A Lot of Questions

Hello all,

Today my brain is turning over so many questions. I often need to write things out to really think them through, but typing is much faster and can keep up with my thoughts much better. This may be a long post, but I hope it is useful to all of us, and I hope I can get some opinions/answers/more thoughts on it all.

First of all, here is where my thought trail begins: the world we live in today is a completely different world than it was 15, 30, 50 years ago. Today, we are all connected through so many social media outlets. Facebook allows us to "keep up" with people we wouldn't normally "keep up" with. Twitter allows us to read others deep, humorous, or informational thoughts and share them with others, or to post our own. Instagram allows us to share pictures of our feet on the sidewalk and our lunches for that day. (Just kidding, I love Instagram!) One idea can travel thousands of miles and touch millions of people, thanks to Youtube, as well as these various forms of media. We spend so much time "connected" to people via the internet, without really being connected to people. (Check yourself next time you're tweeting or instagram-ing while out to dinner with a friend. How many times do you check your phone? Are you really with the person you're posting about, or is your brain too busy being "social?") What was life like before all of these new inventions? Well, I don't really know or remember. But I can assure you, time spent with people was spent with people. Being "social" didn't mean sitting behind a computer screen or smart phone, and communication was more than 140-character messages. People wrote letters (New Testament, anyone?), spoke to one another, and read books. And I know this: when people had a cause to stand up for, they spoke to people about it. I can't imagine Martin Luther King Jr. accomplishing what he did by debating with his opposers on Facebook. The thought is almost humorous. I can't imagine Paul writing a letter to the church in Corinth via Twitter, hash-tagging #Corinth so everyone could read it. All I'm saying is, people knew how to communicate well. And sometimes I wonder, have we lost a vital skill? Are we out of practice? Perhaps we have pruned the synapses in our brains too far, and our focus for the written word has become a little shorter?

Now, all that to say: I understand that there are definite pro's to new technology. We can communicate important information much quicker than we could before. Imminent storms, national security threats, invitations to events, information available for research, good news from loved ones, etc... I mean, today I played "Words With Friends" with my Dad who lives in Romania while we were on Skype. Years ago, missionaries waited months to receive letters from family and friends, if they were able to communicate with them at all. These are all good things.

But are some things not fit for Facebook? So many controversial subjects are constantly being debated online, and where I seem to see the most heartache, arguing, and anger is via Facebook. Subjects such as politics, abortion, gay rights, and many others are being argued about via lengthy battles of comments, trailing down someone's profile. Every once in a while, I have inserted myself in an on-going debate on a particular subject. But what I have found is this: Facebook, by definition, is set up to be about self. An individual will post what he/she thinks, wants, feels, or knows. He/she will post pictures of his/herself, statuses, or notes that project an image that he/she wants people to see. Facebook is set up to show off "me" (or at least the "me" I want others to see). And this plays into most people's conversations or debates online. No one is there to read or learn. Everyone is there to say something. The few times I have inserted an opinion or a proven fact, no one listens. Everyone is there to prove their own point, and I've never seen anyone come away from any of those debates with a better worldview, opinion, or mood. Can we really effectively communicate truth within the limitations of social media? Would efforts be more effective by real live face-to-face conversations with people? (Insert your cause here: the Gospel, politics, abortion, women's rights, gay rights...) The written word can be read and misunderstood in so many different ways, that a simple sentence that one person meant as kind or factual can be taken as rude or angry. There is too much room for miscommunication.

That's where another question comes in: is it worth it? Is it worth posting something that is true, when there is so much goofy junk being posted already? (Don't misunderstand me: the question is not whether or not truth is worth standing up for. It is whether or not Facebook or other media is the place to do it.) Let me give you some examples. Anyone remember the Kony 2012 campaign? This was a video that immediately went viral, and was supposed to start a movement. As it turns out, the maker of said video turned out to be a little looney, and the facts of the issue seemed to be mistaken. (Apparently the "movement" has someone continued, though with less enthusiasm than it originally produced due to much controversy.) How about the various memes posted about our President or other political figures in the spotlight? Or what about pictures of Jesus arm-wrestling Satan, or something similar? (lol) Just because a picture with bright red words on it says something, does that make it true? Or does it even communicate a point effectively? If there is truth out there in the sea of memes, viral videos, and popular beliefs, would it really be heard by anyone who didn't already take that stance in the first place?

Now, I want to point something out specifically to those who believe in the authority of the Bible. 2 Timothy 2:23-25 says this:

"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of truth..." 

Christians, what is our place? Scripture clearly indicates how we are to go about sharing truth. Can we really do this online?

Even if you are not a Christian, how do you receive messages put forth by pictures such as these:

My fear is this: we will automatically accept something as truth if we already think along those lines, even if it isn't true or we haven't researched it at all. We act on our emotional ties (don't kill grandma!) instead of reason.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope I communicated my questions and thoughts clearly. I only want to encourage the body towards what leads to unity and mutual edification, and everyone toward a possibly better form of communication and learning. Please share thoughts, comments, and other questions with me. I'm a youngster with a lot of thoughts and a lot of questions.

Love,
Hannah

And we shall call her...

Rosemary Louise Staton. 
(Rosemary: Latin; "dew of the sea")
(Louise: German; "famous warrior")

When we first got pregnant, we both really thought it would be a boy. We weren't sure why, it was just an initial feeling. But as weeks went on and I started to show a little more, I really felt like it was a girl. Something about the way I was carrying her and the way I felt made me change my mind. We both knew we would be happy with whichever, but we were dying to know. When we finally found out, I thought Kip was going to either faint or jump around the room with joy. He's a Daddy to a little girl.

Of course, we had already picked a boy name but hadn't even come close to choosing a girl name. So, we started throwing a few names around, but never could decide on anything. Rosemary had always been an idea, but we weren't ready to commit to a decision yet. One evening, my friend, Carol, mentioned a friend of hers with a little girl called "Rosie-Lou." Her full name was Rosemary Louise, but the cute little nickname had stuck with her. Well, it stuck with me too, and the more Kip and I talked about it, the more we loved it.

You see, these are our grandmothers' names. I can't believe we didn't think of it sooner! They are both so special to us, and I just love the classic names. The more we talked about the name and about the baby, the more the two became synonymous. "Oohf, Rosie just kicked me in the rib." "I can't wait to take Rosie to such-and-such place." "When Rosie gets here..."

My Grandma (Mildred Louise) and I at Easter 2 years ago.

Rosemary is Kip's Grandma (in the video), and Louise is the middle name of my Grandma. Both of their reactions when we told them were priceless... and I'm so glad we got video of at least one of them! And of course, Louise is also the middle name of both of our Mothers! I love the meanings of both of the names, dew of the sea and famous warrior. So soft and strong at the same time, like we pray our little one will be.




My little Rosebud,

You're only a few weeks from your grand entrance to the world, and you have so many people here who love you already. You are named after four precious, beautiful, strong women, and I know you'll be the same. We can't wait to watch you grow, smile, and laugh. We can't wait for girly little dresses, silly made up dances and trips to the gun range with your Daddy. He's already knows you'll be a perfect shot. And I already know you'll be the cutest one out there. I'm praying for you, so very often. I long for the day you're in my arms. Keep growing, but don't make us wait too long. :) 

I love you,
Mama.

Thirty Week Feelings

30 weeks!

Today, I am thirty weeks along in my pregnancy!! Eeeee! :) Six weeks 'til full term and ten weeks 'til due date! I'm so, so ready for little lady to get here. Pregnancy has taken a big turn for me over the last few weeks. It's starting to feel a little less cute and a lot more uncomfortable. Baby girl has decided that she loves curling up right under the right side of my ribcage, and staying there for as long as she can. Especially during car rides. ;) My back and hips have started complaining about the extra weight they're supporting, and lo and behold, morning sickness decided to wait until the end to rear its ugly head. :( It has been so tempting to fall into a "woe is me!" attitude, but then I realize that six to ten (to twelve) weeks of "woe" does not sound fun. I'm trying my best to stay busy and positive and prayerful.

We took a trip last week to East Texas to visit my older sisters. I hadn't seen either of them in months, so the visit was long overdue. Both of them blessed me with hand-me-down baby clothes and a few new maternity shirts. I spent nearly all day Friday organizing baby clothes and putting away different sizes in their appropriate places. [Little lady, you owe your sweet cousins Arabella and Avalee a big thank you for all the cute onesies and dresses you got from them! Don't worry, I hugged and kissed them enough for the both of us. :)] And the maternity clothes were a sweet relief to me, as I've started putting away even more clothes that don't fit and am trying my best to (literally) stretch my wardrobe to last me these last couple months. I officially retired my favorite jeans yesterday. :( It's elastic waistbands for me for the rest of the year!

I recently came across this blog (thanks to Pinterest!) and I really think it's the best advice I've read on dressing well while pregnant. I've had a hard time finding maternity clothes that I really liked, so I've continued to wear a lot of my normal clothes until just recently. I wish I had read this at the beginning of my pregnancy. I could have probably saved some money and frustration by following some of her simple ideas. Next time around, I know what to go for. ;)

[On that note, can I make a point here? Comparison TRULY is the thief of joy. Sometimes I see these cute prego ladies on these blogs, and think, "Yeah! I can do that!" But, when it comes time to get ready to go out somewhere, a lot of times I feel inadequate and frumpy because of what's in my closet and how it looks on my ever-changing body. The truth is, the Lord has made women beautiful. My sweet husband tells me all the time how pretty he thinks I am, and even if I have a hard time believing it, I need to hear it. I promise, your man and your Heavenly Father don't think you are frumpy or ugly or flawed because you don't look like the picture you have in your head (whether you're pregnant or not!). Don't be lazy, but don't let the enemy deceive you.]

That's all I've got for now. Any advice for a third trimester first time mama? Are there things you wish you would have known before pregnancy or birth that you know now? Please share!

Love,
Hannah

No make-up Monday. Is that a thing? I'm making it a thing.

Hello, Third Trimester!

I'm dreaming today...

28.5 week bump!

I'm sitting at my kitchen table, reading and smelling the fantastic aroma of dinner in the crockpot. (One of our favorites: Honey Sesame Chicken) And, every so often, I get a little kick from the littlest Staton lady, reminding me that she's there and awake! I keep dreaming about her little face, wondering who she'll look like and what color hair she'll have. I wonder what her personality will be like, and what her voice will sound like. I can't wait to hear her say "Daddy" for the first time, because I know Kip will just melt. He loves her so much already, and I think he's going to be the sweetest Daddy.

I think it took a long time for the fact that I'm pregnant to really sink in. Even when I started to feel her move for the first time, it didn't seem real. But over the last few weeks, and especially at the beginning of the third trimester, it has really hit me. We're going to have a baby in this home... soon. Her room is painted pink, her crib is set up and we have a cradle next to the bed in our room. The quiet moments Kip and I have soon won't be so quiet, and time alone will be even more of a treasure than it is now. We're soaking in every bit of our time as a family of two, while really looking forward to the family of three. :)

Our first birthing class went really well. We really enjoyed meeting the five other couples (who are all first-time parents!) and getting some encouragement and perspective from the midwives and their assistants. It really helped me realize that my body is going to do what my body is going to do. I can't worry or stress about when or how she'll come, I just have to be patient and trust that God will bring her into this world in His own way. My job is just to ride it out and let it all happen. I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders... one that was never mine to bear!

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." -Isaiah 26:3

I think baby girl is getting hungry (well, at least I am), so I'm off to a PB&J sandwich and some Raspberry Leaf Tea while I watch a documentary on natural childbirth. Holler! Prime-time entertainment, right there. :)

Love always,
Hannah

Birth videos, classes, and stories. Oh my!

Well, after watching this TED video over and over, I was inspired to watch more birth videos and read birth stories. Water births, home births, hospital births... Lots and lots of births. Some videos are edited and sweet, and make Kip say, "That didn't look so bad!" And others are raw footage that make me wince and say, "Nooooo way!!" and Kip calmly replies, "Well, Hannah, we've gotta get her out somehow."

Let's be honest. I'm scared. Of the pain, of course, but mostly of the unknown. The last part of the TED video, where you can see what the little baby's legs are doing and how she's trying to get OUT of there?! Helloooo, why did I not realize she'd be moving around and squirming during delivery too?! One story I read talked about feeling her pelvic bones shifting and making room as the baby descended into the birth canal. Whaaaat.

All that to say, my confidence is fully and completely in the Lord, and I know He'll take care of me, and that this is what He designed my body to do. But the stories still give me the goosebumps. It's all so exciting, emotional, scary, and unpredictable! One minute, I'm terrified, and the next I just can't wait. I think, if the Lord gives us more babies in the future, I'd like to have a home birth. It just sounds so much more comfortable and personal. Maybe we'll wait until we have a house so we don't scare any neighbors in our apartment complex. :)

Well, tonight is our first birthing class. Neither of us are really sure what to expect, but we're excited to get to spend some time getting to know our midwives (Jean and Betty) outside of the regular prenatal appointments. I'm a little afraid Kip and I won't be able to make it through the class without laughing... This is all so new to us, and let's be honest... sometimes conversations about bodies are just funny. I know the information will be very useful and I'm excited to learn!

Look at this incredible video of a baby from conception to birth. What an incredible God who makes such wonderfully made little people!

It's Been A While...

So much has happened since I posted last.

1. We did move, but not til nearly a month after my last post. We've lived in our new place about three months now, and I'm finally just feeling settled. We have pictures, erhh... picture frames on the wall, furniture arranged and lightbulbs in (almost) all of our lamps. Hey, it's "home," and we love it!

2. We had an ultrasound at 18 weeks and found out we are having a little baby girl. :) We are so excited to see our little lady face-to-face in just three short months! I am 28 weeks today. Hello, third trimester! 

3. I recently stopped working, and I've graduated to stay-at-home housewife and waiting-to-be Mama! I'm praying for a measure of productivity and wisdom in finances, housekeeping, and learning to PRAY. This is the first time in my life I've never had work or school to attend, so it will be a whole new world for me! God gives good gifts, and in the case of my husband-- an INCREDIBLE gift. I'm so thankful for how hard he works to go to school and work to take care of our growing little family. What a man. :) 

On our honeymoon before we left to come back home. 

With the extra time on my hands, I hope to read and write a lot more, whether that's books, journals, or blogs. I've gone back and forth in my mind about whether or not I feel comfortable blogging regularly. I don't have any wisdom to offer newlyweds (as I am one myself), or Mama's (as I'm learning on the fly), I can't cook like Ree and I don't homeschool (yet) like my wonderful sister Bambi. But what I can do is share stories, struggles, and lessons I learn along the way. I only hope to be a voice of encouragement, inspiration, truth, and honesty for anyone who might happen to read along with our crazy lives. If there are any other young wives/mama's out there, feeling like you're the only one who no clue what to do, you're not!! I'm here, and we can learn together. :)

Cheers!
Hannah