My Gratitude List

My Gratitude List


- Four clean-as-whistle kids piled on the playroom couch with Daddy, reading picture books and munching popcorn


- Miss Beth awoke for the first time since early August with the ability to stand and walk! It was a stiff, slow walk, but I'm overjoyed with this progress. The disease may be loosening its grip on her knees, after several weeks of anti-inflammatory medicine. Praise God for this answer to prayer!





- A Hive of Busy Bees, recommended by Jess. This Christian character-building book is beloved by all in this house. The first day it arrived, Daddy began reading it to the boys. The next morning Peter grabbed it upon waking, telling me he wanted to read it during the day. "This is a very interesting book, Mommy. Thank you for buying it for us." The brother and sister in the stories visit their grandparent's farm, so of course Peter, my farmer in training, delights in the themes. I'm charmed by the wholesomeness packed into every page. Now, both boys are reading it for pleasure during the day. I'll have to buy book 2 this week.


The quality of writing is mediocre; editing could be better and semicolons are rampant. I suspect the writer was new to the field when these were published. If I were to publish something at this stage of my craft, it too would be unpolished. It takes years of practice to write professionally. However, I still recommend these books! Click on Jess' link above to read her wonderful synopsis.


- My mother had a small cancerous breast lump removed at age 63. No problems for her since then; she is now 70. A cousin of mine will have a double mastectomy in early November, at age 50. The good news is that breastfeeding reduces your risk, with long-term breastfeeding providing the greatest protection. Women who have their first child after 30 are at an increased risk for breast cancer, but this is not true for older mothers who breastfeed. Keep up the nursing for as long as you can. Benefits below found here.

1. Reduces the risk of breast cancer. Women who breastfeed reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 25 percent. The reduction in cancer risk comes in proportion to the cumulative lifetime duration of breastfeeding. That is, the more months or years a mother breastfeeds, the lower her risk of breast cancer.
2. Reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. One of the reasons for the cancer-fighting effects of breastfeeding is that estrogen levels are lower during lactation. It is thought that the less estrogen available to stimulate the lining of the uterus and perhaps breast tissue also, the less the risk of these tissues becoming cancerous.
3. Lessens osteoporosis. Non-breastfeeding women have a four times greater chance of developing osteoporosis than breastfeeding women and are more likely to suffer from hip fractures in the post-menopausal years.

Benefits for baby are numerous as well, including protection from several different types of cancer.

- Hearing Peter say this afternoon, "Isn't art the best thing ever, Mommy?"

- Yesterday we ventured to homeschool gym/fellowship time, only to find the church doors closed and locked and the parking lot empty. We were dumbfounded, since we never received any e-mails pertaining to a time or day change. Beth's appointments prevented us from going a couple times, so perhaps a change was given verbally to the participants? 

Anyhow, all were disappointed so we went to a park instead. For the hundredth time since becoming a parent, I marveled at God's design for the human face. Beth climbed up onto a slanted tree stump, only to fall head-first into the base of it. Though she was all scratched up and bleeding slightly, as I inspected the wounds, I marveled at the protection her eyes received; the worst of the scratches were a fraction of an inch from her eyes. God continues to amaze me, as I parent the very active, full-of-life blessings entrusted to me! 

Can I hear an Amen?

- No car repairs for the last two weeks. Amazing grace...how sweet it is

- The benefits from Peter's increased Strattera dose continue. My boys are closer than ever right now.

- Since writing to you about my last parental blow-up, I've been a good little girl. Amazing grace....how sweet it is.

- Although I had read this blog before, I rediscovered it recently, thanks to a link found on Kristen's We Are That Family blog. This Katie girl (only 23 years old) is amazing! Her main ministry blog is Amazima Ministries. The first link is for her personal blog. She adopted 14 Ugandan children and serves many others!