• Apr. 8, 2008
I am Elizabeth Bennett

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• Apr. 6, 2008
Time, Hasten Slowly

Time is both a friend and a foe. Today was a hard day for me. I spent 18 exquisite days of time with my best friend and eternal companion and my seven gifts (children). Today we said good-bye as he returned to his “mission”. While tucking my children in bed tonight, Makenzie, who is six, told me that she felt when daddy was home that the family felt whole or complete. Now it feels empty. She expressed the entire family’s feelings well. We all were feeling empty today. I know that only time will make it easier.

 Where does the time go? When I am spending each day with my children, the time comes and goes so quickly. Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months. My eldest daughter is already twelve. She is talking about what she is going to be doing “soon” in her adult life. Yes, it is still years away. Years come so quickly. I remember when she would snuggle in my arms. She had terribly high anxiety as a toddler and young child and would only feel peace and comfort when I held her. I could have pushed her away or made her tough it out, but I didn’t. I sat with her for countless hours while she would hold onto my hair, playing with it, knowing that it is a sacrifice now, but that I would never regret it. I never have. I will never regret any of the time spent with my children and only hope I will remember to spend as much of my time with them now. Eighteen years is a short time in the lifespan of an adult. Make each minute count with each precious child you are given. Your child needs your time during these tender years.


We have so many things we wish to do with our time. How much time do we waste in front of the TV or other electronic entertainment that we will never get back? My dad always tells me that time goes by in the blink of an eye. Sometimes when I’m holding hands with my husband and taking a walk, or holding a child who only wants my comforting arms around her, or as I am nuzzling my newborn infant and drinking in the smell of her newborn skin all the cares of the world melt away as I enjoy each moment. I wish that I could freeze frame these moments and go back to them when I’m having a hard day.

Hasten slowly, time.
Let happiness wing to me quickly,
Settle softly, And linger long,
oblivious of time.
Let midmorning blasts
Mark time
For progress and industry,
But for the filaments of the heart,
Hasten slowly, time.

(Roberta L Theobald, Hasten Slowly Time RS Magazine August 1960)

May you spend the time given to you making pleasant and special memories.

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• Jan. 2, 2008
May you Look for the Stars in 2008

• I had my precious baby girl - Bella and enjoyed her first year in our family.
• I improved my health via: Cleanse, exercise, chiropractics, and better nutrition.
• I lost 4 dress sizes.
• I improved my mind through reading 12 books.
• I grew spiritually.

I have several goals for this year and will be more specific in an article I'm working on. But, here is the quick list for my 2008 goals:

• Get out of debt
• No more caffeine
• Eat mostly raw fruits and vegetables
• Cut out the chocolate from my diet
• Eat healthier snacks (celery, apples, etc)
• Teach my children about health and nutrition
• Get more exercise
• More quality together time with my children
• Stay home more.
• Potty train two of my children
• Read 15 books
• Become healthier

"Two men looked out from prison bars

One saw mud and the other saw the stars"

May you look for the stars in 2008!

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• Nov. 1, 2007
It's that time of the Night- BEDTIME

It is the pumpkin hour, no not midnight, it is 8 o'clock. When Wee willie Winkie runs through the town looking for kids out of bed, I'm lingering on my knees a little longer after family prayer praying for the strength to get through BEDTIME.

We have two children with special needs, a toddler, a nursing baby, and three older children. I have an intense bedtime routine for the sake of keeping them in bed. It works, it's just long.

We begin with pajama time after baths. This is quickly followed up by one chapter in the scriptures unless it's a really bad night. A really bad night means Madi, who has possible autism, is having a long fit and I'm restraining her, while the baby tries to crawl on me and Madi is trying to punch or kick her, and Meri is screaming too. All this while my older children are reading and Makenzie is sneaking off getting ice out of my freezer to chew. On nights like this we'll read five verses and call it "good." If we are having a "good" night we'll even read some in our family reading book.

Next, I file them all upstairs just to get overwhelmed by the mess. Every morning it gets cleaned and throughout the day, but by bedtime we're back to messes again. By messes I mean laundry, toys, books--the usual. I assign pick-up tasks and then read one to two books to the younger three girls. I end up reciting Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers on the average of ten times.

Then I say a prayer with Meri (2). If I try to cheat on a night that I'm tired and lie on her bed, she gets mad and reminds me to kneel. She then promptly crawls off of her big twin bed and kneels to remind her forgetful mother how to pray properly. Next is a song of her choice which is usually "Popcorn Popping". Then a kiss and a quick reminder that I'm not going to put the baby gate up unless she gets out of bed.

Next is Madi. She gets the Rescue Remedy cream on orders from the natropath she is seeing. Then I say her prayer with her, sing her a song which is usually "Popcorn Popping", have a quick discussion about how the sandman isn't scary and only sprinkles disappearing sand or reciting Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers three more times. It is whichever she insists on, and then I kiss her good night.

Bella (9 months) is usually crawling or walking around me, fussing or climbing me like I'm a jungle gym while I attempt all of this. Next is Makenzie (6). She is quicker to put to bed with a quick prayer and song.

Thank GOODNESS the older children can do this themselves or it would take me all night. I'm usually so tired after all of this that I sit and check some emails and then read before I go to bed myself.

It never hits me that I have to do all this until after dinner and I have to start mustering up the courage to begin. Why do I do it? My first answer is because I feel that I need to do it for them. I feel that it gives them the personalized one on one time with me that they need. I do it because I can teach good principles and enforce the others that I taught throughout the day. I also do this because after eleven years (almost twelve) of parenting I have found that my children respond better to going to bed, sleep better throughout the night, and we have fewer instances of bad dreams or getting up out of bed after they've been lovingly tucked in.

To all of the mothers out there struggling to muster the energy to endure bedtime, I understand because I'm going through it at the same time!

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• Sep. 11, 2007
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

My husband will be gone in a little over a week for Iraq.  I believe he will be fine and have the faith that the Lord will protect him.  My fears are stemming more in the fear of homeschooling all seven children by myself.  I've been thinking a lot about this, and recently it helped me to do things to prepare better for this and come to terms with what exactly I'm worried about, why, and what I can do about it.

A couple of weeks ago I had a mini breakdown with the realization that the time is almost here.  I began contemplating- seriously contemplating- putting a few of the kids back into school.  This is completely against my convictions, my opinions--- my life!   Although, at this time, it was more panic and fear than anything.   I spent a lot of time on my knees praying for an answer.  I just couldn't make a decision.  I would make a desicion one minute and change it the next.  My husband wisely kept insisting that he would support me in whatever I decided. 

After spending much of my time praying, crying, and thinking one afternoon, I felt impressed to call the two friends I've been mentoring while they are embarking on their first year of homeschool.  I called my first friend.  She patiently listened to me and then asked what sparked this?  It was something I hadn't thought of at this point.  I thought about it for a minute and I believe it stems back to the Stamp Camp I went to recently.  So many women there were fresh, polished, happy, always meeting for afternoon girlfriend lunch dates (without kids), running here and there, shopping for FUN?!, and so forth.   It is NOT that I'm not any of these, but they seemed more "glamorous" than this homeschooling mom of seven.  I guess I was worried that with Ben gone and with us not doing as many things "outside of the home"  I might turn into a frumpy, lumpy, greasy rag mop mom who barely functions.  In my realistic mind I realize that I would never let this happen to myself, but its a fear.   I'm worried that all of my friends here will be afraid to "bug" me because I'm homeschooling during the day or "busy" at night.  Essentially I'm worried about being forgotten and then forgetting to take time for myself.

I explained this to her and she agreed that she would love to get together and doesn't want this to happen to her either.  We are now going to meet every Friday.  I know that homeschool groups are a possibility too, but all the groups I seem to find have "play dates"  (I'll have to save that for another blog post), or meet at inconvenient times for me (like 9 am).  It is hard enough to get my kids out the door all looking sharp once a week for church! :)

 Next, I called my second friend. She listened patiently and then asked me what she could do.  We are now meeting for lunch or fun crafty things (for us moms too!) every Thursday. 

I'm so thankful that I called to tell my friends my fears.  If I had never told anyone my fears and kept thinking I could do it myself, how can anyone help me or just be aware that I need their friendships?  I had to swallow my pride and communicate with my friends.   Just sitting around in my misery and thinking that "no one" cares is silliness.  How can anyone know unless I tell them?  I've learned a valuable lesson this month.  We will miss my husband terribly, but I feel more confident knowing that I have a support group to be here for me while I keep the home fires burning for him.

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• Jul. 19, 2007
Thank you, ready to do it!

Ladies,

Thank you to everyone who commented on the upcoming journey I'm about the embark on!   I feel good about it and not as scared of homeschooling the kids by myself for 1 1/2 years.   I read a quote recently that has empowered me and encouraged me to move forward.

"It is been said that the courage to be happy is the greatest courage of all, but more often the truth seems to be that it takes greater courage to accept temporary unhappiness for a future purpose.  More valor is required to follow a difficult road, which may have a more luminous destination."  (Valiant Womanhood, Relief Society Magazine Oct. 1945)

That has given me the courage to forge ahead with a conviction and sense of pride for what I'm to accomplish while my husband is fighting for our God, our family, and our country.

I'm sorry I've neglected this blog.  I promise to share more of our homeschooling fun.  Lately, I've been doing a lot of posting on my other two blogs and getting out the free homemaking newsletter.  See the links:

Sanity with Seven Blog
Two Women Badly in Need of a Vacation

And the free homemaking newsletter- join us!

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• Jun. 18, 2007
Nervous about the Future of our Homeschooling

My husband is active duty military.  With a deployment of over a year, I'm worried!  I'm worried that I may not be able to handle the responsibilities of homeschooling seven children by myself that long in the little house we ae moving to.  Any thoughts are welcome and experiences similar to mine are even better!  I need it! ;)

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