Thumbsucking Troubles

Our third son and fifth child, Samuel, has been a thumbsucker since he was 2 months old. He found his thumb then and has not let it go! He is our first and only thumbsucker. He is two years old, and sucks his thumb more than not. Since he is our only thumbsucker, I am unsure of many things. Is he old enough to give it up? Will he give it up on his own? Can I entice him to give it up? Am I in for years of frustration and heartache in trying to make him give it up? Any of you who have experience in this area, please let me know how it went for you and any tips you may have for me.

Thanks!

Fun Filled Friday

We had a fun, full day today. It started with a visit to our friends house who live about 45 minutes south of us. We gathered there with another family, and together we went to pick strawberries. I'm ashamed to say that before last year when we made the same trip to pick strawberries, I had never eaten a fresh one much less picked one. So this year I felt like an old pro! The girls, Samuel and I got our buckets and picked red, ripe, sweet strawberries. But, I still don't like them. Too bad- they are so pretty!

We went back to our friends house where the girls swam all afternoon in the pond, Samuel played in the playroom and us ladies talked, made bread and sliced strawberries. It doesn't get much better than that.

We left there and went straight to Anna's softball game. Because half of the team wasn't there, they played a silly softball game, and it didn't have quite the same appeal as a regular game. But Anna whacked one right into centerfield, over the fielder's head! It was easily the farthest hit ball of the game.

I was ready to come home, shower, and go to bed, but first, Paul, Samuel and I delivered homemade pea soup to some older ladies in the church. They were so glad to see us and talked our ears off! They enjoyed Sam and his antics.

Then tonight, late tonight, Paul Jr., Zack, and I went to the movies. They had told me they wanted to go and asked me to go and they were delighted when I said yes. But then, I was so tired all I wanted to do was get in bed. I tried to tell the boys to just go on without me, but I was met with groans of disappointment. They were disappointed I was not going to go! Of course, then I had to go- I mean, what mother doesn't want her teenage boys to want her along?? I was so flattered by that that the tiredness I feel does not measure the joy I feel. The boys sat on either side of me and I whispered a silent prayer of gratitude to God. Sure, I'm far from perfect. I mess up daily, even hourly. I'm selfish at times. I've not been the best homeschooling teacher. And on and on. But my boys wanted my company. And that makes it all ok, at least for tonight.

My sweet boys.

A Glorious Wedding

We attended (and my husband officiated) a beautiful wedding on Saturday. A young man in our church married the girl of his dreams Saturday afternoon. But this was not just any wedding. These two had not only never kissed, they had never held hands, never hugged, never touched. They saved themselves not only physically, but emotionally as well. They guarded their hearts right up until they held hands during the ceremony. He was so full of anticipation he could not stand still. He reminded me of a little boy waiting to open presents on Christmas. It was a dream come to fruition for both of them, and both sets of parents.

It was also a source of great hope for Paul and I. Up until now, we had only heard and read about courtship and betrothal. We wanted to belive it could work, but it was hard not seeing it with our own eyes. Well, we've seen it and we are excited. If God can work it out for John and Whitney, he can work it out for our children also.

We know both sets of parents, but are close friends with John's mom and dad. They are great people, but they are not perfect. They would be the first to tell you this. But they have raised some great, Godly children. It's not about perfection, it's not about doing everything right- it's about obedience to God's laws, repentance and forgiveness. That's what God blesses.

Homeschool Humor

I was reviewing American history with my girls the other day. We have been reading about the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. We talked about the British soldiers in Boston. I asked the girls if they remembered that the colonists had to let the soldiers stay in their homes- they had no choice.

My daughter Anna said,"Yeah, mom. I remember. It was that 25 cent thing."

I looked at her and tried to think. I knew there had to be a connection somewhere. "What?" I asked her.

"The 25 cent thing. Come on, you remember." She said.

As I was furiously thinking what 25 cents had to do with with the British soldiers, my younger daughter, Ellie, piped up.

"I know mom. She means the quarter thing."

Then it hit me. She meant the quartering act!! Oh, we laughed and laughed about that. I knew there had to be a connection between the soldiers and the 25 cents, but my mind couldn't make it quick enough.

I was glad she had remembered that much!

Wordless Wednesday

Easter, 2007

Anna

My first daughter, Anna, was born after 2 boys. We so looked forward to finally having a daughter. I'll never forget calling Paul after I had the ultrasound that showed it was a girl. I didn't want to tell him over the phone, but I couldn't help myself. I said to him, "You got your girl!" and there was silence on the other end of the phone and then a big whoop!!

I should have known what kind of child she was going to be by how difficult her pregnancy was. Everything that could happen, did. I had blood pressure problems, blood sugar problems, swelling, NST twice a week, etc. I was so tired of being pregnant, that I couldn't wait to deliver her. She was my third child, and I had the other two naturally. Zack was 10.6 lbs, so the doctor was afraid of Anna being bigger, so he induced me 2 weeks before I was due. Mistake. Big Mistake.

I was in the hospital on the pitocin drip for 2 days. Yes, you read that right. 2 days. Nothing happened. I did not even dilate enough where they could break my water. They sent me home. I was tired, sore and so discouraged. A few days later, my water broke. Just a little. To make a long story short, I ended up in labor, on pitocin and only dilated to an 8 and had a c-section. Not the kind of birth story I wanted.

But Anna was beautiful. Dark, unruly hair that wouldn't lay down, olive skin, deep brown eyes. Her father and I were smitten. She quickly became daddy's girl and settled into a routine. She was a great sleeper and took wonderful, long naps.

Sometime around her turning 18 months, something changed in this sweet little girl. She became a stinker. She decided she did not have to listen or do anything she didn't want to. We always had to know where she was and what she was doing for fear of what she would get into. One day I was schooling the boys in my room, and all the sudden my oldest and I looked at each other with panic and said, Where's Anna??

We quickly searched our small condo, and realized, she was not here. He took off outside, and came back with her a few minutes later. She was walking down the road to her friends house. Thank God we did not live on a busy street. Paul installed a chain link lock that night on the front door which we kept locked at all times.

She learned to put her ride on toy next to her crib at night before she went to bed. We thought she was becoming neat. She knew she could get out of the crib if it was right next to her bed. She was the kind of child who, if you saw in the grocery store, you would think never gets disciplined. I can assure you, she received much discipline. I so often thought I was wasting my time, because it never seemed to work. But we kept on, mostly because we didn't know what else to do.

One place I refused to take her was the post office. I don't know what happened to her here, but she would go crazy. One time she got away from me and Paul Jr., and ran and ran and ran. She was headed out the door before we could get her and thank God my brother came in at that moment and grabbed her.

Today, at almost 11, she is a sweet, helpful young lady. She is my right hand in the home. She can run this home by herself. I don't know how or why, other than obedience from her father and I in disciplining her because we didn't know what else to do. I sometimes think that these types of children who get alot of discipline, have gotten their "issues" out in the open and dealt with and are able to move on as opposed to the quiet child who does not receive alot of discipline and should.

I am so thankful for Anna. She has brightened our home in many ways and is the delight of her brother Samuel. She is going to make some fortunate young man a wonderful wife!

Great Book Recommendation

I just finished reading an awesome book. "Goodbye is Not Forever" by Amy George (all you grammar types, I KNOW you are supposed to underline titles of books, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to in this post, so cut me some slack, OK?????)

It is the story of a family growing up in the Ukraine right before and during World War II. Wow. I am amazed that anyone survived this kind of life. I could not put this book down! It would make a great read a loud and would really make the living conditions in Russia during that time come alive.

You can get it on half.com or amazon for less than a dollar (plus shipping). It is a story of God's Hand on this family even though they did not come to know Him until later in life. It is a miraculous story.