Converstations overheard in a bathroom

We are trying hard to potty train, and we have good days and bad. Well, one day while in the bathroom with my daughter, we were talking. As she sits on the toilet with legs spread as far apart as she can so she will not fall in, she says to me, " Mama there's my penis." I of course say, with huge grin on face, "No, girls don't have penises." She gets a very distraught look on her face and says words her father hoped he would NEVER hear..." Oh, but I want one." I, of course, am laughing and trying to tell her that girls do not have them and will not have them. Then she looks up at me all happy and says " oh yeah, I have a peaNUT." At this point I am glad that I am sitting on the floor because my laughing would have taken me there. So, now we have a new word for that V word that isn't so pleasant anyway!! Peanut, and it makes my daughter happy, and she is not disappointed she has no penis!! Out of the mouth of babes!! Stay safe and blessed.

IT IS HERE

Ok, on my last post I told you about the great Art Program that I purchased. Well, go to the link on my side bar (Mad Cap Logic) and take a look at it. It has a great demo and video of the program. I think you will love it. I played and played with the demo. I hope you like it too. Please be sure to follow the link if you decide to purchase, because I get credit for it. Thanks and have a great day!!! Stay safe and blessed.

ART

Well, I came across this GREAT site that has a WONDERFUL art program. I know a lot of us that home school, the arts are something we lack in sometimes. Well, there are those who thrive in in it, and you know who you are!! I still love you though. Well, I love Music and Art, but my artistic abilities consist of stick people, and they aren't very good. But I love going through the basics with my children. Starting at the beginning, so they know how to look at colors and appreciate the complexity that they really are. So, when I ran across this program I was SO excited. Because having 2 boys that are really computer driven, I love having something that they think they are playing, but they are learning too. So, that is where this fabulous program comes in. I have ordered mine, and am trying to become an affiliate so that if you would like to order it, you can click on my link, and I get credit for it. So, check back, and see if it is up on my blog maybe tomorrow. But I will definitely keep you posted. There is a great video and demo to try out. It is recommended for children 7-12, but I know that my 6 YO will love it too. I think really any one that can navigate the computer will have fun on it, no matter what age. So, sorry to keep you hanging, but I will give you more info later. Stay safe and blessed.

Merry Christmas

As I sit and think about what we celebrate this time of year, I get teary eyed thinking about how scared Mary and Joseph must have been. But especially Mary. I know how scared I was when I gave birth to my first child. And I did not have to travel on donkey to a town to be counted, and then to think of how her pregnancy started. I mean really, to have never to have been with a man, and then to be pregnant. And the the first time she felt him kick. I will never forget how that felt. It was amazing, and SOOO very strange too. I feel sorry for men, because they will never know the wonder of being pregnant. And I was safe and sound in a hospital with Doctors and nurses to help, and take care of me. And to be there if anything went wrong. For Mary to have to give birth in a manger with no sterile bed and instruments to bring her child into the world. But can you imagine how personal it would have been to have just her and her husband there to witness the miracle of the birth of Jesus. My VERY favorite Christmas song of all time is "Mary Did You Know". I often think about how she must have felt to have given birth to the Messiah, and what his life would entail. You know we all have dreams for our children, and hope that their life will turn out to be so great, and they will live a long and happy life. But to see our child be tortured and killed at 33 would be so devastating, that I am not sure most of us could take it. To have kissed his precious little head, and to have held him every day. To have taken care of him, and his needs. The thoughts just keep coming.

I know tomorrow that we will talk about Jesus, and how important He is to us, and what we are celebrating. But it will not mean as much as the presents they will get. But I know that if we keep talking to them, and reminding them, they will know His love, and know His life.

So, I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully safe New Year. May God bless you and keep you. Stay safe and blessed.

FUN!!!

I went to our group meeting last night, and we laughed and had such fun!! I learned great things from wonderful women, and felt like I was not a bad Mom. I love the honest answers of women that are home schooling. I feel like I am not the only one having troubles in their day to day life, and thinking that maybe I am not doing the right thing. However, we all love our children with all our hearts and we do the best we can every day. I know that Mothers have guilt every day on whether we are doing enough for our children and families. And when you home school it is even greater. But one thing we know is that we are teaching our children morals and values. I think that the world is so lacking in morals and values, and we are trying to put those things back in our families, and our lives.

I want to thank all the wonderful women last night and thank you for all the support, and help with my blog. I had so much fun!! I cannot say enough about women supporting women. We need it and thrive with it. Stay safe and blessed.

Teenagers

My oldest is only 9, but I think that is the word I fear most, TEENAGER. I was a crazy teen. I did not do as I was told, and I hope that payback stops. I was a breech baby, and caused my mom severe pain. So, guess what? My first child...42 hours of labor. Everything I ever was when I was little, my children are. And everything that I did, they are doing. So I am hoping this will stop soon, because I really do not want them to do what I did. I hope that through it, and with the Lord's help, I will be able to talk to them about the bad things out there. And there are so many more "BAD" things now than there was when I was their age. So, how do you do it? How do you make sure you are teaching them the things they REALLY need to know?

My oldest son is really liking girls these days, and it scares me. Not that he likes girls, but I know we are going to have to do more talking to him. And what is he going to get and what is he ready for at his age. However, I was reading a friend's blog, and there was a link to another blog I just happened to check out. It is called No Question Left Behind, found here and it is REALLY good. It is teens answering questions. Some posed by other teens, and some by parents of teens. I was reading the one about dating and it was GREAT!!! It was talking about not casual dating. It was a great article. You should really read it, because it makes a lot of sense, and gives you some info to give great info to your child.

I know that all parents want the best for their children, but do they do as we say, or do as WE do. I know that when I hear my almost 3 YO daughter say NOW to her brothers, that maybe I say that too much. I think some times our children put US in check. I know when I see my child do something or say something and it is like looking in the mirror, that I need to do better. What am I showing my children. Am I doing the right things, because that is what they are doing. I think my most of my words go in one ear and out the other. But I need to walk the walk, if I am going to talk the talk. So, I challenge all Mom's to really see what your children are doing, and make sure you do as you say too. I know that we are the ones to give the directions, and be the supervisors over our children. But I am talking about walking the walk with God, and letting them know what walk you want them to do. So, walk and talk with your children every day, and make sure that walk is with God, and I think that all of you will do GREAT!!! Stay safe and blessed!!

Bugs and Spiders and Snakes...OH MY!!!

Well, I just cannot say how much we LOVE the farm, and the Outdoor adventures we get to have. Today was cold, and seemed miserable. But we had SOOO much fun!!! I was SO proud of my oldest son. He heard the older group leader say that they were going in a cistern, and looking for spiders and snakes. Well, I said that that sounded like the last thing on earth that I would EVER want to do. First, I am claustrophobic, so going down into a concrete hole in the ground makes my skin crawl. Then the thought of such a hole being filled with snakes and spiders, makes me want to PUKE!!! It conjures up images of Indiana Jones going down into the pit of snakes. I was really surprised that he would want to go on this adventure. His best buds were not there today to go on the younger kids adventure, so he really wanted to be a big kid. I warned him, because he is usually not so willing to go on an adventure laden with snakes or spiders. So, he went with the older kids, and I went with the little kids.

My baby girl was THE muddiest and dirtiest kid out there, as usual. My little boy had such a good time, and he is so much braver with his gloves on. He is willing to pick up anything as long as he does not have to have it on his skin. He held a Daddy long leg spider, and he loved it. He also picked up a Wolf spider. The kids had so much fun with some nets. Of course, he got the net as muddy and wet as he could, and then placed it over his sister's head. Of course, her head was covered in muddy water and leaves. We saw lots of cool things, and had so much fun!!

When we got back to the house, and the older group was still at the cistern. So, I took the other two over to see what they were doing. And found that the oldest had in deed gone down into the cistern, and had held a snake. WHAT!!!! Is this my child!! Holding snakes, and going down holes!! Who took my child and replaced him with this brave boy? I could not believe this timid little boy was the same one that I took to the farm. I am so proud of him. He has been struggling lately, missing his dad, and trying to find his place. He wants so bad to be a big kid, but still so unsure of himself. As with all my children, I love him with all my heart. And it has been really rough the past week or so. But he was so strong and brave today out there with things he did not know he had within. Then the other two also held the snakes. YUCK!!! What was going on here? I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Someone had come and snuck in and replaced my children with children that are brave, and want to hold snakes. What have I taught them? LOL It makes me laugh.

Then to top it all off, the oldest BEGGED for a pet snake. Of course, I said no. Then we walked down the hill to the craw dad traps. There were none in them, but one had some fish in it. Some Blue Gills, which the middle child BEGGED to have as a pet. So, he instead finds a grub, takes it home, and while holding it, it bit him. We, of course, got rid of it. It hurt but did not even break the skin. The grub was the weirdest thing ever. It fell out of the can we had it in, and was on the floor. So, he was afraid that it might bite him again, so I had to help him find it and get rid of it. The grub was on it's back crawling around on the floor, on it's back (I say it twice because it was so freaky.) I have never liked grubs. They, like snakes and spiders, CREEP me out!!!

I just cannot express how much fun the farm is, and how much fun we have when we are there. I grew up on a HUGE farm, and played everyday with WILD abandon. When I got older, I hated the fact that I had chores to do, and resented the farm. But now I long for a big place to call home, and somewhere that my children can run wild, and have fun. But we have a great home, and lots of love, and that is enough. If you ever have a chance to be out in nature, run and play with WILD abandon. You may never realize how much it means to your children!!! Stay safe, and blessed.