Crazy Naves

Integrating Organics

2011-04-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Studies show that people are increasingly interested in an organic diet. It seems that people everywhere are waking up to the fact that what we put in or on our food is eventually going to end up in our bodies and may be potentially harmful!
Our family thought for years that it would be too much work or too expensive to eat organically and so we dismissed the thought pretty quickly. However, after witnessing several young men and women battle cancers such as colon cancer, Jason and I became concerned! We talked alot about the common factor of diet that people share. In the name of convenience, people are eating more and more processed or "fast foods" and more and more we are hearing reports of cancer and other diseases that used to only be a concern for those in their older years.
We decided we needed to make changes and that cost was not going to be the issue! But the question was, "where do we start?"
Real quick, I'll share with you the changes we made and what we found out about cost and convenience.
* Organic Meat - Initially I thought this would be an area I just could not switch over in. Organic meat, I thought, was outrageously priced. However, a friend recommended a meat market in Winder called "Bentleys" and after visiting there, purchasing meat and loving it's flavor and texture, we were surprised to find that we were not spending that much more. (I have written an earlier post on our first trip there that you can read for all of the details and pricing.) Yes, it was a trip to Winder that we weren't used to making, but we found it an enjoyable drive and we always enjoy the sweet people at Bentley's. Being able to purchase quality meat in a package made it much more affordable!
* Fruits & Vegetables - I knew that it would be difficult to find the produce I needed each week in all organic, so I decided to do the best I could at the time. I researched the subject and found a study that listed fruits and veggies in order (based on testing) from those with the highest levels of pesticides to the fewest and I chose to focus on those more heavily contaminated. Here are the top ten: Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Lettuce, Grapes, Carrots, and Pears. (I made a list of the top 20 and carried them in my purse.)
I try to buy as much as I can organically, but if I can't, then I try to buy it fresh at a Farmer's Market or from a friend. Sometimes I can also find frozen organic fruits at places such as Costco and that is a big help for things such as smoothies or baking. Another blessing has been a local produce store that agreed to order organic produce for a group of us if we could purchase whole crates and split it amongst ourselves. So perhaps finding some friends and approaching a produce manager is an option you may consider. It never hurts to ask, right?
The best option is when Spring comes and we grow our own tomatoes and peppers and herbs and then freeze the leftovers for using the rest of the year!
*Dairy Products - The first time I purchased a gallon of organic milk and it was over $2.50 more than regular milk, I knew for sure I was crazy! Considering that my family consumes around 5-7 gallons a week, I just cringed at the check-out. However, it was not long before my husband found a better way! He met the dairy manager at our local Kroger who informed him that if the milk was within a few days of the "sale by date" then she would be happy to mark it as a clearance item for him if she was around. So he made it his duty to stop by frequently, check the milk for reduced prices, and stock up on it every time he could. We would simply store it in our deep freezer until we needed it. That helped ALOT and brought our milk back down to regular milk prices. If we were in a pinch, we would also occasionally purchase Mayfield milk, which is hormone and RbST free. This is how we buy ice cream as well. It is not organic, but it is free of some of the things we were concerned about.
As far as cheese and yogurt products, I have bought yogurt the same way as milk - when reduced or with coupons and I purchase my cheese products from Costco because they offer bulk cheese that is also free from hormone, antibiotics, or RbST, though not organic.
*Canned Foods, Cereals, etc... - For these items I purchase things on sale at Kroger or Ingles or I buy in bulk at Costco. Our family has been buying in bulk for years, but we were members of Sam's Club. There were some items I could buy organically there (spinach and carrots are two) but not a whole lot! However, a friend recommended Costco and while it is a drive to get there, I am usually in that area at least twice a month, so I just fit that in. The first time I went there I was overjoyed at the amount of organic items they carry and the price! If you are able to buy in bulk and want to eat organically, I highly encourage you to check it out!

While this is certainly not an exhaustive list of the changes we made, I hope that perhaps this will help someone else make the change to organic eating. It is healthier for your family, the environment, and the people who handle your food. Not to mention the great feeling you have when you sit down to a meal with those you love and you know that what you are eating is good for you. It really does make it worth all of the effort!

Homemade Sausage Gravy

2011-04-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Very rarely do I post a recipe on my blog. There are two simple reasons for this:
1. There are plenty of other recipe sites and I'd rather read and cook theirs instead of posting my own.
2. All the food in my house is usually eaten before I can take a picture and I'm too busy cooking to post recipes anyways!

However, I wanted to share this recipe because of the personal experience I have had with sausage gravy! You see, I have only been making my own sausage gravy for the last 2 years or so. Before then, I would have to visit Alabama to get it or I would have to be at my mother-in-laws house for breakfast. Both of these are rare occurrences, so learning to make my own was a better option!
What surprises me the most (even today) is that in all of the years that Jason and I have been married, he has raved about, dreamed of, and begged for sausage gravy, but I just knew it was too hard to make or that it was impossible for me to get it right!
However, that is the furthest thing from the truth! Sausage gravy is quick and easy and requires very little ingredients!
So, please, try to make it yourself and find out that you can please your whole family for so little money and with such little effort! Your life will NEVER be the same!
(Disclaimer: You may need to join a gym once you learn how to cook this!)

Sausage Gravy:

1 pound of ground pork breakfast sausage (or about 6-8 patties, chopped up after cooking)
2 Tb all-purpose flour
half and half (optional)
milk (I use whole milk)
salt & black pepper, as desired

Brown sausage in a skillet (best not to use non-stick as you will be using a whisk)until done. Remove from pan, but leave the drippings and return the pan to med-high heat on the stove. Sprinkle the flour all over the drippings and allow that to turn nice and brown, using a spatula to scrape around in the pan. When nice and brown, but not burned (about 1 minute or so) pour in about 1 cup of half and half. I never measure this, but just enough to cover the bottom of your pan. You can also just use milk here, but I like the creaminess the half and half gives it. Whisk this around as it begins to become thick and bubbly. As it thickens, pour in more milk, about the same amount as the half and half. Whisk it a bit and allow it to thicken up nicely. Add your sausage back in, a little salt, and a good bit of black pepper. I use freshly ground black pepper, but use what you have. Keep whisking or stirring it and when it gets good and thick you can add more milk, depending on the amount you are making or you can use what is in the pan on your biscuits. I have to make ALOT, so I just keep on repeating the milk process until I get the amount I need. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.

That's it! That is all you have to do to have delicious gravy that your whole family will brag about and request on their birthday breakfast!
One note: If you use organic sausage, it will have less fat and therefore, less grease. If you see the pan is looking dry as you are cooking the sausage, simply add in a few tablespoons of oil to the sausage as it cooks. I have done this a few times using olive oil and it turns out fine.
Enjoy!

How Can This Be?

2011-03-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

"How can this be???" That is the question that runs through my mind as I sit here planning my oldest son's 16th birthday party!
How has this happened so fast? Why didn't someone tell me that the years would go by so quickly? Oh wait, they did! I was just too busy parenting to realize that what they were saying was TRUE!
In all honesty, though, I am so thankful to be enjoying this time of life with my son. When my children were young, I used to think with dread of the teenage years, but now that they are here, I do find myself relishing in the conversations, the laughs, the "hanging out", the late night chats and bowls of ice cream and so forth! The teenage years are like any other stage of life - there are challenges, sure, but there are also opportunities to strengthen your relationship and grow to love your child more and more! How fun it is to hear their thoughts, to challenge their opinions, and to spend time looking at the world through the eyes of a young person!
So, as I continue on with the planning, I have purposed in my heart to savor this moment. I never want to go through life with my eyes looking backwards. Instead, I want to learn to fully live in each season I am in, yet excited about what the next season will hold as well!

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-03-14T13:54:00.001-07:00

Sunday afternoons are supposed to be peaceful, right?
Well, apparently the boys in my house didn't get the memo! Just as Jason was leaving to head to church Sun evening and I was mixing up a wonderful, homemade lasagna to have ready upon his return, our son, Luke (8) was carried into the house by his brothers and friends and his wrist looked like it belonged on some alien being! It was obvious that at the least, it was broken, and who knew what the worst case scenario would be!
Thankfully, Jason wasn't far from home and made it back in about 5 minutes and Luke was in shock, I'm guessing, because he sat there, not crying, but looking pale and sweaty instead. Immediately Jason loaded him in the car and headed towards the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the rest of us (friends & brothers) joined hands and said a sweet prayer for Luke and then spent some time assuring our neighbor friend (who had thrown him around on the trampoline) that we knew it was a complete accident and we still loved him and he was still welcome at our house.
Now the ironic thing about this whole situation is that we are currently in the middle of a change of insurance and March is the only month in the last decade or so that we have not had insurance coverage...of course! So, as our minds settled down from the initial shock of the accident, they began to race again from the realization of what an injury like this may cost! Emergency room visit, Orthopedic Dr., X-ray costs, and on and on and on! "Great!", was my thoughts! However, thankfully my husband had a better thought and remembered that he knows an orthopedic doctor and immediately called him on the way to the ER.
This is where my flesh was once again confronted with the reality that "My God shall supply all my needs..." and God in His sovereignty humbled me for the millionth time. Not only did the doctor meet us at the ER, but he offered to treat Luke FOR FREE and was gracious enough to add (as I thanked him profusely), "I would have been upset had you not called me".
Why do I worry when God has already promised that He will take care of His children? Why do I allow my mind to race and be filled with "worse-case scenarios" when instead I could turn to Him, trust in His words, and allow Him to work on my behalf? You would think that after being a believer for nearly 15 years that I would have this weakness conquered by now! Hopefully the next time I find myself in a situation (opportunity) where I must look to God instead of self, it is my prayer that I would remember John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." ~ Jesus

2 Weeks Later...

2010-03-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

Two weeks have officially passed since we welcomed little Abby-Kate into our family. Already she is changing and growing and it is fun to see her more awake and alert with each passing day.
All of her brothers have adjusted nicely to having a baby in the house and so have Mom and Dad! Despite my fears and worries when I was pregnant, things are going so well! My Pastor once said that 80% of the things we worry about never even happen and I can definitely see that in this case. After 5 1/2 years without a baby in the home, I did have some valid concerns over facing sleep deprivation again, nursing, and just going back to the baby stages. However, none of that has been an issue so far and we feel so very blessed right now.
There was a time (or times) that Jason and I had decided that we were not going to have any more children...thankfully we never did anything permanent to make that happen! We were talking about that this afternoon and I thought of how God's ways are higher than our ways and His wisdom so much greater than our own. Had we followed our plan, Abby-Kate would not be here and we would be missing out on so much!!! I am thankful that God, in His great mercy and grace, kept us from making a terrible mistake. I have often met older women, who upon seeing our "large family" have said to me, "I always wished I had had more children." Never have I met someone who wished away the ones they had!
So, tonight as I am up nursing and feeling quite sleepy, I am also overwhelmed with the tremendous blessing of motherhood. Though there are sacrifices that must be made as a mother, they are worth it in the end!

Pictures of Abby Kate's Arrival

2010-03-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

Abby Kate Alyse has arrived !!!!

2010-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Our beautiful Abby Kate Alyse, was born on February 26th at 4:18 in the afternoon. She weighed 8lbs 5oz and was 20 1/2" long.
We knew that many people were praying for us as she came and God was faithful to give us a smooth delivery and healthy baby girl.
She is so precious and we feel overwhelmed by God's goodness in blessing our family with her. As expected, her brothers are crazy about her and Daddy is completely consumed with her. Things will never be the same in the Nave house, to be sure!

Ben's First "Real" Job

2010-02-22T18:06:00.000-08:00

One minute your children are crawling around your feet while you cook dinner and the next time you turn around they are cooking dinner themselves...well, pizza rolls and ramen noodle soup anyways!
That is exactly how I have been feeling these last few weeks as I realize how quickly time passes and my children are truly growing up. A wise woman once said to me, "The days are long, but the years are short". This is one of the truest statements I have ever heard and something for young mothers to remember in the early years when they have those grueling days where everybody needs something from them. One day they will look around and see that that their children no longer need their physical care as much as their listening ear, open heart, and encouraging words.
Anyways, our oldest son, Ben, is transitioning into this phase of his life. He no longer needs help with schoolwork, he is completely in charge of his wardrobe (including washing, drying, and putting away), and now he is earning his own money!
Just last week, he started his first "real" job at Chick-Fil-A. Of course we, being his embarrassing parents, had to take some pictures and celebrate this new phase of his life.
Actually, Jason took him to work, which was worse, because he has completely forgotten what it was like to be nearly 15 and be followed around by your Dad with a camera on your first day of work! I would have been much more compassionate, which explains why I get foot rubs and Jason doesn't! Well, that and the he has stinky feet...but that's another subject!
Ben was greeted by his new fellow employees with a homemade "Benjamin" banner on the wall, lots of cheers, and his name being chanted as he walked in. (All the while being followed by Jason, the paparazzi!)
Being pretty shy by nature, I am sure he was mortified, but he took it all in stride and had a great time on his 1st night at work. So far, he has loved every minute of it and has done well keeping keeping up with his busy schedule.
As his parents, we are very proud of him and are enjoying watching God prepare him for his future outside of our home one day. Unfortunately, I'm sure it will be sooner than we think!

Snowing in Georgia!!!!!

2010-02-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

Finally, the weather predictions have come true and the snow has arrived. My boys were super excited (Jason, too!) and enjoyed hours of playing in it. I loved it too, but wasn't able to sled or have a snowball fight, so I spent the day taking pics, doing the snow laundry, and baking warm goodies for the boys to enjoy in between being outdoors. It was a beautiful and fun day!!!

Our Trip To Bentley's Meat Market

2010-02-13T16:08:00.000-08:00

Although I haven't taken the time to write about the subject of free range (or grassfed) meats -vs- grain fed (or barn kept) meats, I wanted to share our experience at Bentley's.
Jason and I have chosen to switch to grassfed/free range meats based on the research I have been doing. Basically, the grassfed meats are all natural, meaning no hormones, steroids, or antibiotics and they are fed grass, which is full of Omega 3 fats, instead of the harmful Omega 6 fats that grain fed animals have. Grassfed meat is also leaner and healthier. Anyways, I will write more about that later...
In our search to find better meats, we heard about a meat market in Winder that sells what we were looking for. Winder is only about 30 minutes from us and so we decided to head over there one evening and check it out. We had to leave around 5:00 though, because Bentley's closes at 6:30, and I wanted to have time enough to speak to the "meat man" and make sure I was getting what I was looking for. You know, you have to be careful these days, because packaging and advertising will deceive you. I don't know how many times I have looked at a label that said "all natural" on the front and then flipped it over to find out it wasn't exactly "all natural" at all!

We arrived at Bentley's around 5:30. It was in a little strip mall section on Main Street and smaller than I expected. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by an extremely friendly black gentleman, calling each person who walked through the door either "sister" or "brother" and he knew most of them by name as well. We were surprised to find it quite busy in our time there, mostly with repeat customers...which was a good sign!
We decided to choose a meat package, since I didn't have a menu plan. The one that best suited us (because of the size of our family) was the $99.99 package. The only issue was that we quit eating pork and there were quite a few pork products in the package. I spoke with the owner and he said it would be no problem to substitute with other meats.
The meats all looked really good, especially the ones that were seasoned or stuffed. There were several varieties of beef, pork, and chicken cuts, as well as a meatloaf mixture (already seasoned), stuffed bell peppers, and stuffed chicken breasts.

Here is what we ended up with for $99.99:
3 lb eye of round roast
3 lb chuck roast
3 lb bottom round roast
1 whole chicken
6 lb split chicken breast
8- 1/4 lb hamburger patties
6 lb ground chuck
3 lb meatloaf (preseasoned)
3 generously stuffed bell peppers
2 lb boneless/skinless chicken breasts

As we waited for the meat to be wrapped and labeled, we were entertained and encouraged the whole time by the sweet black gentleman. He was a pastor of a church in Lilburn and spent the majority of his time speaking on God's goodness and sharing God's Word with every single person who opened the door. Not only in English, but Spanish as well!!!
Once the meat was all packaged, we were surprised how much it actually turned out to be! Judging by the looks of it, we think it will last our family around 3 weeks! When we discussed what we usually spend on supermarket meat -vs- what we spent at Bentley's we feel that the price was about the same but the quality was obviously much higher.
As of today, we have eaten the stuffed bell peppers (yummy!!!) and one pkg of the ground chuck and we are extremely pleased with the taste and texture of both.
If you want to check it out for yourself, the address is 105 E. May St., Winder, Ga 30680 and the phone number is 678-963-9877

Whole Wheat Cooking

2010-01-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

Not only are we trying to rid ourselves of pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, etc...but we are making our best effort at replacing artificial ingredients with the real deal. So, after getting some recipes from a recommended website (heavenly homemaker) I decided to venture out and do some baking with whole wheat.
The other day we tried whole wheat waffles, which were good. Then tonight we took the dive and made whole wheat soft pretzels and whole wheat cinnamon buns.
The dough recipe was exactly the same for both recipes, so I made one batch and split it in half, then made pretzels with one lump and cinnamon rolls with the other lump. It was a new challenge, but not overwhelming, and the results were worth it. All of the boys agreed that both recipes were keepers...they ate it all up! Even our pickiest eater asked for seconds!!!

Facts on Fiber and other things...

2010-01-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

This is one of the first times I have attempted to make healthy changes and have had little problems sticking with it. I think it is because of 2 main reasons:
1. I have the logic to go along with the decision - or in other words, I am doing this because I understand it, not just because "it's the right thing to do", although I have no clue why. Knowledge fuels true change because when you know something to be true it is alot easier to adjust and align yourself with that truth. Knowing that the way we were eating was literally dangerous and knowing why it was has helped me transition to a healthier lifestyle.
2. I am taking it slowly and not going totally radical - I didn't throw out every thing in the house and go on a huge shopping spree for all organic and free range foods. We are basically eliminating things as they run out and replacing them with healthier choices. This is easier on the budget and on each one of us as well. I also have not restricted myself. Although I have only had 1 cup of coffee in over a week, I tell myself each morning - "Go ahead and make some if you want". Then I make a smoothie and forget about it. Anytime I've restricted myself in the past, that desire has grown stronger just out of sheer rebellion.

A good quote in the beginning of chapter 4 sums it up like this, "Add the good things you are missing, and let go of the others that have become harmfully habitual. Soon you'll realize that your eating habits have been transformed."
I am seeing this reality already in my own life. As we went to a church function tonight, our choices of food were salad, fruit, and fried chicken. Jason and I both got a plate of salad and fruit and I had no desire for the chicken at all...okay, well maybe that 1 second when I first smelled it, but after looking at it and thinking about what it really is, the desire was gone!

So, what does all of that have to do with fiber? Nothing! But I thought you might wanna know how things are going for me and if I'm standing in the kitchen eating choc chip cookie dough by now or sticking with it. I assure you, I'm sticking to it and not begrudgingly at all!

Now, onto the fiber and the main points from Ch. 4:
If you are like me, you have always heard that you should eat a good amount of fiber. Since I was a little girl watching daytime television at my Granny's I have seen the Metamucil commercials and all the other fiber-pushing advertisements and concluded that the were for old people. I mean, why else are old people the ones in the commercials? You don't see young, tan, scantily clad women downing Metamucil, do you? No, that's only the toothpaste and shampoo commercials!
Anyways, I now understand why fiber should be on my mind as well, thanks to Dr. Colbert.
You see, fiber does this amazing job of binding cancer causing chemicals and helping our bodies to eliminate them. Not only that, but fiber also binds estrogen and helps pass it out of the body as well. (If you've read my earlier posts, you'll understand why this is important.) Another really important thing that fiber does is that it increases the bulk in your stool (gross, I know!), which speeds up the elimination process. This is important because the quicker things pass, the less amount of time toxins are in contact with the lining of your colon. Most of us realize by now that what our bodies don't need is what is eliminated and alot of that is toxic stuff.
Jason and I were really interested in this because of the amount of colon cancer he has seen in the last year in young men his age. It reinforced what we already believe - foods can be dangerous and what we eat may be killing us!
Here are seven sources of fiber to get you started:
*Bran (muffins, cereals, etc...)
*Cellulose - outer layers of veg and fruits. (Make sure to wash them well.)
*Gum - guar gum. (Not sure what this is yet, but planning on looking it up.)
*Hemicellulose - apples, bananas, corn, beans, beets, peppers, whole-bran cereals.
*Lignin - Brazil nuts, carrots, green beans, peas, peaches, potatoes, strawberries.
*Mucilages - chickweed, comfrey, mullein, flaxseed, okra.
*Pectin - apples, cabbage, okra, carrots, beets.

Make a list of the ones you like and try to start eating more of it.

2 things to note: always take fiber separately from other supplements so as not to weaken the fiber absorption and rotate these fiber sources as they each have a different function. The encouraging thing is that many of these are likable foods and very do-able for most of us. Other than the mucilages, each category has at least one thing I like and do not mind eating. I did, though, buy some flaxseed and I do intend on grinding it up in my coffee grinder to add into some of my foods. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Then my mucilages category will be covered as well - not that I actually know what a mucilage is!

The rest of this chapter dealt with important supplements and minerals that you may also want to consider, so I will briefly list these and their benefits.
*Glutamine - an amino acid that is easily absorbed, increases natural killer cell activity, and inhibits PGE2 (that dangerous hormone we don't like). You can take this as a supplement (1000 milligrams 30 min before each meal) or eat it in spinach and parsley.
*Folic acid - the most impt B vitamin in the fight against cancer. Repairs DNA.
*Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, and Vitamin A
(A good multi-vitamin will have most of this in it.)
*Calcium - like fiber, it binds toxic acids and removes them from the body. Get your calcium from fat-free skim milk or skim milk and skim milk cheese.
*Herbs such as Rosemary, Curcumin, and Milk Thistle. I have a wonderful recipe for Rosemary Lime Chicken that will make that Rosemary even more enjoyable!

I know this is alot of information, but try to find a few things that resonate with you and implement those things. For me, it is that I am increasing my fiber intake, continuing to stick with the fruits and veggies, and taking a daily multi-vitamin, even after pregnancy. The good thing about healthy eating is that alot of it overlaps. If I am eating enough fruits and veggies, I am taking in fiber already. Same with whole wheats and bran cereals. The benefits cover numerous categories and so I don't have to feel like I need a 2 page list of what I need to eat every day to be healthy. The important thing is to find things you enjoy eating, remind yourself of the benefits, and gradually let go of those things that are not beneficial to your health. Slowly, but surely you'll feel better and enjoy what you are eating!

A Trip to Whole Foods...

2010-01-23T12:55:00.001-08:00

Well, we decided that since we are making all of these changes, we ought to go to Whole Foods and check it out to get an idea of the cost of "healthier foods".
Only 2 of the boys wanted to tag along (thankfully) so the 4 of us set out after dinner. It took us about 30 minutes to get there, but we were expecting that.
I was excited when we pulled up into the parking lot, but reminded myself to stay calm and sensible and stick to the purpose. (Sometimes I get a little carried away when I go to a new store, especially book stores! It's weird, I know!)
Overall, the store was a little smaller than I expected when you look at how much of it is an actual grocery store. Once you subtract the restaurant part, coffee bar, and bakery, it wasn't overly large. Of course, I am used to Sam's Club, so it may be big to other people.
We began in the produce section and noticed that a few of the things they sell we also see at Sam's, like the brand of clementines...mental note: buy them at Sam's.
The produce all looked great, but I noticed that some is organic and some is not, which was a surprise to me. I thought everything they sold was organic, but I guess not. We bought organic bananas ($0.88 a lb), organic apples (a little over $1.00 a lb), organic tomatoes & onions and salad mix($1.99 bag).
Next was the dairy and meats section - The vanilla soy milk (Silk brand) is definetly cheaper at Sam's. However, I bought yogurt at Whole Foods 2 for $1.00 and at Kroger the same brand was $0.89 each, so that was a better buy. We bought the Brown Cow organic brand. I also bought a huge "roll" of butter made by the Amish (organic) for about $5.00. It was a BIG roll of butter and I felt a good price. Plus I have this thing for Amish people, so I loved buying their butter. Jason always tells me that one day he's gonna come home as my dream man in a top hat and long beard and move me to a farm!!! Can't wait for that day!!!
Anyways, I saw a couple tubs of tofu for around $2.00, but since I still don't know what it is, I didn't buy any yet. The meats were expensive, but of course, free range. I noticed a med. sized turkey was about $20.00 and the same size I usually pay about $14.00 for around Thanksgiving. I checked Kroger this afternoon and their free range turkey was a little over $30.00!!! Wow - I am in the wrong business!
I refrained from meat purchases at the moment as I am still researching free range meats and farms and looking for a better way to handle that.
In the snack section, we bought chips (2 pks for $3.00) and cold salsa ($3.50 a carton, but buy one get one free and it was fresh and delicious!) We also bought crackers. Cereal was outrageous and so I bought it at Sam's (Kashi cinnamon squares - around $6.88 there for 2 bags.)
In the canned foods, we bought organic black beans and they were $0.99 per can - which is the same price at Kroger. We have recently been making this veggie stir-fry with black beans that is delicious so we bought 4 cans of those. We also bought salad dressing and trail mix.
Before we hit the checkout I saw bottles of green tea on sale (BOGOF) so I bought those just as a treat for me. They were Green Tea and Honey and Green Tea and Mango flavored. The thing I liked was that when I asked the sales clerk about them, she volunteered to let me taste one without me asking to. Apparently, that is their policy: if you wanna sample something, just ask and they'll let you. Jason also sampled grapefruit. That was a nice added touch!
Altogether we ended up spending $60.20, which wasn't that bad considering what we bought.
I'm not sure that I will have to shop there regularly, though, because Sam's is offering an increasingly larger organic selection and then coupled with Kroger, I feel like most of what I need, I can get between the two. There is a certain element at Whole Foods that these two stores don't have, which makes shopping at Whole Foods a little more fun. (Like the all natural soaps and lotions in the bathroom that smell like you're at the spa). But for practical purposes, I think it'll be a treat for us to go there instead of a bi-weekly experience.
A definite benefit to going there is to see what brands and items they do sell. Since their policy is nothing "unnatural", I assumed everything in the store is on the safer list. So, now I know what brands to buy at Kroger and Sam's and I know they are legitimately "all-natural" since Whole Foods carries them.
Overall, it was a great experience and Jason and I both enjoyed ourselves. One of the best things was that my husband was truly supportive and on board instead of giving me a hard time about what I was buying. It's nice to know we are headed in the same direction!

The Skinny on Fats - Ch. 3

2010-01-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

Fats - uuuggghhh!!! Just the word makes me cringe. It seems everywhere I turn, people are trying to lower their fat intake. Of course, that's a good thing, but the bad part of that is - Everything I like is fattening!
We all know that a high-fat diet is bad for you. But did you know that high-fat diets are strongly related to colon, rectal, and prostate cancers? That gets my attention personally because my husband would be more susceptible to all of those and he already has a high cancer rate in his family.
Diets that may reduce the risks of these cancers must instead be full of high amounts of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. Of course, your grains need to be whole grains (natural) and the white stuff needs to go (unnaturally whitened)!
All of our bodies contain a hormone-like compound called PGE2. This dangerous prostaglandin is linked to prostate, colon, and breast cancers. Diets that are high in Polyunsaturated fats (think safflower oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil) and saturated fats (think whole milk, red meat, pork, chicken & turkey skins, bacon, lunchmeat, cheese, ice cream, butter...all the things I like!) increase the PGE2 in your body. That's bad!
However, the weird thing is that if you try to go completely fat-free, that also increases the PGE2 in your body! So, is it a lose-lose situation? Not really.
You see, there are these good fats (is there really such a thing?) called Omega 3's. Omega 3's are essential fatty acids that cannot be manufactured in our bodies, so they must be consumed from an outside source.
Here are some sources of Omega 3 fats:
* raw nuts, particularly walnuts
*flaxseed & flaxeseed oil
*coldwater fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut, tuna, herring, & cod)
*fish oil (sounds lovely, huh?)
*free range meats (I can't wait to discuss this subject later on!!!)
*olive oil & olives (my husband is so happy...he eats olives like candy!)
*dark green veggies (collards, broccoli)

The author of this book recommends using olive oil in the place of any other oil you currently use. I did so this morning and my pancakes were a little flat. But, it could have been the old pancake mix I used? Or perhaps, the out-of-date buttermilk? Hey, buttermilk is already sour so what's the difference? Don't you wanna come to breakfast at our house soon?
He also suggests grinding flax seed and sprinkling it into your cereal, bread or muffin mixes, or anything else you can. He personally grinds (in a coffee bean grinder) 5 tsp flaxseed and puts it in his food daily. He also takes 1 TBSP of flaxseed oil 2 x per day...let me know if you do this and how it turns out for you.

Lastly, let me mention a very dangerous fat that we should all stay away from. These are trans-fats and they are deadly! These fats are man-made and produced by hydrogenating vegetable oil. Basically, veg oil is heated to boiling and hydrogen is bubbled into it to produce a sort of lard we call margarine.
Margarine, believe it or not, is added to most baked goods, breads, pastries, and almost all processed foods. So if you see the term "hydrogenated veg oil" or hydrogenated anything on a food label - STAY AWAY FROM IT! It won't be easy either because SO many boxed foods have this.
In regards to cooking, always choose butter over margarine. The old saying, "You get what you pay for" comes to mind. Margarine is cheaper than butter...but in the end it may cost alot more.
So, in our family, we have resolved the following things in response to this newly learned subject:
1. NO MORE MARGARINE EVER!!!!
2. Olive oil instead of any other oils.
3. Eat more fish - especially when eating out.
4. More beans and dark green veggies.

Finally, we are still consuming our daily soy milk. Well, some of us are. The kiddos are not so thrilled about trying something new, although 2 of them did settle for some soy hot chocolate this afternoon while the others looked on in disgust.
Hey, it's a process and we are reaching forward to goals, keeping the big picture in mind. I hope that you are also setting some goals to become healthier and happier this year!

Ch. 2 - Power Foods!

2010-01-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

Already Jason and I are enjoying this journey into the world of nutrition. We are learning SO much and have had some good conversations regarding the foods we have been eating. The problem, though, is that you begin to see things in a different light! For example, I LOVE homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. In fact, it is a staple in our house! It is not uncommon to find a freshly made tub of cookie dough in the refrigerator and sadly, alot of it never makes it to the oven. We all eat it raw and enjoy every minute of it...or did enjoy it! Today as I ate a spoonfull, all I could think about was the 2 sticks of margarine I put in there and the fact that margarine is a man-made fat! Nothing natural at all about it...recently described as a little better than "salty vaseline"!!! So, needless to say, the moment was ruined and my craving for cookie dough killed...not that that is a bad thing!
Anyways, onto the book. Chapter 2 focuses on the power to heal our bodies or build defenses through certain foods. Not only does God himself have healing power, but He has also put that power into certain foods that He has created. It is our job to know those foods and put them into our bodies (instead of cookie dough!).
There are certain foods, called phytonutrients, that will enable us to live healthier and fight diseases.
One source of phytonutrients is soy products. Soy products are filled with isoflavones...definetly a new term to me, but I'm hanging on anyways and refusing to be intimidated! Isoflavones are natural estrogens in soy products. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have reported that isoflavones have wonderful cancer-fighting properties and highly recommend foods rich in them.
The natural estrogen in soy products is only one one-thousandth as strong as estrogen, but it tends to block the estrogen receptors in our cells, therefore decreasing the tumor-promoting effect of high estrogen levels. Basically, the phytoestrogens in soy products inhibit the ability of cancer cells to reproduce themselves and grow into tumors. Yay!!!!!! This is true in both men and women.
Okay, so where to begin? How do people like me, cookie dough and fried chicken eaters, start eating soy foods instead?
Here are a few sources of soy that may be available to you: soy milk, tofu (what is that?), soy yogurt, soy flour, roasted soy nuts, black soy beans, and yellow or green vegetables.
Now here is what I did personally to begin my new love affair with soy. Yesterday, while at Sam's I picked up 3 cartons of vanilla soy milk for a little under $7.00. I am not sure if that is a great price, but that's where I was and it was on my mind, so I bought it. I also bought a large bag of frozen fruit for about $8.00...it was a LARGE bag!
So this afternoon, when I woke up from my nap and decided cookie dough was no longer for me, I instead got out the soy milk and fruit and blended them together in my blender to make a fruit smoothie. I didn't measure, I just poured in some milk (about 1 1/2 cups) and threw in some fruit (strawberries, peaches, bananas, and blueberries) and blended away. Believe it or not, it was quite tasty and satisfying and the best part of all - good for me! Oh yeah, and my kids didn't care for it so they left me alone to eat it all by myself - a definite bonus in my book!
However, if you are the type that needs a recipe, here is one in the little book I'm reading:
Soy Fruit Smoothie
2 cups of vanilla flavored soy beverage, well chilled
1 cup frozen, sliced peaches
1 med banana, cut into chunks
8 med. strawberries
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine and blend in blender until smooth and creamy. Makes 2 servings.

There are other foods that contain phytonutrients (power-foods/disease fighters). These are vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, & cauliflower. These foods include indoles (another strange word, but I'll explain). Indoles convert estrogen from cancer-promoting to cancer-fighting. I will spare you the details of how this works, because it is difficult to understand, but suffice it to say, it does work and research backs it up. That's why your Mama always told you to eat your veggies!
Finally, here are a few other foods that will benefit your health greatly and boost your immune system:
Green Tea, Alfalfa, Grapes, Tomatoes, Apples, Walnuts, Black Currants, Garlic, Raspberries, and Maitake Mushrooms. There are other things, too, in the book, but they sounded more like something a cow might eat, so I'll spare you (think barley grass, wheat grass, etc...) For now, my requirements are: a.) I actually know what a food is and b.) I can find it in a local grocery store and c.) I would actually try eating it.
Well, I hope this helps someone in their journey of eating a little healthier. I know I have benefitted from my study time and even enjoyed my first experience with a soy product. I am looking forward to what else I will learn and try.

Nutrition 101 - The Beginning...

2010-01-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have chosen my first book in our nutritional journey! It is entitled, "The Bible Cure for Cancer" by Don Colbert, M.D.. The reason I chose this one to begin with is that it is short and concise and deals pointedly with one of our main concerns: cancer.
According to this book, studies show that one out of every three persons will develop some type of cancer and one of every six of those people will die as a result! That is pretty alarming, huh? The good news is that through medical and nutritional advancements, the death rate from cancer is actually decreasing! Whew! Now that is what we all want to hear!!!
A little background on cancer itself...cancer is caused by immature cells. Instead of maturing and doing what these cells were created to do, they remain immature and begin to steal nutrition from our bodies enabling them to become larger and deadlier. "70-80% of cancers are caused by the food we eat, air we breathe, and the water we drink, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors." (p.4)
So basically we are in a war on all fronts! Although I realize all of these areas need to be assessed, our family is choosing right now to address the area of food. I am a firm believer in establishing one good habit at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed and quit, so the majority of my discussions will be food related.
With that in mind, let us consider some facts:
* Our diets directly impact our immune system, either positively or negatively.
* About 1/3 of all cancer deaths in our nation each year are dietary related.
* Our crops are sprayed with about 2 billion pounds of pesticides each year, many of which are carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
* Our farm animals feed on millions of pounds of hormones and antibiotics each year.
* Just as wood burning produces smoke, food burning (or metabolizing) produces free radicals. These free radicals can damage cells and in some cases cause cells to mutate and produce cancerous growths. A strong antioxidant defense system is the key to overcoming these "threats" to our cells.
So what is a body to do? Well, to begin with, it is wise to assess what we are eating and the effects that it will have on our bodies. The old adage, "garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind. Just being more conscious of the fact that to every choice there is a consequence helps us to make better eating decisions.
Secondly, limiting high fat foods, especially high fat meats, will do wonders for us all. Of course, we need to know what these are, so a little research in that area would be beneficial. Off the top of my head, I already know that pork is a meat marbled with fat and definitely a high-fat meat. So I will be choosing to stay completely away from pork. Isn't it ironic that the last meal I ate before reading this chapter was B-B-Q from Mickey Pigs!!!
Leviticus 3:17 declares, "You must never eat any fat or blood. This is a permanent law for you and all your descendants, wherever they may live."
Lastly,but most importantly, I am asking God to give me wisdom and discretion as I take the first steps on this journey. I hope to be able to keep the "big picture" ever before me and realize that the goals I want to reach in the future require certain steps for me to take today. It is foolish to wish for wisdom and health, yet not set foot on the paths that will take me there. So, my prayer is that God will enable me to make wise choices now while the opportunity is here.
Hopefully others will be inspired to make better choices as well and step out on their own journey of healthy living!

Preparing for our Baby Girl !!!

2010-01-13T06:29:00.001-08:00

In preparation for our sweet baby (due March 4th) we have begun to decorate the nursery. Thankfully we have some wonderful family members helping that purchased our bedding!!! (A huge thank you to Kevin & Ronda, Grandpa & Grandma, and Dad & Jerri!!!!)
Here are a few pics to give a glimpse into our little one's room. How exciting preparing for a new baby!

New Beginnings

2010-01-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

Recently I had decided to delete this blog altogether. I hardly have time to keep up with it and when I do get the time, I am too tired to think of anything to say! However, I have had a change of mind, and so now I am going to try to do a better job of sharing with others the things happening in our lives.
In a nutshell, here are a few areas of our lives that are in the midst of change and I am sure, I will be addressing:
* Baby #6 is soon to be delivered! Only 7 1/2 weeks left and we will have the wonderful blessing of meeting our baby girl (obviously unnamed at this point!)
* Food changes are on the horizon - I have taken a real interest in the subject of free range farming and whole foods and am planning on delving into the issue wholeheartedly. There are several books I am looking forward to reading on this and I will be sharing our journey into a healthier lifestyle here on the blog. The more Jason and I discuss cancer and other diseases, the more convinced I am that our foods have ALOT to do with it. We are hoping to be able to bring our family into a better place nutritionally this year.

Hopefully what we learn and experience will be a blessing to someone else and at the least will challenge or inspire. I am looking forward to some new beginnings in our home this year and hope you will enjoy hearing a little more about these things soon.

Cristy in Africa-Day 4 by Jason

2009-07-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it is now 9:40 and I have finally gotten everyone calmed down and in the bed. Today was a good day. Got up early, went to store and picked up some milk and cereal for the boys. Ben got the boys up and going around 9:00. The Dinn's picked up Nathan and Luke to spend the day at there home. Becky Garner picked up Caleb and Jacob and were off to the water park. Ben came to the church for the MS Serve Day. I am so proud of that boy! He is really growing up to be a fine young man. So mature to be 14. Sure, sometimes I wonder about him, but overall the boy gets the job done and really does it well. I picked Ben up some Chick-fil-a w/ a Chocolate Milkshake to surprise him because he has been such a help since Cristy has been gone. Then, I took the van to have tires put on and oil changed and got a burger at The Collegiate "WOW, what a hamburger" All by myself I sat there and all I could think about was Cristy. I have never since we have been married been cut off from communication from her like this. It is driving me crazy!! I just wish I could hear her voice for just 1 minute. I guess it just really sank in while I was sitting there by myself. Well, I got up, got over it and walked back over to Harrison Tire and got my van and headed back to the BUSY office. Lots of work to do. 42 people gave there lives to Christ yesterday and 47 last week at the Outreach at Fairstreet. Much follow up to do and we are working hard on that. Worked on that for a while and Ben came over to my office after he was done painting in the MS room and I ran him home to meet Becky Garner w/ Jacob and Caleb around 4:00. Went back to my office and worked for about another hour and headed to p/u Luke and Nathan from the Dinn's. Got everyone home and we had a family meeting before heading over to Randy and Nikki Grizzle's for dinner. Great evening,great food, and awesome fellowship!! Talked more of Cristy with them and how much we were all just wanting to talk with her. Tonight when we got home, my precious little Luke broke down. He told me, while in tears "I am so sad and why can't mommy just come back home?" OH, that was hard on me. At that moment, I realized even more than I ever have before how much we all desperately need her. Thank God for marriage and family! What a gift from the Lord. If you read this, please pray for all of us. Cristy, when you read this, know there are 6 boys here that LOVE you and desperately need you, and are glad you are back!! Love you BABY!!

Nearly Time!!!

2009-07-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Only 10 more days and I am boarding a plane and headed to the other side of the world! I cannot even describe all of the feelings and thoughts that are running through my mind these days.
Of course, there is the excitement of going to another country with a completely different culture to share the good news of Jesus Christ...but with that comes a little apprehension. What will it be like? What can I expect? Will I get sick? Will my husband and kids survive without me? etc....
Currently, I am in the packing phase. I have pulled out all of my clothing that I have collected so far (we have to dress differently because of the culture) and the gifts I have stock-piled to take to the nationals who I will be working with each day. I am compiling a never-ending list in my mind of all of the last minute things I need to remember...intense bug repellant, malaria medication, Bibles for the leaders, finish making the bracelets to take over, and on and on it goes!
The funny thing is that I have tons of stuff to take, literally a 2-pg packing list, but I am only allowed 2 suitcases and a carry-on with weight limits! How will I ever fit it all in, package it correctly, and make it there with everything I need to bring with me? It's not like there is a Wal-Mart down the street I can run to if I forget something important! We will be in primitive villages lined with huts with Jesus and each other and that is it! But of course, that is all we need...I must keep reminding myself of this fact.
Over all, I do have a great peace about going (even if it doesn't sound like it). I am humbled to be able to take the gospel to people who have never heard the name of Jesus. To think back to when God changed my life and brought me into his family - never would I have dreamed that He would use me at all - even more so in another country! I am thankful that God chooses the foolish to become wise and the weak to be made strong for His glory and purposes! I cannot wait to see what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the lives of those who will hear in 10 short days...I keep thinking of the souls that I will spend eternity with because of our trip to Africa! How awesome that we will take part in fulfilling Scriptures - that in Heaven some from every tribe and tongue will worship God together. It is an amazing fact that God uses ordinary people like me and you to accomplish eternal purposes! What a miracle that we are entrusted by God Himself with the greatest message ever shared!

Beach Pics

2009-06-12T21:32:00.001-07:00

Family Vacation

2009-06-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from a week long family beach vacation to Panama City. It was a wonderful trip full of exciting events.
We spent the week meeting new people, interacting with wildlife, and doing all sorts of memorable things.
Among some of the "beach critters" we happened to see were dolphins, sting rays, whelks, barnacles, starfish, crabs, sea urchins, and other things we could not identify. It was fun to take our field guide along and look up all of the neat creatures we came across, trying to identify as many as we could. After dinner as we would walk along the docks near the restaurants, my boys would stretch out and lean way over the docks looking at the various things either floating in the water or clinging to the posts of the dock. I loved watching them interact with God's Creation with such fascination and as Ben stated one evening, "this is real learning you don't get in a classroom!" I agree!!
As for our outings, this year we were fortunate enough to be able to take the boys on the Pirate Ship. We have looked at it for a few years now and finally felt they were all old enough to enjoy it. We cruised along in the water for about 2 hours and had fun watching the boys shoot each other with water guns, mop the poop deck, play games, and search for treasure. It really was alot of fun and we were able to get a close up of the dolphins as we rounded the bend close to St. Andrews State Park. So much fun to be out on the water with the wind whipping around us and the salty seawater spraying upwards.
Other things we did were go-karts and putt-putt golf. Both of these were fun as well, although competition can sometimes make it challenging to keep everyone loving each other and enjoying the evening. Overall, they did really well and I am glad we took the time to do some out-of-the-water activities. Now that the boys are all getting old enough to participate, it makes things more fun for everyone.
Of course, "all good things must come to an end" (or so they say), so we are now back in Georgia doing the things that we ordinarily do as a family, continuing to enjoy the carefree pace of Summer. Our vacation was a wonderful reprieve from busyness that had great benefits to all of us. I am looking forward to our next trip already!

A Gentle Reminder

2009-05-07T20:28:00.000-07:00

Isn't it funny that you can know something as a fact, yet not realize it fully until little moments when God opens your eyes and gives you a gentle, but pointed reminder?
Tonight was one of those moments for me.
I was invited by a sweet friend to attend her Senior Banquet. She is graduating in just a couple of weeks and our church set aside an evening to celebrate together with friends and family.
During the course of the evening, a slide show was shown of each graduating Senior and pictures played across the screen beginning with their births, and on into their current lives. Many of these young people I did not know, so I was a little surprised when I felt that knot in my stomach and the increasing desire to shed a tear. I began to think, "If I am emotional now, what will I be like when my own children's lives are portrayed on that screen?"
Of course that thought did not subside and after it was over I stood in the hallway talking with a dear friend who is sending 2 of her boys off to college in the Fall and her last child is entering High School. She shared with me the tears she had shed in the last two weeks as she readied herself for this night and went through pictures for the presentation. Many of those tears are joyful because her children are maturing into true followers of Christ, but some of those tears were from the realization and sadness of how short life truly is.
It is one of those facts that you know and you even talk about it with others at family reunions and birthday parties, but there are certain times when the realization sets in and you don't only know it in your head - but your heart gets it too and you are moved by it.
Scripture declares it this way, "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)
Casting Crowns puts it into a tune, "I am a flower quickly fading - here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind...", and grandmothers remind us, "Enjoy them while you can - they grow up fast." We hear it so often, but are we really listening? Are we heeding these words of wisdom?
I know that I personally can get so caught up in the demands of life that sometimes I forget to enjoy the living. I take my life and my family's lives for granted and at times even have the audacity to complain over my situation or circumstance. Oh, how I wish I could have it burned into my heart to take each day as a gift and realize the fragility of life and the fleeting nature of it.
One person wisely said "when the hourglass runs out of sand, you can't flip it over and start again". How true, yet how forgotten!
I don't want to be this person who dreads for the years to pass and is so focused on the passing that I miss the daily moments, but I also don't want to take for granted that each day is precious and never to be repeated. Time truly is our most valuable commodity and the reality is that once we spend it, it is gone. There is no getting it back, trading for more, or any other clever method. We have what God has ordained for us to have and not a minute more. The same is true with time with our children. We don't always have tomorrow - we have TODAY...really, we aren't even guaranteed more than the moment we are in.
It is my sincere prayer that I will be a good steward of the time He has given me and pour my heart into the most precious gifts He has placed in my care: my husband and children. When I get to that time when my "chicks take flight" I want to be able to look back on their time in our home and know that I intentionally savored every moment of that huge chapter of my life. I hope not one page of it will have been wasted or written in a hurry, but instead that each moment was filled with love and gratitude for every breath we shared together.

Easter Sunday

2009-04-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

As we celebrated the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, we were also able to have a few pictures of our boys taken. As you can see, they are growing into handsome young men.

UGA Vet Day Pictures

2009-04-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Future Veterinarians

2009-04-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I took four of the boys and we headed to Athens to the University of Georgia for their annual Veterinary Hospital day. Each year the college opens it's doors to the public so that people can tour the animal hospital, see exotic animals, and learn alot about animals and their medical care.
We had a GREAT time and I think we really learned alot...at least Mom did!
We started off in front of the hospital where there were several pens set up that housed animals such as a camel, a kangaroo, two llamas, dairy cows and calves, and so on. We were able to view a real cow stomach and learn how it functions. Pretty gross, but interesting.
After that we went through the exotic animals exhibit where we petted a snake, took a look at turtles, skinks, iguanas, and other types of reptiles. That was pretty interesting, though very crowded with schoolkids on a field trip.
Next we decided to take the tour of the actual hospital where surgeries and all sorts of other procedures are performed on dogs, cats, horses, and I guess any other animal. We waited in line for about 45 minutes, at which time I decided that my children are NOT ready for Disney, and then we were able to tour. There were no major operations taking place, but we saw a couple of dogs under anesthesia and a horse that was a little frustrated after it's treatment. It was a good opportunity for the boys to see real medical care and I know that Jacob really enjoyed it.
By this time, we were all starving and we had plans to meet up with some other homeschool families for lunch. We all brought a picnic and it was a good change for the boys to refuel and take some time out for tag on the lawn. We did have to keep them from climbing the trees, but other than that there were no major problems.
Finally we were ready to go to the Teddy Bear Surgery Center. This is really neat and worth the trip just for this one area. There is this huge room set up just like an emergency room, except multiple stations, with a triage, pre-op, an finally surgery tables. The children were able to bring stuffed animals from home that needed stitches and were shown how to sew them up!
In triage, they listened through the stethoscope for a heartbeat, checked temperatures and reflexes, and blood pressure. Then on to pre-op where they gave their animals some gas to put them to sleep and put in an IV. Finally on to surgery where the vet students stitched up the bears with the assistance of the children. It was really cool! As you can see in the pics, the children wore gowns and masks, and really got into it.
The last thing we did was hit the face painting booth and take a bathroom break before getting on the road to head home. Overall, it was a wonderful time and a field trip worth taking. I am already looking forward to next year!

Another Glimpse of Hope

2009-04-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Last week was a challenging week in our house. The rain came down several days in a row and everyone was beginning to show signs of being indoors way too much! The children were snapping at one another and Mom was feeling like catching the next plane to wherever...as long as no one who needed anything from me would be there!!!
But, just as I was beginning to lose all hope that my children are actually walking along the path we are laying out for them, God blessed me with a sweet reminder that they are getting it!
My oldest son, Ben, was scheduled to leave on a 2 day trip to Savannah, Ga on Monday morning. He has been studying Georgia History all year and this event was to be the culmination of all the things he has been studying. Of course this required an early morning as he had to leave our house by 6:00 a.m.. I went to his room around 5:30 to wake him but instead he was already up. He was sitting at his desk with several folded pieces of paper around him and as I entered, he declared, "I'm writing each of my brothers a note, like Daddy does when he goes on a trip."
Each note told of how he would miss them and challenged them to behave and be helpful. It also promised a gift when he returned and he shared how he would miss them and be thinking of them. It was sweet, to say the least, and it was a reminder to me that I am glad we have chosen to homeschool because it truly has strengthened the relationships of my children over the years.
Moments like these are like glimpses of hope to a weary mother. All day, every day I pour my whole life into my children in hopes that they will rise above some of the struggles I gave into when I was young and that they would choose to live differently than the culture they are surrounded by.
The culture says that little brothers and sisters are aggravating and that teenagers should surround themselves with other teenagers and hang out. But in our family, we believe that family is a gift from God and the older have the privilege of guiding and influencing the younger to grow in wisdom and maturity. We have always taught that each person in our family has a responsibility to the others to lead them and love them and encourage them on to good works. However, teaching something and seeing it embraced are two different things. There comes a point in our children's lives when they have to choose to embrace what they have been taught or not. When children are young, they don't have alot of choice...they must live by our standards. But as they grow older, they must choose to believe in our wisdom and walk the paths we have laid out for them. I think we are at a place where some of our children are entering into this phase of choosing and, to be honest, I am anxious about it more than I would like to admit.
Perhaps it is a fear of failure, perhaps I despair as I see the culture around us, or maybe it is the sinfulness I constantly see in myself and my family members, but either way there is always the nagging voice in the back if my mind wondering, "Will they choose to live for Christ or not?" It is not a one time decision, but a moment-by-moment decision and in their immaturity I often see that Self wins out.
However, God is faithful and when I am at my weakest point, He will take the veil off of my eyes for just a moment and enable me to see that we are on the right path...my children are maturing (however slowly)...and our family unit is stronger than I see on a daily basis. I am thankful for these moments because it encourages me to look beyond what I see - to walk in faith, not by sight - and to trust what God is doing in the hearts of my sons. Though it is not evident every moment, it is still there and growing stronger every day.

Soccer Boys

2009-03-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today marked the start of the official Nave soccer season! Two of our boys, our youngest two actually, desired to play soccer this year through the Upward Soccer League at our church. It has been so sweet to see their seriousness in making sure that they are at their practices and today's game on time and in order! Jason and I have been chuckling as they express with great animation everything their coaches tell them.
This morning's games began at 9:00 cold...and man was it cold!!! The winds were whipping on that open field and Nathan's 5 year old team was having difficulty playing because they were all freezing at first! Once they got to running, they forgot the cold and had alot of fun trying to kick the ball into the goals.
By Luke's game at 11:00 the winds had died down a little and the sun was warming things up a bit so it wasn't quite as cold, but it never did get overly warm. Luke had a blast running up and down the field, and especially in his most dramatic way of kicking the ball and falling down! We all laughed as over and over he fell with the only reason being that he truly enjoys falling down! I think it gives him the feeling of really giving it his all.
Both teams did a great job and had so much fun and I must say that the viewers did as well. It appears to be the beginning of a great season and I know for sure there are at least 2 little players who are really proud to be out there!

A Weekend Away...

2009-03-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

"Opposites attract"...so the saying goes. That has never been truer than in our family. Jason and I are complete opposites and while it drives me crazy at times, often I am so thankful. You see, I am not a spontaneous person in the least. I like to wake up already knowing my plans for the day and stick to them until I say goodnight. However, I can always count on my husband to burst into my plans with plans of his own...and usually because his plans are more fun, he wins over!
This is sort of what happened on a recent weekend. It all started on a Friday around lunch. We were sitting at the table eating and talking about the beautiful weather when all of a sudden one of the boys spoke up, "I wish we could go to the mountains today." That was it!!! The wheels quickly began to turn and by 2:00 we were picking our oldest son up from school early and had the car packed to head to Blue Ridge. Whew...a whirlwind!
It took about 2 hours to get there, but it was like an entrance into another world as we stepped out of our van (more like tumbled out)and instantly breathed in the cool, crisp mountain air. The boys, of course, were excited and quickly began lugging our things into the cabin.
Upon entering we all took our own quick tours through the house claiming rooms and ooohhhhing and aaahhhhing over the things we each liked best. The view, the pool table, hot tub, huge jacuzzi tub, and on and on we went. (Thankfully the place belongs to a friend and we were able to use it for the small price of the cleaning fee!)
We spent the rest of the evening being lazy, enjoying much needed rest and refreshment and drinking hot cocoa and coffee together while we played Apples to Apples. It was alot of fun.
When morning came we knew we had to go hiking...that is my favorite thing to do in the mountains, so we ate a large breakfast and packed up our things since we would have to be heading home afterwards. We set out into the town to ask about and find the best trails for the day. We were directed to the Ocoee River area where the Olympic kayaking took place years ago. The hiking itself was fun...we didn't see a whole lot of amazing things, but we did enjoy the exercise and the fresh air. I think the only natural thing that captured my attention was the various types of mosses and lichens. I always love to take pictures of the soft, fuzzy mosses that cover large areas of the woods, and this day was no different. However, the mosses I came across were so different and very beautiful! Not only did we see the lush green, but so many other colors as well. It was like little "forests" of green and pink or green and white tips...absolutely interesting and I could not stop taking pictures and admiring their beauty. It was a great opportunity to discuss the amazing creativity of our God and how He takes pleasure in creating even the tiniest things into something beautiful! No matter where we go or what we do, if our eyes are open we can find all sorts of beautiful, often intricate, things that He has made and we have the privilege to enjoy. That always gets me excited and so we had some great conversations and truly an enjoyable time!
Next, we drove over to the Ocoee River and had a really fun time exploring and climbing on the rocks and so forth. There is nothing better for our family than time together outdoors. It is a guarantee that when we go hiking together, our children get along better, they are kinder and more helpful, and everyone feels closer to one another and to our Creator.
It is through experiences like these that I learn to appreciate the spontaneity of my husband and I feel very contented in my soul that we are a family heading in the right direction. Although problems and issues come and go and there are times when we feel very overwhelmed and inadequate at this parent/marriage thing...it is on days like these that I say to myself, "slow and steady...keep on going...God is faithful" and so forth. I am always so humbled and encouraged at the same time. So, the next time my husband has some great idea, I have learned to say, "maybe..."!

Happy Birthday Caleb!!!

2009-03-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Caleb is nine - Wow! It seems like just yesterday we were bringing this chubby little baby home from the hospital and transitioning into having three children. Now we have five and he is no longer a baby, but instead a maturing young man with beautiful blue eyes and a smile that you can't help but enjoy!
He truly is such a blessing to our family and a natural encourager. Before I had Caleb, I still had some of the shyness of my youth, but not now! He is the official spokesperson for our family and has introduced me to hundreds of people, literally! I remember when we first moved to Georgia and Jason began serving on staff at our rather large church...I felt so overwhelmed by all of the new faces and people I thought I would never get to know! But one by one, I would meet them...men, women, teenagers...it didn't matter, they would come up to me and say something like this, "I met one of your sons the other day...the blond one..." Yes, it was Caleb - and now 4 years later, I feel like I know the whole church! Thanks, Caleb!
Not only is Caleb our little socialite, he also happens to be a very good worker and will do any job with a good attitude. Many times I have heard my husband bragging to others about how quickly Caleb can have our garage in perfect order and all the while with a spring in his step! Any time I have a job that needs to be done that my other children would hate, I can always call on Caleb and hear, "sure...anything else?" You gotta love a kid who says that!
I think one of my favorite things about Caleb is his compassion for others and sensitivity to the Lord and His Word. Often times I will see Caleb with a little child right beside him and Caleb will have his arm around him/her or even be carrying them around. All of the little kids we know love Caleb and look up to him because he makes them feel special and takes time to play with them even when friends his age are waiting on him. He is willing to give up his seat or run an errand or anything else because he loves people and he knows Jesus wants others to be first. How sweet he can be!
Of course, Caleb is not perfect and with all of his abundant energy there are times when I feel a little overwhelmed trying to keep up with him, but I have to admit that his life has changed mine so much for the better! He is a source of encouragement, laughter, and all sorts of exciting adventures for our family and I give God all the praise for His workmanship in creating Caleb and placing him in our family. Happy Birthday, Caleb!

Pictures

2009-03-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

Our Latest Adventures

2009-02-27T21:48:00.000-08:00

It sure seems like our family has been on the go lately! I am looking forward to spending the weekend at home catching up on some housecleaning and organizizing.
Anyways, we spent most of the day Thursday at Stone Mountain. We attended the Big Apple Circus at 11:00 and then headed over to the playground afterwards to hang out with friends and let the kids burn off a little energy before driving home.
We really enjoyed our family day. The circus was alot of fun, especially for Nathan, who had not been to a circus before. I enjoyed watching his reaction to the different acts and seeing how mesmerized he was by everything. Of course, we took lots of pictures, so I thought I would share a few here:

Happy Valentines Day!!!

2009-02-14T12:24:00.001-08:00

Sadly, in years past we have not celebrated Valentines Day as an entire family. Though Jason would usually buy me a gift and I would get him a card, we did not make it family-wide. This year, however, we decided to change that and make a new tradition.
We started off by planning a treasure hunt, in which the boys were given 10 clues to solve, before finding their Valentines "treasure":

1.Valentines is a day of love, clue #2 is behind our love spot - the "cuddle place". (our big chair where we cuddle each day with our children.)

2. After a kiss for Mom and Dad, you will find clue #3 in a place where your clothes get warm. (the dryer)

3. Give each other a high-five! Clue #4 will be found in a place that rhymes with lovin - a hot place! (the oven)

4. Now it's time to get it going! Clue #5 will be in the "upper deck" right on top of the world books. (upstairs in our "library" on the World Book Encyclopedia set.)

5. Mom & Dad like to snuggle, too. Every night we snuggle here - find clue #6 in a comfy place. (our bed)

6. Sometimes, love gets cold...so does this place and it keeps our veggies nice & crisp. (veggie drawer - refrigerator)

7. Hug a brother that is standing close to you! Because you're getting close as well...Clue #8 will be found where we find our daily bills. (mailbox)

8. Are we having fun yet? If not, let's go for a drive! Clue #9 will be found in the family "go-mobile". (our van)

9. Good job so far - only one more clue to go! Give out a big "yee-haw"! Clue #10 will be found where we keep our "living bread" - the words of life! (Bible basket)

10. You found clue #10 - Now you've got to think! You'll find your treasures on the path to yesterdays study spot - or was it just a fun place to be? Think hard! (in the attic on the way to the roof - the thinking spot our children like to go to.)

Oh how fun to watch the boys run around and read each new clue as if it was the most exciting thing they had ever done! Also to see them follow the directions and give high-fives or hugs...it was priceless. All of their efforts paid off with each of them finding a valentine bag filled with candy and a toy and a personal note from Mom & Dad...I may have spent $10.00 on all of it, but it was worth thousands!

After the treasure hunt, we had breakfast. I decided to make heart-shaped pancakes and sausage. I cooked the pancakes from a new recipe and then Caleb & Ben took cookie cutters and cut them into hearts. We set the table with crystal goblets, our best dishes, and lit candles to make it the special occasion it was. As we ate, each person shared what their favorite thing about our family is. We heard, "family vacations", "we have fun together", and "cuddling" as some of the answers. It was a sweet time - literally as I looked at all of the syrup on their plates! Oh well, it's valentines day, right?
We finished off the afternoon with cuddling and playing...we really just hung out together and had fun as a family. I think we all agreed with Nathan's sentiments:
"This is the greatest Valentin's Day I ever did before!" Amen!!!

1920's Mystery Dinner

2009-02-14T11:53:00.000-08:00

Last night Jason and I attended a 25th wedding celebration for our friends, Dave & Karen Channell. Instead of the same old party, they chose instead to do a 1920's mystery dinner. Everyone was assigned a character and given certain secret information for the evening and were to come dressed for their part. At first we weren't sure about this! Both Jason and I were a little nervous about being "out of character" per se, but it was nice to know that we were not the only ones!
As we got to the party, it was fun to see many of our friends dressed in their costumes and then to begin playing the parts we were assigned. Although we are not natural "actors", we did our best to accomplish the goals we were given. (Two of which were ackward: 1. confronting my husband's possible mistress and 2. confronting my husband - who was really not my husband at all - about the situation.)
Some of the characters really got into it, like Sandy a.k.a Carrie Crooner - the singer for the evening who ran around calling for her "Pookie!", her new husband of a week, who was actually "killed" during the event.
Once the evening came to an end and we headed home, me in my feathered headband and Jason in his felt hat, we came to the conclusion that it was a really fun night and we enjoyed it immensely! Just goes to show that we should never pre-judge an occasion and it is good to step out of our comfort zone once in awhile.

Natural Beauty

2009-02-06T20:03:00.000-08:00

Oh, how wonderful to see the beautiful sun shining and feel it's warmth on our faces today! After all of the cold weather we have had, I could not have asked for anything better than an afternoon outside with my boys looking at all of the interesting things God has placed before us to admire, study, & enjoy!
Although I do not have alot of land of my own, I am blessed to know others who do and who are gracious enough to share it! So after placing a call to our friends, we all headed out to "go exploring".
We started out at the small pond where we took deep breaths of fresh air and forgot all about the cold weather. We noticed the water levels had dropped since we last visited and we toyed with the idea of kayaking, but we decided against it since we wanted to stay dry. Instead we all agreed to take a hike and see how many signs we could find that would prove to us there had been mammals of some sort around the area. I told the boys to look for clues, such as tufts of hair, half-eaten nuts or pinecones, tracks, or "droppings". Of course they were humored by the last clue and were ready to set off!
Our oldest son, who has camped (and worked) on this land before, wanted to take us on a trail he was familiar with, so we all allowed him to be our guide and followed happily behind him. We spotted alot of natural beauty, such as green moss and wild ferns. We did not initially see any wildlife, but we still enjoyed our trek up to the big pond. There we sat and admired the water and the boys made little "boats" out of tree bark and had fun seeing which ones would float. We did see some geese on the water and found a really neat hollow tree that some animal was probably using for shelter. Nathan was the only one who ended up in the water and he only to his knees. As he was trying to get a stick out of the water, it "pulled him in" (as he says) and he had a short scare. Boy, did he jump out of that water quickly! It was hard not to laugh, but thankfully he did not allow it to ruin his day. I think it helped that Ben offered him his jacket to wrap up in until he was a little drier.
We decided to head back to the smaller pond and as we rounded the corner to it we were greeted by three beautiful horses who had wandered over to munch on the greener grass around the pond. We were so excited to be able to go over and pet them and feed them some grass from our hands. I was a little unnerved at times with all of the children around the horses, but they did a good job of following the instructions I gave them so that noone would get kicked or stepped on.
We spent alot of our time with the horses because they were so gentle and beautiful and we could not pull ourselves away to go on. However, we did notice that the sun was lowering and we knew our time was getting short. Lately, I have been taking some time to admire the silouettes of the trees in the sunrise/sunset, so I took a couple of pictures and pointed this out to the boys. I'm not sure that they caught my enthusiasm, but one day they may.
Finally, it was time to go home, but much to our delight we were given one more gift of beauty as we headed down the driveway...deer in the pastures peacefully grazing. We could not have asked for anything more! How refreshed we were when we got back home and how much more we admire the Creation around us!

A Living Education

2009-02-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

Our family is doing a unit study approach this year so that all of the children are studying the same thing and our attention is less divided. While this has not been a "perfect" homeschool year, we have had an exciting time learning about a variety of countries and cultures. At this point, we are finishing up 3 weeks of studying Africa, so we thought it would be alot of fun to get together with some other families to celebrate and strengthen what we have learned.
Whatever we are studying becomes so much more interesting and alive to us if we have the opportunity to hear from someone who has a passion for what we are studying. So, we asked our friend, Susan, to come over and share with our families her love and knowledge of Africa. I am so glad that we did!
She shared so many interesting things with us along with pictures and stories of her travels to Africa in the last 7 years. She also brought pieces of art and jewelry and traditional African clothing. We learned of the customs of the beautiful people there and amazing stories of God's grace in their lives.
Afterwards, we all delved into the various foods that each family had prepared - different recipes from Africa! We tasted fried plaintains, banana fritters, Peanut Toffee, Traditional African rice, and so much more. Oh, and how could I forget the Malta drink? Noone could forget a sip of that!
Although at times I may grow weary in our homeschooling, days like today remind me how thankful I am to have the great priviledge of educating our children at home, learning along with them, and strengthening our family relationships.

Renewed Vision & Lessons Learned

2009-01-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

Each January, I always feel compelled to assess our home school and begin to dream up what we will do next year. This year is no exception and so I have found myself increasingly restless and desirous of some alone-time to plan and process. Hence, I am up at 1:00 a.m. writing down thoughts and reading over websites that offer helps to the idealistic home school mother.
There are so many things I want to see take place in our home school, yet each year we begin with a "bang" and slowly fade into the routine of "checking off the list". Then in January, I recognize this tiresome tradition and make plans to change and enhance. I guess that is the journey for many...a cycle of dream, implement, slide into "easy", old ways, awake to the drifting, and get the ship on course again!
I know that I see this same pattern in the spiritual life of myself and others as well, and so instead of despair, I try to ask myself the hard question: "Why do I do this?" And the answer is "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!" It really comes down to a combination of laziness and busyness! As our lives slowly get busier & busier, we also get lazier & lazier and before we know it, we are way off track!
I am thankful for the Januaries in my life, although unpleasant at first, for they offer me the opportunity to be honest with myself and take a good look at where I am headed -vs- where I want to be going and make the necessary changes to reach the goal. Although I would rather stay perfectly on track and be much wiser and disciplined than I am, the truth is this is real life and weaknesses abound! I am sorry for the opportunities I have missed this last year or the times education was reduced to a list, but I am also thankful that a new year is before me and young minds are still awakened to the music of true education! May the goal be reached eventually...may vision never cease!

Ghana, Africa

2009-01-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had my first meeting in preparation to go to Ghana, Africa in July. A team will be traveling there to do evangelism, plant churches, and medical missions. It was quite exciting (and a bit overwhelming) to hear about the things that I can expect to take place.
I have never been in a foreign country and certainly not one thousands of miles away from home, but I am looking forward to seeing what God will do while we are there.
Mrs. Susan Harvin, a friend of ours, has been to Ghana the last several years and shared with me some of the amazing things she has witnessed. Although there is extreme poverty, there is also a pure love for God and dependance on Him in the lives of those who already know Him. For those who have never heard of the love of Jesus, there is a hunger and thirst to know more.
I am looking forward to being stretched spiritually and seeing God in a way that I have not had the opportunity to before. In America, people are self-sufficient and think more highly of themselves than they ought to (me included!) but in a place like Ghana, Africa every drink of water or morsel of food is a gift from God and the people are thanful all the more for it. Susan shared how in all of her years of going, she has never heard one single complaint from a person in Ghana. Although there is disease, polluted water, and extreme poverty, there is also joy and love and a true sense of thanksgiving. I am longing to go there and experience it myself. How refreshing!
Please pray with me as I prepare to go: for all of the preparations that will need to be made, for the financial aspect of the trip, for protection and covering over my entire family as I am away & safety for me, for God's Spirit to already be at work in the lives of those we will come in contact with, & for God to deepen my faith and relationship with Him like never before. How exciting to think that God uses people like us to accomplish His purposes here on earth. Praise be to Him!

Simple Joys

2009-01-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

Isn't it amazing that is is the simple things in life that bring the most joy? Today was one of those days that was filled with simple things and it left me with a contentment I have not had in awhile. To begin with, my children woke up in a good mood...now that may not sound like a big deal, but for 5 boys to all be happy & helpful is a very big deal! The fact that it is a Monday makes this almost miraculous! Along with their good moods, it was a perfectly beautiful day! The sun was shining brightly, the air was crisp, and the day just seemed perfect!
All of our lessons rolled along without interruption, the house stayed clean and I was able to get 4 or 5 loads of laundry washed, dried, & folded (of course not put away, that is the part I hate & who wants to ruin a great day?).
In the afternoon I was able to take a long walk around the neighborhood with boys and dogs in tow, exploring and discussing the beauty of the things around us. Anyone who really knows me knows that I love Nature study and it brought me joy as I thought of imparting that love & admiration for God's creation to my boys. For a moment I thought of them sharing these things with their future wives and children and it was a pleasing thought.
It also warmed my heart to watch the boys interact with our dogs. As they walked along, every once in a while one of the boys would give the dogs a good scratching around the ears, or pat them on the head, and Nathan stood over "Sonia" and hugged her neck real tight as we rested for a minute. It was cute to see the love that is growing in their hearts for our pets and to see our two sweet dogs look up at my children with love & devotion. What a simple joy to watch love being exchanged!
There are certain things that we long to see in our families, sometimes we may not even realize what they are, yet when we see these things developing it brings us a great satisfaction and contentment. For me, it is the loving relationships that are taking root as we grow together in this beautiful relationship called family. The fond gestures or the words of encouragement that pass between us on a daily basis. Not all days are filled with these things - there are still many challenges & struggles as 7 selfish, sinful people live together - yet on occasion I am able to experience a day full of joys like today has been. It is God's gift to a weary Mother...motivation to continue in well doing.

Christmas Musical - Best Quartet Ever!

2008-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

This is the best Quartet I have heard in a long while...actually the best ever! If you need a few minutes of encouragement during this busy season, take a look at these handsome boys!

Live Nativity...An Awesome Opportunity

2008-12-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

Tonight Jason, Jacob, and I went to Lake Lanier Islands to participate in the annual Live Nativity that our church hosts. It was such a fun time and a great way to connect with people both in our community and from other cities and states.
Jacob was very excited because this was the first year that he was able to be a part of the drama team. He was given the role of a shepherd, which he fulfilled in a very sweet way, as you can see in the pictures. As we talked about it, we thought that Jacob's part in it made the scene even more realistic,since in Bible times boys Jacob's age probably did go with their fathers into the fields to shepherd the sheep. We know that David was a young shepherd boy, so it seemed even more authentic to me. (Of course I am a proud mother, so I am bound to have this opinion!)
I served in the hospitality tent, giving out free hot chocolate and visiting with those who came in to get warm. It is always great fun to get together with others and fellowship & serve. We were steady, but not overwhelmed and we had alot of fun meeting all of the different types of people that came along. I think the highlight of the evening for me came when a group of about 25 young men from a local drug & alcohol treatment home came in and chatted with us for about 15-20 minutes. I was so encouraged to hear how God is changing them and freeing them from the vicious cycle of addiction. Many of them shared freely about their struggles and the troubled homes they grew up in. A few of them mentioned that their fathers were also in treatment for the same issues. Obviously not every one of them will stay drug & alcohol free, but there is hope that many of them will and it was a blessing to see them making these changes now while they still have the opportunity to live long lives for Christ.
Once again, we set out to be a blessing to others and walked away instead extremely blessed ourselves and thanking God for the great things He does in the hearts and lives of His people! We are looking forward to our next opportunity to reach the people around us!

Things to Treasure this Season

2008-12-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas is nearly upon us! It does not seem that it should already be December, but the calendar does not lie - no matter how much I wish it would!
Every year as the cold begins to settle in, I find myself wishing I were in the South Pacific somewhere watching a beautiful sunrise rather than this dreary, rainy time of year here in Georgia! However, I'm NOT there, so I have made up my mind that I will make the best of this season regardless. It's not that I don't like Christmas or even cold weather, it's just that having 5 little boys cooped up in the house more than usual generally does not have great results! We are so conditioned to being outside a good part of each day that winter is always an adjustment for me and the boys.
Each year, I really do try to look for the good in each season and something to enjoy while it lasts. So, I am reminding myself today that there are special things to do during this time of year. I thought others might benefit from a friendly reminder as well:
*Candles burning and making the house smell delicious.
*More time to cuddle up and read a good book together as a family.
*We can sleep later and still get everything done because we are not being drawn outdoors as much.
*Cookies baking and the warmth of hot chocolate and rich coffee...yummy!
*Celebrations with family & friends.
*A great time to watch a good movie...we rarely watch t.v. in our house, but on some cold, dreary days an inspiring movie is great!
*Time for handicrafts and projects - again, not being outdoors as much gives us a little more time to do something we have been putting off.

I am sure there are many other things that families do in the winter to pass the time in a memorable way, and if you have other ideas, I would love to hear them. But for now, that is just a few of the things that I try to take advantage of and use to bring joy and blessing into our home during the cold winter months.

Our Visit to the Creation Museum

2008-11-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

A dream has come true for the Nave family...and alot faster than we anticipated! In the Spring of this year, we were blessed as a church to have Dr. Ken Ham visit with us and speak on the topic of Creation. During that time he shared about the Creation Museum near Cincinatti, Ohio and we immediately talked about visiting it in the future. Well, the future is now and we are here!!! How exciting to visit the beautiful campus and fabulous museum!
As we entered in, we decided to visit the Planetarium first. We were very much in awe of the magnificence and wisdom of our Creator as our minds struggled to comprehend the vastness of the Heavens! We learned about the galaxies, stars, planets, suns, etc...There was so much that I did not even know and it truly is amazing! Indeed, "the heavens declare the glory of God!"
After this we viewed "The Men in White". This was a well done and humorous presentation with great special effects! It was especially good for our 13 year old son as he was able to get a glimpse into a traditional science class and listen to a Biblically knowledgeable student challenge his "professor".
A highlight to our day was the opportunity for our boys to meet Dr. Ham and have a family photo made with him. What an honor to be able to meet a true Christian hero of our time, challenging secular humanism with the truths of Scripture! He is a very kind and generous man and it was a blessing to spend a few moments with him.
Next we walked outdoors to visit the petting zoo where we petted donkeys, baby goats, saw a large potbellied pig, and for the first time a zorse and a zonkey (no I am not misspelling this...one was a donkey/zebra mix and the other a zebra/horse mix!) We also visited with a camel and some other barn animals! Of course the boys loved the animals and fresh air and the scenery was very pleasing to they eyes!
Later we toured the walk-through section...dinosaurs, Adam & Eve, Noah's Ark magnificently done, the effects of sin and disregard of the Bible clearly shown, suffering and sacrifice - all depicted with excellent quality! We were very impressed with all of it! It was wonderful!
As I sat in one of theaters I was overwhelmed with the joy of being able to bring my sons to a place that completely reinforces what the Bible teaches and does so with excellence! There are so many other museums that we have visited that attack our Biblical worldview at every turn, but today we were able to see realistically what the Bible teaches and our hearts and minds were stirred with God's truths!

2008-11-05T15:46:00.000-08:00

Autumn has a nostalgic effect on me. Every year when the weather starts to cool, the leaves begin to change, and the evenings become shorter, I can't help but be reminded of years gone past. I am not talking about my years, but long years ago when people lived a much simpler life (in some ways) and autumn was truly a time of harvest for them.
I have always been an old-fashioned kind of girl, but even more so as the season of Fall goes on. I think about the lives I have read in stories, such as Anne of Green Gables or The Little House series...lives where people worked hard, knew an awful lot (despite lacking educations), and loved one another enough to pitch in and help when times were tough. Perfection I do not see in those stories, but a true sense of community and a devotion to Someone and something much bigger than themselves!
Being the dreamer I am, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to live a life such as the men and women in pioneer days. Of course, in my mind it is much more romantic than reality, but still I think there are some things that they understood that we have overlooked:

*The importance of family - People in days gone by desired to have large families and children really were considered a blessing and a gift from God. Obviously the hands were needed to work the farms, but it was more than just that! Fathers and Mothers understood the sacrifices and responsibilities in raising their children, yet they went about it with an attitude of honor rather than duty or obligation. Children, in turn, perceived their parent's love and commitment and genuinely respected them and regarded them as their dearest friends.

*Knowledge of the things around them - Knowledge "in those days" wasn't optional! It was a necessity. One needed to know how to make butter or milk, how to build their homes, how to care for their flocks & families...life depended upon their knowledge and resourcefulness. I think about the things that I encounter on a day-to-day basis and how much I don't know about the very essentials! How to cook from scratch (completely!), how to sew or quilt, the care of land animals or the tending of gardens or flowerbeds...all of these things I have very limited knowledge on - and I can't help but feel that I have been cheated! With each new "convenience item" man invented, a little more of the knowledge of the things around us was stripped away.

*Dependance on God and each other - Almost all classic literature that portrays life in pioneer times naturally relates the foundation of the families and communities...God and His Holy Word! Over and over you will read of families who prayed together, fasted together, read God's Word on a daily basis together and not at all begrudgingly! Entire communities met together to hear the Word preached, to pray for God's forgiveness and provision, and spur one another on to good works and belief in God's goodness and mercy! There was this general knowledge of God's Word and His ways that knit communities together. Today there is all this talk about the importance of diversity, but somehow, in the name of diversity, concrete belief in anything wanes. It is rare to meet someone who fully believes one particular way...it reminds me of the toothpaste aisle - there are so many choices, that when you leave the store you're never fully sure that you bought the best one! People's belief systems seem to me to be like this, a gnawing uncertainty in their hearts, regardless of the professions of their mouths. How refreshing it would be to meet men and women who truly believed and followed the words of Christ!

*Gratitude and Simple Joys - Oh, how often I catch myself thinking in the negative! And to think, I have the "words of life" (Bible), live in the USA, am married to a wonderful husband, have 5 very healthy children, am able to stay at home with them each day, lack no provisions, and on and on and on...!
What an ungreatful woman I can be! Just the other day as I was reading Anne of Green Gables to the boys, we listened as she repeatedly expresses her joy in the natural things around her (the blooming trees & shrubs, flowers, sunshine, etc...)And I think back to Christmastime in The Little House series - the children would receive a few pieces of candy along with some homemade gifts and were elated for days! Comparing that to my family today gives me this remorseful feeling about some of the ways we have adopted without giving them any thought. In just a few months we will celebrate Christmas ourselves, yet I am dreading the shallowness of it in today's society. What I would give to be able to start all over again and guide my children into the ways of thankfulness and simple joys!

Of course, I can't go on and pretend that there was all of this goodness without the bad. I know full well that life in those times was hard! I can't imagine the grief of losing children or a husband or wife, as many did to illness. The effort it would have taken just to get the meals on the table or the laundy done is beyond me! However, I still believe that there was substance to these people that is lacking today...there was belief! There was character and hope and the hard work to go along with it all! Somehow in these twenty first-century days of Fall I pray that the Nave household may experience a bit of it!

The Children's Hour

2008-10-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

"Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour."

...so begins one of my favorite poems. It is the sweet tale of three little children quietly sneaking up on their father to pounce upon him and smother him with their hugs & kisses...he lovingly relates this daily "ambush" of which he becomes the victor and ends in these sweet words,

"I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there I will keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!"

What a loving way to demonstrate the affection we have for our children and the importance of the "pause in the days occupation".
As I reflect this afternoon of the busyness of the past two weeks in our home, I am saddened that too aften the demands and activities of this world take me away from the real goals that God has laid upon my heart for my family!
Isn't that the way that it always is? It is so much easier to be carried away with the non-essentials of this life and lose focus of those things that truly matter.
I often times stay up way later than my family and as I sit in the quiet, dark house I think over the words we shared in the day and the things we did and many, many times I say to myself, "did that really matter?" I look at their sweet sleeping faces and any hardness of heart that I may have had melts away and suddenly life comes into perspective. Usually I vow to treasure them more and I pray for them & I commit that tomorrow a difference will be made more for eternity...but then comes the morning and soon after the distractions and irritations of our daily life and once again I make the mistakes I so despise and another day becomes the past.
Oh, how I long for the day when I will be able to walk away from those things that hinder me and turn instead wholeheartedly to what God has called me to at this time: to love Him, to love & cherish my husband and sons and to bring them up in His ways with joy and guidance! That is my prayer during these foundational years when my children's hearts are tender and turned towards me. Lord, may we seize the opportunities and let the other things wait!

A Glimpse of Maturity

2008-10-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke to the sound of my son, Caleb, chatting away on the telephone! He never ceases to amaze me - he wakes up earlier & earlier every week! Well, thankfully he was only chatting with Jason...it turns out he had decided to call his Daddy to talk since no one else was up yet!
Anyways, each person slowly began to stir and it never takes long before these little people want to eat! I told them I had to go & brush my teeth, but I would make breakfast after that. When I returned, Jacob & Caleb were already in the middle of a real man's breakfast...sausage, eggs, & the rest! Jacob had the eggs scrambled and seasoned and Caleb had the sausage frying in the pan!
Together, with a few questions to me, they successfully served us a delicious breakfast! As I sat at the table eating with them, it occurred to me that my children really are getting some of what I am trying so hard to teach them! They really WILL grow up and have the skills that they will need.
So often as day in & day out I pour my life into them (& all of my little speeches) I feel like I am getting nowhere and many times I have questioned: "Why am I doing all of this?"
But on occasion I am fortunate enough to get a glimpse into the men that they will one day be. It is like a veil is lifted, just for a moment, and I am able to see them in a different light. I am able to see that progress in being made and loving, compassionate men are being molded...slowly, but surely!
I am thankful to God that He gives me the grace to teach & love my children every day and that He takes my meager offering of service for Him and multiplies and uses it to grow & nurture my children. A wise lady once told me that mothering was very much like stringing beads...one at a time...but that at the end of the day you realized the string was untied at the bottom...all of your beads were gone and you would have to start again. I can relate so well to that analogy - each day over and over I do the same things and many days I feel that I have accomplished nothing! However, deep in my heart I know that truth be told I am raising up young men who will one day surprise me and become what I have always hoped...just as they surprised me this morning!

Fall Days - We Love Them!!!

2008-10-18T18:25:00.001-07:00

Well, it sure was a beautiful Saturday and we wasted no time in getting out and enjoying it! I knew before I got out of bed that the first place I wanted to go was over to Jaemor farms to do a little tree study and buy some apples & pumpkins and other fall goodies! So we all got ready to go and on the way I read a little to the boys out of Handbook of Nature Study on apple trees and also a little of Anne of Green Gables. Now I know that this is not a "boys book", but we are studying Canada right now and Anne lived there so we decided to read it anyways. I am so glad that we did because it is a wonderful story!
Once at Jaemor we asked for permission to walk around in the orchards and examine the bark & leaves of the apple tree. We were directed to a patch of Arkansas Blacks and even given permission to pick a few to eat while we looked. We noticed that on the tree, the apples have a dusty film, but with a quick rub they are immediately red and bright and they tasted wonderful! We also noticed rabbit droppings around the trees and we suspect the rabbits are munching on the fallen apples littered on the ground.
Once our tree study was over we headed in to buy a 1/2 bushel of red delicious apples and some other things to decorate our table with, like small pumpkins & gourds. Luke was my buggy helper and Jason & the other boys quickly found the boiled peanuts and a place to sit and munch on them. We always love our annual trip to Jaemor and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
Afterwards we decided to drive on further North towards Helen in order to have a picnic and possibly visit "our spot". We knew that the tubing would be finished and that there are some nice picnic areas along the creek, so that is where we went and sure enough found a really nice spot. The sun was shining and the fall colors were really pretty with the wind gently blowing all of the leaves around. The boys wasted no time in getting their feet wet and wading around in the cool water. They always start out begging to "just stick our feet in" and end up wet to the waist. Oh well, that is whay we came here anyways, so we enjoyed watching them explore. Today was especially nice because our 13 year old, who is growing out of his child-like ways, allowed himself to relax and climb trees and wade along with his little brothers as well. I so want him to remain my little boy, and it touched my heart to see him having so much simple fun.
Of course we couldn't come this far without our trip to "our spot", a rope swing a few miles out in the woods along a nice little creek that we found a few months ago. The boys really have laid claim on it and it is so fun to see them swinging way out over the water with excitement on their faces and laughter in their voices! We stayed here quite awhile and Jason & the boys built a fire to warm their wet bodies, but pretty soon it was time to head home. The duties of life were beginning to call us, though faintly just yet. All of my wet, muddy boys climbed in the van reluctantly and off we went stopping to look at a few things along the way.
Now we are home and it is back to the familiar things we do every Sat. night - getting our church clothes out, preparing for the week, and off to bed. As I sit here & think of our day I am reminded of how blessed I am. Were I to try and count the ways it would take me all night. I am also reminded of how quickly time is passing and my prayer is that I would stay focused on what really matters and let the non-essentials fade into the background!

No place like home....

2008-10-04T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, the old saying rings true, "There is no place like home". Jason and I landed at the airport around lunchtime today where his Mom met us in the parking lot with the boys. It sure was good to see their smiling faces and get a big hug from each one! It is always amazing how much they look like they have grown while we were away. As I looked into each sweet face, I thought "my babies are growing up!"
We drove home and soon got back into our normal routines. Ben had a b-day party to go to, I had unpacking, the others had friends to play with, & so on...even at bedtime, the same old routine is now in play. Caleb is complaining that Nathan is bothering him & Ben and Jacob are whispering upstairs instead of sleeping. It can be a crazy life, but it is our life and we love it nonetheless!
We are thankful that the boys had a great week with their Grandma - they talked all the way home of all the things they did & said while we were away. We are glad that we were able to get away and regroup, take a look at the important things in life, & just enjoy one another for awhile! And we are so very blessed to have a home to come back to that is so much more than walls & rooms. It is abundantly full with all of the things that family life should be: laughter, joy, tears, shouts, little feet padding along on the tile, prayers, activities, opinions, needs, and so on.
It is a great place to be - we may not see the natural beauties that we did in Colorado, but beauty is here...only in a different form.
P.S. Thanks to Grandma for her bravery & willing spirit!!!! We love ya!!!!

Perserverance Pays Off

2008-10-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

Today we realized that true hiking is not for the faint of heart. After finishing a few "easy hikes" in the last few days, today we decided to take it up a notch and do some "real hiking". We headed over to Vail and in particular a trail called Gore Creek Trail. The map told us that for the first 4 miles we would follow along the mountain creek and then up a little higher to a lake. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Well, lovely it was, but not without much sweat, hardship and life lessons along the way.
It all began when 30 minutes (30 treacherous hiking minutes) into the hike as we tried to catch our breath at the top of a steep area, a thunderstorm rolled in. Apparently in the Colorado mountains the weather can change at any time. One minute we were sweating & hot and the next it was freezing & a storm moved in. Well, I am not one to play with lightning or take any chances (I've got 5 kids waiting at home)so I quickly headed back down the trail to the car to wait until the weather moved on out. So that put us back a bit in time but more in energy. However, we were not going to give up so after the showers we headed back up again. And we were so glad that we did.
The trail led us to different views of the mountains. It started as a bare dirt path that quickly changed to a very rocky path, then there was an Aspen grove, and we ran into the creek at many turns. There were birds flying around and then butterflies fluttering onto the wildflowers, and there were shady areas with really crisp, cool breezes as well.
It is hard to describe experiences like these. We can take pictures and use words, but you have to be there to feel the emotion of the moment. There is nothing more refreshing than being surrounded by the sights, smells, & activities of nature.
Jason and I spoke on the hike about how much hiking is like the journey of our lives. There were times on the hike we thought we could not go a step further, yet we couldn't quit as well. Then there were times when the trail became smooth and pleasant and we felt blessed abundantly. At other times we came upon steep edges where we could have fallen hundreds of feet down to the rocks below us...there was a little fear and we had to carefully manuever around to take pictures.
Isn't that the way that life is...some times are hard, some are smooth & easy, some bring fear, at times you feel you cannot go any further, yet at other times you go on with ease. In the end, though, if you have stayed the course & perservered, you leave the hike of life satisfied, fulfilled, & rewarded with greater joys than a few good pictures & happy memories.

Colorado - A Dreamy State

2008-09-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Truly Alive! That is the phrase that runs through my mind as we travel around this beautiful place! I don't know if it is the cool, crisp air, the natural beauty, or the elevation getting to us, but we feel more alive here than ever before! (Or maybe it is the absence of five busy boys &various real life duties?) Whatever it is, it is a wonderful feeling!
I think others must feel the same way when they come to this place. The more people we have met, the more we have heard of those who have visited Colorado, fell in love with it, and moved here to live out their lifelong dreams. Apparently this is not a new thing or so we learned as we visited Georgetown today to learn the history of this "gold-rush state". In the 1800's people flocked here to pan for gold in in hopes of fulfilling their dreams and making a good life for their families.
We too have felt the effects of this dreamy place. When you see the amazing beauty and the greatness of this place, your mind just kind of soars and you start to believe that truly your own dreams may be possible. What are they incomparison to this? I mean if God can make something so vast & incredible, can He not do something miraculous with us as well? Hasn't He already? God is able to take simple, raw materials and make outstanding works of art that speak to the heart of all who see them - and this is just in nature! Imagine what He can do with a life fully surrendered to Him, with people that will believe that He can!

Another Gorgeous Day

2008-09-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

Jason and I began the day by heading back to the Continental Divide with the intention of hiking to the top to have a picnic lunch and enjoy the views. As the old saying goes, "the best views are at the top". Well we wouldn't know because we never made it that far!
We did however make it to about 13,000 feet and we felt very proud to do that. There were some incredible views and we spotted a lake near the lower part of the mountain that we would not have known was there had we not hiked up far enough to see it. We considered that our reward when we drove over to it later and enjoyed it's peaceful beauty. The water was so clear...no matter where we were we could see the bottom perfectly!
Afterwards we drove back to the resort and decided to take a bike ride through Keystone. There is this lovely biking trail that runs alongside of a stream and parallel with the main road. We rode along happily on our way into town, but it wasn't long before Jason pointed out that we had been gradually descending the whole time and would have to take the same route back so we better be careful how far we go. I am glad that we stopped at that point because by the time we reached the resort again we were both exhausted! We were so tempted to stop and walk the bikes back at times, but we could not give in....we had to go all the way so we would feel that we truly had accomplished a great feat of strength! We realized that we were not as athletic as we thought we were as other bikers zipped past us talking on their cell phones and looking completely relaxed & rested while we huffed & puffed and called out encouragement to each other to make it to the end!
One of the highlights of our time biking was when we stopped along the stream and sat together on a little wooden bench to rest and talk. It was such a beautiful setting, so serene and peaceful, that we decided to pray together and give thanks for our marriage & family. It was one of those moments where you felt as if you might cry, but really we were too out of breath to do so!
We really are having a great time here and I think we both have been reminded that life is such a gift and God's goodness is unfailing!

What an amazing day!

2008-09-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Beauty is something you never tire of...or so we have found today! Around every bend in the road and over every mountain pass, we were continually in awe of what we were seeing. Each time we thought that it could not get any better - we were wrong.
We began the day by attending a small church in town and then went into Breckenridge for lunch at a little cafe. After enjoying the delectable foods, we headed off to see the Aspens once again! We took a mountain pass out of town and into the most beautiful area I have ever seen. We were surrounded by the rich colors of the green Pines and the golden Aspens, along with the overhead beauty of the bright blue sky with stark white clouds. The combination was truly breathtaking.
We parked awhile and hiked up into one of the areas where we saw a few wildflowers and birds, along with a little chipmunk and mountain stream. It was quite an experience to hike in this elevation, so Jason and I had to stop and rest for awhile to catch our breath and that is where we saw the delicate butterfly on the flower. It looks fairly large on the picture, but in actuality it was quite small.
We ended our afternoon by heading back into Breckenridge to rest at Starbucks and enjoy some warm coffee (it was pretty chilly by this time) where we met alot of great people from all over the country. We enjoyed hearing their stories and visiting with them.
As we headed back to the resort we asked ourselves again, "Are we really here?" It was truly an amazing day and we praise God that He has allowed us to be here.

Our Trip To Colorado....ALONE!!!

2008-09-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

For the very 1st time in our lives, Jason and I are so blessed to be in Keystone, Colorado this week. We have 7 amazing days to enjoy God's Creation and His gift of marriage!
Needless to say, we are so excited!
As we arrived today, we were struck by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains like never before - Wow! The Aspens are changing colors and that is truly a sight to behold! The golden-yellow is magnificent! I told Jason that surely Heaven will be filled with that kind of color! It is such a testimony to the wisdom and the creativity of God! It reminds me of Romans 11:36 "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
When you see such beauty your heart cries out to give praise to someone and I am so thankful that we know That Someone whom we should thank! It is such an invigorating experience to stand at the Continental Divide (elevation 11,990 feet) and see things from such a different perspective. I think we would all be much better off if we could step back more often and see the bigness of our world and in turn, the bigness of our God!