25 Random Things About ME!

I posted this on my Facebook for all my friends to see. I thought maybe some strangers may want to see it as well! So here are 25 Random things about me!! Maybe you'll learn something about me you never knew! Now it;s your turn! Post!!

1. I love love love homeschooling my kids!! I wish everyone could experience the fulfillment that I have in doing this!
2. I think that ALL parents should take responsibility for their children's education . . . even if they don't homeschool!! (I know it's not for everyone) There really is no one to blame . . . and please don't use socialization as a reason NOT to homeschool . . . you have to take responsibility for that too!! You have to socialize your kids!! No one else is going to!!
3. I also think EVERYONE should take complete responsibility for their own health!! Trusting what the doctor tells ya . . . it can get you DEAD!!! Do your own research!!
4. I also think that all people . . . Christians in particular . . . should take responsibility for their own spiritual walk!! Ya can't blame the preacher for not preaching "what pertains to you!!" Go find out what THE WORD says . . . and do it!!
5. I think my husband is the smartest person I have ever met!! He can figure anything out!! He can do anything . . . someone PLEASE hire him already!!
6. I hate video games . . . but I let my kids play them for a limited time per day! I am such a push-over!!
7. I think home birth is THE MOST amazing thing!! I am sooo glad I have a CHOICE!! It may not be your first choice, but again . . . I take responsibility!!
8. Someday I might just take up the career of midwifery!! Maybe . . . who knows??
9. I hate it when my toe nails aren't painted!! I live in FL and where flip-flops year around!! What can I say!
10. I think large families are fascinating! That is why I want one!! (My definition of large is 4+ children) . . . I don't know if I will be done after four . . . MAYBE one more . . . we'll see!
11. I wish I would have been a better student in high school . . . I made up for it in college, but I missed out on some good stuff!! BUT thankfully my God is a God of second chances!! Now I am learning along side of my kiddos!! I love my life!!
12. I wish that my house was cleaner and more organized!! BUT I have given up the crazy-ness of that all to be at home with my kids!! The house and it's orderliness is way down on the list of priorities!! My kids are more toward the top!!
13. I have really enjoyed reading other peoples list of 25 Random Things!! Sometimes I just laugh out loud!!!
14. I secretly wish the animals that live in my house would mysteriously disappear!! The kids would be horrified (that is they they are still around) but . . . I am tired of cleaning up after animals . . . sorry to the animal lovers out there!! I am not one, but my daughter is . . . so we have a dog and a bunny!!
15. I think my college days were the most fun times of my life . . . I hope my kids get to have a similar experience!! Those we the good ol' days!!! Carefree . . . . it was great!
16. I love coffee!! I just wish it wasn't so bad for ya!! I don't have to have to caffeine. I just like the way it tastes!! So when it is cold outside, i make decaf and tell myself "at least it's decaf!!"
17. I make homemade antibiotics . . . sounds hippy, Right Robin?? See my blog for the recipe www.jamielhoganblogspot.com It kills everything . . . even strep!!
18. I wish I had the money and energy to have a farm and raise all my own dairy, meat, and veggies . . . but I don't so I will settle for the toxic waste that is sold in grocery stores around the country!! One of my fave lines from the movie "Over the Hedge" is "If it tastes this good, it MUST be good for you!!" Funny!! SOOOO not true!!
19. I wish we didn't own a TV!! It is waste of time . . . but I can't get anyone in the house to agree with me, so we settle for fasting from it from Memorial Day to Labor Day . . . thanks Thompsons!!
20. I have been to Africa several times. I lived there for a year . . . yes my hubby & 2 older kids were with me . . . no I didn't live in a mud hut!! LOL
21. I wish all people in America would take a trip to a Third World Country!! Pictures don't do it justice . . . you can't smell the smells or hear the cries!! That is when you can say life isn't fair!!!
22. I wish people would follow rules!! That is one of my pet peeves!!
23. I used to be an aggressive driver! Then I moved to Ghana, where driving is . . . very stressful . . . now, I am rarely in too much of a hurry to let someone go in front of me!!
24. I feel sorry for people that win the lottery and mess up their lives!!
25. I LOVE MY LIFE!!!! Jesus has blessed me with SOOOO much richness!! Words can't describe it all!! I thank GOD everyday for bringing me HERE!! ". . . for such a time as this!!"

BRRRRR!! I thought we lived in FLORIDA

Well, I must say that I HATE the cold weather we have been having lately! I grew up in the north where it was cold and gloomy 6 months out of the year! I always asked my mom why we couldn't have lived in a warmer climate . . . she never really had an answer, but when I went to college in TN, I experienced a little warmer weather and definitely LESS SNOW!!!

When the opportunity arrived for us to move to Florida, where there is sunshine year 'round . . . I was thrilled!! All I knew was that is was HOT most of the year and it didn't snow!! . . . I have found this to be true for the most part. But this winter has been the coldest winter in the 4 years that we have lived here. I really realized that I DO NOT like the cold . . . and now . . . it is supposed to be 33 degrees tonight. Now that is COLD for Florida!! It's the topic of most conversation around here! I guess I will be breaking out our Northern clothes and coats in order to survive the next few days!! Sorry for complaining . . . thanks for listening!!!

Check Out This Video About the Church

Vacation Update

We just got back from Myrtle Beach with my Hunny's entire family (pretty much). Every year they go on a golf vacation. We have been before, but it has been about 6 years since our last time. Every year it's the same thing . . . the men (and a few of the women) golf all day and most of the women go SHOPPING!! It's fun but no one else takes their kids. So the whole shopping till ya drop for 8 days in a row . . . my kids were not interested. So I knew I was going to have to find other things to do to keep them entertained.

So before we left I did some googling and found a few things that the kids would enjoy. We did all kinds of stuff!! We found a Children's Museum and the kids loved that!!! They spent an entire afternoon in that place! It was awesome too! There was so much to learn and see. We went to a Zoo. It was more like a preserved piece of land with lots of exotic animals to see. It wasn't like a regular zoo. It was right up my kids ally because they love to feed animals. They love to see baby animals and they got to do both. I also found a Civil War Museum and Shannon's dad just loves that kind of stuff. So he took the kids one afternoon after golf. They said it wasn't super exciting, but they always enjoy being with Grandparents. Then there was the Mall on Halloween night. They were in out of the cold and they got a little bit of candy. That was a lot of fun! They taught Carter how to say "Trick or Treat!" It was really cute!!

We were invited (don't ask how) to a "Get out and vote Rally" for the Republican party. It was a cool experience for the kids. There were all kinds of local politicians and the kids got their picture in the local paper!! We have been doing lots of learning about voting and the elections so this was interesting to be a part of.

This is Shannon and I enjoying the festivities!

We even found the local library in MB!! (I think homeschoolers can spot one miles away!!) Well, come to find out . . . they have several, thank goodness!! The hotel we stayed in didn't have a business center with computers, like most hotels do, so we used my new GPS and simply typed in "library" and vioala . . . a long list of possibilities!! This is a funny story . . .

The first library that came up was the closest one so we went there and found that on rainy days . . . it doubles as a homeless shelter!! The place was full and packed with homeless people sleeping all over the place!! AND there were only 2 computers that could only be used for 15 minutes at a time!! That's not even long enough to check your email!! So we went to the next one on the list and it was a beautiful new library with 24 computers. We left the kids with family and we each spent an hour on the computers!! It was still a strange experience . . . the people that we there that day . . . . were making noises and snoring while awake . . . I could go on . . . it just seemed like everyone that sat near us was . . . making some strange noises OR they had strange smells coming from their direction . . . . it was memorable . . . let's just put it that way!! We did go back another day and we took the kids to explore the kids books!! That was an experience too! It was one of Carter's bad days . . . I know we are all entitled to them sometimes . . . his was library day!!!

I will post more later . . .

Election Day is Tomorrow

Please read Becky's latest post at Blessed with Olive Plants. She has done a great job of getting involved!

I, on the other hand . . .I am in myrtle Beach on vacation and I came to the local library to check my email . . . let's just say public computers are an experience and if you have never used one . . . you're lucky!!

More when I get home!

Food that Makes People FAT!!

I get so mad when I hear that Americans are letting the food industry exploit them!! This article (Which I have put down below) is more of what I have already been doing lots of research on. There are people making money off the fact that most people don't read labels and frankly don't care what is in their food. UGH!! We need to stand up to these big companies and let them know that we are much smarter than they give us credit for. I don't want to be obese and I don't want my kids or grandkids to suffer with obesity. It can be avoided by eating nutrient dense foods that have not been processed. Read the article! I hope it makes you made enough to check out alternatives for your family!!

Two nutrition experts argue that you can't take marketing campaigns at face value
With America's obesity problem among kids reaching crisis proportions, even junk food makers have started to claim they want to steer children toward more healthful choices. In a study released earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 32 percent of children were overweight but not obese, 16 percent were obese, and 11 percent were extremely obese. Food giant PepsiCo, for example, points out on its website that "we can play an important role in helping kids lead healthier lives by offering healthy product choices in schools." The company highlights what it considers its healthier products within various food categories through a "Smart Spot" marketing campaign that features green symbols on packaging. PepsiCo's inclusive criteria--explained here--award spots to foods of dubious nutritional value such as Diet Pepsi, Cap'n Crunch cereal, reduced-fat Doritos, and Cheetos, as well as to more nutritious products such as Quaker Oatmeal and Tropicana Orange Juice.
But are wellness initiatives like Smart Spot just marketing ploys? Such moves by the food industry may seem to be a step in the right direction, but ultimately makers of popular junk foods have an obligation to stockholders to encourage kids to eat more--not less--of the foods that fuel their profits, says David Ludwig, a pediatrician and the co-author of a commentary published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association that raises questions about whether big food companies can be trusted to help combat obesity. Ludwig and article co-author Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, both of whom have long histories of tracking the food industry, spoke with U.S. News and highlighted 10 things that junk food makers don't want you to know about their products and how they promote them.
1. Junk food makers spend billions advertising unhealthy foods to kids.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, food makers spend some $1.6 billion annually to reach children through the traditional media as well the Internet, in-store advertising, and sweepstakes. An article published in 2006 in the Journal of Public Health Policy puts the number as high as $10 billion annually. Promotions often use cartoon characters or free giveaways to entice kids into the junk food fold. PepsiCo has pledged that it will advertise only "Smart Spot" products to children under 12.
2. The studies that food producers support tend to minimize health concerns associated with their products.
In fact, according to a review led by Ludwig of hundreds of studies that looked at the health effects of milk, juice, and soda, the likelihood of conclusions favorable to the industry was several times higher among industry-sponsored research than studies that received no industry funding. "If a study is funded by the industry, it may be closer to advertising than science," he says.
3. Junk food makers donate large sums of money to professional nutrition associations.
The American Dietetic Association, for example, accepts money from companies such as Coca-Cola, which get access to decision makers in the food and nutrition marketplace via ADA events and programs, as this release explains. As Nestle notes in her blog and discusses at length in her book Food Politics, the group even distributes nutritional fact sheets that are directly sponsored by specific industry groups. This one, for example, which is sponsored by an industry group that promotes lamb, rather unsurprisingly touts the nutritional benefits of lamb. The ADA's reasoning: "These collaborations take place with the understanding that ADA does not support any program or message that does not correspond with ADA's science-based healthful-eating messages and positions," according to the group's president, dietitian Martin Yadrick. "In fact, we think it's important for us to be at the same table with food companies because of the positive influence that we can have on them."
4. More processing means more profits, but typically makes the food less healthy.
Minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables obviously aren't where food companies look for profits. The big bucks stem from turning government-subsidized commodity crops--mainly corn, wheat, and soybeans--into fast foods, snack foods, and beverages. High-profit products derived from these commodity crops are generally high in calories and low in nutritional value.
5. Less-processed foods are generally more satiating than their highly processed counterparts.
Fresh apples have an abundance of fiber and nutrients that are lost when they are processed into applesauce. And the added sugar or other sweeteners increase the number of calories without necessarily making the applesauce any more filling. Apple juice, which is even more processed, has had almost all of the fiber and nutrients stripped out. This same stripping out of nutrients, says Ludwig, happens with highly refined white bread compared with stone-ground whole wheat bread.
6. Many supposedly healthy replacement foods are hardly healthier than the foods they replace.
In 2006, for example, major beverage makers agreed to remove sugary sodas from school vending machines. But the industry mounted an intense lobbying effort that persuaded lawmakers to allow sports drinks and vitamin waters that--despite their slightly healthier reputations--still can be packed with sugar and calories.
7. A health claim on the label doesn't necessarily make a food healthy.
Health claims such as "zero trans fats" or "contains whole wheat" may create the false impression that a product is healthy when it's not. While the claims may be true, a product is not going to benefit your kid's health if it's also loaded with salt and sugar or saturated fat, say, and lacks fiber or other nutrients. "These claims are calorie distracters," adds Nestle. "They make people forget about the calories." Dave DeCecco, a spokesperson for PepsiCo, counters that the intent of a labeling program such as Smart Spot is simply to help consumers pick a healthier choice within a category. "We're not trying to tell people that a bag of Doritos is healthier than asparagus. But, if you're buying chips, and you're busy, and you don't have a lot of time to read every part of the label, it's an easy way to make a smarter choice," he says.
8. Food industry pressure has made nutritional guidelines confusing.
As Nestle explained in Food Politics, the food industry has a history of preferring scientific jargon to straight talk. As far back as 1977, public health officials attempted to include the advice "reduce consumption of meat" in an important report called Dietary Goals for the United States. The report's authors capitulated to intense pushback from the cattle industry and used this less-direct and more ambiguous advice: "Choose meats, poultry, and fish which will reduce saturated fat intake." Overall, says Nestle, the government has a hard time suggesting that people eat less of anything.
9. The food industry funds front groups that fight antiobesity public health initiatives.
Unless you follow politics closely, you wouldn't necessarily realize that a group with a name like the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has anything to do with the food industry. In fact,Ludwig and Nestle point out, this group lobbies aggressively against obesity-related public health campaigns--such as the one directed at removing junk food from schools--and is funded, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, primarily through donations from big food companies such as Coca-Cola, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and Wendy's.
10. The food industry works aggressively to discredit its critics.
According to the new JAMA article, the Center for Consumer Freedom boasts that "[our strategy] is to shoot the messenger. We've got to attack [activists'] credibility as spokespersons." Here's the group's entry on Marion Nestle.
The bottom line, says Nestle, is quite simple: Kids need to eat less, include more fruits and vegetables, and limit the junk food.

Bogus Scams

Subject : Bogus inspectors & your safety!!!!!

I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times unintentionally...but this one is real, and it's important. So please send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list, or post it as a bulletin so all of your friends will know..........

If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT!! THIS IS A SCAM!! They only want to see you naked.


**I hope I didn't offend anyone!! I laughed so hard when I read this that I just HAD to share it!! It's a joke!!

Bad Guys Out There

We have heard of it happening before, but this is just ridiculous! Several of our neighbors' houses were broken into today! How frustrating!! We know there were at least 2 people that got it bad and several others that had attempts made on their homes!

How awful and violated to be invaded in such a way!! What goes through these people's minds as they take valuables and vandalize other people's personal property??? How do they get to the place in life where people are so unimportant? They are in a sad place in life!!

My husband was home the entire day and he even spotted a "suspicious" car outside, but didn't think anything of it! He said it was driving slow and the driver seemed to be writing something?? He just thought the driver was looking for a specific address!!

Well, the good thing is that one of the neighbors has a camera that constantly monitors the exterior of her house!! Last time someone broke into a person's house on this street, her camera is what helped catch them! So I am hoping it does the job this time!!

I haven't talked to any of the victims, but I am just praying that they and their children can sleep tonight!!

Jesus,
Send your angels to watch over and protect those that have been violated! Please give them peace that passes human understanding!! Help them sleep tonight! I pray that the perpetrator's would be brought to justice and that they will find You in the midst of this situation! Your Grace is more than enough!!

How do you learn to SOCIALIZE anyway??

Those that are not familiar with homeschooling usually believe the stereotypical lie that homeschoolers don't have an opportunity to socialize. They believe that school is the place where children can learn to interact with others and learn the "social skills" that are necessary to live a complete, healthy life. They may never stop to think about the people in life that you know or have met that went to school, but who are completely unsocial or anti-social. You have seen then in your own school days; all alone in the corner of the cafeteria, the one that is so rude and has no social graces, the one that chews with his mouth open at lunch and makes a spectacle of himself. They exist as adults in the work place and in other social settings.

Most of the time, those unsocialized folks weren't homeschooled. They are people that are simply not taught at home how to interact with the world around them in a socially acceptable way.

There is one child that I know who is very unsocialized and that child has been in school/daycare since birth. The child is in "survival mode" making sure that no gets the child's stuff or takes the child's seat. The child carries stuff around all day long so no one will take it. The child yells at other children in order to get away with things or get the point across, so that someone will hear what this little one is trying to say. This child is mean. Sharing is not the norm and is very difficult. The world revolves around this child and everyone is expected to know that. I know for a fact that I have only seen the surface of what this child is capable of socially.

If parents expect the school system, public or otherwise, to teach their children how to socialize PROPERLY, there are going to be kids that are lacking in so many areas of life because this area of socializing affects so much. A teacher with 30 kids in a classroom should not be expected to teach your kids how to play nice, share nice, or talk nice. That is OUR responsibility . . . the parents of said children.

So, that is what I do . . . I teach my kids how to interact with other children of different ages, not just their own age. We actually talk about certain scenarios and how they might act or interact. When we have people over, we talk about the proper way to treat a guest. When my kids go to someone else's house we talk about acceptable social behavior. Since I have them at home with me, especially while they are young, I can be there for them when they are in a situation and need help figuring out what to do, socially. I don't call this tattling . . . . I call it teaching.

As a homeschool family, our opportunities to socialize are enormous. Sometimes I have to tell the kids, "Ok guys time to stop socializing! We need to get some school done!!"

My whole point is . . . I don't want someone else teaching my kids how to socialize. I want to do it!! I am so glad that God has given me the opportunity!! It is my life's most exciting adventure!!

Heely's Skate Shoes

I'm sure you've heard of them. They aren't as popular as they were a few years ago, but we tend to not allow our kids to indulge in the "latest and greatest" of things! (If we'd allow them to, the grandparents would OVER INDULGE!) They are Heely's! They're sneakers that have a wheel in the bottom of the shoe. The kids have to learn to balance themselves on the skates or they will fall off!! It didn't take long for them to get the knack! Now they love to wear them wherever we go!! I have taught them Heely etiquette and they know how to "look out for other people," etc.

. . . but some people out there don't like kids with Heely's (I have seen many that don't practice Heely etiquette!)!! I have found that they tend to be older women. First she tries to get the kids attention and shakes her head and finger NO or snaps her fingers (the kind you can imagine of a teacher shamefully scorning a child after which she places him in the corner with a DUNCE hat on his head!! The children will quickly come to my side because I didn't see the initial non-verbal attack!! Then the un-authoritative, older lady (a greeter at Walmart for instance), will say, "I'm sorry Mam, but they really don't want kids riding on those in here. They could fall and get hurt!!"

DUH!!!

They COULD fall while walking too!!

If that was a posted rule at Walmart, BJ's, etc. and the woman actually had a tool to remove the wheels, I would completely understand and wouldn't mind complying with the posted rules. (This has happened by the way!)

BUT when a janitor, greeter, or sample server has a power trip because he/she personally "doesn't want someone to get hurt," I get super annoyed!! People get hurt by doing all kinds of stupid things!! You really can't avoid it!! While I was at Walmart, during the same visit, a child was riding a bike on training wheels through the isles at full speed!! Now that could hurt somebody . . .

I just think that if a greeter wants to have a power trip because she is concerned/annoyed with kids wearing Heely's, she should go to the Walmart corporate headquarters and have them make the rules!!!

Another rant on this same topic:

We were walking somewhere the other day and Camden was wearing his Heely's and he fell!! He didn't get hurt!! He's used to it!! But the mom behind me said to her son, "See how you can fall on those things!!"

I said to her, "Well, I figure they can fall if they're walking too, so what's the difference?" That was said with a smile, and we both laughed!

Why are people so afraid of "getting hurt?" I want to protect my kids as much as possible too, but they are gonna get hurt no matter what I do to keep them physically safe!!

This isn't a game!!

This video is alarming!! The preacher challenges people to think in terms of holiness and REAL-LIFE salvation!! It isn't a game, it's a battle against unseen forces!! Watch this video in it's entirety and let me know what you think!!

More to Laugh About

You are gonna laugh harder than you have in a long time!! Are you ready??

a selfish act

I was recently out to eat with a large group of people. The group was people from all different avenues and walks of life and we were all brought together by the sports team that our kids shared. I was mingling around the group, talking to all the moms. (I have little in common with most of them!!) I finally found a comfy spot next to a mom that had a six week old infant. I just love babies!!

Let me start by saying that I don't judge people who don't "do life" like I "do life!" If you are a "send your kids to school" mom, a "working" mom, a "work at home" mom, etc, I am fully accepting of that!! You have the freedom to choose what works best for your family. Sometimes these decisions are made without thinking past "the NOW!" "I have to work!" she may say. "I don't have the patience to homeschool!" she may say!! OR she might not say anything at all!! I have meet so many people that are on the defense and wish they would have just made the sacrifice. It happens all the time!!

. . . now back to my story. . . . this mom with the baby is a career mom!! She has her baby in daycare and she goes out and works all day!!! Well, this baby started crying. She gave him a bottle but that didn't soothe him. She told me he wanted to be nursed, but he is just going to have to get used to the bottle because at daycare they can't nurse him. So consequently he proceeded to cry . . . a lot!!

My heart was just broken!! Her baby wanted the soothing comfort that only she could give and she refused to comfort him. She is a modern woman and didn't want to be tied down by breast feeding. God designed woman to be nurturing and sensitive to the needs of her children. When she ignores that sense in order to satisfy her OWN needs, I think that God is sad!! It is simply a selfish act.

I was sad!!

The Chapman Family Tragedy

Today I learned of some very sad news. The youngest daughter of the popular Christian singer, Steven Curtis Chapman, died yesterday. You can read the story here. http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/

She was a happy, fun loving 5 year old. No doubt, she woke up that morning with great things to do. There was lots of excitement going on in the family and I am sure that little Maria Sue was in the middle of it all!!! I was in tears as I read the story of her death and it's surrounding circumstances.

I have a 6 year old!! He brings so much life to our family. He is the one that makes us all laugh and the one that gives hugs and kisses undeservingly. When I think of the pain these parents must be facing, I want to always remember to make sure my munchkins know how much I love them. I want them to be able to say, "I know that my mom would do anything for me. She showed me her love daily!!"

Life is so precious and sometimes too short!! God is sovereign and He will give them the strength they need to get through such a difficult tragedy!! But in the moment of hurt and pain, those words can seem so cliche'. I will be praying a special prayer for the Chapman family and I will be giving my munchkins extra kisses tonight!!!

EXPELLED

http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php

I don't know if you have heard of this movie or not, but it is awesome!!

Ben Stein challenges the great thinkers of academia and asks them how life was created!! Most scientists believe we were formed from molecules and that from then there was evolution. But there have been many scientists that have questioned their own beliefs and they have been ridiculed for it. In fact they have been essentially, EXPELLED from academia because of their mention that perhaps an Intelligent Creator had something to do with the whole process.

There are so many amazing facets of the movie. Ben Stein simply asks the questions!! He goes all over the world to ask what people think and how they come to their conclusions.

You have to go see it!!! Support the voice that is speaking so loudly for a cause so worthy!!! If you have older kids take them too! It's very funny and extremely engaging!

Check out the website and the trailor. It's playing a several theater's but not all. Even if you have to drive it's worth the distance!! Just do it!!