car. That left only Thomas.
Thomas is the striped cat keeping the three kittens warm. He was a rather weird looking kitten who walked funny, but he outgrew that and is a handsome guy now.
We've had other cats that came around from time to time, but they never stay long. Silver and Thomas are always here. They sleep on the porch, along the house foundation, or in the garage. We feed them cat food, and they catch mice ... and moles ... and birds ... and baby bunnies. Not enough to de-populate Steve's garage of packrats, unfortunately. They're friendly and love to be petted, but they love being fed even more. They're obnoxious when they aren't fed.
Silver had two earlier litters this year, but she was a young Mom. Both those sets of kittens died within a week. She gave birth again 3 weeks ago and we were worried we'd have another dead set of kittens. This time she gave birth in a basement window well along the house foundation, instead of in the garage. It seemed stupid at first, but it hasn't been. The kittens are safe, and Silver and Thomas keep them warm. I started feeding them IN that window well, to encourage her not to wander away from them.
The family. Silver sitting up, Thomas lying down with the gray kitten, black kitten, and tabby kitten. We've looked and it appears that the black kitten is female, and the other two are male.
Thomas is the striped cat keeping the three kittens warm. He was a rather weird looking kitten who walked funny, but he outgrew that and is a handsome guy now.We've had other cats that came around from time to time, but they never stay long. Silver and Thomas are always here. They sleep on the porch, along the house foundation, or in the garage. We feed them cat food, and they catch mice ... and moles ... and birds ... and baby bunnies. Not enough to de-populate Steve's garage of packrats, unfortunately. They're friendly and love to be petted, but they love being fed even more. They're obnoxious when they aren't fed.
Silver had two earlier litters this year, but she was a young Mom. Both those sets of kittens died within a week. She gave birth again 3 weeks ago and we were worried we'd have another dead set of kittens. This time she gave birth in a basement window well along the house foundation, instead of in the garage. It seemed stupid at first, but it hasn't been. The kittens are safe, and Silver and Thomas keep them warm. I started feeding them IN that window well, to encourage her not to wander away from them.
The family. Silver sitting up, Thomas lying down with the gray kitten, black kitten, and tabby kitten. We've looked and it appears that the black kitten is female, and the other two are male. The two previous litters seemed to have been fathered by a couple orange cats, whom I haven't seen around lately. They weren't very friendly, but we knew there were two distinct cats and one was braver than the other. These three appear to have Thomas for a father, based on color and markings. The kittens are walking, trying to climb the cement wall around them, and starting to eat the cat food. Soon they'll all climb out and move into the garage for the winter.
May they live long and catch many mice and moles ... but leave the baby bunnies alone.
May they live long and catch many mice and moles ... but leave the baby bunnies alone.
Trusting In Him,
April
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Oct. 26, 2009
Pictures of our Milkbarn Converted into a Chicken Coop
Last Summer we fixed the fencing around this old dog pen, and put a chicken wire roof over it. We moved our guinea keets into it. The guineas lived in it through the winter. We hoped they'd use the doghouse for shelter, but they didn't. Um, three of them froze to death, the dog caught one once, and we had one surviving guinea hen.
We thought they might roost over on these milking stanchions, but they never do. Our feeder is meant to hang, but we just set it on bricks and put a pan on top to protect the food. It's fairly dark in this barn, and we haven' t yet made the fence outside chicken-proof. So they are stuck in here, but they're still laying.
We were able to create roosts easily, by re-purposing farm clutter left by Steve's grandparents. The metal gate is sitting in a brick with a groove, and leaning against the stone wall. Several chickens usually roost on the top of this, and sometimes they lay their eggs under it.
More chickens actually roost on the old ladder we laid over two old sawhorses that were already here in the barn. And some of them roost in the window, even though we clipped one wing before moving them in here.
Trusting In Him,
April
This Spring we moved our chickens into the same pen with the surviving guinea once they were big enough to leave the basement. We've spent the rest of the summer trying to decide where to move them. I wanted them near the house as they had been, so I could easily watch them and hear them. So we considered converting part of a nearby outbuilding and adding a fence. But, that was going to take almost as much work as building a new coop.
The chickens were happy here and they laid their eggs inside the doghouse, and also between the doghouse and the fence. We could access some of the eggs by moving a brick and reaching under the fence, but we also had to go inside and check inside the doghouse daily. We put a metal pan in the dog house finally, because it was too deep to reach to the far corner. We were using a stick to roll eggs out of it each day, and cracked several. After we put the pan in, we'd just use the stick to pull the pan forward, retrieve the eggs, and push the pan back inside again.
Cold weather came early this year, and we still hadn't decided what to do. Finally, we agreed to move them to the old milking barn, even though it meant I could no longer watch or hear them from the kitchen.
The chickens were happy here and they laid their eggs inside the doghouse, and also between the doghouse and the fence. We could access some of the eggs by moving a brick and reaching under the fence, but we also had to go inside and check inside the doghouse daily. We put a metal pan in the dog house finally, because it was too deep to reach to the far corner. We were using a stick to roll eggs out of it each day, and cracked several. After we put the pan in, we'd just use the stick to pull the pan forward, retrieve the eggs, and push the pan back inside again.
Cold weather came early this year, and we still hadn't decided what to do. Finally, we agreed to move them to the old milking barn, even though it meant I could no longer watch or hear them from the kitchen.
The milk barn has thick stone walls, but only one window. That window was boarded up, but Steve and I put a sheet of plexi-glass in place. It has a few gaps around the edges we couldn't completely caulk, but it still stops most of the cold wind. (The chickens are enjoying one of our watermelons that didn't get fully ripe, and some other veggie scraps from the garden.)
More chickens actually roost on the old ladder we laid over two old sawhorses that were already here in the barn. And some of them roost in the window, even though we clipped one wing before moving them in here.
We re-purposed these old tires that were lying around to be their nesting boxes. They haven't laid a single egg in them. Although they have laid a few between them or behind them.
Speaking of re-purposing items ... there isn't any running water out by the barn anymore. So we have to haul water to them. Our first few attempts were messy, using a wagon to move their waterers back and forth, or carrying pitchers to the barn. Then I realized if we used an empty gallon milk jug, it wouldn't spill. We just take out a gallon of water in a milk jug each day and fill one or more of the waterers. If we do this once a day (sometimes twice) we are able to always keep their waterers filled.
Speaking of re-purposing items ... there isn't any running water out by the barn anymore. So we have to haul water to them. Our first few attempts were messy, using a wagon to move their waterers back and forth, or carrying pitchers to the barn. Then I realized if we used an empty gallon milk jug, it wouldn't spill. We just take out a gallon of water in a milk jug each day and fill one or more of the waterers. If we do this once a day (sometimes twice) we are able to always keep their waterers filled.
They like to lay their eggs in this corner, and we often find 3 or 4 here. Of course, they also like to lay them in other places, and it's a bit of an Easter egg hunt each day, to find the chosen spots of the day. Sometimes we have to watch where we walk, because one will be lying in the middle of the room.
Happy chickens and happy rooster in their new WARM winter home. There isn't any electricity out here, so it's dark and they're going to have to make their own heat, but it will be fine. It's more than enough room for 1 rooster, 23 hens, and 1 guinea hen.
Next Spring we'll move our new chickens into the pen next to the house again, but these older ones are staying put in the barn for now. If we ever decide we need the barn for some other larger animals, we'll have to build a new coop for the chickens.
Next Spring we'll move our new chickens into the pen next to the house again, but these older ones are staying put in the barn for now. If we ever decide we need the barn for some other larger animals, we'll have to build a new coop for the chickens.
Trusting In Him,
April