"Every man should enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God." Ecc. 3:13

2010-07-14T18:41:00.003-05:00

I have a new blog! I'm not sure what happened to this one recently but my account was down so I decided it was high time I move over to where I ought to be at Mrs.EdwardPrevost.info After all, I am the wife of a computer programmer! Just don't check too soon because I have yet to get a post up. So far all I have are the colors picked out. (You can always tell a woman by her priorites!)

2010-06-14T15:42:00.004-05:00

A Catawba tree for Jen (although I suppose I should have taken the picture with the sun shining ON it so you could see the beautiful flowers better!)

2010-03-07T15:04:00.005-05:00

Be Humbled

Recently I read John Knox's First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. If you have not read that book the title alone may scare you away. If you have managed to read it all the way through without throwing it out the window (as I pridefully felt like doing at times) you may have received a healthy dose of Humble Pie. I certainly ate a large portion as I found myself to have had a view of a woman's role laced with some modern feminity. We're not inferior! They NEED us! That makes us atleast equal! I can't say these wicked thoughts have never entered my mind. I thought I had a right view of how a wife was to consider herself, and her husband. Reading Knox was quite good for me to say the least. But! but! I complained to my husband while reading it, who lovingly reminded me of the truth in Knox's words, be they ever so harsh. Maybe I had the right idea somewhere in my head all along, but it had been so shrouded by euphemisms for the words "inferior" and "subject" for the sake of woman's easily bruised feelings that it no longer was the right idea. It was feminism. If only I had been able to put aside my pride and emotions to read Knox, or more importantly Genesis 3:16 in a proper perspective. Consider this quote:

Tertullian, in his book of Women's Apparel, after that he has show many causes why gorgeous apparel is abominable and odious in a woman, adds these words, speaking as it were to every woman by name: "Do you not know that you are Eve? The sentence of God lives and is effectual against this kind; and in this world, of necessity it is, that the punishment also live. You are the port and gate of the devil. You are the first transgressor of God's law. You did persuade and easily deceive him whom the devil durst not assault. For your merit (that is for your death), it behooved the Son of God to suffer the death; and does it yet abide in your mind to deck you above your skin coats?" By these and many other grave sentences, and quick interrogations, did this godly writer labor to bring every woman in contemplation of herself, to the end that everyone deeply weighing what sentence God had pronounced against the holy race and daughters of Eve, might not only learn daily to humble and subject themselves in the presence of God, but also that they should avoid and abhor whatsoever thing might exalt them or puff them up in pride, or that might be occasion, that they should forget the curse and malediction of God. And what, I pray you, is more able to cause woman to forget her own condition, then if she be lifted up in authority above man? It is a thing very difficult to a man, (be he never so constant) promoted to honors, not to be tickled some what with pride (for the wine of vain glory does easily carry up the dry dust of the earth). But as for woman, it is no more possible, that she being set aloft in authority above man, shall resist the motions of pride, then it is able to the weak reed, or to the turning weathervane, not to bow or turn at the vehemency of the unconstant wind. (John Knox. First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women pg 20 )

Ouch.

But so true.

After reading Knox, I wanted to search out other writers to help build up newfound proper view of women and my role. I found William Gouge, who more comprehensively and gently expounded on wives in his Domestical Duties. The rest is some quotes of his (the whole book is rather long but very indepth and well worth the read) that were particularly convicting to me. If you are a wife, I pray they will encourage you as well.

...the woman was made before the fall, that the man might rule over her. Upon this ground the Prophets and Apostles have oft urged the same. Sarah is commended for this, that she was subject to her husband (1 Peter 3:6). Hereby the Holy Ghost would teach wives, that subjection ought to be as salt to season every duty which they perform to their husband. Their very opinion, affection, speech, action, and all that concerneth the husband, must savour of subjection. Contrary is the disposition of many wives, whom ambition hath tainted and corrupted within and without: they cannot endure to hear of subjection: they imagine that they are made slaves thereby. But I hope partly by that which hath been before delivered concerning those common duties which man and wife do mutually owe each to other, and partly by the particulars which under this general are comprised, but most especially by the duties which the husband in particular oweth to his wife, it will evidently appear, that this subjection is no servitude. But were it more than it is, seeing God requireth subjection of a wife to her husband, the wife is bound to yield it. And good reason it is that she who first drew man into sin, should be now subject to him, lest by the like womanish weakness she fall again.

William Gouge's Domestical Duties: Treatise 3, Section 2

Inward reverence is an awful respect which a wife in her heart hath of her husband, esteeming him worthy of all honor for his place, and office sake, because he is her husband. Doubtless Sarah had in her heart a reverend respect and honourable esteem of her husband, when being alone, and thinking of him in her very thought she gave him this title Lord (Gen 18:12). This inward reverence the Scripture compriseth under this word Fear: as where our Apostle saith, Let the wife see that she fear her husband (Eph 5:33) and where Peter exhorteth wives to have their conversation in fear (1 Peter 3:2). It is no slavish fear of her husband which ought to possess the heart of a wife, dreading blows, frowns, spiteful words, or the like; but such an awful respect of him as maketh her [to use the Apostle's word] care how she may please him (1 Cor. 7:34). This wife-like fear is manifested by two effects: one is joy, when she giveth contentment to her husband, and observeth him to be pleased with that which she doth: the other is grief, when he is justly offended and grieved, especially with anything that she herself hath done.
Unless this inward reverence and due respect of an husband be first placed in the heart of a wife, either no outward reverence, and obedience will be performed at all, or if it be performed, it will be very unfound, only in show, hypocritical and deceitful: so that as good never a whit as never the better. For according to one's inward affection and disposition will the outward action and conversation be framed. Michal first despised David in her heart, and thence it followed that she uttered most unreverend and vile speeches of him, even to his face (2 Sam 6:16). Wherefore after the judgment of a wife is rightly informed of an husband's superiority, and her will persuaded to account her own husband her head and guide, it is very needful that her heart and affection be accordingly seasoned with the salt of good respect, and high esteem, which breedeth fear: And that thus her heart may be seasoned, she ought oft and seriously to meditate of his place and office, and of that honour which the Lord by virtue thereof hath planted in him. And if he have gifts worthy of his place, as knowledge, wisdom, piety, temperance, love, and the like, she ought to take notice thereof, and to think him worthy of double honor.

William Gouge's Domestical Duties: Treatise 3, Section 7

Contrary to this inward reverence of the heart is a base and vile esteem which many have of their husbands, thinking no better of them than of other men; nay worse than of others; despising their husbands in their heart, like Michal of whom we heard before. This, as it is in itself a vile vice, so is it a cause of many other vices, as of presumption, rebellion, yea and of adultery itself many times: and it is also a main hindrance of all duties.
It commonly riseth either from self-conceit [whereby wives overween their own gifts, thinking them so excellent as they need no guide or head, but are rather fit to guide and rule both their husbands and all the household: of which proud and presumptuous spirit Jezebel seemeth to be, who with an audacious and impudent face said to Ahab her husband, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Up, I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth (1 Kings 21:7), so also all those wives which are noted to draw away their husband's hearts from the Lord, as the wives of Solomon (1 Kings 11:4), Jehoram (2 Kings 8:18), and others: which they learned of their great grandmother (Gen 3:6) Eve:] or else from some infirmities of mind or body, or of life, which they behold in their husbands [whence it cometh to pass, that many husbands who are highly honored and greatly accounted of by others, are much despised by their wives, because their wives always conversing with them are privy to such infirmities as are concealed from others]: or, which is worst of all, from unjust surmizes and suspicions, suspecting many evil things of their husbands whereof they are no way guilty, and misinterpreting, and perverting things well done, as Michael (2 Sam 6:20) perverted David's holy zeal.
For redress of this enormous vice, wives ought first in regard of themselves to purge out their hearts pride, and self-conceit, thinking humbly and lowly of themselves, and that even in regard of their sex and the weakness thereof: and if the Lord have endued them with any gift above the ordinary sort of women, to note well their own infirmities, and to lay them by their eminent gifts: thus by looking on their black feet, their proud-peacock-feathers may be cast down. Yea also when they behold any infirmities in their husbands, they ought to reflect their eyes on their own infirmities, which it may be are even as many and as grievous, if not more in number, and more heinous in their nature and kind: at least let them consider that they are subject to the same, if God leave them to the sway of their own corruption.
Secondly, wives ought in regard to their husbands to surmize no evil whereof they have not sure proof and evidence: but rather interpret every thing in better part: and follow the rule of love, which beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things (1 Cor 13:7). If they note any defects of nature, and deformity of body, or any enormous and notorious vices in their husband, then ought they to turn their eyes and thoughts from his person to his place, and from his vicious qualities to his honourable office [which is to be an husband] and this will abate that vile esteem which otherwise might be occasioned from the forenamed means.

William Gouge's Domestical Duties: Treatise 3, Section 8

Contrary is pride, which puffeth up wives, and maketh them think there is no reason they should be subject to husbands, they can rule themselves well enough, yea and rule their husbands too, as well as their husbands rule them. No more pestilent vice for an inferiour, than this: it is the cause of all rebellion, disobedience, and disloyalty: only by pride, cometh contention (Prov 13:10).

William Gouge's Domestical Duties: Treatise 3, Section 56

Herein lieth a main difference betwixt true, Christian, religious wives, and mere natural women: these may be subject on by-respects, as namely, that their husbands may the more love them, or live the more quietly and peaceably with them, or that they may the more readily obtain what they desire at their husband's hands, or for fear of their husband's displeasure and wrath, knowing him to be an angry, furious man, so as otherwise it might be worse with them, they might want many needful things, or carry away many sore blows if they were not subject. But the other have respect to Christ's ordinance, whereby their husbands are made their head, and to his word and will, whereby they are commanded subjection. Thus holy women subjected themselves (1 Peter 3:5); they cannot be holy that do not thus subject themselves: for this is a sweet perfume that sendeth forth a good savour into Christ's nostrils, and maketh the things we do pleasant and acceptable to him.

William Gouge's Domestical Duties: Treatise 3, Section 57

2010-02-25T16:53:00.008-05:00

I know I don't mention my husband or kids very often or in much detail here. I find anecdotes are best accompanied by a picture, and the pictures are found in Our Family's Photo Album. So I tend to write about other things, such as crafting. But lest you think that knitting is my only love and my family is just peripheral, let me just brag a little about how wonderful Ed, Ethan, Ezra, Noah and Charlie are.
For my birthday, the twins unknowingly presented me with an extra hour to sleep in by waking up later than usual. Even better, once they were awake and about to wake us all up with their loud but cheerful morning banter and requests for breakfast, Ed quickly whisked them away to somewhere while I got another hour to sleep in. Wonderful! All that while, he was changing their diapers, feeding them, keeping them quiet and making a most delicious breakfast treat for me to enjoy in bed when I awoke: bacon cooked to perfection, a pile of scrambled eggs and the best coffee with whipped cream and caramel on top! Better than a coffeeshop since I enjoyed it surrounded by my best guys who sang me Happy Birthday. I was so spoiled; it was the greatest present ever.
In reality though, it doesn't take a birthday breakfast for me to feel spoiled. My husband is ALWAYS so thoughtful, loving and sympathetic to me. He is such a godly man and has grown so much in the five years we've been married. I'm praying for a long, long life together so I can continue to grow, learn from him and enjoy the man he is. Not only is he a great husband but he's also a wonderful father. He never misses an opportunity to teach his sons about life, computers, wrestling, creation, wisdom and the most important thing they'll ever know: their need for Christ. I know they are growing up to be good men all because of their Daddy.
Ethan takes after him most, being compassionate, affectionate, fun-loving and hungry for reading and knowledge. He does his best to please us and be a good big brother. He often takes iniative to help us out, such as getting his brothers some cereal in the morning so Mommy and Daddy could rest longer. He's not afraid to speak his mind and stands up for what he knows is right. He is incredibly creative as shown by his Lego robot-building skills. The other day he said, "Look! It's an army! There's thousands of them!" while pointing up at the myriad snowflakes falling around him. I love my Ethan.
Although Ezra and Noah don't have the same communication skills Ethan did at their age, there's no doubt they are just as clever. They've learned quite a lot from Ethan's example and are ready to obey. Granted they are two two-year-olds and often partners in crime. There's lots of training involved but certainly twice as much fun. They too are quite affectionate, if you can get them sit still long enough. Ezra doesn't go through a day without cuddling on the couch with a blanket and chicken pillow for a quick rest every now and then. Noah often carries a teddy bear under his arm, calling it his "Chalie." Their language, though not articulate, is just precious. "Wuvoo mummy" "Sit nescue?" "Beda pleasa?" "Fankoo mummy!" (jumping up and down clapping for a meal) "Watchawoovee?" "Chowlie coot?" (approximately 100 times a day) However, my personal favorite is when they sing psalms. Pretty much any book will do; they plop down, open the book pretending to read it, and belt out their favorite one: presently Psalm 14. I love my Ezra and my Noah.
And our Bonnie Prince Charles is the happiest baby we've known. Charlie Cheeks will smile at most anyone who looks at him but he loves his Dad more than anyone. At the sound of his voice Charlie's face lights up. All the boys love their father but especially Charlie. I love my Charles.
Ed reminds me how blessed I am to have four kids, and all boys at that. I'm not nearly as appreciative as I ought to be but I pray I would be worthy of the blessings of my family.

2009-12-16T20:38:00.010-05:00

Well, it's been a few months and I don't have much to share. Settling into life with Charlie has been made infinitely easier having had Beka here for six weeks after he was born. Life was pretty much stress-free for me, enabling me to recover quicker than I thought possible. I was able to rest, enjoy Charlie, and Beka's company, which I'm greatly missing. I knew I couldn't have her forever though. :( The hardest part of switching to doing things on my own is getting up with the twins. I know 7 o'clock is far from early but when it's the dark of winter, it feels like it! Charlie has been such a dear and sleeping 5 or 6 hours straight atleast so I'm not really missing daytime naps. I thought the twins were good babies (and they were) but having one is a breeze! I can put him in the sling and take him wherever. Going out with him has been no problem since I don't have to carry around two car seats or worry about getting hot water to make up bottles of formula. And he is such a happy baby, not fussy or needy. All he asks is to be around us, even settling for a spot on the kitchen table while we're eating dinner. So yeah, it's back to life as normal!

I've got some pictures from stuff I've been doing the last few months. First one is a non-picture. That is, Ed finished the boys' room a looong time ago but I never got around to sharing how ~~lovely~~ handsome that it is. BUT every shot I got had one of the boys somewhere in it since they have a habit of following me around whenever the camera is in my hand and shouting "Cheeeeeeese!" at me. So cute. Anyways, you'll have to look under the New House folder at our Photo Album.
Moving along.

A bag (obviously).
Just in case I had a girl....sadly I have to put those away until who knows when. Apparently we don't make girls.
Is he not the cutest little model ever! I can't take credit for Tully though, just the sweater. He's going to be a big brother in May!

I love knitting. In fact, I'm pretty close to obsessed with it. If a day goes by that I can't knit, my fingers itch. I spend lots of time looking over patterns on ravelry.com. I listen to podcasts about knitting while I knit. The thing about knitting is not only is it pretty and practical but it also feels productive. I've been thinking a lot lately about how to best use my time. Amazingly, I seem to have a lot of it! Yes, I know that there is laundry in the hamper, and don't remind me of the dishes in the sink and no, I didn't see those dustbunnies just run by. OK, so maybe I should spend more time doing housework! But at some point I have to say: "Enough for today! There will always be more messes to clean up but I need to do something else!" I started some formal schooling with the twins, as well as continuing Ethan's schooling. But at their ages, I'm not expecting them to spend hours at the books. I try to send them outside everyday, as the weather permits. I also exercise myself now and then, "strengthen my loins" and that whole bit. I try cook healthy, even if it takes more time. I read quite a bit: to my kids and to myself, more so now that I'm nursing. There's always errands and sometimes we go on outings but for the most part, we're home. So what else should I be doing?
Knitting seems like a good thing to do, godly even. Four of the verses describing Mrs. Proverbs 31 are about her use of fiber arts to care for her family. The other day I made a pair of mittens for Ethan that turned out well and keep him warm when he's playing in the snow. It took me about two afternoons but I think the time was well spent. Then again, I could have gone to Wal-mart or the dollar store and gotten him a pair. But atleast I could say that I made them, and wasn't reliant on some big industry to care for my household. (Although the yarn did come from a store. I think maybe Wal-mart...)
Anyways! the point is that even though in our modern world every need is available at our fingertips, and the skill of knitting is now mostly for hobby rather than a basic life-skill, I think it is a good use of time. Mrs. Proverbs 31 was the picture of an industrious woman, but it's hard to compare doing what was necessary back then with what's a leisure activity now. It's not like I could even sell my products because who could compete with a pair of mittens for a dollar? So I mostly do it because I like it and again, it feels like I'm being useful, even if it's not always the case. And I'll just continue to look out for ways to be industrious. Like getting started on those dishes!

2009-10-31T18:20:00.002-05:00

At 10:59 on October 30th, 2009, Charles Edward Prevost "Charlie" was born. He was 9 lbs 3.5 ozs and 21.5 inches. He looks a lot like Noah (yes, Noah, not so much Ezra :) and has their same dark hair.
The midwife had stripped my membranes twice and still nothing happened so yesterday morning we went into the hospital to have my water broken, which finally started some contractions going. They did Pitocin augmentation, which was adding a small amount to help the contractions be more consistent. By 7 PM they were really intense and getting harder to endure. Around 10 PM I was so tired and hungry and getting really frustrated that I wanted to give up. I was about 8 cms though and feeling the need to push so I did and out he came!
Thanks for all your prayers, we certainly appreciate them :)

2009-10-28T17:01:00.002-05:00

No, I haven't had the baby.
Yes, I will tell you when I do.

:)

The hospital was willing to let me go two weeks before they would "force" a C-section. Induction was not an option for me because it's a VBAC, and I don't think I would have opted for Pitocin anyhow. If the baby was breech when I went into labor I would be destined to a C-section as well, since they generally don't do external versions to turn the baby on VBACs. Yikes! but okay, we'll just be praying that it's head down when it comes to that.

On Monday we had an ultrasound (No, we still don't know what we're having) and the baby was very uncooperative: sitting upright, looking up at me in a transverse position. I felt like scheduling a section right there and getting it over with but I'm trying to be reasonable and patient.

Today at the check-up my patience was rewarded with a head down baby! The midwife stripped my membranes and is going to try again tomorrow if nothing has happened by then. If by Friday there's still nothing, then she'll break my waters and try a small amount of pitocin to move things along before they send me straight to the OR. That is if the baby is still head down! Apparently there's lots of room to swim around in there.

2009-10-10T20:39:00.003-05:00

Today we went into Troy for the farmer's market, hoping to find a source for buying a whole or half grass-fed cow for the freezer, as well as some good produce (of course). After watching this I'm even more leery of buying anything from grocery stores, even the stuff I use to cook "from scratch". I'm hoping to support more local organic farmers, maybe join a CSA, and definitely expand my garden next year.
Anyways. After the farmer's market, we walked over to The Daily Grind for coffee and sandwiches. I happened to see a brochure there for a local midwife in Troy who does homebirths. And it turned out to be Michelle Doyle! This might not mean anything to many of you, but if you've ever tried to have a homebirth in the Capital Region, you may have been frustrated by the lack of options and the laws in New York. So it's exciting to find a practice so close. And it's doubly exciting to find out that it's Michelle Doyle! If you've ever been one of her patients, you know she's a great midwife - very friendly, sincere and supportive. I hadn't really felt that a homebirth was right for me, atleast at this time. Maybe someday in the future when I had more birthing experience, but it seemed like so many things could go wrong and I wouldn't know what to do. I actually liked going to the hospital; it was kind of like a mini-vacation (a very painful one) where I didn't have to worry about keeping house or cooking and could let people take care of me. However, I'm very modest and private about birthing. I don't want anyone around, not even family. It seems at the hospital, anyone who works there feels they have the right to just come and go as they please. And let me tell you, having a C-section where you can't even move, let alone cover yourself up while a bunch of people stand around and stare at you is torture! So I don't know what it was (maybe a part of nesting?) but I feel much more open to it now, and knowing that there's a midwife available makes it even more appealing.

2009-10-06T10:43:00.003-05:00

Ethan had a tooth extraction last Thursday. His front one had become infected after a fall almost a year ago and at a recent checkup, an x-ray showed that the infection had eaten a huge hole in the root and could spread to the adult tooth if it didn't come out. Not the most fashionable thing, but all kids lose their teeth at some point and Ethan would just have a hole there for longer. So the x-ray showed that the infection was in the middle of the tooth but we couldn't see that there was a tiny piece left holding the root to the rest of the tooth. The dentist prepared us for possible future oral surgery to remove that little tip if it was infected as well. However, God's hand was on the dentist's and the whole thing came out with one tug! Ethan barely noticed and had very little pain afterwards. We're so thankful that the whole thing went so well; even ten year old kids have a harder time with extractions than Ethan had! I remember when I got my teeth pulled as a kid (I had seven "extra" teeth out) that the needle with the novicaine to numb my mouth hurt SO much that I cried. Ethan got some numbing gel before the needle to numb his mouth so they could....numb his mouth some more. Where was that gel back in the 90's?! I guess he's just tougher than me. No surprise there, eh :)
The rest of that week I had been trying to get some deeper cleaning done on the house to get ready for the boys' birthday party last Friday night, as well as for when the baby comes. All my efforts have been undone by now though, but ah well, tis life with kids! Cleaning gives me something to do while I wait wait wait. I'm just dying to meet this baby and find out if it's my girl! (or my equally beloved boy) The official date is the 18th but Ethan and Ed both separately guessed the 15th, if that means anything. Kinda of creepy, if that does end up being the day. Any guesses? If you get it right, maybe we'll send out a prize. Naming rights? God-parenthood? Or maybe just a story told every year about how awesome you are at guessing birthdays!

2009-09-09T19:23:00.002-05:00

Neato!

2009-08-25T18:28:00.003-05:00

Rachel, you need these! I know you bought a pair of warm shoes here last October but as I recall, they were actually slippers. And I'm guessing there's a hole in them already. Am I right?
If you go to this website, and post the image, you could win a pair of Ugg Boots. And if I do, I'm giving them to you, Rachie, because I know your feet are always cold. And mine are always toasty.

Today, I am SO thankful for no humidity! Well, relatively no humidity. It's amazing how my outlook and energy levels change with the weather. I even baked 6 dozen cookies today! Why? Well, my freezer was hungry. And you never know when you just need a cookie. It's good to be prepared. And now I am definitely prepared for like, the next six months!

2009-08-13T19:00:00.011-05:00

"I am the rose of sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."

~Song of Solomon 2:1,2

"The church of Christ as far excels all other societies as a bed of roses excels a bush of thorns. The wicked, the daughters of this world, such as have no love to Christ, are as thorns, worthless and useless, good for nothing but to stop a gap; nay, they are noxious and hurtful; they came in with sin and are a fruit of the curse; they choke good seed, and hinder good fruit, and their end is to be burned. God’s people are as lilies among them, scratched and torn, shaded and obscured, by them; they are dear to Christ, and yet exposed to hardships and troubles in the world; they must expect it, for they are planted among thorns (Eze. 2:6), but they are nevertheless dear to him; he does not overlook nor undervalue any of his lilies for their being among thorns. When they are among thorns they must still be as lilies, must maintain their innocency and purity, and, though they are among thorns, must not be turned into thorns, must not render railing for railing, and, if they thus preserve their character, they shall be still owned as conformable to Christ. Grace in the soul is a lily among thorns; corruptions are thorns in the flesh (2 Co. 12:7), are as Canaanites to God’s Israel (Jos. 23:13); but the lily that is now among thorns shall shortly be transplanted out of this wilderness into that paradise where there is no pricking brier nor grieving thorn, Eze. 28:24" ~Matthew Henry

Just a thought that encouraged me as I thought about the beauty of this Rose of Sharon and the meaning of these verses.

Nothing new to speak of...I'm still big and round, ready to have a baby, extremely tired, and all I feel like doing is sitting on the couch. The boys don't mind though; they pile me with books saying "Read! read!" and that's what we do. Sometimes they go outside and play and I get to read grown-up books but mostly it's Dr. Suess.

I'm just waiting for that rush of "nesting" energy so I can get some stuff done. The house needs a good cleaning (but then again, it always does) and there's lots of meals to put away in the freezer for when the baby's born (I've been checking out Once a Month Mom, and am always on the lookout for other good freezable recipes - feel free to share!).

I've had cloth diaper covers nagging me from the top of my "to do" pile in the sewing room. With all the bums I change around here, it's so much wiser to be cloth diapering. I do it about half the time but the vinyl pull-up covers we've used, starting with Ethan (Gerber ones from Wal-mart), have long passed their expiration date, even though the accompanying pre-folds still hold up. So I've been researching covers, settling on Bummis as the best, but hemming and hawing about actually buying them because, well, $10 is a lot of money for one! I'll need quite a few since the twins are not quite ready to potty train, and newborns go through diapers like crazy.

I always have trouble spending money on things that I feel like I could just make myself, and so after moving and being able to organize my fabric stash, I discovered I have quite a few pieces of material that would do really well. The number 1 piece being a shrunken wool sweater of Ed's, which I don't even know why I held onto. Turns out it makes perfect diaper cover material. The best part was that I didn't sew anything, not even a hem! After a few uses I found that they really need elastic or else they fall right off. So I got around to putting something-like-a-waistband in, and, despite it being summer, use the 4 or so that one sweater made quite frequently on the twins, who don't seem to mind them (they're a wool-nylon blend, so very soft). Oh, another perk about wool covers: less washing! It's better for them to be washed less, which means less laundry and sitting around in a diaper pail waiting to be washed, and more uses! Just hang them up to dry and by the time the next diaper change comes around, they're ready for use again. So yes, I'm very excited about those and the fleece ones I made in the same style (using basting pins as closures). You'd think it'd be the boost I need to get the rest of them going.

These ones are going to be different. Somehow I acquired a fabric that feels like a flimsy raincoat, the kind that may or may not be waterproof (I've yet to test it out) . I'm pretty sure it won't do the job as well as wool but it may be a decent barrier, especially when paired with some terrycloth lining from old towels and then a cute flannel print for the outside. I did managed to get one sewed up when I was on my kick that even included velcro closures but it turned out too small to test on the twins. It'll have to wait for the baby. But I want to have atleast a few done up in the various thicknesses and fabric combinations beforehand to see which works best before I make a whole bunch of one kind. (And all in pink when it turns out to be a boy).

So why can't I just. do. it.

Sigh.

Maybe I'll feel like it tomorrow.

One last thing I'll add is this picture of corn that Ethan grew as a school experiment, learning about seeds. Out of 6 plants we got 5 good ears (one had already gone into the pot here); not bad! I just love how unique each one is, with imperfect lines and irregular sized kernels. Home grown's the way to go!

Oh! OK, really, one last thing: Rachel! I finally remembered the name of that non-caffinated coffee-like beverage, it's Inka! And yes, they still don't sell it at Wal-Mart *but* I did find out they sell it at Honest Weight

which doesn't help you at all

but maybe Trader Joe's? Or of course, online. I got a free sample of this other brand, Teecino, which is even better, tastes more like coffee and is brewed, rather than instant. They've got lots of good stuff, especially the Chocolate Mint "Coffee".

Love you! Give that baby a big hug for me! Well, for all of us! The boys still talk about Tully all the time and *loooove* singing Clap Clap Clap Your Hands :)

2009-07-06T21:46:00.001-05:00

Isn't he just too cute?

Just dropping in to say pictures of my own kids are finally up!

2009-07-03T18:12:00.002-05:00

2009-07-03T18:06:00.002-05:00

2009-07-03T17:43:00.002-05:00

2009-07-03T17:32:00.003-05:00

The outside. Ed is installing a better drainpipe from the roof to divert all this rain to the back of the house instead of flooding the garage. I've inherited quite a lovely perennial garden and am looking forward to figuring out what all of it is!

2009-07-02T09:02:00.004-05:00

Somewhat twinish twin sized quilts for twins...

These ones are endearing because it's another completely scrap quilt and I used some of mine and Ed's old clothes. The backs are made from old unmatched fitted sheets. Most of the blue squares are our old jeans and pants. There's also some fabric leftover from Ethan's quilt in there so they all kinda go together. I was hoping to make ones that they could use all the way up until adult hood, instead of just making a baby blanket. We'll see if the boys actually like them for that long. ;) I had a lot of free time when we lived at Ed's parent's house for 6 weeks and was able to finish up the second quilt. It has been unseasonably cool and VERY rainy so sitting under a heavy quilt wasn't so bad. I am so thankful for the highest temps being about 80 degrees on a bad day and in the 60's at night, when this time of year it's usually unbearably hot and humid. I'm just waiting for the weather to straighten itself out. No way can I luck out and bypass a whole summer's worth of heat but I am indescribably glad for the long lovely spring we've had.

Dad, Rachel, BIL Chris and nephew Tully arrived two weeks ago and we had a nice visit with them. Rachel and Tully got to stay an extra week but have to leave tomorrow :( My boys just love Tully but aren't really sure of proper behavior around a baby. I guess they think he's a doll or something. The twins follow him around saying "Baby! Baby Tulltull!" and pointing at him (but usually end up poking him in the eye) Poor Tully is pretty tolerant of his cousins because he likes hang out with the big boys. I just hope the new baby will be agreeable too! The twins seem to be going through a clingy phase, perhaps because of the move and having visitors. We also tried to transition them from cribs to matresses on the floor. Because they can get up whenever they wake up I think they're a little overtired. We might go back to confining them to their "jail cells" for another few months. Ed is renovating what will become their room and mostly all that's left is painting so pretty soon they'll be able to settle in to having their own space (right now they're in our room) which should help too. Ethan is so excited about getting to sleep in the Hacklers' old bunkbed like a big boy! When we get that room done I'm hoping to put up some pictures of the house. I was waiting to get more settled and have everything decorated beforehand but who knows when that will be! You'll just have to imagine and I'll show updates as they happen over the months.

I haven't been able to upload any pictures to our Photo Album but hopefully soon I can get some up more up.

Miss you all!

2009-05-13T15:37:00.004-05:00

Here's to good friends...

My dearest friends have sent me the greatest package. It was like going to summer camp and at the height of homesickness, you get a package from your mom full of thoughtful things that just remind you of home all the more. It actually makes you feel even more homesick but it's nice to know someone's thinking of you too. I'm so touched by the thoughtfulness and the love that went into it; I will chereish these items forever. The apron is a specially made from Clearwater Handcrafts, as is the necklace. The earrings are handmade from Moon Flower Designs. The slippers are one-of-a-kind, and you have to be fortunate enough to have such talented friends to get a pair! I am very blessed by you, ladies, and I miss you all the more!

2009-04-15T10:29:00.004-05:00

Things I'm looking forward to
1. Moving. I love moving! I'm not sure why, maybe it's nostalgia, but staying in one place too long is kinda boring. Organizing, sorting, and packing are actually fun for me. Also, of course, actually being in our new house.
2. Summer. I can't believe I'm saying that! I usually hate summer and I count down the days until the first frost. But growing things last summer was so fun that it made the heat much more tolerable (although this year I will be pregnant, so we'll see). But I think the boys will really enjoy swimming this year, and strawberry picking, and barbeques and all those summery things.
3. Baby. Please be a girl! I'll still love you if you're a boy though :) Oh also, going to the midwife at some point. Hearing the heartbeat is so reassuring, and one of these days I need to make some time for it.
4. Quilt show this Saturday with MIL. It's always fun to look at pretty fabrics.
5. April 21st. Free cone day at Ben and Jerry's! (Also MIL's birthday - Happy Early Birthday!) Yeah ok, ice cream is kinda lame but that's the excitment in my life!

That's all I got, what about you?

2009-03-20T12:47:00.003-05:00

Not quite the view from here yet but soon enough. I'll have to enjoy it while I can, since we're moving out in a month or two. We bought our first house! That is, if it all works out, but the hard part - getting them to sell it to us for much less - is over. It turns out the house was owned by an old acquaintence of Ed's and of the 6 or so other people they showed it to, they told our realtor that they only wanted to sell to us! God can move the hearts of men if He so desires, and apparently He did because we even got it for $15,000 less than the listing price! Things have been going pretty smoothly and so we're just waiting for the closing on May 8th. As much as we're holding out for Idaho, it seems like the perfect time to buy with the $8,000 credit, and the house is pretty nice. A brand new bathroom! No mold!

I think the morning sickness is almost over. I've been pretty useless the last few weeks but now I feel like I can do more. The boys and I are able to go outside often, and the twins especially love exploring. They've gotten so big, and I forget because I see them everyday. They're obsessed with babies, and Ezra walks around calling Noah "baby baby". Their favorite thing to do is dance. Every morning when I get them up, the first thing they want to do is go in the bathroom with Daddy while he gets ready for work and dance to the music he's listening to. I have a great video of them that I keep forgeting to put up. And someday I WILL put up some more pictures! It's so funny how much they love Ethan and mimic him in so many things. We went to Stewart's on Fifty Cent Cone Day (formerly known as Free Cone Day - lame) and Ethan decided that he wanted "pink ice cream with green and blue in it" which turned out to be Cotton Candy flavor. He got his own bowl and I got a plain old chocolate for myself and the twins. They refused to even try the chocolate, although they generally love it, and begged Ethan for some of his the whole time. I wonder what it is about pink ice cream that's so appealing to kids? (It tastes as revolting as it sounds, by the way) Ironically, whenever the twins get attention, Ethan mimics what they do to try to get the attention back. I guess he hasn't realized the power he has in being the older sibling yet. Mwahahaha! Boy do I remember being the big sister! Ahem, yes, we'll have to direct him to use his powers for good.

I miss all you all! Oh and by the way, you're invited to a bonfire here tomorrow! It won't be the same without you.

2009-02-24T14:58:00.002-05:00

Another perfect birthday present....and yet another October baby!

Not much to say; nothing really has been going on. We're looking for a new place to live, rather than buy this place, as we intended. But where to go? I'll let you know in 6 weeks after we've moved to wherever that is. Buying seems to be the best option right now but we still have to find that right place. So many options! And so little time! I'm not worried though, it's kind of exciting.

Ed'll be home early soon, and then we're going out for a surprise evening, just him and I (the second-best birthday present!).

2008-12-22T11:00:00.003-05:00

In a completely unrelated preface, I would like to direct all you anti-dreadlock-ers out there to recently added pictures on our family's photo album.

This is an excerpt from an article written by Laura Ingalls Wilder in 1919 for McCall's magazine as a reflection on her last 25 years of marriage as a farm wife. Despite presently only being an *aspiring* farm wife, I can identify with her character as being someone who attempts to do her share of the work in keeping the home, teaching and training children, and even saving money by reusing, making and growing. The "farm wife" can be any industrious homemaker, the ultimate being The Proverbs 31 Woman. I can name quite a few "farm wives" who have no land or livestock of their own. What I appreciate from this article, and what I hope to share with you, is her emphasis on where the wife's skills and talents are best put to use. Where she can nicely complement her husband's work rather than compete against it. She should always be his "business partner", whether he's farming, running a business, or figuring out whether it's quicker to button his shirt from the top or bottom. A housewife's job is what she makes of it. It seems like an endless to-do list of menial, thankless, tasks but it is the enabler of the success of the other souls in the home for which she keeps. The important thing is "whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."

"There has been a great deal of pity spent on the farmer's wife, and a great deal of condescending effort has been spent to educate her, while, on the other hand, some very pleasant and poetic things have been written about country life. But I have never seen it pointed out that the farm woman's life combines the desires of the "modern woman" with all the advantages and traditions of homekeeping.
On the farm, a woman may have both economic independence and a home life as perfect as she cares to make it. Farm women have always been wage earners and partners in their husband's business. Such a creature as the woman parasite has never been known among us. Perhaps this is one reason why "feminism" has never greatly aroused us.
...It is true that a farmer's wife can never stop contributing her share to the success of the farm without ruining her husband's business as well. Many times when the churning had to be done and the hens fed, I have felt like running away into the woods, "just to walk and to walk and to stun my soul and amaze it - a day with the stone and the sparrow and every marvelous thing." And I have felt that the life of a parasite woman has its attractions. But it lacks certain sturdy virtues that are good for a woman to have.
Women in the cities have tried the parasite life and it appears they do not like it. Yet in the city, conditions inevitably pull married women into economic dependence and partial idleness.
It is not good for any living creature to be idle. A horse that does not work becomes unmanageable and fractious in his stall; he begins eating the wood of the manger, which is not a good thing for a horse to do. Hens, if they are to be kept healthy, must be kept busy, and every good poultry raiser gives them straw to scratch, so that they may earn a part of their food by good, honest toil. I think it is not unreasonable to suppose that women, too, must use their energies to some purpose, good or bad, and no woman can make a success of her marriage if she uses her energies in eating the wood of the manger.
Yet, if, in order to avoid the restlessness and uneasiness that go with idleness, the city woman works outside her home, her business interests and occupations pull away from the home life and from marriage.
A species of business rivalry enters into the relation of herself and her husband, and, if she is successful, she has a pride in her pay envelope which is only equaled by her husband's jealousy of it. A man is perhaps slower to adapt himself to new things than a woman, or it may be that there is some deep, possessive instinct in him that resents any rival in the attention of the woman he loves. Combating this feeling in her husband gives a woman a sense of power, and nothing tears the delicate fabric of intimacy between two persons so surely as this sense of power in one and futile protest in the other.
...The farm wife's economic independence pulls in the direction of making her marriage a success. Her interests and those of her husband are the same; their success is a mutual success of which each may be equally proud. In the event of a threatened failure, their interests still hold them together, instead of pulling them apart, and failure may often be averted because of the simple fact that two heads are better than one.
A farmer's wife may and should - I may almost say must be - her husband's partner in business, and she may be this without detracting from the home life.
Meals on time; the surplus of the garden and orchard preserved; meats properly cured at butchering time; the young creatures on the farm cared for as only a woman has the patience to care for them; work in the dairy and with the poultry contribute very largely to the success of the average farmer.
The farm woman does such work as this at home, without bringing any alien influence to bear upon the home life. A farmer never becomes jealous of his wife's success with the poultry, however large a check it brings in, nor does she feel that it makes her independent of him.
...There is a joy of spirit and a pride of power that come to a farm woman who is fully alive to her opportunities, meeting and solving problems, confronting and overcoming difficulties, refusing to become petty though attending to numberless details, or to be discouraged before threatened disaster. She wins to a valiant courage of the soul, which holds itself above all harassments, serene and unconquered.
Just as the physical labor of a farm exercises and makes strong every part of a woman's body, so the many interests of the farm life, in threads which reach to it from all parts of the world, exercise her mind.
...Altogether aside from the feeling of independence and security that comes to a woman through her position as a farmer's wife, she has a deep satisfaction in knowing that she is not struggling against some one else for advancement; that her success will not be built upon the downfall of others. Her rise to prosperity is not over the broken fortunes or through the suffering or oppression of those weaker than herself.
Instead by the labor of her hands, she is producing food for humanity and is, in the old and delightful sense, a lady, a "bread-giver."
Farm life has its ample compensations for all its hardships, and the greatest of these is a sense and enjoyment of the real values of life.
These are not the modern improvements of which we hear so much, the telephone, the rural free delivery, the automobile, the labor-saving machinery, which are bringing many of the city's advantages to the country. They are not even the beauties of nature, which give so much daily joy and always help over the hard places.
The real values of farm life are simplicity, money honestly earned, difficulties overcome, service lovingly given, respect deserved; in short, the exercise of physical, mental, and spiritual muscles until a rounded, complete, individual character is built."

~Ecclesiastes 3:13~

2008-12-17T17:48:00.005-05:00

I guess we should watch the news more...
Everyone (around the country) knew we were having a major storm but us, and that we had had a major storm. People were without power for days, going to shelters, burning furniture just to keep warm...well, I don't know about that last part but I'm sure it could have happened. Things were bad, and I just thought it was pretty! Despite losing quite a few limbs from our trees we were fine and never lost power. Thank the Lord that He saw fit to preserve us! The ice covered everything atleast an inch thick, creating a white filter on whatever you looked at. When the sun shone on it, it was like glass, casting rainbows all over. The pictures don't really capture the splendor but imagine that whatever looks white in the picture is actually ice.

This one was up in the mountains where they had more ice and a layer of snow.

2008-12-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

I thought that the Birger Boys would appreciate this...

If your father ever tries to overdo his 'sleeping in day', you simply apply an armbar, and POOF, instant awake father! Notice his (purely accidental) correct technique, in that due to his small legs, he cannot fully wrap my chest, so he uses one foot to push my face and the other to secure the lock.

2008-12-03T19:10:00.002-05:00

Yes, I took a picture of pancakes. I was just so excited about them actually turning out well! These are called What To Do When You Run Out Of Flour Pancakes. (aka Four Grain Flapjacks) As the name implies I didn't have any flour ready, and three hungry kids not about to wait, so I substituted sourdough starter for the flour in this recipe, which ended up making them so light and moist that I think I prefer it! Well I'll share the recipe and maybe you can try too when you're in a No Flour Dilemma.

Mix:
1 cup starter (or 1 3/4 cup white and wheat flours)
1/2 cup cornmeal (or 1/3 cup if using flour)
1 cup oats (or 1/4 cup)
2 T sugar
1 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
optional:
1/2 t cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1 cup chopped cranberries (highly recommended!)

Mix separately:
1 cup milk (or 1 3/4 cup)
4 T melted butter
1/4 cup honey
3 eggs

Add wets to drys and mix until just moist. Pour 1/4 cup of batter per pancake on preheated griddle. They are so sweet that they don't even need syrup! We like them with cream cheese on top. Oh by the way, this makes a TON, and they're not great the next day so cut the recipe in half if you're not feeding 14 people.

I gotta share this other recipe also for Pumpkin Gingerbread. Doesn't your mouth just water?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square pan (for thick, cake-like pieces) or two loaf pans (for bread) or a 9 x 13 inch pan for a thinner servings and that crunchy gingerbread-ness).
Combine:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 t ginger
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
Cut in:
3/4 cup butter in pieces until course crumbs. Set aside 3/4 cup of the crumbs for topping.
Combine separately:
2 cups pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 t baking soda
Pour into a well made in the remaining crumbs. Stir until moist. Pour into pan and sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Bake 40-45 minutes. *Try* and wait for it to cool before eating; honestly it will taste better (and you'll have the tastebuds to taste it!)

2008-12-03T18:39:00.002-05:00

Ed is a DreadHead!It took us 20+ hours to finish them over the course of 4 days, during which we watched a lot of movies and drank a LOT of coffee. It was an interesting experience but I'm not sure I'd ever want to do it again. It did a number on my shoulders, back and hands, not to mention poor Ed's scalp! They are still a work in progress, and three weeks later I'm still working on them to get them tighter. We got a kit from DreadheadHQ.com which had everything to make and maintain them including special shampoo (yes, he still washes his hair :P). I like them and I think they suit him well. And as they get older they'll look even better.
Next weekend, Ethan!
Just kidding...well not really. Ok, yes I am. It'll probably be the weekend after.

2008-11-17T14:24:00.017-05:00

We got a new camera on Friday and since then I have gone overboard taking pictures of anything that will stand still, as well as my three Littles that never stop moving. Those pictures can be seen in our Family Photo Album, and the rest are here.

Our HouseCold and sunny today, with a few snow showers coming and going with each passing cloud. You can see the house reflected in the thermometer face.

The Living Room (yes that's where the babies sleep)

Cutest tea set

Ethan's bed

Our bedroom

Sunday morning pancakes (notice my little helper)

Kitchen

My Favorite Bookshelf

Almost finished with this quilt

Chicken pillows!

Ed's homebrew; Asian Pear Wine on left and Plum-Pomegranate Spritzer on right.
I love the shape of the bottles.

From the pantry: Green Tomato pickles, Tomato Sauce, Apple pie filling, Spiced Crabapples and Crabapple Jelly.

2008-11-14T20:13:00.003-05:00

Last Friday my dinner plan was Roasted Sage Chicken, Steamed Cauliflower and Squash Gnocchi Dumplings. Sounds delicious, eh? I was looking forward to it; it's always fun to try something new for dinner. We tend to eat the same thing over and over, and though it's simple, it's boring. If you've never had gnocchi it's a little, lump-like pasta or dumpling. I've seen it made on a cooking show and I've had it at an Italian restaurant before. However what I made was nothing like what I thought it should taste like. In fact it was so gross that I gave up before I finished boiling them all and threw the rest of the batter out. I felt so bad because I hate wasting food like that but I knew that if I didn't even like it, there was no way anyone else in the house would eat it. I should have gone with the Ricotta Cheesecake!
Fortunately I still had ricotta cheese left and so I stuck with using it for something I knew would be good: Pasta Sauce (thanks Amy!) It turned out great and we ate it for dinner twice this week, for lunch yesterday and I put the last of it on our pizza for dinner today! I wasn't kidding when I said we had a lot of ricotta!

2008-11-04T13:31:00.008-05:00

Meet my nephew Elliott Tully Jordan:He's not a morning person. But he's quite happy with his mama. Don't you just want to pinch his cheeks off?
The twins' first birthday cakes.

Ethan's third birthday cake.
For more party pictures check out our family photo album.

I miss my family already. It was so good to see them and the week went by waaaay too fast, as it always does. Dad and Rachel and Tully came on Sunday night. Dad's parents from Arkansas finally arrived Wednesday after being delayed by snow. Wednesday night was the party, with almost all of our close family members in attendance. The house was crowded for a few days but it was nice to get everyone together. I wish we had been able to do more sightseeing or something with them but it's hard coordinating with different interests and schedules, especially since Dad and Rachel had other people they wanted to see while they were up here. In the end we just stayed home most of the week and visited. Everyone left Friday morning and we spent the rest of the day vegging and catching up on sleep.

On Saturday, Ed, the boys and I went to visit the Onrust, a ship Ed's coworker has been working on in his spare time. It was pretty cool to see, especially since the orginal ship was built in something like 4 months. I have a lot of respect for them, and for the people making it today after seeing all that goes into it.

Now I'm trying to get back into the groove of everyday life. It seems a little dull, but I guess that's a good thing. I overshot the food requirements of cooking for 9 people. Now I have a ton of food leftover, particularly ricotta cheese. I've already made two lasagnas (one in the freezer), so we're pretty tired of it. Anyone know something else good to make with ricotta? Maybe ravioli?

2008-10-17T08:12:00.000-05:00

2008-10-16T18:35:00.005-05:00

Standing Watch

I am so dog tired today. It was one of those days where I didn't sit down for 8 hours. It was also one of those days where I look back and say "So what did I do all day?" For how busy I felt, it seems I should have more to show for it. I had spent this week doing some overdue cleaning in preparation for a visit from my Dad, sister and nephew in two weeks. Yesterday I washed the couch, recliner and pillows, and today I had intended to finish the sheets and blankets. But last night Ed ended up bringing home 5 Hannaford shopping bags full of apples he had picked from a coworker's orchard. If you can't imagine how many apples that is, well, it's a lot. So my job today was do something with them. I separated out a drawerful of the prettiest ones to put in the fridge for eating but that didn't seem to make a dent in the pile. In my opinion, the best thing to do with leftover apples is make pie but you can only eat so many pies at once. I found a recipe for canned pie filling so I set out to do that. It made 2 quarts and 8 pints but unfortunately the quart jars didn't seal. I think there were too many air bubbles and not enough liquid. We'll see how they turn out after being frozen. So that was done, and a large portion of the day was gone but there were yet apples. I made a pie for dessert tonight then started on apple leather. I've got 8 trays filled and drying but I still have two and a half bags left. At this point I'm willing to let procrastination set in and leave the rest until tomorrow. I think it will end up applesauce. We had intended to juice them (which is hard without a juicer) to make hard cider, or wine. Ed has already made a batch from our asian pears, which I think rivals any storebought wine (but then again I'm biased). Last night he started on a plum wine so I think we'll be set for alcohol. Although we've gone through quite a few bottles, sampling them ("I wonder if this bottle will taste different from the last one?" :)
Anyway, that was my day, along with feeding kids, breaking up fights, doing a mound of dishes that are now precariously built up like the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the dish drainer, and sweeping the floor three times throughout the day (and at the moment it looks dirtier than ever). Ethan even went out with his grandparents for most of the day so I had less interruptions. I'm just glad harvest only comes once a year. I'm sure during the winter I'll wish I had more to do, but as for now I'm about to enjoy doing nothing. And eating pie. :)

2008-09-29T08:38:00.003-05:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? around 8:15.
2. Diamonds or pearls? I suppose diamonds, but pearls are very pretty too.
3. What was the last film you saw at the theater? I can't remember, it's been awhile.
4. What is your favorite TV show? Heroes; we watch it online.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal. I usually mix flavors and add oats.
6. What is your middle name? Beth.

7. What food do you dislike? Hmm...I can't think of anything at the moment.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Ben Taylor
9. What kind of car do you drive? A big gas guzzling SUV.
10. Favorite sandwich? Italian Combo from Panera with extra pepperoncini.
11. What characteristic do you despise? Insincerity
12. Favorite item of clothing? My husband's zip up hoodie.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would be? Iceland.

14. Where would you retire to? This house.
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Two years ago because I found out I was pregnant.
16. Furthest place you are sending this? Not sure
17. Person you expect to send it back first? I don't think anyone will.

18. When is your birthday? February 24th.

19. Morning person or a night person? I had always been a morning person but at the moment I'm neither ( hence getting up at 8).

20. Pets? None yet. Ethan said this morning he wanted a "chocoate dog". A chocolate lab maybe? I'd take that. We really want a farm dog, or a Presa Canario guard dog, because if we're having a pet it has to be useful.
21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I have another nephew: Tully! He's so cute and smooshy, fits in with the family. Also I've canned 80+ jars of tomatoes, pears, grapejelly, and pickles this year. I have more to do but I ran out of jars.

22. What did you want to be when you were little? a doctor
23. How are you today? Pretty good, although annoyed by the humidity. It's fall, it should be cool!
24. What is your favorite flower? Lillies or roses.
25. What is the day on the calendar? Monday, September 29, 2008
26. What are you listening to right now? Recording of our last psalm sing. :)

27. What was the last thing you ate? Coffee with chocolate truffle creamer.
28. Do you wish on stars? Uh no. I pray to the Person who made and controls the stars.
29. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Green.

30. How is the weather right now? Humid and rainy.
31. Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone? Amanda, last night.
32. Favorite soft drink? Dr. Pepper.

33. Favorite restaurant? Villa Valenti's.
34. Hair color? brown
35. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies and dolls. I loved American Girls dolls and books but they were so expensive. My parents bought me a generic doll instead whom I named Samantha (after my favorite AG doll). I would pour over the catalogs then attempt to recreate their clothing by hand sewing from mom's fabric scraps for my own doll. (I still do that with J Crew clothing because really, who would pay $80 for a shirt?)
36. Summer or winter? Winter.
37. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
38. Coffee or tea? Coffee for sure, I have to be in a particular mood for tea.
39. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes, they should post this on their own blogs.
40. What is under your bed? Nothing, it's on the floor.
41. What did you do last night? Chatted with some of my favorite people. :)
42. What are you afraid of? Spiders. It's absurd but they're so creepy.

43. Salty or sweet? sweet

44. How many keys on your key ring? 5
45. How many years at your current job? 3 years, 5 months, 6 days

46. Favorite day of the week: Saturdays are my day to get out of the house for a couple hours.

47. Do you make friends easily? I think so, although I'm generally not an initiater.
48. How many people will you send this to? No idea how many people read my blog, 3?
49. Favorite hobby? At the moment quilting; I'm finishing up one I started a couple years ago for my future daughter. Then I'm going to start two similar twin-sized ones for Ezra and Noah. I also love knitting and reading books about homesteading, even though I'll probably never use that knowledge.
50. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Yes, so please post your own!

2008-08-28T11:54:00.002-05:00

These videos are Ben Taylor and David Saw, playing two of my favorites by them: Digest and Nothing I Can Do.

2008-08-28T11:52:00.000-05:00

2008-08-28T11:51:00.000-05:00

2008-08-18T14:45:00.006-05:00

Nephews are great for a lot of reasons but one is that they're good to make blankets for. When I found out Rachel was having a baby back in February I started this blanket for him. The pattern is no longer online (I have it printed out if anyone wants it) but its a simple variation on entrelac. The squares happen to be ribbed although you could put any stitch in each square. I'd be interested to see how a cable would turn out. Or putting animal shapes or letters in each block.

A long time ago I mentioned that I was working on a bolero, and now years later, after starting and stopping, I finally finished it. It looks nothing like the pattern because I tried to alter the sleeves (I can't remember why and I wish I didn't because they are way too baggy). And somehow it ended up shorter than it's supposed to be. I did throw in a few cables, which I like, down the sleeves, under the arms and at the waistline. Its hard to envision how the minor changes you make will affect the whole pattern and its too risky to experiment only to find out later that you need to rip it all out and change it. That's how you end up with a nice garment that you won't ever wear.Waistline detail.
Underarm detail.
One last thing: I found a recipe for this fabulous pie that sounds disgusting (atleast it did to me) but if you try it before you know what's in it you won't believe what you're eating. It is a great way to use up green tomatoes at the end of the season, or in my case the ones that sort of fell off the vines as I was trying to walk through the garden. I didn't want to waste them and ripening them in a bag took too long so I tried this instead.

Mock Mince Meat/Green Tomato Pie
Cover 2 cups chopped geen tomatoes (I cut mine into larger pieces thinking they would cook down but they pretty much kept their shape so I would recommend dicing them) with water and bring to a boil. Drain. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of vinegar ( cider vinegar would be best), 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 cup raisins (I only had a few raisins left so I threw in frozen currants to make up the difference), 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 whole cloves and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. (I looked up a mince meat pie recipe and added some of their ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, a slosh of lemon juice and about a 1/4 cup of brandy (I used rum). With all the extra liquid it came out kind of soupy. Maybe a couple tablespoons of flour too?) Use a pie plate lined with a bottom crust. Add filling. Put on top crust and cut steam vents. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

So good!

2008-08-12T15:37:00.001-05:00

Aren't chinese lanterns so cool looking?

2008-07-28T15:50:00.005-05:00

How things change in a month. Pretty much everything you can see in there (except the sunflowers) is a tomato plant. The carrots are shorter and hidden on the left side but even though you can't see them they are in no short supply. I pulled a couple dozen the other day to try and thin them out and there are still so many left. The peas are pretty much all picked, shelled and frozen. Some vines are still producing but they're getting woody and bitter. All the rain has caused them to start rotting since they're basically just in a big pile on top each other. I have to pull them apart to try and find the pods. Next year I will definitely stake them better, despite the package's claims that they are the bush variety and don't need it. The tomatoes also need much more support. They would probably be as high as the sunflowers now if I had, but instead they're all over the walkway, and even blocked off the middle path. I tried to take a picture of myself next to the sunflowers to show just how big they are but I couldn't quite do it by myself. This is how it feels looking up at them:Underneath them, and growing quite nicely despite a late planting, are acorn squash that are crossing over into the tomato bed (as if that weren't grown over enough already) and up the sunflowers. I had tried to companion plant basil with the tomatoes to keep away bugs but they have been completely covered by the rampant tomatoes. I guess the basil's doing it's job.

2008-07-25T09:12:00.020-05:00

This post is a photo reminiscence of what I remember of my five years in Nova Scotia (and what I could find on the internet). I don't think anyone will appreciate it except my lovely prego sister; so this is for you Rachel!

Does it look exactly the same or what? Malagash Bible Camp is where we spent a week every summer and I think it's my favorite memory of Canada. There are more pictures at malagashbiblecamp.com. Everything is the same except they built a new tuck shop/art building. The cabins look just as small as I remember them, heh.

This is an obscure picture but I put it up because I remember that mushroom shaped fountain on the right being so fun.
The Ross House. A farm where visitors can make their own barrels, card wool, milk cows etc. to get a taste of farm life. I think we bought a barrel here that one of the workers demonstrated making.
Peggy's Cove.
The bridge to Oakfield Park, looking at Grand Lake. To the right is Fish Lake, which we used to live on, as did our best friends, the McNabs. In winter when the lake froze over we could walk across to go to their house.
This guy is at Laurie Park jumping into Grand Lake. (Do you remember that tree, Rachel? It looks familar). After swimming, Mr. McNab would break out the shampoo and wash up in the lake. We used to camp out in our van at the park and go get donairs for dinner.
The Inn on the Lake. Across the way is J and K's house (what's their last name?) where we swam a lot, rode on their motorboats and I remember mom making peanut butter popcorn for when we would go over there.
Our elementary school.
Where we would have gone to junior high, had we stayed in Canada. Our church held worship in the gymnasium and we had Kid's Club there on Tuesday nights.
Ooooh. Aaaaaah. Buskers.
Anne of Green Gables house in PEI. I have a picture taken here with Sarah Polley, the star of the TV show Road to Avonlea.
I always thought this guy was in Maine but he's actually in Oxford, NS: Blueberry capital of Canada.
Who knows what it is, but I remember playing on it.

The Public Gardens in Halifax.

Chicken and chocolate never tasted so good together.

2008-06-20T09:44:00.002-05:00

We got the garden all fenced in, the tomatoes transplanted and all the seeds are up. I think next year I'll go with the black plastic mulch idea because weeding is just ridiculous. We had a bunch of straw laying around so I put that around the larger plants and it seems to be working well.

We got to see the Harts a couple times when they were here last week, so that was awesome. Now we're in withdrawal; Ethan askes to see Matt and Gabe atleast once a day. He talked to his cousin on the phone and kept calling him Matthew. :) Next week we're going to the dentist for the first time. I told him the dentist uses instruments to clean his teeth and he's like "Oooh, he uses a trumpet?" Now we're off to make a papier mache triceratops mask. I've been telling him I'd make him one forever but today we're really going to do it.

2008-06-16T15:48:00.002-05:00

Such a brilliant color, the camera can't even capture it.
Maybe you should come over and see it for yourself.

2008-06-01T20:35:00.002-05:00

For anyone who has input I'd love your advice:

What kinds of things do you like to do with your kids on the Lord's Day?

I can only ask the catechism so many times, walks can be distracting, Lord's Day toys can get old week after week and there's also the limited attention span. I miss the long gone days where I could sit and read a deep book for hours until I actually understood it, rather than just the same sentence over and over again every time I pick up the book. I know I can't be selfish anymore because it's my job to cultivate a love for the Lord's Day and direct young minds toward what's appropriate. But there's such a limit on a two-year-old's capacity, you know? Or maybe I'm wrong and just haven't tried hard enough. Anyone have success here?

2008-05-24T19:52:00.004-05:00

Snow peas, gladiolus, a couple unknown plants and a weed.
We've been gardening a lot lately. This is the future home of more vegetables than we could possibly eat. I have high hopes for carrots, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and sunflowers in these three beds. And we've got more beds for lettuce, spinach, mesculin, peas, radishes, herbs. Not to mention the pumpkin/squash patch and five rows of corn. So when I say a lot, I mean all the time. The poor babies were feeling neglected inside the house while Ethan and I would go outside and plant/weed/till so today we plopped them on a blanket so they could atleast watch. Then they realized they had it pretty good inside because there's no freshly cut grass blowing up their noses there, or rocks falling on their heads (Ethan was throwing them up in the air to see if they would come back down and, well, his aim isn't too good yet).
You can't see it in the picture but this is rows and rows of brilliantly red home canned tomatoes lining the shelves of our basement and feeding us through the winter. You just gotta have vision. Actually this is only a fraction of the tomato plants we have; but based on how they look, I'll be lucky to get one tomato off each. The good looking ones in the front are store bought (thanks to my mil!) Hopefully in a few weeks they'll grow up and be ready to transplant.

2008-03-18T00:57:00.000-05:00

HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on
November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam. Now there are 150 stores all
over the Netherlands. HEMA also has stores in Belgium,
Luxembourg, and Germany. In June of this year, HEMA was sold to
British investment company Lion Capital.

Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and
it's in Dutch, but just wait 15 - 20 seconds after the page
fills up and watch what happens. (Turn sound on.)

http://producten.hema.nl/

I like the "ghettoblaster". :)

2008-02-22T16:41:00.002-05:00

I wanted to blog again but it's been so long I didn't know what to write. So I went to some other blogs that I frequent to remember what people write about in these things and I got into the happenings of my friends lives. Then I hear "...I gotta be patient..." and oh! I forgot I told Ethan I'd get him a drink. How long has he been waiting? ok, I sit back down and start typing with one hand while feeding Ezra in the other, one eye on Ethan threatening to squish Noah with love, who is lying on the floor next to me. I get distracted with Ezra's big eyes staring at me "thanks mom; this sure is yummy". We have a moment. Then I hear a delighted squeal "He's got it! He can eat it!" I look over and Ethan is trying to share his candy with Noah, who managed to get a grasp of a sweetheart. "Uh thanks honey, that's nice of you to share but we don't give the babies food yet. No candy. Or cucumbers. I thought we went over this?" whew. (ever hear of stream of consciousness writing? it was popular at one point right?) ok, back to the blog. oop, nope, Ethan has something to say but I cant figure out what he's saying. I look at him like he has three heads: You ate a truck? You want a duck? He gives up and settles for jumping on my back. ok now, seriously I gotta get going on the blog. So what I decided to write about was.....was......oh right. I've been reading a book called The Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, which is a sequel to The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. The first is a guide to classical homeschooling which I read a couple years ago and by chance happened across the sequel when at the library, looking for something more stimulating than Dr. Suess to read. So anyway, she gives a list of "great books" to read on your own time and how to study them in a classical way. I appreciate her list because even though she includes what others consider "great" but they only amount to a pile of paper, in my opinion, she also includes some blatantly Christian writings, such as Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan's autobiography, and the story of Mary Rowlandson, a puritan. (Really good story if you want to read it; it goes quickly) I have this crazy ambition to get through a few of the books on her list that I hadn't read before (Gulliver's Travel's, Ben Franklin's Autobiography, Bunyan's autobiography, Walden, 1984 and some others).
I'm also knitting a blanket for my sister's first baby coming sometime this fall. I found the pattern here and it looks ( from the few rows I have done) that it will be pretty cool. It's a good thing I have a few months yet to finish it because it's slow going.
Well that's it, or atleast all I have time for. If I sit here any longer who knows what my consciousness will spew out. Thanks for enduring!

2007-09-07T08:55:00.000-05:00

I think I should blog just so blogger doesn't cancel it.

I don't have anything to say but I have six months of non posting to update. Something must be blog worthy.

Here's a picture of our new house, so I guess I could tell you that we moved.
It's got an old apple (pear?) tree, a possible crabapple, tons of non identified berries, and I keep finding more grape vines. There's a cow pasture across the street and an empty field behind us that we hope to buy and put our own cows in. For now we plan on getting chickens in the spring and maybe some rabbits. And coveralls too. Then we will be true farmers.

The baby is doing well, wiggly and kicking. My midwife thinks that it's a girl and I kind of do too but the drano test (and it never lies) said boy, or atleast I got the same ambiguous results that I did with Ethan. Speaking of the little darling, he loves his new house too but he loves it even more when people come over. Three quarters of his life were spent living with "geema and geepup", who spoiled him constantly. I'm sure he gets quite sick of just seeing me all the time.

So during the next two months before the baby comes (October 31st) I have to make curtains for the house (oh bummer) and double dig a hundred feet worth of garden for next spring's beds. Wow I gotta get to work...

2007-03-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

I turned 23 last weekend and got the best present ever. Not only did I get to spend the day with Ed and go to China Wok buffet and buy fun yarn for socks and old books by Hugh Miller, but I also found out I am pregnant for the second time. I'm quite sure it's a girl, I think I knew that even before I knew for sure I was pregnant. If it's another boy I'll be kinda bummed, although Ethan does need someone to beat up on.
Not sure yet if we're moving or staying. Nothing really exciting has been going on. I feel so sick and tired and don't want to do anything so I haven't, except sit around. I did pick up knitting again recently and accomplished a pair of socks. I also made a pair of slippers, which I'm pretty proud of. As I mentioned I got yarn to make Ed a pair of socks. Right now I'm also working on a bolero for myself. I'll have a lot of maternity (and baby) clothes to start making too. People ask me what I do all day; I guess I do a lot of sewing.
Cecilia, a lady in our church, has given me the job of making her window treatments, which is going to be the kick-off of the resurrection of Oath of Stitches. Ed's making me a new website which is going to be sweet and will include one side of home furnishings and another side of clothing and accessories. I don't want to crimp Scarlet Stitch's style so the apparel won't be for awhile.

2007-01-18T15:46:00.000-05:00

I'm reading a book that is so good that I want to buy one for each of you ladies that read this blog, but, unfortunately, that's not feasible. What I can do is share portions with you in hopes that it will encourage you to be the best wife (present or future) you can, as it has done for me.

"'For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (1 Cor. 11:8,9) Four thousand years after creation, Paul, Timothy and Peter wrote to us, telling us God's original plan was still the same as it was in the beginning when Adam and Eve were first learning how to be husband and wife. Now, two thousand years since Paul's teaching, amazing as it seems, God has still not changed His mind. Regardless of who you are or what your talents may be, God's will is that you be a suitable helper to your husband. Paul says, "But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband." (1 Cor. 7:34)
I know that as you read this it sound almost like blasphemy, because it is so weird to think that your husbnd deserves you as his help-meet. But who said anything about what he deserves? You can only realize your womanhood when you are functioning according to your created nature. To covet his role of leadership is to covet something that will not make God, you or him happy. It is not a question of whether or not you can do a better job than he; it is a matter of doing what you were "designed" to do. If you successfully do the job of leading the family, you will not find satisfaction in it. It is far better that the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you. Your excellence as a help-meet to him may very well be God's plan for impoving his leadership role in the family. Your female nature cannot be retrofitted to the male role without permanent damage to the original design.
The role of being a perfectly fit helper does not make one inferior to the leader.
In our office there is an entire staff of workers. Every person in the office spells better than I do; most know the computer better, and they certainly know finances better. Yet, when I walk into the office, I can tell anyone of them what to do and how I want it done, and they are all glad to do my bidding - including the men. My place of authority does not mean I am better, it only means that they are there to help me do my job - better!
Men are created to be helpers of God. Jesus willingly became a helper to the Father. The Holy Spirit became a helper to the Son. Society is structured so that men and women must submit to authorities like government, employers, police, the IRS, child protection agencies, the courts, etc. There is no loss of dignity in subordination when it serves a higher purpose. God made you to be a help-meet to your husband so you can bolster him, making him more productive and efficient at whatever he chooses to do. You are not on the board of directors with an equal vote. You have no authority to set the agenda. But if he can trust you, he will make you his closest advisor, his confidante, his press secretary, his head of state, his vice-president, his ambassador, his public relations expert, maybe even his speech writer - all at his discretion.
A perfect help-meet is one who does not require a list of chores, as would a child. Her readiness to please motivates her to look around and see the things she knows her husband would like to see done. She would not use lame excuses to avoid these jobs. A man would know he had a fine helper if she were this kind of woman. Such a blessed husband would receive honor from other men as they admire and praise his handy wife. "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." (Pro. 12:4) It is our job to learn how we can help our husbands in every way possible.
...When you are a help meet to your husband, you are a helper to Christ, for God commissioned man for a purpose, and gave him a woman to assist in fulfillnig that divine calling. When you honor your husband, you honor God. When you obey your husband, you obey God. The degree to which you reverence your husband is the degree to which you reverence your Creator. As we serve our husbands we serve God. But in the same way, when you dishonor your husband, you dishonor God."

For me, this book has been so liberating in finally understand that I am doing something with my life, and that it is the perfect job for me. I don't know why it never hit me before, but I feel so much more joyful in being a wife knowing that it is pleasing to God to be using my gifts as such. The rest of the book is so great in showing practical ways to really do your job and find joy in it. We as wives have so much more control on how our marriage goes than we think. Our husbands respond to us and so when they do something that can be detrimental to marriage, it is most likely brought on by our attitudes, actions and speech.

"Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation [coupled] with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (1 Peter 3:1-6)

2006-10-27T10:21:00.000-05:00

1. FIRST NAME? Hannah
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of; my mother always knew she would have two girls named Hannah and Rachel.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? oh, recently
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I always wished it were better.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? When I was a kid in Nova Scotia we used to get these hunks of balony bigger than my head that were shaped like hams, and though I don't think I've had balony since then it could be my favorite for nostalgia's sake. I don't really eat lunch meat.
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Yep, the cutest one in the world.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF? I doubt it; I think I come off as snobbish.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Just the blog.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? It might be fun.
12. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I'm far too lazy (and usually have my hands full) to bend down and put on/take off anything from my feet which is the real reason why I wear flip-flops all the time. I recently got a pair of velcro shoes and I couldn't even put them on today, let alone real ties. Tammy had to put my shoe on for me!
13. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, my left gun is like whoa! My right one needs work. Emotionally, I'm such a girl!
14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? "Tom and Jerry's" (LOL Laura) Chocolate Therapy is so good.
15. SHOE SIZE? 9
16. RED OR PINK? Pink, because it looks great with green.
17. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My independant, rebellious nature that constantly gets me into trouble.
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Ed, when he's at work.
19. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Yes, I love reading these things.
20. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES YOU ARE WEARING? Gray sweatpants and (what a surprise!) naked feet
21. LAST THING YOU ATE? We just went out to dinner at Friendly's and I had a Honey Barbeque Bacon Cheese Melt AND THEN we went to Starbucks and I had a Maple Macchiato and a Mint Brownie. I'm so full!
22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Ed and I typing on the computers, the fan whirring, Ethan snoring, the rain and cars driving by.
23. FAVORITE SMELL(s): Campfires
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Tammy
25. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their smile, I guess
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes, although I got it from a bunch of people, I like them all.
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Water
28. FAVORITE SPORT to play? Basketball. I would love to play rugby sometime because it used to be my favorite sport even though I don't know the rules and have only seen it played like twice.
30. EYE COLOR? Mine? Depends who you ask, maybe green or blue. My favorite? Ed's are a really cool kind of yellow-amberish. They're like that one bit of color in a black and white photograph.
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Chocolate, coffee, mexican, pizza, ok so I don't have one.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I HATE scary movies.
34. LAST MOVIE? Seen in theaters? Lady in the Water. We rarely see movies in theaters since we can't fast-forward the bad parts but M. Night Shyamalan doesn't usually have bad parts in his movies. The last movie we rented was Nacho Libre, which I would recommend only for Jack Black's love song.
35. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Red.
36. SUMMER OR WINTER? Emphatically Winter!
37. HUGS OR KISSES? I can't get enough of either from Ed :)
38. FAVORITE DESSERT? Probably ice cream.
39. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Maybe Jody?
40. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Irene, because she's pretty busy,
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I'm constantly trying to pick up Christ: The Way, The Truth and The Life but I can't get into it; I don't know why. Now I have an excuse, though because someone borrowed it. I'm also working through The Existence and Attributes of God by Charnock. I think I want to start The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification (and hopefully finish it!)
42. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouse pad, we have a laser mouse.
43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? ER, for the first time in a loooong time, and I totally cried! This lady went into labor two and a half months early and had an abruption so they had to C-section the baby out, who almost died, and then she wouldn't stop bleeding so she had to have a hysterectomy. I could imagine just how heart-breaking it would be to not know if your child will make it and then on top of that not be able to bear children ever again.
44. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Ed and Ethan playing together; good music; rain falling
45. ROLLING STONES or the BEATLES? Beatles, although both were way before my time.
46. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Nepal, which is pretty close to the other side of the world.
47. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can balance a spoon on my nose.
48. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? San Diego Naval Base Hospital, February 24th, 1984

2006-10-17T09:24:00.000-05:00

Hello All!

It has been a pleasantly busy couple of weeks since I last updated you. It's nice to have something useful to do with oneself.
Ethan is growing like kids do. Everyday we get up and he plays for awhile then we go have breakfast and chase the cat. Then we have "learning time" where he is forced to sit against his will and listen to me explain numbers, colors and shapes. This usually lasts less than five minutes. Then we go back upstairs to our cave and he plays some more while I do housewifey stuff, or enter in merchandise at our new store (check it out at www.cardsvault.com). He goes to sleep around 11 and sleeps until 2. The rest of the day is do whatever with him. He gets tired of our room often so we go outside and run around the backyard or take a walk or poke our pet rabbit. We have a pet moth in our room that he loves to poke also. This morning he learned how to twirl around in a circle (more like a long oval) and thought that was so funny. He even got dizzy when I did it.
Weaning him is pretty easy and though I would have liked to nurse him longer I can't keep up with his needs. Whereas I would have nursed him before he goes to sleep, he's starting to fall asleep on his own. Right now he just fell asleep under the table. So cute!

I gave up on the schooling idea for the time being, especially since I have devoted my time to the store. When all the merch is up I'll probably go back to it.

I've done a couple sewing projects here and there, slippers and a crocheted hat for Ethan, a handpieced scrap quilt (not done yet), and I want to try to make slippers for myself.

But the most exciting news is that we are going on vacation! We'll spend two weeks in November travelling the Southeast, visiting my dad, sister, grandparents, the St. Louis society and Ed's grandma. I'M SO EXCITED!

2006-09-06T13:39:00.000-05:00

Mood: chill
Music: Mraz - Conversation with myself

I decided to blog because I'm tired of the old post. heh.

So what's new?
1. Ethan can walk!
2. We had a bbq here (at the 'rent's) on Labor Day with only a few families here but still quite fun.
3. No house plans yet, though a handful of let downs :(
4. I'm seriously considering getting my medical transcriptionist degree at home, so I can work at home. Any thoughts? Anyone know someone who does that and can give the pros/cons?

That's about it, hope you are having a good day!

2006-07-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

I was taking some blog quizzes today, some funny, some stupid, some totally wrong ( I'm Barney from the Simpsons!? I'd take Ned Flanders over him!) and this one:
Your Linguistic Profile:
55% General American English
30% Yankee
5% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern .

I think it's pretty true. I also learned that Maroon 5 shares my taste in music, and that I am the number 9.

On a different note...

"The weaker sex particularly need instruction, direction, counsel, comfort, and encouragement in the ways of the Lord. And some of them have also been found particularly serviceable in a social way, as succouring even the strongest believers of the other sex—Acts 18:26; Rom. 16:1-3. We therefore cannot approve of the way which some take, of making a separation of the men from the women in societies. It evidently appears to be contrary to God’s ordinance. The woman is, and has always been, safest in society with the man, both from the dangerous prevalence of Satan’s temptations, the power of error, and influence of seducing spirits, who have frequently made their most successful attacks on the weaker sex separated from the other—and led captive silly women. 2 Tim. 3:6"

I finished reading the Directory for Religious Societies today. I thought this quote was particularly applicable, to myself, first and foremost, and as a reminder for anyone else. I'm particularly prone to allow my conversation to drift, and then my thoughts follow. A good remedy for that is minlging with my husband, whose conversations tend to be more thought provoking. I don't want to seem stand-offish, but since I rarely see our church outside of the Lord's Day, it's easy to do. I need to start calling people on the phone or something, because defiling the Lord's Day just won't do. So if you catch me digressing from an appropriate focus, tell me! Encourage me in the right direction so I can take my own advice.

2006-07-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

A purple couch, eh?

Yes, indeed. This is just a sampling of our trip to Brattleboro, VT at the Crosby B&B. All the good pictures are at our Prephotosts page. (Don't be afraid to sign up to log in and see them!)
Tammy and I went to Vermont, not to stay at a bed and breakfast - although it was a nice perk - but rather to go take care of Laura while she takes care of her new baby, Diederick. After a while she finally got the hang of being waited on and did well at letting others take care of her so she could heal. I wish we could stay longer but I missed my husband dearly. We got a lot done in the few days we were there: cleaning, laundry, shopping, and cooking enough food for a couple weeks. Plus we got to fellowship and hold baby to our heart's content. I got to get out of our house for a few days. And Ethan discovered he loves dogs, babies and eating "organic foods", namely rocks and sticks. All in all, it was a great trip!

2006-07-06T08:14:00.000-05:00

They're married! Meet my new brother in law : Chris. I hope you two have the best marriage ever!

They came up to visit this past weekend, which was an eventful one. They were to have a party at my mother's house on Friday night, which we couldn't attend for certain reasons and so we spent Thursday night on the phone with her trying to explain it. It didn't go over well but ended with a date set to have ice cream with her and my half-brother on Tuesday.

Friday, Rachel and Chris arrived from Virginia and we had lunch with them, getting to know him, as we had never met before. I can't remember what we did Friday night, but I think we were playing around with our home theater personal computer because it records television and we were psyched about recording the final World Cup games.

On Saturday we went to the Hacklers and played soccer with them, then we looked at an apartment in East Greenbush, which was nice and new but overpriced. Then we headed out to Nassau to visit my long lost grandmother who, out of the blue, invited us over for dinner. We got there a little early and so went for a drive and found this beautiful house for sale that we're going to look at tomorrow night. It would make an incredible Bed and Breakfast, which we are interested in doing. I think it would be a great business to own: work for yourself, meet new people, invite them to your home, show them hospitality, and maybe even share Christ. We also saw another house in Nassau for sale that is about 150 years old which we are looking into. It needs a lot of work, but has so much charm. You could tell that in it's day it was totally luxurious.

So back to my grandmother's. We had a nice visit, touring the house we lived in for three years, visiting with her and her husband, and more with Rachel and Chris, who also came. On Sunday we had the newly-weds over for lunch and hung out until they had to leave to go back to Virginia. I wish we could have spent more time with them, even tough we saw them everyday they were here.

On Monday, we had the ice cream date, which was incredibly awkward and ended with a public arguement. I don't know how soon we'll see them again but it's not something any of us are looking forward to. It was a discouraging night, especially after our conversation on Thursday, but I'm confident in it because we did what we know is right.

The next day, July 4th, we were invited to Darren and Laura's home in Vermont and spent two hours each way driving through the lushious green mountains. (See the picture above) Once there we fellowshipped over the best hamburgers ever, went for a drive around Brattleboro, then walked around town with iced tea (rooibus chocolate mint!). It was a lovely visit and a lovely drive. On the way home we stopped in Troy for famous I Love New York pizza and ran into Nate. It was a short conversation as it was apparent that he was going to do what he wanted to do. I felt like that just topped off the whole last week, because it seemed like everyone we interacted with, aside from the Harrs, hated us or disagreed with us in someway, making it very tense and discouraging. Maybe this is what it's like everyday for those of us who go out and work, and I've just forgotten since I'm home all day. I take for granted that the people I hang out with are all like-minded. It's very comforting to have brethren around and to be able to encourage each other weekly.

I've got to run to the doctor; Ethan has a cold and now conjunctivitis. His eye was so swollen and crusty this morning that he looked like a pirate! I wish I got a picture! :D

2006-06-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

Thank you Kathryn, Amanda and Holly for your suggestions. It's been three nights now and things are going great! Even the first night wasn't so bad. He slept so much better by himself that he only woke up a few times (compared with every hour before). I nursed him twice the whole night and the other time he woke up, we each tried rocking him to sleep. He woke up when we would go to put him down so finally we just let him cry himself to sleep. Ed and I ignored him and started talking (because you certainly can't sleep over a screaming baby next to you!) and the sound of our voices seemed to soothe him. The next two nights he would sleep for four or five hours then wake up to nurse (I know, I gotta whittle that down, but baby steps first). When he would wake up for comfort, he was easily rocked back to sleep. The next step is to let him cry himself back to sleep, but it's not so easy when he's right there, and we don't have any other place to put him. Your resolve disappears at 4 AM when you're tired! But hey, I think we made progress, and I am so encouraged that it actually worked! Now if only I can get used to sleeping so long and not wake up before he does!

2006-06-19T22:35:00.000-05:00

Well, it's 11:30 and I'm bored. What else to do but check out blogs, including my own and there I remembered that I haven't blogged in months. It's not that I haven't wanted to but I couldn't, I couldn't even leave a comment. Fortunately I got all that technology worked out, as you can see, and am now blogging away. What to blog about........hmmm....(You would think that the longer it's been, the more to write about, but not so.)
We're still living at the in-laws, indefinitely. It's been nice, having people around most of the time and built in babysitters, but I miss having my own home. Plus two women in the kitchen never worked out too well. But who would pass up living for FREE in a totally nice house to have to spend all day cleaning your own. I have so much free time on my hands for some reason. So I've been enjoying books, quilting and exercise. Uh, watching other people exercise, that is.
Go USA!

Ethan is doing well. I'm trying to be unbiased but I think he's just so cute! Like right now he's lying on the bed with his face flat and his butt in the air. He's learned army pseudo crawling, and can stand against furniture for a short time. No words yet, just babble, and still only one tooth.

I have a dilemma that's been keeping me up at night, literally. Please feel free leave comments and advice, whomever you are!
How do I get him to sleep through the night? Actually, I would be happy if he slept longer than just 3 hours at a time! It seems he's regressed in his sleep patterns since he was two or three months old. Does he nap too much during the day? (approximately 3-4 hours) Is he hungry? (I try to feed him food before bed but he's not too interested) Do I succumb to his pitiful cries for the sake of some sleep, when I should be teaching him to cry himself back to sleep? Please help!

2006-03-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

Admidst all the boxes and piles my son peeked out and demanded to be fed, so I gave in and sat down for his lunch. Here I am, unable to pack sitting down so, hey, I might as well blog.
We're moving! A sudden decision finalized yesterday making Friday our last day here. Five days (minus 1 for laundry) to pack like crazy. For those of you who may not know, we are buying a house. The closing date isn't until May though so we're headed to the in-laws to camp out for a month to save on rent and utilities. Should be an interesting time.
Well the boy is asleep so I gotta get back to work.

2006-01-19T12:13:00.000-05:00

Top Four List from Amanda (I love these things!)
4 jobs I've had in my life: I think I've only had four anyhow:
1. Dunkin Donuts
2. dr.'s office janitor
3. home aid for the Center for the Disabled
4. nurse's aid at Albany Med

4 movies I could watch over and over:
1. Sense and Sensability
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Little Women
4. You know a movie I used to really like was Momento, not so much for the content but because it's shot backwards. I like movies like that.

4 places I've lived:
1. San Diego, CA
2. Various addresses in Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada
3. Nassau, NY
4. Troy, NY

4 TV shows I love to watch:
1. What Not to Wear on TLC
2. Good Eats on The Food Network
3. ER on NBC
4. A Baby Story on TLC

4 websites I visit daily: not daily but very often :
1. Amanda's blog
2. My Email Box
3. Jody's blog and all the blogs on there
4. I used to go to Homestarrunner.com a lot but not really anymore (it's not as funny as it usedto be) hmmm, I can't think of another one.

4 of my favorite foods:
1. ice cream
2. pizza (especially buffalo chicken from the I Love NY Pizza in Troy)
3. coffee
4. chocolate

4 places I'd rather be right now:
1. with Ed
2. at starbucks (with ed)
3. at the hacklers hanging out with like the whole church
4. yeah, I'd say heaven too

[These are from Irene but I'm doing four instead of seven]
4 things I hope to see or do before I die:
1. successfully have or work in a home based business selling girl's dresses
2. successfully raise children that love God
3. go to Scotland (don't we all?)
4. learn how to ski

4 Things I Cannot Do:
1. Tell a joke with a straight face.
2. Sing.
3. Keep my house clean. And there's only three of us!
4. Enjoy rap, hip hop, R&B, teenie bopper, rip off/pop punk, old school punk, mainstream hardcore, certain adult alternative music, most female singers or Bon Jovi. I'm particular about music.

4 Things that Attract Me to my Spouse:
1. He's desperate to communicate with me
2. He can make me laugh so so easily
3. He likes the stupid stuff I like
4. He's willing to do anything to make me happy. In short, he loves me!

My 4 Favorite Songs in the Year 2005:
1. first day of my life~bright eyes
2. my doorbell~the white stripes
3. all these things that I've done~ the killers
4. soul meets body~ death cab for cutie

4 Things I Say Most Often:
1. i love you
2. really? (it's so annoying!)
3. ahhhh you're so cute!!
4. I'm good. (also annoying!)

4 Books or Series that I Love:
1. Kidnapped~ Robert Louis Stevenson
2. Pilgrim's Progress~ John Bunyun
3. The Existence and Attributes of God~ Steven Charnock
4. Female Piety~ John Angell James

4 People Who Should Do This:
1. Tammy
2. Rachel Strole
3. Amy B.
4. Ed

2006-01-10T09:04:00.000-05:00

My happy boy :)
He started saying "ah-goo" and so now we are trying to teach him G words: God, gospel, glory, grace...If you listen reeeaaalllly hard and suspend disbelief, he's totally got them down! He's underneath his tent in this picture. Ed put a blanket over his face one morning while I was changing his diaper to keep the bright light out of his eyes. He loved it! He started cooing at it and trying to eat it. Now I put it over him whenever I change him. His cousin Jacob, who is almost two, wouldn't let anyone change his diaper when he was younger unless he had a diaper on his head. LOL. I guess it runs in the family.
As you can see he's all better now, just barely coughing every now and then; thanks for your prayers. Our latest trial is that my milk production went down when he was sick and now he's not getting enough to eat, according to the doctors. In my opinion, he's fine and certainly not underweight, although he does like to eat whenever he can. They're having me encourage him to eat more often which he's happy to do. If I thought I spent all my time nursing before, whoo! It's nothing compared to now!

2005-12-15T18:13:00.000-05:00

The only difference between 6:15 yesterday and 6:15 today is that now we have a name for this sickness that has been plaguing us for the past few weeks: whooping cough. Also I've gone through a whole lot of rigamarole (rigamaroo) today that I wasn't expecting last night. Ed called it back in the beginning when Ethan was turning red trying to hack up his lung.
"Something is wrong with him."
"Aw it's just a cold, he'll get over it."
"No I'm telling you, he doesn't sound right."
"The doctor says his lungs are clear. She's testing him for pertussis just to be sure but she really doesn't think that he has it."
"He has it, I know it."
:ring, ring:
(The Doctor)"Mrs. Prevost? Your son's culture came back positive. You need to tell everyone who has been around Ethan is the last few weeks to get themselves checked by their doctors, including you. The department of health will also be contacting you because they need to track this outbreak. Ethan needs to go on antibiotics and you and Ed will probably need to also."
:ring, ring:
(The Other Doctor) "Mrs. Prevost? You need to go to your doctor right away to get a culture done so he can write you a prescription. They don't give out free samples any more, or else I would just give them to you. Don't worry, in a couple days Ethan won't be contagious anymore, and should get better within two weeks while he takes the meds."
:ring, ring:
(The DOH) "Mrs. Prevost? I need the names, phone numbers and dates of all the people who came in contact with Ethan in the last two weeks. And you need to go to the doctor. Today."

OK I got it, I need to go to the doctor!

So I call the office and can't get a hold of the doctor I want to see. His receptionist is not in. Her voicemail sends me to this other number which sends me to the operator who sends me back to her voicemail. Twice. So I try a different approach and the operator sends me to Mary, the receptionist for some other doctor in the practice. Mary tells me that I can't see anyone today because I'm a new patient (even though I've seen this doctor for seven years and am only 'new' because I switched insurances) and the earliest visit she could schedule was two to three months away. I'd have to go to urgent care to get a culture done today.
OK, urgent care. Can't find it in the yellow pages under Urgent or Health. It's not in the front with all the other important numbers (911 is there though, and who doesn't know to dial 911 in an emergency??) Finally! It's under U in business listings because the names of some of the facilities in the Capital District begin with the word urgent. Who knows what the rest of them begin with. But there's only four listed here; three nearby, and I know that's not all of them in the area. But whatever. I call the first one:
"Hello?"
"Do you do pertussis cultures?"
"Can you hold one second?"
"Sure."
...
"OK sorry, I couldn't hear you very well, you sound sick! What did you say?"
"Do you do pertussis cultures?"
"Can you hold again? Let me ask the doctor."
"Sure."
... ...
"No."

The next facility:
"Do you do pertussis cultures?"
"No."

And the last:
"Do you do pertussis cultures?"
"Yep. Oh wait. No. Sorry."

Great. As a last resort I dig through files of insurance stuff (and at this point Ethan has had enough of sitting quietly by himself) and finally come across a list of more facilities, and not until after calling three more numbers do I finally find a place reasonably close by that does it.

So now I've wasted a whole morning in phone circles but I leave my To Do list, bundle up the baby, go pick up Ed from work and we all head to urgent care. We're in and out pretty quick but pay a fortune to have our noses violated by a long Q-Tip and get a piece of paper that gets us to spend another fortune on medicine we may or may not need. We don't know yet if we actually have it also.
The DOH called back again to remind us that we're quarantined until the results prove that we don't have it. What's even better is that Ed is banned from work for five days. Well it's good for me, but not for him since he's really busy at work right now, and can only do so much from home. It's times like these that we really have to be creative on things to do in a tiny apartment to keep ourselves occupied. No doubt by next Tuesday we'll have cabin fever!

It's been a long 24 hours.

2005-12-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

WOOHOO! I finished my baby quilt! I think Ethan likes it; can't you tell by the look on his face how ebullient he is? Next time I have a baby I'll make a girl's quilt and then I think I'm done with quilt making. It takes far too long, no way each of my children will have a quilt of their own. They are going to learn how to share...
Last night I left my son and My Sunshine alone together while I went out with a bunch of ladies to see Pride and Prejudice. Yeah the movie was good and all but it had to be the longest two hours of my life. The only thing that kept me from calling Ed every half hour to see how they were was that I was not sitting on the outside of the row. It turned out fine; Ed did splendidly and so did Ethan. Didn't even notice I was gone. Sniff. (Actually it's a really good thing not to have a clingy baby, I appreciate it.) Poor kid has the cold that the whole church got while partying at the Hackler's last weekend. We were there everyday for five days, sharing laughs, beers and germs. It was a good time but this week I'm going through people withdrawl. Good thing it's Rachel's birthday on Sunday and we're having another party tomorrow. Who says Covenanters don't have a good time?

2005-11-11T16:28:00.000-05:00

Mood: hungry, but I gotta wait my turn... lets hope Ethan isn't planning on another marathon feeding session.
Music: Iron and Wine: Naked As We Came

So Amy tagged me awhile ago but it's taken this long to come up with five things. I finally did it and here they are:

5 Things People Generally Don't Know About Me
1. I am addicted to Spider Solitare, but more than that, I don't actually like winning it. In fact, if it appears that I am about to beat it, I start a new game.
2. I have been to Nepal, Thailand, England, Iceland, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Also the Philippines when I was a baby but I don't remember that.
3. I am a coffee snob; I dislike all coffees but Starbucks. My favorite drink is a grande regular coffee with a valencia flavor shot with lots of cream and some sugar. I would drink one every day if I could and I thought my heart could handle it.
4. My favorite scar is on the bottom of my foot. My sister and I were building a tree fort out of old used wood and we were trying to flatten the old nails rather than take them out since we had no tools. Also because of that we decided to use our feet instead of rocks or something less penetrable (can you see it coming?) Rachel and I both got a nail through the foot, but the cool thing was that it happened at the EXACT same time. That's why it's my favorite scar.
5. I played with Barbies until I was 11...ok I was 14, but that was an isolated incident! We pulled them out one day because we were REALLY bored...my dad took a picture for blackmail.

2005-10-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

Music:Shhh, the baby is sleeping...
Mood:In love :sigh:

I love our baby!!!
I love it when he smiles, even though it may not mean anything; I love it when he coos when he's happy, I love it when he stares at me with his big eyes; I love it when he snorts when he's so hungry that he can't coordinate himself to nurse properly and then gets more frustrated and snorts more; I love it when he sneezes; I love his sweet breath; I love his long eyelashes; I love his mohawk; I love his long toes; I love his furry ears; I love his perfect lips that don't look anything like the ultrasound photo; I love how he sleeps so much better on my belly than in the crib; I love how long it takes to type a blog entry with one hand because I can't put him down...
Am I a proud mom or what?

We took Ethan on his first real outing (other than the pediatrician) the other day. Where did we go? Wal-Mart, of course. More importantly we tested the baby sling. He loves it! I'll have to put a picture up sometime. He's already getting big for it and I know we'll have to upgrade to big baby size soon. With the way he's eating he's sure to surpass Seth by next week. :D
But hey, I'm glad he's doing well. He lost so much weight that the doctor had us introduce formula to get him eating and pooping so the jaundice would go away. I was not very happy about that since we had just gotten the hang of breast feeding and as he took the bottle more and more, the less he would take the breast. I just about gave up on it, sadly, because that was the last thing I want (but then again, an epidural was also the last thing I wanted going into the delivery and it turned out to be a good thing. A very good thing. :) And this turned out okay too. Once he started to gain weight, we again focused on the breast feeding, even calling in a lactation consultant. She did the trick, and now Ethan is an awesome eater. The next challenge is getting him to sleep in the crib...

2005-10-20T18:03:00.000-05:00

Music: First Day of My Life: Bright Eyes (such a good song! Download it off Shareza but don't buy the album; Bright Eyes is generally not uplifting. Definitely falls in the emo category.)
Mood: anticipatory

So...

I'm in labor!
I was asked last night at a tour of the labor and delivery ward at the hospital by another midwife patient, who is due on monday, after finding out I was almost a week overdue: "How do you deal with waiting?"
What else is there to do?
So I waited. We went to the midwife yesterday for a non stress test (where they check the baby's heartbeat as it relates to it's activity to see if it's still healthy) and an ultrasound to see if there was still enough fluid around the baby. The NST was fine; our little kicker was super active. (120 BPM baseline: it's a boy, eh?) The ultrasound was fine too, if anything there's too much fluid around the baby. No one would say if that was a definite indication of problems but we're supposed to go back tomorrow ( if I haven't birthed yet) to re-evaluate the fluid. We could see it moving around, and we're like :"Ohhh, that's what's going on in there when my tummy looks like a tidal wave." I always wondered. Then the midwife checked to see if I was dilated (only 1-2 cms) and said things weren't quite ready yet but soon. I went home not expecting to see the baby until next week. I went to bed, then during the night got up to use the bathroom. For some reason I decided to turn the light on and just happened to see....a little plug ( I won't be too graphic). I went back to bed and had a couple contractions during the night. Around 8 I called the midwife and she said it definitely is labor and to just hang in there. Right.
I've been trying. At first I had no idea how quickly things would go so I rushed around the house trying to get ready: packing, making a meal, doing dishes. They progressed from 20 seconds long to 30 seconds long by noon, still sporadically, depending on my activity. I laid down after lunch and that seemed to slow things down a bit. Ed and I went for a short walk around the block before the sun went down, then had dinner, opting for take out in case my water broke in the restaurant. Walking felt really good, or maybe it was the fresh air. (What a beautiful day to have a baby on!)
I've been sitting down trying to blog for a couple hours, distracted by the contractions. I think I need to get up an move again since they seemed to slow down. I waited almost forty minutes between two, and that's no good. I gotta get to 1-2 minutes apart before I can go to the hospital. Fortunately the baby used to break to get in his exercise, so I know he's okay. I, on the other hand, am tired. I want to try and sleep soon but I'll do some laps in our apartment first.

Pray for us!

2005-10-18T20:57:00.000-05:00

Mood: mourning
Music: Jack Johnson: If I Could

"They say that new life makes losing life easier to understand....One goes out, one comes in"

I want to offer comfort but I don't know how. I can only say that I have no doubt of God's future blessings upon you (Psalm 127:3). We love you, Shawn and Tammy.

I almost feel bad in having a baby right now, but I remember that this timing is nothing less than perfect. It's easier to say on my end because I receive the blessing rather than the loss. And for what? Our child was conceived in sin in more ways than one. "The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors." (Proverbs 26: 10) God's benevolence is so inconceivable.

2005-10-10T12:23:00.000-05:00

Music: Psalm 6
Mood: eager

Hey I learned latin/french today: I am enceinte, meaning I am in the advanced stages of pregnancy. Enceinte. It's fun to say. Try it. I also learned another word. Here's a sentence, try to figure out what it means. Or just cheat and click on it to see the definition. "After a long wait, probably more difficult for the Andersons than for us, we gave thanks to God for Tammy was found fecund." As sad as I am to give up being a Pregnancy Princess, I'm super glad Tammy is going to take over it. :D

The ladies on LOC have been giving advice on how to prepare for marriage. Though I'm past that stage, it's never to late to learn and to make the most of every day with your husband/wife. I know I especially need to do this, for my gracious and loving husband has put up with so much from me; the absolute bare minumum he deserves is an equally loving and submissive wife. I don't have much to offer him in terms of skills, for I certainly wasted my youth on things that are meaningless now ( like television). Fortunately God gave me months of free time without having to work before the baby comes to redeem that time. Like Cheryl said, reading books is an excellent way to get caught up on how to keep a home, raise a child, teach, cook, garden, etc. Plus I have ladies in the church to ask advice and a mother in law who is an expert housekeeper. So if you're a girl who has not gotten married yet and has not been born into a family that has taught her these skills, I suggest you get cracking!

Five books I recommend that address the areas I need strengthening in are:
1. What to Expect the First Year - since the most experience I had changing diapers was working at Albany Medical Center changing elderly people, I definetely needed a refresher. This teaches breastfeeding, what you need for a baby, how he/she develops and what to look for, common problems so you don't make enemies with your on call pediatricion, and so much more that is vital in a reference book.
2. A Well-Trained Mind - again, my experience of being homeschooled (for one year) was....well, pathetic, as I had no self-discipline. And I certainly had never heard of classical education. This is a good book on homeschooling, but don't let it overwhelm you. You don't have to follow it exactly to give your kid a better education than a public school could, just pick and choose what works best for you and your quiver. Chances are they are all going to need you at the same time and Child #6 is not going to get that hour of one-on-one reading time with you that they suggest.
3. The Covenanted Reformation Defended... - as a main stream Christian coming from non-denominationalism into the reformed convenanter church, I had no knowledge of our distinctives or why we should even have any. There are many theology books out there that would be useful to read, but especially this one as it's written by one of our elders and specifically addresses issues often brought against us, that we might better defend our faith, even against other Christians.
4. The Act, Declaration and Testimony - hand in hand with CovRefDef, this is a good book to read about the Covenanters, adding a concise history. It's also one of our subordinate standards and a strongly suggested read by our elders if you become a communicate member, just so you know what you're agreeing to uphold.
5. Female Piety - an excellent read that inspires you to be the best wife ever! Also how to practically live as a single Christian woman. If only I could so easily put it into practice...

I've either gone through or am reading each of these now, taking advantage of having to put my feet up everyday. Especially reading A Well-Trained Mind has rekindled a desire to read more. The best way to encourage a love of reading in your kids is to set the example yourself. And even though I wasn't classically educated, that doesn't mean I can't ever be. I may never go back to school but I will learn, and for the rest of my life. My husband is a wonderful example of how self-motivation and the right books and resources can teach you things that will take you just as far or farther than any traditional classroom could. He's never taken a computer class but learned everything he knows on his own, from reading and messing around. Not only does he have an awesome job, he could rival any candidate with a degree in a interview for a job in what he knows.

All this to say that God has commanded us to redeem the time. I don't have to excuse myself for not having been taught all I when I was young what I need to know now, but I do have to do something about it and there's no reason not to go after it when the resources are so abundant.

2005-09-23T15:06:00.000-05:00

Music: Mates of State
Mood: frustrated....September 23rd and it's almost 90 degrees! where's that beautiful New York Fall weather?

Don't you hate it when you are all set to blog and blogger refuses to let you in? That's how I felt yesterday when I was inspired to blog, even though I had nothing in particular to blog about, but was stopped short. I also wanted to check my email and listen to Launchcast but both also refused to work. I had to be content with the radio (yawn) and wait to check all 127 messages today. So that's my gripe.

I spent yesterday and today cleaning the house, organizing the clutter that perpetually accumulates, mostly because I only move it from one place to another in a tidy fashion. We're having company tomorrow! (squeal) It's so exciting to host because we get to use the good dishes. Although, I don't know why we don't just use them on any other day, it's not like they can only be served off of when other people are here; it's just so much more special. I don't know; we don't get visitors often, and yeah, it's just Ed's family but it's still exciting.

I'm reading this awesome book called Quilting By Hand, by Jinny Beyer. It's hard to believe that the quilts she designs and makes are truly by hand, but I suppose it might be easier if you're willing to be patient to spend twice as long on a quilt because you have more control. I find when I'm machine piecing that I get crooked lines and non matching corners. Also, there are many spare moments throughout the day where you could pick up a couple pieces and just sew them together real quick instead of having to set up a block of time without interruption to pull out the sewing machine. Hand piecing, you could be wherever you need to be, looking over your kid's shoulder as he practices reading with you, watching a movie, nursing, chatting on the phone, riding in the car, waiting in line or tons of other times. I think I'm going to give it a try and hand piece my next quilt. It seems to make more sense, especially observing poor Amanda and Kathryn at our quilting night who only get a few blocks sewn by the end of the night because of all the interruptions kids provide. So I cut out all the blocks now while I'm still kidless and this winter while I'm adjusting to being a mom I'll still have a project to work on that will be slow but steady progress during my down moments. ( This beautiful quilt is on my list on ones to try but certainly not anytime soon. It's hard to tell from the picture because it's so small but the pieces are probably really frustrating to fit together.)

Speaking of baby, Ed and I went to see our kooky midwife again today. She decided to use her magical powers and predict to us the gender (boy), birthdate (October 16th) and weight (8.5 lbs) based on.......her medical expertise?
No.
Based on the moon.
Yep, the 17th is a full moon and so I'm due on the 16th.
And I trust this woman with my and my baby's lives in a potentially life or death situation should something go wrong. This is why I'm thankful there are two midwives on call and I like the other one; he's more normal (yeah it's a he, which is a drawback but I'll take him over her anyday). I just pray that he's on call the day I go into labor.
Neither on them are on call on October 14th (I'm due the 13th) Yikes! So I'll have a.... :gulp: .....doctor attend me! The mind has the power over the body though, so I refuse to go into labor when I can't have a midwife, even the crazy one. Ooh, baby agrees.....it just kicked me really hard.

Ok, time to go make dinner - mmmm, eggplant parmigiana, fresh from the farmer's market!

2005-08-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

Mood: heady...too many cleaning products and too little open windows!
Music: Thrice

Well, we were bummed to have missed out on the Edmonton party. This talk of another gathering next summer here in Albany is helping to get over missing out on seeing everyone again. I just hope it comes true! I know I'll do all I can to get things going; I donate my services to planning events and such, AND though I can't speak for Ed for certain, I'm pretty sure we volunteer our home to the first family that needs a place to stay. Please, please come everyone! We even have an air conditioner (Albany isn't the prime spot for a summer gathering...but atleast it's not Georgia! See? All you Georgians, don't you want to come up for a "break" in the weather? ;).

Bob Schneider
Walking everywhere due to a lack of a vehicle
Experiencing public transportation
Going to TGIFridays with Ed and Shawn after work
Relearning how to sew
Damien Rice
Losing weight by living on chips and salsa
Going to Prince George

Of all the things I remember most about last summer, hothotheat is not one of them! Just goes to show you how the temporal things of this life really are temporal and will be forgotten tomorrow. Right? Right.

Sitting in front of the AC will help remind me of that.

Gotta go.

2005-07-10T21:35:00.000-05:00

A quote:

"And the evening and the morning were the first day."
- Genesis 1:5
The evening was "darkness" and the morning was "light," and yet the two together are called by the name that is given to the light alone! This is somewhat remarkable, but it has an exact analogy in spiritual experience. In every believer there is darkness and light, and yet he is not to be named a sinner because there is sin in him, but he is to be named a saint because he possesses some degree of holiness. This will be a most comforting thought to those who are mourning their infirmities, and who ask, "Can I be a child of God while there is so much darkness in me?" Yes; for you, like the day, take not your name from the evening, but from the morning; and you are spoken of in the word of God as if you were even now perfectly holy as you will be soon. You are called the child of light, though there is darkness in you still. You are named after what is the predominating quality in the sight of God, which will one day be the only principle remaining. Observe that the evening comes first. Naturally we are darkness first in order of time, and the gloom is often first in our mournful apprehension, driving us to cry out in deep humiliation, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." The place of the morning is second, it dawns when grace overcomes nature. It is a blessed aphorism of John Bunyan, "That which is last, lasts for ever." That which is first, yields in due season to the last; but nothing comes after the last. So that though you are naturally darkness, when once you become light in the Lord, there is no evening to follow; "thy sun shall no more go down." The first day in this life is an evening and a morning; but the second day, when we shall be with God, for ever, shall be a day with no evening, but one, sacred, high, eternal noon.

2005-06-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

Mood: I love my husband....
Music: We are going to be friends by The White Stripes

It's amazing how beautiful weather absolutely inspires me to clean - and even look forward to it! I couldn't wait to get home from doing laundry yesterday so I could scrub down the kitchen. It tired me out so I had to save the bathroom for today. Oh well, it's something to look forward to. I still had enough energy though to start working on the pattern for a slipcover for our couch. (there's always energey for sewing) I finished a girl's baby quilt and am waiting to start the boy's with the rest of the ladies in our Quilting Club that Tammy started. It's going to be nice to be able to chat while I quilt; the only thing I don't like about quilting is how easily my mind wanders. I get sick of my CDs and the radio pretty quick. The library has some books on CD but I think I've already taken out all the good ones they had: Wuthering Heights (interesting story but not as good as Jane Austen's books) and Kidnapped. That was actually a really good find because I had no idea what the story was about but took a chance on it and it turned out quite decent. It was set in Scotland around the 1700's (?). I know it was after the Covenants were made because the main character made a reference to them. He also recites a part of Psalm 121 straight from the Scottish Psalter, so I'm thinking he may have been a Covenanter, but if not, he was certainly a Christian and stands up for what he knows is right multiple times. At one point he gets mad when someone else calls him a Jacobite. I think they were a group of papists that wanted to return the Stuart family back into power in Scotland. (Does anyone know more about them?) I can't tell if he is upset someone called him a Jacobite for religious reasons (he didn't want to be confused with a papist) or for political reasons ( he was on the Campbell family side). There are a lot of political issues in the book and unfortunatly I don't have the supporting historical knowledge to know what was going on in Scotland at the time the book was set except that Scotland had been taken over by England and they couldn't wear kilts or play bagpipes anymore. It makes me want to study history more. If you know anything about it, or have read the book please shed some light. :D
Boy, I feel like I could sleep anoter four hours but I must buy groceries and dawdle in the AC.

2005-05-23T08:06:00.000-05:00

Music: none
Mood: half-asleep

Today is our one month anniversary! Married life is wonderful and ten million times better because it's with Ed :) I think we're going to go out and celebrate at the ole' hot spot: Denny's. Which means no cooking dinner tonight! Aww shucks.....for something so relatively simple it sure does get old after awhile. I'm having a hard time coming up with food for two people, I can't imagine how hard it will be when we have a bunch of kids. For now I need to spend the time planning out what we'll eat for the week so that I buy only what we need. Otherwise I'll want to make something at the last minute and won't have one or two essential ingredients and we'll end up eating spaghetti (again). And I'll have all these extra ingredients (like vegetables) that just seem to go to waste because I can't eat them fast enough.

We were *thinking* about going to Edmonton when we heard about how many Albany people are going, or hoping to go. I would be seven months pregnant and we were worried that would be an issue. I called the two airlines we would likely travel, Continental and US Airways and they said you can travel up to seven days within your due date unless you have a doctor's notice saying you're healthy and can travel anytime. One of the ladies who answered said she traveled two days before her son was born and it was fine. So, woohoo! I can fly. So then I looked a tickets. Ugh. The amount of free airmiles we have aren't nearly enough to cover even part of one way for one person. So that stinks. We probably won't go unless we find a grand laying around.

Well today is grocery day - the highlight of my week - and also cleaning day ( I have to couple the worst with the best so it isn't so bad). We've had a lot of bugs (including this one: http://www.math.umd.edu/~schris/scutigera.shtml). Those house pets aren't attracted to dirtiness and mess, but they are attracted to the mounds of ants we have, which are. So I learned that I'm not a good housekeeper and now need to devote an entire morning to cleaning the apartment thoroughly so they don't come back. It's been working since I implemented cleaning day last week. The ants haven't really come back unless we leave hunks of food on the floor and when that happens we just persecute them with bleach. Man, looking at that scutigera website is making me nervous and I keep looking up at the walls to see if any are there. If you've even come across one, you might know how creepy they are. Or maybe you're just braver than me!

2005-04-29T08:27:00.000-05:00

The first post as Mrs. Hannah Prevost...

We have photos from the wedding available, thanks to Amanda P. :D We have many, many more thanks to give to so many people but unfortunately, moving in has been quite a chore, nowhere near completion. My dear husband has had extra duties at work with the death of his coworker's father-in-law, leaving him all alone on a new job and, of course, problems arose. However, due to his uncanny skill in the computer field, he was able to fix it and still be home on time for dinner. Isn't he wonderful? :)
So anyway, that's our excuse for the belated thank you cards. Right now I do want to thank Amanda for the pictures and the flower arranging (very talented indeed); Kathryn for the hair; Camilla for the music and for helping prepare all the fruit, along with Hannah, Annie, and Tammy; Tammy again for soooo many things! such as planning all the little details I have never thought of, helping me shop, giving me ideas, loaning her time and skill in making the dress, planning the bridal shower, being our chaperone and being a great friend to help me relax when I got nervous. Thanks! Also to you and Shawn for letting me crash there a few weeks.
We have been blessed by so many talented friends who have willingly offered us an exhausting amount of help. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Well I guess I should get back to being a housewife :)
Oh so much to do and I love every minute of it!

2005-04-22T17:23:00.000-05:00

I'm getting married in
19 hours
and 36 minutes.

2005-03-26T03:14:00.000-05:00

Mood: awake! abnormal at 3:13....AM or PM, heh...
Music: shhh.....it's quiet time on C8
Food craving: actually nothing right now because we just had a massive food party for Ed at work (it's his last night as a PCA, and hence, why I'm awake a 3:13 blogging) and we ate all the good stuff...pizza, wings, blue cheese with chips and "easter" cake.....I guess it was on sale or whatever. It's ok because the bunnies really mean fertility and it was kinda like a wedding party for Ed and I, celebrating our future litter of children. Well, it tasted good, bunnies or not. But not as good as lobster. I guess I am craving lobster right now, even though I'm fuller than full. I added this extra header because all I do now is eat, and when I'm not eating, I'm thinking about what I want to eat next. It's terrible.....-ly wonderful.

So, I had a free hour to spare this evening and a computer to sit in front of and we all know how an hour will fly when in front of a computer so I wanted to spend it wisely. With an unbelievably meager 9 emails in my inbox I soon headed to the old blog to update. Alas, the site was down and would not let me in. I still managed to squander away the whole hour looking up maternity clothing and finding cloth diapers versus disposable ones instead. Ed and I are ambitious and want to go all out with the cloth diapers....even though we have no washing machine at our dear apartment. I hope it works out because I'm all for them, good for baby, wallet and environment. But there's only so much we can take of poopy diapers sitting in the corner. More to come on that dilemma this winter.

I had planned on blogging about the wedding plans. But the biggest news is just that we finally got a place. A lovely hotel conference room with all in one wedding and reception, just how we wanted it. Minimal decoration required and "free" linens (plus the cost to rent). The only problem is that we got one of the most talented pianists in all of United States and Canada to offer us her services for free, like the real kind of free, and we have no piano! So, um, anyone got a keyboard to lend? Or, heck, anyone feel like moving a piano for us?
I'm ashamed to say the dress hasn't even gotten into cut out pattern form yet, or left the JoAnn fabric bag it came in for that matter. That's only half the material. The rest of it is still sitting on the bolt in some unknown store. Hey, it's hard when you have no car!

No one wants to hear about that anyway. Same old wedding stresses everyone goes through. I was going to be original this time and do a Top 10 List of Things I'm Looking Forward To. But it would only be original if I filled it out, and originally. And I'm kind of lacking on an entire list of ten things off the top of my head so if I end at five don't be surprised that I called it a night.

Top Ten Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1. The Wedding and subsequent marriage to Ed. No duh.
2. Esther/Ethan. Also a no brainer.
3. Sleeping in my own bed tonight. Sarah has been too kind to let me sleep at her place but the back can only take so much of a deflatable airmattress. Boy oh boy do I love my queen sized bed. I've got to take advantage of it before I move out in four days and the next tenant gets to enjoy it.
4. Having family worship when we get married. :)
5. Breakfast. Maybe I can pick up a lobster on the way home....
6. Homeschooling. The success of your child is potentially in your hands, as well as so many other things. It's one of those things that is so terrifying and yet inevitable so it does no good to run in fear but nervously to step forward with blind faith that tons of other mothers have done it by the grace of God, so why can't I?
7. Having gray hair. I hope it turns white too. :)
8. Planting a garden and eating so many tomatoes that I get sick of them.
9. Using Ed's American Express miles to go somewhere cool, like Great Britain or Edmonton.
10. 7 AM so I can go home and sleep!

Goodnight! Thanks for bearing with my if you made it this far and I promise not to blog this much again atleast until I wake up this afternoon. :D

2005-03-01T12:55:00.000-05:00

Mood: cold!
music: launchcast.....lifehouse right now but before my new favorite song: Peanut butter toast by Sarah Harmer

So we picked out the perfect wedding dress!
I uploaded a picture to my photo album, the link to which is at the right ----->
It's the smaller one which you can't see very well.
I'm very excited to start working on it before the detail it requires overwhelms me and I give up. If only it would stop snowing so I could go to Joann's and get all 22 yards of fabric it requires. ugh.
I was counting on using my tax money to buy fabric, thinking I would get back around $700 or $800. But no. Only $117 from the government. AND I had to pay New York $2. Isn't that pathetic? I want my money back! I worked hard and earned it. What has the government done for me? Offered to kill my child and no one would have to know. Ok, ok I admit, it also has given me and the baby free healthcare, and yeah that counts for a lot. But a whole quarter of every paycheck! They can't possibly need that much for my healthcare.
Fortunately, my parents have kindly offered some money towards the wedding, so I'll still be able to buy all the fabric for the dress, not just some parts of it.

2005-02-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

Mood: in a daze
Music: I'll catch you, The get up kids

Well, it's the twenty-fourth of February again; another year gone by. I never would have thought I'd be where I am today, months away from marriage to the guy I had a crush on since last January when we went to Corry, PA. While it's a dream come true, I certainly wish it didn't happen the way it did, a baby at the same time as a wedding.
It's shameful.
Yet exciting.
A baby!
Yes, I am grieved and sad at how foolish I have been, but it's over now. I can't keep dwelling in the past when my Savior has turned me forward and said "Go, and sin no more." How glorious that my unthinkable sins so heinous are forgotten! God is indeed merciful; forgiveness of sin and a child.
I am reminded daily of my sin, actual and original, in the pain of pregnancy. Morning sickness is miserable, mostly because it lasts all day. It shouldn't last much longer though, only five more weeks until the second trimester. We've already got names picked out: Esther (secret, hidden) Joanna (gift from God) if it's a girl, and Ethan (strong) Jeremiah (exaltation of God) if it's a boy. I have no idea what it'll be, but I'm hoping for twins, boy and a girl.

In closing, Ed is wonderful for so many reasons and if you haven't met him yet and seen for yourself then there's just one of the ways illustrated here.
=)

2004-12-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

Work is boring.
I'm the only aid on.
No one to talk to but the blog.
Why did I sign up?
I want to go to the "party" at Jen and Larry's.
Fireworks at midnight with a nice view from the hospital atleast.
Holly had her baby last night!
I think I'll make him or her something.
I learned how to crochet on Tuesday at our graduation/birthday party.
I got a haircut that day too.
Kathryn is awesome super haircut queen.
I'm going to Virginia in 10 days to see my dad.
12 hour bus ride here I come.
Atleast I know how to crochet.
Heh.
Ok, gotta go answer a call bell......

And another one.......

There's a William Shatner song stuck in my head.

2004-12-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

My dad just recently decided to grieve us all by suddenly moving to Norfolk, Virginia with no warning and no intention of ever coming back to us. I suppose it was warranted in that it was for a job, the only job that he could get since losing his old one at Fleet Bank. I'm awfully sad to see him go, he is the only commrade I have in my family and outside of the church. And now he's nine hours away. :(
I'm hoping, though, to go see him in the middle of January for atleast a weekend. It would be even better if while I was down there I cculd swing by the Georgian/No.-So. Carolina societies and visit with them since I've met none of them, except Tony.
So that's what I'm looking forward to.
Getting away from the cold ( I hear it's quite balmy down there now).

That's about all thats up with me, I'm enjoying the pre-end of school vacation that I designated instead of pre-end of school studying time :P Ed, Rocky and Sarah came over on Saturday night and we ate pizza, talked about family worship (do singles have family worship? and are they, even the women, heads of household?); annoyed my roomate I'm sure, and then watched the very long and disappointing Count of Monte Cristo. If you haven't seen it already i dont recommend it. I hear though that the book is much better, albeit about 800 pages. But anyway, it was good to hang out with them. Now that Sarah's here, I hope to hang out with her more often too (another girl my age! \:D/) We're trying to work out living together but it's not quite falling into place as hoped. My roomate wasn't really prepared to have someone come live with us immediately, also, we live about 45 minutes away from Sarah's new job, which would make transportation a semi-hectic situation. But I'm hoping to have her stay here and there as much as the roomate with tolerate. It'll be like having a sister again. :)
Thats all for now, I'm headed for the chat and some much needed catching up!

2004-12-13T10:04:00.000-05:00

Wow I can't believe it's been three months since I've blogged.....time flies.
I moved and the new place is so awesome. The landlord (John) is really great to us, he even towed us up the long curvy driveway when it snowed here. The thing with bachelor husbands and four kids....you end up with a lot of stuff, and not a lot of cleaning. Whenever we need anything, we can just go over and ask, he probably has it: serving spoons, vegetable oil, and egg, a wrench, a desk, a treadmill (he just gave us his old one!)
I happened to notice, while searching for a vacuum cleaner, that he has (or his wife had) an old serger just sitting there collecting dust. I am trying to save up for one so when I saw it wasn't being put to use, I mentioned it to his oldest daughter. I asked if her mom still used it and if she could find out if I could borrow or buy it. She said she'd look into it and then the next day there was a serger sitting in our doorway! I thanked John about it later and he said that I could have it but it wasn't working properly (I found out when cleaning it that it wasnt working because a piece got jammed from abuse so she just ended up getting a new one). So it's mine! What a blessing, sergers are usually so expensive and this was handed to me! I had the lady I intern with check it out, since she is the sewing macine queen, and it looked fine to her, just the one part that will need to be replaced, probably cheaply. Yay!
The internship is going awesome by the way. Joan and I work well together, she's a good teacher and good company. We have a lot of time to talk and the Lord has given me many oppurtunities to talk about all things religion. Joan is a Christian, but in such a liberal church. We agree on many things, like interpretation of the Bible, homosexuality, women pastors, civil justice etc. Our favorite topic is holidays ;) I say ours but I really mean mine. Basically she's heard all the arguements against it and now she's just celebrating because she wants to, not because she can refute Scripture. Quite aggravating. I really need grace to deal with her because it's so easy to find myself just nagging, rather than having a thought provoking conversation.
This week is the last of classes then finals on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. When school is over I'll be able to spend more time sewing for Oath of Stitches.
For now I need to go get some coffee then write my last paper EVER so I can go to the mall with the Birgers, Laura and Darren.

May God Bless all of you, and I hope I can catch up with you soon.....I miss you friends!

2004-09-16T01:11:00.000-05:00

I must apoligize to those whom I have offended in my careless remarks. I had no idea that they would be taken as an affront to the people whom I care for, or the profession itself. Please understand me: I do not direct any "disrespect" in using such terminology to the patients themselves, and would certainly never refer to my job in such a way in front of them; neither do I intend those words to be disrespectful, only humorous. Regardless, that does not negate that fact that I do refer to NAs as such, even though I was only attempting to make light of a sometimes difficult job. I do have a very high regard for those in and out of the church who do this job much better than I, more patiently and graciously. Even though I may have a hard time with it, and maybe deal with it too flippantly; it is not appropriate to give any appearence of evil in my attitude. I will be more wary of how I portray my feelings towards my job, especially in such an impersonal way as the internet, where my true attitude may come across askew. Again I apoligize for my rudeness and impropriety, and I appreciate your loving rebuke and encouraging thoughts. I will seek to be more content with the calling that God has given me at this time and remember that I am not serving mere man, but the Son of man.

In regards to the other comments; no, im moving farther from albany, more towards where the Prices live, about 5 minutes from where i am now. and the dresses run a large range on pricing. starting out, im charging a bit less that what the competition charges, but hope to charge more as i gain more experience and have better quality. just to give you an idea though, a skirt would probably be between $30-60 (USD) and a dress $50-80, depending on the detail of the patches, pockets, applique, etc.

thanks for your support! i hope i will find time to bang out a ton of clothing so we can ge tthe site up and going.
keep checking: www.oathofstitches.com

2004-09-10T00:13:00.000-05:00

mood: uh, sweaty? is that a mood...
music: norma jean- memphis will be laid to waste

all i know now is regret
she follows like a silhouette
on the cobblestone behind me
she's nothing left to say except to innocently ask
her voice as delicate as glass
do you see me when you pass?
but i
i continue on my way...
~norma jean

so, not once but twice now ive tried to blog only not to save it and lose it after hours and hours of deliberating over the precision of every word. this is quite discouraging and so i temporarily gave up blogging, and though from avid blog readers who check these things to see how us east coast americans are doing it would seem that i had ceased to exist; i have not.
summer is over already and i feel like ive done nothing athough im sure thats not true. ive spent much of my time building a hunchback from bending over the sewing machine handcrafting something or other. id call them clothes but no one else thinks so. i listed one item on ebay to sell: a handmade patchwork hippie dress (with a free hemp necklace) and no one bought it, not only that but they never even bid. i guess it happens; i gotta stick with it, but man, being a seamstress is not as profitable as being a poopsmith. just to equal the money i get at the hospital, id have to sell a dress daily made in 8 hours for almost $100. there's no way. so much for that idea. regardless of no hope of profit, ive still got website going up for my unproductive company. (www.oathofstitches.com it helps to know the best webmaster :D)

i started school last week, last semester EVER. im kinda glad and kinda sad. school is fun because you can avoid all the responsibilities of an "adult life": working a lot, bills, monotony.... (jk, sorta). tons of people ask me: so what are you going to do when you're done with school?
its still up in the air though now i have some better direction, which is to go the opposite way i was going. forget medicine, nursing, and the smelly hospital (well maybe i wont forsake bum-buffing yet). i managed to postpone adulthood another whole year by getting an internship too with an interior designer. i get to sit around all morning and do what i love, creating, designing and feeling pretty fabrics. of course i make no money but thats what the smelly hospital is for.
being young is so carefree it scares me sometimes. i know that one day ill wake up and be like my parents: up to their eyeballs in debt because they didnt spend and save money well when they had it. i do have something to save up for now though, which might help me develop some good habits. one of my roomates, lisa, and i are moving out to our own apartment at the end of september. we've got a lot of painting, window treating and upholstering to do and thats not cheap.

sigh.

so anyhow, thats life for me. it is good. me likey :D

heh, a song called John West just came on launchcast.

2004-07-28T23:50:00.000-05:00

Apparently this is news but it just makes me mad...

"Should Lust Really Be a Sin?
Lust is one of the seven deadly sins first identified by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th century. He nailed them all: Lust, anger, envy, gluttony, sloth, pride, and greed. It's a cornucopia of bad living.But hold on! A leading philosopher at Britain's Cambridge University says lust has been wrongly branded as a vice and should be "reclaimed for humanity" as the life-affirming virtue that it is.Professor Simon Blackburn told the London Sunday Times that lust has gotten a bad name from bad ideology that has hindered its "freedom of flow." His quest is to rescue lust, arguing it has been wrongly condemned for centuries. And he has a prestigious backer: The Oxford University Press, which will publish Blackburn's project on the modern relevance of the seven deadly sins, including lust.Blackburn told the Times that he wants to save lust "from the denunciations of old men of the deserts, to deliver it from the pallid and envious confessor, and the stocks and pillories of the Puritans, to drag it from the category of sin to that of virtue." How does he plan to do this? He defines lust as "the enthusiastic desire for sexual activity and its pleasures for its own sake." But if lust is reciprocated, that leads to pleasure and "best flourishes when unencumbered by bad philosophy and ideology...which prevent its freedom of flow."Here is Blackburn's logic at work: Thirst is not considered sin, nor is it criticized. But thirst can lead to drunkenness. In the same way, lust should not be condemned just because it can go unchecked."The important thing is that generally anything that gives pleasure has a presumption in its favor," Blackburn explained to the Times. "The question is how we control it.""
~Netscape news

how wicked is that!

2004-07-17T17:23:00.000-05:00

music: none
mood: out of it

i woke up not too long ago, after having worked the overnight shift. not something i do too often, but it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be, especially since i snuck a nap in at 3 AM. :> ive got to do the same shift on Monday night, so i figured i wouldnt try to break my messed up schedule before then. unfortunately im now a vampire.
the problem with being awake all night is that the buses dont run, so basically im stuck here at home. its not too bad, i havent been here in so long that i almost forgot what it looks like. (*Side note: Ed and various other people have been most gracious and generous in driving me around or hosting me in their homes; their kindnesses are much appreciated*)
With a couple days off of work, ive had a chance to get to what ive wanted for awhile; i did some baking, some cleaning and sewing. i had a spontaneous chance to borrow my roomates car for a night (while i was awake and she was sleeping), so my sister Rachel and i went to super walmart out of sheer boredom. i decided while i was there to get my new sewing machine, also a spontaneous act and probably not the greatest idea since we all know what "quality" items walmart sells. i took it out of the box at home and tried to fiddle with it and, of course, something broke. well, it may or may not be fixed (fortunately Ed looked at it for me and could easily discern what was wrong) but i think i might still take it back. that is if i can spontaneously get back to super walmart before thirty days are up.

its so weird....i still have all night to be awake. its probably going to be dull, just me and the cats. Hopefully ill use my time and read somethings ive been wanting to for awhile. Shawn let me borrow two books : A Quest for Godliness and The Puritan Hope. Tammy also lent me Female Piety, which I am thoroughly enjoying and highly recommend to all women, especially single ones. I want to share a passage that has been most encouraging to me (emphasis added):

Lay the basis of all your excellencies in true religion, the religion of the heart, the religion of penitence, faith in Christ, love to God, a holy and heavenly mind. No character can be well-constructed, safe, complete, beautiful or useful, without this. Cultivate those dispositions of mind which have especial reference to your future mission as the help meet for man. Improve your mind, and grow in intelligence by a thirst for knowledge; for how can an ignorant woman be a companion for a sensible man? Cherish a thoughtful, reflective turn of mind. Look beneath the surface of things; beyond their presence aspect to their future consequences. Be somewhat meditative, and learn to retrain your words and feelings, by a rigid self-control. Pay most anxious attention to your temper, and acquire as much as possible its perfect command. More women are rendered miserable, and render others miserable, by neglect of this, than perhaps from any other cause whatever. Let meekness of disposition and gentleness of manner be a constant study. These are women's amiabilities, which fit her for her future situation far better than the bold, imposing and obtrusive airs of those who mistake the secret of women's influence.

Well, i need a coffee and some exercise, so i think ill jog down to Dunkin donuts before it rains.
have a blessed evening my friends!

"...a child away from home..."

2004-07-12T00:32:00.000-05:00

It's on!

so theres this bet between a certain Edward and myself. The deal is that we both get to 135lbs by dec 31st 2001 - er.....2004. he thinks i cant do it, little does he know that i am going to win.....and WHEN i do, Irene and I will be adorned with certain hemp necklaces that he's been promising us for ahile (though true, he didn't say when we'd get them, just sometime). I'll also be furnished with a lovely new website for selling stuff on.....im already picking out colors for the design :D
if for some reason im in a coma by dec 31st and cannot get to 130 lbs, let alone 135, then he gets a new dining room set (from the dumpster)

whatever, i can boast myself if i want: its my blog

hey i went to prince george....those people are as fabulous as everyone has been saying and ten times more. i stayed with allison at the grounds, who are a great little ( i mean big) family. seeing them and the grennons and all the other larger families' dynamics is very encouraging. obedient children has been such a foreign concept to me before the last six months. actually its probably about eight now.....wow time has flown since iver started coming to church at albany crpc and yet i feel like ive never known anyone else, or any other way of life sometimes. and then i wake up and smell the coffee and see what damage my experiences and SIN have done to me and i realize i am at the very bottom of what i should be (sanctification wise). ok maybe not the very bottom....but like in the dregs of the bottom. i dont really want to drag out the direction of this ramble by going on about my problems but.....too late i already did.
i also became a communicant member while in prince george and had my first Lords supper with the largest single gathering in a long time. \:D/ it was such a blessing to first talk to the elders for a couple hours when examined and then to prepare and finally take part in it. now im looking forward to the next one in about 3 weeks on august 1st (im so spoiled)
thats about it, everyone else knows the exciting details of the trip, or they were there anyhow. all in all, it was a good time and i want to move to canada.

ps. dont hitchhike, not even in canada.

2004-06-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

"For consider him that endured such a contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Hebrews 12:3

2004-06-14T11:43:00.000-05:00

ARRRGHHHH!
i just spent a long time typing up a months worth of blog and i didnt save it as a draft and now it is gone. >:(
heres an overview:
school: done.
grades:good.
transfer to russell sage for nursing?: eh....probably not.
tuition: too high.
nursing: not that desirable to me.
alternate plans: i wish i knew for sure.
vague idea: finish up 6 credits for an associates degree in math/science, which you cant dont much with. i have other ideas in a totlly different field that are still being worked on so i wont say anything yet, but i do know that if i works, its totally what i would love to do, so please pray that it does work out.
pretty much, my goals in life are completely different and unexpected but i am so thankful that i am here, not away at some party school trying to be a doctor. im very thankful for God's providence and, even though i say it a lot, im utterly amazed at how He would bring me to where i am and save me, and not (yet) my family. pray for them too, especilly my sister, rachel.

hey, shawn and tammy are married!
two weeks from tomorrow we'll be flying to prince george!!

much love to you all >:D<

2004-05-04T21:27:00.000-05:00

Music: Jason Mraz - You and I both
Mood: wondering....

...about many things, like:

*where did my pop up blocker go?
*what does the song Pride (in the name of love) by U2 mean?
*is there anything that we can be prideful of? except Christ, of course yet even then, its not anything of ourselves.
*does that song mean that Bono understands depravity?
*do i?
*why people look so different from the side compared to how they look straight forward (sorry, i was pretty distracted today in calculus when i talked face to face with a girl who i had only seen from the side all semester. i must have looked pretty confused...do they really expect me to pay attention and try to learn conics when much more important things are to be pondered...who needs conics?? not nurses, not mothers, not me!)
*am i going to get into nursing school?
*am i going to get married ever?
*why can't it be tomorrow? (im so horribly impatient...)
*when am i going to move out of here? i think a roommate deleted the pop-up blocker....>:\
*why has God chosen that so many times when my sister is entrusted with things of high value (like a car), something bad happens to it, and rarely with me?
*why God has given us thoughts...such capability and yet minds are so defiled...such things can go on in our heads without anyone knowing...its so easy to hide our sins from men..."For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
*i wonder other things too, and if they will ever surface or just be a memory...

2004-05-02T20:27:00.000-05:00

" 'Here a crowd sport themselves with I know not what.' Alas! amusement reigns man's great demand! to trifle is to live! - Is it a trifle to die? Alas, how often professed diversions present us with a shroud, and talk of death! how often are tombs ransacked, and sleeping heros, for pastime, to contemn an awful God! twice on a day to feel the earthquake, and attend a ball! Have men their hours all numbered, all in charge, to rust in sloth, to waste in luxury, or to sport in play! - to waste in the stews, where order, ties, relations, laws are made the droll's laugh; and broke for lustful modes of sin! or where the drunken club, like herds of swine, sit wallowing near the bowl, and talk grunting o'er their troughs! or where the thoughtless fops keep their stainful plays; their games profane; their wanton balls; their night masquerades, their jubilees of hell! Where, where is that avarice of time, which death should inspire, as to think on God, steal a few precious moments, from the black, broad waste of murdered time! My soul, let me never forgive thee, the loss inestimable of my twelve first years of life. 'Here a sorrow fellow, with his pipe, decoys the youth after him.' Lord, how often how obstinately do we refuse to be charmed by thy gospel-invitations, though thou charm never so wisely! but if Satan, with the most empty temptation, if a false teacher, a puppet-shewer, or a stage player, with any novelty, call us; how do we crowd after them!"
~John Brown of Haddington, A Christian Journal

2004-04-29T21:59:00.000-05:00

Saints and Sailors
This is where I say I've had enough
And no one should ever feel the way that I feel now.
A walking open wound,
a trophy display of bruises
And I don't believe that I'm getting any better.
Any better.
Waiting here with hopes the phone will ring
And I'm thinking awful things
I'm pretty sure that few would notice.
And this apartment
is starving for an argument.
Anything at all to break the silence.
Wandering this house
like I've never wanted out
And this is about as social as I get now.
And I'm throwing away the letters that I am writing you
Cause they would never do,
I would never do.
Never
Waiting here with hopes the phone will ring
And I'm thinking awful things
I'm pretty sure that few would notice.
And this apartment is starving for an argument.
Anything at all to break the silence.
So don't be a liar
Don't say that
everything's working
when everything's broken.
And you smile like a saint
but you curse like a sailor
And your eyes say the jokes on me.
~dashboard confessional

2004-04-26T23:00:00.000-05:00

From Netscape news today:

"Pope Says Don't Do THIS on Sundays
No more watching movies or football games on Sundays. Pope John Paul II has decreed that Roman Catholics should reserve Sunday as a day for God only and not for secular diversions, such as entertainment and sports, reports Reuters. "When Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and becomes subordinate to a secular concept of 'weekend' dominated by such things as entertainment and sport, people stay locked within a horizon so narrow that they can no longer see the heavens," the pontiff said in a speech to 35 Australian bishops, who recently made a pilgrimage to the Vatican. The pope blasted what he called "the pernicious ideology of secularism."
Condemning the "culture of the here and now," the Holy Father encouraged the leaders of the church to "lead men and women from the shadows of moral confusion and ambiguous thinking." Noting the secular culture is undermining family life, the pope encouraged Catholics to remain faithful to the Sunday Mass.
Richard Lapchick, director of the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, admitted to The Boston Herald that he was "kind of flabbergasted by the pope's suggestion, because it seems like it's coming out of left field. We've been playing sports on Sunday his entire papacy." Of course, most professional teams, including those in Europe, play their games on Sundays. Who can imagine a Sunday afternoon between August and January without a National Football League game?
To which the pope says this: "Sunday is the supreme day of faith, an indispensable day, the day of Christian hope. Any weakening in the Sunday observance of Holy Mass weakens Christian discipleship." Lapchick had harsh words in reply. If the Catholic church did place a ban on Sunday sports, he thinks the church would lose congregants. "Sports is a religion in this country and a lot of the world," he said."

interesting.

2004-04-24T01:29:00.000-05:00

alright im taking a break...
so i had this awesome idea for making a skirt so i spent the afternoon at the fabric store picking out all these pretty fabrics and i was planning on finishing it tonight after work and tomorrow morning, if needed.
(heh, if needed.)
let me tell you, sewing by hand is s l o w. i dont have a machine yet but i didnt think it would be that time consuming to to sew by hand, especially this pattern which is like thee easiest pattern ever. right now its 230, ive been working about 2 hours ( and listened to jack johnson 4 times) and all i accomplished is cutting out 4 measley pieces and sewed one of the ties to the skirt. !! so most likely this will not be done by the time i go to work tomorrow, that is unless i dont want to sleep tonight.
and i choose sleep.

this has been a random update brought to you by hannah
goodnight :)

2004-04-21T09:10:00.000-05:00

Mood: bummed
Music: Jason Mraz-unfold
Scripture: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." 1 Thess. 2:13

So yesterday was this gorgy day with the most perfect weather that anyone could ask for and i was itching all day to drop my school books and hit the basketball courts, but instead, i attempted to be responsible and just let a longing look in the park's direction every few minutes suffice while i tried to make sense of kidney functions, knowing that i had all morning today to play.
today i woke up and it was raining. :(
maybe it will stop soon; even so, the courts will be all wet. we'll see. i need to go to walmart and buy a new ball today too, since the old one wont hold air in it for more than 10 minutes. and besides, rainy days are the best for curling up with coffee and a book. i wanted to try and make a skirt today but i doubt i could finish it by the time i go into work at 3, especially by hand. so i think ill be patient and wait until i have a machine. hopefully ill be getting that in a few weeks, maybe sooner. tomorrow i get paid and i think i will pay off the last of my debt for the plane ticket to PG, then ill be able to spend my money on fun things \:D/
i have so many ideas for clothes that i just want to spend all day making, but unfortunatly this has now become the busy time at school, so it will be probably a month before i can spend quality time with my new Singer.
Im having the hardest time being diligent in my schoolwork. i just want to skip class all the time and ignore the hours of expected studying i should be doing. i always think i can get by on just using what i learned in class to get me through the tests, and not spend any outside time on the material. HA! it never works that way. but even when i dont do as well as i hoped, i just dont care anymore. i know the minimum grades i need to get into nursing school and thats the highest grade im hoping for, which is much less than my best and what im capable of. isnt that sad! im so lazy...i really need to be more studious and diligent, since God requires that I be glorifying to Him in everything that i do. no more half ass work! right? right.
well if you think of praying for that, maybe you could also pray for my dad. i found out that he doesnt want to divorce my mom after all, like he had been planning for the last three years, but instead wants to pursue her! i was so happy when i found out that i wanted to cry. my dad isnt reformed at all but he is a christian, and the best christian role model i had when i was growing up. im so thankful that i can still share that with him, as oppose to my mom and my sister, who both appear to hate God. we may even all move back into together which is even more exciting. i dont want to get my hopes up of becoming the Prices or the Birgers or any other functional family right away. but maybe someday.

so now my mood is hopeful, and my belly is growling. i think i want to go to Bombers for lunch, so that is all for now. :)

2 months 7 days 19 hours 23 minutes and 44 seconds until Prince George!
thats 69 days! so soon! :-O \:D/

2004-04-19T10:57:00.000-05:00

It's a quiz! (stolen from Irene:)
1.WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Hannah Beth Strole

2.WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the relentless sound of my thoughts

3.WHAT ARE THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER? how about i just give you all of them so you call me (hint hint) because honestly, 4 will do you no good.....518-423-7285

4.WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? no-bake cookies that my roommate (who is pretty much martha stewart in the kitchen) made

5.IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? black

6.HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? beautiful.....approximately 80 degrees with the sun shining down and the empty basketball courts are calling my name....

7.LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? The Ed

8.DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? Irene is sweet like a cookie and though her taste in music is questionable (:P) her taste in hockey is impeccable

9.HOW ARE YOU TODAY? today im ok, i guess. lame answer but im still recovering from all the excitment of this last week with the wedding and all the preparations and everything ( even though i didnt do anything)

10.FAVORITE DRINK? water

11.FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? vodka with cranberry juice and lime

12.FAVORITE SPORTS? basketball to play; rugby or hockey to watch

13.HAIR COLOR? i think after all these years its peeking out a brownish color from beneath layers and layers of hair dye

14.EYE COLOR? theyre green. sometimes.

15.DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS: no

16.SIBLINGS AND THEIR AGES: Rachel (18) and Tal (6)

17.FAVORITE MONTH? January is nice since i usually have most of it off for vacation....but February is my birthday and also its still cold but there'll be a few days in there where spring pokes its head out, just to look around, but not too much so that we miss the rest of winter ( ok, so that I dont miss the rest of winter, i know no one else misses winter :P)

18.FAVORITE FOOD? ice cream.....avacados....disco fries from bombers are good but horrible for you....everything else from bombers is on my top ten list at least.......indian food and curry are awesome too

19.LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? whats a movie? oh movie! i think it was the Great Santini at the Price's house and i remember seeing Little Women recently but i can not recall for the life of me the last time i watched a movie before that (its a good thing though)

20.FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? I agree with Irene---> "Every day. “For this is
the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and
be glad in it!”"

21.SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS BETTER? I dont like scary movies, and movies with happy endings are typically LAME and so hackneyed that i dont find them enjoyable. but in real life, happy endings are always optimal. ( i am so full of big words today: what would i do without dictionary.com? :> )

22.SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. hands down.

23.CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? chocolate.

24.LIVING ARRANGEMENTS? in a house with three other ladies. sadly, neighbors think we're gay.

25.WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? im anti mouse pads

26.FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Cranium....dont listen to Nate, it is the funnest game ever

27.WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? last night was awesome.....i had a delightful Lord's day holding my adopted son, Emiliano Ibarra, and chatting with the beautiful ladies in the church, and eating great food. afterwards i was invited to the Prices with some other people and we sang psalms. we had to say goodbye to John and Sheila West and Denny, Patti and Max :( but it was great having them here. then Amanda showed me some pictures and we talked, it was so great ( i adore her :X) then we had family worship, which is always a blessing to be a part of since i have no family, and then it was really late so i had to go home, but if i could i think i would move into their house. :)

28.FAVORITE SMELLS? hazelnut coffee, mens cologne (on men), lillies, fresh laundry, ed's feet :P

29.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE
UP IN THE MORNING? can i get away with hitting the snooze button one more time?

30. FAVORITE NUMBER? 4

31. FAVORITE ATHLETE? me :) no, i dont think i have one

32. NICEST THING SOMEONE’S EVER SAID TO YOU? a lady once told me that i made her think of grace....which is pretty far-fetched but sweet nonetheless.....people at church are so sweet to me too *sigh* my new family is such a blessing, im so thankful to be a part of it, and for how welcoming they were/are to me :D >hugs to you all<

wow, a whole afternoon with nothing to do! i havent seen the likes of this in a very long time...
heres a tenative to do list:
*play basketball
*go to starbucks and read
* work on my blanket
* lie out in the sun
*study (yeah right)
*go grocery shopping

whew! i better get to it...
>:D<

2004-04-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

Mood: pondering
Music: silence
Scripture: Exodus 32

I read this passage this morning in worship and was somewhat confused. In the middle of the passage Moses petitions God, asking Him to spare His wrath on Israel for making a molten calf and worshipping it. He prays: "LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever. " It appears that Moses is counselling God and that God heeds the advice of man because afterwards "the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people." (exodus 32: 11-14) Is that consistant with Romans 11:34 (For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?) Would God have wiped out Israel if Moses had not questioned Him? Did God need Moses to call Him to repent? Is it possible for God to have to repent unto Himself? Is it possible for God to think evil thoughts?

Thoughts anyone?
(i dont have comments on my page but please email me: xhannahxstrolex@yahoo.com - much appreciated)

2 months 25 days 14 hours 18 minutes and 3 seconds until we fly to Prince George! :D

2004-03-30T22:33:00.000-05:00

Mood: chill
Music: thursday (so im giving music a second chance)

Today I:
* took a nap in the sun
* took a calc test and possibly passed \:D/
* made a new online friend
* studied antioxidants and learned more chemistry in one day than i have all last semester in organic 1
* cleaned my room and moved old crap to the basement and in doing so...
* found a pair of summer pants that i totally forgot about...its was like shopping for free!

overall i rate the day an 8.576

yesterday was a -2.558
because work sucked and i thought my hip was going to fall out of its socket (im such an old woman!) and i got home and just wanted to go to bed by my roomate had commandeered my computer and took her sweet time in leaving. so i passed the time by getting my laundry from the dryer....only to find that my clothes had been shrunk
thats right
shrunk

(ok ok, enough whining)

so heres something cool:
"And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10

This reminds me of a conversation i had with my dad and his roomate recently. they were trying to convince me of free will, or atleast a mix between that and predestination, however that works. They use the NIV and other versions to support this, and i can see how they do. i mean, i used to do it too! compare the part in bold above to the NIV interpretation of this:
"[GOD] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression - it is by grace you have been saved."

alright, maybe its just me, but the KJV is so much more powerful than the NIV. it seems so passive, especially on scriptures concerning free will and predestination. and when you take the NIV Bible as a whole that passage just blends in, whereas in the KJV it jumped out at me. im utterly convinced of mans incapability to do anything for himself and this belief started somewhere about the time i started reading KJV, not the say that the KJV has an special powers or anything...

hmmmm, it was also around the time that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the Truth of salvation as opposed to what mainstream christianity would have you believe about "choice".

coincidence? i think not. :>

God's so good to me [-0<

2004-03-27T00:47:00.000-05:00

Mood: exhausted but i cant sleeep.
Music: so remember how i said i gave up most music? welllll, i found this song that i really liked and i even learned how to play on guitar (hey rachel, remember when we "played" that "show" and we became Fried Velcro?) yeah, i think i still like the song, aka, this song:

Swiss Army Romance
Sleep with all the lights on
You're not so happy
You're not secure
You're dying to look cute in your blue jeans,
but you're plastic just like everyone.
You're just like everyone.
And that face you paint is pressed
impressing most of us as permanent
and I'd like to see you undone.
College night will draw the crowds.
Dorms unload & youre heading out.
Here is your moment to shine.
Making up a history.
It's nothing from the life you lead
but man, will they buy all your lines.

Sleep with all the sheets off
baring your mattress
baring your soul.
And you're dying to look smooth with your tattoos
but you're searching just like everyone
could be anyone.
And the friends that you have are the best
impressing most of us as permanent
and I'd like to see you undone.
Youth's the most unfaithful mistress.
Still we forge ahead to miss her.
Rushing our moment to shine.
Making up a history,
It's nothing from the life you lead
but man will they buy all your lines.
We're not twenty-one,
but the sooner we are,
the sooner the fun will begin,
so get out your fake eyelashes,
and fake i.d's,
& real disasters ensue,
it's cool to take these chances.
It's cool to fake romances
& grow up fast.
~dashboard confessional

oh hmmm, today is march 27th.
it used to be my parents anniversary, but it hasnt been for atleast two years....
aw man, now i feel all bummed
:(

heres another apt song quote:
"your hair is everywhere,
screaming infidelities
and taking its wear"

even better:
"Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of the distresses.
He maketh the storm calm,
so that the waves thereof are still.
Then they are glad because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
He turneth rivers into a wilderness,
and the watersprings into dry ground;
A fruitful land into barrenness,
for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water,
and dry ground into watersprings.
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell,
that they may prepare a city for habitation;
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards,
which may yield fruits of increase.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly;
and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Again, they are minished and brought low
through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
He poureth contempt upon princes,
and causeth them to wander in the wilderness,
[where there is] no way.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction,
and maketh [him] families like a flock.
The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice:
and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Whoso [is] wise, and will observe these [things], even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."
Psalm 107:28-43

2004-03-24T13:53:00.000-05:00

Mood: relaxed
Scripture: proverbs 24:12, 2 corinthians 13:5,6

INEBRIATE:
1. To make drunk; intoxicate.
2. To exhilarate or stupefy as if with alcohol.

DEBAUCHERY:
1. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially, excessive indulgence of lust; intemperance; sensuality; habitual lewdness.
2. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from virtue, duty, or allegiance.

(ok, so you were right, im dumb, this is why dictionary.com exists :">)

its 60 degrees in my backyard!

2004-03-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

preface: sundays blog actually happened on saturday

Mood: lazy
Music: none

im finding it harder and harder to listen to music, even "Christian" music. starting with the radio, it is almost impossible to listen to one song worthwhile without suffering through euphonious pollution. just ten minutes of the radio and im already disgusted, or worse: enjoying it and reminiscing of the times when music was my life and i easily identified with broken hearts and angry youth and prideful arrogance. i get so comfortable singing these songs and it scares me how easily some horrible lyrics can just slide off my lips. i cant genuinely say the meaning behind the words of these songs, especially the more abstract ones, but sometimes its pretty evident that they want to glorify the world or atleast be a part of it. this is also true of mainstream christian groups that all want to be on the radio for the sake of "evangelism". but honestly, which is easier? grains of salt to dissolve in water so that its elements are invisible to the eye, or sodium and chloride to come together in water and form salt crystals? ok so that wasnt an excellent example but all im saying is that its easier to be diluted than concentrated. if they attempt in jump in a pot of boiling water to convert the water to salt they will dissolve because the world demands conformity and quite frankly its bigger than you.

so anyhow, all this to say that im not a fan of music anymore. though it can be a blessing, im attempting to purify my mind by listening to other things than meaningless songs. this applies specifically to lyriked music, not so much instrumental because i am addicted to bach :) i know there are those of you who can listen to music and not be affected by it, and you are much more mature than i am. im not condemning all music, im just elucidating upon my reasons to avoid overindulgence of it.

ive also been thinking a lot about the covenant of grace since sunday. something so simple and yet fundamental and after 20 years i still dont have a hold on it. conversations with much more mature christians are quite humbling to me to think that i still struggle with the basics. but understanding is understanding, regardless of the level and im thankful that the Spirit has opened my eyes.

hopefully i will go to the Ibarras today \:D/ and hang out with the lovely Juana and hold my adopted child Emiliano :X

later sweet friends >:D<

2004-03-21T00:59:00.000-05:00

Mood: sequestered
Music: masquerade~caedmons call

"But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all: yet let him remember the days of darkness;for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, oh young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." ~Ecclesiastes 11:8-10

i had most of the day to myself which was pretty relaxing. i went to starbucks for a couple hours and read Francis Turretin on Holy Scriptures. [most conversations ive had with non christians (even some "christians") have led back to the authority of scripture. they all think that because it was given to fallible men, then it must be fallible. or that some group of early christians got together and wrote a book and called it the word of God and then gave it to the world, who just caved in and believed it. turns out its not like that at all. just goes to show you how ignorant we are, thinking that all things began the day we were born and that history never happened. the power of God despite man is awesome, how He has preserved His word through careless mistakes and malicious intents to pervert scripture. that the Bible i read today, which is just a derivative of the original Bible, can be so powerful and yet, how much more so are the very words directly dictated by the Holy Spirit. i cant even imagine...]

later this evening i went and had a visit with the "family" for my brothers birthday. *rolls eyes and sighs*
if you think of it, please pray for me and for a conversation i need to have with my mom soon. i keep putting it off cause im a weenie.

ah, anyways, so thats life for today.

i want to let all of you know that i value you very much >:D<
thanks be to God for the gift of fellowship and counsel :)