Wow, you gals were right...

...boys are more difficult!!! This little one isn't even born yet and he's already lost a little blue bootie to the washing machine!

Ha!

Any ideas on how to clean peanut butter out of a toaster?

 Our 4 year old has been making toast for many months now. Today she forgot to toast the bread before she applied the peanut butter and without hesitation popped it into the toaster to correct her "blunder" :). She brought it to me with a look of deep consternation saying, "Mommy! My peanut butter boiled!!!".

   

A Little Friendly Banter

  Lee went to Advance Auto yesterday to pick up the fans that finally came in. He installed them before work this morning and they're working!!! Yeah! We can use the air conditioner in the car when we go to see the midwife on Wednesday :)!!!  We are done with all of that fun van stuff, hopefully for a good long time! Anyway, that was a bit of a side note. While he was walking into the store he passed two guys replacing a radiator:

Lee: Oh, I just had to do that too!

Guy #1: Ya? Well, were you three hundred miles away from home?

Lee: No, it was the day after I had my wisdom teeth pulled.

Guy # 2: Wellll....

Guy #1: Whoa! No really,  you win!!!

   He finally felt up for some "real food" last night so I finally got to make him the pumpkin pie that he sooo deserved :). You know, I never realized how much I love talking to my husband until we picked him up from the oral surgeon's office and he was in no mood for a long chat :). I kept thinking of something to say and then having to evaluate whether it was really necessary or not. I am so glad that's over, though I know I certainly got the better end of the deal! At least I could talk...and eat...and yawn... :).

Here's an Eye-Opener for You!

   What do the children in America's government school system have in common with the American POW's kept by the communist Chinese during the Korean War?

   Have you ever heard of Outcome-Based Education? How about Values Clarification? Cooperative Learning? Behavior Modification? These and other teaching techniques have all derived from the "Hegelian Dialectic", the method of mind control that was used by comparatively small groups of Communist Chinese to control large groups of American POW's, changing their very core values and even invoking sympathy toward communism in many of them.

   This is just one example given by the late Marlin Maddoux in his recent book, "Public Education Against America" of the lengths some will go to, to seduce our children into secular humanism and ultimately toward their final goal of a "socialized" one world government.

   This book is definitely an eye-opener and one I would highly recommend. As a home educating parent it was a great source of confirmation to me that I'm doing the right thing, and I think every parent with a child in the government schools needs to read this book, if only to be able to send them with an idea of what these little ones (and the not-so-little ones!) are facing.

 "The state has no more business running the schools than it has running the churches, and it has no more ground for financing education than it has for financing churches. What is needed badly is the disestablishment of the schools - the separation of school and state. "

-Rousas Rushdoony

"And all your children will be taught by the Lord;

and great shall be the peace of your children."

Isaiah 54:13

An Update...

  Well, Lee is back at work today. He is doing much better, though still pretty stiff, sore, and desperately wanting some "real" food, poor guy. He spent nearly all of his time off working on the car. Really, it isn't that old! everything just decided to go out at once!. It drove home from the mechanics great and then the very next day the radiator sprung a leak and the fans went out! So, when I said in a former post that we should have just bought a new car, we're just pretending we did ;). I see it as a blessing that we were able to take care of everything now (though maybe the timing could have been a little better?!) instead of everything going out on us during the trip we are planning up north in the late spring next year. What a vacation that could have been!

   So, life should be settling back to a sort of normal again for a few weeks, but only a few :)! That predictable nesting instinct should be coming over me any day now, I think I'm too exhausted at this moment for it to kick in ;)! Only seven weeks tomorrow to go before baby's due date, and if these contractions are anything to go by I'm not expecting to actually make it that long...ouch!!!

A Child to Love

A toddling little girl is a center of common feeling

which makes the most dissimilar people understand each other.

-George Eliot

Bethani -June 2006

A Child To Love

You can have your wealth and riches,

All the things so many seek,

Position, power, and success,

The fame you long to keep.

You can earn as much as you wish,

Reach a status high above,

But none of these can equal

Having one sweet child to love.

'Tis the greatest gift from heaven,

Little arms that hold you tight,

And a kiss so soft and gentle

When you tuck them in at night.

A million precious questions

And each story often read,

Two eyes so bright and smiling,

And a darling tousled head.

God has never matched the goodness

Of a trusting little face,

Or a heart so full of laughter

Spreading sunshine every place.

A child to hold and cuddle,

'Tis a gift from God above,

And the world is so much brighter

When you have a child to love.

-Author Unknown

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

and cometh down from the Father of lights,

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

-The Book of James

1:17

Blessings!

Our van is safely home and working great :). AND it was even a couple of hundred less than the estimate! Of course, when you're going on three grand... Well, a couple of hundred is something anyway :). On top of that good news, we learned that our insurance IS going to cover some of hubby's surgery after all, his last minute visit from his boss went great, and I think Bethi's over her teething phase (she popped three teeth in no time flat!).

   Prayers for hubby would be greatly appreciated! He's going in in the morning for oral surgery, getting some impacted wisdom teeth taken out. He had quite the fight with the insurance company. Dental said it was covered by medical, medical said it was covered by dental. As a last ditch effort the other day he called the lady in charge of insurance at the home office and she got something done! Lee isn't the type that flops on the couch in a fetal position when he gets a splinter, he's even worked through the flu before and he's scheduled himself back to work by Tuesday. He's a tough guy. But, I'm sure this isn't going to be a picnic either and I really don't want to see him suffer. He's only getting a local anesthetic instead of letting them knock him out. I told him today maybe he ought to go for the general anesthesia and he said if I can go through labor and delivery drug-free then he can get his wisdom teeth out on a local, haha :).

   I got quite the compliment tonight while we perused the aisles at Wal-Mart looking for mushy foods for Lee to eat over the next few days :). A pastor that comes into Lee's store a lot saw him and came over to say hello. He told Lee, "I didn't see you back there, I didn't know they were yours, but I saw your girls a couple of aisles over and thought, 'that must be a christian lady'. You don't see girls dressed so pretty and modest anymore.". I thought it was encouraging  not because we're being complimented on our appearances but because it makes me realize anew that just as a mom walking down the aisles at Wal-Mart with my little ones I am being an effective ambassador of the kingdom of Christ. Hair combing and bow tying is part of my mission field, when done for the glory of God :).

"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ~

1 Corinthians 10:31

Abigail Adams on Keeping Good Company

This is a quote from a letter written by Abigail Adams to her husband dated September 16, 1774.

 "It is at last determined that Mr. Rice keep the School here. Indeed he has kept ever since he has been here, but not with any expectation that He should be continued, but the people finding no small difference between him and his predecessor chose he should be continued. I have not sent Johnny. He goes very steadily to *Mr. Thaxter who I believe takes very good care of him, and as they seem to have a likeing to each other believe it will be best to continue him with him. However when you return we can then consult what will be best. I am certain that if he does not get so much good, he gets less harm, and I have always thought it  [illegible]  of very great importance that children should in the early part of life be unaccustomed to such examples as would tend to corrupt the purity of their words and actions that they may chill with horrour at the sound of an oath, and blush with indignation at an expression. These first principal[s] which grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength neither time nor custom can totally eradicate."

My thoughts exactly here in 2006!!!

*Mr. Thaxton was a personal tutor and a relative of the family

"Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals"

~1 Corinthians 15:33

We do not remember days; we remember moments. ~Cesare Pavese

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 

~Psalm 133:1

The happiness of the domestic fireside is the first boon of Heaven; and it is well it is so, since it is that which is the lot of the mass of mankind.  ~Thomas Jefferson, 1813

Children of the same family, the sameblood , with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply...  ~Jane Austen

No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.  ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

That's My Clever Lass :)!

    Last night I asked Bri (8) to help Bethi (1) into her pj's while I started a new load of laundry. Bri says, "Come on Bethi! I'll have you changed in 20 shakes of a lamb's tail!". I had heard her from the hall and called out, "That's one busy lamb!", to which she replied, "Ya, but most people say in two shakes of a lamb's tail and even Aunt Tessa can't make cookies in two shakes of a lamb's tail (family joke, my sister is a whiz in the kitchen :)). If you're going to use the shakes of a lamb's tail you should at least use enough you can get it done in!". What a nut :).

    Earlier that night I had heard Tori (4) calling out, "Oh government! Oh, government!". Totally baffled, I asked her why she was calling for the government and her reply was, "That's who you need when you need help with your children". Turns out she meant "governess", she and Bri had been playing at "Little Women" all day :). I was trying so hard not to laugh that I thought I would cry, and Lee looked as pained as I felt :).

That Sweet Thrill

Poor Bethani has not felt well the last couple of days now. She's getting in her first molar and apparently it's not going very smoothly :(. Yesterday after her nap I got her up and she was in one of those snuggle moods and didn't want to be put down, so I took advantage of the situation and rocked her for awhile. After about five minutes she leaned back, looked at me, and smiled so big :), like "my world is right now mom!"  and ran off :). As I sat there looking into her clear blue eyes for those brief moments it swept over me again, as it has a thousand times, but I still get a sweet thrill every time it happens :)...These are THE children I dreamed of while I was a little girl growing up! The children I prayed for. The children I was sure I would name after my dolls ;). The children I wondered about when I was babysitting other people's children. The children I made The List for...I will do this, won't do that, you know :). And now, praise the Lord, these are the "Children whom the Lord has given me"  Isaiah 8:18.

    Here's a touch of irony for you...a few posts ago I mentioned that I had just picked up a package of diapers for the new baby (still two months to go before the due date). Note to self- next time you pick up diapers for the child who doesn't even need them yet, pick up a package for the one who does! Luckily, Lee should be back home today before I make it through the diaper bag stash ;). Just in case, anyone have any ideas on how to get newborn sized diapers to fit a 14 month old? Haha :).

When the Going Gets Tough...

We might as well have gone out and bought a new car :). But, hopefully this time they fix the right thing. Yes, they fixed what they told us was wrong and, lo and behold, when they took it for a test drive, more transmission problems!. Unfortunately it had nothing to do with a recall like we were hoping from what they first told us, so we will be charged for the work they did and now for them to rebuild the transmission, negating the work they just did... Anyway, all will be well. Hopefully we will get the van back on Tuesday so we don't have to have the rental car for any longer than we've already paid for. A year ago this would have really hurt, but at this point it isn't beyond our control, praise the Lord! Hubby and I can even laugh about it already, sort of. You can probably tell by all of the posts I've been able to get out of draft mode that I've been trying to take it kind of easy today :). After the most recent estimate I picked up my Hidden Wisdom magazine and it came through for me yet again :). I found myself on Erin Mifflin's article where she addresses the question, when the going gets tough, the tough get going...to where?! To Jesus, of course :).

   Well, I hear thunder in the distance. I love a good rain storm when the girls and I can curl up together on the couch with a good book. Looks like it's time for literature class ;).

A Place to Lay His Head

    And Jesus saith unto him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." -Matthew 8:20

   This verse has been going over and over in my mind the last couple of days. We are now "officially" ready for baby :). I even bought a package of newborn size diapers while I was out yesterday just so I could tell myself I'm ready :). They are sooo little! I set up the cradle the other day and every time I go into my room and see it in all it's blueness, it becomes a little more real to me :).

  And every time I see it that verse goes through my mind and I am reminded, in a whole new way, just what Jesus gave up when he came to live among us. From "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof" to "not where to lay his head". Thank you, Lord Jesus :)!

    To our only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen -Jude 1:25

A New Passion...

  Well, she hasn't abandoned play dough, she's just broadening her scope of interests :). Bethani's new thing is to go in her room, dump *all* of the blocks out of the basket they belong in so she can go around and collect her baby dolls in it :). She does this every time she notices the blocks are back in the basket...

See all of the blocks on the floor :) ?

 I wonder if this is how Miriam played with her baby dolls?

 Here she is in a less messy moment :)...

What a blessing to be a mommy :)!

And for those who want proof that they know more than you know... Tori was just counting and as she got up to four Bethani piped up....FIVE! We didn't even know she knew the word, let alone where it comes! She's only 14 months! With two sisters ahead of her maybe she'll be my easiest to teach yet :)!

What a Day!

Yesterday morning Lee called to say his "friend" was back. He has had a homeless guy coming and staying in his store a lot lately and he is torn between "I was thirsty and you gave me drink/entertaining angels unawares" (it is a christian bookstore), and "a man who won't work won't eat/a need to make his store a comfortable and safe place for his many female employees to work. His spirit is uncomfortable with having the guy forcibly thrown out but he hasn't been led any other way yet and it has been a source of stress all this last week.

   My yesterday consisted of very uncomfortable (read *painful*) contractions all day long. These are normal for me by 30 weeks, they were just worse from not being able to keep hydrated yesterday...it is HOT down here! On top of that I had a splitting headache and a baby who for the first time in her life (really!) wouldn't settle down for her nap, etc.

   Yesterday evening it only got *better* :). Hubby found someone who was glad to come in for some extra hours and was coming home early -with Ben & Jerry's :)- to redeem my day...and instead he got to come home and say, "I think the transmission is going" and explained his ordeal in trying to get home going 35 miles an hour the whole way!

  Then the baby decided she didn't want her supper anymore...after I had laid her down for the night...and she spewed it all over her crib, the floor, the wall, the toy box, toys, you get the picture...

   On a brighter note, Abigail Paul chose a picture my husband took of the girls for the cover picture of her Hidden Wisdom magazine! It had arrived Monday but I didn't get a chance to read her editorial until yesterday while lying down with Bethani trying to get her to nap. It was such an encouragement to me yesterday of all days! I especially enjoyed the quote she gave by Elizabeth Elliot, "And when we find ourselves most hopeless, the road most taxing, we may also find that it is then that the Risen Christ catches up to us on the way, better than our dreams, beyond all our hopes. For it is He-not His gifts, not His power, not what He can do for us, but He Himself-who comes and makes Himself known to us. And this is the one pure joy for those who sorrow. "

   Life is stressful! In many ways right now I feel like a four-year-old with her father over her showing her how to clean her room...there are little voices all around, both in my head and outside of myself saying your never going to get it clean enough, why bother even trying? Why not sit here and relax with your Magna Doodle ;)?

God is standing over me right now. He's asking me to do things that are hard, but I can't give up just because I'll never be perfect. One of these days he's going to say, "Well done good and faithful servant". No, I didn't make it to perfection in my humanness but I did what my Father asked of me, and He says that is good enough. Nothing more and nothing less.

   "But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God. If you do anything that you believe is not right, you are sinning."

~Romans 14:23

Mommy's Day Out!

  One of my sisters came down on Sunday and Lee watched the girls while we went out for lunch and did some shopping :). Aunt Tessa showed up with a coloring book and box of crayons for EACH girl :). Bethani has been keeping herself entertained by taking her new crayons out of the box, making a small mark with it and putting it back :). Even Bri and Tori have spent nearly all day in their new coloring books...why is it that when *I* buy a new coloring book it quickly finds it's way to the shelf with all of the others? Hmmmm.....

   Kohl's was having a great sale! Most everything I got was 70% off and everything else was 50% off. New baby shopping AND great deals, does it get any better than that?! I have to admit though that it was difficult to not get sidetracked by all of the frilly dresses :)!

Anyway, here are my spoils :)...do you see all of the BLUE?!

Big Sister-in-Training

Some for you...

and some for me...

By the way, here is the little guy she's practicing for :)...

Can't you see the family resemblance :)?

This ultrasound photo was taken at 20 weeks, we're at 30 now! Just a couple more months!

I Did It!

     Here is the first picture I took with my first digital camera :). It's Bethani and her new hobby...play dough :). Even tonight at supper she was begging for play dough :). I also figured out today, with Lee's help of course, how to transfer them to the computer, isn't it fun to learn new things?

    And here she is at the fireworks last night, known here as "barkers", courtesy of a 2 year old Bri :). It took us the longest time to figure out what "barkers" were. Once we did it sort of stuck, though we never did figure out why she called them that. Bethani was enthralled :)! We have another picture of her with her fingers in her ears ;).