The following was an amusing little story that caught my eye from xoSarah's site.

One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a

classroom. The teacher was going to explain e

volution to the children. The teacher asked a

little boy:

TEACHER: Tommy do you see the tree outside?

TOMMY: Yes.

TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?

TOMMY: Yes.

TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you

can see the sky.

TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later)

Yes, I saw the sky.

TEACHER: Did you see God?

TOMMY: No.

TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God

because he isn't there. He just doesn't exist.

A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy

some questions.

The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the

boy:

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree

outside?

TOMMY: Yes.

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass

outside?

TOMMY: Yessssss!

LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?

TOMMY: Yessssss!

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?

TOMMY: Yes.

LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?

TOMMY: No.

LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were

taught today in school, she must not have one!

"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"

2 CORINTHIANS 5

My own personal addition is that in my own biology class in high school (a Christian high school) we were taught many aspects about evolution and it's strengths and weaknesses- in particular, the fact that it just doesn't hold up. The above is amusing, but there are some pretty basic compelling arguments. A statement made by some top notch scientists was "It takes more faith to believe in evolution- once you fully understand it and the evidence for it- than it does to believe in God." There is more physical, written, and observational evidence attesting to the fact that the Bible is fully accurate, that Jesus lived, died, and rose again- than there is for the fact that macro-evolution (evolution beyond a species) ever occurred. Microevolution, of course, clearly does- evolution within a kind- but just because I can jump two feet in the air doesn't mean that it is evidence that some people can jump to the clouds.

I also like this basic example of faith. Gravity exists, but cannot be seen. A person can deny that gravity really exists, but if they jump, they will still come back down. I can warn them that if they jump off a cliff, they will fall, and they can deny the fact all they want. However, if they jump, they will still fall- they may not believe in gravity, but gravity still believes in them apparently. It exists indepently of our own perceptions and observations. God, in a far more real and complete way, exists apart from us and whether or not we acknowledge that- he is still there. Whether or not we acknlowedge that he exists and has set a law that we break daily, we still have broken that law- and the consequences are still paid for. The only twist here is that if we don't acknowledge that the person who has paid for them did so, and accept that payment, then we WILL face the consequences despite it.

-Patrick

Hurting, Loving, and a Bath

When we hurt, we have the tendency to do the very things that drive the people we would have comfort us away, or to respond in the least comforting ways. We walk away, and expect to be followed. We lash out in hurt, and expect to be soothed. Perhaps it is because our parents used to respond to these things in that way. Yet we do not respond to these things like our parents did- and those around us are the same as us, so why would they?

When you feel your heart breaking and bitterness surges in your breast, tell the person you care for you are hurting. Tell them you need to be held, to be hugged, or whatever would most comfort you and soothe your hurt spirit. Or if you have someone close to you who does this, but you normally don't know how to respond or respond poorly- try giving them the hugs they need, the gentle response instead of a reaction from your instinctual side.

I wonder if sometimes we don't treat collegues, people we meet occasionally and know lightly, or even strangers better than our closest loved ones at times. Someone else we know lightly says something to annoy us or bother us, and we deal with it with restraint and even try to laugh it off. Someone we are very close to does something even less so, and we let out our inner hurt. Sometimes perhaps it is better to hold this back, to pray about it, and then discuss the feelings later- when did letting this inner hurt help anyone, even ourselves except for a brief, very brief respite?
Consider this the next time you are with a friend, dear one, spouse, brother, sister, parent, etc. Some of us treat people with too much distance- we hide our hearts from them and act cool all the time. We smile when we hurt. Those need to open up. But some of us, even some who have opened up, do the opposite and let hurt come out. The next time this happens, respond as you would to a collegue- show respect and restraint, compose your feelings later and then bring them back to the person. If they handle it poorly when it is brought to them directly, honestly, and gently in love then it becomes their burden and no longer yours. Yet is it not our burden when we react in the moment and cause even more hurt than was caused us?

How often are our hurts caused more by miscommunication, or accident? How many times would simply repeating back to them what we think we heard, and seeing if they truly meant that, would solve a potentially lasting wound? Look back at the most recent times you have responded harshly or pushed someone away, and make a Roman numeral list of how many you regret versus how many were reasonably handled. I commend you if you get very far on the list of those you do not regret. It is worth a second look at how we handle them, is it not?

Some thoughts for the day. And now some pictures.

-Patrick

Our baby Conor, born November 11, 2005. More pictures for all to share in of his sink baths. He doesn't do these anymore lately, as Kat has become addicted to giving him daily baths with her in the tub.

December 2005

December 2005

(This post has some shots of Conor nude. Disclaimer, as usual, at bottom of post)

I'm a softy- I thought I'd share another bundle of pictures. There are, after all, lots of them to share!

* While
the fact this is a family picture should be enough, there are laws
protecting the sharing of natural photos and naturism. THIS POST CONTAINS IMAGES OF NUDIST AND NATURIST UNDER THE NUDIST
CULTURE. In compliance with United States Code Title 18,
Part 1, Chapter 110, Section 2256, This xanga site contains
NO PORNOGRAPHY. This is strictly for the artistic
appreciation of the beauty of the human nudist form. This is intended as a place to share family photos of the life and growth of our child for the appreciation of family and friends.

December 2005

Here it is, the picture you've all been waiting for! (or at least, you should have!) One of, if not the, cutest Conor pictures I have on my computer! Drum roll please!

Look at that adorable face! Let's get a close-up of that cute lil guy!

I think I'll leave this as my last baby piccy post for a little while. I've notice my feedback and interactions have slowed since this became a "picture only" site for week or so. This site is for more than just baby pictures! This is my personal xanga sharing site! So, I think I'll just put up more occasional pictures so that I can welcome my friends back and do some more sharing! What do you think- daily single or small group pictures, or more occasional large postings? Vote on the comments! Note- phone calls to myself or Kat do NOT count! You'll just have to get a xanga site and start commenting too if you want input.

-Patrick

December 2005

It seems a little unfair, in a way. We have a baby shower- and we get piece after piece of baby clothing. Of course, being baby clothing, it is focused on what? Yes, a neborn baby. We've received clothing of various types, but of all the clothes we received, we have by far the most- at least fifty to a hundred pieces of clothes- clothes for a newborn. Our wardrobe for other age sizes is not that big.

So of course, would it not make sense that not only was Conor about eight pounds twelve ounces at birth- but he quickly regained that weight and has doubled his birth weight by this point in his life. The doctor showed us a chart tracking average baby growth- both length and weight- and of course, Conor would be at the top of both!

So what does this mean? Well, within very little time we were moving up from newborn clothing to the 3-6 month clothing and Conor is still just two months old! Not only that, but guess what? Conor can't wear some of the 3-6 month onesies! Why? Well, it seems that he is so long the shoulders are tight on him and make him upset! So, our wardrobe of clothing is smaller right now- and I doubt Conor will make it very close to sixth months and still remain in the 3-6 months clothing bracket.

It's normal for breastfed babies to quickly soar up in size. Unlike formula fed, they don't go gradual- but then they peak, and begin to even out a little later on. It seems that Conor gets a healthy weight and muscle mass from his Mom's side, and his long bones from his Dad's! Not only that, but he is very strong- reaching certian points in strength babies normally get to later. Most importantly, he's smart as a whip! Of course, he has a brilliant Mom and... well, his Dad isn't stupid at least. Heh heh.

However big he is though, at least he's not like this baby!

17 pounds at birth! Wow! Poor Mom!

Until next time!

-Patrick

Quote of the Day

We need to get on the
ball with this! It’s like 2006, we’re supposed to be teleporting and crap
by now! I want my hovercraft and holodecks!
-Colleen

December 2005

December 2005

From December 2005

Note- This picture shows Conor naked. Of course, since I don't plan to take up a whole page just so it cannot be viewed... you probably already know that. But hey, he's so cuuuuuute, get over it.

From December 2005

* While
the fact this is a family picture should be enough, there are laws
protecting the sharing of natural photos and naturism. So I'll state-
THIS POST CONTAINS IMAGES OF NUDIST AND NATURIST UNDER THE NUDIST
CULTURE. In compliance with United States Code Title 18,
Part 1, Chapter 110, Section 2256, This xanga site contains
NO PORNOGRAPHY. This is strictly for the artistic
appreciation of the beauty of the human nudist form.