Thankful Thursday

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 15:57

Please Pray

As I posted on her blog, Kate is suffering from her first ear infection. Please pray that she might feel better and get better sleep tonight. Thank you!

Last Interviews

Jen and Megan kindly answered some interview questions for me!

You know you've REALLY grown up when...

... you get really, really excited about a new vaccuum cleaner.

She looks just like her father!

Everyone thinks Kate looks just like Mike. Everyone. Even my mother. She's a cute kid, but seriously, if I hadn't carried her around for 9 months, I'd swear she had none of my DNA. The latest pictures are here.

Thankful Thursday

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Martin Rinkart

Impulsive

On a whim yesterday I loaded Kate in the car and drove 70 miles one way to Charlottesville for Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's and a visit to Whole Foods Market. I got some great deals on 365 brand pantry items and organic produce. You can buy cartons of organic chicken broth made from free range chicken at Whole Foods for the same price as Swanson's anywhere else. I also had to support Kate's puffed brown rice habit. At $1.29 for a big bag, it's a small price to pay for her happiness. And um, the free cone of sweet cream and cookies (and free cup of strawberry-kiwi sorbet for Kate) wasn't bad either.

Recent Reads

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis (10) Everything by Lewis is fantastic, and this collection of essays and speeches on a variety of topics will dazzle you with insight and require you to read s-l-o-w-l-y to digest all of its goodness. Reading and rereading Lewis is one of the greatest treasures of the Christian life. There's nothing more to say about that. (From the bookshelf.)

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse (10) A classic Jeeves and Bertie tale that had me laughing out loud to the point of tears on several occasions. Wodehouse creates the most vivid characters -- unbelievably stereotypical or quirky and yet so alive and real in his rich detail. I love humorous literature that doesn't insult my intelligence. Wodehouse is a master of this. I need to work through more of the Jeeves books! (Borrowed from the library.)

The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff (3) Blah. Journalists masquarading as anthropologists get my goat. I agree with some of her conclusions about the need for infants to be near their parents through babywearing and holding and about maternal instinct. However, her "research" methods are shoddy at best and she is far too excited about her ideas to be anywhere near objective about them. Its not particularly well written, either. (Borrowed from the library.)

Thankful Thursday

"In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever."
Psalm 44:8

Miscellaneous

Honoring Napoleon Dynamite. Yesssss.

I got a free copy of Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy to review for Mind and Media.

Jane and I tied to win the annual TCL NCAA Tournament Challenge.

I'll get some questions for you, Megan and Jen. But no more interviewees!

Weekend

On Saturday, we drove 2 hours to say goodbye to my grandma before she migrates north for the summer, and then continued on to Charlotte via Chapel Hill, where we had to make a stop, so we could see friends and attend some wedding showers for Meadow and Dave. On Sunday, we turned around and drove back. Mike was wonderful about all the time behind the wheel and Kate was exceptionally sweet in the car and with all the new people. It was a great weekend!

Interview Meme (Questions Part 2)

Questions for Rick:
1. What has surprised you the most about marriage?
2. What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
3. What scares you the most about becoming a parent?
4. If you had your way, where would you be and what would you be doing in five years?
5. Why penguins?

Questions for Amanda:
1. Why Baylor?
2. Someone is writing an article about you ten years from now. It begins, "I had the privilege of having tea with one of the most delightful women yesterday, well-known for her __________" What do you desire to be famous for?
3. If you had control of the RUF book table, what ten titles would you sell?
4. What five things do you hope to do before you turn thirty?
5. If you were in charge of Blue Bell, what flavor would you add to their catalog of divine ice cream goodness?

Interview Meme (Questions Part 1)

Questions for Lenise:
1. If you were to peek into the future, what do you see your life like in ten years?
2. As a former Lutheran, what do you appreciate about that tradition, as opposed to Presbyterianism?
3. If money were no object, where were you vacation this year?
4. When were you diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? What is the biggest lesson you feel you have been taught by this condition?
5. What blogger would you most like to have lunch with and why?
ANSWERED HERE

Questions for Sora:
1. You are a women of many talents (musical, sewing, knitting, cooking...). What talent do you wish you could add to your repitoire?
2. If you were given $100 you HAD to spend on yourself, what would you buy?
3. As someone I consider pretty crunchy, what is one natural living habit you wish the whole world would practice and why?
4. As a former Jew, what do you think of the Messianic Judaism movement?
5. Based on location alone (not considering people, churches or jobs), where was your favorite place that you have lived and why?
*BONUS* As the maker of these wonderful dolls which are terrific for modelling birthing, breastfeeding and babywearing, have you ever considered a referral discount for those who convince others to buy dolls with persistent advertising and links? ;o)
ANSWERED HERE

Questions for Jessie:
1. What most inspired you to change churches?
2. What do you miss most about John Knox PCA?
3. If you could have one super power, what super power would you choose?
4. What is the most enjoyable thing about your new job?
5. You've got a free day (and so do all of your friends!) with $500 to spend and a bus. What would you do?
ANSWERED HERE

Oh no ...

... now Wayne will really turn up the pressure.

It all started when Bunnie asked her readers to take a poll on which theology most closely alligns with one's own. My results:

1: Eastern Orthodox (100%)
2: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (97%)
3: Presbyterian/Reformed (91%)
4: Lutheran (82%)
5: Roman Catholic (80%)
6: Congregational/United Church of Christ (73%)
7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (58%)
8: Church of Christ/Campbellite (37%)
9: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (26%)
10: Seventh-Day Adventist (22%)
11: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (17%)
12: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (10%)
13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (5%)

My wife apparently got similar results, though for here Anglican was 100% and E.O. was 3rd with 95%. Presby/Reformed was 2nd with 97%.

Thankful Thursday

"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."
Psalm 9:1

Don't Forget!

Click on the image to enter the April Challies giveaway!

Go Tar Heels!

It has been such a joy to watch the Tar Heels this season. They have played with great skill, but also with class and dignity. I'm proud to be an alumna of that fantastic institution and will always cheer for the boys in light blue, no matter what happens tonight. I was a student during the Doherty years, including the 8-20 season, and I still loved them back then. Nothing can stop me now.

We'll be up watching the game, and Kate'll be snoozing in the Tar Heel onesie Reba bought her before she was born. Reba will be cheering on the Heels in St. Louis. I'm really excited for her! GO TAR HEELS!

Christ, Have Mercy

Mother arrested for trying to intervene to stop her 14 year old daughter from having an abortion.

Praying for this family, this clinic, for the state of Illinois, and for our nation.

Interview Meme

Anne interviewed me!

1. I always thought that the holodeck on Star Trek was cool... a room whereby upon entry you could say, "Holodeck, I want to go skiing in Aspen," and the door would open to a virtual world of snow and ski lifts. Or one could say, "Holodeck, Robin Hood and his Merry Men" and you could ride a horse in costume to fight the Sherriff of Nottingham with all your friends. If you had access to a holodeck, what would you choose to do, and why?
What a hard question! Holodeck, I want to go backpacking through Europe.

2. What is the most challenging thing you ever accomplished? What did you learn from it?
Michael and I's long-distance relationship was very challenging. We were both students and working, very busy, and living in Austin, TX and Chapel Hill, NC, so we only got to see each other about every six weeks, sometimes less! Learning how to communicate well without seeing each other often was a lesson I think will serve our marriage well.

3. Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like? Were you raised PCA? When did you receive eternal life
I was born in upstate New York and moved to North Carolina in middle school. In New York, we lived in a very rural area and my favorite memories of my childhood were exploring the acres and acres of field and forest behind our house. I have a vivid recollection of lying in a big bed of moss, and being so still I felt deer and wild turkeys walk right beside me. I didn't join the PCA until college, though I was raised in a Christian home for the most part. This post from several years ago goes into some good detail about my spiritual history. :o)

4. If you have made a mistake that you learned from and want to share a caution or warning, I am interested in your wisdom.
I've made lots of mistakes, but nothing specific comes to mind other than being close-minded. I have often heard ideas and thought, "I would NEVER do that" and ate crow later. Never say never! (Co-sleeping is one thing that comes to mind.)

5. What is your philosophy on the education of our children and how is that similar to and different than your work as an elementary school teacher?
I taught at a school that was influenced by both Charlotte Mason and the classical Christian school movement, but was also geared towards kids with a variety of learning styles and levels. I really appreciate that philosophy. There are time-tested ways of education that engage children and help them to learn to the best of their potential. But not every student can be taught the same way, because we are all unique! As Michael is a teacher at a classical school, we want to support the school by sending our children there, as long as it serves them well. If any of our children did not learn well in that school's environment, or were behind or very far ahead of their classmates, we would definitely consider homeschooling. As teachers, we have also seen some the benefits of institutional schooling, including some cases of seeing benefits to former homeschoolers. Boys flourishing with academic competition, students learning to get along with others who may be different from them, etc. I saw my work as an elementary school teacher as being an asset to parents and helping them in their task of educating their children. Parents have the primary responsibility, but schools, tutors and churches can be terrific resources and regents to aid parents in their calling.

I love asking questions! If you want to be interviewed, just leave a comment and I'll cook up some questions for you.