1) Have you ever lied? A white lie is a lie.

2) Have you ever committed adultery? To look at someone with lust is to commit adultery in your heart.

3) Have you ever taken God’s name in vain (used it as a means of swearing)?

4) Have you ever murdered? To hate someone is to murder in your heart.

5) Have you ever stolen anything?

Now, if you said yes to all these things- you would be: a liar, an adulterer, a blasphemer, a murderer, and a thief. Wow, that hurts, right? If you said yes to just one of these things (and if you didn’t, you should have answered “yes” to question number one), then you have broken the law. These questions are based off of 5 of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are God’s law. If He is a good, fair judge he will have justice and judge you according to the law. He says to break one of these laws is to be guilty of breaking them all. And the penalty for breaking the law, is an eternal sentence in Hell. That should concern anyone. But Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, which means he legally paid our fine. This is a FREE bail-out. You don’t have to pay anything, He already paid it. All you have to do is accept him into your heart and repent of your sins. So on Judgement Day, when your case comes up and God tells you that you deserved hell for your crimes, Jesus can step in and say that you accepted him and your case can be dismissed. If you haven’t done this, please do. If you want to use this as a witnessing tool, please do. It has helped me quite a lot lately. Think about it.

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Besides those main events, I have been growing myself. In many ways. I have learned some hard life lessons about families, marriage, and friends. In fact, I would say the last half of 2011 (and January of this year) may have been some of the hardest times of my life, not that I showed it much to those around me. But through it, I’ve learned so much, matured even more than I thought possible, and in general am a much better person for it. Some of the things I learned (generalized) are:

1) The statement that you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped simply isn’t true. There is one thing- AND ONLY ONE THING- you can do for them- stronger and more helpful than anything else you could ever do for them yourself- PRAY.

2) Don’t expect non-Christians to act like Christians. Its frustrating and stressful and wastes your energy. I myself have had to learn this repeatedly.

3) Pastors, church members, and elders are not perfect. Don’t expect them to be or look up to them as though they are; they are human just like us and you will be disappointed when you are let down.

4) If you see someone throwing a stone at somebody, and you don’t participate in the stoning, you are not innocent. You are guilty of standing by and doing nothing to help that person.

5) Many churches today are filled with false converts- because people aren’t hearing and realizing what they need to. (See my next post for details).

6) If you are truly a Christian then your life should be about loving others and leading others to the feet of Christ. And when that is what your life is about you will live for others. And when you live for others, you will be more easily able to give up worldly things (and certain entertainment things such as inappropriate music, books bearing content of the occult, and questionable movies). You will be able to do this because when you realize you aren’t living for yourself but for somebody else, you realize that the worldly entertainment you were enjoying was only for yourself, and because it could be damaging to some one- even unknowingly yourself- you can no longer feel comfortable making compromises. Because it isn’t about you.

7) In reference to number 6, I’ve learned and studied some on the occult and ways it infiltrates our music and lives. I did a report on it, that I intend to post on here soon. I did the report, intending it for someone else, and came to the realization that I had things in my own home of questionable nature.

Also in reference to number 6, I’ve learned that the line between being overly extreme and crazy about what you allow in your household and getting rid of everything you shouldn’t have in your household, is a very fine line. I’ve been praying so hard to find it- and I hope my study on the occult may help other people find it.

9) I’ve been going to some Love and Respect classes with my husband and in-laws. The videos we are watching in this class are very funny and very cliche in many ways-but they do apply to all couples in one way or another. In a brief summary, this video series is about the differences in men and women. The differences in their needs, in their way of speaking, in their way of interpreting what they hear, in their differences in interpreting their different forms of body languages, ect. Learning the differences, and why the opposite sex is the way it is, is extremely insightful and helpful to understanding and “decoding” your spouse.

10) I wasn’t sure it would ever happen, but I’ve always wanted it to- I’m writing a book. FINALLY!!! It is going to be a long time finishing it, with the two boys, but it will get done. Generally speaking, God gives us talent in certain areas. Where we are talented is where we generally find a field of work we are happy in. And we are happiest when we use that talent and work to do God’s will. And God’s will in your life often has something to do with the talent he gave you. Use it right. When I had the idea for the book, it was like suddenly God just gave me the know-how to write a real big book. All of the sudden I could see what needed to be done to make the book work and what I had done to make all my books in the past fail. Since getting pregnant again, I have been unable to work on my book now (and I am just now regaining energy) but in the time I have not been writing, I have been drawing closer to God and learning so much I never knew (even being raised with a Christian background). And with all that I’ve learned about my relationship with God and my responsibilities as a Christian, I have gotten so many great ideas and learned so many ways in which I can, and will, give this book back to God. I want him to work through me, and I want to use the talent he gave me to serve him.

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Not only was he surprised that we were camping for the weekend, but he also was shocked (as was I) that I managed to book the private Island!  We had a great weekend of fishing, boating, smore-making, and the camping usualls.  The duckies at this lake practically live on the island and were far from shy about eating out of our hands (we got bit a bit).  They even have a nest under the out-house!  Its an electric outhouse, so no, the ducky eggs are not getting pooped on.  Glad you asked.  I’m glad Tim got some down time, he said he almost had forgotten what he so enjoyed.  People, be careful that you don’t work so much that you forget to enjoy life.  That is VERY important, and is good for your mental health as well.

As fun as camping was, we were excited to get back to our little baby!  Unfortunately, he’s not been in the greatest mood since we came back from camping.  His teething has been VERY bad the last couple of days, and the poor kid is only 5.5 months!  He has been spitting up a lot (and it bothers him), he’s been very fussy, refusing to eat his baby food (mostly just at dinner time), and has all around just been a little difficult.  One of the hardest things is that I can’t really hold him to comfort him because when he gets really upset he thrashes his arms and legs about and if I’m holding him at that time, he literally rips my hair out.  He doesn’t realize he’s doing it, his hands just get caught in my long curly hair while he’s flailing them.  Poor baby (and poor me).  I would like to call the doctor and see what I can do for him (apart from teether toys and Orajel) but I no longer trust his doctor and plan to change.  The reason I’m after a new pediatrician is because I found out mine is an Evolutionist.  And Evolutionists are crazy, so NO, I am not going to put my son’s health care in one’s hands.  Wish me luck in finding a GOOD new one.  Seems I always end up with bad doctors initially, and the good doctors later…

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So a few weeks ago, Tim and I went garage sale shopping.  An area close to ours does semi-annual garage sales and the people usually have REALLY good quality stuff, in good condition, with (of course) garage sale prices.  I mean, we got a leaf blower for $7.00!!!  We also got a “big boy” car seat for Levi (usually $60-100 new) for $15, some toddler riding toys for him, winter clothes, books, and other good stuff.  Any way, my point in all this is that why spend loads of money (like $60 for exersaucer) for baby stuff that can only be used for a short period of time (usually a few months)???  Answer: DO NOT spend all that money for those toys- go to garage sales and spend a little money for those toys.  NO, it doesn’t matter that little Stacey and Jon are playing with a toy that some other child played with (God forbid).  Its called bleach, you use it to bleach things down and it disinfects!  So with a little bleach water and a little green, you can buy all the toys your kids could want!  Remember, this works just as well for house-hold items, too.

So my mom is a personal trainer, I believe I’ve mentioned that before, and she had some great clients that paid for her and a person of her choice to attend a BALL!!!  Its hosted by the hospital annually, and is annually out of my price range.  My mom would have asked my dad to go, but he doesn’t care to dance much so I GOT TO GO!!!  Tim got to “babysit”.  It was loads of fun, we dressed up like Princesses and were served a four-course dinner (yah, there were several forks to the side of the plate- my mom panicked about which to use and I told her start from the outside and work your way in- watching Titanic has finally paid off).  At dinner we talked about the Opera (I LOVE the Opera!) and dog shows (I love dogs).  Then we danced for hours!  The doctors and their wives performed the Mambo Italiano for us!  It was great!  Funny story- mom and I went to get our picture taken while there.  The lady photographer asked upon seeing my very young looking mother and I together, “Girlfriends?” I understood her to mean, friends who are girls? but my mother instantly responded (before I could stop her), “Oh no!  We aren’t like that, I’m her mother!”  Lol, had me laughing anyway.  I’m sending her clients a Thank You for giving me a chance to dress up and dance!  Speaking of my mom’s clients, please pray for their family- their son and his family were in a bad car accident and the situation doesn’t look good right now.

Well, I’ll let you know how the camping trip goes!

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Levi has been doing some pretty hilarious stuff lately.  When I was nursing him the other day, he moved to bit me so I looked him in the eyes and sternly said, “No.”  He stuck out his lower lip and whined and reached up to the corner of his eye with his index finger as if to wipe away a tear!  Ah, so cute!  I had to turn away to laugh!  Earlier the day before, at the close of praying for over our dinner I said, “Amen,” and Levi stuck out that little lower lip and whimpered, so I told him, “Its ok, you can talk to God any time you want,” and instantly he was smiling and was a-okay!  Its beyond me why Tim and I were laughing at this, but last night Levi pooped- A BIG NASTY LOT- in his bathtub.  We had to get him out, clean out the tub, re-wash him, and clean out the tub and his toys some more.  At one point I left the bathroom to get some cleaning supplies while Tim held our poopy little boy.  I didn’t explain what I was doing and as soon as I was through the door-way, Tim called desperately, “Where are you going??? Don’t leave me!”  Lol, like I said, we were laughing, but its supposed to be one of those stories that’s only funny later.  I guess I have a twisted sense of humor.

On the development front:  Levi rolls over and over and over.  I can’t keep him on his back at all- especially when I’m trying to change him! He also likes to grab and play with his little toes!  He also likes to play peek-aboo!  He really likes it when I put the receiving blanket on his face, and then quickly pull it off and surprise him!  I love hearing his cute giggles when we do that!  Levi can also just about kick his way out of his swing now!  Its low to the ground, and he couldn’t get out of it, so I never bothered strapping him in before, but while I was doing my make-up the other day, he kicked his little butt all the way to the edge of the swing and his little feet were flailing in the air!

One of the most exciting changes:  MEAL TIMES!  He now eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner!  Breakfast and lunch are just baby oat meal with applesauce mixed in, for the moment.  For dinner, he is eating wet stage-1 baby foods!  I gave him squash the first week for dinner, and his reaction was pretty funny.  He ate it, but apon tasting it, you could just see the words behind his expression:  “Ew, mom. Ew.”  Then he started crying pretty hard, and I thought he just didn’t like his food so I didn’t do anything about it.  I felt bad when he burped and I realized he just got gassy.  I don’t know if it was from the food or not.  This week, we are eating sweet potatoes- which he LOVES.  I like them better, too.  I make it a habit to know how my baby’s food taste.   I know, weird.

With great food comes great poop… like in the bathtub….

Levi has also been teething badly.  Poor baby started crying really hard the other day and shoving toys in his mouth.  I had to use the baby Ora-jell a few times.  I’ve been told the teething tablets (you put it on their gums) work very well, but wouldn’t he end up swallowing them?  I’m not sure I want to put those in his mouth- at his age, that screams to me: “CHOKING HAZARD!”  Any opinions on that, readers?

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Wisconsin was BEAUTIFUL!  It was so refreshing to go home and see my family and be in a state that is just filled with God’s natural beauty!  It wasn’t hot (well not to me anyway) and there was no humidity.  One day was even VERY cold for the summer.  I had forgot to bring warm clothes for myself, but thankfully remembered to bring them for Levi.  We had him in a beanie, footed-pants, a sweater, two blankets… you get the idea.  So, the weather was awesome!

I got to spend a lot of good quality time with my extended family (who were all thrilled that I finally printed off wedding and Levi pictures- very late as I was).  We walked, rode bikes, swam in my Gramp’s and Gram’s pool, ate like kings (because my grandparents are the royal cooks), went to the awesome Amish food store (my Gram has taken us there every year for as long as I can remember to get candy).  While there, I got cheese curds and Wisconsin beef sticks to bring home to Tim (who couldn’t come because of work).

At my other Grandma’s, we celebrated her 70th birthday.  This was a surprise party, and even though she suspected my family and I were coming up to visit, the party was a delightful shock.  It was themed 50′s and there were so many people there (I was related to most of them and just didn’t know it).  Levi DID NOT enjoy the party at all.  It was really loud inside and out so he couldn’t take his naps and he kept spitting up.  Poor guy…

While there, my Aunt and Cousin came by and brought a cute monkey outfit for Levi!  And my cousin was wearing these awesome ballet socks, and she just gave them to me!  Despite her young age, she was very helpful with the baby!

So Levi has passed a couple of milestones lately!  He has been grabbing his toys and tasting EVERYTHING for a few weeks now and the other day he rolled over by himself!  He has been using so much energy that some days he doesn’t poop (which I read is normal of breast-fed babies because they only get what they need).  I am still breast-feeding him, seeing as he mostly stopped biting me after two days of pumping bottles. I’m grateful- I didn’t like full-time pumping and I enjoy reading while I feed him.  In addition to breast milk, I have also been feeding him baby rice cereal (mixed with applesauce as of late) and he LOVES it!  Now when Tim and I eat, we have to feed him at the same time or he stares at our food and makes the chewing motions!

Speaking of reading, I have been reading “The Overton Window” by Glenn Beck- it is a VERY good thriller and even though it is fictional, it really makes you stop and think.  If you have time to read it, I HIGHLY recommend it!

Levi’s cousin was born a week ago from today (they were both Tuesday babies!)! I can’t wait until his cousin is old enough to play with him- they will be so cute together- babbling on the floor amongst their toys!  I notice in church, in the mother’s room, Levi loves to watch the little baby girls play in there.  He tries to talk to them, but for the most part, they are not interesting in him because he isn’t down on the floor crawling with them!  Soon though, he will be and I do NOT look forward to baby-proofing the apartment!

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There are days when I, being busy with the constant care-taking of my son (who of late doesn’t nap much at all during the day, IF at all) think, “Is all I am ever going to do is clean, change diapers, cart-around, cook, sleep little, feed, and do it again?  This is a viscous cycle!”  I mean, I have dreams, goals, ambitions (among them: rule the world); didn’t we all?  Then I remember that although its the hardest job in the world, being a mom is also the most rewarding and the most desired above all.  And even if I never do anything “great” in the eyes of others, being a mom to my son and future other children IS great.  And even if I never get into Congress, go to rallies, or be a missionary, I can change MUCH in this world by being a good, Godly mother.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is older he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6.  By doing this, my calling in life, my son may one day change the world.  A guest speaker at our church recently spoke of God’s calling and our answering.  Because one person answered God’s calling to minister, he inspired another to minister.  And by that minister also answering God’s calling, inspired another minister.  And so on and so forth (he had the actual list of the real names of these people) until you come to: and in that minister’s church was a boy who came back year after year and listened to his teachings.  He grew up to be a minister.  His name was Billy Graham.  Wow.

So moms, when you are asking yourself, “WHY are my duties so monotonous and repetitive, and are they ever going to get done so I can do something else,” remember what a gift motherhood is and that you’re parenting may influence your child to do great, changing things (and I don’t mean Obama’s type of change).  And remember that even if it goes unsaid, your work is appreciated and is in NO WAY meaningless.  Your child will learn love because of it, and doesn’t that make every aching muscle worth it?  All you have to do is that hard, great, gratifying task:  Be their MOM.

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So my brother’s wedding was awesome and I’m so happy to have a new sister!  And I’m thrilled he married some one that I 100% approve of and lets me borrow her totally awesome books (that I thrive off more than food).  Thankfully my sister-in-law’s church had a mother’s room because Levi decided to conveniently be hungry during the whole ceremony.  It was a beautiful ceremony, even from where I sat, the best part:  As their exit music, they played the Star Wars theme song!!!   That is so my big brother and I love him for it.

Levi also decided to be hungry during the first dance and the speeches- there was no mother’s room for that.   But I made it out in just enough time for the dollar dance!  My aunt took care of Levi and seemed to enjoy it as much as I enjoyed dancing with Tim in the mean time!  We danced like dorks the rest of the wedding and it was exhilarating! Everyone who came to the wedding and wanted one, took home a fish!  Some one had the brilliant idea to have cute goldfish in bowls on the table!  Only problem:  when you order gold fish in bulk, they don’t tell you what size they are or promise they will all be the same size.  Poor fish… a few could hardly circle in their bowls.  The Maid of Honor and her boyfriend released them into a pond.  For that reason, I would not recommend doing that for your wedding unless you can be sure what size all the fish will be.  Awesome idea other wise.  Tim and I took a fish home, naming him Cheshire Fish.  My parents took home three fish.  Within 4-5 days, all the fish were dead.  Never did have much luck with fish and none of us are on city water… we don’t know we are fish killers, we just are.

Back to dancing- I don’t think my Aunt realized what a gift she gave me when watched Levi so Tim and I could dance (ridiculously I might add).  Dancing takes me back to my proms and gives my a sense of freedom and weightlessness!  I miss dancing a lot.  When I dance, I can forget my all-at-once-overwhelming-at-times responsibilities.  I am VERY young to be a wife, a mother, a soon-to-be home owner.  I decided to grow up rather fast (if you haven’t yet and its not making a fool of you- don’t grow up too fast) and now have all these responsibilities that I’ve never had before.  Sometimes, realizing I’ve grown up is kind of sad.  I miss that child-hood bliss.  But dancing brings it back to me, if only for a time.  And when the dancing is done, and I’ve had my fun, I still love my family and my responsibility to them.  Dancing is a REVOLUTION!

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I went shopping the other day at Target and Hy-Vee.  I had some important things to pick up and some ingredients I needed for my stuffed-onion dinner (which turned out good- but make sure you cook those onions all the way!).  I brought my baby carrier, since Levi tends to get fussy after being in his car seat for a while.  He didn’t cry AT ALL!  I think the carrier gave him the feeling of being held, and it gave me the feeling of “Omigosh I do have two hands!”  Made my shopping blissfully easy.

Lately, I think I’m figuring my son out better.  I know being a mom comes naturally, but your baby is a different person and you do have to get to know that person in a way.  I lately am getting to know him better and I can seem to better understand what he wants and needs and when.  In retrospect, he seems to be an even happier baby than before.  What I don’t understand is why, at three months old, has he stopped taking naps unless I am asleep or reading under him???  Some days (24-hour periods) the boy only gets in 12 hours of sleep total with two-three 20-minute cat-naps.  Oh well.  It would be a lie to say that I don’t enjoy when his little head falls asleep on my chest and I can just read while he sleeps peacefully cuddled up on me.

I did start up nursing again.  For two days, I pumped and I missed nursing him badly.  Then on the third day he WOULD NOT take his bottle for anything, so I’ve been nursing him since and he’s only bit me once since!  Yeah!  I really missed nursing him those two days and my milk production went down right away when I stopped (yes, even though I was pumping).

Now that Levi is 15 lbs, and in size-two diapers, I am once again finding that some diaper brands are totally different than others.  I would say that in the time of size-one, the Target brand, UP and UP, were my favorite.  Now, they are my least favorite.  Perhaps I have a faulty package because these ones are too thin in the middle (poop comes out the sides) and they don’t seem to absorb the liquid from the poop (so it also comes out the top if he’s sitting up).  No fun.  I REALLY hope its just this package…

Don’t forget about the MDA Give-away contest!!!  Its the last blog before this one!

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At any rate, kids and adults alike need to practice oral hygiene if they don’t want to have cavities, fillings, painful dental procedures, and dentures some day too soon.  Brushing is also particularly important if you have braces- my mom told me a story when I got braces that scared me to death (and its a true story).  I was told I was the poster child for taking care of my braces.  The story goes like this.  A girl once had braces and didn’t brush them.  She didn’t floss them.  She did intake tons of sugars and soda.  When they took her braces out, her teeth had rotted under them and came out in chunks.  She had to get the rest of her teeth pulled and got dentures.  LEARN FROM THAT.

Oral hygiene isn’t just cleaning, but also preventive maintenance.  Like wearing a mouth guard in sports, not chewing, not drunk driving or getting into fights, and other activities that beg to have your teeth knocked out.  Scientists are saying that there may be a link between gum disease and heart disease.  Remember- maintenance costs nothing, fixing procedures cost A LOT.  And we all know that insurance isn’t exactly the most helpful thing in the world sometimes (thank you, Obama).

I’m no expert, but if you want more information on Oral Hygiene, you can visit www.yourmouthistalking.org

The Missouri Dental Association is allowing me to do a Give-Away for them to go along with this blog.  Here is the PRIZE:

A Year’s Worth of Toothbrushes for each member of the household (They call it year supply because toothbrushes should be changed every 3 months.  They say for each member of the house meaning if there are no children under 24 months we will not provide the parents’ brush for baby teeth)

This CAN include (based upon your house-hold members)

4 GUM Parents’ Brush (6-24 months)

4 GUM Crayola Timer Light (Kids)

4 GUM Micro Tip toothbrush (Adults)

And a package of Eez Thru Angled Flossers (75 count)

What you must do to win the giveaway: I would like people to email me their stories on what they did to either get their children to brush their teeth, or how they forced their children into it, or how their parents handled the same situations with them.  I am looking for informative (helpful to other parents in this stage of parenting), and funny stories.  I will chose the most creative and if that person would like, I will post their story on one of my blogs as well.  That is up to the person though.  I will start taking submissions now (please do not submit more than one story- if you do, I will only use your first submission) and I will stop taking submissions September 1st.  When you email me, please be sure to send contact information too!

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