Introduce toddlers to gardening

I have flowers all around my house and my walkway, they bloom from early spring to fall. My toddlers and preschoolers love nothing more than picking those flowers for mom as a token of their love! Picking the flowers daily doesn't not help my landscaping to remain beautiful, however. Introducing your children in the toddler years to gardening can create a lifetime love of plants and help you keep your sanity, and garden, in tact.

Learn more by reading my Introducing toddlers to gardenting article at the Examiner.

Now that the cat is out of the bag

Not that it was in the bag more than a day, just long enough for us to try to figure out what on earth had happened, I guess I can tell about it.

A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with Trinity about prayer and she was learning to talk to God. She prayed that God would give us a baby and that it would be a sister. I had to tell her that sometimes God says no, sometimes yes, and sometimes we have to wait.

Last weekend was the youth group trip and I knew I was due to start my period on Thursday, it hadn't started when I left on Friday, so I figured I had miscalculated or my cycle really is getting screwed up, according to my dear friend who enjoys charting things with me, she says I am getting old. I brought supplies on the trip and got busy chaperoning.

Everything was constant motion. I walked, in heeled boots, miles and miles in Duluth. I went to classes and speakers and sight seeing. It was BUSY.

Sunday night on the way home I realized that I hadn't started yet. I tried looking my chart up on my phone, but I couldn't see what day I was on, so I gave up. Later in the evening, after everything settled down and I was relaxing at the computer I remembered. I checked and found I had been mistaken, I was supposed to start on Friday, but even on my longest cycle, I should have started sometime on Sunday.

At this point I am really thinking that I am mistaken or my cycle is screwed up. I couldn't be pregnant. Not after the 2 years I have been praying for another child! I had finally given up and realized that it was probably a great idea not to have more children, it is tough watching a baby with Sam and Trinity around, I am fine. Grandkids will come in a few years, right?

Kaytlin ordered me to go get a test because she was going to her friend Sam's house for movie night and apparently Sam asks her every time she sees her "Is your mom pregnant?" Kaytlin wanted to be able to finally tell her YES!

I went to the store, but it was late, so the pharmacy was closed. I had to go to the service counter and wait in line and get someone to walk over and unlock the case for me. I was shaking and scared like I was a naughty teenager all over again. I didn't know if I was more afraid to be pregnant or not be pregnant.

When I got home I had decided I was not taking it, I just couldn't be pregnant, and it would be a waste of a test. But Kaytlin strongly encouraged me to do it.

Well, it was a pink line, but it was faint. Faint enough that we could try to deny it, but in reality, it was pink, and that means pregnant. So I didn't accept it yet. I took another in the morning, it was an even LIGHTER pink line! Could it get any more confusing? Why couldn't it just be definite? Meanwhile I am still denying, but one more day late.

I couldn't stand it, so I asked Donnie if we could just try another test. He wanted to wait, but Drew was going to to the store so he said he'd pick one up for me. This time one with a plus sign, so we'd be sure.

Drew goes and has to get customer service to open up the cabinet for him, too. It was uncomfortable enough being 19 and buying a test, but standing there with a 12 year old girl buying a test........ well, he was a bit uncomfortable! LOL (he had Hope-Anne with him)

Sure enough, there was a plus sign, but again, the line was faint, but clearly blue. UGH! But by morning it was dry enough to tell that there was no doubt.

And then the real positive came in. Morning sickness hit. Unbelievable! I cannot be sick this fast! That is not normal for me, and it is NOT FAIR! I would like some time to even be able to adjust to the whole idea before I start adjusting to my new life of living on the couch 24/7.

So Trinity's prayer was answered right away, and it also happened to be the week of our 20th Anniversary, who needs jewelry? LOL

I'm doing OK as long as I keep a steady stream of barbeque chips going down. So much for my 19 pound weight loss. I guess I can look forward to the 20 I am going to puke off this summer, and the fact that I get out of camping again!

Sunscreen on babies

Spring is here and summer is coming up fast here in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes. With summer comes nice weather and outdoor fun with our children. With lakes and playgrounds and fairs, there is much to do outdoors.

Going outdoors is so good for our children. They get needed exercise and the sun provides needed vitamin D. However, the risk of sunburn on infant and young children's skin is high. It is believed that the the risk of skin cancer rises for people who have had two or more blistering sunburns before adulthood. Parents need to be aware of the risk and take precautions.

Avoid sunburn:

1. Apply sunscreen

2. Wear light, but long clothing

3. Put on a hat with a wide brim

4. Use sunglasses

Any parent who picks up a bottle of sunscreen is warned not to apply on a baby under 6 months old. The American Academy of Pediatricians has released information that it is alright to use on babies under 6 months in moderation. Their skin to weight ratio is great, increasing the amount of chemicals absorbed in their system, so it is best to limit the amount used. Their sensitive skin is also more prone to having a reaction to the chemicals.

Read more at Sunscreen on babies on my column.

Wordless Wednesday Qtpie +

Evenflo Comfort Select (DUAL) Breast Pump: REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

I think one of my favorite mom moments has been nursing my newborn baby. It is just so satisfying to be able to supply what my child needs to survive, and to bring them comfort through my own body. It is just beautiful!


I have nursed all 7 of my children and it is a no-brainer that I will nurse my 8th baby come January. But I also like to occasionally be able to do things without the baby, like date my husband, so I will need a new breast pump for qtpie8. I am so happy to be reviewing the Evenflo Comfort Select (Dual) Breast pump (so you can pump on both sides at the same time) on the Mom Central blog tour! It is a great pump, and even though I am not actually getting to TRY it yet, I do know the quality is amazing as I have used their pumps in the past. Just look at the great specs!

Evenflo Breast Pumps
1. All components, including milk storage bottles are BPA free and contain less than 0.01% phthalates.
2. Improved cycle time for more effective milk expression.
3. Improved vacuum performance at all settings

4. Regulated power adapter ensures consistency in performance.
5. Dual motors for better production allowing individual settings
6. Includes 2 additional overflow valves for additional convenience! 7. More stable bottle stands to prevent possible spillage.

8. It is battery opperated, but you can get a plug.

9. It is a DUAL pump, so you can pump on both sides at the same time.

While I am pretty well in shock about being pregnant, I am looking forward to 8 months from now when I can start nursing and have a reason to use my new pump!

Win It!
I have one Comfort Select Breast Pump and two packs of Nursing Pads to give away! The giveaway ends May 10th, 2009 and is open to US residents only.

To enter: Leave me a breastfeeding or feeding tip!

Check out Mom Central's Giveaway as well! It ends May 4th so hurry and enter!

Districts Blitz!

I had a great time chaperoning the youth at Districts this past weekend. I really want to blog it all, but wow, that is a LOT of info to blog. I have some things to ponder, and some things to pray about, and lots of things to laugh about.

Hope-Anne doesn't like her picture to be taken, so I had to fool her and got one. I wanted one of us together, but not sure we got one. These are my girls that I was in charge of. They were all super fun, but turns out, after a lot of sleep and way too much togetherness, drama rears it's ugly head. They will come through it, though.

Here is a pic of Cody and I at the conference. Lots of fun!

I couldn't keep hold of Kaytlin and almost didn't get a shot of us together. This shot finally happened after everything was over and we were on our way to leave.

Here is a shot of Drew and I togther. We even took time out to go to coffee together Sunday morning, that was nice.

Sean McDowell was the speaker and the theme was on loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. It was really, really good! I LOVED all his super hero shirts that he wore all weekend, lol.

I also enjoyed a class called "I killed Jesus" becuase it was just amazing how the teacher showed us some things about Jesus that opened my eyes. I think most of us think of Jesus as someone who walked around and spoke in a loving, Godly voice, but he was a man, and in the verse he was talking about, he was not even NICE to the pharosees, and there just was no way those words were taken nicely. Truthful, though! I'll have to blog specifically about that class, it was great! (again, superheros!)

I am so glad that I went! I probably won't be able to make it next year, but I will try hard for the year after that.

I'm in Duluth again!

I am sitting here waiting for the girls to get done with the mirror so I can maybe get my hair dried and curled, and definitely put on make-up.
I have a room with 5 teen girls, who are followed around by two boys all day. I don't have to be with them all the time, but it is fun hanging out with them.

From the window of the room next to ours I can see the hotel I was in for our girls weekend away a couple weeks ago! Too cool! And all the ice is gone from the water now. It is really nice to be able to look out at Lake Superior from our window.

Last night the conference started and this band came out to play. I am NOT a music lover, and when it is LOUD, heavy metal-ish, and LOUD, I really hate it. So I left for their music so I wouldn't get irritated or a migraine. When it was done I came back and was standing in the door watching the skit. This gal asked me if I needed help finding my group. I said "No, I was just avoiding the obnoxiously loud music." And I look over her shoulder and see the lead singer of the group was who she had been talking to. Yep. I did that. He didn't even blink, lol. He wasn't even bothered by some old lady finding him too loud, and besides he is probably my age. Not even kidding.

My feet swelled from all the walking in a pair of heeled boots. Don't even ask why I did that. Normally I LOVE them and they never hurt my feet. But apparently hills and heels do not agree. So today I am hoping to find a pair of flip flops. If I can even get my feet into the boots to go to a store.

Well, it looks like I might be able to get to the mirror now, then off to another round of fun!

Gardening Eden

I got to review a copy of Gardening Eden by Mike Abbaté.
I really want to garden this year, but I have a black thumb, lol. While I am not "green" I do like to do things naturally, too, so I was very interested in what this book had to offer.
Although I didn't get any actually gardening tips, I think the book very neatly covers the balance between making the Earth your god and taking care of the Earth that God put us in charge of.

Gardening Eden:
Before the snake, the apple, and the Ten Commandments, God created a garden, placed humans in it, and told them to take care of it.
“Spiritual environmentalism” did not start out as an oxymoron—it was an invitation. Yet today, many believe God’s original job description for humankind has been replaced by other worthier pursuits. So when did his simple instruction become so controversial? How does one sort through all the mixed messages? Is making the world a healthier place for the next generation really a responsibility—or even possible?
Gardening Eden is a new understanding of how the spiritual dimensions of life can find expression and renewal through caring for our incredible planet. Empowering, simple, and never polemical, Michael Abbaté outlines the Bible’s clear spiritual benefits of caring for creation, exploring new motivations and inspired ideas, and revealing the power of our basic connection to all people and living things through the growing interest in spiritual environmentalism.
Green living is no longer a fad—simple lifestyle solutions are now available to everyone. Gardening Eden shows readers how this shift transforms not only our world, but their very souls as they’re drawn into deeper harmony with the Creator. This book invites them to discover the powerful spiritual satisfaction of heeding the call to save our world.

Author Bio:
A nationally recognized expert in “green” development strategies, Mike Abbaté is a founder of GreenWorks, an award-winning landscape architecture design firm. He frequently speaks to students and leaders about practical ways to minimize the impact of building and landscape design on natural resources. Abbaté’s work has been featured in national magazines such as Metropolis and Landscape Architecture and in many local newspapers and trade publications. He and his wife, Vicki, have two adult daughters and live near Portland, Oregon.

Fashion Find Friday: Cutiepies Couture

This week's Fashion Find Friday is Cutiepies Couture, and online boutique by a Twin cities mom, Kori. Kori has 2 girls and a boy to create her designs for. With such great feedback on how adorable her children were dressed, she started making and selling them to others. Kori also brings us some talents designers she's found along the way, like the amazing baby outfits with gorgeous crocheted sweaters and hats from L.C Designs.



If that sock monkey shirt came in my size I would own it!

To read the rest of my article, head over to my column. Fashion Find Friday: Cutiepies Couture

Swear word poll

The other day I had had enough. I see Christian kids, kids I know have their own professed faith in God, not just Christian parents, doing things on facebook like saying "wtf?" and it drives me crazy!
That sparked a debate over here.

I don't have a problem with the use of the word Hell, it is an actual place, but I think it could be used as a swear word. I DO think the word "pissed" or "pisses" is a swear word and I don't think it has a place in teens vocab. Drew disagrees. And apparently so do many Christian teens.

Am I wrong? *gasp!*

Take my poll and leave a comment on what you think about teens using the abbreviations, like wtf. Is it OK if they don't actually write out the word?

*amended to add that when used for peeing, piss is an accurate word, though a little harsh sounding, lol. Just say peepee, OK?

Need ideas

I am looking for some ideas for my newspaper column. I very specifically need fashion shops for children for Fashion Find Friday. I have featured Polliwalks, U*Neaks, and Happy Panda, got any other great places to have featured?
If you are a shop owner, please email me! If you know a great shop, please leave me a link.

I would also love some ideas on articles that would be interesting to parents of children under school age.

Local honey brings allergy relief

Spring has sprung here in Minnesota, and brought along with it allergy season. Allergies to pollens can range from a minor annoyance to a major problem. When it is in your young child, though, you are moved to relieve their suffering. Medications can make your child drowsy, not conducive with enjoying the newly warm weather.

A trip to the local farmer's market may be just the thing to bring relief to those watery eyes and itchy noses. Honey made from local bees is said to work like an allergy shot. Rather than a drug that relieves symptoms, honey has small amounts of digested pollens that trigger responses in the body, possibly preparing it for the onslaught of spring pollens to come.

Continue reading Local honey brings allergy relief.........

Image by Peter Shanks

After all these years...

When I found out I was pregnant with a daughter for the first time I was so excited and filled with dreams. Dreams of lace and dresses and curling hair. Doing finger nails and giggles late at night. Maybe even beauty pageants.

But then I got Kaytlin. Truly she is a girl, but girly-girl has never described her. She has always hated dresses and not only hated having her hair done, but would hide the brush. She did grow into the nail polish, and even last year started curling her hair, much to my delight. But pageants? She was very against them, and doesn't even watch the Miss America Pageant.

But this year......... months before she is grown up and moving out of my house......... she is in a pageant! I tried talking her into it for the last few years and she scoffed at me. But now, thanks to her great friend who filled out the paperwork against her wishes and turned it in, Kaytlin is now going out for Miss Town of Qtpies!

She started out only doing it for the scholarship money, but now she is actually seeing that it will be fun, and give her some great skills for the future. The winner gets a $1000 scholarship and the princesses get $500. They are not to spend their own money on things, either, they are paying for the dresses.

And I am over the moon! Thanks Samantha! I love you!

Potty training boot camp is starting

Last week I told Sam we are not leaving the bathroom until he pees in the potty. It finally happened after 30 minutes. I didn't really push after that, I just wanted to associate the feeling with the action, and he got it.
Well yesterday Sam finally went potty on his own without us asking him all the time. He ran around naked, as always, and would just go potty and come tell us about it. He went about 6 times yesterday, and had one accident in underwear. But without underwear or a diaper he would use the bathroom. OK, so I CAN get him trained, but what happens when I need to leave the house with him? LOL
Today I decided to go for the undies. First thing, he pees in them. Greeaaaaaaaat. Long day ahead of us. I make him clean up his pee now, and that seemed to end it yesterday, so hopefully that is the only accident we will have today.
Wouldn't it be great to have him trained before I leave for the weekend?

I no longer have a co-chaperon for the weekend, her dad has been ill in another state and she is flying out to drive him home. Even though that means I do the girls alone, I also get her grandbaby when I get home on Sunday! I will have him from Sunday to Wed! Woohoo! (she has custody of her grandson)

Strange, weird and fun

My house is just so unique. You truly do not know what to expect over here.

Drew and Trinity are playing a video game and I am listening to their discussion:
Trin "Do you stay inside for a Zombie attack?
Drew "Everyone knows you stay inside during a Zombie attack, kiddo."
Me "Don't you think it is a little off to be having a zombie attack discussion with a 5 year old?"
Drew "No, it is important life lessons."

Um, OK, then, glad you are home to teach her that.

The last two times Drew has come home from the military Sam has had the same reaction. (In Texas he wouldn't look at Drew) Sam sees Drew, even hugs him, but then he remembers that Drew has been gone for a long time and he runs full bore with his fists out and aims right for Drew's nether regions. That'll teach him.

Hope-Anne was talking to me the other day and said she had told a couple of our neighbor kids that she had been up at a certain time or something, can't remember the specifics, and they said "No you weren't." She said "What?" and they replied "Your lights weren't on then." And she said "What???" and they replied "We watch."
Would you be a little weirded out? LOL I keep my drapes shut at night now. Not that they can see if we are up in the family room on the other side of the house, but still, a little creepy, lol.

We were able to babysit a very young baby over night because my friend was sick and you can't deal with a newborn and puking by yourself. We were THRILLED! OK, not all of us were thrilled, but everyone was happy to help out. Hope-Anne and I loved it. Baby snuggles! Warm bottles. Cute baby grins!
Yes, my womb is aching now, lol. But it was so much fun, even getting up to make a bottle at 1:20AM.

Samuel LOVES the baby. He cried and cried last time I babysat, he wanted his baby back. He wailed "Baby goooooooooooooone!" over and over. Pitiful. But this morning, after having him for 24 hours, Samuel brought the car seat to the baby's grandma when she picked him up, lol. No tears at all.

He also peed in the potty again today!

This weekend I get to go chaperon 6 11th graders at Districts in Duluth with one of my best friends, and it is going to be so much fun! (or so I am told) I am hoping to skip out on one thing, though, there is a concert and I am NOT a music fan, and even less of a fan of loud concerts with screaming teenagers. LOL I'll survive, though, and there WILL be earplugs if I have to sit through that.

Anniversary giveaway winners!

The winners of the Fiber One Giveaway are:
#2 Michelle @ www.northofthe49.com
#8 Carrie @ It's Frugal Being Green
#13 Tamara B

The winner of the Exergen thermometer is:
#15 MookieJ of My Kids Are Fun!

The winner of the Tie Buddies is:
#15 Sarah of God's Precious Angels

Congratulations to all of you!
If I do not hear back from a winner within 3 days, I will draw a new winner.

Participating in Turn off the TV week with young children

The Center For Screen-Time Awareness has declared the week of April 20-26 to be Turn Off the TV Week. Now that we know that TV viewing for children under 2 is neither helpful nor harmful, why would we want to participate in the Turn Off the TV Week? Many people who have school age children as well as younger children are going to get requests from the schools to participate for the week. Even if you do not have older children, I believe it is a good idea to give it a try.



I found some interesting facts about TV from turnoffyourtv.com that I would like to share. They really made an impact on me.


TV Facts:

Minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5
Minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

Those are alarming statistics! I believe the habits for TV viewing start at a young age, and parents have the biggest influence on what children spend their time on. We don't have to let these statistics happen in our homes.

This week is a good time to start both the family meal time and the family activity night. Eating together as a family at the table with no distractions is very important to your children, and statistics show that regular eating habits like that show reduced behavior problems and better family communications. Family activity night helps keep the family close and keeps everyone active. It can be as simple as going to the park and playing catch or going out bowling, but being active and being together is very important.


To learn How do get through the week with no TV:
read the rest of my article on Turn off the TV week.

The recession and the new playground

I have seen many changes in and around my community in the last year as our nation has sunk into a recession. My own family was impacted by a 4 month lay off and we have watched many people in our community go through job loss, pay cuts, and spending freezes. It is a tough thing to watch, but seeing people rally around their friends and family to help each other get through it has been a joy.

One of the changes that took me by surprise was going to the playground recently. As my friend and I pushed our children on the swings and followed them around the playground, parents started showing up with their children. Fully half of the parents were men who were out of work. I watched them group together and talk about job hunting and wanting to stay local so they wouldn't miss their children growing up.

Read the rest of my article The recession and the new playground at the Examiner.

Training your baby to drink from a cup

At about 9 months old it is recommended to start teaching children to start using a cup in addition to bottle feeding and nursing. Personally, I am glad we live in the age of plastics so we can not only have sippy cups, but cutes ones as well! Can you imagine having to train your little one to drink from a cup with no lid ever? Sure, I teach my kids that from a young age, but there was no Independence to drinking because they cannot do that without spilling every where.

Sippy cups have become a life saver for parents, but we need to be selective at first. Many sippy cups don't teach our children how to really drink from a cup, they still have to suck and tilt the cup way back to get it all out, like a bottle. Other cups are confusing, like ones with straws, they don't leak, but then when the child gets a straw cup from a restaurant they tip back and spill it every where, usually on a good outfit. Who like cleaning out those nasty valves? Those are a problem for me, too.
Some parents decided that they wanted the best sippy cup on the market and went about inventing it. They called it the Tilty cup. It solves several problems, while still training a child to actually drink from a cup, not sucking like a bottle.

Tilty is not spill proof, it leaks, but that is intentional, so the child doesn't spill it all, but still learns to keep from spilling. There is no sucking because there is no valve, so the child learns how to truly drink from a cup. Tilty also solves the tilting the cup up to the sky problem by having a slanted base in the cup so when the child drinks, the liquid goes to the mouth easily without having to tip their head way back, causing spills.
(dentists recommend not using a cup with a valve when teaching a child to drink from a cup for better dental health)

The Tilty is also BPA Free, PVC Free, Dye Free and Pthalate Free. So many companies we trust with our children are not making products that are proven safe. This cup is made safely.

How did I like this cup? I wasn't too sure about the tilted bottom, but it has worked out really well. Sam and Trinity both ask for this cup, so it is a good thing it comes in a two pack! They both really like it, and I am not sure why they prefer it to their fancy character cups, but they do. One thing that I don't like about it is the lid. It snaps on, but there are tabs so you know you set it on right, it has to go on a certain way because of the tilted inside, but the tabs are not kid friendly. Trinity is 5 and is old enough to handle getting her own refills, but this lid is too confusing for her. It is a minor function problem, though, and I just have to make sure she brings the lid to me to put on so we don't have any more disasters.

I think this is a great training tool to teach a child the actual mechanics of drinking from a cup. It won't replace our insulated and spill proof cups for playing around the house and in the car, but they are great for table use and teaching.

Thanks to MomSelect and Tilty I am able to give away a 2-pack of Tilty cups to one lucky reader!

Please leave a comment about what feature you like about this cup from the Tilty website. The giveaway is open to US residents only, sorry.

Giveaway closes on May 10th, 2009.

This mom is happy!

My oldest son is home for 3 weeks! Drew got home about 1AM today and will be on vacation for a week, then doing work for the recruiter for 2 weeks before he heads to his new base.

What is really cool is that he got his FAA license this week and a guy from our church is an Air Traffic Controller in our little town, so he said Drew could come and watch him at work while he is in town!

Next week I am going to go on a little youth group trip with 4 of my oldest kids to Duluth. I am a chaperon. Not sure what I was thinking. I'm not fond of teens, especially other people's teens, lol. No, really, teens are fun, I just don't like dealing with behavior issues, but this will be fun. Plus I am sharing a room with one of my BFF's, it is bound to be fun!

Donnie gets to stay home with the teen currently being a pain in our butts and the two preschoolers. Should be fun. For them. Not Donnie, lol.

Embarassing!

I have been so embarassed for the last 6 months when we have company over. Our main bathroom has developed a mold problem in the tub. The caulking strip pulled away from the wall in places and started growing science experiments. I can't hide it. I can't get rid of it. I hate it!

I was very excited when Mom Central asked me if I wanted to try X-14 Mold and Mildew Stain Remover! I did hesitate for a moment, because I don't want to admit to having a mold problem, but it is there and I want it GONE. X-14 also says it will work without scrubbing, so I decided I had to give it a try.

I never give things a weak try, so I just sprayed the cleaner on and left the bathroom, no scrubbing, then came back and rinsed a little later. You do need the windows open, although I do think this cleaner is mild compared to most mold and mildew cleaners. The very first time I used it I saw an immediate difference in the mold. Some of the mold was gone and some of the stains were probably about 50% lighter than they were before! So I kept using it.
Since it is safe to use on all sealed tiles and grout I used it all over my tiled bathroom to see what it could do. I could not get rid of marker in the grout, bummer, and soap scum wasn't too impressed with it, but the mold stains continued to be bleached out.

My friend Sassyfrazz said she had amazing results, her major mold problem just went away and she was blown away by it. So I was a bit confused why I was seeing results but the mold won't disappear. I was talking it over with my husband and he explained that the mold isn't the only problem, it is because it is deep into the sticky residue from the caulking strip that I can't get it all out, and it keeps regrowing. Everything above the strip went away, but not in the sticky parts. We are replacing the strip now and using X-14 to keep the mold away.

So, now my big mold problem will not be my big embarassment!

One of those things you never say...

You know how in parenting you say things like "He never eats that." and then he does? Whatever it is, it happens the opposite. Or "It couldn't get any worse than that." and of course, it does.
That happened today. OK, so it has been happening consistently since Samuel was born.

Trinity took every single thing that drove us nuts with the older kids, and put them all down in the puny category. Her playing in poop every. single. day. drove me nearly to the brink. Then Sam came along and I knew it couldn't get any worse than Trinity. But it did. He used to eat his own poop or the cat's poop. He still has a big love for dog and cat food to this day. And he keeps getting more and more gross.

Tonight I told Donnie to come watch the kids while I concentrate on washing dishes and cleaning up the house. I hear him yelling at Sam, (not meanly) and he is all agitated. I figure he's pooped and Donnie stepped in it or something gross. Nope. No poop. And I know you will be especially glad to read that, Sarah!

Trinity had been cleaning up the straws she dumped out on the table and Sam took one. Donnie caught him with a mouthful of water and a straw. But no cup. "Sam, where'd you get the water?" So Sam walks into the bathroom and spits the water into the toilet. Oh, yes, I am going there. He did. He started to reach that straw into the toilet for another mouthful.

Donnie was gagging and yelling at Sam. "That is so gross! You don't do that! That is soooo wrong!" With gagging between sentences. I was cracking up!

But I wonder, can you put toilet water in your mouth and not get sick? LOL Should I call poison control? LOL

So, the moral of the story is this: Never say it can't get any more gross than this. It can.

Joolwe~ A review

Kaytlin is getting ready for prom next month, and part of looking good is having gorgeous jewelry, too. Kaytlin loves silver jewelry that is not too complicated, just simple and elegant.
I got these pieces for her to wear to prom, a simple set of CZ stud silver earrings and CZ silver pendant, from a Cubic Zirconia and Silver Jewelry Store called Joolwe.

We were so pleased with the size of the stones! They are perfect for dressy wear, though Kaytlin does wear the necklace often, the earrings she is saving for more fancy occasions. They jewelry is very well made and we are both pleased with everything about them.

I love several pieces in their Elle Jewelry Collection, too. Just gorgeous! Especially their unique collection of silver hoop earrings, so many different styles to choose from. Joolwe also has a jewelry blog that you can check out for news on jewelry.

Thank you, Joolwee and Family Review Network for this great set of Joolwe!

Is there nowhere safe?

I have a rule in my house that is non-negotiable; no one rides alone in a car with someone of the opposite sex. Period. Not negotiable.
However, the choice was taken out of my hands for driver's ed when the last class was individual with the instructor. I was not happy about it at all. Even though I thought he was a great teacher and a nice guy.

Guess what? I should have really fought it. That teacher that was alone with both of my oldest two children is in prison right now for having child pornography on his school computer. This doesn't mean that he molested anyone in our school, but that he had a sexual interest in minors. And he was alone with two of my children.

Parents, please, please make this rule for your family and don't make exceptions. It isn't safe for your children to be alone with people, even if you trust them. Even if they pass background checks. You do. not. know.

My initial reason for this rule was to protect my marriage. I don't think it is safe to ride with someone else, even if it is just for appearance. The Bible says to avoid even the appearance of evil, and if someone thinks you might be cheating on your spouse, it could lose your witness. However, not riding alone also protects you from someone who would try to seduce you, and if rebuffed would make false accusations that could destroy your family. (I've watched that happen to a family) It protects you from succumbing to that temptation. It protects your children from predators, and from temptation.

Be safe. Don't take chances with your family.

Monsters! Aliens!

Donnie and I went out last night as a sort of anniversary date, but mostly just to get some stress relief from parenting issues. We went out to eat, not a big deal, just KFC, who apparently think that turning up the heat so that you are sweating will stop you from eating too much at the all you can eat buffet. And it works.

After that we went to see Monsters Vs. Aliens, but the theater didn't have the 3D version, which was a bummer.

It is a pretty cute movie. Not a monster hit (pun intended), but good. We'll probably buy it when it comes out. We will probably even see it again in theaters if we can find someone who has it in 3D, there are some scenes that would be way cool in 3D!

Overall, I think it is a great movie to take your kids to. Trinity and Sam both loved it when Donnie took them a few weeks ago, Sam even sat through the whole thing. It wasn't scary to them, but they don't tend to have that problem.

Being a parent

Parenting is the toughest job in the world.

Is there anything else to add to that?

One day you are just tearing up in pride over your child, and the next you are mourning over their dumb choices. You still love them and are still proud of who they are, but you just grieve over them sometimes. You have to fight for their very soul at times. You can see them falling and falling, and you can't let go, there are no limits to what you want to do to save them. Sometimes you have to let go and let them fall, but not before you've tried to keep them safe.

Sponge Bob Square Butt?

Burger King made a commercial spoof of the song "I like big butts" to promote their new Sponge Bob kids meals. It is a bit of a controversy, though. They did it with Nickolodeon and both companies say that it is aimed at adults, and that they won't air it before 9PM.

I am not saying it is a horrible commercial, but I am surprised at Burger King. Kids meals are aimed at very young children, and this is not an appropriate song for them, not even their version. It is kind of funny for adults and teens, not the target market, though. We all know and are not at all fooled that the toys are marketed to children.


What do you think? Should they be pulling these ads?

How to wash cloth diapers

How to wash cloth diapers written for the Examiner:

Washing cloth diapers seems to be what scares people off from using them. Many people think it is gross, or that it will be a lot of extra work, or possibly expensive. I have not found those to be a problem at all. It hasn't been a lot of extra work to me to add 2 loads of laundry a week and the added utility usage has not been noticed at all.

The first thing to know about washing cloth diapers is what NOT to do. When you put a large investment into something you want to be sure you are taking the best care of it.

What not to do:
1. Do not use bleach; it breaks down the fabric and it is bad for baby's skin
2. Never use fabric softeners; it makes the fabric repel fluids
3. Do not use natural soaps; it builds up like soap scum on the fabric
4. Do not use a lot of detergent in the wash; it causes build up that can cause bacterial growth and smells
5. Be careful what rash creams you use, they can cause staining, I recommend Aquaphor.

Know that you know what not to do, what kind of products should you use? Generally, most detergents work fine in moderation, as long as you are careful to avoid things with fabric softeners, and some people recommend avoiding citrus products in the detergent, also, to avoid allergies. Most infant detergents contain softeners.

What are safe options for cleaning products?
1. Detergents that do not contain soap, citrus, fabric softeners or bleach
a. Allen's Laundry detergent
b. Tide
c. Soap Nuts
d. Bi-O-Kleen
e. Planet Ultra Powdered Laundry Detergent
2. baking soda
3. vinegar
4. Dawn dish soap, original
5. Eucalan "no rinse" Wool Wash

Generally, it is a very easy task to wash the diapers, with minimal extra steps. You have the option of storing the used diapers in either a wet pail (soaking diapers) or a dry pail (no water) with a pail liner. However, I strongly recommend not using a wet pail because they are a drowning hazard for young children, the breed bacteria, and they break down the waterproof materials in diapers and liners. A standard wet bag works well for storing diapers, and goes right in the wash with the diapers.

Exclusively breastfed baby poop does not need to be rinsed out at all, just toss the diaper in the bag, the poop will dissolve completely in the wash. After a baby is introduced to solids or is on formula, the poop just needs to be dropped out into the toilet, no need for dunking, what isn't solid enough to fall off easily washes out. However, if you prefer, you can get a sprayer that attaches to the toilet to rinse off all feces before storing the diaper for washing.

When you are ready to wash, generally every 2 to 3 days in the beginning, you only need to dump your diapers out into the washer along with the bag.

How to wash cloth diapers:
1. dump the diapers in the washer
2. run a cold rinse to remove waste
3. run a hot wash with 1/4 the amount of detergent used for clothing
4. run an extra rinse to remove all suds, add vinegar for odor removal and a natural fabric softener
5. dry the diapers on the line or in the dryer
6. fold and go!

Drying the diapers out in the sun is the best way to preserve the life of your diapers. But it has another benefit; the sun removes stains and odors! Any stains that didn't wash out will be bleached out by the sun. The sun is a natural anti-bacterial product and perfect for preventing odors, plus it is a much cheaper way of drying. Here in Minnesota, it isn't always possible to dry outside, so sometimes using the dryer is necessary. Dryers can lead to an early break down of fabrics and it sets stains in for good if you don't catch them.

Jennifer's Cloth Diaper Boutique has offered my readers a 5% discount with the code trycloth, plus free shipping on all orders over $49.

20 years

It is officially 20 years of marriage for Donnie and I today.

He said "I'm really happy. Never bored, but really happy."

LOL He isn't as big a fan of all the teens hanging out as I am. We've had nonstop teens at our house this spring break. 17 of them last night. Fun times. Maybe not what we envisioned 20 years ago, but certainly something that I love.

Donnie wants to sell our house and live in an RV when the kids all move out. I want to keep my giant house and fill the rooms with bunk beds for the tons of grandkids we are bound to have. Wouldn't it just be a blast to be the summer hang out for all the grandkids? We are so different, lol.

Oh well, that is what makes us work.

Whoa!

Where did the time go? 20 years ago I was getting ready for my wedding.

Now here I sit, with 7 kids, one an adult child. My life is so drastically different for me. I was still in high school. Planning a wedding while still trying to pass my classes, and find a maternity outfit that would look good for graduation. Yep, great life, huh?

I wish things had been different, but I am very glad with where my life has taken me. I have learned to be a pretty good mom, a bit strict in some areas, and too lax in others, but over-all, I think my children are turning out well. They love the Lord, so I did the most important part right.

I also feel like I finally have something that is uniquely me that I didn't have for most of my marriage. Writing this blog and doing reviews and writing for the newspaper have all given me a purpose and a joy that is outside of my family life. There IS a Lisa in here, too, you know? I am loving that!

But best of all, after 20 years, I actually know what love really is. I had no idea when I got married. In fact, now I wouldn't say that we were actually in love back then. We had no clue. I don't think I fell in love until after we'd had 3 kids. But now I know that love isn't just a feeling or an attraction. It is a commitment. A team, bonded for better or worse. Over looking faults to get to the best of both of you. Two in physical body, but one in spirit. Just not perfectly one, lol.

I don't feel very eloquent about it, but wow, where on earth did 20 years go?

What is your favorite color?

Typically, green itself isn't my favorite color, but I love many shades of green. One of my favorite greens is money green! I love to save money. I NEED to save money. Unfortunately, I have to spend money, so when I can do things that cost less, I am thrilled!

Electrolux has a new color of "green" for us. Kelly Green. As in Kelly Ripa and going green. They have unveiled a new washer and dryer that are up to 83% more efficient! That adds up to a lot of savings! Much less water usage, less electricity, and less laundry soap, all add up for big savings. And these appliance are available for a limited time in the Kelly Green shade.

Just in time for Earth day, Electrolux is kicking off its virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA. Starting today, when you go to electroluxappliances.com and plant a virtual flower for a friend, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their healthy green schools initiatives across America. Everyone who logs on to the site and plants a virtual flower will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!

If you are a member of Mom Central, you can head over there and leave a comment about the flower you planted and be entered for another set! I am all over this one, because with the amount of laundry I do, even 50% savings would add up to big $$$$$ for us. It would probably pay for the washer in a year!

An escape artist

Have you ever just known what career your child was going to have before they even started school? Well, I know.
Samuel is going to be an escape artist. Or a track star. Or both.
The turd is lightening fast. I can barely catch him when he is running. I realize I am not exactly speedy, but he is TWO. And he has a knack for disappearing. Because he can go so fast. We have started leaving the house locked up, which is weird because I don't even lock it unless we are going away for the weekend. But when we are inside, it is locked up tight. Sam can get out the back door fast and disappear faster than that.

Tonight I was at church for Easter rehearsal and left the kids in charge of him. No one in particular, but mainly Devon and Cody, because Kaytlin wasn't down stairs and I had assigned her to cleaning the kitchen floor on her hands and knees. (that's another story)

Donnie didn't show up at church and neither of us had a cell, so I called home to see if he had checked in, he hadn't, but I got an interesting story. Sam had disappeared. The police found him in the playground right next to their parking lot. Meaning he crossed two streets, one of which is very dangerous. And the dog was with him. He wasn't wearing a coat or shoes or socks.

One police officer found Cody searching for Sam, and he had the dog in the backseat, so he took Cody and the dog home and told him to send Kaytlin for Sam. So Kaytlin goes to get him, and apparently she wasn't bawling so the police officer decided that she should be. She reamed Kaytlin a new butt hole and sent her on her way. Kaytlin wasn't even in charge and she told her she should be more responsible because she is 17 and "some babysitter you are!" When Kaytlin talked to us later she was just in tears for being treated so disrespectfully.

Ooooh! I was so happy that Sam was safe, and don't get me wrong, I was ticked that Sam got out, but that was uncalled for. A badge doesn't give you the right to abuse someone. So I made a stop to the station and had a little talk with the officer. She came over and apologized to Kaytlin. Kaytlin feels much better now because she was able to tell her how she feels after getting time to think about how it felt all that time.

I asked about how Sam was with going with the police and she said he went fine and was very good, but he wasn't dressed right so his skin was cold and they wrapped him in blankets. They asked him where his mom was and he said "Mommy gone." I was gone from the house! And they asked him his name and he pointed to his shirt and said "Hulk." Yes, that is his alter ego. He wasn't really happy to see her when she came by to apologize to Kaytlin, lol. But he did recognize her and he did say bye when she left.

What a crazy night! I can't imagine how scared the kids were when he was missing! Well, I can, since he did this recently to me, but they have the added fear of dealing with me. I am sort of glad I didn't have the fear until after it was over.

For the record, Kaytlin made sure the doors were locked, but someone took the trash out and either didn't lock the door behind them, or he snuck out while they were behind the garage. And Kaytlin was in the shower when it happened. So not her fault, but she got the brunt of the officer's wrath. One of them was nice, not saying it was OK, but respectful, one was pretty mean.

And Sam got a new stuffed kitty out of the deal. That may not have been a smart idea, he may want to keep going there, lol.

It's Spring!

Spring means time to clean. So I am scrubbing floors and walls and harassing kids to vacuum in the couch cushions and stuff.
Easter is at my house with Donnie's family. It always is, and I love it! We bought our house because of the enormous dining room that is not only great for our large family, but big enough for entertaining, too. We enjoy having people over. Even if that does mean cleaning.

I am kind of bummed that Drew won't be home for Easter, but that is how it goes when the kids grow up. He will be home late next weekend and will be here for 3 weeks, possibly. Then he will be stationed South Dakota! Not all that close, but close enough for holidays and special occasions, like graduation.

I have been mourning the quiet table lately. Only Drew is out of the house, but the table seems so empty and quiet. Even when we have the extra kids we've seemed to have acquired lately. I don't know why, but I just feel like someone is missing. Donnie says to enjoy it, lol, but I want to fill that table with kids. Maybe when Drew is home it won't feel so empty.

Today Samuel peed on the potty! I was determined that he was not leaving the bathroom until he peed IN the potty. It took 30 minutes, but he finally felt it coming, stood in front of the seat and peed standing up, but only a little bit, then finished in his diaper. I think it is a victory, though!

Duluth with the Girls

If you read my last post you will know that I needed this next weekend to be about FUN for me. For probably the last year and a half my girl friends and I have talked about getting a weekend away. With the retreat preparations we were just frazzled and decided to make it our weekend after we were done with the church retreat. Coincidentally, we are all bloggers, lol.
Jody was the planner, and it was her husband's hotel rewards that got us an amazing suite right on Lake Superior with an amazing view of the light houses and the ships coming in! She is on my women's ministry team. Anna is also on my team and went through lots of lovely spiritual attacks preparing for our event. Sarah and Jeannie are not part of our team, but they were big parts of our event and did the worship and singing, and Jeannie was at most of our planning meetings. So, it was the 5 of us and two babies.
Here we are ready to head out of Jody's driveway! Don't we look excited?When we hit Duluth we were starving and went out to eat at a Chinese Buffet. Lets just say we won't eat there again. And didn't tip well.
Here we are at the hotel. The babes were sleeping and we posed for pics to remember our weekend. We plan to put the picture on coffee cups. Jeannie has a timer on her camera and had to run over and get in position, lol.

This is Jody, Sarah and I hamming it up for the camera.

The running joke all weekend was that Jody and I are control freaks. I may or may not be a bit more vocal about it, but Jody is more stubborn. Ok, so I was probably the worst this weekend, lol. On the drive up I said we needed to set some guidelines to make the weekend go smoothly. They all took me serious and there were heads turning to look at me with concern.

I told them that farting needed to be done in the bathroom and pooping needed to be done in the bathroom in the lobby, not the room so we didn't need to smell each other's poop.

Needless to say, they didn't care what I thought about that, and some of them pooped in the suites bathroom. I know, because I could smell it.

Jody, Jeannie and Anna went to watch the lift bridge the second day and saw this sign and knew they had to take a picture for me. Look closely.

You know what guys think girls do on sleep overs right? Yep, have pillow fights! Well, we thought it would be funny to have pillow fights and take pics for our hubby's. Jody conked out though, so she slept right through it, hehe.

This is me beating up Sarah after she put me in a headlock and took me down. And about 5 minutes later we had security show up at our door. But we weren't doing anything by that time, lol.

We also did girly things, like Sarah and Jody dyed their hair, and some of us who were not sleeping did a lavender foot soak in the tub and sat and talked and shared deep thoughts. Then we did our finger and toe nails, even adding bling to them.

We were all sad to see the weekend come to an end.

We went out to get one last picture together and a guy that was walking with his wife offered to take it for us so we could all be in it. Suddenly he had 4 cameras thrust at him instead of the one pic he thought he was getting into, he set them down and pretended he was going to run away, lol. He was a great sport and did a good job getting the ship in the background.

I highly recommend a girls weekend to everyone! We were just "us" and not mommy or wife or leaders or anything. Just us.

Really, the weekend was very amazing. Anna heard from God, and that was neat. Sarah, Jeannie and I had a spontaneous worship service in the car the second day. Sarah and I were just crying in awe at our amazing and awesome God! Just the best weekend! I love you, my friends! Thanks for loving every control freak part of me and not letting me get away with it, lol. You are my best friends and I thank God for you.

Survivor~ Laughter Island 2009

No, it is not a TV show, it is the women's retreat at my church two weekends ago, and a great part of the reason I haven't been blogging so much.

I am the Women's ministry leader at my church along with two great team members (who happen to both be bloggers, thanks to me). We started planning this great retreat a few months ago. We had a couple of goals and reasons behind it. Being a Christian doesn't bring a peaceful, perfect life, sometimes there are some nasty and horrible things that you have to go through. But with Christ we can be victorious Survivors! And joy and laughter are a big part of getting through things successfully. We have been really led to believe that the women in our church need emotional healing, and what better way than through laughter? That was our goal, to reach women where they are and to help them to laugh no matter what the circumstances.

This is our mascot, Crush, a real sea turtle that someone from the church owns. This amazing couple lent us whatever sea creatures we wanted so that we could decorate islandy! We even had horseshoe crabs, corral, tons of shells and even a puffer fish! It was such a blessing to be able to decorate with real shells and for free.

I started out the evening with a great "ice breaker." Literally, lol. The women had to get marbles out of a bucket of ice with their toes!

They had a blast, even if they were cheating and throwing the ice out with the marbles.

The point was that we are willing to go through pain to get to the reward. And God does reward us when we go through tough times, it is well worth it if we let God direct us and lead us to His plan.

As you can see, laughter was definitely part of our weekend. The ice was just so much fun, they had to switch off every 30 seconds and see which team got the most marbles.

The catch was that the winning team got a special dessert, and the losing team got kitchen clean up!

I have to say, my friend Jody is on my team and she picked out a Javanese Dinner for the meal. I must have fought her for a month, because it sounded disgusting to me. Finally I gave in and let her have her way, and it was the most amazing meal! Oh my goodness! Delicious! The speaker was even motivated to talk about it!

The skit we had was incredibly funny! It was about being naked without the armor of God, and lets just say that none of us there that night are ever going to get that image out of our heads, LOL. We had to kick the men running the electronics out of the room and stop the video taping. Ahem. hehe
We had an amazing speaker that night. Wow! She is a cancer survivor (which is part of why we picked her) and she is a humorous motivational speaker (the other reason we picked her).

We were overwhelmed at how much everyone loved her! She told jokes, and motivated, and shared, and moved us to tears. Lots and lots of laughter, though.

I also gave my testimony that night. I have hesitated with putting it on my blog because I don't tell my family about it because I didn't want them to hate my husband after we got through our problems. I also have hesitated giving it at church because, despite being Christians, many church people are so amazingly judgemental and I was concerned that they wouldn't see the freedom and only see the past about my husband. However, God told me to give it, and I was approached by a few people who really thanked me for doing it.

We had an overnighter, but most people went home to sleep in their own beds. We met up the next morning for breakfast and more games.

First thing was the bug hunt. They had to dig for bugs blind folded. In kitty litter. With tootsie roll turds. And water to make it wet and clumpy.

Yes, we are that mean! But it was fun and Cindy in the red went for it and did great! (the gal in the pink is the one who lent us the decorations)

Then came the fun part of the weekend. The part that we kept secret and just could not wait to do!

What would a Survivor event be like without an eating challenge? OH you know it!

Here is Kathy prepping Betty for her challenge, and they knew it was bad by the smell coming from under the cover.

We were not all mean, two were easy and two were hard.

The first food, just to set the fear in place, was 100 year old ostrich eggs, which were really sour kraut juice and a canned apricot. Difficult to get down, but not bad.

Then we had bugs. Nasty beetles and spiders and caterpillars. OK, they weren't that bad! They were gummy bugs with hard candy coating on the outside, gooey gummy on the inside.

After that came the sardines! One gal went to town on them like she was addicted to them! It was great! We later found out she does NOT eat fish.

The last food revealed was a cupcake with a gummy bug, lol. They were scared to open it, but it was funny to get a great food.

The weekend was a big hit! Let me tell you why. Our team did everything wrong that could be done wrong. We forgot things, we procrastinated, we were sick for WEEKS ON END, we lost our notes more than once, and just plain stunk at being organized. We were under such spiritual attacks that we just knew it was going to be important. (endless sickness, panic attacks) But we trusted God, and every where we turned we could see God's plan in things, so we went with the obvious things and trusted God to bring it together. Getting out of God's way made this the best event I have ever been a part of. All the glory goes to God!

What is it with guys?

I gave Sam a bath tonight and as I was drying him off in the diaper area he says "Hey, that's mine!"
Dude, I certainly don't want one of those, and if I did, it wouldn't be a little boy one, lol.

Finding God in The Shack

I have heard so many things about The Shack, both good and bad and very bad. But it cannot be disputed that the book is very well written, and very controversial.
Theologian Randal Rauser has written the book Finding God in The Shack to show how people can do just that, and to have an intelligent conversation about the book. I know that I need help putting my thoughts in order when it comes to some controversial topics, so I think people are going to appreciate this book.



Summary:

A child is brutally murdered. Her father receives an invitation from “Papa” (God) to meet him at the very shack where this horrific event took place. Upon arrival, he is swept up in the embrace of Papa—a large, motherly, African-American woman. This most unlikely of stories, as told in William Young’s The Shack, has become a runaway bestseller, and it is easy to see why. The book brings us on a redemptive journey through the shacks of deepest pain and suffering in our lives, guided by the triune God of Christian faith. But even as lives have been transformed through this book, other readers have sternly denounced it as a hodgepodge of serious theological error, even heresy. With one pastor urging his congregation to read it and another forbidding his congregation to do so, many Christians have simply been left confused.

In his new book, Finding God in The Shack, theologian and author Randal Rauser takes readers on a fascinating journey through the pages of the story that has ignited the church’s interest in the Trinity, a doctrine that has long been locked away in seminary classrooms. “As a theologian, it is wonderful—if a bit humbling—to witness the Trinity now emerging as a topic of lively conversations at the local coffee shop, and all because of a novel,” Rauser says. “But while those conversations have not typically lacked for enthusiasm and conviction, many of them would benefit from some deeper background as to the theological issues at stake.”

As Rauser explores the intricacies of the plot, he addresses many of the book’s complex and controversial issues. In the process, he explains why God the Father is revealed as an African-American woman, defends the book’s theology of the Trinity against charges of heresy, and considers its provocative denial of a Trinitarian hierarchy. At its heart The Shack is a response to evil, and Rauser offers an honest and illuminating discussion of the book’s explanation for why God allows evil, how the atoning work of Christ offers new hope to a suffering world, and ultimately how this hope extends to all of creation.
Whether they have been inspired, challenged, or even threatened by Young’s novel, Finding God in The Shack is an essential tool for readers who want to better understand the Scriptural truths contained in the book’s message and to apply those truths to their own lives. Each chapter concludes with a set of provocative discussion questions, making Finding God in The Shack an ideal vehicle for small group discussion.

“It is true that The Shack asks some hard questions and occasionally takes positions with which we might well disagree. But surely the answer is not found in shielding people from the conversation, but rather in leading them through it,” Rauser states. “After all, it is through wrestling with new ideas that one learns to deal with the nuance and complexity that characterize an intellectually mature faith. The Shack will not answer all our questions, nor does it aspire to. But we can be thankful that it has started a great conversation.”

Finding God In the Shack is available at Amazon for about $10, and is also available for Kindle.

If Tomorrow Never Comes book review

Marlo Schalesky’s If Tomorrow Never Comes (Multnomah Books) is such a creative and fun book to read. There are some heartbreaking moments, but there is hope; and twists that make for some interesting reading.

The book is about a couple who met on the beach as children. Her, a pastors daughter, and him, the son of an abusive alcoholic. They have such a strong love until years of infertility threaten to tear apart their marriage.

A surprise stranger intervenes and helps them come together again. It was a strange twist that made me think.

The heartaches that they go through in the book touched me and there were moments I just broke down and cried. (always a sign of a good book!)

Summary:
Childhood sweethearts Kinna and Jimmy Henley had simple dreams—marriage, children, a house by the sea… Everything they needed for happily ever after. What they didn’t plan on was years of infertility, stealing those dreams, crushing their hopes.
Now, all that’s left is the memory of young love, and the desperate need for a child to erase the pain. Until…
When Kinna rescues an elderly woman from the sea, the threads of the past, present, and future weave together to reveal the wonder of one final hope. One final chance to follow not their dreams, but God’s plan.
Can they embrace the redemptive power of love before it’s too late? Or will their love be washed away like the castles they once built upon the sand?

Author Bio:
Marlo Schalesky is the author of several books, including Beyond the Night and Empty Womb, Aching Heart. A graduate of Stanford University, Marlo also has a masters of theology with an emphasis in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Married over twenty years, she lives with her husband, Bryan, and their five children in California.

You can purchase If Tomorrow Never Comes at Amazon.

Time outs that work!

I have never been a fan of time outs, except for mommy, of course. I just didn't like having to keep putting a screaming child into time out over and over again. They never seemed to get it. Some of my children couldn't deal with the time thing, they need swift discipline that was over quickly. I gave up on time out with my first 5 children. But then I had Trinity and Sam.

I don't know why, but I just didn't want to spank for everything. I also have done some babysitting, so I needed to be consistent with disciplining all the children the same. But doing time out was not working.

Then I found the Time Out Pad and knew I needed to give it a try. When it arrived and I pulled it out of the box I had very curious children wondering what it was. The older kids had their doubts, and so did I, but Sam and Trinity were eager to see what it was and how it worked.


The Time Out Pad has a pressure sensitive base to sit on. I set the timer, which adjust by the standard one minute per year of age, and it is not easy to adjust, so the child can't change it themselves.
I then pushed the button to turn on the pad and set Samuel on it. The red light turned on. We encouraged him to stay sitting. Of course he got off of it, and an alarm went off, designed to alert parents of the child's disobedience. The alarm doesn't stop until the child gets back on, then it resumes the timer where it left off.

Halfway through a yellow light comes on. That alerts the child that they are getting closer. Soon a green light comes on and the pad starts playing a happy tune to let everyone know that the time is up and it is time to apologize.

Sam really loved the pad and wanted to keep playing with it. I was very worried that when we tried it out when he was in trouble that it wasn't going to work. But it did!

When Sam starts having a tantrum I take him aside and tell him that he needs to calm down and then set up the pad. Sam calms right down and sits through his time, and sometimes wants a second round! After the time is up I will ask him to say he is sorry and then we hug.

Wow, I have to tell you that I am a big fan! I still believe in spanking, but I can save that for biggies now. The Time Out Pad has really helped calm Samuel down, and even Trinity, who is 5, does very well with it. The only thing I disagree on is the warnings that are in the instructions. I don't believe that a child needs more than one warning. The first offense needs to be explained, but after that, and every time after that, a child needs to be disciplined. I believe delayed obedience is disobedience.

You can purchase The Time Out Pad for $34.99 from Keen Distribution. They have several other great products, too. One that I just love and wish I had had from child #1 is The Mommy Hook. It hooks onto the stroller or cart and holds your purse and diaper bag securely. It cannot be stolen or dropped. It is also great for holding your shopping bags, too. Because it is metal, it will not break under the weight.