Some Journey

CVPC Family Retreat

CVPC had their Family Retreat/Missions Conference this past weekend at Hidden Hollow Resort. I'm working on loading pics onto my Flickr account, which you can access here. I have narrowed down a couple hundred from the 500 or so pics I took. Most are selected less for their photographic quality than for their "memory value". So far I've only uploaded 30 or so, but I've been working on other pic related stuff all evening and I'm a little burnt out on it, and since I was at the school teaching in the Spanish class from 8-3 today (I did a presentation on Oaxaca 9 times!), I'm calling it quits. I'll post when I get more of the pics up.

Sydney

Scott and I took some photos for a bulletin board at church today. Syd somehow kept finding her way in front of my lens. I'm so glad that she's way more photogenic and beautiful than I am. The above is one of my favorites of her from this afternoon.

We've taken the plunge

Noah has always had a very well defined attitude regarding potty training which could be summed up best in the phrase, "NO WAY!" which has generally been his response to the question, "Would you like to try to use the potty?" There are basically two camps on how to respond to such an attitude:

a) Take charge and make it a discipline issue. Decide when it's time to potty train and don't give the kid the option.

b) Stick with diapers and keep asking.

I know I have been occasionally frowned upon because I am most definitely in the second camp, and since I frequently get asked about potty training (as a so called "expert" having 'trained' four already). I don't think it's an issue of one is right or the other wrong, I think it's a matter of convenience. My personal opinion is that many of us have come to the conclusion as to what is the "right" age at which to potty train a child based on a tradition our society has sort of created based on putting kids into preschool and other conveniences rather than accepting the fact that every kid is different and therefore the "right" age is different for every kid. My sister, Amie, who I lovingly refer to as "the potty nazi", has managed to potty train all of her children by about 18 months. It is that important to her to not have to buy diapers. But it's loads of work. Lots of accidents and near misses. But it can be done. Just not by me.
From the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I began to dread that first potty training accident. The phrase, "Mommy, will you wipe me" haunted my dreams at night. In fact, prior to becoming a mom, if asked why I did not want to have children, two of the first answers I would have given you would have been potty training and boogers. Now, I hate changing diapers. That phrase everyone loves to use, "You get used to it". . .It's a lie. A lie from the pit of hell. I've been changing them every day for 10 years and 4 months. I still hate it. But I prefer to change a diaper, which is designed for easy clean up, than a pair of poopy underwear, which are not. Therefore, I prefer to take a more passive approach to potty training and wait until my kid decides they want to go. And as of yesterday, I can say that out of five kids, that day has eventually come for each of them.
Yesterday I awoke to discover that we were down to two diapers. Pay day two days away. So I looked at Noah and said, "Hey, buddy, we're out of diapers. You think you're ready to try the potty?" He thought about it for a minute and said, "Okay." Two accidents yesterday, but they were pee, so I'm okay with that. Then last night, he went poo in the potty. It was a triumphant moment for us all. I immediately jumped in the jeep and rushed him up to the Golden Gallon and told him to pick out any candy bar he liked. (No, I'm totally not above shameless rewards and bribes for something like this, and yes, I let my kids have sugar and chocolate) Alas, we're not out of the woods yet. It will be a while before we can go diaperless into public with confidence, but it is a glimmer of hope. 10 years and 4 months. The end is near.
Then Joseph made my joy complete. He slept without a diaper and did not wet his bed. For the first time ever!!! There is hope! It is entirely feasible that by Christmas we will be a diaper free household. For the first time in over a decade.
*sigh* It feels like a weight has lifted.

A Katrina account worth reading

This is a wonderful article which presents "the other side of the story".

Riverboat Princess

That would be my daughter.
Friday Sydney went on her very first ever school field trip, and I had the priviledge of accompanying her. She had prayed all week that we would have beautiful weather on Friday, and the Lord gave us exactly that.

One of the fun things about Syd being in first grade this year is that her cousin, Chase is also in the first grade at CCS, and they will get to do most of their field trips together.

Chase is ordinarily a fairly shy kid, but when they started playing "Hollaback Girl" over the riverboat loudspeaker, he just could not resist dancing. It was a highlight of the trip for me.
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Update on Leavengoods/Kennedys in Biloxi

The following is an email sent out to our church members. I thought I'd post it here for those of you who would like to know how the Leavengood/Kennedy clans are faring, since Scott prob won't be updating this weekend:
Karen called this morning. Albert, Pam,and Scott are staying at their parent's home and are working putting tarps on roofs. There is no power, and people are not allowed in unless they bring their own supplies. There is danger of looting so pray that people's homes will not be violated.
The congregation of First Presbyterian Biloxi is so thankful that the church did not suffer much damage. They are hoping to be able to be allowed to get to the church and repair it so that they will be open Sunday for worship. Police are not allowing people back into that area because of the devastation and search and rescue operations.
First Pres Biloxi has been designated as Command Center, Gulf Coast area, for Mission to North America Disaster Relief. This is a huge ministry for this church which has a young pastor and a congregation not much larger than ours.
At least three PCA churches in the Gulf Coast region are known to be destroyed and that does not even count New Orleans.
Pray for the Leavengood family, First Pres Biloxi, and MNA Dater relief efforts. Pray for the churches in the Gulf Coast and New Orleans. Pray for the safety and restoration of all those effected by this catastrophe.
What can we do as a congregation? There will be opportunities to sign up to help in the relief effort through the PCA. Keep posted. CVPC will be taking a Love Offering this Sunday above and beyond the normal tithe. This money will be sent to either First Pres Biloxi or MNA Disaster Relief. There will also be a box set up in the foyer to collect supplies for the relief effort. This will be on-going.
Thank you for your prayers and love for the saints. We, like the church in Acts, must help those in need.

WHY???

I never cease to be amazed at man's inhumanity to man. I'm reading this article on CNN.com and I am just absolutely floored. WHY on earth would anyone do this?? What could they possibly gain from shooting at hospital patients? The hospital doesn't have food or water to give, the patients sure don't. What would provoke such an attack? I think the general looting and violence are abhorrent, but I can at least identify a motivation there. I can recognize greed and desperation. But this? It's purely senseless. I've often heard people refer to "The Big Easy" as a modern day Sodom or Gomorrah, but I had hoped that in a crisis such as this, the residents of N.O. would set aside the hedonism that saturates their reputation and rise above it, but it seems they are determined to prove they are as corrupt as their reputation claims. I know, I know. I'm generalizing. Everyone is not that way. It's only a few. I am just shocked. I think about how for months or even years, now, after 9/11 people talked about New York, and how people came together and demonstrated incredible acts of bravery and compassion. The people of NY rose above their circumstances and came out of their trial stronger and with the respect of the nation behind them. By contrast, New Orleans will leave a legacy of hatefulness and anarchy.