Turkey Cracks

Have you ever priced solid-surface countertops, like Corian and such? Don't. I have, and let me tell you it's not fun. No, I'm not trying to remodel the kitchen, now that we have no savings account. I have more wisdom than that.

But not as much wisdom as I would like, apparently.

I only wanted to make Turkey Soup. Is that too much to ask? I wouldn't think so. I was even carefully determining the days and foods for Hubby, so that said soup would be done on time, would be palatable, and wouldn't make him drop dead, like if a noodle got in.

We had one turkey left from last year. It was probably 45 pounds or so; definitely not a lightweight. It would not fit in the roaster. So I asked Hubby to saw it in half, because I thought half would probably fit. I should not have done that.

Hubby sawed.

The counter broke.

I don't know if it shows up in the picture below, but the break is reminiscent of a windshield ding. It has a center point, and 5 or 6 cracks and breaks radiating out from that point.

(and no, don't buy that brand of honey shown in the picture. Yuck.)

This is my beloved kitchen island. Thankfully, it is a stand-alone island and not the main along-the-wall counter. This island is about 27" wide and 6 1/2 feet long. A solid-surface guy a couple hours from here gave me a "ball park" figure of $600-800 to replace it. [choke, cough, sputter] JUST the countertop. Not installing it. I didn't even buy duct tape last time I had the opportunity because IT was too expensive. Of course, if I wasn't picky about color, they might have some "remnants" for somewhere around $450. Is that all? Walter, I wish we lived about 40 states closer. Maybe then you would be able to hook me up with a nice salvaged slab o' granite for a tenth of that price...

I HOPE to be able to hook up with the original maker of the counter. He is the brother of the guy who built this house, and his business is these counters. Is there such a thing as an "acquaintance-of-the-family discount" on a remnant? I'm not sure it would even be in the budget then. But boy, I SO don't want my kitchen held together with duct tape (or baling wire). Trust me, it's not like my standards are so high that I'm impossible to live with.

But in light of the price of replacing the counter, I might have to re-think the "duct-tape is too expensive" idea. That or try to convince the insurance that we felt that San Francisco quake at just the moment Hubby* was sawing the turkey.

*Just a thought: Can you insure a person? No, not like life-insurance, more like liability...?

Can You Tell I Want This Book?

The authors themselves are giving ten copies of this book away! It looks great. I WILL get one, whether or not I win one (but winning one would get it to me faster, I'm sure).

Here's hoping!

Wish List - Round Two!

Life In A Shoe is doing another Vision Forum giveaway drawing! Go check it out and enter (but let me win this time, please?).

Here's what I'd like to win:

So Much More
Family Man, Family Leader
Ten P's in a Pod
A Church in the House
Be Fruitful and Multiply
Raising Maidens of Virtue
Bugle (yep, the bugle)
Building a Family That Will Stand
Passionate Housewives Desperate for God!
and
Entrepreneurial Bootcamp DVD Collection

Here's hoping (praying?)!

Real Evil

Most (both?) of you have probably heard the newsflash a few days ago that J.K. Rowling announced that one of the characters in the Harry Potter books was gay.

I have not read the books.

I have not seen the movies.

I am not convinced that my children will become satanists if they read or watch Harry Potter. I'm not among those Christians who deem it inherently wicked and evil due to it's portrayal of magic and sorcery (remember though, I haven't read it). It certainly never struck me as anything that would edify, however, so I haven't planned to pursue it.

That has all changed.

When I heard the above newsflash, I was horrified. I have piles of problems with political correctness, so-called 'tolerance', and the State replacing parents, but this "out-ing" as it were, really rubbed me the wrong way. How dare they? How dare they produce and market and sell to our children, and then spring this? As I understand it, the character in point is a good, kind wizard. Maybe even a teacher-wizard or something. Did you know this is a stated technique to further social acceptance of this sexual deviancy? Yep, take that which is good, kind, smart, or wonderful in some way, and then (once those traits are recognized and accepted) assign a new label; gay. It's called 'conversion.' It manipulates the mind to associate gay with good. And while I find it annoying to see this method used upon me in the media, at least I am mature enough to recognize and refute it. I find it downright wicked, however, to witness this manipulation aimed so straightforwardly at our children. To me, THAT is the greatest threat I've seen from Harry.

I Just Like This Picture

Looking west from my back step, summer 2006.

Claim to Fame

It's happened again..! I've been noted in the annals of famous blogs. I guess that's a first, really. The last Amazing Thing was when famous bloggers visited AND COMMENTED here. But this time AtoS has shown up in the blogroll of Making Home! If you haven't clicked over there, you should. It's full of tons of Deep Thoughts. And I really admire her; she's young, but really tackles some big issues. I take on big issues, but I don't usually tackle them. Part of me is afraid I'll paint a spiritual target on myself . Like if I say "you raise kids this way" that'll guarantee that mine turn out terribly. But maybe I should address that particular problem of mine in another post...

In any case, I'm quite humbled, again. I'm sure these bloggers have much more better and important things to do than take notice of this silly blog (which most of the time serves solely as a journal of events for me). It gives me a feeling akin to what you see in movies when some lady brings her hand to her chest and gasps out, "Who, me? Why, thank you!" And I'm really so not like that.

In any case, Jess, if you ever happen to click this way and see this, you may discount the vote on your Christians Talking Sex poll that states "it's worldly and shouldn't be discussed" - I was so excited to see my blog on your list that I sent a link to my brother, who promptly wanted to skew your results...

SCHIP

I know, this is old news. It isn't happening (right now, at least). But I recently emailed my congressman, who tried to override the President's veto of this. That annoyed me. Why? Wouldn't we qualify under their new (or current!) standards for this children's health insurance plan? Sure we would. But I prefer freedom.

Let me explain... The idea of this Children's Health Insurance stuff is to provide the 'working poor' (families of four with an annual income of $60-some thousand [proposed] or less). How will this be paid? Taxes of course. And who pays taxes? Well, families with incomes of 60-some thousand, for starters! So basically they'll insure our kids if we pay for it. Oh, but we can't shop around, or choose not to buy it at all. And we all know what happens to prices and services when the government starts footing the bill... (anyone been to the DMV lately?). So ultimately they just want to take away my choice in the matter. And THAT really annoys me.

Here is what I wrote to my congressman:

I'm writing to express my disappointment with your vote to override the president's veto of this bill. The bottom line for me is that it would take away my choice... Instead of having the choice of insurance (or to choose to forego it), that choice is made for me, and then I AM TAXED to pay for it. How is that of any benefit? One month ago I gave birth at home with a midwife, and I don't have insurance. Were I paying for it (thru taxes or otherwise), I wouldn't have been able to use it. I and the baby were treated with all sorts of non-traditional things, from the herbs to help heal my tear, to the ointment for her belly button. These wouldn't have been covered by insurance, and I would have been paying twice for them. The other option is that Mother Government would be watching over my shoulder and approving or disapproving and overseeing every little thing, and that would be horrendously stupid (and take away even more choices). By the way, while my first two children were born at the hospital with great outcomes, this was the best birthing experience I've had. Had we been taxed extra to pay for insurance we wouldn't use, I might not have been able to afford this option. Please consider this next time you have a chance to represent us.

I know, this is more about *me* than my children, but the same principle applies.

One other related annoyance: Don't you just love how these dummies universal-healthcare-advocates throw around phrases like, "forty-million American children are denied healthcare." I'm sorry, isn't there some sort of rule or law that hospitals follow that states that no one will be denied healthcare due to race, religion, blah blah blah, or inability to pay...? I'm pretty sure that's been posted on the wall (in several languages, even) in every hospital room I've been in. So let's just stop with the whole "children-are-denied-healthcare" argument, shall we? What they mean is those "who don't have someone else to pay for their medical bills." We can't forget those "who don't have someone else to pay for their electric bills" or those "who don't have someone else to pay for their satellite or cell phone bills." Aren't those rights too? Though my cell company doesn't post that no one will be denied airtime due to inability to pay...!

What do you think?

What About Socialization?

I did NOT write this post. I'm absolutely plagiarizing and stealing this entire thing from a blog I ran across. It's excellent.


This is one of the first questions people ask about homeschooling, and I'll be honest enough to admit it was one of my major concerns. The question can have many meanings.

How will your child learn to stand in line, raise his hand before speaking, take turns, etc.?

My child will learn any skills useful for living as we spend our days together.

I don't raise my hand before speaking in the course of daily life, and I don't consider it a useful skill. So while my children may never perfect the art of waving their hands around shouting "me, me - pick me," they will know how to let others finish before speaking, greet others politely, etc. They will learn those skills by watching me and having me there to coach them in their day to day interactions.


As for standing in line, we do it weekly at the grocery store. The problem my kids have when in line with other children is that they don't run, push and shove to get in the front. They usually end up at the back, perfectly content, assuming every one will get a turn. I'm usually the one standing there fighting the urge to say, "hurry, hurry - get up front" or "don't let him cut in front of you." :)

How will your child learn to handle bullies?

I don't think children who are bullied learn to handle bullies. I think children who are bullied learn to tolerate being bullied. And those who can't tolerate it suffer terribly, sometimes hurting themselves or others (as we saw in the Columbine killings).

Further, I don't think learning to handle bullies is a useful skill. I have not had a group of girls threaten to beat me up since high school. I have not been in a physical altercation (I was in at least 4 and even won a couple, thankyouverymuch) since high school. I have not been groped or sexually harassed since - you guessed it - high school.


As an adult I have to deal with difficult people, but if I find someone extremely unpleasant, I can choose not to be around him or her. Not once have I been forced to endure daily taunting, ridicule or physical assault or interact with those who would engage in such behavior. And the bullying I encountered in school did not teach me appropriate ways to handle difficult people. It taught me to be hard hearted and quick tempered, and to always walk around with a slightly mean look on my face.

How will your child learn to be around people that are different than he is?

Public school students spend their days in a room with thirty or so children who are their same age, socioeconomic status and, more often than not, race. These children quickly learn that older kids do not play with younger kids, girls don't play with boys, rich kids don't play with kids who shop at Target, skinny kids don't play with fat kids, and so on.

These children also learn to adjust their mannerisms and behaviors to mimic those of their classmates, and to torment those who don't fall in line. School does not teach children to appreciate diversity. It teaches conformity and pecking order.


As an adult I do not sit in a room full of other thirty year olds, taunting the person next to me because she has a big nose and wears glasses. I don't want my children on the giving or receiving end of that unsocial behavior.


In the course of a week, my oldest may visit my grandma and her roommate in the nursing home, chat with a grocery store clerk or librarian, practice flag football with his age mates and entertain his younger sister and a friend. We go on outings and read stories from other cultures as well as those from our own culture. This is how he learns to appreciate diversity.

How will your child make friends/learn to be a good friend?

This is an area where I still doubt myself at times. And every time the Lord brings me back to the truth, most recently in the form of a book which is not even about homeschooling, called Hold On to Your Kids. It is a difficult read, but worth it if you can get past the pyschobabble and faulty discipline advice. Chapters 14, 15 and 17 are especially worth reading.


The premise of Hold On to Your Kids is that early peer relationships are HARMFUL to children and are the cause of disrespect, rebellion, bullying, victimization and many other undesirable behaviors. The authors, Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate, contend that children do not need to build relationships with other children, they need relationships with loving adults.


The book confirmed everything my aunt and Elizabeth from Raising Godly Tomatoes have been teaching me about sheltering and the dangers of peer orientation. Since my family cut back on play dates and age-segregated activities, my oldest is more confident, content and creative, and much better behaved.How will your child learn good social skills?

I've rambled on enough, so I leave you with this quote from Dr. Raymond Moore:"So how would you feel if local laws required that you bring your pup to the bus stop each day to join other dogs in a yellow cage that wheels down the road to the kennel or pound for socializing exercises? You know for sure that association with the pack is the fastest way to destroy any obedience training *you* have planned.Does anyone who knows children believe that the yellow school bus takes children down the road to a constructive, positive sense of society? Or returns them in the afternoon or evening more loving creatures than when they left in the morning?"-Dr. Raymond Moore, The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook

Projects

Since Baby I've been trying to get some sewing done. She and I went to the local fabric store for their Columbus Day Sale and found some DEALS. The clearance racks (priced at $1-$5) were half off, and we scored big. I think I bought 23 total yards of material. Tweed that had an original price of $14/yd or so was bought for $2 or $2.50/yd. This post-partum body needed a wrap-around skirt, and for $5 total you can't beat it. I found some Quilter's Premium cotton that is always way out of my price range and bought a couple yards of it. I'm working on a baby quilt. The one in her last picture was a gift to my firstborn 6 years ago. I love it. It's the perfect size and weight. Plus, it was handmade by my late mom's old girl-scout friend. It's wearing out a bit, and the embroidery thread used to tie it is mostly missing. I'm not sure how many times I've tightened those little knots over the years, but the years are winning. I and the knots are losing.


Here is the quilt so far:



It is folded over in this photo. The light portion is the back, and the darker fabric is the top. You can see that I didn't want to risk having to tie knots every few months so I machine quilted it. I even quilted her name within it, in small cursive letters. :) I've trimmed the excess batting away, and I have some sagey-colored binding to affix to the edge, and then I suppose we're done! I hope it's nice and stands up as well as the last one has...

Showering Babies

In my past, I've had very strong views about baby showers. I think I'm coming to understand why that is.

Previously, I have enjoyed attending, participating in, co-hosting, and even having my own baby shower - for a first baby. Possibly even for that not-first baby that appeared after some significant gap between it and it's nearest older sibling, or having a boy after a handful of girls (or vice versa). AFTER that first (or gapped!) baby, however, my enjoyment dims considerably. Why is this?

First, I think the argument that 'every baby deserves to be welcomed into the world with a baby shower' is ridiculous. Often they're held before the baby arrives. I don't know about you, but if you're going to throw me a party, wait till I get there. When they're held after the baby arrives, the baby probably doesn't really enjoy it much anyway. Handed from person to person to hold, picking up a new germ strain from each one, all that fun stuff. :) So throwing a shower is a silly way to welcome a baby, in my mind. We should at least be honest that the party is for the mother or mother-to-be.

Second, baby showers are notoriously full of silly games. I will admit my bias here, for 2 reasons; one, for a while there everyone and their cousin was having or throwing baby showers, and they were getting very old; two, I am fairly good at some of those games, and eventually was not allowed to participate in them because I won them too often (ooo, is that Marxism? Bet they don't recognize that!). Aside from my deep emotional wounds, however, I still think most of the games (at least the ones I have seen) become tedious after a while.

Third, and perhaps most annoying, is that repeat showers seem to hold such an expectation of gifts. "I'm having a party so you can bring me presents" is how it starts to sound. I lose the joy in it when it becomes a requirement. Eventually I just don't feel free to bless from my heart a new baby (or it's mother) when I am called on so frequently to bestow an offering. And for myself, having a shower for a second (or third!) girl would feel as though I was placing an unnecessary burden on others.

Before Little Monkey was born, these sentiments were known to a few people, and many people at church brought little outfits or gifts for us on one of our first Sundays with her. I was blessed by this. By all means, if you wish to bless us, we will receive it! Come visit! But please, please don't feel as though it is a requirement or expectation. Or that you aren't "welcoming a deserving little baby" if you can't spare the time or resources to participate in a full-fledged shower.


*I wrote this previously, and in rereading it I think I should emphasize that I don't mean to assign motives to anyone. Not everyone enjoying their seventeenth baby shower is trying to say "bring me presents" and perhaps many others love nothing more than giving gifts at baby showers. This post is nothing more than my opinion, and as has been made obvious in many other posts, I am nowhere near average among my peers. This is my feeble attempt to put into words some of my perceptions and try to figure out how I got there. Please don't feel offended by it...

Nothing Bloggable

I frequently write about the little things going on. Lately, one Little Thing in particular. :) But, while every tiny moment is a treasure to me, I'm not so sure my reader(s?) would feel the same. I mean, other than her mother, who cares how much she sleeps or how many diapers she uses in a day, or that we've made it past the excruciating hell that is those first two weeks of nursing?

That's what I thought.

I did get her baby book in the mail today. For some reason I never do buy those before having the baby, and I have a hard time answering those questions like, "after we told everyone we were expecting you, Daddy and I celebrated by ________." I don't know; should I make something up? No one threw a party, if that's what they're asking. Some of it I just don't remember. Like when I first felt movement. I might be able to pinpoint it on a calendar if I sit down and think hard enough, but that's not very high on the to-do list. And the whole baby shower page isn't going to work (oh, baby shower; there's a post I could write--stay tuned). Maybe I could tear those out. That and the pages of "oh, here's my ultrasound photo" and "my hospital bracelet." I don't know if she'll feel more or less special foregoing those niceties. Hopefully more.

In other news, I have wagons full of green tomatoes. Still. I have a garage full of hanging tomato plants full of green tomatoes. Still. Wonder what green-tomato-lasagna tastes like? Green-tomato-spaghetti? Hm... The miniature indian popcorn is adorable, however. If I can ever make the computer recognize that there is a camera plugged into it, I will post some pictures of said popcorn. And said baby. :) Speaking of, scroll down to the Organic Baby post, and take a gander at my nice label...

I'm Not Shampooing Anymore

That sounds like a really momentuous announcement, but truth be told, it's not much of a stretch from my life before I read this other blog about it. Now though, instead of complaining that I don't have time for basic personal hygeine, I can pretend say that it's all part of a grander, more noble plan. It might even be better for our world (read: my septic tank). Too, my brother isn't calling me a tree-hugging hippy often enough.

I have the naturally-curly hair that the other blogger talks about, so I figure I might as well give it a go. I haven't followed her prescription exactly (forgot about the vinegar) but Hubby has no complaints so far.

I don't know that it will save us any money. I already was buying quart-or-larger sized shampoo and conditioner at the Used Food Store for $2.99 apiece at most. Each set lasts me a year probably. Maybe longer.

Now, if I could just find a quart of olive oil for $2.99...

Organic Baby

But not USDA-certified. The government can keep it's hands and oversight off, thankyouverymuch. :)

I was laughing about this with a friend. How un-messed-with and 'natural' my baby is. She didn't have any of that antibiotic ointment/silver nitrate/whatever stuff put in her eyes at birth (gosh, and she didn't contract syphilis without it). No Heb B vaccine (she hasn't participated in a lot of bodily-fluid-exchange activities yet - unless you count breastmilk). No blood test(s). No PKU or other painful blood-draws. No hearing test (officially - but loud older sisters have provided evidence that she indeed hears fine). No icky baby formula. No immunizations (so far). Her person is intact, nothing taken and nothing foreign introduced. In fact, she thought having her footprints done on her cute little birth certificate was torture. I told her she didn't know how good she has it.

I had no ultrasound or strep B test (though if the midwife suspects it she has some herb-oil concoction she puts on the baby to prevent it) or gamut of STD tests or even a pap smear. It's been interesting to note these things.

I should also like to say that were she my first I would likely have done much of the above. Some, at least. Or if there were some suspicions that would render something reasonable (for instance, if the height of the uterus measured unusual for a point in gestation, an ultrasound might be called for) I might've pursued those options as well. But, having a normal pregnancy (well, discounting all the magic-voodoo prenatal care :) ), previously testing negative to all the typical blood tests,and two babies 'behind me' that tested normal for the hearing/genetic thins makes me much more comfortable in abandoning those conventions this time around.

And we managed to avoid (again!) The Great Circumcision Decision, so that was nice!

Waxing Religious?

I'm always religious, though. And I actually hate the term. Religious to me means a set of rules or laws laid down and that is not at all how I view God or my relationship with Him. But I digress, and I haven't even started yet.

I've recently posted on my gratitude for our littlest, and my geopolitical/moral views about the subject of families with more than the average number of kids. This will address my 'spiritual' views on having children in general. These were all one confusing post in a past life.

I saw a scripture referenced last night. I don't remember where. It was a single verse from Matthew, and I was so amazed to see it in light of the idea of having children. Matthew 18:5, quoting our Savior, no less, reads,

Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

I think that about sums up my view on the subject. I can't find a better authority to quote.

There are other scriptures. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5. That is my other favorite, though in my aged-ness I may need to research the Psalmist's definition of "youth" a little more specifically here. :)

Nowhere in the Bible can I find reference to anyone praying to not have children. Nowhere does God punish someone by giving them more children. Quite the contrary: Hannah, Rachel, Tamar, Sarah, and others plead with God to open their wombs so they might bear children. When God poured out blessings, he "greatly increased them," and I don't think He was only talking about their bank accounts. Modern America would finish the Job story with Job receiving double his herds and servants, but only half his original number of children. After all, if he wanted to prosper, he'd need less mouths to feed (minds to educate?), right? God doesn't seem to think so...

Celebrities Visit

Have you noticed? The past couple weeks have resulted in comments from Kendra of Preschoolers and Peace, AND her very funny dentist hubby, "Fletch" of The Mango Times. He jokes about his 'three readers'. I think that's more than mine, though. :) Oddly enough, I know I've never commented at The Mango Times, and maybe once, ages ago at Preschoolers and Peace. I read them frequently, though, so maybe they have one of those magic internet tracking devices or something, and they know who visits. I want one of those. To see if I really do have three readers or not. So, the odd part is that they know. The amazing part is that they clicked here and left a comment. Do you suppose a mother or father of seven (I think) kids does that a lot? Takes time to say 'congratulations on your cute baby' or 'thanks for the link, and we multiply, not add'? *I'm* blessed, for sure. Whether they do that a lot or not. Don't tell Fletch that I think fluoride is evil, though. That, combined with my reference to 'crazily-huge homeschooling families' might prompt him to delete his comment (can you do that? I bet he can. Probably has a magic internet comment-deleter) and that would be devastating to my blog-comments-by-celebrities stats.

Obligation or Irresponsibility?

Having kids, that is. Should we? Should we not? My personal answer is obvious... :)

As I continue to research homeschooling and household-management how-to's, I run across many large or growing families, and am struck by their genuine passion to serve God in part by raising their children up in His Admonition. In light of this, I find the general attitude of many Americans and Europeans very odd. There are those who find it 'irresponsible' to have a larger than 1.6-child family. Whether because they believe these children will use up resources, or be a financial strain on their parents, contribute to global overpopulation, global warming, or any other host of concerns, I don't know. All of the above, probably. Interestingly, Europe and America (discounting immigrants) and much of the world have dwindling and aging populations. Who will work and spend to support the economy, if we do not increase our children? Who will pay taxes for the elderly's Medicare if we have less children? Forget the economy... who will be the doctors, nurses, or cooks at the nursing homes where these pessimists will spend their later years???

For myself, I don't feel badly about having 3 daughters. I don't even watch the news, but it doesn't take much to figure out that there are a lot of deplorable people out there. A lot of idiots, a lot of ill-raised children and adults. Instead of shaking my head and bemoaning those who "would bring another person into this sad world," I think perhaps those who can raise up decent people should do so! We're going to need a lot of decent people to counter-balance the crummy ones out there. I'm trying to do my part... And no, I'm not anti-birth-control. Every time I venture out, I see many, many people who should be practicing it exclusively. In fact, were I God, many people would be sterile.

As to overpopulation, I got out my 10-digit calculator years ago and figured out the silliness of that myth. I don't know how to prove or disprove it with my calculator, but I've also read that "if current trends continue" the world population will peak in the middle of this century (or before) and start 'demographic freefall'.

And I've settled my answer to Gi-gi's frequent "do you have any idea what it costs to feed, clothe, and educate kids these days???" comment: "Well, Gram, is there anything more worthwhile to spend money on..?"

What a Blessing!

This Baby seems so different. Not the Baby herself, really, more the experience of her. My heart just overflows with gratitude that God chose to bless us with such a darling. It's not that I wasn't blessed and thankful for her older sisters; I certainly was. I still am. But this time around I feel it so much more acutely. I'm not sure why.

Maybe because I'm *so old* now (ok, 29 3/4 isn't old to some, but it's older than I've ever been). Maybe age and maturity (ahem) give you a new understanding of the miracle that is a Baby.

Maybe it's all the St. John's Wort. Good stuff, that, and on sale too.

Maybe because, were it entirely up to us, we wouldn't have had her. That is a scary thought. Around the time we got pregnant, I was still very much caught up in the dilemma of whether or not I could add another baby to my life without exchanging for it my somewhat-tenuous sanity. We were sure we weren't ready to do anything permanent (or if that's even something we really want to do, ever), but not sure whether or when to 'try again'. Her very existence was within a breath of never even happening. THAT seems so scary to me. That makes those crazily-huge homeschooling families seem far more understandable, the way they don't want to deny or limit such blessings. Looking at this, our third daughter, and thinking she wouldn't even be if 'my plans' had prevailed makes me value her in a special way. I am humbled and grateful that God is sovereign and so good.

Close Call

Well, maybe not. The girls and I (all four of us!) braved the wholesale warehouse to shop yesterday. Big job, that.

I almost bought a case of 12 small cans of mushrooms for Hubby (he doesn't realize mushrooms are a fungus and therefore related to Athlete's Foot - ewww). The ingredients list passed the test (mushrooms, salt, ascorbic acid), but then I caught sight of another nice little piece of information.

Product of China.

No thanks. I've long sought to boycott china (impossible). These days, I'm convinced they're out to get us. Rat poison and melamine in pet food. Lead in baby toys. Now this. Nope. We're not buying food Made In China. Would I rather starve? Interesting question. I might last longer if I did...