tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34543555571163146542024-03-09T19:45:50.319-07:00ARE THEY ALL YOURS?!??Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-49146361024934632042023-12-15T10:09:00.002-07:002023-12-15T10:09:34.730-07:00Recipe for Cinnamon Stars / Zimtsterne<p style="text-align: justify;">These German Christmas cookies are a very popular treat at our house. They come together quickly, and are grain free if that is something that is important to you. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSUhbaFwIgImWnb1BRSmyezZZyClDCsD_U702hxWqEv118sMcZRJkhXblB4vLN48G9hzPQHQwC_vT4Qo_bN_yida0guL7YgxI-ag_4EhPm3ZndLk9OplDYKR6JhXG7nr0f4TiTfa6DWSTq4RqU6d7GIpnqlWuJT3ipTDqhdxBzFnqAcURdl3QnD-zKBI/s1502/zimtsterne,id=e9e3765d,b=lecker,w=1200,rm=sk.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1502" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSUhbaFwIgImWnb1BRSmyezZZyClDCsD_U702hxWqEv118sMcZRJkhXblB4vLN48G9hzPQHQwC_vT4Qo_bN_yida0guL7YgxI-ag_4EhPm3ZndLk9OplDYKR6JhXG7nr0f4TiTfa6DWSTq4RqU6d7GIpnqlWuJT3ipTDqhdxBzFnqAcURdl3QnD-zKBI/w512-h640/zimtsterne,id=e9e3765d,b=lecker,w=1200,rm=sk.webp" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p>You can find a printable version of the recipe<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S_hEiqeTfh3hxExk6fLcHhW3pHZlGZ9Z/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank">here</a> </span>and a video<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/Owjoyq4P_ck?feature=share">here</a></span></p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-58735153303428571542023-01-04T09:43:00.000-07:002023-01-04T09:43:09.941-07:00 Having babies and toddlers in the church service<div style="text-align: justify;">Today, I wanted to share some advice and realistic expectations regarding having kids in the church service, based on my experience of 21 years as a mother to 12 kids, and 17 years as the pastor's wife at our family-integrated church. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once babies outgrow sleeping through the service, and become more active and vocal, it is not realistic to expect them to sit through a church service. Unless they are the rare exception, or have developmental delays, kids that age are hard-wired to explore, move their large muscles, and never sit still. This is perfectly normal, and should not be "disciplined" out of them. Wanting to run and throw things when a toddler has been told to sit still is no more disobedience, than if they were told to not breathe and yet continued to do so. This is even more true for little boys.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Instead, at our family-integrated church, we encourage parents with kids ages 1-3 years to expect to watch/listen to the sermons from the mother-baby rooms (we have two for babies, two for toddlers), or the open areas at the back of the auditorium. It is neither reasonable nor advisable to expect little kids to sit in the service like tin soldiers for 75+ minutes, three times a week. Once they have left the service, they should probably stay out, to reduce the constant and distracting in-and-out traffic during the service. (This does not apply to bathroom/diaper breaks, but rather parents who take their toddler in and out a dozen or more times every service.) If they are screaming their lungs out in the mother-baby rooms, they should be taken all the way outside the immediate vicinity of the auditorium until they settle down. I have had to finish a few sermons listening on my phone in the van while the toddler used the seats as a jungle gym. It's okay!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And yes, while it is possible to train a human child to do just about anything by punishing them if they don't meet our expectations, there is a cost to this, and I for one do not think it is worth punishing a toddler to sit through a service against their natural, healthy bent. One family I knew prided themselves on their kids never leaving the service, and true, their babies sat for every service without moving a muscle. However, these same kids showed majorly troubled social and emotional development. They sat still because it was a survival and coping mechanism. Since it took such great effort for them to exhibit non-age appropriate behavior, every other area had to suffer, much to their detriment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every child is different. It is not wise to look at another child, and base your expectations of your child on what some other child is able to do. Discipline is best applied consistently at home, and should be the exception while in public, when parents are likely to be stressed and frazzled.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my personal experience, we have only had one of our twelve kids happily (and of their own volition) sit through every service, without ever needing a mother-baby room. Every other child has spent the some or most of the service outside the main auditorium from approx. age 8 to 36 months. Basically, we all start out in the main service. The little people usually do well through the singing and announcements, and are ready to go play by the time the sermon starts. But that's ok.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kids should not be made to dread church, and associate their earliest memories of church with punishment and misery. They can still hear the sermon from the mother baby rooms, and there is plenty of science to support that young kids absorb information best while being allowed to move and wiggle anyway. The goal is for them to grow up and continue in church as adults, for a lifetime. Plenty of good Christians didn't even start going to church until they were adults, and yet, they are able to sit through a service. All is not lost if a 2-year old would rather play than sit through a service. As kids age, they can be expected to do more, but no toddler should be expected to sit through every service, every time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully, with everyone's consideration, family-integrated churches can maintain a pleasant atmosphere for all, from the toddlers who need to move, to the parents who can relax, to those with no (or grown) kids who won't be annoyed by the constant commotion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-24387495549095540992022-08-21T19:47:00.005-07:002022-08-21T19:47:54.852-07:00Postpartum weight loss<p style="text-align: justify;">Sigh... I'm back at it - losing the baby weight. I think in the course of 12 full-term pregnancies, I have gained about 500 lbs and lost about 450 lbs of it. This is no small feat. I am sure there are moms out there who effortlessly lose the baby weight through breastfeeding or genetics without having to make an effort, but I think for most of us, this is not the case. As for breastfeeding, many of us moms GAIN weight while nursing. Ugh. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Obviously, a nursing infant's needs must come first, but for mom's physical and mental well-being, taking care of herself should also rank high on the list of priorities. </p><p style="text-align: center;">In the two videos below, I talk about what I have found works for me as far as losing weight postpartum between pregnancies, while breastfeeding. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HKNsTyp6Wv0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NGC-bOVABsA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The video descriptions on YouTube have links to some of the products I mention. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Please share YOUR tips of what has helped you lose the baby weight in the comments below. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<p></p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-69481652115884683182022-08-20T19:48:00.001-07:002022-08-21T20:07:05.276-07:00Paypal link <p style="text-align: justify;">I have added a <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=xQTP23H12m08aOg5TFpnMgwWCIoUUj9OwcvkwDI_ypPi4cGpv8ZwpZlS94pU5t2TQ9JZrVgNDCHs9sHG" target="_blank">Paypal "donate" button</a> in the side bar on the right. I am choosing this approach as an alternative to using a subscription such as Patreon to continue sharing content, because I want any resources I share online to remain free. At the same time, I would greatly appreciate any support that would allow me to not just produce more content, but also provide the funds to do fun things with my family. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have benefitted from the content I have shared here and elsewhere throughout the years, please consider supporting my time and efforts. My current goal is for all of us to be able to go on a long-planned trip to see my family in Germany. We had purchased plane tickets to go in 2020 before Covid hit. Those tickets were canceled and refunded. I set the funds aside and rebooked the flights in 2021, after travel restrictions into Germany were lifted in late May. Unfortunately, they were reinstated in August, shortly before we were scheduled to travel. Again, I eventually received full refunds for all the tickets. However, those funds are no longer enough to cover all the travel costs, as prices for plane tickets etc. have gone up considerably due to inflation, plus we had some unexpected expenses that ate up some of these travel funds. So this year, even though no Covid restrictions remain, we were unable to travel due to cost. I am working extra hard and long, in hopes of being able to fly to Germany next May or June, along with all nine of the kids from Miriam (15) down, and possibly one or two of the older boys (who would be paying their own way). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">All that to say, if you ever want to support my time and efforts on this blog financially, please do so through <a href="https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=xQTP23H12m08aOg5TFpnMgwWCIoUUj9OwcvkwDI_ypPi4cGpv8ZwpZlS94pU5t2TQ9JZrVgNDCHs9sHG" target="_blank">this link</a>. Thank you so much! </p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-25008960253820262912022-06-04T20:43:00.001-07:002022-06-04T20:43:38.411-07:00Birth Announcement<p style="text-align: center;"> We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Oliver Philip Anderson</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">born on Tuesday, May 31st, at 6:58 p.m. weighing 7 lbs 7 oz. and measuring 20.75 inches. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc9cI_amSqKQ2nqGd6rrJp1O_5z0Wd-VS1bJQozmOlwa-dCHxbjP7h17tw5n1W3ZPz4fLPIxpiRj2XI-fG4Rusk4CIif9P9ZwaPwBOiIkb_2umoIXV5hBXLSdQqMgYpyi1lPoBIT6nt4yLhHlxpke2AClkWyzDYLjQds8SFu72sjGHRTewqRJFGvi/s2048/IMG_8066.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc9cI_amSqKQ2nqGd6rrJp1O_5z0Wd-VS1bJQozmOlwa-dCHxbjP7h17tw5n1W3ZPz4fLPIxpiRj2XI-fG4Rusk4CIif9P9ZwaPwBOiIkb_2umoIXV5hBXLSdQqMgYpyi1lPoBIT6nt4yLhHlxpke2AClkWyzDYLjQds8SFu72sjGHRTewqRJFGvi/w640-h480/IMG_8066.JPEG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Due to my advanced maternal age, I chose a hospital delivery this time around, even though the pregnancy was uneventful and free of any complications. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Little Ollie (or Olliephant, as Eva calls him) is turning out to be a super easy and mellow baby. He is nursing and sleeping very well, and has been smiling from birth. To say we are beyond thrilled is an understatement. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EMPiX5ZIeygST16jjuRrfbdiDcStlkSC6Qtaq1EDfhQ0kkJY2zo20SmPKMONUgcP299ghLY0hVPb9_pw3O669pBC3VM4yr0t7bLmOCYDHJ6A7KCZqgOSvsHexGYvcAbY755lAz0fzUxiEGbAlA6wRK7Tp88Pf8dMOTPXH77sFF3Idhy-VpFGaSsf/s2048/IMG_3160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EMPiX5ZIeygST16jjuRrfbdiDcStlkSC6Qtaq1EDfhQ0kkJY2zo20SmPKMONUgcP299ghLY0hVPb9_pw3O669pBC3VM4yr0t7bLmOCYDHJ6A7KCZqgOSvsHexGYvcAbY755lAz0fzUxiEGbAlA6wRK7Tp88Pf8dMOTPXH77sFF3Idhy-VpFGaSsf/w480-h640/IMG_3160.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ollie smiling as my midwife holds him</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">My phone is already full of hundreds of pictures of excited siblings taking turns holding him. I will refrain from oversharing them here, but this is a little glimpse into my current everyday reality. </span></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwvufBSdYZAhvxdAWlCG8JrO3GJeeGll2J37O9L3DmKeCe-kcgyxg6MmHhDKffokVd4nhKzvZWVui7WhDCjxD7BFHuZjVQkyk8feMvTGrAYNurZf6wVlu4eqx41b_7w3HnKaEf2-bU3_jv1-aNkR7bfXAoq16I8teHlyCd7P2RZEK8ncvaTAFSfB/s2048/IMG_2967.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwvufBSdYZAhvxdAWlCG8JrO3GJeeGll2J37O9L3DmKeCe-kcgyxg6MmHhDKffokVd4nhKzvZWVui7WhDCjxD7BFHuZjVQkyk8feMvTGrAYNurZf6wVlu4eqx41b_7w3HnKaEf2-bU3_jv1-aNkR7bfXAoq16I8teHlyCd7P2RZEK8ncvaTAFSfB/w480-h640/IMG_2967.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCmUyX0mm9csOIQGNVhdKm7ZEXPw4ZQkR6ceEO2xlhMbgLM1ojqA48idYwNZUNwnQBggyCNhWyWVkVYLrquOfEqYCLRKEdtOUNgEm1S6RpCr7eLB858Mudb_dr1mNcVJGRaz8RS0ACm2PdFMW6f34k31y8jZezWj-FxRxzVpljtEnlwBfhR-8SCbv/s2048/IMG_3081.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCmUyX0mm9csOIQGNVhdKm7ZEXPw4ZQkR6ceEO2xlhMbgLM1ojqA48idYwNZUNwnQBggyCNhWyWVkVYLrquOfEqYCLRKEdtOUNgEm1S6RpCr7eLB858Mudb_dr1mNcVJGRaz8RS0ACm2PdFMW6f34k31y8jZezWj-FxRxzVpljtEnlwBfhR-8SCbv/w480-h640/IMG_3081.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N_iZf60w54hFNFhBMzTN2ebzKQz8fTIMw8N_EIlYPVqAn4IP0c233DlmStoDDryzYJBdPj1V4hloccaz08bRAHiTUAxlrxDTTSw7kdgXUi6HX8wgO558jDIbday5QdOdoV52GXDxG6EFNZeW0eUsnES2Gx0asu3usKUJel3rq_u0BKlNUuK3A2TK/s2048/IMG_3152.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N_iZf60w54hFNFhBMzTN2ebzKQz8fTIMw8N_EIlYPVqAn4IP0c233DlmStoDDryzYJBdPj1V4hloccaz08bRAHiTUAxlrxDTTSw7kdgXUi6HX8wgO558jDIbday5QdOdoV52GXDxG6EFNZeW0eUsnES2Gx0asu3usKUJel3rq_u0BKlNUuK3A2TK/w480-h640/IMG_3152.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEQPqTVOGW4cgKKKom5gj7-tF7Z59pPZfICNN7eshHSPeo1UQC6JUhZcpRiQYOp5kSGKY7drtnt4LLlKDGKR5mpDf4H2OrajoSsgO-W6BPf0DTBb4UYSWPhDJMEEDBk2tseDOF8L6VM4guzctwVZAqrfF6ogN5CXXiqX1Rgtgnoy2J4mtOgGsU47H/s2048/IMG_3018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEQPqTVOGW4cgKKKom5gj7-tF7Z59pPZfICNN7eshHSPeo1UQC6JUhZcpRiQYOp5kSGKY7drtnt4LLlKDGKR5mpDf4H2OrajoSsgO-W6BPf0DTBb4UYSWPhDJMEEDBk2tseDOF8L6VM4guzctwVZAqrfF6ogN5CXXiqX1Rgtgnoy2J4mtOgGsU47H/w640-h480/IMG_3018.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhSTyOocTtzL6s_8jbiaEPTnWDXXPCgHzZm7qNfrV7tYZW7XuwS7xvM9GOLskBH22L9PLNEc1ReOt5yD5QhJfRgGjQKu9B8g0KqhomLliOg6izqyeR_p32O-MebT4EdwH1-ACMCtiToV5psYNVWAPWKWVCwwXHACxZTd-5dpDz3S4upe09EBQ4t31/s2048/IMG_3074.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhSTyOocTtzL6s_8jbiaEPTnWDXXPCgHzZm7qNfrV7tYZW7XuwS7xvM9GOLskBH22L9PLNEc1ReOt5yD5QhJfRgGjQKu9B8g0KqhomLliOg6izqyeR_p32O-MebT4EdwH1-ACMCtiToV5psYNVWAPWKWVCwwXHACxZTd-5dpDz3S4upe09EBQ4t31/w480-h640/IMG_3074.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My oldest and my youngest ♥ ♥</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></i><p>We are so thankful to God for a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, and perfect little son. Babies truly are God's greatest gift this side of eternity. </p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-30777037179023019162022-04-03T23:44:00.000-07:002022-04-03T23:44:14.604-07:00Pregnancy Hypertension and Preeclampsia<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Disclaimer: </b>Please remember, I am not a medical doctor, or any sort of medical professional. This blog post is intended to provide food for thought, not to diagnose or treat anyone. The opinions expressed below are mine, gleaned from 11 natural pregnancies and deliveries (including 9 midwife-assisted home births), as well as my current 12th pregnancy at age 43.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I have had five babies in my 20s, five babies in my 30s, and am currently on my second pregnancy in my 40s. While I was a lot younger and more energetic two decades ago when my oldest were babies, the benefits now are that I a) have older helpers and better resources, and b) have learned a lot about pregnancy and childbirth throughout the years. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">One of the things I have thankfully never struggled with is high blood pressure, during pregnancy or otherwise. However, due to a congenital defect with my right ureter, I have a tendency to develop kidney pain and kidney infections if I am not very diligent in preventing them, especially during pregnancy when baby cramps my organs. Thankfully, I have always successfully treated these issues with alternative remedies, without them getting to the point where they negatively impacted my blood pressure. This post is to sum up what I have learned, and what I believe has helped me keep my blood pressure in the low normal range all these years, even as my <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)00532-2/fulltext" target="_blank">"advanced maternal age" puts me at increased risk of developing gestational hypertension</a> (and in spite of having teenagers - ha!). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/pregnancy.htm" target="_blank">According to the CDC</a>, in the United States, high blood pressure happens in 1 in every 12 to 17 pregnancies among women ages 20 to 44, and high blood pressure in pregnancy has become more common.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Officially, there is no known cause of preeclampsia, and no known cure except delivery of the baby in extreme cases, no matter how premature the infant might be. The main symptoms are high blood pressure, protein in the urine, persistent headache (may or may not be accompanied by changes in vision such as seeing spots), and swelling of the hands and feet. Please note: some swelling can be normal, or a sign of less dangerous conditions such as dehydration. Swelling in the face is often a sign of an extreme case of preeclampsia, a medical emergency. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">No doubt about it, preeclampsia (pre-e) is a very dangerous condition that cannot be left unaddressed. Where I diverge from the mainstream medical opinion is that there is no known cause, or cure. Nothing happens for no reason. And if we find out the reason, we can then counteract it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">It is widely accepted in the medical community that kidney disease can cause high blood pressure. I am convinced that </span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">high blood pressure in pregnancy likewise comes down to <span style="color: red;">diet</span> and the <span style="color: red;">kidneys</span></span></b><span style="text-align: center;">, and how well they are able to function. </span>The kidneys are tasked with filtering waste products from the blood stream and retaining nutrients. When they are unable to do so (or do so fully) due to being overtaxed, blood pressure goes up. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">In particular, I believe the </span><span style="text-align: center;">three main culprits that negatively affect blood pressure during pregnancy to be:<b style="font-size: large;"> 1. dehydration, 2. not consuming enough protein, and 3. undiagnosed urinary tract/kidney problems</b><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Dehydration</span></b></u></h3><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is pretty common in pregnancy, especially in warmer climates, or during the summer. Hence the common swelling of legs and feet, without it being a medical concern. Dehydration itself is unlikely to cause pre-e, but it can be a contributing factor if your diet is off, or if you are already having UT/kidney issues. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having lived in Arizona for 16+ years, where we typically have 6 months or more of temps above 100 degrees F, I can assure you that <b><span style="font-size: large;">a)</span></b> water is not enough to hydrate the human body and <span style="font-size: large;"><b>b)</b> </span>salt is NOT the enemy, and is actually vitally important in maintaining electrolyte balance and hydration. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Mainstream medical advice for moms with swelling or pre-e is to cut back on salt. If we were talking about the sodium found in pre-packaged and junk foods, or snow-white (i.e. nutritionally empty) table salt, this might be true. However, a quality high-mineral salt is essential for maintaining electrolyte balance and hydration. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To combat dehydration, you should:</b></span></u></p><p style="text-align: justify;">- Stay away from any caffeinated beverages, since they have a dehydrating effect by increasing urine output. Every one cup of caffeinated beverage must be offset by at least two cups that aren't. Caffeine also raises blood pressure. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">- Drink plenty of herbal teas that are hydrating AND safe during pregnancy. If you don't care for the flavor of these, they can be greatly diluted and still remain effective. My favorites are rooibos, pregnancy tea, and special tea blends for UTI health (more on this later). You can also try drinking coconut water (blergh), or eating high-water, alkalizing foods such as melons and cucumbers. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu23uu67MD-a7sE8mnxErQSMacao1e7PcKUKK8rRtc1T5Np5b05n2oSXXgTsixTx19LqaRbwfoggTpIgaNJlMIhqx8hJxCaVeztE_Q8UudzkKwHLMHnqsF5OzULXpRRulBrKLnJF72QnePOXYDOFOkwJzdQlmL4jWRBIk_Y_FeN9MwsHvD8dwoq_NF/s4032/IMG_1399.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu23uu67MD-a7sE8mnxErQSMacao1e7PcKUKK8rRtc1T5Np5b05n2oSXXgTsixTx19LqaRbwfoggTpIgaNJlMIhqx8hJxCaVeztE_Q8UudzkKwHLMHnqsF5OzULXpRRulBrKLnJF72QnePOXYDOFOkwJzdQlmL4jWRBIk_Y_FeN9MwsHvD8dwoq_NF/w400-h300/IMG_1399.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">- When drinking water, always add something to make it more hydrating, such as: sliced cucumber, fresh mint, berries, lemon slices, ginger, a splash or apple cider vinegar or juice, or whatever else sounds good. I literally go nine months without ever drinking just plain water.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">- Salt food to taste with a high-mineral salt. If the salt is white, it's worthless (even if its labeled "sea salt" or something like it). My personal favorite for many years has been <a href="https://amzn.to/3wY46zG" target="_blank">Redmond's Real Salt</a>. "To taste" looks different based on individual factors. Here in Arizona, we salt our food to crazy levels. When we first moved here, it blew my mind how much salt the locals were using, but we have since acclimated. Many out-of-state visitors become heat sick when visiting here and going out during the heat of the day, if they don't start using considerably more salt than they are used to. Do reduce sodium from ready foods such as frozen meals and fast food. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYDhtwpiKsGQyjIXJ_aknpZ6Qw2E5sN4SPpoz2X7DEU8UHT9y_UTZImHzxXX3JGOM26n2_SYJ5gFEnbfLWlyIoEuGrBrz1Pu5mLHs35-l8ZvLe2tscoHEa26o4AZOEHb165jX3poXQysUZLR_p-jAbe0Az1YpJWvTbOvfAmfyRINnmf-rDRGeurnK/s1500/81OCgtciuOL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYDhtwpiKsGQyjIXJ_aknpZ6Qw2E5sN4SPpoz2X7DEU8UHT9y_UTZImHzxXX3JGOM26n2_SYJ5gFEnbfLWlyIoEuGrBrz1Pu5mLHs35-l8ZvLe2tscoHEa26o4AZOEHb165jX3poXQysUZLR_p-jAbe0Az1YpJWvTbOvfAmfyRINnmf-rDRGeurnK/w400-h400/81OCgtciuOL._SL1500_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">- There are commercial electrolyte solutions on the market. Many of these contain zero-calorie sweeteners that <a href="https://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2014/02/my-review-of-trim-healthy-mama-thm-good.html" target="_blank">I personally avoid</a>, but organic Gatorade (both <a href="https://amzn.to/3uQ6SnY" target="_blank">powdered</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3NKY23Q" target="_blank">ready-bottled</a>) can be very helpful. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">- Take an epsom salt bath after a particularly hot day, or if you weren't able to stay as hydrated as you would have liked to be. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">- If your ankles do swell, rest lying on your left side while increasing fluids / electrolytes. If all else fails, this trick is sure to get your ankles back: Add a shredded zucchini to a medium-sized saucepan, add water to cover, and steam on low-medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain out the zucchini, and drink the zucchini water. Not very tasty (THAT'S an understatement!), but super effective at reversing any swelling of your ankles or hands. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">- If the dehydration is due to an acute medical event such as food poisoning, which prevents you from taking in fluids by mouth, you may need to have IV hydration therapy. Thankfully, there are now many services available where a medic will come to your home and do this, no need to go the hospital. I recently had to do this after getting norovirus while already dealing with first trimester morning sickness. Fun times!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i03qlMDBMzAdqZDq5HDTFUTOIRBK-lHU60Jd3xOwoi5nJEFcCGsyumOOyBt-NTMm0tq-COp70MR7JgC4Pp2eJsxtX8zskzPgoPzST9BmklTIf2jV9sdlYzk7wgF-YB1c1u-Mgp2SM-n7XM2O4CrJdQ-bJc0Adh-aCS4B3ogBZHVJQZfg8J8_K21E/s2048/IMG_8412.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i03qlMDBMzAdqZDq5HDTFUTOIRBK-lHU60Jd3xOwoi5nJEFcCGsyumOOyBt-NTMm0tq-COp70MR7JgC4Pp2eJsxtX8zskzPgoPzST9BmklTIf2jV9sdlYzk7wgF-YB1c1u-Mgp2SM-n7XM2O4CrJdQ-bJc0Adh-aCS4B3ogBZHVJQZfg8J8_K21E/w300-h400/IMG_8412.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>2. Not consuming enough protein</u></span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I would consider this one of the two biggest culprits behind pregnancy hypertension and pre-e. Ironically, one of the warning signs of pre-e is having protein in the urine, which might lead one to believe that the expectant mom is getting an excess of protein, but quite the opposite is actually true. It means that the pregnant mom's body is cannibalizing her own protein stores (muscle tissue) to provide the baby with protein, which is then excreted in the urine because the kidneys are overtaxed.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Research in recent times is confirming what the <a href="http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/" target="_blank">Brewer Pregnancy Diet</a>, developed several decades ago by Dr. Tom Brewer, has been saying all along: a diet high in protein (at least 80-100g of protein per day for a singleton baby) greatly reduces the chances of developing pre-e, by providing the expectant mother with this vital nutrient, and preventing the cannibalization of her muscle tissue and overexertion of the kidneys. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Please note: high protein does NOT equal low-carb. The Brewer Diet also focuses on healthy carbs and other nutrients in the correct balance. Since this approach to pregnancy nutrition has an excellent track record spanning many decades, I will not go into detail here, but all the information is available on their <a href="http://www.drbrewerpregnancydiet.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and countless other online sources. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you have never actually added up how many grams of protein you are consuming in a day, chances are, you are not getting the recommended 80-100 grams daily. By contrast, the mainstream recommendation for "sedentary" adult women who are not expecting is just 46g of protein per day! Of course, such protein deficiency is often made up for with excess carbs, which increases the other major culprit behind pre-e (discussed in point 3 below). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In a nutshell, according to the Brewer Diet, a pregnant mom should be consuming the following each day:</p><div style="text-align: center;">4 servings of milk or milk products</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 eggs any style</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">6-8 servings (about 1 oz each) protein sources</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 servings fresh, dark green vegetables</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">5 servings of grains</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 servings of vitamin C foods</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">3 servings of healthy fats</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 serving of vitamin A foods</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">at least weekly: liver</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">salt to taste</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">unlimited water</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their website gives ideas for foods in each of these categories. Please note also how the Brewer Diet is very much in support of salt being vitally important, and advises against restricting salt intake. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If lack of protein is the culprit, then a high-protein diet of even just a few days if often able to reverse symptoms of pre-e. Sadly, when moms are hospitalized for monitoring due to high blood pressure, they are often fed hospital food that exacerbates their symptoms, due to the lack of high-quality proteins (what hospital serves steak?!), a focus on cheap carbs (such as the ubiquitous cup of jell-o), and likely a restriction on salt intake. If you do have to go to the hospital, always have your own food brought in. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Important caveat:</span></b> If you have run the numbers, and are confident that you are already getting the recommended 80-100 grams or more of protein each day, please <b><u>do not increase your protein consumption</u></b>, and instead read on below. In the case of point 3 being the culprit, increasing protein could actually further diminish kidney function. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Undiagnosed urinary tract / kidney problems</span></u></b></div></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Urinary tract infections (UTI) are very common during pregnancy. If left untreated, the bad bacteria can work its way all the way up to the kidneys, and lead to reduced kidney function, or kidney infection. While any OB or midwife will regularly check the urine for such bacteria, they might not address the issue unless the patient complains of symptoms, since some amount of bacteria is fairly normal, and the standard treatment approach (antibiotics) should be avoided whenever possible, especially during pregnancy. Many moms might ascribe the symptoms of a UTI to pregnancy discomforts such as ligament pain or a tender cervix, or might in fact not experience any symptoms at all in spite of having quite a high bacterial load. In any case, regular preventative maintenance in this area is always a great idea for women, but even more so during pregnancy, when the kidneys need and deserve extra attention.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Compromised kidney function is very likely a major contributing factor to developing pre-e. Increasingly, even <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18386029/" target="_blank">mainstream medicine is acknowledging</a> the possible connection between UTIs and pre-e. The kidneys are filters that clean the blood. When they are unable to do so, or do so sufficiently, blood pressure goes up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfI3eAIPLIimuxf0W8tn5E6zfOjr9CXIsshbz5SrKYF6tpu0wRMbQGPG1r109irvF9P9NA8TGEI1wRLF-sIOmjG1eFgmCTqOFgCbJrHAn4vn-TRiJ2LXxQofIIchM7l7BnDu9Auywrfp6fZVKxuMbRri7f3v9SpMWMXWY-VRNwyMPtWuKWbiAPkVA/s500/sFBn3sxD8797R4H2yCMFRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="500" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfI3eAIPLIimuxf0W8tn5E6zfOjr9CXIsshbz5SrKYF6tpu0wRMbQGPG1r109irvF9P9NA8TGEI1wRLF-sIOmjG1eFgmCTqOFgCbJrHAn4vn-TRiJ2LXxQofIIchM7l7BnDu9Auywrfp6fZVKxuMbRri7f3v9SpMWMXWY-VRNwyMPtWuKWbiAPkVA/w400-h356/sFBn3sxD8797R4H2yCMFRE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(<a href="https://www.livescience.com/27012-urinary-system.html" target="_blank">source</a>)</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have run the numbers and are confident that you are getting at least 80-100 g of protein per day (with a singleton), and yet your blood pressure is high, or you have excessive swelling, or there is protein in your urine, ask your doctor or midwife about checking your urine for bacteria indicating a UTI. Even if the levels are low, start by addressing the urinary system. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Start with the least invasive / aggressive measures, and work your way up if your symptoms are not improving, or worsening. Chances are, if your UTI were severe or you had an actual kidney infection, you would be well aware of it, and your doctor or midwife would have noticed. Thus, if your only symptom is high blood pressure and the presence of some bacteria, then the milder treatment approach will prove effective enough. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">As a preventative maintenance:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Stay well hydrated (see point 1 above).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Avoid sugary drinks, which feed bad bacteria, especially in combination with caffeine. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Wear only cotton or other natural fiber underwear, and avoid synthetic fabrics such as nylons, spandex leggings, etc. that create a moist, warm environment in which bacteria thrive. Avoid any clothing that is tight/restrictive in the area between the rib cage and the pelvis (i.e. waist, lower back). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Always empty your bladder before and after intercourse. The reason behind this is that many men carry bacteria without experiencing a UTI, because their urethra is longer than that of women, and the bacteria may never make it to the bladder. However, this bacteria does come out along with semen during intercourse, and can then make its way into the woman's urethra, from where it is only a short distance to the bladder. Hence the tongue-in-cheek term of "honeymoon disease" for cystitis/UTI. Moms, please be sure to teach your daughters about this prior to marriage. It is amazing how many young brides go into marriage clueless in this area, and suffer needlessly. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Always wipe front to back, and teach this to your daughters when they are potty training. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Consider making herbal teas formulated specifically for urinary tract health part of your daily beverage intake if you tend to get dehydrated, or easily develop UTIs or kidney problems. One common culprit during pregnancy is that the growing baby puts pressure on the ureters (the "tubes" taking urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Urine backs up into the kidneys, where the swelling causes pain that often persists (like a bruise) even after the kidneys have had a chance to drain. There are also congenital factors that can make these tubes less efficient at carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Sleep in a side-lying position at night, alternating sides each time you wake up, to make sure both kidneys get a chance to drain well even if a baby is cramping the urinary system. Take 10-15 minutes per side in the daytime to lie down, put your legs up, and relieve the pressure on your kidneys. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>As treatment for UTI, do all of the above, plus:</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Instead of taking antibiotics, consider using natural remedies, such as D-mannose (the active ingredient in cranberries) and/or drinking water with 1/2 to 1 tsp of baking soda added, several times throughout the day. Both of these change the pH of the urine, making a hostile environment for the bacteria, which is then flushed out of the system (hence the importance of staying hydrated). D-mannose powder is flavorless if not a tad bit sweet. It dissolves easily in cold water, and is therefore a perfect remedy even for young children that may be unable to swallow capsules, or balk at taking medicines with off-putting flavors. My trick for taking baking soda without having to drink baking soda water is to fill empty size 00 gelatin capsules with baking soda, and take them with water like any other capsule. They will dissolve in the stomach within minutes, and be just as effective without having to drink nasty baking soda water. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Take a bath with baking soda added to the water (plus Epsom salt for hydration if you like). The baking soda will give instant relief. Depending on the size of the tub, add about 1/2 to 1 cup baking soda to a full bath. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Cut out sugar and refined carbs as much as possible, and add foods rich in vitamin C. You can also add a good vitamin C supplement. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Always check with your doctor or midwife before starting supplements if you are expecting, to make sure they are safe during pregnancy. One supplement I always keep in stock is <a href="https://amzn.to/3u44CdA" target="_blank">Solaray brand Kidney Blend</a>. It is extremely effective and fast-acting both for UTIs as well as kidney infections. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Drink large quantities of teas specifically formulated for kidney/urinary health. These will typically contain uva ursi, cornsilk, marshmallow root, and other herbs known for being helpful in this area. One very inexpensive, highly effective remedy is to steep cornsilk (the "hair" on a cob of corn) and steep it in hot water just like tea, and then drink it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Add a high-quality probiotic supplement. Probiotics are living cultures. Consequently, most probiotics sold at room temperature are dead and ineffective. Some brands use more reliable freeze-dry methods, but still don't come close in effectiveness to fresh, refrigerated probiotics. Thus, this is not an item you want to purchase on Amazon, or a big box store, but rather at your local health food store, which will typically have a small refrigerator in the supplements section where they keep such probiotics. My favorite brand is Bio-K plus drinkable probiotics. A half bottle per day is plenty for most acute urinary issues. If taking antibiotics, a full bottle per day (split into two portions off-set from the antibiotics) is an appropriate dosage to prevent many of the negative side effects associated with antibiotics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Continue the above treatments for several days after symptoms subside, to make sure all bad bacteria has been sufficiently eliminated, to prevent a relapse. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">As treatment for severe UTI or kidney infection, do all of the above, plus:</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Cut out all foods except proteins (meat, eggs) and non-starchy vegetables. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Every two hours, drink one quart of uva ursi tea, alternating with one quart of filtered water every two hours (so one quart of either tea or water every hour). To steep the uva ursi tea, drop 4 teabags into a quart of freshly boiled water. Cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags, and drink as hot as you are able to. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- You will likely see great improvement of your symptoms (kidney pain, lower back pain, pain while urinating, limited urine output, cloudy urine, etc) within 24 hours. Continue treatment for at least three days to make sure the bacteria has been sufficiently eradicated, before scaling back to the less aggressive methods in the previous point. Continue some form of treatment for several days after symptoms subside to prevent a recurrence. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- As bad bacteria die off, they release toxins that cause headaches. Expect these to start within 24 hours of this aggressive treatment, and persist for the first 72 hours. With your midwife's or doctor's approval, Tylenol is considered safe during pregnancy and can help if the headaches are severe. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div>Side note: Once-daily, low-dose aspirin has proven very effective at preventing pre-e, because it thins the blood and keeps things moving along (again, helping the kidneys do their job more effectively). Overall, the long track record of aspirin makes this a very low-risk drug to take regularly, even during pregnancy. In fact, moms over age 35 are almost universally advised by their doctors to start daily low-dose aspirin as they enter the second trimester, just as an effective prevention of pre-e. This treatment approach might be especially advisable for moms with a history of pre-e. Also, a more current issue is contracting COVID during pregnancy, which increases the risk of blood clots, the chances of which are also reduced by taking aspirin with its blood-thinning properties. Please speak to your doctor or midwife if any of these scenarios (previous case of pre-e, advanced maternal age, COVID during pregnancy) apply to you, and ask if daily low-dose aspirin would be right for you. </div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once kidney function is fully restored, and the kidneys are given the extra care they need during pregnancy, combined with an overall healthy diet (including plenty of protein as well as mineral-rich salt) and proper hydration, you can expect your blood pressure to return to and remain in the normal range. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-25725640605470365732021-05-16T13:24:00.003-07:002021-05-16T13:24:15.043-07:00Tutorial: How to make an einkorn sourdough starter<p> It's really easy to make your own sourdough starter. This is the method I use for making a starter using einkorn. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9lL8Hnd2KJ8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-7056711280188141312020-11-18T16:27:00.000-07:002020-11-18T16:27:17.811-07:00Christmas Card Exchange<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WQvbSDyW-2I" width="560"></iframe></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you send our family a card, we will send one back in return, along with a CD of Christmas music from our church. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Please mail your card to:</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Faithful Word Baptist Church </div><div style="text-align: center;">c/o The Anderson Family </div><div style="text-align: center;">2741 W Southern Ave, Suite 14 </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tempe, AZ 85282 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We can't wait to get your card!</div>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-62122313141769040442020-11-04T10:41:00.000-07:002020-11-04T10:41:18.792-07:00Video tour of our new home<p> I recorded a short video tour of our new home. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y0q_h7woWAw" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-71045850393158474012020-10-07T17:21:00.004-07:002020-10-07T17:21:55.744-07:00Pizza Massage 🍕 - Fun Activity with the Kids!<p style="text-align: center;"> This is a super fast, super fun activity that the kids love. I would say it's best suited for ages 2 and up. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nl-ZehVZnLk" width="560"></iframe><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-30905834154544520922020-10-07T17:07:00.005-07:002020-10-07T17:07:47.648-07:00Video walkthrough tour of our old home<p style="text-align: justify;">We moved into our home in Tempe in December of 2005, when we had just three kids: Solomon (4), Isaac (2), and John (12 months). </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As our family grew, we kept finding ways to make our home work for us, including enclosing the patio to make a school/dining room, and enclosing the carport to make our tiny second bathroom into a large master bath. You can see a video of how we made it work with 13 people in 1,650 sq ft <a href="https://youtu.be/eqLcsH1KxlE">here</a>. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We had been weighing the pros and cons of moving for years, but always decided to stay. This summer, with 11 kids ages 19 down to 1, the scale tipped in favor of moving. I will do a longer video on our reasons for moving, and what finally pushed us over the edge. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Today, for the sake of nostalgia, I am sharing a walkthrough video of our home of so many years. Enjoy! </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ErhvZZkd3pA" width="560"></iframe></p>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-30808070110227675402020-09-03T10:45:00.005-07:002020-09-03T10:45:51.864-07:00What are you teaching your kids?<div style="text-align: justify;">Whether you are teaching your kids from home by choice, or due to COVID school closures, please let this thought from I Corinthians 13 (often called ”the love chapter”) guide you in this upcoming school year:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>”And though I have [...] all knowledge [...], and have not charity, I am nothing.”</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bf274" data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-offset-key="6mb78-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiUMmQVjPXge1dOup5mjYC6jVZtXaFa-dREGBdfV6V0GxLrW2DGghb-DtST5NXylWtSl46pvFkbPzwUSVcUso8Sof7FDDQIgxF1MsqW6mtGvpX-h98LhUzcWu4zYmImA4lL_AD5UdihE/s700/7E6C0D2E-D1B6-4B9B-B34D-8F811000F06D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiUMmQVjPXge1dOup5mjYC6jVZtXaFa-dREGBdfV6V0GxLrW2DGghb-DtST5NXylWtSl46pvFkbPzwUSVcUso8Sof7FDDQIgxF1MsqW6mtGvpX-h98LhUzcWu4zYmImA4lL_AD5UdihE/w625-h351/7E6C0D2E-D1B6-4B9B-B34D-8F811000F06D.jpeg" width="625" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="bf274" data-offset-key="f692q-0-0" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f692q-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Far more than the academics you are teaching your kids, you are imparting to them what truly matters: lessons in character, morality, and Christianity - by YOUR ACTIONS! Those are the things that really matter in the scope of things, not whether your child could read early, or knew his multiplication facts better than any of his peers. Those are vain pursuits of wanting to have a “trophy child” for your own parental aggrandizement, much to the detriment of your child and the cause of Christ. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are getting angry with your child/student because they are not remembering their letter sounds, or because they would rather see what bugs they can find under overturned rocks than sit lined up neatly like little tin soldiers, or because to them, learning involves sensory experiences even if they are messy, or because they don’t fulfill your expectations of what homeschooling *should* look like, or the kind of scholars it *should* produce - it is then high time to take a step (or ten) back. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember, it is possible to teach/train a child to do virtually anything, including academics. The human mind is incredible in its capacity and adaptability. The question is not WHAT you can teach your child, and WHEN. The question is what is the PRICE you will pay to have them perform xyz your circus act. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember this especially when dealing with sweet, young, playful kindergarteners and elementary students. Don’t squelch the wonder of learning and discovery with boring drills, harsh lessons, impatience, and anger. Time takes time. Your kids will not be the greatest scholars that ever lived, nor will they grow up to be illiterate. They will most likely be average scholars, just like the rest of us with our individual strengths and weaknesses. They will not be able to make right all the things you have ever struggled with in life. Where they CAN shine is not academics, but their love for the Lord and their zeal in wanting to walk with Him, all the days of their lives. That cannot be taught, only “caught.” Academics pale in importance by comparison. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unless you are dealing with open defiance or willful sinfulness that does not respond to gentle correction, there is no need to be harsh or militaristic in your approach to teaching, or parenting in general for that matter. I need this admonition myself often, but have seen how sweet and easy life can be when we remember that “charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Teach your kids, by example, to love one another and to love God. Even if you never teach them any academics, they will still be fine.</div>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-9210791787728321302020-06-11T09:44:00.000-07:002020-06-11T11:33:39.402-07:00Einkorn Made Easy Course Introduction <span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">I am thrilled to announce the launch of the beta version of my <a href="https://www.stevenandersonfamily.com/einkornmadeeasy">Einkorn Made Easy video course</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy the first video <a href="https://zsuzsanna-s-school.thinkific.com/courses/module1basics">here</a>. </b></span></span></div>
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still have access to them if you purchase them now. Those who buy all 10
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<span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Please provide feedback on how to improve the beta version, to make the final course the best possible. Once all individual videos have been re-edited and finalized, they will be packaged in one complete course, and priced higher. This beta version allows you to get the videos individually, at a significant discount. </span></div>
<br />Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-1207801300383304002020-05-26T19:09:00.000-07:002020-05-26T19:09:07.157-07:00How to Master Baking With Einkorn - Are You Interested?<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am considering doing a video tutorial series on the advantages of using einkorn, how to use it, and step-by-step recipes. Before I make such a course, I would like to gauge how much interest there is in such a course.</div>
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Are you interested? What's your biggest Einkorn Challenge? Link to sign up for more info if interested in this einkorn baking course: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?stzid=UgyxhuHONRdvR4QfwOx4AaABAg&event=comments&redir_token=4SCscZQjG9mgzue68WI0Mlt0HGh8MTU5MDYzMTI3MkAxNTkwNTQ0ODcy&q=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fg40a5L">http://eepurl.com/g40a5L</a></div>
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Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-70255279761156764592020-05-17T16:19:00.000-07:002020-05-17T16:19:04.852-07:00Silence is not always agreement<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, I am writing to you from the vantage point of a pastor's wife. If you have been a reader on my blog for any length of time, you know this is very rare for me. I am, first and foremost, a wife and mother - as are many of my readers. My posts reflect this. </div>
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However, I have also been by my husband's side through over 14 years in the pastorate. We both have learned many things, and are hopefully the wiser for it. Yet rarely will I share those lessons, because there is usually some pain involved in the learning curve, that of a church member or my own. Some things are better left unsaid. </div>
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Yet, today I was inspired to share a little bit about my life as a pastor's wife after speaking with a new mom at our church this morning. She had come to thank me for some unsolicited advice I had given her just last week regarding a health issue I observed in her child. She had followed my advice, and her child had dramatically improved in just a few days' time. </div>
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And herein lies what I want to talk about: <span style="font-size: large;"><b>I do not like to give unsolicited advice</b></span>, and rarely do it. I am talking about person-to-person advice, not in general terms such as on my blog. That in spite of the fact that like anyone else, I have opinions about many things. Furthermore, I believe my opinions to be right (duh - who knowingly adopts a faulty view??). Many times, I see something that I disagree with or even find alarming, yet I do not say anything. In fact, 9 times out of 10 when I wonder whether I should say something, I don't.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT-tis17voPoHUM9hi5apmgjK9z1uBXZBOLw4IDhciMYL5WAi4e8pI55nj-EgUiz2jlFoA-XzYPUE22EmbJdsi71RvCtwcpYhUJ4S-Kn2Bpc8N6CvanDgsCzgKfk2g0tomDKbqLWGSjQ/s1600/help-support-guidance-advice-signpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT-tis17voPoHUM9hi5apmgjK9z1uBXZBOLw4IDhciMYL5WAi4e8pI55nj-EgUiz2jlFoA-XzYPUE22EmbJdsi71RvCtwcpYhUJ4S-Kn2Bpc8N6CvanDgsCzgKfk2g0tomDKbqLWGSjQ/s640/help-support-guidance-advice-signpost.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Unsought advice is seldom heeded, and often resented." - Unknown </i></span></div>
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There are many reasons for keeping my opinion to myself. </div>
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- <b>It's none of my business.</b> Duh. Your life is yours to live as you choose. Even as the pastor's wife, I have to be very alarmed before I will give unsolicited advice.</div>
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- <b>It can come across as rude.</b> There's no all-around nice way to tell someone that you think they are wrong, or overlooking something important. </div>
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- <b>I could be wrong.</b> It happens, trust me. ;) The last thing I want to do is worry someone that something might be seriously wrong, when I'm actually the one in the wrong. </div>
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-<b> It's risky. </b>For the aforementioned reasons, there is a real chance that the recipient of my unsolicited advice will take offense. I am not one to want to give people one more reason to be offended. </div>
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- <b>It wastes time.</b> As a mother of 11, my time is extremely limited. Taking a chance and spending my time giving someone unsolicited advice, which is likely to not be well received and go unheeded, is simply something I don't have time for.</div>
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- <b>I might not have a solution.</b> Identifying a problem, and having a solution, are two very different things. There is no point in pointing out something wrong in someone else's life, if I have no advice on how to fix it. </div>
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I was thankful and encouraged today to know that my recent unsolicited advice had not only fallen on willing ears, but had yielded such great results, so soon. I had given similar advice other times, only to have the recipient take offense, not even consider my words, and then continue watching them (or worse, their child) suffer. </div>
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The longer my husband is a pastor, the less I am willing to say anything, even to a fault. One glaring example that comes to mind are midwives. Sadly, there are many charlatans or clueless ones out there, and they are typically the ones with the sweetest personalities, the most effective referral system, or the lowest fees. More times than I care to remember, there have been midwives that moms in our church have chosen, that I had serious concern about, but didn't say anything. I did not want to come across as telling other moms what midwife to choose, even as some particularly clueless ones have seriously hurt or endangered some of our moms. Even so, I was recently criticized yet again for having a "blacklist" of midwives that the 60 or more moms of childbearing age in our church can review before hiring anyone.</div>
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With that in mind, <b><span style="font-size: large;">here's my unsolicited advice</span></b>, but it's generally speaking: </div>
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- If you want to know my opinion on your personal matter, you will most likely have to ask for it. And rest assured that if I do give you unsolicited personal advice, it was after much consideration and prayer, and never flippantly. </div>
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- You may assume that if you have a pastor and wife who love and care for you, they will come to you if they notice anything concerning. They might, or like us they most often might not. Please do not mistake silence for agreement, or an approval of your choices. This is true in all walks of life.</div>
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- If you are facing a challenge, please reach out to those whom you trust for good advice. Don't assume they will come to you and volunteer their wisdom. </div>
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- Before reaching out for advice, take some time to decide whom to seek advice from. One good rule of thumb is that you ask those who have succeeded, not those who have failed, in your particular area of concern. For instance, don't ask marriage advice of divorced people, child rearing advice from those with errant children, or health advice from the ill. </div>
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- Pray that God would reveal His advice through the person you are going to approach, by laying the right words on their heart. I have done this myself countless times: telling God who I was going to ask for wisdom regarding a matter, and asking Him to give His answer through that person, then resting assured that I could follow that advice as if it had come down directly from God. </div>
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And one final piece of advice: Beware the people who always know everything, and freely share it with anyone who will listen. Asking for advice requires humility, while spouting off advice left and right appeals to the prideful (and often clueless). Rule of thumb: the more unsolicited advice someone is willing to share, the more clueless or wrong they tend to be. </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. - Proverbs 20:5</span></i></div>
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Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-20346372496104175232020-05-14T18:03:00.000-07:002020-05-14T18:03:55.176-07:00Cruise the Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The <a href="http://www.phxzoo.org/">Phoenix Zoo</a> is currently closed, but is offering a <a href="https://www.phoenixzoo.org/cruisethezoo/">"drive-thru" zoo experience</a> instead. This is the first (and quite possibly only) time in their history they have done this, and we just had to take advantage of it in honor of Chloe's 4th birthday this coming Monday. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM7BLQmpNYIicq9oxus8otzO_bOH0XXM0ZJqq5CZdDelvZPOd5NkosMbm1IDjhuOa-ckVVUZ0edE16e_8bgtvCeIRtGgV7SMfCWfhzhwOiQzPI9SX-wdFNukoMG6bZtrGHoQzosaHaSM/s1600/ctzmap4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="904" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM7BLQmpNYIicq9oxus8otzO_bOH0XXM0ZJqq5CZdDelvZPOd5NkosMbm1IDjhuOa-ckVVUZ0edE16e_8bgtvCeIRtGgV7SMfCWfhzhwOiQzPI9SX-wdFNukoMG6bZtrGHoQzosaHaSM/s640/ctzmap4.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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My van's clearance of 9' 4" exceeded the recommended maximum by several feet, so I borrowed one of our church's vans instead. We brought along some friends from church to fill the extra seats. </div>
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The event was a blast! They even allowed us to do the drive with the sliding door open, and the little kids up in the cabin with us, for a better view of the animals. We were going super slow, so no worries. </div>
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We left first thing in the morning and got there before the gates opened at 8 a.m. to avoid waiting in line for hours. The drive took about 45 minutes total and we saw SO MANY animals. We even heard lions roaring several times, which was a first for me. The zookeepers said the animals had missed seeing visitors every day, and were getting lonely.<br />
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<i>Rhino in the back</i></div>
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<i>Zebras</i></div>
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We got home shortly after 9 a.m., at which time it was still beautiful and cool in our front yard, so the kids kept playing out there. It was a wonderful day to remember!<br />
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<br />Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-75185985750385595592020-04-29T11:22:00.000-07:002020-04-29T11:22:00.323-07:00How to not wear face masks at Costco or elsewhere<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am NOT against face masks. To date, our church has sewn over 1,200 surgical masks, and approx. 200 cotton masks, for use by medical professionals and the public during this pandemic. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAdKrL6DFU5usJgQtZlrSt1RX58blHZq2lryr_cuaXKSBiRjjhIaf8eUWcQw93fxCL9Zn8OwfQQESmWiMg0Ty-ZSYqBm28TeEXc6sG0ByWR-VBN530WLkzzzv11siC6Gf4UB9hDmcTnk/s1600/20200405_171348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAdKrL6DFU5usJgQtZlrSt1RX58blHZq2lryr_cuaXKSBiRjjhIaf8eUWcQw93fxCL9Zn8OwfQQESmWiMg0Ty-ZSYqBm28TeEXc6sG0ByWR-VBN530WLkzzzv11siC6Gf4UB9hDmcTnk/s640/20200405_171348.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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However, this should be a voluntary action, not mandated by a store and forced on everyone, especially when there are no laws requiring the wearing of masks in many places, such as my entire state of Arizona. </div>
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Costco is set to implement a policy that mandates all customers must wear face masks starting Monday, May 4th. I have many reasons to be against such an order, which I will share in a separate post. </div>
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In the meantime, here is what you can do to fight back:</div>
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1. <b>Contact Costco</b> (local store manager, corporate customer service number, website, email, social media). Every local manager I spoke with welcomed this feedback, and it was obvious that the vast majority of them do not agree with this policy.</div>
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2. <b>Cancel your membership</b> for a full refund on May 3rd, 2020 (or before that date). This will send a strong financial signal to Costco. </div>
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3. <b>Take your business to stores that have no such policy</b>, or use Instacart and Amazon instead. Locally, Sprouts stores have stood out above and beyond every other store in how well they have been treating their customers, keeping inventory in stock, continuing to run great sales, etc. </div>
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4. <b>Tell the person at the door that you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face mask. </b>They are not allowed to inquire about your condition, nor are they allowed to turn you away. Several store managers have confirmed to me that they will permit members to enter without a face mask who tell them they cannot wear a mask. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); font-family: "roboto" , "noto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-11447747415494835792020-04-22T11:12:00.001-07:002020-04-22T11:47:06.815-07:00This is NOT homeschooling<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now that we seasoned home educators everywhere have sufficiently chuckled and needled at the fact that suddenly, homeschooling is the new government mandate, I wanted to pause and clarify that <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">crisis homeschooling is very different from real-life home education</span></b>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We are not locked up at home all day</span></b><br />
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Parents who unexpectedly find themselves locked up at home most of the day with kids that are usually gone might be on the brink of losing their minds. If being on lockdown all day, every day were what homeschooling in real life looked like, I dare say few of us would choose it. No, it does not make you a bad mom to not want to be within touching distance of needy people all day without any outside activities or distractions. </div>
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The fact of the matter is that most homeschool families are very involved in outside activities, and often spend time away from home on a daily basis. That could be anything ranging from co-op classes, to field trips, P.E. groups, and extracurricular interests such as chess, theater, speech and debate, archery, ballroom dancing, music lessons, craft classes, and on and on. And that's to say nothing of leaving the house for everyday activities such as shopping and running errands. </div>
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Being on home confinement as an adult is hard enough for many. Being on lockdown unexpectedly with a house full of kids is NOT typical homeschooling. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We socialize with others on a grand scale</span></b><br />
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The most commonly expressed concern with homeschooling is "socialization," i.e. making sure that kids grow up as part of, and integrated into, society. This as opposed to being a misanthropic recluse. I have met a few of the latter, incidentally none of whom had been home educated themselves. </div>
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That's because in real life, home educated students are actually exposed to infinitely MORE people than students locked in a classroom for most of the day. In school, kids are mostly only able to socialize with other children, of their own age and aptitude. In real life, home educated kids interact with siblings of all ages and grade levels, observe working adults in the real world, get to spend more time with extended family, and are exposed all day long to the full gamut of those who make up society, including fringe demographics like the homeless or people with disabilities.</div>
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Hands down, home education is far more socially diverse and inclusive than a classroom setting ever could be. To suddenly be isolated is challenging for everyone, including homeschoolers, as this is entirely opposite our normal lives. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It is well-planned</b> </span><br />
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Aside from a few exceptions, most parents who choose to home educate do so out of concern for their child's education and well-being. We are responsible parents who take initiative, fully realizing that if we take our kids out of school, it is now up to us to make sure they get a solid education. As a result, we spend many hours researching the best curriculum to match our kids' individual learning styles and aptitudes. We attend homeschool conventions, read every book available on the topic, connect with our local homeschool communities, and otherwise do all in our power to be fully equipped. </div>
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We already have textbooks, lesson plans, and daily routines we rely on. No need to wait on the school district to figure out which way is up, how to switch from classroom to virtual teaching, no need to wait for laptops to be issued, etc. We know where our kids are at in each of their subjects, and stand ready to help them since we have been by their side, educationally speaking, the entire time. There is no learning curve or sudden adjustment. Our approach is not haphazard, we are not panicked or insecure, and we don't view this educational approach as an emergency measure, a band-aid until the school system bails us out. </div>
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In other words, this is "just another day at the office" for us. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We were not thrust into this</span></b><br />
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Those of us who have been homeschooling for years were not thrust into this lifestyle overnight, thrown into the deep end of an ice-cold pool as it were. Most of us had a gentle, gradual, planned entry. This is especially true for those of us who have been home educators all along, since we started with just one kindergarten student. </div>
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This has repercussions in countless areas: we are accustomed to cooking for and feeding our kids three meals a day, rather than relying on school to provide lunch and in most cases even breakfast. Our homes are set up to handle people living in it all day long. Our routines are based on having kids around, rather than being kid-free most of the day. Our parenting and discipline are such that we can handle being around our kids, all of them, all day long without life becoming one long, miserable countdown to bedtime. </div>
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Most importantly, we CHOSE homeschooling. It was not foisted on us, unexpectedly, in the middle of a world-wide pandemic, amidst unprecedented measures and the anxieties they produce. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How are the current situation and regular home education alike? </span></b></div>
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Take heart, there are some things that are the same. We all are far from being perfect parents, doing our best. We all can only make it by the grace of God. We all could do better. We all get irritated by and tired of our kids at some point. We all second-guess ourselves daily. We all have kids who resist learning and feign cluelessness to wiggle out of school work or other responsibilities. We all think our kids are the best, smartest, and cutest in the world. We all love them with all of our hearts and want only the best for them. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></b></span></div>
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This post was inspired by a German news article I read this morning. The German ministers responsible for education are actually using the English word "homeschooling" to refer to the current state of education, in which parents are to continue their kids' education at home with textbook assignments sent through online portals (but no online teaching). Imagine the irony in that! For decades, Germany has been one of a few European countries where homeschooling is not just illegal, but actively squelched. Parents who choose to home educate anyway face anything from government harassment to fines to termination of parental rights or even imprisonment. It would be unfathomable to see children of school age accompany their parents in public spaces during school hours. Those who home educate have to do so in secrecy and fear, not the freedom and widespread acceptance we are accustomed to here in the US and other parts of the world. </div>
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Even now, those same German authorities are stressing the fact that this "homeschooling" situation is temporary, because children need social interactions beyond their immediate family. Whoa there, Sherlock! Tell us something we don't know. To compare unexpectedly doing school at home while being locked up with little to no outside activities or interactions to homeschooling is unfair and deceptive. </div>
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If you had considered home education in the past, but this current crisis has you pulling your hair out, please do not let it dissuade you from pursuing homeschooling in the future. This is NOT our normal.</div>
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Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-68583963622743273352020-03-12T16:08:00.000-07:002020-03-12T16:08:18.105-07:00New homeschool curriculum now available for purchase!I am thrilled to announce that my new homeschool curriculum is now available for purchase!!<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/efklGmeWddo" width="560"></iframe>
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<a href="https://framingtheworld.com/store?olsPage=products%2Fvol1&page=2">Framing the World</a> ($5 below list price!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085DT6654">Paperback on Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085C1FZ5R">Kindle ebook on Amazon</a><br />
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You can get a PFD of a free semester preview on my website, <a href="http://www.readyourselfaneducation.com/">Read Yourself an Education</a>. Alternatively, you can utilize the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon.</div>
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This project has been a long time in the making. I wrote the curriculum I always wanted to have myself, but couldn't find. We have been using the unit-study based approach in this book for about a decade now, and it is our favorite way to learn together as a family. </div>
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Please consider giving the free preview a try. I am certain you will LOVE learning this way!</div>
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Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-13221800577294058712020-02-06T17:00:00.001-07:002020-02-06T17:00:20.337-07:00Thoughts on Grief<div style="text-align: center;">
(<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">All images courtesy of everydaypowerblog.com</span></i>)</div>
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Several sweet mommas close to me have had to bury their babies, some very recently.</div>
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This is absolutely the most heartbreaking thing any mother could ever have to go through. There simply are no words to express that soul-crushing, rip your heart out of your chest while you're alive, kind of pain. Pain that is not physical, yet takes the breath out of your lungs and squeezes the life out of every fiber of your being.</div>
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I wanted to share a few short thoughts from my limited experience. I don't know the level of grief that other moms have suffered. </div>
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I have never lost a child after birth, nor had a full-term stillborn baby. My worst loss has been that of Jachin, Boaz' twin brother, who died midway through their pregnancy. I carried him until Boaz was full term and ready to be born. Jachin was born first. He was perfectly developed, just a tiny version of his brother. We buried him at a local cemetery, and visit his grave on the boys' birthday every year. As hard as it was, I don't think it begins to compare to the loss of a child after birth, or a stillborn baby at term. My loss was further alleviated by the fact that I did get to keep Boaz, and had his little life to carry me through the worst of it. </div>
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These are my thoughts from my limited experience. Maybe they will help someone just setting out down the road of grief, which does not end until it reaches Heaven. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grief is inescapable </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lEaF2BcOo2GiUY548eCCPUEByYg-IJFyqmg8J-kEhsch_9AeILwBRofXagCj-yUA_t8a2CLKXyJSQF3S0mc0dFIhOWZVOKz37CzFmhYgE4NDbRz85a7jdFaVvkZilf73f2J5NIzJXI0/s1600/grief+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="729" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lEaF2BcOo2GiUY548eCCPUEByYg-IJFyqmg8J-kEhsch_9AeILwBRofXagCj-yUA_t8a2CLKXyJSQF3S0mc0dFIhOWZVOKz37CzFmhYgE4NDbRz85a7jdFaVvkZilf73f2J5NIzJXI0/s640/grief+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Grief, by definition, is painful. As humans, we seek to avoid pain at all cost. The pain of grief is inescapable. It will not go away if you ignore it. </div>
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The extent to which you loved will determine the level of your pain. It has been said that only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow. This same necessity of loving serves to counteract the grief and eventually brings healing. </div>
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Give yourself permission to grieve. Don't deny the pain, grit your teeth, and hold on. It WILL get better. The pain will subside, and you will survive. All of us can endure heartache far beyond what we think ourselves capable of. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grief is unpredictable</span></b></div>
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Like ocean waves, grief will come and go. At first, the waves will be beating on shore in a violent storm, threatening to drown you. You'll struggle, struggle on. Eventually, your head will be back above the water. With time, the waves will settle down. They might even fall into a predictable pattern, such as learning to expect bigger waves when certain dates pass that force us to remember. But grief will always remain unpredictable. A sudden wave can wash over you out of nowhere, on an otherwise perfectly nice day. Something small, unpredictable, unavoidable will jog your memory and - bam! - you are spluttering and gasping for air once more. This is normal. When it happens, stop, and go back to square one of allowing yourself to feel the grief, so you can then let it go.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Grief is unique</b></span></div>
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No two people grieve in the same way. Others might grieve very differently from yourself, or even appear to not be grieving at all. That is for them, and your grief is for you. Do not expect others to grieve, or to express their grief in the same way as you. To do so is to set yourself up for hurt feelings and misunderstandings. I believe this point to be the main reason behind the marital disruption that unfortunately so often follows the death of a child. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grief is lonely</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDDN2LFQmUs8pZis69yoQK_LDV4zujND1D_XcsNxz5xqovFCGrDBlHfNwMb3AzntAHOpCjd1dAz37R1KqSp8693nsaz3q74t5BYv9vjTaOUenZSP7xzJYSRaCSbL9rge79kU_7Z1UJpA/s1600/grief+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="724" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDDN2LFQmUs8pZis69yoQK_LDV4zujND1D_XcsNxz5xqovFCGrDBlHfNwMb3AzntAHOpCjd1dAz37R1KqSp8693nsaz3q74t5BYv9vjTaOUenZSP7xzJYSRaCSbL9rge79kU_7Z1UJpA/s640/grief+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Because grief is unique, it is also lonely. How could you begin to explain your loss to someone who has never experienced the same? How do you talk to the one who also experienced it, but grieves differently? Grief is lonely, but it does not have to divide. God <i>does </i>know, and he <i>does </i>understand. Oh what comfort to know that we can always go to Him!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grief does not travel alone</span></b></div>
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While grief will seek to make you lonely, grief itself does not travel alone. You will become well acquainted with grief's companion - guilt. This is as irrational as it is universal. Moms especially will blame themselves, no matter how unreasonable and unfair that is. Grief is inevitable, but don't allow guilt to set up residence. </div>
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Also with grief travel two questions: "Why" and "What if ...?" To these, there are no answers. Only God knows. And if He who promised to love us like a Father allowed this loss in our life, then there must be some purpose in it, impossible though it seems. We do not understand now, but one day we will.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grief is a luxury</span></b></div>
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There is the loss of a loved one, and then there is the loss of what dies inside those left behind, while they continue to live. It does not matter what agony of soul you are in, the rest of life will soon ceaselessly, mercilessly, march on. Even on the darkest days, the kids still need to eat, and life's many mundane responsibilities like paying bills and washing laundry, still come knocking every day. You may feel like having a long cry in peace and quiet, while your toddler follows you around chattering and demanding you read his favorite book - again. You will learn to value those short times when you are allowed to indulge your grief, and give in to feeling the pain. With time, you can learn to think of grief as sitting on a mental shelf - you can take it down when you are able to indulge in the luxury of it, and then put it back on the shelf when life's duties are calling. Always within sight, always within reach, but a luxury to be handled. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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We can accept the idea of our own death, but to accept the death of a loved one, especially a child, is almost impossible. It takes the kind of grace that can only come from God, slowly, over time. Little drops of healing, not on a wound, but an amputation. Something we will have to live without for the rest of our lives, always keenly aware of the loss, but eventually, hopefully, learning to work around it. Never complete, but functioning once again. </div>
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You can never completely get over the loss of a loved one. But in a way, this is good news - in remembering, they live on in our hearts, even if the memories are painful. </div>
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As Christians, our greatest joy is the assurance that one day, we will all be together in Heaven, never to die or suffer again. </div>
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<i>"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."</i> - I Corinthians 15:55-57</blockquote>
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<i>"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."</i> - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14</blockquote>
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Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-87398409953570224132019-11-15T15:22:00.000-07:002019-11-15T15:22:25.084-07:00How to make folded paper window stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DFXlNEqxKqXPzUimqhxdbGx5TszBVN5cNii7O5ksD-0qOsH4R89EMvIOs8qU5UoJi9Zkap4xOkoPnwzl5xLvxkKVTv6Om-AxXnbcdgCDDusDRvy-_o4rE9DRVL_zB3ujua_laH-Iqu8/s1600/How-to_+Folded+paper+stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DFXlNEqxKqXPzUimqhxdbGx5TszBVN5cNii7O5ksD-0qOsH4R89EMvIOs8qU5UoJi9Zkap4xOkoPnwzl5xLvxkKVTv6Om-AxXnbcdgCDDusDRvy-_o4rE9DRVL_zB3ujua_laH-Iqu8/s640/How-to_+Folded+paper+stars.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is a video tutorial I made for how to make folded paper window
stars. They are a popular Waldorf craft for elementary age kids.</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BoH9TqXRdUo" width="560"></iframe>
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<u><b>Affiliate links to the products used in this video:</b></u></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2QnY5r1">Fiskars paper trimmer </a><br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2Xfo05A">Vellum paper</a> <br />
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As I explain in the video, rectangles for folding need to be cut in a ratio of 6:10. For 8.5" x 11" paper, the suggested cut sizes are 4.25" x 2.5". For DIN A4 paper, the suggested cut size is 11 cm x 6.6 cm.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bastelanleitungen.org/download/387/">Link to the PDF</a> with the folding instructions (in German, but the graphics are obvious): Please note: I cut my paper in a different size than they suggest. </div>
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<br />Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-11515292821375764672019-10-17T22:13:00.001-07:002019-10-17T22:13:17.483-07:00Birth announcement <div style="text-align: justify;">
Eva Rose was born healthy and safe on Sunday, September 22nd, at 10:35 a.m. weighing 7 lbs 10 oz and measuring 20 in. You can listen to me tell <a href="https://youtu.be/rhrZw3oWQ6o">her birth story</a> here.</div>
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We chose her name "Eva" in keeping with the Biblical theme for first names, picking a new first initial for each child. "Rose" is in honor of both of my Grandmas, who went by the German and Hungarian equivalents of that name.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6x8LkgKhO87-GCv84pL-Evl0l8DG06aYRK4Yk43c5cq_DDWykHBnLQsffH2VMfI63VFNXZVDXmQpl1J872EKAiiZ9RlXSkm9VbL38k9XCSYQX6_zLnre8YXL1NfzVb45eTXCuwt00fE/s1600/71710923_2216071965169848_156856925818978304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6x8LkgKhO87-GCv84pL-Evl0l8DG06aYRK4Yk43c5cq_DDWykHBnLQsffH2VMfI63VFNXZVDXmQpl1J872EKAiiZ9RlXSkm9VbL38k9XCSYQX6_zLnre8YXL1NfzVb45eTXCuwt00fE/s640/71710923_2216071965169848_156856925818978304_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The weight shown on this board is slightly off... mommy brain... eek!</i></div>
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Eva has been a very sweet, easy, mellow baby. She has been smiling from Day 1! She is also a great nurser (no tongue tie - yay!).<br />
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To see more updates, please visit us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aretheyallyours/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aretheyallyoursblog/">Instagram</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/aretheyallyours">YouTube</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdJTwrU12HM2bKRB9NjVXQhB92o9WS0-1X1CX__g958q7W5aa-5SqbrhGGVx_Ms7drSSuSKQ-SFc5vp2laqTVdLqU1ThHeDJ86vGh0_FxmqVw7ZqlDYLrcqlcDNfmINI8sEdZ2zkIHNw/s1600/72377238_2237331203043924_2386788711653179392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdJTwrU12HM2bKRB9NjVXQhB92o9WS0-1X1CX__g958q7W5aa-5SqbrhGGVx_Ms7drSSuSKQ-SFc5vp2laqTVdLqU1ThHeDJ86vGh0_FxmqVw7ZqlDYLrcqlcDNfmINI8sEdZ2zkIHNw/s320/72377238_2237331203043924_2386788711653179392_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-ZlBTSPrZtl21v805gWZF-4eM0bj5QuPnIe5yDs2hWfKDmL_WuKrpVwfjSOjDm4u0ObB4UjTmYhjUFSeFZCfcGEKmzvtC_gvFFht8zn3sa_sZ1e2SDURHUkFQh2ZUbmzRnOy6rZpWME/s1600/71233267_2225057117604666_23056943518056448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-ZlBTSPrZtl21v805gWZF-4eM0bj5QuPnIe5yDs2hWfKDmL_WuKrpVwfjSOjDm4u0ObB4UjTmYhjUFSeFZCfcGEKmzvtC_gvFFht8zn3sa_sZ1e2SDURHUkFQh2ZUbmzRnOy6rZpWME/s320/71233267_2225057117604666_23056943518056448_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-10397007081414210442019-08-24T13:31:00.000-07:002019-08-24T13:31:49.098-07:00Read Yourself an Education FREE trial pdf now available!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am excited to announce that I have released a free pdf version of the first semester of my new homeschool book, "Read Yourself an Education, Volume 1 - Around the World, Country by Country."</div>
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The full version is due to be released through Amazon later this fall. In the meantime, the pdf will allow you to get started using the book for the upcoming 2019/20 school year, if you so wish.</div>
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Get the pdf and sign up for the newsletter at <a href="http://www.readyourselfaneducation.com/">www.readyourselfaneducation.com</a>!</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yb1SVzO_MsI" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-22057879776050963542019-06-28T15:23:00.001-07:002019-06-28T15:23:25.747-07:00How to make cultured (real) buttermilk video tutorial<div style="text-align: justify;">
Made a 5-minute video tutorial today for how to make real, fermented, probiotic-rich buttermilk quickly and easily at home. </div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sCaK1p0uW74" width="560"></iframe>
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Any local peeps who would like to get some buttermilk starter from me (for free), please just let me know.</div>
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Milk can be curdled with any acid (such as lemon juice or vinegar) to <i>mimic </i>the consistency of buttermilk, but that is not real buttermilk. In a pinch, that will work for a recipe, but you are getting none of the health benefits that fermented foods such as real buttermilk offer. </div>
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This is the starter culture I am using: https://amzn.to/2Nm1FC7</div>
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2-quart mason jars: https://amzn.to/2NfrbbR</div>
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(affiliate links)</div>
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Check out my new cookbook at http://bit.ly/2RsX7av. <br />
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If you sign up for the newsletter, you get Week 1 FREE as a PDF download so you can give it a try. <br />
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Order the cookbook here: https://store.framingtheworld.com/products/cookbook<br />
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Read more at http://www.stevenandersonfamily.comZsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3454355557116314654.post-37951727788640596252019-06-25T12:50:00.002-07:002019-06-25T12:50:27.608-07:00How to buy a smaller (non-standard) Willow breast pump flange<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Willow wearable breast pump only comes in 2 standard flange sizes: 24 mm and 27 mm. If neither of these sizes work for you, please watch the video below to learn of a hack that makes it possible to size the flange down to whatever size you need:</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z5gZ7KFxReU" width="560"></iframe>
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<br /><br /><br />Even though I have breastfed all of our babies, the older I get, and the more babies I have, the more I struggle to provide enough milk for them. I think it's a mixture of being more busy, getting older, and inevitable hormonal changes. I have heard the same from several other moms of many.<br />
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With Peter, in addition to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJDxdHD4J5s">supplementing him with formula</a>, I also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtRpjtkecg8">pumped to help build my supply</a>. However, traditional breast pumps are time consuming and inconvenient, which made it difficult for me to pump as often as would have been ideal.<br />
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I am excited to have discovered this hack to make it possible for me to pump much more often after the arrival of baby #11 to help establish a solid milk supply.<br />
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Please let me know in the comments below if you have a question. Zsuzsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03062136377263894876noreply@blogger.com5