If you are reading this, you probably already know that kids get cancer. If you know me, you know that kids get cancer. When Silas was first diagnosed we were told that on average 1 in 330 children would get cancer before the age of 20. That has changed however. This year there is a new statistic and it is not encouraging, now on average 1 in 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20! Cancer among children is on the rise, but funding has not improved. Less than 4% of government funding for cancer research goes to childhood cancer research.
You can help fill the gap by making donations to reputable childhood cancer organizations that fund research. The following organizations do a tremendous work for kids fighting cancer and will handle your money wisely and use it to find a cure.
www.stbaldricks.org
www.curechildhoodcancer.org
www.alexslemonade.org
Check out these organizations for yourself! Make a donation, share information with your friends and family, participate in fundraisers.
Remember, every dollar counts! Even if you can only afford $1.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Monday, September 1, 2014
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month
Yep, kids get cancer too. Its hard to fathom that anyone would not know that, but I have met so many people now that don't know it I am not surprised any more.
Things are changing though, people are learning. This year more people than ever are "going gold" for kids with cancer! Many buildings, bridges, and monuments are shining gold lights this year in honor of kids with cancer. Even in our little community I have had people contact me asking about fundraisers this year for childhood cancer.
Today our family will start our "million mile run/walk/ride" for Childhood cancer. We will be walking. Our goal this year is 25 miles each for the month. We have a website set up for that fundraiser, if you would like to sponsor us please check it out! You are also welcome to join our team and run/walk/ride with us! http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1118031
Join us. Spread the word. We will make a difference if we all do something, even if its only a little something.
Fact for the day: World wide, approximately 91,250 children die from cancer each year. That's 250 every day.
Things are changing though, people are learning. This year more people than ever are "going gold" for kids with cancer! Many buildings, bridges, and monuments are shining gold lights this year in honor of kids with cancer. Even in our little community I have had people contact me asking about fundraisers this year for childhood cancer.
Today our family will start our "million mile run/walk/ride" for Childhood cancer. We will be walking. Our goal this year is 25 miles each for the month. We have a website set up for that fundraiser, if you would like to sponsor us please check it out! You are also welcome to join our team and run/walk/ride with us! http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1118031
Join us. Spread the word. We will make a difference if we all do something, even if its only a little something.
Fact for the day: World wide, approximately 91,250 children die from cancer each year. That's 250 every day.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Too many roosters...a chicken update
It is becoming apparent that we have too many roosters. There was a chance this would happen since we chose "straight run" chicks. Out of 14 chickens it looks like 7 may be roosters. From what I have heard 1 rooster per 6 or 7 hens is all you need. I know which rooster I want to keep, he is the only one of his kind that we have. He is a Partridge Plymouth Rock and his name is Survivor (as he was the only one of his siblings to survive the dog attack that killed the rest of them).
I might keep one of the other roosters too. Just because they are so pretty! However, all of the extras need to be eaten. I plan to wait another couple of weeks to make certain which are roosters but we will have to have a butchering day where we kill and clean the extra roosters. I want the boys to know how to do this. I have never done it before but I have been doing research the last week, mostly watching youtube videos on how to kill and clean a chicken. It does not look like fun but I think I can do it. Especially if we make it a family event and all help out. I already know Archie doesn't want to participate in the killing part and I am pretty sure Jason won't want to either, but they will probably both be OK with the cleaning and eating part.
They are all turning out so pretty. I am really pleased. I should have some eggs any day now. I am starting to wonder if they have laid some eggs but we haven't found them yet. Since the chickens free range all day and only go in the coop at night, they really could be laying anywhere. I am hoping to get them to lay in the coop though. We need to get the laying boxes put in there. I have heard that if the chickens are kept in the coop for a few hours in the morning they are more likely to lay in there all the time. We'll see. If they aren't laying yet, they should be soon! I have heard of chickens laying as early as 18 weeks and as late as 26 weeks. Our chickens range from 18-22 weeks right now.
Monday, July 28, 2014
A prayer for my Daughters-in-law
I have all boys. I imagine the chances are pretty good that at least one, if not all 3 of the sons I am raising will get married one day. I have often prayed for my future daughter/s in law though not as often as I should. My prayers for them are sometimes short and sweet, and sometimes more detailed and longer. I think it would be great if I remembered to pray for them more often, maybe I should make a note to myself on my calendar!
Whoever my sons choose as wives, I am determined to be the best mother-in-law I can be. I want to do everything I can to get along with my daughters-in-law, to encourage them, to be there for them, and to bless them. I know that the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is notoriously challenging, but I also know, that if I rely on the Lord for His help, I could have a very special relationship with my future daughters-in-law.
Father in Heaven, thank you for my boys. Thank you for the opportunity to raise them. I ask for your help to raise them to be godly men, husbands, and fathers. I pray that you would help guide Archie and I in raising each of them to reach their fullest potential. That they would love You more than anything else. That they would be wonderful husbands and that they would each find the wife that You have chosen for them. That they would be wonderful fathers and raise up wonderful children.
Father, I pray for my future daughters-in-law. I pray that You would bless them today. I ask that if they do not know you as their Lord and Savior, that you would place people in their lives that would lead them to You. That You would make Yourself known to them in a very real way today. I ask for Your protection over them. That in this evil world we live in, that You would keep them safe from harm, from the influences of this corrupt world, from Satan's schemes. I ask that You would work in their lives, even now as children, to make them good and godly women, wives, and mothers. That each of them would be exactly the kind of wife that each of my sons need. Father, I ask that you would equip them to be wise, strong, patient, determined, godly, self-controlled, peaceable, good communicators, quick to forgive, affectionate, and loving. Equip each of them to serve You in whatever way You have planned for them.
Father, bless my future daughters-in-law today. I pray that You would wrap Your arms around them and pour out abundant blessings upon them!
Oh Heavenly Father, help Archie and I to raise our sons well. I ask that You would give us wisdom in doing so. Thank you again for the blessings You have given us!
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
Whoever my sons choose as wives, I am determined to be the best mother-in-law I can be. I want to do everything I can to get along with my daughters-in-law, to encourage them, to be there for them, and to bless them. I know that the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is notoriously challenging, but I also know, that if I rely on the Lord for His help, I could have a very special relationship with my future daughters-in-law.
Father in Heaven, thank you for my boys. Thank you for the opportunity to raise them. I ask for your help to raise them to be godly men, husbands, and fathers. I pray that you would help guide Archie and I in raising each of them to reach their fullest potential. That they would love You more than anything else. That they would be wonderful husbands and that they would each find the wife that You have chosen for them. That they would be wonderful fathers and raise up wonderful children.
Father, I pray for my future daughters-in-law. I pray that You would bless them today. I ask that if they do not know you as their Lord and Savior, that you would place people in their lives that would lead them to You. That You would make Yourself known to them in a very real way today. I ask for Your protection over them. That in this evil world we live in, that You would keep them safe from harm, from the influences of this corrupt world, from Satan's schemes. I ask that You would work in their lives, even now as children, to make them good and godly women, wives, and mothers. That each of them would be exactly the kind of wife that each of my sons need. Father, I ask that you would equip them to be wise, strong, patient, determined, godly, self-controlled, peaceable, good communicators, quick to forgive, affectionate, and loving. Equip each of them to serve You in whatever way You have planned for them.
Father, bless my future daughters-in-law today. I pray that You would wrap Your arms around them and pour out abundant blessings upon them!
Oh Heavenly Father, help Archie and I to raise our sons well. I ask that You would give us wisdom in doing so. Thank you again for the blessings You have given us!
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Work!
That's what I did on my trip to California!
Jason and I flew out to California a couple of weeks ago to help my parents sort through stuff in their house to help them prepare to move to Northern California from Southern California. They have lived in that house for the past 17 years! When they moved in all 5 of us kids were still living at home, but now, none of us are.
3 of my siblings and their families also came to help with the sorting and packing. I think I was expecting to get more done, but it was pretty tiring work and with all of the kids to keep us busy in addition to the other work, not quite as much got done as I was hoping for. We made a dent though. I think we at least got the ball rolling and it will be a little easier for my parents to keep going and get rid of more stuff and get things packed. It will take a while but they don't plan to move until the fall so there is time.
I am so happy I took dust masks for us to wear while we worked. It wasn't so bad in some parts of the house but when it came to dealing with books, old school supplies, and stuffed animals it was quite dusty!
Jason really enjoyed playing with his cousins. Especially Victoria who is just 5 months older than Silas, so she is 6 1/2 now.
We did get to go to the beach a couple of times and spent a day at Disneyland with my brother and his wife, and their 1 year old son. Jason really enjoyed that a lot!
I wish I lived closer so I could keep helping.
After all that work, throwing away many things, giving away many things, selling things at the yard sale, all of that has made me want to go through my own things here at home and get rid of things. I have realized there are so many things I own that I really have no use for! So why keep them? I've already gotten rid of a few things in the last few days since I got home, and hopefully I can keep up the momentum and get rid of some more useless items over the next few weeks and months.
It is true that none of the things we own really matter. We keep things that are useful, things that are sentimental, sometimes we keep things just because we don't take the time to get rid of them, but really, we can't take anything with us when we die, and nothing we own has eternal value. So if its not useful, or particularly special to me, I'd really rather it have a new home. The tricky thing of course is the part where we place sentimental value on things. I need to work on doing less of that.
Jason and I flew out to California a couple of weeks ago to help my parents sort through stuff in their house to help them prepare to move to Northern California from Southern California. They have lived in that house for the past 17 years! When they moved in all 5 of us kids were still living at home, but now, none of us are.
3 of my siblings and their families also came to help with the sorting and packing. I think I was expecting to get more done, but it was pretty tiring work and with all of the kids to keep us busy in addition to the other work, not quite as much got done as I was hoping for. We made a dent though. I think we at least got the ball rolling and it will be a little easier for my parents to keep going and get rid of more stuff and get things packed. It will take a while but they don't plan to move until the fall so there is time.
I am so happy I took dust masks for us to wear while we worked. It wasn't so bad in some parts of the house but when it came to dealing with books, old school supplies, and stuffed animals it was quite dusty!
Jason really enjoyed playing with his cousins. Especially Victoria who is just 5 months older than Silas, so she is 6 1/2 now.
We did get to go to the beach a couple of times and spent a day at Disneyland with my brother and his wife, and their 1 year old son. Jason really enjoyed that a lot!
I wish I lived closer so I could keep helping.
After all that work, throwing away many things, giving away many things, selling things at the yard sale, all of that has made me want to go through my own things here at home and get rid of things. I have realized there are so many things I own that I really have no use for! So why keep them? I've already gotten rid of a few things in the last few days since I got home, and hopefully I can keep up the momentum and get rid of some more useless items over the next few weeks and months.
It is true that none of the things we own really matter. We keep things that are useful, things that are sentimental, sometimes we keep things just because we don't take the time to get rid of them, but really, we can't take anything with us when we die, and nothing we own has eternal value. So if its not useful, or particularly special to me, I'd really rather it have a new home. The tricky thing of course is the part where we place sentimental value on things. I need to work on doing less of that.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Cravings
I have been doing pretty well the last 3 months with my eating, not perfect, but pretty well. When I over indulge now its too many pieces of low carb, gluten free, refined sugar free, angel food cake or too many pieces of fruit instead of what I used to indulge in. Cake, cookies, pizza...
Still. I have been aiming to not "indulge" in anything. I want to eat for fuel. Not that I can't enjoy what I eat, but I don't want to eat for the sake of eating. I want to eat to fuel my body.
The past 3 weeks or so have been difficult emotionally. The date marking 1 year since Silas passed away was not so bad, but the week building up to that date was very emotional. Remembering the pain and torment of the previous year. The agony of knowing Silas was dying but not knowing when or how it would happen. The desire for him to go to Heaven and get his new body that would have no cancer in it, but the painful realization that that would mean a separation from him. We stayed home that day and just hung out around the house. We visited the cemetery that evening.
2 days ago was his birthday. It was so much harder for me than the anniversary of his passing. He was supposed to be turning 6 this year. Although it was the second birthday since he went to Heaven, it seemed like the first. Last year his birthday came just 10 days after he went to Heaven and we were still in shock. I cried a lot on his birthday this year. I miss him so much. What would he be like as a 6 year old? He was supposed to be finishing Kindergarten. Learning to read and write. Would he be taller? What size clothes would he wear now? What color would his hair be now? Would it be brown like it used to be when he was little? or would it have stayed blonde like it was coming in after the chemo?
During these weeks of heightened emotion I have been having cravings again. For the last few months I really haven't been craving "junk" food. I was actually surprised that I had come to turn my nose up when given the opportunity to indulge in something I knew was bad for me. But these past few weeks, I found myself craving those old favorite comfort foods. I was taken by surprise, but maybe I shouldn't have been.
I have not indulged in those old favorites, though I have found myself reaching for the tastier of the healthy foods I have come to enjoy, and I am afraid too much of them.
Now that I am realizing this, I also need to realize that I am not really craving food. I am craving comfort. I am craving peace. I am craving stability. I am craving Jesus. He is the only one who can truly offer me what I crave. He is the only one who can offer me true comfort during this painful time. After all, I was designed to need Him and He is everything I need.
You may have heard the phrase "we all have a God shaped hole in our heart". This is true. We are not complete without the Lord God in our lives. When He is in our lives, we experience true joy, true peace, true comfort, and true wholeness.
Still. I have been aiming to not "indulge" in anything. I want to eat for fuel. Not that I can't enjoy what I eat, but I don't want to eat for the sake of eating. I want to eat to fuel my body.
The past 3 weeks or so have been difficult emotionally. The date marking 1 year since Silas passed away was not so bad, but the week building up to that date was very emotional. Remembering the pain and torment of the previous year. The agony of knowing Silas was dying but not knowing when or how it would happen. The desire for him to go to Heaven and get his new body that would have no cancer in it, but the painful realization that that would mean a separation from him. We stayed home that day and just hung out around the house. We visited the cemetery that evening.
2 days ago was his birthday. It was so much harder for me than the anniversary of his passing. He was supposed to be turning 6 this year. Although it was the second birthday since he went to Heaven, it seemed like the first. Last year his birthday came just 10 days after he went to Heaven and we were still in shock. I cried a lot on his birthday this year. I miss him so much. What would he be like as a 6 year old? He was supposed to be finishing Kindergarten. Learning to read and write. Would he be taller? What size clothes would he wear now? What color would his hair be now? Would it be brown like it used to be when he was little? or would it have stayed blonde like it was coming in after the chemo?
During these weeks of heightened emotion I have been having cravings again. For the last few months I really haven't been craving "junk" food. I was actually surprised that I had come to turn my nose up when given the opportunity to indulge in something I knew was bad for me. But these past few weeks, I found myself craving those old favorite comfort foods. I was taken by surprise, but maybe I shouldn't have been.
I have not indulged in those old favorites, though I have found myself reaching for the tastier of the healthy foods I have come to enjoy, and I am afraid too much of them.
Now that I am realizing this, I also need to realize that I am not really craving food. I am craving comfort. I am craving peace. I am craving stability. I am craving Jesus. He is the only one who can truly offer me what I crave. He is the only one who can offer me true comfort during this painful time. After all, I was designed to need Him and He is everything I need.
You may have heard the phrase "we all have a God shaped hole in our heart". This is true. We are not complete without the Lord God in our lives. When He is in our lives, we experience true joy, true peace, true comfort, and true wholeness.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Happy Birthday Silas!
Silas was due to be born around, well, sometime between May 17 and May 24, they never quite decided on a due date. By the time I got to June the Doctor decided it was really time for him to be born whether he wanted to come out or not. I was really ready for him to be born too! I had tried everything (within reason) to bring on labor myself, but nothing was working.
My mom and Archie came to the hospital with me for the induction while my dad stayed home with Michael, Gideon, and Jason. Then ages 7, 5, and 2. I had been contracting for weeks, but none of them were strong enough to be real labor. Which was rather funny because I actually went into preterm labor with Silas at 31 weeks! They were able to stop my labor with drugs at the hospital. That was pretty scary.
When we arrived Tuesday morning for the induction I was already a little dilated so they started me on pitocin to induce labor. I was so uncomfortable! I tossed and turned, getting up to walk or sit on the birth ball whenever they would let me. I was pretty miserable though. Hour after hour passed and my progress was very slow. I labored all through the night and early in the morning the pain started getting worse. They gave me a dose of a pain med in my IV but it didn't help much. Just when I thought I couldn't make it another minute, and told them I needed a epidural (something I have never had but always end up asking for moments before its time to push!). The nurse checked me and sure enough, it was just about time to start pushing.
I was totally exhausted. I almost felt too tired to push. It only took about 5 minutes to push him out though. I had to stop once his head was out because the cord was wrapped too tightly around his neck for the rest of him to come out, the Doctor cut it off of his neck and then the rest of him slid out. I collapsed back onto the bed completely worn out!
Besides being a 23 1/2 hour labor, it had been a long pregnancy, full of morning sickness too! Although it was not really morning sickness, it was more like 24/7 sickness. I hardly got out of bed the first 5 months of my pregnancy as it usually made me throw up to do anything.
Anyway, as I lay there after giving birth I had to talk myself into lifting my head off the pillow to look at the beautiful child I had just pushed out. I lifted my head and smiled at him and then collapsed back onto my pillow. They dried him off and weighed him and then brought him to me. 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 inches long. My shortest , but second lightest baby.
Silas Nathanael Edenfield. Born June 4, 2008 at 9:27 AM.
Archie and my mom were almost as tired as I was. Later that day the older boys came to visit us in the hospital. They all got to hold him, and he seemed as interested in them as they were in him! We had 4 boys!
So there you have it, Silas' birth story :)
I only spent 4 birthdays with him, and I cherish every one of them. I don't know if birthdays are celebrated in Heaven or not, but I am sure if they are, he's had a couple of great ones up there these last two!
My mom and Archie came to the hospital with me for the induction while my dad stayed home with Michael, Gideon, and Jason. Then ages 7, 5, and 2. I had been contracting for weeks, but none of them were strong enough to be real labor. Which was rather funny because I actually went into preterm labor with Silas at 31 weeks! They were able to stop my labor with drugs at the hospital. That was pretty scary.
When we arrived Tuesday morning for the induction I was already a little dilated so they started me on pitocin to induce labor. I was so uncomfortable! I tossed and turned, getting up to walk or sit on the birth ball whenever they would let me. I was pretty miserable though. Hour after hour passed and my progress was very slow. I labored all through the night and early in the morning the pain started getting worse. They gave me a dose of a pain med in my IV but it didn't help much. Just when I thought I couldn't make it another minute, and told them I needed a epidural (something I have never had but always end up asking for moments before its time to push!). The nurse checked me and sure enough, it was just about time to start pushing.
I was totally exhausted. I almost felt too tired to push. It only took about 5 minutes to push him out though. I had to stop once his head was out because the cord was wrapped too tightly around his neck for the rest of him to come out, the Doctor cut it off of his neck and then the rest of him slid out. I collapsed back onto the bed completely worn out!
Besides being a 23 1/2 hour labor, it had been a long pregnancy, full of morning sickness too! Although it was not really morning sickness, it was more like 24/7 sickness. I hardly got out of bed the first 5 months of my pregnancy as it usually made me throw up to do anything.
Anyway, as I lay there after giving birth I had to talk myself into lifting my head off the pillow to look at the beautiful child I had just pushed out. I lifted my head and smiled at him and then collapsed back onto my pillow. They dried him off and weighed him and then brought him to me. 9 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 inches long. My shortest , but second lightest baby.
Silas Nathanael Edenfield. Born June 4, 2008 at 9:27 AM.
Archie and my mom were almost as tired as I was. Later that day the older boys came to visit us in the hospital. They all got to hold him, and he seemed as interested in them as they were in him! We had 4 boys!
So there you have it, Silas' birth story :)
I only spent 4 birthdays with him, and I cherish every one of them. I don't know if birthdays are celebrated in Heaven or not, but I am sure if they are, he's had a couple of great ones up there these last two!
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