Memories

My kids got me involved in the social networking site, Facebook. I'm not nearly as obsessed with it as they are, BUT I am having fun with it. I LOVE the flair buttons. Would you like to know why? Of course you do! In the 70s and 80s, buttons were popular ways to express yourself. I had quite the collection myself! Sandra Boynton pictures and Jesus buttons were my personal favorites, but there were others. Flair is like that, only you don't have to find a place in your house for it and no one gets hurt when they spill face down on the floor!(ouch!)

Ok so then there is the music feature. I rack my brain to try and remember what music I like. (Understand, I listen to my children's choices in music these days) To help me, I go over to YouTube and start randomly picking songs I remember from the 70s....and then browsing the sideline suggestions. I am sitting here singing along with the computer and smiling and laughing while my kids roll their eyes and exclaim, "You like HIM? What is she WEARING? UGH, MOM!" It is very amusing.

Here is one:




I remember when I was in 7th grade, my English teacher asked us to write a paper (front of a sheet of paper..handwritten...as it was the olden days) about our favorite tv show. At that time, my brother was 2. I watched Sesame Street with him most days after school, so I wrote about that. I knew it wasn't cool, but I knew the other kids wouldn't see my paper. To this day, I like that show. I know that many others see it as the evil liberals trying to brainwash our kids, but I appreciate that they include famous musicians, artists, comedians, actors of the day to join in the fun!

by the way..I love James Taylor almost as much as Sesame Street!

Comparisons

Sometimes, I find myself not being very sympathetic with the struggles of others...especially when my struggles in the same area have been infinitely worse by comparison. I cannot understand why someone would make the very same mistake over and over and OVER again..and never learn from the experience.I am ashamed that , as a Christian, I would feel this way. When I have struggled with something, shouldn't that make me MORE compassionate? Jesus was perfect and yet He had and continues to have compassion for us...even though we continue to be unfaithful.

Yesterday, as I was hanging clothes, I was trying to put myself in someone else's shoes to understand their predicament. Then it dawned on me..the way some struggle with money or cheating or drinking or any other vice is the way I struggle with cleaning. I cannot do it. I cannot keep up with it. Not just that, I hate keeping up with it. Some have said, "Oh, but you have 11 people living under your roof! Of course you have cleaning issues!" These people are very gracious! I come from a family of superior cleaners, it should be in my genes! I have read Flylady, have read and bought Don Aslett books, sought advice from other clean, organized people. It just seems that this is one area in which I cannot excel.

Some have said, "Just try harder." Oh boy does that heap on the guilt! It did bring to mind, however, another thought though..there are those Christians who truly believe if we just "try harder" God will be pleased with us and allow us into His heaven. Just as I cannot seem to clean up my house to save my life, I cannot clean up my soul either.

All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one Romans 3:12
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin Romans 3:20

I am so very glad that God, in His infinite mercy does not require this of me. All of the demands of the Law, that I cannot manage to fulfill, Jesus has followed and kept perfectly in my stead (and YOURS!). He knows I can't do it. He knows I will never be able to do it. And He has compassion on me anyway.

I just wish that my weakness wasn't so obvious. :) (as if my other ones are not!)

Two Causes I support wholeheartedly

I just returned from giving blood. Everyone in my family is O- blood type...the universal donor for everyone. Donated blood has saved the lives of my sil 2x over, at least one of her kids, my father-in-law, another sil. I am ever grateful for the kindness of those who donated blood for them. The way I think of it is this..Jesus shed his blood for me..His blood gave me life everlasting. I am glad to give just a little of my blood (without any of the suffering He bore) to help save the life (in an earthly way) of someone in this life. They told me today that my blood will be given to babies! That made my day. www.givelife.org

Ok. Next...this may sound controversial, but let me explain:

I support Stem Cell research.

I do NOT support using aborted BABIES to accomplish this.

Have you heard of cord blood banking? In advertisements, you are urged to save your baby's cord blood in case s/he comes down with a devastating illness The stem cells in that blood can be used to save his life. I am not talking about this either, as it is VERY expensive to do this.

I am talking about DONATING it. When you give birth, the nurse or doctor can collect the blood from the umbilical cord, which would otherwise be thrown away, and send it away for use by OTHER babies, children or adults. It is completely free. A painless donation to save the life of another. I do not understand why ob/gyns everywhere do not address this! NONE of that life-giving blood need be thrown away! Now, it does take a little effort and preplanning on the part of the mom. (This is why it doesn't happen as much as it should, I think)

• The pregnant woman has to contact the company who does this 3 months in advance.
  
• She needs to fill out some paperwork and get a medical report AND signature from her ob/gyn.
  
• She will receive a kit in the mail that she must take to the hospital with her
• AND when she arrives at the hospital, she must alert the nurses and remind the dr that this is her intention and hand them the box.

If any of these steps are not followed, the donation will not be able to take place...and with the unpredictability of when and how babies are born, sometimes it happens. But I think it is worth a good try!

http://www.cryo-intl.com

Do I measure up?

Recently, on a Lutheran Homeschooling list to which I subscribe, there has been a discussion about how much material we, as homeschoolers, cover over the course of our children's education. This is frequent conversation among homeschoolers and reflects the guilt every homeschool mom I know (including myself) wrestles with on a regular basis.

Today, I feel successful! I know we are going to have an awesome week! We will actually memorize that hymn stanza...we will actually review the catechism..master multiplication facts..memorize the names of all the presidents in order! Oh wait, it is Monday morning and the kids are not even up yet.



Many years ago, when we first started homeschooling, we'd determined that the overarching reason we wanted to pursue this educational option, was so that our children would be able to grow up steadfast in the One true Faith. We did not believe that they should face the constant assaults on the Truth of God's Word and indeed, on the family, until firmly grounded. We wanted them to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that not only did we love them, but that God loved them; that no matter what they'd hear and see on tv and in society, we, as their parents, would love and care for them more than anyone in this world and they could always count on us to support them, forgive them and teach them the Truth. We wanted to feed them the Word..in the Scriptures, catechism and hymns.

THIS is The One Thing Needful. Everything else is gravy.

I have given this "pep talk" to others many times. I have heard it given many times! And yet, I find that while I can give the speech that I believe with my whole being..I still wrestle daily with the "I should haves", "I wish we dids" and the "Look how much we haven't accomplished todays" Why can't I live under the Grace God gives?????? The freedom we have in Christ?

I need to be forgiven for comparing myself, our school and our family to other homeschoolers, other public schools and what the edu-crats say is best, and rejoice in what I HAVE been given..taking care of what He has given me to do today and remembering that there is no failure of mine that is bigger than His power to repair. (I think I'll have to be forgiven for that sin more than once!)

Potty Talk

When our family first began to grow, I had two lovely little girls. They were smart, obedient and played beautifully together. We painted at the table, they pretended to fly to the moon with plastic food in their spaceship and winter boots on their feet.

Another family member had two little boys the same ages as my sweet girls. She told me of her dealings with potty mouth. She asked for advice. I had none, as MY children didn't DO that.

Fast forward to today (and unfortunately, many other recent days) My family includes 3 teenage daughters, one 7 year old daughter who thinks she's a teenager..and FIVE POTTY MOUTH boys.

After many ignored lectures..I mean discussions about the subject and many time-outs in the hall, I am now going to resort to the old "abusive" standby I used those many years ago when unsavory things "accidentally" fell out of the mouths of those otherwise sweet girls: SOAP. I can't wait. Next..we will deal with name calling. heh, heh, heh.

Beginnings

There was an old woman,
Who lived in a shoe;
She had so many children,
She didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth,
Without any bread;
She whipped them all soundly,
And sent them to bed.

As a child, I thought that the mother of those children was the worst mother ever! I now sympathize with her! I love my "many children" dearly, but I must admit there are so many days when I don't "know what to do!" There have even been days when we have just had Campbell's chicken noodle soup for dinner and nothing else. There may have even been a day or two that I actually have "whipped" a child or two and sent them to bed...

There. Now you know the naked truth.

Today is a day of new beginnings. My oldest left for college yesterday. Dear daughter #2 has begun her junior year of high school at the community college. We are the midst of other "new" things for our family: living in our own home, living in this home for 5 years...longer than we've lived anywhere in our 20 years of marriage, being baby-less/pregnant-less/nursing-less the first time in 19 years..our "baby" turning 3 next month.

And so, today I start a new blog. I find that even as the transition part of labor is the scariest, the time when I usually exclaim "I cannot do this! I am not ready!" These new transitions, surprisingly (to me anyway), have me exclaiming similar sentiments. My prayer is that these times will produce similar joys as well.