Over a week!

I know, I know... I'm slackin' over here! ;o) What has been going on? Well... on the 22nd my grandfather had a heart attack and was sent to ICU, the 23rd my aunt Sandi came into town from CA and I went to see G'pa in Auburn. He collapsed at Camp (where he works and lives most of the time), medical personal was with him in 1 minute, had oxygen on him in 3 minutes and was enroute to the hospital in 10 minutes. Impressive. He woke up and rapidly improved... he is now at home resting.

We spent the night at Camp Berachah (Mike & kiddos too) and ended up having a great time! Once we knew G'pa was doing well we were all relieved and just plain silly. I was able to show off the camp to my hubby and kids, this was the place I spent a large part of my childhood at. I was baptized there when I was about 10?? I went to church camp there every year and then since a few family members actually LIVED there I was able to hang out on many other occasions.

Besides all that, I have been experiencing morning sickness for the first time. Not fun. I have been tired and constantly nauseous for a few weeks now. Poor Mike is on the verge of a coronary in regards to how the house looks! :o)

Ok, I better run for now, but I do hope to write more soon!

~Alicia

20 things about me, from a pregnancy msg. board I'm on...

1. Name,DH,Age,and children- Alicia (32), Mike (32), Jordan (6), ~i~ Karina 3/8/99, ~i~ Bennett 5/6/99, Kaitlyn (4), Joshua (1) and Baby (EDD 2/5/2005)!

2. Where you live? WA

3. How long you have been with DH/SO? Best friends for 18 years, married for 8.

4. Did you go to College if so, your major? Yes, I did a little college… no major though.

5. Do you work or stay home? Stay at home and homeschool.

6. Have any pets? 1 cat.

7. Favorite color? Brick Red

8. Favorite Food? Ethiopian

9. Favorite drink? Coca~Cola

10. Ideal vacation? My whole family (extended too) in a huge mansion like cabin, lots of fun, family and food.

11. Favorite flower? Carnation

12. Natural labor vs DRUGS!!? Natural at Home birth.

13. What kind of car do you drive? Minivan

14. Night owl or early bird? Night owl… on hubby’s schedule so kids are up until 12am, dad puts them to bed and then we go to bed around 2am.

15. Hobbies? WISH I could get some scrapbooking in… I have the supplies, but haven’t started yet. And reading or surfing web.

16. Last book read? Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet spirit by Teri Maxwell

17. Last thing you ate? A slice of pepperoni pizza

18. Were you trying to Conceive? Not actively TRYING… but hoping.

19. If you had a million dollars what would you do first? Pay off debts, Pay off my close relatives’ debts, Put some away for each of the kiddos and take a vacation with everybody… to that mansion like cabin. :o)

20. If you could have your ideal job what would it be? I have it! I have always wanted to be a wife and a mother. It is the hardest job I have ever had, but the most rewarding.

Let's all go to the movies...

Here's a list of the top 100 all-time top grossing movies. Bold the ones you've seen.

1. Titanic (1997) $600,779,824
2. Star Wars (1977) $460,935,665
3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) $434,949,459
4. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $431,065,444
5. Spider-Man (2002) $403,706,375
6. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) $377,019,252
7. Passion of the Christ, The (2004) $370,025,697
8. Jurassic Park (1993) $356,784,000
9. Shrek 2 (2004) $356,211,000
10. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) $340,478,898
11. Finding Nemo (2003) $339,714,367
12. Forrest Gump (1994) $329,691,196
13. Lion King, The (1994) $328,423,001
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $317,557,891
15. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) $313,837,577
16. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) $310,675,583
17. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) $309,125,409
18. Independence Day (1996) $306,124,059
19. Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) $305,411,224
20. Sixth Sense, The (1999) $293,501,675
21. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) $290,158,751
22. Home Alone (1990) $285,761,243
23. Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) $281,492,479
24. Shrek (2001) $267,652,016
25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) $261,970,615
26. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) $260,031,035
27. Jaws (1975) $260,000,000
28. Monsters, Inc. (2001) $255,870,172
29. Batman (1989) $251,188,924
30. Men in Black (1997) $250,147,615
31. Toy Story 2 (1999) $245,823,397
32. Bruce Almighty (2003) $242,589,580
33. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) $242,374,454
34. Twister (1996) $241,700,000
35. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) $241,437,427
36. Ghost Busters (1984) $238,600,000 I think
37. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $234,760,500
38. Cast Away (2000) $233,630,478
39. Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) $229,074,524
40. Signs (2002) $227,965,690
41. Rush Hour 2 (2001) $226,138,454
42. Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) $219,200,000
43. Ghost (1990) $217,631,306
44. Aladdin (1992) $217,350,219
45. Saving Private Ryan (1998) $216,119,491
46. Mission: Impossible II (2000) $215,397,307
47. X2 (2003) $214,948,780
48. Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) $213,079,163
49. Back to the Future (1985) $210,609,762
50. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) $205,399,422
51. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) $204,843,350
52. Exorcist, The (1973) $204,565,000
53. Mummy Returns, The (2001) $202,007,640
54. Armageddon (1998) $201,573,391
55. Gone with the Wind (1939) $198,655,278
56. Pearl Harbor (2001) $198,539,855
57. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) $197,171,806
58. Toy Story (1995) $191,800,000
59. Men in Black II (2002) $190,418,803
60. Gladiator (2000) $187,670,866
61. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) $184,925,485
62. Dances with Wolves (1990) $184,208,848
63. Batman Forever (1995) $184,031,112
64. Fugitive, The (1993) $183,875,760
65. Ocean's Eleven (2001) $183,405,771
66. What Women Want (2000) $182,805,123
67. Perfect Storm, The (2000) $182,618,434
68. Liar Liar (1997) $181,395,380
69. Grease (1978) $181,360,000
70. Jurassic Park III (2001) $181,166,115
71. Mission: Impossible (1996) $180,965,237
72. Planet of the Apes (2001) $180,011,740
73. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) $179,870,271
74. Pretty Woman (1990) $178,406,268
75. Tootsie (1982) $177,200,000
76. Top Gun (1986) $176,781,728
77. There's Something About Mary (1998) $176,483,808
78. Ice Age (2002) $176,387,405
79. Crocodile Dundee (1986) $174,635,000 I think
80. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) $173,585,516
81. Elf (2003) $173,381,405
82. Air Force One (1997) $172,888,056
83. Rain Man (1988) $172,825,435
84. Apollo 13 (1995) $172,071,312
85. Matrix, The (1999) $171,383,253
86. Beauty and the Beast (1991) $171,301,428
87. Tarzan (1999) $171,085,177
88. Beautiful Mind, A (2001) $170,708,996
89. Chicago (2002) $170,684,505
90. Three Men and a Baby (1987) $167,780,960
91. Meet the Parents (2000) $166,225,040
92. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) $165,500,000
93. Hannibal (2001) $165,091,464
94. Catch Me If You Can (2002) $164,435,221
95. Big Daddy (1999) $163,479,795
96. Sound of Music, The (1965) $163,214,286
97. Batman Returns (1992) $162,831,698
98. Bug's Life, A (1998) $162,792,677
99. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) $161,963,000
100. Waterboy, The (1998) $161,487,252

WAR

I found this qoute on my friend's blog site and had to share, it is very good.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
--John Stuart Mill

“Was this a planned pregnancy?”

This question has always made me unsure of how to answer… you see NONE of my children have been PLANNED. Mike and I never sat down and said, “Hey let’s have a baby boy on December 12th of 1997 and then a miscarriage on March 8th, 1999; and how about another miscarriage on May 6, 1999… then we can have a baby girl on March 14th, 2000; and another boy on March 20th, 2003.”

Yet, each of these “pregnancies”, precious babies… WERE planned, not by Mike and I, but by God. The Bible says that He knows EACH life and the number of their days before any of them were conceived.

God has formed this new life within me and for that I will praise Him.

Some verses to ponder:

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” –Psalms 139:13-16

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
"I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself. –Isaiah 44:24

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” –Proverbs 16:9

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.” –Proverbs 19:21

Chapstick...

So last night as I began to help Jordan brush his teeth, I noticed his chapstick on the counter looking "funny"... meaning it was missing chunks. So I ask him what happened to the chapstick, "Well mom it smelled so good that I decided to eat it."

At this point in time I have this little voice in my head... "what you sow, so shall you reap..."

You see when my brother, Brian, was about 3 or 4 yrs. old (I was around 12 or 13yrs old)we were out for the day, an outdoor adventure of some sort with the family. Well, he had eaten some dirt and so as an evil sister does, I thought up an evil plan. I told him that when he ate the dirt, he ate the bugs that live in the dirt... these bugs are tiny and you can't see them in the dirt, but after you eat them they will either cause you to be very sick or die. (Yes, I was a mean sister.) I then told him that the ONLY way he could KILL the bugs that he ate was to eat an entire tube of chapstick. Which as a good little brother does, he ate it. My mom was furious and I thought it was hilarious.

Now I understand... "Jordan you can't EAT chapstick!" As I went on to tell Jordan AND Katie that they could NOT eat chapstick or anything else for that matter without permission, I also mentioned that they had to act responsible with the chapstick or I was going to throw it away. At that moment I remember I have a TV show I have to record and so as I'm leaving the bathroom I'm reminding them to cap the chapstick and PUT IT AWAY!

I come back 2 minutes later (if that) and guess what they did... they put it in their HAIR!!!! Freshly washed after the evening bath, now their hair has cherry smelling chapstick in it. And even though their hair SMELLS good... it does not look good. Jordan's hair is short enough that I was able to scrub it out with a wash cloth. Katie's hair will have to wait until the next bath night... but if I keep it up in a pony tail you can't really tell. ;o)

"Unplanned Parenthood"

A snippet from Ladies Against Feminism:

Describing a pregnancy as "unplanned," in contrast, draws no moral distinctions except one of self-actualization. Does this baby fit into your goals? Did he make a previous appointment on your schedule? Is he meeting your current perceived needs? If not, then clearly you have a problem. If he is, then there is no question of the morality of your actions. With "planning" as the primary concern, babies cease to be ends and become means.

Means to what? Lots of things: keeping up with their friends, patching the void in a marriage, gratifying their own egotism. Maybe particularly the last, judging from the ads in childbirth magazines for various products to "Give Your Child The Edge."

The "planned" distinction also drives a further wedge between sex and childbearing. Chances are very, very slim that the people involved didn't know where babies come from; yet they evidently expected that they should be able to indulge in a portion of a physical pleasure without accepting the natural consequences.

We call people who try to indulge in food this way bulimic. And in food, we naturally recoil from the concept. Yet when it comes to sex, our culture unthinkingly accepts it. Food exists to be chewed, swallowed, digested, and transformed into energy. Sex exists both to create children and to form a permanent bond between the couple (who are thus ideally positioned to raise the children they have created). Do we really think we can deliberately hack one piece out of the process and not upset the entire workings?

And sometimes, of course, babies happen despite all our "plans."

I've seen what happens afterwards, years later; the mothers sitting together, one whispering with the tiniest edge of resentment in her voice, "Of course, this one was a big surprise." The child may be ignoring the dull adult conversation, but have they really never picked up on the attitude?

This is less an argument against birth control than it is an argument for the regarding of children, no matter how young, as valuable human beings in their own right. Sometimes guests arrive when we weren’t quite expecting them, but we still treat them graciously.

Planning is, of course, a good thing. I’m all for it. I like spreadsheets. But for those of us who have opened the door to the possibility, planning should be for the babies, not of them. Make plans for guests to drop by, but don't greet them with the announcement that you would have preferred it if they hadn't come.

Bravo! Well said Karen Richmond of LAF!

100 things about me...

1. My first name is Alicia.
2. My middle name is Renee.
3. My last name is Taylor.
4. My maiden name is Clements.
5. I dropped out of high school.
6. I got a GED.
7. Then I got a High School Diploma from North Seattle College.
8. I’m a Christian.
9. I went to Russia on a Missionary trip in 1994.
10. I was baptized in Greenlake.
11. I’m married to my high school best friend… friends since the summer of 1986, married since the summer of 1996!
12. I have 3 children: Jordan, Kaitlyn & Joshua!
13. I have lost 2 babies in early miscarriages.
14. I’m pregnant now and due in 2/5/2005!
15. My first child was born in a hospital.
16. My second child was born in a free-standing birth center.
17. My third child was born at home!
18. We don’t vaccinate our children at this time.
19. I homeschool my kiddos.
20. We do school year-round (Jan. to mid-November)
21. We do everything on hubby’s schedule…
22. Which means the kids go to bed at midnight (after play/book time with dad from 11pm).
23. Mike and I go to bed around 2 or 3am.
24. We all get up around 11am.
25. Our week this year begins on Saturday.
26. Our weekends this year are Thursdays & Fridays.
27. I never wear polish on my nails.
28. I LOVE paper
29. and pens
30. and books
31. and all the “office” type stuff. ;o)
32. I have one sister named April.
33. I have one brother named Brian.
34. I have 2 sister-in-laws named Tanya & Melissa.
35. I have 1 brother-in-law named Dan.
36. I have 1 niece named Selah.
37. I have 2 nephews named Cyrus & Cameron.
38. I’m 32 years old…
39. but often can’t remember my age…
40. and usually add a year or two to my actual age when I do guess.
41. I have an online prayer group for women called “A Wife’s Calling.”
42. I have an online organizing group that I co-moderate with Cheri called “Joyful Ways”.
43. I have an online homeschooling group called, “NW Homeschoolers”
44. I have another online group for a Bible study on motherhood called, “Power of Motherhood”.
45. I have had the motherhood study and group for about 2 years.
46. I still haven’t finished it yet.
47. I have brown eyes.
48. I’m about 5’3”.
49. I have lived in Ballard.
50. I have lived in Mountlake Terrace.
51. I have lived in Edmonds.
52. I now live in Lynnwood (aka unincorporated Snohomish County).
53. I don’t cry easily…
54. unless I’m pregnant.
55. I just cried reading the lyrics to a song on my friend Cheri’s blog page.
56. I prefer Coca~Cola for all my meals, including breakfast.
57. I only like coffee that is super sweet… white chocolate mochas over ice.
58. I don’t like juice.
59. Other than Coke or a Mocha… I drink water.
60. Other than tuna, salmon, your basic fish… I won’t eat seafood.
61. We attend the Puyallup Fair every Year.
62. At the Puyallup Fair we get our “caricature” done.
63. The Caricatures are the only “family” picture we have done “formally” since 1996.
64. When my husband is home, we attend Calvary Fellowship Church.
65. I’m running out of things to say…
66. I love to plan…
67. I love to make lists…
68. I love to think up ideas…
69. I have very poor follow-thru though.
70. A night out for me usually consists of either: book/school supply shopping or dinner with my hubby or sister April and a movie…
71. Supply shopping sounds boring, but I love it!
72. I wish I had more time to read.
73. I still have the last book of the “Left Behind” series sitting on my night stand… unread.
74. The one household chore I despise the most is scrubbing the bath tubs.
75. The one household chore I love to complete is laundry…
76. however I don’t like to put it away…
77. and so I sometimes have a basket full of clothes on the couch, folded, but not put away.
78. My favorite Yankee Candle Co. scent is “Storm Watch”.
79. My mom had an in-home-daycare for over 25years.
80. I loved having my mom home during the day.
81. I hated the daycare.
82. I met Ted Bundy when I was like 5.
83. I can’t play chess.
84. I have no desire to learn how to play chess.
85. I do like to play Cribbage.
86. Or Rummy.
87. We own a pool table.
88. My husband is very good at playing pool.
89. I am very bad at playing pool.
90. I believe the current score between my husband and I is 97 to 16.
91. I have briefly considered becoming a midwife after the kids are grown up.
92. I have worked at McDonald’s…
93. and Pacific Linen…
94. and Diamond Parking…
95. and Seattle FilmWorks (now called Photoworks).
96. I’m taking an extra homeschooling accreditation class from Barb Shelton.
97. I started the online class over 2 years ago…
98. I can start/stop anytime I need too… and so it is taking forever to finish.
99. I have many allergies, none life-threatening though.
100. Finally! Over 3 days of putting in a little here and a little there… I have managed to get to the end of this ordeal!!!!!!!!

"God says girls can't play with dinosaurs..."

Sad day today... Jordan's two friends on our street came over (two girls that are ages 7 & 8), they normally LOVE to play dinosaurs, or being chased by the dino-Jordan... well, today they informed us that their dad told them, "Boys play with dinosaurs, girls play with barbie dolls, so we cannot play with dinosaurs... GOD says!"

Jordan is heart broken.

Ping, Lentil... Morning Sickness... Organization...

Ok, so I haven't been very consistent in posting here... sorry. We finished off Ping last week, started the book of Lentil on Saturday and so we are studying Ohio, harmonicas, the American Flag, patriotism, and the like. :o)

Today I actually woke up feeling ill and irritable. Since I found out I was pregnant, I have been feeling ill right about bedtime. Not bad... I usually just go to bed early. Which I need anyways.

The kids and I went to my parents' house last night for Melissa's Graduation party. That was fun and the kids were fairly well behaved (that I know of... they were outside a lot), Joshua had a blast with the balloons and Cameron!

Congratulations Melissa!

As for my new organizing attempts... well, I think I have come up with a morning routine that should help. Now I just need to DO IT.

Now I will go see if I can finish up my "100 things about me" post.

~Alicia

First appointment scheduled...

I get to see my midwife on the 17th of this month! I will be just over 6 weeks long. Almost half way through the first trimester! ;o)

Prayer Request...

Mike just spoke to one of his doctors and they think something is wrong with his liver. He has to go in for more blood tests and an ultrasound. He is already on 4 different medications for his blood pressure/high cholesterol.

Please say a prayer for him his liver will be OK.

Thank you!
Alicia

My final grocery total spent & saved in May of 2004.

Since joining "The Grocery Game", I have kept a running total to see if it is worth it or not. So for the month of May:

Grand total of all the groceries BEFORE sales/coupons/etc.: $1,055.71.
Total I had to pay for: $514.93
Total saved in May: $540.78

That includes toiletries, produce, diapers, etc...

I will try to update each month. :o)

Birthdays & Anniversaries!

Today is a special day... my parents are celebrating their 35th anniversary, my childhood bestfriend (Lea) is celebrating her b-day and my bestfriend of 6+ years whom I have never met in person (Cheri) is having her birthday!

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad, Lea and Cheri!

Everyone is napping quietly and I have managed to get some of my Bible study done, I'm working on a 11 week Bible Study by Beth Moore called "Living Beyond Yourself". It is awesome! I cannot recommend it enough to all the ladies out there. Perhaps later on I can post some of my favorite quotes, thoughts on this study.

Since all is still quiet I'm going to finish up the grocery list, drugstore list, clean up a bit and get ready to go! Today we get a treat: McDonald's!

Finally!

My parents came over today and thanks to April helping things along... they found out we are expecting baby #4! Hooray! So I should be able to get the word out quickly now!

~Alicia

The front of Mike's card reads: "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. 

Inside of Mike's card... a "quiver with 4 arrows", each arrow has a name of one of our children, the last arrow says "? February - 2005". The verse: "Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate." -Psalms 127 

First day of Summer Quarter.

Here at our "Meir Academy" homeschool, we school year-round. January to mid-November. We have the week of Thanksgiving until New Year's Day off. So today was the beginning of the summer quarter. We are half way done with 1st grade and Preschool.

Today we started a new curriculum though, called Five In A Row. The book we read today was "The Story about Ping" by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese. It takes place on the Yangtze River in China, so we made Chinese flags, found China on the map, listened to Classical Chinese Folk Music and then added some other school basics in.

I didn't get everything done on my to-do list, but tomorrow is another day! This is a new plan/schedule for us and I'm assuming it will take a little while to adjust.

My sister was the first to ask, "What is the countdown on your whiteboard for?" and so I got to tell the first person (besides Mike and my friend Cheri) that "the countdown was the number of days left until my due date!". She was excited for us and showed up today to surprise me with flowers and a card! So sweet!

As soon as the rest of the family finds out about our newest "arrow" I can make this "blogspot" known! Until then I'm just writing to myself & Cheri! LOL!

Off to finish cleaning up from today...

In Him,
Alicia

My flowers I got today from my sister! A congratulatory gift for our February blessing! 

The flag, colored paper, glued to a stick that is kinda like a popsicle stick, but not. 

The white board... 246 days until "DUE DATE" and the flags the kids made for "Ping" week. 

"Jo-Jo" 

Katie-Kat 

"Rooddy" 

Goofing around...

Managed to get up at 10:45am, late... I know. Had a rough night, Josh woke up at 3,3:30,4,4:30,6, and 8am crying. I think it is his teeth.

But I'm ready for the day, and school begins at 1:30pm. All should be good.

Baby days are here again...

So I've decided to start a BLOG. Hmmm... Now what to do??? :o)

On May 29th I discoverd that baby number 4 is due February 5, 2005! We are excited and can't wait to see what God has decided to give us this time.


We begin FIAR homeschool tomorrow. The book of Ping.