The Maxwell House

Whadya think?

maxwellhouse — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:01:29 +0000

I’m considering the purchase of a Zojirushi bread machine. Any opinions? We make a lot of bread around here. Mixing the dough up in the Bosch and then putting it into pans is by no means difficult, but I like the idea of making the process even easier during this stage of life. The Zojirushi turns out a traditionally shaped loaf, and can be programmed to custom rise times (good for a whole wheat sourdough that takes a long rise). If you’ve ever owned one, or know someone who does, please leave a comment.

Focusing on the truth of Imago Dei – did it work?

maxwellhouse — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:40:16 +0000

In the interest of providing follow-up for this previous note on our plan for labor:

Labor did go well, but the spiritual focal point ended up not being in our identity as images of God, but instead thankfulness for the little soul he has chosen us to parent. Physically laboring to bring a child into the world is an amazing thing (though NOT to raise it above any other act of worship). It is acutely distressing and rewarding, and remembering to vocally thank God through the process helped to bring the focus of my noggin back to where it should be: God. God is gracious and merciful. He is just and infinite, and the source of all things good. Though it might have wigged out the nurses, speaking thanks for Joshua was huge for me. I imagine many of you moms are laughing right now at my naïveté, saying “now she finally gets it!”

Growing up too quickly

maxwellhouse — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:59:11 +0000

With the newest little Maxwell having arrived on the scene, the big brothers are growing up quickly. Yesterday papa taught them all how to shave. Notice the intense focus on their faces?

***As an aside, this is an excellent example of how marriage makes me more aware of my own shortcomings. Kevin spotted these kits on clearance at Target, and I was hesitant to spend money on them (read: cheap), thinking that they’d be just another discarded toy that I’d have to find a place for. Papa knew best, as these were a huge hit. Thank you God for Kevin!

Babies DO all come out eventually

maxwellhouse — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:46:25 +0000

Hello world! Announcing the arrival of Joshua Kevin Maxwell. Born January 12, 2012 at 11:50pm. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

2011 in review

maxwellhouse — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:53:49 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,900 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 32 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Preparing for Labor

maxwellhouse — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:49:47 +0000

Although I don’t expect we’ll get to meet the newest Maxwell for a couple of weeks yet, I am finding myself contemplating the upcoming labor and delivery. In life I can often choose a quicker/easier/more efficent route. Want to get to the store faster? Speed a wee bit, choose a more direct line, and I can arrive in quick fashion. Feel like avoiding the world for a weekend? Ignore the phone’s incessant ringing, turn up Pandora, and *voila* we’ve uncovered a mini vacation. However, when you’re nine months pregnant, there’s no possible way to avoid the inevitable upcoming labor like in the previous scenarios. There is no quick way out, no “easy” button.

When Jimmy’s birthday came, I was too busy eating and preparing myself for days of hard labor (’cause isn’t that how it is always portrayed in books?) to ponder the spiritual implications of childbirth. With Jacob I was too busy screaming “I can’t” and wondering why this little baby was attempting to make an exit out my lower spine rather than the God-given south-bound route. But last time, with Joseph, I found myself contemplating the cross as I paced the labor and delivery room. I don’t know that I’d recommend that as a proper pain management technique, but I did find some knowledge, if not relief, as I paced, prayed, and thought about Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

And this time? I plan to cling to the truth that we are Imago Dei, made in the image of God. Not only are Kevin and I inheritors of this human characteristic, but every nurse we’ll encounter, our midwife, and the precious new son that we’ve been blessed to parent. We are not merely flesh and bone, but spiritual beings, made in the likeness of our creator. How will this translate during the trials of the delivery room? I’m not sure, but I pray that this knowledge will help to give me an eternal perspective during an expected time of very temporal difficulty and profound joy.

Saturday Night Showdown

maxwellhouse — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:44:35 +0000

Most people probably won’t read this post until the debate is over, but Saturday night on ABC (at 5pm in AK) there will be a debate between presidential candidates. I haven’t watched a debate since the early fall, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the candidates have changed (or, preferably, remained unchanged). With the early states caucusing in the late winter I realize that a candidate will be handed to me before the primaries, but it’s still fun to examine the options. If you miss the telecast, you can catch the online feed on Yahoo.

There are several sites on the web which gather information about candidates. One such site is 2012 Presidential Candidates which has interesting information on several issues. Lately I’m remembering the election 8 years ago when I was finishing college and an economics classmate was lamenting all the “single issue voters” who in his mind were unenlightened idiots. Now I find myself in the position of choosing from a handful of candidates who (at least on paper) support my view of the abortion issue, and trying to determine who is genuine in their stance, and who is merely political. Which candidate really has what it takes to support not only this issue, but truly understands the economics of running a country successfully? Give me a candidate who both understands the value of God-given, god-imaged life (from sperm-meets-egg), and supports a Smithian view of economics, and I’ll show you one smart cookie.

Boys

maxwellhouse — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:33:50 +0000

I read this article from a mom of 8 boys today and enjoyed her words of wisdom. With our fourth son due in 6 short weeks, I have happily avoided many of the hurtful comments that other moms of single genders have endured. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I tend to be a bit of a homebody (less time to interact with strangers), and the people I do see tend to generally be kind and thoughtful. The interesting difference between myself and the author of the above article (other than the fact that she’s expecting her eighth boy) is that I DON’T WANT a girl. When I’m asked “Will you try for a girl?” or “Were you hoping for a girl?” I usually respond that my husband would like a daughter, which is true. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-girls or anything, I just don’t feel like there’s something missing by not experiencing the difference of parenting a female. Since even before we had children, I’ve wanted boys. I’d happily welcome the experience of parenting a daughter, and I’d like for that desire of my husband’s to be fulfilled, but I am honestly perfectly content without the experience. Perhaps this oddity is due to my former “girls-are-scary-combatants-who-need-to-be-contended-with-as-we-trample-each-other-while-clawing-at-our-goals” mentality of high school. Perhaps not

Kids talk Economics

maxwellhouse — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:15:26 +0000

Overheard this morning was the following conversation between the 5 year old and the 3 year old:

J5: “Now I’m rich and you’re poor!”

J3: “No, I’m rich and you’re poor!”

J5: “Now I’m rich and you’re poor!”

J3:

J5: “No, I’ll stay rich. You can be poor.”

We briefly studied King L0uis the blah blah (14th?) and the French Revolution this week, touching on the terms rich vs. poor. This elementary view of economics is cute when played out on the living room floor, but when grown ups hold onto the same view (rich vs poor OR sharing equally being the only options) we end up with some serious problems. I remember studying this topic in college; is rich vs. poor the only option? Or, is there a better system that enables all people to live well without the Robin Hood-esque system of socialism? History has shown us that there is, indeed, a better way. The only problem is that we’re about to make a quick exit

Quick takes Friday

maxwellhouse — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:03:12 +0000

This week I:

dug a plastic play-dough knife out of the innards of our piano
realized I can’t send the 20 month old out without mittens anymore (boo!)
doled out an unnecessary spanking. Ugh.
realized how cool Value Village can be
am anxiously awaiting the giant crock of kraut to finish fermenting (any guesses as to wether or not we’ll actually eat all this kraut??)
hit some sort of “must eat” zombie state in the pregnancy. So much for those good weight numbers.
remembered that play-dough is awesome, but not so cool is play-dough-plus-carpeting
was reminded a million times why homeschooling is cool (not that public schooling can’t be too!)
finally tried Deva Curl after years of being recommended this product by friends. It’s one of those things you know you should do, but keep resisting because it’s just so popular. Like my friend Lee and the show Lost
found out how funny the word “Tudor” can be to a couple of 5 and 3 year old boys. “Mommy said Tudors!!” *snicker*