Organic Momma

Darien Lake Day is fast approaching us, as it is something we have done as a family (grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles). Sadly though, I think this is the last year we will be going altogether. One of my sisters and her family will be leaving in 2 months for Colorado. We have been doing this for over the last 25 years faithfully as part of a state wide get together for homeschooling families. It started out as 1 day in June, spanned to 2 days (your choice on one) and now is open for you to choose which day in June works best for you.

My children, just like me when I was their age, are counting down the days till we leave that exciting morning. I am writing down all of the things needed for that day and stores to visit for the supplies. I usually bring snacks for the little ones to eat while we go from ride to ride and of course, lunch at the vehicle. Little ways to save money and still enjoy the few snacks we get there! I am thoroughly exhausted after that day but the smiles on my children’s faces gives me the strength to power through. But then how could we break up a family tradition? Especially when it will all change next year?! Bittersweet! I am not even sure that my children know what lies ahead. I know that they have been told about the move but I am not sure if they fully understand what this changes. You see, we live next door to my sister and her family and 2 doors down from my parents. They have been accustomed to being able to walk through the fields (as we live on a combination of 70 acres or so) and visit their homes for so long. We have lived here for most of their lives and this is where I grew up for over half of my life. There will be a hole once they leave. My sister has 2 children that are the same age as mine, not including the older ones that have babysat and my littler ones have grown attached to. They play soccer on the same team together every summer and have been homeschooled together all their life. I am not sure how I am going to hold it together when they leave, especially for my children.

For my husband and I, my sister and brother in law have been a constant help in how we look at marriage and family rearing. I can’t think of a family memory that does not include them. Pictures are filled with them and Holy Days/holidays have been essential with them. I just keep reminding myself that it will be ok and that it will work out, YHWH is in control!!

For now, I will take every moment given to me and look forward to “our” day at Darien Lake. I won’t waste time that I can’t get back and pray for our family daily. I encourage anyone reading this post to take the time to appreciate your family…..regardless of petty differences and division. Life is short and bitterness is not worth holding onto. Take every moment to spend time with your family and laugh out loud!!!

Shaloam!!

As stated in my previous post, I am just a few short weeks away from welcoming my 5th addition to the family. I have been buying the last few items needed to get ready and this has included the possibility of cloth diapers. Ordinarily I would use chlorine free diapers but I thought that this time I might try cloth like so many I know. However, the problem has been cost and which ones should I try. A great friend of mine just suggested GroBaby diapers and I have had my eye on Fuzzi Bunz one size. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would love to hear about them and any ways to be economical about this too! For those looking at this topic and interested in any cloth diapers as well, check out:

http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/grobaby%E2%84%A2-ic-11_16.html

http://fuzzibunz.com/

These are just a few of the types I like and could suggest based on rave reviews from other moms. Good luck with your search and feel free to drop by and tell me what you chose and why!!!

Shaloam!

I am in the running stretch, with 3 weeks to go till delivery! Meanwhile I am trying to finish up school with the kids and get everything in order for when I go into recovery after delivery. I have been blessed with being surrounded with family that will help but we start school so early that it is getting to that time when the kids are hard to contain inside with the nice weather. I can’t blame them! Either due to nesting mode or the scarce sunshine of CNY, I am thinking of all the things that I would love to be doing outside or around the house. But to my dismay, I am stuck barely able to keep up with school, house and work. What helps is if the kids are motivated to at least get there schooling done before the sun goes down!!

So I have had to resort to hands on schooling! Instead of science from a book, we are planting a garden and identifying the plants species. Instead of reading a history book, we will sit out in the sun and read history based fiction. I love to listen to my children read to me and know that I had a hand in teaching them that difficult task. Instead of doing math from a book, we will go grocery shopping and learn consumer math and spending. For art? I give them cameras and instruct them on how to get the best pictures with the current lighting and weather conditions. They have music instruments that they play but instead of the usual practice, I encourage them to put together a concert and play as a duet for us. This usually turns into a “Can you guess what song it is?” moment and it’s amazing the different ways that one song can be played. Finally, their english. That is a lesson that seems to always be in session around my house. With correcting grammar in speech or with the song writing going on, there is always an opportunity to teach them the proper way to write and speak.

Most importantly, their faith building! I have more than enough opportunity to show them the skills to survive but it is how they respond to those situations that is most important. I am given situations day in and day out that test my faith and my will. I hope to show them in action how to respond to those tests that reflect the scriptures that I believe to be true. I hope to see the good in everything and choose to pass this on to my children. I hope and pray that my husband and I leave behind the kind of legacy that leads our kids to see that they are here to worship their Creator through the choices they make. It’s not just about the do’s and dont’s but about the results of their choices that pay off in the end. Slow to speak and slow to wrath, love your neighbor as you love yourself, honor you father and mother and so much more. Above all!?! Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind and in doing this, you are keeping His standard and being blessed for doing so.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a blessed day!!

Shaloam