Being with child brings on all kinds of questions from all kinds of people. I don't mind the questions or answering them. I found, though, that my way of answering is not the politically correct way of answering, and I'm wondering if I need to think about a better way to respond when someone asks about my due date.
It should be a simple answer, right? I mean, you get pregnant, go to the doctor, he asks you questions and gives you a date. Not that difficult. HOWEVER, I'm just not the typical person when it comes to all this and am not doing things the typical American way. I'm not going to a regular doctor. I'm using a mid-wife. I'm also not going to stress myself out over a due date; unless some major medical emergency arises, I will allow my body to do what it was created by God to do when the time is right. Now, just so you don't think I'm completely crazy, I have an idea of when this lil bean will be arriving. The thing is that I will not allow a doctor or a computer to dictate to my body what it should be doing when.
Why? It's stressful, and stress is one of the many reasons women have complications during pregnancy and child birth. Women rarely have their babies on the 'due dates' anyway, so why even bother with one specific date? Not only that, but then the doctors feel they're justified in their reasoning for drug-induced labor.
Less than 3% of pregnant women have a true medical condition requiring induction, but up to 81% receive Pitocin, and 75% of inductions put both the mother and baby at risk. The drugs used to induce labor cause vasoconstriction, which can decrease blood supply to the unborn baby. That's just the beginning and is reason enough for me. But there's so much more.
Cytotec is yet another drug used to induce labor, but one of the major risks is rupturing of the uterus. :0 Obviously if a woman's body hasn't gone into labor, her cervix isn't yet ready, and therefore even more drugs have to be used in addition to the inducing drugs and then more drugs to prevent complications from the drugs already administered. It's downward spiral. I am all about drugs and doctors when they are necessary, but when they're not, it's just another reason for doctors and pharmaceuticals to make money.
But back to my original point - I have an idea when PoffinBaby will arrive; I just don't have an exact date. As long as all continues to go well, we'll allow PoffinBaby to make the entrance when the time is right. For now, if you ask me a question and I give you a hippie answer, just deal with it. It's funny - several pregnant people have asked me about my due date, and I've pretty much had the same response. Most understand and respect my choices, but there are always the few that choose to be offended because they feel I'm saying that they're not doing what God created their bodies to do. Not it at all folks. I'm telling you what I'm doing because it's what we've chosen to do. You do what's right for you and your family.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
WebMD???
I know, I'm full of thoughts today. Not really. I'm just pretty much sitting at home waiting for 24 to start. I seriously hope they pump up the energy a little. I was kinda bored with it last week. I hate to say that because I'm such the Jack Bauer fan, but I must be honest with myself.
Okay so that's not the point of this blog.
Isn't it crazy how we can pretty much Google anything and get millions of pages of information on any given subject? It's great. Thank you, technology, for giving me just about all the information I need. And all right at my fingertips.
What's sad about this is that we no longer take the information we read and make a judgment on it ourselves. Judgment based on logic, common sense, and history. History that has proven itself.
This is true when it comes to medical information. Why is it that we trust a doctor or WebMD over our grandmothers' cure for an ailment? Do we know who pays WebMD? It's all about money, guys. The pharmaceutical industry is all about money, and who do we think pays for websites like WebMD?
Why do we think they have all the answers? I mean, yeah, I've searched those sites for help before, but how much better to receive information from those for whom it has worked so well in the past? And answers that don't require chemicals.
Chemicals, doctors, medicines all have their place. I've said that before, and I still stand by that. I just don't believe those are the only answers. WebMD is not God.
Read this and this.
Okay so that's not the point of this blog.
Isn't it crazy how we can pretty much Google anything and get millions of pages of information on any given subject? It's great. Thank you, technology, for giving me just about all the information I need. And all right at my fingertips.
What's sad about this is that we no longer take the information we read and make a judgment on it ourselves. Judgment based on logic, common sense, and history. History that has proven itself.
This is true when it comes to medical information. Why is it that we trust a doctor or WebMD over our grandmothers' cure for an ailment? Do we know who pays WebMD? It's all about money, guys. The pharmaceutical industry is all about money, and who do we think pays for websites like WebMD?
Why do we think they have all the answers? I mean, yeah, I've searched those sites for help before, but how much better to receive information from those for whom it has worked so well in the past? And answers that don't require chemicals.
Chemicals, doctors, medicines all have their place. I've said that before, and I still stand by that. I just don't believe those are the only answers. WebMD is not God.
Read this and this.
Hypocrite. Hypocrite
Just a few days ago I blogged about how I upset I was or something about how these parents wouldn't allow their kids to socialize with these other kids because of karate.
I'm such the critic. And such the hypocrite. I was being just like the people about how ridiculous we humans can be.
about whom I was complaining. To each his own, right? Sorta. I guess I was just venting
I am a very opinionated person and know some very opinionated people. The cool thing about most of us is that we choose to accept each other no matter how much we may disagree. Over the years I've come to see that things aren't always black and white, there's a lil gray, and there's room for everyone's opinions. I've now come to not only accept our differences, but I welcome and enjoy them because it's what makes the world go round, right? I love it. I love individuality, uniqueness (is that a word?), and creativity.
On that note, isn’t it funny how I think I know what’s good for everyone else we all want to be so helpful when it comes to other people’s situations? My friend, Alisa, recently warned me: “…everyone is suddenly going to become an expert on your body and your pregnancy.” I honestly don’t mind when people give me suggestions and share their experiences with me. It’s all great until they expect me to change my views. Then I just get annoyed and probably get defensive.
So just now I was flipping channels, and yay, we have cable right now. I stopped at John & Kate+8. I honestly don't care if you don't care for them. I love kids and shows with kids. So in this episode, one particular child was being incredibly annoying with her whining and crying and whining and disobedience (isn't that just like a kid?), and I said really loudly, "Beat her! Spank her butt!" I don't care what Oprah has to say about spanking. I just know what my beliefs are and what I plan to do. But isn't if funny how we (I) soooo critique what everyone else is doing? In this case I wasn't necessarily critiquing. I was just responding. BUT I've been around people who refuse to watch this show because they don't agree with certain parenting techniques. That's fine. That's up to you. I just so enjoy laughing when these (or any) kids say funny things. It's adorable. So why can't we just look at the good stuff and ignore the rest? I don't know. I know I personally don't always do that, but still...just remind me.
Just thoughts.
I'm such the critic. And such the hypocrite. I was being just like the people about how ridiculous we humans can be.
about whom I was complaining. To each his own, right? Sorta. I guess I was just venting
I am a very opinionated person and know some very opinionated people. The cool thing about most of us is that we choose to accept each other no matter how much we may disagree. Over the years I've come to see that things aren't always black and white, there's a lil gray, and there's room for everyone's opinions. I've now come to not only accept our differences, but I welcome and enjoy them because it's what makes the world go round, right? I love it. I love individuality, uniqueness (is that a word?), and creativity.
On that note, isn’t it funny how I think I know what’s good for everyone else we all want to be so helpful when it comes to other people’s situations? My friend, Alisa, recently warned me: “…everyone is suddenly going to become an expert on your body and your pregnancy.” I honestly don’t mind when people give me suggestions and share their experiences with me. It’s all great until they expect me to change my views. Then I just get annoyed and probably get defensive.
So just now I was flipping channels, and yay, we have cable right now. I stopped at John & Kate+8. I honestly don't care if you don't care for them. I love kids and shows with kids. So in this episode, one particular child was being incredibly annoying with her whining and crying and whining and disobedience (isn't that just like a kid?), and I said really loudly, "Beat her! Spank her butt!" I don't care what Oprah has to say about spanking. I just know what my beliefs are and what I plan to do. But isn't if funny how we (I) soooo critique what everyone else is doing? In this case I wasn't necessarily critiquing. I was just responding. BUT I've been around people who refuse to watch this show because they don't agree with certain parenting techniques. That's fine. That's up to you. I just so enjoy laughing when these (or any) kids say funny things. It's adorable. So why can't we just look at the good stuff and ignore the rest? I don't know. I know I personally don't always do that, but still...just remind me.
Just thoughts.
The Church, according to Me
I had a good laugh today. I was emailing back and forth with my friend, Amy. Amy is one of those people with whom I can be completely honest, and whether or not she agrees with me, she doesn't hold anything against me. Nor do I hold it against her when she gets all girly mushy and emotional. She's that kind of girl. She wants to experience life and love fully, yet she's also rational and allows common sense to rule over emotion...sometimes. :)
So we were emailing about her search for a church home. Aren't we all in that quest? Okay maybe not. Having just moved back to Dallas, we are getting ready to church-hunt. I hate that. Hate is a strong word, but I really don't want to be one of those people who goes from church to church, looking to 'fit in' or whatever it is we all want. As a teenager, I went to one church, served in that church and loved the people of that church. No, things were never perfect because we are imperfect people, but that's what life is about - learning to grow, love in the midst of imperfect situations. Anyway, I don't want to be one of those church-hopper people. I believe in committing to something, committing to people because that's where I should be. Because that's where I can serve, love, grow, be.
So when Amy was sharing with a few friends about her quest for a church home, someone made this comment to her, "Just remember, we go to church only to worship Christ! Not for our comfort or our pleasure!!!"
Oh, my. If you know me, you know that this kind of comment is just waiting for me to come stab with my opinionated, narcissistic mouth.
Okay, what is the church? Or what should the church be? I don't know what the church is because it's been a while since I've been involved in one sole church. In Kansas, it was kind of a joke - our attempt with church, and last year...well, ok.
So I can't judge what I don't know. But here's what I'm thinking a church was in the NT and maybe what people are called to be.
I think the church should be a people not a location. Yes, those people gather in a physical place, some kind of building (a home, a big metal structure, a brick building, whatever), but they are people coming together to do something, right?
I do understand what the girl was trying to say with the comment about how church should be to worship Christ. Yes, that's what people do when they come together. They usually sing some songs, say a prayer and listen to someone teach/preach. It's the typical American structure, and it has its place.
The thing is that I believe there's more to it than just that. In a typical American setting, it's become a social club of facades and a program. Again, that has its place, but don't we want more than that?
I want to be involved with a group of people who worship Christ but not just with a song or dance. There are more ways to worship than just that. How about knowing people so well that you know when they have needs and can meet those needs? And it's not always about money. Sometimes people need help with their kids, need an hour away to get errands done and need a babysitter. Sometimes people do need a meal or help with their electric bill. How about meeting needs?
Yes, teaching is great. But how about taking it a step further and talking about how that could apply to our lives in whatever situations...but that involves knowing people beyond surface level.
I was reading about how back in New Testament days, many gatherings (churches) only had 1 Bible to share. So when they got together for 'church,' they would sit and talk about it, discuss it, have theological conversations. How about that?
One of the main reasons they took up 'offerings' back then was so that when someone was in need, they had $$ to give them. It wasn't to pay the pastor. Now, don't get me wrong. The American setting has its place. Yes, pay the pastor. But how about literally meeting others' needs when they really need something? How about feeding the hungry? How about helping single parents? 'Mentoring' single-parent kids? How about really loving people who don't know God? That doesn't mean shunning them from our lives. It means embracing everyone through everything. (Yes I'm on my soap box again.)
I want for my kids to be raised with the kind of people who don't stare at or much less gossip about weirdos but love them because we ARE them.
We have been way too caught up in perfecting church, in perfecting programs, that we have forgotten what it means to be THE CHURCH. It should be people with whom we can grow, by whom we are challenged and who love us (and who we love) through life. It's not a building of people. It IS people, imperfect people. It's loving hard, and loving through the hard.
So the point is taken - church is about, as the girl said, 'praising Christ.' Right. Praising Him involves way more than a song, a program and people asking but not really meaning, "Hi, how are you." "I'm good, how are you?" Praising Christ involves loving, which means I have to know them in order to serve them however I can.
Not the end, but the end for now.
Oh, and as for Amy, because she wants to experience love completely, she'll find a church, a people. She, among so many others, is my church.
So we were emailing about her search for a church home. Aren't we all in that quest? Okay maybe not. Having just moved back to Dallas, we are getting ready to church-hunt. I hate that. Hate is a strong word, but I really don't want to be one of those people who goes from church to church, looking to 'fit in' or whatever it is we all want. As a teenager, I went to one church, served in that church and loved the people of that church. No, things were never perfect because we are imperfect people, but that's what life is about - learning to grow, love in the midst of imperfect situations. Anyway, I don't want to be one of those church-hopper people. I believe in committing to something, committing to people because that's where I should be. Because that's where I can serve, love, grow, be.
So when Amy was sharing with a few friends about her quest for a church home, someone made this comment to her, "Just remember, we go to church only to worship Christ! Not for our comfort or our pleasure!!!"
Oh, my. If you know me, you know that this kind of comment is just waiting for me to come stab with my opinionated, narcissistic mouth.
Okay, what is the church? Or what should the church be? I don't know what the church is because it's been a while since I've been involved in one sole church. In Kansas, it was kind of a joke - our attempt with church, and last year...well, ok.
So I can't judge what I don't know. But here's what I'm thinking a church was in the NT and maybe what people are called to be.
I think the church should be a people not a location. Yes, those people gather in a physical place, some kind of building (a home, a big metal structure, a brick building, whatever), but they are people coming together to do something, right?
I do understand what the girl was trying to say with the comment about how church should be to worship Christ. Yes, that's what people do when they come together. They usually sing some songs, say a prayer and listen to someone teach/preach. It's the typical American structure, and it has its place.
The thing is that I believe there's more to it than just that. In a typical American setting, it's become a social club of facades and a program. Again, that has its place, but don't we want more than that?
I want to be involved with a group of people who worship Christ but not just with a song or dance. There are more ways to worship than just that. How about knowing people so well that you know when they have needs and can meet those needs? And it's not always about money. Sometimes people need help with their kids, need an hour away to get errands done and need a babysitter. Sometimes people do need a meal or help with their electric bill. How about meeting needs?
Yes, teaching is great. But how about taking it a step further and talking about how that could apply to our lives in whatever situations...but that involves knowing people beyond surface level.
I was reading about how back in New Testament days, many gatherings (churches) only had 1 Bible to share. So when they got together for 'church,' they would sit and talk about it, discuss it, have theological conversations. How about that?
One of the main reasons they took up 'offerings' back then was so that when someone was in need, they had $$ to give them. It wasn't to pay the pastor. Now, don't get me wrong. The American setting has its place. Yes, pay the pastor. But how about literally meeting others' needs when they really need something? How about feeding the hungry? How about helping single parents? 'Mentoring' single-parent kids? How about really loving people who don't know God? That doesn't mean shunning them from our lives. It means embracing everyone through everything. (Yes I'm on my soap box again.)
I want for my kids to be raised with the kind of people who don't stare at or much less gossip about weirdos but love them because we ARE them.
We have been way too caught up in perfecting church, in perfecting programs, that we have forgotten what it means to be THE CHURCH. It should be people with whom we can grow, by whom we are challenged and who love us (and who we love) through life. It's not a building of people. It IS people, imperfect people. It's loving hard, and loving through the hard.
So the point is taken - church is about, as the girl said, 'praising Christ.' Right. Praising Him involves way more than a song, a program and people asking but not really meaning, "Hi, how are you." "I'm good, how are you?" Praising Christ involves loving, which means I have to know them in order to serve them however I can.
Not the end, but the end for now.
Oh, and as for Amy, because she wants to experience love completely, she'll find a church, a people. She, among so many others, is my church.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
"The higher I go, the crookeder it becomes"
Something I've been thinking about for a long time...
Some time ago as I rode along with a friend, she mentioned that she wasn't sure if she was going to allow her kids to play with this other group of kids anymore. I wasn't really in the mood to talk about it because I think I could tell where it was going, but I went ahead and asked why...I mean, these kids were in fact her good friend's kids.
The response - well, those kids are allowed to participate in martial arts, and this other lady, herself, wasn't maybe the most 'spiritually mature.'Oh, and the most important part - she didn't want her kids damaged or tainted by associating with those kinds of children. (Susy rolls eyes.)
So I ask the obvious before she continued, "Wait. What's wrong with martial arts?" And I opened up the can.
Apparently there are churches and religious groups now openly preaching against it because it's a form of violence. According to them, it doesn't promote brotherly love...that when we're supposed to be loving our neighbor, in turn we're walking around thinking, "I can take him. I can take him down...etc." Oh, and martial arts has an Asian spiritual undertone, and Christians should NOT have anything to do with that. LOL
I didn't know where to begin with that because I was so annoyed with it.
Okay, so about the martial arts thing - it's evil, and so we shouldn't participate in it? Wow. This sounds more like someone has a personal problem, and whoever it is needs to deal with it.
Yes, there are forms of martial arts that have spiritual undertones. So that now means we shouldn't participate in it? What about Halloween, which Christian people say is pagan and rooted in evil? Most churches don't condone it. In fact they preach against it, yet offer 'alternative' events and/or activities. So why not with the martial arts or anything else? It's a total contradiction, and I'd love to write more about my opinion, but I really don't feel like taking the time to do it right now.
Moving on.
Okay so about her friend not being 'spiritually mature.' What does that mean anyway? How is she judging that maturity? Will she now ignore anyone who doesn't meet her standards? Give me a break.
So a comment she made was that she wanted to protect her children from being 'contaminated' by these other kids...because they're in martial arts and who knows what else. Our children are given to us by God to raise, and that is one of the greatest responsibilities we will ever have. Part of being a parent is protecting our children, right? Sure. But I believe there's only so much of that we can do. We can stress ourselves out by trying to protect them from all the evils in this world, and we will never succeed. We can only do so much, and the rest is up to the One who gave them to us.
Sure, there are hoodlums I wouldn't want my kids hanging around on their turf. HOWEVER, what happened to raising kids so that THEY are the influence on their peers? We can never raise perfect kids who will have perfect friends who will do perfect things. But what about doing our best possible to train them in the right way so that they know the difference between good/bad, right/wrong so that they can be the ones who speak up and make a difference in the lives of the people around them? What about that?
I understand wanting to be separate from the 'world,' but I don't think it has anything to do with disassociating ourselves with people. I think it has to do with actions, separating ourselves from certain actions.
I'm sure that there are kids I wouldn't want my kids to hang out with in their environments, but hopefully I can provide a place where any and everybody can come. Not just that but a place where people want to be because we welcome with open arms no matter what. We love.
I only HOPE to be that way. I can't say for certain that I will be and that I'll do what I say and how I imagine it. Things never turn out that way. But again, it comes down to how we love people.
There's so much more I could say and write about this, but I'm actually trying to to watch 24 and maybe cook something at the same time so I'm pretty much distracted. I will leave with something a friend wrote that goes so perfectly with my thoughts. She was visiting some dear friends and realized why she missed them so:
"These people loved me when I was slightly unlovable. We were a little rough around the edges when we first met them, and some conservative families would have pushed us away, for fear of 'contaminating' their children. These folks pulled us in and helped smooth us out, confident that the love of Jesus would far outweigh any negative effects we might have on their kids. And it did. We didn't have much in common, and we still don't! It's a diverse group of people, all loving each other right through their hang ups."
Can't we just do that?
Some time ago as I rode along with a friend, she mentioned that she wasn't sure if she was going to allow her kids to play with this other group of kids anymore. I wasn't really in the mood to talk about it because I think I could tell where it was going, but I went ahead and asked why...I mean, these kids were in fact her good friend's kids.
The response - well, those kids are allowed to participate in martial arts, and this other lady, herself, wasn't maybe the most 'spiritually mature.'Oh, and the most important part - she didn't want her kids damaged or tainted by associating with those kinds of children. (Susy rolls eyes.)
So I ask the obvious before she continued, "Wait. What's wrong with martial arts?" And I opened up the can.
Apparently there are churches and religious groups now openly preaching against it because it's a form of violence. According to them, it doesn't promote brotherly love...that when we're supposed to be loving our neighbor, in turn we're walking around thinking, "I can take him. I can take him down...etc." Oh, and martial arts has an Asian spiritual undertone, and Christians should NOT have anything to do with that. LOL
I didn't know where to begin with that because I was so annoyed with it.
Okay, so about the martial arts thing - it's evil, and so we shouldn't participate in it? Wow. This sounds more like someone has a personal problem, and whoever it is needs to deal with it.
Yes, there are forms of martial arts that have spiritual undertones. So that now means we shouldn't participate in it? What about Halloween, which Christian people say is pagan and rooted in evil? Most churches don't condone it. In fact they preach against it, yet offer 'alternative' events and/or activities. So why not with the martial arts or anything else? It's a total contradiction, and I'd love to write more about my opinion, but I really don't feel like taking the time to do it right now.
Moving on.
Okay so about her friend not being 'spiritually mature.' What does that mean anyway? How is she judging that maturity? Will she now ignore anyone who doesn't meet her standards? Give me a break.
So a comment she made was that she wanted to protect her children from being 'contaminated' by these other kids...because they're in martial arts and who knows what else. Our children are given to us by God to raise, and that is one of the greatest responsibilities we will ever have. Part of being a parent is protecting our children, right? Sure. But I believe there's only so much of that we can do. We can stress ourselves out by trying to protect them from all the evils in this world, and we will never succeed. We can only do so much, and the rest is up to the One who gave them to us.
Sure, there are hoodlums I wouldn't want my kids hanging around on their turf. HOWEVER, what happened to raising kids so that THEY are the influence on their peers? We can never raise perfect kids who will have perfect friends who will do perfect things. But what about doing our best possible to train them in the right way so that they know the difference between good/bad, right/wrong so that they can be the ones who speak up and make a difference in the lives of the people around them? What about that?
I understand wanting to be separate from the 'world,' but I don't think it has anything to do with disassociating ourselves with people. I think it has to do with actions, separating ourselves from certain actions.
I'm sure that there are kids I wouldn't want my kids to hang out with in their environments, but hopefully I can provide a place where any and everybody can come. Not just that but a place where people want to be because we welcome with open arms no matter what. We love.
I only HOPE to be that way. I can't say for certain that I will be and that I'll do what I say and how I imagine it. Things never turn out that way. But again, it comes down to how we love people.
There's so much more I could say and write about this, but I'm actually trying to to watch 24 and maybe cook something at the same time so I'm pretty much distracted. I will leave with something a friend wrote that goes so perfectly with my thoughts. She was visiting some dear friends and realized why she missed them so:
"These people loved me when I was slightly unlovable. We were a little rough around the edges when we first met them, and some conservative families would have pushed us away, for fear of 'contaminating' their children. These folks pulled us in and helped smooth us out, confident that the love of Jesus would far outweigh any negative effects we might have on their kids. And it did. We didn't have much in common, and we still don't! It's a diverse group of people, all loving each other right through their hang ups."
Can't we just do that?
Ode to Granny
So today is my Granny's birthday. I don't know her exact age, but that's on purpose because I don't care to know really. She's always been Granny to me. Hasn't aged or changed. Well, not to me. I know she has, but to me she's the same Granny today that she was 10 years ago.
I was around my Granny quite a bit when I was a little girl and built such a special bond with her that no matter how much distance or time passed, that bond remained.
What makes her so special? Can't really put it into words. But I can say that what I appreciate most about her (next to her cooking, of course), is the heritage that has been passed down through our family. Though our family, like every other family, has had its crazy ups and downs, Granny has been a rock. She has been faithful to God and has never stopped believing that all of her children would come to know Him. No matter how bad it got, she wasn't moved.
So happy birthday to you, Granny. Thank you for all you've sacrificed, all of your prayers, and most of all - the great food.
I was around my Granny quite a bit when I was a little girl and built such a special bond with her that no matter how much distance or time passed, that bond remained.
What makes her so special? Can't really put it into words. But I can say that what I appreciate most about her (next to her cooking, of course), is the heritage that has been passed down through our family. Though our family, like every other family, has had its crazy ups and downs, Granny has been a rock. She has been faithful to God and has never stopped believing that all of her children would come to know Him. No matter how bad it got, she wasn't moved.
So happy birthday to you, Granny. Thank you for all you've sacrificed, all of your prayers, and most of all - the great food.
Friday, January 09, 2009
How to be my BFF
I've come to realize that I'm surrounded by a pretty cool group of people. I love these people because they're imperfect, AND they also love me in spite of my imperfections. Sometimes maybe because of them.
I was recently talking with a friend who was telling me about a recent event in which she was involved. She was explaining to me how, though it was 'fun,' the expectations from the host even weeks before the event were too much to handle. She was mentally done with this even before it took place. Thankfully her role wasn't that of event planner. BUT what made this more stressful is that she was friends with the host and many of the attendees. I don't really know the people, so it was cool of her to vent her frustrations.
You know what I realized then? I have surrounded myself with friends who have no expectations from me in order to love me. It's such a freeing thing - knowing I don't have to measure up to or meet anyone's standards. What kind of love is that??? That's a very conditional kind of love which isn't really love at all. Not to me.
Just the other day, my friend, Crissi, wrote a really insightful article, in which she at one point was basically confessing her former self-righteous and judgmental ways . It reminded me of how I used to be as well. I'm sure I still have some of that in me, but I hate it. That's why I hate gossip. It's just a silly way for us to feel better about ourselves. We think, "At least we're not like such and such..." We may not say it, but we're thinking it. But yeah, I used to even judge people's character by their eating habits. Are you kidding me? No, I'm not kidding you. Although I still believe that we need to steward our bodies and therefore not become gluttons, I won't hold you in higher regard over Joe just because you're a spinach eater and he's not.
I don't think God extends himself only to people who strive to do 'good.' In fact, everything that we'll ever need to get to heaven (or attain righteousness) has already been done. I can't try to 'get' right standing with God or anyone else. It has already been done for me. Any other striving is only empty and pointless. All that striving...it's not good for us.
I think that when the man, Jesus, was on earth, he extended Himself to people that needed Him. The ones who had it all figured out...well, they had it all figured out and didn't need Him, according to them. They needed Him more than anyone but were too proud to admit it. Jesus was here for those who readily admitted their weaknesses (uh...sins or whatever) and their need for Savior.
Although Jesus came as the Savior, I don't think He was some kind of weirdo walking around town holding his head up high and mighty, too good to hang out with imperfect peeps. Because He was a man, I'm pretty sure He was like us (most of us) and had friends and stuff. AND I don't think He befriended people based on expectations. I mean, hello Judas, right? No, I think He pretty much extended His friendship to normal people who didn't have it all together. He probably had some pretty weirdo friends. At least that's how we would classify them today.
It's true. Go to any traditional church, and what happens if a homeless person walks in...or a tattooed crazy, or someone who just doesn't fit the mold? Everyone stares. We do that when we're just walking around Wal-Mart or wherever, much more in "God's House." Give me a break. That's such a load. And it's junk.
So to my point. We are not Jesus, nor should we attempt to be. What we should do is learn from Him because He was a pretty good teacher. He said so Himself...well, He wasn't bragging. He was just saying to learn from Him. At this point in life, I'm beginning to think that's a pretty good idea. It makes the world a better place when we befriend weirdos and when we befriend them with "no excuses, no exceptions, no expectations, and no reservations."
After all, you're a weirdo too.
I was recently talking with a friend who was telling me about a recent event in which she was involved. She was explaining to me how, though it was 'fun,' the expectations from the host even weeks before the event were too much to handle. She was mentally done with this even before it took place. Thankfully her role wasn't that of event planner. BUT what made this more stressful is that she was friends with the host and many of the attendees. I don't really know the people, so it was cool of her to vent her frustrations.
You know what I realized then? I have surrounded myself with friends who have no expectations from me in order to love me. It's such a freeing thing - knowing I don't have to measure up to or meet anyone's standards. What kind of love is that??? That's a very conditional kind of love which isn't really love at all. Not to me.
Just the other day, my friend, Crissi, wrote a really insightful article, in which she at one point was basically confessing her former self-righteous and judgmental ways . It reminded me of how I used to be as well. I'm sure I still have some of that in me, but I hate it. That's why I hate gossip. It's just a silly way for us to feel better about ourselves. We think, "At least we're not like such and such..." We may not say it, but we're thinking it. But yeah, I used to even judge people's character by their eating habits. Are you kidding me? No, I'm not kidding you. Although I still believe that we need to steward our bodies and therefore not become gluttons, I won't hold you in higher regard over Joe just because you're a spinach eater and he's not.
I don't think God extends himself only to people who strive to do 'good.' In fact, everything that we'll ever need to get to heaven (or attain righteousness) has already been done. I can't try to 'get' right standing with God or anyone else. It has already been done for me. Any other striving is only empty and pointless. All that striving...it's not good for us.
I think that when the man, Jesus, was on earth, he extended Himself to people that needed Him. The ones who had it all figured out...well, they had it all figured out and didn't need Him, according to them. They needed Him more than anyone but were too proud to admit it. Jesus was here for those who readily admitted their weaknesses (uh...sins or whatever) and their need for Savior.
Although Jesus came as the Savior, I don't think He was some kind of weirdo walking around town holding his head up high and mighty, too good to hang out with imperfect peeps. Because He was a man, I'm pretty sure He was like us (most of us) and had friends and stuff. AND I don't think He befriended people based on expectations. I mean, hello Judas, right? No, I think He pretty much extended His friendship to normal people who didn't have it all together. He probably had some pretty weirdo friends. At least that's how we would classify them today.
It's true. Go to any traditional church, and what happens if a homeless person walks in...or a tattooed crazy, or someone who just doesn't fit the mold? Everyone stares. We do that when we're just walking around Wal-Mart or wherever, much more in "God's House." Give me a break. That's such a load. And it's junk.
So to my point. We are not Jesus, nor should we attempt to be. What we should do is learn from Him because He was a pretty good teacher. He said so Himself...well, He wasn't bragging. He was just saying to learn from Him. At this point in life, I'm beginning to think that's a pretty good idea. It makes the world a better place when we befriend weirdos and when we befriend them with "no excuses, no exceptions, no expectations, and no reservations."
After all, you're a weirdo too.
Now They'll Fear You
I-SSUES. That's what Naticia (my SIL) and I say about my brother all the time when he complains about stuff. We jokingly always point it back to something from his childhood and tell him he can talk to us about it. We actually all do it to each other, but it's easier when it's 2 of us ganging up on one...and I'm pretty sure most of the time we gang up on my brother. Easy target. He does it to himself.
Today I was the one with serious issues, and it would've been great to have my bro and Naticia around to laugh with me. So Nathan & I were in the kitchen, and I started singing some kid's church song. I told him it was one of the few kid church songs I knew in English because my kid church time was spent in Mexico. He kinda laughed but didn't realize I was serious. I was like, "I'm for real, and I got made fun of when I was a teenager going to church because I didn't know the Christianese songs, language, and manners." I go on, "Kids are mean..." (not thinking of or referring to anyone specifically). Then I almost start crying. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was such the drama queen. I don't even know where that came from today. I was a complete dork. I never wanted to be one of those people who blamed moods on hormones, but I will because I can. Poor Nathan responded with, "Uh...do you need to talk or something?"
The moral of the story? I don't have one, except to say that I have some serious issues if a crazy little song can almost bring me to tears...over what?? I don't even know.
So what's with the "Now they'll fear you," line? I've been watching the Godfather trilogy since yesterday. I watch these at least 3 times every year because deep down I think I'm Italian. Oh, and because they're so morally sound. :)
Today I was the one with serious issues, and it would've been great to have my bro and Naticia around to laugh with me. So Nathan & I were in the kitchen, and I started singing some kid's church song. I told him it was one of the few kid church songs I knew in English because my kid church time was spent in Mexico. He kinda laughed but didn't realize I was serious. I was like, "I'm for real, and I got made fun of when I was a teenager going to church because I didn't know the Christianese songs, language, and manners." I go on, "Kids are mean..." (not thinking of or referring to anyone specifically). Then I almost start crying. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I was such the drama queen. I don't even know where that came from today. I was a complete dork. I never wanted to be one of those people who blamed moods on hormones, but I will because I can. Poor Nathan responded with, "Uh...do you need to talk or something?"
The moral of the story? I don't have one, except to say that I have some serious issues if a crazy little song can almost bring me to tears...over what?? I don't even know.
So what's with the "Now they'll fear you," line? I've been watching the Godfather trilogy since yesterday. I watch these at least 3 times every year because deep down I think I'm Italian. Oh, and because they're so morally sound. :)
Thursday, January 08, 2009
'Tis the Season to be Pregnant
Life has drastically changed the past 2 months. Nathan & I moved to Dallas shortly after my last blog. I had planned on driving my mom up to Greenville, but she didn't feel she had recovered well enough to work 8-hr days. I'm proud of her for making that call and not pushing herself too early, something she's good at doing. During that time she decided she couldn't permanently move to Greenville. She and her husband didn't really think that he could pack up his business that quickly, and she would've had to live there alone. Too, the rest of the family lives in the Gulf Coast area, and she wants to be able to spend more and more time with her grandbabies. She will still work for the same company, but she'll work mostly from her home in El Campo. She'll travel to Greenville as needed.
Thanksgiving - Nathan & I went to the last Cowboys game that will be held at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day (or any holiday). Next year they'll be at the brand new stadium in Arlington. We had a great time, and I would've taken pictures, but we've yet to replace the broken camera. We had AMAZING seats, thanks to our friend, Andy, and we sat next to some dudes that kept us laughing...AND they bought me a hat and Nathan some food because they felt bad about inconveniencing us literally every 7 minutes when they got up to use the facilities (we had the isle seats). We told them the gifts weren't necessary, but when someone insists, take it.
Christmas - since I was helping out at an office during the holidays, we stayed home and did our own thing. We had wanted to volunteer by serving meals at a soup kitchen, but I woke up with the yuckies...because I am now with child. We got to surprise our families with that great news on Christmas Day and little by little are passing the news on to our friends. So you may or may not have heard the news by now. I don't even know who reads this anymore. It's like this - you invite people to read your blogs, they do, they get bored but will still read them every once in a while. Then if you stop for a while, it's over. In our family bad news and gossip gets around quickly, but if it's good news, it takes a while for the word to spread. Isn't that just like us...humans?
Anyway, I'm due in late August. We're planning on a mid-wife and already have some great references. I think I'll begin calling them within the next couple of weeks. It's funny - it's like the home-birthing community is its own separate ...community. I don't even know how to explain it. My home-birthing friends and I think it's totally and completely normal and natural to give birth at home. The ones who don't will be like, "Well, make sure the birth center or whatever is near the hospital because there are always emergencies. When I..." and they go on to tell me their experience. I'm glad for both groups of friends. I'm thankful that I have friends who care and share their knowledge and experiences with me. I'm glad they share and then give me the freedom to make my own decision without judgment.
How am I feeling? I pretty much have constant nausea. Most of the time it's not bad; it's just there. When I gets bad, I just close my eyes, take sips of water and think of anything other than hamburgers. I craved those for about a week, but the thought of them now almost sends me running to the bathroom. Please don't talk about or eat them around me. Cravings - haven't had them like a wild-woman, but when a craving hits, it hits hard. Nathan's been so nice about going out at odd times to get me stuff.
So now that we're kinda getting back in the groove of things, I can attempt to blog more regularly.
Thanksgiving - Nathan & I went to the last Cowboys game that will be held at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day (or any holiday). Next year they'll be at the brand new stadium in Arlington. We had a great time, and I would've taken pictures, but we've yet to replace the broken camera. We had AMAZING seats, thanks to our friend, Andy, and we sat next to some dudes that kept us laughing...AND they bought me a hat and Nathan some food because they felt bad about inconveniencing us literally every 7 minutes when they got up to use the facilities (we had the isle seats). We told them the gifts weren't necessary, but when someone insists, take it.
Christmas - since I was helping out at an office during the holidays, we stayed home and did our own thing. We had wanted to volunteer by serving meals at a soup kitchen, but I woke up with the yuckies...because I am now with child. We got to surprise our families with that great news on Christmas Day and little by little are passing the news on to our friends. So you may or may not have heard the news by now. I don't even know who reads this anymore. It's like this - you invite people to read your blogs, they do, they get bored but will still read them every once in a while. Then if you stop for a while, it's over. In our family bad news and gossip gets around quickly, but if it's good news, it takes a while for the word to spread. Isn't that just like us...humans?
Anyway, I'm due in late August. We're planning on a mid-wife and already have some great references. I think I'll begin calling them within the next couple of weeks. It's funny - it's like the home-birthing community is its own separate ...community. I don't even know how to explain it. My home-birthing friends and I think it's totally and completely normal and natural to give birth at home. The ones who don't will be like, "Well, make sure the birth center or whatever is near the hospital because there are always emergencies. When I..." and they go on to tell me their experience. I'm glad for both groups of friends. I'm thankful that I have friends who care and share their knowledge and experiences with me. I'm glad they share and then give me the freedom to make my own decision without judgment.
How am I feeling? I pretty much have constant nausea. Most of the time it's not bad; it's just there. When I gets bad, I just close my eyes, take sips of water and think of anything other than hamburgers. I craved those for about a week, but the thought of them now almost sends me running to the bathroom. Please don't talk about or eat them around me. Cravings - haven't had them like a wild-woman, but when a craving hits, it hits hard. Nathan's been so nice about going out at odd times to get me stuff.
So now that we're kinda getting back in the groove of things, I can attempt to blog more regularly.
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