This Classical Life

Tonight is the global night commute to raise awareness about the situation of the invisible children in Uganda. 1.8 million people have been forcibly displaced during the twenty year long war. About a thousand people die every week due to the war itself and conditions in the resettlement camps (starvation and preventable diseases.) It’s difficult to estimate, but at least 20,000 child soldiers as young as five and six years old have been forced to fight in the rebel armies, probably more like 50,000. Tens of thousands of children commute nightly to protect themselves from being abducted from their own homes to fight. The situation there is as grave (some say moreso) as that in the Darfur region. If you haven’t heard about this, buy the DVD or just google.

UPDATE: You can see the dvd here. My sister reported that though less than twenty had signed up beforehand, 160 people showed up to the Global Night Commute in her small college town and about half of them spent the night, even thought it was in the middle of exams.

Today is the culmination of my dad’s birthweek, better known as his birthday. My dad has always been steadfast in his hard work and dedication to all of us and his quiet strength. He’s a really cool guy (excellent guitarist, etc.) and extremely funny. I am extremely blessed to be his child. Thanks for everything, Dad, and happy birthday!

Check out this interactive zip code map! (HT: Macon)

My former professor, Bart Ehrman, was on today’s Fresh Air. I thought his discussion with Terry Gross was better than some he’s done in the past, or maybe I am just getting more tolerant of Dr. Ehrman. I listen to FA almost every day, so it made me laugh that Dr. Ehrman is someone Terry Gross just gushes over, like Neil Young or something! (more…)

House shopping is so much fun. (more…)

AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT OPEN EMBRACE posted by Sam and Bethany Torode on openembrace.com. I have deep respect for any author willing to be honest and upfront and say publically “we’ve changed our minds.” Now, their mischaracterization of Augustine and Calvin… ;o)

A study released recently documents some of the medical problems associated with having children “too close” together. I know that it takes the uterus two full years to recover from a pregnancy, so most of this didn’t suprise me too much. What’s interesting to me to consider is how close child spacing is so much more rare when certain things are practiced in combination: cosleeping, ecological breastfeeding, no pacifiers, etc. A lot of thoughts swirl around in my head regarding God’s intentions, man’s interventions, the development of so much beneficial medical technology that helps bridge the gap, etc.

I dabble in many crafty activities but remain an “advanced beginner” in most. I’ve been knitting for five or six years and still only make scarves, baby blankets and little baby hats. I’ve resolved to try my hand at knitting Kate or Lexi a sweater for the winter, but… we’ll see. I started sewing a year and a half ago, and have only sewed in the most utilitarian fashion. Dozens of slings (for others) and different styles of baby carriers. A slipcover for a hand-me-down chair. A bit of mending of our clothing. But this week, I sewed a dress for Kate, a dress she does not need, just something for fun. I used elastic for the first time and bias cut fabric to bind the armholes. It wasn’t difficult and it was very enjoyable. A matching top for Lexi should follow, as she’s on the brink of crawling and dresses aren’t the most practical item in her wardrobe and already quite plentiful. After wrestling 2.5 yards of a bottomweight fabric every time I make a sling, children’s clothing is a delight.

After the adrenaline of birth and with plenty of time for pondering, I bring you the aforepromised homebirth reflections:

My sweet midwife Audrey told us the first time she met us that once we had a homebirth, we would never want to go back to hospital birthing. She was right. I think I could handle a freestanding birth center but an average hospital… only if my health or my child’s were at risk. (more…)

We also got some video of Kate egg hunting, perhaps I’ll upload that someday… I have a lot of pictures to upload…

So, Wal-Mart and Sam’s are stocking so much more organic stuff these days. It’s so hard, because I want to buy from my small local health food store (owned by members of our small group, even!) but they outprice them by SO much and my grocery budget is not unlimited.

I wish I didn’t have to choose between supporting a company I believe in and feeding my family less total organic food and giving my money to the evil empire but getting to eat more organics. I hate that Wal-mart is putting me in this quandry.

Today is Father Damien Day in Hawaii. Father Damien was a Flemish Catholic missionary to the lepers on the island of Molokai. His official feast day is May 10, but in Hawaii he is remembered on April 15 along with JT, missionary to Engineers. Does that mean engineering is somehow related to leprosy? I digress…

I remember being awed when I first heard the story of Father Damien. I was in first grade sailing past the island of Molokai with my uncle (who is a dive boat captain on Maui). My uncle, who was raised Catholic but I don’t think still practices, knew the story remarkably well for someone who transplanted to Hawaii. I wish Christians today could be remembered for such service. Somehow our priorities have become so mixed up; at time I begin to wonder if such sacrificial living is only possible in the Catholic tradition. Lord have mercy upon us.