I stumbled across this and thought it was interesting. It's an article by Dr. Pastor John MacArthur - a name that bears much respect in our household. His article, "The Profile of a Godly Mother", talks about what motherhood was, what motherhood is today, and what biblical motherhood should look like. I definitely recommend reading it.

"The Profile of a Godly Mother"

Car Seat Controversy

Parents are paranoid about anything and everything, it seems. I post a simple video of my son in his new car seat on YouTube and all of a sudden I'm a terrible mother for not rear-facing him. I was told by three different moms, who I'm sure meant well, I'm sure, that I should keep him rear-facing in his new car seat as long as I can - one even suggested until he was four or five years old!! I was told I was putting him in risk because he was facing forward, although I'm following Idaho law and making sure that my child is confortable and safe. Many rattled off a bunch of outrageous statistics for survival, so I explained (even though I shouldn't have to) that he grew out of his infant seat so we really needed him in his new seat and that our new seat won't fit in our car because it's too big. One of the moms jumped all over that by lecturing me that parents in Sweden have to keep their kids rear-facing until they're five and the size of my car is no excuse because they have smaller cars than us. What??? Who cares what they do in Sweden??? Long story short, I ended up deleting all the comments and disabling the the comment feature on my video before it got worse.

Moms have enough to stress over as it is, but many choose to stress over ridiculous statistics which soon turns into absolute paranoia. It all starts from conception - don't eat this when you're pregnant! Don't touch this when you're breastfeeding! Don't do that when potty training! If you're one of those moms - stop it. Stop trying to bubble-wrap your children and use that wasted energy to DISCIPLINE your children instead. (Seriously. It would make my trips to the grocery store much more pleasant.) I know I'm still a new mom, but I know there's only so much we can do to protect our kids and then it's in God's Hands. Stop freaking out and use your common sense.

It's a wonder I survived childhood, using nothing more than a pad of foam to sit on, just so I could see over the dashboard of my grandfather's pickup.

**DISCLAIMER: These are random, scary, internet moms that lurk the 'net aiming to harass us newbies - no one that I know personally.

"DUH!!!"

While changing Robby's diaper this morning, he was his usual chatty self, babbling on about baby issues, when all of a sudden he stops and stares at me. Noticing this sudden break in conversation, I also stop. "What's wrong, sweetie?" I ask. In a moment's notice, I get two, chubby fingers shoved at me, six-shooter style, and he yells at the top of his little lungs, in mocking tone, "DUH!!!" and then starts cracking up laughing.

Should I be insulted that my one year old implied that I'm "special"?

More of Robby's Birthday

Here are the videos we took of Robby's party, yesterday:







Also, I completely forgot to show his cupcakes. I'm kind of proud of them, considering it was the first time I had ever made cupcakes!

Robby's Birthday Party

Although it is not his true birthday, we celebrated little man's first birthday early with my family today. We might be doing something for just us on his actual birthday (the 18th), but it probably won't be anything more than just spending the day together.

We had a great time eating, talking, and rejoicing for this wonderful year we've had with Robby. He was received lots of new clothes and only one toy (my grandmother restrained herself, as I requested). We then sang to him and let him have at his very first cupcake, but it wasn't what I expected. I expected him to dive right in, frosting and cake a-flyin', but instead he immediately stripped the cupcake of all it's frosting with one hand and then picked off small bites with the other, taking time to savor each morsel. Very anti-climatic. We then let him splash around in his pool for awhile and then watched a movie. It was a nice, quiet evening.

So, thank you to my family, who were nice enough to provide dinner and to help us celebrate our son. It was exactly what I was hoping for and I think Robby really enjoyed himself - gauging by the conked-out child in the backseat on the way home, I think he had a really good time.

Video to come.

Potty Talk

My day, too, will come, I'm sure.

Summer Reading

I was in a great hunt for some decent, theologically-sound Christian books a couple weeks ago, and I finally found a couple that should keep my thoughts captive and my soul satisfied. I love Amazon.com! After figuring out exactly what I wanted to read, I got on there, found the books for way cheap, and they were here within a week or so! I am quite eager to start reading again and plan on starting John MacArthur's Twelve Extraordinary Women today while Robby naps. I've heard nothing but good things about both of these books, but I can't wait to experience them for myself!

Michael Jackson

The worship of Michael Jackson is making my heart ache. He was only flesh and remains so even now! If only they worshiped their God like they worship their celebrities and golden idols! Can you imagine just how angry the Just and Holy God, the Creator of all, the Father of Heaven and Earth must be when all their love, devotion, worship, and praise that was meant for Him is being directed towards an incredibly sinful man, who lived only for himself and not for Christ?

This guy is kind of goofy, but his message is excellent and spot-on. I have to note, though: We shouldn't just assume Michael went to Hell, even though he lived like it. All we can do is hope and pray he repented and put his trust in the Savior before he died.

Pray for Our Country

"The USA falls so far short, we cannot lift our eyes to heaven for shame. But slapping my country down is not a redemptive response. I pray for my country, that the risen Christ would so pour out his Spirit again that the church will be cleansed and multitudes brought to Christ and our nation renewed. With God, there can be another great beginning."

-Ray Ortlund, Christ is deeper still

Cardboard Tunnel/Fort

Matt's been looking forward to making something for Robby since...well, forever. Finally, we got the perfect boxes to do so!

I'd Just Like to Say...

THANK YOU DAD & KATHY!!!We got our car seat today and it is AWESOME! It even comes with a little cup holder and everything! :) Thanks guys!!! And as an added bonus, Matt's in the process of making Robby a fort out of the huge box it came in (photos coming soon)!

This will probably be the only Eddie Bauer thing Robby will ever see.

Don't Forget to Laugh

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo Recipe

I took this meal to Family Camp to share with another family and it ended up being a hit with other families. Very simple, very tasty! Great with garlic bread and a salad.

Baked Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 16oz. package of rigatoni noodles (or any noodle of your choice)
1 16-32oz package of frozen broccoli (depending on how much you like broccoli)
1-2 jar(s) of alfredo sauce (or 2-4 packets of the dry alfredo sauce; depends on how "saucy" you want it)
shredded mozzarella cheese to taste
grated parmesan cheese to taste

1. Bake chicken in 375 degree oven for 25-35 minutes. Cube when cooled.

2. While baking chicken, cook noodles, broccoli, and sauce according to instructions on the labels.

3. Combine together cubed chicken, noodles, broccoli, and sauce. Pour into greased casserole dish and top with cheeses.

4. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

New Email Address

I have a new personal email if anyone's interested. Our mattnjenmarshall@msn.com one is still up and running, but if you want it to come directly to me, here's my new email address:

shutterbugette@hotmail.com

Family Camp

Family Camp was AWESOME!!

We got there on Friday night and it was kind of stressful at first. I spent the day running around, packing, and cooking trying my best to prepare for our trip, so we were a little frazzled by the time we checked in. Our friends had a nice burger meal waiting for us, though, so we tried our best to settle in. People were EVERYWHERE doing various things - biking, eating, talking, bike-riding, swimming. I was like watching an ant hill from the inside! With our tummies full, we got into our room and attempted to lay Robby down for the night, but unfortunately, we were downstairs and right by the door, so it was incredibly noisy. After over an hour of trying to get him to go to sleep, we sorrowfully decided that we had to go home. We went and told a few people what we were having to do and started packing. Next thing we know, someone takes Robby to distract him and someone else starts looking for another room upstairs for us! When they find us another room, a few more people jump in and start helping us lug all our stuff up the stairs. I have to say I was shocked, but then again, it's my church, and that's just how incredibly sweet they are! When we got things settled in our new room, we laid Robby back down and he fell asleep almost instantly. Praise God! We went back downstairs to socialize and play a fun game called Mafia. We ended up staying up until 1AM!

Saturday Robby decided to wake us up at 6:30AM - which was painful after staying up so late, but we got up and started our day. There was so much to do! After eating breakfast, we loaded Robby in the stroller and went for a photo walk, snapping shots of the old buildings, the odd assortment of birds (turkeys, peacocks, chickens, and an emu), and then on to a neighboring farm. It was a glorious morning! We headed back for lunch and then laid Robby down for a nap (our baby monitor's range is REALLY far, by the way!) and headed downstairs to our self-proclaimed "internet cafe" to check out our photos. Then we headed outside to take some more shots of the going's-on's. The Family Olympics started soon after and Matt participated and I took pictures. How fun! First was frisbee golf, broken up by a horseshoe tournament (not part of the Olympics, but Matt also participated), then a water balloon toss, and an incredibly difficult obstacle course. What a blast! Somewhere in between, Matt took Robby swimming in the pool (always a favorite of his) and I took photos of the crafts and face painting. 300+ shots and a nasty sunburn later (in my defense, I DID put lotion on!), I was pooped! I laid down for a little bit and then we had dinner. We shared meals with another family, so this was our night to provide dinner. I made a baked chicken and broccoli alfredo (a huge hit with everyone who chose to partake - recipe coming soon) and then we wandered outside to relax as Robby napped again. As we were sitting in the shade, we remembered that they were having a Dutch oven dessert sampling. Stuffed, we "forced" ourselves and had some of the tastiest treats we have ever had! Num! Soon after, our pastor gathered everyone up for a group shot (seen above - my very first large group portait!) and then it was teaching time. We sang, played Name That Hymn, and then viewed the photos taken by an elder from his trip to Israel (so much history!). Dispite it being around 11PM and being completely exhausted, we stayed up and ate some smores and played another two rounds of Mafia, stumbling to bed at 1AM once more. I'm a glutton for punishment! I do have to note that during the day, just before I laid Robby down for his first nap, we had a little accident. While changing him before bed, I turned away for a split second, and he had rolled off the bed and onto the floor, splitting his lip. He screamed and bled quite a bit, but after a bit, he was just fine and still is. I felt TERRIBLE and went downstairs to tell the other moms, only to have them assure me that it happened to most of them to atleast one of their kids. Yikes, though!

Sunday, we got up, got packed, ate breakfast, laid Robby down for a nap, and headed to service outside. A few families came from to join us for service, since we weren't having service back home, so it was a rather large group. We sang and then our pastor handed out awards for the Olympics, horseshoe tournament, and the Name That Hymn game. I took shots of the winners and their trophies, which was a fun privilage! Then we did something we never had done before at our church. Pastor Bear warned us that it would be a little unusual for our group, but explained the meaning behind it. We did a foot washing. I was a little uneasy about the idea at first, but then Matt further explained to me the symbolism behind it and I understood better. It isn't a requirement to be saved or a new rule at our church - just a one time deal, but how it related to Jesus and the church, husbands and families - it really moved me. The humility and service of the washer and the appreciation and humility of the one being washed was amazing. We took turns going to to the stage as families, an elder or the pastor washing the man's feet and then in turn the man washing his family's feet. We were honored to end up having our pastor wash Matt's feet and then Matt washing mine. Wow. I'm learning something new every Sunday! We then hurriedly cleaned up the grounds, trying our best to leave a postitive testament of our group being there. Matt helped tear down the big church tent while I packed up the car. I was sad to leave. I wanted to stay longer! We headed home, picked up some lunch, ate, and then all took a nap.

I felt incredibly blessed to have been there with so many wonderful families. It was a fantastically-fun time filled with learning and laughter. It was somewhat tough for us to afford the expense (even with it being halved), but it was worth every red cent. Our "Family Camp Coordinator" booked another Family Camp for June 2010, so we're going to save and make sure we're there again. I really can't wait! What a great weekend!

To view all the photos that Matt and I took while at Family Camp, please visit this link:

Family Camp Photos

A huge thank you to Cher for letting us borrow her Escape to make it out to Albion with all our junk and an even bigger thank you to our church family for helping us with Robby and making us feel accepted and loved!!

Also, please be praying for me - I had an opportunity to sing with the Praise Team this weekend, but I chickened out. I'm prayfully considering joining them all together, but I lack the confidence. Please pray that if it is God's Will for me to serve the church in this manner, I am able to muster up the courage to do so. Thank you!

Also also, I get to shoot my very first wedding next month! Please be praying for me as I study up and prepare!!

Don't Forget to Laugh

When referring to a baby, "cruising" means:
a) Driving around with the top down
b) Checking out cute girls at a nightclub
c) Playing shuffleboard on a large oceangoing vessel
d) Staggering from one piece of furniture to another like a drunk

Robby's Birthday

I was going to post this later, but it looks like some people are already buying gifts for Robby or are planning on it soon.

Robby's first birthday is on July 18th. We were going to ask for everyone who was planning on buying Robby a gift to help pitch in for a new car seat, but my parents already beat us to the punch (thank you again to Kathy and Dad!!!). So, some other ideas are:

- 12-18 month clothes (summery, onesies, shorts, pants, church clothes, socks, shoes)

- diapers (size 4 or 5 - he's not quite in 5's, but will be soon - always a helpful gift!)

- giftcards (always safe, always welcome - Target, Wal-Mart, or Winco)

We ask that you refrain from getting him toys, but if you can't seem to control the urge, the more educational, the better. :)

You are in no way, shape, or form obligated to buy him ANYTHING! He's a very well-taken-care-of little boy, but I thought I would let you all aware of the items we could use. Thank you!

Father's Day

I realize I'm a day behind on this, but the day got away from me yesterday.

I just wanted to wish all the dads out there (I doubt any read this blog, but I don't want the few that do to feel left out) and the men in my life a happy Father's Day. You have a very special job in life and are incredibly appreciated!

Thank you to my dad for being in my life, even though we didn't know each other since the beginning, but I feel immensely blessed to have you in my life now! I look forward to getting to know you more and more.

Thank you to my grandpa, who stood in as my dad for a long time, even when he didn't have to. Thank you for raising me and teaching me the important things in life - like how to change oil, paint side racks for a pickup, and the "dump song". :)

A huge thank you to my husband, who, by the Grace of God, is a fantastic father. I couldn't of asked for a better companion and father to our son. We are so blessed to have you and I know our children will grow up to be good parents because of you and your steadfastness in the faith and your love for the Lord.

I love you all!

Resolved

Resolved is a conference where Christians come together to fellowship, worship, and to listen to some outstanding preaching. It's hosted by Grace Community Church in California and runs for four days. Unfortunately, Matt and I have never been to one, but our pastor, one of our elders, and their families got a chance to go this time (covet, covet, covet) and they said it was phenomenal! Perhaps someday we'll be blessed enough to take that journey, but luckily, they provide the messages free to download on their website. If you want to hear some on-the-spot, expositional preaching, please visit the Resolved website (click on a title to start the download and save it to your computer):

www.resolved.org/media

Don't Forget to Laugh

I am SO guilty of this, but he only watches PBS kids shows and he really does enjoy them!

[Edit] Just to clarify, this isn't what Robby does ALL the time. He watches it while he's drinking his sippy cup and then it's on once in awhile for background noise. His brain hasn't started rotting and dripping out his ear, so not to worry.