Wednesday, June 30, 2004

And so, we wait

The doctor seems pleased with my progress and thinks the advent of the child could be any time now. I'll continue to strike through the days as they go by on "The Waiting Game - Update" post so you know that we haven't gone to the hospital... if you care about these things! I walk by her pack 'n play with the bassinet insert in our bedroom, and look at the little mobile and sheet and think, "Everything is ready and waiting for you, sweet baby girl!" The bags are packed, the carseat is installed, diapers are bought, the last of my thank you notes are written... we're as ready as we'll ever be!

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004

We've Got the Power!

You know you want some Presbyterian Power! I found this while surfing and found it hilarious. You need to see the Real Ultimate Power website first to truly appreciate the reformed parody.

written by kristen, at 1:42 AM | leave your mark |
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The Waiting Game - Update

Guesses on the baby's arrival date from comments on Friday, June 18th
June 21 - Tricia
June 23 - Jamie
June 25 - Nicola
June 27 - Neely
June 28 - Reba
June 29 - Kathleen (Amy)
June 30 - Jen K-M. (Nicola, Alexandra)
July 1 - Kristen (Jessie)
July 2 - Mike (Jenni) 12:50am
Kathryn Lilia, 6lbs 8oz, 19in, 3 kiloHelens
July 3 - Valerie [sans initial]
July 4 - Sora (Brad)
July 5 - Shane (Kari)
July 6 - Jen W.
July 7 - Valerie S.
July 31 - Sarah

written by kristen, at 1:20 AM | leave your mark |
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Saturday, June 26, 2004

Irony

It is highly ironic to read in an email a reference to "Wilson and his cult", especially when the gentleman is a lutheran.

Sure, he has a point. Some people are WAY too into Doug Wilson, but the irony is still there.

written by michael, at 8:09 PM | leave your mark |
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To End All Wars

Has anyone seen the movie To End All Wars? It was released three years ago, starred Kiefer Sutherland (among others) and is based on a true story about Allied POWs forced to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle in WWII. It's overtly Christian in its message, so I guess that's why it wasn't widely distributed or well known, but I recommend it.

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Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Hurray for Books

The soon-to-be Mrs. Mosley sent our baby two fantastic literary gifts -- The Runaway Bunny and a set of Introducing the Little Prince board books. We are all sure to enjoy those!

written by kristen, at 2:36 PM | leave your mark |
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Justification

This has been commented on by Doug Wilson and Mark Horne; however there is a point that jumped out at me that I haven't seen anyone else make.

The statement is by Dr. Hywel Jones, and Doug Wilson cites it as being from Christian Renewal. Dr. Jones says: "Justification is the realization that one is pardoned of all sin, accepted by God without works of any kind, and this motivates and supports one in doing the will of God as nothing else does."

Rev. Wilson and Rev. Horne both jumped on the phrase "Justification is the realization ... " and said, "Not uh!" Thanks to my undergraduate courses in NT and Early Church, the first red flag that jumped in my head was: "Justification is the realization? What a gnostic!" That is flat-out, grade A, 100%, "you're justified by what you know (or realize)" gnosticism.

Shesh, won't these heresies ever go away?

written by michael, at 4:11 AM | leave your mark |
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Home Again

I'm putting the finishing touches on cleaning the big house we've rattled around in the last three weeks and returning to our humble little apartment this afternoon. I'll miss some of the comfort of the big house (and the pool) but it was way too big for us, even not using the upstairs at all. We could go hours without seeing one another. I'm happy to be going home to our sweet little apartment, where there's a pack and play with a bassinet insert set up next to the bed, and everything is ready for the arrival of Miss Stewart!

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Saturday, June 19, 2004

You Read the Blog, Now Buy the Car!

Yes, that's right. Kristen and I are having our first-ever, buy one of the Stewarts' car sales. In all seriousness, we have two cars. Can only take one to Virginia. Cutlass will sell much easier -- and for more -- than the Volvo. Plus, I just pumped 2k into the Volvo and don't think it would make that back. Anyhow, this all means that the Olds is for sale.

http://www.thisclassicallife.com/forsale/

NOTE: I designed the site using a MAC, for the very first time. No, Wayne, we haven't converted; we're house-sitting. This all to say, I haven't viewed the site with a PC and can't vouch for the perfection of the design. When I get a chance, I'll tinker and fix it. For now, if you or someone you know needs a car, let me know. There may also be special "covenant blessings for covenant members" if you know the special handshake.

written by michael, at 3:45 AM | leave your mark |
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Friday, June 18, 2004

Waiting Game

Blogging has been slow, here and elsewhere, lately. So, we're waiting for the arrival of our daughter, which could technically be any time now. On Wednesday, I was 1 cm dialated, 50% effaced, -2 station. My doctor is on vacation next week. Any guesses as to the date she'll arrive? (Limit one person per date). The winner gets... I don't know. That's yet to be determined.

written by kristen, at 5:29 PM | leave your mark |
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Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Strange and Bizarre Happenings of Today

FUN, BUT STRANGE - Today I received in the mail a Western Union money order for $35 with no note and no return address. The handwriting looks unnaturally sloppy, and the postmark is from the Raleigh-Durham area. Any clues who the mystery benefactor is?

INFURIATINGLY BIZARRE - Today I went to my local HEB and asked for ten brown paper bags to mail care packages to soldiers serving overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea. After twenty minutes of debate they told me I could not have TEN brown paper bags. I'm big, pregnant and patriotic. It's ludicrous they would not give me ten brown paper bags. i am going to make a real effort to not patronize the HEB on Riverside Drive for the rest of my tenure in Austin.

written by kristen, at 7:08 PM | leave your mark |
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Sunday, June 13, 2004

What I've Been Doing... What I Wish I've Been Doing

I've been: reading somewhat trashy fiction, playing Rise of Nations, pretending I am on bed rest.
I wish I've been: writing thank you notes, reading great works, packing.

written by kristen, at 8:41 PM | leave your mark |
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New Moms

Dawn, Lenise and I have a little new moms email group started up. Email me (see right) if you are interested in participating!

written by kristen, at 8:38 PM | leave your mark |
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Friday, June 11, 2004

How Secular Journalists See Christian Publications

Check out The Revealer's guide to the Christian press. Its analysis of Christianity Today, World, and Relevant made me smile, but its thoughts on the Chalcedon Report made me laugh so hard I cried.

written by kristen, at 2:36 PM | leave your mark |
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Wednesday, June 09, 2004

New Links

Just in case you don't diligently follow our links page, here are some blogs for you to check out:
+ Matt and Elizabeth Harper are blogging. You all know Matt. Or you know someone that does. There's some sort of a rule about that in reformed circles. Keep up with him, get to know his wife and more.
+ Amy and Courtney, friends here in Austin, are now part of WorldMagBlog's Generation W. Courtney is spending the summer in Senegal, so hopefully she'll be able to make some exciting posts from there. And Amy is very cool, even if she is not in Senegal. Check them out!
+ Bunnie is also a Generation W blogger. I've been reading her for quite some time, and just recently remembered to add her link. You'll learn a lot about politics, spelling bees, CCM and more from reading her blog.

written by kristen, at 11:13 PM | leave your mark |
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"Free" Speech ...

... and by "free", we mean: "that which agrees with us can be shouted, especially if it disturbs conservatives who are in class and still trying to be productive students."

Sorry, I'm still a little peeved from the "Anti-War" rally at UT that we had before the war. I remember sitting in my Biblical Hebrew class, unable to learn; the teacher was unable to teach. Bloody liberals. They should have protested the war by dropping out of school.

Okay, to my point. Tyler Harper was suspended from school in California for wearing a shirt that communicated God's thoughts on homosexuality, providing support from Romans.

Tyler Chase Harper, 16, was suspended from Poway (California) High School for wearing a T-shirt during the annual Day of Silence, an event held on high school and college campuses throughout the country "to recognize and protest discrimination and harassment against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender students," according to a report in the "San Diego Union/Tribune."

The problem wasn't that Harper's T-shirt endorsed the Day of Silence but that it opposed homosexuality. On the front the T-shirt read "I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned," and on the back it read "Homosexuality is Shameful, Romans 1:27."

The administrators said Harper's T-shirt violated the school dress code, which provides that it is unacceptable to wear clothing that promotes "violence or hate behavior including derogatory connotations directed toward sexual identity." Harper was told his T-shirt would have to go; the assistant principal even told him to "leave your faith in the car." When he refused to remove the T-shirt, Harper was suspended.

A double standard is at play. Free speech is permitted to students whose T-shirts endorse the ideology behind the Day of Silence but not to those who oppose it. This meant Harper was out of luck--and out of school. Now he is suing the Poway Unified School District.

Sorry, I wouldn't dare send my kids to an average public school in California. It was bad when I was there; now, it appears to have gotten worse, and my siblings still have to go through with it.

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Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Making Gifts and Making Friends

I had a little shower this weekend that was really fun. Overall, we've pretty much accumulated the stuff we need for the few weeks we'll spend as parents in Austin, so I feel pretty good about that. Everything else is able to wait until after we move. Our sweet daughter has already received THREE homemade blankets. I love them all. One is from one of my students, who has been learning to use a sewing machine. She picked out the fabric herself and did a very good job. Another one is from my sweet friend Sarah, who is a sewing whiz. It is the prettiest material, large and square, perfect for swaddling. She's a nurse, and spent several years on the maternity hall, so she knows about things like that. The last is from Mrs. Olasky, who knit her a really cute blanket. I can knit, but Susan Olasky can REALLY knit. Well, significantly better than me. I am also knitting a little hat/blanket combo for our daughter for this winter, something to throw over the infant car seat when she is outside for a short period of time. There's something wonderful about knowing that someone put time and effort into making a gift for you and your baby. I have been trying to do this lately with varying success, and getting some homemade gifts is good motivation to keep persevering with it.

I've lived in Austin now for almost ten months. It has been, by far, the craziest ten months of my life. Figuring out how to be a wife and a teacher pretty much filled up my time, but I was pleasantly surprised by the friends I have made, like Lori and Sarah, who threw me a shower, and the older women in church and at school who have looked out for me. I'll truly miss some people here. I spent a lot of time talking to someone new on Sunday afternoon, and it was sad to think that I am just up and moving off, just as a friendship could have begun. But making friends is good practice, I suppose. I'll get to Richmond and be in good form for getting to know people.

written by kristen, at 2:44 PM | leave your mark |
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Monday, June 07, 2004

Bibles and Lectionaries

Kristen and I are real ESV-bible nerds. The translation has been in print for, what?, two years? We each already have three different copies. We both have our Classic Reference Hardback, Leather Thinline, and tonight we bought two Compact Trutone Editions with the diamond design. We probably won't buy anymore, except if they fall apart and when we buy bibles for our kids. Though if they came out with compact, black-letter, with the Apocrypha, we'd probably be first in line.

One area where I'm not-so-dedicated is in my lectionary choice. The 1928 BCP uses the Apocrypha, and I don't have a decent bible translation with it (see above). The more recent BCPs conveniently edit controversial passages out of the lectionary. Also, Kristen and I have found that having to read passages from about four different sections of the bible each day was a bit much. I've heard that a liturgically-trained Anglican knows how to link all the passages together. Any hardcore Anglicans willing to comment?

written by michael, at 10:25 PM | leave your mark |
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He is... Bradley Dad

In our Bradley (Natural/Husband-Coached Childbirth) classes, we often cracked jokes about the workbook's mention of "the coach's card" -- which is given to husbands upon the completion of the course. Apparently, back in the day, expectant fathers had to prove they took a childbirth class to be present in the delivery room. So, the workbook mentions bringing your coach's card to the hospital, showing it to the nurse, etc.

We were on our way to the hospital for a tour yesterday and I turned to Mike and asked, "So, do you have your coach's card?" He didn't, but he then expressed his desire to turn it into a badge and wield it with a heavy hand. "Excuse me, Bradley dad, coming through. Bradley dads -- the few, the proud, the douloi." I must admit, after hearing men ask the most ludicrous questions on the tour such as, "Dialated to 8 centimeters, is that how long the baby is?" I am glad to have a card-carrying husband who knows SOMETHING about the labor and delivery process.

written by kristen, at 5:39 PM | leave your mark |
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Saturday, June 05, 2004

Books, Books, Books, Books

One of the great things about housesitting for one's elders, is the sheer number of great books in the house. Books I've been wanting to read: Jeff Meyers, Doug Wilson, Mathison, GI Williamson, et al are all readily available.

Wahoo!

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Friday, June 04, 2004

Another Book Review By Special Request

I read Azar Nafasi's Reading Lolita in Tehran for a book club made up of a few women from our church. It's a memoir of a group of women who read English literature together in secret in post-Islamic Revolution Iran. It was a worthwhile and interesting book, but it certainly had its own challenges.

First, memoirs as a genre can be difficult to read, as authors tend not to want to cut memories to which they have strong emotional ties. A novelist can more easily recognize that a scene or incident doesn't fit and cut it than a writer who is, in essence, cutting off a pivotal moment in his or her own life. There were several times I felt that the book could have been strengthened if the author was more choosy with what she included. Another difficulty was that the book was arranged and themed around great works of English literature. I had read some of them (The Great Gatsby, Lolita, Pride and Prejudice) but she often discussed them in greater detail than I was familiar with, and she spent a lot of time citing more obscure works of the authors, and I felt like I was missing out on some of the parallels Nafasi was drawing with her memoir.

Overall, it wasn't a good way to learn more about English literature, but it was an interesting insight into the lives that women lead in fundamentalist, Islamic cultures. I remember one of the students talking vividly about going on vacation and being without a burka, and feeling the wonder of the wind blowing against her cheek, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a decade. All of these women longed to leave Iran, even though they loved their homeland. Even those who were good Muslims were not comfortable in a state where their religion, which they held dear, was forced upon others and shoved down their throats. Other women, of course, longed to wear jeans. But they were all longing for somewhere more free and peaceful. I enjoy learning about different cultures and their unique struggles and triumphs, and I enjoyed this book because it was a window into a world I knew little about, but a world that is growing in influence and importance in global society. I recommend it.

written by kristen, at 1:49 AM | leave your mark |
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Wednesday, June 02, 2004

Fairy Tales Can Come True...

My last set of narrative report cards are turned in. My classroom is cleaned up and ready for next year. Our Bradley classes are finally over. We're housesitting in West Austin for the next three weeks at a nice big house with a pool and good books -- and all we have to do is water the plants (and Mike'll mow once.) My dreams of spending the month of June floating in the pool, reading and/or eating cantaloupe are coming to fruition...

written by kristen, at 11:16 PM | leave your mark |
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