No, I didn’t drop off the face of the earth. I’ve just been wrapped up in other things and took a break this weekend.
Additions
David and I finally added a camcorder to our (quite limited) electronic arsenal. We’ve said for years that we would buy one when I got pregnant. Well, the time finally came. We found a nice Sony at Circuit City, and David is having a blast with his video editing software, figuring out how to add music and all the fancy features. Soon my expanding belly will be his favorite target (until Peanut makes his/her appearance!).
I also added 6,500 years of Western Civilization to my head. I proofread a book that covered 5000 B.C. to 1500 A.D. I learned quite a bit and picked up some interesting tidbits I’ve filed away for future reference.
Apparently I’ve also added some significant baby to my tummy in the past week. I’m definitely at the end of my regular jeans. In about ten days I went from “I can still suck it in and you would never know I was pregnant” to “Kiss your normal fitted clothes good-bye”. It is a good thing the seasons are changing because when I stand in front of my closet, the only things in there that fit me are my turtlenecks, my polo shirts, and a heavy wool charcoal jumper. So yesterday I went through all my spring and summer clothes to see what was going to work. May I just say at this point that my penchant for flowing spring/summer dresses with high waistlines and other “loose fitting” type dresses is paying off in a MAJOR way! I have plenty of nice things to wear to church for at least a couple of months. Now around the house… That is a totally different story! (I’m in sweats today – very unusual for me!) But I’ve got several things picked out to order today.
Deletions
We cancelled our Netflix membership and are going to cancel our basic cable this afternoon. We’re too busy for the Netflix (although I highly recommend the service – we’ve been very happy with it). And there is nothing to watch on TV so we decided that even $14/month for basic cable at this point is a waste of money, especially now that NCAA basketball is over for the season. (Well, technically there is a game tonight, but UCLA-Florida? YAWN.)
I’ve resigned from reviewing books for Mind and Media. Although it is a great program, I realized that while it fit my life when I was pre-pregnancy, it is just one of those good things that needs to go for the sake of the best. I have two books to finish reviewing and my obligation will be done.
Resolutions
We also resolved the issue of infant baptism. This was an issue for us because the church we have been visiting for the past several months is of the Christian Reformed denomination and they baptize infants. When we started visiting there we had no children and, frankly, figured we might never have children. So the baptism thing was a rather non-issue we could choose to ignore. We liked the pastor, the church was close, we liked the smaller congregation, and we liked the service. Well, enter Peanut on the stage and now we had to decide. We did some reading, had a good conversation with the pastor, and prayed.
In the end, we decided that although we understand infant baptism and don’t think it is wrong or sinful (as practiced by those of the Reformed denominations), it was not something we could embrace spiritually. If we lived in a town that only had one good Bible preaching church and it was Reformed, we would go there and “when in Rome do as the Romans do”. We know there are many fine Reformed folks who baptize their babies and we don’t have a problem with it.
But since we do have other options, we are more comfortable with the practice of believer’s baptism which means we are heading back to the Baptist church we visited last fall. We went there last evening and unless the Lord sends us a big red flag, we are assuming that is where we will be from now on. We would prefer a Reformed and Baptist church, but the only one in our city is way too conservative and somber for us. But we are glad to have that decision made even though it was hard to make.
Happy Monday to all!
Good for you, Sallie. It is nice to see you looking at your choices and lifestyle realistically. There is nothing like a new baby to make that important!
I’m with you on the infant baptism. I too (unlike a lot of Baptists I know) can understand the other viewpoint, but much as I wish it was true, our children have to decide for or against Christ on their own, we can’t do it for them.
God’s blessings on finding some practical everyday clothes for now. 🙂
Wow seems you have been keeping busy in the thinking department. I seem to recall when I was pregnant with my son many years ago, I wore out 3 dresses. They were comfortable, easy care, went with my shoes, and very cool as in I wasn’t hot in them. Summer and pregnant was very tough on my and the gain in weight only made it hotter it seemed! Good luck.
As a Christian who happens to be a member of a Southern Baptist congregation, I certainly don’t hold it against anyone who chooses to have their infant baptized. . . it is my belief that it’s just the parents’ and congregation’s serious commitment to guide that child towards a growing lifetime relationship with and belief in Christ. (I do not think infant baptism gains the child entry into heaven. That is the individual’s ultimate decision to follow Christ.) I equate infant baptism to a Parent/Baby Dedication service to God. It is a public commitment and ceremony that’s supposed to honor God and proclaim Him as our Creator and Father.
Hopefully, this type of commitment to God will lead the child to a personal relationship with the Lord. And while I do wholly believe in Believer’s Baptism, it isn’t the end-all either in defining someone as a follower of Christ. . . It is a rightful public profession of faith in following Christ’s example in my opinion, but becoming a Christian happens in the heart and soul BEFORE Believer’s Baptism even takes place.
Stereotypically, Baptists, esp. of the “conservative” persuasion have been misunderstood and misinterpreted. I just wanted to share my Baptist opinion and belief to clarify in case anyone might read too much negatively concerning Baptists’ thoughts and such about infant baptism, Believer’s Baptism, baptism issues in general.
(If any other Baptists out there think I’m way off base and read this, please feel free to add your thoughts. All I am sure of is that I am the Lord’s having made my own personal decision for Him!)
Emily
Hi ladies! Thanks for your thoughts.
My experience as a mostly life-long Baptist is that most Baptists don’t really understand the Reformed view of infant baptism. They hear “infant baptism” and automatically assume that the Reformed view is that baptism is about the salvation of the child (as would be the case in the Roman Catholic church). That is definitely not the case in the Reformed view (ie, Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, etc.). I’ve heard pastors say the most inaccurate and uncharitable things from the pulpit about the practice of infant baptism that clearly indicated to me that they did not have even the beginnings of a theological perspective on it. (On the other hand, I’ve heard some Reformed folks make some pretty negative and inaccurate comments from the pulpit about Baptists as well.)
All that to say that I’m not trying to start a controversy here. David and I can see both sides of the argument and we chose what we were most comfortable with biblically, theologically and emotionally. But I still love all my brothers and sisters in Christ who decide to practice on the other side of the issue! 🙂