jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: The Sinister Subtext of Pragmatic Sins
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-sinister-subtext-of-pragmatic-sins.html
The Sinister Subtext of Pragmatic Sins. I'm glad I have a conscience. Really, I am. It's just that sometimes.it hurts me. Sometimes I'd like the gut punch to be just a wee bit softer. Or quieter. Or set to music. Or maybe dipped in chocolate. Yes! A chocolate-covered gut punch. It could still be a solid hit, but at least I'd get to taste chocolate before I tasted blood. Anyway, I was looking at the wide eyes of said child, and he was looking at the wide mouth of his mother, and I knew, knew. How hard it ...
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: November 2014
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html
The High Cost of Low Aim. I didn't want to write this blog. I like pretending unpleasant topics don't exist. Humming with my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears is much more fun than seeing something that is wrong or saying something that might make people mad. But I have professed faith in Christ, and that comes with some obligations, one of which is to speak the truth in love. Your whole existence will become framed in terms of finding out more about this great Savior, Lover, and Friend, and you will...
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: For My Kids: A Glimpse of What You're Made Of
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2015/03/for-my-kids-glimpse-of-what-youre-made.html
For My Kids: A Glimpse of What You're Made Of. This blog is primarily for my children, although my husband's parents, Mom and Dad Birmingham, will rightfully enjoy it as well;). Kids, here is what you need to know. I love you turkeys! I know you might get tired of my constant "pep talks" about working with excellence,. And being diligent,. And choosing kindness,. And why we change our socks. The truth is that in order to be ready for that good work, you will need to put in some effort on the front end.
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: April 2015
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html
Whatever Happened to Fun Mom? It occurred to me on our recent drive back from vacation in Florida that there's nothing quite like 22 hours in the van to stimulate one's thoughts. My kids are to the ages now where I am not spending half the trip picking up sippy cups, stuffed animals, and fruit snacks as fast as they can drop them. My torso is no longer twisted backwards and wedged between the front seats for hundreds of miles at a time. Don't worry. I won't burden you with all. This became clear several ...
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: February 2015
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2015_02_01_archive.html
50 Shades of Grey, or 500 Shades of Gratitude? Despite being warned by a vast and articulate army of bloggers, editorial writers, social commentators, and real-life victims about the destructive and abusive content of the new "50 Shades of Grey" movie, it posted the second strongest February opening ever. Last weekend- next to Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ". First, may I point out that there is a sort of dreadful irony about this fact? Do his tactics ever change? When God says, "Love is patient,".
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: Letter to My Daughters
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2014/10/letter-to-my-daughters.html
Letter to My Daughters. I bet you didn't know that I was praying for you when I went into the Mobil station to pay for our gas that Friday night. You stayed in the car with your friends and I could see your laughing faces through the windshield as I walked in. I prayed with thankfulness that you still like to spend weekends with me. I praised God that you have friends who would think it fun to attend a college symphony concert and friends who think it fun to play in one. And I wanted to cry. Eah it's pre...
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: January 2015
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2015_01_01_archive.html
The Wide Mercy of Narrow Focus. Somewhere around mid-September, Jude (age 7) finally started coming to terms with the hibernation of all the frogs on our property. It was like watching someone give up chocolate. Or cigarettes. He brought out his plastic frog collection and set them up and stared at them, moved them around and stared at them again. He read books about frogs. He made frogs from Play-doh, and beamed when I drew frog eyes on his waffles with syrup. Then he asked me to draw frogs on paper.
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: Ode to Jude
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2015/05/ode-to-jude.html
Today Jude celebrated his eighth birthday. As usual I was thrilled and sad at the same time. I want my babies to live and thrive and grow. And I also want them to be tiny and chubby and sticky forever. It is the lot of all mothers everywhere. So I was flipping through some of my "Jude stuff" tonight- drawings, mementos, pictures, etc. and came across an entry I wrote three years ago. It reads:. Some of my favorite things-. The way he pushes his upper lip out into a 'V', like a tiny turtle. She appears to...
jdbirmingham.blogspot.com
The Birmingham Buzz: On Chaos and Cleaning
http://jdbirmingham.blogspot.com/2011/06/on-chaos-and-cleaning.html
On Chaos and Cleaning. I am taking a day off school to organize my house a little. Jamey threatened to burn it down if I don't reduce the piles of junk that are covering every flat surface in here. Where does it all come from? I submitted a video application to Hoarders in the hope that someone would come and tell me where to start. Who even looks under the couch? As for toys under the couch, since that is where they end up all the time, why not just have the kids put them there on purpose? As in, "See h...
