Rachael's Little World

2011-02-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

Revelation

2011-02-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

Amidst my mindless t.v. watching, I realized something... There comes a time in a teenage girls life when she says to her mother..."There's just some things that are easier to talk to Dad about." As much as I want my daughters...3 of them!!!!... to run to their Daddy when things are rough or confusing in life, why not Mom? Why is it easier to talk to Dad? And when I take the time to go back a few years...holy cow is it 15 year back...I realize it's cuz Dad doesn't take things personally, and Dad can see things from a dude's point of view, and Dad can set his emotions aside to answer questions. Why is that so hard for Mom? Why does Mom internalize all the "drama"? I remember waiting until my Dad would tuck me in- even as a teen- to spill the beans. He would listen and he would know what to say. Mom would freak out if she knew I was thinking a certain way about a certain something...but Dad just expected it...it's like he knew it was coming. Could he remember back to when he was a boy and see it from that perspective? Or did he just feel what I was feeling because I am his daughter? I look at my husband...and I look at my daughters, and I see him seeing things that I don't always see...I see him EXPECTING sin, when I am foolishly surprised by it. I see them wanting his approval. I don't know if every daughter felt this way, but I know I had a Dad who listened, and cared, and knew what to say, and who emmulated the true Father's love and how it is lived out. Praise God for my Dad!

Regrets

2011-02-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

I can remember driving the 25-30 mins. (depending on traffic) down Walden to Harlem to Mineral Springs, to Frank, to 161 Norman Ave.
I remember thinking that it was such a long trip. That I wish that they could only live closer. That I would just stay home since it would take such a long time to get there to visit. What a freakin' fool I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mom, and Dad, and my brothers, I would do ANYTHING to have you only 25-30 mins away. I can't handle it anymore. It hurts soooo bad. I can't write it...I can't explain the pain involved. You are so far away and I can't do anything to get you back here. All I can do is think of what a fool I was for not jumping at the opportunity to see you every chance I had.

Potty Time!

2011-01-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

Well for the past few weeks Trinity (2 yrs 2 months) has been pooping on the potty. She will tell me, " I go poo poo potty." and we'll run over to the potty and she will go! Today however, she told us twice that she had to pee pee, and she did! On the BIG potty! She seems to like going on the big potty, and she even went poop at a friends house on their big potty! I'm so excited! And so is my hubby, especially since he is the one who washes the diapers! So thus begins the adventure of underpants and puddles! It's exciting! She's so proud of herself and so are we!

The Quiet

2011-01-22T03:23:00.000-08:00

I love getting up when my hubby does (5am) and getting him his coffee and making him an omlet and kissing him as he leaves for the day. It's not been an easy thing for me...I love my sleep! But I have noticed that on the days that I put Peter before myself, my wants (sleep!), then my day goes sooo much better! I'm able to get the laundry done- except the folding- I do that while listening to my oldest read. I'm able to get the dishes done, although I do sometimes leave the dishwasher to be unloaded by Trinity (2) and Hailey (6). They are so cute how much they love to do it! Hailey will hand a cup to Trin, and she will bring it to me, and I will put it away. The best part though, is how she says, "Here" every single time she gives me a dish! It comes out sounding like "HE." LOVE IT! I think I have figured out a routine that works for balancing homeschooling and mothering the other two little ones. And just because it worked yesterday doesn't mean it will work again, but it's something to shoot for I guess. If I wait until we've had breakfast, changed T. and P.'s diapers, and let them play a bit together, when P. is ready for her morning nap, I can put on Elmo for T. and then get started with school with H. I love getting school done before lunch- it's kind of like a reward for both of us! Which I'm not sure is a good way to look at food, but for now it's working for us.

Purposeful

2011-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

So I haven't blogged since I had my sweet little "Pay Pay" as we like to call her. I've been thinking lately about being "purposeful" in everything. Do I have goals for my day? Do I have goals for the week, month, year??? What do I want to accomplish and more importantly, WHY?? What makes that task worthwhile? Is it accomplishing anything for eternity? Is it glorifying to Christ? Will it change how I submit to my husband or how I parent my children?

Purposeful eating...Am I eating because I'm bored? Am I eating because I feel sad about how I look? Am I eating because it just looks so good??

Purposeful reading...Will this draw me closer or further to Christ?

Purposeful TV watching...Will this benefit me? How could I be spending my time better? Why do I want to "veg?" Would my husband feel more loved if I shut it off and went upstairs to meet his needs?

Purposeful listening...Do I listen to others just so that I can respond, or do I really care about what they have to say?

Purposeful socializing...Am I a good friend? Am I trustworthy and someone to confide in?

Well, just some of my thoughts. I'm going to pray that God continues to convict me and that I submit my will to Him, and surrender.

The Birth Story of Patience Anne

2010-10-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

Monday October 11, 2010- 10 days past my due date

10am. Appointment with my midwife- everything is perfect- just waiting!

11:30am. Massage with my best friend Rebecca. She hits some pressure points and we pray for things to begin!

12pm. Visit my chiropractor who takes an extra long time with me doing everything he knows to get my body ready for labor. I am feeling good!

4:30pm. Arrive at my in-laws for dinner.

5pm. Start having contractions but they are sporadic and I've been having them for months so I don't pay too much attention.

5:30pm. They seem a bit close together so I ask my mother-in-law to use her watch. They are 2-3 mins. apart.

6pm. Everyone is sitting down for dinner, but I cannot sit. They are too close together and I'm uncomfortable. I walk around the house and go outside to text my mom and best friend that this may be the night.

7pm. I tell my husband that we need to go home. I really don't want to have a baby in the van!

7:30pm. We leave our 22 month old with them and we head home, but not before stopping at Tops so my hubby can get 2 energy drinks and I insist that he get me 2 yogurts for after delivery.

8pm. We arrive home and hubby is in super Daddy mode. He gets the pool set up in our bedroom, and all other preparations set. Hailey (5 years old) and I clean up the house. Contractions are still coming, but are a bit more sporadic.

8:30pm. We decide to make a birthday cake for the baby! Hailey is super excited about this!

9pm. We start watching a movie but decide it's not appropriate for Hailey, so we shut it off and go decorate the cake. Hailey loved it. I was still contracting- but they were still not too bad.

10pm. We decide to put Hailey to bed so she'd have energy to be awake when the birth was occurring. She wasn't too happy to go to bed, but was excited with the idea of us waking her up to watch her baby sister or brother being born.

I'm not really sure about the timing of everything after that. I know Peter and I got into the birthing pool together at some point and it was really relaxing and intimate. It was great to be focused together and to not have any distractions. I still was not fully convinced that this was really labor, since we had had a false alarm two weeks earlier where I was contracting all night long and then everything just stopped. So it wasn't until...

Tuesday October 12, 2010- 11 days after my due date

1am. I noticed a significant change in the intensity of the contractions and they seemed to be "deeper". Rather than in my belly they were lower in my body. I was really uncomfortable and the only relief I had was when Peter would rub my lower back. I'm not sure how close the contractions were, but it was at this point that I was fully convinced that this was indeed the "real thing."

3am. I was laying on my bed and I felt something burst (my bag of waters) and it was actually a bit painful. I let out a yelp- it sort of felt like I had been punched internally. When I felt the warmness of the water I told Peter my water had broken (good thing we had the plastic sheet on the bed!) and I got up out of bed and headed to the bathroom to pee and then got into the birthing pool.
We called the midwife and my mom, and I texted my best friend to let them know my water broke. My midwife said she was on her way. Once the water broke, the contractions were much more painful and were coming very close together. I knew the baby was making its way down. During this time I had to have Peter on his knees behind me, with his hands on my shoulders. This was the only way I could relax my shoulders and stay focused on relaxing.

3:50am. My midwife arrived and checked for the baby's heartbeat. Everything sounded great and she headed downstairs to sterilize her instruments.

4:20am. I can remember praying in between the intense contractions and asking God for His strength. I told my midwife to go wake up Hailey. I reached inside myself and felt the head about 1 inch away from being out of me. I knew I would be pushing soon. I got into a comfortable position squatting and leaning over the side of the pool. I wanted to gently and slowly let my body do the work instead of forcing it like I had done with my last child. I reached down and felt the baby's head coming out and I just held it there and tried to breathe until the next contraction came. I talked to my baby telling him/her that we were going to do this together and we were going to see each other soon. My midwife said to "Ease your baby out." So I kept saying "easy, easy." When the baby's head was completely out, I let out a scream of relief. It felt so good to be past that point. My husband didn't even know the head was coming out until it was completely out and he saw it. He reached in and helped me pull the baby up onto my stomach. Our sweet baby was out. It was amazing! My midwife put a towel around the baby and I lifted the baby's leg to discover that it was a girl! Our third baby girl! She was so calm and peaceful and never let out a cry at all. In fact, she was so relaxed on me that she started to fall asleep. Hailey was so excited to meet her new sister and kept saying how cute she was. Peter kept saying how awesome I did and was right by my side adoring our little Patience Anne. I decided to get out of the pool and deliver the placenta in my bed. It was taking a while since I wasn't able to nurse the baby due to her short cord. It was at least 20 mins. later when I delivered the placenta. It ended up being folded in half, so when it came out, it was like giving birth again. We left the placenta attached to Patience for about 2 hours. Every last drop of blood that she could have received from the cord got to her. The cord was completely white and totally empty when Hailey cut it. Patience Anne weighed 9lbs 4 oz. and was 20 1/2" She was completely healthy and nursed like a champ! This birth was amazing. I am so grateful to have such a supportive husband who was with me every step of the way through this labor and delivery. He took care of all the clean up from the birth and took such good care of me while I was recovering. Praise God for His enormous blessings that I do not deserve!

Pregnancy Thoughts

2010-09-30T03:03:00.000-07:00

I cannot wrap my head around the fact that tomorrow is the day this baby is due. No one imagined that he or she would be inside me for this long. I feel very grateful to know that this baby is healthy and growing, and is going to be nice and pudgy when it comes out. I am so jumping out of my skin excited to meet them and hold their little hand and kiss their soft cheeks and watch them be completely satisfied at my breast.

Although my stomach is so huge, and my thighs are bigger than they've been in a looonng time, I have never felt more beautiful. My stomach is round and tight and smooth- there is no loose skin, there is no sagginess. My breasts are full and plump, ready to do their job. I am in awe of the miracle of life. The beautiful intimacy that God created to be shared between a husband and wife. I recently heard conception described as "a mommy and daddy's love for each other just spilling out and it makes a baby." What a sweet description for a child to grasp how it really is love.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by the family that I'm in. My husband is so attracted to me and my plumpness and he tells me daily. He is constantly touching my belly and telling this baby to "come out now!" He says how he can't wait to hold the naked baby with his shirt off and get that special skin on skin contact.

Hailey is so excited and has been the most amazing big sister and helper. Last night I was holding onto Peter's shoulders for support through a contraction (15 mins apart for over 4 hours- then nothin) and Hailey came over to us and he told her to go sit down and finish her cookie. She said, "But in the book, the Mommy is holding onto the Daddy and the little girl is rubbing the Mommy's back." It was sooo sweet and innocent and she truly wanted to be a part of that moment. The name of the book is "We're having a homebirth." Rebecca let me borrow it and the girls both love it. It has great pictures and it talks about the midwife coming to the house and how mommy makes lots of good noises like an elephant.

Trinity definitely knows that something is going on. She knows there's a baby in my belly, but I don't think she knows that it's coming out soon. She has been acting out and being nasty to her sister and I think it's just the tension in the air from our patience being stretched to the limit! She can be so funny when her sister isn't around. She really tries to entertain us, walking around with her tongue hanging out and waddling like a duck. She knows she's funny too which makes it even cuter!

I am struggling with feeling guilty for sending my kids off to people's houses while I try to rest and let my back rest. I have had such back pain and I think part of it is taking care of the girls and the house and the other part of it is the baby's positioning. I want to enjoy the last bit of time with Hailey and Trinity as my only two children- and I want to have one on one time with each of them, but I have to do what's best for everyone, and I am no good to anyone if I cannot move! I love when the girls cuddle up on what's left of my lap and I read to them.

Yesterday Peter juiced a TON of apples and it's the best apple juice you have ever tasted! It tastes a bit more like apple cider than apple juice- not at all like the juice you buy in the store- maybe more like the organic all natural juice, but i've never had that to compare it. While he did that, I made an apple pie as a "birthday cake" for the baby. I got out a huge bag of shoes for the girls and Hailey kept putting different shoes onto Trinity and then bringing her in to show us "how pretty." Trinity would just light up to hear us say, "Oh Trinity that's sooo pretty." Hailey would say, "ok, let's go get different shoes on." This went on for over a half hour. It was so sweet. I love it when they play together without fighting and I love to see how much they truly love each other.

It's amazing to me how God has continually met our needs. I am blessed beyond belief to have a church body who is so willing to help our family. Whether it's taking the girls, bringing us a huge box full of loaves of bread (my freezer is overflowing!) or bringing us meals, they are more than willing to meet a need when it exists. Also, my mother-in-law, what an amazing woman! God has given her the gift of being a servant. Knowing I can count on her for practically anything is such a blessing. I don't even have to ask most of the time she just offers or just does it. I hope someday I am able to take care of her and her needs like she has for me.

Despite the recent craziness of life, homeschooling is going surprisingly well. There have been 1 or 2 days that we have missed, but over all, I am really pleased with her progress and with all the new concepts she is grasping so quickly! She read a book to me yesterday- the whole thing- and was so proud of herself! I pray that things continue to go this well after baby arrives and my attention is demanded elsewhere.

I started reading "To Train Up a Child" again for some much needed refreshing. I am looking forward to some good training sessions! I have totally been depending on discipline and ignoring training. It was good to read and remember what the difference is, and how to be intentional in training- and keep the goal in mind- working toward Godliness (me and my kiddos!)

Life is Grand!

2010-05-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

I really have an awesome life! I am so grateful to be able to stay home with my two girls and spend everyday teaching them, and learning from them. My third child is growing quickly, I'm more than 1/2 way through this pregnancy- yeah! 21 weeks exactly today. I can feel him/her moving everyday and the prods and kicks are getting a bit stronger.

Hailey just decided to decorate herself and her sister with little red spots. Fun. At least it's not permanent this time!

We have 6 chickens who are growing rapidly and we are anxiously awaiting the fall when we can enjoy fresh brown eggs!

The pool will be going up soon- hopefully this weekend- I cannot wait to float my big belly in that water! Peter planted 2 pear trees last week- they won't produce for 2-4 years. We'll be planting the garden soon- Dick and Pat will be doing half and we'll do half. Can't wait for fresh garden picked produce! We got a sandbox given to us and so we bought sand yesterday and the girls both love it!

We ordered a video camera- which should be here in 4 days- I am so thrilled to have footage of all our adventures! The girls are so cute together and Trinity is doing so many new things. Her latest words are "cup", "down", "nite nite", she also will tell you what a cow, cat, dog, and duck say. She loves to eat and will outeat her sister anyday! She just started coming down the stairs on her butt instead of her belly which makes Mommy a bit nervous!

I set up the sprinkler in the yard today and Hailey loved it- Trin wouldn't go near it! We were all getting a bit red so we had to come in- the weather is beautiful, but us fair-skinned people can't take too much of it.

Trinity is walking around right now with one of my sandles on. She is such a girl~ looooves shoes! And she gets so mad if one of her shoes falls off- it's hilarious.

Well, I'm about to do a color so bye for now!

WOW

2010-01-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

Ok where has time gone? I am so grateful for a husband who loves me the way God tells him to...washing me with the water of His Word! Eph. 4:25. His perseverance to do this daily is such a testimony of how God truly changes a person by his renewing his mind with the Word!

I am so thrilled to be going to TX is less than 6 weeks! I made a paper link chain to count down the days with Hailey. She takes a link off everday.

God has been teaching me so much lately. Mostly it's around and around the circle of "I'm all you need Rachael!" DUH! January is always hard when my inlaws leave me for 4 months and my family being so far...then I am reminded- God is all I need.

I was reminded by the Holy Spirit today how I have such a powerful weapon...PRAYER. How often do we put down that weapon and pick up worry, doubt, and let our minds wander away down the wide path. I don't have to do that! I am His child- I CAN PRAY! So that's what I did. And will continue to do.

I am so encouraged that my daughter is hiding God's Word in her heart. She came up to me today and said "Hey mom...necessary edification!" And so I said " OH yeah, are you learning the same verse that we're learning in church? And she said it with me..."Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer." She has also memorized the Lord's Prayer- her Daddy does it with her every night before bed. She's got it down! Praise the Lord! Nothing better.

Another thing God has been showing me is that we are to glorify Him in every decision we make every day...How difficult is that to flesh out? Not so if we are walking in the spirit...we won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. Gal. 5

Thank you God so much for my accountability partner who challenges me and asks me the tough questions and encourages me with scripture. I have learned so much through her humility and grace.

Joyful suffering. That's what the Bible Study has been about on Tuesday mornings. Not rejoicing in spite of a trial- but rejoicing because of a trial. Romans 5:3...Want hope? You must persevere through a trial first, and then recieve endurance- and then our character will be strengthened through His Word- His Spirit.

Two hiding friends.

2009-09-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

This one happened about 10 mins before I took this picture. I had just checked it, and when I checked it again right after that, it had already changed. It still looked wet, gooey and different than the other one.

This one changed overnight. We woke up to find it.

Let there be PEARS!

2009-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hailey took these pictures- my budding photographer!

This was today after we went to speak at a Woman's Aglow Meeting about the liver donation. It was really exciting to see how many women were encouraged and how it touched their lives to hear what a miracle God had done.

We canned 12 pints today and 6 quarts yesterday of pears. I am done with peaches and ended up with 16 quarts...which was 1/2 bushel. I will be doing more pears tomorrow. They are sooo good! I am hoping to find some tomatoes somewhere- this year all the farmers tomatoes got some disease and all died. ;-( So maybe if I go to another county I'll find some. I want to make spaghetti sauce and salsa. Next month will be applesauce and applebutter, and then squash- acorn and butternut. YUM! We soo love squash!

Canning Peaches

2009-09-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

These are my beautiful peaches that will be in jars on Thursday! Loving this!

New Friends

2009-09-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

These are the 2 newest additions to our family. We found them on a walk to see the baby pony down the road. Within two weeks we should have two monarchs! Yeah for the school of LIFE!

Homeschooling

2009-09-08T16:44:00.001-07:00

Our first day of Kindergarten begins tomorrow! Wow, I cannot believe it's here already! I am excited and nervous and kind of weirded out that this huge landmark is here and we will be doing school for the next God knows how many years!!! A new adventure! I will need lots of prayer! Especially for patience and grace! I am just so grateful that I have a husband who leads me and who understands the value and importance of the role God has given us to "...teach and train..." our children. And I'm grateful that I am at home and able to watch my daughter learn all these firsts...learn to read, to tie her shoe, and so much more! Praise God for His provision and I pray that I never stop surrendering to His plan for my life!

My Make-up Artist

2009-09-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

Thank God this was her makeup and not mine, and that she asked me if she could do this before she did it! Of course she had to decorate barbie too! So when Pastor Steve came for a visit today, this is what Hailey decided to do. She is quite talented! I do think he was pretty impressed!!

Labor Day

2009-09-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

We spent Labor Day at Brown's Berry Patch in Waterport, NY. It was about an hour away and Rebecca and Jordan and Gracie and McKenzie joined our clan. It was a beautiful day! There was so much for the kiddos to do and they totally had a blast! They had billy goats up on this roof/bridge thing, and there was a pully to lift food up to them. They had a huge slide- that was sooo fun! And the giant pillow was incredible- i'm not sure if the kids or "grown-ups" had more fun! There was even a misting tent for when you got too hot! After we all played a while we went "pickin" and got apples, elderberries,

blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries! YUMMY! I froze them to put into pancakes and waffles in the winter! Here's the website for Brown's Berry Patch so you can check it out yourself! Happy Labor Day to all! http://www.brownsberrypatch.com/barnyard_adventure.html

How awesome is our God!

2009-08-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Ask and you shall receive! I went to a class this morning to learn how to can peaches. Well...I left the class praying for God to provide a huge pot with a wire rack for the jars. I stopped at a few yard sales right around my house, and asked a lady- who didn't have any kitchen items out- if she happened to have one- she said, "i think i have an extra one, hold on" So...$4 later I have my very own canning pot with a rack! Yeah God! I am so excited- I will be canning peaches and pears as long as my hubby says it's ok. and i learned that you can make the syrup for them with honey instead of sugar! yeah for natural! i just can't wait until in january (actually i really don't mean that) when it's a huge snow storm and i open a jar of summer!!!! how awesome will that be! maybe i'll be brave and do tomatoes, and salsa, and spaghetti sauce. Next year i think i'll do some jams. I love being effiecient and frugal! I just need someone to watch the kiddos while i do all this! When Hailey is old enough to help me with all this what a blessing that will be!!!

OH yeah and at the yard sale that i got the pot- i also got asics sneakers...probably cost $70 in the store- for $3!!! and they look brand new!

my inlaws came over for haircuts and they took Hailey with them...PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! I love being with her but she talks a mile a minute and I am getting mentally drained!!!! I am so grateful that they were willing to do that- and the best part is- it was their idea!

So my catscan is scheduled for sept. 3. My mother in law will pick me and the girls up and we're going to make a day of it. My appt is at 8:30 am. thank God because i can't eat for 2 hours before the test- and then i have to speak with the doctor- which is scheduled for 10am. but i've been throught this drill before and when they say 10am they really mean 3pm. So hopefully the girls will enjoy this little "outing"!

I have lots i can do without hailey breathing down my neck so i'm ganna get busy!!!

Pretty Girls

2009-08-13T03:46:00.000-07:00

Mommying

2009-08-13T03:33:00.000-07:00

I can't tell my husband enough how grateful I am to be able to stay home with our girls and enjoy their everyday changing. I was in a store the other day talking to the clerk and she was sharing how her daughter- a couple months older than Trinity- was starting to step away from holding onto furniture. She said "I know i'm going to miss her first steps because i'll be here at the store." I just thought how sad that something so special is traded for a little money.

I am getting excited about homeschooling- and wondering how an unstructured gal like myself can try to implement some structure into my daughters lives. I know i'll be praying a lot!

Hailey's curious little mind is always asking questions, like this morning- taking Peter to work at 5:30am..."mom, why is it so smokey?" Oh you mean the foggy fog! and then when we got back home- "mom what does udicrous mean?", "you mean ludicrous?", "yeah" ,"it means crazy."
or yesterday..."mom, what means lergic?", "you mean allergic?", "yeah", "it means you get all sneezy when you're around something. like daddy is allergic to cats and that's why we can't have a kitty- cuz he'll get all sneezy." which brought on a whole slew of questions later on like..."are some people allergic to trees? are some people allergic to babies?"

there are some things you think would never some out of your mouth- but as a mother, somehow they manage to come out. such as..."stop licking that chair!"

Sleep

2009-05-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

My wonderful 5 month old actually slept from 9pm-4:30am!!! Praise God for sleep! Then she ate and went back to sleep until 8:30! I'm so blessed! This could become a habit and i'd be totally cool with that!!!!!

Polka Dots

2009-05-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

So I said to Hailey as we were both looking in the mirror, "Do you think you look like mommy?" and she replied, "no, cuz you have polka dots on your nose and i don't."

Exciting Times...and Crocodiles

2009-04-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am now the proud owner of a salon and am licensed by NY State as a business owner...Yeah!! I had to jump through a few of their hoops, but it was so worth it to be doing things legally and to be able to stay home with my girlies, and not go away to work. Now I can plan my business around my schedule and what works for our family.

I quit my job at the salon in Lancaster. Tonight was my last night and I really wasn't sad. I loved working there, but I know God has revealed to me that my place is at home, and I can be a helper to my husband by bringing in some extra money by doing this business at home. Hailey was so excited when i told her that i didn't have to leave her anymore to go to away to work...what a blessing to have a hubby that supports this and encourages me to GO FOR IT!

The electrical work in the salon was done yesterday and the plumbing and sink are being put in on Sunday. Then Monday, Peter and i will do the finishing touches...paint the floor, put up trim, put a desk in there, a rug down, a magazine rack, a plant, pictures on the walls, paint the cabinet that surrounds the sink, and curtains up. I still have a few things I have to purchase- an appointment book, towels, shampoo, etc.

The other exciting thing is that my mom is coming up in 4 days with my two brothers!!! I can't wait! She's only staying here one night, but hopefully we'll get the boys a bit longer than that. Hailey is thrilled to see them again so soon.

Yesterday Hailey and I were discussing what it means when Jesus is your Savior. After explaining it a bit, I asked her if she had asked Him to be her Savior, to which she replied, "yes, I did it when i was in my bed", And I said, "what did you say?" And she said "I didn't say anything, I was asleep." So I said, "No, you can't ask Him when you're asleep."
I then asked her, "What did He save you from?" And she very matter of factly said, "From the crocodiles." .......Thanks Jesus for saving us from the crocodiles!!!

Learning

2009-03-25T04:10:00.000-07:00

sometimes you realize that you believe something you didn't know you believe. For instance, i discovered this week that i grew up believing that i could trust people. i trusted my parents, siblings, my husband, and i was teaching my children to trust me. all sounds good right? well, Jeremiah 9:4 says " Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. " and
Mic 7:5 "Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms..."
Psa 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
The Bible teaches us that the only good and righteous thing in us is Christ- without Him we are scum! So to trust someone is just foolishness- we trust Christ- and we must expect that our spouse, parents, children are going to screw up! They are going to let us down. If we maintain trust in people rather than God then we will end up with a very disappointed outlook on life. Man will always let you down. That is because of our sinfullness. Just some thoughts...

Life This Week

2009-03-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

The picture shows how Hailey really thinks Trinity is her dolly.

With the encouragement of my hubby- I have been embarking on a journey of a sort. Peter and I were both convicted that I shouldn't be making income from doing hair without claiming it on our taxes and so we decided to do some research as to what the state requires in order for my haircutting, coloring, etc. to be legal and legit. Turns out that there's quite a bit to it. I got the packet from the state and the journey began! Had to go downtown to register the name of my business, get a tax id #, and purchase a professional liability insurance policy. I mailed all this yesterday to the state and am waiting for my business license to come in the mail. I also checked with the town as to what they require. They are cool with me doing it- just want me to pay $50 to put a sign up and it has to be 2'x2' and 10' away from the road. I also started a website and got a new email address and ordered business cards- they are so cool with a spot for the next appointment on the back of them. i got a good deal on them. I'm still looking for a sink. i have someone coming on sunday to see what it's ganna take to put a sink in. It's been so great to have my hubby be just as excited as me to see this becoming a reality. He's been a great encouragement and letting me just go for it. my website is www.NaturalBeautysalonByRachael.webs.com

and my email is NaturalBeautysalonByRachael@yahoo.com. i'll update what all is happening in this business endevor! later!

2009-03-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

This is the beautiful dress my grandmother made for Trinity. She wore it to church a few Sunday's ago.

Happiest baby ever! Beautiful dimple too!

Life Lately...

2009-03-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

So I'm enjoying my 4 year old and the amazing way her mind is developing. Yesterday during lunch i got a whole mouthful of questions that she was wondering about, such as:

why do we yawn?
...burp?
...sigh?
...cry?

how exciting to learn! i am also really excited that she is now writing her name and other words, like yesterday she wrote flat, mat, and hat, and she is really enjoying it. she also loves to do rhyming words. i make her write the words all the way across the paper and then she gets a jelly bean for finishing.

my other girl is finally falling asleep on her own, in her own crib, and spending some time sleeping in there at night and during the day, yeah! she is only pooping once or twice a day which is so wonderful compared to what is was- poop with every diaper! not fun!

i am actually really wanting to have another baby already! i just don't want to go through the pregnancy part...lol. i'll do the delivery and having the baby- just the sickness thing and getting huge- not so much fun!

so kohls is totally my favorite store! i got 2 bridal shower gifts, a birthday gift, and several baby outfits (4), and baby shoes (3)- for future showers- and a pair of pants for hailey and a nighty for me/peter ;-) for under $50!!! i always get the best deals there! plus i had a 30% off coupon.

alright duty calls - until next time! adios!

My sweet Girlies!

2009-01-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Baby

2008-12-19T17:59:00.000-08:00

Chunky Monkey!

Can you say chunker??Her arms looked so fat i just had to get this shot! This was one of the few times that she held a binkie in her mouth for more than 2 seconds. She usually spits them out with a disgusted face and gets pretty ticked off at the whole idea of the boob not being in her face at all times.

Wonderful Big Sister!

Hailey's cheeks are a bit pink from a wierd thing she had a week or so ago- she's all better now.

My girls!!

2008-12-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

4 years old!

Such a great big sister!

Trinity sucking her thumb!

And life stood still...

2008-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

It seems to me that when a baby is born, life stands still for a few weeks. All you want to do is sit and stare at the miracle that is in your arms. I look at her and i think, I can't believe you were just inside of me. I can't believe you're here already. I can't believe God thinks i'm special enough to bless me with 2 little girls! Is my life always blissful and full of joy? No, but I am trying to cherish each moment with my children, to walk in the Spirit, and love them the way i should. I am so thankful that my daughters are healthy and that they have nothing physically wrong with them. That is somthing i think we take for granted much too often. On a lighter note...

These are the things that make my life hard sometimes:

*my 4 year old has about 100,000,000 words that she needs to get out in a day- most in the form of a question.

*my 4 year old wants to walk around the house holding my 2 week old, and doesn't understand why i won't let her.

*my hubby is aggravated that we cannot be as intimate as he would like for a few more weeks.

*seems like the thank you cards and christmas cards will never end!

*how many loads of laundry can a woman do in a day?

*i have become a pacifier...or my boobs have.

So that's my world right now- and despite the little hiccups- it's a great life!

I had thought that after the birth i would have a sort of "high" from doing things naturally- a huge feeling of accomplishment- having done something a lot of women never do- completely natural childbirth. But it hasn't come. I am proud of what i did, but it didn't effect me to the degree that i thought it would. I don't feel as if "i can do anything"- as i've heard some homebirth mothers say. I don't feel extra ambitious- like wanting to go back to school or start my own business...I have to say that more than anything I'm content. And for that i am so thankful. I think that it's a huge feat to give birth naturally and I wouldn't change anything about it- but I didn't do it to prove anything. I did it because I knew it was best for me and my baby. I am proud of it because I showed myself that i'm not a wimp, that i can handle it, that my body will do what it was created to do, the fact that other people get to see that there are people still having their babies at home is just a bonus for me. I hope the trend catches on, and i hope that i have in some way helped to eliminate some of the fear-based thinking our society has attached to birth.

She's Here!!!!

2008-12-03T19:03:00.001-08:00

The Birth of Trinity Faith Ritenburg
This birth story begins with the celebration of my other daughter’s birth. We had thrown a huge 4th birthday party for our daughter and arrived home around 4pm. It was November 30th and my due date wasn’t until December 24th. When we got home, I went to the bathroom and discovered that my mucous plug had come out. I had read that even if the plug comes out, it could still be weeks before the baby is born, so I didn’t make a big deal about it. I did however suggest to my hubby that we put a plastic sheet on our bed just in case- and thank God we did! I was having contractions that evening while we watched a movie, and later while we were in bed. They were getting stronger and I decided to do some visualizing. I kept imagining my baby moving lower and my cervix opening, I kept telling myself that I was getting huge. After a couple hours of that, I felt something come out- I figured it must be more mucous and I went to the bathroom to investigate. It was water, but I didn’t really think my water broke, so I was going to change my underwear and when I pulled them off- I had a gush of water. Then I knew that it was indeed my water breaking. So, I woke up my hubby and told him what was happening, it was 1am. He wanted to know what I wanted to do. I called the midwife and let her know what was happening, we had an appointment already scheduled for December 1st at 12 noon, so she said that I should just call her when I thought I would be needing her. I also called my best friend/doula Rebecca, and my mom, they were surprised but delighted as well. I decided we’d need our rest, so we should just go back to bed and try and get sleep. The contractions kept coming and were requiring me to breathe through them, so I asked Peter, my hubby, if he would set up some relaxing music for me. That helped, but eventually it was just keeping me awake, so I shut it off. I really couldn’t sleep because I was so uncomfortable so I went down to the couch where I could be more upright and that helped. I fell asleep for an hour or so, and then woke up in a puddle that spilled over the side of the couch. By this time I was on my 3rd pair of underwear in a couple of hours and since it was 6am and Peter had had some sleep I woke him up to set up the pool for me- so I would stop soaking everything I came near. He filled the pool and it felt good to get in, but it also slowed everything down to nothing. No more contractions. We went on with our day, Peter made french toast for Hailey and I, and we just waited around for things to get rolling again. I called the midwife to see if she wanted to just wait for things to get going more, or if she still wanted to come at noon, she said she would be there at 1pm. I got sick of waiting for labor, and wanted to go to the grocery store to get some healthy snacks for later. I started having contractions again in the store, but not consistent. After shopping, we stopped by our friend, Amanda’s house who had agreed to video tape the birth. She was surprised to hear that I was in labor- and was at her house! We left there to get home to see the midwife was already there- it was 12:30pm. She had just arrived. We let her know things were really slow and so I had a normal checkup, baby’s heart rate was great, blood pressure was great, everything was perfect, baby just wasn’t ready yet. Even though the water had broken, the head was acting as a cork and keeping the rest of the water in, and my body was making more fluid every 3 hours- such a miracle pregnancy and birth are! We all ate lunch and I decided to take a walk outside. It was so bitter cold and windy that I didn’t make it far at all. But at least I had some time alone, and got out of the house. When I got back home I was tired so I had a little cat nap on the couch. I had a few contractions that were pretty rough, but they were very sporadic. I told Peter that I thought that if we got out and did something that things would really get going. So we decided to go the mall to walk around and then take Hailey to see Madagascar 2. I called the midwife before we left to let her know that things were still slow and we were going out- she said “enjoy yourselves”. On the way to the mall, the contractions started coming 10 mins apart and I had to have Hailey and Peter quiet so I could concentrate on breathing though them- so they were pretty strong. In the mall they continued being 10 mins apart and then were coming 5 mins apart. I went to the bathroom 3 times in the mall and we were only there about an hour- each time I went, there was a little bloody mucous in the toilet, so I knew things were going to happen that night. On the way home, we stopped at Timmy Ho’s and Peter and Hailey each got a doughnut and I got the potato soup I’ve been craving since they came out with it. It’s so yummy! They were still 5 mins apart the whole way home except the last one before we got in the house was 4 mins. Once we were inside, I had Peter put some more hot water in the pool and while it filled I breathed through some really tough ones- I think by this time they were about 3 mins apart. Peter called the midwife who said she would be on her way, and also called his mother- who would be playing with Hailey while I labored. I called Rebecca and Amanda, then got in the pool. It was about 6:30pm by this time. When Amanda arrived about 10 mins later the contractions were 2-3 mins apart and were lasting about a minute each. My mother-in-law arrived next and then Rebecca shortly after. The midwife came about 10 mins after Rebecca got there. I was definitely in full force labor and it was intense! I was not comfortable in the pool at all because it was only at 94 degrees and I was freezing which was making me tense and I couldn’t relax. One thing that really helped me though while I was in the pool was my husband had his hands on my shoulders and I was holding his hands and he was squeezing my hands. Feeling the power and the warmth from his hands actually gave me strength- I took strength from him. Also, Rebecca was rubbing my lower back which really helped to ease some of the tension. Eventually though, about 20-30 mins of being in the pool, I told everyone that I wanted to get out and go up to my bed, so I would be warmer. Once upstairs, Peter and I got in bed together and I warmed up. The contractions were so low in my sacrum and it felt like I was being disemboweled. It was so painful, and my breathing turned into low groans and moans- little did I know that her head was crowning. I felt as if I were being split in half, there was so much pressure and it was really hard to breathe through them now, I really felt like I needed to push. After a few minutes of laying there with the covers on, my midwife took a peek and discovered that she was crowning and poured some olive oil on me to help me stretch. I told them I wanted to squat on the floor next to the bed. It was then that Hailey and my mother-in-law were called up so they could witness this miracle. Once in this position, it did hurt more because gravity was pulling her down, but I knew it would go faster this way and I would open up more. I gave one push in this position and then needed more leverage so I got help to get up on my feet and squatted a little on my feet and after 2 pushed my little girl was out. Her daddy got to catch her and discovered that she was a girl, we had not known until that moment. I was so relieved that she was out, but I had anticipated that I would be able to pull her up to my breast while the cord was pulsating and that I would be able to nurse her. This plan didn’t work too well since her cord ended up being really short and I had to stay on all fours with my baby girl in between my legs until we could get situated. I was able to lay down and they put her on my lower stomach and we waited for the placenta to be born before we cut the cord. This was hard because I wasn’t having any more contractions to get the afterbirth out since I wasn’t nursing. Eventually it came out and Hailey was able to cut the cord- what a gift to watch her so involved in her sister’s birth- she has to be the most proud big sister ever! I was surprised how much it still hurt in my vaginal area after the birth. The midwife put some witch hazel on me and that helped. I had lost a lot of blood 400 cc’s I think she said, and she was getting a little concerned that I was going to hemorrhage- so she was getting the pitocin ready- but I ended up not needing it. The midwife and Rebecca got my bed all cleaned up and me too- I was a mess. I wanted to take a shower but because of the stairs, and the amount of blood I had lost, the midwife didn’t think it was a good idea. So I just got back into bed and nursed my sweetie. It was so nice to be with my family in my bedroom and have shared such an intimate experience with all of them. There is absolutely nothing about this birth that I would change and I would do it all over again. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done, but it was so worth it and I know I gave my baby the best entry into this world that she could have. I am so thankful for a supportive and loving husband and best friend. Praise God that everything was orchestrated perfectly because He is in control of all. I never doubted that His strength was enough for me. Trinity Faith was weighed by her father and was 7lb. 8 oz. Daddy also measured her and she was 18 ½ in. This was all done on my bed right next to me. Our baby never left our side, and she was given the best care because the people holding and touching her were loved her. She was born with light brown hair, and she looked just like her older sister looked when she was born, except that big sissy was much chubbier than her. I share such an amazing bond with Trinity and I am enjoying her fully! God’s timing was perfect and I get to enjoy a beautiful healthy little baby girl for Christmas this year. Talk about the perfect present! Thanks God!

36 weeks 2 days! Only 26 days to go!

2008-11-26T20:31:00.003-08:00

Ok so we're on our way home from church tonight and Hailey says, "Hey dad..." "Yeah Hailey?"

"You know mom's boobs are pretty big huh?" "Yeah, they are sweetie..."

Out of the mouth of babe's i guess...it was pretty hilarious! Tomorrow my little sweetie will be 4- i can't believe it! We were invited to a family from church's house tomorrow and i'm happy to go fellowship and hang with the body! Strict dress code i've been informed of- jammie pants and

t-shirt. this i can totally handle!!!! guys will be playing football! fun. We may still take Hailey bowling if it's not too late.

Things I'm Thankful for:

my salvation

my family

a bed to sleep on

my home

my church

healthy children

clothes that fit- sort of ;-)

true joy

love that i don't deserve

a patient husband

snow- it's so beautiful

a car that works and has a heater!

meals with family

much much more...

33 WEEKS!

2008-11-06T17:56:00.000-08:00

Can you say big baby? Hailey loves to kiss her new baby. She is a great big sister already.

My Birth Plan

2008-10-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

BIRTHING MY LOVE
In General:
Ideally, if all goes smoothly, I hope that the midwife who attends me in labor will remain in the background, taking observations to check on the baby's and my safety, but otherwise not getting involved in my labor, unless I request otherwise. If I do find that I would like her to become more involved, I would like her to support and encourage me, using her experience to guide me through labor and offer suggestions.
The Labor:
I would like to remain active and use whatever position I find comfortable. Please encourage me to stay off my back! I may wish to move throughout the house and to use the bath or shower from time to time.
I would like to avoid internal examinations if possible, unless there is a particular reason why you think one is necessary. I am open to natural methods to soften the cervix, such as nipple stimulation, clitoral stimulation, sex, or another method suggested. Please do not offer to break my waters, and please be very careful to avoid doing so during any internal examinations. If the baby appears to be poorly positioned or labor is not progressing well for some reason, I would appreciate it if you could suggest changes of position or movements which might help. I would like to have music playing during the labor, I will have a play list and music readily available.
I am a firm believer that all my strength and source of hope is found in my Lord Jesus Christ and that I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me. Prayer will be a big part of my labor, as well as praise.
Birth Companions:
The following people may come to my home during the labor or birth:
My husband/partner, Peter.
My daughter, Hailey.
My mother-in-law, Pat, who will be helping to look after Hailey.
My doula/best friend/massage therapist, Rebecca.
Birth Pool:
I have a birth pool and will use it if it helps me.
It is important that the pool temperature is comfortable for me so, unless it is outside normal safety limits, I will choose the temperature myself. I understand that I would probably want a cooler temperature during the first stage of labor, and warmer - nearer blood temperature perhaps - for the second stage. I would like to have a water birth if possible and would appreciate your support in encouraging me to give birth underwater.

Pain Relief:
I hope to manage using no drugs for pain relief, and would appreciate your encouragement to use other methods. For example, I might use movement, massage, relaxation, birthing stool, or the birth pool.

The Birth:
I do not wish to have an internal examination to confirm whether or not I am 'ready' to push. I shall only push when I physically cannot do otherwise! If there is any reason to suspect that I might have a premature pushing urge then I would like to discuss this on the day. Please keep the room as quiet as possible during the second stage. I would like to minimize distractions at this time. If you need to discuss matters with the second midwife, please could you do so very quietly and preferably out of earshot!
I would like to give birth in the birthing pool or wherever seems right at the time. I intend to 'catch' my own baby, and would prefer the midwife not to touch at all unless there is a problem. I would like the midwife to observe and to be on hand in case of emergency, but otherwise I want to be left to give birth entirely under my own guidance. I would like to avoid perineal damage if possible and would appreciate your guidance in giving birth gently to accomplish this. I would like olive oil to be applied if I do end up giving birth outside the birthing pool. However, I would rather tear naturally than have an episiotomy. I would rather not be told how to push, or guided in the second stage, unless there is a particular reason to suppose that I need assistance, or unless I ask for assistance.
I would like to see or feel the head as it crowns, and my birth partner will have a hand mirror available for this.
I would like to have relaxing music playing when my baby is born.
I would like the lights dimmed when my baby is born, and for the minimum amount of noise to be made. I hope that it will be a gentle entry into the world.
Please do not suction mucus from the baby's nose and mouth 'just in case' - only suction if necessary.
Please do not announce the baby's sex as I would like to find out for myself, or have my husband discover the sex.
Third Stage:
I would like the cord clamped and cut when it stops pulsating. I wish no drugs to be used unless specifically indicated. It is important to me that you do not clamp the cord until it has stopped pulsating, unless you need to take emergency steps which preclude this. **Please do not pull on the cord or use fundal pressure unless there is a specific indication to do so, as I have read that this is contra-indicated in drug-free third stages**. Please offer my daughter the opportunity to cut the cord if possible. If she chooses not to, or is unable to, I would like to cut the cord. We do wish to keep the placenta, and would prefer it be laid flat in a Ziploc in the freezer to be taken care of at a later date.

Care of the Baby:
I would like to breastfeed my baby as soon as possible after the birth
I would like to keep the baby unclothed and close to my skin immediately after birth, to maximize skin-to-skin contact. Please do not administer prophylactic Vitamin K after the birth. If the birth is traumatic for the baby or there is some other risk factor for HDN, I will be happy to discuss this with the midwife and allow vitamin K if we both decide it is appropriate.

Repair of the Perineum:
I would prefer to avoid having stitches if possible, so if you think any tear will heal of its own accord, without stitches, please let me know.
In Case of Transfer to Hospital:
If transfer by ambulance becomes necessary, please do not strap me in on my back - I would prefer to be on my side, to make contractions easier to deal with. Please do not offer Pethidine/Demerol, or any other medications as I am concerned about its possible effect on my state of mind in labor, and on my baby's health. I am very keen to avoid a caesarean section if it is at all possible, as I do not want to enter future labors with a scarred uterus. I particularly would like to avoid a caesarean just for slow progress. If labour is simply taking a long time but my baby is not in immediate danger, please would you encourage me to keep going and perhaps to try changes of position or movements which might help. Please do not offer a caesarean unless my baby is in danger. If a caesarean section becomes necessary, I would prefer to remain awake with epidural or spinal block anesthesia. I would like my partner to stay with me at all times, and would like to breastfeed the baby as soon after birth as possible.
If there are problems after the Birth:
If I suffer a severe post-partum hemorrhage, please do not perform a hysterectomy unless it is the only available course of action. Although I already have 1 child, I still hope to have more. Please do not admit my baby to Special Care simply for observation, but only if there is a specific reason for concern.
Baby Feeding:
Please do not give my baby supplements of glucose water or formula milk without my permission. I would expressly like to avoid having any formula supplements unless it is unavoidable, and certainly not in the first two days in any event.
Under no circumstances is my baby to be bottle-fed as this could lead to nipple confusion and hinder breastfeeding.
Going Home:
I would like to go home as soon after the birth as I am able to move, unless I or the baby have health problems which require hospital treatment.

32 WEEKS!!!!

2008-10-29T20:08:00.002-07:00

Can't believe i'm 8 months prego- only 56 days to go- hopefully not, but we'll see.

So i'm officially a facebook dork. Never knew anything about it before a few days ago, and now i'm finding it quite enjoyable.

I am so blessed by my hubby and his conviction and dedication to "hose me down" with the water of the Word.

Update

2008-10-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

So hiccups are pretty much a daily thing now for my 4lb. 17in. long baby. Peter felt them today. He or she must be sucking their thumb. Very active baby just like Hailey was, not quite as vicious as Hailey though, more gentle movements than Hailey's violent kicks and punches. So this kiddo is supposed to be gaining a half a pound every week from now until birth! I'm ganna be soooo huge. I know that having a long torso helps to carry the baby, but this kid is so low that i have no shirts that cover my huge belly, let alone the "super stylish" belly band on my pants.

Today I was presented with an awesome opportunity to trust God. This is the way i choose to look at the situation.

Our home was reassessed last year- and so because of the huge jump in the reassessment, (from 73k to 121) our taxes took a huge jump as well. About a $1000 jump! So our escrow account was short quite a bit, and not only do we need to pay that shortage, but our mortgage is going up $72 a month starting in Dec. Perfect timing with me not going to be workin in Jan and Feb. Like i said, a great opportunity to trust God!!! Well, I'm going to have someone come here and look at the house and give us a new assessment, so hopefully our taxes will be lowered. God is always faithful and He's not ganna stop now!

Apple Pickin'

2008-10-22T09:44:00.001-07:00

Time for Pumpkin

2008-10-22T09:25:00.001-07:00

Hailey really enjoyed painting me orange and daddy just laughed at us as he walked in the door after work. I was 30 1/2 weeks in this pic.

We are really enjoying our fall, and cannot believe that last night and today it was snowing!!!!

Last week we went to the Alabama Swamps and had a blast hiking and we had a picnic and the only sounds you could hear were the birds. It was so nice, and when we got home i had to nap. There's a house along the way to the swamps that has a camel and llamas and kangaroos and donkeys and geese. We stopped and fed the camel carrots. Hailey loved it. It seems to be a spring and fall tradition.

We picked enough apples to make applesauce for the year and i made 3 apple pies and 2 different apple desserts and apple muffins. I also gave quite a bit of apples away. I'm all appled out! I was going to do applebutter but i think i'm callin it quits.

I also made enough squash for the winter. I cooked 14 squash that i got from kelkenburg farm for $8!!! and Peter helped me freeze it. So my freezer if fully stocked and I even had to use Pat's freezer for some of it.

I took Hailey to the Great Pumpkin Farm last Saturday. She loved it and twice she said to me, "mom, you are so cool!" I bought her a huge brownie and we got to see the animals, she wanted to go on a wagon ride, but i didn't think my belly could handle it...she then said that she could go alone-NOT! good try though.

Truth about Vaccines

2008-10-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Vaccines/vaccines-2ndopinion_excerpt.htm

http://www.vaccinetruth.org/

The Jungle Room

2008-10-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

So this is the amazing JUNGLE ROOM! Hailey loves it and wants to play in there with her friends. Everyone who sees it says it's such a cool room. She is very proud that it's her room. I'm really glad we did it before the baby shows up and she has so much to adjust to.

On another note- i am very excited because my midwife gave me the name and number of a pediatrician that is more naturally minded and she takes care of almost all the homebirth children that Eileen (my midwife) attends. I will be giving her a call later today to set up an appt. to meet her, hopefully she'll take the baby as a patient and Hailey as well. It would be nice to not have to explain ourselves as far as why we want to "endanger" our child by having a homebirth and by not having vit. k, or eyedrops, or any immunizations...someone in the medical community that will support our decisions.

Did you know that the only reason they put the eye goop in babies eyes after birth is because there a slight risk of bacteria getting in their eyes only IF THE MOTHER HAS GONORRHEA OR CHLAMYDIA!!!! And this is a routine procedure!!! There is also a chance of blindness by putting this in the babies eyes, and they can't see their mother or father or sibling- or anything for a while which is totally sad since they have been waiting so long to see eachother.

What the Bible really says about routine circumcision

2008-10-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

What the Bible Really Says About Routine Infant Circumcisionby Laura Jezek
Congratulations! You're expecting a baby! Nothing could be more joyful and exciting.
Did you know that one of the most important things you can do for your baby, if it turns out to be a boy, besides teaching Him about Jesus, is to leave his perfectly created little body intact? That's right, saying no to routine infant circumcision is just about the greatest display of love, compassion, and respect you may ever have the opportunity to show your child.
Choosing to protect your son from this horribly painful and totally unnecessary procedure is a decision that honors God, honors your spouse (even a circumcised father), honors yourself, honors your community, and of course honors your child.
Countless books have been written about the subject, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared circumcision unjustifiable (any possible benefits are clearly outweighed by the moral and medical problems inherent in it), but let us look at a broad overview of the subject. We will look at the strange and disturbing practice of routine infant circumcision from a Christ-centered, biblically-based perspective.
There is no room for debate or speculation. Christians are forbidden from practicing routine infant circumcision by the New Testament. There are only two sets of Christians who still circumcise their sons: those who do not know the Bible well enough to know what it teaches about the subject, and those who know but simply do not care (the Bible isn't their measure of living, their own mindset is.)
Contrast this set of circumstances with the circumstances that our parents' generation faced, when mothers in the delivery room were lied to and deceived, similar to the way Eve herself was. In an age when “tradition” ruled and myths abounded, one can hardly blame our mothers for ignorantly handing over their babies. Twenty years ago, doctors actually believed that babies felt no pain!! Now, of course, no one can comprehend how people could have been in the dark about such an obvious fact. This was a time when fathers were excluded from the births of their own children, and mothers were told that breastfeeding would reduce them to behaving like cows. Full term healthy babies were kept in the nursery, away from the mothers they so desperately craved; and children in general were to be seen and not heard.
Today, everything has changed. Science and medicine have opened our eyes to the truth about babies in the womb and those newly born. A strong emphasis on family togetherness has brought Daddy into the delivery room, and made rooming-in with baby the norm. And mothers are encouraged to speak up and tell their doctors what they think is right and wrong. We, the parents, are responsible for defending and protecting our babies.
Now that the myths have been lifted and the medical ignorance replaced with accurate information, we at last know the facts surrounding routine infant circumcision. Here's what we know. Babies not only feel pain, they feel it more exquisitely than any other age group, simply because their nerve endings are fresh and uncalloused. Baby boys are still often subjected to surgery without anesthesia, something we wouldn't normally do to even our cats and dogs!
Trusting newborns have their wrists and ankles strapped down to a table as their tightly closed foreskins are ripped open and stretched to near the tearing point. Then a scalpel is used to amputate square inches of healthy, sensitive skin. (Imagine yourself in this situation.) The cutting is slow and painful and babies usually respond in one of two ways. Either with screaming (which can last from several minutes to several hours) or with a sudden lapse into a state that resembles unconsciousness.
This deep sleep has been studied by scientists who remark that it is deeper than any other form of sleep known to mankind. This desperate withdrawal is the body's coping mechanism for dealing with a pain too intense for the brain to process. After it is all over, if there are no surgical complications, the parents are given back their formerly perfect, now-wounded child with his red, raw, bleeding genitals tightly bandaged, and given instructions for how to care for the wound with petroleum jelly and other protective lubricants. Some babies don't recover emotionally, as lactation consultants say "nursing strikes" are not uncommon. One woman we spoke with said that her baby boy had nursed fine the day prior to his circumcision, but after the painful procedure was over, he wouldn't go near her breasts. Try as she might to coax him, he wanted nothing to do with her, and she was forced to bottlefeed him permanently. Similar stories abound.
So why are 25% of all newborns (50% of baby boys) still made to suffer this inarguably excruciating, outdated procedure?
Conformity ("I'm willing to let my baby experience this just so he'll look like his daddy") Conformity, for conformity's sake, is a sin -- according to the Bible. No longer can parents say "I want junior to look like the other boys his age" since over half will be intact by the time he is using public bathrooms and locker rooms. Thankfully, if parents have the courage to break the cycle, this will be the last generation that has to worry about conforming to daddy's needless amputation as well. This is not a reason to put your son through painful, unnecessary surgery, especially in light of the fact that God's Word forbids it. You wouldn't remove his tonsils just because Daddy had his removed as a child, would you? If Daddy had lost a thumb in a hunting accident, would you want your son's hand to look just like Daddy's? We must use the common sense God gave us.
Cleanliness ("I heard a couple people say that its easier to keep it clean if there's no foreskin left") Another myth left over from the dark ages! If this was true, than evolution would be true as well. Either that, or God made one huge mistake when he designed and created the male anatomy, including the foreskin, and pronounced it "very good." Evolutionists love to say that we have all these "extra parts"-- biological accidents, they call them. Modern circumcision and evolution go hand in hand; you can't have one without the other. Fortunately, even the Darwinian enthusiasts have had to give up their line of reasoning as of late, since in the last 10-12 years science has fully discovered the important uses of the foreskin (just as they have the tonsils and the appendix!). And guess what? One of the functions that God so brilliantly designed the foreskin for is cleanliness!
When a baby boy comes into the world, the foreskin is sealed shut and protects the extremely vulnerable "glans" from the urine and feces that will fill his diaper. True to God's amazing wisdom, the foreskin begins to loosen and retract naturally right about the time the child is toilet trained!! If that doesn't prove that God designed the human body, what does? Ape descendants, we are not. Once the foreskin loosens and retracts (something no parent or doctor should ever cause to happen prematurely), the male anatomy becomes as easy to wash and keep clean as any other part of the body. In fact, the intact male genitalia is much easier to keep clean than the female genitalia with all its flaps and folds. And, tragically, female circumcision persists in many third world countries. (Americans, being the hypocrites that we are, protest this very loudly!) But Europe and other modern nations do not routinely circumcise males or females, and the fact is, less than 1/10 of 1% of these males undergo circumcision later in life. (A simple outpatient procedure. Something much less painful or dangerous than with infants! Not to mention more ethical, as it's done with the male's consent!)
Why would any nation subject all their babies to something so traumatic when less than 1% would ever need it? America is the only Western nation to do so. C. Everett Koop, M.D. the famous Christian former Surgeon General has stated, "All of the Western world raises its children uncircumcised and it seems logical that, with the extent of health knowledge in those countries, such a practice must be safe." Intact boys benefit greatly from the protective function of the foreskin as it keeps the delicate skin of the glans moist, dark, and free from irritants and exposure to the elements. This is the same kind of skin found in the mouth, nose, and the inner genitalia of females. Notice these places are all kept dark and well lubricated. This is God's design. Go against that and you run into problems. Most of the problems circumcised males have with their genitals, intact males will never experience. This list includes irritated skin, rashes, chafing, redness, bumps and blisters, as well as sexual problems such as chronic erection failure and chronic premature ejaculation. God designed the foreskin for important sexual purposes, including to prevent such embarrassing predicaments as those mentioned. A basic understanding of human anatomy would go a long way in changing male opinion about circumcision, since one of the foreskin's functions is to contol the correct level of sexual stimulation in the beginning, and to greatly intensify the amount of pleasure in the end. Circumcised men miss out on so much! (Testimonies from men who underwent circumcision in the midst of their sexual relationships prove this point.) But that is precisely what should be expected when we go against God's design.
Confusion ("I thought that God must like circumcision since it's in the Old Testament") ("I heard there's a conspiracy against Jews to single them out for persecution by eliminating circumcision of Gentiles") ("I figure if all the men in the Old Testament were circumcised, it must have benefits") ("I thought the New Testament says its just a matter of preference, circumcision and uncircumcision are both valid choices") Myths one and all! All of these statements are false and reflect one of the biggest handicaps that cripples the church today: partial biblical knowledge intermingled with partial biblical ignorance. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing when you only know select verses here and there, without an understanding of the complete context and the overview of complete teaching. Since most Christians don't know their Bibles very well, or at least have given up the age-old practice of reading them chronologically or cover-to-cover, let's get right down to the facts.
All the men who followed God in the Old Testament were certainly NOT circumcised. Adam, Able, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah (here's a plug for good health-the man who lived the longest in history was intact!), Noah, Shem (the father of the Semites), Terah, and countless other men, many of whom are listed in Scripture, were not circumcised. In fact, conservative Bible scholars estimate that Adam lived in 6,000-8,000 B.C., and Abraham didn't come onto the scene until 2,000 B.C., so that means the majority of men in the Old Testament (for 4,000-6,000 years!!), including those in the geneology of Christ, were not circumcised. What's more, Abraham walked with God for most of his life without being circumcised (which didn't take place until he was 99 years old!). When God found favor with Abraham ("Blessed be Abram of God Most High...who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tenth of all"), he was uncircumcised and continued to remain so for many, many years to come. Circumcision was also suspended by God for the 40 years in the wilderness.
When God instituted circumcision, it was as a symbol of the Old Covenant (sacrifice of one's son, shedding of innocent blood, etc.), and as a prelude to the coming of the Sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ Himself. Relatively speaking, God waited til shortly before the advent of the Messiah to begin this practice that foreshadowed the meaning of Christ's sacrificial atonement. God wanted to make sure people understood very well the purpose of the Old Covenant before the New Covenant took its place. While the Old Covenant was symbolically pictured through animal sacrifice and infant circumcision, both were forever made obsolete (and abhorrent) by the dawn of the New Covenant. That is why the Scripture says that to shed the blood of a baby boy or an animal now, after Christ shed His own innocent blood once for all, would be blasphemous and mock our Lord's sacrifice. (The New Testament is very stringent in its warning about this!)
Circumcision did not begin with the Jews at all, but was practiced by pagan nations (including most of Israel's enemies) long before Abraham's day. This barbaric, unholy, worldly connotation was precisely why God chose it, as a reminder of the commonality and baseness of sin (the focal point of the Old Covenant).
The circumcision that Abraham and his descendants practiced was something entirely different from modern circumcision. It merely involved cutting the tip of the foreskin, not removing it! This is both a historical and an archaeological fact that can be found in any reference book of ancient culture. The ancient peoples, whether Jew or Gentile, wouldn't have dreamed of doing away with such a useful and pleasure-enhancing part of the body. Nor would God want such a thing! The tip of the foreskin was more than sufficient for fulfilling the bottom line purpose, which was to shed a few drops of blood as a "sign" to all. This is one of the 3 reasons it was instituted during infancy. The tip of a newborn's foreskin hangs loosely past the end of the shaft. There was no "plastic bell" back then to try to pull all of the foreskin away from the shaft in order to cut it off. Ancient peoples couldn't have removed the tightly adhered foreskin even if they had wanted to, without doing considerable harm to the shaft as well. Had they tried, they would have cut off the entire genitalia more often than not (something that happens occasionally in modern times). This is why the two Hebrew words in the Old Testament that were used for Old Covenant circumcision were namal (this is the word God used with Abraham when He first instituted the ritual) and muwl. Namal simply means "clipped," just like the tips of the fingernails are clipped and the ends of the hair are clipped. The Hebrew language has words for "cut off", or "removed" which are entirely different than this word. Muwl is defined as meaning "to curtail, to blunt, to cut shorter." Again, the idea is to take a little off the end, not to cut off. To blunt something is to dull the edge. This is how the relatively short season of Old Covenant circumcision can be reconciled with the fact of creation and God's pronouncement that everything He made was good. Simply put, God never ordained that the foreskin or any other part of the human body should be amputated (i.e. his creation destroyed), unless it became diseased. Our modern invention of foreskin amputation (modern circumcision) took place in Victorian times when several doctors and psychiatrists came up with the idea in hopes of discouraging self-stimulation. It didn't work, but the practice soon became ingrained as "tradition." And there are few things so safely guarded as tradition.
God's purpose for animal sacrifice and infant circumcision were based on our love of sin. These two rituals were disgusting, bloody, repugnant, and mortifying to both humans and to God as well. But that is precisely why they, and the Old Covenant in general, were necessary-to deal with our disgusting, repugnant sins! These two customs were designed to be unpleasant, that is why they involved blood (something most humans inherently find distasteful), and why they were performed on the innocent (babies and animals). It was meant to grieve the people as they performed these rituals. God didn't want their compassion and mercy to subside, for all throughout the Old and New Testament He says that these are the qualities He values most. Rather, He wanted the people's compassion and mercy to intensify the regret and humility they experienced as they were forced to come face to face with the magnitude of their sins. But God knew this season of the Old Covenant (2,000 years) would be but a moment in time to Him and to human history, and He knew that Christ's perfect atonement would bring great relief and an end of sacrifice once and for all. Can you imagine how it would make God feel to see people still practicing these rituals that were meant to be an "imprisonment" of sorts, after the price He paid to free them? Only Satan-worshippers still practice animal sacrifice in the Western world. But look who's still practicing the shedding of innocent infant blood? And not only that, but amputating God's creation as well (something that was never done in Bible times)! God is hardly surprised at this though, as He knew all our sins from the beginning of eternity. That is why He filled the New Testament, from beginning to end, with warning after warning about any believer ever participating in circumcision again. In fact, it is possibly the social issue that Paul writes the most passionately about, if his intense choice of words is any indication.
Cutting a baby without anesthesia is a separate sin all its own. It is hoped by many that in the near future it will be illegal to do so in this country. Even if someone had never had access to the Bible's teachings and knew nothing about the ramifications of unnecessary surgery, any human being who could permit a doctor to make a surgical incision in their child without a total anesthetical block of the pain, is guilty of the worse child abuse imaginable. Considering the threat of Jesus toward anyone who would harm a child, one shudders to think of the judgement for such a sin. (Do they still make millstones?) When God instituted Old Covenant circumcision, the small incision at the tip of the foreskin was never intended to cause pain or suffering, but rather the several drops of shed blood served merely as a sign or symbol of the covenant. Thus, great measures were taken to insure that the child felt no pain whatsoever. First, the body was numbed internally by giving the child a fair quantity of wine (God must have guided them on the amount that was safe.) Second, the body was numbed topically by rubbing the secretions from an ancient plant, known for its anesthetical properties, directly onto the tip of the genitals. The gel from this Mediterranean plant served as a numbing agent and kept the site painless for several minutes, according to archaeologists. Since the incision was very small, the pain after the procedure was miniscule and easily blocked by a few more doses of wine. The child was spared from any physiological evidence of the procedure (i.e. pain); and, by his young age, was also spared from any mental evidence of the procedure (i.e. knowledge of what was happening). The child was kept in a state of peace and remained unagitated, just as a loving Heavenly Father would will it. In spite of these careful measures, however, it was still meant to be a painful procedure for the parents, and a heinous ritual overall. Had it not been, then Christ's substitutionary sacrifice would hardly have been such a welcome relief.
It would be very interesting to know who made up the rumor about the decline of routine infant circumcision being linked to a conspiracy against the Jews. This imaginative person obviously was not familiar with the Bible at all. Neither were they acquainted with world history. And yet, undoubtedly people hear something like this and without thinking too clearly about it, repeat it to someone else. Like all silly gossip, it has good "shock value" and people love to dig up controversy wherever they can find it. Even a statement like this, which is biblically and historically impossible, will be believed if enough ignorant people repeat it. So at the risk of wasting the precious time of the intelligent, let's briefly expose this "new" wives tale for what it is: pure foolishness. First, most of the people who still perform circumcision as a religious rite belong to the Eastern Religions (Moslems totalling 85%). Second of all, a large number of Jews do not practice circumcision at all. The largest majority of Jews (56%) are non-practicing and most of them reject the Old Covenant rituals. The next largest group of Jews, the Conservative Jews are divided. Some circumcise and some do not. The 3rd category, the Reformed Jews, emphasize social justice and compassion, they reject the harshness of the "old ways." Only the 4th groups, the Orthodox Jews, found mostly in Israel, are fully committed to continuing circumcision. Recent newspaper headlines have explained that for many conservative Jews who would like to keep some of the old traditions, a new alternative is growing more and more popular. Many Rabbis have come to the conviction that tradition shouldn't be at the expense of compassion, and babies should not be made to suffer, so a new ritual has been formulated whereby the "naming" ceremony (the brith) can take place on the 8th day, without any cutting of the baby's flesh. Instead, an anointing with oil and a prayer of dedication are used as alternative rituals. So while Jewish circumcision and Gentile circumcision continue to decline, Muslims and other Eastern religionists will hold to this merciless ritual relentlessly. Those Gentiles who reject God and His commandment against circumcision will also be less likely to spare their offspring. And what about those Jews who continue to cling to the Old Covenant and the shedding of their sons' blood? Are these the heroes...the people of God? Are these the ones who should be sympathized with and honored? Not by any means. Only the Messianic Jews who recognize the Savior as the Way and the Truth and the Life are God's people. Those who continue to sacrifice the flesh of their baby boys as part of the Old Covenant do so in rejection of Christ and His atoning sacrifice. These lost souls are still waiting for their messiah and thus they continue in the Old way, the bloody way, the way that Christ came to end forever. These people who have been given the prophecies of Christ, reject Him and His work on the Cross. They are enemies of God (as are all unbelievers of every race). But the Good News is that there are Christian Jews everywhere. More and more Jewish people come to know Jesus everyday and they are raising little Christians under the New Covenant who are spared the burden of Old Covenant circumcision. These are the Jews that God honors; and their children's God-created anatomy is intact! As more and more people of all races come to Christ, there will be less and less infant circumcision, for the things that are abhorrent to God (namely the shedding of innocent blood, Prov. 6:17, Is. 59:7, Deut. 19:10, etc.) will become obsolete. In the end, only the enemies of God, and those who disobey God, will practice this modern foreskin amputation. This group will undoubtedly have some Jews and some Gentiles in it, as well as a whole lot of Muslims, Hindus, African animists, and other pagan tribes and cultures. Our allegiance is to God and not his enemies. Let us find glory in letting our bodies bear testimony of our obedience to God and the commandments of the New Covenant in Christ.
The bottom line is that God forbids routine infant circumcision under the New Covenant. One cannot call himself a follower of Christ and knowingly participate in this ritual. One must treat circumcision identically to animal sacrifice-the same attitude should be practiced. We must not let our culture desensitize us to God's will. In conclusion, let us give a complete listing of the New Testament scriptures on circumcision. We will be thorough so as to avoid any further misunderstanding or misinformation on the subject.
We begin with the Gospels. In Luke 2:21, Jesus' circumcision is mentioned. The New Covenant began on the day of His resurrection and thus all Jews were bound to obey the Old Covenant until then. This is the first reason for Christ's circumcision. He was born under the Old Covenant and His parents were obedient. But the second reason, which transcends the cultural, is even more significant. The Bible teaches that Christ's circumcision was the starting point of His shedding of blood for humanity, and that not only did He do so to identify with all those who had suffered under this grievous burden, but He did it also as a substitution for all the babies that would be born after the New Covenant. The New Testament teaches that we as New Covenant believers are supposed to accept His circumcision, His baptism, His death, and His resurrection as our propitiation (Col. 2:8-14). The writings of the Early Church Fathers are filled with references to this. They speak over and over of "giving thanks to our Savior for taking our circumcision for us, and shedding His innocent blood once for all, so that we'll never have to."
Next, we come to the book of Acts where the issue in question is how Old Covenant Jews who are now wanting to be New Covenant Jewish Christians can live harmoniously with Gentile believers who are just coming to Christ for the first time under the New Covenant. Paul and Peter are desperately trying to unite the two groups in order to achieve this harmony. Circumcision keeps coming up, as it is a bone of contention. Imagine how you would feel if you, having been born before the time of Christ, had been made to undergo several unpleasant rituals, and now the followers of God who come into the picture after Christ's heralding of the New Way are spared such unpleasantries. Try to imagine the possible bitterness, the unfairness of it all-in human terms.
~Acts 15: 1-2, 7, 10 "And some men came and were teaching the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' But Paul and Barnabas together had great dissention and disputing with these men. . . Then Peter stood up and said to them '...Why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?"One can hear in Peter's voice how painful the whole burden of circumcision had been on God's people, especially the parents. (And remember, this was just a tiny incision back then.) It was so hard for the Jews to accept that Christ had set their brothers free so that they'd never have to be mutilated again! But the apostles wanted to use this to teach about selfless love, that the Jews should rejoice for their brothers (and future children) and feel compassion rather than resentment.
In Romans, the same challenge exists: trying to get the Jewish believers who were circumcised before the New Covenant to accept the permanent changes of the New Covenant. It must have been very difficult for them to all of a sudden, in one day, be expected to give up animal sacrifices, circumcision, purification rituals, etc. (The only parts of the Law they were required to give up were those parts that Christ Himself had fulfilled-Matt. 5:17 ) As much as they hated these unpleasant rituals within their souls, these "traditions" were deeply ingrained in the fabric of their day to day lives. Like the American slaves suddenly set free asked: what do we do now?
~Rom. 2: 17-19 "But if you bear the name Jews and rely upon the Law...You who boast in the Law through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?...For indeed your circumcision [i.e. the mark that is already on your genitals] is of value if you faithfully keep the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has been made obsolete. If therefore the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted the same as your circumcision? And will not he who is physically uncircumcised , if he keeps the Law, will he not condemn you who, through the letter of the Law and through circmcision, are a transgressor of the Law. For he is not a Jew who is one externally. Neither is circumcision that which is external in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly. And circumcision is that which is of the heart by the Spirit. . .and hispraise is not from men, but from God." Here was God's answer to one and all. Just as the sign of the Old Covenant was an external mark on the flesh (Old Testament circumcision), the sign of the New Covenant was an inward mark on the heart (New Testament circumcision). Thus, physical circumcision had been replaced once and for all.
~Rom. 3:1 "Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of his circumcision [i.e the mark that is already on his genitals]? Great in all respects. First of all that they were entrusted with the oracles of God." God is seeking to reassure the Jews that their former sacrifice will not go unmerited. In a sense they were martyrs and deserve a special respect. They wear their scars as a badge of courage for persevering in faith through the painful and often grotesque requirements of the Old Covenant. Their circumcised condition served as a prophetic statement about the Messiah's advent; thus, they carried on them the oracles of God.
~Rom. 3:29-30 "Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles, also? Yes, of Gentiles also. Since the God who will justify those of the circumcision out of faith, and those of the uncircumcision through faith, is One."Here we have one of the most important concepts of all. God begins to use the term "the circumcision" in place of "the Old Covenant," and the term "the uncircumcision" in place of "the New Covenant." The entire Biblical doctrine can be summed up in these two phrases. The concept of circumcising under the New Covenant was therefore an anomaly, utter nonsense, absurdity.
~Rom. 4:10 "How then was this faith reckoned to Abraham? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. He received the symbol of circumcision. . . that he might be the father of all who believe without circumcision. . . who follow in the steps of our father Abraham which were in his uncircumcision."God defines a Christian in this verse as one who believes without circumcision.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians he addresses a new issue, that of foreskin restoration. Now, the foreskin restoration which we hear about in the news today is building a new skin structure where there is none. This is a difficult task. But in Bible times, the restoration simply involved stretching the foreskin a little bit so it covered the tip of the shaft. Not nearly as difficult. The Biblical word for this restoration process was epispaomai which means "to draw over" (i.e. to draw, or pull, over the edge, "to efface the mark of circumcision by pulling the foreskin over the tip"-lexiconal note). The word for "uncircumcised" was akrobustia. It is a combination of "akron", which means "tip," and "posthe," which refers to the male genital. To be uncircumcised was to still have that "tip" of the foreskin in place, and many Jews around Corinth and in other regions, thought that if they had that "tip" in place they would be more in keeping with the New Covenant. So the restoration process began. Paul was exasperated as he tried to get it through their heads that the uncircumcised genitalia was not the new symbol of the present covenant. It wasn't about body parts any more! It was about the spirit. The reason for the intact foreskin was not to have a new symbol, but to return to God's perfect will at the time of Creation: a perfect foreskin that is not mutilated in any way!
~1 Cor. 7:17 "As God has called each man, in this manner let him walk. And thus I command in all the churches. Was any man called in the circumcision [i.e. Old Covenant]? Let him not try to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in the uncircumcision [i.e. New Covenant]? Let him not be circumcised! Circumcision is nothing. And uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let each man remain in that condition in which he was called."It doesn't get much clearer than this. Those who were chosen by God to be born under the Old Covenant are called to bear the sign of that covenant. Its nothing to be ashamed of. Today, there is no longer anyone alive who was born under the Old Covenant (i.e. prior to Christ), but back in the first century A.D. this was a very relevant issue. On the other hand, those who were chosen by God to be born under the New Covenant are called to keep that covenant and no other. Those who are born under the New Covenant (i.e. since the resurrection of Christ) are forbidden from routine circumcision. It is a terrible offence to God to dabble with the rituals of the Christless era.
This brings us to the one and only exception to the above law that God ever allowed. Acts 16:3 says that Timothy was the only Christian, under the New Covenant, to be allowed to participate in the act of circumcision, as an adult. Let's look at the four reasons why this wasn't a sin in this one unique situation.
Timothy was a Jew, born under the Old Covenant, who should have been circumcised but was not, due to the tension between his Jewish mother and Greek father. While his Jewish lineage on his mother's side made him a true Jew in every way, his Gentile father forbid a circumcision to take place, thus preventing his mother from obeying God's law. (So this has nothing to do with "New Covenant" circumcision).
God still would not have asked Timothy to go back and correct this oversight...God has no pleasure in seeing anyone's genitals cut, especially after Christ had shed his blood. But it was Timothy who desired to bear the mark of the Covenant he was born under. Timothy made his choice as an adult, not an infant. (So this has nothing to do with Infant circumcision).
God would not have allowed Timothy to make this mark for his own personal reasons, but Timothy's motive was not personal, it was sacrificial. He wanted to enter the ministry of evangelism to the Jews and they would not go near him because he was an uncircumcised Jew. He chose to do what should have been done anyway to selflessly reach these lost people. (So this has nothing to do with Routine circumcision)
This was a small incision, not an amputation. (So this has nothing to do with Modern circumcision).
There no longer exists any Jews who were born under the Old Covenant, therefore ANYONE who mutilates the genitals in ANY WAY now would be directly disobeying Scripture.
Galatians is the book where Paul hits the issue the hardest. By this time, there were many false doctrines spreading though the church and Satan seemed to be meddling with the peace of the Body of Christ. Almost every chapter of the book is devoted to Paul speaking passionately against circumcision and giving very severe warnings (some of his most severe ever!)
~Gal. 2:3 "But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our freedom which we have, in order to bring us back into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the Gospel might remain in you."Paul has just related a story about visiting Jerusalem where many circumcised males tried to urge the uncircumcised believers with him (including Titus) to be circumcised. But Paul was repulsed by their efforts. He was probably in shock that anyone would want to bring the Old Covenant back, when the New Covenant was so much better! The "truth of the Gospel" and the practice of circumcision cannot co-exist!
~Gal. 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us."Paul teaches here that circumcision was meant to be a curse (no one is supposed to want to do this to their babies!), but that Christ has been the substitution for our children, that our sons should never have to shed their blood again.
~Gal. 5:2 "Behold, I Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing!"Enough said.
~Gal. 5:3 "And I testify again to every male who receives circumcision, that he is in debt to keep the whole Law. You who do so have been severed from Christ. . . you have fallen from grace."
~Gal. 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision gives spiritual power, but faith working through love."Here Paul reasons again that the genitals are no longer a status symbol. Therefore the only acceptable thing to do with them is to leave them alone the way God created them.
~Gal. 5:7 "You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you." No matter who or what is persuading you to circumcise your baby boy, know for sure, this persuasion is NOT coming from God. There has never been any form of mutilation that has been acceptable in God's eyes, with the one exception of the Old Covenant ritual to foreshadow Christ's sacrifice. To circumcise a baby for any reason other than that, is abhorrent to God.
~Gal. 5:10 "I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. But the one who is pushing you to do so shall bear his own condemnation, whoever he may be." Paul did not believe in freedom to choose; he believed in freedom to obey God.
~Gal. 5:11 "But if I still proclaim circumcision. . . then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished."First there was circumcision and animal sacrifice; then there was the cross. If you hold on to the former, you render the latter worthless.
~Gal. 5:12 "I wish that those who are pushing you to do so would mutilate themselves! Have you ever heard Paul so intense about anything? Mutilation is his word. And it will come up again.
~Gal. 6: 12-16 "Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. . . They desire to have you circumcised so they may boast in your flesh. . . for neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision..."Again Paul tries to convince people to stop thinking about the male anatomy... its not relevant anymore! The purpose for messing with the genitalia is over forever; its time to move on. Paul is very negative about the motive of anyone who would want to keep circumcising babies. Ironically, while a few have speculated about the poor Jews being singled out for anti-Semitism because of our refusal to circumcise as Christians, Paul paints a picture that is quite the opposite. Some of the Jews were actually trying to trick Christians into conforming to the Old Way simply so that they could blend in and escape any judgment for demanding the crucifixion of our Lord. Far from being a plot against them, it was their plot against the Church. Thankfully, a large percentage of the Jews became godly followers of Jesus and were above such malice.
Paul only mentions the issue in passing in the book of Ephesians, but one cannot miss the sarcasm in his voice as he uses the term "so-called." This was truly a sore-spot for him.
~Eph. 2:11 "You, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called the 'uncircumcision' by the so-called 'circumcision' performed in the flesh by human hands..."Paul was reminding the people yet again that Old Covenant circumcision had been "fleshly" and "human," whereas the New Covenant circumcision of the heart was spiritual and Christ-centered.
Philippians has one thing to say and one thing only, on the subject at hand...but it is one of the strongest statements in the Bible.
~Phil. 3:2 "Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the mutilation! For WE are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put NO confidence in the flesh!"Paul has three things to say about those who would still practice routine circumcision after the ushering in of the New Covenant and the final sacrifice made by Christ. First, he calls them dogs, the lowest of insulting terms in those days. (Dogs were not yet domesticated as household pets and they ran around wild in packs eating garbage and annoying the livestock.) Second, he calls them evil workers. Scripture is clear: maiming an individual, outside of a direct order from God, is evil and morally unacceptable. Third, Paul minces no words; he calls unordained circumcision what it really is - mutilation. This is the second time Paul uses this term. Ironically, those who speak up for children today are often labeled "extremists" for using this same word.
Colossians is the proof-text for the doctrine of Christ's circumcision being a part of his substitutionary sacrifice. Jesus was mutilated in order to identify with those who suffered under the Old Covenant, as well as to shed His innocent blood once and for all, so no baby would ever have to be subjected to circumcision again.
~Col. 2:8-14 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men...rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form and in Him you have been made whole.. and in Him you were also circumcised, with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, and raised up with Him through faith. And...in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him. . . having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us which were hostile to us. And He has taken them out of the way, having nailed them to the cross."Finally, Peter-who spent his time ministering to Jewish believers-summed up the absurdity of the controversy. He knew that any involvement with things like circumcision or animal sacrifice, in light of Christ's work on the Cross, was blasphemous and sacrilegious. He knew that the people must be made to see that this was a matter of obedience to God's commands and His will. Eloquently, he put it like this.
~1 Peter 2:20-22 "For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandments delivered to them. It has thus happened to them according to the true Proverb: 'A dog returns to its own vomit' and 'A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mud.'" Paul called those who would continue circumcision "dogs," and truly anyone who would desire the continuation of something so morbid and unpleasant (something God says in Gal. 3:13 was meant to be a "curse"), would truly be the equivalent of a dog returning to its vomit. We should praise God everyday that He sat us free from chopping up animals on an altar and slicing our babies with knives. The relief He intended us to feel should flood our soul whenever we think of it. How perverse that some would still be blood-thirsty enough to crave what God Himself sees as detestable.
Our children are gifts of the Lord. They were created by His hand; knit together in the womb. God brilliantly fashioned every part of their bodies and has pronounced His creation "very good." His handiwork is to be admired, not despised. He has more reasons for creating a foreskin on your son than you or I could ever begin to imagine or comprehend. God makes no mistakes. We have no spare parts. Never in all of time has God ever allowed the amputation (the destruction of His creation) of any part of the body, except in dire sickness. 1 Cor. 5:3 says "If you destroy the temple, God will destroy you." For only 2,000 years God allowed a ritual that mutilated the flesh (to a very small extent). He did so in preparation for the blood sacrifice of Jesus. For the other 6,000-8,000 years (from Creation to the present), God's normal rule has been: no mutilation of any kind is permissible. With the exception of the God-ordained Old Covenant from Abraham to Jesus, God's commandment is unchangeable.
~Lev.19:28 "You shall not make any cuts in your flesh."This is followed by the phrase "for the living," since incisions "for the dying" were sometimes necessary, and incisions "for the dead" could be permitted also (allowing for an autopsy or such). In other words, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Unless God Himself sets forth an exception in the form of a command, this rule governs all living people.
One rule has never changed, cutting off any part of the genitals has always been forbidden. The cut at the tip of the foreskin was one thing, but had any man cut off his foreskin, or any of the other parts of his genitals, he would have been excommunicated from God's presence and His people's fellowship.
~Deut. 23: 1 "No one who...has his male genitalia cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord."
The foreskin represents 1/3 of the total skin which comprises the male genitalia. This was truly a significant portion of the genitals. But God never wanted his people to "cut off" anything!
Let us conclude with the words of our precious Lord Jesus Himself. As parents, we cherish His words and seek His pleasure in all our parenting decisions. "What pleases you, my Lord?"
"I desire mercy and not sacrifice."-Jesus (Matt. 9:13)
Christian parents, let's take God serious. Let us mind His word and love our children the way Jesus Himself loves them. Let us protect them, cherish them, and tenderly care for them. Let us treat them the way we ourselves would want to be treated. Let us give each new baby a peaceful beginning, a compassionate introduction to the world. And let us surrender all of our actions to the Lord. He will mold us into the parents He wants us to be. Parents who will be like Him.
Laura Jezek is a freelance writer and mother of 4. She is studying theology at Trinity Theological Seminary and also home-educates her children. Laura and her family make their home on the Oregon Coast.

Still on the circumcision thing...

2008-10-03T12:20:00.001-07:00

Really great link http://www.ksnocirc.org/ -thanks Doug!
very informative! so glad i'm not just going with the flow on this but really getting all the facts. lots of false info out there! parents should challenge everything that is considered "the norm" since- look at our country! just because everyone does something doesn't mean it's the right way. but what i'm learning even more than that is that just because you have a conviction about something doesn't mean it's the right way- it may be right for you, but you can't expect it to be for everyone. we all have our own personal convictions and that's just fine and dandy! don't look at yourself as if "you're getting it done". We are nothing without Christ. We are scum. The Bible isn't a book about great people that Jesus died for, it's a book about wretched sinners that Jesus died for- and you are one of them- as am I.

Princess Tea Party

2008-10-02T08:10:00.004-07:00

This was such a fun event for us girlies! We had our own table and I really enjoyed making this memory with her. She drank fruit punch and so she had a red mustache while we were there. How amazing that this is the same theatre group that Peter and I met at- and now our daughter is enjoying it as well. I think when she is 5 or 6 we will get her involved in a play at the group- ACTS. She is so interested in singing on a stage- not that she can't do that at church, i'm sure she'll do that as well. She is quite the actress and i can't imagine how that happened! Daddy has been talking about getting a drama group together at church. He made a promotional video with the youth group a couple weeks ago for a fall event that the youth is having and he really enjoyed doing that.

I am having a blast planning Hailey's 4th birthday, as i always do! I am going to do a cinderella cake- last year we did dora and it took me 2 hours to decorate the cake. I'm sure it will be just as long this year too. The exciting news is that we are going to be able to have the party at church in the youth center which has a huge gym- so we will have room for the kiddos to be kiddos! I am borrowing Kinderdance items from Jackie and making an obstacle course and a music center and bubbles and silly string and the church has these huge wooden structures that you throw balls at and knock stuff down- similar to carnival games. we're having face painting as well! I am buying all sorts of toppings so the kids can make their own sundae's and Hailey wants cupcakes and brownies too! We're not doing a pinata this year since we're having so much other sugar!

I'm making lasagna and salad and rolls. I have 36 adults to invite and 33 kids and 9 babies. I am having the invitations custom made with Hailey's picture on them. They are sooo cute! She has asked for a cinderella party- even though she's never seen the movie- the only thing that's going to be cinderella though is the invitations, the decorations, the cake and the goody bags. I'll post a copy of the invitation when i get them in the mail which should be a few days. I'm just so glad that we're doing it at the church and i can invite everyone and no one will get left out!

I wonder if my neighbor will ask me to make the usual 12 doz. cookies for his christmas party. I wonder if i'll be up to it- i hope the baby comes before christmas!

Here's a link to the kind of bottles we're going to use- or I should say Peter will use, when i'm not available. http://www.adiri.com/ They are $15 each purchased in stores, but i got brand new ones on ebay for much cheaper. I have 3 stage 1 and 3 stage 2 and 2 stage 3, so i'm all set on bottles. Since this is a 5 paycheck month, we will be getting the cloth diapers at the end of this month, which i am so excited about! Here's the link for those. http://www.bumgenius.com/

The baby room is all set up- minus the crib- but the bassinette is in our bedroom, and all neutral clothing is in the dresser- i still have to wash it all once i get some dreft.

Everyone who sees me says that i'm having a boy. I'm carrying so low and it's all in front. I don't

know. I'm just excited to meet whomever is in there, whether it be Preston Allan, or Trinity Faith.

28 WEEKS

2008-10-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

So the belly grows- along with my love for this little life. He/she gets the hickups just like Hailey did. I am really looking forward to the birth, and the new life i have awaiting me as the mother of two. I feel so blessed to have all that i need and want. God's provision is abundant.

Our GROWING Family

2008-09-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

Becky and Me

2008-09-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

So this is my best friend that is going to be my Doula and Massage Therapist during my labor, if we don't kill eachother before that happens. ;-)

25 & 1/2 Weeks

2008-09-13T10:32:00.002-07:00

sorry this is so fuzzy- not sure why it did that. Hailey snuck into this shot! She got to watch the baby do a dance while i layed on the couch today. She thought it was really cool.

Lovely or what??

2008-09-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Peter is in love with the white brick. He just sits and stares at it! I didn't think he would like the bench in there but he really does. The basket next to the bench has books in it.

2008-09-13T09:53:00.001-07:00

My New Living Room

2008-09-13T08:52:00.002-07:00

It almost doesn't feel like it's my house.

It's so calming and we are so glad we are finally finished!

Erie County Fair

2008-08-28T12:34:00.001-07:00

This is my brave girl on top of a camel at the fair. We weren't there long but enough time to get a funnel cake and ice-cream. We got free tickets from Rich and Kim, who by the way just bought a house. They have been looking for about 2 years. We haven't seen it yet, but heard it's huge.

I just love Hailey's face next to the pig! It's my screensaver.

22 Weeks

2008-08-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

So as you can see, the belly is growing. I am now 23 weeks, but this photo was taken last week. I have gained 10lbs. Which is below average- although i'm sure it won't stay below average with all the doughnuts i've had lately- my pregnancy weakness! Peter can see my belly move from across the room. Baby Preston or Trinity is very active at night. I have severe backache daily and have been going to the chiropractor and using tiger balm, which helps, but i am looking into going to an accupuncturist who is a friend of a friend and is a Christian. I only have 4 months left, but it seems like a long time when your back hurts everyday. Feels like my pelvis is being spread open and i'm sure my hips are widening. Other than that i have no yucky symptoms- no heartburn, i was having a little indigestion, but only if i eat between 7-9pm. which is easy to avoid since i'm at work 3 nights and church 2 nights. I am going to be going to a woman's bible study on Tue. mornings and Hailey will go with me. I have been asked to lead the women in the memory minute verse every week. So that's good that i have some accountability and have to show up! Also i will be serving in the nursery with the babies once every 6 weeks. Until the baby comes of course. So i'm looking forward to being in there since i only get to be with the pre-k every 6 weeks and miss out on seeing the little ones. Well, I better figure out what we're having for dinner! Later!

My salon!

2008-08-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

This is something i've waited for over 4 years. I am thrilled to have my own area to do hair, instead of the kitchen. The sunroom is nearly complete- we only have to put a new floor down- we're thinking of indoor/ outdoor carpet. Peter and his dad had quite a time with the paneling and trim since our house had no straight lines in it at all- it is more like waves than straight walls and floors. but oh well. We are just really happy to have the room you walk into when you enter our house looking better. Hopefully it will be warmer now since they insulated all the walls.

Maybe we'll save on our gas bill! yeah!

2008-08-23T12:34:00.000-07:00

Loving Big Sister

2008-08-16T08:17:00.013-07:00

I am now 21 weeks prego and loving it. I can feel the baby moving big time and so does Daddy and Hailey. We are enjoying this time in our life, but i can't help but feel some saddness over the fact that it won't be just me and Hailey home together all day long. I really enjoy having just her and our one on one time and I hate that that has to end. But I am also really looking forward to our "new life." With another Ritenburg added to the group. A family of four. Man, it seems like that happened fast. Even though when we were trying it seemed like forever! I am doing really well at work and almost feel guilty making as much as I am. I'm so used to making minimum wage, plus tips, and it's wierd to be doing so well so quickly! But we have been faithfully tithing and God is faithful to His promises. It has been nice to be able to make some improvements to our home that have been long over due. Hopefully this weekend we will be working on Hailey's "jungle room." I am anxious to get the baby room ready, and the living room painted- although i can't paint- i am getting him set up to paint. This is the first year in our married life that we are going to be able to use our tax return for something other than paying off credit card debt!! Yeah! An entire year of not using credit cards!! That's a miracle in itself! It will all go into our house though, but I'm excited, hopefully a new bath tub. And definently 3 new garage doors. We are also considering putting hardwood floors in the living room- no more stained carpet. Well, my 3 year old is flipping out over a sock thing, so i'll write more another time.

18 WEEKS

2008-07-23T12:22:00.001-07:00

Almost half way there! Our little one is 6 inches long and weighs about half an ounce. I lost 10 lbs. when i was really sick the first 3 months, but i have gained that back plus about 2 or 3 more lbs. which i just put on this past week! I seem to have popped out the past two weeks. I still hear a lot that they can't even tell i'm prego, but i certainly can tell. Sleeping on my stomach has always been most comfortable, but now it feels like i'm sleeping on a ball, guess i'll just wait till i can't take it anymore and have to sleep on my sides. My midwife, Eileen told Peter that at about 20 weeks he'll be able to put a toilet paper holder up to my belly and hear the heartbeat, that will be cool, for Hailey too! Every day she says to my belly, "Hi baby, I love you!" It's very sweet. I think at times she wishes my belly was see through so she could get a peek at this little baby we talk so much about. She now really wants a brother, but it has changed quite a few times. Her brother's name would be Preston Allen, and a sister's name will be Trinity Faith. I've had quite an appetite lately. I do a lot of walking around Darien Lake. Yesterday we went and cooled down, it was nice. I got my first zucchinni out of my garden today, it was a biggie! The green beans are really coming along, probably within 2 or 3 days we'll have a bunch of them. Lots of yellow squash as well. I better get on with my day and see what i'm cookin for dinner. Later!

Today on her bike

2008-04-26T17:28:00.000-07:00

THE BIG NEWS!

2008-04-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

We found out about a week ago that we are giong to have a new member to our family! I can't begin to tell you how thrilled we are! If only these 40 weeks didn't take so long. I am reveling in them though and soaking in each moment, knowing once it's gone it's gone and we will be a family of 4 in no time at all. I am 5 weeks and 3 days prego and i started my journal to this baby today. I asked Hailey if it was a girl baby or a boy baby and she said, "two brothers!" that would be awesome, but 1 will be great too! I have an appointment with my midwife on May 5th- the same day i'm having a sex toy party! lol! married women only! i also have an appt on monday to sign up for pcap and get free health insurance! yeah! they even cover homebirth!

i get a funny feeling in my belly every once in a while, but not "sick" feeling yet. But i do sleep a lot lighter than i did.

It got cold tonight. It was very worm today around 80 but cooled off when the rain showed up- we needed it! hadn't rained in quite a while! we're putting bushes in the front of the house soon, and mulch around it- pretty! and white rocks in the flower bed on the side of the house, i'll send pix when it's complete. we are carpeting the upstairs bedrooms this week. pretty beige/tan in both bedrooms and hallway. they are also going to fix the carpet on the stairs that hailey ripped off...uggh! that was still covered from 4 years ago! yeah! when we get our government check we're putting new garage doors on. one guy came and gave us an estimate and we called 3 others, hopefully we'll get a really good deal. well, i have to get going. here's a pix of a visit with gram and gramp smith.

my life lately

2008-04-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

silly girl
easter morning before church
The baby doll has a matching dress this is from aunt kay.
happy family!

so i haven't written on here in almost a month!

i'll dive right in...i pulled into the driveway after work tonight and there was a raccoon in my front yard! i don' think it was rabid...but still scary, even in the country...it was limping. not a good thing. i don't want it dying in my yard! gross...not a fan of wild animals!

well, i'm starting a new job on the 25th, can't wait! more pay and it's half the distance driving! with gas almost $4 a gallon, that's a good thing! plus in a private salon, you don't get tips less than $5. so that will help too! so great that she's willing to let me keep the same schedule i have now! i love being home with my baby girl and wouldn't trade that for the world!

hailey and i went to stegelmeir park today and walked through the woods- it was beautiful and we saw at least a dozen deer, most were within a few feet of us! also chipmunks, and squirrels, she ran the whole time- probably about 2 miles! so I'm sure daddy put her down early tonight. he had ty quondow lessons at a guy from church's house, and they have 4 kids.

one is her age i think, so she had a blast- daddy said.

the pictures are of her easter dress and the one of the three of us is at the alabama swamps last sunday when it was beautiful and amost 70 degrees!!!

there are blooms on my trees and the tulips and daffodils are arriving...it's suposed to SNOW on sunday-thats an evil "s" word!!!

i am so excited to start my garden this year!

i did grama and grampa's hair yesterday. it's always nice to visit with them, hailey loves it, and grama comes bearing gifts for her- of course- this time it was a purse with money in it and tissues, which was the coolest thing ever! and a hat- that hailey says is for darien lake. and g & g smith are supposed to come over on a wed this month for dinner.

can't wait for darien lake. it stinks that we have to give mom's car back to her- it's so nice to have 2! but we're so grateful for the one that we have. praise God his hand was all over that purchase! our car is a blessing to us everyday! we have not had to sink hardly any money into it and we're in a position now where we can start paying more than the minimum payment on it and get it payed off sooner! yeah God! When we started being really really faithful with our tithing, He opened the store houses of Heaven, as i'm sure he will do for all his children!

i'm so glad to be growing and learning and having that hunger in me to do so! and praise him that he reminds me to use everything as a way to praise him and to teach hailey to do that. just today we prayed and thanked God for letting us be able to see his creation- the deer- what a blessing that was to us and i pray that God will continue to remind me to do that with her! I want her to know that every good and perfect gift is from above- but let us not forget the verses before that one- speaking of trials and tribulation- those are right from him too! rejoice and know that you must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God!

i am in the process of writing and directing and casting and acting in a play for a huge ladies event on july 22nd. i'm really excited about what God will do, and he's teaching me as i write it and study his word. it's holding me more accountable for sure- i have 2 weeks to finish the rough draft and give it to the pastor's wife to present to 2 other women- I am praying that God will use me to write a play that will prick the hearts of the women that come and that they will be convicted, and choose to change, and allow God to change them.

on a different note...it saddens me that Christian women aren't eagerly and aggressively persuing their husbands sexually...don't they know that's their role? don't they want to satisfy their husband's God given desires?? don't they want to be the source of all their husband's desires...what women need to understand is that even if they are uncomfortable with their own bodies- and we all are- their husband's love them just the way they are. when they desire you, or even when they don't show much interest- you should be fulfilling your role as his wife and letting him delight in the only woman he can delight in righteously...YOU! if you don't, you are robbing him, and you're disobeying God. You need to fulfill his sexual appetite, so much so, that he's begging for a break- as my hubby often is! LOL!!! not that i always do this well, there are about 2 weeks in every month when the desire just dissapates, but if i don't want him to be thinking of other women, if i want to help my husband not to struggle, i fulfill his needs. i understand that every man at every age struggles with thoughts and that it's a never ending mind battle for them. i thank God that i don't have that, but I think we don't have that as women so that we can focus more on helping our husband's not to fall short in this area. to give them their "release" LOL!

those are my thoughts for now. later!

...

Funny Girl

2008-03-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Hailey asked me how old daddy was. So i told her thirty. so she said "surty". and so i said, " no honey, put your tounge between your teeth and say ttthhhirty. she tried and succeeded. she was thrilled. so a few minutes later she said "mommy, what color is this?" and i said "it's yellow." to which my brilliant daughter replied, "no mommy, put your tongue between your teeth like this and say lllllelllllow." it was way too cute to correct!

Snow in Buffalo

2008-03-16T19:55:00.001-07:00

I thought the icicles were too beautiful not to photograph, and the way the sun was setting was just so picturesque. The other photo can give you an idea of how high the snow really got. We had to have the driveway plowed.

Can't wait for spring, but I'm grateful to see this piece of God's creation as well.

Bailey's 1st Birthday!

2008-03-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

so we celebrated with rich and kim tonight and her whole family for bailey's 1st birthday. as you can see from the picture bailey is a very happy baby and hailey just loves her- along with every other baby. we had a really good visit and i was able to open up to kim more and apologize about how i had treated her in the past- so it was really good. hailey and jordan had such a blast together and i'm sure they'll both be pooped tomorrow.

tomorrow is hailey's first ever dentist appointment. hopefully they won't fight me about not wanting the flouride. other wise we'll just go somewhere else.

anyone ever have God reveal to them how little they know and how much they need to change so much so that it's like- ok where do i begin- there's too much! i have had so much anger lately for no reason- and i don't want to blame it on hormones because i know that we can make the choice to have a good attitude and choose joy, or we can choose to sin and walk in the flesh. i'm just so used to letting my flesh win, i haven't fed my spirit enough for it to be strong enough to fight these spiritual battles. i am recognizing sooooo much about myself and my behavior and my mindset- but if i don't put it into practice- if i don't change by allowing God to change me, my knowledge is so useless.

i am seeing some really ugly things in myself like how i find it sooooo important to be in control of everything and i freak out if i'm not because i think they're going to do it wrong- because it isn't going to be "my way." this plays out in my marriage with my not trusting my husband- i didn't really see it before because i didn't think it had anything to do with trust, but it's everything...if i trust that my husband is following God and that he's the leader of our home, then i won't argue with his ideas or with his plans, or how he wants to do the finances, or anything. by arguing or by questioning his authority i am disobeying God because i'm not submitting to the role God placed me in. I am here to encourage my husband. even in his sin i am to encourage him, not nag, not hold unforgiveness, and be his helper, not an enabler. also, why do i have the gall to think that my way is best? to do so it to think i know more than God, because God says that my husband knows what is best for me and our family. Do i know more than God. What indignation! What disgusting pride! filthy. maybe that's why i have had such anger lately, i have seen myself and i'm angry and disgusted. but i know that's not where i am to stay. i need to look at the sin for what it is, confess it, and receive his forgiveness and change my thoughts, behavior, and actions.

THINK RIGHT
DO RIGHT
FEEL RIGHT.

Snow Queen

2008-03-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

It's still falling and we have around a foot...it's not supposed to stop until tomorrow morning.

She loves it, we tolerate it! ;-)

Hailey being a mommy

2008-03-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

This is Madison. Hailey insisted on feeding her when i watched her and her two sisters.

Grace and Hailey playing playdough

2008-03-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

65 degrees in march...unheard of!

2008-03-07T12:49:00.002-08:00

This is in our small town on a bike path. It was a beautiful sunny day and the day after- it was raining ice all day and freezing- that's NY for ya!

BRILLIANT DAUGHTER

2008-02-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

OK SO THE OTHER MORNING WHEN MY SWEETY WASN'T FEELING WELL, SHE BROUGHT ME THE CONTAINER OF COLD MEDICINE, WHILE I WAS STILL IN BED- CHILDPROOF THANK GOD! SHE KEPT SAYING "MOMMY, I NEED MEDICINE, MOMMY OPEN THE MEDICINE, MOMMY!!..."MIND YOU, I WAS HALF ASLEEP IN MY BED AT THIS POINT...BUT I SAID, "YOU HAVE TO GO GET THE LITTLE CUP ON THE COUNTER SO I CAN GIVE YOU THE MEDICINE." SHE COMPLAINED, "NO MOMMY, I CAN'T." SO I SAID "HAILEY, THE CUP TELLS MOMMY HOW MUCH MEDICINE TO GIVE YOU."
TO WHICH MY BRILLIANT DAUGHTER REPLIED...

"MOMMY,THE CUP CAN'T TALK TO YOU!"

I WAS ROLLING! IS THAT GENIUS OR WHAT!?!?

My Red-Headed Love

2008-02-20T19:55:00.001-08:00

Isn't she just the most gorgeous thing you've ever laid eyes on? She hasn't been feeling well since friday. today we cuddled so much and fell asleep on the couch together. she had 3 naps today and actually said to Peter, "i want to go to my bed." at 9pm. not like her at all. the picture of her in purple is today when she was feeling crappy. she scratched herself in her sleep last night- i thought only infants did that! still have to clip her nails i suppose. my house has stayed clean since she hasn't been her normal tornado self. lol! but i do miss her energy and laughter and smiles. i saw a little today, but not enough.

monday peter went in for overtime which was totally God- sent! he prayed for it and went to bed early and they called him, which they NEVER do so we know it was totally God. hailey and i went to explore and more in east aurora and she wasn't feeling the greatest but she still had a blast. then we went out to lunch and i took her to her dr. just to be sure she didn't have strep which she doesn't he said her lungs sound good and throat isn't too red, ears are good too. just one of those lousy viruses. so after the dr. we went to rebecca's house and the guys showed up and we had dinner together and then rebecca and i went grocery shopping for us to freeze meals enough for a month or two. we had a tight budget and went armed with a calculator, but since we did so much prep work and planning, it worked out perfect, and i'm sure God had his hand on that one too. lol

tuesday was the cooking and prep day. we did it at my house since i have the enormous kitchen and table and counter space. we made two kinds of soup and chili and lasagna, pizza, spicy rice balls(to use instead of meatballs) and black bean burgers. we bought 40lbs of skinless boneless chicken so we had to fillet them and cut them up. we have sooooo much food! my freezer is so overloaded! but praise God i will only have to spend about $10 a week for a month or so on groceries. i'm so thrilled. we are hopefully only going to have to do this bi-monthly, since it was sooooo exhausting. we started at 10am and ended at 5:30pm. clean up included. thank God the guys were able to keep the girls busy, even though they kept getting "distracted" by the

evil x-box!!!!!!

peter gets 2 weeks paid vacation time this year and i get one week paid vacation- my first ever!!! so we're taking it in the end of june. from the 27th to july 8th! peter will have 12 days off but is only using 4 vacation days since he has 3 days off a week and can use a floating holiday in there too. we're going camping at letchworth with hailey and then peter and i are going to go somewhere fun alone, not sure where yet but we need to find something all inclusive since this guy eats sooooo much! lol. we'd go broke trying to eat out the whole time! we are also going to go see the play in pa. that my inlaws got us giftcert. for sight and sound theatre! awesome!

i did a haircut on a woman today who saw an add i put on craig's list who also lives in the town i live in. she was thrilled with her hair and is a teacher at the local school and said that she would spread the word! i can't wait until my shop is done in my home! we may even make an entrance through the front sunroom so they don't have to go throught the living room. make a door going from the salon into the sunroom. that would be awesome! i have big dreams.

please pray that God would give peter specific direction for his life. that's all tonight i'm tired.

more thoughts...

2008-01-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

good intentions aren't enough, i have so many "i really should..." lists. Do them!!!! i am telling myself as well as you- DO THEM! don't wait anymore. start with one. a letter you've been meaning to write, a card you've been meaning to send, a place you've wanted to visit- whatever it is, seize the moment. just do it! this earthly life is so short and we need to let all the people around us know just how much them truly mean to us. You don't know how much time you have left with anyone. You don't know if tomorrow is the last time you will kiss your spouse. make it count! make each day a day you love to live. don't worry about if you had a "fun" day, make it special to someone who is special to you. you will be so much happier when you stop focusing on yourself and you try to make someone else happy...you will find joy when you serve. true joy- unselfish and real joy. Jesus served when he was on earth he knew what brought true contentment and satisfaction. How can you change someone's life today? maybe just a phone call but it means so much to them. deny yourself and serve. humble yourself and stop being selfish- check your motives. - that's it i guess- have a great day!

Thinking

2008-01-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

I'm finding lately that the devil gets a kick out of keeping our brain inactive. He wants us to live our lives without really thinking. Why as children do we question everything and hunger for so much more and never seem to satisify, but as adults we could care less if we learn something new? why don't we question why we do what we do? why are we so complacent and do we live mondainly instead of looking for the next adventure- whether it be physical or mental. am i the only one who struggles with this? it doesn't seem that my husband does, he is constantly devouring any new info he can get his hands on, not necessarily to digest it, but to eat the meat and spit out the bones. i am so grateful to feel secure as him being the leader of our home. for several years i didn't have that and it's a scary place to be. some women wait for so long on the Lord and on their husbands to get to that place where they accept their role as leader and protector and provider. Some women finally get that reward, others don't. some women just give up and take that role on themselves...what is better? to take on the role God gave to your husband and also try to fulfill the woman's role, or to trust God and let Him work on his heart, and make him into who he was called to be. i grieve for the women who have assumed that role and who didn't stick it out and wait on the Lord for his timing. He wants us to trust him completely and to rely on his timing...not our own, who are you to say that you've waited long enough? who's standards are you living by? who's rules are you following?

anyway, i find that my mind is idle way too much and that i have too much time to think on things of this world, earthly things, and that i judge people so quickly and that i don't want to give people a chance to "redeem" themselves when they have crossed me. how selfish.

we as humans think way too much about the way that the world effects us- instead let's think about how we can effect the world! in fact- let's infect the world. we are not to be chirstians that don't offend, that just blend in and people are comfortable with. let me tell you something if you have invited an unbeliever to your church and they were comfortable...something is reeeealllyyy wrong! people of darkness should be sooooo uncomfortable in the light- they should squirm! they ought to want to run out screaming! not because we're freaks- but because the power and conviction of the holy spirit is more than they can handle without turning their lives over to Christ!!!! because the truth is being spoken and because darkness and light don't mix.

I am a lazy Christian and i hate it. i hate that i am a flatterer. i hate that i'm part of the "nice club". the people who want to make others feel good so that they don't think about the ugly in them, the shallowness, the complacency, the laziness. i don't want to get close to people especially women -and i have struggled with this for years-because i know that they see this in me. i do want to change, but i don't know how, and i am afraid if i let people know who i am and what i'm really like, that they won't like me...why do i care so much if they like me? why do i try to hide my sin- hasn't the person next to me sinned just as much? why do i think they are better- less of a sinner? why do i hide? i am paul. i do what i don't want to do and i don't do what i want to do. this is all of us- but i see it everyday in me. i let myself down everyday and i feel that i let down my husband my daughter, and most of all my Lord. Is He really Lord of my life? Lord that is my #1 first priority? NO, He's not and i don't want it that way- but i keep it that way because of my laziness. In my mind- He's my Lord, in my heart He's my Lord, but in my actions- my fruit- He's not! What does the world see? What does my family see? What does HE SEE???? When will I change? When will i give up my life- my agenda that's soooo much more important? When is Rachael done being fake?

The best gift!

2008-01-16T21:28:00.000-08:00

Ok so i forgot to write about what my wonderful husband did for me a couple of fridays ago. he dropped me off at work and went to work out, hailey plays in the playroom with other kids and an adult and he checks on her every couple of mins. when he came to pick me up, he didn't have hailey in the carseat...i said, "where's hailey?" and he said.,"are you ready to have some fun?" and my mouth dropped! i was like are you serious! you're joking! he had planned it days before to have a couple from church with 4 kids watch her overnight. i asked, don't you have to work tomorrow? and he said that he used a "floating holiday", which they get for each holiday. so i was just shocked! he took me to a restaurant -we've been waiting for it to open- called the melting pot. it's a fondu restaurant and it was so incredible! you have to find out if you have one in your area and go!!!! such a neat experience. we were there 3 hours which i think is very typical. it had just opened on dec 19th. we left so stuffed. we went home and started watching our favorite love story- the notebook- but we only made it about half way through...it was a night to remember! my heart has not raced as fast as it did when i found out he had truly surprised me in so long! what a gift to have a man who still wants to keep the romance alive after 10 years together- 6 1/2 married years...ohmygosh i almost forgot the best part...i had just gotten out of work and was gross and hairy- hairstylist usually are covered in other people's hair- pleasant, no? and he brought me a change of clothes, a change of shoes, and MY MAKE UP BAG!!!! I had not put any on to go to work since i thought i left it in the car, and it wasn't and i didn't have time to g back home...is he amazing or what!!!???!!!

Pa Pa's

2008-01-09T21:12:00.001-08:00

This is Hailey and her Pa Pa's- 2 of them anyway. One is actually her great Pa Pa, my dad's dad. The other is Peter's father- you try to figure out who's who. They both have the same amount of hair i think ;-)

Kissin' Cousins

2008-01-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is Hailey and Jordan on Christmas Eve.

Challenges

2008-01-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

ok so i fully intended on blogging a few days ago but i was having a total brain fart and couldn't remember my password to log in...grrr. ok so here i am and i have had a few challenges this week. First off, on sat night i called my sister-in-law who is a long time alcoholic and i told her that i was able to do her hair on wed. she was beyond drunk, and proceeded to tell me that i was hiding something from her and i needed to be honest about what was bothering me...this went on forever...can you say annoying? and then she wanted to read me a letter that i think she had written me a long time ago...well, that didn't end up happening and the only way i could get her off the phone was to tell her that peter needed to talk to me. she said to call her back- and when i didn't- she called non stop for hours...so i had to unplug the phone. i'm sure i missed many a call but i had to do it.

next challenge was yesterdays dance class. the kiddos were so out of control i left extremely stressed out. i told peter that 1/2 hour of that was worse than a week of hailey whining. i really dont' want to teach anymore but i feel that i should finish out this school year with these kids. i wrote to the director though and let her know what's been going on. i told her everything and i hope she's understanding. they just wouldn't listen no matter what i did. it was so chaotic!!!!

the other challenge we had was the power going out at 4am and trying to find things to do in the house all day with my sweet girl. we painted, we colored, we read books, we cleaned her toys, she rode her bike, we snuggled...i didn't want to hook up the kerosene heater since it wasn't too cold out so we just bundled up. it was a good time to spend one on one, but i was really happy when it came back on at 915pm. we were at church from 545-8 so that was a nice break and it was nice to be in real light instead of candlelight.

on the upside- monday and tue when peter was off the weather was amazing! it was about 70 on tue and so we took her to the park and though it was muddy we let her ride her bike on the road and the basketball court, she was in heaven! she loves it and is getting really good and today she said "look mom, i'm going backwards!" she says backwards so well and i didn't even know she knew that word. we also walked around our cute little town and went in the library and got some movies out for her. also i was able to order a book to get started on my reading for my doula training! yeah! the first step was to pay the $15 fine on the library card...i keep them in business...doing my part!!!! ;-)

monday we went to my brother and sister in laws house to pick up my mother in laws car that she's letting me use while she's in florida then we took hailey to the dr. since she hasn't been since she was about 18 months and had a physical...perfectly healthy- i already knew that. average on all their stupid charts. 30lbs and 37 1/4 in. tall. the whole reason i had to take her was to get a wic referal. so then we had to take her to get a lead test and they had to do a draw, they couldn't just do the finger prick, so i was totally stressing about this- the last time i had that done she screamed bloody murder and it was so painful for me. this time- she watched the needle go in, and didn't even flintch. i said,"see hailey, that's your blood going in the tube!" she thought it was cool. especially the bugs bunny bandaid. i was floored and so was peter his jaw was on the floor! what a blessing that she was so calm! it did hurt her later on and she whined but we went and got ice cream and all was well with the world!

tuesday work was so slow that i had my friend rebecca come in and get her hair done- it came out awesome and she loved it! we did bright red highlights and blonde too. tomorrow i'm going to her house and she's giving me a massage! yeah for bartering! i'm kinda brain dead i have an appt early in the am, so i'm ganna hit the hay. love you and miss you mom!

Baby "Kenzie"- it's really McKenzie

2008-01-01T20:30:00.001-08:00

This is Hailey doing what she does best- mothering. I am so looking forward to when she can hold her siblings, and maul them, and do all the mothering that she won't let me do. She was so amazing with her. She would soothe her any time she whined. she would say, "it's ok baby, here's your binky." She was also rocking her in her carseat, what a gift she has... to be a nurturer and how amazing that God put that in her from birth. she has always prefered to walk around with a baby in her arms than anything else. I am way too proud of my mini-me! The baby she's holding is my best friend Rebecca's second baby- i got to be there for her birth- well both of her kids- but this one was extra special since she gave birth at home. What a gift i wish all women would accept. Our Father gave us everything we need to complete this natural mind blowing task- we just have to trust Him!...more on this to come i'm sure!

2008-01-01T20:02:00.001-08:00

These are the pix i promised of my little artist who insists on painting on a daily basis. Isn't the smock just too cute!

ok so i had some thoughts that i thought i would share...i was thinking back to when i was about to be getting married and i was a waitress and i didn't know what i wanted to do...school or career or anything..so i figured i'd give beauty school a try. i had no passion for it, i didn't have much of an education in it, i didn't really know too much other than i like to watch my mom do it, so i thought i'd give it a try. turns out- it's now 7 years later- it's my passion. one of them anyway. i love what i do and i am so grateful that i took that initial step of faith to try something that was foreign but that i was interested in. all that said- i have been thinking about why i haven't pursued anything with becoming a doula...i had thought about it- done a ton of research and prayed about it talked to my hubby about it- and then it just fell out of my mind, i guess. not really, i just didn't think it was possible because of a small investment- which is really nothing when you think of what you gain. i spent over $8000 for beauty school but i have made much more than that already. and i'll have that degree/ education for the rest of my life- what a drop in the bucket! how silly of me to think that a $400 investment wasn't worth it! and what's more- i ALREADY have such a strong passion for this natural way of childbirth. I would be silly to ignore this desire and to not "give it a try." if i find that it just wasn't for me- then i learned something along the way and met amazing people along the way too. i am saying all this to encourage everyone to not ignore passions that you have- to live each day to its fullest- and to not wait for the good life to come to you but to live it each day because of the choices you make! Choose to let God direct you and to let the desires of your heart

be revealed to you- by pursuing Him. I keep hearing over and over in my head to not waste time- to stop being lazy, to accomplish goals to achieve more. Life is way too short to be limited. Be the jack of all trades. You are the only one who limits yourself. God is way too big to think that you are fine where you are- dream big!

if i sound like a motivational speaker- i don't know where this is coming from- i haven't listened to anything lately except my thoughts/ meditations, and i haven't read anything motivation or talked to anyone like this. i just couldn't sleep tonight which is wierd considering i'm running on 3 hours of sleep from new years eve and i worked 7 hour days mon and tue which i haven't done since i was prego over 3 years ago! ahhhh! maybe i had too much sugar! whatever it is- i'm grateful for it. i am determined to have an unforgettable year! i am so excited for all the change God has in store for me- hey, wanna get your whole world rocked???? pray- "God, break me!" woah nelly! i am so pumped for who i am going to become. i know she's there, i am also so grateful for new friendships with women who have a passion and a zeal for Christ! and it's the real deal not some "fake church smile"! i am encouraged by them and am looking forward to how they can rub off on me and i can change for the better.

My Artist

2007-12-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

So this is one of the presents she got from mommy and daddy and she loves it! Along with riding her new bike- it's all she ever wants to do. Aunt Becky got her some paint so she will have a lot to last a while! yeah!

Christmas was fun and not too stressful since i didn't have it at my house. I was sad that i couldn't be with my immediate family but it was ok to share it with extended family and i was just grateful to have some family to share it with. I was working on a client a few weeks ago who was a very elderly gentleman and said that he didn't have any living family at all. how sad his life must be and especially around the holidays- i can't imagine.

The computer isn't letting me put pix on right now so i'll have to do that later.

"The Bum"

2007-12-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

Ok so i finally got around to sweeping the kitchen floor today and when i was about to sweep it all up into the dust pan...all 5 lbs of dirt...I said,"look hailey, mommy's sweeping the floor." and she said,"thanks mom, you're a bum..." or so i thought she said. when i asked her what she said, she repeated and i realized it was "you're the bomb!" which i have had her say in the past, but she's never said it on her own until today...talk about hilarious! so, i'm not a bum...i'm the BOMB!!!! YEAH!

I had a huge cup of coffee at work tonight and almost a whole box of charleston chew mini's which by the way are sooooo good!!! so now i am WWWWWWIIIIIIRRRRREEEDDDDDDD!!!!
LOL! but my husband got to enjoy being woken up by a hyper wife. he he he!

so my boss is paying me to make cupcakes for her daughter and another co worker is paying me to make these cookies that i brought into work...they are so easy to make but taste sinfully indulgent! All it is is a box of oreos crushed in the blender and a package of creme cheese (soft) and you make them into balls and then you dip them in chocolate...ohmygosh!!!!! sooooo bad but you would think you're biting into a truffle! no one believes that they are made from oreos...they are amazing and hailey told me that they are "her best" not favorite, but "best"!!!! out of the 8 different kinds of cookies that i made, these are "her best." of course she's a chocoholic like her father! who by the way is starting to put on some pudge from all the sweets! lol! it's adorable!

a few days ago we rearranged the house and i like it like this so much better! we did the living room and our bedroom and the green room. which is now the game room. the living room seems to have more room now and it's homier. alright i think i'm done writing, i have no pix to post, i'll have to take some of hailey tomorrow and put them on. later!

The Wonderful World of Cookies

2007-12-20T21:04:00.002-08:00

I think i made over 20 dozen cookies this year. I have given away a lot and still have a ton. Most of them are going to my neighbor who paid me $10 a doz. and ordered 12 doz, but the rest are for us to enjoy and share. I may put on some cookie weight...oh well...they are delicious! This picture is of my baby girl wearing her "princess" (of course) that is falling off of her since it's too big, and she refuses to let me pin it in the back for reasons i'll never understand. She is decorating the cut outs. She did about 7 or 8 and then got bored and ate about 3 or 4...she liked to take a bite and put it back and get started on a new one, so i would finish them for her!one of the cookies she decorated was sooo covered with frosting that it was drowning and then she put a ton of red cinnamon balls on it...she ate a bunch of those too...

she said to me today "mom, this house is too dirty" and i said "what do you think is dirty?" and she said "this floor, see, stuff is stuck on my feet." I think it was from all the baking i've been doing...oops...i'm a slob and my 3 year old noticed! so she went and grabbed the broom and started "sweeping". It was too cute and actually not the first time she's said or done that.

We played the memory game today for the first time...where you match the cards...she loved it! and she was really starting to get it and she got soooo excited when i found a match! she understands more than i think and she totally got the whole it's mommy's turn now thing...the whole you can only look at two cards thing- she wasn't too fond of...lol.

A friend at work gave me a cd/tape player that is for a little girl, pink with flowers on it, and so i gave it to hailey and she loves it! she said "mommy, now you have your own and i have MY own!!!" very excited! she loves to put the cd in it and turn it on, and skip songs, and it's just the coolest thing in the world now, especially since we got a curious george book on cd from the library, she has been playing it over and over and i think i have it memorized!!aaahhhh!!!!

I am really looking foward to Christmas morning with her and my hubby! She certainly hangs the moon for me! I feel so blessed to be her mother and sometimes it's still so unreal that i have a daughter- something i wanted so much, and waited so long for. She is cherished. Please pray that i will have patience with her and that i will train her biblically and that I will be able to show her that i'm not just talk -that i will truly live out what i believe in my mind and heart.

Twins??

2007-12-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my daddy, Jef, and one of my brothers, Dan...one of 4 brothers...can you even believe the resemblance?? crazy! both hotties! i wish my brother Josh was in this one too...he's a big time hottie!

Today was another filled with cookie making. I made thumbprints, mexican wedding balls, and peanut butter kiss cookies=- which my daughter hailey helped me by unwrapping all the kisses for me...what a great helper! i am so blessed!

yesterday she said to me after eating a cookie, "mom, this one is my best." so i said "you mean it's your favorite?" and she said "no, it's my best." she's something else!

Tonight in the car on the way to church she was screaming and flipping out about her shoes or the line on the socks...talk about reap what you sow...ahhemm...anyway, she all of a sudden saw christmas lights on our neighbors house and instantly stopped screaming and says with a perfectly clear non whining voice.."christmas lights!!!" it was so hysterical peter and i were dying! such a little actress...can't imagine why!

Cart Heaven

2007-12-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

I was stopping traffic in the Walmart parking lot to take this shot of a 20 foot snow mound with it's captive inside it. I'm sure the plow guys thought it would be a hoot! Think it could win a contest? or make it to the newspaper?? it is pretty funny.

Life in Buffalo

2007-12-19T09:32:00.001-08:00

These are my two favorite people in the world
shoveling about a foot of snow in our driveway!

"Princess Hailey"-with a baby in her belly

2007-12-18T13:40:00.004-08:00

well, i missed yesterday since i was doing so much. my great hubby let me sleep in and had the dishes done when i woke up. he tends to do that at least two or three times a week..what a blessing! after i had my shower, and was ready for the day...off we three went...far and near.

we did lots of shopping- grocery and other stuff... then came home and ate and i began my adventure in baking. i made: fudge, with nuts and without, mexican wedding balls, pb clusters, coconut macroons, choc covered oreos, and oreo balls. i still have cut outs and thumbprints to make and peanut butter kiss cookies.

my neighbor paid me $120 to make 10 dozen cookies for him...the rest are for our family and friends. anyway i baked from 530-930...then i was pooped! peter and i watched a movie together after that. he put hailey to bed himself last night...what a blessing...again!

i'm working tonight, i taught dance this morning to 3 and 4 year olds for an hour, my tuesday routine. it's fun but so tiring! i will be posting pix soon...surprisingly it takes less time to put pix on here than it does to send them on an email. my camera is in the car right now and i don't want to go out in the snow right now, so i'll do it soon.

my best friend rebecca and i are going out tonight after i get out of work...we haven't been able to talk since she had her second girl two weeks ago. although we did see them today at "leaps and bounce" we let the girls, grace (almost 2) and hailey (3) go crazy bouncing in bounce houses for about 2 hours. it was fun and i got to hold 2 week old mackenzie.

i'm trying to think of something funny hailey said today...her daily talking always consists of letting me know that she has to wear her "princess" which is her cinderella dress-up dress. she then tells me how when she puts her "princess" on that she has a baby in her belly and that she needs to go to debbie's house (my friend who had an at-home water birth) so that she can get in the water and her baby can come out. so cute, but kinda getting annoying to listen to every day!

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

I believe we're up to about a foot of snow. Hasn't stopped all day. It's so beautiful though and it truly feels like Christmas now.

My darling Hailey says to me on occasion..."memmer yesternight when i .." how adorable is that! or every once in a while it's "yestertime." You couldn't pay for that kind of humor. ok so i just realized i was capitalizing things how wierd am i?

My darling hubby and his friend John are moving our guest bed out of the upstairs bedroom and into a closet so that we can have a "rec room" in there...kind of a den and neat hang out. he's going to make shelves and we'll put all our board games in there. he also has a x box...even though i swore that we'd never have those "evil" things...his brother gave him one for his 30th birthday...yeah for brothers...anyway, when we have another baby we'll turn that room into the new baby's room, but he or she will be in our room for a few months anyway, so there's no rush, especially since i'm not even prego yet.

A girl at work gave me a bunch of bins to organize toys and so i completely redid her toy room...except i'm hoping to keep it that way with a new "system." here's hoping- what i did is take pix of items that go into that bin, and i'm going to laminate them and tape them to the bin they go in, so it's easier for her to clean up and less frustrating for me...but if i know my daughter, she'll probably just rip the pix off the bins and put them in her purse and tell me they are her money or something. we shall see.

Now Peter's out with John shoveling. Fun times!

We were all invited to a couple's house from church this afternoon who have 3 little girls..ages 8, 4, and 2. way too cute kids! they loved having hailey there, and boy did hailey love it...3 times the dress up princess stuff...oh boy! she was in her glory. i am still floored that i have a 3 year old. it's so incredible! but best part of all is that dana and bill (the parents), totally awesome couple...she's a red head too, and peter actually grew up with her in the mennonite church...anyway, they said we should go away for a weekend so that hailey can stay there and play with their girls...can you say answer to prayer!!!!! she's also the director of the classroom that hailey just moved out of...when she turned 3, she truly adores hailey...yeah!

well, i think that's if for tonight. ganna go play with my treasure now.

WOW, MY VERY OWN BLOG!!!

2007-12-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

i feel so special doing this blogging thing- i'm not very computer savy but somehow i survive in 2007. one thing you should know about me is that i don't like using capital letters when i type so just get used to it i guess- ;-)

i am 26 and have been married to the most wonderful man on the planet for 6 1/2 years now. time has flown so much especially lately since our daughter just turned 3!!! who said she could do that?

my baby girl's name is hailey and she is the most beautiful child i've ever seen.

i'm only going to write formally this way once so you can get to know the basics about me...i plan on most of this being for my mom since i know she'll read it and it will be the basic everyday stay at home mom stuff that only we can appreciate.

mom lives in texas and i'm in ny she's been there almost 2 years, and i'm not too fond of it...but it's where we are right now- certainly not forever.

i am a hairdresser at a salon in the mall and i work at night when my hubby can be with my baby girl. they love the one on one time and i love my work...my art...it's my creative outlet. i can't wait to have my own "private" salon in my home. here's to the future...

well, i'll continue this tomorrow...or maybe not...when hubby is off...my mind is with him...still madly in love- our anniversary of when he asked me to be his girlfriend is christmas eve...1997. 11 years together and our love grows stronger with time. praise God for a man who knows what commitment is and who loves God more than me!
-Rachy