You're a what?

After the breast feeding doll, and ensuing comments, I've come to realize something new about myself. Don't you hate when that happens, by the way? When you realize something so major about the basic makeup of your character that you didn't already know.

Did I tell you I'm 25, it feels late to have such major realizations...I take that back, the reason I'm 25 and just realizing these things is mostly because I'm just as new to them as they are to me. It's funny that they say people don't change, but I am here to tell you, I have.

I'm like a 150 degree turn around from the me I was 10 years ago, and sometimes I wonder where that came from. As it turns out, I'm pretty liberal. I was not at 15. I was uber-conservative. It's funny what a bit of college at a *liberal* arts school will do for that. It's even funny, though not a bit humorous at some of the things I cared about then. I truly cared about some really touch subjects that I won't mention here; and by cared, I mean as though it affected me in anyway what other people put in their bodies, had done to their bodies, etc. Now, not only do I not care, (I don't care so much I'm almost apathetic to the rest of the human race, that doesn't directly affect my life in some way.) but I don't just don't think it matters.

My super conservative self would have said, but what about the long-term effects it may have down the road? Your child has to grow up in this world. Yeah, well, that's fine. I will raise my child with the values system I have, instill his brain with a moral code that's fairly strict, and then reinforce that learning with my own behaviors. However, I'm not going to teach my child the very sheltered point of views that I learned growing up in a Baptist church. No, I'm not slamming the Baptists, I think we have come a long way in this much more modern world. Christians in general for that matter. But my point is, I want my child to be able to witness, be an upstanding Christian boy (man, husband, father, etc) without feeling the need to judge, condescend, or treat others not of his faith differently. Coexisting is necessary in this day and age; and the more friends you have at the bottom, the more you can reach out to.

Back on topic. I'm not so conservative anymore to think that breast feeding has anything to do with Disney Princesses dressing like hookers or not being able to learn that beauty is on the outside. I'm not so naieve to think that if I or a friend is breast feeding in my home or their own that my child doesn't need to know what that is. I would much rather invite questions than not. I would much rather my child, and any of his friends know what breast feeding is, why we do it, etc so that they can support their wives, girlfriends, etc when they reach that point in their lives because that is so important. It's not taboo, it's feeding a baby for heaven's sake. It's not a grown up activity, it's not something to be ashamed of, or teach our children to be ashamed of.

Neither is sex, by the way. That doesn't mean I'll be comfortable doing it, but it's still important to me that my child understand the basics, the whys and (ick) hows, and most importantly how to do it safely once he is ready to learn about it. I'm pretty sure I would hate for him to be the last kid on the playground to know what he'll be doing with his penis in (hopefully) 15 years. Because, let me assure you, it's not a comfortable thing to be the only kid who doesn't know. And it's most definitely not comfortable to be the kid who has to ask the other kids stupid questions because you don't know what happens and you don't want to talk to your parents because they might accuse you of having sex. I remember this girl in HS asking just mortifying questions, and I had to fight to keep from 1)giggling at her and 2) telling everyone of my friends who didn't hear the questions in the first place, because this girl did not need to be asking the things she asked. (To answer you wonderings, No, human penises don't look slimy like dog ones, ok.)

I guess my point is, there are still things that it's ok to be conservative about, but there are times when it's necessary to learn, talk about, educate, and be open to something that you really didn't think you ever would be.

Look, it's 3 days later, and I'm still hung up on those hideous facebook comments. I got so totally off track that I'm not even sure how I ended up where I did, and I definitely don't know how I got here. Don't you hate when you're driving down the road, and you're where you were supposed to be. Somehow, your brain drove you there with you basically being on co-pilot the whole time. It's kind of like that today for me.

What's your sacrifice?

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, making it the first day of Lent. You might be a little surprised to see that I even make notice of Lent if you read the post yesterday stating I was Southern Baptist. Believe me when I say I have no knowledge of most Catholic ordinances, etc. However, Lent is pretty popular across the media and social network sites these days. After a quick wiki search, I've found that Lent is a time representing Jesus' time in the desert, 40 days (and 40 nights if your a Josh Hartnett fan like me). During this time of fasting you give up something a vice or substance and use that time to dedicate to praying.

Like I said, I'm not Catholic in the least, so if that's wrong, feel free to correct me down below in a comment, I don't mind.

My take on this is, in honor of Jesus' 40 days and nights wandering the desert, being tempted, I'm going to spend 40 days giving up something that is a big temptation to me. Chick-fil-a. Sad I know. But hear me out. Most days, I can follow a smaller portioned diet of mostly healthy foods. However, the mere mention of a 12 piece nugget set up with polynesian sauce I salivate. I can't seem to say no to them, even knowing they kill my diet and are so very, very unhealthy.

So, in summary. No chick-fil-a for 40 days. I can do it. And each time someone suggests it, or I drive past it I will think of Jesus' struggles and temptations, and most importantly be thankful for his sacrifice for me so that I am only struggling in a hypothetical desert.

Familial society?

How does your familial society work? Mine is most definitely matriarchal.

This is the reason I side with most women in any fight. It's the reason I side with Kate over Jon.

My mom "wears the pants". My sister does, my grandma did. I do. For the most part.

It's interesting to me how some families depend only on the fathers decisions.

I recently read a blog the other day about how we, as women are destined to be the helper spouse. We are to help and support the visions of our husbands.

This makes me worry, is my lifestyle sinful? Is the fact that my husband follows my lead, helps and supports my vision bad in God's eyes?

As a stay at home mom, I had no issue keeping our home, greeting my husband at the door with love, cooking and cleaning for him. Raising our son.

But working, those things are not my only priority. We make equal money, and I'm home less than him. Why should those things be my responsibility?

A professor told me last week that she and her sister were expected to work in the fields with their little brother, then come home and cook lunch while the men napped and rested. They were also responsible for refilling their grandpa tea glass if it got empty. He let them know it was empty by clinking the ice.

With my upbringing, that's absurd.

How was yours?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Again with the R stuff

My friend, not-just-a-mommy posted a poll a few days ago on religion. Given that I don't have a computer, I can't respond to awesome things like polls and facebook groups with my iphone. So, here I am 4 days later getting to read up on what I missed.



In her poll on religion, I said Christian, non-organized. I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church, and attended one until very recently.



I love the feelings and emotions that you get from church and just really worshipping God with words and songs, WITH others. But, the church I went to, and have gone to for years, AND considered family, just got too small. They felt they had the power to do and say things to other parishoners that I didn't agree with. They were very judgemental, and I just didn't want to be a part of that.



The sermons were recycled and at you. I very seldomly felt uplifted and light of spirit after leaving. I felt, almost sinful, as though I had been to confession. Even though, I hadn't confessed anything, I felt like perhaps the pastor would call up the fact that I hadn't joined as a member, or the fact that I had lived with Chance before we were married, or some other awful thing I'd done.



I know I sin. I know it's wrong. Yet, I don't need a church, or a group of other sinners, committing sins at this very moment, to tell me I am/do sinful things.



I didn't mean to go here, but I guess I will.



I'm really a prudish person, so it might surprise you that I am OK with homosexuality. That's a no-no in Southern Baptist culture. It could be that my cousin, who might as well be my sister, is a lesbian. She's not ashamed of that fact, and my family, God-bless them, they try to be open minded. But, while I know it's probably not what God wants from people, it's no different a sin than my preacher's mother going to the casino every weekend. It's just not, in my world. I could be wrong, I'm no expert, but in my world it isn't.



In my scientific mind, (I know, I know. Gays, religion, and science in one post)

Sometimes something intervenes?

Whether you believe in God, fate, or whatever, you have to admit that coincidinces sometimes just seem to good to be true.

As you know, I have been studying my butt off because of my extreme procratinator tendencies. Well, earlier today, one of the Hb momma's had an application post something into the news feed. It was called God Wants you to Know Today (or something similar). The post said, God wants you to know that your stress and worries are best turned over to him. Give over your anxieties of the future and rest well tonight. The post almost got a little horoscope-ish, or even fortune cookie-ish, but it was what I needed to hear.

While I'm still studying, and reading my book, I'm not going to be anxious about it. If I fail this class, then I'll take it again next semester. As sucky as that is, it's life I guess.

And while my mind is not as stressed, I wish it would send a message to my rock hard, aching shoulders to release a little of the hold they have on me.

Ok, so now I'm really going to

The class I went to tonight was really good. It was at the home of one of my sister's friends from HS and her husband. He has worked as a youth minister and is currently going to seminary to be a pastor. It can't actually be called a 'bible study' we actually just talked about religion tonight. We are currently, for the next few weeks covering religion and cults. We will eventually move to the hard questions and things you've always wanted to know about religion that you didn't already know.

There are some religions and questions that we covered that I already knew about, like Islam and Hinduism, but we also talked about Scientology. It's a religious cult, that due to it's growing popularity is being considered a religion by some.

I didn't know, and I still don't really know much about Scientology. I learned that they don't have a definition for their deity, but they do dispute the definition of biblical God.

We talked about Christian Scientists, which is not the same thing. Christian Scientists were founded by Mary Eddy. Their beliefs are slightly out there, but I can definitely see some aspects of them. One of their big things is that sickness or injury are states of mind, and to be healed you have a practitioner (a member of CS who is a liscenced healer, but not necessarily a doctor) who you pay to come in and heal you. No medical procedures are used, but you are prayed over, you are shown how to change your thinking, foods, and actions so that your body will heal. I don't agree with it, but I do think that when patients who are terminally ill with things like cancer could definitely use this type of healing in addition to regular medical healing.

Next week we will be covering Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism/LDS. I'm really interested in what he has to say about each of those. I don't mean that to sound as though I doubt him, at all, because I don't. I just think it's interesting.

Let you know more next week!!

I know, I know, I'm going to talk about it

Religion. For many people this can be a really dirty word, and I truly hate that fact. So, for now all I'm going to say is, at 6 o'clock, I'm going to a bible study class.

I'll say more later!