The Girls & Jon with their new sister

The morning after the birth

Three of my youngest dark haired children

Themed Baking

In combination to our creatures studies and Sophia’s birthday we baked some cute cakes. And frosted them together. It was a lot of work! I don’t know when I’ll have time to do something like that again. I am not experienced with cake decorating and I sure appreciate the artistry and work that goes into beautiful cakes. Ours are on the sloppy side but the point was to have a new experience and FUN!

And that we did.

Sophia Turns Four

Sophia at 4

As we approach another birth I am so touched by the daily talks Sophia initiates.
She is the one that has been praying for and fully convinced we are having a little girl, she tells me all about what she knows about birth and what she wants to do to help. We have this special bond together.
She’s my first home-birthed baby, after all!

Sophia is a mystery right now in so many ways. She is developing so much… I want to enjoy each day with her; getting to know her better and help her along.

A bit like Alice?

I can only imagine what she is going to show us when the baby is out and she can let her mothering skills soar. Right now she is Jonny’s most attentive companion.

I am so blessed to see these little ones growing each day.

Sophia Nicola
Thurs. July 6 baby is 33 3/4 weeks along according to my EDD. In the
last few weeks baby has moved lower and is less active always a sign
that baby is getting ready for the ultimate event.
I am at full term comfort level I have had some signs of labor on
Sunday July 2 and we started preparing the house for the possibility of
labor. We took a break later in the day ay and went swimming at a
friend’s house. This was nice and relaxing. It made me wonder if I
would get a water birth. I purchased a pool and pump even a net to
keep the water clean. Being in the water made me realize how
bouancey could be a real help in laboring. The cramping I’d had
earlier in the day subsided.
On Monday July 3 I rested a great deal but still continued some
sanitizing of kitchen and bathroom.
On Tuesday July 4 I rested in the early part of the day and then put in
several hours of gardening I wanted to get some plantings in before I
would have the baby and not be able to garden for several weeks. I
slept very well that night and Wednesday July 5 woke early to get ready
for our outing to the zoo. Michael had been off of work for several days
and would be returning on July 10 so we had some fun things planned
amongst preparation for baby. We got a great start to the day and
arrived at the zoo around lunch time. It was a lovely day not to hot or
humid. I never felt “ bad “ like I was over doing it and exhausting
myself. I felt good getting some walking in.
We returned very satisfied to have such a nice day with the kids. We
were tired but just tried to take a few short cuts to our evening. One
thing that helped was to take the kids to eat at McDonald’s as they ate I
talked to them about our nice day and daddy took a little siesta. We
stopped at the hardware store to get some replacement hardware for
the bassinet we wanted to put together yet and picked up groceries and
some dvd’s. While I got the kids bathed and ready to wind down Michael unloaded our van and put things away. Lina was asleep
upstairs and the boys didn’t want to join her yet so as Michael rested we
watched a dvd together. It was really cute “ Yours Mine and Ours “ we
had some good laughs. We fit an incredible amount into one day but
we so needed this time together. We were all bordering on burn out the
last few weeks. My emotions and drive to get certain things
accomplished was a bit much! And noticing some clear mucus when
using the potty told me why. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO BRINGING
BABY INTO THE WORLD.
The boys went upstairs and I napped for a while. They asked for a
snack at 1:30 am. after their tummies were full they were finally able to
fall asleep. Michael was awake now and couldn’t sleep so he initiated a
little baby dancing. After showers we finally fell asleep.
I woke first on Thursday July 6 it was early and still quiet outside so I
took a glass of water with me and checked out the garden our kitty
friend joined me. I thought of how very soon we would have baby in
our arms and everything in our lives would be changed. As I sat
brushing my hair while breathing in the fresh morning air baby
became very active for the first time in quiet awhile. I went inside
when my water was gone to have some breakfast Luke and Timmy
joined me. Luke and Tim wanted to see the Dr Sues stories on DVD so I
laid down with Michael for a bit. By the time Lina and Michael woke I
was ready for a nap!
I slept well for 2 1/2 hours. I made lunch for us and cleaned up the
kitchen.
Twelve hours later
We had the bassinet put together and baby clothes in the storage
pouch with little blankets ready inside bed.
After dinner of turkey burgers and homemade shakes I finished up all
laundry and took a relaxing bath before laying down for the night.
Asleep for a few hours I wake with a start the baby had kicked and
some fluid gushed out this was different for me because this hadn’t happened during all the other births the care providers ruptured the membranes.
I told Michael what happened as he was stirring from my movement. We lay there for a few minutes realizing we should go a step farther and finish preparing. Michael helped me change the bedding to our birthing
sheets after I showered. We also spread out plastic and drop clothes
over the top so no one would slip. Mike sanitized the tub incase I would
use it. Contractions had started but not consistently progressing after
we lay down again to rest I started keeping a record I would get at least
one really hard one an hour but they were spaced up to 20 minutes
apart. Around 4:00 Timmy came down and got into bed with us.
Michael took him back up after a while but Timmy came back into
our bed shortly leaving dad sound asleep upstairs with Luke!
He was good company telling me to blow the pain away, get snacks and
drinks… he took great care of me. I started taking arnica 30 4 pellets
every 2 hrs. from that time on as well as raspberry leaves.
I can’t seem to fall asleep for more than 45 minutes at a time again
having at least one hard one that would wake me up.
It is now Friday July 7 morning! I eat lightly and take a 5w blend of
herbs, the arnica, shakes and teas. I focus on folding about 6 loads of
clean laundry. Michael and I decide that it will be too much to have
the pool in the house and have him taking care of the kids helping me
when he can etc… we had rigged up a levy from our archway
between the kitchen and living room with eye hooks and clothesline
rope. I had a great birthing chair I’d found on ebay from a woodworker
in up state New York. That way we wouldn’t be confined to the
cramped bathroom. I’d found the potty to be my biggest comfort in my
last two labors so I knew a birthing chair would be a great help to me. I
wanted to stay up right to keep baby positioned well and labor going so
I stayed on my feet while folding and putting away that laundry. When
the contractions were intense I’d lean on something or grab the levy
ropes and do a semi squat to relax the muscles. I kept my focus and
concentrated on staying relaxed. There were a few times that the kids
got too loud or got into rough play ~ Michael got the boys involved in
some computer games and spent most of his time caring for Lina.
We waited to put Lina down for a nap until 4: 30 pm so she would
sleep long and soundly.
We hoped I’d reach transition before she’d wake. Things did intensify !
After about an hour ( 5 : 30 )I told Michael I was gonna need his
undivided attention. So he made the boys and himself a snack and
then cleaned off the kitchen table and lay out the smaller helps we’d
need the towels,scissors, cord tape etc…. I asked him to give physical
support for the first time this seemed to be a little much for him I could
tell he was feeling everything was intense maybe it was easier in some
ways to be busy with the kids than to enter into what I was going
through. I leaned into him as he stood in front of me just as we knew I
was in transition. Around 6:30 pm we heard Lina calling for us from
her crib. She would have to stay put. Timmy was getting antsy and
excited jumping around and singing he said he decided he was gonna
marry a girl and have babies too! He had to be told to settle down
because every time he jumped it made a shock wave go through the
floor and I felt it! He made the strong contractions even stronger. The
boys said how much they wanted baby to be born and we
wholeheartedly agreed. I’d been on the birthing chair for some time
now and I knew I needed to reposition…. what would work?? We
decided to have Michael sit on a very low stool right in front of me so I
could put my knees on top of his lower thighs I could move forward
with some support from the chair and some from him supporting my
knees. I started singing opera as they called it ~ a strong sing song
moan. Timmy jumped again and this sent a very strong one with the
urge to push I decide not to be annoyed but to see it as a way to get the
baby born! With that first push the sack was bulging and Michael was
thinking he had to catch the baby but it was the sack about to burst and
when it did it was one big gush and a smaller one ! Michael almost lost
it ! I didn’t notice but he said it smelled awful the little fan behind me
was blowing the odor right in his face he told Luke to move the fan! The
boys moved to the kitchen side of the arch way. They were for the first
time a little emotional because they thought their dad was gonna throw
up. Mike emptied the container that caught the waters. I never saw it.
He came back into the room with one of the little sack clothes that I was
gonna use for swaddling baby tied around his face. So I was getting the
idea of why doctors sometimes wear masks. He got back into position
and I asked him to support the perineum during the next contraction
that really helped a lot. He said the baby was crowning and I felt a brief
ring of fire with that push one more push and the whole body came
out. Mike noticed the natural turning of the baby’s body and said “OH,
OH, It’s a baby” as he caught. Then as he handed baby to me he said
“it’s a girl”.

Mother-like Mentors

I was asked by another homeschool mom if I’d give input to her 13 year old daughter that was studying about what Biblical Role Models are…

“part of her first lessons in FAR is she is supposed to ask some ladies who thier female role models are and why so she can then study them….can anyone help me out ?”

This is my attempt to encourage your daughters and mine…
The one I am most encouraged by is the one lady in my life that is the most godly mother-like woman to me, Mrs. Lewis.
A childless widow that ministers to this day at the age of 93 through her Scripture
Supply Shop a business she founded almost sixty years ago!
Why? because she has done what she can through all the stages of her life in the Lord, as a wife, and business woman… that could not have children of her own.

Biblical Womanhood – My Personal Experience
Growing up in an unbelieving and often very confused home I often look back and
easily think of what ungodliness was being sown into my life.
Yet, I am a firm believer in that God the Father of all life knew that He would be my
spiritual father as I responded to His love and care to me in this life.
Though there were areas of my life that were left open to attacks from Satan and
struggles in the flesh there was a hedge of protection around me that can not be
denied. Even in my foolishness and weariness while living in the flesh He was making Himself known to me time and time again.

One clear point of my personal providence was all the wonderfully transferable skills
that I gained even while not recognizing Him while yet not serving Him as the Master of my life.
I was the eldest of five children and five years older than the first sibling!
My mother was many times single so I HAD to be responsible and learn parenting/
mothering skills to keep our family together.
I also see godly providence in that I never was given opportunity to bond deeply with any male calling himself my father. I think this deepened my awareness of my heart’s need for connection and relationship with my heavenly father. Why do I see that as a good thing? Well the men in my life were never ‘good men’ why have all that baggage to get through and cloud who God the father is?
I have had to separate the good and the bad that I learned through my relationship
with my mother. I gave my heart to my mother and so I had to accept that she was
ungodly and that I needed to ask God to give me other role models to learn godliness from. This has been a costly endeavor – of many years!
We must invest ourselves in the process of change wholeheartedly, wherever we find ourselves in our lives.
What blessings did I get an introduction to from my mother?
Hard worker ethic
How to care for the basic needs of  small children
How to care for many of the needs of the physical house
Housekeeping
Home repair
Home decor
Landscaping
Running of the household
Frugality
Foods – nutrition-cooking-baking-gardening
Wise purchasing of needed goods for the household
Crafting and creating practical items
Small business skills
Mother also was an encouragement in the love of reading and learning
at certain times of my life. Reflection and writing were encouraged as well.
These things have all been built upon year after year and transfered to ministry in the church and now to my husband and family.
One of the first godly women that I was introduced to through literature was Amy
Carmichael and then the second was Elizabeth Elliot.
In real life when I was led to a godly church I had a young married woman named
Tammy who took me under her wing and had Bible study with me and invited me into her home for meals. She was a teacher in the christian school and invited me to her classroom as well.
I had a friendship with a missionary couple the Holman’s they were retired and had time for me. I was able to observe their relationship and hear of their life of service in the Philippines. I even lived with them for a few months.
I then met the Bartus’s they were an older couple that had raised two son’s and
served in the church. I lived with them for a few months as well.
I then moved into the upper rooms of a widow’s home. While I lived with Mrs. Lewis the Bartus’s faithfully took me to church for four years!
Mrs. Lewis was probably the single most significant example in my life because I spent so much time with her!
I will always remember being welcomed into her home/ as my home. I didn’t understand that kind of generosity even though I had just been so warmly welcomed into those other christian homes and was deeply touched by those acts of love. The indefinite scope of that new arrangement was even farther reaching.
Mrs. Lewis was still mourning her departed husband I saw her hold onto life though the changes were hard for her.
She had not been able to have children and lacked that comfort but I saw her simple relationship with the Lord and her life of service to Him and knew that that was what life was really all about. She showed a robust spiritual life and this gave her vitality even in a weathered body.
I felt that she considered me a special blessing in her old age -a type of daughter.
She quickly became affectionate and caring about me and my daily life.
She became my spiritual sister,mother, grandmother all rolled in one.
Bible reading and prayer as well as simple consistency of daily routine have been
indelibly impressed upon me through those years with Mrs. Lewis.
Having developed a love for her I realized the human fallibility of my most cherished mentor. She was not perfect but she was there consistently for some important years of my spiritual development. Through her I intimately witnessed the most important things I could pass on to my children and fight to keep in my daily life for the rest of my years.
As a married woman I am thankful for all the christian couples that I observed before marriage, again Mrs. Lewis and her husband Don were important to me.
Though I never met Don in person I felt I came to know him through his wife -they were one! She talked of him a lot and how he would handle this or that. I could see her respect and dependance upon him and how they lived for 35 years running a business together and ministering to others needs.
Some of the practical skills I learned from Mrs. Lewis were mostly related to business, nutrition and health care. She’d been the first founder of a Christian book store in a large city. She and Don both had an interest in the health foods and supplements though their business in this area was decidedly less important to them than the Scripture Supply Shop. As she had many books on vitamins and supplements I learned from them and the conversations with her.
I also learnt that ministry and service to the community was of great value as she ran the Scripture Supply Shop and continued to supply people with vitamins and
supplements. I enjoyed helping with these things as I was there and could do some of the heavy work she could no longer do.
She and Don were a modern example of Aquila and Priscilla to me.
The examples of the tentmakers’ were preferable to me over the structure of modern missions.
While with Mrs. Lewis my desire for home missions was confirmed.
I also gained courage to follow a path a little less traveled -I wanted the freedom to let God plan my family size, to homeschool, and to later minister as a family to the family.
I have enjoyed many biographies of women that can be learned from.

DoHistory Home
Gladys Aylward, Susana Wesly, Corrie Ten Boom, Amy Carmichael and others

http://www.amycarmichael.org/

Corrie Ten Boom
Susanna Wesley
Gladys Alyward

But the women that have touched my life the most are the ones that I have had
personal friendship with and learn from almost daily. Women like your mother!

Sophia makes Skillet Fried Dandelion Blossoms

Skillet Fried Dandelion Blossoms

Pick your early spring dandelions leave enough stem to be able to hold…

Make a seasoned flour or a mix of bread crumbs

Whip up some egg

Heat a cast iron skillet add a heaping tablespoon of coconut oil

dip blossom in egg

Then flour/ crumbs

pop into pan till brown -flip if you like

put on paper towel

serve still warm

We did this last May and now again tonight
We used olive oil and flour with salt pepper the first time.

And served with baked yams…
Tonight, I was careful with my expensive oil and only did a heaping tablespoon in the pan at a time and then when there were more crumbs than oil I took a paper towel and wiped the cast iron skillet out.
Something else dif. too used a bit of italian bread crumbs with the flour and dipped in egg then in the flour/ crumbs.
This was better this year!
extra recipe
http://www.mountain-breeze.com/kitchen/dandelions/1.html

‘Baby Moses’ growing up!

When Jonathan was born the younger children… particularly the young girls were sure he was ‘Baby Moses’ come to stay with us!

They squealed “Oh! Baby Moses!” of which we ever so briefly considered naming him so!

Though this blog was intended to chronicle our many happy months with Baby Jonathan… Who upon naming was dubbed ‘Jonafriend’ by his little sisters… we have been so busy that we haven’t caught everything in time. No, the months have become quite blurred. But happily so because Jonathan is indeed our little light!

He is very bright and busy now at 15 months old! Very much the toddler. Doing a lot of exploring, grinning, and even today for one of the first times ever exhibited a toddler tantrum. Partially from having had a less than  satisfactory morning nap, but also from wanting more independence.

This boy isn’t using a lot of words yet however he has been the most expressive boy from birth! Hugs, kisses, waves, gestures of interaction “Read with me,” ” Cuddle me,”  “Play with me,” “Eat with me,” ” I want you to stay, ” “I’ll miss you,” ” I want to color too, “  ” Let me have some toys too,” ” I am ready to sweep the floor for you,” ” Oh, Let me wipe the table,” ” I’ll take the trash,”  In essence he says all day long ” Let me do everything YOU do!”

Our year has been pretty rough in many aspects. It has been hard for me to manage and keep up with all, but indeed it has been a stretching and growing year for us. And interesting thing is it is NOT Jonny the new addition that is the stressor, he is the stress reliever! I don’t know why it surprises me that the stero-typed observation of an increasing family size is a bit backward!

It is us more earthly experienced and stubborn beings that have caused the most troubles for ourselves! And each other. We are trying to learn to become the family we are meant to be, but sometimes we don’t try enough!

All we have to do is look into Jonathan’s eyes to remember we are a family and move on in grace!

Thank you Adoni for all the wonderful lessons with Jonny this past year and help us to embrace the new adventures ahead. Amen

Budding Baker

Michalina enjoys spending time in the kitchen.
She often bakes nutritious cakes, cookies, muffins, and breads for the family. She helped with baking a turkey this fall as well.
She was thrilled to get some vintage mixing bowls and serving dishes as well as a large stainless steel bowl for our quadruple batches of baking dough! We have made a lot of pizza dough in the last two months in her bowl. What a little baker.