Wednesday, June 25, 2008

What I Was Going To Say Yesterday

I read on a blog somewhere (I think it was a feminist blog I came across when doing a Google search for Michelle Duggar...) about women and their gravestones. The author was saying how sad she finds it when she goes through graveyards and sees all these wonderful epitaphs written for men, and then underneath, all that is mentioned of the woman is 'She was a good wife'. I agreed with her at the time. How sad! I thought. Why don't women get glorious epitaphs about their bravery, hard work and countless accomplishments?

A few days ago, when the weather was still nice, I put Fifi in her stroller and walked down to the graveyard where her great-gran is buried. I passed many stones as I made my way to Gran's, reading them, and feeling sorry for the women who were remembered for so little...

We came to Gran's stone. It reads, 'A faithful wife and loving mother.' I thought about the stone, and all the work that she put into designing it before her death. She knew what shape headstone she wanted, what kind of stone, and most importantly, what she wanted it to say. She chose carefully those words: A faithful wife and loving mother.

I realised something.

Maybe so many women want to be remembered for these very things. Maybe it isn't misogyny, but actually preference. I started to think about what I'd like mine to say. I realised my gravestone will probably be nearly identical to Gran's. What are the most important things to me in my life? What hard work, bravery and accomplishments mean the most to me? Without question, the hardest work I've ever done, the most bravery I've ever shown and hopefully the greatest accomplishments of my life will have been being a faithful wife, a loving mother and a sincere follower of Christ. Why mention anything else? What else in my life means more?

Some women may want a different epitaph. Some women may want other achievements remembered, or maybe they never were wives or mothers. But I'll no longer think it an insult when I read the epitaphs of women who truly wanted nothing more than to be the best they could at the roles they filled while on this earth.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

I think our resident germs have left the building, thankfully.

As for what I originally came on here to post about, that will have to wait as Fifi is throwing a hissy fit. Argh.

Will post during her nap, if possible, and if time permits. Nap time today must also include me doing the filing, working on my taxes, filling out forms and requesting documents. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

Sunday, June 22, 2008

It's Just Not Fair

Since I've been pregnant, I've suffered two massive colds and a stomach bug. Scott now has the stomach bug. He's also had the colds. Fifi seems to be avoiding the brunt of these, but she's gotten little bits of sickness here and there too.

There should be a law of nature that doesn't let pregnant women get sick during pregnancy. It just sucks too bad.

I'm finally (I think) recovered from the stomach bug, but I'm still reluctant to eat too much lest it rear it's very ugly head again, and Scott and I really don't want to fight over who gets to puke in the toilet first.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Yesterday Was a Good Day

Clever title, yes? Lots of thought went into that one.

Yes, aside from the HORRENDOUS night Fifi gave us (put down to sleep at 7.30, cried incessantly until 10 and then woke us up at 5), yesterday was good. Lots of goodness in the day of yester.

It started out with a phone call from my midwife from Fifi's birth. Without going into all the details, we basically worked out a plan to be able to hire her again for this next birth! I can't believe how God has provided for us in this way. I've been feeling so stuck (between a rock and a hard place, as they say) concerning this birth; between trying to have a homebirth with the NHS or attempting a hospital birth with the NHS, both of which were going to be very scary and/or difficult situations, and really desperately wanting Allison again, whom we simply could not figure out how we could possibly afford. But as I said, Allison has unbelievably kindly worked out a deal with us, and God, of course, orchestrating all, and now, it looks like I really will get my homebirth!

After the phone call, I headed off to my TinyTalk class. It wasn't exceptionally busy or anything, but I had a great day. I handed out feedback forms and got some very positive feedback. Plus, the lesson plan for this week was just a lot of fun (weather signs and songs) and the kids and mums seemed to really enjoy it too.

After that, Andy and Marion (Scott's parents) treated me to lunch 'doon eh splash' (that means down the Esplanade), and who'd have thought a slice roll with spicy onions could be so good?!

Later that night, I picked Scott up from work, dropped him and Fifi off at the house, then drove to my wedding stationery appointment! A woman (who is, by the way, Scotland's Woman of the Year) is renewing her vows, and she's hired me to do her stationery. It was great discussing the invitations with her, and I'm so excited to get started. I ordered all the materials last night and will be getting started as soon as they all arrive. I'm really excited; her cards are going to look so good! (If I do say so myself...)

So yes, yesterday was a good day.

Today? Well, it started at 5am and already at 9 the floor is covered in Rice Krispies and toast, so we'll see about today.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Via Email

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.

Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote 'Revelation 3:20' on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, 'Genesis 3:10.'

Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' Genesis 3:10 reads, 'I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.'

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Mystery

It's always disconcerting to see blood on your child's hand and face and have no idea where it came from.

Fifi came down stairs all smiles, but with blood smeared everywhere. I thought maybe she'd fallen earlier and burst her lip or something, but there was no sign of damage anywhere in her mouth. I checked her hands, her tummy, even my own hands and face, but found no trace of a cut.

Finally, a little later, I notice fresh blood on her forefinger. It was two perfectly parallel cuts, like a razor cut. I felt terrible, thinking I must've left my razor out, and she had found it. But I went upstairs to search the bathroom, and my razor was still up high on the shelf, with the cap on. No other razors were in sight. I only use one at a time, and Scott uses an electric razor. So basically I have no idea what she did to herself.

I remember when I was little, I'd take my mom's razor down from the shower shelf and play with it. I had no idea it was sharp. And then, after my bath, I'd discover little parallel, double-lined cuts all over me. I never knew where they came from. It took years to piece together that puzzle.

It now starts again with my progeny.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Second Year Stuff

I feel bad that I've been so negative towards this phase Fifi is in. She is difficult right now, but she's not all bad. There are so many lovely things about this stage. So I'm going to jot a couple down.

1. She's learning to play pretend. It is adorable to see her give her dollies a drink and hear her go 'smack smack smack' as she feeds them. She also has learned to 'nurse' her dollies - though she does it through her belly button! It's not just dollies, either. Animals, trucks, anything she can attach a persona too gets to drink or eat out of her kitchen set.

2. She's saying lots of words and doing lots of new signs. She says loads of things, surprising us constantly. She said 'dirty' yesterday when she got dirt on her hands, and she signed 'banana' a few mornings ago when she woke up. She also learned the word and the sign for cow, which she is now very interested in.

3. We took her to a safari park on Friday, and she was old enough to be fascinated by the animals. There was a petting zoo and she got to feed a goat. Oh, and as a side note, as we drove through the wild animal reserve, a massive male lion approached our car and peed on it.

4. She understands instructions. When she's in an agreeable mood, she'll do a lot of what you say. Half the time I can't believe she knew what I was talking about! But she helps pick up her toys, usually without any objection, she'll shut doors, she'll get her nappies, and she'll say yes or no to foods or toys, making it easier to know what she actually wants.

5. She's eating a lot more. Nowadays (especially since she can say yes or no) she'll eat almost anything I give her, as long as she hasn't said no when I suggested it. She ate a whole bowl of rice krispies this morning. Yay!

6. She loves cats and babies and is learning to be 'gentle' when she touches them. I think she is still taken off guard when they move on their own, though, as if she expects them to be inanimate like her toys. She pet a cat on Friday, and when it moved away, she looked absolutely shocked. She exclaimed, 'Oh! Cat!' with a certain disbelief on her face.

There are other lovely things, but that's all I've time for now. Breakfast (chocolate and custard pastries) are ready and Scott is STILL not up. SCOTT, FOR THE LAST TIME, WAKE UP! :)