Monday, April 4, 2011

Blogging Experiment Ends



Do you see the little one in pinkish purple, running in the opposite direction of the others? That is how I feel. I'm the little one in pinkish purple, and I'm running in the wrong direction for my family.

I have had a family journal type of blog for a while, but thought I would give real blogging a try. I had dreams, visions, of possibly, eventually, supplementing our income in even a small way. I have learned so much, and am totally impressed with the busy mommas that make it work!

A month of this blogging education has taught me that I am probably NOT one of those mommas that can make it work. I feel my family has suffered a bit during my blogging adventure. I should spend a lot more time in my kitchen, around my homeschool table, and a lot LESS time online.

It has been fun, enjoyable, and I could see really getting into it. However, there are five little munchkins that God placed in my care, to raise as Godly young folks, to feed and nurture them responsibly. They are such a BLESSING. They deserve all of me, and not just a distracted, frazzled me.

God bless the beautiful women, the Christian wives and mothers and daughters who are blogging inspirations and give wonderful tips and advice for my earthly home and my spiritual encouragement! I truly appreciate the resources I find in the blogging world.

Thanks to the small group of followers, and the sweet comments I gathered in the last few weeks. It has been fun! God bless you all.

~Hannah, a very merry mommy

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Brutal Honesty

Honesty is, of course, the best policy, but perhaps a little lesson on tactfulness should be added to the homeschool agenda. In the last 24 hours, I've heard the following statements come from the mouths of my babes:

*Mommy, it's time to do that thing you do to your hair. Those gray streaks are showing all through the front again.


*Daddy, it's too bad you have that great big hole in the back of your head where no hair grows.

Awwww, sweet and brutal honesty. :)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

WWJD?



Two of my munchkins, brother and sister, were arguing, tugging on an empty box that they both wanted. Squabbling amongst the kiddos had been unusually high this week, so I sat them both down to discuss some fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, etc... We talked of being nice to one another, loving one another, and treating one another the way they wished to be treated. We spent time discussing the joys of sharing.

They both listened attentively, so I asked sister what she thought would make Jesus happy. She thought for a few seconds and confidently said, "I think it would make Jesus really happy if brother let me play with the box now."

***sigh***

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Facebook Thoughts



Once upon a time, I thought Facebook was a waste of time. A silly time sucker. Definitely NOT for me. Then one day a BFF told me I should join, that it was really great and I would love it. Bound by the implied laws of BFFhood, I joined. And she was right, I loved it!
I spent a decade not knowing the whereabouts of some dear old friends. Now thanks to Facebook, I not only know where they are and what they are doing, I know what their kids look like, what kind of dog they have and what they ate for supper! It is a good thing especially for moms who spend most of their day conversing with munchkins.
It is amusing to observe what type of posters people are.
Vague posters: people who post simple fragmented phrases like "sick of it" or "well that figures" or something that makes you wonder what they are talking about but leaves you feeling like you are not important enough to know.
Detailed posters: people who post 5, 789 times a day, on every single thought that pops into their heads from the moment they stumble out of bed to the moment they crawl back into it.
Emotional posters: people whose posts are full of "OMG" and "LOL" and "ROFL" and "Bwahahaha" and "Squeeeee" and "Phhft" and "Woohoo" and so on.
Healthnut posters: people who love to tell you how much they have exercised, how many miles they have run, how many calories they have burned, how many hours they have spent at the gym.......they make me tired.
Philosophical posters: people who post quotes, esoteric thoughts, links to scientific articles, etc.... You know who you are. :)
Holy posters: people who feel it is their duty to personally save every Facebook friend from eternal damnation. Hey, I'm not judging, just observing. ;)
Tight lipped posters: people who rarely post and when they do, it's short, lacking in detail, to the point, with no unnecessary adjectives.
Unhappy in love posters: people who will never be happy with their boyfriend/girlfriend and feel the need to share their every thought on this subject with all their FB peeps on a daily basis.
Happy in love posters: people who share TOO MUCH INFORMATION about the love in their lives. Gross!
Salesman posters: people who never miss an opportunity to push their wares, be it tupperware, jewelry, makeup, organic cleaning supplies or acme wart removers. (Ok, admittedly, I've not seen any FB friends selling acme wart removers)
Photo happy posters: people who post 14 gazillion photos of everything from their baby's first smile to their weird Uncle Buford's ingrown toenail. A special breed of this type of poster is the "I-love-me-pic-happy-poster". The ones who post tons of pics of themselves, mostly standing in front of a mirror. Many of said pics are of a duck face pose. ***shudder*** Who ever came up with that?! Can we say STUPID or what? But I digress....
Spelling challenged posters: people who you never knew (until you knew them on Facebook) failed every spelling course they ever took. What about punctuation and capitalization? Don't get me started.
What type of Facebooker are you? I'm not sure what I am.
What type of Facebook Friender are you? I'm a bit reserved. I don't befriend every Tom, Dick or Sally that I met once in the bathroom at a ballgame in fifth grade. I prefer to keep my friend list at a more intimate level.
Are you a Facebook gamer? I have not gotten into the so & so needs a cow bell or so & so found a truffle or so & so scored a brilliant score on a word game thingy. Just not my cup of tea. In fact, it gives me great pleasure to click the "x" and "hide" these activities.
Some say Facebook is a complete waste of time. I disagree. And here's why.
Last year, my sweet niece Bella, who was about 18 months old at the time, became very sick. She was taken to the doctor several times, but they dismissed it as a viral bug that needed to run its course. Too late they discovered she had e coli poisoning. Her kidneys started to shut down and she was at death's door. Many did not believe she would survive. In a matter of seconds, thanks to a Facebook prayer request posts, friends all over this country began to pray for the healing of Bella. They put her on their church prayer lists and had their friends and family praying. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to track down that many people by phone? God did answer those prayers and sweet Bella is bouncing around today, and it is a blessing to have her tiny little arms about my neck for a hug.
I have also witnessed the answered prayer for healing for my Grandmother, who should have died from a serious cancer surgery, but survived and is cancer free! Many prayers have been answered for me and many of my Facebook friends. It is awesome, and makes my heart merry!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Almost Naked Day


Wow, that was close. One more day without doing the laundry and this cartoon would have been our reality. My heart is merry because for about 45 minutes, right between the end of supper and the bedtime snack, every single item in our household of seven is CLEAN. I know it won't last, but it sure feels good for a little while. Thank you, Lord, for plenty of clothes and modern day machines to keep them tidy!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Nosey Giggles



I watched this three times, and now have to meditate on the "I don't need another baby right now" thought.

This little one sure makes your heart merry! What a cutie-pie!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Fuzzy Wuzzy Chicks!


We stopped in the local farm store to look at the new baby chicks. Is there anything cuter than a fuzzy wuzzy chick?!!! Little yellow fluffy lumpy balls on two tiny orange stick legs, running about yelling, "CHEEP!" nonstop as if to say, "Buy me! Buy me! Buy me!" My goodness, it was tempting, but we are sardine impersonators at the moment. Adding another living, breathing creature to our living space is NOT an option. Besides, those cute little balls of fuzz are going to grow up and form a pecking order and brutally assault their own kind, and then they won't seem so darn cute. But I digress......

Here are a few recent quotes from my own little chicks, and no matter how big they get, they will always make my heart merry. :)

We were driving down a busy road when my eleven year old said, "Mommy, it's against the law to use your cruise control on this road. That sign said you will get a $250 fine for cruising!"

While walking around a busy store, my eight year old said, "Mommy, what does 'hoopauz' mean?" I had him repeat the word several times before I realized he had read "Whoop A$$" on a BBQ sauce bottle. Not being the time nor the place to get into this particular discussion, I told him it was sort of a naughty word. He said, "oh" and just went on to the next interesting thing in his line of vision. Man, I wish it were always that easy to answer their questions!

Fifteen minutes into our TWO THOUSAND MILE road trip, my four year old asked, "Mommy, are we almost there???"

My son was reading a book to his sisters, when the six year old started doing the popular potty dance. She took off running down the hall at top speed toward the bathroom and yelled, "PAUSE the book! I don't want to miss anything!" Maybe we should think about cutting back on TV/movie time.

My eight year old kept asking me where do you buy chlorine, and how much does it cost. After several days of questioning, I finally had to ask him why he wanted chlorine. He said because he wanted to smell good like daddy. It took me a few minutes to figure out he meant to say "cologne".

We have moved many times in the last few years, and lived in many states. After the last move, my four year old asked, "Mommy, have we ever lived on planet Earth?" Poor kid. Maybe we should think about putting down roots. On planet Earth, of course.

We were having a family discussion on the awesomeness that was Abraham Lincoln. I said that he was a "very good president". The six year old thought about that for a minute and said, "Oh. Then he and Obama would probably fight a lot." Smart kid. :)

Yesterday we drove passed a McDonalds and my 18 month old squealed, "ICE CWEAM!!!!!". That, my friends, is equal parts funny AND sad. I'm not at all sure an 18 month old should be able to recognize a McDonalds from her carseat, OR that she should know that you get ice cream there. That mommy-of-the-year-award is slipping away again. :/

Oh, life is fun. My heart is merry. :)

Friday, March 4, 2011

Waterbirth

My last three (out of five) children were born via waterbirth, and I am a huge fan. My testimonial is even on www.waterbirth.net.

On the silly side, this pic makes me giggle. A giggle a day makes your heart merry. :)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Pickle Face

This is the face my daughter makes when she tastes vinegar. It's the same face I make when my prayer is not answered as I thought the Lord ought to answer it!

Vinegar is a powerful benefit to your health and well being, but a definite turnoff to the average set of taste buds. It wouldn't matter if I had the ability to explain its goodness to my little girl, or if she had the ability to understand. She would still make this face after tasting this potent pickling juice.

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

This can be very hard to do. Even harder to do and keep a merry heart! I must remember that I live in a little bubble and cannot see beyond today. My Lord sees all, and knows exactly what I need, when I need it, how I need it, and why I need it.

My prayers may occasionally get a "no" answer, but a "no" is still an answer! A friend said today that God is rarely early, but he is never late. I may pucker a bit, but I can rest and know my heart should be merry because He is taking care of my needs exactly the right way.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Goosepimple Praise

I can't listen to this without a healthy portion of goosepimpling! The Martins make my heart merry. ;)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Ode to Underwire ;)

Do your boobs hang low?
Do they waddle to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder
La la la la la la la....
Do your boobs....hang.....low?!!!!!

If so, you must be over 30, or a mom!
Thank goodness for modern technology and good ole underwire.

I have been nursing a little one for 11 years. Ok, calm down, it's not the same little one! (I have five children, all nursed to their second birthday) I know what working boobs in their thirties try to look like.

Imagine you are flipping through a copy of National Geographic magazine, and you see a picture of oogie boogies in a tribe in the middle of a jungle. You know what I'm talking about - the natives who walk around in their birthday suits - and the women look like two empty toilet paper tubes are hanging down their chest.

Don't worry. One of the benefits of living in a civilized society is the beauty of underwire.

Here is some hilarity from Anita Renfroe. It's merry heart stuff. ;)

Monday, February 14, 2011

I Wuv U!



As my four year old says, "Happy Balwumtimes Day!"
And as my toddler says, "I wuv U!"
I hope your heart is merry today.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Lord THINKS about me!


"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
~Catherine Aird

This quote practically slapped me in the face recently. As a mother am I a good example to my children, or a sad warning of what can happen when your priorities have been out of whack?

It is so easy to wake up one day and find that life just snuck up on you. A few births, a few too many Oreo's, a few too many "I'll start the diet Monday's"...etc....and BOOM. There you are. People get the urge to yell, "TAXI!" when you step outside in a yellow dress. Small children mistake you for 'you-know-who' the dinosaur when you wear your purple sweat suit.

There was a time when it took me one hour and fifteen minutes to get ready for work in the mornings. Now, years later, I can be ready and have five children awake, breakfast ingested, teeth brushed, Sunday clothes on, and out the door in twenty five minutes. Should I be proud of this ridiculous ability, or ashamed that I don't spend enough time on me? On my temple. I AM a temple of Christ. Would He be ashamed to hang out here? Oh dear, I'm steppin' on my own toes. Ouch!

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 40:17: But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer...." It is so exciting to think that my Lord THINKS about ME!!!! Of all the billions of people in the world, and he has the ability and makes an effort to THINK about ME. Poor and needy as I am, he can still be my help and my deliverer. And that, folks, makes my mommy heart merry!

May this year be a journey to a better life. A better me. When my children are grown and remember their mother, may that memory be a sweet one. One of a patient, loving, healthy and happy soul who was a good example and NOT a horrible warning.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Pretty Momma?


I found an old copy of "Motherhood is Stranger than Fiction" by Mary Chambers. If you need help with a merry heart, this will do the job!

Snowcream. Mmmmm.


1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup of sugar
dash of salt
1 large container of snow
Mix everything but the snow, then drop large spoonfuls of snow, one at a time, and pat down into the liquid. Don't stir, just pat it all down until no more snow can be absorbed. Eat right away, as it will not freeze well. (So I've been told. There were no leftovers with which to find out!)
Snowcream gives me a merry heart!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Mommy Dictionary

~Author Unknown~


Dumbwaiter - one who asks if the kids would care to order dessert



Feedback - the inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots



Full name - what you call your child when they are in trouble



Grandparents - the people who think your children are wonderful even though they are sure you are not raising them right



Hearsay - what small children do when someone utters a dirty word



Rear Blowout - what happens to the back of a breastfed baby's diaper



Independent - how we want our children to be for as long as they do everything we say



Puddle - a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it



Show off - a child who is more talented than yours



Sterilize - what you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva



Top Bunk - where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies



Whodunit - none of the kids that live in your house



Spit up - what happens to a clean solid colored shirt




Chin Hairs

"I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows." ~Janette Barber


Is it the older you get, or the more children you have that causes hairs to sprout in places they ought not sprout?! Maybe it's just when you hit 30? Hmmm. I'm pretty sure too, that for each stray hair plucked, you somehow destroy a few hundred brain cells.


Just sayin'.

Mystery Mush


"Mommy, the couch is wet."

The mommy alarm goes off silently, as a list of unpleasant possibilities flashes uninvited in my head. It's most likely water, since the toddler can force the lids off most sippy cups, and all my children drink lately is water because of this unfortunate toddler super power.

I go to inspect the damage. Mmhmm. The couch is a little wet right there - where the cushions meet...oh wait....there's something there....between the cushions......OH YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's an alien pod.....no it's an oozing homeschool science experiment gone wrong......it's.......oh, good grief. It's a banana. Unpeeled. Unbroken. Oozing. And it's in my couch cushions.


Apparently the toddler did not eat the banana she was given last night. And to think my back was only turned a second. *sigh*


In case you ever wondered, a peeled banana left overnight between the cushions of a sofa is super gross. It turns brown and spotted and oozes slime. So there. Now you can cross that off the list of things you always wondered about. ;)