The Road Less Traveled
• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Monkeys and a Wrench?
I think at some early point in my blog I said something clever like, "These are the memories I want to put down." Of course, not all the memories are cherished in quite the same way. Some are not really "cherish-able" at all, I fear.
Have you ever had one of those moments when you had a fleeting thought? For me, it usually sounds something like a quick whisper in the dark corner of my mind. Maybe you know what I'm talking about. Well, yesterday I had one of those moments. It was in the middle of cleaning up our school room for this coming year. I was rarin' to go. Of course, things get messier before they get better, but I was willing to live with that. This is neither here nor there, since the whole beginning of this entry takes place in the school room several hours before the "event" with the monkeys. *sigh*
My school room has a workbench area for all things science, or the child who needs to work privately for a little while. It looks something like this:
See that innocent-looking red toolbox on the floor under the taller work bench? In there rests the lovely set of tools belonging to my handsome son, Habanero. On this particular day, I noticed most of the tools were not in this lovely red toolbox.
Enter the fleeting thought: You really should tell Habanero to bring all of his tools back to the toolbox right now.
Nothing to that effect came out.
Several hours later, I sent Habanero and Bell Pepper to bed. Had they followed my instructions, we would have had no problems. Alas, two boys, some lego men, and some chit chat led from one thing to another. I really don't know all of what happened next.
I know two boys, lego men, chit chat, and a wrench is a recipe. Dinner was over, the kitchen was closed, and I didn't need any kind of dessert (just or otherwise). *sigh*
Bell Pepper will be fine. His elbow has a new "hole" in it, but all should be well.
Again. So many opportunities to listen in this day. I had the opportunity to listen to the fleeting whisper. My boys had the opportunity to listen to my instructions . . . or the instructions they've received in church, Bible time, or one-on-one time during a parental "talk" over the years. Surely, something had to apply to monkeys, wrenches, and "Tool Time" gone awry, right? It wasn't aggressive-aggressive . . . just a "boys being physical" moment, I think. *sigh*
Have a peace-filled week, friends! *sigh*
 Edited to correct the word "wrench" because I can't spell.
|
Comments (3) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - A Surprising Nod to Modesty
Posted By Sheri Payne
I love Anthony Bourdain's show, No Reservations. It's quirky, amusing, and sometimes even thought-provoking. Anthony has an interesting and tricky way with language, along with a love for food and a taste for adventure.
His gift for language led me to his blog, where he has additional and sometimes bawdy commentary on his experiences (caution - language). Tonight his latest episode took him to Saudi Arabia, apparently as much a surprise to him as to his fans.
In his entry about tonight's episode, he also referenced his crew's blog, where producer Amy Teuteberg muses on the experience of three women producing a show in a strict Muslim country. For a western woman, I would expect that it would be a frustrating and even angering experience. I was quite surprised to read this:
Although everyone wears an abbaya in public, it comes off at home. When you are hanging out with friends or family, no abbaya necessary. Underneath, many women dress just like they do in New York: skirts, heels, low cut tops, you name it. One particularly scorching day, after Danya, Nari and I had spent hours scouting locations in the desert sun, we had a meeting in my hotel room. The second the door shut behind us, we tossed our sweat-drenched abbayas and head-scarves to the floor. Danya was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. For the first time, I could see her hair, her arms, her legs. I noticed immediately how different this felt. In some ways, it was like I was seeing her for the first time. Like a layer that was new and more intimate had been revealed. I realized in that moment that that was likely the point of the abbaya, or at least part of it. It’s saving that kind of intimacy for those that are close to you, your friends and family, who have earned the privilege. For the first time, I saw that the abbaya may have a role in protecting women, and not as something simply designed to control them.
What a revelatory view of modesty! It even took me by surprise - me, a moderately modest, conservative Christian. Suddenly, my one-size-fits-all view of modesty seems myopic. Is the clothing that is appropriate for my husband and children really appropriate for strangers in the grocery store? This is going to provide impetus to some serious thought and prayer over the next few weeks.
Watching this episode while still mulling over these thoughts, Anthony's guide to the country, Danya, comments on how her American friends once asked her how she feels about being singled out and separated from the mainstream in her culture. She and Anthony and sitting in a family section of a fast food restaurant, where husbands, sons, and fathers can join their families. Single men have a separate section.
Danya waves her hand towards the singles section and proclaims that she's always felt that it was the men who were being separated and singled out in this scenario, and it is probably in their best interests, since single men tend to act badly. I think poor Anthony was quite startled by this, but I instantly understood it; probably not in the way Danya does. It all comes down to the most basic understanding of this fallen world - our sinful natures.
Anthony and Danya, it was right in front of you, and I think you missed it.
|
Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 21, 2008 - Quick Editorial Note About Last Two Posts
Posted By MaggieRaye
Just a quick note, I am not aware that I have offended anyone recently, but that is because I haven't been posting anything of real value.
For those who are new here, you'll notice several posts back that I went through and deleted most of the content of my blog, leaving only a few posts and having added to them only a little since then.
Honestly, the two previous post have been on the back burner for awhile. I didn't feel I had the freedom to share what was on my heart.
The Lord has brought me to a place of freedom, a place where He is more important and where I need to share the burden He has given me, knowing that there are those who will disagree, if not openly, then behind my back.
Single mom's know that the Lord is your provider, your covering, and no matter how judgemental and unscriptural those around you are, the Lord knows your heart and he will provide for you, because his concern is not just the fatherless, but the widows, the poor, and the needy. If you're not a widow, and you're a single mom, you definitely have needs and are probably poor (at least by our countries standards). So while scripture may not say "single mother" the principle is still there for your care.
Turn to the Lord and let Him show you the wonderful things He can do for you, with or without the church body.
Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Comments (0) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 21, 2008 - Pregnancy Update: 21 weeks and a Peek at the Peanut Gallery
A couple of posts ago, I declared that I was five months pregnant, which caused many gasps. As it turns out, that's not quite right. I always get confused with the weeks/months thing. I'm actually not quite five months pregnant, but I'm not sure if that will surprise you all any less. It definitely seems that long to those of us who are living it. I will say that this has seemed to be my most rapid pregnancy of the three, which I attribute to Annaleigh and Harrison distracting me with their lives so much. I'm much busier these days than with either of the other two, which makes it seem to go by faster....but not fast enough.
We are neck-deep in our room-shifting projects. We are moving Harrison into our current schoolroom, and his room is going to be the nursery. And where are we going to do school? Good question. I think mostly in the loft, and then both kids will have desks in their rooms. We can also make use of the kitchen table if need be. And as busy as we always are, I find the car a good place for some school. So basically the answer is anywhere we see fit. Right now I'm busy boxing up books and scrapbook paraphernalia and cleaning out closets. The kids are going to the grandparents' next week, and we want to paint the schoolroom to be more suitable for him while he's gone. He wants this too, since it's currently lavender. I'll post some pictures when all of it finished.
Pregnancy-wise all is well. I had my ultrasound last week, and the doc declared all to look like it's supposed to, and the measurements were all on target. Here's a black and white peek at little Peanut....
Above is the profile, with the spine up top. I was glad to see that the nose looks on the smallish side. I had a grandmother with a rather large nose, which so far, hasn't shown up in any offspring.
Here's a face-front view...
I was startled to find that Peanut looks like the crystal skull from the latest Indiana Jones movie. Thankfully we have 17-18 more weeks to get that cleared up.
Here I am of late...
Sorry about the extra bright lights streaming in from my dining room windows. I guess I give pregnancy glow a whole new meaning. Again, my measurements seem to be right where they are supposed to be. I've only gained a total of 6 pounds, which was thrilling to me since usually by this point I've gained about 100. Well, not quite that much, but way more than 6, I can assure you. I was shocked because this was the month that we were on vacation, and I developed a hearty craving for all kinds of pasta. Next month may not be so encouraging.
Thanks to all who rang in their opinions on the name. We have locked in on Madelynn Rose, I believe. For a boy, we've gone a totally different direction and have chosen William Albert. I've always loved the name William, and both Big D and I had grandfathers named Albert, so it just works. Now we just wait to see which one we use....
Now I must leave you, because I just became incredibly hungry all of a sudden, and I may be tempted soon to start eating my keyboard. That would be hard to explain to Big D. |
Comments (13) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 21, 2008 - Single Mom's - The Church - Welfare
This is a HOT topic, and so I'm really going to limit what I have to say here, this time.
It was recently pointed out to me, that because of the sin in my life (in the past, and long repented of) that I "deserve" to be where I am, going through the things I do. There are actually people who do not want my family as a part of their regular fellowshipping/church. (If this offends you, read the previous post, please.)
I'm so grateful that Christ didn't look at us, and go, "Father, the "deserve" to suffer, they are nothing but a bunch of worthless sinners."
We all have sin in our lives -- mine just happens to be more obvious than some, because the results are walking talking reminders.
Over the years, I've searched scripture and believe the things I do, based on scriptural principles, commands, and teachings.
I've come to peace with much of this, and am sharing it with you moms, because I know many of you have experienced the same thing. Whether your husband has abandoned you, abused you or maybe you've never had a husband, many of you have experienced a great lack of empathy from fellow believers.
The other day when I was doing my Bible reading (I'm doing the John MacArthur Bible in a Year) I read a Psalm that though I'm sure I've read before, I never thought of enlight of single moms, the church and welfare. I have debated whether to share it with you or not. Recently the Lord has spoken clearly to me about not fearing what man may so or do, as long as my stand is for Him. And so, while I'm not out to offend, I'm certain there are some who will be offended. I am sorry. I'll just say it now. I am sorry to offend, for that is not my intent. However, I can not remain silent, out of fear.
Psalm 82:3-4
"Defend the poor and the fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and the needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked."
I don't believe there is anything more wicked and corrupt than our government system. It bothers me that churches say, "we pay tax dollars into the system there is no reason Christians shouldn't take advantage of it" One pastor even told me once, that if the church had the funds that all it's members paid in taxes it might be different, they'd be able to do more. Have we forgotten that the heavenly Father's treasury is limitless, when it is for His purpose?
I believe that the church is making the government father of the fatherless, and I believe that this is unscriptural.
Now, ladies, if this is where you are, where many of us are, take heart. The Lord blesses anyway. My advice to you, is pray, remembering we are in the days when churches are lukewarm.
Claim Hebrews 13:5 & 6, " Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
For isn't it better to say the Lord is our helper than to depend on man (the church or the government) though the Lord may certainly use man as His vessel from which to pour blessings on us.
The Lord has so blessed my life amidst trials, during the last few years. Yes there has been sin in my life, but there is sin in all of our lives, whether we neglect the poor, lust, covet, gossip, have a rebellious spirit there is sin in all of our lives and we should esteem others better than ourselves, coming along side them to encourage and edify them, when they will allow us to.
I'm sadly certain that there are those who will read this and be offended, again, I am sorry that you are offended. But I have been keeping silent out of fear, and it is time to speak out and take a stand again for what the Lord has laid upon my heart, not for myself, but for others.
May the Lord stir your heart toward Him,
Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 21, 2008 - Changes Coming
Most of you know I've been struggling for awhile over what to do about my blog. I can't seem to share without offending.
I was going to set up a whole new blog that focused only on my quilting, as a way to share, teach and sell.
Prayerfully, I've come up with a way to keep this blog up and going, without (hopefully) offending. I will also be able to share the quilts here.
You'll be seeing some changes in the decor around here as well. Janet, at Pineblossoms has agreed to help me give this place a pick me up that will be more in line with what I'm hoping to share.
I will still share an occasional thought of encouragement for single mothers who are homeschooling.
I would leave you with this thought - scripture tells us that those who love the law, NOTHING shall offend them. So if you're here and you're reading and something offends you, I'd challenge you to check your own heart first. I have found that when I'm offended, it's usually my heart attitude and not the "offender" that needs adjusting.
Blessings, MaggieRaye |
Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 20, 2008 - 17 years
Posted By Hands and Hearts
Today is my 17th wedding anniversary. I met Jeff when I was 17 years old, so there is a pleasing symmetry here somehow. I didn't think we did anything special today. Jeff took the healthy dc to church while I stayed home with the sick ones and Noah. When he came home, we made about four bazillion homemade buttermilk donuts together -I made the dough, rolled, and cut while he cooked and rolled in cinnamon sugar. We then served an utterly irresponsible lunch of homemade donuts, home canned applesauce, and ice cold milk. Sometimes we really like utterly irresponsible lunches around here!
There were lots of leftover donuts which we all nibbled at all afternoon, so we didn't have the big pot roast dinner I had planned. Instead, we had some BBQ sandwiches from leftover smoked pulled pork that we had for dinner last night.
We've been needing a new laptop for the business and Walmart had some for under $400, so we went to Walmart together and picked up a laptop and some scissors. When we came home, we just sort of hung out together while Jeff worked on the new laptop and I sat nearby and chatted with him.
No big dinner out, no romantic date, no roses. We didn't even buy cards. I told Jeff that I was afraid this wasn't much of an anniversary . . . then we looked at each other and grinned and both said that we wouldn't have changed a thing. :-) This morning we lazed around in bed playing with the little guys until Jeff absolutely had to leave for church. We had a lot of fun laughing and talking making those donuts. We were blessed to get a laptop for WAY less than we thought, and blessed that the business could buy it. We spent time with 7 of the 8 most wonderful kids in the world. Because Mary Faith is needing lots of snuggles right now, I didn't feel like I had to run around and "do" stuff. I just sat and talked with Jeff while he worked on the computer. We got to laugh (a LOT) at Noah's new dance moves. As soon as I finish this we'll probably get into bed and snuggle with Mary Faith (who still feels really yucky) and watch a couple of old episodes of Get Smart. Life is good. :-)
Blessings,
Kate
PS I recently wrote the story of how Jeff and I met and posted it on a group I'm on. (We were comparing notes!) I thought you might like to hear it so I'm pasting it here. . . . . .
Jeff and I met our freshman year of college (PCS). I was 17 and he was 18. I was actually a cheerleader for his soccer team. One day I hurt my arm cheering and ended up on some pain medicine. There was a party for the team and cheerleaders that night and I went even though I was in a sling and couldn't play pingpong or anything. Jeff saw me and felt bad for me, so he sat and talked to me the whole time to keep me company . . . but because of the pain medicine, I wasn't able to remember this! (I'm relying on HIS account LOL). We ran into each other a few days later outside of a class, and I thought he was a friend of my friend's fiancee. Remember, I had forgotten ever meeting him. I walked up and greeting him (thinking he was someone else) and he thought that I was impressed by his kind and gentlemanly behavior from the party. He asked me to go to church with him that night and I agreed. A few minutes later I ran into my friend and her fiancee and mentioned that her fiancee's friend had asked me out. I was horrified when they said that the friend had been off campus all day!!!
I didn't know what to do. For all I knew, Jack the Ripper had asked me out LOL, but I decided to go ahead and meet up with him. All the same, meeting at church was surely safe, right? (Not to mention that attendance was mandatory so it would have taken some doing to avoid him, and I couldn't call and cancel since I didn't know who he was!) I sat next to him that night having NO IDEA what his name was, how old he was, or anything. I didn't even realize that he was on the soccer team for which I cheered. As we spoke, he asked me how to spell my last name, which was Till at that time. He told me I was lucky because there was no way that people could mispronounce that name, but that people were forever calling him Jeff Estes (2 short e's) instead of Jeff Estes (1st e short, second e long.) I was SO relieved to learn his name so that I could ask around and get the "scoop" on him. :-)
We went to church together the next Sunday, then Wednesday, and so forth. Neither one of us had ever dated before. By October he knew that I was the girl for him, but it took me quite a bit longer to figure out that he was the guy for me. (Poor fella.) Within a year we both knew we would be getting married, and 2 /12 years after we met I got the ring officially. We married in July of '91 right after graduation. I was 21 and he was 22.
Here is the funny thing - all of Jeff's life he said he was never going to get married. In kindergarten his written answer to "When I will grow up, I want to be ____" was "not married." No joke. In his senior year of high school he refused to write a paper about the qualities he wanted in a future wife, because he said he was never getting married. He finally had to write it or get an F, but the only criteria that I match is that I am female LOL. He did say he was going to find a cheerleader to date when he went to college, though! When he told his mom midway through his freshman year that he had found his future wife, the poor lady almost had a cardiac event. He now fondly and happily tells people that I ruined all of his plans for his life, and that he is glad I did! (I never did tell him about the whole mistaken identity thing until a couple of weeks before our wedding. He just LOVED to tell people about how I was so moved by his kindness at that party. I hated to burst his bubble, but couldn't stand it any more.) :0)
Blessings again,
Kate
|
Comments (10) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Are You Eternally Secure? or Insecure??
Dear Tammy,
The doctrine of eternal security, or "once saved, always saved", is one that comes under fire often. Many people trust Christ for their salvation, only to be told later that it is possible to lose it. When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, the sinless blood he shed there was the payment for sins. For all sins. For everybody's sins. For everybody's sins in the past, for all the sins that were committed on the day of Christ's death, and for all of the sins that would be committed in the future of humanity. When Jesus died, your life was still many years in the future. And yet, his death paid the penalty for every one of your sins! They were all covered at once. I can tell you that I KNOW I have been saved from ALL my sins (past, present, future), and I will give you some scripture that explains why. But before I do that, think about these things:
~When Christ saved you, did he give you everlasting life or temporary life?
~Which one of your sins did Jesus NOT pay for when he was crucified for you?
~What kind of sin is bad enough to make you lose your salvation -- murder? Skipping church? Gossip? Unbelief? Adultery? Being depressed? (We're commanded to rejoice, you know.)
~Where is the "peace that passeth all understanding", if every day I wake up fearing I might lose my salvation?
~Once you "lose" it, how ever do you get it back (IF you can get it back)??? No one in the Bible was ever saved twice!!
~No one who teaches eternal INsecurity ever believes that they have lost it, or that they could lose it.
~No one who asks the Lord Jesus Christ to save their soul ever does so believing he might forsake them in the future. That is not faith. You have to be taught that you can lose it, and that teaching does not come from the Bible.
One of the reasons this heresy, that one can lose his salvation, is now so prevalent is that the newer Bible versions have removed the good words "justification", "redemption", and "propitiation" from the text. These words have been substituted with other words or other phrases that do not give us any assurance that salvation, the free gift of God, is for eternity. I will be quoting here from the King James Bible. If you are not reading the KJB, I suggest you open your version, whatever it is, to the following references to see what you are missing.
Read:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,"
Romans 3:23-26
"Justified" is a judicial term that means one has been declared righteous. Although you were once guilty, the penalty for your has been paid in full. You are no longer viewed by the Judge as guilty. Hooray!! Once a person has been declared righteous, he is never tried again for that crime.
To be "redeemed" means to be bought back. In the book of Romans, chapter 7, the apostle Paul says he was "alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and [he] died." Later in the chapter he says he was now carnal, "sold under sin". No longer spiritually alive, Paul had an terrible new master --sin! (See chapter 6.) In order to be saved, he must be REDEEMED. Bought back. And he was! The blood of Jesus Christ was the payment, praise God. There is no scriptural example of one who was once redeemed by the blood of Christ, and then sold back to sin again!
A "propitiation" is a price paid to appease one whose wrath has been incurred. John 3 says of those who are lost (have not been eternally saved), "the wrath of God abideth on them." God the Father ordained that his own precious, sinless Son would be that payment. Isaiah 53:11 says, "He [God the Father] shall see the travail of his [Jesus Christ's] soul and shall be satisfied." When I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior from sin, I was accepting him as the only offering that I could present to God the Father for the forgiveness of my sins. No other offering coming from me was good enough to appease the wrath of God! Remember when Cain was too proud to ask Abel for a LAMB? He gave his own offering, not the one God ordained. The offering God ordained was the blood of an innocent lamb. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God!
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
"The blood of Jesus Christ [God's] Son cleanseth us from ALL SIN." 1 John 1:7
There are two verses that people often use to teach that one can lose his salvation. One of them is 2 Timothy 2:12, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" But look at the context. He is speaking here of denying him reign in our hearts and lives. If we deny him first place, he will deny us reign in his kingdom! The Bible goes on to say, "If we [We who? We Christians!] believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." It is God himself, and God alone, who does both the saving and the keeping. You can read Galatians for more about that. Whether or not we can do something to keep our salvation is the theme of that book!
The other verse people use to teach eternal insecurity is this one: "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Hebrew 10:26,27 That's true -- there is no more sacrifice for sins. The sacrifice for sins was made ONCE AND FOR ALL (Hebrews 10:10) at Calvary . And God does judge us for sins, even after we have been saved. That is not to say that he condemns saved sinners to hell for their sins. That's impossible. (What were those sinners then saved FROM??) "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1,2
Although those two passages appear to be saying you could lose the salvation that God gave you for eternity, there are many MORE verses that very plainly say you can not. Read and believe the following verses, which apply to all who have repented of their sins and received Christ Jesus:
John 10:28 We shall NEVER perish
John 10:29 No one is able to remove you from God's hand.
John 6: 37 God will in NO WISE cast out those that come to him.
John 6: 39 The responsibility for keeping us saved belongs to God, and Jesus Christ can lose nothing.
Johns 5:24 says the kind of life I now have is EVERLASTING.
Romans 8:38 says nothing can separate the saved from the love of God.
1 Peter 1:5 says we are kept by the power of God.
Jude 24 God is able to keep us from falling.
Philippians 1:6 says that the Lord will continue his good work in us until the day of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:13 says my salvation was sealed by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8 says our salvation is the GIFT of God, and Romans 11:29 says the gifts and calling of God are without repentance -- that means he doesn't take them back!
There are many more verses in God's Word which assure us of our eternal salvation.
While it IS possible for the Christian to lose his assurance of salvation, his rewards, his joy, or his fellowship with the Lord, he cannot lose his salvation!
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11,12 You either have the Son or you don't. If you have the Son, you are saved. Forever. God has put this promise in writing for us, and that's the key. If your final authority is the written word of God, you need never fear he will cast you away. Believe the Book!
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23
|
Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Jul. 19, 2008 - Matthew and Mary Faith
(Hannah Update Below This Post)
Matthew has been complaining just a little bit about a sore throat for a couple of days. When he woke up this morning, he was feverish and his throat hurt so much he could barely talk, so Jeff took him to the express care place around the corner from our house. (side note - WHY does this stuff always happen on the weekends??) Anyway, it turns out the poor guy has a nasty case of strep throat.
Mary Faith has been acting odd for about as long as Matthew has had a sore throat. She wants to nurse but doesn't want to swallow, and a couple of times I've found her drenched in sweat. When I dressed her this morning her tummy was covered in a rough red rash. By the time Matthew and Jeff got home, her whole torso was covered and the rash had spread to her arms and thighs, so I took her to express care. I was concerned that it could be a scarlatina rash - and it turns out I was right. My little sweetie actually has scarlet fever! Thanks to modern antibiotics, this isn't the scary disease of old novels, but she does feel really yucky. (Of course, when the heroines of these old novels would get scarlet fever, it seems like they always required a long convalescence at the sea side . . . . . SURELY it would be irresponsible of me to put too much stock in these new-fangled antibiotics . . . . SURELY the only safe course of action would be to go to some balmy tropical paradise and hang out in a hammock . . . .  ) Ahhh well, I don't see a beach trip anywhere in our future, so we'll just have to settle for amoxicillin and lots of mama-snuggles! All silliness aside, I'm so thankful that these things which used to be so devastating and grave can now easily be treated with some oral antibiotics. We are so blessed to be living in this time and in this place.
Of course, the big concern here is keeping Noah safe. Matthew "graciously" informed me that he would be "willing" to just spend the next few days alone in my room so Noah won't be exposed further. He said that if had a laptop, lots of cold sodas, and a stack of old b&w Superman DVD's then he could probably handle the isolation. <>> We compromised and he is on the couch with ice water watching Lord of the Rings. Sarah has actually watched the entire thing once and wasn't really scared, but it must be scarier the second time around. She made a little hiding place by draping a baby blanket between a reading chair and an ottoman. She is entrenched there and is watching the movie through a peephole in the side of her hiding place. :-) Every few minutes she pulls the blanket right over her head and covers her ears, then sets the blanket back in place and goes back to the movie. She's "not scared," mind you LOL, and we don't dare suggest that she is!
Noah has been doing really well. He has discovered that apparently money CAN buy happiness, because he has found it for sale in Walmart. :-) He hasn't been to Walmart much at all. He spent so much time in the hospital, then was on "house arrest" for the influenza season, and now I try to leave a few little ones at home with an older one so I can use the minivan to save gas. The other day Jeff and I went to Walmart and brought Noah along. He went NUTS when he saw the lobsters, and I was reminded of the fish aisle. Noah LOVES fish. We spent literally hundreds of hours in front of the huge fish tank at the hospital in Greenville last year, and the fish seldom failed to soothe and amuse him. We took him to the fish aisle and let him get out of the cart. He rushed to the first tank and gasped, then yelled "feeeesssshhh!" at the top of his lungs. He stared for a minute or two then moved to the next tank, gasped in astonishment, and yelled "feeeeesssshhh!!!" again. He kept this up for more than 15 minutes. We were laughing sooo hard because every time he stepped in front of a tank he would gasp in shock like he was SO surprised each time. We went back to Walmart a few days later and as sooas w got in the door he put his hands on my face and said, "Feesh, Mommy???" You all have seen his pictures and are aware of the Big Bottomless Blue Eyes thing . . . . . . .I was obviously powerless at this point and was compelled to take him back to the fish aisle. We've created a monster LOL, but at least the fish aisle doesn't charge admission. :-)
Fish aren't the only aquatic joys in Noah's life right now. A number of VERY sweet and creative blog readers have sent Noah a lovely supply of Aqua-Guards! I'm working on individual thank-you notes, but most of the shipments don't indicate who sent them, so if I don't email or write with a thank-you, that is why. Please just know that Noah is unbelievably happy with these. He has started taking my hand, leading me to the bathroom, pulling back the shower curtain, and saying "Peeeese, (please) Mommy??" while kicking in the pleading eyes. You guys already know I'm a pushover for those eyes, so Noah is taking a lot of very happy baths right now. One reader even sent him a little bath boat that sprays water and spins around. It is so cute and Noah doesn't want to let go of it when he gets out of the bath. One of us dries him while the other one distracts him and gets the boat so we can put it away. :-) Because Noah's TPN starts at bedtime, he has a lot of fluids running in all night. We've tried all sorts of diapers including the nighttime diapers, but he is almost always soaked when he wakes up in the morning. By soaked, I mean drenched from toes to upper chest. It is so sad that he wakes up cold and wet most mornings, and it was incredibly sad that I had to give this cold wet shivering toddler a sponge bath to freshen him up while he cried and cried. That is just NOT a nice way to start the day at all. Now instead of a shivery sponge bath, he can get in a nice warm shower with Mommy or Daddy then play in the tub. It makes me so happy to be able to do this for my sweetie pie.
Mary Faith's antibiotics are supposed to be ready for pickup now, so I'm gonna run to the drugstore. We appreciate your prayers so much. (Oh, and Hannah appreciates them too! She read your comments and is planning on an update sometime after she gets home Monday. I miss her SO MUCH! Don't forget to pray for a safe flight late Sunday night for her, please.)
Blessings,
Kate
p.s. I THINK you can give blood elsewhere and credit it to Noah. I'm working on that and will post details when I know that I've got it right. |
Comments (7) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
• Saturday, July 19, 2008 - Help! Does Anyone Subscribe to BHG??
Posted By diamondsintherough
Hey everyone, while I was waiting at the doctor's office last week I copied a recipe for some different-sounding chocolate chip cookies out of a magazine. (I am pretty sure it was the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens...?) And I can't believe I did this (why not -- I do this all the time!), but I promptly lost it!  The writer said her husband takes buckets of these cookies to work each week, and that this was the first time she had shared the recipe. It looks pretty normal, except the instructions say to soak raisins in the egg and vanilla for an hour before mixing up the batter. Someone help me out here. I know there's a subscriber out there somewhere! Thank you ~  |
Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
|
