Skip to just a few weeks ago.  I drove up to Chick-fil-a to pick up some breakfast for Alan and me and immediately noticed a new sign added to the drive-through.  It said, “Courtesy please:  Stay off cell phones.”  Apparently, once again, cell phone users were now reeking havoc on the drive through with their out of control behavior.

Last week we met some friends at a restaurant for dinner.  During the meal, I needed to take Eli into the bathroom to change his diaper.  While doing this, a girl entered the stall next to me talking loudly on her cell phone.  So while taking care of my business, I also got to get the update on her love life and who she was currently not speaking to.  Then it happened:  the F bomb was dropped.  Then again.  I had had enough.  It was one thing to be annoying, but it was another to be using offensive language in front of a child who repeats everything.  So I said in a loud voice, “Could you PLEASE stop using the F word in front of my son.”  She was either a really good ignorer, or she didn’t hear me over her incessant chatter.  So I said again but she continued.  If I could have painted a sign I would have slid it under the stall door.  She apparently thought she was in a phone booth and not a public bathroom. 

Cell phones and a lack of common sense do not mix.  The problem has apparently reached the boardrooms of corporate America because I am seeing signs pop up all over about appropriate cell phone use.  Seriously????  When did signing up for cell phone service include handing over your brain?  Can we not figure out when it is appropriate to use a cell phone anymore? 

And if all is not enough, last Sunday in church our pastor was praying for a church member and the teenage girl in front of me is texting.  What in the world is so important that a text couldn’t wait until AMEN. 

Next thing you know, Congress will be holding hearings on the matter and passing some sort of law on the subject.  (Sigh)  Cell phone technology is the future and apparently common sense is a thing of the past.

This past week they gave some statistics that got my attention.  According to research, only 1% of Americans between the ages of 18-24 had a Biblical worldview.  9% of American adults claim to have a Biblical worldview.  I was shocked because they were actually talking about Biblical worldviews and then shocked again at how low the numbers were.  So I decided to look into the latest research myself.

The Barna group, which is a Christian polling company has some recent data in this area.  For the purposes of its research, Barna defines biblical worldview as “believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today.”

They found that less than 1 in 10 Americans has a Biblical worldview (9 %).  That was not as shocking as the next statistic.  They found that 1 in 5 Americans that claim to be a born-again Christian has a Biblical worldview.   Think about that for a second.  Only 20% of Americans who believe they are born-again believe Barna’s definition of a Biblical worldview.  Shocking!

I’ll also include their findings on specific demographic groups because I thought it was interesting.  Of those who are social or political liberals only one half of one percent have a Biblical worldview.  Compare that to 2% of Catholics, 4% of democarats, and 4% of residents in the north east. 

Our worldview is the filter by which we see the world.  With numbers so low, is it any wonder our country faces the problems we do today.  I would expect those type of statistics from a lost and dying world, but this type of warped thinking has made its way inside of our churches and into the majority of the minds that fill the pews each week.  According to Barna’s research only 40% of born-again Christians believe that Satan is a real force.  The majority of Christians need to wake up.  They are deceived and on the road to being devoured. 

We need to seriously pray for the church.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot.  Raising a boy is something that you have to do very purposefully, so as not to squash the masculine tendencies given to him by his Creator.  Eli spends almost all of his time with me.  So I’ve been spending some time lately thinking about how to raise this young man to be the adventurer he wants to be, without imposing my feminine boundaries on him.  I want to create a safe environment for him, where his adventurous spirit can soar.  I am trying to discover the happy medium between wanting to protect him from everything and letting him do things that might hurt him.  I don’t want my need to feel safe to keep him from the natural explorer that he is. 

Several years ago, I read John Eldridge’s book, Wild at Heat, and I’m so glad that I did.  I recommend it for any woman who wants to understand the heart of a man.  John Eldridge says that all boys desire to be a hero, to be a warrior, and to lead a life of adventure and risk.  I already see some of that in Eli.  I want to be the kind of mom that allows my son to be a real boy. 

Two days ago, Eli climbed up on my cedar chest and then lept on to my bed.  He doesn’t have to jump.  The space between the chest and my bed is only about a half inch, but everytime he climbs up on that cedar chest he stands triumphantly then leaps across the “giant canyon” before him.  I was brushing my hair and looked over just in time to see that Eli had gotten too close to the edge of the bed.  He fell in between the bed and the nightstand, banging his head so hard on the nightstand that he knocked it over.  I picked up my hysterical child and immediately saw that his head was bleeding.  I calmly took him to the bathroom and got a cold washcloth and applied pressure.  Upon examination, I saw that he had two cuts on the back of head and two knots were already forming.  After a just a few minutes, the bleeding stopped and he hopped out of my lap and was on to another adventure.  We both survived the first of what will probably be hundreds of adventure injuries. 

Since then, more than ever I have been praying that God will show me what my son will need to grow into the man God wants him to be.  God made boys and girls so different in so many ways.  Figuring out the heart of a boy really isn’t too hard, when you consider that we bear the image of God.  Through studying the character of God, I can definitely begin to appreciate and understand the best way to raise and nurture the little warrior adventurer that is sound asleep in the next room, hugging his blankie.

I have all kinds of current issues running through my head that I want to talk about.  Unfortunately, I am way to tired today to write about anything that would require much thought.  So instead, I thought I would share some pictures we took of Eli in the front yard a few days ago.  We are so blessed!!!!!

My little man

First day on the potty

I guess its true that having kids changes everything.  Today we began potty training Eli and I caught of glimpse of myself in the mirror doing a pee-pee celebration dance this afternoon and it wasn’t even embarrassing.  First thing after breakfast this morning, Alan put Eli on his potty and lo and behold he poo-pooed in the potty.  We were so excited that Alan took pictures.  I know, I know….it’s weird.  But we want to capture all his firsts, even the disgusting ones.    When he woke up from his nap, I sat him on the potty again.  First, he collected a fine collection of reading material to take with him, including some Veggie Tales, Elmo books, and a few classics from Dr. Seuss.  How did he know that people read in the bathroom?  I had just began reading him his favorite Elmo book and his potty chair started playing music, indicating that he had in fact gone pee-pee in the potty.  Both mommy and daddy began to clap and celebrate, which made Eli start clapping and get excited.  Then he got to pick three jelly beans from the jar, which really made him happy.  Later this evening we were driving down the road and he was saying “happy day” “happy day” over and over again and I had to agree with him.  A day filled with pee-pee dances, poo-poo pictures, singing toilets, and jellybeans certainly is a happy day.  Let the celebration begin!

We did not let a little housing crisis scare us or a recession slow us down.  We made an offer on a new house in December, which was accepted, and after jumping through all the hoops placed before us by our mortgage lender, we closed on the house in February.  I love my new house, but boy I could do without the moving.  I feel so blessed to be living here.  It is the house we dreamed of and a wonderful place for Eli to grow up.  I’ll post some pictures later.  So all the packing and moving and unpacking and organizing and decorating is the reason for my hiatus from the blogging world.  But as for today….I’m back!

• I am thankful that when you were three years old and decided to knock my bedroom door down that you didn’t squash me and my friends as we were playing Barbie dolls. 
• I am thankful that when you tried to run me over with your bicycle when I was roller skating, that I only broke my arm and nothing else.
• I am thankful for all the time you saved me by cutting our board games short.  If you ever started losing, the game “accidentally” got knocked in the floor.
• I am thankful that when I accidentally hit you in the head with my tennis racket, that you decided not to sue me.
• I am thankful for introducing me to my new favorite Christmas carol “Shingle Bells.”

Boy we’ve had some great times, haven’t we?  In all seriousness I am extremely thankful for my wonderful brother.  I am thankful to call him not only brother, but also friend.

• I have a wonderful husband who never lets a day go by without showing me and telling me that he loves me.
• I have a healthy, happy son who’s smile makes my day.
• I have wonderful parents and in-laws who love me and selflessly give to me and my family.
• I don’t have shingles this year.  I am particulary thankful for that because this time last year I had them and was just a few weeks away from my son coming down with the chicken pox. 
• Alan has a job he loves and I am able to stay at home and raise our son. 

Now for more on my wonderful husband.  Friday we went to Alan’s parents house for Thanksgiving, Part 2 and Eli spent the night with his Nana and Papa.  Saturday morning we actually slept in had the whole day to ourselves.  There was a Georgia football game on at noon so I figured we’d end up watching that.  I love football almost as much as my husband, but I have to admit I secretly wanted to take advantage of the time we had and spend time together.  While I was taking the shower that morning, my husband got on the phone an scheduled an appointment for us to go to a day spa.  We got ready, he took me to lunch, and off to the spa we went together.  I got a relaxing manicure and he got a back massage.  Then we went to do a little Christmas shopping.  All of this while Georgia was playing their last regular season game, which in the end, they unfortunately lost.  As we drove to pick up Eli, I had no doubt that I was loved and that I was a priority. 

In this new year, I want to focus more on all the things that I have to be thankful for.  I am truly blessed!

Well, needless to say neither of us will do any more assuming when it comes to car safety, but we sure got a good laugh out of it.  We have no idea how long Eli had been out of his seat, but knowing our little adventurer, he probably thoroughly explored the back seat before making his presence known to us. 

Anyone want to share any “rookie mistakes” they’ve made in parenting?  I could use another laugh.

I eliminated this one battleground, not because I am giving up, but because I am more focused than ever on teaching my son to be obedient.  I would love my son to have good behavior, but even more important than that is the development of his character.  I do not believe that you have to wait until a child is older to begin working on character traits.    He is fascinated with the TV and all the electrical gadgets that are underneath it.  I have been working consistently for the past few days on keeping him from touching the TV and entertainment center, and I just didn’t want to have to say NO wherever he turned in the living room.  So I have removed one battle ground so as not to frustrate him. 

This is my first child and I do not have all the answers when it comes to disciplining children.  I am thankful for the guidance from parents and friends who have traveled this road before and are willing to share advice.  I know that it will take lots of love, patience, and consistency.  We are committed to all three because Eli is worth it. 

I’d read a book about raising boys, but remember, my bookshelves are empty.