This week Martha was finally able to meet her godparents, Dan and Erika who were kind enough to stop by for a night while visiting Nebraska.
Archive for the ‘Family and Friends’ Category
Because It’s Nice To Share
Monday, March 30th, 2015
Phil and I are spending a couple days in Lincoln to rest before the storm of Easter and new baby. I had planned to catch up on a lot of blog posts while sitting around in my PJs but so far exploring new burger places, HGTV and naps have been winning out.
But I did manage to get one post done so far, aren’t you all so lucky?
It’s not a 7 Quick Takes or 5 Favorites. I’m not linking up with any other blogs, just wanted to share some things I’m reading or happy about.
1. First, I’m excited to introduce my friend Sarah to you all. She shares the gig of pastor’s wife here in NE with me and just joined the Blog World. I think she’s gonna like it here! Go visit her, Saved Through Childbearing.
2. Ever since I read the book All Fun and No Joy, I’ve been very aware of all the ways we have “over complicated” motherhood and being parents and how much Fear plays into our parenting.
You don’t have to read that book to know that though. It’s all over the place. And I think Anna Mussmann said it well in her recent article as to why that is. When Parenting becomes a “lifestyle choice” or children become accessories to adult life then you better make sure you’re gonna do it well. Make the best decisions and get it all right. Enter tons of pressure.
Anyway, I like when I read articles that just call us out on that and thought y’all might too. So here are some more links.
Over Complicating Motherhood “Motherhood is seen not as a natural result of adulthood and marriage, but as an aberration that must be micromanaged. From this attitude comes a tendency toward fear.” “If we are to dialogue about the need to give children opportunities for growth and adventure, we must first recognize the link between overprotection of children and the modern attempt to redefine motherhood as a choice-focused activity instead of a simple facet of daily life.”
What Would My Mom Do? “It never crossed my mom’s mind to “entertain us” or “fund expensive summer endeavors” or “create stimulating activities for our brain development.” She said get the hell outside, and we did. We made up games and rode our bikes and choreographed dance routines and drank out of the hose when we got thirsty. I swear, my mom did not know where we actually were half the time. Turned out in the neighborhood all day, someone’s mom would eventually make us bologna sandwiches on white bread and then lock us out, too. We were like a roving pack of wolves, and all the moms took turn feeding and watering us. No one hovered over us like Nervous Nellies.”
And because it fits nicely with the above article, this – 41 Photos That Would Get Our Parents Arrested if They Were Taken Today.
How to Parent Like a German “Berlin doesn’t need a “free range parenting” movement because free range is the norm.”
3. And then there’s this book, coming out in May or June, LadyLike. You can listen to an interview with the authors, I think it’s gonna be a good read.
4. Check out the Theological Resources page up top. Phil has added more of his work there.
5. And finally, the artwork of Elsa Beskow. Love.
My Wealthy Grandparents
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015
Thank you Kristi for passing along the link to this post, What We Lose With Just Two Children Per Family.
After reading it I had to share with you all a little about the family I come from. My mama’s Mama and Daddy (my Grandma Sissy and Grumpy or Babe as many called him) were blessed with 11 children. My little aunt Gloria died when she was just 2 years old, the other 10 grew and lived together surprisingly well and with much happiness all the way to grown up status.
Here is a photo taken this last Thanksgiving at my uncle’s house in Alabama. I have to let you know this is only a PORTION of my extended family.
Pictured here are 12 of my aunts and uncles, 18 of my first cousins and 26 of my first cousins’ children.
Not pictured are the other 40 descendants of my grandparents, Thomas and Muriel Mackin. They left behind a great heritage of 81 children plus their spouses, 94 souls in all….and counting!
When I look at pictures like this of my Grandparents children I’m at a loss for words. All these people came from the union of just those two Grandparents of mine. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they were truly rich.
Our Feast of Epiphany
Sunday, January 11th, 2015
January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. This year we hosted some of our fellow “pastor family friends.” 6 grown ups and 13 kiddos in the house!
