October's Illness

Well October seems to be hard for me to blog so far.  On the first when I missed the first day of NaBloPoMo was because of stress and we were gone.  Now I missed yesterday...and I think Wednesday.  How sad.  I was trying so hard.  I guess life just caught up with me.

*THE NEXT FEW LINES IS WHINING.*

And now I'm sick which is great.  Just great.  I hate being sick.  And I can't count too much on hubby helping me today because he is sick also.  And we all know how sick men are......
I don't know what will get done as far as school today.  I'm not really worried about it at all though.  Not at all.  We are ahead in History.  In Math both kids have been working in their workbooks without me telling them to. 
So now I am going to sign out.  I just needed to write a quick update about what a loser I am on not making a blog everyday this month.  There's always next month!

Ooops!

I thought I had posted a blog yesterday morning.  It turns out, I didn't.  I must have imagine it.  That means I already didn't make NaBloPoMo for the month of October.  But that doesn't mean I have to stop for the rest of the month either.
Last night we went out to a youth house to watch a concert.  It was an old firehouse and it seemed like it was the hangout for quite a few kids.  My hubby's best friend has a 16 year old son who taught himself to play guitar.  He sings, writes all of the songs and plays rhythm guitar for a band called Shoreline Drive.  They have a deal going with Sony right now.  I am so excited for them!  I just loved watching those energetic boys rocking out last night!
It was the first time in a very long time that my hubby and I were out without the kids.  We considered it date night for us!
I will have the pictures to show off tomorrow, but tonight I have to make this short.  My Bubba is sick and running a fever.  I am tired tired tired and thinking of bed early tonight.  I am going to lay down with my book and probably fall asleep.  I have to teach Sunday school in the morning and also kids' church.  I am going to need my rest.

Day #1with no Coffee - Full Month of Blogs!

Well I made it.  I made it one month of blogging every single day and I made it one day without coffee.  My headache now is worse than it has been all day.  Ugh.
I did get some things accomplished today and am glad for it.  Some things have been picked up the last few days that were just in our way!  Now to get rid of it all! 
Today FINALLY got up to the temperature that the weatherchannel said it would.  Well, that's not true.  It didn't get up to it, but it got closer than it has all week.  I got 2 loads washed and hung up on the line and hopefully they'll get close by the time evening comes all the way.
The kids and I baked some Pillsbury Spooky Cat cookies today.  They are nummy!  They sure love doing that.  We don't do it much.  I hate to cook or bake.  The only thing I enjoy in the kitchen is eating.  And it's not like those cookies are hard, it's just something I hate.  HATE.  So I procrastinate it. 
My poor hubby didn't marry a Susie-Homemaker.  lol 
I don't know if I posted this book yet that I am currently reading, but it's pretty good.  I haven't had much time to sit and read it so I am still on chapter 2 and page 22.  It's called A Busy Woman's Guide to Prayer by Cheri Fuller.  I bought this book for only 1 penny on Amazon.com!  What a deal!  And it was labeled Like New, but I think it's brand new! 
I am going to head out now so that I can read it for a few while the hubby is gone with his dad for a drive.  I think I'll just tie the kids up put a movie in for the kids for a bit so that I can have some peace and quiet to read in.
Say goodbye to September and hello to October.  How can we already be to Christmas again?

Changes and Plans

After I checked NaBloPoMo yesterday morning and entered my blog into the blog roll, and posted my post.....they changed the theme.  Instead of VISION it is now ART.  I can go with that because I like art and it's easy to blog/talk about.  That also gives me a whole month to show off my designs!!
Today I was offered to do a quick job that paid quite well.  I blogged about it yesterday right here.  This will be a simple job, I'm hoping, but it will take quite a bit of time today.  I am extremely grateful that it is something I can do here at home though.  I have an hour before I start.  After I am done blogging I need to wash some dishes so hubby won't have to look at the mess all day.  
We are not going to do any formal school today.  I will have the kids do what school work they can do on their own, quietly.  But I probably won't get to the subjects that I need to do with them.  And that's ok, because I need just one more day to finish last week and that will be tomorrow.  It works perfectly!  

Yesterday I was brought to the realization of something in the Bible that I want to research for myself.  It is the issue of women wearing head coverings.  You'll find the passage in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.  I am intrigued by the issue and am praying a lot about it.  *PLEASE NOTE: I DO NOT WANT A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS TO GET OUT OF HAND.  ANY RUDE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS WILL BE DELETED.*  I do not need to worry about others religious life.  I want to do what God wants orders me to do.  That is why I am praying about it.  I don't care how others live their religious life, if they feel that God wants them to live the way they do, that is their deal.  They have to answer to Him in the end, not me.  And it doesn't affect my personal decisions.  If the Lord convicts me in this area of my life, I will know it because He will make it clear to me.  I believe this and pray on this.  I will be blogging about this topic a little bit more.  I want to do a little more research and praying first.

NaBloPoMo Again - Vision

Today starts a new month of blogging at NaBloPoMo.  The theme for September is Vision.  There aren't any badges yet to use, so I will have to wait.  But that doesn't mean that I have to wait to post a blog!  And this month, I am starting on the 1st and will hopefully make it to the end.  Last month I stopped after I missed 3 days going camping.  Then I decided to just have a little bloggy break.

Now, back to the grind.  I have missed my blog and all of my bloggy friends.  It is such a release to me to blog.  Even if no one reads my posts, which I suspect happens about 90% of the time.  But that is ok.  I am entertaining myself. 

I am going to have to think a little bit about the theme Vision.  I could go a few ways with that.  Ooooh and photos would be neat to use also!  I always love an excuse to use my camera!

Anyhow, I am hoping to bring my wandering mind to order and post blogs all month.  Hopefully I won't be boring you all.......

Poisonous Plants

I found a list that I have with a table of poisonous plants.  Some of these plants I was not aware were poisonous!  I received this list from Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board and the Pierce County Cooperative Extension Service.  It is by no means a complete list, but it includes plants that are common around this area of Pierce County.  Many of these plants you may find in your area or in your home.  It is certainly worth taking the time to glance at this and be prepared.

Plants Causing Dermatitis (skin disorders)

Calla Lilly, Cow Parsnip, Daffodil, Devils Club, Dog Fennel, Giant Hogweed, Iris, Leafy Spurge, Moleplant (Caper spurge), Motherwort, Petty Spurge, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Primrose (obconia - green house introduced from Eurasia) Smartweed, Stinging Nettle, St. Johnswort, Wilde Carrot, Wild Ginger, Yellow Jessamine

* THESE PLANTS ARE DEADLY IN VERY SMALL AMOUNTS AND CAN CAUSE DEATH!

I will list the common name first, then the part of the plant that is poisonous.

Azalea, Leaves

Baneberry, Berries

Bleeding Heart, Root

Bluebonnets, Seed

Bracken Fern, Mature Plant

Buckeye (Horse Chestnut), Nut

Burning Bush, Leaves

Buttercup, Leaves

Castor-Bean Plant, Seeds

Cherry-Wild, Leaves (wilted)

Choke Cherry, Leaves and Seed

Christmas Rose, Leaves

Cowbane (Oxypolis Plant), Root

Daffodil, Bulb

Daphne (Mezereum), Berries

Death Camas (or Death Onion), All Parts

Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane), All Parts

Delphinium (Larkspur), Leaves

Lobelia, All parts

Lupin, Seed

Mock Oranges, Fruit

Monkshood, Root

Mt. Laurel, Any Part (uncooked)

Narcissus, Bulb

Nightshade (Bitter), Berries

Oleander, Leaves

Peach Tree, Leaves when steeped

*Poison Hemlock, All parts

Pokeweek, Roots

Potato, Sun Burned Portion

Red Elderberry, Scarlet Berries

Rhododendron, Any Part (uncooked)

Rhubarb, Leaves

Scotch Broom, Seed

Skimmia (Skimmia Japonica Thumb), Entire Plant

Spreading Dogbane, Entire Plant

Fall Crocus (Colchium), Bulb

Foxglove, Leaves

Giant Hogweed, Stems (sap)

Holly, Berries

Horsetail, Entire Plant

Iris, Underground Stem

Ivy, Leaves

Jerusalem Cherry (solanum-pseudo capsicum), Fruit or Yellow Cherry

Jimson Weed (Thorn Apple), Entire Plant

Laburnum, (Golden Chain), Seeds and Pods

Larkspur, Leaves

Lily-of-the-Valley, Entire Plant

Sweet Pea, Seeds and Stem

Tansy (Button), Leaves

Tansy Ragwort, Entire Plant

Tobacco, Leaves

Tomato, leaves

Tulip, Bulb (Uncooked)

Vetches, Seeds

*Water Hemlock, Roots

Yellow Jessamine, Nectar and Blossom

Yew, All Parts

Interesting list, no?  I was surprised by a few things I saw on there.  

 

Going Green

Today, right after I was done doing my devotions, I decided to look in the Bible for a blog topic.  My search started with the word green, for the NaBloPoMo theme for August.  What I found was particularly interesting to me, and I think even pertains to us in these days.
My small concordance had one verse in it for the word "green".  It referred me to Luke 22:31.

For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

That verse in itself made absolutely no sense to me.  So I backed up a few verses and read more from Luke 22, starting with verse 26:

And as they led him away, the laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 

So now I know, this is Jesus' walk up to the cross.  I kept on reading:

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.  28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.  30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.  31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

My study Bible says that Jesus is referring to himself, the perfect Lamb of God as a green tree.  A green tree is a new tree, right?  A babe tree.  A baby is innocent.  Jesus was innocent and brought to the cross  to die in his innocence.  If they could do that to someone who was innocent, what would be done to those trees that are dry?  Who are the dry trees?  The Jews.  They had committed this heinous sin and mockery of our Lord Jesus, who was innocent.  Green.  Think of the sins that will befall them!  The horrors that they would see during the time of war.  

After this thought occurred to me, I prayed.  

Lord, please show me if this is a devotion that You want me to blog about.  If this is something that you want me to do, please allow Your words to flow from my fingertips.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Here is where I tie this together with us.  Have you ever thought in our troublesome times that those who are not able to have kids may actually be the lucky ones?  Now think of this with me for a moment.  I am not saying that those of us with beautiful children that we love are not lucky because we all know that the Bible tells us that children are a gift from God.  My point is that myself and other parents that I have spoken to about this, agree that it is sad that we are bringing up children in such a horrible world.  The world just continues to get scarier and scarier.  More and more dangerous.  I imagine that there will be times when we will be so scared for the safety of our children, that we may be filled with sadness that we have brought them up during these times.  
But here is where we trust in the Lord.  For he is our Refuge, our Shelter, our Savior and Redeemer.  He will take care of us and He is always with us.  As we place our trust in Him, we do not have to look back with fear, sadness or regret that we have had children in this chaotic world.  We can be blessed with the knowledge that God granted us these children because He knows what is going on!  He has the plans, not us!  We MUST place our trust in Him to lead us, guide us, protect us and love us!  There is no other option as a Christian.  When you fear, you don't trust.  There is not room for both together in your heart.  Be strong in the Lord and raise your children to love Him and trust Him.

 

This Blog Brought to You by Friday Follow, Fridays Five Fave and The Color Green

Good morning Friday Followers and Friday's Fave 5 friends.  What better way is there to start a blogging morning out with those two?!  I have put a little twist on the Friday's Fave 5 this week though.  Instead of listing my favorite 5 things this past week, I am going to list my 5 favorite green things.  Because I am blogging every day this month for NaBloPoMo and the theme is GREEN so I thought I'd try to do that today.  

1.  Trees: I just love trees.  All sorts of trees.  They stand so tall and stately, a picture of how Jesus wants me to stand.  Strong and rooted, in His love.  Able to stand the storms and reach higher and higher for the Son.  My favorite trees are the ones that spread out like a canopy, their leaves covering me like a green blanket from nature.  God's fingers and hands, lightly sheltering me from the heat of the hot sun, or the pour of the rain.  Those trees make the perfect kind of play houses for kids also!

2.  Spinach: I am not a fan of salad, because I don't care for lettuce that is white, light green or watery.  But give me a bowl of fresh spinach greens and Mmmm mmmm good!!

3.  My blanket: I have a blanket that is a light green color to match the walls in my Living room.  I love fuzzy blankets, which this is.  And it is large so it is easy to wrap myself up in, nestle onto the couch and stay warm and cozy in it.  It is perfect for Summer evenings when all I need is a light covering and perfect on the cold Winter days when I want to be warm.  

4.  Frogs: Frogs are interesting little creatures.  I have done some reading on them and they are all differently weird.  lol  Frogs are just cute.  I love to catch them!  I also like the saying for FROG, Fully Rely On God.  And that's all I've got to say about that.  And of course, my favorite frog is Kermit!

5. Leaves:  I know that I mentioned trees already, but I really like leaves too.  Some of my favorite leaves are Hostas leaves.  They are so big, bold and beautiful.  To me, many leaves are more eye pleasing than flowers.  Big Maple leaves are fun to collect and do projects with or rake into a pile for the kids to jump into.  I also like traveling, crawling, clinging leaves like ivy.    

Something Green

GREEN

Green is the theme for NaBloPoMo this month.  You may be asking, "What is NaBloPoMo?"  It is short for National Blog Posting Month and is derived from NaNoWriMo which I tried to participate in last year, but didn't get anywhere near finishing.  And that is short for National Novel Writing Month.  It is every November.  I am starting to think of my novel for this year.  We'll see what happens....

So I am able to use green throughout this month as a theme tie-in, or I can blog about something else.  The decision is up to me, as long as I blog every single day for the whole month.  That is my goal and I am about 4 days late in starting it this month, but that's ok.  My challenge, of course, will be how to blog on days I am gone on vacation and not able to get online.....that is a tricky one.  I must find out what to do for that.

My house is getting all cleaned up and I am keeping it cleaned where I've cleaned it!  Yay for me!  My hubby sure likes that too.  My hardest area is the kitchen, and doing dishes, every single day.  It will be nice when my children are old enough to help me with the dishes.  I know, I know, they are old enough now to help, but I am really OCD about my dishes and would have to wash them over anyways.  lol  Yes you may make fun of me.  That is the least of my obsessions.  

Yesterday I made another batch of laundry soap.  I made 2 batches again, which lasted me 4 months this last time.  I love doing it.  Even the grating the soap hurts my neck and shoulders, there is something peaceful about it.  I think it's because I am making my own and I know what is in it!  When I made it yesterday, my girlfriend was curious about how I did it, so she came over and helped me make this batch.  I am hoping she liked it enough to do it herself!  I told her how great my clothes turn out using these natural green products in my laundry!  I will never go back to store bought detergent.  Nor shampoo for that matter.

You may have read on my blog before, or you may not, but I learned about the benefits of washing my hair with baking soda instead of using the toxins in store bought shampoo and using apple cider vinegar for conditioner instead of the toxins in store bought conditioner.  I went through a transition period with it, but lived through it for the better.  Stinky, my 7 year old daughter, did not have any transition period and her hair just turned more beautiful and silky!  Bubba didn't have any transition either but we keep his hair short anyhow, it would be hard to tell.  

We also have stopped using toothpaste with fluoride in it, or tried to (kids still have some and I need to replace it, I thought I did...).  I use baking soda, sea salt and some essential oil and love the fresh, clean mouth that I have afterward.  The kids don't like that because of the salt, so I still buy them toothpaste, just try to get the right kind.  

I have been more green with my cats also.  We buy natural cat litter now so that there isn't the chemicals in their litter.  This way, when they are cleaning their paws, they aren't cleaning off harmful toxins.  Fortunately for myself, they aren't picky cats and have taken all of the switches easily!

I am going to start my day today by making my to do list and just jumping right into my work.  I don't have a whole lot to do to make my house presentable for my girlfriend to come over tomorrow.  There are still the bedrooms to clean though.  But they may wait....  I'm off to Facebook to post my to do list in my group there.  If you'd like to join a group that encourages each other in their cleaning and also have great camaraderie, then check out this group CEO Moms.  We have a blast in here all through out the week!  There are hosts for the week days and we post every couple of hours.  Then the rest of us can post what we will be doing for those hours and join the fun with everyone else.  It's a fun group!