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Music to My Ears
Last night before bed, I heard one of the most sweetest sounds coming from our bedroom... Kathrynne was singing with her daddy. It was indescribably precious. I am blessed beyond measure to be the wife of such a wonderful man who takes time to rock and sing and cuddle with his daughter before he puts her to bed.
TV-Free Activities Part 3
If you haven't sent in your family's favorite TV-Free activities, be sure to do so by tomorrow in order to enter the contest! Here are some more submissions:
Some of our favorite memories have been made around a crackling campfire. We all enjoy spending the peaceful evenings together outside. Campfires are especially fun for everyone because there is something for each person to work on. Our little brothers love chopping firewood, we girls prepare a meal to roast, and Dad enjoys spending time with his little men as they work together. Although marshmallows may be the little ones highlight of the night, everyone delights in the special time when our guitar, banjo, or fiddle adds to the chorus of voices as they all join in song. You can always find an evening campfire at our home in the summertime. -Kami
We play board games and read in the colder months. When the weather's nice, we like to play outside, take walks, go to the park or just sit on the deck and watch the sun go down and TALK! -Kelly Our family loves to read! Usually we don't have much time for it, but when someone is sick, I spend most of my spare time reading to them. Right now we're in the middle of Elsie Dinsmore, Little Men, and various American Girl books. We never watch regular tv, and maybe a video every other day. -Marqueta
We are a family of 8 and have not had a TV for a LONG time! We live on a farm of 100 acres and have found God's wonderful creation to be the very best substitute for hours mis-spent in front of the TV. Most of the time we would have been "planted" in front of the TV, we redeem by *planting* in the garden or tending the beginnings of our orchard. We all work together in these activities - and we all enjoy it. -Cindy And, Michele had a question/comment: Hi Crystal, Here's my question for your readers: Why not just give up TV (and that includes movies) since so many seem to have a difficult time finding appropriate things to watch? It seems to me that there is so much agonizing over TV/movies - why not just quit cold turkey and save yourself the anxiety? I did that more than two years ago, and I wish I'd done it sooner. I get my news either online or via the radio. I will admit that I very, very occasionally will watch a Jane Austen DVD on my computer, but it's something like 2-3 times a year! I will admit that I've always been much more into books than TV/movies. -Michele
Lighting a Candle
DollyMama left this comment on the post about Family Springs Media:Hey Crystal,
I thought you might want to let your readers know this:
For Netflix members (and probably for Blockbuster members as well) there is a section in the "contact us" area where you can suggest new titles for them to carry. I just suggested all 3 of these DVDs and thought that if others also asked for them they might be purchased and gotten out into the mainstream faster. -DollyMama
Great suggestion! Thanks, DollyMama. I think we should do everything we can to encourage places like Netflix, Blockbuster, our local library, and so forth, to carry wholesome titles. Instead of just cursing the darkness, let's light candles!
I Wouldn't Trade a Single Puddle
 Guest Blog by Diane Miller
Days like today bring true clarity to motherhood. When I was an idealistic 20 years old and discovered to my delight that I was pregnant, my rose tinted glasses were two inches thick. I envisioned tiny, black-haired babies with a continually pleasant odor. My sweet dream babies were well mannered from birth. They slept during all hours of darkness, they were remarkably intelligent, and they were naturally obedient. My visionary babies never had messes that leaked out of diaper bounds. I didn't picture sickness, frustration, bone-marrow weariness, and occasional desires to flee. I naively told my husband that we needed to have a baby to make messes so that I would have something to do with my time. I was picturing the occasional perfect tiny hand print on a window and some scattered teddy bears.
As you can imagine, reality was like a cruel shock. My first little girl was born basically bald and well over 9 lbs. I couldn't even squeeze her into the tiny newborn size outfits that I had so carefully selected. That was just the beginning. She cried - a lot! She wasn't interested in nursing. She was strong and willful. Diapers seemed like a pointless waste of money; nothing stayed in those things. Suddenly I felt completely unsure that I knew the first thing about motherhood.
Today I find myself a mother of three little girls that are very different from the neat Victorian lasses that I thought I would always dress in white frocks. Along with the hard edges of reality, I have discovered something else. Even the rosiest dreams of my girlhood are dim compared to the moments of pure sweetness that my real children bring me.
Spring is here and between my daughters, Cherie and Remi, I have constant bouquets of daffodils and dandelions brought to me. Lindey is such an observant little thing and every time I pull out a maternity dress that she hasn't seen before she says, "You looks beautiful, Mama". Any pregnant woman knows that such complements are worth pure gold...
Listening to my girls talk about life makes priorities seem so simple and clear. They believe that the sunshine is there so that we can have picnics every day. Flowerbeds are for picking, mud puddles are for splashing and food is for spreading on the table.
Today when Lindey pottied on the floor for the umpteenth time, I was standing right beside her and I felt the splashes hit my feet! This was not a part of reality that I was going to accept! I started groaning, "Lindey, why, why, why, must you wet on the floor?" She looked at me with her hands and face covered in honey and peanut butter and said, "Don't be sad, be happy. Don't cry, mama, be happy". What was I to do but laugh and kiss her sticky cheeks?
Motherhood has many cons that I never factored into my life. It has also changed me for the better in more ways than I can count. I wouldn’t trade a single puddle on my floor for a different life.
Visit Diane's blog for more encouragement.
Blushing...
 Word to the wise: Never answer the phone and assume it is your husband -- even if the caller ID reads exactly the same as his office. I'm just glad it was a wrong number and not someone else from his office... Don't ask.
"At My Wit's End"
I was wondering if you or any of your readers have any help for me. I am at my wits end with my ten month old. She is a very good baby except that she thinks that all I have to do in life is to hold her. I do spend plenty of time holding, cuddling and reading with her, but usually when I put her down she immediately starts crying. Other times she waits for a few minutes. I always make sure that she doesn't need food or sleep so I KNOW there is nothing wrong. I am expecting my second in August and am trying to avoid an very early delivery that I went through with Alissa. That means I am supposed to take it easy and not carry her constantly. What can I do to get her to like to play by herself some of the time? ~Jennifer
Marriage = Normative?
Marriage is normative.Does that statement shock you? If so, you must run over and read Al Mohler's commentary on this subject. It is supurb! (Hat-tip to YLCF for the excellent link!) From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible assumes that marriage is normative for human beings. The responsibilities, duties, and joys of marriage are presented as matters of spiritual significance. From a Christian perspective, marriage must never be seen as a mere human invention — an option for those who choose such a high level of commitment — for it is an arena in which God's glory is displayed in the right ordering of the man and the woman, and their glad reception of all that marriage means, gives, and requires. He goes on to say:
In the larger culture of confusion, marriage is seen by some persons as an option for those who "need" it. Radical feminists have attacked marriage as a hopelessly patriarchal institution, binding women to home and family in what Betty Friedan called "domestic captivity." A revolution in the law has made divorce easy and quick, undermining the marital bond and redefining marriage as a tentative commitment. Another excellent tidbit:
I shared with those who attended the conference my concern that this delay — the deliberate putting off of marriage even among some who intend some day to be married — was "the sin I think besets this generation." Continuing, I also made clear that this is primarily a problem that should be laid at the feet of young men. While some young women may neglect the call of marriage, a far greater problem is the unwillingness of many young men to grow up, take responsibility, lead, and find the woman God would have them to marry. As a rule, young women show far greater commitment to marriage, far greater maturity about marriage, and far greater frustration about the fact that marriage has been delayed. I thought I had made that point clearly — but perhaps not.
He cuts the heart of the matter here:
Singleness is not a sin, but deliberate singleness on the part of those who know they have not been given the gift of celibacy is, at best, a neglect of a Christian responsibility. The problem may be simple sloth, personal immaturity, a fear of commitment, or an unbalanced priority given to work and profession. On the part of men, it may also take the shape of a refusal to grow up and take the lead in courtship. There are countless Christian women who are prayerfully waiting for Christian men to grow up and take the lead. What are these guys waiting for? I urge you to read the full article. It is such a needed message in our day!
To the Anonymous Commentor
To the Anonymous person who keeps lambasting me about this post (and continues to get your comments rejected due to the ad hominem attacks), please read the post first -- not just the subject line -- before you come to any conclusions or start throwing darts. For the record, you are completely and totally missing the point. If you will read the post slowly and carefully, you will realize that I am not endorsing brainless stupidity nor am I saying that our talents and intellect cannot be used for the glory of God. Nonsense! If I believed that, I might as well curl up in a ball and sleep for the rest of my life. I believe that God has great work for us, as Christians, to do. Why else would I blog? Why else would I write? Why else would I strive to be the best wife and mother that I can be? Why else would I seek to encourage others in holiness? Why else would I live? I believe that "Whether therefore we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do" we should "Do all to the glory of God." What I am talking about, is that God doesn't need our intellectualism to "help Him out" in making wise decisions. He is all-wise, all-powerful, and all-knowing. We are fallible, fallen creatures incapable of doing anything good apart from His grace and mercy. Yet, inspite of this, so often we question our great God or rely upon our human reasoning to make decisions -- instead of seeking the face of the Lord. May the Lord shed His grace and mercy upon you and may you come a saving knowledge of His grace.
TV-Free Activities for a Whole Week
Paula sent this in for the contest and I thought it was excellent. There's so much more to life than vegetating in front of an entertainment box! Here's what she said:
We actually have a week long of TV free activities (Sat is our only TV night)!!
Monday: Reading Night --- We all gather around and Daddy reads from a book while we do things like handiwork (sewing by hand, beading, etc.).
Tuesday: Family Fun/Date Night --- Sometimes we head out for putt-putt golf, or dress up and head out to a restaurant, or out to the backyard for some fun (you can buy so many backyard outdoor activities like soccer, volleyball, badminton, balls just for fun!).
Wednesday: Family Devotions/Church --- Sometimes we goto church, sometimes we stay home and have our own family devotions.
Thursday: Arts and Crafts/Hobbies night --- beading, sewing, woodworking, pom-poms, origami, scrapbooking, photography, painting, working with clay
Friday: Game Night --- we usually pull out a board/card game and play play PLAY! And then eat eat EAT! Sometimes we learn a new card game.
Saturday: Saturday Night Sundaes --- we pull out all the toppings and make our own ice cream and watch a DVD
Sunday: Family Night at church --- we attend service on Sunday evening.
TV- Free Activities Part 2
 More TV-Free Activities sent in by readers... Join in the wholesome fun by sharing your family's favorite TV-Free Activities and y ou could win two DVDs from Franklin Springs Family Media!Well, we do lots of fun activities besides watching tv. In the winter we play games and put jigsaw puzzles together. But the activity I enjoy most is in the summer. We live near a large lake, so in the summer months when it's hot, we put together a picnic supper, gather the beach toys and flotation devices and as soon as dad gets home from work we go to the lake until it cools off. We have had so much fun there together. And since we live here, we are able to go on the nights when no one else is there and stay home on the weekends. :) In the winter months it's fun to sit by the fire and read or listen to a good book on tape. -Kris We like to play charades. A 4 year old and 3 year old are quite entertaining with charades. Also, my two cuties love to put on a puppet show too. Now that is wholesome entertainmet!! -Tracy One activity our family enjoyed last year and we'll hopefully do this year, is playing croquet. :) We have everything set up in our yard during nice weather, and usually go out after supper and play. It's a lot of fun! We like to try to hit each other's balls a lot! :) That's just one small thing we do together, but it's something I particularly enjoy. -Sarah Hey, I wanted to share something our boys and husband & I enjoy together (and its almost time for again!) is FISHING. We sit on little field bridges on gravel roads and we hang on to the youngest one (4 now) so he doesnt fall in, hang on to the middle one (9 now but he wears leg braces so he is unsteady too LOL). All hubby really does is bait hooks and take fish off. We always throw them back :) sometimes we catch the same one again! (smart fish they aint lol). We've never caught anything over 6 inches long, but one time I had double hooks on and caught two catfish on one cast! My boys still havent topped that even though they try every time ;) -Melody
One thing we all love to do is go up to our bedroom and pile into the bed, me, my husband, our toddler son and our spaniel, and we sit there singing songs, reading story books and playing clapping and finger games. Being in bed makes it seem extra special and silly, and after a while one of us bigger people will get up and bring up some drinks and nibbles. This is so much nicer and more relaxing than vegetating. -Lucy My family’s favorite thing to do is get in the car on a Sunday afternoon after church. We take a long drive into the “unknown” country side… (it is never the same place twice) We find new places to discover. Last time we came upon an Amish community and we went stone tossing on a covered bridge where Amish wagons would occasionally drive by… We end it with an ice cream cone and usually everyone falls asleep on the way home! -Homemakerang
We do something my husband adapted from when he was little. We call it the super-duper Cooper show. We do it a least once every two weeks, but the kids usually want to do it more often. It is basically a big talent show. The kids do skits, songs, talents, and anything else they can come up with, we even spent several months seeing who could last longest on the skip-it. They are in charge, so they really work together, making a "play list" and making sure everyone has something to do even the little ones. -7Sheep
Something my husband and I like to do with our five children ranging from ages 2-8 is go to the beach at night. There are hotels all up and down the beach so the lighting is great. We take balls and buckets and shovels and just have a blast playing in the sand. Sometimes we pick up some tacos at the taco joint and enjoy them on a blanket or we will make sandwhiches and have a picnic. The kids love it and it is something different. Who needs TV? -Julie
Since our Reformed journey is still relatively new (just about 3 years) the tv has become one of our latest convictions. More and more my dh and I are realizing what a hindrance it is in our family's life. As we seek to glorify God in all things we realize that this is something that will eventually have to go away completey (with the exception of the news and a few decent movies). At any rate, while we have always loved to play games one of our favorites has become Chicken Foot with dominoes. We can all play ( me, dh, 14yob, 13yog, 6yog) and it helps our 6yo with her math. We also purchased a separate tin of dominoes for our 3yog so she can build and pretend she's getting in on the fun as well. Pretty much any day of the week our family will play Chicken Foot over watching any TV. -Michelle in TX
We haven't had TV for many years and the favorite thing we do instead of watching the tube is playing outside together. It is seriously fun to have Big Wheel races down our hill, play in the pool, chase each other around, and zip on the zip line. -Erica
TV-Free Activities Part 1
I've been inundated with entries for our DVD contest and what wonderful TV-Free Activities everyone is submitting! Here are some that I've received so far. (Be sure to join in the fun by sharing yours as well!): Instead of television in the evenings, we sit with our little ones and have "family time". Usually this consists of a Bible story, prayer and lots of singing! Even Nathaniel (16 months) sings along. He loves to do the motions to "He's Able" and "Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation"! But on some special evenings, Daddy announces that we're going to "act out" (in preschool terms) our Bible story! Suddenly Daddy becomes a whale, the coffee table is turned into a boat, Eliana (4 yrs.) is stationed as Jonah in the boat, Mommy is the sound effects and light manager (really I just flash the overhead lights and make storm sounds!) and Nathaniel just watches in awe as the story unfolds. Our favorite part of this story is when Daddy "spits" Eliana out on dry land and she announces to all, "I'm going to OBEY God now!!"With live action such as this, who needs television?? :)-Selina
My favorite thing to do instead of watching TV is to get down on the floor with my husband and daughter and start playing. My husband is a big goof, so it's fun to see him get a big storage bin, tip it upside down, and use it as a stage to play puppets ... having the puppets talk to our daughter, as well as each other. It's just absolutely hilarious. Then we have tickle-fests. Those are always GREAT as my husband is just as ticklish as our daughter is. I even taught pookie how to blow on my husband's belly, just like I do to hers .... oh she loves that. Basically, we just hang out and get silly as a family. -Brandy
My husband and I live on a tight budget as many others do also I am sure. This week we are planning (on the warmest day of the week) to go to the local park and have a picnic. I plan to make some foods my husband enjoys and just look forward to being out in nature, maybe taking a walk, etc. without being distracted by the t.v., computer, or phone. I am looking forward to it! Sincerely, Lynda
My niece and I sit on the sunporch, our legs hanging outside and pretend
to go 'fisihing'. She's only two and LOVES it!! -W
My husband (married 1 year, 4 months...no children) and I don't own a tv but we occasionally watch a dvd from the library on our computer. What do we do for fun instead? Our favorite activity is to go hiking at a very nearby mountain here in Washington State, but we also like to re-decorate our apartment together for free/cheap. We occasionally will go to a store like IKEA and then we head straight to the thrift stores 50% off sales and look for ways we can incorporate the ideas we saw with things in the thrift shop or by re-arranging the stuff we already own. Last time we did this a month or two ago, we got curtains and a new comforter sham for a total of $15! We also like to check out books from the library on different geographical
locals...so we can plan our "someday" trips! :) -Rachael
God Doesn't Need Our Intellect
Carmon always has such a great way of saying things.This attitude—that God needs help from our shining intellects to make His will be done on earth—is becoming more and more pervasive. It’s evident in everything from neo-conservative political follies to homeschooling stage parents who are anxious to push their children to the heights of academic achievement. But God doesn’t “need” our help to achieve His purposes. He does, however, require that we have no other gods before Him, including our fail-safe strategies. He expects His people to use the gifts and talents He has given to His glory. There’s no need to hide our lights under a bushel to engage in Trojan Horse, stealth infiltration of the enemy’s strongholds. Let’s boldly proclaim God’s truth wherever we go and teach our children to do the same. Let’s begin each day, the day that the Lord has made, by getting back to basics, acknowledging that whether debating public policy or which book to read next, all belongs to God and is to be evaluated according to His absolute truth. If that offends some people (or amuses them), shake the dust off your feet and move on, but don’t give up.
I was just thinking of this very thing this morning after reading My Utmost for His Highest (I read the wrong day on accident this morning -- March 28th -- but it was so good!): I may not understand what Jesus Christ says, but it is dangerous to say that therefore He was mistaken in what He said. It is never right to think that my obedience to a word of God will bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honour in place of what He is plainly impelling me to do is never right, although it may arise from a real desire to prevent Him being put to open shame. I know when the proposition comes from God because of its quiet persistence: When I have to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am bringing in an element that is not of God, and I come to the conclusion that the suggestion was not a right one. Many of us are loyal to our notions of Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matt. 14:29); loyalty to my notions means that I clear the ground first by my intelligence. Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way. Are you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with conceptions which never came from Him? "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."
Family Fun!
 One happy family with a curly-headed clownish daughter.  We visited our families this weekend, and Gretchen (my sister and resident photographer) enjoyed taking a few pictures of Kathrynne and I in our matching outfits (Gretchen made the skirts and she and my brother bought Kathrynne her jacket).  Making funny faces! Aren't I cute?!
Franklin Springs Family Media - Contest!
Have you heard of Franklin Springs Media? They recently sent me two of their DVD's and I was quite impressed! I also love their entreprenuerial spirit -- find a need and fill it -- and their vision to glorify the Lord through film -- something that we see very little of these days. They recently were featured on PRMama and I thought you'd enjoy reading about this company and be sure to keep reading to find out how you can win two of their DVD's! 
"There's nothing to watch!"
That’s really the long and short of it: there is entirely too little film and TV that my wife and I feel comfortable watching with our eight children.
We bid television goodbye several years ago (hello, books – and rekindled imaginations!), but we’ve still got that DVD player hanging around. So what to do with that lingering conviction that nearly every time we insert a disc, we’re acquiescing to some level of compromise?
Knowing that many other home-centered families face this dilemma, we embarked upon a challenging course of action. We formed Franklin Springs Family Media to make films our family (and other families) can enjoy.
This is our calling: to produce films that encourage, entertain, and edify the family. Easy enough, right?
We may have thought so, were it not for our fifteen years experience producing film and video projects. We know firsthand that while it may be relatively easy to get something made, it’s an entirely different thing to make something well. Something, say, our family might enjoy (and that might strengthen them).
This is a unique endeavor, largely because there is really no roadmap to follow. This idea of producing entertaining video geared primarily toward homeschooling families hasn’t been done (at least not that we’re aware of).
From an entrepreneurial perspective, this presents a key challenge: how much should be invested in products geared toward a decidedly niche market? How many units might we reasonably expect to sell? How can we get our products to market?
Wrestling with these questions threatened to ground us in inertia. That, coupled with our heavy workload producing video projects for clients, made it seem as if Franklin Springs Family Media might die on the vine of wouldn’t-that-be-nice ideas. But God finally pushed us through an open door in the Spring of 2003, when He crossed our path with that of the Waller family. A year later, our friendship with this remarkable family of 11 children having yielded so much fruit in our family, we began filming a documentary about the incredible road the Wallers have traveled.
Fifteen months later, we finished A JOURNEY HOME, the story of Tommy Waller’s transition from 80 hour work weeks to a roll of biblical leadership in his family. Shortly thereafter, the film won The Jubilee Award for Best Documentary at the 2005 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. 
We hustled our web store into existence, and began to market A JOURNEY HOME at the end of 2005. How gratifying to now be receiving reports from families across the country who have been touched and encouraged by this heartwarming and challenging look at one family’s adventurous journey. About the same time we started shooting A JOURNEY HOME, we attended a homeschool conference in Nashville, where we were delighted to hear the wonderful Peasall Sisters perform. They’d gone from the anonymity of a homeschooling family to being Grammy Award winners for their songs on the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack album.
Over the following year, we put together a DVD that features the Peasall Sister’s world class music and tells the story of their commitment to faith and family. THE PEASALL SISTERS – FAMILY HARMONY became our second title for Franklin Springs Family Media. 
We also produced REJUVENATE WITH SERENE, a DVD featuring Serene Allison’s engaging and entertaining take on serving our families well by serving them healthy meals. 
Now we're putting the finishing touches on THE FAMILY MEAL TABLE with NANCY CAMPBELL (Above Rubies). This DVD extols the value of committing to the family meal table as a high priority. We’re particularly excited about the truths of this piece. God’s work in a family can happen best when the family is gathered on a regular basis. Even too many homeschooling families sacrifice the family meal table in the name of serving their families by involving them in lots of activities. This provocative piece offers a fresh look at a time-honored way of unifying Godly families.
We’re now about the business of planning our forthcoming titles, while spreading the word about our existing DVDs through advertising and marketing efforts, primarily on the internet.
On a business level, we’re excited about this undertaking for a few key reasons. One, advancing technologies make video production more streamlined and affordable than it’s been in recent years. And we believe there is a generation of young homeschooling filmmakers being groomed to tell stories that advance God’s kingdom. Our goal is to increasingly work with these individuals – skilled at their craft, and grounded in their understanding of God and family.
On a family level, we’re excited about the opportunity to fashion Franklin Springs Family Media as a family business. Everywhere we turn, it seems we’re hearing more about the synergy between homeschooling and home businesses. We operate a busy video production office in historic Franklin, Tennessee (Nashville) where we’re doing new projects for Amy Grant; Compassion International (we’re shooting in Ecuador in April); a DVD "making of" for the forthcoming Sony Pictures Facing The Giants feature film, etc. But we’re looking forward to developing Franklin Springs Family Media as a company that we can operate (with our children) from a barn on our land in the rolling hillside of Middle Tennessee.
And on a ministry level, we’re most excited about the opportunity to use our giftings and resources to craft stories that help further turn hearts toward the beauty of a God-honoring family. Ken Carpenter info@franklinspringsfamilymedia.com Franklin Springs Family Media
Update on Baby Gracie
Dear Crystal,
Thank you so much for posting the prayer request for Gracie on your blog.
"While her mommy and daddy were holding her, Gracie peacefully passed into the Lord's presence at 12 PM today." ( www.caringbridge.org/visit/graciehopkins) Please pray for Eric and Holly Hopkins and their families at this heartbreaking time! in Christ, Jennifer McBride
Coupon-Shopping
Hi Crystal, Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know how much I enjoy reading your blog. =) I try and check it daily and your posts are always encouraging. I was wondering if you'd consider doing an entry on your blog about coupon shopping. I know you've mentioned it before, and I'd really be interested in hearing more. I know you said that your mom was "the best" and taught you. I'm not really sure what I want to know, but I know you've said that you can get quite a bit of groceries for very little. With 9 people in our family, I'd love to know how you do that! =)
-LeAnne
Thanks for your note, LeAnne. What my mom and I did was not anything spectacular but it sure did save us a lot of money when we were first married. I spent around 2-3 hours total per week on this -- reviewing the store sales, reviewing my coupons, and planning a menu for the week based upon this, clipping and organizing new coupons, and shopping at two different stores. It was worth it because I could pretty easily (with thought and planning) stick to a $20-$25 maximum grocery budget per week. By combining coupons with store sales and buying mostly reduced produce and making mostly all our food from scratch, we ate well on a small budget. I stopped using coupons after we had Kathrynne because I don't have as much time now and my shopping time is very limited. We shop at Aldi for much of our food and then supplement what we can't get there by buying some things at a nicer grocery store. I've found that by careful planning, I can easily plan a good and wholesome menu and stay within our current $35 weekly grocery budget. There is a really good article on coupon shopping here. I was wondering if others would like to share on this subject: Do you use coupons for grocery shopping? If so, where do you get them (your local paper, online, etc.)? Do you ever pay for coupons (There are places you can buy coupons for a fee.)? Do you save money using coupons (That's supposed to be the goal, I know, but it is not always what happens) or do you find yourself more easily buying things you don't need by shopping with coupons? How much extra time does it take to shop using coupons?
The Freedom of Home
Homeliving Helper has an excellent post on the freedom of home. Here's a small bit: Why should I feel bad about being home? The men are staying home more and more often. My sister-in law's boyfriend is basically stay at home. And she has a girlfriend who just married her boyfriend..again, basically, a stay at home boyfriend. No reliable income from these men for these girls. And my sister-in law and her friend work very hard, and work long hours! How do the guys get away with this?
It sounds incredible, doesn't it, that while feminists (or, at least, the vast majority of them), incessantly sing praise to the glories of career for women, and how much more superior outside jobs are to housekeeping, they seem to encourage stay-at-home men. For instance, Linda Hirshman, as reported in Human Events Online, recommends to career women to find Mr. Mom. The reason is, of course, that feminist orthodoxy sees the traditional female roles of wife, mother, homemaker and a submissive woman as inferior to the traditional male roles of guide, protector, provider, and the head of the family.
A Letter to a Feminist
Guest Blog by Glenys Hicks -- Wife, Mother, and Grandmother from AustraliaDear Sister,
This letter is a difficult one to write, for it is not intended that you should be left with the impression that I write out of spite or hatred to you. Although there is sadness and some anger that so many women have been deceived by feminism, there is also compassion and a degree of understanding. You see, ever since time began and our sister Eve was deceived by the serpent and ate of the forbidden fruit- a fruit which God Himself had told she and her husband, Adam, not to eat, she has handed down to us the desire to rule and control.
Not content that God Himself has decreed that women shall bear children in pain yet crave the affection of our husbands, she and all her fellow feministic sisters have sought to not only control their own God-given role as women but have sought to deceive and usurp men. For Eve knew full well that she was sinning when she beguiled Adam to partake of the fruit. And he, so infatuated by her womanly ways, willingly partook also and bore his punishment. In sweat, he would toil in the earth all his days to eat from the ground which bore thistles, until he died and returned unto the dust from which he was formed. Sin and death entered into the human equation for the first time.
Yet God in His compassion, clothed this couple with animal skins and did not separate them - for it was He Himself Who said that it was not good for the man to be alone. Together, they fled the Garden of Eden wherein was the Tree of Life, lest they should eat of that and live forever. Yet God blessed them. What greater blessing could there be for a couple than to have a child born of their own loins? And so with the birth of Cain, the first baby on earth, began the natural cycle of companionship and intimate marriage producing children who produced children of their own to carry on the genes of their parents and grandparents - yet all destined to return to dust from which we came.
As women, there has been suffering. We know the pains of womanhood, the broken heart of romance, the joy and pain of marriage and bearing and raising children. Womankind should not only accept this as her purpose in life but as her God-given right. Indeed, most of us would not wish to tamper with it.
It is a wise woman who accepts the role in creation that God has ordained for her. It is natural for us to fall in love, become engaged, marry and bear and raise children. We thrive on making a happy home and marriage and count it all joy by and large. Our fulfillment comes in being helpmeets to our husbands, mothers to our children, and homemakers. Because we have accepted our role as a partner in God’s creation, we do not see the need to compete with men nor do we try to usurp their authority. We see the value of godly submission and enjoy the boundaries that God has appointed for us in our given tasks as wife and mother.
Our fulfillment does not come from a personal bank account, freedom from male ‘domination’, childlessness by choice, and an aversion to all things matrimonial and domestic. We do not see children as an occupational hazard of being a wife but a blessing from the LORD. Nor do we sacrifice our children to abortion on the altar of job promotions, freedom of choice/fertility, ambition, prestige, and competitiveness with men. Rather, we welcome our God-ordained role as women, for in that we can find true freedom.
Freedom that allows us to be gentle, kind, nurturing, and domestic. Freedom that rejoices in cooking, cleaning, birth, and the marital bed. We do not see our husbands as beasts who exploit us for their personal pleasure, but we delight in their affection and embrace.
Our freedom comes in the keeping of our homes and in the provision of our husbands. In freedom and lack of fear we bring forth our children and we raise them with the love and authority of their fathers. In freedom, we express our concerns and fears to our husbands and in that same freedom we give opinions and insight. The freedom of godly femininity allows us to be equal and not inferior to our husbands. That freedom liberates us from the need to be aggressive, masculine, dictatorial, and harsh women. For our freedom in God allows us to be uniquely suited to our husband. There is no need to strive to compete or usurp the authority of men. For a godly woman is of great value.
I can understand a feminist’s view to a point - she has not seen the blessing of femininity or the beauty and challenge of marriage, motherhood, and servanthood. She is to be pitied for she has brought upon herself the misery of usurping the God-given natural order by refusing to be a partner in God’s plan of creation. God can open your eyes, dear sister, and He can release you into His wonderful plan of godly womanhood. There is freedom in His ways. There is peace and fulfillment.
God will give you joy unimaginable if you repent and become the woman He created you to be. He has a wonderful purpose for your life - if you will accept it. The struggle can end with your choice to be a true woman and complete not compete with men. God’s Word is very clear on this - His Word is true and good. Will you not reconsider and come home? You will be so glad you made that choice for there you will find the freedom you so desire. © Glenys Robyn Hicks
Visit Glenys' blog, Spending Time With Glenys.
"I'm Not Saving My Heart..."
For those who are all too familiar with the phrase "I'm saving my heart for my future husband..." I thought you might find this article interesting. Blog reader, Rachel, sent it to me with this note: A friend of ours from church recently sent us an article she'd written that was such a blessing to me personally as a single young lady serving in our family. It is a refreshing perspective that I wish more people could hear -- single and married alike. I appreciated the thoughts shared in this article and think that more young people and married alike need to understand and live this: Loving my husband would thus be an outpouring of my love for God; my love for God always coming first. It does not take away from the love (living 1 Corinthians 13) that I would give my husband by loving him out of a love for God, but rather adds to it. My love would be a godly love, directed by God’s Spirit rather than a love that I would work at in my own strength. The only way I can truly love my husband is by loving God. The same goes for others -- the only way I can truly love others, is by loving God. The more I love God, the less I will love myself and the more I will love others. Her final quote was excellent: No, I am not giving my heart to any young man that may come after it, but I am not saving it for my husband either. I am giving it all to God, because it is with Him that my heart belongs.
Thriving on One Income
I very often get emails asking how my husband and I have managed to live on a part-time income, stay out of debt, and survive through law school (We're not quite there yet -- just a few more months, Lord-willing!). In my mind, it wasn't anything incredible-- we just did what we knew God called us to, we trusted that God would be faithful to His promises (which He has!), and we learned to be creative. For those who would like some practical ideas of how we did this, I have written on this rather extensively in past posts. You can search the archives (sorry that Blogger doesn't have fancy-schmancy topics I can organize posts by, or it would make it a lot easier!) to find many more ideas and thoughts on the subject of frugality and thriving on one income, but here are a few posts to get you started: Thriving On One IncomeCutting Back on MeatDon't Be Miserable, Just MiserlyPractical IdeasGrocery Shopping on a BudgetIdeas for Saving Money on Groceries (shared by Readers)Favorite Frugal Recipes (shared by Readers)
Ready, Set...
...Take the Proverbs 31 challenge! Thanks to Mrs. J for such a great idea to get us all motivated, inspired, and, most importantly, seeking to honor and glorify the Lord with our lives.
Carrot, Apple, Raisin, Coconut Muffins
Kathrynne and I made these for the second time yesterday. We both like them (Jesse will eat them, too!). They aren't completely healthy since they have quite a bit of sugar and oil (probably could substitute some with applesauce), but they are yummy!
Combine:
2 c flour
1 1/4 cup of sugar
2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
Stir in:
2 c. grated carrot (I used the food processor)
1 apple, peeled, cored and grated
1/2 c raisin
1/2 coconut flakes
In a bowl beat:
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 t. vanilla
Stir into flour mixture until batter is just combined. Spoon into well greased muffin cups, filling to the top. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
Random, Useless Musings
I'm having a "Blah" day. I think I need my SuperMom vitamins to come or something. I've been reading Simply Organizing and getting so motivated (How I can be "blah" and motivated at the same time is beyond me -- Don't ask, I'm a woman!). My house is always in pretty good shape -- thanks to my mom raising me to enjoy and appreciate a clutter-free home. But, I can always find areas for improvement. This book has a lot of great ideas and insight. In a fit of inspiration in the middle of reading this book last night, I bounded out of my cozy reading spot and decluttered the closet and bathroom cupboard. Don't ask me where the extra junk comes from or why I have been saving some clothes in my closet that I haven't worn in a few years, but they are gone now. And, it feels good to have my closet all neat and tidy again. Not that it was a mess, it just needed some improvement and some thinning out. I even boxed up the remaining maternity clothes and "in-between" clothes (Does every mom have a portion of her wardrobe designated for post-partum "fat clothes" or is that just me?) to save for later -- hopefully sooner than later, but we'll see what God has in store. In other useless, random news, Kathrynne has been sleeping through the night. Yes, the WHOLE night. I seriously forgot how nice it felt to fall asleep in bed at night and wake up in the morning -- not 3 a.m. but more like 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. or (gulp!) 8 a.m. Really, really nice. Not sure how long it will last, but I'll enjoy it while it does! I remember when Kathrynne was three months old and would sleep through the night -- I felt like such a good mom. But, I couldn't pat myself on the back too long for when she was around 6 months, she decided she didn't like sleeping through the night at all. Ever since then, despite trying many different things, she just wouldn't sleep more than four hours, or on a good night, maybe five hours at a time. As all mothers know, this can get tiring after awhile and I was beginning to wonder if Kathrynne was going to wake up every four-five hours for the rest of her life! Gratefully, with some encouragement, establishing a bedtime routine, getting her to bed earlier, and moving her into a different room (instead of our room), she has been sleeping 8-11 hours every night for the last 2 weeks or so. I am hoping it lasts because she and I both need our sleep. :) Well, I should probably go do something more useful than posting random useless facts. Something like making dinner. That would be good. I'm sure my hubby would like that, too. It would be better than the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he had last night at 10:00 p.m. No, I'm not making that up -- that really was dinner last night. I wish I were perfect, but, since I'm not, at least it was whole wheat bread, all natural peanut butter, and all natural jelly. That's gotta count for something, right?
Special Pricing on Created to Be His Help Meet!
 LIMITED TIME SALE!No Greater Joy is once again offering us a special deal on copies of Created to Be His Help Meet and we want to pass these savings along to you. For a limited time, you can buy copies of this book for as low as $7.00 per book! If you have friends, relatives, or neighbors who could benefit from reading this book, now is the time to order! In addition, it would make a wonderful Mother's Day gift for someone, or a perfect bridal shower gift. To take advantage of this special, click here.Please pass the word along! This book has had a tremendous impact on my life and the lives of many other women I know. If you are struggling in your marriage or are looking for encouragement from a Godly Titus 2 woman, you will be blessed through reading this book. It is blunt, forthright, and cutting (Please note: It deals with some areas which I believe are not appropriate for an unmarried woman, please use discretion, as always.). As many of you know, I only got a copy of this book because I was planning to "refute" it. I had read a few excerpts and heard some different things about it and I was sure that I wouldn't like it at all. Then I read the book. God used it to open my eyes to many areas in my life where I was not honoring my husband and where I was destroying our family in the name of "spirituality." It was very humbling and convicting and life-changing. Read the review on Ladies Against Feminism here or read an except from the book here.
Please Pray for Gracie
Dear Crystal,
I was wondering if you would mind posting an urgent prayer request on your blog? Little Gracie Hopkins is the firstborn baby of some very good friends of ours. She was born with a very serious heart condition and has been battling for her life this week, on life support, after her second corrective surgery. The doctors had hoped that she was well enough to be able to take her off of the life support today, but she was not. On Thursday they will be taking her off of the life support for the last time. Please pray that the Lord would heal her little heart and that it will be able to pump on it's own. Please also pray for her parents as they go through this agonizing time.
Thank you very much!
in Christ,
Jennifer
Please join me in lifting up this precious child and her parents to the throne of God. I also encourage you to visit her website and read more of her story and see the beautiful pictures of her. Don't ever take your children or their health for granted.
A Tightwad No Longer
 Thanks to the motivation from these comments, I caved and bought some vitamins. Now, let's hope they make a difference because I've never spent so much on something so little. I can buy a whole week and a half's worth of groceries with that amount so they had better be good! I could use some Supermom boost right now, though. If you've used these and they don't work, please don't tell me that -- I already bought them! But, if you've tried them and had good results, you can send the rave reviews my way. At least I'll feel good for doing something for my health. When I asked my husband if it were okay that I buy them, he said "Yes, but are you going nutty?" I think he's a little worried I'm losing my sanity since I'm usually such a tightwad.
Deny Christ or Die
I know I am a little late in the game, but I just found out, thanks to La Shawn Barber, that a former Muslim who has converted to Christianity is now facing death unless he denies Christ.
Let's pray and act. And, let's ask ourselves: If I were facing death unless I denied Christ, would I stand strong? We never have to consider this kind of persecution in our land, but it may very well someday come to that. If your faith is not worth dying for, your faith is not worth living for.
Pictures from Our Trip
Here are a few pictures from our trip to Branson. We, of course, spent time at Silver Dollar City. Jesse and I have many fond memories of times when our families went there while growing up. Although we were careful not to make it very obvious to each other or anyone else, we always seemed to end up in the same vicinity -- the same shop, the same ride, the same place, at the same time. Coincidence?! I don't think so. We look back and laugh at how silly we were when we were 14 and 15. Fun memories, though! We hadn't been there since before we were married, so we had a very enjoyable time reminiscing and introducing our daughter to all the wonderful sights and smells and shops in SDC. Here we are on the Carousel:  Kathrynne and Daddy at the petting zoo with the baby goats:  As much as we enjoyed Silver Dollar City, our favorite part of the trip was visiting the brand-new Titanic museum. Over the years, I've been fascinated with this story of heroism and have read a number of books on the subject. When we heard that Branson was opening a museum on this famous ship, we knew we had to go! I was afraid that with all the political-correctness and feminism pervading our culture, the true story of heroism and gentlemen who respected women enough to give their lives for "women and children first" would be lost in a modern museum. Not so.  In this age of egalitarianism and feminism and "every-man-for-himself-ism," I couldn't help but wonder if there would be few stories of heroism should a disaster like the Titanic happen in our day and age. Probably everyone would be fighting for their right to life -- men, women, and children alike. After all, feminism teaches that men don't need to protect women anymore, so they might as well just throw them overboard so they can secure a seat for themselves in the lifeboat. Instead of this ego-centrical mentality, here are just a few of the shining examples of true manliness found in this incredible museum. This large engraving is right as your walk in the door (Sorry, the picture is dark -- try clicking on it to see it better). It is a bust of a man and some of his final words: "No woman shall be left aboard this ship because Ben Guggenhein was a coward."  And, here was something written on a plaque about the designer of the ship, Thomas Andrews, who perished in the sinking of the ship:  This large stone plaque depicts some of the final words of a faithful wife: "We have been living together for many years and where you go, I go... As we have lived together so shall we die -- together."  All of our pictures on the grand staircase didn't turn out well. It is beautiful and this picture doesn't do it justice in the least bit:  You can take a short online tour of the musem here. If you have the chance to visit it with your family, though, I highly recommend it. Very educational and inspirational! You won't be disappointed!
Mrs. B has a blog!
For those of you who have come to know and love a frequent commentor on this blog, Mrs. B, I am happy to report that she now has her own blog (after much encouragement from others!).
Recent Pictures
My apologies that recent pictures have been woefully absent from this blog. I finally got the last batch of pictures I've taken downloaded from my camera and will be posting these in the next few posts. Here are a few pictures from a baby shower the ladies at our church had last week for brand-new mommy-to-be. As some of you know, we have only recently begun attending a new church fellowship and about 20% of the people who go to this church are deaf. So, we have been exposed to a whole new culture that we were, until recently, quite unfamiliar with. Loralee, the mommy-to-be, and her husband are both deaf, as well as her husband's mother (pictured next to Loralee below) and his dad. A number of the other ladies at the shower were also deaf. So, it was a unique shower! In addition, our pastor's wife is from Romania and her mother is visiting her right now and so the shower was trilingual!  We have so enjoyed getting to meet and interact with those who cannot speak our language, but who share the same love for the Lord. And, we are picking up quite a bit of ASL in the process! Hopefully soon, the language barrier will not be an issue and we will be able to converse in ASL fluently. We are teaching Kathrynne ASL from the beginning so that she can grow up being able to interact with these precious people! Whoever said stay-at-home moms are living with "half a brain tied behind their back" hasn't met women who can make these kinds of beautiful, artistic creations! This diaper cake (below) was made by Melanie and Lora -- two moms with lots of littles under tow!  (Below) Kathrynne with her new-found friend, Chloe! Chloe is three and sister to four brothers, one sister, and one on the way -- and the oldest twins just turned 6. (That's seven -- six and under -- in case you were public-schooled and can't do the math!). She is the sweetest little girl and she always wants to help me take care of Kathrynne. 
College at Home - To the Glory of God
Thanks to Carmon, for the link to this interesting article by John Thompson. For those who think I've lost my marbles in some of the various remarks I've made concerning college, I thought you might find this article insightful. He discusses the following questions: (1) What precisely is God's purpose for our children's higher education?
(2) Does a father's home-education responsibility extend to fully preparing his children for adulthood, marriage and establishing a new household?
(3) What specific disciplines (in academics, fine arts, life skills and spiritual development) are necessary for "entering adulthood?"
(4) How are these disciplines different for young women vs. young men?
(5) What role does a young person's God-given gifts, talents and interests play?
(6) How might these disciplines be developed during the post-high school years? (home business, apprenticeship, trade/technical school, college programs—under what circumstances?) And most importantly,
(7) How do our home-schooling convictions apply to post-high school training?
Manifesto Addition
In Carmon's "blog-frenzy" yesterday (Did you remember to donate, by the way?), she added to the Prairie Muffin Manifesto: 43) There are many good things that Prairie Muffins love: their husbands, their children, their churches. But most of all, Prairie Muffins love their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and though those other treasures are precious, they hold them lightly, trusting in God’s providence regarding even those most prized possessions, knowing that to hold them too tightly would be replacing them with God in their affections, and that would be idolatry. Amen and amen!
Building Bridges
Natalie always has great insight to share on her blog. I've known her for a number of years and even had the privilege of working with her at a Victorian tea room for a few years. She is a Godly young woman with a passion for the Lord that is exemplified in all she does. Her recent post on building bridges is one I encourage everyone to read. Whether you are a mom or dad, sister or brother, unmarried with no siblings, whatever your current station in life, you will be touched and inspired by her post. How are you building bridges? | | |
