Since I got saved, there have been so many changes in my life. The Lord has truly taken me from Glory to Glory and everyday I wake up to something new.
When I got pregnant with Leilani the Lord gave me such a huge desire and burden in my heart to become more natural. The first big thing was to have a natural birth after having had 3 C-Sections. Then He brought me to the world of Cloth Diapering. My first thought was Eeewww! Now I can truly say I love it. I love how they feel and how they look. The laundry you ask? Well I can tell you I've always hated laundry, but for some reason I feel such joy and pleasure washing my dipes. I truly love them!
Through this new exciting lifestyle and now passion of mine, I kept hearing of mommies making there own dipes. Well, I thought, that would never be me. I've never sewn anything in my life and they look so hard to make, but still I had that desire that only the Lord can put in your heart, to make my own dipes. I ignored that desire and bought some dipers. Wow...they were soooo expensive. We could only afford to buy a few and they weren't enough. So I applied to miraclediapers.org and received a fresh batch of dipers, but as you all know when you are not walking in the path the Lord set out for you, you will alway feel awkward and still have that strong sensation and desire to do what He is asking.
So I joined a few yahoo group co ops to buy cloth and notions really cheap and bought myself 1 yard of PUL (water proof fabric) and 1 yard of Flannel to experiment with and prove I couldn't do this. It has sat in my home for about a week and me making every excuse in the book not to make the diaper. Well today I decided to give it a try. It took me all day! Not making the diaper, that only took me about half an hour to an hour. The preparing, whining that I couldn't do it, feeling sorry for myself because I thought I had to, etc...
I can tell you that only through God's awesome mercy and power was I able to accomplish what I did today. I have to tell you I feel such joy right now and such a sense of accomplishment. I feel I did a really wonderful job! I give God all the Glory. I did not use the material I bought at the coop because I was scared of ruining it on my first try. I looked in my closet and pulled out some old (I think they were AnaMaria's) baby blankets. The diaper is absolutely beautiful. It does have some flaws here and there, but for my first time sewing ever, it is beautiful. I can't wait to put it on Leilani tomorrow!!! Now I found a new joy....sewing. I will be making diapers like crazy now to get a new stash started for Leilani. I am also going to try to sew some diapers for miraclediapers.org. Those women really do an amazing job educating and providing people with cloth diapers.
Anyhoo, here is my very first Cloth Diaper (it is what will be considered a Fitted Pocket):
Front View:
Side View:
Open View:
It is so snug and soft! It also looks a lot better in person. hee-hee
I wish I had the time to find the music to the original "I Will Survive".
It would have made it that much funnier.
I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling OR ANOTHER YEAR!)
Originally written and produced by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris
Originally performed by Gloria Gaynor
Mercilessly altered with apologies by Natalie Criss
First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
'Cause I'm not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math
and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear
with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we're nuts,
but they don't even bother me
Come on, let's go walk out the door.
We're on the road now,
'cause we're not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we'd be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble
that I'd give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we'll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart.
Decided to attend
a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms
who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They're not those chained up little people
stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by
and just expect us to be free
you'd better call ahead first
'cause we're probably busy!
Aug. 3, 2008~ We Are Exploring Our New Surroundings! ~
We Are Exploring Our New Surroundings!
Well I'm finally feeling better and getting a little more sleep. My children and I have even started exploring our new surroundings. In the woods adjacent to my backyard we have found wild red raspberries. We also found something that we have never seen before, but are very curious and would like to know what it is. Can anyone out there help us?
What is this?:
Here is a close up view:
As we explored today, our little Leilani takes a nap:
(Please note I am not exposing myself, but wearing a brown tank top under my white shirt. You could barely see it under Leilani's head. I just want to make sure you guys don't think you're seeing something else under her head )
We are so happy here. Everything is so beautiful and peaceful. It is a little weird on how slow things are here. In Florida it seemed everyone was always rushing. My dh and dc were discussing the other day that it feels like we are on vacation. LOL! Besides the slower pace, the scenery is so beautiful. When driving thru the mountains and all the trees it feels like I am in a picture. I am so excited to see what it will look like in the winter.
Yesterday I had my two week appointment. I was almost two weeks late. I forgot what life is like with a newborn. I don't remember what a good nights sleep feels like. I had to keep rescheduling my appointment. I finally made it! LOL!
Leilani will be one month old on July 25. It is so hard to believe! Time is really flying by. It seems like just yesterday I was praying for a safe delivery. I love staring at her face and (when her eyes are open) into her eyes. I am so in love with her. I remember wondering how my mother (mother of 8) could have enough love for all her children. As I look at my children, I now understand. I love them so much and each individually. They are so different and I can't imagine my life without one of them. My dh and I are even thinking of having another. I know we sound crazy......we just had one! It's just a strong feeling we have. We want another. Our new joke when one of our children misbehaves (yes...my children are not perfect) is, "Are you sure you want another one of those?".
As I prepare the down stairs area with our school stuff I can't help to think of how Blessed we are. I thank our Lord for placing me on this path of being a SAHM Homeschooling my children. I can't think of a better way of spending my time/life. They will grow up so fast and soon be out of our nest, most likely with families of their own. I want to savor every bit of time I have them as children. The other day I was reading a post by my dear friend Belinda at With A Taste Of Chocolate. I had to laugh. It is so true that most of the world now in this day and age we are in do not understand why we prefer to stay home and care for our family. It reminded me of the time I used to work outside of my home. I missed out on so much of my children's years. Last year was my first year homeschooling and we had so much fun. I feel like I rebonded with my children. Not to mention having enough energy to pay attention to my husband. When we both worked and came home to cook, clean, and do homework there was no energy left to even have a conversation with him. Now we are all so much closer as a family should be. I give God all the Glory for setting me on the right path. As I was praying about this last night and thanking God for my family I was reminded of Psalm 127:3-5. It reassured me that there is nothing wrong with us wanting a large family, being a housewife, and homeschooling my children.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. ~PSALM 127:3-5
I opened my email this morning to find a message stating Rick at Organized Doodles left a message on my other blog. I did not recognize this person, so I decided to take a look at his blog. I laughed so hard thinking, "Yeah, this is exactly how AnaMaria and I act. Especially around certain times of the month."
~ I Started this Blog March 25, 2007 ~
When my youngest son, Xander 3, became ill I decided to quit my job to stay home with him. I never would have imagined the journey our Lord would take us on since then. We have decided to keep our two older children home and homeschool all of them. Our children are AnaMaria 14, Wizdom 11, and Xander 3. I invite you to join us on our journey in our first year of homeschooling. I will be sharing our ups and downs and hopefully receive some advice along the way.
~With Love in Christ~
JEN
- Get Your Own
It has sat in my home for about a week and me making every excuse in the book not to make the diaper. Well today I decided to give it a try. It took me all day! Not making the diaper, that only took me about half an hour to an hour. The preparing, whining that I couldn't do it, feeling sorry for myself because I thought I had to, etc...
(Please note I am not exposing myself, but wearing a brown tank top under my white shirt. You could barely see it under Leilani's head. I just want to make sure you guys don't think you're seeing something else under her head 
)
I don't remember what a good nights sleep feels like. I had to keep rescheduling my appointment. I finally made it! LOL!
