Natural Mosquito Repellant

Doesn't that picture just make you itch?

Three of us neighborhood moms were sitting at a neighbor's house and were griping about the mosquitoes that kept attacking us mercilessly. One friend was showing off the massive bite that her 3yr old had been sporting for several days.

One neighbor asks why we didn't just put vinegar on. Um...What? I looked at her like she was crazy too.

Apparently both vinegar and lemon juice repel mosquitoes.

Honestly. I didn't believe her. Despite all of her wonderful advice, I though maybe she was starting to go crazy. I'd tried EVERYTHING to no avail in the past! I was in the process of trying out the new Off Clip on that they gave me. I found it works well...if. I'll discuss that later, though.

Despite my disbelief, I went ahead and doused just my arms (which had mosquitoes swarming) in the vinegar, but I left my legs and feet exposed. (I had to do some sort of testing here.) My arms didn't see another mosquito for the rest of the day. My legs and feet? Let's just say I'm itching...a LOT!

Today, I put vinegar on all the kids and myself. So far, we've remained bite-free all day.

I've not tried the lemon juice, but she said it works as well.

For ease of use, put the vinegar in a spray bottle and just spray it on. That's what we did today!

I know what you're thinking. Why on EARTH would I voluntarily walk around smelling like vinegar? You won't. Once vinegar dries, it is odorless. I have been using it as a rinse on my hair for months and my hair doesn't smell like vinegar. I also had a friend smell my arm today. She confirmed that I didn't smell like anything; let alone vinegar.

Don't you love learning a new, healthier, MUCH cheaper and simpler way of doing things?

-Me

Want to See My Future?

Unlike my husband who got an empty fortune cookie at a Chinese restaurant 2 weeks ago, I actually have a future. I'm really excited about it, too.

Want to see it?
So...What do you think?
I'm REALLY excited! It's about time! And for $49, you can't beat the price!
-Me

Working on the Computer Issue

I'm not still up 100%, but I am almost connected again. A dear neighbor let me borrow her daughter's laptop. I'm not quite sure how her daughter felt. Okay. I do. I have some of her school work on this computer. She's probably hoping I keep it for quite awhile.

I'm in the process of using this computer to download & burn the software that will allow me to crack the password on our working computer. We won't get the broken one fixed until June or July, but my info is saved to a flash drive so I'm okay with that.

Thanks again for your prayers. They have been much appreciated.

Thanks also to my kind neighbors who supported me and loaned me computers and to my husband's work for allowing me to hijack his computer many evenings to blog.

-Me

The Right to be Modest

In today's world, it seems like nothing is harder than fighting for your right to be modest.

One would think that with many utilizing their right to walk around half-naked it would be a welcome sight to see someone desiring to wear clothes. On the contrary! At Holland Aquatic Center today in Holland, we had to do the unthinkable: FIGHT for our right to be modest!

Seriously?

Is this the world we live in now? How sad is that? And in reserved, uber-conservative, Dutch Holland no less! It was totally NOT the fight we expected to have.

Yes. We're slightly crazy. (Apparently.) We believe that women and men both should remain modest...even while swimming. However, there are many ways to maintain modesty while swimming today. One can choose to purchase an ultra-expensive one-piece suit, or they can choose cheaper ways to achieve the same effect. While I'm grateful there are companies out there willing to provide modest swimwear, I'm just not willing to drop $40-$100+ on a child's swimsuit that they will likely have outgrown by next year. And let's face it. The resale market isn't going to be huge.

Instead, we choose options like this and this which are at Old Navy. You can also find good, affordable options at Target and Land's End. (Land's End is more expensive, but they offer good choices for adults as well.) You can also find good options at Up Stream Girl (I love the mission and message of this site) or CL Swim Designs.

Our children wear traditional one-piece swimsuits (or shorts for our son). Over those one-piece suits, they wear swim shorts (made of swim material...the same material that our son's swimsuit shorts are made out of) and a swim top (again...made of swim material...the same material that their swimsuits are made out of). Our son wears the same top. Since these are now become fairly popular especially at the beach and other outdoor venues, we didn't expect to have an issue. After all, we didn't have an issue last year, but only went a couple of times.

Evidently, they are laying down the law this year. NO ONE is allowed to come in unless they have "approved swimwear". The catch? Such swimwear also cannot have writing on it. You know like the terribly vicious and gang-violence inciting words, "Old Navy".

The problem? We've already purchased our swim covers for this year and have no intentions of buying more to suit the Holland Aquatic Center.

The result? We won't be going to the Holland Aquatic Center this year. We won't purchase a special summer family membership which is a loss of $130 to their pocket book. Unfortunately, we're not the only ones willing to take such drastic measures. We have friends who feel the same way and our likewise raising gang-children without their knowledge. They also won't be spending their money.

I know the Holland Aquatic Center is celebrating 10 years next month, but with practices like this, they aren't likely to survive another 10! At least not in Dutch Holland!

-Me

The Age to Be?

What is the "age to be"? I fully recognized that I was the odd-man out in high school. All of my friends wanted to be 21. That was the "age to be" because it was then that you could legally drink. Although we all know that they still drank. But I digress...

Because I had an alcoholic father, I didn't care to drink...ever. And I still don't. However, I couldn't wait until I was 18. At 18, I could vote. I know. I'm a total nerd. As if you haven't figured out by my blog already, I'm kinda interested in politics. Always have been.

Forget 21, though. Forget 18!

Today, my 8yr old declared, "10 year olds get to do EVERYTHING!!!" This, after her sister got to do something because she's 10.

Right, sweetie. Talk to me when you're 14 and your sister is 16. We'll see how much being 10...or even 14...does for you then...

-Me

Warrant Issued for Mom's Arrest...

...because her son has refused chemo and she and her husband are supporting his decision. You can read more here.

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am a STAUNCH supporter of parental rights.

I also STRONGLY believe that those rights extend to being able to dictate your child's healthcare (or lack thereof). We were initialy delayed vax parents. However, after years of being unable to obtain the separate serum vaccinations that would be best for our children, we have unofficially become non-vaxing parents. I reserve the right to refuse vaccinations for my children. When they are adults and have stronger immune systems then they can decide for themselves whether they want to receive those vaccinations or not.

I believe parents also have the right to choose alternative healthcare for their children if they deem it necessary (or better than "traditional" treatments) after research.

Certainly even if one doesn't believe in parental rights, then they believe in the rights of the child...right? That's what many in leadership are fighting for as they push for ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They claim that the child has more rights than the parent and should get to dictate what they do and don't do with their lives whether their parents agree or not.

So...going on THAT horrendous argument for a minute...this child (of 13) is wanting to refuse the chemo for HIMSELF and instead elect to have alternative treatments. Therefore, he should get what he wants because he's the child and he has rights.

In other words, whether you support parent's rights or children's rights, you should support the decision being made jointly by the son and his parents to refuse chemo.

Note, they are NOT refusing treatments, they are merely choosing an alternative treatment. Could it have side effects? Yes...as any treatment (ESPECIALLY chemo) could and does. Could it work? Yes. An alternative treatment might work as well as or better than chemo. Could it fail? ABSOLUTELY!!! As could chemo, radiation, bone marrow transplants, etc. ANY treatment could work or fail based on the body of the person receiving the treatment and any other underlying conditions they may have.

Chemo as a treatment is a CHOICE!!! Just as any other treatment is. No child or parent should be forced to obtain a treatment because a doctor, social worker, or judge feels they should obtain a certain treatment!

This is a DANGEROUS road that we do NOT want to go down!

-Me

Broken

Ever felt like this?



I have. A lot. Far too many times to count. I had a broken childhood and thought that everything would be different when I got married. In a way, they are. They are now different issues being approached from a different perspective.

I'd like to encourage you. If you are going through anything, or if you have hand are still healing, know that you are NOT alone. I can guarantee you that if I don't understand, then someone else out there does. I'll say it again. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

I kno wthat for me that was so important. I know God is always with us, but I'm not talking about that. I mean there is another human being currently on this earth who understands.

Need to talk? Create an anonymous twitter or blog. I've done both. No, they're not connected to this blog or me in any way. So don't bother trying to look. You won't find me...until and unless I'm ready. When (if) I ever am, I promise you'll be among the first to know. I pray you'll be patient and understanding.

Yes. I have secrets...and that's okay. God has put in my path incredible people to help me. He showed me that I'm not alone when I most needed to know.

There are days still when He's holding me up. There are days when He sends a friend to help hold me up. There are days when I don't stand at all, but still make it through the day, by His grace.

No, also, there are days when I help hold someone else up. Let me tell you, THAT has done more to help ME heal than I could have ever imagined.

Please, just know, if you're broken today...whatever the reason...you are not alone. Trust me. I know. I have been where I never thought I'd be, and I'm here today...to blog about it. And that helps me. That gives me life. It helps me stand.

Thank you for your part...for hearing my heart.

-Me

Bilderberg

Ever heard of it?

Neither had I until about a year ago. Even then, I was still blissfully unaware of the full scope of it.

I am no longer naive. I now know.

And I have some questions.

Why haven't we heard anything about it? I found out through a non-media source and went searching from there.

I find i tincredibly hard to believe that in 57 years of Bilderberg meetings, there hasn't ever been even ONE major media outlet covering the event. Not one. Ever. In 57 years.

The closest I've found to a "major" media source is the NASDAQ; which apparently has a news section to its website. I found this on their site.

Things that make you go...huh?

How can we have not heard about this? Why havent' we heard? What is Bilderberg? Why are they meeting? What are they discussing? Why? What are their intentions?

I know what the initial "Bilderberg" was. It was the site of their initial meeting and is where their headquarters are housed today. That's about all that has been confirmed by the group themselves.

There are conspiracy theories out about this group. They abound anywhere there is secrecy; right or wrong. I would encourage you to find the answers to those questions yourself. You can get started with the NASDAQ article.

I'll also answer another question for you: Who? Who is meeting at Bilderberg? Past, current, and future American and world leaders. Obama was there last year. The Clintons have been many years. It's rumored that at least Bush Sr. went as well; although I've not been able to confirm that.

I've heard that it's tradition for the sitting president to abstain from the meetings for security and privacy reasons. Have no fear, though, representatives of our current administration are there...as they always are for every administration. Among those who attending this year are Tim Geithner and Kathleen Sebelius. Bernake attended last year.

You can find a partial list of supposedly-confirmed attendees here.

If a meeting of this kind has been going on for this long involving key world leaders and not drawing media attention doesn't concern you; then I'm not sure what else to say. I know it won't concern some, and that scares me.

And that's all I have to say about that...for now.

-Me

Homeschooling Convention

I'm so excited! We're finishing our packing right now! We leave tomorrow morning at 10am to head to the INCH homeschooling convention in Lansing, MI. We're going to cap our trip on Sunday with a trip to the Michigan Historical Museum.

The kids are excited to get to be involved this year as well. There's a "kid's convention" that the kids get to take part in while mommy & daddy are in THEIR convention.

-Me

President Obama Just Sent Me An E-Mail!

Okay. To be honest, he (or his "handlers") DID send me an e-mail. However, it didn't JUST go to me. It went to everyone on the WhiteHouse.gov mailing list. If you'd like to receive e-mail updates as well, you can sign up here.

I would HIGHLY encourage everyone to stay abreast of what's going on; whether you agree with our current president or not. This country is still yours and you still have a say in what goes on; even if your guy didn't win.

What did this e-mail say? Was anything important said?

ABSOLUTELY!

Our president hopes to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill by July 31st of this year.

That disturbs me. On many levels. Largely because of the current administration's views on health care. I am a STRONG opponent of nationalized health care. However, our current president and many in Congress are just as strongly for it.

This is definitely one to keep a close eye on. I'll be praying for God's guidance for all of our leaders on all sides regarding health care.

-Me

Still No Computer

I am officially having withdrawals now. We need to get one of our computers back up...and QUICK! We're going to Lansing this coming weekend for a homeschooling conference and can't even finish last-minute planning because I have no computer access!

I will finish, it will just be really inconvenient. I'll have to spend yet MORE time up here at my husband's work after-hours. Unfortunately, by the time you get to 6pm, the kids aren't really up for doing Spelling Time, Dance Mat Typing, or anything else they do online. They don't do their online stuff every day so it's not huge...yet. It will build up, though, if we don't get back online quick!

Thanks for your continued patience and prayers. Also, I'll likely be gone completely this weekend since we will be out of town from Friday morning till Sunday evening. If our current computer situation holds, that means we'll have no computer access again until late Sunday evening...IF we stop by my husband's work.

Don't feel sorry for us, though. We'll be having a blast at the Michigan state homeschool convention sponsored by INCH. For the first time ever, we're taking the kids and letting them do the "kids convention". They're really excited. Although we're not sure if their excitement is from being in the "kids convention" or getting to swim in the indoor pool. You be the judge.

-Me

The Snow is Gone

In case you didn't notice, I have now removed the "snow" effect from my blog.

I said I'd leave it up until we'd had at least a month without snow. If we get a snow storm next week, I might scream.

I will, however, leave my header as-is even through the summer because I LOVE snow. (Lest anyone who controls the weather think I want more snow, let me please clarify that while I DO love snow, I ALSO love spring...and I am SO ready for consistent warm weather!)

I pray that between now and November, the only snow in my life will be on the header of my blog!

-Me

Happy Mother's Day!

I was treated this morning to breakfast in bed...made by my 10yr old. She made me peanut butter toast and fruit kabobs with kiwi, pineapple, and frozen bananas. Rumor has it that she had help cutting the pineapple. :-)

She wanted to make me a smoothie (a breakfast favorite for me), but Daddy wouldn't let her use my smoothie maker. (He won't touch "my" appliances for fear he'll break them.) Fine with me...as long as he's still willing to wash the dishes. (He is.)

My husband is doing some laundry for me today, and he and the kids helped me cut coupons. (I was a bit behind in cutting.) What more could a mom ask for? (Except maybe some chocolate...hint, hint...)

In typical rebel style (cause that's SO us), no cards were purchased, no flowers delivered, and no dinners out had for this mass-market holiday. And that's the way we like it!

Hope your Mother's Day is awesome!

-Me

The Skittle

Ever had one of those moments where you felt like you might be going crazy? Like, for example, you can't remember the password to your computer? Or, for example, you start to worry because the check-engine light in your car is no longer on. I actually had several people laugh at me. Thankfully, some kind friends on Facebook reassurred me that they had also had this happen...and also worried.

The thing is, the check-engine light has been on in our car for THREE years!!! It had become the norm. We've been to three different mechanics in three different states in that three year time-period. Two of those three mechanics had cleared the check-engine light for us, but it was back on again a week after they fixed our car. (They hadn't fixed what the light was for...they just turned it off.) We'd been told by all three mechanics that it's not uncommon for cars this old to have the light on almost all the time.

I'm mentioned before how we love our car. It now has almost 252,000 miles on it and we are very blessed that it is still running as well as it is and has needed as little repair as it has. We've come to know the quirks of our car. The passenger-side front windown doesn't roll down; neither does the back window on the opposite side. The driver's side automatic door-lock will unlock all of the doors, but won't lock any of them. We can have either rear heat or rear air, but not both. (At least not without a $300 part.) When we lived in Oklahoma, we choose air. In Michigan, we have chosen heat. Our mechanic has graciously offered to switch it for us for free. We don't do it more often because we don't want to fix what isn't broken...well it is...but you know what I mean. In the winter, we can't open the driver's side door. If we do, it will not shut and we'll be driving on snow, in -25 degree weather while holding the driver's side door closed. These are not bad things. They're quirks. They're what make our car; our car. That, and the fact that it is skittle purple and, therefore, quite unlike most other cars on the road.

One of those quirks is that the check-engine light is one. It just is. Because it is. And has been for 3 years. As a result, when it suddenly went OFF, I became worried. I actually called our mechanic to see if he should check our car to make sure it was okay. You know, because the check-engine light was no longer on. Trying to explain to me that it's not supposed to be on and isn't on in most "normal" cars went right over my head. It IS supposed to be on in THIS car because it has been for 3 years. So would he please take a look at our car. He begrudgingly agreed...while his wife (a good friend) laughed at me in the background. I felt deeply loved. And cried myself to sleep...while worrying about my car...because the check-engine light is no longer on.

-Me

Forgetfulness

So. Here's the deal: I'm a total goof. No really. I am. Trust me. I'll even prove it to you.

The long story short is that we have 2 laptops. Several months ago mine (the Toshiba) started smoking. We figured this probably wasn't a good thing & had it looked at and taken care of. In the meantime, all of my work from the Toshiba was backed to a flash drive so I copied that info to my husband's computer (the HP) and began working off of that.

When the Toshiba got back, I was already working on my husband's computer and actually liked it a bit better than mine. (Mine had been quirky since the hard drive crashed 11 months after I first bought it...and it WASN'T covered by the not-so-lovely people at Toshiba.) As a result, I just kept working on my husband's computer. We don't have wireless set up at our house so we really couldn't ever use both computers at the same time anyway. If I wasn't using it, my hubby did & vice-versa. (We had only purchased the 2nd computer because I refused to let my computer go with him to Guatemala last summer.)

Anyway. Months go by and neither of us has used the Toshiba. Did I mention that we password-protect both of our computers? If they are turned off, go to sleep, or are put into hibernation, they automatically require a password before you can get back in.

I'm sure you can see where this is going, right? My husband's computer starts to shut off after only 2-15 minutes of being on. No problem, I think. We'll just start using the Toshiba until we can get this one fixed. I prayed for enough time on hubby's computer to save all of my most current pics & documents as well as the kid's schoolwork to my flash drive. I was given that. Praise God!

Then...I try to log on to the Toshiba...and realize I don't remember the password. I had even given myself an incredibly unhelpful password hint. It's useless. You see, I've slept...a LOT...since I last used this computer.

There is a program I found that will decode it for you and another that will erase all passwords on the computer. I thought I had found my solution, but can't get my husband's computer to stay on for the 10minutes it takes the program to download onto his computer; let alone burn the image of the program to the disk. (I'm not sure exactly what it means to burn an IMAGE of a program, but that's apparently what you have to do with this program.) Both programs are free, but completely useless if you can't download them! Not only do I not know the password, but I can't get onto hubby's computer long-enough to download the software I need to decode or erase my password. UUGH!

And no...I can't use the computer I'm currently on to download the software either. It's my husband's work computer that won't allow downloads of that kind. I already tried! It's why I'm here! :-)

My next plan? Beg a neighbor to let me use one of their computers to download the software so I can crack my own password. All 3 of those wonderful, kind, caring, giving, loving, generous, and beautiful women read this blog. Think they'll get the hint? You're right. I better offer them some chocolate, too. Please? Pretty please?

Thank you everyone for your kind words and prayers as we deal with a sick computer and my forgetfulness.

-Me

My Computer Needs Redemption!

Just wanted to let my faithful blog readers know that my computer is evil. At least it is for the moment. What that means in my world is that it's not currently working.

Prayers for it to work long enough for me to get the last month's worth of work off would be AWESOME! Prayers that it would not be flung out the window in a fit of rage should that not happen would also be beneficial. (At least for the computer.)

If I'm not seen or heard from for a bit, I'm fine...I'm just doing time for having beaten my computer and will be back when my time is finished or my computer is fixed; whichever comes first.

-Me

Broken Heart

My heart is broken. I just found out that a dear, long-time friend of ours has made a heart-wrenching decision.

He says he no longer believes in God.

I know not everyone is a believer. When someone who WAS a believer says they no longer are. That's...it's just different.

What do you say? How do you handle this? Lord Jesus, he knows your word. Please bring him back.

-Me

Peace

Where does your peace come from? Is it dependent on your job? Your home? Your husband or wife? Your kids? Is your peace dependent on whether you have the money to pay your bills? Is It dependent on whether your house is clean or not? On whether your kids behave? Is it dependent on whether your laundry is caught up? Does your peace depend on whether your homeschooling is going exactly as planned? On whether you have the “perfect” curriculum or not?

Where does your peace come from?

If your peace comes from anyone or anything other than Christ, then your peace is only a false sense of security. It isn’t real. It’s the appearance of peace, but you do not have real peace. REAL peace only comes through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Colossians 3:15 says to, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”

Not only should we find our peace in Christ, but we are called to do so! There can be no true peace if that peace is not found in Jesus.

There are many things that will have the appearance of peace: Have a wonderful husband or wife, obedient children, the money to pay the bills, a good savings account, a nice house, a great homeschooling day/week/month/year, housework caught up, laundry done, a healthy family. LOTS of things can have the APPEARANCE of true peace. However, without Christ, all of these things are for nothing. There is no purpose to them. They are just activities that we do.

What happens when something goes wrong: Your husband or wife isn’t so wonderful, your kids disobey, your family loses income and can’t pay the bills, the savings dwindles &/or disappears, the house is foreclosed on or must be sold for a smaller one, you have a terrible day/week/month/year in homeschooling, the housework gets behind, the laundry isn’t done, or someone get sick. What do you do then? Where is your peace? Do you still have it?

Chances are if you found your peace in those things, then when those things are gone, so is your peace. If, however, your peace is in Christ then you’ll have the peace that passes all understanding. You’ll have that peace of knowing that although something is wrong, God will get you through. You may not know how, you may not know when, but you DO know that God will get you through. You have an unexplainable peace. It’s unexplainable largely because everything else around you says that you shouldn’t have peace…yet you do…and you can’t explain how.

I know. I’ve been there. Many times.

I’m still there.

There are days when I can’t tell you what tomorrow will bring, but I do know that God will be there with us. I know that He will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I know that even though tomorrow is not laid out for me, whatever it holds…I can still have peace.

I won’t always go there first. Sometimes God will remind me in prayer or in my quiet time that I have started to put my peace in something else and that I need to get my eyes back on Him. That happens when things are bad…and when things are good. I think it’s actually easier to take our eyes off of God when things are going well. It’s easy to “blame” our circumstances for our peace. When things go wrong, though…where do we turn? We know that ultimately, without Him…we won’t make it through.

I would like to encourage you to evaluate where your peace comes from. Try putting your peace and your trust in Jesus. Honestly answer this question: Are you relying on anything or anyone else to bring you peace? If everything around you falls apart tonight…would you remain at peace?

-Me

Martial Law?

For a couple of years now, I’ve heard those who were saying martial law was on the horizon. I’ve also heard MANY, MANY people say they were crazy. I’ve never said they were crazy. I’m not so naïve as to think our government wouldn’t do something to attempt to bring martial law down.

I saw first-hand accounts (via video) of people losing their Constitutional rights shortly after Katrina. I watched in horror as men searched houses without permission despite being told by the occupants that everyone there was fine. I also watched in horror as they took weapons away from people because it was an emergency. These people had committed no crime. They had made the decision to stay in their homes, there was no immediate danger or flooding in their homes (nor was there), and they were legally holding their legally purchased weapons in their homes. It IS legal to use a gun in defense of your home should someone try to break in. However, in crime-ridden New Orleans, these law-abiding citizens were stripped of the right to defend their homes…yet the criminals still had THEIR guns.

I am again watching in horror. Last Tuesday (April 28th), the Massachusetts Senate approved S18. This bill still has to go to the house for approval and then must be signed by the governor of the state. I would encourage you to read every word of this bill. It is what martial law will look like.

In short, “they” (meaning anyone whom the government places in authority) will have the supposed “right” to force entry into your home to inspect your home, its contents, your family members, and your pets. They can also force innocluations and decontamination. If you refuse, you will be placed in forced quarantine which may or may not be in your residence. Also, while you can initially refuse, they will send orders up to get your forced to comply while you are in quarantine. In other words, if you don’t, you’ll get away with it for a bit…but then, you’ll have to really do it.

Healthcare providers will be forced to do these searches, decontaminations, &/or innoculations or face losing their license.

Honestly, this makes me sick to my stomach. I would encourage you to call the state house and governor of Massachusetts as soon and often as you can to protest this bill! You don’t think it will apply to you because you’re not in that state? Think again. What happens in one state often filters down to others. You can find a complete list of all of the state house members here.
I believe the area code is 617.

-Me