Good day for ducks

The Duck
Baby E does not like to take a bath. I have five children, but she is the first who has screamed in the tub, from start to finish. This is the latest in our efforts to assure her that she is safe, and that bathtime is fun. She does not like this duck. I'm really not sure what to do about her bathtub fears. Bathing is a necessary life skill and she needs to be able to handle the stress. Will she grow out of her terror?

Speaking of ducks, it's been a good day for them around here. I love rainy days and especially today, I needed a dreary day. We snuggled and read at the last six or so chapters of the wonderful book, The Princess and Curdie, by George MacDonald (this book came after the equally wonderful Princess and the Goblins). Although the children prefer more of a 'happily ever after' ending, they all enjoyed the book on the whole. Curdie, the hero, is hard working, devoted to his parents, good and wise, resourceful... H copied this quote from the book, "Whoever is diligent will soon be cheerful."

Two ducks have been visiting our yard; with all the rain we've had lately the puddles make a nice spot for them to float around in. Plus the children have been feeding them! We've become the vacation spot for Mr. and Mrs. Mallard... so we had to re-read Make Way for Ducklings!

Off to make chocolate chip pumpkin muffins for breakfast. Yummmmm...

Ice Water

There are so many people out there that are speaking so clearly the truth about Terri Schaivo; speaking the truth about the value of life and the commands of scripture and about the responsibility of the leaders of this nation, and about our nation's future if we embrace/accept/or even just shrug our collective shoulders about the judges' decisions. Doug Phillips of Vision Forum has some great info on his blog right now. If anyone actually is reading my blog go ahead and click over there.

Call it what it is: murder.


(From Biblegateway.com)
Matthew 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Mark 9:41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

One more thing today...

Read this article.
(linked to from this site)

Thanks a lot, Dad!!

Overheard as the boys were cleaning the playroom:
"I see your hiney, all white and shiny,
If you don't hide it..."

Well, sure that they had learned that lovely chorus from the neighborhood rif-raf, I corralled the hooligans onto the futon and asked very directly, "where did you hear that?!"

#3 looked innocently at my cloudy face and answered, "Sir."

"Sir" is my dad.

All three culprits started giggling at my surprised look. What could I say?! Except to clearly explain that even though Sir said that, they can't!

Ice Water and Kind Words

Grandmother, who ran a hotel at one point in her life, told me she that even when they didn't have much to offer, she could always share some "ice water and kind words."

The phrase has stayed with me as a reminder to offer hospitality.

But what does that mean in my life in this world today? How can I offer ice water and kind words and share the love of Jesus?

Just a few ways I can practice hospitality:
D Setting aside the laundry to stop and talk to my neighbor who comes over while her son plays in the yard.
D Welcoming friends' children to help out moms!
D Having a family over for dinner and not freaking out about the house being perfect before they get here.
D Training my children to be generous, by having a generous spirit myself.
D Making my home a friendly, safe and welcoming place for children in the neighborhood.
D Taking a meal to a family with a new baby or sickness or another need.
D Praying for opportunities and keeping the house up so we'll always be ready to open our home to someone in need.
D Having the tea pot (and the crock pot) always ready!
D Inviting visitors from church home for a meal after worship.

It is a challenge to open my home and set aside my desires and to do so cheerfully. It is something I need to do more often and more naturally. Also, what great training for the children to serve our visitors and minister to our guests. Lord, help me not to only think of my own needs, but to look also to the needs of others...

In the Bible, practicing hospitality took the form of offering food and drink, welcoming visitors (strangers and angels even!) into homes, washing feet, helping spies and giving gifts.

Matthew 25:35
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...

Catching up and keeping up

Last night I checked out a website called Large Family Logistics. Now I really don't think there is a site out there I need more than that one (Molly, in Alaska, linked to it on her blog yesterday... she also left a comment for me here! Thanks!). Logistics is not something I am good at. Neither is organization, or sticking to a routine, or keeping records, or planning, or scheduling, or dealing with stress...

Why did you choose me for this role in life, Lord?!?

One day this week a boy from down the street walked through my house, following the crowd that came in the front door and headed out the back. Why they all had to go through the house instead of around the house, I don't know! As he walked in he was looking all around, so I asked him if it looked just like his house. His house has the same floor plan as ours. His answer: "no, our house is never this messy."

Granted, this was before 5:00 clean up time, and it was after a birthday package full of packing peanuts and shredded paper had arrived and was opened (anyone can imagine what 4 & 5 year old boys can do with that material).

However, it left me with a sinking feeling. I am the crazy mama on the street with the five kids and the disaster of a house.

So... guess what I did today?!

You got it, motivated by a 5 year old, we cleaned up! Put away toys, dusted, swept, vacuumed, mopped, folded and put away at least 3 loads of laundry... And wow, does it look great down there! Thankfully it's a long weekend because I'm hoping to do the same thing upstairs tomorrow.

I love the smell of pine-sol and the clutter free feeling of my clean house. Why does the catching up only happen once every other week or so? It's the keeping up that I struggle with.

Two really amazing things:
1. Asked my 5 year old to put the silverware away for the first time today. His reaction, "Thank you for letting me do this, mom! Can this be my job every day?"
2. After mopping the kitchen, I left the bucket and mop by the door and went upstairs to put the baby to bed. Big brother, who is 6, came in and said, "Mom, you know that floor by the front door, can I mop that for you?" Sure thing! And after that, "Mom, can I mop the bathrooms now?"

You know, with all that sweet help, I really have no excuse!



In other news... our now 9 year old played her first real round of golf! Matt took H for 9 holes this morning for her b-day. If the violin thing doesn't work out for her, she's planning to join the LPGA.

When they got home, we all walked up the street almost a mile for lunch! I say walked; I was actually the only one walking. Matt and the two oldest rode their bikes, with #3 on his scooter. I pulled the two littles in the wagon. What a sight, and what fun! We got the typical, "are these all your children" at the restaurant, to which I joyfully answered, "yes!" But when she asked me how old they are, I seriously drew a blank. Give me a break, it's "birthday season."

My third child born at 28 weeks, weighing two and a half pounds, really appreciated his feeding tube. Now he is 5 and can feed himself.

figuring out how to post a picture...

...still I will praise Him

I wrote before that some things on the blogs angered me; I was referring to the starvation of Terri Schaivo. This blog is full of interesting information that we just won't hear on the news.

Jesus said what we do to the least of these, we do to him. He also said to expect trouble in this world, but to take heart... He has overcome the world. Already.

I just read that the US Supreme Court won't hear the case.

Also wondering how to explain this to my 9 year old. Don't worry sweetie, I'll feed you when you are sick, and give you water, too.

This mom and dad just want to take care of their baby girl. They are asking for nothing but for the ability to feed their sick child! Why are others fighting so hard to end this poor girl's life? Because of something she may or may not have said 15 or more years ago? I don't think so.

Going now to hug my children and give them a drink of water and pray with them. Then I think we'll go for a walk and drink in the beauty of God's glorious spring creation (I'll take a sudafed first so I can see and breathe while we're out there!) I will praise Him because we are fearfully and wonderfully made, every last one of us.

I will praise Him because although this situation makes no sense to me, it is not a surprise to our all-knowing and all-powerful God; and because He is good, no matter what. I pray He will comfort Terri and her family, strengthen them in their fight.

They're gone!

The snakes escaped!

They are very sneaky, just like the song said.

THANKFULLY, my neighbor suggested keeping the frog/snake habitat in the garage instead of the bathroom!! So they are back in their own homes, with their own mamas just like they belong.

At least I hope they made it out of the garage...

We have a new pet.

Two actually.

snakes.


ugh.

This is what I get for sending the children to rake out the beds in the garden. This is my punishment for encouraging them to see everything as a learning experience. This is what I get for that motto I mentioned earlier. Everything we do is school? Well, they actually are looking up the little slithery creatures and reading about them... soon they will be drawing them in their nature journal and then they can read a poem about the creepy things. I will find a poem for them and if I can't we can write our own...

snakes are gross,
snakes are gross,
slimy, dirty, slithery,
bleah.

H wanted to add "wonderful" to my poem, but really, no.

The creepy thing is that they are in the bathroom, in the frog aquarium. Incidentally, two tadpoles already died there, maybe the two snakes will too!

My children (and their dad!) like this song:

Sneaky Snake by Tom T. Hall
Boys and girls take warning, if you go near the lake
Keep your eyes wide open, and look for sneaky snake
Now maybe you won’t see him, maybe you won’t hear
But he’ll sneak up behind you, and drink all your root beer

And then sneaky snake goes dancin’, wigglin’ and a-hissin’
Sneaky snake goes dancin’, gigglin’ and a-kissin’
I don’t like old sneaky snake; he laughs too much you see
When he goes wigglin’ through the grass, it tickles his underneath

Well, sneaky snake drinks root beer, and he just makes me sick
When he is not dancin’, he looks just like a stick
Now, he doesn’t have any arms or legs, you cannot see his ears
And while we are not lookin’, he’s stealin’ all of our beer

And then sneaky snake goes dancin’, wigglin’ and a-hissin’
Sneaky snake goes dancin’, gigglin’ and a-kissin’
I don’t like old sneaky snake; he laughs too much you see
When he goes wigglin’ through the grass, it tickles his underneath

Shopping list

Over the weekend my latest food order came in! Here's what we got:

Spelt 5 lbs
Soft white wheat berries 25 lbs
Chamomile Tea 30 ct.
Pistachios 5 lb
Sesame Tahini 15 oz.
Silk plain soymilk 12/32 oz
Sucanat 10 lb
Light Clover Honey 5 lb
Bean Soup mix 5 lb
Garbanzo Beans 5 lbs
WW Rotini 10 lbs
Rolled Oats, regular, commercial 25 lbs
WW Spaghetti 12oz. (6)
Basmati Brown rice 5 lbs.

I order with a co-op in town from this company. About 7 years ago in Atlanta I attended a seminar by these folks about baking bread and have been milling and baking ever since...

And there's a batch rising downstairs this very moment.

Blogging to blog.

It hasn't been very long that I actually knew what a blog was. When I found out, I started reading this one, and then this one, and I also read this one and this one. Much of what I read made me really think. Much of it made me laugh, some of it has made me angry! I have found on these blogs women who are really Biblical, and intelligent and thoughtful and funny. They live their lives differently than I do in some ways, but I felt a connection with them... weird, I know, because they don't know I exist. Someone out there does, though! My good friend Kim is blogging now, too. I don't know when she does it, though, busy superwoman that she is ...

Anyway... I wanted to join in the conversation, sort of. I don't like the idea of being so public with what I write (not many people would be that interested...), so if you are reading this now you are probably one of maybe three people who have the information!

Here's my favorite part of blogging: every time I type something in, I get to click on the "publish" button and wha-lah! My dreams have come true! I have accomplished my life-long goal!! I am now a published author! Other things I like... writing helps me to process the events of my day. I have long been a journaler, now I get to share my thoughts with my friends. Many times during the day, something will happen that I just want to write down, tell someone about and remember. So there will probably be a lot of that in this blog.

And then finally... the reason for doing anything at all:
1 Cor. 10:31
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

May God give me the grace to glorify Him in all that I do. Maybe something I blog about will make an impact in someone's life. I'm sure it will make an impact in mine.


*** thoughts today:
These bloggers I mentioned above have kept me up to date about Terri Schiavo. I am (of course) thankful for the action taken by congress and President Bush. It is unfathomable to me that starving someone to death is seen as humane. Here are two links (but I know there are many more) for more information and perspective: http://www.terrisfight.net/
http://thereverendswife.blogspot.com/

Meg's day out

Today I was gone all day long. Left the house at 9 a.m., returned at 5:30! I really should do that more often, because the welcome home I received was heartwarming. My kids are cute and I love 'em!

About a month ago, I signed up for a seminar about using "living books" in our homeschool. My friend Kathy suggested it and we'd both heard good things about the speaker. This speaker will remain unnamed b/c we did not return for the after lunch sessions!

I love books; we read every day. Sometimes for hours on end. This speaker said a couple things I liked. Some of which I will blog about more in future blogs. My motto when it comes to homeschool is "everything we do is school." H (almost 9) decided that was our "motto" awhile back; she claimed I said it all the time. Well, it's true!! This speaker, who will still remain unnamed, said, "the world is our classroom!" Yes! I loved that! She also said that to teach homeschool all you need is a library card, a Bible and a math curriculum. I think I agree with her general idea, but of course we need other stuff... paper, pencils, crayons, etc...

Really, she just pretty much handed out a book list and then read it to us. Plus she quoted Zig Zigler. Yikes.

Instead, we had a lovely lunch at Red Rocks and then decided to play hookey. It was such a relaxing afternoon, even if we did spend it shopping (not my favorite past-time!). The best part was that we had no agenda, no lists, nothing we had to do, and we were alone! Just a couple of homeschool moms out on the town! I had forgotten how much fun it is to just do nothing.
We went to a fabric store,
barnes & noble,
a toy store,
Chocolate Soup,
Talbot's Kids,
Talbots,
William-Sonoma, &
Black Lion.

All that shopping and all I bought were two books for H's 9th b-day on Wednesday: Robinson Crusoe and 5 Children and It by E. Nesbit. Even tried on a really cute pink and tan flowery dress at Talbot's (on sale) and did not buy it. Got lots of good decorating ideas at Black Lion (in case the day ever comes when I get around to actually decorating something!), saw roosters of some sort in just about every booth. I like roosters. Some day I would like to have a real one! And a hen, and eggs...

What I experienced this day was the goodness of being in the company of a friend. Especially after the week I've had. And as much as I treasure the days with my children, it is hard to have a conversation with an adult with five little ones around. Plus, this day gave Matt time to be "Disney dad," which he says is not where you go, but a "mindset." I guess so... they played golf and baseball and rode bikes and ate ice cream and watched Roy Rogers and painted the front rails...

I'm just not nearly as much fun.

In addition, the day away from the ringing phone and e-mails was encouraging. I came home feeling tired, and glad to be here, but refreshed. I am really looking forward to the seminar at the Highlands Study Center! I seriously doubt Zig will be quoted there.

Now I'm going down to watch a Bobby Jones movie with Matt. I guess playing golf with the boys just put him in the mood.

On my mind

A list of topics I plan to write about (not really in any order of importance):
1. why I started this blog
2. the name of my blog
3. being misunderstood
4. living a simpler life (my thoughts about some other blogs I've been reading)
5. homeschooling (why we started, why we continue, our "philosophy")
6. having another baby (not at the moment, but sometime in the future!?)
7. other bloggers I've been reading & what I've learned from them
8. current issues concerning the value of life

Looks like I'll be pretty busy here for awhile!


I'll leave this post w/ a little laugh about a current parenting issue: tattling.
This morning, N came in the room looking really upset and said (in that whiny voice that I am working hard to correct),

"Mommy, B just breathed on me!"

I just busted out laughing, as did the three other children in the room, which upset N even more. As it turns out, B is not feeling well and N thinks he's going to get sick now. Well, I guess I'd be upset, too!

We now have a new "rule" in our house: no breathing on each other!

A prayer for today

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right hand, Christ at my left.
------------------------------------------
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

--St. Patrick (from my little devotional book, Joy & Strength edited by Mary Wilder Tileston)

Top of the morning to ye!

the rest of the story...

On our trip we also took:

a monkey
Nathan
an odd octopus
a pushmepullyou (also from Dr. Dolittle!)
a queen
a rabbit
a super silly snake
Timothy
an umbrella
a violin
William
a xylophone
and a Zebra!

phew ... what a great trip!

Wednesdays at our house

I don't get out of the house very much these days. I like being at home and that is a good thing; with five little ones, it is quite an undertaking to go anywhere. Not to mention that my stress level increases at the very mention of getting in the "car." Being at home gives us days on end to read, play, do school, keep up with the house, bake bread, train the children, rest and enjoy (for the most part!) each other. I know that soon enough these calm days at home will drastically change.

Wednesdays, however, we do leave the house for violin lesson. (Mondays are for piano lessons, but usually Grandma Carol comes over for some quality time with the littles while I take our budding piano man.) It seems to take me all day to gear up for leaving the house on Wednesdays, therefore when the children came to me with their idea for "Wednesday school," I agreed it would be a great thing.

Basically the older two (almost 9 and almost 7) teach the buddies (5 and almost 4) for the morning. Seriously!! Today started out like any other day with breakfast, devotion, music practice and chores, but then the two olders took over. With their two younger brothers as their star pupils, they did a craft (I have two lovely new bead necklaces, a bracelet and a bookmark), art appreciation (using A Child Looks at Art), math (with Math-U-See blocks), phonics (Sing, Spell Read and Write), geography (using a globe and the Geography Songs music) and reading. Oh yes... they also had show and tell!

As it is raining, we had a good snuggle up reading time after their "school" and then there was some good play with the knights and pirates.

My oldest daughter will have to do her own school work this afternoon, but she is more than happy to mix things up a little. They asked today if they could do this every day... I said no, but they settled on Wednesday and Saturday.

What did I do with my free time this a.m.? Well... played with the baby before her nap, took a shower, made the bread, did a little laundry, caught up on some e-mails...

Wednesday school... another thing I now love about homeschool!

Going on a trip...

As I was making lunch today, the kids and I went on a trip and took:
an abacus
a bear
a cat
a doctor
an elephant
a feather
a giraffe
a hefalump
an Indian
Jolliginki (a country Dr. Dolittle visited)
a kangaroo
a lot of love

then lunch was ready so we'll have to finish our adventure tomorrow.

Travel: just one reason we love homeschool!

Testing, testing, 123

Hello out there! This is my first post in my own corner of the "blogosphere!"
(but, really, I don't suppose I can actually have a corner on a sphere...)

This one is just to see if it works...