21 weeks

For the folks back home. Oh, I'm really proud of my Athens 1986 Olympic T can't you tell? And thanks for all of your prayers. I'm doing well, keeping rested and trusting that my placenta will rise!

Any Ideas?

I have a pottery barn fitted queen size sheet the was lovingly used for five years of marriage and then decided to spontaneously rip! The fabric is a wonderful off white soft cotton and I was thinking of doing something with the remains. I'm thinking something that has to do with baby Riley? Any ideas? Do you recommend any patterns for baby clothes or blankets? Help.

Summer Suits

I just came across this site and thought it might be a good resource for those out there looking forward to swimming this summer but not looking forward to showing off more flesh than seems desirable. This seems to make more and more sense to me the older I get. Now don't get me wrong I've had my share of two piece bathing suites and compared to most European countries our bathing suits are as modest as you can get! But every year when I pull out my suit I get a little ticked at how it fits me or shall I say doesn't fit me right.

Anyway check this out if you are tired of wearing the same bathing suits or you would like to instill in your now young daughters the freedom of swimming modestly ( I know I sound like I work for these people!). Alas I don't think they have suits for pregos like me or for tiny toddlers like my daughter but I think in the future we might invest in these things...now the site seems a bit cheezy but I like the design and some of patterns so it seems worth it to me. Let me know what you think.

Now I'm dreaming of hot summer days....

Nourishing Days

If you have spent any amount of time with me, even a very short time, you'll find out quick that I'm a little obsessed about food. This could be from my French and Greek background where food is an art and a tool for facilitating fellowship. So I was thrilled when I stumbled upon this amazing blog about cooking. One reason I'm so excited about exploring it's content is because it seems to follow right along with my theories on food and also has some great ideas for those of us who are wheat and gluten challenged. Please take a peek right here.

Everyone needs inspiration and motivation and I think if you are looking for a healthier and smarter way of eating you will enjoy this blog. I haven't had time to really look through it thoroughly but I've seen enough to make me super happy.


A tasty prayer of thanks

Delicious Creator God,
I taste your glory in the tangy crunch of a crisp apple.
I taste your glory in salty tears of emotion.
I taste your glory in cool, clear, life-giving water.
I taste your glory in the heavy sweetness of dark chocolate.
Your glory flavors the early peas and new lettuce of spring,
the raspberries and sour cherries of my backyard,
the mealy goodness of new potatoes and butternut squash,
it steeps in my tea and bakes in my peach cobbler.
For the nibbles and feasts of your glory and for my taste buds,
I give you thanks.

-Donna Mast, Scottdale, Pa.

Joni and Friends Daily Devotional February 22, 2010

Sufferings Showcase

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm.
--Ephesians 3:10
The powers and principalities, all the heavenly hosts and the dark rulers of the universe, millions of unseen beings are intensely interested to see just how "able" God is to sustain the weak and the weary.

Ephesians 3:10 tells us that God teaches the unseen world all about Himself, and He does it using you and me as His audio-visual aids. We are used of the Lord to show the universe how great, awesome, and wonderful God and his grace are. Let's say some demon dares waltz up to heaven's throne and sneers, "God, people only trust You because You bless them with health and strength. But let me put a kink in the lower back of some missionary. Then allow me to take away his financial support. I just bet that missionary would end up denying you."

But God would answer, "Oh no, you're wrong. That exact scenario happened to Mr. Brown, and he trusted me. I worked through his obedience, and because of his testimony, many more people heard of the Son's love."

At that point, the demon would shrink away, and the glory surrounding God would glow even brighter. Mr. Brown's sufferings not only helped him to grow in Christ, but they demonstrated to that demon and millions like him how powerful God's sustaining grace is. The result? Greater glory to God. One day it will be shown to all that God was able to rescue sinners, redeem suffering, crush the rebellious, restore all things, vindicate his holy name, provide restitution... and come out all the more glorious for it! What an honor to share in that.

When you feel surrounded by tough circumstances, remember: you have the chance to be a Mr. Brown. God will use that situation to build you up spiritually and to highlight His glory.

* * * * *

Lord, I can't see so much of what is going on in this world. But I sure can have an affect on what's happening! May I do so to your glory.

Blessings,

Joni and Friends
www.joniandfriends.org

from a book written in the 1800s:

"No wife can overestimate the influence she wields over her husband, or the measure in which his character, his career, and his very destiny are laid in her hands for shaping. How can she be sure that her influence over her husband will be for good, that hers will be a better man, more successful in his career and more happy, because she is his wife? Not by .. perpetual preaching and lecturing on a husband's duties and on manly character." but rather, "... by being in the very depths of her soul, in every thought and impulse of her heart and in every fiber of her nature, a true and noble woman."

First Born

I thought it would be nice to sit down and share one of the biggest joys of my life right now. Our little miss or sweet sophia as we sometimes call her, has been growing and blossoming into a precious child. We've been working on potty training the past few months and now she is fully trained. Really she was the one who wanted to wear her undies to bed and so I though ok what's the worst thing that could happen. Since then we've had a few little mistakes but all in all we are done with potty training! She loves and I mean loves to dance and this girl has got some moves! We usually take some time each day to dance. Praise music, jazz, classical ballet, you name it we listen to it. And thanks to our neighbors son (ahahem) we are now getting a loud dose of heavy metal screaming during our evening walks out side. Singing is also a huge part of our day. Usually in the mornings she makes her way into my bed and we sing the good morning song. She has shown more initiative in praying at meal times which is so sweet...short but sweet. Still loving to read and now that I'm resting more we are reading more again. Sometimes I catch her "reading" her books to herself and I'm totally amazed at how she sometimes remembers the stories verbatim. She seems to have an amazing memory for things! We have been watching more movies lately which I'm not too proud to admit but so goes our lives these days. Her favorite is Peter Rabbit which she sometimes recites and a few days ago we told her we would watch Robin Hood and later at dinner she said ... "After dinner then may I watch Neighborhood Mommy?"

I realize that my time alone with her will soon be coming to an end and so I've been cherishing our special alone time together. She is a joy, and my beloved girl!

Living day to day can be really hard especially when you start to believe the whispers of the evil one. I've always been one to look over my shoulders at what other people are doing or how good they are doing to judge where I need to be in my life. If I'm slacking off I just don't feel good about myself. Its easy to believe the put downs that arise. " your no good, a failure, lazy, weak, unable to focus, etc." Life gets pretty dry when you go down that road. Oswald Chambers says

the starvation of the imagination is one of the most fruitful sources of exhaustion and sapping in a worker's life. If you have never used your imagination to put yourself before God, begin to do it now. It is no use waiting for God to come, you must put your imagination away from the face of idols and look unto Him and be saved.

Sometimes it takes a little bit of a challenge to get me out of myself and into that place of imagination. Two weeks ago I experienced some spotting and then again early this week. I never experienced this with my first pregnancy so I was a bit concerned. Even in little dilemmas I'm quick to call on the help of friends and family and so that is exactly what I did. I can say without a doubt that those prayers where completely felt by me through a deep sense of peace. I had an ultrasound today at the Choices Women's Center because it was free for me. It was absolutely amazing to be able to walk into a center where I felt such peace and comfort. The two women who did the ultrasound found that my placenta was indeed close to my cervix and although they aren't able to diagnose anything it was clear what was going on. Although this was a little bit of a discouragement I was relieved to know what was going on. We also were able to see that we are, as far as we can tell, having a boy.

At the end of our time the two women took a moment to pray with us which was such a tremendous blessing. The Lord totally went above and beyond anything I could have imagined in caring and loving on us today. Although I'm not excited about the positioning of my placenta I am realizing that the Lord has used this situation to show me how much I am loved and blessed by his hand in my life. Its easy to say we are loved but when we are given grace upon grace it just seems to hit home a bit more.

So right now I'm learning to take it easy a bit more and just soaking up the words of my Father and remembering what he has done for me. I'm learning how to look away from what has consumed me lately and look full into his wonderful face.

please continue to pray. thanks.

I'm up late tonight, my eyes a little dried out and blood shot but its worth it. I have tons to say but really no energy to say it all. This poem captures a little bit of how I've been feeling lately so I'll end it with this.


Thou knowest all our weeping, fainting, striving;
Thou know'st how very hard it is to be;
How hard to rouse faint will not yet reviving;
To do the pure thing, trusting all to thee;
To hold thou art there, for all no face we see;
How hard to think, through cold and dark and dearth,
That thou art nearer now than when eye-seen on earth.

George MacDonald

Conversation

"So I'm thinking about taking a prenatal yoga class, you know, just to get myself back in shape and to relax a bit...what do you think?"

"Well your not Hindu are you?"

"No."

"Yoga is a tool used in Hindu worship, so why would you want to be apart of something that isn't inline with your faith."

"I understand your point but I know a lot of godly Christians who do yoga and don't have a problem with it so why should I? I mean it's not like I'll be doing any chanting or worshiping of Hindu gods? I'm just wanting to relax and get into shape. So many people have been helped by yoga." "Besides don't you think your being a little judgmental about this....it's really no big deal." "I'll just meditate on Bible verses while everyone else does their thing....you know like Christian yoga."

"With all due respect Christian yoga is an oxymoron. If you were to talk to an honest yogi they would tell you that the practices of yoga are not congruent with Christian theology or lifestyle. It just doesn't work."

"But what's so bad about the positions and breathing. That's all I would be using it for."

"To my understanding yoga means to yoke, or unite mind, body, and soul to itself. The goal of yoga positions and meditation is to enter into the world of Brahma or as Brahman and for some it is the process by which one can enjoy an eternal relationship with Vishnu." "So take it one step further....many of these positions you claim would help you are actually used to prepare the worshiper for death." " On top of that I've heard that some Chiropractors say yoga can throw your body out of alignment."

"Ok so even if what you say is true. I'm a Christian I can't really be harmed by going and taking a yoga class since I'm covered by the blood of Christ. Right?"

"You have to ultimately decide this for yourself. I would encourage you to do some research, talk to a yogi, older Christians and pray about it. Don't just do something because your friends are doing it or because you've heard it could help you." "Remember that we have been bought with a price so we need to honor God with our bodies and that if we are living in the Light of Christ why would we want to play in the dark."

End of conversation.