Two things that don't usually go together... GAP and yard sales. They do go together for me though. Now that I am actually getting a little bit bigger, I am beginning to need a few more maternity things, liek long tops that cover the maternity pants so that I don't look silly for work. My best finds have been at yard sales and GAP. For example, I found two very cute dresses and a nice shirt at GAP. The total bill was $21. At yard sales, I have found two pairs of jeans, two dresses, and a few long tops. The total bill: $10.
Hurray for cheap maternity!
Oh, and I am going to post something more substantial later. I was away this weekend at a Women's retreat for church and it was very good.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Katie and Little Boy on a Trip to Disneyland
Part #2 in the "trip" series:
Today, Katie and little boy went to Disneyland. Wow, what a lucky kid! A trip to Disneyland and not even born yet!
We woke up a wee bit later than usual and had a nice workout before hitting the road. Feeling nice and relaxed, we parked and entered the park to meet some of Katie's friends from work.
For a few hours, we wandered around the park. It was a busy day because all of the local elementary schools were on Spring Break.
The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean. This was very fun and Baby slept most of the time. The we went to the Haunted Mansion. The shrieks and screams may have been a bit too much for Baby, but it was all over in no time. Later Katie got to practice being mommy and held everyones belongings when they rode on Big Thunder Mountain (not a good ride for Katie and Baby- or so the sign said).
After the park, we went to the ESPN zone to play games and eat. Katie showed everyone that she was still in pretty good shape, when she won a round of basketball in the Game Center. :)
All in all, it was just a lovely, stress-free day outside in the park. 75 degrees and perfectly clear. And, best of all, FREE!
Today, Katie and little boy went to Disneyland. Wow, what a lucky kid! A trip to Disneyland and not even born yet!We woke up a wee bit later than usual and had a nice workout before hitting the road. Feeling nice and relaxed, we parked and entered the park to meet some of Katie's friends from work.
For a few hours, we wandered around the park. It was a busy day because all of the local elementary schools were on Spring Break.
The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean. This was very fun and Baby slept most of the time. The we went to the Haunted Mansion. The shrieks and screams may have been a bit too much for Baby, but it was all over in no time. Later Katie got to practice being mommy and held everyones belongings when they rode on Big Thunder Mountain (not a good ride for Katie and Baby- or so the sign said).
After the park, we went to the ESPN zone to play games and eat. Katie showed everyone that she was still in pretty good shape, when she won a round of basketball in the Game Center. :)
All in all, it was just a lovely, stress-free day outside in the park. 75 degrees and perfectly clear. And, best of all, FREE!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Little Boy at 20 weeks
Here is our little guy at 20 weeks. He is laying on his back with the head on the left side. You should be able to see the nose and mouth. He also has a little tummy. I think I recognize the round head as belonging to Nathan. :)Monday, April 7, 2008
Snips, and Snails, and Puppy Dog tails....
Yes, that is what little boys are made of!
Our ultrasound this morning confirmed it. We are having a little boy. So far everything looks good too. All the parts are there and the spine is nicely aligned. We got to see his little feet, with little toes, kicking me. The baby weighs about 13oz., which is actually a little bit big for 20 weeks. Yikes!
Our ultrasound this morning confirmed it. We are having a little boy. So far everything looks good too. All the parts are there and the spine is nicely aligned. We got to see his little feet, with little toes, kicking me. The baby weighs about 13oz., which is actually a little bit big for 20 weeks. Yikes!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Children in the Church Today- Part #2
" When we consider the question of church attendance, and Holy Communion, and prayer at home, we must have in mind not only the immediate result, but also a long-term view: what is the best preparation for this child to live a Christian life in this world? What will sow in the child a spiritually healthy attitude to Christ, to the Church, and to the sacraments? What will help him/her to preserve until adulthood the desire to know Christ and have communion with him? Sometimes children attend church very often and yet inwardly they are rebelling and rejecting grace. Some athiests were brought up in pious families."
In reading this, I was very impressed. This is such a refreshing view; that we are working to help the child to "desire to know Christ and have communion with him." We are not trying to make it to every service, or impose certain expectations on a child. Rather, we are trying to teach them to love Christ. This makes me think of the verses in Ephesians exhorting parents to not exasperate their children. This does not mean of course that we sleep in on Sundays instead of going to church, but it does make the point that we are dealing with a unique human life, and we need to maintain a long-term view.
In reading this, I was very impressed. This is such a refreshing view; that we are working to help the child to "desire to know Christ and have communion with him." We are not trying to make it to every service, or impose certain expectations on a child. Rather, we are trying to teach them to love Christ. This makes me think of the verses in Ephesians exhorting parents to not exasperate their children. This does not mean of course that we sleep in on Sundays instead of going to church, but it does make the point that we are dealing with a unique human life, and we need to maintain a long-term view.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Stations of the Cross
Usually a Catholic tradition nowadays, we, as a Western Orthodox Church also celebrate the Stations of the Cross during the lenten season every Wednesday night. We walk through the stations after a 7pm liturgy (which most people fast for beforehand so that they can receive communion). The Stations are not a long service, but after not eating since noon, and an hour of liturgy, our wills often become weak, and thoughts of dinner and rest nearly overwhelm us.
It is at this time, however, that some of the most beautiful words are spoken and prayed, and if we listen, we come away renewed and with a deeper understanding of the Lord's suffering. We also come away with some greater knowledge of ourselves. It is a kind of knowledge that only comes through such an experience; a spiritual meditation of the cross, crossing oneself and bowing, praying, and hearing healing words. The soul and the body putting forth effort together.
When I was a little girl, I prayed that God would show me what his suffering meant; why Easter was so special. It took me until my first lent in the Orthodox Church to really make any headway in this. It took the effort of these long services where we, in our own small way, partook in the sufferings of Christ. That is what I had always been missing- the partaking in Christ's suffering before his resurrection. He calls us to die with him, that we might rise. If we do not die during a preapratory period like lent, the resurrection does not have the same depth or "gravitas," as a friend of ours likes to call it.
On the Easter morning after my first journey through lent, I was filled with such a joy. Christ had risen! Actually, the Hymn "He is Risen!" woke me up, like the Spirit of the Lord coming to announce his resurrection again, afresh. I was so joyful that day and cried as we rang the bells at Church in celebration. Many people did actually, it was hard not to. My emotions matched by desire to know the resurrection that day.
The lenten periods where I have fasted and made the spiritual effort have been the times when the resurrection meant the most. Though this year, my fast is different ( I am not restricting diet so much, except sweets), I need to make a similar effort towards His glorious appearing.
Anyways, I anow off track with my original thought- that of the Stations. Here is an excerpt that caught my eye last night. May it be a blessing to all.
It is at this time, however, that some of the most beautiful words are spoken and prayed, and if we listen, we come away renewed and with a deeper understanding of the Lord's suffering. We also come away with some greater knowledge of ourselves. It is a kind of knowledge that only comes through such an experience; a spiritual meditation of the cross, crossing oneself and bowing, praying, and hearing healing words. The soul and the body putting forth effort together.
When I was a little girl, I prayed that God would show me what his suffering meant; why Easter was so special. It took me until my first lent in the Orthodox Church to really make any headway in this. It took the effort of these long services where we, in our own small way, partook in the sufferings of Christ. That is what I had always been missing- the partaking in Christ's suffering before his resurrection. He calls us to die with him, that we might rise. If we do not die during a preapratory period like lent, the resurrection does not have the same depth or "gravitas," as a friend of ours likes to call it.
On the Easter morning after my first journey through lent, I was filled with such a joy. Christ had risen! Actually, the Hymn "He is Risen!" woke me up, like the Spirit of the Lord coming to announce his resurrection again, afresh. I was so joyful that day and cried as we rang the bells at Church in celebration. Many people did actually, it was hard not to. My emotions matched by desire to know the resurrection that day.
The lenten periods where I have fasted and made the spiritual effort have been the times when the resurrection meant the most. Though this year, my fast is different ( I am not restricting diet so much, except sweets), I need to make a similar effort towards His glorious appearing.
Anyways, I anow off track with my original thought- that of the Stations. Here is an excerpt that caught my eye last night. May it be a blessing to all.
From Station 10: Jesus is stripped of his garments-
Behold the Lord who clothed the world in beauty, who
now submits, for love of man, to all man’s hatred. He is
stripped of His clothing and prepared for the Cross.
P. HOLY GOD, HOLY MIGHTY, HOLY IMMORTAL,
R. HAVE MERCY UPON US.
P. THEY GAVE ME ALSO GALL FOR MY MEAT:
R. AND IN MY THIRST THEY GAVE ME VINEGAR TO DRINK.
Let us pray.
O BLESSED LORD JESUS, now prepared for the gallows tree;
Help us to strip off all false pride and to be clothed with sincerity
of heart: Let love rule in our hearts and fill them so that no
room remains for anger; let us rejoice in the success of others, and
pray for them in their shortcomings, that we have no room for the
cloak of envy; for lust, give us singleness of purpose; that all our
desires may be lived in the pure crucible of this Thy holy sacrifice;
Grant us for greed a love of holy poverty; for sloth a holy industry;
for gluttony a wholesome discipline; that resisting all temptations of
the world, the flesh, and the devil, we may live in faith, through
hope, with love by Thee, who now livest and reignest with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Disneyland!!!
Yay! I got an email today from our Office Manager saying that we were having an end-of-busy-season party all day at Disneyland. How fun! We get to take a whole day off, and they are providing a meal for us too at the ESPN zone. :) Last year the party was an Angel's game. Not that I don't just love the Angels, but this year sounds much better.
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