Yes, we are still here...

even with our crazy week. Just seems like when I think I am getting caught up, I just fall further behind.

I did have a great talk with Phoebe today. I do love to hear her voice on the other end of the phone, rather than reading her name attached to something on the computer! As always we discussed everything. For two people with differing opinions we sure find a lot to agree on! She told me a story I had heard years ago, but had not thought of in a while:

A man was standing in rising water when another man came up on a log and offered to share the log. The man standing in the water said, "No, the Lord will provide." The water was rising quickly but soon a another man came by with a raft and offered the first man a ride. Again he said, "No, the Lord will provide." The water was still rising as yet another man came by in a boat and offered the man a lift. Yet again he said, "No, the Lord will provide." Well, the man drowned. And when he got to heaven he asked God, "Why did you let me drown?" God replied, "I gave you three chances!"

Thought provoking, whether you pray or not.


Today, the family went on a journey. We set out across town to Rosewood Market (organic store). It reminded me of the "German/Japanese store" in Augusta. I have found an answer to one of my questions: Yes, you can buy non-genetically modified (GM) cornstarch. I bought some today. What we have decided to do is go totally organic on dairy and be very picky on other things. No, we are not giving up on all things (well, except yellow #5 and trying to stay away from GM things). As a matter of fact, I made cupcakes tonight and the girls, and John, were in heaven. Just so you know, the organic milk we have been drinking is excellent, it's fat-free but taste like whole milk! There are a lot of new things we are attempting around here but I think it will all be for the best.

As for the momma cat and her three kittens, the momma was here tonight but there were no kittens. They were all here this morning, so I'm not sure what happened; but I'm hoping they all make it back tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see.

And now there are four...

yes, the momma cat came back today. But she brought three kittens this time. The newest kitten seems a little older than the others. He/She is almost twice as big as the other two and black and white instead of gray and black. I needed to go to Wal-mart for a couple of things so John wanted to pick up some kitty food. I wonder where exactly this is going to go.

Our home...

is our sactuary. I'd like to think so anyway. Home should be a place where the heart and mind feel peaceful and at ease. When you look around you realize you are surrounded by all the people you love and who love you. When I look around our home I see things that remind me of people who I have loved and no longer here. A rocking chair that belonged to my grandparents. My grandfather's American flag from his funeral. Pictures of those loved and lost. These things make me sad and happy. I am sad our loved ones are gone, but so joyful that I have possession of items that make me think of them daily.


I spent some time out on our front porch today. A place I have not lingered very long recently because of the heat. Today felt different. Today it said, "Sit a spell and take a load off." I did. I could faintly hear the goings on inside the house but all-in-all it was quiet. I sat watching birds gliding by in front of our home. A baby lizard came out of it's hiding place from somewhere on the porch. Today, our front porch was my sanctuary. A place to reflect and ponder the questions of the day. To reconnect with myself quietly and dutifully. It actually became the place I had imagined two years ago as we started building this home. A place for quiet thought. A place to soothe my soul when it felt the need the most. A day of emotional turmoil and frustration. But somehow our porch with it's wonderful rocking chairs seem to erase some of it.


I was reminded of my Grandfather's farm and the rocking chairs on the front porch. I went there often to escape the turmoil of twelve grandchildren in the house. There in the room where the front door was, I don't know what they called that room because it seemed more of a pass through than a room but too large to be called a foyer, another rocking chair I would escape too when outside was not an option. That is the rocking chair I now have. I suppose most of my life when I have searched out a quiet spot there has always been a rocking chair involved...maybe I should put one in the living room.

Our Friday night visitors...

Do you remember the cat that came by a few months ago? Well, she came back last night. She came back with two adorable little kittens.
Of course John, with his big heart, immediately went to the refrigerator to find them something to eat and gave them water. The girls sat in our bedroom watching them out our French door for quite awhile...until Rosie became very frustrated with the lack of attention.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist...

I'm really not.

I have just started (and almost finished) "The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick-And What We Can Do About It" by Robyn O'Brien. I saw her a few weeks ago on GMA and wanted to see more about her healthier approach to eating. This is something I've been slowly working on the past year for our own home. And while there are some things we are terrible at letting go (Dt. Mt. Dew for instance) there are some things that went and no one noticed. So I thought this book would help me a lot on the journey I had already started. Well. Just let me tell you this, if you get paranoid easily don't read it. On the other hand if you have some difficulty (medical or behavioral) with your children, may I suggest you read this. Even if you don't believe everything in the book (it is all backed up by outside info) you may at least find something that you can take away. Maybe it's "Marsha has lost her mind!" At least it would be something.

I spent most of our lunch telling John everything I've read so far. I don't quite understand all the science but I do get the gist...genetic food is out there and you are eating/drinking it when you don't have a clue you are doing it.

Yes, I heard about genetically engineered food long ago like the rest of us. However, in my little world where I am queen I thought that I would be given a choice when this stuff hit the market. I know the substitute sweetener I use is one of them but I don't let my girls have much of it because as my doctor told me they don't know if it is good or bad. So, I've been limiting it. Little did I know the milk we've been drinking contains some things you probably don't want to know about.

The circle she draws (using other people's research) is amazing. The circle between pharmaceutical companies and the FDA is not right. What bothers me the most is that these chemicals that they are feeding us have been outlawed/banned in most of the other countries of the world. Did you know Kraft makes one mac and cheese for us and another to sell outside the US? All because of Yellow#5.

So, where does all this put me and the journey I've been working toward with my own family? It puts me behind. Yes, I'll start buying organic whenever I can, especially milk based products (milk, yogurt, cheese). But I am also going to start fixing most things from scratch. Yes, for me the slow cook it will take me hours to prepare a meal, but I'm hoping it will contain fewer antibiotics and other things we certainly don't need to add to our diets.

Story of the World I and II...

together. I have to admit that even I was a bit skeptical about doing two different Story of the Worlds at the same time. However, it has really gone quite smoothly. Yes, have way too many history binders because of it but they are color coded and so far I have not gotten confused (go figure!). I believe the girls are enjoying doing their own thing. They can not compare themselves with the other, which for Chloe being in first and Jesse in third I believe is great thing. I just hope things keep going they way they have been. The only issue I have is that Jesse is about to catch up with me and my notes (I am in chapter 7; she just started chapter 4). I need to work harder. LOL

Fun with food coloring...

yes, we have had lots of fun with our first two experiments in Chemistry. So far, Jesse loves Chemistry. Thank you universe! The experiments in the books we have are very easy; but with them comes some writing of what we did and what happened. Then if there is a new word it requires a definition from one of the three chem reference books we now have. I have to admit that I was a little worried about how it would go, but so far it is going very smoothly. I just hope it stays that way.