One Day Blog Silence

One Day Blog Silence

Silence can say more than a thousand words.

This day shall unite us all about this unbelievable painful & shocking event and show some respect and love to those who lost their loved ones.

On April 30th 2007, the Blogosphere will hold a One-Day Blog Silence in honor of the victims at Virginia Tech.  More then 30 died at the US college massacre

But it´s not only about them. Many bloggers have responded and asked about all the other victims of our world. All the people who die every day. What about them?

This day can be a symbol of support to all the victims of our world!

All you have to do is spread the word about it and post the graphic on your blog on 30th April 2007. No words and no comments. Just respect, reflect and empathy.

To see the site that started this idea, you can go here.

To see what others are saying about this idea and their opinions, you can go here.

DON’T FORGET!!!

! ! !  DON’T FORGET ! ! !  Have you entered the Mother’s Day writing contest?  I have not had a lot of entries YET, so there is a good chance for your entry to be a winner!  I think the idea of a poem "scares" some of you!  I have had numerous entries though to "private" blogs – where a password is needed to view the blog.  I can’t view the entry, so I can’t read it, nor my readers.  So please resubmit if this might be you!  The poem does not have to be long, rhyming, etc.  Just something short and sweet in honor/memory of your mom or a mom in your life.  (How about those that have done the "I Am From Poems" . . . do one from your mom’s viewpoint!)  And YES, your child can write the poem and you put it on your blog.  Write it today, ok?!?!?!Contest ends Monday night at midnight.

Homeschool Distraction: TEETH

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h e last several weeks we have had numerous dentist appointments.  When we have the children’s teeth cleaned, we try to have at least two, if not three, done at a time, to save us from so much running around.  This last time a couple of our younger children have little cavaties starting out.  I think part of it was me not being as diligent in keeping after them during my pregnancy and not brushing the younger one’s teeth after they have.  Sighhh . . . so now we have running to do with two of them to get cavaties filled (I guess two out of 8 children is not too bad!).

We have had more discussions on getting our teeth clean, why we have to, what cavaties are, sugar consequences, etc.  This is the advantage of homeschooling – forgetting the "book" science lessons for a few days, and learning more on teeth!  (Can trips to the dentist count as fieldtrips?!?!?!)  I was talking to a friend about this, and she gave me some great websites that can turn this into a teeth unit study.

The Truth About TeethWhat is a Cavity?Cavity Info with Worksheet Questions
All About Your Teeth – from ScholasticTeeth Word Search Worksheet
Mouth and Teeth
Awesome Teeth Lesson Ideas (with "experiment" ideas)
Links to Lots of Toothy Websites

In Other Words: Busy Moms

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s a homeschool mom, there is a lot of opportunities available to keep not only myself busy but the kids just as much. We use to do a lot of things for learning opportunities – from homeschool band, to private piano and instrument lessons, to homeschool sports activities and AWANA. Then add in field trips, library trips and dentist trips.  Oh, there’s a special speaker at church for revival meetings, and an opportunity to help out at the pregnancy crisis center.  Then comes the call to take a meal to the new mom at church, lady’s Bible Study is this week, and there’s a scrapbooking party all night Friday.  I just got a call to meet a hurting friend for coffee and I almost forgot about the baby shower for another mom  next week- and I HAVE to make a blanket for it, which means going shopping to get the material for it.   

Does this sound a little familiar?  Can we get so overwhelmed with all the serving things outside our family, we forget to serve within our home, forget the learning experiences we can teach our children?  I know how easy it is to go non-stop.  At times, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing more needs outside our family than within our family. 

I recently discovered a new blog, A Path Made Straight.  Elise, a mom of three young children, shares in Letters to Eliana, a precious love letter to her adorable toddler daughter.  Here’s a snip of revealing about time she spent in the kitchen with her daughter:

Thank you for helping me slow down, whatever your method. Thank you for seeing the magic of the food processor, the wonder of a refrigerator full of colorful food, the joy in a cupboard holding unbreakable containers. Thank you for dancing with me; for making me see the beauty in the simple tasks of motherhood. For patiently waiting for me to see you standing there, just begging to be by my side in life.

Life with Eliana. What a gift.

Perhaps God is reminding us through this week’s quote to

"Be still, and know that I am God."Psalm 46:10

This week’s In "Other" Words is hosted by Christine at Fruit in Season.
Be sure to visit her site to read other women’s interpretations of this quote.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

HEY CWO BLOGGERS!  Have you checked out my Mother’s Day writing contest?  There are numerous prizes and one will be awarded to a CWO blogger as well as other catagories!  Be sure to see the post on this and join along!

I WON! :)

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ach day on ClubMom there is a question posted, as the Question of the Day. Anyone can answer it, not just the ClubMom Bloggers. On April 18th the question was, "Is it ok for women to breastfeed in public?" My answer:

Absolutely! I am nursing our 11th child. I have nursed them all in public. I keep a blanket over my baby and be as discreet as possible. I nurse in church – I even nurse while grocery shopping! The funny thing is one time an elderly lady friend of ours asked why I had the blanket covering the baby, and ripped the blanket off of me! Oh, well!

And, I won for my answer! A $50 gift card! Thanks ClubMom!

Baby Update & Adjustments

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an you believe it?  He is 8 weeks old today!  Even his siblings are saying how fast it is going.  He has finally turned the corner with gaining weight, but not exactly the way I wanted it to.  Two weeks ago, he was back to his birth weight (5 lbs. 11 oz.) after losing over a pound.  But then he seemed to go under that weight again, and then back to his birth weight, and we just could not get him over his birth weight.  So, we decided to go back to supplementing with formula.  I felt (feel) like a failure doing it, but in the last two weeks, he has gained over a pound and now is 6.75 pounds.  He is given two 4 ounce bottles a day, along with me still nursing him.  The kids LOVE giving him his bottle.  I was just quite bummed but at least for now, it seems he needs this to catch up.  I think this will be his last week wearing the preemie clothes.  His little preemie hat no longer fits.  He has grown lengthwise over 1/2 an inch (as of two weeks ago, and I suspect it’s closer to an inch now). 

I think we have adjusted quite well to our new addition.  The kids still "fight" over who gets him first thing in the morning.  It sure makes a difference from when we first started having children.  I remember taking a baby with me to the bathroom, not wanting to leave him alone, and having to wait ’til the baby was sound asleep to get a shower in!  Now there’s always a volunteer helper and I have to "demand" for return of my baby!  He sleeps 4-5 hours to start off at night in his bassinet, but after that he’s in bed with us.  During the day for his naps, if I lay him down on the couch to sleep, he is usually woken up by someone kissing him.  The children just will not leave him alone!  It’s neat to see the older children sitting on the couch, holding him in one arm, and working on school work with the other arm.  He will probably learn long division quite early you know!

I’ve still had some complications with healing and am hopeful this will correct.  I guess being older having a baby has been harder on my body.  But, I will brag a little bit here.  I weigh 60 lbs. less now than I did before I was pregnant!  I’ve dropped several clothes sizes.  I am wearing clothes I’ve not worn for over three years!  Nope, I am still not at the idea weight, and need to lose more, but feel like I got quite a jump start, though it was sure the hard way. It’s been funny how many people we run into at the store who did not know we were having another baby and are shocked.  I had put on so much weight after our son died, and then losing weight while pregnant, he was quite hidden. 

! ! !  DON’T FORGET ! ! !  Have you checked out my Mother’s Day writing contest?  I have not had a lot of entries YET, so there is a good chance for your entry to be a winner!  I think the idea of a poem "scares" some of you!  It does not have to be long, rhyming, etc.  Just something short and sweet in honor/memory of your mom or a mom in your life.  And YES, your child can write the poem and you put it on your blog.  You have until the end of this month to enter.  Write it today, ok?!?!?!

Baby Update & Adjustments

C

an you believe it?  He is 8 weeks old today!  Even his siblings are saying how fast it is going.  He has finally turned the corner with gaining weight, but not exactly the way I wanted it to.  Two weeks ago, he was back to his birth weight (5 lbs. 11 oz.) after losing over a pound.  But then he seemed to go under that weight again, and then back to his birth weight, and we just could not get him over his birth weight.  So, we decided to go back to supplementing with formula.  I felt (feel) like a failure doing it, but in the last two weeks, he has gained over a pound and now is 6.75 pounds.  He is given two 4 ounce bottles a day, along with me still nursing him.  The kids LOVE giving him his bottle.  I was just quite bummed but at least for now, it seems he needs this to catch up.  I think this will be his last week wearing the preemie clothes.  His little preemie hat no longer fits.  He has grown lengthwise over 1/2 an inch (as of two weeks ago, and I suspect it’s closer to an inch now). 

I think we have adjusted quite well to our new addition.  The kids still "fight" over who gets him first thing in the morning.  It sure makes a difference from when we first started having children.  I remember taking a baby with me to the bathroom, not wanting to leave him alone, and having to wait ’til the baby was sound asleep to get a shower in!  Now there’s always a volunteer helper and I have to "demand" for return of my baby!  He sleeps 4-5 hours to start off at night in his bassinet, but after that he’s in bed with us.  During the day for his naps, if I lay him down on the couch to sleep, he is usually woken up by someone kissing him.  The children just will not leave him alone!  It’s neat to see the older children sitting on the couch, holding him in one arm, and working on school work with the other arm.  He will probably learn long division quite early you know!

I’ve still had some complications with healing and am hopeful this will correct.  I guess being older having a baby has been harder on my body.  But, I will brag a little bit here.  I weigh 60 lbs. less now than I did before I was pregnant!  I’ve dropped several clothes sizes.  I am wearing clothes I’ve not worn for over three years!  Nope, I am still not at the idea weight, and need to lose more, but feel like I got quite a jump start, though it was sure the hard way. It’s been funny how many people we run into at the store who did not know we were having another baby and are shocked.  I had put on so much weight after our son died, and then losing weight while pregnant, he was quite hidden. 

! ! !  DON’T FORGET ! ! !  Have you checked out my Mother’s Day writing contest?  I have not had a lot of entries YET, so there is a good chance for your entry to be a winner!  I think the idea of a poem "scares" some of you!  It does not have to be long, rhyming, etc.  Just something short and sweet in honor/memory of your mom or a mom in your life.  And YES, your child can write the poem and you put it on your blog.  You have until the end of this month to enter.  Write it today, ok?!?!?!

Guest Article: Can Mary Survive in a Martha World?

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discovered a blog that is one of those that the writer really knows how to touch the personal parts of our lives – shares openly and honestly, and this is Lori at her blog, A Peculiar Notion.  There are several of her posts I want to share, but I am going to start out with this one.  A special thank you to Lori for allowing me to share this with my readers.

Can Mary Survive in a Martha World?

I’m going through a wonderful, and at times frustrating, season of life.  I cry easily right now, and my heart fills with longing to just sit and be still.  We are commanded to "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) And yet, how often do we find our feet hit the floor in the morning and groan inwardly at the day ahead.  Our lives are filled with the mundane, the everyday, the bits and pieces of dreams shattered as another pile of laundry is accumulating on the bathroom floor.  We lose ourselves to the everyday drip of bills, phone calls, emails, schedules, orthodontist appointments and sibling arguments.  We sit, we stand, we cry, we keep going. Depression sits on our hearts like a lead blanket.  Another morning comes.  And somewhere deep in our souls, Mary is crying.  She is being held against her will from the One she so desperately loves and needs.

Every time I choose my way before seeking His, and each time I ignore that pleading within my soul to "be still"…she cries.  I hear her voice.  At the beginning of the year I became aware of her spirit residing in me…that spirit that would rather spend hours at the feet of my Lord, than wash dishes, or laundry, or mindlessly sit in front of a computer screen.  Mary found abundant L-I-F-E at the feet of Jesus.  I’ve found that same heart-pounding joy at His feet as well.  But how often do the demands of my day continue their perpetual whine… "choose ME first – you’ll have time to be with Him later".  But later often never comes.  It is a sly deception that the enemy of our souls places before us on a silver platter each new morning.  It comes with the morning paper and a hot cup of coffee.  We are deceived into thinking we will be here forever, when are lives are "but a breath".

I still walk around this tree of failure…not placing Him first each new day.  But the time I spend going around is becoming shorter, and I am grateful.  I’m recognizing it sooner, and He is always faithful to show me I’m straying off the good path He’s provided for me.  His forgiveness is amazing, and His constant love is unfathomable.  He took me to Psalm 103 this morning, and I read each word and soaked it in…a love letter just for me from my Savior.  After spending an exhausting week in "Martha’s" shoes I feel like I can breathe again.

Have you noticed that when we have Mary’s heart, we have God’s strength to deal with our day instead of Martha’s?  Notice how fretful she is about her responsibilities in this story and Jesus’ response:

At the Home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Mary was doing the right thing!  She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking in His every word.  Martha was rebuked – not Mary.  Martha somehow forgot that the very One she was preparing to serve provided bread and fish for over 5000 men and women on a hillside with a small boy’s lunch!  She could have stopped at any time, plopped down at the feet of Jesus, and He would have made sure there was enough to eat for everyone present.  Mary had chosen the one thing "needed".  We should do no less.

Yes, Mary can survive in a Martha world.  It is uncomfortable though, as many "Martha’s" – our never-ending responsibilities – whine and complain we’re not doing "enough".  Sitting at His feet is the only thing we "need".  He will provide the rest.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33

Reprinted with Permission
If this encouraged you, please thank Lori!

Have you recently read a blog post that touched and encouraged you?  If so, please let me know so I may check it out, and feature it here on a Friday for my "Guest Article".

WHY? Virginia Tech

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have mentioned in the past how Vision Forum offers one of the best, wholesome catalogs that is  is not just another homeschool catalog overwhelming you with new ideas and curriculums but one that will inspire you with very godly books and items for children and adults alike.  The founder of Vision Forum, Doug Phillips, wrote a very thought provoking letter regarding the Virginia Tech killings.   Here’s a short excerpt:

Thus, the question is not, why did God allow the tragic death of these students, but why does He allow any of us to live? We deserve death. Every breath of life is a gift. It is only by His grace and mercy that we live and breathe and have our very being. He is our Creator and He is just to determine the beginning and the end of our existence. Beyond this, we must remember that even the tragedy of death is part of the eternal plan of God to bring glory to Himself.

Be sure to read the full blog post here.