Happenings at the Lazy D Ranch - Homeschool Blogger

Moving

Mon, 4 Jun 2007 11:22:00 -0500

Well, I am moving my blog

Here is the new site but I can't get the link to work. Sorry everyone.

You will just have to copy and paste.

www.lazydranch8.blogspot.com

Please bookmark so that you can keep up with the Davis Happenings.

And, be sure that I will continue to check in on all of your sites.

Daisy Fields Basket Co.

Tue, 22 May 2007 22:49:00 -0500

Thank you Kendra for all of the kind words and the beautiful picture that you posted of my latest creation. My family is the proud owner of Daisy Fields Basket Co. I am the creative side of the company and love every minute of it. This little side business has been a blessing to me because it allows me to create unique, special gifts for others.

I have such a great time finding containers and baskets and then finding the product to fill them with. I have always disliked cellophane and shredded paper so I chose to fill the containers completely with the highest quality product I can find.

Since this is a very part-time job I am limited to making baskets during the holiday season or for a large order during the rest of the year. I can also manage a few baskets if I am given a few weeks notice.

I have started a blogspot for Daisy Fields as an online portfolio. I will continue to add pictures of my creations so keep checking back!

www.daisyfieldsbasketco.blogspot.com

When Sin Comes Knocking

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:54:00 -0500

What do you do when a filthy magazine subscription finds itself in your mailbox?

As I was cleaning off my desk this morning I uncovered a disgusting, vile magazine sitting on my desk. As my shock wore off I got a sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. What if my husband saw the cover? What if my boys saw it? What if my girls saw it? I did not set it on my desk so someone saw it. This is one of those times that you realize that you can not protect your children from everything. We are very concerned at what our children hear, see, read, and watch. I just did not think that I would have to monitor the mail also.

The front of the magazine says that we have a subscription until May of next year. I do not know who bought this subscription but I sent a letter to the publisher in hopes that we will not have to worry about another magazine showing up.

In these circumstances I am very bold and state the truth without wavering. I sent an email and also plan on calling them to let them know how disgusted and upset I am that they would push their sin on us in this way.

Here is the email I sent:

To whom it may concern,

I am not sure how we got on the subscription list of this magazine but I would appreciate being taken off the list. DO NOT send another magazine.

I know you are all too desensitized to realize that your magazine is actually smut. Over the years we have become very sensitive to this kind of material. As we have walk away from what the world has to offer it has become evident that the product you are all promoting shows how incredibly hopeless your lives are. The pictures and articles in your magazine show the lowest a human being can go in his sin. How sad when there is so much more to live for.

We don’t want our children to see this disgusting, vile material. We are raising our boys to be brave, courageous men who defend women and children rather then take advantage of them or use them. The men you portray in your magazine are merely looking out for their own sexual interest. They are perverts.

Our girls are being raised to be lovely. To be a prize that a worthy young man will cherish. They are being raised not to flaunt their sexuality but to appreciate it as a gift. The picture of Avril Lavigne on the front of your magazine was pornographic. She, along with the other women portrayed in your magazine are modern day prostitutes.

As we say, pagans will be pagans. Pagans worship themselves and creation rather then worshiping the One True Living God who is the Creator of all that we see. You have reminded us that there is a very dark, dark section of our world that live vile and ungodly lives. Thank you for the reminder. It makes us all the more diligent to protect, guide, and train our children to be godly and to hate the sin that you promote.

I expect to not see another one of these magazines delivered to our address.

Sincerely,

Eric and Heather Davis

Positive Encouragement

Tue, 15 May 2007 00:19:00 -0500

Eeyore is my nickname. Has been since the day we decided that Winnie-the-Pooh characters are really based on typical personalities. By the way, this is way before any books came out on the particular subject.

I no longer see myself as Eeyore but I do have one thing in common with the character; I tend to be negative rather than positive in my outlook. Yep! I am a 'glass is half empty' gal. I bet you can guess that my husband is the opposite. If I think one way he always thinks the complete opposite.

As a mom of a teenage son I am learning that having a positive attitude toward those things that he cherishes is really important, even if it kills me inside. There is no better time to start using encouraging, positive words then when your son comes home with a VW bus.

I have written before that I am not hung up on what cars we drive or where we live but I must now confess that there are certain vehicles that I just can't imagine stepping into let alone driving. I am rambling here so let me get right to the point. My son, with our help, bought a junker. It is a classic '66 (I can hear all the guys sighing) VW bus that has the refrigerator, table, bed, and pop up camper top. It came with dents galore and hippie bumper stickers that are in the process of being striped from the vehicle. What I don't get is how someone can imagine this heap of junk turning into something worth being seen in. Thus, my Eeyore personality pops up and I get labeled again as the ever negative mother.

Well, I have voiced my opinion (or concern depending on if your a mother or a friend of my sons) and will now let it rest. I have decided that my position is one of positive encouragement. A very important part of motherhood is knowing when being positive is important. Just don't expect to see me driving it around town!

PS. When I get up enough nerve I might just post a picture of the "thing" sitting in our driveway.

Salad Anyone?

Tue, 1 May 2007 22:46:00 -0500

I have been eating a lot of salad lately. Because of the latest change of menu in our house I have had to get creative in the salad dressing area. Most salad dressings are full of additives such as sugar and MSG. I can't have either and also have to be careful as to what oil and vinegar I use. And, since a lot of you have been asking for these recipes I thought the easiest way to get them to so many would be to put them on this blog. Enjoy!

CAESAR DRESSING

4TB Olive oil, 2TB balsamic or raw apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp dry mustard, 6TB mayo, 2TB lemon juice, 4 to 7 cloves of crushed garlic, freshly ground pepper. Shake vigorously.

VINEGRETTE

1/2 cup, 1 TB, and 2 tsp of Olive oil, 3/4 cup and 2 tsp of balsamic or raw apple cidar vinegar, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 1/2 tsp basil, 1 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1 1/4 tsp dijon mustard. Shake well.

Or-e-gun

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:56:00 -0500

My family lived in Portland for quite a few years when I was very young and we also lived in Bend for nine of my middle years. I love Oregon but always got a kick out of visitors who did not know how to pronounce its name. So, above is the correct way to say Oregon.

I was able to visit Oregon this past weekend. Boo, Daisy and I drove a rental car a week ago today to visit family and friends but also to go to my Grandpa's funeral. Last Wednesday was a twelve hour drive to Portland. We drove through snow, hail, and rain. We stayed with my sister and met up with my parents who flew in from Palm Springs.

Thursday we drove to the funeral which was about 1 1/2 hours away. I saw cousins and other family members I have not seen for ages. I even met other family members for the first time. The funeral was well done. Very simple. We went out to the grave sight and where I was blown away by the beauty. The last time I had been up there was when my Grandma died in 1981. The sun shown through the grove of trees. And, on both sides of the graveyard the hill dropped off into a beautiful green valley. After a long day we drove back to my sisters.

Friday we drove to Bend which is about three hours drive on one of the most scenic highways I have ever been on. I enjoy this drive so much. We walked around Sisters and then spent the evening resting at my parents home.

Saturday the girls and I visited my other Grandparents just down the highway from my parents house. We had such a wonderful time helping out and visiting. Grandpa was in such a great mood which is much different then the past couple of months. They have him on some medication to help him sleep and not be so agitated. This became important for my Grandmother's sake. She looked much better also. Grandpa even stood and prayed for us before we left. This is somewhat of a miracle since I can't remember him ever doing this before. Let me tell you it was hard to keep the tears back. I don't care if he doesn't remember who I am any more I am just thrilled to have such wonderful memories of him during his final years.

Sunday we drove back to Central California....home. This time it was a nine hour trek. What an adventure! i feel like I accomplished so much and in such a little amount of time. The only thing that would have made it better was if my whole family could have gone with me. But, then again....not sure if Brown Sugar would agree.

And, for those of you who care I only broke my new way of eating twice. I had a flour tortilla and a Diet Dr. Pepper. I was a bit worried about the food issue because I associate junk food with road trips. But, I made it through another change in my life and so I know the next time will not be as hard. Thanks for the prayers!

Grandpa

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:26:00 -0500

This past Sunday my Grandpa died. But, in my heart Grandpa died many years ago. He had such a hard time dealing with the death of my Grandma twenty-six years ago. She was the glue that kept the family together. She also kept Grandpa sober. After she passed away Grandpa self destructed. Alcohol took over his life and caused our family many heartaches. Twenty-six years later his heart could no longer handle the abuse.

As I sat through the memorial service and stood next to my Grandparents graves I was so grateful for many wonderful memories. And, the many people at the service had wonderful memories also. The incredibly heartbreaking part is not knowing if my Grandpa is spending eternity in heaven. I pray that God granted mercy on his life even if it was right before his last breath.

On Monday, I realized that I needed to reflect on something other then my Grandpa's eternal destination. It hit me that even in this difficult time I have the opportunity to praise the one and only God of heaven and earth. He is all powerful over life and death. He has the power of salvation and mercy. He has the power of justice. I am in awe.

Public Apology

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 13:37:00 -0500

Sometimes God uses people who are not necessarily a functioning part of your life to chastise you. I have been convicted by another Christian sister that my comments were not kind nor loving toward the women that I wrote about in THE TALE OF TWO TABLES. After reading her message to me I admit that even though I do lead a much different life then the women at table two I did not show love towards them.

Thankfully this comes at a time where God has been already working on my heart. Softening it to be more like Him. Loving one another is the greatest commandment next to loving God. As I was teaching my children that loving your brother or sister shows that you love God I was not being a great witness to them on how to do this.

I have said this before but I am beginning to see more clearly how true this is: Homeschooling, family integrated, reformed, adoption, quiverful, etc does not make one greater then another. For the Davis family it is the way of life BUT it is all for naught if we do not have love.

Eric has been reading I Cor. 13 nightly for us. It has not only sunk in but has become much more then just a passage read at a wedding. "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbol. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

So, Table two (you know who you are) please accept my sincere apology for not loving you as Christ would have me to.

*This entry is similar to the one that I posted in the Tale of Two Tables entry. I have deleted the original message as not to cause any more strife and because it does not reflect my heart nor the love of Christ.

Nine Months

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 23:06:00 -0500

We are in our ninth month with Lil' Cowboy and Brown Sugar. This time last year we were hopeful that we would be bringing our children home only to find out that someone in the press had fabricated allegations of trafficking. Of course, the government found that these allegations were false but it did wreak havoc on our plans. It would be yet another three months before we would have them in our arms.

But, here we are nine months into our adoption journey. It is so hard to put on paper (or blog) what it feels like after the fact. You know how you felt before you had your first child and then after you had that same child? Before you had no idea what you were getting yourself into but you were idealistic and just knew that you were going to be the best mommy yet. After you found out that there is really no way you could have prepared for this little one.

I had some of those same feelings going into adoption. I had no idea what it would be like and yet I was wise enough to know that it would not be like having your own bio child. But, I was still idealistic with a bit of worry mixed in. Would I not want them in my house after we spent all that time, money, and energy to get them here? Would I want my life back to before the adoption at some point?

I have not had one moment where I thought "why did we do this?" but I have to admit that these two children have made me very content with the quiverfull that God has given us. In my mind, I am fully able to say that we are done and be thankful. This is a good feeling that I have not had until recently. So, I am grateful for this new found contentment that this adoption has brought me.

The thoughts I have had have been along these lines: I am raising another woman's children, I wish that I could have had them since birth, training a child at six is much harder then at two, I hope I can love them as much as I love my bio children I hope they love me as much as I hope to love them.

There are also a lot of questions: What does Brown Sugar think when she looks at my white skin? How long will it take before Lil' Cowboy and Daisy finally have that brother/sister bond? What will it be like when Lil' Cowboy and Brown Sugar are the only ones left to raise in our house?

I have heard that after six months the honeymoon is over and the children start acting up and not obeying. Thanks be to God that this has not happened for us. We have seen foolish and childish behaviour from Lil' Cowboy but it is everything that we would expect from a seven year old who has never had rules or someone to look out for him. He is bright, energetic, willing to give a hug (and sometimes a kiss), and has a killer smile. He is a Davis through and through. And, I believe that he is loving his new life.

Brown Sugar is a smart cookie. And, she has an attitude to boot! She has completely bonded with us which has been the biggest help considering that she is a handful. I would hate to have to deal with bonding issues and her attitude. She is a delight, fun to be around, listens well, and is learning incredibly fast. Oh, and she has a killer smile also.

I can't imagine what these kids have gone through emotionally. How in the world does a child leave his family, travel all the way across the world, live with a new family and not be effected by it all? The only issue that we see with Lil' Cowboy is that he does not understand the value of things. That's it. It really is a miracle and one that we do not take lightly.

Nine months. What a gift.

Lessons Learned

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:28:00 -0500

I am in the process of learning a hard lesson.

I have eaten whatever I wanted whenever I wanted for most of my life. My body has protested for the past couple of years but I have ignored the signs.

Some of those signs are: itchy skin, eczyma, stomach problems, weight gain, and no energy.

During my last visit with the Doctor he told me that if I would do certain things that I could rid myself of these symptoms. Whoo-hoo! But, do I have the endurance to keep up the process of cleaning my body? I have tried diets before and have succeeded for limited amounts of time only.

I can't say that this time will be different but I am doing it for a different reason. I have gotten so tired of these symptoms that I am willing to work hard at this. And, one of the side benefits is losing weight and having more energy for my children.

So, here is what I have to do:

1) I have a load of different medicines and natural remedies that I must keep up for at least one month. But, I must be prepared to keep it up for a very long time to get rid of the over growth of yeast in my body.

2) I must eat a diet of vegetables and meat. I can not eat any yeast products, grains, sugar, or fruit for at least a month. I may add apples and berries after one month. I am eating more veggies then I have every thought possible. I have personally decided to keep this up till the end of May.

3) I must drink lots and lots of water. This is a hard one for me. I have tried water with lemon, with lime, and even with cucumber. I just need to get better at having water around and getting into the habit of drinking even if I am not thirsty.

4) I am adding exercise. I know this is what he wants me to do and what I need to do. I am working on walking at least three times a week and lifting weights at least two times a week. I am also trying to be more active which is much easier now that Spring has officially arrived.

There you go! My new life. I will probably always have to watch what I eat to not have these symptoms return but how much easier is it to keep this up at home then if I was working outside the home.

My 40th birthday is this May and as a birthday present to myself I have a goal to have my energy back and a slimmer body. So, I will be keeping up this diet through May and then I am hoping to continue to eat this way daily and enjoy those once-in-a-while occasions.

What a great way to start out the next forty years of my life!

***I have been meaning to post this for a few weeks now. I have actually made it through my first month and am doing splendid. The hardest for me is when my family is enjoying pizza and I am having a salad instead (pizza is my all time favorite food). But, the results are soooooo worth it. I have lost sixteen pounds so far and when I "caught" the flu I bounced back much quicker then I would have in the past. I have a long way to go and I realize that but the goal is looking much more attainable and I have this desire to accomplish it.