Funny Friday

Little babe was 6 months old yesterday.

Funny Fridays: A collection of funny things that were said or done in our home this week, even if they weren't funny at the time...

"It feels strange to live in a taco."- 5 yr. old daughter who obviously has a wonderful imagination.

"I don't have time to train like a ninja." - Sweet Husband (I was trying to get him to exercise with me.)

"Forgot to buy Miterman!!!" (Spiderman) - almost 2 yr. old after leaving the grocery store, when I asked myself out loud if we had remembered everything.

"I can't get my work done for you getting in the way all the time." - 5 yr. daughter after I let her do mommy's work instead of her school for an hour trade off. She did decide that even though she likes mommy's work, mommy is better able to do it, and I think we both feel better about school.

"Are you even a grown-up?" - little girl who started taking violin lessons from me yesterday. I'm taking this as a compliment.

Hope this brought a smile to your face today. What funny things have happened at your house this week?

Euthenasia, Life, and History Repeating

As someone who has a degree in Cardiopulmonary Science and worked as a Respiratory Therapist for a while, I have a unique perspective on socialized medicine, as do others who have been or are working in healthcare. Please take a moment to read this post written by a physician in 2004 about the connections between socialized healthcare, euthanasia, and how it becomes normalized in a society.
I found this through The Common Room, which if you're not familiar with, is a really diverse and interesting blog, so check it out :)

The burgeoning new sciences of psychology, genetics, and medicine provided a glimmer of hope in this darkness. An intense fascination developed with strengthening and improving the nation through Volksgesundheit - public health. Many physicians and scientists promoted "racial hygiene" - better known today as eugenics. The Germans were hardly alone in this interest - 26 states in the U.S. had forced sterilization laws for criminals and the mentally ill during this period; Ohio debated legalized euthanasia in the 20's; and even Oliver Wendall Holmes, in Buck v. Bell, famously upheld forced sterilization with the quote: "Three generations of imbeciles are enough!" But Germany's dire circumstances and its robust scientific and university resources proved a most fertile ground for this philosophy.

These novel ideas percolated rapidly through the social and educational systems steeped in Hegelian deterministic philosophy and social Darwinism. Long lines formed to view exhibits on heredity and genetics, and scientific research, conferences, and publication on topics of race and eugenics were legion. The emphasis was often on the great burden which the chronically ill and mentally and physically deformed placed on a struggling society striving to achieve its historical destiny. In a high school biology textbook - pictured above - a muscular German youth bears two such societal misfits on a barbell, with the exhortation, "You Are Sharing the Load! - a hereditarily-ill person costs 50,000 Reichsmarks by the time they reach 60." Math textbooks tested students on how many new housing units could be built with the money saved by elimination of long-term care needs. Parents often chose euthanasia for their disabled offspring, rather than face the societal scorn and ostracization of raising a mentally or physically impaired child. This widespread public endorsement and pseudo-scientific support for eugenics set the stage for its wholesale adoption - with horrific consequences - when the Nazi party took power.

The Nazis co-opted medicine fully in their pursuit of racial hygiene, even coercing physicians in occupied countries to provide health and racial information on their patients to occupation authorities, and to participate in forced euthanasia. In a remarkably heroic professional stance, the physicians of the Netherlands steadfastly refused to provide this information, forfeiting their medical licenses as a result, and no small number of physicians were deported to concentration camps for their principled stand. As a testimony to their courage and integrity, not a single episode of involuntary euthanasia was performed by Dutch physicians during the Nazi occupation.

Would that it were still so. 

Read the entire post here. 

Is Blogging Like Reality TV?

So not real picture of me. Blessed to have taken my shower
last night and to have dry hair. Coffee cup strategically
placed over blemishes, and empty of coffee. Camera angled
so that you can't see all the clutter in the kitchen and shot
so you can't see my insecurities ;)

Perhaps the title is a bit misleading, but what I mean is do we read blogs for the same reason we watch reality tv? Do they both affect us the same way, for better or worse? Warning: this could easily morph into multiple posts on the topic.

I realize that everyone could give many different reasons as to why they are into reading blogs or watching reality tv, but I think there are some similarities, good and bad.

First, there's the question of is this really reality? I think very few people are convinced anymore that so-called "reality" tv is actually real. At its worst it's likely to be very scripted and one can't trust that any of it is void of scripted antics merely for the sake of sensationalism. And yet at it's best, it can't truly be real either. After all, if there were tv cameras at your house would everything go as normal? Would you still be in your pajamas while you drink your morning coffee? Would your tone change as you correct your children?

The Duggars, although slightly controversial, I think most would agree represent such a positive view in "reality" tv, and yet I am certain there are things not realistic in their portrayal. For example, you never see the older girls just after they wake up before their hair is perfect or their makeup is on. And even the older boys, father, and mother are rarely seen without looking put together. I am not saying this is bad or criticizing them for it, because honestly, I think I would strive to do the same in their situation, merely to point out that even when the intentions are to be completely forthright and honest in reflecting the reality of this family, it's still not truly an accurate portrayal of day to day life, and I wouldn't expect it to be so.

I think the same can be said of blogging. I don't think most people who are writing a blog are actively seeking to be misleading or dishonest, but like reality tv, we either think no one wants to see the ugly side of life (which honestly, we don't for the most part), or we only blog when we think we have something of some relevance to say.

There's a danger I think in both when it comes to the reality of both. The truth is we don't really know people on reality shows, but we don't usually really know the people who write the blogs we follow either. And yet, it's so weird how we feel as though we do. Because both venues seemingly open the lives and homes of total strangers to us as if we were close family or friends, we feel a relationship with them when none exists. Even when I look to blogs as entertaining or for useful information or as a tool for learning more, I can't help but feel a relationship with the person writing it, though they be a total stranger. And worse still, there is not a relationship with anything other than my computer/iphone! And the relationships, or potential relationships, with the real people that I see daily all around me can somehow take a backseat in priority to reading the latest about my beloved blog friends.

I'm not suggesting that watching reality tv or reading blogs are in and of themselves a sin or wrong, merely that I think they have the potential to keep us from our reality. They can keep us from having meaningful relationships with our families and neighbors, and worse as a Christian from witnessing to those around us. I realize that anything can become an idol, and don't even get me started on social networking (fb, I'm talking to you!) and how it's pulled me from those I love, but the potential through our computers and phones to make it so much easier to get lost in a virtual world of unreality no matter how many real people are behind it, is frankly scary.

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."-1 Corinthians 10:23

This isn't a new year's resolution, but I am going to try, by God's grace to get out of this web pulling me  away from those around me. My phone is just going to have to be a phone again, and though I do still plan on blogging, I don't plan on reading blogs as much. I want to see and talk to my kids and my husband and my neighbors, no offense, but God has put me directly into their lives for a reason, and I feel as though I have often neglected them.
This is totally my sin, not to start a ban on blogging/internet ;)
The internet and blogging and fb have all been wonderful tools for me, and I will continue to use them as such, but I don't want to do it, or anything else for that matter, to the neglect of my home or others. I hope my kids see me accessing a tool, but not seeking it over them.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."-Philippians 4:4-13

So, how do you keep your use of technology and social media in check? How do you involve your family in them? Is there anything you would change about your use of them?

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."-1 Timothy 6:6

God make me content to be with those You have given me influence over, and keep me from idolatry of any kind. I pray that you would make me value You above all else, and that I would seek to serve others rather than my selfish desires for a life outside of Your will. I pray that it would be You and not me to influence, and that no matter what You would be most glorified in my life. 

So, Here's the Story...

So, here's the story :)
When our sweet first son was about nine months old (December 2011), we went to my parents house where my dad asked if I was pregnant. I was a little embarrassed and tried to laugh it off by saying I just haven't been running much lately. Then, our daughter asked me how the baby was in my tummy! (She had been praying for another baby since her brother was born in March 2011.)
Now I was starting to think I must be getting fat or maybe I am pregnant. So, to stop everyone from asking any more I decided to increase my exercising, but because of my history of miscarriages, I,  ever the paranoid, decided I should take a test just to be sure. Well.....I was pregnant!!!
How was this possible?
See, I was supposed to have PCOS(polycystic ovarian syndrome). We had to go to a fertility doctor and take metformin to conceive our daughter and then took metformin and clomid to conceive before our miscarriages and our son. We didn't think we could ever even become pregnant without the help of a doctor and at least medication. And the weird thing is that our fertility doctor had retired and the doctor who established the clinic died and the clinic closed, for good. We had been wondering if we needed to find a new doctor or if we just needed to be content with the two blessings of a daughter and a son that God had already so graciously given to us. Now we had become pregnant without a doctor, without medications, and while breastfeeding!
And it gets better, because at our first ultrasound visit, they said there were no long any cysts on my ovaries! I believe God healed me. I don't know why He did. I never even asked Him to heal me of this, but I believe He did, and I am so thankful.
So, after a fairly uneventful pregnancy and a lot of extra fluid, we had our second son on August 21, 2012. He was and is huge still at five months.

Happy family :)

And this is a big part of what I have been up to in the last year. I hope this encouraged you, and that you'll know and be reminded that nothing is impossible for God.
Has God done something amazing in your life over the last few months? Please share here, so we can all praise Him together. Love in Christ!

Hello, again...

Just popping in ;)

Hey y'all!

I know, I haven't written anything here in well over a year, and I bet no one was ever expecting me to again. And yet here I am, writing once again. So much has happened in the space between that I almost don't know where to start, but I said almost, so here goes.
First, I think you should know why I started a hiatus to begin with. My husband and I were in agreement that I needed to stop blogging for a while. Partly because it was very time-consuming and I had little spare time, and because we both felt a conviction that it was increasingly hard to not be two-dimensional here. I mean that it is easy for others to read a blog post and think they know you, and think you have all the answers, or that your life is picture perfect all the time. The truth is that most people who will ever read this will never actually know me apart from the words written here. That may sound cold and indifferent, but it's true. I know that I have to remind myself when reading a favorite blog that I don't actually know this person. (How odd a time we live in when anyone and everyone can write to the world who they want be, whether it be true or not!) And even though my intention was never to mislead anyone, we felt that I needed some time away from writing here to sort it all out. I wasn't sure that I wasn't in sin somehow in blogging here, and no matter how ridiculous that may seem to you, it's the truth and my conscience would not allow me to have peace until I could come back fresh and without a burden or a fear of my being sinful in it.
Then, when my husband and I agreed that I should write again, my laptop's charger cable quit working.  What can I say, I have a macbook and a replacement wasn't a big priority (when you read what we've been up to in the last year and a half, I think you'll understand why).
So, many months later, here I am again. I suppose I could've tried to type one on my phone, but who knows what the infamous iphone spell check would've replaced what I was typing. It might have been much more interesting to read and definitely more entertaining.
Well, there you have it. That's why I've not been blogging lately, and now to tell you what's in store. I hope to post in the next few days about some of the miraculous things God has been doing here. I will warn you that I can't promise that I'll be very regular at posting, as again, it's not a very high priority, and I hope you'll understand that. I also hope to post more about sewing, just because I want to, and I love sewing or creating anything for that matter. I realize that one of the tips for a good blog is to know your audience and limit your blog to specific subject(s). I just can't do that, I'm far too indecisive, and like everyone else my interests and tastes vary greatly.
So, that's it, why did you think I stopped writing? ;)

Hospitable Thursdays: 5 Common Scenarios to Show Hospitality

I am trying a new format to help me keep up with blogging. I am attempting to have certain themes to certain days of the week/month so that I can be more organized in blogging. Who knows how this will go, so bear with me,...please. I hope you like it, and let me know if you do.

 First, let me say that I am NOT the best example of hospitality in the sense that I have people over at my house all the time. We do have guests from time to time, and sometimes weekly, but I don't feel as if I have to have someone all the time in order to be hospitable. Instead, we kind of look for opportunities to be hospitable and offer hospitality as they present themselves.
There are some very practical things that I've had to learn in order to be ready to be hospitable, and I am starting this series in order to become better at it, and I'm really hoping you'll share your experiences and tips with me.
Just to be clear, I am NOT a good example of hospitality. I am endeavoring to be better at it, and I am hoping this series of posts will help me with this. These are simply a few things that I know work and I have done, but don't do regularly enough. You don't even want to know the state of my home right now, seriously inhospitable.

Here are 5 common scenarios that come up for us regarding hospitality.

Scenario #1: My husband calls and says he's invited someone he works with to come over tonight.
Noooo!!! It seems that, at least in this stage of life with little ones, this always happens on those really bad days where nothing has went well and as a result our home looks like it's survived a natural disaster. First, it's probably not as bad as it seems, and everyone, especially who has kids, should understand that on short notice things can be a little messy. Second, my mother taught me a great rule for housekeeping. You always keep the living room, kitchen and bathroom/guest bathroom able to be ready with just a little picking up. I must confess I really do try to do this, but sometimes things just get out of hand so quickly that I have a hard time doing this consistently. I have also told my husband that it really helps if he can let me know as soon as possible when he has invited guests (you know, if he asks them at lunch, please text or call me then, not come home and say they are right behind him). He doesn't always remember to do this and that's why it's so good to keep the rooms they are likely to see somewhat clean.

Scenario #2: My in-laws/any relative/friend calls and says, "Can I stop by for a little while?"
We actually live both of our parents and most of our siblings and fairly close to many in my husband's extended family. While the extended family are not likely if ever going to just come over except for rare occassions (i.e. birthdays and after baby's birth), our immediate family does come over sometimes without much notice. I probably shouldn't, but do have a little bit of a double standard when it comes to our parents. I have the most amazing in-laws, but still feel less comfortable with them seeing my home messy than my own parents. I guess I rationalize that my mom and dad know I do clean and don't want them to see a mess, and I still think in the back of my mind that my in-laws will think I'm not taking care of their son or grandkids. I know it's silly and they would be the first to tell me so, but I still feel that way. I don't often get a lot of notice, but I've come to find out that as long as they get to see the grandkids, they don't care about anything being messy. As far as a friend goes, they're probably too nice to say anything about your housekeeping, and hopefully they understand your circumstances already. Still, I may have been known in nice weather, when I know someone's coming for a short visit to take the kids out to play when they pull up.

Scenario#3: Playdate!
Well, obviously, you would know about this ahead of time and can schedule it, so this one's not too hard to prepare your home for. I do have trouble getting my daughter to see the value in keeping her toys neat, because I guess she figures she needs to have everything out so her friend can see it all and play in the piles. I do think that it's okay to have dishes in the sink or laundry needing to be folded in a basket when the mom comes over. After all, she should understand better than most people exactly what you're doing. Plus, it may encourage her to come over more often (she won't think you're this depressingly non-human super housekeeper) with her kids and help you get stuff done at the same time, and don't worry too much about the mess the kids are making let them help to clean up afterwards. I am a fan however of outdoor playdates and wish we had more people to go to the park with, not cause I don't want anyone in my house, but because they're a lot of fun for the kids. *sigh* I do need to initiate playdates more often (insert horrible mother guilt trip).

Scenario #4: "I need to talk to you. Can I come over?"
This doesn't happen too often, but it's nice to keep your home ready for it. The good news is that because of the nature of this visit they probably don't really care much how things look. Even, so, I like to keep some easy to bake or cook or just to eat things, so I can offer them something to eat (i.e. cake mixes, muffin mixes, brownie mixes, popcorn, chips and salsa, etc.). I also like to keep some soft drinks, which we don't drink often or try not to, so I have something other than water, juice, and milk to offer, but we've also made coffee for guests if they want it (keep a powdered creamer for coffee enthusiasts). We also have a tea pot and tea bags if they would prefer hot tea (I'm not good at making iced tea). The hardest part with this scenario is what to do with the kids. Sometimes it's something that can't be discussed in front of them. My husband has often taken guests to the porch or basement or even just the yard while we're inside and having something for the kids to do to occupy their attention helps.

Scenario #5: We want to be a witness of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We do sometimes invite over people we know aren't Christians in the hope that we can share the gospel with them. It's not that we can't share the gospel with them anywhere, but we want to show them how much we care about them and their eternal destiny. We don't just randomly go up to people and say come over and talk about eternity with us, but we do make a point of reaching out to those who are unregenerate around us and  offering them a home-cooked meal or just to visit with us, because we feel the obligation to tell them the truth and warn them of the wrath of God (Romans 1:18).

This is a completely unrelated picture of my kids. Yup, he's a thumbsucker ;)

So, how do you show hospitality?

God and My Awful-Horrible-Terrible-No Good Day

Okay, so this is really a conclusion to yesterday's post. 
Yesterday started to be what seemed like would be an awful-horrible-terrible-no good day. I was so overwhelmed by about 10 a.m. that I not only posted about it here, but I even asked for prayer on facebook status. What with acid reflux baby spewing and toddler girl having potty accidents (which she actually inherited from me problems with incontinence), I didn't even have the time to really pray much more than "God help me!", which I did, and I know others who did. And He did, but in ways I couldn't even imagine. 
When we finally did leave, it was about 20 minutes later than I had hoped, but we got to town and saw a really bad wreck ahead. I could see the fire engine, ambulance, and police, but no cars, only a man and woman walking from way back where we were carrying a little boy in their arms and his carseat. (Please pray for those in this accident, some were taken to the hospital strapped to boards.) All I could think of was how angry and frustrated I had been about all the delays that morning, and had we left much earlier that could've been us, and it could've been us anyway, but God had protected us as we traveled. I couldn't help but cry right there and tell my kids in the back seat how much I loved them. I had to apologize to them and God. I'm so glad He forgives my stupidity.
Then, again because we were running late, we got to the AT&T store and my mom and dad asked if they could take us out to eat for lunch, because my dad had just finished his cardiac rehab class and they were in town anyway. Um, Yes! (If you know me at all, you'd know that a promise of a meal, especially with good friends and family is something I cannot resist.)
I had planned on going to the store while we were out anyway, so after we ate, my mom wanted to go with us (dad gets really exhausted after his workout). So, we decided to go to Walmart. I actually don't go to Walmart usually, but for some reason we decided to go. While just walking through the store with my mom and kids, we were approached by the Picture Studio photographer who asked us if she could take pictures of the kids for free with $50 of free pictures included! I had never heard of this, but she said that they have to have at least one session per shift and that she had had no one scheduled, so in that case they are allowed to give away free pictures to someone! (Although as their mother, I'm sure it had something to do with their cuteness.) I'm sure it's with the assumption that mommy or daddy won't be able to just stop with the $50 worth and will buy more, but they didn't know me, I'm cheap ;)
While we were there, Shelby used a public potty. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you knew how terrified she is of them and how tired I am of going back out to the car everywhere to sit in 98 degree heat while she uses a fold up potty in the parking lot and then I have to find some remotely discreet way to dispose of the, er, waste, you'd totally understand why this could improve my day.
Also while getting the kids pictures taken, my husband called and said he was getting off work, did I want him to pick up something for dinner on his way home? Yes, please! Hey, sometimes you just need a break from cooking.
After a pizza dinner, which I have found I can eat after the last feeding of the evening even though Jonah can't tolerate dairy in my milk, both kids went to sleep relatively easy. Jonah with the usual face caressing and thumb/paci sucking (picture taking wears little babes out) and Shelby after singing "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" and "Trust and Obey" with mommy and daddy, talking about Jesus, prayer, and reading of Psalm 22 (per her request this particular passage, though we read something from the Bible almost every night, that is if she doesn't fall asleep before). Shelby even got out of bed to go poopy in the potty by herself, another big deal in our house. 
Was God rewarding me for how I handled the first part of my day? Not hardly. You see I had only been angry, ungrateful, and self-pitying, but He brought me to repentance for my sins and lead me to prayer and to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and most of all to Himself. So that by the end of the day all I could do was sing praises to Him!
I'm forever glad and grateful to God that He pursues me, that His love isn't in the least dependent on anything I do or don't do, and that He sees me in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ! 
God's infinite love isn't dependent on us. He loves us because He loves us, and He is owed our utmost devotion for that love and care.

""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe......He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen."-Deuteronomy 10:12-17, 21