Thankful for Thursday

Each Thursday morning, I am blessed to attend the Women's Bible Study at Ninth & O Baptist Church. Currently, we are studying Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. If you haven't read this book, read it and prepare to be challenged! It has been incredibly convicting and the Lord has been showing me how ingratitude is a sign of a proud and sinful heart.

As I left the study this morning and headed to the nursery, I was greeted by smiling nursery workers and the most beautiful sight to a mom - a happy, fed, sleeping baby! Once I scooped up Ethan, I headed down the hall and picked up an energized and excited Emma, who immediately started telling me about all the fun she had that morning.

Suffice it to say, I am so thankful for the nursery workers at Ninth & O and our current church, Hazelwood Baptist, who watch my children! Not only do you watch them, but you feed them, change their diapers, take them to the bathroom, play with them, hug them, and wipe their tears when they cry.

I am eternally grateful to all of you who minister to families in churches around the country every Sunday and Wednesday and sometimes even the days in between. You are a joy and a blessing we appreciate you so much!

The Bostonians

When Chris and I were deciding where we wanted to spend our honeymoon, we, almost immediately, settled on Boston. We both love history, and Boston is replete with it. I chose The Bostonians, by Henry James, based, in large part, for its title and setting. While it was the title that originally drew me to the book, it was the plot that kept my attention.

The Bostonians centers around the young, beautiful, and rhetorically gifted Verena Tarrant. Her chosen oratorical subject - women's rights. Though many who hear her first speech are enchanted, there are none more so than cousins Olive Chancellor and Basil Ransom.

Born and bread a true Bostonian, Olive is a young, single woman who chosen the Suffragette cause as her mate in life. The moment she hears Verena's clear, ringing voice, she decides that she must recruit the young woman for the purposes of grooming her to ultimately be the driving force of the movement.

Olive's cousin Basil, conversely, was raised to be a Southern gentleman and is conservative to the core. An ex-Confederate soldier from Mississippi, he believes that, "the use of a truly amiable woman is to make some honest man happy," and, to the horror of Olive, falls in love with Verena and begins his own campaign to save her from "the most damnable feminisation" by making her his wife.

The tug-of-war that ensues for Verena's soul between Olive and Basil is relentless and ruthless. As Olive seeks to secure Verena as her movement's face and future, Basil aggressively pursues Verena and challenges her entire belief system. James, however, exposes both Olive and Basil as extreme and inconsistent. Olive believes in rights for women based on the grounds that all people deserve equal rights, but has a general hatred of men and believes the world would be better without them. Basil, on the other hand, says he holds women in the highest of esteem. By this, though, he only means when it comes to the home. It is his firm belief that they have no business being in the public square because of their inferiority as a sex.

As I read The Bostonians, I was struck by Henry James' portrayal of the characters and their individual belief systems. As I woman, I definitely sympathized with Olive and her quest to gain a voice and vote for women in a time when they had none. Though I disagreed with Basil's view on the aptitude and intelligence of women, I identified with Basil as he fought to keep the masculinity of men intact.

Undeniably, the theme that moved me most in The Bostonians was that of belief. As the story unfolds and we see the beliefs of each character (great and small), you can't help but feel the point that James was trying to make - why do we believe what we believe? Do we, like Olive, believe in a cause for the sake of being right? Or do we, like Basil, believe in something because we were raised that way? In one of his attempts to get Verena to abandon her beliefs Basil says (regarding her beliefs):

"They were imposed on you by circumstances, by unfortunate associations, and you accepted them as you would have accepted any other burden . . .You always want to please some one, and now you go lecturing about the county, and trying to provoke demonstrations, in order to please Miss Chancellor [Olive], just as you did it before to please your father and mother. It isn't you . . ."

Ironically, Basil's words could have just as easily been applied to any other character in the book, including himself. Henry James skillfully challenges the reader with this paragraph to question why they believe what they believe.

For Christians, this is a just and right question. Peter challenges Christians as well:

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15)

As important as an earthly cause may be (and there are some important ones), there is no greater cause than that of the gospel. Unlike Olive, Basil, and Verena, as Christians, we can give an answer to why believe - and we should! We believe because the gospel has come from God to man through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!

Thus, I encourage you to read The Bostonians and be challenged by it. James surely tackles social issues with surprising accuracy for its time, but its message really transcends the situation portrayed in the book. Barnes & Noble Classics publishes a great version of The Bostonians (which I used) and Kindle users rejoice - their version is FREE (though you have to download Volumes I & II separately)!

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2011: 2,107

Paging Dr. Dilley . . .

She is at it again! Emma has been getting a lot of use out of the pretend medicine kit we got her for Christmas. Ethan, on the other hand, has gotten a lot of practice as a patient. Thankfully, Ethan's check-up went well and Dr. Dilley assures us that he is happy and healthy!

Dr. Dilley giving her brother a check-up

Remembering the Rain

Rain, rain - don't go away. Stay again another day! I love the rain and this week has been full of it. To be sure, I love the warm, bright, summer days, but there is just something about the rain. Some of my best memories are associated with the rain:

1. My graduation day. The day I graduated college it rained. At the time, I wasn't very happy about it (it is hard enough trying to get your hair to look good under a cap), but it was a great day. Not just because I graduated, but because I also moved into the first apartment Chris and I lived in after we got married. The rain was kind that day and stopped while we moved the majority of our things in, but that day was special because it marked a turning point in my life as I finished college and prepared for marriage.
   
   
   
   College Graduation
   
   
   Moving Day with Chris and Grandma Dot!
   
   
2. Our wedding day. One of my favorite smells in life is that of sweet, summer rain. The day Chris and I got married was warm and beautiful and it rained lightly that morning. It seemed so appropriate that on the day we committed to each other and began a new life together that God sent rain. The grass and flowers glistened as the sun came out, and it reminded me that, just as God nourishes the soil, he nourishes our lives as well.
   
   
   
   Our wedding day with Maid of Honor (Wendy) and Best Man (Matt)
   
   
3. The first day of our honeymoon. One of my favorite days of our honeymoon was our very first. We flew into Boston and it was raining. I don't think I had seen Chris that nervous before, and I remember the panicked look on his face when it looked as if we were going to land directly in the harbor (anyone who has ever flown in to Boston knows you don't see land until you have almost touched down). The adventure continued with Chris' first cab ride - in the rain - with a surly cabbie who didn't seem quite as excited to be in Boston as we were. The best part of that day, however, was when we decided to wander the streets of Boston in search of dinner. We discovered an Italian oasis - Vinny T's, which remains, to this day, the best Italian I have ever eaten. My mouth waters anytime I think of the delicious food, but the real treat was meeting our waiter, Joe Collins. He was ecstatic about our marriage and,in true Italian style, showed his excitement by bringing us more food! He even gave us his cell phone number in case we needed to know how to get around the city - and people say northerners aren't nice! The rest of our honeymoon was amazing, but will always love that rainy first night the most.
   
   
   Our first night in Boston at Vinny T's
   
   
4. Emma's birth. Having a child is an amazing experience and the birth of your first is particularly special. It is also completely scary. Not only do you face the monumental challenge of bringing in a child into this world, you are all of a sudden hit with the thought, "I am going to be a parent - who would let me be a parent?" While I was in labor with Emma, it began to rain. I was exhausted and excited, and the sound of the rain on the window reminded me that the rain is a gift from God that brings life, and it was fitting that it rained on the day Emma was born.
   

   
   Holding my beautiful baby girl
   

These are just some of the memorable days in my life that involved the rain. There have been less notorious, but equally as enjoyable days where I have enjoyed the rain by curling up on the couch and reading a good book, watching a movie with my family, or by comforting my little ones when it thunders - I could probably fill a book with wonderful days like those.

If you hate the rain, buy some cute rain boots (I recommend Target) and reconsider! Rain is from God and we should delight in the blessings it brings. Who knows? You might make some wonderful rainy memories of your own!

Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;
make music to our God on the harp.
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147: 7-8

The Magnificent Ambersons

Since finishing Moby Dick, I decided, as Rick Warren would say, to, "ride the wave" of momentum and start another book. Chris took me to Barnes & Noble last weekend, where I picked up some new books - The Bostonians, by Henry James, Othello, by Shakespeare, and The Magnificent Ambersons, by Booth Tarkington. Following Moby Dick with Othello would have essentially been literary suicide, I settled on The Magnificent Ambersons.

Written in 1918, The Magnificent Ambersons follows the Amberson family, made rich by the family patriarch, Major Amberson. The Ambersons are the premiere name in their town of Midland - an idea deeply entrenched and celebrated most by Major Amberson's grandson, George Amberson Minafer. Spoiled from birth by a gentle, yet naive mother (Isabel Amberson Minafer), George believes the family name to be everything and, most famously, characterizes those who disagree with him or who are outside the family to be "rifraff."

As the book follows George's life, we see a spoiled boy become an entitled young man who scoffs at change - mainly, the invention of the horseless carriage - and eventually becomes so self-absorbed in the business of living up to the Amberson name that he barely notices the landscape around his family's serene town slowly turn into a dirty, industrialized city. The Amberson name ultimately fades with succeeding deaths in the family and, before he knows it, George is left penniless and alone with his precious pride that had alienated even his closest confidant and friend, Lucy.

Tarkington intended The Magnificent Ambersons mainly as a commentary on the changing landscape of America from agricultural to industrial illustrated through the and fall of the Amberson family and the rise of another in its wake. After reading the book, let's just say - he succeeded. However, Tarkington's book also hits on some major moral and spiritual issues. Tarkington was not a Christian, but his exposition on the extent of the sins of George Amberson Minafer were raw and striking. Here are some of the subjects in the book that, in my opinion were remarkably represented in this book:

1. The dangerous entrapment of pride. George Amberson Minafer's entire life was built around his pride for the family name. He sought no vocational training after college, believing his "job" was to be a traditional gentleman. He looked down on everyone around him (ironically, including his own family at times). George simply cannot and will not rid himself of his precious pride because it had become his idol. At his lowest point of moral ineptitude, he even denies his mother's dying wish to see an old friend because he does not approve.
   
   
2. The love of money. George's pride was rivaled only by his love of money. It was the money that gave the Amberson's their status in society and enabled George's spoiled attitude in the first place. And lest one think this a problem solely on young George's shoulders, the book is replete with stories of the entire Amberson family mishandling and frittering away their wealth until the money they cherished most became their downfall.
   
   
3. The importance of friendship. Despite being disliked by the entire town, George is befriended by a sensible young woman, Lucy Morgan who becomes his closest confidant. Although George belittles many of her opinions (he cannot help himself), she loves him anyway. Even after he abandons their friendship in the cruelest of ways, she is by his side when he needs it most.
   
   
4. The hope of redemption and the beauty of forgiveness. As you read The Magnificent Ambersons, you are appalled at George's conduct and are not in the least surprised when George and the Amberson name are all but forgotten. However, it is through George's utter shame and desolation in the end that he is changed and forgiven by the two people he hurt most in the world.

As I said, Tarkington never meant The Magnificent Ambersons to be an allegory of the Christian walk nor am I seeking 93 years later to turn it into one. However, one needn't be a Christian to write so poignantly on the prevalence of sin and its effects on people's lives.

What Tarkington didn't understand was that we are all George Amberson Minafers. We are happy slaves to our pride and it is only the grace of God that can save us from ourselves through Christ's sacrifice for our sins. Even at our ugliest, God did not abandon us to our sins, but sent us Christ to redeem and forgive us!

That being said, I highly recommend The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington. Its American history, heartbreaking story, and relevant themes make it a compelling novel that will engage you to the very end. Again, I recommend the Barnes and Noble Classics Edition. Or, for you Kindle lovers, click here. Currently, the Kindle edition is FREE!

Happy Reading!

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2011: 1, 693

Fair Weather & Family Fun

Hello Spring! It was 65 degrees and beautiful outside today, so we took the kids on our first zoo outing of 2011. We had an amazing time together as a family, and it was nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Emma, as usual, was in rare form and was a little firecracker. She sashayed through the zoo with her arm on hip, pointing and showing Ethan all of the animals. Ethan seemed to enjoy the tutorial as he experienced the zoo from the comfort of his stroller and quilt.

We even stopped for a snack at the "African Outpost" where Emma and I grazed on some carrots and celery, while Daddy and Ethan shared some "worms in the mud" (chocolate pudding with Oreo and gummy worms).

Ethan and Daddy




Move those hips girl!




Posing on the Elephant




Sassy Girls!

Our outing provided us with some much-needed family time to enjoy each other, God's beautiful creation and to admire His handiwork. We are looking forward to much more of the same this Spring and Summer. Hooray for zoo passes!

Call Me Ahab

Call me Ahab. No, I am not misquoting Herman Melville. Just like captain Ahab, Moby Dick has become my Moby Dick. For a year and a half, I have been chasing after its 655 pages, slowly losing my sanity along the way. Like The Pequod, I have endured hardship and captured other literary whales on my journey, but unlike the infamous ship and her captain, I have finally conquered Moby Dick without being destroyed.

Why so long? Well, as most people who have read or attempted to read Moby Dick can attest, it is not your average read. Not only is it lengthy, but Melville alternates the narrative of the story with history, anatomy, stories, and thoughts. Sometimes you will have one chapter of what is going on aboard the Pequod, and six chapters on the skeletal structure of the Sperm whale. My biggest foe in this journey was my pregnancy. No offense to Mr. Melville, but he neglected to consider such women when he wrote his chapters about killing, capturing, butchering a whale - chapters not conducive to an already-queasy mom-to-be. My second biggest challenge to finishing this book was a much more welcomed break after the birth of Ethan.

On the whole, however, I loved this book. Melville wrote, "To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme." To be sure, he is referring to the sheer magnitude of the Sperm whale, but Moby Dick is a cautionary tale of what can happen when we let our desires control us.

If you are interested in boarding the Pequod and hunting down the Great White Whale, happy sailing! A good version can be found in the Barnes & Noble's Classics section (or you can order it online here).

TOTAL PAGES READ IN 2011: 1, 411