Not Just A Mom...

You have to love this one :o)

 

 JUST A MOM?

 A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,
 was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
 
 She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
 
 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.
 
'I'm a Mom.'
 
'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed
 
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out: 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title s lowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.  Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'

Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
 
Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations'
And great grandmothers 'Executive Senior Research Associates?'
I think so!!! ;
I also think it makes Aunts 'Associate Research Assistants.'

Easter vs Passover... very interesting

This past weekend Paul and I visited a different church, and the preacher had been asked about the origin of Easter, and why the church didn't have an Easter service on Easter Friday etc.  He went into great depth to describe why they don't as a church don't "celebrate" Easter, and I have layed it out below, with information I got from http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/origin-of-easter.htm as Paul had to to check that the information that had been given to us was in fact correct (my darling sceptic :o) ).

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Origin of Easter - A Christian Commemoration
The origin of Easter, a holiday associated with the observance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is actually based on an ancient pagan celebration. Christians recognize this day as commemorating the culminating event of their faith, but like so many other "Christian" holidays, Easter has become commercialized and mixed with non-christian traditions like the Easter Bunny, Easter parades and hunting for Easter eggs. How did this happen?

Origin of Easter - Its Pagan Roots
The origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the global Flood recorded in Genesis 6-9 of the Bible. Nimrod, a grandson of Noah, had turned from following his grandfather's God and had become a tyrannical ruler. According to the biblical record, as king, Nimrod created Babel, Ninevah, Asshur, Calla and other cities, all known for lifestyles that promoted unspeakable evil and perversion. When Nimrod died, his wife, Queen Semiramis, deified him as the Sun-god, or Life Giver. Later he would become known as Baal, and those who followed the religion Semiramis created in his name would be called Baal worshippers. They became associated with idolatry, demon worship, human sacrifice and other practices regarded as evil.

The origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis' illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3:15), they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that savior, even that he had been supernaturally conceived. Before long, in addition to worshipping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshipped Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.

The origin of Easter goes back to the springtime ritual instituted by Semiramis following the death of Tammuz, who, according to tradition, was killed by a wild boar. Legend has it that through the power of his mother's tears, Tammuz was "resurrected" in the form of the new vegetation that appeared on the earth.

According to the Bible, it was in the city of Babel that the people created a tower in order to defy God. Up until that time, all the people on the earth spoke one language. The building of the tower led God, as recorded in Genesis 11:7, to confuse their tongues to keep them from being further unified in their false beliefs. As the people moved into other lands, many of them took their pagan practices with them.

Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar or Semiramis) was "hatched."

Origin of Easter - Resurrection Day for Christians
For Christians, the origin of Easter is simply the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus Christ, the true Messiah promised in the Old Testament, was crucified and resurrected at the time of the Jewish Passover. Since that awesome event took place, those who believe Christ is their Messiah have honored that day and often celebrated it with the traditional Passover. As the Gospel of Christ spread throughout non-jewish nations, among people who did not have a history of celebrating the Passover, the pagan rites of Easter gradually became assimilated into what the Christian church called "Resurrection Day." Compromising the commandments of God with the comfort of the world is as old as the nation of Israel itself. Actually, American history teaches us that Easter was dismissed as a pagan holiday by the nation's founding Puritans and did not begin to be widely observed until just after the Civil War. Those interested in a Christian view of American history and the gradual compromise of America's Biblical foundations may wish to read books such as The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel.

Family Visit

This week my family from the UK came to visit, and it was awesome to see them again, after so many years.  The last time we saw each other was... I can't remember the year, about 15 years ago I am sure.

I have attached the family picture - the fun one.  It's been fun to see them, and they really are an amazing family.  Only one of my cousins came out this time, and Sheryl was very helpful with Chloe, as well as Uncle Jaap and Aunty Sheila.  They wanted to surprise my mother at the coffee shop and they did, my mother didn't even recognise them originally, and then when the penny dropped I imagine it was a moment of comic relief.  I know that Mom enjoyed their visit completely.  Some of the stories that were coming out from when they were young were interesting as well. 

We had a braai with them last night and it was fun, Uncle Jaap did the cooking, and we all just relaxed (except for me, trying to get Chloe to settle down) and visited. 

Today they have left to go to St Lucia for a few days, and then they will pop up to Ermelo to visit my gran, and other aunt and uncle, and then it's back to the UK.  I'd like to think that they really enjoyed thier trip here and that the holiday wasn't so much of a whirlwind that they didn't get a chance to relax.

 

I love you Aunty Sheil and Uncle Jaap.

 

Of cats and monkeys

Well, this week seemed to be a week of throughfare for animals in my house.  The first time a huge male Vervet Monkey, hopped past me, as if I wasn't there, and proceeded to walk through the lounge as if he owned the place. Well, I lost my temper, and all sense of fear of long, sharp, possibly diseased teeth, and chased the creature through the house. The worst part was that my chasing did nothing to scare the animal. The sheers I was carrying (I was gardening at the time of the trespassing) were lobbed at him, which only slightly increased the arrogant speed that he was moving. Amazing how protective one becomes when you're little angel is in a room, and there is the potential of attack on her. It was only after the fact that I realised what I had done. The most annoying part was that the animal tried another two times to come back inside, like he owns the place. Paul's blow pipe (aka monkey deterrent) seemed to get rid of him. I didn't use it, but they know what it is, as he uses it to shoot them with blunt "darts", which makes them think twice about coming around our spot.

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There are a whole lot of cats in our complex. Now, our neighbours have a beautiful cat called Mitsy. (Pictured above) According to Mitsy apart from their garden being her territory, our garden is part of her greater territory. However, the cat from Unit 18 feels that it is his duty to antagonise Mitsy and encroach on her territory. Mitsy is a gentle cat (till the claws and teeth come out, when she is suffering from some form of cat PMS, in which case she can deliver quite some pain) and doesn't like to fight. But, on the fateful day, she chased Cat 18 (so named due to its home) right through my lounge. Now, again I'm not usually one who will get involved in fights, especially when there are some very sharp claws involved, but, they were getting a bit close to my baby. Anyway, my just standing up, made Mitsy stay one one side of the lounge, and then back out slowly, while Cat 18 stared at her through our back door, as if saying "I dare you!", so to solve that problem and calm my dear Mitsy down, I closed the back door, instantly ending the rivalry. Thank goodness, I have never seen Mitsy so riled up. I have chased Cat 18 away a number of times. Just this morning it was in Pat's garden tormenting Emma, her cat. The problem I have with all the cat fighting, is that when they are howling at each other, it sounds very much like a baby crying, and unless I am right by Chloe, there are moments when I think that she is crying so I bolt through to her, and it's the stupid cats!

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Then, just to vent!  The children from our neighbours (next door, not below us) have it in their minds that I like having them staring at me, and trying to come into my house, while I am trying to settle Chloe down, during her grizzly time of the day. They think that it is a big game. The other day, I thought, I'll close the door so they get the message that I don't want them around, so they start banging on the door. I was very annoyed. Paul was here as well, and he was also getting irritated, and was going to sort them out when they decided that the game was over and moved off. Some days I don't know what to do, you're stressed out because your child is crying and there is no consoling her, and then you have a 2 year old and a 9month old trying to invade your territory, and make a game of it. Every time you look at them, they run away laughing, thinking that it is a big game. Argh!