Think Pink.

We found out today there is 95 percent probability that our little one will be a girl!
Since Dan couldn't make the ultrasound appointment, I had the tech write it down and seal it in an envelope for future reference. Tonight the kids broke the news to us.

May I have the envelope, please?

Drew was less than thrilled.

Her wish came true.

This was the first time we find out prior to birth what gender our baby would be. I had mixed emotions about finding out. I guess I am a little old fashioned about some things, but it was a really cute-sy family moment having the kids discover what their sibling is going to be.

20 weeks down, 20 to go.

Paul knoweth.

We read this verse from Romans in Coffee Break a couple weeks back. If you wondered, Coffee Break is a women's ministry at my church and we have been studying living in God's Grace.

from Romans chapter 7, the good ol' New International Version

15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
umm...kay. Confusing? I had to read it through, and read it again even slower to get the gist.
The words struck a chord with me, sort of.

Then I read the same verse in another version-- The Message--stick with me here.

14-16I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

17-20But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

21-23It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

24I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

25The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

I read this and thought, "Paul is in my head!" He wrote these words and he should have just said, "Michelle, this one is for you." It can be a helpless feeling when my Christian intentions get fouled up by sin.
I have often thought, "Oops, I did it again" That is putting it mildly.
More accurate would be, "Crap! Why do I keep boofing it up like this?!"

Jesus Christ can and did set things right in this life of contradictions...HIS victory over sin is the Grace that frees us from our sinful actions time and time again. As our coffee break lesson reminded me, I can always dip into the well of forgiveness, it is unlimited, even for the same darn mistake I continue to make.

It shouldn't, but sometimes it amazes me how relevant the Bible is. This time it took a different translation to bring it home for me. Thank you, Bible Gateway.com

I WANT THAT!!!

Lately my children have been exclaiming this at all the TV advertisements for various junk toys and quite possibly lead contaminated play things.

It brings me back to the days when I was a kid living in the country and my neighbors would do the same. We would be watching some cartoon and during the commercial they would shout out,

"We're gettin' that!"

and most of the time, they did. Including but not limited to an above ground swimming pool.

I'm sorry to say that things have not changed much since what was probably 1984.
Toy companies still peddle their goods during children's programming at what is I'm sure an even more obnoxious level.
I follow the blog of a gal trying to simplify her lifestyle. Part of doing this calls for her to try and ban all TV commercials from her home. She does not enjoy all the character themes found on so many kids items. You can hardly buy a box of cereal or even a pair of shoes for a kid today without it screaming SpongeBob or Disney Princess. She does not want her children to be advertisements for a big company.

Do I agree with her? Not so much. While I'm not thrilled that young consumerists are developing within my household, I can't completely avoid (read:shelter) kids from all the goodies the world has to offer. Teaching moderation and gratitude in a real world context, not granting their every wish seems more realistic than a complete wipe out of all temptation.

Yes, it is Christmas time again and kids are bombarded with what can be theirs if only they ask (and be really nice, not naughty). A hot issue here? Surely it is.

So what do I do when my kids scream out "I WANT THAT!" ???
I just tell them, "Go ask Grandma."

I'm kidding. Don't get your undies in a bunch.

I'm still alive & kickin'

rather, I'm the one getting kicked.
The past two weeks our little one has made his/her presence known by wiggling and kicking. Coming soon we will have the opportunity via ultrasound to see if it is a boy or a girl. (although we haven't decided if we want to know) My kids have been offering up some name ideas most of which have not been great. Angel, Blossom, another Dewey, Bunny, Almanzo to name a few. Chase can only come up with names of kids in his class, and Joy's suggested names, well, sound like a stage name for an exotic dancer. sigh.

So the name game continues.

Much to be thankful for this season. Work for Dan, health, community, family are just the tip of the iceberg. Happy Thanksgiving and I pray you will enjoy the upcoming preparations for the celebration of Christ's Birth!

I hope to blog more frequently this month as there is always much going on in my mind and in my heart!

Love to all this day!

the Internet. Friend or Foe?

Yes, this is another post on the ever tantalizing topic of food.

I have a habit of checking the ingredients list of foods I eat. I understand some of the ingredients and additives, others I can hardly pronounce. I recently explained to Dan that high fructose corn syrup is really just another sugar. He was amazed yet unaffected.
We all know the bad stuff:
Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
Aspartame
MSG
But they are all acceptable for human consumption as regulated by the FDA.

Today I was struggling to put together some kind of lunch. I spotted Ramen Noodles. High in yumminess, higher in MSG.

I decided to hop on the ol' information super highway to see just what all the fuss is about. One website said avoid MSG all the time, another stated after scientific research, MSG was not found to cross the placental barrier, therefore no worries to your unborn baby.

Huh?

Sometimes internet information is more confusing than it is helpful.
I decided to eat just the noodles, not the broth.

What is a misguided, pregnant, hungry girl to do?

A Day for Dental Decay.

Halloween time is here. My kids are really excited this year, I am afraid they may just keep a closer eye on their candy and I may not be able to dip into the bounty!

The horror!

Pumpkin math at School:




Some photos of the pumpkin carving extravaganza:




Good Times.