sometimes, a discipline

Have you forgiven me yet for writing about maggots?  Thank you, if the answer is yes.  :)

Tonight I'm here to count blessings.

Sometimes I count blessings out of overflowing gratitude, during which the words spill over faster than I can type.  And then there are times, like tonight, when I count them as a discipline.

I find that mounting frustrations, emotional exhaustion, and feeling out of control are all remedied by recalling and writing about sweet moments and sweet blessings.  Afterwards, my spirit is light and free, as though by counting my blessings I've also laid my burdens at the Lord's feet.  I'm learning that writing is a part of my devotional life, connecting me with my Savior late at night when all is quiet.

- I find Kristin from We Are That Family to be a blessing.  That video she posted about Maureen?  It further changed my life, even more so than her several posts about her March, 2010 Compassion International Kenya visit.  I want every American child to see that video so they can learn from an early age to consume less and give more.  In order to give, we don't need a lot of money.  We just have to consume less in goods and services.  Givers not consumers.  It's a process, surely.  But let's teach this next generation that being able to afford something doesn't mean we should have it.  How many starving children would have a meal, if we didn't buy it?

- The weather has cooled and we are back to our daily walk/bike ride.  82 degrees with low humidity is a blessing!

- We've had two swallowtail butterflies come out of chrysalises this week.  Two more to go, if our three-year-old Mary doesn't get too curious and knock them down.  Daddy has been successful at taping them back up with scotch tape, believe it or not.

- I had patience for the most part tonight, despite my two girls taking forever to fall asleep.  You can create calming routines, make environments conducive to sleep, and be consistent, but still, kids don't always fall asleep when you want them to.  Summer has been difficult that way. My nerves were shot tonight, but I called on God for help and he was faithful to keep me calm.

- Having virtually no disposable income really teaches an American the difference between a want and a need.  You'd think this would be self-explanatory, but for American culture it isn't.  I'm thankful for the hands-on education, both for me and for my children.

- Peter's homeschooling portfolio appointment is tomorrow morning, bright and early.  I think the teacher with whom I'm meeting will be a blessing.  Nevertheless, I wish we lived in a state with no requirements!  I'd rather school differently, but there is pressure to have enough samples here in Ohio.  The teacher, at my request, is going to give me some suggestions for moving closer to an unschooling model.  She works with diverse families and will be able to give good advice.  I would like to use a math and english (writing mechanics, spelling) curriculum, but go our own way on everything else.

- I'm thankful that when one of my girls is out of sorts, all I have to do is scoop her up, head to the rocker, and sing "Row Your Boat" as we rock together.

I'd better get those samples put together.  Good night, friends!

a heartwarming story

Here is a heartwarming 13-minute video about a young woman from Kenya who was helped by Compassion International.

savvy shopping and maggots (unrelated)

- The past two days I've been going through the clothes I've already purchased for fall 2010.  I start collecting a couple years ahead of time.  A good rule of thumb for thrift store shopping is to buy whatever is new or nearly new, if it's in a color and style flattering to your child, and if it will be worn within the next two years.  This is really the best way--perhaps the only way--to ensure you don't run short during any given season.

-  Garments that fit my children in September don't usually fit them come January.  So, they've been trying on clothes and we've been putting them in September piles and January piles.

- Next, I'll go through each child's September pile and put together as many outfits as I can, making sure I have at least three sweaters/shirts for church with two pairs of coordinating slacks.  I try not to buy anything that has to be ironed, because I'm lazy that way.  The girls wear a warm dress, or corduroy or denim jumpers to church, with warm layering pieces underneath.

- Beyond their church items, each boy will usually have about eight pullovers or warm shirts to go with at least four pairs of jeans.  I try to wash jeans every day.  The girls wear fewer jeans, but they'll still end up with two to three pairs each, depending on what else I've gathered for them.

- Inevitably, even though we're I'm very careful with the clothes, the eight changes of clothes dwindle considerably by January, either because of holes or fading or ill fit, or because of a stain I couldn't get out.  Whatever is stained or faded becomes pajamas, if it's soft enough.  I don't find too many sets of pajamas, so the boys wear sweats and sweatshirts to bed in the cold months, with long-sleeve shirts underneath.

- As I see the myriad of things my oldest child has grown out of, I want to scream.  NOOO!  You can't grow up!!  Not after husband's March 2009 vasectomy.  All growing up from here on out is not just bittersweet, it's painful.

-  To mend my achy breaky heart, I suppose I will have to start making lists of things I can finally do when I have no one in diapers, everyone sleeping through the night, and everyone doing at least one major chore around the house.

-  I'm living in the moment with my baby and really enjoying her days, but I can't help feeling panicky as the calendar shows her babyhood dwindling fast.

- However, it's okay with me if time fast forwards just a couple of weeks, so we can escape this humidity.  Our Christian radio station comes out of Cleveland, which is about an hour from us.  The D.J. shouted the other day, in regards to the weather, "THIS IS NOT NORMAL!!"  

-  Thank you, D.J.  I needed to hear that.  I wanted to believe that, instead of believing that the last four years of tolerable humidity, mixed with dry heat days, were just flukes.

-  After I took the clothing storage boxes out of the shed in the middle of the day, I had to take another shower.  It was 87 with high humidity, which is akin to the miserableness of 115 degrees in the desert.  No exaggeration.  With four young kids, who has time for a shower after every exertion?  We have central air, thank goodness, but it doesn't help once the outdoor humidity has already made me feel dirty.  The children just jump into the kiddy pool and press on.  Good for them.

-  Back to my reluctance about the children growing up.  I analyze this every once in a while.  Why is it so painful for me?  Am I trying to possess my children, instead of looking at them as borrowed gifts from God?  He can take them at any time, I know.  Is it that I prefer the company of children, finding them fun and carefree?  Is it the cute things they say and do?  Their hugs and cuddles?  Do they pull my mind away from the more mundane parts of life--bills, chores, etc.?  Does their growing up remind me of my own mortality?  Is it all of these things together?  And is my reaction perfectly healthy?

- Yesterday Peter came running into the house telling me about a dead mole under the sandbox.  I saw no way out of investigating it, despite my reluctance.  It couldn't wait until Daddy got home, surely--not with curious Beth having regular outdoor playtime.

-  Don't read the rest of this if you're going to eat, are eating, or will eat soon.  If you're trying to eat less, read on.

-  I will now tell you why you shouldn't lament too much about your least favorite body parts.  Here goes.

-  The mole had been dead long enough to be filled with maggots, which were so busy inside his body that it looked like he was still alive.  I can't even type that without multiple shivers happening.  I got a shovel and dug deep under it, bagged it and put it by the trash pick-up area.  My boys were reluctant to even hold the bag open for me, it was so disgusting.

-  That's what will happen to our bodies, girlfriends--a sober reminder that they have little significance, compared to our souls.

As I returned to the back yard, I was so struck by what Jesus has done for us!  Because of the cross, we have more ahead of us than just a maggot-filled coffin!  


Paradise!  Forever with Jesus!  Praise His Holy name!

day two

Today, Thursday, was our day to get out of the house so Daddy could sleep (after working graveyard).  However, instead of doing something fun, I took the children to a thrift store.  They'd been uncooperative with the morning routine, and I'd warned them to expect errands on every uncooperative Thursday.

They were very good in the store.  Charming, even.  Very helpful.  At one point they ooed and aaahed, ever so sweetly, over a beautiful ankle-length spring party dress (or Easter dress).

Peter:  "Mommy!  We found a party dress for you!  It's a beautiful gown! You've got to see this!"

Momma, amused, still looking through racks:  "Oh?  Really?  I'm coming.  Do you know of any parties I can go to?"

They ooed and aaahed animatedly enough that several shoppers were charmed and amused at them for looking out for their Momma.  A party dress indeed!  It was beautiful, by the way.  And although they declared it was just my size,  they were wrong.  Size 8 girls--although it would certainly have to be a tall eight-year-old!

A couple shoppers told me I was a lucky Momma!

Yes indeed!  

This particular Goodwill was in a middle-class area, as opposed to yesterday's upper-middle class location.  I have to look harder here to find the new or hardly-worn garments.

These photos were taken at night, so they are poorer quality.  Also, the garments are pretty wrinkled, which makes them look older.  Oh, well.  Hopefully you get the idea.

LEFT;  Circo shorts, in excellent condition.  These are a 3T.  I also have this pair of shorts in a 12-month size, so I know they work well with small-waisted girls.

RIGHT:  Faded Glory warm pullover.  (It will fade quickly, but it was only a dollar and it is warm and hardly worn)

LEFT:  Carter's pajamas, good condition

RIGHT:  Children's Place 24 months jeans.  Wrinkled here, poor picture, but they are in excellent condition.

LEFT:  24 months dress for church, excellent condition, label removed.  She might be able to wear it next Easter.  We'll see how tall she gets.

RIGHT:  OshKosh denim jumper with embroidered flowers near the bottom, excellent condition

LEFT:  Sonoma Lifestyles navy blue cords for church

RIGHT:  Disney Cars T-shirt

LEFT:  Faded Glory soft cotton dress, new condition.  Eventual fading won't affect garment as much, due to the light color.

RIGHT:  Covington corduroy jumper with embroidered flowers, new condition

LEFT:  Prospirit warm hoodie, new condition

RIGHT:  2T jeans from Children's Place (already pictured)

LEFT:  Cherokee white sweater for wearing over spring dresses  (I have this same sweater in a smaller size, which Mary wore this year)

RIGHT:  Covington brown cords for church, new condition

LEFT:  Jeanie Bleu sweater, very good condition (matches perfectly with the teal cords I pictured yesterday.)

RIGHT:  jumping beans hoodie, which also matches the teal cords purchased yesterday, excellent condition

We also found three pairs of winter gloves/mittens, and a size 10 pair of snow boots for Mary (for this year or next).

Total clothing cost:  24$ (for 14 clothing items and one pair of boots)

a fashion show

I escaped to a thrift store for 90 minutes yesterday morning.  I'm behind on my thrifting for fall!  Normally by mid-August I have all of the fall things purchased, except for maybe nighttime sleepers.

The Lord was with me!  Here are pics of what I found!  

Try some thrifting before you do any fall shopping.  You might just end up with better wardrobes than if you spent $600 at regular retail.  You'll see why below. 

I always find a matching shirt or sweater (or two or three) to go with what I purchase.  Sometimes it won't happen during the same trip, but within a few trips, the perfect accompaniment finds its way into my hands.  Praise the Lord!

Gymboree embroidered cords,  magenta pink (they look red in this picture for some reason)

like new

Butterfly skirt - Children's Place 

Appears to be brand new

Soft and feminine tee with ruffling - Children's Place Label 

Appears to be brand new

Sonoma Lifestyles warm shirt ( from J.C. Penney)

Brand new, store tags still attached

Genuine Sonoma warm T-shirt (from J.C. Penney)

flawless condition

Rustler black denin

good used condition, minimal fading (slightly in knees)

Vibes thick warm sweats

washed/worn a few times, color still excellent

Old Navy warm T-shirt

Appears to be brand new

Russell Athletic warm sweatshirt
washed/worn a few times, color still excellent

OshKosh flower-embroidered cords
Made to look slightly faded, seem brand new

Barbie black cords
seem new

okie-dokie brown cords (from J.C.Penney)
seem brand new

Oshkosh embroidered cords
new-used condition

Sonoma pink flowered Tee, long-sleeved
like new

jumping beans cropped pants for spring/summer
like new

Children's Place skort
wrinkled in picture, but like new, thick, warm material, could be worn with winter tights and a sweater

Circo skort in khaki, light weight for summer
faded a bit

Canyon River Blues twill pants
Looks much more faded in this picture than it truly is.

Lee jeans
Knees still look excellent on this pair.

okie-dokie teal cords with ruffled hem
Like new

Cherokee velvet pants (all the pants I buy have adjustable waists)
Like new.  They look a little gaudy in this picture--color is really a soft pastel pink.  Looks peach in this picture.  I have a feminine sweater in mind to pair with these.

miniwear jeans in 2T
Like new

Jean jumper with embroidery on the word "flowers"
This garment is the only one with a Faded Glory label (Walmart's Label)
If not for thrift stores, all our clothes would say Faded Glory!

And the worst thing about Faded Glory clothes is that they fade terribly after a couple washings.  This jumper  held up well.

Grand total for these 23 garments?  34$  Yes, that's right folks.  34$

Go to the nearest upper-middle class area and find yourself a thrift store.  You won't be sorry!

Richer people have a lot of clothes, and the little girls don't wear out their things.  They must have so many that each one only gets worn a few times.