Since Hope has been a year and a half old, she has suffered from nightly knee pain. The pain is severe and we often have to give her pain reliever so she can sleep. We have taken her to the pediatrician who diagnosed "growing pains" but I knew that wasn't it. This pain was EVERY night and much more severe than any growing pains I knew of. The doctor ran blood tests and took x-rays - both were negative for serious disease. The chiropractor adjusted Hope and gave her knees a thorough examination (as the pediatrician did) and found nothing. We took Hope to a physical therapist who specializes in myofacial release and she found nothing. Hope has been seeing a nutritionist for the past two years in case of a nutritional deficiency- while this has been helpful in other ways, it has not helped with her pain. We have tried food elimination including gluten and dairy with no success.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

Weary from our nightly four year ordeal, I prayed again for guidance in finding a way to help Hope with her pain. Through a series of circumstances, I picked up a book on trigger point release and began reading for help for MY back pain. As I worked on myself, I realized that some of my trigger points did not refer pain in the "traditional pain patterns" the book showed. Could that be the case with Hope, too? Could her pain be coming from somewhere besides her knee area? I prayed that the Lord would guide my hands to just the right spots on Hope- starting with her back since rubbing there had brought the most relief to her. Moving to the side of her hips, there were three spots that made her cry out in pain- trigger points.

The next night Hope came to me crying about her knees. I had her lie across my lap and I rubbed those points on her hips. They were even more tender this time. About two minutes later, she said cheerily, "My knees don't hurt anymore!" and she got up to play.

I have continued to rub those points every day as it can take many weeks to release trigger points and last night she had another episode of pain. Once again, rubbing those points brought relief, although we had to do it again a couple of times that night.

I praise the Lord that he answered my prayer for help in giving me wisdom to know where to look for the source of Hope's pain, when the doctors and physical therapist couldn't find it. Praise the Lord!

The Delany Sisters Have Their Say

From the book jacket:
"When you get real old, honey, says Bessy Delany, "you lay it all on the table. There's an old saying: only little children and old folks tell the truth." In "Having Our Say" Bessie, age 101, and her sister Sadie, age 103, do just that- and then some. Filled with humorous and poignant anecdotes, this inspiring dual memoir offers a rare glimpse of the birth of black freedom- and the rise of the black middle class- in America.
Sadie and Bessie Delany recall growing up with eight other siblings in turn-of-the century North Carolina: their father was born in slavery, yet became the nation's first elected black Episcopal bishop; their mother could have "passed" for white but chose not to.
With irrepressible pluck, the sisters confronted the first days of Jim Crow and legal segregation, and took part in the World War 1 era migration North, rising to professional prominence during the heyday of Harlem...
Each has triumphed in her own way: Bess with feistiness and Sadie with quiet determination. Though warmly skeptical of each other's style, they remain devoted. "She may be one hundred and one years old," comments Sadie, "but she's still my little sister."


I enjoyed these books very much last week. These spunky ladies lived through a lot and have a fascinating history to tell. Each chapter alternates with the perspective of one of the two sisters. The way the book is written, the reader can get a good feeling on the personality of these women. And each of them had a LOT of personality!

The book has been made into a play for Broadway and these women have entertained their share of American elite. But their national fame did not come until they passed the "100" mark, so I'm sure they weren't too corrupted by their sudden fame!

The second book, "On My Own at 107" details the first year of Sadie's life after the death of Bessie. I especially appreciated the gentle, reflective tone of this book and the strength this sister had in deciding to live her life with joy after so great a loss.

I heartily recommend these books for a great look into American history and a fascinating American family!

Sunday Afternoon with Grandpa and Grandma

Grandpa and Grandma train service dogs. This dog, Sloan, is their third dog.

Tea with Grandma and Grandpa

Jackson

World's most darling baby nephew gets cuter by the day!

A Big Day for Abby

Two years ago...

In the waiting room

Two lovely girls

Celebration at "Squeeze"

A Favorite Salad Recipe For Special Occasions

"That Good Salad"

1/2  cup vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic - minced
salt and pepper to taste
2  bunches (1 pound each) leaf lettuce - torn
2 cups tomatoes - chopped
1 cup Swiss cheese - shredded or cut into cubes
2/3  cup slivered almonds - toasted,
8 strips bacon - cooked and crumbled

In a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine oil, lemon juice,
garlic, salt and pepper (I add a pinch of succanut or sugar,
too); cover and shake well.  Chill.  In a bowl, toss lettuce,
tomatoes, Swiss cheese, almonds, and bacon.  Shake dressing;
pour over salad and toss.

Be sure to add dressing immediately before serving because it will
wilt the lettuce. If you wait more than, say, half an hour before
serving, you will end up with what looks like cooked spinach with
cheese and almonds languishing in the bottom of your salad bowl.

Recipe modified from the one listed on RecipeSource.com

Salad Dressing!

We eat a lot of salad 'round here and below is a favorite dressing recipe:

Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon basil
salt- optional

Combine all ingredients, place in fridge for a few hours for flavors to marry (happily, I might add).

Fun Finds at the Homeschool Vender Hall

Brian and I went recently to the vender hall at the state homeschool conference and enjoyed looking through the many books and products designed to turn our children into geniuses.

I use the time at the vender hall to look at books and textbooks I have been interested in and write the information down for later. But I always find some "extra" books that seem to make their way home with me each year. Pictured above are most of the newest additions to our library. I bought "Little Men" for Hannah, since Abby would be horrified to read another book in which Mr. Bhaer is featured.

I have been impressed with the "Exploring Creation" science series (Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day, above) and used it last year for Jacob (Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day) and with Hannah (Biology).

I stopped by the "Miller Pads and Paper" booth and picked up four blank books for the kiddos to make their own stories in. Hope immediately got to work on her story and it sure is interesting! She was thrilled to have a book she could WRITE in. Hannah wrote many stories in those blank books when she was younger.

While Brian was talking to one of the vendors, I chatted with his wife about general homeschooling. She mentioned that one of her sons had struggles in reading and what helped him was listening to the Bible on tape while following along in his Bible. I think I will give that a try with Abby, either with her large print Bible or with another book on tape. One of the best parts of the conference is getting advice from veteran homeschooling parents!

Over the next few weeks, I will go through the curriculum catalogs and chart out our school plans for the first five months (August through December). In December I will re-evaluate where we are and pick up any other books we need for the rest of the school year.

The kiddos are excited about looking through the new books. Jacob likes his new school book but wants to finish it quickly because the next science book I'll buy for him in the series is about Space...

A Bit of a Book Review

If you are seeking to be more interesting at your next dinner party or at the water cooler, let me recommend the book I just read: "Freakonomics- A Rogue Economist Explored the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt.

The book's forward explains "As Levitt sees it, economics is a science with excellent tools for gaining answers but a serious shortage of interesting questions. His particular gift is the ability to ask such questions. For instance: If drug dealers make so much money, why do they still live with their mothers? Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What really caused crime rates to plunge during the past decade? Do real-estate agents have their clients' best interests at heart? Why do black parents give their children names that may hurt their career prospects? Do schoolteachers cheat to meet high-stakes testing standards? Is sumo wrestling corrupt?"

While I was amused and entertained learning about real-estate agents and the naming choices of blacks and whites, the chapter that grabbed my attention was the one entitled "Where Have All The Criminals Gone? The chapter goes on to explain why the usual explanations for falling crime such as a good economy, larger police presence, prisons and capital punishment are not the true reasons. The actual reason, according to Levitt and others quoted in this chapter is ABORTION. Since abortion became legalized and more "affordable" to the masses, any woman who does not want her child can do away with it (my term, not the author's). And following Levitt's thinking, "Unwantedness leads to high crime." Since legalized abortion led to less unwantedness, abortion therefore led to less crime.

Statistics show that black women abort their children at a higher rate than white women. Since many of the women who abort are from poorer neighborhoods and/or are not in a situation that would make a good environment for raising a child, many of the children who might grow up to become criminals are killed in the womb- the ultimate crime prevention program.

Levitt, while trying to steer clear of the moral implications of abortion, does admit that the loss of 1.5 million lives per year due to abortion is a "terribly inefficient" way to curb crime considering the homicide rate in the U.S. is around 15,000 a year.

I realize that the discussion of statistics in this book is an academic exercise, but how can one not take the implications of these facts, whether they be on cheating, safety or culture and not have them be analyzed through the lens of one's worldview as one reads? My heart bleeds when I read "When a woman does not want to have a child, she usually has a good reason" and "Abortion leads to less unwantedness".

What reason is "good enough" to terminate the life of another? Who determines the "wantedness" of another person? And, sadly, in a Hitler-esque ridding society of the undesirable, it would appear that these statistics tell the truth (at least in part).

While I am grateful for falling crime rates, I cannot help but think of those lives never given a chance. Yes, many of those children probably would grow up to lead destructive lives. Maybe one of them would have grown up to hurt me or someone in my family. But according to the Bible, each life has worth. God gives each of us a choice to choose the right or the wrong. Think of those children who would have chosen the RIGHT. What eternal impact could those children have had on the world? Why were these people never given the chance to choose their path?

Many thoughts are swirling in my head after reading this book. One underlying theme to me is how fallen we all are and how much we need a Savior. It is our human nature to look out for ourself first or cheat if it's to our advantage. I'm sure many of the people who read this book won't be struck by humanity's fallen condition after being entertained by the statistics presented (and really, it is a fascinating read!). But the chapter on abortion hammered home the reality that ideas have consequences and some of those consequences are eternal.

I have enjoyed reading several books this year that have helped me understand our culture better. One book I have read is "Unhooked", about the current s*xual culture of young adults. I have to admit to skipping a couple of chapters in this book as the "muck" got a little much for me. I appreciated the author's conclusions as to the causes of the current s*xual culture, though. Also fascinating was "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" on how difficult it is for someone in generational poverty to rise above their circumstances. "Freakonomics" was another interesting look for me into our society.

And finally, if a real estate agent describes your house as "well-maintained" or "charming", run and find yourself another agent!

Cookies!

We made these cookies today for the homeschool convention coming up. I have been a "volunteer baker" for the past two years. The only qualification this year was NO chocolate chip cookies (too many last year, I guess). Hopefully these will make those conference workers happy!

Face Painting

The kiddos are trying out the face paints we bought for the family reunion this summer. I'm not sure if the cousins will like it, but it's worth a try!

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

Daily Life Trivial Events

When Hannah cut open this uncooked potato before lunch, it seemed to be telling us something. Two I's are better than one? I only have I's for you? The I's have it? I thought it looked a little like the Ten Commandments (though it should be noted that I have never seen the actual Ten Commandments.).

Hope

Eating breakfast.

So cute!

Feeding her baby.
We love our Hope!

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2: 2-3

We have at least two nests like this near the creek, each with four eggs in them. What a surprise to find the newly hatched birds in their nests in the field!
Click on the picture for a closer look!

Fatherhood

Thanks, Christy, for sending this great picture! A picture is worth a thousand words!

Jackson

I wonder what he's trying to say!

Elisabeth Elliot on Motherhood:

When women--sometimes well-meaning, earnest, truth seeking ones say "Get out of the house and do something creative, find something meaningful, something with more direct access to reality," it is a dead giveaway that they have missed the deepest definition of creation, of meaning, of reality. And when you start seeing the world as opaque, that is, as an end in itself instead of as transparent, when you ignore the Other World where this one ultimately finds its meaning, of course housekeeping (and any other kind of work if you do it long enough) becomes tedious and empty.

But what have buying groceries, changing diapers and peeling vegetables got to do with creativity? Aren't those the very things that keep us from it? Isn't it that kind of drudgery that keeps us in bondage? It's insipid and confining, it's what one conspicuous feminist called "a life of idiotic ritual, full of forebodings and failure." To her I would answer ritual, yes. Idiotic, no, not to the Christian--for although we do the same things anybody else does, and we do them over and over in the same way,

But this is what we so easily forget. Men as well as women have listened to those quasi-rational claims, have failed to see the fatal fallacy, and have capitulated. Words like personhood, liberation, fulfillment and equality have had a convincing ring and we have not questioned their popular definitions or turned on them the searchlight of Scripture or even of our common sense. We have meekly agreed that the kitchen sink is an obstacle instead of an altar, and we have obediently carried on our shoulders the chips these reductionists have told us to carry.

Those who focus only on the drabness of the supermarket, or on the onions or the diapers themselves, haven't an inkling of the mystery that is at stake here, the mystery revealed in the birth of that Baby and consummated on the Cross: my life for yours.

The routines of housework and of mothering may be seen as a kind of death, and it is appropriate that they should be, for they offer the chance, day after day, to lay down one's life for others. Then they are no longer routines. By being done with love and offered up to God with praise, they are thereby hallowed as the vessels of the tabernacle were hallowed--not because they were different from other vessels in quality or function, but because they were offered to God. A mother's part in sustaining the life of her children and making it pleasant and comfortable is no triviality. It calls for self-sacrifice and humility, but it is the route, as was the humiliation of Jesus, to glory.

To modern mothers I would say "Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as a mortal man. And, having become man, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal. That is why God has now lifted him so high. . ." (Phil. 2:5-11 Phillips).

It is a spiritual principle as far removed from what the world tells us as heaven is removed from hell: If you are willing to lose your life, you'll find it. It is the principle expressed by John Keble in 1822:

If on our daily course our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

Such encouragement in realizing that the routine of daily life is important, the small and seemingly insignificant tasks of our day have purpose- "The ordinary transactions of everyday life are the very means of transfiguration. It is the common stuff of this world which, because of the Word's having been "made flesh," is shot through with meaning, with charity, with the glory of God."

Summer Days

Visiting the neighbor's horse- he usually comes right to the fence when he sees the kiddos.

Visiting the donkey, too.

Everything has been so green and lush since our winter and spring have been so full of moisture ( wet and soggy!).

The neighbor's field of wildflowers