tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19425804769210290152012-01-26T06:33:07.511-06:00MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.comBlogger3941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-20226969278524717022012-01-19T12:39:00.000-06:002012-01-19T12:39:02.840-06:00

I had the privilege of hosting my friend's baby shower (Sunday), and wanted to share some of the decor and fun times!  It was so great to see Becky's face light up. I know she enjoyed the fellowship with her gal pals much more than all the gifts, but we definitely enjoyed helping her build her cloth diaper stash and wardrobe for the little baby boy who will be arriving soon!   I really

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-67403590061470287512012-01-18T10:27:00.000-06:002012-01-19T12:30:40.194-06:00

Last weekend had "lupper" with my parents (lunch + supper, basically either a late lunch or an early supper) at this really good "Texas" restaurant. It was a little humorous because the owners definitely were not Texan... or even American... but the food was delicious.  We were there to celebrate my Mom's birthday in more of a "low-key" way.  Her birthday was New Years Eve, but she hasn't really

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-88357463019486035482012-01-17T12:21:00.002-06:002012-01-19T12:24:13.505-06:00

Morning text shots to hubby:       One great thing about having an iPhone has been this new routine/tradition we have of sending "Good Morning," snapshots to Daddy.  (My other phone never sent my photos through which was very frustrating.) Brandon really enjoys the sneak peek into our mornings, and I really enjoy sharing the cute little bits and pieces with him. I woke up to Evie jabbering.  She

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-82000967958057380782012-01-15T11:24:00.001-06:002012-01-19T12:26:55.771-06:00

Hubby was up late last night and early this morning smoking a pork shoulder and some ribs for our fellowship gathering this evening.  My house smells absolutely delicious, as you can imagine. (I may or may not have had several taste tests.) Evangeline and I woke up to a fresh pot of coffee (I got some, she didn't), and Hubby playing Cooties with Nolyn.  Shortly after, the other sleepy-heads began

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-38008567174999491992012-01-14T11:49:00.000-06:002012-01-14T11:49:55.637-06:00

Hello toes! Howya been? Long time no see! The excitement in the house is almost tangible. My husband lays in bed beside me in the morning, hand on my rounded belly, feeling the rolling movements and sporadic jabs of little Molly Jo. The pregnancy has flown by- likely a combination of being busy with four children, homeschooling, homemaking, and nourishing friendships and fellowships.  When I

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-54395726169662569672012-01-11T16:00:00.001-06:002012-01-11T16:01:15.696-06:00

Nanci and Keagan hanging out on the cot in her tiny office. My midwife visits are always interesting.  First of all, there's the relationship Nanci and I have.  Since we are friends, we have a hard time talking about the things we are supposed to talk about during our office visits.  Secondly, I usually bring all four kiddos with me, and a couple of them inevitably become Nanci's little

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-84805048741250628952012-01-08T16:13:00.000-06:002012-01-08T16:13:15.910-06:00

Recently, I've found myself in many situations in which I am explaining our method of parenting, our beliefs, goals, etc. Here are a few snippets of thoughts, ponderings, and conversations: I sometimes wonder if the Duggar family show has led people to believe that, if you have a lot of children, they will naturally be well-behaved. It's obvious to me that the Duggar parents have invested a

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-27907761234380218362012-01-03T16:14:00.000-06:002012-01-03T16:14:27.110-06:00

It's hard to believe there are only about nine weeks remaining in this pregnancy.  And, it's hard to believe that I'm going to have five children.  Hold a sec. What? Five? Yeah. Woah. Wow. Do you know what my parents are thinking right now?  "Um, wasn't it just yesterday that our daughter was born? And soon she'll be welcoming her fifth child?" (Doesn't that make you feel old, Mom?) This

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-51464522945013472412012-01-03T13:37:00.002-06:002012-01-03T13:58:23.010-06:00

With the New Year upon us many folks are making resolutions to eat healthier.  Here's a great (gluten-free) recipe which is very versatile and very simple!  You can leave off the cheese so it's vegan or add meat if you think it needs to be a bit more filling (although it really stands on its own as a meatless dish). Stuffed Bell Peppers 4 bell peppers (red or green), halved lengthwise, seeds

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-25794995970734006982011-12-15T19:36:00.000-06:002011-12-15T19:36:33.663-06:00

Why, yes ma'am,  I will have a cup. Two lumps, my dear Evangeline. Sir, when will our food be ready? Oh good, I give you my thanks. I do declare, Evangeline! Proper southern ladies do not lap at their tea! Tisk! Now, that's much better.

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-24835058293708973962011-12-15T14:13:00.000-06:002011-12-15T14:13:18.773-06:00

She just gets sweeter and sweeter, cuter and cuter. :)

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-66382624153518597262011-12-06T14:17:00.000-06:002011-12-06T14:17:01.968-06:00

Educating for Life! by Candy Zackey "Many home-educating years ago, I remember lamenting over which curriculum to use with my precious little ones. They were blossoming into eager learners and I desired to give them ALL I COULD as any good parent would. When I sought the Lord in prayer, asking Him what He would have me teach them, He asked me a question. "Candy, what if all your sons turn out

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-64833948489659777112011-12-05T17:11:00.000-06:002011-12-05T17:11:09.769-06:00

December ushered in my 27th week of pregnancy.  Three months left? Only three months? This pregnancy has really flown by (along with the rest of life!).  Ever since we had children, the months and years have seem to go so quickly.  Maybe it's because you're much more aware of time when you're watching your babies grow up! Things are going really well.  We celebrated Thanksgiving out in the

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-6028946709832540632011-11-28T15:25:00.000-06:002011-11-28T15:25:59.960-06:00

We're easing back into homeschooling after loads of holiday fun. If you recall, we had a family of 6 staying with us for a month. We found it very difficult to do our method of homeschooling, so much of it was postponed until they left.  Then came the holidays, so it has been a month since we've had any sort of structured homeschooling. (However, most of you homeschoolers know it's impossible to

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-5650322209264169792011-11-22T21:49:00.000-06:002011-11-22T21:49:25.924-06:00

Thank You Lord for blond wisps of hair. Thank You for silky soft cheeks. Thank You for rolling giggles. Thank You for weaving her life into ours. Isn't God great?

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-21011208286738374172011-11-21T15:34:00.000-06:002011-11-21T15:34:32.897-06:00

Isn't my eldest son super handsome? I think so. :)  He's growing so fast! How can it be that this little gentleman is going to be seven soon? Who said he could grow up?

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-72160455090069167312011-11-10T11:19:00.000-06:002011-11-10T11:19:27.997-06:00

Of Becky's kiddos, and mine too! Merikalyn Abigail G. & Analisa G. Nolyn Abigail G. (How adorable is that?) Messy-mouthed Keagan Jacob G. Evangeline Joseph G. Silly Abigail!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-10269370355026653502011-11-10T10:31:00.000-06:002011-11-10T10:31:06.942-06:00

Life has been so crazy busy (remember, two families of 6 in one household!), but is soon to calm down. However, finding time to blog has not been easy. I'm just poppin' in to share some photos! First, we found out we are three weeks further along than we believed (how thrilling)... and we're having a girl! We had the ultrasound tech put the "gender photo" in an envelope (and not reveal it to

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-76921771419598164722011-10-25T08:45:00.000-05:002011-10-25T08:45:15.282-05:00

I'm attempting to make the switch to wool covers.  When Evangeline was a newborn, I made fitted diapers for her, but found that using PUL-style covers over the fitted diapers wasn't, well, a good fit.  I switched to fleece longies because I could easily produce them myself (and for really cheap), but I disliked that, if her diaper was soaked, the moisture would pass through the fleece longies.  I

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-41149868501574950502011-10-18T16:37:00.000-05:002011-10-18T16:37:55.091-05:00

Our friends have been staying with us, so it's almost like having a family of 12! :) It's been loads of fun! Here are some pictures from today: Kitchen clean-up! Abigail and Becky Jacob scrubbing dishes. Coloring sheets while we read books and do homeschooly stuff. Becky reading today's bible story (Finding a wife for Isaac). The crew at the park! Yours truly with Evangeline Analisa

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-37095658711121912222011-10-12T09:00:00.000-05:002011-10-12T09:00:16.403-05:00

Homeschooling Wisdom from Ann Voskamp So to say from the outset, that I do not think in any way that homeschooling makes a family virtuous. Homeschooling is not a formula for perfection, nor is homeschooling a panacea for all the sin in this world. We’re all messy and fallen and sin-scraped. We and our children are born sinners. Homeschooling will not fix any of that. Only Jesus and His grace

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-76236388294615109772011-10-10T18:25:00.000-05:002011-10-10T18:25:36.449-05:00

Life has been a lotta busy lately, so I apologize for the lack of regular posts! Maybe a picture of absolute adorability will make up for that?

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-50528003463959047882011-10-03T15:32:00.000-05:002011-10-03T15:32:29.342-05:00

Hubby's work schedule is a little wonky, so he's home in the mornings and able to participate in the homeschool fun! The kids love hanging out with him in the mornings and afternoons, so this is a wonderful blessing, although we certainly miss him when supper rolls around! Evangeline is very fond of her Daddy and loves being able to play and snuggle him after breakfast. Of course, I enjoy having

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-45728596478470400042011-10-03T15:24:00.001-05:002011-10-03T15:24:52.751-05:00

I love Autumn. I love relief from summer, the changing colors, the smells.... I love seeing stacks of pumpkins outside the grocery store, love the fall decor on the doorsteps, and I love how the season brings cravings of snuggles and hot cocoa (even if it's not technically "cold enough" for cocoa here in Texas). We opened our windows this morning and allowed the cool breeze to filter through the

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-45182435565364620142011-09-29T17:21:00.000-05:002011-09-29T17:21:42.351-05:00

... so I'm still trying to fathom that, come spring, we'll have five children! Here are some shots of our sweet ones! At this point in time, Merika is 8, Nolyn is a bit over 6 1/2, Keagan is 4, and Evangeline is a week away from 13 months. I love them critters! My oldest managed to capture a few photos of Evangeline and me: Itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout....   This is my

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-6865408117201594282011-09-27T18:23:00.000-05:002011-09-27T18:23:00.775-05:00

One of our children's chores is setting the table.  This task is quite helpful as it means I don't have to juggle another task while trying to get dinner to the table. Today we talked about proper place setting.  I showed them an example: Then we all drew it on paper, which I will "laminate" (with that clear book cover stuff you can buy at Hobby Lobby).  I drew an example since they asked for

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-48932971943843462922011-09-27T15:11:00.000-05:002011-09-27T15:11:36.810-05:00

My Evangeline is getting big.  She's been walking for a bit now, but now she seems to have more confidence. She doesn't crawl (er, scoot) as much, and she doesn't hover close to furniture like she used to "just in case".  She's an explorer.  Thankfully, she doesn't tend to put things in her mouth, because she loves to play with legos, crayons, beads, and various other things. At just a little

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-50204841134426813182011-09-22T09:26:00.000-05:002011-09-22T09:26:25.262-05:00

I made this coloring sheet for my kiddos to go with the book Window on the World: When we pray God works. I find giving my children coloring sheets while we read (especially our four year old) helps them focus a bit better. This doesn't surprise me because I was the same way as a kiddo! I absolutely love Window on the World.  In this book, we are reading about many of the countries and people

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-91595902872169102792011-09-21T20:19:00.000-05:002011-09-21T20:19:31.543-05:00

I was blog hopping and came across this adorable music video. Thanks for passing it along APfK!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-57678752503624617872011-09-21T20:04:00.000-05:002011-09-21T20:04:31.801-05:00

Part of our Sonlight curriculum includes reading the wonderful fables from The Aesop for Children.  I absolutely love the full-color, beautiful vintage-y illustrations.  Aesop's Fables always have a moral to the story which are great for family discussion, but we also enjoy diving deeper into the stories to discuss the characters, environment, culture, etc.  My children love acting out stories as

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-52697436038871395122011-09-21T11:10:00.001-05:002011-09-21T11:16:31.364-05:00

Red Sails of Capri is one of the first books we dive into in our Sonlight B+C Core curriculum for our 1st and 2nd grade homeschoolers.  Here are a few wonderful extras I found to go along with the book. If you're doing this curriculum, check back for more projects and activities to go with this book. Videos of the beautiful Blue Grotto and the breath-taking Capri Isn't the city gorgeous?

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-47735704243398325492011-09-20T20:12:00.001-05:002011-09-20T20:13:11.581-05:00

Whadya know..... I head out to the grocery store after my hubby got home and the box arrived! Weeeeee!  So, it's officially box day! It's a good thing I wasn't here when it arrived. I probably would have hugged and kissed the delivery person. We have friends over, so eight children (four of our own) excitedly sifted through the brand-spankin'-new books. Evie was thrilled to have more

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-70597096839673675832011-09-20T15:52:00.001-05:002011-09-20T15:54:01.741-05:00

Our day started with excitement. "Today is the day! Today is the day!" We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest set of Sonlight homeschool goodies! The FedEx tracking info says it is on the truck to be delivered today, so I hope they aren't just getting our hopes up! (Have I used enough exclamation marks yet?!!!!) Keagan eagerly checked the calendar. "Today is a special day," I told

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-43404207126956086042011-09-20T09:53:00.001-05:002011-09-20T14:20:30.927-05:00

My friend Kim posted this link on her Facebook after sharing photos of their awesome Sharpie Pen Tye-Dye experiment.  This is definitely something I'm going to try out soon! (Great way to rejuvenate stained children's clothing!)  While you're visiting that site, check out their other experiments! Have you ever heard of Heart of the Matter Online? When they first started out, I had the

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-27989643466310763162011-09-19T19:09:00.001-05:002011-09-19T19:10:32.407-05:00

Today I had a wonderful chat with a super amazing woman, and when I got off the phone with her, I immediately mailed her a copy of Praying Effectively for the Lost (with the help of my sweet Keagan). It is so wonderful to hear testimonies of people who God plucked out of darkness.  It never fails to amaze me how the Lord takes hold of us in our darkest hour and completely transforms our lives.

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-60193315280431578322011-09-19T18:55:00.000-05:002011-09-19T18:55:30.130-05:00

We are eagerly awaiting a shipment of B+C Core curriculum (plus a few extras) from Sonlight due to arrive tomorrow (according to the tracking info), so, in the meantime, we've been making little comic books, rocketing into space, and devouring books. The kids couldn't wait for Daddy to get home. I had cut out the shapes to build their own space shuttle, and Daddy was to help them fold and glue

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-16326806926996278032011-09-16T12:24:00.000-05:002011-09-16T12:24:52.515-05:00

I'll let you have a look anyway! Here's what we've accomplished so far in our homeschool room. Sorry for the picture quality. This room has poor lighting, and it probably doesn't help that I took all of these with my mobile phone.  This desk is older than I am. It's been in my family for a while! I'd like to have the room painted by the end of the month, but that's unlikely. At least I

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-63620802352935559362011-09-15T19:30:00.001-05:002011-09-15T19:32:20.046-05:00

While we're waiting, erm, patiently for our B+C Core and other Sonlight items to arrive, I decided it would be a good time to overhaul the homeschool/craft room. Yesterday, my husband tidied it up (boy, was it loaded with junk), and today I painted one of the walls (an "accent color") and hope to tackle the other walls another day (with my husband's help, hopefully). I did a lot of organizing,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-37209149756447508722011-09-13T10:37:00.000-05:002011-09-13T10:37:41.207-05:00

 Links to check out: Homeschool Blindspots In the last couple of years, I have heard from multitudes of troubled homeschool parents around the country, a good many of whom were leaders. These parents have graduated their first batch of kids, only to discover that their children didn't turn out the way they thought they would. Many of these children were model homeschoolers while growing up,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-57568182629654693922011-09-10T14:30:00.002-05:002011-09-10T14:43:53.654-05:00

I'm cheap, er, I mean frugal.  I like pedicures, but.... I also like saving money. So, instead, I have my hubby massage my feet and slather on lotion, and do my own clipping, picking, and painting. I'll admit, it's a rare thing, a painted toes Mandy, but every now and then I like to spoil myself a bit and prettify my toesies.  It's so simple, any gal can do it. Even if you're not especially

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-10571973344823798772011-09-10T13:13:00.000-05:002011-09-10T13:13:21.262-05:00

I cannot believe my lovely Evangeline is a year old now. Wasn't it just yesterday I was cuddling my newborn, homebirthed sweetie to my chest? (Well, I can still do that, but now she wiggles and squirms!) We were on our way home from vacation (to New Braunfels) on her first birthday.  She's so big, and loves to explore.  She's very observant, and this whole "walking-thing" has enabled her to

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-42262858565139653202011-08-30T15:34:00.001-05:002011-08-30T15:35:22.222-05:00

..... let them be themselves. Seriously. Everyone knows that uncomfortable posed version of your family doesn't really represent who they really are, unless they're constantly constipated.... I mean, we all know these shots are more true to life:

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-50161528760735714632011-08-29T13:20:00.001-05:002011-08-29T13:21:15.910-05:00

Absolutely loved this post over at Christian Unschooling. This really speaks to our focus in homeschooling which I believe can be summed up in one word: Discipleship.  Anyone who has journeyed down the road of Christian Unschooling has been met with evangelical opposition at one point or another.  I recently heard a conservative pastor say that it was a “violation of scripture”.  Obviously,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-82104315782631224682011-08-18T09:41:00.000-05:002011-08-18T09:41:04.337-05:00

 I'm astounded. Every time I pick up this book, her words echo my own so similarly. Wasn't I just saying that life is meant to be savored one bite at a time?  I underline her words, "When did I stop thinking life was dessert? [...]  The fast have spiritually slow hearts. [...] Life is dessert— too brief to hurry. You don't wolf it down." It's as if she's reading my mind. I've read her blog for

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-45850787561068730522011-08-17T21:25:00.000-05:002011-08-18T09:35:27.528-05:00

They come running into the livingroom with a roar and a squeal.  Nolyn is the dragon, Keagan is the fleeing knight.  They are supposed to be brushing their teeth. "Oh mighty dragon and brave knight," I begin, "Brush thy teeth.  Fire breath is good. Stinky breath is not."  Keagan chases the fierce dragon back down the hall, wielding an imaginary sword in his hand. "And remember to brush your

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-32475599710791806122011-08-17T08:39:00.001-05:002011-08-18T08:34:49.011-05:00

Through my sleepy haze, I feel a soft hand on my arm. He's nearly four, but there's still plenty of pudge on those fingers. I'm laying on my stomach, left cheek nuzzled into my pillow.  I figure I only have a limited amount of time my growing pregnant belly will allow this (so I'd better enjoy it while I can). I swivel my head around. "Hey baby." He rubs his eyes. "I sad. I weally, weally sad.

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-71032823073636430632011-08-15T16:01:00.001-05:002011-08-15T21:19:16.857-05:00

The groceries are tucked away on pantry shelving, plump watermelons, sufficiently thumped to determine their quality, perched far back on the counter tops, and bright red strawberries giving off their delicious scent every time I open the fridge door. The children are quietly napping, legs curled underneath them as they snuggle under their covers.  It's hot outside (the temperature gauge

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-4392480952963692792011-08-04T10:18:00.000-05:002011-08-04T10:18:11.275-05:00

 Next month, Keagan will be four and Evangeline will be a year old!  AHHHH!!!!! :)

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-73498511409510214412011-08-01T08:45:00.000-05:002011-08-01T08:45:23.842-05:00

Lord willing, we will be adding another wee one to our crew in March 2012!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-30070376470317196682011-07-26T15:03:00.001-05:002011-07-26T15:04:23.466-05:00

I suppose this place has turned into some sort of food blog lately. I guess you could say that we've had food on the brain!  I mentioned a while back that we were feeling super crummy. God was so good to lead us to a way of eating that would rejuvenate our bodies. Everywhere I turned, I was confronted with food information- most of which I already knew but needed to be reminded of. My husband

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-68602051401498384552011-07-20T19:26:00.000-05:002011-07-20T19:26:17.794-05:00

My children could eat simple sandwiches or cereal for every meal, but me? I like a hot lunch sometimes. However, I don't usually feel like slaving over the stove (especially in the summer) to make something just for lil ol' me. This Sweet Chili Ramen & Broccoli dish is simple, tasty, and fast!  (Oh, and cheap!) What you need:       (for one serving) 1 package of ramen noodles. (Doesn't matter

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-65841594570949068222011-07-19T15:31:00.001-05:002011-07-19T15:34:02.368-05:00

I posted a picture of this yummy dessert a long time ago, but never provided the recipe.  Now, here it is! Crust: 2 cups raw walnuts (you can use macadamia nuts if you prefer) 1/2 cup dates, pitted 1/2 tsp raw cacao powder (optional) Process the nuts, dates, & cacao in food processor.  Press into bottom of a 8x8 dish or 8inch pie pan.  (You may want to line it with foil or parchment paper to

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-31098652026260401432011-07-19T14:16:00.000-05:002011-07-19T14:16:56.156-05:00

On the subject of Cheese: Hubby really loves cheese. I mean, really.loves.cheese.  So, it's really shocking to me that he decided he no longer wanted to consume dairy products. Ever.  This is the guy that likes his food smothered with cheese.  You know, the sort of guy that puts so much cheese on his pizza that you ask, "Hey, would you like some pizza with that?" I'm not a big cheese fan. 

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-70727363369503049742011-07-18T21:26:00.003-05:002011-07-18T21:30:25.260-05:00

Here's a recipe to test out since eggplants are in season. (You could use zucchini or yellow squash instead.) I really haven't perfected this recipe.. and I'm definitely going to work on the eggplant "marinade" a bit more. Sliced onions Sliced bellpeppers Minced garlic Salt Fajita seasoning or taco seasoning. 1/2 a lemon 1 small eggplant, peeled and sliced into strips that resemble fries. 2

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-41594657959585142712011-07-18T14:37:00.000-05:002011-07-18T14:37:36.134-05:00

I look at my girls, and I'm amazed. First of all, it seems like it was only yesterday that Merikalyn was as small and bald as Evangeline.  It seems the last eight years have flown by.  With my birthday (and my husband's 30th!) coming up in a couple weeks, I am beginning to realize that I'm no longer a kid.  For so long, even though I had two or more kids of my own, people so often looked at me

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-54774710680411063052011-07-17T15:49:00.001-05:002011-07-17T15:49:51.302-05:00

I set out to make a good meatless patty my kids would love. I confess, I used canned beans, but next time, I am definitely going to crockpot my own.  Relying on what was already in my pantry, I smashed about 2 cups Navy beans, beat about two cups croutons into crumbs, and mixed it together with a bit of Tony's Cajun Seasoning and Garlic powder. Since my croutons were ranch flavored, I went light

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-4646114016230691762011-07-17T11:11:00.000-05:002011-07-17T11:11:05.615-05:00

Those of you who have been around here long enough may remember that a couple years ago, I was a High-Raw Vegan.  Most of my diet depended upon fresh fruits and vegetables, and I drank a lot of fruit smoothies.  Well, I eventually drifted away from my healthful vegan diet (as evidenced by the delicious fried chicken recipe I posted a while back), especially after I had my fourth miscarriage (

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-25784526053995310262011-07-16T13:51:00.000-05:002011-07-16T13:51:02.566-05:00

It would be funny if some churches didn't really act this way!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-44759158510696540162011-07-16T09:12:00.001-05:002011-07-16T09:14:12.170-05:00

Are you signed up with Zulily? What is Zulily? It's a new online store offering daily sales events on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids. They feature awesome brands at the low prices.  Members enjoy savings of up to 90% off retail prices. (And, best of all, it doesn't cost a thing to be a member!  Click this link to go to their site and sign up!) Today I

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-783281014734898482011-07-12T11:19:00.001-05:002011-07-12T11:22:53.993-05:00

You know what's been driving me crazy about our house for some time now?  That distinct line of filth on the walls.  It's about 3 1/2 feet tall and resembles millions of handprints. I'm not a big fan of white walls, and the paint on our walls was likely just primer or some sort of flat paint that holds every scuff and greasy finger print. It's amazing how a fresh coat of eggshell paint makes

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-9680105518665595882011-07-03T00:01:00.000-05:002011-07-03T00:01:46.557-05:00

Look what Merika and I have been making lately! (And yes, we've named our jewelry sets! We do sell some of our creations, so if you're interested, let me know! I accept PayPal!) Which is my favorite so far? Here's a few things Merika has made for herself:

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-80184571028900401762011-06-30T16:37:00.001-05:002011-06-30T16:39:06.218-05:00

I decided to start participating in True Femininity's Outfit of the Day.  If you've never stopped by Tiffany's blog, go check it out!  If you post your feminine, modest outfits, please drop me a link in the comments! Earrings: gift Shirt: Aeropostale, on sale 9.99 (tank top underneath, GAP) Skirt: Union Bay (Goodwill)

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-3262267511805728822011-06-27T18:11:00.000-05:002011-06-27T18:11:00.387-05:00

One of my friends asked if Evangeline and I would like to participate in modeling their line of slings.  I don't have any professional photos of Evie and I, so I think I'll print one of her photographs and frame it! Isn't Evie-Rose super photogenic?

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-72139386482465143652011-06-26T20:37:00.000-05:002011-06-26T20:37:00.436-05:00

 I'm really blessed to have an awesome husband.  Over the last 9 years, I've seen amazing growth in him.  In 2006, God completely revived our marriage.  Actually, what He did was transform us both. We both became new creations in Christ!  Sometimes we look back and are amazed at who we were pre-2006. It feels like that was someone else- someone we knew, but not us.  And, in many ways, that is

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-38435959409234779382011-06-20T20:43:00.000-05:002011-06-20T20:43:06.028-05:00

I love a good deal. We're doing some remodeling (just cosmetic, simple stuff- no destroying walls since we are renting), so I'm on the look out for awesome thrifts- chairs, storage/organizational stuff, etc. Look what I found today: I'm told this is a spice rack (it can be hung on a wall). I'm considering painting it. I love this piece. Someone painted it, which... well, I think the

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-91936669542363500812011-06-19T15:39:00.001-05:002011-06-19T15:40:16.465-05:00

I'm super blessed. You see, I have a super amazing husband who happens to be a super amazing father. I know I'm a bit... strange, odd, quirky.... but my husband truly understands me. I'm not a mystery to him. And, know what? He loves me, even with all my weirdness. He's a loving man of God who is constantly serving others, putting himself last.  He's strong and wise and smart and funny.....

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-82288199950303493122011-06-18T19:14:00.000-05:002011-06-18T19:14:00.131-05:00

Well, she is!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-82312886259130015702011-06-18T14:10:00.000-05:002011-06-18T14:10:36.384-05:00

Earlier in the month, my brother's family went on vacation to Florida. They asked my niece, "If you could take one person with you, who would it be?" Her wish? To take her cousin, Merikalyn! So, two weeks ago, Chip and my niece, AJ, stopped in to pick up Merika.. and hang out and play for a while too! I must say, I've fallen in love with his shorter 'do, although it took some getting used to!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-79839954219549759052011-06-16T16:02:00.000-05:002011-06-16T16:02:59.483-05:00

If you live in America, you're spoiled.  Even if you're among the poor in the states, you're still incredibly spoiled compared to the 80% of humanity who lives on $10 a day.  You see, in the states, we have all sorts of programs and funds set up to help the poor- insurance, food stamps, housing, grants- but in other countries, that don't have such luxuries. We've been blessed far beyond our "

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-53093656297724726652011-06-16T09:26:00.000-05:002011-06-16T09:26:29.113-05:00

Fruit smoothies are a great on-the-go breakfast. You can also freeze them to make yummy smoothie pops. Ours are dairy free! I have a bunch of frozen strawberries I need to use up to make room for other goodies in the freezer, so today's smoothie is super simple.  Frozen strawberries, a banana, a couple mint leaves, and apple juice (I used the whole bottle pictured there which is about 6-8

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-22877741069225667182011-06-16T09:21:00.000-05:002011-06-16T09:21:48.677-05:00

Save your money, make your own! Here's what I do. First, refrigerate your leftover coffee. I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning, so rather than let any of the rest go to waste, I store it in an Simply Lemonade bottle. Now, get out your blender. Think about what you want to toss in.  I'm going to use coffee, milk, caramel, agave syrup and, of course, ice. Poor in ice, 1/4 - 1/2 cup

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-46850173860285703672011-06-08T10:46:00.000-05:002011-06-08T10:46:26.946-05:00

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-494654726245640032011-06-07T12:31:00.000-05:002011-06-07T12:31:04.010-05:00

This is a recipe best prepared ahead of time.  It makes for a great Sunday morning breakfast. Prepare it Saturday night, let it rest in the fridge overnight, and pop it in the oven in the morning.  Ingredients 8-10 slices of bread, cut into one inch pieces Cinnamon 4 eggs 1 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Grease 9x9 (or 8x8) inch casserole dish.  Layer 1/3 of the bread

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-3514937548867293352011-06-06T10:22:00.000-05:002011-06-06T10:22:04.764-05:00

What's in your diaper bag?  If you post an entry, drop me a comment with the link!  If you post it to Facebook, tag Mandy Mom on FB!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-78551076222722895852011-05-31T11:39:00.002-05:002011-05-31T13:12:09.340-05:00

My friend Rebecca from Nurtured Family gave me this wonderfully comfortable Hava sling. I have a lot of different carriers, but I have never worn one as comfy as the Hava sling.  Every single carrier and wrap I have always leaves me feeling like I need a trip to the chiropractor, but not this one.  It has padding in the right places, distributes the weight perfectly, and doesn't make me sweat

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-61705381630757899492011-05-27T13:19:00.000-05:002011-05-27T13:19:46.854-05:00

But I'll try.... Okay, enough of that! Happy Friday, Y'all! I hope God's blessings wash over you!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-26718057990270832582011-05-26T13:39:00.000-05:002011-05-26T13:39:00.523-05:00

Toss out your canned biscuits (ew!) because biscuit making isn't that difficult.  Really! It's okay if you don't have buttermilk or White Lily flour.  Seriously! You can make tasty, flaky biscuits with just regular ol' flour. Now, it'd be nice to have self-rising flour on hand, but I never do.  And, it'd be great to use buttermilk, but really... I find buying a jug of it is a waste since I

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-55734765574586745092011-05-25T15:01:00.003-05:002011-05-25T19:23:17.302-05:00

I know I sound like one of my kids when I say this, but I've had the best week ever, really. (And it's only halfway through!) Saturday afternoon we met with some new friends (for the first time), Terry and Nanci and two of their four children.  We enjoyed salads and sandwiches at Jason's Deli while unwinding our stories and testimonies, asking questions, and just getting to know one another.

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-54014373742802340322011-05-20T22:17:00.001-05:002011-05-20T22:19:21.971-05:00

I whipped up this diaper for my sweet Evie.  Fleece diapers are so easy to make, and seem to be super cozy! If I was a baby, I'd want one! My little Keagan fell asleep after bible study with the blanket pulled over his head.  Guess who woke up all sweaty!  You know what totally warms my heart?  When my children take to studying the bible and writing out verses on their own! I love how they

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-31738447488966962572011-05-18T14:25:00.001-05:002011-05-18T14:27:04.293-05:00

 There are a variety of ways to make mix up a Buffalo Chicken Pizza.  We had an abundance of grilled chicken and a few ingredients on hand, so this is how we made it. Crust: 1 cup warm water (105 F) 1 pkg dry yeast 1/3 cup milk (105 F) 1 TBSP salt 1 TBSP sugar 4 cups flour 2 TBSP oil Oil Spray Toppings: 1-2 chicken breasts (cooked) chopped in small pieces. (We ended up using one and a half

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-62680699437443365702011-05-14T11:30:00.000-05:002011-05-14T11:30:10.200-05:00

  So, hubby and I don't really measure things out when we cook, so it can be a difficult task to give someone a recipe for most of the dishes we make. However, since some of my friends kept pestering me for the recipe, I decided I would take the time to measure everything out.   You'll need: 3 lbs of chicken breast meat 2 & 1/8 cups all-purpose flour (divided) Tony Chachere's Creole

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-24700307001854100542011-05-09T14:53:00.001-05:002011-05-09T14:53:57.158-05:00

Today, over at The Organic Family, I wrote about our (cloth) diapering preferences.  Did you know we know not only cloth diaper, we also use a method called "Elimination Communication"?  You can read more about our journey in Elimination Communication at The Organic Family Blog. Friday, I wrote the post Pressing into Christ, On His Heels over at A Fighting Faith.

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-12727801359260089352011-05-08T20:41:00.000-05:002011-05-08T20:41:12.752-05:00

Her chubby cheeks are absolutely delicious. Her lips always glisten with drool (or "baby juice" as we call it). She has the smoothest skin, the sweetest coo and chirp, and the most adorable baby rolls. Doesn't she make your womb ache? :)

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-49672906026786490942011-05-06T18:34:00.001-05:002011-05-06T18:34:52.821-05:00

While the kiddos were napping, I decide to whip up a couple skirts for my birthday girl. (I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she is now EIGHT!)  I have yet to take pictures of the second, but here's her new favorite- the Dino Skirt Who says girls can't wear dinosaurs? I figured since we had just finished studying dinosaurs and dragons, Merikalyn would probably love to have a

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-37655370867430543222011-05-05T11:34:00.000-05:002011-05-05T11:34:56.391-05:00

I surprised the kids with a trip to the park yesterday... and on top of that, a park we had never been to. Cue gleeful squealing! Today is Merikalyn's 8th birthday, which we celebrated by skipping (home) school, getting donuts, and picking up some icecream for tonight. Little Evangeline loves to be outdoors.  She loves swings too so she got to enjoy playing at the park as well!

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-21219432327060196422011-05-04T12:06:00.001-05:002011-05-04T12:07:40.858-05:00

This week Keagan is learning the letter D, which makes it a great time to learn about "diving dolphins" (as we also continue our study of God's creation).  The letter D on his alphabet puzzle had dolphins on it. He made sure I could see that it matched the dolphin book.  Which of course, we had to read while inspecting each photo. (The other kiddos were sitting on the floor.) Later, we went

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-4920304783089806252011-05-03T05:56:00.000-05:002011-05-03T05:56:00.175-05:00

I love silicone cupcake cups. I mean, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes... and they have so many uses! I have found these things are a great way to bring some visual interest to a toddler's plate. Keagan loved eating his baked beans from the Silly Feet silicone cups. Perfect serving size too! I use silicone cups in my husband's lunches. For example, today he had leftover steak, baked

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-26947313463030157962011-05-02T17:54:00.001-05:002011-05-02T18:59:25.687-05:00

We celebrated Merikalyn's 8th birthday and my niece's 4th birthday Saturday.  Merika's birthday is on the 5th of May, which, this month, is right before Mother's Day weekend, so we threw her a party last weekend instead. She really wanted to do one with her cousin (even though her cousin's birthday was almost a month ago). I think they had a lot of fun. :) We don't usually decorate for birthday

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-169015942849280422011-04-28T10:49:00.001-05:002011-04-28T10:50:40.688-05:00

Have you heard of Bananagrams? I picked up this game at Walgreens. Little Scrabble-style letters come in a banana-like pouch. These little letters are a great addition to our homeschool. This morning, Keagan grouped together the letters he knew the sounds to (S, M, and A) And Nolyn worked on putting together words. I noticed that he often puts words and short sentences together backwards

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-24493910370949647272011-04-27T15:32:00.000-05:002011-04-27T15:32:57.327-05:00

I confess, I once was somewhat of a hoarder. Now, I'm not talking about the sort of hoarder that ends up on that AE show, but, well.... I am a former packrat. I'll spare you the details, but I've come a long way, and now moving is so much easier when you're not hauling around boxes and boxes of junk.  I even found myself willing to part with boxes stuffed with poetry from my teen years. Solemn,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-68211436503804822412011-04-27T09:24:00.002-05:002011-04-27T09:24:25.227-05:00

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-68993459366425123652011-04-21T12:23:00.001-05:002011-04-21T12:26:09.634-05:00

As I mentioned before, in History we're studying Genesis 1 and taking a deep look at God's creation with our current focus on "Dinosaurs".  The word dinosaur is a fairly "new" word- previously, in the English language, they were referred to as dragons. I had been wanting to show the kids a film about dinosaurs, but all of them seem to center around evolution, a theory that has so many holes,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-90091003978642378992011-04-18T15:05:00.001-05:002011-04-21T12:24:59.768-05:00

Want to teach your children about Dinosaurs? Well, it's difficult to find a good book on the subject- one that doesn't support the false evolution theory. I absolutely love the site Answers in Genesis. Their post, What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs, is very well-written and informative. Were dinosaurs really around millions of years ago?  If so, then what does this say about the bible...

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-5607978444337567032011-04-18T08:46:00.000-05:002011-04-18T08:46:11.356-05:00

At least once a week, if not more, I hear a comment like, "You must be Super Woman."  Last week, a couple at church introduced me to their daughter who had a rough and tumble 18-month old. He's a big kid, not in the chubby sense. I mean, the kid is Keagan's size and less than half his age. "This is Mandy," the woman began. "She spoke at our women's Christmas conference." I smiled, shook her

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-2251399560757733702011-04-10T12:44:00.000-05:002011-04-10T12:44:36.006-05:00

My sweet baby Evie-Rose is seven months old now (on April 7th).  Can you believe it?  My friend, Tori, sent her several adorable outfits... so I had to snap a few photos to show them off. She's sitting up now- still a bit wobbly, though! Look at those adorably chunky legs!  She loves to stand up. She's not crawling yet, but she will pull up on stuff now! I think she may walk before she crawls,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-30107120304816392042011-04-06T17:37:00.000-05:002011-04-06T17:37:17.369-05:00

Healthy Living Tips from Hallelujah Acres A cup of broccoli has as much calcium as a glass of milk. Pears contain lignin, an insoluble fiber that helps to usher cholesterol out of the body. Enzymes are the most fragile nutrient; they are the first to be lost in the cooking process. Putting cinnamon sticks in your drink, or sprinkling just a tiny amount on food, will make your insulin release

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-27598296644075081442011-03-23T10:03:00.002-05:002011-03-23T10:03:34.078-05:00

I've been absent here, but I've been posting over at: A Fighting Faith

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-18065894528383838412011-03-12T09:15:00.000-06:002011-03-12T09:15:05.060-06:00

I originally posted this on Facebook, but decided to post it here as well: One of biggest human flaws is to compare ourselves to others. Sometimes we hold others in such high esteem, not realizing they struggle with many of the same thoughts and issues that we do.  We're may feel dwarfed by their shadow,  jealous of their lifestyle, or envious of their demeanor. On the other hand,

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-72717448957607222732011-03-11T10:41:00.000-06:002011-03-11T10:41:29.226-06:00

"They can laughThey can cryThe future looks so beautiful and brightThey can danceUnder the moonlight'Cause God is smiling down on them tonightAnd she wants to stay right hereMake it last for a hundred more years"[lyrics from Hundred More Years, Francesca Battistelli] This has been a wonderful week.  It breaks my heart that, while I'm enjoying blue skies and wonderful sermons (online), earthquakes

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1942580476921029015.post-51264499027999064672011-03-05T13:58:00.000-06:002011-03-05T13:58:33.833-06:00

10 Things......       Currently happening in our lives- 1. Hubby received a special award at work which came with a little extra money.  (Go Hubby!) Guess who is finally going to get to renew her contact (eye) prescription today! 2. In two days, Evangeline Rose is going to have her "half birthday". Where have the last six months gone?  She's grabbing things (uh, like my glasses) and wanting to

MandyMom.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14259605619391239854noreply@blogger.com5