Hot Doggin'

The Oldsmobile, a junker Clint and Brandon picked up, still runs and we had a blast hot-doggin' that around our place yesterday evening. Clint came home and caught me doing donuts in the front field with the two oldest in the car. He said he saw a shot of green go streaking across the yard and wondered "What in the world is that?!" Right on the heels of that thought came "Wendy's got ahold of that car!!!!!" When I finished, I told Clint and Brandon they had to take turns. Clint can really swing the backend around. It makes for a thrilling ride! Clint's gonna teach me how to do that. ;-) Brandon did really good! Amanda has absolutely no interest in driving. If you ask her if she wants to drive, she gives you a very definitive "No thank you." She'll hop in and ride in a heartbeat though!

Powhatan's Chimney

Here's our gang (Brandon, Amanda, Joshua, Caleb and Bethany) inside of the chimney.
It sits where Powhatan, Pocahontas' father, could have had a gorgeous view of the York River.
It's now in a neighborhood and is a little strange to visit because it is in between two people's yards. There is/was a Geocache hidden in or around it.

Cars, cars, cars

Clint and Brandon picked up another vehicle to be recycled last night. This one is still drivable. It has had an engine fire though. They have two more to pick up tonight and two more they might be getting. They'll get them ready for the junk man and haul them this weekend. If this keeps up, Brandon should have a tidy little sum in his bank account for his future!

OOPS!

So, we take their picture at the top of the hill. And then we turn around and see....

Click the picture so you can read the sign.
They had the sign so you could only see it as you were leaving the park!

Pictures Tyndall's Point

Weekend

I have a couple of minutes before lunch is on the table to post about our weekend.

Clint and Brandon picked up their first vehicle to be scrapped. They have another one to pick up tonight with two more lined up. Brandon is saving the money he makes off of it for his future. It gives them something the two of them can do together too.

Emily and I went along and met the such a sweet lady. Her name is Dinah and she knows my family in Chesapeake. She loves to fish on Bailey Creek, which was named for my paternal family. She held Emily for the longest time and ended up giving her many hugs and kisses before she handed her back over to me.

We ran the errands and did the grocery shopping. We ate out at Ruby Tuesdays and enjoyed a nice, big salad with our sandwiches.

Clint worked on a patch to the roof for a spot that has been leaking.

We went to Tyndall's Point Park and had some fun there. Then we headed to Powhatan's Chimney so the children could see that. We took pictures and will put those up as we get time

Amanda made fried ice cream for everyone again with the leftovers from where we had it last week.

Amanda found a farrier's tool in the ground while she was in the barn with Hot Shot. It looks pretty old. She's always digging up some "artifact" or another around here. Hot Shot got a bath. He likes his baths, but gets in a mood about being tied up. As soon as she untied him, he took off for the barn while snubbing her affections.

Emily has been in her 2 month growth spurt-right on time! She's been eating every two hours during the day and eating once or twice at night. I am pretty tired from it and can honestly say it's been draining..pun intended! She's grown noticeably.

Luke 15:4-7 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Thank you

to Wendy T. in WVA (We've been blessed with two Wendy T's!) for the t-shirt!

I love it!! It got so many compliments and comments when I wore it this weekend.
Thank you also for the clothes you sent Bethany. She'll enjoy them!

Fried Ice Cream Recipe

I told a few people we had fried ice cream last night to celebrate the good news about the mammogram. Now they want the recipe. There are different ways to make fried ice cream. Some actually fry the ice cream in oil. Here's the easier recipe we like. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. I just added it.

Always at least one.....

Now, I wonder just where he got that from?
(look behind Bethany's head)
For a better picture, scroll down to last week.

Clint the Dragon Slayer

We found a very nice set of dollhouse furniture for Bethany's birthday. Retail would have been over $100. At the thrift store, we got it for $8.95, so I am very thankful God provided for us in this area. Bethany had asked for dollhouse furniture. And, specifically she wanted a doll-sized cat. In the bag of furniture was a cat that is perfect for her dolls! I do not like buying the dollhouse items new since they cost so much for a little bit of plastic.

As we were checking out, this small, timid lady meekly approaches Clint and says "Uh, sir." When he turned around she said while shifting from foot to foot and pointing to the offending beast "Sir, there's a lizard on the clothes. See, a, uh,....lizard!" (What she was REALLY saying was "Kind sir, there is an incredibly vicious looking dragon preventing me from purchasing necessary garments. Could you slay him for me?")

Clint walks over and looks and says "There sure is!" (I am still in line and laughing hard.) Clint tries to catch the tiny, frightened little guy, but the lizard evades him. When Clint gets determined about something, it's going to happen. So, the hunt is on. Clint begins to crawl around on the floor after the lizard.

I hear giggling and turn back again to see my big husband smiling amongst the children who have joined in the chase. Before you know it, we have one blue tailed lizard (skink) in a container I was buying. He was extremely dehydrated, so we brought him home. Brandon has him rehydrating in his lizard terrarium this a.m.

Homeschooling Tip for Write and Wipe Books

These always fall apart after a little bit of continuous use. The pages are still good to use. Separate, punch holes and put them in a 3-ring binder. Then take out the specific one your child needs to use. More than one child can work from the same book this way too. They are easier to write and clean too.

You can also make your own write and wipe with a grease pencil and contact paper. Put the contact paper over any worksheet you need to use often or with more than one child.

Nourishment

Breastfeeding is God's design to provide the best for babies. It has so many wonderful benefits for the mother and the baby; it is no wonder more women are now nursing their children. It is hard to believe in the past doctors told women formula was superior to God's design, but they did. We just can't top God's way of doing things!

In order to naturally nourish our children successfully, we mothers have to take care of our own needs first. We have to get plenty of rest and take in enough calories. We have to make certain we drink enough noncaffienated beverages to keep our bodies properly hydrated so we can continue giving our children the healthy milk they need. When we look to our basic needs first, we have an abundant supply of milk for our hungry babies. Because they are growing so rapidly, it is a constant cycle of caring for ourselves to make sure we can provide a necessity for them.

Mothering continues to be like that as the children grow. They are plants in need of constant watering. If we do not drink deeply from the spiritual waters through fellowshipping with our Father, our wells will go dry and we have little to give our children. We will go drier and drier each time they come to us for the emotional and spiritual nourishment they continually must have to grow strong and healthy in Christ. It is imperative then, we make time to replenish ourselves through Bible study, prayer and quiet times with God.

Wordly wisdom tells us mothers we need time at the gym, time out "with the girls," more romance, expensive indulgences, time from our children and husbands, to put our needs first and so forth in order to be equipped to care for our children. Wise mothers realize those are all selfish pursuits that will not sustain us for long at all. God's Word says we simply need to drink from the water Christ gives:

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Find JOY in your mothering today: Put Jesus first, Others second (your children) and Yourself last.

A Few Thoughts on Contentment

A lot of our hits come from people searching Google for "how to find contentment." Contentment is not found. It is learned. Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (emphasis mine) True contentment does not come from seeking to change one's circumstances. That doesn't mean you stop looking for ways to improve things within reason. However, contentment accepts the situation and adapts to meet it.

Where do you find contentment? You find it in a relationship with God. You accept His Sovereign will over your life. You trust that even in the midst of the worst circumstance, He is working His will through your life for your good and His glory. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Contentment is an attitude change. It's a change in how we speak and think. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. That transforming of our mind comes through a study of Scripture, prayer (talking to God) and self discipline. Self discipline? Oh yes! You think "I am not going to think like the average person thinks. "I am going to trust God in the midst of this time (good or bad) and take Him at His Word."

I am not an excited fan of poo diapers, which I am finding myself changing quite often lately. When I grumble and think of it as "changing a dirty diaper," I am thinking as the world does. When I think "I am so blessed to be able to change the diaper of the child the Lord has given me to raise for His glory!" or "I am making my precious baby smell sweet and feel comfortable." or "How loudly I would rejoice if I could change just one diaper of the children I have lost!!" it transforms my mind. I am no longer serving self by doing a routine task. I am serving God right where I am, doing what He has put in front of me. I am uplifted and encouraged to continue doing good for my child's sake because it pleases my Father. Because of the renewing going on inside of me, through God's response to my efforts, I am even thankful to be doing it!

I was visiting a local church and overheard nursery workers calling the children in their care brats and talking about how much they hated working in the nursery. Neither was realizing what a blessing it was to the spiritually hungry parents who have very little time and opportunity to fellowship or Bible study. They lost sight of the blessings of serving and grew discontent in the doing. You need to be careful of how you share and who you share with. Some people will push you further down that slippery slope of discontentment which will lead to ungratefulness, frustration, anger, jealousy, etc.

Share your burdens with a godly friend who will uplift and encourage. Don't be "that friend" who discourages and tears down either. When you look at how Paul shared his difficulties with his readers, he was brief. He didn't drag out the gory details and have a pity party. Matthew 12:34b ...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

It's OK to share or show compassion for another's struggles. "I understand. I found myself in a similar situation and felt much like you do. But, I believe God has a plan for you in this! Here's how He worked in my life through much the same circumstances. Let's agree to pray together and watch to see what God does!"

One thing which helps us find contentment is to look at things as they really are. Our government isn't perfect here in the US, but it is a great deal better than most. My home is a wreck still from Isabel and daily we wonder if the engineers will show up and tell us it is soon time to live in the RV while they elevate the house. But, we have a roof over our heads that keeps us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. My husband is not Mr. Perfect in every area, but he's a godly man who cherishes us and gives us his best. Homeschool never meets my lofty ideal, but my children are learning and growing in the Lord.

Now, I have to go; my time is at a premium these days. I am thankful to have things to do to keep busy in this calling God has given me. I have a beautiful newborn who needs nourishment, comfort and to be made clean. I am so thankful God gave her the ability to cry so I can help her when she needs it.

A Rose From Flor de Maria

This is the latest drawing from Flor de Maria, our sponsored child through Compassion. It's it a pretty drawing? And, see the little flower she made for Emily?

Newborn hair loss

Emily's hair keeps shedding. Her head is still soft and kissable though!

It is very hot here and I do not run the a/c in this room unless I will be in here for hours.
So, if you e-mail, I'll get back to you when it cools off a little.

Flor's Drawing

Picture from Flor de Maria

Compassion International

This is Flor de Maria, the child we sponsor through Compassion International. (Some of the information has been removed in the photo to protect our sponsor information, etc.) We have been sponsoring her for 5 or 6 years now. We started it as part of our homeschool experience. We can not say enough good things about how positive an experience this has been for our entire family.

Now that she is older, we hear from her quite often and are able to ask specific questions. In her last letter, she said she'd pray for Wendy and the baby and asked us to send her a picture when Emily was born. She also asked that we kiss Emily for her. She sends us pictures every time she sends a letter. We pray for and love her and her family just as if they were right here in the states.

Sponsorship is $32 a month and includes their school, meals at the school, health care, health education, materials, etc. You can send monetary gifts for the family up to a certain amount and specify how you want that gift spent.

When you pray for our family, please pray for Flor de Maria and her aged grandparents who are raising three children.

Diaper Organizer

We found the plastic tub from the hospital makes a great diaper organizer for disposable diapers.
We use to use cloth diapers before moving to the farm.
Our mineral rich water ruins the cloth diapers too quickly for them to be economical for us, so we went to disposables.

Brandon Walking the Rope

This is why they won't let Moms go...we'd be repeatedly urging "BE CAREFUL!!!!"

Let's Go Canoeing! (picts)

They canoed out to an island and looked around.

Brandon at the Top of the Rock Wall (pict)

He loved the rock wall. I think they said they climbed three different ones.

Camp Piankatank

Clint and Brandon just got back from Camp Piankatank. Clint took pictures and I will share those in the coming days. They arrived Friday evening and settled in. Brandon took the top bunk while Clint took the bottom. They had planned to swim, but lightning messed that up for them. Then they had worship time with the entire group.

Saturday, they were fed a great breakfast. They rock climbed. Clint was the fastest of all of the Dad's and impressed all of the men. Brandon was very proud of him! Then they canoed to an island, played basketball, swam several times, played ping pong, ate like kings and fellowshipped with the other fathers and sons. Sunday, they had worship then they went down a zip line, a v-swing, etc. They really enjoyed themselves, got to meet some godly men and their sons, were spiritually fed and hope to go back next year with Joshua and maybe Caleb in tow.

"Father/Son WeekendsThis is an exciting opportunity for boys to experience a fun-filled weekend with their father or an adult male role model. Participants will be able to challenge themselves and participate in friendly competition during field games, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and other adventurous activities. Campers will also be ministered to by a dynamic camp pastor and enjoy meaningful worship services. These are action-packed and spirit-filled weekends for fathers and sons who seek to grow closer to one another and to God.
http://www.camppiankatank.org/"

Amanda and I let the housework go a little bit, cooked pizza, watched movies and enjoyed ourselves with the three littles too. Amanda also made her fudge for all of us to enjoy!

Pregnancy Induced Allergies

In hoping this helps someone else find relief: Monday, I had seen some relief from the allergies and then they came back with a vengence. Ugh!

I had ordered Quercetin and Bromelain and a homeopathic remedy Friday and they got here Tuesday. I am taking two of the Q&B every meal and the homeopathic every 3-4 hours while awake. At night, I started taking a store brand of Claritan with Sudafed. By Wednesday afternoon, I could tell some improvement. (Quercetin helps regulate the histamine in your body. Bromelain helps the Quercetin to be absorbed. Bromelain is found in fresh pineapple. Processing kills it, so you need to eat it fresh.)

Wednesday night, Clint found some Hylands ear drops at Walmart and brought those home for me to try. These treat congestion as well as pain. By Thursday evening, I was breathing fairly freely and had some minor pressure on my ears with one of the other being clear off and on.

This morning, I woke up with no fluid in my ears at all!! It was so nice after THREE solid weeks of pressure!! With the heat, the congestion and ear pressure has just made me miserable. Then, I started gagging again and that forced fluid back up into the right ear. I am hoping it clears up quickly though. I'll keep doing this a few more days and see how it works.

Once Emily is here, I expect the allergies to clear up within a day or two as the pregnancy hormones leave my system. They did with Amanda. They were a bother when I was expecting Bethany, but not as bad. This has been the worst I've had to deal with them, but I think it is the time of the year and stage in the pregnancy.

Brandon and Amanda have tried the allergy drops under their tongue when their sinuses have been congested. Both have experienced noticeable results almost immediately.

2Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Unchanging One

Todd Agnew - Unchanging One

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Harmless as Doves (pict)

This is our first pigeon baby we've raised.
Pigeons are in the dove family of birds and it has been such a pleasure watching the mother and father raise them.
They are such calm, gentle birds.
Our pair, a gift from friends, are on their second set of hatchlings.
I tell city folks that we don't have pigeons to feed out here in the country, so we raise our own. :-)

Mt:10:16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

I've often contemplated on that Scripture. In observing snakes, I saw how they avoid bad situations when they can and will only strike in a defensive manner. Clint kept a very large black snake in his workshop for years as an effective pest control measure. In his encounters with her, he was always amazed at how smart she seemed.

Never having observed doves, I believed it when preachers would say they would never harm anyone or anything. However, we learned very quickly that if you try to mess with a dove's offspring (even when the offspring is a young adult), both parents will attack you!! They are loving and gentle with their children, often making a loving, soothing cooing sound while they care for them.

How I Cook Collards

I prefer pressure cooking collards, but here's how I boil them on the stovetop when I can't find a part to my cooker.

Pick the collard leaves by cutting the stems. Leave the roots and you will get more collards. I cut away any bad parts and remove any insects or insect eggs. I pull out thick, tough stems--I don't like them. I prefer small leaves, a little bigger than my hand, for tenderness and sweetness. Larger leaves, I roll together and then cut into sections which makes strips. I wash them in a large clean sink filled with water. I change the water at least 4 times or until it stays clear. I add them to a pot of boiling water with seasonings already added (salt, piece of ham or ham bone, black pepper, onion, garlic, etc), adding more than the level of the water. They cook down fast. I bring them to a boil and then let them simmer until they are very tender. The time this takes depends upon how many you have and how big (tough) the leaves are. I just sample them until they are done to my liking.

Retain the juice. It is filled with nutrients and will make a good base for soup. It is called "pot likker" and some people like to sop it up in a biscuit.

Collard leaves contain calcium vitamins B1, B2, B9, and C and beta-carotene. It also contains beneficial enzymes.

Our Laundry Tips

Managing the Laundry Monster

Here are a few tips from the Asbell Home on managing the laundry in our larger than average family.

Think about how your family uses laundry and then make a plan that fits your needs. Organize according to your use and needs. Do they throw clothes on the floor in a certain room? Then that room needs a hamper! You can't fit in two loads of laundry a day? Then aim for one or do it all in one day.

Do laundry daily. A little a day is preferable to doing it all in one day. If you do miss a few days to illness or whatever, you will not be knee deep in dirty clothes with half naked family members. We spend about half an hour on laundry per day, about 4-5 days per week. That includes hanging it on the clothesline. At the time of this writing, there are seven of us with a baby due in four weeks. We participate in many activities that require special clothing or linens, but we have managed to keep laundry under control with these tips.

You can read the rest here: http://www.contentmentacres.com/laundrytips.htm

When Herbal Medicine Doesn't Work

When Herbal Medicine Doesn't Work

Ezekiel 47:12 "...and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."

A few people have told me they have given up on herbal medicine because it "just doesn't work for me."

There are many reasons why herbal medicine may not be working for someone.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Are You a Good Person?

Are you a good person?

Living Outside the Box

A few years ago, we were involved with a study for families who watched very little to no t.v. This week, we received a postcard telling us a book from that study has been published "Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets." We won't be buying the book, but we did put it on our wish list on paperbackswap.com

It's more interesting to live YOUR life than to watch someone in "reality" or fictitious t.v. live theirs.

Some of our best lessons have come from the worst examples:

We once knew a bright, witty Christian girl who became so wrapped up in t.v. shows she had no life of her own. She became boring and dull. Her conversations revolved around the lives of the characters she watched. She could just about quote verbatim the lines of the shows and movies she feasted upon. She considered incredibly poor television and acting wonderful because she had no discernment. Her friendships fell apart. People dreaded having her visit because she'd sit in front of the tube like a zombie. Her morals steadily declined. Things she would have never thought to do didn't look so bad to her anymore. She compared events in her life to those of fictitious characters and looked to see how they solved them. She started mimicking their speech and habits and was proud enough to tell others where she picked up the slang and mannerisms. She started valuing the advice of worldly talk show hosts above God's Word. She became full of pride over her acquired "wisdom" and started passing judgement and heavy criticism on those around her.

She wondered why she couldn't find a godly mate. It was clear to everyone around her, but she couldn't see it even when it was pointed out: "You can't find a godly mate when you are in front of the tube for most of the day. A godly mate will be out serving and glorifying the Lord. He won't suddenly appear on the couch next to you! He's not going to enjoy shows that "make a mockery of sin" as fools do. (Proverbs 14:9)"

She rejected several sincere men who "got in the way" of her t.v. watching. These men longed for a godly woman to walk beside them and raise godly children, but t.v. came first with her. She was unwilling to make personal sacrifices of her time and interests to build a relationship. They didn't fit into her t.v. shaped image of how a "real" man should act. They quickly grew tired of her berating them to change to please her. She played the mind games she saw on t.v. but they didn't work out the same. Wisely, they quit pursuing her.

She likes the idea of a godly man and the blessings of a godly marriage, but is unwilling to put forth the effort to have one. A woman who cherishes godliness is not going to eagerly embrace worldliness.

At nearly 40, she's still single and involved in a sinful and abusive relationship which brings her more pain and frustration than anything else. Her parents, whom she lives with, love her dearly but are ashamed of her behavior. She has openly considered trapping the abusive man with pregnancy. Afterall, it worked out fairly well for the women on the talk shows!

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Hip Pain During Pregnancy (part 2)

Wow, we have been getting a lot of hits from women who are hurting with hip pain in pregnancy. Our first post is currently #5 on Google. I hope you find relief. I know how painful and tiring it can be.

One of the questions I am hearing a lot is "How much calcium?" The recommendations I found were 1200-1500 mg for pregnant women. However, what you ingest and what you assimilate (use) are two different things. Then, there is the matter of what you lose to normal activity.

Sweating in hot climates while doing heavy activity excretes up to 1000 mg a day. You generally lose 250 mg when you have a bowel movement and 100-250 mg to urination.

The absorption (assimilation) rate of ingested calcium is something like 10-30%. 1500 mg with an absorption rate of 30% is only 450 mg. You excrete that much when you go to the bathroom!

When our bodies are assimilating so little and we are using almost as much as we take in, no wonder nutritionists are calling for the US RDA for calcium to be significantly increased. Some feel it should be as high as 5,000 mg.

Our hormones affect how much calcium is circulated in our blood, deposited into our bones and taken from our bones. If your thyroid is off, you could very easily be losing calcium directly from your bones! Along with the hormones, your intake of phosphorous, magnesium, boron, protein, fat and sugar affect calcium assimilation. Exercise and exposure to sunlight also play a role in how calcium is used by your body.

Four or five pregnancies ago (this is my 9th), I started raising my calcium intake until I could tell a noticeable improvement. I take about 2,000 mg in supplements and eat a calcium rich diet. My hip pain decreased quite a bit. I still have aches, but it is nothing like it was. I started sleeping better. The leg cramps went away. And, the "cavity per baby" stopped occurring.

Walk...or waddle :-). A lot. It helps. Avoid sitting and standing in one place too long. I try to change my position often.

I also find relief in making a raised circle with pillows and blankets and lying on it chest down with my belly in the circle. You do not want to put pressure on your stomach. Build it up high enough to support your chest and hips and leave the belly completely free of your weight. use my elbows for support sometimes too. This feels just wonderful! Just being on your hands and knees can relieve some of the backache.

There are tips for relief and explanations as to what the causes can be here and here.

Your Usefulness to God

Throwing up for multiple times a day for months and months takes so much out of a hyperemesis gravidarum patient. When I do slow down with the vomiting, I can't fully recover my strength or stamina because the baby is using so much to rapidly develop. While I still have some nausea and vomiting, the fatigue is a constant problem. It hinders everything I try to do. Being an active person, it frustrates me to no end. Once the baby comes, I can tell such a big improvement in how I feel, you can't hold me down. I am on my feet and ready to roll.

Throughout the entire pregnancy, I have to rest a lot. Sometimes more than others. Last week, I overdid it for a few hours and paid for it with four days of total exhaustion. That gave everyone who loves me plenty of time to fuss and wag their finger in my direction. I also had a lot of time to wonder just how in the world God could possibly be using me when I am so weak.

I want to glorify Him in all I say and do although I am aware I fall very, very short of that goal. I prayed and asked God to not let me be a waste to Him even though I can't fulfill some of my normal duties. He's an awesome, loving, kind, generous God and He so deserves our best efforts. But, what if our best efforts are skimpy? What about when we are weak and can't do very much?
After that prayer, I had several people contact me to thank me for being a blessing in their life recently. Some were hyperemesis patients who found value in the things I have shared in my own struggles. Others were blessed by something I wrote last year. One told me I had been a blessing to her through her widowhood and she wanted to thank me. Another said I had been a great help in her recent struggles with her child. My oldest son, while reflecting on his quickly approaching adulthood, told me he would miss being with me as much as he is now. Four women thanked me for clothes I sorted, bagged up and gave to them. I am humbled God shared all of this at that time to reassure me.

You know what is wonderful? They were expressing thankfulness God used me in their lives, but God was using them to bless me in a time of uncertainty.

If you are saved by the grace of God and sincere in your efforts to please Him, He is using you right where you are, just as you are.

It's not what you do or how much you do. It's how you do it. He's looking at your heart and making use of your willingness to be a vessel for His work that will be done by Him through you.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Work is fun

when you are racing and winning against your big brother!
Joshua and Caleb are rushing to get another load to keep ahead of Brandon.

“I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.”
Thomas A. Edison

Moving the pile

Since the firewood pile is about as low as it will get, we started moving it to another location in preparation for the home elevation. The contractors will need to get their equipment close to the house so we need to clear a wide area all the way around.
We were blessed with two truckloads of free wood. We started splitting and stacking that over the weekend too.
Everybody helped out. Team work makes the job easier and more fun!

"Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully."
Proverbs 10:4-5

Book Review: Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn

Heaven for Kids
Randy Alcorn
Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN: 1414310404196 pages

Written in an easy to read, question and answer format and divided into categories, this is an informative book packed with Scriptural truth and geared towards children 8-12 years old. Randy Alcorn, former pastor, best selling author and founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries, provides Biblical answers to some of the harder questions children direct towards their parents regarding Heaven and faith.

I enjoyed the author's previous books and his children's storybook, "Wait Until Then," but loved this one because it speaks clearly and directly to the heart of children, who seem to have so many questions about Heaven. My children have certainly enjoyed it. "Heaven for Kids" has directed their thought more towards the eternal than the temporal helping them to obey Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Some of the questions answered in the book are: Do I really need to think about Heaven?, What do I look forward to?, Is Heaven a real place?, So how can we know what Heaven is like if we've never seen it?, If we're good, does that mean we'll go to Heaven someday?, What does it mean to store up treasure in Heaven?, What happens to us the second after we die?, Is Heaven "up"? Where exactly is it?, How will we worship God?, Is God going to destroy the earth and make a different one from scratch?, Will places like the Grand Canyon actually be on the new earth?, Who will rule the New Earth?, Will God create new worlds?, Will we ever be tempted to do wrong things?, Will we know everything?, Will we sleep?, Will we just hang out with Jesus, or will we have other friends too?, Will we see our pets again on the New Earth?, Might some animals talk?, Will there be sports?, Will we travel through time? along with many more intriguing questions.

With so many worldly based ideas about Heaven and how to get there being thrown at our children from questionable sources, this book is needed for today's Christian family. Heaven for Kids also includes A Summary of the Gospel in Chapter Ten. This book would make a great family, homeschool or church youth Bible study and would have been a handy resource to have when I worked with youth.

Thank you Wiley Saicheck of Tyndale House for offering this book to our family for review. It has been a blessing we have all enjoyed and has engaged us in many discussions!

You can find it through Amazon for $10.49.

Book Review: Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter

Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter: Finding the Light Behind the Clouds
By Marsha Mott Jordon
ISBN: 0977134342

Mrs. Jordan first contacted me about Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter, the children's charity she started for critically ill children. She asked if I'd place a link on the blog to let others know about this wonderful ministry. After I looked at the url, I was more than happy to do so.

Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter's Kids Club would make a wonderful ministry opportunity for anyone, but especially the homeschooling parents who are looking for service opportunities they can do with their children. Many homeschooling families delight in participating in Operation Shoebox each Christmas season. Well, this is like Operation Shoebox that lasts all year! It would be such a blessing to put together a package of happy mail for a child who copes with daily health problems. Imagine the child's face when he gets mail and finds out someone he's never met cares about him.

When the author mailed me a copy of her book for this review, I was a little hesitant thinking it might be a compilation of sad stories children have faced. How mistaken I was! Within minutes of opening the cover, I was laughing so loud my family came to find out what was going on. After I read them a few paragraphs about King Louie, her demented and spoiled poodle, they were laughing too. I have caught my husband, Clint, reading and laughing whenever I have left the book open on our bed. Marsha send him his own copy so he'll leave mine alone!

This book is full of observations the author has made of her own life. She has faced disability and other health challenges which she shares throughout, but she does not let them keep her from living life to the fullest. This isn't a long list of complaints, one sad depressing event after another. It's a story of triumph by the grace of God. It's a kick in the pants for the hopeless and depressed. It's a laugh in the middle of the day.

Each short essay is a life illustration of a Biblical truth. She imparts her message with a humorous, down to earth style that lets the reader readily apply Biblical truth to their own situation. The book is made even more beautiful with artwork of critically ill children.

Clint has used a few of the stories in his sermons as a way to draw interest to the lesson. I have read many of them aloud to our homeschooled children as a way to share faith and life lessons. The stories are short enough to be enjoyed at any time: between homeschool lessons, while waiting at the doctor's office, before bed, potty breaks, etc.

Marsha is my kind of gal. She's tough, direct, honest, warm, spunky, funny and loves the Lord. This is a woman who is truly beautiful inside and out who has learned that helping others is the best way to help yourself through a crisis. She sees God's perfect work in her imperfect life.

My favorite "Marsha quote" is referring to God using the donkey to talk to Baalam. "If He can use that jack ass, He most certainly can work through you and me too." How true! Sometimes we need a reminder of God' ability to change our focus from our inability.

If you know someone who is struggling through a trial, facing discouragement, disappointment or just needs a laugh with meaning, pick up a copy of this book! It will make a wonderful, thoughtful gift and will bring much enjoyment. Not only will you bring laughter to the recipient, but you will be supporting the children's ministry Hugs, Hope and Peanut Butter since all proceeds go to the charity. If you are looking for a one size fits all inspirational gift for friends or employees, this is your ticket!

This book will not only warm the heart, it will feed the soul.

The crooked places

Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

10 Things Most People Don't Know About Clint

10 Things Most People Don't Know About Clint

1. People who have known him for years say they can't imagine Clint angry. While he seems easy going and mild mannered, he really does get angry. Just threaten his wife or children and see where that gets you.

2. He has a very good aim with a gun. Our poultry is very thankful for his intervention!

3. He was born two months premature in 1969. The hospital insisted his mother to pay in full for the birth, labor and special care he received before she took him home. She told them she couldn't do that. They told her she couldn't take him home until she paid. She said OK, asked them to keep him while she made payments a little at at ime They promptly let him go home.

4. He fit in a shoebox when he was brought home.

5. As a child, he nearly died from a mysterious blood disease. No one knew what it was or what caused it.

6. His church prayed for him and he was miraculously healed.

7. He has sleepwalked and sleeptalked, but has mostly outgrown it.

8. His childhood home is in front of the school Wendy attended for 10 years. They also went to the same skating rink often. Their paths crossed many times but, they never met until 11th grade homeroom.

9. At 17, he wrote his own video games and one featured him, a warrior, saving a princess named Wendy.

10. He use to bike nearly 30 miles roundtrip to see his friend Tim before he got his car.

11. He is absolutely adored by his wife and children.

10 Things Most People Don't Know About Wendy

10 Things Most People Don't Know About Wendy

1. She has worked as a secretary in a pest agency, a bank clerk, and as a store layout manager. Once God convicted her that her place was in the home, she quit and became a stay at home wife. Brandon came along a couple of years later.

2. Native American ancestory runs on both sides of her family.

3. She has allergies to cats, dogs, and pretty much anything with fur. To enjoy pets, she has to bathe them almost weekly. (Most allergies to pets is usually to dander or saliva, not the hair itself, so their weekly bath helps a great deal.)

4. Surprisingly to those who know her the best, tests show her IQ is very high.

5. She doesn't put much faith in IQ tests. :-)

6. She has been present two times in the E.R. when babies died in front of her from vaccine reactions.

7. Her jaw stopped growing when she was 6 years old. She had to wear a jaw expanding, orthodontic appliance for about two years.

8. She has owned a 1981, 1986 and a 1968 Mustang.

9. She' never had a ticket and drove responsibly as a teen even though she was once falsely accused by an adult of speeding while driving a Spectrum. Yeah, a Spectrum!! (You couldn't speed in it. The engine whined at 50 mph.) The wimpy boyfriend she was driving home at the time was too chicken to stand up for her, so she broke up with him. Besides, her cat didn't like him.

10. Clint asked her out right afterwards. The cat adored Clint!

Bad Day

Sunday, while Clint, Brandon and Amanda were at the park playing paintball, I had a horrible time of it here. Everything that could go wrong did. I won't bore you with all the details, but it was bad.

I also learned the hard way that you should not attempt to stand for hours at at time if you have been nearly flat on bed rest for four months straight. My muscles are very weak and the baby has grown and stressed my back further. My back was hurting so bad I could not lift my feet more than 2-3 inches. I could not even climb the stairs, which is where our only bathroom is. After five hours on my feet, I could barely move.

Bethany went to the bathroom. She did not come down after 15 minutes, so I sent Joshua up. He came back confused and said he could not find her. I relived the horrible moment when I found Amanda's bed empty in the middle of the night she sleepwalked. I sent Joshua up to look for her again and again. After nearly an hour, he finally found her. She had grown tired and put herself down for a nap behind the piled up covers. When she woke up and came back downstairs, she was well rested and I had new grey hair.

Clint forgot to bring in wood. Well, he brought in six small pieces to last all day. I think he was a bit preoccupied with getting to the park! When I realized I needed wood for heat, it was too late. I knew I could not navigate the steps out or back in and could most definitely not carry wood. We burned paper to make the wood last longer and stayed close to the wood stove when the house temperature started dropping.

Amanda left without feeding the horse. She usually does this at a certain time every a.m. About 1 p.m., Hot Shot had ENOUGH with waiting and set to putting up such a ruckus, I had bad thoughts. The first was "Someone is going to hear this and report us for animal abuse." A couple of hours later it was: "If he keeps that up, I just might GIVE him something to carry on about." :-)

On and on it went. Being optimistic, it takes a lot for me to call a day bad, but Sunday was BAD.

Markers, not guns.

Paintball enthusists call them "markers," not guns.

This isn't Crayola. Call it what you want, you need a face mask.

This is Amanda and Brandon ready to roll!

George, Our Perpetual Snowman

This is George. Every year it snows, we bring him out and let him see the world again.

He's just a little guy right now...not enough snow. He's been 2' to over 6' at different times.

Before he thaws out, we store his head in the freezer. We keep it in a bowl marked "George's Head" just to keep people guessing. :-)

He is several years old now. I think he's around 7 or 8.

He's even survived melting and refreezing during Hurricane Isabel and other storms.

And, he's survived numerous near accidental "tossing outs," by yours truly.

Cryogenics Asbell style!

Brandon took the pictures.

Wise Counsel

This weekend, while sitting outside, I suddenly, without warning became very nauseous due to the hyperemesis gravidarum and started to gag, retch and cough. I had been sitting back in my chair when it came upon me. I stayed still because I was afraid movement would push me over the edge and I'd lose my meager lunch. I planned to lean forward quickly if needed.

Caleb saw me sitting back in my chair struggling to not throw up. With bit of disgust in his voice, he offered "MOM! If you are going to throw up, throw up on the GROUND!"

LOL

Hugs and Hope for Sick Children

What a great and inexpensive way to minister to a sick child through sending cards and letters!!! There is so much more this site offers, so please check it out.

http://www.hugsandhope.org/

The Hugs and Hope Club for Sick Kids is a ministry devoted to encouraging children battling critical illness and their families.

*The HUGS and HOPE Club provides the rare gift of friendship: a listening ear, a sympathetic heart.*

Our mission is to share God's love and provide friendship and support to families of sick children who live within the United States by sending happy mail and offering various activities. Our goal is to fill the gap left by similar organizations that help ill or injured children (between the ages of 2 and 17). We do this through the following projects and programs:

* Mailing cheery cards (a.k.a. "happy mail")
* Providing balloon bouquets to hospitalized children
* Granting children's wishes
* Sending Birthday Party Boxes
* Providing Christmas gifts through our Elf Project
* Assigning a personal "parent pal" who encourages, cheers, and supports the family in crisis.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." II Corinthians 1: 3-5

Cutting Back on Laundry Tips

This was forwarded to me. If you know who authored it, lmk so I can give them credit.

Laundry Tips:

1. Have the kids wear the same pair of pajamas every night. Before you get upset and say there is no way you would allow them to do that, think about this. You bathe your kids before they go to bed so their pajamas go on a clean body. How dirty could those pajamas get while they are sleeping? Most people don't change their sheets more than once a week. What is the difference between sleeping on the same sheets and sleeping in the same pajamas?

2. Assign each person his or her own towel to use a minimum of two to three times instead of just once. In the case of young children, let them use the same towel. Up to a certain age most people toss their little ones all in the bath together so if they can share the same bath water they can share the same towel.

3. When you get home from church or someplace where you didn't wear the outfit all day, change out of your good clothes and hang them up to wear again.

4. If it doesn't look dirty and doesn't stink, don't wash it. We usually use jeans for a week at our house. (W's note: Can't do that when you live on a farm!!)

5. Don't be lazy. So often we get undressed and instead of putting our clothes away, we throw them on the floor in aheap. We don't want to iron, fold or even hang them up, so we just throw them in the wash. This makes more work later because we still have to iron, fold and hang them on wash day, but we also use more detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener, hot water and time.

Turkey Brine Recipe

This is a recipe for a liquid to soak your turkey in overnight (or longer) before cooking to add a wonderful flavor. We let our turkey soak 48 hours this year. We adapted the recipe to ingredients we had on hand from Gordon's recipe offered on the 700 Club.

Turkey Brine

2 gallons hot water
1 tbsp ground ginger
3 tbsp pepper
12 bay leaves
1 cup salt
24 ounces honey
24 ounces maple syrup (we used pancake syrup)
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lemon juice

We mixed everything except the last two ingredients in hot water to help dissolve the salt. Heat if necessary to dissolve salt. We placed the frozen turkey inside of a clean, large, white trash bag that lined a clean cooler and poured the solution on top of the turkey. We let it soak as it thawed making sure the temperature never rose above 49 degrees to keep bacteria from growing. Use ice if necessary to keep turkey cool.

Remove turkey from brine and cook as usual.

You can not cook stuffing in a brined turkey. The turkey will release so many juices that it will leave the stuffing soggy.

Check to make sure the juices are not overfilling your roasting pan.

Enjoy!

Troubling Holiday Trend Among Christian Mothers

I was asked to repost this, so here it is:

I love Thanksgiving! It is a busy season and one full of opportunities. It is not only a time of giving thanks for all God has worked in our lives, but also a time of family and friends. It is a time to fellowship and to also connect with those we have lost touch with over the course of the busy year.

I have found a troubling trend among the Christian groups I have had a privilege of being a part of off and on for the last several years. Many of the Christian women are not cooking special holiday meals but are serving regular day to day fare to their husband and children. Some are staying home on the holidays just so they do not have to reciprocate in following years.

Many call Thanksgiving a time of gluttony, forgetting about the many Jewish feast days celebrated in Christ's time. They are refusing to cook because they feel it will lead their family to be gluttons.

Gluttony is a sin, but it doesn't automatically go together with a celebration. One can be a glutton over a box of cookies just as easily as one could with turkey and dressing. Saying you are not cooking because you feel it encourages gluttony is poor reason not to serve your family a holiday meal. I can't imagine anyone saying they would not cook for an ill person or a family who has lost a loved one because it might encourage them to overeat since they are undergoing a stressful period. I can't imagine anyone refusing to serve the homeless because they might gorge themselves on the meal because they might not get another in a while. How come those situations are ministries, but serving our family is a considered leading them into sin? That's like saying you won't groom yourself because it encourages vanity.

Why aren't Christian mothers seeing Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter as times for ministering to their family through God's gift and provision of food and their cooking talents? Let's choose instead to see these times as opportunities to slow down and bless the beautiful people that we are so blessed to share our lives with by serving them wholesome, full course, home cooked meals. Encourage your whole family, within reason, to contribute to the menu. Take just these three days to "go all out" in the kitchen for your family.

Before each holiday, my older children ask me if I will make their favorite dish. I look forward to seeing their joy in what I am doing for them. In other words, I get blessed by blessing them! When you give a gift in Christ's name, you get one in return.

I encourage you mothers who are considering or embracing the current trend of some internet groups to stop following the flow of "holidays are for gluttons." Let's look at cooking holiday meals as a ministry to those you love. Let's not push aside our family or make excuses because of our exhaustion or laziness. The love we show them will last an eternity. If you were looking for a time to rest over the holiday, I encourage you to cook the Thanksgiving meal and cook enough to last a few days. You will still get a nice rest over the holiday, but without sacrificing the joy it gives them through the ministry of food. What better way to show our gratitude for the way Christ served us than by being the hands and feet of Christ while we serve our own families?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phillipians 2:3-4

Isabel, the hurricane that keeps on giving

When Hurricane Isabel trekked through our area three years ago, we had so many telephone poles knocked down that many people were without power for two weeks or more. (We got ours in ten days.) The power company made "temporary patches" to the poles and said they would come back and repair them properly after the crisis was past.

One of those patches was on our road and they never made the lasting repairs. When the storm blew through with high winds this weekend, the whole pole and the three sections of lines it holds up went down into the water.

When we called to report the lines down, they said they would have the repair done in an hour. We looked at the damage and knew that wasn't happening! :-D They didn't come at all that night. We were without power Sunday and Monday. The howling winds brought down many trees and several limbs.

I cooked weenies on the woodstove and everyone hung out together in the addition. We lit the oil lamps and played with the wood scraps we use for kindling. Clint hooked the generator up and ran the well pump, fridge and freezers on it for a long time before bed. Then, we settled in and watched a movie on cable in our room with the children piled on the floor and the bed, each getting a turn for snuggles and tickles from Mom and Dad.

It's beautiful here today and everyone got some outdoor playtime.

Enjoy your week!

Herbal Burn Treatment

Joshua got scalded last week when he tried to add water to the pot on the woodstove. He missed the pot and poured the water on the stovetop, which caused the steam. He got a good second degree burn on the back of his hand. I have been using my own recipe that I call "Burn Sludge." The rate of healing is amazing. There are plenty of "Wow's" each time we remove the bandages to reapply the medicine.

My Burn Sludge contains:

4 pencil thick, cleaned and peeled, fresh minced comfrey root (causes fast healing through cell regeneration, pain reliever, soothes and softens skin, cools)
1/8 cup each of:
comfrey leaf powder
honey (sterilizes wound, antibiotic, prevents scarring, helps with growth of new tissue, contains a natural hydrogen peroxide)
several capsules of vitamin E (promotes healing, reduces scarring, anti-inflammatory)

with pure aloe juice (antimicrobial (inhibits the growth of bacteria, viruses and fungus) antiseptic (destroys bacteria), speeds healing, pain reliever, moisturizes) added and mixed in until it is thick, but spreadable, much like the consistency of pudding. If I had noticed any signs of infection, I would have added goldenseal powder.

This makes enough to treat the wound several times. Keep the leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.

The first application, I squeezed 4 Vitamin E capsules on to the burned area first, then applied the sludge. After that, I just kept the sludge on it 3 times a day and kept it bandaged. I kept the sludge on it so the skin could continually absorb the medicine in the herbs through the liquid. You can removed the dried herb, but if skin is very tender, just apply on top of the dried plant matter and rebandage. When you do remove the dried herb, remove slowly to keep from tearing blisters open.

I am not a doctor and strongly encourage you to seek medical attention before trying this or any of my herbal recommendations.