Profile

Name: Filip Age: 17 mo. Height: 2' 5" Weight 21lb
Vocab: 3 words
Skills: scribbles, walks backwards, sings, helps, kisses, waves bye, animal noises, spits, climbs ladders, slides, splashes.
Drink: cup, straw, sippy
Behavior: cautious, interested, silly.

Sparkberry Manor

We went to the Alan's home today. My friend Jeannie got married last year to a nice guy who seems to be made for her.
In some ways, Jeff seems just like Jeannie, except with more testosterone.
Like, she's prepared with everything when she's camping (clothes racks, tablecloths, air-mattresses). Jeff would pack 10 times more stuff than that. She says the whole basement offers a variety of any camping equipment you can imagine.
Jeannie likes pets, and has 2 dogs and several cats. Jeff brought in about 15 more pets into the marriage.
Jeannie has an above-average appreciation for the arts and literature. Jeff has a vast array of musical instruments that he can play, shelves of jazz cd's and records. Their house is packed with things like these.
It's like Jeff makes Jeannie's interests larger-than-life. I don't know Jeff that well, but it seems they have enriched each other tremendously. If Jeannie just liked kittens, Jeff would of owned a tiger.
So we visited, and Filip got to see them give 3 of their pet rats a bath in the sink. He touched the corn snake, and watched the big snake. He saw their dogs, turtles, lizard, and mice as well. He mostly sat on Johnnie's (Jeannie's mom) lap the whole time watching animals.

Doctor Visit

I took Filip to the doctor today. It's been a whole year since he went. His doctor looked at his eyelid with the lump on it. Then he injected the eyelid with something that will break it up and make it go away.

I declined all vaccinations. Susan, the practitioner who was doing the well baby exam, said it is going to be a whole lot of vaccines that he will have to make up when he's older. I figured, if he has to get 21 shots before he's age 1, he can get those shots when he's 3 or 4. That way, I can compensate for who-knows-what chemicals they're injecting in him through detoxing and diet.

I know it's a fad for parents to decline vaccinations because they're afraid of autism. That's not my biggest concern. I don't like how aggressive Doctors are required to be about vaccinating children. Also, the benefits of receiving shots are very exaggerated, and the 'dangers' of not getting them are exaggerated. It makes me question the motivation behind these. If vaccinations only exist for the well-being of society, they wouldn't have to use bully tactics, and fragmented, biased information to get parents to inoculate their children.

My practitioner is very reasonable about this. It's obvious she dosen't agree, but she dosen't act like I'm a bad mother because I turned shots down.

Hanging out day

Today we went to Silver Spring to hang out with some friends who are in town. Filip and I stayed at the house with Leah, while JR and Pete went to meet a business associate.
I got alot done because I brought my books and computer. I studied for the meeting, got some material together for my upcoming talk, finished my weekly bible reading and worked on another study project. So it was pretty useful to be at their house.
There were a ton of toys to play with for Filip. So, he had fun. Here's the video of him playing.

Lily Bird

Live Action Lily.

New Blog

Don't forget to check out my other blog under my profile at http://joellynskitchenonline.blogspot.com/

It will be updately regularly with my favorite recipes.

Paintings in Hallway

I just finished these paintings I made for the hallway. I found the frames at Goodwill for $2 each that I painted black. Then I took brown wrapping paper and painted the rainbow colors that fade into each other. Afterward, I took a magic marker and drew in all the curly-q's and fancy lines.

Video Post

Filip Drinking

Check out this video of Filip drinking out of a glass. It was funnier before I started recording. He kept drinking alot and spilling it all over himself. By the time I had the camera going, he stopped spilling, to impress us with his skills.

Italian Wedding Soup

I made this over the weekend. It's easy to make, freezes well, and can pass for a meal.

Two 32oz cans chicken broth
1 bunch of fresh spinach
20 italian frozen meatballs
Bag of ravioli (Trader Joe's has the mini-raviolis which are perfect)
Romano Cheese shredded

Put broth, spinach and meatballs in crock-pot together and cook on low 2-3 hours
Add bag of ravioli at the last hour
Add shredded cheese to each bowl, or dump it all in the soup.

I spice it with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.

ARC

JR's running his Dad's print shop these two days while his Dad is out of town. I decided to go with him today. So Filip and I have alot of time on our hands hanging around the office. I don't even have to work, because Ellen is here to clean and answer phones.

The name of the company is ARC, for ''Andrews Reproduction Center". When JR and I were dating, he wanted me to know that he wanted children. So, he said he was going to have his own home business called "Andrews Reproduction Center". He said he wanted me to be his sole employee.
Isn't that the most romantic thing you have ever heard?

Love Notes Correction

I forgot the whole reason why I was writing about love notes. JR did write me a note yesterday. It was sitting on the boxes of chicken broth I took out to make dinner.
It said "This chicken broth contains MSG!"
My Mom took me grocery shopping yesterday, and bought me new chicken broth. So I gave her the MSG cans. She said she'll feed it to us some other time.

Love Notes

I like to give JR a little love note every now and then. Usually it says something like "You're purrrrfect" with a little cat, or a sheep saying "I love Ewe". Sometimes it's just a picture of myself I found. I gave these to him alot when we were first married, now I do it less.

It's always been really rare for JR to give me a note like this, possibly never. That dosen't bother me at all, because men express their love differently than women. His manly equivilant to love notes are things like starting the bath for me, bringing me a sample of something from the grocery store, or mixing my health drink for me before I go to bed.

I've been feeling a little under-appreciated lately. I don't mind posting this in my blog, because I know by the time JR gets to reading this, that feeling will be gone. The reason I can say this, is because I am the one who chooses how I feel. It's not in the control of the rest of the world.

If I want to feel appreciated, I need to make sure he knows that I'm grateful for him. That's it. Also, I need to pay attention to the thankfulness he shows in his 'man' behavior. It's not going to come in a love note, because I did not marry myself.

So perhaps my negative feeling came from what I admitted at the outset. I haven't drawn anything for him in a while. This is something that is quickly remedied.

Land of the Free

I just started reading the book found at this site:
http://www.losthorizons.com/Cracking_the_Code.htm

Between reading this book, and talking to some contacts that are secure parties themselves, this is what I have learned.

'America' is a nation, "United States" is a corporation. A citizen of a nation has rights. One who belongs to a corporation, has 'privileges' which can be revoked.

When you receive a social security card, you become incorporated. That is why your name is all in caps. Your name in upper and lower case represents your person. All in caps refers to the corporation.

The paying of income taxes is not required of most citizens of America, unless of course, they are part of the corporation.

When you register your car at the MVA, you hand over your rights to that vehicle to the government.

When you get a birth certificate and social security number for your baby, the government then owns your baby.

When you file taxes, most likely, you are paying money to the government a portion of your earnings that is not legally considered 'income'.

When you register your marriage, you become liable for your spouse's debt.

If you are not a secure party, the United States owns your house, money, car, children and marriage. They have the legal right to do with these as they please.

That's why I'm reading the book Cracking the Code. It explains this concept in much more detail. It shows the importance of educating yourself to become a secure party.

The first step: Get out of debt!

Piano Lessons

Lessons are attended by Mozart

My Piano

I'm offering piano lessons out of my home again. I sent an email to most of my contacts who are local, and got a pretty decent response. I got 3 people who actually got on my schedule, and 5 people who are interested.

Here's my policy:

Tuition is $20 per weekly half-hour lesson.

Tuition for the whole month is due on the first lesson of the month, whether the student makes it to the lesson or not.

I may be able to make up a missed lesson, if the student gives me advance notice of the absence.

Parents are encouraged to sit in on lessons!

Levites

I've been watching the "Respect Jehovah's Authority" video a bunch of times. I put it on for Filip to watch, whenever he's playing in his room. This video is a live-action drama based on the events recorded in Numbers chapter 16.
If you haven't seen it already, it is a pretty exciting story. I learn or remember something new everytime I watch it. The account is how the Levite Korah, and certain Reubanites we're conspiring together to replace Moses as leader of the people. It goes on to tell how the disloyal opposers of Jehovah's arrangement were executed.
I learned that Levites camped directly around the tabernacle closer than the rest of the tribes. The rest of the tribes camped around the Levites. The tribe of Levi was divided into 4 camps (3 families). The Kohathite camp, which Korah belonged to, camped next to the Reubenite camp. So that would make it easier for Korah to conspire with Reubenites, which makes sense.
I also learned that the name 'Leviticus' comes from the word Levi. That is because this bible book is basically about the priestly duties of the Levites. So Leviticus.

Home-made Marshmallows

Ingredients:

Vegetable oil, for brushing

4 packages of unflavored gelatin

1/4 cups granulated sugar

1 1/4 cups light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

1. Brush a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish with vegetable oil. Cut a piece of parchment of wax paper large enough to cover the bottom of the dish and to overhang the longer sides. Place the parchment in dish, brush with oil, and set aside.

2. Pour 3/4 cup cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer, and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Let stand for 5 minutes

3. Place 3 cups granulated sugar, the corn syrup, salt, and 3/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat, and bring to a boil. Once you turn on the heat, do not stir sugar mixture, it changes the chemistry of it. Insert a candy thermometer, and cook until the mixture reaches soft-ball stage (238 degrees), about 9 minutes

4. Using the whisk attachment, beat the hot syrup into the gelatin on low speed. Gradually increasin speed to high, beat until mixture is very stiff, about 12 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the surface with an offset spatula. Set dish aside, uncovered, until marshmallow becomes firm, at least 3 hours or overnight.

5. Place 1 cup confectioners' sugars in a fine strainer, and sift onto a clean work surface. Invert large marshmallow onto the sugar-coated surface, and peel off the parchment paper. Lightly brush a sharp knife with vegetable oil, and cut the marshmallow into 2-inch squares. Sife the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar into a small bowl, and roll the marshmallows in the sugar to coat.

6. Place marshmallow in s'mores, hot chocolate, or mouth. ENJOY!!

Fire Pit

I found some old bricks next to our garage. So, I cleaned them off and made this nifty fire pit. I want to use it to toast the marshmellows I'm making from a recipe my friend Emily gave me.

Regression

JR took Filip down to the basement to play, where he discovered his old infant carrier.
He climbed in it, and this is what happened....

Fly Lady Update

As a result of keeping up with the Fly Lady routines, I have been able to accomplish these things as a result of having way more time. This has all been done since July 1:

Paint hallway
Touch up paint in Living Room
Decorate my room
Organize my jewelry
Organize my study books and mags
Clean out closet in Filip's room
Build a fire pit
Clean out most of basement
Scrub down my side entrance
Cleared out book clutter
Cleared out clothing clutter and took to good will
Moved play pen out of Filip's room, and set up a bed

Not to mention that the dishes are always done, the bathroom and bedroom is always clean, and I am actually cooking dinner. I have never been this good at keeping house, until I got on this website.

Here's where you can learn her routines: www.flylady.net

Puffs

My friend Janine taught me how to make these decorative puffs out of tissue paper. I looked in my craft box and happened to find paper that goes really well with my bedroom colors. It's the perfect edition to my room!

They're easy to make, it took me about 5 minutes to make one. I think it looks very Ikea.

Snake!

We saw this snake right in front of our door when we came home. Then he slithered into the plants next to our house where he lives.

I had to wake up Filip in his car seat to show him. I told him that snakes say "SSSsssss". Now he's looking at this picture going "Sssss sssss ssss".

Filip's Conscience

Today, Filip dumped an entire box of crackers on the kitchen floor on purpose. I refused to react. I figured I was going to sweep anyway, and he was having so much fun scattering them.
Then he went into our mud room and brought a broom to clean it up. Isn't that cute?
He also will kiss me after he does something he knows is naughty.
So, at least he knows right and wrong, and compensates accordingly.

Fil & Mama asleep

Jr took these when we were asleep. Someone wanted to sleep on his Mama. Awww

District Convention

I just got back from Reading PA for the 'Guided by God's Spirit' District Convention. It was awesome. All the talks showed how Holy Spirit affects every aspect of our worship.
Friday covered the role of holy spirit in creation, how faithful ones of old were guided by it, and it's role in working out Jehovah's purpose now and in the future.
Saturday showed us practical help in being directed by Holy Spirit in our ministry, and the results of which. It also shows how it directs us in our personal lives.
Sunday covered all the fruits of the spirit as found in Galations 5:22,23. The drama in the afternoon was excellant. It had some strong lessons about not becoming complacent in our worship, and keeping our love strong.

I want to go again for an afternoon or two over the summer. I got notes on almost everything, but I spent about 70% of the program in the nursing mother room listening in on radio. There were a few talks I missed in there. JR missed just about everything. He was responsible for making sure people didn't pull the fire alarms throughout the facility. He's going to see if he can get an audio of the convention to listen to.

If anyone wants to share their notes with me, let me know! I would love to look at them on the talks I missed.

Thank You Book

I started a little notebook that I keep on the kitchen table. It's for us to write down the things we're thankful for.
I read somewhere that people who 'count their blessings' live longer and healthier than people who do not. It's no wonder, I feel so good when I write out the things I'm grateful for. Also, it makes me feel good to see what JR writes in it about me.
More importantly, it helps me spiritually. I keep recalling more things now when I pray. So I can thank Jehovah for more than "this day, and for this food". It really assists me when I meditate on what He has done for us.

Fly Lady

^ My Beautiful Sink ^

I checked out Jenn's link to http://www.flylady.net/ when she commented on my blog. Thanks Jenn!

The Fly Lady shows you how to keep your home clean and neat all the time, without becoming a perfectionist. If you join the group, you get reminder emails that give you 'missions' to do every week. If you keep up with them, you will have gone through your entire home, so you never have to spring clean again. It really focuses on having a good routine of taking care of managing a household.

The first thing a 'flybaby' is supposed to do, is shine the kitchen sink. Then, I have to keep it shiny, by making sure I dry it out every time I use it.
Part of the morning routine is to wipe down the bathroom fixtures and clean the toilet bowl, right after I shower. Then I get dressed and put on makeup and shoes, whether I'm going out or not. I noticed a big difference in how much more I feel like working when I wear makeup and shoes.

I didn't realize how fun keeping a home in order can be! I'm actually looking forward to cleaning!