(Updated October 2008.)

Welcome to the blog of Jenny Silliman!
I am a homemaker, a wife to Cliff since 1980 and a mother of eight wonderful children ages 26 to 5, as of this writing, Fall 2008. I am a Christian with a desire to encourage others as they seek to follow the Lord Jesus. I especially enjoy sharing and encouraging other mothers and homemakers. I have an e-newsletter (to subscribe send a blank e-mail to jennysjournal-subscribe@associate.com ) and I have posted many of my writings on this blog, and some of my lists. Hope they are a blessing to you and an encouragement.

I have self-published some of my lists (Jenny's Twenty Lists), several booklets, and I have a lot more in the works. Following is info about the books that are available via mail order. Please visit my blog again for news of my latest!

Here is an order form you can print out and postal mail...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

ORDER FORM TO PRINT AND POSTAL MAIL
for booklets by Jenny Silliman
Quantity Title Price
______ Prov. 31 Woman Coloring Book $5.00 _____
_____ Say Yes To Life $5.00 _____
_____Jenny's Twenty Lists $7.00 _____
_____Home Remedies $5.00_____
_____Breastfeeding & Fertility $12.00____
SHIPPING $_____
Shipping in U.S. is $5 per order for 1 to 7 booklets.

For larger orders contact Jenny for shipping cost.
All tax included in prices. Total enclosed: $ ______
Please send order with a check in US funds only to:
Jenny Silliman, 931 S. 7th, Sequim, WA 98382

Your Full Name: _____________________

E-mail: ___________________________

Address: __________________________

________________________________
Prices effective until October 2008
Brochures available upon request.
Contact Jenny for quantity discount information.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER !

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The following lists are from a booklet still in process:

"Jenny’s Twenty Lists for the Christian"
by Jenny Silliman, HEART & HOME Publications

Pray Aloud!
Jenny’s twenty Scriptures about how God desires to hear our voices when we pray.

1. Psalm 55:16, 17 "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.

2. Psalm 77:1 "I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me in the day of my trouble."

3. Psalm 88:1 "O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. "

4. Job 34:28 "He hears the cry of the afflicted."

5. Psalm 141:1 "Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You."

6. Psalm 28: 1,2 "To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me…hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary."

7. Acts 4:24 "They raised their voice to God with one accord…"

8. Matthew 27:46 "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’"

9. Deut. 26:7 "Then we cried out to the Lord God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression."

10. Genesis 21:17 "And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, ‘What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is."

11. Psalm 3:4 "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill."

12. Psalm 5:1-3 "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for unto You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up."

13. Proverbs 2:2-5 "Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."

14. Psalm 61:1,2 "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You."

15. Numbers 21:3 "And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites."

16. Isaiah 58:9 "You shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’"

17. Psalm 34:17 "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles."

18. Ne. 9:4 "They stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. Then…stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord God…"

19. Psalm 140:6 "I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.’"

20. Song of Solomon 2:14 "O my dove…let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."

~*~*~*~

Jenny's Twenty Favorite Scriptures on Prayer

1. Matthew 18:19 "I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,
it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."

2. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

3. Psalm 3:4 "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill."

4. Psalm 77:1 "I cried out to God with my voice—to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me in the day of my trouble."

5. Matthew 6:6 "When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

6. Romans 8:25, 26 "If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings with cannot be uttered."

7. Luke 11:1 "As He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased once of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray…’ So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’"

8. I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your burdens upon Him, for He cares for you."

9. Zechariah 4:6 "Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord."

10. Acts 2:42 "The disciples continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."


11. Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

12. James 5:16 "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

13. Colossians 1:3,4 "We give thanks to God praying always for you since we heard of your faith and your love for all the saints."

14. I Timothy 2:1 "I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

15. Proverb 21:1 "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."

16. James 5: 13 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray...Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up."

17. I Corinthians 14:14 "If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays...I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with my understanding also."

18. Mark 1:35 "In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."

19. Psalm 5:1-3 "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for unto You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning."

20. Isaiah 40:31 "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faith."
~*~*~*~

The Proverbs 31 Woman Coloring Book
Originally uploaded by jenniferesilliman.

The Proverbs 31 Woman
Coloring Book
By Jenny Silliman
USA $5.00

The 28 coloring pages from seven years of Joyful Heart magazine (no longer in publication) have all been compiled into a coloring book for girls of all ages. Jenny’s delightful drawings picture women busy with activities such as cooking, sewing and gardening. On the bottom of each page is a Scripture verse (or sometimes half of a verse) from the Proverbs 31:10-31 passage. The size of the coloring book is 8½ by 11 inches. Also included is a note from the author about how she learned to draw and also encouraging girls to become like the Proverbs 31 woman worth far above rubies.

ORDERING INFORMATION

The price is $5.00 plus shipping for each of the booklets listed.

Shipping costs are only $5 per order for up to 7 books. For shipping costs for larger quantities, or other questions, please e-mail me at jennysilliman@juno.com

For a quantity discount, please contact me.

Send your order with a check or money order to:
Jenny Silliman
931 S. 7th Avenue
Sequim, WA 98382

A peek inside The Proverbs 31 Woman Coloring Book

A peek inside The Proverbs 31 Woman Coloring Book
Originally uploaded by jenniferesilliman.

Say Yes To Life
Originally uploaded by jenniferesilliman.

Say Yes To Life
By Jenny Silliman
USA $5.00

A poem in which a mother shares her struggle to obey God’s command to be fruitful and multiply and let Him be Lord in the area of birth control. Includes a reading list, an Introduction by Cliff Silliman, and twenty “Say Yes To Life” Scriptures. How do you view children? The Bible says children are a blessing and an inheritance from the Lord. Happy is the man who has a quiver full.

Excerpt from Say Yes To Life

Jenny's Twenty "Say Yes To Life" Scriptures

1. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said unto them, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; and take dominion.'"
Genesis 1:27, 28

2. "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him saying: 'As for me behold My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be called Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendents after you for all generations.'" Genesis 17:1-7

3. "To Abraham by myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld. Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Genesis 22:16-18, Hebrews 6:13-15

4. "Jacob called his sons and said, 'Joseph [which means God adds] is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him, shot at him and hated him. But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God, by the God of your father Who will help you, and by the Almighty Who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors, up to the
utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of him who was separate from his brothers.'" Genesis 49:1, 22-26

5. "[God's people] were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them...God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God that He provided households for them." Exodus 1:7-9, 20 (See also Psalm 80:8-11.)

6. "These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel, 'The Lord your God has multiplied you, and here you are today, as the stars of heaven in multitude. May the Lord God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!'" Deuteronomy 1:10, 11

7. "Where it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that...He will love you and bless you, and multiply you: He will also bless the fruit of your womb....You shall be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you...." Deuteronomy: 7:12-16

8. "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city,
and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your
fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow." Deuteronomy 28:1-12

9. "And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife [Hannah], and say, 'The Lord give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was given to the Lord.' ...And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile Samuel grew before the Lord." I Samuel 2:20-21

10. "All these were the sons of Hemen the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters." 1 Chronicles 25:5

11. "The [eight] sons of Obed-edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozad the second, Joah [etc.]...for God blessed him." 1 Chronicles 26:4-5

12. "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing."
Psalm 92:12-14

13. "The Lord made His people very fruitful; He made them too numerous for their foes." Psalm 105:24

14. "Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity, and sorrow; He who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But He lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths." Psalm 107:39-42

15. "He makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 113:9

16. "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

17. "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord." Psalm 128:1-4

18. "In a multitude of people is a king's honor, but in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince." Proverbs 14:28

19. "Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me."
Isaiah 8:18

20. "She is your companion, and the wife of your covenant...God seeks a godly seed. Therefore take heed to the spirit and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."
Malachi 2:14, 15

~*~*~*~

Jenny's Twenty Lists
Originally uploaded by jenniferesilliman.

Jenny's Twenty Lists
for the Homemaker
By Jenny Silliman
USA $7.00

1. 12 Table Manners
2. 30 Meal Ideas for Monthly Planning
3. Grocery List For Reproduction
4. Twenty Housekeeping Hints
5. List of Kitchen Supplies
6. 12 Ways to Have More Energy
7. Twenty Tips for Better Sleep
8. Twenty House Cleaning Time Savers
9. 100 Read Aloud Childrens' Books
10. 30 Ways to Make a House a Home
11. Twenty Dollar Saver Ideas
12. 12 Tips to Get Organized
13. 7 Rules of Orderliness
14. 7 Child Obedience Training Steps
15. 12 Ways to Make Learning Fun
16. 7 Ways to Be a Better Friend
17. Ten Health Tips
18. 12 Beautiful Birth Ideas
19. 12 Happy Family Tips
20. 20 Ways to Love and Honor Your Husband

Home Remedies
Originally uploaded by jenniferesilliman.

Home Remedies
By Jenny Silliman $5 plus shipping

A helpful illustrated booklet packed with helpful ideas.

Chapter Titles:
"Grandma Treatment" for Colds
Herbs, A Gift from God
Ear Cleaning and Ear Candles
Honey for Health and Healing
Apple Cider Vinegar
How to Have More Energy
Depression Remedies from the Bible

ORDER FORM
for booklets by Jenny Silliman
Quantity Title Price
______ Proverbs 31 Woman Coloring Book $5.00 ____
______ Say Yes To Life $5.00 ____
______Jenny's Twenty Lists $7.00 ____
______Home Remedies $5.00 ____
______Breastfeeding & Fertility $12____
SHIPPING $____
Shipping is $5 per order in U.S. for 1 to 7 booklets.
For a larger order please contact Jenny for shipping cost.
Total enclosed: $ ______
All tax included in prices.
Please send order with a check in US funds only to:
Jenny Silliman, 931 S. 7th, Sequim, WA 98382

Your Full Name: _____________________________

E-mail: ___________________________________

Address: __________________________________
_________________________________________
Prices effective until December 2009
Brochures available upon request.
Contact Jenny for quantity discount information.
E-mail: jennysilliman@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORDER !

For Mama's Eyes Only

Last night I snuggled up with seven-week-old Baby Peter and we were ready for a nurse when I glanced down at him with love filled eyes and found him returning the sentiments. He gazed at me with the utmost of love and
appreciation with his wide open blue eyes, curled up lashes and gaping mouth. I said to Cliff, "Honey, can you look over my shoulder for a minute?"

Cliff peeked down at his eighth child (and seventh son) and said to him, "Do you love your Mama?"

Peter replied, just like he was answering his Daddy and yet never took his eyes away from mine, "Coo...ah...goo."

We laughed with joy in the sweet shared moment. Then Daddy said, "Can you smile at me for a minute, Peter?"

As if in answer Peter vocalized a long "o" sound, "No." It sounded just as if he answered his Daddy in the negative. He only has eyes for me right now.

At seven weeks old our infant son shows his appreciation (we think he's very intelligent). After all I've done for him, in carrying him nine months and giving birth to him, his twinkling smiles and coos and goos make all the hard parts fade away!

Love in Jesus,
Jenny
jennysilliman@juno.com
Cliff and Jenny Silliman, Sequim, WA 98382
Dan 20 Val 18 Dave 16 Mike 13 Josh 10
Steve 6 and Luke 3
Peter Stanford, newborn March 27, 2003
To subscribe to Jenny's Journal
simply send a blank e-mail to:
jennysjournal-subscribe@associate.com
To read past issues of Jenny's Journal see:
http://associate.com/digests/jennysjournal

Jenny's Journal: "Follow that Cool Belly!"
by Jenny Silliman jennysilliman@juno.com
March 20, 2003

Question: When a couple is expecting a baby any day, what do ya get when the mother wears size XL and the father, that stands at 6 foot 3, and also wears size XL?
A. An XL baby belly.
B. A public spectacle.
C. A conversation topic.
***D. All of the above. *** You guessed right!

I'm not a particularly outgoing person and I've struggled with being overweight for about 30 years, so when perfect strangers in the grocery store look you up and down and actually exclaim, "You're huge!" it is a little disconcerting. You'd think folks had never seen an XL pregnant woman before the way they gape and gawk and stare.

My husband, Cliff, has no problem telling the world all about it--and he actually does every chance he gets. He's the most outgoing man! Every clerk gets to see the family photo and hear all about how the Bible says children are a blessing and how baby #8 is on the way. I come along later and they know my life story, practically.

At the check out line I squeeze in with my watermelon belly and somehow hope to talk about the weather or the price of apples, but usually become a topic of a conversation that usually goes something like this: "Wow! You are huge! When are you due? It must be a boy 'cause you are carrying low."

The other thing people seem to be fond of saying is "You've dropped!" I have a hard time knowing what to say in response. I think to myself: "Just call me Humpty Dumpty." If I had dropped every time people say I've dropped, my belly would be down around my ankles somewhere.

You'd think I would have gotten used to it by now as this is our eighth baby blessing and we always have at least a ten pounder. This pregnancy has been unusual for me as our 18 year old daughter, Valerie, has taken on most of the grocery shopping and I get to stay home more. Yea!

A couple of weeks ago I stood at my bathroom mirror in my slip and thought about my day--I had several errands to run and I kind of dreaded going out into public. Sometimes I'm up to being a large pro-life statement, but this was one of those days I wanted to just slip by unnoticed and incognito. Well, I guess God knew I would need a little boost. Luke, age 3, came in the bathroom, sat down on his potty chair and gazed up at me and said, "Mama! You have a cool belly!"

Standing a bit taller and admiring my silhouette in the mirror I responded, "Yea! It is a cool belly, isn't it?" I decided to hold my head high and even strut my stuff a little bit that day--after all I am carrying some precious cargo! Yesterday I received a card in the mail from a friend with this little poem to remind me of just that:

Dear little Baby
Whose life I now hold
More precious by far
Than all the earth's gold

Eagerly awaited by
A chosen two
Who will help you and guide you
In all that you do

Be patient sweet Babe
Your time draws near
Our arms are wide open
To welcome you here.

Love in Jesus,
Jenny
<>< Cliff and Jenny Silliman, 931 S 7th, Sequim, WA 98382
Dan 20 Val 18 David 16 Mike 12 Josh 10 Stephen 5 Luke 3
Baby Darlin' Dumplin' due 03-23-03
To subscribe to Jenny's Journal send a blank e-mail to
jennysjournal-subscribe@associate.com
To read past issues of Jenny's Journal:
http://associate.com/digests/jennysjournal

Jenny's Twenty Beautiful Birth Ideas
jennysilliman@juno.com March 8, 2003

The birth of a child, an eternal life, is a holy event. With some
thought, preparation and planning, a birth can be an incredibly beautiful
occasion. The presence of God is awesome--the sense of His nearness gives
you the awareness you are participating in something sacred. This time of
bonding and closeness, not only with Baby, not only with the Lord God
Himself, but with the mate God has given you for life and with your other
children and closest friends, can be one of the sweetest times of your
entire life. As Cliff and I prepare for our eighth homebirth, and count
down the 15 days left to the due date of "Baby Darlin' Dumplin'" I
thought I'd share some my ideas--yes, I actually came up with TWENTY!

1. SURRENDER
We know not what plans God has in store for us. Our faith walk is an
adventure and we need to trust our Heavenly Father and abide in Him, our
true vine, our support and our source of strength and abundant life. He
may not always promise ease and comfort, and Baby's birth may include
trials and difficulties, however He does promise us His grace and peace
in the midst of any storm. Cliff and I have given the birth of this child
to the Lord of our lives and we trust that He knows what is best for us.
We don't know if God would have Baby make his or her appearance while I'm
in line at Safeway! (Cliff enjoys the shock value of telling the clerks,
that all know us by name, that we're planning to go shopping for snacks
as soon as we know I'm in labor--just teasing!)

What I'm trying to say is that the location of a birth is something that
should be surrendered to the Lord God. As it says in the Bible, "If God
wills we will do such and such..." God meets us wherever we are AND He
promises to never leave us or forsake us. He is there with you whether
you are delivering at home, in the hospital, birthing center or in your
vehicle!

2. DREAM
Go ahead and let yourself imagine how you would like Baby's birth to be.
Jot down some ideas, desires, things that would make a birth special to
you and your family, and what would be an ideal scenario in your mind. At
about 3 in the morning, when I'm pregnant, I have an hour or more of
sleepless time every night. Baby will be kicking away and I know this
will be a sweet night feeding time in the future. In the meantime I can
use this quiet time to think, to dream and to pray. A precious promise in
the Bible is to take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires
of your heart. However, if you don't let yourself dream a bit--how do you
know the desires of your heart? God loves to give His children good gifts
and the Scriptures are packed with precious promises and many kinds of
blessings from His hand, if we will only receive them.

3. READ
One of my favorite things to do when I'm expecting (AND when I'm not!) is
to read about birth and to read birth stories. (Yes--I'd love it if you
e-mailed me yours!) Recently our daughter came home from the public
library with the book "Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent and I read it in
two days. I learned a lot from the colorful life of this Berkeley
midwife. Understanding the birth process, knowing how beautiful birth can
be, and how to avoid common mistakes, can help you and your husband
tremendously in having a beautiful birth. Cliff and I heartily recommend
the classic book "Husband Coached Childbirth" by Bradley, which is also
available at the library. Look in any birth supplies catalog, in the book
section, for collections of birth stories. I also have gleaned a lot from
the book "Christian Midwifery" by Betty Peckmann.

4. PLAN
Take some time to plan, choose your birth attendant (doc or midwife) and
get ready for this blessed event. There will come a time when you are
ready to sit down with your husband and discuss plans for Baby's birth.
To write out a "birth plan" is so helpful! Don't let birth come upon you
and take you by surprise. Plan out what you want and what you hope to
happen and then you will feel confident and prepared when the time comes.


5. SUPPORT
My husband is a pillar of strength to me when I'm in labor. I draw
strength from his very presence and I can't stand to let him go even when
he needs to use the bathroom. He doesn't need to do anything or say
anything special, in fact I like his quietness. I appreciate knowing he
is looking out for me, being attentive to me and prayerfully covering the
birth of our baby.

Our sons are banned from the room while Mama is uncovered, but before and
as soon as possible after the birth, they are right there. Our daughter,
Valerie, has attended the last few births and she has been an incredible
blessing. We are so in tune with one another and are so close that one of
us will start a sentence about something that needs doing and the other
will finish the sentence. It is like we read each other's minds! I'll
never forget her bouquet of roses on my dresser, her face flushed with
emotion, her tears of joy dripping onto me as she arranged my pillows,
her comment after the birth of Stephen when she was still just a girl: "I
can't wait to have a baby myself!"

We read in the Bible of women helping women to give birth. My daughter
expressed this desire to have a woman friend here that she could lean on
for support. Valerie said, "I'd like Mary to be here because she's had
babies, been at births, knows what's happening and she'd be such a strong
support." God has provided women friends each time I've given birth and
they have been such a blessing. A birth can be a lot of work and an extra
pair of hands, not to mention the emotional support of a good friend, is
a good idea.

6. PRAYER
May I suggest you kneel down by your bed with your husband and be one in
your prayers and supplications? We have experienced mighty powerful
answers to prayers when my husband and I are of one mind and pray aloud
together. The heart's cry of Jesus in John 17 is that we would be ONE.
When it is a husband and wife praying to our precious Lord with one heart
and mind I just picture the Lord Jesus sitting forward on His throne ALL
EARS!!! There are also many Bible verses about crying out loud to God.
After our miscarriage last April (Baby Sol was 20 weeks along), this Baby
Darlin' Dumplin' is especially dear and his life is such a precious gift.
We have bathed this little one in prayer day by day since before
conception. As soon as I go into labor you can be sure it is in "the
plan" to kneel by our bed, gather the children around, and commit the day
and the birth into God's care.

7. FAITH
"Without faith it is impossible to please God; we must believe that He is
and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)
It is crucial to head into a birth in faith, not fear. The Bible tells us
that fear is not from God. This is my main gripe with a lot of the books
on pregnancy and birth and something to be on guard about in talking to
others about birth, especially anyone in the medical profession. It seems
they always want to tell you about what went wrong and get you to tremble
with fear! We ran into this when my husband cut off his finger with the
hedge trimmer. We couldn't believe how many people told us gruesome
stories of fingers getting cut off!

In the Bradley book we learned about "the fear cycle." When you are
afraid you tense up, tension in your muscles causes the birth pains to
hurt more, when you hurt more you fear more and tense up more and the
birth canal doesn't open up. It is a vicious cycle.

Instead Mama needs to have faith that God is in control and she needs to
rest in Him and have peace and go with the flow of the birth process.
"'Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?' says the
Lord. 'Shall I Who cause delivery shut up the womb?' says your God."
(Isaiah 61:9) I like to share the idea of Mama being like a puppet with
all the strings let go. When Mama is in faith she relaxes, the birth
canal opens up and Baby makes his appearance sooner. Give all your fears
to God and let faith fill your heart instead.

8. MUSIC
Plan and even practice favorite worshipful songs to sing during labor.
God has given us a gift of the voice in song and it has a deep, soothing
effect that will minister to the spirit of everyone present--even Baby in
the womb. I like to sing songs TO the Lord, songs of love and adoration
and gratitude. One of my dreams for birth is to have close friends
singing in our living room while I labor. After Baby is born it is a
glorious time to worship God together in song and tears.

9. FLOWERS
A special bouquet of Mama's favorite flowers is a fragrant reminder she
is loved and cherished.

10. CANDLELIGHT
A votive candle by Mama's bedside can be a thoughtful gift and helpful to
develop a peaceful and restful environment.

11. LIGHTS
If possible, dim the lights during labor for a restful atmosphere. We
like to have a flashlight (a working one with extra batteries) handy in
case we want to quickly take a peek and see if you know who is making an
appearance.

12. BATHS
I like to use a few drops of 100 percent pure lavender essential oil
(available at health food stores) in my bathwater and take a warm,
relaxing soak in the tub when I am in labor. Also, I have such a strong
desire to be clean and have everything clean for Baby. Baths are so great
because somehow the warm water really helps you relax and the pain of the
contractions isn't as bad. So many times mothers have shared with me how
much baths have helped them relax when they're laboring.

13. VITAMIN C
I have written about the wonderful pain reducing effect of 1,000 to 4,000
mg. Vitamin C taken every hour during labor. (From the book "Prescription
for Nutritional Healing") Vitamin C can actually reduce labor pain by
half! Write me for more information on this if you haven't heard about it
yet.

14. CLOTHING
Just as a new dress is purchased for a special occasion, a birth is the
time to buy or sew Mama a special, pretty, comfortable new nightgown. Be
sure she will be able to move freely while in labor and that after Baby
is born she will be able to breastfeed.

15. WALKING
Take a quiet stroll with Mama during early labor and enjoy a few moments
alone with her. Cliff and I have walked hand in hand down our street
during the beginning stage of labor and these times are sweet memories.
Friends tell of walking the hospital halls how they enjoyed this time
spent with their husbands. Walking and being upright allows gravity to
bring Baby down into the birth canal more quickly.

16. PHOTOS
We always have to have a photo of Mama's big baby belly profile when she
is in full bloom. You have to see it to believe it! Snap a photo of
Mama's walk, laboring with Daddy, a family portrait with the new addition
and Baby's portrait too. The other photos I don't want to miss is each of
my children's faces during birth--that look of expectancy and
anticipation on the children's faces is so sweet--and a photo of each of
them holding their sibling for the first time.

17. RELAXATION
As soon as Mama does not feel like walking any more, gently get her to
bed and as comfortably situated as possible. She should imitate sleep
with normal, deep, even breathing. Any fear and tension needs to be
released. Watch over her during contractions to make sure she relaxes all
over, especially her face, mouth, shoulders, hands and toes. Gently
remind her to relax any tensed spots, and continue to quietly pray aloud
for her, sing and occasionally ask if she would like anything, such as a
back rub, socks for her feet or another pillow. Some women like to have
absolute quiet when labor is intense (me!) and will let you know if they
need anything, but it is helpful to know you are right there when any
need arises.

18. PILLOWS
Mama's comfort is a high priority. Prepare to have plenty of soft,
supportive pillows, pretty quilts and comforters, electric heating pads
or hot water bottles and a soft recliner or upholstered rocking chair.
Cliff just bought me two brand new (clean!) king sized pillows and my oh
my are they comfy!

19. JOURNAL
Jot down times, events and even comments made to record the blessed
event.

20. FOOD
Help Mama eat lightly and drink sips of water while laboring. Some women
like you to put ice chips in their mouth. It is important to keep her
strength up for the marathon of birth and it is crucial that she stays
hydrated and drinks plenty of good water. Plan a celebration meal of
Mama's favorites that can be quickly made ready after Baby is born and
labor is done!

Love in Jesus,
Jenny
<>< jennysilliman@juno.com
Cliff and Jenny Silliman, 931 S 7th, Sequim, WA 98382
Dan 20 Val 18 David 16 Mike 12 Josh 10 Stephen 5 Luke 3
Baby Darlin' Dumplin' due 03-23-03
To subscribe to Jenny's Journal send a blank e-mail to
jennysjournal-subscribe@associate.com
To read past issues of Jenny's Journal:
http://associate.com/digests/jennysjournal

February 2003
"Vitamin C Reduces Labor Pain By Half!" by Jenny Silliman jennysilliman@juno.com

(Please feel free to forward this e-mail!)

VITAMIN C REDUCES LABOR PAIN!
Excerpt taken from the book:
"Prescription for Nutritional Healing"
1933, 1990 by Dr. Balch, Page 269:
"Nutritional Health in Pregnancy
Vitamin C, suggested dosage 1,000 to 4,000 mg
each hour before delivery [during labor]
Comments: Large doses of Vitamin C
taken before delivery may help
reduce labor pain by 50 percent."

I wanted to share about this wonderful "home remedy." You might want to consider taking Vitamin C for your next baby's birth--or pass on this remarkable help for someone you know who is expecting. Vitamin C is
harmless as it is water soluable and any extra, that your system doesn't need, simply comes out in your urine. I bought a big bottle of Vitamin C at Costco and took 3,000 mg every hour on the hour when labor began. It was so terrific for me and my friend that we both felt we wanted to tell the world!!!

MY FRIEND'S VITAMIN C STORY!
A few weeks before I was due with Luke (who is 3 years old now) I had Vitamin C recommended to me by my friend, Kathie Niclas. She told me her story in her lovely New Zealand accent: "Vitamin C actually made labor quite bearable. When I was in labor with our 6th child I took Vitamin C every hour and I didn't think I was really in active labor yet. My husband and I walked the halls of the hospital and I felt I could walk a mile. My husband finally insisted I get to the hospital bed. About ten minutes later I delivered Katie Clair!"

RECOMMENDED BY MIDWIFE!
I checked it out with a very experienced midwife of about 25 years in central CA that is also an herbalist. She gave her recommendation for Vitamin C during labor and explained why it worked. Apparently the Vitamin C inhibits the release of prostaglandins--though this does not have any adverse effects on labor, baby or mother. It is nice to understand WHY it works! Also was good to know there was only the one side effect of possibly loosening the bowels. (This may be beneficial and enhance labor anyway.) Her name is Terri Snyder if you want to e-mail her: termar@sierratel.com She is a Christian full of faith and trust in the Lord Jesus for the natural birth process. She writes for Shonda Parker's health magazine.

JENNY'S VITAMIN C IN LABOR STORY!
When I was due with Luke in 1999 our friend, Kathie Niclas, shared about the wonderful effects of Vitamin C in labor. We read the information for ourselves in the book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." My husband
and I prayed about it and talked to our midwife, and felt peaceful about it, so we decided I would go ahead and use Vitamin C. When I started labor mid-day on October 25th, every hour on the hour I swallowed 3,000
mg of Vitamin C.

During early labor I puttered around the house and took an afternoon nap with our 2 year old. I woke up with steady contractions, but they were still the kind you could talk through so I thought things weren't
progressing very fast. At about 6 o'clock I made some phone calls to share the exciting news that I was in labor and to ask for prayer. I was on the phone for about an hour and was not very uncomfortable, though the
contractions were steady and sometimes I would pause and take a deep breath.

Our daughter called me to the table when dinner was served at 7 p.m. I sat at the supper table with my family (5 sons and 1 daughter) and I even ate a little bit. The labor pains were then hard enough I would have to
ask for quiet and stop for a minute and close my eyes and concentrate on relaxing. As I labored right there at the table our boys were full of questions. In between contractions I explained how labor is like squeezing a sock to push out a cantaloupe. (Sometimes it feels more like a basketball!) I remember telling my family how labor wasn't progressing very fast and I though I would labor into the night. I said: "I'll probably have this baby after midnight so the birthdate will be tomorrow's date." I had had six home births and from my experience that's how it seemed to me!

The boys did the dishes and Cliff and Valerie went into the bedroom to get things ready with a woman friend who was helping us. I got up from the table to use the restroom to have a bowel movement and I almost didn't make it out of the bathroom as I discovered I was in transition! At eight o'clock the boys heard a baby cry and looked at one another in amazement and disbelief.

We praised God for His gracious provision of Vitamin C and such a beautiful home birth. I WAS SO AMAZED AT HOW THE PAINS WERE LITERALLY CUT IN HALF! Our baby weighed over 11 pounds, I was 41 years old and he's our seventh child, but hands down, believe it or not--this birth was the EASIEST of all. Vitamin C also eased the afterbirth pains (which are sometimes SO painful.) Terrific!

PASS IT ON!
Cliff and I have shared our story with anyone who would listen--the pregnant woman at the bank, women at church and friends far and near and they all say the same thing. "Wonderful!" or "It worked!" "We should tell
everyone about this!" So that's exactly what I'm doing. Pass this info on to anyone you know who is expecting a baby. If you try it, e-mail me your experience, ok? By the way, we would consider it an honor if you would let Cliff and I pray for your birth. E-mail me with your due date. Feel free to call us any time of day or night, ok?

Love in Jesus,
Jenny

Today is my 45th birthday! I am looking forward to celebrating with family and friends. Fresh strawberries for breakfast!

One of our sons commented: "Wow! Mama, you have lived a long, long time! I can't imagine living 45 years!" LOL

For special birthday gifts our boys are helping me do some gardening and some household "fix its" and Valerie is going to help me sew up two new blouses so I have something new to wear after Baby Darlin' Dumplin' is born in March and the weather gets warmer. Also on my wish list is a new calendar and a new diaper bag. Oh it will be so fun to get some teeny tiny diapers and white baby booties to go inside of it!

Baby is due in less than five weeks. I can see the finish line! Everything is going great and Baby is quite active. We covet your prayers
for another beautiful homebirth. After seven terrific home birth (yes, I am SO blessed!) we don't anticipate any problems, but we always prepare for them and hope for the best at the same time. I plan to take vitamin C every hour during labor again, which actually cuts labor pain in half. Write me if you haven't gotten that wonderful information from me yet and want to try it.

I have had low iron this pregnancy for the first time, but I've been taking Rainbow Light Iron Supplements and it is coming back up in the normal range. No wonder I've been feeling so tired this winter. Instead of rising early and writing in the mornings--I've been snooozing. Many of you have asked if I was o.k. because I'm just not writing much these days. I think my creativity energy must be going to Baby.

Cliff figured out how long I've been pregnant, including this pregnancy, seven other pregnancies and the months pregnant before miscarriages. Out of 45 years of life I've been pregnant for eight years!

I am happy to say that out of the seven mothers I know that miscarried in the year 2002, of which I am one, all of us are pregnant again and are doing great! We thank God for the gift of new lives!

"He has made me...a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord." Ps 113:9