We arrived home from Berkeley about noon today (we had a great trip--more on that in another post). We were all pretty exhausted, which for one of us in particular, makes it much harder to sleep. I put Ava down for a nap, and she woke up about 45 minutes later. I got up, put the paci in her mouth, and laid down to finish my nap in her bedroom. I was so tired that I had this very vivid dream about walking into my house and finding 10 dogs that belonged to other people, including the Rottweiler that lives down the street and growls like it wants to eat me every time I pass by (which I believe, in my dream, was wearing a pink t-shirt. Go figure). I was trying to find all the phone numbers for their owners without a dog fight breaking out in my living room. It was all very involved.
When I awoke from this very bizarre dream, I found my little girl, lying on the bed next to me, eating. No idea when or how she got there. I suppose I must have had something to do with it, but as much as I rack my brain, I cannot remember getting up to get her or starting to feed her. But there we were, both sound asleep, her eating, me trying to avoid being eaten by dogs.
When I told him, Daniel asked me when my mommy license was up for renewal, and advised me that I shouldn't tell them about that. I don't think I will. I'll just post it to my blog.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Why I Love Hawaii
As I walked into class this morning, I found one of my students barefoot. "Not that it bothers me," I said, " but did you bring shoes?"
"No," he replied. "I forgot them."
Three cheers for the place where you can leave your shoes somewhere and not realize it.
"No," he replied. "I forgot them."
Three cheers for the place where you can leave your shoes somewhere and not realize it.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
You might be a Hawaii voter if...
1. On your way home from work, you see 10 candidates standing with signs and a group of faithful followers. Sign + Aloha Shirt + Lei + Shaka = Votes.
2. You reflexively vote for the candidate with the most name recognition or the strongest Hawaii tie ("Barack Obama lived in Makiki and went to Punahou!")
3. When reading the voter guide, you read how Native Hawaiians "are being attack by 'Haoles'."
4. The incumbent mayor attacks his opponent's transit plan as a "half-baked manapua."
5. You know the results of the national races before the polls even close.
2. You reflexively vote for the candidate with the most name recognition or the strongest Hawaii tie ("Barack Obama lived in Makiki and went to Punahou!")
3. When reading the voter guide, you read how Native Hawaiians "are being attack by 'Haoles'."
4. The incumbent mayor attacks his opponent's transit plan as a "half-baked manapua."
5. You know the results of the national races before the polls even close.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Christianity and Politics
Sunday, November 2, 2008
God of this City
This morning, we closed our worship service by singing God in this City. We stood together and sang:
It was recorded by Chris Tomlin and the Passion worship band, but written by a band called Bluetree after traveling to Thailand. They had traveled to a place called Pattaya, home of 30,000 prostitutes (including many children), many probably sold into the sex trade. They had prayed for opportunities to speak into the lives of the people there. They were given an opportunity to play a two hour worship set in what amounted to a brothel. Out of brokenness of that place came this song.
We've sung it for a number of weeks now, and it always brings tears to my eyes to think of the brokenness and injustice in our world. Today, as we sang, my thoughts shifted to the election on Tuesday.
I've been thinking about it a lot lately. It's looking like we may very well have a President Obama. And it saddens me.
I'm not a person who thinks that God is a Republican. But I do very fervently believe that God hates abortion. I believe it is a great blot on our nation that over 40 million babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade. So, on Tuesday, I will be casting my vote for life.
I don't understand the injustice that takes place in the world. I don't understand why 27 million people are enslaved across the world today--many of them young women and children caught in the global sex trade. I don't understand why babies are routinely ripped from their mothers wombs. I don't understand why some of those that survive this attempt on their lives are then left to die. I don't understand why, if things continue to go the way they seem to be going, abortion will very likely become more and more common. I feel like crying, "Lord, how long?"
We are called to be God's hands and feet in the world--to love our neighbors. I believe that this love is shown in many ways. Having mercy for the poor in our country and across the globe. Building relationships with people who are hurting. Loving the orphan and the widow. Giving generously to those who work to counteract the injustice. Voting.
These things are all important. They provide hope for a broken world. But the ultimate hope for the world is not in meeting its physical needs. It is in the gospel of Christ. This world will remain broken; justice will not always be done in this life. In sending his son to pay for our sin, He gave us hope even in the brokenness. He is our hope. Not rulers. Not nations. Whatever happens, he has the world in His hands. He causes nations to rise and fall and appoints rulers. Whether or not we understand his purposes, He is the God of this City.
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're Lord Of this nation
You are
You're hope for the hopeless
You're light in the darkness
You're peace to the restless
You are
There is no one like our God
It was recorded by Chris Tomlin and the Passion worship band, but written by a band called Bluetree after traveling to Thailand. They had traveled to a place called Pattaya, home of 30,000 prostitutes (including many children), many probably sold into the sex trade. They had prayed for opportunities to speak into the lives of the people there. They were given an opportunity to play a two hour worship set in what amounted to a brothel. Out of brokenness of that place came this song.
We've sung it for a number of weeks now, and it always brings tears to my eyes to think of the brokenness and injustice in our world. Today, as we sang, my thoughts shifted to the election on Tuesday.
I've been thinking about it a lot lately. It's looking like we may very well have a President Obama. And it saddens me.
I'm not a person who thinks that God is a Republican. But I do very fervently believe that God hates abortion. I believe it is a great blot on our nation that over 40 million babies have been aborted since Roe v. Wade. So, on Tuesday, I will be casting my vote for life.
I don't understand the injustice that takes place in the world. I don't understand why 27 million people are enslaved across the world today--many of them young women and children caught in the global sex trade. I don't understand why babies are routinely ripped from their mothers wombs. I don't understand why some of those that survive this attempt on their lives are then left to die. I don't understand why, if things continue to go the way they seem to be going, abortion will very likely become more and more common. I feel like crying, "Lord, how long?"
We are called to be God's hands and feet in the world--to love our neighbors. I believe that this love is shown in many ways. Having mercy for the poor in our country and across the globe. Building relationships with people who are hurting. Loving the orphan and the widow. Giving generously to those who work to counteract the injustice. Voting.
These things are all important. They provide hope for a broken world. But the ultimate hope for the world is not in meeting its physical needs. It is in the gospel of Christ. This world will remain broken; justice will not always be done in this life. In sending his son to pay for our sin, He gave us hope even in the brokenness. He is our hope. Not rulers. Not nations. Whatever happens, he has the world in His hands. He causes nations to rise and fall and appoints rulers. Whether or not we understand his purposes, He is the God of this City.
The Fingerprints of God
It's amazing to see Ava these days. Developmentally, she is going gangbusters. She's doing so many new things: sitting up, babbling, trying to move forward, getting up on hands and knees, rolling all over the place, holding her own bottle, eating solid food, experimenting with a sippy cup.
Growing up is an amazing process. From the moment I first knew there was a life within me, to when I first saw her little hand on the ultrasound, to when I held her in my arms for the first time, to now, watching her continually try new things, I have been amazed at the God who designed her. I remember reading that scientists still don't know the impetus behind what makes that little group of cells grow and differentiate. If they look for explanations only in the material world, I don't think they ever will. I look at my little girl, how she has grown, and I see the fingerprints of God. He designed this process. I am in awe.
It is amazing to me that she just knows to try new things. She pushes her hands up off the floor, trying to sit up unassisted. She stretches and kicks her legs out behind her, trying to crawl. She babbles, trying to speak. She is wired to grow and develop and learn. I look at this beautiful creation, and I see the creator.
Growing up is an amazing process. From the moment I first knew there was a life within me, to when I first saw her little hand on the ultrasound, to when I held her in my arms for the first time, to now, watching her continually try new things, I have been amazed at the God who designed her. I remember reading that scientists still don't know the impetus behind what makes that little group of cells grow and differentiate. If they look for explanations only in the material world, I don't think they ever will. I look at my little girl, how she has grown, and I see the fingerprints of God. He designed this process. I am in awe.
It is amazing to me that she just knows to try new things. She pushes her hands up off the floor, trying to sit up unassisted. She stretches and kicks her legs out behind her, trying to crawl. She babbles, trying to speak. She is wired to grow and develop and learn. I look at this beautiful creation, and I see the creator.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Sippy Cup
After Ava began taking the bottle in her hands, I thought it might be time to introduce a sippy cup. I was actually surprised at how well she took to it. Mostly she likes chewing on the rubber spout; she can't quite tilt it up enough that she can drink from it. She did, however, figure out that if she leans backward she can get some liquid out of it (most of which dribbles out the other side of her mouth and onto her shirt or the table). It's a little bittersweet to see her gaining so much independence.
The Beach
The winter rains have begun to set in, so the past two weekends have been somewhat rainy. It's been a welcome change, but we haven't really gotten out of the house much. When the sun shone through the clouds this afternoon, we decided to head to the beach for Ava's first dip in the ocean.
I really wanted to get a picture of her on the actual beach, in the sand. I was determined. I was pleased with the result, but immediately after I took it, she filled her mouth with sand. We gave her a drink out of our water bottle to try to wash it out.
Afterward, we lathered her up with sunblock and put her in the water. The following picture sums up her reaction:
The water was a little cold for her liking I guess. Daniel tried three different times to dip her feet in the water, but she wasn't having any of it. She's so easygoing about most things, but all of a sudden it was like we had a different baby.
She seemed genuinely angry with Daniel. She snuggled in close to me, and wouldn't look at him. Hopefully not a preview of things to come.
I really wanted to get a picture of her on the actual beach, in the sand. I was determined. I was pleased with the result, but immediately after I took it, she filled her mouth with sand. We gave her a drink out of our water bottle to try to wash it out.
Afterward, we lathered her up with sunblock and put her in the water. The following picture sums up her reaction:
The water was a little cold for her liking I guess. Daniel tried three different times to dip her feet in the water, but she wasn't having any of it. She's so easygoing about most things, but all of a sudden it was like we had a different baby.
She seemed genuinely angry with Daniel. She snuggled in close to me, and wouldn't look at him. Hopefully not a preview of things to come.
Since you asked...
I know I've been posting a lot of videos, but Ava is just doing so much cute stuff. And this one is by request.
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