A new trend popping up among Christians is the belief that they must wait until marriage to kiss. My problem with this ideal is that is that it is a cultural humanistic type of reasoning that is being put forward along with and/or on equal footing with God's law. If it was as important to our well being as many believe, then God most certainly would have mentioned it. As we learn by reading Leviticus, he had no trouble being specific. It is also fair to point out, that not everybody is as out-of-control and illogically thinking when they kiss another person. If you know yourself to be, then by all means refrain. However, placing a barrier on social habits not created by God is unwise. It begins human traditions that over time and generations can be confused as God's will, not man's opinions. This sort of behavior divides. Our traditions have no place in our faith, only God's own word. Not kissing while dating comes from a place of fear, not love. Fear of things unknown, fear of things not understood, and fear of things never experienced. Love should guide our interactions with one another. It is through learning and experiencing these intimacies created by sharing a kiss, that we learn to set our own boundaries, discover our limitations, and understand the sensitivity and hearts of ourselves and others. There is understanding that we cannot read in a book or know by being told. We teach our children how to do almost everything. We know they will fall down when they walk, but we let them anyway. We know someone will be unkind to them among their peers but we let them socialize. We let them interact with the world outside our door, even though we worry about what they will be exposed to. What we must do, as people, is learn to discern for ourselves. Trust in God to protect us, trust we will be forgiven when we screw up, and love him always. If we do that, we do all he asks of us. True faith is not broken or tarnished by a kiss.

I have posted some pictures on facebook; it is a work in progress but check out the curtains my mom sewed for me - she is a bit of terrific.

So I have had some people (on Dave's side of the family mostly) asking about a baby shower for Wyatt. Truthfully, considering my anti-social tendencies, and the fact I was out of town for a good bit, I do not foresee a shower being thrown for me. In the congregation this year there have been so many pregnant women that I think people are all showered out. I suppose if I had expected a shower my feelings would be hurt but, they aren't. I can fly happily under the radar knowing that I am an inconvenience to nobody. My own mother has hosted so many baby showers I think she is no longer as enthused about Wyatt's coming and I think she has been in partial dread that I might make demands of her. Time is on my side. I measured 38cm yesterday and have four weeks to go! Since every weekend between now and then is already taken with goings-on and showers... I think I am safe from fuss. I am not all that comfortable accepting gifts anyway. I don't feel like I deserve anything. The wedding gifts were hard enough. I was so overwhelmed and slightly horrified that people would spend money on us. I mean, who am I? Just a punk who grew up. Just thinking about how kind people are makes me cry like I am trapped in a room full of chopped onions. Oh the hormones.

I arrive at DFW on May 1st, swollen ankles, giant round tummy, and many missing brain cells, to wait out my pregnancy in the relative comforts of home sweet home. If anybody who has been here and done that has any advice on a doctor or rabbi who performs circumcision, please let me know. It is firmly fixed in my mind to make sure this is done on the eighth day after birth, when his vitamin K levels are optimal. The bible had it so right! ;)

Our arrival was heralded in by snow, and it has been sunny all week except for today. It's actually a little boring right now with Dave working longer hours and me at our furnished apartment reading books and glaring at the antiquated set that refuses to record live TV. The town of Olympia is really small and I will be glad when Dave isn't working weekends so we can explore and maybe go to Seattle. I miss Suki and Cleo being around to snuggle with.