Monday, March 29, 2010

I am so excited about this Zigo Leader giveaway.

Seriously. I don't know how many times I've entered the contest, but I am so not done.

Next blog giving it away: Rave and Review is giving away the Zigo Leader. One more perk about this bike is that with the kids up front, you can not only talk to them easier, but you will be more stable with the weight spread out in the front instead of dangling in the back like a traditional trailer. At least, that's what the reviews have said.

Found another blog doing the Zigo Leader giveaway! I'm not sure how many places are doing this, but I'm entering every one I can! The newest blog is SeeryusMama. I'm following her on Twitter, using an RSS Feed, using Google Friend Connect, using Facebook, and I may subscribe by email as well!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Christianity dumbed down

For a long time my husband and I attended churches that spoke to the lowest common denominator. They wrote their sermons for 7 year olds and nonbelievers. This disservice to the church is very common among many denominations. Then, one day, we happened upon a church that was different.

We decided to check out the evening service of a church we often passed. We thought the building looked very old and the architecture was interesting, and we wanted to see the inside. So we went to a service and were surprised to find a pastor preaching challenging, relevant, unsafe sermons.

He wasn't preaching to the lowest common denominator. He held himself (or maybe the elders are responsible for this) to a higher standard and he spoke so that anyone could take something away, but also so that everyone got more. We dug deeper and more thoroughly understood each verse. Sometimes we spent months or even years (well, the church spent years, we weren't there that long) on a very small section of scripture because there was SO MUCH information to unpack. My husband and I were changed, and maybe a bit spoiled.

We moved to Alaska for school, and we have not yet found (or heard of) a church that spoke to us on that level. More accurately, we have not yet found a pastor that spoke to us that way.

We've been to several churches, most were ok. We've also been to two churches with outstanding communities. OUTstanding! Fellowship and grace and love like I've really, really never seen.

I guess we'll keep looking. Or maybe we'll stick with one of the outstanding churches and just listen to podcasts of the more challenging stuff on the side. I don't know.

Oh Zigo, How I want you.

Go Graham Go is another website hosting the Zigo giveaway. This giveaway is serving many purposes for me. One, I get a chance to win an AWESOME bike/stroller/bike trailer/bike+kid pod and two, I'm finding lots of new giveaway blogs to keep my eye on. This site looks like a lot of fun, and as soon as I'm done entering the Zigo giveaway I'm going to come back and see what else Felicia's got for me!

Happy Hour Mom is running this giveaway as well. It's a cute site, and seems to have a lot of different ways to search through their posts, which I like. I can look only at the posts that are relevant to my child instead of wading through a ton of stuff that my daughter wont be interested in for years.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Giving Giveaways another go!

Starting another round of giveaways while my husband makes dinner, and my daughter plays with her annoying little 'piano'. It's a good day.

By the way, I'm pretty sure most of her toys will never get batteries. Just saying.

Found a new giveaway blog, Monkey Tales. They're giving away a Bum Genius Organic One Size All In One diaper (OS AIO). I have a few of these and love them. I'm a little concerned that the rise will be too small as my daughter gets older, but I have two friends who put these on older children (2 year old and almost 3 year old) and they fit those kids. Plus, these diapers have a really high resale value. So as long as I keep them in good shape, I can sell them and get different diapers if these no longer fit. Anyway, the diaper being given away is from Fluff Envy, which has a pretty cool site. Plus, I like the name. =)

The B Keeps Us Honest is giving away an Exergen Temporal Scanner. My midwives have one of these and it is much faster and less hassle than any other thermometer I've ever seen. Right now this would be handy because a feverish baby is not always the stillest of creatures. And I'm not really expecting her to become less active any time soon. This giveaway seems a little more reasonable too, there are 456 ways to win, just a few ways to enter so you can feel you've given yourself a fighting chance without spending all day on it.

I've found the mother of all giveaways. Jollymom (and lots of other sites) are banding together to offer the Zigo. This is a crazy fantastic bike/stroller/jogging stroller/bike trailer deal. You can ride it as a normal bike, a bike pulling a trailer, a bike with the child on the front, you can use it as a jogging stroller, or a regular stroller. And it has a fun look to it! I'm excited. This is something I might even consider buying. Whoa.

The Zigo giveaway is being hosted by babyelandaily as well. You can enter as much as you like. It's such a fun product for a communal giveaway!

Good luck!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Renewal

I feel incredible today. Ready to enter more giveaways, ready to win a few giveaways, ready to keep working on this baby weight (after this bowl of chocolate ice cream!), ready to help Nanook sleep through the night, ready to be her mom again tomorrow, ready to be diligent with my time, ready to relinquish control completely.

Today I'm remembering whose authority I live under. My life is not my own. I am not my own. And that is good.

Psalm 112:7-8
He is not afraid of bad news, his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.


Bring it on.
"If that's what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain."

no luck =(

So far no luck in any of my giveaways.

I suppose I should keep trying. Entering doesn't cost anything but time, so when I get some time, I'll give it to the giveaways.

For now, I've got my class, my workouts/weight loss, my daughter, my husband, my work, and my God to work on. That list is in no particular order by the way.

Sermons from this church have been kicking my butt lately. I put their pod cast on while I work in the kitchen (and since I started letting the kiddo have solids I spend a LOT of time in the kitchen) and I have been truly convicted, over and over. Preach it Russ, preach it!

Mirus and I attended that church while we were in Denver and we both really appreciated the way that Russ McKendry portrays/teaches/studies the Gospel. I always left church with something very practical and very important to work on, and I always felt equipped to do so. I also really respect the commitment of that church to be a church that the city needs. Russ always asks: "If we were to disappear tomorrow, would anybody notice?" It's a good question to be asking yourself. Really, truly, you should be noticed. Not because you're important or special, but because you did important, special things. This may be the only day you have, give it to God and leave your (and therefore God's) mark on the world.

i.e.: go out with a bang!

BANG!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Quiverfull?

Growing up, I knew a family with 13 children. Not only were all the children nice and funny and good sports (I knew them from showing horses - that doesn't always bring out the best in people, and certainly not kids), they were also an example of one of the only families I knew who said they believed in something and actually lived up to it. The parents didn't believe in birth control so they didn't use any. Any. None. Most people I know who say that don't believe in birth control are either only opposed to some types of birth control or only keep that belief until that belief is tested. They don't believe in birth control, but have 3 kids in 4 years so they decide to step in and take control of their fertility. That, my friends, is no trusting God.

I don't know where I stand. Right now, Mirus and I aren't using any birth control. We have condoms, and we used them for a few weeks, but neither of us are very sure about whether we should or should not use them. A baby would not be a burden (shouldn't a baby always be a blessing - regardless?) and neither of us feel 'unready' so . . .

If we aren't pregnant by this summer, we plan on trying. That is not quiverfull. Trying to get pregnant is the same as trying not to get pregnant. It's still taking charge of your family and your family planning. Somehow it seems less offensive to God.

This is one of those decisions that should be left up to grownups, but I find myself facing it anyway. Luckily for me, I breastfeed and cloth diaper, so babies aren't really very expensive in our house.

Outhouse Races

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I know my outhouse is the best, but I need a way to prove this to the world."?

Well, Alaskans have a solution to this age old quandry. We race them.

How do you race an outdoor commode? You strap skis to the bottom and get four friends to push you over the finish line!


Oh Alaska, you never cease to amaze me.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

An Awakening this Morning

I think I've found why I dislike punitive discipline so much. Or, at least found a way to verbalize the reasons behind my feeling of dislike. And why I dislike the idea that I should punish my child the way God punishes me. Here it is: I am not God. I am not even a little God in the eyes of my child. Nor do I aim to be. I do not want that job. I do not want to take the place of God, but to face him with my family. To prepare my children to face him. I am raising my children to be my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I want my children to be disciples, not just disciplined.

Minnesota Mama's Must Haves

Looking for some great reviews and giveaways?



Minnesota Mama's Must Haves is your answer. So far I've entered 5 contests and I'm so not done. Plus there are more giveaways that I'm not even trying for. This is one busy site!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Giveaways, cont.

I have found giveaway heaven.

Babybix blog is giving away $75 worth of wall graphics. I've been dying to put some of these up in our bedroom and down here in the living room. I am way too excited for my own good. I think I've entered this contest every way possible, as many times as possible! If I had less integrity I'd consider cheating!

More giveaways!

I found a great site for giveaways! Mommy and Me is full of great giveaways and even links to lots of other contests as well. I'm just hoping no one else likes the giveaways I do! This giveaway is for some fantastic natural laundry soap.

My daughter is so ready for this walk and ride toy by Playskool. This giveaway is perfectly timed, with any luck we'll get this before she starts running around like a madwoman!

Another Mommy and Me giveaway is for Tiny Tush hemp diaper! I have a few hemp doublers that I love, and a hemp fitted might really help us get through the night. Plus, my husband greatly prefers fitteds, so the more the merrier in this house!

Babybix blog is giving away Sophie the Giraffe and a Lambskin! I cannot tell you how excited I am to put Sophie in my daughter's Easter basket and for the next baby to enjoy the lambskin!



What a great way to welcome a new baby into the world! Check out this Baby Shower Event and sign up for any of the giveaways!

Monday, March 15, 2010

First contest

The first contest I entered ends today. The suspense is making me craaaaa-zzzzzzy.

Today has been remarkably productive. Dishes done, laundry done, hallway pile o'junk cleaned, etc. I even found a way for my good friend to have her next birth at home without having to take three years to pay it off! I love being the bearer of great blessings! *happy dance*

I've made a very official decision. My Nanook has not really played outside yet. She's 6 months old. Not acceptable. So we're going to go play on the swings either tonight or tomorrow morning. We'll have to bundle her up like no other, but it's got to be done.

we will it so/and so it is/past all accident

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Giveaways!

Woohoo! I love free stuff!


Feed Your Stash Friday: Mar. 12-18, 2010

Dirty Diaper Laundry is giving away a one size Bumboo diaper. I love any diaper with side snaps. Apparently they are harder for babies to take off themselves, I like the side snaps because they give a flatter, less bulky front side and that looks a lot nicer. This giveaway ends March 22nd.

I found another diaper giveaway! The Cloth Diaper Whisperer is giving away some of the cutest diapers I've ever seen! I hope they work well, because I'd love to put her in those dipes. This one ends on March 18th.

The Cloth Diaper Report is giving away some GREAT balm for a baby bottom! I have heard nothing but rave reviews for Earth Mama Angel Baby Bum Balm, and since the name of the product is such a mouthful, it has to be good or my friends wouldn't take the time to say it!

The Cloth Diaper Report is giving away a fantastic wet/dry bag! It's designed to hang on a doorknob, so it will take up less space, plus it has a separate space for dry items. Oh, and it's washable AND DRYABLE! This would be PERFECT for a friend of mine.

Here we go!

The Discovery Channel is doing a show about the job of sperm. Am I the only one who finds the premise of this show incredibly strange? Maybe even a little creepy.

Let me explain how I got here. I am a new mom to pretty much the coolest child on the planet. She's wonderful. I get the impression that most people feel this way about their children, but that's because they're not Nanook's mom!

I call my little one Nanook. We didn't pick her name before she was born, so we needed a way to refer to her that was more personal and familiar than 'the baby.' My husband was enrolling in graduate studies at The University of Alaska Fairbanks, and their mascot is Nanook, the great polar bear from Innuit traditions. We thought it was a cute name, and we thought that polar bear cubs are pretty cute, so we jumped on it. And she became Nanook.

She is 6 months old, active, intelligent, and such a happy, happy baby. I am very blessed.

Blessed by my God to live in Alaska, to be married to a wonderful man, and to be mothering an incredible child.


I have several blogs that I've been keeping for a while, and while they have a decent readership, I'm just not sure I like the idea of meshing my internet life and real life so fully. So maybe one day I'll link those blogs to this one, maybe not. At any rate, I'm not likely to keep them going much longer. Too much real life drama from real life people imagining themselves to be the subject of my internet posts.

Here's a good, solid rule of thumb: If something on the internet doesn't reference you directly, it is likely not about you at all. There are more than 6 billion people on the planet. 6,000,000,000 people. You are 1. Those are not good odds. If you think someone might be talking about you, ask them. Like an adult. Then, if they are talking about you, you can address it maturely and without escalation. And if they aren't talking about you (or anyone else specifically), you can move on with your day.

While we're on that note, I like to blog about things I'm thinking about. The things I say are rarely connected to specific people. Quite often I'm writing very abstractly. Remember that warning at the beginning or end of movies that says that the events and characters are not based in real life and shouldn't be taken as such? Yeah, that applies here.

Happy reading!

 
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