Bigger and bigger news

Hi all. Ben here. Ariel really is showing now! Just ask Elden, Ronelle and Ashlee because they saw the rounding belly over Easter. Ariel's usable wardrobe is diminishing; she's experiencing various kinds of discomfort; she's moving around a little differently--and it's all wonderful! I love that Ariel's body and life is changing--I get to be a partner with Ariel and a witness to the mysterious things happening in and to her! Oh, man...Oh, man.

Most other personal news pales in compare to Ariel and my parenthood, but I'll go ahead with one piece anyway. In April I'm taking a group of interested students on a trip to Washington D.C., where we'll be gathering with folks from around the world whose jobs it is to advocate (throug the legal system) for women and children trafficked in the sex trade, widows who have had their property seized and families in bonded servitude. The meeting is called the Global Prayer Gathering, and it's hosted by the International Justice Mission, an evangelical organization dedicated to rescuing and caring for slaves and prosecuting slave masters and traffickers under the laws of the host country. This meeting is an opportunity for my students to see the incredible dedication of these men and women and to come along side them in prayer for the work God is doing around the world. We leave April 11th!

Bella Band Wanna-be Update

It worked! I took a black spandexy tank top (it is otherwise too short and constricting under the arms, so only gets worn very occasionally) and cut off the top half so that I have about a 10-inch stretchy band. This I pull on over my pants and... Voila! Transition-wear! It works, so far. I'll let you know if my pants shimmy down later today.

Spring Break Visits and a Button-Popping Solution (Is there a solution to button-popping, or is the solution button-popping?)

So, we have had lots and lots of family fun these past few weeks. Jim, Becky and Anna were here last week and my parents and Ashlee came down this weekend. Both visits were wonderful-- we feel pretty blessed that our families come to visit us "just because!"

Also, my belly is getting round. So far, no non-family members have noticed, but family can tell! I am down to one and a half pairs of pants. The half pair can zip and button, but the metal hooks can't close. They are still wearable, thanks to the button (this is perfect, because having two pairs allows me to alternate washing and wearing). Enfamil suggests that I wear my other pants unzipped and an elastic band around my hips to hide that fact. This seems to be a rather strange suggestion to me. Maybe they sell the bands, and that's why they think this is a good idea.

I will check this theory.

Okay, they don't sell the bands after all, but other companies do. And maybe it isn't such a bad idea.

Here is a Bella-Band photo. Of course the models look cute in their bands. But doesn't it also look like they are wearing maternity pants as well? Those jeans look pretty zipped-up to me. And they are going for the layered tee shirt look. How would the stretchy band-thing look under work dress shirts? Hmmm. Maybe I will try to experiment by altering an old tank top or something.

Trail of Tears, Continued

A few months back Ben and I were told that our home sits pretty much a stone's throw from the old road bed that was the Trail of Tears. This has caused us to do a bit of research into the history of the Cherokee people in our area, and more specifically, into the portion of their history that ended in their removal at bayonet-point from our area.

The short version of the story is that from 1833-1836 (after an embarrassing series of failings in our system of checks and balances), 18,000 Cherokee were forcibly removed from their homes in Northern Georgia, parts of Tennessee and North Carolina to a reservation in Oklahoma. During this thousand-mile trip on foot, 4,000 Cherokee died of starvation, exhaustion and disease. It is a pointed example of the injustices in the United States' relations to the Native American Nations during the early part of our country's history.

You can read the long version of the story (please do, it really is interesting!) at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html

A Belated Memorium, and the Promise of an Introduction

Did you know that author Madeliene L'Engle died this past fall? Apparently this wasn't a happening that made the radio, but for those of us who have been shaped by her writings, this is indeed news-worthy!


Hmm... for those of you with a pull toward the creative, read Walking on Water if you've not yet. Madeliene takes on faith, art, the work of the Spirit in and through us...


I mean it! For those of you who don't already love her works, be inspired to discover the gift that her writing is!


Here is a better source of inspiration-- a beautiful NY times obit. I mean that seriously. It communicates something of the honor due:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/books/07cnd-lengle.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=books

My first reading recommendation is Walking on Water, then A Wrinkle in Time and its companions, then A Circle of Quiet. Actually, those are the only books of hers that I have read, so to be honest I guess that isn't a very encompassing recommendation. What I've read, I've liked, and perhaps if you choose something of hers, you will enjoy it, too...


Read! Read the NY Times piece, then one of Madeliene's books. At a future meeting, I will acquaint you with a dear friend of hers and mine, Ms. Luci Shaw...

Baby Garden

Look at the cute counter! Thanks due to Naomi and the link from her blog...