Public Schools Indoctrination

IndoctriNation Trailer from IndoctriNation on Vimeo.

Chicken Pox Round 2

The chicken pox have once again hit our home.

On Saturday, Jesi started running a fever and had a handful of pox. She felt really bad and spent the day in bed. Sunday morning she woke up with a lot more.

Mathias woke up Sunday morning totally covered. Overall he hasn't felt bad, but spent Sunday and Monday on the couch. Today he is full of energy and starting to scab over.

Josiah had 1 on Sunday, along with a slight fever, so he too had to stay home from church. By Monday night he had a whopping 40 and was feeling terrible! This morning he woke up with a lot as is evidenced by the pictures.

Cara did not show any signs of pox on Sunday, but we still kept her home from church. On Monday she joined the others on the couch. She had some energy, but today that is totally gone. Like Josiah, she is breaking out very slowly. As of this morning she still only has 7-10 pox. Tomorrow she will probably have more. We'll post some pictures once she breaks out....

Sara is healing up nicely from her illness. She did end up running a very high fever and when we took her to the Dr. we found out that she had a severe double ear infection. I guess this is a very common side effect from the chicken pox. So we are keeping an eye on the other children and their ears.

This is just a theory that Daniel and I came up with....those who snuggled and played very closely with Sara are the ones who broke out first and the worst. Josiah and Cara shared lollipops and played with Sara, but not as frequently or as closely. They are the ones who are taking a longer to break out.

Our current protocol is calamine, tea tree oil, and vitamin E mixed together and liberally applied. Those who itch really bad at night are given some Benedryl. That has helped all of us sleep a lot better. We also have been giving oatmeal and Epson salt baths. This has also helped a lot with the itching.

When this round of pox is over, every child in the family will have had them. We still have no idea where the original case that Sara had came from, but we are thankful for whomever gave them to us!

Mathias Turns 6!

Once again we are celebrating a birthday in our household!

July 26, 2004, Mathias Avery was born. His pregnancy was very trying. He very rarely moved in the womb. So every 2 weeks from week 30 on, I had to see the Dr and have non-stress tests and ultrasounds done. Finally at 39 weeks, the Dr induced and Mathias was born.

This year Mathias's birthday fell on a Monday when Providence Church visits Pekin Manor, our local nursing home. Since we are in a bit of a time crunch on those particular Monday evenings, we decided to have him open his gifts on Sunday.

Recently Mathias outgrew his Sunday shoes. So Sunday morning we surprised him with a new pair of cowboy boots for church.

The boots are a huge hit and he has enjoyed wearing them everywhere and with everything!

After we arrived home from church Sunday afternoon, we ate dinner and Mathias opened the rest of his gifts.

He loves to play with army men and have lots of battles. So when friend was selling her son's army toys and aircraft carrier, I knew just the boy that would enjoy playing with them. He was so excited and our living room has been filled with all sorts of battles.

Mathias's birthday finally arrived. It seemed to be a waffle themed day. He had waffles for breakfast and waffle fries for dinner! After singing at Pekin Manor, the group (of around 45) came back to the house for Ice cream and cupcakes. "Happy Birthday" never sounded so good at our house!

Happy Birthday, Mathias!

We love you!

May God bless you with many more years!

Chicken Pox!

Helping a Grieving Friend

I have been spending a lot of time reading different blogs on the loss of babies and the processing of the grief. While I was surfing I came across an 11-part series titled "How to Help Your Grieving Friend" It was a comfort to me as I go through the loss of Selah, but it also opened my eyes to how I can help those around me. We tend to tip-toe around those who have experienced loss and in this series, Molly give some good advice.

Part 1 "How to Help Your Grieving Friend"

Part 2 "Just Know that She's Exhausted"

Part 3 "She's a Scatterbrain"

Part 4 "There is No Timetable"

Part 5 "She May Explode (but probably not)"

Part 6 "She Can't Grieve on Command"

Part 7 "Ask Her Specific Questions"

Part 8 "Avoid the Flippant Comfort of Hallmark Answers"

Part 9 "Always on My Mind"

Part 10 "10 Tips for Bringing Meals to a Grieving Friend"

Part 11 "Cleaning Her House is Next to Godliness"

Shelter

In the arms of a good Father

You can go to the deep water

Where the questions, we have left unspoken

Come out in the open

We will find shelter here

So I lay down, what I cannot hold in my hands

Every sorrow and hope spinning out of control

And here I find sweet resolution comes in letting go

And we will find shelter here

When I look back I can see,

And when I am old I'll remember these things

Like a mountain of stone

And the longing that makes me believe...

There is a tree by the blue river

Where the shade stretches wide over

In this breaking we are hand and glove

Come with me my love

We will find shelter here

We will find shelter here...

"Shelter" by Sandra McCracken

God is in Control

During the last week we have seen God's hand working in ways we could not have foreseen.

A couple months ago our church planned a trip for last week to go to the Creation Museum. Daniel thought he would just take the whole week off and do some odd jobs around the home that needed to be done. So he was here for a whole week without any work obligations dividing his attention.

Two weeks ago, Sara decided she wanted to move her bed into the girls' room. This really surprised us as she always likes to sleep near Mommy. Plus, nothing is easy with Sara - ever. However she has slept in the girls' room every night since then, never crying for Mommy and even putting herself back to sleep on her own. God knew we needed her out of our room for this past week so that I could rest and have a quiet place for Daniel and I to be.

Then today He touched me in a way that made me see once again how He is in control of every little detail. At the beginning of May, Angie Smith's book "I will Carry You - The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" was a free e-book at Barnes and Noble. I follow her blog so I thought I would download the book. I happened to download it the weekend that I conceived Selah. Today I "found" it on my computer. God knew I was going to need that book, even the moment when she was conceived.

"But now thus says the LORD,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3

We still have a long way to heal, physically and emotionally, but God is in control. He knows what we need at the exact moment we need it. He will carry us through.

Whate'er My God Ordains is Right

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Holy his will abideth;
I will be still whate'er he doth;
And follow where he guideth:
He is my God: though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to him I leave it all.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path;
I know he will not leave me:
I take, content, what he hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait his day.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking:
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet am I not forsaken;
My Father's care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to him I leave it all.

Samuel Rodigast, 1676
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Tune: Gastorius by Severus Gastorius, 1675

The Pain of Miscarriage

Each of us have be grieving the loss of Selah in a different way. Emotions have been high, sharp words of been spoken, tears shed, others have withdrawn. To help her process everything, Ashly wrote this poem:

When My Time is Done

I will never get to see you until my time is done.

To hold you, comfort you , or cuddle you close.

But I know you will have a wonderful time up there.

No pain or suffering, every day filled with happiness.

But when my time is done, to you I will run,

To hold you close and whisper your name:

When my time is done.

Mourning

Selah Remembrance Ryken

was born into the arms of Jesus on June 21, 2010

at 8 weeks gestation.

The Balm Of God's Love

When we lose someone we love
The loss seems too great to bear
God sends us friends to comfort us
To show that He deeply cares

But in the dark hours of the night
When there’s nobody else around
When we feel the saddest and loneliest
It’s there God’s love can be found

It’s like a soothing, healing balm
To soothe our broken hearts
The healing oil poured over us
That flows into every part

We can rest secure in God’s love
And know He’s by our side
He holds us when we feel as though
A part of us has died

We can know that God will listen
When we just want to talk
And when we feel we need to cry
We can share it with the Lord

For He is always waiting there
Ready with arms open wide
As we pour out the hurt within
He pours His love inside

Our Father above loves us so much
And will never leave us alone
He will not forsake us in our need
To face this on our own

He comforts us and strengthens us
And rubs us with His balm
And as the dawn breaks through the night
We’ll awake in His loving arms.

© By M.S.Lowndes

The side of Sara you never see....

Justin is 17

Yes, the post have been far and few between. Blogging hasn't been on my priority list and has become more of a chore than an enjoyment. However, today we are celebrating a special event in our family that I wanted to share. Today our oldest turns 17.

Justin is such a blessing to our family. Ever since he was a toddler he has worked hard and loves helping people. He used to take his wagon and help the neighbor carry her groceries to her house. Now that hard work benefits us as he can outwork Daniel and is able to complete many of the jobs around here on his own. Having 2 men in the home can be daunting at times, yet the encouragement and example he is to his younger brothers is building character in them all.

On Wednesday night, Grandpa and Grandma can out to celebrate Justin's birthday. They played games with the younger children, went for a walk, we grilled brats and hot dogs, ate cheesecake, and opened gifts.

One of Justin's requests for his birthday was to go to the Tremont Turkey Festival. Thursday night was Buddy night, so we met the Riggenbachs in Tremont and took to the rides. Afterwards we went to Pinky's to get some really yummy ice cream!

Tonight will be a quiet one at home. Justin will open some cards from his siblings and eating one his favorite meals: steak! Follow that by cake with Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream frosting and the night will be complete!