Thursday, December 23, 2010
Yay! Its Christmas!
I have friends and acquaintances who in different ways say they hate Christmas! I just can not fathom hating Christmas!! They say its the consumerism, the greed, the lost meaning, the effect a broken family has on the day, the way its overdone and over-emphasized...all probably on a day that isn't even Jesus' birthday! I hear and read all the arguments, but I can not be convinced that Christmas is horrible. Go ahead and hate the way its become a retail store's way of survival. Hate the way we clamor like idiots to get the biggest and best present. Hate divorce and what it does to a familiy. But, for the love of pete, don't hate Christmas!! As long as I can remember I've waited for the 24th and 25th of December in anticipation. Its time we remember the birth of the Christ, whether he was born in December or August. There is something just magical in thinking about that split second it takes a baby to cross from womb to open air and how, in that small fraction of timem, our Redeemer entered this world--fulfilling prophesies, changing lives, and setting into motion God's plan of freedom from Adam's curse. Imagine how long some read the scriptures and the prophesies and waited...and died waiting. Every generation had those seeking the Messiah, waiting for his birth, and for him to bring restoration. And while I realize the comparison is lacking, I liken it to being a child and having to wait to unwrap gifts. They are talked about, wrapped, and under the tree. But the wait seems like an eternity. Obviously, no Christmas gift on earth could compare to the gift God gave to mankind, but there's no harm in celebrating. With most the birth of most babies comes a time of giving gifts, of celebrating, and of resting, and I believe we do all these things surrounding Christmas becuase of a birth so long ago. I am nearly convinced that anyone who says they hate Christmas just does not have the eyes to see what a wonderful time it is to rest and to celebrate. I will continue on enjoying Christmas--the family gatherings, the gifts, the cards, the celebration--choosing to remember and rejoice!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
On a Cold Minnesota Night...
Yes...it seems that I now only blog on birthdays! At least that guarantees six blogs a year, right?
As the blog title suggests, something very important happened on a cold Minnesota night... nine years ago. Judah Nathanael Turner was born into this world...a chunk of a boy! Judah was a day shy of three weeks overdue, but because I had a wonderful midwife friend, I refused to be induced. Perhaps my dates were wrong or maybe he was just really, really comfortable. I always say he knew the frigid Minnesota temperatures that were awaiting him outside the womb and really just wanted to stay put where it was warm until springtime.
At 43 weeks pregnant we still did not know if Judah was a boy or a girl. We did have an ultrasound, but they did it too early to tell the gender. I am not one for surprises, so while the wait was hard, but in retrospect I am so glad that we did not know. I did, however, have a hunch that he was a boy and had only boy clothes in his closet.
My labor began at around 9:00, although I was in denial. I was visiting Laura when I felt like I had the flu, and she called Dustin to come and get me, telling him "TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL". I had a huge fear of going too early in my labor and being sent home. So, I went home, took a shower, called my mom, and around 10:30 said we could go just to see what they said. Upon my arrival at the hospital, the nurses discovered I was dilated to 7 cm, and the baby was well on his (or her) way. I had great hopes that Judah would share a December 1st birthday with his great-grandpa, "Poppop", but he was still so very patient, and was not born until 12:32 AM. I will never forget the way Dustin said, "ITS A BOY!" and the nurses took bets on his weight. It was a fun-filled, ever so joyous night!
For nine years Judah has brought such joy and peace to me. Those exact words were prayed/prophesied over him at 8 days old when a guest minister at our church stopped over his carseat and prayed and spoke a word from God over him. That word has come to pass almost exactly in Judah's life. He is such a combo of Dustin and me, he brings peace into our lives, he is not a hard boy to raise, and he follows after God with all of his heart. As was spoken over him, the wisdom that comes from him never ceases to amaze me. He hears God and speaks truth. Judah is a thinker like his dad and loves life like his mom--a great combination to be!
Happy Birthday Judah!
As the blog title suggests, something very important happened on a cold Minnesota night... nine years ago. Judah Nathanael Turner was born into this world...a chunk of a boy! Judah was a day shy of three weeks overdue, but because I had a wonderful midwife friend, I refused to be induced. Perhaps my dates were wrong or maybe he was just really, really comfortable. I always say he knew the frigid Minnesota temperatures that were awaiting him outside the womb and really just wanted to stay put where it was warm until springtime.
At 43 weeks pregnant we still did not know if Judah was a boy or a girl. We did have an ultrasound, but they did it too early to tell the gender. I am not one for surprises, so while the wait was hard, but in retrospect I am so glad that we did not know. I did, however, have a hunch that he was a boy and had only boy clothes in his closet.
My labor began at around 9:00, although I was in denial. I was visiting Laura when I felt like I had the flu, and she called Dustin to come and get me, telling him "TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL". I had a huge fear of going too early in my labor and being sent home. So, I went home, took a shower, called my mom, and around 10:30 said we could go just to see what they said. Upon my arrival at the hospital, the nurses discovered I was dilated to 7 cm, and the baby was well on his (or her) way. I had great hopes that Judah would share a December 1st birthday with his great-grandpa, "Poppop", but he was still so very patient, and was not born until 12:32 AM. I will never forget the way Dustin said, "ITS A BOY!" and the nurses took bets on his weight. It was a fun-filled, ever so joyous night!
For nine years Judah has brought such joy and peace to me. Those exact words were prayed/prophesied over him at 8 days old when a guest minister at our church stopped over his carseat and prayed and spoke a word from God over him. That word has come to pass almost exactly in Judah's life. He is such a combo of Dustin and me, he brings peace into our lives, he is not a hard boy to raise, and he follows after God with all of his heart. As was spoken over him, the wisdom that comes from him never ceases to amaze me. He hears God and speaks truth. Judah is a thinker like his dad and loves life like his mom--a great combination to be!
Happy Birthday Judah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
