Raisin' These Youngins - Homeschool Blogger

It is truly amazing...

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 00:51:00 -0500

It is truly amazing to me that the Lord of Heaven and Earth could love a sinner like me.

It is truly amazing to me that I could be a child of the King.

It is truly amazing to me that the King of Kings could see fit to allow me to have such a wonderful family.

It is truly amazing to me how much I have learned from being a wife and mother....things I thought I already knew.

It is truly amazing to me to see my children learn.

It is truly amazing to me to watch my children grow.

It is truly amazing to me to observe traits and characteristics in my children that I have. Music, art, and such are things that I loved growing up, and now some of my children do, too. And for my very simple mind, it is truly amazing.

I am thankful to be amazed, and look forward to more of the Lord's wondrous amazing grace and mercy that He so abundantly bestows upon His people.

Thank you, Lord, for amazing me anew each day!

Rebecca

Another surgery in our family...

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:17:00 -0500

I apologize for the lack of posting, again.

And, I am not sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore. But, I wanted to take a minute to update the site, so that if someone does by chance read this, they will get current info.

As of now, Rachael will be having a Tethered Cord Surgery next week. It will be to release the spinal cord that is tethered to her spine. We pray that she will be able to go home within a couple of days. However, the hospital where she is having the surgery is four hours away from home. So, I am sure how the ride home will go.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/rachaelyoung

This is the caring bridge page that I use to update about our families medical issues. It is a quite a challenge to be a larger-than-most family and to have several within your family dealing with medical issues. It has been because of this that we have had to make major changes in our lives.

We no longer can go to church camp as a family. This past year, a few of the kids got to go with family for various lengths of time. It was hard to not be able to see my good friends from around the country that gather each year at camp.

We no longer can take vacations. Our trips are for doctor visits only.

We no longer are able to make it to church each and every Sunday. Thankfully, we have SermonAudio to listen to when we are home bound.

We no longer get to go to things like singing schools like we used to be able to.

We no longer have a strong focus on academic things. It has had to go on the back burner for now. I know that there will be a time and place for that. Right now, we are just surviving from day to day.

We no longer have the degree of structure in our home that we once did. When you have children living in pain, they often also have insomnia. And that can lead to late nights/early mornings for mom. So, a routine has been strange to us for quite some time.

We no longer live tantrum free. Since my time and attentions have been elsewhere, we have a two year old that fits the classic "terrible two's" mold. She is a pistol!! I know that we have lots more time, though, to work on her, thank the Lord.

We no longer own our home. Because of the strain on our finances, we have lost our home. Now we have to rent a home that has no stairs and will allow for pets. We got Rachael a dog to help her cope with her pain. And finding a place to rent that allows pets is quite a challenge.

We now have weekly (some times daily) doctor appointments. I must use a planner for appointments now instead of lesson plans. I joke that sometimes I feel like a professional appointment keeper.

We no longer can always go out as a family. There are many times that Rachael or Hannah do not feel well enough to go places with us.

We no longer can plan a garden. Like I said, when you live in survival mode, it's just all you can get done.

So I miss being a homeschooling family. Now we are a family dealing with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, surgeries, ER visits, DR visits, and medications. We miss being the family we used to be. I miss having the physically abled daughters that I used to have. While I am extremely thankful that they are here with me, and that their conditions are not life threatening, if treated. I do mourn for the lives they may never lead that they once dreamed of.

I don't mean to harp on just the negatives. We have so many blessings, and things to rejoice in. God is so very good. And HE is always faithful!

Please pray for us. We need your prayers, and the Lord's help to wade through this deep ocean of trials.

May the Lord bless you all!

Rebecca

$25 Kroger shopping card contest!

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 20:55:00 -0600

Here is a link to a blog that is having a contest for a $25 Kroger shopping card.

http://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/01/25-kroger-gift-card-giveaway.html

A Few Ramblings: From A Tired, Old-Feeling Mother

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 02:24:00 -0600

As I rocked my now two year old to sleep tonight, I pondered on the many different hats that I have worn as a parent. I have worn the "do-it-by-the-book" hat, the "I'll do it my way" hat, and the "do what gets you through the day" hat. :)

As I sang to Callie tonight, I contemplated how many changes I have been through since my first child was born. Here are the differences in a nutshell:

I've put the baby in the baby's room, where the baby goes.
I've put the baby beside our bed so that night time feedings are easier for me.
I've put the baby *IN* our bed because that's where babies belong, and I just love sleeping with my babies.

I've fed the baby every single bite so that a very minimal mess was made.
I've handed the baby the food and said, "go for it!".
I've handed the baby's older sibling the food and said, "Aim for the mouth!".

I've washed the baby in the specially designed baby bath tub with special baby shampoo.
I've washed the baby in the shower with me, and snuggled while we bathed.
I've washed the baby in the bath while bathing the older children, and felt fortunate to have accomplished that!!

So, as I think back about my motives in the early days of parenting, it pretty much sums it up by saying I survived it. Now, I relish it. Not ALWAYS, necessarily, but I've learned to see less of their need of me, and more of MY need of them. And to parent less by what is convenient for me, and more of what is best for them.

With my first few, I did what I thought would make my life easier. Now, when I hold what could be my last baby, I do what makes my heart lighter....I love a little more, and scold a little less.

Isn't it amazing how the Lord teaches us through these wonderful little blessings from above!

Please pray for this young girl!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:36:00 -0600

Dear friends,

This very brave girl has been fighting an incredibly hard battle, for a very long time. She really needs your prayers as her condition has left her paralyzed, yet without a diagnosis. Please keep her and her weary family in your prayers.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/angelsforalex

Thank you,
Rebecca

Please pray for this family!

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:59:00 -0500

www.caringbridge.org/visit/coleruotsala

Please pray for the Jones family.........

Tue, 9 Sep 2008 21:08:00 -0500

A friend of mine was taken off of life support this evening after suffering a stroke this morning. She was a homeschooling mom, and fellow Sister in the Lord. Her name was Rhonda. Please pray for the husband, children, friends and loved ones that are left behind, and will miss her terribly.

And, yet, we rejoice for her. For she is with her Savior! Praise His name! For He is worthy!

Well, the cast is now off!! (:

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 22:56:00 -0500

Friday, Callie got to have her cast taken off!! Yay!!! We are quite excited!

This is one of our little princess once she got feeling like eating the night after her surgery.

We are so thankful that the Lord has blessed her body with health to heal well.

Here is a link to her running with her cast on...

http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f321/youngwife/?action=view&current=100_5355.flv

Thank you for praying for Callie. Please continue to pray for Rachael, she is dealing with a lot of pain on a daily basis.

On a homeschooling note,

our family is talking a lot about politics and such with the election coming up soon. So, I have been wondering what have your families been talking about that you probably otherwise would not be discussing?

Please pray for this family.........

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:30:00 -0500

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/drewsfamilytx/577513/

My friend, Marsha, and her dear family need our prayers. Dozer, her three year old son, died in a drowning accident last night. I can't begin to imagine the heart break and agony of losing a child. Words seem so useless, but prayers are powerful!

With a very heavy heart,

Rebecca

We're plodding along!

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:54:00 -0500

Callie did really great the first few days, and has been up and about quite a bit. She has climbed, and also fell some already. But, for the past couple of days, she has been really edgy. The least little thing just sets her off.

I am assuming that it is just the frustration of having the cast on.

Rachael has not felt great today, she was able to make it to our church's first service, though. But, then she had to go home shortly afterwards.

Hannah has felt horrible all day long, and was not able to go to church at all today.

Luke, Abby, and Lily have been fine.

Joe Ray had to go back to work today (which he really did NOT want to do) because his vacation was over.

As far as homeschooling,

Luke wants to learn how bees make honey, and he wants to take a tape player apart to figure out how it works.

Abby worked some on her letters this past week.

Lily has been coming to me and spelling a few words.