Amy's Humble Musings

I've moved

2005-04-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

I've done it. My new site is at http://humblemusings.com . Please update your bookmarks, blogrolls, and Christmas card lists. In the next day or two, I'll post an automatic redirect. Don't wait for it though; just go change my address now while you're thinking about it.See ya over there.A big "thank you" goes to Tim Challies for being so speedy and getting my new site up. If you see anything you

And you thought I was eating bon-bons...

2005-04-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

In case you're wondering why I'm not taking the bait in the comments on the post below, I offer the following humble reasons:1. My card is already cut up, and I'm not getting a new Republican one. Now, I've been known to waffle before on my favorite coffee flavor, but I think I'm pretty set on this one.2. I linked below to a post where I hinted at my long-held misgivings about the Republican

In memory of Terri

2005-03-31T15:37:00.000-08:00

Here's my Florida Republican voter registration card. This one's for you, Jeb. Amy's family gasps in horror and asks, "Has California had that much influence over you?" [No.]Amy's online pals yell, "What took you so long?!?!?" [I'm delusional.]Amy's non-Christian friends ask sweetly, "Will you be registering Democrat?" [Amy replies, "I'm delusional but I haven't totally lost it."]Amy's Christian

Laundry lessons

2005-03-30T22:50:00.000-08:00

I told you that this site was going to be about my laundry pile. I just didn't know that it was going to be my husband who wrote about it. Oh well. Introducing guest blogger: Amy's husband, Greg..._______________________________________________The other day I got in big trouble…In my ongoing effort to help my wife with some of the daily domestic duties, I took it upon myself to do the laundry.

Soul satisfaction

2005-03-29T13:59:00.000-08:00

I’m so tired and in need of refreshment right now, that instead of hiding under the covers (which is what I should be doing), I read Edwards’ sermon, Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment in Christ. I’m desperate. I’m a partaker of the human condition, and I’m admitting that I’m in search of happiness. To me, happiness is:Babies that sleep through the night HTML that works Finding a good

Program note

2005-03-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Don't be fooled when you visit Out of the Wilderness Showcase #7. When you gaze upon the list of blogs and see Cognitively Dissonant, don't fret about not seeing Amy's Humble Musings there. It's just a trick. Cognitively Dissonant is a pseudonymn for my blog now. Mr. Nick probably just read the post below and thought that'd be a good name for this site. I prefer to think this instead of the

Mamas who miss the message

2005-03-27T23:08:00.000-08:00

It’s late on Sunday night, and I sat down to read a few of my cyber-gals’ blogs. In succession, I read three ladies who missed the message this morning on account of Baby-who-won’t-cooperate (here, here, and here). I feel their pain. Not because I missed church on this particular Easter, but because I’ve missed many a' Sunday on account of motherhood.I remember when my husband was a youth pastor

Prayer

2005-03-26T21:21:00.000-08:00

Before Thy throne, O God, we kneel;Give us a conscience quick to feel,A ready mind to understandThe meaning of Thy chastening hand;What 'er the pain and shame may be, Bring us, O Father, nearer Thee.Search out our hearts and make us true, Wishful to give to all their due; From love of pleasure, lust of gold,From sins which make the heart grow cold,Wean us and train us with Thy rod;Teach us to

Some real medicine

2005-03-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

Heard today in our house: "Mommy, you're very beautiful. You're beautiful even when you're sick."Me thinks the male readership needs to take notes from my well-trained six-year-old boy. Me also thinks said boy will be getting a Mommy-owned-do-not-touch Dove chocolate under his pillow tonight. Me also thinks I need to go to bed so the grammar part of my brain will begin functioning.

Updated vows

2005-03-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

I took the liberty to rewrite the standard wedding vows.Yesterday’s Marriage Vows:Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?Today’s Marriage Vows:Do you promise to use and enjoy her, in youth and vitality, for gain and for prosperity, for

A little (humble) musing on our weekend

2005-03-23T21:19:00.000-08:00

Rules to pick by:1.) If you want to go strawberry picking, make sure you know where the fields are before you get in the van.2.) Don’t tell the kids that you are going a pickin’ if you haven’t researched said place.3.) Bring money.4.) Be prepared for the scoffing of non-Southern fruit stand workers: “You want to pick them. You mean, yourself?!” and “Lady, they’re still gonna be the same price...”

Humanism's next meal

2005-03-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

I’m sure you’ve noticed my lack of posting about Terri Schiavo. It’s not that we don’t talk, pray, and ponder the matter in our house, but there are two reasons why I haven’t posted on the matter this week:1. I already spoke my mind when I advocated the electric chair or lethal injection as the way to murder her (tongue-in-cheek, of course).2. What can I possibly add that hasn’t been said already

It's a long post but I tried my best to make it worth reading

2005-03-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

I just finished tweaking the duties on my Proverbs 31 list [clear throat] and sat down to check my site. (Don’t you wish that “she blogs with increasing fervor and she answers her email with striking promptness” were on the P. 31 list?) I pulled up my page and saw It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny splashed across the front page, and thought, “Wow, Amy, you’re deep.” What’s worse than my lack of

It's not easy being a bunny

2005-03-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Curled up on the couch, I just read It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny to my three-year-old. I paused after reading a page and asked her, “What animal says, ‘Moo?’” She replied, “A pig?”It’s not easy being Child #3.If you’ve managed to break the 1.8-2.2 family size mold, you know what I’m talking about.#1 has Olan Mills portraits of every stage of development, arranged nicely in a scrapbook.#2 has a few

A day of firsts

2005-03-19T23:44:00.000-08:00

Today I met Kristen. It was a first, and it was nice. She looks just like her picture, but just think of her about a foot taller than what you imagine. It’s weird how you know someone’s theological position on all the hot topics, but you don’t know that she doesn’t like pulp in her juice. It’s just so…backward.Today was my first time alone on a long drive down the beautiful California coast. I

Late night confession: I met someone online...

2005-03-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

isn't usually a good way to start a conversation. Tomorrow morning I'm having my very first real-live, up-close encounter with aCyber.Friend.[If I knew how to link clips, I'd put in some Scooby music.]In real life I don't set my expectations too high. To be my pal, you're only required to not talk behind my back. (I don't even mind if you're mean to me, I can deal; just do it in person.) However,

A few more thoughts on our late-into-the-night simple life talks

2005-03-18T10:04:00.000-08:00

I’m not afraid of work.There is something very satisfying about a good day’s toil. Given the choice between hauling dirt to create raised beds for my vegetables and lying on the couch watching American Idol, I’ll pick getting dirty any day. (Even when the results are not what I’d hoped for.)It’s not about the toil or the ease. I like ease. But what I like even better than comfort and bon bons are

2005-03-18T10:03:00.000-08:00

WHY.CAN'T.I.EDIT.MY.POST.

Postscript

2005-03-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

Fighting the Blogger Monster (the server that hosts this thing) is not conducive to living the simple life. Have I mentioned that I despise Blogger? Yes, I'm moving from this site. No, it's not soon enough. The more astute among you might be able to figure my secret out, but until then...

Pursuing the "good life"

2005-03-16T19:31:00.000-08:00

Pondering, talking, and debating the good and simple life has been the topic de jour between my husband and me. It’s not just because of the series going on at this site. We go round and round, like we have nothing better to do than chase our tails.The problem began with me when I was in high school. I wanted to be Amish. Now, this is a topic psychologists could have a hayday with if I believed

Who says blogs aren't making a difference?

2005-03-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

Email is a great thing. My son recently got this message from his buddy, inspired by this post. Notice any similarities? (You won't get it unless you follow the link.) Train 'em up early, I say!Here's my sister helping me with my sit-ups. It's good to have a baby sister. I just have to be careful not to flip her over. Can't wait till our sisters meet...

Baby boot camp

2005-03-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

We train our kids up early. From the time we find out a little one is in the womb, Baby Boot Camp begins. It’s not systematic in the least, but nonetheless, we are deliberate.We pray. When our kids hear that another one is on the way, they start with the petitioning. Every night in our evening ritual of prayer, praise, Scripture, and singing, you will hear a little voice saying, “And, Lord,

Late-night linkies

2005-03-14T22:14:00.000-08:00

Vox Apologia IX is up at Razor’s Kiss. The subject is: “Glory to Man in the Highest: Humanism’s Dangerous Claim."Ladies’ Against Feminism just updated their site. Lots of new articles.A pastor’s wife makes a startling confession. Brace yourself.See two posts below for the Humble Muse contest winner(s).

Chasing the wind

2005-03-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

There are a few wrinkles in my Proverbs 31 apparel, but nothing needs more ironing than my motherly duty to provide birthday parties for the kids. I hate kiddie parties. I know I’ve already mentioned it, but some of you don’t read faithfully.Not only do I not enjoy hosting them; I really despise attending them. If you’ve ever attended a Sponge Bob birthday party (bonus points if the kid is an

The envelope please...

2005-03-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

After my big blog naming contest got off the ground, I opened this email the next day:I just came across your web site. What really appealed to me was the title of your blog… Words fail me.Thanks to everyone who emailed and commented.But who is the winner? Now, that’s a little tricky because I’ve decided to keep Amy’s Humble Musings. [The crowd cheers.] But awarding myself a prize is kind of

Blogging isn't rocket science...

2005-03-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

My husband just did this five minutes ago:But he tells me that my Blogger hosting problems aren't solvable.Go figure.

Free book giveaway!

2005-03-10T22:56:00.000-08:00

Two months ago, I barely knew what a blog was. I knew a blogger exposed the Dan Rather faux pas (lovely parting gifts, Danny Boy...), but that was the extent of my knowledge. I googled “how to start a blog,” and I was up and running in about 20 minutes, never having seen another Blogger blog before.Which is why I named my blog what I did.It was all really tongue-in-cheek. I mean, what’s so humble

"Deserve" a break today?

2005-03-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Now that The Blogger Monster is letting me post, I thought I'd write "The Sum of the Whole Matter." I conclude my mega-family interview series with the most important, profound, Big Mac-daddy question of them all:How much does a trip to McDonald’s cost?John: I don't think we've ever had all 10 children in the van at one time…that would be like stuffing a Volkswagen with a whole lot of college

Resolution

2005-03-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

I know it's not January 1st, but I'm resolving four things, nonetheless nevertheless nonetheless:Get rid of the Blogger monster.Get rid of the Blogger monster.Get rid of the Blogger monster.Stop using naughty words (in my head, of course).[For all of you asking, "Blogger" (.blogspot) is my site host.]

Note to IRS workers, et al

2005-03-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

If you are humor impaired and/or give out parking tickets for a living, don't read my blog. You won't get it. OK, well, you can read it for therapy, just don't email me telling me to get saved. [For those of you asking, yes, some people think I still need to find Jesus...]A little wit and wisdom for this evening: if you take life too seriously, nobody will take you seriously. Profound, I know.

2005-03-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

If you are coming from LAF, the posts you are looking for are here and here.

John and Diane respond to rude interviewers, er, commenters

2005-03-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

OK, I know I said that I’d post the rest of the interview with John and Diane today, but I lied. Sue me. It’s just too good to play all my cards at once, so I’m dragging it out. Yeah, I’m a lazy blogger. Get used to it.One of the tricks of having more than the acceptable 1.7 – 2.2 offspring is that sometimes you’re the object of ridicule, pity, and/or disbelief. People actually knock on your head

A birthday treat for you

2005-03-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

If you woke up this morning feeling bad because you forgot it was my birthday, don’t worry: you’re in good company. I like the cartoon where Charlie Brown says, “I already know nobody likes me. How come we have to have a holiday to emphasize it?”However, there are plenty of hours left today for you to send your well wishes and pretend that it was your intention all along. It’s OK; I’ll take what

Vox Apologia VIII: The Least of These

2005-03-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

This week’s Vox Apologia VIII topic is “The Least of These.” If you’d like to host one in the future, go here. In the meantime, here are the entries:My three pennies worth ponders Inasmuch as You Did It Not: "I had a neighbor boy get dropped off at my house today. No one was very excited about it, either, including me. Maybe, especially me. My children rolled their eyes and groaned, "Not him..."

Interview with Carmon Friedrich (part 3 of 3)

2005-03-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Steve and Carmon FriedrichAmy: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Carmon. Always a pleasure!! For my last query, inquiring minds want to know what a day in your home looks like.Carmon: I guess this is where I am supposed to describe a typical day. Remember the factorial relationships? [See yesterday's interview.] With so much activity in 3000 square feet, typical is impossible to describe.

Interview with Carmon Friedrich (part 2 of 3)

2005-03-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

If you had only one homemaking tip to give, what would it be?There are lots of women who are more organized and who are better at the mechanics of homemaking than I am. But one thing which has helped me to keep a fairly orderly home is to pick up as I go. When we cook, I teach my girls to clean up as they make a meal. When I walk through a room, I try to pick up things on the way. Throughout the

2005-03-04T22:40:00.000-08:00

While you're waiting for me to post more of my interview with Carmon Friedrich, I offer you Carla Rolfe's answer to, How Do You Do What You Do? Enjoy!

Interview with Carmon Friedrich (part 1)

2005-03-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.Titus 2:3-5If I fail to obey the Titus mandate from a “younger” woman’s

Vox Apologia VIII

2005-03-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

For all of you stalking my site, waiting for me to post my interviews with the mega-families, I know that the above title was not what you were looking for. I know I promised, but it’s not as if I’m reneging. It’s coming, just not today. I know you’re excited, and trust me, from the material in my inbox, it’s something to look forward to. But I committed to hosting Vox Apologia VIII long before

More hope for tired Mamas (part 3)

2005-03-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today I’m hoping to use Baby Energizer’s naptime to recharge my own batteries, but in the meantime, I’m harvesting Titus 2 wisdom from mothers who know what they’re talking about. Two different mothers of 10 (and a father) have agreed to an interview. You won’t be disappointed; stay tuned these next few days.Now, I still can’t see the forest for the trees, as my youngins are still, well, pretty

Why I left out the details (part 2)

2005-03-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

When I wrote yesterday’s post, I knew I’d be accused of being “too heavenly minded and no earthly good.” Yep, I saw it a’ comin’. And I’m sympathetic; truly, I am. I’m a practical kind of gal. To prove my empathy, I offer a little background on yesterday’s post.My husband recently returned from a two-week business trip and offered to take the children to see snow so that (1) I could have a day of

Hope for a tired mother

2005-02-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

[From my email box]Dear Amy,I've just had my first, he's almost a year. People keep telling me it will get easier - but the last five months have been very HARD. As he gets more active, I get more stretched. He's now not a great napper or eater...My husband works nights (and OT) and has a sketchy sleep schedule himself, not much help usually. My loving church family who were all helpful when my

Lazy Sunday afternoon

2005-02-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

Bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska /

2005-02-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

For those of you following the conversation with Not Crunchy from earlier, she has posted an update.

The narrow way

2005-02-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

I think I’ll catch some flack for this one, but I’m going to post it anyway. Want to know the secret to church growth? Click here. (Woe to you if you have a dial-up connection…)G.K. Chesterton's words seem appropriate here: The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is

Brain food

2005-02-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

When Rush Limbaugh goes on the air with “half my brain tied behind my back,” it usually works in his favor. But some of us can’t afford to spare any brain matter to tie in places it doesn’t belong. Yeah, that’s me.So, let me walk you through the scenario here, so it makes a little sense. Not Crunchy, an aspiring environmental lawyer, found my blog using the next button you see at the top of my

Sleepy Mama

2005-02-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

If you’re hoping for something profound from me today, you can fah-get-about-it. I’m going on Day 12 without a chance to be awake and unneeded, so those brain firing impulses are few and far between. Now, this would all be fine and dandy if we could go more than two hours in a row with everyone snoring soundly, but it’s always something. Yep.#2 decided to make a debut with sleep walking last

2005-02-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

Catez has tons of working links on the latest with Terri Schiavo. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel over here, so go to her site for updates. If I haven't yet returned your email or phone call, please read the preceding post and grant me some slack. :) (How do I put a smilie in there? Nevermind, I'm not up for fighting the Blogger monster.)

Terri Schiavo Update

2005-02-23T16:36:00.000-08:00

Today at 5:00 EST I checked CNN to see the latest on Terri Schiavo. Know what the top story was? "Perot making a comeback." What?! (I want to say what I think about that, but I'm too tired right now.) All the sites dedicated to the case are down due to the high demand. Here's the latest information (7:37 p.m. EST) that I was able to track down:A judge Wednesday extended a stay keeping

Terri Schiavo

2005-02-22T18:50:00.000-08:00

As I sat down to write this post, I watched this video and this video of Terri Schiavo with my six-year-old standing over my shoulder. Not wanting to influence his reaction, I gave him a factual run-down on the case. Just the facts. When he became visibly upset, I asked him about his tears. He replied that he was afraid of what would happen if “they” decided we should stop feeding our

2005-02-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

A round-up of blogs on Terri Schiavo is found at Catez's site. Be sure to read her post, Who Crushes a Butterfly with a Hammer? as well as the updates. Wittenberg Gate also weighs in with a Bloggers' Best on her site.If you faint in the day adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we

They're smarter than you think

2005-02-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

Recently, my six-year-old son was slithering around on the floor darting his tongue and asking me to, “Guess who I am!” If you have the privilege of being a parent, no doubt you’ve engaged in these antics as well. I peered over my latest issue of ETC and ventured my best guess,A froggy?I went back to my reading, because if I didn’t, I’d have to start over since I’m not too great in the retention

2005-02-21T21:15:00.000-08:00

Komoto Dragon on the left and my Dragon Slayer on the right.

Blogger interviews

2005-02-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

Carmon is raising money for Azanou, an Ethiopian orphan in need of eye surgery, by hosting a Blog-a-thon. I volunteered for a interview-tag type of party game, so I'm posting it below. I usually get banned from all party games, so I was glad to see that nobody knew me well enough around these parts. I'm a softie for party games. What can I say?My Bloggerview (new word?) with Buried Treasure Books

In case you missed it

2005-02-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

An unwanted boy was aborted three times and lived. He’s two years old now, and I’m scanning headlines to see when his mother will file the lawsuit against him for infringing on her rights. Perhaps she’ll wait a few years until he has a good job before she files? Here's the best part:Dr Paul Clarke, one of the report’s authors and the baby’s doctor at Hope hospital in Salford, Greater Manchester,

Doctrine matters

2005-02-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, we discussed how what we think has profound implications on the way we live. This will be my last post on the matter (until next time…). Ronald Sider discusses George Barna’s latest statistics on the evangelical community in his new book, The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience:Barna’s findings on the different behavior of Christians with a biblical worldview underline the

This Mama has a trick up her sleeve...

2005-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

I am often privy to the FAQ, How do you DO it?! Now, this is a loaded question that is not answerable in passing at the grocery store. The quick answer, however, is that I don't do it all. If you live in this family, no matter your age, you must pitch in. See for yourself:Baby holding brother's feet during sit-ups.

A Hearty Recommendation

2005-02-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

The Godblogs are by and large a vast wasteland, but there are a few places out there that are making a difference. I’ve been a student over at Acid Ink for a while now, and if I am still a hardheaded oblivious Evangelical, well, it’s not The Reverend Bret’s fault. I read the Constitution Party commotion back in November at a few well-respected sites, and still cast my vote for the Elephant. I’m

We have a winner (part 4 of 4)

2005-02-16T12:53:00.000-08:00

Everyone had some great contributions on the matter, but there can only be one correct answer for test taking purposes. So, the quick answer to the pop quiz is: What Would Jesus Think?Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,

Pop Quiz (part 3 of 4)

2005-02-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

In case you’ve missed the ruckus over the last few days, you are in good providence: Paula has supplied us with a Cliff Notes version of the sum of the whole matter (without all the fluff) found in comment #41.Yesterday when I read this I was going to comment, but instead I just thought about it for a while. Many words have been said on the topic, but I guess I like to simplify. What I see in

My comments on your comments (part 2 of 4)

2005-02-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

Set stage:I learned something about myself when an old friend called last night to offer her (belated) congratulations on the hoopla surrounding the Best New Evangelical Blog. As I extended my gratitude to her for actually reading the thing, she remarked, “I don’t know how you have time to write...”I replied that I composed my last post in about 20 minutes (10 minutes to write, 10 minutes to

Christians and Culture: A response to Cal Thomas (part 1 of 4)

2005-02-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last week Cal Thomas wrote an article, Shedding Light in Dark Places, with the basic premise being that Christians should spend less time criticizing the culture, and instead, use their energies to start infiltrating it.Culture is starving because too many with a worldview that differs from the prevailing one have withdrawn their nurturing influence. It doesn't help when such people are persuaded

Wanted and Unwanted

2005-02-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

There used to be the Jews and the Gentiles. Then, there were the Aryans and the non-Aryans. Not too long ago, it was a black and white thing. Nowadays, there are two groups of humans: the wanted and the unwanted. In case you’ve missed the groundbreaking story, a judge declared that a couple has the right to file a wrongful death suit against a fertility clinic for throwing their embryo in the

No More Pity Parties

2005-02-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

Whenever my husband gets ready for a business trip, I begin my own preparations by buying tons of milk, refreshing our library book stockpile, and making sure the laundry is under control. I do my best to make sure at least the first week alone will go smoothly; by the second week, usually, all bets are off. All the busyness is a ploy to divert my attention from self-pity due to the loneliness

The Dirt On My Dirt

2005-02-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again: seed catalogs begin arriving in the mail, Home Depot gears up its gardening department for the onslaught, and women everywhere begin fantasizing about turning their desolate flowerbeds into Better Homes and Gardens spread material. I know this because I entertain this dream every year. But two years ago, it was different. I was over my friend’s house and noticed her

A Little Coffee and Conversation

2005-02-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege to engage in a leisurely chat with "Eric, the Preacher" from Evangelical Underground. Today, I'm linking you to our conversation. Eric asked me questions about my blog, my family, what Christian mothers should fear, and a few other things, including: What is your opinion about today's in your face techniques of winning new converts to Christ? In other words, do you

Reformed Living

2005-02-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be. (said by Titus 2 older woman, Elisabeth Elliot) The church is attempting a reformation. The first reformation was

Vote, Vote, Vote!

2005-02-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Update: The results of the 1st Annual Evangelical Blog Awards have been posted. Thanks to all who voted! (Thank you for all your kind emails, but I don't have time to respond. I'm getting dinner on the table. Nobody around here seems to notice that I'm famous now... Sheesh!)

A Revelation, A Reward, and A Request for Prayer

2005-02-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

The "Revelation" part: I'm working on a vegetable growing primer to post this week. Also, you'll have a chance to win an autographed copy of The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul as well as a hardcover copy of The Reformation Study Bible (ESV). Lots of good food-for-thought to be dished up this week. Tune in! ------------------------------------------------ The Reward: A special award goes to

Sabbath

2005-02-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

(Notice her wrist...)

Blog Awards Update

2005-02-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

Nominations for the 1st Annual Evangelical Blog Awards are now closed at world-famous Evangelical Underground. The top five finalists from each category are now posted. Now obviously, if I'd been cut from the list, I'd be blogging about modern day peddlers of the gospel this morning. However, since I made it to the finals, I'm more than happy to save my sermon for another day and, instead, point

Help Wanted

2005-02-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

I came across this job description of a housewife. It's a good beginning list, but I suspect there are more "jobs" that we could add to it (and some we could delete; i.e. I don't do cars). Send your ideas on the comment link below (think: Mrs. P 31), and I'll compile the list for a future post. Try to ignore the tone of the original letter writer; let's think of this as a reminder of our

What to do, what to do...

2005-02-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

It is only 9 a.m. and already I’ve played several rounds of Chutes and Ladders, chess, and keep-the-game-pieces-out-of-the-baby’s-mouth. As if Chutes and Ladders isn’t torturous enough (you know how I feel about games of chance from an earlier blog), playing chess with a three-year-old is even worse. Now, my five- and six-year-olds are pretty good at chess, but my three-year-old just doesn’t get

Frazzled Woman's Guide to a Happy Baby

2005-02-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

I have the happiest baby in the world. This morning I observed with satisfaction as my husband put Baby’s feet on his cheeks and nuzzled her tummy. She squealed and laughed, which caused me to ask, “How can we get a dozen more of these kind?” Rebekah is nothing short of pure delight. Now, instead of just basking in the moment, I have to hyper-analyze it. How did we get such a happy baby? Here

Attention Wal-Mart Shoppers!

2005-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

I went to Wal-Mart this week. Now, I believe I have my readers conditioned to expect that this is going somewhere. Whenever I go to Wal-Mart, I always come home with a juicy tale for my anxious husband. It’s always somethin’. Now, I am saving my previous “experiences” for another day, as I have a pile of ironing to do this morning. Actually, I just want to relate something positive that happened

Best New Evangelical Blog

2005-01-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

I’m a little competitive. Now, if you know me in real life, you’ll recognize that as the understatement-of-the-year. I heard through the rumor mill that the churchwomen were relieved this past year when I didn’t show up at the Annual Ornament Exchange. They held it on a day when I was out of the state. They weren’t taking any chances after the previous year, as it seems I’ve garnered quite a

Two Fries Short of a Happy Meal

2005-01-29T18:26:00.000-08:00

The rain and cold is constant here, so you’ll forgive me for slipping into a moment of desperation. I took my crew to the McDonald’s playplace for lunch yesterday. Now, the 10 times that I’ve taken them there, they’ve returned home 10 times with a cold exactly three days later. I reasoned away my apprehension with the fact that school was in session and the germs from the previous night had

Rockin' Ryan

2005-01-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

There’s quite a ruckus going on at Carmon’s blog because she posted a picture of James Dobson’s son, Ryan, sporting a little biker/cutting edge look. From the onset, I knew there’d be feather ruffling, so I decided to sit back and enjoy the discourse. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that if I encountered Rockin’ Ryan in a dark alley, I’d probably quickly gather my chickadees to my bosom and

How to Lose Weight

2005-01-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

There were 191 visitors yesterday at my site, but only 11 of you introduced yourselves. What do I have to do, bare my soul?? OK, here goes: I am 10 pounds overweight. Do you know a woman in real life who will discuss her weight with you?! In my endeavor to lose my last 10 pounds after the birth of baby #4, I’ve tried a myriad of things (except diet and exercise). So I’m always on the lookout for

Ode to a Great Guy

2005-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

For being online here a mere two weeks, I’m receiving a lot of traffic on my site. (This is all relative, I know.) So, I’m wondering, who ARE all you people. (Your computer will not self-destruct if you hit the comment button and tell me about yourself.) The thing is, I don’t have that many friends. In fact, I doubt 150 people would even show up at my funeral. The other day, my husband arrived

Roe v. Wade

2005-01-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Regarding the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I can not let the day just pass without some commentary. I'm posed to type, but I'm at a loss for discourse. What more can one say that hasn't already been said, except, God have mercy on us... Consider some self-examining words from Proverbs 24:10-12: If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to

We're R$CH!

2005-01-20T07:30:00.000-08:00

All the evils in the world come not because our desires for happiness are too strong but because they are so weak that we settle for fleeting pleasures that do not satisfy our deepest souls but in the end destroy them. The root of all evil is that we are the kind of people who settle for the love of money instead of the love of God. ~John Piper The other day, my husband and six-year-old son,

On Training Children

2005-01-19T10:20:00.001-08:00

I was the witness this week of the following scene: Johnny, come on! It’s time to go! Little Johnny runs the other way.John—NEE! Little Johnny plays on.1….2….3….4… Now, I frequently wonder what the magic number is that moms count to, because they always change tactics before they get to THE number. You don’t want TIME OUT now, do you, Johnny? John-NEE? John-NEEEEEEEEEEE! Little Johnny carries on

2005-01-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

Education's Finer Points

2005-01-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

Education is conversation, says Sproul Jr. Education is the means by which we pass on our convictions to our children, says G.K. Chesterton. Hmm. With this new found wisdom, I set out to educate my three oldest children via the culinary arts this afternoon. Wanting to pass on my convictions about various philosophical and theological issues, I decided to use manicotti-stuffing as a front. I

What I'm a' Readin'

2005-01-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

I just received my first Draught Horse Press catalog. Now, if you think browsing a catalog doesn’t count as reading, then you must not have seen this catalog. Since you didn’t win the free book I told you about in a recent post, order one of these doozies (the info. pack), and you can officially call yourself A-Winner-of-a-Free-Book. (You can buy me Biblical Economics as a "thank you." ~smile)

2005-01-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

Say, "Cheese!" (For those of you wondering, it's a 30" pizza.)

2005-01-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

This is us--taken about 5 months ago.

2005-01-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

This is my right-hand girl, Abigail Joy, newly five-years old. She's a hard worker and a delight to our family.

2005-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Rebekah rolled over for the first time on her seven month birthday (Jan.12th)--all 25 pounds of her!

Why We Bought a Farmhouse Table

2005-01-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

1. I got a deal. OK, perhaps this is the most superficial of reasons, but we’ve all been guilty of this at one time or another. Have you ever returned home from an outing-- bursting to show your newfound treasure to your husband so that he could add another tier to his “crown” (courtesy Prov. 12:4)--only for him to say, “Did you notice that it doesn’t work/can’t stand up/won’t fit in our house?”

Top Five Reasons to Visit My Website

2005-01-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

5. You will not have to ask me redundant questions. When you pass me at church or in the grocery store, you will not have to say, “So, are you pregnant again yet?” As soon as we’re ready to announce, we will announce in this very spot. Readers of this site will be the first to know. You will have the privilege of “breaking the story” to the real world. Though, everyone will have probably assumed

Pause the blog for a commercial

2005-01-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

My email box is receiving only positive feedback about this site. Now that you’ve puffed me up more than necessary, I believe I can handle a little criticism (notice I specified “little”). So, I open a little note from a fellow cyberman (I’m assuming he’s a man because he seemed to know his tech stuff and he didn’t chit chat) that said, “You may want to check your ATOM XML Feed, it does not look

State of the Union

2005-01-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

I’ve always known that I’m in the minority. Have you ever witnessed a hunched-over teenager sporting pants that need hemming, belting, and a little patching (for the bargain price of my weekly grocery bill) and a scowl that in comparison makes Witch of the East look like The Good Witch? All in an effort to be different, he trades his birthright (and his money) for a little bowl of bland porridge.

Another Way to Shrink Laundry

2005-01-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

Mommy, these pants can’t fit me anymore because they grew smaller. Such was the statement from my dear three-year-old, Annalise, just yesterday. In the mind of my young observer, who needs a little training in the Scientific Method, there must be something wrong with those pants, because the problem was certainly not her own growing legs. I marveled that she simply received this notion without

6 Reasons to Celebrate Cramming 6 People into an 888 Square Foot Apartment

2005-01-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that we left our home to live six months in California, so we can be together as a family while my husband works on a project. Here are my reasons for celebration: 1. Valuable Legal Lesson Learned. Never, never, never enter into a lease or any other contract unless you’ve SEEN with your own eyes what you are purchasing. Pictures do not count. Nicely furnished models are

Impressing Husbands and Thoughts on the Tsunami

2005-01-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I’ve done it again. Upon my husband’s arrival home, I presented him with my new nifty website (which you’re reading now—it’s not something else more spectacular), and boy, was he impressed. When I claimed that I got the whole thing up and running in about 45 minutes and can make a little post in about 5 minutes, I did see a glimmer in his eye. It’s not that I’m incapable of impressing him

Welcome to my blog!

2005-01-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

I do not consider myself adept with a computer, but out of sheer necessity, I've decided to create a little blog. After all the effort I spend emailing friends, family, and miscellaneous cyber people with my thoughts, ponderings, musings, and not-so-asked-for advice, I thought (lightbulb moment) that if I just directed everyone to my blog you could all enjoy your flood-free email boxes a little