Little Children, keep yourself from idols

Last Sunday evening, Brandon, Noah, and I attended a fellowship event at one of our church member's homes.  Appropriately named "Fired up for fellowship," there are many families, food, and bonfires!  We stuck closer to the miniature fire pit and stayed away from the bigger fire since we have a little one. 
Still, as we were eating, drinking, and keeping cozy by the fire, we had to remind Noah not to go near the flames.  We constantly had one hand on him (don't worry Pap Pap!), just in case he had a sudden whim to disobey us.  He was wearing a hoodie that evening, so I basically held on to his hood.  But this evening Noah was very obedient and all the extra precautions were ultimately unnecessary.   
As I sat around the fire, conversing with others while caring for my son, I realized that this must be a small glimpse as to what God is like in His love and protection for us, His children.  Noah has no idea why he can't touch the fire.  The fire is enticing and warm and lovely.  He has never been burned yet (thank the Lord), so he cannot understand what would happen if he did touch it.  All he knows is that Mom and Dad say not to touch, so he does not (not always the case obviously).  We tell him why not to touch- because it is "hot!"  Noah repeats "hot, hot, hot!," while pointing to the flame and then stays away.  He is much more enthralled that Mommy is allowing him to drink juice at the party- a rare treat indeed. 
Is this not a shadow of God and His love for me?  He has given me his commandments, I don't understand why all of them are to be obeyed, but He tells me why not to in words that I can understand, He keeps one hand on me at all times, especially in my infancy as a believer, and he keeps me safe from the flames of destruction.  When I obey him, He blesses me with a balm to my soul.
Now one day, Noah will be old enough to stand next to fire and I will not be holding on to him.  He will grow up and I will expect him to know better than to touch.  He will need to believe me without the safety net.  In regards to a fire, I expect he will not fail.  However, there will be other things less obviously painful than sustaining burns that he will need to learn away from my safety net.  I know at times he will succeed and other times he will fail.  I will mourn for the times he fails because he is my son and I love him.
As I am no longer in my infancy stage of Christianity, or at least I would like to believe that i have moved on to meat, God has "let go" on occasion.  I would like to say that I have succeeded more times than failed, but alas my Savior mourns because of me often.  I am more grateful than I can even know for Jesus.  His death atoned for my sins, so even though the 10 commandments are so very clear, I still need someone holding my hoodie.  Jesus keeps me safe from the eternal fires.    
 1 Tim 2:15 (NKJV) says, "Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self–control."  I have to admit that this verse used to always confuse me.  But now that I am a mother, I realize how true this verse is.  I can see so clearly with the eyes God has given me how patient and caring He is because I resemble that.  Of course, He is perfect and I am just a poor man's generic brand.
I am thankful for a God who loves me, who gives me evidence in my life as to how He loves me.  I am thankful that He gives me love for my son.  And I thankful that my son has an opportunity to know The Son through my love.  As Noah grows out of his infancy, may he know God not only through his parents, but through the Word, the Church, and sacraments.  And may he need his hoodie tugged less often than his Momma.     

Random pregnant musings

These are the highlights of my thoughts today:

Why does Noah have to wake up so early???  GO back to sleep.

Ugh...allergies.

Nothing sounds good for breakfast except for potato chips.

How much longer until Sesame Street is on?

I hope it's not hot out...66 degrees!  I'm taking Noah outside.

Oh no, I forgot the stroller, doah!

Random musings as I scan the web during Noah's nap:

So glad Larry King is retiring: dude be old.

I love that the SI power rankings have the Steelers as #18, we always play better as the under dog.

It's weird to see Angelina Jolie's name with the words actress and humanitarian next to them.  Does anyone remember her Billy Bob Thorton phase?

Reggie Bush is a cheater, but I know he is not the only one.  Why doesn't anybody play by the rules?

Back to reality:

Ugh...allergies.

I guess I better go do the dishes. 

Prenatal Yoga

Can I just say before I begin the essence of this post that I am fully frustrated that I can never remember my password for this blog on the first try!  I wonder how many passwords I will create in my lifetime?  My head is already swimming in them.
Moving on, as you can imagine even though I removed my "eating and exercising" tab a while ago, I have still been trying to eat healthy and exercise regularly.  As you may know, my goal is to attempt having a VBAC and I am going to give myself the best opportunity by keeping myself fit, avoiding gestational diabetes, and keeping my body limber.  I admit that flexibility has never been a strength of mine.  With a husband who has a black belt in Tae Kwan Do, I get teased about my lack of flexibility pretty regularly.  No, I can't touch my toes, but they are gross anyway, so I figure I'm not missing out on much.  
In my effort to become more flexible and more fit for this pregnancy, I have been looking into prenatal yoga DVDs.  I have been doing (non-prenatal) Pilates for quite some time, but eventually this DVD is not going to be conducive to my belly that is continuing to grow (this is the DVD I use, by the way, and I love it: 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates).
So, I first checked out a library DVD to see what Yoga was all about.  I have read many things that made me leery of trying yoga, specifically the spiritual aspect of it that makes me want to vomit, but I thought if I could find a video that stayed away from that and just focused on the poses, I could deal.
This first DVD I tried, Prenatal Yoga Complete, was hilarious.  I knew I was in trouble when I saw a hyphenated name on the box.  But wow, worst exercise video ever made.  This lady wants to seriously show you how relaxed she is in everything she does, including the time it takes for her to formulate a sentence.  Also, the props are just so time consuming to set up that I never actually get to any of the poses.  I nixed this DVD pretty quickly.
The next DVD I tried was a gift from a friend.  I actually just finished up just now, and I am much more pleased with the outcome.  I was also nervous about the name of the trainer, Shiva Rea, because it just sounded made up to sound like she is an awesome yoga-gal.  But, I guess the name is real- too bad for her.
Well, the video, Prenatal Yoga, is miles and away better than the aforementioned yoga video.  Yes, I had to roll my eyes (I've been doing that a lot lately) at some of the comparisons she made between motherhood and yoga, but other than that I didn't feel over-spiritualized, and I felt like it was very practical in its approach.  Something that was also great was that she had two other ladies doing the exercises with her, one in her 2nd trimester and one in her 3rd trimester.  Rea exampled the first trimester while the other ladies modified their poses for the stage of pregnancy they were in.  So, it is a DVD that I can continue with down to the last days.

Well, I can tell right now that it is going to take me a while before I will be ready to do the full 50 minutes, but I did about 25 minutes and my body can feel the activities in a good way.  Here's to 27 more weeks of preparation.
Did you do yoga during pregnancy?  Did you have a favorite DVD that you can recommend?  

Bringing my baby into a materialistic world

I finally got to sifting through the junk gifts I received at my last OB appointment.  At my OB's office, every trimester you get a bag full of "goodies" most of which contains parenting magazine that I wouldn't listen to if they were the last advice-givers on earth.  Every magazine had an article on how to be a "green" mom.  Funny, I thought you were supposed to avoid being green during pregnancy.  They also all had health and beauty secrets.  You know I'm on a health kick, but wow are we American's way too into looking hot or what?  I mean I'm pregnant!  I'm hot all the time but not in the looks category, just in the temperature category. 
I guess I can admit though that there was one interesting blurb in the one of the magazines.  The magazine asked (not going to tell you which one because I don't want to promote them), "If money were no object, would you want to have more than 1 or 2 kids?" 
First of all, the question struck me as odd as it functioned almost as a statement like: "Only financially responsible people of 1 or 2 children.  If you were financially irresponsible, how many kids would you have?"  I am of the opinion that money should have very little to do with how many children we should have (if you haven't figured that out yet). 
But even more startling than the question itself was the answer: Less than 20% of women said they would indeed stick to 1 or 2 citing that they can't handle too many young children, while a whopping 55% of women said they would have 3-4 children, while 5 or more children took the rest of the pie.  It saddens me that so many people choose money over children and that this choice is so culturally accepted today.  Whatever happened to the idea that all the child needs is a loving father and mother?  I am not trying to negate the effects of poverty on family and that there truly are times to stop having children.  But I guarantee you that the people answering these polls in a middle-class pregnancy magazine do not fit the description of living in crippling poverty.
What motivates you from having children or not having them?  How much money is not enough money to have children? 

Mall-walking: naked, smelly, and embarrassing

The temperature has been very pleasant these past few days, but the overcast skies makes me weary of going outside with a 20 month old.  So, yesterday my solution was to walk around Ross Park Mall while pushing Noah in the stroller and then letting play at the play area in the center of the mall.  Well, the plan went pretty well, except that my visit reminded me of why I despise going to the mall. 
When you first enter the building you think, well the a/c is up a little too high, but at least I won't sweat.  But as soon as you get closer and closer to the center you realize that your little excursion at the mall has become an opportunity for all sorts of folks to proselytize you to death.  "Hey, Ladie, you like hand cream?"  "Want a massage?"  "What kind of facial scrub do you use?"   
The worst part of the second-rate shops in the center of the mall that have no enclosed space is that no matter what you do, you feel rude by your response and they never leave you alone.  I walked away this time not saying a thing, but that just makes me feel like a jerk.  A human just asked me a question and I can't even be polite enough to say "No thank you."  Well, actually I don't feel that bad, because when I have said, "no thank you" in the past, they just keep talking to me, even if I keep walking. 
As I circle around the long hallways of Ross Park Mall, I see Abercrombie & Fitch on my right.  I avert my eyes since the pictures in there are usually never wholesome.  But even though I look away, I am accosted by the perfume wafting through the airways.  I gag a little, roll my eyes, and walk as quickly as I can to oxygen. 
As I continue on my walk through the mall, I am visually assaulted by all the basically-naked women on the Victoria Secret and Soma Intimates.  I always have wondered why they feel the need to put naked pictures of women on their windows when a) I know what they are selling without the pictures b) women shop there, men are only forced to come in with their girlfriends.  I know what I look like without my shirt on and it is nothing like that picture up on the wall and no bra is going to change that.
After vomiting a little in my mouth passing the underwear shops, my eyes begin a second roll as I have to encounter round two of hearing I should, "try our wigs" or "do I want to learn Spanish?" shops.  Fortunately, two young ladies were right in front of me so they got the worst of it.  They took an approach I had not seen before and simply mocked the employees, literally pointing and laughing.  I felt like a jerk that I enjoyed their approach. 
Finally after walking the entirety of the mall, Noah and I went to the play area where Noah had a fabulous time climbing on baby-sized bridges and going down slides.  He made lots of friends, like always, and had a splendid time.  So, I guess all the stress of walking the mall was worth it in the end.  But, I don't know if I really want to go back.  I am sure I will, but it is beyond me as to why certain shops at the mall use the tactics they use.  When I am ready to buy something, I'll let you know.  Otherwise, back off, turn your scent down, and cover up a little bit, would you?   

Updates and Prayer Requests

Well, I had a doctor's appointment earlier this afternoon for the newest baby.  I am nearly 12 weeks along and 7 lbs. lighter than my appointment last month.  I am happy about that just because I haven't been trying to lose weight and I haven't been sick, so my body has just taken the weight off naturally.  It's about time my body started working for me instead of against me in the weight loss category. 
The most exciting part of the appointment was when I was able to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time.  The doctor said it sounded good.  I was relieved to hear the heart beat.  I have been fearful of the worst this pregnancy, so hearing heartbeat helps me to calm down a bit. 
With this good news however, comes the some sad news.  Brandon's Dad had to go to the hospital last night.  We aren't sure what is going on right now with him, but please keep him in your prayers.  His name is Paul and he is a believer.  He is feeling fine right this very minute, but he had recently undergone surgery for prostate cancer, so hopefully his health problems last night have nothing to do with cancer.  Thanks for your prayers in advance! 

Protecting your daughter

As my faithful readers know, I read both Cheaper By the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes this summer.  The biographical stories recount a time in America where society was led by the Judeo-Christian moral laws even if the citizens themselves did not profess Christ.  One such example that struck me as being so different in yesteryear versus today is the issue of modesty in female apparel.  The older daughters in the book always complained about how strict their father was in how they could dress, particularly on the beach.  They felt their outfits were dated and wished to wear the new suits and skirts so boys would notice them more. 
I wonder today how many fathers even feel that their daughter's clothing choice falls under their umbrella of responsibility?  I wonder how many professing Christian fathers just sweep this responsibility under the rug and hope that their daughter's immodesty issue will just go away? 
In today's culture, bathing suits have become more revealing than underwear.  Shirts show bellies and cleavage, shorts show booties, skirts show panties (if one is even wearing panties), and underwear has been made into decorative strings.  How ironic is it that in a culture that claims to be so incredibly liberating for women, that these women on a daily basis now prostitute their sexuality for the whole world to see?  Free to show my breasts, sure thing, but don't expect your male co-workers to be thinking about how liberated you are.  They are more likely thinking...well, you know what they are thinking. 
Teaching girls about modesty in apparel is something that should start at a young age.  Mom should introduce the topic and Dad should lay down the law when Mom's suggestions are ignored.  Modesty has different restrictions based on the culture, sure, but there are certain boundaries that ought not to be crossed in any culture.  Children need to look to Mom and Dad to lead them on this path of Biblical and cultural modesty. 
I am often shocked when I am on Facebook at what pictures young, Christian girls are putting up for the world to see.  I am sad that their parents allowed them to wear the garment in the first place, but to then put it on the Internet for all the teenage boys to see?  Not such a good idea.
I almost always do a facepalm when I see some of the youth at Church (not just my church, but everywhere I have gone) wearing outfits that will certainly distract the young (and older) Christian men in the service. Underwear should not be used as an accent to an outfit even if your bra straps are lime green.

Now, of course, the first response of someone being defensive would be to attack my clothing.  Certainly I know that I fail at modesty at times.  The Lord continues to push me and help me grow in this category of life.  But my sin cannot be used to justify yours.  We all need to peel the layer of lies away from our eyes and start to see the smut that our culture promotes.  Bikinis are not appropriate attire for a Christian woman.  Would you wear your Bikini to church?  I didn't think so (of course I realize that a one piece suit would be inappropriate as well and just plain funny).  Sisters in Christ, do not be fooled into thinking that the world's view of modesty is the same as our Lord and Savior's view.  Younger sisters, put on some clothes.  And if you are unsure if you have enough on, ask your parents and don't fight with them when they tell you need to add a layer.  Mothers, don't give into whatever the stores sell.  It is hard work, but you can find cute and modest apparel for your daughters.  Fathers, be men and protect your daughters.  Put your foot down even if that will make your daughter cry.  She's worth every single one of those tears.   
1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

Yes, yes, and yes

The excuse for this is that to “reach” people, the churches must operate on this level, but this becomes suspect when it appears that nothing deeper is available in these congregations for those who have for many years been “reached.”

Read this: http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=17-04-013-v

The abolition of abortion

Medallion created as part of anti-slavery campaign by Josiah Wedgwood, 1787

Last night, I watched Amazing Grace.  I have seen this movie before, but I was just reminded last night how great a message this movie sends and how rare that message is in Hollywood today.  Certainly the subject of slavery has been explored ad nauseam,  but a Christian response to slavery is a rare movie indeed.  Just the fact that the movie uses the name Christ in a positive way (as opposed to in a curse phrase) is so different than most movies being made today. 
The movie focuses on the life of William Wilberforce, a British politician who fought for legislation to end the slave trade.  Reading a bit about Wilberforce's life, I have found that the movie, like all movies, takes some liberties with his life story.  However, what is true in the movie and real life is this: Wilberforce was an evangelical Christian who saw all men as being created in the image of God.  He fought for the end of the slave trade because, unlike the vast majority of his constituents, he saw Africans as humans. 
Every time I watch this movie, I cannot but help to see the connection between this issue and the issue today of abortion in America.  Why does abortion occur today with such frequency and with such blind unawareness?  Well certainly their a several reasons why, but the main reason in my opinion is the complete lack of belief in the truth that babies in a womb are also created in God's image, i.e. human, and not "just" an embryo.  Life starts at conception and once destroyed, murder is committed. 
All one has to do is look at the motivations behind the slave trade or abortion to know why there is no justifiable reason for either one of them.  The slave trade was all about money.  Free labor equals high profit margins.  Similarly, abortion is motivated by lack of comfort and fear.  Fear of being poor, of giving up one's life for 9 months for the one in her womb, selfishness on the father's part, etc.  One cannot come up with a single righteous motivation for having an abortion.  Before you even look at all the scientific information as to why abortion is evil, all one has to do is look at the heart as to why one would abort and then the rest is clear.  Abortion is murder.     
In the movie, in a strategic move to end the slave trade, Wilberforce and company sneakily pass legislation to make the slave trade unprofitable.  Sadly, only until people's pocketbooks are hindered do they have a clear path to end the slave trade. 
I can't help but wonder if we as Christians can glean some strategy from this movie.  Until we take away or change the motivations for abortion to a system that is God honoring, we are not going to convince the other side in any powerful or substantial way.  We can show people videos of what actually occurs during abortions, we can quote statistics, and argue with them in a logical way, but the heart is sinfully wicked.  Perhaps we have to work with unregenerate hearts to make adoption the better option financially, physically, etc.  Certainly the ideal way to go is that the unregenerate heart would know Christ, repent, and forgo an abortion, but for the rest of the world, we need to come up with creative solutions that will calm the fears of the faithless, honor God, and save those whom are perishing in the womb- the millions upon millions whom are perishing. 
But since we have no creative solution as of yet, I ask those who are grappling with the idea of getting abortion this very day and those who perform those abortions, is the child in the womb not a man and not a brother?  A baby in the womb is small and miniscule, indeed, but human nonetheless.   

I haven't had much success in brainstorming what ending abortion in America would look like in a practical way for our society, especially considering who is in control of the government right now.  I would love to hear any ideas you might have as to how we can change society in regards to abortion the way that Wilberforce changed Britain.  General comments and questions, as always, are welcome here as well. 

Noah at Ocracoke Island

This past week we took our first family vacation since our honeymoon.  We went to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We were able to stay with Brandon's best friend from high school since he is a park ranger at the beach.  We had a great time and were very appreciative of his hospitality.  We also were able to spend an evening coming and leaving with the Nugents since the drive is over 12 hours long.  12 hours in the car does not a happy baby make, so the Nugents were so kind to let us break up the trip at their abode in Virginia.  Noah still talks about their little boy Thomas non-stop. 

The beach was beautiful and Noah's love for the beach, primarily the ocean, was infectious.  Usually Brandon is not a huge fan of the ocean, but I think that Noah's joy might have even helped Dad to get over his dislike for sunlight and sand.  I love the beach, but I have even more love for it now that Noah loves it too! 

We couldn't keep Noah away from the salt water.  He loved the water crashing into his body and he loved playing in the sand.  After our first encounter with the beach, Noah then began to notice all the wildlife on the beach, particularly the birds, and decided that he was going to chase them all the way down the coast.  The third day at the beach Noah discovered the glory of seashells and decided they were indeed made to be thrown.  A new discovery for every day! 

We were planning on cooking and dining in at the island, but we quickly realized that this island is so very different than most American beaches and certainly most of the outer banks.  Access to good food and really anything commercial was difficult to come across.  There wasn't a real grocery store nor did we even see a gas station.  You have to take a ferry in order to even get to the island, so I am sure importing goods their is expensive and limited.  So, with little options, we choose to eat out at one of the few restaurants on the island.  But boy, did we ever make the right choice.  We went to Jason's the first night and had the pesto (I had it with shrimp and scallops and Brandon with chicken).  Even Noah loved it!  If you ever make a trip to Ocracoke, trust me and get the pesto.  It was the best pesto I have ever had. 

Sorry, dirty lens!

We had a grand time at Ocracoke Island.  But now, we are exhausted.  Vacationing while in the first trimester of a pregnancy and with an energetic 19 month old, plus driving non-stop does not exactly equate to relaxation.  But, we are glad to have made the trip and make new memories with our son. 

Do you remember your first vacation to the beach or your child's first vacation to the beach?  Did they like the sand and water or did they cry the whole time?