Saturday, May 29, 2010

Saturday Seven - Link Edition

I have so many blog posts or articles I've read that I would love to share with you, so I am going to occasionally use Saturday Seven to do just that!  I encourage you to read these, even if you may not be interested in the subject.  A little challenged thinking never hurt anyone!  :)

1) Large Family Myth Busters

2) I don't want my children to be happy

3) Woman performs abortion while pregnant (Mature Audience)

4)  The Pill:  Making Motherhood Better?

5)  Pros and Cons to Homeschooling

6)  Subtle Effects of the Birth Control Culture

7)  Top 5 Reasons Not to Send Your Kids to Govt. School

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Dirty Dozen


I recently stumbled across a list, published by the Environmental Working Group,  of the 12 most dirtiest fruits and veggies, aka "Dirty Dozen."  It's best to always buy them organic, so as to reduce the pesticide intake in your food.

On the flip side, they also published a list of the "Clean 15" considered the lowest in pesticides.

I'm all up for feeding my family less pesticides, so this list will be beneficial.  I try to buy organic but am always hesitant because of the expensive prices.  Often I limit buying many things because my grocery budget doesn't allow to buy all organic produce.  By utilizing this list I should be able to buy more produce and still limit the amount of pesticides.  Now I can definitely buy organic of the Dirty Dozen and feel safe when I buy non-organic of the Clean 15.

2010 Dirty Dozen

1.  Celery

2.  Peaches

3.  Strawberries

4.  Apples

5.  Blueberries

6.  Nectarines

7.  Bell Peppers

8.  Spinach

9.  Kale

10.  Cherries

11.  Potatoes

12.  Grapes  (Imported)



Clean 15

1.  Onions

2.  Avacado

3.  Sweet Corn

4.  Pineapple

5.  Mango

6.  Sweet Peas

7.  Asparagus

8.  Kiwi

9.  Cabbage

10.  Eggplant

11.  Cantaloupe

12.  Watermelon

13.  Grapefruit

14.  Sweet Potato

15.  Honeydew Melon

As always, be sure to wash all produce, regardless if it is organic or not.

If you want a printable guide to take with you to the store, click here.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

YES!

I just had a teary-eyed mother moment.  And not the kind where the kids are fighting, the house is a mess, and it's 6:00 and dinner is the farthest thing from happening. (Although this seems to happen to me a lot!)

No, these tears were accompanied by a heart surge of pure joy.

Chloe has been asking for about two weeks to play Candyland.  She always seems to ask at the most inopportune times, so the answer has been no.  Not tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.

So tonight during dinner she asked if we could play.  My first reaction was to check the clock.  Eight-o-clock.  Baths still needed to be given.  No way.  It would be too late to play games.

Then I remembered Ann's post on the year of Yes.  (I highly recommend this post) 

So I said YES!

Fast forward cleaning up the kitchen, three baths later, putting the youngest two to bed, and it was almost 10:00.  Way past bedtime. Not that we have a strict bedtime but I shoot for 9:00.  Most nights I just shoot myself in the foot on that one!  :)

But I had said YES so downstairs we went to play Candyland.  There were lots of smiles and laughter, some jumping up and down, praises sung, and a good time was had by all.  (And might I add yours truly won the game.)

As we were headed upstairs Luke said, out of the blue, "I always wanted a mother like you."  Chloe echoed, "Me too!"  To which I replied, despite the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes, "I always wanted a little boy just like you and a little girl just like you.  And God gave you to me!"  Then Chloe ran over and hugged me and said, "I love you Mommy!"

The power of a simple YES.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Your Attention, Please

I think about my blog a lot.  I write about five posts a day in my head.  Couldn't tell it from my 0.9 posts per week, right?

The problem is that, well...how do I put it?  Remember how I told you about God breaking ground in my life? As a result, many of my beliefs, opinions, convictions, or whatever you choose to call them go against the grain.  And so, for fear of hurting someone's feelings, I don't write anything at all.

Nada.

Zilch.

Which is really frustrating because you either believe something or you don't.  I am not being true to myself or to my readers if I don't write about who I really am and what I think about things.

Things like marriage, submission, feminism, dress, child rearing, education, religion, and the list goes on and on.

Maybe it's because I know most of my readers.  People I went to school with, or to church with, or are family.  People that I see on a somewhat regular basis.  And so, I let fear of what some of you might say or think, rule what I write about.

But.

This is my blog.  About my life.  And I'm purposing to take a very deep breath and write.  Write whatever it is that I'm thinking about.  No matter how controversial the issue.  And if it offends you, please know that is not my intention.  And if you think I'm crazy, well, you won't be the first! 


Now don't be getting worried I'm going to actually publish five posts a day.  Chances are I'll stick to my 0.9 posts per week.  After all, I do have a busy husband, four children ages five and under, homeschooling to do, a dog, some chickens, hu-mon-go-longous mounds of laundry and dirty dishes, dusty baseboards, dust bunnies, piles of ironing to be done, stacks of books to read, and much more.  I'm not sure I could fit the 2.3 hours it takes me to write a post into my schedule.

So now you know.  I've been a big chicken.  Not any longer.  I'm going to throw my neck out there and write with no fear!

Yeah, right.  Who am I kidding?  I'm reconsidering publishing this post.  You can't say I didn't warn you, though......  :)