Cherished vs. Nasty

When I see what the face of "modern" feminism looks like- Ashley Judd screaming, amidst incoherent ramblings, "I'm a Naaaasty Woman!"- I hear the profanity of her speech and see what she represents and I feel sorry (if you really want to watch it, google it...); I'm sorry I have to be sorry for the actions of another woman. 

I'm sorry that what she proclaimed to the masses is considered to be praise worthy. 

I'm sorry for my daughters who will have to combat this vileness.

I'm a simple woman, desiring a simple life.  I choose to live the best way I can in light of God's Word and in the course of His will for me daily, it even goes as far as guiding how I act, what I do, what I wear and basically, all areas of life. I can hopefully live quietly and peacefully with my neighbor, trying to point others to The Truth. 

That doesn't mean I can't make common sense observations. Observations that lead me to see that I don't understand why it's okay to be a "Naassty woman," and that this behavior is not just acceptable, but hailed as "ground breaking" and "brave," as if it were some kind of achievement. 

If and when the time comes for me to speak up, someone always gets offended.

And this is where I stand today, I've offended people...I chose to take a stand against what Judd represents. Since then, people have said that I'm closed minded and ignorant. 

I'm a woman hater because I wear skirts and I choose to have standards- Supposedly I am indoctrinated and brainwashed... I'm legalistic ... that's a whole other blog post for another time.  

Anyway...

I try to practically apply what I learn from God's Word in my own life. The focus ends up being on the fact that I want to please the Lord through the way I dress.  Skirts, all of a sudden become the crux of women's issues. The fact that I choose to dress modestly makes me unchristian.

Finding faults and splitting hairs about inconsequential things are counterproductive. Look around- there are a lot more unkind words and deeds being done, worse than my choice of clothing...

Let's put our energies into this, if you will, let's study why the idea of the "Naaaasty woman" is something supposedly to be desired. 

Why are women in the 1,000s flocking to see the "Ashely Judds" of progressive feminism? 

I came across this in my news feed, which might answer this very question:

So, for four generations, our grandmothers, our mothers, ourselves, and our own daughters have been taught that progressive feminism has been THE ONE and ONLY guiding light to equality.  Isn't that what the author is saying above?

(Let's just define the term as it relates to the modern woman's rights movement: equality- the total elimination of gender roles so as to attack and break down the traditional home and its' nuclear family.)

The fore-mothers of the first wave of feminism did their due diligence to get the vote, and arguably, that was not because of some radical movement of progressive thinkers; burning and pillaging and swearing and marching, no, I think it was the result of the resounding effects of the Second Great Awakening- you see the idea of equality doesn't come from some progressive as she defines it, but has been defined long before women marched. It came from the Women who were affected by the love of Christ, who in turn helped fuel the winds of prosperity in the Land of the Free as they sought life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by seeing themselves as Christ saw them, as Women endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights...

As pictured above, the author is trying to say that radical feminism is the only reason women have it so good in America. 

According to her and to the people labeling me legalistic, I should stop criticizing Ashley's vile speech and actions. I should with all humility and lowliness of mind go thank her and a "uterus" hat wearing feminist. I should be grateful for all she's done for me....

Can you honestly lump what the suffragettes did in to what was done during the "women's march," just a couple weeks ago, or even 60 years ago with the second wave?

I think not.

Those women did nothing, except complain about free birth control and Donald Trump, demand that baby killing be a true "American Value," (as stated by Cecile Richards of PP), and embarrass themselves. (And all other women for that matter...)

Our fore-mothers would be disgusted at what took place last week and 60 years ago.

Women thrive in America, and it's not because of "social unrest, activism and resistance" but because of the passing on of the true virtues of being a woman- a woman who is cherished by the God who created her.  I will pass on that tradition and teach my kids of the sanctity of life; I will teach my daughters that life is precious.

The "modern woman" marched.... and believes life is a matter of choice, and if that life needs to be snuffed out because of inconvenience then she obliges and kills her own son or daughter in the womb. 

Almost 60 million sons and daughters have been murdered since the time "Women Marched"...

I believe that there is an inherent difference between the sexes and I will teach my daughters that they were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of their Creator, and that they should embrace their femininity-that wearing skirts is okay. I'll teach them it's a way to differentiate themselves and show the world that they are proudly different from a man.

The "modern woman" marched.... and believes that there is no difference between herself and a man and therefore she desperately tries to be like a him giving up on her true nature, she will perpetuate this lie to her carefully timed and selected offspring, and even poison her prepubescent sons with hormones to help change their sex so they can "be free to be a girl."

I believe that a woman's most important role when she becomes a parent is to be a mother to her children- I will teach my daughters to desire to be who God created her. 

They marched... and believe that to choose to leave the market place of career and return home to care for the family full-time is unworthy.

I believe a woman should guard her heart, for out of it are the issues of life; I will teach my daughters that their love should be saved and cherished.

The "modern woman" marched.... and believes that a woman should live promiscuously. Objectifying themselves and their own daughters all the while trying to mimic and satisfy the behavior of sinful man's bases desires-with birth control at her side, she's free of the "consequences" of such behavior.

The light of the Gospel is why women are afforded the rights they have. These rights have been set forth in our Founding Documents which were influenced by the Bible.

So, no, I won't thank a radical feminist. It wasn't Ashley Judd or some bra burner from the sexual revolution...

It was generations of cherished women, who continued to hold fast to their professions of faith and weren't afraid of their natures and the innate feminine qualities they possessed. 

It was because they, quietly, and diligently taught their daughters to be cherished. 

I'm a cherished lady. Not because I think I'm somebody, but because of what THE SOMEBODY did for me on a cross 2,000 years ago. 

I want my daughters to grow into cherished ladies, not "Naaaaaaasty Women."

Valuable Mothers

Most people would say this in response to me telling them that I teach Home Economics: "Really!?, they still teach that in schools?"  

It's quite interesting to me to see how much our society has degraded the home and its many functions.  In the guise of "women's rights," we have conditioned countless generations of high school girls to think that home making is not a high calling.  As a result we now have over-stressed, over -worked women who have farmed out their children to be cared for by others. While they pursue personal gain and a false notion that the modern "liberated" woman can and will have it all.  I'm not trying to cause a war between what each individual mother chooses for her life, but I am trying to  "tip the scales" of balance back towards a  perspective equal to the idea that staying at home with your children is just as important if not more to that of the career/working mom. This negative perception of a woman's womanly duties have been undermined for far too long. 

My job as an educator is to give my students a fair and accurate view of both sides.  For so long, there has been a retreating of women from the home. Perhaps we need to bring back an education of what actually being in the home entails, rather than indoctrinate upcoming generations of women into a one sided narrow view, which states that fulfillment only comes from the emancipation of her maternal instincts in order to forge a way in the male dominated market place of corporate America.  Chasing the male characteristics of a career outside the rearing and caring for the children she bore herself. Actually within reason, this gender reversal of the roles and trying to be a man is unnatural. But Feminists have played the woman for a fool since the time she said that she can eradicate the products of promiscuity in obtaining an abortion, therefore, "biologically" being just like the man in that regard.  Woman, as God created her, is more intelligent than Feminists would like her to think. You see there is a lot to be said to the natural draws a woman feels when she has a child of her own.  

Why I teach Home Ec. to girls is to tell them: it is okay to want to stay at home with her kids and leave the corporate path; it is okay and she has not "regressed" back to the stone age because her maternal call ways heavily on her desire to care for her house, husband and children.

In my attempt to prepare for my class and as I was reading the introduction in our Home Ec. book, the first paragraph was a perfect example of what I have been trying to relay to my students:

                "Technology has made life easier for billions of people, but one of its greatest benefits is its                  contribution to women's rights. Liberated from the need to have someone at home all day                long, women could work in offices, flip burgers, run banks.  Home economics ("home ec" to                dwindling generations of high school students) was seen as a lowering of horizons,                              regressive even." paragraph 1, page 6 Home Economics Vintage Advice and Practical                         Science for the 21st Century Household

Most progressive educators would be thrilled with this analysis, and on the other hand some of my counterparts would veer away from a book whose first paragraph states such falsity so emphatically.  I however, see an opportunity to teach my students; first, to be ever aware of ideologies that go against the Bible, and second, to teach them to think about what the author is saying and why it is something they can or cannot agree with when it's compared to what the Bible says.  My ideals are grounded in what the Bible has to say on every aspect of life.  This is how I view the world. (Everyone has a world view of some kind, secular, humanistic, or Biblical)

On the contrary to what the world seems to value (as stated in the opening paragraph) I would like to pose this question: who will remember what office you worked, what bank you ran or what kind of burgers you flipped when you are sitting on your rocking chair in some assisted living care center? Who will remember if you scaled the highest mountain, ran the fastest time or traveled to all the countries of the world?  My Biblical world view teaches me that life is not made up of what is temporal, but what is eternal.  When life ends here on Earth, another life begins in eternity. Titus chapter 2 speaks about what God places value on in His ultimate design for man and woman in their roles in such capacities within and out of the Home. Again, each situation is different for those who encounter life.  And the ideal won't always be attainable.  I am trying to teach God's ideal as He states in the Bible.  And specifically the ideal as it pertains to women,  Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

This ideal is what I try to have my students strive for, not what the world says.  It all comes down to what will be remembered when our lives on this earth are done.  What will be remembered is the heritage that you as a mother laid as a joint heir to the grace of life. 1Pe 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them (wife) according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

In the role as mother you will have your part in molding and making a future generation of Christians who can continue to pass on the knowledge of God's beautiful salvation through Jesus.  This is a sobering and daunting thought, and more worth should be doled out to those moms who would choose this ideal.  Choosing to "lower your horizons," as the introduction pointed out is actually quite the opposite when choosing to be the sole care provider of your children, house and home, it's not "regressive." 

Technology may have made laundry easier, a dishwasher may make it easier to wash dishes but technology cannot replace what is a mother's steady figure of constant nurturing care and guidance give and requires her to be in the home from day to day(if not until the children are of school age, which then, gives her more freedom to choose her daily duties).  Being "home all day" is what makes that position so irreplaceable, for you can only be a mother to the child you gave birth to, all others are just a replica. (Not to demean those who have no choice in the matter, again, I'm striving for the ideal.)

We need to raise up a generation of women who will not run from their posts of the home or be intimidated in their decision by a godless society that tells them they have chose a course less desirable in  life, but be glad and return to what is the most important role, as Ellen Key said,

                              "The Mother [sic and wife] is the most precious possession of the nation. So                                          precious that society advances its highest well-being when it protects the functions                                 of the mother."

It's about time we reintroduce Home Economics back into life, back into schools, and back into the minds of generations to come- a vocation worthy of its pursuit.  It's time we as a society begin to protect and cherish the office of motherhood and home making once again.  It's time to advance moms, not demean them. 

Birthday Highlights

A recap of my birthday.  All made special by my lovely family and friends.

My students surprised me at school today with cake, balloons, and a very large card hand-made one of our very talented students.  Instead of having class, we had a party!!

This group of girls really knows how to make a lady feel special.  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be their teacher.

I'm in the process of revamping my home office space.  So for my present, I ordered some custom glass for the top of my newly painted desk.  I was driving downtown to pick up the glass,  I glanced down at my phone to see that Bro. Ross was calling me.  So I pulled the truck over and had a very uplifting chat with the former Vice President of the College I graduated from. 

My day just keeps getting better.

We had church tonight.  I was about to go in to the auditorium to give my boss some papers for his upcoming trip before heading up to the nursery. My friend, Mom-Deana came into the hall and offered to take my nursery duty so I could sit in on the preaching,  she's so sweet!! 

And finally, at home, my husband greeted me with yet another cake!!  

You know, I woke up this morning wanting a cake for my birthday, I ended up getting two! 

Mike even decorated it for me!!

I'm not 33, I'm 29+4...

Another present: this awesome coffee cup!! Ha! And yes, I quite possibly could drink the whole cup of coffee with no problem.

So here's to the ending of a perfectly delightful day- coffee, cake and ice cream- this is the good life!!

Confusion

Lately, and I know most people will think that I am a real wacko for even thinking this, it wouldn't be the first time, but I've been having some real issues with the cartoon, "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic".  I know, most people are probably rolling their eyes.  But the occasional times I let my girls watch this "cute" show about little ponies I just got this uneasy feeling.  I couldn't shake it.  And today I figured out why.  If anyone has ever seen this cartoon and has high standards for what their kids watch then there is obviously a number of things that some would find unacceptable for their kid's viewing.  Here are some of the blatant reasons I don't prefer the show - very strong references to magic (I'm not against letting my kids watch things that have fairytale type stuff, but it seems like this show just revolves around it),  a lot of rock music in the cartoon action sequences and finally, the reason why my kids will never watch it ever again is, there is one pony in the show that as I watched with my girls I was literally confused about whether it was a boy or girl, Rainbow Dash, so much so that I even googled it.  And surprise, there is a huge online discussion as to whether this character portrays a male or female.  Most people know where I stand on issues that revolve around this. Well today I asked Lizzie if Rainbow Dash was a boy or a girl and she got this confused, puzzled look on her face, and after a long pause, probably hoping I'd answer for her, she finally said it was a boy.  I googled the show info to find out and Rainbow Dash is actually a girl, who the creator says is a tomboy.  During the times I viewed the show with my girls, sometimes she sounded like a girl and sometimes she sounded like a boy- and I do find it ironic that they decided to use the rainbow as her "cutie" mark. As a parent I try to instill absolutes in my children.  I set boundaries.  This is for their own good so they can grow up well adjusted and healthy.  This show only genders confusion in my child- Lizzie's look on her face today really bothered me- I don't want my kids, especially at the tender age of 4 to be confused about things that are so absolutely true and that is gender- boy/girl.  There's no in between.  I'm not a bad mother because I tell my girls that the color pink is a girl color and that boys don't wear jewelry.  This is setting an absolute in their mind.  Parents who let their kinds "figure" it out are dangerously setting their kids up for a lifetime of heartache. I am solely responsible for how they turn out and now I know that this show is undermining my parenting.  Let's let God have the last word on the subject.  1Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...."

Things Come Crashing Down

Have there been times in your life where you've felt like you've had supernatural intervention, not like creepy stuff, but times where you've felt like something really wrong could have happened but it ended up everything turned out ok?  I can name on my hand about 5 times in my life where I've felt like this personally.

Today, marks the second time I've felt like this for my girls. Today, there were "Angels encamped" around my very adventurous children....

Minding my own business, I was in the living room while my children were very intently playing in their room (this should have been my first warning signal, but I was just enjoying the fact that the girls were playing with each other so well) when all of a sudden I heard a loud crash and then the sounds of screaming...I rushed into the room and found the dresser drawer upside-down  on the floor with Bella half way pinned underneath it and Lizzie fleeing from the scene. 

At this point Bella's mouth started to bleed and Lizzie's lip was fat and her cheek was swollen with a bruise on it...I took the girls into the living room and began to check for any serious injuries, they didn't have any (thank the Lord) and finally after probing, I found out what happened. 

Bella was being the "baby" and wanted to sleep in her "crib" (the drawer) with Lizzie tucking her in...

As I inspected the scene, it occurred to me that they walked away from a potentially very serious disaster.  If the whole dresser, not just the drawer, would have fallen that would have meant the very heavy mirror on top could have fallen. I am so thankful for the Lord's protection of my kids...

I learned early in my experience as a mother that I can not prevent all things bad from happening to them, but I can have faith in the Lord to watch out for them when I can't by saying prayers for their safety.  This has become a daily habit for me. Every time I think of them, I ask the Lord to protect them...Thank you Lord again for keeping my children from any real danger...

They were both pretty shaken up and we talked about the consequences of their actions...In the midst of this object lesson, Bella tells me that, "Jesus is everywhere," and I tell her, "Yes, yes He is...even now He's keeping watch over us..."  Needless to say both were very sorry for what happened and were also afraid I was going to punish them further, I think they both learned their lesson because of the scariness of it all so I felt like further punishment wasn't necessary.

After comforting them with numerous hugs and kisses and reassuring them of their forgiveness, I was able to lay them down.

They are now soundly (safely) sleeping for their afternoon nap in spite of all the blood, bruises and bumps...

The many adventures of motherhood...

Madeleine Nicole: Birth Story and Baby Pictures by Leann

My list of "to-dos" is perpetually growing and it seems like I will never catch up. 

Maddie's Birthday

It was a Wednesday around 6 AM, when I was awakened by some slight contractions that didn't feel like just your usual Braxton hicks, like Bella, my thought was that she would possibly come that day.  Mike and I had the conversation of whether he should go to work or stay; we decided that he should stay.  Luckily, my mommy's day out was scheduled for that same day, so we coordinated it with Jenn  and our friend Patricia, who would pick them up and stay the night with them...this of course was still preliminary because we weren't certain that that day was the day...

Mike and I enjoyed a great day out, we went shopping, had lunch, went to the church; but I could feel the contractions get closer and more intense the whole time.  So around 4 PM we decide to go to the hospital because they were about 5 minutes apart.  Surprisingly, I handled the pain much better this time around.  I think it was my breathing! LOL, really though, it did help...

We checked into the hospital. The pain was getting worse and I was wondering when I would get my epidural. By that time, the nurse said that I was dilated to about a 6 and my pain intensity was through the roof...breath, breath, breath, I kept telling myself...and it was working...finally, I got my epidural. I prayed that as I was sitting there ever so still that another contraction wouldn't come so the doctor could insert the medicine. For me, that is a very scary part of the delivery...  Thankfully every time, my prayers were answered because I was able to sit still till he finished.  Because I was so far along in my labor, the doctor had to really "juice" me. He dosed me pretty high so that I could feel the affects quickly.  Like anyone who gets an epidural I was a new creature after...labor progressed and at 5:43 PM Maddie made her miraculous way into the world. 

The doctor placed her bluish body on mine and I waited ever so intently for her first cry and for her color to turn...she finally did and she started to look more pink, but it seemed like she really took a while...I also noticed that she wasn't as "feisty" as my other babies.  The Baby Nurse Advocate check her with her stethoscope while she lay there on my chest...she then swiped her away and said she wanted to check her vitals....this of course scared me to death. 

Mike and I watch as the NICU nurse was called in because Maddie's heart beat was below 100, her color wasn't where it should be either and her oxygen levels were low.  For the next 13 minutes Mike and I watched them work on  her, giving her oxygen supplements and suctioning her lungs...it was the worst feeling ever...each time they would take off her oxygen mask her heart would go back to below 100....finally(with answered to prayer) they got her to breath normal and her heart finally maintained a healthy level.

I can't tell you what it was like those first moments of Maddie's life. It was like we were hanging by a thread for 13 minutes not knowing what would happen...but there she was, placed back in my arms, just as perfect as she could be.  At that moment both Mike and I were reminded of how fragile and precious life really is. 

Like I said earlier, Maddie is just perfect.  And I am so blessed to have such a healthy beautiful baby girl.  She has already brought so much joy to our family.

Leann was able to take some really great newborn pictures for us.  I just mailed out the baby announcements!! And only 2 months late. Here are the rest. Such a little beauty!!

 

 

 

This picture I think is hilarious!!

 

And this one too!! The girls had a blast with "Uncle Hector"!

 

Dear LIzzie: The Singing Giggle Princess

Lizzie just amazes me.  You know how it is with small kids, constant chatter boxes; balls of energy that giggle around you, really making life sweet, if we were to just stop and appreciate them. Lizzie is the same singing giggle princess...  she is constantly singing some song or is at my feet asking questions, like: what am I doing, or what is this or that, talking about whatever and asking if I'll play with her.  Finally, after a few minutes of this I finally stop what I am doing and ask her what it is that she needs.  She says that she wants me to put papers in her new care bear folder I gave her yesterday.  It was just the sweetest thing to see that this made her day, made her so happy and has now occupied her.  All she wanted me to do was put blank pieces of drawing paper in her folder so she could draw with it....what a silly kid....the simplest things make her so happy.  Sometimes, like today, I just need to stop what I am doing and listen to her... soon she's going to be grown up and I won't hear the songs of giggle princess anymore... I am so thankful to have this little girl as my eldest daughter. Thank You Lord...

My "Fireteam"

In the Marines there is term used for small units in infantry,  one such term is "fireteam", usually consisting of 4 or fewer Marines.  This is for easy maneuver and accountability during missions, specifically in urban surroundings....

I am proud to announce that my "fireteam" of Ruiz females is finally complete: Mama Ruiz, Lizzie Ruiz, Bella Ruiz, and Baby Girl Ruiz (I'm having so much fun with names, there are so many possibilities....) I'm so excited about this....I love girls!!!

Michael and I and the girls went to the doctors' to have my 5 month check-up and ultrasound.  Before that time, Lizzie had been referring to the baby as, "baby brother/sister baby", this is due to the fact that we didn't know what we were having.  Well on Wednesday, the technician confirmed to us that we are in fact having another girl.  I am not particular in what the sex of the baby is.  I, however, for the sake of Mike, did kind of hope for a son...you know how men are, they want there names to be passed on...I am happy either way...I could have a houseful of women!! I don't know about Mike though...LOL!!  He was and is happy.  When he realized that we weren't going to have to buy anything (like clothes) for this baby, he even perked up more!!...his girls mean the world to him, and they have him wrapped around their fingers...:)

I am just so excited and I can't wait to meet her.  I pray God makes her a perfect miracle...Lizzie is so excited to be the big sister again...and Bella has become obsessed with babies...everywhere we go if there is a baby, she says loudly, "baby" and points...Lizzie was like that at her age too...the Lord willing, I want to have 5 children, this of course is my ideal number, I'm sure after number 3, this may not be the realistic number, we just have to wait and see...but for now we still have at least 2 more tries to get a son for Michael....

The Mouth of Babes

Driving back from "class" at the church. This conversation takes place. 

Mom:"Lizzie, did you have a good time tonight playing with your friends?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a good girl? Did you obey the teachers?"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Were you a bad girl"

Lizzie: "Yes."

Mom: "Why were you bad?"

Lizzie: "They put me away in the corner."

I still don't know why they put her away...


Everyday Lizzie tells me that Buzz "Lightcheers" is coming over to her house.  I ask her what she is going to do with Buzz "Lightcheers", she says, "We are going to have a tea party."

I babysit some children, Lizzie tells me that they are coming to her house and that she will be glad to share it with them...

About a month ago, Lizzie started her first Sunday School class, and when I went to go pick her up, the workers told me she had won the quiet seat prize!! I was shocked...I wonder if that will ever happen again. They also told me that when it was her turn to help with the songs, she got up, kicked off her shoes and started dancing...hmmm, that girl likes to bust a move!!

Two Sundays ago, Lizzie said her very first memory verse.  I tell her, "Genesis 1:1" and she replies, "In the beginning, God "bree-gatted" the heavens and the earth."  I was so excited...her teacher gave her a nice coloring book prize. 

Here she is, the dancing queen and princess!

Can you see Lizzie?  I think this is the biggest tree in Oklahoma!