For Me to Live Is Christ

Because I was asked...

2012-02-15T10:48:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, but I felt a little weird posting a picture of my ring. Honestly, I guess I get nervous anytime I get anything "nice." I once overheard someone pick up a budget sheet and remark..."I can't believe we pay the pastor that much." I think I have inwardly cringed at every single financial meeting after that.

Here it is...I actually picked out the "engagement ring" and Ryan picked out the wedding band. I was a little nervous how it was going to look together since the engagement ring is curved and the band is not, but I think it looks lovely together. I originally wanted to buy a used vintage set, but I don't know enough about jewelry to know if we would be making a good purchase, and when we found out how much we would get for trading in my old ring, we decided it was best to go with buying something new.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T10:39:00.000-05:00

We celebrated yesterday since Ryan had the day off. I had gotten the kids each a small gift and candy. We had pizza, cupcakes and red kool-aid! It was a fun day together.

Ryan got me a new wedding ring set. We have been talking a long time about either fixing or updating my set. I had my wedding ring cut off during one of the pregnancies...I think with Evan. I was so little when I got married, I think my ring size was 4. So I wore a cheap basic band all these years. Ryan told me that he wanted to buy me a nice piece of jewelry this year...he does that sometimes on Valentine's Day and we talked about what to do with my wedding ring. I looked around and found a style I liked. He took in my cut ring and they gave him more money for it than he originally paid! I love my new set...very pretty!

And for everyone who has asked me about Piper. She is doing some better. Not sleeping well at night, but right now she is feeding well and is even eating some oatmeal cereal!

Heavy Days

2012-02-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

Been a bit of a cloud over the Eaton house lately. Piper has been struggling with reflux...or something. All of the children had a difficult times with digestion issues as a baby. It's a trying time for me at the moment. Trying to figure out how to feed her to keep her minimally comfortable. Not much sleep. And in the midst of it all, I'm teaching kids how to count money, how to write a book report, memorizing multiplication facts, how to write in cursive, and phonics rules. And trying to fit in a little housework. The keyword being little. Which bugs me. I feel even more stressed with disorganization everywhere. 7 people live in our house...believe me disorganization abounds. I'm trying to remember that eventually she will outgrow all of this and Ryan lets me take a little catnap in the evenings which helps immensely. Of course he is so helpful around the house, but at the moment he has one of those killer head colds. He looks a little pitiful, and I have great fears about his upcoming trip in a couple weeks.

Piper does go to the doctor today so maybe some new medications will help. She is such a good, happy-go-lucky baby. I hate to see anything take her beautiful smile away.

Is there nothing to sing about to-day? Then borrow a song from to-morrow; sing of what is yet to be. Is this world dreary? Then think of the next. —C.H. Spurgeon

Growing Pains

2012-01-26T13:33:00.001-05:00

32 years isn't long to know much. 20-some years later, I am still learning how to be a Christ-follower. 5 kids later, and I am still learning how to be a parent, and 12 years later Ryan and I are still learning how to be husband and wife.

I do a lot of stuff, I guess. I once had a lady ask me (and I don't think it was in a good way), "Is there anything you can't do?" I really strive to be transparent. Just because I do a lot of things, doesn't necessarily mean that I do them all well. Most of the time I am just giving it my best shot and praying it all turns out and when it doesn't I pray more and get up the next day and try again.

Marriages are full of bumps or maybe even some head-on collisions. Ryan and I hit a bump yesterday. I learned that he had given away something of mine that held immense sentimental value. He hadn't asked me or communicated this with me. It broke my heart. Like into a tiny, million pieces. There were a lot of tears. Ryan felt horrible. I felt horrible. We texted back and forth and battled this out all evening long when he got home. Through it all though I knew that Ryan would never hurt me on purpose, and I knew I had to sort out my feeling and emotions to let it go. My head knew this, but my heart was a different story. We worked through it together and through much prayer on my own. The sun went down with Ryan and I snuggled up closer than ever.

He loves me. I love him.
I forgive him. He forgives me.
We're just two very imperfect people committed to loving each other no matter what.

My 5 kiddies were tucked into each of their beds. God reminded me that I had everything I really needed. My memories are still intact and hopefully what I treasured for so many years will bring happy memories to someone else.

And if you happen to see me wearing a new diamond ring in the near future, you'll know why! ;)

Some of my favorite things right now

2012-01-24T14:50:00.001-05:00

Just thought I would share...

This thing is genius. Pip is small for her age but at 6 months she still loves sleeping in it. Sometimes she will wake up from her nap and I give her a few rocks and she is back out for another hour. I like having her by me at night. It's high enough for me to just roll over and check on her or give her a rock or two if she is stirring. It's also inclined which works out great because Piper has reflux issues.

John Stott Bible Study on Acts We are using this for extra study for our Sunday School study on the book of Acts. I love this study book. I'm sure it won't be the last John Stott Bible Study book I pick up.

I love the Kindle Fire. It has been perfect for me. I love the way I have been able to organize blogs I read on Pulse as well as using this as an e-reader. Although I think Griffin's kindle touch is easier to read on, I like that I do get color illustrations. It's like the thrill of my life to come across a good kindle deal which leads me to my next favorite thing...

Challies Dot Com: Informing the Reforming Not only is this a great informative sight, he always has info on kindle deals. I got a color illustrated Pilgrim's Progress a week or so ago for $1! Pilgrim's Progress could be another one of my favorite things. It is one of my favorite reads and I have been enjoying reading it updated in modern language with the color illustrations!

Heart of Dakota Homeschool Curriculum. We won't be starting this until the fall, but I still look over the catalog and dream. I know my kids are going to love this!

Our church is doing Finally Alive + it's study guide for our Wednesday Night Bible Study. Good stuff. This was from the digging deeper section I did this morning...And when you hear Jesus say, "The Spirit blows where it wills," don't hear him taking from you the will that you treasure, but hear him giving to you eyes to see Christ as your treasure. I love this study.

Orange Juice with high pulp. Ryan came home with some really good oj some months back and I was dismayed to see that it said "high pulp." The little kid in me about gagged, but not wanting to be picky I went ahead and drank a glass full. Yum-o. I loved all those pieces of pulp. Who knew.

And of course I have to end with my own little family.

Ty is growing so fast. What a wonderful big brother. Love to see the Lord working in his little heart. This morning he asked me to explain faith and where it comes from to him. He's always thinking.

Griffin. Oh, Griffin. He is one special child. He doesn't have too many teeth in his head and I like hearing his slurred speech. He begged me to allow him to buy The Hobbit on his kindle. I agreed for him to try to read through the sample thinking that would deter him. That didn't work and a few weeks later he is getting close to finishing it up. He reads it every night at bed time. The Hobbit was required reading for me in the 7th grade. He is in the 2nd grade. Sigh. We've already went through $95 worth of books on his kindle (some of it was money he got for Christmas).

Evan is a lover of sports at the moment. He is really enjoying basketball and he's the most natural athlete of all the boys.

Julianna is still a wild woman. Full of color and personality. You can see her fingerprints (aka messes) all over our house.

And our little Pip. She's changed our family forever and bring so much joy to each of us. I love the age gap between her and the other children. Such a treat to watch them loving and interacting with her.

And my very favorite person on this earth. Ryan is my great gift. Love spending my life with him.

Can't even think of a title

2012-01-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

I'm not a real emotional person. So when I find myself being overcome with emotion it is just weird for me, and I'm not sure what to do with it. I like to feel strong, steadfast, and secure, but there are times in life where even the most non-emotional people will find themselves grappling with their emotions. Wednesday night our dear neighbor and friend suffered a stroke. Since then I can't even look out the back window without great sadness hovering over me because I know that she is not there. I've also done a lot of thinking. Paul and Jan sold us this lot over 3 years ago now (it wasn't for sale...Paul just called one day and offered to sell it to us), and I just love living here and I love our home. I've come to realize though that a lot of what I love so much about living here is having Paul and Jan in our backyard. And I'm not ready for that to change.

I do not know what the future holds, but I am fervently praying for her recovery. Please spend special time in prayer for Jan, Paul and their family.

Sorry I didn't read it sooner

2012-01-17T14:09:00.000-05:00

Silly old bear...

I've never liked cartoonish things for the kids. I have always tried to steer clear (although persuaded by my kids on a few occasions) of buying clothing or shoes with cartoon characters on them. And I never could figure out why anyone would want to decorate their baby nursery with Winnie-the-Pooh...UNTIL I began reading The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh to Julianna. It was on the recommended reading list of the Charlotte Mason kindergarten schedule I have been using. I know that I love story time more than her, but she pulls out her book nearly everyday for us to read and then (oh, how I wish I was an artist) I draw the scene we read about and she colors and decorates the picture. I'm only sad that Ty, Griffin and Evan grew up without hearing these stories, and I am already looking forward to the day when I begin them with Piper!

My Christmas Present

2012-01-16T17:19:00.000-05:00

The boys asked me a million times what I wanted for Christmas. They are all old enough now to read so on Christmas Eve they each read a section from Luke 2. Hearing my children read the Word of God thrilled my soul. I listened to a sermon this morning and the pastor preached that we primarily teach our children to read so that they can hear from God. Amen! I'm so excited to watch God work these little guys' lives.

This is another picture from Christmas Eve. Ty is sitting between his two sisters. Such a sweet big, brother.

And after my last post, my friend Gina sent me this quote and I thought it was encouraging enough to share here...

"O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He hath in
effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee
thy wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him. Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty." ~Charles Spurgeon

A bit of a rough Monday here. Piper still has some rough days off and on and she's not been herself today. I hit my toe on one of our big, black homeschool chairs. It's not pretty and it's very purple. I still can't stand for it to hit the floor. Mondays...grrrrrr

My life is a whirlwind some days

2012-01-11T13:33:00.000-05:00

Some days I feel so with-it and together, and other days....well, I've noticed a habit of mine that has developed. I finally find a minute to use the bathroom, and I throw my head in my hands and ask the Lord to please give me the strength to see the day through. Don't feel sorry for me, as much as I would rather choose to have a with-it day, I am just as thankful (or I'm really trying to be) for those days where I feel as if the Lord's divine strengthening is the only thing that will get me through the day without just sitting down and crying. Ok, I do that some days too. There just seems to be so much to get through in one day. Babypants has really thrown me for a spin. She's a terrible napper. I'm not sure how she can be a real Eaton and not love sleep.

So I have all kinds of pictures to post. All kinds of thoughts to write, but I just can't get to it. Here is what I've been up to though briefly.

After Christmas break I have started more structured time with Julianna using a Charlotte Mason kindergarten schedule I found online. It has been going lovely. I have fallen in love with the Charlotte Mason approach and plan to move all the boys over to the Heart of Dakota curriculum in the fall. Julianna loves the time she spends with me...or even with Ryan. They went on a nature hike on Monday. She was excited about that all day.

I still find time to read a bit while I am attempting to put Piper down for a nap or feeding her. I am attempting to read my bible through this year. I got a kindle fire for Christmas (that I L-O-V-E) and have a NASB daily bible I'm using. I also am still working through Give Them Grace and I've got John MacArthur's Daily Readings from the Life of Christ (free) that I'm using daily to journal with and about finished with RC Sproul's booklet on how you can know if you are saved (title something along that lines...picked it up free awhile back). Reading a lot with the kids too. I got Julianna the complete works of Winnie the Pooh that I can't wait to start. She's a little skeptical but I think she'll love it. We're reading Keeping Holiday in the evenings. I love Starr Meade. Ty will be reading Grandpa's Box in his schooling next year. I am using Mighty Acts of God for the bible story with Julianna.

Besides school the boys are all playing basketball. Griffin is toothless. Piper is almost 6 months old. The boys birthdays all start next week. We're getting ready to send Ryan off to Israel. When all that is said and done I will be turning 33. I'm also working on a ladies' brunch for the church in May.

I haven't been in the shower yet, but school is about finished. Ryan has a graveside service today. Our van is leaking something and down in the shop. House desperately needs picked up. I'm not even going for clean. Ty has practice. Dinner and church. Deep breath.

A few pictures if they will upload...
Christmas...

My girls...

Evan shooting his bow...

Griffin reading on his kindle. He got a $50 gift card and told me last night he had used it all. He's read a bazillion books already.

Evan dyed pasta shells to make a Native American necklace

Jules doing some of her work. The last picture is her getting ready to head out on a nature walk (she rode her bike to the park) with Ryan.

Piper wouldn't stop looking at the hearts on her leg warmers

And here is a picture I took with my phone at one of Ty's games. I asked Ryan what I was supposed to do with the 1000 pictures I had on my phone. He said, "Why don't you upload them to the computer." Duh. So I deleted my 1000 pictures and my phone is running a teensy bit faster. LOL

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Isaiah 40:29

Pondering some Christmas thoughts, spiritual pride and my hairspray

2011-12-19T10:08:00.001-05:00

What does Christmas mean to me? I can remember when there was that awkward time period between childhood and becoming an adult when Christmas seemed to lose it's magic for me. As a kid Christmas was truly the most wonderful time of the year for many reasons. Then as I got older it just did not seem as special. You grow up...families change...traditions change. Getting gifts just didn't seem as exciting as when I was a kid rushing to our living room as soon as daylight could be seen through my windows.

As my children came of course it became a little more exciting. Seeing Christmas through their eyes brought back a lot of that magical feeling I used to remember as a child.

Last year was the first year that we really put a lot of effort into having a Christ-centered Christmas. We began a lot of new traditions and activities to draw our hearts towards Christ and to hopefully point our kids to the Savior. And it was the best Christmas I ever had. I can't explain the excitement I felt (as well as this year) as I stare at those flickering advent candle lights each night and ponder the thought of not only how Christ was born into this world, but also that He has promised that He will return!

Even in all my good effort, I still find that Christmas time, especially, can be a very difficult time to fight idolatry in my life. For me it is the pursuance of that perfect gift for my child in anticipation of the rush I will receive or even the drive towards that picture perfect christian family celebrating advent every night until Christmas. A thread on facebook recently reminded me of this. It began as someone posted a thought about how disturbing it is that some churches have chosen to cancel their church services on Christmas day this year because it falls on a Sunday. How ironic it is that we would rather do something else on Christmas than worship Him together corporately with other believers? A good thought and then I began to read down through the thread and there were many responses that mostly consisted of people listing their churches and service times as proof that they were not among those Christians who were guilty of not putting Christ first in their lives. It kinda felt like everyone was beating their hands on their chest and shouting that they were thankful they weren't a sinner like that other guy.

The truth is that church attendance is not hard for me. I do not struggle with it at all, but I can think of some people who are struggling. The woman with the unsaved husband. The single mom with 4 kids or maybe even the woman who struggles with being a "martha" and will be at home that morning preparing for a lavish dinner. I can imagine that there are all sorts of scenarios and circumstances we could come up with. I think that truth is that we all struggle with sin (of course we know that, we just don't like to admit it)...we just don't all struggle with the SAME sin.

I always wondered about the statement people often make about how their are no big or little sins with God. That is kinda hard to wrap your mind around when you think about it. Is my little white lie measured the same way as the person who takes another's life? How can that be? Because I think the essence of sin is all the same. We seek satisfaction in other things besides God.

So as I examine my heart this Christmas season and try to purge it of everything that is seeking satisfaction from anything that is not Christ, I am also reminded of my hairspray. Yes, my hairspray. Ryan hates my hairspray. I use too much of it and it is a mess to clean up. Sticks to and leaves a dirty film on everything. I can't see it on my hands but when I grab my brush my hands are all sticky. When I try to wash it off, it just gets even stickier and makes a slimy mess. I have to use soap and water several times to get my hands clean. But I keep using it because it holds my hair in place and makes it look pretty. Spiritual pride is a lot like that, I think. It makes me feel like crud to see my nasty pride, but it is so hard to resist and get cleaned up because we think it makes us look good and pretty on the outside.

I have no idea if this makes any sense but what I am thinking is that I can't put someone else down for struggling with a sin that I am not tempted to struggle with. When I do that is spiritual pride on my part.

Church attendance isn't the answer. Hair spray isn't the answer. We can do and follow a lot of do's and don'ts and look pretty and right on the outside, but I think the secret is to be the humble servant who recognizes how great God is and how prone we are to sin. And encourage each other along the way. Even if someone else's sin looks different than mine. We focus too much on man's efforts and not enough on God.

The Gospel and My Kids

2011-12-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

I read books much slower than I used to, but I have really enjoyed what I have read of Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus. Much to think on.

Just out of curiosity I asked Ty to tell me the main theme of Jonah. He was able to retell me the story and concluded that we need to obey God or we would be punished. So I spent some time telling him about how great, loving and merciful God is. He loved the people of Ninevah so much...even in their rebellion and He worked in Jonah's life even after he disobeyed Him. I told Ty that being swallowed by a big fish wasn't his punishment, it was really his salvation by a wonderful, merciful God.

It grieves my heart to see how I have taught Ty how to obey from the outside, but I have neglected to show him how really wonderful God is. Have I been pointing him to the gospel or morality? Ty is really good at keeping rules. He is a natural rulekeeper. He always wants to be in our right standing...in everybody's right standing. He's moral. My prayer is to strive to do better at pointing him to Christ.

A few days later we were waiting for church to start on a Wednesday evening. I was in the nursery with Piper and Griffin when Griffin out of the blue looked at me and asked me if I thought he was bad. My first inclination was to repeat what I have heard so often, "No, Griffin mommy doesn't think you are bad, but you just do bad things sometimes." But I stopped myself and said instead, "Yes, Griffin mommy thinks you're bad and so am I. The Bible tells us that we are all bad and none of us are "good enough." Then I went on to tell him about God's love for us in sending Jesus and why us being bad means that we need Jesus to make us right.

Evan has been asking a lot of salvation questions lately. We've really tried to make him as comfortable as possible with talking about whatever thoughts he has on the subject and I try to sneak in questions here and there. I asked him the other day why he wanted to be saved and he said because he loved God so much and wanted to spend his life serving him. He still has questions and ponders everything we talk about a lot.

And Julianna has been having the sweetest comments lately from her children's church class. You know Mom, God can never lie. God is bigger and greater than even Daddy. Am I crazy, but I would rather her be learning this instead in her class instead of how to be a good friend like Jonathan or to be kind and share like the little boy who shared his lunch? Being a good friend and sharing won't save her but pointing her to a great God will!

Ok...maybe more thoughts later. Little Pip is up!

Oh, how we love this little thing

2011-12-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure any little girl has been loved more. I still can't stop myself from smelling her. Her brothers and sister ADORE her. Does she have to grow up?

She studies her hands and plays with her feet now,

How many women are blessed to be mom to five great kids like these?

My Advent Resource Guide

2011-11-26T09:49:00.000-05:00

Last year we celebrated Advent for the first time. Advent is two fold...preparing and looking forward until the day Jesus was born and also for the time He has promised He will come again. I've put together some links of things we used last year and a few things I have added for this year.

Last year was such a memorable experience. All our family talked continually throughout the year of how different our Christmas was last year. You really can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, but it does take deliberate effort and planning! Hope some of these links may help! By the way Advent begins tomorrow!

Books:
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus by Nancy Guthrie Our church will actually be using these series of readings during the Advent season.
Keeping Holiday by Starr Meade Nothing particular to Advent but a wonderful book on salvation that your whole family will enjoy!
Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide This is new for us this year and actually one of a trilogy. This is actually divided up to be read everyday during Advent.
Treasuring Christ in Our Traditions by Noel Piper I've linked up to the free pdf although you can buy the book in hard copy too. This is where I got a lot of my ideas and inspiration from!

Music: We all have different tastes but this is what I enjoy
Andrew Peterson: Free Audio Online
Chris Tomlin: Glory in the Highest

Movies:

The Nativity Story

Veggie Tales: St. Nicholas The Story of Joyful Giving I realize a lot of negative can be said about Veggie Tales but I really like this one. Last year instead of focusing on Santa Claus, we did talk about the legend of St. Nicholas. Here is a useful link to that has book suggestions and other info on St. Nicholas: www.stnicholascenter.org

Misc:

The Village Church Advent Guide I have looked through this and thought it was an awesome resource!

Nativity Cookie Cutters: We are using these this year to make our own Cookie Nativity Scene and to use as gifts the kids Sunday School teachers.

My Advent Wreath and Calendar plus our Jesus Tree from last year: http://theeaton6.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-jesus-tree.html and http://theeaton6.blogspot.com/2010/12/little-of-this-and-little-of-that.html

I hope I got all those links right and will try to add to it as I come across more resources for my family.

A Thanksful November 16th

2011-11-16T14:27:00.002-05:00

*Pray for my little Pip. She sounds a bit congested this morning. Julianna caught a bug a little over a week ago that left her with a nasty cough.

Today I am thankful for technology.

This isn't an overly spiritual blessing, but I am thankful that I am living in 2011 as opposed to say 1911. I use technology to my benefit everyday, and it makes life much simpler. Around here I would say (because I am a dork), "You can't beat that with a stick."

I enjoy staying connected to old friends and missionaries via facebook and it has allowed me to know some of the women in our community better. I am thankful I can use my iphone to access it these days since I'm not at my computer often. I am thankful that in a matter of minutes I found and downloaded a whitenoise mp3 to play while Pip sleeps. I even have a series of black and white pictures she likes to look at during church. I have bought and downloaded books in seconds to read. I do all my Christmas shopping online. I love to read blogs every morning and have a bible app on my phone. Today I have spent some time researching advent resources and have a series of helps and links I am going to post after Thanksgiving. I learned how to thread my sewing machine via YouTube. I've taken hundreds of pictures on my phone when I didn't have my neat-o camera handy. Have you seen the pictures of the moon I took from my front yard? I live to read reviews online before I make a major purchase.

Of course I could go on and on and on. I know technology gets a bad rap sometimes. I've read the put downs on facebook about how much better we'd be reading the Bible rather than on facebook. And that's good and true enough. So our mental checklist looks like: Don't do facebook. Do read Bible. But then again "just" reading our Bible and staying off facebook doesn't make us any more holier than the next guy does it?

I am thankful that we can use technology to our advantage and it can be helpful with the right perspective. Even a good tool can be used sinfully but when Christ is our treasure and we are completely satisfied with Him, I think we can use technology and other resources to know and become more like Him.

A Thanksful November 14th

2011-11-14T07:34:00.000-05:00

Whew! It's so hard for me to have computer time. I can do a lot of things with my iphone but blogging is pretty difficult. Life is very different for me than it was this time last year! Not my thankful blog for the day, but little babypants herself has been sleeping through the night for a little while now. We do bath time at 8:30, our last feed at 9ish and then she is typically in bed at 9:30. It's 7:30 and she is still asleep. :) Of course I still wake up at 5:30 and can't go back to sleep but it gives me a little down time to myself.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:18

Today I am thankful for preaching.

Yesterday's sermon is still fresh on my mind. I love the way God has ordained His Word to be preached and the way that it is used to change me. My message to Ty recently has been that the gospel wasn't just that one time when he prayed to receive Christ, but it should be present everyday of his life, changing him to become more like Christ. Sometimes I think we are guilty of thinking we are saved and settled, but I love when God's Word is preached and it begins cutting away all that crud in my heart. Always transforming me. My earnest prayer is that if God allows, I will still embrace God's transforming work through preaching until I'm in my rocking chair.

Short and sweet. Miss Babypants is calling.

A Thankful November 10th

2011-11-10T08:58:00.000-05:00

    Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
        and forsake not your mother's teaching,
    for they are a graceful garland for your head
        and pendants for your neck.
(Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV)

Today I am thankful for my parents.

I wrote a couple days ago that my parents divorced when I was 12 and how difficult that has been at times. My mom moved out and I stayed and lived with my Dad.

My dad is great. I've never doubted that he loves me. He wouldn't mind me saying this at all but he tried to teach me growing up from the mistakes he made and was always transparent with me. I can still vividly remember the conversation we had when he told me how important it was to center all my life around God when I was 12. I'm thankful for all his instruction and years I spent growing up with him.

My mom is the first one who ever talked to me about salvation. She made me want to care and be passionate about things. She was smart and stubborn and creative, and I think it that respect I am a lot like her.

Dad married Helen when I was 13. A lot of children have really horrible experiences with step-parents but I was very fortunate. Helen chose to love me as her own AND she made me go to church. Two things that spoke the gospel into my life.

I wasn't blessed with perfect parents, but parents who have loved me and tried to teach me truth. I hope I can do the same with my children.

I know I missed yesterday, but it was a bit of a rough day for Piper. I am on a pretty restricted diet and ate normally on Monday, and well, her digestive system is not yet ready for that so it takes a few days for things to get back to normal again. She will still have occasional issues even on the diet but nothing like when I don't restrict some offending foods in my diet (dairy and corn seem to be the biggies which is in about every food...lol).

A Thankful November 8th

2011-11-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)

Today I am thankful to be able to homeschool my children.

Choosing how to school your children can be a difficult one. Most of us our fortunate enough to have at least a couple options.

I began homeschooling Ty in Kindergarten. It didn't go well. There were a lot of negative comments and that had an effect on Ty. So we looked at other options and decided to enroll him in the local public school. He attended K-2nd grade there, Griffin-kindergarten, and Evan-pre-k. It was a good enough experience but my idea of what I wanted them to be learning was a bit different then the curriculum they were receiving, so I decided to jump back into homeschooling last year and it went really well!

Homeschooling is not for everyone, and I don't think every christian family should homeschool, but it works out well for us right now.

I don't homeschool to shelter my kids from anything. Martin Luther said, "I fear more what is within me than what comes from without." I am trying to teach them how sinful their hearts are and why that means we need a savior.

I do homeschool so that I can teach them from a biblical perspective while they are young, and fortunately Ty's reading and math are much better at home than they were in school because he reads about things that interest him and we can work at math until he gets it.

Eventually we plan to reenroll them into school...maybe around 8th grade. We'll see. For now it's a great opportunity. One of the most thrilling things of my life was to teach Evan how to read. I look forward to the years ahead!

A Thankful November 7th

2011-11-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Today I am thankful for my husband, Ryan.

My parents divorced when I was 12. Those were rough years. Both my parents remarried and that brought more difficulties at times. I think for some kids these circumstances turn them cynical towards marriage and family. As I grew in the Lord and watched other marriages and families (like my youth pastor and his wife), I began to pray for a family. I no longer desired a career. I just wanted to have a family of my own.

I've written so much about Ryan on here, so I'll keep this brief. I met Ryan when I was 17. I first saw him in Sunday School class and didn't think anything of it. Then he preached during a Sunday Night Youth Service at our church and I can remember thinking that he had the characteristics of someone I could see myself marrying. I never had met any other guy like him. Of course we eventually dated and married.

And it has been a wonderful 12 years. I've never once thought our marriage wouldn't make it. I've never once wished we hadn't married. I simply couldn't imagine life without him. I consider Ryan to be one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me. I could literally spend every minute of the day with Ryan.

I'm not saying we don't have any difficulties within our marriage but really it's pretty easy. Especially the longer we are married. I think Ryan and I have both learned that we are both sinners and very imperfect people, but we keep on loving each other anyways. And that covers a multitude of sins.

I pray we see old age together so we can sit in our rocking chairs and say, "it wasn't always easy or pretty, but we did it."

A Thankful November 6th

2011-11-06T15:07:00.001-05:00

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.(Matthew 23:27-28 ESV)

Today I am thankful to be letting go of legalistic ideals in my christian life.

This is a process that began in my life about 5 years ago. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful christian heritage, but did not attend church regularly until I was a late teenager. At that point my christian life really began to blossom. I struggled a bit when I became an adult. We spent several good years in Jacksonville, FL at Trinity Baptst Church and then to Ryan's first position back in WV as an assistant pastor. I was very guilty of simply living off being fed by others. I had many good teachers along the way, but I didn't know how to study the Bible for myself and never asked any questions outside the box because I couldn't think for myself.

I'm a rulekeeper. There just isn't any getting around that. Lists make me feel happy and secure. I like it when others around me think good of me and when I excel at what I am doing.

At that point most of my theology revolved around how I was supposed to act or what I was supposed to be doing...or not doing. I dressed and acted that part...and I think well. I read my Bible and prayed daily. I dressed super modestly. I listened to music I couldn't stand and told myself I liked it. I went on visitation. I thought everything was "worldly." I would never let anyone know that Ryan cooked most of the time. I didn't go to movie theaters. I spent a lot of time hiding who I really was.

5 years ago I started my first personal bible study and God began chipping away all that crud and all my legalistic thinking. And Ryan's too. I can remember one of the first sermons Ryan preached as pastor in Racine I questioned because he ended with how condemned and ashamed we would feel when we stood before the Lord as motivation to get us to live right. How did that fit with Romans 8? Most of my christian life was lived out of persuasive guilt. And my desire to follow all the rules. God began showing me what a Phairisee I was (and can still be). I was completely dead on the inside.

The process has been incredible. I could write so much about how God has changed my theology from man-centered to God-centered. Truth is I am still learning and changing everyday. It's really thrilling to throw away the focus on all the do's and don'ts and focus on how awesomely great and wonderful God is. There is not any part of my life that is hid and my goal is to be the same in private as I am in public. I'm also far less judgemental. I like that. I can remember when I thought good christians were only fundamental independant baptists who bonked you on the head with their kjv.

hmmm...good christians. More like a great Christ.

A Thankful November (belated) 5

2011-11-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

Running a bit behind schedule. I did not have a chance to sit down at the computer yesterday.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
(Romans 8:1-8 ESV)

"Yesterday" I was thankful that while I was hostile to God and could not submit to God's law, the law of the Spirit of life has set me free in Christ Jesus.

Within the past few years, I have finally come to realize just how dead I was in my sin and how hopeless I was to do anything about it within my own power. I am thankful that God came after me and rescued me through His Son. I am thankful that there is now no longer any condemnation hanging over my head because now Christ's righteousness is mine.

A Thankful November 4th

2011-11-04T13:07:00.000-04:00

Paul writes: When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:13

Today I am thankful for good books.

Puritan Matthew Henry wrote of 2 Timothy 4:9-13

The love of this world, is often the cause of turning back from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ. Paul was guided by Divine inspiration, yet he would have his books. As long as we live, we must still learn. The apostles did not neglect human means, in seeking the necessaries of life, or their own instruction. Let us thank the Divine goodness in having given us so many writings of wise and pious men in all ages; and let us seek that by reading them our profiting may appear to all.

I am so thankful for men and women who have mentored me through good books. I have always enjoyed reading, but have really just found the great spiritual benefit in the past couple of years. Of course one of my November blessing will be the Bible itself, but I am thankful for the ability to learn from others whom God has gifted the books.

Of the books that have had a major impact on my life, Pilgrim's Progress remains at the top of my list. I still think through it often.

I also have greatly benefited from Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney, Future Grace by John Piper, and A Praying Life by Paul Miller.

I think all of these books have grown me and I hope as Henry wrote that by reading them my profiting may appear to all and I'm striving to pass down the discipline of reading to my children.

A Thankful November 3rd

2011-11-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Today I am thankful for a church family.

Last night was such a blessing to me. I enjoy Wednesday nights. We have been meeting in a room in our Outreach Building. With a smaller crowd on Wednesday nights, you can feel a bit alone and disconnected in our very, big sanctuary. The smaller room makes me automatically feel more friendly and a part of a family.

Last night Cindy took Babypants off to the nursery for me, and I never worried about her one time. I sat in between my parents and my aunt and uncle. An aunt and uncle who took me to church as a child when I was saved. Sitting behind me were my old Sunday School teacher and youth workers that I had as a teenager. They made a huge impact on my christian life. In the room were people who have loved me and my family. Some new friends who I have only known months and some for years. When I dropped off my kids to the children's class, they ran to "Miss Sharon" just to talk to her. There are people in our church who pray for me, who I can ask questions to, who constantly show my family love. They are stirring me up to love and good works. We are not a perfect church or perfect people by far, but I am thankful that I can go to church and worship together corporately with my church family.

A Thankful November 2nd

2011-11-02T21:03:00.001-04:00

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Today I am thankful for seasons.

I love the fall. I love summer too, but there is just something about growing up in WV that just instills a love of cool, fall days into your heart. Pulling on jeans and a hooded sweat shirt. Drinking hot tea in the mornings. Shooting my new bow with my boys. I'm thankful that I live in an area where I get to experience the change of seasons.

Over the last few days, our family has been watching old home movies. So strange to see Ryan and I 10 years ago with our newborn Ty. I told Ryan he didn't even look old enough to have a baby. Then we watched our family evolve as new little ones were added. And each season of life looked so familiar to us in those movies, and I could not help but to notice how different life is now. Different places, different homes, different churches, different stages of life. At one point Ryan is video taping a 3 year old Ty with a 1 year old Griffin and and an almost 1 year old Evan (they are 11 months apart) in diapers screaming and crying at Ryan's feet. It didn't even seem to phase Ryan and I just can't remember anymore what that was like, but it was our normal then.

Seeing myself 10 years ago, reminded me not only of different seasons of our family, but also of my personal walk with the Lord. How much God has changed in me since that time. I enjoy where I am at now and look forward to all God has in store for me as I grow. I love thinking of myself as Christian in Pilgrim's Progress.

And this would be far more eloquent then it is, but at this season in my life I just heard Piper poo-doo in her diaper.

A Thankful November

2011-11-01T10:26:00.001-04:00

I'm going to attempt to blog everyday in November up until Thanksgiving to share one thing I am thankful for.

November 1: Counting My Blessings

I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

November 1st of last year, I miscarried my 5th pregnancy. I was devastated. The day before Ryan had shared with our church family that we were expecting our 5th child. I had never had a miscarriage before and after 4 successful pregnancies never expected anything like that to happen to me. One of the hardest parts was telling the children. They had been so excited about the news and I felt like I had let them down, but Griffin crawled into bed with me, wrapped his arm around me and in a very grown up way, consoled me. God gave me the grace to say He is good!

I remember he told me not to worry because God would give us a new baby in 2011. Griffin is very numbery.

And November 1st of this year.

A few weeks after the miscarriage, God gave us Piper Grace. This is her smile this morning.

He is good and does everything good and I am thankful that in mourning and in joy He is there providing His grace and perfect strength!

Reformation Day Recap

2011-11-01T09:48:00.000-04:00

Ryan and I really desire to teach our kids church history and to give them heroes they can really admire. So we took the opportunity yesterday (October 31st) to take a little bit of our day to celebrate Reformation Day.

My kids are big fans of RC Sproul's children's books. The Prince's Poison Cup is one of Griffin's all-time favorite books. When Sproul's newest children's story about Martin Luther, The Barber Who Wanted to Pray, was made free for audio download in recognition of Reformation Day, I knew my kids would be thrilled. Evan especially has enjoyed it and listened to it multiple times. Besides Sproul's book, Ryan read Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World to the kids while they enjoyed their Diet of Worms snack. I loved the Martin Luther book. It was very well written, informative and the illustrations were lovely. After the story, Ty shared his book report on the Trailblazers book Martin Luther: Spy for the Night Riders.

And Piper slept through it all...

Julianna's 5th Birthday

2011-10-27T09:50:00.001-04:00

Julianna turned 5 on October 12th. We spent the afternoon with our parents and Julianna requested pizza with chips and Broughton French Onion Dip (if you don't live around here...you are really missing out on the Broughton Dip).

Jules was just 3 weeks old when we moved to Racine. After 3 boys, she was such a sweet addition to our family! Everyone said she would be a tomboy. She's definitely not, but she can hold her own with "the brothers" as she calls them. Or sometimes she asks me where "the kids" are. Her very favorite thing to do is change her clothes. Her room is always a mess with clothes pulled out of her drawers and off the hangers from her closet. She loves the fall weather when it's not too hot because she loves the outdoors (as opposed to big brother Griffin who says he is an educated indoorsman). She will find the most colorful outfit in her closet and head outside to gather leaves and sticks or play in the sand that was under our pool last summer.

She is learning all her numbers and letters in school (it's very unstructured at this point). One of my favorite things about Jules is the way she gets things a little off. Like instead of a hair cut...she'll call it a short cut. When we are stirring batter for cookies or a cake she will ask to "sugar it up" instead of stir it up. I painted her fingernails yesterday but she calls them her toenails too. She still says things like, "Where her is?" I try to mentally mark these things in my mind, but I know it will all soon be forgotten.

I love her spunkiness because the boys just aren't spunky. At all. The night before last when I was trying to get Piper to sleep at bedtime (this is such a chore that I never had with any of my other babies) we were dancing in my room to Michael Buble's new Christmas album...in the dark...while Julianna shot a red laser all over the room. See, the boys would never do this with me and would holler (I like how I have used that word in previous posts...it's a good WV word) that I was weird or embarrassing, but not my Jules. She can get down and sing with the best of them. Pure spunk.

I updated this. I originally made it on Julianna's 3rd birthday. I'm going to try to update it every year...she really likes to watch it. Ultimately my reason for the blog is so my kids can have it to look through when they are all grown up.

Because the years are just ticking away.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

A really good Jonathan Edwards quote

2011-10-20T13:25:00.000-04:00

This quote was at the end of an article that a member of our church had posted on facebook. I have thought on these words a lot this past week.

Jonathan Edwards’ wise counsel:
“Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others, whereas a humble saint is most jealous of himself. He is so suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints . . . and to be quick to discern and take note of their deficiencies. But the eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home, and sees so much evil in his own heart, and is so concerned about it, that he is not apt to be very busy with others’ hearts.”

Checking in really quick

2011-10-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

Busy, busy. Piper will be 11 weeks old on Thursday! Yikes, I just can't believe it. She is growing and doing well. Her colic even starts to be letting up a bit.

Schooling is going well. Well, as in we are getting through it. I'm not as efficient as I was last year but I guess that is understandable. I keep preaching flexibility to myself. It's a hard thing for me.

I have pictures on my camera that have not been uploaded and these days, quick pics on my iphone happen more frequently.

Julianna turns 5 tomorrow. We celebrated on Saturday with the grandparents, gifts and cake. Yesterday, Ryan's day off, we had lunch at Kambos. My kids love chinese food! Julianna can put down the crab rangoons. A girl after my own heart. Except these days I stick to a dairy-free and mostly meatless diet. Seems to help Piper's tummy and not too bad on the weight loss. Ryan has been doing this with me and of course drops weight even easier than I can. We usually eat meat once a week to cheat a bit and Ryan does do fish. I think we both feel a lot better following this diet. Lots of veggies!

I'm already looking forward to Christmas. I am putting together a blog full of links of resources I used last year to really help us have a Christ-centered Christmas. I plan on posting it the day after Thanksgiving for anyone interested. And if anyone has any good resources they would like to share, I'd love to take a look. My email address is stacy.marie.eaton@gmail.com or you can post a response in the comment section. Don't fret if you don't see your comment appear immediately, I ok them before they post because I do get spam and just weirdo comments.

I could write more but it is time for Pip to eat.

Lost - John Piper

2011-09-29T13:25:00.000-04:00

Lost from AsiaLink HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

Trying to Find Our Normal

2011-09-15T12:59:00.000-04:00

It's still been a challenge for me to find my footing since Piper has joined our family!

This past week I decided to cut down on our daily schoolwork load and extend our school year to make our days more manageable. This seems to be a huge help. Piper is pretty colicky and my nerves are a bit on edge and to homeschool, I need lots and lots of patience. So this change seems to be good for all of us.

I still have so much emotion whenever I look at Piper. I feel so different with her. I love and am so very thankful for each of my children, but this time is just...different. I am 10 years older than when I had my first baby. I look back and think how naive I was about life or maybe just naive about my relationship with Christ. Then, we had Griffin! Life took me where I didn't expect to ever be. Standing over a baby who was too small to be born, wondering about what was to be. I still think a lot about the baby I lost last fall, and I have friends who struggle everyday with the health of their children or grief over children who have passed away. I don't know that it's age that makes us wiser, but this time I think the gift is so much sweeter to me, because the Giver is.

I just don't have much time to blog. I hear Piper starting to cry over the monitor...she has her first cold! When Julianna and Evan came down with a cold, I knew it was only a matter of time.
Some pics...

And some noteworthy news...earlier today Ryan changed his first Piper diaper...and it was a majorly poopy one! He hollered for me to come help, and I was in the middle of something downstairs with Griffin. When I got upstairs, I found him changing a diaper!!!

Busy taking care of baby

2011-08-25T14:32:00.001-04:00

All is well here in the Eaton household. We are still working at adjusting to life with a newborn. Lots of ups and downs. Everyone want to know how Julianna is handling having a new sister. She adores her. Me, not so much all the time. And Julianna will set the "brothers" straight if they refer to Piper as Sissy. She will allow them to call her Pipey instead.

I thought having such an age gap and much older kids would make it easier on me, and maybe it will in the long run, but it can be a little overwhelming at times. I hear, "Can I hold her?" about a zillion times a day. Seriously, maybe even a zillion + 1. And then there are the never-ending questions. When you are tired and sleep deprived hearing, "Why is Piper crying?" over and over again can be a TAD bit irritating.

We are organized and ready for school to begin on Tuesday. Yikes, I'm as nervous as I was last year because I now have Piper in tow. Fortunately, she is a pretty good baby during the day and usually has her fussy time in the late evening. She has some of the same digestion issues as the other kids. I had eliminated dairy and saw a big improvement, but we still were having some issues. I am currently doing a total elimination diet. Not fun. It was going well until Ryan accidentally used something with soy in it by mistake. I've ate an awful lot of rice and zucchini this past week. Ugh.

I've read a couple more good books that I haven't yet commented on but recommend.

Note to Self is a series of short devotionals about preaching the gospel to yourself. These are very brief...take you a couple minutes a morning to read...but big thoughts to meditate on.

I'm currently reading Future Grace by John Piper. I love this book. I also love the fact that it is divided into 31 chapters so you can use it for your devotional reading each day for one month. I love it so much I told Ryan how much I loved it. That was 3 days ago and I haven't seen the book since. I need to learn to share my love of a book with him AFTER I finish the book.

And closing out with a picture:

Happy Baby, Happy Daddy

2011-08-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

Daddy and Piper Grace

Eating my Cheerios with Soy Milk this Morning

2011-08-09T10:10:00.000-04:00

Yep, I've ventured back into the dairy-free diet. After sitting up two nights with ~~Julianna~~ (can't believe I did that) Piper and stomach cramps and gas, I decided to give it a try. Already a great improvement. I did the same with Julianna and ended up putting Griffin and Evan (had to order it on out the pharmacy...cost and arm and a leg!) on special formula because they all had the same problem. Even today the boys have to limit their milk intake or well, it's not pretty. I never understood with the boys what completely dairy-free meant, but I was so determined to nurse Julianna that I really researched it out.

I was a little panicked when I thought of no hot chocolate this winter, but I found dairy-free mixes I can order online. Whew!

Everything else is going really well. I am feeling more like myself everyday. I have never really experienced the blues like I have this time. I think going straight from bedrest to having the baby made it more difficult for me. I'm looking forward to getting back to normal and back into some sort of normal routine. My house desperately needs thoroughly cleaned but my recovery has gone slower than I want it to which frustrates me even more. My feet and legs are finally back to normal and no longer look like they belong to Fred Flintstone.

Everyone has been so generous and this little girl has all kinds of "stuff". I sat down yesterday and used gift cards to order her things that I thought we would just do without. What a blessing.

Also, getting geared up for school to begin. After listening to Ryan's advice over the last month, I've decided just to do the BJU distance program again this year rather than doing the Heart of Dakota program. I'm a little bummed about that, but with the baby I know Ryan is looking at this more realistically than I am. I'm sure in the end this will be one of those things where I am very thankful that I listened to my wise hubby.

Piper's Birth Story

2011-07-30T21:31:00.002-04:00

I went to my 36 week appointment on Wednesday the 27th. In one week I had progressed from 1cm dilated to 4cms. My doctor told me that he was on call that night and if the contractions picked up, to go ahead and come on in. If not, he wanted to see me back in the office the next morning at 9am. I went home and went to church for the first time in two months! Ryan and I went to bed that night and we both slept really well. I didn't feel any different than I normally did. Just the same irregular, piddly contractions that I had experienced for the last month. Ryan's dad took the day off work and came over to watch our kids just in case they decided to admit me after my appointment. I was hoping at the time that I had not progressed any further and would be coming home since technically she would still be premature if born at 36 weeks. My doctor was concerned about how far I was progressing without being in active labor and the fact that we live an hour away from the hospital since all of my deliveries have been short.

Ryan left the van with his dad and we drove his truck up to my appointment. I felt very uncomfortable but wasn't sure if it was just riding in the truck or if labor might be beginning. We saw the doctor and I was now 5cm dilated so he asked us to go ahead and walk on over to Labor and Delivery. We were both very nervous but we really had great nurses and they did a good job of easing our nerves and got me all hooked up to everything. At about 10:15 the doctor came in and broke my water. They called for the epidural guy and the doctor left saying he did not think it would be long until the baby was born. Epirdural guy came and did his thing before the contractions had become very painful so I was happy thinking that I would enjoy the rest of the labor and delivery without any pain at all. Ryan's mom came over to be present at the birth and we watched my contractions on the monitor. I was happy to report that I didn't feel a thing. Then that slowly begain to change and I began to feel some pain with each contraction. Not a lot but enough that it was pretty uncomfortable. One of the nurses checked me and I was just at 6cm at that point and she said that it didn't look like things were going to progress as fast as the doctor expected. That made me a little nervous. The pain with each contraction began to grow until I reached major pain that was extremely difficult to manage. It felt like only one side of my body was 'numb' of pain and I began shaking uncontrollably and recognized that I must be in transition. This was the point that Ryan got very nervous and kept trying to cover me up as if I was cold and chilling and I kept telling him that it was normal and everything was going to be ok in between each contraction. They checked me again and I was now at 8cm and they sent for the epidural guy to come back and see what he could do to fix me. He arrived just as my pain had again majorly increased and another nurse was checking me to say that I was complete. Nothing epidural guy could do now. Doctor arrived. They rolled me onto my back which I hate because it always makes my blood pressure drop and I felt like I didn't have enough air to breath, but a few pushes later and Piper Grace was born on July 28th at 12:48 p.m. and weighed 7lbs 2oz (my 2nd biggest baby!) and was 21 inches long after a 2 1/2 hour labor. After some urging Ryan cut baby Piper's cord (he tried to get his mom to do it at first...it always scares him to death). Everything went smoothly and she is a healthy little girl. I was so happy to bring her home with me 48 hours later!

Everyone is so happy to all be together again at home and happy that mom is no longer on bedrest! We all love Piper so much that those 2 months were very much worth it. We are so thankful to the Lord for this gift and answering our prayers to have a healthy baby to bring home!

We're hoping to enjoy the next two weeks with Ryan on vacation and adjusting to our new life.

Pregnancy Update

2011-07-27T15:45:00.000-04:00

I had my 36 week appointment today. I am now nearly 4 cm dilated. I go back in tomorrow morning and if there is any more progression then they are going to keep me because I typically have very fast labors and we live an hour away from the hospital.

Baby Piper could be here very soon!

Pregnancy Update...Just waiting

2011-07-24T13:02:00.001-04:00

I'm a few days away from 36 weeks which is just exciting! I'm so glad to be this far and have just been begging God to allow me to carry Piper full-term, which is now is just a little over a week away.

At my last appointment on Thursday, I had major change for the first time since going on bedrest 2 months ago. Not only has dilation begun, but I am also dilating from the inside which is called funneling. With funneling the bag of waters can droop into the cervix and break, which is probably what will happen. In fact, besides Julianna, my water has broken before any type of labor every single time. I was induced with Julianna, or I'm sure the same thing would have probably happened. I'm just praying my water stays strong and holds until that 37 week point or at whatever point she is mature enough to do well and be able to come right home with me minus a hospital stay.

With all the change within one week, my Dr. told me to have everything ready. He he thought I would be having the baby very soon. He did cautiously say that I could move around a little bit, but I have stuck with the bedrest...what is a few more days? I know everyday she is maturing inside of me helps greatly. Being so close now and with the end in sight, it makes it much easier.

So bags are packed for me and the kids who will be staying with PawPaw and Mimi. Piper's bed (a playyard for now) is set up in our room which comfy sheets and stocked with diapers and wipes. Carseat is installed. Bouncy seat is put together and waiting. Diaper bag bought. I've been given a ton of used clothing that does need sorting through and washed but we do need to pick up some sort of dresser or chest to store her clothes in and I keep reminding Ryan to pick up one of those tubs at walmart that fit in the sink along with some baby wash and lotion. That is about the extent of our preparation. LOL By 5th baby I know what I will probably actually use and I figure if I have forgotten something, we can always pick it up later.

Ryan had a dream last night that I was in labor at the hospital and yelling and throwing things all over the room while he watched from the waiting room on his phone. He gets a little nervous. He probably needs more prayer than I do at this point.

And for the record, I've never yelled or thrown anything and typically can remain pretty calm. With Ty I did accidently knock the glasses off his face, but that was when I did the drug-free births and before I discovered the epidural when I was induced with pitocin with #3.

So we wait...

Motherhood isn't a hobby

2011-07-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

Another good blog post about motherhood from Rachel Jankovic.

It's Not a Hobby

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.
Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way, is terrifying. Strangely, it is that fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, that your future will die, that your freedom will die—and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death.

Read the whole article here.

Haven't had anything to post

2011-07-11T15:20:00.000-04:00

Continuing to lay around while Piper grows. Last week the Dr. said to be a couch potato for 2 more weeks and then I could be more physical. So not much longer of this left thankfully!

Everything remains the same except I have been having lots of little contractions. He called it uterine irritability. They show up on the monitor but I don't notice them unless I am really paying attention. He prescribed procardia to keep my uterus calm and the contractions have not increased or gotten any stronger. Last week they had not changed my cervix any so that was good. I would expect for him to tell me that I am beginning to dilate either this week or next...that is typical for me, even with my full-term babies. Cervical length which still very short has remained the same. I'm really hoping for another 3 weeks until I am full-term.

Wednesday I am supposed to have another ultrasound to check my fluid level and the baby's weight. Hopefully I will have another picture to share. Most of the time she is facing the wrong way. This picture above is from last week's cervical length scan. This is the top of Piper's head and you can see that she has some hair floating in the amniotic fluid.

Please pray for at least another 3 weeks of pregnancy for me! At one more week I will get to deliver at my hosptial instead of having to go to Charleston and their NICU!

The Sovereignty of God

2011-06-23T09:09:00.002-04:00

This may take you a few minutes, but please try to take time to watch this interview. In this video John Piper interviews a man named John Knight about John 9 and his son's disability.

The sovereignty of God can be a hard thing for us to always understand. If you ever have heard my testimony of Griffin's birth, then you know how I became angry at God and his sovereignty. I thought that I was living the "good" christian life and had all my spiritual boxes checked off. How little it took me to fall completely on my face in my faith.

In the past couple of weeks, I have seen how my views of God's sovereignty has upset other people in my life. Whether it be his sovereignty in our salvation or throughout our life, it can be a hard thing to always grasp..and I sure do not always understand it, but when Griffin was born premature and I spent 8 days laying flat in the hospital, God began to do a work in my life that would ultimately lead to a complete shift in my view of God. I'm still on that journey now. I always love to picture myself as Christian in The Pilgrim's Progress.

Before I looked at scripture as completely man-centered. I hope I can illustrate that a little better in just a minute. If you ask me what I was created for or why God created man, I would have said to have fellowship with. Honestly, that is probably a pretty typical answer. I was unaware or unable to see that God's purpose for me is purely for himself, to magnify His glory.

A few weeks ago I listened to the Piper sermon from John 9 that led to the interviews with John Knight about the man who was born blind. The first three verses:

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, c“Rabbi, dwho sinned, ethis man or fhis parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but gthat the works of God might be displayed in him.

Before I would have listened to this preached or read these verses and focused only on the man and the miracle he received (man-centered view) and totally missed God, his sovereignty and his glory displayed. Everyone wants to know why this man was born blind? Whose sin was it? But Jesus tells us it was God in his sovereignty and he did it so that his works might be displayed in him. That's a hard thing for us to swallow when you really dwell on it. We don't ever want God to act in a way in which we wouldn't or in a way that we don't think is fair or right. Purposing this man to be born blind? We skip over those verses or focus on other parts of the passage. Scipture is so uncomfortable at times. What does it say about God and the Bible if we (as sinners) always naturally agree with it? There are things to be struggled over within it's pages.

God is so big. That is the best I can come up with. I can't even grasp it. The sovereignty that angered me when Griffin was born now brings me comfort as I face having another premature baby...that the works of God might be displayed in (her). I don't know what he is going to do, but I know that it will be for his good purpose and so that his name will be glorified. There is such joy in that. Not that he makes much of me, but that much is made of him and at certain moments I get glimpes of His greatness. I want his glory to be the focus of my life and not myself.

As John Newton said at the end of his life..."My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior."

Francis Chan’s Erasing Hell: a response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins - Blog - Eternal Perspective Ministries

2011-06-23T04:43:00.001-04:00

We are tempted to shrink God so he fits inside the borders of our minds. But those are small borders, and he is a big God. There’s great comfort in knowing a God who loves me but doesn’t need my counsel.

Francis Chan’s Erasing Hell: a response to Rob Bell’s Love Wins - Blog - Eternal Perspective Ministries

Appointment Update

2011-06-20T20:41:00.000-04:00

Saturday I was having some symptoms of preterm labor so Ryan took me to the ER and they took me right up to the triage in Labor and Delivery. I had not been having any contractions but a lot of pelvic pain, cramping and backache. I thought it would be better to be safe than sorry. I will say that I have had several different doctors through the years throughout all my pregnancies and been in 3 different hospitals, and this was the worst, most painful exam I have ever had in my life. To boot it took forever. I won't give all the details here, but I will say that the nurse told me I was 1cm dilated. I was suprised at that because I never dilate this early. Hooked me up to the monitor and I had 2 contractions in two hours. Honestly, it was probably from the exam. I have not had any since.

I had my appointment today. Cervix was a little shorter than last week but it has measured shorter in previous weeks so it looks to be staying within the same range. My Dr. said I was not at all dilated and still closed tight. I was not suprised that the nurse was wrong...she really did not seem to know what she was doing. Fluid levels were normal. Baby weighed in at 3lbs 14oz and is growing well. The lady who does my ultrasound every week is really nice and went and got Ryan and all the kids and let them come back for the ultrasound and even did it in 3D. When I first got there, there was a question about what all she was supposed to scan today so she went back to ask the Dr. She came back laughing and said that he has so many patients and can't remember patient's names but he has a really good memory and remembers people in different ways. She says that to him I am "the preacher's wife." I'm used to that. :)

So Dr. thinks I am holding steady for the time being. I feel really achy, but I think most of it has to do with lying down all the time, so I am rotating it with sitting up and stretching some too. It's been helping a lot. I have weird cracking and popping going on in my pelvis and back. It's loud and freaks Ryan out. My body is so worn out! To deliver in Parkersburg, I need to make it to 35 weeks. That is 4 weeks away now. It doesn't seem like a long time away, but I know things can change quickly. I am just trusting the Lord to take care of both of us! I'm so thankful that Lord gives me strength and encouragment every day. Ryan has been amazing through everything and so many people have done things to help or show encouragment. It really means so much to me!

They are really busy at the Dr.'s office so I don't go again till next Wednesday. I'll update again then.

Motherhood as a Mission Field

2011-06-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Motherhood as a Mission Field

Another appt. update

2011-06-13T17:32:00.000-04:00

Everything went well. My cervix measured even a little bit more than last time, so I was happy about that. Eveything else went well. The only concerning thing was that I measured at 35 weeks and I am just about ready to hit 30 weeks. Next week along with my cervical length measurement, I'll also have my fluid levels measured. It was on the higher side of nomal last time. Hopefully it is still at a normal level. So strange...with Julianna it was low.

So just 7 weeks left till full-term. Taking it a day at a time!

We stopped on the way home and bought a car seat. I really did not expect to have any more babies so we got rid of all baby stuff a long time ago. Last time I went pink crazy with Julianna. This time I got a green and brown seat to match her quilt. Just seems like a good fit for a little girl named Piper.

A good appointment

2011-06-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

My cervix actually measured longer this time. I'm sure there is some measure of error with different techs doing the measurements, but it's great news and I'll take it...and give the credit to the Lord. I've been praying for a good appointment today! The doctor looked at it and said there was a 30% increase and then he said he had no explanation for that. I do...the Lord knew I needed some encouragement to keep me going. The exam went fine and no changes there. I don't know what exactly it means but his comment was that there was nothing challenging the cervix right now. Sounds positive to me so again I'll take it! So I'm to keep doing what I have been doing and it always feels good to have another week to check off! Getting through the month of June will be a huge milestone for me and will probably let me breath a slight sigh of relief. That will get me to 32 weeks.

I'm so sad it is over!

2011-06-08T11:03:00.000-04:00

Normally, if I see a free book recommended for kindle, I will go ahead and download it for my iphone. I don't really like reading on my iphone, but when it's for free, it's just hard to pass up! Awhile back, A Praying Life by Paul Miller was available free for kindle so I scooped it up. Like most Christians I have gone through ups and downs with my prayer life. Within the past year Ryan has read a lot on prayer, took a grad class on prayer and went to a pastor's conference where the topic was...prayer! So it's been a reoccuing theme around our house. Now, I love bible study and reading, but I have learned (was brought out in the book) that I can be too rigid and lack God's presence in my life because of my focus on bible study without a focus on prayer. I just love God's Word and the way that I learn more about who He really is, but I know that I have neglected knowing Him more relationally through prayer.

So I started reading on my iphone and loved the chapter so much that I read it to Ryan. He was positive that he had read it before and the next day went through his library at church and found the book. I was so thankful to have the actual book to read...yes, I am one of those people who loves the feel of the book and just can't be totally sold yet on e-books. I finished it up yesterday and I am just so sad that it is over. I absolutely love this book and highly, highly, highly recommend it. I have been so encouraged in my prayer life and am applying some of the recommended practical tools found at the end of the book in my prayer life already. Prayer is not taught in this book as another spiritual discipline to learn but as a natural, relationship with the Father. There is an enormous amount to be learned in this book and I think it is one that I could easily reread to fully digest it.

If nothing else were to come out of these weeks on bedrest, I am thankful for these learned lessons on prayer. I have not wanted this to be a wasted time and have been watching for whatever it is that the Lord has for me to learn or is trying to change in me during this time. Perhaps there are more lessons to learn, but one thing that He has began to change is a hunger for a more personal prayer life. I find myself constantly desiring just to talk to the Lord, not having to remember that I need to.

Give it a try! I really think you will love is as much as I have!

Not much going on!

2011-06-06T17:18:00.002-04:00

I'm still laying around with not much to write about. Last's week appointment showed my cervix continuing to shorten and it is soft. Baby's head right on top of it although I'm pretty sure she moves in and out of that position because sometimes I think she is transverse. Not sure how else to explain the punches and squirms right on both of my hip bones at the same time. Dr. told us that he didn't think it would take much at this point to put me in labor so not to do anything. I had the fetal fibronectin test come back negative which is good. I'm not really sure how telling it is for me though because my problem has always been my water breaking, not preterm labor. But it's positive news so I'll take it. My dr. is on vacation, but he still wanted me to come in and get checked by another dr. and that will be on Thursday.

Kids are in VBS this week and excited about that. Ryan has a wedding this week in Parkersburg. Other than that things continue pretty smoothly. Laundry has become Ryan's nemesis, but he is holding up well. He's a great husband. Not many men could handle all that he does, but we both know what having a premature baby is like so we are both trying to sacrifice and do all that we are able to do and trust the Lord with the outcome.

And edited to add a funny story. Last week before my appointment, I looked in my bathroom mirror and told Ryan that I felt smaller than I usually do. He "gently" tried to reassure me over my size. I wasn't worried about her growth, I think the last estimate was already 3lbs 6oz, I just didn't think I looked THAT big. The very first thing the dr. said when he saw me was, "You're already so big." Seriously those were his first words. After examining me he asked if I felt big compared to my other pregnancies. I was too embarrassed to tell him what I had said that morning. Ryan just smiled and told me later that I see myself through very rose colored glasses.

The Myth of the Genderless Baby

2011-05-31T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Myth of the Genderless Baby by Albert Mohler

The controversy surrounding Storm is a sign of our times. Our rebellion against the Creator has now reached the point that we will deny the fact that our identity is not just our own personal project, but is first of all established in the Creator's intention - and part of that intention is the fact that we are male or female.

My Review of Heaven is For Real

2011-05-31T09:14:00.001-04:00

I read a lot. I have had the opportunity to read even more as I lay here resting as baby Piper grows. I talk and recommend books to friends all the time. Such reading is not for everyone...nor does everyone even have the time that I currently have to do so. We are all different and given to different passions. And thank the Lord for it.

A few months ago, I guess the book Heaven is For Real became big news with interviews on talk shows. It akso became a national best-seller. Many have been intrigued by the story.   I would never have even heard of it, but I have been asked continually (as has Ryan) if either one of us has read the book and what we think of it. We were even loaned a copy.

Let me preface all this by saying that I do have a different personality. I am rather passionate about what I believe and I don't rush to form my beliefs, but once they are there I see the matter as simply black or white. This is helpful at times and other times not so much! When I heard the book described, I had no interest what so ever. The part of me that recognizes that my passionate black/white personality can not be helpful at times realizes that I must make sure my postions are biblical. It's fine to be black and white on those positions but not so great when you make such absolutes about positions that you cannot support with scripture.  This has been a great lesson in my life and allows me to grow without holding to man-made traditions that ultimately at times became a hindrance in my life and stunted growth. It's the ability to look at an issue and say ok, such-and-such may say this, but what does scripture say? Lots of times we rely on what we have heard preached or been taugh or read, without giving much thought to scripture.  So my opinion of this book was thoughtfully weighed out.

So as I have been continually asked about this book and had some extra time on my hands, I finally picked up the book and read it for myself.

First, I went in to this not believing for a second that this toddler had went to heaven, and just in case you are bored with this review and want to know what I think AFTER reading the book without reading through all my fluffy thoughts and words, I will write it now. I do not believe for a second that this toddler went to heaven and came back to tell about it.

And it's more than my initial skeptism that has led me to ths opinion. The first very big issue I have with this book comes when I compare it to Paul's account of being caught up to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians. He didn't come back with story to sell. In fact, he never even mentioned it for 14 years and then there were no wild stories. He only mentions that there were things he heard that he wasn't even permitted to speak. Interesting.

Then we have Heaven is For Real. This book was hard for me to read because of the enormous amount of unneeded detail. It was like having a conversation with some who adds in every, single, little detail and the whole time you are looking at your watch wishing they would get to the point. It was hard to read through such details that never had anything to do with the thesis of the book.

Basically, this little boy had his appendix burst and ended up with some heavy infection and a hosptial stay that if I understood right lasted for 2-3 weeks. The dad/author admits that this little boy never did actually die. What he experienced was during the time of his operation while he was under sedation. Nothing this boy had to retell is anything that jaw-dropping. It's implied to be, but it just isn't. He went to heaven and flew around with little wings. In fact everyone was flying, but his grandpa whom he met, had bigger wings than him. This is the stuff kids dream up about heaven after watching cartoons. Everyone also had halos above their heads and no one was old. Other claims were made, dad would be shocked and include a bible verse that was given as validation that this 4 year old was indeed caught up to heaven.  He talked with John the Baptists, saw rainbows, and Jesus wore white and purple and had a beard. Much emphasis is placed on the fact that he says he met a sister that his mom had miscarried, and the clencher is that they never told him about the miscarriage. Lots of other little things here and there and again nothing jaw-dropping.  And honestly, anyone with a 4-year old at home would find the dialogue between this dad and his son, hard to believe. Especially since these stories were written some 7 years after they actually occured. My Jules is 4 year old and if you know her, she is a very mature talker.  She talks very matter-of-factly about everything (another point that is made over and over...that this young boy spoke so matter-of-factly about his stories). One thing I have learned about kids, the more interested you become in their story, the more details they can provide! At this age Ty loved the story/movie of the Jungle Book and made up a wild story about how we were really not his parents and how he had grown up in some thick woods by our house, raised by apes. This went on for months. He even told his teachers in Sunday School that we were not his real parents and had only adopted him. He was very matter-of-fact about it. It was fun and I used to ask him questions and he never hesitated with crazy details. Just because a 4 year old says something matter-of-factly does not mean it's true.  Rather it's probably a combination at times of things they have heard or learned...even when you didn't know they were soaking things in! Another driving home point in the book is that this little boy was saying he saw things that he could have never known about other wise because he was not taught that at home or in Sunday School. Kids learn in all kinds of settings! The dad is a pastor and had taken his little boy with him on visits and I'm sure listened in on conversations and sermons. It's amazing but our kids learn a lot just by listening to conversations we have with people or through sermons Ryan preaches. It doesn't have to be formal learning for a kid to pick up on things like Jesus being nailed to a cross...something that the author insists his son could not have known about.

So enough of my rambling. Sorry, but I wasn't sold. I don't recommend the book. I don't think it's helpful and I don't think it is true. We have the bible and a plethora of other truly biblical resources. If God wanted us to have a greater revelation of Heaven, then He would have given it to us in His Word. Don't go searching for some extra-biblical revelation to give you hope or make your feel good. Especially a sensationalized story that someone is making a lot of money from.  We have the very Word of God and it is enough! We just rarely dig into it.

In it's place as an addition to your bible reading/study, I would suggest you read What is the Gospel by Gregg Gilbert or my current read which is A Praying Life by Paul Miller. Both very helpful, biblical books.

Rough Day

2011-05-27T17:45:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I did not feel that well. Getting ready that morning I felt light-headed and woozy. I complained about it to Ryan when he got home. As the day went on, I felt better and didn't think too much of it. This morning on the way to my Dr.'s appointment I started feeling the same way off and on. By the time I got there and started everything, I felt fine and again didn't think any more of it. I started off with a cervical length scan. Cervix still short. Saw the Dr. and he gave me the restrictions..."do as little as possible/don't do anything you don't have to do." Laying down keeps pressure off my cervix as the baby grows. Plan to do all this till I make it till 35 weeks, and then he said I'd be fine. All this took quite awhile because I had to wait for him to come over to the office in between his scheduled surgeries. He sent me for a NST. They got me hooked up and left me in a room by myself. I immediately started feeling woozy. It was more of a chair and impossible to roll over so I unhooked myself from the monitors, stood up and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up on the floor. I had banged up my head really good. This is after I got home a couple hours later and the swelling had went down substantially.

After I felt better, they took me to ultrasound to check on the baby. I have no idea if I fell on my stomach or not, but Piper looked good and they said she was about 2lbs 11oz today. She wouldn't show her face for the longest time, but I finally got a little peak. She has her hands up by her face and you can see both elbows.

Did bloodwork to check for anything that might be wrong and causing me to pass out. I almost passed out during the ultrasound, and she had to do it with me laying on my side. While waiting for Dr. Shockley I started again and they kept putting these little smelly things under my nose to keep me from going all the way out. Got a rx from the Dr. for vicodin for my headache and he told me to be careful and of course no driving. They told Ryan not to panic if I passed out at home, that I would still be breathing! Riding home was a little rough, but once I can lay down the wooziness isn't as extreme.

This is the picture from last week's ultrasound that I hadn't yet posted.

Go back on Thursday and it will be weekly from here on out. The dr. said my water breaks early because my cervix gets too short, so he will be checking it weekly. If he feels like I am close or there is a chance of early delivery, I will do the steroid shots to develop the lungs.

I think that about covers it. Prayers are very much appreciated...and please remember Ryan too. He has a lot on his plate right now.

A few more tweeks for the fall

2011-05-25T14:55:00.000-04:00

All this time resting has given me more time to research our homeschool curriculum for the fall. We will be doing...

All three boys: Sonlight Core B&C and add readers or Grade 1, 2 and 4/5. That will include our History, Geography, Bible and Literature.

All three boys: All About Spelling for Spelling and Phonics + Explode the Code for Evan and Griffin and Modern Curriculum Press Word StudyD for Ty.

All three boys: Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology + the journal that goes with it.

Ty and Griffin will be doing BJU English online.

All 3 will do BJU Math online.

All 3 will do BJU handwriting.

And probably throw in some journal writing depending on how much writing is involved in the other subjects.

Instead of going with a box curriculum for Jules I am just going to buy some preschool activity books and use some of the things I already have to get her ready for kindergarten the following year.

I'm excited about all we will be reading next year through Sonlight. Should be a fun year!

Bedrest :(

2011-05-24T11:17:00.000-04:00

No, my Dr. has not ordered me on bedrest...yet, but with the information we have combined with our past experiences, Ryan and I think it is the best thing to do right now. Bedrest is pretty standard for a shortened cervix and I went on bedrest with Julianna (whom I carried to term after two premature babies)as soon as I was diagnosed last pregnancy. Perhaps, after my scan this week, my new Dr. will have more to say and at least I will have the opportunity to ask more questions. Last week I saw the Dr. before they did my scan and I was only told that it was short and to come back next week for a repeat. As miserable as bedrest can be, it is nothing compared to the 8 days of complete bedrest I spent in the hospital when my water broke with Griffin at 32 weeks. Now that was sheer misery! I'd do anything to avoid that and of course to have a healthy, full-term baby girl to bring home.

My back and hips do not like laying down all the time which is the most difficult thing about this. My heating pad helps somewhat. I am 27 weeks which means 10 weeks till term. Seems like an eternity now but I can certainly sacrifice a couple of months to do everything I can for the health of my little Piper. And who knows. Maybe Friday's appointment will hold better news.

Not so great OB appt

2011-05-20T15:49:00.000-04:00

About right on schedule the complications start popping up. I wasn't too surprised with the news my cervix is shortening. I'll go back next week for another measurement and probably weekly after that too unless other problems arise which would not be out of the ordinary for me. The good news is my amniotic fluid looks good right now and no contracting. And Piper is still a girl! I'll add her picture when I can get to a computer.

Mother's Day

2011-05-15T16:49:00.000-04:00

I know I am about a week late on this one, but it's been a crazy week. Filled with children throwing up red-dyed drinks on our carpet and lots of other things that most people would think would be pretty boring to hear about.

But, I had a great Mother's Day. During the morning service Ryan presented me with 6 red roses and said they were "not because he was too cheap to buy a dozen", but one for each of our children. What meant the most to me was that he had included the baby that I miscarried this past fall. We have not talked about that in several months but the closer I get to approaching June, when the baby would have likely been born, the more I wonder about who or she was and would have been like. That may seem silly since I am carrying another baby in my womb right now, but when life is there and then is lost, it is still painful and leaves you wondering about the what if's. I have a sweet, sweet husband. He also got me a gazebo type thing for the backyard. It's hot and I'm getting bigger every day. It's nice to have a pretty, shady place to sit out back while I watch my kids play.

Griffin is not an artist. That is more of Ty's thing. Griffin feels unsure with anything that requires him to work with his hands, but he drew me a picture. On it was a group of flowers and beside it, he had written out, "Beautiful like her." No coloring, all done with pencil and the picture what nothing special, but the words touched me so much. I'm a wordsy type person. I know I will keep that picture forever.

Evan has finished kindergarten! We had a graduation party yesterday with some of our family. I'm so proud of him. I know it is not always easy for my kids to be the oddball, homeschooled kids in a community that is extremely pro-public school. I love an appreciate them and their hardwork so much.

I do have pictures to post, but I'm to tired to upload them at the moment. Try to add later. Getting ready to head out the door for a VBS meeting.

I enjoyed this blog post from girltalk about Celebrating Mothers...

An excerpt:
Who do we admire and applaud--the woman who is extraordinarily gifted or the woman who is extraordinarily faithful? As Christians, what doesn’t look impressive to most people should look very impressive to us.

Does it to you?

Suggested Children's Book

2011-05-11T12:01:00.000-04:00

Ty and I are currently reading Peanut Butter Friends in a Chop Suey World by Deb Brammer. I think I have said before that there are not too many books that I read that I do not love, but this one stands out as a favorite. I believe the reading level is 9-12 and it may be a little above Ty's comfort reading level so we trade back and forth as we read. I fell in love with this story and it has caused evaluation in my own life with circumstances I have been struggling with lately.

The story centers around 6th grade Amy whose family has just moved to Taiwan as missionaries. You feel her culture shock and her inner-struggle with being different and outside of her comfort zone. She longs for the comfort of "peanut butter friends" yet lives surrounded by a "chop suey world" that she tries to forget about and hide from when it becomes hard to be different.

I think there are wonderful lessons to be learned in this book by Christians young and old...whether a missionary on a foreign field or at home in your own sphere of influence. It's wonderfully written and would be a great family read!

HeeHee

2011-05-10T06:59:00.000-04:00

As I start my Tuesday (which is our Monday), I enjoyed this from a Kevin DeYoung blog I read this morning...

I remember years ago hearing a line from Alistair Begg, quoting another man, that went like this: “When I was young I had six theories and no kids. Now I have six kids and no theories.”

The whole blog is a good read. :)

And I just want to say we had a WONDERFUL day yesterday. Some Mondays (no school, Ryan is off!) are perfect little gifts that just encourage me so much. I don't think I could make it without them!

About to hit 25 weeks

2011-05-09T19:44:00.000-04:00

My OB appointment went well. Next appointment I do another glucose test, 3d ultrasound, measure my cervix and hook me up to the monitors to see if I'm having any irritability or contractions.

I found some papers to match some of the prints on Piper's quilt and used them to make the letters of her name. I was pleased with how it turned out.

Prayers for a friend and his family

2011-05-06T19:02:00.002-04:00

I met Gabe (or Gabriel as I called him back then)in Mrs. Ditmar's 2nd grade class. His last name was McCauley and mine was Norvell..alphabetically we were seated next to each other a lot over the next several years. We became great friends and he also lived right beside my aunt. I remember birthday parties where I was the only girl present. LOL We continued to be good friends into our high school years and spent lots of nights watching David Letterman together "over the telephone." That was before things like cell phones and internet. Of course after high school we went off to college, found our spouses, got married and Gabe and his wife Mandy have a 2-year old daughter, Scout, who has Loeys-Dietz Syndrome and is about to have her aorta replaced next week in Baltimore. I know that I have a lot of praying friends who read this blog, and wanted to ask that you pray for Gabe, Mandy and especially Scout. You can follow their journey/blog here. You can read the entire blog to understand more about Loeys-Deits Syndrome and how to pray for Scout and their family.

Our School Pictures

2011-05-06T15:06:00.000-04:00

Julianna

Evan ~ Kindergarten 2011

Tyler ~ 3rd Grade 2011

Griffin ~ 1st Grade 2011

Why Must We Work Out Our Salvation?

2011-05-06T11:38:00.001-04:00

Words are cheap. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Good little devotional thought here:
Why Must We Work Out Our Salvation?

For Ashton

2011-05-04T07:54:00.001-04:00

When I read this blog this morning, I thought of Ashton. Although she has now graduated college and has a full-time job of her own (so we try not to bug her as much) I still appreciate her kindness to my kids, especially Julianna.

Thank you for babysitting our children. Thank you for taking an interest in our children. Thank you for making the gospel attractive to our children. Thank you for loving our children as if they were your very own.

And the rest of the blog here

What Happens When You Turn 65

2011-04-29T08:09:00.000-04:00

I've got a few years to go, but thought some special people in my life might enjoy this:

What Happens When You Turn 65

And we have another broken arm

2011-04-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

Bike wreck = broken arm for Evan

Happy Easter from The Eatons

2011-04-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

Quick family pictures before church. Poor Evan spent the day/night before throwing up continually. He had a little sweater vest that he ended up not wearing and I tried to get him to tuck in his shirt, but considering he had hardly slept, eat, and had been feeling so bad, the condition of his clothes seemed unimportant. I didn't even let Griffin's sleeve hanging out of his suit bother me. I barely recognize myself anymore. Maybe I've just learned that matching clothes (I let the kids pick out whatever they wanted this year, although I did persuade Jules to go with the green dress instead of her usual pink choice) really are not important.

We had a nice church service with many visitors. The cantata went well and afterwards I took Evan into Ryan's office while Ryan preached. I was actually thankful because after standing up singing for 40 minutes, I was short of breath and extremely warm. Ryan's office was so cool and it was much easier to catch my breath. I only got to hear bits and pieces of the sermon, but I am sure Ryan did well.

After church we went to PawPaw and Mimi's (Ryan's parents) for a great dinner. The kids went on an Easter Egg Hunt. Julianna became overwhelmed when the boys started grabbing eggs and she wasn't sure where to look. Her brothers were quick to help her though and show her where to find the eggs. I love how they take care of her.

Evan was exhausted after being sick and not sleeping well the night before and wanted to go home a little later. He was asleep as soon as we got in the van.

I made my first purchase for Piper three weeks ago. Instead of using a fancy crib bedding set (which I actually only did with Julianna), I decided I would rather buy a nice quilt that she could hopefully use for years. I wish I would have done that with all the children now. I ordered a homemade rag quilt made with Amy Butler fabric. It took 3 weeks to make and arrived this morning. I love it so much and can just see my little Piper laying on this beautiful quilt!

Still Around

2011-04-22T19:35:00.000-04:00

I'm still around.

I had a prenatal appointment Monday and all looked good. I thought I was having symptoms of a uti both nothing showed up in my urine so they sent it off to be cultured just to make sure. He went ahead and started me on antibiotics just to be safe (we don't want anything triggering any preterm labor). The nurse called yesterday with the results from the culture and said I did have an infection and to continue with the antibiotics. I also made some complaints about how achy I have been and the Dr. said "you have 4 kids and you're uterus is popped out. Look at the curve in your back. You're going to feel achy." He thought it all sounded normal. I am starting to think about going to a chiropractor I hurt so bad some days! I can hear cracking and popping and have pain all the way down my legs. My hips and inner thighs ache and I constantly feel like have pulled muscles in my thighs. I feel like I am falling apart and if this is what my 22 week old popped out uterus is doing to my body now, I am very nervous what it's going to be like at 32 weeks! I really don't consider myself a wimp. I've passed kidney stones and birthed babies without any medications at all, but this gets this best of me some days.

We had a very nice Easter Dinner on Thursday evening followed by a great sermon by Ryan and observation of the Lord's Supper. I had planned on doing some different activities with the kids today in reflection of Good Friday but I honestly have just not been able to, and this is just how sweet my family is. Around lunch time I took some time to lay down on my bed with my heating pad on my legs trying to ease the aches and pains. Here comes my 9-year-old Ty with 2 tuna fish sandwiches (one of my favorite lunches!), chips, and a drink. He had prepared everything on his own! He said he knew I wasn't feeling well, but wanted me to know how much he appreciated me. He takes after his daddy so much! As I write this, Ryan is upstairs running the vacuum. He has been so good to me throughout this pregnancy and I just love that man to death. Ryan is one of those people who just seems to good to be true. There isn't a day goes by that I don't look to the Lord and just say thank you for him. I say that in complete seriousness. We just continue to grow closer and closer. On Monday afternoon after my appointment we started fussing at each other over something petty (our happy hour order at Sonic...we have 4 kids who all want a different drink and flavor and Ryan can never keep it straight). In all fairness to him, he had watched the kids while I had my appointment which is an hour away (we live in a pretty rural area) from our house. We normally all go out and eat or shop after my appointment in Parkersburg since I make my appointments on Monday which is Ryan's day off. It was a "short fuss" and I told him I think that is the most we have done so in a year. LOL! I am so thankful to get to spend my life with Ryan.

Ryan and I have been watching through a John Piper seminar on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. It is sooooo good. I love every minute of it and it is such a huge help to me. He is going to use it in a series at the church I *think* on Sunday nights. He hasn't decided for sure, but if you go to our church this is something to really look forward to!

“Dora the Doormat” and other Scary Straw Women of Complementarity

2011-04-15T11:21:00.001-04:00

c“Dora the Doormat” and other Scary Straw Women of Complementarity

Hot Chocolate in Spring

2011-04-12T08:12:00.000-04:00

Looks like another rainy, dreary day today. So I made a cup of hot chocolate. I was thinking the other day how wonderful it would be to live in a place where it is sunny and 75 everyday, but really I don't think I would love it as much as I think I would. I'm not a huge fan of winter after Christmas time, but there is as much excitement for me to pull out my jeans, sweat shirts and hot chocolate in fall as there is to sit on my front porch now and feel so grateful for spring. So I can deal with the 2 -3 months of winter here that I hate. And can you really enjoy chili in Hawaii? Probably not.

Last week ended well. Friday seemed a little non-stop as far as our homeschool day. After our regular book work, we finally finished up our spring tree paintings, went to the library and then the kids had some gym time at the church. Later on we went and visited PawPaw and Mimi. I was itching to get home and get in bed. I don't know why. Bed these days is getting pretty uncomfortable and I'm only halfway there with this pregnancy! Scares me just a little.

Here we are finishing up our trees.

The back of a fat squirrel that was eating some of our birdie cakes.

Found Griffy on his break reading. He loves this book about taking a mouse to school. I love his wit and humor.

Yesterday Ryan, Evan and Julianna got my onions in the ground. It's no secret that I absolutely love green onions on about everything I eat. Even when I am not pregnant.

Evan's laying out some bird seed

Last night a horrible headache reared it's ugly head. I had wishfully thought that I was done with the headaches. It has been a couple weeks since I have had one, but last night was a doozy. This was sent over by our neighbors and I have to admit, helped me forget about the headache for a few minutes! Being pregnant has it's pros and cons. The strawberry shortcake and feeling Piper moving around all the time makes it all worth it!

A little Pick-me-up this Saturday morning

2011-04-09T08:26:00.000-04:00

This is actually my ringtone on my cell phone. It's a nice little pick-me-up this morning!

Wimpy theology makes wimpy women

2011-04-08T08:28:00.000-04:00

The Ultimate Meaning of True Womanhood by John Piper

He sums it up with this:

So whether you marry or remain single, do not settle for a wimpy theology. It is beneath you. God is too great. Christ is too glorious. True womanhood is too strategic. Don't waste it. Your woman-hood-your true womanhood-was made for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Confessions of a Conflicted Complementarian

2011-04-06T11:48:00.002-04:00

Confessions of a Conflicted Complementarian

A good read. I had briefly mentioned in a previous post (I think where I announced the sex of baby#5) some of the struggles with christian womanhood that I have had in the past. For me a real change in my life began to take place when my whole christian philosophy was changed from a man-centered theology to a God/gospel-centered theology. Before I could not even see the difference. God has taught me and unveiled my eyes to so much truth in the last 5 years. In so many ways, it is like being set free. I mentioned to a friend the other day not to place a yoke around her neck that wasn't Christ's. And I can say that because I lived for several years with a yoke of condemnation wrapped around me that never came from God. I'm not going to blame any preachers or teachings as the fault because I believe ultimately God has given me the great priviledge of having His Word in my language, at my disposal at any time. At the same time, I think a lot of preachers are guilty of influencing women in the wrong way. The worst sermon I ever heard was from a well-known fundamental preacher who was challenging young women who were going to be pastor's wives. A warning was given to those women who would be the cause of the husband leaving his ministry. He said that those women would rather be in hell than to face the Lord for what they had done. He even referred to them as whores. My stomach still turns when I think of the influence he had on those women. And the struggle I knew that at times they would face when they realized that they could not keep the law.

I enjoyed this excerpt very much:

Scripture’s Ideals Haunted Me

Some of my friends appear to be able to keep the law on their own, and they admit to me that their problem is awful pride. However, I couldn't do it on my own. Scripture's ideals haunted me. They hung over my head, and I felt condemned by the way they were presented to me by well meaning teachers.

Apart from the gospel.

What a very different message. We can either remain under fear of condemnation for laws that we will never be able to keep on our own, or we can learn how to be a gospel-centered woman who understands the position she now has in Christ. As the author wrote in this blog:

"It's only meditation on the gospel and then availing myself of my access to the throne of grace it provides that I move from condemnation to hope on any issue."

I don't feel like any of these words adequately conveys the truths that God has illuminated in my life or the shift in thinking that has taken place, but I think it's a very important subject and I hope this blog can be a help to anyone who has ever struggled as I have.

Homeschool Year is Winding Down!

2011-04-04T18:08:00.000-04:00

Saturday I counted up the number of days we have left of school. I kept us on a pretty strict schedule and some of our subjects we will be able to finish this month and others by next month. I have had a handful of people ask me about our curriculum or how homeschool has worked out for us in general so I thought I would share some of my thoughts.

As we are moving closer to the end of our school year, I look back and am definitely thankful that we decided to homeschool this year. I had a lot of fears and some uncertainty when we began, but overall it has been a very positive experience. I think each of the kids have done well and I am happy with their progress.

One of my fears was my patience level. I am not always at my best, but I can say that homeschooling has actually helped me learn to be more patient and that is something I feel good about. We've had our fair share of "off" days, but at the end of the day I go to bed convinced that this is the best option for our family. I think homeschooling has also helped me to love my kids more. I see them much more as individuals with different needs. It has opened my eyes to the different ways they need encouragement and love. And I'm still growing in that area.

Another fear was getting it all done, and I admit the house is not as clean as when they were away at school. However, they clean their rooms and bathroom now more than they did. Chores is another area we need to improve in overall, especially as they get older and have the ability to do more.

We chose to use Bob Jones University Press as our curriculum this year and also chose to do the distance learning online option. Another fear was the ability to teach 3 boys in 3 different grades. This seemed like a good option with a trusted curriculum. Overall, I have been very pleased with how it has worked out. The videos are tailored to teach individual homeschool students as opposed to just recording a class at a christian school (ex. Abeka). Ty and Griffin absolutely love Mrs. Walker who teaches Ty's Reading and Math and Griffin's Reading and Phonics program. She is a great teacher and I've overheard both of them giggling during their classes. Ty did get bogged down with handwriting, and sometimes history or science. Evan's kindergarten program was good and he is reading well although at times he seems to get a little weary with the length of the class. It definitely needs to be broken up with a few breaks in between although at times that just discourages him because he doesn't feel like he is making progress. A lot of things we do together rather than with his teacher, like his worktext pages and reading his weekly readers. The math is easy for him and he seems to have an easy time grasping the math concepts.

I think they have things well organized. I used a folder system where they just needed to grab their folder for each class and it would contain that day's worktexts. They turn the folder back into me, and I grade, record, and then place the next day's work in the folder. Most answer keys are online as opposed to an actual book. Most all the subjects have a record of grades which made keeping track of their graded work easy.

There are many hands-on projects that really help break up the monotony of a video-based curriculum. Most of the projects require things we normally have around the house. We have had a lot fun and have made a lot of memories.

So next year we will be continuing with the BJU distance learning curriculum with just a few adjustments. I am going to replace the science with Apologia Science, history with Beautiful Feet Early American History (I'm excited about this one. It uses literature to teach history), Bible with Christian Liberty Press, and allow them to do the BJU handwriting minus the video. I think this will be a good change and will be less computer/video time. For Julianna I've chosen to use the preschool curriculum kit from Christian Liberty Press.