a copy of my favorite Vermeer.

(c) Natalie

Spring is in the air.

(c) Natalie

My brother's handiwork...its a cathedral. 

Who decides?

This is an interesting article on the debate over who chooses how they want to have their baby, specifically, whether a Caesarean section can be forced, by her doctors, on an expecting mother.

Here is the beginning of the article:

"PHILADELPHIA - Amber Marlowe was a seasoned pro at delivering big babies — her first six each weighed close to 12 pounds. So when she went into labor with her seventh last winter, she brushed off doctors who told her the 11-pound, 9-ounce girl could be delivered only by Caesarean section.

But the medical staff at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital wouldn’t budge, not even with her track record. “All my others, I’ve done naturally,” Marlowe recalled telling her physicians. “I know I can do it.”

So Marlowe checked herself out and went looking for a new doctor.

While she was on her search, Wilkes-Barre General’s lawyers rushed to court to get legal guardianship of her unborn child, giving the hospital the ability to force Marlowe into surgery if she returned.

The case is one of several in recent months that have revived a debate about whether mothers have an absolute right to choose when, where and how they give birth — even if the health of their baby is at stake."

Some of the objections, however, are coming from those who believe that the main issue is a woman's control of her body, regardless of the baby's health. One such objection came from Lynn Paltrow, who according to the article said:

“My impression is that we have a political culture right now that falsely pits fetal rights against women’s rights, and that you are seeing a kind of snowballing effect,” said Lynn Paltrow, of the New York-based group National Advocates for Pregnant Women. “We’re at the point now where we’re talking about arresting pregnant women for making choices about their own bodies, and that’s not right.”

Of course, the body in question is technically NOT the mother's, its the baby's. The mother (and Father! The way some act you'd suppose such creatures didn't exist!) have responsibilities to provide the best for their unborn child, in their own opinion. And, as other news stories warn that "[w]omen are choosing to have potentially dangerous Caesarean births far too often", not wanting a c-section makes sense.

another interesting quote from the first article:
“There are 50 years of case law and bioethical writings that say that competent people can refuse care, and that includes pregnant women as well,” said Art Caplan, chairman of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Warning! Warning!

Pun ahead!

Q: Why don't anteaters ever get sick?

A. Because they're full of anty-bodies.

*shudder*
*pun*
*shudder*

Pastor Douglas Wilson now has a blog.

Discovered through Tim Gallant's blog.


"What should we do? How should we walk? First, we should read all the psalms, sing all the psalms, mediate on the psalms, talk under our breath about the psalms, with this antithesis in mind. Second, we must ditch the counsel of the wicked. We must not listen to these people. They reject the Word of God; what wisdom could they have? Third, we have to abandon ourselves to the Scriptures. Think of something, anything, that you truly delight in. How do you behave toward that thing? Now compare this with your approach to the Word. Fourth, we must seek blessedness. God prospers the work of those who fear Him. Seek this kind of prosperity, and accept no other kind. And fith, remember the day of judgment. God knows and considers every step we take. He knows which road we are walking on. He will bring everything into judgment. We must remember and fear Him."

My brothers were arguing the other night over whether the lyrics to Johnny Cash's rendition of the Tom Petty song were "I walk back down" or "I won't back down."
I sided with the second option, although the first one was rather funny.

"Well, I walk back down, no, I walk back down..."

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
"And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

(Matt. 28:2-8 NKJV)

Well, I'm about to leave for a few days for our Church's Camp but I thought I'd pass on some interesting links for ladies--

I was looking around a few days ago and found Sabrina Nicole Design and ModestProm.Com.
I really liked the Modest Makeovers page in ModestProm-- most of my ball dresses have needed alterations, so I'm always on the look out for new ideas. :-)
Another interesting site is Great Lengths. While looking around there I found my dress from two years ago, although mine is forest green, which they do not have. They also have longer shorts and skirts. Interesting!

I've saved up my pennies (& I'm trading painting/other labor for airfair)...
and I'm going to the Christian Worldview Student Conference, in Newport News, VA, July 5-10!
The speakers are George Grant, Steve Wilkins, Doug Wilson, Pete Hurst, James Nickel, and Herb Titus.
Anyone else planning on attending? :-)

"I'm always staying with you, and I'm never letting you go."
~my six year old brother, Joshua.

aww... :-)

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in Jordan river;
his death on the cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
his riding up the heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken, to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me,
Christ within me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ beside me,
Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort
and restore me.
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ in quiet,
Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of
all that love me,
Christ in mouth of
friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words: attributed to St. Patrick (372-466);
trans. Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), 1889
Music: St. Patrick's Breastplate and Gartan (verse 6)

Meter: LMD

(I really love this, but no, I didn't type it all out myself. I copied it from Whirlwind, link to the left on the sidebar.)