“For you that are parents, or to whom the education of children is comitted, I beseech you mind the duty which lies on you. … For to what purpose do we desire them before we have them, rejoice in them when we have them, value them so highly, sympathize with them so tenderly, grieve for their death so excessively, if in the meantime no care be taken what shall become of them to eternity? … If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No, no, if you will not teach them to pray, he will teach them to curse, swear and lie. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring up.”

~ John Flavel

I remember back in the early days of my marriage and motherhood.  We had many young ones very close together.  (we still do)  Our older children are closer in age though than our younger ones.  I remember how busy I was then and how many people when they should have been encouraging a young mother of many instead found it their place to discourage.  I remember very well doing the math and realizing that one day I would have five teen age children at the same time.  So many tried to discourage me by saying things like how they felt so sorry for me, how they were glad they were not me, how they would shoot themselves rather than being in my place, how I would regret having these children, and the open ended “just wait until” comments.

Thankfully, I did not let those comments discourage me.  In fact, I often did and still do feel sorry for those people who did not realize the blessing of children and young adults.  I remember speaking with my husband and saying how we knew it would be different.  Yes, it doesn’t matter how well you parent, you can still have a wayward child.  But, when you are raising your children for the glory of God and being dependent upon him and fully engaged in prayer for your children trusting in the promises of God, there is hope and confidence in who those children will grow to become.

I used to say to myself that I would wait and see when the day came whether those discouragements were valid.  One amazing thing I have discovered in this journey of parenthood is this, if you see your children as blessings that is what they end up being.

Well, we are in the midst of birthday season and I am now the mother of five teen age children and I can easily without reservation say that they are each a blessing!  Not only a blessing but a tremendous blessing!  They do not give me heartache as the naysayers said they would.  I am honored to be their mother!  I am honored that the Lord blessed me with them!  My life is fuller and richer because of them!

Having five teens is not the disaster so many told me it would be.  It is not full of heart ache and grief as many warned.  I still have my hair and it is not white!  I am blessed beyond measure!

So to all those naysayers, I hope you can see that children and young adults truly are a treasure, a blessing, and a gift of the Lord!

We have never really had a problem in our family with jealousy when a new baby arrives. I am thankful for that. Usually we just notice when the children (usually the one who used to be the baby) is needing a little extra cuddles. If we pay attention and meet that need then there is never a problem with jealousy.

My two year old has a new phrase that she uses to let me know she needs some lovin’. She says, “Mommy, I need you,” and she uses the best whiny voice you can imagine. So I pick her us and we cuddle and she is happy again.

Well, this morning she came to me with her, “Mommy, I need you,” cry. I picked her up and she was quiet. Next thing you know she is pulling my shirt out and looking down it! I look at her and say, “Um, what are you doing? Do you need to nurse?” Usually when this happens she smiles and says no and runs off to play. Well, this morning she looks at me with the saddest eyes you have ever seen and says, “Uh huh!” (meaning YES!)

Shocked I asked her again and received the same reply!

I told her I didn’t really think she needed that but that she just needed a hug. She put her arms out and gave a big hug! Then she looks at me and says, “Mommy, I need some juice!” LOL

Maybe she was thirsty after all!!!! HaHa!!

Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

What an encouraging verse and one with a promise. This is something that I have been in need of lately. I have been growing weary. There are just those days that are harder than others and it is easy to loose focus. Being a mom is a tough job and one with so many responsibilities and eternal consequences. There are the days when the children don’t listen and I begin to feel that if I were to disappear no one would even notice. Then a little one will come and give me a hug and I remember that I am here for a purpose. I have simply grown weary.

There are days like this past week when I clean and clean and clean. Even though I removed two big boxes of stuff to throw out and seven trash bags full of stuff to donate I feel as if the house is a wreck and you do not even notice any progress. Rather than seeing the progress amongst the mess I have grown weary.

Mountain climbing is fun and in fact it is one of my favorite activities but for some reason Mount Washmore wearies me more than any other.

When the children continue to be snippy and not on their best behavior if I become discouraged then I begin to feel like a total failure in my parenting abilities. This is the worse. If I grow weary then I begin to focus on myself and what I have or have not accomplished. I should be remembering that it is God alone who can change their hearts.

There are many responsibilities and many things that I need to do to be a good parent but most importantly my job is to rely on the Lord for each and every aspect of being a parent. I am to rely on the Lord for the grace and wisdom to raise these children. I am to rely on the Lord for the outcome. After all, it is the Lord who works in their lives and changes hearts, attitudes, minds, and habits. I am simply one vessel he uses to do accomplish his plans for their lives. When I remember that I am to do all I can but God is the one who is doing the real work it becomes easier and easier to not grow weary. I simply need to be obedient, to continue to do good, and to keep my focus where it belongs. It becomes so much easier to not grow weary.

Take the encouragement this promise offers. In due season we will reap and it will make the difficult days so worth it. Just like in giving birth, the pain seems unbearable but the reward is so worth it!

Praise be to God that he allows us mothers to work so hard and to reap even more abundantly!

I am still not completely sold on the whole cloth diapering idea.  I love the idea and it isn’t really that much more to do but I am still not sure I want the bulk or if I am ready to give up the convenience of disposable. I do think however that if I were to jump in and go all cloth I would prefer the sample that was sent to me over the ones I am borrowing.  The ones I am borrowing are indeed easier than what I grew up with but the sample product I received seems a better fit for us.

The company that sent me the sample is The Willow Store.  You will find the diapering system listed under Sprout Change.  Here is a little background on the Sprout Change system taken from their website.

After years of research, and cloth diapering her children, Catherine Bolden, founder of The Willow Store began with a mission. Dedicated to promoting a more reusable future, she created natural, common sense products that were easy to use, and complimented a more natural lifestyle. In 2005, WillowSprouts was born, and offered organic hemp diapering products to the cloth diapering world. Catherine spent years trying different cloth diapers to find the perfect fit for her son, who has special needs. Each diaper worked well for some things, but nothing gave the perfect combination of fit, absorbency and ease of use, so she created Sprout Change.

Sprout Change came from this need for a better diaper. There’s plenty of cloth diapers out there, and they all pretty much work. Sprout Change is a compilation of all the great things cloth diapers can be. Our system is a hybrid unlike any other that combines pocket diapers, prefolds and all-in-ones to make the least confusing, most economical diaper available…. That anyone can afford.

The shell of the diaper (to replace the traditional plastic pants) are really cute.  They come in several colors and are reversible so you get two colors in one.  This is the one I have.

They are a one size fits all.  The website says that they will fit from 5-40 pounds.  I agree with this assessment.  My newborn can wear them and so can my two year old.  There are snaps on each side. You simply unsnap and adjust the elastic.  It is simple enough that you can resize it in seconds while your baby is wearing it.  They even have a little video on their website if you need help.

The shells can also be reused until soiled.  I didn’t have any problem with leakage.  The shells are also breathable to help fight against diaper rash.

They have different insert options or you could even use the diapers you have on hand.  The insert they sent to me was a super saver insert.  I LOVE the insert!  It is so soft!!  Even after several washes it maintained that ultra soft feel!  These will also fit from baby to toddler.  You simply fold down the extra in the front or back.  They are a one piece retangular shaped insert. I also liked them because there was no trying to stuff the diaper in the shell.

It helped cut down on the bulkiness which is one of my major dislikes concerning cloth diapers. These diapers are much trimmer than others I have tried.  This insert is also their most cost effective option.  Here is a look at the shell with the super saver insert.

Washing is easy too.  Machine wash warm, extra rinse, and tumble dry.  It doesn’t get any easier than that!

If I were to decide (still undecided as of now) to go cloth for diapering I think I would use the Sprout Change system.  As I was looking through their website they also carry training pants.  They say that their training pants can also be used as an all in one diaper.  There are for children who weigh a little more so it would not work for me right now but I do like the idea of an all in one diaper.  That just seems more convenient to me.  I may have to order one and try it out.  Maybe I will use them for my two year as she will be ready to train soon.

Now as far as affordability goes.  I have not really looked around much so I do not know how it compares in regard to other cloth diapering systems but it seems to me to be an affordable investment.  The Willow Store offers diaper packages and starter kits to make things even more affordable.  Of course, your savings would depend on what exactly you purchased.  If you were to purchase the system I have shown here your cost would be  a couple of hundred dollars verses a couple of thousand dollars for disposable.  Not bad at all!

I am not sure yet if I will ever make a complete change away from disposable but I could see myself making a partial change.  Maybe while we are around the house and only use disposable while we are out.  I will have to continue to try them out and who knows maybe as I do it will become a more permanent part of our life.  I love the idea of cloth diapering and the evolution of cloth diapers over the years are making it a more appealing choice. Sprout Change will be the store I order from if we do indeed decide to move more and more toward cloth.

Nine years ago today I said hello to a sweet little baby girl.  Yes, our Abigail is turning nine today!  She is our first reversal baby.  I will re-post the story of our journey that led to the reversal in a few days. For now, I will simply say she is a child that was prayed for!

She was a most contented baby.   She has a bit more spunk now!  She is a joy!  She is a delight!  She loves to have fun!  She is full of love!  She has a compassionate heart!

I love that sweet and silly girl!

Happy birthday Abigail!  You are such a gift of God!

What do you get when you have an Alaskan child who is deprived of secular Christmas stories?  You get to overhear the following  conversation.

My four year old was looking at a piano book earlier this morning and was on the page with the song Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  She noticed a drawing of Rudolf.  She pointed to his red nose and then with a bit of urgency and concern she asks,

“What happened to the caribou?!?!?!”

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.

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After a short pause she answered her own question.

“Oh, he is blowing a bubble out his nose.”

Image via Wikipedia

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Do you think it is time for me to tell her the story??  LOL  Nah, overhearing these conversations is priceless!

This past weekend the ladies from the church we attend threw a baby shower for the baby and me.  I have had many a baby shower thrown for me and my newborns but this was by far the biggest blessing of them all.  I love these ladies so much!

Everything was perfect!  There was a cute little safari theme with little monkeys,  a dessert made especially for me with my favorite ingredients, and an amazing group of loving ladies to share conversation with!  These ladies are there to share joys and struggles and to offer encouragement.  There were even the adorable little baby gifts!

BUT…….

What I loved most…..

about the day was that this baby shower was not filled with the typical baby shower games.  Those can be fun but that is really all they are.  My friend who organized the shower suggested something completely different.  Instead of playing the usual baby shower games we had a time of group prayer.  I had several prayer requests that I sent to my friend and she shared them with the ladies who attended.  It was so amazing to have such a godly group of ladies praying over me, my newborn son, and the rest of my family!

They prayed for our little Nathan, that he would grow into a strong, godly, young man.  That he would come to know the Lord at an early age and live a life honoring the Lord.  That he would be healthy.  That God would be preparing a godly wife for him even now.  They prayed for me and for my husband as we teach and train him.  That I would be patient even amidst sleepless nights.  That I would have compassion.  That I would not grow weary and that I would rely upon the Lord in the great task of being a parent.  They prayed the same things for my husband as he leads our household.  They prayed for our family with our upcoming move. They prayed for our other children, for our schooling, and for there to be a good relationship cultivated between our newest son and our oldest who has already moved out.

It was such an unbelievably sweet time of prayer!  I do not ever recall people praying for our family in such a way!  It is an amazing blessing that I will always cherish!

I think of all the gifts that we received that day the time of prayer was by far the most special, most desired, and most needed of them all!

As I thank the Lord for my new son and my entire family, I will be thanking him for the church family he has blessed us with.

Thank you Lord for each of those ladies!  Thank you Lord, that we can come before your throne in prayer!

Thank you ladies of Faith PCA Anchorage!  Thank you for showering us with prayer!!!

About a year or so ago a dear friend shared a CD with me.  She said that a friend of hers put these CDs together and thought that we would enjoy them.  The children LOVED it so we decided to purchase the rest of the catechism cds and have been enjoying them ever since.

The other day a very well known blogger posted about these very cds.  Challies posted about Songs for Saplings along with other music for children.  Challies wrote:

Songs for Saplings is James and Dana Dirksen from Porland, Oregon. They have recorded four albums, one of which follows an A,B,C format while the other three are questions and answers, much like a catechism. I suppose these albums will largely appeal to younger children. They are quiet and acoustic.

He is correct in his assessment of the cds. They are geared toward younger children. But they are beneficial for the entire family.  The catechism cds do appeal to older children more and more in the second and third cds.  There is a great variety in the style of music on each cd. You can even listen to excerpts on their website.

What I love about them is that the children (and us parents) learn the great truths presented in the Westminster Catechism which is derived directly from scripture. Each question and answer also contains the scripture that teaches the truth. This way your children are not only learning the doctrinal truth but the scriptures that proclaim that truth.

Songs for Saplings is a ministry of the Dirksen family and this is what they state on their website.

We create lively, fun songs that attempt to deliver the deepest of Biblical truth in a format that your children will love to listen to. We want them to understand who God is and what He has done, as well as what He wants your children to do and to be. We hope that you will benefit from these CDs and use them to help teach your children about our God and his great love for us.

With Christmas time approaching, what better gift could you give than the gift of music which teaches and proclaims the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ?!

I am pleased to announce that I can offer you a 20% discount off of your order when you buy CDs from their website. This includes the “12-pack bulk pack” which a lot of people order for gift-giving. This does however exclude the 24 and 48 CD bulk packs, which are already heavily discounted.

All you need to do is enter the following code as you go through the checkout: mamaarcher
It’s really simple.

Hopefully you will find this really helpful as you order CDs this Christmas!

As you seek to grow your little saplings……

into strong oaks of righteousness…

Songs for Saplings can be a musical and fun tool for you and your family to use and enjoy!

that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:3b)

Visit SONGS FOR SAPLINGS and order your CDs today! Order some for your friends and family too! Don’t forget to enter the discount code for your 20% off!

Please leave a comment and let me know if you plan on making a purchase and what you think of their music and ministry!

Regardless of whether you order, please tweet, email, and share on Facebook so that others can take advantage of the discount offer!

It has been a busy few days around here.  I had my 38 week appointment on Wednesday and our son was born on Thursday afternoon.  All went well and both baby and I are doing great.  I am glad that he was NOT born this past Saturday.  Our last baby turned two years old on Saturday and I wanted so much for each of the children to have their very own birthday.  Thank the Lord for granting that request.

So, the baby was born on Thursday the 11th at 3:14 pm.  He weighed in at a tiny little 7 pounds and 8 ounces and was 19 inches long.  He is beautiful and just perfect.  He is so laid back and is just as sweet as can be.

We came home from the hospital on the 13th ( my 2 year olds birthday) at about 4:30pm.  She is sick and was running a fever and had been waiting so patiently for her birthday party.  It was just a short family birthday and she felt pretty miserable.  A few hours later my hubby ended up taking her to the ER.  She has pneumonia AGAIN and an ear infection.  What a way to celebrate your birthday, huh?  She is starting to feel better.  A lady at church this morning gave her a big batch of helium balloons for her birthday.  I think that was wonderful.  It extended her birthday a bit and she was feeling better and able to enjoy it more.

As you can see it has been a bit crazy around here.

So here are a couple of photos to share with you………………….

First, here is our new son, Nathan Asher.  He’s a handsome one if I do say so myself!!!

Here is one of the birthday girl!

And a shot of them together………

I am abundantly blessed!!