homemaker's degree

Some time ago I read on my friend's blog about how Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX was introducing a homemaker's degree.
At first it seemed harmless enough. I have respect for homemaker's...I can't do HALF of the things they do so well...and if a woman chooses to be a homemaker, more power to her.

However, as I kept doing more research on this topic I grew to dislike the whole idea.
This is what it says in the school's course guide, "Preparing women to model the characteristics of a Godly woman as outlined in Scripture." Umm...I don't know but, is it necessary for a woman to drop between $40 and $60K to find out how to be a godly woman??? If I don't know how to cook or sew does that mean I'm not a godly woman? Aren't these things women could learn from their grandmothers or mentors or older women in their church? Is it necessary to spend SO much money to learn these "home" skills? Can't you read a few self-help books or something? And again, if I'm not a homemaker am I ungodly? I just don't and CAN'T believe that the biblical role of a woman is to be a homemaker. God equips us all with different gifts...and I'm sorry, no matter HOW much I try I am NOT gifted in the area of "homemaking." I really have no desire to be a homemaker. Again, I'm not taking away the importance or the skill of being a house wife. It is very important and it is a great skill...but it's just not for me.

Also, I can't help but think that Southwestern is making a not so subtle statement on where a woman "belongs." Does anyone recall the whole Sherri Klouda situation? If you don't know the story click here to get the gist of it. I was more than shocked to hear that this woman was no longer welcome as a professor at Southwestern....why? Because she would have men in her classes??? Give me a break!



Allow me to clarify, I do believe that a woman should have homemaking skills (and men should too, for that matter!), but why shouldn't she have other skills? What if, God forbid, her husband dies and she's left all alone with three kids and a homemaking degree? If you're going to spend $40K and four years earning a degree, why not earn a degree that could prove to useful in just such an unfortunate situation?

And another thing, what about stay at home dads? I've read many interesting articles about dads who are choosing to stay at home with the kids while the wife goes off to work. Sometimes it just makes more sense for their family situation. Maybe the woman has a job that makes more money, but they still want someone to stay at home with the baby...why shouldn't she keep her job while dad stays at home? Maybe he WANTS to stay at home...what's the big deal? Yet, this degree is ONLY for women. I don't see why men should be excluded if they wish to learn how to maintain a home as well.

Does anyone "out there" have any opinions on the matter? I'd love to hear what you all think...maybe you could shed some light for me if you disagree.

bleh...

It seems I have the whole day to myself today.
Last night I was feeling nauseous beyond words...I tried going to bed early so I could just sleep off the sickness...but my body said, "I don't think so!!!" Finally I had to run to the bathroom and say hello to the empanada I had earlier.
Unfortunately, the nauseous feeling didn't go away all night. I kept waking up every hour or so wanting to release whatever was inside of me...but there was just nothing left to release.
I called in sick to work and now I'm home feeling a little better...but still in no condition to do anything. Every time I try to walk around I feel like I'm gonna fall over right then and there.

So that's it...just thought I'd update you all (whoever reads this) on my status...If you have some time, pray for this sickness to GO AWAY...I realize it's a bit trivial, but I just really hate feeling this way.

across the universe

On Friday night I went to the movies to watch "Across The Universe."

I am a huge Beatles fan and I was excited to see a movie full of the songs I love most. Especially after the awful day I'd had.

Well, it seems to me that they decided to make a Beatles musical just for the sake of listening to some good tunes.
The actual plot was kind of dumb and pointless. They introduced characters with no real purpose except they had prominent names, like Prudence. Oh and yes, the main character's name was Jude and the girl he falls in love with is Lucy.

After a while the movie started getting really trippy. Bono with an American accent had to take the cake. When they reached the grassy field with the random circus in the middle I decided that I loved the movie! No, it didn't make any sense, but it was amazing. They made a fan out of me. What can I say? I love the Beatles.

In all seriousness, their version of "Let it Be" was really great. I'm pretty sure Alex shed a tear or two.
:-)




P.S. I wrote this post from an iPhone! Woo! It took WAY too long...

another one bites the dust

I think I'm just gonna go ahead and say it...I'm probably the worst driver out there. Yup. it's true.
I don't know anyone else who has been involved in quite so many vehicle collisions.

I was leaving work today and on my way home...bam...there I went, right into the back of a huge Mitsubishi Montero. My car looks pretty nasty. The hood is just...all messed up. The other lady's car had some damage to the rear bumper and her right tail light...but nothing compared to my car. After much debating and going back and forth, we agreed to settle it amongst ourselves. I paid her off $750 (well...really, my mom did...I guess mommies are good for bailing you out of trouble...yeah, I feel like a loser). And we went our separate ways.

So basically I need to get my car fixed. I'm lucky if it's less than $2000. Maybe I can take it out of my wedding fund?

Yeah...

engagement party

I wasn't going to blog about our engagement party. But I had a request from Anne Marie and decided to comply.

Basically our families came over to my house, along with the members of the bridal party, and we just had a great time together. As people walked in they signed this big photo matte that Alex's mom got for us. It had an 8x10 of Alex proposing to me. I can't wait to hang it up in our new home. We all talked and took pictures until it came time to view the slideshow my mom prepared. She is TOO cute. She made a slideshow all about our lives, growing up and then dating. It was really beautiful. Lia cried. Of course.
Then we gathered around the dinner table and my dad gave a toast. I love my dad. Alex's mom, Patty, also gave a really beautiful toast. Our grandmothers each said a prayer to bless the food and our marriage and we ATE. The food was delicious. Both of our families prepared different types of food from Nicaragua and Colombia. A nice blend.
Dessert was a cake prepared by Alex's grandma and a typical Nicaraguan dessert prepared by my grandmother (it's called pio quinto). We also had a surprise birthday cake from Coldstone for my mom. She turned the big 5-0, and we thought it would be nice to sing her happy birthday and recognize her special day. She has been really great throughout this whole process of planning TWO weddings at the same time. If I were her, I would've gone crazy by now.

So that's basically it. It was a really fun night and I'm very grateful to everyone who came and helped make the party happen. I can't wait for alllll the other festivies to come...including the BIG day...06.14.08. :-)



(I posted some pictures of the party on myspace...of course...so if you're curious, you can check them out there)

It's Here!

My degree came in! FIU can't hold me back anymore...I'm free of their clutches...able to pursue bigger and better things.
:-)
Here are a couple photos I took with my lovely piece of paper. Thanks to Lauren for letting me borrow her cap and gown.

A Day At The Races!

Calder Race Course was a blast! If you've never experienced a horse race, you should certainly give it a shot. You won't regret it.
Alex and I made the trip with a couple friends of our's, Shawn and Katelyn. When we got there we were in awe at the amount of people there...mostly senior citizens. We bought a little track magazine to check out the names of the horses in all the different races. We decided to wait until the third race to place any bets...so we could get a feel for it. We found an interesting looking man standing alone and decided to ask him for tips. This was a man that knew what he was doing...he had that shifty look about him. He gave us come complicated explanations about odds and blah blah blah...but in the end he said, "Just bet on the names...if you like a name, go for it...bet your hunches...people that know all about horses are broke!"
And so we did as we were told.

The tellers (is that what they're called??? you know, the people that take your money, haha) were the best people in the whole place. We kept going back to the same two. An old man who kept scolding us for knowing nothing about races and a sweet older woman who would laugh at everything we said. At one point, Shawn pulled out his wallet to hand the man some cash, to which the man said, "NEVER pull out your wallet here! Just carry some cash in your pocket!!" Yeah...

When the third race was approaching we headed over to place our bets. I still wasn't comfortable with the whole betting deal...but Alex, at the last minute, decided to put two whooole dollars on Max Alone. And guess what? He won! Wooo!!! It was very exciting. We made sure to get right next to the track so we could see all the action up close. I think we won something like $8.50. Big money!

At this point we decided to see what else Calder Race Course had to offer. We went out back and they had the greatest BBQ for $1 I've ever seen. Chicken, corn, watermelon...all for $1! They also had some lady making wax hands for free. Katelyn had one made. Basically you stick your hand in some ice so that it can go numb (this is the painful part of the procedure) you then stick your hand in a vat of boiling wax... The result is a pretty cool (and creepy) wax hand. Ta-Da!

We bet on one more race before leaving. Alex and I lost (boo) but Shawn and Katelyn won (yay). So everybody went home a winner that day...

Basically it's the best way I've ever spent Labor Day in my entire life.

OH! And after we left Alex finally took me to Arbetter's! Yayyy! I hadn't been there in so long I almost forgot what the marvelous, greasy, cheese fries tasted like. Thanks, babe!


(click on the image above to make it larger and see it in all its glory)

In case you missed it...

This is the video we played to open the service last night...quality isn't so great, but hey, it works.

Enjoy!



To read more about the service just go to my previous blog (Puzzle Pieces). :-)

puzzle pieces

Last night's ZEAL service was absolutely great. We had a good turn out, inspiring music, and a message that really hit it home.
We are all one church and here to serve one purpose... Luke 19:10 says, 'For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.'
I am not God's first priority...neither is my job...or my fiance...or my education...or any of that. His first priority is the lost, and therefore it should be our first priority as well. We are all pieces to the big puzzle to complete this mission...
All in all, an amazing service...a real blessing.
And let me tell you, the band played the best version of "We Are One in the Spirit" ever known to man! I have to admit, that I never really liked that song. I always thought it was the cheesiest, most BLEH, Christian song I'd ever heard...but the band really surprised us all by pulling out this jazzy/funky (Maroon 5 inspired) version that I know everyone was grooving to. Kudos to you guys.


WELL, it's Labor Day! I'm ecstatic to have a day off because my life has basically been non-stop lately! Alex and I are off to the horse races! We have a good sized group going...I'm not sure which track we're going to, but I'm excited. I've decided that if there is a horse named Buttercup, I'm betting on it! I wish I had one of those huge floppy hats that the rich people where when they go to the track. That would just be the icing on the cake.