We pay someone to mow our lawn. The first few years we were here we tried to mow it ourselves. We have a push mower. We are young so we should be able to do this and get exercise. Our yard is not huge, but it is big. It seemed like Ram's schedule as a pastor-when he was able to mow it would rain and when the weather was nice to mow he would have a funeral or a visit to make. Once we had Lambs one of us needed to stay inside with the Lambs while the other mowed. I was overwhelmed trying to do yardwork in good weather plus housework.
After the snow melted our yard was terrible this year. All the ice on the trees this year meant tons of sticks to pick up. The sewer project in town threw big rocks into the yard. There was lots of trash from the many trash days that were also very windy days.
I divided the yard into sections and told the Lambs that they had to help me with one section each day until we were done. Rain was forecasted and it did rain so it took us almost a week to get it done. The Lambs were not enthused with this project even when I made it into a contest of who could pick up the most sticks. We finished Friday morning. The lawn mower man came Friday night. I'm so glad we finished so he didn't have to deal with the sticks, rocks, and trash.
Now to time planting the garden as well-after the last frost but enough time for everything to grow before the first frost. I hate this part of living in MN!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!
I had several ideas for Mother's Day posts that just didn't happen and here it is almost midnight after a very busy weekend filled with Mother's Day events for my family. I'll try to post photos later this week.
Psalm 113
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!
The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
The pastor (not Ram) that came to visit me when Lamb 3 was born led us in this hymn.
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wonderous things has done,
In who His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
LSB 895:1
Our prayers at church included all mothers, all women who do not have children, and those whose children are estranged from them.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Age
I recently was talking to someone that was 28 and had children older than the Lambs. Ram's mom had 3 boys before she was 28. I got married when I was 28. We will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in December so you can guess how old I am. My mom had my sister when she was 38. At my dad's high school class reunion when she was about 40, she had a 2 year old and others at the reunion had grandchildren. At my 5 year high school reunion there were some classmates that had toddlers and I wasn't even close to getting married. I am often surprised when friends that have teenagers are my age or younger than me. I recently told Ram that one of my college friends had a son that was being confirmed this year. He was surprised that her son was that old.
It's all in perspective. I'm glad to be happily married with 3 Lambs even if it took us longer than other friends. The 28 year old that I was talking to said that she thinks it was God's plan that they married young because after they had some children her husband was diagnosed with MS. She said that if they hadn't started a family before they had that diagnosis, they probably wouldn't have had any children.
My grandparents were older when they had children. My parents were older when they had children. None of the Lambs ever got to know any of my grandparents. Ram's grandparents and parents were the opposite. The Lambs got to know at least one set of Ram's grandparents well. One of my prayers is that the Lambs marry girls that were born when their parents were younger so their inlaws are younger like Ram's parents were. So all you friends that have daughters near the ages of the Lambs and are younger than me, let's talk arranged marriages!
It's all in perspective. I'm glad to be happily married with 3 Lambs even if it took us longer than other friends. The 28 year old that I was talking to said that she thinks it was God's plan that they married young because after they had some children her husband was diagnosed with MS. She said that if they hadn't started a family before they had that diagnosis, they probably wouldn't have had any children.
My grandparents were older when they had children. My parents were older when they had children. None of the Lambs ever got to know any of my grandparents. Ram's grandparents and parents were the opposite. The Lambs got to know at least one set of Ram's grandparents well. One of my prayers is that the Lambs marry girls that were born when their parents were younger so their inlaws are younger like Ram's parents were. So all you friends that have daughters near the ages of the Lambs and are younger than me, let's talk arranged marriages!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Seis de Mayo
We had another event last night so our family celebrated Cinco de Mayo one day later. I don't think I really heard about Cinco de Mayo until I was old enough to go to the bar and it is always celebrated there! I was interested to hear recently that the actual independence day for Mexico is in September, but Mexican Americans thought it would be better for the schools to study it in May than September. That was interesting to me that they expected Cinco de Mayo to be studied in schools-we never did when I was teaching.
Here's the menu for our family Mexican feast (Lamb 2 is working on "f" in speech class so we called it a feast). We used lots of cilantro because it was on sale for $0.49!
Mock pina coladas
Chips and salsa
Tacos
Mexican ice cream sundaes
I modified a recipe from Martha Stewart for the sundaes.
vanilla ice cream
homemade chocolate sauce
toasted coconut
cinnamon
peanuts
It was very easy to just layer all that. It was a hit because the Lambs could have the toppings they wanted, but of course Ram and I had all the toppings!
At bedtime we played some Spanish music for the Lambs.
We live 1 1/2 hours from a Mexican restaurant so I was quite pleased with our family Mexican feast.
Here's the menu for our family Mexican feast (Lamb 2 is working on "f" in speech class so we called it a feast). We used lots of cilantro because it was on sale for $0.49!
Mock pina coladas
Chips and salsa
Tacos
Mexican ice cream sundaes
I modified a recipe from Martha Stewart for the sundaes.
vanilla ice cream
homemade chocolate sauce
toasted coconut
cinnamon
peanuts
It was very easy to just layer all that. It was a hit because the Lambs could have the toppings they wanted, but of course Ram and I had all the toppings!
At bedtime we played some Spanish music for the Lambs.
We live 1 1/2 hours from a Mexican restaurant so I was quite pleased with our family Mexican feast.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A question
The doctor asked me a question yesterday that got me thinking.
I really do think it is two separate issues to *have fertility problems/miscarriages and not have any children OR *to have one or more children and have miscarriages. They are both the same in that both want a child. I had one child before I had any miscarriages so I will never have the perspective of the first issue. But I can tell you about the second issue. Strangers make comments like "Isn't it time for another one? You guys should try for a girl!" They have no idea that you want another child. They have no idea that there is a problem because you already have some children, why couldn't you have more? Others that know that you have had a miscarriage remind you to "be thankful for the children that you do have" and suggest that "maybe it is time that you are done because you already have some children". Others have to share the story of the ONE miscarriage that they had and assume that "they understand".
I do know a couple of families that had a few children and then had a miscarriage and they never had any more children. They told me they decided they were done after the children they had. I do know a few families that had a few children, had a miscarriage, and then several years later finally had another child. Those years in between children were very difficult for them and it will always be obvious because of the big gap between children. But I can't think of any family/friends that had a few children, told me they really longed to have another child, and never did. I suppose there are families like that, but I assume that they only wanted X number of children and that they chose to be done after X number of children.
Miscarriage has not always been talked about openly. I think the Internet age has changed that. I don't know how our story will turn out. Are we done after 3 boys? Will we eventually have another child? Will we adopt? Only God knows that answer.
I made it through yesterday that I expected to be difficult. Today's schedule doesn't seem to be difficult. Thursday and Saturday and Sunday's schedule look to be difficult again. I am taking it one day at a time. I am thankful for the days that look to be easier as a break between the difficult days.
Do you know other women who have had miscarriages so you don't feel like the only one?
My answer to her was of course I knew women who have had miscarriages. But the next part of my answer was that I didn't know anyone who had 4 miscarriages like me. Later I thought of someone I knew who had several miscarriages but her situation is a little different because she has never had any children. That is what got me thinking.I really do think it is two separate issues to *have fertility problems/miscarriages and not have any children OR *to have one or more children and have miscarriages. They are both the same in that both want a child. I had one child before I had any miscarriages so I will never have the perspective of the first issue. But I can tell you about the second issue. Strangers make comments like "Isn't it time for another one? You guys should try for a girl!" They have no idea that you want another child. They have no idea that there is a problem because you already have some children, why couldn't you have more? Others that know that you have had a miscarriage remind you to "be thankful for the children that you do have" and suggest that "maybe it is time that you are done because you already have some children". Others have to share the story of the ONE miscarriage that they had and assume that "they understand".
I do know a couple of families that had a few children and then had a miscarriage and they never had any more children. They told me they decided they were done after the children they had. I do know a few families that had a few children, had a miscarriage, and then several years later finally had another child. Those years in between children were very difficult for them and it will always be obvious because of the big gap between children. But I can't think of any family/friends that had a few children, told me they really longed to have another child, and never did. I suppose there are families like that, but I assume that they only wanted X number of children and that they chose to be done after X number of children.
Miscarriage has not always been talked about openly. I think the Internet age has changed that. I don't know how our story will turn out. Are we done after 3 boys? Will we eventually have another child? Will we adopt? Only God knows that answer.
I made it through yesterday that I expected to be difficult. Today's schedule doesn't seem to be difficult. Thursday and Saturday and Sunday's schedule look to be difficult again. I am taking it one day at a time. I am thankful for the days that look to be easier as a break between the difficult days.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
2 weeks
I always looked forward to the newborn checkups for our Lambs, even though their pediatrician is 1 1/2 hours away. I was always glad that we had "survived" the first two weeks and hoped they had put on some weight during that time. I vividly remember all of their 2 week checkups even though much of the rest of those two weeks has been forgotten.
I have my 2 week check up today. I have done this enough times that I know what to expect. There is such a difference between an ultrasound when you are pregnant and one when you are not. There is a big difference between stepping on a scale when you are pregnant and when you are not (or you don't have a baby sitting in the car seat while you get on the scale). The insurance statements/bills are starting to come. We have plenty of medical money left for the year, I just hate to spend it this way.
Today's appointment is just with my local doctor. Later this month I will also see my doctor for my thyroid and my OB/GYN. Those appointments will have much more information for us to process-today's appointment is pretty routine.
Prayers are appreciated today for me to get through this necessary appointment-especially to think clearly to answer questions and keep it together. I think I'll take a good book with me and hope that there is a long wait so I can have some time to myself.
I have my 2 week check up today. I have done this enough times that I know what to expect. There is such a difference between an ultrasound when you are pregnant and one when you are not. There is a big difference between stepping on a scale when you are pregnant and when you are not (or you don't have a baby sitting in the car seat while you get on the scale). The insurance statements/bills are starting to come. We have plenty of medical money left for the year, I just hate to spend it this way.
Today's appointment is just with my local doctor. Later this month I will also see my doctor for my thyroid and my OB/GYN. Those appointments will have much more information for us to process-today's appointment is pretty routine.
Prayers are appreciated today for me to get through this necessary appointment-especially to think clearly to answer questions and keep it together. I think I'll take a good book with me and hope that there is a long wait so I can have some time to myself.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Bees
The last few years that we have homeschooled, Lamb 1 was kindergarten age or older. I have read lots of books on science topics, but nothing was organized by topic. Last Monday I took some time to plan using The Well Trained Mind (I have the first edition although it has been updated since then) as my framework for science studies. We are going to begin by studying the animal kingdom. We spent a few days reading books about ladybugs. Now we are reading books about bees and wasps. Next we will study worms and after a few days working in the dirt in the garden the Lambs are looking forward to that!
We have a honey making plant in our town and a few years ago we took a tour. Sadly last fall the plant closed, but there is still a wax rendering plant open and we can still buy honey locally. I thought that I knew a lot about bees and honey making.
We have read a few books about bees and spent a long time on The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons this week. We still have a few more books about bees to read. All these books were on our shelf, we didn't even need to go to the public library.
It is fascinating to me how God made bees and how the whole process of living, working, and making honey works for bees. I don't know how you could study bees and still not believe in creation! The history of beekeeping is also interesting how they got from wild beehives to the boxes bees are kept in now.
We are just getting a taste of learning about bees. We will probably spend about 2 weeks on bees and wasps. I know that we could spend much longer and still not learn everything about bees.
Studying bees this week reminded me why we homeschool and why we try to use a classical approach to our homeschool. The "grammar" of bees and the animal kingdom is fascinating and also fun to learn about! The Lambs have not asked a whole lot of questions about bees, but I can tell they are soaking all this information up like sponges. I wouldn't be surprised if they are bees in their pretend play in the next few weeks. Since the Lambs can't read these books independently yet, I get to share in the excitement of learning about bees too!
We have a honey making plant in our town and a few years ago we took a tour. Sadly last fall the plant closed, but there is still a wax rendering plant open and we can still buy honey locally. I thought that I knew a lot about bees and honey making.
We have read a few books about bees and spent a long time on The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons this week. We still have a few more books about bees to read. All these books were on our shelf, we didn't even need to go to the public library.
It is fascinating to me how God made bees and how the whole process of living, working, and making honey works for bees. I don't know how you could study bees and still not believe in creation! The history of beekeeping is also interesting how they got from wild beehives to the boxes bees are kept in now.
We are just getting a taste of learning about bees. We will probably spend about 2 weeks on bees and wasps. I know that we could spend much longer and still not learn everything about bees.
Studying bees this week reminded me why we homeschool and why we try to use a classical approach to our homeschool. The "grammar" of bees and the animal kingdom is fascinating and also fun to learn about! The Lambs have not asked a whole lot of questions about bees, but I can tell they are soaking all this information up like sponges. I wouldn't be surprised if they are bees in their pretend play in the next few weeks. Since the Lambs can't read these books independently yet, I get to share in the excitement of learning about bees too!
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