Monday, May 9, 2011

People are so funny...

Yes, I have a collection of what you might call trolls...folks who follow my blog just to take shots at things I may say. It's funny.  I mean, sure, it's a personal attack most often, and it used to bother me, but whatever.  I'm not  responsible for what folks think, let alone what they say.

However, I am a little more responsible for here, my little homestead on the internet.  So, comments that come out to do little more than bait a response from me, or belittle my opinions and beliefs, well, you'll have to settle for finding another venue for sharing your discontent.  Your own blog, perhaps?

What I believe to be true for my family would be just that...for my own family.  You are free to agree or disagree, sure. It is a free world, moreso on the internet I suspect.  But, I'm afraid I won't be answering every disagreement or baited 'shot' tossed this way.  Things like how I am manipulating my children by our wearing dresses only, how we are wrongly motivated in our homeschooling, our church selection, our Bible version, our lifestyle...the list is on-going...these are areas you are wasting your computer time sending me notes and messages, comments I won't publish and answer.

We wear dresses and skirts. We homeschool.  We are rather Baptist in our structure, but honestly, I don't want a religious 'label.'  We live, eat, and breathe normal air like everyone else. Why we homeschool could be as simple as we believe the Bible calls parents to be the primary teachers for their children.  It could also be something like the government schools are falling below measure every single day and students are falling along with them.  If you know us, you know why we homeschool.  Our Bible choice is our choice.  Our dress code is a personal choice.  You are free to dress as you please, and allow your children to dress as they please.  It's no concern of mine, and I would expect the same response.

I've been repeatedly told we live an old fashioned, out of date, lifestyle.  Please...we have cell phones, we have a television we watch videos on, we have several computers and an iPad. Do we appear to be forging a pioneer existence here?  We are plain, but not Plain enough for our Plain friends...and we are most definitely not worldly enough for everyone else.  We simply are what we are.We listen to music of all kinds, from hillbilly to Celtic to country to Appalachia mountain ballads and Mozart.  We try to garden, and we buy little store-bought processed foods and simply bake and cook from as close to scratch and raw as we can.  We use solar lighting and oil lamps, but my husband is an electrician so I'm hardly off-grid here.  We have a cow and goats and chickens for food needs.  I love the pioneers of our history, carving out a life from little more than what fit in a small wagon...but I have a 1440 sq ft house filled with far too much clutter and junk to truly let go and live a free, old fashioned life.

I would love to have the life Olivia Walton had.  I have the children already, so I'm halfway there, right?  Equally I would fit into the life of Caroline Ingalls and be just as happy.  What I actually have is more the life of Ma kettle.  But it's my life, and I'm happy enough with that.

So, I won't be answering questions about our sons being manipulated to follow the family line....have you even seen my eldest son?  He's about as far from following the family line in appearances as one could get, LOL.  Nor will I discuss whether or not we have selected a spouse for our daughters. This isn't a cult, you know.  It's my family.  i would pray that my children make well grounded and thought out decisions in their life, but who knows? I can only do my part, which is to train them properly so they at least have some solid ground to begin with.  A house of cards or of solid stone is their decision.  I'm not manipulating anyone.  If I were, I'd have a husband at home instead of off working out of state to support his family, and my children would remain close to home.  The world out there isn't getting any prettier, you know.

But thanks for asking :)

18 comments:

Dayna Molloy said...

all I can say is AMEN!

Dayna Molloy
dayna64@yahoo.com

Sisterbrenda said...

Well said... I like ya just the way you are.. Blessings.. Your friend in Maine.. Sisterbrenda

Truly Blessed! said...

God Bless you sister! God bless you.

Hugs!

Jean said...

I hear ya! :-) I am following your blog to be used as an inspiration and ideas. I'm awaiting third new bundle, homeschool, stayathome, in town (trying to bloom where planted). Many people still persistent in labeling me AMISH while I'm not. What made it tougher is... I'm also deaf (only one in entire family who's like that). Eh, modern tech abound all around in this place! and yet I try to live more simply in my own path.

Sherry Sutherby http://russ-stickacres.blogspot.com/ said...

Thanks for sharing. I love your Blog...we embrace a lot of the same beliefs.

Anonymous said...

Amen, amen, and amen!

Anonymous said...

Glad to find your blog - Honestly? You sound a lot like us, except we're Orthodox Jews!

Anonymous said...

Trolls are obviously very discontent with their own lives ...or not actually living their lives if they have nothing better to do then try to disrespect other peoples choices...maybe they want us all to be like them....?? noooo I think china and russia tried that making everyone the same...I'm so glad that everyone is different and that people like you are sweet enough to share windows of lifes up and downs with people like me ...Thank you for your blog from your and other sites I can glen information and feel inspired in different ways to hopefully help my family live the best life I can offer. I guess if they don't like something that they must be either being convicted or I guess they could just go some place else with others who want to live their lives just like them...

Thank you again for your blog I find it honest, and inspiring.

blessings to you all
shelley p
from over the pond

Greg and Donna said...

Preach it Sister! I so understand what you are talking about because I get the same thing ~ and your family & mine are very different. I have decided that as long as we are following what the Lord is convicting us of for our own families (and it doesn't contradict scripture in any way) then we are doing the best we can. If more folks relied on the Lords teaching and really
"seeked his wisdom" in all of these areas, we would live in a much better world.

Ahhhh, its been a while for a rant! As much as I love Ma Ingalls, I think I am better suited for the Waltons ~ I do love my indoor plumbing and electricity! Just could do without alot of the other junk.

Brittany P. said...

I have never commented before but your post struck me today into writing. Wherever you go and whatever you do I have learned that someone will always disagree. Let them. I think you are doing a wonderful thing to homeschool your children and teach them in the way they should go. I do the same. Public schools failed us miserably and I have never doubted my decision to homeschool for one second. In our classroom my children learn about the Bible as well, we have favorite verses printed and posted on the wall of our classroom. This is all GOOD for children. It is right and the Lord has ordained us to teach our children. People who chose not to do it sometimes want to bring us down. Why? Maybe jealousy, maybe it makes them feel that they are not measuring up. I don't know. Lately my family has made alot of changes and for people who love the "world" they think we are crazy but we know we are blessed. The Lord has led us to the simpler life and that is what we will do. Period. Does not matter what people think because the truth is the people who are chosing to live the right way are far outnumbered by those who don't care but the Bible says that many will take that broad path to destruction. The narrow way will be the way less traveled but it is right and good and if you are living it then you just know it. You don't feel the condemnation when you turn to the Lord's ways and His paths. This life, the plain and simple life, has a peace to it that is immeasurable. God bless!

Anonymous said...

AMEN! WOW loved your post... especially the parts on the labeling regarding the direction the faith lines up with...


I am a Child of God... I am a Bible Believing,Christ Following, less than perfect human being... I used to tell folks I am a Christian but worship in a Baptist building I dont do that much now since I have fallen away from "organized" worship I was finding to much compromise in the way worship was being lead.

Great BLOG... I will be coming back often

FRUGAL DAYCARE MOM said...

Wow I could have written your blog post! Only I don't get attacked so much on my blog as in another venue. It sure does hurt sometimes. I can say no one has ever asked me if I have a husband picked for my daughter, but now that you mention it they may just wonder lol. Hang in there, you are not alone.

yolanda said...

way to go!! wow i wish i could just have you in my purse and when i get a dumb question i could just pull you out and after you spoken your peace i would say ditto and amen!!!

Anonymous said...

Obviously these trolls do not have peace in their heart. Raise your family the way you see fit. No one is telling them how to raise their family...

Dana said...

Sorry your being hassled by the trolls again, I wondered if that is why some of your posting had tapered off.

Ya know some people just enjoy being miserable and making everyone around them miserable. I say let them be miserable.

What you do with your blog is your business.


I for one enjoy reading your blog, enjoy seeing the pics, enjoy hearing the stories and am glad you take the time to share them with me.

I'll admit my life isn't as plain as yours my be, but I thoroughly enjoy reading and yes learning and growing from what your posting here on the blog.

Anytime I've had a question you've done a great job explaining things to me which has been a huge help to me and in asking questions and having them answered you've never tried to convert me to your way of doing things or put down the way I chose to do things.
I thank you for taking them time to answer all my questions, I hope that my questions haven't been a bother to you.


I am Sorry your being hounded by trolls again but I hope it doesn't impact or otherwise hinder your blogging and sharing because that would be just sad.

Thanks again for taking time to share with us what's going on in your neck of the woods.

And to those who chose to be just cruel and attack a family just living their life and sharing the goings on around there place I have to agree with Mrs. Dewey and offer that your free to be miserable on your own blog.

Hope to see you posting more!!
Dana

Anonymous said...

My first time stopping here but I love this post..the part about Ma Kettle ....I just thought that was great !!! I might use that myself in a conv
ersation sometime!! Karen

Anonymous said...

Would love to do it your way if I had the chance again. Seems moderate and balanced. Living in the country as you do is heavenly. Not all can do this.

Anonymous said...

I wholeheartedly agree with all you have said. You are living as i wish i was. Please pray for us who share your feelings but are unable to be homemakers. My hubby is not sure he can provide enough for us with out me working out of home, but i so want to work at home on the farm. I also hate that our twins are in public school. All you who know you are where God wants you, please pray for us who are having trouble urging our husbands to follow the simple path home.

Jer.6:16

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

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