Haven't posted here in a while, mainly because I'm one who believes facebook pretty much does what some bloggers intended to do in the first place, only a little better. So though I'm not quite sure I'm shuttering SSS, I'm definitely less inclined to post here. That said, Hallie did want me to highlight some videos and photos that I continue to upload at vimeo and flickr.
This sermon excerpt is a little old, but wow! Unbelievable! Obviously this is a provocative statement on a controversial subject. I realize that. And I realize many of my friends will wish I hadn't posted it. Nevertheless, it's a legitimate part of the discussion, and not many say it better than Piper. (And the graphics are incredible, to boot!)
Hallie loved NYC, but here are three things she also loves that she couldn't do there: gardening, clotheslining, and homeschooling outside. She's great at all of them!
Susan Boyle on Youtube
If you haven't seen it by now, you MUST! Hallie and I watched it twice together and couldn't stop crying. Unbelievable!
From The Valley of Vision (pp. 76-77),
Christ was all anguish
that I might be all joy,
cast off
that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst
that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped
that I might be clothed,
wounded
that I might be healed,
athirst
that I might drink,
tormented
that I might be comforted,
made a shame
that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness
that I might have eternal light.
My Saviour wept
that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned
that I might have endless song,
endured all pain
that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown
that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head
that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach
that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death
that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
expired
that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight...
(HT: JT)
Notwithstanding the name, we're quite excited about the new ballpark, and can't wait for opening night (you can't imagine how hard it was to get six seats in a row!). Today, they had an Open House, so I took our five along with three neighborhood friends. WOW! It's really amazing. Worth every dollar spent! (Sorry good friend, Mr. Kalb, ;-)) Here are a few pics:
Three of my kids were wearing their TinCaps shirts, but only Jude's is visible here.
Visitors dugout. 
Full bar for the elite crowd.
Kind of makes Fort Wayne look like a real city. Of course, I cropped out the fast food joint surrounded by asphalt on the left. But in time, I'm sure...
Alden enjoying the view from his seat on Opening Night.
… They sold me a dream of Christmas, they sold me a silent night, they sold me a fairy story but I believe in the Israelite.
Haven't posted in a while, but this is enough to bring me out of hiding...
Link
I own Apple stock because I love Steven Jobs. What can I say...
A tad on the long side, but this is the most personal and candid picture I've ever seen of Piper. Hard to imagine how it's possible, but my respect for him never ceases to grow.
This is quite a shot. While most of the pomp of the RNC was a little too country for me, McCain's entrance was pretty cool.
I can't stop watching - and smiling at - this clip...
Dancing in Washington Square Park from Jason Kottke on Vimeo.
Maybe I like it so much because WSP was our park.
Ruby Delilah Greider
Sorry, everyone, for the hold up, but the umbilical cord just fell off, and kola nut is harder to find than you'd think. Now we can file with the State and insurance company, and most importantly, our church secretary for inclusion in the bulletin.
As for meaning, like our other four, it's slim at best. Ruby was recommended by the ever-lovely and gracious Karen Lacy, and we love Karen Lacy very much... so... And Delilah is Biblical, of course. Sure, a little edgy, to say the least. But that's kind of why it appeals to Hallie and me. Not to mention, I loved the song by the Plain White T's, and can still sing it to her, just substituting "Ruby" for "Hey there". And believe, she's shines brighter than Times Square!
PS - Thanks, everyone, for the name suggestions. We're grateful and would use them all if we could. Well, maybe not Zelda. But all the others, yes.
Unbelievable!
Dan, as we knew him, has been a friend ever since we moved back. He grew up on Jackson Street (his parents still live there!) and still lived there for a portion of this last year before he moved to Hendricks. He loved and cared for "the boys", three boys who also live on Jackson and have become quite close to our kids. And Dan even dined with us in our home a couple times a few months ago. The day of the first fires, he's the one who came to our house, awoke me, and told me he's the one who called the fire department.
Unbelievable!
Because we had a photographer taking pix, I really didn't focus on getting good ones myself. (Hers will be available soon.) However, our friend Beth Ritzman, who attended the birth as a sort of homebirth au pair, posted some great sentiments AND great photos. Thanks, Beth!
Speaking of Beth, she was one member of a great homebirth team. Others were Hallie's sister and doula, Jordan, our midwife Rhoda, our photographer and friend Koren, and our four other rugrats.
As for the name, we're working on that. We might do as they do in Sierra Leone, where a baby is named only after the umbilical cord has dropped off. Prior to that it is believed that the baby does not yet have an identity of its own. During the ceremony, the baby's hair is shaved off and the paternal aunt offers chewed kola nut and pepper to the baby from her own mouth, which is to wish the baby a long and brave life.
What do you think, Aunt Cindy???
No name yet, but our fifth child - a DAUGHTER! - was born at home at 4:16pm, Wednesday, August 6th. All are very well. Thank God!
Obviously, more later...
Just letting anyone who still reads this know that early labor, we believe, has begun. The official due date is Monday, but Alden was three days early, so this one could be too. We feel pretty good about our level of preparation, but still, if you're the praying type, we'd love some cover.
Another post coming soon...
The AMA and ACOG are pulling out all the stops in their assault on women's autonomy. Of course no law would/could ever be enacted in America, but these policy statements and efforts will have virtually the same effect: no insurance will be available for homebirth midwives or the docs who back them up, so both will simply stop doing them or face insurmountable risks. That will leave this country further polarized on the extremes: overwhelming majority of medicalized hospital births on one side (accompanied, of course, by skyrockteing c-section rates), and barely a blimp of underground, uninsured, direct-entry, homebirth midwives on the other. And NOTHING in between! Those will be the only two options. That's where we've been heading, and this latest attack simply accelerates the process.
Anyway, we're about five weeks away from Hallie's third homebirth experience (the first two were at a free-standing birthcenter in Manhattan, which is no longer there due to, what else, skyrocketing malpractice insurance!). Obviously, we don't agree with the "experts".
