Saturday, June 22, 2013

Why We Allow God to Plan our Family Size

Why we allow God to plan our family size

Guest Post by Hindsfeet

( Allow? Allow God? Who am I to allow God? )

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5, 6

Sometimes people ask me what scripture we base our family size on.

“ME” TIME

“ME” TIME
Guest Post by L. Elizabeth Krueger from Raising Godly Tomatoes

I was about to write that I just got up to a nice quiet house and was sitting in the sun, looking at the lake and enjoying my morning cup of coffee (ok, it's really a chocolate diet shake – I don’t drink coffee), ALL ALONE....but then I realized that I'm not alone. My 24yo son was already at the table when I got here and we just had a nice conversation about toasting my homemade bread and about the sad state of affairs in Detroit when they want to elect a basketball player to be mayor. Hmmm. I guess what I'm trying to say is that apparently I've learned to enjoy "solitude" even when I'm not technically alone.

Victory Over Depression

Guest Post by Iora M.

When I was in high school, I was very wacky. I used illegal drugs to self medicate; usually I used uppers to maintain the "maniac" phase of a "bi-polar" disorder. The maniac phase always seemed better to me, even though I was off the wall with running/racing thoughts, and crazy behavior. I hardly ever needed to sleep, and was always going somewhere.

Interview with

Betty Weinberger

Many, many moons ago, I had the privilege of getting to know the Weinberger family. As a teenager, I occasionally would babysit their boys during one of the meetings at their home, or while David and Betty went on a prayer walk together. There was something "different" about their family that really drew me to them! As I grew older, I began to see Betty as a mentor, and I have been so grateful for her input in my life.

Are Mothers Called To Minister Too?

One of my dear friends recently asked me how I felt my "calling as a missionary" related to my "calling as a wife and mother". I pondered this question, answered her email, and decided to expand my answer into this article.

Anyone who knows me in real life would easily affirm that I definitely feel my #1 ministry is in my home, to my children and my husband, and to support my husband in whatever he is doing, in his calling in the Lord as well. In recent years, there has been a lot of teaching in the church about focus on family and the godly priorities of raising godly children and building strong marriages. And how necessary these teachings have been! Our families are the cornerstone of our society, and of the church as well. We cannot have strong churches without strong families, and we cannot have a strong society without strong families. I have known parents in full-time ministry that have sacrificed time raising their children "for the sake of the call", and the results were not good! However, I have been realizing something else too.

Night Owl or Early Bird?

One night we had a provoking talk at our church, for ladies, about women being "busy at home", from Titus 2. The thing that stuck out to me most, that night, however was this little quote, by Martha Peace:

"I have heard of women who pride themselves on being "night people". That means they have trouble getting up in the mornings because they come alive at night. They may stay up till all hours reading, watching television, or pursuing some sort of interest. They next morning they are too tired to get up and care for their family... these women are not "night people". They are lazy and selfish.

Easy Granola Bar Recipe

If your family is anything like mine, then you can go through a box of granola bars pretty quick! We love granola bars! I was thinking one day that I should start making them myself so that I could make them a little healthier than the store bought ones.

Taco Seasoning Recipe

Instead of buying those little packets of taco seasoning, why not make your own? 2 tablespoons is enough to season 1 pound of meat, so I make enough for 12 batches at a time, and store it in a glass canister on my counter.

How To Make Your Own Yogurt/ Greek Yogurt, without a Yogurt Maker

How To Make Your Own Yogurt/ Greek Yogurt, without a Yogurt Maker

Yogurt is easy to make, and an interesting process. I like "back to basics" type of activities - and I like to show my children where things come from, other than the store! We don't always make our own yogurt these days, but we do when we can. It is cheaper than the store, and you know *exactly* what is in it this way! Everyone knows yogurt is healthy, but a lot of people don't realize that if you buy those little pre-sweetened packages of fruit-flavored yogurt,

Best Mostaccioli Recipe

Mostaccioli

1 box Penne noodles -cooked

1 stick Butter softened

1-16 oz. container sour cream

Monthly Shopping

Guest Post by Megan, oldest of eight children in her family

When I was younger, our family was small enough that shopping trips were rarely organized: we would go several times a week and were constantly running out of things. We would always grab some meat, some vegetables, and a long list of oddments we were out of. As this began to tie up more and more time, we realized something had to change. Dad - a manufacturing expert - first came up with the solution of making only four shopping trips a month: one really big one and three little ones.

How to Teach Your Child to Stop Screaming

Guest Post by L. Elizabeth Krueger of Raising Godly Tomatoes:

Here's my "Hand On/Off" trick for teaching little children to obey their mom's direction and stop screaming defiantly for no good reason:

When a child is screaming for NO GOOD REASON (usually just because he's mad) and does not respond favorably when I tell him to stop, I scoop the child up, set him on my lap facing outward, and hold him there securely by placing my left arm over his arms and around his waist.

It's Not About Spanking!

Guest Post by L. Elizabeth Krueger of Raising Godly Tomatoes:

For some unknown reason, some people, even after reading my book multiple times, think it's all about spanking. No matter how many times I say that if they're parenting the right way they will only need to spank for a short period of time in the beginning, they are still spanking the same kids for the same offenses year later - and thinking this is the right way to parent! ACK!

Meal Lists - Ideas for Supper

I keep a running list of meals that our family enjoys, so that if I can't think of anything to make when I fill in my weekly calendar, I can refer back to it. I keep it in the back of my organizer/binder. I seem to get stuck in ruts when it comes to making supper, so it helps to have this list handy. I omitted a few ethnic dishes that most wouldn't know what it was or where to find the ingredients for, but I am posting the rest in case you need an idea. :) And I would LOVE it if *you* would post your favorite meal ideas too!

Pass The Butter .... Please.

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings..

Homemade Laundry Stain Remover

1-cup hot water

1/2-cup baking soda

1/2-cup hydrogen peroxide

Do's and Don'ts of Homeschooling

Guest Post by Missy J.:

Okay, friends. I decided to pass along what I have learned and help you learn from my mistakes and successes. Let me know if it helps any of you.

Don'ts of Homeschooling

*Don't compare yourself with other homeschoolers. It will only discourage you. Get ideas and helpful info from others, but don't expect your family or household to run like someone else's. We are all like different fruits in a fruit bowl, each having its own unique sweetness.

Living with Less and Liking it More

Originally written in January of 2009.

Nearly two years ago now, in 2007, we took a trip to visit my husband's family in Brasil. As always, leaving the United States of Stuff for a while caused me to reflect on the current state of materialism in this country.
Now just to set the record straight, Brazil is the most developed country in South America, and while not wealthy, my in-laws live a very comfortable life in a new apartment just blocks away from a beautiful beach which boasts the largest beachside garden in the world. However, their home is not cluttered with the typical american array of various and sundry miscellaneous.

Green Smoothie Recipe

Green Smoothie Recipe:

2 bananas

blender full of fresh spinach

some flax oil

some coconut oil

2 TBSP spirulina

kefir to blend

My Favorite Natural Treatments for the Common Cold

My Favorite Natural Treatments for the Common ColdHow many mothers are there out there that have not had to deal with the common cold in themselves and their children? Probably none! It seems small children need to get some quantity of colds in order to build up some resistence to them.
These are my favorite ways to deal with them in our home:

How To Create A Steam Canopy to Treat the Common Cold and Clear Up Stuffy Noses

How To Create A Steam Canopy to Treat the Common Cold and Clear Up Stuffy Noses

I hate having a stuffy nose, and it is clear that my babies hate it too! I did not find this solution until I had my third child, and I wish I had known about it much sooner. Stuffy noses are even worse in small babies, because when they can't breathe through their noses, they can't suckle! It is just so frustrating, eh?
You have probably heard of taking them into a hot shower and sitting in the steam, right? That is a good idea, but how long can you really sit in the steam with your baby? At the most, only until the hot water runs out!

Garlic Ear Oil Recipe

How to make garlic ear oil

You need:

Olive oil

Garlic cloves

Sterile glass bottle with dropper

Recipe for Herbal "Stomach Tea"

This tea was prescribed for me around age 8 after I had a bout with a recurring stomach bug (it kept coming back every other day!) It finally stopped the cycle and we've used it ever since as a great healing remedy after contracting a stomach flu or other virus that inflames the digestive system.

SALT - Guest Post by Dr. Peter Rosi

Years ago, in the 1950's-1960's, Dr. Tom H. Brewer proved that salt deficiency, plus protein-calorie malnutrition, causes toxemia. Breastfeeding problems (like mastitis and lack of sufficient milk supply) also come from the dehydration caused by salt deficiency.

By 1986, salt was proven not to cause high blood pressure, strokes or heart attacks. Yet most doctors and people falsely believe it to be dangerous.

Teach Geography Painlessly

I have found a wonderful idea (not original to me) to teach my children geography painlessly and naturally: put a map on your kitchen table! World or US maps can be purchased inexpensively at Wal-Mart or other stores, and while you are there, purchase a couple of yards of plastic from the fabric department. When you get home, put the map on your table and cover it with plastic.

I used to get frustrated with my children when I let them help me mop the kitchen floors, because they couldn't seem to stay out of the bucket, always wanting to keep dunking their rags in and then spreading WAY too much soapy water all over the place!

Then one day a couple of years back, I decided to just lose the bucket altogether! I literally just took the soapy water and poured it ALL over the kitchen floor. It was great! The kids were just thrilled to take their rags and slop the soapy suds all over the place, and in the process my floors got a great scrub!

About the time my oldest child was 11 months old, I found myself in a quandary. I did not know how to get him to sit still, even for a few minutes! He was an early walker (just before 10 months), and loved being mobile. That was great in most situations, but we were living in Japan at the time, and there were certain situations in which that was not great, like during train rides! Our church also did not have a "cry room" or anything like that, nor were the messages able to be heard through a speaker in the hallway, so I missed the majority of the church service week after week, because our little guy was just "incapable" of sitting still!

Arrogants Anonymous

Guest Post by Megan:

Hi. I'm Megan...and I'm arrogant.

Sure, it's a misquote: but if alcoholism is destructive enough to warrant intervention like A.A. groups, multiply the Destructo-Factor by the power of ten to describe the effects of arrogance in a person's life. If there were an organization called Arrogants Anonymous, I'd be a card-carrying member; and just like an alcoholic, I know it won't ever matter how many years I've been sober. Arrogance is always a constant danger. Ask Moses, the humblest man who ever lived...and who could not enter the Promised Land because for a time he looked to his own glory and honor instead of God's.

Lessons from the Ironing Board

My mother was a fulltime homemaker and loved it. She always said that she enjoyed cooking, keeping the house tidy, and even doing dishes. She kept up well with the laundry and often had something good baking in the oven. She homeschooled us children and found time to do extra projects with us as well. She often offered hospitality for a meal and many times even long-term, for missionaries, friends, and those in need. I have much to thank her for as an example to me of a homemaker.

What Will Our Children Remember?

About a month ago, we went to a local restaurant that we hadn't been to for quite a while. My husband and I were *shocked* when we pulled into the parking lot and our 6 year old told his sister, "Yay! This is the place that gave me a free ice cream cone!" We were shocked because that happened about 4 1/2 years ago, when I was still pregnant with his sister; he was just barely turned 2 years old. We have not talked about it since it happened, so how could he remember that?

A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six

"A Formidable List of Attainments for a Child of Six", a reprint

of a curriculum outline from a Charlotte Mason school in the 1890's.

from Summer 93 Parents Review pub by Karen Andreola

Endangered Minds: Why Our Children Don't Think: a Book Review

This is one good read that I found so helpful and that I would highly recommend to any parent. It goes to great lengths to explain the development of the brain, and what a developing brain needs in order to function properly.

How to Sew Your Own Cloth Diapers

Using cloth diapers is frugal, even if you have to invest some money initially on the diapers. So, making your own is *more* frugal, right? But, as long as you are making your own, why not take frugal to the one hundreth power and make them from recycled fabrics??

Following is a tutorial on how to do just that.

Get Rid of Cradle Cap

Cradle Cap is something I just can't stand to see on a sweet little baby head. This is something my midwife suggested with my first baby, and it has worked well on all of my children that have had it. Use a good olive oil, rub gently into baby's scalp. Let sit for a little while, then use baby comb and gently massage the scalp with the teeth of the comb. I usually do this right before bath time so we don't get oil everywhere. I only have to do this two or three times and we have a clear scalp.

Olive oil also works to help clear up baby acne, it seems to get a little worse when you first put it on, but it is just opening the pores and clears up really fast after that.

Olive oil is a healing oil and a great substitute for chemical laden baby lotions.

My Method of Potty Training- Relaxed and Simple

I really don’t have a real high-tech or well thought out strategy for potty training my children, but as I was counseling a first-time mom through a potty crisis a couple weeks ago, I thought a few points might be worth writing about.

Problems & Solutions Related to Breastfeeding

Problems & Solutions Related to Breastfeeding
Guest Post by Missy J.:
These are from my experiences. They are limited. However, I have had all my problems solved by a wonderful La Leche lady who has over twenty five years of experience. She never charged for phone call questions, although she does charge for personal consultations (highly recommended).

Treatment for Mastitis or Breast Infection

For some reason, I seem to be more prone to breast infections than some, having my first one when my firstborn was only five days old! I have had many of them, and have never had to take antibiotics. Here are a few ways I have learned to handle them at home:

This herb bath is amazing when you have just given birth! I cannot recommend it highly enough! With each of my births, I have the herbs brewed ahead of time, so that as soon as we cut the cord, I can get in the herb bath and relax with baby. It is so soothing of all the sore spots, and helps heal baby's cord too. If you have a hospital birth, you may not be able to hop in immediately after the birth, but even if you do it after you get home, it will be totally worth it. I like to do these herb baths every day for about the first week postpartum.

Postpartum Bleeding Prevention

With my first child, I had postpartum hemorrhage, which left me feeling terribly weak and could have been potentially dangerous as well. With my next two children, I also bled heavily, which I feel extended my postpartum recovery time and made it difficult for me to regain my strength.

Depression After Birth

Guest Post by Missy J:

My hormones went a bit crazy after my fourth birth. I struggled with depression.

My nutritionist had me purchase some yam lotion (or Yam based deodorant). It has a natural progesterone in it. If your emotions are a bit crazy because of your hormone level, then Yam lotion will really help you feel better. I have recently heard that Arbonne has a really good yam lotion with natural progesterone. I will try and find a link for those interested.

Preventing Morning Sickness

Guest Post by Missy:
If you don't want morning sickness, I know of an easy fix: fast for a week before conception. Yep, that will nip it. I have done this a couple of times, and it was well worth the fast.

First Trimester Anti-Nausea Diet

Guest Post:
I learned of this diet at an Above Rubies Retreat by a lady named Trisha. She had had five pregnancies where she suffered terrible morning sickness, then later was on the following "diet" for other reasons, and became pregnant again. She was amazed that she had no morning sickness and attributed it to this "diet". She has gone on to have six more pregnancies, morning sickness free, and has successfully coached several women who also had similar success. I am currently trying this "diet" out for myself and hoping that it will be a success for me as well.

Pregnancy Salad Recipe

"Pregnancy Salad"

This pregnancy salad is a super way to pack some protein and nutrients in! It is fine to eat it at other times as well, of course, but it really packs a punch for pregnant ladies. :) You may also enjoy adding other chopped veggies to it, such as celery, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, green peas, etc.

Managing Morning Sickness

There is a fabulous little book that I would like to recommend by Marilyn M. Shannon called Managing Morning Sickness. It is inexpensive and an easy read: only 28 pages long! If at all possible, buy it! She discusses what causes morning sickness, what role diet plays, and what supplements to consider.

I struggled through morning sickness with my first child, trying a few suggestions offered by some people, but nothing helped very much. With my second pregnancy, I found this book and did not suffer nearly so much! I have lent this book to a number of people, and even bought a copy for several friends, and as far as I know, they all found it very helpful.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

BAKED OATMEAL

2 & 2/3 cup oatmeal (quick or old fashioned)

1/2 cup raisins (or Craisins)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

Natural Treatment for an Itchy, Flaky Scalp

The simple, natural and cheap solution to your scalp issues is vinegar! Vinegar has helped my scalp problems so much, but just rinsing the hair with vinegar, as some advocate, is not enough. What I have found that is much better is to perform vinegar treatments until you eradicate the problem. Here's how: saturate the scalp with vinegar and cover the hair with a snug shower cap for one hour before rinsing or washing out. This should be done for four days in a row or longer, until the problem is gone. The first time I tried this, my scalp stung, as I had sores on it, but I got through it, and it really worked.

Family Vision

Written in December of 2008

Think about it honestly: what has shaped your thinking, and therefore your actions, about what a family is, how a family should operate, what the roles of the husband and wife are to be, and how the parents are to relate to their children? Is it the culture we live in? Is it the way that you yourself were brought up? Is it the teaching of someone you know or a book you have read? Or is it simply the Word of God?

The Lord constantly challenges me in this area: is my thinking lined up to the Word of God? Am I allowing HIM to impart His vision to me so that I can live out His heart in every area of my life, or am I just doing what comes to me naturally, living in my “default” mode?

What to Do About Picky Kids

What To Do About Picky Kids

Written in July 2008

Am I the only one who gets tired of picky kids in the house??? I was sure that I would never raise picky kids; they would simply be expected to eat whatever was set before them, and that was that.

Breakfast and lunch are rarely a problem, but at dinner time it seems that there is always someone that is unhappy, someone that just "isn't hungry", or something to complain about. We have tried different approaches: disciplining for complaining about the food, clearing the table and making them go without until the following meal, and even then we often saved their plate and gave them the same thing at the following meal, etc.

Inflation Busters

My mom passed along to me this list of "inflation busters", which she got from my grandmother.

My grandmother grew up in the Great Depression, and learned to be very resourceful with simple ingredients! It would serve us well to learn to be that resourceful again – and we may have to soon out of necessity! This is a LOT of information, on how to make your own baking mixes, how to make your own cleaning supplies, and much more!

Getting it All Done

Question: How do you get it all done?

Answer:

spiritual strength – learning to lean on the Lord
physical strength – on eating and supplements
practical strategies – organization and discipline

First of all, I want to start by saying that I am in the learning process myself, and merely sharing some things that have been helpful to me. I do not have things “all together”, by any means! I could make just as long of an article on all of the areas that I need to, and would like to, improve on! In fact, maybe I will do that in the future, so that you can all give me suggestions! Anyway, for now, here are some things that I have found the most helpful:

Several years ago, I had the immense privilege of interviewing author L. Elizabeth Krueger. I have been SO blessed and mentored by her book, Raising Godly Tomatoes. Even though I have since shut down the website I did the interview for, I wished to preserve the interview here.
You can also check out her website here: Raising Godly Tomatoes

Abour four years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing author and speaker Mrs. Kendra Smiley, for my website Mama Knows Best, which I have since shut down. I have preserved this fantastic interview here.

A few years ago, I was blessed with the privilege of interviewing Mrs. Margy Tripp, wife of author Tedd Tripp and co-author of Instructing a Child's Heart for my website Mama Knows Best, which I have since shut down. I preserved the interview here.

Johann’s Birth Story

Tues, Sept 16 – I went in the morning for my massage and it was wonderful! She did some pressure points and I started having some contractions after that, but nothing super strong or frequent. After the massage, I went to pick the kids up at my moms, had lunch there, and came home. I took 3tsp of castor oil in some OJ about 1:45 and laid down for a nap.

Israel’s Birth Story

Well, I’m afraid the midwife’s prediction of a prodromal labor was right. I had stronger contractions for about four days before the actual thing, although they were not terrible consistent. It was exhausting, both physically and emotionally, but the real day did eventually come, eight days after my due date.

Dominique’s Birth Story

It all started on a Monday afternoon, two days after my due date. I had had several practice labor runs in the two weeks previous to that, but this time it started and didn't stop... for four days! This prodromal labor was really rather annoying because contractions were not excruciating, but they were on the painful side. This made it so that I could not ignore them, but I also could not very well act as though I was in active labor either. So, I lived those days "just on the verge" of the real thing, trying to pass time taking walks, baths, playing board games, etc., always thinking "maybe today!".

Joshua's Birth Story

Joshua’s Birth Story

I always knew I wanted to birth my babies at home, although I always assumed it would be with a midwife. But we were in Japan when I became pregnant with my first, and I had a hard time finding a midwife. Finally I did, though. She was 78 and had been a mw for 51 years, and had attended over 3,000 births!! Anyway, when she ordered a blood test, she found out I am rh-, and she freaked out! She refused to attend my birth then, and told me to go to the hospital! (RH- is extremely uncommon in Japan, so they aren't really well-informed about it~ she told me my baby would need a blood transfusion immediately upon birth!!)

Cabin Fever Solutions

Cabin Fever Solutions

I don’t know about you, but I am feeling SO ready for spring!! I haven’t feel too stir crazy for most of the winter, but all of a sudden, I’m feeling the days drag on. So, I have been trying to dig out some ideas to keep the kids happy and busy for this last little bit of being cooped up. I’d love to hear your ideas too – leave a comment below!

Basic Info on Treating Your Family Health Naturally

By Dr. Mom

The first thing that I teach is what a Naturopath is:What is Traditional Naturopathy?
Although the term “naturopathy” originated in the late 19th century, the art can be traced back through Germany into Greece, to Hippocrates himself, and even beyond. There have always been people who understood that healing occurs naturally in the human body, when it is given what it truly needs: proper diet, pure water, fresh air, sunlight, exercise and rest.
“Natural forces within us are the true healers.”
—Hippocrates

My Two Cents on Co-sleeping

I was asked this question:

I'm sure you have always had people ask you if you get enough sleep? I get this question all of the time and when I tell people I actually do, I think they are more than shocked. I mean, Esther sleeps with me for right now and her feeding is really automatic, so I never have to fully awake to feed her. But I guess what I am trying to get at is the fact that she does sleep well through the night, and I don't know if this is just because we sleep together and she is breastfed, so we don't need to wake up, or if other babies that are breastfed as well are just "up" during those nighttime hours. Am I blessed with a good sleeper, or do all co-sleeping, breastfed babies just naturally stay asleep most/ all of the night?

My Two Cents on Co-Sleeping

Before I had my first child, I was SOLD on co-sleeping, and I do mean with a capital “S”!

Protein Foods for a Healthy Pregnancy

My Favorite Healthy Pregnancy Foods – for snacking and getting in the protein

Did you know that pregnant women need 80-100 grams of protein per day for a healthy pregnancy? That is a LOT of protein, and I, like a lot of women, would rather snack on carbs!! LOL. It takes quite a bit of effort for me to get the protein that I need in, but I have definitely seen the results of it. I didn’t have a clue with my first pregnancy. With my second pregnancy, I knew what I needed to do, but didn’t always have the discipline to actually do it! With #3, I was much better, and with #4 I did really well. And each pregnancy, I have felt better, experienced less morning sickness and had more energy!

To be busy at home

By Lori O'Dea, originally published on MamaKnowsBest.net

Busyness has become a badge of honor in today’s society. Ask anyone how they are and they usually respond with an automatic “fine”, closely followed by “I’m so busy”. In most cases, what they mean is busy everywhere else besides home.

One Big Key to Cutting Stress: Prepare in Advance

Picture this:

You are running out the door, already five minutes late for an appointment, when you realize that the baby needs a diaper change. You drop your purse, diaper bag and toddler’s hand and run to change the baby. Now, you are finally ready to head out the door. But then you realize that your toddler only has one shoe on! You ask him where his shoe is, and he answers, “I dunno…” You turn back toward his bedroom and frantically search for the missing shoe. Finally locating it under the bed, you shove it on his chubby foot and hit the door running, baby and bags in one hand, two-shoed toddler by the other. Once everyone is buckled in the car, you realize that you left your cell phone in the kitchen charging, so you dash back into the house to retrieve it. Now, instead of five minutes late, you are fifteen minutes late! What else could go wrong?

It has arrived again – another one of my children is beginning to eat solid foods. I have contemplated posting about how I do this “food thing” with my babies for a while, and now that I am facing that stage once again, I decided to post about it - to give myself a refresher!

You may be interested in reading this post as well, which includes some very helpful information. I actually do a very similar process as that mother, as far as theory goes, but I think I may be less methodical. So, here are my two cents, for what it’s worth!

Family Funny Book

Here’s an idea that was given to me when my oldest child was a baby, and I’m so glad it was! So glad in fact that I’d like to pass it on!

The idea is to have a “family funny book” in which you record funny things your children say or do. I just use a simple notebook and try to have it handy so I can jot things down as they happen.

You just think you’ll never forget, but I am so glad I started this because already I look back and marvel at how much I’ve forgotten! The children are old enough now to enjoy looking back and having mama read them a thing or two that they said when they were little and laughing at themselves and each other. 

It Takes Time to Recover from Childbirth

It Takes Time to Recover from Childbirth

When my grandmothers were having their babies in the hospital, they stayed for a week. In Japan even today, you stay in the hospital for five days after a vaginal birth, and ten days after a c-section. Some people still realize that women need to rest after having a baby!

However, most of those people are not in our country, it seems. In our present society, women are booted out of the hospital the day after having given birth, and may be lucky enough to stay an extra night if they have major abdominal surgery as part of the birth process (a c-section).

The reason women don’t rest, however, is not entirely the fault of the hospital. Women feel pressured to “get back in the saddle”. I know – I have felt that way after each of my four babies! And there is no one, for the most part, telling them that they shouldn’t.

The Vine and the Branches

Raising children is such a challenging job! There are so many things you need to do – train them for life, train them in obedience, teach them how to relate to people, provide them with stimulating experiences, correct them for defiance and misbehavior, give them opportunities to explore the world and encourage them in academic pursuits as well.
But I believe that one of the most important things we can do as parents is build a loving relationship with our children.
I learned this in a very poignant way a couple of years back when we spent a month in Brazil, visiting my husband’s family.
There were eleven of us in a tiny apartment, plus aunts, uncles, cousins and friends over visiting every day. Everywhere we went, it was in a huge group. We had virtually no time alone with the children.

They are Happiest When They are Working

I think I have found a BIG key to happy children: giving them plenty of work to do. Good, physical labor seems to give them much better attitudes!

Don’t get me wrong – I certainly know the value of child’s play as well, and my children certainly get plenty of time for that as well. However, we seldom see the benefits of teaching children to work touted in our modern society.

IDEAS FOR ROAD TRIPS – MAKING LONG CAR RIDES MORE FUN WITH SMALL CHILDREN

We are currently on the road with four small children – ages 0,2.4,6. We went from our home in Illinois to the East Coast, spending some time in Ohio and Pennsylvania on the way, a day in DC, a day in NYC, traveled down the coast a bit, then to Philadelphia and a few other stops on the way home! Whew!

Anyway, here are some things that we have found helpful for traveling with small children and making it fun for the whole family.

Make Learning FUN!

One day shortly after I had started doing “school” type stuff with my oldest child, I realized an important concept. Joshua was very bright and typically really enjoyed learning, and even begged to do more schoolwork most days! But on this particular day when I suggested that we do our schoolwork, Joshua told me that he didn’t feel like it. Since he usually would get very excited at the idea, I was surprised and not pleased with his response. I decided not to force it, but I was not sure how to handle the situation. On one hand, he was not quite five and didn’t have to be doing school yet anyway, so it was no big deal. On the other hand, in a short while, school wouldn’t be optional, and I wanted to teach him diligence rather than taking the attitude that if we don’t feel like it, we won’t do it! So, I was in a bit of a quandary. I wanted him to want to do school. I didn’t want it to be drudgery, for sure!

Pregnancy Insomnia and Night Leg Cramps

I have always gone through periods of time during each pregnancy when I struggled with insomnia, even though I never do when I’m not pregnant. I hate it! I could be DEAD tired, and lay there for an hour or more before being able to fall asleep. Then I inevitably wake up shortly thereafter to use the bathroom, and lay there for another forever before being able to fall asleep again!

Bible Times for Busy Mamas

If you are like me, it is hard to have a “quiet time”, since the house is rarely quiet! So, I thought I’d share something that has been a real blessing to me lately: the audio Bible!

We have had the children listening to these CDs for several years now at night while they are falling asleep, but I only started myself last summer, when I picked up an extra CD player at a garage sale. I used to think I wouldn’t like to listen to anything at bedtime, but I have found it to be wonderful!
Many times, I have a hard time controlling my thoughts after the lights are out. I don’t think about anything bad, but I can’t seem to shut my thoughts down to be able to fall asleep! Trying to focus on the Bible playing has helped me to keep my thoughts from wandering a million different directions while falling asleep. And, as I usually keep the same CD in for a week or more, it has really helped me to “lock it in” my mind and heart, and I often contemplate during the day what I listen to at night. Sometimes if I’m up with the baby in the night and feel wakeful, I will push play then too.

I still try to read my Bible during the day, but getting it in at night provides a richer quantity of Bible time than I would be able to do only by my reading. I highly recommend it, for yourself and for your children!

Postscript: It has been over four years since I wrote the above. Since then, we have moved to Brazil and had to leave our CD players behind, among other things. They wouldn't have worked here anyway, as the voltage is different. Anyway, I wanted to add a more "modern" solution that we have found to be a blessing: the audio Bible on ipod or other mp3 or mp4 device. Works the same way, and is the same blessing. :)

Strength for the Day

Does anyone besides me ever feel tired? Like there are way too many things to do and not nearly enough time to do them?
Right now I am in my ninth month of pregnancy with our fourth child, and with having the other three young enough to still be rather dependent on me for most things, I can approach the end of the day feeling rather exhausted and spent. In that case, I can even start the day feeling that way!
The other day, I was really encouraged by finding this gem of a verse, and so I thought I would pass it along:
“As your days, so shall your strength be.” Dt 33:25b

How To Give a Boy a Haircut All by Yourself!

Giving a boy a haircut is really very simple, and in the long run, it will save you a *bundle* of money! I have always cut my children’s and husband’s hair, and it would be fun sometime to do the math to see how much we’ve saved…. but for now, I will just tell you how I cut my son’s hair. I do basically the same thing for my husband as well, just a little bit longer. It takes all of about 10 minutes, too – way less stressful than going somewhere else!

Ideas for Family Devotions

My husband is very creative when it comes to family devotions. He loves to use hands-on visual aids to bring a point home with the children. Here are a few ideas that we have used, which I hope will spark some ideas in you to try with your family! I would love to hear of your ideas as well! You could leave a comment below, or post separately.

I Pray for My Children

I made this list some time ago and thought someone else might find it helpful as well. Many of them speak to using different parts of their little bodies for the glory of God. I like to pray this while holding or nursing a baby, touching feet, hands, etc as I pray.

I Pray For My Children:

Cultural Issues in Marriage

It is my firm belief that one cannot overstate the impact of a person’s culture and upbringing on:
how they talk
what they mean by the words they use
body language
overt actions
responses to what others do and say

Ways to Save and Be Healthy

*Buy foods as close to possible in the way they were originally made .For example, whole chicken rather than boneless, skinless chicken breast, or dried beans rather than canned. It is much cheaper to buy that way, and healthier too!

Kabobs are one thing that my husband *really* enjoys. Thankfully, he not only enjoys eating them, he also enjoys helping to make them. So, this is usually a family project.
First, start out with some meat. We usually use beef, but you could use chicken or the meat of your choice. Because the marinade makes the meat really tender, you can use a cheaper cut of beef. This happened to be sirloin steak, only because it was on sale for super cheap, but cheap cuts of meat do just as good.

Did you know that if you felt wool, it becomes waterproof? “Felting” it simply means “washing it in hot water”. I will explain how this knowledge can make your potty training experience a happier one! I only discovered this “secret” when potty training my third child, and it is one I wish I had known about sooner. If you can get an old wool sweater and you have some *very* basic sewing skills, you can take advantage of this strategy when you potty train your child.

How to Wash and Care for Cloth Diapers

In the eleven years I have been cloth diapering, I have tried many different methods of washing them. This is what I have settled on, at least for now.

Keep a pail in a convenient area.
I currently use a plastic garbage can; in the past I have used a five gallon drywall bucket. Whatever works! I use a dry pail method, that is, I don’t keep water in the pail. I do however, usually sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the bottom to reduce and control odors.

Here is a little flipchart that I made a little while back, to teach my little boy about the value of money, and he LOVED it!!! It was super easy to make, except for cutting out ONE HUNDRED paper pennies, but it was worth it! I printed the paper money from some online source I googled, and made this with cardstock so it would last. I also put contact paper over it. I LOVE contact paper and put it on everything!!! I could just see all the money falling off or getting pulled off otherwise!

Does God Care About My Math Curriculum?

Several years ago, I wrote a few articles for Heart of the Matter Online, and I just decided to post them here so I don't lose them. :)

Does God Care About My Math Curriculum?
By Elizabeth Tsukayama

I have never considered math to be my strong subject, even though I always got good grades in math in my school days. It just never came easy to me, and I certainly never enjoyed it!
So, when it came to teaching my children, I wanted to do more than just the textbook approach. I want them to have a good conceptual understanding of math, and I really want them to enjoy it! I even wanted to start enjoying it myself! After all, our attitudes rub off on our children more than we sometimes wish to believe – even when we are trying our best to fake it. Therefore, I have been on a continual quest to learn how to teach math effectively and make it enjoyable. I found out early on that it is not difficult to make math fun, epecially in the early years. There are so many things you can supplement your textbook with, or even just replace it altogether if you feel confident enough.

Once a Homeschool Kid, Now a Homeschool Mom

Several years ago, I wrote a few articles for Heart of the Matter Online, and I just decided to post them here so I don't lose them. :)

Once a Homeschool Kid, Now a Homeschool Mom

By Elizabeth K. Tsukayama

I have been asked many times to compare what it was like being a homeschool student to what it is like now being a homeschool mother – what I do the same, what I do differently, and how my experiences as a child have helped me now that I am homeschooling my own children.
When I first sat down to write about it, the first thought I had looking back to my years as a homeschool child, was of all the wonderful memories I have of our times together as a family.

Putting the Homeschool Cart Before the Horse

Several years ago, I wrote a few articles for Heart of the Matter Online, and I just decided to post them here so I don't lose them. :)

Putting the Homeschool Cart Before the Horse

By Elizabeth K. Tsukayama

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Proverbs 1:7

I started attending our local homeschool conference when my oldest child was 22 months old, and I am so glad I did! At that point, my husband and I were not looking for information on the nuts and bolts of teaching different subjects, but rather inspiration on the visionary aspects of homeschooling – the big picture.
Our firstborn is “one smart cookie”. At 22 months, he knew the alphabet backward and forward, could count to some fairly large number, and talked like a five year old. I was understandably proud of my little genius and was constantly looking for ways to increase his scholastic abilities.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Interview with

Betty Weinberger

Friday, June 21, 2013

Once a Homeschool Kid, Now a Homeschool Mom

By Elizabeth K. Tsukayama

Putting the Homeschool Cart Before the Horse

By Elizabeth K. Tsukayama

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Proverbs 1:7