Lauren turned 1

I'm late on this post. On Sunday we celebrated Lauren's first birthday. This year with her has been full of changes to our family and has brought us tremendous blessings. I hope I never forget the great difficulty and fear Dave and I faced on the day she was born, all the complications and "emergency" decisions. Praise God for His great mercy and provision in those moments, and now here we are a year later with our beautiful, joyful and incredibly attentive daughter to share our days with. We love you Lauren Grace!

Lauren was hospitalized with RSV and pneumonia last March. I had to get a picture of the smallest nebulizer mask I had ever seen! Thankfully her case wasn't that serious and she was sent home with us the following day.

This is a picture of Lauren with her little cousin Alina and their great-grandmother at Christmas. Lauren is 2 months older than Alina but looked like a tank compared to her! 8-)

Computing with Abby.

Autumn inside our home

Of late I have been trying to come up with some creative ideas to make our home a little more cozy without spending lots of money, here's what I came up with:

This is in our living room next to our couch. I bought the small pumpkin, I found the leaves (the ones in the jar) and 2 fat quarters in my crafty supplies, I found the 2 candles in a closet packed away, the mason jar also in a closet packed away (actually 6 of them) and decided to pull off that cookbook stack from my bookshelves for some elevation.

Total cost: $ 0.79 for the pumpkin (which in this pic looks like a tomato....)

This is the end table at the opposite end of our living room. Here I used 2 more fat quarters, another of the mason jars with more of the leaves, a container I had purchased about 6 months ago from the Goodwill (for $ 1.99) which I have painted, the wood candle holder was a gift a few years ago from my sister-in-law at Christmas, another purchased pumpkin and the candle in the front is one I've had from Home Interiors for a number of years (it normally has a ceramic lid on top with a patriotic theme, I just removed it for a more Fall look).

Total cost: $0.79 for the pumpkin

This is our mantle in the living room. I made the wreath (with Isaac's help) from items I found in my crafty supplies in the closet: raffia wreath, 2 silk flower stems and some old leftover ribbon. I didn't glue anything, I just left the plastic on over the raffia, used a pencil to pop holes into the wreath and then shoved the flower heads into the holes. I made the bow and secured it with wire. Below that are a few of my Willow Tree figurines (all have been gifts). In the blue frames (which I got a while ago at the Goodwill for $ 2.99 each) are printed Bible verses you can make on your own printer. In the center is a woodblock which holds 3 candles (again from the Goodwill a few months ago for $1.99...I know how much everything is because I'm too lazy to remove stickers sometimes and items still have price tags...sigh....anyway) I found some more leftover ribbon and wove it around the Willow Tree figurines and the candles, although it's a little hard to see in the photo.

Total cost: $0

since I found everything in my house (either the garage or a closet)

This is the centerpiece on our dining room table.

I found all the candles in my closets (I know, I have lots of candles in my closets, wierd huh?) The floral one was a gift, the large white one is from our wedding (I think). I purchased the 3 pumpkins. The green vase was my parents a long time ago but we're using it as a candle holder. The table runner is actually 2 window valances I got at the Salvation Army about 2 years ago and have never used for anything.

Total cost: $ 2.40 for the pumpkins

This is our front porch.

I got the wood basket from a store in town on clearance and purchased all the flowers too. Emma brought the pumpkin home from school after her field trip to the pumpkin patch.

Total cost: $19 for wood basket and flowers

Total cost for EVERYTHING:

$23.98 not too bad!

Autumn

This is my favorite season of the year, I always look forward to this time when the leaves are changing and the colors around us become so fervent and bright. Here are some photos I've taken recently around the outside of our home to celebrate the season.

My best friend

I love my husband. After 8 years, 5 children, 6 moves (including 1 out of state) and everything else we've gone through, I just love him more than words can say.

More from the UN on "Human Settlements"

Here are quotes from the United Nations "Habitat" website:

"Recognizing that....

World population growth trends which indicate that numbers of mankind in the next 25 years would double, thereby more than doubling the need for food, shelter and all other requirements for life and human dignity which are at the present inadequately met:

Rural dispersion exemplified by small scattered settlements and isolated homesteads which inhibit the provision of infrastructure and services, particularly those relating to water, health and education;"

Recognizing also that the establishment of a just and equitable world economic order through necessary changes in the areas of international trade, monetary systems, industrialization, transfer of resources, transfer of technology, and the consumption of world resources, is essential for socio-economic development and improvement of human settlement, particularly in developing countries,

Recognizing further that these problems pose a formidable challenge to human understanding, imagination, ingenuity and resolve, and that new priorities to promote the qualitative dimensions to economic development, as well as a new political commitment to find solutions resulting in the practical implementation of the New International Economic Order, become imperative:

1. Mankind must not be daunted by the scale of the task ahead. There is need for awareness of and responsibility for increased activity of the national Governments and international community, aimed at mobilization of economic resources, institutional changes and international solidarity by:

(a) Adopting bold, meaningful and effective human settlement policies and spatial planning strategies realistically adapted to local conditions;

2. In meeting this challenge, human settlements must be seen as an instrument and object of development. The goals of settlement policies are inseparable from the goals of every sector of social and economic life. The solutions to the problems of human settlements must therefore be conceived as an integral part of the development process of individual nations and the world community. (READ: POPULATION CONTROL)

6. The right of free movement and the right of each individual to choose the place of settlement within the domain of his own country should be recognized and safeguarded. (well, how nice, but I thought the United States was a FREE nation....notice they state we should be able to choose the place of our SETTLEMENT and not choose where our HOME should be???)

10. Land is one of the fundamental elements in human settlements. Every State has the right to take the necessary steps to maintain under public control the use, possession, disposal and reservation of land. Every State has the right to plan and regulate use of land, which is one of its most important resources, in such a way that the growth of population centres both urban and rural are based on a comprehensive land use plan. Such measures must assure the attainment of basic goals of social and economic reform for every country, in conformity with its national and land tenure system and legislation.

16. Historical settlements, monuments and other items of national heritage, including religious heritage, should be safeguarded against any acts of aggression or abuse by the occupying Power. (umm...occupying Power....???)

III. GUIDELINES FOR ACTION

3. A human settlement policy must seek harmonious integration or co-ordination of a wide variety of components, including, for example, population growth and distribution, employment, shelter, land use, infrastructure and services. Governments must create mechanisms and institutions to develop and implement such a policy.

11. Since a genuine human settlement policy requires the effective participation of the entire population, recourse must therefore be made at all times to technical arrangements permitting the use of all human resources, both skilled and unskilled. The equal participation of women must be guaranteed. These goals must be associated with a global training programme to facilitate the introduction and use of technologies that maximize productive employment.

12. International and national institutions should promote and institute education programmes and courses in the subject of "human settlements".

13. Land is an essential element in development of both urban and rural settlements. The use and tenure of land should be subject to public control because of its limited supply through appropriate measures and legislation including agrarian reform policies - as an essential basis for integrated rural development - that will facilitate the transfer of economic resources to the agricultural sector and the promotion of the agor - industrial effort, so as to improve the integration and organization of human settlements, in accordance with national development plans and programmes. The increaes in the value of land as a result of public decision investment should be recaptured for the benefit of society as a whole. Governments should also ensure that prime agricultural land is destined to its most vital use.

16. The design of human settlements should aim at providing a ilving environment in which identities of individuals, families and societies are preserved and adequate means for maintaining privacy, the possibility of face-to-face interactions and public participation in the decision-making process are provided." (how thoughtful of them)

This planet is out of control. It will be truly interesting to see what comes of the UN's plans over the upcoming years. Praise God this world is not our home!

Agenda 21

I found this video off another blog I frequently visit. I could not believe what I was hearing! Unfortunately, it is in fact ALL TRUE. Just Google Agenda 21 and see for yourself. Before watching here are some of the statements taken off the report for China's implementation of Agenda 21's policies (you may read the totality of their report here: China Report Agenda 21 )

7.19 Population control policy and environmental protection:
The family planning policy will be continued so as to reach the objectives for population control. Based on China's present condition and level of economic development, consideration must be given to the control of the birth rate, to raising health and educational levels, and to the solution of problems associated with an ageing population. A comprehensive plan will be formulated for achieving rational growth, improving levels of competence and optimizing the composition of the population;

Research and analysis on the current population, including the migrant population, will be conducted in order to provide a sound basis for making decisions on issues such as population control, job creation and urbanization. Inter-sectorial collaboration will be strengthened, and more opportunities for educational activities and exchanges of information amongst people from different backgrounds will be presented in order to increase public awareness of opportunities to participate in the control of population;

Government capabilities in terms of population management will be strengthened through clear definition of obligations and the adoption of well-coordinated management mechanisms.

7.20 Family planning and health care of women and children:
The quality of family planning services will continue to be improved and new effective contraceptives will be widely introduced. Various kinds of high-quality services and information about family-planning and the health care of women and children will be provided to all married couples. Prenatal and postnatal care will be improved. Special attention will be paid to couples in backward areas to ensure their regular acquisition of information about contraception, contraceptive devices and technical services (umm...ABORTION????) as required;

Family planning should be combined with the health care of women and children; activities will be encouraged to create happy and harmonious families; the implementation of family planning policies must be closely related with activities in improving living standards;

There should be better training of personnel engaged in family planning and health care work so as to improve their efficiency in providing family planning services by increasing their knowledge base and their mastery of new techniques;

Family planning should be closely linked to poverty alleviation efforts in poor regions; poor households that have strictly followed family planning practices should be favoured and rewarded.

There is also much interesting information related to the indoctrination of our country's children through the use of the public school system available on the Agenda 21 website. Of course, the USA is currently not sponsoring federally mandated population control....except through the federally sponsored use of Planned Parenthood in the government schools that is.....hmmm.

One other thought I'd like to mention, "Education is the most powerful ally of Humanism, and every American public school is a school of Humanism. What can the theistic Sunday Schools, meeting for an hour once a week, and teaching only a fraction of the children, do to stem the tide of a five-day program of humanistic teaching?" Charles Francis Potter, Humanism: A New Religion

"The battle for humankind's future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith: A religion of humanity -- utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to carry humanist values into wherever they teach. The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new -- the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism." John J. Dunphy, The Humanist

Enjoy your movie!

Because I was asked.....

Ok, I was asked to post the reasons that I'm not voting for the GOP on November 4th. Here they are in a nutshell (warning, some of you are really going to get ticked by some of this):

1. I don't believe that having a woman in this position is biblical.

Isaiah 3:12

My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up [1] the course of your paths.

I will briefly mention other reasons; however, for me this is the largest one. No matter who we have elected this November, the result means that we are under judgement from God. Either it will be Obama and his very liberal pro-choice, pro-gay etc. message, or it will be McCain with Sarah Palin.

I'm not arguing her qualifications because that is fruitless. I am arguing that Scripture tells us that when we are ruled by women it is a judgement against us. Now, will my 3rd party vote somehow propel the Constitution party into office? No. I'm not crazy, I realize that either McCain or Obama will win. Well, doesn't that mean that my vote is wasted then? No. I vote because I have the right to. What I do with that vote will either honor God or dishonor him. I will not vote for a party ticket that is dishonoring to him, whether people tell me that the candidates are qualified or not.

Furthermore, I will not vote for ANY Christian woman who is a professing Feminist (Palin is a member of Feminists For Life). End of story. I want my conscience clear before my Father. I also refuse to live in fear like many Christians, ie "if we don't vote for McCain than Obama will win......(insert great alarm, wailing, tears etc.)" "Our country will fall apart!!!!" Now, our country IS falling apart and no President is going to fix that, we are RAMPANT with sin and APPROVAL for sin. The US will see better days ONLY when we start experiencing repentance and revival, I don't live in fear of what Obama could do to me. It is the fear of the LORD that is the beginning of wisdom....

2. Many people tell me to vote for McCain because he's "pro-life" however: 'McCain said, “I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” Source: Ron Fournier, Associated Press Aug 24, 1999

3. I don't believe that the Republican ticket has a firm stance on the issue of gay rights. Palin vetoed a bill in Alaska which would have banned gay partners from receiving insurance benefits through their partners employer. Also "he (McCain) has called the ban on same-sex marriage "un-Republican." The ban "usurps from the states a fundamental authority they have always possessed and imposes a federal remedy for a problem that most states do not believe confronts them," he said in July 2004.
Source: CNN.com, "Presidential bids" Nov 15, 2006

I also read that while McCain is opposed to gay marriage, he supports civil union ceremonies for gay couples.

4. I believe that at this time in our country's history we need to take a strong stand on biblical principles. I believe that women should not fight in the military, therefore I cannot vote to place a woman 2nd in line to be the Commander in Chief of our military. I believe that while Palin could theoretically hold this position AND still be in submission to her husband (ala Ephesians 5) I don't see it happening. I also don't see how a position like VP could allow for her to live out the guidelines for women outlined in Titus 2:4-5.

I don't believe that the Bible states that it's wrong in every situation for a woman to work outside the home; but given the enormity of the position she is candidating for, I don't believe she can do both equally well. I do think it's important to remember that she has children at home who desperately need her (a baby with Down's Syndrome and her older daughter who will become a mother herself shortly). I also don't agree with Palin on her views of womanhood anyway, she's a professing feminist.

5. McCain believes in Evolution as he stated in the Republican debates.

Now, granted NO politician will ever be the perfect Christian candidate. But I refuse to blindly and robotically lend my support to this party JUST SO THAT the other guy doesn't win. For many people these types of issues don't matter and that's fine. I'm not interested in debating people on this issue. I simply want to remind everyone that there are other options available. The Constitution Party's views on a number of topics are in line with mine biblically speaking; therefore I will lend my support to them.

For further reading on this topic I recommend the following links:

http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/

http://www.visionforumministries.org/

http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Blog.html

Fireproof Trailer

Unfortunately this film is not playing anywhere near to me, here in Humboldt...sigh. The closest theater showing it is about 2 hours away. However, many of YOU are near theaters playing it and I am encouraging all of you who can to go and see it and then post a review here on my blog. To those of you back home, this film opened this weekend in Gurnee and Kenosha. You lucky ducks!!!!! 8-) NOTE: Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page and pause the music so you can hear the movie trailer!

Fireproof

I believe that voting for "the lesser of two evils" is still evil. Instead of listing all of the many reasons why I will NOT be voting for the Republican party (and of course you know that the Democratic ticket is never in my consideration....) in November, I submit to you the link above. Check out this third party candidate, if you read their platform you will see what my reasons are for supporting them. WARNING: for my non-Christian readers, you probably won't have any clue why anyone would want people like this in control of the country....for the rest of you, that's exactly the reason why we want them in control. 8-)

Blogger Friend School Assignment 2

Assignment: This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it. Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!

Our worst struggles with the lifestyle of homeschooling....hmmm. For our family it has to be the previous two years for a variety of reasons which I will list for you instead of rambling on for paragraphs about each one:
1. They were the first years of homeschooling our oldest and we were getting our feet wet.
2. I was working full-time outside of the home the opposite shift of my husband (me days, him nights).
3. I would write lesson plans and he would teach them while I was gone (so I missed out on all the learning).
4. I was pregnant and delivered twice within those two years, and both pregnancies were physically difficult and very painful (but both babies were very healthy!).
5. We had other children at home all under the age of 4.
6. My husband was in school full-time while working full-time.

People often have asked me how we did it: homeschool, both work full-time, DH was in school full time, by the end of the 2 years we had 5 children ages 6 and under! My only answer is that God was merciful to us and was guiding us along during those crazy years. I never wanted to work outside the home, it was something that came out of necessity for a period of time. Thankfully in March of this year, the Lord provided my husband a full-time pastoral position at a church which required an out of state move for our family. Because of his new job, I was able to leave the workplace and stay home full time with my kids. What a blessing! Now I am with my children all day and I actually SEE my DH outside of the "Hi" "Bye" lifestyle we had for so long.

A verse that my DH and I have held fast to throughout our marriage is Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made all things beautiful in its time". We have found this to be true time and time again in our life. We actually have this verse printed in our living room and it reminds me multiple times daily how wonderful it is to serve our loving God. He does know our every need and he does "work all things for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." The beauty of the Ecclesiastes passage is that it states He HAS made....meaning it is already done! We are just waiting for our own eyes to see what He has already done for us. Therefore we need not worry or be anxious. 8-)

As far as the second part of the question regarding a curriculum choice etc. that has helped us, we definitely have been a family who has bounced around between curriculums! And our oldest is only in 2nd grade!!!!! One resource that has GREATLY helped us is The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! We had tried several different phonics programs before this one and the others all burnt out my DD with the amount of handwriting/workbook pages to complete. I love that this one is orally done, has very short lessons and is thorough in its instruction.

My second recommendation is for My Father's World. We switched to MFW this year and have LOVED it! We are currently completing their Adventures program with our oldest and we have the Kindergarten program as well for DD #2 (although we have held off on starting it so far this year, she's only 4). The days are planned for you so it is "open and go" but there is still a great deal of flexibility within the plans if you would like to add/subtract according to your child's needs. I also like that if you purchase the packaged curriculum ALL of the required reading materials (living books) are included in the package price. They also provide a supplemental reading list to add to your study each week but NONE of those books are required to complete an accurate study of the topic you are focusing on. For me this is a huge blessing, I love to use the library but it was always a frustration to be searching for the book you *NEED* and find it unavailable - (I'm speaking from our history with various OTHER curricula) and I just don't have the time to plan around inter-library loan etc. MFW has been a great blessing to our family!

First Day of School!

Here are the shots from our first day of school (which was actually Tuesday). Emma needed a backpack for Pre-school so we took pictures of Kailie with hers as well. 8-)

Isaac was being Buzz of course!

Even Abby did some schoolwork!

John 8:12

Kailie's memory verse for this week is: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Here she is writing her verse, we also decorated candles for the table with the words "Jesus Light of the World". We also made a frame to go around her lightswitch in her bedroom but I don't have the photo.

Our little man is 3 today!

Today our little man turns 3!!! Happy Birthday Isaac, we love you so much!

This is his most recent impressive achievement. I blogged about it already but here's the picture. At 2 he could put this puzzle together alone and he always does it just like this shot which means the US is always upside down to him....I think he's a genius....IMHO that is! ha!

Could you be more adorable? This is what Daddy refers to as his "little man" look.

Tee-Pees, Wigwams and Jamestown

This week we studied the North American Indians and are reading Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims. Here are the shots of our various history projects:

Kailie went hunting for tee-pee sticks in the backyard:

She painted them to finish them off:

Cutting out the strips for the base....

Forming the structure.....

And here's the finished wigwam (with a "fully functioning" smokestack)

Here is the replica that we made of Jamestown. We actually did this project over the summer (in case you're wondering).

You can make this replica to, it's from Homeschoolinthewoods.com here's the link: http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/promo/Jamestown-Replica.htm

Lauren entertaining us

Lately Lauren's little personality has been blossoming in spades! Here are some shots from the other night where she was goofing off for Mom and Dad. I love her kissy faces.

To Infinity and BEYOND!!!!

Kailie recently found this Buzz Lightyear costume at a garage sale we stopped by and told me "That's for Isaac!". Needless to say Isaac is ecstaticly embracing his "outer space man" costume multiple times per day! I especially love the second photo with the closed eyes and dreamlike state....ahhh, Buzz...we love you!

Done with week 1

We have had a great first week of school this year! We spent time this week learning about Christ as the Light of the World, studying the North American Indian tribes, making our own tee-pees and a wigwam, memorizing the locations of the 50 states via puzzles, re-visiting the Jamestown settlement, reading a variety of delicious literature, learning about the universe and the stars and sun...and doing it all with joy! Oh, and we did some spelling, math, art, music and health too!

Isaac is very interested in "doing schoolwork" too. He can actually complete the entire US States puzzle on his own (and for some reason usually turns the frame upside down too....)! I think he's a 2 year old (until tomorrow anyway) genius!

Emma is really enjoying her time at King's Kids each morning. She loves to bring home her backpack and show us what she's been drawing for us. I know she is making friends there and loves the time with Daddy in his office alone each day (she goes there for an hour after school ends before Daddy comes home for lunch).

Abby is happy to color and do puzzles and sing at the top of her lungs "A-MEN, A-MEN, A-MEN, A-MEN" etc. or the VeggieTales themesong (along with Isaac).

Lauren is currently content to crawl around and when she catches a glimpse of you to say something in her adorable baby babble or even "Hiya" with a backwards wave!

What a blessing from God that He has allowed me this time to raise His children.

Comments

Thanks to those of you who have notified me that my comments section is faulty....who knows why???? I'm working on it but all my settings are right.....anyway, hopefully it will fix itself and I can hear all of your lovely thoughts. 8-)

Blogger Friend School Assignment 1

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

Hmm...well, in all honesty my first thoughts of homeschooling families were along the lines of "they're crazy to spend all that time with their kids" "she must be super-mom" "that's nice for THEM but I look forward to some free-time for ME when my kids are school-aged"....thank God for His gentle guidance and my great change of heart and mind towards my children!!! My husband and I decided to homeschool when our oldest was approaching preschool. Largely our decision was influenced by researching homeschooling as well as the history of the public school movement. We truly believed that we needed to live out Deuteronomy 6 and raise our children with a vastly richer Biblical foundation than they would get by attending school even a Christian private school.

When I look back at the education I had, it's pretty similar to most people's I would guess. I attended public school all my life (as did DH). I didn't have any ENORMOUSLY terrible things happen to me there, nor did my husband. However, I did learn to live my life in a godless vacuum. What do I mean? I learned that we were not to SPEAK OF, nor PRAY TO, nor READ ABOUT God in school. I practiced this very well. I would go to church on Sunday and go to youth group during the week. I knew who the other Christian kids were and they knew who I was, but that was about it. I learned to LEARN in the absence of God, all my subjects were strictly learned without mention of God. Now most people will argue that this only matters in Science due to Creation/Evolution etc. I argue that that belief is a LIE. ALL of life should be viewed through the lens of Scripture: Literature, Poetry, Science, History etc. Even math! If there is no God then there is no Absolute. If there is no Absolute then even math is meaningless because on what basis do we claim that 2+2 is ALWAYS 4 unless we have absolute truth? I have learned in my adulthood how little History I actually ever learned in school and how much damage has been done to the history taught in school through revisionist teaching.

When the time came to make a decision for our children the choice was clear. God had taken my once arrogant and selfish heart "I'm looking forward to the ME time when they go off to school" to who I am now, a woman who still struggles with selfishness, but views my calling as a wife and mother as the noblest of all callings. A woman who has embraced the vision of my husband to see all of our children grow in the discipline and admonition of the Lord and who dreams of one day seeing the fruit of this labor in the lives of my grandchildren.

The verse I cling to is: "Do not grow weary in well doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not." What a glorious promise!