Psalm 36:5-10

Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the great mountains;

Your judgments are a great deep;

O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,

And you give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

For with you is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

Oh continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,

and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

AMEN!

The Most Exciting NEWS

This probably won’t be that exciting to YOU necessarily, but it is most definitely the most exciting news about going to the Teach Them Diligently homeschool conference to US.  You probably think I’m going to say that I’m pregnant or something…haha!  Sorry, while that would be exciting that’s NOT it!

While we in Omaha Mr. Taffy got to go to the Men’s Breakfasts, one of the breakfasts was lead by our most favorite Dr. Voddie Baucham.  Well, during that breakfast Voddie announced that he will be taking another trip to Israel and was inviting anybody who wanted to come! 

Hello?! 

Obviously it’s not free.  After the homeschool conference and graduation, Mr. Taffy and I got to go away to celebrate our anniversary.  We didn’t go far, but it was wonderful nonetheless and while we were gone we prayed through and asked, “Could we really go?”

Well the answer is a JOYFILLED Yes!! 

We are going Israel!

If you remember a while back I said one the things we wanted to do for our 20th wedding anniversary was go to Israel, we had pretty much given up on that dream but then this came up and while it’s not on our anniversary, it’s still during our 20th year of marriage!  Oh my!  I still can hardly believe it. 

We booked our spots on the tour!  We bought our plane tickets!  We still have more to pay, obviously we couldn’t pay for everything up front, but we’ll work it out. 

So in light of going to Israel in February, we have a renewed desire to loose weight.  And have I ever found the perfect solution!  (Another Cliff Hanger!)

The Battle is the Lord’s,

Mrs. Taffy

Signs of spring

Now these didn’t come from my own yard, because my yard still looks like this: that pavement is my driveway!

But that splash of sunshine on my dining room table is a sign of spring, it IS coming.

I mainly wanted to give you a little update on more intimate things in my life.  The parts I don’t like to talk about, but that need to be talked about.  I have some good news really.  God is showing Himself faithful to all our prayers, yours and mine.  I knew He would, I was just hoping I wouldn’t have to wait forever!  (sheepish grin) 

Mr. Taffy and I are getting to a better spot in our relationship.  Granted we aren’t where we want to be but we are getting there.  Our issues got put on hold as we were dealing with issues created by one of our children.  We’ve decided that this distraction isn’t going to get the best of us and we have repurposed to spend time on reigniting the love and passion between us. I’m so thankful for our daughter Strawberry who gives of her time freely so Mr. Taffy and I can spend time together, alone.  I’ve been reading a certain book by Gary Chapman, the one about Seasons of Marriage. I’ve just determined that our marriage has been in a season of winter for far too long and I am purposed to get us back into the spring.  I confess it everywhere.  Even when the snow is still coming down.  Even when the temperature falls below zero.  God has promised that we will have seasons (all of them), until His Son’s return so I KNOW that spring will come.  It has to come.  God spoke it.

Things aren’t where we want them with our hurting son but we are seeing some improvement.  As much as it hurts to talk about we have had to let go of some of our expectations and dreams for him.  Our hearts grieve continually but God is full of mercy and grace and I’m constantly praying that my son gets ahold of that mercy and grace and doesn’t let go.  Most of this battle is spiritual.  So in some aspects I am very confident in the outcome.  That doesn’t mean that I’m enjoying the war though.  Yuck.  We had to make some hard decisions recently and enforce some heart-breaking consequences.  But there has also been much mercy exhibited. I hope my son can grab ahold of the mercy part and dwell there.  We are still so proud of him, love him so deeply and truly want the best for him. 

I realize I’m being rather vague but it’s out of respect for both my husband and my son.  I always admire people who can be completely honest about their situations but wonder how they keep from hurting people in the process.  Someday, when all hearts are healed, then I will reveal all the details that make a testimony interesting and powerful.

I wanted to thank YOU though, dear Reader.  You have been so kind to me, leaving me encouraging comments, sending me emails telling me of your own trails and hurts.  Thank for you praying.  Thank you for caring.  Thank you for hanging with me during this time of “great stretching.”

³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:3-11

With love and gratitude,

Mrs. Taffy

Chocolate Taffy-Another Year

Sigh…they just keep getting older.  I LOVE to celebrate my children, love to see them approach adulthood and independence, but still birthday’s make me a little melancholy.  Chocolate Taffy turned 17 on the 7th.  Seriously?  I just don’t feel old enough to have ANOTHER 17 year old.  I’m so thankful to have younger children, I think they keep me feeling younger!

I was looking through Chocolate Taffy’s baby book recently, looking for a photo to use for Graduation.  I found something interesting.  A little note I wrote to myself.  I was 22 when I found out I was pregnant with Chocolate Taffy, I had a newborn, was still post partum and here I was pregnant again.  I was little, let’s say, unsure about that.  But God in His graciousness spoke very clearly to me and told me that this baby was going to be a blessing.  I wrote it down.  I forgot about it.  God is not a liar.  This son has been a tremendous blessing to his father and I.  Through some of the difficult things we’ve been through recently he has been dependable and consistent, he’s been helpful and obedient. 

I was so happy to find that little note.  So happy to be able to testify to the faithfulness of God.

Happy Birthday Chocolate Taffy!  Thanks for be what God said you would be.  Thanks for being you!  I am honored to be your mom!

The Battle is the Lord’s,

Mrs. Taffy

rest…NOT!

Every once in a while I get a doozy of a headache, probably a migraine, but maybe not.  I usually wake up with it, it hangs out with me until evening.  I have my ways of coping to be able to continue on with my responsibilities.  A few being…

• Extra caffeine
• Ibuprofen (at least takes the throb away)
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips (more caffeine)
• An afternoon nap

So I tried…I tried to rest.  Close my eyes for just 15 minutes, to regroup before dinner.  HA!

[If Mom sits down, it’s time to sit on Mom!]

[“Mom, Mommy, Mom!??”]

[Add your own caption…]

Honestly it was kind of therapeutic, though slightly annoying.  It’s the way my days are.  I hold fast to the knowledge that my life is for them, to nurture them, to love them to pour myself out for them.  In this laying down of my life, my needs, I worship my Savior.  My heart is so pitiful and while I would rather cry and yell at everybody to leave me alone, I choose to embrace the moment and let it be part of me, part of us, part of my song to the King.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise HIM!" Psalm 28:7

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Rejoicing in God’s Provision!!

The title is the meaning of my 2nd daughter’s name and it’s an appropriate post title.  For years it’s been Mr. Taffy’s and my dream to be able to afford braces for our children. 

Two children in particular need them.

These two have basically identical mouths, save a few bad habits that have contributed to the problems.  I’m so thankful because since Mr. Taffy has a job with insurance (including orthodontia) and because we have a health care savings account and we found a low cost Orthodontist, we are able to afford braces for these two!  What a joy! 

               

And would you believe they are just as thankful as we are?  They are equally happy and excited.  Though a little nervous and a little uncomfortable, still, they are so happy!

Banana Taffy has a few more things to go through this week, including getting a couple teeth pulled.  But the good news is that he will get to keep his wisdom teeth, which have already started growing in. 

Our God is such a good provider.  Don’t forget it!  Even when something seems so out of reach, so impossible.  He alone gets credit for this provision and we are SO thankful!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Abundant Living

When I reflect back on the past few days this is what comes to mind…abundant living.  At the close of yesterday I was overwhelmed with all the blessings that abound in my life, from the visit from my mom to the barn dance, from loving and like-minded friends to the joy the rebirth.

Dead to sin…alive to Christ.

We had an awesome day on Sunday, being witness to the baptism of two young people eager and heartfelt in their desires to worship and follow the One True God.

A private tucked away beach on a gorgeous lake in the east metro.  Look at all those amazing children!

The lovely young ladies who led us in worship.

Before the actually “drowning” our friends brother did some teaching about baptism and how they did them during the time of the early church.  He then asked the kids a series of questions about their faith and the step they were about to take.   Following the questions, each young person shared their personal testimony as to how they came to this moment.  It was so amazing!

Out into the chilly water they go!  The weather couldn’t have been any better, the fellowship couldn’t have been any sweeter and the hearts of these young people couldn’t have been any more tender towards the Lord.

This was Banana Taffy’s second baptism.  Weeks ago he came to Mr. Taffy telling him that needed to be baptized again.  How could we refuse!  It’s not a reflection of poor parenting or of bad choices, but it’s a reflection of a young boy becoming a man and learning to hear the voice of the Lord for himself.  This is our strongest desire!

Afterward they were anointed and prayed for!  We all rejoiced in their decision, in their rebirth, in the significance that this day will hold for them for the rest of their lives.

Thank you Lord for Abundant Life!  And that you give it so fully!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Our Baby Story

On Monday (the 4th) I had my regularly scheduled appointment with the midwife.  I had her check me to see if I was making any progress with my evening prelabor sessions that I was having fairly regularly.  She confirmed that I was making progress, I was dilated to 3, but could be stretched to a 4. Baby’s head was engaged and at a –1 station and I was about 70% effaced.  I was so happy about this and gladly let her swipe my membranes to see if we could get labor going.  I thought I would be in labor within 24 hours.  I was getting pretty discouraged when I found myself still pregnant by Wednesday morning!  Still, I knew I was making progress and guessed myself to be dilated to 5 by then.

Wednesday started out pretty boring.  Pretty emotional too as I announced to my family that I was going be grumpy, so watch out!  Another thing worth mentioning is that my little people were all pretty sick.  Bubble Gum had been in bed for a couple days with tummy trouble, Laffy and Blue-Raspberry had been coughing with sore throats and aches.

The excitement started on Wednesday evening as we were dealing with some drama from different places.  One being Bubble Gum, who was looking so sickly and throwing up and losing weight, we were praying over her and trying to make her more comfortable when I had the the first BIG contraction.  I thought to myself, okay, that was a good one, many more like that and we are going to have to leave!  So Mr. Taffy and I got settled into bed with a movie to watch and started smell something terrible, it smelled like some one had let off fireworks in our house.  We thought his lap top was melting.  Upon investigation we found that whole main floor was filled with smoke and that smell, but we couldn’t figure out where it was coming from and what to do about it.  I had a couple more BIG contractions during this time and decided to start timing them.  18…13…9…7…uh-oh!  This is how my labors progress, once they start, they don’t waste time.  I declared to Mr. Taffy that we needed to GO!

We still had the smoke issue and the Bubble Gum issue on our minds and had to decide quickly what to do.  We woke up Banana and Strawberry, gave them some directions and left the house.  We arrived at the birth center at 11:20 pm.

This is a picture of the lobby…I took it from their website.

This is the room I gave birth in, it’s called the “red room.”

When we arrived at the Birth Center the midwife and her assistant were there, they had my room all set up.  I’m not sure they believed I was in labor, my contractions weren’t very long and I was still pretty happy when we arrived there.  But she checked me and I was dilated to 7!  Whoop!

So Mr. Taffy and I walked around and around the center, stopping every so often to breathe through a contraction.  It was nice and quiet and dark, they pretty much just let us be, every so often checking on me and listening to the baby to make sure she was handling labor okay.

About 12:45 I was ready to lay down.  Contractions still weren’t that close together but they were getting pretty intense and starting to feel a little pushy so I knew I was getting close! 

This was probably my most intense labor, I can usually push a baby out in two pushes, but this time it took quite a bit longer (like 6 or 8 pushes) and I was having feelings of, “why oh why did I put myself in this position again?!”  Turns out I had some kind of amazing water bag, so amazing that once it finally popped, it shot out of me like a torpedo, soaking the midwife’s assistant.  I had my face buried in a pillow but I still managed to ask what happened?  I’m sure, had I actually seen it, I would have been cracking up!

After that explosion, pushing became much more productive but I had to slow down a little because the cord was wrapped around her neck and there wasn’t enough slack to loop it over.  She was delivered through her cord…Mr. Taffy explained it to me afterward and that helped me understand the strange feeling of her delivery, it didn’t feel the same as the other ones.  She was born at 1:20 a.m. on April 7th.  I am so glad to be done!

She was ready to nurse almost immediately after birth!  She latched on and pretty much stayed attached until we left 4 hours later!

I did get a nice soak in a tub full of herbal water, what a delight that was!

My midwife Catherine.

Do you remember me complaining about the hospital practices and Pitocin and the risk of post delivery hemorrhaging?  Well, I’m happy to report that I astounded the midwife with my lack of bleeding!  I don’t want to get too graphic since I know people have different tolerances for that kind of information, but Pitocin would have been totally uncalled for and unneeded, just like I thought.  Sometimes it’s nice to be right. 

We were home by 6 a.m. just as my little people were getting up.  They were so excited to see their new baby sister.  I have yet to get any pictures of them holding her since they’ve all been so sick.  But I do have one…

Strawberry Taffy had every intention of coming with us to the delivery, but when Bubble Gum was so sick, she just didn’t have the heart to leave her and instead stayed home and dutifully cared for her all night long! 

I’m going to share her real name, just this once…I might remove it eventually but I’ll share for now, because I would want to know!

We named our sweet daughter Adrielle Judith.  Judith is after my mom…her name means, “Praising Jehovah’s Perfection.”  Our seventh baby, born on the seventh of April!

My heart is full of thankfulness and joy!  She’s been nursing constantly, my milk came in yesterday!  She’s pooped out all her meconium and has moved on to the lovely golden pooh of breast milk.  God is so good and I am overwhelmed with His love!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

She’s finally here!

So happy to report that after much anticipation and impatience on my part, our sweet little Salt Water Taffy has finally arrived!

Here’s a quick peek and over view for you.  I’ll write the birth story soon.

She was born at 1:20 a.m., April 7, 2011, weighing in at 8.65lbs and measuring a whopping 22” long.  (My first born was that long too—he’s 6’5” now!)  She’s perfect in every way!

Thank you all for the prayers. The support that you have shown has meant the world to me!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

An answered prayer…

You’ll recall me sharing some of my concerns about my upcoming delivery in this post and this post.  Well, since the time I posted those I have been busy praying and hoping and believing for some different answers. 

One day it dawned on me that there was a new law passed in Minnesota the beginning of the year which allows Private Birthing Centers, with midwives, to be allowed to accept insurance.  Prior to this new law, you basically had to pay cash or use a medical reimbursement account for such services.  I started wondering if this new law would apply to me and my situation being as I’m currently on Medical Assistance.  (No flames please…if you know about our trial with unemployment you’ll know we waited until the last possible minute before getting government help and we aren’t receiving any now, except for medical coverage for me—they allow me to stay on because I’m pregnant, Mr. Taffy current contracting job has no insurance.)  So I started making some phone calls.  At first the calls went nowhere, the county and customer service at the insurance company didn’t know anything about it.

Then I got a call from a person who does know!  She’s the director of one of the birthing centers located 4 minutes from the hospital I was scheduled to deliver at.  She knew all about the law and their center is working on getting certified and that process should be complete towards the beginning of March.  Despite the date, the insurance companies are allowing retroactive claims be made, up until the 1st of January.  As she was talking to me I could barely listen and contain myself because I wanted to know if she could accept me being on Medical Assistance.  (I should mention, at this point I was willing to entertain the idea of paying cash for the delivery too…I would gladly forgo any of my organizing/fixer-upping plans to buy some peace!)  When I finally got to ask she told me they are allowed 2 MA patients per delivery month, they already have one for March and I’m the Second!  Phew!  In by the skin of my teeth! 

This is just an incredible blessing that I am still digesting.  I have an initial free consultation next week and then I’ll do whatever I have to do to get my care transferred over there.  These midwives are the real deal…the kind that believe a woman was made to deliver a baby.  I don’t have a disease or a problem to solve, just a birth to experience!  While I know that my current midwife does believe she has my best interests at heart, I also know that she has to be extra careful and take extra precautions.  I just don’t want to feel like I’m bucking the system constantly, I don’t want to worry about Pitocin and shots and cord tugging and hearing tests…I want to put all my energies and focuses on delivering a baby, then recovering from the delivery and then going on to nurse that baby into oblivion!  That’s where I’m at anyway. 

I am overwhelmed with how much God loves me.  Awestruck by the way He worked this out for me.  Saddened that I had any doubt that He would make a way for me. 

Our God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask or think of!  That’s why He’s God.  I’m just His daughter that still needs to learn to trust Him completely and fully in every area of my life!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Special Announcement

I’m not very good at bringing up these sorts of things up…never have been, so I better just come out and tell you, being as word is getting around and I’d rather you heard it from ME!

We are expecting baby #7!

A grand surprise in God’s mighty plan!  We are very happy, still a little surprised, but how can we not rejoice?!

A couple thoughts I want to share on pregnancy…

• I never feel more productive in my life than when I’m pregnant.  The sheer act of carrying a baby is the very essence of productivity and creativity!  Not to mention how much I LOVE TO PLAN! 
• Since I’m older and a little more confident I don’t really care what people think anymore.  Doesn't’ mean it doesn’t hurt when people say rude things, but I’m more inclined to be rude back.  :o)  At least, rude for me.  Here’s an example.  I was at the dentist a couple weeks back and the lady wanted to know if this was my first baby…I told her I wasn’t going to tell her how many children I have because I know she’ll say something rude.  She insisted, so I gave in.  Sure enough, she said something rude.  I looked at her and said, “I told you so!”  I would have never said anything like that in the past!  lol 
• For us, every time we’ve gotten pregnant, financial increase has come.  This new job that Mr. Taffy has lines up with that.  In hind sight, we can see it was shortly after conception that this new job was confirmed—it’s a great job! 
• I always look at babies as a promotion.  :o)  If I was working in the world, being able to hire a new employee, under my management, would be a promotion! 

 

Here’s a few pictures of some of my sweet babies I’ve had the privilege to nurture.

Banana Taffy-6 months old

Chocolate Taffy

Strawberry Taffy

Blue-Raspberry Taffy

Bubble Gum Taffy

Laffy Taffy with Strawberry Taffy

We love babies,  they keep us young and humble and selfless.

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Perfected Praise

"Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?"  Matthew 11:25

“Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3

 

“Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!” Psalm 150:4

“Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.”  1 Chronicles 13:8 

“THE BELOVED O my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, Lovely as Jerusalem, Awesome as an army with banners!”  Song of Solomon 6:4

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14