Marble Roller Coaster

 It’s Summer of Science 2024! The kids were challenged to create a marble roller coaster. They created this project all on their own. First starting with a blueprint of their own and combining one final diagram of each other’s ideas. I was really impressed with their creativity and intentional consideration of each other. At times they would become frustrated with the process and even each other but they made the adjustment and pushed through, encouraging each other along the way.

Here’s the final creation!

Moon Phases Oreo Activity

 Moon phases and Oreos, a summer science activity. Today we explored the subject of moon phases and learned fun facts about the moon throughout history. We started with a read aloud and shared the reading by taking turns. This hands on activity really helped us understand more thoroughly about the moon’s quarters and 8 shapes. The Oreos were a hit! 

The 4 A's of learning

This year we're going the extra mile to connect our book learning with practical models. I wanted to see us put more effort in real world application. I've learned that learning goes beyond literature, knowing how to read well and understanding math. The disconnect I believe many students have is how learning actually matters to them in the real world. So I've added a fourth R to the well known RRR foundation to learning reading, writing, arithmetic, and real world application.

This focus has been refreshing for me as well. I'm a left brain thinker, a heavy book and calculator learner. So grabbing scissors and coffee filters, measuring cups and craft sticks takes intentional processing and implementation. But what I've found is that learning actually is fun. I have to admit, as much as I would have no problem studying a book for hours, forcing myself to sacrifice a day or two as a "pause" in formal learning to make room for our activities has opened up a world of interest for my kids. 

Here's a glimpse in what we've been up to lately:

Heart model

Grocery Store weight (lbs and kg) and banana pudding measurements (fractions, percentages)

Circuits (visual of how messages are sent from our nerves to our brain)

Some of the hands on learning we do is completely random as well. I've made a list of math in action activities to help with our spinal math curriculum, Math U See. I use the language of the curriculum as we build recipes, crafts, and experiments. 

I'm excited to look back at these memories. I don't know where it will all end, but even if it's just providing them an experience they won't forget it will be completely worth it!

The Blood System

Science is actually fun! The two subjects in school that I thought I didn't like, World History and Science have actually become my favorites! I believe that children actually are little scientists. They are always asking questions and if you leave them alone they find things to experiment on, lol! With my oldest daughter I placed a heavy emphasis on literature and reading books with extensive vocabulary exposure, and that was great. But I'm learning that reading is more than just about big words, but it's about big ideas too.

Science has become another important aspect of our exploration of ideas. The subject we are currently learning is the human body. I'm being nice right now because I really want to use exclamation points, lol! It all started with a reading book on germs. One of our field trips at the library led to my collection of a book on germs which then led to the topic of cells. When you realize that all human life starts off as a single cell the topic of nucleus and mitochondria just mean so much more! So here we are entering into the world of biology first through reading and then through hands on inquiry.

We played a circulation game that showed the kids how blood travels throughout the body and how our cells are fed. The competition got real! The boys interacted with red blood cells, oxygen, carbon dioxide, along with sugars and proteins. We followed up our game with cups of tea and envisioned the impact of our drink with the circulation system at work within us.

This printout is a free resource by Ellen Chenry and can be found here.

Why Classical Education

Since saying yes to homeschool I've researched learning styles and curriculums, and followed other homeschoolers online through blogs and YouTube channels. I even started one on my own about 10 years ago. Recently I got in the mood to watch some of my old footage and traced my interest to classical education to my very first vlog. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my interests circled back to what I've always found interesting and relatable in my education alignment. In the fall of 2021 I settled on classical education with an eclectic approach. I like classical education because it provides a framework for learning that educators can follow easily. The learning is referred to as the trivium, its three stages are grammar, logic, and rhetoric. I've found that by having this guideline I've been able to make sense of the final destination for our homeschool goals.

The Trivium

The three stages of classical education are divided into four year increments. The first stage of learning is grammar, it organizes grades 1-4 and mainly focuses on the memory of facts. The second stage is logic and covers grades 5-8 where students begin to make sense of many of the facts they've learned and create opinions about those facts. The final stage of the trivium is rhetoric, for grades 9-12, it is here that students take use of all the facts of various subjects, along with their understanding of those things and begin to form opinions they can share through spoken and written language.

 As a structured personality type I love the practical nature of the classical philosophy. Our family isn't formally involved in a classical group, I take what I research and make it fit the scope of the trivium. Since 2021 I can say that our learning has become enjoyable and challenging. I've always had the outlook of the three R's of learning at the core of our learning, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. But the incorporation of classical education has allowed us to venture into a solid inclusion of history, languages, and science.

How is classical education inclusive of all cultures?

There's an air to the classical world that may appear to elevate the western world and its ideals, namely the European story. This alone can be a turn off to those who feel they want to show a different world to their children. I completely understand those sentiments. For us however, I've found that by pressing into those things which at first made us very uncomfortable we've found a sweet spot, learning for information while growing in our own identity and cultural leanings. 

We center our classical education on World History. This alone has been a game changer. There are co-ops that guide children in "what" to learn in classical education, but what we follow is history itself. I also use my experience as a guide by first identifying the things I wished I learned in school. So, for the grammar stage I simplify our direction by just thinking about things I want the kids to know like the states of our country, the countries of the world, the US presidents, and so forth. For logic I think of asking my middle grader lots of questions and encourage her to have opinions. We haven't entered the rhetoric stage at this point in our journey but at that time I will incorporate a formal logic curriculum along with the art of debate.

Classical Choices

For all of my kids we use a mixture of "tried and true" resources along with new school options. I've found resources from educators that are classically focused and incorporate resources other classical homeschoolers use as well. Reading good books is a must in our homeschool setting. I love the challenge of classical books, these are books that have stood the test of time. Many of them are regarded as classics from suggested reading annotations to education forums and blogs. I've also had to reach deep to incorporate African Diaspora classic stories as well. These are well written stories from all over the world about black people or written by black authors. It is important to us that our family understand the excellence that black people have contributed to the world of academics without it always having to be a slave narrative or suggestions of oppression or inferiority. 

It is also important to train the mind for advanced ideas. When I got to college I found that the area of philosophy and religion was out of my ability of reason. The content was so foreign and challenging that I found myself dismissing the importance of tough ideas. I don't want that for my children. The more we read challenging materials the easier it becomes. We look up challenging words all the time and create a growing list of words to learn. 

Here is a list of helpful resources that we use in our homeschool setting:

• Susan Wise Bauer's Well Trained Mind: This was my starting place as the ultimate classical homeschooling reference resource. This book breaks down every main education subject according to grades and provides a variety of suggested curriculums and reading books.
• Classic book lists (Marva Collins and Ambleside Online)
• The Bible
• Math U See
• Life of Fred
• McGuffey Readers
• Ray's Arithmetic
• Kingfisher Encyclopedia History of the World
• Easy Peasy
• Houghton Mifflin Reading Series (Bells, Drums, Trumpets, Adventures, etc)
• Youtube Playlists (Spanish, and geography songs)
• Public Library Interlibrary system (I love to place good books on hold, it saves time and I can ensure the books are actually worth the read)
• A globe!

Choosing classical education has been enlightening for us as well as freeing. It is actually fun to learn more about the world and piece together various stories from around the world. The spiritual benefit to our Christian faith is another added benefit. We're able to come in contact with life and be exposed to learning through a Christian lens. I can say with full confidence that I really believe the point of all learning is to know God more. Whether we are learning math, science, history, literature, or languages God somehow wows us in his majesty and wisdom as we explore. 

Choosing a Learning Style

 At the beginning of my research into homeschool education I came across various forms of education styles. I came across Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Classical, and Eclectic classifications. In addition to a variety of styles I've tried several homeschool curriculums that align with varying learning methods. Of all the methods I settled on Classical learning years ago dating back to 2013. But, along the way I strayed from any one set of guidelines and chose curriculum that fit our way of life at the time.

With my first child I tried to create a baby genius with the How to Teach Your Baby to Read method by Glenn Doman. His method was based on the success he found with children with learning disabilities learning an exorbitant amount of information through flash cards. It was based on large letters and a flash approach of 10 cards daily at multiple times a day. Truthfully it was very labor intensive. I created word flash cards and picture cards on various science and history subjects. But what I found over the years was that although I put in so much work, my daughter was still grade level in many of her subjects. 

I read immensely to her in the early years at the rate of 10 books daily. It served as a way to expose her to various ideas and advanced vocabulary, but also became precious moments for making memories. At the age of three she was ready to formally learn reading. She soared within a year and of all my children she picked up reading the most naturally. I attribute her progress to all of the reading we accomplished in the toddler years. But it was a lot... a little much.

At the age of three I created Montessori home stations with tactical hands on activities on various subjects. They became a play outlet for her and a chance to progress in learning new things. My favorite were marshmallow shape structures and dinosaur stations. Around that time I created a YouTube channel of our early years and although they are now set to private, we still get a laugh of many of the precious memories from those years.

Curriculums that I've tried: Math Mammoth, Singapore Math 1a and 1b, Christian Light Education, Math U See, Life of Fred, Houghton Mifflin, McGuffey Readers, Ray's Arithmetic, Harvey's Grammar, Apologia Science, Shurley English

For the majority of my homeschooling with her and the rest of my boys I've been eclectic, pulling from various curriculums and making it work. I scaled back with the boys. I've learned that learning is life. They learn from one another, they learn through developmental readiness, and they also learn through games and play.

5 Kids Later...

I've made a full circle back to the Lady of the House Diaries world. Now five kids later I'm excited to have a space in which I can share my experiences and journal my thoughts. Every now and then I refer to this space to remind myself of little details along the way in my homeschooling journey. 

At the start of this blog I was bedridden with my first child, a baby girl. After her I welcomed three handsome men into the world, and about 9 months ago I found myself bedridden again with another baby girl. You can only imagine the joy I had welcoming another little girl into the world. It was a faith journey from beginning to "new beginnings."

So many things have changed since my last post in my homeschool approach and I'm getting excited seeing it all unfold. 

New blog for homeschool reference

I started a homeschool blog with my best friend, most of the current activities and progress will be posted on the new blog.
Feel free to visit! :-)
Homeschoolbesties.blogspot.com

Completion of 4-early 5, before Kindergarten

Referring to this list has been extremely helpful. Here's a continuation of what was learned, these are the things I intend to repeat with my son.

1. Presidents and States
2. Complete Kindergarten math curriculum
3. Sentence (explain parts of)
4. Copy writing (emphasize spacing, three lines)
5. Paragraph (beginning, middle, end)
6. Parts of fiction story (characters, place, problem, solve)
7. Creative writing (story)
8. Phonics fast review/explain why
9. Science read a louds
10. Tell time to minute
11. Money (identify and counting)
12. Count by 2s, 5s, 10s, 1s)
13. Place value up to hundreds place
14. Counting groups
15. Build shapes with fun objects
16. Draw shapes
17. Polygons
18. Days of week fluent
19. Months of year fluent
20. Understanding number line (placement of numbers)
21. Write numbers left to right when prompted
22. Read numbers 1-100 left to right
23. Shape pattern activities
24. Understand add, get more
25. Understand subtract, take away
26. +0 facts
27. +1 facts
28. Double facts
29. In Caravans book
30. Answer questions (verbal comprehension)

0-4 Curriculum

My daughter is 4 now and I'm starting to teach my son all the things I taught her. This is an outline of the subjects by age, this will serve as a guide for my son, and any children that may come after.

0-2
Bible
Shapes
Letters
Colors
Animals
Trip to zoo
Numbers 1-10
Read-a-louds
Bible verse: John 3:16, Genesis 1:1, Lord's Prayer, Mark 12:29-31
Opposites
Nursery Rhymes
Body parts
Simple objects

2-3
Bible
Read-a-louds
Coloring
Puzzles
Big, bigger
Answer questions
Tell how things work
Physical activity
Continents/Oceans
Montessori practical life:
Fold clothes, brush teeth, handling with care, cleaning etc...
Animals
Fruits
Veggies
Numbers 1-20
Letters
Shapes
Colors
Bible verses:
Same
John 1:1

3 years old

Phonics
Houghton Mifflin books
Sight words, Dolch and Fry
Count objects
Pre-writing
Puzzles
Bible
Coloring
Read-a-louds
1-100
Days of the week
Months
Planets
Dinosaurs
Bible verses:
Same
John 14:6
Romans 10:9
Montessori (practical life, animals, etc)

4 years old (still building...)

Write A-Z, 0-9
Write simple words
Verbal story writing
Read-a-louds
Spanish vocabulary
States
Presidents
Coloring
Drawing
Bible
Superior Mind Math
Phonics, sight, and Houghton Mifflin
Calendar
Verses:
Same
Romans 6:23
John 8:58
John 14:23
New verse a week

Facts of Life Memory:
Song
Hands on activity with matching fact/s
Books (learn more)

Homeschool Curriculum Plans

I'm beginning to research various curriculums that will be useful in our eclectic homeschool setting. Since the beginning of my decision to homeschool, I've been using various resources and techniques to give Justice a basic learning foundation. I'm so happy with the progress that she is making, at 4 years old she is reading very fluid and can read 1st grade level reading materials.

Because of this success I've decided to continue making my language materials and utilizing library reading materials to supplement our language learning. To help the transition from preschool to formalized homeschool instruction I've come across a few resources that I believe will help direct us in this process. My plan is to begin this formalized instruction at the age of 5.

To summarize the focus of our homeschool instruction I have 9 subjects, with a core emphasis on the first 5 that we will do daily, 6-9 will be sprinkled throughout the week:

1. Worship
2. Language (Reading &Writing/Comprehension, etc...)
3. Math
4. Memory/Recitation
5. Art/Music (Alternate)
6. Science
7. History
8. Models
9. Play

This will be an outline of my vision for how these 9 subjects will successfully be achieved.

Worship:
Bible Stories/Topics
Praise
Prayer
Mission focus on Fridays

Language:
Phonics (National Right to Read Foundation)
Reading (Controlled Vocabulary and Read-a-louds)
Writing
Reading Comprehension in Words/Speech
Spelling
Vocabulary (Children's dictionary)
Grammar Curriculum (Shurley Method)


Math:
Math U See Curriculum

Memory/Recitation:
Various Subjects (Bible verses, Spanish, English subjects, etc...)

Science:
Subject Books (Pick a topic find free resources to study further)
Memory
Experiments

History:
History of the World (Susan Wise Bauer)
A Child's History of the World (Virgil Hillyer)
Various Supplemental materials

Models:
History Models that we will create from craft materials (lap books, dioramas, etc...)

Art:
Simple Drawings
Coloring/Painting
Crafts
See the Light Shine Curriculum (Down the line)

Music:
CD's
Piano

Play:
Involvement in a Sport or group activity (Basketball, Tennis, Football, Dance, Karate, etc... Just one for each child)


An example schedule:
Monday- Worship, Reading, Writing, Comprehension, Math, Memory/Recite, Science Memory, Science Learning, Art/Music

Tuesday- Worship, Vocabulary, Spelling, Grammar, Math, Memory/Recite, Science Memory, Science Learning, Science Experiment, Art/Music

Wednesday- Worship, Reading, Writing, Comprehension, Math, Memory/Recite, History Curriculum, American History Memory, Geography with Sociology/Biography, Art/Music

Thursday-Worship, Vocabulary, Spelling, Grammar, Math, Memory/Recite, History Curriculum, American History Memory, Geography with Sociology/Biography, Art/Music

Friday-Worship, Reading, Writing, Comprehension, Math, Memory/Recite, Missions, Model, Art/Music


*I will alternate daily between Art and Music, and weekly between geography with sociology and Biography


My plan is to fully utilize the public library for free resources, and discount stores for supplemental materials, the following is a list of things I will eventually purchase at discount or retail price:

1. Supplies for Science Experiments (new)
2. Science Experiment book
3. History Curriculum (new)
4. Math U See Curriculum (new)
5. Math Measurement Tools (new)
6. Shurley English Grammar Curriculum (new)
7. Materials for Weekly models (cheap, $1 stores and the like)
8. Praise book/cd (new)
9. Mission children's book
10. Bible topic workbook (new)
11. Speech tips book/print materials

(7 new)

*Note to self: Writing with Ease and Institute for Excellence in Writing (Materials for 3rd and up)
*Note to self: Look into Prima Latina for Latin Education (Materials for 2nd grade and up)

My YouTube Account!

So I've finally built up the courage to join the YouTube world!

Here's my account:



Lady of the House Diaries YouTube

My channel is an extension of my blog, it's main focus is my homeschool journey, hope you guys enjoy!

:) :) :)

Puzzles and Audiobooks

We're focusing on concentration and patience. To do this we have introduced puzzles to the mix of our activities! It encourages her to persevere and focus until the project is finished.
I went to the dollar store this week and had a great time buying 16 piece and 24 piece puzzles. Today we finished two puzzles together, a 24 piece Winnie the pooh and 16 piece Disney princess puzzle. I probably should have bought more 16 piece sets because she is having a blast with those.
My goal is to have her piece familiar puzzles together while listening to an audiobook. This week we checked out a Winnie the Pooh unabridged audiobook, so I'm going to let her listen to that while she does her activity.
I'm really looking forward to this strengthening her patience skills, she tends to get frustrated very quickly, and I want to see her break this habit by encouraging her to do more orderly activities, in an organized way.
I think with my son I'm going to encourage this type attitude earlier with a Montessori style approach, thankfully I'm learning new methods as I go along. I can't turn back the hands of time, so with my three year old I'm incorporating Montessori type methods with her where I can so she can develop her concentration and patience skills.
I'm excited!

Dr. Ben Carson for president!

Yes, after recently seeing the prayer breakfast and how he courageously rumbled some feathers speaking HIS REAL VIEWS on things that affect this nation in front of the president and other important political figures, again I say, Dr. Ben Carson for president!.

Its interesting to me that we live in a FREE nation, with the right to FREE speech, but when people actually speak what THEY feel, other people want to censor it. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. Listen, I'm all for being discerning and speaking at the right time, so when that time comes, namely when specifically asked to speak, or encouraged to speak, I believe people SHOULD speak, don't hold back, articulate YOUR OPINION. Not what others want to hear.

That's the beauty of America, at least it should be.

Dr. Ben Carson is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and well known public figure, attributed to the popular movie, Gifted Hands, which is based on his story coming from a disadvantaged childhood to his current success as a doctor.

I actually saw the movie, and it is a BEAUTIFUL portrait of what education can do for an individual. One thing that sticks out about his life is having a mother that believed in the power of knowledge. She made her two children read two books a week, turn OFF the television, with the exception of two to three programs a week and write book reports on what they read. Now in today's day that seems a little extreme, but in reality this is the type of mentality and efforts that it takes to transition from a lack of knowledge to a lover of knowledge.

Ben Carson says that of course as a child at first he didn't like the reading, but found over time that he begin to develop a LOVE for reading and could go anywhere through the pages of a book. This was so important for him because he was POOR, all caps poor. And for him, through reading he could transport away from his current situation and see the bigger picture.

It was through this practice that led to his pursuit of becoming a brain surgeon and becoming one of the most successful and prominent figures in our nation today.

Now before I even saw the prayer breakfast, I remembered this man's story, its liberating and encouraging to know that a solid education and access to knowledge could lead one to sure success.

So the prayer breakfast was actually the first time I had even seen him speak! And boy was that a treat! As a christian, Carson started his speech with the wisdom of Proverbs and spoke on the importance of education in his life. How reading allowed him to change his outlook on poverty and position in poverty, to success, and a good life. He spoke on how education is important for this nations's success as well, and how his strong belief in this has led to a scholars program, in which he gives out scholarships to those that excel in education and caring for other people as well.

But he didn't stop there...

Carson spoke on the wrong direction we as a nation are going, and offered a few suggestions on issues that are affecting us across the board, namely,taxes and healthcare.

This is a must see speech!

Enjoy!

Baby Josiah is HERE! Part 2

When I passed the 37 week mark I was sooooo happy, because my baby was considered full term, I was one week shy of this milestone with Justice, so reaching this point was an accomplishment. I knew at any moment after this, baby could be on his way out.

Days passed, Weeks passed, and I had a feeling that Josiah would take me all the way :)

For some women, pregnancy lingers even post the 40 week mark, even up to 2 weeks post expected delivery date, I was hoping that it wouldn't be that long, but mentally just tried to prepare myself that it was a possibility.

At my doctor visits, My OBGYN would check to see how much I was dilated, for two straight visits, it was 0 dilation, I wasn't ready, and I was sent back home.

In week 39 I buckled down and got the house ready for baby, organized his drawer, took off tags, took things out of boxes and bags, set up the stroller, bouncer, bassinet, and car seat. Prepared the car with infant mirrors and car shades, Ryan and I were just on a mission, because we knew baby could come at any moment.

I created a birth plan, checked off my things to do list, it was just crunch time and I was in that kind of mindset. It's funny because when I had Justice there was NO Preparation, I bought like MAYBE 6 oufits, lol

The Lord just provided in an immense way because I had NO IDEA what was coming, and the crazy thing is it wasn't even stressful, He provided every need!

This time around I knew what to expect and wanted to go gender neutral on a lot of baby items for future children, Lord willing.

God is good though because we have everything we need, baby Josiah is ready to go, the only thing I have to buy at this point (post delivery) is a bookshelf, lol because the books WILL be collected, gotta grow that library for him as well ;) (MAJOR SIDE NOTE)

... Getting back to the delivery...

Week 40 came and there was nothing... until about 3 days prior to the expected delivery date, a good friend encouraged me to WALK. We went walking together for about 20 minutes, and that next day, trickle, trickle, early that next morning about 3am in the morning, I felt ... SOMETHING

lol

I was like, hmmm, that's different... went to the potty and nothing came out, but I noticed that I had a feeling to go back and sure enough I was losing my plug (the plug to the uterus, which holds the baby)

About an hour later, VERY mild contractions began.

I knew they weren't Braxton Hicks because I FELT THESE... clearly with pain

So I'm running back and forth to the bathroom, and at some point, the hubby says, are you okay? lol I'm thinking like NO I'M NOT OKAY

lol, but calmly I say, I just lost my plug, and I'm having contractions

So Ryan responds by saying do you think I should pack my bag?

LOLOLOL... I respond with a YES

Now mind you I had my bag packed, Justice's bag packed, and suggested he pack his bag the week prior lol, but uhhhh my husband got up and packed

A few shorts...

I go out front and he and little Justice were knocked out sleeping on the couch in the living room, lol

I basically labored that whole day, timing my contractions, they seemed to be on a consistent rhythm then, went off, they weren't as consistent, so I didn't call my doctor right away

The next day, early in the morning about 3am, the contractions were strong again

I called my Douala and she made it to my house by 6am, and kept me company :)

Fortunately, my doc appointment was that same day at 10am, so no real rush, seeing as though my contractions were about 10 mins apart instead of the 5 minute active labor contractions I was looking for

Heading to the doctor that day with the hubby, we had our bags in the car and car seats ready to go, I had a feeling that I was gonna be staying there, and seeing that is was an hour away from my house i was HOPING that day was THEE DAY

Got to my doc appointment and found out I was 3 cm dilated!

He wanted me to go straight to the hospital, but I decided to walk a little to help labor progress a little before heading straight there, so I went to a nearby mall and walked about 1 1/2 hours

I didn't want to go to the hospital too early and potentially be stuck in labor at a certain dilation, that could potentially send me into a c-section and I didn't want that, I wanted to be as far along as possible

Baby is ready to pop at 10cm, I figure if I could get to 5 cm, that was better than nothing

While I walked I honestly didn't feel my contractions, the times that I did numbered maybe 3 to 4 times, and when the contractions came I just stopped and let them pass, breathing deeply but normal

Ryan and I got to the hospital, I was accompanied by my Douala, mother, father, husband and lovely daughter

I had already pre-registered, so the hospital had all my info, I was admitted to the hospital, given a labor room, and when checked, I found out I was 6 cm dilated!

What a difference a steady walk made!

I was put on the epidural, a little Pitocin and within an hour dilated to about 9cm, and about 30 minutes more, fully dilated to the 10!

It was crazy, so fast, before I knew it, the nurses were coming in with the swaddle blankets, preparing for baby, saying, it's gonna be any minute now...

Doc came in, coached me and my pushes, I didn't feel any pain, but I DID FEEL THE PRESSURE of baby boy coming down, boy did I feel the pressure!

I would say I had to push about 21 times, in intervals of 3, and during the pushes the nurse (who had never experienced a vaginal breech birth) was encouraging me, saying you're doing great! She was about as excited as me!

At every interval the doctor would say, what body part he was seeing!

And before I knew it my husband ran to my side, held my hands and SAID YOU ARE ALMOST THERE, KEEP PUSHING, I knew he saw something!

So even though I WAS TIRED, I pushed and felt that beautiful body come out!

He ENTERED THIS WORLD BOTTOM FIRST, and I delivered him vaginally!

Praise the LORD!

On to the next adventure :)

With that, to all the ladies out there, if you or someone you know has had a c-section, IT IS POSSIBLE to birth vaginally

I would encourage anyone out there to DO YOUR RESEARCH and when it comes to your health, always get a second opinion, and weigh your options, there are ALWAYS options

I am humbled and blessed to have experienced what I have, and give all glory to God, thank you Lord for allowing me this experience, thank you for keeping me safe and baby safe, and thank you for being in control, Amen! :)

Baby Josiah is HERE! Part 1

Baby Boy has finally arrived! He entered our lives on June 7, 2013 at 9:43pm.

For the last 3 months of my pregnancy I have been hush-hush because I was working hard to have a home birth. At the third trimester mark, most babies turn into a head down position, in preparation for exiting their mother's body. Usually at 28 weeks and beyond this can happen at different points for different women.

For most, that being about 97%, babies turn, and mom is in the clear. For about 3% of pregnancies, baby doesn't turn, and this is named breech presentation. The breech baby could be bottom first, foot first, etc...

Needless to say Josiah was apart of the 3%, breech presentation, from 28 weeks on! The entire third trimester for me was stressful, I tried exercies, went to the chiropractor RELIGIOUSLY every week, even increasing my visits to up to 3 visits a week to get the baby to turn. I tried acupuncture, tried to direct him to turn using music (yes even the Mozart), ice, and talking techniques. I crawled, washed my floors on my hands and knees, washed the baseboards... nothing...

I tell you there are so many things that people suggest you do, from walking to standing upside down in the pool! I must say, I didn't do that one :)

At about 36 weeks I begin to accept the fact that maybe just maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

Unfortunately, in Florida midwives can't deliver breech births at home. So my quest for home birth seemed bleak. In meeting one, my midwife told me that if at 36 weeks the baby hadn't turned that I would legally have to transfer my care to the back up OBGYN. She did however reassure me that if the baby turned after this period I would be able to still have the baby at home.

I'm not gonna lie, it was a VERY emotional time for me, especially around week 36-37. I had set my sights on a home birth, water delivery. It seemed that going this route was the only way I would have this VBAC delivery (Vaginal birth after c-section). I cried when I found out he wasn't turning.

Thankfully this emotional state only lasted one full day, I was a wreck.

But I gave it over to God, really just prayed and came to grips with him turning if it was meant to be.

Babies can turn at any point, some turn day of delivery, so I felt that it was best for me to keep in mind that I shouldn't manipulate nature if it wasn't necessary, if the baby was to take me to week 40, and turn, so be it, if he was to take me to week 40 and not turn, so be it :)

So my midwife, gave me my options, which the back up OBGYN gave her to give to me.

Option 1: External Version, this is when the doctor physically maneuvers the baby from the outside of the stomach, and attempts to turn him by shifting his position.
Option 2: Planned C-Section
Option 3: Midwives in Tennessee (Trained and legally allowed to do breech births)
Option 4: Transfer my care to a breech specialist about 1 hour away

Looking at my options, I felt the best choice for me was #4

I didn't want to do the external version, because if certain things went wrong, I could've been rushed into an emergency c-section, the very thing I was trying to avoid at all costs.

It's one thing to medically NEED a c-section, its another thing to put my body in an unnecessary situation and potentially cause an emergency by choice.

I knew I wasn't planning a c-section, and I REALLY knew I wasn't going to Tennessee.

So I chose to transfer my care to the breech specialist.

I met with the doctor, liked him, explained my situation to him and he told me he would take me on. Hallelujah! He told me he had done 2 VBAC breech births before... yes... just 2, I felt, 2 was better than none!

So at about 38 weeks I was officially in the care of  the breech specialist about an hour away from where I lived, and went to my appointments weekly.

He told me that my case was rare and presented a few problems. Although he specialized in VBAC births, breech births, and multiple births, I had a combination of things working in my situation. I NEVER had a vaginal birth, so my body never experienced a body coming out that way, I had a C-Section so it would be a VBAC and baby was not head down.

He said he only performed 2 of the 5 breech presentations, he wanted to see a bottom first.

Only in this case would he do the vaginal birth.

I knew from an ultrasound done about 1 week prior, that baby was in fact bottom first, so I was at peace with going forward with the VBAC breech birth.

That brings me to, how Josiah actually came :)

Part 2...

Baby Shower at a Glance :)

We had a blast, it was a blessing to have all my friends and family support me and Ryan. I was just overjoyed that this year the shower ACTUALLY took place. Baby Josiah is still cooking and I'm 36 weeks and 1 day! After 6 more days, he's free to come whenever he may like :) Still praying for a home delivery :) I'll keep you guys posted :)

What is Sin? How Can I be Saved? Can I be saved and practice sinning?

What is sin?

A message of hope:

God reveals to us in His word (the Bible), that He made the world and everything in it (Genesis 1-2). He made the first man, Adam, the first woman Eve, and through their disobedience of the law given to them in the garden of Eden, sin entered the world (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6-7, 11). As a result all mankind became broken in relationship with a perfect God, but God in His grace and love provided a way to restore mankind to right standing again with Him (Genesis 3:15).

The message of hope is this, Jesus came to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). Without Him none of us would have a right relationship with a perfect God. And because God is holy and JUST, sin, anything that displeases Him will be done away with one day completely. God will purify the world of sin, and law breakers (Matthew 13:41). 

The hope in this is that He gives us a way to be saved from the judgment against our sins. There is a way to be completely pure in His sight, and this can only be obtained through Jesus. By believing in Jesus, God GIFTS to us salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). It can’t be earned, in other words there is nothing that we can “do” in our own strength to be right in God’s sight. Because of the perfect, sinless life of Christ, His death on the cross served as the complete judgment of the sins of the world TO ALL WHO BELIEVE (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

No matter what I have done, and God clearly has revealed to us what sins are in His word, there is no one that is void of sin, WE ALL HAVE SINNED (Galatians 5:19-21) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) (Romans 3:23); No matter what I will do, God in his grace to mankind gave His Son to die for all the sin I have committed, commit, and will commit. They were placed on Him. My sin, and the sins of the world were placed on Jesus, the very Man that committed no sin, who took on the sins of the world so that God could rightly judge them. Because of who He was.

He was the perfect spotless sacrifice (no sin in Him), and took on our sins because of who He was, the message of hope is what happens after God judged our sin. Because of the complete power of our Savior Jesus, He didn’t stay dead. This same Jesus, was raised from the dead, resurrected. He died, was buried, and resurrected and lives today in heaven with God. And because He lives, we can live with the Father, if we believe in Jesus and what He did.

The reality is we MUST confess our sin, we know what sin is because God has clearly told us in His word.  We must believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, and God forgives us for the sins we have committed and we are saved (1 John 1:8-9). And in that day, when the world ends, and sins will be judged, and the world will be purged of all sin, believers will live with God forever (Revelation 20:12, 14-15) (Revelation 21:1, 3-4) (Revelation 22:5).

In this world, we as Christians, empowered through God’s Holy Spirit live according to the Spirit. At the point of believing in Jesus, God tells us in His Word that we are given His Spirit to live within us (1 John 5:13-15) (Ephesians 1:13). This is important, because we are made to live in the way God intends for us to live, pleasing to Him, right in His sight (Galatians 5:16-17). God purifies the believer completely from an eternal perspective, but as we live this life, His perfecting work is evident in our lives by living according to what pleases Him “according to His law, his word”. (Hebrews 10:14)

Therefore, because of God’s Spirit for the Christian a life of continuous deliberate sin is not possible. God’s word reveals that it is in fact evidence of no conversion  and the Bible tells us that with the knowledge of the truth, to go on sinning all to be expected is a fearful expectation of judgment(Hebrews 10:26-27) (1 John 3:7-9).

The message of hope is Jesus, praise God for eternally giving us acceptance in His sight through faith in His Son Jesus, and praise God for giving us His Spirit to purify us and purge us of the things that displease Him, while living in this world.

My prayer for all who aren’t saved is to call out to Jesus, ask for His forgiveness and believe in Him today.

God can, and will give you a new life, a life that is truly free of regret, discord and lies. He sets us free, May you be free today in Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture references:

Genesis 2:16-17 ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat^[a] of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:6-7 ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,^[a] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 3:11 ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

Genesis 3:15 ¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring^[a] and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel.”

John 3:16 ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should notperish but have eternal life.

Matthew 13:41 ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin andall law-breakers,

Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous^[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,^[b]10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 3:23 ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

1 John 1:8-9 ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 20:12  ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20:14-15 ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.¹⁵ And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 

Revelation 21:3-4 ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place^[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,^[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.^[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 22:5 ⁵ And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

1 John 4:13-15 ¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Ephesians 1:13 ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Galatians 5:16-17 ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Hebrews 10:14 ¹⁴ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:26-27 ²⁶ For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

1 John 3:7-9 ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. ⁸ Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's^[a] seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.