Oh the Cleverness of Her

For an Evening Service

This hymn is suitable for

the Vigil of the Enlightenment

~.~

The day that Nature gave is ending,

the hand of Man turns on the light;

We praise thee, Progress, for defending

Our nerves against the dreadful night.

~.~

As o'er each continent and island

The switches spread synthetic day

The noise of mirth is never silent,

Nor dies the strain of toil away.

~.~

We thank thee that thy speed incessant

Provides upon this whirling ball

No time to brood on things unpleasant --

No time, in fact, to think at all.

~.~

Secure amid the soothing riot

Of crank and sound track, plane and car,

We shall not be condemned to quiet,

Nor left alone with what we are.

~.~

By lavish and progressive measures

Our neighbor's wants are all relieved;

We are not called to share his pleasures

And in his grief we are not grieved.

~.~

They winged wheels o'erspan the oceans,

Machining out the Standard Man.

Our food, our learning, our emotions

Are processed for us in the can.

~.~

All bars of color, caste and nation

Must yield to movies and the mike;

We need not seek communication,

For thou dost make us all alike.

~.~

So be it! let not sleep nor slackness

Impede thy Progress, Light sublime;

Nor ever let us glimpse the blackness

That yawns behind the gates of Time.

(Tune: St. Clement)

By Dorothy Sayers

Isn't he precious? 

So This is Better than Back Alley Abortions?

A fetus eating abortionist is finally shut down in Kansas City, Kansas. If you are squeamish, don't click on the links to the pictures.

This is like something out of a nightmare.

Silly Survey

A is for Age – 44 – I never could understand the need to be coy about my age.
B is for Booze – Wine coolers like Rockaberry – I’m a cheap drunk.
C is for Career – Wife/mother/homeschooler first, kinesionics practitioner, second
D is for Dad’s name – James Robert Hannah
E is for Essential items to bring to a party– Food, glorious food.
F is for Favorite song – Psalm 63
H is for Hometown –Attleboro, Massachusetts–they say you can never go back, so I haven’t.
I is for Instrument you play - a bit of piano and very ill indeed
J is for Jam or Jelly you like – Raspberry jam or my mom’s strawberry freezer jam
K is for Kids – six boys and six girls
L is for Living arrangement – huh? Single family dwelling?
M is for Mom’s name – Constance Ann Savoy
N is for Names of best friends – Willena, Theresa, hmmm, Patricia (from my childhood) and Lynn (from my teen years)
O is for overnight hospital stays –only for having babies and what a stupid idea that was!
P is for Phobias – Terrified of my kids falling from high places
Q is for Quote you like - “ "History has never been dominated by majorities, but only by dedicated minorities who stand unconditionally on their faith." R.J. Rushdoony
R is for Relationship that lasted longest – My parents? I’ve known them the longest and it is still going strong.
S for Siblings – One sister -- Darlene
U is for Unique trait – I am a unique individual – just like everyone else :oP
V is for Vegetable you love – Edible pod peas – the fatter and juicier, the better. I also love steamed golden zucchini with butter and a sprinkle of Spike
W is for Wisdom you have been given – Find your happiness in Christ alone.
X - is for XRays you’ve had – Teeth, nose,ankle
Y is for Yummy food you make – everything I make is yummy.
Z is for Zoo Animal You Enjoy Watching - Chimpanzees

Firsts:
First job – Waitressed at Forestell’s Truck Stop
First funeral – My maternal grandfather’s when I was in grade 2
First piercing – Ears only and twice. I think I was about 13 or 14 the first time, and 43 the second time.
First tattoo – do the kind that come in bubblegum count?
First credit card – Visa – still haven’t used it.
First kiss – Mom? Dad?
First enemy – The kid who pulled out a chunk of Darlene’s hair. I could have cheefully have done bodily damage to that kid.
First favorite band – The Bee Gees

Lasts:

Last kiss – I can’t stop kissing the newest man in my life!
Last beverage drank – water – gallons of it. Takes a lot to feed this boy!
Last food eaten – some nachos to tide me over until supper is ready
Last phone call – My neighbor wanting to come for a visit and see James.
Last shower you attended – Baby shower for Geneva Carrico
Last CD played – Switchfoot? Great Big Sea? Telecast? I can’t remember but it was one of those three
Last website visited – Jody Soles’ blog – the place I got this survey, hahah.

What/Who do you miss? My mom and dad and my sister and her family. I think they should move out here.
Hair color: dark brown with Egyptian plum overtones.
Eye color: brown
What makes you sad?: too many things to mention.
Are you happy?: Top of the world now that baby is here. :o)

I'm Not a Poetess...

...but if I were, I would write a poem about

little curly ears

cheeks as sweet as a ripe peach

breath as soft as a whisper

delectable scent of newborn babe

cries that pierce the heart with wonder

taste of milky kisses

no treasure that can compare

Baby Toes are Sweet 

I've Been Tagged!

Thanks to the wonders of wireless networks and laptop computers, I am able to continue a life of ease from my bedroom while James and I engage in a baby lovefest. (Isn't it amazing the way you can spend hours just gazing at a newborn and doing nothing else?)

Q. Most books I have ever owned:

Goodness! It would have to be in the thousands. I have stacks of boxes and rubbermaid containers in the attic that contain my treasures, not to mention the bookcases that line one wall and which are filled with books I have collected over the years for homeschooling purposes. I do go through them on a fairly regular basis (like every couple of years) and cull out the ones that are no longer necessary, but the collection still grows. Books are a resource and an investment in my view. I also own a good thousand books of Puritan and Reformed classics on CD which I got from Still Waters Revival Books . It is a much more compact way of collecting books and requires less storage space, but you do need a computer to read them unless you print them out.

Some of the books represent stages of study I have been through. I have several boxes of books that represent my "doula and possible midwife stage" when I was actively doing labor support for women and learning to be a midwife's second. I even contemplated taking up midwifery as a career for a brief time and own a number of midwifery textbooks, books on breastfeeding, doula work, postpartum, etc. However, it is a very taxing calling when you are raising a family, and after seeing the number of marriage casualties and bitter children that resulted from midwives who didn't know when to balance their calling as wives and mothers with that of midwifery, I decided that I didn't want that much stress in my life.

Probably my biggest collection right now centers on natural healing methods because of the area of work I finally dedicated myself to.

Q. The last book I bought:

Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You To Know About by Kevin Trudeau. This book lays out how the big money interests in modern western medicine in collusion with the US federal government and the scientists they fund help to keep natural, non-toxic alternative forms of treatment out of the hands of consumers by making them illegal, or by discrediting them through poorly designed studies and news releases. Think about it -- do doctors and pharmaceutical companies make money when you are well? Cancer and AIDS support huge numbers of people in what has become an industry in its own right.

Q. The last book I read:

A Presumption of Death by Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy Sayers

Q. Five books that mean the most to me:

I guess another way of answering this is to say which five books would I want with me on a desert island? With one notable exception, I would say this is the most difficult question to answer. So many books have been of great help to me. Some have opened up my mind to new concepts that helped me and others. So many entertained me and gave me needed rest in times of stress. So many provided answers to things I needed to know.

The Bible -- In dire straits or good straits, you always need encouragement, strength, wisdom and connection to the source of your life.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -- this is the quintessential book for me that exemplifies everything that was ever wonderful about Canada and the innocence of girlhood. I read this book many times over the years when I was feeling jaded about life and it never failed to restore me.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis -- He may not have been reformed, but he was one of the best communicators of Christian thought that has ever written, imho.

The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink -- what a Sunday School teacher started in my conversion from Arminianism to the more Biblical Calvinism, Pink completed. This book turned my whole view of Scripture and God on its head and made reading the Bible a whole new adventure. Knowledge of the doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty also forms the foundation of my life, my peace, my salvation, and my sanctification.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible -- ok, there are 6 volumes but this is what I use on a daily basis for my private and family worship. Lots of profound thoughts and life-changing comments from a godly man.

Birth Story

This is the closest to my due date I have ever come -- just one day past. I attribute this to the fact that for the past year or two I have been working on and resolving a lot of issues that likely caused "emotional dystocia" in the past. This time I had no issues to deal with (which felt very peculiar and unfamiliar, but also very freeing) and I was even free of the usual stress about waiting and nesting in that I typically experience. It was like I couldn't get motivated to clean or cook to prepare for this baby. The difference this time was that I forced myself to do some cooking a week before with the help of my good friend, Milly, and only a day or two before James was born, I had a sudden compulsion to stock the fridge and freezer instead of doing this six weeks ahead of time and fretting the whole time I was doing it.

Thursday (my due date) was spent doing a huge grocery shopping and I filled the freezer and three fridges with food. I told my dh, "I am cooking andcan't seem to stop!"

Friday I woke up and had a slight pinkish tinge to my flow which made me go"hmmmm." I also noticed a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions but nothing serious. Later that afternoon I had a midwifery appointment and had the mw do a VE to check how things were. There was nothing to indicate anything was imminent and I resigned myself to at least another week or so of pregnancy.

I took my daughter Bethany to the mall to buy some earrings and we enjoyed a mother/daughter time having lunch and an ice cream before I headed home. When I got home, I was tired, was feeling cranky, and wanted my house clean. I got the older kids to work on cleaning things up, finishing up laundry, etc. We had supper and then afterwards I sat down to watch a video with the kids while I disentangled some yarn in a laundry basket that the kids had thoroughly mixed together.

All of a sudden the quality and intensity of the Braxton Hicks contractions changed. I went "hmmm" again and decided that maybe I should give my mw a head's up. So I called her and told her that I felt like my body might be kicking over into the real thing. Dawn arrived about 45 minutes later to have some tea and check up on me. She watched me for a while, did a check, and while things looked like they might be moving along there was nothing definitive to go on so I told her to go ahead and go home, that I would be fine and would call her if anything definite was happening. My last pregnancy I walked around for two weeks at 7 cm dilation, so we had no way of gauging how long this one was going to take. After all, how serious can things be if you can talk and laugh your head off through a contraction? And we did a lot of that.

She didn't get far. Soon after she left I went into high gear, called her back, and 20 minutes later had a baby. My intentions were to catch this one myself again, but when it came right down to it, I just let Dawn do the catch because I was too busy standing up and holding on to her shoulders. Baby came out in one whoosh that I had no intention of stopping and I really only had about 3 contractions that were serious. I remember saying to Dawn,'Okay, I've had enough of this!" and she replied, "You know what that means, right?" Mhmmm. Transition. I went and sat on the toilet and my water broke and baby was there a few minutes later. Marc later commented on what a stoic trooperI was through the labor, but truthfully, it wasn't that uncomfortable until the last 3 contractions.

Anyhow, that's about the long and short of it. Glad to have it over with, have fallen in love at first sight all over again, and I'm wishing they would stay little and sweet like this for a lot longer than they do.

The natural high that occurs when you have a baby is better than anything else I have ever experienced. I think I am addicted.

Elodie and the Evil Cat Baby 

Happy Boy 

Sweet Baby James 

Announcing....
James Robert
Weight: 8 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 20 5/8 inches

We give thanks to the Lord for His covenant mercies and the safe deliverance of our 6th son and 12th child. In the words of big brother Garnet, "He's a winner!"

See if you can spot the real baby! 

It is Not Good for Man to Be Alone....

....according to studies that have come out. Isn't it interesting how an ancient text is so reflective of reality. Interesting too, that marriage is of far more benefit to men healthwise when compared to women. Statistically, men are healthier, happier, live better, have less problems, and recover better when they are married. When you look at the numbers for women, the results are nearly the same for them regardless of marital status. Marriage doesn't appear to have as profound an effect on the health/happiness of women as it does on men.

Since we know the "what", I would really like someone to sit down and write an insightful article on the "why."

The Black Hole of Blog Spam

I have one particular post that has attracted a lot of attention from those who like to encourage people to indulge in recreational activities involving the use of round balls and guessing if a particular numeral will show up plus other means of separating you from your hard earned cash. (I'm trying to avoid using words that will trigger another bout of spam attached to this post, so read between the lines.) At first I found this extremely annoying because I don't know how to get rid of the blog comment thing that was originally set up by a friend for me and to substitute the one that blogger now offers. I still don't know how to do that, so I thought I was afflicted forever with being spammed on my blog comments. But now I see that all the spam seems to be attaching itself to this one particular post and since it is now in the archives where people are unlikely to go, I think the problem solved itself.

At the same time, any techno-geeks who love to help people straighten out their blog comments section are welcome to apply for the job. ;o)

What I Have Been Asked Today while Grocery Shopping:

1. When are you due (asked about 20 times). Answer: Today. (Typical reaction is to gasp and laugh.)

2. Are you having a boy or a girl? Answer: Yes.

3. So when are you going to stop? Answer: When I get an ugly one.

Tomorrow I see the midwife. I had a few hopeful pains this afternoon, but they petered out so I am not expecting anything great to happen tonight. Plus hubby is still away out of town. Castor oil is sitting on my dresser but I don't think I'll use it until maybe this time next week if nothing has happened by then.

Doggone Again

Well another dog is gone, but this time it was with assitance. Cyrus, the puppy we obtained last winter made a last and final trip to the vet, thanks to a kind aquaintance yesterday who offered to transport him and take him in.

Cyrus, though only 8 months old, was huge and promised to get huger. He was also a fairly submissive dog. However, the other day when my five year old Babesy Boy was outside playing, he fell to the ground and Cyrus bit his arm and drew blood. We don't know if he was just playing or if it triggered his predation instinct, but in any case, I am not taking chances. I have zero tolerance for biting dogs. Cyrus can now play with Cerebus in that Doggie Home in the Ground.

I think my rather utilitarian views of animals has influenced the children because none of them appear to be upset. Plus, they still have that goof of a dog, Bernie, our Chesapeake to occupy them and they were busy throwing a ball for him yesterday.

If it weren't for the bears and the need to protect the children, I wouldn't have a dog at all. I don't have the time it takes to train and look after them in the way they need. Cats are my animal of choice. You don't need to train them very much, they take a lot less care, but they aren't very good at scaring away black bears. So, while I have little people around, I'll endure a dog, as long as I can trust it not to turn on my babes.

Pregnancy Doldrums and Miscellaneous Thoughts

Now comes the hard part -- not giving birth, but waiting for labor to kick in.

The last of the supplies (diapers) was bought today, my bed has a vinyl tablecloth crackling under the fitted sheet to protect the mattress, my house is relatively clean, meals made ahead (with thanks to my friend Milly who ably assisted me the other day), homeschool work in folders waiting to be mailed off tomorrow, and nothing left to do. Even my kitchen cupboards are clean and the laundry is all caught up. I have probably jinxed myself into three more weeks of pregnancy by being prepared.

I would like to spend the next few days in a warm swimming pool to relieve the weight of gravity off my tired bones.

I would like to sleep as much and as long as possible and not wake up until I am in labor.

Paradoxically, I feel both ugly and ungainly because of my expanded girth, and at the same time incredibly beautiful because of the ripeness of rounded fertility. It is uncomfortable to lug around and usually arrives places several seconds ahead of the rest of me, but I shall miss my belly when it is gone.

Perhaps tomorrow would be a good time to start a crocheted baby blanket.

The Logical End Point of Religious Toleration

St.Lukewarm of Laodicea, Martyr

"St. Lukewarm was a magistrate in the city of Laodicea under Claudius (Emp. A.D. 41-54). He was so broadminded as to offer asylum and patronage to every kind of religious cult, however unorthodox or repulsive, saying in answer to all remonstrances: 'There is always some truth in everything.' This liberality earned for him the surname of 'The Tolerator'. At length he fell into the hands of a sect of Anthropophagi (for whom he had erected a sacred kitchen and cooking stove with appropriate ceremonies. By miraculous intervention, however, the water continually went off the boil; and when he was finally served up, his flesh was found to be so tough and tasteless that the Chief Antrhopophagi spat out the unpalatable morsel, exclaiming, 'Tolerator non tolerandus!' (A garbled Christian version of this legend is preserved in Revelation 3:16.) St. Lukewarm is the patron saint of railway caterers and is usually depicted holding a cooking pot."

Dorothy Sayers

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Pregnancy Related Recipes

Since I am now in serious "nesting in" mode, I thought I would share a few recipes that I have on hand to help get the baby here and to help with recovery post partum. This is for all you newly pregnant or soon to be pregnant mamas to file away for the future.

Labor Stimulator Tea

-- Cinnamon -- 1 medium sized stick
-- 10 Cloves
-- Ginger Root -- 1 - 2 cm piece

After simmering add:

1 Tbsp. Verbena oil OR
Verbena Tea leaves OR
5 drops of Verbena essential oil

Let sit for 10 minutes.

Mixture can be diluted 50% with OJ or apricot juice.
Sip throughout the day.

Labor-Aide

1 quart (litre) of water
1/3 cup honey, more or less to suit your taste
1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed, or your favorite fruit or veggie juice
1/4 tsp. salt (with hot weather labors, increase this to 1/2 tsp.)
1 crushed calcium tablet to equal 500 mg or the equivalent in a liquid calcium supplement

Mix all of the above together. You can make it ahead of time and freeze as ice cubes or popsicles. This helps to keep you hydrated with a good electrolyte mixture and provides the energy that hard-working uterus needs to work efficiently.

Perineal Healing Pad Soak (Freeze before birth so they are ready for use.)

1/4 cup dried comfrey leaf
1/2 teaspoon golden seal powder
2 cups of water

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat and then add in the herbs. Let the herbs steep for 4 hours and then strain them off. Place the infusion into a spray bottle and lightly saturate each menstrual pad. Place each one in a zip-lock baggie and freeze. If you cup-shape them in the palm of your hand, or freeze them in a bowl that keeps them curved, they "fit" better when you go to use them. Over soaking the pad will cause you to freeze your tissues and they over-melt and become heavy and soggy. You can save the herbs, blend them up and apply them as a paste to the pad as well, but some people find the odor to be a bit much.

This mixture of herbs promotes healing and the prevention of infection in the perineal area for "skid marks", tears, and stitches.

Post Partum Healing Herbal Bath

If you have never tried this before -- do try it next time you have a baby. You won't be sorry!

Some of the ingredients in this bath make the water aseptic so you are less likely to get an infection. Some of the herbs used help to prevent or heal bladder infections, cause wounds to heal quickly and prevent and controll excessive bleeding. If you bring baby in the bath with you, it will also help to heal the cord faster. This bath will also aide in soothing away aches and pains from giving birth.

In a large non - aluminium pot, mix together the following:

1 oz. Uva Ursi leaves
1 - 2 oz. of Comfrey Leaf
1 - 1.5 oz. Shepherd's Purse
2 liters (quarts) of purified or distilled, non-chlorinated water.

Bring water to a gentle boil and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes. Cover and let it stand for 3 or 4 hours and simmer a second time for about 10 minutes to get the full benefit of the herbs.

In a small blender, whiz up the following:

2 large bulbs of fresh, raw garlic with a bit of water

Add to the herbs. Now add 1/2 cup of sea salt.

Cover in a sealable plastic container and refrigerate. You can strain off the herb mush if you like and tie it up in a knee-high panty hose sock and put it in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Add the sock to the water or tie it to the spout and let the water run over it when your bath is being prepared.

To use: Have someone clean the tub with a 10 % bleach solution then rinse well. Fill the tub with comfortably warm water to hip level, adding the prepared "tea" and herb sock. Get in and enjoy with baby for about 30 minutes, adding warm water as needed.