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One day down. One to go. There's nothing quite like having a camera a few feet away from your face or closer all day long. Or wearing a microphone which picks up every little word you say. Or being quizzed on everything you do throughout the day - from laundry folding and bread-baking to cleaning and cake decorating - on the philosophical reasons for why you have chosen to engage in this particular thing as opposed to spending your time doing something else. Very thought-provoking. Other than my rolls not turning out and it being freezing cold when we went to the park (they were trying to get some family-togetherness shots but it was so cold we could hardly do anything!), it went well and God was so gracious and faithful. Thank you to the many of you who have written to say you were praying. I feel so humbled to be undergirded by so many prayer warriors around the world. If the end result is anything praiseworthy, all the glory goes to the Lord. I best be getting to bed. We start another day of filming at 6:45 a.m. tomorrow.
Date night: Is it important to marriage?
I have read many articles of people saying that their marriage wouldn't have survived without a 'date night'. I noticed you mention having a 'date night' too, so I ask is it a important to have a date night for a marriage to stay alive? Here is my situation: We have only my sister that we trust with our son and she is busy most of the time. The rest of our family isn't suitable because of some kind of substance abuse or just to 'old' and doesn't want to keep up with an active two year old. I don't know any young 'trustable' teenager. I was hoping you would have some advice. -Rose Mary Hi, Rose Mary! What a great question and one that I've often mulled over myself. I've read things by some marriage experts who say that a once-a-week date night was almost imperative for a healthy marriage. Though I think that devoting time every week specifically to nurturing your marriage is definitely something I whole-heartedly agree with, I don't necessarily agree that it has to be in the form of a date night. Or in the form of what we would commonly recognize as "date night." (You know the drill - Mom and Dad leave junior and junioress with a babysitter for a few hours so they can go out to a restaurant to eat.) While there's nothing wrong with a date night of that kind (provided your are leaving your children with a good and responsible sitter), I don't think that that kind of date night can work for everyone, especially if it is going to be a weekly event. Not only is it expensive but finding good sitters can be hard to come by. Jesse and I have been married over four years and up to this point, and we've rarely ever had a "real date night" like that. We did go out to eat at nicer restaurants together (usually while mystery shopping a restaurant!) a few times before we had children. But we usually couldn't afford to pay $20-$30 for a restaurant meal. After Kathrynne came along, it wasn't just the money issue, it was that we didn't have anyone trustworthy to watch her. So all that said, I completely understand your situation. Instead of bemoaning our lack of "real date nights," we've had fun being creative. We usually have a "family date" once a week, typically on Saturdays since I have such an early bedtime while pregnant that weeknights would be difficult. We've been going out for either breakfast or lunch. Not only are those meals cheaper than dinner at most restaurants, it works out better for us this way at this point in our lives. These family dates are so enjoyable and looked forward to, but they are not in anyway to replace one-on-one time in our marriage. Kathrynne is still little so it's somewhat like a date for us, even if she's tagging along. But we also feel it is important that we have time set aside to nurture our marriage. Times when it is just the two of us. How do we accomplish this without paying a babysitter? Well, one thing which works great for us is that many Friday nights, we put Kathrynne to bed early and then we'll stay up a bit later doing something special together. I posted some ideas awhile back for inexpensive or free "date night" ideas that we've done before here. Most all of those which involved leaving home, we just took Kathrynne with us or else did it before having children. Here are a few ideas for at-home dates from that post: Check out an old movie at the library, put the children to bed early, pop some popcorn or bake cookies with frozen cookie dough, make some tea or cocoa, and snuggle on the couch together and enjoy the movie. Take turns reading aloud from a book while sipping fresh-brewed coffee. Bake cookies together and then clean up the kitchen. Play a board game or card game. Jesse and I spent many fun evenings playing Phase 10 when we were first married. We also tried chess, but he got so good that he started beating me at it, so we had to give that up! Another option, if you can afford it, is to feed your children early, have your husband pick up some takeout on his way home from work, and then enjoy that after the children are in bed. We do this sometimes using coupons and have a fairly inexpensive and enjoyable evening. You can even dress up and set up a special table with candles and your best China. Or save yourself having to clean up afterwards - light a candle and use paper plates. The most important thing is that you take time to keep your marriage flames of love kindled. For different people, that will mean different things. Be creative, have fun, do what you can with what you have, and ask God to bless it! I'd love to hear input and ideas from others on this.
Busy here today...
-Got ready for two days of filming starting tomorrow morning (For the UK television documentary on devoted wives, for those who may have missed my mentions of it in previous posts). Prayers would be appreciated that God would be glorified in and through our lives, our marriage, and our home. -Finished Wilton Cake Class Level I tonight (I signed up for Level II tonight if that gives you an idea as to whether I liked it or not - I'll try to post a picture of my cake from tonight, that is, after I finish it for the cameras tomorrow. They found out I was taking a cake class and pretty much demanded that I do a demonstration for the filming tomorrow. Oh well. I should have never mentioned it!). -Rearranged Kathrynne's room and found the frog that had disappeared from her aquarium. Dead under her bed. I prefer dead to alive and am glad he is accounted for. Don't ask how he managed to get out of the aquarium. -Bought fabric for pillows for our living room couches. Only the curtains to go and we're done with the main floor. -Discovered two more blog readers who live close by! Always an excitement. I'm looking forward to meeting them. I think we'll have to have a big get-together or blogging tea one of these days with all the nearby readers. -Walked to the library and almost got locked out of the house when we got back. Gratefully, after calling Jesse, I realized I was trying to get in with the wrong key. Blame it on my preggo brain or the fact that I've not used the new set of keys yet. -Enjoyed having my sister up for today, thanks to some friends who were heading to a nearby destination and brought her along. Lots of laughs, productivity, and deep talks. More later, hopefully soon. Much to write, too little time.
Input requested: ERGO newborn insert
 I remember a while back you posted a favorable review of the Ergo. Would you recommend it for my 5-week-old little Noah? I saw that there is an infant insert we could get, but I suppose that by the time you reviewed it, Kathrynne didn't need the insert. What do you think? What's your recommendation? -Kristen You are absolutely right that I am a big ERGO fan. (My review is here.) It was a lifesaver to me with Kathrynne and I can't wait to use it again with our next little blessing. However, I didn't start using an ERGO until Kathrynne was close to a year old, I believe. Though she was always a small little girl, she was definitely not as a small as a newborn at that point so I can't really comment on using an ERGO for a newborn. I can tell you that I'm pretty sure I'll like it. In fact, I just got the newborn insert myself. Until I've Mommy-tested it for a few months, though, I can't give my own opinion on it. But since I'm sure someone here has used the newborn insert, I'll let some other chime in with their thoughts and experiences.
Rambling on loneliness
I've been thinking a lot about Amy's post. Thinking, pondering, reminiscing... Three and a half years ago, Jesse and I moved away from our friends, family, church, and everything we'd ever known to a town where we knew no one, had no connections, nothing, nada. At first, I was excited at the prospect of meeting new people and planting new roots. Having grown up with abundant opportunities for fellowship with other Christian families, I just assumed we'd quickly get "plugged in." Very false assumption. Though we did meet some very wonderful people (Hi, Cheryl! Hi, Laurie!), for the most part, it was a very lonely road. We tried to reach out, we tried to "connect", we tried to build relationships. We invited people over, we volunteered to help with things, we tried to be as active as we could in our little tiny church, but it seemed that all our efforts fell flat on their face. Nothing was "clicking"; no relationships were being formed; true Christian fellowship was almost impossible to be had. People were too busy to find time to get together or just plain not interested. And then I got pregnant. "Aha! Now I'll be able to connect," I thought. "No longer will I be the young wife, I'll have a baby. Maybe some of the moms will let me into their 'group.'" False assumption number two. I quickly learned that having a baby doesn't automatically equal friends, it just makes you more hungry than ever for fellowship. To make matters worse, right before Kathrynne was born, our second vehicle died. So, not only was I a brand-new mom with basically zero friends and support, I also had no transportation all day long either. We weren't living in the best area of town, so walking anywhere besides around the outside of our apartment was not an option. Jesse was very busy with school and work and hardly home at all. Needless to say, it was a very lonely time. I wouldn't trade being a wife or mommy for the world, but that didn't mean my life was a bed full of roses. I struggled along as best I could seeking to find contentment in the Lord and not base my joy on my outward circumstances. One of the bright spots during this time was discovering blogging. Since I didn't have much fellowship at all locally, reading blogs and starting one of my own provided a way for me to connect (albeit virtually) to other moms. I know some people frown on "virtual friendships," but, believe me, they were a lifesaver to me. I finally didn't feel so alone in my motherhood! As time went on, we gradually did meet more people and forge closer bonds. And now, God has moved us on to a place where we have a lot more fellowship. I feel so blessed and thankful but I will never forget what it felt like to be so alone. It isn't easy being a young mom and trying to do it without support close by can make it so much more difficult. Like Amy said, "We weren't meant to do it alone." I'm writing all of this because I would really like to open up some discussion on the topic. I'd love to hear ideas of how you've reached out and forged bonds with other moms and how you've found support and encouragement. It seems there are a lot of moms out there who feel alone and, because of the loneliness and lack of support I experienced, I am always looking for ways to encourage moms, especially young moms, in our area. After all, I need the fellowship, too! I'm mulling over starting an informal mom's group - something where moms can get together and just talk, share, pick each other's brains, laugh, cry, and encourage and build each other up in our roles as wives and moms - the kind of group I would have loved to be apart of and never found. (By the way, anyone live close by and want to join?) Are any of you a part of such a group? Anyone have any great solutions or ideas for what seems to be a rampant lack of support for moms? We can't solve all the world's problems, but sharing some ideas which have worked for you might spark some help, ideas, or encouragement for another lonely mom.
"I don't think it's OK."
 So, I usually try really hard not to post anything until at least Friday afternoon or evening once I've put up the Frugal Friday post. There's always such great input there and I don't want to breeze past that and move on. I want to make sure everyone has time to check out the links and absorb some of the information, especially if you are new to frugality. However, I'm breaking tradition and posting a link to Amy's post from today because, well, it is just too good to wait until tomorrow for. If you are a mama or hope to be a mama someday, you need to read her post. Just a snippet: Our 21st-century homes do not have front porches. Quilting circles are only found in books. And the hospital nurse at your last delivery? She was 20. Her coaching consisted of asking every few minutes if you were ready for an epidural. Has it really come to this? And if so, is it OK? I don't think it's OK. I also think many women agree with me. We weren't meant to do it alone. We weren't meant to take our cues from the broader culture. We want to know that it's OK to cross-the-line and have Baby #3 (on purpose). We want to raise them to love Jesus and not lose our minds at the same time. We want to know that our sacrifice means something, and at the end of the day, our pursuit of God's glory made a difference.
Thank you so very much, Amy, for taking time to share with us young mamas this kind of encouragement. You don't know how much we appreciate it. Now, back to Frugal Friday. Graphic courtesy of AllPosters.
Frugal Friday: Frugality no matter the income level
 I was wondering now that since your husband has a very good job & you have a bigger home and all, are you still planning to be quite as frugal compared to Jesse's schooling days? Not to be nosy, but I am asking because I often wonder for most people if more money/more costs means less frugality (if that makes sense). I can certainly understand where one would not have to struggle quite so much if one's circumstances changed for the better. I have not been in a position ever in my life that I have not had to be frugal (and that will probably never change). Also, since I have lived frugally for so long, if somehow my circumstances did change, I don't think I could stop being frugal - because I guess it's such a part of me now. I hope that's not too personal of a thing to ask. -Lyn Lyn asked me the above question in a comment some weeks back and I'm finally getting around to addressing it. I saved it since I thought it would make a great Frugal Friday topic! This is something we talked about extensively when Jesse moved up the salary rung a bit and became an attorney. Since we knew that our income was going to more-than-likely be increasing after law school, we discussed how we would wisely transition to a higher salary without changing our lifestyle or immediately becoming extravagant just because we had more money to spend. Two of our financial goals since getting married have been to stay out of debt and to pay cash for a home as soon as we were able. The first three and half years we focused on the first goal: staying out of debt. With Jesse in law school and making quite a bit below average pay, we didn't have a lot of room for savings. Our focus was just on trusting God, taking one day at a time, and being as creative as we could to make the ends meet. Once Jesse finished law school, we didn't have hardly anything in the bank, but we also didn't have any debt - so we could start afresh. Our goal is now to save as much as we possibly can to pay cash for a home as soon as we can. We're shooting to save enough in the next five-seven or so years to be able to buy something which would adequately meet our needs at that point in our life and for the next few years after that, while we continue to save as our family (Lord-willing) continues to expand. If God sees fit to give us many children, we want to be preparing now to be able to well-provide for them. We made out our budget with Jesse's increased salary with as much savings as possible in mind. There were a few areas which were increased, such as home rental payments. But for the most part, the budget stayed the same. One thing which did change is that we are no longer relying upon the money I earn for any necessity. Much of it goes into savings and part of it goes into a separate budget which we've categorized by percentage for things which are extras - going out to eat, gifts, home decorations, crafts, etc. This allows us to be able to afford some of those things without tapping into Jesse's income. This has worked out well for us. In one sense, I suppose you could say we are not as frugal as we were since we do have some of those extras now budgeted, like I mentioned above. However, I can never stop being frugal. It's in my blood. Why spend $70 at the grocery store every week when I know I can do it for $35? Why pay full-price for something if you can find it in good shaped used? I can't help but always look for the best deal, even if it is something small. And if I don't really need it or can easily live without it, why buy it at all? A penny saved is still a penny earned, even if it is a penny. The less we spend, the more we are able to save and to give to others. ------------------- To join in Frugal Friday, just post a frugal tip or post on any subject of frugality on your blog, link to this post in your post, and then post the direct link to your Frugal Friday post below. Any link or post which does not adhere to these rules will be deleted at my discretion. If you do not have a blog, but have a tip to share, please post your tip in the comments section. And, remember the rules: Must be family-friendly. Thanks! I can't wait to read your tips!
Debt: The "easy" way?
Our Financial Peace University Leadership kit just arrived. When I went to answer the door to get it from the UPS man, guess what was stuck in our door? A bright neon green paper advertising the services of a local realtor who was lauding all the benefits of making a house payment and "owning" a home (Um, excuse me, doesn't the bank actually own it?) as opposed to renting. Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick with financial freedom, save my money to pay cash for a home, and let the bank own other people's homes. If I'm going to own a home, I want to really own it.* Speaking of FPU, if you didn't guess, Jesse and I are gearing up to host our first 13-week class. It's something he's been wanting to do for awhile and I am excited to finally see it happening and to be able to help one of my husband's dreams come true. There's such fulfillment in that as a wife! *This was in no way meant to be offensive to those who have debt. I understand that most people do and it's not because they are trying to be financially unwise. It's often because most people don't know anything better. Debt is just the way we live our lives and pay our bills. We know of so many families who are strugging along barely making it or where the wife has to work because there is no way they can afford to live on one income. Most of the time, it is completely due to debt - school loans, car payments, house payments, credit card payments, you name it. This is one reason Jesse and I are so thrilled to be hosting these classes. We've personally experienced the freedom which comes from living within your means by stretching what you have, downsizing, thinking outside the box, sticking to a budget, being creative, and doing without. It's not always easy, but the benefits are long-lasting and we don't in anyway regret our decision to avoid debt. We are so grateful to the wise training and examples of our parents in this regard and we want to pass along what we've learned so that others can also experience financial peace and freedom.
Input requested: Fertility and Homemaking books
I'm looking for a couple of books for my "collection" and thought maybe you would have a suggestion or maybe one of your blog readers has a recommendation. I'm interested in one on natural fertility issues-something related to diet and lifestyle rather than "medical-type" procedures. Someone in one of your blogs mentioned about aspirin and ibuprofen causing a fertilized egg not to implant- a book with information like that.
I'm also wondering if there is a book you would recommend like "home keeping for dummies" or something along those lines. My mom started working outside the home when I was in middle school and didn't really teach us about running a home - I think there are lots of ladies like this and was wondering if there was a book you've run across with basic info in it for instance-proper ways to freeze foods, planting a garden, tips on doing laundry, etc. Thanks in advance for any suggestions! -Jill Hi, Jill! I've not read any books on fertility issues so I'll let me readers help you out there, but on the homemaking books, two that came to mind were Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson and Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homemaking by Miriam Lukken. Although I have only skimmed both of these, they seemed quite exhaustive to me and very helpful. I hope to go through both with my daughter(s) when they are older. You could probably check out one or both from the library to see if they were what you were looking for before buying. Does anyone else have some great recommendations on homemaking or fertility-related issues books? Do share.
A virtuous woman
I'm so excited about Mrs. Wilt's just-begun series on The "Elusive" Proverbs 31 woman. Here first post is here and it is well worth your time.
Feed fixed
For those who have asked me to do this, my feed is finally fixed. Thanks for your patience. Here's the link (let's hope it works better this time!): Subscribe to Biblical Womanhood
Input requested: Homeschooling/Christian education
 I was just wondering if you would consider bringing up the topic of homeschooling/Christian Education on your blog. Christian education and homeschooling is now almost unheard of in the United Kingdom. However, there is a small group of Christians in my local area looking to set up a Christian school in Glasgow, Scotland by seeking God’s help and leading. We are just in the preliminary stages at present and would like to ask for your prayers that children in our city would have a school in which children would be taught in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ. I would be glad to hear if you had any particular views on curriculum yourself, or if any of your other readers did. On a practical note, I was wondering if any readers had attended a Christian school, and would be able to share their experiences? Or anyone who homeschools, how they structure their day, and if they use a particular curriculum? I know that you have written on the topic of educating from birth yourself. Do you use any set pattern or curriculum yet and how do you put it into practice? I could use some ideas with my own 2-year-old daughter! - Karen Hi, Karen!
My apologies for taking almost five months to get to your question! I would be glad to share what we are doing with Kathrynne, though it isn't anything earth-shattering! I'm all for simplicity. You mentioned educating from birth and you are exactly right that that is something I believe in. However, I believe that every child is educated from birth - that is, every child is educated in something. Whether or not it is good education is the question! With that in mind, we've tried to make our home a forum for learning good things, without it taking enormous effort on our part. Most of this just involves having a routine (We believe chaos is not a healthy environment to be raised in, though we're not certainly perfectly organized by any means!), giving your children good choices in things to play with (We prefer creative play as opposed to sitting your child down in front of a entertainment machine - whether that be the TV, computer, etc.), and instilling in them a love for learning through real-life. Real-life is one of the greatest ways to learn most things and I'd rather have my child learn something from practical, hands-on experience, than just read about it in a textbook. That doesn't mean there isn't a time and a place for textbooks, I just think they need to be balanced with learning from life. Since Kathrynne is so young, we don't have any set "curriculum" we do with her, but she spends much of her day learning things. Here's an idea of our usual routine and how learning from everyday life works for us: We usually read a simple, short chapter in the Bible in the morning at breakfast. I explain to her what it means in the best way I can at her level. We also pray together, with her praying a simple prayer (Usually, "Dear God, help mama and baby, amen."). We talk about why we pray, why we read the Bible, how important it is to love the Lord, and how we want her to grow up to love the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. After breakfast, she spends a few hours every morning by my side - helping me with cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. As I go about doing these simple tasks, I try to explain to her what I am doing and why. We incorporate much learning as we go, without it ever feeling like "school." When we're cooking, we talk about measurements, we count the number of cups of flour we need to put in, we talk about fractions, we do simple addition and subtraction. Now obviously, at two years old, not all of this is making complete sense to Kathrynne, but I'm amazed at how much of it is. And she is seeing how it is practically used. When we do laundry, we'll talk about matching things, about colors, about whose clothes are whose, where things are put away, and so on. Not only is she learning academics through practical life, but she is also learning the basics of running a home. At the same time, she's having fun and spending quality time with Mama. What could be better? After lunch and before her nap, we usually cuddle on our bed and read her Bible verse book, talk about a few of the verses and Bible stories, review her verses she is learning, and then read a book - often one from the library on some subject she's interested in. We just spent the last few weeks talking about painting and art and we read parts of a book on Monet everyday. Now we're going to move onto trains, another subject she is fascinated with. Without even realizing it, she is learning so much through this and we're having so much fun at the same time! When she gets up from her nap, she often will help me, play with her Legos, sit at her desk and draw, read books, or we'll sit on the couch (if Mama's not feeling too well!) and sing together. Sometimes we'll just run around and have fun together - dancing, playing hide-and-seek, etc. - laughing and giggling the whole time. I'm all for enjoying my children and some of my best memories growing up were when my parents just got down on our level and had fun with us. In whatever we are doing, I'm constantly talking to her, explaining things to her, asking her questions, and seeking to make all of life a learning experience. If she's drawing, I'll ask her what she is drawing, ask her to draw something specific, ask her what color she is using, show her how to draw a shape or letter. If she is playing with Legos, I'll ask her what she is building, ask her to build a tower, etc. If we're listening to Classical music while we're working, we'll talk about what instruments are playing. I'll ask her to pick out the violin or tell me when she hears a piano. I've never sat down and done any "formal school" with her, but just through teaching her as she is by my side, she has learned to count to ten (we're still working on counting objects correctly), she is learning her colors, she is learning her ABC's, she knows a few Bible verses, she can hold her pencil correctly (I decided instead of having to break a bad habit when she is four or five, let's just learn the right way from the beginning!), she can draw circles, and is working on drawing letters. No, it's not anything astounding, but she is learning and she's loving it at the same time. I know some people would read all of this and say, "Well, that's easy, you only have one child." You're right, I do only have one child not in utero. I'm sure it's much different with two or three or five. However, I don't think that means that learning from life has to stop just because there are more littles around. Nor does that mean that learning has to stop being enjoyable. When my children are grown and gone, if they love the Lord with all their hearts, love to learn, and have happy memories of their childhood, I will be fulfilled. I'd rather enjoy them and teach them to love Jesus, than have brilliant children with all kinds of academic honors. Wisdom in man's eyes can never compare to the Wisdom from Above. For the rest of you: I'd love to hear how you are teaching your young children, too. I'd also love to hear a lot more input on Karen's other questions. Since I'm not terribly familiar with homeschooling or Christian education in countries outside of the US, I'll leave that question to other readers to pitch in and help out on. I'd especially love to hear from those who have their children in a Christian school or are homeschooling and live in a different country, though anyone is welcome to share. I'm also not any expert on homeschooling or curriculum. Ask me in another 20 years and I'll probably have a lot more to say. I have a great group of readers here who can give you more insight, ideas, and suggestions than I could ever hope to come up with, so I'll open it up to them to help out with that.
I'm a proud auntie!
 My niece, Cadence. Isn't she adorable? I love that mischievous expression on her face. I can't wait until I get to see her - just a few more months!
Two of my favorite books
If you were to ask me who are the five authors who have had the greatest impact on my life, Amy Carmichael would be at the top of the list. My mom introduced me to her when I was very young and I will forever be grateful. For those who might be unfamiliar with her, Amy Carmichael was the oldest daughter of a Christian family from Ireland. She was impressed at an early age that "nothing is important but that which is eternal." This understanding proved to be a foundation for her service to the Lord among the mill workers of Ireland, the Japanese briefly, and then in India where she began her ministry to children in 1895 and where she remained until her death in 1951. For years, I have been challenged, motivated, inspired, and convicted by her writings. Ever since we began Biblical Womanhood, I have been hoping we could carry some of the books she has authored. That desire finally became a reality this week after months of work and effort. (I've never put so much time and effort into getting accepted by a wholesaler! I guess the company who publishes her books rarely works with online businesses, so it was a much more complicated process. It was worth every bit of work though, and I know you will agree!) We just got our shipment in of two of my favorite books of hers and I'm so excited to share these with you! You cannot help but be challenged through their pages to deepen your relationship with the Lord and your love for Him. They are especially perfect for moms or busy women who don't have a lot of time to sit and read. You can just pick them up and read for a moment sometime throughout the day when you need encouragement and come away with something to meditate on for the next few hours or more as you go about your daily life! I cannot recommend these two books highly enough.  IfThis little book is compilation of short poems which cut to the heart of whether or not we truly love, like Christ loved. Based on 1 Corinthians 13, each small piece begins with "If..." and ends with "...Then I know nothing of Calvary Love." I often begin my morning with reading one or two of these little passages. Here are two examples which have most profoundly impacted me: "If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary Love." "If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary Love."*(*There is a footnote on this one which often comes to my mind: "For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.") Click here to order. Edges of His WaysMy mom gave me a copy of this devotional book on my fifteenth birthday. I have read it almost daily since then and everyday I read, I am challenged. Compiled in 1955 from selections of Amy Carmichael's writings, this book contains short devotionals, poems, and much Scripture. It is always so fresh and relevant to my life, no matter how many years I've read it through! Click here to order.
The pennies add up
Meredith has a great post on why pennies count. Though it might seem ridiculous or a "hassle" to many, this is one reason I stand there religiously watching the prices being scanned in the checkout at the grocery store. I'm amazed at how many times something is rung up wrong. Sure, it might only be $0.50 or so each time I shop, but multiply $0.50 by shopping at least 52 weeks a year and those pennies, nickles, dimes, and quarters start adding up. It's often the little things which can really make a difference. Just like little savings on necessities add up, so do little unnecessary purchases on your credit card that you don't have the money for.
A precious little life
 Photo from Daily MailThis is an amazing story. Her minuscule feet poking pathetically through a doctor's fingers, few believed that she could possibly live. Born only 21 weeks and six days after conception, Amillia Taylor weighed just under 10oz and was only 91/2 inches long.
Medical staff, however, were given a clue to her fighting spirit when the tiny scrap tried to cry and breathe on her own. And now, four months later and weighing 4lb, she has been allowed home - the world's most premature baby to have survived. Read full story.
And the winner is...
I just drew a name and picked Tayla Anne M. from Pennsylvania as the winner of the Valentine's Contest.As the Grand Prize winner, Tayla wins: -A prize package I've put together with lots of special goodies plus a $15 gift certificate to a business/store/company/website of your choosing.
Also, a few different companies have graciously donated the following gifts to the Grand Prize gift package: -Cherabella Jewelry is donating a $15 gift certificate for their Designer Inspired Jewelry.
-Lady in Waiting magazine is donating a free one-year subscription to their magazine dedicated to encouraging unmarried women. -Everyday Homemaking is donating a free copy of their cookbook Everyday Cooking. -The Urban Homemaker is donating a free copy of the book So Much More. -A five piece mini skincare set and either a purse size refillable hand and body lotion or a nourishing body spray (the winner's choice) courtesy of Barbara Geatches an independent consultant for L'Bri. -A $25 gift certificate to Vision Forum donated by a reader who wants to encourage all you young women who are waiting on God's best! -A free soy hand lotion candle donated by Maiden's Gifts. Congratulations, Tayla! We also have a special runner-up prize for three random entrants: A Virtuous Woman bracelet from Cherabella Jewelry! The runner-up winners chosen: Mary Jo. G. from Florida, Raylene W. from California, and Hannah M. from PA. Thank you to everyone who participated!
From scratch cooking
Kathrynne and I made refried beans from scratch this morning. That was a fun experiment. A lot of work, but the end result was quite yummy and extremely inexpensive. I used onion powder and garlic salt instead of whole onions and garlic, since that was all I had on hand. I paid $0.99 for the bag of pinto beans at Aldi and I more than tripled the recipe with it. I ended up with the equivalent of around eight to ten cans of refried beans for a little more than $0.99 plus a little bit of time. It wasn't as hard to do as I thought it might be and I definitely plan to do it again. I'd rather have homemade than something from a can at the store anytime I can manage. We also made three loaves of homemade (that means no bread-machine-involved) whole-wheat bread. I honestly can't remember the last time I made bread without a bread machine. I'm certainly out of practice because my loaves turned out rather sad-looking. Gratefully, the looks didn't hinder the taste. I'm considering making homemade bread at least once every week or so. Kathrynne thought that kneading the dough was a blast (I gave her a small portion of dough to knead and showed her how to do it right along with me. She actually caught on quite well!) and I was surprised just how easy it really is to make bread from scratch. Why have I been putting it off for so long? In other food news, I re-read Fit for Life over the weekend and am on a four-week experiment with that way of eating again (probably won't stick to it totally, but am using it as a guideline). I've been so exhausted and experiencing such severe heartburn, that I was willing to "take the plunge" and do something a little "radical" in hopes I might help myself feel better. We'll see. I'd love to hear your great ideas for helping with exhaustion, especially during pregnancy.
Frugal shopping at The Gap
Yes, you read that title right. Did you know that you can find good deals at almost any store - including The Gap? Check out Maryanne's post for lots of great tips. I'm definitely taking note as I really like a lot of their clothes, especially clothes from BabyGap, but can't bring myself to pay anywhere near the prices they are normally asking. Most of my clothes from The Gap have actually come from the thrift store or garage sales - like-new, my size, my color, Gap brand, something I need, and $0.99? You bet I don't turn it down, provided I have the money in hand of course. And I've learned never to go shopping unless I have money to spend and need something. Otherwise, you are wasting your time, spending money you don't have, and cluttering up your home with things you don't need.
Stay tuned
Thank you to the many of you who participated in the Valentine's Contest. I received many, many wonderful entries - many more than I could ever post here. I was so touched and blessed to read of so many of you who put much time and effort into blessing others. The winner will be announced later today.
Book Review: The Mommy Survival Guide
Barbara Curtis asked me if she could send me some of her books and you better believe I jumped at the chance. In the first place, what mom could resist encouragement and inspiration from a mom of 12 who has been there, done that?  I lapped up her latest book while we were in the middle of moving - The Mommy Survival Guide: Making the Most of the Mommy Years. It was chock-full of great ideas (practical, down-to-earth kind of stuff!) and tried-and-true words of advice and encouragement. The first chapter was my very favorite and if you can just read that, it would probably be worth the cost of the book. In it, she says: The tender love we experience when we meet our first baby can wear thinner than we expected when that squalling bundle of needs comes up against our own self-centeredness, our desire for a good night's sleep, or just a little peace and quiet. Nothing can prepare you for that -- nor for the loss of your autonomy. It's just gone. From Day One of motherhood, you belong to someone else.
What happens then?
In my near-breaking moments, I've always found it helpful to remember James Dobson's definition of love, that it's not a feeling but a commitment. So sometimes I may not feel very loving, but I'm committed to loving. Reminding myself of this, and many other things, has helped me survive as a mother and a human being.
So, yes, motherhood will change you -- if you let it. And believe me, you do want to let it change you, because when you've refined the art of not thinking first of yourself, you will very much like the person you become. Plus, you'll experience so much more joy and satisfaction from your life with your children. Like usual, I didn't agree with everything, but I really appreciated Barbara's emphasis on keeping things simple, enjoying your children, and using everyday happenings as opportunities for creative, teachable moments.
Back home
Back home. Happy to be home. Weary, but thankful. Thank you for all your kind words. It was a very special weekend and a beautiful service. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and a Godly heritage. In other random news, Blogger made me switch over to the new version of Blogger tonight. I knew it was going to happen eventually and I'm probably about the last person on the planet to have made the switch. I guess I'm a bit slow when it comes to change. So far it appears I didn't lose anything or mess up anything - at least that's what it looks like on my end. Let me know if that is not the case on your end. I hope to be able to put up categories in the not-too-distant future. Oh and before I forget, don't miss Amy the Humble's wonderful post on "how she does it." I loved it and was so inspired. And now I'm off to straighten the kitchen, finish making Snowball Cookies for our Winter Festival after church tomorrow, and put a very sleepy girl to bed. I'm sure her mama will be following close behind her! May you have a restful Lord's Day!
I'll never forget their example
As some of you know, my 100-year-old great grandmother died this past Sunday. Since she and I were always quite close, my parents asked me if I would write something to be read at the memorial service. I wanted to share it on my blog as well.
As a side note: We will be leaving early tomorrow morning to travel out of town for the memorial service so I won't be hosting Frugal Fridays this week (though I could really use your thoughts on this post). Lord-willing, I'll be back on Monday.A Tribute to My GrandparentsVery few people are privileged to get to meet their great-grandparents. I was blessed to not only get to meet my great-grandparents but to also get to spend a lot of time with them during my childhood. I have many special memories - spending the night at their home, baking in the kitchen with Grandmother, sharing meals and kitchen clean-up together, and sitting around listening to them tell fascinating stories about their life in the early to mid-1900's. At the end of every visit with them, we would take a moment to stand in a circle, hold hands and pray - with Grandfather leading the prayer and Grandmother ending with, "And may God grant you every good thing you can contain and still be His." Giving was a way of life for them. No matter how little they had for themselves, they always had enough left over to share with others. We could never leave their home empty-handed. Whether it was a book or baked goods, they always sent home something with us. Even when Grandmother could hardly get around without assistance, when we came to visit her in the nursing home, she never failed to produce some article or goody for us, often saving part of her dessert from lunch to share. Although I never heard them come out and say it, I think their motto was, "Give to him who asketh of you..." For many years, I went up and helped them clean their home on Saturdays. I remember seeing the pile of mail from the week and wishing I could go through it and pull out all the form letters from various organizations which I was sure were asking for money. I knew that even if Grandfather and Grandmother barely had enough money to pay their bills, they would always send a check for every letter they received. That was just the kind of giving people they were. When they found out I was hoping to learn how to play the violin and was saving to buy one, I got an envelope in the mail with a check for $10 and a note which read, "This is for your violin savings account." Just a few months later, I was able to begin violin lessons. Today I look back with so much gratefulness for their investment in my musical education. Thanks to that initial $10 and much encouragement on their part, I have had years of enjoyment from the violin - playing in orchestras, string quartets, and ensembles, and teaching a number of students who have gone on to become highly accomplished musicians.
I learned so much from Grandfather and Grandmother by observing their marriage and love for each other, their love for the Lord, and their love for family and friends. It is hard for me to separate the two of them in my mind - even though they were so different from each other - because they were such a team. I guess being married for 70 years is a testament to just how close they were! After Grandfather's sudden death, Grandmother couldn't help but talk almost constantly of Grandfather. How happy I was last Sunday to think of her finally going home to be with Jesus and to be once again reunited with Grandfather!
I'll never forget their example.
Brrr!
 It is freezing here today. The thermometer says it's 14 degrees F but it feels like about 2 degrees to me. I still can't figure out how those of you who live in cold, cold regions do it. I can't imagine having snow on the ground all Winter long and constantly have the temperature be below freezing! Remember how I said that our home was about three times as large as our last place? Well, we got our gas bill last week and, um, yep, we both about croaked. It's nicer having more space and all, but I am determined to get that bill down. Turning the thermostat down 4 degrees was my idea and my body is obviously still adjusting. :) For all you frugal people out there, I'd love to hear your best tips on reducing your gas bill. We've always lived in small apartments with all-electric utilities, so this is a whole new ballpark for me. I'm off to make some hamburger vegetable soup for dinner. We need something to warm our insides up!
A man's greatest need
Becky Miller hits the nail on the head with her case for Respect Day vs. Valentine's Day.Ever wonder why God told husbands to love their wives and wives to reverence their husbands? Because He's God, of course, and He knows that a man's greatest need is respect. Give your husband true respect and reverence and not only will you see a real man blossom before your eyes but I'd wager you'll also get plenty of love in return. And speaking of respect, Zan sent me this interesting article which just goes to prove what we already knew - men were designed to be the leaders and providers of their families, not the nurturers of their homes.
It's all downhill from here...
20 weeks. Half-way done. The first 20 weeks have sped by, so I'm hoping that the next 20 weeks will as well, though I'm afraid I'm already getting quite anxious to meet this precious life inside of me. However, I'm trying to stay busy and enjoy the last few months of being mama to just one outside the womb. I know things will change a lot as soon as this newest one makes his or her appearance! I've hit the "hungry all the time stage" and "everything you eat stays on you" stage - those stages always seem to come at the exact same time for me. I feel as if I'm already running out of space. Not a good problem to have, especially when you have 20 more weeks left. This is about the only time in my life when I envy those who are taller than me. It's all for a good cause, though, and it is every bit worth it. :) By the way, how many of the rest of you are pregnant and when are you due? From the comments here and there, it seems like there are quite a few of you!
Seven pounds of ripe bananas and a bit of creativity
Remember the reduced $0.19/lb. bananas I mentioned getting on Saturday? I bought about eight pounds since this was almost half what I would usually pay for bananas. We ate as many as we could the last few days and today, since they were starting to get quite ripe, we turned them into baked goodies for the freezer:  Of course we made our staple family recipe for using up bananas: a double-batch of Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Then I tried out a new recipe (which looks scrumptious!) for a dessert to take to a function later this week: Tammy's Chocolate-Banana Squares. Lastly, since I'd made enough stuff with chocolate and wasn't really in the mood for banana bread, I decided to find a recipe which was more on the healthy side. A double batch of Banana Oatmeal Muffins fit the bill. I left out the chocolate chips and used whole-wheat flour and organic rolled oats to make them a bit more healthful. Though not my favorite muffin recipe ever, they are hearty and good - especially for not having any oil or butter in them. This is the kind of cooking I love to do - finding creative uses for inexpensive items I find reduced or on great sales at the store. Yesterday, I browned up five pounds of ground beef (good beef, too, not that cheapy stuff you can get for a dollar or so a pound!) that we got for free this past week from a coupon flyer our store recently sent out. I divided the meat up into enough portions for eight or nine dinners. I made a triple batch of sloppy joes with part of the meat using ingredients I had gotten for free as well from a recent Kroger deal and then we served part of that for dinner last night on whole-wheat buns I got for free with a coupon. I froze the rest of the sloppy joe meat for later dinners. I know that some of you may be thinking, "I can never find such good deals." Well, put away that mentality and start looking! I've lived in three different towns quite a ways from each other over the last four years of my life and have always been able to find good deals. It takes some practice and a little bit of time, but once you get it, I think you'll be amazed!
A note of encouragement
Submitted for the Valentine's contest:Normally I don't put much thought into Valentine's Day, but I had a great time thinking of ways to bless someone else. I mailed a Valentine card to fifteen different single young ladies, single mothers, and widows that I know. I pasted a special poem inside the card that read: Valentine Treasures Valentine treasures are people who
Have often crossed your mind,
Family, friends and others, too,
Who in your life have shined
The warmth of love or a spark of light
That makes you remember them;
No matter how long since you've actually met,
Each one is a luminous gem
Who gleams and glows in your memory,
Bringing special pleasures,
And that's why this Valentine comes to you:
You're one of those sparkling treasures! By Joanna Fuchs I wrote a note in each ladies card letting her know just what she has meant to me and how I've been blessed by her life. Then, I enclosed a blank Valentine Card, inside of each ladies card, along with a challenge that they find someone who was lonely this Valentine's Day and give them the enclosed card, "because everyone enjoys a bit of love and encouragement". -Lauren from TN
A Valentine's Couples' Dinner
Submitted for the Valentine's contest: Every year the single young ladies (ages 13 and up) plan and serve a Valentine's Couples' Dinner for 12 couples at our church congregation. The group is required to plan everything including: Menus, Invitations, Decorations, Hours'Dourves, cooking, clean-up, and finding a location to host at (usually someone's home).
The idea for the dinner is to give 12 couples a day to relax and escape from the cares of daily life for a few hours, as well as getting to know and fellowship with other married couples, and enjoy a four course meal. For the young ladies it means learning about the cooking and preparation and attention to details while also learning how to properly serve, set, and bus a table. This meal includes Salad, Soup, Main dish, breads, drinks, and dessert. Each couples is encouraged to get closer to each other and fellow couples as well.
There is a theme that is different every year, and different Scripture verses on menus, and invitations. The young ladies also have a way of spending a worthwhile day of celebration and anticipation of service and love for their sisters and working together. This year's theme includes the colors of pink, red, silver, and ivory - as well as hearts. This year's chosen Scripture reference is: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:10
-Lindsay from Colorado
Valentine's Day at our home
 Our planned at-home Valentine's Dinner for tomorrow night: -Chicken cheese pizza (I'm thinking on making little individual pizzas in heart-shapes.) - Homemade heart-shaped pretzels sprinkled with cinnamon/sugar -Salad with red tomatoes -Chocolate-dipped strawberries -Homemade brownies cut out in heart-shapes I decided to keep things pretty simple since I am low on energy and have a busy week. We also try to shy away from food coloring whenever possible (Do you know how nasty that stuff is for you??), so I had fun coming up with things with red and hearts which didn't require food coloring. Kathrynne and I are going to decorate the table with special Valentine's decorations that my mom gave to us and we are making Valentine's for Daddy today to try and express to him just how much we love him and are thankful for him. I wanted to do something special for breakfast, too, but I'm having trouble coming up with any ideas. Anyone want to share theirs? What are you doing for Valentine's Day at your house?
Are you a low-maintenance wife?
 My friend, Nicole, shared her homemaking lens on Squidoo with me today. Lots of great stuff on there for homemakers. And this article is too good to not pass on, if you've not seen it - Are You a Low-Maintenance Wife?:Just think of where our country would be today if all women, underneath the wings of our Lord-serving husbands, were so low-maintenance that we would go anywhere, do anything, be anyone our husband would ask us to be, "Lord willing." And thrive without all the creature comforts that are so taken for granted. We all no doubt have missionary friends who go without electricity, cars, proper nutrition, medical care, and school materials, and do so with joy in their hearts. Can we in the day-to-day modern world consider doing the same? Even if we can financially afford these things, if we cut back and live frugally, simply, how much more time and resources can we allocate to the Lord's work by contributing directly to what others are doing for Him, instead of spending it on ourselves? Can we demonstrate to our children that when they have their families and times are even tougher, that they can be resilient enough, tough enough, perseverant enough, simple enough to continue on the battle for Christianity that we must pass on to them as our days are numbered? It takes a low-maintenance wife to be the best helpmeet for a high-powered man of God. If we want our husbands to rise up and do their job, how much more so must we rise up first to our calling of total submission to Christ? Are we ladies doing our job in our homes to perform this great task now? Read the full article.
Now obviously, we aren't all supposed to do all of the things listed in the article - that is the beauty of being a help meet to your OWN husband. Each husband needs a different kind of wife. My husband would much prefer to pay for me to go and get my hair done; he loves to spoil me in that regard. However, it's not because I expect it. I cut my own hair for years and would keep on doing it if it were not for the fact that he loves to pamper me by sending me to get my hair done every few months. However, when we couldn't afford this, I willingly went without.
Or take eating out, for another example: We don't eat out a lot by most people's standards, but we do usually go out as a family every Saturday morning. This is our special family time and my husband enjoys eating breakfast out once a week. Once again, though, this is not something I ask of him, this is something he wants.
And I think that's where the crux of the matter is: What are you expecting from your husband? How are you spending his hard-earned money? Are you wasting it on frivolous pursuits of your own? Are there things you could go without to allow your family to have more money to give to others and to invest in the Lord's work? Are you constantly on the lookout for ways to save your family money, be more efficient, stretch your budget farther? I'm being convicted myself of stuff as I write this so please don't feel like I'm just pointing fingers at everyone else!
A sweet Valentine season
Submitted for the Valentine's Contest by Aja from North Carolina:
I was really excited when I saw you were hosting this contest again! It has really given me a lot to think about as I seek to place my eyes on others during this holiday and not on me! The Lord has been so good to me and has heaped blessings on my life, I'm overwhelmed sometimes. I decided to do something different this Valentine's to bless others. I decided to take several families who I knew might be in need of extra love right now and do something special for them. A family we have been close to for years just lost their two teenage daughters in a tragic car accident. I made meal...complete with hot bread and dessert and delivered it to them in person. I also took a meal to a lady/family who has been sick since the beginning of January! I also delivered this to her in person. I have an aunt that I've gotten close to who lives in Ohio....she went through a rough time last year in her marriage and so I sent her a beautiful card with a pretty magnet in the mail, to let her know I'm praying for her and love her. I work with 4 unsaved coworkers at my present job...so I gave them each a little box of candy along with a Valentines card with a verse written to each on the Love of God and what He's done for us. My prayer has been that this Valentines season I would set aside my own "wants/needs" long enough to ask the Lord what He would have me to do. It's made this Valentine's sweet so far. --Aja
Input requested: Home birth vs. hospital birth
I am wondering if you could help me with my current struggle of deciding where to have my baby this summer. We have no freestanding birthing centers in my area like the one you described in your first birth story (there is one, but it did not offer much beyond what you would have in your own home). So I am stuck between having my baby in a hospital or doing a home birth. I have been doing lots of research on which is better and which is safer and it is very difficult to come to any final conclusions. My heart so wants to have the baby at home, but some say it's too risky. My husband supports either choice and wants most of all for me to feel comfortable.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recently stated that Any birth outside a hospital (including birth centers!) is unsafe. At the same time I have read and witnessed that hospital births involve a high level of intervention and often unnecessary surgical procedures. The more I research the debate, the more I see how passionate each side (home birth midwives vs. OBs) is in declaring that their method is the safest. I want to be a good steward of the modern resources God has allowed in this era, but I also want to ensure that my birthing experience is free from unnecessary interference. - Summer
First off, Summer, you are absolutely right that this is an area where people can easily "take sides" and get all animated about why their chosen method of birthing is "the only right way." I think I've heard it all: From being told that I'm "crazy and stupid" to choose to have a natural birth in a birthing center to being told I'm not being "natural enough" to have a baby at a birthing center and "home birth is the only way to go." I've just learned to smile and brush it off. What works for someone else, doesn't always work for me and no matter what they think of me, what decisions we make concerning birth are our decisions based upon what we feel is best in our case. I don't think there is "one right way" to have a baby, though I will readily admit that I am leery of any medical institution which views pregnancy, labor, and delivery as a "disease." I think that you must seriously consider all your options, your personality, your desires for labor and delivery, your medical history and health, and, of course, your husband's preferences. For different people, that will mean different results. For me, I'm a healthy young woman who prefers to do things naturally whenever possible and to take personal responsibility for my health and well-being, so non-traditional birthing very much appealed to me. I also wanted to have experienced female care providers (if at all possible) for my prenatal and postnatal care, and for my labor and delivery itself. I liked the thought of being able to labor at home for a good part of the birth and then going to a place with good care but where I was still free to labor as felt best and not be required to be certain positions or to be strapped to monitors. A free-standing birth center was the perfect fit for us for Kathrynne's birth and her birth was a very wonderful experience. My favorite part of all was laboring in the jacuzzi up until I was complete. Not only did this seem to speed up my labor a great deal (I went from a 4 to complete in less than an hour and a half and never seemed to hit the transition stage) but it was very relaxing to me so the pain was never unbearable. I think that having such calm and proficient and encouraging help at my birth made all the difference in the world. Because of complications during the afterbirth, I was very grateful to be in the care of a well-trained nurse and certified nurse midwife. We had such a wonderful experience with Kathrynne's birth that Jesse and I have pretty much decided a free-standing birthing center with competent care providers, a calm environment, a natural, relaxed approach to birthing, and a jacuzzi (!), is our first choice of birthing options. However, since we moved to a new town, going to our old birth center is not an option, so we recently found a new birth center on the free-standing birth centers website and have been very pleased with them so far. We'll see how everything turns out! A couple of thoughts for you: If you decide to go the birthing center or homebirth route, make sure to have a clear backup plan in place. In case of emergency, you don't want to be too far from a hospital in my opinion. And with this in mind, go into birth with a plan, but don't feel badly if things don't go according to plan. If you planned to have a natural homebirth and things went awry and you end up with a C-section, that is okay. You're not any less of a woman! :) Some hospitals and doctors are now much more lenient with births and will allow you to labor and birth how you want to. However, if you want to be free from unnecessary interference, as you said, be sure you check things out very thoroughly. Just because someone says you won't have to do something or can have a natural birth at the hospital doesn't always mean they are going to give you that much freedom when the time actually comes. Make sure you have very competent care providers and make sure you feel very comfortable with them. I think that your care providers can either make your birth a wonderful experience - even if you have a hard birth - or a horrible experience - even if you have a relatively easy birth. So, make sure you and your husband feel very comfortable with them ahead of time. Lastly, read good books on natural birthing and don't listen to any of the "horror stories" that ladies seem to love to scare first-time moms with. Being tense and fearful is one of the worst things to do during birth. Go into birth well-prepared mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, have a "can-do" attitude, and keep your eyes on the Lord. Whatever happens, it can be a beautiful experience! And now: I'm opening up the floor to the rest of you ladies to share your input on this. However, please do not turn this into a debate over birthing methods. Also, please do not share "horror stories." Feel free to share why you chose the method of birthing you did and your thoughts from your experience for Summer. Also, please feel free to add to my input above on how to choose a birthing method.
All dressed up for church
 See my pretty outfit from Auntie Gretchen? She even made my skirt for me. Aren't I cute?
Life is never dull
It was a good day full of surprises and blessings... | | |
