How have I not heard of this before?

I have no words to describe the sickening feeling in my stomach when I read these articles. I am apalled that we are more concerned with our interests in Iraq under the guise of "democracy" when human rights atrocities like this are happening elsewhere. These stories are not for the faint hearted......

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/001/19.34.html

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/001/18.30.html

I guess it's settled then

While watching Rick Steve's Europe last week, Quincy asked me if Allah was Spanish for God. (Rick was in Turkey.) Not wanting to open up any complex theological exchange with my 4 year old I simply answered that Allah was the name that Muslims use while Christians are the ones who call him God. That, of course, led to the question of whether we were Christians. Oh great, what do I do now? I opted for honesty and told him that Mommy and Daddy were Christians, but that he and Adelaide will need to choose if they want to be. There was just a brief pause before he stated with confidence "Mommy, we'll be Christians too because we like to call God God." Simple enough, right? I think I'm just gonna leave it at that for the time being.

Did I really just say that?

There are some words, phrases, and many full sentences that you just never ever expect to come out of your mouth. And then you become a parent. Case in point,

"Sweetie, the poop really wants to come out of your bottom, but you have to help it get out. That's why you have to push."

This is what I have come to. Oh my.

I really like Saturday nights. . .

Ahhh, we are finally back into the old routine that had just been unintentially established. Saturday has kind of become my Public Broadcasting night o' fun. For the most part, I no longer work on Saturday nights which makes me very happy. So with that annoyance out of the way, the day can hold any number of things from laundry to a trip to the Children's Museum or just exploring our new city. The evening, however, generally goes something like this.
4:30 - The kids and I head to St. Nicholas for the weekly Inquirer's class from 5:00 - 6:00. Listen to Prairie Home Companion on the way. (The more time I spend in this class, the more I love the Orthodox Church.)
6:00 - Head back home listening to "The Thistle and the Shamrock", a Celtic music program on OPB.
6:30ish - Arrive home, have something simple to eat and maybe do a little channel surfing with the kids.
7:30 - All 3 of us settle in to watch "Rick Steve's Europe". I really love Europe and love even more that my 4 and 2 year old will sit and take it in with me. The past 2 weeks have been in Turkey which dovetails nicely with the Church history we have been learning at Inquirers class.
8:00 - Bedtime for the little people. Brush teeth, clean up, read stories, say prayers, give Adelaide the 3 blankets and 5 stuffed animals that she requests, turn on the musical selection for the evening, close the door and let out a nice big sigh. Globetrekker is usually on while I make a cup of tea and catch up on the Evergreen forum, a few folks blogs, and a little email.
9:00 - This is when my "programs" really begin. Yes, I have become a British TV junkie beginning with my favorite, "As Time Goes By". The rest of the night goes in 30 minute increments as follows.
9:30 - "My Hero"
10:00 - "Keeping Up Appearances"
10:30 - "My Family"

You know what I think it is that I love so much about my Saturday nights? They are incredibly simple. And the things I do spend my time on remind me of a simple life. The Orthodox Church for instance. Been around oh, a couple thousand years, yet it's really incredibly simple in it's structure and beliefs. And St. Nicholas is such a quaint and unassuming parish with such lovely people who really seem to take life slow. (Excluding Father George, who goes 90 miles and hour at all times.) And then I spend the rest of my evening vicariously in another country where life moves at a much leisurely pace. I can't really remember about England, but in much of Europe, you can't even buy gas on a Sunday because everything is closed. In Switzerland there are 2 hours in the afternoon during the week that all of the shops close for lunch. On "As Time Goes By" they are often running to 'the corner shop' for some little thing they need like . . . syrup. I wish I had a corner shop. And on all the shows there is much conversation happening over many cups of tea. I realize it is TV and not necessarily real life, but if you have spent any time in Europe at all you know there is still a definite difference in their pace of life versus ours. My Saturday night line up reminds me of what I hope to have in my own life, home, and family one day. It relaxes me and give me just a weekly dose of motivation to continue my efforts to simplify everything.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a cup of tea.