Can you edit Mark Twain?

In recent news there is a heated debate about a new version of Twain (Mark Twain that is) coming out next month. Professor Alan Gribben has edited two of Twain's most beloved works to make them less controversial. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" you will now be able to read without the words "nigger" (which has been translated to "slave") or "Injun" (which has been translated to "Indian"). This is so that the books can be more accessible for younger readers and those who would be offended by the language. It seems that this may take these books off of some public school ban lists.

Now, I understand that these words have a TON of history, emotion and controversy behind them. These books were written in a way that is true to the time they were set in. Because society has changed it is supposed to invoke history, emotion and controversy. You can't keep this book pure and the authors true meaning by getting rid of these words. I think that the people who want to censor these books from public schools because they are "offensive", should look at their own child's music library, video games, TV shows and movie collection. I am sure that many of the things you would find in any of these categories of a typical teen are far worse than a few offensive words in a classic literary work.

The argument goes beyond the works being deemed "offensive" by some. If kids can't learn from history, and past mistakes as are clearly shown in these types of books then how are they going to learn. These stories should lead towards academic discussions about how wrong society used to be, and how far we have come socially as a nation. Changing the "N word" for "slave" will not evoke the same emotion and disgust in today's reader and will overall diminish their reading experience of these great works as well as their impression of what America was like during this time period.

All literary works should be left alone, they are pictures of another world that the author has left for us. While these words are not appropriate to use in today's society. If you black out one color in a beautiful picture, the picture is ruined, and will not be the same. Just look at the first picture below.

Then compare it to this second "censored" photo.

The second photo, is clearly less than the beauty captured with the camera. And so it is with books, changing just a few words will destroy its original beauty.

Where's Max?

Where is Max?

My hubby really doesn't like pictures. He doesn't like taking them or being in them. He also rolls his eyes every time I try and take pictures of the little man or set it up that way. I really love him a ton but pictures are not his thing. However, I think he is starting to have a change of heart. He didn't protest to us purchasing a video camera for the baby and spent and afternoon shopping with me. He also SUGGESTED this picture set up and thought it would be cute, and willingly PLACED and ARRANGED the baby w/ the stuffed animals. My hubby is growing! I think he is also humoring me. Either way, I am happy he is participating in making memories and cute pics of our little man!

Family Photo's

We did a family photo shoot with the fantastic Katie McGihon when our little man was just 3 weeks old. It's hard to believe how much he has grown since then! But here are a few of my favorite shots.

Here is my sweet non-camera shy guy

Seriously, look at this guy holding his neck up, ready to explore the world!

My two amazing men. Matt is truly an amazing dad!

Kisses from mommy!

The Medina's in 2010

1st post of the new year

A new year, a fresh start.

Here is a cute pic of the little man (more to come tomorrow!)

I am so excited for this year. So many firsts for the little man, so many firsts for us as a family. So many new and exciting things ahead of us. I can't wait to see what the new year brings. Many your new year truly be bright and full of hope.

New year, New goals

So last year I made a blogging goal to post to this blog twice a month. I did REALLY GOOD! There were only a few months in the summer where I only posted once, but the point is I actually maintained this blog on a somewhat regular basis for a year! Trust me, this is a big deal for me. I alway start off strong and then completely fizzle out, but not this time. Sure there was a slump in the middle, but I blame that I being pregnant and CRAZY busy as well as just plain exhausted. Lets be realistic though, last year I set the goal super low so that I could actually make it happen. This year, I actually plan on making this blog more a part of my life. I love writing and miss it. So if that means the only writing I can do is seemingly meaningless life updates, observations and interesting facts. So be it. I mean, I just had a kid (who's adorable face will soon be all over this blog), and since I'm not doing a "baby book" this can serve to show some major life updates as well as keep some family in the loop of what is happening in my life.

Also, I don't just want this to become a "baby/mommy blog". Yes, I am in that life stage, so it can't be completely avoided, but I would like to still share some opinions and deeper thoughts as I get bolder this year.

Here are my blogging goals for this year:

• More PICTURES! I need to take more, and post more pictures on here!
• Blog at least ONCE a week! I think I can do this!
• Have several meaningful blogs where I share things of deeper meaning with my readers
• Share some of my own writing on here. (this one is really scare for me. I have been writing poems and short stories for years, but have never shared them w/ a soul).

So just a few bloggy goals. Matt and I still are working on our goals for the new year as a family, and I will post some of them when we finnish. Have a happy new year everyone!

Top movies of 2010

As I was casually flipping through the yahoo news updates, I saw something interesting and clicked it. It was the top movies of 2010, as I looked at them I was shocked. Almost ALL of them were family fun oriented. AMAZING! In a world where sex and violence is glorified, families spoke with their dollars this year. I just hope hollywood is listening!

The top 10 movies of 2010 are as follows:

#10 – The Karate Kid

#9 How To Train Your Dragon

#8 Shrek Forever After

#7 Despicable Me

#6 Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows

#5 Inception

#4 The Twilight Saga Eclipse Part 1

#3 Iron Man

#2 Alice in Wonderland

#1 Toy Story 3

Lets take a look at the break down of these films:

Number of animated films: 4

Number of films aimed at families (in my opinion): 6

Number of films rated R: 0

Number of movies rated PG-13:4

Number of movies rated PG: 5

Number of movies rated G: 1

The top grossing film of 2010 is an ANIMATED movie rated G! Also don't think that this was a small margin, Toy Story 3 beat out #2 by over 80 million! This is amazing, it goes to show that you don't have to put "crap" into movies for them to be entertaining or successful. Very encouraging news to me. I hope that they make more family friendly films in the future!

Blessed on the eve of the eve of a new year

This year I have been completely blessed.

I have the most amazing hubby in the world. (Sorry ladies he is all mine!)

I am a mommy to the sweetest boy in the world.

I have family and friends who love me.

I have a fabulous job that I love, even though I'm currently on leave.

I have a cozy apartment that is just what we need right now.

I have amazing parents who live close and allow us to do laundry each week (sometimes more days than one) at there place.

God has truly blessed me this year. I can't wait to see what he has in store for me next year.

I never post videos, but this is funny

Ok, this is hilarious, enjoy this!

Here is the link, because my formating may be off

Questions about me and Matt

What are your middle names?

Jordan and Nicole

How long have you been together?

five years come feb

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We were friends for a year

Who asked who out?

We went to disneyland as friends, and totally fell for each other.

Whose siblings do/ did you see the most?

Well we see my brother recently more often because we go to his basketball games 1-2 times a week. We also see his sister a fair amount.

Do you have any children together?

Yes, we have a new son. Max!

What about pets?

We have a outdoor kitty.

Which situations are the hardest on you as a couple?

Finances

Did you go to the same school?

Yep, we met in college

Are you from the same home town?

nope, but we are both from southern california

Who is the smartest?

My hubby

Who is the most sensitive?

Me

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Fast food

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Mexican Riviara

Who has the craziest exes?

Well considering I'm the only one who has any exes i would have to say me

Who has the worst temper?

Me.

Who does the cooking?

We both do. He cooks a fair amount because of my work schedule he makes lunch for me. But I love cooking.

Who is more social?

We are both very social

Who is the neat-freak?

Neither of us.

Who is the more stubborn?

Not me. Ok fine its me.

Who hogs the bed?

He hogs the bed, and I hog the sheets/covers

Who wakes up earlier?

Me unless he is working. But I'm usually the last out of bed.

Where was your first date?

Disneyland

Who has the bigger family?

Me

Do you get flowers often?

Hardly ever

How do you spend the holidays?

We mix it up each year,

Who is more jealous?

Neither of us

How long did it take to get serious?

Well we "officially" became a couple about 3 weeks after our first date and we got engaged a year after that.

Who eats more?

Sometimes me, sometimes him.

Who does/ did the laundry?

We both do.

Who’s better with the computer?

We both are good

Who drives when you are together?

Most of the time its him.

Please be in prayer

My old college pastor's new born son and family need your prayers!

http://lothblogs.wordpress.com/

Please go here for more information and be in prayer for this family during this time!

Thanks!

A virgin birth

The Christmas season is here. The decorations are appearing on street corners, in the malls and filling the stores. Christmas music is starting to fill the air waves in cars, stores and homes. What is the big deal about Christmas? The big deal is that a small child was born, in a dirty stable, in a insignificant town, to common parents. Here is the big deal: Mary the mother of this child was a virgin.

As Larry King said in regards to what he would ask Jesus: "I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin born, because the answer to that question would define history."

The birth of the Savior has defined history. It has changed my life, and I love remembering that at Christmas time.

My sweet boys

So my husband is amazing! He is such a fabulous daddy to our son. Seriously, he is so wonderful with our little man. He helps me out so much, and takes great care of me and the baby. I love the two men in my life. They are both amazing :)

On another note, I am currently running a fever, so I'm camped out at my mom's and she is taking care of me and the baby. My mommy rocks my world! I promise I will return to a semi regular blogging schedule soonish, but with no interwebs at our apartment it means lugging a baby out of the house.

Maximus James

Maximus James

Born 11/15/2010

7lbs 15oz

20.5 inches

Apologies for my absence. I really thought I would have been able to get to a computer sooner, but considering we have no internet at home it was a bit more challenging than I thought it would be. He is here! I am so excited that I actually get to hold this amazing bundle of joy. He is perfect, even if he keeps me up at night when I'm trying to sleep. More on him and how he made his entry into the world a bit later.

What would you like to hear about?

So I have successfully made it 1/2 the month of posting 1 blog every day! It is exciting and challenging. I wont lie, I scheduled many of the posts ahead of time so that I know that they will get posted on the right day. The reason for this is two fold. Number one, I have no clue of knowing when I will/would (see this is where the scheduling is a bit tricky) go into labor. Therefore I wanted to make sure that I would still be able to have a post a day for all of you. Number two, I don't have internet at my home. I type the post at home, and then transfer them and schedule them to blogger while I'm at work. I especially have to do this for Friday's and Saturdays because I unless I go to starbucks or my parents, there is no way that I will have access to the internet.

I have several interesting blog post planed for the rest of the month. Ok, fine, so they are interesting to me, and hopefully you will enjoy/appreciate them as well. However, I would like to know if any of my readers have something they would like me to write about in particular. You can post a comment for this post, or if you are shy (since I don't a annoynomus llowcomments due to spam) you can use my formspring on the right hand side of my blog. I am not in any way saying that I WILL write about your suggestions, I am just curious to know what my few readers would like to hear about. So please, don't be shy and give me some writing ideas that YOU would find interesting!

There is something about having an honest exchange of ideas/beliefs

Is it possible to have an open and honest exchange of beliefs without judgment from either side?

I have had this burning to work some things out with what I believe and discuss it with others who disagree to see the differences. I really do enjoy honest conversations/debates about personal feelings. However I find that many times, feelings are hurt and friendships are either ended or strained by this exchange. That isn't something I want to do.

I have no idea how to not sound judgmental when I state my beliefs that I know others are going to feel judged by. For example, I don't agree with sex before marriage. I strongly feel that way, however I know many people who do believe that. SO WHAT? I honestly don't judged them, I feel like their lives could be better if they chose to live the way I believe is best, but most of them feel the same way about me. They feel that I have "missed out" because the only man I have slept with is my husband. I feel that they have "missed out" because they don't know how amazing it is to only share that with one person forever. There is no way to compare either. There is no way to determine which way is truly better for we can only know one of these two experiences therefore there is no way to truly know which is "better".

Why is it that when I have higher standards for myself than others they feel judged? I don't judge them. I have chosen to live a certain way and honestly I LOVE it. I think it is the BEST way to live and I want to share that with you. Yet, many times people still feel as if I'm judging them or attempt to make me feel like my choices are less valid because of things I have not experienced and therefore can't have an informed opinion which means that their opinion is more valid than mine.

Do you feel judged when someone has higher standards than you?

Can you have an honest debate/exchange of ideas with someone who has vastly different views than you without feeling hurt?

Is it important or is there even a reason to exchange ideas with others?

How do you feel about this?

My Grandpa Schilling

Ryan, Grandpa, Jessica and Me

My grandpa was an amazing man. He cherished my grandmother (and you could tell). He loved his kids and grandkids unconditionally, regardless of what they got themselves into. He gave to those who needed it, he was there to support those who needed a shoulder to cry on. He was an elder in the church, a man of God. I have many wonderful memories of my grandfather. I remember when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, he had a heart attack. I remember spending countless hours in the hospital visiting him. We snuck into the ICU so that we could spend time with him. The nurses didn't seem to mind as he was always in good spirits when we left, and we were quiet and didn't disturb the other patients. Then when I was a sophomore in high school, my grandfather decided to have an experimental surgery. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and didn't want to get to the point where he couldn't recognize his family. So he choose to take a chance on a surgery that studies showed would give him another 5+ lucid years. He was the 5th person to ever have this surgery, and the 1st to have it on both sides of his brain at the same time. They basically took stem cells that they grew from another part of his body and injected them in 5 parts of his brain on each side to stimulate new growth and slow down the process of Alzheimer's. They hit a web of weak blood vessels that caused bleeding on the brain. He was in a coma for 35 days before he went to be with the Lord. I miss him. He was a very special person in my life, and I am so thankful that we grew up near enough for him to be a big part in my life. I am also thankful that I have a dad who is going to be an amazing grandfather to my son.

A reflection on the last 9 months

Today is my "due date" so I am going to take time to reflect on the last 9 months of my life, as it is all about to change.

March: I found out I was pregnant, and started to experience "morning sickness" but mine was from about 2 or 3pm until 10 or 11pm. Which was great for getting to work on time but annoying for anything I had planned after work.

April: We started to tell people we were expecting. We told our parents at easter in person because they were all together. I told my bosses at work, and a few select friends. We announced the pregnancy "officially" after I was 12 weeks, just to make sure all was well. I also received a state disability refund and found out that I didn't qualify for state paid leave because we weren't supposed to be getting that with held from our pay checks and it was too late for me to get my own short term disability leave.

May: I started really feeling tired, and exhausted, but all in all it was a good month. I started gearing up for my big summer program at work, and people in the church started to realize that I was expecting. I found out that I would have up to 12 weeks off for maternity leave, and that it would be unpaid, minus my vacation time.

June: Was a complete blur with Summer Blast and trying to sleep. God blessed me by feeling good most of the time and we started to save like crazy! We also found out we were gonna have a boy! We also got to feel our baby kicking like CRAZY.

July: Matt got a job! It's only part time on Saturday and Sunday, BUT it means that 1) we have extra money coming in to save and pay for baby stuff and 2) Matt can stay home during the week with the baby so no paying for childcare.

August: I spent all of August preparing to be gone from work for 6-12 weeks. We also started to collect all of the baby stuff we needed as well as made the official decision to cloth diaper (more on that in another post).

September: I honestly have no idea what happened to this month. I know that we got our big baby items thanks to our amazing parents, as well as started to rearrange our 1 bedroom so that it could accommodate baby stuff. It went by so fast, it was almost as if it didn't exist.

October: Was such a full month, I don't even know where to begin. My amazing MIL threw me a shower in LA so that all of my college friends could come as well as some family. Then my aunt thought it was horrible for me to not have a shower in the town I grew up in and was currently living in so she threw me one completely last minute. Also, a few ministries from the church chose to take up a love offering for Matt and I. Such a blessing as it is helping us purchase the other things we need for baby!

November: The baby is coming! I seriously have spent the entire month timing contractions, wondering when I will go into labor and hoping that it will come soon. I remember being anxious/excited for my wedding and it has been pretty much the same feeling except for the fact that I don't know WHEN. With the wedding, I had a solid count down, with this, the not knowing is killing my inner control freak.

Marriage

Marriage is one of the most challenging rewarding adventures I have embarked on in my life. To so many people marriage means so many different things. Here are somethings that it means to me:

1. Marriage is forever. Divorce is rising, people are entering into marriage without thinking or really even getting to know each other first. I personally believe that marriage is a life time commitment. There are very few loopholes in this, and even if a so called "loophole" presents itself that doesn't mean you should take it. I think that "irreconcilable differences" is a lame excuse to get out of a commitment.

2. Marriage is sacred. Marriage is something that is ordained by God. It is Biblical, and established by God. It is used as an example of love, and sacrifice. It, in it's pure form is supposed to help us understand God's relationship with us and Christ's relationship with the Church.

3. Marriage is important. Having one person to share your life with, someone who will love you unconditionally, someone who will tell you when you are wrong and support you when you fall. Someone who will check and balance you, and support you. Being in that relationship when you both know that no one is going anywhere no matter what happens. It is more than just a verbal commitment it is a spiritual becoming of one that no one can separate with a paper.

These are just some of my personal thoughts and opinions on marriage. I have more, but what are your thoughts? Comments? Questions?

Happy Veteran's Day!

To all of our Vet's, thank you for your service. To all who are currently serving, thank you for your sacrifice. We truly appreciate you and all you have done for us.

So tell me about you...

I have just spent the last few days giving you way too much personal and completely random information about myself. I hope that in a little way it helps you understand me as a person better. Now I want to know about you as my readers. Please tell my a few random things about yourself and introduce yourself to me if I don't know you. I know I have a few quiet lurkers and I would love to know who you are, so please say hi! Also to my friends, try and come up with random stuff that I don't already know about you. :D