I Need to Blog About
Why I Blog
Book Review: Parenting in the Pew
I’m Excited About
The first week of school ending tomorrow
The Secret Craft Project
Parents and siblings visiting Labor Day weekend
The Mosleys coming into town the following weekend
I Can’t Forget
Playdate tomorrow at 10a
Need to buy chips for back-to-school picnic
Need to buy a gift for girl turning 4 (ideas?)
Upload kitchen pics
Posted in general
So, I’m still designing photo announcements. I haven’t spent a dime on advertising (in print or on the web) but I’m considering it for the Christmas season. I’m also considering doing some sort of contest and giving away a free Christmas photo card design… I don’t want to just do “if you link me on your blog, you get a free entry.” Any ideas? My working idea at the moment is: share why you love sending and receiving Christmas cards on your blog between x and y dates, include a link to WFD (probably will design a contest button or something) and the best entry gets a free custom photo christmas card design and one random entrant gets a $20 gift certificate to WFD.
a recent design
Posted in general
O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — BCP
Posted in family life, theology
From the AP wire:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – When Debbie Phillips tried to report a crime, police just snickered. “I told him that someone came into my house and cleaned,” the president of the Putnam County School Board said. “He just laughed.” –more–
Posted in in the news
“The Far Country” by Andrew Peterson &
“All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers
Posted in culture
I was tagged by the fun-loving Allison for this a week ago, so here goes:
1. One book that changed your life:
Other than the Bible? My Name is Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok. If you haven’t read it, you ought to!
2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
I’ve read a lot of books more than once! A great deal of children’s literature falls into this category, but I’ll pick just one: The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
I’m going with the Bible, and not just because it is the Sunday School answer!
4. One book that made you laugh:
A lot of books make me laugh but I remember laughing to the point of tears several times while reading To Hate Like This is to be Happy Forever.
5. One book that made you cry:
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
6. One book that you wish had been written:
A How-To Guide to Being a Godly Wife, Mother and Friend by someone extraordinary
7. One book you wish had never been written:
The Scofield Study Bible. (Second Place: The Late Great Planet Earth. Third Place: Left Behind.)
8. One book you’re currently reading:
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered by E. F. Schumacher
10. Now tag five people:
I don’t usually tag people but…
Mike
Sarah M.
Sweetpea
TulipGirl
you, if you haven’t done it!
It’s frustrating that just when Uganda has a chance to end the 20 year long war that has destroyed that country, the eyes of the world are on the Middle East, as usual. Yes, hundreds have died in southern Lebanon, but so much media attention and a few too many wag the dog incidents. Why doesn’t anyone care about Africa? There’s a good editorial in today’s International Herald Tribune about Uganda, and a sad AP story about the lack of peace in Darfur after last month’s agreement. What can we do? How can we help? I long for justice, I long for the world to be made right.
I was reading Orthodoxy yesterday (yes, I am going to finish it sometime) and Chesterton got it right, as usual.
We need not debate about the mere words evolution or progress: personally I prefer to call it reform. For reform implies form. It implies that we are trying to shape the world in a particular image; to make it something that we see already in our minds. Evolution is a metaphor from mere automatic unrolling. Progress is a metaphor from merely walking along a road — very likely the wrong road. But reform is a metaphor for reasonable and determined men: it means that we see a certain thing out of shape and we mean to put it into shape. And we know what shape… My ideal at least is fixed; for it was fixed before the foundations of the world. My vision of perfection assuredly cannot be altered; for it is called Eden. You may alter the place to which you are going; but you cannot alter the place from which you have come. To the orthodox there must always be a case for revolution; for in the hearts of men God has been put under the feet of Satan. In the upper world hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration.
Posted in in the news, theology
The girls and I are back from the beach. We had a great time, but we missed Mike! We’ve been working hard around the house trying to unpack and just live. Mike worked on painting the living room while we were gone, which was a huge help.
While we were gone, our third anniversary came and went. Can you all believe it? It seems like just yesterday my featured blogs of the week were the folks who were at our wedding. And, then again, I can’t really remember life before Mike. Sometime when we find a sitter, we’ll have to go out for dinner and celebrate. :o)
Posted in family life
World Breastfeeding Week ends today, and the fifty-one weeks of the year I rarely post about nursing will resume again tomorrow. As someone who has been breastfeeding for the last twenty-five months, here are some ideas for everyone on how to promote breastfeeding year round.
For Everyone:
+ Make nursing women comfortable when you can. When a breastfeeding mother comes over to your home, briefly tell them they are welcome to nurse the baby wherever they feel comfortable. Personally, I like being near enough to enjoy conversation, even if I’m not comfortable being in the room (which has happened on occasion).
+ If someone starts breastfeeding in your presence, smile and maintain eye contact (which helps you not to notice moments of indiscretion.)
+ Always keep in mind that discomfort nursing in public is one of the top reasons women cite that they don’t breastfeed as long as they intend to. Many women (like me) have been spoken to unkindly, even while using blankets and trying very hard to be discreet. If you are uncomfortable with how someone is nursing, try to put yourself in their shoes. I had trouble nursing discreetly last week when I was travelling by myself, 600 miles away from home in 98 degree heat, with two small children. I can recall one compassionate smile that was a true encouragement to me.
For Breastfeeding Moms:
+ Consider nursing in front of your older sons, brothers and other male relatives. I honestly believe this is one of the best ways to shape our culture to have a healthy view of breastfeeding. When teenage boys see a woman nursing at the mall, it would be awesome if they would equate that with their mother, sister or dear aunt and not maxim magazine.
+ Nurse discreetly in public. This is a middle ground between the few who are indiscreet and others who won’t nurse in public at all. Use your husband as a blanket-holder if you are uncomfortable or practice at home. Again, society is shaped when women show that breastfeeding is a normal and discreet procress.
+ Be encouraged. You are doing the very best you can for your children. Don’t let others drag you down!
Posted in culture, in the news, parental ponderings
Breastfeeding in public is a touchy subject that spawns a great deal of debate. Here are some unsystematic and uncomprehensive thoughts on the matter. Continue reading
Posted in culture, in the news, parental ponderings
The big breastfeeding controversy in the news these days is that BabyTalk magazine (a free subsidary of Parenting magazine) put a nursing baby on the cover. I actually get BT sent to me (thanks to some doctor’s office somewhere that signed me up) and when I got this month’s issue I felt that it was very well done and in good taste — before it was splashed all over. (You can judge for yourself here.)
What surprised me the most about the controversy is how in every story I read, someone quoted ripped off the cover in order to protect their husband or son from seeing the image.
What do you think?
Posted in culture, family life, in the news, parental ponderings
