Baby-wearing!

I love my babies so much and just can't stand to hear them cry, I just don't believe that babies are supposed to be put down and "learn" how to entertain themselves through endless tears and screams in their first year of life. I'm not talking about the occasional cry for 5-10 min while mama takes a shower, spanks a sibling, etc. and once they are 5-6 months old they should be having some floor time or how will they learn to sit and crawl and such. So, this philosophy has made it hard to get things done around the house and it is hard when the baby is screaming bc you have to fix the others lunch or something that really is a two handed job and some things that can be done onehanded still aren't done very efficiantly with just one. So, I was introduced to a sling and had one with baby #4 but he wasn't real fond of it. Then baby #5 was on his way and I was wondering what to do and saw someone with a carrier that looked like 2 large cloth rubberbands where the baby could be outward facing and I loved it but it was $70 and had to be ordered offline. :( one day shortly after Kayson was born I am walking through Target and I see a Moby, looks like the same as the other one on the package only it is $40! :) so we buy one. get it home and it is just one LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG piece of fabric that has to be tied on! I am thinking oh no I may never use this it looks way to complicated but one day my bff comes over and helps me figure it out and guess what? It really is easy! and he loves it and we love it and we use it all the time! and the more expensive one had sizes and we coiuldn't afford 2 (one for Glenn, one for me and we both couldn't fit in the same size) so I would have been the only one able to use it! With the Moby, since it ties on it is one size fits all, even Kirsten can wear Kayson. I love wearing my baby, I can cook, do dishes, wear him through a store pushing a buggy, plant the garden, let him nap at the zoo and he doesn't have to be in a plastic babysitter screaming! I love it! :) I think everyone should practice baby-wearing! :)

Journal entry from 5-23-05

Wow this was 6 yrs ago! Parenthesis are what I have just added, enjoy! :) this was also a Monday, written at 8:55 pm, was 81 outside.
Honey is working late tonight. (you would think I would be used to theses nights by now but I still HATE them!) I was laying here thinking - do we really know each other? He doesn't know who I am during the day or what I do most of the time. (some things never change). I need another baby so that I have someone to spend all day with once Chris is in school. (3 babies and the decision to homeschool later and I am definitely not lacking for people to spend the day with! lol) I don't think I write enough, I don't put enough memories down on paper. Chris likes to "fly" off of things onto something soft like his bean bag. Kirsten napped on her top bunk for the first time today. I am working on potty-training Chris. He had his bday party sat. Dustin gave him a big tonka dump truck. (we still have this! The boys LOVE it!) we are blessed. I love you Lord Jesus, you are so amazing I am so thankful for my babies and their daddy. Bridgit and MJ are moving into the empty 3 bedroom trailer next to us. (this was when we were renting a TINY 2 bedroom on a trailer lot just outside of Marshall). This should be interesting. We are going to start story time @ Longview again tomorrow. (used to only do Longview in the summer, now we just don't have time for Longview or Marshall, sometimes I feel so guilty bc I think maybe I did more when I just had the 2 and now my little ones are missing out on on vital parts of life). Kirsten is old enough for a library card this yr. That will be neat. Did I mention I am almost done with the laundry? (that seems impossible these days!) that is an awesome feeling. The babies are watching tv now. (this was back when every day started with music on and tv almost never got turned on till after naps, which everyone took! My how life has changed!) they took late naps - they probably won't be ready for bed till close to 11 pm. O-well at least they should be able to see their daddy for at least a few min. Lord help us. Honey left my keys at his mom's house. I have not been anywhere today. (I can imagine I was pretty upset about this! I hate feeling stranded, especially with little ones!) I want to sleep right now. Well I better go now you (Honey) just called and am coming home and the laundry buzzed. Tata for now. :-) (wow we were so young, it is fun to go back and see what we thought and felt and relive the memories, isn't it? Have a great Monday!

Rio: my movie review

So tonight we decided since Glenn's semester is over a celebration was in order! We wanted to take the babies bowling but kidsbowlfree was over at 6 today. So instead we thought dollar theater 50 cent night but nothing worth seeing (with babies) was playing. Well we ended up $50 later at the 3D movie Rio. I was floored that it cost $3.50 on top of movie tickets to see a 3D movie! They ask that you donate your 3D glasses after the movie, for $3.50 we brought ours home! So many previews and my babies want to see them all! However I do NOT think we will be seeing Cars 2 in 3D! I am not spending that kinda $ on that movie! However there is one that I have every intention of saving curriculum $ for as a field trip. DolphinTale looked very inspiring! The babies want to see kungfu panda 2 in 3 D so we told them they would have to save their $ to pay for their tickets and enough to split a parent ticket or two. So I would like to share a few thoughts on the movie we saw tonight: Rio. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was hilarious and I think George Lopez is so funny, not always clean in his show but funny. He is clean in this movie though (hello, it's a kid's movie!). We had the theater to ourselves which was neat as two of my boys wanted to be birds through half of it, complete with arms out and flying noises! lol. It was also a good thing as there was more than one spot that "close your eyes" was necessary! I said I enjoyed the movie and we all had a great time (thhe babies deserved it, they worked so hard today in the house!) but there was more than one seen where the ladies were very scantily dressed. Now I understand that these are cartoon characters but I do NOT want my babies, boys or girls, to think that nakedness is ever ok, alright or in any form acceptable! Also at one point in the movie the barely clad girl is told to shake her tail feathers (this was NOT said to a bird but to a human!). HELLO, KID'S MOVIE!!!!!! Highly inappropriate if you ask me! This would be one of the parts where "CLOSE YOUR EYES" was very firmly enforced! There was another scene that really bothered me as far as this being marketed to children, the man and lady are dressing like blue macaws (except they could have used a few more feathers!) and she walks out (in the equivalent of a very skimpy bikini, complete with a belly button showing and she looks like she hasn't eaten in weeks) and his eyes fill with, well shall we just call it what it is, lust! Fireworks going off behind him, glassy eyes and as an adult you now he only thinking about one thing! Yes, this is all in a CARTOON! A cartoon we are supposed to accept as appropriate family entertainment! I DON'T THINK SO! Rest assured that movie will NOT be owned in this house! I even told Glenn to close his eyes in a few scenes. It just really grieves me that nakedness has become such a way of life. So, if you want a good laugh or two, you will get one but at what cost? And I don't mean $. I would probably watch it again in the presence of all adults but NOT with my babies!

the terrible, horrible, very bad wal-mart trip!

I wanted to share about my nightmare trip to wal-mart a few months ago. I still can't believe the nerve of some people, they say whatever pops into their not-so-pretty little heads and don't care how it affects others. and really, you want to give a mama of 5 one more thing to worry about, really?? I thought about titling this the wal-mart trip from _ _ _ _! but wasn't sure that would sound very "Christian-like"! :) After talking with this woman I posted the desperate cry for prayer on facebook: "Please say a prayer for me! Panic attacks at WalMart are NOT fun! :(" I explained a little later after assurances of prayer were sent my way: "thank y'all so much! sometimes I wish people would just keep their diagnoses to themselves, you have never seen my child, why do you think you can tell if he is losing hair or not, seriously, my 2 yr old needs genentic testing?!?" I was absolutely floored at the audacity this lady had! I was almost in tears right there in wal-mart! We did manage to get done what we went to wal-mart for, letting Kirsten buy a vibrating toothbrush with $ she had earned and letting all the babies spend their earned $. They enjoyed that! Cayden was using a $1 ball as a seat in the buggy and Keegan was playing with dinosaurs he picked out and Kayson was sleeping away in the Moby and Glenn met us there after work. We had already been to park day and I was feeling pretty good till that happened. Here's what I posted after I got home: "Good day but after park day, a trip to WalMart with all 5 (wearing one and now hurting where my incision is) and a lady's comments that started panic attacks, I am EXHAUSTED and want to cry!" when someone asked what she said, I answered: "she was asking about kids toothpaste and then asked Kirsten's age and told her she was small, which prompted a discussion about my small boys and the endocrinologist and growth hormones to which she then told me that Keegan's hair is receding and I need to have him checked for genetic diseases!! I think Kirsten almost started crying bc she thought the lady meant cancer!! I was so tired that I started feeling panicky after that!" She really scared my baby girl and for that I just wanted to punch her! She actually reached out to show me Keegan's hair, I looked at tall the boys and Glenn after we got home and their hair ALL grows the same way and is a little thinner on the sides towards the front! I cringed when she touched him (yes, he has since been annointed and prayed over!) and I don't usually mind others talking to my babies or patting their heads or touching their hands but she really made me nervous! I am so grateful for my fb friends that have encouraged me, so I leave you with a few of their comments: "Hello-moron!!! Most 2 yr olds haven't gotten all their hair in yet. Receding hairline, WHATEVER!!!! Sorry Lord, just needed to vent a little." and then she says,"Hollie I'm so sorry. It's a shame when people think they are so wise and feel compelled to share that with others. What an awful thing to say in front of your kids. We'll just have to pray that the Lord will control her tongue and noone else will have to endure this type of attitude. But I always try to remember, there but for the grace of God could be I." - Sally Stoops Dixon and another family member says, "Take a deep breath and enjoy your lovely children. People can be so insensitive, heartless, judgmental...don't let them rob you of your love and joy in your beautiful family....pray for these persons who can be so quick to speak that their ...heart be filled with kindness, compassion and a helping hand instead. Love and prayers to you and yours. What a lovely day it was today, too! I'm glad got to have a park day. ♥xo♥xo" - Virg Crawford and my best friend says, "Crazzzy!!! Kirsten is normal from what I've seen!!! She is exactly where she should be!! And don't worry about the boyz. They and energetic and amazing! Probably a good thing that I wasn't there....lol.....Seriously remember God forme...d them in your womb...He created their DNA and he doesn't make mistakes. They are exactly the size, energy leve, hair color, and eye color God intended them to be.... He is failthfull and with you through thick and thin....And I am so glad He has blessed you with each of them... Hollar if you need." HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! :)

The love of Jesus

Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his 11-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said "Okay Dad, I'm ready."

His Pastor Dad asked, "Ready for what?

"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out."

Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain."

The boy gives his Dad a surprised look, asking, "But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?"

Dad answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."

Despondently the boy asks, "Dad, can I go -- Please?"

His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here's the tracts; be careful son."

"Thanks, Dad!" And with that he was off and out into the rain. This 11-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door-to-door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel tract. After 2-hours of walking in the rain he was soaking bone-chilled wet and down to his very last tract. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to but the streets were totally deserted.

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell -- but nobody answered. He rang it again and again bit still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally this 11-year-old trooper turned to leave but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady.

She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?"

With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU! I came to give you my very last Gospel tract which will tell you all about Jesus and His great love." With that he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave.

She called to him as he departed, "Thank you, son! And God bless you!"

Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit and as the service began he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?"

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face. "None of you in this church know me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband has passed on, some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live.

"So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. "Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.' "I waited and waited -- but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be?! Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me!' "I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes! "There on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life! His smile! Oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed with cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.' "Then he gave me this Gospel tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.

"You see, I am now a happy child of the KING, and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel tract I have come here to personally say, 'Thank you to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time, and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in Hell.'"

There were now no dry eyes in the church. As shouts of praise and honor to the KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Probably no church has had a more glorious moment and probably this Universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son, except for one: This Father, God, also allowed His Son, Jesus, to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of Heaven shouted praises and honor to the King, the Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named. There may be someone, reading this, who is also going through a dark, cold and lonely time in your soul. You may be a Christian, for we are not without problems, or you may not yet know the King. Whatever the case, and whatever the problem or situation you find yourself in, and no matter how dark it may seem, I want you to know that I just came to tell you, "JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU!"

From my Godvine email!

New Children's Church Classes

I am so excited about our new children's classes at our church (Marshall COGOP). I really enjoy working with the kiddos and we are growing! We now have two Sunday School classes, one for 3-9 year olds (2s can come if they bring a parent!) which I teach and one for our tweens (10-13 year olds) that my sis teaches. We are starting a VeggieTales unit on the Pirates that don't do Anything movie in my class. Then we go out and join the adults for P&W and right before preaching they are dismissed to nursery and children's church. Nursery is for 8 months - 3 years old and I have 4 teams of 2 volunteers that rotate each week. I am so thankful to my daddy, and Amy and Charlie for fixing the wall and painting and vacuuming and putting it all back together to get it so nice for our first sunday. Also to my mama for getting a changing place for it. Children's Church is for 4 - 9 year olds and taught by 3 teams of 2 volunteers that rotate each week. I also teach a children's class on Wed. nights. I really enjoy my time with all our precious children at church! I must say though, I don't know if they are just tired or what but ALL the children's seem extra wild/talkative on wed nights! yes, even, mine! like last night I had to send Keegan out to his daddy bc he wouldn't stay in one place and the last straw was when Chris caught him with an open marker in his mouth!!!! lol, oh, that boy!

some words of homeschooling wisdom

Saw this on fb and liked what she had to say, I have added my own thoughts in double parenthesis. ((like these))
Not necessarily in order.......

1. Know your State's laws on homeschooling
2. Decide how you children learn best (visual, kinesthetic.....etc..)
3. Decide what type of homeschooler you want to be (unschooler, eclectic, school at home etc..)... I find that this changes yearly at our home. ((each year unschooling sounds more appealing! lol))
4. Find some local homeschool groups for fun and support ((don't know what I would do without ours: CHEC))
5. RELAX and BREATHE :) ((I forget this quite often!))
6. Ignore all the dumb questions on how your children will be socialized. ((as if we actually wanted them "socialized"))
7. Do not rush off and purchase curriculum. There is no such thing as a perfect curriculum and they are expensive and occasionally a waste of good money. We use some......but I have purchased them at local homeschool swaps or traded. If your kiddos have special needs, it will be difficult to find the "perfect" one. I suggest you start off with the library and check out some of the amazing sites that offer it for free. We LOVE unit studies and lapbooks. Gives my son freedom to chose what he wants to learn and the I can add what we need/what I want him to learn. Loads of fun.... ((wish someone had told me this 3 yrs ago!))
8. RELAX and BREATHE LOL!! ((lest we forget! lol))
9. Read......read.......read..........read. LOVE our local library. ((and used book sales!))
10. Remember......school doesn't have to "Look" like other schools or even other homeschools. Personalize it to your families needs. ((I always forget this one! need a constant reminder))
11. Remember there will be good days and bad days. It is okay to have some bad days and just skip school. Watch an educational DVD, take a field trip........so many options. :) ((does PBS kids count as an educational DVD, and is it ok that this year we have had days and days of it?))
12. Have fun and enjoy!!! Learning should be fun! ((AMEN))
many blessings and enjoy the ride!!