Selling the Old Casa

Today we closed the sale of our old house on Holiday Drive... isn't that a friendly name for a street? We sold the place to a nice older lady who really seemed to love it (and the colors we painted the rooms), who has lots of grandkids who will be visiting her there. I'm happy to have the financial burden of two mortgages removed, and happy to have all my furniture at home now - especially my kitchen table!

But it was a sad day, too. This was the first house that Jon and I bought. We did all the landscaping (by "we" I mean mainly Jon, of course!) and the plants, trees, and hedges are all nice and tall and well-established now. It was the house I brought my first two babies home to, and I can still picture them crawling and toddling through the yard and rooms. It was a good, solid house in an older and friendly, though not so trendy, neighborhood. Perhaps I am a sentimental fool, but I will miss my old house even as I rejoice at selling it and enjoy my new one.

The Birth Story of Evan Michael

On the evening of Friday, April 24 I started having contractions, which I thought would translate into giving birth on Saturday afternoon, which I thought was odd given that Anna and Will had both started with contractions during the daytime and entered the world in the early dark morning hours. Anyway... Saturday the contractions stopped and I was bummed, though still excited, knowing that we could only be getting closer to the birth.

So Saturday evening it started up again and I employed my Hypnobirthing visualizations to maximize the effect of each contraction/surge. At 12:30 am the contractions were strong enough to wake me up. About 1:00 am I woke Jon up to time them and found they were 4 minutes apart and 1.5 minutes long. So we were farther along than the recommended 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long guideline. Time to call the midwife... Nancy said she'd meet us at the birth center in about 30 minutes. We called Jon's mom to come stay with Anna and Will, got our stuff together, and headed off in the darkness. Fortunately we only live 10 minutes fro the birth center because as we drove the contractions got stronger and I started to get a tingly sensation. I told Jon to hurry. Turning into the birth center, my water broke in the van - I'd had the good sense to sit on a big underpad that caught it and saved the upholstery!

I didn't think I would make it inside the birth center, but Nancy said I had to so I did somehow. Made it back to the first bedroom, lay down on the bed, got my shorts off, and told Nancy and Jon I had to push. Nancy said to try not to push yet since she didn't even have her gloves on yet. So I tried, but Evan was ready for his grand entrance, and Nancy managed to get her gloves on just in time to catch him! Ta da! How exciting!

So much for my vision of trying out the birth tub for relaxation, using the blue room, listening to my Hypnobirthing CD, gazing at my photo of Anna and Will for inspiration... We were there five minutes and had a baby - which was kinda cool and such a relief and really quite comical all at the same time. Evan was born at 2:24 am and we didn't even have a boy's name settled upon, so we had to figure that out. By 7:00 am the nurse told us we could go home when we were ready, which we did after eating bacon, egg and cheese biscuits for breakfast.

Some people have said they couldn't believe I was going to a birth center and midwives, etc, but the funny thing is that I wouldn't have made it to a hospital anyway! And I'm so glad for my choices all along the way through the pregnancy.

Induce or Wait?

Ok, so I have about a week and a half left til Baby #3 is due. Feeling huge and ready to meet our new little one. Someone asked me, "You're not going to be induced? You're just going to wait?" Well, yes. It's not like I'm two weeks overdue or anything unusual is going on. Doesn't it make sense to let nature take its course? To let a body that was designed with one of its functions being to give birth decide when the right time is to achieve that goal? Why schedule it, rush the process, introduce further complications if not necessary? My answer to my friend was "Oh, no! Being induced only makes it harder." I think she was surprised. I find it annoying that optional medical intervention has become such the norm; that doctors can in good conscience somehow convince women that "something must be done", that giving birth is not normal, natural, and healthy for the vast majority of cases. It's irresponsible and self-serving, if you ask me - which, of course, you didn't.

Preparing for Kindergarten

On Thursday I attended the kindergarten orientation where Anna - my firstborn, my first baby - will be going to school in the fall. There were several times I nearly cried. Anna was with me, and I marveled over how someone can seem so "big" and yet so "little" all at the same time. She is very excited about her "new school" and had fun with Ms. Judy (whom we already know personally) - listening to a story and making a paper bag puppet while I listened to the presentations by teachers and staff. Anna was impressed by how artistic the school appeared, with student work and projects on display throughout. I was impressed by the teachers and principal as they spoke of challenging every student no matter at what level they are (I have wondered if Anna will be bored in kindergarten after the great preschool she has attended).

But just being in the school cafeteria reminded me of my early days of elementary school - happy memories, but a level of independence Anna has not yet known. Is she really ready for this? In my head I am confident that she is and she will do great; but in my heart it is harder to watch her stretch her wings and move farther beyond me. What if someone is mean to her (as one day someone is sure to be)? What if something unpleasant happens (as is a normal part of life)? Anna is cautious and sensitive like me, only stronger than I was at her age. She will be fine. I know it. But it is so hard to let go, if even just a little bit at a time.

What You Believe

I was listening to Glenn Beck the other day on the radio, and he mentioned an article (sorry - can't remember where it was from) predicting the decline of Christianity in our culture within the next 10 years - as much as a 50% loss of membership for evangelical churches, following a great decline in mainline Protestant denominations. The author cited the fact that the evangelical church has too closely alligned itself with certain social/political agendas - to the point that many members can far more easily tell you their stance on key social issues than they can articulate the meaning of the gospel message. Glenn's point was to be sure to know what you believe and why and then stand strong in it.

The thought of such a decline in Christianity troubles me - not so much for the sake of the church or the "religion", as I know God will not be cheated of His own. He is able to preserve His people. But I would mourn more for the loss to our nation... a loss of foundation, of values, of needed restraint. Sure, nonbelievers can have good morals, but on what are they truly based? When the time of crisis comes, will they be able to stand on conviction or will they be swayed by circumstance and relativism? There is a reason why socialism and communism attack churches.

So, what do you believe? Do you know? If you go to church, do you know why? Do you have an inkling of the corruption of your soul and the far greater provision of God's grace through Jesus, the Messiah? Do you know there is Truth that is absolute, unshakable, unyielding? Do you rest on the firm foundation of God's love for us all? If you do, then reaffirm your beliefs and share them with those around you. Pass it on. If not, then take the time to examine yourself, explore the gospel message, ask questions, get answers. Lord, have mercy on us all.

tiny things

So now I'm realizing that we may have a new baby by the end of next month (!), and I'm starting to get more prepared. Yesterday Anna, Will, and I pulled out their gender-neutral baby clothes so I could wash them and have them ready. Anna and Will could hardly believe they used to fit into such tiny little clothes. They giggled and marveled over the thought of it as they pulled out their "favorites" to show me. And I, too, though this will be my third baby, can scarcely grasp how my preschoolers once wore those tiny socks and onesies... or what little creature will wear them yet!

The Season of Lent

Now it is Lent, a 40-day period in the church calendar during which Christians are encouraged to reflect specifically on the sufferings of Jesus in preparation for Easter. Although I was raised Catholic (or maybe because of it), I am not a huge proponent of church "traditions" and such. Since I became aware of the truth of the gospel, I have mainly been taught and influenced by more contemporary, evangelical varieties of Christianity. That being said, I am now a member of the Lutheran church (Wisconsin Synod for those who know the difference), and can appreciate the richness and depth of meaning that is highlighted by understanding the significance of liturgy, seasons, etc.

I have trouble deciding what to "give up" for Lent - again perhaps because of my Catholic upbringing and resentment of it. I try to settle on something, and before I know it, Lent is half over so why bother? But still it is good to be mindful, consciously aware during this time, of the tremendous sacrifice and suffering that Jesus endured for our sake, out of love for us, to bring us from darkness into His eternal light and life.

I have also found that the observance of Lent tends to make Easter even more amazing. Just as you can't truly know good without evil, or light without darkness, concentrating on the passion and suffering of Jesus serves to accentuate the shining brilliance of the resurrection on Easter morning. So I find it helpful and beneficial to my experience of the faith to observe Lent - even if I can't decide on something to "give up."