warmer

I'm just trying to imagine what I would do again with a 70 or 80 degree day. I guess I wouldn't be wearing my rubber boots, but the kids might be. I think it must have something to do with the snow drifts outside that make remembering hard.

living arrangements

When North Dakota is in the middle of a natural disaster, citizens are busy volunteering, pitching in to avert as much damage as possible.

When disaster hit Louisiana, citizens were busy helping themselves to free loot, complaining that somebody wasn't there sooner to fix them up.

I knew there was a reason I live in the Midwest other than to enjoy the six to eight month winter temperatures and thus have an excuse to buy the latest in longjohn technology.

moving

Clearly, dad is the most coordinated one to facilitate the activities in this photo. And clearly we are not Baptists, at least not yet because we all know what happens when Baptists dance.

life

Today is Hannah's due date. Our friends Heidi and Jarrod will adopt her as soon as she is born and can come home from the hospital. This is their second adoption. It's not really that common that babies are born naturally on their due dates, but we've all been so excited that I almost wish she would come today.

Hannah's mom is young. Very young. A sophomore in high school. Whatever her reasons for chosing to entrust her little girl to more capable hands, I don't know. She does have some courage though.

I thought of Hannah for a different reason today than just her due date. In this issue of WORLD magazine, a small story about a doctor in California who helps parents chose their ideal child. Jeff Steinberg has a reputation for letting parents pick the gender. Now was going to add another feature to his skills: PGD or preimplantation genetic diagnosis where parents can choose the eye and hair color of their child too.

The first family that Hannah's mom chose turned her down. They were concerned that they didn't know exactly who Hannah's father is and that her mom didn't take care of herself like she should of. That's why Heidi and Jarrod will, God willing, get to take her home when she arrives.

Must we flash back to Nazi Germany to remember the horrors of a society that was trying to propogate their numbers with the perfect Aryan blonde, fair-skinned people. We do this kind of things with animals - breed them for desirable traits. But we also eat animals.

Perhaps I am harsh in judging. But isn't the point of adoption to give a home to a child that needs a home. Even under the best of circumstances, babies don't turn out "perfect". Whatever "perfect" means. Parents of biological children usually take what they are given. Is there a different standard for adoptive parents?

In two blogs I frequently read, moms Angie and Jennifer, both were faced with the facts that their daughter and son, respectively would be born with problems. Angie wasn't a druggie or didn't fail to take care of herself during her pregnancy. Her daughter was born early and lived only a few hours. But oh, the lessons she and her husband Todd Smith of Selah learned through God allowing their daughter to have a condition. Jennifer was told at around 20 weeks that her son might not make it to birth with his heart condition. Stellan was born without defect. Apparently God chose to heal him of the defect that showed up on the tests early on.

It's also interesting that Dr. Jeff Steinberg shares his name with another Jeff Steinberg who was born less than perfect - without arms and legs to be exact.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T please

Is it too harsh for me to assume that a school that would allow girls to wrestle competititely while hundreds watch might not respect my little daughter when they promise to educate her?

Perhaps they don't have a choice when a girl from their district wants to wrestle? Do they have to provide her a wrestling suit (and a little undershirt to wear under it) and the weight room or a jump rope (oh, wait, that's boxing, but maybe that is next) ? But perhaps there is someone in the district who might stand up and demand some respect for humanity, for a girl's reputation, innocence, much less for the respect of young girls in general.

I tried to ignore the fact that Minnesota has allowed girls to wrestle for quite a few years now. I even tried to ignore the front page article on the newspaper in our mailbox. I'm not sure the sick feeling in my stomach will ever go away.

I guess that makes the school decision a bit easier. Check this one off the list hands down.
Without question.

Right now I'm rather ashamed to call this town my new address. And here I thought our old town had a seedy reputation. At least that was long ago back in Prohibition Days when they had the reputation as only "wet" rail stop in the three state area.

Lest you conclude I've become a bitter old prude in need of something strong to drink, here's what John Piper says about it.

non-toy entertainment II

And while Bennett and Priya were tying up chickens, Sam was in the house just six feet away from where I was, quietly doing something.

"Something" was eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon. The quietness in which he was accomplishing it was the clue.

They don't need toys, I guess they just need a parent who pays more attention.

non-toy entertainment

Who says kids needs specially formulated toys that are age specific? Well, at least mine don't. Not when they can develop their fun out of non-toys.

This morning, when I went out to check on Priya and Bennett, who was visiting with his little sister and mom, the two were seated on a bale in the hoghouse, observing and discussing whatever four-year-olds observe and discuss I guess.

One brown hen was locked in the pet carrier complete with a small dish of feed and straw. They were waiting on her to lay an egg, they said.

Another speckled hen was tied with a twine to the hydrant. Yes, tied around the neck like a dog. I've never seen a hen on a leash. I don't think she was very happy.

Gratefully, we don't know any animal rights activists personally.