I just thought the were potty trained!

Yes I said they.

Yesterday was lovely. It all started at midnight. I had given the kids a lot of water before bed on Sunday night. Usually water before bedtime isn't a problem for the kids.
But, at midnight I awake to Michael in my face asking where the twin sheets are. Most people can probably answer quickly but I seem to never know where I put anything for a good 5 minutes.

After I sent him off (looking in the wrong place) I get up and go to the correct place to find them.

So that was incident #1. After school time Monday the kids were playing outside. Michael and I were hanging out in the kitchen talking when Paisley runs in and says she has to pee. "Well go" we both hurriedly say.

Being the obedient child she is, she did...on the floor. Incident #2.

Fast forward to this morning at 6:45ish. Haven is standing by my bed and whispers, "Mom, why are my pants wet?" Had I not been joyfully sleeping I would have exploded. He's 5! But instead I say go change and get back in bed.

When I got up and went to wake the angels I saw him in bed and gasped "what are you doing in bed? are your sheets wet?!" They weren't. He's been known to pee just a bit not wetting the sheets (the positive to the story!). Incident #3.

And the final...I hope...incident just occured. When something happens 4 times close together you blog about it. Paisley was standing on the toilet brushing her teeth. I walked in and she looks panicked and says "I just peed". Grrrrrr.

She was on the potty!!!! Now my floor is a little cleaner as is the trashcan and toilet paper holder.

Right Choices = Controversy

Why is it that doing the right thing or letting it be known that you are not just like everyone else causes controversy? I have actually had someone (someone very close to me) yell at me for making them feel bad for the choices they made--NOT because of something I said, mind you--but because of the way I live! What the heck??

Then I had a mom call me the other day about homeschooling and she told me her daughter's teacher said she couldn't read ahead because it might make the other students feel dumb. So okay, let's put a ceiling on this girl and teach her that being smart is a bad thing. Makes sense. I have learned to keep my lips tightly pursed. God has been good to me on that one. My tongue used to get me in lots of trouble. (Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:28, Proverbs 21:23)

The thing that gets me the most is people who get offended by my choices are Christians. Yet the Bible is very clear:

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

I choose to not conform to the ways of the world (most certainly the ways of America). I choose to homebirth, not vaccinate, not circumcise, use alternative health, cloth diaper, breastfeed, co-sleep, profess my faith, submit to my husband, allow God to control my family size, spank my children, say NO, and make decisions based on long term results not instant gratification. I'm far from 100% on some of those, especially that last one. But that's why God blessed me with a very wise husband!

A woman emailed me the other day and I'd like to share part of it: (emphasis is mine)

Hey girl!!
I am in your small group at MOMS and I was wondering if you can help
me out. My family in general is moving in the direction of healthy
eating but this is ever more important right now. X needs to
change his habits from normal to pretty strict because of his
headaches. We need to eat fresh, non soy, no preservatives and
nitrate free.
Why am I telling you this? I think I heard you telling the helpers
at class that you did not want the kids drinking juice, I don't
either!! So this morning I thought of that statement and wanted to
email you. But anyway, I have been praying about this eating and you
came to mind. If you have any suggestions, book to recommend I would
love any help in this area. It is very hard to decipher through all
the millions of internet searches and books available!!

This is why you live by example. There is always someone watching and God will use you to glorify Him. I was in awe for days after this because it is so easy to think everyone thinks you're crazy (most do). But there are those who want a better life. Those who are just waiting for you to show them that you have some answers.

I invited this mom over and well I gave her more than she wanted I'm sure. It's kind of hard to stop yourself when you get started. But she went home and this was her reply email:

Ok. You have given me the tools to see that our food is
POISON!!!!!!!!!!!! X and I have checked out every label and are
going to transition all our foods to be MSG free among other
things!!! It is amazing what the FDA does not tell us and what they
allow in our foods. X and I have discussed that we feel so
betrayed by the food companies. Can't believe it.

Thank you for the information. I think it was info that we needed to
hear.

It is up to us to determine our paths not the FDA, CPS, Dept. of Health, CDC, Hospitals or media! I love that our children are a great example of smart choices we've made. The choices are never easy but then again Jesus told us we'd have trouble on this side of heaven. (John 16:33)

Paul's words are so full of inspiring, direct words. I feel this is a great end to my post:

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Existentialism in the home

What a sad picture it is looking at the home today. Children are off the wall and all parents do is chalk it up to "that's just the way he/she is".

What kind of lame excuse is that?

If you don't know what existentialism is you need to and when you do you'll realize you have been brainwashed with this line of thinking. I always feel comfortable writing and handing out advice on subjects that I have been guilty of and thankfully graduated from. I don't worry about stepping on any toes. And if I do step on your toes I realize it's not me with the problem it's you. When my toes get stepped on I ask myself if 1) I being too sensitive or 2) am I needing to learn a lesson here?

First, I owe a huge apology to my son for the injustice I gave him by complaining to other parents about his "just a boy" behaviors. Now I have the monumental task of undoing that grouping he has been placed in by sympathetic mothers who themselves were/are looking for others in a similar uncontrollable (or so they think) situation.

So if I am no longer a mom who just sits back and passively/forceably parents what happened and what am I doing now? First of all, I made myself very aware of what the Bible says about parenting, training, children, sin and love. Then, I found a companion to my Bible called To Train Up A Child by Michael Pearl. Finally, I no longer looked at what I hadn't done in the past or lamented on the damage I had done to my children but I started on that day doing it right! You have to start somewhere, why not now? It literally took hours for the change to be felt in our house upon implementing techniques that would bring order and respect to our family. It simply sickens me when I think of the children I know that are CRAZY! I would have easily called my Prince that weeks ago. But he wasn't crazy nor are the other children I am thinking of. They just simply crave the loving guidance and training from their parents that will help them to become respectable young people.

I'll tell you, I no longer get frustrated and overwhelmed by my children (if I begin to I know that it is because I have slacked off or have some personal issue going on that needs to be dealt with). I don't let them tell me what they want to do or don't want to do. As their parent it is my responsibility to train them to respect authority and to follow directions. Think about what happens if parents don't do this! They fail in school, they break laws, they never have a steady job, they end up divorced... These are all results than can and will occur when I child is just left to "well boys will be boys...that's just the way he/she is...she/he is just strongwilled or stubborn...she's just dramatic" We made a decision to take control of our family.

I clearly remember a sermon I listened to called KidCEO. The heart of the message was that kids are not to be the center of the family, the marriage is. A husband and wife HAVE TO parent TOGETHER! One who disciplines with one how consoles will end in FAILURE. Good guy, bad guy doesn't work. Parents often think they are helping their children by offering balance. I have seen first hand how that doesn't work. When Michael and I made the decision to work together everything fell into place. How bout that!

You notice I keep saying we made the decision. You wouldn't believe how many parents seriously think it is out of their hands. How is that Biblical? God gave us the blessing of being able to decide which path we will take. It is never too late but it does get harder the longer they are allowed to do whatever they want. Haven is 3 1/2 and he is a different child now. But I am smart enough to realize that actions speak louder than words. I pray that the Lord will give me plenty of opportunities to minister to others through the behavior of myself and my children. I know I have a loooong way to go and my children are faaaar from perfect. However, I will not make excuses for them and I will not cheat them by allowing them to think for one second that the world is at their beck n call.

Okay now I am stepping off my soapbox.

Puke, Puke and More Puke

WARNING*** The word PUKE is used a million times in this post! LOL

That is sadly the story of my last 2 days. I don't know which was worse: Wednesday when Paisley and I were throwing up or today when Haley and Haven are. I will say that my wonderful, amazing husband took Haley and Haven to the office yesterday during a not so pleasant...brb puke time... time at his practice. And having your mom live near you is fabulous when she brings you homemade chicken noodle soup ... yyuuuummmyyy! Paisley and I pretty much slept for 24 21 hours yesterday. I feel great today and Paisley seems to be 80%. I really think the worse part of todays events is Haley's realization that she can't go to soccer practice tonight. I mean seriously, if you only knew how much she loves soccer! Example, this morning she already had her practice outfit laid out in shirt, skirt, soccer socks order. I come in and move them (egad!! the tragedy!) and she has a dang kanipshin (never tried to spell that word)... brb puke time... fit. So you can see that she takes soccer, or atleast fashion, very seriously. I am sad for her as well though because she is very very good and it is a joy to watch her spank, er outperform, her teammates :D So back to the drama of Thursday. This has been my day (feel free to send me ecards of encouragement or sympathy): haley puke, haven puke, paisley scream and scream, haley puke, haven puke (sometimes simultaneous), i get smart and put paisley on my back to eliminate the screaming, haley puke x3+, haven puke. I have set up this handy dandy puke bucket though. It's a box with a liner then 2 vegetable grocery bags on each side. So when Haley pukes she goes to her side and I easily remove (and yes I hold it up and say look sweetie this is all the poison you are getting rid of) and then when it's Haven's turn I just turn the box. What a great use for those bags. Now when I say I held it up it was way past the point of there being anything but stomach acid, no floaters. I am pretty sure I am in the minority when I share with you what I am thinking as I pray for and hold Haley's hair during her low moments. I can't help but fast forward 20 years to her giving birth. The noises she makes, her pleads for me to pray for her, my gentle support. I actually tell her when she is puking that she is doing so good, get it all out, you can do it. What else do you say to a 5yo who is freaking out? It's been a few minutes and I have not heard any voices calling me to run in there with the box. I pray that saga is over. ugh there she goes. brb. Only a request for water. It's funny Haven has been quiet today which is a huge departure from his normal self. When he pukes it is calm and matter of fact. Again a huge departure from his normal self. I hate to say it but 4 down and 1 to go. Or the Lord (I know you are reading this God) could spare Michael b/c he really really really doesn't need to be sick right now. I covet your prayers!

Oh if you read this far I lost 5 pounds yesterday! Not exactly a desirable form of dieting but it sure is a nice positive to a crappy day.