"Here With Us"

Inspiration for this advent evening; this made me cry! Even though there are some inaccuracies (such as the wise men coming to the place of Jesus' birth- see the previous post about this), this video/song is still amazing for the rightful sense of holiness it conveys.

We Still Love this Sweetest Little Christmas Story Video

Advent Inspiration

Just in Time for the Black Friday Sales. . . or not. . .

My blog friend (whom I've never met and who I'm sure doesn't know who I am!) Sarah has a great post on Christmas ideas for kids. Hers is beautiful, with photos and cute little things she has to say about each toy/game/doll/book. I've gotten great ideas from her before and like to share her post. You can see it all here!

I have a smaller list (and I lack all the beautiful photos!), but I did think it was time to update our "favorite things." And, I did go to the painstaking trouble of linking up most things for you, so you can easily find what I'm talking about!

Hopefully, there will be some ideas in here for the special people on your list this year. Admittedly, we are trying to stay as simple and uncluttered as possible in our small space (which is impossible with six children, I think!). We are opting not to purchase Christmas gifts this year. . . but there are still some fun things that can fit in our (giant, homemade, wonderful) stockings! These are also good birthday gifts and even some gifts that are family-building for any time of the year.

Trampoline even in the Snow

Curtis-Kid Approved Favorites








For Outside Fun:

• Razor Scooter
• Razor Rip Rider
• Unicycle 
• Lightsabers 
• Trampoline. A serious must-have for our boys. Hours and hours and hours. . . 
• The Flying Turtle. M (3) draws a lot of attention when he zips around our neighborhood on this. He has his own style!

  

  M on the Turtle

  

  T on the Rip Rider

  

















Indoor Fun:

pattern blocks

•  Build a Road
• Trains and train tracks
• Zoobs
• Tinkertoys
• Bristle Blocks
• Rainbow Loom
• Knitting Loom
• Legos
• Pattern blocks. Our kids get creative with these. They are an assigned quiet time activity one day/week!

Games:

• iQ twist game: A good game to keep an individual occupied for a time!
• i Q Fit game: Another version of the IQ game.
• The Settlers of Catan- This game is great for my older set (9+) because it does take some time and perseverance.
• Telestrations- We've just played this recently and it really got us laughing. It works best with those who can sketch and write on their own.
• Quirkle- A favorite with my younger crew. M is good at this one (3) and it's often played with the older kids, too.
• Rack-O  The kids and The Lawyer joke that I always win. I don't always. . but I've enjoyed this game since childhood!
• Rummikub. This is a version of rummy with tiles; teaches number sequencing and patterns!
• Sequence They have a "kid" version, too. Our kids have played the adult version from about age 4 or 5 on up. This is a great game for teams and up to 12 people can play.

Books: (There are too many good books to list! Here are just a few off the top of my head.)

• Jesus Storybook Bible- We just LOVE this book. We've gone through 2 already.
• Harry the Dirty Dog- There are more books in this series; all super cute and fun for me to read to them.
• Billy and Blaze- T (6) wanted ALL of these books when he was 4 and he has loved them. They are also good books for early readers.
• Ralph Moody Little Britches series. My biggest boys have loved these and read and reread them (starting at about age 8 or 9).
• Miller Family books. These are good for reading aloud as a family. It doesn't get much better for instilling good values and reading wholesome family stories.
• Danny and Debbie books or Don and Joyce books, and A Hive of Busy Bees. These are right up there with the Millers!

Media:

• The Pineapple Story. There is a book and audio cds. We really enjoyed listening to the audios in the van.
• G.A. Henty books on tape. We prefer those read by Jim Weiss. My boys (age 4+) love these; there are battles and blood, intrigue, and plot twists in these historical fiction books. Others (like L) might find them to be a bit dry and not their cup of tea.
• Your StoryHour audios. Favorites to listen to in the van. We have borrowed some from friends.
• Runner from Ravenshead. A favorite of the 2-8 age set. Very simple but really sweet with children actors.
• Kipper. Still . . . ever and anon. . . a favorite around here. The big kids are still drawn in if they hear Kipper and before I know it, everyone is gathered around the computer screen to watch the same episodes they have seen a hundred times!

How the Tower Garden Works- A Fun Video!

We picked our butternut squash today and are giving thanks AGAIN for our TowerGarden. We love growing our own produce, having control of what we eat and what is on it, eating it fresh, and consuming such delicious food.

This is a fun 2 minute video that shows what the Tower Garden is:

http://www.youtube.com/v/l7EzYmO9u8M?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=V-DwHIi3iUkILJFAo5blCA&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1

A Crazy Video of Romans 1

Please let me know if this comes through and if it is even worth having on here. I was experimenting with iMovie. What I wanted was a video for posterity of my boys (age 5 and 3) reciting Romans chapter 1. What I got was some crazy audio, some crazy video. . . my boys handing me lots of things, too much of me in the movie, and random conversations interjected in the discourse (like, "Can I have a purple chewie?" over and over). What I really want is God's word sewn into their hearts. I don't think the video can show that.

For some reason... I'm having technical trouble. Try this link, please? http://youtu.be/lzun0RfGoHc

Moore Family Films: The Romeike Story video from HSLDA

This is very good. Good thoughts, well expressed. Touching. Unnerving. Critical.

Moore Family Films: The Romeike Story video from HSLDA

Done with Downton

Yes... I should be done with Downton. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I do look forward to watching this (on Monday nights online). A friend introduced me to Downton last year and I loved it for its historical drama, for the Britishness of it and the period dress and the music. . .

But I'm rather disappointed in Downton about now. There are a few more episodes of season 3 left and I wonder if they are worth watching. I read Rachel's post tonight and though I am less articulate, can give a few reasons why I may not finish the videos.

• Love Matthew. He used to be the one I could count on as choosing the high moral ground. He seems almost chivalrous. Now, I'm disappointed that he gives way to Mary and seems too quiet to be strong.
• Disgusted- absolutely disgusted- by Thomas and Jimmy/James. I do not want to see any more of this drama. Hate that Downton has followed the trend of including these kinds of scenes.
• Creeped out a bit and also confused by Bates' prison drama. I don't think I really understand what is going on there. I keep thinking that I must have missed a few scenes that would have helped me understand this. Seems very dark and dangerous and I never like these scenes.
• Not sure, but I think there may have been a little nudge toward hospitals over home birth with this past episode and Lady Sybil's death. As a homebirth mom, I don't like seeing it portrayed this way. YES- sometimes we need to go to the hospital and sometimes we need a C-section.. but I don't think Sybil died because she was at Downton. She died because warning signs were disregarded.
• Mary. Agh. I want to like her but so much of the time I don't. I don't like the way she treats Matthew (not a good model of being a help-meet to a husband!). I don't like the way she treats Edith (and can't believe her horrible statement by Sybil's bed that she didn't think they would ever get along!). She's likable because she seems strong. . . but is untrustworthy and lacks really softness.
• Sybil's comment on religion in episode 3. Once again, I fear that Downton is going the way of American t.v. (which we don't watch) Sybil says she may know as much as a vicar and though she believes in God, she doesn't know about "all the rest." Glad she believes in God (even demons do!) and agree that what she calls "all the rest" doesn't really matter. But SO sorry that she couldn't have a real faith and hope. The tragedy isn't that she dies in childbirth, but that everyone is so hopeless in her death because they don't have Jesus!
• Lord and Lady Grantham have had their disagreements and difficulties. Their tender moments have been endearing (such as when they are going to be parents again). Now, however, I am saddened that Lady Grantham is turning out her husband (even though I can understand her resentment). I can't expect better, but it would be so good to see an example of someone choosing to do HARD but RIGHT things.
• Carson. He might be the character I like the most at this point. Reliable. Moral. Also protective and loving toward those he deems in his care. Or Anna. She hasn't done much to bother me (except loving a married man- but she didn't know it at the time). And I like Mrs. Hughes. So there are a few good characters still.

The Happiest Little Christmas Movie

Rooftop or Backyard... or Front Yard Gardening!

Check out this very fun and fast news clip from FOX news. I love seeing these flourishing Tower Gardens!

Our own Tower has been supplying us with tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers and beans- and we are LOVING the fresh produce (especially after seeing the prices at the local farmer's market this morning- outlandish!).

The reporters on the clip wonder if they could have their own Tower for their yard- and the answer is YES! Just check out my website for more information.

Cover in Your Garden

Our family watched this inspiring movie last weekend. Back to Eden opened our eyes to the importance of covering the earth and looking at creation to see how to follow the Creator (as pertains to growing food). We were so encouraged and excited by this; it has us itching for our own land where we can plant and grow. (Thank goodness we have a TowerGarden here at our rental home!)

The boys have made lists of plants we would want in our gardens- and the list is exhaustive! O even put cabbage on (his least favorite) and L agreed to asparagus (for everyone else's sake). Plus, our desire for chickens has grown. We saw in the movie how beneficial it was to have chickens to feed plant waste to and how helpful chicken waste was in the garden. This was coupled with our trip to Lynchburg last week where we visited dear friends who have several acres- and chickens. The kids loved gathering eggs with their friends and watching the chickens scratch in the dirt. Several egg loving boys were enthused by the experience.

So... we wait and plan and pay off loans and pray for the Lord to lead us to our own place.

If you have a little time, be inspired by Back to Eden!

Sunday Simplicity

This Sunday, let's be drawn to simplicity. May the really important things be first in our minds.

(Okay, so maybe bottled water doesn't make the top of the "really important things" list... but I do think that WATER is a really important thing- as in, we need it to live.) Can you simplify your life by taking a closer look at bottled waters and choosing a simpler, healthier choice for your family and for the world?

There is an element of stewardship here. If we spend less on water (without sacrificing safety), won't we have resources to help those who are literally without water? That inspires me.

Principled ProActivity

I chose two words this year to define what I'm trying to achieve: principled and joy.

In search of JOY, I read Ann's book 1000 Gifts and started listing my daily gratitudes (again!). I sought Scripture on joy to meditate on. The children and I are intentionally spending time outside looking for glory in creation, glory that draws us in thankfulness to the Creator. When I recognize Him in all things, I have joy for all things.

The word "principled" stood out to me when I read Stephen Covey's book First Things First. There are principles in place in life that I just can't override (if I don't sleep I will not be able to think clearly, et. cetera); therefore, I can choose my actions based on principles and know what the outcome will be. If I am generous, I will be blessed. If I take care of my health now I will enjoy better health in the future. This basic thought grounded me and sobered me- I have limited time and energy and wishing that things would be different won't change them and doing something that feels good now "because I want to" will have consequences somewhere down the road. This thought has also brought me great freedom and satisfaction- because I have the power to choose! And it feels so good to choose right things. Somewhere along the road I became more indulgent and less disciplined. "Disciplined" sounds hard to me right now but "principled" inspires me. Once I read, "Do something necessary but unpleasant every day" (but I can't find who said it; sorry!). I'm embracing this.

The choices we make now largely determine the choices we will have later. This is often seen with our health. Covey says:


"Most of us realize that a good percentage of the health problems we have are lifestyle-related. Without an extreme "wake-up call," such as a heart attack, many of us live in a rescue fantasy. We live the way we want to live- little or no exercise, poor nutrition, burning the candle at both ends- and when we have a problem we expect the medical profession to pick up the pieces. While we may be able to diminish the pain with prescriptions and Band-Aids, if we're really going to make a difference, we need to go to the underlying root cause of the pain. We need to attend to prevention in a profound way." Stephen R. Covey on "The Urgency Addiction" in First Things First

I love this; it is what I aim to inspire other families to do: choose to attend to prevention. In that spirit, here is a great video of Bear Grylls. If you like this, check out his other clips (I especially like the one on children's health!)

Our IL Farm Life

We are still in IL, enjoying family and friends and the farm life that I loved (without even knowing how blessed I was) as I grew up.

This place runs deep in me. When I head out for an early morning jog (once or twice!) or take M (1) for a walk with the stroller down the road I catch the scent of the fog over the creek and a million stalks of corn growing and the Queen Ann's Lace by the roadside and the black earth and the green things and the expansive blue sky. . . and my spirit feels a little more RIGHT, like a homecoming of sorts- a taste of heaven in that it is like a memory and a looking-forward-to all at the same time.

Deep in me I know this place and being here puts something in me back in its place. It's difficult to put into words. Maybe you'll see it in my dad as he talks about the farm.

Fun With Roman Numerals!

We were introduced to "18 Wheels on a Big Rig" several years ago on a "Ralph's World" album. There were only two boys then and they were very young! The Lawyer and I thought it was very fun, however.

Now those boys know their Roman numerals and they have The Lawyer's sense of humor. I guess that's why they watched four different versions of this song tonight. . . and this one is our hands-down favorite. We were ALL laughing.

Hoping you have a happy weekend!

Wanting to Really Live

Ann's book is released; it is already on Amazon's top 10 list. It's on my top 10 list of books I am hungry to read this year. Can't wait to order my own copy (in a new month with a new flex allowance!).

Never knowing if I'm really moving forward or not. . . but hoping and praying and trying to press into Christ to learn how to really live this year.

Doesn't this make you. . . want to LIVE?!

Hallelujah!

Here is a fun clip. It feels like just a glimpse of the glory that The King deserves and will one day receive.

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought over 650 choristers and throngs of singers from the community, infiltrated Macy's store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah." 

Nutritional Impact (specifically on Infertility, Pregnancy)

The kids are in Vacation Bible School this week, so I was home with M this morning. While he nursed, I watched a fabulous webinar on pregnancy, infertility, and nutrition for life. Most of this I had heard before, but Denise Romney highlighted some studies and facts I found staggering. (Do you know about PQQ?) So, here is your nutrition education for the week!

From Womb to World: Good Nutrition From the Start

On Infant Mortality

This is just a snippet, but I really like it- especially because one of my midwives is on it! Good fodder for thought.

Birthing Options

Wow. I just watched The Business of Being Born last night. . . and I would that pregnant women everywhere would have this information!

I felt the film gave an excellent summation of obstetrical and midwifery care in this century. Because Ricki Lake was involved in the film, I hesitated to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised to see many midwives, ob/gyns and hear the history of births in our country, as well as see statistics and trends. It wasn't quite what I expected, but in very good ways.

There are cartoons that had me laughing in the film, as well as birth scenes that had me quietly crying on our couch. (I am pregnant, but I probably would have cried, regardless!) Even having had four births (1 hospital, 1 at home with an Ob, 2 at home with midwives), I found myself excited and agitated and passionate about this "business of being born."

What miracle! What amazing, agonizing pain and splendid JOY. During the labor scenes I said to B, "It [homebirth] doesn't look so glamorous. I'm not sure I would want to do that." Of course, that was followed by delivery and bonding, which caused me to quickly add, "Okay! I can do THAT again!"

Oh, what an adventure.