One for the Ladies

Yesterday I visited the gynecologist for the first time since my 6-week postpartum with Jonathan. Apart from the fact that I have stellar blood pressure -- 110/64, which puts me in the "athletes" category, HA! -- everything was normal. And no, I'm not pregnant. I know you're disappointed.

I spoke with him about the recent change in my medical history...namely, that my mom has had breast cancer. First, he replied that any woman in the United States now has a 1 in 9 chance of having breast cancer. Secondly, he said that it's more of a concern if your mom has it pre-menopause, say, in her 30's or 40's. My mom is not that young. I know that may come as a shock, since she looks it. ;-)

Lastly, he said that for me it would be best to wait until the normal age, 35, to begin having mammograms. A baseline at 35 and then yearly ones beginning at 40 will be the plan unless something changes.

I just want to express thanks for SUCH a great group of doctors. I like each one of them in this office. They never make me feel like a moron for having four kids so close together, and still not using hormonal birth control. (I will post on this topic sometime in the future...for now, if you're curious, you can read Challies' article here and here; David and I have mostly come to the same conclusion that he and his wife have reached, for the same reasons.) They just ask me how the kids are and laugh at my stories and tell me to keep up the good work. Super-encouraging. And the nurses are all nice, too.

When was the last time you did a BSE? When was your last pap?

Just your friendly neighborhood nag :-)

Give your home a soul

All books at Desiring God's website are $5 today and tomorrow.

We're making our list and checking it twice...

A room without books is like a body without a soul.
G. K. Chesterton; also attributed to Cicero

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.
Mark Twain

Overheard

Our two older boys are attending VBS this week at a church nearby. They are in separate classes, so they don't see each other all morning. I have had a lot of fun listening to their recaps of their mornings for each other. This morning's went something like this:

Cameron: Ben, what craft did you make this morning?
Ben: I drew a picture of myself fishing with my kitty.
Cameron: We went to music again!
Ben: We did, too!
Mom: What song did you sing today?
Cameron: "Run, run, run the race for Jesus" [or some similar sports/Jesus mixture]
Ben: We sang that song TOO!
Cameron: And we got to stand on the stairs while we were singing!!
Mom: What was your Bible story about today?
Ben: Mine was about John.
Cameron: Mine was about John the Baptist.
Ben: Oh, mine too. My favorite part was when he ate bugs and honey.
Cameron: Those bugs were called locusts.
Ben: Oh.
Cameron: They're like [eyes very wide] GIANT GRASSHOPPERS!!!
Mom: Would you like to eat those?
The entire van: Eeeewwww!
Mom: Did you make any new friends today?
Ben: There is a girl in my class named Parker. She has shorts that have all the colors of the rainbow!
Cam: Wow!
Ben: AND she has a shirt with a monkey hanging from a tree, and it's all sparkles.
Cameron: That's AMAZING! I have never seen a shirt like that!
Ben: And the tree branch is made of sparkles, too.
Cameron: Wow! That must be an amazing shirt!
Ben: And her name is Parker.
Cameron: That's a nice name. Nice clothes, nice name.
Ben: No, the girl's name is Parker.
Cameron: Yes, that's what I said. She has a nice name and nice clothes.
Ben: Nice clothes, nice name. Nice name, nice clothes.
Cameron: Nice clothes and a nice name. Maybe when she turns six she can be in my class.
Ben: But then I will be six, too, so I will be in your class.

(You will notice that Mom has completely dropped out of the conversation here. She is in the front seat biting her lip to keep from bursting out laughing.)

More McCracken talk

These days I have been enjoying a lot of music...some old, some new. I have been blessed to sing with the worship team recently and look forward to continuing that on into July.

One album that has been restful to my weary soul is The Builder and the Architect by Sandra McCracken (stop me if you've heard this before...). Here are some excerpts from my favorite songs:

GRACE UPON GRACE
This song was inspired by Grace Active (#214 from The Valley of Vision).

In every station new trials and troubles
Call for more grace than I can afford
And where can I go but to my dear Savior
For mercy that pours from boundless stores

Grace upon grace, every sin repaired
Every joy restored, you will find Him there
In every turning He will prepare you
With grace upon grace

Here's a second favorite -- one about which my kids say, "Mom, can you please play a different one?!" because I play it so much -- entitled "Rock of Ages (When the Day Seems Long)." Bear with me, I couldn't pick just one verse so I cut and pasted the whole darn thing here.

rock of ages, when the day seems long
from this labor and this heartache I have come
the skies will wear out but You remain the same
rock of ages, I praise Your name

rock of ages, You have brought me near
You have poured out Your life blood, Your love, and Your tears
to make this stone heart come alive again
rock of ages, forgive my sin

rock of ages, bind Your children until the kingdom comes
rock of ages, Your will be done

rock of ages, when in want for rest
my desperate need for such a Savior I confess
and pry these idols out from my heart's embrace
rock of ages, I need Your grace

rock of ages, broken, scorned for me
who am I that You would die to make me free?
to give me glory You took the death and the pain
rock of ages, my offering

rock of ages bind Your children until the kingdom comes
rock of ages Your will be done

rock of ages, "it is done," You cried
the curtain's torn and I see justice satisfied
now write Your mercy here on my heart and hands
rock of ages, in faith I stand

rock of ages, my great hope secure
Your promise holds just like an anchor to my soul
bind Your children with cords of love and grace
rock of ages, we give You praise

rock of ages bind Your children until the kingdom comes
rock of ages, Your will be done

But I must admit that with this CD, the song that is currently playing is always my favorite. You can hear a snippet of each of these songs here.

And here's Sandra talking about why she loves hymns, along with "Thy Mercy," which is the first song on the album:

Rosemary Bread

I just emailed this to my friend Joy and thought, "hey! Free blog entry!" I found this while searching for a copycat recipe for Macaroni Grill bread. It's not as good as that (my oven doesn't get as hot as theirs, for one thing!), but it's pretty good. It makes two small loaves.

1 T. yeast
1 T. sugar
1 C. warm water (105-115 degrees...this always feels "hot" instead of "warm" to me, but I digress)
2 1/2 C. white flour, divided use
1 t. salt
2 T. fresh rosemary, chopped, divided use
1 T. canola oil, peanut oil, or olive oil
nonstick cooking spray
2 T. butter, melted

Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl and allow mixture to become bubbly. Mix in 2 C. flour and salt. Add one tablespoon of the rosemary. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic, adding more flour as necessary. Put dough in greased bowl, turn to coat, and cover with a towel. Allow to rise 1 hour or until doubled. Punch down and divide in half. Let rest 5-10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 small oval loaves on a greased pan. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle rosemary over and press lightly. Let rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450, sprinkle loaves with coarse salt. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

It's funny to revisit a recipe...I have no idea where the oil comes in, for one thing. I guess that could be a little bit of fat in the dough. I never add it, though. And I frequently skip the melted butter thing because I'm always in the midst of mad dinner prep when that step comes. It's fine without it, but it looks great when you do it. Keep in mind that it is a very soft dough, so don't panic when it feels really light. That's how mine always is.

Overheard

Scene: The daily war over who gets the spoon with "Benjamin" on it begins. Andrew gets it today. Ben is choking back tears. Mommy talks to Ben about everything he can be thankful for, and asks him to please bless the meal (I frequently do this if a child is having "heart" problems...it's a good heart check for me to pray, so I think it's the same for them).

Ben: Dear God, I pray that you would forgive my brothers' sins and forgive even my sins. Amen.

This is poignant to me because it is so true of all of us...except many of us skip the second half of that prayer. We are so ready to consider others' sins and offer ourselves grace.

I will add my voice

...to the many who have endorsed the sermon series from the most recent New Attitude conference. They are available for free at Sovereign Grace's website. I've only listened to the first three so far...from Josh Harris, Mark Dever, and Al Mohler. They have been water to my soul!

"Mothers of the Wise and Good" will return next week, so that I can get some mothering done. :-)

Absurdity is funny

Overheard

Scene: Boys getting ready for bed. Mom supervising tooth-brushing.

Cameron: Mom, do you know what my favorite bone is?
Mom: Uh...no?
Cameron: It's the ribs.
Mom: Oh.
Cameron: Mom, what's your favorite thing about the ribs?
Mom, realizing that she has never, not ever, thought about this question before in her entire life: Uh, I guess that they protect our lungs. That's good.
Cameron: You know what I like about the ribs?
Mom: What?
Cameron: The way it sounds, "ribs." I like that word. And I like how they feel all bumpy.
Ben enters.
Cameron: Ben, what's your favorite thing about the ribs?
Ben: Ribs? What's that?
Cameron: It's your bones right here (points to his ribs, which are nearly always visible.)
Ben, stretching out so he can feel his ribs: Oh, that's cool!!
Cameron: Ben, feel the little bumps in my back.
Mom, as Ben complies: Those are his vertebrae.
Cameron: No, Mom, it's my spine.
Mom: It's the same thing. Your vertebrae make up your spine.

From Psalm 139:
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [1]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Happy Father's Day

to my husband!

We had a great day yesterday...a very "manly" lunch of ribs and "mayonnaise-based salads" (David's term for macaroni salad and potato salad), with two of our favorite church brothers, Albert and Tom. Then we watched some of the US Open and headed with all the kids over to the driving range. It was the first time I had swung a golf club in four years, I think. The results were accordingly awful. But we had a good time anyway. David gave lessons to all the guys except for Jonathan, who was more interested in repairing divots.

Afraid?

Why is Hollywood afraid of abortion?

Mothers of the Wise and Good

Mrs. Anne Thornton's Address to Her Children, During Her Last Sickness

This portion of the book is simply a retelling of a pious mother's last words to her children. On her deathbed, Anne spent her last words in praying for her children and encouraging them to live for God. Here are some excerpts:

My children I dearly love, but I am willing to leave them. I hope they will follow me to heaven. I have endeavored to recommend the best things, and can only lament that I have not set them a better example. But, if any infirmity or sin they have seen in me have proved a hindrance to them, I pray God to take the remembrance of it from their minds, and enable them to look to that perfect pattern, who has left us an example how we ought to walk.

The mystery of the cross contains our all of good -- our Redeemer, our great deliverer, is our surety and our peace. I have no hope, no plea, but Lord, thou hast died. Oh! Maria [her daughter] he must be your salvation; expect only to be saved through him.

My dear children, let no one cheat you out of immortality.

My dear children, you see your dying parent bearing testimony to the truths of God.

One of the dominant news stories here in Charlotte today is the passing of Billy Graham's wife, Ruth. I know that she must have had a similar death...encouraging her children of her safe passage into the Lord's presence, and praying for their perseverance in the faith.

"Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints." Ps. 116:15

FINALLY!!

Our area of NC is pretty dry right now. It's been hot and steamy. This week promised a change since rain was forecasted everyday. So far, we've been having lots of black clouds and thunder but very little rain. We did have about twenty minutes of pathetic rain yesterday afternoon. To me, there is little as unsatisfying as that! Our lawn and garden are crying out for some good solid downpours.

Well, finally, about a half hour ago, the sky opened up and down it came. Why did this happen? Because I just watered everything this morning. :-)

And if you're me, what do you do when a good rainstorm hits? You run around like a crazy person, gathering up all the houseplants and setting them down in the front walkway so they get a nice shower and they can imagine they're real outside plants again.

Why I have been so quiet about Baseball.

It seems I have a hangover. No matter how many games ahead the Red Sox are in the AL East, I just can't get comfortable. I am not used to this winning business, and I feel like if I say something -- even if it's just, "how 'bout them Sox?!" -- then they will immediately freefall and collapse into last place.

It's the same reason why, when the Patriots finally won their first SuperBowl, I sat dumbfounded on the couch as the ball went through the uprights. I didn't jump around, I didn't yell...I just sat there and stared at the TV in disbelief. I grew up watching Bird, McHale, Ainge, Parish, and DJ win with the Celtics. But as far as I knew, victory didn't come to New England in any other sport (except occasionally hockey, and that was still before I was born).

So now that the Sox have started losing a little bit, I've done it. Broken my silence. You can blame the June swoon on me.

*ducks*

While we're talking baseball, though, here's a nice Sox story that my mom sent me this morning about the policeman who stands by the home bullpen at Fenway.

Overheard

Breakfast Bible-reading time.

Mom reads:
For by him [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

Cameron: Mom, I know what visible means.
Mom: Yes?
Cameron: It means un-invisible.

Shameless plug

One of the links I added yesterday was a link to my friend Michaelanne's blog. She was my roommate for two years at Messiah College. She is now living with and laboring alongside the people of the Hunting Park neighborhood in Philadelphia. She is a gifted artist and is making the neighborhood a more beautiful place to live in with her community arts program. The picture above is a 3'x64' mosaic that the residents completed with her oversight on Memorial Day weekend. Behind it is a new community garden.

I am proud to call this woman my friend!! Her life is a constant outpouring of the Father's love to His children in urban Philadelphia!

Mothers of the Wise and Good

John Frederic Oberlin and his Mother

Jean Frederic Oberlin was

an Alsatian clergyman and philanthropist [Alsace is an historic region of northeastern France]: b. Strasbourg, Aug. 31, 1740; d. Ban-de-la-Roche, June 1, 1826. He was educated at Strasbourg {France], and in 1767 became pastor at Ban-de-la-Roche. There he spent the rest of his long life in labor for the material and spiritual improvement of his impoverished parishioners. He practiced medicine among them, founded a loan and savings bank, introduced cotton manufacture, helped the people build better roads, and brought in modern agricultural methods. His orphan asylums were the beginning of the many 'Oberlinvereine" for the protection of children. He was a man of rare spirituality, being frequently styled 'a saint of the Protestant Church', who preached each month three sermons in French and one in German. Oberlin College was named in his honor.

(The Encyclopedia Americana -- International Edition Vol. 20. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Incorporated, 1995. 590)

In the everyday routines of their life together, Oberlin's mother worked for the spiritual benefit of her children. She assembled the children together every evening and read to them while they copied pictures that their father had drawn for them.

...scarcely a night passed, but, when on the point of separating, there was a general request, for 'one beautiful hymn from dear mamma,' with which she always complied. The hymn was followed by a prayer; and thus their infant steps were conducted to Him who has said, 'Suffer little children to come until me,'

Also, Oberlin's mother was instrumental in his later spiritual development, when he was a University student. She attended a service conducted by a Dr. Lorentz, a preacher who was causing a stir in Oberlin's hometown of Strasbourg. She was so moved by his preaching that she encouraged her son to accompany her to hear the same man the next week. Having been warned not to attend by his superiors at university, Oberlin hesitated, but in the end he agreed to his mother's wish. After hearing him once, Oberlin became a "regular and diligent attendant of the doctor's sermons" and this served to solidify the childhood profession of faith that he had made.

"The mother of Oberlin had the unspeakable satisfaction of beholding her son solemnly dedicate himself to the service of God at the age of twenty; a reward the greatest that maternal piety could receive."

updated...

I updated my blogroll today, so you can find a few more of my friends online. Check out the new links!

Reflections on Thirty Years of Grace

Yesterday was birthday #30 for me. And though I approached it with some dread, I can safely say now that 30 years, 1 day doesn't feel that different from 29 years, 355 days.

On Sunday night, as I was surrounded by friends, my husband stood and read Proverbs 31:28-31 and commended me for my fulfillment of this Scripture:

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

It was a humbling and moving moment for me...mostly because I believe fervently in the principle that the same grace that saves us, sanctifies us. I am not to be credited for any growth that has taken place in my life. I have been a blessed recipient of this sanctifying grace, which has taken many forms.

Consider with me the forms that this grace has taken over my thirty years of life...

I am thankful for a home in which I was raised where duty to God, education, and friends were valued.

I am thankful for a mother who taught me what beauty looks like: well-arranged flowers on an uncluttered table; full cupboards after a completed shopping trip; and the way a respectable young lady dresses.

I am thankful for a father who taught me the difference between a three-and-one count and third-down-and-one (it has prepared me well for being a mom of boys); who taught me how to ask for help but taught me to change my own tire; and who taught me that education is very important. I still can't explain the infield fly rule, though.

I am thankful for a sister who protected me violently from bad influences, like bad music, poisonous friends, and bad hair choices.

I am thankful for a church that, although I have many differences with it now, taught me that you must believe in Jesus with your whole heart to be saved. And that is the most important thing.

I am thankful for a school community that taught me to love British literature, to write a mean persuasive essay, and to watch a field hockey game and understand what's happening.

I am thankful for a college community that taught me to love people better, to understand God's saving grace better, and all of the songs in "Evita" and "Les Miserables," sung late at night at the top of my lungs over my friend's car stereo on the way to the 24-hour Wal-Mart.

I am thankful for my husband, a man that does not settle for less than God's best for me. I am thankful that he asked again a year after I turned him down the first time. I am thankful that he continues to grow and push me to do the same, even when that means pushing me out of bed earlier to spend time in the Word, making me apologize to the children for my attitude, and encouraging me to do countless other things that I would call "uncomfortable" and he would call "sanctifying" (he's right, as usual). I am thankful for his forgiveness seventy times seven times over.

I am thankful for Cameron, who taught me most acutely what it means that children are the Lord's. As I watched him recover from surgery at eight months of age, I realized that kids really are resilient. I am thankful for the ways in which he sharpens me as a Christian, asking probing questions and pointing out my hypocrisies.

I am thankful for Benjamin, who taught me that it is possible to change the sheets three times in a night and exist on two hours' sleep the next day. I am thankful for the way in which he is teaching me patience and the way he makes me laugh.

I am thankful for each of our moves...first to San Jose, then to Camarillo, then to Charlotte. I cried every time we moved, but it made me trust my husband and God more each time. I saw how important a healthy church community is. I saw what real, vulnerable fellowship means. Our church sustained us each time we walked into a new community.

I am thankful for Andrew, the California baby. I am thankful for his funny comments, his old-man expression, and the way he says, "MOM, YOU WON'T A-BWEEVE [believe] IT!"

I am thankful for Jonathan, our Charlotte baby. I am thankful that he was the smallest and easiest baby I had. I am thankful that with each additional child, I could see God's grace in a more tangible way: sustaining my energy despite little rest, extending my patience, and prompting David to bring home dinner on those touch-and-go days.

I am thankful for each of our church experiences...the variety of people we've gotten to know over the years. They have all taught me that if you have a love for Christ and His word in common, you don't need much else. They have also taught me that there are times to pursue truth and all its fierce beauty, and times to bite your tongue.

I am thankful for each of the moms I've known over the years and how they have been a fulfillment of the Titus 2 command for the older women to teach the younger. To make a complete list would be impossible, but I must list a few:
-Kimberly taught me that life after having kids is fun, but different; that you can manage a child's sleep habits from the time they're born if you're diligent about it; and that you must offer grace to those who choose to parent a different way. She also showed me that you can still dress cool after having babies...it's just a little harder to keep up.
-Joan taught me that there is nothing kinder than disciplining a child who is misbehaving, and to always be ready for hospitality.
-Angela taught me to throw up my hands, laugh, and say, "oh well, the neighbors already think we're crazy." She also taught me that the best way to have a clean, uncluttered house is to get rid of stuff.
-Katie, Rachael, and Renee taught me that girlfriends can exist during the early-motherhood years, even if it means talking loudly on the phone to be heard over screaming toddlers. They also taught me lots of sneaky ways to get your kids to eat healthy food.
-Julie gave me a front-row seat to watch a mom to four boys in action. She taught me that acts of mercy to the church don't stop just because you have a family to cook dinner for, and that homeschooling isn't scary.

Most importantly, I am thankful to God since none of this would have happened without His careful orchestration of events out of love and mercy towards me. Each year, each month, each moment has been due to His kindness to me, even those times that seem to hide His face. Everything...all of it...is His doing, because of His grace.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10

Bring on the next thirty...

My extended birthday celebration

Well, I haven't blogged yet this week because my life since Friday has been quite chaotic! But it has been a happy chaos...

Early Saturday morning I went to the airport to fly to New England for a quick trip. Saturday evening I attended a surprise party given for my maternal grandparents, who have been married for SIXTY years. It was a sweet tribute to them, and my mom and I were each others' dates.

Sunday morning we had breakfast with them on the farm and then I drove back down to the airport to fly home. After changing planes in Cincinnati, I arrived in Charlotte around 6. David was prompt in picking me up and we drove home.

As I walked in from the garage, I was greeted with a surprise birthday party! David had planned the whole thing. There was a big crowd here waiting for me. One of my favorite things about it was that in his email invitation, David encouraged the men of the households to stay home with the children so that their wives could enjoy an evening out without feeling the pressure to leave and get the kids to bed. I thought that was so thoughtful of him. I enjoyed talking with friends until after 10:30 that night. It was a real blessing. After everyone left, I had some alone time reading over the encouragement notes that everyone wrote in lieu of gifts. I will store them away for a day when I am in need of encouragement...

Then last night David took me out to a nice dinner. He arranged for a sitter last week and made reservations at the Oceanaire Seafood Room. This was no small sacrifice for him, since seafood is not his favorite thing. But he knows that I love it. He even encouraged me to order the most expensive thing on the menu (the Lobster Thermidor) since it was my traditional birthday fare. I opted for the fisherman's platter instead. Since it was my birthday, the meal was full of special touches...the menus we received had "Happy Birthday" printed at the top; I received a birthday card signed by the whole staff; and the conclusion of our meal was a complimentary Baked Alaska (complete with flaming rum demonstration...I loved it...way better than birthday candles...).

And on and on it goes...flowers on the front porch this morning from friends...phone calls throughout the day...I am one blessed woman!!

More about my birthday later...