Jackson Family

Race. Or lack thereof

2011-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I would like everyone in the world to watch this:

Joel Salatin, on doing things perfect

2011-02-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

Failure is a beautiful thing!!

Yay! Fall is Here!

2010-10-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

Fall is, by far, my favorite season. The weather, the food, the colors - I just love it!

So, check out the season - appropriate button there at the right.

WOOOHOOOO for fall food, and someone to tell me how to do it right! :D

And, Ephram just wanted to say thanks to all the WONDERFUL ladies putting this all together.

John Taylor Gatto

2010-09-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

From Raising Olives:

John Gatto taught in the public school system for nearly 30 years. During that time he received multiple teacher of the year awards. Since retiring in 1991 he has been an outspoken critic of our current government-controlled educational system. Think about the questions that you get asked as a homeschooler, has Gatto hit it?

Nine Assumptions of Schooling

1. Social cohesion is not possible through other means than government schooling; school is the main defense against social chaos.

2. Children cannot learn to tolerate each other unless first socialized by government agents.

3. The only safe mentors of children are certified experts with government-approved conditioning; children must be protected from the uncertified, including parents.

4. Compelling children to violate family, cultural and religious norms does not interfere with the development of their intellects or characters.

5. In order to dilute parental influence, children must be disabused of the notion that mother and father are sovereign in morality or intelligence.

6. Families should be encouraged to expend concern on the general education of everyone but discouraged from being unduly concerned with their own children’s education.

7. The State has predominant responsibility for training, morals and beliefs. Children who escape state scrutiny will become immoral.

8. Children from families with different beliefs, backgrounds and styles must be forced together even if those beliefs violently contradict one another. Robert Frost, the poet, was wrong when he maintained that “good fences make good neighbors.”

9. Coercion in the name of liberty is a valid use of state power.

Sew Mama Sew: Make It Wear It

2010-06-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

I saw this dress one morning and fell in love. Seriously. I really try not to use the L-word for anything other than people and God, but really - this dress is beautiful. Minus the short skirt and price tag (I'm a farm girl, people), I would have added this dress to my wardrobe immediately.

So, I decided I'd make one. Without going into a million details, I'll just say that I didn't have a pattern. I took it apart several times (thus the one month timeline). But, I'm really happy with it now. :) I will wear it to the grocery store immediately. :D

And, I'm going to enter it into the Sew Mama Sew, Make It Wear It challenge since it's the first thing I've made for myself that I will actually wear. YAY!

Marriage Advice

2010-06-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is just worth posting again. But, the original video has been deleted. :( Here is a similar one:

Near the end of this video Paul Washer makes a comment about marriage that is PROFOUND! I've quoted the comment below...it's a whole "marriage seminar" in one comment. Simply incredible.

"Even though marriage can be a glorious thing, you know what marriage is about? Conforming you to the image of Christ.
And God does not search around to find you a mate that is compatible. More than likely he is going to search around and find you a mate that is totally incompatible with you. Why? He’s going to give you a mate that is strong in all the areas where they must be strong that you not be tempted beyond what you could bear.

But he’s also going to give you a mate who fails in some of the areas you most don’t want them to fail so that you become like Jesus…and what does that mean? So that you learn to love someone unconditionally who doesn’t meet the conditions."

The beautiful example of thoughtfulness that is my baby sister...

2010-06-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

I like to hang my clothes on the line to dry. Partly, it reminds me of home. My mom hung our clothes out. Not to mention, dryers are HUGE energy hogs, and I appreciate the electricity savings. Most of all, nothing cleans like the sun! However, in Oklahoma, the wind blows like a tropical storm...all the time.

So, immediately after moving here, I put up a clothesline and was SERIOUSLY disappointed when I found all of my clean laundry in the dirt. This situation is only worsened by the lousy quality clothespins that are sold these days. I was frustrated. I mentioned it once to my baby sister. She lives in Japan right now with her husband. She went out, found good Japanese clothespins and sent me TONS OF THEM! Not just pins, but heavy-duty pins and clip on clothes hangers and diaper hangers and every sort of cool Japanese hanger there is. I love them! They hold beautifully in the middle of the gusty Oklahoma day. :)

I also like to cloth diaper my babies. Again, there are several reasons. I like knowing that I'm not unnecessarily adding to the huge trash problem we have here. All babies have very sensitive skin...and mine are especially sensitive to all the chemicals in disposable diapers. There is literally only one brand of *very expensive* diapers that do not give my babies diaper rash. And, of course, once cloth diapers are purchased, they're pretty much free (excluding the cost of laundry detergent). But, honestly, when I'm out of my routine, cloth diapers are the first thing to go. So, with leaky cloth diapers and not enough time in the day, I quit cloth diapering when Alina was younger.

When I visited my little sister in Japan a couple years ago, I mentioned my woes of cloth diapering. She showed me (of course) the Japanese wonder-diapers. When I came home, I told her I wanted to try a few. She bought and shipped me some. They are FABULOUS. Over those two years she has sent me enough diapers to cloth diaper my babies AND share with friends! And, all of this just because she wanted to do something for me...favors I definitely don't deserve. I love that girl. And, I think all of you should too. :)

Thank you Laci Dupre Pressler. You're the bestest little sister a girl could ask for!

The Labels Lie!

2010-05-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

There is a secret I want to share with everyone. :) Here goes...

The number of times you eat at Burger King doesn't only affect the size jeans you wear. It affects your risk for heart disease, your likely-hood to develop diabetes and even cavities!

What you eat for breakfast isn't just related to how much energy you have for the day. While cold cereal may seem appetizing in the morning, it's one of the major causes in our society for nutrient deficiencies.

Wait, don't click away. There's more.

I know what the box says. I know what that container of "multi vitamins" says. It says you're getting more than you need. Guess what, the label lies! Oh, wait, what? You don't read labels? Yeah, I didn't either. But, Alana changed that for me.

We read "The Maker's Diet" when Alana was practically dying and her pediatrician wouldn't budge from his "she has allergies" diagnosis. That book revolutionized the way we thought about food...and Alana started to recover. We changed A LOT of things!

Over the next couple of years later, my two oldest children developed severe cavities. I was horrified! I mean, we did everything right. They rarely ate candy, NEVER had soft drinks and brushed teeth frequently. As I searched and searched for information about teeth, I was reminded of Dr. Weston A. Price. He was the man (or, at least his organization) that led us to raw milk (the beginning of Alana's recovery). He was a DENTIST!! The beginning of all of his research was the curious fact that tribal peoples untouched by western diets had little to no dental carries in their teeth. I consumed everything I could about healing dental decay. One of the names that came up the most was Sally A Fallon. She studied under Dr. Price

So, we bought the Nourishing Traditions cookbook. But, while we were reading it and trying to apply the practices to our own lives, I was VERY overwhelmed by this whole new way to prepare food. A friend of mine pointed me to the "Nourishing Gourmet" blog. It was loaded with good tips and recipes. I started using them immediately...but that didn't help me overcome the reality that planning is not exactly my strong suit.

It is no secret that home cooked, prepared from scratch meals take much more time than pre-packaged food. But, this was more than that. All of my research was telling me that before I could cook red beans and rice for my family, I needed to soak the beans in slightly acidic warm water for at least 7 hours!! Seriously? lol Not long ago, she advertised a new program she was sponsoring called "The GNOWFGLINS e-course".

Now, GNOWFGLINS is one HUGE acronym. But, what it stands for is important...and it's one of the big concepts we've lost in the way our society functions. It stands for

God's
Natural
Organic
Whole
Foods
Grown
Locally
IN
Season

For us, the word Organic doesn't mean mega-farms that meet the lame-o government rules to stamp "organic" on their label. And, while we occasionally visit Whole Foods, it doesn't mean fifteen dollar heads of lettuce either. :)

Organic means we grow whatever we can...and really believe that God has worked out the ecology that keeps those plants healthy (maybe I'll blog about our garden this summer). We go to the farmer's market and talk to the man behind the table about why he planted that variety of cucumber and what he did to control the cucumber beetles. We look that man in the eye and introduce him to our children. We try to steer clear of farms that routinely spray. We try DESPERATELY not to buy Genetically Modified plants. But, as that gets harder and harder, our garden gets bigger and bigger.

Okay, enough about that. Here's the point: I signed up for the GNOWFGLINS e-course and it has THOROUGHLY helped me to sink these routines into our life. I wanted to share it with everyone because I think it makes the cross-over to a nourishing diet MUCH MUCH EASIER.

That is all. :)

http://gnowfglins.com/ecourse/classes/fundamentals/

The Hidden Dangers of Dating - Practice for Divorce

2010-04-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone! It's been a while...but I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my mom. I really wish I'd appreciated her when I was young as much as I do now. How unfortunate. But, we're making up for lost time now. :)

Anyway, there are so many blogs swimming in my head, we've got to finish up the dating idea. So, without further ado, here is the next part...practice for divorce.

I think we're probably all on the same page by this point. Marriage is important. It's the most important decision of will that we'll make in our lives.

**Let me point out here (so that we don't get off track) that we don't "decide" to "choose" Jesus. In fact, just that verbiage makes me frustrated. You can't say a "repeat after me" prayer and be saved. It doesn't work that way. That false information is basically how I ended up in places I never wanted to be. That's a lie. So...that's why marriage is the most important choice we make. We can come back to that later.**

Now, since we all agree (remember, this is my blog - hehe) that marriage is of DRASTIC importance, I think we can agree that we are, in large part, unprepared. I wanted to give you a little clip from a sermon given by Dr. Voddie Baucham at Hardin Baptist Church (blogger won't let me). You can get the full sermon here: http://www.puritanfellowship.com/2007/11/child-training-dr-voddie-baucham-49-min.html Everyone should listen to it if they have time. But, until then, this is the text of the clip I wanted to share:

"...that's what we're communicating. You don't believe me, talk to someone who has a child, 10, 11, 12, 13 years old, and ask them about their future goals for that child's college. They'll tell you how much money they're saving. They'll tell you how much it's going to cost by then. They'll tell you why they moved to where they live because of the schools in the neighborhood. They'll tell you the classes they have their children taking, and all the things they have been doing so that they'll get the right SAT scores to get into the right college. 10, 11, 12, 13 years old and they're already doing things to prepare their children for a college education. Then ask the same parent what they're doing to get 'em ready to be a husband or a wife. They will look at you like a calf staring at a new gate. They are doing NOTHING to prepare their children for marriage. Why? Because we do not value marriage. We don't. We don't. You who have sons and daughters, let me ask you something. What do you think will shape their future more: the degree they get from some university or the person with whom they enter into covenantal marriage and start a family? Think about it. We've bought a lie people. We've bought a lie. It is far move important for me to prepare my children to be husbands and wives and mothers and fathers than it is for me to prepare them for an entrance exam."

So...that's what I'm saying. That's what I've been saying all this time. You know what has shaped my life? My divorce. It affects me and my family EVERY DAY. Do I think everyone who dates is doomed for divorce? Nope. But, do I think it's more than a coincidence that dating is a very NEW practice and so are our astronomical divorce rates. Do I think that people didn't get divorced before dating? Nope. But, do I think the decision was made with much more gravity? Yep.

Yesterday, at the grocery store, I only had Ephram with me. He smiled at the cashier next to us. The guy that was our cashier said, "Aww yeah, he likes the ladies already, my man!" Really??? He's one. I know the kid was trying to be funny. But, that's what we teach now. We teach our girls to "play the field" without getting emotionally involved so that they can have lots of experiences with different guys, so they'll "know what they want". Yeah right. We'll come back to that. We teach our boys to have as many women as he can before he "settles" for one. Even "church people" are teaching their children these horrible things. We justify it because the culture has changed. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the culture has changed for the worse...not the better!

As parents, we're always teaching. Whether we like it or not, our children are always learning. So, what are we teaching our young children about marriage? When your daughter comes home in 6th grade and you notice some boy's name scribbled all over her notebook...and she tells you he's her "boyfriend"... what do you say? You KNOW she's not going to marry that guy. So, what are you teaching? Teaching her that she should hold his hand, maybe kiss him on the playground...in some situations much more...and then what? They'll "grow apart"? This becomes the trend for all of her relationships. Of course it does. I mean, she won't be ready for marriage until she's a twenty-something, right?

So then, when she's the right age (even though she's completely unprepared for marriage) you'll support that. She'll get married. She'll fail as a wife (because we all do) or he'll fail as a husband (because they all do) and they'll get divorced 5 or 10 years later because it didn't work out...or they grew apart. Or maybe even get divorced 30 years later...because out of some wayward sense of duty they were staying together for the children. REALLY????? That's what marriage can be summed up as? If that's the case, why get married? I'm serious.

But, there's a better picture. There's a beautiful world where we're teaching our children from their youth what will be required of them in marriage. We're explaining to them what it means to yield to one another by yielding our own wants to their needs...and TELLING THEM ABOUT IT IN LOVE. We're teaching them to trust by always being truthful with them. We're teaching them to conquer shortcomings by being honest about our own. We're showing them that we're all sinners...and their future husband/wife will be too...by being transparent about our own sin. We're pleading with them over their sin and praying for them from infancy. We're teaching them to pray - for themselves AND their future spouse from middle school. We're showing them how we're preparing them for marriage and teaching them that they want to marry someone who is equally prepared. We're praying together about that and spending time talking about what makes a good wife, what makes a good husband. We're being plain with them about how much work it takes to make a beautiful, secure, loving and FUN marriage.

Remember how Webster defined marriage? It wasn't defined as drudgery.

The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity,and for securing the maintenance and education of children.

But, most of all, we're not letting them practice for divorce. If we encourage casual relationships, then all relationships become casual. It has to be more serious...and YOU have to teach it.

Absolute Absurdity!

2010-03-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

The principal of the high school in my hometown has long been a cause for concern. His tactics and behavior are more than questionable. But, he has reached an all-time low. This is an email he sent to the parents of that school:

I have kept his misspellings and poor grammar in tact...just because.

Dear Bulldogs:

Cameron Henry, Representative from New Orleans, has filled a bill allowing home schooled students to play high school sports in our schools. We faced this same issue last year and defeated the bill. At the reason LHSAA meeting, the principals across the state voted overwhelming against allowing them to play. I belive there were only three (3) votes in favor. Private and public schools voted against this proposition.

I received a call from a parent from Breaux Bridge, asking that I meet with her to discuss this bill. I informed her that I would not change my position regardless of how the bill is written. It is her right to fight for what she believes, and it is also my right to fight for the students who are enrolled at CHS. The only reason I mention this person is because there are parents here in St. Martin Parish who are pushing this bill, and are actively fighting to get it passed. There are, however, many more parents with children enrolled in public, private and parochial schools than there are home schooled parents, and we can defeat this bill if we take action to fight it. I ask that you call your legislators and ask that they vote to defeat this bill. Senator Hebert and Representative Mills, I am sure, have already been contacted by the other side so we need to make our views known ASAP. I know for sure that Rep. Mills had no idea that we opposed the bill the last time because
the home schooled parents had made their case to him and we had been silent. (They are very loud and very vocal!) Please contact ANY legislator, including Rep. Henry, and let them know your position.

This is a link to the bill on the legislature website: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=682097

I will send more information when I receive it from the LHSAA.

Sincerely,

Anthony G. Polotzola, Principal
Cecilia High School
St. Martin Parish Schools
337-667-6145, Ext. 3303

I am ABSOLUTELY appalled!! Not only is it ludicrous that he has a problem with homeschool students participating in sports (did he forget that we taxpayers pay for that school, yet DO NOT USE IT??), but since when is it the principal's place to make policy? Talk about drawing divisive lines! I am FURIOUS. I think I'll have to drive down to Louisiana...I think I'll stage a protest. UGH.

The Hidden Dangers of Dating - about having friends of the same gender

2010-02-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

Another reply to a Facebook comment...

But, first, let me say to Christina, thank you for weighing in. While I do agree with the notion of what you wrote, it's probably not to the same degree...and that's probably because of my own naivety. :) I just want to add here that we don't believe in preordination...so our perspective is probably a little different. :)

That said, I do agree that the definition of adultery is more than just someone who has sex with a person they're not married to :

{ Webster: 3. Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the seventh commandment.}

However, I agree with both of you. I agree with Esther in that having friendships with children of the opposite sex is vital. My daughters have a brother. We also have several homeschooling families with sons that are the girls' age. They interact. They play board games together and they all enjoyed sledding in my friend's back yard on the ice. They are learning - and, yes, I would NEVER want my girls to marry the first boy that they ever interacted with. But, that's where our agreement ends...because I do agree with Christina.

Our girls interact with my friend's sons...but never alone, and never away from us (me and my friend). Let me say this – Christina, Esther was my roommate in “boarding school”. She knows the old me. Esther, Christina and I bonded over a “how to be a better wife” seminar...she knows the new me.

So, let me establish some common ground. I grew up as the definition of a tom-boy. Even though I was a cheerleader and took a gymnastics class and ended up dancing in high school, I never liked girls much...and for all the reasons Christina mentioned, plus some. I had 3 sisters...and we weren't friends. So, there was a group of boys that lived near my house that I became friends with. I'm not sure if they appreciated me always hanging around (hehe) or if they just tolerated me. But, my little sister and I were soon close friends with two that lived near our house. We considered them our brothers. Once we were older, however, and they started having girlfriends, that friendship naturally dissolved. In that time, I also had a few girlfriends that I spent time with. But, when I went to boarding school, I missed that male companionship. So, I made another guy friend. I'm sure we all (of LA School) remember Andre Le. He was where I found my solace at LA School. We hung out, shot pool, and discussed all the drama around us. :) It was comfortable. Here is the problem. I still have love for Andre Le. My husband understands it...he's not jealous or unsure of my love for him. But, it's not fun to share my affections between my husband and my boyfriends past. The first time my husband and I went on a date and decided to go to a pool hall, that entire evening was shared with Andre Le. My husband brought home a post card from California (we're collecting them for homeschool) and my thoughts went immediately to a post card Andre sent me from Hawaii when he was in the Marine Corps. For some, that might not be a problem. For me, it feels unfair...to both of us.. Now, as an adult, most of my guy-friends are married. Whether or not they'd ever speak it, there is a strange tension between their wives and me. They don't like me...and I understand it. I'm okay with it. I'd probably feel the same way.

Now, let me make this clear. I don't resent or regret my friendships. They are part of my past and I don't really live with regret. But, I learned NOTHING about the marriage relationship from any of those guys. My husband and I don't interact the same way that Andre and I did. I don't treat my husband the same way that I treated the boys I grew up with. And, if he treated me the way they did, I wouldn't like him nearly as much as I do. :) Not to mention, I can see my past clearly...and know that it wasn't the best way. I could have all those same memories with my girlfriends...with none of the discomfort of emotional ties to another man.

I know you may not agree, Esther. But, I TRULY appreciate your input. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And, please, keep commenting. :D Thoughts that oppose mine (that aren't merely antagonistic) are always welcome...and help me to be a better parent!

The Hidden Dangers of Dating - Defining Things

2010-02-04T03:06:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a while. :) But, I really want to continue writing about dating.

Let's talk about what that means. When I use that word, I'm talking about children and young adults. Specifically, I'm referring to those still under the headship of their parents and residing at home. I'm talking about everyone from children whose parents encourage them to have a "boyfriend or girlfriend" when they're 6 years old to fourteen and fifteen year olds who are "exclusive". This is actually a difficult term to define because each has his own idea of what should be involved.

To prove this, I thought about linking to the urban dictionary **WARNING** I can barely skim that site without being assaulted by multiple vulgar words. So, I decided not to link to it. Instead, I will tell you this: every definition I read involved two or three evenings of money spending (read: movies, dinner, theater) followed closely by sex on the third date. That is the cultural definition of dating. Any movie or television show that is popular today will confirm this. I want to make this VERY clear - this series is NOT just about not having sex before marriage. It is about MUCH MUCH MORE than that. So, we'll have to define a few more words. Let's start with intimacy. I've noticed that when I mention that word, most people my age (30) and younger assume I'm talking about physical intimacy. Let me just say that's not what it means. Webster (again, ARTFL) defines intimacy as Close familiarity or fellowship; nearness in friendship. This definition is important, because it's how WE define dating: intimacy between a boy and girl or man and woman. Yes, you read between the lines correctly. We don't think it's okay for our daughters to be "besties" with a boy. We think it will be equally inappropriate for our son to be in an intimate relationship (read close friends) with a girl.

I know. In this age of sexual equality, it's crazy to think that a girl can't just be friends with whomever she pleases! But, we aren't really concerned about what everyone around us thinks. Remember when you would ask your mom if you could _________________ (fill in the blank) in High School and when she said no you'd say, "But Julie's mom said she could!" Probably, your mom would follow that up with, "well, I'm not Julie's mom!" or something similar. Well, it's like that...only bigger. :D

Okay, we'll get into intimacy more later - but remember, this post is about definitions. Think about the word "courtship". If your mind works anything like mine, that word brings to mind bustled gowns and "high society" of old. But, put that image aside and let's define the word. Again, we call on old Webster.

2. The act of wooing in love; solicitation of a woman to marriage.

This method of courtship, [by which] both sides are prepared for all the matrimonial adventures that are to follow. Goldsmith.

Now, even dictionary.com agrees that courtship means wooing. What's been lost, however, is the understanding that it will end in marriage. That is the reason we choose to train our children for courtship, and not dating. I'm not sure if this is clear - so let me say it plainly. We believe (contrary to most of society) that marriage is an important and irreplaceable institution - a relationship that boys and girls should be preparing for from childhood. And, in this situation, practice DOES NOT make perfect!

The Hidden Dangers of Dating - Backing up a little

2010-01-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

It has occurred to me that this dating thread had no formal introduction. So, I'm taking a few steps back. I think we should have some common ground for what we're talking about. Since the whole purpose of "dating" should be marriage, this post is best opened with a definition of marriage - that way we're all on the same page. If you're new to this blog, you should know that I only use the old Webster's dictionary - before Merriam mucked it up. :) You can find that here: http://machaut.uchicago.edu/ It's searchable and very thorough. Now that's out of the way, here's the 1828 definition of marriage:

MAR''RIAGE, n. [L.mas, maris.] The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity,and for securing the maintenance and education of children.

That definition is quite a mouthful, but compare that with the current definition provided by dictionary.com:

MAR⋅RIAGE the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.

Now, I'm sure I don't have to point out the differences, but I'm going to anyway. First of all, no longer is marriage the act of uniting. Now, it's a social institution. These days, marriage is just a governmental arrangement. Why is that important? Because all of the authority of the marriage bond is gone.

Second, there is no longer a definition of what it means to be married (mutual affection, fidelity, permanency). Now, all we have is a legal commitment that establishes a decision. Why would you even bother "making it legal"? Why not just wear rings and say - this is evidence of our decision? Simply stated, there is a deep-seated instinct in us that says marriage is a promise. That's what it's supposed to be, anyway.

Read that last sentence by Webster. He understood it. Instituted by God, preventing promiscuity, domestic felicity (The state of being happy; blessedness; blissfulness; enjoyment of good.) and *check this out* SECURING THE MAINTENANCE AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN. whoa.

Anyone who knows me understands that I am resisting a SERIOUS tangent right now. :)

Okay...now, quick, think of someone you know whose marriage represents felicity. Okay, I'll wait...

Yep, still waiting. Oh, you thought of a couple? Good! But don't worry, there aren't many people with a go-to list of happy marriages. Of course, there are several different reasons for that. For the sake of this thread, we'll start at the beginning...Dating.

A Break From the Dating Thread

2009-12-31T14:02:00.000-08:00

For a look at our Jackson 2009...

Another Response...

2009-12-09T09:10:00.001-08:00

Dom, I want you to know that I'm pretty sure you could tell me my hair is ugly...and I'd walk away knowing that you were just concerned for me. :) I think it would take A LOT for you to offend me. Honestly, I've been such a jerk to so many people that someone really has to be downright mean for me to be offended. And, with that said, I want to reply to everything you wrote...to elaborate...but I don't have time this morning (my chickens think they need more hay just because it's 19 degrees outside - the nerve!)

But, as soon as I can (read: tomorrow morning) I'm going to respond. Let me just say that this: we keep our kids out of Sunday School because we think it's one of the major contributors of the "dumbing down" of America. It's like saying to my kids, "you're not smart enough or well behaved enough to sit with me and listen to the pastor, so you go color a picture instead". I know that sounds harsh...and I hope everyone knows that I don't mean to offend - it's just how we feel.

The purpose of saying that is so you know that choice isn't out of a desire to isolate them...they still spend PLENTY of time playing with those same kids after church. ;) And, we homeschool mostly because the current public school curriculum is in DIRECT conflict with our religious beliefs (and with most Christians', they just choose not to do anything about it). While I don't think I need to protest at the local school and demand that they teach what I believe, I do know that it's the parents' responsibility (from a biblical perspective) to train and educate our own children...

So, we homeschool. And, we will teach them about Darwin and Plato and Freud...just not in the same context they'd get at school. And, honestly, I appreciate your concerns...because they help me to keep my own in check, you know? We will DEFINITELY teach the girls that our beliefs aren't the norm...we actually talk a lot about what other people believe and why we don't believe that. I mean, I guess they have the "benefit" of having parents that have been down many BAD roads...it's nothing but negative for us, so I'll consider this the silver lining...at least we can tell them, "yeah, I've been there...and it may look cool from the outside, but the truth is that it's empty."

Okay, so I'm responding. :) The chickens will have to wait - good thing I type quickly. :D There are a couple of other things I wanted to point out. First, while we do agree with the Duggars on some things, we definitely don't see eye-to-eye. We disagree on some relatively small issues (I can't stand the food they feed their children...it actually really frustrates me!) And we disagree on some relatively big issues - like, we don't believe that women/girls have to wear skirts and should't cut their hair. Just so you know. :)

But, I do know a couple families that ended the way Misty described. And, honestly, the common thread there seemed to be pride. The parents are so determined to have things go the way they plan, that they don't allow or encourage any discussion or questioning from their children. I think that is DANGEROUS!! They just say, "this is how we do it...because the Bible says so"...when, in reality, they're enforcing things just because someone else told them that's what they should do. We want our children to be "thinkers". We encourage them to ask us about things they don't understand...just do it politely. :D While I'll never tolerate a CHILD that says, "that's dumb, I'm not doing that", I'll always sit down with one that says, "mom, I don't understand why you want it that way." You know?

And, I wanted to mention the control you talked about. I know what you're saying. Honestly, I probably would have felt the same way if I'd met myself 10 years ago. :) I truly believe that one of the ways that parenting has been seriously damaged (and our society now looks like a train wreck) is that we are convinced that children are as capable of logic and reason as we are. I promise you, it only takes one baby to realize that those are things they have to be taught. But, parents don't teach right and wrong or truth and lies anymore…because that would just be way too controlling. We firmly believe in spending time with people that don't believe the same as we do. We only believe that exposure should be gradual. I mean, if you teach a child that 1 + 1 equals 2, then that very day you leave them with a bunch of kids their own age who tell them it equals something entirely different, they always come home thinking mom's an idiot…because their PEERS said so. :D

We want our children to UNDERSTAND what we believe before we just throw them out for people to teach them that they're wrong. I remember in Dr. Hall's class one day a girl said that it was stupid to follow Jesus - because he was touted as a bringer of peace and love, yet he beat people with a whip because they broke the rules. I can't remember her name - and she's not in my Junior yearbook (I can't find my senior one) but, that one statement changed my theology - and my LIFE. Seriously.

Now, she was wrong…in a lot of ways…but, I had been raised to be a Christian because it was what my parents said…I didn't understand much about what being a Christian meant. And, I wasn't supposed to question ANYTHING. You know? My point is, my children aren't going to be that way…hopefully. They're going to understand what we believe, because we're going to teach them. To me, that's WAY more important than anything they could get out of a social club. I'm off topic here - I just wanted to assure you that "controlling" isn't something I"m really concerned about. We don't plan to MAKE our children court instead of date. We believe that by the time they're that age, they'll agree with us…because they'll understand.

And, forgive me for assuming, but I imagine that when you were growing up you didn't spend a whole lot of time talking with your parents/family about what marriage and relationships should be. I imagine any talk of boyfriends wasn't very deep (I'm only imagining b/c I think that's what most of us got - because as parents, we avoid what we fear). Anyway, Alexa's 7. We talk about relationships a lot. Perry and I are relatively transparent with them about ours (barring some non age-appropriate topics). I tell them often about the ways that I struggle as a wife and mom…and ways that I could be better…and Perry does the same…as a husband and dad. We want them to know that the man they marry WILL NOT be perfect…and they won't always be on the same page…but they should at least be in the same Chapter…not just the same book, you know? If husband and wife have a desire for the same end result, everything in the middle can be worked out. I just think that most girls are so afraid of scaring off the guy, that they don't even discuss the end result. Am I right about that?

A Complete Response - A VERY LONG RESPONSE. :)

2009-12-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

My blog feeds over to Facebook. On Facebook, a woman that I consider a good friend asked this about my last blog:

In an effort to understand this better, I have to ask what you mean by "dating". Obviously no one would ever advocate that your children (or anyone), sleep around and fall in and out of love or lust over and over again with no concern for their own feelings and bodies. But do you mean that your children should only "date" the person they eventually marry? There are lessons to be learned from caring about someone but it eventually not working out, yes? Can't always pick the first thing the salesman brings out to show you! :)

I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to reply - but in my line of work, I don't get to spend a lot of consecutive time online . :) I'm more of a drive-by surfer. lol So, I wanted to wait until I could actually answer this completely...and I'm going to do my best...and I'll try not to ramble TOO MUCH. Oh yeah, this response is for everyone and may contain more information than my friend asked for. ;)

Most importantly, let me reply to the first part - about sleeping around and falling in and out of love. When I consider my children's futures, I don't even recognize that as an option. What I mean by that is, I don't believe that they'll consider that as an acceptable way to live. So, no - that's not what I consider dating. :)

Onto that thought that they should only "date" the person they eventually marry. Honestly, yes - that would be IDEAL in my opinion. But, before I go into that in more detail, let me say that we're not going to raise them with that expectation...because we also don't want them to think that just because they are "courted" by a young man, they have to marry him. Does that make sense? Okay - about that being ideal...

Before we start this conversation, we have to either agree or disagree that divorce is bad. That may seem silly, but I know several people that believe divorce is not a big deal. I'm divorced. I can't speak for everyone, but my divorce was and is a HUGE deal. It affects my life EVERY DAY. So, for the sake of this blog, I'm going to assume that you agree with me. :) Now, since we agree that divorce is bad - don't you find a striking resemblance between what you said, "There are lessons to be learned from caring about someone but it eventually not working out" and the entire concept of divorce? I mean, we're not talking about abusive, destructive, toxic marriages. One of the major purposes of being involved in our children's lives until they're married is to weed out those relationships. I'm talking about the "we just fell out of love" divorces...and the "we grew apart" divorces and the "we just couldn't get along" divorces.

I'm talking about relationships in which one or both people have chosen to be in a relationship and then for one reason or another decide that it's just not "working out". I ABSOLUTELY believe that "dating" (which I'll define in one second) is just practice for divorce.

Okay. Stop hyperventilating. I promise, I'm not any crazier than you already thought I was. Let me explain what I think dating is. We define "recreational dating" as intimate relationships during the years between childhood and the age when that child is ready for marriage. I don't mean physically intimate...for us that isn't a choice. I mean emotionally and spiritually intimate. I'm talking about the "boyfriend" from 7th grade...and that guy from summer break your sophomore year...and the boy you "dated" in high school that you thought *might* have been your "high school sweetheart", but he had NO intentions of long-term commitment. I'm jumping ahead here... "Practice for divorce" and "False Hopes" are my next 2 dating blogs. I'm finding it very difficult to answer this quickly. :D

Let me say this: there are men in my life, who I was never physically intimate with, that own chunks of my heart.

When I was in fourth grade (I was nine) I was "going out" with this boy. We never kissed. We never actually went out on a date. We held hands...and sat together at a football game...I think. We were just "going out" because everyone else was...and it was what we were supposed to do. I remember when he was no longer in middle school (he was in 7th grade) and he sent me a carnation from the JUNIOR HIGH!! I was on top of the world!! I have never forgotten that feeling. It felt like love - you know...I was special and worth thinking about and all of that stuff... And I don't know if anything will ever rival the magnitude of that feeling...because it was the first, you know? Don't get me wrong, that's a TOTALLY different feeling than the day I got to be Perry's wife...or the first time we went to a military function together...or etc, etc, etc...but, that first feeling is different. It was powerful. Soon, in that little "going out" scenario, I learned a bunch of lessons... don't seem too concerned with what he thinks, don't act like you care, and DEFINITELY don't tell him how excited you are about the carnation...all of those actions lead to being alone. DID I MENTION I WAS NINE??????

Now, don't think that my entire parenting plan comes from a nine-year-old's relationship. :) I just wanted to reiterate the point from the other day - that the exuberance felt in the beginning of a relationship should endure to marriage. If my girls are courted by a guy...and then they mutually decide that they aren't a good fit...she won't walk away with the same wounds. As we say in the military - she won't feel like she was "thrown under the bus". :)

Let me put it this way: we plan to spend our kids' childhood figuring out (with them) what will be important (to each of them) in a spouse. Maybe we'll have a working list. Then, if a young man in our lives finds one of my daughters to be a girl he'd like to spend the rest of his life with (and she is ready for that sort of commitment), Perry and I will spend time with that boy...to see if he measures up to what our daughter wants/needs in a husband. If he does, then he can come over and "hang out" with her...to see if she agrees with us. We all know that "love is blind"...especially for girls! We just plan to help them see clearly. :)

And, we're not raising our children in the "because I said so" method. Everything we do, every decision we make, we try to explain to the girls (and eventually Ephram). They don't understand everything yet, but they do understand that we don't make decisions lightly. We do everything by prayer and supplication (humble petition; an earnest request; an entreaty). We weigh pros and cons, we consider the consequences...then we make a decision and pray for favor. That, in itself, is something that most people I know didn't get - because we were raised by the "because I said so" generation. That is a life skill that most of us figured out by making a bunch of mistakes and seeing the consequences unfold in our own lives. I definitely grew up with the idea that some lessons just have to be learned the hard way. Now, as an adult, I know tons of people that didn't learn the hard way...okay, I'm getting derailed. Point is, when I was growing up, a girl (she was about 18 then) told me to play the field, get everything I could from every guy I could...just don't sleep with them. So, that's what I did. Let me say that my children will be much better advised on how to figure out if the person they are interested in is someone they could love with...FOREVER.

Does that answer the question? Maybe not. This is a pretty in-depth topic for me. We believe that the marriage relationship is one of the most important things we do...so we should do it well.

Flee Youthful Passions

2009-12-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

Here's my next "dating" post...

Youthful Passions

My friend Misty sent me a video a while back. It was a good video. Honestly, it sums up most of the hard things we believe in about 8 minutes. In the video, he talks about “recreational dating” for about 45 seconds. It’s worth watching.

The basic point is, if you’re not ready to get married, what is the point of dating?

Paul said to Timothy in 2d Timothy chapter 2

22 So m flee n youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with o those who call on the Lord p from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant q controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And r the Lord's servant [4] must not be quarrelsome but s kind to everyone, t able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents u with gentleness. God v may perhaps grant them repentancew leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from x the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Do you think dating would be considered “fleeing youthful passions?”

2009-12-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Earthquake again this morning. Crazy. I haven't been blogging much. Honestly, things have been busy here...and facebook is so much easier to comment on. :) But, I want to get back to my blog. I like it. I've enjoyed (the last couple hours) reading back through posts from the past. There are a million blogs floating around in my head at all times. I guess I'll just have to get them on the computer. For now, my thoughts are all over the place...so bear with me. :)

Perry's parents came to visit for Thanksgiving. That was nice. They stayed for a week. That definitely made our first Thanksgiving away from home easier to swallow. I did miss my family. Thanksgiving is a big holiday for me. It's the one that I like to celebrate the most. Have you read the story of Squanto the Patuxet brave? If you haven't, read it. Consider him a modern Joseph...sort of. What a mighty God we serve!

Well, until tomorrow...

Earthquake This Morning...Again

2009-11-16T13:24:00.001-08:00

It's our new alarm clock. Right around 5:15am. :)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/us2009pban.php

Oklahoma Earthquake

2009-11-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

Our first OK earthquake woke us up at 5am this morning. So much for sleeping in on Saturday. :)

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2009nzav/us/index.html

Don't sweat the small stuff

2009-11-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

From Breathing Grace on not sweating the small stuff...

Being a homemaker is big job, and some days it does feel like a hard one. We put in long hours, and we never get to punch out. I don't know that I'll ever turn cartwheels for the opportunity to clean up the contents of a regurgitated meal when multiple children are battling a case of the stomach flu. For those of us who've taken upon ourselves the awesome responsibility of seeing that our children get the best possible education, the challenges may seem never ending. But given the scores of women with empty arms longing for just one child to care for, I choose my life. Warts and all. While I'm often tired, often sleepy, and often long for a trip to bathroom by myself, these aren't hard things. Not really. Inconvenient, maybe. But I've done hard, and this ain't it.

Read the whole post if you have time.

Thanks Danielle, for the reminder.

2009-10-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

I never posted new pictures of Honey. She's so, so pretty.

Sick...Yuck

2009-10-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for two days now. Spent most of the night giving my dinner back. Hubby has been taking care of me and the kids for two days. I have never been so thankful for the man that God gave me to.

Our Newest Family Members

2009-10-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy month in our house. :) We've added a few members to our family. First, there are our two new mousers...SUPER CUTE little free spayed girls from Craigslist!

Then, there's another new girl. This one, though, was much more highly anticipated. She's a full-blood mid-sized Jersey. We just ADORE her already.

She's still a little unsure about moving away from her mommy, but hopefully we'll get better pictures soon. Isn't she ADORABLE??

Where have all the Titus 2 women gone?

2009-10-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

This is Titus 2:

Teach Sound Doctrine

2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound [1] doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves [2] are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

There is A LOT of goodness in Titus Chapter 2. A LOT. But, I just want to focus on verses 3, 4, 5 and 15. I consider myself to be in the "young woman" category - so this is very important to me. I find a desperate lack of "older women" (as defined by Titus 2) in our society. Where are all the women who have raised a dozen children who all walk with the Lord? Where is the mom whose "teenaged" children are a blessing that she is thankful for? When do I get to be encouraged and corrected by the woman who LOVED staying home to train and homeschool her children? Unfortunately, those women are few and far between for our generation. Unfortunately, their moms were throwing them under the feminism bus. Unfortunately, very few of those women exist. Next time you're in church, look around you. How many of the older women in your church were working at home? How many of them are kind and submissive? Do you know even one that loves (see note) her children?

I'll tell you that I don't know many. But, I'll also tell you that I'm not trying to whine about it. I, actually don't COMPLETELY blame them. I want you to see this as a call to something greater. After you look around your church and you don't see many of those older women, look for a younger woman. Look around and find a woman (or girl) who is a step behind you in the process of life. Do you have 2 kids? Find a girl with her first baby. Are you still snuggling with your first blessing? Find a newlywed. Be careful. Accept, first, that you are full of mistakes. Know that you are wrong about some of the things you believe. Be honest about the fact that there isn't an older, wiser woman (who has been through what you've been through) helping you to see light. Then, figure out the TRUTHS that God has shown you (by scripture only) and share those with someone younger. Titus 2 women will never exist if we don't kick-start the process.

And don't forget verse 15. In this day of endless political correctness, we have a responsibility to each other (Christian women). We MUST exhort each other without apology, but in love. Otherwise, we're dooming our daughters to the same fate as our own.

**Note: I am not insinuating that there are a bunch of women in the church that don't care about their children. I am, however, talking about love the way the Bible teaches it. You know that verse, the one everyone wants to use in an argument with their spouse. Patient, kind, not envious, not BOASTFUL, not arrogant, not rude, not selfish, not easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs. And, I don't expect that there is a single woman who has ever measured up to that. Just show me a woman that wants to, or tried to.

What a Legacy!

2009-10-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Woman Leaves 1400 Grand Children

There is a clip of the original article at the Vaughnshire Farm Blog. The "talkbacks" on the original artictle are crazy though. :)

Blogs to Write

2009-10-01T05:50:00.000-07:00

I have a million thoughts swimming in my head. I want to write them all down. I have been avoiding my blog because I don't know where to start. Lame, huh? During nap time today, I will write the first one - Where have all the Titus 2 women gone? Maybe one day I'll find a layout that I like. I may have to switch hosts. If you know of a good wide-screen blogger template, let me know. I don't like feeling cramped. :)

Lori

Happy Birthday Aliza!!

2009-09-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today we are reminded to be thankful for our sweet, sweet Aliza Rae. She's four today...and we can't imagine a minute without her creative, beautiful, elegant personality.

Thank You Lord!

Create in Me a Clean Heart, Oh God

2009-09-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

The verse I am meditating on today is Psalm 51:17. Brokenness has been on my heart over and over and over for all of this month. There are a million things I want to blog about that. But, I think Psalm 51 is a good one for everyone. Below is a good introduction from Hebrew For Christians. If you haven’t checked that site out, you should. What I’ve read so far is wonderful.

And I blogged about Dr. Baucham’s series on Brokenness recently. Also incredible.

Lev Tahor -

Create in me a clean heart, O God

Create in me a clean heart, O God (Psalm 51:10a)

When King David cried out to the Lord, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," he did not use the Hebrew word yatsar, which means to "fashion" or "form" something from pre-existing material, but instead used the word bara, a verb exclusively used to refer to God's creation of the cosmos (Gen 1:1).

David understood that no amount of reformation of his character would be enough, and instead appealed to that very power of God that alone could create "out of nothing." Such was the nature of the remedy required.

The heart (lev) is the inner person, the seat of the emotions, thought, and will. The Bible describes the heart of man as "desperately wicked" (Jer 17:9). The Lord Jesus declared that the heart is the source of all our uncleanness, moral defilement, and perversity (Matt 15:19-20).

Hebrew for Christians
Copyright © John J. Parsons
All rights reserved.
www.hebrew4christians.com

Hebrew For Christians

2009-09-14T09:08:00.001-07:00

I am LOVING this site. Yes, Debbie and Kristi, lol, I want to marry it. hehehe

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/index.html

Check this part out:

Lukewarm and Lovin' It

2009-09-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

Francis Chan speaks to the Cornerstone Congregation at Simi Valley. What a poignant message for all of us.

Political Pullback for the Christian Right?

2009-09-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

Washington Post Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040303026.html

The older generation, represented by such icons as James Dobson, who recently retired as head of Focus on the Family, has compromised too much, according to a growing phalanx of disillusioned Christians. Pragmatically speaking, the Christian coalition of cultural crusaders didn't work.

and

Moore says: "In the modern era of the Christian right, we have traded these proven methods for a mess of pottage . . . and often in a shrill and nagging manner, which makes our God look weak in the eyes of the world."

and

"You have the choice between a way that works and brings no credit or money or national attention," says Thomas. "Or, a way that doesn't work that gets you lots of attention and has little influence on the culture."

Amen!

Finding Value in the Valueless

2009-09-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Now that we have a son, I'm always skimming Christian blogs for insight into the world of raising godly men. I find this an intriquing challenge. I read something this morning that I thought was beautiful...so I'll share:

The Kansas Milkmaid

And here's a clip:
Moreover, with proper guidance they can broadly apply the skill of seeing value in the valueless to life in general. This attribute makes for well rounded Christian men. Christ, in His walk on earth turned to those labeled worthless. He was ridiculed for spending time with sinners. Clearly, He saw value in what the religious elite saw as valueless.

Happy Sunday

Obamacare

2009-08-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

I wish that everyone "supporting" this healthcare plan would read it. It IS a choice between "healthcare" and freedom. Why doesn't everyone see that??? Molly, I love your heart, but the woman from the doctor's office the other day probably wouldn't appreciate page 272. This won't be a solution. It is the CHURCH'S responsibility to care for the hurting and the needy. Government regulation will only lead to more loss of freedoms.

Read the plan. http://docs.house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf

* Health care will be rationed much like Canada and Europe Sec 123 pg 29
* The (unelected) Health Commissioner will choose your benefits Sec 123 pg 42
* Illegal aliens will be provided free health care Sec 152 pg 50
* Government will have access to your bank accounts for electronic transfers Sec 152 pg 59
* Private health care plans will be brought under the control of government Sec 164 pg 52
* All employers must enroll employees into the government plan
* Doctors salaries will be set by the government Sec 203 pg 127
* Cancer patients will have their health care severely rationed Sec 1145 pg 272
* Hospital expansions will be controlled by government Sec 280 pg 321

Why do I have to be painted as heartless and not caring if I don't agree with socialized healthcare? Emotionalism is a dangerous way to make decisions about the future of our nation. I FULLY SUPPORT helping the hurting. WITH MY LIFE, MY MONEY, MY TIME. I do not support the Obamacare.

Why does it always have to be about race???

2009-08-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is INFURIATING! Watch the first clip - listen to them paint the picture of the ignorant "white people" carrying weapons because they're enraged that a "black man" is taking over the country.

Now watch it again - and notice how carefully they crop the armed man.

Now watch the "armed man" being interviewed:

Yup - he's a "black man". Why does the media continue to propagate hate? Why does the media encourage and promote racism. I've had ENOUGH!!! Why can't the president be a lousy president without being a lousy BLACK president. Spread the truth people - don't be part of the problem...be part of the solution!

Adrian Rogers 1931 Quote

2009-08-21T09:37:00.001-07:00

Truth Worth Sharing:

“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Sadie's Gone

2009-08-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I listed Sadie for sale on the 18th - Tuesday. Yesterday (Wednesdeay) her new owners came and picked her up. I'm so happy that she got a good new home...but so sad to see her go. At least the guineas seem much more content now...maybe they sense the danger is gone. lol. Now, if I can just get some more guineas...

3 out of 32...I keep telling myself that it could be worse. haha

English Springer Spaniel For Sale

2009-08-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

We hate to do it. We're going to cry. Well, at least I will. But, we have to sell Sadie. Sadie is a "bird dog". She's an English Springer Spaniel bred out of hunting lines. At heart, she's a retriever. Because of this, we've spent HOURS playing fetch... her favorite game.

But also because of this, she wants to fetch my guineas... and my chickens...

EVERY. TIME. THEY'RE. OUT.

Sadie is a lover... the perfect family pet. She likes to run and play fetch and dance for treats. She is house broken and would make a great inside or outside dog. We have all the paperwork to register her - but we never turned it in... so she can be named whatever her new owners would like. Although, she responds to Sadie Mae.

Anyway - this is a sad thing for us, but the chickens and guineas outrank the dog at this stage of our lives. Let me know if you know someone that wants her. :)

Thanks,

lori

English Springer Spaniel for sale in Oklahoma

Guineas and Goats

2009-08-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

I guess that's a little extreme for a few birds, but out of 32 total guineas, we have 2 left. I'm sad.

At least our goats are still adorable. :)

Voddie Baucham on Brokenness

2009-08-02T11:37:00.000-07:00

A fabulous message - broken into 6 videos. A Must Watch/Listen.

Tim Tebow - and evidence for life

2009-07-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this article.

"We started praying for Timmy by name, and then we got pregnant so we just felt like God had a special plan for him," she said.

"They thought I should have an abortion to save my life from the beginning all the way through the seventh month," she recalled.

And on her due date - Aug. 14, 1987 - Pam gave birth to Timothy Richard Tebow, who she described as "skinny, but rather long." "We were concerned at first because he was so malnourished, but he definitely made up for it," she said, between laughs. Today Tim, now 20, stands at a solid 6'3" and 235 pounds.

School Room - Before and After

2009-07-27T23:11:00.000-07:00

For Jenny - see, I told you. :)

Finding Joy in the Hard Things

2009-07-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2009/07/finding-joy-in-hard-things/

Looks like I'm not the only one in this realization:

My reverie was broken as the next realization hit me full force. Somehow, somewhere, unawares, I had been robbed of my joy. The thief had struck; the damage had been done (John 10:10). The constant flurry of running from one thing to the next, always striving to do the right thing, the next thing, the hard thing, had taken its toll. In my well-intentioned efforts to live a life of purpose and passion, I found myself instead drained and coveting the easier life that now paraded before my imagination.

Why We Homeschool...Again.

2009-07-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

I snatched this from the Heart of Wisdom blog. The article was "Do We Shelve the Academic Requirements"

We want them to learn:

Science—All about God’s Creation
Math—About God’s order
History—About His-Story, His plan for the world and the redemption of His people
Government—How God has established human government for specific purposes
Language Arts—How to tell others about God’s truth (both writing and speaking)
Literature—To read of how He has affected other lives
Economics—To understand stewardship, God’s rules about money
Arts—To appreciate God’s gifts of music, drama, dance, and art, as forms of worship to Him
Health—To learn of God’s plan for nutrition and health

Proverbs 3:12

2009-07-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

I know that God loves me. Wanna know how? He chastens me faithfully. This morning, via a phone conversation with my big sister, He showed me that I have forgotten the value of my own righteousness. It is incredibly easy for me get distracted by life. Try to follow me here - I haven't worked this all the way out.

I want to do right. I desperately want to be who God wants me to be. But, in all my striving, I start focusing WAY TOO MUCH on what I'm doing. I mean, I **very gradually** start spending less and less time with God, begging for His will, and more time WORKING. That's what I do - I work. It's who I am.

So, the harder I work, the less I pray, the more I'm trying (without realizing) to do right on my own...and I am COMPLETELY INCAPABLE of anything good without God's direct help. TRUST ME. :)

Then, the harder I'm working, the more I'm failing, the more I project that failure onto my poor, unsuspecting husband. So, not only am I disappointing myself - but I'm making it a point to draw attention to his EVERY failure - so that I don't feel like such a failure myself. Please know that I don't do this on purpose. I'm not evil - entirely. I think.

Then, the more I harp on him, the harder he starts working...which as we've already seen...that just brings about more failure. So, we're both failing (patience, kindness, understanding, etc.) and we're getting more and more frustrated...until I finally listen...and hear God telling me that He already died for me...so that I don't have to be perfect...but I still don't feel relieved. I still feel like a failure.

So there. That's where I am. But, today, I can see where I am...which is a much better place than just not knowing where you are or what's going on. :)

I am thankful for a faithful God, who loves me as His own.

12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

Blog Redirection

2009-07-23T04:43:00.000-07:00

I originally established this blog to chronicle the things that God was teaching me and to share with women that are in a similar stage of growth. My blog has gone astray - hehehe - and I've been posting more about what we're doing than what we're learning. And while I want to continue posting about what we're doing, this is my warning that the atmosphere is about to get a little heavier.

That is all.

:)

God, Guns, Guts and American Pickup Trucks

2009-07-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Check out this video posted over at the Vaugnshire Farm Blog...

Blogging Slacker

2009-07-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

When I was single, I couldn't understand why it was so difficult for people to pick up and go away. When I was younger, and it was just me and Alexa, I still didn't get it. Now, I understand. Now that ours is a family of seven, going away takes more planning...but it also takes more recovery time. Today is the 18th of July. We've been home from Louisiana for over a month. Life is just now getting back to normal. My house is FINALLY all clean...I don't think I'll ever take another month-long trip with all these babies. Maybe when everyone is on their way to being teenagers....we'll see I guess.

Anyway, a few new pictures...first, the turnips that the cows DIDN'T destroy - there weren't many left. But, they were very yummy. :)

Then, we finally made butter...so yummy! I can't wait until we have our own cow - thus plenty of cream to skim!!

And, last - but certainly not least - a couple pictures of the kiddos. :)

And to prove that I am real...

Life

2009-07-02T04:19:00.000-07:00

I love when life plans my weekend for me...

Sheetrock patchwork - here I come...

When I'm Having a Tough Day, I spend some time with Voddie...

2009-06-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

This is what I came across today...am I the only one that's felt like this almost EVERY time I visit a new church?

If you’ve walked into a church service lately with a baby in your arms, chances are you are well aware of the new anti-child atmosphere that dominates much of the modern American church. There are smiling men and women stationed at every door ready to “guide” you to the nursery where your child will “have a very enjoyable experience” and be cared for by the best childcare staff in the history of the universe.
Rebuff these helpful people and their smiles will soon be replaced with determined glares. Things escalate slowly at first, but eventually the truth comes out. These people are not here to help you and your child; they are here to protect the sanctity of the sanitized worship environment. Their job is to see that you –and people like you—don’t ruin the service for everyone else. They’ve been warned about people like you. You just don’t get it. For millennia Christians have been denied the privilege of
enjoying worship the way God intended it (sans children); now we’ve finally arrived, and you want to mess it up by bring in your squawking baby! How selfish, inconsiderate, and unspiritual can you be?

The complete article is well worth reading. Thank you Dr. Baucham for yet another encouraging dose of apologetics.

New Pictures - just because

2009-06-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

PERFECT Ice cream bowls - purchased from Michael Flaherty. If you live in the Cecilia area and haven't picked up a piece from him, you really should. I'll get better pictures of the other pieces we bought when we were home. He really has some BEAUTIFUL work.

Ephram Cole Jackson - 3 1/2 months old

Alina Kate - in her TERRIFIC TWOS!!!

Aliza Rae Jackson - she'll be 4 in September!!!

Alana Lee Jackson - 5 Years Old

Daddy and Ephram :)

Someone's Cows are in my Garden

2009-06-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

What the Heck??

Too Cute to Not Share

2009-06-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Alana: Mom, can I sleep on the couch? Aliza won’t let me sleep with my Alina.

Aliza: Lana, you can. I’ll just sleep by myself…with just God and Floppy.

A Post From Louisiana - Picture Heavy

2009-06-01T02:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we've been here over a week now...and things are starting to settle down. I thought I'd post a few pictures of life as we know it here...

First, and most importantly, we got our Lana back! She's been spending some time with my parents...and we REALLY REALLY MISSED HER! I think she missed us too. :)

Then, she showed us my mom's new chicken yard. She might have been more excited about the chicken yard than about seeing us. :) hehe

Then, we met Blaise Micheal - and saw Renee for the first time in a long time. What a sweet tiny baby!

Shortly after that we got to see Aunt Mandi's BEAUTIFUL growing belly - we are SO excited to meet baby Noah!!

And Finally, just a few days shy of 3 months...Ephram is such a happy baby! I can't imagine a sweeter little man!!

A Gift For My Sister

2009-05-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

I scheduled this to post Saturday morning. She should have this by now. :) I just adore how the little giraffe turned out. He's really my first super successful applique. Yay! His shape comes from the Oh Frannson's Baby Quilt Pattern.

Something Made For Me...and Raw Milk

2009-05-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

I finally made this bag. I've been eye-balling it for a while...trying to justify it (I have too many bags already) and finally I just made it. So there. hehe

I used Daisy Dreams laminated cotton (by Michael Miller) for the outside (easy to clean) and Aqua Lava Flowers (also by Michael Miller) for the interior. Yes, I know...the two prints are loud...especially together. I don't care. :) I love them. Although, the laminated cotton was hard to press...and I wish it didn't wrinkle so easily. Oh well, with a bunch of little hands, wipeable is a huge PLUS.

Complete with thrifted button...

Also, I get a lot of google hits about Raw Milk in Louisiana. So, I'll post here tagged that way so that maybe it will hit google. We don't live there anymore. We live in Oklahoma. I have heard (through the grapevine of course) that the cow share we USED TO BE a part of is defunct. However, I would love to talk (offline) with anyone wanting to establish a new one...especially around the Lafayette area, as this would greatly benefit my family. :)

Anyway, since we're on our way to Louisiana tomorrow, I went over to our local farm (where we pick up our raw milk for $4.00 a gallon) and grabbed 10 gallons. I'll pick up another 10 tomorrow to carry home. Mmm...yummy raw milk...there's nothing better. I wish everyone could taste it and understand how RIDICULOUSLY good this milk is. Anyway. That's enough for now...need to finish packing. :)

Girlie Gift

2009-05-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Because I'm sure she's received it by now, I'm posting pictures of a friend's baby gift. I saw this pattern and HAD to make them. They're not perfect, just adorable...and the onesie just seemed right. :)

And, isn't this the COOLEST envelope you've ever seen??? One of my FAVORITE people in the world (hehehehe) sent me foldover elastic in this super-cool fabric envelope. Of course I couldn't cut into the adorable little cowboys, so Alexa and I picked all of the stitches out and once I decide what to make with it, I'll post a picture here. I'm LOVING this idea and will probably steal it. :)

Ida: the Missing Link at Last? - Answers in Genesis

2009-05-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

I LOVE when "scientists" get all giddy about disproving creation, and accidentally strengthen the argument. :)

Quoted from http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/05/19/ida-missing-link:

Ida: the Missing Link at Last? - Answers in Genesis
The remarkable preservation is a hallmark of rapid burial. Team member Jørn Hurum of the University of Oslo said, “This fossil is so complete. Everything’s there. It’s unheard of in the primate record at all. You have to get to human burial to see something that’s this complete.” Even the contents of Ida’s stomach were preserved. While the researchers believe Ida sunk to the bottom of a lake and was buried, this preservation is more consistent with a catastrophic flood.4 Yet Ida was found with “hundreds of well-preserved specimens.”5

A Few New Pictures

2009-05-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

First off,

I updated the Meal Plan page...added the lasagna recipe and I'm slowly changing over all of the recipes to the same format. My OCD demands it. Here's the link:

http://members.cox.net/jackson_family/mealplan.html

It's always changing. I get tired of something so I switch it out...or learn something new, etc. Hopefully, we'll be up to a monthly meal plan soon. I just don't know how to cook that many time-efficient meals.

Anyway, just typing out the Baked Oatmeal recipe this morning made me crave it. So, we had baked oatmeal this morning...OH SO GOOD!

I finally got the ceiling fan hung in the girls' room - don't have a picture yet...waiting until I get all their permanent curtains made. :)

We finished Alexa's first quilt top. She did all the piecing (well, I sewed it for her...we're not quite ready for that). And then I quilted it and bound it with a binding foot. I'm so excited!!

Format and Babies

2009-05-15T21:21:00.001-07:00

I changed the format again...it wasn't working for me.
Congratulations Renee and Gabi...May 15th is a good day to have a baby!

Ephram's Birth Story and a New Format

2009-05-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

This new format is very fidgetty...if that's a real word. If I can't fix it, I'll change it. And, I posted birth stories in the sidebar. But, here is Ephram's...

Ephram loves his sister

2009-05-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Another Great Teacher!

2009-05-07T04:39:00.001-07:00

Dr. Ravi Zacharias breaks it down... :)

More Dr. Voddie Baucham

2009-05-05T12:00:00.001-07:00

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting - as I know many many others have - for digital access to more of Dr. Baucham's sermons. FINALLY! Here is his sermon audio site:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/voddiebaucham

Just download the mp3...easy peasy

The Supremacy of Christ

2009-05-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

“How on earth, can a holy and righteous God know what I did and thought and said on yesterday and not kill me in my sleep last night? Until you ask the question that way, you don’t understand the issue. Until you ask the question that way, you believe the problem is OUT THERE.” – Voddie Baucham in “The Supremacy of Christ”

Guard Llamas...and donkeys

2009-05-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Too Cool. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8oO-GypOLA

Mandi's Lasagna

2009-04-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Was FABULOUS!! We are huge fans...

And the living room is blue! :) And I just have to paint that last ugly pink wall brown...then it will be BEAUTIFUL!

Oh, and that's my first quilt there on the couch. :)

Oh, and a picture from the kitchen. hehe

An Update - in Pictures

2009-04-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

While I haven't been updating my blog...we've been quite busy.

We've had yummy yummy Apple /Grape juice -

This is what happens in our house when I forget about a bag of apples and box of grapes...then don't find them until they're soft.

It's really a hit around here.

I think they're starting to hide fruit from me.

And a visit from Nanna...

And Pawpaw Ken...

And they bought us a FABULOUS housewarming gift!!!!!!!

And we bought us a housewarming gift.

And together we did this...

Because it used to look like this...

And I want it to be my chicken coop...but it still needs work. :)

The girls worked on getting more and more beautiful by the minute.

And Ephram worked on proving that he's bigger than a 2 month old baby...

And Sadie learned this - consistently, EVERY TIME.

And we got this in the mail. :)

And Perry did this...

So I could have this. :)

Oh, and we put these up...the kitchen is really coming together. I can't wait to have it all finished so that I can take really pretty pictures. hehe

There's more to post, but I have other things to do right now. :)

Almost There...

2009-04-19T18:52:00.001-07:00

The current object of my obsession...

6 weeks already

2009-04-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how the time is just slipping away. My mom always told me that time passes faster as you get older...I believe her...and it's scary. I already feel like the time is just melting away.

Anyway, here's our handsome, happy man.

I "Heart" Craigslist

2009-04-15T17:00:00.001-07:00

Old Sink

New Sink

And even though I love the purple-ish curtains, I changed my mind with the color-scheme. So, these are the new ones - the ones under the sink. I haven't finished painting this cabinet yet - it's just primed. So, bare with me. Anyway, I'm loving this little country-kitchen feel.

Do Re Mi

2009-04-14T19:57:00.001-07:00

Someone shared this with me...thought I'd pass it on. Was a nice end to a rough day.

Progress

2009-04-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

What is it the Tortoise says? "Slow and Steady..."

And check this out for an explanation of why I HAD to do something about this kitchen.

And, motivation for the new living room...and new kitchen curtains.

It'll come together in the end...you'll see. :)

Stick Figure Family

2009-04-11T06:31:00.001-07:00

HAHA! Our family doesn't fit on the screen!!

Make your Stick Figure Family

Kids say the darndest things...

2009-04-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

So, daughter number 2 runs into the room where hubby and I are and says, "daughter #3 threw a brick at me, and she hit me on my arm and my face."

**It was really just a tiny SLIVER of brick.**

Daughter number 3 (3 years old) is on her heels saying, "...and she said I did it on purpose, but I didn't"

Now, I'm getting good at this, so I quickly replied, "Aliza, did you throw the brick on purpose, or did it fly out of your hand?"

**Warning -don't take a sip of anything right now. If you already have, swallow!**

Daughter number 3's response - "It fell out of my hand...pause...all the way to Lana...pause...two times."

Hubby and I couldn't hide the amusement this time...and laughed so hard that they left thinking we were crazy.

Ahhh...kids say the darndest things.

New Things

2009-04-06T18:01:00.001-07:00

New Curtains for my kitchen window from clearance cloth napkins at Target. The colors are the inspiration for my kitchen update. Just picked the hems, sewed them together...and this is the result. I like them. These pictures are awful...I'll take new ones later...when all the dishes are done...and the window is clean...and it's not dark. :) Just have to hem the bottom. Couldn't do that until I could hang them...because I don't believe the tape measure.

And an Easter Bonnet. :)

One Month Old Already

2009-04-05T13:26:00.001-07:00

I think everyone should take time to watch this.

2009-04-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/watch/life-money-hope/2

The return of the homemaker

2009-04-01T09:41:00.001-07:00

You've GOT to read this! Fabulous from the first word!

Quoted from http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2009/03/return-of-homemaker.html:

down---to---earth: The return of the homemaker
We've all wanted her to return. That icon of the fifties, the housewife in the Audrey Hepburn dress and frilly apron who had perfect lipstick and a hot meal waiting for her man. Well, it looks like she's back, but she's changed a lot. Now our homemaker is dressed in jeans and a T shirt, a long linen skirt, or pretty dress. The apron is still there, it might even be "vintage", purchased on eBay for a price we would have laughed at back then, but apart from the apron and the kids, our modern homemaker is nothing like her 1950s counterpart. In the 1950s, housewives were looking for convenience and Laminex, and were embracing plastic. Now we are getting back to basics, going green and reskilling ourselves. Convenience has been replaced by authenticity.

What are Home MAKERS?

2009-04-01T09:38:00.001-07:00

HOMEMAKER JOB DESCRIPTION

Quoted from http://generationcedar.blogspot.com/2009/03/todays-homemaker-not-what-you-expected.html:

Generation Cedar: Today's Homemaker: Not What You Expected?
Here's my picture:

We are a culture of real women, with real families and problems, but also a real understanding of the importance of our work in and among our homes and communities. We see a desperate need to return to a more simplistic way of living--for the health and good of all.

We are sharp; we are thinking women; we read; we have voracious appetites for learning, and for teaching our children those things.

We value education, and also sitting in the quiet of a day.

We believe that "the greatest among you is the servant of all".

We utilize our computers to assist us with diagnosing an illness, and when we're done, we hang our laundry on the clothesline to save money.

We learn to cook from scratch because it's cheaper, healthier and wiser.

We make homemade laundry detergent (sometimes ;-).

We are on a never-ending quest to save money because "a dollar saved is more than a dollar earned", and our husbands treasure that quality in us.

We believe motherhood is a vocation that comes with responsibilities, and we do what is necessary to fulfill them.

We delight in serving our husbands a cold glass of tea; not because he demands it or because we are subservient, but because we love him and cherish the smallest opportunity to communicate it. After all, he spends all day "speaking love to us" working hard, making sure the oil is changed, unstopping the clogged pipes, and all sorts of other ways. We don't feel we're in competition, but rather, we are partners.

We understand the very real fact that humans need serenity, and we make it one of our jobs to create that for as many as we can around us.

We try to look around us and see if we can meet the practical needs of others.

We think generationally....beyond today...into our great-grand-children's lives. We journal about things we want our granddaughters to remember.

We teach our girls about strength and dignity, and our boys about honor and protection. We also believe in equality, and in a beautiful array of differences.

We care deeply about politics and what happens to our world; and that is why we are home MAKERS.

Living Room

2009-04-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is the living room - looking through the dining room to the kitchen.

Just the dining room

And, hold on, is that Spring coming???

And just because she's so stinkin cute. :)

New Ephram Pictures

2009-03-31T06:58:00.000-07:00

nak. New pictures of Ephram - did I mention that we changed the spelling?

And a sneak peek of his crib...still working on it though. :) Bumper pad tutorial to follow. hopefully soon.

Guest Room

2009-03-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

This one came out kind of wonky, but here is the guest room. We swapped the queen sized bed that was in the girls' room with the full that was in here. I'll have to take a new picture of the girls' room now, I guess.

Happy Sadie

2009-03-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Girl - She's loving the Oklahoma red dirt...yay. :D

3 weeks old today! I can't believe it. Better pictures to follow.

So Glad her curls are coming back. :)

Mommy, I'm really gonna have a garden soon! :) hehe

The Kitchen

2009-03-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

...in need of new cabinets and countertops...but VERY roomy! :)

Something God has been dealing with me about...

2009-03-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

For a very long time...

Something to chew on a bit from the past...
Fredrick W. Robertson 1816-1853
God's greatness and man's greatness

"But my brethren, we kneel in our closets in shame for what we are, and we tell our God that the lowest place is too good for us. Then we go into the world, and if we meet with slight or disrespect, or if our opinion is ignored, or if another is preferred before us, there is all the anguish of a galled and jealous spirit."

Helping

2009-03-23T09:09:00.001-07:00

I'm OH SO PROUD of the girls for helping Daddy stay afloat while mommy was recovering.

Nap Time at the Jackson House

2009-03-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

Well, here's another room. It's not complete yet - still in desperate need of decorating, but at least I got the panels made for the closets. :) Two flat sheets from WM and one 10 foot length of 1/2 inch PVC (curtain rods are more expensive than curtains). Have rods (cute clearance ones) to hang over the window and to hang outside the dormer (to make a little pretend nursery for the babies and maybe some other cool things.) I guess we'll see what happens. :)

Oh - and one more thing

2009-03-11T12:08:00.001-07:00

For my mommy -

The plum tree...

and the peach tree...

are blooming!! :)

Oh yeah, I forgot

2009-03-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

Mandi,

I'll add a picture of the house every time I get one room clean. :)

Here's the utility room:

And finally

2009-03-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

Curtains to cover an 8 foot window are EXPENSIVE. (Even if you make them yourself)

Clearance sheets from WalMart repurposed as curtains are not. :)

The windows like them. :)

Slip-on seat covers

2009-03-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well, pattern drafted, tested, adjusted and used...now to make 6 more. :)

Before - unprotected little microfiber seat covers...well, except for the torn up plastic. :)

After - Miniskirts for my dining room chairs. :D

Gifts from my Debbie

2009-03-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

I'm just now getting a chance to post pictures of these, but this is what my Debbie came bearing:

Cloth Diapers and Baby Legs that she made herself for baby Efram.

And BEAUTIFUL little fairy wings that she made for the girls

I'm sure you can imagine what a HIT these were!!

Introducing...

2009-03-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Efram Cole Jackson

He finally has a name. :)

Efram means fruitful - and the bible says that Joseph named his second son Ephraim because “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” God gave us this name early in this pregnancy - and we tried to avoid it... hehe... just because it's not a very simple name. :) But, once he was here, it was obvious that the name was for him.

Cole was chosen by Perry. It means "From a triumphant people" We like that. :D

So, without further ado, here he is:

We Have A Son!

2009-03-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Just a super quick update...After a quick labor (a birth story I'll write later) We have a 9 lb beautiful son! God is so faithful.

More pictures to follow, of course. :)

2009-03-01T12:49:00.001-08:00

As if things weren't crazy enough...

Poor sweet baby. Hairline fracture in her shin. She is her daddy's baby. :(

We're Finally In!

2009-02-26T20:22:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow is a week since we closed on the house. We're thrilled to finally be out of the hotel room (see below for girls' hotel sleeping arrangements) and things are starting to settle down. Many more pictures to come. :)

2009-02-15T08:32:00.001-08:00

Still Alive. Still not in our house. :(

An update from IHOP

2009-01-31T04:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm sitting here waiting to pick up a to go order for breakfast :) and thought I'd update - since this is the first valid internet connection I've had since we left home. First, we're staying in "temporary lodging" because our contractor decided to inform us AS WE DROVE OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY that our house wasn't ready for closing. Let me just say that is the UNDERSTATEMENT of the year. The house isn't even close to ready. ugh. But, God is faithful and my dear husband was able to get us a couple weeks of Temporary Lodging on the Air Force Base. The only problem - it's designed for a family of 4...one bedroom and one pull-out couch. HAHAHAHAHA. Okay, sorry.

But, a few days after we got here, the ice storm came. That was cool. :) I keep trying to upload pictures...and I think I'm killing IHOP's server. :D So, I'll give you one...and I'll try to post more later from somewhere else.

Okay, nevermind...I can't even give you one picture. :( But, we are alive...and mostly well. hehe

Just an update

2009-01-14T08:44:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in forever...mostly because I've been preparing to move - I know, I've been saying that for 2 years. But, Dh comes home on Friday - and we start packing the moving truck. It's very surreal right now. I'm not sure that it's actually happening. Anyway, I have been doing a few things...thought I'd post pictures. :)

My first made by me cloth diaper...Loving the RRP pattern - see here (http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/)
Pants from pants - a pair for each girl. I got this fabulous idea from the crazy quilting mom to make pants for the girls from my dress pants. Well,

I don't own dress pants - so I bought 4 pair at goodwill ($3 each) and made the girls each a pair from the quick pants tutorial. They love them...I love them...

The only one I have a picture of wearing them is Alexa... :) I made hers super long because she's been growing like a weed and I'm having trouble keeping her in pants. :)

This is my first finished quilt. It's a doll quilt. I messed up the binding...hehe...but I'm okay with it. I have another top finished...but I'm not going to quilt it until we're in Oklahoma.
Mamie likes it...so does Alana.
And, because I haven't updated belly pictures in quite a while...28 Weeks 6 days - Baby number 5
...AND 32 Weeks - Baby number 5 I think my body is starting to transfer fat from my thighs and give it to the baby. This is BY FAR the coolest thing ever. By this point, I'm usually starting to turn into a whale. :D But, this baby is much harder to carry - harder on my back...harder on my legs...like he's hanging off of me. So, maybe the fat is better after all...hmmm...I'll get back to you on that one. :)

Oh, and for comparison's sake - here's a picture from Alina's pregnancy - at 34 weeks