Our Baby Girl

The past few weeks, I've been feeling subtle movement from the baby, but the last 24 hours or so, she's picked up the pace and intensity considerably, and Michael can even feel her moving from the outside! She was going to town during Wes Baker's sermon this morning. I think she was excited about communing. It seems pretty early to feel her move so vividly from the outside (barely 22 weeks) but since I've only gained two pounds, I think the baby is closer to my skin and easier to feel. I'm not worried about my weight anymore, she measured up perfect for her 4th of July due date on the ultrasound, so she's growing and getting nutrients and all that. I'll probably catch up at some point. If not, I'll just be really skinny after I give birth. That won't be so bad!

Back From the Dead?

Dead Yet Living appears to be back from the dead. I thought we had to go through Lent before Easter?

Chicago Execution Takes Place in Restaurant

Remember that foul ball. The one that made Steve Bartman the most hated man in Chicago? Well, that ball was executed on Thursday night ... outside Harry Caray's restaurant.

When I Grow Up

Today my class started discussing where they wanted to go to college when they grew up. Living in Austin, most wanted to go to UT, but I had an A&M hold-out and a future Rice Owl. I suggested UNC-Chapel Hill, the most lovely and wonderful place on earth, to all the undecided. Still pondering his options, a bright, lively boy said, "I have no idea." Knowing his family connections, I said, "how about Auburn?" He shook his head. Then, a devilish grin crept across his face and his eyes narrowed. "I know where I want to go! I'll go to DUKE!" My first reaction was to cry out, "My John, my John, why have you forsaken me?" Then we both burst out laughing.

A Second Shot

A second shot at saying what I was trying to say earlier. I noticed this on the back of a book I was checking into the library at work.

... Pastor [name] and his wife, [name], have two children, [name] and [name], both of whom are involved in ministry.

I don't think that there was any malicious intent by the writer of this book -- which happens to be about evangelizing genX -- he was simply stating facts that are a part of his biography. However, I thought, "what is our normal reaction to this statement 'in ministry'?"

Typically, we look favourable upon this as he and his wife having done a good job raising their kids. Would we think the same thing if it said, "one of whom is a teacher and the other a banker" or "both of whom are involved in their local church?" No, I don't think we would respond the same. There is something about "being in ministry" -- which, I think, can be different from being involved in the church -- that somehow makes us (American evanglicals) think that they are somehow more "soul-ed out for the Lord" or have a greater faith or closer walk with God or a great (wo)man of God.

Why do we do this? Why does "being in ministry" seem to be more individual than "being involved in the church?" I don't know, but I don't think this is necessarily good.

Breakfast Cereal

I admit it. I buy whatever cereal is on sale and good, which is often sugary cereal marketed to 6 year olds. This week, we're eating Lucky Charms. My parents never bought them growing up, but they were a favorite of mine when eating breakfast at other people's houses. I remember when there were only a few different kinds of marshmallows, and they added the red balloons. It was BIG NEWS. Later, the pot of gold was thrown in the mix. Now, there are so many different marshmallows, I can't tell them apart. What's the deal? Are kids these days demanding a new marshmallow every month to keep their Lucky Charms hip? I feel such a cultural disconnect...

Teaching

It's the point in the year where I know that some of my students are going back to public schools next year, and this is the "last chance" to help them before they are stuck back in the abyss. It's the point in the year where the bad habits I have seen consistently become things I am even more pressured to "fix" before they leave my class. I am overwhelmed with all sorts of pressure to be the perfect teacher and serve my students well. Of course, all of this originates with me. I think I need to chill out before I have a breakdown or something.

Lent

I've eaten my fill of Shrove Tuesday pancakes and I still haven't decided what to give up for lent. So, I asked my dear and honest husband what he thought I should give up. He thought for a moment and said, "I can think of something, but it might truly kill you." I made several guesses, and then he said, "college basketball." "NOOOO!" I cried out. "I can't do that. I already give up college basketball from April to November every year. That's it! I give it up for Trinity!" I think I can still hear Mike giggling at me.

Which Bible Character Are You?

I noticed something at work today that set off a series of thoughts in my mind. There was a piece of paper, sitting on the table, that said something like: "which disciple are you?" or "which fisherman?" or something like that. The point of the paper was to explore the traits or deeds of "cool" NT characters.

Anyhow, this got me thinking. Why do we always want to describe ourselves in the form of a prophet or apostle? I think I want to be the Philippian jailor. Is that okay? I have a good job, take care of my family, listen to the teaching of the apostles, and immediately teach it to my family. That's what I want. I went through my evangelical stage of wanting to be somewhere "in the ministry." I don't want to be "in the ministry." I have a wife and child. I think I'll try to tackle my current job ... if I'm 50 and find myself having done a decent job, maybe I'll become a deacon or something.

Until then, I'll be the Philippian jailor: listen to the apostles, take care of my family.

They're Up!

Plus, never before seen picture of Sarah Jones!! All this and more, at the Wedding Album.

Wedding Pictures

... are currently being scanned.

UPDATE: They were added to the server. Somehow I could upload them to our server, but not into Coppermine. I will go home and fiddle with them on the laptop.

My Update

Since Thursday I...
+ discovered the joys of Hill Country Weavers, an amazing knitting store just a mile and a half or so from our apartment.
+ bought some really cute, very necessary maternity clothes (I was having trouble sitting in my normal clothes, even unbuttoned.)
+ went on a women's retreat I actually enjoyed.
+ figured out how to knit with double pointed needles and make something round.
+ enjoyed my first Valentine's Day in person with Michael. He outdid himself. I merely cooked him his favourite dinner.
+ made a baby hat (for someone else).
+ glimpsed my sweet baby on her sonogram.
+ experienced the joys of Diet Coke with Lime.

Daddy's Little Girl

Here is our little girl!! The doctors are 90% sure. They were able to determine her sex, but couldn't get a stable picture to really show us -- well, at least she's modest. :o)

The rest of the pictures (five total) are online -- including one of her looking at the camera.

Busy Week Ahead

Monday: President's Day. No School. Go to Doctor's in the morning. Home Fellowship Group in the evening.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Talk to an administrator at a school in Dallas as to why exactly I should teach at his school next year and even bother going to the interview on Friday.

Thursday: Mike and Kristen go to Houston to discuss with a head master why they should move halfway across the country to the rural mountains of Northern California.

Friday: Mike (may) go to Dallas to interview with school. However, it will take some convincing to get me to take another full day off of work and leave my dear wife home alone for a good portion of the evening.

Poll Results

9 votes for girl and 12 votes for boy. We'll see tomorrow...

Reflections From Solitude

Tonight is my first night in an empty house since getting married in August. My dearest wife, Kristen, is away at a Women's Conference with the women from Redeemer, All Saint's, Christ the King, Emmanuel, and Redeemer-San Antonio. I miss my wife terribly, but am excited to see her able to spend time with other godly women.

I was actually worried about tonight. I really don't think I had any cause -- any more than the next guy -- but throughout my early college years I remember my IV staff worker always being miserable when his wife was away.

Anyhow, other than my wife being gone, and Barnes and Noble not having the book I wanted, I had a really good evening. The weather is near perfect. Slightly rainy and very cold. Kristen baked her famous "red velvet V-day cookies" and I went over to the house of a dear friend from church; together -- with an elder, RUF International campus minister, and two other friends -- we enjoyed wine (one guy is a local wine distributer), smoked, and talked in the cold weather. Half smoked cigars and half smoked pipes -- I was in the latter half. My elder brought the "Presbyterian" mix, in particular for the RUF minister, and I was able to try it. It really doesn't have a pleasant smell from the can, but was great to smoke. The wine was outstanding as well. Considering the host and one of the guests are wine geniuses, I shouldn't have been surprised, despite their love of Australian wines over the clearly superior California wines. After a few hours, a plate of cookies, bag of pistachios, loaf of bread, and two small blocks of cheese, we slowly left. After stopping at Barnes and Noble, I decided to let them redemn theirselves with a double espresso.

Now, I'm relaxing at home. Finishing a Hunter Valley Merlot (Australia) with its great mosiac label, typing on the laptop, and listening to the new Norah Jones CD. I highly recommend the Norah Jones. It's great. I bought it last night with a new Isabel Allende book, "Portrait of Sepia." I read Allende in high school and am looking forward to this next book.

With this, I bid good night. Tomorrow I look forward to breakfast with two-thirds of my groomsmen at La Madeleine, the return of my Valentine ...

As You Wish

VALENTINE'S DAY COOKIES
1 (18.25 ounce) package Red Velvet cake mix
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together the cake mix and baking powder. Add eggs and oil, then mix until well blended. Stir in chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven for chewy, proper cookies. Recipe can be altered with different cake mixes and add ins. Makes 35 cookies.

An Apology For Apologizing

Oft quoted is the cliche similar to "Love means never having to say, 'I'm sorry.'" This is a load of crap. Reflecting on my experiences in marriage, I think more accurate would be "Love means being the first to say, 'I'm sorry.'" Some have relationships where when a wrong takes place, one party goes through great lengths to prove he is actually right. These relationships are called "friendships". Marriages, in contrast, seek the higher good for the other and go through long, twisted, streams of logic to see just how, possibly, maybe-in-certain-conditions, the other person just might be right.

Another change that marriage dictates is that one must be diliberate and entirely truthful in their apologies. I found that my "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." lines weren't exactly truthful. Yes, I was sorry, but I, at that time, really did mean it. By lying and declaring that I didn't mean it, I am trying to distance myself from the wrong and declare myself to still be innocent. More accurate and sincere would be to declare, "I am sorry. I was wrong." In this phrase we graft ourselves to the wrong and declare ourselves to be guilty.

Being truthful in marriage also means telling the truth even when it hurts. Often times we are also willing to apologize for this and say "I didn't mean it." Well, if it was truthful, you did mean it and you shouldn't be sorry for it. However I try not to dwell on this scenerio too much, because I find it quite tempting in the American male mind to slip into this catagory more often than it is called for. When we think to ourselves, "well, someone had to tell you", perhaps our first reaction should be to go back to step one and jump through hoops to see how, just maybe, the other person might have been right. I think this is what love means.

Grading Papers, Learning About Myself

I was grading spelling sentences from last week and one of my students used the word admire this way, "Mrs. Stewart admires Mr. Stewart." It made me smile. :o)

Another Poll

Next Monday, we go in for an ultrasound. So what do you think: boy or girl?

From the Outside Looking In

This postmodern world is driving me mad. You can't go anywhere near an evangelist (or anything of the sort) without hearing something along the lines of non-christians liking Jesus but hating Christians.

This drives me mad.

I imagine goats saying to each other: "Man, that's one cool Shepherd, but his sheep stink." "Yeah man, they suck. I don't want to hang out with them."

My response: "You know what?! You suck too!! Come and join up with the sheep who stink and suck. You fit in FINE!"

Oh My, Look What Josh Has Done

Josh has created a way to link your email address that prevents the robots used by spammers to detect your email. Genius.

Tales of a 3rd Grade Bible Lesson

We're reading through John right now as a class, and this week, we read John 6. I read a passage to the students, have them narrate back if it's a story of some sort, then pick a few points for discussion. So, I asked the class, "What do you think Jesus meant by this statement: 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.'"

Three students immediately raised their hands. The first said, "I think it means we need to love Jesus." I responded, "No... let's hear some other ideas." The second said, "It means we need to believe in him." I said, "Jesus is saying to eat his flesh and drink his blood! That sounds cannabalistic, not warm and fuzzy! What could he possibly mean?" The third student said, "Obviously, he's talking about communion." I was so proud. I think it helps that he goes to our church and communes every week. Anyway, immediately, the one Episcopalian student and the other liturgical Presbyterian student jumped to his defense and made supporting statements. "Yeah, that's why they say in communion 'The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.'" "Of course he's talking about communion!"

"[name] is right," I told the class. "Christ is foreshadowing communion, where his body feeds us, the bread of heaven." The second student was disappointed, "so it really can't mean to believe in Jesus?" I replied, "Believing in Jesus is a good thing, but that's not what Christ was talking about here. He's talking about our need to partake in communion." By the looks on their faces, it was easy to see that the passage had been taken as a hard saying by many, all of whom happened to be baptistic.

Defense of Not Having a TV #7584

Did you see that halftime show? where Janet Jackson was "exposed" by Justin Timberlake? where they lyrics mimiced the script of a cheesy, porn film? where people groped each other on stage and wore outrageous attire?

Nope, we didn't either.

Ecclesiastical Latin?

Kristen and I were looking at the latest Veritas Press catalogue and under their description of Latina Christiana, they praise it for teaching an ecclesiastical pronunciation -- which they prefer.

Why would anyone prefer teaching Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation? Sure, I suppose you have to pick between Ecclesiastical and Classical, but why Ecclesiastical? Do you teach Ecclesiastical grammar, forms, etc.. as well?

I'm serious here.

Poll

With regards to store bought veggies, which do you prefer: frozen or canned? I find this question almost unnecessary, as the answer is OBVIOUS, but I have found a dissenter, which makes me wonder if there are other dazed and confused people out there.