October 2005
October 31, 2005
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Teresa writes: My unborn son has congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Is there anyone out there that has gone through this with a happy ending?...10:21 PM in Babies | Permalink | Comments (15)
October 30, 2005
October 31
I don't do Halloween. For someone who lived 39 years as a pagan - most of them in the San Francisco Bay area - it's just a gut reaction. No, I haven't done extensive research (though I know a lot about Wicca from my feminist philosophy days). And no, I...9:31 PM in Holidays, Movies | Permalink | Comments (6)
The Color of Water
Just wanted to say a few words about a book I recently read, The Color of Water Subtitled A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother, this book is so much more. James McBride was the 8th of 12 children born to a remarkable Jewish woman whose past remained a...8:10 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (4)
October 29, 2005
A fun view of Church history
This is really funny - especially if you are familiar with Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Visit Paul Aldrich's site and click on Modern Church Historical....9:30 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (1)
Sad news
Births to Unmarried U. S. Women Set Record Sad because kids need dads. And mothers need committed husbands. And I'm not saying that from some prissy holier-than-thou place, but because I know firsthand. I grew up without a dad and I was a single mother myself for five years. I...9:51 AM in Family | Permalink | Comments (5)
October 28, 2005
Parenting Q&A #5 Childhood Fears
A reader asks: My 3 year old has recently discovered, and then become afraid of shadows. particularly one made by the door frame of her bedroom. My husband and I have talked to her of what shadows are and how they are made and how we can make our own,...12:42 PM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (3)
Today's agenda
Yesterday marked the first day in over a week that my blog was up and running all day. Hooray! I just wanted to let you know what I have planned here in the coming week. This is a quiet day for me. Maddy is off on a field trip with...10:51 AM in | Permalink | Comments (3)
A pro-life picture worth a million words
Every couple months I run this - for the benefit of new readers here (and because I cry every time I see it): Go here....10:28 AM in Babies, Big families, Culture, Family, Inspiration, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)
Ten Great Reasons to Have Another Child
It's been four months since I ran this, but in honor of Rachel's good news and to bolster her confidence as she faces those who don't understand why anyone in the world might want to have more than two children, I am running it again. Enjoy! Reprinted with permission from...10:19 AM in Babies, Big families, Church Issues, Culture, Family, Inspiration, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (0)
Welcoming children
Rachel just announced in the comments that she's expecting Number Three! Congratulations to the whole family! But get ready for the backlash: "Was it an accident?" "Haven't you figured out how that happens?" "Are you going to get fixed after this one?" "How can you afford it?" "Two's all I...10:13 AM in Babies, Big families, Family, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (5)
Is the Left Softening on Abortion?
This is a weekly briefing I subscribe to from the Population Research Institute. Since they encourage circulation, and since I know some of you are interested in this essay on how the pro-abortion forces may be softening their position (see especially the second columnist mentioned, whose own experience with a...9:03 AM in Babies, Culture, Current Affairs, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Feminism, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 27, 2005
Tender mercies
Ever have one of those days when it seems you did nothing but drive? With my now-constant-companion homeschooled Maddy in tow, we drove Daniel to see his specialist in Fairfax - a good hour away but 90 minutes during morning DC commute. Then home to get Jesse off the bus,...11:17 PM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (5)
Five things
Five Things That Might Surprise You About me: I have three tattoos (circa 1970 or so) I am terrified of roller coasters and ferris wheels. I don’t like sweets or gardening, though I’ve tried both. I’ve lived in 20 different places, scattered through 12 states. I’ve interviewed Chuck Colson and...10:06 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 26, 2005
Thank God for health insurance
We got the news today that Ben, who is at Liberty University studying opera, will be having a very unexpected knee surgery tomorrow morning. Okay then. Let's just reconfigure the next week in light of that: Tripp will be leaving for Lynchburg before dawn to see Ben through it and...8:59 PM in Big families | Permalink | Comments (5)
One for all and all for one
I mentioned our family motto a few entries back. A family motto is one of the things I suggest - along with choosing a family hymn, making a family banner - for building a sense of family unity. Our preponderence of boys probably had a lot to do with our...8:39 PM in Big families, Family | Permalink | Comments (2)
Boys make pizza!
When a Pop Warner kid in our neighborhood came to our door for a fundraiser, Tripp ordered a personal pizza kit for 4. I was surprised a few weeks later when it arrived, because Tripp had forgotten to tell me. As it happened, the only people home with me were...9:03 AM in Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (2)
Jesse makes his own lunch
Talking about Jesse and the foods he loves reminded me of this picture I shot a week ago when I found Jesse had independently made his own "lunch" - carrying over a chair to gather all the items from the pantry, getting out the dishes, arranging the food on them,...8:48 AM in Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (3)
Down syndrome and celiac disease
This is for the benefit of my readers who have children or loved ones with Down syndrome. In some areas, our kids are more vulnerable - but you already knew that. I just discovered a new one. When our pediatrician ordered routine blood work on the boys (for those new...8:32 AM in Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (3)
Blog breakdowns - grrr.
My site was down yesterday more than it was up. Very frustrating. I apologize to anyone who's tried without success to log on recently. And want to assure you that the powers-that-be, the great gatekeepers of bandwidth and connectivity and other things beyond my understanding, have assured me that they...7:50 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 25, 2005
A Camera for Jonny
Jonny, my 13-year-old son with Down syndrome, had a hearing problem for many years and so his speech is not that great. Of course, he never lets that get in his way! He is in 7th grade at Blue Ridge Middle School and loves the whole social scene. To help...10:24 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family | Permalink | Comments (5)
October 24, 2005
Question about the pill
A reader asks: Have you found any research on the pill being an abortaficient? I have heard this but my sisters doctor told her that the one she is on does not function that way, yet it isn't one of those mini-pills. Just wanting to find the research and find...5:10 PM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (6)
Kid-friendly home decor
One of the things I've enjoyed as a mother is considering my children when it comes to furnishing our house. I thought I'd share some examples of choices I've made to add more meaning and interest to their lives. This is our dinnerware. It's breakable, not plastic, in keeping with...10:52 AM in Big families, Family, Montessori, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (6)
October 23, 2005
Vampire writer turns to Jesus
More proof that you should never give up on anyone: Anne Rice finds Christ As my kids sing, "God is bigger than the bogeyman!"...11:44 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (1)
New bathrobes!
Sometimes the smallest pleasures are the best!...11:36 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2)
Ideals should lift you up, not weigh you down
I've been loading a lot of information here for the past couple weeks - lots of blog entries and lots of ideas on how to maximize your child's learning experience with everyday items under Barbara's Picks. And it occurred to me as I was going through closets to change seasons...10:51 PM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (5)
Barbara's Picks
I hope you all are checking out Barbara's Picks in the left hand sidebar. Not because I'm trying to get you to buy stuff, but because in the entries I've packed a lot of information about how to maximize your child's learning expeience with each item. You can translate the...10:22 AM in Culture | Permalink | Comments (0)
Epidurals - fine by me
I just want to say this about epidurals: Of my 12 children, I gave birth to 9. The first 8 of them were all natural births - meaning no pain relief of any kind. I can't say I look back with fondness on any moment except when the baby was...10:00 AM in Babies, Big families, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (14)
October 22, 2005
Meeting in the Laundry Room
I am so honored that Holly did a review of Lord Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room and The Mommy Manual for the Choosing Home blog! And really relieved she liked it! Holly lives in Alaska and we've never met, so she didn't have to be nice or anything....8:33 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (2)
Chores first, then fun
Here's an idea to get things moving quickly today: If you have kids who can read, make a list of all the chores that need to be done - use a really weird font and put blanks beside each item, like a checkoff list. At the top, put Curtis Family...11:58 AM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)
What Movie Are You?
What Classic Movie Are You?personality tests by similarminds.com HT (hat tip) to Paula at Full of Life , who is the same move as me. So if you take the test, tell me what movie you are so I can see we're not all the same!...11:48 AM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (6)
Who is on the throne?
One thing obvious in the Katrina aftermath is that a large segment of our society truly believes that it is the government's job to meet our every need, prevent every unhappiness, and perhaps someday to change the kitty litter. Check out this story: Settlement Reached in Frozen Baby Suit in...10:49 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (1)
Agreeing to disagree
Another comment reply – under Intellectual Consistency - that turned into an entry: Thanks for all these comments. I just want to make it clear that I'm not trying to be right or steamrollering over other opinions. I just happen to believe it's a good thing to learn to handle...9:49 AM in Blogging, Family | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 21, 2005
Hello out there. . .
Don't forget to Frapper!...10:50 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)
Movies Matter
Since there's been some buzz about Christians and movies lately, and since it's a topic I've written on for various magazines, I thought I'd offer a few thoughts of my own. A little background: I've loved movies since I used to walk half a mile down the road in Falls...9:07 AM in Movies | Permalink | Comments (5)
October 20, 2005
Operation Christmas Child
Oh, and thanks to Deb for reminding us about Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child. While it does seem a little early to talk about Christmas - our local Purcellville Giant store had a huge display up before October 1, shame on them! - some things require planning and...6:58 PM in Holidays | Permalink | Comments (1)
A few words from Nathaniel's Mom
Angela wrote this as a comment, but I wanted to make sure you all would see it, as some of you really offered a lot of love and support when Angela was worried about birthing Number Three. Sounds like she had a transcendent experience: WOW!!! I was so surprised and...6:12 PM in Babies | Permalink | Comments (2)
Christmas Gift Ideas
Talk about conspicuous consumption! For some reason I get catalogs from Neiman Marcus and the one I got in the mail yesterday had crystal-encrusted desk accessories on the cover: Only $100 for the mouse! In the same batch of mail was our World Vision Christmas Gift Catalog, which we started...2:48 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2)
No Mercy for Murdering Moms
So today a mother threw her three kids off a pier at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Old stomping ground for the Curtis Family. I can still picture my kids playing at the old abandoned fortresses of Fort Mason where today rescuers retrieved one of the bodies. They're still looking...11:40 AM in Current Affairs, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (3)
A Night with the Stars
Here's how to create a very special family moment/memory. It takes a lot of discipline though! Get your older kids up at 3am tonight. Heat up some hot chocolate. Wrap yourselves in sleeping bags and lie out on your lawn looking at the night sky. Before dawn tomorrow morning is...11:27 AM in | Permalink | Comments (1)
Those were the days
I've been on my husband's case for what seems like forever - at least through the last two houses we've lived in - to get a grip on our garage. You must understand that Tripp is the kind of person who loves stuff, and likes to keep bags and boxes...9:07 AM in Babies, Family, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (2)
Getting on with the show
Hooray! It looks like my server is up and running. I have to laugh to think of the timing of the breakdown - just when a bunch of Midday Connection listeners were logging on to see what else I have to say. And boy, do I have a lot...8:53 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 19, 2005
Presenting . . . Nathaniel
Wonderful news! A MommyLife reader - who I met in person when I spoke at her MOPS group - just had her third baby! What makes this especially exciting for me - and for some of you - is that way back in July, I posted this question from her:...10:11 PM in Babies | Permalink | Comments (3)
No More Chore Wars
This was an article I wrote some years ago for Christian Parenting Today. Please forgive the magazine - rather than the blogging writing style. I've got a lot going on with my kids today, but wanted you to see how you might take what Elisabeth Elliot said about work in...3:30 PM in Big families, Family, Montessori, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (0)
Blog Betrayal
I can't believe it. I get an opportunity to talk about my book Dirty Dancing: The Instruction Manual - uh, just kidding, Dirty Dancing at the Prom and yadayadayada which begins generating hundreds of visits to my humble blog even before I go on the air - thanks to Moody...12:58 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0)
Elisabeth Elliot on Work
Every once in a while, I remind readers that you can receive Elisabeth Elliot daily in your inbox (I just had an image of my mailbox opening and ol' EE peeking out at me. teehee!) Seriously. She always has some great stuff to say. Like today: The Gift of Work...8:42 AM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 18, 2005
Where are you coming from?
One of my favorite writers, Mel, did this and it looked like fun. (Thanks, Mel!) If you go here you'll find a Frapper - a special map that shows where my readers are coming from. From my statistics, I know there are some on every continent. You just add your...3:24 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (3)
Movie Reviews
When my kids have a hard time taking no for an answer, I say, “Okay, let’s see what Screen It! says.†Screen It! is a movie/DVD review site for parents, with thousands of old and new movie reviews, containing in great detail anything that might be of concern to...2:08 PM in Movies, Resources, Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 17, 2005
Barbara's Picks!
Last week, as we drove to her Shakespeare class, Maddy was remembering when Justin became a member of our family. It was 2001 and he was nine months old: "I remember waking up and he was crying and you were holding him. . . . Is that what babies...8:22 AM in Babies, Big families, Blogging, Family, Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering, Practical Info, Resources | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 15, 2005
Parenting Q&A #4 Weaning
Carrie asked: My 15 month old daughter, Sophie has transitioned to nursing twice a day, morning and bedtime, but she is more than a little resistant about dropping either of these feedings. She throws tantrums when I try to distract her, and she has a fit if my husband tries...6:55 PM in Babies | Permalink | Comments (8)
October 14, 2005
Two mommies
I mentioned that Justin's birth parents were here from Taiwan for a visit last week. Justin was actually born here in the States while they were visiting, and their decision to leave him here with an American family was based on love and the knowledge that he would have the...4:56 PM in Adoption, Adoption | Permalink | Comments (1)
How Barbara Got Her Gun
In light of the last entry - which touched on how I changed my radical leftist views when confronted with the daily reality of being a Mom - I thought you might enjoy this article I wrote in response to the Million Mom March. Remember? This was published in the...8:11 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (5)
Another quarter heard from
Woke up to this rant in my comments - a response to my entry on the London bombings: I have to say it's certainly a wonderful idea to completely deplete any sense of rationality in one of the most brutal institutions in the world. Why not further instill the military...7:54 AM in Feminism | Permalink | Comments (1)
October 13, 2005
*Radio Alert*
You know, I've been doing radio interviews all summer for my last two books, and it finally occured to me that some people might want to listen in to broadcasts in their area. Duh. So for anyone in the Florida area, tonight at 9 EST, I'lll be discussing The...8:06 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (2)
Where's Barbara?
Rachel wrote: Hey, Barbara! Where are you? I miss your posts. Don't leave us hanging for too long. ;) Thank God for Rachel and for all the moms who write me! I just this second replied to the last lingering email in my Inbox. And here's what else is happening...12:28 PM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (7)
October 8, 2005
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Reading Sparrow's blog this morning invoked the wonderful hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and it's been running through my mind as I fix breakfast. And I'm thinking isn't it wonderful that through this blogging community God has given mothers a chance to truly connect and share their hearts...10:04 AM in Music | Permalink | Comments (4)
Motherhood is risky business
I read a beautiful blog entry this morning. Beautiful because though it was Christian it was gut-wrenchingly real. Beautiful because it made me want to hug a stranger I'd just "met" and not let go too quickly. Beautiful because it reminds me of Samuel 16:7 - Man looks at the...9:17 AM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (8)
October 7, 2005
Got Legos?
I don't know how you feel about Legos, but just in case you are having a hard time keeping a hearty supply, this Australian dude has decided to liquidate his 25 year old collection - WHICH WEIGHS IN AT 476 POUNDS!!!! Check it out here at ebay. The starting bid...10:48 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4)
Montessori at Home #10
Here's how any mom can make the most of teaching moments by using Montessori techniques: Take puzzles, for instance. Choose the kind with knobs, as they encourage the child's pincer grasp - which will strengthen and refine his thumb and finger control so that when the time comes to pick...9:33 PM in Montessori | Permalink | Comments (0)
More help for Moms
I must admit I don't often have time to visit other blogs, but when I do I often wish I had more hours in a day. This morning I went wandering and was reminded to remind y'all about a very encouraging blog for stay-at-home-moms (SAHMs) - Choosing Home. This is...11:45 AM in Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1)
Starting the day with a smile
For those who've noticed among the beach pictures at the Flickr to the left- the one of 6 or 7 Curtis kids like sunning sardines on one beach blanket: After snapping that shot, I sat down next to Tripp when all of a sudden Zachary popped his 6'4" self up...7:11 AM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)
October 6, 2005
A WashDay Miracle!
I can hardly believe this, but my washing machine - which since Sunday night had been refusing to spin more than a few ounces of clothes - is now working perfectly! I can only think that when I blogged it, someone out there prayed. Thank you, whoever you are....3:15 PM in Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 5, 2005
One more thing
Thanks to all of you who've sent me pictures of your families for my Inspiration Board! I've printed them and hung them so I can write to real people with real faces and real families. There's something else I'd like to do, and I hope I'm not out of line...1:08 PM in | Permalink | Comments (8)
Too funny!
12:50 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (2)
Summer Reading - better late than never
For the past two years, I've been fortunate to have a biweekly column in our local paper, the Loudoun Times Mirror - almost a continuation of one I wrote for almost three years for the Novato (CA) Advance. It's called Close to Home and it's only 500 words, but I...12:48 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (5)
Back in the Saddle - or soon to be, anyway
I'm back! Spent a couple days unpacking, catching up on emails and trying to catch up on laundry - but my never-done-me-wrong front-load washer chose this time to make life difficult, refusing to spin anything heavier than three bath towels. Yay for my Sears warranty! Now about the waiting. ....12:05 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (4)
