If you knew me at all in high school (and maybe even college for that matter), I probably didn't strike you -- I didn't even strike myself -- like the classic stay-at-home-mom who loves to bake and clean and be surrounded by children running around. To be honest, I was usually so busy with academics, cross country, track, gospel choir, or some other activity that I didn't really have much time to think about what I was going to be like once my "mom" days came around.
But, as you now know, they came around quite quickly, and I have plunged headfirst into being a wife and a mom and a homemaker and everything else that entails. It has not always been an easy transition for me (especially those first couple of months with Charis when Zach was at work most of the day), but just over the past couple of weeks I have to admit that I really am beginning to feel, well, maternal.
I am starting to really enjoy making cookies from scratch, hanging laundry outside on the line, nursing my almost-14-month old (though I am feeling a bit ready for her to start sleeping through the night :)), and getting creative with our meals at home. Israel has stretched me tremendously in the cooking department since almost everything we make here has to be done from scratch, and while there have been some epic fails over the past several months (just ask my patient husband), there has been great growth, as well. I am starting to feel way more comfortable in my role as a homemaker and mother, and for that I am extremely grateful.
Yet as all moms do (I hope?), I still have my moments of selfishness and why-aren't-you-asleep-after-forty-minutes-of-nursing and is-it-seriously-already-time-for-me-to-make-another-meal? But, of course, in spite of my shortcomings I'm grateful to have a God and a husband who are always full of patience, forgiveness, and love. And when I relax in Zach's arms as we watch Charis giggle and crawl all over us after a long day, I know there can be nothing as sweet as this.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Four things I like on the internets
Now that I've discovered that we do actually have a tiny bit of testosterone perusing this page, I decided two posts in two days wasn't much of a stretch.
If you're reading this blog (or if you're not reading this blog, for that matter), there's a very good chance you couldn't care less what I like to read. If that's you, I encourage you to skip this post and continue checking back for pictures of my daughter -- you won't regret it. A few months ago, though, my uncle emailed me after I posted a link to an article I had glanced at recently and told me he would love to see more of what I was interested in reading. So this post is for you, Uncle Matt.
These articles are not necessarily about particularly deep or scholarly subjects and have nothing to do with each other subject-matter wise; they are united by the fact that I like them and think they are brilliantly written. I should also mention that, despite the fact that these are some of my favorites for various reasons, I by no means agree with everything in them. So, in no particular order:
1) The babycult: Having children in an age of affluence by Read and Rachel Schuchardt
I am perfectly willing to admit that I'm not entirely objective when it comes to this one. Read was one of my professors at Wheaton and he and Rachel became some of our closest mentors and friends by the time we left. They are also some of the most sincere believers we know. Kels and I read this article a few months after becoming parents and have never been the same. It was actually written when the Schuchardts had only three kids -- they now have eight. Just an incredibly transparent view of the society we are all influenced by.
2) Your Stupid Rage by Brian Phillips
The only sportswriting piece I'll include in this list, I promise. Brian Phillips isn't necessarily my favorite sportswriter out there, but I think he might be the very best writer I've come across who happens to write about sports. He writes for Grantland, Slate, and Run of Play, his own blog which this article happens to be from. The first time I read it I loved it so much I actually emailed the aforementioned Mr. Phillips. There aren't many pieces of writing that could inspire me to do that. Caveat: If you know nothing about international soccer this one might be confusing at times, but still worth a read in my view as it applies to other sports and to life in general. There is also some unflattering language used here so don't read if you're offended by that sort of thing, but it's a very positive article overall.
3) Shipping Out by David Foster Wallace
Caveats with this one: It's very, very long. Don't even start unless you have at least an hour to kill. Also, I kind of cheated considering this was not technically published on the internet initially but in Harper's Magazine but hey, this is my list. I also officially rate this one PG-13 for some strong language and adult themes.
Now, all that being said, I'm quickly learning that I'm not the world's best writer, but I would like to think I know good writing when I see it and every sentence David Foster Wallace writes leaves me wishing I had thought of it first. You can hear a hint of the fatalism evident of a tortured soul here -- Wallace struggled with depression for twenty years and committed suicide in 2008. You can also hear some of the moralistic undertones and big picture-mindedness you would expect from a believer, which Wallace apparently was as well. He was also hilarious, and I laughed out loud a few times while reading this one.
Convicted by the Holy Spirit: The Rhetoric of Fundamental Baptist Conversion by Susan Harding
Okay, so this one was also published in a journal rather than online. It's also the only entirely scholarly article listed here and I'm currently using it for a paper I'm writing in one of my classes. Harding does not write here from a Christian perspective, but she is remarkably attuned to the dynamics of the Baptist church and to the steps necessary for true conversion according to the pastor she speaks with. I think it's a fascinating read -- the way in which Harding seamlessly moves back and forth from researcher to subject to researcher again is evident and somewhat unique.
That's my list. If anyone reads any of them, let me know what you think.
If you're reading this blog (or if you're not reading this blog, for that matter), there's a very good chance you couldn't care less what I like to read. If that's you, I encourage you to skip this post and continue checking back for pictures of my daughter -- you won't regret it. A few months ago, though, my uncle emailed me after I posted a link to an article I had glanced at recently and told me he would love to see more of what I was interested in reading. So this post is for you, Uncle Matt.
These articles are not necessarily about particularly deep or scholarly subjects and have nothing to do with each other subject-matter wise; they are united by the fact that I like them and think they are brilliantly written. I should also mention that, despite the fact that these are some of my favorites for various reasons, I by no means agree with everything in them. So, in no particular order:
1) The babycult: Having children in an age of affluence by Read and Rachel Schuchardt
I am perfectly willing to admit that I'm not entirely objective when it comes to this one. Read was one of my professors at Wheaton and he and Rachel became some of our closest mentors and friends by the time we left. They are also some of the most sincere believers we know. Kels and I read this article a few months after becoming parents and have never been the same. It was actually written when the Schuchardts had only three kids -- they now have eight. Just an incredibly transparent view of the society we are all influenced by.
2) Your Stupid Rage by Brian Phillips
The only sportswriting piece I'll include in this list, I promise. Brian Phillips isn't necessarily my favorite sportswriter out there, but I think he might be the very best writer I've come across who happens to write about sports. He writes for Grantland, Slate, and Run of Play, his own blog which this article happens to be from. The first time I read it I loved it so much I actually emailed the aforementioned Mr. Phillips. There aren't many pieces of writing that could inspire me to do that. Caveat: If you know nothing about international soccer this one might be confusing at times, but still worth a read in my view as it applies to other sports and to life in general. There is also some unflattering language used here so don't read if you're offended by that sort of thing, but it's a very positive article overall.
3) Shipping Out by David Foster Wallace
Caveats with this one: It's very, very long. Don't even start unless you have at least an hour to kill. Also, I kind of cheated considering this was not technically published on the internet initially but in Harper's Magazine but hey, this is my list. I also officially rate this one PG-13 for some strong language and adult themes.
Now, all that being said, I'm quickly learning that I'm not the world's best writer, but I would like to think I know good writing when I see it and every sentence David Foster Wallace writes leaves me wishing I had thought of it first. You can hear a hint of the fatalism evident of a tortured soul here -- Wallace struggled with depression for twenty years and committed suicide in 2008. You can also hear some of the moralistic undertones and big picture-mindedness you would expect from a believer, which Wallace apparently was as well. He was also hilarious, and I laughed out loud a few times while reading this one.
Convicted by the Holy Spirit: The Rhetoric of Fundamental Baptist Conversion by Susan Harding
Okay, so this one was also published in a journal rather than online. It's also the only entirely scholarly article listed here and I'm currently using it for a paper I'm writing in one of my classes. Harding does not write here from a Christian perspective, but she is remarkably attuned to the dynamics of the Baptist church and to the steps necessary for true conversion according to the pastor she speaks with. I think it's a fascinating read -- the way in which Harding seamlessly moves back and forth from researcher to subject to researcher again is evident and somewhat unique.
That's my list. If anyone reads any of them, let me know what you think.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
1 AM in Jerusalem.
And I'm not tired. Also not working on the paper I should be working on. I have been entrusting the care of this blog entirely to Kels lately, which is probably not a bad decision but does lead to things like 100% female followership, if I may coin that word (Okay, so we do have a couple followers who may or may not be female because I'm not actually sure who they are. But I'm pretty sure I don't know many males who would have subscribed to a blog called "Pretty in Pink").
I don't know, but either way, I'm on hiatus from my once a month long-form narrative writing style to merely pop in and say I have the most beautiful wife and daughter on earth. No competition.
That's all.
I don't know, but either way, I'm on hiatus from my once a month long-form narrative writing style to merely pop in and say I have the most beautiful wife and daughter on earth. No competition.
That's all.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Mimi Comes to Town
Mimi (my mom) was here for the last week, and we were able to get some fun pictures of her time here. (Side note: I so wish I had pictures to share of when Zach's family came a few weeks ago, but my camera is still broken...maybe sometime soon!)
I only include this picture above because it reminds me of a funny story. Mom, Charis, and I went up to the Western Wall to pray together, and when I opened my eyes I looked down to discover that Charis had a fistful of something. What did she have, you may ask? Oh, just a handful of prayers she had taken from the crevices of the Western Wall. Oops... at least God has already heard all of them!
We loved having you here, Mom!
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| The view from Zach's school (Hebrew University) |
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| Climbing stairs.... one of Charis' favorite activities |
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| This child always has dirty knees... and a big smile on her face |
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| Climbing the Mount of Olives |
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| Beautiful Jerusalem |
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| Church of Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept over the city) |
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| 3 generations |
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| Zach and one of his favorite places on earth |
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| Who doesn't allow flowers??? The Church of All Nations doesn't, apparently. :) |
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Charis at 13 months
Our little girl is growing up... and getting more beautiful by the day. My sister gave us the INCREDIBLE gift of her really nice camera, so we can now capture Charis with even better quality than before. Thank you, Whit!!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Dear Zach,
Dear Zach,
Two years ago yesterday we stood on an altar at a quaint little church in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, and vowed to give our lives to one another forever. Even in just two years we have already experienced ALL of our vows -- for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health -- and we still love each other more than we did even on that beautiful day. We have grown and fallen and struggled and rejoiced and experienced life abundantly together, and amidst all of that I can say these have been the two best years of my life. And, of course, how can we forget the fact that we brought the most beautiful little girl into the world last year?
Yesterday was a bit of an odd way to spend an anniversary, but I also think it's one we'll remember for a very long time to come. I love doing life with you. Let's keep following the Lord wherever He leads.
I love you!!!
Kels
Two years ago yesterday we stood on an altar at a quaint little church in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, and vowed to give our lives to one another forever. Even in just two years we have already experienced ALL of our vows -- for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health -- and we still love each other more than we did even on that beautiful day. We have grown and fallen and struggled and rejoiced and experienced life abundantly together, and amidst all of that I can say these have been the two best years of my life. And, of course, how can we forget the fact that we brought the most beautiful little girl into the world last year?
Yesterday was a bit of an odd way to spend an anniversary, but I also think it's one we'll remember for a very long time to come. I love doing life with you. Let's keep following the Lord wherever He leads.
I love you!!!
Kels
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