Eric started it!

Ha! I'm sure that is something that his parents heard a lot when he was growing up. But really, I can't take all the credit of how our lives have been gradually changing in recent years. He is truly amazing to me. Even though I don't like to admit it, he has more common sense than anyone I've ever known.

When we started dating, Eric told me he couldn't understand why I felt the need to wear or even buy make-up. When we got married, once he found out how much make-up cost, he really put a hold on it, even though I already didn't wear it unless we were going someplace special, like a wedding, family get together, or funeral. Why do people feel the need to look like a clown everytime they step out of the house?

After the birth of our daughter, he saw exactly why breastfeeding is best, why we didn't vaccinate, why we don't go to doctors... Breastfeeding is free, vaccinated children are always sick, and doctors lie and pressure you into things you don't want (believe me, I've worked for doctors and I know what they do and say behind parents' backs).

After the birth of our son, the reason to never go to the hospital got even more clear. Birth is natural and does not require someone with a degree. The way we were treated during the birth of Tabitha vs. Grady was night and day. Also, the way we were treated during my first miscarriage was horrific, but if you keep up with my blog, you already know that.

He was never really into holidays and celebrations anyway, but after researching and realizing that most holidays were all about the money and hyped commercialism and Christmas was more about lying to your children and feeling guilt into buying things you can't really afford, we stopped them all together. All the specific days (Mother's Day, Father's Day...) are more out of guilt than anything, if you really think about it... Again, I've already blogged about holidays and high expectations.

We also stopped all birthday parties. We do buy a few gifts and have a cake with no candles, but that is it. Eric (and everyone else) couldn't stand being around me the few times we did have a party for the kids. I am a perfectionist, and therefore need everything to run smoothly or I freak out. I would run myself ragged to ensure everything was going smoothly. I inherently got that from my Mom.

So, all in all, to everyone that thinks that I am brainwashing my husband, maybe you didn't really know him in the first place...

Please, don't feel sorry!

OK, just a warning... here I go again!

I am so tired of people telling me that they feel sorry for my children because we do not do what main stream America and society tell us that we "should" be doing with our children. My children are very happy and close to us and each other. I have never seen siblings this close and I pray they will always be like this. Eric and I restrict what they do because we feel that if they are not introduced to anything we do not do or believe in, they will have a better life.
For example, if they are not around people drinking alcohol or using curse words, they will not have a tendency to do that, or at least have a conviction not to do so. We have already had to deal with smoking, since Eric's dad and quite a few neighbors do. We tell them it is an absolutely disgusting habit and that there are many health risks to those who do it.   We do not sugar coat anything we tell them. We are very honest with them.  
I have already blogged about how holidays are not celebrated in our house, and that we do celebrate the Holy Days that are in the Bible.
We have also recently banned the children from being around our neighbors. I let the children be around the neighbors this summer and it was a big mistake. I was falling to the voice of everyone else that told me that the kids needed this type of interaction.
The truth is, they didn't. I had more behavioral problems and outside stress than I could have imagined. I became the yard that all the neighborhood kids came to and no one would respect my rules or authority, so it was abruptly ended and until we have the trees down and fence up, my children will be in our fenced area playing as they should have been in the whole time. As most would assume, the neighbor children use curse words and it seemed all the little ones wanted to play were "doctor" and guns, which neither are allowed in our household. No one seems to correct their language and actions, since none of them are at home with their parents, and are always looked after by someone else... Don't get me wrong, I understand some families choose to work, but these children never see their parents, they are there from dawn to dusk and see their parents MAYBE right before bed. That is not a way to raise a child. Children need their parents. Especially if they are not being guided on the right path and are fed junk food constantly. Why have children if you cannot spend quality time with them? Most of the time I would I hear that they are constantly shuffled from this or that activity. I imagine it is so the parents don't really have to deal with them. It's just exhausting listening to the things that they "have" to do on a weekly basis. People say let kids be kids. This is not letting kids be kids. Kids being kids means to let them play and enjoy nature and learn about the world through their own explorations. Not someone reading it from a book and them never getting 1st hand experience on how to grow something in a garden and what birds and insects look like and act like. I have learned so much more since I started homeschooling Tabitha than I ever did in the prison they call Public School. Think about it. You send your child to a secured building where, for 8 hours a day, they are told what to do and where to go and what to eat. They are given very little time to use their imagination and in no way can have "social skills", since they are not allowed to talk unless spoken to and are in a sardine can with only kids their own age. Most public school children don't know how to talk to anyone except someone their own age. I can attest to that! I was made to go to private and public school. I never talked to adults unless I was forced to and would ignore the elderly because I was afraid of them. My children will go to anyone and start a conversation, because they have not been forced into a box that tells them they have to communicate with mostly kids their age.
Another thing I have encountered is that people think I have my children in gymnastics to meet other children. NOT the case. They are there to become confident in their own body skills and learn other ways to exercise and keep fit. The other kids are just a little plus that they can have conversations with as long as they are doing what they are there for in the first place.
I could go on and on, but I feel I need to stop before I really get into a tizzy.

Please understand that this is what works for our family. Everyone has their own philosophy, but I like to try and keep my life as simple as possible.

"It's OK..."

The title of this post seems to be calm, but let me assure you it is not.

You know when you are in the company of someone and you tell your child not to do something? Why is it that others feel compelled to say "It's OK with me if he/she does that."? Isn't that basically telling the child not to listen to your parents, even though they have said otherwise?

This just really irks me when this happens, to the point that the next person who says it to my kids will be getting an earful.

A little bit of everything

Wow! Has it really been almost 2 months since I've blogged about something? I guess morning sickness will do that to you! Yes, I am around 16 weeks along and have had the hardest pregnancy I've ever had so far, but am blessed I have made it this far this time.

I am very thankful to have so many midwife friends who helped me through these past few months. They had me taking 100mg of Vitamin C and 50mcg of Vitamin K at the same time 3 times a day. Also I was told to eat pickles, since they are a good source of potassium and sodium. I couldn't believe how well these simple things things helped me, instead of having to go to a doctor and have drugs prescribed. Also if I forgot to take the vitamins (only happened 2 times) I could tell a huge difference.

I finally have felt well enough this past week to get out of the house, which we took full advantage of since Eric was on vacation. We stayed home, but did local activities. This past weekend we stayed at the lake to visit with Eric's parents and also plan the menu for the upcoming Jaime's wedding reception. On Wednesday, we went on a picnic at McKinley Monument and then Thursday, we went to the Stark County Fair.  Friday, we surprised the kids with going to Phineas and Ferb Live at Canton Civic Center after spending most of the day cleaning and getting a huge bag of corn parboiled, cut off the cob and in the freezer for winter. Saturday, I started getting my garden in order. I harvested all of my sunflowers, found about 1/2lb of ground cherries, picked some of my pickle cucumbers and made refrigerator pickles with dill and garlic from the garden, picked about 1/2lb of cherry tomatoes, and about 1lb of Roma tomatoes. The Romas, I have been slowly harvesting, peeling them, and saving them in a 2 gallon Ziploc in the freezer until I have enough to try and make sauce with them. I am very sceptical that I am going to get enough to do anything substantial with, since the drought this year really took a toll on most of my garden. Sunday, I decided to finally get the fall sewing started. I am planning on copying all the patterns and cutting out all the material before I start sewing, so that I can sort everything into same colors. That way I won't have to change thread so often. The sewing machine thread isn't that hard to change, but the thread on the serger can be a headache at times. I did get a slip for Tabitha finished that is Hanna Andersson inspired. I used a tank top pattern that I already had and added an eyelet skirt to it.

Today's plan is relaxing and getting more sewing done.

A few weeks ago I over did it, but got quite a bit canning done. I made applesauce, pearsauce, peach butter, peach slices, peach puree', and peach jam. It was a lot of work, but now we are pretty much set with peaches and pearsauce for the winter. We will be going back to the orchard in about a month to get more apples to make more applesauce and have an abundance of apples to make into pies and fresh eating for most of the winter.

Well, that is all I can think of right now. I hope all of my readers have a blessed day!