children pray

slideshow from Nebraska 2009

pray for Meredith

This sweet picture was taken on Easter. A short two weeks later, Meredith lay in a medically induced coma due to seizures.

That’s where she still is.  Two weeks in the hospital. You can check this website for her story and continued updates on her condition.

I’m praying for Meredith and I invite you to do the same.

Please pray for Meredith’s entire family for strength and grace to get through this trial. And pray for God to work a miracle in Meredith’s body.

Please pray for the doctor’s to be able to accurately diagnosis Meredith’s condition and know how to treat her illness.

ten today

WOW, double digits.
you are 10 today.

You’re my voracious reader,
a kind older brother,
a budding entrepreneur,
and most importantly,
a young man who loves the Lord.

I am so proud of the boy you have become,
so proud of the young man you are becoming.

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Remember and live by these words always.
I love you, Alex.

top 5 products that have helped our severe eczema

My two year old son has had severe eczema since birth.  As I  continually find more and more things that cause his rashes and hives, I have also found things that help his skin the most.

1. Natural Shea butter from Vermont Soap Works. This comes in a 64 oz tub for only $35 which is much cheaper than buying 4 oz at a time at your local store for $20.  This shea butter is so creamy and there are never any crystallized lumps (like the brands I’ve gotten at the store.)  If you’ve never used shea butter, it’s very thick and you just scoop a little bit onto your finger then rub into your hands to melt it and then smooth it on your skin. It soaks into the skin and provides relief to anyone with dry, thirsty skin. This is pure shea butter with only a little rosemary added as a preservative.  Also available in a 2 oz tin for $9.99. Those with nut allergies may not be able to use this product.
2. Pure soap from Cal Ben Soap Company. I’ve tried several different soaps including castille soap (all without sodium laureth sulfate, etc) and this is the one that seems to work the best–leaves the skin feeling clean and moisturized as opposed to feeling parched and itchy.  Cal Ben has several other  non-detergent products that we use and love including their five star shampoo.
3. Queen Helene 100% Cocoa butter in a stick.  This is available in most drug stores for less than $2 a stick.  Don’t confuse this product with brands that contain additional ingredients. I’ve never seen another 100% cocoa butter, but please tell me if you know of another one. This is a solid stick that is loose in the tube.  To use, just hold it in your hands until it starts to soften, then start rubbing the stick directly into the skin. I can’t tell you how many evenings, my son’s skin has been dry and hurting and as I rub this into his skin, he just relaxes and lets me do it because it really gives him relief.
4. Mabel’s Miracle liquid castille soap.  I’ve only been using this for 3 weeks but I’ve loved it since day one.  I’m using it for laundry soap as well as in the mop water for my wood floors throughout the house.  I have the unscented pearl (I chose this one simply because it is buy one, get one free.)  Even though it is unscented, it smells heavenly! I am sensitive to many chemical odors (natural scents too,) but its mild scent doesn’t cause us any type of reaction.   For laundry, I am using only 1 Tablespoon (much less than the recommendation) per large load plus 2 Tablespoons of a borax/ washing soda mixture that I keep in a jar. (equal parts of each so it would be 1 T of each if done separately.)  I started with the recommended 1/4 cup and then just cut back until I reached 1 T and it’s still effective at cleaning clothes.
5. This last thing is not a product to use, but rather products to avoid.  I first read about detergents causing eczema at solve eczema.  We don’t use any lotions, “normal” soaps that contain SLS, or body washes  because of the drying, stinging ingredients they contain (even natural, herbal, supposed to be for eczema lotions.)  We don’t use any products with detergents in them. More about that in this post.

What products have you found most helpful in treating eczema?

making our square foot garden: a slideshow

After reading Square Foot Gardening, by Mel Bartholomew, Todd decided to try it.   You can go to the the author’s website for more information.

Abby’s name

A beautiful tribute to my sweet baby girl.  Her name was lovingly written in the sand by another mother who has lost a child. You can check it out at names in the sand.

great deal on moody science dvds

Individual titles are $9 or get all 20 DVDs for $120.  Wow, that’s an awesome price for some classic, educational, entertaining films for the whole family. Perfect for homeschooling!