Today's Bible story in chapel was the beginning of Numbers, where God told Moses to take a census of the Israelites. Who was to be counted? Not everyone. Only the males over age 20.
Why? They would be the soldiers, the army.
Pastor asked the kids, "But why only the males?"
After a few answers that were partly true, but not quite to the point, Pastor led them to the key point. "It's about Jesus, folks."
Men protect and guard women. The husband lays down his life for his bride. Real men sacrifice for their families instead of thinking first of themselves. This is what Jesus did for His bride the Church. And pointing to this truth about Jesus, God instructed that the Israelite army would be the men.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Mind-Boggling Costs
Maybe I should quit reading this book.
Once upon a time, the insurance salesman was pressing upon Gary and me the importance of planning ahead for the children's college educations. We had to put money aside. College is expensive and getting more expensive. We have to prepare when they're little.
We told him that our financial situation didn't allow it. He still pushed. We said we could put money aside for their college, but that would mean not feeding the munchkins. Don't feed a kid for 16-18 years, and ... you know what? You wouldn't have to pay for college because the kid would've starved to death by then.
Seriously, some financial planners don't seem to understand the financial situation some regular folks are in. (Or maybe we weren't regular folks. Maybe we were really very poor ... and merely passing as middle-class.)
So this book I'm reading talks about making a life-plan for your special-needs child. The author makes some great points. But some parts leave me scratching my head. For example: job-coaching. If your kid needs a job-coach, it may cost $1000-2000 for an evaluation and initial help. Then it would probably run you $50/hour. And the job-coach should be alongside the person the whole time he's working for the first several weeks, then weaning off contact slowly over the course of a few months. Do the math: we're talking about an $8000-10,000 pricetag for someone to help a young adult learn job skills at a half-time fast-food job that pays minimum wage. Hey, I think it would be great to provide that opportunity. But who's got that kind of money?
Similarly, the author talks about the importance of living independently. (Now, his version of "living independently" might be in a group-home, or in an apartment with a full-time care-giver. It's just important, says he, that the special-needs person NOT live with parents.) Here too, he makes some good points -- particularly when he says that a child may outlive the parents and will then have to face independent living during a time of mourning and other upheaval. But the price-tag here too is eye-popping. He's talking about $35,000--50,000 per year for room and board. For one person!
Several chapters into the book, I cut to the last page. In the conclusion, the author admits, "It is not easy, and for some, limited by economic circumstances and insolvable constraints, their hopes and dreams for their child may not be possible."
Exactly.
So do I keep reading, in hopes of finding a few helpful tidbits?
Also, I had to laugh at the section where he's talking about how to choose a good financial planner. It's really important that we find someone who can give a good estimate of investment returns because, oh, y'know, regular folks like us can't figure that out very well.
Far as I can see, over the last 10-15 years, no financial planner has done a very good job finding high-returning investments. Loads of people were assured returns of 10%, or even 15-25% annually, and are now getting returns of 1-4%.
So if we can't provide for ourselves, much less continue to provide for our children after our deaths, I guess maybe, just maybe, we'll be reduced [gasp!] to praying, "Give us this day our daily bread." In our home, we haven't gone hungry yet, and objectively there's no way we should still be afloat financially. God has provided. Remember when the Lord Jesus took those five loaves and two fish and fed thousands? Yeah, He still does stuff like that.
Once upon a time, the insurance salesman was pressing upon Gary and me the importance of planning ahead for the children's college educations. We had to put money aside. College is expensive and getting more expensive. We have to prepare when they're little.
We told him that our financial situation didn't allow it. He still pushed. We said we could put money aside for their college, but that would mean not feeding the munchkins. Don't feed a kid for 16-18 years, and ... you know what? You wouldn't have to pay for college because the kid would've starved to death by then.
Seriously, some financial planners don't seem to understand the financial situation some regular folks are in. (Or maybe we weren't regular folks. Maybe we were really very poor ... and merely passing as middle-class.)
So this book I'm reading talks about making a life-plan for your special-needs child. The author makes some great points. But some parts leave me scratching my head. For example: job-coaching. If your kid needs a job-coach, it may cost $1000-2000 for an evaluation and initial help. Then it would probably run you $50/hour. And the job-coach should be alongside the person the whole time he's working for the first several weeks, then weaning off contact slowly over the course of a few months. Do the math: we're talking about an $8000-10,000 pricetag for someone to help a young adult learn job skills at a half-time fast-food job that pays minimum wage. Hey, I think it would be great to provide that opportunity. But who's got that kind of money?
Similarly, the author talks about the importance of living independently. (Now, his version of "living independently" might be in a group-home, or in an apartment with a full-time care-giver. It's just important, says he, that the special-needs person NOT live with parents.) Here too, he makes some good points -- particularly when he says that a child may outlive the parents and will then have to face independent living during a time of mourning and other upheaval. But the price-tag here too is eye-popping. He's talking about $35,000--50,000 per year for room and board. For one person!
Several chapters into the book, I cut to the last page. In the conclusion, the author admits, "It is not easy, and for some, limited by economic circumstances and insolvable constraints, their hopes and dreams for their child may not be possible."
Exactly.
So do I keep reading, in hopes of finding a few helpful tidbits?
Also, I had to laugh at the section where he's talking about how to choose a good financial planner. It's really important that we find someone who can give a good estimate of investment returns because, oh, y'know, regular folks like us can't figure that out very well.
Far as I can see, over the last 10-15 years, no financial planner has done a very good job finding high-returning investments. Loads of people were assured returns of 10%, or even 15-25% annually, and are now getting returns of 1-4%.
So if we can't provide for ourselves, much less continue to provide for our children after our deaths, I guess maybe, just maybe, we'll be reduced [gasp!] to praying, "Give us this day our daily bread." In our home, we haven't gone hungry yet, and objectively there's no way we should still be afloat financially. God has provided. Remember when the Lord Jesus took those five loaves and two fish and fed thousands? Yeah, He still does stuff like that.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Toward the End of Summer
 |
| Now, THIS is the way to do schoolwork! (Although her chair was in the shade, mine was in the sunshine.) |
 | ||
| But, ... but, ... but ... hostas and sedum aren't supposed to be blooming anywhere close to the same time. They should bloom two months apart. This is SOME weird weather. |
PS: In case anyone cares [Cheryl] this is blogpost #4000.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Defined by Your Job?
A job is a significant part of our lives. It is where we spend most of our waking hours. It is a place where we meet people and form cooperative relationships. It is a place where we can be part of a team, working with others for a common purpose. It is a place where we form friendships and social networks. It is an opportunity, hopefully, to identify with a respected organization and its contribution to the community. Many of us define ourselves by our careers. A job or career is a source of self-esteem, extrinsic and intrinsic reward, and independence. A job is the most visible and definitive way one take his or her rightful place in the community.
The Complete Guide to Creatinga Special Needs Life Plan, p 109by Hal Wright
So much of this assertion is true.
And yet, I find it disturbing that JOB (not family and not what happens at church) is taken for granted as what defines us. No wonder stay-at-home moms have "no worth" in the eyes of American society.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Dementia or Delirium?
Delirium -- similar to dementia, but worse, and starts in a day or so instead of worsening over the course of weeks, months, or years. May include hallucinations, agitation, severe confusion, dizziness and falling.
So come to find out, urinary tract infections are often misdiagnosed in the elderly. Often the typical UTI symptoms are non-existent in the elderly or those with Parkinsons. It's important for family and care-givers to recognize that "sudden-onset dementia" may be a sign of UTI. Of course, it may be something else, and it's always important to figure out. But UTI is one of those things that doesn't quickly come to mind as an explanation for Grandpa's sudden and severe confusion.
So come to find out, urinary tract infections are often misdiagnosed in the elderly. Often the typical UTI symptoms are non-existent in the elderly or those with Parkinsons. It's important for family and care-givers to recognize that "sudden-onset dementia" may be a sign of UTI. Of course, it may be something else, and it's always important to figure out. But UTI is one of those things that doesn't quickly come to mind as an explanation for Grandpa's sudden and severe confusion.
Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Pictures of the Grown-Ups Around Here
Rachel has an
Philip knew there would be a surprised and happy face, so he asked me to make sure to bring the camera to capture The Look. (Most of the photos didn't turn out. Too much blurring from the jumping up and down and squealing.)
I'm now at 18 weeks of hair growth. My hair is long enough now to usually look like
a) a 7-yr-old boy's "rooster look" or
b) a mohawk
Therefore, it is usually hidden.
Today it curled fairly nicely. Except for those blasted "Sally Brown flips" over my ears. If my hair would do this most of the time, I think I could give up on the babushkas and hats.
A friend was taking pictures of other people at church, when Gary butted in and heckled her to snap one of him. Man, it turned out nice!
Sunday, September 07, 2014
The Child's Tale
Plumbing leak in the basement.
Very much like July's water problem which turned out to be a plugged line. Probably something flushed that ought not to have been flushed.
After calling the plumber, Maggie and I were discussing the situation in front of the grandkids. Alia (age 5) began asking questions. "Would this happen if piggies were in the toilet?"
"Excuse me? Pigs in the toilet?"
"Toy piggies, Nanna."
"How would toy pigs get into the toilet?"
"Well, one day I was playing in the bathroom. And I was tossing the toy pigs around. They flew through the air and landed in the toilet."
"Alia, if anything EVER goes in the toilet, it would be very helpful if you told us, so we could get it out and not pay the plumber a LOT of money to fix it."
"But I had to go potty. So I did."
"Well, that's good. But do you know how important it is that toys NOT go down the toilet? It is SO important that I would stick my hand into the toilet (even with poop or pee in the toilet) to get the toys out. Because it's very very hard to clean up the mess from a plugged toilet. And it's very expensive."
"But I forgot and I flushed."
"I understand. You didn't know that we shouldn't flush toys. But now you do."
So I thought that was the explanation for our plumbing problems. However ...
a little later,
still before the plumber had arrived,
Alia began to explain the mouse problem.
She had noticed the holes in the wall where the plumbing pipes came through. Apparently, they seemed too big to her, or she had never noticed such a thing before. Whatever the reason, she was convinced these were mouse holes.
"Alia, we don't have mice inside. Those aren't mouse holes. Those are holes for the pipes."
"No, they are mouse holes. You do have mice. I see them sometimes. When I open the cupboard doors, sometimes there are mice in there, looking back at me. YOU don't see it, Nanna. This always happens when you're not there."
[Suspicious story, eh?]
"Alia, we don't have mice inside."
"Nanna! They are in the pipes! That's why you don't see them."
"IN the pipes? Alia, mice cannot get into the pipes."
[sigh] "Yes, they can, Nanna. I know these things! When I see the mice in the cupboards, I look at their faces. There are mice whose faces are hungry-looking. And there are mice whose faces are thirsty-looking. And I can tell the difference! The ones that are thirsty-looking are the ones who get into your pipes. They want a drink of water, Nanna. And then they chew holes in your pipes. That's why there's water leaking out of your pipes."
Riiiiight.
Too bad I know nothing about mice.
I managed not to laugh at the child.
But as I was telling her mother the story? Yeah, we both had a good laugh.
Thing is, after the mice story, I don't put much stock in the pigs-in-the-toilet story either.
And from what the plumber said, the pigs-in-the-toilet story sounds pretty unlikely too. Pigs-in-the-toilet would be a comparatively simple, easy, cheap repair.
Very much like July's water problem which turned out to be a plugged line. Probably something flushed that ought not to have been flushed.
After calling the plumber, Maggie and I were discussing the situation in front of the grandkids. Alia (age 5) began asking questions. "Would this happen if piggies were in the toilet?"
"Excuse me? Pigs in the toilet?"
"Toy piggies, Nanna."
"How would toy pigs get into the toilet?"
"Well, one day I was playing in the bathroom. And I was tossing the toy pigs around. They flew through the air and landed in the toilet."
"Alia, if anything EVER goes in the toilet, it would be very helpful if you told us, so we could get it out and not pay the plumber a LOT of money to fix it."
"But I had to go potty. So I did."
"Well, that's good. But do you know how important it is that toys NOT go down the toilet? It is SO important that I would stick my hand into the toilet (even with poop or pee in the toilet) to get the toys out. Because it's very very hard to clean up the mess from a plugged toilet. And it's very expensive."
"But I forgot and I flushed."
"I understand. You didn't know that we shouldn't flush toys. But now you do."
So I thought that was the explanation for our plumbing problems. However ...
a little later,
still before the plumber had arrived,
Alia began to explain the mouse problem.
She had noticed the holes in the wall where the plumbing pipes came through. Apparently, they seemed too big to her, or she had never noticed such a thing before. Whatever the reason, she was convinced these were mouse holes.
"Alia, we don't have mice inside. Those aren't mouse holes. Those are holes for the pipes."
"No, they are mouse holes. You do have mice. I see them sometimes. When I open the cupboard doors, sometimes there are mice in there, looking back at me. YOU don't see it, Nanna. This always happens when you're not there."
[Suspicious story, eh?]
"Alia, we don't have mice inside."
"Nanna! They are in the pipes! That's why you don't see them."
"IN the pipes? Alia, mice cannot get into the pipes."
[sigh] "Yes, they can, Nanna. I know these things! When I see the mice in the cupboards, I look at their faces. There are mice whose faces are hungry-looking. And there are mice whose faces are thirsty-looking. And I can tell the difference! The ones that are thirsty-looking are the ones who get into your pipes. They want a drink of water, Nanna. And then they chew holes in your pipes. That's why there's water leaking out of your pipes."
Riiiiight.
Too bad I know nothing about mice.
I managed not to laugh at the child.
But as I was telling her mother the story? Yeah, we both had a good laugh.
Thing is, after the mice story, I don't put much stock in the pigs-in-the-toilet story either.
And from what the plumber said, the pigs-in-the-toilet story sounds pretty unlikely too. Pigs-in-the-toilet would be a comparatively simple, easy, cheap repair.
Saturday, September 06, 2014
Recent Events
Desiring to be free of care&upkeep on the deck, we got a bid on a patio instead. Even with Gary doing all the work to dismantle the deck, the bid was eye-popping. So it's time to wash and seal the deck. The weather has not been cooperating: too much rain. Because we must utilize the days when there's no rain forecast, Gary finally consented to allow me to do some of the painting. He is building the deck's fence on his own, though.
Because both our workplaces were closed for Labor Day, we took the opportunity to visit our parents. Drove there one day, visited his dad, drove to my mom's, visited there, and returned the next day.
This week was also our chance to use free tickets to see a Cardinals/Brewers game. I couldn't deny my Cardinal fan the chance to attend the game. We only stayed for part of it, though. I am pokey. And Gary didn't want me getting run over as people exited at the end of the game.
Choir started again this week.
We've been trying to reestablish school routine for Maggie, including her return to Curves. (I'm not ready for that yet.)
Abundant rains have meant more lawn-mowing than usual. Gary has not allowed me to help with that yet.
This weekend we are attending an "ends-in-zero" birthday party of a dear friend. While in that part of town, we will finally (after 3 months!) get the chance to see Rachel and Matt's apartment.
Our plumbing/septic failed. Plumber was here and could not fix the problem. We can take water in, but it has to be carried out of the house. No toilets. The plumber said we wouldn't have to go to a hotel -- implying that any sane person would. I hope this can be repaired Monday ... and not Friday or the following week or whatever. When the repairs are done, that's when we get to clean up sewer-water and sanitize toys and floors and walls and bathtub and shower. Ick.
And next week I extend my "mini-days" (4-hour shifts) at work to "shortened days" (that is, 7-hour shifts).
I was supposed to talk to the library's volunteer coordinator next week about setting up some opportunities for Maggie. Lack of plumbing, though, puts volunteering-arrangements on the back burner. Top priority is being available to the repairmen.
I haven't baked bread in a couple of weeks.
I have done no house-cleaning.
The garden is sorely neglected.
So much happened this week that I'm trying hard now to do nothing.
Because both our workplaces were closed for Labor Day, we took the opportunity to visit our parents. Drove there one day, visited his dad, drove to my mom's, visited there, and returned the next day.
This week was also our chance to use free tickets to see a Cardinals/Brewers game. I couldn't deny my Cardinal fan the chance to attend the game. We only stayed for part of it, though. I am pokey. And Gary didn't want me getting run over as people exited at the end of the game.
Choir started again this week.
We've been trying to reestablish school routine for Maggie, including her return to Curves. (I'm not ready for that yet.)
Abundant rains have meant more lawn-mowing than usual. Gary has not allowed me to help with that yet.
This weekend we are attending an "ends-in-zero" birthday party of a dear friend. While in that part of town, we will finally (after 3 months!) get the chance to see Rachel and Matt's apartment.
Our plumbing/septic failed. Plumber was here and could not fix the problem. We can take water in, but it has to be carried out of the house. No toilets. The plumber said we wouldn't have to go to a hotel -- implying that any sane person would. I hope this can be repaired Monday ... and not Friday or the following week or whatever. When the repairs are done, that's when we get to clean up sewer-water and sanitize toys and floors and walls and bathtub and shower. Ick.
And next week I extend my "mini-days" (4-hour shifts) at work to "shortened days" (that is, 7-hour shifts).
I was supposed to talk to the library's volunteer coordinator next week about setting up some opportunities for Maggie. Lack of plumbing, though, puts volunteering-arrangements on the back burner. Top priority is being available to the repairmen.
I haven't baked bread in a couple of weeks.
I have done no house-cleaning.
The garden is sorely neglected.
So much happened this week that I'm trying hard now to do nothing.
Tuesday, September 02, 2014
Idols Are Bad
There it was again today -- somebody saying that pretty churches and statues are bad. "You shall make no graven images." Interesting timing, based on what I heard in chapel this morning.
Our Bible story was Exodus 32, the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. Pastor was asking the kids questions about idols and false gods. He explained that an idol shows something about God that isn't true. In this story, it wasn't a golden calf that brought the Israelites out of Egypt and saved them from Pharaoh's armies.
But that little explanation, just a smidge of what he was telling the children, summed up so much for me. I remember when my friend, Pastor Wiest, was accused by someone of worshiping idols. Because he wore a crucifix! The person told Pr Wiest, "You aren't supposed to worship idols." He responded, "But this isn't an idol. This is the true God." (Now, I suppose the person could've responded, "That is NOT the true God." But obviously Pastor Wiest did not think that little piece of metal, on a chain around his neck, really was, in itself, God. It was a representation of what God in His gracious love did to save us; it showed something true about God.)
An idol shows something about God that isn't true. That's why it's bad to use a cross necklace simply as a good-luck charm. That would also be why icons are idols for those who believe those saints merited God's favor because of their superb level of good works, but icons are not idols for those who see them as pictures of God's mercy to sinners.
Also, it really confuses me why a certain group of Christians call a crucifix an "idol" but are perfectly okay with empty crosses. Wouldn't a cross be a graven image just as much as a crucifix? Maybe it boils down to their thinking the crucifix shows something about God that isn't true.
Our Bible story was Exodus 32, the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. Pastor was asking the kids questions about idols and false gods. He explained that an idol shows something about God that isn't true. In this story, it wasn't a golden calf that brought the Israelites out of Egypt and saved them from Pharaoh's armies.
An idol shows something about God that isn't true. That's why it's bad to use a cross necklace simply as a good-luck charm. That would also be why icons are idols for those who believe those saints merited God's favor because of their superb level of good works, but icons are not idols for those who see them as pictures of God's mercy to sinners.
Also, it really confuses me why a certain group of Christians call a crucifix an "idol" but are perfectly okay with empty crosses. Wouldn't a cross be a graven image just as much as a crucifix? Maybe it boils down to their thinking the crucifix shows something about God that isn't true.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Truly the Son of God
When Jesus called the storm, rescuing the disciples whose boat was overwhelmed (Matt 14), they responded, "Truly You are the Son of God."
Not long afterward (Matt 16), when Jesus asked them about the rumors of who He was, Peter said, "You are the Son of the living God." This wasn't something Peter said on His own. It was something the Lord revealed to him, as well as something the others said in the boat on that stormy night.
And it was the same thing said by the centurion (Matt 27) on that stormy Friday afternoon.
Not long afterward (Matt 16), when Jesus asked them about the rumors of who He was, Peter said, "You are the Son of the living God." This wasn't something Peter said on His own. It was something the Lord revealed to him, as well as something the others said in the boat on that stormy night.
And it was the same thing said by the centurion (Matt 27) on that stormy Friday afternoon.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
"Confession Is Made Unto Salvation"
God owes me, right?
I'm sure you've heard a take on Romans 10:
[bangs head against the wall]
We can manage to twist anything into salvation-by-works, can't we?
When Peter was sinking in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14) he called for help. That is "confessing" the Lord Jesus: "I can do nothing to save myself. Help me!" Even in Romans 10, just a few verses following the quote above, it says the Lord is rich to all who call upon Him.
And when do we call on Him? When we've got a way to please Him? Or when we have no hope in ourselves and are empty-handed beggars?
I'm sure you've heard a take on Romans 10:
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.Here ya go; this is what you gotta do; fulfill the above requirements, and you will be saved.
[bangs head against the wall]
We can manage to twist anything into salvation-by-works, can't we?
When Peter was sinking in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14) he called for help. That is "confessing" the Lord Jesus: "I can do nothing to save myself. Help me!" Even in Romans 10, just a few verses following the quote above, it says the Lord is rich to all who call upon Him.
And when do we call on Him? When we've got a way to please Him? Or when we have no hope in ourselves and are empty-handed beggars?
Friday, August 29, 2014
Influential Books
Melody tagged me on Facebook to list ten books that have strongly influenced my life. I'm also supposed to tag ten other people to play the game, but I'm being contrary. (And tired.) Thus, no tagging. But you're welcome to play along (on Facebook or on blogs) if you wish.
1. The Bible
2. The Lutheran Hymnal
3. Narnia series -- by C. S. Lewis
4. The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel -- by Walther
5. Special Delivery -- by Rahima Baldwin
Because although it was about birth, it led to a rethinking about the place of medical professionals.
6. Little House series -- by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Not just for the stories, but also because of the model of self-reliance and perseverance, as well as the political viewpoint.
7. Homeschooling for Excellence -- by the Colfaxes
Better Than School -- by Nancy Wallace
Better Late Than Early -- by the Moores
Teach Your Own -- by John Holt
I'm calling this a set, just as I'm claiming that Narnia and Little House each count as one book.
8. Day by Day We Magnify Thee -- by Luther
Best devotional book ever if you're on the 1-yr pericopes. And still good even if you're on the 3-yr series.
9. In Christ, volume 1 -- by David Scaer
Because this is the book that [ahem] entangled me with CCA.
10. Lutheran Service Book
Because in spite of all the wonderful things in it, the publication of this book is what brought about the end of my singing-all-day-every-day. And that's definitely "an influence."
In a similar vein, not being able [repeatedly!] to finish "Emily of the New Moon" influenced my life, not because of the book itself (seeing as how I never got beyond 1/4 of the way in) because that was the watershed when I gave up on reading to myself. And about 20 years later, on the other end of that spectrum, "Mitford" was when I finally began reading stories for my own enjoyment again. So I see these books as having a big influence on me even though it was because of circumstances more than content of the books themselves.
1. The Bible
2. The Lutheran Hymnal
3. Narnia series -- by C. S. Lewis
4. The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel -- by Walther
5. Special Delivery -- by Rahima Baldwin
Because although it was about birth, it led to a rethinking about the place of medical professionals.
6. Little House series -- by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Not just for the stories, but also because of the model of self-reliance and perseverance, as well as the political viewpoint.
7. Homeschooling for Excellence -- by the Colfaxes
Better Than School -- by Nancy Wallace
Better Late Than Early -- by the Moores
Teach Your Own -- by John Holt
I'm calling this a set, just as I'm claiming that Narnia and Little House each count as one book.
8. Day by Day We Magnify Thee -- by Luther
Best devotional book ever if you're on the 1-yr pericopes. And still good even if you're on the 3-yr series.
9. In Christ, volume 1 -- by David Scaer
Because this is the book that [ahem] entangled me with CCA.
10. Lutheran Service Book
Because in spite of all the wonderful things in it, the publication of this book is what brought about the end of my singing-all-day-every-day. And that's definitely "an influence."
In a similar vein, not being able [repeatedly!] to finish "Emily of the New Moon" influenced my life, not because of the book itself (seeing as how I never got beyond 1/4 of the way in) because that was the watershed when I gave up on reading to myself. And about 20 years later, on the other end of that spectrum, "Mitford" was when I finally began reading stories for my own enjoyment again. So I see these books as having a big influence on me even though it was because of circumstances more than content of the books themselves.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Definition of "Plague"
During chapel this morning, the word "plague" came up in our Bible story. Pastor checked with the kids, "What is a plague? What does that word mean?"
A fifth-grader answered first: "That's like taxes."
A fifth-grader answered first: "That's like taxes."
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Turning My Breech Baby
When one of my babies was head-up and bottom-down, the midwife suggested I try turning him. She said that doctors can sometimes manipulate kiddoes to turn them, but by this time my munchkin was too big and too far along for that. (Also, some doctors worry about the safety of that exterior manipulation.)
The midwife told me to lie on my back three times a day, about 15 minutes at a time, elevating the pelvis, oh, about 12 inches. The theory is that gravity will help Baby out of the settled-in position, and when Mommy stands up, gravity could bring the [heavier-than-tuschie] head back down to the lower spot.
This doesn't work for everybody who has a breech baby. It's also important to have enough knowledge of your body, your baby's body, and be able to know through palpation your baby's position. You must know when Baby's head goes down so that you Stop Doing The Exercise. (Also, this is the internet, and I'm not giving medical advice, and all that jazz. I'm just saying, "This is what I did and what worked for me.")
Also, I think it's good to make your request to the Lord that He turn the baby.
This doesn't work for everybody who has a breech baby. It's also important to have enough knowledge of your body, your baby's body, and be able to know through palpation your baby's position. You must know when Baby's head goes down so that you Stop Doing The Exercise. (Also, this is the internet, and I'm not giving medical advice, and all that jazz. I'm just saying, "This is what I did and what worked for me.")
Also, I think it's good to make your request to the Lord that He turn the baby.
Monday, August 25, 2014
1200 Steps
Zoroastrianism versus Buddhism?
I'm reading Horses of Heaven right now, a novel set in central Asia around 200 BC. (I'm 3/4 of the way through, o daughters-of-mine who have been waiting who-knows-how-long for me to finish reading your book before you get a crack at it.) Zoroastrians believe that there can be joy in the world, and that the material world was created good but was infected with evil. The Buddhists, on the other hand, are more in line with the Gnostics, seeing the material world as something inferior, something to be suffered, something to be released from.
Anyway ...
the Zoroastrian dude in the story is plagued by his struggle with sin. While visiting another city, he finds himself a Zoroastrian temple. He goes to the priest who suggests a purifying rite. The Mazdayist liturgy included the line:
We just can't stand the thought that grace is ALL from the Lord and not at all earned or merited in any way, can we? That would be just too too radical.
* Footnote: That is, this teaching too often
shows up in Christian churches, even though
it is contrary to Christian teaching.
I'm reading Horses of Heaven right now, a novel set in central Asia around 200 BC. (I'm 3/4 of the way through, o daughters-of-mine who have been waiting who-knows-how-long for me to finish reading your book before you get a crack at it.) Zoroastrians believe that there can be joy in the world, and that the material world was created good but was infected with evil. The Buddhists, on the other hand, are more in line with the Gnostics, seeing the material world as something inferior, something to be suffered, something to be released from.
Anyway ...
the Zoroastrian dude in the story is plagued by his struggle with sin. While visiting another city, he finds himself a Zoroastrian temple. He goes to the priest who suggests a purifying rite. The Mazdayist liturgy included the line:
May the bright heaven, the all-blissful paradise, come toward you twelve hundred steps for every step.And I kept thinking, ... wow, that concept shows up frequently in Christianity* too. "God goes the distance; He comes to you; but [but BUT but] you have to take steps toward Him."
We just can't stand the thought that grace is ALL from the Lord and not at all earned or merited in any way, can we? That would be just too too radical.
* Footnote: That is, this teaching too often
shows up in Christian churches, even though
it is contrary to Christian teaching.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Brain Recovery
There were weird things that happened in the wake of the stroke. For one, my skin is more sensitive. Last week I picked three pumpkins and two tomatoes and soon had another rash. There is no poison ivy mixed in with my pumpkin vines and tomato plants. There isn't! I'm not good at recognizing poison ivy and all its other poison-forms, but I do know pumpkin and tomato vines for what they are. Then in a separate incident, I got a rash from a Tegaderm covering. When the itching forced me to remove that (about 1 whole minute after the time-limit of the doctor's orders) I used a regular Bandaid. Guess what? Another rash.
Recent tests showed that the aneurysm mostly healed, but not all-the-way as we had hoped. If you can picture an aneurysm sort of like a balloon, the bubble of the balloon is filled and clotted and healed. The neck of the balloon is not. That means more monitoring than would've probably been necessary otherwise. But overall, it appears rather safe, quite unlikely to go and bleed (just as a balloon's neck isn't likely to pop).
I've been back at work for five weeks, doing mini-shifts three days a week. Now that the doctor's had a chance to take pictures of the inside of my brain, I intend to ask him to lengthen the number of hours I'm allowed to work. After a few weeks of longer part-time days, maybe he'll let me step up to a full-day with my half-days. On the one hand, I'm anxious to get back to being helpful at work and getting my income back to where it was. On the other hand, I sure am liking my mornings at home with Maggie, doing schoolwork and chores ... and not overtiring myself.
Oh, and it is absolutely maaaahrvelous, darling, to have car keys and a drivers license again!
Recent tests showed that the aneurysm mostly healed, but not all-the-way as we had hoped. If you can picture an aneurysm sort of like a balloon, the bubble of the balloon is filled and clotted and healed. The neck of the balloon is not. That means more monitoring than would've probably been necessary otherwise. But overall, it appears rather safe, quite unlikely to go and bleed (just as a balloon's neck isn't likely to pop).
I've been back at work for five weeks, doing mini-shifts three days a week. Now that the doctor's had a chance to take pictures of the inside of my brain, I intend to ask him to lengthen the number of hours I'm allowed to work. After a few weeks of longer part-time days, maybe he'll let me step up to a full-day with my half-days. On the one hand, I'm anxious to get back to being helpful at work and getting my income back to where it was. On the other hand, I sure am liking my mornings at home with Maggie, doing schoolwork and chores ... and not overtiring myself.
Oh, and it is absolutely maaaahrvelous, darling, to have car keys and a drivers license again!
Friday, August 15, 2014
Way Back When I Was Really Young
The previous post included things from the Old Days which were when my first baby was little, or not long before. This one has stuff that I remember from my childhood. At least I don't expect my kids to recall these things because "they just happened." At least I have some awareness that these are from times long-enough-ago that they're in the history books as .... well, ... history.
The milk was delivered to the milk-box sitting by our front door. The milk wagon was pulled by a horse -- the only horse-drawn vehicle I saw in town. When I was learning to walk to kindergarten by myself, I had to watch out so that I didn't step in horse poop when I crossed the street. And I loved it that the milkman put reindeer-antlers on his horse for the week or so before Christmas.
When we dialed a phone number, the phone actually had a dial.
We didn't have to check our Halloween candy before eating it to see that it was safe.
Children walked to a neighborhood school. Buses were for the kids who lived in the country. We went home for lunch too. Only the bussed kids were stuck at school during the lunch break.
The new-fangled ratings system for movies included G, M, R, and X. That's it.
McDonalds ran commercials touting that you could buy a hamburger, fries, and beverage, and still get change back from your dollar.
We sang Christmas carols (and a dreidel song) for the Christmas program (not "holiday program") at the public school.
Getting "only one cavity" at each semi-annual dentist appointment was considered a rousing success for dental care.
Bouncy children were not given Ritalin.
We played cowboys and Indians. Nobody ever heard of "native Americans."
Arcades had pinball machines. There were no joysticks or video games of any sort.
People dressed up for church, and women did not wear pants to church.
Cameras had flashbulbs. Bulbs. Y'know, the round things. Each bulb had one flash and then was finished. And getting your film developed in an hour was unheard of. It was a week or more.
Whole houses then cost less than a car now. Less even than most used cars do now.
Cars then were washed up and old by the time they had 60,000 miles on them.
Kids could go biking all over town and the countryside, riding around for hours on end, and parents didn't have to worry about whether they'd be accosted by strangers.
The bank and the liquor store gave lollipops to the kids who came in with their moms to buy dad's weekly allotment of beer.
Television was in black and white. No color.
Very few people had dishwashers. There was no such thing as a microwave.
"Negro" was a recently outdated word. The new term was "black."
The old people remembered Russia being a country, but we youngsters were up-to-date enough to know that the proper name had become USSR.
Lutherans had one hymnal. For a bunch of different synods. And we used it. No "song books."
People didn't use credit cards. The few credit cards that existed were used for limited purposes, such as a card for gasoline only.
Diapers were made of cloth, and people used pins to hold them onto the baby's tuschie.
Kids pretended to smoke our candy cigarettes and candy cigars.
There were three television networks. It was free. No cable. Just rabbit ears or the big antenna on the roof.
Some cars had seat belts, but they were seldom used. There was no such thing as bike helmets.
In a similar vein, there was no such thing as fire-retardant clothing.
"Ms." hadn't been invented yet.
At the playground, swings had chains that were 10-12' long or more, and slides were so high that it was fun even for the grown-ups to slide down. And you had to wear long pants to the park in August so that you didn't burn your legs on the metal slide.
People thought formula was the right way to feed a baby.
Mom washed our clothes in a wringer-washer and hung them on the line to dry.
Almost all my friends had stay-at-home moms.
It wasn't considered abuse if kids were spanked and had their mouths washed out with soap.
Gas ran about 30-some cents a gallon. When there was a "gas war" in town, prices could even get as low as 19 cents.
Nobody was allowed to pump their own gas. When you drove in for a fill-up, the attendant checked your oil, checked your tire pressure, washed your windows, and who-knows-what-all else.
The word "their" was a plural pronoun and only a plural pronoun. Now --as in the previous comment-- it's also used as a singular pronoun when we don't want to be "sexist" by using "he" or "she."
Only the poor, impoverished, neglected children were sent to preschool.
The milk was delivered to the milk-box sitting by our front door. The milk wagon was pulled by a horse -- the only horse-drawn vehicle I saw in town. When I was learning to walk to kindergarten by myself, I had to watch out so that I didn't step in horse poop when I crossed the street. And I loved it that the milkman put reindeer-antlers on his horse for the week or so before Christmas.
When we dialed a phone number, the phone actually had a dial.
We didn't have to check our Halloween candy before eating it to see that it was safe.
Children walked to a neighborhood school. Buses were for the kids who lived in the country. We went home for lunch too. Only the bussed kids were stuck at school during the lunch break.
The new-fangled ratings system for movies included G, M, R, and X. That's it.
McDonalds ran commercials touting that you could buy a hamburger, fries, and beverage, and still get change back from your dollar.
We sang Christmas carols (and a dreidel song) for the Christmas program (not "holiday program") at the public school.
Getting "only one cavity" at each semi-annual dentist appointment was considered a rousing success for dental care.
Bouncy children were not given Ritalin.
We played cowboys and Indians. Nobody ever heard of "native Americans."
Arcades had pinball machines. There were no joysticks or video games of any sort.
People dressed up for church, and women did not wear pants to church.
Cameras had flashbulbs. Bulbs. Y'know, the round things. Each bulb had one flash and then was finished. And getting your film developed in an hour was unheard of. It was a week or more.
Whole houses then cost less than a car now. Less even than most used cars do now.
Cars then were washed up and old by the time they had 60,000 miles on them.
Kids could go biking all over town and the countryside, riding around for hours on end, and parents didn't have to worry about whether they'd be accosted by strangers.
The bank and the liquor store gave lollipops to the kids who came in with their moms to buy dad's weekly allotment of beer.
Television was in black and white. No color.
Very few people had dishwashers. There was no such thing as a microwave.
"Negro" was a recently outdated word. The new term was "black."
The old people remembered Russia being a country, but we youngsters were up-to-date enough to know that the proper name had become USSR.
Lutherans had one hymnal. For a bunch of different synods. And we used it. No "song books."
People didn't use credit cards. The few credit cards that existed were used for limited purposes, such as a card for gasoline only.
Diapers were made of cloth, and people used pins to hold them onto the baby's tuschie.
Kids pretended to smoke our candy cigarettes and candy cigars.
There were three television networks. It was free. No cable. Just rabbit ears or the big antenna on the roof.
Some cars had seat belts, but they were seldom used. There was no such thing as bike helmets.
In a similar vein, there was no such thing as fire-retardant clothing.
"Ms." hadn't been invented yet.
At the playground, swings had chains that were 10-12' long or more, and slides were so high that it was fun even for the grown-ups to slide down. And you had to wear long pants to the park in August so that you didn't burn your legs on the metal slide.
People thought formula was the right way to feed a baby.
Mom washed our clothes in a wringer-washer and hung them on the line to dry.
Almost all my friends had stay-at-home moms.
It wasn't considered abuse if kids were spanked and had their mouths washed out with soap.
Gas ran about 30-some cents a gallon. When there was a "gas war" in town, prices could even get as low as 19 cents.
Nobody was allowed to pump their own gas. When you drove in for a fill-up, the attendant checked your oil, checked your tire pressure, washed your windows, and who-knows-what-all else.
The word "their" was a plural pronoun and only a plural pronoun. Now --as in the previous comment-- it's also used as a singular pronoun when we don't want to be "sexist" by using "he" or "she."
Only the poor, impoverished, neglected children were sent to preschool.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Way Back When I Was Young
I was always fascinated with "how things used to be." It kinda sorta freaks me out that some things are now seen as the Old Days that were normal when I was already grown up.
There was no such things as music videos or MTV.
A whole floor of a building was dedicated to the computer. The idea of a computer that would sit on your desk was just coming in as a new-fangled idea. Certainly no iPads or Smartphones.
Food at the grocery store was not sealed. You could just unscrew a lid of a medicine bottle or a food jar and have access to the contents of the bottle. No child-proof lids either.
We didn't know yet that Darth Vader was Luke's father.
The new, high-tech video games that had just been invented were Pong, Pac-man, and Space Invaders.
Even if you had no health insurance, you could pay for the doctor and hospital when your child was born. Our bill for our first baby was $800.
Only the fussbudget worry-wart parents made their kids wear bike helmets.
We had fire drills and tornado drills at school, but never lock-down drills. There weren't murders in school.
There was no such things as music videos or MTV.
A whole floor of a building was dedicated to the computer. The idea of a computer that would sit on your desk was just coming in as a new-fangled idea. Certainly no iPads or Smartphones.
Food at the grocery store was not sealed. You could just unscrew a lid of a medicine bottle or a food jar and have access to the contents of the bottle. No child-proof lids either.
We didn't know yet that Darth Vader was Luke's father.
The new, high-tech video games that had just been invented were Pong, Pac-man, and Space Invaders.
Even if you had no health insurance, you could pay for the doctor and hospital when your child was born. Our bill for our first baby was $800.
Only the fussbudget worry-wart parents made their kids wear bike helmets.
We had fire drills and tornado drills at school, but never lock-down drills. There weren't murders in school.
What's the Moral of the Story?
So Jesus walks on the water out to the storm-tossed boat and the terrified disciples (Matt 14). With Jesus' consent and invitation, Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus. For a bit. Then he sank.
Moral #1: If you have faith, you can walk on water. Be like Peter. Be daring. Be bold. Do the impossible.
"Moral" #2: We try to be bold, but in reality we sink. Even though we only have itty-bitty teeny-tiny faith (vs 31), Jesus is faithful to His promise, and He rescues us and keeps us safe.
"Moral" #2 is so much more comforting than Moral #1. And it fits what happened in the story so much better than Moral #1. So why is Moral #1 touted more often?
Moral #1: If you have faith, you can walk on water. Be like Peter. Be daring. Be bold. Do the impossible.
"Moral" #2: We try to be bold, but in reality we sink. Even though we only have itty-bitty teeny-tiny faith (vs 31), Jesus is faithful to His promise, and He rescues us and keeps us safe.
"Moral" #2 is so much more comforting than Moral #1. And it fits what happened in the story so much better than Moral #1. So why is Moral #1 touted more often?
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