Heart of Wisdom Academy

For Today...

Outside my window...It's nice and sunny

I am thinking...That I am tired of disciplining my daughter for the 6th time today. It's only 10:00!

From the learning rooms...I'm trying a new routine this morning. I'm letting my oldest do his independent work for an hour while I exercise. So far he's done spelling, science, and reading.

I am thankful for...my baby being home and well. I'm praying for baby Stellan and his mom. I know the loneliness and depression that lurks in the PICU. I know how it feels to not be able to hold, feed, or change your baby. I know frustration, fear, anger, stress, and tears. I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm praying for that mom to see it soon.

From the kitchen...Need to go shopping

I am wearing...Workout clothes

I am reading...This morning I read the Bible, and The Practice of the Presence of God

I am hoping...To get the new house

I am creating...I want to finish my daughters dress this week, and cut out 5 diapers to sew next week.

I am hearing...Children playing and not crying. Yeah!

Around the house...I need to get the diapers out of the dryer. I put away 1 load of laundry this morning. I have about 2 more loads of laundry to do.

One of my favorite things...Nap Time

A few plans for the rest of the week...Tonight we have our mentors/discipleship partners coming over; Tuesday is co-op and at my friend will come over for fellowship in the evening; Wed. church at night; Fri.Bible-Talk; Sat. We have our wonderful Amish loving friends coming over to watch Love Takes Wing and eat Cajun style thanks to my amazing husband. Sun. Church and fellowship. Also, I need to write the outline for my papers and at least a couple of pages for each paper.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Quick Update:
I'm busy writing papers and researching
I'm working on a project that is due in 3 hours, but I needed a quick break :0)
All is well on the home front haven't taken any pictures all week
We went to look at a house yesterday! I pray it is for us. It has a vegetable garden, a Pecan Tree, and a built in bookshelf! I think I'll call it Canaan, for surely the Lord is bringing us to the land of milk and honey!
That's all for now.

One day I'll have time to blog in words and not pictures. But that time won't be this week.(Okay, so I stole time to blog. I'm a firm believer in the fact that in 20 years I'm going to cherish these memories) I have 2 papers due in about 4 weeks so I'll be doing research for those papers. I'm researching about working women and the dual career family, and it's interesting! I have a lot of opinions about that. I could stand to spend more time studying. (If I knew how to roll my eyes on the computer I would) People often ask me, "How do you do it all"? Well....I guess it's easy. I don't do all things well! When I first started school I had a 4.0 and was very vigilant about keeping it, but as time went on, (not a lot of time) I knew I needed to make choices. I could settle for a B, if I spent more time on things that had eternal value, and I would be okay with that. So the secret is, I settle for B's and sometimes C's (Gasp!), I almost never shop, I absolutely don't cook every day, (bigger GASP!) and I blog/sew/talk on the phone/etc. instead of studying. I'm not necessarily a moron, sluggard, or procrastinator, and I don't pay a billion dollars to go to school to do mediocre(I'll graduate this year with a 3.5 or above), but my point is that school isn't important in the big scheme of things. God doesn't require a diploma to get into Heaven, and I'll be in Heaven a lot longer than I'll ever be on earth. I don't want to spend my precious fleeting years here on earth, "storing up treasure" and putting my faith in the worlds wisdom.

The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Psalms 90:10

I want to spend my maybe 70 or 80 years living as a pilgrim and stranger(2Peter 2:11)"I want to know one thing, the way to Heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore" John Wesley

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2Peter 3:10-14


1Corinthians 1:19-31
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Having it Good Means You're Not Allowed to Complain! -author unknown to me?

My Gerber Baby! Words will never express the love I have for this little boy, and how grateful I am the Lord has seen fit to spare his life. I never thought I could love or appreciate my children any more than I do, but having a critically ill child has deepened the love I have for all of my family. I am completely living my dream. When I go to bed at night, I often think "What if the Lord takes me tonight?" I am confident at night knowing that at the end of the day, "I have loved much".
I sewed 5 medium sized diapers so far, I think if I sew 15 more I'll be good. I wash every other day, 20 diapers seems to be plenty. The fleece I got at Joanns last year 50% off. I bought 6 yards! The outside of the diaper is an old t-shirt, the inside of the diaper is terry cloth $2 dollars a yard, and the fleece helps the snappi to work.
We bought a bumbo. Regularly priced at $40.00, we bought ours off of Craiglist for $15.00!
He likes it.
All the kiddies reading. They read the best when it is bed time. Go figure!
How sweet. I pray they will all be lovers of good books.

Parenting 101. When I was newly married and became a parent, I knew nothing about how to be a Christian wife or mother. I read a hundred books on how to be a wife and mother over the years to teach me. These are my absolute favorites. I'm having a hard time finding words to express how much they have changed my life and how much these resources mean to me. The Bible is FULL of wisdom on child training, and these resources show you where they are, and they take you by the hand and give you a beautiful picture of what the Godly home, and Godly mother is intended to look like.

The Godly Home Series (Download all 29 messages for free, they will change your life!)

The Pursuit of Godly Seed This book mostly has information from the sermons, but I love it anyway. I love to have things in print. This is a child training manual!

The Mother At Home Read if free here! I printed this out several years ago and have read it many times. I think this used to be called "The Christian Mother". This is definitely "How to Be a Christian Mother".

The Child Influencers "Children used to be reared by their parents". Today children are reared by TV, peers, and school. This is a must read, but it is out of print, find it on Amazon while supplies last. This is a very eye opening book, Parents need to raise their children!

Child Training Tips: What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young This is a beautuful book. You can visit Reb Bradleys website and learn a lot of info. This book is especially helpful for older children it exposes a lot of heart issues. This is a great book for parents who are starting biblical parenting when their kids are a bit older. It is VERY detailed, and that's why I love it soooo much. This is an EXCELLENT BOOK. I really can't say enough good things about it.

Raising Godly Tomatoes I love this resource for training babies. It is very practical training for especially young children.

Other Favorites:

Jumping Ship: What to do so your children won't jump ship to the world when they get older.

To Train Up a Child
This is a sample of the book.

No Greater Joy I,II,III

Beautiful Girlhood

Raising Maidens of Virtue: A Study of Feminie Loveliness for Mothers and Daughers

When I was in high school it was mortifying to be seen eating alone. I would pity the poor unfortunate souls that had to endure the humiliation of eating by themselves. I remember agonizing and praying that my friends would be in my lunch block. Boy, how times have changed. One of my favorite things to do, is eat alone! I love going out to eat BY MYSELF. I just plain old think it's fun.

Doug Phillips, President of Vision forum, posted this letter in July of last year. I was greatly pregnant and this letter encouraged me. It still encourages me. It is such a beautiful and timely letter.

The True Meaning of Beauty: A Pastoral Letter to Fruitful Vines
“Dear Fruitful Vines,

One never knows in God’s mercy and kindness what a simple appeal to a Biblical passage can produce. As I was pondering my last encouragement to you all, I pondered Psalm 128. Verse 3 says, “Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house.” I thought, “You know, instead of saying, ‘Dear pregnant moms,’ maybe, ‘Fruitful Vines,’ instead.” Now “pregnant moms” is a lovely term to me. Nevertheless, from the encouraging replies I received regarding the term Fruitful Vines, it will now be the address of choice!

This also pointed out to me again the importance of words and, especially in our society, of image. You dear sisters have to stand in the checkout lines of Wal-Mart and other stores all the time. Glaring at you are rows of magazines that virtually shout at you, “The Hollywood Harlots are the standard of beauty. You have to look like this, and display that, or you are not beautiful.”

Don’t listen to this. Reject it. Replace this lie with God’s truth.

Some of you mentioned waddling. Some of you mentioned that vines are thin. I was amused. Yet, I was also pierced to my very soul. Our society has made body-sculpting surgeons rich and constantly shoves its artificial, nip-and-tuck, silicone and Botox standard of beauty in your face. Let me tell you something: waddling, as your body bears the children God gave you, is holy. The changes, the aches, the pains, the swelling, the stretch marks, and all the rest-these are all beautiful in the eyes of the Lord and to any man who has his biblical wits about him. It is stunning beauty to see women submitting to the often painful changes that bearing the Lord’s children brings. Being fruitful and multiplying brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and is the holy act of bringing God’s elect into this world. Through virgin’s womb, our beloved Savior entered this world. Mary did the most holy waddling that has ever graced the planet. It was not the sultry, sensual sashay of seduction. It was the humble, load-bearing, groaning, aching waddle of the salvation of all God’s elect for all eternity.

Waddle on, groan on, swell up to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ: you are displaying a true and holy beauty to your God and to anyone who has eyes to see.

My beloved wife used to say in her last trimester, “I feel like a beached whale.” I wish I had told her a million times and more, “But you are beautiful to me and to the Lord.” She was then and she is now the delight of my eyes. Dear Vines, there is a beauty in your fulfilling the eternal purpose of God to which all the airbrushed, surgically enhanced bodies on this planet will never compare. Your self-effacing sacrifice displays the glory of your Lord.

Waddle, swell, and groan to glory of your Savior. He knows true beauty when he sees it...”

Special thanks to Jeff Pollard for letting us publish this precious pastoral letter of encouragement to ladies, sent to the families of his congregation. Jeff is the author of Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America, and has been a regular teacher at Vision Forum Ministries conferences on Unity Between Church and Home sponsored by the National Center for Family Integrated Churches, where he has delivered important messages on Church Discipline, Legalism and a host of other subjects.

Posted by Doug Phillips on July 23, 2008

I’m going to take the day off from our normal routine. I really need to sew some more diapers. The baby’s medicine has been doubled so he is starting to pee through his diapers. He is on a diuretic; a diuretic is a water pill. It purposefully draws fluid out of the body so you pee a lot. He is in a size small diaper so today I'm going to make mediums. I also need to do lesson planning. I do my lesson plans in 5 week increments. To make lesson plans for 5 weeks takes a couple of hours. It is too time consuming to make one at the start of each week. I don’t do lesson plans in longer than 5 week increments because I teach for mastery. The child has to master the subject before we move on. If it takes 2 days to master, than we go on, if it takes 2 weeks than we spend 2 weeks. This also gives us the freedom to do delight directed studies. I also need to make our curriculum shopping list before this weekend, I need to spend the rest of the weekend doing my own homework that I've been putting off. A lot of homeschool sales start in May, and I like to have basically everything I need for the new school year by May. Curriculum shopping is so much fun!!!

I think we'll call him Happy.
Hi Happy!
I made this nursing cover yesterday. I saved $29.99, that's how much a nursing cover costs at Babies R Us.
I love toile, I think it's the prettiest fabric.

My sweet boy.
Another sweet boy
Baby it's cold outside. Baby was given a clean bill of health today. His heart is okay, so they'll look for another reason for the rapid breathing. He'll see cardiology every 4 weeks or so.
Our sweet-tart. She is sweet looking on the outside, but tart on the inside. She is our strong-willed child. Have you ever read The Taming of the Shrew? Enough said! But in the words of Chris Tomlin, "you see the depths of our hearts, and you love us the same..." And surely I do love her the same.
Just for fun. Our best friend slammed my husband! :-)
Wow!! G, you're my hero regardless!


The kids are taking a late nap. I'm going to go have my quiet time, make a nursing cover, do some homework, bathe the kids, cook or some variation of, and go to church tonight. This will be our first time at church as a family since the baby got sick at the end of December! Praise God.

It's been a busy week so far. The baby has been breathing really hard and really fast since Sat. I took him to his primary care Doc. on Monday. The Doc. said he was breathing much to hard and fast and said he needed to go to the Main Hospital. We spent a couple of hours at the Main Hospital they agreed he was breathing fast but they were generally unalarmed. They upped his current meds. and sent us home. This morning my primary care Doctor called and she was still very concerned about the baby, she feels like the other Doctors should have done more. She told us to go to Cardiology tomorrow, so we have an appointment early in the morning with them and we'll see what they say. My daughter has an appointment on Friday, so we'll be at the Doctors quite a bit this week. I can't wait to fall into bed tonight. I'm going to go read my Bible and go to bed. Although... I am really resisting the temptation to make my nursing cover. While I was out today I picked up toile fabric. I love toile! It is my absolute favorite fabric. When I get it done, I'll post a pic.

This is how we feel about Daylight Savings Time! The time has come when I can no longer trick the kids into bed at 7:00. Can we not save daylight? We are all lamenting, can you hear our cries? We are considering wearing all black until fall to publicly declare our mourning.

This is the first attempted dress. I forgot to add the front part of the skirt.
Back of second dress. I couldn't finish the second dress b/c the material was too thin and started to rip.
The third dress. The sleeves are uneven. Sleeves are the hardest part for me. The left sleeve came out right.
Enjoying her new dress. She doesn't care that the sleeves are uneven. microscope
The boys didn't want the girl to play with action figures, so I let her play with knitting needles. Her twin got super jealous and sobbed and cried. In all her kindness she said he could hold the yarn, just like Charles held the yarn for Caroline. Charles and Caroline Ingalls are a part of our family.

I'm a tad bit melancholy today. I didn't get 1 thing accomplished, argh! It was one of the days where I feel like I worked and worked all day, but at the end of the day I can't find anything I finished and the house is a wreck like I didn't clean it. Baby was uncharacteristically fussy so I mostly rocked and held him. I wish I had treasured rocking him and not lamented over my dirty dishes. Tomorrow is another day.

Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

I pray for a fixed heart tonight. That no matter what is going on my attitude is the same; sweet, peaceful, and unfrazzled.

Todays follow-up with the cardiologist didn't go as well as I wanted it to. The good news is that his coarctation repair looks great! The not so good news is that the hole in his heart is very large. We knew about the hole in the heart, but we've been told for months that it could be closed in the catherazation lab non-surgically. Now it looks like the hole may be too big for that. In that case, the hole can only be closed surgically. The repair would require open-heart surgey, which means they have to stop the heart and he would have to go on the heart-lung machine. The Doctor today felt like it wasn't an emergency situation and sent us home. The cardiac team will meet together and decide if the surgery can wait a couple of months, if it can't wait they'll call us back to Children's Hospital. They upped the dosage on his meds and we'll see him again in about 8 weeks.

As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 2 Samuel 22:31

I remind myself of this scripture day in and day out. I don't have to ask why? Because I know Gods way is perfect. When I feel sad, or depressed, or overwhelmed, and when I feel defeated, I always remember this scripture.

This is what my heart sings:

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:

(2x’s)
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth

MercyMe - Bring The Rain
From the album Coming Up To Breathe

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through

The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you oh Lord
My only shelter from the storms
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Chorus:
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus Bring the Rain
I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Chorus:

(Repeats)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

Boys. I heard once that if you take all the toys guns out of your house, boys will make a gun out of anything, including their hands. Boys and guns must go together. The only rule is you have to shoot animals, not people. Killing is a sin, and we don't EVER pretend to sin! Sometimes the kids say they're shooting dogs and cats, and I have to explain that we don't shoot domesticated animals either, only wild animals!


I waited for so long for my oldest to be interested in toys. This sweet boy loves playing with toys. He has a sweet spirit and he is so tender-hearted. He loves medicine, and doctors and shots. He thanks the doctor for shots, and feigns any illness to get medicine. Maybe the Lord will call him to the medical field.


Diaper cover made out of fleece.


Diaper made out of Daddy's T-shirt. What a sweet baby. He is an EASY baby. Although all of my babies have been easy. Praise God I have never known colic!


This is his favorite place in the house. He'll sit here for hours. I don't feel badly about letting him sit here because I know I get to nurse him soon. That's just one added benefit of breastfeeding. I know that no matter what, every couple of hours I get to devote my entire attention on just that baby.

It's dress like in shape and form, but not quite a dress.

This is actually my second attempted dress. This material was too thin, it's a bed sheet, so I couldn't finish the sleeves or the collar because the material started to tear. Overall, everyday I am getting better and better.



I'm currently reading: (most of these are on my bookshelf on the left, I'll add the rest when I have time)
Proverbs
Daughters of Sarah
Humility by Andrew Murray
Pursuit of Godly Seed Denny Kenaston
Master Plan of Evanglism
With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray


Oldest is currently Reading
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Amelia Bedelia goes Camping
Gilgamesh
Various Batman books from library
Various pirate books from library
Various spanish books from library (colors, shapes, alphabet, numbers)


My semester started again yesterday. I go to school full-time online. I have 4 more classes left! After I graduate I will get my masters and teach online classes, God willing. This will provide us with extra income while I stay at home and fulfill my God given roles. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel less than excited about school, but it is a necessary evil at this point. I just have to keep my eye on the prize. For me the prize is not a degree, a degree is just a piece of paper that will burn up in the fire with everything else. My prize is being able to serve my family and help my husband finacially from my home. So I'll continue to praise God in this season of my life and wait patiently until it is over.

Diaper made out of a bed sheet. I made a lot of diapers out of this sheet and it is my favorite diaper b/c it's so soft.


Made diapers this week. Most of the diapers in this pic were already made, but I had to add those blue tabs so that the snappi would work. These diapers were made from flannel recieving blankets, but the flannel isn't "snappiable", so I added terry cloth to it.


This is how boys do school.

Last week of the month is hair week. Take out the braids, wash hair, put the braids back in, add beads. But I don't have to worry about doing hair until the end of next month!


She is very happy.

As long as there is You-Tube I will never pay for sewing lessons. Have you seen the price of those lessons?

I'm learning how to install a zipper, with baby on lap, kids in bed, husband at work, in complete quiet and solitude, for FREE. You can't beat that!

Free Diaper Patterns Here
Learn all about how to make diapers Here

Materials:
Sewing machine with straight stitch and zigzag stitch(for elastic)
All purpose thread
1/2 inch elastic
Pins to hold fabric
Fabric (I use old t-shirts, old sheets, recieving blankets, fleece, terry cloth)

This is how I make a pocket diaper:
Pocket diapers need a cover.


Get your pattern.(any of the above free patterns will work. I made this one, because I like having sized diapers. This is a medium sized diaper.)
Trace your pattern on the wrong side of your outer fabric mark pocket and elastic openings.(Outer fabric is the fabric that will not be on the babies skin. If you are using a print, turn the print upside and then trace on the wrong side)
Make pockets. Cut fabric down to your pocket openings, fold fabric to the wrong side and sew.
This is what the pocket opening looks like for the outer fabric sewn. Just cut off excess fabric. Repeat this step for inside fabric.
Cut excess fabric.
Mark pocket openings on right side of inner fabric. And make pocket opening same as above.
Pin outer and inner fabrics right sides together with your outer fabric on top. Sew both fabrics together start stitching to the right of the pocket opening and go all the way around using a straight stich, stop stitching at the left pocket opening.
Both fabrics sewn together, remove pins, cut away all excess fabric, leave 1/2 inch on sides to add elastic.
To put in elastic use a zig zag stitch. Before I sew on the elastic I must measure it. To measure the elastic I take the elastic and put it on 1 elastic mark(usually the right top elastic mark), then I pull as hard as I can to the bottom elastic mark and cut. This piece of elastic will be about half as short as the distance between the two marks. To sew on elastic. I first tack the elastic down. This means I stitch just a little, than backstitch, stitch a little, than back stitch. Once the elastic is firmly stitched to the marker, I pull as tight as I can while I sew. Pull as tight as you can in both directions.
Pull tight
Topstitch about 1/4 inch in. Start at the right pocket opening and stop and the left pocket opening. When you get to the elastic, pull tight as you did when you were putting the elastic in.
Topstitched all the way around, this is the outside
Topstitched inside view
Stuffed it with prefolds
All done

What the kids did
More of what they did