Saturday, December 22, 2007

Where I've been

WARNING: I change tenses all over the place in this post. Sorry.

Yes, I know, I disappeared again. As if this isn't already a busy time of year and as if I wasn't trying really hard to get myself established back at home after being gone for 2 1/2 weeks, we just had some more "fun"!




Monday - 4 p.m.

Micah (9 y.o) started complaining on Monday afternoon that his belly hurt. All day Sunday he had been pretty, uh, gassy, much to his amusement and his sister's dismay. When he complained on Monday afternoon I figured that he had more gas trapped in his system which can be pretty painful.

Monday - 5 p.m.

We gave him some anti-gas medicine and just watched him. He didn't eat dinner very well and spent most of the evening on the couch.

9 or 10 p.m.

Got out of bed and vomited 5 times. He felt much better, acted pretty chipper, and I thought we were done.

Tuesday - 1 a.m.

Micah's up again in more pain. I talk to Jim and decide to call our family doctor.

1:34 a.m.

Dr. calls back, suspects appendicitis, and says he should go to the ER. I get dressed (and made-up because I'm vain!), start the van to warm up, and make a snack for myself because I'm starving.

2:20 a.m. - 7 am

We arrive at the emergency room. There are 3 other kids there with the same symptoms. Strange. Micah gives a urine sample, get hooked up to an I.V., gives a blood sample, and starts drinking contrast for an upcoming CT scan. He didn't like it at all and it took about an hour for him to get it down. He's the fourth one of four kids that are getting CT scans so we have to wait a while for our turn. Meanwhile, his pain starts subsiding. The lab work came back and they said it looked okay. After for-ever he gets to go for his CT scan. He loved that part. He thought it was very cool! He even loved the feeling of the IV contrast entering his bloodstream. Weirdo! But I'm thankful for the small pleasantries along the way. It takes an incredibly long time for the doctor to get back with us. The other kids start going on home and I figure we're probably next...soon...sometime? The nurse pokes her head in and asks if the doctor has talked with us yet. I say, no. Later she reports that he is consulting with another doctor. Hmm. Interesting. then the nurse comes in and put a NKA (no known allergies) sticker on Micah's ID bracelet. Hmm. Also interesting. She leaves. I inform Micah that I think we are staying here and NOT going home. He starts getting a little upset at the prospect of surgery. I try to calm him down. Really, he's doing great and he's so brave. The doctor finally comes in and tells me that he's been consulting with another doctor and was waiting for a call back and he really wanted to wait until they had a complete picture before talking with me but it was becoming an embarrassing long wait and so he was there now to talk. The other doctor called back during our conversation, of course! Yes, it's appendicitis. They need to do surgery soon the only question is where. They were trying to find an open operating room at the St. Luke's in Meridian (where we were) or in Boise.

7:30 a.m.

Eventually we were admitted to the Meridian St. Luke's to await surgery. We were gurneyed to a way cool room in pediatrics. Awaiting Micah was a stuffed bear and a Sorry! game on the nightstand. There was also an extra hospital bed for me to sleep in, YEAH!!! I unpacked Micah's things from the bag they had given him, ate the other half of my sandwich, called Jim and other family members to update them and then laid down. Then the surgeon came in and introduced himself. We weren't supposed to have been admitted in Meridian. The surgery has to happen in Boise unless we wait until late afternoon which isn't a good plan at this point. He said that he told them not to admit us anywhere until he knew where he had an OR. Oh well, here we go again. He said that Air St. Luke's will transport us by ambulance (for free) to the other hospital. We will be delayed a bit by the paperwork necessary to extricate us from the Meridian hospital and get us into the Boise hospital. The 9am surgery he was shooting for may not happen until 9:30 but all is good. I've always been VERY happy with the service I receive at St. Luke's and I continue to be. I call Jim to tell him of the change in plans.

8:00 a.m.


Air St. Luke's people arrive and start moving IV poles and Micah onto yet another bed and get him all strapped down and get paperwork from the nurse. Jim calls back to remind me to take pictures with my cell phone! :-) I hadn't thought of that. I'm glad he reminded me. I'm offered a ride with Micah but I need to drive me van and not have the trouble of being at a hospital in Boise with my car in front of the ER in Meridian. Plus, the ambulance isn't stopping at Mickey D's. I am. I ask the nurse if we can take the bear and the Sorry! game. She says no problem! It's a good thing we did because the other St. Luke's didn't have that perk for him. I almost didn't take it because I figured we would end up with two. I'm glad Jim told me to take it. :-)



8:24 a.m.

Micah is loaded into the ambulance and I follow along behind with a slight detour to grab breakfast!






9:15 a.m.


I meet up with Micah again in pre-op. I bring him the blanket he left in the van. They give him drugs to make him not care a bit (even though he wasn't really acting nervous at this point.). Though he does remember this room with the Winnie-the-Pooh winter screen saver on their computer and the movie CARS playing, he doesn't remember leaving it. I remember him leaving. Good-bye, Micah, I love you.... Take care of my son, Lord....

9:18 a.m.

The screen in the OR waiting room reminds me of an airport arrival/departure screen. It states that he's in the OR as of 9:18. the surgery should last about one hour and recovery another hour. I will get to see him once he's assigned to and in a room. The screen will say when he's in Recovery I and then Recovery II and then at his final destination. I eat my breakfast, make phone calls, read and then sleep for about 10 minutes on a bench until the doctor comes out.

10:05 a.m.

It was less than an hour. Yeah! He has a good report. It WAS a nasty appendix and it's good they got it out. He showed me "lovely" pictures. They did the surgery laparoscopically which makes for a faster recovery.

11:30 a.m.

Micah is in his room where I've been waiting since shortly after he got out of surgery. He's sleepy and in and out of consiousness.






Rebecca & Adam visiting Micah


Well, that's probably enough to give you a really good idea what we've been up to this last week! Micah had lots of visitors, bearing flowers, candy, toys, and comic books. He didn't eat the candy until he was at home because even after they lifted the "clear fluids" diet he wasn't interested in eating. Popsicles, though, that was different. The first time they got him up walking was very unpleasant for him. He turned a dusky green and got really hot, sweaty, and nauseated and almost passed out. Each ambulation, though, was easier than the previous one. He rarely took pain meds after the first 12 hours or so, he got up and walked when they told him to (even though he would have preferred not to). He was a real trouper.

Jim stayed off work and on the home front keeping it together and I never left the hospital until I took Micah home Wednesday afternoon. I was very glad to get a shower and clean clothes!

I'm so thankful for: (in no order of importance!)

medical advancements
knowledgable doctors
antibiotics
pain meds
friends
nurses
nurse's aides
electricity
clean water
hospital cafeterias
extra toothbruses
pain (without it we wouldn't have known there was a problem)
insurance
sick days
my husband
God's hand in our lives
cell phones
popsicles
sterile hospital conditions

There are many places in the world where this little hiccup in our lives would have meant the end of my son's life. Does that make sense? It's really late and I'm expremely tired. I guess that is a combination of extremely and supremely. It fits so I'll leave it. In any case, I'm very thankful to live WHERE I live and WHEN I live. There is more to God's provision than I can go into at this time but it will suffice to say that God is good. All the time. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.


O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

Words: Translated by John M. Neale
Music: ar­ranged by Thom­as Hel­more
Source: CyberHymnal

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Friday, December 14, 2007

Quotable Quotes

I saw a great quote yesterday on The Anchoress's header:

"Having resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die" -- Malachy McCourt


What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. Isaiah 38:15

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

MIA

You may have noticed that I've been missing. While I have been missing I've certainly been in action! Here's a little recap.

My family and I left town early Tuesday morning, November 20th, to head to western Oregon for 5 days for Thanksgiving. I didn't return until December 8th! While we were on our way to Springfield I got a call from my mom that my sister, Junelle, who lives 1.5 hours north of Springfield was going to be hospitalized. She was in her 23rd week of pregnancy and her cervix was opening. Her midwife wanted her to go to OHSU in Portland for a cerclage. We suggested that she come down to Eugene as she would be closer to family for any support that she would need. Plus, her husband works in Eugene so it made even more sense for her to be there. Her midwife drove her all the way to Eugene and waited with her for HOURS! Midwives are awesome! Jim and I continued driving and got to town in time for my mom and I to go to the hospital. We listened as the doctor described to June and Rick (her husband), what the procedure would entail and the risks involved. Since the bag of waters was beginning to extend through the cervix it would have to be pushed back a bit before the stitch could be put in and could end up being ruptured which would end the pregnancy. If she didn't have the cerclage she would have to be on very strict bedrest to stave off labor and the doctor said she wouldn't last more than a month which would put her at 27 weeks. Still too early to deliver. They opted to have the cerclage. It was successful! Thank-you, Lord! After two days in the hospital she was allowed to come "home" to Mom and Dad's. On Thanksgiving Day! Bedrest was still part of the equation and she has a 3 1/2 year old son. Saturday, the day Jim and I were supposed to leave, only Jim and the two older kids went home. I stayed behind with the two younger ones to help out June and her son, Gabriel. Boy, I was busy!

I'm so thankful I have the flexibility to have been able to stay and help. I'm so thankful I have willing in-laws and friends to help out with the kids who returned home. I'm so thankful for a great husband who was willing to make the 8-9 hour drive last Friday to come back and get me and then turn around and do it again the next day to take us home!

Pray for June as she continues to take it easy and watch other people do the jobs she's "supposed" to be doing. She's to be on modified bedrest for about 9 1/2 more weeks. At that point they'll take out the cerclage and let nature "take it's course". Pray for Rick as he supports his wife though this trying time. Pray for Gabe as his world is upside-down and will continue to be until it's turn upside-down again when the baby is born. Pray for my parents as they continue to have extra people in their home and colds bouncing around from one person to the next and back again! Finally, give thanks with us that June is still pregnant and that God is so very good. All the time.

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

Psalm 139:13-16



Here's a peek at the frame being woven in secret:

Sunday, December 02, 2007

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns for the Na­tiv­i­ty of Our Lord (Lon­don: Will­iam Stra­han, 1745), num­ber 10.
Music: Hy­fry­dol,
Row­land H. Pri­chard, 1830 (MI­DI, score)

Source: CyberHymnal

I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. Haggai 2:7

Monday, November 19, 2007

Parents ordered to court for kids' shots

The article below irritates and concerns me in way I cannot even describe. This is very, very wrong. Besides the obvious problem that parents are being denied the right to decide if they want to inflict immunizations on immunize their child or not, doesn't it seem stupid to expel the kids and then charge the parents with truancy? It seems like the school officials would at least be able to come up with a charge that didn't make them look foolish. I also didn't like the comment the judge makes at the end of the article!

(Okay, in the interest of transparency I should say that I almost fully immunized my two older kids, partially immunized my third child, but have no plans to immunize my fourth [or any others I might have]. The road to my current immunization stance has taken many years and is still in a state of development as I sort out my opinion of each and every vaccine individually. I do regret having the two older kids immunized without even a second thought. I wish I had put some amount of consideration toward it before I just went along with the mainstream thinking.)

Parents ordered to court for kids' shots

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press Writer - Sat Nov 17, 6:09 PM ET

Scores of grumbling parents facing a threat of jail lined up at a courthouse Saturday to either prove that their school-age kids already had their required vaccinations or see that the youngsters submitted to the needle.

The get-tough policy in the Washington suburbs of Prince George's County was one of the strongest efforts made by any U.S. school system to ensure its youngsters receive their required immunizations.

Two months into the school year, school officials realized that more than 2,000 students in the county still didn't have the vaccinations they were supposed to have before attending class.

So Circuit Court Judge C. Philip Nichols ordered parents in a letter to appear at the courthouse Saturday and either get their children vaccinated on the spot or risk up to 10 days in jail. They could also provide proof of vaccination or an explanation why their kids didn't have them.

By about 8:30 a.m., the line of parents stretched outside the courthouse in the county on the east side of Washington.

Many of them complained that their children already were properly immunized but the school system had misplaced the records. They said efforts to get the paperwork straightened out had been futile.

"It was very intimidating," Territa Wooden of Largo said of the letter. She said she presented the paperwork at the courthouse Saturday and resolved the matter.

"I could be home asleep. My son had his shots," said Veinell Dickens of Upper Marlboro, who also blamed errant paperwork.

Aloma Martin of Fort Washington brought her children, Delontay and Taron, in 10th and 6th grade, for their hepatitis shots. She said she had been trying to get the vaccinations for more than a month, since the school system sent a warning letter. She had an appointment for Monday, but came to the courthouse to be safe.

"It was very heavy handed," she said of the county's action. "From that letter, it sounded like they were going to start putting us in jail."

School officials deemed the court action a success. School system spokesman John White said the number of children lacking vaccinations dropped from 2,300 at the time the judge sent the letter to about 1,100 Friday.

After Saturday's session, 172 more students were brought into compliance, including 101 students who received vaccinations at the courthouse and 71 whose records were updated.

That still left more than 900 students out of compliance with vaccination requirements, White said.

"Obviously, we still have some more work to do," he said.

Any children who still lack immunizations could be expelled. Their parents could then be brought up on truancy charges, which can result in a 10-day jail sentence for a first offense and 30 days for a second.

Prince George's State's Attorney Glenn Ivey couldn't say Saturday whether he would prosecute parents who fail to comply.

"We have to sit down with school and health services," he said. "We haven't ruled anything out. We need to figure out where we stand."

White said the school system, with about 132,000 students, has been trying for two years to get parents to comply with state law. That law allows children to skip vaccines if they have a medical or religious exemption. It was unclear how many medical or religious exemptions were involved.

Maryland, like all states, requires children to be immunized against several childhood illnesses including polio, mumps and measles. In recent years, it also has required that students up to high school age be vaccinated against hepatitis B and chicken pox.

Nichols said nobody actually came before him Saturday, but he was there if any parent asked to see him.

The judge noted the unhappy looks of some of the kids in line waiting for vaccinations.

"It's cute. It looks like their parents are dragging them to church," Nichols said. (emphasis Cindee's)

Several organizations opposed to mass vaccinations demonstrated outside the courthouse. While the medical consensus is that vaccines are safe and effective, some people blame immunizations for a rise in autism and other medical problems.

"People should have a choice" in getting their children immunized, said Charles Frohman, representing a physicians' group opposed to vaccines.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071117/ap_on_re_us/shots_getting_tough;_ylt=AvqZaK5MJLoCzoiV2Ox4Sfi9j7AB

Conversations with Abby

This is just a glossary of Abby words.

kumpin - pumpkin
guhb - bug
cawpet - pocket
geh guh - Rebecca
jack jack - Blackjack (neighbor's kitten)
saw we - sorry
No! - No!
you kay? - are you okay?
uh matter? - what's the matter?

Conversations with Adam

After hearing me mention something about my mom and dad Adam says:
"Adults don't have moms and dads, they ARE moms and dads!"

***********
Walking out of the church building last night Adam says that he forgot to give his offering and wants to go back to give it. Everyone else is in the van but Adam and I return so he can give his gift to Jesus. On the way out the second time Adam asks for me to bend down so he can whisper in my ear. We are right in the flow of traffic so I tell him to wait a moment until we are outside. We stop in front of the van (which was right outside the door) and I bend down and tell him to go ahead and whisper. After looking around furtively, he whispers, "Mom... (looks around again)...Mom, can you take me to the bathroom? I have to GO!"

Sunday, November 18, 2007

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.


Words: Henry Alford, Psalms and Hymns, 1844.
Music: St. George’s Wind­sor, George J. El­vey, 1858 (MI­DI, score).


Sunday, November 11, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - November 11, 2007

Sunday- Nachos
Monday- Spaghetti & French Bread w/green salad
Tuesday- Tostadas
Wednesday- BBQ Pork Ribs
Thursday- Chicken Fajita Burritoes
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Leftover Buffet

See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

♪ Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

CARRIED TO THE TABLE

Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master’s courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table
Seated where I don’t belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don’t see my brokenness anymore
When I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table
The table of the Lord

Fighting thoughts of fear
And wondering why He called my name
Am I good enough to share this cup
This world has left me lame
Even in my weakness
The Savior called my name
In His Holy presence
I’m healed and unashamed

You carried me, my God
You carried me

Written by: Leeland Mooring with Steve Hindalong and Marc Byrd

From Leeland Mooring's Wikipedia entry: When asked about the story behind "Carried to the Table", Mooring said, "One of the evangelists [my family] traveled with for two years had a message that spoke about that story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel. His message moved me so much that I fell in love with that story and couldn’t get it out of my head. He related [the story] in the message to how God carries us to the table. Things I can’t get out of my head, I make songs out of them. I sat in my room and prayed to God about it. I worked on [the song] two days and finally finished it."



You can listen to this song on my Playlist. It's at the top of the right sidebar.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Days of Elijah

This is dedicated to (Theodore) Elijah, my new baby nephew, and his parents.




(Double-click play button to start)


Here he is at 4 days old. Isn't he so sweet?
Elijah: "Jehovah is God"

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - November 4, 2007

Sunday- Nachos
Monday- Crock-pot Chili & Cornbread (make double batch to put in the freezer)
Tuesday- Chicken Pot Pie
Wednesday- Baked Potato Bar (cheese, chili, broccoli, bacon, sour cream, green onion, etc.)
Thursday- Bean & Rice Burritoes
Friday- Grilled Hamburgers
Saturday- Leftover Buffet

See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

REJOICE THE LORD IS KING

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He all His foes shall quell, shall all our sins destroy,
And every bosom swell with pure seraphic joy;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Mor­al and Sac­red Po­ems, 1744.
Music: Dar­wall’s 148th,
John Dar­wall, in The New Un­i­vers­al Psalm­o­dist, (MI­DI, score).
Source: CyberHymnal

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - October 28, 2007


Sunday- BLT's
Monday-
Stovetop Lasagne (F)
Tuesday- Soft Tacos
Wednesday- Chicken Alfredo
Thursday- Swiss Steak (make double batch)
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Leftover Buffet


F = It's premade and in the freezer.


See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

Words: Ci­vil­la D. Mar­tin
Music: Wal­ter Stillman Mar­tin (MI­DI file)

Friday, October 26, 2007

It's a Boy!!

My sister, Jaymarie, had her baby this morning at 11:47 a.m. central time. Theodore Elijah joins sisters Zoë and Eva. He will go by Elijah or Eli since his daddy and grandpa are both named Theodore (Ted) also.

That's all I know... AArrgh! I need more details! I'll update this post later as I get more details and pictures. Wisconsin seems awfully far away from Idaho right now. :-(

*****************
Updated to add:

Whew! I have more details. Here's the e-mail from daddy, Ted:

Hi All,

Just a real quick news flash... Jaymarie and I are the proud parents of Theodore Elijah (last name removed). I caught him at 11:47 this morning (just over an hour after I got home from work). He is 21 inches, 8lb 9oz and is wonderfully healthy and cute. More info will follow (including photos) but that's all for now. Zoë and Eva are very happy and excited.

Ted


Here are the pictures I have so far:

Favorite (F)oto Friday

I don't know why I continue to get such a kick out of Adam's (or anybody's) sleeping positions, but here I am sharing another one!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Conversations with Adam

Rebecca: Who do you want to marry when you grow up?
Adam: (thinking) Eh...Mom.
Rebecca: Why do you want to marry mom?
Adam: 'Cuz she's my favorite girl person.
Rebecca: But mom's already married to dad. Now what are you going to do?
Adam: Well....I guess I'll just have to marry you.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Remembering & Hoping



Yesterday I planted purple tulips and yellow daffodils. Except for a few weeds missing, the flower bed looks no different today than it did yesterday. It's full of bare-looking bark chips and fallen leaves but I know that it now holds the hope of beautiful spring flowers. The bulbs I planted will die but they do not die in vain for they will bring about beauty and I will once again see God's hand at work in His world.

Yesterday was my due date. Except for a few more lines on my face, I don't look much different than I did last year. I wear the same clothes that I wore last year and my hair looks pretty much the same but I hold in my heart a renewed hope of an eternity with my Savior. For I have died and my life is hidden with Christ in God and when Christ, who IS my life, is revealed, then I will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col. 3:3-4). When I die to myself, I do not die in vain for it will bring about Christ's perfection in me and I will once again see God's hand at work in me.


Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:24-26

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - October 21, 2007


Sunday- Tuna Patties & Fried Potatoes
Monday- Porcupine Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes (F)
Tuesday- Chicken Salad & Breadsticks
Wednesday- Chicken Enchiladas (F)
Thursday-
Beef Stroganoff & Noodles (make double batch)
Friday- Grilled Hamburgers
Saturday- Leftover Buffet


F = It's premade and in the freezer.


See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

UNDER HIS WINGS

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain

Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever
.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Refrain

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Refrain

Words: Will­iam O. Cush­ing, 1896.
Music:
Ira D. Sank­ey
Listen to a MIDI version of the music



"Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” Psalm 17:8

Monday, October 15, 2007

Seven-Year-Old Sings National Anthem

This is amazing! Hat tip to Rocks In My Dryer for the link to this video.



Yes, it bugs me, too, that no one is placing their hand over their heart whilst he sings. But other than that, wow!

(I'm staring at the word too in the sentence above and can't figure out if the commas are correct or not. Now too is looking very strange to me. Ahhhhhh! Help!)

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - October 14, 2007

Sunday- Soft Tacos
Monday- Crock-pot Chili (F)
Tuesday- Meatloaf (F) & Baked Potatoes
Wednesday- Grilled Pork Steaks, Zucchini, Applesauce
Thursday- Fried Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Chicken & Rice Soup (F) & French Rolls

F = It's premade and in the freezer.

See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

MIRLing in Idaho

I've MIRLed! I think it was KimC at Life In A Shoe that coined that term*. She defined it very well anyway even if she didn't make it up! I've finally Met In Real Life Roberta from Debtor2Mercy. We've been talking for a while about getting together, since we totally live close enough to do that, and today we finally did it. We met at a restaurant for lunch after church and had a great time. Her husband and oldest child were gone hunting and so were Jim and our three older kids. I just had Abby and she had her three younger ones. Her youngest is one day older than Abby so it was fun to compare notes. It's impossible to have the amount of conversation over lunch that we've had brewing in us, I think, so we left the restaurant to continue our conversation at my house. BUT, when we got there we discovered my family had returned. So she only stayed long enough to meet everybody and take a tour of my backyard and then she left. We'll have to get together again soon. It was great fellowship and great fun. Thanks Roberta (& kids)!!

Anybody you wish you could MIRL?
__________________________________
*Okay, I researched the word (MIRL) and it was Shannon from Rocks in my Dryer that requested a verb for 'Meeting In Real Life'. Valerie from Many Mundane Moments that came up with MIRL and KimC that expanded the definition on Rocks in my Dryer! Aren't you glad you kept reading this post so you could get this fascinating etymology?! :-)

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

WHERE THE ROSES NEVER FADE

I am going to a city,
Where the streets with gold are laid;
Where the tree of life is blooming,
And the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Here they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed;
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

In this world we have our troubles,
Satan snares we must evade;
We'll be free from all temptations,
Where the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Loved ones gone to be with Jesus,
In their robes of white arrayed;
Now are waiting for my coming,
Where the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Lyrics: Janie West Metzgar, 1929
Music: Robert Metzgar


Listen to the Cathedrals sing it.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Favorite (Foto) Friday

What I harvested from my neglected garden:
Click on picture to enlarge. I apologize that it's so dark!

A garden forgotten by me since we started back to school but remembered by the Lord, the Giver of all good things.

The grapes you see are only a token amount of what is in my back yard. I have a lot of grape jelly to make! The parsley I will dry and put away to use this fall and winter. The tomatoes and onions are about to become spaghetti sauce. The pumpkins are headed for the front step to decorate for fall. The green pepper will end up on my pizza. The carrot will be eaten as soon as I finish this post. The potatoes will make a nice dinner for Abby and I. (Everyone else is up in the mountains deer hunting.)

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Cor. 3:7

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

October Winds

It's October and I'm lovin' it. I love it that winter is just around the corner. I love it that we are back to schooling. I love it that the weather is cooler and it's time for flannel sheets. I ♥ my bed any ol' time but I really love it in the fall and winter seasons. I unearthed my sheets and my down comforter and so they would smell all fresh and lovely, I washed the sheets and hung them on the line. I hung the comforter on the line to air out too. I sure appreciate that I have a covered patio because that allowed me to put my clothesline there and I line dry laundry rain or shine. I didn't used to avail myself of my clothesline in the fall but I am doing it this year. In fact whenever the wind is a blowin' I feel like I'm squandering an opportunity if I don't have some laundry out there. Anywho, my cozy flannel sheets are on my bed, my down comforter is tucked into my denim duvet cover, October winds are blowing, and winter's on it's way. Life is good.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

WFMW - Fingers in Doors

Elise's cool tip today reminded me of something I do that might be helpful to others too. I take a partly folded hand towel and drape it over the top of any door that I don't want my tiny ones to be able to close. This can accomplish several things.

1.) They can't close the door and then sit down in front of it thereby preventing me from getting in when they're crying because they're trapped.

2.) Since they can't close the door all the way it's harder to get their fingers pinched in the knob side of the door. Now if I could just figure out how to protect their fingers from the hinge side. (THAT was a fun ER visit!)

3.) It's also handy on those warm, breezy nights when you have the windows open and the wind is sucking the door open and then pushing it back and it's a little loud and startling and it's even freaking out your 11-year-old daughter! With the towel over the door, the latch doesn't hit against the strike plate (is that one word or two?) and sleep isn't rudely interrupted. Not by that anyway.

It's worked for me for many years.

See what working for the rest of the crowd over at Rocks In My Dryer.

Casting Crowns Concert

I went to the Casting Crowns concert in Boise tonight with my daughter, Rebecca. Oh.My.Goodness. I don't know if I'll ever be able to put into words how great it was. All I can say right now is we serve a big, big God and I am so blessed to be called His child. I've never been to a concert where the seven members of the group sit at the front of the stage and spend 20 minutes taking turns praying for the audience. Each member focused on a particular thing. I can't remember all seven but one prayed for young men and the decisions that they are making that will affect who they become and the kind of fathers and leaders they will become. One prayed for encouragement for those in ministry. One prayed for marriages and for wives to learn what it means to really submit to their husbands and that husbands would just love their wives the way Christ loves the church. One prayed for the members of the audience who don't yet have a relationship with Jesus. One prayed for the fatherless, and one prayed for mothers, for mothers in the trenches of raising childen, for the heartache of losing a child, and for the ones desiring to become mothers. It was a good thing we got napkins at the concession stand earlier because I was a teary mess. The mention of the heartache of losing a child especially touched me because I'm very much aware of the fact that my former due date was two weeks from yesterday. (It's strange to think that I'd be delivering a baby very soon if I hadn't miscarried. It's been so many months ago now it seems crazy to think that I was supposed to be having a baby this month. Perhaps that's a different post.... back to the concert.)

Ack. I feel like I have Niagra Falls trying to fit through a 1" pipe! Apparently I can say more than I first intimated! :-) There's so much to talk about.

Rebecca liked the opening group, Leeland, better than Casting Crowns but she did like CC. She commented that the main singer looked like he was too young to be touring the United States. (When Leeland began playing/singing I thought "Oh my goodness. I'm old. What have I done and why am I here?" I'm too old for this. I enjoyed CC much better and Leeland really was okay. Their music is a bit wild but carried a good message nonetheless.) She didn't like the video plugs for WorldVision. Seeing the plight of children in third-world countries is really upsetting to her and causes her several sleepless nights. (I didn't realize we would be seeing that. I still would have taken her had I known.) When CC sang their last song and the lights were extinguished and we were standing and applauding, I leaned over to Rebecca and said, "They are clapping to bring them out again. They will come out and sing one more song." "How, do YOU know?" she asked. I said, "This isn't my first concert!" It was funny! I got to go to a concert again for the first time. She thought it was just silly and they should have stayed out there and sung the song without leaving first. At one point they let the drummer rip. Rebecca liked it but thought it dragged on too long. Really, it was impressive. He was quite skilled and in a strange way it was neat to see/hear. I reminded her of how she feels when she gets to run, really fast. Run as hard as she possibly can without having to stop until she wants to. It's a good feeling to do someting you love and that you are good at and to do it to the utmost. I said I think it feels like that to him. She nodded. She understood that feeling. The really cool thing was he did that and he gave it to to Lord. I saw that happen. It was beautiful... and it was really, really loud drums. Go figure.

Are you still reading all of this? Sorry that I'm so chatty... it was a great mountain-top experience and I want to remember what I'm thinking and feeling right now.

The thing I loved most was the meatiness of the lyrics. Casting Crowns doesn't spend much time on feel-good songs. Here are some examples of ones that particularly challenged me:

And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth - Voice of Truth
*****

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus - Love Them Like Jesus
*****

Jesus, I'm trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me - The Altar and the Door
*****

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive - All Because of Jesus
*****

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more

What if the church for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took and stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face
And turn from their own way... What If His People Prayed

Want a taste of our evening? The following videos will do that for you.

The Altar and The Door Tour Preview (2 1/2 minutes)


The Altar and the Door Sneak Preview - with Mark Hall (almost 6 minutes but SOOO good! If you only watch one of these videos, watch this one.)


I'll stop now. It's 2 am. I think I'm finally winding down... Typing sure is getting difficult. :-) Tickets to this concert were a great gift from my husband. I am blessed, I am encouraged, I am challenged, I am convicted, I am refreshed, I am humbled, I am grateful.

I am tired. G'night.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - October 7, 2007

Sunday- Chicken Pot Pies
Monday- Spaghetti, Salad & French Bread
Tuesday- Grilled Hamburgers & Corn-on-the-Cob
Wednesday- Chicken & Rice Bake, Salad
Thursday- Deer Steaks, Mashed Potatoes
Friday- Leftovers
Saturday- Pancakes

Check out the other menus for the week at Organizing Junkie.

By the way, I really liked the copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Alfredo Sauce that I mentioned and used last week. I doubled the amount of cream cheese and added about an extra 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. It turned out very well and we enjoyed it a lot. I'm so happy to find a great alfredo sauce recipe. YUMMY!

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Adam-isms

Tonight while I was gone at a church function, Jim was home with the kids. He heard Abby screaming and hollering in the living room. When he went in there to see what was happening he saw Adam lying on his back on the couch with Abby lying on her back on top of him. Adam had his arms and legs wrapped around her, restraining her. Jim asked what in the world was going on and Adam replied, "Abby was doing bad stuff and I am taking her sin away."

Apparently Abby didn't want her sin taken away. Sometimes it's hard to let go of our sin, isn't it?!

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Prov. 16:25

(Near as Jim could reconstruct, Abby's sin was standing up on the arm of the couch and turning the light off and on. Thanks, Adam, for keeping her from hurtling to the ground!)

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

Words: Will­iam Cow­per, in Con­yer’s Col­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.
Music: Cleans­ing Fount­ain, 19th Cen­tu­ry Amer­i­can camp meet­ing tune

Source:
CyberHymnal.org
"This is one of the first hymns Cow­per wrote af­ter his first at­tack of tem­po­ra­ry mad­ness." You can read more of the history at CyberHymnal by clicking on the link above.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Three Things Thursday

1. Just so you know, I threw it out!

2. Remember, it's October 4th! (wink, wink!)

3. My husband bought me tickets to a Casting Crowns concert. The tickets were tucked into a chocolate bar. Rather they were tucked into the wrapper. Isn't he great!?!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Works for YOU Wednesday

This week is supposed to be backward week for the Works For Me crowd at Rocks In My Dryer. Shannon said that:

Instead of giving a tip, you'll ask for one, on a very specific subject. You'll be inviting all the WFMW readers to weigh in with their clever solutions to your most stubborn problems.
So here's my situation:

Where To Sleep?

I have a three-bedroom house. One room is for my husband and me; one room for my boys, ages 3.75 and 9; and the last room is for my girls, ages 21 months and 11 years. We've had the baby nap in our room during the day because I'm not using it then and my 11 yog can have her room available to her at that time. The problem is nights. The baby will still wake up at night and fuss. Sometimes scream and cry. If I let her cry it out she's usually asleep again within 10 or so minutes. My 11 yog can't sleep through that and doesn't want to be sharing a room with the baby. She also wants more light to sleep by than the baby can handle. Once my babies are about 4/5 months I don't share my room with them anymore because I hear every little intake of breath (that doesn't bother my older daughter) and I'm just ready to have my bedroom back. For a long time my two older kids, Rebecca and Micah shared the top bunk in the boys' room and Adam (3) slept on the bottom bunk but Micah finally got tired of Rebecca being in there and wanted his space back. The two older kids spent the summer sleeping on the hide-a-bed in the living room but that is over now too. So now Rebecca is back in her own room trying to share the space with Abby. I wish I had space for my babies to have a room of their own, but I just don't.

Am I being selfish for not wanting to have the baby in MY room anymore? Am I asking too much of my older daughter to expect her to share a room with her 21-month-old sister? Is there a solution that I haven't come up with yet? HELP!

See what the other questions this week are at Rocks In My Dryer!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 30, 20007


Sunday- Soft Tacos, Chips & Salsa
Monday- Baked Ham, Au Gratin Potatoes, Salad
Tuesday- Chicken Stir Fry, Pork Fried Rice
Wednesday- Broccoli Chicken Alfredo, French Bread (I'm trying this Olive Garden copycat recipe this week.)
Thursday- Roast Venison, Mashed Potatoes
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday-Parents Go Out!


Check out the other menus for the week at Organizing Junkie.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The DeputyHeadmistress at The Common Room has a post every Sunday called Sunday Hymn Post. I've enjoyed it very much especially since I really miss singing hymns regularly at church. A good old hymn is hard to come by. So I've decided to copy her idea and post a hymn here each Sunday. Since I like many different types of church songs I may post something other than a hymn here sometimes too. Whatever strikes my fancy or whatever song God is using to minister to me. That's why I'm calling it Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, a phrase I borrowed from Ephesians 5:19: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

Refrain

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Refrain

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain

Words: Dan­i­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 4, 1883.
Music:
James Mc­Gran­a­han

Source: CyberHymnal.org

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Cousins Camp 2007

My daughter, Rebecca, has posted her Cousins' Camp report on her blog, Just Horsin' Around. Give her a thrill and go read and comment.

Friday, September 28, 2007

peanut butter, paws, & predicaments

Updated*

Okay, Internet, I've got a question for you.

First I have to tell you that I've been doing a pretty good job of transforming my life into a frugal lifestyle. Okay...I've made a few positive changes. Not a major transformation, yet. But it's happening. It's mostly in my head but a frugal lifestyle IS mostly about attitude and how you view life. To quote the DeputyHeadmistress in her latest article on the new Frugal Hacks website,

"the most important frugal tool you have is the way you think about things. All the frugal buys in the world won’t help us live within our means until we change the way we think about what we need and what we want."

So, to get to the point, I bought a new jar of peanut butter. We had used it once. It was left on the table after breakfast (we gotta have peanut butter on our pancakes!), and the @#^!%$& cute, loveable cat got to it.

Here's the question: What would you do? Go ahead and vote. I've already made my decision. I'll tell you what I did later.




*For some reason when I posted this voting thingie, a strange color bar appeared at the top and bottom of my blog. I don't like that color! It doesn't belong but I can only make it disappear when I remove this post. Strange! I guess it will just have to stay there until this post is archived unless someone out there can tell me how I can fix it....

Favorite (F)oto Friday



Sunday, September 23, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 23, 2007

Sunday- Go Out
Monday- Sub Sandwiches, Fruit
Tuesday- Chicken Salad, French bread
Wednesday- Baked Potato Bar
Thursday- Swiss Steak & Rice, Salad (from the freezer - I made a double batch a few weeks ago)
Friday- Grilled Hamburgers
Saturday- Leftover Buffet

Be sure to check out the other menus this week at Organizing Junkie.
You can also check out my handy, standard breakfast menu.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 16, 2007

Wow! I haven't posted a menu plan in months. Really, I have been using menus I just haven't gotten around to posting them. But I'm back now.

Sunday- Spaghetti
Monday- Grilled Pork Steaks & Zucchini, Applesauce, Salad
Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas (make double batch)
Wednesday- Grilled Salmon, Steamed Baby Reds, Salad
Thursday- Beef Stroganoff (from the freezer - I made a double batch a few weeks ago)
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Deer Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Pan Gravy, Salad

Be sure to check out the other menus this week at Organizing Junkie.

The Monstrous Regiment of Women

Thank you KimC for the heads up on the following video:


I'm thankful for men like Colin Gunn who are willing to fight the culture war.

I can't wait to see the movie.....the official site for The Monsterous Regiment movie is here.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


This post: It's coming ..... are you ready? was written by KimC @ Life in a Shoe.

Friday, September 14, 2007

More on Overpopulation

Or should that be moron overpopulation? Sorry.

My sister sent me an article that is a startling contrast to my last post. She doen't agree with it, by the way, she just sent it because of the contrast. Here's an excerpt:

Global Swarming
Is it time for Americans to start cutting our baby emissions?

By Daniel Engber Posted Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, at 4:49 PM ET

Oh, if we all just disappeared. According to The World Without Us, Alan Weisman's strangely comforting vision of human annihilation, the Earth would be a lot better off. In his doomsday scenario, freshwater floods would course through the New York subway system, ailanthus roots would heave up sidewalks, and a parade of coyotes, bears, and deer would eventually trot across the George Washington Bridge and repopulate Manhattan. Nature lovers can take solace in the idea that the planet will thrive once we've finally destroyed ourselves with global warming. But Weisman takes the fantasy one step further: Let's not wait for climate change, he says. Let's start depopulating right now. (Read the rest...)

In the third paragraph of the above article is a link to another article that I think is worth reading. It's not for the faint-hearted, easily angered, or for children. Read a little:


Cases of Forced Abortions Surface in China
by Louisa Lim ~ Morning Edition, April 23, 2007

During the past week, dozens of women in southwest China have been forced to have abortions even as late as nine months into the pregnancy, according to evidence uncovered by NPR.
China's strict family planning laws permit urban married couples to have only one child each, but in some of the recent cases — in Guangxi Province — women say they were forced to abort what would have been their first child because they were unmarried. The forced abortions are all the more shocking because family planning laws have generally been relaxed in China, with many families having two children. (Read a little more...)

This is just wrong, folks. And terribly sad. We'd be foolish to think it can't happen in the U.S.


Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
(Psalm 127:3-5)

Who am I to tell God to stop giving me gifts? How do I know when my quiver is full? I believe God is the best judge of that. He knows me, He knows His plans for me. He knows where He wants me to be and He knows how to get me there. How can I think that I would do a better job of directing my life that my Maker would? My only task is to submit to His will and let Him form me in to the person He wants me to be. C.S. Lewis states it very well,


Christ says `Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.' (from Mere Christianity [chapter 30])

It's as simple and as difficult as that. I don't think overpopulation is our problem. I think SIN is our problem. Only God has the solution for that and it's offered as a free gift to us. We'd be foolish to squander that gift.

******************************
Updated to add link:
China to crack down on rich flouting one-child rule