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Thursday 31 July 2008

Are you a feminist?




You Are 41% Feminist

{There was a picture here of a woman wearing a slightly immodest top which I hadn't noticed until now so I have removed it. I apologise if I offended anyone - it was an oversight on my part}


You aren't a total traditionalist when it comes to gender roles. But you're no feminist either.

You generally think that women should be treated as equals, but you're not convinced the world should be gender neutral.

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Busy-ness



I saw this on Joy Comes in the Morning and thought it was worth sharing here too. It is very convicting as it can be so easy to get caught up in being busy with all the everyday things and neglect that which is of far greater importance. I'm going to re-watch it again later and make notes on the different areas so that I can work on each one to make sure I am not misdirecting my time and effort.

Friday 25 July 2008

From My Wall Friday

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life;
Such a way as gives us breath:
Such a truth as ends all strife:
Such a life as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a light as shows a feast:
Such a feast as mends in length:
Such a strength as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a joy as none can move:
Such a love as none can part:
Such a heart as joys in love.

Thursday 24 July 2008

My Five Favourite Things

Mrs Gunning from Dancing Among Infinite Love, Yahweh's tagged me so here goes...

My Five Favourite Things

1) God. I guess that's an obvious one really. He is my creator and he has created me to glorify him and enjoy him forever.
2) Freedom in Christ. Despite my sin, God has chosen to forgive me through Christ.
3) Hubby and Baby Girl. God has given me a family to love who love me back.

Hmm the first three were fairly easy but now I'm having to think about it.

4) Food and cooking. I know I'm cheating a bit by putting two together but part of the reason I enjoy cooking is because I look forward to the end results so I figured they could count as one.
5) Statistics. Sometimes I drive Hubby mad with all my record keeping and data analysis but it does have it's useful side as it means I enjoy doing his business accounts which is something he really disliked and struggled with before we got married. I have a plethora of spreadsheets covering everything from how much time I've spent feeding Baby Girl each day to how much gas and electricity we use. The great thing about spreadsheets is that you can get them to automatically do calculations and produce graphs which saves a lot of time.

Now for five people to tag...
  1. Crystal from The Richey Family
  2. Toni from Amazing Grace
  3. Kristin from born in the wrong generation;homemaker at heart
  4. Heather from Want What You Have
  5. "Ginger" from Ginger-Pie

Wednesday 23 July 2008

Scripture in our lives

I made this to stick inside our TV cabinet as a reminder to guard what we watch:
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I've started making one to go inside my wardrobe as a reminder for when I am choosing my clothes. So far I have the following verses:

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.”

If anyone has suggestions of other appropriate verses, please do comment.

Friday 18 July 2008

From My Wall Friday

"You have turned for me
my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth
and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You
and not be silent.
O LORD my God,
I will give thanks to you forever."

Thursday 17 July 2008

I am Elinor Dashwood

My current fiction book is Shirley but I guess I'll have to read Sense and Sensibility next now.

I am Elinor Dashwood!


Take the Quiz here!



"You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see."

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Distortion of Beauty



"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Videos so far

I thought I'd share a list of the videos (and DVDs) we've sorted so far, what we decided and why. So far all of the videos have been rejected. This is partly because we were able to pick out ones to reject by memory but not ones which were okay and also we have been picking the ones we think we are most likely to reject first. You can read our general criteria for sorting videos here. Of course I realise that some people may disagree with our judgements and I am not saying that everyone should necessarily come to the same conclusions about each individual film that we did but I thought it might be useful to share the process.

Mission Impossible: This film seems to be all about the badness of man and did not really seem to have any conclusion or purpose other than to display the badness of man and be an exciting storyline along the way. On consideration, we couldn't think of any good reason why we would want to watch it again.

Kate and Leopold: This was a difficult one as the only things we could find wrong with it were the occasional use of "Oh my god" or "Jesus". Currently it is in our reject pile although I have since thought about the possibility of editing out the offensive language.

Mixed Blessings: This would have been another difficult one except that at the fertility clinic, pornography was condoned.

You've Got Mail: Lying is condoned. Living together and unfaithfulness are condoned.

Legally Blonde 2: I do like some of the key messages of this film (such as that individuals can and do make a difference, you should stand up for what you believe is right, and you shouldn't judge people by their appearances) however there were two key things which led us to reject it. Firstly, there are characters who wear clothes which are too revealing. Secondly there is a significant subplot which is obviously trying to say that homosexuality is okay.

The following videos we rejected without watching the whole film (although we had watched them all in full previously):

Jurassic Park: Uses "Oh my god". Based on evolutionism. Shows an attitude which does not respect God's creation.

Family Man: Too much is shown in marital sex scene.

Maid in Manhattan: Language. Mum lies to sun. Lying is generally condoned.

Raising Helen
: Lying is condoned (e.g. when pet dies a replacement is bought instead of telling child the truth).

13 Going on 30: Shows very worldly attitudes (e.g. "I want to be thirty and flirty and thriving.") Skimpy revealing clothing. Main character shown selecting skimpy underwear to wear. Uses "Oh my God."

These ones rejected from memory:

The Pentagon Papers: Fornication condoned. Sex scene shows too much.

The Island: Fornication condoned and too explicit. Bad language.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding: The women conspire to sneakily usurp the father's authority without him knowing.

Miss Congeniality: Immodesty. Subplot about homosexuality.

The Bourne Supremacy: Living with girlfriend condoned. All about the badness of man and did not really seem to have any conclusion or purpose other than to display the badness of man and be an exciting storyline along the way. On consideration, we couldn't think of any good reason why we would want to watch it again.

Monday 14 July 2008

Aargh spammers

Yesterday my brother phoned me to say that he'd received some spam e-mail from one of my e-mail addresses.

It seems that someone in China got hold of my password and logged into my account to send them. We think that the person must have got it from when I used the computers in the public library either by watching me or by having some kind of programme installed on the computer.

I immediately changed my password on everything I used at the library and now I'm going through everything else I'm registered with and changing the e-mail address and password for them all (I have the same passwords for most things and also on a lot of things one's e-mail address is the username). I've developed a new system for passwords so that they are not all the same but they are not too difficult to remember.

In future if our internet goes off I think I will try to only use the internet at houses of people I know rather than the public library and if I do have to use the library I will change my password as soon afterwards as possible.

The moral of the story is:
  • change your password regularly;
  • don't have the same password for everything;
  • be alert when you use public computers;
  • have a separate e-mail address (with an empty address book) for signing up for things online.

Friday 11 July 2008

From My Wall Friday

"If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility,
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame,
He learns feel guilty."
Dorothy L. Nolte

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Works For Me Wednesday - Menstrual Cups



Please note - if you are a man you probably don't want to read this (and would have no need to anyway).

I found out about menstrual cups quite by accident on a review site. I can't remember what I had been looking for when I happened upon them but they sounded like a good idea for a number of reasons (which I will list later). I later came across them on a green moneysaving forum and decided to buy one. I bought the mooncup because this is the only one easily available in the UK (and is manufactured in the UK) however I believe in the US you can also get hold of the Diva Cup or the Keeper.

The most obvious benefit is that it saves a lot of money. My mooncup cost £20 and they last for 10 years which makes £2 per year whereas I would expect to spend at least £20 every year on disposable tampons and pads.

Another benefit is the reduction in waste/environmental impact. Over ten years the waste from all those tampons and pads would be massive compared with the mooncup. Lots of energy and materials will have been used to produce them and to transport them to the shops and you will have expended time and effort purchasing them. Once they are used, they then have to be disposed of and sit around filling up landfill sites. In comparison, the mooncup uses very little raw material and transportation and because you just empty it down the toilet and reuse it, it does not produce massive amounts of waste to sit around in landfill for years.

Those two benefits are the main reasons I chose to buy a mooncup however there are other benefits too:
  • you don't have the hassle of buying more supplies all the time;
  • you don't have a huge stash of sanitary protection taking up space;
  • if you are out and it needs emptying, you don't have to try to discreetly take a replacement with you into the toilet;
  • they need emptying less frequently than pads/tampons need changing;
  • they do not dry you out or interfere with your natural secretions;
  • no risk of TSS;
  • duration of period tends to be shorter;
  • can be put in in anticipation of a period.

They do take a little bit of getting used to at first both practically and psychologically but I think it is well worth it. They are not for everyone but it works for me.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Vacuuming, Decorating and Rain

We've had a decorator here the last couple of days (I wouldn't pay for a decorator but we rent and the landlord had some work done in January) so I'm going to have to give the stairs a really thorough vacuum. However, surprisingly the reason I need to is because he did such a good job cleaning up on the side where he'd done the work that it looks really dirty on the opposite side! I'm quite impressed as our landlord doesn't usually seem to hire the most conscientious people. It's also nice to have the walls painted instead of bare plaster if only to stop my mum saying everytime she visits, "Have they not had that decorating done yet?"

I don't usually like it to rain too much during working hours because Hubby is a gardener so he can't work if it is too wet but this week it worked out really well. The decorater is also going to paint the outside of the house so if the weather was good he would have done this first meaning we would have moved our furniture out of the way and then had to wait for the work to be done. As it was, the inside has been done first meaning I can get sorted out sooner and also Hubby was around on Monday morning due to the rain which meant he was able to carry a few things upstairs (like Baby Girl's books and toys) for me and talk to the decorator about what exactly he was doing.

Of course all things are part of God's plan and all God's plans are good even if we cannot see/understand the good in something now but it is nice when we are able to see and appreciate God's goodness in things.

Friday 4 July 2008

Decluttering

In the interests of decluttering (and also partly inspired by this post of Ginger's) Hubby and I have decided to rewatch all our videos and DVDs and assess them as to whether we should keep them. I typed up our criteria for assessing to help us and thought I would share them:

Criteria for assessing videos/DVDs

Does it:
• contain profane language;
• condone sinful practice (e.g. homosexuality, adultery etc);
• portray sin as not having any consequences;
• display more detail of things than is acceptable (e.g. sex, drug taking etc.)?

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like”.


“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”


I'd be interested to hear what criteria others use to assess what they watch.

From My Wall Friday

"If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement,
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness,
He learns justice."
Dorothy L. Nolte

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

Thursday 3 July 2008

Durham Cathedral

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We decided to visit Durham Cathedral as our family trip out yesterday.

The first time I went there was when I was three. The thing I remember is the cloisters probably because they are so distinctive:
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(My mum remembers that trip because apparently I was the one who asked to visit Durham and then after walking a few yards down the street, I turned round and said, "Right, I've seen Durham, let's go home now.")

I didn't get any photos inside the Cathedral as you are not allowed to use cameras inside. One things which I find particularly fascinating is looking for signs of how the Cathedral looked in the past and in particular before the Reformation. They have some small parts painted to give and idea what it used to look like and if you look carefully you start to notice lots of places where statues would have been but were obviously removed.

We decided against climbing the 325 steps to the top of the tower as we didn't fancy carrying Baby Girl up but it is definitely worth it for the views if you are able.
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While we were inside we popped into the Cathedral bookshop where we bought some New Testament board books for Baby Girl. As we don't like to have ones with pictures of Jesus, she did have rather an inbalance of Old Testament to New Testament but these books were by Christian Focus and do not have pictures of Jesus.

After all that walking round Baby Girl needed a rest:
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I think we all enjoyed our day together.

Wednesday 2 July 2008

Three years ago today...

...our family was started when Hubby and I got married:

(For the benefit of anyone reading this at a later date and being confused by the comments, I did include a wedding photo here but I have since removed it.)

Hubby has taken the day off so that we can spend the day together as a family and do something together to celebrate. It's funny - although three years isn't really a very long time, I can't imagine life without the family I now have. I feel truly blessed.

Tuesday 1 July 2008

This and that

This week has been a busy week so far:

I am implementing a new cleaning system which is initially taking up extra time while I get used to the system.

I've also taken two shopping trips so far which is very unusual for me as shopping is not really one of my favourite activities. However, as Baby Girl has a cold, I thought it would be a bit mean to go cycling with her sitting on the back of my bike so I've used that time to make the shopping trips. It has meant I've got various things I've been planning to get for ages (such as new nursing bras, jumbo pencil sharpener, sieve, loaf tin and batteries) and a few bits and bobs we needed too. I also found pinto beans in the foreign cooking section which means I can now try out Jennifer's Pinto Recipes.

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