Resolved

It's that time of year again! New Years Resolutions, something of which I rarely make, but I do like to ponder on what all has taken place the previous year, and what I would like to see happen in times ahead. One thing I enjoy meditating on, is the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. I don't even pretend to be anything near as spiritually-minded as this great man, but his resolutions are very humbling and thought-provoking. You can read them below.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

This has been a strange and trying year for our family. I have cried more this year than ever before in my life. Even so, the Lord has been faithful. My family has grown closer together for it, and Jason and I have grown closer together, in ways that you can't predict or even explain on your wedding day. It's just one of those blessings that the Lord gives His children when they weather storms together; when, together, they turn to Him, instead of to drugs or psychologists or the world for comfort. It's hard to explain, but it makes the journey worth it.

On a happier note, we have gained the promise of a new life. What could be more hopeful than this? We have gained friendships that have blessed us so richly, and a special bond with our small church family as we have weathered our first full year together. Thank you, Lord.

For this year, I am going to read the Bible through chronologically. I have read through the Bible completely twice, once in 1997 and again in 2001. I'm ashamed to say I haven't done it since then. The first time, I read straight through from Genesis to Revelation. The second time, I read some O.T. and some N.T. each day. This year, I'm going to read chronologically, in the order that the books were written. This should prove interesting and very fulfilling. I know this will be a busy year, but I have learned the hard way many times, that I don't have time NOT to read the Word of God. Join me if you want! Here's my schedule below:

Read the Bible Through Chronologically in One Year

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

The Christmas Story

Christmas at our House

Like all mothers, I am proud of my children. I happen to think they are the sweetest, cutest, most delightful kids I know. (And I hope you think the same thing about yours; if not, give them to me, and I'll think that about them! Being the apple of someone's eye is the very least that each little child deserves, hopefully from his/her mother.) But being cute isn't exactly a virtue. And it's those special times in life, when your children step out on their own and do something with the knowledge and values you've tried to instill in them, that give a parent that kind of "humble pride". It's so fulfilling when you, who have spent your life blessing your children, in return receive a blessing from them.

Listening to Caleb & Madelyn quote chapter after chapter of Holy Scripture has been that kind of blessing to me. I appreciate their hard work and commitment to memorizing the Bible, and their high regard for God's Word. I know the Lord will bless them for it.

As our children began to get older, we struggled with keeping Christmas simple and real in our home. We decided against Santa Claus (whom Seth hilariously calls "Paul Bunyan", I guess because of the stocking hat!), not because we were offended at the tradition of St. Nicholas as it originated, but because of the modern day commercialism associated with him now. "Look, kids, Jesus came down from Heaven and was born of a woman in a humble manger, and to celebrate, we're going to buy each of you a thousand dollars worth of material things!" Even as I fell under the mesmerizing spell of the holiday shopping Christmas carols, I just couldn't quite come to terms with that.

So, our Christmas looks something like this, and it's still a work in progress as the Lord teaches us new things each year: The children get 3 gifts each, in memory of the three gifts brought by the Wise Men (whom, we realize, were not there at the birth of Christ, but came 1-2 years later). They are allowed to have one gift each on Christmas Eve, which was handpicked by other siblings. This is always a fun tradition for them, since they are each other's best friends. Each year, Scripture is memorized, beginning in about October, to add to what they already know of the Christmas Story. This year in church, in addition to the Scripture they quote in the video above, the children also quoted John 1:1-14 (ending with, "and the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us"). This was special to me, because it was handpicked by Caleb. I suggested that they add some from Matthew about the Wise Men, and Caleb said, "Mom, this just seems more important to me, like this [referring to John] is the REAL Christmas story. Jesus doesn't have a birthday like we do, He was God becoming Man for a short time." How can I argue with that?

Technical note: This blogger is very computer illiterate, and I had a hard time making my video file small enough to upload. Therefore, I couldn't post my original video I had made of their entire quotation that included John. So, I had them just do the part from Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20 so I could post it. I hope the video above is a blessing to you.

Attention All Homeschoolers!

You're sure to get a kick out of this hilarious song by a homeschooling family of ten. Click on the link below.

"Our Homeschool Family"

Need 30 minutes of common sense?

Then take time to view the following You Tube clips of Dr. Ron Paul. (see posts below)

I have always loved politics since I was a child. I suppose I got this from my Daddy, who is a veteran and an informed citizen. I can remember sitting on his lap watching President Ronald Reagan being sworn in. (I was only 5 years old!) Then, in 1984, when I was in fourth grade, I can remember debating with my school principal about why Walter Mondale should not be president. I was leader of a mock election in 8th grade, where our PEP class made voting booths out of refrigerator boxes. I campaigned for Bush against Dukakis, and Bush won at our school. And, just after the Clinton election, I still went off to college with my "Rush Limbaugh for President" t-shirt. While I was in college, I began to really study government and religion, and how intertwined they truly are. Communism does not come from a Christian society, and Liberty can only be won when those fighting for it are doing so because they believe it to be a part of the cause of Christ.

Is it any wonder that the past few years have been disheartening even for a die-hard like myself? Corruption, scandal, lies, and the government growing by leaps and bounds.

Hearing Ron Paul speak has re-charged my battery! If you want to feel good about this great nation once again, and be reminded of how we got here and why, take time to listen to these wonderful videos.

Ron Paul, Part 1

Topics covered: abortion, education, taxes, immigration, right to bear arms, national defense, big government, personal privacy, welfare, inflation, the Constitution

Ron Paul, Part 2

A Very Productive Saturday

Our family stayed busy this weekend! Dad and the kids worked outside, getting a coat of paint on the new chicken house before it rained...

...while Mom stayed in and baked for the holidays. I canned strawberry jam, baked 3 batches of Amish Friendship Bread, 2 batches of sugar cookies, 2 batches of divinity, 1 batch of chocolate crockpot candy, and 2 batches of hard butterscotch candy. Whew, looking at this picture makes me tired!

The Two Faces of Bub

Ironically, Bubbie has 2 favorite pastimes:

Getting clean.....and getting dirty!

Yesterday, he took a 2 hour bath! I had to drag him out just in time for lunch. (Notice the flippers. Bathing is serious business to this boy!) The next picture is Bubbie 10 minutes later!

You can literally see jelly from head to toe!

Here he is taking aim at me with his "rifle" (a.k.a. "leftover homemade hotdog bun toasted with butter and jelly on top").

Aren't they sweet?

This morning, Caleb and Madelyn got up at 6:30 so they could play alone. Caleb has been letting Seth play with his action figures now that he is older, and so now every time they go to play together, Seth wants to join in. I overheard them talking last night about how they didn't want to hurt Seth's feelings, so they would just set their clocks and get up early to play before he woke up. I had a headache this morning, and went back to bed after Jason left for work, but I heard them get up, and heard lots of whispers and giggles. About 7:45, they decided to take a catnap before the boys woke up.

Aren't they sweet?

Global Warming.....

....it hasn't happened yet, but it will.

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

2 Peter 3:10-14

I'm definitely pregnant!

Okay, the lemon sour cravings have already started. For those of you who have lived such a deprived life that you've never had a lemon sour, I'll make your day and post the recipe here!

Lemon Sour

crushed ice

2 lemons

10 oz. club soda (Canada Dry)

salt to taste

Place crushed ice in a large cup. Thoroughly squeeze lemons onto ice. Pour soda water over ice. Mix well, and add salt to taste (lots of it!). Drink with a straw.

Enjoy, and absolutely NO negative comments unless you've tried it first!

(It's a wonder all my babies didn't come out puckered up!)

Mommy's Peanut Turns 3!

I can't believe our baby boy is celebrating his 3rd birthday! For his present, we got him a Lone Ranger hat, mask, and horse "Silver", and a Lone Ranger Christmas tree ornament. He was thrilled. He would say, "Danks! Is this mine? Oh, danks!"

Here he is with his trusty sidekick, Tonto. (In THIS version, it's definitely Tonto who calls the shots!) It looks like Tonto could use a new head dress for Christmas. Did you remember Tonto having such big dimples?

He's been asking me for months for a Lone Ranger cake. I wasn't sure if I could pull this one off. I found an old Wilton cowboy cake pan on ebay, and modified it to make a Ranger with a gun. Here's how it turned out.

Bubbie was so sweet and humble all day. "Is that MY Lone Ranger cake? Oh, danks, Mama. It's youtiful." Of course, when we cut it, Bubbie ate the gun.

What a blessing our little Peanut has been to our family.

The Gorilla Glue Gun

Of all my boys, Bubbie is without a doubt the most rugged. He is all "snakes and snails and puppy dog tails", and has worn a coonskin cap or cowboy hat, gun, and boots every minute of the day (and often the night) since he could walk. He is a man of few words, but tons of sound effects (gun shots, explosions, swift arrows). He can make a gun out of a PopTart, a sandwich, and even a green bean. He drags his toy horse around the house all alone, shooting and fighting off pretend Indians, then suddenly he'll gasp, grimace with fake pain, stagger all around the room, and dramatically fall on the floor. He'll lie there a minute, then raise up and say, "I'm dead, Mama. The Injuns shooted me." It's great entertainment.
Here he is early this morning, sleeping with his gun.

He has always loved toy guns and pistols, but there is one special gun to him. I have never seen a boy love a gun so much, and yet a gun that was so doomed from the very day that he got it. It is a lightweight, battery operated gun that makes shooting sounds, that his Nanna and PawPaw bought for him. It was just the perfect size, and he loved it dearly from the start. The gun has been broken several times by other children, though Bubbie has never once broken it himself. Each time, he has cried "Mama, fix it. Batteries." until I could get it glued back together. Superglue didn't hold, so finally I turned to gorilla glue. You can see a close up of the "gorilla glue" gun below.
The first time I was using the gorilla glue, I had the gun propped up on the countertop, and it tipped over into my hair. It took me weeks to get all that stuff out! Well, the gorilla glue held off and on for several months, but it has finally reached a point to where it will no longer hold. We have bought him other guns, but he always asks for "MY gun, Mama", meaning the gorilla glue gun. Once, he threw it into a swimming pool. The sound did not work for a couple of weeks. He was so upset, and one day just picked it up outside and pressed the trigger. It made a shooting sound, and he starts running to me, "Mama, Jesus fixed it!"

Since it is no longer repairable, Bubbie has cried and cried, so I decided last night that I will have to retire the famous "gorilla glue gun". It will go in my closet, in the box labeled "Sentimental", along with the other children's treasures from days gone by. It's been fun watching him love something so much, and I can't wait to see what he latches onto next. Little boys are such a delight!

Farewell, gorilla glue gun....it's been fun.

It's Officially the Christmas Season

Well, we watched It's a Wonderful Life Wednesday night, so the Christmas season can officially begin!
Thanksgiving morning, we made our gingerbread houses, as is our tradition. The kids had a great time as usual!

The Lord has been so good to our family.

"Now here's something interesting to put on your blog..."

That was Caleb's suggestion as he came rushing in with the good news. (I'm not sure what he was implying about my previous posts...) Yesterday, he went hunting all alone behind our house, and killed a squirrel. This was his first time actually killing something while he was out hunting alone, and he was so proud. He said, "I was just sitting there praying, and I said, 'Lord, I know I can shoot that squirrel. I'm not asking for you to help me shoot it, I just need You to send one my way.' Then, I looked up, and there he was! Ain't the Lord good?"

I know, it's just a squirrel, but I love that he's learning to talk to the Lord personally. Hunting is all he thinks about right now, but one day he'll be thinking about a job, a wife, children. I pray he'll always go to his Lord with his needs and questions.

"Happy" Thanksgiving!

Take time to read this World Net Daily article below. This just makes my blood boil. What an insult to those brave saints who gave up everything, many of them even their lives, to make a way for weirdos like the ones below to have the freedom to say such nonsense.

School Declares Thanksgiving a "Day of Mourning"

Homegrown Kids

I cringe to think of how many fashion faux pas my little Madelyn is committing in this picture, but I rejoice in the fact that she doesn't know or care in the least bit. She's home grown, and she finds her acceptance and security in her family, not in a pair of name brand shoes or a name brand outfit, or in a group of other 7 year olds who look and act like clones. Have you ever seen 2 cuter coonhunters?

Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes

Check out these cupcakes I made for our church fellowship yesterday. They were carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and the top is decorated to look like a turkey dinner. It's all candy sitting atop a cookie, with a dot of frosting mashed potatoes with decorator gel butter, sprinkles for green beans, sprinkles for cranberry sauce, and melted chocolate chips for the turkey gravy. I also did some with Nerds for corn. I can't take credit for the idea, I got it somewhere off the Internet a while back. The kids thought they were just grand! I love baking during the holidays!

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Prov.23:26

I have always loved children. And I decided years ago as a teenager, while I was having loads of fun and winning the hearts of other people's kids, that when I became a mother, nobody would have more fun with my own kids than I would. I want to pass along my faith to them, so I must have their hearts. Jason and I keep constant vigil over their souls, their time, their play, their interests, their attitudes. They rarely spend the night away from home, even with their loving Christian grandparents. They stay with us all throughout every Sunday School and church service, and we "take" rather than "send" them most places. We are especially careful during times in our children's lives when we know the Lord is dealing with them about something. During those times, they stay with us, end of discussion. Jason and I aren't perfect, but the Lord will give us the grace to answer those difficult questions of life for our own kids, and we want them to always come home for advice. Therefore, we must have their hearts and their affections. This way of life just infuriates some people, and believe me I get called plenty of names ("fanatic", "overprotective", "overboard", "self-righteous", "holier than thou"), but my most important name at this point in life is "Mom", and I refuse to sacrifice what I clearly know is my God-given charge, to peer pressure.

So, if I'm going to insist that my kids spend the bulk of their time at our own house, I feel very obligated to make our home a fun, happy, pleasant place. I'm constantly searching for ways to milk every ounce of fun from each week that passes by. You might catch me jumping on the trampoline (which I can't do right now in my delicate condition), riding toy motorcycles, playing Old Maid, making play-doh, reading aloud a good book, "skating" in sock feet, building a tent, baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, calling off school unexpectedly, singing silly songs, posing for crazy pictures , giving cooking lessons, planning play days with friends, planning unique and elaborate birthday parties, sword fighting, and any number of completely undignified activities. One of our most fun activities, is dress-up. My poor, deprived children have never been Trick-or-Treating, but we have never needed a national holiday to have fun. Through the years, the kids have been superheroes, hobbits, Robin Hood, cowboys, Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Wendy, Annie Oakley, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, knights, princesses, Narnia heroes, kings, queens, soldiers, Indians, pilgrims, ...the list goes on and on.

From our love of dress-up and history role-playing, came the idea of History Day. We get together each year with other homeschool families and pick someone from history to dress up as, and present a lesson about his or her life. Below are a few snapshots: Stonewall Jackson, Sacagawea, and some little Crusader Knights. (Check out my friend Melanie's blog for another report.)

(Click to enlarge this pic above of Bub and make note of his perpetually dirty mouth! )

It's a lot of work on my part, preparing and opening our home to a house full of excited children. Tuesday evening, after this year's event, Caleb came and sat in my lap and said, "Mom, I know this was hard on you this year, being pregnant and all, but I want you to know that I really appreciate all your hard work. It was so much fun, and we'll never forget this day." Well, a heart string was tied and a memory was made, so my hard work was definitely worth it.

Hot Cup of Cocoa

When it gets cold, my kids start wanting to pull out the Christmas CDs and DVDs, and I have to admit they don't have to beg too hard. We love Christmas, and one of our favorite CDs is the Von Trapp Children Christmas CD. There's a link below that you can click on, then check out the playlist on the right. My kids' 2 favorite songs on here are "Please Don't Send Me Fruitcake" and "Hot Cup of Cocoa". It's well worth your money.

The Von Trapp Children

Here's a great recipe for a hot cup of cocoa for a crowd.

Creamy Hot Chocolate

1 c. cocoa

3 cans sweetened condensed milk

1/4 tsp. salt

8 c. water

3 tsp. vanilla

1 c. whipping cream

Mix first 3 ingredients in large pot, and slowly whisk in water. Heat to almost boiling (CAUTION: will boil over quickly, so watch carefully!). Remove from heat, then add vanilla and whipping cream. Serve immediately. Serves 12.

Cream of Chicken Soup

Wow, long time no blog. (Been busy!) Here's a great recipe for the winter months.

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

1 stick real butter

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 cans evaporated milk

1 large can (29-oz) mixed vegetables

3 lbs. chicken breast, cooked and cubed (not shredded)

2 (14.5 oz.) cans chicken broth

2 tsp. onion salt

2 tsp. celery salt

1 tsp. pepper

Mix salt and pepper together in small bowl or cup and set aside. Melt butter in large pot. Stir in flour with whisk. Gradually stir in milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Add broth, then salt and pepper mixture. Whisk and stir. Add chicken and vegetables, and heat through. Serve with saltines.

Delicious, quick and filling. Great as leftovers. Serves 6-8.

Guess who?

Two six-year-old little girls:

1981

2006

"We go together"

When I was expecting my first child, my prayer throughout the pregnancy was that the Lord would let him be a happy baby. Indeed, Caleb was an absolute delight. When I was expecting my second, I worried about "sibling rivalry", and that is just not what I wanted for my family, so throughout the pregnancy, I just prayed, "Lord, please let her love Caleb." Well, Madelyn was a miserable baby, but one thing about it, she loved her KK. She has taken every step he has taken, she learned to walk at 8 1/2 months to keep up with him, she potty trained herself (I had a hard time making her sit instead of stand!), she learned to read in just a few weeks, and is now teaching herself cursive, all just to keep up with her brother! She carries a knife in her pretty pink purse, she has a stash of play rifles, and coon hunts with a pink light, all just to keep up with her brother. Does he ever get annoyed? By God's grace, he has never, ever complained about her tagging along. No one has told him yet that big brothers don't like little sisters, so they are just genuinely best friends. He has been known to drop other friends like a hot potato who were mean to her, and I do pity any young man who sets his sights on her in the future. ("I'm not giving my sister up to just any old hippie!") I wouldn't trade their relationship for anything, and I'm absolutely convinced that it is one of my most visible fruits of homeschooling. Thank you, Lord.

They are 2 years, 4 months apart in age

When KK went through his Buzz stage, so did she
At ages 2 and 4

This is when I paid KK $5 to dress up like Huckleberry Pie so I could take their picture in her Strawberry Shortcake outfit

One of my all-time favorite pictures of them

Spaghetti, one of the basic food groups

Like most children, mine absolutely love spaghetti. (Maybe it's because of how messy it is, and how easily it stains their clothes?) Here is my favorite recipe for spaghetti. It can be made on the stove, but is best in the crockpot. It makes a large portion, and freezes very well. It can also be canned in a pressure canner. I also use leftovers for sandwich wraps, as well as for pizza topping.

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

8 garlic cloves, minced

3 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained

2 cans (15 oz) tomato sauce

2 cans (6 oz) tomato paste

1/3 c. sugar

2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 Tbsp. dried basil

2 tsp. dried marjoram

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

In skillet, cook beef; drain. Cook sausage; drain. Place in slow cooker, and add other ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Serve over noodles. Yield: 12 servings

The best things in life are free

That big camoflauge mountain is Dad.

Who needs tickets to the WWWF?

Can't you feel the love?

(As long as they leave me out of it!)

Those that seek me early shall find me...

Wisdom speaks.....from Proverbs 8

"O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.....

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge......

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me......

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold.....

I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.....

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.....

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."

25 years ago, I was gloriously saved. How thankful I am for the privilege of knowing the Lord at the young age of 7. I don't ever remember NOT loving Jesus, and wanting to please Him. I have many regrets in my life, and I've certainly made many mistakes, but I do know how different things could have been for me during those turbulent years of youth, had I not had the Holy Spirit as my conscience and guide. The Lord gave me a love for His Word; the Word that has sustained me and taught me things that no man showed me.

As a mother, there are many things I want for my children. I want them to be kind, good citizens, well-spoken, well-read, and successful in whatever the Lord calls them, but more than anything I want them to know Jesus personally. He is able to teach them all those things that I fail to do or cannot do, and His wisdom will allow them to "inherit substance" and "fill their treasures" in a way their parents can never do for them.

What a burden is lifted from my feeble shoulders, that the Lord can fill in all the gaps of my mistakes in childrearing! The Lord has given them to me, to train them early to obey, and come when they are called (just as little Samuel), so that when He calls them, they will come willingly the first time. I pray that the Lord will help me keep my goals clear, and my priorities in order. Math and reading are important, but without respect for authority and willing obedience, they are eternally useless.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." Isaiah 54:13

Say "Cheese", Bubbie!

I have always been religious about family pictures. Jason and I have had a family portrait made every year since we were engaged to be married. It's something that is important to me. However, my little Bubbie seems bent on frustrating my plans! Evidently, he was born with a hatred for professional photographers, and absolutely refuses to perform.

"Bubbie, show us how a big boy smiles!" Well, as you can see, it's not exactly what I was wanting.

But at least it's an improvement over last year:

But I'm not going to worry about it. Even though he does mess up my family portraits every year, I don't think any professional could ever capture a smile better than this one below. I made this just after Bub's first flat top last year. Isn't he adorable? (NOTE: If you click on the image and look at it up close, you'll see Bubbie's perpetually dirty mouth. I honestly believe the Lord painted a smudge underneath his skin, and no matter how often it is cleaned, it ALWAYS seeps back through!)

Wisdom from the British Bulldog

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
--Winston Churchill

More:
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
"Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put."
"Eating words has never given me indigestion."
"I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks."
"Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room."
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
"We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out."
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

Just another day

While most of the nation, including Christians, will be in a mad frenzy this Wednesday, October 31, it will just be another Wednesday at our house, and thankfully, we will be in church. I've inlcuded a link below to a great article, worth time to read and even print off, about Halloween from a Christian perspective. I like it especially because the last section, titled "The History of Halloween" actually links the traditions back to Nimrod in the Bible. Most sources don't go back this far.
Origins of Halloween

The reason that the Nimrod connection interests me, is that I read a book some years back called The Flood by Alfred Rehwinkel , a wonderful book by a great Christian man. This book, intended to offer proof of the the great Deluge "in light of the Bible, geology, and archaeology", has a very interesting chapter entitled "Other Historical Evidence for the Flood". In it, Dr. Rehwinkel takes several ancient and modern day cultures, and examines something that they all seem to have in common. All of them have traditions, relating to a new year, at the end of October (corresponding with Flood dating), which seem to point to a major calamity of the human race. What is so interesting, is that all these events are connected with the memory of the dead, or was observed as a feast of the ancestors. For the whole story, you simply must read this book.

Don't you get it? Any source you read about the history and origins of Halloween involves visits of spirits from the past. I have always read this, but it didn't really click and make sense until I realized it went all the way back to that wicked man, Nimrod, who lived just about 100 years after the Flood. With a small population on the earth, Nimrod and the other rebellious descendants of Ham joined together to build a waterproof tower to the heavens in defiance of God. And to mock God even more, they had festivals and feasts honoring and remembering all the wicked people that God had destroyed!

As if a child of God needed another reason not to participate in Halloween, this is certainly another good reason, and perhaps the most convincing of all!

Reason #1,562 to Homeschool

Below is a link to one of my favorite speakers/writers/talk show hosts/homeschool moms/culture analysts, Ingrid Schlueter. Slice of Laodicea , her website commentary on the modern church, was recently wiped out in a bizarre webhosting failure, so it isn't quite the voluminous resource it once was, but she is gradually rebuilding it. Click on the title of the article below to read it in its entirety.

Leaders Call for Christian Pullout from California Schools
Here’s a column regarding the recent signing of SB777 signed by California’s Gov. Schwarzenegger that will allow the indoctrination of school children as young as kindergarten about homosexuality. Christians leaders are rightly calling for the removal of children from Babylonian American public schools and for parents to educate their children according to God’s clear commands in Scripture. (See Deuteronomy 6.) Sending our Christian children to the atheists, the evolutionists, the activists who seek acceptance of sexual perversity is simply wrong. The idiotic idea that our kindergarteners will go off and be “salt and light” to their lesbian teachers is finally being exposed for what it is. No Israelite general in his right mind would have sent off a regiment of little children to face the Assyrian army. For that matter, last time I checked, 5-year-olds aren’t being sent to Iraq to battle the terrorists even today. There’s a reason for that. The battle that Satan is waging against our children is fierce and we as adults need to be the ones in the fray. Meanwhile, our children need to be growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, not the nurture and admonition of those who hate Christ and who actively teach lies like evolution.

Baptist Tongues

Affordable Organic

I love to buy organic food as much as possible, but the truth is, I can't always afford it. That's why we were pleased this past Saturday when Jason and Caleb each came home with a deer. After Jason skinned the deer (a.k.a. "poor little bambis"), he and I spent about 2 hours processing the meat. Here is a picture of my Kitchen Aid mixer (right up there with the raindrops on roses and whiskas on kittens!) along with the food grinder attachment.
We divided the meat into 10 pounds ground, 4 boneless roasts, 3 shoulders to smoke, and about 35 pieces of tenderloin. Next time we will do all sausage. We ended up with approximately 45 pounds of free, organic, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, grass-fed meat.

Thanks, guys!

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country." Prov. 25:25

With good news being pretty hard to come by these days, our family would like to share some of our good news with you. WE'RE HAVING A A BABY! Today, I am 6 weeks, 1 day pregnant, and the baby will be due around June 15. I know this drives some people crazy that we have the nerve to add one more carbon footprint to this crowded world, but the truth is, I take great delight in frustrating tree-hugging, Planned Parenthood supporting, Margaret Sanger thinking, abortion promoting, God hating people.

Please pray for our family, and praise God along with us that He has so kindly blessed us.

With babies on my mind, I was thinking about when we brought Bubbie home from the hospital. Everyone was very sick, and we had to keep Bubbie in a separate room all alone for the first week. Finally, as the others got well, we let them in to see the new baby. I captured Seth's first peek into the crib at his new baby, or "bubbie" (which is where Bub got his firmly stuck nickname!). This is one of my favorite pictures ever.

I just can't wait!

There's a place for all God's creatures....

right next to the potatoes and gravy!

Below is Caleb (10 years old) with his first deer.

As you can see, this is a family affair.

I just have to share this also. Below is the front cover of Caleb's journal. I know, he can't spell (yet!), but it tells a lot about what kind of man he is becoming, and his mom is very proud of him.

What's for Supper?

I love to cook, and I also love for everyone else to cook. I don't know why, but it just makes me happy. Maybe because my generation typically doesn't study homemaking, something which I have found to be such a joy! Here's a great main dish recipe that my family loves. It makes a nice, large portion, and is great left over. It even freezes well! I'll also include my own special salad dressing mix, which is a delicious and much healthier alternative to bottled dressings that are packed with preservatives and weird things that I can't even pronounce.

Bon appetit!

Baked Ziti

12 oz. uncooked ziti pasta

2 lb. ground beef

2 cloves fresh garlic

1 (26-28 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce

2 eggs

1 15-oz. carton ricotta cheese

3 c. (12 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Brown meat with garlic and drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Cook pasta according to directions. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, and the Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; add to cheese mixture and toss to coat. Spoon a third of the meat sauce into a greased 13 x 9 casserole dish. Top with half of the cheese pasta mixture. Repeat layers, and top with remaining meat sauce. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 c. mozzarella. Bake 5-10 minutes longer until cheese is melted.

Vinaigrette Dressing

1/4 c. olive oil

1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 garlic clove, minced

Whisk together just before serving, and pour over salad, tossing to coat. Works well with simple greens, or maybe with a little cucumber, grape tomato, purple onion, or shredded Parmesan added. This is best made fresh, as it does not store well. This recipe serves about 4, or a small bag of lettuce. A little goes a long way!

Reason #1,236 to Homeschool

Maine Middle School to Offer Birth Control Pill to Students

Who's rocking the cradle?

If it's true that the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, then according to this report , the world is ruled by a an army of tired, unhappy, overworked, and underpaid daycare workers, who have one of the largest turnover rates of any occupation in the U.S.

No wonder we're in such dire straits!

What's even sadder, is that the bulk of daycare jobs are held by women ages 25-34, women of childbearing years. In other words, someone else cares for their kids so they can go and care for someone else's kids.

For years women have outsourced things like ironing, laundry, housecleaning, cooking, but I just have to pose this question: Is it possible to outsource mothering? Can a hireling be a mother? Only a mother can smile at her baby and sing "I love you a bushel and a peck" while she's changing a dirty diaper. (You don't even want to know how much I would charge you to change YOUR baby's dirty diaper, song not included!)

In defense of well-meaning daycare workers, I will say this. I grew up in a home daycare that my mother ran. We loved those children, and took good care of them. But I made a decision as a teenager. Moms would bring sleepy babies to our house beginning at 6:30 a.m., and I would have a lap piled full of them as the morning continued. They just wanted to be held and loved, and to sleep. I taught them how to behave, how to talk & walk, and even potty trained them. They loved me dearly, as I did them. Oftentimes when Mom would come, they would want to stay with us. As much as I loved them, I knew that one day, when I became a mother, I would never allow someone else to have that much influence over my own children. I didn't even know about homeschooling then, but I knew instinctively, that I would be the only mother my children would ever know, as long as I have breath in my body.

Ever since that first little golden-haired baby boy was placed in my arms, I have never once questioned my career or education choices. I have never once been intimidated by career women who looked down on me. I have never once looked over life's pasture and wondered if the grass was greener on the other side. I am fulfilled.

Thanks be to Jesus, my Savior. And thanks to my husband, who has never once considered sending me away from our children.

Fine Art

I doubt this would bring much on the auction block, but you couldn't buy it from me for a million dollars.

Take therefore no thought...

As a teenager, I began a notebook in which I recorded quotes that meant something to me. As I was perusing my notebook this morning, I decided to share this on my blog:

"Perhaps the most striking characteristic of worry, is its absolute impotence. Worry never changes a single thing except the worrier. History has no record of worrying warding off disaster. No tornado has been prevented, no drought averted, no plane kept from crashing, no child kept from falling off his bike, no teenager stopped from skipping classes or trying drugs. No heart attacks have ever been avoided through worry (though a great number have been caused by it). Worry is definitely counterproductive. Like the illustration of a rocking chair, it doesn't get us anywhere, but at least it gives us something to do, and women like to do something."

Linda Dillow, Calm My Anxious Heart

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:34

"There and Back Again"

Here's my little hobbit reading quietly in the Shire....

Can't blame me for trying....

This is just outside Jason's bathroom. (I hope Debi Pearl never runs across my blog! I might end up in a NGJ article!)

This I know...

"Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:23-27

Free Entertainment

Having children in the house is a nonstop source of laughs. I'll never be able to remember all the funny things my children have said, but I try to write down as much as I can. Here are a few priceless quotes from Seth lately.

"Mom, do I have an ash-lie?" (opening his eye wide and sticking it in my face....see if you can figure it out....it took me a minute!)

(waking up with a runny nose) "Mama, my nose won't stay in my nose!"

"I want to marry a Cinderella girl."

"Daddy! Bubs needs hot sauce! He said a bad word! He said doo-doo and underwear!"

"Mom, Jesus came and talked to me while I was in the bed last night."

"I didn't do it! Peter Pan did it!"

What's for Supper?

I want to share my recipe for half-white/half-wheat hamburger buns. Now that my family has been eating these buns, we can hardly stand to choke down the store-bought kind. You'll love them too!

Tara's Homemade Hamburger Buns

for the Bread Machine

1 7/8 c. water

2 Tbsp. real butter

3 Tbsp. honey

2 1/2 c. bread machine flour

2 1/2 c. King Arthur* white whole wheat flour

*(available at Kroger)

2 Tbsp. dry milk

2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. vital wheat gluten

2 tsp. bread machine yeast

Place these ingredients in order into the bread machine pan, and set on the dough cycle. When completed, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 pieces. Carefully shape rolls, folding dough under to create a smooth round surface on top. Place onto greased cookie sheat, and press slightly to flatten. Cover with a cloth, place in draft-free area, and allow to rise for 1 hour. Remove cloth and bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Brush tops lightly with 1 Tbsp. melted butter to soften. Allow to cool slightly, then slice with electric knife for best results.

*Do-Ahead Note: After placing buns onto cookie sheet, they can be tightly wrapped with plastic wrap and refrigerated for 4-48 hours. When ready to bake, allow 2 hours for rising (remove plastic wrap and cover with towel) and proceed as usual.

These buns are great for hamburgers, barbecue, any kind of meat sandwich. Leftover buns freeze well. We use leftovers from everything to toast in the morning (spread with butter, broil, then spread with jelly), to cheese toast for lunch (spread with mayo & a slice of cheese, broil), to buns for supper (spread with butter & garlic salt, broil), to soaking in milk and using in my meatloaf. They can even be shaped into hotdog buns! The possibilities are endless, and not a single bun is wasted.

Hope you enjoy!

What to do!

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12

I wake up nearly every morning with at least a dozen things that absolutely have to be done that day. Then, my 24 hours run out, and they simply didn't all get done. Time seems to be my worst enemy. I am learning to let the Lord order my days, helping me to make out my "To Do" list (yes, I'm one of those cursed people who can't make a move without a list). At the top of my list is:
1. Pray for a quiet heart to meet whatever my day holds
2. Tell my husband I love him, show it, and greet him with a smile when he comes home (and hopefully with a straightened house and a pleasant smell of supper cooking, but no matter what, I can at least smile!)
3. Make eye contact and share a bear hug with each of my children.

After this, my list grows way too long to post here! I try to list things in order or priority, and not read too far ahead or I get ill and nervous. The point? The sun's still going to come up tomorrow no matter what's going on at your house, so you might as well be happy, and be the kind of person that your family can love. (Admit it, can't mamas be mean as bears sometimes?)

What, you say? No time listed for an hour of Bible reading and meditation, accountability partners, and MOPS, and women's small group studies? For me, at this point in life, I have learned to find the Lord in a pile of laundry, a sink full of dishes, in planning a healthy menu for my family, in applying band-aids and kisses, applying discipline, jumping on the trampoline, homeschool lessons, and a thousand other thankless tasks that I perform throughout the day. Why? Because this is who God wants me to be, and I can't do anything more spiritual than obey and submit to my role right now. ("to obey is better than sacrifice") I love my Bible and read whenever I can, usually every morning, but if my little ones get up and interrupt me, I have to lay it aside. I'm very thankful to have read and studied when I could before my life got so busy, and the Lord has carried me through with what's written on the table of my heart. He'll do the same for you too!

Have you hugged your family today?

A Horse and His Boy