Caitlin Nicole Babcock MA-IPCR

Caitlin graduated from grad school!!! She is now officially a Master of Peace and Conflict Resolution. I am so proud of her!!

Headed to the school for pre-graduation prep ... We may have been a little late.

Robing up! But only for pictures. There was still 2.5 hours until the ceremony.

Cait's "International Peace and Conflict Resolution" cohort.

(Not a great quality pic, but you get the idea.)

This is the fourth time I've been to a Caitlin Babcock graduation and I'm still so proud of the girl!!

The Babcock family. Notice the fifth member? Yay Emily! Only 2 more weeks until she's officially a Babcock.

She did it!!!

Caitlin and her friend Maureen right after they got their official diplomas.

At the celebratory dinner afterwards. We went to a fabulous Italian restaurant and they surprised Cait with a "congratulations" strawberry and cookie plate.

 

 

 

KJV word ... Concupiscence

Two things you may not know about me ...

1) I am a King James Version girl through and through. I grew up reading the King James and it's my go-to version now. I'm not saying that I don't appreciate other versions (some of them), because I do use them sometimes, but my KJV Bible is the one that gets the most (basically all) the use.

2) I love the 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Love it! It's my favorite dictionary of all time.


Put those two together and what do you have? A Christine that understands what she's reading :) You see, as much as I love the KJV, even I have to admit that sometimes there are words that make absolutely no sense to me. For example - today I was reading in Romans 7 and I came across the word "concupiscence" ... no clue what that means! But all I have to do is take out my handy dandy (heavy!) 1828 Webster's and ta-da! Now I know what the verse says.

So, I thought I'd be helpful to all of you KJVers out there and let you know the meanings of the old English words that we don't use anymore as I come across them. Sound like a plan?


CONCUPISCENCE ...
"Lust; unlawful or irregular desire of sexual pleasure. In a more general sense, the coveting of carnal things, or an irregular appetite for worldly good; inclination for unlawful enjoyments."

(in case you were wondering - this word is in a whopping 3 verses in the Bible - Romans 7:8; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:5)

Look who's blogging!

The plan was to let the blog go, because clearly I'm terrible at it. But I kind of like to blog and I want a place I can write about life from time to time. So let's catch up, and then we'll see if anything gets posted on here ever again ...

Since I last posted ...

* I go to a new church [very interesting considering I was at the last one for 14 years, but I love the new place!]
* I got a new car [it's a 2003 Honda CRV and it's beautiful!]
* I have a new job [the daycare I worked at is closing :( Now I'm a nanny for 2 adorable little people that I LOVE. If I blog more you'll be seeing them often!]

Those are the big things ... the little things will show up in time :)

-Christine

hahaha ... Maybe I'll post 6 times this year.

Wow ... all I ever say on this blog is "sorry for not posting" or "I'll be posting more soon" or "I don't have internet access at home!!" (still don't by the way). Oh well, I guess I'll just post when I think of it and you can all read if you want when you think about it. That should work out well :)

Guess what? I'm going off sugar. Completely. At least for the next 3 months.
No candy, chocolate, desserts, cookies, etc ... but also nothing that has sugar in it (like bread and a million other things that you wouldn't expect to see sugar in).
Not fun, but necessary.
Actually ... I'm kind of looking forward to the results. I'm hoping to feel better physically, but I also have a feeling that my wonderful God will be teaching me some spiritual lessons through all of this. Like self control ... that's never been a strong point for me.

I had my coffee with cinnamon in it this morning instead of sugar. Yech! It will definitely take some getting used to.

Prayer Request

A friend of mine (she has asked to remain anonymous) has been told by her doctor that she may not live through the night. She has cancer and had stopped responding to treatments a month or so ago. I, along with her family and many of her friends, believe that this is not to be the end for her. God still has more glory to get out of her life. So, I am asking that those of you that believe that God heals would pray for the healing of this sister.

Thank you.

Memories ...

Tonight is one of those nights where you take the time to think back on your life ... all of the people and the little moments that made you into the person you are. And I have to say - although tonight that look into the past is making me rather sad and melancholy - I have had a really, really great life. Raised by both of my parents. Spent much of my time in church. Always had friends I could call on. Did well in school. But most importantly - I had a God I could always, always, always rely on. No matter what. He was always there. And He will always be there. And not just for me - for everyone that follows Him.

That was just a reminder to all of you - God is real. And He loves you.

Hey look, I'm posting on my blog!

As you can see, I am again making changes to my little corner of the internet world. Trying to put together a blog that says, "Hi, I'm Christine. Now please forget about me and focus on how wonderful my God is." Easier said than done, especially when you don't have internet access at home (this is a recurring issue for me). BUT, I am going to try to post once in a while ... really ... I am ... pinky swear ... (note the word TRY).

PAUSE

Hi everybody! Since I apparently have decided that I'm not going to be writing on here very often, none of you know that I'm at a leadership/discipleship/ministry training in the middle of the USA for the next 8 weeks (I've already been here for a week). I have SO much that I want to type out here and let all of you know about, but I've decided instead to put the blog on hold until I get home. I found that just thinking about what I wanted to share and how I wanted to share it was very distracting. And I want as few distractions as possible right now. I've dedicated and set apart these 9 weeks for the Lord and I want to keep them that way.

When I get home I will either be closing this blog or changing it all around. My life and thoughts have gone in a new direction (a wonderful new direction) and if I choose to keep this blog I'm definitely going to make it more of an extension of the new me.

I hope all of you will still be around in 8 weeks. Because if I choose to keep this blog I think it will end up being pretty inspiring. God is definitely working.

See you in 8 weeks!! :)

Allergy testing and H2O

The newest round of tests for my itchiness are allergy tests. I had the environmental test two weeks ago. They pricked me with 14 different allergens. Turns out I'm allergic to cats, tree pollen and dust mites. Now I'm in the midst of a chemical test where they put patches of the chemicals most commonly used in everyday cleaners and shampoos and stuff like that on your back and leave them there for 2-3 days. We'll see how that goes.

This morning I showed the patches to the boys I nanny. The oldest one (he's 6) was super interested and asked lots of questions. And when I told him the patches were bothering me he very sweetly offered to let me smell the cleaners in his house and he would watch to see if I sneezed. Later on he asked me if I was allergic to H2O. I said no and then he asked if there is carbon dioxide in H2O. Instead of answering him I asked him some questions of my own:
Me: "What does the H stand for?"
6-year-old: "Hydrogen."
Me: "Right. And what does the O stand for?"
6-year-old: "Oxygen."
Me: "Right. So is there carbon dioxide in water?"
6-year-old: "No, but there are two Oxygen atoms and one Hydrogen atom."
Me: "Umm ... Right."
He's too smart for me. :)

This is probably materialistic of me ...

But I want an iPad. Mostly because I want to be able to update my blog from anywhere. I have all kinds of adorable things in my head to tell you during the week, but I rarely succeed at actually getting them on my blog. So sad.

The thing is, I don't even really want an iPad. Too distracting. I need an update-bloginator. Someone should invent that.

BIG things revisited ...

A little while ago I wrote a post entitled "BIG things" about two things happening in my life that I couldn't share about yet. Well, now I can share ...

The big thing that I was excited about is the possibility that I may be going to the Philippines for a few months to help out at a Christian orphanage/boarding school called Happy Horizons Ranch. The ranch rescues street children and girls that are involved in sex trading/slavery. It would be a tough place to minister, but I've always had a call to help children and the stories of the girls that are there break my heart. Unfortunately, the door has been slightly closed (more accurately - delayed in opening), but I am still hopeful that God will open the door in His timing. Even if the door to the ranch ends up being permanently closed, I know that God will show me where He wants me to go and give me what I need to get there.

The other big thing, the one I was petrified about, is that my doctor sent me for a lot of testing because she believed that I had lymphoma. I have had intensely itchy skin for over a year and no one can figure out what is making me itch (before you say anything - it's not eczema or dry skin. Trust me.). After three blood tests, two x-rays, one CT scan and numerous doctor's visits I have been given a "clean bill of health" when it comes to cancer. No lymphoma. YAY!! Now of course we have to start a different round of tests, but that's ok. As long as we're working to figure it out.

In other, more happy news, my mom an Jay are married!! :) I'll post about that as soon as I get pictures.

But we still have God

I just attended the wake of a three-year-old little boy.

Three-years-old.

He passed away 13 days before his fourth birthday.

The casket was so tiny.

His mother was radiant and comforting others.

Why?

Because God carries us.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

BIG things ...

Two major things may be happening in my life in the near future. One I am absolutely thrilled about and one I am absolutely petrified about. I can't share beyond that yet, but I need prayer. So if you're thinking about it ... please pray for Christine and her upcoming joys and challenges.

No matter what happens (or doesn't happen) I know God is in control and I know that He will give me the strength to do whatever He asks of me. But I need to remember to trust Him and have complete faith in Him and His promise that He has plans to give me a hope and a future. Thank you in advance for your prayers - it's so comforting just to know that the body of Christ can join together in prayer, no matter where they are.

"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

~Romans 11:33-36

God's Word ...

These two portions of Scripture have really stuck out to me lately ...

Romans 8:15-18 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
(I found this verse one night when I needed the reminder that God is my Father, and then I found it again about a month later in my regular time of devotion. The last verse, "For I reckon ..." was one of my daddy's favorite scriptures)

John 15:1-10 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
(I heard a sermon on this at church on Sunday and have been thinking about it since. Can you believe we get to ABIDE in our God??)

Blog Break

I took a short little blog break because once I get on this thing I can't stop myself!! I spend hours catching up on other people's blogs and finding random blogs and just overall wasting time on-line (not all of it is wasted time, but a lot of it is). So I took a short break and made myself spend time on other things. But I'm back now, couldn't spend too much time away.

The past week or so has been pretty crazy - lots of big and little changes, many of them I either can't talk about on-line or I'm not willing/ready to share yet. One I can talk about is WEIGHT WATCHERS. That's right - I started the good ol' WW plan a little over a week ago. I'm not really that overweight, but it's enough that I'm uncomfortable (especially since I was TINY in high school) so I had started to think about losing weight, but hadn't really gotten serious. And then my bridesmaid dress (for my mom's wedding) came in ... time to lose the back fat! So I signed up and started counting points! It hasn't been too bad - I've even done two 5am workouts (Yikes!). And guess what? I've lost 2 pounds so far! Which I think it pretty good :) The only problem I'm having is that I've had the munchies lately and I haven't figured out what I can have that's not too many points. The good news is that most fruit is no points, but really - a person can only eat so much fruit!

Hope you all are doing well! (those of you that have blogs - I'm just about to check in on how you're doing) If any of you have ever been on Weight Watchers and have some tips I would love to hear them ...

WE are the children of God

Please watch this video until the end. It's AMAZING!

VERY exciting news!!

Something wonderful happened a few weeks ago that I couldn't post about until certain people were told. Well, they've all been told now and I've been given permission to post this wonderful news ...

My mama is engaged!!

Jay asked her to marry him the Sunday after Valentine's Day! Their wedding is set for mid-June, so needless to say our household conversations (and sometimes schedules) very much revolve around the wedding. Which works for me because I LOVE weddings!! :)

God is SO good and put these two together in a wonderful way! Maybe someday I'll convince my mom to be a guest blogger and share their story. But if she doesn't, just know that God is faithful and He takes GREAT care of His children.

"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. ... And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; and the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken, ... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

~Luke 21:11,25-26,28

Cold Wave in Bangladesh (January 2011)

Tropical Cyclone Vania in Vanuatu (January 2011)



Floods in Southern Africa (January 2011)

Floods and landslides in Bolivia (January 2011)

Cyclone Wilma (January 2011)

Floods in Malaysia (January 2011)

Cyclone Yasi (January 2011)

Cold Wave in Mexico (February 2011)

Cyclone Bingiza in Madagascar (February 2011)

Earthquake in New Zealand (February 2011)

Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan (March 2011)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."

~Psalm 46:1-3

Daddy's Birthday Card ...

Dear Daddy,

I miss you. A lot.

I miss your smile and your laugh and the way you lit up when you talked about Jesus.

I miss the way you always had your hands folded over your stomach.

I miss waking up to your voice telling me some nonsensical thing that could have definitely waited until my alarm went off.

I miss kissing you goodnight and I miss hearing your footsteps as you got ready for bed. They were such comforting footsteps.

I miss having someone to tell me I look pretty (you always knew when I tried extra hard, and you always went out of your way to let me know you noticed. Nothing like a daddy's love to boost a girl's self esteem.)

I miss hearing, "When I was younger a loaf of bread was a nickle."

I even miss watching Red Sox games.

I miss your preaching. You were so passionate about seeing the lost saved. And even though your face got bright red and even purple while you preached, you always gave it everything you had.

I miss knowing you were praying for me. Every morning.

I miss having you to go to with questions about Scripture. Do you know how many times I've wished I could ask you what you think God meant after I've read something in the Bible?

I almost miss helping you organize the over 20 pills you took everyday towards the end.

I miss conversations that ranged from politics to baseball to God to the past to money and back.

I miss your hugs.

I miss watching you worship Jesus.

I miss you teasing me about my multiplication tables.

I miss you teasing me in general (never thought I'd say that).

There's so much more that I miss, but the thing I miss the most is being the daughter of Robert Salliby. You were Bongo Bob turned Pastor Bob, but I mostly knew you as Daddy Bob.

I miss YOU daddy.

I can't give you your birthday kisses today, but I know that Jesus is loving on you more than I ever could. And as much as you loved me and mommy - you're having a much better birthday in Heaven. I know you are because you're with your Savior. And you can breath normally and you're not in any pain. How wonderful that must be!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I love you so much!
~Christine

xoxoxo

(this picture was taken less than a month before daddy went home to be with Jesus. I'm pretty sure it's the last picture of us.)