Monday, December 31, 2007

pregnancy makes me crazy

I've become a different person. Before I was concerned when the house got a little out of order. Now I nearly have a nervous breakdown. I feel the need to keep everything in perfect order, and I must know where everything is at all times. This is crazy! Nobody told me that this would happen...

On the upside, with my need to organize, I think I will be ahead of the game in preparation for the baby. I've started reading books/magazines and talking to family/friends about what a baby needs, and have compiled a list of what I think we will need when baby arrives. Having eight months to do price comparisons and budgets is a great thing.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

'tis the season

This time of year is my favorite! It's nice and chilly outside, perfect weather for sweaters and scarves. This year Ken and I get two Thanksgivings- one at his parents' house, and one at my parents' house. It's a week of festivities!

I'm thinking about decorating the apartment, and trying to decide how I will do that. I know I want white twinkle lights- everywhere! I think the tiny Christmas tree will go in front of the fireplace for now, and it's easy to move if we decide to have a fire. I will also be rearranging our guest bedroom in hopes that I can somehow find more room in there! I don't know what we'll do when we have to make room for the baby.

We've had maroon and silver, and blue and white so far since we've been married, and I think this year I want white and silver- like snow. Maybe if we're lucky we'll actually get snow this winter! Yay for winter! Yay for holidays! Yay for Christ who was born and died for our sins!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

saltines and water

As I sit here in bed this morning, I'm in awe of the wonder-food: SALTINES! It's amazing how they can taste ok, and at the same time stop the nausea and fill me up until breakfast! Apparently I'm going to be waking up at 6 every morning. Seems to be the time when my body decides it needs food. I've also figured out that I start to feel sick if I haven't eaten in about four hours. So I can kind of plan on that, and have a snack with me. I'm addicted to carrots right now. I ate them for breakfast and dinner yesterday. I'm really hoping this lasts, because that's an easy way to eat veggies, and not many sound appealing. Coffee is disgusting, and the smell of sour dough bread with it makes me queasy. Poor Ken can't make it when I'm around, lol.

Today I have my first appointment with my midwife, and I'm looking forward to being able to know that the baby is doing fine. Plus, I'm hoping that I won't have to keep laying low. I will post again to tell you (I know everybody will get sick of this, lol) how the appointment went.

So until then, I sit, clinging to my saltines and sipping the wonderful life-giving nectar- WATER! Those are the words of the day: saltines and water. May I never be without them :)

(As a side note, I just realized saltines and crackers sound like bread and water a prisoner would get to eat, lol)

Monday, November 12, 2007

babies

I told everybody how much I love babysitting my nephew and being around him, right? Well, I got all those test results back, and it looks like I'm pregnant! Wow! It's the last thing I would have expected, but God has decided to bless us with a child, and I trust He is in control. So it looks like I will have my own full-time babysitting job (yes, I know I'm greatly simplifying the change) in about nine months. So there you go, that's what's happening!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

impatient

I got the results from the first blood test, but the doctor was still unsure about it and concerned, so she had me go to the hospital today for another blood draw. There's a rush on this one, and the lab tech told me they'd be faxing the results to the doctor this afternoon. I think she'll call me when she gets the results (at least, I hope she'll call), so I'm keeping positive about finding out something good this afternoon/evening. If not today, then tomorrow.

Friday, November 9, 2007

stressed

Today was a strange day. Suffice to say that what started out as a search for a female doctor landed me in the doctor's office having my blood drawn. Last thing I expected to have happen. Then I was assured that the test results were on rush, and I'd probably have the results this afternoon/evening. Unfortunately, it looks like the lab didn't rush enough, so I will instead have to wait until Monday to find out what's going on. So this weekend I will think too much about the possible outcomes, and obsess over the whole situation- which I can't change either way, and won't magically get an answer from the worrying. I have to remind myself (and am thankful for the others who've reassured me) that God is in control and He knows me, and even if His timing is not what I think it should be, He won't give me more than I can handle.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

my addiction

Contrary to popular belief, I am not perfect :)
My weakness is books. I can go to the stores and resist clothes- and yes, even shoes- but if you take me to a book store I walk around drooling at all the pretty paper just begging me to pick it up and read it. Today Ken and I went to Gresham so I could take a couple of tests for school (a weekly event) and we stopped by the Christian Outlet afterwards. We went in so Ken could look for a book. What did we come out with? Oh yes, books for me and three little pamphlets for him! I have four new books to add to my reading list, and I'm looking forward to them!

Countering the Claims of Evangelical Feminism by Wayne Grudem
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
A Kiss is Still a Kiss by Laura Jensen Walker
Defending Traditional Marriage by Willard F. Harley, Jr.

I'll let you know how I like them when I finally get to them. I'm thinking winter break will be a good time since I won't have class for a couple of weeks. I'm praying that I'll find time to relax and read one before then, but we'll see.

adventures in babysitting



Every week I get to watch my nephew, Quinn, while my sister works her job. It's definitely one of the highlights of each week. He sleeps most of the time, but when he's up we have some fun. This past week we went to the park a couple of times, and had a big cookie incident! I'll let the pictures explain themselves :)

harry potter: in hell?

That's right! I'm fascinated by the obsession that the books and movies have received by many, including Christians. I wonder if people realize that everything the characters portray is in direct violation of what we are taught in the Bible. We see it many times, both in the Old Testament and New Testament. Here are a few verses:
Leviticus 19:26
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
2 Kings 17:17
Micah 5:12
Galatians 5:19-21
Revelation 21:8
Revelation 22:15

It is clear that any form of witchcraft, sorcery, or magic arts is a sin. People who practice these are sinning. So why do Christians choose to read the books and watch the movies, thereby supporting the views held within? Why would they willingly allow their children to be exposed to such things, and act if it is acceptable? I know that this will make people angry, because challenging things that they do or think always makes somebody upset. Truth hurts, people. I'm not saying I'm perfect- I find shows about witchcraft/vampires/magic appealing, because it presents a world of fantasy. But that is no excuse for me. We should flee all that God despises, even if it's popular in our secular world. As Christians, we look forward to the promise of eternal life with our Lord, and as such should forget the things of the world. I challenge you to rebel against social norms in favor of all that makes God delight in us- things that are good and pleasing. Those things do not include witchcraft and sorcery.

If you disagree, feel free to provide me with Biblical evidence of God approving of His children practicing witchcraft/sorcery/magic arts. I think you would be hard pressed to find evidence in support of those things.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

politics

I love my church. If I didn't, I wouldn't go there. That said, it never ceases to amaze me what some people do in a church environment. Tonight I stayed home and studied for a midterm (and passed out tracts to trick-or-treaters) while Ken helped out at our church's Fall Family Festival- a Halloween alternative. Ken didn't dress up, and he went for the sole purpose to help evangelize people who came. The purpose of the festival is to draw people to Christ, as should all of our activities as Christians.

So the evangelism team was there, ready to chat with parents who brought their kids. The wild thing was that somebody told them that they were not allowed to evangelize! Sorry guys, doesn't matter if you're at church- your Gospel message might offend somebody. Heaven forbid the Gospel offends somebody! Goodness sake!!! The Gospel is offensive. It convicts people, and as Christians it is our duty to spread God's word. To tell members of His body that they are not allowed to do as the Bible instructs is ludicrous. Anyway, Ken and several others plan to protest this, because the idea of it is insane, and we shouldn't regulate when people are allowed to share Christ. It is always acceptable to share news of our Savior!!! He came to seek and save the lost, and we are to plead out of love for people to come to Him.

So right on to all you Christians who boldly declare our Risen Lord!!! God is Good!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

autumn

I just love this time of year. Everything outside is made up of such great colors. The air is nice and crisp, and I get to wear sweaters and scarves. Today I was able to see my nephew Quinn jump in a pile of leaves for the first time. Do you ever have those days where you wish you had the time just to hang out and play in the leaves? If I didn't care about creepy crawlies I would've been in there with him. There's something about fall that I find so special, and I try to enjoy it while it lasts.

Monday, October 29, 2007

deep waters

Ok, Sunday at church our pastor had a really cool analogy of us clinging to Jesus, so I thought I would share it:
When kids learn to swim, their parents put the little floaties on their arms and help them into the shallow end. Dad swims down to the deep end, and his little girl paddles around in the shallow end for a while. She starts to get afraid, and says, "Daddy, I want to swim to you." She paddles her way to the deep end and clings to her father's neck, feeling safe at last. Though she was only in a few feet of water in the shallow end, she would rather be in the deep and more dangerous water with her father than alone in the shallow end. So it is with us as Christians- we should long to be in deep with Jesus instead of living a shallow life alone.
Pastor David Case
Newberg Christian Church

more than rubies

Why this blog title? Well, my favorite scripture, proverbs 31, starts out with it! I strive to be like the woman in that passage, and I'll admit that I fail a lot. The great thing is that God forgives me where I fall short, as does my husband, Ken. How wonderful that we're given such awesome instruction in the Bible for how our lives should be lived. I hope to be able to share things that I come up with- whether it be scriptures, stories, or just random everyday happenings- with everybody. So for now, if you haven't read Proverbs 31, I would encourage you to do so to fully understand what I'm talking about.



"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Prov 31:10