reporting (:: Edited)

A couple days ago I did a few searches on google in the hope of seeing news pictures/reports from the annual Right to Life march on January 22nd. I found one article.

One.

Talk about an under-reported event. 300,000+ people show up in Washington in protest of abortion, a mere two days after a pro-choice president is inaugurated, and there isn't any news coverage? I mean, I realize I'm a clueless stay-at-home-mom, but I couldn't help thinking that ought be considered pretty good journalism material.

At any rate, I was glad when a friend shared this link to some photos from the event, and I thought you might like to see them, too.


:: Edited to add a link to this article a friend sent me, should you want to read more about the protest.

Ready for mud and rain!

In my recent quest for rain boots for the kids, I found myself profoundly frustrated (for the hundredth time this winter) by the lack of shoes in small toddler sizes. It is so hard to buy shoes for my petite little Aubrey. Almost every time I'm in a store I find myself stamping my foot like a spoiled little toddler as I stand in front of the shoe racks: I don't want soft-soled crib shoes, I want real shoes! (And if they could not have Dora the Explorer on them-- or a whole fleet of pink felt flowers-- that would be great, too.)

Last Thanksgiving when we were in Pittsburgh I happened to find a pair of corduroy, rubber-soled sneakers in a toddler size 3 at a consignment shop. It was a genuine miracle and she has since worn those things to death. I seriously think they may have to be thrown away once she's through with them.

All that to say, while I found very reasonably priced ($10.50-$13.50 range) and rather cute boots for Gabriel, Bronwyn, and Jackson pretty easily (think green & blue polka dots, cherries, and anchors: cute, yes?), it was a totally different scenario for Aubrey. I looked at every single store (online and locally) I could think of. I was feeling desperate enough to purchase more utilitarian/less cute boots like these if they would just sell them in her size.

Sadly, I resigned myself to the fact that Aubrey wouldn't have boots this year. For a fleeting moment I thought, "It's okay: I'll just put her on my back in the Moby when we're outside on mucky days," but that lasted about 3 seconds before the mental image of her arching her back and screaming protests at the idea of not being allowed to run free with the other children took over. Did I really want to have to make staying attached to me while she watches her siblings play in the yard an issue ? (Uh, the answer is no.)

Happily, this story isn't over yet. (Bear with me; I never said I was good story teller!)

My friend knew about my quest (she, Queen of Shopping, was helping me) and in looking through her hand-me-down girls items found a pair of boots her daughter had worn a couple years ago. They were a size 3 and would be too small for Aubrey, but she looked the style up on ebay and, yes, there was another pair just like them: adorable, springy, and in a size 4! And, best of all, the auction was almost over and they were cheap.

Now, they're mine. I won the bid yesterday for $6.96.

Do you see these things? How cute are they???



And um, yeah, these are Gymboree boots, with the tags still on. I got them for a measly six dollars and ninety-six cents. If only the seller knew I would have paid more than twice that to get such adorable little boots (or any little boots, for cryin' out loud) for my peanut girl...

The minute I knew I'd won, I was immediately reminded of the last time I really, really wanted a little something for one of my kids to wear and how God provided, even though it was a far cry from a necessity. (Come to think of it, Stacie's been a common denominator, too!) It's little things like this that show me just how incredibly generous He is.

And now we're all ready for many fun mornings and afternoons of rain and puddles and moist garden earth. Yay!

Looking ahead

I'm getting the itch for spring.

I've never really had what I would consider a real, live, big-time itch for spring before now.

I can't wait to start my vegetable garden, especially this year since I'm refraining this winter from buying shipped-thousands-of-miles produce and instead have been skipping right to the frozen fruit and veggies aisle. I know in my head that it's the smarter and, honestly, tastier choice, but-- oh my!-- do I want to bite into something fresh! Strawberry smoothies are no longer cutting it. And I would give my left arm for a fresh bowl of greens with oil and vinegar.

This year, I'm splurging on rain boots for everyone. (Well, everyone except Daniel. I have a laid-back husband who generally humors me, but he draws the line at things like wearing brightly-colored rubber boots.) I can't wait to get outdoors with the kids and soak up some spring sunshine. This year my entire brood is in the walking/running stage and they'll all be able to play independently. I've learned that I can't count on this sort of gardening freedom every year (um, last year comes to mind), and I have every intention of soaking it up.

In the meantime, I'm trying to simply be grateful that at least it's warm enough today to send the kids out in the snow to play.

Creating

I don't know how many of you are subscribed to or stop by Mom And Us. If you are/do, you may have read my book review on The Hidden Art of Homemaking and already know that I was very challenged by my re-read of that book. As a result, I have been purposing this week to incorporate more creativity into our days here at home.

It doesn't come naturally to me. I am, after all, the sort who doesn't sew, doesn't paint, doesn't craft, doesn't draw, etc. But there are ways to be creative that go far beyond what I "classify" as such. For example, how do I set the table, arrange the cleaning products, store the children's art supplies, put the baby dolls away, orchestrate family time, spend an evening? These are all opportunities to express creativity right where I am. And, sure, even though I've given attention to these sorts of things, I haven't been good at making a concerted effort to do something (even if it's small) creative in every moment that lies before me.

My week is concluding, and it has been great. This whole Creative Outlook thing is sort of addicting! I find myself, as I scour the sink, wondering what I can do to leave it looking more cared for (not just cleaner) than I found it. And when it's time to put the kids to bed, I think to myself, "How can I make bedtime more special than usual?"

I have had some wonderful moments in the past several days: the kind I think I may never forget. And even though our floors may be a little stickier and the tables a little more dusty, there are more touches of love and family and thoughtfulness in our home and hearts than there were before, and that's what I think really counts.

Here are some glimpses of our week:

One of the kids' "Love" books: illustrations of some of the people they love and are thankful for.



Before Bed Train Time, orchestrated by this tired mama who was sorely tempted to just plop them in front of a Little Bear dvd. Instead, I helped them build this track and then lounged on the floor with them while they played their hearts out.



An awkward snapshot attempting to capture our-- complete with soft gingerbread cookies (Raleigh Tavern Bakery style) and milk in Bronwyn's tea set-- Tea Party.



Costumed by yours truly and then loaded up with a blanket, small pack of food, and water for a game of Make Believe.

Tagged

So I was tagged a bit ago and completely missed that fact until today.

Instructions: Post the fourth picture on the fourth folder of your pictures and explain! oh yeah, and tag 4 more people.

My fourth folder was Pictures from Dad. I have a nice dad who regularly shares photos with me. This is really great for several reasons:

1. Dad has a much nicer camera than mine.
2. Dad is a better photographer than I am.
3. Dad never forgets his camera and I do all the time.
4. Dad takes lots of pictures.

Anyway, here's the fourth picture from that folder:



This photo is from when Aubrey was 2-almost-3 weeks old. One afternoon when Dad was visiting us in Syracuse, he and Daniel were "holding down the fort" in NICU-land while I napped elsewhere. He got some cute pictures that day. Don't you love the way Aubrey was rolling her eyes to see what Papa was up to in this one?

roe v. wade

Proverbs 24:11
Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know--
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.



Sometimes we don't know what to do, where to begin. It's hard to wrap your mind around 50,000,000 babies being killed.

Today, let's pray. It's the greatest work we can do.

Misc.

Here are some snapshots of life around here lately:

Don't you get a kick out of his tongue?


This was before she started eating gigantic chunks of the purple crayon.


I just have one question: when did she get so grown up???



Aubrey is constantly sitting on the bottom step of the stairs.


Then she stands up and babbles/sings. I swear she's playing "church" even though she doesn't talk yet!


Then she realizes Mom is taking pictures of her, and she smiles.



Check out the Terrible Towels over the shoulders.


Josh is a Clarkson student from PA. He's a Steelers fan, but we like him for a lot more than just that.


Daddy and Jackson getting their game faces on.



And this is Laura. Do you know Laura?
She lives with us, so now our guest room isn't so lonely.
We like her.

One week ago

We celebrated Jackson's third birthday last week. Here are a few photos from our evening:

We have a tradition of looking at photos from when the birthday boy/girl was a baby on their birthday. There are so many things I could say about this photo... but I won't.



Jackson, without prompting from Daniel or I, asked to read the tags/cards prior to opening each gift. I was very pleasantly surprised!



A new DVD from Nana and Papa. We have already watched it about a thousand times, I think.



Jackson has a bicycle of his own now! He's so cute on it.



It was only seconds before all the kids discovered how easy (and fun!) it is to push someone on a tricycle!



I love how Jackson is so focused on the candles in this picture. Way too cute!



My kids all think you don't actually change ages until the minute you blow out the candles. This picture proves it: Jackson is officially 3!

Blessed is:

Getting out of the shower and overhearing your oldest cheering the others on:

"Keep picking up, guys! Mom will be really, really happy when she sees how tidy we're making the house!"

And then seeing that your kiddos, of their own accord, took it upon themselves to pick up every single toy throughout the house.

Wow.

I'm so blessed!

Jackson is 3!

Today marks 3 years since Jackson Edward joined our family, a wrinkly-skinned, fair-headed, 8lb4oz, healthy baby boy. I know I'm the trillionth person to say it, but I'll say it anyway: the days really do fly by. Right before my eyes, Jackson is transforming. I love who he was and I adore who he is.

:: The latest news in Jackson's life is his mastery of the toilet. A little over a week ago I decided to try potty training the poor neglected boy, and he took to it like a champ. If this doesn't convince me that waiting until all the signs of readiness are in place is better than struggling with a child who isn't comprehending what we're striving for (especially when doing so doesn't mean spending any more $$ on diapers since you use cloth anyway), nothing will. Jack was ready. It was as simple and easy as that.

:: Jack loves imitating, playing with, and following Gabriel. Actually, Jack just loves his siblings. They are his favorite people to be with, hands down. I love this about him.

:: His favorite toys are Star Wars action figures and trains. And as much as he loves playing with Gabriel, he plays really well alone, too. It isn't uncommon for Gabriel and Bronwyn to be flitting about the house, getting into mischief and generally staying underfoot, while Jackson plays for extended lengths of time on his own, lost in his own little world of make-believe.

:: We celebrated Jackson's birthday Tuesday night with a small family gathering. He is such a sweet guy and so easy to celebrate. His simple assortment of gifts (including a tricycle, so he can "ride bikes" with his older siblings) delighted his little heart and he has been enjoying them thoroughly every wakeful minute since!

:: Jackson is such a special part of our family. He is the child I worried about being ready for-- before he came the idea of having 3 children under 3 years of age seemed like absolute insanity, finances didn't appear to allow another child, and our lives seemed to be transitioning way too much to add a baby to the mix-- but oh! how much we would be missing if my worries had prevailed! Jackson adds such beauty and tenderness and meaning to our lives. I'm so thankful God gave him to us.

Happy Birthday, Wonderful Boy!

Still more food for thought

This excerpt is somewhat along the lines of the one I shared yesterday, but is actually taken from the other book I'm currently working through. Good stuff that I am really being freshly challenged and inspired by-- and I hope it blesses you, too!

This is the day of the 'TV frozen dinner,' stuck in an oven, served on a tray in front of the TV set, no conversation, no blessing being said, no Person being thanked, because there is no-one in the universe to thank. It is the day of 'grabbing a bite' and going on to the next engagement. The art of living together, of being a family, is being lost... And in this need to get back to 'gracious living,' to real communication among people living together, it seems to me one place to start could be the meal-time moments, and the careful prepartion of the background for conversations at that time.

...There is a 'togetherness' in sharing a prepared table that even very small children feel, although they cannot express it verbally. Instead of saying, "Oh it doesn't matter; it's only the children," when you are alone with children for a meal, it is important to say the opposite to yourself... It can be something that takes very little time indeed, but when the children are alone, do not let that be the moment to sit down at a bare table, or not to bother sitting down at all. Even the little one in the high chair will like to smell a single rose and look at it for a few minutes. Imagination not only provides the background of beauty to daily life, but also a realization that love, thought and preparation has been given to that 'together' time of eating.

I will

I will bake bread.

I will read aloud to my children and snuggle them close.

I will make beds and vacuum floors.

I will work on our little science project for the upcoming CFA science fair.

I will praise my children when they obey cheerfully, speak kindly, and do their best to help.

I will cherish my breastfed baby-girl's need to be close to me.

I will be thankful that I don't have to go out on this cold -* day.

I will serve meals and clean up from them.

I will do my best to remember that this is all for Him, and then I will do it with joy and gladness.

food for thought

So the other book I'm reading right now is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I'm on chapter 9, which puts me a little less than halfway through it. Here are some brief and random thoughts on the book so far:

1. It's long (352 pages long, to be exact). If you like memoirs, you'll love this book. If you're like me and want to get the point a little faster, it gets tedious at times. That said, the writing style does allow for getting to know the author and her family pretty well, which is fun. They seem like pretty terrific people. I like that they enjoy being and working with one another. I appreciate their realization that something is missing from the average family, although I do wish they knew that something is actually someOne.

2. Kingsolver and her family pour their heart and soul into food: growing, preparing, and eating it. In many ways, mealtime and all it consists of is what they worship. They have found great good in eating locally and healthy and together, which I think is awesome and worth gleaning from. That said, I'm afraid my worship belong exclusively to One, and to be perfectly frank, I could never justify spending as much time as Kingsolver does gardening, growing, and cultivating.

3. Contrary to the author's insinuation at times, I don't think the government should be held responsible for Americans' terrible eating habits or the food industry's deceptive marketing. (I do think the government needs to be challenged on the enormous amount of funding that goes straight into the food industry, but I don't think those funds need to be re-distributed as much as I think they need to go right back into working people's wallets.) People-- men and women-- are intelligent beings and we can bear the blame for our ignorance and lack of self-control.

4. Overall, I really like this book and I'm glad I'm reading it. Kingsolver is candid and at times brutal in her assessment of the average American's relationship to food, but I think she's also right for the most part. There are some excerpts that I want to print out and post in my kitchen, just to keep me on track in my quest to make sure the food I serve my family is true to my desire to give them love and health.

Here is one bit I read today that I liked:

When my generation of women walked away from the kitchen we were escorted down that path by a profiteering industry that knew a tired, vulnerable marketing target when they saw it. "Hey, ladies," it said to us, "go ahead, get liberated. We'll take care of dinner." They threw open the door and we walked into a nutritional crisis and genuinely toxic food supply. If you think toxic is an exaggeration, read the package directions for handling raw chicken from a CAFO. We came a long way, baby, into bad eating habits and collaterally impaired family dynamics.

...When we traded homemaking for careers, we were implicitly promised economic independence and worldly influence. But a devil of a bargain it has turned out to be... We gave up the aroma of warm bread rising, the measured pace of nurturing routines, the creative task of molding our families' tastes and zest for life; we received in exchange the minivan and the Lunchable. (Or worse, convenience-mart hot dogs and latchkey kids.)

It was good

Earlier this week, when I considered where to tackle my 2009 reading list, I felt like I ought to begin by re-reading The Hidden Art of Homemaking. This is a wonderful book that every homemaker ought to have on her shelf (in my opinion... but you don't have to take my word for it!), and as I've been feeling rather, um, unmotivated as a homemaker, I thought it would be a good place to start.

Already, I've had to take long, hard looks at myself.

I love how the author, Edith Schaeffer, begins by laying the foundational understanding that we have been created by a Creator, in the image of Himself, which means that we, too, have creative abilities and desires within us. I must confess, though, that as I read about the individual who daydreams of expressing herself in certain arenas but fails to share her creative talents where she is planted, I wondered if there was any hope for me. I mean, I've gotta be honest here: I don't daydream about creating or expressing anything; I dream about sleep, and I dream about not doing a single thing for a whole uninterrupted two hours.

But it's good to be challenged, to confess, to be re-inspired.

I need the reminder that He made me in His image, and He is a Creator. How that creative ability comes forth varies from person to person and from season to season in our lives, but I need to remember that I am not just making a table look nicer, I am walking in His design and I will find fulfillment in that. Putting forth the effort and the discipline to create isn't just something I do to serve my family or others around me, it is good for my soul. After all, isn't that what He said after He had created?

"And it was good."

Reading goals

I've never made a book list for the year before, but as I looked back over 2008, I realized how much I neglected reading (to be perfectly frank, I barely cracked any covers beyond the books I read with the kids). Not only did I attempt far fewer books than in the past, I don't think I finished a single one. Pretty sad.

So this year I've made myself a book list. At 25 titles, it isn't long; after all, I do want a realistic goal (and one must leave plenty of room for "bonus books"!). I tried to pick a variety, including one or two off of the New York Times Bestsellers List, in an effort to keep things moving along. There are also a few books on my list that I've read before, but feel compelled/inspired to read again.

These are the two I've started the year with:

1. The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

These are the rest:

1. The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections by Amanda Blake Soule
2. The Shack by William Young
3. The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
4. Gianna by Jessica Shaver
5. Honey For A Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
6. Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
7. The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller
8. Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Defense Against Abortion Choice by Francis Beckwith
9. Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Ennis, Tatlock & Patterson
10. A Biblical Home Education: Building Your Homeschool on the Foundation of God's Word by Ruth Beechick
11. The Power of Words by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
12. Heaven by Randy Alcorn
13. Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan
14. Creating An Intimate Marriage: Rekindle Romance Through Affection, Warmth, and Encouragement by Jim Burns
15. Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
16. The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
17. Marriage to a Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards by Elisabeth Dodds
18. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
19. For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life by Susan Schaeffer Macauley
20. Raising Kids Who Hunger for God by Benny and Sheree Phillips
21. Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
22. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
23. Home-Making by J. R. Miller

Do any of you have reading goals for the year? If so, what are they?

Also, if you've got any recommendations for Must-Reads, please do share! I am certainly not opposed to swapping a title or two out (or trying to add a couple more).

how much?

I recently stumbled upon this calculator to determine how much your babysitter should be paid based on a number of factors (location, number of children, babysitter's age & experience, etc.). I'm not entirely sure how correct it is, but I'm guessing it might at least give some ballpark figures, so I'm passing it along.

Yesterday's Discoveries

1. I have a small cavity. It isn't anything that warrants a filling-- I was simply given instructions to brush it very well with flouride toothpaste and then told that we'll check up on it at my next routine appointment-- but, still, there it is. My very first.

Daniel and I have had a sort of competition to see who can go the longest without a cavity. He wins, hands down. I mean, not only does he not presently have a cavity, but he's also 2+ years older than me. I guess I can try to go for going the longest without a filling now, but that may mean having to hope that Daniel gets a really bad cavity soon and I just don't know that I can wish that on him.

2. Having an iTouch makes potty training a bit more enjoyable. Jack can play games while sitting on his little commode. Gabriel and Bronwyn were stuck with looking at books. How 1990s.

3. The world doesn't fall apart if you still have your Christmas decorations up on January 5th (and counting).

Last night, after getting home from a dental appointment and errands, while holding a feverish baby and shuffling oodles of laundry through the washer and dryer, I looked at Daniel and said, "What's another day? I'm just going to leave them up. I mean, I've got a house to clean, a school routine that needs to be returned to, toys to reorganize, trim that needs to be painted, prayer meetings to go to, and an Inbox overflowing with messages that need my response. But I think I'll potty train Jack instead of taking care of any of those things." (The poor kid hasn't even gotten a chance to try potty training before now because I've been too busy.)

And so the decorations remain. They're a bit disheveled looking and the tree is starting to get dry (it's a good thing we got it a lot later this year than usual!). But I really don't mind. Sometimes there just isn't time to do everything. And I'm okay with that.

4. I can go 15+ months without sleeping through the night. It isn't fun and sometimes I actually get really upset when I think about it, but all in all, I've realized there are far worse things to deal with.

5. There is nothing to watch on TV on Monday nights now that Monday Night Football is on ESPN.

No really, there's nothing.

Go JMB!

Don't forget to vote every day for the Julia Marie Band in the Play Mayercraft competition. The deadline for voting is the end of this month-- the top 200 bands will then continue to the next round. Let's get them there!

Visit them "backstage" and keep those votes coming!

until next year

The holidays are now officially over. If I'm on top of things, I will have our Christmas decorations put away by Monday and we will be getting back to our normal school year routine.

I do like to leave the decor up until after January 1st. One reason is that I find the new year celebration otherwise very anticlimactic, but it's mostly just because I love them.

Love. them.

I am posting a few pictures of pretty holiday decorations from around my house that my dad took last night. This way I can come back here and look at pictures next week when my tabletops and shelves are looking bare sparse in comparison.