Yes, I know...

I'm a bit off with the subjects of my blog posts. Today is technically Tuesday (or Monday since I haven't been to sleep yet, but I digress), and my previous post has nothing to do with Tasty anything. It's much more quiverful-minded. Which is Friday's topic.

Oh well, give me a break, I'm tired and sore and not altogether on top of things.

Once my dh and I get through this week, things will begin to straighten out and flow a bit better.

Here's hopin' anyway~
*Michigan Momma*

Family Driven Faith

Have you read this book? It's by Voddie Baucham Jr. I'm only in chapter 2 and thus far, I love it.

Voddie and his wife homeschool their children, they have a quiverful-mindset, and from what I've heard about him and this book, well, it lines up with a lot of our families convictions.

It's really great to see this book and these topics being discussed in more "main-stream" Christianity. Sure, you hear about homeschooling and about being "quiverful" in more extreme, conservative Christian groups (so they are labeled by mainstream Christianity), but this is a wonderful, more well-known pastor - standing up for families, for children, for GOD and His Word. It's awesome!!

I have some quiverful blogs coming (once we get a bit more settled in around here). Kim, over at Life in a Shoe, talked recently about being quiverful. She got quite the mixed reactions, with many harsh, even mean comments from people who use birth control and think it's perfectly fine and acceptable to limit your family size (apparently for any ol' selfish reason). Really? I just don't see this line of thinking at ALL in the Bible.

I think you have to have some seriously grave issues going on (think death or the imminent threat of) in order to be limiting your family size. If you are going to let God control your life, truly give it over to Him, how can you be holding onto this one area? Do you think you really know better than God how good of a mother you are? Or how many children you can "handle"? Or how much money you will make (or need) next year? Really? You know better than God? Interesting....

One other thing she mentioned (Kim, Life in a Shoe) was this idea among many Christian today of "you do your thing, I'll do mine, God just calls us all to different things". Ummm, okay. Yes, this decision is ultimately between a man, his wife and God. But that doesn't mean TRUTH changes. There *is* a right and a wrong answer here. How many times does God call children a blessing? How many times is barreness referred to as a curse? Why would I IMPOSE a curse on my own body? Why would I hide myself from a blessing? How much more obvious can you get??

Last note, yes, there are "exceptions" per se. Yes, some women will DIE if they have just one more child. But in reality, this is not the case with most women out there using birth control. Eventually, my dh and I will have to face a tough decision in this area (most likely). I have had 4 c-sections. While things look great "in there" so far, who knows what the future holds (oh, that's right, my God does!)? We may face a time when a doc tells me it's unsafe to have more children. What shall I do?

More importantly, where is my heart? How do I view children, view families? Society has infiltrated the church most decidely in this area. Now it is simply "the norm" to have 2 or 3 kids, then take control out of God's hands and "be smart" about it. Even in Christian circles, many have never really considered anything else. It's just *what everyone does*. How can that be so wrong?

Oh, I don't know......maybe when we stopped looking to God for our answers and instead began looking to the experts, the "world" and our own selfish hearts. Ouch.

Again, FAMILY DRIVEN FAITH. I'll keep you updated on how the book reading is going.

And just promise me you'll give this topic some thought. So many Christian couples never even really think about this, they stay in their own comfortable little box of well-known and acceptable. Break out, I say, and see how God can bless you!

*Michigan Momma*

the final post

Ok, well, final as in just-until-we-get-moved-across-the-street final.

So this post is just to let you know I will be back - sometimes next week. When I can't stand the organizing ONE MORE MINUTE ~ I'll stop in and visit the blog world for stress-relief.

Tonight, we will paint the laundry room over at the new place. The kids were just transported to wonderful families who are watching them for the next 24 hours - WONDERFUL families!! We are really very prepared. We still have a bit of the kitchen, some laundry, the computer/desk and the bathroom stuff for showers. Not bad. Hopefully we won't be up into the wee hours of the morning.....

Speaking of wee.....we visited this great Irish shop while at the Pastor's & Wives retreat recently. Dh and I both got new rings (how cool!), plus I grabbed a CD by a group called Dervish. My girls love it almost as much as I do ~ I see Irish dancing lessons in their future (I hope, it's always been a dream of mine to have daughters take lessons).

Anways, I'll share pics later. Now I need a shower.

And a massage.

And hired labor.

*Michigan Momma*

Tasty Tuesday and more

Tasty Tuesday........well........

My eating has kinda gone down-hill this week. I know that's due to our moving, the packing, the stress, the feeling overwhelmed, etc. I fully plan on kicking things back into gear once we are settled in a bit. Yes, I know I could do more while we move......hey, I'll give it my best.

So I guess there's not a lot to say about Tasty Tuesday ~ we had leftovers from the freezer today. I imagine we'll be going over budget with our eating out this month.....life happens.

As to all the rest of life around here, well, this will be our third move in one year. Who does that?? Missionaries, I guess.....but we're not missionaries. Military? But we're not military. Army of the Lord, maybe. Anyways, we plan (I use that word VERY loosely) on being in the parsonage for a few years - at least until we grow out of it. It has three fairly small bedrooms. I imagine we could fit one more boy and one more girl (that would be three kids per room) - if we end up having two more boys or two more girls, I just don't know.

Of course, there's this new law/rule thingy going into effect in July of this year. *IF* we qualify (very big IF), we would be paying A LOT less for our student loans per month. *IF* that happens, we might actually be able to afford a house payment in a few years. WOW! I would be more than willing to move for our very own home at that point!

But that's all so far in the future. I just want to get settled into *this* place. Organize (ahhh.....I really love to organize) and get my home set up. Come up with a good schedule for us and see how that works for us. We just celebrated Elijah's 1st b-day and Selah's about to turn 5 - when did THAT happen?? Before you know it, we'll be taking day trips to the lake and cooking out every night. Then home school reall kicks in gear with two kiddos and first grade work! WOW!

It all passes so quickly, even more so as I get older.

~Excuse me, I need to go read a book and snuggle on the couch. Yes, I know I should be packing.....I'll get there~

*Michigan Momma*

Thinkin' Thursday

I just recently heard a feminist school teacher talking about home schooling.

I could hardly sit there patiently while she spoke.


But the thing is, she is coming from a TOTALLY different place than I am. I am Christian - first and foremost. If you are an athiest (which I believe she is), how could you possibly understand where I'm coming from? How could you understand that my main concern is not finding the very best educational curriculum that best matches the public school - my main concern is GOD. I want my children to first and foremost love the Lord, learn what HE wants for their lives. Yes, even in their education - GOD comes first, not oh-the-holy-math-curriculum or some such blather....

We simply do not separate God out into a nice little box on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. He is our main focus in EVERYTHING. Yes, EVERYTHING!

So when I look at curriculum, I look at what GOD would want my children to learn (and yes, He does talk about this in his Word - read Deuteronomy). How does a particular series view God (yes, ALL education has some kind of religious-bent to it ~ I want it to be Christian, not Buddist or Muslim or atheist, etc.)?

Also, I believe God made each child an individual with strengths and weaknesses - who will progress differently. Therefore, I am not all that interested in "grade levels" (except as a very loose guide). There will also be some subjects my children may excell at, and some he/she may not grasp as easily. So be it.

Back to the feminist ~ she was concerned about the "worst case scenario" situation. What if a home schooled child ends up back in public school? You should therefore map out your child's education at home to line up with the public school, "just in case". Yikes.... no thank you.

That's like saying, "well, I should be prepared for my husband to leave me - I should set aside money in secret, I should never fully give my heart away, I should never fully trust - because well, we *might* get a divorce". If you go into a marriage like this, then you are doomed. Divorce is NOT an option around here. It is never in our thoughts, it is never brought out on the table when we are having issues - no way.

Same with our schooling. If we go into home education with the option of sending our kid's to public school still on the table, well, we're doomed (and so are our children). Could our children have to attend public school? Could some horrible thing happen to me, to their father, that would cause them to be forced into public school? I guess so. But that's not how we plan our life.

We plan on life around God, around what HE wants for us. If the "worst" happens, we will deal with it then. We will make the necessary adjustments and trust God to get us through the rough parts.

A full reliance on Him.
Yes, even in our children's education.
*Michigan Momma*

Workin' Wednesday

yup, workin' hard just to catch up...

Due to being sick, plus dealing with sick kids, plus getting a handle on this new part time job, plus getting ready to move, well....... I haven't found sufficient time, motivation nor topics to blog about.

Just to let you know - I'm here (sorta).
I'll be back soon~
*Michigan Momma*

Thinkin' Thursday

**I know this is a long post - but if you have the time, stick around and give it a read. I have been reading some C.S. Lewis and he had quite a bit to say about the American public school system**

I have been reading C.S. Lewis' book "The Screwtape Letters" - which also includes "Screwtape Proposes a Toast". It has been my reading material in the bathroom, for those sacred times when I run away and hide in the one place Momma can get some alone time (and only if I remember to lock the door).

Anyway, I don't think I've ever read the Proposes a Toast part. This edition has a preface written by Lewis himself, explaining the Toast.

Basically, he is describing American public schools (and *not* in a good way). Whatever Screwtape and his demon companions LIKE, we should run away from. They *love* the American public schools and what we are doing to our children. We should definately be concerned!

And remember, this preface was written in 1962 ~ can you imagine what Lewis would think of our school systems today?! Yike!

Some of the things Screwtape loves about the American public schools:

***a warped version of "democracy" ~ basically that we are completely equal. No one should be higher or lower than another student, regardless of effort, intelligence, hard work, etc. His hope is that this warped ideal would get rid of every kind of human excellence ~ for who would *dare* try to excell and rise about anyone else?? How rude and inconsiderate, what a stuck-up snob!!

***to go along with this, student are passed on from grade to grade regardless of their effort or ability. Also highly intelligent students are trapped with age peers, even if they are capable of much more advanced. It is this desire to be "like everyone else", to keep everyone the same, to conform at which the public schools are so good at.

***in order to make everyone "feel" good (and get rid of that annoying individualism), differences between pupils must be disguised. American public schools (and universities) do this by altering entrance exams to allow anyone in, regardless of their ability (and willingness) to learn and work hard. "All incentives to learn and all penalties for not learning will vanish."

***in going along with this American "ideal" ~ all schooling will, of course, be state education. How else could those in control cut everyone down to the same level and restrict individuals from rising in various areas?

Listen to this line:

"For 'democracy' or the 'demoncratic spirit' (diabolical sense) leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first hint of criticism. And that is what Hell wishes every democratic people to be."

This is SO TRUE!! Cocksureness?! ~ Absolutely! I am appalled by how many ignorant (or ordinary) people there are running around out there who think WAY TOO MUCH of themselves, thinking they *deserve* it all.

Ultimately, Screwtape enjoys and encourages the behavior of American public schools for one main reason: the lack of individualism, the desire to "be like everyone else", a basic state of mind which rejects "almost every road which might finally lead him to Heaven".

My friends, if you believe public education in our great nation is a-religious ~ wake up and look around. Public education is doing NO ONE any favors, except those who desire a nation full of "jelly in a mold". THEIR mold. And this mold in no way resembles Jesus: whose life we should be trying to emmulate. 'If you are not for me, you are against me.....'

You simply can't have it both ways. You can't follow the world and follow the Lord. It doesn't work. We can see how prophetic C.S. Lewis' writings were - as we stare American public schools in the face and see it unfolding today. Hell must be celebrating and laughing.....

Wake up, break out of your public education mold. Don't allow your children to be trapped and conformed to *their* standards. There are better ways. C.S. Lewis saw it back in '62 ~ can you see it even more clearly today?

~concerned~

*Michigan Momma*

Workin' Wednesday

Well, I still haven't worked anymore on the updated version of the 70's sweater. I just haven't felt motivated, I guess....

Another way that I "work" around here involves our church. I am the kid's choir director ~ performing one song per month in "big" church, plus two musical productions (Spring & Christmas), plus anything else the Children's Pastor asks of me (he's my dh, so I guess it's to be expected - HI HONEY!!). This helps with our housing at the parsonage, which is a blessing!

Anyways, I am just starting up on the Spring Musical. These kids are fairly new to me still, so we are all getting to know each other. I'm always so excited at this point, but by the end, I'm ready to be DONE!! Praise the Lord it's just two musicals per year - so I get a nice break between productions.





Yet it can be difficult to get any work done with four little kids in the house. I either have to wait until they are in bed (which by that time, *I'm* tired), or naptimes (when I'm trying to get other house chores done). One of the ways I'm dealing with this is to attend church on Saturday evening. Neither dh nor I have responsibilities during that service, it's still the senior pastor preaching, and they have good child care for our littles. This gives us a chance to actually go, sit still, and be fed from the sermon. ALSO, it opens up time for me on Sunday morning to go to dh's office for a good hour or so, and really get work done.



With this arrangment, I don't have to work so hard to find time AT HOME, with all the babies, to get my work done. It works for me, it works for our family, it works for the kid's choir.

All that to say, you may be in a position to help your family out financially. If you are, there are ways to do that WITHOUT sacrificing time with your family, or sleep for that matter. You have to figure out what works FOR YOU. Not everyone will have the option to go to service on Saturday night. Yet you may be able to find time other evenings, perhaps a "daddy night" which can free you up for an hour or two. It *can* be done - even if it isn't in the "traditional" way of a 9-5 job.

God bless you, your family and your efforts to give your best to them~
*Michigan Momma*

Tasty Tuesday ~ Superfoods

Ten Super Foods ~ From Dr. Fuhrman's book Disease Proof Your Child.

**I have not read nor am I endorsing this book - I just liked the list of superfoods**



(Here's the list - my comments are in italics)



Avocados are a clean, healthy source of healthy fatty acids. They are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols and high in the powerful anti-oxidant glutathione. Avocados are healthy anti-cancer food. Use it in place of butter, mash it with bananas for young children, and use it in lots of avocado-based dressings and dips.

(just bought and ate my very first avocado. I ate some *really* bad guacamole in high school - plus then ate one bite a few years back - and it just wasn't all that good. This time, I ate avocado chunks in my salad. Interesting texture, not bad taste at all. I'll keep buying 'em.)


Blueberries/Blackberries are packed with tannins, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and proanthcyanidins that have been linked to prevention and reversal of age-related mental decline. They also have powerful anti-cancer effects. Use frozen organic berries in the winter when fresh ones are not available.

(nope, we don't eat these that much....but I don't *dislike* them, so I'll add them to my grocery list)


Cantaloupes are another vitamin powerhouse. With only 56 calories a cup, one gets a huge amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene as well as folate, potassium, fiber, thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6.

(hmmmm.....cantaloupe.......my diet right now just has limited fruits - more veggies)


Carrots/Beets are colorful root crops that add beauty and flavor to dishes. Shredded raw in salads, cooked, or in soups, they are high in fiber and antioxidants compounds such as cartonoids abd betacyanin, a powerful cancer protective agent found to inhibit cell mutations.

(carrots, yes, shredded in salads, fed to kiddos who refuse other raw veggies - beets, not so much, I wouldn't know what to do with them)


Flax Seeds are rich in lignans and omega-3 fatty acids, and scientific studies have confirmed that flax seeds have a positive influence on everything from cholesterol levels and constipation to cancer and heart disease. Use ground flax seed in oatmeal, or add them to whipped frozen bananas, stewed apples, and cinnamon and nut balls. Keep in mind that the scientifically documented benefits from flax seeds come from raw, ground flax seed, not flax seed oil.

(happy to announce that this is one of those small changes I made not that long ago - lots of flax seed, on salads, in smoothies, in bread and baked goods, in oatmeal)


Green Lettuce is exceptionally low in calories, but contains an abundance of phytonutrients, plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Eat salad with lettuce every day.

(as of recently, I try to have a salad every day for lunch - really, quite yummy)


Kale is a fantastic high-nutrient green vegetable to add to soups and to serve chopped.

(I'm sorry, kale? What?)


Sesame Seeds are one of the most mineral-rich foods in the world and a potent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, vitamins, and fiber. They are also rich in anti-cancer lignans that are uniquely found in sesame seeds alone. Grind some unhulled sesame seeds into a powder to sprinkle on salads and vegetables. Toast lightly and mix with eggplant, chickpeas, scallions, and garlic for a healthy and delicious dip.

(I will add this to my grocery list - I could grind them in my coffee grinder, I guess. I'll have to figure out how to add them to our diet in other ways too)


Strawberries are high in folic acid, flavonoids, iron, and vitamin C. They provide a good source of dietary fiber and potassium yet contain only 60 calories per cup. Use strawberries and frozen strawberries frequently. Try a fruit smoothie by blending together a banana, orange juice, and frozen strawberries.

(we are big smoothie drinkers around here. If I had my way, everyday would start off with a smoothie and every lunch would big a large, healthy salad - it's just dinner and late night eating that I have a real problem with)


Tomatoes have been a hot topic in recent years because their consumption has been linked to dramatic reduction in the incidence of common cancers. One of the tomatoes' heavily investigated anti-cancer phytochemicals is lycopene, which has been shown to be protective against cancer, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers.

(ok, I just don't enjoy eating raw tomatoes. I'm talking just take a tomato, slice it, eat it - even if it's a small, supposedly "sweet" tomato. Whatever...... I add them to my salads occassionally and hope that my red sauce dinners will cover the rest)





Well, I think I'm actually doing fairly well - for a bad food addict, that is. Someday I will get rid of my diet coke, some day.........maybe this summer I'll work on drinking filtered water. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to drink lots of tap water - just doesn't taste right. Even here, so close to Lake Huron, where you'd think the water would be better. Hmmmm.....

*Michigan Momma*

Momma Mondays

I typed out this whole long post.....

It was boring and I rambled.


Basically, today is a wash. I'm tired. I'm just cuddling babies, reading books, watching tv, playing games with the babies, and trying not to eat poorly. So far, so good.

No one got much sleep last night and we are ALL a bit whiney around here.


I need sleep.
*Michigan Momma*

QuiverFul Friday

The term "quiverful" is fairly new to me. I first heard it, oh, maybe 4 years ago. I specifically remember my dh saying "oh, those quiverful-freaks". So if your first impression upon reading the title of this post was, um, less than enthusiastic ~ that's okay. I don't blame you.







Just to set the record straight: our first two children were not "quiverful", meaning they were planned, predicted and decided upon BY US. We calmly decided we wanted to have a baby, got pregnant and there ya go. I didn't go back on birth control, well, 'cause we wanted another baby. We got preggo really fast that time and had our second. It was around this time that I started hearing about those "quiverful-freaks" and wondered what all the commotion was about.





From there on out, it's been a growing process ~ and I doubt we're done yet. I've had four c-sections....only God knows what my fertiility future holds. I've gone through stages of trying to figure it all out, how many more we could end up having, the different options if my uterus shows dangerous signs of "wear-n-tear", etc. It makes my brain hurt. Instead, I'm trying to live my life *today*.



*Today*, I have four beautiful children: Isaac (6yob), Selah (4yog), Talitha (2yog) and Elijah (almost 1yob). So my life is small children, day in and day out, diapers, baths, brushing teeth, wiping faces, and cleaning up all the messes 4 small children produce. It also involved teaching and training these four amazing blessings how to be a part of our family: i.e. chores! Yes, my 2yo does chores.


Luckily, it also involved reading books, smiling faces, toddler made-up songs, cuddling on the couch, swiping bites of food as we cook together, and holding hands. I am so awed by each of these gifts the Lord has given us....


Yet in reality, it's hard. There are days I cry. There are days I cry out to God in frustration, anger and despair. Yet if I had it all together, would I really be crying out to God at all??




Anyway.....QuiverFul Fridays will be about some of the more practical aspects of having a larger family (if you consider 6 a large family - we don't, but by American-standards and the looks we get at the store, some people do). Yes, we do things differently than a family of three or four. Our children won't have the typical "American" upbringing ~ and that couldn't make me happier!!



So here's to all those Quiverful Freaks!!
(Sorry honey, but it looks like we've joined the freaks......)
*Michigan Momma*

p.s. my dh just wants me to clarify that he meant the term "quiverful freaks" as a term of endearment (?)- he doesn't want everyone to think he's a big ol' jerk (he's totally not). The idea was just totally new to us, that's all. Just to clarify....

Beware!!

If you are about to go shopping for your family, for your loved ones, for your babies................do NOT read this blog!!

http://happyfoody.wordpress.com/

Okay, well, actually, I recommend this blog for anyone interested in healthy eating, changing their typical "American" diet and really doing something great for their family.

The problem is, she is really passionate about this topic (hence the blog, duh) and just puts it all out there for ya. She lets you know what you are ingesting, what you are placing in front of your children and how it is affecting us, how it is hurting us.

Due to a possible snow storm on the way, I decided to go BY MYSELF (in and of itself, an absolute amazement!) to the store after the kiddos went to bed. It was about 8:45pm when I left. It was about 11pm when I got back - and I didn't buy all that much!

Before I had left, I stopped by Happy Foody, a new find in my quest for healthy eating info. I read a few great posts this afternoon, where she talks about reading labels in the grocery store. That's what I did tonight ~ I read labels. I simply refused to buy anything that had high fructose corn syrup. I tried to stick to the "outside" of the grocery aisles - only sneaking into the actual aisles when absolutely necessary. I searched high and low for a simple container of hummus (which I finally found, but I'm gonna try my hand at making my own next time). I bought an avocado (never did that before).

Whew....I'm telling you, she is convicting. I did my best to balance buying nutritious, healthy, organic, and natural with the reality of a rather small grocery budget per month. I managed to grab some healthy eggs yet I just couldn't afford the healthier milk. I grabbed lots of raw veggies, some were even organic, yet we just can't afford organic meat.

I just kept thinking of what I was putting into my babies mouths, not to mention my dh and myself. How do I want us to feel? Am I honestly doing the best I can to take care of these bodies the Lord has given to us?? Is the cheaper food really worth the price we may pay later on?? How many of today's health problems are caused by our quick food, convenience food, consumption and how much of this is all hype???

I'm not sure, I have no answers. I'm just fumbling around here doing the best I can for my family. Go, read HAPPY FOODY ( http://happyfoody.wordpress.com/ ), then go fumble around the grocery store for two hours.

Tired, but satisfied~

*Michigan Momma*