Hi Mom!
I know that today has been a bit of a busy day possibly….maybe…. might of been…. I think…… Here’s a little bit of encouragement to brighten your day!!!!!!!
“Even though people face difficulties everyday, Christians can rely on the Heavenly Father who removes all trials and difficulties, to bring them through hardship, and to give them enough peace, patience, and goodness to make it through.”
Author Unknown
Have a great day Mom!!!!
Joshua and Courtney 
These are the new hampers emptied and stacked up so that they can be stored away.
Having such a large family in such a small space does have it’s challenges. Laundry is always amongst the top.
I found these at Walmart last night and thought that I would share them. I’m hoping that it will give me a way to sort my laundry without taking up a lot of space. The best part is, when we have company coming, or when the laundry is caught up (insert sarcastic laugh here), we can take them down and stack them one inside of the other…stack them in the laundry room and close the door.
I hope that it will work as well as I’m envisioning. So far, today, I am pretty impressed.
My friend Tanya, told me about a set that Rubbermaid has….you can view the link at:
http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd150088
This is a similar idea but she was concerned that the opening for the Rubbermaid bins would not be large enough to be practical. I think she brings up a valid point.
I do really like that these companies are bringing something innovative to the market. I would like to see more ideas with practicality and versatility for families in mind.
This morning I have been working on several projects. Remember yesterday when I presented my ode to summer? Well, today, especially working outside, I have to say that it’s just hot. It is that kind of southern heat that makes it hard to even breathe. I’m thinking my efforts will be inside my home this afternoon!
Prayer Requests
My hubby’s aunt Linda had eye surgery yesterday. She is supposed to be out of the hospital some time today.
Tanya has not been feeling well. Please pray for strength and health for her.
My Mom is still without AC in her home…please pray that the repairs go quickly and will not cost very much.
Today, I’m Thankful For
Kimberly Greenlaw’s test results from yesterday coming back really good.
The progress that I’m making re-finishing my kitchen table.
My new sewing machine came in today! Hurray!
Getting to speak to my friend, Maribel today.
A new eggplant growing in my garden.
Tracy’s Task
The 4th of July is just around the corner. I was looking over the sales papers today and noticed some great buys! Now is the time to stock up on these items that your family uses and take advantage of some great savings.
What I’m Learning
We are currently stripping paint off of our kitchen table and I found the greatest citrus based stripping spray in the hardware section of Walmart. I’ve already tried several other products and this out performed all of them by far. If you have any wood working jobs to be done, this is certainly one to check out!
Today’s Scripture Meditation
We have spent the last school year memorizing scripture. This is one of the chapters (well, actually the entire book…3 John only has one chapter!) that my children have learned….it’s amazing how much will really sink in to your heart when you commit God’s words to memory.
3 John
“The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth. I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone– and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
(NIV)
It was right after 5 this morning when I snapped this picture. There is something to be said for hanging laundry in the early morning hours. You can see God’s grace and beauty in every direction. Everything smells sweet and the birds chirp so softly….it was pleasant and such a wonderful way to start a day.
First, let me apologize for not sending the link for the additional website. My 12 year old, Joshua is currently my web master on this project and we are learning the process of web programming together. Sometimes things take a little longer than we intend for them to, but, we get more and more efficient with each passing project! I will post the link as soon as we can get it all together! : )
I was asked yesterday about laundering cloth diapers. This is another of the areas in which I’ve been amazed. There are more opinions out there than stars in the sky!
Personally, I have a system down for me that seems to be working. Keep in mind that Emma is 8 months. If I were dealing with an older toddler or a newborn who is still having meconium diapers, my experience might be a little different.
My laundering process has been simple thus far. Every time I change Emma, I empty what will fall out into the toilet (sorry if this is too much information), and then put the diaper and diaper wipes into the diaper pail.
I know that a lot of ladies used to and still do fill these with water so that they can soak. I’ve personally seen no benefit to this in my home. I do air my diaper pail in the sun every morning for a couple of hours (all the diapers are clean) to remove the odor from the pail itself.
At night, after everyone has bathed, I take my full diaper pail and empty it into my washer and run it through a rinse cycle. Then I put it through a normal wash cycle. In the morning, they are ready to be hung to dry. I have been known to use a little vinegar in my rinse cycle if the diapers were particularly stinky.
Thus far, I’ve only had one stain and I think that is because this diaper was not sent through a rinse cycle first…I am on a learning curve here you know! We’ve also had very fresh smelling diapers.
One thing that you can opt for (I’ll probably purchase one as Emma gets a little older) is a toilet sprayer. It will attach to your toilet and is supposedly (I’ll believe this when I see it) toddler proof. This would allow you to clean off the diaper before you put it in your hamper.
If you really want to put some convenience in cloth diapering, you can purchase disposable, flush-able liners. They would still be much cheaper than disposable diapers and make the clean up much easier. I’ve not purchased these because I’ve not had any problems getting my diapers clean. Again, this might change as Emma gets a little older.
After posting yesterday, Tanya wrote to me and told me “funny you like the mother ease…I have the one-size with the snap in liner and I hate them. And the covers work well…but with Kacy you either have the cover on too tight (leaves red marks) or not tight enough (leaks). Hummm…with this being my first go at cloth I am not impressed with the motherease.”
This goes to show, the only way to make a good cloth diapering decision is to try them out and find the best fit for your family. I’ve personally not had any trouble with red marks (although I have with the Walmart rubber pants!) and this is the only brand that has not leaked at all. Tanya also brings up another positive in my mind….these diapers are basically one size fits all. They will fit a baby 8-35lbs. This is one of the bigger selling points in my mind. (Most other cloth diapers are purchased for individual sizes.)
While I’m thinking about it, one more is that their customer service has been excellent. When I ordered my diapers, not only did I receive them very quickly, but I placed 2 orders in one day (I had originally forgotten to order liners) and they were very quick to email me and let me know they were going to combine my shipping and asked if there was anything else I needed (I think that they had figured out that this was new to me!). Overall, it was a great experience.
That being said, Tanya is very much like most people. I think that most women do use one of the AIO’s…I’ve just not had a lot of success with them. (Thanks, Tanya, for writing in…it’s always nice to have a different perspective.)
If you are going to venture into the cloth diapering world, write and share your experience. We’ll just make this a big experiment…maybe it will help someone else in making their decisions.
Prayer Requests
The Greenlaw family have medical “stuff” going on this week. Please pray that all goes well.
My Mom is having AC trouble at her home.
I woke up to the sound of running water under my house. I don’t think that this is a good thing….I’m going to be talking to Paul in about 10 minutes to let him know.
That my family can stay focused on the things that we are being led to….”keep you eye on the prize”, if you will. We know that Satan can be very distracting at times.
Today, I’m Thankful For
Being up early and getting a good start on my day.
Our first successful morning using chore packs.
Courtney’s new Christian Light Home Economics curriculum that I can already tell is going to teach me quite a bit as well.
My husband being so kind last night….his understanding never ceases to amaze me. He just always knows when I’m not 100% and seems to know just what to say.
O.K., I hate the heat…but I’m LOVING all the beautiful flowers! So here’s to the summer:
AN ORCHARD AT AVIGNON
A. Mary F. Robinson
The hills are white, but not with snow:
They are as pale in summer time,
For herb or grass may never grow
Upon their slopes of lime.
Within the circle of the hills
A ring, all flowering in a round,
An orchard-ring of almond fills
The plot of stony ground.
More fair than happier trees, I think,
Grown in well-watered pasture land
These parched and stunted branches, pink
Above the stones and sand.
O white, austere, ideal place,
Where very few will care to come,
Where spring hath lost the waving grace
She wears for us at home!
Fain would I sit and watch for hours
The holy whiteness of thy hills,
Their wreath of pale auroral flowers,
Their peace the silence fills.
A place of secret peace thou art,
Such peace as in an hour of pain
One moment fills the amazed heart,
And never comes again.
Tracy’s Task
Today we’ve got quite a bit of weeding to work on. We have also officially pronounced the lawn mower dead. We have got lots and lots of yard work to do….one bite at a time. Today, we’re just working on cutting the grass and I’m going to scope out the places to put the next 4 square foot (these will only be 2′x4′) gardens to house my BIG MAX pumpkins and cucumbers.
Look around your yard. Are there places that are yearning for some extra attention? This might be the time …especially before temps begin to really rise!
What I’m Learning
Ruth is a fascinating little book of the Bible. Paul and I stayed on the computer reading about her late last evening and discussing her “kinsman redeemer”. What an awesome book.
Babies learn the most fun things at Emma’s age. Her new trick is to swoop in like she is going to give you a kiss only she blows a big, sloppy raspberry all over you! There’s been more than one Lambert marked by her slobbery little tactics! She’s a sweetie!
Today’s Scripture Meditation
Isa 35:3-4
“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come (with) vengeance, (with) the recompense of God; he will come and save you.”
(ASV)
My cloth diapering experience has been great so far. It is so much less work than I ever thought it would be, and it really hasn’t been any less convenient than purchasing disposables. In fact, I’m now left wondering why I ever thought that I needed disposables in the first place. The truth is, there are people in big companies who’s only job must be to make us think that we can’t live without certain things, disposable diapers being one of them. There are people all over the world who have never even seen a disposable diaper and if they did, would wonder why anyone would ever spend hard earned money on something so frivolous…. and then there are those of us who have always believed that you have to have diapers and diaper wipes. I feel foolish looking back at all the money that we have wasted. If I had only known.
With that said, as in everything, there are more choices than I could ever touch on in the cloth diapering world. You have everything from rubber pants to flat folds to accessories you can purchase if you don’t want to use diaper pins but are using flat diapers. It’s a big world out there and speaking from experience, it’s hard to make the decisions on what is best for your family.
Just to run down what you need to cloth diaper a baby. I have found that a diaper pail (#1) is a must. The one in the picture was purchased on the storage container isle in Walmart. The handles lock down the seal-able lid. It was made by Sterilite and was under $5. It works very well.
You will of course need diapers.
You can use flat, folded diapers. If you use these, you will need to use diaper pins or a Snappi enclosure that will keep the diaper closed. You could also purchase cloth diapers that are cut and fit with gathered legs and an elastic fit to give a custom fit to a baby’s body. This is great for cutting down leaks. The last option that I’ve found is an AIO or all in one diaper. With these diapers, you don’t need to purchase clips, pins or rubber pants. If you opt for the first two choices you will also need rubber pants, or covers which are basically waterproof pants that go over the diaper. These come in many different varieties!
As for diaper wipes, I originally thought that I was going to continue purchasing diaper wipes but as the last couple of months have passed, I’ve opted instead to purchase baby washcloths (#2) specifically for this purpose and I just launder them with my diapers. I’ve been very pleased with the results and Emma seems to like the soft cloth better than the wipes! I have kept a box of diaper wipes for quick clean ups but I’m not sure that I will even purchase them again.
(#3) This is a Bumpkins waterproof bag–perfect for storing diapers until they can be laundered. This is the one we keep in our diaper bag.
I thought that I would share the items that we’ve purchased and my thoughts on each one.
(#4) My homemade diapers. I started out with these. I made them REALLY thick and as a result, they are actually the most absorbent diapers that I have tried. The down size is that they are pretty bulky but Emma doesn’t seem to have any problems getting around…or discomfort that I can see. You would need to have a cover if you made this type of diaper.
(#5) Fuzzi Bunz. I was so excited to purchase this one. I really wanted to try it. It is one of the more expensive diapers on the market. There is actually a pocket in the back of the diaper that you use to place an absorbent insert into the diaper. Because it can be removed, one positive to this diaper is that it dried really quickly. That is a definite plus, especially, because you really don’t want to dry cloth diapers in a dryer unless you are throwing them in to soften them a bit. (Cloth diapers are so expensive, you don’t want the additional wear on the diaper that a dryer would create.) Another plus is that this is an “all in one” meaning that you don’t have to have an additional cover or rubber pants for this diaper. The third plus that I see is snaps instead of velcro. I know that some cloth diapers have velcro and some people prefer that but knowing, well, hoping that the Lord blesses us with many more children, Paul and I opted for only snap enclosures in our purchased diapers to be sure they would last through several more children. Of course, the biggest downside is the cost. These are pretty much among the highest priced diapers on the market. Another downside is that they really aren’t very absorbent at all ….though they do pull moisture away from baby’s skin. My biggest reason for not liking them is the snap placement and cut of the front of the diaper. They just don’t seem to fit very well. It’s hard to explain why exactly, but I was left with the feeling that it would not work well to hold it’s intended contents.
(#6) The Fuzzi Bunz insert. This is made from cloth that will keep baby’s skin from moisture. You just slide it into the back of the diaper.
(#7) Baby Love Cloth Diaper. These diapers have an attached insert. When you unfold the diaper, you will see that the insert is mostly free of the diaper which allows it to dry quickly but it is still sewn to one end to keep everything in place. I am not at all happy with the absorbency of this diaper, nor have the diapers worn well. I do think that it fits well, but when it’s wet, it’s really wet. We won’t purchase this brand again. Remember, if you decide to purchase these, you will need a cover.
(#8) Mother-Ease diapers. These have been by far my favorite. The fit is perfect, the snaps are very good quality, the terry is very soft and wonderful against baby’s skin, with their terry snap in insert, and they are fairly absorbent (I do double the insert at night). You do need to cover these with something.
That brings us to the covers:
(#9) Rubber pants. I purchased these at Walmart. I know that my mom used cloth diaper and I can remember the feel of rubber pants that were made then they were very thick and with time actually became less and less pliable. This not the case anymore. I would never buy these rubber pants again, they are not the same thing. I am very careful with my cloth diapering products so mine were never ran through the dryer, only washed and hung but they still all have split in certain places and this is only after a few months of wear. They don’t even feel like the old ones used to…these feel just a little thicker than a nicer department store bag. The design, I think, would be O.K. if you had to use them though I believe that having covers that snap closed like the diaper aids to having an easier clean up.
(#10) Bummis Cover. My experience with this cover is that it felt wet on the inside, even with just one wetting. We also had problems with this cover leaking even though they do seem to be some of the better made covers. We will personally not purchase this brand again.
(#11) The Aristocrat wool soaker. Praised for being one of the most absorbent options in cloth diapering, it is also the most expensive. I splurged to buy this one…it was over $20.00! Now granted, it is pretty cute. It is said that this is the only cover a baby needs over their diaper at night and that the waterproof lanolin naturally found in the wool will not allow it to leak. One night in this little cover left Emma a VERY wet girl. Even in a doubled insert. Maybe I’m doing something wrong? I’m not sure but we’re going to steer clear of this option for now. (They are pretty cute under a little girl’s dress…we’re going to just use them as bloomers for right now.)
(#12) Kushies wraps. I love the design and the fit of these diaper covers. They feel the way that you would expect rubber pants would. Built in gussets and elastic keep them from leaking which is very nice. They are also one of the most affordable options. They were very nice and I would probably consider them again. The only downside that I can see is that they are made with velcro. Emma at 8 months has already figured out how to undo this and loves to listen to the velcro coming unattached! Trust me, after you’ve fought with this all day, it gets really old. That being said, I still think it’s a good option…maybe you would just need to keep your older baby in an outfit that does not give them access to their diaper cover.
(#13) Imse Vimse (night time)covers. I really love this cover. My favorite part is that the cover seems to breathe. It is not noticeably wet when you change your baby in the morning. It is also very soft and the prints on the covers are sweet. We’ll purchase more of these at some point. They were some of the most affordable and worth every penny.
(#14) Our Mother-Ease covers. These were our favorite covers. They have all the pluses and really no down sides that I can see. They fit very well, breath enough to not keep baby too wet between changes and don’t wick wetness to the outside. They were very affordable (in fact some of the least expensive that we purchased).
Paul and I have already decided that Courtney will own a dozen Mother-Ease diapers and 1/2 dozen Mother-Ease covers for her hope chest. If she decides to cloth diaper, this will be a good start for her and if she doesn’t decide to cloth diaper, she’ll atleast have something to fall back on if her family is having a hard time financially. (These were, btw, Courtney’s pick for cloth diapering supplies too!)
With all that said, the Mother-Ease came out way on top! You can purchase Mother-Ease diapers at:
http://www.Mother-Ease.com
If you would like to get a closer look at any of these diapers, I’m hoping to have them posted at one of our other websites this afternoon…if I’m able to get this done, I’ll come back and post a link a little later.
Prayer Requests
My friend Kimberly is having some additional medical testing done this week.
My husband’s Aunt Linda is having surgery on her eyes this week.
R. C. Sproul Jr. has just been diagnosed with Stage 2 Lymphoma. (If you’ve never read any of his writings, you should do a quick search on the internet.) Please pray for his recovery. This especially hard because his wife has also had to battle cancer in recent years.
My Mom had a power line break 6 feet from her home yesterday. She was fortunate to not have any damage, just power outage for a few hours but I think it was an unnerving experience for her. Please pray that she has an uneventful and peaceful week.
Our business plan is off to the mentor for the final time (we hope). Please pray that the door would be opened wide for investors.
Today I’m Thankful For
A great and productive weekend.
Peaches! On our trees outside. (There aren’t many, (less than 10), but we were excited because this is the first year that our trees have produced fruit!)
More rain over the weekend…my plants are growing and loving the water.
Some time Paul and I had over the weekend to put into place our plans for the next couple of months.
New burner covers for my stove top. (I know that this sounds silly, but it does make a difference in how your kitchen looks!)
Tanya had a wonderful experience with her daughter over the weekend.
Tracy’s Task
Think of a way today to help your husband in a project that he is involved in. Don’t be shy about telling him you would like to help him and ask him for ideas on what you can do.
My hubby has gotten so used to me asking, he used to say, “I don’t know….nothing really, I guess”. When I asked yesterday, he had a list waiting on me! I’m so glad that he sees me as his helper. I want to help him succeed in anyway I can. He in turn, is very grateful and tells me all the time how thankful he is for me (I’m thankful for him too!).
What I’m Learning
Our husband’s need for us to be part of their team. I know that I have said this before but I don’t think that I can stress it enough. We were created to help them in anyway that we can. We compliment them and in that way can assist them in ways that make us together a very good team.
Pray and ask the Lord for guidance on how you can help your hubby. For me, it has meant rethinking what I’m doing in my home. I have to do more than just pat my husband on the back. Although I do have to be his cheerleader, I also have to make sure I manage well every penny that comes into my home, I have to be very careful that our home’s resources are cared for and taken care of and I have to help him in his efforts to build a future for our children by careful planning and assisting him with the gifts and talents that God has given me.
What are your gifts and talents? Realizing that God has given you gifts in specific areas and that you and your hubby are married…how might you use your God given talents to further your husband’s plans? This is not a question that you can answer quickly…pray and really consider how God might use you in your marriage.
Today’s Scripture Meditation
This is where my Bible study finds me this morning:
Ruth 4:11-16
“Then the elders and all those at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
(NIV)
Have you ever had something so cute that you really just had no idea where you were going to hang it?
Thanks again, Kim. You did such an awesome job photographing Emma…now if I just had a little more wall space…. : )
We are so very busy today so I thought instead of my normal post, I would share a bit of one of my collections with you.
I’m not at all sure where this fascination with farm life came from, but it’s been with me since my very first married days.
Calvin and Bessie were the first to grace my home…..my bovine pair made my kitchen look so homey and sweet. They’ve always graced my kitchen wherever we have lived.
My milk glass bottles started with an old milk bottle found under my Great Grandmother’s home before it was demolished. I realized before long that I would really like to have more milk bottles so here and there I would find one and purchase it. Then came the new found interest in old milk bottle caps. I was overjoyed to find some milk bottle caps from the same dairies as my bottles! What luck!
Over time, my cow collection has grown (thanks Christy!). I have cows sprinkled here and there all over my home.
Years since my first cows, my interests have turned a bit, (I’ll try to post an additional picture later) now I’m in love with milk glass!! I have several pieces…my favorites are my hobnail creamer and sugar bowl and my candlestick holders.
I have great memories of my Great Grandmother’s milk glass candy dish (always holding those old peppermint sticks) sitting in her home. After my love of cows, I guess this could only be the next natural transition.
Milk lass Trivia:
(From Glass Encyclopedia)
Milk Glass is a term used by glass-makers for opaque white glass. The German term is milch-glass, the Italian term is lattimo (from latte, milk) and the French term is blanc-de-lait (milk white) or verre-de-lait. Milk glass looks like white porcelain. It was first made in Venice in the 14th or 15th century, and later in just about every country that made glass. The opaque white colour is usually made with tin oxide. During the 17th and 18th centuries it was very popular, and during that period it was often decorated with enamel painting. Semi-opaque white glass was also made using ashes of calcined bones, and this kind of glass is called by names such as opal, opaline, or milk-and-water glass. During the 19th and 20th centuries a great deal of pressed, opaque, white glass was made, and this was often given names like vitro-porcelain (in England) or porcellein-glass (in Germany). This is the kind of white glass that is usually collected by milk glass collectors. The same manufacturers often made other colors in the same patterns, especially blue, and this has given rise to some glass experts applying the term “milk glass” to other colours in opaque glass.
Things I would love to add to my collection:
an old dairy sign
milking stool (instead of a step stool for my kitchen)
milk glass hen candy dish
cows are always welcome….figurines, though I would love to have a few of the living kind!
Paul has learned that this is something that he really shouldn’t question ….I think he already knows I’m not exactly sure why I love them so much. I guess, I am just a country girl at heart.
New cucumber sprouts …..we’re looking towards pickles!!!! Anyone have any good pickle recipes??
These are Joshua’s favorite…we planted them closest to the deck so that he could eat them whenever he would like!
Our Square Foot Garden is still very young. We still need to plant two of the blocks. They will house carrots and onions. Everything else seems to be growing pretty well.