“The Bible calls debt a curse and children a blessing.
But our culture applies for curses and rejects blessings.”- Doug Phillips

picture from gardenofpraise.com

The health benefits of Red clover include increasing positive cholesterol levels in women who are at risk for cardiovascular disease due to menopause as well as strengthening arterial walls.

Other health benefits of Red clover include its ability to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women and ease irritating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It is also thought that Red clover may contribute to a reduced risk of bone loss due to the effects of menopause.

Red clover has been traditionally used in folk medicine as a cough expectorant because of its ability to increase the expulsion of mucous."

Warning and my notes: Red clover is also considered to be an anti-coagulant so it is not recommended for use in people who take blood thinning medication or who are about to undergo surgery or are on birth control medication (which I hope no one is taking!). Not to be taken in high doses in pregnancy for the above reasons. It's also not to be given to children in large amounts. But in small amounts it is a great tonic and tastes great and children love the tea!

I am taking a non-concentrated dose...simply a tea. But if someone were to take an isoflavone concentrate form there are stronger warnings for nursing moms, pregnancy and children. But if you are just drinking the tea there have been NO adverse affects and you can't say that about any drug!
 

Most people know what it looks like because it is so common. Now is the time to pick it.

The awesome part of this is that God just provided me with a remedy to my problem of clotting too much in early pregnancy-Red clover. I am going to research it more and find the proper dosage for my health issue, as to not overdose or do any harm. But in small amounts I have no hesitations and I'm thrilled to learn that there is a natural remedy out there. And why wouldn't there be? People haven't had the fancy drugs that we have today. Rather they used herbs to treat themselves. The best part is that most of them are readily available with little to no side affects, have been used for a couple thousand years and are free!

Carrots or M&M's? Hard choice!

Our children absolutely LOVE Math-U-See. It's very easy for them to understand and while I had my doubts starting them this late in the year, I know it was the right decision. We were able to skip the first 8 lessons. I had them start on the Primer because I wanted them to have that baseline  to understand the next level. They're working on place values and decimals. They get to watch the lesson first and then I teach them and help them with their workbooks. There's been 5 pages a day to do which is just enough and not too much. And just challenging enough. I also learned that 12 supposed to be said 12 ty (twelve tee) not just twelve which is only a "nick-name" so I learned something! He makes it fun for the children. I'm excited.

We're now writing everyday with our Alphabet Island Phonics. The children use the white board and write out about 20-30 simple words.

The Makers diet has been fun but challenging. I found that I HATE cold live oil but I think it's a necessary nutrient for us GAG! We really like the coconut soup with jalapeno. YUM! We did cheat and have some wheat flour in something. Wheat's a no-no for the first 2 weeks so you can detox and after that you're supposed to soak it first (ferment and produce probiotics). But I learned something in that my lymph nodes swelled up when I ate it. I had gone to the Dr about it last month. Couldn't figure it out why they were swollen for so long and the ones that are swelling are near my legs. I've suspected wheat for some time. I'll have to research that some more since the swelling went away when I was off the wheat. 

We did get some sprouted grain bread from Trader Joes for only $2.99 a loaf that we tried and liked, it's at least cheaper than Ezekiel bread. I would like to try and make a loaf of my own. Sprouted wheat isn't as irritating, there's no flour in it and it has a higher protein content it's also very filling.

We also like the clenzology that they recommend on the Makers Diet. It's very refreshing. They have you take a natural fiber supplement twice a day to make up for the loss of fiber from your lack of grains for the first few weeks. It's still hard to stay off of grains entirely for those first two weeks.

God Bless you all, Pam

We have a wonderful tape from the Institute For Basic Life Principles that I was able to listen to this morning. It was of great encouragement to me. To sum it up the message was that we either curse or bless others with our words. The Lord has impressed upon me over the last year to speak kindly to others (mainly when it's hard). It makes sense and is generally easy to friends and stranger. But I haven't exactly overcome  irritation with my children when things get overwhelming. Of course, in theory I know it's best NOT to get irritated. But how does one actually DO it when you have children doing things that you just told them NOT to do? Irritation does tend to show it's ugly head. I don't want to become so passive that my children plow over me nor do I want to be too harsh.

Praise the Lord for the work he has given us as Christian parents. I am amazed at the amount of work that goes into child training. It is an awesome responsibility. It's not something that comes naturally to me. I didn't have direction as a child or training with children when I was older. So many people seem to have it together. And I will admit it helps when the children get older they do mind a bit more but it takes just as much diligence to train them.

So back to the tape. It was an encouragement to hear them saying that we can really be the determining factor of what a child feels about him/herself through our words. We can either curse them or "lightly esteem them" which is what they said Jesus said (in translation) when he said curse. Or we can bless them as Jesus did.
 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21)

I'm thinking it goes beyond the occassional blessing that comes from a natural uplifting word. It's more of a lifestyle change. The story went that one little boy was told by William Booth (I think it was?) that he would make a great preacher. That boy grew up to become Gypsy Smith, who was supposed to be a very well known evangelist at the time. Words of blessings bless us too. If we are not being kind or are cursing others we are also being cursed and bring no blessings onto ourselves.

The tape went on to explain that blessing others includes our enemies. Since the Bible says Bless those who persecute you. I had a challenge today in this very area. They also warned about this and isn't it so that we are almost immediately tried when we are convicted or encouraged?

I was pulling into a parking spot (parallel) and the  man behind that spot almost hit me, he didn't look before pulling out of his spot and got angry with me. He proceeded to lay on the horn and lifted his fist in the air in disgust. I was immediately saddened and wanted to "defend" myself and tell this man what happened. Impossible of course but I get very hurt by such exchanges because I truly don't want to offend anyone! The Lord reminded me to pray for that man. Who knows what sort of issues he was having. I also pray that I can forgive him for his anger. I know it is a simple and somewhat menial example to others but it was a perfect example to me of how I need to forgive others even when I feel they don't deserve it or when I feel they are wrong.

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On a less personal note it's VERY cold here. I will be more thankful for Spring!

School goes as follows: Les starts the children with a Bible lesson, then Math and Phonics. Later we use the Weaver as an outline. We're still working on Famine and the Water cycle.

We found a really great website that shows how-to draw videos for FREE! Jan Brett also has cards you can print off and school helps. It's a really good resource and beautiful artwork.

I had to laugh this past weekend when I found out that we belong to a "movement" that I would never call a movement. I would say that the pendulum is just swinging back to where it was. They also stated that Nancy Cambell is the "mother" of this movement. How funny.  I am surely not offended! Of course the world is going to look at man or woman....especially woman as the creator of such an awesome idea. Praise the Lord no man...or woman can take credit! All that aside we did buy her book a few years ago called, "Be Fruitful and Multiply" (what th eBible says about having children) it's a good read. As is "A full quiver" By Rick and Jan Hess. Here's the story I was talking about:  Nightline story on the Quiverfull Movement

 We know that the real start of this all is our one and only God and savior. The Bible tells us, "Be fruitful and multiply". God never removes that command. He also gives us many examples that help us to understand why certain methods and NFP is wrong. Look at Onan. God commanded him to bring a child forth for his brother he instead used a method that today is considered okay to some Christians. He was told just as we are to have a child and disobeyed. God struck him dead. He chose to take the pleasure part of the act and not to bring forth fruit for his brother and listen to God. We also have the verse in 1 Corinthians 7:5 "Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

My testimony has been that my husband was the last child in a family of  13. His parents faced serious odds of having children in the "normal" range having their first two children with health issues. Baby number one died at age 5. She was never able to sit up, talk or function normally. Baby number two didn't grow right. He was labeled a midget. Most anyone these days would run to a specialist and possibly have something permanant done to prevent further "trials" and "burden" to the parents. I can't say it wouldn't cross my mind! However God knew what was best for them I am sure because they went on to have 11 other children with no health problems. Les was the last born. 9 years ago when we met I was not a Christian. In my mind I had no need for God. But after meeting Les and talking with him about salvation God softened my heart and I came to the realization that I needed a Savior. Praise the Lord for his mercy! God had a purpose in my husband to save me from my wretchedness through Christ Jesus.

These verses have been an encouragement to us:
 Psalm 127:1-5 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

I think it's neat that says he knows all of us before we were born. He clearly has a purpose in each child. All throughout history there is a great person born from a large family giving us an example of this. The back of "A Full Quiver" gives a great list: George Washington, Wolfgand Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van Beetoven, John and Charles Wesley, Oswald Chambers...to name a few.

Of course we haven't escaped from trials in this area. I have faced some health issues that would inhibit this goal of being open to God's blessings in this area. We are praying for good health and striving to live the way God wants us to. This includes eating healthy and getting good rest, taking care of my body and trusting the Lord for wisdom and healing.  We want to be faithful none the less. Only the Lord knows what the future holds.

Our family's list of dangerous home hazards (aside from the kids)

1) Hair Ties

Example: this morning mom goes to make toast. House quickly fills up with the aroma of burnt hair. Said 3 year old had stuck not one but two hair ties into the toaster at some point.

2) The Stove Control 

Our then 4 year old son is trying to help mom turn off the timer when mom doesn't hear it. Instead locking the stove shut on CLEAN mode. Cookies catch on fire and fire department is proptly called because smoke is overtaking the house. Cookies burnt to smithereens. Silver lining: mom got a new stove :)

3)  Ladders In Garage

Stating the obvious: kids and ladders just don't go together. Our youngest daughter was 18 month old at the time. She was left in garage for half a minute while her 5 year old sister "forgot" to watch her while mom carried up a bag of groceries, promptly climbing up ladder in lightning speed only to come crashing down into the soft playpen that I am certain a guardian angel put under her.

4) Paint

A can was left (with the lid ON of course) on our deck because we were repainting it. Both my husband and I were standing beside our 9 month old son whom I just set beside my legs. Our son quickly assessed that mom and dad must need help because the deck just wasn't getting done quickly enough and went over to dump the paint all over the deck in a matter of  seconds....which by the way did speed our project up considerably and he got a bath out of it. Mom found out that wet paint does come out of clothing if you wash it quickly enough.

5) Door jams and sharp corners

Are a continual problem in our house. You can't exactly remove them. Children LOVE to run into them. Our oldest son who was 3 at the time was running away from his 4 year old sister when he slammed his head into the wall. I never knew a child could bleed so much so quickly from such a small cut. Thankfully the bleeding stopped but what a nasty cut on his eyebrow! All three of our children have bruised themselves quite badly on these sharp corners even after a "no-run" policy has been passed.

6) Make-a-bear factory display animal  Okay this isn't in the home but it could have happened at home if we decided to buy something so expensive as on of those "make-a-bears" we might as well buy the display bear as much as they cost.

In case you've never been in one, they have a very large and very hard display bear up when you first go into their store. Our son who was 2 at the time wanted out of his stroller to look around. Seeming relatively harmless in a children's teddy bear factory, I took him out. Three steps out loosing his balance only to crack his head on the display. Later x-rays show no permanant damage but you couldn't tell by the huge swelling of his forehead.

7) Grandma's coffee table

Had sharp corners. Our oldest child was only a new walker when she fell into grandma's table. Thankfully she seemed okay at the time. But somehow this permeated her skull or something because she still has a visible hole in her forehead (in the bone) at age 6 1/2.

8) Paper towels and essential oil

Don't go in the microwave. I was recently trying to clean our microwave (which itself is in our garage thankfully!) I wet the towel down with an essential oil spray that I use on everything. The paper towel with solution exploded into flames after being heated for only a few seconds. Our 5 year old was enamored by this. I was able to extinguish the flames without summoning the fire department and I appeared to be a hero to our son who continued to be enamored with the display that I put on just for him.

9) Hairties

This one seems to be a popular one in our house since our 3 year old has spent a few years taking them out several times a day. They fit beautifully into a drain, down the heat vent, in the toilet, behind the toilet (mom calls this a house hold hazard because of the germ factor!) and in the mouth-yeck considering they've probably been in one of the above (okay we toss the ones that have been down the toilet and the drain)!

10) Furniture 

At least any furniture that might "rock" when a child is jumping up and down as hard as possible in front of it. Our then 5 year old daughter was doing this when our armoire fell on top of her, pinning her. Thankfully the bed broke the fall and the armoire, not our daughter.

My good friend Nikki's famous soup that I converted into a mock tomato sauce for just about anything:

Gingered Pumpkin-Apple Soup

1 ½ T Butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 Med. Celery stalks, finely diced
2 Med. Tart apples, peeled, cored, and diced
4 Cups stock (vegetable or chicken)
1 1-lb can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 t. Fresh grated ginger
1 t. Garam masala or curry powder
½ t. cinnamon
salt to taste
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 cups lowfat milk

Heat butter in soup pot. Add onion and celery and sauté over med. Heat until the onion is golden. Add remaining ingredients except milk and salt. Bring to a boil then simmer over low heat covered for 35-40 minutes. Stir in enough milk to achieve a smooth and slightly thick consistency. Season to taste with salt. Remove from heat. Allow the soup to stand overnight or for several hours to develop flavor. Taste and add more seasonings if desired.

Alternative sauce as a tomato-free (tomato sauce) substitute:

Omit: Milk
Add: 
2-4 cloves of garlic,
increase onions to 3 med.
1 tsp of Basil and oregano add more to taste.

A friend loaned us a DVD on openess and brokeness from The Institute of Basic Life Seminars. It was very interesting. I always seem to come away with something from these tapes that makes me want to examine my own life. I know Les feels the same way. In that way they are very life changing. We also have the Ultimate Marriage (vol 1 and 2) also from IBLP from the same friends on loan. I am excited to watch these but I'm sure they will take some time to review.

The children continue to amaze me. I am truly not needed for a lot of the learning to take place. Praise the Lord for that! The children got out about 10 straws and started building with them with no direction on my part because I wanted to see what they were going to do with them. They made a waterslide with a ruler, straws and tape (with loops) and even got water to run through it. Fixed a "helicopter", and cut small pieces for joints to put the straws together.