Imari's Article in the newspaper - Away from the game: Cedar Hill's Imari Thompson

06:38 PM CST on Wednesday, November 21, 2007

By RANDY JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News
rjennings@dallasnews.com

Athletes who distinguish themselves away from competition:

Imari Thompson, Cedar Hill, SENIOR

Notable: Thompson is a third-year member of the school's a cappella choir, which consistently draws top scores in UIL competition. He is a tenor II, one of six in the choir. He ranks 80th in his class of 470.

Sport: Running back on the football team

Favorite singers: J Holiday, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson.

Favorite music: R&B

Comparing activities: "There's pressure in choir to keep getting good scores, just like there is pressure in football to win. We want to keep the tradition going in both."

Teammates reaction to his singing: "They sing along with me."

As a tenor II: "I'm a low-high. Tenor I is up there."

College plans: Weighing football offers from many universities and service academies, including UNLV, Air Force, Naval Academy, North Texas and Kansas.

Potential career: Sports medicine. "This will be it for choir when the school year ends."

Halfway There - 19 Weeks

I had another check up last week. It had been about 5 weeks since the last visit. I found out that my iron level had actually gone down. :-( I was told that I need to make sure I'm taking the iron supplements 30 minutes before or after a meal, take it with orange juice, and begin cooking in an iron skillet.

The midwife was extremely surprised that the levels were so low this time and she said "YOU MUST BE REALLY TIRED! Even if you weren't pregnant that would be a really low iron count so I KNOW it's making you tired! I agreed.

They will check my iron again in 10 days.

I have also been feeling a lot more flutters!!

Baby Update - 18 Weeks

Baby Update - 17 Weeks

Ten Great Reasons To Have Another Child

1. Have another child to join with God in the creation of an immortal soul.

Parents are given the incredible opportunity to assist God in the creation of an immortal soul. As the late Cardinal Mindszenty said, even the angels have not been given such a grace. “The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral—a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body...Even the angels have not been given such a grace! What is more glorious than this—to be a mother.” Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty Reason

2. Have another child to bring joy into your life.

There is no joy like the joy of welcoming another child into your life. You will marvel anew at how perfectly formed your little one is, and over how quickly you will fall head over heels in love with him. You will be enchanted with every tiny aspect of her appearance. The color of her hair, the shape of her nose, and the winsomeness of her smile will occasion endless happy debates about from which side of the family (yours, of course) she got that adorable trait. The birth of a child will bind you to God more tightly than ever before, in awed gratitude. “She was the most miraculous thing that had ever happened in my life,” Whittaker Chambers wrote about his new daughter in Witness. And in the lives of most of us.
I thought that one dayI would be a famous artistand create great works of artInstead, God made me a mother,and my children are His masterpiece. The design of their lives will live on after me. What is painted on their hearts will last an eternity - Anonymous

3. Have another child to grown in holiness and virtue.

For those who marry and have families, children are the primary means God uses to help them grow in holiness and virtue. Children teach their parents patience, perseverance, charity, and humility. They give their parents the opportunity to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. They come into the world naked, and we clothe them, hungry and we feed them. Thirsty, and we give them drink. All of the things that we are required to do for the “least of these our brothers,” we do first and foremost for our own children. St. Catherine of Siena once had a vision in which God took her to a roomful of crosses and told her to pick one. St. Catherine went to the largest, heaviest cross in the room and would have chosen it. But God told her that it was not for her: That was reserved for the parents of large families. “Mary gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes.” Luke 2:7

4. Have another child to help end abortion.

When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was asked by a young mother about the best way to proceed with pro-life work, she responded emphatically, “Have a big family. That is the best way to end abortion!” How this works is not difficult to understand. As children become more rare due to contraception, sterilization and abortion, whole segments of society become less and less familiar with the sense of joy and hope that only babies and children can give. In this climate, contraception and abortion feed on themselves, as the increasingly selfish few further reduce their number. By having another child, you demonstrate once again to the world that children are God’s greatest gifts. “Children build up the life of the family and society,” as Pope John Paul II has said. “The child becomes a gift to its brothers and sisters, parents and entire family. Its entire life becomes a gift for the very people who were givers of life and who cannot help but feel its presence, its sharing in their life and its contribution to the common good and to the community of the family.” The more children there are in society, the more pro-life that society will become, and the easier it will be for the great evil of abortion to be eradicated once and for all. “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19

5. A) Have another child so your sons will have brothers and your daughters will have sisters.

Children who have siblings learn early to share. They learn to take turns and to put the needs of others before their own. The bond formed between brothers and sisters is lifelong, and stronger than the bond between the closest friends. “How good it is, how pleasant, where the brothers dwell as one!” Psalm 133:1-2

B) Have another child so your sons will have sisters and your daughters will have brothers. Boys who have sisters learn the dignity of women. They learn to treat other girls and women with respect, as they consider how they would like their own sisters to be treated. Girls who have brothers learn the complementarity of men and women, both fashioned in the image and likeness of God. “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home.” Mother Teresa

6. Have another child so you (and your parents) won’t be lonely in old age.

People who have children don’t have to rely upon strangers to care for them in their old age. Children also become the parents of your grandchildren. Grandchildren bring joy, happiness, and laughter, while still allowing you to get a good night’s sleep! “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their parentage.”Proverbs 17:6

7. Have another child because people are our greatest resource.

Humans are blessed with the gifts of an intellect and free will. It is human ingenuity that discovers creative solutions to the problems which confront us. People without children should remember that it will be someone else’s child who will become the doctor that performs their life-saving operations. Someone else’s child will become the firefighter that saves their house. Someone else’s child will become the railroad engineer. “How can there be too many children? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.” Mother Teresa

8. Have another child to contribute to the economy.

Families with children are fuel to the economy, purchasing houses and cars and college educations. Without young people to enter the workforce, social security systems fail. Without children to attend school, teachers are jobless. Many industries, from fast food restaurants to toy stores, obviously rely heavily upon business from and for children to stay in business. But ultimately the whole economy does. “Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table. Just so will they be blessed who fear the Lord.” Psalm 128:3-4

9. Have another child to counter global depopulation.

Anyone who has traveled from coast to coast in the United States and seen the vast empty spaces should know that America is not overpopulated. In fact, the entire population of the world could live in the state of Texas, in single-family dwellings with front and back yards. Fertility rates are falling everywhere. The world’s population will never again double. If current trends continue, world population will peak by the middle of this century and then begin demographic freefall. Our long-term problem is not too many children, but too few children. Having another child will help offset the coming population implosion. “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth.” Genesis 1:28.

10. Have another child to help populate heaven.

The child that you and your spouse have been generous in accepting from God was created to return to Him, after a life of love, service, and obedience on earth, to spend eternity with God in heaven. Our Lord Himself said that there was plenty of room for those immortal souls. There is no overpopulation problem in Heaven!

“There are many mansions in my Father’s house.” John 14:2

“Ten Great Reasons to Have Another Child”

Permission to reprint granted.
Redistribute widely.
Credit requested. http://www.pop.org

Baby Update - 16 Weeks

Toddler Discipline

One of the best things I've read on this topic was the book, The Mother at Home, by John Abbott, written in the 1930s! Check it out or let me know if you've already seen it. This post talks about why this book was helpful to me and I included some quotes from the book below as well.

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It broke my heart to do it but this weekend my baby, Lamby, who's now 18 months old, got her first real spanking. She's 18th months old now.

We visited a friend's church which is a Family Integrated Church. My 5 and 3 year olds did surprisingly well in the service. They had activities to keep them busy during the parts of the service which did not hold their attention well. My son (3) sat by Jeoff and my daughter (5) sat by me. I can't imagine if I had more than 3 at this point in my life. I dunno, maybe it would have been okay, but I was glad to have my first experience at this church with a small number of children.

Now my 18 mo old, who has become very active, loud, expressive, you name it, went from mommy's lap to daddy's and back, once the sermon began. And when she began to demand going to Daddy after I told her to quiet her voice or not get out of my lap, I chose to go ahead and take her out to the foyer. After that I practiced with her sitting in my lap in the nursing mother's room and she got a little ornery so I popped her the way I do the older kids.

She was very sad and mad at me and I hated the sad look that she gave me. But she needed to know who was boss. After that she leaned on my chess and huffed and puffed and when she tried to do it again, I touched her bottom lightly and said "no no", .... "pop pop" and she immediately stopped. Now that even surprised me! I think if I hadn't been in a setting like that, I may not have exercised that type of discipline until she was much older.

I'm learning that at the toddler stage, I should not only punish when the child has disobeyed a command but also when they have chosen NOT to obey a direct command. How did I miss that in all the books and articles and talks I've heard? I am practicing that with the older ones but hadn't started it with Lamby.

So since yesterday's event I have been giving her specific command that I expect her to obey the first time, like stand up (for me to put her pants on) or sit down (to put on her socks and shoes), get in your high chair, bring me the ball, put your plate in the trash,.... and if she doesn't obey it I exercise some type of discipline.

Again, one of the best things I've read on this topic was the book, The Mother at Home, by John Abbott, written in the 1930s! Check it out or let me know if you've already seen it.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book:

Quote 1 from The Mother at Home by John Abbott

How entirely is your earthly happiness at the disposal of your child! His character is now, in an important sense, in your hands, and you are to form it for good or for evil. If you are consistent in your government, and faithful in the discharge of your duties, your child will probably through life revere you, and be the stay and solace of your declining years. If, on the other hand, you cannot summon resolution to punish your child when disobedient; if you do not curb his passions; if you do not bring him to entire and willing subjection to your authority; you must expect that he will be your curse. In all probability, he will despise you for your weakness. Unaccustomed to restraints at home, he will break away from all restraints, and make you wretched by his life, and disgraceful in his death.

Quote 2 from The Mother at Home by John Abbott

If you love 'momentary ease' better than your children's welfare and your own permanent happiness, you cannot murmur at the lot you have freely chosen. And when you meet your children at the bar of God, and they point to you and say, "It was through your neglect of duty that we are banished from heaven—and consigned to endless woe!" you must feel what no tongue can tell. Ah! it is dreadful for a mother to trifle with duty. Eternal destinies are committed to your trust. The influence you are now exerting will go on, unchecked by the grave or the judgment, and will extend onward through those ages to which there is no end!

Pumpkin Patch Visit Number 2

Pumpkin Patch Visit Number 1

Today we visited one of the many Pumpkin Patches in the metroplex! It was a lot of walking for mama, but I made it. The kids really enjoyed the trip. We met some friends of ours, and fellow homeschoolers, there.

Voddie and Bridgette: Discussing Leaving a Godly Family

Just came across this video (like 1 minute ago) from Talya who posted a comment here. Take a look.

I can't believe I had time to post it as soon as I saw it on her blog.

Thanks Talya!!

Baby Update: (Quick Post) Fluttering - 14 Weeks

Just making a quick note that I began to feel YOU fluttering in my tummy today! Such fun!

Baby Update - 14 Weeks: Thinking About Labor Preparation

Pregnancy Update

I had my first appointment at the Birth and Women's Center last week. I was reminded of all the things I need to be doing to make sure I maintain a healthy weight and stay in shape (oh goodness) during this pregnancy. The biggest reminder was not the need to cut back on the sugars and caffeine, although that's always tough for me, but it was the reminder to exercise.... to walk like an hour each day! Lawd help me.

I also remembered this week, the experience I had when little Lamby was born. I was not afraid of the labor and delivery. It was the heparin lock I was afraid of. A heparin lock (or hep-lock) is "a small tube connected to a catheter in a vein in the arm for easy access." I was told I may need that because my iron had been low through out the end of my pregnancy and the iron supplements hadn't brought it up to the level it needed to be. I was so fearful of it, that I almost literally ran from it to avoid getting it during the labor and Lamby came before Lisa could insert it.

So the reason I was reminded of this was because at this birth center visit, I had to have blood drawn to see where my iron is now, among other lab work which has to be done, routinely. After trying both arms unsuccessfully, I began balling uncontrollably. I told the midwife I could not do it today. It was too painful. I'd rather be delivering a baby today than being stuck for blood. I always hate needles. She finally got what she needed by using a butterfly needle, which is a very small needle often used in very young or elderly patients or patients with small veins and arteries. Anyway, all of the "punctures" to my body hurt like I don't know what and I left there almost trembling in tears. I wasn't really but almost!

Birth Videos

I ran across these videos from Giving Birth Naturally, which are pretty graphic but good depictions of birth and many of them are natural.

Summary of Prepartation for Natural Childbirth

So at week 14 here is my summary of what I'm doing to prepare for having a natural childbirth.

• Prayer - Asking God for health for mother and baby, for his peace in the weeks leading up to the delivery day, for his Holy Spirit to reign during the labor and delivery and that I will maintain "control" by giving up "control," allowing Him to work through me and deliver the baby through me. There is no reason to fear, no reason to focus on what could happen. Only focus on how he is leading me. I will trust him to show me or the health care professionals if there is anything that needs to be done to change our route for delivering the baby.


• Healthy Eating


• Exercise - walking, kegel exercises


• Stretching - squatting, pelvic rock, arm/leg lifts, ankle rotations


• Preparing the Perineum - perineum massage


• Reviewing the Bradley Method Principles we learned back in 2001!

Homeschool Update - The First Six Weeks

Mornings

Geography:
We began studying North America and covered such things as the 7 Continents, the Hemispheres, Equator, Prime Meridian, North and South Poles, locations of the U.S. States, the bordering countries of the U.S., bordering states of our state. We also learned about Mexico and Middle America, and learnd the 7 countries within Middle America. Among other things. My Father's World curriculum includes many books which help us learn facts about these countries and they also include recipes, crafts, and other activities that help us understand what they're all about.

Narration:
Narration is a Charlotte Mason method which is also suggested for use by the Bluedorns, of Trivium Pursuit. We practice narration when either I or one of the older students reads a story and the other children take turns telling the story back to the family. We mainly use stories from our Language Lessons book (Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind).

Bible:
We are using the memory verses from My Father's World and after reciting them initially we discuss the principle which is being taught. This year's verses are from the book of Matthew and follow the life of Jesus. We also include discussions from Josh McDowell's Youth Devotional and verses which I select which help build our individual character and our hope in Christ. Finally, we review a Catechism every day (almost every day). So far they have learned the first 8 questions and now that they have the concept down, we'll try to add 4 additional questions each day.

Here are some examples -
Q. Who made you?
A. God made me

Q. What else did God make?
A. God made all things

Q. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is only one God

Q. Where is God?
A. God is everywhere

Q. Can you see God?
A. No. I cannot see God, but He always sees me.

Q. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he commands.

Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible alone

Memorization:

This includes memorization of scripture, foreign language alphabet and other expressions, the Catechism (above) and selected poetry. So far this year, in addition to the Catechism and memory verses from the curriculum, we have learned the Greek alphabet, various Spanish expresions, and two poems. One of the things we've moved to now is French numbers and expressions since we're studying Canada and French is one of their two official languages.

Copy Work: Most copy work is done by copying memory verses, poetry, proper names, numbers, TATRAS words, and address for younger children.

Afternoons

Music: This has included singing songs from Wee Sing Around the World, as well as practicing the scales forward and backward.

Math: We have gone over concepts which the older students found difficulty in the previous school year. We don't do formal mathematics for the younger kids until age 10 (that's our current plan). But it's funny how my oldest spurts out math facts every day that I haven't taught her. She just picks them up.

Science: We studied deserts for the younger children and for the 7th grader we're studying the history of Science (which she says is very boring) from her Apologia science curricululm.

New Favorite Places I've Visited Lately

Your Sacred Calling

Homemakers By Choice

The Mother at Home

Keeping the Home

Pregnancy Diet

Raising Godly Tomatoes

No Greater Joy

Daily Devotionals and other Readings

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Keeping the Home

Ladies Against Feminism

Urban Homemaker

Preschoolers and Peace

Inspiring Sites:

At Home with Candy

Happy Hearts at Home -- lots of frugal tips!

Like Merchant Ships

Hearty Works

A Christian Home

Cherish the Home

Large Family Mothering

Purely His

Making a House a Home

Keeper of the Home

Lines from the Vine

Ladies of Grace - http://www.gbcladiesofgrace.com/

Mrs K's Musings - http://mrsmksmusings.blogspot.com/

Making it Home - http://www.xanga.com/MrsCatherine

Lizzie's Home - http://lizzieshome.blogspot.com/

Deputy Domain - http://www.deputydomain.blogspot.com/

Ladies of Grace Bible Studies - http://www.gbcladiesofgrace.com/Bible%20Studies.html

A Wise Woman Builds Her House - http://www.proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/

Proverbs 31 Sisters - http://www.prov31sisters.blogspot.com/

The Healing Table - http://thehealingtable.blogspot.com/

Old Fashioned Living - http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/teatime.htm

Neat and Dainty as a Flower - http://neatanddaintyasaflower.blogspot.com/index.html

Charming the Birds from the Trees - http://charmingthebirdsfromthetrees.blogspot.com/

The Merry Rose - http://elizabeth-themerryrose.blogspot.com/

The Joy Box - http://www.joybox.typepad.com/

The Homespun Heart - http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com/

The Sparrow's Nest - http://www.thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/

Blogging Break, Sorta

I guess I'm sorta on a blogging break right now although I didn't plan it.

It just seems like all the time it's taking to settle into homeschool and homemaking and pregnancy, doesn't leave me much time to blog. It's funny though because I have all these memos saved in my Blackberry of topics that I plan to blog about one day and I will get to them! But for now, I'll probably just be posting updates from time to time on baby growth progress and some of the things we're doing in homeschool.

I also want to be faithful to the books I'm reading which are helping me so so much! And the writing project I'm working on with a friend. That's one of the most exciting, non-mother-duty, non-wife-role, giving-back, type of things that I'm doing right now. And it's very exciting.

One of the books that I'm reading is Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and it is so intense, so revealing of the little things that we have in our lives that we don't always call out as sin! Things that we usually just call weaknesses, struggles, etc. but don't truly deal with as what God calls it. Sin! It's very very humbling. The purpose in the book study is to allow the Lord to lead us into personal revival. Check it out if you think it's something you're up to indulging in.

I'll also be posting some comments from the book, on my other blog.

Back to homeschool, next week is our 6th week and since I have two nieces who are used to the 6-weeks grading period, I plan to give them an assessment after next week. They have learned a lot so far and I'm very proud of them...... all five of them!!

Talk to you soon!

Voddie Baucham You Tube Videos

The Family Driven Faith Channel

Click above to see videos on Discipleship, The Value of Family, Family Worship,

Cultural Apologetics, and Family Discipleship

Baby Update: Baby is an inch long now / Praise Adonai

Our new baby is an inch long now. That's so hard to believe. The stats say he/she is now officially a fetus, but of course we acknowledged life at conception. Actually, well before that. The Lord says, before we were in our mother's womb He knew us!

Thank you Lord for knowing our baby before he was in my womb and thank you Lord for knowing all of us before we were conceived as well.

It's incredible to know that our God who is so far away, can know us intimately and be intimately involved in our lives.

I don't have the CD cover anymore but I remember back in 1997/98, on Avalon's Maze of Grace CD, there was an intro to their song Adonai, and it spoke to that very thing. Back then, I even recorded it on my voicemail at my apartment!!

I don't have the intro, but I did find the lyrics to the song. Enjoy.....

Avalon - Adonai Lyrics

One single drop of rain
Your salty tear became blue ocean
One tiny grain of sand turning in your hand
A world in motion
You're out beyond the furthest Morning Star
Close enough to hold me in Your arms

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry
My Adonai
You are the Maker of each moment
Father of my hope and freedom
Oh, my Adonai

One timid faithful knock
Resounds up the Rock of Ages
One trembling heart and soul
Becomes a servant bold and courageous
You call across the mountains and the seas
I answer from the deepest part of me

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry
My Adonai
You are the Maker of each moment
Father of my hope and freedom
Oh, my Adonai

From age to age you reign in Majesty
And today You're making miracles in me

Adonai, I lift up my heart and I cry
My Adonai
You are the Maker of each moment
Father of my hope and freedom
Oh, my Adonai

Books to Read!!

On my other blog, a few friends of mine, and I, are about to begin reading the books below. Check out the link and let me know if you're interested in joining us!!

Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (for all women, actually for anyone)






Purchase the book here if you'd like, or any book store of your choosing of course.


The Bathtub is Overflowing but I Feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst
(for moms of young children)







Purchase the book here if you'd like, or any book store of your choosing of course.

Baby Update: Swimming and Moving

I look forward to actually feeling the little flutters that will come, weeks from now, but it's exciting to know that baby is already getting around on his/her own!

How exciting!

As for me, my energy is beginning to pick up somewhat. It's mostly due to my diet and supplement choices though. So so important, as I've learned. I haven't had much nausea, and I've only thrown up once. I don't think that was even related to the pregnancy.

When I do have nausea, eating a sour pickle solves it! Thank God.

First week of homeschool

Since I'm not able to write details of how each day goes, with homeschool, I'll at least try to write some of the weeks.

The first couple of weeks was adjustment and training of course. The first week, was just my children and my 2nd week at home was my first official week going through the curriculum and the first week with my nieces here.

We start school work each day at 9AM. Before that, I try to wake up by 6 or 7, and have some time for myself before everyone is awake and get a good protein breakfast, with fruit and grain (if I'm doing well). I don't skimp on the protein though. It's great for energy.

We currently sit at the dining table for the beginning of school, since we don't have the tables set up in the school room yet.

We start with prayer, a story for Bible (currently they're learning about Christianity and the other religions contrary to Christianity). It's part of the My Father's World Curriculum. They learn those so they can be compassionate about the people all over the world who do not believe in Christ.

We also learned (or reviewed) all the continents, oceans, learned about the basics of maps, started with science, art, writing, narration, etc.

On Friday, we ventured out to The Museum of Nature and Science and watched Dinosaurs Alive! at IMAX.

The biggest things I'm learning is how to effectively discipline and manage time.

More later....

Save Money on Your Energy Bill! Ignite!

Please join me in one of the options below. If you have questions, feel free to send me an email at JeoffsRib at hotmail dot com.

Stream Energy Options
Click here to learn more about Stream and how you can save money on your energy bill.

Click here to learn more about how you can join Ignite as an associate and earn extra income!

Click here to go to the main page of my Ignite associate website.

My father was a businessman for years, and I always said growing up, that I would like to join him in business one day.

Well now, although it's only on a part-time basis, I have. I have joined him in the Ignite business to help customers switch to a new energy provider and save hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Not only is it a joy to know that I will help him by supporting him in this way, it's also nice to know that this will help people save on their electricity bill.

Also, out of all the other business opportunities out there, I like this one because it's an industry that I worked in for several years, specifically in electricity market deregulation projects, before leaving the corporate world.