This morning my son Josiah and I had a chiro appt. I hope Josiah starts feeling better. He has been in some pain so being treated should help.
 We came home and did some home school work, ate lunch, did chores and the children went back to school work.
 
 Later in the afternoon I decided to rearrange my buffet in the dining room and do some cleaning. I like how it looks. Homey and pretty!

 My oldest put dirty rugs in the wash and the boys got those hung out on the clothesline. Then it was time for me to start supper. Tonight on the menu was Mama's Enchilada's and canned corn. Everyone LOVES it when I make my enchilada recipe so it was a hit! :)

 John and the two oldest boys didn't have much time to eat as they were headed out to men's fellowship meeting tonight. They were able to quickly get some supper down and we saved a whole pan of enchiladas for them.. It's amazing how much grown men and growing boys can eat!!

 All in all a busy yet productive day! I never have time to get bored.. :)

 Blessings!  

 Today I decided to spend our day doing some deep cleaning that we haven't done in a bit so I got some laundry in, did some sweeping, got my children busy on their chores, my oldest dd busy doing the mopping of kitchen and living room. Printed out my menus, then got them done and filled out. Made my grocery list. Had Josiah my oldest son rake the yard and then mow one last time for the year. Got my children ready; shoes and coats and myself. Then into the van and off to the store we went!

My children were sooooooooooooo helpful! I am so proud of them. For being soooooooooo helpful I bought them eggnog and some bakery donuts. A little junk is okay now and then, right?? :)

Pics of our day.. 

Josiah mowing after he raked the yard..





we stopped at starbucks after the store. Josiah went in to get me my coffee.



while we waited the children enjoyed watching the construction and tractors, etc..



and my coffee..oh it was good!!



when we arrived home the children all got to work carrying in the groceries..

Isaac



baby boy wanted his pic taken too



ZaraLayna



Quentin & Micah



Josiah carrying groceries into the kitchen



Gabby



Josiah



getting the groceries out of the van





all the groceries in the kitchen..time to put them away..



Now we're relaxing and having some quiet time!

Today's Scripture;

1 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said, 2 "Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can't see. They have ears, but they can't hear because they are rebellious people. Ezekiel 12: 1-2

I want to stay healthy throughout my pregnancy so I have begun making smoothies with nothing but good for you ingredients. They taste super!!







I think I'll go make another one right now! These are so good and refreshing.. :) :)

 This morning I had a chiro appt. I was a nervous nellie as the one and only chiro I have seen used only the activator method and I guess I was afraid the popping way would hurt. BUT I was happy to be wrong. I was weighed and measured and my bp taken which of course while it was being taken I had the butterly stomach. My bp reading was higher than normal for me as always..good thing I have my own machine for bp and know what it really is...
Then I spoke with the dr. who said he would keep the xray and records I had brought along until next time so he could go over them. I wasn't sure he was truly listening to me but I am going to continue to go and give him time.
Then they did the emt on my spine. I was then directed to sit in a chair with a heat like pad against my back for 10 mintes. Then they took me into the area with the roller beds where I laid on my back for 10 minutes and had a great massage! I could have went to sleep. But being that I was in a chiro's office I refrained. :) :) :) :)

Lastly the chiro made me lay on my back and he popped my neck and spine and hips. It didn't hurt and actually didn't feel too bad! I have to be seen two to three times the first few weeks and then less after that. I am interested to see what he says at my next appt;. after he has went over my records and xray. My pubic bone separation was severe. My last chiro had never seen anything that bad. She was surprised I was walking or moving at all!! So we'll see what he says?? I am hoping that being treated thruout my pg will prevent another severe separation. You can't even imagine the pain...OUCH!!!

Looks like we're going to the pumpkin patch Thursday! I am excited! I always enjoy taking my kiddos out to fun places! I have to remember my camera. I always kick myself when I forget it! I want my memories!!

During devotions last night I told my two oldest boys; Zeke 12 & Josiah 13 that I want them each day after breakfast and chores but before any other schoolwork to read one chapter of acts and then during devotion time in the evening we can talk about what they read with the other children. I am really looking forward to what they say and feel about what they're reading. It will be a good discussion. And not only that but I am praying that thru their reading of Acts that they will learn more of Yeshua and Who He is! "I have no greater joy than that my children walk in truth.............."
    
Are you living your dream? Is your cup full to overflowing?? Mine is!! My life isn't perfect by any means but the L-rd has filled my cup to overflowing! He has given me more than I deserve! He is good to me!

Be Blessed!!

Today's Scripture

Be watchful and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.~ Deuteronomy 12:28

 Yesterday was Gabriellia's b-day! She turned 11. And today is JaidenNoah's b-day! He is 2!

Gabby..




JaidenNoah..






All that mess on his face? chocolate! He loves his chocolate!! :):)

Gabby chose Applebee's for her b-day supper and so last night dh and I took Gabby and JaidenNoah to Applebee's. We had a great time! :) Then we went to Meijer's for their b-day ice cream. JaidenNoah got one of the mini things of Ben's & Jerry's. He ate it all right up! Gabby takes her time with hers..:) She is sweet though and shares with her siblings.

Book review time...

                                                              
    
I found this book at my local library in the new nonfiction section. Of course I immediately grabbed it as breastfeeding is near and dear to my heart. I have been breastfeeding for more than 14 years straight, tandem nursing two right now and will be nursing the new baby growing in my womb come May 2010.

I wasn't disappointed as I began to read the different women's stories and experiences of breastfeeding or not breastfeeding. The guilt, pain, transformation and bliss...

This book tells you the truth. The not so great and the ugly..

I relate to each story on a different level and I am even learning.   It helps me understand a little more how those who don't breastfeed feel and those where breastfeeding was a struggle.

And amid these experiences there is laughter and moments of pure pleasure that only a mama can experience!

I would recommend this book to those who may also have that special place in their hearts for breastfeeding and for those who just want to understand better those on the other side.

Happy reading!!

 This will be a much more serious blog post than usual but I can't help but speak..

For our Ladies meeting with our home fellowship we are reading and discussing The Way Home by Mary Pride. For tonight we are reading and discussing chapters 5 & 6. 

AS I read through chapter 6 I could not refrain from crying and asking the L-rd to forgive our nation for the blood of millions of innocent babies that has been spilled over the years.
I want to put a few quotes here that are just gut wrenching and hurt my heart so bad; tears are just rolling down my face...

Before abortionists realized they could make big bucks out of babies' bodies, unborn babies were treated like trash. One abortion center in Richmond
   filled a long bin on the rear of its property with the remains...Its trash compactor neatly massed 100 babies' bodies which were then tied up in plastic bags and thrown on top of the bin.
  The hungry dogs came along and dragged the bags away. There were frequent fights and the contents of the bags would be strewn up and down the streets until the dogs separated the gauze, sponges and pads and devoured the placenta, bones and flesh of the babies, said a mother.

another quote from this book...

In March of 1973, Conneticut's Attorney General presented an affidavit to the US Supreme Court regarding a Yale-New Haven experiment in which a baby boy was dissected without anesthesia before he died. The next month the Washington-Post reported that Dr. Gerald Gaull, chief of pediatrics at New York State Institute for Basic Research in Mental Retardation, "injects radioactive chemicals into umbilical cords of fetuses....While the heart is still beating he removes their brains, lungs, liver and kidneys for study...Also in 1973, a medical journal reported experiments carried out on live-born fetuses [he means living babies] who were decapitated [he means their heads were cut off] in order that their heads could be perfused to study carbohydrate metabolism.

Just awful! AWFUL!
My heart breaks for all the babies killed by abortion everyday.
There are so many people that can't have babies who would want these children. So many who have their own who would still love these babies.
These babies are wanted by G-d. He creates each life in the mother's womb. He fashions that life with His hands.

There are mama's like me that have watched a child suffer and then die who would love many babies; who would love these babies.

We are such a selfish nation! We think nothing of life! We want our own desires fulfilled and will let nothing get in the way of what we want! Not even an innocent child.

I have been an unwed mother at 16. I've been there and even in that situation abortion isn't the right choice! Why not give that child to someone who wants it if you don't. Why not think of the innocent life being formed within you instead of yourself. The baby didn't sin. You did!

* Forgive us L-rd! 
  

We've been keeping a food storage for many years but every so often we have to build it up again as our supplies our depleted from use.

We recently bought of 25lbs. powdered milk and 25lbs. of brown rice. Which we then put into buckets with lids for storage. I also purchased more dried fruit which I use to make homemade granola. We also store grains in 6 gallon buckets with lids. Grains such as cracked wheat, wheat berries, oats, different flours and at different times 7 grain cereals, etc.. and sugar.
I then fill up smaller containers with flour and sugar; brown, white and powdered sugar which we put in the cupboard for easy access for cooking and baking.
We also do alot of canning to build up our food storage for the fall and winter months..












My sweety today is working on cleaning out the cupboards which we have to do so often..



The children and I spent some time last week deep cleaning and rearranging the living room and dining room.











My wonderful dh is always finding porcelain bears for me here and there. He gets them for me to add to my collection. He got these for me this weekend!



I love fall and just could not resist taking some pictures of fall on our street...

 





Thursday was pregnancy and infant loss remembrance day. I lit a candle for my 2 m/c babies; one in 1995 and another in March of this year. Elijah and Lily. And also for my sweet baby girl RuthAnne Michelle who nursed at my breast for 27 blessed days..
So I will leave you with this...



Today's Scripture..

There are many plans in a man's heart, But the LORD's counsel will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 (HNV)

I have been so tired but today I was able to get up early and get together the things I need for my appt. today. I made some decaf earl grey tea and read a devotion. I really enjoy getting up and having some quiet moments before my children are up for the day. It's been hard getting that these last few months being as tired as I have been.

I have an appt. this afternoon and then book study this evening. I am praying I feel well today and am able to get done everything I need to. I also need to get the children's schooling done and our scheduled work for the day finished. I felt well enough Sunday evening to get my planning for the week done. That was a wonderful accomplishment for me after weeks of not being able to get it done because I have been feeling so sick.

I love my pregnancy ticker above on the main page of my blog. I look forward to seeing it change each week as I hit a new phase in my pg. This week's picture on the ticker is so sweet! I just love it! :)

I have heard baby's heartbeat many times since 9 weeks. I never tire of hearing it! It's music to my ears!

I am going to take my son Isaac to my appt. with me today. It will give us some mama and boy time. I try to grab every little moment I can to spend one on one time with each of my kiddos. The years pass all too swiftly and before you know it they will be grown with families of their own. My oldest dd will be 18 in December. It's hard to believe!

She is such a precious young lady. She is my biggest helper and has such a kind giving heart. I am so proud of her and the young lady she has become. I give all glory to the L-rd for that! And I am so thankful that we chose to parent our children the way we have because now as I look at my dd I can see the fruit of all those years! 

 

Well, I need to get busy!
Be Blessed! :)

Sunday was ZaraLayna's 4th birthday! She is our miracle! When she was 3 and 4 months old she had two life saving surgeries. At 3 months she was life flighted from WY to Denver, CO children's hospital. She had Hirschsprung's Disease. And I say had becuz she is like new. Her intestines work now where they didn't at birth! She still has minor things that are from the hirschsrpung's disease but thank G-d  and His sweet mercy she is here with us and healthy!!



This week I decided to use up our zucchini's before they got bad but instead of making zucchini bread or slicing them for the freezer and then soup, etc.. I put them in my food processor and then right into my spaghetti sauce. It was delish!! :)



Last night was our Moms Night out for the homeschool group. It was very lovely. We had a ladies tea at an Amish owned Tea Shop. They do not use electricity so everything was lit by candles and oil lamps. It was so elegant and relaxing! The funniest part for me was trying to potty in a dark bathroom. I was laughing and talking to myself. I sure hope no one heard me!  LOL! :):)

Well here is my most recent belly shot. I am growing! How sweet it is!! :)

 

Blessings!!

I haven't updated since last Friday. I have been too sick with all day sickness. No idea why they call it morning sickness??
Feeling a bit better for the moment so am updating here and my pregnancy blog also.
This week I have just been surviving. Doing my best to keep things going with the children's school work. Making sure that they at least keep up on their math and bible, etc..
 We did get most of our unit study things accomplished this week so I feel I did pretty well. I am short tempered with the children which I feel badly about but I feel awful and just do not have the patience for foolishness or any goofing off.
 Our feast of Yom Teruah last weekend was good. We made the traditional round shaped Challah for our Shabbat meal..
Going in the oven..



Awhile ago I bought coconut oil from Wilderness Naturals. I love it! It makes everything taste so good! We use it in place of junk margarine and oils in recipes. It is super in biscuits. They came out fluffy and moist. Delish!!



My kiddos so enjoy dressing up JaidenNoah like a little dolly.. :) I think he is pretty cute myself!





He is such a sweet little man! We all enjoy him so much. And as the baby he gets pretty spoiled and loved on! :)
Nothing wrong with lots of lovin!

ZaraLayna and JaidenNoah are still suckling. Although I say no more often as I can't have anything or anyone against or on my belly right now. I feel bad about that but I am hoping it won't be for too much longer.

Todays' Scripture..

1 Timothy 6:15-16 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁵Which [appearing] will be shown forth in His own proper time by the blessed, only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and the Lord of lords,

    ¹⁶Who alone has immortality [in the sense of exemption from every kind of death] and lives in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. Unto Him be honor and everlasting power and dominion. Amen (so be it).