Writing Lesson:

I read this in an old Reader’s Digest and thought it was funny:

How to Write Good

Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
No sentence fragments.
It behooves us to avoid archaisms.
Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
Don’t use no double negetives.
If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times:  Resist hyperbole.
Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
Writing carefully, dangling participles should not be used.
Kill all exclamation points!!!
Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
Take the bull by the hand, and don’t mix metaphors.
Don’t verb nouns.
Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
Las but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.

Okay, maybe this is not interesting to some of you, but I got a chuckle out of it.

and Thoughts. . . . . . .

I spent some time today w/Karen.  It was nice to visit with a friend.  We talked a little bit about eating organically.  Do any of you have any suggestions or comments about healthy food choices?  Recipes?  I made a recipe using bulger (whole grain wheat) last week and it was good.  It was basically a pilaf, you saute mushrooms and green onions in some butter, add the bulger and some water, cover it and bake it in the oven.  It had a nice, nutty, earthy taste to it.
I feel a pull to slow down and get back to a basic lifestyle.  I want to focus on my relationship with the Lord, family and friends, to love my neighbors and my church family, to enjoy God’s creation, to eat and drink in a more healthy way, to re-discover the meanings of holidays, to teach my children how to be creative without plugging something in or replacing batteries.  I love to read, I love quiet, and I love the simple things in life. 

For those of you who don’t know. . . . .(I love making new friends in blog-land!). . . .my husband and I have 5 little ones.  Jacob is our oldest and he is 9.  Then comes Ethan, who is 8.  They are 14 months apart.  Grace is our only girl and she is 6.  David is 3.  Our “caboose” is Caleb and he will be one on Sunday.

I was emailing with a dear friend of mine yesterday who is expecting her 4th child.  She was out with her kids recently and had someone make a remark to her about “having another?!?”  I had a similar experience at the grocery store.  The lady who was ringing my groceries up said to me (I had all the kids w/me), “I can’t believe you have this many kids and you’re STILL SMILING!”. . . . .AHHHHHHHH, “of course I’m still smiling”, said I, “I have even more reasons to smile now”.

How often we experience wrong ideas about children.  Remember, children are a blessing from God!  Whatever the number we end up with, they’re all a blessing!  Small family, large family, whatever!  We need to have positive attitudes!   Lets be encouraging to other families and other mothers that we see when we’re out and about! 

And, more importantly, lets, as mothers, remember to ENJOY our mothering days!  Walk around with a smile on your face (make those people wonder what’s wrong with you, LOL), enjoy your kids, they are GIFTS to be thankful for!

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A few pictures:

The Family Medical Ward experienced an overflow of volume the other day.  The doctor almost ran out of supplies (toilet paper and scotch tape).  Even the kittens had injuries that needed attention.  Look at Grace with her stump of a hand.  Look how she’s holding up that poor kitten’s back paw.  The baby did NOT appreciate being included and was very frustrated trying to get the tape off his hand.

Our busy yard:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!
Proverbs 17:22a

Rich and I standing out in front of our house.  Jacob (age 9) took the picture yesterday morning.  Do you see my scarlet fiesta mug?

My husband went to work today after 12 days at home.  He had vacation from work and we decided to stay home instead of going away.  It was so nice to just be together.  We met in High School and we’ve been together for 13 years and married for almost 11.  I miss him today, I can’t tell you the good it did us to simply be home enjoying our family.

I titled this post “early naps backfired” because I put the older kids to bed just in time for Caleb to wake up from his nap.  How many times does this happen?  It doesn’t even surprise me anymore.  I was hoping for at least a half an hour rest because I am painfully tired today.  I’m sure a lot of us are less energetic because of yesterday’s festivities!

Across the road there is a small park and the children discovered ripe blackberries.  They picked enough this morning so that we could bake a batch of muffins. 

Most folks are about as happy
as they make up their minds to be.
~Abraham Lincoln

The boys are with my husband and Grace and I are home alone with Caleb.  We are under strict orders not to go shopping.  No need to worry, I am not about to spend precious quality time in a mall!  However, we did go to Barnes and Nobles.  Before we went, we enjoyed a cup of tea.

“I sat on a back porch with my mother and daughter one humid southern evening last summer and realized that just one breath, one heartbeat ago, I was in my daughter’s place, sitting with my own mother and grandmother in the damp and fragrant heat.  In yet just another breath, another heartbeat, I realized as well, I would be in my mother’s place, rocking with my own daughter and granddaughter.  How quickly time passes. How quickly the chance to practice open-hearted parenting slips through our hands.  How precious this brief time we are given with our children truly is.                Ask yourself:  “If I were to go through one typical day with my children with this tender, bittersweet awareness of the fleetness and fragility of time in my heart, how would it change my life as a parent?”               Written by Melissa West

This is a picture that my brother, David, sent me this morning.  This is a familiar highway for Rich and me. . . . .it is where we used to live and travel all the time.  This is actually one exit up from Sidney, where my brother and his wife live.  (Nathan and Melissa)

David said that 2 trucks drove right off into the crack and the drivers were lost. 

Rich and I can hardly imagine this happening. 

David is flooded from his apartment, but thankfully everyone is safe in our families.

Okay, so this is the house that Rich and I are in the process of purchasing.  It’s NOT OFFICIAL YET, but getting close.

Yes.

It’s been quite the week.

We were not looking to buy a house, we were planning on buying land and building.  Rich was looking through those little booklets of land/houses to buy and he discovered this house that he immedietly wanted to see.  He looked at it the next day, took me to see it the day after.  It’s a half hour drive to school/church and so I said, “I love it but, no”. . . . .

He couldn’t stop thinking about this house and so on Friday (he had the day off) he made me go look at it again w/Kathy.  We looked at it, she loved it.  When we got home, Rich went and looked at it w/Pastor K.  (glorious’s hubby).  He liked it, too.

The only concern is the drive to school and church.

I DON’T CARE about the drive.

This is the house of my dreams.

4 bedrooms, 2 and a half bathrooms, wrap around porch, fireplace, beautiful master bedroom.

More room! 

2.3 acres of land bordering state forest!

2 ponds!

Quiet, seclusion, and country!

I can have chickens!

It seems flippant to say, “praise the Lord”, but I do say it, with all the reverance and praise that I have in me!

Now, where is that stack of “Country Living” magazines and my scissors?

Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:  but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Pr. 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil:  but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Pr. 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:  but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 3 :13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Job 5:17  Happy is the man whom God correcteth:  therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

Psalm 144:15  Happy is that people, that is in such a case:  yea, happy is that people, Whose God is the Lord.

James 5:13  Is any merry?  Let him sing songs of praise.

Ps. 32:11  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous:  and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Ps. 100:2  Serve the Lord with gladness:  come before his presence with singing.

Pr. 16:20  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:  and who so trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

Hi!  Well, we’ve been through 2 weeks of summer vacation.  The first day was very difficult for me but in hindsight I know it’s because of the dramatic change of schedule.  I went from 2 children during the school hours, to 5 children all day every day. 

Today I wanted to share something from my life as a mother.  I had noticed that my 3 1/2 year old was getting very mischievous, and he was starting to be slightly rebellious.  Nothing that a stranger would notice (well, I hope not), but something that as a mother, I noticed and sensed (we Christian mothers should not underestimate our discernment and our instincts in raising our babies).

To make a long story short—I realized that he was deprived of attention.  I have a baby who gets lots and lots of love, hugs, and time with Mommy.  The older ones get lots of attention. But, my 3 year old was getting lost in the shuffle.  A 3 year old still needs lots of attention and love, too.

I’ve been holding him more, talking to him (really talking, with all my attention), and making all kinds of contact with him throughout the day.

He is a different child now.  Is it my attitude?  I think part of it is, but part of it is him.  As a result of more mommy and daddy time, he’s calmer, more obedient, more thoughtful (he’s been putting his dirty dishes in the sink without being told!!!!!), and more of a blessing to all of us! 

So, all you mothers out there, make sure that you are giving your children quality time.  Not over-the-top, “unnatural affection”, but quality mother time.  It will make a big difference in your relationship with them.  Don’t just feed your child’s body.  Feed his mind, heart and soul, too. 

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath is quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed,
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Mommy Loves Me

LOVE–  I never realized that “he that loveth another hath FULFILLED the LAW”.  This is almost beyond my understanding.  That is why I want to meditate on these verses, which I copied into my spiritual journal this morning.

Romans 13:8b-10

For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

1 Timothy 1:5

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.  (This verse is a delight to me, I could spend the whole day thinking of just this verse and be spiritually fed)

Galatians 5:6

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision:  but faith which worketh by love.

Master (Jesus Christ), which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like unto it, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

How is my heart, soul, and mind?

What a treasure God’s word is! 

I just thought today, that if only I were more faithful to reading and meditating on God’s word, I would NEVER run out of things to praise and thank God for in my prayers to Him.

Dear Joanna, My heart has that “full and happy” feeling, after looking through your letters, cards and pictures, and thinking about our 10+ years of quality friendship.  I am so thankful for our history together.  I can look back and see how we have both grown as women–as wives and mothers and friends.  When I have a terrible day and something happens, I call you.  When I have some tremendously exciting news, I call you.  There is no one who can take your place in my life.  We’ve managed to foster a friendship that has stood the test of time and distance!  I hope that your 30th birthday is a wonderful day.  Can you believe we’re in our 30’s now?  I wonder what the years will bring.  Whatever happens, you can always count on Shanda Banda!  Love you.

I have your letters and cards. . . . . .”More than kisses, letters mingle souls;
for thus friends absent speak.”

Shanda Banda and Jo

I have pictures. . . . . . .“A friend is a second self”

Isn’t it nice to have history?

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“A friend is someone who sees through you and still enjoys the view”

“Is is my friends that have made the story of my life.  In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges, and enabled me to walk serene and happy in the shadow cast by my deprivation.”~Helen Keller

“To have a friend is to have one of the sweetest gifts that life can bring:  to be a friend is to have a solemn and tender education of soul from day to day”

“Writing creates a santuary.  It is a place were friends, although apart, can meet.”

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3