eHomebody.com

House Rules

2012-01-06T15:32:00.000-05:00

I just discovered a form of teaching on the subject of how households (families) are to follow a rule of order as described in Scripture. Martin Luther referred to them as the Haustafel or house-table, a table of rules for Christian households. These are found in the following passages:

Ephesians 5:21-6:9
Colossians 3:18-4:1
Titus 2:4-10
I Peter 2:18-3:7

I've always read these through without realizing they were found in four different books of the Bible, given by both Paul and Peter. This emphasis should stir us up to the importance of studying and implementing these directives as Christian households, especially in the day and age in which we live.

According to the Wiktionary, "It implies the highly practical nature of the instructions: an individual's "haustefel duties" are not related to abstract beliefs they are expected to hold to, but rather to specific actions they are expected to perform."

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. " (James 1:22)

Should Ladies "Friend" Men on Facebook?

2012-01-03T17:25:00.000-05:00

I had someone ask me recently if I thought it was appropriate for ladies to "friend" men on Facebook. In an age when virtual relationships sometimes turn into real adultery, I think that's a very good question.

I answered that Facebook is a virtual community. Since I am friends with both men and women in my real communities, I have no problem "friending" men on Facebook. The problem arises when the relationship becomes more than a friendship. Now, that may be good or bad, depending on the relationship, such as in the case of our Sam and his new bride, Hannah. :)

I would liken Wall chatting to standing in the vestibule at church having a publicly viewable conversation. The chances of things getting personal are highly unlikely. However, Chat chatting is private and can become dangerous. This form of communication is more like talking with a male friend in a room with the door locked. There is no way anyone can even chance to come through. When I first got on Facebook, I was approached for a Chat session with a male friend I knew from college. Though our conversation was innocent to the best of my knowledge, it just didn't "feel" right. It may be necessary, as I found, to shut off the Chat feature on your Facebook account.

Facebook email can become personal, but is usually more like a letter, a card, or phone call. Sometimes this type of communication with male friends is absolutely appropriate. For instance, a friend on Facebook who has always been like an older brother to me wrote to let me know about a missionary couple I went to school with who were battling cancer. He is very, very close to our family and has also written to ask about my little sister's father when he passed away not long ago. These types of communication between men and women would not be inappropriate in any case.

It is important, however, to keep in mind that, unless you block them, Facebook email can come from ANYONE on Facebook. Unfortunately, our daughter had to block a male "friend" who kept sending unsolicited "encouragement." It was more than the attention she would have allowed in her public life, so she wisely determined it was necessary to stop the unwanted attention in her virtual community as well.

Just as in our real communities, we must exercise discernment when a relationship is going beyond the bounds of decency and appropriateness. Therefore, it may never be appropriate to "friend" some men, such as an old flame or an ex-spouse. Yet, even then, it may be appropriate depending on what that relationship would be in person.

My conclusion would be to try to determine whether or not you would be "friends" with this person in the physical world, and then to monitor that virtual relationship accordingly once you have accepted their Friend Request. And, as in any situation, you have to know when it's time to let some "friend"-ships go.

Two of My Favorite Spurgeon Devotions

2012-01-02T17:11:00.001-05:00

I just finished Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening for my devotional reading last year and thought I'd share two of my favorites.

This was one of the most inspiring, challenging, and encouraging devotionals I've ever read. I love Mr. Spurgeon. He must have been a wonderful person to know. Can't wait to meet him in Heaven. What a blessed thought. :)

Amazon has several hard copies in different versions. I prefer the original text written by Mr. Spurgeon himself along with the good ol' KJV. However, others might find the updated language texts more understandable. You may
purchase a copy here or download one to your e-reader.

If you don't mind reading online, there is a full text divided by dates at WholesomePublishing.com, Spurgeon.org, and others. Or you may have daily devotions sent automatically to your email (here and here), a great option if you have trouble finding time to squeeze in devotions.

Full texts of my favorites may be read online at the links given for each date below:

July 11 (Evening): "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." -- Joel 1 :3

August 20 (Evening): "And they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall." -- Nehemiah 3:8

Also suggested by another reader:

Do All Dogs Really Go to Heaven? How Does God View the Loss of Our Pets?

2011-12-05T13:21:00.001-05:00

Our youngest sister lost a beloved pet last evening. Cleo was a sweet soul, a blue-eyed, rolly-polly, husky-beagle mix with personality plus. Angie brought her to our house over the Thanksgiving weekend just over a week ago, and it broke our hearts to watch her roam from room to room searching for her best buddy, Andrew, who is now in the Marines. You see, she always remembered you no matter how long it had been, and she always met you with a smile. And we will all miss her.

Cleo getting a bath from
Andrew and Mom Litwiller --
not too happy, but compliant

Some people view the loss of the pets of others as a get-over-it-already kind of event. It was "just a dog" or "just a cat" or "just an iguana." But, to the pet owners, the ones who invested a portion of their lives and reaped the joys of companionship which only our co-created creatures can impart, it's a loss....a real and often heart wrenching loss. Perhaps this is how some people view it, but I truly believe God responds to this type of suffering in a much different way.

How embarrassing...
in front of God and everybody

In II Samuel 12 of the Bible, we find King David was in deep trouble. He was trying desperately to keep secret a whole host of unconscionable transgressions, which included covetousness, adultery, conspiracy, deceit, and murder. He thought he had it all covered up, but the God who intended to have mercy sent the prophet, Nathan, to bring it all out in the open.

David's hardened heart could only be broken by the tale Nathan told:

There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. (II Samuel 12:1-6)

Though the first purpose of the story was to convict David of his sin, there is also one key principle we might glean from it concerning how God feels about the loss of our pets.

Rolly-Polly rolling
in the yard to get dry

First of all, it is important to understand that David's reaction to this parable is exactly how God Himself would have reacted. In Acts 13:22 it says David was a man after God's own heart. This means that how David felt about things was akin to how God felt about them. God's own heart was manifested in David's indignation over the treatment of this poor man in the loss of his dear pet.

No doubt David had pet lambs over the many years he was a shepherd boy. He, too, may have allowed a lamb to eat from his own food, drink from his own cup, and sleep snuggled up with him on cold desert nights. I've known countless people who indulge their pets in just this way. They may even be derided for treating their animals as if they were their children. Yet, in this very story it says the lamb was like a daughter to this poor man.

Please consider that David didn't disgustingly retort "For crying out loud, IT WAS A SHEEP! Get OVER it."

On the contrary, he was not only compassionate toward the poor man, but he was also FURIOUS with the perpetrator, even to the point of putting him to DEATH. The obvious charge was stealing, which resulted in the fine of four lambs being taken from the rich man's estate and given to the poor man. But, the sentence of death was for another charge, that of having no pity.

Therefore, it may be understood from this passage that pity flows from the heart of God toward those who have lost a dear pet. Webster's 1828 dictionary describes pity as "[T]he feeling or suffering of one person, excited by the distresses of another; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion or fellow-suffering." Thus, as He commands us to do by Paul the Apostle in Romans 12:15, He weeps with those who weep.

Heading for the shade
with ears flying....

Another example of the Lord having pity concerning the loss of animals is given in his rebuke against the prophet, Jonah.

Jonah had been sent to call the people of the city of Ninevah to repent of their wickedness before God or He must destroy them for it. You see, these were very cruel arch enemies of Jonah's own people. God had to use some extreme measures to get Jonah to preach to them [1], because he knew God meant to forgive them and turn away His judgment. Jonah was none too happy about this. So, after fulfilling his obligation to preach to them, he parked himself under a gourd vine for shade and watched for the destruction of the city just in case God changed His mind. When the gourd shriveled up and died, Jonah had his own little pity party, but God wasn't invited.

Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: and should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand [120,000] persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand [2]; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:10, 11)

God rebuked Jonah not only for his lack of pity on the innocent children and disabled persons of Ninevah, but also on the flocks and herds which lived there. This is a point which is often overlooked when studying this book of the Bible, but I believe it points to the true heart of God in the death of His creatures, including pets.

...for one more
roll in the grass.

Furthermore, though there is no indication in Scripture that animals of any kind go to Heaven, there are still secret things about eternity which are not revealed to us. What we cannot know about our pet's afterlife, we can know for sure about that of those who truly love God: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (I Corinthians 2:9) It is entirely possible the New Heavens and New Earth could include pets identical in every way to those we loved so well on Earth. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is certain, but nothing is impossible with our Creator God.

Those who are grieving over the loss of a beloved pet may indeed find comfort in the One who lovingly gave the blessing of such a sweet companion and created that animal for the sole purpose of their enjoyment. Yet, only those who have been reconciled to God by turning away from their sins and believing they are forgiven through the only acceptable sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, will ever know the comfort of God in this world and all the hidden blessings of the next. If it is not so already, may His goodness lead to a right relationship with this compassionate Creator through His Son.

[1] If you never have, you simply must read this awesome story from the Bible found in the Old Testament book of Jonah.

[2] Most likely referring to infants, toddlers, and severely mentally challenged persons.

Link Love

2011-11-21T09:09:00.000-05:00

I'd like to begin sharing some links from other blogs and websites which may be helpful and inspiring in your desire for godly womanhood. Please feel free to pass on any online articles or websites you think might fit into what eHomebody is all about, and I'll consider adding them to my weekly list.

It's not about me....

It's about us....

And I am learning and growing, too.

Healthy Links

Nine Toxins to Remove From Your Life

A Collection of Homemade Cleaners

Happy Links

Your Money-Making Potential As a Housewife

Holy Links

What We Can Learn From Our Pilgrim Foremothers

Singles Living With Parents: What's the Big Deal?

2011-11-14T21:42:00.000-05:00

This is the second article this year I've read disparaging single adult men living at home. It seems as though, across the board, the cultural push is for adults over 18 to get out as soon as possible. It's just what is expected....and pressured....by our society. I just have two questions: Is this way best for the human family to function and, as Christians, is it a biblical model for us to follow?

Anyone will tell you dogs are made to run in packs. In fact, vets caution dogs left alone for too long are likely to exhibit ill behavior. That's why they treat you like a rock star when you come home at night. They get lonely when left alone and will join any other dog if they find them while running loose. When a dog comes to live with you, he becomes a part of your pack. At least, that's from his point of view. That includes you and any other people or animals in the house.

If this is easy to figure out about dogs, then why do we deny the same evident need in humankind? God made humans to live in families. (Gen. 2:18-22; Psa. 68:6) I am convinced this is the primary reason kids from a bad home life end up forming gangs, why guys hang out at the pub when there's a nagging wife at home, and why some elderly women find it extremely satisfying to wear red hats with other elderly women and travel around the globe spending their children's inheritances.

Truth be told, very few people are happy living alone, and society sees nothing wrong with young adults living together in any other situation than with their parents. After they turn 18, most kids usually end up moving in with their friends, living at the dorm or fraternity/sorority house, or shacking up with their boyfriend/girlfriend. Yet, even if they choose to live alone, they usually take in one or more animals to keep them company. Why, even recluses end up talking to squirrels, mice, spiders, ants, or even in desperation to themselves!

Now, I admit some adults living at home are leaches and loafers, and they are the ones folks worry your kids will to turn out to be like. They assume they are lying about in their jammies watching cable television all day (note the picture accompanying this article) and partying with their buddies every night. This stereotyping, however, doesn't apply to many Christian, single adults who hope to stay home until they either marry or are called into military or ministry service.

Two of our sons chose to enter the military soon after graduation, and our oldest son moved out of state to take an apprenticeship. Each lived alone for most of their time away from the old homestead, and all three were so thankful to go back to Mom and Pop in the end. Though their unmarried sister, who is still living at home after graduating high school four years ago, has never lived away from home, she, too, would be grieved to leave us before marriage.

The fact is, WE LOVE EACH OTHER. We even LIKE each other. We even PREFER one another's company. Because of this, there has been little or no struggle transitioning relationships with our adult children at home from parent-child to parent-adult child.

Of course, we did have to determine some standards of family living agreed upon between us and the kids so neither was taken for granted. Here are a few suggestions which have worked in our home:

Adult children living at home either looked for work -- even while taking classes -- or helped out at home (lawn care, gardening, animal husbandry, cooking, cleaning, childcare, etc.) or in the family business.
If they were making money, they contributed something to the family income...willingly and with a smile. They either gave a set amount, a percentage of take-home pay, or provided for some of the expenses such as phone, Internet, rent/house payment, utilities, etc.
Even if the kids were working or taking classes, Mom and Dad determined what part of the housework and home maintenance load each family member helped with on a regular basis with no excuse for not keeping one's personal space in order.
Though it was understood there are more freedoms in adulthood, there were still some house rules which were non-negotiable.[1]
Grown children at home took part in family devotions when they were home for the evening, except when sleeping because of shift work.

These are only the basics and would apply to anyone coming to live in our home, including aging parents, married children and their families who were in dire straights, or anyone else the Lord put in our path to help by moving in with us. However, though economic reasons for allowing adult children to stay at home are good enough, there's no reason why they can't stay home before marriage as long as they continue to operate as a vital part of the family.

I truly believe this has always been the biblical and pre-industrial model and is the one most suited to human well being. Won't you consider it?

If you have or have had adult children living at home, what has and has not worked for you?

Whose Fault Is It? Food, Inc. Review

2011-11-11T17:52:00.003-05:00

I'm not a pagan environmentalist.

I'm a creationist Christian.

And, I just watched the Food Inc. documentary and agreed with, oh..., 90% of what I heard.

From the very beginning of Food Inc., we learn that McDonalds is to blame for starting the corruption of our food sources and, at the end, that Monsanto is the continuing perpetrator. However, contrary to what one commentator claimed, business [a.k.a. capitalism] is NOT to blame.

The folks producing this film are unabashedly liberal pagan socialist environmentalists. So, how on earth can I agree with 90% of what they say? We both agree there is a problem with big business, hungry for the almighty dollar, controlling our food sources. But it is greed which corrupts, not capitalism. It is the love of money which is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10), not business.

Thankfully, they clarify their point later by giving much deserved accolades to Walmart, of all companies, for aggressively courting organic/whole food suppliers. Like the Walmart representative says in the film, it was the desire of their customers for better quality whole foods that nudged them into that market.

So, really, who is to blame? We are! Therefore, in the arena of food, I plan to henceforth vote with my pocketbook. How about you?

I found Food Inc. on Netlix, but maybe you can view it somewhere else online or get it at your local library or video store/kiosk. And, I know Amazon has it, too, to purchase or to watch instantly.

But, I can't let you watch this documentary without telling you the most hilarious quote in this film I've ever heard from an environmentalist:

"Cows are not designed by evolution to eat corn; they're designed by evolution to eat grass." -- Michael Pollan, author, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals [emphasis mine].

Could someone please tell me how a mindless, haphazard theory called evolution could ever "design" anything? And, by definition, wouldn't cows eventually begin to evolve to survive on corn if evolution were true?

Don't let the liberal bent of some of the people featured in this documentary deter you from listening to the truth behind their findings. Take what's good and leave the rest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note: Purchases made through any links in this post may result in monetary compensation to this blogger. Thanks! :)

Have You Heard? The Duggers are Expecting!

2011-11-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

This just came across my path this morning browsing the Web:

The Duggers are expecting baby #20!

Also here.

Praying for safety and good health for baby and Mama.

Inspiring Encouragement in Godly Womanhood

2011-10-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

Seriously!

I was planning to compile this book myself!

But, Jennifer McBride beat me to it in her brand new book, Queen of the Home. :) I am so excited to see it already in print and at such a great introductory price. For only $15 (plus shipping)*, you will find...

...what it means for a wife to be a crown to her husband, the monarch of the cradle, and queen of the home, and calls upon daughters to embrace their rewarding role and sacred calling as regal women of God.[1]

This compilation of essays, poems, and short stories will bless your heart and encourage you in your multifaceted roles of godly womanhood. It would also make a great gift for someone you want to encourage or a generous donation to your church or home school library.

You might also enjoy these other resources from our friends at Vision Forum as they bless you in your pursuit of biblical womanhood:

Home is Where the Heart Is CD

(listen to a sample)

Passionate Housewives

Desperate For God

Only $8.00!

Becoming A Woman of God Series

Godly Woman's Adornment Collection

Proverbs 31 Woman

(framed calligraphy print)

*Through midnight (CDT) on October 22, 2011, enjoy special introductory pricing on Queen of the Home — just $15! Offer valid only online or by phone, and may not be applied to past orders.

[1] From the Oct. 19, 2011, email promo from Vision Forum.

Purchases made through links in this post may result in monetary benefit to this blogger. Thanks! ~ M.

Underground History of American Education: Get 'Em While They're Hot!

2011-09-30T15:52:00.000-04:00

I just sold another copy of John Taylor Gatto's The Underground History of American Education on Half.com today (5 more copies at $23.45).

Mr. Gatto is one of my all-time favorite authors. I devour everything he writes and had the blessing of hearing him speak at a local home school convention several years back. If you get the opportunity to see him, GO! You will not be disappointed.

John Taylor Gatto is the former New York State and New York City Teacher of the Year. After 30 years in the public schools of New York, the man knows the system inside and out. But, where he stands out most stunningly is in his honesty about the tragedy of American public schools.

A dear friend first introduced me to this particular work of Gatto's when we were still a little new to the home school journey. But, I had read a re-print of his "The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher" when we were brand new to the idea. Though I was already convinced I wanted to educate our children at home, this book solidified my convictions about it and opened my eyes to a whole lot more than just education. From this volume, I also discovered how the movers and shakers of society move and shake society to conform it to their ideals. It is both sobering and a tad bit scary. But, the truth is always that way, I suppose.

From the back cover:

The Underground History of American Education will take you on a journey into the background, philosophy, psychology, politics, and purposes of compulsion schooling. The most important book about schools you will ever read. It will open your eyes.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Again, I have five brand-new copies of this book for sale on Half.com for $23.45. That's probably the cheapest you're going to find online. The shipping isn't too bad either.

For more information and a complete list of Mr. Gatto's products on Amazon.com, please click here to access my affiliate link with them. (All purchases made through this link may result in monetary benefit to this blogger -- Thanks!)

Do You Value Life?

2011-09-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

POW-ER-FUL

New Online Bible Software

2011-09-21T17:29:00.001-04:00

Got this in my email today. Can't wait to try it out!

My name is Colin Wong and I am the CEO of Osprit Inc. We want to inform you that we recently acquired the eBible.com domain from GodSpeed Computing, the previous owner. Starting this Friday (23rd), when you go to eBible.com, you will see a new website, powered by our technology.

We are currently taking steps to migrate your account to our servers. We anticipate this to be a straight-forward process. Some data will not make it due to system differences. For example, there is no verse tagging in our website. Paid content subscriptions are also not available in our system.

What you do gain in return is a new set of powerful features. You can interact with eBible.com like a real book. For example, you can highlight or underline specific words within a verse. You can also annotate multiple verses at once within a single click. You can write notes on the side margin and access them from any mobile device, including the iPhone, iPad and Android.
Here's a preview video of what we offer: http://vimeo.com/18986982

We understand there are many excellent choices out there today for you to read your Bible. We ask that you give us a chance and try us out. We promise to do our best to make it worth your while.
The new eBible.com begins on Friday, September 23rd!

Thanks,

Colin Wong

CEO, new eBible.com

Giving Due Honor When They Do Not Deserve It

2011-09-09T16:02:00.000-04:00

I came across this passage today while skimming through a book I plan to read:

The submissiveness of a wife to her husband is the appropriate form of honor that she pays him. She offers it just as she would offer it to Christ. In respecting her husband, she respects Christ -- that is, she respects who he is in Christ. It is frequently argued that she owes him nothing if he is not fulfilling the special command issued to husbands: love your wives. This attitude produces a permanent stand-off. As long as she refuses to submit on the ground that he does not earn her respect, the husband, by the same logic, may refuse her his love, since she does not submit and therefore does not deserve it. Each has been given a particular command and a particular strength with which to meet the other more than halfway. In the case of the wife, her strength is what Peter calls an "...imperishable ornament, a gentle, quiet spirit..." There is no calculating the power of such submission. It is even possible that an unbelieving husband will be won over without a word said when he sees the "chaste and reverent behavior" of his wife.

Is it possible to pay honor, like toll or taxes, to a cruel, abusive, unbelieving man? If everything in her recoils from her husband's injustice or hatred? If she fears suffering or other frightening consequences? The grace of God has proved through the centuries to be sufficient for countless "impossible" human circumstances. She may, through that grace, pay honor and respect to him as to the Lord, certain that although it is unmerited by and apparently lost on her husband, it is not lost on Christ. And Christ may draw the husband to faith because of her reverent behavior. Faith, not fear, should govern her. Try God! I would say. [Emphasis mine.]

Found in Discipline: The Glad Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1982), pp. 88, 89.

Setting Up a New Home Menu System

2011-09-06T10:19:00.004-04:00

You probably think I'm going to tell you how to set up a new home menu system, but you're only partially right. I'm posting today to ask for help from my readers and their friends in order that I might set up a new home menu system for our family.

Our household has changed dramatically in the past few years. At this point, two of our four children are married, one is in the Marines, and one is working part-time. So, with Dad gone to work all day and our daughter gone at least some of most days of the week, that leaves only me to work out the menus, do most of the shopping, keep up the inventory, craft meals, and do most of the clean up and maintenance. And, since I really don't like cooking or spending a lot of time on food, I'm in a pickle.

Truth be told, I'm sort of in the same pickle many of you are in who have lots of little ones under foot and are juggling housekeeping with home schooling. Even those with a house full of teenagers can become so busy with sports and extra-curricular activities you find yourselves eating out or skimping on nutrition because you simply don't have time.

So, what I'm asking is for those of you who have it all together --or know someone on the Web who does-- to share your ideas with us how you streamline the meal processes in your home. I would love to have a whole list in the Comment section of your own websites, blogs, or of those you know who can help me out in this area of the home.

Thanks so much in advance for your help. :)

Some Really Great Sales From The Old Schoolhouse

2011-09-05T13:40:00.000-04:00

I got an email from The Old Schoolhouse announcing some great sales.

Here's one for ya just for Labor Day:

When you're done there,

be sure to take a peek at these ongoing specials, too:

As always, any sales made through clicking these banners

could result in monetary benefit to this blogger. Thanks! :)

Quadruple Your Savings When Ordering Online

2011-08-30T14:55:00.000-04:00

When making purchases online, consider how you might save four ways before you ever hit the Send button:

Step 1

Begin by signing up for discounts and coupons from your favorite retailers, even those you usually visit at their brick-and-mortar store. When you find a sale you are interested in, go to Step 2.

Step 2

Search for your designated store on an online rebate site such as ebates.com. A rebate site gives you an instant credit from merchants as you shop their sites through the rebate site.

Step 3

Before checking out, search the Web in a separate browser window for the particular store you are shopping. Use the coupon codes which apply to your order.

Step 4

Now, before you check out, be sure to use a credit card which gives a percentage back on all purchases. Or, better yet, look for discounted gift cards online to use toward your purchases. Some to try are giftcardgranny.com, abcgiftcards.com, and plasticjungle.com.

What are your favorite sites for savings? Be sure to share them with us in the comments below.

A Balanced, Biblical View of Domestic Abuse in Christian Homes

2011-08-12T23:12:00.002-04:00

If there's one thing which has plagued the patriarchal movement more than anything else is the claim by feminists that the men involved are abusers of their wives and children.

Stacy McDonald has written a biblically balanced post on the LAF website called Domestic Tyrants which is a must read for anyone questioning their home situation. I implore you to read this post, read the accompanying linked post she mentions on her own blog, and listen to the messages she links to.

This is a critical need in the sphere of biblical families. There is so much confusion out there and so much maligning of godly fathers that these resources are at the top of my list to my readers. Read them, listen to them, and pass them on to as many families as you can. The need is great, but our Lord is greater.

Domestic Tyrants:

http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/marriage-2/domestic-tyrants/

It's Never Too Late to Reconcile

2011-07-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

As it's been said, "Miracles never cease."

When it seems impossible, especially when there has been so much pain and confusion in broken relationships, it is possible -- by the grace of God through Christ -- to make amends.

After reading this letter, I hope you will join me in examining our hearts in prayer that God would reveal whom we may need to approach in this matter of reconciliation. It may be a spouse or even a former spouse, a son or daughter, parent(s), sibling(s), co-worker, fellow church member, present or former pastor/elder, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors...

The maxim still holds true, as long as there is life, there is hope. Please don't put it off another hour.

A letter from Larry Tomczak on his reconciliation with C.J. Mahaney

"Mom Confessions" of a Mother of Eleven Blessings

2011-06-27T20:08:00.000-04:00

"Mom Confessions" A guest post written by my dear friend, Keithslady, at the Three Syllables blog

A quarter of a century ago seems like, well..., a quarter of a century ago. Back then I didn't think too much about our rapidly growing family. Everyone around me was amazed and shook heads in disbelief as every year or two our family photo grew by one.

We didn't see it that way. We shrugged, or laughed, and just carried on, enjoying every minute (OK, maybe not EVERY minute), but in the general scheme of things we were pretty blissful about the whole arrangement. We loved raising our family!

What I didn't think about was the sudden explosion of life that would take place a decade or two down the road. It started with the teen years and the inevitable shift in hormonal balance and one thing led to another and here we are. In a matter of fewer than five years we have added five in-laws, four grandchildren, are expecting three more, have three teens at home, and still have three more up and coming.

It's not that I didn't consider the possibilities of family growth. But it's more than just that, SO much more! It's meshing the numerical growth with the individual growth and journey of each child finding their own way, understanding who they are apart from family, challenging or accepting not just who they are but who WE are, and then, in the midst of this ideologically challenging soup, leaving and cleaving to their new life mate, while a half a dozen others are in various stages of the same process--it all leaves a mama feeling whooped.

On any given day I can be the best mom ever, the worst mom ever, the most understanding, the least understanding, the greatest blessing, the biggest curse, the most desired, the least wanted, the smartest, or the most clueless.

I never set out to prove that I was going to be the world's best mom and show everyone how it was done. I didn't dream of writing "How to" parenting books or giving lectures while holding up my perfect posterity as examples of my authority. And now that I have a few years and stories under my belt I shy away even more from questions of "What did you..?"

I just wanted to stay home and be a mom. On the whole, I didn't bargain for the great ocean of emotional upheaval that would come with loving and pouring myself out for my children. There is just no way I could have ever understood the intensity of the heartache (in the good and bad) that is part of this job. I've had times that I looked at my husband and confessed, "It's just not worth it. We don't come close to getting back anywhere near what we put in." I dream about being alone and escaping demands and accusations. I imagine not having to be so responsible and accountable ALL THE TIME. I imagine, being the kid.

And then I think of Jesus. I remember that, with him, I AM the kid. I think of his great love and sacrifice and how little he gets in return for what he's given. I see myself, the kid, through my experienced eyes as the parent. And I'm not too happy with what I see. I see, as the child, the same things in myself that I struggle with in my children, and my heart softens for them. I see, as the parent, Jesus' perfect example for my life--giving for me his perfect love in love and submission to the Father. I'm shamed and humbled, but not into despondency. My sins are covered by his forgiveness, my hard heart is washed in his love, I'm clothed in his righteousness, and I'm renewed in his spirit.

Motherhood IS worth it, but not for childish kisses and sweet secret notes, or for late night conversations or expressions of gratitude. It's worth it because it draws me closer to my Savior and helps me see myself in a different light, as He sees me. It inspires me to be a better child. And through all of that it makes me more content and full of love for what I have as a parent. It also makes me realize that in so very many ways I get back much more than I put in.

Words of Wisdom From a Public School Textbook

2011-06-25T23:02:00.000-04:00

I came across a jewel of a book in my library while cleaning today. It is an old home economics textbook for public school girls. Skimming through it just made me very sad.

Here are just a few quotes which really struck me:

If your father and mother in their living together express mutual affection, generous loyalty, and loving consideration, you may learn more of the meaning of love than you can get from volumes of silly love stories. [You mean, like Twilight?]

Under the heading "What are the father's responsibilities to his family?" it has these sweet gems:

The father is the head of the house. ['Nuff said.]

Fathers often help with the work of the home. This is more frequently one of father's responsibilities now than it was a couple of generations ago. Then there were maiden [unmarried] aunts, older sisters, and often employees to carry part of the home duties. Today relatives less frequently share in the home [That's because by the time this volume was written, THEY HAD ALL LEFT THE HOME AND WENT TO WORK!] and fewer families have employees. When the working day has been shortened to seven or eight hours the father has more free time for helping than he did long ago. . . If there is a lawn, its care is usually his.

And every father by voting, by sharing in the church, and by neighborliness helps make his town better for his family.

And, next, "What are the mother's responsibilities to her family?":

We tend to group the mother's responsibilities under several large main topics. These were given by one girl as 'taking care of the house; taking care of the family; planning and preparing the meals; answering the door and the telephone; feeding the bird and the dog; seeing that we are all doing what we are supposed to do, that we are having a happy time, and that she looks pretty and sweet.' [Sounds good to me.] 

What must a mother know to carry her responsibilities well? She must know that food s you should have; how to provide them on the money she has for food; how the food can be prepared so as to be interesting and attractive; what can be done with the leftovers so that no food will be wasted; how to care for all the utensils, dishes, silver, and linen used in preparing and serving the food; how to plan her time so that she can get everything done; what provisions should be made for your growth from a baby to an adult; how to select and care for all the furnishings of the home; and how to keep all the family members happy.

Knowing all this, she then has the difficult task of doing much of this herself and getting the family members to work together to do the rest. [Somewhere we lost the last part of this concept.]

In addition, many mothers have, in the past few years [written in 1945], shared in the wage earning for the family. Then, often, after the work in  office, store, or plant is done, the mother tries to carry as much as she can of the usual homemaking responsibilities. [Unfortunately, no different 65 years later!] In such case, if mother is not to be sadly overworked, the family members must help to lighten her load of home duties.

And, what about the kids? "What are the children's responsibilities in the family?":

Both the toddler and the schoolgirl can help by lessening the amount of work to be done. If the toddler has learned to pick up his toys and put them on the cupboard shelf or back in the toy box, he is sharing in the responsibility of lessening the work of keeping the house in order. If the schoolgirl picks up her clothes...and...cleans up the bathroom after using it, she is carrying her responsibility of helping keep the house in order.

As the children grow from toddlers to school age and then to adults, they have increasing responsibilities for the work of the home. [What ever happened to this training in the home?!?]

Sometimes situations arise that make it necessary for the children to carry extra responsibilities in their family life. A mother's illness may throw the care of young children on the oldest daughter; a father's death may put the burden of family support on the high school son. [Amen!] ...The sense of a great need in the family has brought to some children an acceptance of responsibility and an heroic willingness for continued unselfish effort.

The children have an obligation to help not only by work but by attitudes and thoughts, so that the family will be 'a going concern.' There are certain customs, traditions, and ideals that are important to the family. The children have the responsibility of being loyal to these. Being members of the family, they have no right to act without considering the other members. They must understand and respect the desires, needs, and right of the other family members. [...until they go to college and learn from their godless professors that they have no responsibility to their families at all and that their families have no right to expect anything from them.]

Last but not least, the children have the responsibility of becoming worthy persons...The family wants the best for its children and is eager that each accept his responsibility to become a fine individual. [Amen!]

Another good quote:

A woman may be a brilliant teacher, a fine secretary, or a well-known clubwoman, and still fail to be a good mother. In case of failure as a family member, the meaning of much of the other success one may have in life is lost. The person still misses happiness in daily living.

And this is one reason why American families -- and women in particular -- are in such a miserable mess today. It just goes to show how our society has robbed the family of its glory: the father of his dignity, the mother of her inestimable worth, the son of his strength, and the daughter of her very womanhood; each has been deposed from his or her own unique place in the home.

Though this was meant to be a secular textbook, these are all biblical principles. Let us pray for our families that God would once again raise up fathers, mothers, and children who will put one another first in love and each take his or her own responsibility in the home, thus glorifying Him in it.

Five Simple Steps For Streamlining Your Life

2011-06-15T22:37:00.000-04:00

When life starts getting out of hand, sometimes all it takes is a little goal setting session to help get you back on track. But, if you're a SAHM, you don't have the time nor the money to get away for a whole weekend to concentrate on life goals.

Over the years, I've found a streamlined way to regroup my thoughts and bring the chaos under control. All it requires is

some quiet time (usually after everyone goes to bed)
some blank paper (I like a spiral-bound notebook)
a favorite writing utensil (perhaps a dark teal Sharpie pen)
a satisfying beverage of choice (Essential!)

Step 1: List the major sectors of your life

My own life areas include:

Spirituality (devotional life; needs for improvement)
Personal (health and well being, continued education)
Wife
Mother/Grandmother
Homekeeper
Church
Business
Extended Family
Social Contact

These may each have sub-categories, especially the homekeeping section (bill paying, menus, finances, cleaning, etc.).

Step 2: Discern what needs to change in each area

This doesn't have to be complicated. Only concentrate on the major one or two things which need attention at the moment. There will be time for everything else later on once these are addressed in the short term.

Step 3: Make a corresponding To Do lists

Brainstorm by writing out all the ways you can think of to make the needed changes in each area you have isolated. Go back and circle the ones you are sure you can manage.

Step 4: Determine any tools you may need to obtain

In the course of making life changes, there may be tools, resources, or other items which are needed to make it all happen. For instance, when streamlining our meal prep by making freezer meals, I listed that we needed a small chest freezer, freezer containers, and a wipe-off board for keeping inventory. Don't hesitate to list things you don't think you can afford. We had to wait until we got our tax return before we could look for a good used freezer, but having that on the list in front of me helped me see that was one piece of the puzzle I needed in order to make it happen.

Step 5: Set up a schedule which includes these new goals

Though just taming the chaos on paper often brings about an immediate sense of calm, you may begin to set your goals into action by scheduling them into your day, your week, by the month, or even over the course of a year or more. Take it one step at a time -- even baby steps if you have to --, and you will eventually see all those changes fall into place.

Finally, it is a good idea to keep those goals where you can read them often. For this purpose, I would suggest keeping them behind a "Goals" tab in a housekeeping journal. If you don't have one already, there are some awesome ideas on the Web for creating one. Take a look here:

NotebookingPages.com
Just Organize Your Stuff
Laura Williams' Musings
DonnaYoung.org (free printables for your notebook)

The Old Schoolhouse Home School Expo Sold Out

2011-05-12T11:29:00.000-04:00

The LIVE Homeschooling with Heart Schoolhouse Expo is SOLD OUT,

but you can still get in listening to the great speakers after the Expo

with your purchase of the Homeschooling with Heart Expo to Go.

CLICK HERE for all the details.

How the Scriptures Define Modesty

2011-05-03T17:28:00.000-04:00

Buy This Allposters.com

I had no idea my grief regarding the cover of a new book on Christian modesty would create such a stir (see this blog post). Nevertheless, the pot has definitely been stirred, and one commenter has asked for biblical references. That really excites me, though, because the Bible must be our only rule of faith and practice. I don't see it as a challenge, but rather as an opportunity to share God's thoughts on the subject.

Let me begin by saying there are many wonderful resources available for the study of biblical modesty. Here are a few of my favorites:

Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America (Jeff Pollard) (You will also want a copy of Jeff's message "Holiness, Legalism, and the Sufficiency of Scripture")
The Beauty of Modesty (David and Diane Vaughan)
"Let's Talk Modesty" (by Stacy McDonald) (See other posts by Stacy regarding modesty here.)
The Language of the Christian's Clothing (DVD) (S.M. Davis)
Your Clothes Say It for You (Elizabeth Rice Handford)
A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue (Wendy Shalit)

First of all, I would like to begin my Scriptural references to modesty by looking at Isaiah 47:

Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. (Isaiah 47:1-3)

According to this passage, it is a shame, especially for a woman, to "uncover the thigh."

Yet, secondly, the priests were also commanded to keep their thighs covered.

And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: and they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. (Exodus 28:40-43)

Not only were they to wear an outer tunic, but were also to be careful to wear breeches underneath in case their coats should come over their knees. Consequently, as "kings and priests" before God (Revelation 1:6), it may be assumed that believers must also take care to cover this part of their nakedness.

Last of all, as is noted by several of the authors mentioned above, the clothing given by God to Adam and Eve after the Fall (the kethoneth, the "coat" or tunic)[1] was that which "covered the body from at least the neck to the knees, while sometimes reaching mid-calf or all the way to the feet." And, as Jeff Pollard points out, this type of garment was also worn by our Lord Jesus in His earthly pilgrimage and will also be provided for the saints in Glory.[2] Since this would then be God's definition of modesty, it is that from which I have developed my own.

[1] Pictoral examples of the kethoneth:

[2] Jeff Pollard, Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America (San Antonio, Texas: The Vision Forum, Inc., 2004-2008), 26-28.

The Writer's ToolBox - Curriculum Review

2011-04-19T13:28:00.000-04:00

I have found a wonderful resource for budding writers and speakers. Though The Writer's Toolbox is geared toward seventh grade and up, I truly believe this would be helpful to anyone hoping to fine tune his word skills, including this blogger! As I have discovered, there are just some very important concepts not covered in either traditional writing courses in schools nor in most home school writing curricula.

In Patricia and Meagan Samuelsen's The Writer's Toolbox, you will find a concentrated study of the more obscure rhetorical devices used in effective written and oral communications. Though you may be familiar with simile, metaphor, and personification, good writers make use of many other tools such as climax, parallelism, and antithesis, not to mention polysyndeton, litotes, and synecdoche.

According to the authors, "Rhetorical devices were first examined by the rhetoricians of Greece. Writers and speakers have been honing these devices ever since in their search for clarity and beauty in language."

Don't be alarmed if some of these tools are unfamiliar. The authors do a fantastic job of developing each tool with clear explanations, examples from literature and oratory, and exercises with answer key. In these thirty short, enjoyable lessons, you can easily finish the book in a school year by studying one per week. The Writer's Toolbox is a great addition to any writing, public speaking, or debating program, and can be used in a classroom setting or at home.*

Patricia and Meagan want students to understand that words matter, and that using words skillfully is one of the joys of life! Learn more about The Writer's Toolbox at www.writers toolbox.net.

*Check out their educator's discount for orders of 4 or more copies!

Though a free copy of this book was given to this blogger in exchange for a review, this had no bearing on my opinions which are all genuinely my own.

Vision Forum's New Deal of the Day Program

2011-04-14T16:43:00.000-04:00

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Day of Silence in Public Schools Speaks Louder Than Words

2011-04-07T16:11:00.000-04:00

I warned you about this campaign by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to raise awareness about homosexuality in our public schools back in 2009. Please see that post here:

Beware the Day of Silence

I have refreshed all the links for the current event (April 15, 2011), but let me know if you have any trouble accessing the information.

We have been silent too long.

The Teacher -- a Poem

2011-04-04T23:25:00.000-04:00

The heart cry of Christian mothers teaching at home:

The Teacher

by Leslie Pinckney Hill

LORD, who am I to teach the way

To little children day by day,

So prone myself to go astray?

I teach the KNOWLEDGE, but I know

How faint they flicker and how low

The candles of my knowledge glow.

I teach them POWER to will and do,

But only now to learn anew

My own great weakness through and through.

I teach them LOVE for all mankind 

And all God's creatures, but I find 

My love comes lagging far behind.

LORD, if their guide I still must be,

Oh let the little children see

the Teacher leaning hard on Thee. 

*********************

Amen.

Is This How Christians Portray Modesty?

2011-04-04T13:26:00.001-04:00

It's stuff like this that really puzzles me. Are the tight blue jeans (with legs spread wide) a good choice for the cover of a Christian book about modesty?

Just shaking my head.

For more head shaking, check out the author's bio on Amazon, complete with a photo of her in a low-cut top.

I just don't get it. :(

Do You Monitor Your Daughter's Clothing?

2011-03-22T14:55:00.001-04:00

Great article and video interview regarding how parents allow their daughters to dress (undress?). What are your thoughts on this subject?

(The video is not as bad as it looks.)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703899704576204580623018562.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook

Love At Last Sight -- Book Review

2011-03-10T14:40:00.003-05:00

You've heard a lot of hype about "love at first sight." It's what romantic fiction and movies are made of. But, have you ever considered what state your love will be in when you see the most important people in your life for the last time?

Husband and wife team, Pastor Kerry Shook and his wife, Chris, draw us gently into this question with their new book, Love at Last Sight: Thirty Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships. Written in a 30-day devotional style, the Shooks challenge us to take our most intimate relationships beyond "keystrokes and mouse clicks." In fact, they even encourage the reader to invest in a notebook in which to journal the challenges they give at the end of each daily reading.

One of the main things I appreciate about this book is the authors do not approach this delicate subject from a "poor me, nobody loves me" angle like so many feel-good, psychology-laden offerings I've read before. The responsibility is placed exactly where it belongs: on the shoulders of the reader.

We all want to matter. The art of being all there starts with the unselfish act of taking what we ourselves long for and realizing that others want the same thing from us.¹

Even when the other person has caused the problem in a relationship, we still have a choice to act on our feelings or our commitments.²

This is such good advice! Truly, the chapters on "Letting Go" are worth the cost of the book itself and could actually save a lot of money on going to a counselor. Take this 30-day challenge to find "Love at Last Sight" and experience the deep relationships you will never regret when you see your loved ones for the last time on this earth.

Immediately available on Kindle!

¹Kelly and Christ Shook, Love at Last Sight: Thirty Days to Grow and Deepen Your Closest Relationships (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Multnomah, 2010), 29.

²Ibid., 147.

Though a free copy of this book was provided by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this post are my own.

International Women's Day 2011

2011-03-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

This is still my best post, first published in 2009, regarding the International Women's Day observance.

At the 2010 White House "celebration" of this day, it was reported that President Obama said, "That's why so many of us are here today, because of the women who came before us, who were determined to see us sit in the high seats. So now it's up to us to carry that work forward." [2]

I can only assume he means those who were determined to see socialists sit in the high seats, because, as you will read in this post, that is exactly who started and has perpetuated this movement.

International Women's Day:
A Brief History

March is Women's History Month in the United States and has its roots in what has been dubbed as "the first recorded organized action by working women anywhere in the world." On March 8, 1857, hundreds of women workers from the garment and textile factories marched in New York City to protest their low pay, long hours, inhumane working conditions, and not having the right to vote.[1]

Fifty-two years after that notable event, and to commemorate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the Socialist Party of America declared the first official observance of National Women's Day on February 28, 1909.

The following year, Clara Zetkin, a notorious Marxist feminist from Germany, suggested at the first international women's conference held in Copenhagen that there be an established International Women's Day (IWD), but no official date was determined at that time.

However, after the October Revolution in Russia, Lenin was persuaded by Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai to make it an official holiday in that country. Ironically, women in Russia didn't even get the day off for this day held in their honor until 1965! (We really appreciate the work you do, now get back to it!)

The United Nations gave its sanction to and began sponsoring International Women's Day in 1975, which had also been designated as International Women's Year.[2]

President Jimmy Carter proclaimed a Presidential Message supporting the celebration of Women's History Week in 1980, and a bi-partisan Congress passed a resolution declaring a National Women’s History Week the following year. Then, in 1987, Congress expanded the commemoration to the entire month of March with a resolution for celebration of Women’s History Month each year.[3]

The highlight of Women's History Month is March 8, International Women's Day. Each year Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama have each, in their terms as president, issued proclamations in honor of this radical socialist feminist high day.[4]

The United States is currently recognized on the official IWD site as one of the key governments around the globe who support the celebration.[5] In recent years, this day has been honored enthusiastically in our own White House by President and Mrs. Bush with the First Lady even being the featured speaker at the 2002 "Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities" observance of IWD.[6][7]

US First Lady Laura Bush, Secretary-General Kofi Annan,
along with Her Majesty Queen Noor of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
(UN/DPI Photo by Eskinder Debebe. 80302ed6)

Observations Concerning IWD

I guess I wasn't really surprised to find there is a day set aside as "a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women."[8] However, I was struck by a particular image associated with this celebration. It pictures a woman carrying a red flag as she pulls another woman out from under a pile of kitchen wares.

According to Wikipedia, this image is a "1932 Soviet poster dedicated to the 8th of March holiday. The text reads: 8th of March is the day of the rebellion of the working women against the kitchen slavery and Down with the oppression and narrow-mindedness of the household work!"[9]

Notice that the woman pictured on the left is crawling out from under a pile of plates, pots, pans, tea kettles, and a huge samovar (tea dispenser). Apparently, what began as a commemoration of women struggling against adverse working conditions in factories became a clarion call for women to leave the "oppression" of the fireside at home to work in factories. What I must ask is how anyone could be convinced that this was a good idea for women.

But, isn't that the big lie of socialism, Marxism, and the feminist movement in general? The big lie is that women are oppressed, kept down, and left without a choice unless, of course, these organizations can convince them to become "liberated."

Here's another question: If women leave their kitchens, who will prepare the food and clean up the pots and kettles? In most cases, it will be other women. It would be interesting to find out how many women who hold political office in this country and around the world have women as domestics. How about Oprah? Have you ever heard of Rachel Ray, her personal chef? Of course, these women are paid -- Ms. Ray especially well, I am sure -- but, many domestics today are illegal alien women who are paid very poorly for doing what these liberated women consider "oppressive" work.

Please consider that the women in the textile and garment factories of the early 20th century had left their kitchens in order to work there. Many were wooed by the empty promises of the feminist movement of that time which played on their discontent and hid from them the down side of working outside the home.

After 100 years, the sales pitch is the same, only now it is dressed up as "achievement." Yet, many women who seemingly "have it all" are still discontented with their wages, exhausted by long hours, sick and injured on the job, and still don't have a voice or a choice in the matter. And, I bet they didn't even get the day off.

[1] "International Women's Day," Womenaid International <http://www.womenaid.org/iwdmain.html> (10 March 2008).
[2] "International Women's Day," Wikipedia, 10 March 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women's_Day> (10 March 2008).
[3] "March Women's History Month," Federal Heritage Month Celebrations, University Dining Services, University of Vermont, Sodexho, 2007 <http://uds.uvm.edu/diversity_calendar.html> (11 March 2008).
[4]Gerhard Peters, "Proclamation 6400 - Women's History Month, 1992 January 16th, 1992," The American Presidency Project, 2008 <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=47328> (11 March 2008).
[5] "Featured Governments Supporting IWD," International Women's Day, Aurora, 2008 <http://www.internationalwomensday.com/organisations1.asp>(10 March 2008).
[6] "President and Mrs. Bush Celebrate Women's History Month and International Women's Day," The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 10 March 2008 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080310-5.html> (12 March 2008).
[7] "International Women's Day at Headquarters 8 March to Feature Afghan Women," U.N. Press Release Note 5712, 27 February 2002
(12 March 2008).
[8] "International Women's Day," Womenaid International.
[9] "International Women's Day," Wikipedia.

The Differences Between Betty Friedan and Today's SAHM

2011-02-28T16:09:00.001-05:00

I read a very interesting piece by Charlotte Latvala recently entitled "Meet the New At-Home Mom."[1] According to the article, today's stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) is starting her own home business, sharing her life experiences on the World Wide Web, and makes no apologies for not entering the workforce outside the home. She cites several statistics supporting these assumptions, many of which show a positive trend toward a more balanced home life for mothers with children. For instance,

5.6 million women stay home to care for children and family.
44 percent of SAHMs are under 35, younger than their working-mom counterparts.
A 2007 Pew Research Center survey shows that more at-home moms today (48 percent) consider being home full time the ideal situation than they did 10 years ago (39 percent). Inversely, just 21 percent of working moms say working full time is ideal, down from 32 percent in 1997.

These are all good signs of a growing, healthy movement to have Mom in the home where she was created to be. It's as though women today are saying to their feminist forerunners, We tried it your way, and it didn't work! She quotes Susan Shapiro Barash, author of You're Grounded Forever...But First, Let's Go Shopping, who said, "...there seems to be a backlash among the millennial generation; in a sense, they're modeling themselves after their grandmothers, not their mothers."

Yet, the irony is that Betty Friedan, the woman credited with starting the second-wave feminist movement in America, was a SAHM! So, what is the difference between the generation of mothers who joined the workforce after reading her Feminine Mystique and the at-home mother of this generation who sells her copy of it from her home computer on Half.com?

Expectations

Before FM (Feminine Mystique):

Women as house drudges: Women were generally defined by the expectation that they would marry early, have children, and primarily be the keepers of their homes while Dad and the children went to work or school and pursued other interests outside the home. Once the heavy load of housework was done, many women were left exhausted, bored, and lonely.

Today:

Women as home managers: While cleaning toilets, doing laundry, and making sure everyone is fed are all still parts of the everyday life of most women, few people expect a wife and mother to do it all while everyone else pursues interests outside the home or sits on the couch watching television. Sharing household responsibilities as a family team fosters good character building for children and gives Mom a chance to expand her gifts and talents.

How Women Are Valued

Before FM:

Women at home were valued by society primarily as consumers: for how she decorated her home and kept it clean with "new and improved" products, for how she looked and what she wore, for how well her children were educated and entertained, even for her part in how well her husband succeeded in his career.

Today:

A woman is generally valued today for what makes her unique: her gifts, talents, hobbies, and interests. Keeping a home may be the main responsibility of the woman of the house, but a woman is no more defined by keeping a clean home than a man is defined by doing the landscaping on the weekend.

Opportunities

Before FM:

A woman at home spent a lot of time alone. Taking time out of a busy household schedule to meet with friends or work a part-time job on the side usually wasn't worth the hassle. Except for the occasional sewing circle or ladies' club, most women kept to themselves at home.

Today:

The Internet has created a whole new world for at-home mothers. They can chat with friends and family while baby takes a nap or invest their brief spare moments in building an online business. Some just find their joy in blogging about or reading about the day-in and day-out goings on in their everyday at-home worlds, gleaning and sharing tips and hints for nurturing their marriages, rearing their children, and running their households.

More and more young women today are determined to stay at home with their children and are being creative in finding ways to make it happen. While within earshot of their sleeping infants, today's at-home mothers are developing their God-given gifts and abilities and sharing them, not only with their families, but also with their world. It's never been a better time in history to be a SAHM.

[1] Latvala, Charlotte. 2011. "Meet the New At-Home Mom." Baby Talk March 2011: 54-57.

March of Dimes Recommends Not Inducing Labor or Scheduling C-Sections

2011-02-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

Gleaned from this month's CIMS e-newsletter:

The cerebral cortex - the part of the brain that controls functions such as cognition, perception, reason and motor control - is the last to develop. Researchers have found that babies born pre-term are more likely to have learning difficulties at school age. The March of Dimes has developed the Brain Card, a teaching tool to help expectant mothers understand the risks of not allowing labor to begin on its own, and recommends that all care providers take the time to educate expectant mothers about the risks of inducing labor and scheduling a cesarean for non-medical reasons.

Find out more here: http://media.dssimon.com/mod10

Check out the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services here: www.motherfriendly.org

Article Regarding Misleading Claims About Contraception

2011-02-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd pass on an article I wrote which was published today on the LAF site. Please have a look and leave your comments here or on the eHomebody Facebook page by clicking on the "Like" button at the top.

You may read the entire article here:

Health Benefits of Using the Pill Are a Hard Pill to Swallow

Your Most Important New Year's Resolution

2011-01-01T23:23:00.000-05:00

Resolved:

To Read the Bible All the Way Through This Year

Whether you are a believer, an unbeliever, or just don't have a clue, this is one resolution which could change your life...FOREVER.

With all the online tools available, there's really no excuse for not jumping right in now.* So what if you just read this blog and it's June; start now. That's the beauty of the Bible, it doesn't matter when you start or even where you start, if you read it all the way through, you will most definitely benefit in dramatic ways.

But don't read it like a novel or a history book. Read it with prayer, another good resolution. Pray the Lord will open your understanding and reveal Himself to you through His Word. Ask Him for wisdom to be gleaned from its pages, from the successes and failures of all the real people the Bible tells us about.

*Here are a few sites to get you started to find a reading schedule, which is most helpful. However, if you don't find anything you like here, try Google searching bible reading schedule one year.

Feeling overwhelmed by reading the Bible through in one year? Try looking for a schedule which takes two years. It really doesn't matter how you read it, but that you do read it. And, when you are done, turn right around and read it again...and again...and again. You will finally begin to see the Bible as a whole book, a holy and wholly inspired record of God and His work and what His eternal plans are for you individually.

I've been reading the Bible through over and over and over again for about 25 years now. It's a vital part of my daily walk with God. My schedule is very simple. I begin at Genesis 1:1 and read through Chapter 4. The next day, I begin with Chapter 5 and read through Chapter 9. Each day I start either on a chapter ending with 5 or 0 (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) until I reach the end of a book. Then I begin with Chapter 1 through 4 again. Sometimes I read the whole book if it is small or only three chapters if that's all that is left at the end of a book. I place my Bible ribbon marker in the page where I left off and always know where to take it up again even if I happen to miss several days at a time. I usually finish before the end of the year this way even taking a break on Sundays. But, I don't wait until Jan. 1 to begin again; I just open up to Genesis 1:1 and start all over again. However, I did happen to finish on the last day of the year this week and am beginning afresh today with Genesis 1-4.

If you have any questions about the Bible as you read it, I'd love more than anything to discuss it with you or direct you to someone who knows more about it than I do. I don't have all the answers, but we can learn together. :) You may reach me with Bible questions or blessings you find in reading it through leaving your comments here, through the Contact Page, or join me on Facebook.

Biblical Womanhood Takes a Kick to the Gut From Darling of the Tea Party

2010-11-26T12:14:00.007-05:00

Sarah Palin is no friend of biblical womanhood. In this video, Palin not only shares a warm embrace with ultra-feminist, Geraldine Ferraro -- praising her and 19th century feminism co-founders Elizabeth Cady-Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, -- but lashes out at those who would even question whether or not a mother should stay home with her young children. According to Sarah Palin, those who believe it is in the best interest of young children to be in the care of their own mothers are "Neanderthals" who need to "evolve into something a bit more . . . with it, a bit more modern, and a bit more understanding."

This is not the first time Mrs. Palin has voiced her contempt for biblical womanhood. Please see my post of October 25, 2008, regarding her firm embrace of the old feminist line.[1]

In a commentary concerning the surge of minorities voting for Republicans in the last mid-term election, Rob Schwarzwalder cites reasons why Republicans should seek the minority vote, among them being their interests in "strong families" and a "virtuous culture."[2]

If the Republican Party sincerely stands for these two issues, then promoting feminist women as their leaders is the worst way to go about it.

[1] New Semi-Complementarians or Old Feminists?
[2]Schwarzwalder, Rob. November 6, 2010. "A More Colorful GOP." Townhall.com, http://townhall.com/columnists/RobSchwarzwalder/2010/11/06/a_more_colorful_gop.

Let's Do Lunch Puts a New Spin on Dieting - Book Review

2010-11-08T16:39:00.001-05:00

When Thomas Nelson offered this book in exchange for my review, I really had some misgivings. For one thing, I'm already on a diet. For another, I'm pretty burnt out on diets in general.

Yet, just when you think you've heard it all, along comes another fella who's lost over 200 pounds (and kept it off for over 15 years!) and wants to tell you how he did it. After reading Let's Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson, I can see clearly how he has been so successful.

If you're sick of the no-carb regimen, but you hate to keep track of what you're eating, this is the diet for you! Though there are limits on a few food groups, what's left leaves you so satisfied, you won't miss what you should avoid. This is not a fruit diet, but there is no limit to the amount of fruit you can eat. Sweet! Though fatty meats are a no-no, you can eat lean meat to your heart's content. Double sweet! The rest of the diet is really just a matter of substituting great-tasting alternatives for higher-fat, higher-calorie versions of your favorite foods.

If you're ready to try a refreshing new way of eating and losing weight, then you've got to give this a read. Along with his own amazing testimony and those of many others, Troy also includes

an optional 14-day meal guide
helpful hints for dining out, shopping, and conquering cravings
a suggested shopping list
over 50 pages of taste-tested recipes developed by Troy and others who have found success with the Let's Do Lunch™ way of living (a recipe card collection is also available separately for $17 through his website)

Losing excess weight and keeping it off for life is really a matter of finding what works best for your body and lifestyle. If you're still looking, I hope you will give this program a try.

And, did I mention it's gluten free?

Available on Amazon.com:

Purchases made through this link
will go to support this blogger.
Thanks!

The One Year Mother Daughter Devo Promotes Convo With Tweens - Book Review

2010-10-20T16:00:00.003-04:00

Free Chapter PDF!

When I saw Dannah Gresh's name on the cover of this mother-daughter devotional, I knew it would be great! Dannah and her co-author, Janet Mylin, have been speaking and writing for the Secret Keeper Girl ministry for many years. Their vision to help mothers protect their tween daughters from the onslaughts of a debauched culture have birthed this one-of-a-kind devotional.

Though the devotions teach the key spiritual truths, such as salvation, prayer, and Bible study, there are also challenges for a more practical, daily walk with God: finances, interpersonal relationships, civic responsibility, healthy habits and hygiene, personal witness, attitudes and character, biblical self-esteem, contentment, purity, separation from the world, and others. Some core doctrines of the faith (creation, angels, miracles, etc.) are also covered as well as "The Ten Commandments," "The Beatitudes," and "The Armor of God." And, I am very happy to tell what you won't find: radical feminism and psychobabble. How refreshing! Yet, what really stood out to me as I read this book is how the authors emphasize both the mother's responsibility for her daughter's spiritual welfare and the importance that daughters trust and confide in their mothers.

Something else I really appreciate about this book is the periodic reminder for daughters of this age (pre-teen, 9- to 14-year-olds) to resist the boy-craziness of their peer culture. This devotional could be a valuable springboard for discussing a girl's sexuality in a biblical context before the crucial decisions of the teen years are upon her. The emphasis on purity and open communication make this devotional a valuable tool in the hands of mothers who wish to make a difference in the lives of their daughters.

Though there are some deep subjects to ponder in these devotions, Dannah and Janet have mixed it up with crafts, recipes, hands-on activities, and even a movie suggestion. There is no room for boredom here. :)

Some things you might want to keep in mind:

Many of the devotions suggest internet resources. If you do not have internet access, you may wish to get some books from the library or other sources ahead of time.
The context seems to assume the child is already a believer. However, these discussions may very well open the door to talk about her soul's condition before God.
This devotional uses several different versions of the Bible. If you have a particular one you wish to use, simply look up the verses together in your Bible.
There are five devotionals regarding The Romans Road version of the Gospel. Some parents may wish to use these days to explain the Gospel in a broader context of Scripture.
There may be other issues covered in this volume which differ from what any given family believes. You may decide to explain these according to your own beliefs.

Learn more about these authors and all their other great resources at http://www.secretkeepergirl.com.

Note: This book was given to me by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for this review. However, all opinions are my own honest evaluations.

I think I have one copy still for sale in My Half.com Store.

Or---

Buy it now from Amazon!

Keys to a Peaceful Nap Time

2010-10-14T16:55:00.000-04:00

We've been watching my two nieces (6 and 5) and nephew (3) for the past week while my sister recovers from surgery. I am learning and re-learning a lot about caring for little ones. It was difficult at first, of course, but then it all started coming back to me.

I have found that nap time can sometimes be a battle ground with little ones. If this is a problem at your house, perhaps I might share some things I've learned (and re-learned) about this issue.

Children must be disciplined

I've had mothers tell me, "There's no way my child will stay in bed." Oh, yes, there is. It's called biblical training. Some excellent books regarding discipline which I recommend are:

Atmosphere Makes All the Difference

It will be easier for little ones to become drowsy and drift off to sleep if the setting is conducive to it. These tips are also good for adults struggling with insomnia:

The room should be darkened. Close shades and drapes if possible. A very small night light may be used if they are anxious of the dark. But, it takes very little light to chase away fears.
Silence can be deafening. A fan and/or soft music playing can help the mind relax. However, you might want to avoid peppy or rocky music, since these are meant for movement. We want the body to relax. Even some classical music may be too upbeat.
Remove mind stimulators. Watching television or playing computer games right before bedtime is a bad idea. Shut off these visuals at least half an hour before you expect your little ones to bed down. Also, books and toys do not make good nap companions. A cuddly bear or soft doll may work as long as they are not allowed to "play" with it. Teddy and Dolly need a nap, too. ;)
Minimize distractions by others. Though children may sleep together at night, it may be better to separate them onto pallets on the floor during nap time. This doesn't have to be complicated. Remember the mats we slept on in kindergarten? Make these personal and special, and the children may actually look forward to using them. Also, some children naturally move around as they wind down; this separation will help keep them from disturbing others.

These May Also Help

Establish a no-noise policy. That means no noise by mouth (arguing, talking, singing, humming, whispering, etc.) or by movement. You will be able to discern whether or not a child really needs something or is just putting off going to sleep by making noise. One of my nieces chooses to tell tall tales at nap time. I have had to be firm about not allowing her to go on and on, but explain that she may tell me her stories after she has slept.
Cover up. Is the room chilly? A blanket may be in order. However, some children may need to be covered in order to relax. (I am this way to this day!) A light sheet may be good enough for warm days. Our nieces and nephew have light-weight fleece "blankies" which my mother made for them, and they just love them for nap time.
Monitor them until they go to sleep. If you have time, it may help to sit in the room with the children until they are completely asleep. This is especially helpful for children who are fearful. If it looks like they are calm and have been taught to be still, you may be able to go about your business while only checking on them periodically.

These are only the things which immediately come to mind. I'm sure there are many other wonderful ideas out there. Please tell me yours in the Comments below. Perhaps there is something which would be helpful to me or another reader.

Speak Up Against Unneccessary Restrictions for VBAC

2010-09-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) has been determined by the National Institutes of Health to be a safe alternative to automatically-scheduled cesareans in subsequent births. Yet, according to new guidelines published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) (see Practice Bulletin #115), the ACOG recommends that VBACs only take place in hospitals where emergency cesareans may be "immediately available."

In their March 2010 Consensus Statement on VBAC, the NIH argued that the ACOG's "immediately available" recommendation was not according to evidence from high-quality sources and "had influenced about one-third of hospitals and one-half of physicians to stop providing care for women who wanted to plan a VBAC."[1]

If you agree that women should not be denied medical care because they choose to have a VBAC by home birth or in a birthing center, then now is the time to lend your voice. CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) plans to send a letter to the ACOG president, Dr. Richard Waldman urging him to remove the restrictive recommendation from their Practice Bulletin.

From the CIMS e-newsletter:

CIMS will collect the names of additional organizations and individuals in support of this request through October 31, 2010, and will send the updated list of co-signers to Dr. Waldman. Add your name or your organization's name now![2]

[1, 2] e-CIMS News Alert, "CIMS Urges ACOG to Remove Additional Barriers to VBAC," http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=hh7zumcab&v=001KOjYle_zlG-G0PssMPc2Iy9tqDDQcQw2DJeGIGVqVWNxGHzJ4BBKnjL0_7I8xWz3UiMAhgnfWcrilIA_qEM-MmVOM5WOysmJzgL3S9_LFLRKQupbV6Fe6hT5BDBr2aaoYQkDVL1wD2OsJTzFdb9IjX2YSfYVdlSQGeUpHFVDU0mubl0dSqBgDA%3D%3D

Some Really Cute Ideas for Fall Celebrations

2010-09-22T13:08:00.000-04:00

This is a shameless affiliate pitch for a company I absolutely love! If you are planning a fall wedding, baby shower, or other celebration, please take a minute to check out Beau-coup.com. Just take a look at this fall line up:

Aren't they just adorable?

And I really believe they are reasonable on their prices. However, their 10%-off sale ends today, so get on over there and take a look around while the gettin's good. ;)

Shocking Schock Report Concerning Health Care Costs

2010-09-21T13:38:00.000-04:00

There's an up-and-coming congressman from my home state of Illinois (18th Congressional District) whom you should keep an eye on. Congressman Aaron Schock sent out an email this week which includes some staggering data concerning our new health care legislation.

Congressman Schock's The Schock Report for September 21, 2010, includes -- Are you ready for this? -- 159 new boards, programs, and commissions created by the new health care legislation. And, as Congressman Schock points out, each one will be funded by our tax dollars!

Go over and take a look if you dare. It's not for the fainthearted. :(

http://schock.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=PJLYPFFFCKQK5ZDNUCJP4JZQWM

You can sign up to receive The Schock Report by email here: http://schock.house.gov/Forms/EmailSignUp/

Failed Frosting and a Great Ham and Potato Recipe

2010-09-01T17:06:00.015-04:00

Just thought I'd share with you both the failure and success of my day today.

First of all, my 7-Minute Frosting failed. I don't know for sure what happened, but I ruined my 21-year-old daughter's birthday cake. :( The frosting is grainy and stiff. In fact, it tore up the cake when I tried to spread it. Then, after I finally got it half-way decent, I realized I had also forgotten to add the vanilla extract as the last step. *sigh* One...of...those...days.

However, I also found a fantastic dinner recipe using my leftover ham. I've lightened up this Cheesy Potato Casserole for my own benefit, but feel welcome to adjust it for your family's needs.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

Freezing Tomato Juice

2010-08-30T14:03:00.001-04:00

Doesn't it look like he's smiling?

Hello, all you happy canners out there! It's that time of year again for putting food by, as the old-timers used to say. Even with a nasty tomato blight, we still managed to get enough to make juice for the freezer. We use tomato juice on a regular basis for our winter chili, so this is a great investment in frugality.

Let me say from the outset this method is purely my own. It is a combination of techniques I learned in home economics, from experience with my mother and grandmother, and from reading county extension materials and cookbooks such as Putting Food By (an excellent resource). So, if you see something different from what you've heard or done, don't sweat it. Just do what works for you. Freezing is much more forgiving than canning in jars. Spoilage is very rare unless, of course, you lose power.

Also, you will notice I use an old-fashioned food strainer fitted with a wooden cone. These may be found at yard sales and thrift shops or may be purchased through my link on Amazon (see below). If you prefer a modern food strainer, of course, just use yours according to its instructions.

Equipment needed:

About 3 pounds of tomatoes (6-8 medium) per quart of juice (you may use a bath or postal scale to weigh)
2 or 3 large pots
Slotted spoon
A pot or bowl for skins and trimmings
Food strainer
Ladle
Canning salt
Quart jars with caps/rings or freezer containers

Process:

Wash all equipment and let air dry.
Put a medium size pot of water on to boil and fill another medium pan with cool water.
Have another pot or bowl ready to save skins and cores for the compost pile.
Fill a clean sink with tomatoes and cover with water.
Once the water is boiling, wash tomatoes thoroughly, gently rubbing off dead leaves and dirt.
Slip clean tomatoes individually into boiling water with a large, slotted spoon. Do not drop them in! They may splatter.
Let the tomatoes sit in the boiling water for only a minute or two, then remove them with the slotted spoon to the pot of cool water.
Once the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins and remove cores and bad spots. If you hold the tomatoes over the pot you will be cooking them in, you won't miss a drop. :)
Cut tomatoes into halves or quarters and drop them in a large pot for cooking.
Bring tomatoes to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up tomatoes.
Set up a food strainer over a large bowl and ladle hot tomatoes in leaving enough room for the wooden cone (Fig. 1). Smash tomatoes against the side, moving the cone around in a circle and from side to side. Stop occasionally to scrape the sides down to the bottom (Fig. 2).
Fill freezer containers to fill line, add one teaspoon canning salt per quart, and seal (Fig. 3). Freeze upright until completely frozen.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Aren't they beautiful?

If you have any questions, suggestions, or anything you'd like to add, please leave your comments in the Comment section below or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ehomebody. I'd also love to hear what you are putting by this season. Do you have a blog post about it? Leave your link with your comments.

Happy canning! :)

Suggested resources and equipment:

Ready for Back to School?

2010-08-17T11:58:00.001-04:00


Our Back to School pary decorations

When will you start school?

For those who home educate their children, as we did, school may have never ended. :) We always schooled through the summer since we often took extended breaks throughout the year to enjoy something special like a family vacation without all the institutional learners crowding all the great sites (sa-weet!). More often, however, there were things which made schooling nearly impossible such as moving, mother's extended illness, bringing a new baby into the family, or helping others with these same needs.

Yet, schooling non-stop throughout the year can make it seem as though you never move on to a new level of accomplishment. If your family is like ours, I'd encourage you to have a Back to School Party to energize the kids and start the new year off with a bang!

Our parties were different each year. The first time we did this, I bought some party decorations appropriate for the occasion and made a special paper bag lunch such as children take when they attend an institutional school. Face it: some home schooled kids rarely get juice boxes and chips in individual serving sized bags.

Jonathan and Andrew enjoying juice boxes!

If you'd like to try this in your home school, perhaps you could even go so far as to put the lunches in each child's own bag and let them decorate it. Little ones might even enjoy putting together a back pack and walking to school for once. Just head them out the door, kiss them all good-bye, and wave them down the sidewalk as they walk around the house to the back door. Greet them as they enter the "schoolhouse" from there and have a giggling fit as you start your first day of school. :0)

Back to School Party Fare
(left to right) Jonathan (hidden), Andrew, 
Teacher Mom (me), and Lydia

Other ideas might include a picnic at the park, a roller skating party, or a field trip to a local attraction you've never been to before. The possibilities are endless. Use your imagination and plan to have a very special opening school day this year.

What are your ideas for making the new school year special? Please share them here with us in the comment section or leave me a note through the Contact page: http://www.ehomebody.com/contact.html.

BirthsMart Cartoon Says It All

2010-08-14T22:20:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: I originally found this video at http://pursuingtitus2.com/, but failed to give credit. Unfortunately, some readers were offended because they felt the video implicated OB nurses. PursuingTitus2 decided to remove the video, but I believe it sends a clear message which needs to be heard. However, I thought it might be a good idea to include a link to CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) where mothers and birthing staff members may find helpful and encouraging information: http://www.motherfriendly.org/.

Though this is a cartoon, there is a tragic truth behind its message. How many of you can relate to this scenario? I can, except, thankfully, for the c-section.

The Jesus You Can't Ignore

2010-08-04T09:21:00.000-04:00

John MacArthur opens a whole can of worms, so to speak, when he confronts us with The Jesus You Can't Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ. He reminds us in this age of non-confrontation, that believers on every levels are involved in spiritual warfare against sin and doctrinal error. If Christ is to be our example in how to engage the enemies of truth and righteousness, then be prepared to see a Christ you may not recognize by modern standards.

The author points out,

Jesus knew something evangelicals today often forget: Truth doesn't defeat error by waging a public relations campaign. The struggle between truth and error is spiritual warfare, and truth has no way to defeat falsehood except by exposing and refuting lies and false teachings. That calls for candor and clarity, boldness and precision -- and sometimes more severity than congeniality. [emphasis mine]

MacArthur accurately makes the case that the Jesus preached from most modern pulpits bears no resemblance to the Jesus of the Bible. Yet, as he sheds the spotlight on how Christ really dealt with the false teachers of His day, the first reaction may be to turn away. However, you cannot ignore the truth: Chris was confrontational!

From the pulpit to the pew, we need this encouragement to press on in the fight. As we see our Commander in Chief facing the hottest spiritual battles in history, we may confidently expose the false teachings of our day and share the truth without apology.

I must admit I was ready for this book. As a mentor to women, I have struggled with how to deal with error in the public arena. It seems as though every time I try to share the truth with women -- especially believers -- regarding their marriages, child rearing, and homekeeping, I am shot down by other women -- professing believers -- that I am being harsh and uncaring. For this reason, I have found myself melting into the shadows for fear of offending someone. This book has opened my eyes to how it is important to confront open sin and error head on -- with humility and compassion -- without backing down.

A big thank you to Thomas Nelson publishers for

offering this book in exchange for my thoughts and opinions.

Our Final Home School High School Graduation

2010-08-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

I have fought a good fight,

I have finished my course,

I have kept the faith...

-- II Timothy 4:7

It is the end of an era.

A milestone has been reached.

A calling has been accomplished.

On Saturday, June 19, 2010, my dear husband and I graduated our fourth and youngest child from our home school high school. It just doesn't seem possible our home school journey is complete.

Yet, we never really stop learning. Our other three graduated children have all gone on to increase learning and gain wisdom by grace. They really outgrew me, however, before they completed their high school courses. Apprenticeships, military service, college, university, and now seminary work, and never-ending independent studies are all the several ways our grown children are self educating and gaining experience. That's why I believe home education is really just the beginning of lifelong learning.

Education is less about spoon feeding and all about letting them feed themselves.
I agree with John Taylor Gatto when he says, "Growth and mastery come only to those who vigorously self-direct."

Spot on! Give them room to explore with some protective monitoring and guidance from their wise parent-teachers, and they will grow and prosper into what God has created them to be. They may not always do what we would do or be what we would want them to be, but they are a work in progress just as we, their parents, are. We may safely place them in the hands of an all-wise, all-knowing, longsuffering, ever merciful Heavenly Father and know they will be all they were meant to be.

That is why we can give all glory to God, our Sovereign Lord, who answered every prayer and gave every enabling grace, for bringing us to this monumental event.

Andrew has joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and will be heading off for boot camp sometime around October 4, 2010. I'll post updates as they unfold.

Under His Sprinklers

2010-07-25T06:58:00.000-04:00

Guest Post: I received a very special email devotional from an online friend the other day which really resonated with me. It spoke to my heart, and I'd like to share it with you. With the gardens in full swing and the zucchini at nearly every meal, I can really relate to this. :)

All I did was work on different parts of the garden. I wasn't being lazy. Honest. But when I had my back turned, that other corner of the garden had a lot of sneaky weeds taking over. I mean TAKING OVER! Waist high, in a couple of weeks' neglect!

Sigh. I guess I should expect that from such warm weather, after all these years of gardening. But I am still surprised by the vigor and tenacity of weeds.

How come my vegetables don't exhibit those same characteristics?

Except zucchini. Now that is an amazingly fast-growing vegetable. Not very tenacious, in adverse conditions like drought or frost, but fast growing and prolific. But it is so... ordinary. It is the subject of jokes among gardeners. Who wants zucchini?

I wondered if I should apologize for offering zucchini to people last year, but many were actually enthusiastic. I even traded some of them to a fruit vendor who travels to our area and sells produce out of the back of his vehicle.

I can't help but meditate when I am working in my garden. It's quiet; none of my kids has as persistent a dedication to pulling weeds as I do, so they are usually elsewhere. I can actually think in whole sentences.

My life is a lot like my garden.

When I am concentrating on something else, I turn my back for a bit. I am not paying close attention to one area when I give my attention to another... and sin creeps in, again. Suddenly, I discover that I am waist-deep in a bad habit or attitude.

Why don't my good qualities seem to exhibit the same vigor and tenacity?

That's an off-kilter perspective, and I know it.

Really, there is a Master Gardener in charge here. He has done the planting, the watering, and He is more dedicated to pulling weeds than any of His children will ever be. While I am paying attention to something else, He is paying attention to me. He isn't surprised by anything, and He isn't overwhelmed one bit by the weeds in my life. He just keeps on watering, tending, pulling the weeds, and sees His plan for a harvest coming along right on schedule.

Things about me that I think aren't important or desirable are the very ones He sometimes chooses for blessing others, and I walk away from those encounters shaking my head in wonder. How did that "zucchini" bless that person so much?!

I am grateful that when I was a useless plot of rocks and trash, He cleared me and claimed me for His own. I am amazed that He has worked through frost and scorching heat, never leaving me without His attention for one single day. I thank God that He isn't put off by compost, mud, manure, cabbage worms or slugs. I praise Him for getting down on His knees in the dirt and rejoicing over the tiny sprouts of good in my life. And I am so glad that I can trust Him to bring the whole thing to fruition, to feed others and to bring forth more seed and to show the world around me that He is still in the business of creating life and order and beauty and provision.

And when I am finished growing down here, He'll transplant me to His own perfect garden, where I was meant to be with Him in the first place. What a day that will be.

Under His sprinklers,

TiggerMommy :-)

New! eHomebody Alibris Book Store

2010-07-20T17:37:00.000-04:00

Sam's yellow lab, Sasha

I am a book hound.

But that's not my motivation for selling books online. There is a burden deep in my heart to share some of the books and authors who have influenced me over the years in the areas of home, family, home schooling, marriage, modesty, and other areas of Christian womanhood. Though there are many wonderful books to choose from on the market today, I believe it is also important to glean from authors of the past. We should not let their inspiration go to the wayside.

I have only just begun to add titles, but will be updating it regularly. Please go have a look when you get a minute:

http://www.alibris.com/stores/homebody

Also, if there is a particular title you are looking for, I'd be happy to search for it in my library and when I go shopping.

Happy reading!

I'm a Brand-New Grandma!!!

2010-07-18T16:48:00.000-04:00

Children's children

are the crown of old men;

and the glory of children

are their fathers. ~ Proverbs 17:6

Elsie Mae Wilwerding

born July 15, 2010

By the grace of God in answer to prayer, our oldest son, Jonathan, and his dear wife, Emily, have welcomed their first child and our first grandchild into the world. Tiny Elsie Mae was born at 3:18 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2010, weighing 8 lbs., 6 oz., and 20 inches long. She has dark hair and eyes and is simply perfect in every way! Of course, I'm not being a bit partial. :)

Thanks to all who have prayed. God is so good!

Mind Your Own Mortgage - Book Review

2010-07-05T12:14:00.002-04:00

I am not always thrilled with the books I get free for reviews. But, this one from Thomas Nelson is a KEEPER!

Are you interested in getting a mortgage you can really afford? How about saving tens of thousands of dollars in interest and paying off your home in no time flat in the process? Then, before you go house shopping, before you speak with a loan specialist, and even before you refinance, read...this...book!

After reading Mind Your Own Mortgage: The Wise Homeowner's Guide to Choosing, Managing, and Paying Off Your Mortgageby Robert J. Bernabé I understand for the first time how easy it is to get into a mortgage mess, and I can see clearly all the mistakes we made over the years in getting home loans. In fact, our first purchase in 1994 was a disaster waiting to happen. We would have been clueless about the impending dangers had we still been under that original loan.

Rob Bernabé is the man to listen to regarding mortgages. Ever heard of E*TRADE? Mr. Bernabé was responsible for making this online mortgage lending company number one in just three years. Now he's on a mission to transform the way home owners shop for mortgages. You can beat the system equipped with the knowledge and tools found in Mind Your Own Mortgage. In this little volume you will find

In layman's terms, how the mortgage lending system works
How to insulate yourself from slick-talking loan salesmen
How to shop for the best mortgage price and not be sucked into a loan you can't really afford
When to walk away from what only looks like a good deal
The best circumstances under which to refinance your current loan to your best advantage
How to eliminate thousands of dollars from the life of your loan and knock off years of mortgage debt in the process
Print forms such as the MYOM Mortgage Shopping Checklist and Rate Sheet Quote
Where to find optional online membership tools
And loads of advice for having a healthy financial future
All from a distinctively Christian perspective!

As Mr. Bernabé states over and over again, "A sound mortgage equals a sound economy." Please, don't go house shopping before reading this book! And make your teenagers read it, too. Most of them will purchase their first home (and incur their largest debt in the process) before turning 25. You can secure a sound financial future for your children and grandchildren by learning what it takes to be financially fit as you "mind your own mortgage."

Manners and Morals I Endeavored to Teach My Children

2010-06-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

I was clearing my desk this evening and found some old, hand-written pages of notes from one of my goal sessions back when the children were small. I listed things I wanted the children to learn as they were under my tutelage. I think I got them from a manners book somewhere.

Manners:

Always say "thank you," "excuse me," and "please" when you have been done a favor or when you are apologizing.
Write a note to someone you love who has received good or bad news.
Invite your least popular classmate to your party because they are probably rarely invited anywhere and it would mean so much.
Be a bathroom manner expert being meticulous about tidying up and being considerate of others who use the bathroom.
Be creative for a friend who is sick at home or in the hospital.
Keep your noise level down when it could disturb others nearby.
Don't blow bubblegum bubbles in others' faces; don't crack gum when others will hear it.
Always knock and ask permission before entering someone's room.
Always RSVP promptly to every invitation you receive.
When your authority tells you to do something, do it cheerfully and well -- the tasks are easier and accomplished faster that way.
Return anything borrowed on time and in good condition.
Be on time for appointments; leave on time, too, for nothing is more boring than someone who overstays his welcome.
Learn how to pay compliments. Start with the members of your family, and you will find it easier later in life to compliment others.
Go up and down stairs quietly, not like a lumbering elephant.
Open and shut doors softly.
Don't "leave it for the next person" when an unpleasant task presents itself.
Obey all signs. They have a purpose.
Don't put your feet upon the furniture.
Give up your seat to someone who needs it more than you do.
Be a good volunteer.
Don't spit, pick your teeth, fiddle with your nails, or comb your hair in public. Girls should never apply make-up in front of others.
Treat books with greatest respect.
Treat public property the same way.
Never cheat on your place in line. At grocery store, if you have a lot of items and the person behind you has few, offer it to them.
When you dial a wrong number, say, "I'm sorry, excuse me."
Drive your car, ride your bike, skateboard, motorcycle, or roller skates carefully in consideration of others and to save lives.
Show respect to anyone in authority from your parents to the bus driver.

Table Manners:

Handle your plate of food carefully.
Seat yourself close up to the table. All four legs of the chair should be on the floor at all times.
Keep your attention on how you handle and chew your food.
You may speak quietly as long as there is no food in your mouth.
Keep your feet on the floor and your elbows off the table.
Take small bites and chew slowly. Enjoy the taste of your food. Your lips should be closed as you chew quietly.
Food and drink are not to play with ever.
Use a paper napkin to blot your mouth, face, chin, or hands when you get food on them.
Take small bites so the mouth is not full.
Wipe your mouth with your napkin after drinking or taking a messy bit of food.
Don't eat with your mouth full.
Don't eat chicken with fingers at a dinner party with adults.
Don't use a toothpick at the table.
At a buffet, younger ones should go to the end of the line to allow adults to go first.
A child should not sit down until the adults at his table are seated.
Don't tilt the chair back, but sit up straight.
Control nervous habits like drumming your fingers on the table.
Unfold your dinner napkin in your lap (half fold if dinner sized, fully open if luncheon sized). At the end of the meal when everyone gets up to leave, fold the napkin neatly and lay it on the table.
Take small, not pig-sized portions of favorite foods knowing that the platter can be passed again or one may go back to the buffet table.
If someone passes a large serving platter, replace the utensils side by side on the platter.
If the serving spoon falls into the soup or gravy, clean the handle with your own napkin.
Begin eating after the host unless there is a big party where hot food is being served, then you may begin even before everyone else is served.
If the child is served something he doesn't like, he will eat a little in order not to embarrass his host and will refrain from saying "I hate fish" or "I can't eat this stuff."
Tilt the soup bowl away from you and spoon out even the last liquid away from yourself. Replace the spoon on the saucer, not in the bowl or cup. No slurping. (Exception #25)
Select eating utensils from the outside to the middle and the next utensil for each course.
Taste your food before seasoning. Do not reach across the table, but wait until you will not interrupt conversation and ask to be passed something.
Do not ask for condiments for the meat dish even if you think it would taste better.
Keep elbows close to the body.
When cutting, hold the fork in the left hand and knife in right hand, transferring fork to the right hand to take a bite (or remain in left hand as is an international practice).
Fancy restaurants and hotels serve a finger bowl before dessert. It is a small bowl of water on a doily on a plate. Move the doily to the upper left of the plate and place the bowl on it. The plate is for dessert. Dip your finger tips in the water and wipe them on your napkin.
At home, no one eats until the parents are served and begin to eat.
When done with fork and knife, place them fork on left, knife on right (with blade inward) in center of plate.
Leave dessert fork and spoon on dessert plate, on under plate of bowl, or in bowl if it's too big to leave room on under plate.
When you've dripped something on your front, use a clean knife to scrape it off and quickly and inconspicuously dip the corner of your napkin in your water and dab at the spot.
Sneeze: excuse from table, finish blowing nose in bathroom, and bring paper tissues back with you.
Food stuck in teeth: wait until after dinner if possible and fix problem in bathroom. If you can't wait, excuse yourself and do it in the bathroom.
Burp: cover nose and mouth with napkin and say "excuse me" to no one in particular. If an attack of burps or hiccups overtakes you, excuse yourself until it passes.
Bugs in food or drink: capture them, kill them, and fold them in your lap napkin inconspicuously.
If no grace is said, say yours quietly to yourself. Offer grace at your own table and always follow the customs of the home in which you are a guest.
At home, when you are finished eating, throw your paper napkin away, scrape your plate into the garbage or compost, and place your dishes and eating utensils carefully into the sink.
Ask permission before leaving the table.

I think I could use a brush up on a few of these myself. *sigh*

Can you think of any others you would add to the list or ways you would improve on those I found?

Operation Worship Holy Bible Homefront Edition (NLT)

2010-06-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

Operation Worship Bible
(Homefront edition)

Tyndale House Publishers sent me a cute little pink Bible for reviewing purposes. Though it is paperback (for mass distribution), the faux leather seams and pink camouflage give it a distinctively rugged feminine appeal. The cover is appropriate for the purpose of this particular New Living Translation of the Bible. Tyndale House published this Operation Worship Holy Bible Homefront Edition specifically as a spiritual encouragement and inspiration for women in the armed forces and wives, daughters, and sweethearts of service members.

Besides the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, these special features are included:

Three lined, blank pages in the front for writing a personal note to the service member/spouse
A lovely prayer based on a combination of the Peace Prayer of Francis of Assisi and Numbers 6:24-26 adapted for the unique fears and stresses of military families
A special word of encouragement from Steven R. Young, Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret), US Army and Chaplain, Operation Worship to the service members and their families
A section explaining "What Is the Bible All About?"
A section with several entries for Scripture verses pertaining to various subjects of life and faith

These Bibles are free to service personnel and their families. Simply go to www.operationworship.com and click on the "Military Sign In" link to submit his or her address information. Operation Worship Homefront Edition Bibles purchased from a book store or church may also be donated through the following address:

Open Window Foundation
P.O. Box 967
Rocklin, CA 95677-0967

Though I would not recommend the New Living Translation of the Bible for personal reading or study, this edition is a good introduction to the Scriptures in an easy-to-understand format with a special emphasis on encouraging our service personnel and their families, which is much needed in light of the unique difficulties they face.

David Platt Has a Radical Question For Us

2010-06-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

"What is Jesus worth to you?"

I received a free little booklet in the mail entitled The Radical Question by David Platt. It is a condensed version of his full book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. I guarantee you can't read this book without having your spiritual boat rocked.

David makes the case that, particularly as Americans, we have been raised to believe our number one purpose in life is to have the biggest house and the finest car we can afford. Unfortunately, some even pursue those they cannot afford at the expense of maxing their debt to the breaking point in order to keep up with the Joneses. Is it any wonder, then that this mindset has carried over into our churches?

In this excellent work, David Platt effectively dismantles all the the reasonings we have talked ourselves into regarding the cushy church lifestyle in which we now live. It is both a wake up call and a call to action. Yet, I appreciate the balance in David's message. He gives real life examples of Americans who are making personal sacrifices regarding "the American dream" in order to further the Kingdom of Christ in a true and living way. More than likely, you will see yourself in these stories and see clearly how you may contribute to the greater need of the world which we as believers are called to reach.

I appreciate David's zeal. I remember that same new and breathtaking vision I had as a young believer. Where did it go? When did I get sidetracked by a dream which held no eternal substance? I know I needed to hear this, and it has led me to do some deep and needed soul searching. I know it will be a blessing to you as well.

The best price I could find for this book was on Amazon:

You may also purchase bulk copies of the condensed version for mass distribution. You get 10 copies for the listed price:

After you read this -- or at least read the condensed version --, please return here and leave your comments. If you have "Liked" eHomebody on Facebook (and why haven't you?), you may also contribute your thoughts there. I'd love to get a conversation going regarding the issues raised in this book.

Murse: The Man Purse

2010-05-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

So what do you think of this?

I've always heard it called a messenger bag. Indiana Jones had one, so it can't be all bad. You can't get much more manly-rugged than that character.

Do any of the men in your family or among your acquaintance use a messenger bag/murse?

Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

2010-05-12T17:15:00.001-04:00

There is a longing within the soul of every woman to be beautiful, to be sought after, to be captivating. In this book, John and Stasi Eldredge, in their heart-to-heart fashion, lead each woman into her own personal revelation of true and everlasting beauty.

I must admit I thought this was going to be just another feel-good, self-help book. I didn't need it, but perhaps some of my readers would be interested. I was pleasantly surprised.

The Eldredges are on a three-fold mission: to lead women into a genuine and deep relationship with Christ, to help them see what each was uniquely created to be, and to encourage them to unveil their own personal beauty to the world around them.

They begin by defining what it means to be a woman, and I really appreciate their balance. For instance, this quote from Chapter Two:

“Rather than asking, 'What should a woman do—what is her role?' it would be far more helpful to ask, 'What is a woman—what is her design?'...”

Isn't that rich?

I could not agree with everything doctrinally nor medically, but one must take what is profitable and leave the rest. And there was way too much which was eternally profitable for me to lay this book aside. In fact, I plan on reading it again very soon, and I hope you will, too.

(Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.)

Win a free copy of Captivating

You may obtain an entry for a drawing to win a free copy of the book in this review by

Signing up for the eHomebody.com e-newsletter
By referring friends to subscribe to the e-newsletter: Simply have them leave your email address in the Comment/Question section of the e-newsletter sign-up form.
Or, if you are already a Homebody subscriber, leave a comment at the end of this post.

There is no limit to the number of entries. Contest ends at midnight (EST) on May 31, 2010. Winner will be notified by email.
Subscribers may also choose up to three free e-books! Check it out here:

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Conveniently Clean Green With EcoStore Products

2010-05-10T06:00:00.011-04:00

(Product Review)

I had a wonderful opportunity to review several products from EcoStoreUSA.com several months ago. And, I've got to tell you, I was impressed.

It is becoming increasingly important to me that my home -- not to mention the world my grandchildren will grow up in -- be as free of harmful chemicals as possible. Yet, I imagine you can relate to my dilemma. I am a relaxed homemaker. If it's complicated, I probably won't do it. Cooking completely from scratch and making my own cleaning products have only come after many, many years of trial and error in making those chores a habit. In fact, I still struggle at times.

That's why I see the products from EcoStoreUSA.com as a short cut to making a chemical-free home and environment a reality for many people just like me. No more purchasing individual ingredients, measuring, mixing, sometimes cooking (!) mixtures, filling bottles, then storing all those leftover ingredients. Everything is already mixed up and ready to use just like those convenient chemical-laden cleaners on the grocery store shelves.

But, wait! If you live near Meijer or Duanereade stores, you may be able to find the fine products from EcoStoreUSA.com on your grocery store shelves. If not, do not despair. Our friends from EcoStoreUSA.com have now made it possible to order their full line of products online and have them shipped straight to your door. Plus, you get free shipping on all online orders over $25! How much more convenient can you get? :)

I sampled the following products in exchange for this review:

Coconut Soap: I love this bath soap! The lather is rich and the scent is heavenly. In fact, I loved it so much, I actually hid it from the rest of my family. (That's just between us. I wouldn't want them to know how selfish I am.) ;)
Citrus Spray Cleaner: All-purpose cleaners have always been my favorites because they are just that: all purpose. I like to keep one in the kitchen and one in each bathroom. I must admit I really had my doubts about its effectiveness compared to my former chemical-laden "formula" product, but this one really stood up to all the grime in our home in both kitchen and bath.
Dishwash Liquid: Again, I had some doubts about how well this product would stand up to our family's level of grease and grime. Yet, again, I was not disappointed. This dishwashing soap cuts the grease just as well as the leading brands, but without the harsh chemicals. Your hands will thank you for this one. Here's a tip: you will have to train your family (and yourself) not to add more soap when you don't see a sink full of suds. As with other natural cleaners, this formula doesn't need air bubbles in order to do the hard work. Don't get all excited when you don't see suds. Just go with the lesser amount to start with and add more only when you really need it. You may also save an additional few bucks by bulk purchasing the 32-ounce bottle instead of the 16-ounce.
Laundry Liquid: This is another favorite of mine. I have really struggled with making our own laundry soap. I have tried both powdered and liquid recipes without being completely satisfied with any of them. I do not like shopping for ingredients, grating soaps, mixing recipes, and then having to find storage for all the leftover ingredients. I had a terrible reaction once when I inhaled some of the powdered soap I was putting into the washer, and the trouble of literally cooking up a pot of liquid goop is not something I look forward to. If you have the same issues I have with making your own laundry soap, but want or need your clothing and bedding to be chemical free, then this will be your best friend on laundry day. Those with sensitive skin issues and laundry detergent allergies will benefit as well from this all-natural formula. This is a super-concentrated product, so, just as with homemade laundry soaps, you will measure it by tablespoons rather than cups. Please see the bottle for instructions for measurements. And, as with the dishwash liquid, you may save a few dollars by purchasing this product in the larger 32-ounce bottle.

If you are serious about making your home a more chemical-free environment, but do not want the hassles of making your own, I sincerely believe EcoStoreUSA.com will be your number one source for eco-friendly, ready-made cleaning, bath, pet, and baby products.

Look for them at Meijer, Duanereade, or online at www.EcoStoreUSA.com.

Please note: Although these items were given to me by the EcoStore in exchange for reviewing them on my blog, the comments I have shared above are all true and accurately reflect my personal opinions about the products.

The Minimalist Kitchen

2010-04-23T20:26:00.000-04:00

This article in the New York Times online really appeals to me:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?_r=1

Be sure to click on the link just under the photo at the top of the page in order to get a list of the items featured in the photo.

We are spring cleaning the house and getting ready for a yard sale next week. I wonder how much my personal chef (a.k.a. daughter, Lydia) will let me get rid of. :)

Firefox Add-On Tools for Web Design and More

2010-04-12T06:00:00.001-04:00

I have just discovered the most awesome web design tools ever!

Check out these nifty Firefox add-ons: ColorZilla and MeasureIt.

(Note: You must use the Firefox web browser

in order to download and use these add-ons.)

ColorZilla is a simple color picker. After downloading, simply click on the dropper icon at the bottom of your Firefox browser in order to enable the function. Then move your mouse cursor over whatever colors you want in the browser window. As you do so, the color codes appear in the bar next to the dropper icon at the bottom of the page. Click on the desired color to capture the code. Click on the dropper icon again to discontinue the picker function.

I get goose bumps just thinking about it! There are so many different uses for this add-on. For instance, let's say you find a gorgeous flower photo online with colors you'd like to use on your web page. (That's where I got mine.) Click on the ColorZilla dropper icon, then click on any color in the flower photo. Write down the RGB or Hex numbers and give each one a custom name so you may distinguish between them when you use them later. Click on the icon, click on the color, and write down the numbers as many times as you like to capture those colors for later use in web and graphic design.

In the screen shot below, taken from my Home page, you will see the arrow on the right pointing to the place where I clicked to find the color and the arrow on the left showing the RGB (R:251, G:253, B:229) and Hex (#FBFDE5) codes for the cream background on my website. You may be interested to know I took this color, as well as all the others around my website and blog, from the lovely hydrangea photo on the left side of my header.

After downloading the MeasureIt add-on, click on the measuring tape icon located in the bottom, left corner of your Firefox browser window. Click and hold the left mouse button at one corner of any graphic or box on a web page and move it out to form a measured box. Click at the farthest corner of the measurement in order to hold it. Measurements are given for width (W) and height (H) in pixels (px). Click on another graphic or box to measure as many times as you need. The previous measurement, however, will cancel out as you create another one, so be sure to write down the ones you want as you measure them. Click the measuring tape icon again to discontinue the measuring function.

In the screen shot below, you'll see the measuring tape icon at the arrow on the left, the measured graphic (from my Spring Tea Planner) at the arrow in the middle, and the measurement for it at the one on the right. It measures 200px X 300px as indicated in the gray box to the right of the graphic. It is interesting to note that this add-on measures the actual pixel size of an item even though it may have been enlarged or minimized for viewing purposes. (You may change the size of the elements on any web page by holding the Ctrl key while clicking the plus (+) key to enlarge or the minus (-) key to minimize as many times as needed to get the view you desire.)

The MeasureIt add-on has many nifty uses. I thought it would come in handy when a site allows you to upload an avatar for your profile but neglects to tell you the pixel size requirements. With this tool, you may measure the empty avatar box and edit your photo to fit. Also, let's say you are developing a Shop for your website, but don't know for sure how large to make your product graphics. You may go to another site which has just the perfect size you are looking for and capture the measurements for your own use. (Note: Though copying a website's complete design layout may be illegal, using the measurement of a specific element on a page such as a button size, graphic box, header, text box, etc., is permissible. )

I hope these tools will be of use to you as you develop your online business presence. If you have any questions, I would be happy to help. If I don't know the answer, I'll try to find someone who does. :) Just drop me a line using the Contact form here: http://www.ehomebody.com/contact.html.

Maxwell House Coffee Ad Affirms SAHMs

2010-04-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

Found this awesome ad in the April 2010 Good Housekeeping magazine and just had to share it with you.

Do you notice the choices: "Connect with office" or "Connect with Jeremy [her baby son at home]?" Then, the blurb: "Be good to the last drop."

What all does this ad say to you?

It tells me I'm supporting a good company when I buy our Maxwell House coffee...And, we already do buy Maxwell House coffee, as a matter of fact. :)

Thanks, Maxwell House! And Good Housekeeping, too, for running the ad.

Thoughts on the Current Health Care Debacle

2010-03-22T09:16:00.000-04:00

I predict future happiness for Americans

if they can prevent the government

from wasting the labors of the people

under the pretense of taking care of them.

-- Thomas Jefferson

I used to listen to a lot of talk radio, especially when the children were small. Les got me hooked on it, and I grew in knowledge and understanding regarding politics. I was able to discern what I truly believed and with whom I felt comfortable aligning myself. Consequently, though I have no party bandwagon to jump on, I find I must place myself squarely on the conservative side of nearly every issue.

Therefore, when Mr. Obama became president, I withdrew from my daily dose of conservative talk radio. The future was too bleak, too scary. I couldn't take all the doom and gloom forecasts. I had a family to nurture, a home to keep, a church family to care for, an internet community to connect with. I couldn't let my emotions derail or disable me from my duties and responsibilities. However, I continued to listen to talk radio every once in awhile and even subscribed to our representative's email alerts. I needed to know how and what to pray for.

Therefore, throughout the day yesterday, I prayed privately and with our church folks about the pending health care legislation. Last night, Les and I watched the vote live on the internet, then we shut her down and went to bed. We slept well and have now awakened to a fresh day, a new week free of fear and care.

Some are at their wit's end this morning. Some are so depressed they can't get out of bed (or off the internet). Some are even planning how they can move their families out of the country. (Hello! Where can you go where socialism won't eventually follow you? Hm?)

Nope. I refuse to go there. I have a family to nurture, a home to keep, a church family to care for, an internet community to connect with. I choose not to let my emotions derail or disable me from my duties and responsibilities. Oh, sure, I'll keep myself informed of what's going on in Washington; I'll still do whatever has to be done to adjust our family budget to the tax and law demands of our oppressive government; and I'll still pray earnestly for deliverance. But, I will not faint. I will continue to lean on the everlasting arms of our Almighty and Sovereign God.

Here are a few verses which immediately come to mind when I think about what our congressman, Pete Hoekstra, called "[a bill which] permits taxpayer-funded abortions, cuts into Medicare, and will bankrupt future generations:"

"O our God, wilt thou not judge them?

for we have no might against this

great company that cometh against us;

neither know we what to do:

but our eyes are upon thee."

(II Chronicles 20:12)

**********

"It is time for thee, LORD, to work:

for they have made void thy law."

(Psalm 119:126)

**********

"...Save us, O God of our salvation,

...and deliver us from the heathen,

that we may give thanks to thy holy name,

and glory in thy praise."

(I Chronicles 16:35)

**********

"What time I am afraid,

I will trust in thee."

(Psalm 56:3)

**********

"And he [Christ] spake a parable unto them to this end, that

men ought always to pray, and not to faint..."

(Luke 18:1)

**********

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings,

and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a

quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

(I Timothy 2:1,2) [emphasis mine]

**********

It doesn't matter who is in the White House 

as long as God is on the throne.

Now the God of hope fill you with

all joy and peace in believing,

that ye may abound in hope,

through the power of the Holy Ghost.

-- Saint Paul (Romans 15:13)

Book Review: What He Must Be

2010-03-15T15:03:00.000-04:00

What He Must Be:
...If He Wants to Marry My Daughter
by Voddie Baucham Jr.

I love this book! I enjoy just about anything from renowned author and speaker, Voddie Baucham. But, this one is a definite keeper.

Although it is written primarily for fathers, there is much to be gleaned also by mothers as assistants to fathers in the screening of potential mates for their daughters. I would highly recommend this book to the young women as well, since both parents and their children must be on the same page when it comes to the marriages of succeeding generations. Knowing where everyone stands on the issues covered in this volume ahead of time could save a lot of heartache later.

In Chapter 9, "Don't Send a Woman to Do a Man's Job," Mr. Baucham gives an example of what's wrong with the role of parents in modern dating today by setting up an absurd scenario. He tells of a man who gives the keys to his $354,000 Lamborghini Mucielago to the boy who comes to take his sixteen-year-old daughter on a date with the stern warning, "I want her back without as much as a scratch."

This is followed by the million-dollar question: "Who, you ask, would give the keys to a brand-new Lamborghini Mucielago to a sixteen-year-old young man? Well, I have a better question. Who would be foolish enough to think their daughter was worth less than any car? It should be unthinkable for us to turn our sixteen-year-old daughters over to this young man as it is to contemplate giving him a depreciating hunk of metal. However, we have come to prize sports cars much more highly than we do daughters these days."[1]

Now, this is a man with his head on straight and his heart in the right place. I pray the Lord will raise up more men like Mr. Baucham as they catch the vision portrayed in this book.

This would make an excellent Father's Day gift. Perhaps you could give it early. :)

[1] Baucham Jr., Voddie, What He Must Be, (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2009), p. 160.

Home School Yourself With Free Online Classes

2010-03-13T06:00:00.012-05:00

Many of you home school your children. Why not home school yourself? Maybe you and your dearly beloved have been thinking of starting an online business, but don't have a clue about putting up or running a website. If you have more time than money, here's your answer, friends:

the HP Learning Center

Classes include subjects in

Digital photography
Home business
Microsoft Office and Adobe
PC security and maintenance
Business basics
IT professionals
Graphic arts
Even government and education (if yer really interested)

Amazing! Check it out.

Also, enter to win a whole basket full

of delightful tea goodies in our tea basket giveaway!

Ends at midnight (EST) on March 31, 2010.

Go to http://ehomebody.blogspot.com/2010/03/

new-tea-planner-e-book-and-tea-basket.html

for eight opportunities to enter!

A Lesson in Web Design

2010-03-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

What you are reading now is my blog, and it is the hub of activity in my writing business/ministry. However, there's another vital part of the equation of any good online business/ministry which mine is sorely lacking: my website.

When I set up my website three years ago, I did so on a shoestring budget and with little or no experience or training in website design or navigation. (Anyone can see that by looking at my site!) I took a freebie crash course through iVillage.com on how to create a web page. It was useful in showing me how to use HTML to design the basic pages on my site.

I then checked out stacks and stacks of books from the library and tried desperately to learn CSS (cascading style sheets) since I had heard they made web designing so much easier. I never could get the hang of it, so it wasn't easier for me. I may yet take an official course in CSS just to get it under my belt. However, HTML and I have gotten along pretty well so far.

HTML and CSS are just different ways of telling the computer what you want the page to look like. They are like two different languages and perform some functions differently. Instead of using a pencil to draw a picture, you use words and codes to do it. If you are considering designing a website on your own, you will need to learn one or more of these computer languages.

Your most frugal option, especially if you have more time than money, is to search the Internet for websites or go to the local library and check out books which teach web design. A shorter route might be to let your kids do that aspect of the business for you. :) I'm serious. They do seem to pick up these things easier and faster sometimes than we parents do.

Perhaps the Lord would have you work with your children in an online family business. He may have gifted one or more of your children to do this type of work. One might be the webmaster, another the photographer, another might be good at editing audio or video. These are all excellent aspects of a great website. If you and/or your husband are thinking about an Internet business, I would encourage you to seek some aid from your children.

To get your creative juices flowing, I've found a few sites which I believe have very good web design and navigation. Especially take note how the pages are divided and sub-divided. Each of these sites have several elements in common such as

Navigation tabs along the top
The page is divided with 2/3 on the left and 1/3 on the right
The left column is for navigation to the "meat" of the site
The right column includes the affiliate links and the newest deals
The left column has one large graphic with smaller sub-divided graphics under it, all linked to key pages on the site

Check these out:

MarthaStewartLiving.com

AllAboutYou.com

CountryLiving.com

TasteofHome.com

Although we cannot copy a website design because of the risk of copyright infringement, we may still learn a lot about web design and functionality from those who have the money to hire great web designers.

Do you see any other elements of design in these sites which I didn't mention? Are there other great sites we might add to our list? Leave your comments below.

If You Struggle With Hormonal Emotional Imbalances

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

If you struggle with hormonal emotional imbalances, please take a minute to read an encouraging post by my friend at Homemaker's Cottage. I know it will bless you:

Winning the Battle of the Mind

Perhaps you could leave her a word of encouragement while you're there, and say a prayer for her, too.

Book Review: Making Work at Home Work

2010-03-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof
by Mary M. Byers

If you have ever thought about starting a home-based business, especially with children still at home, please read this book first. The author has done a thorough job of addressing what it's really like to run a business from your home while trying to rear your family at the same time, all from her own personal experience and those of many others.

I appreciate the fact that Mary Byers doesn't pull any punches. I understand her purpose is to help mothers succeed at their work at home. But at the same time, she is completely transparent about "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of such an endeavor. By reading what she has to say with an open mind and a willingness to accept the realities of working at home, a woman should come away with a clearer vision of what she should and should not do.

You will find one thing which sets this book apart from most of the pie-in-the-sky, you-can-have-it-all advice out there for young mothers looking to start a home business: balance. While Mary never intentionally tries to discourage you from such an adventure, her advice will keep your head from floating too far into the clouds and plant your feet solidly on terra firma.

As you read Making Work at Home Work, I'm sure you will find many things you might never have considered could hinder your aspirations. Yet, she gives so much to think about, important aspects to discuss with one's husband (very important), preparations to be made beforehand, and encouragement to make your "work at home work."

Buy it now from our friends at Christianbook.com:

Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof

By Mary M. Byers / Revell

Making Work at Home Work shows women how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business. In addition to including her own experiences, author Mary Byers profiles real moms with home-based businesses who offer their hard-won advice.

"Is It Okay to Be Fat?" Debate on FLS

2010-02-25T14:43:00.003-05:00

Head on over to my weight-loss blog, Fat Little Secrets, for an excellent video debate regarding the issue of whether or not it is okay to be fat.

So what do you think? Is it okay to be fat? Leave your comments here or on the FLS blog site.

Follow this link:

Is It Okay to Be Fat?

Work From Home and Our Aging Parents

2010-02-17T16:50:00.010-05:00

I have just returned from spending 10 days with my mother in her home nearly 450 miles from ours while she recovered from an out-patient cancer surgery. My grown, stay-at-home daughter, Lydia, went with me. Les and our son, Andrew, stayed behind because of work.

My mother and step-father
Connie & Lorin Litwiller

It occurred to me that things would have gone down very differently if I and Lydia were employed when this need arose. We would have either had to ask for time off, let my mother flounder with no help at all, hire help (which she would never agree to!), depend on others to fill in the gap who are not really able to do so, or quit our jobs in order to help her.

Not everyone has a stay-at-home daughter as we do, but since the Lord has provided her we see His blessing on her help to us, to her grandparents, and to others. At first, we thought she would stay behind to care for Dad and little brother. But, since the trip was so long, and I didn't relish traveling so far alone, we decided to let her go with me. I can't count the times Mother and I were so glad Lydia was with us. She was not only a help to Grandma, but to me as well. I am so thankful she is not bound by employment. I know she will one day marry and not be available for this type of ministry, but while she is available, we rejoice in her willingness to be of service to her family.

If you have aging parents, have you thought about how you will make yourself available to them? It is a biblical mandate to honor our parents. According to I Timothy 5:4, we are to requite or "pay back" what they have done for us. How can we fulfill this obligation if we are bound by a job which takes us away from home? I understand that some at-home work can be just as binding, but the ideal is to work out the family finances so the wife's work is not depended upon.

I have never said a woman should not work at all. There is plenty to do in the average home which is profitable, though unpaid, work. But being home full time also affords plenty of time, especially in our season of life with no little ones, to do paid work from home. Using our computers and Internet, we are able to sell our digital and hand-crafted items right from our home library. Then, when there is a family emergency, we are free to pack up and take our work with us or put it all on hold for awhile as we minister to the needs of our loved ones.

Let us consider how we women may be in the best position to minister to the ones God has put within our care. As we have found, work from home may be the answer for your family as well.

New Jane Austin Emma Movie -- Free Download!

2010-02-04T15:03:00.006-05:00

(See added notes below.)

Lydia and I have been enjoying the PBS Masterpiece version of Jane Austen's Emma these past few weeks. Though we do not have a television, we were delighted to find the whole series on the Masterpiece website as a free download.

We have found this version to be much better than the one starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Perhaps the screen writers didn't take enough time to develop the story like PBS did. It is much richer, fuller, and the main character played by Romola Garai is much brighter and more....clueless. :)

Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/emma/watch.html to enjoy the first two out of three episodes. The last one will be available on Monday, February 8.

Come back after you've finished watching an episode or two and tell me what you think.

Important Note: I read on the Masterpiece website that downloads of this series are only available until Tuesday, March 7. So, be sure to get them watched soon.

Side Note: I found the Latin interpretation of the words over the door to Mr. Knightly's home: sed semper amico means "always for my friend." In the words of Miss Bates, "How lovely."

Check Your Tires

2010-01-26T11:11:00.004-05:00

This may be making the rounds through email, but I just got it this morning.

Do you know how old the tires really are on your vehicles? Just because you bought them "brand new" doesn't mean they are safe. Check out this 20/20 coverage (following a brief commercial) regarding valuable information concerning the shelf life of new tires:

http://abcnews.go.Com/Video/playerindex?id=4826897

I think we will be much more careful about buying tires from now on, and think twice about buying used ones! It's always better to be safe than frugal.

Note: If it doesn't play in Firefox, try it in Internet Explorer.

Coupons in Your Telephone Book

2010-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a source for coupons I bet you haven't thought about lately: the coupons in the telephone book. In most telephone books, there is a special section where participating companies have listed money-saving coupons -- and even some freebies! -- for their goods and services.

Here's what I found in ours, highlighting what I plan to use:

Pizza galore!
Other restaurants
Auto repair, oil changes, auto glass repair
Towing
Appliance repair
Pest control & wildlife removal (hm, might need that one -- *wink*)
Self-storage
Siding & windows, roofing, blacktopping
Septic service
Equipment rentals
Heating & cooling, plumbing, electrical
Garage door (need that one for sure!)
Home inspections
Painting & pressure washing
Cleaning service (I wish!)
Chimney sweep
Computer service (hope not)
Tree service (maybe)
Pools & spas
Carpet care
Pharmacy
Martial arts
Golf club
Kennel, pet grooming, veterinary clinic
Jewelry & coins
Beauty salon, tanning, spa (ooh-la-la!)
Vision & eye surgery
Ear & hearing center
Bridal boutique
Florist
Cash advance (um - I don't think so)
Shipping store
Health club

Take a look at your phone book and leave a comment listing what you find and what you plan to use.

Check it out!

Home Schooled Children Make Great Adults -- Duh!

2010-01-04T22:33:00.002-05:00

If your family home schools or you are wondering what will happen to your children if you home school them, you need to read this article. It is very affirming. It's what we have known all along and have seen firsthand in our own children. Excellent article!

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091228/study-shows-home-educated-become-model-citizens/index.html

Book Review: Family Driven Faith

2010-01-01T23:48:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Voddie Baucham's excellent treatise on the Christian family called Family Driven Faith. In this little volume, Mr. Baucham packs a mighty punch in explaining clearly the intention God has for propagating the faith through Christian families and family-integrated churches. In a culture where few, even in the church, know what a Christian family looks like, we are offered here not only a clear view, but the tools to make it happen in our own homes.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

Regarding the argument we are stifling our children by not allowing them to watch hours and hours of television a week or to date at 15 by giving the standard cop-out argument, "When they get to college, they're going to go crazy!" he says, "Interestingly, though, none of the 'wild ones' I remember from my college days were rookies. None of them went off the deep end into immorality after leading chaste lives at home. Most of them simply walked farther into the debauchery with which they were allowed to experiment earlier on." (p. 18)

When asked how his home schooled children could ever learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy competition without participating in organized team sports, he says, "How did Moses, Jefferson, Ben Franklin, or George Washington learn those things? Better yet, since Jesus is our ultimate model of Christian manhood, how did He learn those things? Was Jesus in Little League?" (p. 20)

Regarding 13- and 15-year-olds dating and assuming they will marry, he says, "...Being involved in such exclusive relationships before you are ready to be married is like going shopping without any money; either you will leave frustrated, or you will take something that doesn't belong to you." (p. 21)

The author delivers a clear challenge to both fathers and church fathers to establish and maintain godly homes for the purpose of impacting future Christian generations and the culture in which they will have to live and raise their own families. Yet, Mr. Baucham is open and honest regarding his own failures both in his family and in church ministry. You're not getting a secondhand grand stand from someone who has never had to learn from his mistakes. His experiences, including his failures, are an encouragement to those who know there is something terribly wrong, but are feeling hopeless about how to make any lasting change. His arguments are well studied and biblically based. You will go away both challenged and encourage by reading this family-changing book.

Book:

Book on CD:

Other books by this author:

Braised Red Cabbage

2009-12-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

Thought you might enjoy a little extra special side dish for your holiday meals. It's piquant, sweet and sour flavor goes especially well with roast beef or with ham. The unique bright-red, magenta color of this traditional Eastern European dish adds a festive look to any holiday table. Yet, once you have tasted it, I am sure you will be enjoying it many more times throughout the year.

1 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. coarse salt
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 (2-lbs.) head of red cabbage
1/4 cup red currant jelly
3 Tbs. cored and peeled, grated Granny Smith apple (about 1/2 apple)

Preheat oven to 325^oF. Combine first five ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add cabbage and toss to thoroughly coat. Cover and bake 1 hr. 50 min. or until cabbage wilts. Stir halfway through. Stir in jelly and apple. Cover and bake 10 min. Let stand, covered, until ready to serve.

Rick and Kay Warren's Rocky Marriage

2009-12-14T13:22:00.005-05:00

I just read an intriguing review regarding Jeffery L. Sheler's new biography of mega church pastor, Rick Warren.[1] It is no surprise Rick and Kay Warren encountered a rocky road in their marriage considering their "unconventional" beginning. Even though neither of them were in love, each believed they received a revelation from God that it was His will they marry one another. In fact, they tell of being virtual strangers and how they endured the agonies of having to seek marriage counseling early on and even today "still go to Christian marriage counseling once in a while to tune up their relationship."

Though I do not discount God's leading in their lives, it would have been a thousand times better (and saved them at least a thousand dollars in counseling costs!) to have waited until their relationship blossomed to marriage status. What were they thinking?!

"On their wedding day, the two were 'virtual strangers,' Sheler writes. They also had a horrible honeymoon and suffered intensely from misunderstandings and other marital problems in the beginning of their marriage. The stress from the marriage problems coupled with Rick’s workload was so bad that he ended up in the hospital. Meanwhile, Kay said that she didn’t believe in divorce so she felt that she was sentenced to a life of suffering."[2]

Thankfully, they had the foundation of biblical thinking regarding divorce. This in itself may have been what motivated them to seek the counsel they so desperately needed and to really work at coming to a resolution they could both live with.

Let this be a lesson to the unmarried: do not marry, even if you think it is God's will, until you at least like one another. I'm not saying you need a mushy, romantic type of love. Truthfully, this stage of love often disintegrates quite quickly after the honeymoon anyway and is replaced with a more mature and enduring love. Though it's true nearly all of us are still strangers to a certain degree when we meet at the marriage alter, there is still a lot to be said regarding developing a friendship with one another before taking the plunge.

In a culture of throw-away marriages, it is commendable that this couple in the spotlight should be open about their mistakes and struggles, offering hope for others who may be on the verge of giving up hope.

If you ever struggle with your marriage and think you may have made a mistake in whom you married, please think about Rick and Kay Warren. Then, seek out biblical marriage counseling with a trained nouthetic counselor.[3] Even if your mate will not cooperate or go with you, you may not have to endure "a life sentence of suffering" on your part.

Marriage is for life. Make the most of it for the glory of God and for the good of others.

[1] Vu, Michelle A. Thu, Dec. 03 2009 06:11 PM EDT. Rick Warren Biography Uncovers Rocky Marriage, Depression. The Christian Post. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091203/rick-warren-biography-uncovers-rocky-marriage-depression/index.html (accessed December 14, 2009).
[2] Ibid. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091203/rick-warren-biography-uncovers-rocky-marriage-depression/page2.html.
[3] http://www.nanc.org/Directory.aspx

Duggar Alert - Emergency C-Section

2009-12-10T22:24:00.005-05:00

This may be a rumor, but I have heard on Facebook this evening that Michelle Duggar has undergone an emergency c-section with baby #19 at only 25 weeks. Baby "J" is very tiny, and Michelle is "not out of the woods yet."

Please pray for this dear family.

Update: They say that preeclampsia (potentially life-threatening condition evidenced by severe high blood pressure and fluid retention) was the reason for the c-section.

Update!

Here is an official ABC News online update regarding the premature birth of the Duggar's 19th child, Josie (Joselyn) Brooklyn Duggar:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Television/michelle-duggar-birth-19th-child-emergency-section/story?id=9311401

God bless them, every one.

Dockers' Man-Ifesto is Spot On!

2009-12-09T22:29:00.005-05:00

Have you seen this yet?
I can hardly believe my eyes and ears.

This company deserves a hand!
Whatever you do, go out and buy some Dockers!
And let your men wear the pants in the family. ;)

Winter Decorating With Ice Luminaries

2009-12-08T17:16:00.002-05:00

Photo from

CreativeHomeStyle.com
from the book
Christmas: 101 Wondrous Ideas to Make

Ice luminaries are one of the simplest decorations to assemble, yet pack a big punch in display. The breathtaking scene of a drive or walkway lined with fire and ice on a cold winter's night sets the stage for the making of holiday memories. Carry the theme indoors and any celebration may be lit up with the merry flickering of candlelight on glistening ice.

For outdoors, you will want to use buckets or other large containers for forms in order to make them more visible from afar. First, freeze about four inches of water in the larger vessel to create a bottom for the luminary. Then, place a smaller bucket or other container such as a coffee can inside the bucket on top of the ice layer. Fill the space between the bucket and can with water up to the rim of whichever container is shorter. Freeze indoors or outdoors (if it is cold enough), then set the bucket in a sink or tub of warm water to loosen the ice and remove it from the bucket. Next, fill the coffee can or other smaller container with warm water to help loosen it from the ice surrounding it. Once the ice luminary is removed from its forms, fill the bottom with a few inches of sand and place a pillar candle in the center. Light the candle and place the luminaries along your driveway, walkway, or simply one on each side of the front steps. What a stunning welcome!

Photo from
Amy Turn Sharp

For indoor displays, smaller luminaries may be created using any flexible containers, a smaller one inside the larger one with ample room between the sides of the two. You may try a quart-size milk carton inside a 2-quart milk carton or 1-liter soda bottles inside 2-liter soda bottles, each with the tops cut off. Either way, the steps are nearly the same as for the outdoor luminaries. However, you may add greenery, flowers, cranberries, or anything else which suits your decorating fancy, between the forms before adding the water. Loosen the ice from the soda bottle forms with warm water or peel the milk cartons away from the ice. Fill with a little sand, if you wish, and insert a candle which fits the inside of the luminary. You may also simply place a pillar candle inside a 2-quart milk carton, fill the empty space with the decorations, and fill with water being careful not to cover the candle. Once your luminary is frozen and free of the forms, set it on a tray with sides high enough to hold an inch or two of melted ice.

Picture from

Infants Remembered in Silence, Inc.

Luminaries with two or three pillar candles of differing heights with red roses in the ice and some greenery, pine cones, and holly around the base creates a stunning holiday display. Light the candles and listen for the ooh's and aah's of your guests.

Book Review: Love and Respect

2009-12-02T15:30:00.006-05:00

I just finished a phenomenal book called Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Brentwood, Tenn.: Integrity Publishers, 2004). Many of you have probably already read it, but I am often waaaaay behind on the new book release list. I only wish I'd read this one sooner.

Much of what Dr. Eggerichs has to say is pretty basic, but the simplest things like respecting our husbands can be the most difficult. In this book, you will see it clearly laid out with personal experiences from his own marriage and little snippets from emails and letters from real people who have put these biblical principles into practice and seen amazing results in their marriages.

There are only a few things I would have done differently. For one, I would have divided the whole thing up into men's-only and women's only books. I'm afraid many women who are looking for it will find plenty of ammunition to face their husbands with. However, Dr. Eggerichs does address this along the way: not to think about what your mate should be doing, but what you should be doing.

The second thing I would have done differently if I were setting up the book would be to put the last first and the first last. He finally gets around to discussing that the only way there will be lasting change in any marriage is by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God through a personal relationship with Christ. In my opinion, this should have been dealt with in the first chapter not the last one.

Other than that, I was very pleased with the nouthetic way in which the author approached the issues of failed and struggling marriages. Though he is a "doctor," he does not promote the you're-a-victim psycho-babble found in most marriage counseling today. He gives no one an excuse to say "if he/she would, then I would." This is so very important if we are ever to see our homes healed of the sins which are tearing us apart. Each must take 100% responsibility for his or her own part in the conflict and act on it by the grace of God. Dr. Eggerichs shows you how.

I would highly recommend this balanced, biblical approach to dealing with marriage struggles. My only advice would be to skip the paragraphs and chapters which deal with the opposite spouse. Let your own spouse read those parts, if he or she is willing, but don't use any of the information found there to hold it over their head. You will effectively defeat God's good purpose for your marriage.

Here is one of my favorite excerpts found on page 91:

Trusting and obeying God's Word because we love and reverence God never, ever makes us a hypocrite! When the alarm goes off in the morning, we get up, even when we don't feel like getting up. Because we do what we don't feel like doing, does that make us a hypocrite? No, it is a sign we are responsible people. Showing respectful behavior when we don't "feel respectful" is evidence of maturity, not hypocrisy. [-- Amen!]

Difficult Step-Children

2009-11-28T22:56:00.000-05:00

My heart really goes out to step-parents and step-children. Rather than being "blended," many step-families, unfortunately, are more often like trying to mix oil and water.

As the child of a divorced home, I can only write from a child's perspective. Yet, what I have to say may help step-parents, and divorced parents as well.

In order to understand where the kids from divorced homes are coming from, I think it's important to keep in mind that most children from divorced homes have a crushing weight of pain on their hearts for most of their growing up years. Some never get over it. Each child deals with it in different ways: perfectionism, trying to please everyone, depression, thoughts of suicide, resentment, hatred, sullenness, acting out, rebellion (either outward or inward), fantasy, day dreaming, turning to drugs or alcohol, sniffing paint and aerosol cans, hanging themselves until they black out, etc., etc., etc.

I once heard it said that divorce is like losing a parent to death only no one says nice things about the missing parent. Just think what a state of emotional limbo that leaves a child in. Grief over the loss of the non-custodial parent is rarely dealt with by the custodial parent who is often having to deal with his or her own grief and bitterness.

Some parents and step-parents make the mistake of trying to please the child who is acting out. Yet, this backfires, because the kid feels like you are trying to buy a relationship instead of really working on building one. Unfortunately, there is such a limited amount of time together with the children that it just doesn't feel like a family at the non-custodial parent's house. In fact, the non-custodial parent may even become a total stranger to his or her own children.

In such a case, it may be wiser for the non-custodial parent to invite the children over instead of forcing them to comply with visitation rights. You might also try to work out visits in their own home or somewhere they are familiar with such as their grandparents' house. This is only a suggestion for parents who are dealing with sullen, depressed kids on their custodial visits.

Give these kids room, love them for real with hugs, a listening ear, and one-on-one time. Plan a project to work on together during your visits rather than spoiling them rotten. Working together often builds relationships.

I hope you blended families out there will consider these things from the perspective of a child from a divorced home.

And, I sincerely hope you parents who are considering splitting will keep it together for the sake of the kids. Even bad homes are better than broken ones any day! Be mature and work it out with the help of Almighty God.

Who Really Needs R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

2009-11-22T21:37:00.002-05:00

I have just read the most earth-shattering news! I'll quote it directly from the author:

"I sometimes get the question, 'You say women need love and men need respect. Isn't the opposite just as true? Don't gals need respect and guys need love?' My answer is, of course, women need respect and guys need love, but I'm talking about the primary drive in each sex. Sometimes this gets mixed up. Back in the late 1960s, when the feminist movement was hitting its stride, Aretha Franklin released a hit recording entitled 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T,' which clearly sent the message that all women were asking for was a little respect when they got home. Respect is what women needed, and they 'had to have it.'

"'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' became something of a theme song for many women, but what most of them did not realize is that the song was really written by a man -- Otis Redding -- two years before Aretha ever sang it. Otis released the song as a single on August 15, 1965, as his message to his wife. Does the irony of this strike you as it does me? Aretha had the right to sing 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T' from a female point of view, of course. A woman does need respect, and if a man loves her properly, she will get that respect. But the primary meaning in Otis Redding's song is a cry from a man's deepest soul that says respect is what he needs and he's 'got to have it.'

"Aretha Franklin's hit song notwithstanding, I still believe that women want love far more than respect and men want respect far more than love..." (emphasis mine)

Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs (Brentwood, TN: Integrity Publishers, 2004), pp. 47, 48.

I am only just getting into this book, but the advice in it appears to be not only biblical, but effective. I've been shaking my head in agreement all the way through so far.

More later.

By the way, here are the original lyrics to R-E-S-P-E-C-T:

What you want,
Honey, you got it
And what you need,
Baby, you got it.
All I ask is a little respect
when I come home.

You can do me wrong,
Honey, if you want to.
You can do me wrong,
Honey, while I'm gone.
But all I'm askin' for
is a little respect
when I come home.

Hey, L'l Girl,
you're so sweeter than honey.
And I'm about to give you
all my money.
All I'm askin'
is a little respect
when I come home.

Hey, Lil Girl,
you are sweeter than honey.
And I'm about to give you
all of my money.
But all I want you to do
is to give, to give me
respect when I come home.

Respect is what I want.
This is what I need!
Respect is what I want.
Gotta, gotta have it.
This is what I need!

Notice how Aretha turned it all around:

What you want, Baby, I got it.
What you need, you know I got it.
All I'm asking is for a little respect
when you come home.
Hey, Baby, when you come home, Mister

I ain't gonna do you wrong while you're gone
I ain't gonna do you wrong 'cause I don't wanna
All I'm asking is for a little respect when you come home;
Baby, when you come home.

I'm about to give you all my money
And all I'm asking in return, honey
Is to give me my propers when you get home.
Yeah, baby when you get home.

Your kiss is sweeter than honey and, guess what, so is my money.
All I want you to do for me is give it to me when you get home.
Yeah, baby, whip it to me when you get home now.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: find out what it means to me.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take care, TCB*, ohhhh.

*TCB is slang for "Taking care (of) business."

Oprah Off the Air in 2011

2009-11-20T12:32:00.003-05:00

I just heard on the local news that Oprah Winfrey will be canceling her Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011. The local news said she made the decision "after much prayer." I couldn't agree more: my prayers!

This woman has done more to lead American women into eastern mysticism than any guru ever could.

Unfortunately, she will most likely show up somewhere else in the public sphere in search of greater wealth and more influence for evil.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Read more here.

ChristianCinema.com Adds QuickReturn Feature

2009-11-14T10:49:00.006-05:00

As an avid movie buff, I am always on the lookout for quality films. ChristianCinema.com has fit the bill many times over. Unlike "the other guys," you don't have to sort through the most sordid trash on the planet in order to find something appropriate to enjoy as a family.

Like "the other guys," ChristianCinema.com offers mail rentals via their DVD monthly subscription. However, even better than "the other guys," you may now get your next DVD faster by accessing ChristianCinema.com's QuickReturn feature. Here's how it works:

"Club members can log into their account online and click a button to let us know their film is on its way back to our warehouse. Once we receive that notification, we automatically ship the next movie available in their queue. It's fast, easy, and a way for them to watch twice as many movies in a month!"

You won't get that from "the other guys." At least, not until they find out what CC.com is doing and copy it. :)

Plans start as low as $7.99 per month. So, what are you waiting for? Join now!

Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 2

2009-10-30T22:30:00.010-04:00

Note: Continued from Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 1

When a mother and father discuss parenting, she might ask him if there are any specific things he wants her to address in teaching and disciplining the children while he is gone. Is there anything he sees when he is home that isn't being done or isn't being handled well? Also, she should bring to him anything wherein the children are refusing to obey her or bad character issues which are developing, and ask him to speak with the children directly about it. Some men just aren't aware of the importance of their participation in establishing the mother's authority in this regard.

Last of all, once Dad and Mom have mapped out the battle plan, it's time to bring it before the children. Arrange a family meeting for Dad to explain the new rule of order. (It should be apparent that Dad is the one who has established this order even if Mom adds her input to the discussion.) When Dad is gone, Mom is in charge. When he returns, Mom will be reporting to him how things are going. The children should be told that Mom will be reporting both good and bad behaviors. Commending them before their father can really add some *oompf* to their desire to please both parents. Nonetheless, it is important that Mom reports any insubordination on the part of the children to their father and have them directly accountable to Dad for it. This is very important. I cannot stress it enough.

Finally, Mother should discuss any discipline issues and commendations to Dad when he returns home. She must not do it the moment he gets in the door, of course, possibly not even the same day. Rather, she should wait until a relaxed moment when the issues may be addressed in a calm and orderly way. It is best to ask him if he's ready, anyway, before going at it with both barrels.

To keep the order in place, Mom and Dad should get together again at least once a month to re-evaluate where they are in their parenting, discussing each child in turn. Determine what is working and what is not. Try to discern the best method of dealing with different situations. Perhaps Mom could keep a journal of discipline and training with notes highlighted for specific discussion. In any case, communication is the key to mutual parenting success, but especially when Dad is not available.

Ironically, however, many women struggle more when Dad is home. Mom has been so engrossed with disciplining and teaching the children that when Dad is present, she feels as though she should be doing more and differences arise almost immediately regarding who is in charge. These feelings must also be addressed at the parent meeting.

Note: Continue to Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 3

Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 1

2009-10-30T22:30:00.009-04:00

Many families are turning to the military and to over-the-road truck driving as a means of Dad making a decent income. However, both of these occupations can create havoc when trying to establish and maintain proper spheres of authority when the head of the home has to be gone for extended periods of time.

In fact, some mothers say they feel like a single parent when their husbands are gone so long. Yet, establishing the father as the authority in the home will shelter a mother from being a single parent. If a mother ever feels this way, it is most likely because Dad has not been included in or has not been active enough in the parenting process. That shield of authority -- or umbrella of protection, as it is often referred to -- is missing, leaving Mom feeling very vulnerable and inadequate for the job. The dilemma is how to establish and maintain the two-parent authority structure when the man in charge is missing for long periods of prime parenting time.

I would suggest, first of all, that Mom and Dad sit down alone together -- without distractions -- and talk over the biblical spheres of family authority. Christ is the head of the husband/father; the husband/father is the head of the wife; and the wife/mother is the head over the children under her husband's authority; and, as the older children mature and are able to handle it, they may also be called upon at times to step in as authorities over the younger children under their parents' authority.[1] It's like the chain of command in the military or in a large corporation. The little guys are on the bottom of the chain and are accountable both to those directly above them and to all who are over them.

According to Scripture, the father has the final say over family law even in his absence. When Dad's not home, Mom is still responsible for executing his will over the parenting of the children. Though it is true she must make the day-to-day decisions regarding the children's behavior, if she has been discussing parenting issues with her husband, she will be less inclined to feel as though she is on her own and will be better prepared to parent as they have agreed even when he is away for many days or months.

[1] I Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23; 6:1-4; Colosians 3:18-21; Proverbs 1:8; 6:20; Genesis 4:7; notice Reuben's responsibility over his brothers in Genesis 37-42.

Note: Continue to Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 2

Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 3

2009-10-30T22:30:00.008-04:00

Note: Continued from Maintaining Authority When Dad is Away - Part 2

The whole point is that Dad is in charge all the time. That is the mindset Mom must have while executing the parenting in his absence and when he returns home. Though she must be willing to take the children in hand should her husband require it, she must first of all encourage her husband to take the initiative when he is home. Both parents should be in agreement ahead of time to follow this order, and especially concerning issues which have come up while he was gone. If Mom does give an order to the children while Dad is home and the child disobeys, he should approach the child personally and remind him or her to obey Mother. This also should be discussed and agreed upon ahead of time.

It would also help if Dad could deal with each child individually and spend some quality one-on-one time with them while he is home. That would make Mom's job so much easier by derailing some of the stress children develop from having their father absent for long periods of time. It may be something as simple as having one of the kids accompany him to the store and talk to them while driving and searching the aisles. He might have a child help him on a project around the house and engage in conversation and fellowship while they work side by side. He could even have one or more of the kids sit with him on the couch while he watches a game and turn his attention to them personally during the commercials. Even that is better than nothing!

Though parenting during Dad's absence is difficult, it is not impossible. Communication, especially dealing with each parent's discipline styles and expectations, is the key to averting disasters in maintaining balanced parenting during periods of a father's absence. Parents must pray for wisdom and expect the Lord to provide it as He has promised in His Word. We have not because we ask not.