ellow ClubMom blogger, Jen, has an interesting topic on her blog, Stay-at-Home Motherdom, regarding homeschooling and  the HPV vaccine – (Human Papillomavirus).   Her topic began because of visiting another homeschooling mom’s blog who stated that another plus for homeschooling is that she is not required to get her daughers the HPV vaccine.  Jen writes of her,

"She is confident that her homeschooling will keep her daughter pure and virtuous.  I have read her opinion and others like hers where the prevailing thought is this vaccine will actually encourage sexual activity.  While I respect the woman’s Christian perspective of showing her daughter how to live a virtuous life, I disagree with her argument."

I am going to come from a different viewpoint why we do not vaccinate, and why I too believe that  one of our perks with homeschooling is I do not have to fight with school officials why my religious convictions do not allow me to vaccinate.  I agree homeschooling will not keep our children pure and virtuous. As my regular readers know, we lost a son to him learning of the "choking game".  We thought he was somewhat sheltered, but satan is still at the doors of our homes, sneeking in whenever possible. It comes to a point when our children will have to make their own decisions.  It’s not just "our rules" and "our faith".  It has to become, first, their personal relationship with God, and then, their personal convictions.  We are learning to let go, especially with our oldest being almost 21.  He is having to make decsions with money, schooling, and friendships on his own – yes, with dad and mom still guiding him, but it’s ultimately his decision between him and God.  We are learning more what battles to pick with our children. MUSIC is a big one here! For the most part, my husband and I don’t like country music – though there are some good Christian country songs, it’s all the others that go with it.  But, he likes country music along with contempory Christian.  He is going to a country music concert soon.  We weren’t thrilled, but layed out our concerns and let him make the decision, and that this had to be something between him and God.  (I also pushed encouraged him to read the book I just reviewed here, Emotional Purity, before he goes, which he agreed to.)  He understands our concerns of what he puts into his mind and heart. 

As some of my readers picked up on my post regarding our family having whooping cough, we do not vaccinate.  Some of my older children have had their first vaccinations – and they still got the whooping cough.  But in doing a lot research, reading and praying, we have decided not to vaccinate for the health of our children, because of the vaccine’s ingredients and side affects.  Several vaccines (including the MMR, Chicken pox and Hepatis A vaccine)  contain "human diploid cells"  which originates from human aborted fetal tissue.  Since knowing this, and being pro-life, we cannot justify putting this into our children. 

What I have read about the HPV vaccination, I have concerns about.  One is that it may cause infertility.  So, if I have my daughters protected from HPV, but in 5-10 years they find out they cannot have children, then what?  This vaccine also contains a sodium borate which is a common roach killer and has the side affects of convulsions, collapsing, and seizures.  Yes, they could still get HPV.  They could go astray and contract it.  One could marry a man that does not have a good past and passes it on to her.  But the "what ifs" of their decisions cannot overrule what is best for their bodies and our convictions God gives us in caring for them.

We have kind of been thrown into this scene right now with information that has been in the news for the last 48 hours regarding a dermatologist doctor in our area that "reused sutures, syringes and needles on multiple patients". I was one of his 10,000 patients.  WIth having had several babies since this, I have had to be tested for HIV and hepatitis, so I am not too concerned about being a part of the 1% who may have gotten it.  Yes, I could have gotten it, but if it meant other risks with an immunization for either disease, that go against my convictions, would that be right before God?

I am thankful that with our homeschooling we do not have to worry about answering to school authorities why we choose not to immunize.  It is a perk, but this is NOT the reasons we are homeschooling either!  But that is a whole other story, and if you made it to the bottom of this post, THANK YOU! 

(BTW, Jen’s blog has been one of my favorite ClubMom blogs to read.  She has an amazing journey of recovery and faith and I have been blessed to see how she has grown so much just in the time I have known her.  Check out her blog, Stay-at-Home Motherdom.  You will be blessed).

ellow ClubMom blogger, Jen, has an interesting topic on her blog, Stay-at-Home Motherdom, regarding homeschooling and  the HPV vaccine – (Human Papillomavirus).   Her topic began because of visiting another homeschooling mom’s blog who stated that another plus for homeschooling is that she is not required to get her daughers the HPV vaccine.  Jen writes of her,

"She is confident that her homeschooling will keep her daughter pure and virtuous.  I have read her opinion and others like hers where the prevailing thought is this vaccine will actually encourage sexual activity.  While I respect the woman’s Christian perspective of showing her daughter how to live a virtuous life, I disagree with her argument."

I am going to come from a different viewpoint why we do not vaccinate, and why I too believe that  one of our perks with homeschooling is I do not have to fight with school officials why my religious convictions do not allow me to vaccinate.  I agree homeschooling will not keep our children pure and virtuous. As my regular readers know, we lost a son to him learning of the "choking game".  We thought he was somewhat sheltered, but satan is still at the doors of our homes, sneeking in whenever possible. It comes to a point when our children will have to make their own decisions.  It’s not just "our rules" and "our faith".  It has to become, first, their personal relationship with God, and then, their personal convictions.  We are learning to let go, especially with our oldest being almost 21.  He is having to make decsions with money, schooling, and friendships on his own – yes, with dad and mom still guiding him, but it’s ultimately his decision between him and God.  We are learning more what battles to pick with our children. MUSIC is a big one here! For the most part, my husband and I don’t like country music – though there are some good Christian country songs, it’s all the others that go with it.  But, he likes country music along with contempory Christian.  He is going to a country music concert soon.  We weren’t thrilled, but layed out our concerns and let him make the decision, and that this had to be something between him and God.  (I also pushed encouraged him to read the book I just reviewed here, Emotional Purity, before he goes, which he agreed to.)  He understands our concerns of what he puts into his mind and heart. 

As some of my readers picked up on my post regarding our family having whooping cough, we do not vaccinate.  Some of my older children have had their first vaccinations – and they still got the whooping cough.  But in doing a lot research, reading and praying, we have decided not to vaccinate for the health of our children, because of the vaccine’s ingredients and side affects.  Several vaccines (including the MMR, Chicken pox and Hepatis A vaccine)  contain "human diploid cells"  which originates from human aborted fetal tissue.  Since knowing this, and being pro-life, we cannot justify putting this into our children. 

What I have read about the HPV vaccination, I have concerns about.  One is that it may cause infertility.  So, if I have my daughters protected from HPV, but in 5-10 years they find out they cannot have children, then what?  This vaccine also contains a sodium borate which is a common roach killer and has the side affects of convulsions, collapsing, and seizures.  Yes, they could still get HPV.  They could go astray and contract it.  One could marry a man that does not have a good past and passes it on to her.  But the "what ifs" of their decisions cannot overrule what is best for their bodies and our convictions God gives us in caring for them.

We have kind of been thrown into this scene right now with information that has been in the news for the last 48 hours regarding a dermatologist doctor in our area that "reused sutures, syringes and needles on multiple patients". I was one of his 10,000 patients.  WIth having had several babies since this, I have had to be tested for HIV and hepatitis, so I am not too concerned about being a part of the 1% who may have gotten it.  Yes, I could have gotten it, but if it meant other risks with an immunization for either disease, that go against my convictions, would that be right before God?

I am thankful that with our homeschooling we do not have to worry about answering to school authorities why we choose not to immunize.  It is a perk, but this is NOT the reasons we are homeschooling either!  But that is a whole other story, and if you made it to the bottom of this post, THANK YOU! 

(BTW, Jen’s blog has been one of my favorite ClubMom blogs to read.  She has an amazing journey of recovery and faith and I have been blessed to see how she has grown so much just in the time I have known her.  Check out her blog, Stay-at-Home Motherdom.  You will be blessed).

D

o you go out the day after Thanksgiving for all the fantastic sales? I’ve actually only done it a few times with getting up early, going on only a few hours of sleep.  Seeing people fight over toys or the very long lines, just did not seem like the way I wanted to start celebrating Jesus’ birthday.  But, I do like good deals.  A friend sent this website for Black Friday.  Many local stores are listed with their sales, and there are a few I do want to get, especially for getting some pictures developed.  But I will not be up before the sun rises! 

"I love you higher than the highest swing ever swung.

I love you sweeter than the sweetest song ever sung.

I love you longer than the longest lollipop ever lasted.

I love you louder than the loudest rocket ship ever blasted."

excerpt from I Love You More by Laura Duksta

M

y little girls have been delighted with this book since it arrived a week ago.  It’s their new favorite.  For years we have played the game with each other, saying such things as "I love you more than kitties" or "I love you to heaven and back a million times".  The longer we go with it, the sillier it seems to get.  How fun to get this kind of book, with simple, realistic rhymes that has given us giggles and more snuggles together.

I Love You More is a flip story book (ends in the middle and starts from either side) that tells what love looks like from both a child’s and a parent’s perspective. The first side starts out with a little boy asking, "Mommy, just how much do you love me?" with mommy responding in her endless loving rhyme’s.  When you get to the middle, flip it over and start at that beginning with the mommy asking her son, "So, just how much do you love me?" with responses from her son.  This is a simple, touching story with vibrant child-like illustrations and will become a treasure for anyone who has ever said “I love you” and heard the best response in the world, “I love you more.”

The author, Laura Duksta, journey of complete hair loss since the age of 11 due to Alopecia Areata, resulted in writing this book because of learning to love herself and allowing others to love her, just the way she is.  You can read more about the author here.

And I am now delighted to give away one of these books to one of my readers.  This drawing will be just a little different.  Share a line or two on your blog or CafeMom Journal of what you would say to your child or someone special in your life (husband, mom, dad, grandparent, special friend, etc), similar to the quote above from the book.  Now, I am not going to be picky. It does not have to rhyme.  It does not have to be a certain length.  Just share a bit of your heart.  Then, after your line or two, if you would kindly put in a short blurb:

This is in participation with Finding JOY in the Morning’s book drawing for "I Love You More" which you can participate with here too!  Drawing entries due by Wednesday, November 28, 2007.  Come join!

Be sure to come back to my blog here and leave a comment below with a direct link to your post.  I am having this drawing go a little longer than usual because of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Anyone can enter, but if you do live outside the continental USA please be willing to pay for shipping.

"I love you higher than the highest swing ever swung.

I love you sweeter than the sweetest song ever sung.

I love you longer than the longest lollipop ever lasted.

I love you louder than the loudest rocket ship ever blasted."

excerpt from I Love You More by Laura Duksta

M

y little girls have been delighted with this book since it arrived a week ago.  It’s their new favorite.  For years we have played the game with each other, saying such things as "I love you more than kitties" or "I love you to heaven and back a million times".  The longer we go with it, the sillier it seems to get.  How fun to get this kind of book, with simple, realistic rhymes that has given us giggles and more snuggles together.

I Love You More is a flip story book (ends in the middle and starts from either side) that tells what love looks like from both a child’s and a parent’s perspective. The first side starts out with a little boy asking, "Mommy, just how much do you love me?" with mommy responding in her endless loving rhyme’s.  When you get to the middle, flip it over and start at that beginning with the mommy asking her son, "So, just how much do you love me?" with responses from her son.  This is a simple, touching story with vibrant child-like illustrations and will become a treasure for anyone who has ever said “I love you” and heard the best response in the world, “I love you more.”

The author, Laura Duksta, journey of complete hair loss since the age of 11 due to Alopecia Areata, resulted in writing this book because of learning to love herself and allowing others to love her, just the way she is.  You can read more about the author here.

And I am now delighted to give away one of these books to one of my readers.  This drawing will be just a little different.  Share a line or two on your blog or CafeMom Journal of what you would say to your child or someone special in your life (husband, mom, dad, grandparent, special friend, etc), similar to the quote above from the book.  Now, I am not going to be picky. It does not have to rhyme.  It does not have to be a certain length.  Just share a bit of your heart.  Then, after your line or two, if you would kindly put in a short blurb:

This is in participation with Finding JOY in the Morning’s book drawing for "I Love You More" which you can participate with here too!  Drawing entries due by Wednesday, November 28, 2007.  Come join!

Be sure to come back to my blog here and leave a comment below with a direct link to your post.  I am having this drawing go a little longer than usual because of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Anyone can enter, but if you do live outside the continental USA please be willing to pay for shipping.

~ Hannah Hurnard ~
author of
Hinds’ Feet on High Places

T

his week’s quote comes from a book I just read. The story is of a girl named "Much-Afraid" and her journey through life to reach High Places. She is from the Family of Fearings, brought up by her aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings and has cousins named Gloomy, Spiteful and Craven Fear.  Her Shepherd talks to her, and wants her to go to His High Places, but tells her she needs to changed completely and needs a new name, and plants a seed of True Love into her heart, but it needs to grow, and it is this growing journey you take reading through this book. During this journey she meets many along the way, especially, Suffering and Sorrow.  I think one of the parts I loved the most about this book is that when she does reach the High Places, and the Shepherd has her open a bag of stones she has collected along her journey.  Instead of the ugly stones of her journey, they are beautiful sparkling stones – saphires, emeralds, rubies and gold.  God took the times she thought were worthless and dark, times that she wanted to give up and go back to the valley and instead as she continued on, God turned them into beauty, glorifying Himself.

I mentioned this verse last week, yet this quote reminds me of it again.

"But He knows the way I take;  When He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold."  Job 23:10

The growing pains of life we go through, can be terrible, and the utmost painful.  As we follow Him, call out for Him, and even when we stumble and fall, allow Him to pick us up, and though it may seem that load of stones is heavier and heaveier upon us, someday we can see the beauty it will bring and along with the songwriter, Esther Kerr Rusthoi, we will be able to sing:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

If you have not read this book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, it’s definitely one you want to put on your "to read" list. 

This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Bonnie,  from her blog, Ink It Blog,  along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!~

~ Hannah Hurnard ~
author of
Hinds’ Feet on High Places

T

his week’s quote comes from a book I just read. The story is of a girl named "Much-Afraid" and her journey through life to reach High Places. She is from the Family of Fearings, brought up by her aunt, Mrs. Dismal Forebodings and has cousins named Gloomy, Spiteful and Craven Fear.  Her Shepherd talks to her, and wants her to go to His High Places, but tells her she needs to changed completely and needs a new name, and plants a seed of True Love into her heart, but it needs to grow, and it is this growing journey you take reading through this book. During this journey she meets many along the way, especially, Suffering and Sorrow.  I think one of the parts I loved the most about this book is that when she does reach the High Places, and the Shepherd has her open a bag of stones she has collected along her journey.  Instead of the ugly stones of her journey, they are beautiful sparkling stones – saphires, emeralds, rubies and gold.  God took the times she thought were worthless and dark, times that she wanted to give up and go back to the valley and instead as she continued on, God turned them into beauty, glorifying Himself.

I mentioned this verse last week, yet this quote reminds me of it again.

"But He knows the way I take;  When He has tried me,
I shall come forth as gold."  Job 23:10

The growing pains of life we go through, can be terrible, and the utmost painful.  As we follow Him, call out for Him, and even when we stumble and fall, allow Him to pick us up, and though it may seem that load of stones is heavier and heaveier upon us, someday we can see the beauty it will bring and along with the songwriter, Esther Kerr Rusthoi, we will be able to sing:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

If you have not read this book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, it’s definitely one you want to put on your "to read" list. 

This week’s, "In ‘Other’ Words" host, is Bonnie,  from her blog, Ink It Blog,  along with contributions from the other gals who are participating. Be sure to visit. You will be blessed!~

T

hank you to those who participated in the pacifier drawing from "My Precious Kid" and the winners are:

Laura from Laura Williams’ Musings & Andrea from The Laughs Will Go On.  Thanks to all the moms for participating.

On Wednesday or Thursday, depending when I can get to writing,  I will have a new book review on I Love You More, by author, Laura Duksta.  It’s a delightful book.  My little girls LOVE it!  And, I have one to give away, so come back! 

aithfulness.  It’s not a word we hear of often, at least not in a positive way. Magazines, newspapers and the daily newscasts are full of unfaithfulness, from who cheated on who to the list of divorces in the back of our local paper.  When I was growing up it seemed to take your breath away when you’d hear of a divorce.  It was something whispered about.  Today it’s common from our neighborhoods to our churches. 

But today’s post is to be on The BEAUTY of Faithfulness.  I am thankful for the heritage both my husband and I have.  My husband’s parents just celebrated fifty years of marriage.  They have shown the beauty of faithfulness, and it has resulted in their five children all remaining in one marriage – married from 25 years to the youngest being married eleven years.  My mom died in the spring of 2004.  My parents had been married fifty-five years when my mom died.  My husband and I have been married 23 years.  Though we have had rough times in our marriage, we have been faithful, and are commited.  I am thankful for the beauty of faithfulness in our marriage.

Though I am blessed with this heritage and marriage, I have seen friends around me and there are no guarantees.  I pray now for my children’s future spouses, and know we live in a fallen world.  Though we may go through rejections and as I have seen friends go through divorces, there is One whose faithfulness will not fail.  He has given us the promise of of His never ending, beauty of faithfulness.

No matter what you have gone through in life, rejections, failed marriages, failed friendships, wayward children, or any of life’s failures and struggles . . . remember . . .