Monday, July 7, 2008

Slugs

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have slugs. Big slugs.

Raising a boy in the Pacific Northwest means lots of fun with slugs. This last weekend we went for a little family hike at Nolte State Park. It was tons of fun and we saw lots of slugs. I wish I had held something up to the slugs for size comparison. They are huge!

Here is a little Monday fun...

Munch, Munch...




Family Photo...


Slug gymnastics...


I loved this one of Brian...

Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!!

We sat outside with neighbors and watched the fireworks display at the end of our cul-de-sac. This is the first year I've ever lived someplace that is legal to shoot off fireworks. What a show!



YES! vs. yes.

Yesterday I sent everyone to read this blog.

I did that because I loved, not only the quality of writing (which is so often missing in blogs), but also the simplicity of a great idea. How many hearts would stay unbroken if we taught our children that "no" means "no" but everything short of "YES!" means "no" too.

As a former abstinence educator I'm not a big fan of encouraging sexual activity among teens. Though I do believe that, in educating about relationships there is a need to address the difference between both parties being totally gung-ho vs. just allowing the activity (either through trying to please/keep a boyfriend or just to "get it over with").

I've wondered how many date rape situations happen just because two people aren't communicating on the same level. Even in marriage communication about sex isn't always (and in some marriages it's never) good.

What really hit me about this post was not the impact this idea would have on high school and college campuses, but the impact on marriages. How many wives would feel safer and more cherished if their husbands would wait for a "YES!" instead of "well, um, I guess we could do something"? And wives need to believe that only an enthusiastic "YES!" makes for a good sexual relationship. I think it could benefit both husbands and wives to strive for a sexual relationship where both people say, "YES!"

I promise to now go back to "mommy blogging"...

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Other People's Blogs

I have several things on my heart these days to share. But I felt that I really, really wanted to share a blog post that I just read. So, I'm keeping today's post short and sweet so you have time to go read.

Blog Nosh just launched last week. You should check it out. Usually I stick with reading something for a while before I link here, but, well, I wanted to share.

This is the post that I want everyone to go read THIS. Come back and share what you think. I'll give my ideas and feed back tomorrow. See you back here.