Squirrelly

One of our nicknames for Selah is squirrel or squirrel bug.  We tend to have quite few in our garden that resemble our little wiggler and Scott thought this one was particularly funny, although I guess he missed the best bits.

Selah - the meaning of her name

We haven't done very well to post the latest big news, but we've had our little girl!  We'll have to write more soon about the details, but thought I'd post a note about her name: Selah (pronounced 'Say la').  

Back in March Scott had this moment of revelation when we were about to doze off to sleep and asked what I think of Selah.  Neither of us had ever heard of anyone with the name, although we knew the word from the Psalms in the Bible.  We later had our hunch confirmed that we were having a girl and the name really grew on us through the pregnancy.  

Selah is most often found used in music/worship and we felt there was a significant connection with our baby to this.  She seemed to be very active in my womb around worship music.  The meaning of the Hebrew word itself is not entirely clear, but it seems to mean to stop and meditate, weigh out what has been said/sung, praise and meditate.  

Another thing we found shocking, but very significant is that my brother-in-law came home with the idea for the very same name for their baby!  (Great minds think alike.)  They decided to use it for a middle name if they were to have a girl....but they actually had a boy in Aug.  The funny thing was that both of us couples kept the name Selah a complete secret from EVERYONE until the week my sister was due in August.  My sister told my mom, who told me their girl name....sending Scott and I into total shock.  The fact that both of the guys came up with it made us think that there was even more significance to this name and that it was probably a 'God idea'. 

Now that we know little Selah a little more, we have found it funny to see that she really loves worship music.  In fact her favourite sleeping position is with one hand up above her head and often up in the air.....a typical worship position.  Anyway, I thought I'd post this YouTube video of a worship interlude 'Selah' to give you an idea of what a Selah moment might be like.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTnkvYHZVvE

Did you know...John Braxton Hicks was the doctor (english doctor) who first described the early pregnancy contractions in 1872? Rebecca first experienced 'Braxton Hicks' contractions on the morning of Sunday the 7th September. Since that day she hasn't had many that strong, but has had some twinges.

We're off to the midwife again tomorrow and if our little one is 'breach' then Rebecca may have to go and get a scan. I think it would fascinating seeing the baby in the womb at this stage. 

Must be over 30 people who have said, "oh, your life is going to change." A few have then added, "but in a good way." I recognize that raising a child will be life-altering and an adjustment, but as the time draws closer, the anticipation and excitement grows. What an amazing privilege and responsibility that I don't want to speak negatively about. I'll try to use this blog as a reminder not to complain about lack of sleep or poopy diapers etc that come along with the bundle of joy that we are awaiting. If your out there...permission granted to help me remember these comments. 

Thought for the day

Scott and I loved this one we heard in a talk.  Rich Mullins quotes his professor as saying, 

"Class, you will forget almost everything I will teach you in here, so please remember this: that God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and He has been speaking through asses ever since.  So, if God should choose to speak through you, you need not think too highly of yourself.  And, if on meeting someone, right away you recognize what they are, listen to them anyway."

Tyne & Wear

I don't know why so many people make a face when Rebecca tells them she lived up north for 6 years in Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland. (Rebecca also lived in Durham, but this is widely regarded as a most desirable place to live) I wonder if many of these people have ever actually been there, just drove through, or have only heard negative things about the Tyne & Wear area? Very similar to the reaction we get when telling people we live in Coventry. That being said, I have been guilty of this very attitude towards the north! Some years back my good friends from Holland took a ferry over to Newcastle and expressed how much they enjoyed it. I had driven through the area before, but not actually visited. I joked with them on numerous occasions about their choice of first places to visit in England. 

The Tyneside area is beautiful with really nice parks, great views of the river Tyne which separates Newcastle and Gateshead, and the seaside in Sunderland. (Picture above is of the river Tyne and beautiful music venue The Sage). 

This makes me think of many negative views and perceptions that I carry towards places, things, and people, that I have never really experienced...

Gotta have that 'folk'

A couple weeks ago we decided to scoop up my Mom, Doreen, in Kings Lynn(she had been over for approx. 5 weeks by then) and head up to northern England and see some of Rebecca's old stomping grounds... Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland. We decided to stay in Robin Hood's Bay on the way up since my family had stayed in this beautiful little town on the east coast of England about 14 years earlier. I wanted Rebecca to experience this beautiful area.

Just outside of town we decided to stop and ask at the petrol (gas) station of some recommended places to stay in the area. He said it was kind of a busy time as the Whitby (town just next to Robin Hood's Bay) folk music festival had just started. Interesting, as I had mentioned to Reb before leaving Coventry that it would be nice to hear some live music, maybe folk while up north. Gotta love it. People come in each year from all over England as well as Ireland to listen and play outdoors and in over 20 pubs around town. Below is a short clip of Doreen enjoying the tunes...

Blogging for baby

This is my virgin voyage in the blogging world.  Quite surprising I've never blogged before, but I thought since many of the good parents I know seem to set up a blog about their new baby to inform anyone interested of all the gory details (mostly family and very close friends that read it I assume) that we should follow suit.  So, I'm blogging for baby you might say.  We're almost 34 weeks, so this is prior to being fully initiated into parenthood, but certainly in the preparation process. 

Ok, so there is another reason for the blog.  Scott mentioned today that we need to be better about 'building altars', in the sense that it would be good to write down more of our reflections on the journey of life so that we can share it with others.  So you may see a little of both here.

Scott and I have been reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (thanks Hattie) and have been really challenged and refreshed by his humour and honest journey toward living out sincere love for Christ.  It's a rare book that can get Scott choked up, and this one has done the job.....as well as stirring us up into fits of laughter.  I'd highly recommend it.  So after reading a bit today we've been talking again about the choices we make, what we have presumed we should have and how to continue shifting attitudes and lifestyle for better stewardship and relationship.