Teddy Graham

My new nephew, Teddy Graham, born September 25, 2007:

Isn’t he scrumptious? *Giggle*

And, yes, he was birthed into a Buckeye family.

Oppression, Continued

When I ventured the idea that I am “Oppressed and Loving It!”, I did so with this intention in mind: to speak to the Feminist misconception that a Western woman who chooses to wear a religiously observant dress and care for her family is not being subjugated as other women in the world. There is no comparison.

I acknowledge January, who pointed out that many women are forced to wear certain things and marry young as a quasi-religious/cultural practice. She speaks the painful truth. There is oppression cloaked in modesty and the appearance of honoring God.

I will faithfully uphold the idea of freedom of conscience. As we have seen in Europe through out the centuries, and now in other parts of the world, legislating relgious practices only bring rebellion. Iran might be a good modern example of this. I recently saw a news clip about how popular nosejobs are among the young ladies, because they can only show their faces and it must be “perfect.” How twisted is that?

Serving God is a matter of humility. If we are forced to do something in the name of honoring Him, how is it honorable? How is it beautiful? How is it loving? The intentions of the heart eventually shine through.

Perhaps I am a little overly sensitive to the Feminist elitist critique because I was surrounded by it for a few years in college. The mantra and practice was that showing off your body is a sign of liberation. If you didn’t exhibit how proud you were of your body through nakedness, you were labelled a prude or a fundamentalist (!) I was called insane during a lecture for believing in the Resurrection. Ouch. So, I carry that kind of baggage into the discussion.

[Yeah, I chose my University and dealt with the side effects. All in all, I believe I gained a greater sense of my faith and grounding in First Princicples than if I had chosen a Christian college. That can be a discussion for later.]

What those types of Feminists miss is an altogether different form of Liberation. There is a liberation through submission to God. Look at the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa’s foundation. They have two habits, one to wash and one to wear. They do not have to “toil and spin.” That choice was made, done, and let’s get on with the more important works of Mercy.

My freedom is greater, my circle of choices even widened though some have shrunken. In wearing my headscarf and choosing modest clothing, I proclaim my liberation from the tyranny of Fashion, Body Image standards, and the desire to please others with every changing season.

Auntie, Again!

My dear sister-in-law gave birth yesterday morning at precisely 8 am after a short labor to a healthy 5 pound 6 ounce baby boy! He arrived three weeks early but is doing very well. They can take him home later this week.

We didn’t know in advance what they would have….but I had my suspicions they would have another son. Jack will be an excellent elder brother.

Welcome Theodore Graham!  [Yes, you read it rightly....he will be forever called Teddy Graham!] Eagerly anticipating photos….

Oppressed and Loving it!

Jeff and I were standing in line at Braum’s for some ice cream a few weeks ago when the thought occurred to me,

“I bet many people see me as an ‘oppressed, uneducated woman’ because I wear a religious headcovering.”

I shared this with dear husband. We laughed out loud over it!

If they only knew…

Hollins University is my Alma Mater. Can’t get much more ‘empowered’ than I’ve been.

That statement, or assumed thought, is so absurd in our case. We have an excellent relationship….even, dare I say it, egalitarian in many ways. Jeff is the kindest-hearted man I’ve known, a Mr. Steady through and through. He hardly ever insists I do anything, unless my life is in peril or I am in some grave spiritual error.

Do I dominate him? He doesn’t think so. We each have our strengths and weaknesses. He likes to know what the “To-Do” list is on Saturdays, or what the week is shaping up to look like. He asks me because I remember (mostly) and I know what needs to be done around the apartment. He is free to suggest activities or projects.

I serve him; he serves me. Its a pretty great marriage, from whatever angle you look at it.

Folks are just too polite to share their thoughts outloud. Sometimes I wish they would. What a shock and puzzlement they’d receive!

Do you think we go around life assuming too much, for fear of offending others?

#90 - Bubbles at the International Festival

I took the bubbles with me….and then it became too dark on Friday night to blow any. Darn. The attempt was made. We did enjoy the Polka Kings [Local Polka Band...very fun] and Italian Ices. Excellent multicultural experience.

Lace Bonnets

These may be the most beautiful Victorian caps I’ve ever beheld.

This one is entirely crocheted. The following is my favorite embroidered cap:

They, and several others, are for sale from the Irish Lace Museum, as a fundraising effort. If you have deep pockets, these run from around $200 to almost $400. I’d love to just be able to look one over closely to see how they are constructed and embroidered.

Book Recommendation: Scratching the Woodchuck

I have found the perfect Bedtime Story Collection for Grown-ups. Scratching the Woodchuck, Nature on an Amish Farm, by David Kline, is an arrangement of essays he wrote for a local newspaper about just what the title says. He shares his observations of birds, insects, butterflies, rodents, large and small mammals and the always hot topic, the weather. Each essay is no longer than 3 pages and covers one animal, bird, or weather event, which is easily read and received in a few minutes.

The tone is smooth with little jarring language, though he does not hold back on describing the realities of life and death in nature. His talent is in placing the bird in the glorious whole of God’s creation. Death is not tragic, though he does notice when it is needless, like roadkill weasels or house wrens destroying bluebird eggs. Life is birthed anew in the fox den or the rabbit hole. There is no waste.

Reading the stories, one by one, every evening is bittersweet for me. The flora and fauna are close to my heart because I grew up in Ohio. I get a little misty-eyed, wishing I were so intimately connected to a certain place, preferably in that state.

Mr. Kline wears his faith lightly. From his wealth of language, descriptive powers, and biological knowledge, you would not guess this was a man with “only” an 8th grade education. He is a man with a lifetime of education; curiosity well fed on the acres of his family farm. He weaves his compartments, or what we moderns make compartments, of faith, filial ties, and neighbors into the essays as they relate to the subject at hand. You almost feel like to you step into that world for the drowsy moments you have spent with the book each night.

If you would like to purchase the book, I recommend Lehman’s store as the source. They are a family-run business close by to where Mr. Kline lives.

My Husband is a Genius!

Jeff just called me to say that he had to take two tests this morning in his computer class. He had prepared for one, but received two components as a “surprise.” For all the geeks reading this, he is starting the Cisco/A+ certification portion.

The exams were the instant feedback variety. Don’t you love those…where you click ‘next’ and learn your fate right away? Jeff got 100’s on both tests! He was the only one to do so in the class of 14 students. I’m one proud wife!

It is also very encouraging to see him excel in a skill like this after so many years of having little hope, confidence, or opportunity. Makes me tear up just thinking about it! Jeff is a testimony of a life that God rescued from the ash heap of humanity and remade into a productive citizen of the Kingdom. Isn’t this a glorious thing?

Working for the Government

Being early to work is wrong. Leaving slightly early is wrong. Taking a shorter lunchtime is wrong. Working too hard is just wasting your energy. Bide your time, do just barely enough to keep yourself awake, and you will get paid the same no matter what. No incentives.

These are the lessons I’ve learned while working for the State of Oklahoma.

For the last year, no one has had a problem with my work habits. I tend to arrive 15 minutes early and sometimes (2 or 3 times a week) take a half or three quarters lunch hour. This gives me some precious time at the end of the day so I can get home before my husband and start dinner. I also work hard and diligently on whatever projects come across my desk.

Well, another employee has been lax at what time she arrives and has used up her sick leave, etc. The powers that be have come down hard on her. Its only fair I receive a lecture for being too good. You must stick with the printed schedule no matter what. Just show up and leave at those times. Sigh.

I know enough of the corporate world to discern how upside down and backwards this way of treating good employees is. For the most part, if I were doing the same thing in an office scenario, I might get a raise or promotion! Now, I get “punishment” of sitting here for 8 hours a day, plus an hour for lunch.

Crocheted Snood Patterns

This is in response to Lori’s question regarding Snood patterns.  Try this link, it has a long list of all sorts of headcovering patterns.

Here is a request for other ladies:

I’d love to have a cloche style crocheted hat for days I want to just tuck up my hair and go out in some sort of fashion. Snoods will just slide off my baby-fine hair. Anybody have some pattern recommendations?