Before I had children I was an expert on child rearing. I had a degree in education. I had been a child. I had cried over my parents’ serious mistakes in disciplining me! Painfully. Then they laid my first little one in my arms and fear struck. My parents suddenly were much smarter. For the first four weeks of my little girl’s life my mother came and bathed her. She was a nurse and had three children who had survived her raising. I had no such resume and my child deserved a better chance at survival.

Babies do not come with manuals. My husband’s mother commented on my own rearing and complimented me and my parents by saying, "Apparently you can’t spoil someone with too much love." That example was my guide. The only rulebook I trust, the Bible, has been the guiding principle of child rearing in our family. The pressures of society have often times intruded and made our children question my husband and me and our guidance. Never again will I criticize another parent’s decisions in disciplining their child. Each one is different. Each is a challenge in a unique way. With each child, every day, it is "Oh, Lord, do the best you can."

Jesus once said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s." Our children are not human capital for the global economy. Separation of church and state demands that we not be forced into sacrificing our children to the false god of government schools. Morality is not something consensus can determine. Research has proven that children do not flourish in their physical or mental development without the mother’s individual attention and stimulation. Social engineers intent upon optimizing the GNP with the earning capacity of women, also viewed as Human Capital, have offered institutional care as a viable and desirable option. No paycheck will validate your efforts for putting your family first. The reward will not be measured in a bank account but in the loving trust in your child eyes and God’s approval that your priorities were in order.

mother and father. Sometimes necessity demands substitution, but that is the exception rather than the rule. We do a disservice to children and our country to try to save the feelings of those exceptions by making the rule apply to everyone. You’ll miss your child’s first step (Brooke, above).

Motherhood an awesome responsibility. We do not always get immediate gratification. Baby smiles, tiny hands clasped trustingly in ours, and slobbery loving kisses pass too soon to emotional distance and challenges to traditions and values. Stands we must take are often painful. Tough love hurts both parties, those who give and those who receive it. God assures us, "Do not hold back discipline from the child." We cling to the promise that if we "train up a child in the way he should go when he is old he will not depart from it."

Life is never dull raising children. Home is a the most important mission field, the most rewarding job, the most valuable contribution to society that any woman could experience. No one loves or understands that little one like his own mother will.

1 Cup Salt

1 Cup Water

2 Cups Flour

Mix salt and flour together.

Add water a little at a time.

Knead 7 to 10 minutes till dough is smooth and putty

like. Roll dough 1/4 " thick. Then use gingerbread

boy cookie cutter for basic shape. Roll small piece

of dough for eyes, cheek, etc. and simply moisten with water to attach. Poke hole at top for thread. Bake on cookie sheet at 325 degrees till light brown or let air dry 48 hours on window screen. Then cool, varnish to protect from moisture or paint any color you like.

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Recipe By : Brooke Ramsey

Serving Size : 12

2 Cups Sugar

1 1/4 Cups Flour

4 Eggs

3/4 Cup Cocoa

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Butter

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Smear the inside of an eight or 9 inch baking pan. Or spray with Bakers Joy. Melt butter in microwave 1 minute.

In the mixing bowl, stir sugar and cocoa together. Stir in the melted butter. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir again. Add flour and salt. Mix just until smooth. Not too much. Now is the perfect time to taste it! Scrape the mixture into greased pan. Spread in even layer.

Bake in 350 degree oven until brownies just are about to pull away from the side of the pan, or until you can stick a tooth pick in and come out dry. Takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Now…lick the bowl! Hardest part! Let it cool before cutting.

Look for opportunities to celebrate life. Birthdays have always been my favorite.

All it takes is punch, cake and a bunch of friends and you’ve got a party! Cartoon Characters can set a theme. Party games like Go Fishing or popping balloons for favors provide entertainment.

Recipe By :Hilda Ramsey

1 box light brown sugar

2/3 cup shortening or Crisco

3 eggs

2 3/4 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup coconut or pecans

1 6 oz package chocolate bits

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Recipe By :Rosa Thomas

2 sticks Oleo

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 cup oil, or less

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup cornflakes -- crushed

1 cup nuts -- chopped

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream together Oleo, sugars, egg and oil.

Add oatmeal, cornflakes and nuts.

Sift together, flour, salt, and soda.

Add vanilla and blend together.

On greased sheet, drop mixture by teaspoonfuls.

Bake 300 to 325 degrees until slightly brown.

Joe, Cecily, Drew, Brooke

Recipe By :Barbara Blumenfeld

1 Cup Oleo -- `

2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 2/3 Cups Flour

1/4 Cup Cocoa

Cup Nuts -- finely chopped

1 14 Oz Bag Milk Chocolate Kisses

Cream oleo in mixer; add sugar and vanilla.

Gradually beat in flour and cocoa. Add nuts. Beat on low speed until well distributed. Chill. Meanwhile unwrap the kisses. Shape a scant tablespoon or less of dough around each kiss, covering it completely. (I found if you press the point into the dough and then cover the kiss, it is easier to shape). Roll each between your palms to form a ball. Place a few inches apart on Pam sprayed tinfoil lined cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove with spatula to wire racks to cool completely. If desired just before serving dust with powdered sugar. (It’s not really necessary as cookies are sweet enough.).

Yield: "72 "

2 cups flour -- .

1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 eggs

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Sift together 2 cups of flour and powdered sugar.

Mix with 1 cup of softened margarine. Mix the three ingredients well

Press into a 12 by 2 inch pan with edges high.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

For the filling: Mix 4 eggs, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup of Lemon juice,

1/4 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

Mix well. Pour into the hot pastry. Bake 20 to 25 minutes at 325 degrees.

Source:

"Lillian Ann Robinson"

1 1/2 Cups Oatmeal

1 Stick Oleo

1/2 Cup Pecans -- chopped

1 Egg

3/4 Cup Sugar

1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Place oatmeal in mixing bowl. Melt oleo and pour over oats. Sift all dry ingredients together.

Mix the dry ingredients with the oats. Beat egg and add vanilla to egg and blend with the oats. Add pecans. Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil and drop cookies by 1/2 tsp. Bake at 325 degrees for 11 minutes. Cool before removing from cookie sheet. This is a "Happiness Ministry" with which I have had the privilege of participating. Wanda bakes these for Butch, her son, and the other Angels. Source: "Wanda Buchanan"

Nobody told me how great grandchildren were. Or if they did I thought they were exaggerating. Brooke turned down a job in New York because her big sister had just had her baby and she was soooo tiny (5 pounds 6 ounces). Drew flew home from New York to welcome her. We’d never had one so small!!! Cecily was 8 pounds 4 ounces, Drew was 9 pounds 8 ounces and Brooke was 9 pounds and 2 ounces. We were all apprehensive when this precious little thing would not nurse.

Cecily had Steve move their bedroom suite from their home in Enterprise back to her old room in our house. Until they sold the home in Enterprise and could find one here (1506 Oak Drive) they lived with us. Brooke had graduated and was in her room, Cecily , Steve and Lily in Cecily’s old room and Joe and I were in ours. Our home was full. Our hearts were overflowing with gratitude. It was the most wonderful opportunity for our family to fit Steve in and all of us bond. Miss Lily as we all call her because she is surely the "boss". I got carried away and made her Christening gown and her first Easter dress. Since I keep her every day for Cecily and Steve to work, my sewing is limited. I look forward to more grandchildren being added to our family.