"Preserved Through Motherhood" Part 2

Above Rubies article Preserved through Motherhood by Nancy Campbell. Continued...

We are Preserved Physically

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is on the increase today. Twenty-two thousand women are diagnosed each year and 15,000 die of this cancer. One of the reasons is that women are cutting off childbearing. Pregnancy and breastfeeding provide a crucial resting period for the ovaries. Because of limiting their families, most women today are ovulating about 450 times during their life time instead of only about 150 times.

An article called Timing of Pregnancy and the Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer states,"The accumulated evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that the risk of epithelial cancer of the ovary is strongly related to the number of ovulations throughout a woman's reproductive life." Pregnancy hormones are beneficial to the ovaries. They help to clear precancerous cells from the epithelial lining of the ovary. Because older women will have accumulated more cells than younger women, pregnancy at an older age is also a blessing." A case-controlled study revealed that women 30 years of age or older at the time of their last birth had approximately half the risk of women who completed childbearing before age 25 years. Another study reported a 60% increased risk of ovarian cancer among women who delivered their last birth before age 25 compared with women who delivered at an older age."

The more children a mother has, the less risk of ovarian cancer. Women who bear their first child before the age of 22 are less likely to develop ovarian cancer which again proves the Bible when it says,"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." (Psalm 127:4) Interestingly, a mother who gives birth to twins, or more, reduces her risk of ovarian cancer even more than a single pregnancy.

More Later - Reduced risk of breast cancer

"Preserved Through Motherhood" Part 1

This week I will be quoting an article from the latest "Above Rubies" magazine (issue 77). It is entitled Preserved Through Motherhood and written by Nancy Campbell, creator of Above Rubies. It is so good that I want to share it with as many people as possible. I hope you are as blessed and encouraged in your womanhood and motherhood as I am by this article.

Preserved Through Motherhood

"I'm not going to have any more than two children. I don't want my figure ruined." "I've got my career. I've got more important things to do than stay home with children." "I don't want to nurse my baby; I don't want to get sagging breasts." The comments keep coming-women trying to preserve themselves from childbirth or any extra sacrifice to their womanhood.

But, in actuality, does this work? I am always challenged by the words of Jesus in Mark 8:35, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." It is an eternal law, that when we try to save our life we end up losing it.

And what about this lovely promise in 1Timothy 2:15, NAS. "Women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self restraint." Every woman wants to be preserved. She wants her body to be preserved in good health, her figure to be in shape, and she wants to be preserved mentally and spiritually.

This world system feeds us lies. It pours out the reasons why women should not have too many babies. But God's Word says we will be preserved through embracing motherhood and the bearing of children! A woman's body was created for this task and her womanly functions atrophy when they are no longer used. The word "preserved" in 1 Timothy 2:15 is the Greek word, sozo. It means to be "protected, delivered, restored, saved and preserved." I certainly want to be preserved in my womanliness, don't you? Let's discover some of the ways we are preserved.

Continued Tomorrow. How we are preserved Physically.

Schedules

I've mentioned previously that we use schedules and that I don't think I could accomplish all the things I do each day without one. I took some pictures of our schedules to show that I really do what I'm telling you I do.

I have one picture of the side of my fridge with our daily schedule and our If, Then chart (which I will talk more about later). The front of my fridge has our menu plan on it and the other side of my fridge has our chore chart on it.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have of any of these charts. As a blogger, I love receiving comments :)

Have a great weekend.

Blessings,

Tina

Chores

Josiah doing dishes

Matthew clearing the table

Kaitlyn sweeping the kitchen

Micah vacuuming living room

Just thought I would post some pictures of my children doing their chores. As I have mentioned before, each of my children have daily chores that they are expected to do everyday so the house doesn't get out of control. With everyone doing their part, the house is more organized and there is more peace and unity. Everyone just seems to be in a better mood when things are clean. There is no way I could keep up a house with nine people living in it all by myself, so I teach my children that they have a responsibility to help as well. It keeps things in order at home as well as teaches my children how to do it for themselves one day.

I know this verse usually refers to teaching a child about walking with Jesus, but I also think it pertains to everything we teach them.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Grocery Shopping

So I've shopped at Kroger the past two weeks and each time after my coupons have gone through and my Kroger card has been swiped my total has been reduced by about $20. Last week I was so excited to get two bags of shredded cheese free with coupons. I'm finding that Kroger store brands only average 1 penny more than the Walmart brand and with double coupons at Kroger I get better deals with coupons than I would with coupons at Walmart. I have a couple of blogs I go to and get all the latest sales each week and also go to the Kroger site and check out their weekly ad.

I prepare my menu for the week before I go shopping so I'm buying what I need and not spending more on what I don't need. My goal is to reduce my budget amount for food by getting as much or more food for less by shopping for sales.

I will keep you updated on how things go and as I see how well they work send you the links to the blogs I visit that gather all the information for me so I don't have to. For now it takes me quite a while to prepare to shop. I'm hoping that as I get use to this and can figure the best sites to go to and dwindle my process down it won't take so much of my time. Right now as I'm learning I don't mind taking more time. I know in the end it will be worth it.

More to come....

Snow Days

We love getting snow. It's always so much fun to get out and sled, make a snowman and then come inside for a warm cup of hot chocolate. This weekend we got about 5 inches of ice and snow. We actually got out on Saturday morning, while the roads were still clear, and went to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We stopped at the Inn at Christmas Village and took a tour, went to Apple Valley Farms Crafts and Country Store and just enjoyed showing Melanie the sights. Having some trouble with black ice on the way home that night we stayed home from church Sunday morning and the kids got a chance to sled. I was so glad that the kids were able to have a chance to play in the snow. I wanted to make some snow cream but there was too much ice to make a good snow cream. We still enjoyed our hot chocolate, though.

I just love the warm cozy feeling that comes from having snow on the ground, something brewing in the crock pot that makes the house smell wonderful and sipping on hot chocolate in good company. I hope you are enjoying your snow days as well. Be blessed and remember that those warm spring days will be here soon enough. There is a time and season for everything under heaven.

I hope that you are able to enjoy the winter season while it's here.

Communication is the key

My mother-in-law, Melanie, came to visit this weekend and I'm glad to say that it was a good visit. I can't say that I have always felt this way about her. One thing I have learned is that communication is the key. I can truly say, now, that I love Melanie and enjoyed spending time with her this weekend. My advice to those of you who struggle with your mother-in-law, PRAY. Let God show you what you need to do and then communicate. Allow God to begin and work in both of you and to prepare each of you for what needs to be said or done to reconcile your differences. I am thankful for Melanie and for her willingness to talk and understand. I am blessed to have her. My prayer for those of you who struggle with your relationship with yours is reconciliation. It really can be sweet, but remember it is God who works on the heart. You can't change a person, that's God's job, and maybe you're the one who needs to do some changing (ouch, I know that one hurt). I pray that none of you are having struggles in your relationship, but if you do start today and decide to give it to God, then just take one day at a time and let Him work. You'll be glad you did, I know I am.