7 Quick Takes Friday- #5

I'll jump right in this week...

1. I can't believe it... but I really did-- I forgot about those sweet little cooey, sigh-like noises a baby makes while nursing, and I just love hearing them. I love these moments with Moses close, snuggled up, so content, so sweet, so needy. This way that God makes new PEOPLE is just so amazing.
   
   
2. Tonight I started Bernard Nathanson's book, Hand of God: A Journey from Death to Life by the Abortion Doctor Who Changed His Mind, and it took me a few minutes to even clear my head and get over the first sentence:
   
   "I did my last abortion in late 1978 or early 1979."
   
   Date-wise, that's my husband and me. Late 1978 = a Spring 1979 birthday, like my husband. Early 1979 = a Fall 1979 birthday, like me. That pretty much sums up the whole abortion debate for me. We're talking about real people. A real man or woman who would have been born, and would by now potentially have had a family, like what my husband & I have. Or gone away to college and graduate school and been finishing up a doctorate in literature, like my college friend Beth. Or have a computer business he started, a daughter he adores, a motorcycle he drives too fast, and travelled to see Central American Mayan ruins like a high school friend of mine. The person that Bernard Nathanson aborted last was a real person, and Nathanson knows it now (and maybe knew it then, I haven't gotten that far). A person with the potential of a great many things, some good, some bad, perhaps some amazing things... but his or her life was snuffed out.
   
   I wonder if we might have been friends.
   
   
3. Heard this week in our house while reading a book about babies being born to my just-turned-6-year-old son Baxter:
   
   me: "So how would the doctor know if it's a boy or a girl?
   
   Baxter: "By looking at the hair."
   
   You can't make this stuff up. :)
   
   
4. This week, I got organized for the next stage of our homeschool journey. See, the way we do things, our boys keep pressing along and advancing in their math, writing, and reading, but we do history at a pace that allows us to enjoy it and really take it all in (plus, we have had some amazing field trip opportunities that have taken us on quite a few rabbit trails, living where we live). Anyway, we've been just taking our time to finish up their history/science curriculum books from last year. Plus, ya know, I had a baby. :)
   
   But here we are in September, and we're about to begin digging into American history. Ethan (our oldest son) and I have gone all the way through world history, right up to the era of the Renaissance, and we're both ready to tackle American history. I'd been planning all along to keep him on his own course, and Baxter on his (we're talking about history here-- they're always on their own courses as far as reading and math goes). But then mid-summer, I had an epiphany and realized that this year was a perfect opportunity to combine the two older boys (ages 6 & 8) and have a bunch of fun and a lot less scattered year for me. Because it's targeted towards the 3rd to 5th grade level, I'll have to adapt some of the curriculum for my 1st grader (ordered some historical coloring books and such for him to do while we're reading some of the more heady history portions), but what fun! I'm really looking forward to it, and they are too! Not only that, but it's coming at a perfect time, as we anticipate heading back to the States (Lord willing) for a few-months'-visit with family and friends next summer.
   
   Our boys have a great knowledge of the world for their ages, have learned a bit of another language, are both ahead in their math skills, and are doing great as far as reading goes. But I know that if we go home to Texas and they don't have any idea about the Alamo, for example, or basic bits about American history, (a) they could feel detached from their "home country", and/or (b) relatives who have not seen them in 4 years, and may not be fully convinced about this homeschooling stuff could get the wrong idea. Either way, it's a great time for us to take a year to really dive into American history. And we're doing it together- yippee! So, off we go!
   
   
5. You know what I've recently discovered? I mean really discovered? Play-doh. I used to consider it positively evil. Those messy little teeny good-for-nothing bits that ended up everywhere, coupled with the fact that I was requested to play along, made it pretty much a no-go for (I'm sorry to say) these many years. And if we're all being honest, I'm happy to wrestle and tickle, cook alongside, read to, or even sometimes color with my kids. But Play-doh just isn't really my cup of tea. But, now that God has seen to it to give my kids in-home playmates other than me, I've realized it's not so bad.
   
   It isn't that expensive, it allows for great amounts of creativity (especially when fueled by recent family viewings of "Challenge" and "Cupcake Wars"), and it entertains the kids for an almost absurd amount of time. And when I'm trying to explain a math concept to my 8-year-old, get some housework done, or listen to my 6-year-old read aloud, the contented, happy time that Play-doh brings is absolutely priceless. So here's three cheers for the messy, time-consuming, joy-producing stuff! (And for kids who are old enough to use a Dustbuster afterwards!)
   
   
6. This summer produced another epiphany for me: We Christians need the Body of Christ. We need each other! Now, of course, this should not BE an epiphany. Nonetheless, here's how God reminded me of this truth:
   
   Generally, we meet together weekly as a church body with 2-3 other families, sometimes more, plus occasionally some single folk. We meet in homes (often in ours), eat a meal together, pray for each other, sing to the Lord, and study Scripture together. But this summer, two things happened: one family moved back to America, and the other family in our house church took a 2-month vacation to America to put their oldest daughter in college, so we were here alone for that spread of time. It also worked out, what with me being a hugely pregnant woman in the heat, and Moses' birth mid-July, that I was indoors for a good portion of the summer. I struggled quite a bit this summer with discouragement and battling against anger in my heart and in my reactions to my family. But it wasn't until we began meeting again as the church that I realized how much I'd missed the way that God uses that time to minister to my heart.
   
   When the 2nd family I mentioned returned, we began meeting together again, and two other families have joined with us. It has been so encouraging to fellowship, worship, and study God's Word together. I really missed our church body. We need each other! We weren't made to be islands-- we need encouragement, and I'm so thankful for the Body of Christ and the way our Father encourages me through the people we meet with each week!
   
   
7. It's suddenly quite a bit cooler here-- is it getting cooler where you live? Maybe some of you are already wearing jackets? But maybe you Texans or Floridians are still having warm weather... Here, it's just perfectly comfortable-- we leave the windows open, and still have the ceiling fans on, and it feels like "normal" to me (roughly 70-75 degrees each day, and cooler at night).
   
   I'm enjoying the cooler weather but also, in a way, mourning the loss of summer. Time passes so quickly, and our kids really had a great time playing outside this year. Plus, we're about to move into the it-takes-a-year-to-get-out-the-door mode, where each child has to wear more clothes, find matching socks, put on a jacket, and sometimes scarf and gloves, just to get out the door. And I get to corral it all. *Sigh* I'm tired of winter already, LOL.

I think that'll do it. There's my "Seven Quick Takes" for the week. If you do one, be sure to pop over to Jennifer @ Conversion Diary to share the link. Blessings to you!

Show & Tell: Clearing Out My Bloglines

One day last week, I went on a cleaning splurge with the kids... I woke up and told them, "today is gonna be a cleaning day." After breakfast, brooms began flying, appliances were wiped down, things that had been lost were found, furniture was rearranged... and by 11:30 or so, we'd made quite a big impact on the apartment. The whole living space looked different and we all enjoyed the fruit of our labor!

Today, I feel like doing the same thing with my Bloglines account. So here we go, here's a link-sharing festival of just the articles I've saved in my Bloglines blog reader. Enjoy!

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Our culture downplays the pressure of living life as a "modern, successful woman"-- Aifric Campbell shares about the major transition of her life, going from career woman to mother (a few excerpts, and then the link) :

I had a seven-figure salary but worked so hard I rarely had time to spend it. Personal shoppers at Harrods and Harvey Nichols picked out my Max Mara suits and Gucci leather briefcases. Everything revolved around work.
...
I had always wanted a family and was thrilled when I became pregnant in February 1998. I was 36. I didn't tell a soul because I didn't want allowances to be made. Instead I simply wore longer dresses and my male colleagues didn't notice a thing.
...
Oscar was born, and I fell in love instantly. Nothing prepared me for the overwhelming passion I felt for the tiny bundle in my arms. It seems totally mad but, even though I loved Oscar to bits, it never crossed my mind not to return to work as soon as possible.

Oscar was two weeks old when I was invited back into work - to be told that I had been promoted... and I was thrilled. I really felt it proved I could have it all - a gorgeous new baby, a fantastic career, a loving, supportive husband.

But I was also in a state of total, bone-crushing exhaustion. As the days ticked by, I felt increasingly torn between my new baby and my return to the office.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

ENCOURAGING & CHALLENGING LINKS:

• Mary Grace shares her thoughts after encountering anti-large-family bumper stickers.
• When God (graciously) won't leave us alone, we know it's because He loves us. It's still not easy to continue submitting to the sanctification He seeks to bring about in our lives!
• Terry wrote about the ongoing struggle: taming the beast of the internet, and how it can control us if we're not careful.
• In a related article, Jennifer wrote some helpful thoughts about taking an internet fast.
  
• Dumb as sheep-- this story hit close to home, both geographically (we live in Turkey) and spiritually (as I try to follow the Good Shepherd but am, like the songwriter said, "prone to wander")
• Building a biblical worldview... Alcorn is always so encouraging in this area!
  

MISCELLANEOUS INTERESTING & INFORMATIVE LINKS:

• Many of you may already know about Amy, of Amy's Humble Musings, and how her family has planned and saved for years to transition from city life to life on a farm. Here are two posts I found interesting, where she shares about that transition to life on a farm and what they've learned in the first year.
• Wired for intimacy: how the male brain is affected by, and geared towards, sexual imagery... and how viewing pornography rewires the brain's inner workings
  
• Dr. Mohler shared his thoughts on how the origins of abortion rights were often intertwined with bigotry: Abortion, Race, Ethics, and the American Conscience
• Pornography: The Difference Being a Parent Makes-- an interesting exchange in the business world points to ethical problems with pornography
• Would it help you to have a step-by-step list of home cleaning tasks?
  
• Top Ten Job Markets for young adults
• The Early Church fathers had an interesting approach to drawing in the youth of their day-- here's an excerpt:
  

  How did the Fathers do it? They made wild promises.
  
  They promised young people great things, like persecution, lower social status, public ridicule, severely limited employment opportunities, frequent fasting, a high risk of jail and torture, and maybe, just maybe, an early, violent death at the hands of their pagan rulers.
  
  The Fathers looked young people in the eye and called them to live purely in the midst of a pornographic culture. They looked at some young men and women and boldly told them they had a calling to virginity. And it worked. Even the pagans noticed how well it worked. CONTINUE READING HERE.
  

• Abortion Changes You-- A new ad campaign; have you seen anything like this in your city?
  
• Sometimes events in our world make it easy to see the rapid moral decline our culture is experiencing: Apparently a growing number of women pursue pregnancy via IVF (in-vitro fertilization), but then decide they don't want to be pregnant and after becoming pregnant through IVF, opt for abortion.
• Randy Alcorn offers valuable thoughts, written and videoed, for our consideration: Protecting Our Children in a Modern-Day Corinth
  

HOMESCHOOLING & EDUCATION:

• Here's a review of a "Web Design for Kids" program... sounds interesting!
• Collection of free homeschool resources: worksheets, lesson plans, unit studies and more!
• Ideas for teaching kids about the weather
• From National Geographic: lesson plans, craft ideas and more for teaching geography
  
• "I want to homeschool, but I'm afraid"-- Jennifer asked readers to address 12 common concerns for people looking into homeschooling
  

CRAFTY LINKS:

• Lucy's blog is an incredibly inspirational place! She crochets like the dickens (seriously, I don't know how she finds the time!), and her blog is where I was inspired to make the colorful, flowery granny-square blanket I made (pictured above) for myself in the winter (to be fair, it started out for "Violet" but then the doc told us she'd made a mistake and we were actually expecting a boy).
• Maternity clothes-- two great ideas I meant to try but didn't get around to, and now it's too late for me: Refashion jeans into a maternity skirt, Turn a big shirt into a maternity shirt
• Container Gardening-- it's the only kind of gardening I can do right now... but it's great for herbs and smaller plants!
• Make your own bath toy bag.
  
• Turn a sock into a baby rattle-- super cute idea!
• Make your own car playmat for the floor-- my mother-in-law had done this for her sons (my husband and his two brothers) a couple decades ago, and our sons still enjoy playing with it. She also adapted this idea to make a "ranch" playmat (with buildings, stock tank, grove of trees, stream, etc.), to use with toy animals. It's a great idea, and for us as overseas' dwellers, it's a great, easily portable toy!
• Easy and cute homemade travel high chair-- I really do intend to make this at some point... it would be very useful for our family, particularly in certain seasons of life (when doing a lot of travel with a 12-18 month old).'
• OR- recover your home's high chair with an updated, fun fabric!
  

COOKING LINKS:

• I loved this cake decorating series: Part 1- Baking, stacking, and icing; Part 2- Making and coloring fondant; Part 3- Covering a cake with fondant-- it's something I've been trying to learn more about this year, seeing as how we're celebrating more and more birthdays around here. :)
• Keeping the kitchen clean WHILE you cook... goodness knows I need to learn to do this!
• Homemade whole wheat tortilla tutorial-- probably not necessary if you live in the States, but for us overseas gals, especially us overseas gals from Texas, tortillas are a must-have, at least occasionally!
  
• It's good for us to think carefully and critically about what we eat, and what we're feeding our families... but it can also become a point of unhealthy focus or unnecessary guilt. Terry tackled the issue in her article and the conversation that continued in the comments.

Three Must-Reads

Catherine R. wrote a moving post a little more than a year ago about her own experience with abortion... and then one day she up and deleted her whole blog in a moment of exasperation. Last week, she wrote her thoughts out once again, and I highly recommend you read her honest account and thoughts laid out here:

• DON'T HAVE AN ABORTION
  

My friend Kelly faithfully writes, day after day, to encourage married women in the area of intimacy & love. This week, she wrote a post that (from what people write here @ MH, & say in e-mails) I think that many, many women need to read:

• SORRY, I DON'T FEEL LIKE TALKING; WE JUST DID THAT YESTERDAY!

This week, two families that we know brought home their adoptive children-- one family, after waiting for nearly 3 years for the sibling group they adopted from Haiti, and another couple, after facing infertility for many years, and unexpectedly getting a call while they were on vacation. Every time-- and I mean EVERY time-- I hear an adoption story, it touches my heart in a place that few things do. Just today I found myself daydreaming about volunteering in an orphanage or children's home... and at least a couple times each year, Doug & I find ourselves having the "should we adopt now?" discussion, which has (so far) been held off. Perhaps one day.

But for anyone who is even remotely interested, even in just helping another family to be able to adopt, this post is monumentally helpful and important. With the main blogpost written as an awesome testimony to how God has provided for several adoptions in her family, plus over 60 (so far) comments thrown in by others with their stories & tips, this is a rich resource full of ideas for how to afford adoption:

• ADOPTION: HOW WE AFFORDED IT

Many blessings, all, and happy reading!

Back on the Bookshelf-- Abortion: The Silent Holocaust

There is so much I could say about John Powell's book, Abortion: the Silent Holocaust.

Though written in 1981, it is still an extremely relevant book that will motivate readers to act on behalf of the unborn. A Jesuit priest, John Powell shares his insights gleaned from years of experience counseling through and witnessing significant moments of life-- including birth and death.

Honestly, though this won't sound like a resounding endorsement, the book depressed me. I felt it difficult to breathe at times while reading... and many times, had to put down the book in disgust that such a thing as abortion even happens once a year anywhere in the world, much less over 4,000 times a DAY in our own country. That said, it is a righteous depression that he evokes. He takes us through the moral decisions that led to the horrific holocaust of European Jews in WWII, and shows how we as a culture are accepting all of the same premises by accepting abortion. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book... it will stir the heart and inform about this watershed issue of abortion, and the rights of each individual (born or not yet born) to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

I'll share some highlights & quotes...

When people ask me why it bothers me so much that there are more than four thousand abortions each day in this country , I am reminded of a story from the life of Martin Luther King. Once he was jailed for protesting the denial of equality to black Americans. Someone asked him: "Why are you in jail?" His only response was: "Why are you not in jail?"

As he examines the similarites between Nazi Germany and Abortion-era America, he shows how the mind can't really grasp this kind of wholesale discarding of human life. He writes of his thoughts while visiting an extermination camp in Europe:

As our guide escorted us, I began to have an eerie feeling... Could human beings really do this to one another? The evidence was before my eyes, but my mind balked at understanding.

... Back in the mainstream of German life, ... I discovered a question struggling to the surface of my mind. I wanted desperately to ask... "Did you know?"

Also similar to the tragic killings of the Jews in death camps, doctors are complicit in the taking of the lives of the unborn. Those that study to help, protect, and heal end up hurting, killing, and experimenting on those that are deemed unwanted.

Which patients were to be killed was determined by a board of doctors, most of whom were professors of psychiatry in key German universities. ...There was considerable experimentation done on those people docketed for death, such as amputations and gunshots in order to test blood coagulents. There were live dissections...

And lest you think this is not happening with aborted babies in America today, read here, or perhaps here, and also here for some of recent examples.

PROPHETIC WORDS
Another illuminating part, for me, was seeing how many of the things Powell wrote about in '81 that seemed so far away to him are now being practiced. He sites an article in 1979 that said:

Unless we stop abortion we will go further than Hitler... we will call on brilliant scientists who know all about creation... we will ask them to tell us which child is worthy to live and which is not. We will go Hitler one better.

Click on the embedded link above to see how this is already happening.

ABORTION IS KILLING A HUMAN BEING, PLAIN AND SIMPLE
Powell shows dozens of examples of leading abortionists of that time fully admitting both the humanity and murder of aborted children.

In Sept. 1970, one doctor wrote that because Americans had not yet fully bought into the principles of utilitarianism/convenience, "it has been necessary to separate the idea of abortion from the idea of killing." An abortionist in Wisconsin wrote, "we know it is killing." A leading pro-abortionist & former medical director of Planned Parenthood stated it quite clearly: "abortion is the taking of a life."

An entire chapter of Powell's book is devoted to the very clear, medically-documented evidence that doctors and abortionists have spoken and written about, showing that from the very moment of conception, a new life has formed. There is only one "neat beginning" to every human being, and that is at the time when an egg is fertilized.

CALL IT WHAT IT IS
Powell challenges us to talk about abortion in honest terms.

Language is something like the sugar coating of the ideas which we swallow and digest. And ideas have serious consequences. It's a lot easier to swallow dishonesty if you call it "a fast buck" or "easy money." It's a lot easier to commit adultery if you trivialize it as "fooling around." ... It's a lot easier to kill a baby if you call it "terminating a pregnancy." It's a lot easier to discuss abortion if you never mention the tiny human victim or refer to the victim's death.

CHRISTIAN and PRO-CHOICE?
Powell asks, "How does a minister of the Good News [which is every single Christian person, not just clergy!] come face to face in prayer with the Lord who said, "Whatever you do to the least of my children..."

PERSONHOOD: THE POINT ON WHICH IT ALL HINGES

The [Supreme] Court itself acknowledged in a footnote... that if the personhood of the unborn child were established, abortion could not be allowed, even to save the life of the mother.

He points out how very similar this is to both Nazi Germany and slavery-era America. When we allow ourselves to take those people who are clearly human beings and define them as a sub-category (as 3/5ths of a person, or as a non-person), we should all take note and let history teach us the results. When we devalue one portion of humanity, we devalue it all... which is why there is more and more of a modern push for euthanasia, prenatal diagnosis and elimination of preborn children with genetic abnormalities, selective abortions (when, through IVF or even natural conception, a mother pregnant with multiples is advised to "reduce" the number of children in her womb), and other death-inducing "choices".

I try to imagine a world creatied by the logical extensions of this quality-of-life ethic. It is a world that will answer no challenges, will abide no struggle, and will tolerate no one unless his/her life and contribution to society are considered meaningful and worthwhile.

I highly recommend that you get and read Powell's challenging book.

Botched Abortions: Why They Matter & What They Tell Us

Just last week, Americans were horrified to learn that a baby born alive in an abortion clinic was promptly put into a trash bag and left to die in a dumpster. And rightly so. It's a horrible tragedy... but really, it's no more horrific than what is done to the other 3,500+ babies aborted every single day in our nation, or tens of thousands every day around the world. This baby just happened to breathe before being murdered for money.

Please don't mistake my bluntness for being glib about it. It absolutely sickens me... it's numbing and I find myself almost unable to process when I really stop to think about how many children have died at the hands of abortionists.

After reading the horrible details (and they were ghastly), I did a simple google search for "botched abortions"... and pulled up a dozen or so stories, with varying results, for you to consider:

• Apr. 1985: Botched abortion leads to amputation
• Feb. 2000: During abortion procedure, woman goes into cardiac arrest and is permanently brain damaged.
• Apr. 2004: After "abortion" performed, baby still grows and is born months later.
• Jan. 2005: Abortion kills both mother and baby.
  
• May 2005: Abortion meds cause woman to go into labor, baby is born alive and clinic refuses to call 911. The baby subsequently died.
  
• Feb. 2006: After botched abortion, she was awake and screaming as they loaded her into the ambulance.
• Jun. 2006: Aborted baby was born with heart injuries as a result of an "unsuccessful" (depends on your definition of "success") abortion.
• Sept. 2006: After botched abortion, baby born with physical and mental disabilities.
• Jun. 2008: Mother delighted that her baby survived abortion.
  
• Cemetery of Choice: a record of dozens of women who died from abortions.
  
• Still alive today: A botched abortion survivor speaks out.
  

These stories stretch across these last three decades, when abortions are supposed to be "safe, legal, and rare". In truth, they are none of those three things. They are obviously unsafe for the baby... but they also pose serious risks to the mother. And in addition to all of these examples, there is the possibility of permanent infertility, along with other very serious complications. And after having an abortion, there is often lifelong guilt, questions to face, and depression.

Every day in our nation, children are being put to death at similar ages to the baby who was murdered in Florida last week. So why would journalists and newspapers be eager to report about this one? What makes it different? And why would it bother someone who is pro-choice? Really. It's a question worth asking. The only difference between the poor baby that died then and any other aborted baby that day was location. He made it outside the womb before being killed at the hands of an adult in an abortion clinic.

But it's the same action.

Both actions end the life of a human being. Botched abortions show us the life that exists in every unique person; they show us the truth. They hold up a mirror to the action of abortion itself and reveal the horror therein. From the stories above, several things are clear:

• It really is a baby-- a real, unique human being.
  
• It really is murder-- intention to kill a living thing.
• It really is horrific-- it's easier to see when we actually have a visible, breathing baby involved rather than something nebulous that we can write off as "tissue" or "inviable". (As others have noted.)
• Mothers really do have an instinct to protect their babies. Bird mothers will run down animals 50 times their size for trying to loot their nest... and abortion-minded human mothers (sadly) often only realize how much they want to protect their baby once the abortion has been botched or completed-- many times, even years later.

If you are contemplating abortion or know someone who is, you may find it helpful to browse the following links:

• Pregnant? Alone? Need someone to talk to?
• Alternatives to abortion
• Scriptures that are relevant to the issue of abortion
• What's it like to have an abortion?

Father, help us to do what is right. To act. To pray. To celebrate life. To give life. God, help us.

Noteworthy & Quoteworthy for February

#1- This successful, hard-working feminist says feminism has sold her a disappointing lie. Of her years pursuing career success, she writes, "What a waste of time.":

I made a conscious decision not to have serious relationships because I thought I had all the time in the world. Many of my friends did the same. It's about understanding what is important in life, and from what I see and feel, loving relationships and children bring more happiness than work ever can.

... I am a failure in my own eyes. Somewhere inside lurks a woman I cannot control and she is in the kitchen with a baby on her hip and dough in her hand, staring me down. She is saying: “This is happiness, this is what it's all about.” It's an instinct that makes me a woman, an instinct that I can't ignore even if I wanted to.

... As I write this I feel sad, as if the feminist principles that my mother brought me up on are being trashed. Am I betraying womanhood? No, I am revealing a shameful truth. Read the whole article here.

I've written about this here at Making Home several times (most plainly here), and each time I do, feminist commenters accuse me of misrepresenting the message of feminism. Stories like this, told by a woman brave enough to speak the truth even when it hurts, bolster the case that feminists have (intentionally or unintentionally) set up young American women for failure, discouragement, and heartbreak.


#2- Found in a sermon entitled "Joy & Suffering" by Dr. Michael Lawrence:

Keep your eyes on Christ and so patiently endure the suffering... so that all will see that you have your eyes set on that which is most valuable to you: Jesus Christ. Friends, all Christians are called to suffer. But not every age and not every place is called to suffer in the same way. ...Our lot here in North America is different. At least right now. It hasn't always been this way, and it may not be this way in the future.

But our lot here in North America is different. For a Christian in North America, to suffer may mean to endure ridicule at work... it might mean enduring rejection at home from family members who do not value Christ as you do. ...In our culture, to endure suffering might mean enduring financial loss for the sake of integrity, or I think even more likely, forgoing financial gain for the sake of obedience. Now, in a culture that revolves around money, this may be precisely the kind of suffering we are asked to endure in order to hold up the surpassing worth of Jesus Christ.

In order for people to understand when we say, "what is the world to me? If I have Christ, then I have more than the world can ever give me, and I have nothing that the world will be able to take away from me." This is a gospel perspective that allows us to show the worth of the gospel of Jesus. Listen to the whole thing here.

#3- A virtual "friend" takes a long, hard look at abortion:

I've really been thinking more about pro-life, and what it means. Is saying that I voted Pro-Life enough? This might be a tough analogy, but was it enough for a German who could smell the smoke of burning bodies to say, "my vote was for the other guy?"

No. It's not enough, not for me.

Pro-Life to me is about more than being against abortion. It's about advocating life. New life, Old life and everything in between.

If children are a blessing, I won't scoff at the family with six kids under age 7. If old folks are valuable I won't huff if I'm behind someone shuffling their feet. I should encourage single moms and rejoice at every conception.

Tommy and I have been discussing what more practical ways we can have a positive influence with our limited time and even more limited budget. [Jess and her husbands' ideas for acting and giving in pro-life ways can be found HERE. And Randy Alcorn's list of "50 Ways to Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers" is always a good resource on this subject.]

Hope this little noteworthy & quoteworthy gives you something to think about, pray about, and perhaps even some ways to live differently... let's make the best use of the time we've been given!

Questions to consider...

Have you ever wondered...

• what life would have been like during your growing up years if 1/5th of the population hadn't been aborted?
• if one of those aborted people would have been your best friend? A co-worker? A pastor in the church down the road? A plumber in your community? The Mayor? A special-ed teacher?
• if our economy would be stronger now with 20% more people contributing ideas, work, taxes, and energy, had they not been aborted?
• how the average Nazi lived with the knowledge that millions were dying in their midst, and then stopped to realize that we're no different?
• if we might end up like the aborted nations of Russia and almost every European nation, with dwindling populations and the death of our culture and nation around the corner?
  

What would happen if every Christian...

• committed to love and serve pregnant women and their children, no matter the circumstance?
• gave sacrificially of their time and money to support crisis pregnancy clinics and stand as a silent protester and potential counselor for those women walking into baby killing centers?
• publicly loved and welcomed even "the least of these" (those deemed less desirable because of handicaps, learning difficulties, or family situation)?

Everyone knows it's a baby. Just like the Germans who could smell the smoke near the killing centers in WWII, the murder of our brothers and sisters is unthinkable and yet undeniable.

As I type this, my ten-month old son is grizzling as he falls asleep... and I can't help but weep as I think of those babies who will never exercise their lungs with a good healthy cry. Those who have their skin seared by salt solution, administered by a doctor who swore to protect life. Those who have their limbs ripped from their tender bodies in the one place they ought to be completely safe and protected. Those who could have grown up to be your friends, or mine... those who could have grown up.

As I type this, I think of my friends who have had abortions... and I hurt for them. I don't want to increase their pain, but even more, I want to stop other women from ever feeling the pain of having had an abortion, if it is at all within my power.

As I type this, I want to cry out, "Oh, Christian women, be a light in your community! Find ways to ACT on behalf of the unborn among us!"

And merciful Father, give each of us a burning passion to see your glory reflected in each and every individual created by Your wise and sovereign hand. Give us a desire to love the unborn and their mothers with the love that You have... love that bears all things, is kind, shares the truth, and never fails. Help us to rejoice over life, in every shape and form!

Oh, that we would view each birth and new life with the joy that John Powell describes as he for the first time witnessed a baby being delivered:

It was as if my mind were saying, 'Cannot compute! Cannot compute!" What I was witnessing was too big, too beautiful, too sacred to fit easily into my mind...

God had waited from all eternity for that moment of birth. And now, He would show His little boy the adoring face of the mother that had carried him so lovingly. He would show that little boy the magnificent stars He had strung in the sky. He would introduce him to the music of lullabies and the softness of his mother's arms, the gentleness of his father's hands. The "I" of God had been saying to the "Thou" of that small baby: "With an everlasting love I have loved you. This is why with lovingkindness I created you" (from the prophecy of Jeremiah, 31:3).

Cannot compute. Cannot compute. The miracle of life.

New Years Diversions... (January's Mega Show & Tell Post)

FEATURE ARTICLE: CONSIDER YOUR LEGACY

Two women in the same newspaper... which has the greater legacy, and which should we be striving for?
"One is a public figure who grasps at power and prestige like a drowning man to a life preserver, who is admired because she can shoulder her way in a world once deemed to belong only to men. She seeks dominance, perhaps for its own sake. And then there is a modest country woman whose success can be measured in the productive lives of her many descendents and the remembrance by hundreds of her steady and consistent virtue passed on to generations. They were both in the same newspaper. Which one has the real power?" Read the whole article here.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

• Do you take advantage of the FREE DOWNLOADS from ChristianAudio.com? If not, you're missing out!
• HOW TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE-- Don't miss this one! Excellent interview with a man who has books of the Bible put to memory.
  
• "As an athiest, I truly believe Africa needs God."
  
• Here's a list of great benedictions to pray from Scripture.

KICKING 2009 OFF RIGHT:

• PRAY! God will answer.
• 10 reasons to PRAY THE SCRIPTURES!
  
• Pray thoughtful prayers. Don't be afraid to use someone else's thoughts (like these great prayers) to motivate and inspire your own prayers to God.
  
• FAST! Jesus said "when", not "if".

WOMANHOOD:

• Are you a controlling woman?
• My friend Monica just was diagnosed with breast cancer, and has decided to blog about her journey while she walks through it: From Mourning to Dancing

PARENTING & RELATED ISSUES:

• MOTHERHOOD IS MINISTRY.
  
• Here's a great list of Good Podcasts for Kids
• A fun video about colors and the feelings they evoke to watch with your kids
  
• More & Merrier: a great firsthand rememberance of life in a large family. (see our new "large family" photo at right)
  
• "What do you tell your kids about Santa?" - I get asked this question every year... and now that (hopefully) the controversy and emotion of the holiday has passed, here's an article that pretty wonderfully outlines my answer.
• Something that doesn't get discussed very often: Anger in Parenting
• A great commentary about how you can teach almost anything through the incredible home school resources available these days.
• Did you hear about the Immersion Project? It's an interesting (and disturbing) study of how kids react while playing video games.

ABORTION:

• Abortionist responsible for nearly 50,000 deaths becomes pro-life activist
• Planned Parenthood brushes over statutory rape and teaches a 13-year old how to cross state lines to obtain an abortion without her parents' approval
  

LINKS THAT EXPRESS SOME OF MY RECENT THOUGHTS ABOUT BLOGGING:

• Though I might like to, I can't respond to every single question, challenge, or thrown-down gauntlet. I am a busy woman, after all. Holly expresses many things I've been thinking about lately.
• Increasingly rude, hostile, and verbose attacking comments that all tell me just how wrong I am about something do not win me over.
  
• It is biblical and right to be fully convinced about personal convictions. Strong opinions and convictions are well within the bounds of faithful and biblical Christianity.
  

GOOD REMINDERS:

• Take the picture while you can.
• You can make your own baby food-- it's better, cheaper, and extremely easy!
• Interesting thoughts about praising your kids.
• Breastfeeding moms: GET PLENTY OF IRON! (I didn't, and began having slight fainting spells a couple weeks ago. Once I began taking my iron supplements again, they went away.)
• Married women: Just Say "Yes"! My good friend Kelly just started this blog for encouraging married women... let me tell you, she is one inspiring lady in this area of blessing your husband with a fulfilling intimate life. So check out her blog, and consider adding it to your bloglines account!
• Sheila shares an interesting thought about why many women don't enjoy sex... and a way to rightly "awaken love". Perhaps this could help you?
  

Thoughts on FOOD & CAKE DECORATING:

• "Embarrassingly EASY" meals that get rave reviews-- I compiled this list from friends... check it out and get some ideas for easy meals to add to your family favorites!
  
• Need ideas for homemade cake making? This site inspires and educates!
  
• Check out my friend's website... she makes BEAUTIFUL homemade cakes!
• GREAT kids' Birthday cake ideas
• A primer for the new bread-baker. I'm not there yet, but I'm thinking about it. Baby steps.
  
• Need motivation for weight loss? Read about the obesity epidemic & check your healthy weight range.
  
• Here's the delicious turkey recipe I made for both Thanksgiving (with local friends) and Christmas (with my parents) -- Brine Cured Roast Turkey with Maple Ginger Glaze
• Make your own Honey Granola-- it sound delicious! (And very easy!)
  
• Kelly's got a great list of savory winter-time soups

RANDOM BUT (potentially) INTERESTING:

• "Why I Broke Up With Facebook"-- one mom's understandable explanation
• BUT YOU DON'T LOOK SICK! -- The spoon theory is a helpful analogy for people who suffer from chronic pain sorts of illnesses... to help others understand.
• Great story, and I'm glad it's being highlighted as a wonderful example, but it's sad that it's seen as news: Newly-married couple has sex for the first time.
  
• Free Classic AudioBooks -- for personal growth or homeschooling or just enjoyment of good literature, this is a great resource!
• Looking for good board games? (The good stuff is in the comments, as Challies' readers share about their favorite games!)
  

GOOD FOR A LAUGH:

• Johnathan asks "What's the Best Way to Open a Candy Wrapper in Church?" (a dilemna that anyone who's grown up in church can identify with!)
• Can't remember where I got this but it's hilarious: This is perhaps THE LEAST-EFFECTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN EVER.

Happy reading!!!

A Post-Election Day Meme

This once-every-four-years occurrence seems like a good opportunity for a meme.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR'S ELECTION RESULTS:
This is an historic election, and a special one in the hearts and lives of a people that have not been well-treated by our country; I'm thankful for this opportunity to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. For other people that have not been well-treated by our country, it is an outcome with horrifying potential. I probably won't agree with much of anything Obama does as President, but I am moved by this moment, and I pray that it will do much to heal deep wounds in our nation.


A QUICK REVIEW OF THE ELECTIONS OF MY LIFE:

1980: RONALD REAGAN

1. I REMEMBER: nothing about this election. I was one year old when Reagan was elected.
2. I WAS: a toddler and preschooler... living in Texas and Colorado.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I learned to read.
   

1984: RONALD REAGAN

1. I REMEMBER: not much. I don't remember this election. My husband, however, attended a Reagan Rally in Oklahoma and remembers the confetti.
   
2. I WAS: 5-8 years old and we moved back in Texas.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I professed faith in Christ and started school.

1988: GEORGE BUSH (Sr.)

1. I REMEMBER: not a whole lot about that election. I wasn't politically-minded in my early years.
   
2. I WAS: 9-12 years old and lived in Texas.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I started sporting poofy bangs and tight-rolling my faded jeans.
   

1992: BILL CLINTON

1. I REMEMBER: being appalled that one of my friends voted for Clinton in our school's mock election. ("Don't you know he's for killing babies?," I asked, aghast that anyone I knew would vote for him.) Little did I know that 10 miles away, my future husband was casting his ballot for Perot in their school's mock election, because he thought Perot could single-handedly pay off the national debt.
   
2. I WAS: 13-16 years old and still living in Texas.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I lived recklessly... rebellious towards my parents, I tried all sorts of foolish things, ignoring the Holy Spirit's warnings in my heart every time. Those years have cost me much sorrow and self-loathing... but serve as a reminder and warning to me of the lure and price of sin.
   

1996: BILL CLINTON

1. I REMEMBER: knowing that Dole didn't stand a chance. Kind of like McCain this election, this modern world looks delightfully on young, hip people and scoffs at the old and battle-tested.
   
2. I WAS: 17-20 years old, and lived in Texas for the first two years and went away to college in Arkansas for the last two years.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: In God's mercy, He drew me back from the bad choices I had made and set me in a high place. I had a blast at college, made friends, and even got elected class president. The last year of this time was when I met Doug and, for the first time in my life, found someone I absolutely couldn't stand to be away from. I met the love of my life, and he asked me to marry him.
   

2000: GEORGE W. BUSH

1. I REMEMBER: SO much about this campaign, election, and everything. I took a "Campaigns and Elections" course in the Spring (during the primaries) and then an "American Presidency" course in the Fall (during the election). In fact, I skipped a class session to go to a Bush/Cheney rally where Doug & I met Dick Cheney. It was the first time I could vote for President. That election may end up being the most vividly remembered one of my life.
   
2. I WAS: 21-24 years old and lived in Arkansas, the outskirts of Washington D.C., and then we moved back to Texas.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I became a wife to Doug and a mother to Ethan and Baxter. Prior to motherhood, I worked in the Arkansas legislative session and for the State of Texas in Washington D.C. I gave up the "perfect" job for something even more perfect and prized: being at home with my sweet baby.
   

2004: GEORGE W. BUSH

1. I REMEMBER: thinking John Kerry was willing to say anything to get elected. He came off as so scripted, out-of-touch, and insincere-- in a way that is similar to Mitt Romney this year, I think.
   
2. I WAS: 25-28 years old and lived in Texas, China, Texas again, and Turkey.
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: we had two more children (Maranatha, our first daughter, and Silas), moved all around the world, and grew in faith and perseverance through some difficult challenges. I would never want to re-live those years (except, perhaps, the precious time we had in China and the sweet moments when I first "met" our children), but I am thankful for the lessons we learned and how God grew us through the struggles.
   

2008: BARACK OBAMA

1. I REMEMBER: feeling that my "team" was done after the South Carolina primary, when Thompson kept Huckabee from winning, and McCain began having the momentum that comes from "inevitability". I will always be glad that our party didn't choose Mitt, and still believe Huckabee was the only Republican who could have, possibly, beaten Obama.
   
2. I WAS: 29 and lived in Turkey... and who knows where we'll be or end up by the end of this four years?
   
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: we shall see... I am hoping and praying that there are some promises that will not be kept.
   

SO THAT's my election meme. Maybe you learned something? It was helpful for me to examine my life in four-year increments.

**********************

If you'd like to participate in this one (conceived in this brain'o'mine this morning), just follow these simple rules:

• First, post three sentences about your thoughts on this year's election results
• Then, starting with the year nearest to when you were born, post the election year, the winner, and these three things:

1. What, if anything, you remember about the campaign/election/outcome.
2. How old you were & where you lived during that President's four year term.
3. What happened in your life during that four-year period?

You can use this format (if ya like):

1. I REMEMBER:
2. I WAS:
3. DURING THAT FOUR YEARS:
   

So if you want to participate, come on! And leave a comment so I know where to find you. It'll be a fun way to review the elections of our lives.

************************

May God bless America during the next four years. In both good times and in times of suffering, and in the times when we are delighted and the times when we are discouraged, God is good and has a plan that we can rest in, for individuals and for nations.

Father, "may all the peoples praise You!" We ask for wisdom and grace to be poured out on Barack Obama. That he will lead honorably, that he will protect the people's ability to live peaceably and quietly. We ask that You will move his heart towards mercy for the unborn. We thank You for Your sovereign hand that leads us in all times.

We ask for grace for our nation, that Your will will be done in all things, and that You would allow us to act in accordance with Your will. Use this next four years to sharpen and change us into Your likeness. Continue to teach us how to honor You and be thankful in all circumstances. "May all the peoples praise You, O Lord!" Thank you for Your grace and peace. Amen.

The Meaning of Pro-Choice

Randy Alcorn has some words worth considering...

Believing what I do that the unborn are human beings in the fullest sense, to be pro-legalized-abortion is exactly equivalent to being pro-legalized-killing-of-three-year-olds. Or pro-legalized-killing-of-teenagers. Or pro-legalized-killing-of-women. Or pro-legalized-killing-of-Jews.

What would you think if a politician said "I'm not pro-rape, I'm simply prochoice about rape. And though I would not choose to rape a woman, I believe that every man should be free to rape a woman if that is his personal choice." And what would you do if that politician promised the rape lobby that if he is elected president, the "first thing I would do" is to sign legislation that would invalidate all the state laws that restrict rape in any way?

Well, I think I would say that man is pro-rape, wouldn't you? But technically, no, he is simply prochoice about rape. Read the article here.

God, help us to stand up for the innocent. Those who are dying every day in America at abortionists' hands can not speak up for themselves. They cannot write letters to Congressmen, they cannot give to a PAC, and they cannot vote.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves..." (Proverbs 31:8)

"A person's a person no matter how small." ~Horton

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:40)

SHOW & TELL: Holiday Hoopla

OK, so maybe today's not a holiday to you. But today's my birthday (my 29th... yes I'm actually 29, not just saying so to coyly lie about my age), and tomorrow's our anniversary (our 8th!). [And yes-- I pre-scheduled this post, so I didn't have to even think about blogging this week.] So, as a weird backwards-day sort of "Birthiversary" present, you get a motherlode of wonderfully interesting links to peruse and enjoy. Hope you like reading 'em as much as I have.

Thoughts on... BEING A GODLY WOMAN

• What do we do when facing problems with other people? C.S. Lewis offers wise, challenging advice.
• Are you a bitter woman?
• Never "get much" out of Leviticus? Or are you looking for ways to enrich your Bible study time? Check out Melissa's thoughts about reverence for God, and how she structures her Bible studies in order to better understand God's message.
• Taming The Tongue: Desiring God's recent conference messages are all online... for me, and most women I know, this issue of our words is a particularly relevant challenge.
  
• A woman's "highest calling"? In case you missed it, Amy's thoughts here are SO worth reading. I see this phrase thrown around a lot... I highly encourage you to read and consider what she writes.
  

Thoughts on... MARRIAGE

• Beware of "The Little Foxes"-- Mark Driscoll has yet another good word about marriage. In this message, he talks about the "little" things that can steal joy, freedom, love, and longevity from our marriages. I'd strongly encourage you to listen to or watch this message, whether you're married, engaged, or want to be married. It's very practical and definitely worth your time! Listen or watch here!
  
• Married to an overweight spouse? Here are some ideas about what you can do.
• For all of us Jane Austen lovers, this is a good word: Quit idealizing Darcy!
• You aren't safe from adultery.
• Beautiful Womanhood has a good word about sex.
  
• 14 ways to affair-proof your marriage (written to men, there are many parts of this article that are useful & relevant for us as wives as well!)
• When Marriage is Whatever We Want it To Be- Thoughts on redefining marriage

Thoughts on... CHILDREN

• Wise words on how to overcome irritation with children
• Beautiful perspective: What I'd Like You To Know (from a mom of many)... consider this link as a hearty "Amen!" from me.
  
• Do kids NEED mom to play with them? Brenda shares some interesting thoughts about this often guilt-inducing subject.
  
• When a friend miscarries: Wise words from my friend Tanya in her article, "Tanya, I just don't know what to DO."
• Speak kindly to your children.
• Having three children really isn't SO difficult.
• An easy way to teach children to tie their own shoes.
  
• When is a family TOO BIG? Whoopi Goldberg and others in an interesting (and, in many ways, scary) conversation.
• PLEASE protect your kids online!!! Christine reminds us of what's at risk.
  
• Lunch ideas for busy moms- here's a running list I've put together of potential, EASY meals for mid-day with kids-- I'd love to have you add your ideas!
• Shaping Your Child's Sexuality: Mary Flo Ridley seems to have a thoughtful perspective on having "THE talk"... I've enjoyed all I've read/heard from her so far.
  
• When Your Quiver Overflows- Stacy McDonald... a thoughtful perspective on the fruit of the womb
• Scroll down this article until you see the headline "The Cost of Motherhood", and then read it. It's true...here's an excerpt:
  

  There is a cost of motherhood. And the price is no small sum. And if you are not willing to pay this price, no amount of encouragement about the joys of motherhood will satisfy.

  But the price of motherhood is not fundamentally different from the price of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christian mothers see their duty as mothers flowing from their calling to Jesus Christ. And what is this cost?

  Christian motherhood means dedicating your entire life in service of others.

Thoughts on... RAISING DAUGHTERS

• Some great books I've seen recommended time and time again for preparing for the adolescent years with daughters: The Care & Keeping of You, Secret Keeper Girl
• How will we know who we like if we don't date? Terry shares her thoughts.
• Girltalk had a word of encouragement about training our daughters in womanhood... and if you're looking for a life-on-life Bible study to do with your daughter, perhaps "Polished Cornerstones" would be worth considering.

Thoughts on... HOMESCHOOLING

• Want to quickly assess your child's reading abilities?
• Here's a gracious encouragement to be inspired, but not measured, by what others are doing.
• And here's a post about keeping a realistic perspective on life as a homeschooling family.
  
• Is your kid really gifted? Probably not.
  

Thoughts on... ABORTION

• The death of a nation? Russia obliterates her future with a 64% abortion rate. In fact, now, to combat terribly low birth rates, they're paying women big bucks to have a second child.
• Joe Carter highlights the possibility of future wars stemming from today's abortions.
• Sarah Palin's threatening womb
• Planned Parenthood's view on the upcoming presidential election.
  
• Are we a pro-life people? Our reactions to "unplanned" pregnancy, young mothers, and large families speak volumes.
  

Thoughts on... FINANCES & FRUGALITY

• Understanding our economy: Money As Debt
• Watch batteries inside a 12 Volt battery? Seriously!
• Farmers on finance... agrarian wisdom for such a time as this.
  
• Another meatless meal: Egg Nachos
• A timely word: Don't Desire Wealth! -John Piper
  

Thoughts on... FOOD

• Cook perfect rice
  
• Make tasty Oreo Truffles-- could be a tasty homemade Christmas gift for neighbors and friends
• Pepperoni Rolls-- YUM! These sound scrumptious.
• Perfect from-scratch pumpkin puree... ready for all sorts of tasty holiday recipes!
  
• Isn't this a FUN cake pan?
• Make your own teething biscuits. Three great links: Teething Stick Recipe #1, Teething recipes aplenty, the hows & whys of making your own teething stuffs (also with recipes), a discussion of safely making your own teething biscuits. Any guesses on who has a newly teething solid food eater? :-)
  

Random MISCELLANY that's potentially WORTH YOUR TIME

• Do Christians in China still suffer persecution?
• First Graders attend same-sex wedding- as a public school field trip. Since liberals aren't having their own children, they'll just take control of the consciences of everyone else's children through government schools. At the same time that American education is tanking in virtually every academic area, THIS is the stuff they want 5- and 6-year-olds to learn. Ugh.
  
• How to fold a t-shirt in 2 seconds
• Adjusting to life overseas... good advice for any ex-pat wife.
• Mark Driscoll is, chapter by chapter, releasing his book-- "Porn-Again Christian" -- online, for FREE. Publishers have turned down the option of publishing this book because of Driscoll's straightforward handling of these issues-- I'm guessing this is one interesting book, relative to our culture, honoring to God, and offensive to the rigidly religious among us. But wasn't Jesus all of those things?
  
• TV-free living? An article about us kooks.
• In his new documentary, Religulous, Bill Maher clearly thinks that anyone who believes in God is a fool. Here's the preview-- you be the judge.
• Answering Lottie Moon's Cry: an interesting article that at least raises worthwhile questions about complementarianism & women in overseas missions
  
• Do you pop your neck? Is the temporary relief worth it? I confess that I have for more than a decade... but reading this article has caused me to re-think my habit.
• Regardless of your thoughts on Palin, this article examining Palin's wardrobe is an interesting one. [For one thing, no such article would EVER be written about a male politician (unless he was effeminate). For another, I've really appreciated seeing a woman who's not afraid to be feminine. Mother, wife, long hair, skirts... finally, there's a prominent woman who's not afraid to overtly be, well, a woman.]
  
• If you don't read ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES blog, you should. Some of the most thought-provoking blogging around paired with book giveaways. Does it get better than this?
  
• Human sexual trafficking: Inform yourself... this interview (called, "They Could Kill You & Noone Would Ever Know") with a Central Asian woman gives an insightful view to this horrible, modern-day practice.

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

• How to punish a cheating husband? Make him wear this! This website of crochet-gone-wrong cracks me up!
  
• Cake Wrecks-- always good for a laugh... this blogger finds the BEST (read: worst) cakes to highlight!

HAPPY LINK-HOPPING!!!