One Big Family - Homeschool Blogger

Making hay while the baby sleeps

Fri, 8 Dec 2006 10:08:00 -0600

I have become so fast and efficient over the years--mostly because I have had 14 babies, and I knew that I had to make the minutes count. My good ol' army training got me prepared--I often say that I went to boot camp for mothering!

I'm sure you can relate. Just how much time does it take my daughters to get ready in the morning? At least an hour. How much time does it take a mommy? 15 minutes tops--am I right?

The problem is that I don't want to look and smell like a drowned rat after those 15 minutes. My family members are the most important people in my life, so I want to look and smell good for them. I don't want to kiss my husband with dragon breath or
squeeze my toddler close to my smelly armpit, and I don't want to speak like an angel but look like a wicked witch.

Simplicity--that's the word. Simple hairdo, simple wardrobe, simple makeup and personal hygiene.

I take my shower at night--this way I don't do it all in the morning. Brushing my teeth is a priority--and on this I have learned not to chintz. My hairdo is a cut that I only have to spritz and make a few curls. I have a small bag that contains the basics for makeup and deoderant. Then there is a little perfume sprayed in strategic areas.

My wardrobe is simple--just a few seperates that can be mixed and matched. I prefer skirts and tops to dresses because I can usually manage to nurse discretely without covering up, so I have about 4 of these that I switch up with. I also have two tailored tapestry vests that I like to wear over different tops to help with my figure while I am still working on it after the baby. I have an occasional "sweats" day, but I am in the habit, thanks in part to the local Goodwill, of wearing nice clothes, even if I never step out of the house. After all, mothering is my "profession", and I dress, where my circumstances and budget will allow, as I would expect any other professional to dress.

Along these same lines, I also spend time making sure my husband is well-dressed. His underwear is set out for him, and his shirt and pants are neatly ironed. I either iron a week's worth of clothes every Sunday afternoon or one otfit each day. He may work from home, but he always looks nice.

Every other day the littlest girls are bathed, and every day their clothes are changed and they have their personal hygiene done. I am in charge of this, while the older kids are required to do the same by themselves.

By 8:30 in the morning, things are usually neat and clean, including all of the bodies in the house--except for the teenage girls who need at least an hour for hair and makeup, but we're working on that one--they will have to be mommies someday and become more efficient!

All a work by God's grace and in due time.

Sherry

Are boys or girls "easier"

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 21:44:00 -0600

Apples and oranges--that's what it boils down to. Girls and boys are easier, only in different ways. I love "paling around" with my girls for some things (we can talk about feelings and relationships), and my boys for others (we don't have to talk about feelings and relationships--how refreshing just to discuss "stuff"). These are my general findings as they grow:

Girls--less aggressive, more compliant, stay focused
Boys--more loyal, less complicated, say what they mean

As far as when they are little, it just depends on the personality. I have had some little girls who were "high energy" and consequently high-maintenance babies and toddlers, and little boys who were compliant and patient. If I ever had any hard, fast rules about boys and girls, they disappeared a number of children ago!

After having so many flavors of little people, I never take it for granted that I know anything--always discovering something new! Good thing I have the wisdom of God to help me, or I'd be totally confused.

More baby pictures

Mon, 4 Dec 2006 21:03:00 -0600

Here are some shots of our Lorilee--already 3 weeks old!

You know what? It never gets old--babies are just precious gifts!

EASY chicken and potato soup

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:33:00 -0600

Here's something nice for a cold day.

uick and easy poato soup:

Peel and cube 8-10lbs of potatoes--do this with your kids and take advantage of an opportunity to talk with them about life.

Place in stock pot, throw in 2-3 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts, along with salt pepper, and onion powder to taste. Cover with water, bring to boil

Put approx. 3 cups powdered milk and approx. 3/4 cup white flour in a small container and add enough water to make a paste. Set aside.

When chicken breasts are done, remove with tongs and snip into small bits with kitchen scissors.

Return to stockpot. Add milk/flour paste and stir, while heating, until thickened.

You can also add some corn for a more "chowder" type soup.

Good with cornbread or ww french bread on the side.

Christmas

Sat, 2 Dec 2006 19:18:00 -0600

Thank you for all of your neat ideas for Hubby. It sounds as though we are all very thankful for our "better halves". I did finally end up ordering some items from Vision Forum while they had their free shipping deal, plus I had a $10 off coupon--those two things really helped! Then I also ordered a few other things from Christian Book Distributors. The remaining items I broke down and bought at Walmart (I hated bringing my little luv-a-lump out so early--although she seemed to love the bright lights and noise!).

My husband, meanwhile, let me open a Christmas present early--a CD of the very first songs he played for me when we weren't even a "we"--back 24 years ago he was excited about playing a song by Paul Clark entitled "Woman"--which was based on Proverbs 31, and also a song based on the scripture "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Yesterday we sat and listened and wept together as we recalled the Lord's faithfulness to us over all of the years, even through all of our growing and selfishness and general sinfulness. It has all been worth it.

Hope you're able to enjoy this season of reminders of His love for us to its fullest.

Sherry

What are you buying your husband for Christmas?

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:18:00 -0600

Today I am so thankful for my dear husband. He has been so tired, and I have been so rested since our little baby came less than 2 weeks ago. He has taken care of so much, and I have been able to rest, sometimes with 2 naps a day. Today he looked exhausted, and yet was still considerate of me and the rest of the children--what a guy! He even has all of my Christmas shopping done--he bought me a number of gifts, but I have not begun to shop for him.

What are you guys buying for your husbands this year? I am open to ideas on the cheap and the creative--also anything I can buy online.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

Sherry

Sharing the joy...

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:14:00 -0600

I am just enjoying this baby soooo much! Everytime I look at her I am overwhelmed with God's grace on me--that I should once again be part of such a pleasure--when I thought it may never be possible again!

Even though I wanted to stay in and adore her for at least another year, the world broke in and we had to run a few errands today. We had to go to one of those "gov't" offices, and our hearts bled as we witnessed little babies being treated with indifference and disdain--children are so precious!

Right now I have people under my roof in all sorts of stages--from infancy to toddlerhood to pre-adolescence to young adulthood, and I can tell you they are all my favorite! My little toddler keeps us all in stitches, my 4yo's middle name means "heavenly"--and her every glance reminds you of angels' wings. I could go on and on from there, but this would be a very long post!

Then there is my wonderful husband, who loves each child as much or more than I do. His heart is so soft, with that masculine strength, towards all children, but especially towards his own. He lives and breathes them, and constantly thinks of ways to be involved and love them. God has truly blessed us with each other, after all of the years of hardness and struggle, and the struggles we have gone through just this year alone, and we are strengthened by each as we grasp each other's hands and hearts. The tie that binds us is that we want to please Him, because He first loved us, and we see this life as an adventure in preparation for a heavenly eternity with Him.

After our little office visit today, my husband remarked at how blessed we are--that we are not so distracted that we cannot enjoy the simple things, in the everyday. God does that--He gives you back life, and makes it abundant. Even the sorrow has meaning and is blessed.

Here's hoping you are having a blessed day!

Sherry

Pictures

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:57:00 -0600

Here are some pictures of precious baby!

My older girls took these lovely pictures.

Thank you all for your gracious comments--how wonderful to have your support!

Candy--don't mind the oops--and no, no twins, just singletons, and I have never had a delivery complication or c-section--thanks be to God! His mercy and goodness are beyond comprehension!

Sherry

She's here!

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:04:00 -0600

I am right now holding our precious baby--14th child, tenth little girl! God has been so gracious to all of us!

After our little "false alarm", all was quiet--just spent a few days catching up on rest, etc. My dear husband was able to get extra work done for the office, and he felt strongly to get some monthly reporting done for the office on Saturday, instead of waiting for Monday--wonder why?...

Sunday morning I thought we had better make church for sure. I was experiencing some unorganized contracts throughout the morning routine, along with some "shakes", but was too distracted by church prep (major stuff around here) to pay much attention.

Was too preoccupied to pay much attention to the service, sort of "into myself", needing to shut the world out. It was really good we went, though, as we were able to minister to some of our dear friends who are working through some important issues, and so it was God that we went.

Meanwhile, I was soooo uncomfortable. One lady actually asked last week if I were going to "explode", and even the nurse at the OB office said that she was going to be watching for a story in the papers announcing the birth of the world's largest baby! That's why I was more than a little elated when the unorganized contractions began to become quite organized--from 7 to 5 to 3, etc. I waddled upstairs to where my dear husband was watching football and announced that he may have to finish watching his game in the hospital. Then my 16yo took on the task of helping me to clock everything, and followed me faithfully around the house with a watch. Things began to look more promising as the contracts didn't slow down with changes in position or activity.

Daddy decided it would be fun to have someone along to sort of keep him company, since he often ends up feeling like a 5th wheel at these occasions. After a little discussion it was settled that our 8yo dau. would be honored in this way, and she was elated. We packed up and headed out--I was still in consistent labor, but not uncomfortable at all.

Arrived in observation at the hospital, and after exams, monitoring, etc., it was agreed that we were definitely in labor--"bloody show", etc., just that the baby's head was high between contractions, making progress quite slow. I was experiencing some pretty strong "squeazes", but feeling quite comfortable indeed--no pain, just pressure. As I was getting dressed into the hospital attire, I talked to the baby and told her that I didn't know how, but I knew that God was going to give us a great love, and that He would help me to raise her and care for her.

After a few hours of going nowhere, we all decided to go for an amniotomy, or breaking the amniotic membrane. Once the OB did, the flood waters flowed! She even exclaimed, "Holy Smokes!" as water gushed forth, over the whole bed,etc.--this is why I had been so uncomfortable!

Afterwards, the progress was better, but still slow. A part of me liked the fact that I wasn't in any real discomfort, but another part of me was anxious to get to the real pushing and get to hold my baby. Meanwhile, I was singing songs from the Psalms and walking gently around, keeping my mind stayed on Him. My little daughter sat close by, getting things for me as I needed them, unable to sleep, even though it was late. I enjoyed carrying on a good conversation with the labor nurseand even the OB (a very sweet person) during this time, but I don't think this helped with the progress!

Upon the next internal exam, I asked the OB to check for presentation, just to see if this was not keeping the baby's head from putting enough pressure on the cervix to make a difference.

We found that the baby's head was positioned sideways--so it was suggested that I lay on my side, and BINGO!--that's when the discomfort hit--the pain that let me know that things were progressing. I began alternating with laying on my side and on all fours, and things began to get serious. I called on my dear husband to rub my lower back during a contraction, and then sit in front of me so I could lean on him in-between. There's just something about his touch that is very healing and comforting to me.

As she moved further down, I could lay back (on an incline) and get through the waves without massage, but just concentrating on her movement along the birth canal. At a certain point I could tell that she was just on the verge of entering the "ischial spines"--the bones that guard the exit, so-to-speak. I prayed and told the Lord that I wanted her to pass through, that I was ready.

Then the real pain hit, when I decided that I couldn't go any further--imagine that! After 13 other babies, I still didn't want to do this part! The baby's head was right there in the middle of my bones, and nothing I did could ease the discomfort, so I complained a bit until I remembered, "I can push the pain!"--so I did! I just leaned to the side, sort of and started pushing with all my might, while my support people scrambled to prop me up. I kept on pushing and pushing, feeling like my eyeballs would pop out, hearing them call out to me that her little hair was showing, that we were in the home stretch. Except for a few deep breaths, I didn't stop until her head was delivered and it was anounced there was a really tight loop around her neck--so I panted, even though I wanted to badly to expell her shoulders. They clamped and cut the cord, and then I delivered the rest of her. After she was finally all the way out, I sighed and said "That was easy!", which made everyone laugh!

The cord had caused her a little distress, so they whisked her away to give her a little oxygen, etc. This (the cord incident) must have happened in just the last few moments of birth, since throughout the labor she had been so reactive and not even a sign of "head crunch". She normalized pretty quickly, and soon I had her precious little body in my arms. Much to everyone's amazement, she even nursed.

My doctor graciously guarded my perineum, so that all I had was a little "skid mark" from where my last episiotomy left me a weak spot--20 years ago--that reoccurs with every birth. There were less little tiny tears than my other home births--which was wonderful. The placenta was HUGE! --indicating a very healthy and vibrant pregnancy.

She ended up being 8lbs, 1oz., 20.5 inches long. Our hour with her passed too quickly--but we are all having such a wonderful "babymoon". She is calm, and hardly complains or cries. What can I say--she's perfect!

The first day everyone went home and it was just she and I--I spent most of the time just staring at her and adoring her and thanking God for His goodness.

Then I called home and invited my dear husband back to the hospital for a little "date"--he would bring the movie (there was a DVD player), and I would have the hospital "room service" bring us dinner. Meanwhile, I showered and got fixed up, and when he arrived we embraced and cuddled and had a wonderful time enjoying each other and our new little baby together.

Of course the hospital procedures, rooms, beds, etc. were a little much to take at times, but all-in-all I am glad that I listened to God and did the hospital thing this time around.

The children are all so happy. The bigger brothers and sisters made the time special for all of them, and the older children were so giving and self-sacrificing that the little ones hardly missed us!

My little 2yo is taking her nap next to me on the bed as I type. She is so excited about the baby, just needs lots of love and comfort. Each child is a reminder of how much favor God has had on our family. We are truly blessed!

Pictures coming forwith---

Sherry

False alarm

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 03:00:00 -0600

We are so close to having our little baby!

Last night we had our first little run to the hospital--I can't tell you how complicated this makes things. I am missing the days when we just sat around home and had a baby--like the last 2!

We are always faced with a dilemma at this point. Are we or aren't we in real labor? I mean, these Braxton Hicks can really be convincing, especially after 4 or 5 hours. Of course, if we were having the baby at home, we would just wait and see, but when you have to consider the logistics of getting ready to go, the drive, the check-in, etc., do we really want to be close to transition when we get there? This question and others is what caused us to go the hospital yesterday morning.

Once we arrived, the pressure was on. We had to "prove" that we were in labor, so there was the exhaustion of walking, etc., not to mention that if I were actually in labor the "checking" would have been quite annoying--something one can do totally without at home.

It seems that God has asked us to do the hospital thing this time, but a great part of me just wants to lay around and have the baby right here--no poking, prodding or other nonsense included!

We have such a sweet and wise OB--she sent us home after about 3 hours. We were relieved that we could go and get between our own sheets and snore away a few hours. One mistake I made, however, was accepting the offer of taking an Ambien to help me sleep! I took it just as we were leaving the hospital, and my husband thought we might have a few minutes to eat some breakfast before it kicked in--how wrong we were! Strange things were happening in my eyes and brain once we entered the restaurant, and I had to leave once I had eaten a few bites, only to uncontrollably eject them on our way out--all over the landscaping and onto our shoes! Yech! This is one of those keepsake memories that should keep us laughing in the years to come!

I did sleep for a while, however, and dozed off-and-on during the rest of the day, thanks to my wonderful family. This was especially wonderful considering that I am up again in the wee hours of the morning--too uncomfortable to sleep!

The checking they did stripped my membranes, so I don't know whether that will have an impact on what will happen next or not. I could sure use prayer!

Sherry

American Girls dolls--sort of

Tue, 7 Nov 2006 07:57:00 -0600

Since this little baby will come around Thanksgiving, and since Christmas will follow soon after, and since it takes a LOT of energy and time to shop for all of our little people...

...we did most of our shopping yesterday! I have to tell you, my husband LOVES being Santa Claus--that's what we actually tell the children, that everybody's real Santa is their daddy. He gets all giddy and excited about treating each child to the delights of Christmas. What a wonderful gift he is!

Anyway, about the American Girl dolls thing--(or even the Vision Forum Beautiful Girlhood collection) they are just too pricey for our Christmas budget, but our girls have poured over these catalogs since when they first came out. Then, the other day, when I was in Michael's craft store, I discovered the undressed version of these dolls, and for only $16 a piece! (compared with $70 and $90!) They are from the "Springfield Collection", and you can pick them up online even if you don't have a store nearby, although your shipping and handling will bring them up in price a few dollars. We also bought little black, patten-leather shoes for $2 a pair.

Next, we went to the fabric store and picked up a McCall's 18" doll clothes pattern--both Simplicity and McCalls has them, but I chose the one that had the old-fashioned dresses.

My 13yo daughter is a whiz with a sewing machine, she just needs a little practice reading a pattern, so, the Lord gave me the idea of having her sew the outfits for her little sisters. We already have loads of material scraps, lace, etc. that are suitable for doll clothing, so the only other investment I had to make was a spool of thread and some sewing machine needles. She will begin sewing the little outfits during the younger girls' naptime.

By the time Christmas comes, we should have 3 beautifully costumed 18" dolls, and for a fraction of the cost! And, my daughter will have the satisfaction of helping out, besides the educational value of sewing with a pattern.

Technical difficulties

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:12:00 -0500

I'm sorry not to have not been blogging regularly--but our cable company changed hands, and, although this was not supposed to happen, it seems to have affected our service. This must have been a God-ordained time to take a little respite.

Meanwhile, thank you for all of your kind comments and sweet wishes. My whole family has been under attack of the enemy this week--it seems that whenever I am pregnant the attackers come out of the woodwork. If you are currently taking steps to obey the Lord and it is not in line with the cultural norm, you know what I am talking about. Specifically, I am dealing with betrayal by those who have been close, and the accusations are coming in based on falsifications and lies.

This has been so good in so many ways. It is pushing me to hide myself in the strong tower of His word, as if I just can't get enough. And I am not just reading the parts that make me feel all fuzzy--I am reading it for repentance and cleansing as well. As a family we are all in a repentance and Word as life mode--something that is precious and wonderful. It would seem that the attacks are turning out to be blessings--how wonderful! This is how our God works; we are never defeated as we humble ourselves before Him.

I now need to allow the Lord to quiet the areas where the damage has been done, and I need to cooperate by changing the patterns of my thinking and moving away from the emotional struggles and hurts in my heart.

I especially need to do this as our little baby is due at the end of November, and she will need the full emotional attention of a mama who is walking in freedom.

Good news--went to pre-register at the hospital and discuss our birth options, etc. The OB nurse we spoke to was so supportive--was actually impressed with our ideas on how the birth should proceed--totally natural and with maneuvering, etc. I would have this baby at home as the last few, but God has asked me to go to the hospital, and He is working out the issues for me. There is so much peace surrounding this decision--thank God!

Just catching up--should have more interesting blogging going on soon.

Sherry

Belly shot and other pics

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:37:00 -0500

Here is a belly shot taken the other day:

Here is a picture of our house taken last summer:

I'd like to make this into my avatar--anyone know how?

Here is a cute picture of my littlest girls--getting ready for the first snow:

Heart check

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:46:00 -0500

Am I guarding myself?

Do I tend to try and orchestrate circumstances so they are more convenient for me, often without considering others? Do I use guilt or anger as tools to get my own way? Do I try and convince people to make certain decisions because I am afraid their negative consequences will harm me--or do I convince them for their own sake? Do I do things expecting something in return? Do I expect a brass band to play when I am self-sacrifical?

When people talk to me, do they come away refreshed and encouraged, or do they feel drained and discouraged or fearful? What kind of friends do I have--the ones who spark me on to love and good works, or the ones who like to wallow in the mire with me?

Do I share information to make me look good in someone else's eyes, or do I only share what would edify and build them up? Do I know when to be silent so that God can do the work? When I counsel, do I point someone else to God, or make it seem as though I have all the answers?

Am I conniving, beguiling, or seductively manipulative?

Do my children know me as a person who is their best cheerleader, or their worst critic? Am I so insecure about myself that I can only feel good if someone else is not? Am I afraid my children will surpass me or that they will forget me, or do I hope they will surpass me and don't give how their choices will affect me a second thought?

These are the questions that a woman needs to ask herself--especially if that woman is a dedicated homemaker. We need to be taking an inventory--since it is so easy to become convinced that we are martyrs or saints, when actually we are life-drainers instead of life-givers. This is part of the repentance that God is calling us to.

Here's a prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

(St. Francis of Assisi)

May God grant me the ability to be a "balm of Gilead" to my family; to be that healing, gentle touch, that warm blanket, that strong tower that has steadfast faith in God and His righteousness. May my life be like a song to them--the remembrance of a warm rain on a spring day, the voice that lightens their steps, and the strong arm that gives them courage through the hard times.

Sherry

The fear of God

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:54:00 -0500

There is a new wave hitting this land--the Christians that we are in contact from one end of the country of the other, no matter what the "flavor" are sensing it--the Holy Spirit is calling us to the fear of the Lord!

REPENTANCE--that's the word that was spoken over me--and this was not condemming or oppressive, it was freeing. I felt so light and unburdened, but my heart was flowing in such a deep unction to unload all that is not Him!

We have been given instruction in this "fear" of the Lord from numerous sources all at once, definitely a message that God is speaking to us. There is coming a great falling away--and I just don't want to be a part of it! This does not negate grace, it does not do away with the perfect offering of Jesus, it just makes us mindful of coming into God's stride so that we will be in fellowship with Him once the deception becomes more rampant.

We may have thought we were rich and in need of nothing, but God is calling us to realize our wretchedness and buy from Him the garments that have not been polluted by the world's system (see Jesus' letters to the churches in Revelation). How easy it is just to get so wrapped up in this life!

How exciting! I am happier and more joyful than in many months past. I don't want it to end, and I don't want to ever be the same again.

Two places we have been hearing this from:

John Bevere and Edsel Charles

...among others.

Things I love about pregnancy

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:43:00 -0500

I'm in the last "stretch"--counting down until "due day".

What do I love about being pregnant?

-I love the anticipation of getting to know a new little person.

-I love felling a little foot as it brushes along my tummy on the outside.

-I love rubbing a little foot and sensing the baby is keeping the foot there just so that I can rub it.

-I love sharing the movement with my husband while we are cozy in the bed early in the morning, and the rest of the kids during the day.

-I love buying newborn diapers and thinking about how tiny the little bottom that fills them will be!

-I love washing and folding all of the little clothes the baby will wear.

-I love creating something pretty or special just for the baby, such as a quilt, etc.

-I love looking at my bulbous belly in the mirror and thinking there is a whole person curled up in there.

-I love the realization that Jesus will be with me during labor and birth, and the fellowship we will be sharing, unlike any other experience, like "deep calling unto deep".

-I love wearing maternity clothes--gives me a chance to wear pretty, feminine and frilly things.

-I love the wee hours when I am unable to sleep, and can spend time in deep study that I don't anticipate having time for after the baby is born.

-I love how my husband goes out of his way to shelter and protect me, and my older sons feel the need to come to my rescue and help me up from the couch!

-I love the thought of carrying a little bit of eternity within me--someone God is creating that will last beyond anything else I am a part of on this earth.

-I love being helpless an dependent, and leaning on God more than normal.

-I love the wait that brings about patience and submission to His will and His timing.

-I love the discipline of needing help to overcome hormonal feelings by putting them under the control of the Spirit.

-I love being pleasantly emotional--and my husband loves this about me!

If there is anything I have learned over the years and the pregnancies, it is to remember that this is not about me, it's not about the cuteness and the attention and the celebration, it is about the little person. It is too easy to get caught up in all of the trappings that we bestow on this occasion, and just let the child be the focus.

They are infants for such a short time, and this is when I feel we share them most with the world, but as they grow and mature, they become more part of us, and less part of the world. We begin to have our own life together, a sacred place that only God and the angels know about. We develop our own language of touch and gazes and sounds, and there is a sweet intimacy that we don't necessarily want to lay open to others. This is some of the reward of the whole process; the fellowship between mother and child that is more fulfilling than 200 romance novels.

And it continues. Through the toddler and preschool and elementary years, there are those moments that the rest of the world melts away, and we drink in the wonder of the child. We watch him at play or at rest, and we can't help but smile. We rejoice with him, we cry with him, and in this loving we must be willing to break his heart, and ours, for the greater good.

As he matures into a young person, we love him even more, although we are letting him go, and observing him with "moon eyes" when he isn't looking. Our time together becomes bitter-sweet as he begins to discuss his plans to "move on", and we encourage him, while we are feeling the pangs of missing him in our hearts. We see the world open and promising before him, and we sense that God is calling him out, and so we learn to release him and love him from afar.

But, if he loves Jesus, we know that our separation is only a little bit, and that soon we will be living and flowing in an intimacy that is beyond description, not marred by the wicked evil of this earth.

Jury duty

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 11:02:00 -0500

Well, it looks like we won't have to have that field trip after all! I called the court and they are willing to give me an exemption as long as I get a doctor's letter that I will be a "nursing mother"--the only exemption I think that could remotely reply.

Forget that I could have the baby during a trial, forget that I could be in court directly after the birth of the baby--somehow our law doesn't make exceptions for these things--my daughter commented, "Look what a lovely thing feminism has done for us!" Just think of how many other wonderful things we have to thank the NOW types for, and our foremothers who wanted to liberate us from our freedom to be protected and cared for by our families and society.

Women used to understand that they had "influence", and that this influence was more important than any militant march for "equality". Now women have not only lost their influence, but their protection as well. Women not only have the "freedom" to choose to be "wage slaves", but they are expected to work outside the home. The new trend is for young men to evaluate a potential date partially based on her earning power--feminism has created a generation of jiggalos!

Women have paraded and protested and berated until society has definitely changed--for the worse!

A funny occurance

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:09:00 -0500

It finally happened.

I've been summoned for jury duty! Imagine that, and in the month that I am due with my 14th baby--my husband was grave when he read the summons to me, but I laughed!

There are no "occupational" exemptions in our state, and they provide childcare up to $50 a day and have a little child care center at the courthouse. I read somewhere on the net that, if they don't respond to your situation on the phone, you should bring your kids with you when you are supposed to appear--that would be great fun! We could call it a "field trip"!

I can just imagine the face of the judge when he gets an eyefull of all of us--at least the 15yo on down--that would make 10 children and one on the way--they would overwhelm the little nursery--do you think they'll give me an exemption?

Vacuum cleaners

Mon, 9 Oct 2006 14:01:00 -0500

Someone asked me about vacuums.

I have to say that all I know is what I have experienced, so here goes:

I definitely don't like Kirbys. They are too "klunky"--you don't have a hose that's readily available for you to use at any moment. They are too bulky for a little guy to safely carry up any sort of stairs (even difficult for any grown woman). You definitely shouldn't suck up mashed potatoes or Legos with one of these monsters, and the PRICE--OUCH! Spend a hundred bucks or so and save the rest for your college fund. We once bought a Kirby second-hand, and didn't even have stairs at the time, and it lasted about 3 months--the motor still ran but everything else just fell apart.

Those Rainbow-type cannister vacs might be good for light duty if someone has alergies, etc. But then again, the price will eat you up--and if you have spaghetti noodles and pennies spilled under the bed that you such up without seeing first, you might rethink investing in something that would be the same price as a cheap car. Besides, those cannisters are a real pain to drag around and store.

No, we just stick with our little Eureka's that we buy at Sam's Club--they are pretty easy to handle, have good suction for the hose, and both the filters and the cannisters can be washed--wow! If you're really worried about air quality, you might want to consider that the Hepa filters are a little pricey, but they don't need to be replaced that often.

Downside--they are plastic, so you might not want to let your 7yo clunk them up and down the stairs. Ours have taken a lot of punishment, as I have already mentioned, and they are pretty easy to maintain.

The jewel of a cheap vac is that, if one breaks, your heart and your wallet don't break with it.

Someday we may be able to have a central vac system--I even saw pictures recently of a dear lady who has a central vac opening underneath her cabinets in her kitchen--so when the kids are tempted to sweep the crumbs under the counters, they get sucked right into the vacuum!

Sherry

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 19:52:00 -0500

BIG cleaning today. Things we accomplished:

-Taught the children the cleaning concept "From the Inside-Out". Clean the medicine cabinet first, then the sinks and counters; clean the inner toilet first, then the outside rings, then around the base; clean the ceiling fan first, then vacuum and dust.

For organizing, this means that the most used items always go on top or in the front, regardless of how it looks. If you put the little-used pain-relievers and pedicure items in the front of your bathroom cabinet because they are short, and your toothbrush and toothpaste in the back because they are tall, you will have a disheveled cabinet in no time. Put the most-used items in front, and things will stay neat for much longer.

In order to make an emphasis on this for today's cleaning, I used the children as visual objects, turning them into tubes of toothpaste and deoderant and standing them in an imaginary cabinet. Much laughter accompanied our little lesson!

-Cleaned under basement stairs--put baby furniture and Christmas boxes in the front per our "inside out" idea.

-Cleaned basement window-wells and under the deck in preparation for winter.

-Cleaned all of the ceiling fans and on top or our tall bookcases.

-Completely switched the little girls' summer and winter outfits.

-Organized their clothes into their drawers and hung everything according to type in my closet (we hang up almost all clothes to save on ironing later).

-Put all of the luggage away from our trip.

-Straightened up the boys' underwear and cleaned under their bed.

-Did the same in the younger girls' room.

-SCRUBBED THE VACUUMS! I don't know if anyone can relate--we have 3 vacuums, one for each floor. They are the cheap, bagless types--no super-expensive Dysons (its the plastic that keeps me from buying one--just wouldn't last any longer than the cheapos around here--we've even killed a Kirby before). We are sticklers about floors--some rooms are vacuumed 3 times a day--which is ok when you consider the amount of traffic our floors receive. Our children are children, and this means that when there are mashed potatoes underneath the dining room table, they don't take the time to clean them they way an adult would, they vacuum them up! This means that our machines can get really yucky and unhealthy. So we put the cannisters and filters in the tub and gave them all a good scrubbing--no 1-2-3 type of task!

-Cleaned the front door closet--this means a ton of shoes!

-Stripped the bedding and put it in for a wash--our washer has been humming all day, although we are blessed with sunshine and a nice breeze, so we used our "solar dryer" on the deck.

-Super-cleaned the laundry room, or "germ room", where those 21+ loads of dirty clothes congregate, with all of the unmentionable yucky stuff attached to them.

After our deep cleaning, we then took out all the trash, put out-of-place items back, and vacuumed with our restored machines--now with full suction power!

Daddy rewarded the older girls by taking them to the Goodwill for a little shopping while the little ones and I took a rest. Then the little guys headed outside to the play area to set up a "movie scene" for a bucket of plastic army men in the sand.

Our oldest son came home and did a science experiment with the kids--making a rocket using tin foil and matches, and then he showed them how they could make a wallet using a sheet of 8.5x11 paper. (you can find these two on the Instructables website--really worth looking into).

After dinner, it will be another old movie which our daddy checks out of the library--"The Vikings" with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. He is so smart to do this for us--we are being blessed with some good entertainment.

Whew! I am so thankful that God helped me to get the things done on my "to do"/prayer list! What a blessing to head into the weekend with so much behind us. I even have part of my breakfast for the morning already set out!