We've crossed a threshold...

We are now totally in suburbia parenthood with all its trappings. Today we bought a minivan. I've already taken it to Publix and tried out the tres cool power door opener button. I feel so weird driving it. Maybe if I get the XM radio trial working and get a Starbucks in my hand I'll retain some measure of hipness.

Quips and Quotables

Okay, so there isn't too much to write about, it was a pretty basic week. But here are the highlights that have stuck with me. Surprise, surprise, most are about the munchkin. Where does she come up with this?

Girl-genius?
Rebekah and I are watching Little Einsteins (gotta love the DVR) at night while I nurse Ben. Dad is at class and this is the only way to guarantee her butt stays on the couch and she starts getting quiet for the night while I'm single-parenting. The music of the day is introduced--The Moldau by Smetana. One of my favorite pieces and on R's Classical Mix CD. The girl listens and then looks at me. "Mom, this is on my CD. The Moldau."

Maybe not.
Rebekah and I are savoring some mommy-daughter time, reading on the couch. I love my bookworm. Ben's asleep; the house is quiet. Rebekah rips one. I try not to laugh. I fail. We both burst out laughing. "Mom, I didn't even eat any beans!"

Reassurance that raising perfect children is not my identity
From Lost Women of the Bible, Mary of Nazareth: "Jesus zeroed in on two sacred institutions for women--motherhood and family--and redefined them both. According to Jesus, a woman's life is truly blessed not when she becomes a mother, but when she hears and obeys his Word. The crowning glory for a woman (as for a man) is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is a woman's true identity and the only path to blessedness."

Lost Women of the Bible

I started reading Carolyn Custis James' Lost Women of the Bible this week. Her previous book, When Life and Beliefs Collide, is one of my top 10 theology books in part because it focuses on the necessity of theology for women and is written to women, for women, by a woman. So when I came across this in the bookstore, I snatched it up.

So far, I'm only through the first three women she discusses--Eve, Mrs. Noah, and Sarah--but it is a fascinating and thoughtful discussion of how God views women. Since I go through an identity crisis about every six months or so, I need to be reminded about my significance in God's eyes, whatever I'm doing and wherever I am. Her insights into familiar stories is fresh. Here are some highlights so far.

from Eve: "Every woman's life changes with seasons and circumstances. But for all of us, two callings never change--we are God's image bearers and we are ezers [helpers, used often to describe God helping Israel or on the battlefield, no wimpy "helpmeet" here]...Eve's threefold legacy--that we are God's image bearers, ezer-warriors, and members of the Blessed Alliance--provides a clear lens through which we will examine the women in Scripture and gain a fresh vision for ourselves."

from Mrs. Noah: "In an odd way, Mrs. Noah is ideal for our discussion of lost women precisely because we know so little about her. She helps us see that there are no exceptions to Eve's legacy for women...[it] is universal, encompassing every woman's life, no matter how obscure, insignificant or forgotten we think we are. God's purposes aren't just for those who stand in the spotlight. They apply equally to those of us who remain hidden in the shadows."

and from Sarah, in regards to the sign of circumcision being thought of as "so male": "Circumcision wasn't male-centered, but descendant-centered and community-centered. The sign of the covenant impressed upon the man his enormous spiritual responsibility to walk before God and be faithful and to influence others, especially those under his roof, to do the same. The burden was too great for any man to shoulder alone. Sarah, the ezer, would join him in battling for the souls of the next generation."

The remaining chapters cover Hagar, Tamar, Hannah, Esther, Mary of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene, and the women of Philippi. More to come...

He's created a monster...

...truck fan, that is.

Sunday lunch conversation

Dad: Look what's on, Bekah!
B: (Massive sucking in of air) Monster trucks!
D: When you get bigger, Daddy and Benjamin and Grandad and you can all go to see the monster trucks. Would you like that?
B: YEA! Can Mommy come too?
Mom: Mommy and Nana will go get pedicures. Do you know what a pedicure is?
B: I dunno know.
M: It's when you get your toe nails painted. (thoughfully) Would you like to see monster trucks or get a pedicure?
B: (Thinking, fingers together near her chin) I go see monster trucks and THEN get my nails painted.

My mom is going to take her away, I'm sure.

4 Months Old

Ben is 4 months old today. Man, time flies. Check out the Incredible Hulk shirt (given to him by the trainers at Thrive, go figure) that is stretched over his midsection. It's a size 12 months, no lie. He's about 20 lbs now, or four sacks of flour by great-grandma measurements. Can't you just eat those cheeks up?! There's a neck in there somewhere.

I think his young life is going by faster than Rebekah's. Maybe the rest of our lives are moving faster and he's just along for the ride.

The horror, the horror

My coffeemaker has been on the fritz since Sunday night. Was this how Job's testing began?

Easter Pics

Family Picture - not Ben's original Easter outfit, that didn't make it past church. And we changed into jeans once we got home! Crazy weather!

Hunting for eggs in the backyard

Easter Monday

This Holy Week has not been all that holy for me. What started as an incredible Palm Sunday with the Hosanna high and contemplation of the Suffering Servant who would wash feet, took a roller coaster ride through ordinary, earthly chaos, sickness, sin--"full of dirt," as the David Crowder song goes. I rushed around working on stuff for the church-wide Egg Hunt. We missed out on Maundy Thursday service, which I have grown to love these last few years in a Presbyterian church (Check out Reggie's blog and Amy P's for their beautiful reflections of the night). I shopped and cooked and wore myself out over the weekend. And I know that's not what it's supposed to be like.

But here on Easter Monday, the kids and I have stayed in on this chilly, rainy day. I'm trying to rest, enjoy my kids, get caught up with them, and have a moment of reflection. The images of the week, the extremes which Jesus experienced, keep coming to mind. The palms under the donkey's feet, the basin of water and towel, overturned tables in the temple, the cup of wine, a wooden cross, the shroud left behind.

Incarnation

He came as infant babe—
The Word made flesh.
Glory to God in the highest
And Peace on Earth!

He came as prophecy fulfilled—
The Suffering Servant.
Pierced for our transgressions,
Crushed for our iniquities.

He came to Jerusalem—
Willing and prepared.
Hosanna! Hosanna! they cried—
Then, Crucify! Crucify!

He came as perfect sacrifice—
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
To receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength
Honor, glory, praise!

He will come again—
The rider called Faithful and True.
Amen, Hallelujah!
Amen, Hallelujah!

Music Memory Lane

I was pushing the double stroller through the kids' section at Macy's yesterday and they were playing "Your Love is Better than Ice Cream." Love that song, love Sarah. But that song always reminds me of a childhood friend, one that I haven't talked to in about 3 years and have no idea where she is now. She got pretty "out there" during high school when she went away to a Ft. Lauderdale prep school and lived away from her family. Granted, she introduced me to Toad and was always good for a fabulous mix tape but we were growing up in two different directions. She was in my wedding almost 7 years ago and the Vassar grad blessedly shaved her armpits for me. But that's been about all our contact since we've become grown-ups.

But I love how songs send you right to a moment in time. Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had a Million Dollars", which is on one of Rebekah's car mixes, takes me back to a road trip with the GI Jan and the Jones kids. Blood, Sweat & Tears reminds me of my dad taking us to some work thing on Church Street. "Natural Woman" reminds me of Audrey, a high school pal--we would sing it at full volume while driving in her ancient Volvo to some Interact function, math competition (yikes! me & math!) or one of her photography projects. Caedmon's "40 Acres" came out while Dave and I were first dating and we played it nonstop in his red Nissan Sentra. Several road trips as a couple with good music...I remember us driving to my hometown one night playing our favorite "best bands whose first CD was their best or last," Bebo Norman before he was big while driving to TN, anniversary trip to SC where we discovered Sandra McCracken and we played "Gypsy Flat Road" over and over on the way home. Good times, good times.

So what's your best music memory?

Blog Voice Over

Ever since I started this blog, I've been going through my day with blog voice over, that internal monologue that's commenting on my day and composing a blog about something. Maybe something like Zach Braff from Scrubs: "the thing about baby poop is that...."

And while I'm not as prolific as some people (like Leslie, the double-blog-over-achiever. Does she have to do everything in duplicate or quadruplicate?), I enjoy how blog is making me intentional about thinking things. I don't just go through my day living from the neck down, changing diapers and making peanut butter sandwiches. I do have thoughts. Now if I could just remember them in between the diapers and sandwiches... But it is causing me to think about something to write!

This morning in WIC we talked a bit about our testimony of today. Our testimony is not just some original story from way back when but also about what God is doing right now. Or it better! Blogging, with its public face, is beyond just journaling and reflecting, more in line of what God wants us to be doing, spurring one another on, not meditating in our solitude. (Isn't it trippy that God uses blogging?) I need to dialogue through Sunday sermons and Bible study. I need to think about what's going on today, about what God is doing in my heart, listening to Him use the mundane and minutiae for His glory. It's the way we get perspective in the day to day.