Mid-May Link Day

Since it's been more than 10 months since I last shared links, I have about thirty gazillion links saved in my bookmarks folder to share with you all... and it's really getting ridiculous. So, even pared down, here's a quite large collection of what I think of, or at one time thought of, as interesting, worthwhile, or challenging reading. Also, I'll punctuate it with pictures of my cute kids, just because I can. Enjoy!

LIFE AT HOME

• Encouraging words on loving our husbands sexually
• Tim Challies' series on leadership in the home
• Perfectionism is POISONOUS in our approach to parenting-- an excellent reminder!
• Tips for time with God with a bunch of little ones in your home
• Hospitality tips (by an "amateur")
• Ever considered switching to a "family closet"? It's an interesting idea.
• Thinking up baby names? This website that visually tracks name popularity is WAY cool.
• Large-family myth busting
• Pregnancy is hard: valuable reflections from a young mom
• A friend of mine writes about marriage to a difficult man
• Feeling the pinch of a double income?
• How do you afford all those children? -- a GREAT series (Part one, Part two, Feeding a family of 8 for $300/month- WOW!)
• Parenting a large family: What It Is and What It's Not
• An interesting series for today's culturally-affected church: Pornifying the Marriage Bed
• Flirting with your husband
• Raising kids who eat well
• When to Stand & When to Hide: a mom of many shares wisdom about setting boundaries about your pregnancies & family life
• "I don't want my children to be happy"
• Life on the Fringe-- encouragement for those making unusual choices
• Mothering as a monastic-type existence: an interesting comparison-- here's a quote: "a mother raising children, perhaps in a more privileged way even than a professional contemplative, is forced, almost against her will, to constantly stretch her heart. For years, while raising children, her time is never her own, her own needs have to be kept in second place, and every time she turns around a hand is reaching out and demanding something."

HOMESCHOOLING

• 1 Corinthians 13 for homeschool moms
• Renee shares her experiences homeschooling older adopted children
• My friend Carletta wrote a free e-book, Seven Secrets of Finding the Right Homeschool Curriculum
• Homeschools qualify for this free giveaway: 12 hour DVD series on American history
  
• A nice collection of free homeschooling materials
• Free online crossword-puzzle-maker
• Free handwriting worksheet maker
  
• Homeschooling is not expensive!

EVERYDAY LIFE & ITS STRUGGLES

• Feeling burned out?
• Struggling with contentment?
• Are you carrying a load meant for you or trying to carry a burden too big for you alone? This was a helpful distinction for me.
• Do you believe IN God, or do you believe God? -- the difference a word can make.

CRAFTING AND COOKING

• Ladies'-skirt-to-toddlers'-dress transformation
• An entire blog of free tutorials!
• A collection of from-scratch recipes and homemade ingredients!
• Make your own table playtent! This is such a neat idea... next time I get a completely free few hours, LOL...
• Creative clothes-patching
• Keep the kitchen clean while you cook-- now if I could just master THIS advice!
• The black apple doll tutorial-- this doll is just precious, and looks pretty easy to make!

SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, OR OTHERWISE INTERESTING ISSUES

• Woman performs abortion while pregnant with same-aged baby - You may have already seen this, but it's worth reading for some quite clear perspective on the abortion issue.
• For Women Considering an Abortion
• "The Two Lists"-- my friend Jennifer shares her thoughts on abortion & the mental separation between sex & fertility
• Mugged by ultrasound-- why abortion clinic workers are increasingly becoming pro-life
• "Gendercide": The War on Baby Girls
• Even former-sex-symbol Raquel Welch sees the problems of an oversexualized, undercommitted culture
• Despite the feminist revolution, "women are getting gloomier"
• Mark Dever shares his observations about the differences between young & old complementarians
• Here's a Thomas Sowell interview on gov't, society, feminism, and more... he's always interesting.
• Sexual assault on women soldiers
• God watches you as you google.
• Man in "vegetative state" for twenty-three years heard every word
• Ever read the story of the eight-cow-wife?
• BEHIND THE VEIL: an intriguing look into the lives of Afghan women -- these videos are fascinating and worth your time.
• This famous atheist knows better than some Christians what it means to BE a Christian

AND, IN TRUE MAKING HOME TRADITION, SOMETHING FUNNY TO FINISH OFF THIS LINKFEST:

• Girls-dress-to-man's-shirt tutorial-- Even if you've never sewed a button, trust me; if you need a laugh, you want to click on this.

TTFN, and a Summer Show & Tell

There must be something about this time of year. This week it hit me that I need to spend time away from this screen for a while. I try other methods (giving myself certain amount of time online, or try to only visit certain sites), but end up frustrated or it just doesn't "stick"... just shutting it off for awhile works better (for me). I've learned that if I do this every so often, I neither overestimate the importance of online activities, nor underestimate the resources, wisdom, and comraderie available here. And if I do this every so often, I don't end up shutting down my blog, only to realize that communicating by writing is a part of how God built me and that I need to get back to it.

Time away helps me to rightly value what's here, and rightly value what's NOT here.

So I'm taking some time away, not sure how long. About six weeks from now, our family is going to Cairo for our family vacation (we found a good deal and quickly snatched it up--YAY, I can't wait to see the Pyramids!!!), so it may be even after that, something like 2 months. We'll just see. And I reserve the right to hop back on, without shame, if there's something that I feel prodded to write about. :) But regardless, I hope you have a delightful summer- full of knowing Christ more, and joyfully loving family and the people around you.


As a parting gift, here are the links I've been storing up since the last Show & Tell (and I'll decorate them with recent pics of my kids):

FEATURED ARTICLE:

• KNOW YOUR BIBLE! Randy Alcorn warns that not knowing the Word of God is a monumental problem in the modern church... and I agree.

CAUSE IT'S INTERESTING:

• Challies explores technology, faith, relationships, distraction, and really knowing God and others: Don't Take Your iPod to Church!
• NEED A GOOD READ THIS SUMMER? Check out my 2009 book reviews for ideas (I'll continue updating through the summer).
• GOSSIP
  
• Mary Kassian writes about the soft strength of womanhood
• I've been listening to this incredible song about God on repeat for the last few days... Josh Harris noticed it too and written about it: Regina Spektor's "Laughing With"
  
• A young mom shares about her journey to becoming a better cook.
  
• Are you crafty? Need ideas? Check out this list.
• Cut out the busyness and spend time with people, says John Piper.
  
• A good word: Feelings are not good (or biblical!) indicators for if something is true or false!
• Books on a budget
• The abortion discussion is changing, says one formerly-pro-choice atheist
  
• Tips for hospitality
• You wouldn't pay 1,000 bucks a week to send your kid to x-box camp for kicks... College as merely "enjoyable" entertainment for young adults
  

RELATIONSHIPS:

• Why the "sexy" part of being a bride should be saved for AFTER the wedding.
• Steps/Counsel for responding to a husband's porn addiction.
• Jenny Sanford strikes me as a woman leaning on the grace of God in the middle of a really yucky situation. As I've watched her responses through her husband's adultery-- something that none of us would like to face-- I've been praying that many people will ask "what is the reason for her hope (grace, kindness, willingness to forgive)?" That kind of character in the face of shame and pain lets God shine through in a big way.
• John Piper recently published this gem: Sexual Intimacy & the Rights Over a Spouse's Body in Marriage
  

LIFE WITH KIDS:

• Jen (a mom who has had 4 kids in 5 years) shares tips for thriving through the newborn/little kids stages
• Ethical issues continue with prenatal tests -- we keep growing in knowledge and "advancements" in science, and yet our society seems more lost than ever.
• Swedish parents conceal child's gender --Yikes, poor kid!
  
• Enjoy your little ones, from a mom of five.
  
• Apparently, through this program, you can host African orphans in your home for a summer. Maybe something to pray about?
• 100 Things to do WITH KIDS in Washington, DC (What a great list! We used to live in DC and I wish we'd have done more while there.)
• "I am not the mother I want to be"-- a friend writes about the beautiful difficulties that come with being a mom of many
  

HOMESCHOOLING:

• New statistics on the growth & "success" of homeschooling
• Homeschooling your preschooler-- great advice here!
  

GOOD FOR A LAUGH:

• The "Upside" of Violent Video Games :)
• A couple of Lego Laughs: The Busstop, and The Decision
  
• The mp3 Experiment! Good, creative fun!
  

Show & Tell: An April Blogging Bonanza!

Well, since slowing down blogging a while back, I haven't done a Show & Tell, and I know there are some of you out there who love these things. Lemme tell ya, this one's a doozie. So let's get right to it:

A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT:

• Are you a new Christian? Take 3 minutes to listen to the wisdom of J. I. Packer, a jolly old saint.
• What's the value of a life?
• What it's like to grow old
  
• Voddie Baucham considers the oft-offered commentary on one biblical example: Was the Proverbs 31 Woman a "Career" Gal?
• How to be a reader when you can't afford books
• 101 tips for improving your photography skills
• Even Slate.com (a very liberal online newssource) sees that prenatal medical diagnoses are ethical quicksand.
• Spend your time cultivating a beautiful spirit-- because even beautiful models aren't externally "perfect" enough for magazines.
• Whatcha watchin? Oh be careful, little eyes, what you see!
• Should Christians care about the environment? Randy Alcorn weighs in.
  
• The top TEN science hoaxes of all time-- interesting that the first two have to do with evolution, a foregone but unproven conclusion in our day and age
  
• In church, in life, in relationship with Christ, are you LEANING IN like the example of this precious older Christian woman?
• A great article from my precious friend (and new mom, for the 13th time) Renee... how the growth of a child's affections and relationships can affect their physical growth-- very interesting & with visual proof in her own family!
• The debauchery of American womanhood... an excellent read... sorry in advance to those who may be offended by the picture at the top.
  
• Comedian Steve Harvey recognizes the hazards of reckless dating.
• Interesting: Traditional engagement process in India (with pictures!)
• Janel shares from experience some practical wisdom about dealing with difficult people! (more specifically, dealing with difficult Christians.)
  
• Got an hour & 15 minutes? Packed with expert testimony & information, this video is worth watching: "The Great Global Warming Swindle"

GROWING THINGS?

• Great tips all in one place about preparing your garden/pots for planting. (And hey, the Obamas are doing it too!)
  
• How to make compost. (Yes, I'm growing things on my new balcony... and yes, I'm trying composting out this year, for the first time in about 5 years.)
  
• ALL About Compost
  

AROUND THE HOUSE:

• Christian hospitality is different from being a friendly Martha Stewart
  
• Facing laundry problems
• Simple way to save some serious $$$- Use less of everything!
• Something to consider: Are You Worldly?
• Using Cloth Diapers, One Year Later-- Mary Grace shares many of my same observations, although I'm probably less cheerful in my pro-cloth-ness than she. I still haven't found the motivation to jump back in after taking a few months' break, but maybe soon... I sure did enjoy them when he was itty bitty.
  

COOK UP SOMETHING TASTY:

• 100 Meals for less than $10
• Bethany's Dulce de Leche Cheesecake sounds amazing!!!
• Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake doesn't sound too shabby either.
  

THOUGHTS ON CHILD REARING:

• What's the "Best Start" for any baby? (Hint: this has absolutely nothing to do with breastfeeding/bottlefeeding!)
• Just because kids are obedient does not mean they're "easy".
  
• One approach to family devotionals
• Is college a waste of money for most people? Maybe... consider it for yourself.
  
• Another thing to potentially prepare your kids for: Gender-Neutral College Housing (i.e., assigned co-ed rooms)
• Dealing with/parenting a rowdy boy? Be encouraged!

HOMESCHOOLING

• My friend Carletta has put together a free e-book: 101 Ways to Save Money Homeschooling
  
• Know your state's homeschool laws.
  
• 10 famous people who were homeschooled
  
• Grandparents can play a part in homeschooling!
• One family's "Why We Homeschool"-- worth the read!
  
• Praise God the for freedoms we enjoy in America... and pray that nothing will trespass on these rights.

CONCERNING MARITAL INTIMACY:

• Love your man: INITIATE!!!
• While enjoying time with him, FOCUS!
• TAKE BABY STEPS towards more free & fun intimacy with your husband!
  
• Kelly reviewed Dr. Leman's chapter in "Sheet Music" about oral sex in the Christian marriage
• AND she has another great post that brings out some interesting highlights about the differences between men & women and how they affect marital intimacy.
• Christian Sexuality series from Capitol Hill BC... awesome stuff!
  

FOR WOMEN ONLY (REALLY!!!)-- WHAT I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU BUT HAVEN"T HAD THE GUTS TO DO A SEPARATE POST ABOUT:

• Natural Feminine Products ROCK! Really.
• Don't just take my word for it. Read this quite detailed review of The Diva Cup from another blogger: Frugal Menstruation. Read more reviews. And one more honest review.
  
• Are you serious, Jess? What are some reasons why anyone would use natural feminine products? Glad you asked. Click on that link and quit balking. Less money, no odor, no spills, more discretion, no trash, no bulky supplies to tote around... really, the better question is why aren't YOU using them???? :)
• Click here to read more answers to commonly asked questions about the DivaCup.
• I'll help you out: here's where you can buy a DivaCup for even less.
  

ABOUT BLOGGING:

• Concerning negative blog comments, I can't tell you how many times I've thought similar things to the things Elizabeth expresses here.
• If you were one of those interested in reading about the book reviews as I finish my 2009 reading list, don't forget to check out my ever-updating book review post.
  

THE SHOW & TELL WRAP-UP: Good for a laugh!

• Are you a Chick-Fil-A junkie? You need to hear this song if you haven't yet.
• Even in politics, amidst real & undeniable political changes, some things don't change. (A great, and amazingly similar, comparison of new & old presidents.)
• Judging people who use the Table of Contents in their Bible - hysterical! It IS tough to find Nahum. :)

As always, happy reading! And Happy May! :)

Hospitality by Moms of Young Children?

We host larger groups in our home regularly now (see the picture of piled up shoes in our entryway as proof!), and have for almost a year. But it wasn't always this way. Something I've realized (being a mom with young children) is that this is a wonderful way for moms of young children to be involved in life as part of the body of Christ.

Even though you are intricately tied to the home, you can serve, interact with, influence, and befriend all kinds of people by having a hospitable home. When people know you are happy to host guests, make desserts, or have a get-together in your home, you can become their “go-to” person whenever the need arises. When a guest preacher comes to your church, the pastor may think of you as a family who can provide him with lunch. If the women's Bible study needs someone’s home to host a party, you will become known as someone who enjoys opening up her home.

That may sound scary to you... it would have to me a few years ago. But the fact is that by opening up your home, you can get to know people better in a place that allows you to be the mom of your children. If your kids need a nap, you just excuse yourself, put them down for a nap, and rejoin the conversation moments later. Bedtime can happen and then the get-together can go on. Even during this time of "working at home”, when you aren’t regularly venturing out into the world, you can essentially bring the world to you.

OK, BUT HOW?
I'd encourage you to begin this week and learn a new dessert recipe, or put together 2-3 possible menus. Think of menus that would taste good, but also be realistic possibilities for you to prepare on an average day in your current stage of life. Think about things that can be made ahead of time and frozen, things that can cook all day in the crock pot but be excellent over rice or pasta. Consider the possibilities, and then craft a few possible menus.

Then, jump in. Invite another family over. Or an older couple. Or a hungry college student. At first, you will probably feel inadequate. You may find that you need to learn how to get several meal items all ready at the same time. Or it may be that you need to do a better job estimating accurate serving portions for groups.

Whatever you learn about your hostess skills, if you find something(s) lacking, focus on one thing that most needs improvement… and then do that one thing better the next time. The more you have people in your home, the more natural it will become. And by focusing on your one area for improvement each time, it will also become easier each time you do it.

BUT MY HOUSE IS A MESS!!!
In general, you can relax about the daily mess of life. Your home doesn’t need to look as pristine as the White House for guests to enjoy a visit in your home. Make things presentable and tidy, and then dive in. Do take the time to tidy up the room or rooms that you’ll be spending your time in, but don’t worry about it if you have a full hamper or haven’t mopped. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect, and in fact, the fact that you live in a “real” house will probably be an encouragement to the people you’re hosting.

BUT I’M NO FIVE-STAR CHEF!!!
As far as meals go, it can range from the simple and inexpensive (a baked potato buffet-style meal) to the basic and every-day (simple pasta, simple sauce, and baked/grilled chicken) to as creative and special as you want to make it. It’s really up to you. But simple meals like waffles with syrup or a grilled chicken salad can be every bit as good as the extravagantly-made meals that a chef could dream up. The point is NOT to become some world-class chef (although by having groups over, your cooking skills WILL greatly improve)… the point is to use your home to serve others.

And what a wonderful way to begin really getting to know your brothers and sisters in Christ! Invite the widows, college students or the single mom and her kids in your church over to your home.

Young moms, hospitality is an excellent way that we can extend our reach during this “home-bound” season of our lives and impact even those outside of our homes for God’s glory. We will find loads of ministry opportunities if we will graciously hold out our homes as a tool for God’s use.

Click here to read more articles about hospitality.

Christmas Show & Tell: Have Yourself a Decadent Little Christmas

I hope you all have now begun your Christmas weekend and are spending time with family and friends... I wanted to share a few things with you to enjoy over the holiday season.

• Can I implore you to start one morning of your holiday with these scrumptious muffins? She calls them "French Breakfast Puffs"... Doug & I agreed this morning that our name for them is going to be "Sopaipilla Muffins" (after the delicious cinnamon-sugar coated Mexican dessert). They are sinfully delicious in every possible way. If you make these, your taste buds will rise up and call you blessed.
  
  I'm serious. I don't think I've ever made a better breakfast. Ever. Are you on your way to your kitchen? You should be.
  

OTHER CHRISTMAS/COOKING IDEAS:

• My fun friend over at Musings of a Housewife has put together a lovely Homemade Piecrust Making Lesson.
• Maybe you haven't wrapped your gifts yet? Consider this great and cute idea for reusable Christmas wrapping.
• My gift to you: FREE SEWING PATTERNS. If you visit this site, and create a username, you can print out thousands of free patterns that are precious and useful and unique. Merry Christmas, my sewing friends!
  

MISCELLANEOUS INTERESTING LINKS:

• Still waiting around for my "Redesign Your Blog" how-to-do-html post? Please forgive me for not having gotten to that sooner-- my language lessons started up a couple weeks ago (I'm learning Turkish), we've been tidying up because we'll be traveling for much of the month of January, and with Christmas goings-on, well, it just hasn't happened. I'll try and revisit it next week, before we leave. In the meantime, here's a great post that can give you other tips on how to improve your blog: 15 Powerful Ways to Differentiate Your Blog From the Crowd.
• Take this holiday season to get some sleep. Improve your health, have more energy, and help the environment by getting the right amount of sleep.
• SECULAR THOUGHTS ON HEAVEN: Liberal LA Times columnist Joel Stein got quoted on the back of a Starbucks cup. Here's the quote:
  

  Heaven is totally overrated. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can't wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They're basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell.
  

  Something interesting is that this (clouds, harps, boring) is the way many Christians see Heaven, which is completely unbiblical, but gives clear reason for why so few Christians are excited about eternity with Christ.
  
  In response to Stein's coffee cup quote, he received five copies of Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven, from five different Christians. Because of that response, Stein called Alcorn. You might be interested to read about the outcome of that conversation. Here's Alcorn's blogpost about their conversation, and here's Stein's follow-up article about Heaven. You should read both.
  
  By the way, if you haven't read Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven, or you find yourself feeling similar to how Stein feels about Heaven, BUY AND READ the book. It will give you so much biblical insight, encouragement, and excitement about eternity.
  

LAUGH TRACK
Normally, I like to end these posts with something funny. Today, I have three, no- make that FOUR, funny links for you to check out. So have a few laughs...

• The European Union Will Improve the English Language.
  
• The Homeschooler's Wish List. Hilarious tongue-in-cheek responses to the ridiculous questions we homeschoolers get asked by friends and strangers alike.
• Cletus Take the Reel- A pretty silly parody of "Jesus Take the Wheel" (ht: Josh Harris, via Doug- thanks darlin!)
  
• Perhaps someone you know needs to visit a shrink. Can I recommend this one?
  

I pray that this holiday time will be a time for gathering with those that you love to celebrate the amazing miracle of Christ come to earth. What an amazing thing it is that the God of all the world came and became human, in order that we might have eternal life. May this be a precious time for you and your family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!