Large Family Mothering

I’m so sorry for everyone that has just gotten used to my new address, but I have encountered a number of problems with my new site, and have decided that, at least for everyday blogging, I am moving  back to my Blogger account.

Also–for those of you who have been waiting for my Commonplace Book tutorial–I have run into a computer glitch–I may have lost data, etc. My dear husband is taking some time to help me find files. As soon as it is ready, I will try and have it up and running. I have taken all of the pictures and written all of the text somewhere on my hard drive–pray that we can recover these!

In the meantime, I am trusting that God has it all in His hands.

Don’t forget to visit me back on my old site–Large Family Mothering –Same name, different host.

Sherry

Do you need a lift today?

If there’s one thing I know, I can’t rely on myself or my own way of thinking. I seem to get into grooves that end in negativity and destruction. The only life I can live in this earth is one where I am on my knees, with my nose in The Book!

Some folks have accused my over the years of having a large family just because I am “more patient” or “more organized” or I am some sort of saint! The truth be known, I have so many children because God knew many things about me that I did not know, and He knew that He could 1) use me as I surrendered, and 2) use my kids to help me to surrender.

As a young person I took great pride in the fact that I was  a “capable” person. Thank God He didn’t leave me in the disgusting, self-admiring state! Every year and every child has brought me more to the realization that I don’t want to be capable, I don’t want to be “independent”, I don’t want to be strong. I want Jesus to be all, and in all.

There are so many of us that embark on what we perceive to be a God-ly journey, only to find out that we were just trying to conform to some expectation of what being “good” looks like. But being good isn’t enough. We can’t be good enough. We can’t parent or homeschool or mother well enough to meet the needs or expectations of either God or those around us.

It comes down to the heart. Why am I doing what I am doing? Is it because I want others to think I am righteous? Is it because I am trying to win a little bit of noteriety, even among my circle of friends? Is it because I like being strange? (I really do like being strange, sometimes) Or is it because I have died with Christ, and even if He took away my husband, all of my children, my church, etc., and dropped me in the middle of the darkest part of Europe (this is the continent that needs Jesus now), would I still praise Him? Could I say with all of my heart, “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord”?

And so we come to the paradox of the Gospel,  as Jesus told us that in order to find our lives we must die. This is where the encouragement for today comes from–in the death of myself and the life of God.

I leave you with the words of St. Francis of Assisi:

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Sherry

Here are some more tips that have helped me:

1. If I want my children to be respectful, polite and thoughtful, I must treat them in a respectful, polite and thoughtful manner. I use please and thank you when addressing them, and I never push or shove them like they don’t count. I say “excuse me” and I am very grateful for the work they accomplish or the little errands they run for me. I do things for them “out of the blue” that they don’t expect, etc.
2. If I want my hubby to spend more time with the kids, I tell them how successful he is as a father. Nobody enjoys doing something when they feel like a failure at it.
3. I use kitchen scissors to cut up spaghetti before serving it to toddlers.
4. I always prepare the plates of little kids before they ever sit down at the table. In this way we don’t have arguments over what they want to eat, and we can dispense with a lot of logistical frustration.
5. We make sandwiches like dealing cards–put both sides in consecutive lines on the counter, then cover each with an ingredient or two, then assemble.
6. When buying furniture–dark and patterned are the keys to longevity (we make sure our coffee tables have rounded corners). I don’t care how much pre-treatment a couch receives, white or light colors don’t last! Also–we have a rule that there is no eating or drinking, etc. in our living areas.
7. Socks and shoes–we have central “clearing houses” for these after they are washed or if they are found lying around the house.
8. We keep a brass bell which we ring for “assembly” and dinner–saves on the vocal chords.
9. Rubber bands–I rely on these things for everything from fixing up hair (toddlers can’t take these out easily–and they are so cheap I just cut them when I want to remove them), to keeping greens fresh in the fridge. I even use them when packing up my children for trips–rolling each outfit carefully and securing it with a rubber band.
10. When nausea hits one of the kids, I tell them to “breathe into your tummy like a balloon”. I have found that this simple technique can often bring temporary relief.

Living here one blessed moment at a time!

Sherry

Who would have thought–way back in the 80’s when we began homeschooling we practically had to hide in bunkers–that today’s announcement would be a reality? To think, the man that made a living by being tough on screen is now being tough on our behalf! Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the fear of “girlie men” all over the world, has said:“This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts, and if the courts don’t protect parents’ rights then, as elected officials, we will.” Enough said.Thank You, Jesus–WoooHoooo!   

I’m supposed to post 7 random things about me. Here goes:

1.  We call my dad, “Cowboy Grampa”. He loves bluegrass and plays multiple instruments. He also has done so many other things I could not begin to list them.
2. I speak Czech as a second language.
3. I had my first baby when I was 19.
4. I met my husband on a city bus–we were married 6 weeks later!
5. I once took a 100 km bike-hike through the center of Holland.
6. My home is my favorite place in the whole world!
7. I love to copy whole passages of scripture.

Now here for 7 more dear ladies to be tagged:

1.  Suzof7
2. Jen
3. Heidi
4. Kristine
5. Jen
6. Debra
7. Randi

Here are the rules -1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.Have a blessed Saturday!Sherry    

Math and penmanship can seem daunting to young people. There is just something about the finality of putting something down on paper that makes kids feel uneasy.

Over the years I have discovered that working with a white board and a wipe-off marker (or slate and chalk) make both math and penmanship less intimidating. Ideas that could not be grasped with the traditional paper and pencil seem doable when these other tools are introduced.

Later I put together a little “practice book” using the same principle.

First, I gathered together:

• A 3-ring binder
• Plastic protector sheets
• Math practice sheets (you can find these in multliple places on the net–list follows)
• Penmanship practice sheets
• Thin wipe-off markers

I assembled the book by putting the printed out sheets in the protector pages and placing them in the book. They didn’t always follow any certain order. Whenever I found a sheet I wanted to add, I just put it in.

I have this book laying around all over the house, since the children move it with them as they “play” with its pages. Sometimes I even assign a page or two in it “formally”, but I rarely check to see if my assignment has been done correctly, because I don’t have to. The children love making sure they are doing things right themselves, so they ask one another to check, or sometimes they even ask me to take a peek.

The funny thing about it is how easy it is to erase if one makes a mistake, or if someone finishes only a portion of a page and loses interest, no harm done! Nothing is wasted, no one gets in trouble, and there is little or no stress–unless someone forgets to put the cap back on the pen!

Free math and penmanship:

Donna Young

Homeschool Math

Focus on the Family ’s radio program today is all about the recent judicial decision made against homeschoolers in California. You can also sign a petition on the HSLDA website.

We need to mobilize and give our support to the homeschoolers in California, but we also need to pray, pray, pray!

Sherry

Have you heard what’s afoot in California?

Bad Decision by Second Appellate District of California

As far back as I can remember, what happens in CA sets a precedent for what will sweep the country. We should be on top of this as homeschoolers–this is not isolated, but affects all of us!

Be ready to take some action–I will keep you posted.

Do you know where you are going? Can you see ahead?

I can’t. I’ve lost my map.

A person doesn’t get this blessed with this number of people and know just how to “do it”. It may look seamless to others, but the truth is that there are huge cracks into which everyone in our family could slip and plunge into the abyss.

“So here I am, Lord, clueless.”

And He replies, “It’s about time! You don’t need a map, you need a lamp and a compass–I can supply both.”

I want to go forward, but I can’t even pick myself up off of the floor–I’m down and the referee is counting, “One, two, three…”

And so Jesus picks me up, and He carries me to the cross, and I look up at His helplessness and I begin to understand once again–His strength needs and begs for my weakness!

And here all this time I thought He was expecting me to “be strong”–silly girl!

I thought it would be fun to write “ten tips” from time-to-time. Here are my tips for today:

1. Can’t keep socks on babies or small children?–use tights. They even work for little boys under their pants.

2. Have a toddler that needs attention but you need to make dinner? I put my little ones on the counter next to me, (always considering safety, of course!)

3. I have born 14 children, so I am aware that people are watching me and my “figure”. To combat their curiosity, I wear skirts and keep to the “color” black. Black clothes hide all of the imperfections you don’t want to share with others!

4. Since I sleep with my babies, I use one of those toddler bed-rail thingies that slip under the mattress, along with a bolster pillow, to keep from worrying that my little one will slip off the bed at night.

5. I sleep with my baby so that I will not have to interrupt my sleep to nurse him/her.

6. Showering at night gives me more time in the morning.

7. I wear separates, which are easier to nurse in as well as to make more outfits with just a few items.

8. We hang all clothes, save undies and jammies, on hangers to keep them neat and tidy.

9. We sort our clothes into 4 baskets as they come into the laundry room so that it’s easier to wash a load.

10. If we have a really stressful day, we make PBJ’s and watch an uplifting movie together!

More tips at a later time!

Sherry