Sacred Laundry

I would like to figure out what history I will start with Ethan in Kindergarten next Fall. I'd like to get it sometime soon so I can start reading/learning now before I start teaching it to him. He loves all the Roman stuff and I know that is in the bible too. Gosh I am really clueless about history so I'll need a lot of help. I think I'll look online and see what I can find on the internet, but I know your thoughts are going to be vital to me figuring this out. Oh, I will pray too. :)

Suggestions please...... I guess this can work by everyone posting their thoughts as a comment?

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Preparing for a Fresh Start!
Dec. 31, 2008

Greetings!As we head into 2009, now is a great time to take a breath and ask God to show you what's most important for your homeschool this year. No matter where you are with your studies or how messy the house is (trust me I understand the wreck that is a house after Christmas), God can do amazing things in your homeschool.

In fact, I think He just might surprise some of you with what He can do with your humble, imperfect efforts. He's not waiting on you to "get it all together."

I was recently reminded of an awesome verse and I hope it will be an encouragement to you all as well.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. " Ephesians 3:20-21
Enjoy every minute!

I was feeling so frustrated with our current food allergy state and sat down at the computer and prayed. Randomly I googled "rice allergy" and found this article here.
It describes what has happened with all of our babies and really explains why just changing the diet doesn't work. We definitely are experiencing the imbalance in the gut. We don't break down the complex carbs well. It was so encouraging and such an answer to prayer. Now we just need to kill the nasty stuff and get some good stuff in there.

Yes, my DS was "allergic" to rice cereal as his first food. And oatmeal too.

Only it wasn't an allergy... it was an intestinal flora imbalance.

Babes cannot produce adequate amylase enzymes in saliva to start breaking down complex carbs (disaccharides) in their mouth until most of their teeth are in... well into their second year. If food is not digested fully, it is very hard on the gut and the intestinal flora in particular. It ferments and feeds the bad bacteria.

This caused a yeast overgrowth. Massive diaper rash from hell. Full body eczema appeared. I still was thinking "allergy" at that point because that is automatically how everyone thinks, and never made the real connection to gut flora until much later.

If I had to do it all over again, grains would be the very absolute last things I introduce. Well into second year.

(Also formula fed or formula supplemented babes' guts are stressed for this reason too. Formula is never fully digested in newborns which is why their poop smells so horrible and BF babes poop smells like yogurt. FF and FSupplemented babes have radically different intestinal flora than EBF babes. FF babes never get a chance to close up the intestinal lining like EBF babes do, it remains leaky. Thus probably increasing chance of the immune system reacting to foreign food molecules that are not supposed to be in the bloodstream. I think this is the cause of many true food allergies.)

How do you do that thing where your text is a hyperlink to the site???????

I found this great blog. At least I think it is great. Leave comments about if you agree or disagree with any of the reviews. I love books, this is an exciting site for me in finding new books!

http://ccbreview.blogspot.com/

I subscribe to The Nourishing Gourmet and thought many of you would enjoy the site as well. She has an incredible amount of good whole foods information all in one place and does lots of recipes with gluten and dairy free folks in mind.

• 4 cups Quinoa soaked and rinsed
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 tsp baking powder (I've used potato baking powder with good results, others would probably work just as well)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp honey (this is important to cut the bitter taste that Quinoa can have)

Add all ingredients to blender. Blend well and cook like pancakes.

• 3-4 large apples peeled, sliced, & halved
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 - 2 Tbsp buckwheat flour or other wheat free thickening agent

• 2 cups Buckwheat groat soaked and rinsed
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup oil
• 3 tsp baking powder or 1 1/2 tsp cream tartar and 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/8 cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425 F

Cook apples, sugar, and cinnamon in saucepan over medium heat until apples are somewhat tender and juices are boiling stirring frequently. Then stir in flour and cook a little longer. Pour into a greased baking pan.

Blend in blender the buckwheat, water, oil, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Pour over the apples in baking pan.

Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over top.

Cook at 425 for 25 - 30 minutes.

(The only thing I don't love about this recipe is all the sugar, but I guess dessert is supposed to have sugar so you can't really get around it. Honey could probably be substituted, haven't tried it yet, I'll update this if I find a honey substitute quantity that works well.)

Soak buckwheat for 4+ hours.
Put water on to boil.
Heat some olive oil in a saucepan that has a lid over medium high heat.
Put rinsed buckwheat in saucepan and stir continuously. The longer you "saute" the buckwheat, the more flavor it is supposed to add. 5 minutes is the most I usually do it.
Add enough boiling water to cover buckwheat, plus a little more. The more you add the more mushy your buckwheat will become.
Cover and reduce heat to low.
Simmer until all the water is absorbed (about 5 - 10 minutes).
Add salt and olive oil in bowl and enjoy.