I'm ba-a-ack, posting for Mommy because she's neglecting her blog again.  In her defense, she is busy getting ready for the trip-of-all-trips we're going to take in a couple days, on which I will ride an airplane for the first time ever!  I hope it's not too scary.  Anything that big shouldn't be able to get off the ground, I always like to say, but I should probably get used to it because Mommy likes to travel. 

   At first, I couldn't think of what to post about, but then I realized that you all probably know Mommy pretty well by now, but you don't know much about me! So I thought I'd enlighten you all on a few tidbits about me that some of you may not know:

 #1.  In pictures my eyes look so dark, and people say they're "just like mommy's", but they are actually dark blue, like daddy's!  Well, daddy's are light blue I guess, but close enough.

   I know, I know, they look dark brown.  Mommy even labeled a picture of me "brown-eyed girl" by mistake one time, because they look like it so much in pictures.  Silly Mommy.  But they're honest-to-goodness blue, so that's just a little added benefit to meeting me in person! 

#2.  There are some confusing look-a-likes in my Daddy's family.  In fact, my Uncle Justin looks so much like Daddy that I would get them mixed up, except that daddy talks more.  And Uncle J. smells like strawberries.  O.k. I made that last part up.
 Hmmm....confusing....
Exhibit B: Here I am being held by Grandma Bonnie.

And here she is with Great Aunt Connie.

And here I'm being held again by Grandma. I mean, wait...I'm confused.



#3.  One of my favorite activities these days is grabbing.  I like to grab my toys, Mommy's hair, clothes, blankets...basically anything I can get my hands on. 
  But sometimes I can't quite get it either into my mouth, or just where I want it, and it's just so frustrating not having yet developed the coordination to accomplish my objectives!  Grrr....

   Sometimes I just can't wait to be bigger.  Big enough to eat the food Daddy & Mommy are always eating, big enough to go outside whenever I want, big enough to reach all the way up to Mommy's knees....but I hear Mommy saying all the time, " Baby Joce, don't grow up too fast!"  And so I will try not to.  But like I said, I can't wait. 

  I hope Mommy gets done packing soon so she can play with me.  My favorite things to do with Mommy lately are playing "Pat-a-Cake" and listening to her read books and my Lulla-Bible.  Oh and the Lulla-Bible songs.  I lo-o-ove those too. 

That's all for now, hope you all have a nice day!

   Too bad there aren't more royal weddings to write about.  My post about William & Kate's fairy-tale nuptials garnered a whopping 2,684 views, my all-time high for a single post.  2nd place, lagging far behind, was "Football games and baby bumps" with 539.  So I drew the conclusion that I would have a killer blog if only I could post about royal weddings all the time.  Bummer, huh?

   In other news, in my devotions today I was studying the very familiar passage of 1 Peter 3:1-4:

   "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

   A few things really jumped out at me, even though I've heard these verses many, many times.  First of all, growing up Mennonite, verses 3-4 were always key in explaining why Mennonites do not wear wedding bands.  Because as it clearly states, you're not supposed to wear gold.  Or does it? *cue creepy music*

   I don't know Greek, but it seems to me that the verse is saying that you shouldn't let your beauty come from things like braiding your hair, wearing jewelry, or fine clothes.  Your beauty should come from inside, and from qualities like a gentle and quiet spirit.  For some, strange reason, that verse is never taken to mean that you should never braid/arrange your hair or wear any clothes, just that you shouldn't wear gold.  And it really misses the point of the entire verse. Are there other reasons I'm missing?  I honestly don't know.  Help me out here, people.

source(This picture would fit this post so perfectly if only the first ring said "Katherine" instead of "Kathleen!)

    On a different note, I used to always inwardly cringe at the phrase "gentle and quiet spirit".  Because mine always felt anything BUT gentle and quiet.  I've always been loud, adventurous, tom-boyish, outgoing and at times (let's be honest) obnoxious.  And that verse just felt so idealistic and unattainable for me.  It wasn't until today, actually, that the thought occurred to me...it doesn't mean that you are supposed to have a gentle and quiet personality.  It says a gentle and quiet spirit.  And that is possible, no matter what your personality type.  Because being a woman who doesn't talk much or try new things is not what we're aiming for here, folks.  I've seen outgoing, bold women who are striving and grasping, and anything but gentle and quiet.  However, I've also seen meek and mild women who are tired, discouraged, beaten-down and wilted, and that is anything but gentle and quiet too.   So this leads me to believe that whether you're sanguine or phlegmatic, you can have a gentle and quiet spirit. 

Still workin' on that.

    There have been so many controversial topics running through my mind lately, one of which is vaccinations.  Hmm, should I open that can of worms?  I'm sure many of you think I shouldn't even go there.  Well, here's my take on it.  Things don't have to get ugly, and if you really don't want to get involved, it's simple.  You don't have to.  It's just a blog, no one's forcing you to read it.  But like I said, it is something I've been thinking about alot lately, so I just might possibly "go there". 

But not today.

   Now, what do YOU think? If you read this post and you have a response tingling on your tongue, please give it.  Comments will help shed light on these issues, and both educate and open my mind, so it's a win-win!

It's Friday people, let loose!

  

Today, as you all know, is mother's day. 

   Technically, it's not my FIRST mother's day, as last mother's day I was 2 months pregnant, and it was also the day I announced the news to Randy's family.  So I guess this is my 2nd mother's day, technically.  They just get better and better!

   But first, a tribute to the two moms who made it all possible.  You know, life, love and other mysteries.

  My mom.  We are very different, and yet somehow, SO alike.  We understand each other in a special way, probably because we possess so many similarities.  There are so many levels to our relationship, and there is genuine REAL-ness that I can have around her, that I can have around very few.  She has seen me through some of the roughest, lowest moments of my life, and has come out still loving me on the other end.  She has believed in me, hoped for me, fought for me, wept for me.  She has taught me so very many things: how to be a gracious hostess, how to clean a house good AND fast, and how to have tough skin in a world that can throw a mean right hook.  She is a huge part of what has made me the way I am today, and for that I am truly thankful.  And she is a wonderful Grandma to my precious baby girl.





    Bonnie, my mother-in-law.  The emotions that the words “Mother-in-law” evoke for some people can range from disapproval to abject terror, but I am relieved to say, that is not at all my experience.  First of all, she gave birth to the most wonderful, amazing, husband-material boy in the world, so that's all she would have ever had to do to make me like her.  But she went so far above and beyond that.  She welcomed me into their family with open arms, and has always made me feel so loved and accepted.  She has been a friend, mentor, and a generous giver of her help, time and gifts, and has helped to make this distant land "home" for me.  I couldn’t begin to repay her for it all.   And she is a wonderful Grandma to my precious baby girl.

  
And then there's this little bundle who made me a mama.