Boy and girl wearing goggles underwater
I recently received a comment from Ruthie Ruth and thought that I would address it today. Thank you for the comment and an idea to write about!

I would love a post from a mama of many about how to enjoy water. I've almost totally stopped taking my kids swimming because I have such trouble keeping them safe and an eye on all of them.

First of all, let me say that I do not particularly enjoy taking them all to the water. They love it though! My hubby often takes them and helps out when he is available to do so. Then there are some days when it is just too hot not to be in the water. Here are some things that help me to keep my sanity.

1. Have your children learn to swim. Not all of mine do but I worry so much less about the ones who can.
2. Have the older children take turns helping with the younger ones. It never hurts for them to take some time and play with a younger sibling.
3. If your children are little, stick to the shallow water!
4. Give them limits on how far they can wander. Show them ahead of time. The water depth levels painted on the side of the pool make good markers.
5. Use floaties! To me, floaties are like an extra set of hands. And if they do go under the water the floaties will help until you can reach them.
6. The pool noodles are great too. Have the little ones hang on and pull them around the shallow end.
   
7. Sunscreen galore! Lather them before you even get near the water, that way you do not have to worry about one wandering while you cover another in sunscreen. We often do this before we leave the house or outside of the fence that surrounds the pool.
   
8. For the littlest ones I like the floating devices that have a seat and a suncover.
9. Pray for safety, protection, your nerves, and obedient children.
10. Stick to your guns. Tell them the rules, limits, and consequences ahead of time. If the children are not obedient, then leave and make them aware of the fact that they disobeyed a rule already set forth. They will be more likely to be obedient the next time around.
    
11. Try to focus on the joy that your children express rather than allowing anxiety to grow.
12. Go to the pool with a friend. You can help each other keep an eye on the children. Your children may also be less likely to wander if they have someone to play with.
13. Talk to the lifeguards. Tell them you have brought several children (especially if you are by yourself, point that out to them) and would greatly appreciate it if they would help you out in paying extra attention.
    
14. If the big pool is too much, the kiddie pools they sell at Walmart and the sprinklers are enough to cool them off and still have fun in the water.

Does anyone else have any suggestions???? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us!

Labels: children, Family, Preschoolers, Quiverfull

Labels: Alaska, children, Family, journal, Preschoolers, Quiverfull, Wordless Wednesday

Labels: Family, Wordless Wednesday

Thanks be to God: the Gospel does not allow us to live divided lives. Our education, our careers, our relationships, and our worship are all bound up together in our calling to submit to the Lordship of Christ—that is, our calling to live as Christians. These six talks by Pastor Wilson encourage us to strive after a Gospel-filled life, always seeking to embody the doctrines and beliefs we confess.

This set includes:

- Education that's Christian All the Way Down
- God and Everything Else
- What Is a Christian Worldview?
- Christ and Your Calling
- The Integrated Life
- What Worship Is; What Worship Does

For your free MP3 downloads visit Canon Press. I do not know how long these will be available so hurry!

Labels: Christianity, Conservative, Encouragement, Family, Homeschooling, worship

Father Walking with Child in the Park

What we want to do with our children, is not merely to control them and keep them in order—but to implant true principles deep in their hearts which shall rule their whole lives; to shape their character from within into Christ-like beauty, and to make of them noble men and women, strong for battle of life. They are to be trained rather than governed. Growth of character, not merely good behavior—is the object of all home governing and teaching. Therefore the home influence is far more important than the home laws; and the parents’ lives are of more significance than their teachings. Whatever may be done in the way of governing, teaching or training—theories are not half as important as the parents’ lives. They may teach the most beautiful things–but if the child does not see these things modeled in the life of the parent, he will not consider them important enough to be adopted in his own life.

J. R. Miller’s classic book, Home-Making, originally published in 188

Friends—fathers, we must forsake the pharisaical desire for trophy children, children who obey so that we can look spiritually successful. We must, by God’s grace, seek to be spiritually successful – not so we can look good, but so that we can teach our children the way of wisdom – by being an example that authenticates our rule. And when they fail, and they will, we should show them that their sin can only be overcome by the power of the Cross. Use every failure—every sinful action, not as a time of discipline or anger, but a time of discipleship! These are God-ordained opportunities to share the richness of the grace of God in Christ.

If we not only teach Christ, but live Christ, we will not be concerned about having “trophy children;” we will see the promises of God manifested in the hearts of our children, for generations.

excerpt from Trophy Children: A Father's Day Challenge from Family Reformation

Labels: Christianity, Family, Train Up a Child

We are headed out of town today. I am off for a visit with my father. I have not seen him in 20 years. He has never met my husband or any of our children. This should be an interesting visit. Then I put hubby on a plane home (he has to work) and I will continue on to visit my grandmothers, mother, cousin, siblings & siblings' families. It should make for an interesting trip.

Thanks to blogger and their upgrades (new scheduled posting), I can still be posting without actually having to be at a computer. So stayed tuned. Posting may be more sporadic but even though I am going out of town without constant computer access doesn't mean I won't be "on my blog".

Please pray for safe travel and good visits. Oh, and just because I will be in and out doesn't mean you can take a break! I would still love to hear your comments on the posts published while I am traveling! You always brighten my days with your comments!

Labels: Family, journal, travel

Take a good look, this is a rare thing! My camera shy son has actually been caught on camera!! Today is his seventeenth birthday! Where have the years gone? It was not all that long ago he was interested in trains and legos. Time sure does fly by. Happy birthday son; we love you.

Labels: Family

The May edition of The Heart of the Matter homeschool magazine has been published! You can catch me over there today! Stop by, read, and leave some comments! Have a terrific Thursday.

Main Page

Direct Link to my article on schedules.

Labels: Family, Heart of the Matter, Homeschooling, organization

Here is a photo of my hubby working hard. This is on one of his overnight shifts. He looks pretty good in green, doesn't he?

Labels: Family

We have had another birthday! My hubby works with someone who is a very talented artist. This is a pencil sketch of our daughter drawn from a photo of her. She loved his drawings and has said how she would love to have one so we asked him. It took about a month but he drew a picture of her and at no charge! Thank you Jonathan! Our daughter absolutely loves it, in fact, I think she was trying not to cry when she opened it. She was so surprised and happy!

Labels: Family

For show and tell today I thought I would share my birthday cake with you all. It was so good! My two oldest daughters made it for me. It is filled with chocolate pudding and strawberries!!! Yum! I think they did a wonderful job! What do you think?

For more show and tell visit Mary!

Labels: Family, Show and Tell

Another occasion for cake! My son has turned 12! He has a cousin with same birthday and the two of them got together and went for a game of lazer tag with a few siblings and other cousins. I think they had a great time. Our families actually bought the same gift each other and that was rather funny!

Happy Birthday Micah! We love you!! Even if you are a little bit crazy!!

Labels: children, Family

This past Sunday evening there was much rejoicing. Two of our children were baptized!

Acts 2:38-39
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

They were asked several questions in front of a small congregation and gave their testimony in that way. I video taped the questions EXCEPT for the first two questions (I couldn't remember how to work my camera). The questions not on the video are:
1. What is the sign of baptism? Answer: Washing with water
2. What does the washing with water represent? Answer: that we are untied with Christ and cleansed from sin by his blood.
You can listen to the rest....


Here are a few pictures.....

The service was concluded with someone playing Amazing Grace on their trumpet, which of course, brought tears to my eyes.

Labels: Catechism, children, Christianity, Family, Sacraments

I am out for the day and taking a breather. Today is my birthday and I am headed out for a fun day. My mother-in-law is visiting and we are going out for an early brunch then to get our nails done. Later in the evening my hubby is taking me out to dinner. My older daughters have made a beautiful cake which I cannot wait to bite into and I am anxious to open that box sitting in my dining room! It looks to be a full day. May your day be a wonderfully blessed one, too!

Labels: Family, journal

Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Scripture is clear that it is our Sovereign Lord who is the creator of life and when that life begins. Before we are even formed God knew us and had a plan for us. Who are we, the creation to try and take the place of God in this area of life. To determine who should be given life and who should not. These words of the Lord has had a major impact upon our own journey.

I am utterly amazed at how so many people have their eyes blinded to the truth. (2 Cor. 4:4, 1 John 2:11, John 12:40) Even after that child is in the womb and being knit together by the Lord; people deny life. I do not typically talk politics here on my blog even though I am a bit of a political junkie. I am one of those people who does take the issue of abortion into account when voting. I ran across a post today over at Reformed Chicks Blabbing that I want to share with you. It is such an unbelievable statement. It is in complete opposition to what the Word of God says about children. God calls them: a heritage unto the Lord, Olive plants, arrows, reward, blessing, gift, and more. He never calls them a punishment! Why can we not teach our children the truth and expect them to live accordingly? Why can we not offer support when they fail rather than adding grief upon grief?

Obama: "I don't want them punished with a baby"

So, pro-life Obamaicans, which is better for our pro-life position: a president who doesn't talk about abortion or pro-life issues but wouldn't promote it or be an advocate for it either, or someone who has such a low view of life that he calls a baby, "punishment" and would make an apologetic for it using his own daughters?

I think it's clear that Obama isn't post-partisan on the abortion issue, he is decidedly pro-choice.

For a vivid look at abortion take a moment and visit this site. Before doing so, please read this excerpt from their site. (note: I am NOT personaly endorsing the candidate shown on their site.)

Editors Note: Pro-Life means Pro-Life. I do not in any way shape or form, advocate, suggest or support violent action or vigilante justice against anyone in the American Holocaust business.

This site is designed to serve as a window into the depravity of men who would kill innocent humans whom they have deemed to be non-humans. There exists a frightening correlation between the American holocaust of abortion and the NAZI holocaust of World War II infamy. This site endeavors to uncover those correlation's in all their graphic horror.

---

Parental Warning!!!

This site contains graphic photos of the

abortion holocaust and the NAZI holocaust.

Please come back and share you comments. I always welcome comments as long as they are given in a spirit of respect for others with civility. Any slanderous comments, comments with foul language, or those showing disrespect to the Lord will be deleted.

Labels: abortion, children, Christianity, Conservative, Conviction, Family, grief, politics, Quiverfull

Labels: Family, Wordless Wednesday

As you all know I am a momma to many children. I consider each one a blessing and a gift from the Lord. They are great gifts which are a great responsibility. This is a responsibility my husband and I take very seriously. Several of my regular readers have read about how my husband and I view children and the Lord God's sovereignty in this area of our lives. If you have not read our testimony, please take a moment to read about our journey. After you read it, please come back and comment here.....

Announcing #9........
Three in a row and a positive blood test too!

Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Malachi 2:15a
Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring.

Praise be to God! Thank you Lord!

Labels: Family, Quiverfull

Labels: Family

Labels: children, Family, Wordless Wednesday

How many monkeys does it take to have a party??

Labels: children, Family, Nature, PhotoHunt