Things Keep on a Movin'

As I look at my moving checklist, I am encouraged to see that it is getting shorter.

• Both home inspections are finished with just a few details to attend to.
  
• The Radon mitigator was installed yesterday and the radon tester will be here tomorrow to retest.  Mr Handyman was here last week to make a few repairs.
  
• The well and septic are bing check today.
  
• I also gave notice to the post office of the the change of address.
  
• Gas company has been notified of the move and LP gas companies are contacting us about getting our tank in Pekin filled.  It is about 3% filled right now.
• We met with Todd, our mortgage guy, and all the paperwork is ready to go.
• Daniel met with the State Farm guy this morning to get all our insurance changed. (Hmmm wonder why we chose State Farm???)

Still have a bit left to do, such as:

• contact electric, phone and internet people at both ends.
• last minute paperwork and other small misc. things as they pop-up.

Packing is coming along pretty well.  Here are the rooms that are finished:

• girls'
  
• boys'
  
• kids' toys
• most of the office
• part of the master bath
• garage and shed

Still to do:

• Pack bathrooms
• Sara's room
• books in school room and living room
• cd's/dvd's
• craft closet downstairs
• kitchen and pantry

We have enough to keep us busy for the next week and probably a bit longer.  We're just taking it day by day so we don't wear ourselves out or get stressed with each other.  That is a big one right now!  On Friday, Justin and Daniel are bringing another load to our storage unit.  Thank you, Pastor, for the use of your trailer!

Here are a few brief pictures of our home that Daniel took yesterday along with some from the internet listing.

great room

landing off the great room

deck, master bedroom walk-out and out building (in background)

family room

kitchen

ps - none of the beautiful furniture is ours...

"Multigenerational Promise"

This morning we were unable to make the drive to Peoria for church.  So we all gathered in the family room - among the boxes and toys that are ready to move - to listen to a sermon.  Other than sermons from our own pastor, we enjoy listening to Voddie Baucham. This morning we listened to his talk on Jeremiah 29:11 "Multigenerational Promise".  As usual he gave us all food for thought and action.

Multigenerational Promise

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most beloved, memorized, quoted and unfortunately one of the most misunderstood promises in the entire Bible.  The prosperity teachers would have us believe that the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 guarantees health and wealth to all who believe hard enough.  As a result, many are shipwrecked on the rock of disappointment because life just doesn't work like that.  We get sick, we lose money, and ultimately we all die.

Perhaps we have not read this promise properly.  In this message, Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr. helps us understand the promise of Jeremiah 29:11.  Not only does he demonstrate the falsehood of the prosperity message, he also gives tremendous insight into the beauty of this promise when  viewed through the multigenerational lens through which it was meant to be seen. (click here to listen - click on the little "Q" under the microphone.)

Another contest!

My friend, Heather, over at Steven's Rib, is having a contest celebrating her 100th post. Way to go Heather!

I met Heather through a Yahoo group, The Patriarch's Wives. This past May I had the blessing of meeting her and her wonderful family in real life. Did I tell you what a blessing it was??

The cool thing about Heather, besides her love for the Lord and her family, is that our families were stationed in Panama at the same time. Her daughter is a year older that Justin and they were both born in the same hospital. Isn't that cool??

So please pick me to win the contest, Heather! I need some things to decorate my new home! Can't wait for the next time you visit!

Life goes on and some pictures

Here it is September 11. (to see a tribute of the day see Jesi's blog)I can hardly believe it! So much has been happening this month that it seems as though time is flying faster than usual.

Lately my posts have been more on the serious note and not really about family and life as it is happening in our household right now. That is going to change with this post. I'm going to give some updates along with some much needed pictures.

Housing update:

We have a contract on our home and a contract on a home to buy. Paperwork is flying fast and furious through email and fax. Home inspections are being done. Much needed packing is NOT being done. I take that back...Daniel and Justin have packed the garage and shed and have a load ready to bring to our storage unit tomorrow. I know, we have to move out in less than 3 weeks and I really should be packing. I just can't yet. Excitement is running high, yet I am not one that likes change. So even though I am excited about what lies ahead, I am scared and not wanting to leave the comfortable...the familiar...the home that holds so many memories....

Costumes

Reformation Day Faire is the end of October and we have 9 costumes to make. Progress is being made. Cara, Sara, Josiah and Mathias will be fully costumed! Their costumes are finished 99% of the way (need a hem and some hook and eyes put on). We also have 4 of the 5 blouses/shirts made. Today we'll make 2 pairs of pants and begin work on skirts. Saturday night the machine will become quiet until after the move.

Here are some pictures of our sewing:

Ashly in her partly finished blouse. She persevered and finished it - even after having to rip some of it out! Way to go, Ashly!

Jesica modeling her finished shirt! Beauiful!

School

School?? What is school? Oh, that's right! If we had a normal life going on right now, that is what I would be doing with my children! Technically we are doing school. It's just that instead of science, math, and English, we are doing full days of home economics! Or at least the girls are. Education for them consists of learning how to sew and balance it with meals and child care. You know... the real life stuff. Thankfully Justin is a self learner. He has been trying to be faithful in his studies and Daniel is still teaching 2 nights week. Josiah has been educating Cara and Mathias by reading to them from his history and science books. So we are still learning, just not in your traditional way. I LOVE home education!

Sara

As many of you are familiar with, Sara has not been a very easy baby. She has been very fussy, not sleeping well, and just a myriad of other difficulties. Well, we are happy to say that she is getting better! For about the last 3 weeks we have been taking her to a chiropractor and Dr Thompson has been wonderful. After her first exam, Dr Thompson told us that Sara had a compressed nerve in her neck and her back was having frequent muscle spams. Since taking her all of the issues are not solved, but most everything is getting better - much better! Sara is back to being the happy baby that we thought we had been blessed with. Night time sleeping is still a problem, but she is also cutting teeth #3 & #4 and that would make any baby irritable!

I will have to say that Sara really doesn't like going to see Dr Thompson. Yesterday as we were laying on the table getting ready for the Dr to adjust her neck, she put both of her hands up behind her head as if to protect her neck! Babies are just so smart!

Sara has also started eating some table food. Last night we had beef stew for dinner and found out that she loves potatoes! We have also learned that smooth baby food is not something she really likes. She'd rather pick up cheerios , bread, or chunks of food. Smart baby!

Two days ago Sara turned 7 months old. My baby is growing up so fast. Here are some pictures that we took recently of her.

Sara is learning to drink from a sippy cup. She loves a bit of water now and them. Plus she gets to be a big person and drink from her own cup! Now Mommy doesn't have to share anymore!

No caption can capture the emotion in this picture!

Sleeping peacefully on her Daddy. Who could ask for a better place to sleep than in a Daddy's arms? Well, maybe a Mommy's.....but even Mommy likes to be held in Daddy's arms.

Josiah

The cast if off! He still is wearing a brace for playing, but the bone has healed nicely! Thank you for all your prayers!

So that is our life right now. Please remember us in your prayers as we pack, finish the paperwork on the houses, move, and become adjusted to our new life in Central Illinois. God's had has been upon us and we are overwhelmed with all the blessings he has bestowed upon us. We are so undeserving.

The Political Scene Today.....

So far I haven't touched the subject of the McCain/Palin ticket. I really don't want to touch it, but I am going to very briefly. The way I'm going to touch it is through other people's words. A whole bunch of stuff could be writen (and has), but to tell you the truth, I don't have the time or deirre to spend the time that would need to fully discuss the subject. So I am going to link to several blogs and articles that fit with our stance on the subject and let the Holy Spirit do any convicting.

Dr Voddie Baucham on CNN (9-9-08)



frogs-epitaphs-and-pragmatism

Sarah Palin and the Complementarian Compromise: A Response to Our Brothers Al Mohler and David Kotter By Bill Einwechter

A Vote For A Curse

The_Evangelical_Two-Step

Ten-reasons-why-i-dont-want-to-be-vp

She-is-not-Picture-of-Biblical Womanhood

This blog has lots of thought provoking entries: Persevero

God Works in Mysterious and Amazing Ways

The other night I was laying in bed thinking about our new home. I was thinking of how I want to set things up, thinking about the yard and apple trees, and the fact that the zip code is almost the same as our current zip code. That got me thinking about our address - 12836. All of a sudden I am wide awake, giddy with excitement and no one to share it with (everyone is sleeping). We don't believe in coincidence, just God's providence, and this address shows us God's hand again at work in our move.

Some of you are probably thinking "what in the world is she talking about?" Others will know already. For those of you who don't, I'll share....12836 is our new address. Broken down it can read 128 36. Well Psalm 128 is our family Psalm and verses 3-6 speak of the blessing of family and fearing the Lord.

Before we had our house neutralized with white paint, this Psalm was painted on our kitchen wall.

Psalm 128

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
When you eat the labor of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you out of Zion,
And may you see the good of Jerusalem
All the days of your life.
Yes, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel!

Happy Birthday Dear Ashly!

Today our sweet daughter Ashly turned 12 years old. I still remember that morning waking up at 6 am to my water breaking. Contractions didn't start, so we went to the hospital and had to be induced. 6 hours later our 2nd daughter was born. Up until the time we were in the hospital, we were going to name her Jordan Nicole. We had thought about going with the "J" theme for our children, but for some reason that name just wasn't sounding right. So while I am in labor we change her name to Ashly Nicole.



Ashly is such a wonderful blessing to our family. Daniel and I are blessed to have daughters with different talents. That has been very evident this past week. We are currently in the midst of sewing our Reformation Day Faire costumes. Jesica is chomping at the bit to move along quickly, while Ashly is just taking her time. At first glance, it seems that Ashly is just a slow sewer, but we really know that in front of the sewing machine is a place she really doesn't want to be. She would rather be with a book, playing with Sara, or in the kitchen cooking or baking. Ashly has many talents and strengths that God has given her and she strives to use them for His glory.


Around here the birthday person gets to pick their favorite meal as their birthday meal. True to form, Ashly picked grilled pork steaks,garlic mashed potatoes, corn, homemade biscuits, and stuffing, with chocolate milkshakes! For dessert we had mint Oreo ice cream dessert with hot fudge topping. Here are some pictures from her party today.

Earrings, necklace, and ring from Dad and Mom

Sewing Machine case and money from Grandpa and Grandma

Autographed copy of "Raising Maidens of Virtue"

Homemade cards from Josiah, Cara, and Mathias

12 candles to blow out!

Happy Birthday Ashly!

We Love You!

One Step Closer to Central IL!

Wednesday we again drove down to Central IL to do some house hunting. The weather was very rainy as the remnants of Hurricane Gustav was coming through. We are very excited to say that we made an offer on a home and are working on getting a contract put together. Here is a picture of our new home-to-be:

For those of you who are very curious - and you know who you are - the home is about 4 miles south of downtown Pekin. It has 2.3 wooded acres, zoned AG so we can eventually get the chickens the children want, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, large living areas, deck, outbuilding, some apple trees, a driveway that encircles the house and goes through the garage. The children are really excited about taking their bikes and rollerblades around the driveway! The best part of all is we are about 20-25 minutes from church and the majority of the members of Providence. (18 minutes for you, Karen! 11 miles exactly door to door!)

We should be closing on both of our homes September 30th. The moving details are still being worked out, but we know that we will need some muscle at both ends. If you would be willing to help, please let us know and we can fill you in on the details when we know them.

If anyone else wants to follow us and move down to Central IL, we know a GREAT realtor (including her staff - thanks Mary Ann, Cathy, and Holly!).

These last 9 months have been exciting, trying, discouraging, stressful, full of ups and downs, a teaching tool, and yet a blessing. We have seen God's hand working and orchestrating each step of the way. The home that we are buying has almost every "requirement" that we had wanted in a home and we feel overwhelmed at the blessing that God has given us. May He continue to bless our family through the move and as we open our new home to family, friends, and strangers.

Labor Day

Rocks in my Dryer is having a fun blogging day by talking about....Labor! Since I have labored with and birthed 7 children, I thought I would just join in on the fun.

How long were your labors?
Child #1 - 28 hours
Child #2 - 6 hours
Child #3 - 6 hours
Child #4 - 4 hours
Child #5 - 4 hours
Child #6 - 4 hours
Child #7 - just under 2 hours

How did you know you were in labor?
Child #1 - Induced
Child #2 - wimpy contractions all night long. We walked SEVERAL hours up and down stairs before the Dr would admit me.
Child #3 - Induced after water broke
Child #4 - Induced
Child #5 - Induced
Child #6 - Induced
Child #7 - Water broke and soon after contractions came fast and hard!

Where did you deliver?
Child #1 - Gorgas Army Community Hospital, Panama City, Panama
Child #2 - Walter Red Army Community Hospital, Washington DC
Child #3 - Johns Hopkins Bayview, Baltimore, MD
Child #4 - Edwards, Naperville, IL
Child #5 - Edwards, Naperville, IL
Child #6 - Delnor, Geneva, IL
Child #7 - At home in the comfort of my own bed! YES is was planned, even though we probably wouldn't have made it to the hospital.

Drugs?
Yes, will all but Child #7. Never use them again unless an emergency!

C-section?
NO

Who delivered?
Dr or midwife, except for #5. Daniel almost got to deliver her because no one was ready. The dr was the only one in the room at delivery. No one believed me it was time to push and the nurses all arrived after she was born.

Happy Labor Day!

Decorate your heart and home contest.....

My friend Shanna over at Becoming a Woman of Virtue is having a wonderful contest. She is giving a way words to decorate you walls with. I know that really isn't a great description, so you can go to Fruitful Vine Creation and view the gallery. Tonya is also a good friend of mine and I encourage you to support her home-based business.

To enter the contest, click here

"Teen Culture"

"Let no one despise your youth,

but be an example to the believers in word,

in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

Right now our home has 2 children in the teen years and one that is a year from turning 13. Because of this, we think about and examine the "teen culture" that has sprung up in our society. Somewhere along the lines of history, the group of children ages 13-19 turned from hard working members of society to people who think that life is fun and entertainment. Growing up is for when you reach your 20's. Or so they think.... Is that what the Bible says?

As usual, just as I'm thinking about a topic, someone will beat me to writing a blog post or two about it. They usually do a better job than I would also! This time Generation Cedar has beaten me to it. This is a 3 part series (so far) on the "teen culture". Let this be food for thought and discussion.

Teen Culture and the Rebelution Against it

"I'm constantly saddened by the "teenage culture"(TC, from here on). I was once a part of it, but now, I will do anything to keep my children out of it. And it's not their fault. It's one more part of a bizarre world-view parents have adopted and perpetuated.

I want to zoom in on one component of the TC that has wreaked havoc on an entire society as these teens become adults.

It starts with the very mistake of even creating a "teenage" period. This is not a natural, biological separation; it is one we made up. For all of time before now, children grew into adults. When a child was born, parents knew their job lay in equipping that child to become a responsible, hard-working adult. That would be key to his success.

To abdicate that task would be cruel to a child, ill-preparing him for the future... " (read more here)

Teen Culture --Raising the Bar

"Continuing to think about the teen culture, I want to challenge you to raise the bar.

What do we mean by raising the bar for the young people in our culture? And why does it matter?".... (read more here)

Raising the Bar, Raising Our Children

"Raising the bar for our teens means raising the bar when they're young. It is basically ignoring the standards of our culture, and saying to our children, "You are created in the image of God and I expect more of you."....(read more here)

Raising the Bar -- Do Hard Things

"Raising the bar for what is expected in the youth culture is so widely
encompassing, and yet boils down to one simple concept...expectations...." (read more here)

(If there are more parts to this series I will add them as I read them. To read about 2 young men who want to change the "teen culture", check out The Rebelution.)

The Search begins

Our home is under contract!

So now the search begins in earnest for our new home!

Please pray that the Lord would make it clear to us the home we are to purchase.

Words can not express what we are feeling right now. God has been so good to us these last 6 months and we are thankful to Him for everything He has done in our lives.

Please read this post on "Waiting on God" from Biblical Womanhood. Here is an excerpt:

"The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him." Lam. 3: 25."There is none good but God." "His goodness is in the heavens." "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee." "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!"And here is now the true way of entering into and rejoicing in this goodness of God--waiting upon Him. The Lord is good--even His children often do not know it, for they wait not in quietness for Him to reveal it. But to those who persevere in waiting, whose souls do wait, it will come true...."

12 Things You Should Not Do To Your Husband

While perusing through the blogs I read, I came across a blog that caught my eye. Normally when writing, people will speak in the positive - do this to make your marriage strong or do that to show your husband respect. So when I saw the words "should not do", I stopped and read and then read again.

12 Things You Should Not Do to Your Husband

"Gracious ladies, enter here. Vicious man-haters, beware. Camilia Brown is in the house, and her words are health to the homemaker, but hateful to the rapacious feminist. Camilla is part of the league of gracious, responsible lady bloggers, and the following is from an article entitled “12 Things You Should Not Do To Your Husband.” Read at your own risk:" .....

To read the rest of this article, click HERE.

Our Week in Peoria

We have had a wonderful time staying at the McDonald home this past week. It has been a time of lively conversation, a broken bone and lot of blood, a trip to Joann's and to get the air conditioning looked at, instrument playing and singing, good food, and friendship building.

To hear how the children enjoyed the week, you can visit their blogs: Justin, Jesica, and Ashly. Tiffany also took some great pictures and you can view them HERE and Here.

Here are some of our pictures from the week:

Grace, Cara, Abigail, Ashly, Mathias, and William eating lunch

Trying to catch chickens

Picking blackberries

Taking a walk and getting rocks in our shoes

Sara and William getting ready for the photo shoot

Jesi and Jessica playing their violins at Minerals Springs Park in Pekin

Coloring after breakfast

Melissa and Sara. Sara really like Melissa.

Enjoying our ice cream!

This is the road Josiah was bicycling down. He lost control and tried to brake. This bike has only hand brakes and his bike at home has pedal brakes.

These are the brush and branches that Josiah rode over and through. He stopped before landing in the lake. If he reached the lake, Justin right behind him and would have jumped in to help him.

Here is his "Illini Orange" cast signed by the Ryken's and McDonald's. He is learning to eat with his left hand pretty well. Overall, he is doing well, even though he still has some pain. We are just thankful that he wasn't hurt worse.

First Broken Bone

Here we are, 15 years into parenting, and we have our first broken bone that needs to be casted.

We are staying at the McDolald's thia week while James and Stacy are gone. Their son and Josiah were riding bikes, having a grand time. Josiah lost control and went in a gulley , through sticks and branches. He ended up with some scratches, a few bruises, and a compression fracture of his right radius.

Technically this is his second bone he has broken. The first was when he was 2 years old. We were staying with my parents and Josiah dropped a 16 lb. barebell weight on this big toe. That resulted in the tip of the bone being chipped.


Today's broken bone was more that that and will require a cast for about 4-6 weeks. e'l findout for sure when the orthopedic surgeon views the x-rays and casts it later this week.\

Here is a couple pictures of Josiah. The first one doesn't show the cuts and bruising on his face too well, but they are there....and on his chest, legs, arms..


...

Homeshooling encouragement

I follow several blogs thanks to Google Reader. This morning, one of my favorite blogs, Delighting in His Richness had a link to Generation Cedar and this blog post

I know some of my readers aren't homeschoolers and others are unsupportive of homeschooling. That's ok. Homeschooling more often than not is frowned upon. Who is their right mind would choose to stay home, with their children no less, ALL DAY, and teach them, when the children could be sent to a school for 6-8 hours and the mom have all that free time or a job? I would. Homeschooling is not just our children getting an education, but is a conviction that God has placed on our hearts and we desire to follow God wherever he may lead us - no matter the road that may lay before us. As Daniel likes to put it we are raising an Army ready to defend God's Word.

Just like the author of Delighting in His Richness I want to quote a paragraph:

"Home school mothers are the heart of a traditionalist revolution that is driving life back into the homes. To these women, and the men blessed to be married to them, homes are no longer assets or places to share a microwave dinner at the end of an exhausting day of separation. Spreading like some beneficial virus, men and women are returning basic educational, economic, and social functions to home where they have always belonged. "

Please read the read of the post and be encouraged!

And then there were......

TEETH!

Yes, our dear little Sara has teeth and all the crankiness that goes with it!

Thankfully there are teething tablets.

Way to go Sara!

School Time Again..

Yes, it is getting to be that time of year again - Back-to-School. The sales fliers are advertising all the latest in back to school clothing and school supplies. Schedules and classroom assignments are in the mail. "I'm bored!" is commonly heard in homes everywhere.

This time of year also involves interesting conversations with store clerks, friends, and neighbors - especially with those who do not know that our children do not attend the traditional brick and mortar school.

Once such conversation happened to me this weekend. This was the first time I met this woman and we had the usual "get-to-know-eachother" conversation. She learned we were moving and started asking about changing schools in the middle of the year. The look of surprise was (and always is) priceless when I told her that we home-educate. She then did a quick survey of how many were going to be school aged (6 - if you count Mathias as preschool age). Her jaw dropped and the questions started coming.

With brick and mortar schools being the norm, it is hard for people to understand home-education. Is it legal? Why would parents CHOOSE to stay home all day and teach their children? Wouldn't it be better to send them to school where there are qualified teachers? Think of all the free time you would have! Do you have any free time? What about socialization? How do you do with all those children and all the subjects? What about curriculum? The questions go on and on.

God is good. Just when I'm trying to battle through and explain the answers to people, He puts in my inbox an email. "The Odds Against Homeschooling" This article from crosswalk.com answers a lot of these questions. Here are some other articles that delve into the why and hows of home education.

Reviving our vision

Homes Schooling Today articles

http://www.hslda.org/

This Little Light of Mine... (excellent list of resources on Home education at the end of this blog post - Thanks, Stacy, for putting this list together!)

"Why do we Hate Homeschoolers"

Ultimately we can't do it on our own. No man or woman possesses the strength to run a home, be a helpmeet to her husband, school a handful or more of children while taking care of babies, and keep her sanity - all at the same time! It just isn't humanly possible! That is why we need to rely on God's strength - daily - to help us through.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

There it is in a nutshell. Trust Him and He will direct our paths.

THE TEACHER
by: Leslie Pinckney Hill (1880-1960)

LORD, who am I to teach the way

To little children day by day,

So prone myself to go astray?

I teach them 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.

Safe Guarding Our Daughters?

**Author's Note: This post is not recommended for children or young people to read without parental permission**

HPV (human papillomavirus):
the most common sexually transmitted infection that infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of men and women. HPV types are often referred to as "low-risk" (wart-causing) or "high-risk" (cancer-causing), based on whether they put a person at risk for cancer. In 90% of cases, the body's immune system clears the HPV infection naturally within two years. This is true of both high-risk and low-risk types.

Genital warts: Warts may appear within weeks or months after sexual contact with an infected person. Or, they may not appear at all. If left untreated, genital warts may go away, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. They will not turn into cancer.

Cervical cancer does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced. For this reason, it is important for women to get screened regularly for cervical cancer (PAP smears)

Other less common HPV-related cancers, may not have signs or symptoms until they are advanced.

In order to combat certain types of HPV, Merck (a big pharma company) came up with a new vaccine called Gardasil. Gardasil was designed to protect our daughters, as early as age 9. Age 9?? Here is a statement from the Gardasil website:

"GARDASIL is the only cervical cancer vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of human papillomavirus (HPV): 2 types that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases. GARDASIL is for girls and young women ages 9 to 26.

Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients of GARDASIL should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL is not for women who are pregnant. GARDASIL does not treat cervical cancer or genital warts.

GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it's important to continue routine cervical cancer screenings. GARDASIL will not protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV.

The side effects include pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. GARDASIL is given as 3 injections over 6 months.

Only a doctor or healthcare professional can decide if GARDASIL is right for you or your daughter." (my emphasis added)

With all the diseases for which we have vaccines, what's the big deal of adding another one to the immunization schedule, especially if it can help prevent cancer? It is a big deal. Reports are beginning to come out that this vaccine isn't as safe as it claims to be (side effects), such as these articles from Dr. Mercola, nbc4.com, newsinferno.com, and cbsnews.

When it comes to vaccines, our family is very cautious. We have seen firsthand how the minor side effects, listed in the vaccine package inserts, can become major and alter child's life forever. Before you give Gardasil, or any other vaccine, to your child, please do your homework and weigh all the pros and cons. Don't just assume that because your Dr. or Merck says Gardasil is a good preventative, that it is good for your daughters. YOU ARE THE PARENT! YOU make the decisions!

Here are some websites that give more information on the vaccines which are given to American children.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm
http://www.909shot.com/

http://www.whale.to/vaccines.html
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/abortion_industry_contributes.htm
http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/legally_avoid_shots.htm

So, if we aren't going to vaccinate our daughters, what can we do? Teach them a life style of healthy living and most importantly God's way of living. Teach them that sex before marriage is wrong and goes against God's plan for marriage. He designed the sexual relationship to bring a deep intimacy to the marriage relationship. Let's commit to teaching our children to honor the marriage bed and abstain from premarital sexual relations, instead of relying on pharmaceutical companies to protect them.

"These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth,

but be an example to the believers in word,

in conduct, in love, in spirit,^] in faith, in purity.

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

1 Timothy 4:11-13

Mathias turns 4!

Here it is July 30th and I haven't blogged about Mathias's birthday!

It started out as a typical Saturday - the children asking for donuts. Since it was a special day Daddy said "yes".

"Can we have Krispy Kremes?"

Daddy once again answered "yes". So off we were for our morning sugar rush. I will have to admit I love these donuts. Expecially the warm ones they hand you as samples when you are standing in line.

In the afternoon Grandpa and Grandma came over and we went to the Sugar Grove Corn Boil. This is a village festival with food, rides, crafts, and LOTS of corn on the cob. Everyone got to pick the one ride they wanted to go on. Grandpa went with Ashly and Jesi on the Tilt-A-Whirl, Mathias, Cara and Josiah, went on a NASCAR ride, and Justin, Grandma, and I went on the bumper cars. Daniel didn't go on a ride (horrible "nightmares" from rides a few years ago) and Sara's ride was in her stroller.

When we got home, we started dinner and opened gifts. Mathias received a lot of Knight from Playmobile, plus a watch, clothes, sticker book, money, back pillow, and whiffle balls.

Josiah reading the cards

Sara going after the clown that spins and sings "Happy Birthday"

Mathias and his new back pillow. Looks comfy!

Hot Wheels and "sword" (carpenter) jeans

Then it was time for his favorite dinner: chicken crescents, mashed potatoes, and cooked glazed carrots. To top it all off there were chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting and oreos crushed on top.

We are so blessed to have Mathias in our family. He can be a bit mischeivious, but at the same time so sweet and gentle. He loves being a big brother and loves learning about God.

(Thanks, David, for the great picture!)

We love you Mathias!

Cara's Quilt

For each of the older children I have made an afghan. I then realized I really didn't enjoy the feel of yarn, or the process of knitting or crocheting. So about 3 years ago I took up quilting. I love the feel of fabric and the look of old quilts. Spending hours in a quilt shop is something I could easily do! Cara was the first child I made a quilt for. She picked out all the different materials - bright, cheery colors for my bright,smiley, cheery daughter. I normally use my sewing machine to piece the top, but like to hand quilt for an antique look. Cara's quilt was just taking too long, so I decided to finish it with machine quilting. 2 years later it is finally finished!

Cara having her first picnic with Evangeline and Zoe on her new quilt .

Someday He'll Make it Plain

The last 2 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. A family came through and had basically narrowed all their choices of homes down to ours. They requested tax and utility bills, so we thought an offer was forthcoming. However, it was not meant to be. We were all devastated and aren't sure what to do. Do we make some upgrades that people have commented on? Do we lower the price again? Do we move to Central IL and find a place to rent until this home is sold?

I believe the hardest part of these last 6 or so months is "why". Why has God provided Daniel a job 2 hours from here? Why did He provide a church over 2 hours from here? Why aren't we moving when He has provided all these things? We do not know the answers to these and many other questions. We do know that God is good, ALL the time, and that he will move us when His timing is perfect.

I have a dear friend who know just how to encourage us. Janet sent this post by John Piper "Why God Doesn't Fully Explain Pain" (Janet's family is going through a difficult trial right now also. Please pray for her family.)

Why God Doesn't Fully Explain Pain
July 14, 2008
By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

One of the reasons God rarely gives micro reasons for his painful Providences, but regularly gives magnificent macro reasons, is that there are too many micro reasons for us to manage, namely, millions and millions and millions and millions and millions.

God says things like:

• These bad things happened to you because I intend to work it together for your good (Romans 8).
• These happened so that you would rely more on God who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1).
• This happened so that the gold and silver of your faith would be refined (1 Peter1).
• This thorn is so that the power of Christ would be magnified in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12).
  

But we can always object that there are other easier ways for God to accomplish those things. We want to know more specifics: Why now? Why this much? Why this often? Why this way? Why these people?

The problem is, we would have to be God to grasp all that God is doing in our problems. In fact, pushing too hard for more detailed explanations from God is a kind of demand that we be God.

Think of this, you are a blacksmith making horseshoes. You are hammering on a white hot shoe and it ricochets off and hits you in the leg and burns you. In your haste to tend to your leg you let the shoe alone unfinished. You wonder why God let this happen. You were singing a hymn and doing his will.

Your helper, not knowing the horseshoe was unfinished gathered it up and put it with the others.

Later there was an invasion of your country by a hostile army with a powerful cavalry. They came through your town and demanded that you supply them with food and with shoes for their horses. You comply.

Their commander has his horse shoed by his own smith using the stolen horseshoes, and the unfinished shoe with the thin weak spot is put on the commander’s horse.

In the decisive battle against the loyal troops defending your homeland the enemy commander is leading the final charge. The weak shoe snaps and catches on a root and causes his horse to fall. He crashes to the ground and his own soldiers, galloping at full speed, trample him to death.

This causes such a confusion that the defenders are able to rout the enemy and the country is saved.

Now you might say, well, it would sure help me trust God if he informed me of these events so that I would know why the horseshoe ricocheted and burned my leg. Well maybe it would help you. Maybe not.

God cannot make plain all he is doing, because there are millions and millions and millions and millions of effects of every event in your life, the good and the bad. God guides them all. They all have micro purposes and macro purposes. He cannot tell you all of them because your brain can’t hold all of them.

Trust does not demand more than God has told us. And he has given us immeasurably precious promises that he is in control of all things and only does good to his children. And he has given us a very thick book where we can read story after story after story about how he rules for the good of his people.

Let’s trust him and not ask for what our brains cannot contain.

Another family that is going through a similar ordeal as us, sent us the words to this hymn today. May it bless your heart as it has done mine.

SOME DAY HE’LL MAKE IT PLAIN

I do not know why oft ’round me

My hopes all shattered seem to be;

God’s perfect plan I cannot see,

But some day I’ll understand.

(Refrain) Some day He’ll make it plain to me,

Some day when I His face shall see;

Some day from tears I shall be free,

For some day I shall understand.

I cannot tell the depth of love,

Which moves the Father’s heart above;

My faith to test, my love to prove,

But some day I’ll understand.

(Refrain)

Tho’ trials come thro’ passing days,

My life will still be filled with praise;

For God will lead thro’ darkened ways,

But some day I’ll understand.

(Refrain)

Words: Ly­dia S. Leech, 1911

Sara is 5 months old

Today our sweet Sara is 5 months old.

In the last 5 months Sara has learned many things. It never ceases to amaze us the amount of skills that a baby learns in the first 12 months of life. So far Sara has learned how to nurse, smile, laugh, hold her head up, push up on her arms, suck on her hands, play with toys, roll front to back and back to front, and more recently - SIT!

We love you, Sara!