Good Parenting Books

Sorry I didn't get a blog out yesterday. Every time I sat down to write I was interrupted or had other things demanding my time, so it just never happened.

Today I wanted to ask you what are some of your favorite parenting books. I love good Christian based parenting books. I'm always looking for a good read as soon as I finish my previous one. I've read How to Be a Hero to Your Kids, Bringing Up Boys, Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit, Keeping our Children's Hearts, The Duggars: 20 and Counting, Creative Correction and I'm presently reading Dare to Discipline. There are more that I've read I'm sure but these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. I've recently heard of a book called Scream Free Parenting that I plan on reading next.

I love the insight I get from these books and it's not that I try to be perfect, it's just that I realize there's always room for improvement. I look for encouragement from people who have been in my shoes and done well, like the Duggar's

Of course, the number one instruction book is the Bible and I try to make sure that everything I read lines up first with scripture. If it doesn't line up with the Bible, I usually don't read it.

So, what are some of your favorites?

Tuesday's Tip - Homemade Drano

Get tired of clogs in your drain? Did you know there is a cheap homemade way to help clear them? Clogged drains drive me crazy, but so the high prices of drain cleaners. So I've found a cheap homemade way to clear them. Now, I always clear all the debris that I can get to before using this but here is what you do. Take baking soda and pour some down the drain, then add vinegar. You will begin to see it bubble up. Reapply the vinegar as often as you feel you need to clear the baking soda, and there you have it. Now it may not work on your toughest clogs like the commercial brands, but I've always found it to be helpful on your everyday clogs. Plus, it never hurts to try and see how well it works for you. Between baking soda with vinegar and a good plunger I can clear most drains with no problem and I've saved myself $. Now who doesn't like that?

Now that I think about it, I think I need to work on our shower upstairs. Guess I need to go get to it. Have a blessed day.

A Child's Interpretation

This morning during Bible time with my pre-readers I was reading from a Bible story book. Today I was reading about Samson and Delilah. Here is the quote that I read.

"That night Samson slept with his head in her lap. He was sound asleep. The Philistines quietly cut off Samson's long hair. He began to weaken and all his strength left. Then Delilah shouted, "Wake up, Samson. The Philistines are after you."

Samson jumped up thinking, "This is like the other times. I'll shake them off. ""

When I asked the question "What did Samson do?" Matthew raised his hand. I called on him and he began to jump up and down tapping on his chin as if thinking and said,

" He jumped up and down on his bed and was thinking."

It took me a second to realize what he said and how it related to the story. Then it hit me that when I read that Samson jumped up thinking it would be like all the other times, he assumed that Samson jumped on his bed. I couldn't help but laugh at how cute he was and at his interpretation of the story. You see, he doesn't answer questions that often and he was so proud of himself today. I loved his excitement.

I love having children and seeing the world in their eyes. It keeps life interesting and keeps us from becoming too serious as adults. God was very wise when he gave us children. They really are therapeutic in so many ways for us serious adults. Enjoy your children and have fun with them, laugh with them and understand them. It really will help you enjoy life more.

Sibling Bonding

I love that having a large family gives everyone the chance to learn things they may never learn in a small family. For instance, I have learned that Kaitlyn enjoys being around children. That she's nurturing and loving and very good at making them happy. Kaitlyn has learned to help with her brothers and they in turn love her for it.

Having a large family teaches children to learn to get along with all types of personalities and learn to work together and share. Some of these lessons come easier for some than others, but that's all a part of the fact that we have different personalities in our family. I love that they enjoy being around each other and playing together (most of the time), and when they get together there is a lot of laughing that takes place. In fact, just last night all the kids were sitting on the front porch having fun together and laughing. When I told them it was time to come in they were disappointed that their playtime together was over.

Kaitlyn cuddling with Joshua after

his bath before she dresses him.

I love how he seems so comfortable with her.

I look forward to hearing all the memories shared when my children are grown and come together to talk about childhood days. I'm sure there will be lots of laughter then as well.

Old Fashioned Sunday

Here are some pictures from Old Fashioned Sunday. I just realized that we didn't get a picture of Kaitlyn. She was dressed like a flapper and was one of the winners in the costume contest for children's church. If someone posts one later, I'll try to post it so you can see.

Costume contest (that's me in the middle with the blue dress and straw hat)

Micah and Josiah

Boys on the train

A view from the side of the field

A view from the front

Another view from the front

Birthing Center

I have mentioned in the past how much I love having a midwife and delivering at home. Well, due to financial and insurance reasons I will not be able to deliver at home this time, but the next best thing is delivering at a free standing birthing center. I have found such a place and have my first appointment today. I am excited to be able to deliver here instead of in a hospital where I still have midwives and options such as water birth available. I can have as many people in the room when I birth as I desire, so all our children can be there, and I can eat and drink and walk and have no IV's attached.

I have delivered in a birthing center once before. Our fourth child was born in one in NC. It was a wonderful experience and opened my eyes to the wonderful world of midwives. I feel privileged that I have births with no complications and have the opportunity to deliver with midwives in environments such as birthing centers and at home.

So, as long as there are no complications with this pregnancy and no twins, I will be delivering at a birthing center this time around. I will keep you posted.

Tuesday's Tip - Cutting Grease

Back in May when I was staying with my sister while visiting family in NC, she told me about how to get grease out of clothing. Now I don't know about you, but it seems that every shirt I own somehow ends up with those dreaded grease spots. You know, the ones that look like wet spots but never dry. Well, since visiting with my sister I have read in a couple of other places as well that by rubbing Dawn dish detergent on the spots then washing the garment, the stain comes out. You can even do this on shirts that have old stains on them. No more ruined shirts! Yay! Try it for yourself and see, it really does work.