The Mother at Home

Keepingthehome.com is reading a book that I decided to join in on. So far, so good. I want to share the book review and reading here on this site too. Read pages 24-28 at this site http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/ssb/display.cfm?TitleID=556&Format=jpg&PageNum=25. I will tell you what I think about it in a couple of days.

Adoption

While I have not had infertility problems, knock on wood, I have had several family members and close friends struggle with this painful trial. They are good people. They love the Lord. They love each other. They have sufficient financial means. They have beautiful homes that are just waiting for little feet to bless their floors with their pitter-patter. They ache when they see babies. They cry for babies. They think of little else (especially the mother – I say Mother because all women are mothers whether they have born children or not. Eve was the “mother of all living” before she bore any children. Women are mothers inherently.).

I adamantly support single mothers to lovingly place their baby in the arms of one of the many families I have mentioned above. Think of the alternative: poverty, no father, daycare from someone other than mom, (Grandma is not the same as mom!), mom still in the dating scene, instability, etc. Statistics and Facts on Adoption

Two nights ago I met with one of my good friends from high school. She informed me that her sister, of which I really enjoyed as a friend and person in high school, had a one year old son.

“I didn’t know she was married!” I exclaimed.

“She’s not.”

She then explained to me that the sister messed up, but was keeping the baby. That is what made my stomach fall.

These people who encouraged her to raise the child in a single parent home should know better; they claim to be good members of the church. Raising a child with a husband who supports the family well and a mom who stays home with the kids is hard enough, but when you add in the difficulties of a single mom, by choice, raising a child becomes almost impossible. The sister could have transformed a bad choice into a better outcome. She could have lovingly and selflessly placed that innocent baby in the arms of a couple who was not ashamed of having a baby or even worried, but yearning to have a child in their arms. Yearning to love and give the baby every opportunity in the world.

Here is the bottom line. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it states, “Children are entitled ….to be reared by a father and a mother”. This means that it is the child’s right to have both parents. It is not the birth mother’s choice. It is what the child needs and deserves. It is what God commands. I had to cringe when my friend said in a matter-of-fact way, “My sister is 27 she ought to be able to handle it.”

Adoption is not about “handling it”. It is about the baby and the best life he could have. It is about love. It is about making a child whole by giving them a family and then going on your way and making the best of yourself. It will hurt. I don’t doubt that. There is a bond built when you grow a baby in your womb, but keeping the baby is thinking of yourself. Think of it this way, birth mothers have the unique opportunity to give birth twice. The first birth is literal. The second birth is the birth of opportunity and security. Sharing that baby, with a family, is selfless and gives the baby life once again.

Memorization #2

Here is one by Edwin Markham

"He drew a circle that shut me out-
heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle that took him in."

Standing for Something

I loved this book and found several quotes to add to my memorization list. If everyone would read and act more virtuous, things would improve. I would recommend this to anyone no matter what your religious beliefs. We need to go back to the basics. We need values in our homes, schools, and government. Please read. I got this book for my husband for Christmas and hope that when my children are old enough they will read.

The Mother at Home

I have been following a bog and they are reading a book called The Mother at Home. WE read a little bit and then discuss. So far we are only 21 pages into it. You can find the book for free on line at this address. http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/ssb/display.cfm?TitleID=556&Format=jpg&PageNum=1 I have not yet read the book, but so far it has some really good thoughts and ideas.

Memorization #1

I like to memorize quotes / scriptures to keep my mind and memory sharp. Here is one I recently did from Shakespeare
"Good name in men and women
is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash.
But he that filches from me my good name
robs me of that which not enriches him,
but makes me poor indeed."

Getting Ready

We are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house tomorrow. So the packing begins today. This is not my favorite thing to do, but has to be done.

Right now 3yo and 1yo are sleeping so I will read my scriptures (Today I'm reading in Helaman 5 about what Helaman advised his sons to do and I will try to learn from him.) Then I will make dinner. (Beef and barley stew made with left-over roast.) Then I will clean up. (I will leave the hut 6yo and 3yo made earlier so they can play with it this afternoon.) Then I will pack, make a phone call and cut out pictures of my boys so that I can give them to family when I see them this Christmas. Then if there is any time left, which there usually isn't, I will have some me time to read.

When I figure out the picture thing or have time to mess with it I will take pictures of my HMB (Home Management Binder).

Holiday Candy

Today I have been making holiday candy to give to the neighbors as gifts. We have only lived in this house for about 3 months. This is the first neighborhood we have lived in since being married that we have even known our neighbors so this is the first time I'm doing this. I remember growing up and having neighbors bring goodies by and I loved it.

I make mints and cream cheese treats and something that was called "Easy Truffles". I messed them up. I guess for me they weren't easy, but next year I know what I did wrong so I can make them again.

Hubby made caramels on his lunch break. (He works from home on some days.) I had to finish them since he had to go visit some customers. We will take them to a friends house tonight where we will be singing carols to neighbors and then finishing with hot cocoa. Should be fun, but cold. (It is below freezing here. Brrrrrr!)

I have a hard time not eating all of the goodies. Self-control in this area is hard for me. I'm not overweight, but I don't want to become so. If anyone has any ideas on how to win this battle then please send your suggestions my way. Hubby loves the sweets so removing them from the house is not an option.

A few things that I will be posting soon. My home management binder with pictures. Some of my favorite sites to visit and maybe some pictures of me and my family.

Introduction

Just a bit about myself. I have a wonderful husband who is faithful and loves God. I have three boys ages 6, 3, and 1. I stay home with my children. I have strong feelings about certain subjects. Today I want to mention just a few.
1. God lives and is very much involved in our lives, if we will let him .
2. Families are better off if the mother stays home with the children and the husband provides.
3. Society would be better if women would realize the importance of raising a child and would devote themselves to this endever.
4. Raising a family will give a person more satisfaction than any coorperate job could.
5. One of the greatest sorrows we can experience is to see our children in pain and one of the greatest joys we will ever experience is to see our children succeed and be happy.
6. It is worth the effort and devotion to the family and home because, in the end, it is only the people we love who will be there for us and it is them who will matter to us.
7. Don’t sell yourself short with a career in the corporate world. Your talents and intelligence will be more beneficial to the world by creating a child who will contribute to society and make a difference in this world and then, in turn, will raise their children to be good people and down the line into eternity. The efforts and results of homemaking continue after we have left this world.

Another thing about me is that I had a scholarship to Pharmacy School and turned it down so I could be closer to the man of my dreams (my future husband). I have not regretted that for one moment. I love my life. I love my husband. My husband and I love being together and I believe that is, in large part, because I make our home a calm, peaceful, happy place to be. I am kind to him. I am good to him. I make time for him. He wants to be home. He treats me with kindness and respect and listens to my opinions.

I work hard at my job. I wake up early. I am primarily responsible for the nurture of our children. I devote myself to them. I have never been a homebody. I have always been extraverted. I was Student Body Vice President in high school. I was a state swimming champion two years in a row and have several school records. I have always been a straight "A" student. I graduated with highest honors with my Bachelors of Science. I love to read. I love to learn. And being a mother has stretched my abilities more than any other job could. I use everything I have ever learned to do my job as a homemaker. It is a challenge, but so extremely rewarding.