I want them to be better

So, the article that I linked to got me thinking. I totally agree with the author, one of the reason's I want to homeschool is that I DON'T want my children to assimilate and be the same as everyone elses children. While sharing the article on facebook I started to type..."I don't want my children to be like everyone elses... I want them to be better." I quickly changed my wording though, because I realized that sounded condescending. But, I would like to elaborate on that idea.

I don't mean better in the sense that it's a competition and oh "my kid is better than yours" and that type of thing...but more so that I want my children to be better educated, better informed, better influenced, better "fed", and even "better" socialized. I don't want them in an environment where God is removed even though he created everything they are learning about. I don't want them in an environment where approval from the opposite sex is a driving factor and "relationships" start way too early often times. I don't want them being pressured to be something they are not, or feel like they have to impress or win the approval of others that really don't matter. I also want them to learn how to treat others as Jesus instructed us to, with love, and help those in need, and that doesn't happen often in a out of home, school, environment. I also don't want my children to feel that all of their self worth lies in what kind of grades they get, or how well they do in certain extracurricular activities...these things are for LEARNING and building self confidence, not tearing it down.

I think some healthy competition is good, but I know many children who feel awful if they don't get good grades even though they try hard, or who may not make a team because they are not the best, or even who do make the team, but don't get as much play time because they are of average ability. I think extra curricular activities are great, and I know my kids will still make PLENTY of friends. We attend church, our daughter takes dance lessons, and our eldest son played soccer this past Fall. In January our son will probably take swim lessons again, and our daughter might too, and then come spring our eldest son will probably play soccer again. We also feel it is important for our children to be well rounded, so our eldest will most likely start some kind of music lesson's in the next year or two, as we feel that is important. There are also homeschool co-ops, groups, field trips, play dates, and other functions, where our kids can make lots of friends, so I am not worried in the least about that.

I want our kids to have friends, but I want them to have family time too. I think family time is totally under valued, while remaining a VERY important factor in raising successful, healthy, God-minded children. Those are just SOME of the reason's that we like the idea of homeschooling, and why we are going to try it, there are many others. So are my children "better" than yours that are schooled out of the home? No, but I feel they are better off. ;)

AWESOME GIVEAWAY!

I was first introduced to amber when my daughter was teething. She has a necklace (floating around here somewhere! lol!) and she had a bracelet, but the kids broke it. :/ I got myself a necklace too, and I just love it, so I would love to have more! I am in love with the beautiful jewelry and healing properties of said jewelry that Hazelaid offers...and now you have the chance to win one of these gorgeous necklaces! I entered! Just head on over to 4 Little Men and Girly Twin's blog and enter! :D

http://www.4littlemenandgirlytwins.com/2010/12/amber-nuts-giveaway.html#disqus_thread

So cute! Thanksgiving Project!

I think we are going to make this as a thanksgiving wall hanging, with all the hands the same way, and leaving a spot for the baby's hand next year. I'll add a dowel and ribbon at the top for hanging...I'll post pics when done! :) Thanks for a great idea!

http://www.makeandtakes.com/handmade-bread-basket-liner-for-thanksgiving#comment-39956

Wild Olive Tees Give-away!

I've always loved novelty tees, and these t-shirts take it to the next level by also being inspirational, and a great way to show case your love and commitment to Christ! I'm hoping to win a couple, and if you'd like to enter to win too you can head on over to http://www.wildolivetees.com/, click on blog and find out how you can enter to win too! And good luck!

You Might Be a CounterCultural Mama If...

This post is inspired by this Post on Mamaeve's blog. :) There were a few things I didn't do and/or didn't agree with, so here is my list!

You might be a countercultural mama if...

1. You breastfeed your children
2. You wear your babies
3. You feed on demand and not on schedule
4. You delayed solids
5. Your babies first foods were something natural, like banana's, avacado's, or squash, etc. given whole, in chunks or mashed instead of something pureed and in a jar.
6. You have ever co-slept in some capacity
7. You have had one or more natural, unmedicated births, one or more of which may have been in the water.
8. You waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing before it was clamped
9. You have your chiro, midwife, and herbalist if you have one all on speed dial
10. You believe in Homeopathic medicine over conventional medicine.
11. Your friends look at you like your nuts when you tell them you don't use Johnson and Johnson or some other name brand bath and body products for baby b/c the have a high rating on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database
12. You use cloth diapers and/or EC (which most of your friends and family also think you are nuts for!)
13. You'd rather make something for your children/friends/loved ones, even if it may cost more, and if it costs you your time b/c there is more love in it, and it will be unique and special.
14. You craft in one way or another.
15. You like to cook from scratch.
16. You believe that making smart choices about what you put in (food) and on (bath products, cosmetics, etc) your body can affect your over all health, well being, and risks for developing cancers and other serious medical conditions.
17. Your children nurse their baby dolls, wear them in baby carries, and change their cloth diapers.
18. Your Baby rear faced past a year
19. You own 3 or more baby carriers
20. You know what amber necklaces are for.
21. You own a wrap and know how to tie it.
22. You have one or more dishes that you make by adding ingredients by sight and memory and not using a recipe.
23. Gardening is considered a family fun learning activity
24. You can hardly get through a reality show about birth without yelling at your tv.
25. When the Hylands Teething Tablet recall was announced you went out and bought as many bottles as you could get!
26. You are aware of America's c-section rate and it makes you sad.
27. You think it's ridiculous that doctors can refuse to take patients who want a v-bac.
28. You think it's ridiculous how many doctors won't allow a v-bac if the mother hasn't had a vaginal delivery before.
29. You think nothing of using the terms penis, foreskin, breast, vagina, vaginal, intact, perineum, and nipple in normal everyday conversation.
30. You nurse without a cover, even if it's only around family and close friends.
31. You don't think there is anything wrong with breastfeeding in public.
32. You selectively vax, or delay vaccinations.
33. You smile and nod at the doctor to avoid being "that" patient, while silently knowing that you will only apply the things you know to be good for your child.
34. You think that educating your children is your responsibility before anyone elses, even if your children go to school.
35. You know that it is your job to teach potty training, discipline, and proper social behavior to your children, not their teachers (if they don't happen to be homeschooled.)
36. Your partner doesn't "babysit" the kids while you go out for whatever reason (on the few rare occassions when you leave the house without even the nursling in tow) he/she co-parents.
37. You prefer natural and homemade items over store-bought
38. You have at least one thing for yourself that you either made yourself, or was handmade.
39. You know what a Diva Cup and Mama cloth are, and possibly own one or the other.
40. You have a paper free, or limited paper household, which may or may not include wipes, toliet paper, paper towels and/or napkins.
41. You reduce, re-use and recycle.
42. You'd rather buy used and save the difference. :)

Feel free to add your own in the comments if you'd like! :)

I entered the Cloth Diaper Stash Giveaway, Did you?

I'm so hoping I win! We could really use some new diapers for the babies! If you want to check out some of the awesome stuff that Diaper Junction offers...head on over to www.diaperjunction.com and check it out! :D

Filled with the joy of the Lord!

Praise the Lord I am so joyous this morning! The Lord is SO faithful in all He does! I am reading "Created to be his Helpmeet" by Debi Pearl right now, and it is so eye opening, and such a blessing!

Thank you for any prayers for my marriage, things are already improving, and with some of my new found wisdom, by God's grace they should only continue! One of the things the book touches on is that wisdom is a gift from God, and that we may be given it, if we only ask. This was profound to me! So, I prayed for wisdom, and although I still will be ever learning, and am far from being wise, I have had my eyes opened to so many things this week!

Last night, as I was struggling, yet again, to be the helper to my husband that God designed me to be, after all in the house were sleeping and my daily work was done, instead of knitting, or watching t.v. I decided to pick up my Bible again and see if I couldn't search out some encouragement and guidance for my situation. As I opened my bible it opened perfectly to Psalm 31 with all my highlighting for "The Wife of Noble Character" which I immediately reviewed, and re-committed myself yet again to modeling myself after. Then I thought "where should I read? Where would I find guidance?" and immediately God impressed upon me to read in 1 Corinthians. The experience was SO eye opening! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Cor. 3:9 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31 "For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man." 1 Cor. 11:8-9 "...But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world-how she can please her husband." 1 Corinthians 7:34. Ladies, THIS IS A SIN! I realized that so much of my strife comes from agonizing over the way my husband treats me, or reacts to things, when if I would just live my life the way God has called me to, and be the type of wife, a helper to my husband, that God has called me to, then I will also be making my husband happy in the process. Yes, I should be concerned with how I treat my husband, but if I aim to please God, and be the woman and wife he has called me to be, than all of that will fall into place! It then stops becoming a matter of being obedient and submissive to my husband, but a matter of being obedient and submissive to God, which will in turn make me the wife God intended me to be! I struggle with falling prey to the lies Satan tell's me about my marriage, and being married to a man who is not sure of his faith, I think, makes us an even bigger target for Satan. I actually felt bad for being joyful in a situation when I "should" according to worldly views have been offended or hurt! I know now, that this is exactly what God desires for our life. To live with the joy in us that only His Holy Spirit can bring! I prayed for joy more than once recently, and I tell you truly, I feel more joy today than I ever thought imaginable. It would be unexplainable, did I not know that it was coming straight from the Holy Spirit!

It's amazing to me how one event in someone's life can influence them so greatly, and yet they do. I think we all have them. We all have our beliefs, and our goals, hopes and dreams, but I think at some point in our lives we all have an event or a moment that really solidifies them for us. For me, ironically enough, it was Kismet, a musical I was in, in my sophomore year of high school. I had wanted to sing from a very young age, but was often discouraged by friends and family, always to critical of myself to really sing my best in front of them. Kismet was the first thing I auditioned for that would require me to sing in front of an audience. I was horrified. Being on stage since the age of 3 as a dancer, I was always comfortable there, but as a singer it felt like new territory. I shook so much I could hardly hold my microphone, and you could hear the tremble in my voice. Well, as I usually do, I forged ahead, and this time instead of shrinking back into the shadows, I began to force myself to sing in public any chance I got. Anyways, the reason I mention this, is because, now, as an adult, I see that that musical didn't only shape me. There are so many of my former class mates that were in that production as well, that I see pursuing dreams in entertainment now, that really are truly talented as well, that I know were influenced the same way I was. So to my friends, and Mr. Parrish, I thank you, you helped me realize my dream, even if I haven't been able to accomplish it yet, and I know that even if I never do, we'll always have Kismet.

I want to change the world

I really do, and I really believe I can. I don't mean in some mind boggling way, but more that, there was some subtle change that when people think about it, they attribute it to me. I recently read a book where the author called herself "big idea girl" and I can't tell you how much that describes me. I have so many grand ideas, plans and goals, and I have always believed that the only person in my way is myself. The only person I need to get there is myself, but now I'm not so sure that that's true, but I'm really hoping it is. I realize that I'm rambling as I often do, but I was watching a movie and a quote got my wheel's turning, and I just had to write. "As long as people can change we can change the world." What a powerful statement. As long as we can be persuasive, and endearing, factual, and compassionate, maybe, just maybe we can change this life for the better, in so many aspects. It's a nice thought isn't it...but then I go to the last part of the quote "what if people can't change." That's the real question "can we, or can't we?" I hate it, but it's who I am to the core, and I can't help but be hopelessly optimist and say yes. Even though so many life experiences have taught me otherwise; if people can change for the worse, can't there also be those who change for the better? *sigh* Now the real challenge...to prove it.