October 7, 2008
Thanks to DiBer
I made digestive biscuits. Yum. Not quite McVittie's, but still, yum!
Hint--they need salt, it doesn't call for any in the recipe. I added about 1/2 tsp., but they needs a little more. And I brushed them with melted Baker's chocolate.
And read this.
More on that later after I recover my mental equilibrium. If you're a scholar and/or a parent, and have ever tried to combine (or even thought about combining) the two activities, read it. It's phenomenal.
Thanks, pal!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 20, 2008
Finally!
Tim: So after more than twenty years of wanting to do something, I finally have the opportunity to do it: get a music degree! (why didn't I do this as an undergrad all those years ago?). To move up in the Music Librarian profession one must needs have two masters degrees. I can take a giant leap over a bachelors degreee in music because I already have a masters degree in library science, but that means I'm faced with masters level courses in REALLY DIFFICULT things like music theory and analysis. It's like jumping over a lake and running right into a really high brick wall. Thankfully I have Joanna, Queen of Music Theory, who will help me get up to speed before I have to take my first theory course next year.
I'll just be taking one class a semester so I'm in it for the long haul. I've noticed that some of my classmates are in my age bracket, not all 20 year olds, which is nice. I'm probably older than some of my professors!
First day of class was GREAT!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 9:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2008
Memoriam
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. (1 Peter 1:24)
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandmen waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. (1 Peter 1:25)
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)
Hark, I hear the harps eternal
Ringing on the farther shore,
As I near those swollen waters
With their deep and solemn roar.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, praise the lamb!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Glory to the great I AM!
And my soul, though stained with sorrow,
Fading as the light of day,
Passes swiftly o'er those waters,
To the city far away.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, praise the lamb!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Glory to the great I AM!
Souls have crossed before me, saintly,
To that land of perfect rest;
And I hear them singing faintly
In the mansions of the blest.
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, praise the lamb!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Glory to the great I AM!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 11, 2008
Elanor grasps the concept of book
For awhile, she's been trying to turn pages as we've read to her. I set her down with Brown Bear, Brown Bear and left her alone.
She sat turning the pages for several minutes.
It's so amazing to see these ideas appear for the first times. She has grasped the whole idea of book. Not just the single object that sits in her hands, but that there are other objects symbolized by the same idea (Book), and the concept that you do the same things with these other objects, whether mommy or daddy holds them or she holds them.
If I were a philosopher, I'd know the words to explain this. Or if I could pull back all of the fuzz from my brain that's accumulated from late nights, early mornings, and plenty of spit-up. But it's still fun to sit back and watch it happen.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 9, 2008
Raising Daughters
Sometimes, looking ahead across the long years of how difficult a girl's childhood and adolescence can be, it terrifies me to have a daughter. I know boys have troubles, too, but girls still just seem so complicated.
Here is a lovely post that really encouraged me.
Thankfully many of these challenges are still a long way off.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:21 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 7, 2008
Transitions
So, this is probably a new parent thing, an insight that most experienced parents have already had.
But over the past few weeks, I've realized that my babies are much happier when I actively create transitions for them.
After a meal of solid foods, they used to fuss and cry, even if I could tell from their cues they weren't hungry anymore. And they would continue to freak out while I tried to wipe their faces, trays, put away the food, etc. I think they must have been thinking, however babies think, "Why is this good thing being taken away from me?" (even though I as an adult could tell that they were no longer hungry).
Now, as soon as they're done, I hand them each a clean spoon to play with. No more tears for them, and a chance for me to clean things (and them!) up before the gook has a chance to dry. Then they get down and play.
The flow-chart (not to totally geek out here) for this would be (a) eat (b) transition=spoons (c) get down and play.
I suppose that's what we've been doing for awhile with sleep-times/naptimes, but hadn't thought about the wider applications of transition times.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:56 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 30, 2008
discipline
Ian's new skills have brought us into new realms of parenting. He can get into everything. Sometimes what he is trying to do is amazing, his combination of physical strength and problem-solving skills are mind-boggling at times. Sometimes, it's a day full of moving him across the living room away from the "no," and having to repeat that process ad nauseum. Elanor doesn't get as many no's because she's not nearly as mobile, and in general she can be redirected more quickly than he can.
So far, we've only set up a very limited number of no's, some of them of a more serious nature than others: don't touch the DVD player, don't turn over the living room table, don't pull your sister (or brother's--we've realized Elanor can be the silent but deadly instigator here) hair.
Jonathan's post really made me think through some thoughts that have been bubbling through my mind lately.
With pregnancy, there are variations, but most of the advice can apply to most pregnancies. Don't drink, smoke, etc., eat well, and so on.
When it comes to parenting advice, especially in regards to discipline, advice runs the gamut. From people we know in real life, to blogs I've visited, to parenting experts, there are so many conflicting voices. Plus some of the books by experts subtitle their works to indicate that this (and only this?) is parenting "God's way." Some say that you should "always" discipline this way. Others say you should "never" use this technique. And sometimes I feel like we're fumbling our way through the always and nevers trying to find what's best for our family.
The thing is, though, every parent is different, every child is different. Though there are principles that can be applied across the board, I don't think there will ever be one system that fits everyone into it. Already, we're seeing that Ian and Elanor have very different personalities, and that we'll have to handle them in different ways. It's hard, even when tone of voice and redirection are the main discipline tools we're using right now. It's trying to find the right tone of voice that shows I'm serious (no, this is not a game!) without breaking his heart. There are certain tones of voice I use that just crush his little spirit. I want an obedient child, not a squished one!
I really like this. About how it's too easy to idolize having the perfect family, and putting that in the place of Christ's work.
I also appreciate those who remind that the goal of discipline is part of discipleship. Not that punishment won't eventually be part of that, still thinking through all of that, but that discipling and training our kids is the focus, rather than punishing them.
And our old pastor's reminders that believing in the covenant, we have no place treating our kids as "vipers in diapers." He also said, right before our children were baptized, that apologizing to our kids when we make mistakes is one of the most powerful discipline tools we have, and that it's best to get a behavior to change using the gentlest means possible to accomplish that change--anything else is overkill.
And after a discouraging days of no's and redirecting, when I was greatly longing for immobile babies, I appreciated Tim's reminder that Ian's mad skillz aren't things to be discouraged about, they're things to rejoice in. He's growing up!
And, the other day, after telling him "no" as he crawled ever closer to the DVD player, he stopped, looked me in the eye, and turned around. I was astonished--he had a choice, and he used his will to make the right choice.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 11:59 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 27, 2008
I'm Not There
Yeah, so after reading Funke's mention of the movie, I remembered how curious I was about I'm Not There. We had wanted to see it in our local warehouse turned indy movie with beer and coffee place, but it just never worked out.
Which was just as well in the long run. Tim hated it.
It was postmodern almost to the point of incoherency at points. Five actors and an actress portraying the different dimensions of Dylan's life and work. I was intrigued by the idea of it, but often it seemed to break down under the weight of its own polyphony. At some points, there was just too much going on.
The thing is, we both like movies that play with narrative. And we both adore Dylan. But...
In some ways the movie presumes too much knowledge, and then just repeats that which most Dylan fans would already know. It takes whole sections of footage used in earlier documentaries (Don't Look Back and Scorsese's No Direction Home), and then just recreates them using the different actors/actress. There didn't seem to be much new insight into the events.
What I liked? Cate Blanchett as Dylan. Actually, I thought it would be my least favorite aspect of the movie. I thought using a woman to portray Dylan was just a publicity stunt. But she was perfect. Vulnerable, opaque, defensive, complicated, yet with a child-like translucency. I think the reasons it didn't bother me to have her play him (I honestly thought it would be too distracting to have a woman play Dylan) is first of all her stunning acting job, and secondly, the familiarity I have of the use of trouser roles in operas (think Mary Martin as Peter Pan).
I also really like the sections with a young African-American boy portraying Dylan. It wove together really great bits: the influence of blues and spirituals on Dylan, his fascination with music of earlier times, his made-up biography, even the metaphor of trains and travel that permeate his music.
The soundtrack was fabulous. It pretty much stayed away from the top-ten sort of Dylan songs, and used many of his more obscure but fascinating songs.
What I hated? Richard Gere as Dylan as a cowboy in some kind of surreal universe. Very weird, and didn't seem to fit . Dylan as a pentecostal preacher spewing out some civil religion nonsense that didn't seem very Dylanesque, but perhaps they used his actual words. Not too much on his conversion experience, which I would have loved to hear more about.
I liked Scorsese's film much better. And as I thought about it, it has its own polyphony, the defensive voice of the young Dylan contrasting with the older, thoughtful Dylan peering back at his life and interpreting what he sees.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 13, 2008
internet, research and the mind
Tim told me about this incredible article someone brought up at a discussion at his work.
I have a lot of thoughts about it, but they aren't quite coherent yet (is that because of google? haha). I blogged very briefly about book vs. computer literacy awhile ago, and I've thought about this off and on for awhile.
The article challenged me to think about how much my dissertation research presupposes the internet. Not just directly, but indirectly as well. I've used it to interview composers. My research presumes that libraries have online catalogs of their works, and that I can e-mail librarians to ask them about the works. I use the internet constantly to skim (as the article points out) articles. In a later section of the dissertation, I'll google blog posts and the like to research and create a kind of reception history of a particular genre of music. And so forth.
The dissertation I'm writing couldn't have the scope that it does without the internet. It seems like in older generations of dissertations, so much time would have had to be spent on gathering each tiny bit of information, that there wouldn't be as much freedom for scope, or critically contextualizing across a broad field of knowledge. Not that those things didn't happen earlier, it just seems like things are much easier (on many levels) with the use of the internet.
But I think he's right that the internet is a radical change in the way that we receive knowledge comparable to the printing press in its time (as powerful? I don't know).
BTW, if anyone's attention hasn't shifted already, I just turned in a 25 page chunk of the dissertation to my advisor. Virtual pats on the back would be much appreciated!
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 18, 2008
Women in Art
Someone sent Tim a link to this work of digital art.
It's odd, beautiful, and strangely compelling.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 3:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 4, 2008
Sleeping through the night...
We don't want to get excited too early, but the kiddos have decided to start sleeping through the night.
Not quite sure how this happened, we haven't been pushing for it (they're only 3.5 months old), but we've been letting them determine their own night time feeding (we feed them both at the same time--so whoever wakes up first calls the shots). They've slowly moved their 3-4 AM feeding to a 6-7 AM feeding, sleeping for nearly 8 hours at a stretch. And most times, they'll wake up happy, smiling and babbling at us. Occasionally we have to pop a pacifier in, or pat them and let them know we love them, or pick them up and rock them back to sleep, or they'll get hungry earlier than usual, but even those moments are becoming more rare. I don't know if this is just a phase, I know they're still young and we'll probably have some issues later on, but for now we're really thankful. Especially with two.
The only book we really read on sleep training was one of the Baby Whisperer books. It's a non-CIO (cry it out) method that encourages parents to (1) listen to their baby's (or in our cases babies') unique temperaments in order to (2) guide them to establish good sleep habits rather than having to painfully break poor habits later on. We haven't followed the book religiously, but we've found some patterns that seem to help with their sleeping. Like giving them lots of exercise in the early evening, and cluster feeding before bedtime. Swaddling, especially with our SwaddleMe outfits (one of the best things we've been given as parents!) and pacifiers also help. Swings for nap-times, and lots of snuggles at bedtime are a usual part of the routine.
Neither one of us are comfortable with CIO methods, especially extreme ones. Not to wander too far into controversial territory, but I've seen advice that makes me really uncomfortable, like, let your baby cry for four hours straight without intervening. Now, if one of my babies is just fussing for a couple minutes in the process of going to sleep, I don't have a problem with letting them work through the process for a couple of minutes, and intervening if the fussing turns into real crying. I've read of parents who let their kid cry for ten minutes one night, five the next, and by the third night the kid is sleeping well. That seems fine! But for four hours????
I don't think CIO would work well for our babies in any case. Once they start crying, I mean really crying, not just fussing a little, it tends to escalate. I had a bad experience once that I don't want to repeat. We give our babies tummy time, even though they used to fuss about it. From everything I've read and been told, it compensates for putting kids on their backs to sleep, and helps them to develop necessary muscles. So we felt it was important to do it, even if they didn't like it. Now they enjoy it: they're turning over already (stomach to back), holding their heads up at nearly a 90 degree angle, and looking around. Anyways, early on I let Ian stay on his stomach for too long, and while I was doing a chore, he cried himself to sleep. I picked him up, and he woke up and just wailed in my arms like I never heard him do before. I still feel sick thinking about it. And I don't think the sleep that he had was a healthy kind of sleep, obviously he wasn't calm and relaxed when he woke up from it.
Anyways, I don't want to be judgmental towards other parents' methods, not the point of my post at all. I mean, I'm a three-month rookie at this whole parenting thing. I'm just super glad that at least for now, we don't have to deal with the sleep issues that can exhaust parents and children, and lead to difficult discussions and decisions on the parents' parts.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:36 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 28, 2008
Meditations on a baptism
Joanna: Well, it's been over a week since the twins were baptized, and we're still pondering the vows that we took. The night before, I had trouble sleeping, thinking about the weighty responsibility symbolized by the water and the vows. Sometimes it's hard enough just to care for the physical needs of the kids, and to imagine our growing roles as spiritual trainers and examples is rather overwhelming.
Tim: The twins were baptized at Redeemer OPC church by Pastor Champness. How appropriate: he baptized Joanna almost 30 years ago. Elder Rich (Joanna's dad) was standing by us and was beaming as he watched his grandkids receive the sign and seal of the covenant of God’s grace. We pray that the Lord will equip us to raise these kids to love and obey their Lord Jesus Christ, that they will praise Him for his gift of salvation, and that they, as our brother and sister – not as our son and daughter, will ultimately see Him face to face on that great day of his returning.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 9, 2007
Rant about perfectionism
We watched the movie Gattaca a couple of nights ago. It wasn't that disturbing in general--I mean, it was a pretty fun action/futuristic/adventure flick--but the premise was so close to stuff going on today that it made me revisit a number of things that I've been thinking about for awhile. The premise is that IVF technology is used to create genetically "perfect" children, and those who aren't conceived through IVF technology are considered inferior.
I suspect this post may be a bit controversial and I know it will be a bit long, so I'll continue my ramblings below...
Continue reading "Rant about perfectionism"
Posted by Tim and Jo at 10:25 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 5, 2007
Trying to reconnect
Well, my friends who were so kindly helping me to unpack the kitchen just left. My grandma and an aunt are coming this afternoon to help some more. So, I'm left here in the house by myself for the first time. It's put me in a pensive mood.
We're both missing Pittsburgh like crazy. Especially not being there for church on Sunday
I know I've neglected this blog shamefully lately. But I want to stay connected with people. I feel very disconnected, but that always happens to me when I move somewhere new. If you're reading this, say hi!!!
So, hopefully, there'll be some upcoming entries on babies, our recent trip to NYC, and life back in the deep south.
We met our neighbors on each side of our house--we live in a triplex. They're all really nice. Turns out the neighbors on one side are homeschooling their two extremely energetic and not-shy-at-all boys. The family invited us to their next Sunday cookout. On the other side is a nice couple who's moving soon. We put out empty boxes on our back porch for the moving family as we unpacked them.
Eating dinner, we saw our five year old neighbor with his nose pressed against the glass of our back porch door, arms waving excitedly as he tried to shout something to us through the glass. We opened it, and found out that he and his older brother wanted our boxes. We gave them a few as long as it was okay with their mom. I think they took more than their parents could handle, as I saw them dragging a bunch of boxes back to our porch later on.
That night, as we were leaving to find a local coffee shop, the boys were still outside. The five year old said, "Can I tell you sumfin'?" "Sure." "There's a cat under thewe [pointing to the crawlspace under our house] and we're twying to wescue it!" His older brother was armed with a flashlight which he diligently shone through the hole in the crawlspace.
If I were a cat, I might be hiding under there, too.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 1:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 22, 2007
Any thoughts on Francis Schaeffer?
Hi smart people out there in the blogosphere!
We're about to start showing our high school kids parts of Francis Schaeffer's video series How Should We Then Live.
We were watching an episode tonight and thought it was very insightful for the most part, but leaped around a bit historically and theologically.
Have any of you had experience with his work? I found some of his books helpful in a rough spot in graduate school.
Thanks for your input!
T&J
Posted by Tim and Jo at 8:57 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 27, 2006
Four out of Five
Awhile ago, I read the statistic that at least 80% of detected Down's Syndrome babies are aborted. The statistic has haunted me, maybe because my life has been deeply touched by people with Down's Syndrome. Wikipedia notes an even higher figure, citing an article which calls this trend "eugenics by abortion" (and suggesting positive alternatives, like adoption and developing disability sensitive environments).
In honor of my friends...
Brett--my childhood friend's little brother. You had no fear. I remember sprinting across a field trying to catch up to you as you wandered cheerfully off. I remember the story of when you nonchalantly walked out your front door, unknown to anyone else. Your parents--and eventually the police--frantically searched for you, only to find you curled up, peacefully sleeping in the local cemetery. You're all grown up now. I hear from your sister that you are happy and working a great job.
Noah--I only knew you for a week, when I was babysat for a conference as a teenager. We all fell in love with you, especially noticing how you watched out for the littler guys. We made T-shirts, with everyone's foot prints. Yours are the only ones I remember--your purple footprints were shaped differently than any other kid's. I love your footprints.
Amy--I married Tim, and got you as a cousin--what a perk! Your exuberance is contagious. I have an image in my mind of you dancing with your headphones on, singing at the top of your lungs. And I have another image of you lovingly taking care of your baby doll. You're our social butterfly, making everyone around you feel comfortable and at home. I love watching you and Tim pal around--you bring out a side of him that really touches my heart. When you walk into a room, you make us all feel like family.
Mark--you are so faithful at church. You do every task--whether its collecting offerings or handing out bulletins--with your whole heart. It's always fun hearing about the latest basketball and football games as we talk after church. My favorite thing that you do for all of us is the way you spend part of each Sunday afternoon searching through the hymnal so that you can pick a hymn in the evening that reinforces the sermon. It makes the truths of the sermons so personal to sing through them beforehand.
You all live your life with such joy and courage. Thank God you weren't the four out of five.
Posted by Tim and Jo at 12:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack