Reflections on Mary

This is the second time that I will be pregnant for Christmas. The first time was when I was pregnant with my oldest child. Until then, I don't think I had given much thought to Mary and what she must have been going though or thinking as she traveled with her husband, riding on a donkey and heavy with child. But that Christmas, being pregnant with my first child, I was able for the first time to really see Mary as a young mother about to give birth to her firstborn. I wondered how she must have felt knowing she would give birth any day and wouldn't have the support of her mother or other women. I wondered if she complained about the uncomfortable journey on a donkey. If she prayed the baby would wait to come until they had reached their destination, so she wouldn't give birth or be in labor while traveling. I thought about how she must have felt as they were turned away again and again and she discovered she would be birthing her son in a stable. I wondered how much assurance she had from the Lord that all would be well and how much faith she had and I was grateful for all that she must have gone through so that we could have a Savior.
This Christmas, I am pregnant with our fourth child, our first son, and once again I am thankful for Mary, for her righteousness and faith and willingness to mother the Christ child.

Kindergarten Dating

For those who are familiar with the Mormon faith, you will know that when it comes to dating, we have fairly strict protocol. Most parents do not allow their children to date before the age of 16, and even then many are not allowed to have 'serious' relationships. Prior to having children, my husband and I agreed we would hold our children to these standards. What we did not anticipate, however, was how soon we would have to start enforcing these rules. Just prior to our oldest daughter starting kindergarten last year, she and my husband got into quite an argument over whether or not she could date. At 5, she felt it was perfectly fine for her to have a boyfriend. So, we had to explain. She could have boys who were friends, but she could not have a boyfriend until she was 16. All year, we heard of so-and-so who liked so-and-so and they were boyfriend and girlfriend. We heard about so-and-so who kissed so-and-so or wanted to kiss her. And all year we explained why that wasn't ok for her.
I currently participate in a preschool co-op and have a little boy and girl who have decided they are boyfriend/girlfriend. Now, I understand that a 4 year olds definition of "boyfriend/girlfriend" is quite different that a 16 year olds, but I don't feel I should encourage the behavior. Even at a young age they are trying to emulate what they see their parents do. I often find them holding hands and embracing. So, my question is this, am I over reacting to a simple childhood crush? Or am I right to discourage the behavior as being inappropriate?

Christmas Decorations

I love the Christmas season, and like most Christians at this time of year, I am trying to make sure that Christ is what is emphasized in what has sadly become a very secular holiday, dressed up to be about Santa and gifts. I don't mind Santa visiting my Christmas, but I don't want him in the starring role, more like just a cameo. I do, however, want Christ front and center, right where he belongs. I have few, if any Santa decorations, which suits me fine as the decorations I do have center around Christ or simply the season in general. Seeing as this will be our first Christmas in our new house and also our first Christmas not in a tiny apartment, my small stash of Christmas decorations seems even smaller. I had never looked much at decorations in the past, since we didn't have much room to decorate and most of the ones I have, are gifts that were given or made. This year, however, I thought it might be nice to add a few things. Not many, because I hate Christmas turning into a reason to spend money. I have been disappointed in looking, however, as many of the decorations are either Santa based or snowmen. Not that those are awful decorations, some were quite nice. It's just that I feel it would be easier to remember that Christmas is about Christ if our Christmas decorations really reflected this.

What are some ways you try to keep Christ in Christmas?

Being A Stay-At-Home Mom

These past few months, I have had the opportunity to have two other children in my home whom I take care of, Monday thru Friday, 7am to 4pm, and among others things, it has made me very grateful for the opportunity I have to stay home with my children. Say what you will, but in my experience there is a difference between the behavior of a child whose mother works and one whose mother stays home. This difference is especially obvious in small children.
I have not always had the opportunity to stay home. When my husband was finishing school, there were often times when I would be required to work. I always agonized over who would care for my children and was blessed to find people who shared the same values as we did. I was also blessed to be able to stay home for most of the first year after my first two children and have been home completely after my third. Even in my own children, there was a difference from when I was home with them and when I was required to work. There was even a difference between when it was my husband who was the primary one home with them. I also noticed that my attitude towards my children was different from when I worked. It volleyed between guilt over not being with them to not being able to tolerate them when I was home--they acted up more and I had less patience with them because of it.
I am very grateful that my husband has a job which allows me to stay home with my children. I know this is the reason my children are well-behaved and respectful. I wish more women had the opportunity to stay home and chose to do it. I once had a supervisor who told me she couldn't wait to get back to work after her son was born and returned as soon as he was six weeks old only because they wouldn't let her come back sooner. She felt working made her a better mom. I suppose I don't understand this rationale, but I know the world tells women they are worth more outside the home than in it and with that I whole-heartedly disagree. A mothers job is to raise her children and she is the best suited for that job. It's rather hard to do a job completely and well if you choose to be gone for most of it.

The Decline of Movies

I am not an avid movie watcher. I do not race to the theaters to catch the latest flick as soon as it comes out, but I do enjoy watching good movies with my husband or my girls. I have been disappointed lately, however, with the unnecessary vulgarity and sexual innuendo. We don't watch R rated movies in general and I expect some language and sexual innuendo in PG-13 movies. I understand that sometimes it is necessary for the development of the character or the plot of the movie. What I don't understand is why it needs to be there if it's only purpose is to exist? Last night my husband and I watched the new Transformers movie. It was a good movie, but it was almost ruined for me by the excessive and completely unnecessary language and inappropriate sexual behavior by the animals. It wasn't necessary for character development or essential to the plot for the movie. It was simply there. When Monsters vs. Aliens came out on dvd we rented it to watch with our girls. It is rated PG and we figured being a kids movie it would be fine. Most of the movie was, except for the part with the couple in the car and the women trying to force the guy to have sex with her, then berating him because he wouldn't. My girls didn't understand it, thankfully, but more often than not they understand way more than I think they should. It was one my husband and I wished we had screened first. My husband has co-workers who let their small children watch R rated movies and see nothing wrong with it. I'm not one of those parents. When it comes to movies and what I think is acceptable, I suppose I'm quite prudent and I'm ok with that. I just wish movies would get a little more prudent, too.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday