To Cover or Not To Cover

I'm typing this on my phone, so forgive me if this gets jumbled. 

A good many years ago I was convicted about covering my hair. Since I've known God, I haven't cut my hair based on what I've read in the Bible. Here is a pretty good write up on that: http://www.altupc.com/altupc/articles/harbour.htm

But I felt that a lot of women who believe similarly would fashion their hair in distinct ways purposely to draw attention to their hair. I felt that that was vain and was doing more to discredit than showing how beautiful the submission o having long hair and looking feminine can be. I didn't want to do that and wanted to take a stand I suppose against what I saw as vanity so I began to cover my hair  in addition to not cutting. 

I did this for many years feeling that I was doing what God had convicted me of and enjoying that season in my life. However, there came a point when it became the first thing that people noticed about me. It wasn't the light of Christ shining through me, or a friendly smile, or a warm hug. I was the lady who covered. It then started to become a bit of a prideful point because of that. I almost started to feel a bit self righteous that I was the only one who covered and was therefore more modest than women who didn't. What an awful way to feel! 

And then Auds started getting older and asking me about my convictions and why I dressed and behaved the way I did. I feel very strongly about looking and behaving like a lady and that there is teaching in the Bible about gender distinction. I was praying for wisdom about how to teach her without instilling in her a self righteous or judgmental spirit. The last thing I wanted to do was to teach an innocent little one to be hateful and hurtful towards others. Now, I can't say I've ever heard a voice from God directing me. But I do get an impression that usually falls on me in prayer and I can't shake. I started to feel that it would be confusing and conflicting to Auds to teach her about why I don't cut my hair because it's my glory and covering given by God but yet I cover it up and don't let it be a testimony. 

How would she take that? Would she feel that I was ashamed of my hair? Would she feel that I was being hypocritical? Would I plant some seed of doubt in her heart by seeming to not walk the walk that she could later extrapolate to other areas in her walk with God? I prayerfully went to the Scriptures and talked things over with my husband since he's my sounding board when I'm thinking about things. Then my Pastor, who hadn't known what I was praying or thinking of said something that struck home: a ladies' hair is her covering given to her by God while a veil is covering crafted by human hands; which one would I rather be known for? 

That really hit home since I had become known as the lady who covered. And then I realized how prideful I was at judging others' convictions. Convictions are a very personal thing and the Bible says to not judge them as they're given by God. Hello, plank in my eye! That was certainly not the example I wanted to give to my daughter. And I also began to think of what a testimony to God's grace I was hiding by not embracing my hair as my covering and glory. It's not the norm in our society to see a woman with long hair and modest dress. Couple that with a loving spirit and a welcoming smile and people will notice a lot more than a snood. Was I allowing myself to be less salty? 

Now, that's not to say that one can't cover with a right spirit as The Lord convicts. I'm not saying that at all and am  certainly the last one to judge another's convictions. However, for me, I felt that embracing my hair being my covering would show the best example for my daughter and would be the greatest witness for my faith. 

While I certainly don't do ostentatious hairstyles and more often than not prefer a simple bun, I have chosen to not cover with a snood or scarf. And, no, to answer the question I get often, I won't cut my hair because I believe the Scripture instructs me not to. If someone else doesn't feel that way that is up to them. We are sentient beings, after all. But even if my hair touches the floor, I won't. My hair is ankle length now, so I'm sure it's gonna soon.  

While it felt weird at first to not cover, I've quickly grown to feel more comfortable in my own hair and have even looked more into taking better care of it. I feel like my light is shining more and I'm better able to show an example to my daughter since kids are more likely to pay attention to our actions as opposed to our words.

I hope that that makes even the slightest bit of sense as I'm doing this on my phone while nursing a baby and keeping a toddler and preschooler from tearing the house apart. Isn't it something how a million ideas floating around in your head make perfect sense but somehow when it comes to writing it down it turns to chaos? 

We Survived Our First Dance Recital!

Auds has been taking classical ballet and tap from a Christian dance academy this past year. I was so thrilled to find a place that didn't force makeup and barely there costumes and encourage shaking parts little girls shouldn't be aware of. That's what "dance" is in the pageant world of the South. 

It was something I never had the opportunity to do and Auds had been obsessed with Angellina Ballerina for a while beforehand, so we gave it a whirl. My sisters and cousins and friends' kids have all done a beginner dance class (not with this school, but with other more "glitzy" ones) only to have them want to quit halfway through the first year. I honestly figured it would be the same thing for us. I didn't think that she would want to have the discipline at such an early age to go to weekly classes and then bi-weekly rehearsals before the big recital. 

Boy, was I wrong! She loves it! All she does all day is run around dancing, and now that we're done with recital, prancing in her costumes. She's talking about wanting to take a summer camp (jury's still out on that one for me as it's a lot of money and work for such a quick program) and focusing on ballet more than tap next year. 

She had her first recital last week and it was so much fun. I left all the boys at home and got some much-needed girl time with my ballerina. We primped hair, did last minute fixes on costumes, and I got to watch her beam as she danced and watched the bigger girls dance. 

Then came the recital and she did so well! She's in the 4-5 class, so it's not like they were very experienced and it was their first time on stage in front I people, but they did amazing. She remembered her placements and most of her steps in time with the music. She was even the center of a little bridge three girls made with their arms for the rest of the girls to walk through. Star of the show, I tell you! 

B was a proud papa watching all of her hardworking pay off. The boys weren't all that interested. Lol 

In other news, things have been super busy here, and I'm looking to take a week or two off before starting school again (coz Auds loves it so much she wants to do it every day). I just wrapped up school Spring and portrait orders for a local school, have a service day at a local battered woman's shelter that I planned to do, and a first birthday party to plan. 

Add to that that Drum has been blessed with salmonella and it's a regular circus. Evidently, salmonella can occur as just a stomach bug in older kids and adults. Younger kids and babies have a real hard time with it with most cases ending up in the hospital. People are contagious for six months after the fact, so someone who had a bug months ago and didn't wash their hands properly after the restroom touch him and passed it on (it's only contracted by contact with fecal matter). So we've been having a very sick baby who is at least nursing well enough to stay out of the hospital for now. He's been nursing so well that despite the bloody diarrhea, he still weighs 26 pounds. He's so chubby his blood work has to be done from his foot because his arms are too fat. We're praying he gets better soon and are even more diligent than normal about hand washing and hand sanitizer. I pray no one else at church got it since that's where he contracted it. If you poop, wash your hands people. I'd love to tell that from the rooftops, but it might be a little rude. ;)

Auds has been doing amazing with school and T has been learning more as well. He's got his alphabet, colors, numbers, and shapes down. Her reading is impressive and she already understands addition without needing her cuisinaire rods. She even read verses with us while we taught Bible study last night. (We teach a topic and then go round-robin reading the verses that back it up) her first verse she read was Acts 1:5 :)

Things are going well, albeit hectic, here but we wouldn't have them any other way. 

We're Ready for Easter!

Although we don't do Lent and the traditional Holy Week festivities, I did take this week to teach my kids about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ so they know why we celebrate Easter. Eggs and candy are great, but our focus needs to be on Him. 

We started in the Old Testament because He is the fulfillment of it, after all. And it was important to know about what Passover was and why it was celebrated. We've been going through the Bible chronologically so far and are in the prophets, so the Exodus after the last plague was a review for them. I then went to the triumphal entry of Christ to the Passover/ Last Supper, the garden of Gethsemane, Pilate, crucifixion, the empty tomb. I hit the big stuff.

We took a break from our usual Abeka to do some Easter focused work. We did pattern matches, word searches, find the vowel, complete the word, Scripture transcribing, and color sheets. Tony loved having his own work to do instead of just playing all day. I may have to make  small unit studies for him. 

What I liked about the printables I found were that there were different levels of difficulty. Tony could have just a color sheet where Auds' would have Scripture for her to copy. 

We're spending Good Friday preparing a joint youth service with a neighboring youth group and a big service on Sunday. I've got all the ingredients to make resurrection cookies tomorrow night, and will be packing baskets as they sleep. 

Sunday will be packed getting ready for service and attending church. I'll be photographing the service, so it'll be busy for me. The annual church egg hunt happens after and then we'll come home for our own egg hunt, basket goodies, and lunch. 

Monday starts a busy week of editing school spring pictures, cap and gown pictures, a maternity session, and going to the governor's mansion for a special presentation I was invited to about helping fight sex trafficking in America and reaching out to these poor little girls. Makes me cry to even consider something like that happening to my angel. 

Anyway, happy thoughts. I finally got pictures of all the kids to hang in the house. I've never done that before because I'm so busy with work, but I made a special effort this year. It's a miracle. I'm thrilled and feel so fancy. It'll look so much better when we paint over the hideous red. And Auds has loved reading the monthly Scripture on our board this month. Quoting this verse has been almost as fun for her as reciting all of the books of the Bible. 

He is risen! Happy Easter to you and yours! 

Happy Easter!!

I promise I'll write when I actually have a chance. In the meantime, spring portraits! 

http://www.stephanieleblancphotography.com/2014/04/happy-easter/

Outside Time

The good thing about living in the South is that it warms up pretty early in the year. The bad part is that by the end of the summer it feels like Satan's armpit, but there's nothing we can do about that.

We have been, however, enjoying outside as much as we can before it gets too hot. We bought our house because it's smack in the middle of a half acre. It's not a homestead, but it beats suburban lots. Anyway, we've got a nice sized front and backyard on a quiet cul de sac and we pictured taking strolls with kids and dog in tow, drawing over our long driveway, and eating meals on the patio slab outback.

Those dreams are finally coming to fruition. :) we've been eating out as much as our schedule allows in the evenings and have enjoyed watching the kids play and have fun. I hope the kids look back on this time as fondly as we will.

Zoo Trip

Today we had a zoo outing with our homeschooling group. The group just got started and is relatively small, but will provide some outings and activities with other kids that will be fun. It's mostly Baptists from the same church, with one Pentecostal, and one Catholic, so there's no pressure or signed statements of belief agreements, which is nice.

This morning started out in the 30s, so I wasn't sure if we'd go or not. I decided to go when it got in the upper 40s and bundled the kids up. Took me 15 minutes to get everyone dressed and out the door since they had motivation. It was a miracle. Especially when we left half an hour later than we needed to to make the meet up time since I wasn't sure we'd be going. Thankfully, it warmed up into the 60s, so it was a beautiful day.

It was my first time going to the zoo with all three kids sans B, but the other ladies were amazing to help watch a baby while I took bigger kids to the potty or hold a big kid's hand when it got crowded.

We didn't know until we got there, but it was school day, which meant that a lot of the area schools were there for field trips. So, I guess we fit in in a way, taking our kids on a field trip.

The kids were so well behaved and we had a wonderful time! We even all crammed in on a seat on the train and got to ride around and enjoy the sun and breeze.

We even had a visit from a peacock while I nursed Drum, which really excited the kids.

Once B gets his yearly raise we're planning on getting a membership so we can go more often. It'll pay for itself in three visits, so it'll be worth it. Now that I know I can make the trip with all three (thank you, triple stroller!), I anticipate more visits since it's only a half an hour away.

I Can't Believe It

I had been putting off potty learning with T because it was an awful experience with Auds. She decided to want to use the potty right at the same time her preemie brother was born and needed a lot of attention and extra medical help so it became a battle and she felt the need to purposely mess while T was getting tended to. Even if I showered her with affection, the moment it wasn't on her she would do something to change that. Then we moved and got a dog and added fuel to the fire. My sweet, head-strong love.

I probably could have started with T the same time Drum was born, but I didn't want to do that again. Then I started watching my assistant's little girl and didn't want to add another burden. Then I started homeschooling. You can see the pattern.

Wednesday this past week he looked me square in the eye, squatted down and said "I'm pooping on the rug, not the potty." He was in his diaper, but it was the last straw. If he could do that, he could go in the potty. So, Thursday I just up and decided to help him learn. I downloaded a potty training Elmo app on my phone and we did it. Anytime he had an accident, he would have to clean it up. The first day, he had about 3. One was when we first started, one was in the bathroom while trying to get to the potty, and one started in his sister's room and went down the hall to the bathroom as he tried to make it once it started.

Day two he woke up dry, and he had two accidents that ended as successes. He would start to go a little before he recognized the sensation and would freak out, stop, and run to the bathroom to finish.

Day three he woke up dry. Then he had one accident-turned-success and looked at me in horror as I was working and said," Mama, I'm not supposed to poop in your studio!" I whisked him away and he finished on the potty.

Day four he woke up dry, had no accidents, pooped on the potty, and even made it through a funeral.

I think it's safe to say that he knows how to use the potty! It'll be interesting how we handle church and outings, but I'm sure he'll do well.

I can't believe he isn't in diapers anymore. It took less than a week! I'm elated, and proud, and thanking God because I was expecting it to be a very difficult thing and it was a dream it was so easy.

I only have one boy in diapers now! And he looks so cute strutting around in his superhero underpants.