Big news from the Yoder's........

I've succumed to peer pressure and got a new blog.  Find us at:

http://sherwinrachel.wordpress.com/

I'll try to be a more faithful updater.  The theory is, if I like my new blog, I might use it more.  Quite plausible.

One of this year's resolutions is to read more.  I've come into the sad habit of starting book after book, but never finishing any of them.  Thus far, I've done better than expected, having read at least two books and currently finding myself halfway through The Awakening by Kate Chopin.  One of the fun books I've indulged in, 1001 Dumbest Things Ever Said, edited by Steven Price, left me chuckling (and breathing a sigh that other folks can say even more idiotic things than me).  Some of my favorites:

"Thanks for the poncho." - Bill Clinton, when presented with the Romanian tricolor flag during a visit to that country

"My fellow Americans, I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  We begin bombing in five minutes." - Ronald Reagan, unaware a radio microphone was on

"I am a jelly doughnut." - English translation of John F. Kennedy's "Ich bin ein berliner" line at the Berlin Wall

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, chairman of the board, IBM, 1943

"A cookie store is a bad idea.  Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." - unidentified response to Debbi Field's plan to start Mrs. Fields Cookies

"If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight." - George Gobel, television personality

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry.  I mean, I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." - Mariah Carey, singer

Newspaper Headlines

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Child's Death Ruins Couple's Holiday

Smokers Are Productive, But Death Cuts Efficiency

Illiterate? Write Today for Free Help

Never Withhold Herpes from Loved One

Stiff Opposition Expected to Casketless Funeral Plan

Iraqi Head Seeks Arms

Newspaper Classified Ads

Free puppies...part German shepherd/part dog

Free: 1 can of pork & beans with purchase of 3 Br 2Bth Home

Found: dirty white dog...looks like a rat...been out awhile...better be reward

American flag - 60 stars - pole included - $100

Free: farm kittens. Ready to eat.

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Attorney: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?

Witness: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Attorney: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

Witness: The autopsy started around 8:30pm.

Attorney: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?

Witness: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

Attorney: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

Witness: No.

Attorney: Did you check for blood pressure?

Witness: No.

Attorney: Did you check for breathing?

Witness: No.

Attorney: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?

Witness: No.

Attorney: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

Witness: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

Attorney: But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?

Witness: It is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

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Enjoy your day, and be smart about it! .....A couple of random, cute, and strange pictures I came across that made me smile; maybe you, too.

 Africa, I assume  Sherwin and Brad

Scottish tribute

  An engagement pic

Whew!  It's been an intense week, to put it lightly.  When I walked in and they handed me 500 pages of notes and said, "Where is your homework?", I knew it'd be a challenge.  We had class from 8-5:15 every day, and by Friday, I was sure my muscles had atrophied and my posterior had permanent chair marks imbedded.  Nights at the hotel, I'd study while sauntering on the treadmill at 1.2 mph simply to stay awake and MOVE.  My routine became rather monotonous: rouse at 5:30 or 6, exercise if I was lucky, class all day, dinner, study all night, and go to bed after midnight.  Missy (another girl from work) and I managed to visit the hot tub twice, Kohl's for ten minutes, and Target for five minutes to buy pencils.  The sad part was, our hotel was smack dab in the middle of a shopping center!  Anyway, it really was a good week.  The instructors were super people and oh-so-very knowledgeable.  To say I learned a lot would be an understatement, but at this point, don't ask me what I learned because I'm still trying to process it all (I'm sure you'll hear more in the weeks to come).  One snippet I remember and found amusing: You know the myth that breastfeeding women have to avoid certain foods?  Well, it's not true, and lots of people think you can't have chocolate.  But the AAP lists chocolate under their "over the counter meds" for breastfeeding women and aren't concerned unless a person consumes "over one pound of chocolate a day."  It's nice to hear that we're all in agreement that chocolate is medicine!  At the end of the week, we took a test.  I passed, so you can now call me a certified lactation specialist. :)  Whatever that means.  It basically means I have all the classroom education I need to sit for the boards, but I still need about 2000 hours (out of 2500) before I can become a registered lactation consultant.  If I don't get those 2000 hours in the next 3 years, I have to re-take all 45 classroom credits.  Needless to say, I have a feeling I'll need to endure many more classes before taking the exam.  (They're so picky!  It's 200 questions long, offered only one day a year, and you don't find out the results for 2.5 months!!!!  And you have to re-test every 10 years to maintain a license!  Thank goodness they don't do that for nurses...) 

The class was held at a pastoral center in Charleston, and I managed to take a few snapshots of the serene and peaceful exterior.  Through it all, I got the same feeling I did in my college anatomy class, being completely and overwhelmingly amazed at the mind of God in creating every little intricate detail and knowing precisely what He was doing.  Some people are disgusted by breastfeeding, perhaps even repulsed at the thought, but my mind keeps hammering on the idea that if God is God, and God knows best, and God made mommies with food for their babies, then why wouldn't I want to at least try and breastfeed? ..........Ok, I'll stop being a lactivist for now.  Have a great week!!!!