Real Food For Mother and Baby

Click on the book for an amazon link.

I just finished this book. It was a fun read. Lots of the stuff I already knew because she follows Weston Price pretty closely, but it was nice to see it broken down for mom and baby. I love the foods she fed her baby/toddler. I loved reading about what he liked and gravitated to for taste. It was really eye opening. I'd already decided that Lily would not be getting the old cereal and rice routine at 6m. Whole grains will be coming later for her. We also already knew she would get Mother's Milk for the whole first year of her life. Our goal is at least 18-24m, but we'll see how it goes.
I was happy to see that I was already doing most of the stuff she recommends (or had at least restarted to do). I have tried to eat fish, but other than tuna in a can I can't stomach it so I am taking CLO daily. I have researched it a lot and I feel comfortable taking a small dose of CLO even though I live in FL.

I liked that it was not full of recipes and purees. I used to give Jonathan more whole food as a toddler then most people thought was appropriate, but I was always right there and he did a great job chewing. Don't worry I was paranoid enough with some food that I cut it up for him, but some things he just enjoyed gnawing on. LOL

Anyway, I just wanted to recommend this book as a book that was fun to read and informative.

I bought the book from Amazon with my own money. It was well spent!

Added to the bookshelf

(Click on picture to direct to Amazon)


I picked up this book at our local Christian bookstore the other day. I'd been waiting and waiting for them to get it in. I suggest everyone read this book.
I remember clearly about a year ago I listened to three mom's that I know of teenage girls talk about the boys coming around. "What can we do?" was the sigh by all three moms. I turned to tell them about courtship and then promptly stopped. They were all smiling about it. They honestly thought that any thing other than dating would never work. We could never ask these young girls to give up their "right" to date.
I climbed back into my shell and ashamedly did not even mention courtship or anything like it.
My daughter is only 12 what do I know anyway?

These kids are way to precious to me to just send out at 13,15,16 and say good luck! Hope you pick a winner! In the above mentioned book, Reverend Baucham suggests we not only protect our daughters and actively help them in choosing a mate, but that we also spend the time it takes to raise up young men to meet these expectations. Why should we focus only on training girls to be wives and mothers and forget that we need to train our sons to be husbands and fathers? As much as we need to show our girls the right way to find a mate we need to show our sons how to respect his future wife enough to be ready to court her properly.

This girl. My 12 year old, lives in a world where boys and dating and relationships are constantly thrust at her. On every tv show/movie geared toward her age every girl is interested in some boy or dating some boy.... we don't watch them here but she is still exposed no matter how careful we are. Even in church girls her age are going out on "dates" with boys. Sometimes with parents along, sometimes with friends. Twelve year olds?

I got this book for her mainly. So that we can know how to guide her. So she can see that there is an alternative.

These boys are going to grow to be men. I have a serious problem with the Peter Pan syndrome of today. Men who never grow up. I know one man who is going to be 40 soon. His ex girlfriend had his baby over a year ago. He picks him up on Saturday night, brings him back on Sunday night. His new girlfriend watches the baby. He balks at paying child support. Seriously? GROW UP!

Our boys are going to be raised to be responsible. When it's time, they will take a wife build a family. We are training them to be protectors, providers, priests, and prophets of their homes. And unless God wills it they will not be doing those things at 40.

Read the above referenced book.

These two little girls will hopefully benefit from any wisdom we pick up while charting these waters with their sister. At 9 and 7, they have not really noticed boys yet. Beyond their sister telling them about a cute boy.

One of the great illustrations used by Voddie Baucham and also by Paul Washer is a man's prized car. Maybe it's an extended cab brand new truck, shiny. Maybe it's a Porshe that a man saved his whole life for. Would he hand over the keys to this to a pimply faced boy of sixteen? No? Well then why would he hand over his precious 16 year old daughter?

Be Blessed!

Essentials

OK well, maybe not essentials, but these are definatly some of my favorite Christmas/Birthday presents.

First you have the biggest essential. A bookshelf. This looks nothing like the one I got for Christmas. I could not find that one online for anything. The bookshelf was really needed. I have tons of books stored in plastic containers. Im a book junkie. I admit it. Of course I wanted more books for Christmas and more books I got....
This book was tops on my Christmas list. See this month starts our two year plan for real. We are moving full force ahead. This book was a must for learning some of the essentials for our new lifestyle. The first chapter had me enthralled. It talked about buying land and setting up your homestead. Lots of great ideas. This city girl needs all the help she can get. We also have planned to learn as much as we can here and now. Which leads me to my next gift..

I have read two chapters in this book and Im so excited. I can do this. This was one of my birthday presents. My sweet guy listens when I talk. He found it at Target and was so excited.
Growing up my mom worked a lot. She also had hayfever really bad so we never worked in the yard. This is a whole new experience for me.

On our way to a more self sufficient lifestyle I have to start at square one. God started us off on a need to eat healthier. He pointed me towards a natural whole foods lifestyle. While Im still struggling with it, I do see some improvement.
We went the whole month of December eating whatever was put in front of us. We have paid dearly for it as our whole family has spent the whole month of December being sick and tired. Now the burden on my heart is budgeting and saving money. Its a part of my prayer every morning. We are about $2000 dollars in debt right now. Its all little stuff that should not be a problem, but the little stuff adds up. We have paid off our car and once we get these other things cleared up we will be debt free except our mortgage. We have a plan for that as well. While I dont think we will pay off our mortgage in the next two years we will be able to put a dent in it.
This month will be lean trying to keep up with our regular bills but by the first of Feb. we should be able to pay off most of our remaining debt. Thats an exciting prospect.
I will have more to write on that later.
Well, I guess I better get going. Lots to do today. Im not sure why this post took me two days to write. LOL

Be Blessed

Family Driven Faith

I bought the book Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham Jr.(click on the book to purchase from amazon.com) for my husband for Christmas. I read it in about three days. The whole time all I could do was exclaim over and over to my husband what a great book it was. This is a book about raising our sons and daughters in a way that other Christians scoff at. Recently on the way home from a retreat with some ladies from church I was nearly driven to tears. They shot down every thing I said about raising my children. When I said that our children would not participate in youth group you would have thought I said lets go drop our kids off the bridge. It was that explosive. This book said what I was trying to say in that car. If youth groups are such a great idea why are so many of our churched youth leaving the faith by the second year of college? I was in two separate youth groups growing up and I can almost count on one hand the number of kids still active from both of those groups. I can also tell you some wild stories about youth group and youth camp. Stories that should be shown on the late night pay per view channels. Of course if I shelter my children from "youth group" they will go wild when they are grown. Let me quote the good Mr. Baucham here, on page 18 of his book he is talking about getting the same reaction from people when they hear about his child rearing philosophy.
"Interestingly, though, none of the "wild ones" I remember from my college days were rookies. None of the went off the deep end into immorality after leading chaste lives at home. Most of them simply walked farther into the debauchery with which they were allowed to experiment early on. There is a larger issue at stake here. The question is not whether or not our children sin later in life. The question is, do we have a biblical obligation to train them before they leave home? Is there any biblical validity to the idea that Christian parents should allow their children to experiment with ungodliness?"
Read the last line again. "Is there any biblical validity to the idea that Christian parents should allow their children to experiment with ungodliness?"
That line almost knocked me over. What a great line. I could have so used it in the car a few weeks ago.
Hubby and I are now reading through the book together. We are still in the first chapter but tonight he looked at me and said,"Its almost like this guy has been in our room the last few weeks listening to us talk about this and ask these questions." YES, YES YES!!!
We have struggled so much with raising our children lately. I'm someone who looks at patterns. I look into other peoples lives to see what they are doing right and wrong. The one thing missing from some of my older lady friends lives as they reared their children was personal responsibility. They all thought that taking their children to church and being there every time the doors opened would protect them and give them the life sustaining faith that is needed. Most of these women only have about 50 to 25 percent of their children in church. (That averages out to about one or two depending on how many kids they had) They are also the ones who pat me on the hand and say, "Do your best now, but once they leave the nest they are gone." I have not been able to accept that. Yes, I know adult children make their own decisions. I know that its a war out there with satan. But I'm not going to just do my best. I'm going to fight with all I have. I tell my children that too. I tell them that satan wants them to listen to him and do what he wants instead of what God and mommy and daddy want. I also tell them that we are fighting for them. That we will not let satan just come in and take over. Mr. Bauchman has given us yet another tool.
He will be speaking with Doug Phillips in Branson in July. I am doing everything I can to get to that conference. If I get anywhere near the man I will shake his hand til the arm comes out of the socket.
Ya wanna know my favorite thing...he is a Southern Baptist. Yep! Someone from my denomination who actually preaches about multigenerational faithfulness and family integrated worship. It makes me want to weep! You see I can hand this book over to people in my church without any disclaimers. We know what the man's core belief system is. I know that should not be such a big deal, but in this Purpose Driven, Youth group oriented, entertain the children at all cost culture I am living in within my denomination it means a whole lot!
This book has given me encouragement as a parent. Yes, I will still have difficult questions to answer and skeptical people watching me raise my children. If one of them goes astray you can bet your bippy that I will hear about it. But what matters is eternity. If I don't do everything I can to usher them into the Lord's presence as mighty warriors I have failed. Of course 99 percent of that fight is face down on the floor crying out to Jesus. I know that. I understand that. But some of it comes from just day to day training of my children.
Mr. Bauchman, thank you for writing a book that spoke so deeply to where my husband and I are. We are swimming up stream, but every stroke is worth it. One day when we shoot our arrows from the nest fully equipped to face the spiritual battles before them we will bow our heads and thank God for his mercy and grace and for sending us encouragement through your words.
I wish I had time and space to really dwell on some insights from the book, but this will have to do ya. If you have the opportunity to check this book out or even add it to your library I would strongly suggest it.

Be Blessed!

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God

I received my copy of this book as a gift from Mrs. Chancey. (Click on the picture of the book to order) I help moderate a message board that she started and she sent all of the moderators complimentary copies. I was thrilled! I knew I wanted this book the moment I saw the advertisements for it. I also knew it would be awhile after Christmas before I could order anything for myself. So this was a true blessing!

This book truly has helped put me back in the place God called me to almost 4 years ago. Four years ago this month I quit my job to be a housewife. It was not until May of the next year that we were blessed with any children. In the five months I had to myself I began to really learn about being a wife and keeper at home. A lot of it I credit to Lady Lydia and the Ladies Against Feminism site. They pointed me to Bible passages that touched my heart and showed me what I was missing. They pointed me to practical application of these passages. While I am still, 4 years later, living in a home that is chaotic at best, my attitude is different. My heart is different. I know that what I'm doing is not the best for my family. I know that I am not being the example God called me to be. No, Im not comparing myself to others. I am comparing myself to where God wants me.

This book was a refresher to me. It opened my eyes to the dream and vision I had when I first started on this road. I had a vision of tackling each day with a purpose. Building up a family to love and serve God. Building up a home that would show God's glory. Helping my husband to complete the mission God has for him on this earth. Raising future godly wives and mothers and godly husbands and fathers. Men and women not afraid to turn against the tide and swim upstream.

Confession time. I was starting to swim with the others downstream. I would take it to heart when others told me I should let my kids do this or this, even though I knew it would not be the best for them. People telling me I could function outside of my role as wife and mother.

I know I still need peace and time to myself. But not to "get away" from my family, but to strengthen myself and serve them. When Jesus went away it was time of prayer and strengthening himself. Not time to "escape" his day to day responsibility. Sometimes that time will not be available. At those times we learn the true meaning of leaning on the Father.

We are having family reformation around here. As a keeper of the home I am responsible for the heart of the home. My husband is the head, but he has delegated to me the responsiblity of the heart. I am the real living example of Jesus Christ that my children will see. I am the bride that should reflect what my husband is doing for God's glory. I am the one who prepares my children for the future. Not just with knowledge but with life skills and skills that will take them into spiritual maturity.

My ministry is my family and home. If they are out of control or failing I need to reevaluate what I am putting ahead of them.

Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes again that I may see the truth. Amen.

Be Blessed!

Books for boys

Who would not love a set of these beautiful books? The Ballantyne Christian Adventure library is available through Vision Forum for purchase. BUT Crystal and Biblical Womanhood is giving a set away this Saturday.

Now, I'm not telling you all to jet over there and enter, because then how would I win?? Just kidding. Go right now and enter to win these beautiful, truth filled books.

With a quote like this in his book, you know I have to have them on my bookshelves. I love the language and the vocabulary. I also love the fact that he wants our little boys to grow into MEN.

Boys [should be] inured from childhood to trifling risks and slight dangers of every possible description, such as tumbling into ponds and off of trees, etc., in order to strengthen their nervous system.... They ought to practice leaping off heights into deep water. They ought never to hesitate to cross a stream over a narrow unsafe plank for fear of a ducking. They ought never to decline to climb up a tree, to pull fruit merely because there is a possibility of their falling off and breaking their necks. I firmly believe that boys were intended to encounter all kinds of risks, in order to prepare them to meet and grapple with risks and dangers incident to man’s career with cool, cautious self-possession.... —R.M. Ballantyne, The Gorilla Hunters

Be Blessed.

A Tale of Two Books

I went to bed early last night and did not get a chance to post this. But here we go. These are two of the best books I have read. I have a huge stack of books Im reading through right now and as I come across books that are must haves I will let you know.







I picked up this book through our inter library loan system. It came in about a week after I ordered it and I rushed to the library to pick it up. I'd heard great things about this book as I was searching for some way to raise up my oldest daughter to be more ladylike. The book was actually written towards young ladies, with discussion questions at the end of each chapter. There is much encouragement to read the book with your mother and discuss with her the questions. I did not get to finish the book, but I know I will buy it probably in the next two years. It talked a lot about turning your heart towards home, honoring your father, helping your mother. It was the exact opposite of what the world and even the church is trying hard to teach our daughters. It built on charachter traits that a godly woman should posses. My goal is to train my daughters to embrace Biblical womanhood. This book will help to reinforce that training.




This is the book Im reading right now during my devotional time in the morning. I cant say enough good things about it. Mrs. George gives practical everyday advice on how to train your children up in the Lord. She says to immerse them in Christian influence. Christian books, CDs, videos.... all of it. Here are a couple of applications I have taken from this book.
My kids and I are reading through the gospel of Matthew. We read one story every morning. After reading I tell the children to illustrate the story we just read. When we are done I will put each child's pages together and they will have their very own Jesus book.
We have decided to replace most of our kids books and movies with Christian themed books and movies. My kids can quote The Princess Bride to you left and right. I thought how great if we showed them Bible stories and other moral movies for them to quote and act out. Also, they love to read books over and over so we decided to build our library more in the direction of things we want to make sure our children remember and understand. I spent a good chunk of money at Lifeway last week. We are doing a book basket for Easter this year. I am going to get a big basket and stuff it with books, CDS, videos and audio books for the kids.
I think every Christian mother should have a copy of this book in her library. It has truly changed the way I relate to my kids. I also am so greatful for the ideas she gave me. She is a mother of two grown daughters who have children of their own and she talks a lot about how those daughters are raising their children to love the Lord. Thats enough proof for me. She obviously has a tried and true method. :) Moms, if you only buy one book this year, make it this one!!

What Im reading

Right now I am making my way through this book. It has some good information. For instance the section of preserving food was so helpful as the author used charts to talk about the best ways to preserve different kinds of fruits and vegetables. There is also a chapter called The Green Pantry. This had a ton of useful information. It talked about different grains and flours and spices. This book is a staple of the Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet and while I was not on board with all of their ideas, most of them I could use for my family.

That being said I would like to say, I see no reason for me to own this book. I checked it out from the library and its taking me a long time to get through it. Usually I lap books up, but this one has been, well, kind of boring. I am definatly taking some things away from this book, but not enough to trudge through it again. It would definatly be worth it to pick up at the library and browse through. Who knows you might like it. :)