Socialization, yeah right, NO Thank you.

Here is an answer to socialization........... and one of the reasons why my children are no longer in public school. And if one more person asks me "what about socialization" they may find me "GOING OFF" on them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want my kids to have an education and to fear the Lord, not to be instructed on how to take a leap test and fear for thier lives. My children have many friends, I know thier parents and where they live, I even know who to call when "they" act a fool. In a P.S. setting, guess what, my kids are on thier own, and I am not allowed to interfere in my child's "safety and education"
Socialization, yeah right, NO Thank you.
Beth

Click here: School is Not for Socializing — Out of the Mouths of Public Schoolers! | Mother By Nature

http://motherbynature.ca/2009/02/school-is-not-for-socializing-out-of-the-mouths-of-public-schoolers/

eco friendly women's care products

I am making my own pads. Why not, I make just about everything else. (Recycled)
Many Moons has a pattern on their site to do just that. Or you can order pads from them.
I have made a few, but I am still tweaking it. Read the directions CAREFULLY!

Gustav Evacutation-Vacation

Home again, Home again, never to roam!
Jeesh I wish.
We made it through Gustav. Now we are watching Hanna, Ike, Josephine and whatever else comes next.
I would rather not talk much about the pains of evacuation, but rather the high points of it. We went to Picayune MS which is not that far away from New Orleans. But our elevation was a safe 200+ so we didn't have to worry about flooding. We were treated like Kings and Queens. Fed up to 3 meals every day and all of the comforts of home. Thanks Mr. Jules and Ms. Jannie. God bless you. They unfortunatly lost everything in St. Bernard Parish during Katrina. A lot of my FIL's friends did. They have 5 acres in Pic. Ms now and it was a fun Evacuation-Vacation-Labor day for my boys.
Except for the youngest running fever the whole time and a spider bite.
Thank God we are now home, with power and sewage!! Yeah! Not much to choose from in the food dept. But an Italian pie was open yesterday. So we had it delivered.
It was so nice to take a shower and sleep in my own bed. Especially taking a nap in piece.... That was soooo needed.
We will have to hang in there and see what IKE is up to though. I will keep yall posted.

Handmade bags-Earth friendly

Do you still use paper or plastic bags for your shopping?
Maybe you could try making your own instead.

I inherited 5 yards of really loud purple and neon flowered crepe.
What to do? Make grocery bags of course.

The cashiers often giggle and say "Oh, they all match!" Which happens to be code for "Eww. I can't believe you came out of the house with those."

The picture is tame. They are more garishly purple and neon than they look.
At first my youngest son ripped them out of my “granny cart”, because we almost always walk to the store, and he screamed “Nuh-uh! I am not going if you are bringing these ugly things!”, But he recovered when I explained that we were helping the environment.

I have also been crocheting some bags out of #10 cotton, I try to make them all a little different. I get bored with repetition.

Make a bottom as wide or as fancy as you want. Some I made with a granny square 6x6 in and then proceeded to chain 5, sc in ch space all around. When you get to the top divide stitches by 4, 2 sides you want to reduce the number and the other 2 sides you will make your handles. These will hold the lighter items like fruit or vegetables. Mine fit a 4 pack roll of toilet paper. But You can make them bigger.
I will try to write up an actual pattern soon. But try Firefly's 1Bag first.

I live on a farm free pattern

List of gratitude

Sometimes I feel like this blog has become a "bitch-fest" please forgive me. I don't always feel this way. Life has been challenging lately.
I guess I should post more on the things that make me happy, or make a gratitude list.

I am grateful for.....

God
My Husband
My children
My Mother
My Mother in Law(now passed)
My grandmother
My Mimi
My Bestemama
My Aunts... all 5 of them
and the rest of my family
a place to live
food to eat
money to survive
money to splurge
money to save
money to pay bills
money to .....whatever
a comfortable bed
a sweet dog
a sweet bird
a computer
a recliner
knitting needles
crochet hooks
donated yarn
knowledge
skill
paitence
that my husband has a job
that I can school my children
that my children are safe
that I still have my health
that my family still has their health
that my MIL is no longer suffering
a flea comb
flea medicine
school materials
electricity
gas
water
a bathroom sink that is unclogged
cable
computer
internet
that my identity is still intact...I pray
that my body can still function
that I still have all of my faculties
my earings
my wedding ring
that my husband still wants me
that I still want my husband
that my husband has quite a few years off of drugs(5ish)
that we had places to go when Katrina demolished our city.
that we had food to eat
that we didn't lose anyone
that we didn't lose our home
that I still have my hair
for the grays-I have earned them
for the wrinkles-aging gracefully(I HOPE)
that my children are good kids
that I even had children
that they are boys
my stepdaughter
that she is still alive
that she didn't do me in...
that she is an adult
my step dad-Bigfoot
my extended family
my father in law
my sister in law
her family
all of my brothers and sisters
my friends
wanda
her family
that I have people who give me clothes
that I have a church
that I have my faith
that I have hope
that I have love
that I have comfort
that I have relief
that I have strength
that I have peace
that I have knowledge
that I have wisdom
that I have discernment
that I have energy
that I have health
that I have God
that I have Jesus
that I have life
that I was able to give life
that I am able to see and know those lives
that I am able to love those around me
that I can forgive, many times over
that I can be forgiven
that I can dream
that I have all of my senses
that I know love
that someone loves me
that I am able to make things for people who have less
that I don't live in a third world country
that I can be proud to be an American
for our soldiers
for those who have fought/given life/limb/sanity for my freedom
God blesses America
God blesses me and my family

This is a long gratitude list...I could continue, but I think I could be here all night.
Thank you, God- for everything.
Your daughter

Medicated child?!!!??!!!!!????!!!! What!!!!!!!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/medicatedchild/

As a homeschooling Mom of 2, I have been confronted with "teachers" who have suggested that I put my children on medication for ADD or ADHD. This special on Frontline--The Medicated child, really opened my eyes. I am proud to say that with the help of God and the support of my husband, I have NOT put either of my children on any medication. If I do go to a Doctor who suggests Medication I will change doctors. WHAT is WRONG with people.... A 4 year old "normal" hyper child should not need to be zombieized.
I know parents and children who have had to be medicated. Knowing the situation, it was necessary. And the child is thriving. But these medications are being over prescribed and the kids are being over diagnosed.
Let kids be kids and pay attention to them Parents, stop being lazy, sending them to overcrowded schools, with teachers who are too busy to cope with a curious or bored child.
I don't know how far this will go. But I have no intention presently of putting my boys on anything. I will do my best as their mother, to give them the best possible chance for a drug free life as I can. God willing.

cool beans....

Here are a bunch of fun pics of my MIL.





These show her sense of humor and her openness. I love the one with her looking like Dorf. When she hugged me in the wedding picture that was the moment that she said,"Now you will call me MOM!". I loved that.

I have finally found one of my best childhood friends. Chris! Yea! This has made my year. My life has been so overwhelming lately. This is one thing I can be happy about.

Mourning into dancing

This morning at about 4:20, My Mother in Law passed away.
She went to be with God. I am relieved that she is no longer suffering.
So when I say God has turned my mourning into dancing, and my sorrow into joy. I am not trying to offend those who need time to mourn. I have been in mourning for the last 3 months, and now I have a heavy weight lifted from me. Her struggle is done and she is at peace. I am also at peace. Mom, I love you, you have been a kind friend.

raslin'

My Husband and the kids are big fans of 'raslin'. I have had enough!!!!
LORD, You have to handle this one, before I go "Ghetto" on these boys.
Dad thought it would be fun (against Mom's better judgement, and pleading)
to 'rastle' with the boys.Dad has since gone to bed.
Well now they are wrestling in thier bedroom and it is past midnight.
I did what any mom would do in this situation.
1.Woke up Dad! Loudly!!
2.Took the T.V. from Jr.
3.Punished Jr-Jr. from racing.
4.Gave them a lecture in not 'raslin' cause they will get hurt.
5.Gave DAD the lecture that I am puttin my foot down, NO "RASLIN".
6.Pet Maggie, cause she didn't do anything wrong and she didn't like Mommy's lecture.
7.Made another cup of coffee.
8.Prayed
9.Prayed that God stops me from hurting them.
10.Prayed that God changes their hearts about 'raslin'.
Now I am on "El Guapo" typing this on my blog.......
still to upset to go to bed, and the coffee isn't helping.
Thank you Lord for my family!!!

Maggie and the nose

There once was a sweet babe named Maggie, who needed her personal space.
Her daddy loved her so much, that he liked to kiss her face.
When Maggie grumbled, her daddy thought she wanted to coze.
She said "Back off" and bit him right on the Nose!





Add in courtesy of Bigfoot~~~~
Eric, Beth’s Red Nose Dear
Eric, Beth’s red nose dear, had a very shiny nose, all who seen it recently would say it glowed, all his friends Maggie and Ellie would laugh under there breath and call him names, then Maggie told him right before New Years Day, Eric I’ll bite your nose if you don’t get it out of my face! Then all of Eric’s family began telling him he would go down in history, the only one with a nose so bright it matched his pickem up truck!
We Know it only hurts when you laugh so we are laughing with you!

Officer Shot

Our friend "Tank" ,Thelonius Dukes, was shot this morning.
This is a really Great guy! It just saddens me that people have no regard for life. This officer is a 19 year veteran of the New Orleans Police Dept., He stayed through Katrina. Tank was an officer in the Child Abuse Division ,and more recently in Narcotics Division. When I say a Great Guy, I am not kidding, he didn't know any strangers. His Charisma was welcoming.
Please Pray a prayer for him, this officer is one of the Best people I have ever known. He is still in Critical conditon at University Hospital. Please also say a prayer for his wife, She is also having a hard time.


UPDATE: Tank is better. Still not out of the woods, but better. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you Father for listening.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression!
Yeah, I admit it! After the birth of my first child, it was very mild. During my second pregnancy it became worse. After the birth of my second child it was horrible. I did not seek treatment, because I did not know I had it. 2 years later, When I miraculously "snapped" out of it. I could put 2 and 2 together.
If you feel any ill will toward you baby or resentment, please talk to your doctor. Don't just muddle through like I did.
My youngest is now 8 years old, and I still feel some guilt about not "wanting" him when he was born. But I wouldn't give up any of my kids, they are my life.