Mar 11, 2009 | Baby Photos, Scotland
So, as previously mentioned, I snagged this Top Ten idea from my soon-to-be brother in law. I love it! And imitation is the highest form of flattery. Thanks Andy! You rock.
We are safely and happily back in our own place in Edinburgh. And it’s good to be here. Â I thought I would compile a nice treat for you — a few reasons why it’s great to be back in the land of pipes, kilts, castles, Nessie, and the most wonderful and difficult to capture accent I’ve come across in all my 27 years.
{Isn’t Scotland bonnie?}
10. This Sunday, I walked to church in the pouring-down-heavy-snow, and walked home in the sunshine! All the more chances for Asher to wear his fabulous H&M snowsuit! And me to sport my favourite earmuffs.
9. I saw a bloke crossing the street in a kilt with a gallon of milk yesterday. You don’t see that in every day in Venezuela!
8. I missed getting a regular dose of Polish while grocery shopping at Tesco.
7. This is a beautiful, beautiful country, seriously. It’s a good thing the weather’s rubbish or else everyone would move to Scotland!
6. I missed getting a regular dose of Hindi or Punjabi while grocery shopping at Tesco.
5. My hair straighteners are British and they don’t work in America.
4. Some exciting stuff is happening at CentrePoint Church, and I’m glad to be here and be a part of it!
3. In a couple of months, I’ll never be far from a lone piper rocking out “Flower of Scotland” should I be inclined to stop for a listen. And if I wait a while, he might make transition to a song from Star Wars or the Lion King. Seriously.
2. I’m only a short drive away from Glasgow, where folk’ll “set aboot ya” if yer getting tae be a bit roo’dy.
1. I’m nae tired of learning the language o’er here — ya kin?
xCC
Mar 3, 2009 | Baby Photos, Top Ten Lists
I’ve been a parent for about six months now, and I really think it rocks! Here’s my first crack at an inexperienced parent’s top ten reasons why having a wee one is cool bananas.
10. Examining poopy diapers has become a special discussion Mark and I can share.
9. Traveling is so much better: We get to board the plane first, no one gets mad if we’re in the wrong passport line (at least not in South Africa), and sometimes we even get rushed through security if the baby’s crying (but I still get patted down, thanks.)
8. I no longer need to set my alarm clock.
7. I finally have someone to laugh at all my jokes! (As long as I add in a goofy face at the end). And he likes my singing, too!
6. The British government is hooking us up with like 18 pounds a week just for having a kid in Scotland. (Mark is a British taxpayer, mind you.)
5. We’ve decided to cancel our TV license because the baby is so entertaining. (And we can watch stuff on iTunes and hulu).
4. Two Words. Tax Deduction.
3. I’ve been reaquainted with my childhood affection for dressing and undressing baby dolls. And this one really laughs and cries and pees and poops!
2. Listening to your baby laugh and coo, and seeing him smile at you, is an incredible incredible blessing. (Awwwwww….)
And the number one reason parenthood is the best thing going…
1. I no longer need to search the world for the fountain of youth! I find it regularly when changing diapers.
xCC
Feb 24, 2009 | Baby Photos, Stories
The primary supervisor for my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, Professor Marcella Althaus-Reid, passed away last week. Argentinian, she was an incredibly spirited, passionate person. She was dedicated to academia and cared deeply for her students. Although our differences in Theology were deep and wide, I think we met in the middle because of our faith in the Lord.
Dr. Althaus-Reid fell ill again in 2007 and was away from the University on an extended absence. During that time we were out of contact, and I never got to share with her the great news about Asher’s birth, or photos of him. Long before I was pregnant, she once told me, “You will never regret to put your family first.” [I hope you can hear the lovely latino accent there.] I hope to hold on to that wise advice for the rest of my days.
I include below a picture of Asher that I wish I’d been able to share with her. Thank the Lord for opportunities to interact with people who are radically different from you, but who share a common bond in love for the Lord Jesus. Seize the opportunities such relationships bring to grow, to learn and to challenge yourself to really think about why you believe what you believe. You might see Jesus’ love in places you never expected.
xCC
Feb 19, 2009 | Baby Photos, The Good Word
I think a lot of people really love babies because they seem to have so much freedom. I mean, I really love how free Asher is. Â He can spit up on people, and they don’t care. He cries when they walk up, and they just think “shame, he needs a nap.” He poops in the car when we’re hurrying somewhere, and who can blame him? We were at a special baptismal service with about 150 people when he let one rip BIG STYLE a couple months ago, and not one person was offended. However, one guy a couple rows up was shaking uncontrollably trying to keep himself from bursting out laughing. I mean, look at this face — is this the face of responsibility?
I think, though that there’s a deeper freedom we long for as human beings, and it’s not just the freedom to poop in public. Martin Luther King, Jr. and millions of other folks, have quoted Jesus as saying “The truth will set you free.” Â But I don’t think some knowledge of the truth will automatically, magically change your life. And I don’t think I’m disagreeing with Scripture here.
Jesus actually said, (talking to the Jews who had believed him) “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(John 8:31 & 32) So essentially, it’s not just about me seeking to know the Truth in order to find the ability to walk with freedom every day.
The Amplified Bible says it this way: “If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.” I easily get caught up in the Western way of thinking, assuming that gaining knowledge is going to bring about transformation in me. But it’s actually in the application of that knowledge that I will really find the kind of freedom Jesus was talking about. If I do what He said to do, and only say the things He would want me to say, then I’m His follower, and His truth is going to change me.
In the meantime, I look forward to enjoying Asher’s temporary ‘freedoms’ for a while longer. But I hope to train him to know the true freedom that comes from doing what Jesus said.
The Sermon in a Nutshell: Doing the truth brings freedom. I suppose the meaning and significance of freedom is a topic for another day. But in the meantime, don’t worry. I won’t be pooping in church anytime soon.
xCC
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