Now It's Called 'Your Partner'!

I am a member of BabyCenter.com and get updated e-mails on the milestones of my baby each week. Well, this week, I received this update on month 5, week 2 and was taken back by the words in bold. I know that there are other lifestyles out there besides the one the Bates family lives, but I don't know, I guess I was just surprised. I don't know why I was surprised. I watch TLC sometimes and love watching A Baby Story and An Adoption Story, both of which have aired episodes of homosexual couples. I guess I feel a little cheated.

Okay, enter Kelli's soapbox...I dated my husband for 4 years before getting married and we entered into our marriage the way we knew God wanted us to, Biblically speaking. I feel like I 'earned' my white dress and we 'earned' the three, little blessings we have today, along with a, not perfect, but a good marriage. It's frustrating to really work hard for the goals you have for your life and then others seem to 'float around', experimenting and expect the same treatment as those who have higher standards. We don't want to hurt other people's feelings, therefore we refer to using 'partner' instead of 'husband' or 'spouse'. I do believe in the Bible and that it is God-breathed (II Timothy 4:16-17). I do believe that homosexuality is wrong (Romans 1:26-27 and I Timothy 1:10) and that God wants us to be married before we engage in sex. Just read Song of Solomon to see how blessed a certain couple becomes through waiting to have sex until after they are married.

God has SO many blessings that He wants to give us, but by setting our OWN standards for our lives and not abiding by HIS standards, we're missing out on blessing after blessing after blessing.

One of the greatest things about knowing the Lord is that He will forgive us if we ask Him to! We all sin and make mistakes everyday, but God can forgive us of this sin and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).


Anyway, here's the article for you to read for yourself:

"Your baby may start showing signs of one of her first major emotional milestones — stranger anxiety. She may become clingy and anxious around new (and even familiar) people and may cry if a stranger suddenly approaches her.

Keep this in mind when you're around people she doesn't know, and try not to be embarrassed when she cries in someone else's arms — just take her back and calm her down by holding her yourself. Tell your friends and family to approach your little one with slow, gentle movements.

A case of stranger anxiety doesn't mean you have to avoid new faces. Your baby will benefit from being around people other than you and your partner. Just remember that she needs your patience and understanding to get through this very important stage of development."

Kelli's Soap Box

So, as I was driving today I saw yet another bumper sticker that says, "Watch Out for Motorcycles". Alright people, I'm going to hash it out now. I'm so tired of seeing these billboards and bumper stickers!!! If you're going to choose to ride a motorcycle (not that I have anything against anyone that does), you need to be smart about it and realize that you're the underdog. First of all, WEAR A HELMET! You're asking for a death-wish by not wearing one. Secondly, they're just dangerous. If they weren't dangerous, no one would have to put up billboards and bumper stickers reminding drivers to look out for them. I have known family members and friends who have been badly injured from riding on a motorcycle, to the point where they're lucky they are still alive or have a certain limb still attached and they've thought twice before ever getting on one again.

I'm not against people that ride motorcycles. They're fun, but drive responsibly (wear a helmet!) and don't just expect that everyone is going to be on the lookout for you. You're an equal on the road and just because you choose to ride an unsafe vehicle, doesn't mean that everyone on the road needs to lookout for YOU.

I hope this doesn't sound too harsh or unkind. I'm a defensive driver and look out for everyone equally. I just think that now-a-days, people think that everyone else is going to look out for them and it's just not true. Take pedestrians for example...we're supposed to yield to them right? I'm all for that. But what I'm not all for is when people just start walking across a busy street without even looking (almost with an arrogant sort-of attitude like the world owes them something or they're bitter in life), assuming that all activity is just going to stop for THEM. Look both ways before crossing a street for goodness sakes! I teach my children to look for cars before crossing a street or parking lot and if a three-year-old can do it, so can a grown-up.

Okay, so I'm done with my soap box for today. Join us next time for some exciting pictures of a visit to the pumpkin patch. :)