Spring, Spring, Wherefore art thou Spring?

After enjoying 60 and 70 degree weather last week, we woke to snow on the ground Sunday morning. Snow. In late March. Winter seems to be dragging its feet as it makes its way out of the Holler. Hasten, Spring!

In other more exciting news, someone went shopping with Daddy and bought new shoes, which he really likes.

The Dash

With the price of diesel near $4 per gallon, I've begun thinking about following in Seth's footsteps and hypermiling. The operative word is thinking. I won't actually do any hypermiling because I'm chronically late to things and therefore need to drive fast and also because I enjoy the coolness the air conditioning brings and the warmth the heater brings far too much.

Seth, on the other hand, continues his quest to get the best mileage possible from his car. This means, in part, that he drives more slowly than others (ahem) think he should and that he doesn't use the heater or the air conditioner (unless he has a passenger that demands he turn it on because she (or he) refuses to be uncomfortable). Because he doesn't use the A/C and because he drives with the windows up (to cut down on air resistance) at all times, he basically swelters during his summer-time drives.

This is his solution to reducing the amount of heat captured by the inside of his car -- a white dash cover to keep the black dashboard from absorbing heat.

Last summer, he carefully made plans to make his dash cover. He went to the junkyard and pulled a dashboard off an old VW, brought it home, covered it with gauze, and spray painted it white with some type of rubbery stuff. Once it dried, he carefully cut out all the parts that needed to be cut out. Since this took much longer than he anticipated and it was winter before he had it finished, it was only a few days ago, when the temperatures began to climb again, that he installed his dash cover. He says he has a few modifications to make to it (apparently it's a bit too reflective), but that it seems to be helping to prevent heat stroke.

Can you say obsessed? I can. And do, quite frequently. But, as he wrote to a fellow VW fan who was interested in how he gets such good mileage, "Wife thinks I'm nuts. I'm OK with that. Everyone needs a hobby."

All is well

It comes as no surprise to some of you to hear me admit (again) that I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. For whatever reason, it makes more sense for me to imagine the worst so that when I find out what's actually wrong (or not wrong), it doesn't seem so bad. That headaches I had during early pregnancy? It was preeclampsia until I started drinking more water and realized I was probably just dehydrated.

We had another ultrasound on Baby Boy (still nameless) last Wednesday to check the status of his kidney and found out that it had continued to enlarge. The OB scheduled an appointment for us at a hospital that has a fetal care center for a more detailed look at his kidneys et al. That appointment was last Friday. While driving there, the thoughts running through my head were along the lines of, "Once I get there, they'll take a look and will need to do an emergency C-section because whatever is going on is so serious that he needs to be delivered today."

And once we got there and the ultrasound tech took a look, followed by the doctor on-call, sure enough, they told us that while the kidney is dilated, it was nothing to be concerned about. It happens quite frequently and he probably just has a bit of kidney reflux, which is apparently common in baby boys. (Kieran also has kidney reflux, but his is related to WS.) And so, once again, all is well.

Chasing Chickens

Spring is finally here. I can feel it. I can smell it. I can hear it. I can see it. I would say I can taste it, but I can't, and that would just be silly.



 The past few mornings, we've been enjoying brief jaunts outside in the warmer weather.

The chickens are also enjoying wandering around the yard, fighting over bugs and grass and whatever else they find to eat in the Holler . . .

 . . . and being chased by Kieran, who thinks they're funny and wants to follow them wherever they go.

 The flowers are also finally starting to raise their heads to the sun,

and perk up the drab landscape with brilliant color.

Welcome, Spring.

Christie's word of the day: rubicund

Agatha Christie used rubicund to describe a man Miss Marple met on her vacation:

Miss Prescott was a thin severe-looking woman, the Canon was a round, rubicund man, breathing geniality. (A Caribbean Mystery, Agatha Christie)

I'm using rubicund to describe the situation with my face:

Although the Proactiv seems to be helping my face better deal with the horomones coursing through my body thanks to the son I'm carrying, it also seems to have added a bit of rubicundity to my countenance.

A Prayer for Japan

I may not agree with John Piper's "Christian hedonism" philosophy, but I do appreciate his teaching on God's sovereignty and glory. I was especially moved by this prayer for Japan that he wrote:

Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.

O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.

And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.


Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.


Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.

May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures’ pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.

In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.

Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.

And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.

O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.

In Jesus’ merciful name, Amen.

Great-Grace

One of the characters that Christian encounters in his pilgrimage is Little-Faith, who is robbed of his money by Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt. The commentary on Little-Faith in the curriculum I worked on reads, in part:

Christians frequently talk of the woundings and beatings they receive from their lot in life. It's the bad things that seem to make for lengthy conversations around the dinner table. Yet frequently these gloomy discussions are simply the symptoms of losing spiritual comfort, peace, and assurance because of little faith. The three brothers [Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt] are constantly at our shoulder, whispering in our ear. Faint-Heartedness usually comes by either sinful conduct or negligence of the promises of God. Mistrust is sure to follow and ultimately Guilt beats us down.

In the book, Little-Faith is saved from the robbers by the appearance of Great-Grace, the King's Champion. I was reminded of Great-Grace the other day after I watched this video of Jacob, a teen with Williams syndrome, who was featured as the "outstanding male student athlete" at his high school.

I found the video inspiring and encouraging that children with disabilities can enjoy and thrive in sports (and was actually very impressed that Jacob seemed to be bowling strikes and spares -- I'm not sure I can even hit the pins). However, the encouragement was tempered by the fact that Jacob (from what I gather) attends a school for those with disabilities. A quick reminder that we're not on the path of typically-developing children. And I found myself headed down the road behind Little-Faith. This isn't where I want to be. This isn't the future I want for Kieran. This isn't the path I want to be on. This isn't what I want to deal with. This isn't what I . . . .

Thankfully, before I could continue too far down the path and get pummeled too much more by Faint-Heart, Great-Grace stepped in and gently prodded my eyes upward, reminding me that God's grace is truly sufficient -- for the moment, for the day, for the future. And His peace passes understanding.

We may not be on the path that I want us to be on, but we're on the path that God, in His sovereignty, has placed us on. And because He's led us here, He'll give us the grace and mercy we need for every step of the way. Truly, great is the grace of our Lord.

Rainy day fun

This is what we find to do on rainy days in the Holler . . .

Open Letter to My Face

Dear Face,

We've been together for quite some time now--pretty much from the beginning, I'd say. And we've always gotten along rather well, I like to think. Sure, there's the whole "I don't like my nose" thing. And, sure, there were the occasional rather blistering sunburns during our formative teen years. But, on the whole, I've taken pretty good care of you--I wash you, I put lotion on you, I (now) use SPF when we go outside, I don't slather you with heavy make-up . . . .

So why-oh-why have you been acting up these past few months? You're making it so that I'm embarassed to be seen with you in public. When I asked our OB what was up with you, she nodded wisely and said, "You're having a boy, aren't you?" Really? All of this because of a boy? What is it with you and boys? Are you really that upset that another male is joining the household?

I've tried everything I can think of --short of a transplant -- to make you calm down. And, since the doctor recommended using products with benzoyl peroxide, my last resort -- in the form of Proactiv -- was delivered today. If this doesn't work to clear you up, I'm seriously considering the transplant option. Don't think I won't do it.

We only have 10 weeks left with this pregnancy -- do you think you could calm down for the next 70 days? Pretty please?

Love,
The Brain Behind the Face

Jump In

It's been raining quite a bit these past few days, and while that's good for the cistern, it's made us (read: me) feel a bit like the chickens: cooped up.

And so today, we ventured out in the downpour to a nearby place called Jump In. Both of his First Steps therapists had recommended it, so I've been wanting to stop in and see what it was like.

It wasn't really like I had pictured it to be--it's basically bouncy castle overload.

 There was a small area for children under six to play it, and Kieran stayed mostly in this area.

 He enjoyed the bounciness of it all.

And had fun exploring the "barnyard" area.

We spent about 50 minutes there and that seemed to be enough for him. It was a nice break from the same four walls we've been looking at this past week.

The R-Word

When Kieran was diagnosed with Williams syndrome, we read a lot of literature that used the phrases learning disabilities, cognitive delays, and intellectual disabilities. In years past, the phrase mental retardation was used to describe those with Williams syndrome and the like.

Yesterday (March 2), was the national Spread the Word to End the Word day--a day dedicated to raising awareness about the use of the word retard in all of its various forms. I appreciate the fact that the addage "words can never hurt me" is not true, and that words do have the power to inflict pain. And I appreciate the desire to raise awareness about the harm just one word, when used pejoratively, can do. However, it seems to me that eradicating a word from a nation's vocabulary isn't necessarily the answer.

Those truculent bullies who currently use the r-word to demean others will simply find another word with which to tease and taunt, will they not? Soon enough, I would surmise, learning disability will become the new r-word and those in the know will come up with yet another euphemism to describe those with mental handicaps. And what sense does it make for a teacher to reprimand a student for using a word that is "dehumanizing" and then turn around and teach that same student that, within the evolutionary worldview, we're nothing more than animals descended from ape-like creatures?

Instead, I would suggest the focus should be on teaching that each individual--regardless of mental capacity, skin color, or  gender--is an image-bearer of the Creator. God has created everyone fearfully and wonderfully and with the purpose of bringing glory to Himself. We do not share an ancestor with apes, nor are some people more "highly evolved" than others. And, in His Word, the Creator has shown us through His Son that we are to be kind to one another, speaking to and about each other with gentleness, helping those who are weaker than ourselves. We can encourage people to understand that each of us is in the same position before our Creator--sinners in need of salvation. When we receive the gift of eternal life in Christ, we are transformed inwardly through the power of the Holy Spirit into the image of the Son of God.

While there's a certain dagger that runs through my heart when I hear someone carelessly use the r-word, it seems to me that discontinuing a word isn't necessarily the answer but that reminding people of what the Word teaches is.