my weaknesses today

Today, I vacuumed like a fiend!  No, I am not Suzy Homemaker.  I got a new Dyson!  My old vacuum is still sitting in the hallway.  I'm sure my husband would like that to be gone from the hallway when he gets home.

Today, I moved 20 gallons of paint from the garage to the shed in an effort to continue organizing my garage.  No, it is still not organized.  I mean, look at this!

Today, I assembled a new wardrobe for dance costumes.  When I disassembled the old one, I whacked myself in the head with a pole.  Yeah, that felt good.

Today, I admitted to the world (via Facebook) that I am not in the least bit domestic.  It went like this:  "I think I'll start blogging for moms who can't cook, are allergic to the kitchen, couldn't care less about being crafty, but still want to raise world changers. I'm feeling incredibly inadequate when I see all these domestic genius moms around me. You all are amazing! How can a non-domestic type compare!? :-) Maybe you all can look into mass producing your domesticity and shipping it to us kitchen/craft phobes."  Yes, I am passionate.  Yes, I love my husband and my children.  Yes, I love my country.  Yes, I love Jesus, the Lord and Savior and forever Healer of my life!  Yes, I speak boldly about the things the move my heart.   But, I hate crafts, baking, cooking and doing creative things that would otherwise please my family.  I don't even like to babysit.  How's that for some honesty?  When I put something on the stove, I walk away and forget about it because I just don't want to stand there idly waiting for food to do what it does.  I burn things because of this.  I often have pots that boil over.  My husband shakes his head.  Contrary to popular belief, I cannot multitask.  Yes, I have many things going on at one time and they all sit unfinished as I start a new task.  I will eventually finish each one, but not before annoying myself and my husband by the mess I leave in my wake.  My son, Brandon, is the same way.

Today, I read this blog post:  Competitive Mothering and I loved it and it has inspired me to boast in my weaknesses.  I try to follow many wonderful mom blogs, but what I really want to know that they have Mount Washmore in their laundry hampers, too.  I mean, how do these gorgeous women homeschool numerous children, bake the best cinnamon rolls in the world, keep a spotless house, raise goats and chickens, and have time to write about it?!!  I often have the most hideous time management.  I would rather play a logic puzzle on my phone than do some task that would actually allow me more leisure to read a book, play a game, etc.  I spend too much time on my computer and I need to do something about that.  Right now, as I write, my dining room table houses an old purse and a tote bag full of papers...both of which I really need to put away.  The manual to my new Dyson is poking out from under my computer and there are about 157 lego pieces strewn over the table.  Oh! and 2 Hershey's Kisses (which I should not have eaten) wrappers stare at me reminding me that Christmas has been one poor excuse for too much egg nog, candy, cookies, and calories.  I refuse to step on the scale.  Ha!

I hope that in the next week, I will finish the garage and the shed.
I hope that I will get back on my bike and be motivated to do so.
I hope that I have not gained the 5 pounds I'm pretty sure have glued themselves to my waist and tush.
I hope it's only 5, and not more.
I hope that we will melt into a decent "school" schedule.
I hope I will read instead of wasting time on Facebook and logic puzzles.  And maybe clean the house a bit, too.
I hope I will write more.  I like to do that and so many ideas fly through my mind, but I don't take the time to do it....because Mt. Washmore is calling my name.

Anyway, this is a little bit of venting, but mostly I just want to keep it real and boast in my weaknesses.  I have two AWESOME boys who, today, when my hub showed them a pic of a "politically connected family" who recently visited our desert, they recognized the political figure in the bunch.  They read Red Wall books and I am shocked over that.  They just counted out nearly $60 in change all on their own.  And when I asked them to clean the guinea pig cage, they did it.  I have clean floors today (ok, so they do need a good mopping).  I have paint stored properly.  I have costumes (almost) put away --- ok, so there's still a pile on my bed!  I have a husband that probably would like a wholesome home-cooked meal but loves me even when most of the time that just doesn't happen.  My home is full and beautiful, but my yard has junk all over it.  My dog door is really dirty...it's almost gross...no, it IS gross.  And I have no idea how to clean it effectively.  Many people think I am amazing.  I'm not...obviously.  I'm just me.  But in those things where I excel, I want to be a blessing.  And I want a cozy home for my family.  I think I accomplish these things (for the most part).

I am a work in progress and may never be Rachel Ray in the kitchen, but I will get better at the things I'm not so hot at.  "He who began a good work in [me] will be faithful to complete it..."  There's always something to work on.  (And I didn't even talk about my unpleasant responses to the people that annoy me.) Be strong in my weaknesses, Lord!

It's getting dark and I have to go to the shed.
And I will reheat the Christmas chili (which I cheated and made from a kit) for dinner... which neither of my boys are thrilled about, but my hub loves.

And it's ok that I'm not a domestic diva.  I am a patriotic, Christ-loving, passionate wife and mom; and I don't know too many like me.  That may make me a really radical odd ball, but today I'll be glad that I am filling a unique role that a handful of others appreciate, and I feel called to.

there's a par-tay goin' on!

Our 6th annual Christmas Open House is just around the corner.  I love planning this event and my family has come to love it as well.  It's become a great kick-off amongst our friends and family for the Christmas season.  Yea!

I really try to keep it simple...yet, still find that I am running around like a chicken with her head cut off.  Can't imagine what it would be like if it wasn't "simple." Ha!  Anyhoo... I try to limit food to just a few items.  Finger foods only or things that can be obtained by a skewer or toothpick.  The boys and I already had our cookie making afternoon.  It was dreadful!  LOL.  I REALLY don't like the kitchen.  I mean, I think they're cute and all, but I am so not a domestic diva and I hate all that has to happen in the kitchen.  Can't someone else please cook all our meals?!!

Ok, so simple foods:  we bake a zillion gingerbread and sugar cookies.  Then we frost the dang things 'til our tummies ache and the poor, little brown men start looking like hideously dressed blobs or wounded zombies.  Six hours later we're done and every year I swear it'll be at least a year before I ever do anything that crazy again...so I guess that works out.  I buy a couple bags of candies and crackers.  I throw together two cheese balls and I make several batches of what have become very popular cranberry meatballs.   That's it!   Of course, there's punch, tea, coffee, cocoa, and cider.

I set up the bounce house, have the boys stock every fire place (indoors and out) with ample firewood, and decorate, decorate, decorate.  Play music, light candles, have fun!  And don't forget to invite family, friends, and neighbors (obviously this should occur way before lighting candles).

So, how 'bout those recipes...  I usually find a cheese ball recipe online.  Still haven't found one that I love enough to repeat, but this year I discovered (in my mom's stuff while moving her and her hub out of their home) my Grandma's fabulous pineapple cheese ball.  Oh my goodness gracious great-balls-of-fire it is to die for!


Pineapple Cheese Ball
(F. Maxine McClain)

12 oz. cream cheese
green pepper, diced
small can crushed pineapple (well drained)

Mix it all together (let the cream cheese stand at room temp to soften).   Refrigerate for 24 hours.  Shape into a ball and roll in crushed pecans or bacon bits.  Ta da!  Try not to devour the whole thing before hand.  It is SO good!


Sweet Cranberry Meatballs
(Fix It and Forget It)

50 meatballs (Obviously I multiply this like crazy for our shindig.)
1 cup brown gravy
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
2 T. heavy cream
2 t. Dijon mustard

Put meatballs in slow cooker.  Mix remaining ingredients to gather and pour over meatballs.
Cover.  Cook on high 2-3 hours or low 5-6 hours.

Easy peasy.  That's how I like it.  If food involves more than 10 minutes to organize, then I'm so out of there.  So, you know this has to be easy enough for someone with a cooking allergy like me to be able to pull it off.

16 oz. of soda, please

So, the big news the other day was that NYC Mayor Bloomberg mandated that restaurants can no longer sell a soda larger than 16 ounces.  (Versions of the story: soda jerk; and Bloomberg bans soda and celebrates "Donut Day.")  He's "forcing" the people to drink less soda.  And why shouldn't he?  The libs have managed to control our healthcare so they ought to have a say in how we treat our bodies, right?  After all, they're paying for it.  And it's for your own good, anyway.  You are too stupid to decide for yourself what you should and shouldn't eat or drink.

Martin Niemoller has a famous quote:

First they came for the Communists,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came fort he Trade Unionist,

and I did not speak out-- 

because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out--

because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me--

and there was no one left to speak for me.

~Martin Niemoller

personal prisoner of Adolph Hitler

in Nazi concentration camps

A friend of mine just re-wrote it to apply to this ridiculous fascism over soft drinks, read it here.

Since this topic was on the minds of everyone the other day, it was unavoidable as I turned on talk radio while we drove down the highway.  I explained to my boys what Bloomberg had done and how utterly ridiculous it is and how it is a way to strip Americans of their freedoms.  If you give 'em an inch, they think they're the ruler.

Silas:  "Mom, I'm thirsty."
Me:  "Me too.  Would you like an orange juice or milk?"
Silas:  "Can I have a soda?"
Me:  "Sure."
Silas:  "Well," pause, "I'd like sixteen ounces of Coca Cola, please."

Mind you, he's 6 years old.  And a carbon copy of his mother, sass and all.  We sure had a good laugh.  Ultimately, I decided it was too late for a sugary soda and he had some O.J. instead (as mom, I can be a Bloomberg-type dictator to my children, it's my job), but we were in hysterics there for a while.

What do I think of Monumental?

Last week, I saw Monumental and really loved it.  The Pilgrim's history is thorough and accurate from my own studies on the subject, and I loved the 3rd section on the Founding Fathers and the input from David Barton.

My only unsure spot was the interpretation of the Monument.  It seemed a little like it was pulled out of thin air.  I thought it a beautiful interpretation and probably even accurate, but didn't find it wholly credible during the viewing of the movie.  I would've really like if it could have been backed up with something a little more substantial than just the assumption of the interpreter.  I'm not saying that he was just making it up as he went, but it could be construed as such.  If I was a critic, that would be the first thing I would call into question.  I'd love to see a more definitive roadmap of how he came to this interpretive conclusion.  I do hope the Monumental resources cover this interpretation in more detail and with a firm backing.

Skepticism aside, there is much to the Monument and it is inspiring.  If you saw the detail and pure fullness of this sculpture, can you imagine the incredible thought and design that went into it?

Our theater was bursting at the seams.  My party sat in the fourth row and we were there plenty early.  It was very encouraging to see such an impressive turnout for something so desperately important.

As a Patriot mom, I sure appreciate what Kirk Cameron is doing to stir a love of our Providential history into the hearts of families.  May we all know the truth, and may the truth keep us ever free!

I really love that Monumental resources and even curriculum are available to those who need to start teaching a firm foundation of our American history to the next generation.  My prayer is that all American families will embrace our true history.

As Kirk closed the film, he emphasized the importance of not passing the blame, but taking responsibility within the walls of our own homes.  That was excellent.  Ronald Reagan said, "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." YES!

I exhort you all to raise your own precious little (and big) ones in Biblical and historical truth.  It is our children who will change the world.  As the pilgrims were, so we are stepping stones to our posterity.  Attend local public service meetings.  Speak truth.  Have a voice in the public square.  We must be involved in our families, and we must be involved in our communities.  Bottom up, not top down.

Do you think your children are too young for history?  No!  History is just a lot of really cool, true stories.  Better than fiction!  If your kids like stories (what child doesn't?), then they will LOVE history!  The story of Paul Revere and the Lexington Battle Green is invigorating!  And the pilgrims and Squanto...wow!  Excitement, intrigue, adventure, suspense....kids love that stuff! 

If you are looking for books or resources to help guide you toward a love of history with your children, click on the "books & stuff" tab at the top of this blog.  I try to post our favorite history resources.  If your kids enjoy and memorize twaddle stories or even Bible stories, then they can totally love American history stories, too!  This ain't your dry, boring high school history course: the dull textbook and date-memorizing we had to laborious suffer through in school that cause our default perspective of history to be so dreadful and excruciating.  But, really, history is the best subject EVER!

The other day I was reading through Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9 and noticed how he cited the hand of God in Israel's history.  Isn't it so cool that Israel is so blessed in the fact that their history is God's history on earth? ...but we also, as Americans, have a unique history that no other nation (save Israel) can claim.  We have a Godly heritage.  We are truly a privileged nation. 

even a little child knows

"...No one wanted to let it appear that he could see nothing, for that would prove him unfit for his post... 

'But he has nothing on!' said a little child. 

The emperor was startled by this, for he had a suspicion that they were right.  ...So he held himself more stiffly than ever, and the chamberlains held up the train that was not there at all."  ~The Emperor's New Clothes 

If you don't know this story, find it and understand it.

In our studies of the 1960's, we stumbled across a book about the Kennedy brothers.  Beautifully illustrated and sweet, yet it fails (as most books do) to hit the reality of the truth.  In this case it promoted a sweeping assumption of "fighting for the rights of all." What does that really mean?  We live in a world where two diametrically opposite opinions can be discussed and seem not so different after all... because we use the same words but the definitions of those words are polar opposites.

Example:  Women's rights.  On the liberal front, this means providing abortion to any woman who wants one resulting in the death of an innocent person.  Alternately, on the conservative front, it means equality among the sexes: equal pay, equal opportunity, etc.  Granted, I think the conservative perspective is also that of the libs, but they are so blinded by their obsession with abortion that they can see nothing else.

Yesterday, we were reading specifically about Edward Kennedy and his "fight for the rights of all" and how wonderful and great he was, but what is omitted here is that he was an undying advocate of abortion.  I don't care who you are and how many nice words can be said about you, if you permit murder, then you are a murderer.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "Boys, it's true that the Kennedy's were influential and it seems genuinely that they wanted to affect good in our country, but Edward Kennedy wanted abortion to be legal."  (My boys's mouths dropped wide-open at this point.  They are in utter disbelief that people think abortion should be ok.)  "He (Ted Kennedy) said he wanted women to have rights and in his mind he believed that a woman's right is to be able to have an abortion." 

Silas (6 years old): "Doesn't he know that some of the babies that die would grow up to be women?!  What about their rights?"

Thank you, Silas.  Even a child understands how absurd the arguments for abortion are.

Only a child lacked the hesitation to speak what was plainly before them all: The Emperor was naked.

out of the mouths of babes...

soundbites from a recent game of Risk with Daddy.

B: "I'm going to be a dictator!"

Si: (Referring to his dad...) "I'll wipe the snot out of 'im, Brandon!"

Liberty Treehouse

Liberty Treehouse!

Our new favorite show!   Check out www.gbtv.com and try the 14-day free trial to see if you want to commit.  But, we are loving this show.  (GBTV also has a reality show, Independence U.S.A., about a family attempting to live off the grid, a news show, and other stuff.)   In the last 3 days, we've learned about Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, the brain, bullying/forgiveness, Leap Year, the walk-along glider and ScienceToymaker.com...and the list goes on.

This is a great home school friendly (but really all-types-of-kids friendly) show.  I'm totally incorporating this into my daily home school schedule.  It airs every day at 4:30 pm, and you can archive all the shows from the beginning.  I accessed it a couple of months ago to teach my kids about the economy.  And they love it!  So do I!

Enjoy!

Sound bites from the Mom Heart Conference

Marian, Robin, Melanie, Nikki, Kay, Sally, baby Russell, Kori, Barbara, Anne

(All quotes are by Sally Clarkson, unless otherwise noted.)

We have to be willing to build our portion of the wall.  Roll up your sleeves.  Get dirty.  Don't be lazy.  Work.  (inspired by Angela Perritt. www.GoodMorningGirls.org)

To our children, we must say,

"God wants you to be a Daniel in Babylon."

"God used 12 uneducated men to turn the world upside-down."

He can certainly use me and my family too!

"I always felt like I was too much for everyone.  Too loud, too passionate..."
I feel like this every day of my life.  And for some, I am too much; but I will not apologize for who I am (even though sometimes I want to).
It is HE who created me.  
It is HE who knows all my days.  
It is HE who searches the attitudes and intents of my heart.  
It is HE who I must please.  
"For am I know seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." ~Galatians 1:10 
"You can not live by faith and by the fear of men."  "There is great freedom in being yourself."

"The fear of man brings a snare." ~Pr. 29:25  

"Curriculum doesn't create genius or excellence."

"We are called to prepare warriors for what is ahead."

"Motherhood isn't a choice or a philosophy; it's a calling."

Adversarial vs Advocate Parenting

Adversarial:  How many ways can I correct you?

Advocate:  How many ways can I inspire you?

"Train your children not to know things about God, but to know God." ~Nathan Clarkson


"Chase God!" ~Nathan Clarkson

Prayer is "a wonderful power placed by Almighty God in the hands of His saints...to achieve unusual results." (E.M. Bounds)

Keep praying and don't stop.

Have shameless audacity!
~Deb Weakly

Something so cool that Deb Weakly shared was the idea and act of praying for your heritage.  I loved that!  For my grandchildren, great grandchildren and the descendants to come...should the Lord tarry.  That I will leave a godly heritage.  What more could a momma want?!
"A legacy doesn't happen unless you plan it and do it."

"Life is a balance between reality and ideals."

"Just because you're busy doesn't mean you're being productive."

And my favorite quote of the weekend: 

"For Kori, everyday is the fourth of July." 

~Anne Collins (my friend. teehee.)

What was a big overall theme for me personally this weekend?
LEGALISM.
How good intentions can easily become things of bondage and cause division.

"Don't shoot at people; love them." (Yeah, so I may be a little convicted by this one.)

I worry that with my passion for righteousness in this nation, I might make it too much about morality and behavior and not the heart of the American people.  I worry that I might be more passionate about doing and less about praying.  I worry that I might be too rigid and not gracious.  I worry that if I am relaxed in one area, then I'll relax in all...when there are real things that need to be fought for.   I worry that I will blur the lines between the important and that which is not.  I worry that I will be unloving and will want to be unloving because I want more for things to be right (how desperately I want this!)...when all that really matters is love.  And then I will not please God in all my efforts, when the driving force behind my efforts is to please God.  I worry that I will exit the will of the God whom I adore because my passions outweigh my love.

I don't want to be so confident in my calling that I become snobbish in it.  I think it's good to be courageous in home schooling, faith, and patriotism.  But it is not good to be prideful and exclusive in it.  I don't want to marginalize those who don't understand; I want to be able to gently and effectively teach them in spirit, love, and truth.

"Law is about fitting in the box, pleasing people, performing."  Who am I going to please?  Who am I trying to impress?  God, check me every moment of every day that my driving force is your Holy Spirit and not my will.  God, don't accomplish my will.  Thy will be done, Lord Jesus...on earth as it is in heaven!!  I want to please and impress YOU only!

Why I love Sally Clarkson's Mom Heart Conferences

I love Sally.  After having my first little sweetie, I was horribly depressed.  Crying everyday, unmotivated...literally hating my life and could see nothing but my 4 walls, piles of laundry, exhaustive all-night feedings (I had trouble nursing), and just not keeping up with life.

Life was mundane and meaningless to me.

My pastor's wife (Marian Mellor) invited me to attend Sally's conference in '07 and I went.  God used Sally to give me permission to be a mom and it totally liberated me.  I think culture (which as an entertainer, I had been totally immersed in) doesn't give value to moms and I was feeling like I was wasting my time doing nothing but changing diapers and existing.  I literally felt like my life was that movie "Groundhog Day": the same meaningless existence day after day after day.

I was an awful mom to a newborn.  

I did not transition well.  

I did not love it.  

I did not like my child.  

I was only mindful of my own selfish sufferings.   

I was totally floundering.  

Sally showed me how totally valuable it is to be a mom and inspired me without being negative or guilt-tripping.  She said that as moms we already feel guilty that we're not doing enough and she wanted to encourage and inspire.  She is certainly gifted at this.

Now, I feel influential every day of my life...for these two little boys who will be the heart of the next generation.  I feel like every day I am a world changer through 2 precious lives.  And it has inspired me to become involved in the history, politics and righteousness of my country.  This is not the result for all so don't worry if you don't want to be a political nut case (lol) ...but this is an extended way Sally's message has affected my life.  I not only have influence over my family, but God has used my passion to influence the generation my boys are in, and my church, and in whatever area of influence He places me to speak boldly and confidently the truth of history, politics, and God's word.

I AM FREE!  And I thank God for using Sally in my life.  She is an excellent example to us as moms!

I hope you can come to Sally's conference.  You will never regret being an intentionally passionate mommy to your precious children.

Register here!  

True Biblical motherhood must be intentionally pursued.  It doesn't just happen all by itself.  We gotta stick together and urge one another on toward godliness, righteousness, and joy in the every day wonder of raising our children.  I will be your cheerleader in this great responsibility and mission!  We matter!  Don't grow weary in doing good.  God has chosen you to be the very best mommy to those little hands and feet and hearts in your home.  He will enable you!

Si's first loose tooth

"How I got that tooth out is I just smacked myself in the mouth." 

~Silas

childlike faith

Last Monday night, I received a mysterious text from my darling Aunt asking if we had time for a visitor the following day.  Umm, yeah!

She arrived by 9am on Tuesday morning.

In our preparation to welcome her, Brandon asked me, "Mommy, Great Aunt Toby doesn't know Jesus, does she?"
"No, she doesn't, sweetie," I said.
"Well then, we need to tell her."
"Yes, we do.  Knowing Jesus is the most important thing we do in our whole life."

I didn't know if Brandon really had anything planned and so we continued cleaning up the house (it had gotten neglected...nothing like a surprise visitor to whip us/it into shape in light speed!).

She arrived and the boys were so excited that I'm pretty sure they pulled every toy they own out of their room to show to her.  Silas dragged out this gun and that gun.  LOL.  Eventually we sat down at the table for some pancakes and pears.

Brandon: "Great Aunt Toby?  I want to read something to you."  He proceeded to pull out and read from his Bible various memory verses he had collected from church in recent weeks.  "I'll be right back, Great Aunt Toby, there's something I have to get from my room."  He returned a few seconds later with a neon green bracelet with the words "Jesus made me special" stitched onto it.  "Great Aunt Toby, do you know why I am wearing this bracelet?"

After breakfast, she and I collected the dishes, cleaned up, and chatted.  Brandon entered the kitchen and said, "Great Aunt Toby, I want to read my Bible to you."  Me: "Brandon, can you wait a minute until we finish talking?"  So, Brandon with his Bible sat on the bench in the dining room and patiently waited for us to finish.  Finally, I realized (yes, some of us are slower than others) his motive.  He wanted to share God's Word, God's love and Jesus with my Aunt whom we all love so dearly and pray for so often and desperately plea with the Lord for her salvation and that of her entire family.  I asked him to read to Aunt Toby in the living room while I finished cleaning up.  He read the most random passage from 1 Samuel....all I could hear was something about boiled meat. LOL.  And she helped him with all the hard words...and it blessed my heart.  (All the while, Silas was blasting into the living room with this weapon and that.  Bahahaha!)  It was certainly a sight!  So funny and sweet.  But later as I pondered the morning and really let Brandon's actions settle into my core, I realized that it wasn't just sweet or cute, it was all that I desire as a mother: to raise children who understand the most precious thing in life is Jesus and to introduce others to Him.  It is EVERYTHING.  My 7-year-old, more bold than I, did what I should have done many times over.  And he did it without considering rejection, ridicule, embarrassment.  What a sweet gift he desired to give to my Aunt.  And what a blessing he is to my own heart.

My Aunt is so beautiful and dear to me.  I love her life and her attitude about things.  I see in her so much of what I want to be.  Her first grandchild will arrive in another month...and I am a little jealous of this precious one soon to be born because I have coveted and loved her attention and affection imparted to my own boys.  Soon, she will have her own grandson to embrace, snuggle, chase and have fun with.  Really, I am glad.  Everyone should have a grandma like the one she is going to be.

Share Jesus with your children and with all --- in love, in word, in deed, and in truth.  Raise disciples of Him who gave everything for you and for me and do not hinder them to share.

Have childlike faith.

"Whoever receives one of these little children in My name, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." ~Mark 9:37

"America by Heart" by Sarah Palin

Just finished reading Sarah Palin's book "America By Heart" which is a beautiful collection of her thoughts and wisdom on all the things she holds dear which are dear to me as well: Faith, Family, and Freedom.

I especially loved her chapters dedicated to our military, American Exceptionalism, entitlement versus hard work, and the one she wrote on her perspective as a mother.  I'd like to share some of her writings on the latter:

"...far from holding me back, my family is my main motivation.  It's the source of my energy as well as my optimism about America.  ...I don't balance anything.  We do it together."

"Having a family gives you a gift that you may not recognize at first.  It teaches you that the sun doesn't rise and set around you.  It's not about you.  (Regarding other family member's interests and pursuits:)  If it's important to one of us it's important to all of us.  And if it challenges one of us, it gets support from all of us."

"...it turns out that it's the quantity of time we spend ---not the quality--- that is best for our kids.  Busy parents like to comfort themselves that they can make up for not being there by occasional bursts of special activities.  But you can't just plan on being a good parent; you have to earn it."

"At home my happiness springs from very different objects; the gradual unfolding of my children's reason, the study of their dawning tempers..." ~J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur

"...elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; accelerate and animate their industry and activity; excite in the an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue.  If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives." ~John Adams to his wife, Abigail

"Families matter."

"The left wants us to believe that any grouping we choose to call a family is worthy of the name, that it doesn't matter if children are raised by two loving parents or are shipped off to virtual full-time day care, and that divorce has no effect on children's quality of life.  When it comes to raising good citizens, all 'lifestyle choices' are not equal." 

As our beloved Ronald Reagan said (I know I am repeating myself), "All great change in America begins at the dinner table."  So mommies, daddies, kids: let's change America!  Let's change the world!  Engage your family in discussion about truth, righteousness, God, freedom.  It isn't just important, it's invigorating!!

...Happy Birthday dear Silas...

My Silas is 6...and tall...and sweet...and wonderful.

One day, about 6 1/2 years ago, I sat depressed in my living room with 5-month-old Brandon, exhausted and overwhelmed with my responsibilities as a new mommy.  I called my only-child sister-in-law to ask her her thoughts about being an only child.  Just when I decided that Brandon would be an only child, the next day I found out I was pregnant.  Silas arrived months later.

How glad I am that God doesn't do what I think is best or what I think I can handle.
Si is drastically different than Brandon.  While Brandon is quiet and can sit and play alone for hours, Silas is a Tasmanian Devil of sorts who can't stand being alone.  Loud, hilarious, and energetic beyond belief.

Silas is me.
I know the curse of many grandparents is that their own child will have a child like themselves.   How glad I am!  (Sorry, to have this plan backfire on you, Mom!)
Silas has trouble with self-control.  So do I.  When Si has trouble being a good boy, he has a mommy who can totally relate to the challenge of saying and doing the wrong thing, of being overly passionate and energetic, speaking before thinking, etc.   Silas wants to go a million miles a minute.  So do I.  Silas is my precious companion.  My bike riding/ walking/ hiking/ adventuring buddy.

I'm so blessed with my Si.  He is a loving, tender, thoughtful, sometimes bull-in-a-China-shop type of boy...and I love him dearly for everything he is.

Happy Birthday, sweet Si.  YOU ROCK!

photo booth

There's an icon on the toolbar at the bottom of my screen on my Mac.  It says "photo booth" and it scares me because I don't know what it is and have never taken the time to figure it out.

Enter Silas.
"Mom, I want to do something on your computer."
I now know what photo booth is.  Thanks to Si.

Mystery solved.

wise children are a delight.

"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, 

and he who begets a wise child will delight in him."

~Proverbs 23:24

Father, 

Thank You so much for my precious boys.  

As I see the awful strife a foolish child can bring.  I just want to thank you for two boys whose hearts are Yours; who want to please us and You...even at this young age.  Help us to guide them well in all truth.  How much we need You.

Please cause my children to have hearts fully devoted to You and unwavering.  Standing up against a perverse and foolish culture.  Not caring if they are the only ones.  Help me to impart that two these two precious souls.  Help me to be the same so I can lead by example.  No compromise.  No turning back.  No giving up.  Doing what's hard for the eternal glory of Your pleasure and presence.

Amen.

the result of greatly delighting in Scripture

"Praise the Lord!  Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.  His descendants will be mighty on earth;  The generation of the upright will be blessed." ~Psalm 112

When I read this today, my heart leapt!  Didn't I just say that I love, love, love God's Word!?!  ;)

And since I do, it is promised that my children will be mighty!  Hallelujah!  And so will yours if you delight in the Word of God!  We are raising a generation of world changers who will be mighty on this earth.  Start out by immersing yourself in the very Word of God!  "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you." (Mt. 6:33)  First things first.

"His delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates both day and night.  He will be like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither.  In all he does, he prospers." ~Ps. 1:2-3

To think that America's Founders and Constitution Framers were raised with an emphasis on God's Word.  And look at the result!  A free nation.  A generation of patriots who accomplished something no one ever had before.  Heroism, courage, integrity.  Generations that catapulted the world into innovation, creativity, and technological advances incomprehensible.
How we need a generation like this now.  Let's do it ladies.  Saturate ourselves and our children in truth, love, faith, and hope through deep Biblical understanding.

Be blessed,

Go Si!

My little fire cracker won the Borrego Springs Tee-Ball perpetual trophy for the best sportsmanship!

Yes, Mommy was very near tears.  Such a sweet and enthusiastic boy!

I have the two best boys in the whole wide world!

Here's the vid:

A companion of fools suffers harm.

"The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." ~Pr. 12:26

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm." ~Pr. 13:21

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.  True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the application." ~G. Washington

Who do we let our children associate with?  Our children must be surrounded with the wise.

I can already hear the "Jesus ate with tax-collectors and sinners" argument.  I'm not saying that our children should not be reaching out to others for the purpose of influencing them toward Jesus.  But, I am saying that we must consider whether our children are thermometers or thermostats.  Do my children influence others to do what is right, or are they easily influenced by their peers?  Until they are ready to set the atmosphere they are in, protect them by choosing for them who their friends and influences will be.

Did you ever try this?
Stand on a chair.
Have another person stand on the ground.
Try to pull the person on the ground up to your level on the chair.
It is nearly impossible and much easier to be pulled down to the lower level.
So, it is with peers.  The idealist must be grounded and strong in order to influence the mediocre and foolish.  But the foolish only have to give a little tug to pull the idealist down to their level.

Undoubtedly our children become (or remain) fools if they hang out with other fools, and Proverbs 13:20 says they will suffer harm or even be destroyed.  Yikes!  Is it really worth it to let our kids "do whatever they want" when the end result is destruction?

Jamie and I have had this discussion recently.  I love the Proverbs (and really all of Scripture).  It is so simple.  And if we obey God's ways, then life is pretty black and white and not too hard to figure out.

The other night, a girl we know (please pray for this family) was determined to attend an event putting her in the position to become a companion of fools.   She defied adamantly the counsel of her family.  Her motive was obvious, though she lied about it.  She was admonished and warned.  Her guardians were greatly cautioned.  We were concerned for her safety but for Jamie and I, the situation was out of our hands.  In the middle of the night, we received a call that this girl was in a very serious rollover crash...and her "companion" was drunk...as was she.  Thankfully, she is alive, albeit pretty beat up.  Jamie went to rescue her (again, for this is not the first time)---she seemed thankful but prideful and unrepentant.

These two verses have flashed in my mind since.
"..A companion of fools suffers harm" (Pr. 13:20); and "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy." (Pr. 29:1)

Also the Prodigal story (Lk. 15:11-32)...  sometimes we have to allow our children to choose their destructive path until they are eating with pigs and eventually come to their senses.  Granted, we must be pro-active in raising them in godliness and holiness from the moment God places them in our hands.  As parents, we must purpose to reach their hearts.  Not just in moral training...which is important...though focusing on that solely only causes legalism in my opinion.
It is like what Jesus said (Mt. 22:37-40): All the commandments (morals) are wrapped up in these two things: 1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Or Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."  If we focus on love of God and others, and if we focus on pursuing the very time-consuming job of winning our children's hearts, then morality and obedience to God and to parents will naturally occur.  Granted, nothing is perfect.  But if our children want to please God and us out of love, we have quite a head start.

Reaping what we sow in relationships

I am taking this straight out of Sally Clarkson's book, The Mission of Motherhood.  It is too beneficial to not share.  If you don't have this book, order it now!  (click on the book title to order it.)  It is the BEST mom's book ever written.  I have said many times before that it entirely changed my perspective as a mom and made motherhood fulfilling and wonderful to me.  Being a mom is a woman's greatest calling!  Praise the Lord!  Now that her children are grown, Sally often says, "I have raised my own best friends!"

Beautiful.

Taken from ch. 7- "A Strong Friend"
The Relationships We Reap

Galatians 6:7 tells us plainly that we reap what we sow--and I believe this is especially true of family relationships.  If I sow affection, commitment, and encouragement into the lives of my children, chances are I will reap deep, close relationships with them that will last for a lifetime.  If I don't make our relationships a priority, I risk reaping the consequences of a broken, scattered or distant relationship.

My daughter Sarah shared with us at dinner one night that her friends who spend most of their time with their peers tend to communicate negatively about the guidance their parents want to give them.  She expertly mimicked their complaints: "My parents insist that I can't drive my car because I don't have insurance!  But it's my car!  My baby-sitting job is so close I won't get into any trouble!  It's so unfair!"

Sarah said, "Mom, I see it all of the time.   The kids who aren't close to their parents act as though their parents' rules are unreasonable and even as though their parents have no right to thell them no.  They think they should be able to make all of their own decisions."

The problem with these kids, as Sarah sees it, is not just her friends' attitude but the fact that these kids' parents haven't done what it takes to maintain a close relationship with them.  Though children are rightly told to honor their parents, it is certainly easier to honor those parents who have shown honor to their own children by doing what it takes to build a relationship.

The hunger for love, affirmation, attention, and acceptance is a deep drive that will search for fulfillment until it finds it.  A child's first attachment is meant to be with its mother, so lots of loving touches and caresses from her make a difference in the child's future intellect, emotional stability, and sense of well-being.  Time and affectionate attention from a father and significant others is crucial as well.

However, if a child's need for such attachment is not met in the home, he will tend to look for it from his peers or anywhere else he can find it.  In order to fit in with those willing to give him time, the child will tend to adapt his values and morals to whatever is required.  At the same time, a child who does not learn to make healthy attachments and maintain healthy relationships in her family may have a hard time developing intimate bonds with anyone in the future.

As a mother, I have the ability to provide the love, acceptance, and attention my children need to grow up secure and able to develop mature relationships.  I also have the opportunity to model mature love, commitment, forgiveness, accountability, grace, and encouragement for my children.  The home is an ideal environment in which children can experience the growth of mature relationship where give-and-take are learned in the context of real life.  And this ideally includes an understanding of the true power of God's love.

________________________ 

And so I am working very hard

raising my own best friends!

The Five Thousand Year Leap, Principle 23

(To read previous posts on this book, click here.)

Principle 23: Importance of an Educated Electorate

I guess it goes without saying that this is my favorite chapter.  It is one of the main reasons why I do what I do day in and day out for myself, my husband, my children, my blog, and pretty much anyone within earshot.   I want the truth known.  I want enlightenment of the truth of our nation's history.  I want the true purpose of current events, legislation and agenda known.

Don't you think it so cool that it was America that first took on the noble venture of educating the whole society?  For what purpose?  So, they would vote well and be involved in their own government.  

"Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness."

~G. Washington

Now, there surely is a whole lot of emphasis in our current culture on the importance of voting.  Here's the difference between now and then:  the Founders desired for us to be educated voters and to vote well; today much of the push for voting is for the prevailing agenda of immoral culture and government-run schools.  It's a popularity vote for the one who looks best and sounds the best.  We vote for rock stars and not real leaders.  This must change.

"In the American colonies the intention was to have all children taught the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic so that they could go on to become well informed citizens through their own diligent self-study. (Emphasis mine.)  No doubt this explains why all of the American Founders were so well read, and usually from the same books, even though a number of them had received a very limited formal education.  The fundamentals were sufficient to get them started, and thereafter they became remarkably well informed in a variety of areas through self-learning.  This was the pattern followed by both Franklin and Washington." (p. 179)    

Of course, I LOVE THIS!  We just finished studying Thomas Edison. He had a whopping 3 months of school attendance and then was home schooled by his mother and a self-motivated learner.  (No joke!)  The man patented 1,093 inventions in his lifetime and had practically zero formal schooling (he was in attendance but learned nothing).  Teach our kids the basics: reading, writing, math, true history, Biblical standards of righteousness and morality, current events, and the Constitution.  And the world is their oyster!!  Give them a passion and love for learning by modeling it ourselves!

"Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."

~Socrates

I just want to throw in a couple of important pieces of advice here regarding what we fill our minds with and the minds of our children:

• Psalm 1:1 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord..."   We must not accept the counsel of the ungodly.  Choose wisely what you fill your mind with and if it is not God-honoring, then refuse it.  This includes media.
• Ecclesiastes 12:12 "And further, my son, be admonished by these.  Of making of books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."   As my pastor put it so well in his message a few weeks ago...  Books are in abundance.  So much so that you can never read them all in your lifetime.  You only get to read so many books, choose well and don't waste your time.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5  "...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."  If it exalts itself above God or compares itself with God, or thinks it is God---get rid of it!  Tear it down!  Throw it out!  Have NOTHING to do with it.  

A book is recommended in this chapter which I will soon purchase as we already own The New England Primer and the Blue Back Speller.  I love old school (no pun intended) school books.  (Don't forget the Bible---it is, after all, the original textbook.)  So, we will be getting the Catechism on the Constitution by Arthur J. Stansbury.   I can't wait to teach my children about the Constitution and to learn more for myself too!

"Sermons and orations by men of limited formal education reflected a flourish and style of expression which few Americans could duplicate today.  Many of these attributed their abilities to extensive reading of the Bible.  Such was the case with Abraham Lincoln.  Certainly the classical beauty of the Gettysburg Address and his many other famous speeches cannot be attributed to college training, for he had none." (p.181-182)   

Not only did Lincoln not have any college education, he had less than 1 year of schooling.  He was entirely self-educated by reading.  And he was a lawyer, politician, and arguably one of the very few best Presidents of the United States.  The boys and I attended a President's Day event at the Nixon Library this year where we heard a man give a speech about the Gettysburg Address and how it was written in the language of the Bible since that is what Lincoln was most familiar with.  Beautiful.

Daniel Webster:

"It is not to be doubted, that to the free and universal reading of the Bible, in that age, men were much indebted for right views of civil liberty.  The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of morals, and a book of religion, of special revelations from God; but it is also a book which teaches man his own individual responsibility, his own dignity, and his equality with his fellow-man."

Click here for the next post in this series.