The "chapel" talk I gave to the girls went well and was fun. I did go overtime, though, which I think is probably bad since they are on a strict schedule for class periods, but I just couldn't stop after 15 minutes! I think I went around 20-25...I'll have to ask Mr. N how long I was. :) He very graciously held the man-child for me while I rambled about what women were made for.
I basically took the well-known passages from the Bible on women, starting with Genesis 2:23 - woman taken out of man, woman made for man, and woman made to be man's helpmeet/support/encourager, etc. So our lives are focused around the man/men in our lives ("men" meaning father, brothers, husband) which is vastly different from a man's calling.
Then, I asked what does that look like? I used Proverbs 31 to answer that question. And yes, I was talking to junior high girls, but I told them it's never to early to know how to respect, obey, and build up their fathers and brothers. It's also never to early to love domestic things such as sewing, cooking, cleaning, caring for babies and children, learning how to make oneself lovely to behold.
I jumped over to Titus 2:1-5 and touched on what it looks like spiritually to be a woman. A woman is chaste, good, sober, discreet, loves her husband and children, a homemaker, obedient to own husbands (and I applied that to their fathers strongly).
It was a good challenge, and fun, for me to tie these all together and try to encourage the girls to see that the Bible gives very clear direction for how they are to act now and how they can prepare for what God has made them to be: wives and mothers! I hope I didn't scare them by continually mentioning that that is what women are to be. :)
On the Home Front, our friends are definitely moving, which means we are definitely moving from an apartment to a home! Huzzah! We are indeed sorry they have to move because of the economy, but since they *have* to move, we are glad to be their tenants and take care of their home. And I hear they are so pleased to have someone they know to live in their house. So it's a good deal! I need to now start going through closets and our little storage throwing out stuff we haven't used in over a year (I KNOW we have some stuff we've just been storing for no good reason!) and begin packing things we won't need every day.
The move will most likely be the end of November, so I have plenty of time. But, with Mr. Baby, I like to allow myself plenty of time to get the packing accomplished.
I just glanced at the title of this post, and it reminded me what I was going to say. I'd been slacking off a bit with the housework, but my dear husband gave me a gentle nudge, and so today I did the laundry and cleaned both bathrooms! I still need to get to the floors, but I think I can either do that tonight or tomorrow. I guess I'm so excited that I got that accomplished, AND did the dishes after lunch, because with Beowulf not always being exactly predictable when he'll wake up from his naps, I never know how far I'll get on a project before he needs me to feed him, change him, bathe him, or just play with him.
Speaking of the child, he's been quite chatty lately! I love how he's really experimenting with his voice and all the fun sounds he can make! I'll try to figure out how to post a video or two on here of his newest skills.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
'Nuther Chance
So there's another house-to-rent chance. As of yet, it seems certain, but I am still wary and won't be quite at ease that we ARE going to rent it (even though both parties have said as much) until we sign papers. And that might not happen for a bit, because the landlords don't know when they are moving out exactly, but it'll be around 2 months from now.
Prayer that this would work out this time would be wonderful, and at the same time that I would not fret and worry as I am so wont to do! :) Trusting in God to provide materially and being *at peace* no matter what happens is something that seems to keep popping up in my daily life that I am more aware of than before.
To the ladies in partic: In a different vein, Luke has asked me to give the "chapel" talk to his 8th grade girls this week on biblical femininity. I really only have tomorrow to work on it, and although I've given it some thought, I still need some resources for things important for junior-high aged girls. I'm going to do an overview of what it should look like in young girls, and later during the year hit on some things to work on, something like that. Naturally, the Bible is where I'll start and end, but if there are any good blogs I could peruse or any quotes anyone has, or general advice, I'd love to look it over. Thanks!
Prayer that this would work out this time would be wonderful, and at the same time that I would not fret and worry as I am so wont to do! :) Trusting in God to provide materially and being *at peace* no matter what happens is something that seems to keep popping up in my daily life that I am more aware of than before.
To the ladies in partic: In a different vein, Luke has asked me to give the "chapel" talk to his 8th grade girls this week on biblical femininity. I really only have tomorrow to work on it, and although I've given it some thought, I still need some resources for things important for junior-high aged girls. I'm going to do an overview of what it should look like in young girls, and later during the year hit on some things to work on, something like that. Naturally, the Bible is where I'll start and end, but if there are any good blogs I could peruse or any quotes anyone has, or general advice, I'd love to look it over. Thanks!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
New Horizons
That's a cliche title, but I feel like we're living cliche days . . . it's all happened before.
There's a home for rent that seems to be in our future, and if the Lord is willing we will be renting it in a mere few months!
We were "burned" earlier after accepting to rent a dream house. The circumstances of the burn are unimportant, but the gist is that we were crushed. At least I was. I know Luke was disappointed, but I was *crushed* when I heard it wasn't going to work.
As I said in my last post, God seems to be teaching and reminding us through disappointment and other random struggles that He is in control and we need to lean on Him for every big and little thing. Lots of "golden opportunities" seem to be waved beneath our noses, and we look around for any potholes, but when we step to reach for it, we sink a few inches, or feet as the case may be. We realize we forgot to say "please," and were snatching, rather than holding our hands open to be filled.
God gives freely, and we need to receive freely. Grabbing never gets you anywhere, ultimately, and certainly trying to hang on will lead to disappointment. But holding your hands open means God can give and take without scarring. God gives and takes, but the amount of pain depends on whether you trust Him to give you good things and more good things, or replace good things with great things.
Watching Beowulf bob his little blond head up and down as he struggles to hold it steady to look around the room while sprawled on his tummy on the floor reminds me how very much I love him and how very sad I'd be if anything happened to him. It reminds me of fears I had while pregnant, fears unfounded but nevertheless fears of things going wrong. It reminds me of fears I had during childbirth, and afterwards, and even now I still struggle with fear for him. I am constantly reminding myself to open my hands and keep giving my baby back to his Creator.
But through disappointments I've learned (or re-learned?) that better things have ALWAYS come from them. If something amazing you want or desire is taken away, something far better is found in its place. When an opportunity falls through, a far better door (or window or kitchen cupboard) is opened for you to walk through.
It's cliche, but it's true.
There's a home for rent that seems to be in our future, and if the Lord is willing we will be renting it in a mere few months!
We were "burned" earlier after accepting to rent a dream house. The circumstances of the burn are unimportant, but the gist is that we were crushed. At least I was. I know Luke was disappointed, but I was *crushed* when I heard it wasn't going to work.
As I said in my last post, God seems to be teaching and reminding us through disappointment and other random struggles that He is in control and we need to lean on Him for every big and little thing. Lots of "golden opportunities" seem to be waved beneath our noses, and we look around for any potholes, but when we step to reach for it, we sink a few inches, or feet as the case may be. We realize we forgot to say "please," and were snatching, rather than holding our hands open to be filled.
God gives freely, and we need to receive freely. Grabbing never gets you anywhere, ultimately, and certainly trying to hang on will lead to disappointment. But holding your hands open means God can give and take without scarring. God gives and takes, but the amount of pain depends on whether you trust Him to give you good things and more good things, or replace good things with great things.
Watching Beowulf bob his little blond head up and down as he struggles to hold it steady to look around the room while sprawled on his tummy on the floor reminds me how very much I love him and how very sad I'd be if anything happened to him. It reminds me of fears I had while pregnant, fears unfounded but nevertheless fears of things going wrong. It reminds me of fears I had during childbirth, and afterwards, and even now I still struggle with fear for him. I am constantly reminding myself to open my hands and keep giving my baby back to his Creator.
But through disappointments I've learned (or re-learned?) that better things have ALWAYS come from them. If something amazing you want or desire is taken away, something far better is found in its place. When an opportunity falls through, a far better door (or window or kitchen cupboard) is opened for you to walk through.
It's cliche, but it's true.
Thursday, September 09, 2010
3 Months Old
I obviously have not kept this up-to-date, since my baby boy is 3 months old, in exactly 3 hours!!
Beowulf Arthur Nieuwsma was born June 10th 2010 at 2:07a.m.
It's always the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning, isn't it? At least an overwhelming majority of babies seem to come in the darkness. Maybe it has something to do with mother being active during the day, so by the time the baby comes it's well into the night.
At any rate, I had an excellent birthing experience! Beowulf was 8lbs 14oz, 21 inches long. Despite his impressive size it took only 9 minutes to push the bear out. I had an excellent OBGYN who gave me clear instructions before I began pushing. My mother said that she had never heard anyone describe it so well, it's exactly what needs to happen, but no doctor ever explained it as clearly. I was so grateful for that!
Recovery went well, and I am feeling fit as a fiddle, aside from my middle. There's extra skin and stretched muscles there. That's what sit-ups are for! :)
Beowulf is such a wonderful kid. I am blessed to say that in his first 3 months, he hasn't ever had his days and nights mixed up! I think he was so "active" during the day (with various people holding him during his naps, keeping him from being in a deep sleep for no more than 2 hours) that at night when he was in his crib, he would sleep generally 2-3 hours straight before needing to eat. There were rough nights, to be sure, and I had to go through baby blues during the time when I was getting the least amount of sleep, but that was only a few short days (and long nights).
We began training him to sleep through the night (6 hours was our goal) just before he was 3 weeks old. He didn't get the hang of it until around 3 1/2 weeks, but he was definitely sleeping 5 hours straight fairly quickly. That was a HUGE difference to me from a mere 3 hours. Heaven!
Now, he can easily sleep 9 hours, and a few times I've had to wake him before he sleeps 10 hours long. Beowulf just went through a growth spurt, which meant he was waking at 4am or 5am and was HUNGRY. Also, he cut his naps during the day in half because he was hungry, but once I shortened time between feedings, that seemed to help after a few days. He's back to normal nap routine (which doesn't mean that every nap is 1.5-2 hours, but usually only one might be shorter) and his nighttimes have been much better. Tonight was a bit rough. It was shortly after 11pm before he fell asleep. Before his growth spurt, he would be asleep anywhere between 10 and 10:30pm and would stay asleep until 6 or 7.
Luke is back teaching at school, and is the Assistant Director of Prayer Rock Academy. I'm so proud of him, he was been working hard every evening, and even though the last few evenings have had a few hours cut out of them, due to an evening class and a few meetings, he had consistently been finished with work before midnight. He loves teaching just Latin and Omnibus for 7th and 8th grade. It's great that he has 3 boys in the 7th grade, since last year he taught 3 girls all their 7th grade subjects. This year he has them as 8th graders, but only for two classes. They are all a delight, and he is loving teaching them Eusebius and Wheelock's Latin.
My grandparents are visiting from tomorrow through Tuesday morning. I am so glad to see them again! We didn't get much time with them while we were in Idaho after Beowulf was born. Partly because our schedule was off since Luke and I were sick for a few days, and Beowulf was also keeping me up at night every few hours...he was messed up due to our traveling and relocating from Luke's parent's house to my family's farm halfway through our vacation. And then in the afternoons and evenings we often had engagements away from the farm, so my poor grandparents didn't see much of their newest great grandson. But now, he's more alert, definitely responsive with lots of ah-goos, boos, smiles, chuckles, squirms, drooling, some squeaks and a few screams of joy.
God has been SO good! There are always things that seem to look pretty bad, but often putting things in perspective helps. Last year, we thought that some situations were looking pretty dire, and this year similar frustrations continue or new ones develop, but seeing how God provides and carries us through hardships (of which we have had to endure little) is strengthening and encouraging. His mercy endures forever, and His promises are sure.
We are learning, as we watch Beowulf grow, to cling to God's promises regarding children in the Old and New Testament. Being a parent, and realizing the responsibility it brings with it has been some of the scariest stuff to handle, but knowing that it is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can be faithful and faithfully train, love, and discipline our son, and only through His power will Beowulf follow Christ and His law.
Beowulf Arthur Nieuwsma was born June 10th 2010 at 2:07a.m.
It's always the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning, isn't it? At least an overwhelming majority of babies seem to come in the darkness. Maybe it has something to do with mother being active during the day, so by the time the baby comes it's well into the night.
At any rate, I had an excellent birthing experience! Beowulf was 8lbs 14oz, 21 inches long. Despite his impressive size it took only 9 minutes to push the bear out. I had an excellent OBGYN who gave me clear instructions before I began pushing. My mother said that she had never heard anyone describe it so well, it's exactly what needs to happen, but no doctor ever explained it as clearly. I was so grateful for that!
Recovery went well, and I am feeling fit as a fiddle, aside from my middle. There's extra skin and stretched muscles there. That's what sit-ups are for! :)
Beowulf is such a wonderful kid. I am blessed to say that in his first 3 months, he hasn't ever had his days and nights mixed up! I think he was so "active" during the day (with various people holding him during his naps, keeping him from being in a deep sleep for no more than 2 hours) that at night when he was in his crib, he would sleep generally 2-3 hours straight before needing to eat. There were rough nights, to be sure, and I had to go through baby blues during the time when I was getting the least amount of sleep, but that was only a few short days (and long nights).
We began training him to sleep through the night (6 hours was our goal) just before he was 3 weeks old. He didn't get the hang of it until around 3 1/2 weeks, but he was definitely sleeping 5 hours straight fairly quickly. That was a HUGE difference to me from a mere 3 hours. Heaven!
Now, he can easily sleep 9 hours, and a few times I've had to wake him before he sleeps 10 hours long. Beowulf just went through a growth spurt, which meant he was waking at 4am or 5am and was HUNGRY. Also, he cut his naps during the day in half because he was hungry, but once I shortened time between feedings, that seemed to help after a few days. He's back to normal nap routine (which doesn't mean that every nap is 1.5-2 hours, but usually only one might be shorter) and his nighttimes have been much better. Tonight was a bit rough. It was shortly after 11pm before he fell asleep. Before his growth spurt, he would be asleep anywhere between 10 and 10:30pm and would stay asleep until 6 or 7.
Luke is back teaching at school, and is the Assistant Director of Prayer Rock Academy. I'm so proud of him, he was been working hard every evening, and even though the last few evenings have had a few hours cut out of them, due to an evening class and a few meetings, he had consistently been finished with work before midnight. He loves teaching just Latin and Omnibus for 7th and 8th grade. It's great that he has 3 boys in the 7th grade, since last year he taught 3 girls all their 7th grade subjects. This year he has them as 8th graders, but only for two classes. They are all a delight, and he is loving teaching them Eusebius and Wheelock's Latin.
My grandparents are visiting from tomorrow through Tuesday morning. I am so glad to see them again! We didn't get much time with them while we were in Idaho after Beowulf was born. Partly because our schedule was off since Luke and I were sick for a few days, and Beowulf was also keeping me up at night every few hours...he was messed up due to our traveling and relocating from Luke's parent's house to my family's farm halfway through our vacation. And then in the afternoons and evenings we often had engagements away from the farm, so my poor grandparents didn't see much of their newest great grandson. But now, he's more alert, definitely responsive with lots of ah-goos, boos, smiles, chuckles, squirms, drooling, some squeaks and a few screams of joy.
God has been SO good! There are always things that seem to look pretty bad, but often putting things in perspective helps. Last year, we thought that some situations were looking pretty dire, and this year similar frustrations continue or new ones develop, but seeing how God provides and carries us through hardships (of which we have had to endure little) is strengthening and encouraging. His mercy endures forever, and His promises are sure.
We are learning, as we watch Beowulf grow, to cling to God's promises regarding children in the Old and New Testament. Being a parent, and realizing the responsibility it brings with it has been some of the scariest stuff to handle, but knowing that it is only through the power of the Holy Ghost that we can be faithful and faithfully train, love, and discipline our son, and only through His power will Beowulf follow Christ and His law.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Babies babies babies....
That's the way my mind goes these days. :)
Or rather insert the name of my baby...no, I'm not telling! Someone was SHOCKED the other day when they discovered that Luke and I were the only ones who knew our baby's name. And that we hadn't told our parents yet. I think it is a really good idea to keep the name a secret for now. Besides, he'll be here any day!
Speaking of that, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and things are going swimmingly! Baby is growing nicely (don't know just how big, but I'd say he's roughly 6-61/2 lbs...if not more!) and my body is doing the right things to prep for labor and delivery of the little man. My doctor wrote something down for her assistant "Here's a new acronym for you to know. BBW." The assistant said "Ooo, a new one for my book! What does it mean?" My doctor responded "Bulging bag of waters." And then she told me they could rupture on their own at any minute.
Meet me, the walking time bomb!
Random people are talking to me everywhere I go. A baby belly is an automatic conversation starter that you can't stop! So people just jump right in and ask how far along you are, when you're due, is it a girl or boy, what's the name, tell you that you haven't dropped yet (when you have, thank you very much), or that you'll drop 2-3 times (what?), and all sorts of good stuff like that. Sometimes I'm in the mood for it and cheerfully chat about my baby, but lately I've been tired and don't want people commenting on my body and passing on wisdom to me when they really don't know me from Eve. It really is great to see how women ARE made for taking care of children, they naturally are drawn to babies from even before they are born. But surely Miss Manners would have something to say about what you do and don't say to a pregnant woman?
Luke has been faithfully attending childbirth classes with me! It's so great to have his support, and he's made it a priority for us to be at every class we can before the baby is born. Tonight our class got to ask a lot of questions from one of the local pediatricians. If we didn't already have a family doctor in mind and if it didn't make more sense to us to go with a family practitioner who could take care of our whole family (and who is a Christian and recommended by two families we trust) we'd go with this pediatrician. He seemed very well balanced, careful to not tell us what to do as parents (even though a few parents asked questions that are more personal preferences and not medical concerns). It was good to get a view at what the local pediatricians are like, as well as be able to ask a doctor specific questions for advice and what he'd do in thus and such a circumstance.
Something that has been very encouraging, even though I've been more and more uncomfortable over the past week is that bearing a child and then giving birth to him is all a part of being a woman in this world. :) That may sound cheesy, and it may sound morbid for me to go to Genesis 3:16 and find comfort, but I do honestly take comfort in the fact that the discomfort and pain of the whole process is God-ordained. Sure, it's a result of the fall and a curse, but it's the part of the curse that I have to bear. Luke bears the curse daily, toiling for the herb of the field and for our bread, and I will willingly bear my part, which is bringing forth children "in pain".
Many times I wish I didn't have to, especially since I've never delivered a baby before and doubt my own strength. But God works all evil for good. I know even now He is using this fear of the pain to show me that He will make me strong in my weakness. I know I can't do this on my own, but I trust Him fully that He will bring me through, that the Lord will protect both the baby and I during the whole thing, and that I can lean on Him completely, letting go of my own will, wishes, and strength. AND that the only way this will work is if I trust God's perfect will.
This makes me remember a song Mom used to sing to my siblings and me when we were little:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
but to trust and obey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)