Protect Your Children. Obey Their Father.

Children understand early that dad is {or should be} in charge of the family.  They watch how you, as their mother, handle being told what to do.  Don't be surprised one day when your daughter treats her husband as you have treated her daddy.

So many times the father will wisely warn against his children wanting to spend time with this person or that.  He doesn't want his children going here or doing that with a certain person or group of persons.  The mother, however, feels sorry for her children because they feel that they are being denied fun.

Mom wants them to have great memories of their younger years - especially if she feels she missed out during hers.  She talks her husband into allowing it, or worse, allows her children to do what they want behind dad's back.   ~ It's a bad deal and a fantastic way to set your kids up for failure. ~  You are teaching them, by example, to be rebellious and go against their God given authority.

I've known mothers that sincerely thought their children would love them more for letting them do certain things that their husband and father disapproved of.  They thought it would show the kids they were fun-loving and cool.

My son, (or daughter) give me thine heart and let thine eyes observe my ways.  ~ Proverbs 23:26

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One mother, in particular, said to me, "she isn't going to do anything.  He {referring to her husband} just worries too much."  I honestly think this mother was under the impression that if she allowed her daughter to do most of what she wanted, the daughter would think twice when the mother finally decided to say "no".  After all, she did usually say, "yes", so surely  she would stop and consider why mom said "no" to this particular activity when she had so eagerly said "yes" to all of the others.  In this particular situation, the mother was very disappointed, and to this day is blaming everyone but herself for the way her child has turned out.   Mother, if you didn't value your husband's opinion, why should your child(ren) value yours?

My children are far too important to me.  I'm not the perfect wife and mother.  I don't always agree with him.  But for the sake of my children, I always back him up.

I have told them I don't understand the "why" of it all, but then I explained that we don't always need to know the "why", we simply need to trust that God is God and He has given us our daddy to protect us. 

Your husband is a man and he understands things in a way that his children, and yes, even you, his wife, does not.  He's not as emotional.  Neither is he worried about the fact that your child may have a bad day/attitude as a result of his decision.  He simply understands that something or someone at the activity could be harmful or simply not in his child's best interest.  Dad says no, because he's looking out for the welfare of his family.

You may not understand the "why" behind the "no", but you can teach your child to be happy anyway by being happy anyway.  You may feel sorry for your child because they are missing out on something - don't let your child know this.  Be thankful that they are home, safe and sound.  Know that, in the long run, you are teaching your child to love, obey and be respectful by being these things yourself.

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Recycling Old Towels

OK, guys, I'm not always the smartest cookie in the jar, and I can prove it!  A couple of weeks ago I made a few Chicken Enchilada Bakes to feed some of the teenagers at church.  Since none of my pans have lids - at least none of the big ones - and I didn't have any foil, {because of the aluminum} I decided to wrap them each in a nice big bath towel, load them in a laundry basket, and take them that way.  Either my towel idea was a bad one, or my driving is crazy, but by the time I got to the church the towels were cheesy and the enchiladas were not!!  :( 

I threw one of the towels away at church because there was no hope for it.  I tried to wash the other 2 and was successful with one.  The other was nearly successful, but there were still a few cheesy spots that didn't smell so good.  Nothing like getting out of the shower and drying off with a smelly old 'cheese cloth'.  :)

So, quite simply, I made "Paper Towels" out of my bath towel.  We already don't buy napkins because it saves us money to use cloth napkins.  Now, we have big huge, very absorbent, paper towels.

This saves money in several ways:

• I didn't throw away a towel that was still 99% usable.
• We don't have to buy paper towels at the grocery store.
• The kids won't have to use my nice dish towels when they spill something, which keeps my dish towels nicer.
• I won't have to replace those nasty rags I clean the bathroom with {they were getting kinda gross}.  

 

All I did:

Fold the towel in half and cut.  Then, fold the halves in half and cut.  Cut each of these pieces in half and cut.  You should have 8 very nice size rags to replace your paper towels!!

By using something I already had, I saved myself money and time!!  Maybe this will help me feel better about being so 'cheesy'.

Maybe.....???

How do you save money recycling things you already have??

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My Funny Pregnant Story...

This seriously happened to me.  I promise, I couldn't make this one up if I tried!  It's gross, but it's also hysterical.  If you don't laugh at life, you'll cry...so you might as well enjoy what you can - even if it's at my expense!

Warning: This story is not for the faint of heart.  If you can't take disgusting or gross, don't read this story! 

My son was born in June of 2006.  We were thrilled.  He was our third child, and our first boy.  Not to mention, I don't do well when I'm pregnant, so I was just thrilled to be 'normal' again.

Then, in September, I discovered that I as expecting again.  I wasn't happy.  In fact, I was miserable!  Not that I didn't want another child, but it's very hard to care for the children you have and a husband when you are sick around the clock.  

Around 20 weeks, I started having what I thought were contractions.  I became very fearful because I had not wanted to be pregnant again so soon due to the age of my son and the fact that I was still so tired of being sick and tired all the time.  I was afraid that God was going to take the baby because I had not been thankful.

I began to pray.

By the next morning the contractions were worse.  It was a Sunday Morning.  I told my husband that I would not be going to church that morning.  He called me between Sunday School and Church to check in.  I told him I wanted to go to the ER.  Things had not improved.  He found places for the older girls to go that afternoon and took us - me, my son, and our unborn daughter - to the ER. 

After several years, I mean hours, in the ER we were sent home with the diagnoses of "bladder infection".  I had never had a bladder infection before and was relieved that that's all it was!!

All I had to do was take a couple of different pills.  One was to relieve the infection and the other was to help me keep my food down.  I couldn't even brush my teeth or swallow water the wrong way without loosing my dinner - how on earth was I supposed to take a pill and keep it down long enough for it to do any good??  And how do you keep a pill down when you can't keep your food down - even one designed to help you keep things down??

And the kicker - I had to eat before I could take the pill!!  Double whammy!!

So, we stopped and got some dinner and took it home.  People don't generally appreciate pregnant women running back and forth to the bathroom every time they take a bite, and most restaurants don't allow you to eat in the bathroom - which would have been a tad awkward for my husband anyway, so taking it home seemed to be the best option for us that day.

We got home, and I took a bite, then another.  Actually, I took THREE bites and decided that would have to be enough.  I swallowed the pill as fast as I could and lay back on the couch telling myself that it would be ok.  I could do this.  I could do this.

I could not do this...

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I jumped up and ran to the bathroom.  It was only a brief 20 foot run, but I didn't quite make it.  I 'baptized' my husband's new, 37 inch, TV - (he's still bitter!  You should hear him tell this story!!  You'd think I did it on purpose and had a blast in the process!!)  Then, I got to the tile, and, well, I slipped in my own - you know - and fell down - flat on my back!!

So now I was lying on my back, covered in yuck, looking up at the ceiling.  The entire hallway, including the bottom 3/4 of the walls, was covered too.  My arm and my head hurt so bad, I forgot I was sick!  I was lying there thinking, "I'm going to have to go back to the ER with a broken arm and covered in this!!"

I was trying to think of a way to change my clothes without moving my arm when my husband started demanding that I tell him what was going on.  He doesn't do well with disgusting smells or sights and didn't want to risk coming over to where he might would definitely be subject to something disgusting.   So, he stayed in his recliner and demanded that I tell him what was going on.

Meanwhile, I was still trying to figure out how to move my arm, clean the house and myself and....well, the whole situation was pretty bad.  When I didn't answer, my brave husband decided to venture out of his comfort zone and come to my aid.  One glance from him and he was depositing his lunch right next to mine!

By this time I was sitting up watching him in disbelief.  Didn't he know I already had too much to clean up??    I very calmly informed him that the toilet was only a few short feet away, and could he please feel free to use it?  So, he made his way to the bathroom and I burst into laughter.

He totally missed the humor in this situation and demanded that I stop laughing which only made me laugh even more!  He kept asking me what my problem was and why I as laughing when, obviously, NOTHING was funny!

Honestly, I didn't know what else to do at that point, so laughing seemed a good idea...I mean, seriously, who would believe such a story??

I was able to get up and clean the house and take a shower.  I didn't try the pills again that day and I didn't go back to the ER.  We also didn't go to church that night as my husband was sure I was losing my mind and felt the need to stay with me.  I think he just wanted to make sure I didn't go near his TV again.

The moral of this story - Don't get a bladder infection when you're pregnant!!!

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This post is linked up with:

Your Thriving Family 
Loving Your Children Tuesdays

What Do Produce Stickers Tell us?

According to Raw Earth Living, 7 out of 10 items in the grocery store have been Genetically Modified.  Not a big deal when you can read labels and sift through it all until you find something you're fine with feeding your family.  But how do you know if you're fruits and veggies are passing the test?  Obviously they don't come with ingredient labels.

You may already know, but that little sticker on the fresh produce tells you if it's genetically modified, organic, or conventionally grown, which simply means it's been treated with chemicals such as pesticides.

If the sticker on your apple has a 4-digit number that begins with a 4, you know that it was conventionally grown, or it was sprayed with chemicals and bug replants before it was harvested.

If the sticker has a 5-digit number with a 9 on the front of it, you know that it's organic.  Organic is good.  Especially with apples and potatoes as they both retain more pesticides than most other produce.  If you can't afford organic, simply peel them before you eat or cook them.  This way, you're not eating as many of the chemicals.

If the number on the sticker is a 5-digit number that begins with an 8, the sticker is telling you that this particular produce item in Genetically Modified = BAD!!  Remember, "we hate 8s"...this is how I remember and avoid such produce.  The term "Genetically Modified" or "GMO"  means that the genes have been changed and manipulated to produce a larger or more colorful food item.   Sadly, it's all about the money.

So, let's review....

Conventional produce {items that have been sprayed with chemical pesticides and herbicides} have a 4 digit number.
Organic produce {items grown without cancer causing chemicals and pesticides} have a 5 digit number that begins with a 9.  Remember: "9s are fine! ~  We hate 8!"
Genetically Modified produce {items that are no longer natural due to man's manipulation} have a 5 digit number as well, however they start with an 8..."which is NOT Great!!  We hate 8!!"

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Example:

4401 is the code for a conventionally grown peach.

94401 is the code for the same type of peach that was grown organically, or without all the chemicals. {and 9s are just fine!}

84401 is the code for the same type of peach that has been Genetically Modified.  {and do we hate 8's??  Yes!  We do!!}  :) 

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The Get Healthy Cash Giveaway!!

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 Statistics show that about 2/3rds of American adults are obese or overweight.

1 out of every 3 people will have cancer sometime in their life.  By 2020, the estimated ratio increases to 1 out of every 2 with cancer.

795,000 people suffer from strokes each year; 1.5 million suffer from heart attacks.

Heart disease is on the rise, thyroid problems, panic attacks, depression, fibromyalgia, IBS, ...and the list could go on and on!

 These facts make US citizens one of the most unhealthiest groups of people in the world!

What do you need to help you get healthy?  

A juicer?  
    A grain mill?  
     A rebounder?  
        Organic Groceries?  
          Healthy Supplements?   
            Visits to your local naturopathic doctor?  

Several bloggers and myself have teamed up to offer you The "Get Healthy" Cash Giveaway!  One winner will win $300 in PayPal cash!  We desire this to be a blessing and motivation to someone to help them "get healthy"!

The way to enter this giveaway is on the Rafflecopter form below.  There are many different blogs you can "like" or "follow" to increase your chances of winning, and a few of the options can be done daily!  Take your time and have fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Training Children to Eat Real Food

So many mothers seem to be at loss as to how to get their children to eat real food.  And, by real food, I mean, fruits and vegetables, yogurt, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits.   I can't even begin to tell you how many mothers have asked me how I do it.  "How do you get them to eat like that?"

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A few tips:

•  Be the mama!  This one's not always fun, or easy.  Especially if you've let them eat whatever they wanted in the past and now you're trying to re-train them in the area of healthy eating.  Parents are responsible for what their children eat.  Children are too small to get their own food.  Not only that, but they don't know enough to get the right kind even if they could get it for themselves.  That's where parents come in.  YOU are the parent.  Be the parent.  Even if it's not popular.  Most parents aren't afraid to stand up to their children and make them get vaccinated. {which we don't do, but that's beside the point.}  Why do they back down when it comes to making them eat healthy foods?  :) 
• Let them help!  Children love to help.  {And I'd rather have them right with so I know what's going on anyway.}  ;)   You can tell them all about what they're getting ready to eat.  Is it a fruit or a vegetable?  How does it grow?  What  is it good for?  {For instance, cilantro is good to detox the body of heavy metals and avocados are good for your heart and a whole host of other things.}
• Let them grow it!  We plant a garden in the spring and another in the fall.  The younger children get to chose a favorite fruit or vegetable to plant.  They are responsible to care for their plant.  They watch it grow, they harvest, cook, and serve their crops.  They love it!  It's a big deal and oh, so fun!   {The first year my son was included in the planting he was so, very upset with me because his older sisters all got to plant their favorite foods, and he couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him plant his!!  Have you ever tried explaining to a 2 year old that yogurt doesn't grow in a garden?}
• Make it colorful!  What kid {or adult, for that matter} doesn't like to see all kinds of colors?  And the more colors you have on your plate the more nutrition you have!  As long as that color is natural and doesn't come from harmful, synthetic dyes and food colorings.
• Be creative ~ change it up!  Don't eat the same things all the time.  Ever had a banana on a stick?  My kids love them!  What about peanut butter apples and raisins?  Or, maybe avocado dip?  Kids love to dip and whole wheat crackers, tortilla chips and fresh vegetables are all yummy with this dip!  Try frozen berries or grapes rather than fresh ones.  They are yummy.  Or, you can stick a spoon in a cup of yogurt {or a stick in a banana} and put it in the freezer...whalla...you now have yogurt pops {or a frozen banana on a stick, which is just as delightful}!! 
• Swap it!  Even the picky eaters won't mind this one.  Make your own jams with honey rather than all that store bought stuff with processed sugar and preservatives.  Then, you can eat PB&J all the time and not feel guilty!  Make your own cream of chicken soup - this way you get less preservatives and other additives such as MSG.  Kids love macaroni & cheese.  I get Annie's whole wheat/organic Mac & Cheese and then I make my own "homemade" hamburger helper" out of it.  {Might want to stock up on it when it's on sale.}  And, don't forget you can make you're own spice mixes to cut out on all the additives like MSG.  {If you read the ingredients on your spices and you come across "natural flavors" this very well could be MSG.}  Let's not take any chances when we can make our own and have it on hand just as easily.  Farm Fresh Eggs are super for your health too and have so much more nutritional value than those store bought eggs!  Try them.  I bet you, your kids will love them.  They really do taste so much better.  Offer lemon water rather than soda or kool-aid on a hot day.
  

 My oldest showing off the first strawberry pie she ever made from scratch!

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Friends Are Like Bananas

The Bible warns us to be ware of our friends.  We must chose them wisely.  We will become like them.

Proverbs 1 talks about the young man who starts out walking with ungodly friends.  Before you know it, that young man is no longer walking, but now, he's standing - he has stopped moving forward and he's now standing still - in the way of sinners.  Then, the next step you see is that he's sitting in the seat of the scornful.   He's now resting himself comfortably in the seat of those that don't love God.

This doesn't mean that we should avoid any and all who have bad habits, don't go to church, or smell funny lest these things wear off on us!  On the contrary, we should be their friend.  We should love them.  Help them.  Encourage them.  But we should not ever allow them to be our friends.

What does this mean?  How do you be someone's friend without allowing them to be your friend?  You love them.  You treat them the same as you treat everyone else.  Invite them to your home for dinner.  Introduce them to your friends that love God.  Share the Gospel with them.  Take them to church.  But DON'T spend time at their home doing the things they like to do.  You will soon like to do those things too.  You will find yourself thinking they have more fun.  You will find yourself wanting to be like them and before you know it, you will have become what they are.

Object Lesson #1 ~
It's so much easier to be pulled down than it is to pull someone up to where you are!  My husband demonstrates this by standing on the platform at church and trying to pull one of the teenagers up.  It's nearly impossible.  BUT, if that same teenager tries to pull my husband down off the platform, he can - in mere seconds!!

We must be friends with those we want to see saved.  We must NOT let them become our friends!  We must influence them to do right.  We cannot allow them to influence us otherwise. 

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Object Lesson #2 ~
To demonstrate this to my children and Sunday School class, I used a paper bag, a bunch of saltine crackers {you can use just about anything}, and several bananas.  Put the crackers and the bananas in the bag and within hours the crackers will be smelling and tasting like the banana!!

It's a simple illustration to show children how they WILL become like the friends they hang around.  We must guard against becoming too close with those who don't share our values and beliefs!  We must guard our families!

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