June 2006
June 30, 2006
Blogs of Beauty Awards
Has a year gone by? I guess so because Sallie at A Gracious Home is hosting her annual Blogs of Beauty Awards. She is accepting nominations in many categories until Sunday, July 9 at 5:00 PM EST. She will then announce finalists and open voting until Monday July 17...9:28 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Angels in Adoption - nomination time
Two years ago Tripp and I received the Congressional Angel in Adoption award. We were nominated by our Congressman, Frank Wolf, who had been notified about us by a friend of mine who is also a writer from Loudoun County, Ann Stewart. I had never heard of the Angels in...5:47 PM in Adoption, Family | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Does being pro-life define who you are?
Ask these pro-life young people who let me take their picture at last January March for Life in Washington, DC....11:26 AM in Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Have you changed too?
My last entry - Stunning Rebuke to Planned Parenthood - drew this response Bryanne:WOW!!! Thanks so much for sharing this article, Barbara. I am ashamed to admit that I have buried my head in the sand when it comes to the abortion issue. I always knew I would never personally...10:36 AM in Feminism, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Stunning rebuke of Planned Parenthood
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 06:48:29 -0500 Planned Parenthood Celebration Jolted by Abortion Survivor by TED HARVEY, Assistant Minority Leader in the Colorado House of Representatives and current candidate for the State Senate. (reprinted by permission) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She sings the anthem to applause, then her secret is revealed to stunned...8:43 AM in Disabilities, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (23) | TrackBack
June 29, 2006
This weather is distracting, to say the least
Wow. I'm sitting at my computer in front of a window that gives me a wonderful view of God's creation. After tons and tons of rain, today has been bright and sunny. At around 2:50, the blue sky was suddenly eclipsed by an enormous black cloud that turned my green...3:30 PM in Loudoun County, Writing | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
This weather is distracting, to say the least
Wow. I'm sitting at my computer in front of a window that gives me a wonderful view of God's creation. After tons and tons of rain, today has been bright and sunny. At around 2:50, the blue sky was suddenly eclipsed by an enormous black cloud that turned everything shades...3:30 PM in Loudoun County, Writing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Queen of Crockpots
Just wondering who received the most crockpots as wedding presents - how many you returned and how many you kept to give as wedding presents yourself?...9:17 AM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack
What's in your crockpot?
Crockpots are a busy mother's best friend. You toss everything in in the morning and forget about dinner (except for the dreamy smell of food cooking all day) until the last minute. How cool is that? Three favorite things I do with mine: Chicken cacciatore - a bunch of...8:39 AM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Geography test
Place the State is a fun place to find out how much you know about U. S. geography. Take the test yourself - amybe more than once :) - before passing it on to your kids. Will really help them memorize and understand the physical relationship of the 50 states....8:32 AM in Fun Stuff, Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
How to capture a mother's heart
Danielle confesses her new love at Myy Secret Crush. Who couldn't identify? I'm still chuckling. Thanks, Danielle!...6:28 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2006
Boys' haircuts
It's been over a year since I ran this - just thought someone might be brave enough to give this a whirl starting over the summer (buzz cuts are easy!) The best $25 I ever invested was in a Wahl hair clipper kit fifteen years ago when I had four...5:59 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Entertaining Angels
Here is my column from this week's Loudoun Times-Mirror. If you live in Loudoun, you can find my column on page A2 every other week. It's called Close to Home, and it's been running for almost three years. This week's was stimulated by the rejection from neighborhood boys (and parents)...4:02 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Parenting Q&A - keeping 3 year old busy
A reader writes:I am a homeschooling mother of 4: 17yods [for newbies, this means 17 year olds dear son], 11yods, 9yodd and 3yods. My 3yo just transitioned to one nap a day, so I need to figure out what to do with him during our school time. He is very...3:15 PM in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 27, 2006
Sweet Baby James Update/ Thoughts on Adoption
Well, evidently there are a lot of people interested in Sweet Baby James! I just spoke to the receptionist at A Helping Hand and they have been inundated with calls and emails - over 300 in one day. They are somewhat overwhelmed at the moment, and have released a mass...3:35 PM in Adoption, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack
Longest subscriber winners
I've been trying to sort this out - who subscribed, commented, started reading on what dates. My thought was that even if readers weren't subscribed, if they commented early on and I knew they were part of the scene here, that would count. After all, I've never subscribed to a...11:16 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 26, 2006
Blog subscriptions
Someone asked in the comments how to subscribe to Mommy Life. I know you can subscribe at Bloglines - which has a link in my bottom right sidebar. I don't know how the RSS feeds work, but maybe someone else can explain. And some commenters mentioned other subscription sources. Feel...11:32 AM in Blogging, Contest | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
My friend Mel
I must confess I don't get much time to read other blogs, but this morning I paid a visit to Mel at Actual Unretouched Photo. Mel lives about 3000 miles away, but though we've never met face to face, we have a very real, authentic and supportive relationship - just...9:17 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Building a work ethic in kids
This was originally printed in Christian Parenting Today - in 2001 maybe? - but just posted at Woman's Touch: Seven Strategies for Building a Work Ethic in Your Kids By Barbara Curtis Today is my first son’s first day at his first job. Josh is rarin’ to go, but pauses...6:26 AM in Mothering, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Fulltime motherhood found "not worthy"
From LifeSite: Feminist Says Child Rearing not Worthy of Time and Talents of Intelligent Humans By Hilary White NEW YORK, June 20, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Linda Hirshman, a feminist US writer on cultural issues, has told the world why she thinks staying at home with the children is an occupation...6:06 AM in Current Affairs, Feminism, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 25, 2006
Big weekend
Tripp went "over the mountain" - that's what they call going over the comparatively small but still quite beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains - yesterday to fetch five of our grandchildren (Timmy, Patrick, Andrew, Jeffrey and Trinity) whose parents are going to a wedding in New Jersey today. First they went...8:21 AM in Family | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
More on Jonny
I teach my kids that the Bible is like an owner's manual for a car. It tells us exactly how to live our lives successfully - not by the world's standards, but by God's. And successful living brings joy and peace. Throughout the hurtful events that have just taken place...7:19 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family, Loudoun County, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 24, 2006
Jonny - for the benefit of my neighbors who do not want to know him
With all the discussion about Jonny lately, I thought I'd run some pictures to let you know a little more about him. He is one of the kindest, most caring, and joyful people I know. Everywhere we go, people come up to us and greet our family - not because...6:27 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBack
Urgent adoption need - Chinese baby with Down syndrome
Time is running out for James, a sweet little Chinese boy with Down syndrome on whose adoption hangs the fate of other such children in China. [6/27 Update here] Listen to this from the social worker handling his case: China officials have not offered children with ds for adoption...9:10 AM in Adoption, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBack
Laundry - sharing the load
While the women in our house are constantly involved with carrying dirty clothes down from bedrooms and carrying clean clothes up to drawers and closets (in our home we have division of labor because the men in the house do things I really don't want to share either :)...8:25 AM in Big families, Family, Montessori, Mothering, Practical Info, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Subscriber contest - don't forget
Don't forget I am giving away five of my books (winners' choice) to the five readers with the longest subscription to MommyLife. Details here, where you can see that there are ways to find out when you subscribed via Bloglines or even when you bookmarked a site (I didn't know...7:04 AM in Contest | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 23, 2006
Ending the week with humor
This Paul Aldrich video is simply hysterical - especially for Gilbert & Sullivan fans. The tune is based on "A Modern Major General" from Pirates of Penzance. The Modern Church Historical...3:23 PM in Church Issues, Humor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Local news: Pippin
Sophia, Maddy, and Jonny are in this Growing Stage production of Pippin (adapted for younger performers) Performances at Belmont Ridge Middle School June 23, 24, 30 and July 1 7:00 pm June 24, 25 and July 1, 2 2:00pm If you come see Pippin, look for Tripp and me and...3:10 PM in Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
You need this safety tip
Here's why when I'm in an attended parking lot I always detach and give them only the car key: Stalker Hides Under Woman's Bed for Two Days...1:52 PM in Safety | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
The purpose of my blog and my writing
As for the drive-by commenter who advised me to "get over it" - meaning the recent incident of outright prejudice against my son - I would like to say: Sweetheart, this is how I get over it. I'm a writer, which means my mind is finely tuned to the events...8:09 AM in Blogging, Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family, Writing | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
While I lay sleeping
After I posted my last 120 visitors yesterday, Mrs. DMG commented that she liked seeing the foreigh countries represented among my readers. Because of time differences, most of the visits from foreign countries are at night. It's 6:30 am here and this is a sampling of some of the visits...6:15 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 22, 2006
On prejudice and disabilities
While we're on the subject of facing prejudice because of disabilities: Stephanie sent me a link she found at Lori's The Road Not Chosen to Newsweek's recent My Turn column: My Brother is Not His Disability written by 16-year-old Colgan Leaming. She speaks of the immense joy she feels spending...11:04 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Helpful books for parents
I've added these under Barbara's Picks. They're books I've used myself for almost 20 years in raising my kids. Proverbs for Parents - An invaluable reference arranged by topic, so parents can look up something like obedience, pride, fear, honesty, trustworthiness, giving - and many more - for a complete...5:26 PM in Books, Fathers, Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
My last 120 visitors
Once in a while, I like to run one of these to see where readers come from. With an average of 1500 visits a day, I can't keep track of everything, but when I do take a peek, I'm always surprised by strange sounding cities all over the world. Kinda...3:28 PM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Not all wounds are the kind that need a bandaid
Yesterday on the radio news there was a report of police apprehending a man charged with a string of incidents involving exposing himself to little girls in the northern Virginia area. The man gained their trust by promising to show them a box of rabbits. The report heralding his...1:05 PM in Montessori, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Prodigal daughters/ prodigal sons
Father's Day was wonderful - Kip and Samantha and the five wonderful grandchildren they're given us (who will be spending the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa this weekend), Nathan and Jasmine and their equally wonderful five, newlyweds Josh and Hattie, Ben and his lovely Anna, and the rest of the...11:50 AM in Books, Family, Fathers, Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 21, 2006
Diet update - Out with the Old
They say a picture's worth a thousand words. Check out these: This is a jacket I just sold on Ebay - but before I mailed it, I asked Ben to take my picture. Very different than it used to be - didn't need 50 takes to find one I could...7:06 PM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBack
Another thing about Sophia
Another thing I love about Sophia is how when it comes to learning she is not compartmentalized. That is, she doesn't turn on her academic side just for school and then let her mind veg while she parties down at other times. Don't get me wrong - she knows how...6:01 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
About Sophia
I realize I don't say much about Sophia. I think it's because sometimes our relationship is strained due to issues having to do with chores, attitude, respect - the usual teenage daughter stuff. So I just want to say right here and now that Sophia has been a really exemplary...10:41 AM in Family, Mothering, Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Who subscribed first?
I would like to thank all of you who subscribe to MommyLife, either through RSS feed (which remains a mystery to me) or Bloglines (which you can access from my bottom right sidebar). Writers need readers. And you all are important to me. With that in mind, I thought I'd...9:49 AM in Contest | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack
Diet Update
Well, I think I finally got past the Evil Plateau that I've been trying to outlast for three weeks. Yay! I was holding steady at 55 pounds lost for almost three weeks, but yesterday dropped two more pounds - and I feel like my body is revving up for...9:43 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 20, 2006
Never mind.
I said this morning I hoped to bring you all some news of a Peapod alternative for those of you outside Peapod Land. I'm glad I waited to do my homework first, because it didn't turn out to be all I hoped. Articles like this one from the Boston Globe...2:14 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
In praise of Peapod
And shopping online in general. By 8:00 this morning, I had already taken my walk - wanted to get out before it gets brutally hot and humid here - and put away 183.25 worth of groceries delivered by my faithful Peapod. Not only do I save on gas and...8:39 AM in Practical Info, Resources | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Boy Scouts of America
A few months ago we had Boy Scouts at our church. Jonny fell in love with the uniform and decided he wanted to join. Now he goes to meetings every Monday with the troop and he's made some new friends (I am so grateful that we live in a...7:36 AM in Boys | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack
June 19, 2006
Bronzing baby shoes
Does anyone still do this? It was a kind of old-fashioned custom 12 years ago when I did these: These are Jonny's shoes. He's now 14 and about a size 8 shoe. Looking at these makes me feel all mushy inside. These were a pair of red clogs that Sophia...8:26 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Something new at my website!
Most of you have probably visited my website BarbaraCurtis.com since its recent extreme makeover. but I just wanted you to visit today to see the cool new thing added by my Webmaster - my name looks like I'm writing it on the spite. Isn't that cool? Soon to come: links...11:46 AM in Blogging | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Teaching compassion and generosity
Received this email from Joni, who blogs at What It's All About Hi Barbara, My name is Joni. I am the SAHM to a 4, 3 and 16 month old. I found out about you after reading The Mommy Manual, which I love. It is in my top 5 books...10:10 AM in Montessori, Mothering, Teens and Tweens, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Radio - great family movie
My letter to my neighbor about her son's rejection of Jonny mentioned a movie that is a favorite of mine. I've added it to Barbara's Picks - which I'm sorry has been a little neglected lately because there is MUCH more to come when I'm finished with my latest books....9:58 AM in | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Maddy's singing competition
On a happy note, Maddy was involved in a music competition that was held at the Ernst Cultural Center at Northern Virginia Community College Saturday night. There were 17 contestants 13-18 including one band, two piano soloists, and 14 vocalists. The material was not trendy pop, so Madeleine was more...9:48 AM in Family | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Children's table and chairs
From a reader: I looked through "Barbara's Picks" and didn't see one...but I was wondering if you know of a good toddler table/chair available online? (Or at a chain like Target, etc.) I want to set up a "space" for my 14 month toddler, so that he has a specific...6:50 AM in Montessori, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 16, 2006
Father to the fatherless
Those of you without a father - or without an authentic relationship with your father - may enjoy this piece which first appeared In World magazine for Father's Day 1998. His Little Girl Trusting the Heavenly Father after an earthly one fails by Barbara Curtis I remember the day...1:34 PM in Fathers, Holidays | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Take your kids to see Cars!
Sophia and Maddy saw Cars earlier this week and came home in a great mood. Now I know why. Last night Tripp wanted to take the four younger kids to see it, thus giving me the option of getting some writing time - which I desperately need now that...10:37 AM in Movies | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 15, 2006
A Little Fun
Here's a little quick fun: BBrilliantAAwesomeRRevolutionaryBBubblyAAppreciativeRRadicalAAwkwardName / Username: Name Acronym GeneratorFrom Go-Quiz.com I do think I'm radical and revolutionary! Though in a different way than I was back in my hippie days. Nowadays my counterculture status comes from idiosyncracies like having six times the average number of kids (do you...10:46 PM in Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dads - Who Needs Them?
Here's an article I wrote in 2001 that's appeared in several papers on Father's Day. Keep in mind I was living in California, where we were in the thick of a major push to teach kids - as young as preschool - that there is no one best way...1:02 PM in Fathers, Holidays | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
June 14, 2006
Flag Day
Today is Flag Day! Resources for the family: Flag Day Betsy Ross HomePage Flag Day Activities for Kids Flag Day Crafts for Kids Patriotic Holidays Coloring Pages For those in the Baltimore-Washington area, there is a special Flag Day celebration tonight 6:30-9 at Fort McHenry with patriotic music, dramatic...8:42 AM in Holidays | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Rethinking summer and sun
This was my Close to Home column in the Loudoun Times-Mirror this week. Even though a lot of you have heard this saga already, I'm running it for the benefit of those new to this site. Close to Home is my standing column, which runs biweekly on page A2 of...6:07 AM in Health | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 13, 2006
Hospitality Challenge
Deb's comment on my Morning Ramblings inspired me to pose another question and a challenge. She wrote: I think the problem is human nature taking advantage of modern times. Folks just are not deeply involved with each other because we don't HAVE to be. We suffer for it, to be...12:15 PM in Culture | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack
Love this!
What a wonderful portrait! Sam and the Perfect World by David Lenz is a finalist in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery 2006 Portrait Competition. Hooray! And read Lenz's Artist's Statement: My wife Rosemarie had just given birth to our son Sam, and although he appeared perfectly healthy, something, nevertheless, didn't...8:37 AM in Art, Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
This morning's mental ramblings
Something came up in the discussion of what to call mothers-in-law that I wanted to explore further. I think Alison hit it on the head when she described us as an emotionally open family. I lived for 30 years in California and my husband and kids and sons-in-law grew up...7:42 AM in Culture, Family | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack