I took the following plethora of photos to make a card for my dad. Each picture contains a letter-some obvious, some not. All the letters together form a word. I added all the pictures in an attractive format on the front of the card...and it turned out pretty good. The only bad part was the slave labor...we'll overlook that part. hehehe 

H 

A 

N 

K 

S 

It's about time I did something with myself.... :-)

Well, I have a mind full of things to do today. I think it has been far too long since I have made anything with my hands. I just made a bunch of invites for Elizabeth's shower....but that doesn't count...I am talking bonafide PROJECTS. I guess I was so busy making things for Christmas, now I am suffering withdrawal! The other day I saw pretty floral flannel on sale for $1.00 a yard at Walmart...I think I might get a bunch of it and make some flannel nightgowns for Corynn next winter. I have never made anything "wearable" so I will have to investigate... (On this topic, I wanted to add a message to Abby-At target there are those "big girl footed sleepers" onsale for 60% off. Since you devoted a blog post to it...I thought it might be something you may like to know about...)
A big feat for me to accomplish but one that I have aspirations for...would be to make myself a bathing suit...the store ones never fit me and the ones that do look UGLY! If I can start with the basics (nightgowns), perhaps I will be ready to get down to the nitty-gritty of bathing suit material....eek. I am also currently knitting a scarf, and working on a project of the secret type...for Matt's upcoming birthday. That's all I can say about that since he reads this blog....but, boy OH boy-is it grand! I finished making door stops for the cold air a few weeks ago... I have lots of scraps of material...I really want to start a quilt too (what a project THAT will be...)
Until I can try and teach myself how to do all of the above stated *STUFF*, I will keep myself busy on the fluff stuff. I love to decorate the house for different holidays-it livens things up so much! Even Matt likes the nice change it brings! THe house looks so plain and boring since we took down our Christmas decos. BUT, it can be very expensive to decorate for all the holidays. So, I have been racking my brain for cheap things to do for Valentine's Day. I am so excited. I am going to make deco's out of a Victorian Angel calendar and some red and pink tissue paper and doilies. I think I will also drape some floral garlands around here and there. And I went to the dollar store today and got some pink and red candles. No room is complete without candles! :-) I also saw these adorable little Valentines that I am going to make with Corynn. I can't WAIT until she gets as excited about stuff like this as I do...and can actually DO stuff to help! Those days will come...

Dancing to the beat of your own drum...

This past weekend we visited Grandma and Grandpa Newman. During our visit, every time music would come on, whether by toy or by TV, Corynn would start breaking it down. They were amazed at this, and found it quite comical (I do too-there is nothing like watching her little butt stick out and shake back and forth with such force you wonder if she will be able to remain standing!) At one point, she was dancing to her musical toy in the living room while the grown ups were in the Kitchen. She noticed us watching her and brought her toy in the kitchen for a real audience. What a hot dog! Gary wondered, if we didn't watch TV at our house, how would she know how to dance? Well, I shamefacedly looked down and Matt pointed at me...yes, it's my doing. But you know what? I am Oh so glad! All the time I hear people say, "She looks JUST like her father!" or "She gets THIS or THAT from her Father...." FINALLY, as I watch her turning around over and over until she is dizzy, and shaking her rump from here to kingdom come....at least I can know she gets SOMETHING from me! I look on in wonder and amazement for a moment, and then I join right in. No-maybe not everyone would dance while doing the dished or making dinner...but I do-and because I do, I have taught Corynn how to enjoy even the most mudane tasks. No-maybe not all would do that....but as Corynn will show you...There is nothing better than dancing to the beat of your own drum.

Quote for the day...

"Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures." - Dr. Samuel Johnson

No news is good news.

When I got on the computer this morning, we have a news website asa homepage. Here are some of the "lead story" excerpts....
'No Name-Calling Week' at Nation's Middle Schools
(CNSNews.com) - This is 'No Name-Calling Week" at some of the nation's middle schools, an event sponsored by a homosexual advocacy group.
I thought this was pathetic enough when I read the title...then I read who was the "think tank" behind such a novel idea and almost lost my breakfast.

Group Fights Proposal to Allow Men in Women's Bathrooms
(CNSNews.com) - An anti-discrimination proposal before the Alameda County (Calif.) Board of Supervisors would allow men to go into women's bathrooms, a conservative group is warning.

Why are we so confused about sexes? Who would even care about such a thing? The grass is not always greener on the other side. Ugh!

'Change Is Possible' Billboards Upset Some Homosexuality Advocates
(CNSNews.com) - Billboards saying that homosexuals can change their orientation have upset homosexual advocacy groups, the Houston Chronicle reported. The billboards -- which have gone up in and around the Houston area -- promote an upcoming "Love Won Out" conference by the Christian group Focus on the Family.

If someone being "upset" is newsworthy...we should have a lot more news these days. Well, the gay people out there are certainly getting what they want...publicity. Being gay is so publicized these days we are becoming numbed by it. It isn't a rarity to hear or see gay people on reality tv shows, on sitcoms, on game shows, on the sidewalk...They even make the news because they are "truly hurt" by the ill-feelings and discrimination shown to them...pretty soon, they will be in our churches and we will make them "upset" by telling them they are acting in sin. Then-the churches will get sued or afraid of losing numbers...and then the church will give into them too-just like it has to women preachers, pedophiles, kids who want contemporary music they can jive to, and the list goes on.

Kinda makes you all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

Who's on First?

In modern society it is a frequent occurance to see couples divorce. It is a disturbing thing to see, yet, interestingly enough, not so disturbing as even 50 years ago. In Hollywood it is not uncommon to divorce after a week or a month.

The Bible acts as a “Marriage for Idiots” workbook. Yes-the ideas are difficult to work out in our own selfish and sinful lives-but it is not for lack of knowledge. The Bible gives us the reason WHY marriage is good. It tells us what NOT to do (BEFORE marriage and DURING), what TO do, why we should and shouldn’t do these things, HOW we must do them, and what will happen if we do-or don’t. The Bible also tells us the ONLY biblical means this covenant is broken…and that, only because we are sinful. It even clearly lays out a perfect example of marital unity-that of, Christ and the Church.
So why is it that this black plague falls on not just those who “don’t know better” but those who do? Certainly there are MANY different reasons…but here is one in particular that I think may be more the culprit than one might first assume. It is an important thing to ponder as well, if that pondering may lead us to the truth and thus encourage us to take better care of our marriages…as good as they may be at the present. Wait one moment while I get up on my soapbox….
Ugh-ummm….
Okay. Have you ever noticed that often times the divorce of everyday people (Hollywood people excluded, as always-they are they’re own sort.) occurs later in life? How many times have you heard about a couple’s marital relationship disintengrating after 15, 20, 30 years of marriage? While studying in Nursing school, during a lecture on “mental health and childrearing”, it was said that more than half of the divorces that happen today are with couples who have been married for 10+ years. Frankly, at first, I couldn’t understand it. If you can stand each other for 10, 20, or 30 years, why wouldn’t you be able to put up with one another for the rest of your lives? Then, it occurred to me. AH HA!
It was happening at a time when the kids were growing up and moving out…going to college, getting married, getting apartments and careers of their own. Their adult lives had been put on hold, for the glorious cause of child-rearing…but they sacrificed wholly themselves and their interests and put the children first in everything. The desires of their heart were overshadowed by the desires for their children and so nothing outside of their children was cultivated. Instead, these areas were left to starve, shrivel, and die away. But first, weeds grew up and around them so that the damage could not be seen until they had already turned to dust.
Suddenly, their livelihood had up and moved on…and they were left with nothing. No longer were the kids the focus of their lives as they had been for so long-and what was to take the place of the empty void where their children had once been? Nothing. Unfortunately, one of these starved areas was that of the spouse. Somewhere along the way, the love had been lost and the children had grown around it and kept two souls united in parenting, but not in love. Then, when the children moved on, it was obvious that the love had been lost.
I have had this in my head for years now. I read a book a very long time ago and just recently brought it out again to look through. It is called Christian Living in the Home by Jay E. Adams and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a random recommendation. :-) (If you disagree with me, that’s okay-at least I have Mr. Adams on my side! :-) )
He so aptly points out,
“Although he must leave his father and mother, the man must cleave unto his wife….Unlike the parent-child relationship, the husband-wife relationship is permanent. According to scripture, it must never be broken. While the parent-child relationship is close, it is never described in terms of “one flesh” or “cleaving”…But a husband and wife must join and continue to live in unity of soul, spirit, and body throughout the remainder of their lives. Nothing but death must be allowed to break that unity.” (page 52)
He then reminds the reader,
“God put a husband and wife in the garden, not a parent and child.” (page 52)

So there you have it. We make our children into idols and sacrifice everything we have for them and their love. As a brief side-note, I want to ask this question. All this is done in the name of what? Are we doing our children a favor? Certainly not. By putting our CHILDREN before our husbands (or wives) we are teaching our children to be comfortable being “first” in peoples’ lives and by doing so, we are teaching them to be uncompassionate, selfish, greedy, impatient, and all those other bad things. :-) We exemplify a distorted view of marriage. We become over-protective of our children and less able to let them go (which can in turn ruin future relationships with their spouses, hence the stereotype of mother-in-laws.) Finally, and sadly, if this seperation leads to divorce, obviously all are affected by that. Even future generations.
So what must we do to keep this from happening? The answer is simple. Put our spouses first in our lives. Talk about things other than the children. Do things solely for your husband (or wife). Be greedy with the time spent with your spouse. Have time alone-without the children around to distract and preoccupy your thoughts. Cultivate your love.
“You see, love doesn’t come, as fool’s believe, full blown from the head of Aphrodite. Love must grow. It has to be watered, nourished, and cared for. It must be cultivated. It has to be weeded too. Love has it’s problems, but real love can grow tall and strong when it is cultivated as God says.” (page 100)

“The best way to be a good father to your children is to be a good husband to their mother.”
-unknown

What is this infatuation with having something over her head?!?! She used to do opague clothes and would then proceed to run into coffee tables or corners of the computer desk-and then fall on her overly padded tush. Then-we upgraded to sheer so at least she could SEE where she was going! 

Yikes! That electrical socket WAS dangerous! I thought Mama was kidding.... 

OOOhhhhh! I am the ghost of Christmas present(s). 

Poor Corynn doesn't have such a cute ships mate as Annika. Instead she must use a chunk of plastic. The woes of being an only child.... 

Chicks and chokes.

All this homesteading talk has got me thinking. I remember last year, when I stopped at Tractor Supply I saw this area with tiny itty bitty chirping sounds. I was so excited to see a bunch of chicks in there. I was so excited to show Corynn-but this was last year and so she was smaller and less interested than she would be now. Anyway-I was dumbfounded when I saw the sign and it read these chicks were for sale for $ .89 a piece. I thought-"oh my goodness! A real live living creature that can grow up and provide eggs and meat for you costs less than a cheeseburger at McDonalds that is swallowed up with momentary satisfaction." The only long-lasting benefits of a cheeseburger is the added insulation it provides in winter. How's that for a dollar spent?!

The redneck way to go a'courtin! hehehe 

Here is Corynn helping Daddy spread manure. 

Seeing what we want to see...Hearing what we want to hear.

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)”

Why is it that in quoting these verses, people start out with “Know ye not”-and forget the first two sentences. As I read a book by Douglas Wilson he quotes this and goes on to say…

“All other sins are ‘outside’ the body but sexual sin is against the body. This means that such things as smoking tobacco and eating mounds of refined sugar can perhaps be argued against as forms of poor stewardship, but such ‘sins’ are not against the body. The temple of the Holy Spirit can be desecrated by fornication, but it’s not desecrated by hardening the arteries thereof.” Doug Wilson in My Life for Yours. Page 55.

This is why I like Doug Wilson so much. As John Owen refers to him as the honorable, Holy, and most reverent Douglas Wilson…I affectionately refer to him as “Dougie”. You see-this man has a good head on his shouldes but isn’t just heady. He brings to life the practicalities and has a sense of humor about it too. He is a very well balanced man-and that is certainly a likable trait.

The truth hits me like a ton of bricks. Why did my mind naturally go toward the latter of the verses and skip over the context? Though a point could be reitterated that our bodies are not our own…and we should care for them so as to glorify God through our bodies-these verses do not make a case for no smoking, drinking, or chewing. Kind of changes things a bit…doesn’t it?

Wise cracks make Wise men?

I simply cannot stand when people tear you down to make themselves feel better. THis is just one example. There are several people who feel it is their duty to comment on the behaviour of Corynn at church, after the sermon is over. Without fail-if I had to scold Corynn...seconds after church ends I will hear about it. I wonder how much time they spend watching what is happening in our pew when they should be listening to the sermon.
Corynn is 16 months old and does remarkably well, if I do say so myself. She sits quietly on my lap (or daddy's sometimes) and looks at a book or plays with a puzzle. We don't let her turn around to look at people (even though she loves to look at Uncle Scott and make eyes at the boys), she must sit the whole time, and if she squirms too much-we put a stop to it. Sure, she has instances when she must be reprimanded but I rarely take her out anymore....most of the time a whisper in her ear and a stern look will do the trick. For goodness sake-she isn't even 1 1/2 yet! I am incredibly proud of her! I think that is pretty good. But apparently not for some. The irony is that they are pretty busy in their own pew-how do they have time to bother with ours?!?! Talk about seeing specks through logs.
I would feel truly blessed to have friends who were to openly give advice and counsel to us, confronting us privately about needs they have objectively seen. Unfortunately, we receive no such counsel or encouragement. Instead-we are told right after service in a voice for all to hear, "It will be better next week...at times like this I always say "Good thing it's the Lord's Day 'cause it sure isn't mine!" I am thinking to myself- "Gee wilikers! What did Corynn do that was so bad?!?! I can't think of anything...did I miss something?"
The problem is-the comments they make are not constructive. They are not to build us up or encourage us...or to help us when we falter. The comments made are made only to tear us down and to make themselves look better. I find that absolutely horrific given the character of Christians...or of the character Christians SHOULD possess.

"As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." Proverbs 25:12

Flower Child-as you can see, Corynn was still in the ORAL phase.... 

Lush greenness...will I ever see it again!?!?! 

Family at the Park last summer 

An ode to summer....

Or at least pictures. All this snow has got me longing for the heat. Once it comes, I will long for the cold. An irony that never tires of being ironical. hehehe

Misplaced Aspirations

I love signing. I love the Deaf. Ever since college, I have wanted to work with the deaf. I have taught Corynn quite a few signs and plan to keep teaching her. I started out because I wanted to be able to tell her to "STOP!" in church without anyone seeing or hearing me. Of course, then when she became "of age" I realized it would help her fits if she could communicate with me even if she couldn't yet speak. And so it did. After more thought, I wanted her to learn signs so that she can be better equipped to use them if ever the need, and more importantly, for her to learn to love people, regardless of any problems they may have.
Many people comment on me teaching her these signs. Some think that it will slow her speech. The way she jabbers...I HIGHLY doubt that! Others ask why I don't teach other children (in other words-go out and get a job.) Why, MY child isn't as important as someone else's?!?! I hate it when people give me pitying looks seemingly saying "Such a pity-what a waste..."
Someday I DO want to interpret for the Deaf. When all my children are grown, I hope to get my certificate and interpret on my own. It is a passion of mine, for sure and for certain. I would love to know a family who would need my services for doctor's appointments and such. A situation where I could work yet not have anything come in the way of my primary responsibilities. Who knows what the Lord has in store. Who knows? Maybe he has given me this passion because I am going to have a deaf child of my own. I don't know.
I do know that just because my child isn't deaf, that doesn't mean SHE doesn't need me now to teach her.
How can people, in good conscience, ask why you don't go "help the world-help the children-make a difference" yet ask you to NOT help the world, NOT help your children-and NOT make a difference in your child(ren)s' and husbands' life by doing so? Why are we so willing to sacrifice our own for the good of another. Surely, it sounds good-but is it good for you to not teach your children and instead send them to daycare in order to become a teacher so you can teach someone else's? Is it ever good to sacrifice your husband's rights, in order to go become a secretary and become another man's helper? Why are we so twisted up and confused? It certainly isn't just "the world" that thinks these things but blue-blooded Christians born and raised. Is it EVER a good thing to sacrifice at the expense of your family in order to create a center to help those in need...even if it is "within" the church? Why don't people find the true and wonderful value of working within their family that they might grow and work within theirs and that they might in turn work within theirs? Does no one see the gloriousness of the family? These days, poor husbands are more alone then they were before they were married. Poor children, are held at the esteem of orphans the way they are shipped off to this school and that club and daycare, and soccer...anything to keep them AWAY.
I am so blessed to be home where I can be all the things that are required of me. I know it is not all for nought. I see the use of me in my husbands' eyes, or when he comes to me for advice or when he relies on me for his needs. I see the use of me as my child is learning to become independent, when she is learning to be kind to others, when she helps me or her daddy pick things up or throw things away.
Those pitying glances, perhaps, are the pitying glances in their hearts as they fervently want something that they don't have. Probably not for them-but that's how I see it.

Potty Time! 

Yip-PEE!

Well-Corynn has met a very important milestone today. She peed on the potty!
I know she is young but I wanted to try her on the potty training thing. It CAN be done this early with success….my Oma seems to think anyone not potty-trained by two there is either something wrong with the child or something wrong with the parent. I realize this is extreme-but if she believes that- it must have happened to her-therefore, it can be done!
Corynn always goes pooh about the same time each day (about 10-15 minutes after she has eaten.) When she started making those grunting noises-I stopped my dish-doing, hurled her under my arm, bent my head low, and sprinted (I would have made a quarterback jealous-especially considering my current “weakened” state…) up the stairs to the potty. Getting that little seat on the toilet and her stupid tights, onesie, and diaper all unfastened was more challenging then I thought-I lost major time there. I put her on the potty (but the pooh was already in the diaper! ) I have only tried her on the potty once before and she would straighten herself up stiff until her bum slid off the seat…she hated it. But-this time, I gave her a book to look at-which had an Indian on it-which led me to teach her the “Indian call”. Each proved a worthy distraction….because she was STAYING there! The whole time I hugged her, “Yeah!”-ed at her, and clapped. In a few seconds I heard it-the magnificent sound of liquid crashing against liquid! She didn’t realize what she did…all she was concerned about was the book. But I heard it. I realize this doesn’t mean she will be potty-trained within the week. I do know that it is a start! And a greatly motivating start, no less! I learned one lesson though-the potty seat is now in the downstairs bathroom. (It is used as both a bathroom and a laundry room-mostly as a laundry room because there is no room to SIT on the toilet…it is only a restroom to those men who visit who can do there business in a distinctly manly way-who needs a beard when you can pee standing up?!?!?!) It is already Corynn’s cruddy room anyway, what with that being my cloth “diaper cleaning station”.


Yip-Pee!

In Sickness and in Health

I haven't been to the doctor's for myself or my needs for several years now (besides pregnancy...). I was just about to get prideful when it all came crashing back down on me. After feeling poorly (meaning-about to die) for about three days now, I finally decided to take the leap, swallow my pride, and head to the doctor's. He said that not only did I have the flu-it was compounded by a sinus infection, a double ear infection, and.....PINK EYE! Oh joy.
My only saving grace has been Matt. He has had to eat french toast or homemade pizza quite a bit these days...and when I was hardly strong enough to pick myself up, let alone Corynn, he took control. The other day after kissing me on the mouth (knowing full well how rotten I was feeling) I said to him-"You just committed yourself to getting sick now!" He responded...."I am just fulfilling my vow to love you in sickness and in health." What true devotion. What love. What a guy! And when he gets sick and I must nurse over him-you all will now know why!

The moment of truth....Matt opens his SIGNED Eric Sloane book. This picture didn't capture the look that happened seconds after.  

Matt transformed from Mattie to Sherlock right before my eyes when he opened his new pipe. 

Daddy building his princess a castle. 

A friend of the family knit Rynnie-Roo this stocking. I took this picture to make it into a thank-you card. So cute, if I do say so myself! 

Corynn got from mama and daddy a potty seat. She liked it more as a hat! 

Sleigh bells ring.... 

In this picture, Corynn reminds me of the little girl in the move "The Grinch"...what's her name? Lu Lu? 

Christmas Glee

Here are so photographia's for your enjoyment. I need to balance out long drawn out commentaries with fun fun fun!

What's in a name?

The Renaissance was (overall) a time known for self-indulgence, humanistic thought, and individualism. During this era, the focus shifted from religious zeal and abstract thought to a passion for the sensory, concrete, visible world at large. SO-why would I want my BLOG to represent such a paradoxical time?
Have you ever noticed, there is a good and a bad with anything? For example, (my favorite) Beer. There really isn’t anything intrinsically bad with beer. As a matter of fact, my husband and his buddies seem to think there is something very good about it. The misuse of such a thing is where the BAD comes in. My husband refuses to throw out the beer with the bath water. J In the sameway, we musn’t throw out the good of the Renaissance…and there IS good. The invention of the movable metal type allowed a broader circulation of materials to study. Translations were made so that laypeople could study themselves, thus uniting scholars and laypeople. Beauty, composition, prose, classical education, learning from antiquity, the discontentment of studying only one thing but rather the desire to become skilled and well-versed in many different fields of knowledge. That is what defines a Renaissance man or woman.
I have been given a great task here on this earth. One that involves so many responsibilities…one that could not be more rewarding and worthwhile. I am to be a wife and helpmate to my husband. I am to be a mother and teacher to my children. Within these two great tasks are many smaller, less distinguishable responsibilities, yet ever so necessary.
The reason I decided to name my BLOG Renaissance, besides the fact that I like to say it in a deep-throated, muskateers sort of way, is that I want to make sure that though my duties and delights are to my husband and child(ren), I refuse to forget the individual I am and the gifts the Lord has given to me. If we do not daily cultivate these gifts, they will not continue to flourish, will diminsh, and then will never be able to be sown. It is so important, that we as wives and mothers, are not content just to study what pertains to wives and motherhood, but that we study all of Scripture. Just because the Lord has given us a headship and a leader of the home, doesn’t mean we should be content to let him do the study and we pride ourselves in HIS knowledge. We mustn’t forget our desires, our loves, our hobbies, or our goals. Thankfully, the Lord gave to me a husband that sees these things as glorifying to him and Him. Before the Lord gave me a wonderful husband and a delightfully sweet child, He created ME. I must remember the good and the bad of this, and learn from both.
I want the Lord to use me to further His kingdom…not JUST through my husband and children (though primarily) but also to their children and their children’s children, to those who have or will enter into our lives through church, family, friendship, or even as enemies. I want to be useful in any way, in any circumstance, that the Lord can use me. I know that the Lord won’t use me by taking my duties and responsibilites away from my husband and child(ren.) He doesn’t work that way.
The word Renaissance means rebirth. I write this, not because I feel all is lost in the world of women (though that may be the case-who knows?!?!), but that I myself need a rebirth. Once there was a little lanky blonde girl-who could chase her brothers down, build forts, jump from second-story haymows, climb trees higher than anyone, but then could come inside and hug a doll to my hip for hours on end, feeding and changing, and cuddling to beat the band. I want to know the best of both worlds. I want my children to know the best of both worlds. I don’t want to be content learning and knowing just one little area of this ever-glorious life! I want to throw open the shutters and let the bright yellow heat of life penetrate my very soul!

On one condition...

Have I done it? Have I, in fact, taken the leap into Blogdom? Indeed I have. Though adamently opposed to my husband doing it in the beginning...my eyes have since been opened to the gloriousness of writing thoughts down so that they might be heard. (This IS glorious to me~ since the advent of Matt's "uh huh" in which he replies to my comments while staring off into a book, the computer, space-whatever the situation may be.) He thinks he is getting away with it, he thinks I don't know-but I know he is not really listening. I find myself talking anyway, pretending he is listening since I haven't spoken with an adult all day long....)
WELL-no longer! Now I have a blog. Something written for the whole world to see, even though I may only have one or two visitors from time to time.
Here comes the one condition....this blog will in no way shape or form, get in the way of my duties as wife, mother, homemaker, or any of the duties that are entailed therein. If it does-I will no longer blog. Period. I will not devote more time to the computer than to my daughter, I will not talk to my husband through the blog. Period. The end.
The result of this blog could be one of two things....anyone reading this could have their preconceived notion of my being a "blonde airhead" confirmed....OR they could be pleasantly surprised. We shall see....

thought provoking...