Rebellious Child

I have been reading a book on child training called, aptly, "To Train Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl. (visit their website at www.nogreaterjoy.org - lots of great parenting insight!)
Recently I read a bold statement that really stood out to me. This is not a direct quote, but the "jist" of it was that even if a child is perfectly obedient in everything except for ONE SINGLE area...that child is COMPLETELY rebellious in his or her heart.
Imagine - your child obeys absolutely everything you say except for one thing. Maybe he gets up out of his bed when he's supposed to be sleeping...or perhaps she doesn't come the first time she is called. To almost anybody, that would be a wonderful child. Yet because there is one area in her life where she CHOOSES whether or not to obey, she is rebellious all the way through. She does not respect you completely. She makes her own decisions.
That is a bold statement, but I hope you can see the truth in it.
The same thing goes in our lives. If there is just one area in my life where I decide whether or not I'm going to do what the Lord tells me, I am rebellious through and through. I do not fear the Lord. Obedience is every time...not every time I feel like it.
Lord, help me to obey You every time, because I love You and I want my children to love and revere You.

The Charleblog

Effective very soon, "Pipes' Dreams" is going to be undergoing a change. Instead of being my personal blog, JP and I plan to make it more of a "family" blog...with both of us posting thoughts and updates. We call it "The Charleblog." You can see the change in the header already.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
One week from now, our web address will change from this current address to http://thecharleblog.blogspot.com. I'm not changing it just yet, so everyone can get the update.
JP is looking forward to joining the blogger world. While he probably won't post as much as I will, it will be fun to hear his thoughts from time to time. Hopefully it will keep things dynamic.
I'll post reminders as the date gets close for us to change our address.

Here She Goes Again...

...Stepping on toes and offering no apologies.

Everybody needs to check out this article posted on World Net Daily.

Excerpts to perk your interest:
"A new study from the Mayo Clinic has concluded that there is 'a measurable and statistically significant' connection between the pill and pre-menopausal breast cancer, re-enforcing the recent classification of oral contraceptives as Type 1 carcinogens."
"Dr. Kahlenborn focused on the younger, pre-menopausal women who had been on the pill before having their first child. He found 21 of 23 studies showed a connection between the pill and cancer, something that certainly should be alarming women.
"However, as Andrea Mrozek, manager of research and communications for the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, noted in an article:
'Perhaps it is because the pill has long been the darling of feminists – a veritable icon of female empowerment. In some circles, suggesting the pill might kill you is seen as tantamount to issuing a press release that women belong in the kitchen.'"
"A woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer was one in 22 in the 1940s, but by 2004, it was one in seven."

HEED THE WARNING, friends. Birth control has not set us free.

Elijah & Me...Getting Crazy

More Bloggers

Thanks to Deb, I am now aware of a few more blogger friends of mine out there in webland (See righthand sidebar). I'm hesitant to call you all "friends" since you never told me that you had blogs to begin with. But I have decided to put my hurt feelings aside and add you all to my sidebar nonetheless.
HOWEVER, what is up with nobody posting WHO THEY ARE on their blogs? Do you just expect people to be able to read your minds and figure it out? That's why blogger invented these handy things called PROFILES. You fill them out...put your name, interests, a photo or some other distinguishing object on them...so that people know who you are when they come to your blog.
I was able to figure out who a few of you were (Traci, for example), but I still have no idea who "Seeds of Change" is. And Molly, I know you have a blog out there somewhere, but I can't figure out which one is yours!
So please, everyone do me a favor. Go to your blogger sign-in page and click "Edit Profile." Add your name and some distinguishing tidbits, maybe a photo. That way I, and everyone else, will know who you are for future reference.

P.S. Molly & "Seeds of Change"...I will add you to my sidebar once you identify yourselves! :)

P.P.S. You guys all know I love you.

Happy Belated Anniversary

I didn't get on the blog yesterday...thus this wish is one day late:

A very, very happy Anniversary to JP's parents, Gail & Larry Hyster (aka, GG & Lar Dog)!
We love you guys - and we're so blessed to have you in our lives.

The Dawning

by George Herbert

Awake, sad heart, whom sorrow ever drowns,
Take up thine eyes, which feed on earth,
Unfold thy forehead, gathered into frowns,
Thy Saviour comes, and with him mirth.

Awake, Awake,
And with a thankfull heart His comforts take.

But thou dost still lament, and pine, and cry,
And feel His death, but not his victory.

Arise sad heart; if thou dost not witstand,
Christs resurrection thine may bee,
Do not by hanging downe breake from the hand,
Which as it riseth, raiseth thee.

Arise, Arise;
And with His burial-linnen dry thine eyes.
Christ left His grave-cloths, that we might, when greif
Draws teares or blood, not want an handkerchief.

Watch The Greg Behren Show on Thursday!

A friend who used to go to my dad's church (but now lives on a YWAM base with her husband in Texas) is going to be on The Greg Behren show tomorrow! Normally, I wouldn't promote stations other than channel 4, but this is an exception. :)
Apparently Cally filled out some form online about being a disorganized person. The show called her up, flew her and her husband to LA, and the rest is for you to see. Part of the teaser reads: "Robert's so tired of Cally's dumpster-diving clutter, he's literally drawing the line – down the middle of their bedroom!"
Watch the teaser here. It's called "Greg Cleans Up Your Act."
THURSDAY @ 3:00 PM ON CHANNEL 5
Those of us who know Cally know she is a bargain raider...always looking for cheap - or free - stuff anywhere she can find it to use either now or later, as gifts or crafts...basically whatever! She is the goodwill queen.
Per my friend Priya (who told me about the show): There was a guy on the show that gave her some advice. She took the advice and has started a small ministry/business with the Father Heart Maternity gals on the YWAM base. The show flew her out again for a follow up and that show will air later in the month. I think she's going to write a book..about being resourceful and using cheap/free things to care for your household. This is something she's wanted to do..and it's crazy how God is going to make it happen!!!
It should be interesting and fun, so if you're home tomorrow afternoon - tune in!

Side Effects Include....

I'm watching TV as I sweep my living room...
Does anybody else think its weird that a side effect of AmbienCR (sleeping pill) is next day drowsiness???
Doesn't that defeat the purpose?

Anyhow...that's all.

The Proof

My tummy has really started to pop the past few weeks. I went to the doctor yesterday and I have now officially gained 10 pounds!!! One month ago I had only gained one pound. That means I gained 9 pounds in 4 weeks. Yikes.
I have 4 months left - I'd better start pacing myself!
Baby is healthy and right on track. She was being feisty during my appointment yesterday. When the doctor was trying to find her heartbeat, she kept on rolling over and kicking at the microphone. :)

Winter is Coming

This is a picture of what happened to my umbrella on the way in to work this morning. Winds were gusting SUPER strong as rain mixed with snow came down. I only had to walk across the street from my parking lot to my work place and in that minute's time, the wind completely destroyed my umbrella.
Hang on, Minnesota. Winter is coming!

Fall Camping Trip '06

We just got back from our annual fall Harpel family camping trip. It was a little different this year as the entire family couldn't be there (Amber & Pete took the new baby to meet his other grandparents in WI and Joe had to work), but we still had a great time. We went to Itasca State Park and it was gorgeous. We had a very beautiful, very secluded group campsite miles away from anybody else. Malachi stole the show again (what a sweet baby!) and Caleb and Sadie had the time of their lives! It got REALLY cold at night a couple of times, though.
Here are a few of the many, many pics from the weekend.

Kitchen Before and Afters

We have finally "finished" remodeling our kitchen - a project that's been in the works for about six months or so. Slowly but surely, it has all come together! All we have left (no telling when it will happen) is to get some new countertops and EVENTUALLY we'd like to get new appliances in black. These ones are a bit archaic.
Here are some before and after pictures. The before pictures aren't actually that great - by the time we took them we had already stripped the lovely blue and pink flower basket striped wallpaper and taken apart some of the cabinetry. But you get the idea.

Before:



And after: