TheLionRampant.net

Well, it seems that we’ve inevitably let this blog go. I’m hoping that as today I’m giving my only exam of the semester, that as I’ll be on summer break, that new and interesting thoughts shall arise and about which I can blog. But I do have to mention that I think the old adage about being pregnant with boys means that they steal your brains (while girls steal your beauty) has something to it. At least I’m not *as* forgetful as I was early on in the pregnancy.

Bryce had his ordination a few weeks ago and it went off beautifully. My Dad has some pictures on his blog. Craig and Judith are with us again now soaking up the California sun as they returned from Utah and northern California. We plan to go down to Bryce’s parents’ in Laguna Beach and enjoy some more sunshine while Bryce will likely stay in Pasadena to write his sermon for Sunday. Bryce also purchased his Nikon D80 SLR which means we hopefully will have lots of interesting pictures on here soon.

I’m looking forward to my new-found freedom as classes have come to an end. I’ve officially finished my first year of proper college teaching. I imagine that next semester will be the most exciting yet as I get to try to teach all my courses in two days and juggle motherhood and professorhood. I’m looking forward to the challenge. Our friends in our small group graciously gave us their old stroller but right now it’s simply sitting in our trunk as bringing it into the house means 1) we have to have a place for it (which we don’t right now) and 2) that this baby thing is really going to happen. I know I only have about 4 months until my due date, but the reality of my belly getting bigger is a different reality from actually having a real, live baby. Now that is nuts. I’m also trying to ward off beginning to feel claustrophobic of myself as I continue to gain weight and my belly expands.

So do any of our readers have any fun and exciting summer plans? Any vacations/holidays on the horizon? We may take weekend or day trips here and there, but I don’t fancy a holiday of much length in the increasingly hot summer months while lugging around an extra 20 lbs.

We had our ultrasound and it appears that Baby Hales is a he! We are thrilled. Of course we’d have been thrilled with a girl, too. Our little son is doing well and growing well, too. He’s just under 1 pound (which seems a bit big to me) and is measuring 1 week ahead of my latest due date.

It was amazing to see his little four-chambered heart beating, his spinal column and rib cage, his little bones growing and especially to see movement! We saw his little fingers moving (like he was waving) and even his mouth open and little tongue sticking out! We sat there pretty much amazed the whole ultrasound.

Now we have to settle on a boy name. Our friends, Ken and Gillian, are pregnant with a little girl due in May and Ken told his in-utero daughter that her boyfriend will be coming just a few months after her. The fun begins! (Bryce, coincidently, said that when they are 12, for maximum embarrassment, we should tell them — publically of course — that they’re actually betrothed! Can you imagine?)

I’m fascinated by the way popular culture has become aware of Christianity in the last few years, so yesterday, when I heard the words “Holy Week”, I turned the radio up.

The story began with the reporter noting that this is the holiest week of the year for Christians, as we look forward to celebrating Easter this coming Sunday. “But,” the reporter continued, “Christians are making news for another reason this week as well…” The story then proceeded to focus on the release of the 18th and final installment in the Left Behind series, which will be released this week. And just like that, the Resurrection was eclipsed by a fictitious (and, in my my view fallacious) account of the end times.

I’m not really sure what this means. Perhaps it means that, in the eyes of our culture, biblical fiction is more interesting than fact. Perhaps it means that as Christians we have put more emphasis on speculation about the future than the central facts of our faith. Perhaps it just means that there is a better news story in Left Behind than in the resurrection (though I’m not sure how that could be).

Whatever the case, here’s another story to file in my “Media-becomes-aware-of-Christians” folder. I’m glad that I’ve spent this week preparing to preach on the resurrection, rather than that glorious event when cars driven by Christians will be miraculously unoccupied. The facts of history are far more enthralling than fictitious views of the future.

My friend, Katie, has just had her second adorable child, this one a girl, and get this: she labored at the hospital for a mere 12 MINUTES! The announcement is on her blog. I can’t wait for the birth story; maybe I’ll get some pointers.