September, 2007
See, ladies, this is what I’m talking about! Everything comes under the gaze of God, and under the auspices of community–not just “spiritual” talk, but teaching each other, sharing what we know. Katie Mendelsohn has some incredible skills she’d like to pass on, so I’m going to make room for that here in Esther’s harem. We all have something we can pass on at the Kaffe Klatsch. So bring it on! –Love, Esther
I recently was talking with a sister (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent) who commented that she did not know how to make a pie crust. I remembered a conversation with a friend years ago about how one of her goals in life was to learn to make a pie crust by the age of 30–(she achieved it). And I began thinking about how many of us have things we’d like to learn, but don’t know how to go about doing easily. These goals don’t tend to be major things, but yearnings we have to master some skill or overcome some obstacle. It occurred to me that we could be the answer for each other’s unfulfilled wishes in this regard. I know how to make bread. I sew. I could help someone learn how to read a pattern, for example. I have taught many people how to make bread and would be willing to show more. I’ve never learned to crochet or read a knitting pattern.
Any thoughts, sisters?
Posted by Vesper on September 30th, 2007 in Musings, States of Life, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
by Amy Laura Boydston
Congratulations, Amy–you’re our first contributor! Boy, I wish I had thought of some nifty prize for that. Well, you have the distinction. Hope that’ll suffice for now. :^) What follows is an introductory article on Natural Family Planning, and why this family chose this method of birth control. I will just add that even people like me, who had very difficult hormonal problems, have actually found answers to those problems by using this method when chemical methods (like the Pill) made things *worse*. So this is very helpful even if you’re not “regular” with your cycle. Please post comments or questions below and Amy or I will do our best to point you in the right direction. Enjoy! –Vesper
I grew up as your typical and rare “good little Christian girl.” I did not have sex until I was married in November of 2003 (I was twenty-four at the time). Since I was not sexually active, had no menstrual problems, and was fairly young I had no reason to consult a gynecologist and get a prescription for birth control pills.
I really had a “fear” of sex and the gynecologist, so when the Pastor Tom from my home church (Crossroads Christian Fellowship, in Union) suggested Natural Family Planning as a method of birth control during pre-marital counseling, I was really interested; number one, because in my mind it was an excuse not to have to go to the gynecologist and number two, I was not really into the thought of taking a pill that would alter my already perfectly fine menstrual cycle (Though, I am not against birth control pills, I am against pills that kill fertilized eggs). (more…)
Posted by Vesper on September 17th, 2007 in Birth, Our Bodies, Ourselves, States of Life | 3 Comments »
Most of you know that I work with women in the childbirth field. What follows is a personal musing on the story of the Hebrew midwives who delivered Moses.
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Shiprah, by Barry Moser
From a beautiful edition of the Bible containing hundreds of his engravings
 Puah, also by Barry Moser
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Exodus 1:15-22
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiph’rah and the other Pu’ah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and are delivered before the midwife comes to them.”
So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
This story of Shiprah and Puah gave me chills and a huge revelation one night last year.
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Posted by Vesper on September 13th, 2007 in Birth, Women to Watch | 2 Comments »
*Note: Please make sure you’ve read Water With a Source, part 1 before this entry, to learn what a mikvah is. It’s essential to understanding this post.
This is an account of my mom’s mikvah when she converted to Judaism (upon marrying my stepfather):
I had one submersion experience. I was 9 months pregnant and this was a conversion experience. It was on the upper west side I think I remember a big water tank on the roof. That’s all I know.
I had to not touch the walls and I had to go completely under. (three times?)
I remember other women asking me, why are you here? Because I was pregnant, couldn’t be needing mikvah.
They smiled when I told them.
It was cool, dark.
It was one part of my conversion. I also had to confess my faith in front of the congregation and Also had to take classes.
Married women typically go to the mikvah every month several days after the end of their flow. It’s a private time, and nowadays the sheer population can help to ensure one a chance to go the mikvah incognito; not to mention how fractured we are as a society. I’m just going to take a guess, however, that in biblical times, things may have been different. I could be wrong, but allow me to daydream for a moment. (more…)
Posted by Vesper on September 3rd, 2007 in Going Deeper, Our Bodies, Ourselves, States of Life, Women to Watch | 8 Comments »
