Ren Fest

Tuesday we loaded up the car and drove to the Texas Renaissance Festival with our funny friends, the Feldmans . We Hendricks go every year. Yesterday the boys could be heard saying, "Next year at the Renaissance Festival, I'm going to (fill in the blank). They are already looking forward to next October's adventure.

There is something magical about the medieval ages, isn't there? Spending the day surrounded by princesses, kings, queens and knights makes strange things happen in your heart.

Eating turkey legs and funnel cakes all day also causes wonderful things to happen in your heart.

Sir Ashton guarding Lady Emma

Of course Ashton calls the Renaissance Festival the "Ren-uh-zonz-is Vegetable."

We have threatened to sell our older two sons to the gypsies if they ever correct Ashton. It's just too cute to hear him say it. Thanks to the Ren. Festival, our older boys really think gypsies exist, and they don't want to live with them.

We go during the week for "School Days." This means the festival is rated PG...the kids get to enjoy all the coolness from the Medieval Ages minus the debauchery.

If you've ever wondered if this world needs a Savior, just go to the Renaissance Festival on the weekends. There will be no doubt...we're all doomed without the cross.



This was Hudson's first year to enjoy the festival. I loved seeing his face. Babies get the rare privilege of letting what they are thinking on the inside come out through their facial expressions.

Hudson sat in that stroller most of the day looking at the "odd" people. His face said, "You are a grown man. Why are you dressed like a Centaur?"

mining for "jewels"

While we were there this year, we all kept wondering...

"What do these people do when they aren't working at the Renaissance Festival?"

Are they always pirates?

Do they wear eye liner every day?

Do they always talk with an English Accent?



Does the Jousting Knight from Spain sell Kirby vacuums?

Do the Jugglers teach elementary education classes at a University?

Is the beggar a youth pastor?

And what do the boys with vampire teeth do during the rest of the year?

Sack groceries at HEB?

If so, I hope they never smile. Those teeth are scary. You can actually get a dentist to put vampire teeth tips in your mouth. weird.

I hope dentists are kind enough to say to would-be vampires, "Look...are you sure you want to do this? I mean...some things are really cool at the Renaissance Festival, but not so cool on the cereal aisle of the grocery store."

I wish someone would do a documentary on the "workers" at the Ren. Festival to see what they "do" when they aren't Renaissance-ing it up. Now that's a show I'd watch.

Halloween Math and Thoughts

4 kids + 2 Adults = 6 Halloween Costumes

6 Halloween costumes = lots of work

Note to self: Start on this stuff earlier, Heather.

Another note to self: All the work is worth it when your child, wearing his homemade Indian suit looks at himself in the mirror and says, "I'm a real Indian. I love Halloween. Can I wear this every day?"

______________________________

In the spirit of reduce, reuse, recycle I went to Goodwill for maybe the first time in my life to find costume components. I know. I'm a brat. I think that's been well established.

Right in the middle of the store I decided I hate that place.

I can't believe how expensive it is to buy an ugly vest that went out of style 15 years ago.

No one should have to spend $5 to look like you're trapped in the 80's.

Right in the middle of the women's department I stopped and thought...

"Wow. I think this is holy anger rising up in my heart."

Goodwill takes the free clothes I give them and then makes people in need pay almost as much for those clothes as new clothes cost at Wal-Mart. Most of that stuff was more expensive than the clothing on clearance right now at Old Navy.

It made me mad.

I'm not giving Goodwill any more of my clothes to mark up ridiculously and sell to people who need them.

Yet another note to self: Figure out what to do with our clothes so they go straight to people in need, cutting out the middle man.

One more note to self for the road: Maybe we don't know enough people in need. Maybe that's why Goodwill has to exist. Maybe that's sad and says a whole lot of things I don't want to think about today.

Happy Halloween.

Hope your costumes are coming along.

Hoping for lots of sweet moments in front of the mirror with your little ones as they take a look at themselves as a fire man, a super hero, a ballerina, a princess.

What an indescribable blessing to watch that moment...that precious moment when a child's creativity and imagination is brought to life*.

What an honor to play a part of that in some small way.

Most of the time my job consists of filling up grocery baskets full of food, or filling up sippy cups with juice, or filling up a dryer with wet, clean clothes.

Today I filled Ashton's heart up with joy and wonder.

What a wonderful job I have.

Aren't kids fantastic?

_________________________________

*sometimes that moment is filled with sweet wonder. But one year I made a Super Man costume for Anson. I had it all ready. Dressed him up. Took him to the mirror for the big "reveal." He stood there for a minute or so, staring at himself. He said nothing. I wondered if he liked his costume. I was getting worried. Then, my normally low key, gentle child punched the mirror. That's right. Punched the mirror. He unleashed hot, super man fury on the mirror...he was so taken away by his costume.

Sometimes those first moments in front of the mirror are magical. Sometimes it causes you to say, "Whoa there...settle down Super Man."

None-the-less...magic was made.

Christian or American?

Welcome to a little game that goes on in my mind ever so often...

(cue lights and cheesy game show music)

It's The....(drum roll)

Christian or American Show!!

ding! ding! ding!

While eating lunch I read this article in the Houston Chronicle.

I know...me, reading the newspaper...super weird.

But it was right there in front of my face, and I just so happened to sit down to eat my lunch while wearing my glasses. I guess this is my day to be informed.

The article I read was on the front page. I started reading...I was intrigued.
As soon as I was intrigued I remembered one of the reasons why I hate the newspaper...

"continued on A8."

Ugh. In practically every way "being in the know" is taxing.

Remember this post? We have friends...two married couples...they lived together while one of those couples saved up money and paid off $58,000 of their debt in 18 months.

These days it seems like almost everyone is in debt and trying to get out of it.

For Christians the Bible is clear that debt is a big deal. How can we nonchalantly sit in a big pile of smelly debt with verses like these in the Bible?

Romans 13:8
Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements].

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

When we were in debt, we had to agree with God. It can be annoying (and comforting) how God is always right. Debt enslaves you to the lender. We weren't free to live for God, to obey Him, to follow Him. Mastercard, instead of Jesus was calling the shots in our lives, determining what job we had to have and where we lived.

Hey Mastercard...can we send money to Compassion or sponsor a missionary? Hey Mastercard...can I adopt a baby this year instead of pay you? Hey Mastercard...my family is going to crap. Can I quit my job? Can my husband change jobs so he's home more? Uh...let me ask Mastercard. Nope. They said no. Mastercard will always say no.

See...enslaved. When we were in debt we could literally feel the chains. Can I get an "amen?" Just another example of how God is always right. He says you can't serve Him and serve money too.

The story in The Chronicle was interesting to me. I thought the only people who lived with their extended family were "poor" people...you know...people living in the projects or in Mexico or something. Yes, I really said that. I'm being honest. Should I have said "the financially challenged?" It's hard to tell these days.

So here's what went through my mind while I was reading this article:

Why don't more people do this?

Are Americans the only people in the world who can't wait for the day to leave home...to have their own separate lives away from their family? Do we insist on this "right" no matter what it costs us (debt?).

Would we say the people in this article are immature...that they need to grow up because they are living with their family?

Is it okay to love your family and stay near them?

Would it be okay for people who are not related to live together...share a home and all the expenses of life for awhile so they could get out of debt?

Oh but wait...

What about this "leave and cleave" stuff that gets thrown around in the church?

Does it mean what we tell people it means? Does "leave and cleave" mean move out, live alone far from your family? Is that Christian or American? I'm seriously asking...I don't know.

What did people back in the day do...what about people who can't afford their own homes...their own food...are they failing to "leave and cleave?"

Or would it be okay for a married couple to live with extended family? Would it be okay for a married couple to live with another unrelated married couple?

What if no debt was involved? What if two families...or a family and an extended family simply wanted to save a big fat wad of cash every month by sharing expenses? Could they do a lot of cool kingdom stuff with all that surplus money?

Imagine the money and resources that could be saved...not to mention the time spent keeping a household afloat.

One lawnmower instead of two. Built in babysitters. More people to share the load of life and loving and caring for children.

I enjoyed hearing how this family living together in the article splits up the work it takes to keep a household going and growing.

Makes me think of a conversation I had with a woman named Evelyn whose son was on Anson's soccer team.

She and her husband are from Malawi.

She asked me one day if we were going to have any more kids. I told her I didn't know, but that I always wanted a large family.

I knew Evelyn had many siblings. Sitting on the sidelines on countless Saturdays she had already shared with me several stories about her big family...stories about her growing up in Malawi.

I thought she would agree...big families are great.

What she said shocked me.

"I liked having a big family, but now that we live here, I could never do it."

I didn't understand what she meant. Was she talking about the money...how expensive it must be to live in the US instead of in Malwai? No. She wasn't.

She said, "I don't know how you do it. In my country everyone has a big family, but we all live together and help each other. In America having two kids is hard enough for me...since we're doing it alone."

I loved what she said. It made me admit something to her and to myself...

Having a lot of kids is hard.

There are days when I think I will never get finished everything that needs doing. There are days I wonder if I'm going to make it...meet all the demands...all the needs.

I'm tempted on those days to feel like a failure...

"Why can't I get it all done? Why? What is wrong with me?"

Listening to Evelyn I thought something I've never thought before...

Maybe there's nothing wrong with me (I mean besides the usual stuff that's always wrong with me). Maybe this is just hard...worth it...but hard.

Maybe it's hard...too hard some days because I was never intended to do this on my own.

Maybe.

Oooh...now it's your turn.

What thoughts go racing through your brain as you read that article?

Got any questions of your own to throw in the pile?

Christian or American? What's your wager?

____________________________

Brandi sent this link to a great article that I agree goes well with this collage of thoughts.

Why Modern Motherhood is So Much Harder Than it Ought to be

(I want to agree with Brandi...neither of us know this blogger. These are great thoughts, but I haven't read this lady's blog before so I'm only vouching for this post.)

Another great link sent by Jessica:

20 Something Reasons to Live at Home

(I want to also say, in no way do I think the 25 year old male, living at home, playing x box all day is okay, but I enjoyed the wisdom in this article.)

For Grandma

Heart and Soul

Should any childhood be without it?

Ever since I've known her, I've heard Aaron's mother say things like this to her son:

"Don't ever try to take credit for the music that is in you. It's been there all your life. God put it there."

I've found myself walking by my son...constantly engrossed in making music on the piano and whispering those same words into his ear.

The music has always been inside Hayden. Threads of melody, harmony and rhythm knit together by the Father.

At the tiny age of two Hayden had the privilege of "opening" on the drums for Matt Graham's band at a local coffee shop.

Music has always been there wrapped up inside this child.

If our words could be measured and counted, I'm sure the phrase that has been said most to Hayden in our home is, "Hayden, please stop drumming."

He drums on everything all the time. Not exaggerating.

If prayers could be measured and counted, I'm sure one of the phrases God has heard the most from this mother is, "God please help me to be patient with all that drumming."

Hayden recently took interest in the piano. I think he felt like he was cheating on the drums at first, but now he seems more comfortable branching out and trying other instruments. He will remind you quickly that he wants to be a drummer though...got it?

I took piano lessons forever and yet trying to play both hands of heart and soul was something that took me well into my junior high years to master. It can hurt your brain.

Hayden learned both sides and then decided to put the two together all in one month.

This might not be impressive to some people, but it has astounded me.

So thankful for music today...for sons...for gifts...for talent...for childhood...for time...lots of precious time for banging away on the piano (and lots of other things)...for tent making and art creating.

Thankful today for the God who shares those sweet gifts with us and teaches us their value.

Oh Baby

If you're just joining us, we're having a discussion this semester about our journey as a family the last couple years in regards to parenting, how to disciple our kids in our home, ministry, community, the church, living simpler, being more sustainable...lots has been going on around here that I've not felt ready to put into words. Here are some previous posts if you need to get caught up.

Introduction

Disclaimer

First Car on the Track

Next Car

Back to the Train

Back to the Track

SCREECH!

Education and the Church


Where were we?

Ah yes...babies.

In addition to being adamant about homeschooling and Christian education, upon arriving in FIC land, we also learned that a true Family Integrated Church does not offer any sort of nursery.

Now before you get your online panties in a wad (admittedly mine quickly got in a wad over this) I want to say again that from what we learned about FIC they love people. They want to share the gospel. They are simply going about it a different way than most churches. Same gospel. Different method.

Can we all agree that churches tend to either be more program driven or less program driven?

Some churches set up elaborate programs (for example: an awesome preschool, AWANA, youth groups, women's Bible Studies, you get the idea). FIC churches don't...and not because they are lazy jerks. They have a plan to reach others with the gospel and disciple their members. It's just not the plan with which most of us are familiar.

Preschool is a program. Family Integrated Churches don't want a lot of programs.

I just want to point out that I understand in some ways where family integrated churches are coming from...sort of. We learned a great deal from them as a couple about rethinking ministry and programs. Again...not saying that if your church has a women's bible study every Tuesday that it's wrong. Your church is saying that one way to love women and reach out to the lost is by having a women's bible study. Women come to learn and you can invite your neighbor to come with you. That's not bad. The gospel is being shared all over tarnation doing church that way.

It seems like FIC is trying a different model. I still hold that different can be good. I'm not afraid of different. They would say, instead of having that women's Bible Study, let's free up the member's time so that a woman can invite her neighbor over to her house (instead of to the church) and get to know her, sharing her life and the love of God with her.

FIC would argue (that seems like the wrong word) that less programs mean more time during the week and weekend to use your home instead of the church as a tool to get to know people who do not know the Lord and disciple people who do.

Bottom line: family integrated churches have a great desire to reduce programs and increase opportunities for families to worship together...all of them...the whole family...during their church services.

After thinking through this stuff, trying to keep an open mind Aaron and I came to the conclusion that if other options were available, we would not attend a FIC due to the no nursery thing. We respect the heart of FIC...wanting to teach their members to use their home and their every day life to share the gospel. We respect how much they value family and children. God values those things too...so should we. We were challenged by so much of what we have learned from them. However, we were pretty freaked out by the lack of freedom FIC allowed families in the area of whether or not they want their babies in church with them.

Our hope would be that we could be in a church were there is freedom in this area instead of a blanket rule for every family.

By that I mean...

If your baby can sit quietly in church and you want them in the service with you, then that's your business as the person God will hold accountable one day for how you parented your child.

It's sad that a lot of churches make parents feel uncomfortable about bringing their babies into the church service with them (if the baby is not a total distraction).

By total distraction, I mean total distraction.

I think babies can get a bad rap sometimes...as if they are the only things distracting in a worship service.

I mean honestly...I sat behind someone in church a few weeks ago that cleaned BOTH ears out with a pen.

Really.

They stuck a pen in their ear and dug out ear wax...then looked at the ear wax on their pen...then wiped it off with their finger.

Lathered, rinsed and repeated with the second ear.

I was horrified, and kept telling myself..."Look away...for the love...look away."

I couldn't.

In that moment I thought..."Wow...a baby cooing for about three seconds does not in any way compare to what this person just did in front of me."

By the time the ear atrocity was over (that poor pen), I had no idea where we were in the sermon. No idea.

If a church service is filled with a bunch of people (lost and saved, young and old) then sheesh...there are going to be distractions every once in awhile. That's life. We're all going to have our moments, or be sitting next to someone having theirs.

That's where we probably need to learn to love one another and get over the things about each other that bother us. That's in the Bible.

So as long as a baby isn't totally distracting (talking, crying, etc) then we were thinking it would be great to see freedom lived out in the church in this area.

We'd be proud to be a part of a body of believers that allowed parents to be the parents...to decide where God is leading them in regard to their children being in the worship service.

Can we all admit that nowhere in the Bible does it say, "Everyone must keep their small babies in the church service and train tiny ones to sit still and quiet for an hour."

So, parents who feel convicted to do so have a personal conviction about this. Not everyone has to share it. Personal convictions are great...but they are personal. The body of Christ can learn a great deal when surrounded with people who God's Spirit is convicting and teaching in different ways (that do not contradict scripture.) I've talked to several parents with babies in the service who have many reasons they feel scripture leading them to train their tiny babies to sit in church. I don't share their convictions, but I can see from scripture where they are coming from.

This is sort of like parents who homeschool saying they feel personally convicted based on their interpretation of scripture that homeschooling is what God wants to happen in their home. How ridiculous to argue over those things. You don't have to share our convictions to homeschool, but you can't argue our convictions away with scripture either.

Ahh...freedom.

After thinking through this, we felt like the decision to keep babies in church fell under the personal conviction category.

So if it's a personal conviction, we were uncomfortable with a church saying that everyone had to think the same way about a personal conviction in order to attend their church. Especially since this personal conviction (if adhered to) takes a lot of work at home during the week to train tiny babies to sit in church.

I'm just as uncomfortable about a church saying every baby should be in the preschool and treating parents ugly for not sharing their personal conviction to "preschool" all babies. Silly.

If we attended a FIC we would have to agree to keeping all of our kids (birth on up) in the service with us every week.

We knew we couldn't do that. We don't share the personal conviction that the place for small babies is in the worship service. We don't share the personal conviction that babies should be trained to be still and quiet at such an early age. We're heard a lot of the arguments and reasons why other people feel personally convicted to do so...we just don't agree with their reasons (personally) and don't interpret the scripture they use the same way. While we respect parents who do this and want to encourage and love them, while parenting our own kids we simply do not share this conviction.

So how could we attend a FIC? Nothing in me would have any desire to train my baby to sit in church. Although we respect people with different views, we don't share the view that small babies need to learn to sit still and quiet for an hour, which means one of us would be in the hall outside with our baby every week if we attended a FIC.

Not to mention...we'd never want to invite anyone to our church who had small children. More than anything we want people to have an opportunity to hear the gospel any time it's shared. Thinking through the people we know...this model would be a complete obstacle in getting them to attend church with us.

We also had some issues with this model thinking through our life as former foster parents. We had no tools available to us to train the little boy we were fostering to sit in church quietly. He could have never done it no matter how hard we tried to teach him (without being able to spank him).

I've heard people say, when talking about Family Integrated Churches things like this...

"How awful would it be for a lost family to come to one of these churches...can you imagine what it would be like to take kids who have never been taught to obey or be quiet and bring them to a FIC? Can you imagine what it would be like for lost parents...how uncomfortable they would feel since their kids are not trained to sit through the service?"

That's a good question to ask...

But I also want to mention...

Aaron and I aren't lost. We're saved. We love Jesus. Our kids are obedient (not perfectly...but we definitely try to hold them accountable to God's standards that are clearly set out in the Bible).

And yet...

As saved people we couldn't attend a FIC simply because we don't share the personal conviction that every baby should be in church and every home should be spending tons of time training a tiny baby to do so when our kids have naturally been able to join us in the church service when they were a little older.

More to come on this. Not only was this great for us to think through as a couple...it was amazing to see how there seems to be some weirdness on both sides of this fence. There are churches where no baby is ever allowed in the worship service no matter how well they can sit through church and some people who won't attend a church if it has a nursery even if no one is asking them to put their baby inside it.

We were challenged once again to think through why we as believers are sometimes a little crazy about trying to force everyone to share all of our own personal convictions.

Freedom...this journey has left us hungry to see the freedom we enjoy through Christ played out in the local church.

Broken

Punkin' Head has cracked/fractured his collar bone.

Poor little man.

This is his second time to do this.

The first time he fell out of a bed onto a hardwood floor in the middle of the night.

This time he fell at the soccer field.

October has brought stitches and a bone fracture.

I guess this is life in a house filled with boys?

What?

So apparently movies can have absolutely no point or meaning these days.

Did anyone see Where the Wild Things Are this weekend?

All of us who did should engage in one gigantic group hug.

Or go to therapy together

or in the least make a big fat pan of brownies, pass out the forks and eat them right out of the pan.

What did this movie mean?

After thinking about the movie all night, the only thing I could think of was maybe it was a two hour advertisement for Ritalin.

I'm pretty sure some brilliant advertiser made a two hour advertisement, and I paid money to sit through it.

Adopting?

Read what Ryan is doing for couples beginning this incredible journey!

And you can check out the picture of that way-too-precious baby of ours.

What's On Our Night Stands

I've been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Oh.my.word.

This book gives me a headache and makes me say to Aaron every day, "GET ME A FARM!"

And I say it that bratty. Sort of like her. Except I don't want one of these. I want one of these.



The Discipline of Grace does not give me a headache. It's teaching me a lot of great stuff about God's grace. Who doesn't need to focus on that awhile?

Recently I read...


The Secret Life of Bees. Loved it. This book completely stole me away for a couple days. I could not put it down. "Little Mrs. Can't Sit Down" found myself in the rocking chair in my room reading every spare second I could find (and some of the seconds I sat reading were not spare seconds...like I totally should have been doing other things).

Aaron just finished reading the second book in Andrew Peterson's new series...



North or be Eaten.

Aaron LOVED...as in totally devoured the first book...



On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

In case you're not an Andrew Peterson junky, he's the guy that wrote Behold the Lamb...the Christmas CD we wish every home could have sitting on a shelf somewhere. It's that good.



After starting the second book of the Wingfeather Saga, Aaron threw himself on the bed next to me.

I was reading the Omnivore's Dilemma trying to figure out how many coupon classes Kirby and I would have to do to buy a farm in six months. Too many...that's the answer.

Aaron was silent for a second, thankfully letting me finish my paragraph (and my math).

I glanced over at my sweet husband...we made eye contact and that's when he admitted what I had expected all along...

After a long deep sigh he said..."I think I love Andrew Peterson."

I gently patted him and said, "I know Aaron. I know."

Right or wrong, it's comforting to know that the only person my husband would leave me for is Andrew Peterson.

How can one man be so incredibly gifted? When I get to heaven, I'm going to point to Andrew Peterson and say to God..."So what the heck was that all about?"

If you love to read...or know someone who does...you should get Andrew Peterson's book.

These are downright wonderful to read out loud to the whole family!

Bread Makin'

Is there anything better than the smell of baking bread?

Maybe the smell of freshly folded laundry that someone else washed and folded...and is about to put away for you.

I've been a bread making lady lately. I'm not advocating bread making for everyone...but if you've wanted to know how, then hopefully this post will help. Not because I know how to do it the best way...but more so, because if my bread turns out fine (and I barely follow the recipe) then yours can be great too! Let my bread making laziness inspire you!

As a part of the ongoing saga to remove weird chemicals out of our diets in this house, I started trying to find a bread at the store that did not have high fructose corn syrup in it or any hydrogenated oils (or partially hydrogenated oils).

I had no such luck.

So, I decided I should learn how to make bread. Why not?

Most of that junk in store bought bread is there because crappy ingredients are cheaper to use than the real stuff...and because the bread company needs that bread to last as long as possible before going bad.

Making it myself means I can use better ingredients minus the chemicals and other strange words I don't understand or can't pronounce.

I'm not a bread making expert...but I've found you don't have to be an expert. Freshly baked bread is good no matter how it looks.

I got the recipe I use out of this book:


I love this book! I will sit and look at it for hours. So will Aaron.

I have made better breads before, but they contained a lot of ingredients (and honey...lots of it, which can get expensive).

I like this recipe because it only uses a few ingredients. That helps when making a bunch of loaves per week.

I usually bake 6 loaves of bread every Monday. Then, I wrap them in foil, stick them in a freezer bag and put them in the freezer. When we want bread, I grab a loaf, leave it in the foil and put it in the oven for about 20 minutes. It's like having freshly baked bread right out of the oven every time. Yum! I no longer buy bread from the store. We use this bread for sandwiches, toast and with our dinner. The kids eat jelly bread for snacks pretty often around here.

I'm going to give you Carla's recipe word for word, and then tell you what I actually do. That way, you recipe rule followers can do what she says, and you recipe renegades can do whatever you want.


Virginia's White Bread
Mix 2.5 cups liquid, 3 T sugar, 1 T salt, 2 T shortening. Dissolve 2 envelopes yeast in 1/4 c. lukewarm water and add to other ingredients. Mix with spoon, then by hand 7 cups flour. Turn dough on a floured board and let rest for 10 minutes. Knead until smooth and elastic...about 8-10 minutes. Grease bread dough and put in a large bowl or pan. Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm place out of drafts until doubled in bulk.

Once it's doubled in size, punch and fold it into a firm ball and let rise again until almost doubled in size. Divide into 2 pieces. Let dough rest on floured table 10 minutes. Shape into loaves. Put in pans. Grease. Let rise to just above top of loaf pans. Bake at 425 for 25-30 minutes. Turn out on racks to cool.

My Way...Virginia's White Bread that I Sometimes turn into Sorta Wheat Bread

Mix 2.5 cups liquid (I use 1 cup milk, 1.5 cups water), 3 T sugar, 1 T salt, 2 T shortening (I use smart balance oil). Stir. Put 1/4 cup lukewarm water in measuring cup. Add 2 packets of yeast. Stir until dissolved. Mix in 7 cups flour (I do three wheat, four white sometimes but mainly make it with white flour.) Mix the dough with a spoon, then by hand. Take your rings off...don't be scared...jump in there and get dirty.

Turn dough on a floured dough and let rest for 10 minutes. (I always need a rest too, so this part is nice. I never put the dough on a floured board. I just mix it up and then leave it in the bowl for 10 minutes. My dough naps in the bowl, not on a board.) Knead until smooth and elastic...about 8-10 minutes. (Are you kidding? I never do this either. I'm way too big of a wimp. I just knead it until my arms go a little numb and then stop.) Grease bread dough and put in a large bowl or pan. (I don't do that either. I just leave it in the bowl). Cover with a cloth and let rise in a warm place out of drafts until doubled in bulk.

Once it's doubled in size, punch and fold it into a firm ball. (I don't know what punch means...so I just jack with the dough a while. I hold it and squish it and squeeze it.)

Then, I tear it into two pieces, stick it in two greased bread pans (mine are glass Pyrex), re-cover them with a towel and let them rise for the second time.

Then I cook the bread on 420 or so until light brown on top (or dark brown if I get to talking to girls sitting around the table).

You must eat some right out of the oven. It's a rule.

See...I don't hardly follow the rules (well, I never break the "eat the bread right out of the oven rule") and our bread turns out fine. Imagine what it would taste like if you actually followed the rules and kneaded the bread forever like she suggests and let it rise three times instead of two. I'm also imagining what your forearms would look like.

If you make bread, and want to post your recipe with instructions here, I'd love that! But even better...if you make bread and want to write a post on your own blog, I'd love to link to it. For those of you who love your bread machine and use it often, what kind do you have?

Here's another bread making post from this blog with helpful ideas in the comment section.

___________________________

Jamie's recipe.
(I'll be your stinkin' it to the man friend, Jamie. That's my new hobby.)

Mandi's recipe.
I love Mandi. She's the real deal.

One Moment Sunday Night

There was a time when I thought of church as the two hours spent at a building on a Sunday.

There are times when being a part of a brand new church are hard and different. (Being a part of a new church is exciting too. Don't get me wrong. But, I think anything new has an element of "yee-haw" and an element of fear and difficulty).

There was a time Sunday night as I looked around the room, surrounded by people I love...the people I know...the people who know me...the people I'm getting to know...

and I thought

No matter how hard, no matter how difficult or new or different this "new church thing" can be...

Whether I love everything about what happens for a few hours on a Sunday...

Church is not a building. Church is not a service.

Church is the people...the lives surrounding me. A group of people who belong to God and belong to one another given a great mission to share the gospel and be God's representatives of hope, life, peace and restoration to a hurting world.

My heart swelled with thanksgiving for the relationships sitting around me in that church service...for the connection we share outside of that building. Through watery eyes, I scanned the room and rejoiced over the lives intricately intertwined in that place, knit together deeply by the gospel and God's grace.

"This is my church," I thought as I looked around that room.

"This is my family...the people who teach me about the Lord, inspire me to love God better and challenge me to value the things God values."

These people are the church...a group of broken, imperfect people trying to be real with one another, sharing one another's burdens, possessions, struggles and victories. The people who share their dinner tables with us, and sit around our table often. The people who are honest with us about their own "issues" and honest about the "issues" they see in us. The people we have pursued and poured our life into, and the people who have pursued us and given so much of themselves to our family.

I looked around that room Sunday night and thought...

"I love my church. The good so far outweighs the "not exactly the way I like it" that it's not even funny. God thank you for this undeserved gift in our life...for these people...these friends...for godly, humble leaders...the church."

Food News

It's a school holiday today for my kids.

To celebrate, they will go to lunch with daddy, and some sweet girls are coming over to help me bake a ton of food today (we'll definitely eat while we work).

We're making 8 loaves of bread, 2 dozen banana muffins and 4 dozen pumpkin muffins.

I'm posting the recipes for the pumpkin muffins over at the Family Supper Club blog. Have you been checking it out? I'm learning so much!

Hopefully I can get some pictures today of the bread making. Then I can post pictures with the recipe. Fun.

Kirby gave me the banana muffin recipe that I make every Monday.

Muffins are great to make ahead, and then stick in the freezer. When my kids want a snack, they get one out of the freezer, stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds and wah-lah!

Banana Bread (I make it into muffins)
3/4 c. unsweet applesauce
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. mashed bananas (about 3)

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9 x 5 loaf pan w/ cooking spray (or muffin pan). In one bowl combine applesauce, sugar, and eggs; beat until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, soda, powder, and cinnamon. Add to batter and blend well. Fold bananas into batter. Pour batter into pan(s).Bake for 60-65 minutes (if making bread) or 10-12 minutes if making muffins, or until toothpick comes clean.

Also...

I finally started putting fresh spinach leaves in my morning smoothie.

So many people told me that they put spinach in their smoothies and never taste it.

They were right. I can't tell it's in there at all. The smoothie does look super weird since it's fluorescent green.

Even Aaron was brave enough to try the new spinach version and agreed...he could not taste the spinach, but he didn't think he could drink something that looks like bug guts.

Here is the post where I described how we make smoothies over in these parts...plus there were so many other ideas in the comments section (adding spinach was one of them!)

A Riddle

What do you get when you cross

a running, hyper, naked, freshly showered, barely dry seven year old boy

with

hardwood floors and a piano?

Give up?



3 Stitches

What do you do when your naked seven year old's head is gushing blood all over the place?

Give up?

Grab a towel, hug them tightly, put some clothes on them, and then call the best doctor in town.

I would never have enough ways to communicate how thankful we are for The Amazing Doctor Bacak.

For real...if you live here locally and need a good doctor, please go see Dr. Bacak (695-3570).

Here's a post I wrote about him months ago...and seriously...our stitched up baby is just another reason (added to an already very long list of reasons) why Dr. Bacak will forever and ever be the Hendrick Family Doctor.

Hayden is doing well this morning. Although painful, he keeps talking about being Frankenstein for Halloween (that too was Dr. Bacak's idea). I think Hayden is running with it (figuratively speaking since we have firmly reminded him why it's not a good idea to run in the house...especially when wet and naked.)

Education and the Church

If you're just joining us, we're having a discussion this semester about our journey as a family the last couple years in regards to parenting, how to disciple our kids in our home, ministry, community, the church, living simpler, being more sustainable...lots has been going on around here that I've not felt ready to put into words. Here are some previous posts if you need to get caught up.

Introduction

Disclaimer

First Car on the Track

Next Car

Back to the Train

Back to the Track

SCREECH!



As I mentioned in the previous post, one of the things that was unsettling to us as a couple as we were trying to learn more about FIC was how "in your face" the idea of homeschooling came across from these churches.

On several church websites, "Christian education" is listed under their core values right along with things like "The Sufficiency of Scripture."

That's when we yanked on the brake of our proverbial train.

This is a complex issue.

Although controversial, here's kind of where Aaron and I landed as we thought through whether or not Christian education should be such a big deal to a church that it's listed under a body's core values.

We believe in homeschooling. For our family, we believe it's the best way to live out the commands in scripture to teach our children God's Word and give them a Christian Worldview (and to encourage and grow the areas where God has gifted them. One example...Hayden plays the piano and drums a very large portion of the day, something he couldn't do in public school). However, we don't believe that just because this is the way God has lead us to educate our kids that homeschooling is the only way for every other family on earth to educate their children. I shudder at how prideful that thought would be.

We believe an argument for Christian education can definitely be made with scripture. However, we also believe that an argument can be made with scripture about NOT homeschooling or sending your child to Christian private school. We believe a family can still have the same heart God desires in regard to discipling children and teaching them to know the Lord no matter if they are educated at home or by a school district. Because both arguments can be made, we think it's perfectly understandable that God can lead different families to live these scriptures out differently.

Because the Bible never says, "Everyone should homeschool or send your children to Christian private schools" we were a little taken back that family integrated churches would go so far as to list "Christian education" under their core values.

Again...not wanting to bash FIC or anyone who attends one. These are our thoughts, and these thoughts were critical as we were rethinking everything about church. These issues were worth thinking through because maybe FIC does this with things like homeschooling and babies in church, but we are well aware that all of us are prone to have these same thoughts in regard to many other unclear things in scripture as well. At any given moment I can be tempted to take unclear things in scripture and make them too big of a deal.

Aaron and I thought a lot about this issue, not just because we were really questioning the church's role in how families choose to educate their children, but because we don't ever want to be the reason as a couple why a church becomes known for external aspects instead of being known for the gospel.

Two things that went through our minds were...wanting to be in a church that is gospel centered where the gospel and gospel community is for EVERYONE...and being in a church where the body is encouraged to do what the Bible says and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, going to scripture and asking the Lord where He's leading our family regarding personal convictions (instead of doing what everyone else is doing or becoming a "pastor clone" and only living out the convictions of the leaders in our church.) I think all of those tendencies can be scary, and something we should be watching out for no matter where we go to church.

Let me say again that the FIC we looked into are solid theologically. Seriously...we have learned a great deal from them. The gospel is preached and preached often. I can't say enough good things about the churches we looked into.

Because of how incredible I think these churches are, I was sad to hear that if someone near one of the Family Integrated Churches was new to the area and wanted to attend one of these churches they would probably go to the website, and real quick...if their kids were in public school, they would know that this is not a church where they would feel comfortable based on their method of educating their kids. I immediately thought of how many people would not have the chance to get to hear the gospel or be included in a thriving gospel community because of a trivial matter such as how kids are educated.

Made me ask the Lord...is our church that way about anything? Does our attitude as a couple within our body make our church that way about any trivial areas? The church is made up of people...and since we're people, we wanted to make sure we were not infecting the church by placing too much value on things God does not clearly teach about in scripture.

Because of how well these FIC churches teach the gospel...teach God's Word...disciple their members...strengthen families...we were extremely sad to think of all the people who would never set foot in their building because of Christian education being made out to be a huge deal right under their core values section.

A lot to think through.

I believe God did great work in our souls during this part of our journey. We had to really sit down and hash out "what are clear things in scripture", and "what are not."

Our hearts grew with a desire to see churches filled with people who share different convictions about unclear things in scripture. Obviously, on clear issues...we have to be unified. On less clear areas of scripture...I believe Christ has granted us freedom, and uses that diversity to grow us and grow everyone around us. How amazing is that?

When I look around at creation I am struck by one thing...diversity. There isn't just one flower. There isn't just one kind of tree. There are so many varieties, it's breathtaking.

A few years ago, I would have wanted to attend a church with all pine trees. Not anymore. My prayer for the church is that its landscape would look a lot like the landscape God created on earth...diverse, dependent upon each other...all pointing to His incredible power and creativity.

I want to be in a church with people who come from different backgrounds, who are living out the truth from scripture in various ways, and who care about things I don't care about. God has used people with different convictions to either teach me and change me OR help me to firm up in my soul why I don't have the same convictions they do. Both of those things are good! Maybe a church isn't naturally diverse. During this time, I was asking the Lord to help me to be more comfortable with being "different" than people around me...to stay put...to quit avoiding people who don't think the same way I do.

As far as the church's job in regards to how children are educated...

We came to the conclusion that education shouldn't be ignored. It's often a taboo subject and is greatly controversial. However, how we educate our kids is a big deal, and a hard decision for lots of parents. So, not talking about it is silly if we're all trying to work through things from the Bible together, be refined, learn and grow. Our community of believers can be valuable as we work through how to educate our kids.

We definitely walked away from this area knowing for sure that we're uncomfortable with the church saying "Christian education" is a must and so important we're listing it under our "core values." However, we are equally uncomfortable with the church teaching that public school is the best option for every family and that it is harmless. We're more uncomfortable with the church never talking about education at all.

So what can the church do to help parents as they decide how to educate their children? That's the question we were asking as church members.

I think our church community can hold us accountable to truly praying through how our kids will be educated and who will be teaching them. What are the goals God has for our kids? How are we going to teach our children a Christian Worldview? If we're homeschooling what is our plan to know lost people...to love them...to serve them? If we're sending kids to public school, what's the plan for teaching kids a Christian worldview at home and giving them a deep understanding of the Word of God, helping them to put on the full armor of God?

We left this area knowing that we want the Lord to grow in us as a couple a healthy way to talk about these things with the believers around us. We would love the church and its leaders to hold us accountable as a homeschooling family to be reaching out in love and sharing the gospel with lost people around us. We want to be challenged and equipped to make purposeful decisions to be around people who need to know the Good News. We would love the church to help us disciple our kids so they can be salt and light in every interaction they have with the world.

We also believe parents with children in public school should be challenged to be involved in their children's educations. Although we are not against kids attending public school, I think we do have to admit children in public school are being sent into the world every single day and being influenced and taught by people who may or may not belong to God. I don't think anyone should be naive about this. God warns that this world will become more and more corrupt the closer we are to His return. How silly of us to totally ignore this truth. When Aaron began working for the school district our eyes were opened up to some things we had no idea about prior to him taking on this new job.

Again...I'm not saying that automatically means kids can't be in public school. I am saying to act like it's not dangerous and a step of faith is insane. I'm thankful for the parents in our life who have kids in public school and will say that it's a step of faith...that they know beyond a doubt how huge the responsibility they have as parents is to be making sure their children are SATURATED with God's Word so they are prepared to be in a worldly environment every day. They are not naive. They are involved and aware. We are thankful they are praying for their kids during the day and that they ask us to pray with them. What an honor.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I wish education wasn't such a divisive area in the church. In almost every way, we all face the same struggles as parents as we attempt, in God's strength and wisdom to raise kids who love the Lord and imitate God's heart towards the world. Homeschooling parents struggle. We have seen huge areas in our hearts where we have to be on guard and careful. There are days that I do so much damage to the gospel by acting like an idiot in front of my kids as their teacher that I wonder what's worse...their mom influencing them in a sinful way or a lost teacher or peer? Parents with kids in private school struggle. I think we all need to quit trying to sell our idea as the best and instead be honest about the good and the bad. How beautiful would that be?

I think the church can definitely help ALL parents know how best to disciple their kids and know the truth from God's Word so they can always be able to give an answer for the hope they have in Christ. The church can provide resources. The church can help parents teach their kids to stand up for truth, to share that truth in LOVE, not self-righteousness.

Whether kids are in public school or being educated at home or in a Christian private school I believe the church can help parents to be aware...be alert like scripture says, on guard for the ways the enemy is pursuing our children no matter where they are educated. The enemy is constantly circling our kids and roaring. I'm thankful that the church can help us as parents protect our children by being aware of the devil's schemes...whether those schemes are to grow in our child a prideful, disrespectful heart, or to shower them with images of homosexuality, materialism, confused gender roles and sexual immorality.

No matter what...all of us are called to disciple our kids and teach them a Christian worldview. The question is, are we? Are our kids growing in the understanding of God's Word...in their knowledge of grace and our depravity as human beings? Do our kids know how to share the gospel? Whether they are homeschooled or in public school...they need to know how to share the gospel. Do they know how to do that?

I can say this....

I could not be more thankful to be in a church where we have homeschooling families, kids in Christian private schools and kids who attend public school. I love the diversity...that I truly feel like I'm not judged for our decision to educate at home and families who have kids in public school know that we support their decision.

I'm also thankful that the Bible applies to all of us...that no group is immune from constantly praying over these issues. At New Life we're taught to continually search our own hearts, to know the Word and to ask God to show us how to apply His Word in our own families. I'm thankful that we're encouraged to seek God's face and make decisions for our families with wisdom. We can celebrate diversity and freedom in our body. I am sharpened and learn so much from the families whose kids are educated differently than mine. I hope they can say the same about us.

I am grateful for how New Life teaches so many of the great things we learned from our look into Family Integrated Church without making things like how kids are educated an area that would make anyone feel uncomfortable at our church...challenged to take the decision for how they are educated seriously...yes. Uncomfortable about their decision...no.

We're all still learning, but I'm so proud and thankful for this body of believers.

No matter how we disagree with a few things about FIC I can't say it enough...we are incredibly thankful as a couple for what we have learned from them.

SCREECH!

If you're just joining us, we're having a discussion this semester about our journey as a family the last couple years in regards to parenting, how to disciple our kids in our home, ministry, community, the church, living simpler, being more sustainable...lots has been going on around here that I've not felt ready to put into words. Here are some previous posts if you need to get caught up.

Introduction

Disclaimer

First Car on the Track

Next Car

Back to the Train

Back to the Track



We left off last time with our family taking a detour down the track towards Family Integrated Church. Family Integrated Churches can be found in many denominations. So, you could have a FIC that's Baptist, or Presbyterian...Lutheran...you get the idea. Obviously, we only studied and looked into FIC churches where we also lined up with them theologically. We've already spelled out some of the ideas and practices that make family integrated churches distinct. If you missed that post, you can get caught up here.

The Family Integrated Churches that we looked into are lead by men (one man in particular) whose teaching from God's Word had inspired great things to happen in our home.

We headed full speed towards this new idea (or old one, I guess since forever ago whole families where sitting in church together without all the bells, whistles and jumbotrons we see in churches today.)

We wanted to be open minded...to really try to understand this new model. It wasn't long after we headed down this train of thought that a large shriek was heard as we yanked on the brake, proceeded with great caution and began thinking through some things that were uncomfortable to us about the FIC model.

Once we looked further into the way Family Integrated Churches do "church" Aaron and I were not at all sold that this was the model our family wanted to emulate.

I could have left this post out.

Not only do we know people who attend Family Integrated Churches who I would never want to offend, I also would never ever want to bash Family Integrated Churches. Are you kidding? I already mentioned that we were humbled and encouraged in our faith as we began learning about this church model where church is not program driven and everyone...young and old...is seen as valuable to the health of a church community. We were blessed by the theology we heard being taught in these churches. We were blessed by how seriously they teach the truth from God's Word about male and female roles. We were beyond enlightened on the beauty of intergenerational ministry. Good stuff. Our eyes and hearts were truly opened and our desire to see all ages learning from one another has been grown by the vision we have seen in the Family Integrated Churches we have "stalked" and "studied." Families in these churches serve together. This was new to us, but wonderful to think through! We have taken away such deep, rich things about the value of families and how the church can help strengthen marriages and help parents disciple their children. We were taught the value of our home in God's plan to spread the gospel, not only to our children, but by practicing hospitality...having our neighbors over and using our home for life and activity to get to know others and share God's love with them. Our lives have been changed and sharpened incredibly because of what we have learned from some of the leaders of the FIC movement.

Although we might disagree on how church can "look" we agree on so many other issues that it would be insane and prideful for me (or anyone) to ever say Family Integrated Churches are "bad" or "wrong." We're just chalking this one up to "different."

I could have skipped this part of our journey and concluded with a trite, one liner like...

"We looked into family integrated church and it wasn't the model we thought would be an effective tool for reaching the people around us with the gospel or an effective way to disciple the people in our home."

That would be so unlike me, wouldn't it?

The journey...the thought process...that's my favorite part of any expedition.

I was concerned about putting this in writing because I never want anyone to think because we think these things that means we believe everyone should. We are totally comfortable with people having different convictions about things not completely spelled out in scripture, and so obviously how a church service is "set up" is going to fall inside that category. Please hear me say that these are our thoughts. This is the journey we have been on as a couple and a family over the past year, and in no way are we suggesting our way of thinking is the only right way. We do however, want to be faithful to document these things...our journey not only for our own children to have a written record of our faith and life in Christ, but also as brothers and sisters in Christ working out our faith with fear and trembling with other believers around us.

So here goes...

Besides the few "issues" we had with this model...we applaud and support everything else about Family Integrated Churches. However, these "issues" were big enough deals to us that we can firmly say that unless we were in a different country where the way we do church here in America would not even be possible, (by that I mean the options we have here and freedoms) our family would not attend a fully family integrated church.

We wouldn't attend a church without a nursery available for lost people or new believers who have never been taught the truth from God's Word about training their kids according to the Bible. We wouldn't attend a church without a nursery available for believing visitors or believing parents who do not share the conviction that tiny babies need to be taught to sit in a church service. We also would not attend a church where things like "homeschooling" are spoken about so strongly by the church that people who don't homeschool would feel alienated from a group of believers simply because of the way they choose to educate their children.

I'll break this section up into several parts. These were the questions we asked ourselves and took to scripture as we were thinking through the FIC model.

Should the church dictate how children are educated? Should people feel alienated from the church and the gospel because of how they are choosing to educate their children?

Should little babies be in church? Should people feel alienated from the church and the gospel because of their personal convictions about when to include their children in a church service?

What does freedom we share in Christ look like in regards to a church model and church life?

Remember...our kids sit with us in church. We homeschool...and yet...the conclusion we came to as a couple after looking into the FIC model was that we wouldn't attend a Family Integrated Church if there were other gospel-centered options available.

Again...I'd love your thoughts on these things. However I want to mention again that any comments accusing us of saying no one should attend a Family Integrated Church are wasted words. We don't believe that. We believe that God has placed shepherds over every congregation, and those shepherds have different visions that the Lord has placed on their hearts as they lead their people. We just don't share the same vision that FIC people share for how a church service and church life should look. That's all we're saying.

If you do attend a FIC we'd love to learn from you and understand better how these two issues have been reconciled in your hearts as you made the decision to join a FIC. We are always eager to learn and grow in understanding!

Good News about the Word Wall Words

One of the representatives from the company that sells the Word Wall Words said it is perfectly legal to photocopy the kits to save for younger siblings to use.

How exciting!

Word Wall Words

Couple weeks ago a cute little package arrived on my front step.

Word Wall Words by MRM Classroom Connections, LLC.


The kit contains 100 high frequency words that first graders and second graders color. There is a first grade kit and a second grade kit.

Have you ever taught a kid to read?

I have...and every time I do I think, "It's a feakin' miracle any of us are literate!"

The English language is ridiculous. We make rules and then a billion of our words are what we in the Hendrick house call, "Rule breakers."

I teach my kids "When two vowels go a walkin' the first one does the talkin'."

Then they get to words like, "head" and say, "heed."

See...stupid.

We should say, "When two vowels go a walkin' the first one does the talkin'...some times...well...(pause)...every once in awhile...(pause)...okay fine, just about as many times as the first vowel does the talkin' the second one does the talkin' OR those two vowels join together and morph into some other weird sound...(sigh).

I'm a huge fan of phonics, but sheesh...teaching kids to recognize high frequency words (words that usually don't follow the rules, but are in just about every sentence they read) is also a must for helping kids become successful readers.

When I'm teaching my kids to read, I have sight words hanging all over the school room. When learning to read, we will go over those sight words every day.

In the past I have had to write out all my own words, and stick them up in the school room.

I was thrilled to get this creative kit in the mail. Every high frequency word is on its own individual sheet of paper. The word is embedded in a cool, groovy design.

Every day I give Ashton a new sight word to color. He has been keeping them in a folder. After he finishes coloring his new word, I ask him to read me all the sight words in his folder. His new sight words are also what we use during handwriting time. I've seen his creativity grow as he figures out new ways to make his paper look "cool."

At the end of the year I want to get these bound for him.

"Children who love to color or create an artistic product will love this kit. Children who are having trouble reading will interact with words in a fun manner."
--Maria Rios-Marrero of MRM Classroom Connections.

Now for the real question...

Obviously, this kit was sent to me for free. It's really easy to love something that's free.

Would I have bought this product...as in, paid $19.95 for it myself?

The answer...

Yes.

Once.

I love the pictures. I like having a complete list in one kit of all the high frequency words my child needs to know. I love the time it takes Ashton to color each picture.

However, I think a good reading curriculum is already pretty expensive. Buying extra reading "add-ons" would be tough for me financially in addition to all the other expenses that go into homeschooling at the beginning of a school year.

So, I'd probably have bought this product once...then let the younger siblings trace the pages when it was their turn to learn to read.

I know. We're "those people."

Have four kids and all of a sudden no one ever has "their own anything" ever again. Even our sight words in these parts are hand-me-downs.

So yes...first kid would get to color the words and the rest of the kids would trace them. My boys LOVE to trace things. Truly love it. So for me...I'll save Ashton's words and then one day little Hudson will use these and trace the words as he's learning to read.

That's just how we roll in Hendrickville.

Check 'em out.

Word Wall Words

This product is a 2008 iParenting Media Best Product of the Year Award winner and Mom's Choice Award winner.

Definitely worth looking into if your child is struggling at all with reading or you are in the process of teaching your child to read.

_______________________________________

Addition:

For those of you who mentioned in the comments about making copies of the sheets...good news:

One of the representatives from the company that sells the Word Wall Words said it is perfectly legal to photocopy the kits to save for younger siblings to use.

How exciting!

Because He's Ten

On the day you were born I held you in my arms and thought

"I'm not sure my heart can hold all the love I feel for you."

At the time I thought the tank of my heart was full.

And then a few months later you smiled at me.

Oh how my heart overflowed with joy and adoration.

Then you laughed for the first time and started saying "Mama".

love stacked pancake style inside my soul

I watched you take your first steps.

And then the day arrived when on your very own you said to me, "I love you mommy."

I thought to myself, "Does anyone on earth deserve such sweetness?"

At every milestone I have thought..."Yep...this is the pinnacle. This is the tip top of how much you can love another person."

I have always been wrong.

Anson, I love you more today than I did the moment I held you in my tired arms ten years ago.

I've seen God save your soul and you've shown me in a clear way that once God saves someone He changes them. As a mother, I am most blessed by your tender heart...that you desire to please the Lord.

I rejoice over the fruit God is growing in your life.

Integrity

Obedience

Submission

Joy

Leadership

Humility

Love...especially your love for your family, your friends and for any baby on this planet. What a wonderful father you're going to be one day.

And how can I not mention your brilliant brain and witty sense of humor?

You are so much like your daddy.

You serve all of us in this family with the sweetest heart and attitude. My faith is grown and challenged as I see the Lord work in and through you.

How thankful we are to walk this road towards the Lord with you precious boy.

I know we're the parents, but you truly teach us so much about God's love, grace and power.

Ten years old

Double digits

How can that be?

I pray you know you are loved...dearly loved not only by your sinful, imperfect parents, but also by your heavenly Father.

We're extremely proud of you Anson and so humbled and thankful that you belong to us.

In Case Anyone Cares

I have surprised myself...

We're still drinking tea in the afternoons...not every afternoon...but most of them.

This seems to be sticking.

Although sticking, it's getting more tacky by the moment.

The other day, Hayden did a very Hayden thing and laid down in a huge water puddle right before tea time. Why does he do those things? I don't know. I've quit asking.

Needless to say...he was shirtless while we had our tea.

I kept looking at Hayden while sipping my trashy tea and thought...what would Mary Poppins think about us?

We are loving our tea time.

I'm also pleased to say that I no longer have the worst English accent.

Ashton does.

You should hear it.

Kroger Fun

My bill this week was wonderfully low. I didn't need any meat. In addition to my full freezers, I also have meat in my friend Shannan's freezer! Insane, right?

I was able to stock up on a lot of organics with the money I would have normally spent on meat. Fun times.

One of the things that is important to us is debunking the myth that all you can buy with coupons is junk food. What a joke. You can definitely buy junk food with coupons, but you can also buy healthier foods as well. With the money you save on things like toiletries and diapers you can choose healthier food items without ever going over your weekly budget.

Interested in learning how to do this? There are about five spots still available for our Houston Class on October 10. For more information, or to reserve your spot read more here.

Be sure to check out the quantities of the things pictured below. I was in a hurry, so I didn't have time to set the food up well to take the picture. There is a lot you can't see in the photo.





PRODUCE
2 bunches bananas
2 bunches broccoli
6 yellow squash
3 garlic
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch celery
2 yellow onions
6 honeycrisp apples
5 pounds potatoes

DAIRY
4 cream cheese
2 gallons milk
1 whip cream
1 sour cream
4 sticks butter
4 packages sliced cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded parm. cheese
3 (4-packs) yo plus yogurt

MEAT
2 packages of bacon

FOOD ITEMS
4 boxes honey nut cheerios
2 sacks flour
1 sack sugar
6 packages yeast
soy sauce
4 boxes Barilla whole wheat pasta
2 boxes chocolate pudding
2 boxes orville redenbaucher naturals popcorn
1 box ritz crackers
1 box wheat thins
1 pack tortilla chips
1 box ritz crackerfuls
2 boxes Kraft macaroni and cheese
4 pounds black beans
4 pounds rice
frozen peas
8 boxes minute made frozen fruit cups
1 can crushed tomatoes

TOILETRIES
6 boxes colgate toothpaste
1 pack comfort diapers
1 ivory body wash
1 (2 pack) dial soap
2 Suave lotions
3 Comforts baby body wash
1 Johnson's baby shampoo
1 box tampons

ORGANICS
3 organic, soy yogurts
2 boxes organic, Newman's Own popcorn
4 boxes Mom's naturals cereal
3 boxes Annie's organic macaroni and cheese
2 organic, 100% fruit apricot preserves
organic pine nuts
1 pack organic spaghetti

MISC.
4 packs of bic pens

All that for $118.36