Coaster and potholder

With these two first pieces, there's encouragement to continue crocheting. :)

Find instructions here.

Eggs masak Belanda

Find Recipe. With some modifications.

Chap Chye Mushroom

Find Recipe. With some modifications.

Kaidangku

Every baby, every mother, and every situation is so different. Some swear by EC (Elimination Communication), some swear by cloth, some by disposables - and some swear by split pants. :p Read the article on kaidangku, or China's split pants here.

Week 39: What am I waiting for? Our child, yes. But I am also waiting on the LORD, learning to trust His timing on something I earnestly desire.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD (Psalm 27:14).

On Waiting.

P.S. Hospital bags (checked!)

Jiao zi (Chinese dumplings)

Once a year's delicacy in our Trondheim's home: Husband's jiao zi (Chinese dumplings). Made from scratch, with much love and much more sweat of muscular kneading. On our 2nd marriage anniversary, and for our 2011 Chinese New Year gathering.

Find recipe here. We mixed minced pork, minced prawn, & sliced scallions.

Hjemmeundervisning

Today's encouraging news: homeschooling is legal and allowed in Norway: NHUF (Norsk hjemmeundervisningsforbund)

Week 38: To thread the footsteps of older godly homemakers, Mrs. Parunak of Pursuing Titus 2, Mrs. Anna T. of Domestic Felicity, and Patrice from Rural Revolution.

Genesis 3:16

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee (Gen. 3:16).

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world (John 16:21).

Appropriate Facebook engagement

Understanding social media, by Douglas Groothuis.

Understand the times and know what Christians should do (cf. 1 Chron. 12:32). Practice correct and appropriate Facebook involvement and engagement. One’s trusted spouse can be a savvy observer for this. :)

Excerpts:

(1) Monitor yourself for unhealthy behavior. (2) Restrict late evening and early morning for other activities. (3) Avoid narcissism and present one’s true self. (4) Pay special attention to specific Facebook friends each month. (5) Be skeptical of how others present themselves on Facebook. (6) Periodically abstain from Facebook. (7) Develop a philosophy of what a Facebook friend should mean to you. For me, this means presenting thoughtful material to as many people as possible, which includes apologetic engagement.

To be salt and light requires an understanding of culture and its effects on us all. We should be like the tribe of Issachar, “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chron. 12:32).

Facebook and related social media tend to foster the overexposure of the underdeveloped self by facilitating the mass distribution of text and images related to oneself. The problem is that one may expose a self that is not mature enough for that exposure. As the Book of Proverbs so often says, the wise hold their peace, but fools proclaim their folly. One should choose confidants carefully (see Ps. 1). Some aspects of one’s life should be concealed. There is much folly, frivolity, and triviality in social networking. Not everyone should know everything about everyone. While secrecy wrongly conceals vices or wrongdoing, confidentiality is prudent because it shields things that need to be kept out of view. Social networking makes the broad distribution of text and image virtually effortless, and many lack the discretion required to hold their peace. One Facebook post lamented that a woman’s husband had treated her harshly in a way that never happened while they were dating. This was a cry of pain, but Facebook was not the place to air it. This confidence belonged in a marital discussion, in prayer, and perhaps in a pastor or counselor’s office.

"The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?" (Eccl. 6:11; see also 5:1–2). The same is true for images. Many Facebook users recklessly post photographs of themselves in immodest and/or narcissistic poses.

What is called social media may become profoundly antisocial. Some who are immersed in social media prefer such media over face-to-face encounters. This furthers the technological problem of “the absent present”: although someone may be right next to you, she is immersed in her cell phone, Blackberry, iPod, or laptop.

Practice authentic Facebook engagement. Facebook caters to narcissism, with many people presenting flattering images of, and words about, themselves that are unreal. Therefore, we should evaluate the “presentation of self in everyday life” on Facebook.10 Does the content we post reflect our God-given nature? Are we being authentically ourselves here, or are we hyperactive and hyperconnected pretenders? God knows: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Eccl. 12:14).

Abstain from Facebook or other social media if you find yourself obsessing on it or if your interaction is bearing bad fruit in your life. One’s spouse can be a savvy observer for this. It is easy to lose track of time or not notice what so much time online is doing to one’s character. If a spouse or another trusted person is concerned about your involvement, hear them out and take stock of your situation before God. According to the Book of Proverbs, one of the qualities of a friend is their willingness to challenge the attitudes and behavior of the one he or she cares about. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Prov. 27:6).

"Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Cor. 6:12).

You have something to look forward to. - Johannes Falnes, Dept. of Physics, NTNU

I am encouraged my husband is encouraged at his place of work. :)

Sethia Putra Kurniawan: A son of the Lord's encouragement

We call his name, Seth.

In God's loving counsel and will, we lost our first two children early in their conceptions. Seth, is the evidence of God's merciful encouragement to us after the previous losses. "And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." (Gen. 4:25)

It is also our prayer for men to begin calling upon the name of the LORD again - if not in our generation, it will be in our son's generations, or if not, in his son's, God willing. Amen. "And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (Gen 4:26)

The suffix -ia in Sethia alludes to the Indonesian word 'setia' which means 'faithful'. 

"Putra" simply means "Son" in Indonesian; it is the middle name after my father's (Don Putra Gotama). :)

Week 37: To prepare well (birth plan, breathing, hospital bags), and to rely on God's grace than own preparations.

5.36pm. Birth plan (checked)

Read:
Pushing:
http://thebirthteacher.blogspot.com/2009/12/ways-to-push-during-labor.html

Breathing:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/labour/breathingtechniques/

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/patternedbreathing.htm

Breastfeeding:
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/breast-feeding.html

Preparing body for Virginal Birth:
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/perineum-massage.html
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/kegel-exercises.html

Five loaves and two fishes

We feel the fields here are so vast, but it is needful to have people who faithfully preach the true gospel. It may be hard for the Norwegian people to realise their need for God's grace, because humanly speaking, they are really good people. Please remember Norway in prayer. Scandinavian countries have the cross on their flags; let the cross be also in the hearts of the people.

There are thousands to be fed; Lord, take our five loaves and two fishes.

Head covering

I am led to wearing head covering before the child is born. God gives strong messages through this article by Brian Schwertley. I ask God that in my decision He strengthens me to submit willingly and joyfully to my husband even more.

The head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man. He [the man] is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause, ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels (from 1 Cor 11).