Naptimes and Nighttimes

A must-share recipe

2011-09-03T13:02:00.002-04:00

I confess I am a health nut now. So, whenever I discover a recipe that is healthy and as yummy as dessert, I do a little happy dance. I am so ecstatic over this recipe, I decided you have to know about it too. This morning I made whole wheat pumpkin muffins, and boy howdy, did my family enjoy them. Notice how we already ate half of them (there's a reason why this pic is cropped)?
So, why is this recipe a good fit for our family? Well, other than the obvious good taste factor, we don't eat white-flour products anymore since the body processes white flour like sugar. Also, the use of truvia allows something to taste sugary without actually using sugar.
And while pumpkin has natural sugars, I am able to offset the rise in blood sugar that would occur naturally with this fruit by adding walnuts (the oil and eggs also help with this).

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Walnut Muffins (yields 12 large muffins):

1&1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 15 oz. can organic pumpkin
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup truvia
2&1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with muffin cups.
In a medium sized bowl, combine wheat flour and baking powder. Stir and set aside.
In a large bowl combine pumpkin, oil, eggs, truvia, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt. Stir together and then add dry ingredients, a third at a time. After all is mixed together, fold in walnuts. Fill up muffin cups 3/4 of the way. Bake for 20-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

It's only fair to update the blog

2011-08-06T22:06:00.000-04:00

Back by popular demand, and by popular I mean 3 people, I have decided to resurrect the blog. I won't be able to post like I did pre-Christopher, but once a week or so might be nice, don't you think?
Speaking of Christopher, did you hear he was born? Not if you only check my blog you didn't. But, I'm on facebook often enough and so are you, so you know what's up. But, here is some more in depth details about the new Pickett given to us by God for His glory and our enjoyment.
Christopher is Noah 2.0. He looks just like Noah, but Noah is all Irish and Christopher is all Italian. Also, Christopher is the newer, "sleeker" model because he weighed about a pound and a half lighter than Noah did at birth. But, they both have those gorgeous blue eyes that are ever so desirable.
Christopher seems like the typical second child, more laid back, less precocious, but so sweet natured. He is not as easily impressed as Noah, but when Christopher smiles, the whole room lights up. Christopher has grown very quickly since birth and has caught up to big brother at this stage in life. He is in the 77% for height and 75% for weight and he sleeps 13 hours a night. Yes, you can all be jealous of me now.
Here's a picture of the one we often call C-dawg because Christopher is sooooo long to say all the time, but I refuse to call him Chris.

I smile with my mouth open!

Noah took about 3 months to get used to not being the center of the universe. Not bad really considering some people never learn that lesson until they meet their Maker. Noah loves Christopher so much and tells him so every day, freely giving Christopher kisses all the time. I cannot wait until Christopher is old enough to play with Noah instead of being a punching bag. Here's the handsome big brother in action at Grandma and Pap pap's pool. He's 2 and a half now. Although, if you ask him he'll argue with you and tell you that he is zero and Christopher is 2 and a half. The poor boy has my temperament.

In other, not-so-cute-but-still-pertinent news, I lost 25 pounds. That may not sound all that impressive since I just had a baby four and a half months ago. But, what if I told you that from the beginning of my pregnancy to the end I didn't gain a pound, would you be impressed then?

In fact, at one point during the pregnancy I lost 10 lbs. and throughout the course of the rest of the pregnancy I only gained those 10 pounds back. So, in the 15 months that I had told you of my desire to slim down, I have lost 25 pounds. Thank you Lord for guiding me through this endeavor.

I still have a little ways to go, I have about 15 more pounds to shed to have a healthy B.M.I, but considering I am exercising, eating right, and still nursing, I am actually hopeful that I might return to a weight that I haven't seen since my undergraduate days.

So, how did I do it?

I'm not telling you.

I don't want you all to be thinner than me.

Just kidding. I'll tell you. As you may remember, before I became pregnant with Christopher, I was watching my calories like crazy. I was exercising very consistently and maintaining a 1600 calorie intake. But, I felt like progress was very slow and really leading nowhere.

During the course of my pregnancy I was tested for gestational diabetes. Everyone has to be tested when they are pregnant. While I passed my (second) test, the doctor said the numbers were like getting a C+ on an exam. I passed, but it wasn't a great score. I remember the same results occurring during my pregnancy with Noah. My OB recommended that I cut all simple sugars from my diet so as to see if I could prevent having another huge baby (I was trying to deliver VBAC, which didn't work out anyway).

I'm a bit type A when people give me goals. So I decided to figure out exactly what he meant by simple sugar and cut everything in my diet with it. I obviously knew desserts were out the door. So much for the stereotyped pregnant lady who gets to eat anything she wants. But, as I started to read, and read, and read about what sugar does to one's body and what foods contain it, I started to realize that sugar has been my problem all along. No, the desserts weren't the main foe. It was all the white pastas and all the "wheat" bread that has high fructose corn syrup hiding as a main ingredient. It was the potatoes, and tomato sauces, and anything else that the body processes like a sugar that isn't necessarily sugar. I have to tell you that I felt so ignorant while reading about nutrition. I thought I had it all figured out.

Keep your calorie count down, and you'll lose weight, right? But all the while, it wasn't just how much I ate, but what I was eating that was the problem. And like I said, it was the stuff that seems healthy, like yogurt, and sandwich bread, and certain types of fruit. Portion control was never actually the problem for me.

So, it's no wonder that I didn't gain any weight while I was pregnant, or that Christopher was a normal birth weight, or that I feel like a million bucks comparatively to two years ago.

The food I was eating was hindering me. I am so thankful that the Lord showed me a way to eat well, feel satiated, and maintain a healthy weight. I had been praying about it for quite some time so I am thankful for answered prayers.

Well, I have much more to blabber on about my diet and exercise routine. But, I think this post is sufficiently long enough, so you'll just have to wait until next week to hear more about my boring life. Goodnight!

My mother is a very needy person

10 weeks to go!

2010-12-30T11:10:00.000-05:00

30 weeks down, 10 weeks to go until our lives are again changed forever. To get some of you up to speed, I am due March 12th, we are having a boy, and we have named him Christopher Brandon. We will be calling him Christopher and not Chris, so please follow accordingly.
Christopher is definitely growing, and has been making me very hungry in the last few weeks. With Noah, I felt hungry through out the entire pregnancy. With Christopher, I have only noticed feeling famished in the last few weeks. I am praying that this little dude will be a little but smaller than his brother, since Noah was 9 lbs. 6 oz. at birth and 22 & 1/8 inches long. I know that most people have their smallest baby the first time around, but I don't know how we get bigger from here. I know people who have had ten pound babies, I just don't want to be one of those people.
I have been relatively consistent with exercising. I have been doing prenatal yoga about twice a week, and using a recumbent bike 2 times a week plus doing light arm strengthening exercises after I ride my bike. I would like to do more on the bike, but for about the past 6 weeks, when I ride my bike I get Braxton Hicks contractions, which makes it very difficult to continue. They stop as soon as I stop riding the bike, which is a bit annoying, but I take it as a good sign for this pregnancy because I literally did not have a single false contraction with Noah. I went from feeling absolutely nothing to having contractions 1 minute a part when he was 9 days late. You can imagine the shock this sent both my body and Noah's body into. With Noah, I had intentions of not having an epidural. Once I got the hospital, however, the doctor asked (before everything went crazy with Noah), "Epidural?" I looked at Brandon, whispered, "sorry," and then responded to the merciful doctor, "Yes, please."

Noah eating the horse's plastic carrot

I have done very well with my weight gain this pregnancy, as I have only gained 12 pounds thus far. I was overweight to start this pregnancy, so I hope to at the most gain 24 pounds (normal weight people should gain 25-35 pounds). If I gain a pound a week from this point on, then I am right on track to meet my goals.
As many of you know, I have discontinued my calorie counting once I knew I was pregnant because it is not advisable to feel famished during pregnancy. However, I have been attempting (minus the holidays, and my walking trips to the mall with my friend Jenny) to make sure that everything I put in my mouth is of a nutritious nature. I have been consuming a lot of unsalted nuts, eggs, fruits, veggies, and lean meats, and drinking lots and lots of filtered water. Noah and I like to eat an apple a day (Noah eats it with the skin on, can you believe it?) together. Thank goodness for Aldi or else I would be spending $20 a week on apples.
As I come closer and closer to the end of this pregnancy, I ask that you would keep Christopher and I in your prayers. I am attempting to have a VBAC this pregnancy, so like with all pregnancies there is some risk to this choice. We desire to have a VBAC as opposed to another c-section for two main reasons: We would like to have a large family and for my health.
So, please pray that the Lord would keep the baby and I safe through out the rest of this pregnancy and especially during delivery. Please pray that I would not have gestational diabetes (will find out in about a week- I didn't with Noah), please pray that Christopher would be a child of God and would always know Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and please pray that Brandon and I would raise both Christopher and Noah in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Oh, and here are some pics of Noah for your viewing pleasure:

Noah loves peanut butter!

Oops! I ate it all.

Halloween pictures

2010-10-30T14:12:00.000-04:00

I'm a puppy with a pumpkin bucket!

I'm tired already. Can we go home?

I'm taking a picture. Quick! Close your eyes.


Looks like Pap Pap is more excited for Halloween than Noah

My very own tomato sauce

2010-10-19T19:54:00.001-04:00

For years, Brandon has asked me to make tomato sauce from scratch. Every time he asked, I rolled my eyes and asked, "why would I make my own when it is so simple to just buy it from the store?" I felt like I had better things to do with my time.
Well, ever since I have been on this health kick-thing, I realized that pre-made tomato sauce is incredibly high in sodium. I suppose the companies have to use sodium to preserve the tomatoes, but it can get pretty ridiculous, some having upwards of 30% of your daily need in one serving.
As some of you know, I am half-Italian and was raised on Italian cuisine. So, the likelihood of ridding my diet of tomato sauce is next to impossible. After looking over several sauce recipes, I have created my own concoction that I am ready to share with my readers. Although making my own sauce is much more difficult than just opening a jar, the taste is far superior and I feel happy to know some of my favorite dishes are contributing towards my health rather than a detriment.

The finished product

Ingredients:
10 medium Tomatoes (I used a combination of Roma, Cherry, and Globe)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
5 cloves garlic, diced
1 onion, diced
8 oz. mushrooms, diced
2 medium zucchinis, diced
1 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. Basil
1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1 Bay leaf
1/2 cup red wine
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 small can tomato paste
Canning jars as needed
Directions:
Boil a large pot of water. Once boiling, place all tomatoes in the water and let sit for about five minutes. Once skin is starting to peel, place tomatoes in a bowl of ice water. Leave in water until able to peel tomato skin with bare hands (and remove seeds if you so choose). Chop the peeled tomatoes into small pieces and then place them in a food processor/blender. Blend until smooth. Place tomato blend into a large pot and begin to heat on medium. Meanwhile, in a larger skillet add oil, butter, garlic, onion, mushroom, and zucchini. Cook for about 5 minutes on high heat. Once onion is translucent, add vegetable mixture to the tomato sauce pot. Then add the pepper, basil, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, red wine, and sugar to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes. Then stir in tomato paste. Turn heat to lowest setting and allow to simmer for 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Can sauce once cooked through and partially cooled (should make about two jars).

Back and Better

2010-10-18T20:14:00.000-04:00

I am back from my blog hiatus. The combination of being pregnant, continuing my fitness regimen, and Noah's nap times getting later in the day and shorter have all contributed to my time away. I have missed writing, but I have to keep my priorities straight: God, family, self, and then blogging :)
Well, since I have been gone, I have started to look pregnant. But in that awkward way when people aren't sure if I am pregnant or just have a fat belly. I try to tell people as much as I can to relieve them of their curiosity (psssssssssst....I'm just fat).

Speaking of curiosity....you all came here for one specific reason, right? What are we having, a boy or a girl? Well, I'll give you a hint. The baby has two legs, two arms, and during the ultrasound absolutely none of those arms or legs would sit still. Sounds like a certain baby I already know and love, doesn't it?

Yup, it's a boy. Noah officially has a baby brother and Mommy already feels officially tired. We are so pleased with this gift God has given us and are pleased that as far as we can tell baby boy is as healthy as can be.
I am 19.5 weeks now, so I am basically half way through my pregnancy. The baby is 10 oz., which is exactly how big the baby should be, and is about 1/10 the size Noah was at birth. Here's to hoping for a smaller baby this time around.
Please continue to keep this baby in your prayers and thank you for caring.

We haven't come up with a name yet, but will be sure to share once we come up with names. Do you have any baby boy name recommendations? What names do you absolutely despise for a boy?

Running and Pregnancy

2010-09-22T13:55:00.000-04:00

Since I have become pregnant, exercise has become increasingly more important to me. Certainly exercising was important to me before, but now it has become a gift I can give to my baby as well. Keeping Mommy healthy means the baby is more likely to be healthy and I take this truth very seriously.
However, not so long ago, many doctors did not recommend exercise for pregnant women. Certainly a brisk walk was encouraged, but keeping your heart rate at an optimal level was always a concern. However, opinions on this have now started to change, and exercise is seen as a crucial part of pregnancy. To find more information on this topic, I borrowed the book Runner's World Guide to Running and Pregnancy from the library.
This book gives great information and advice as to how to run during pregnancy, where your heart rate should be, how your body will most likely react to running during the different trimesters of pregnancy, and personal testimonies to how mom's stayed in shape while pregnant. If you are a runner and are wanting to have children soon, I would highly recommend reading this book.
Now, I would not consider myself to be a runner. I run, but I do not identify myself as a runner. In fact, I have personally decided not to run during pregnancy, but have been interspersing stationary biking, pilates, yoga, and walking 5-6 days a week, 30-60 minutes a day. My goal is always 6 days a week, but my pregnancy napping (non)schedule sometimes precludes me from getting my exercise in for the day. However, this book still gave me great information on cross-training and the overall effects of exercise on pregnancy.
My decision to discontinue running stems from the wish to preserve my joints, and that I was not where I wanted to be fitness-wise when I became pregnant to maintain running the three-miles I had built up to over the course of the summer. If I had perhaps been able to complete a good five mile run in an average amount of time, then I would feel comfortable doing 2-3 miles at a slow pace while pregnant. Another goal for another baby, perhaps?
I have not foregone running altogether, however. Indeed, I am cross-training throughout this pregnancy so that when I am ready to go back out there to run after the baby is born, I won't be starting from scratch.

During pregnancy, doctors do not advise losing weight. Since I am still not at a healthy weight for my height (although I am 7 pounds lighter than I started a while back), my goal is to maintain my weight for as long as possible. I will gain weight during this pregnancy- anything less than 15 pounds would be very inadvisable- but exercise will keep me on a path that will be allow me to gain the weight necessary in a healthy manner. My diet has also been mostly good (another post of another day). So with these combine efforts, my hope is that after the baby is born, with the help of breastfeeding, the excess pounds will just melt away.
Are there any books that you have read that have encouraged you to keep exercising, pregnant or not? Feel free to post any advice you might have regarding exercise and pregnancy.

25 weeks left

2010-09-16T14:32:00.000-04:00

Well, today officially marks my 15th week of pregnancy. I had a really easy go of the first trimester. I was more tired and needed to take a lot more naps, but other than that I can't complain. Being at 15 weeks is a bit comforting as well, as the risk of miscarriage greatly decreases at your 14th week. Most people rejoice at getting to 14 weeks because many issues like morning sickness dissipate and life goes back to normal for a while since you probably aren't showing yet either.
I definitely do not look pregnant yet and still am able to do my daily exercise regimen without difficulty, but I would say that week 14 was the toughest so far. Noah has been teething, which means he sleeps poorly, which means I sleep poorly.
My allergies have returned. I haven't had any issues with them since returning to Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, but all of the sudden I am sneezing like crazy. I can only take certain meds, like Benadryl, which helps to some extent, but not fully and makes me feel groggy. But things are looking up: Noah woke up twice last night, but then he slept until 10:15 to make up for it! Also, the pollen count is much lower the next couple of days and boy do can my sinuses tell.
This also marks the first day of the week in which I have has enough energy to blog...I know you missed me so much.
Funny story: Yesterday, I was doing my prenatal yoga video during Noah's nap. There were times I felt so tired that I almost gave up. But I didn't and persevered to the end. Only, the last five minutes of the tape included a relaxation time. Well, I was so enthusiastic about being relaxed that I fell asleep right on the floor. Yeah, I've got to say that I haven't done that before.
Well, continue to keep me and baby in your prayers. I have a doctor's appointment next week, so hopefully I will know more then as to the health of the baby.
Have you ever been so tired that you didn't even realize you had fallen asleep in an awkward place/position?

Little Children, keep yourself from idols

2010-09-10T13:58:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday evening, Brandon, Noah, and I attended a fellowship event at one of our church member's homes. Appropriately named "Fired up for fellowship," there are many families, food, and bonfires! We stuck closer to the miniature fire pit and stayed away from the bigger fire since we have a little one.
Still, as we were eating, drinking, and keeping cozy by the fire, we had to remind Noah not to go near the flames. We constantly had one hand on him (don't worry Pap Pap!), just in case he had a sudden whim to disobey us. He was wearing a hoodie that evening, so I basically held on to his hood. But this evening Noah was very obedient and all the extra precautions were ultimately unnecessary.
As I sat around the fire, conversing with others while caring for my son, I realized that this must be a small glimpse as to what God is like in His love and protection for us, His children. Noah has no idea why he can't touch the fire. The fire is enticing and warm and lovely. He has never been burned yet (thank the Lord), so he cannot understand what would happen if he did touch it. All he knows is that Mom and Dad say not to touch, so he does not (not always the case obviously). We tell him why not to touch- because it is "hot!" Noah repeats "hot, hot, hot!," while pointing to the flame and then stays away. He is much more enthralled that Mommy is allowing him to drink juice at the party- a rare treat indeed.
Is this not a shadow of God and His love for me? He has given me his commandments, I don't understand why all of them are to be obeyed, but He tells me why not to in words that I can understand, He keeps one hand on me at all times, especially in my infancy as a believer, and he keeps me safe from the flames of destruction. When I obey him, He blesses me with a balm to my soul.
Now one day, Noah will be old enough to stand next to fire and I will not be holding on to him. He will grow up and I will expect him to know better than to touch. He will need to believe me without the safety net. In regards to a fire, I expect he will not fail. However, there will be other things less obviously painful than sustaining burns that he will need to learn away from my safety net. I know at times he will succeed and other times he will fail. I will mourn for the times he fails because he is my son and I love him.
As I am no longer in my infancy stage of Christianity, or at least I would like to believe that i have moved on to meat, God has "let go" on occasion. I would like to say that I have succeeded more times than failed, but alas my Savior mourns because of me often. I am more grateful than I can even know for Jesus. His death atoned for my sins, so even though the 10 commandments are so very clear, I still need someone holding my hoodie. Jesus keeps me safe from the eternal fires.
1 Tim 2:15 (NKJV) says, "Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self–control." I have to admit that this verse used to always confuse me. But now that I am a mother, I realize how true this verse is. I can see so clearly with the eyes God has given me how patient and caring He is because I resemble that. Of course, He is perfect and I am just a poor man's generic brand.
I am thankful for a God who loves me, who gives me evidence in my life as to how He loves me. I am thankful that He gives me love for my son. And I thankful that my son has an opportunity to know The Son through my love. As Noah grows out of his infancy, may he know God not only through his parents, but through the Word, the Church, and sacraments. And may he need his hoodie tugged less often than his Momma.

Random pregnant musings

2010-09-08T13:03:00.001-04:00

These are the highlights of my thoughts today:

Why does Noah have to wake up so early??? GO back to sleep.

Ugh...allergies.

Nothing sounds good for breakfast except for potato chips.

How much longer until Sesame Street is on?

I hope it's not hot out...66 degrees! I'm taking Noah outside.

Oh no, I forgot the stroller, doah!

Random musings as I scan the web during Noah's nap:

So glad Larry King is retiring: dude be old.

I love that the SI power rankings have the Steelers as #18, we always play better as the under dog.

It's weird to see Angelina Jolie's name with the words actress and humanitarian next to them. Does anyone remember her Billy Bob Thorton phase?

Reggie Bush is a cheater, but I know he is not the only one. Why doesn't anybody play by the rules?

Back to reality:

Ugh...allergies.

I guess I better go do the dishes.

Prenatal Yoga

2010-09-03T15:25:00.001-04:00

Can I just say before I begin the essence of this post that I am fully frustrated that I can never remember my password for this blog on the first try! I wonder how many passwords I will create in my lifetime? My head is already swimming in them.
Moving on, as you can imagine even though I removed my "eating and exercising" tab a while ago, I have still been trying to eat healthy and exercise regularly. As you may know, my goal is to attempt having a VBAC and I am going to give myself the best opportunity by keeping myself fit, avoiding gestational diabetes, and keeping my body limber. I admit that flexibility has never been a strength of mine. With a husband who has a black belt in Tae Kwan Do, I get teased about my lack of flexibility pretty regularly. No, I can't touch my toes, but they are gross anyway, so I figure I'm not missing out on much.
In my effort to become more flexible and more fit for this pregnancy, I have been looking into prenatal yoga DVDs. I have been doing (non-prenatal) Pilates for quite some time, but eventually this DVD is not going to be conducive to my belly that is continuing to grow (this is the DVD I use, by the way, and I love it: 10 Minute Solution: Rapid Results Pilates).
So, I first checked out a library DVD to see what Yoga was all about. I have read many things that made me leery of trying yoga, specifically the spiritual aspect of it that makes me want to vomit, but I thought if I could find a video that stayed away from that and just focused on the poses, I could deal.
This first DVD I tried, Prenatal Yoga Complete, was hilarious. I knew I was in trouble when I saw a hyphenated name on the box. But wow, worst exercise video ever made. This lady wants to seriously show you how relaxed she is in everything she does, including the time it takes for her to formulate a sentence. Also, the props are just so time consuming to set up that I never actually get to any of the poses. I nixed this DVD pretty quickly.
The next DVD I tried was a gift from a friend. I actually just finished up just now, and I am much more pleased with the outcome. I was also nervous about the name of the trainer, Shiva Rea, because it just sounded made up to sound like she is an awesome yoga-gal. But, I guess the name is real- too bad for her.
Well, the video, Prenatal Yoga, is miles and away better than the aforementioned yoga video. Yes, I had to roll my eyes (I've been doing that a lot lately) at some of the comparisons she made between motherhood and yoga, but other than that I didn't feel over-spiritualized, and I felt like it was very practical in its approach. Something that was also great was that she had two other ladies doing the exercises with her, one in her 2nd trimester and one in her 3rd trimester. Rea exampled the first trimester while the other ladies modified their poses for the stage of pregnancy they were in. So, it is a DVD that I can continue with down to the last days.

Well, I can tell right now that it is going to take me a while before I will be ready to do the full 50 minutes, but I did about 25 minutes and my body can feel the activities in a good way. Here's to 27 more weeks of preparation.
Did you do yoga during pregnancy? Did you have a favorite DVD that you can recommend?

Bringing my baby into a materialistic world

2010-09-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

I finally got to sifting through the ~~junk~~ gifts I received at my last OB appointment. At my OB's office, every trimester you get a bag full of "goodies" most of which contains parenting magazine that I wouldn't listen to if they were the last advice-givers on earth. Every magazine had an article on how to be a "green" mom. Funny, I thought you were supposed to avoid being green during pregnancy. They also all had health and beauty secrets. You know I'm on a health kick, but wow are we American's way too into looking hot or what? I mean I'm pregnant! I'm hot all the time but not in the looks category, just in the temperature category.
I guess I can admit though that there was one interesting blurb in the one of the magazines. The magazine asked (not going to tell you which one because I don't want to promote them), "If money were no object, would you want to have more than 1 or 2 kids?"
First of all, the question struck me as odd as it functioned almost as a statement like: "Only financially responsible people of 1 or 2 children. If you were financially irresponsible, how many kids would you have?" I am of the opinion that money should have very little to do with how many children we should have (if you haven't figured that out yet).
But even more startling than the question itself was the answer: Less than 20% of women said they would indeed stick to 1 or 2 citing that they can't handle too many young children, while a whopping 55% of women said they would have 3-4 children, while 5 or more children took the rest of the pie. It saddens me that so many people choose money over children and that this choice is so culturally accepted today. Whatever happened to the idea that all the child needs is a loving father and mother? I am not trying to negate the effects of poverty on family and that there truly are times to stop having children. But I guarantee you that the people answering these polls in a middle-class pregnancy magazine do not fit the description of living in crippling poverty.
What motivates you from having children or not having them? How much money is not enough money to have children?

Mall-walking: naked, smelly, and embarrassing

2010-08-25T13:42:00.000-04:00

The temperature has been very pleasant these past few days, but the overcast skies makes me weary of going outside with a 20 month old. So, yesterday my solution was to walk around Ross Park Mall while pushing Noah in the stroller and then letting play at the play area in the center of the mall. Well, the plan went pretty well, except that my visit reminded me of why I despise going to the mall.
When you first enter the building you think, well the a/c is up a little too high, but at least I won't sweat. But as soon as you get closer and closer to the center you realize that your little excursion at the mall has become an opportunity for all sorts of folks to proselytize you to death. "Hey, Ladie, you like hand cream?" "Want a massage?" "What kind of facial scrub do you use?"
The worst part of the second-rate shops in the center of the mall that have no enclosed space is that no matter what you do, you feel rude by your response and they never leave you alone. I walked away this time not saying a thing, but that just makes me feel like a jerk. A human just asked me a question and I can't even be polite enough to say "No thank you." Well, actually I don't feel that bad, because when I have said, "no thank you" in the past, they just keep talking to me, even if I keep walking.
As I circle around the long hallways of Ross Park Mall, I see Abercrombie & Fitch on my right. I avert my eyes since the pictures in there are usually never wholesome. But even though I look away, I am accosted by the perfume wafting through the airways. I gag a little, roll my eyes, and walk as quickly as I can to oxygen.
As I continue on my walk through the mall, I am visually assaulted by all the basically-naked women on the Victoria Secret and Soma Intimates. I always have wondered why they feel the need to put naked pictures of women on their windows when a) I know what they are selling without the pictures b) women shop there, men are only forced to come in with their girlfriends. I know what I look like without my shirt on and it is nothing like that picture up on the wall and no bra is going to change that.
After vomiting a little in my mouth passing the underwear shops, my eyes begin a second roll as I have to encounter round two of hearing I should, "try our wigs" or "do I want to learn Spanish?" shops. Fortunately, two young ladies were right in front of me so they got the worst of it. They took an approach I had not seen before and simply mocked the employees, literally pointing and laughing. I felt like a jerk that I enjoyed their approach.
Finally after walking the entirety of the mall, Noah and I went to the play area where Noah had a fabulous time climbing on baby-sized bridges and going down slides. He made lots of friends, like always, and had a splendid time. So, I guess all the stress of walking the mall was worth it in the end. But, I don't know if I really want to go back. I am sure I will, but it is beyond me as to why certain shops at the mall use the tactics they use. When I am ready to buy something, I'll let you know. Otherwise, back off, turn your scent down, and cover up a little bit, would you?

Updates and Prayer Requests

2010-08-24T15:05:00.001-04:00

Well, I had a doctor's appointment earlier this afternoon for the newest baby. I am nearly 12 weeks along and 7 lbs. lighter than my appointment last month. I am happy about that just because I haven't been trying to lose weight and I haven't been sick, so my body has just taken the weight off naturally. It's about time my body started working for me instead of against me in the weight loss category.
The most exciting part of the appointment was when I was able to hear the baby's heart beat for the first time. The doctor said it sounded good. I was relieved to hear the heart beat. I have been fearful of the worst this pregnancy, so hearing heartbeat helps me to calm down a bit.
With this good news however, comes the some sad news. Brandon's Dad had to go to the hospital last night. We aren't sure what is going on right now with him, but please keep him in your prayers. His name is Paul and he is a believer. He is feeling fine right this very minute, but he had recently undergone surgery for prostate cancer, so hopefully his health problems last night have nothing to do with cancer. Thanks for your prayers in advance!

Protecting your daughter

2010-08-23T13:00:00.001-04:00

As my faithful readers know, I read both Cheaper By the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes this summer. The biographical stories recount a time in America where society was led by the Judeo-Christian moral laws even if the citizens themselves did not profess Christ. One such example that struck me as being so different in yesteryear versus today is the issue of modesty in female apparel. The older daughters in the book always complained about how strict their father was in how they could dress, particularly on the beach. They felt their outfits were dated and wished to wear the new suits and skirts so boys would notice them more.
I wonder today how many fathers even feel that their daughter's clothing choice falls under their umbrella of responsibility? I wonder how many professing Christian fathers just sweep this responsibility under the rug and hope that their daughter's immodesty issue will just go away?
In today's culture, bathing suits have become more revealing than underwear. Shirts show bellies and cleavage, shorts show booties, skirts show panties (if one is even wearing panties), and underwear has been made into decorative strings. How ironic is it that in a culture that claims to be so incredibly liberating for women, that these women on a daily basis now prostitute their sexuality for the whole world to see? Free to show my breasts, sure thing, but don't expect your male co-workers to be thinking about how liberated you are. They are more likely thinking...well, you know what they are thinking.
Teaching girls about modesty in apparel is something that should start at a young age. Mom should introduce the topic and Dad should lay down the law when Mom's suggestions are ignored. Modesty has different restrictions based on the culture, sure, but there are certain boundaries that ought not to be crossed in any culture. Children need to look to Mom and Dad to lead them on this path of Biblical and cultural modesty.
I am often shocked when I am on Facebook at what pictures young, Christian girls are putting up for the world to see. I am sad that their parents allowed them to wear the garment in the first place, but to then put it on the Internet for all the teenage boys to see? Not such a good idea.
I almost always do a facepalm when I see some of the youth at Church (not just my church, but everywhere I have gone) wearing outfits that will certainly distract the young (and older) Christian men in the service. Underwear should not be used as an accent to an outfit even if your bra straps are lime green.

Now, of course, the first response of someone being defensive would be to attack my clothing. Certainly I know that I fail at modesty at times. The Lord continues to push me and help me grow in this category of life. But my sin cannot be used to justify yours. We all need to peel the layer of lies away from our eyes and start to see the smut that our culture promotes. Bikinis are not appropriate attire for a Christian woman. Would you wear your Bikini to church? I didn't think so (of course I realize that a one piece suit would be inappropriate as well and just plain funny). Sisters in Christ, do not be fooled into thinking that the world's view of modesty is the same as our Lord and Savior's view. Younger sisters, put on some clothes. And if you are unsure if you have enough on, ask your parents and don't fight with them when they tell you need to add a layer. Mothers, don't give into whatever the stores sell. It is hard work, but you can find cute and modest apparel for your daughters. Fathers, be men and protect your daughters. Put your foot down even if that will make your daughter cry. She's worth every single one of those tears.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

Yes, yes, and yes

2010-08-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

The excuse for this is that to “reach” people, the churches must operate on this level, but this becomes suspect when it appears that nothing deeper is available in these congregations for those who have for many years been “reached.”

Read this: http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=17-04-013-v

The abolition of abortion

2010-08-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

Medallion created as part of anti-slavery campaign by Josiah Wedgwood, 1787

Last night, I watched Amazing Grace. I have seen this movie before, but I was just reminded last night how great a message this movie sends and how rare that message is in Hollywood today. Certainly the subject of slavery has been explored ad nauseam, but a Christian response to slavery is a rare movie indeed. Just the fact that the movie uses the name Christ in a positive way (as opposed to in a curse phrase) is so different than most movies being made today.
The movie focuses on the life of William Wilberforce, a British politician who fought for legislation to end the slave trade. Reading a bit about Wilberforce's life, I have found that the movie, like all movies, takes some liberties with his life story. However, what is true in the movie and real life is this: Wilberforce was an evangelical Christian who saw all men as being created in the image of God. He fought for the end of the slave trade because, unlike the vast majority of his constituents, he saw Africans as humans.
Every time I watch this movie, I cannot but help to see the connection between this issue and the issue today of abortion in America. Why does abortion occur today with such frequency and with such blind unawareness? Well certainly their a several reasons why, but the main reason in my opinion is the complete lack of belief in the truth that babies in a womb are also created in God's image, i.e. human, and not "just" an embryo. Life starts at conception and once destroyed, murder is committed.
All one has to do is look at the motivations behind the slave trade or abortion to know why there is no justifiable reason for either one of them. The slave trade was all about money. Free labor equals high profit margins. Similarly, abortion is motivated by lack of comfort and fear. Fear of being poor, of giving up one's life for 9 months for the one in her womb, selfishness on the father's part, etc. One cannot come up with a single righteous motivation for having an abortion. Before you even look at all the scientific information as to why abortion is evil, all one has to do is look at the heart as to why one would abort and then the rest is clear. Abortion is murder.
In the movie, in a strategic move to end the slave trade, Wilberforce and company sneakily pass legislation to make the slave trade unprofitable. Sadly, only until people's pocketbooks are hindered do they have a clear path to end the slave trade.
I can't help but wonder if we as Christians can glean some strategy from this movie. Until we take away or change the motivations for abortion to a system that is God honoring, we are not going to convince the other side in any powerful or substantial way. We can show people videos of what actually occurs during abortions, we can quote statistics, and argue with them in a logical way, but the heart is sinfully wicked. Perhaps we have to work with unregenerate hearts to make adoption the better option financially, physically, etc. Certainly the ideal way to go is that the unregenerate heart would know Christ, repent, and forgo an abortion, but for the rest of the world, we need to come up with creative solutions that will calm the fears of the faithless, honor God, and save those whom are perishing in the womb- the millions upon millions whom are perishing.
But since we have no creative solution as of yet, I ask those who are grappling with the idea of getting abortion this very day and those who perform those abortions, is the child in the womb not a man and not a brother? A baby in the womb is small and miniscule, indeed, but human nonetheless.

I haven't had much success in brainstorming what ending abortion in America would look like in a practical way for our society, especially considering who is in control of the government right now. I would love to hear any ideas you might have as to how we can change society in regards to abortion the way that Wilberforce changed Britain. General comments and questions, as always, are welcome here as well.

Noah at Ocracoke Island

2010-08-17T13:00:00.025-04:00

This past week we took our first family vacation since our honeymoon. We went to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We were able to stay with Brandon's best friend from high school since he is a park ranger at the beach. We had a great time and were very appreciative of his hospitality. We also were able to spend an evening coming and leaving with the Nugents since the drive is over 12 hours long. 12 hours in the car does not a happy baby make, so the Nugents were so kind to let us break up the trip at their abode in Virginia. Noah still talks about their little boy Thomas non-stop.

The beach was beautiful and Noah's love for the beach, primarily the ocean, was infectious. Usually Brandon is not a huge fan of the ocean, but I think that Noah's joy might have even helped Dad to get over his dislike for sunlight and sand. I love the beach, but I have even more love for it now that Noah loves it too!

We couldn't keep Noah away from the salt water. He loved the water crashing into his body and he loved playing in the sand. After our first encounter with the beach, Noah then began to notice all the wildlife on the beach, particularly the birds, and decided that he was going to chase them all the way down the coast. The third day at the beach Noah discovered the glory of seashells and decided they were indeed made to be thrown. A new discovery for every day!

We were planning on cooking and dining in at the island, but we quickly realized that this island is so very different than most American beaches and certainly most of the outer banks. Access to good food and really anything commercial was difficult to come across. There wasn't a real grocery store nor did we even see a gas station. You have to take a ferry in order to even get to the island, so I am sure importing goods their is expensive and limited. So, with little options, we choose to eat out at one of the few restaurants on the island. But boy, did we ever make the right choice. We went to Jason's the first night and had the pesto (I had it with shrimp and scallops and Brandon with chicken). Even Noah loved it! If you ever make a trip to Ocracoke, trust me and get the pesto. It was the best pesto I have ever had.

Sorry, dirty lens!

We had a grand time at Ocracoke Island. But now, we are exhausted. Vacationing while in the first trimester of a pregnancy and with an energetic 19 month old, plus driving non-stop does not exactly equate to relaxation. But, we are glad to have made the trip and make new memories with our son.

Do you remember your first vacation to the beach or your child's first vacation to the beach? Did they like the sand and water or did they cry the whole time?

No longer newly married

2010-08-16T13:00:00.006-04:00

After 5 years of marriage, the Lord has taught me many things about Himself, myself, and my spouse to me. The Lord has used marriage as a tool of sanctification in my life and I grateful for His refining fire. For many of you, 5 years of marriage may not seem like very long, for others 5 years may seem like a long time away (if not an eternity). But, I have grown up in these past five years, in my estimation for the better, and I am thankful for the maturity and the peeling away of the immaturity that were characteristic of my high school and undergraduate years.

The Good

Many good things have occurred in these past five years. Even thinking about all the good that has come from our marriage is an overwhelming thought and makes me realize that I would not even be able to list all the good here. Brandon found a profession that he enjoys and that God provides our needs through this profession. This was not the case at the beginning of our marriage. We both had to work and we both disliked the work. What a joy it is to have a husband who enjoys his occupation! What an undeserved blessing it is that I am able to stay at home with my son to raise him!

The Bad

Obviously the most difficult time in my life occurred those first five weeks of Noah's life. As always, God turned bad into good so really the outcome of this time should be in a different category. However, those 5 weeks were the longest and most difficult of our marriage. God protected us from Satan in that our marriage actually grew stronger through this trauma, but never have we cried such tears and felt so utterly helpless as a couple. Of course, Noah is the absolute best thing our marriage has produced. We are so blessed to have another baby in the womb as we speak.

The Ugly

Our first few fights in the marriage were not beautiful. Looking back at them now, they were laugh-out-loud funny, but at the time they were not funny. They were a the ridding of selfishness and pride of each party. Certainly we are still selfish and proud, but as they years roll by in marriage you learn to live with one another in an understanding way so that (at least in our case), the arguments never get to the shouting match level and in fact, almost disappear entirely.

The Lovely

God is molding me into a godly woman everyday. He is turning me into something that I never really wanted growing up, but now I desperately desire. He is turning me into a woman who loves my home (meaning the people in it) and who desires to live for her home. Working in the home is my first priority as a wife and mother. I could not say this in all honesty the first few years of marriage. But through much turmoil and stubbornness, God is bringing me into conformity with his will for my life. I still have a long way to go, but the process is just lovely.

Certainly this is not an exhaustive list of the good, bad, ugly, and lovely. But the good news is, the good and lovely list certainly outweigh the bad and ugly. May the Lord of Hosts be praised for his faithfulness to our marriage vows!

Our wedding anniversary, August 13th, was a day filled with joy and remembrance. How long have you been married and what are you most grateful for during this time of life?

Guess what?

2010-08-09T13:00:00.034-04:00

Guess What? Well, I've heard it explained several ways before. My husband would prefer to say that the pop secret is in the microwave. But I've heard it put in many ways: we're renting out the guest room, sardine and pickle purchases are in my near future, I've got a three month pass to the morning porcelain express, we're flipping the bird at the Chinese government. Or, more commonly, there's a bun in the oven or we're basting a turkey!!!

Man, it has been difficult keeping this secret from my readers. You are all so pushy, ya know, asking when the next one is on the way. Would you give a woman the chance to surprise you? But in all seriousness now, we are so pleased that the Lord has blessed us with another little one and I hope you will all join us in our prayers for this little one. Pray the this child would be of God's elect, that he/she would be healthy, that the Lord would bless us with a successful VBAC, and that he/she would be glorifying to God.

I have been feeling just fine so far, but very, very tired. Even more tired than with Noah. But, really I can't complain. Two pregnancies with morning sickness? Really? That's awesome. Thanks God!

Well, Brandon, Noah, Baby #2, and I are heading down to the Outer Banks today, so I'm not sure that a whole lot of blogging is going to happen this week. But when I come back, you better be ready to be inundated with baby talk!

Noah has fun with Sunshine

2010-08-06T15:00:00.000-04:00


(Annie and Noah)

This past week, the Hobbs stayed with us so Collin could attend and speak at a conference down town. Noah had a wonderful time with little Annie Sunshine even if he didn't always show it in the most appropriate of ways. When Noah would wake up, his immediate response was, "Baby! Baby!" He would run out and give Annie a big hug (which I'm not sure Annie really appreciated all the time) and then he proceeded to try to sit on her or do other various types of body slams. This is the way that boys show affection, at least my boy, but he hasn't quite learned yet that other tinier girls don't know how to reciprocate in that fashion.
One day, Kara and I took Annie and Noah to the park (we had a thrilling conversation about schooling) and Noah learned that Annie loves to swing too!

The next day, we took the kids to Soergel's. They have a little play area and petting zoo for kids. We discovered that they actually named the donkey Noah! However, our Noah was not a big fan of donkey Noah or any other animal. They seem so much safer in books and in cartoon-form, don't they? Little Annie, who is about half the size of Noah, however, loves the animals and had a fun time with the goats.


The Donkey's nameplate


Daddy trying to comfort Noah at the "scary" petting farm

We had many more adventures with our hobbit friends, including a yummy excursion to a Thai restaurant. We love to have house guests. Were much less boring people when we have to do stuff with others. If you are ever in need of coming to the Burgh', come stay with us. I make yummy Chicken Parmesan!

Stop making me pose, Mommy! I need to get back to my patients.

Busy cooking in the kitchen

2010-08-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

I like to try new recipes for guests. Wisdom would suggest that I try the recipe out once before I serve it to those who enter my home, but usually I am not very wise. Well, this past week it has served me to be a fool and to try two new recipes. One is a semi-original Pickett recipe and another one is out of a recipe book I checked out of the library. Hope you will try these and enjoy!

Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these when Sarah swung by to pay a visit to Noah and I. She wanted to go out for ice cream, but since it was only 10:30 in the morning I decided sweet, sugary muffins might be more appropriate for the time of day. I found a recipe in one of my wedding gift recipe books for blueberry muffins and decided that chocolate chips were a must-add. The recipe book I used, How To Cook Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Food, is an awesome resource and I would recommend it to anyone. The book really does cover how to cook just about anything.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons melted butter or a neutral oil ( I used veggie oil)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk, plus more if needed
1 cup blueberries
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin tin.
Mix dry ingredients in bowl and in a separate bowl beat the egg, milk, and butter/oil. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour wet ingredients into it. Use a large spoon to combine the ingredients quickly- folding rather than beating-batter will be moist but still lumpy (add a little more liquid if dry, should be moist).
Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling them two-thirds full. Bake 20-30 minutes (mine only needed 22 minutes). Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before removing from tin. Serve warm.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake (serves 10-12)

Kara, Collin, and Annie Sunshine are staying with us this week. They needed to come to Pittsburgh for a conference, so we were more than happy to have them into our home. I decided that I would test out a new recipe on them for after dinner since it is too big to make for just the Pickett household. We all enjoyed it and although I did not make it to perfection, I can now see my errors and am confident that the next time I make it, this pound cake will be even more delicious. There is absolutely nothing original about this recipe from my side. I took it from Southern Living: 40 Years of Our Best Recipes: Over 250 Great-Tasting, Tried-and-True Southern Recipes

Ingredients:

1.5 cups butter, softened

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

3 cups sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just as yellow disappears.

Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at a low speed until blended. Stir in vanilla. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 10-inch bundt or tube pan.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Cool in pan for 15 minutes and then cool completely on a wire rack.

Summer memories

2010-07-30T15:15:00.001-04:00

Noah likes to tackle people. Unfortunately, Mom and Dad are about 3 times his size and he doesn't have brothers or sisters yet, so he doesn't get his need to tackle out on a consistent basis.

Well, when cousin Nolan and Evan came to have lunch at Eat N' Park with us this past weekend, his need for full body contact were fulfilled for the day.

Noah's Mia and Papa as well as his Aunt Andrea and cousin Allie also enjoyed watching the boys demolish one another.

You know it's serious when Noah takes his shoe off

We were sad our time with Noah's cousins was so short, but we were happy to see them again. Hopefully next time we will have a whole camera full of body slams.


(R to L: Evan, Noah, Nolan, Allie)

I put this image as our desktop background, and now Noah won't leave me alone when I am on the computer. He keeps asking me to see his cousin Onan which means Nolan. I am glad he doesn't really have a cousin named Onan. He also says Allie quite well, while Evan's name is a work in progress. Last night, Noah's Mia called Brandon, and Noah exclaimed, "Hi my mia, Hi mamma mia!" I will be sad when Noah stops talking like a baby, because he just says the funniest things right now.

Trading in the three R's for Sproul's three G's (This title only makes sense if you read the book)

2010-07-29T16:06:00.002-04:00

A dear friend of mine is a homeschooler and passed on a book to me about homeschooling this past Sunday. I read it very quickly as it is subject of supreme interest to me. Brandon and I have been discussing how we would educate Noah before he was even born. Sure, we have some time to figure this out still, but time flies and we do not take his education lightly.
Brandon and I were both public schooled. So, we don't have any real personal insight into how Christian school or homeschooling might be better or worse for Noah. I personally received a great education from my public school, but certainly it was a secular education.
What we want most is what is most glorifying to God and most beneficial to Noah's soul and mind. We aren't sold that public school is the answer, but neither are we sold on Christian schooling or homeschooling.
In R.C. Sproul Jr.'s book, When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling, homeschooling is put in a light that I have not seen any of my Pastors or Elders hold homeschooling to. Sproul's argument is that in order to be faithful to scripture and God's commands to Christian parents, one is obligated to homeschool his children. I know a lot of godly people and a lot of homeschoolers, but I have never heard someone put so bluntly that sending your child to public or Christian school was abdicating your responsibility as a parent. Sproul continues to argue that it is no one's place other than a parent's to educate their children. Sproul uses Deuteronomy 6 as his primary source as to why we are to homeschool as opposed to any other form of schooling. Specifically verse 6 of chapter 6 is his main focus: You shall teach them [commandments] diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
While I appreciate Sproul's vigor in making his arguments and agreed with many his points about schooling, I did not agree with his overall thesis. The first point he argues, that character is more important than knowledge is one that I can concur. I would much rather my son go to heaven than be smart. I think deep down inside we all feel this way, even if we are not living this way. But his second, more strongly stated point, that homeschooling is the only way of obeying God in educating children, goes a little off the deep end for me. Sproul is so enthused about his belief in homeschooling, that he argues that if you are a parent that entitles you to the ability to teach your children; that if you don't understand a subject area, skip it because it's not that important; and (by way of a personal example) if a child is unable to read by the age of 9 it's not a sign of failure if he/she shows signs of godliness.
Again, I agree with Sproul that godliness is more important to cultivate than book intelligence, but how is outsourcing my children to others wrong when I am obviously failing my child in head knowledge and others are better equipped to handle this work?
I do give Sproul props for addressing most people's issues with homeschooling. He doesn't avoid the common questions of socialization issues and the burden of homeschooling. However, I don't agree with all of his answers. Sproul addresses the question of, "what about the poor? Don't they need access to free education?" Sproul's answer is no, that even in tough situations and parents without proper education themselves, they are still called to educate their own children. I think this is a ridiculous answer and a short-sighted answer. If Mom and Dad are illiterate (assuming there is a mom AND a dad), how are they going to be capable of teaching their children. What about mental health issues present in parents? What about single moms who work 60 hours a week? I know I sound like a liberal asking the specific regarding a general statement, but I found no wiggle room in Sproul's book. To Sproul, homeschooling equals obeying God and all other forms of education fall short of honoring God.
Sproul Jr. and I agree that God does command me to educate Noah about God. That in all I do and say around Noah, I should be educating my son about God. However, I am not so much convinced that word of God is compelling me to teach my son about calculus because frankly, I know nothing about calculus (sorry Dr. Saunders!). If Noah, however, excels in math, why would I just "skip that subject?" Isn't my ignorance hindering Noah's calling from God to be a mathematician (whether or not that his call who knows)? Many of my homeschooling friends do co-ops or will bring in tutors to cover subjects that they are unable to teach. I do not see a difference in this and sending them to a Christian school (or even many public schools).
I would recommend Sproul Jr.'s book to you because it is written from a perspective that I have heard few utter before. I also suspect that many homeschooling parents feel the same way Sproul does, they just don't have the audacity to say it aloud or, more permanently, write it in ink. Perhaps one day I feel differently about this book, maybe after making schooling decisions for Noah I will be more like Sproul, but on this day, I stand in disagreement with his conclusions. This, however, does not mean that Brandon and I will not homeschool. We very well may. When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling just brings us no closer or farther away from our decision.

How do you feel about homeschooling? What has informed your decisions on how to educate your children?

Excuses, excuses

2010-07-28T13:00:00.004-04:00

I have been away from my blog for a while, but for good reason. No really, I promise. I have been keeping very busy this summer and have not had the free time I had during the school year when Brandon was teaching and Noah was napping. For one, we have been keeping busy with home improvement projects.
When we purchased our new house, we knew we were going to have to do a few updates. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of spare income right now, so we have been doing a lot of research online to see which jobs we feel confident in tackling ourselves. As anyone who has visited our home (and your all invited by the way, so give me a call some time if you want to join us for dinner sometime) knows that our bathroom is wee bit tiny and a whoa bit dated. Fifties plastic green tile with an avocado green accent-colored sink, toilet, and tub are not exactly "in" right now and I would be shocked if they ever made a come back. Here is what our bathroom used to look like:


This picture is actually much pretty than what it looks like in person.

Now, we don't have the extra money to fix everything at once, so we have been patiently fixing in stages. The toilet was the first thing to go as the 55 year-old toilet wasn't cutting it for #2 situations. We got a new water-efficient toilet and had plumbers do the installation within a month of moving in. It is the best toilet I've ever used.

Then Brandon pulled down the wall paper, just to find that underneath this hideous paper was the same paint color to match the sink and toilet. We were planning on repainting anyhow, but it is just a little disheartening when you pull paper down just to find something uglier.


AHHHH!!!

Then, much to Brandon's chagrin, I had the lovely idea of taking down the plastic tile. Much of it was coming off anyway, so I thought I would just speed up the process. This was the most time intensive part. The tile came up very easily, however, the adhesive behind the tile was a pain in the #2-making place to remove. Then once all the adhesive was taken off, we had to smooth with two coats of joint compound and then sand. Good grief, what did we get ourselves into?

When we removed the disgusting sink to removed the tile behind it, we found that indeed the sink was disgusting (50+ years of water damage), so we went out to Home Depot and purchased a new little sink for our little bathroom. We looked at pedestal sinks, but found this one to be quite petite, which suited our needs, but with the bonus of more storage space.

So, after we salvaged the walls from their ugly green tile identity, we primed (and by we I mean Brandon), and painted the walls the same color we picked for the majority of our home "wool skein" from Sherwin Williams in a satin finish. We prefer satin because as renters for most of our married life, we came to despise the easily-ruined flat paint and the overly-fluorescent glosses. Satin-type paints are like Goldy locks, "just right."
We chose not to take the tile down in the tub as we want to replace the tile, but feel we will need to hire someone to do so and wish not to spend that money this year. The floor will also remain as-is right now, but it is also something we would like to swap out in the next year or two. But for now, I would say we have made huge strides in making our bathroom a thing of beauty. Well, at least I don't feel an overwhelming urge to puke every time I walk in.

At times Brandon and I felt overwhelmed at finishing this project (we actually had some help from the Sellman's with the sink). Have you ever tackled any home improvement jobs that you thought you weren't capable of finishing? Did you ever screw up and ruin something before you actually fixed it?