I thought about starting a brand spanking new blog (why this phrase "spanking"? Is it referring to how newborn babies used to get slapped on the butt?), but it's so rare that anything have continued with me for so long that I am unwilling to abandon it just yet.
The desire to start afresh stems from a new resolve to hold a more positive attitude in life. I have no doubt the same problems in my marriage, childrearing, personal habits, etc... will continue to bubble up regularly, but I'm ready to orient myself differently in response to them.
Since I got off bed rest last year, and the family changed to a new local church for weekly services, I've gotten to know better the husband and wife pastoral team. Their way of teaching and caring for the people here as well as the home churches in China makes me hold them in high regard. In attending their parenting class and marriage counseling, my respect has risen even more. They are the first church leaders in my personal experience who actually point out via the Bible that parents should *not* hit their kids to discipline and wives' submission doesn't mean the husband has the first and final say in difficult decisions. Sad but true for my personal experience; I suspect a lot of things would have been better if they'd been the husband's and my premarital counselors. Not that our previous pastors were all so terrible... I think they just didn't understand where I was coming from and so labelled me as "rebellious" or that I think my way is superior. Wouldn't be the first time, probably won't be the last. Perhaps it's my communication style...
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