PARENTING FREEDOM

“Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen…”

“Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.”

Category: Christianity, Family Planning, Homeschooling Controversy, Inspiration, Parenting General | No Comments »
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Not the only purpose, but definitely a given

Carol | April 15, 2011

‘Never be afraid to die, because you are born to die’: World’s oldest man dies aged 114
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377132/Worlds-oldest-man-Walter-Breuning-dies-aged-114-natural-causes.html#ixzz1JafKvHA3

“He attributes his long life to eating only two meals a day – because ‘that’s all you need’ – working as long as you can, embracing change, helping others and of course, accepting death.”

“He said the last one was a lesson he learned from his grandfather, proclaiming: ‘We’re all going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you’re born to die.‘”

“Walter’s earliest memories stretched back 111 years, before home entertainment came with a twist of the radio dial. They were of his grandfather’s tales of killing Southerners in the Civil War.”

“He recalls he was only three years old and was horrified: ‘I thought that was a hell of a thing to say.’”

Category: Inspiration | No Comments »
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List of Loves: As They Happen ~ Part 1

Carol | March 6, 2011

I have often read Ann Voskamp’s lovely articles on her blog. She is a homeschooling mother of six. She also takes beautiful photographs and has recently become a New York Times bestselling author.

For the past couple years, I noticed she kept an ongoing list of things for which she was thankful. I found when I started writing my own lists, it just seemed like a lot of bragging to me. Also, I found that when I thought of things just for the sake of it, there wasn’t much feeling in it, so I didn’t always feel the gratefulness. Sometimes, when I think “thankful”, it is out of a sense of duty instead of deep appreciation. I figured if I shared my lists on my blog or Facebook, people would think I was bragging and that things in my life were sickeningly perfect. I felt that such a list would be unbalanced because I was ignoring all the hardships and pain that I experience in my life. I naturally gravitate toward writing about only the good things in my life, so I thought a list would just draw even more attention to them. I tend to think that people would rather read that your life is just as hard as theirs. And, I think people prefer to hear bad news. It makes better gossip and better ratings on the news.

Then, I watched Ann Voskamp’s interview in these clips from 100 Huntley Street.

Having An Attitude Of Gratitude — Ann Voskamp — 1/2

Having An Attitude Of Gratitude — Ann Voskamp — 2/2

Ann explained it differently than I had understood. She said she began by thinking of things she loved. That made me realize I could collect my list in a different way. Instead of just sitting down and trying to make an artificial list of things that I SHOULD be grateful for, but may actually be annoyed by at that moment in time, I could live my life everyday and write down the things that made me happy as they came along. Things that made me smile or laugh or feel joy. I don’t have to get hung up on words like thankful, gratitude, or gifts.

I am going to give it a try. I will write as the things happen to me. I am not going to search for them. I will not commit to writing every day because that would turn into a burden, but I will write when I have the time.

I have not read Ann Voskamp’s book yet. I decided I want to read it AFTER I make my own list. I want to write what comes into my own head, and then I will enjoy reading her lists.

I will look for the following as they happen:

Things/times/people that…

make me happy
I love
give me joy
make me smile
make me laugh
and even, make me truly thankful

March 4, 2011

1. Silence… The jabbering going on right now makes me remember that wonderful thing.
2. Baby GC (6 months) crawling behind my la-z-boy chair and lifting the heat register out of the floor leaving a gaping hole next to her.
3. Baby GC lifting both arms high in the air for me to pick her up.
4. Baby GC slurping on my cheek/chin with one tiny sliver of a tooth.
5. N17 doing lunch dishes, vacuuming, and cleaning the counter and table.
6. B12 reading a StarWars book to L6 and they are both babysitting GC at the same time – hilarious because she is crawling and likes to eat books.
7. B12 muscle testing me and Baby GC. He is really great at it. I am very excited about this and look forward to blogging about it. It is a health tool that EVERY mother should know.
8. C9 talking on the phone to her friends for hours.
9. I wore my new Tough Traveler backpack yesterday for the first time. Baby GC loved it while I did the supper dishes. It is the best carrier for ages 6 months to 4 years. My first backpack made it through four children, but I needed a new one for this baby. My sister will get it next. I know she will love it because it is for tall people.
10. I am thankful for my height.
11. I am thankful for a sunny day.
12. I look back fondly on the Fridays we spent at the local Christian school over a period of about three years. I miss Mrs. M., but I am thankful for those times, even if most my children don’t remember those days.
13. I love McDonald’s fries.
14. I am so thankful we can afford groceries unlike the single mother interviewed on the radio who is struggling now that the cost of food has gone up.
15. A sales lady at a store asked if I had a new baby. (GC was peeking out of the sling.) I said, “She’s not new, but is now six months old.” She said she was behind the times, and, “So this makes two boys and two girls?” I said, “Three boys and two girls.” She said, “Five children!” And I braced for the negative comments… but instead, “You’re so lucky!” I said, “THANK YOU! Most people don’t have that reaction!” She said she was one of six children so she knows…
16. Baby GC was in the sling at a store when we became trapped by an old couple. The raggedy old man was so happy to see the baby. He came right up and rubbed her cheek with his own wrinkled fingers. He couldn’t stop grinning and pointing out her blue eyes, etc. to his wife. He said with a big smile, “I love babies.” I felt like I wanted to protect my baby, but I was polite and talked to the strangers. It was only afterward that I realized that I was very thankful for that experience. I was thankful there are people in the world like that old man. People that love babies and little children. People who are drawn to little ones. They are a rare breed. I could tell that his wife was just like most folks who like babies but do not have that gift. The way this old man felt about GC was just like my Uncle David felt about children. And I think I have a streak of it as well.
17. I am so relieved and thankful that my credit card is not really lost, but when I called the store, they said it was there. The teller just forgot to give it back to me, and I forgot to ask for it. I have gotten into the habit of not giving it to the teller because it has a chip, and they always say to do it myself, so I rarely have to ask for it back anymore. Baby GC is a distraction for the tellers and the people in line, so no wonder we forgot. I am relieved I don’t have to deal with the problems that would have resulted from a lost card.
18. The way Baby GC gives me such huge smiles and arches are back and reaches her arms when I take her out of her carseat to go into each store.
19. C9 making a small braid in her hair.
20. The looks on the kids’ faces when I gave them six new Nerf swords/axes (on sale) and hearing a huge battle in the basement.
21. PVR
22. The Middle
23. Chocolate chips
24. The way Baby GC makes big sighs and coos when she sleeps.

March 5, 2011

25. Listening to Mark Levin’s sarcasm and Happy Days are Here Again…
26. Right Scoop gave me a big smile of shared excitement when he wrote about a Sarah Palin interview, “Oh man I feel like the election campaigns have already started! That was awesome!”
27. Being reminded of Glenn, Stu, and Pat singing Happy Days are Here Again after the 2010 election. Listened to it again and smiled and enjoyed seeing N17 smile about it, too.
28. Freshly bathed baby in a pink sleeper lying on the floor with a pink toy in her mouth cooing on a Saturday morning. Then, picking up and rocking said baby and having her eyes close immediately upon latching on. And knowing I can just sit and hold her while she nurses and/or sleeps as long as she wants.
29. Purring kitty
30. Fox News Channel
31. The smile on L6′s face when I changed the channel from the news to a Scooby-Doo movie.
32. Not having to make lunch.
33. I laid Baby GC on the floor and arranged four of her things around her in a semi-circle. She crawled toward the book.
34. Holding sleeping baby during another nap.
35. Not having to make supper.
36. Holding both my little niece A2 and Baby GC in my lap at the same time while they enjoy each other.
37. Baby GC fussing in her carseat so we turn on the radio and she starts dancing in her car seat.

There. That’s a start. I don’t know if my list is normal or if it is even close to what would make other people happy, but I have always known I was different. I guess it doesn’t matter.

Category: Facebook, Inspiration, Journal 2011, List of Loves | 6 Comments »
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Why Lego 101 Is Our Most Important Subject

Carol | February 15, 2011

Killing the soul of children
http://www.itakejoy.com/killing-the-soul-of-children/

“Research of every kind has suggested that media, constantly being indoors, over-entertainment, trying to manage children into little adults, too much exposure to sexual material and immoral values at an early age, is destroying the soul of children…”

“Children need lots of time to have alone time imagination–to synthesize all that they are learning and thinking about in their worlds…”

Category: Health, Homeschooling Academics, Homeschooling Activities, Homeschooling Controversy, Inspiration, Parenting Attachment, Parenting General, Parenting Stay-at-Home, Sex Education, Video Games | 1 Comment »
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So Tired

Carol | February 12, 2011

“Great things are wanted to be done.” John Adams

Don’t Even Try to be Productive
http://www.steadymom.com/2011/02/dont-even-try-to-be-productive.html

Hat Tip: DogwoodMama

Category: Depression, Health, Inspiration, Quotes | 2 Comments »
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“Mom, when you feel happy and sing and dance around the house, we all feel like we are on top of the world.”

Carol | January 24, 2011

It’s Monday–be kind to yourself today!
http://www.itakejoy.com/its-monday-be-kind-to-yourself-today/

“‘Mom, when you feel happy and sing and dance around the house, we all feel like we are on top of the world,’ said Joel.”

“Be happy, give your burdens to God. Everyone will be the better for your day. And so I am planning for a grace-filled day, because I know there are lots of demanding days ahead and I am pacing myself–with my heart aimed at joy.”

I know what that feels like. But some days it is hard to get there.

Category: Christianity, Depression, Inspiration, Parenting General | 1 Comment »
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The Church

Carol | January 24, 2011

I came across this video yesterday about waking up churches. It is sometimes difficult to recognize “the church” in churches. This is especially true when it comes to the issue of abortion. When thousands upon thousands of unborn babies are being dismembered or burned in this country every year, I find it impossible to get excited about church socials.

“You need to put your faith on your feet, and be available to people”

Today I found this post at a friend’s blog along with the Freedom song. I was blessed by the author’s insight about grace and freedom.

Beautiful Mess: Grace is NOT what you think it is
http://thebestbeautifulmess.blogspot.com/2011/01/grace-is-not-what-you-think-it-is.html

“I realized that ‘I’ had felt good about myself when I went to church. It didn’t matter what I did the rest of the week, what sins I committed- pride, laziness, vanity, talking about others- going to church made me feel like I had done something for God…”

“I am so free in Christ that I no longer feel enslaved to the duties that I am ‘supposed’ to perform?…”

“God already knows that I am going to mess up some and He gently corrects me and I continue on in our relationship with no feelings of condemnation–cause there is no condemnation in Christ!…”

“Christ is the condition of grace, nothing more, nothing less- for there is nothing more we could need, He is all sufficient…”

“Sometimes it is hard to show grace to my own children. But I know, I know, Who will be with me through every success and failure. I know who will lead me every step and refine me…”

“Freedom” by Run Kid Run (with lyrics)

Run Kid Run ~ Freedom
All my chains I can’t disengage
And I don’t believe that I want to
One hand sings your praise
The other brings me shame
I have selfishness to blame
And I’m singing for freedom
I know I’m not the only one
Praying to the one
Who can bring me this freedom
I’m ready for change
Broke down I lay I keep holding my chains
No long bound but here I stay
I scream Father please I need rescuing
I need You and You alone
And I’m singing for freedom
I know I’m not the only one
Praying to the one
Who can bring me this freedom
I’m ready for (change)
Still You patiently await
Yet I won’t just let go
I see You and You alone
Saying freedom
And so I’m singing for freedom
The time has come separation lost the war to love
Take my hand gace has found you where You once began
You’re Alive! You’re Alive! in the waking of new life
Take my hand in the end there’s only lve
There’s only love
There’s only singing for freeom
I know I’m not only one
Praying to the One
Who can bring me this freedom
I’m ready for I’m ready for…
Father please I need rescuing
I need You and You alone

Category: Abortion, Christianity, Family Planning, Feminism, Freedom, Inspiration, Music, Parenting Discipline | No Comments »
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“May We See the Blessings of Struggle” Glenn Beck

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Sadness in the Life of An Inspirational Photo Blogger

“You represent everything that our culture hates.”