Baby Got Book

Just for laughs....

Weekending with the McVays or Wanted unpaid workmen!

Romans 12:13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

This weekend Jessica & Rachel came up from Houston to stay with us in the country. What fun to have friends from Houston come and visit us for a weekend.



Please come and stay with us especially if you live out of town but be warned we are going to live life together during that time! If you are around the house we'll have you out working along side of us. You'll get to (Just like Jessica & Rachel did)

• Help build a chicken coop


• Paint a shed


• Go to Annika's Skating birthday party!


• give my kids a bath & get them ready for bed (Thanks Rachel)


• Help me cook


• Goggle late at night


• Reuplster my chairs

(Activities vary by weekend, this list is not a guaranteed list of fun and frolic, just possibilities of the incredible excitment around the farm!)
As a young Christian woman my goal was not hospitality it was an attempt to show 'whoever' how nice my house was and what a wonderful homemaker I was. Somehow the glory was not pointed at the Lord but pointed at me, me, me, me! So I tended to work really hard prior to their arrival which would leave me tired and a wee bit grumpy.

According to miriam Webster dictionary hospitality means to be hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition and hospitable means the following:

1 a: given to generous and cordial reception of guests b: promising or suggesting generous and cordial welcome c: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment2: readily receptive :

I did not notice cranky, tired and overworked in that definition! Or that the guest should compliment the hostess on the lovileness of her home and her incredible homemaking skills! My life manual also says “…Keeping God’s commands is what counts” 1 Cor 7:19b Thus, a change for me was in order.

What my handy dandy life manual says is that I am suppose to ...

• Offer hospitality to one :another without grumbling."1 Peter 4:9
• Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.Titus 2: 4-5
• As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.Provebs 27:17
• No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

So we have set up our lifestyle to be hospitable! All three girls share one room (because it is not good for man to be alone, but that is whole different post) and that leaves a room open for weekend guest! (Really, we are waiting for you Sarah, Jen, David, to come and stay with us!) I keep the pack and play in there and we have a bunk bed for you. We are like a really cheap not so fancy bed & breakfast! I try to keep our room full of guests and oh how the children



Don't be a sad or lonely single/married couple/college student who attends LHBC without a family to love you here just drop me an e-mail or give me a call and let me know you are coming out and we'd love to entertain you too. Especially, if we don't know you yet!(You want to call be cause we live in the country and if we aren't home you'll be lonely!)


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal. 6:9-10

I really want to encourage everyone to set up a lifestyle of hospitatlity. This is an intentional act, ask people to come and stay with you! Get a fold out couch, pile the kids in one room (let them learn how to love one another!) do whatever you need to do to refocus your life to His glory! It's another way that we can obey him and be like salt & light! If our life is not our own(1 Cor 6:20), certainly our house is not our own! How can we use our homes to glorify God, everyday?

Well, we have more have guests coming so I have to go! Glory!

Prayers of a Righteous Child or ribbit

We've all been intermittently sick over the last few weeks and this week Peyton woke up with a scratchy voice.

While we were eating breakfast Parker looked up at me and said, "Mom we should pray for Peyton's voice"

I was so pleased, I was nearly speechless. I finally said "Yes, Parker we should pray for Peyton's voice you are right. We should pray for everything!"

So little Parker bowed her head and said, " Dear God, Peyton has a froggie voice and she shouldn't have a froggie voice she should have a people voice. Please give Peyton her people voice back.....and if you don't I'll tell Jesus on you! AMEN"

She knew she had to call on someone with power you could hear in her voice she was running through names in her head (Daddy no, Mommy no, Ohhh Jesus he's got the power) ...So funny. By the way just two days later, Peyton no longer sound like a froggie.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

Little Parker got to see her powerful little prayer answered. What a generous blessing the Lord has given her (and me) to see her prayer in action. I love these little teachable moments that provide a window into their soul, an oppurtunity to place one of God's truths inside.

Hallelujah!

(Yes, I did inform her we do not threaten the Lord our God but instead we go to Him in prayer and petition)

Peaceful dwelling Places II: dwelling

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 38:18

So far it appears that a peaceful dwelling place is a place without strife, yelling, fussing, cursing. Instead it is a place that is filled with cooperation and harmony. Now I want to look at dwelling places.

According to Dictionary.com :

• dwelling (noun) -a building or place of shelter to live in; place of residence; abode; home.


• place (noun) 1. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything: The vase is in its place. Every item on the shelf had its place. 2. a space, area, or spot, set apart or used for a particular purpose: a place of worship; a place of entertainment.

So lets go off to Biblegateway(some of 87)...

• Numbers 24:5"How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!


• Leviticus 26:11I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you.


• Genesis 27:39His father Isaac answered him, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above.


• 2 Samuel 7:6I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.


• 1 Chronicles 16:27Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.


• Psalm 31:20In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.


• John 1:14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


• Ephesians 2:22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.


• Revelation 21:3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Our homes should be beautiful. I don't think he means professionally decorated but nicely put together, comfortable, clean and welcoming. In quickly reveiwing beautiful in Biblegateway I think our homes should be attractive places.

I need to keep in mind that my dwelling place is away from the earth's richness.Througout Chronicles it reminds us that heaven is our dwelling place as God's people (2 Chronicles 6:39,2 Chronicles 6:33,2 Chronicles 6:30).

Leviticus reminds me that You want to dwell with us. But to think that our place needs to be peaceful so you can dwell with us. When I stop to think about it I wouldn't walk into a chaotic house full of rancour & discord and think wow the Lord resides here! I wouldn't want to get some of what they had so instead of attracting folks to you I would be a repellant!

Another thing is that our dwelling place isn't just our home but wherever we are at. (2Sam7:6) Also its every part of where we live, we need to look at the micro as well as the macro.

My people will live in [places with co-operation and harmony dwelling with the Lord], in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. My amplified Interpretation of Isaiah 38:18

So our home should be a place marked by co-operation, harmony and peace that is pleasing to the Lord, a beautiful place, a place in which he wants to dwell. Our homes should be focused on the Lord and his kingdom. We should have a beautiful home which is clean, well organized, picked up (not perfect) well decorated for your family and inviting. Is this what our homes are like? Does God want to dwell with us do you see Him finding rest with us?

Happy Homemaking!

Another pet for the McVays....

We are proudly announcing the introduction of new critters to our household.

For those of you who are unaware of a few facts about the McVays let me begin with a reminder that I have a strong dislike for animals, insects and the like while Wayne loves everything furry. If God had not mentioned their creation in Genesis then I would be positive they were all from straight from the devil and only appeared after the fall.

For those of you who do not know all of our current residents let me introduce you:

Fremont (the cat) this cat (we have had her for nearly 10 years) is the devil's right hand woman, she was once seen jumping straight up in the air to claw someone in the face! She has mellowed somewhat since then but still.... (Oh and she peed on Wayne's head just before her banishment from the house!).
Then there is Houston the laziest dog on the planet (he thinks he's a cat and sleeps most of the day) he's a blue lacy/Golden. That is not a picture of him my camera needs new batteries. If it was a picture of him he would be asleep on his bed!Then there is Snoodle the Beta fish, my favorite animal. Of course you all know Cujitso also known as Buddy the hamster, a perennial favorite of every child who comes into the house. We also house a variety of insects, lizards and other creatures from the black lagoon as they are caught by the children. So, as you can see we definitely in desperate need of another creature.

So what do you think we got?

A sea anenome?

A rat?

A boa Constrictor?

Though the boa constrictor was tempting....

Nope, ants. Not just any ants but giant red ants. These are the kind of ants we have in California. Do they bite? Well, according to great big warning sticker on their package "YES!" Who, I want to know who choose to send HUGE RED ants to children, I thought surely they would be those big ole black ants that do not bite. But nope we've recieved the fire ants cousins.Look at how nice this ant looks on the package, yeah, he's smiling like that so he can get close enough to you to bite you... They are probably Africanized killer ants...Now mind you all of us have been watching these things since they got here and I'll be sticking me some on ant verses on them. But still we have GIANT HUGENORMOUS AFRICANIZED KILLER RED ANTS would little Johnny like to come over and play? With the attack cat, crazy hamster and now killer ants?!

Truly, the children will learn so much from this real life experience and me I get to die to self. Woohoo!

I just can't resist getting a little Biblical....

The kids will get to compare the ways of the sluggard to the ants! Sometimes those ways may look a little too much like thier ways/our ways hopefully we begin to look more like the busy ant! Who says the Bible is outdated...NOT ME! I really hope this experience brings these verses to life for my little women to be!

Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

Proverbs 30:25Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;(Hey if ants like the grocery store too maybe we can all get along!)

Now to order your own http://www.unclemilton.com/

Skating on pee in Peaceful dwelling places

“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 38:18

Below you will find a picture of the guilty party, sweet little Pearson!

This morning all had gone well, Peyton woke up early and cheerfully completed her chores and I was floating about my house like a brown June Cleaver without the pearls! Sweet little Pearson woke up and soon went back to sleep on the couch but then suddenly the poor dear fell off the couch. I went over to her and scooped her up. In that dramatic fashion of a mother concerned that her little baby may have bonked her beanie on our hard concrete floor. As I looked into her cute little doll like features....she peed all over me. (Mind you this is the same cherub that threw up projectile vomit on me last month!) Of course, I had already changed into one of my favorite t-shirts and was dressed for the day to add to the indignity (lols).

My reaction was just as those who have come before me, I let her float gently to the floor. Okay, maybe it was more like a quick controlled ascent. Then off to the bathroom with the cherub to strip her redress her, but in the door of the bathroom to my shock she proceeded to pee all over my favorite slippers.

So she was place upon the potty where she basically peed like a man! I am frankly amazed she had anything left to pee. Then into the tub where the little cherub screamed protested and informed me "no!" She was reminded there is no screaming in this house so in true obedience she told me "no!" quietly>>?!? (that's a whole post by itself)

In the meantime, I went to get my coffee and low and behold what did my eye see but a trail of pee from the living room to the bathroom. .....>NICE<.....

So again like any other normal person I went and got my dirty rags from the pantry closet. Put them on the floor and much like an Olympic figure skater, I skated the pee trail on the floor to the bathroom and then turned and skated back and forth. With 2 kids slack jawed watching. I didn't say anything to them (I'm sure I missed some sort of teachable moment! ) but I wasn't angry, irritated, pitiful or anything, I was amused, joyful and thankful! Seriously, you do not get to skate on pee everyday. Woohoo all the glory to God!

In Heather Hendrick's book, Her Hands, she noted the following: "I would take those old icky clothes off. But I never put clean ones on to replace the yucky ones. So, I would stand there, naked cold, shivering...and my old dirty clothes would start to look attractive again. It's just easier to do what we know. It's easier to wear what we wore. However, God is saying in scripture to get rid of our old clothes...BURN THEM....This is why there is never a passage about taking off sin that does not conclude with a passage about what to put on instead. God never keeps us naked! Never!" pa 76

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Compassion (noun): a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Kindness (verb): of a good or benevolent nature or disposition, as a person: a kind and loving person.

Part of having a peaceful dwelling place is that we are peaceful Godly women constantly seeking Him and his will. Well, as I go to mop the floor what do you need to take off?

Happy Homemaking!

Peaceful dwelling places Part I

" My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. " Isiah 38:18

Today as I was going to check flylady so I could get my homemaking assignments for the week & day. How can I manage my house to glorify God? Am I just decorating & cleaning my house or am I glorify God by creating peaceful dwelling place? What is peace, Am I adding peace, how do I add peace with my husband, children, animals, houses and things under construction and neighbors?

This is my open air journal for you to see, I'll add a few notes for you but I'm just looking for God in the open....

Okay God, right now in the morning we wake up as soon as I finish my quiet time I turn on Christian talk radio (I really don't want ot miss Nancy LeighDeMoss's show) and we start chores. Eat breakfast and start school then when math Starts so does music appreciation so we listen to Bach. Is this adding peace? Is the flow in home peaceful, undisturbed place of rest? After lunch is free time or work time for the kids outside I turn on Political talk radio. We make dinner and clean up before Big Daddy makes his way home. Then we eat sleep and start again! Are we this peaceful?

You said we needed to be peaceful so what exactly does this word mean? Dictionary.com says peaceful is an adjective (describing word)
1.characterized by peace; free from war, strife, commotion, violence, or disorder: a peaceful reign; a peaceful demonstration.
2.of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a state or time of peace.
3.peaceable; not argumentative, quarrelsome, or hostile: a peaceful disposition.

We are not consistently peaceful in my home. Not like the Bible wants us to be, not according to this definition. Peacefullness is not just a surface condition but an issue of the heart, tounge and the body.

Okay God what is strife. Strife is a noun (person, place or thing). According to dictionary.com stife is:

1.vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism: to be at strife.
2.a quarrel, struggle, or clash: armed strife.
3.competition or rivalry: the strife of the marketplace.
4.Archaic. strenuous effort.

So which people- A child who beleives thoughts should be shouted out, another who who loudly proclaims any injustice, another who holds it in and errupts, 3 GIRLS (4 counting me) and a mom who is conquering anger (I'm gonna leave Wayne out of this because I do not have his permission), argumentative people ,children unattended to
Places: TV (we've mostly elimnated TV watching and mostly watch DVD's and specific things), kids bedroom, toy box, computer, laundry room
Things that cause strife - playing poorly together,not obeying, lack of enough attention of parents, getting along with one another, selfishness, and the "I want what I want syndrome", too much political talk radio, not completing housework (if we do not have what we need like clean underware, socks, pants, or an item (like Awana bags) cannot be found in a timely manner this can cause patience to be tested and it's within my control!), idleness, disagreements on how things should be, random yelling accross the house

So like any good Living by the book graduate let's search Bible Gateway...

Proverbs 26:21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Romans 1:29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips...
Proverbs 17:1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Proverbs 18:6A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
Proverbs 20:3It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

It's better to be hungry, its simmering underneath the surface, its a major kind of wickedness & evil, you are fool, it should be avoided.

Okay so what is the opposite of strife? Thesurus.com says its antonyms are as follows: cooperation, harmony, peace

Changes that need to be made: peacefullness needs to be enforced in the home between the children. My reactions and interactions need to promote peace, be peaceful. We need to remain on gaurd against strife!

Lord deliver us from strife and help teach me to facilitate peacefulness in our home. Help me to be vigilant at the gates of my home choosing only to include things that bring glory to your name. Let me raise the children in such away as to bring them peace and joy and to make them into peacemakers. Let me be a wife who is peaceful with her husband, not a quarelsome foolish woman who is kindling strife in her own home. Lord help me to be a wise woman who builds her house. As we focus on peacefulness this week help my family to transform their minds.

In the book Her Hands by Heather Hendrick, she says: "Although it sounds so far-fetched by obeying the Lord in everything, the result according to scripture is a life of peace and rejoicing." Wow...I wanna get me some of that!

Is your house peaceful? What causes strife for your family? Are there changes to be made to create a peaceful dwelling?
Happy Homemaking!

PS: In case you are wondering this is more than I would generally journal in one day. Each post is taking a couple of days of exploration.

Watching my home...

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

When I look at homemaking I see a job that is more difficult then when I was teaching or working as an Executive. One day I sat down to figure out what my job entailed: prayer, husband assistance, children, school, financial management, mentoring, decorating, cooking, grocery shopping, clothing, laundry, cleaning, transportation and gardening all the while keeping my eyes focused on Christ. I do not want to neglect any area of our responsibilites but each year I pick one or two of my responsibilities upon which to focus improvment.

Just like my husbands take continuing education courses I love to find things that I can do to improve my skills as a homemaker. Plus I just love school! This year I am considering cooking but specifically baking...I just think it would be great to be able to whip out a beautiful birthday cake for my family. I've taken a few mini courses at MOP's on cake decorating and really enjoyed but I think I might beneifit from Hobby Lobby's cake decorating classes. I will read the section in my Joy of Cooking book on baking. Yes, I just said I was going to read my cookbook. I really hope you all have a teaching cookbook like Joy. It doesn't just provide you with recipes it also teaches you about the art and science of cooking, if you read the pages. I learned that at MOP's too!

Maybe, I'll focus on gardening, too. Because I have got to get some food out of that garden! So far I've had beautiful plants that didn't produce much fruit. Then my plants sputtered and I had tiny plants . In the city I just planted tomatoes (I can still grow tomatoes well) but I'd love to provide my family with fresh veggies from the garden all year long. Now I've fertilized the ground, put a fence up (I still need to build my gate), planted some seeds, some plants. Now it's time for water and prayer!

Finally, have you started thinking about how to make your family feel extra love on Valentines day? Please let me know we are revamping our Valentines traditions. I think we are gonna incorporate some of Heather's candy coma theory but not all of it because we are diabetics overhere after all! What sweet things do you guys do with & without sweets? Tell me quick because there's only 9 days left.......

Happy Homemaking!