Interesting articles....
As I mentioned previously....see "Shame on Texas" below...
the parental rights nightmare going on in Texas has me pretty upset.
The 31 girls who were alledged to be between 14 and 17 years old has dwindled down to 8. All the others have been cleared as "adults." One 14 year old, is not, nor has been pregnant... she should be off the list soon. See more details here.
Thursday, the Third Appealate Court "ruled DFPS failed to provide, as required by Texas law, "any evidence of danger to the physical health or safety" of children on the ranch who had not reached puberty." and "The Court ruled that the state offered "legally and factually insufficient" grounds for the "extreme" measure of removing all children from the ranch, from babies to teenagers."
Texas is, of course, appealing.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Good "News"
Sometimes a little hard to find amongst the miriad of "bad news"
I did run across a couple of good reports this week.
Check out this story of a third grade boy who saved the life of a class mate.
And this one of a 16 year old boy who helped save the life of a 5 year old.
I did run across a couple of good reports this week.
Check out this story of a third grade boy who saved the life of a class mate.
And this one of a 16 year old boy who helped save the life of a 5 year old.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Our latest
Thought maybe a real update is necessary.
Today we are 20 weeks and Friday we find out who's baking! ;0)
Aliyah's Ped. Urologist has ordered another Renal Scan, Nuclear Medicine; and I will be unable (for the first time) to be in the room with her. However, Daddy will be there for that part and we will all be together again shortly after the test is completed. I will still help her through the cath and IV portion; which was releiving as Daddy may have gone ballistic and knocked out a nurse had he been the one there! :-P
After that we will have to see what Dr thinks is needed next and go from there. If he happens to mention surgery (last time I expected him to mention it...he wanted to schedule it. I never know what to expect with him) we will go for the second opinion I'd thought about as it is such a risk either way.
Other than that life is "normal"...... right?
We are looking at a vehicle situation trying to use wisdom and not only frustration. Our suburban had a big issue last week, but less than the usual $500; the Jeep still has some quirks we are sinking more $$ into; then today, we think our little commuter has alternator trouble..... **sigh**
Anyway, that's the news from the front lines. ;0)
Today we are 20 weeks and Friday we find out who's baking! ;0)
Aliyah's Ped. Urologist has ordered another Renal Scan, Nuclear Medicine; and I will be unable (for the first time) to be in the room with her. However, Daddy will be there for that part and we will all be together again shortly after the test is completed. I will still help her through the cath and IV portion; which was releiving as Daddy may have gone ballistic and knocked out a nurse had he been the one there! :-P
After that we will have to see what Dr thinks is needed next and go from there. If he happens to mention surgery (last time I expected him to mention it...he wanted to schedule it. I never know what to expect with him) we will go for the second opinion I'd thought about as it is such a risk either way.
Other than that life is "normal"...... right?
We are looking at a vehicle situation trying to use wisdom and not only frustration. Our suburban had a big issue last week, but less than the usual $500; the Jeep still has some quirks we are sinking more $$ into; then today, we think our little commuter has alternator trouble..... **sigh**
Anyway, that's the news from the front lines. ;0)
fynnny
For some reason, maybe hormones? lately many ironic things have been hilarious to me. I'd rather have that be a side effect of pregnancy than the other various moods we become stricken with. ;0)
So I was posting a comment on a friend's page and the word verification...see title, looked funny... literally.
Earlier today it was the fact that while doing one yucky thing, working with raw chicken, I have to stop, wash really well, so that I can change a really yucky diaper; after which I wash really well, and start back to the first yucky thing. And the irony had me laughimg for awhile.
Then this afternoon we received a shipment we've been expecting. There should be 5 identical boxes, but according to the shipping records only one has actually been sent. So when the 4 that "aren't sent yet" arrived and the one was MIA, I think it is funnier than Abbot and Costello!
In a way I hope this passes quickly, I'm getting tired of explaining the lastest strange occurance that has me rolling to poor hubby.
So I was posting a comment on a friend's page and the word verification...see title, looked funny... literally.
Earlier today it was the fact that while doing one yucky thing, working with raw chicken, I have to stop, wash really well, so that I can change a really yucky diaper; after which I wash really well, and start back to the first yucky thing. And the irony had me laughimg for awhile.
Then this afternoon we received a shipment we've been expecting. There should be 5 identical boxes, but according to the shipping records only one has actually been sent. So when the 4 that "aren't sent yet" arrived and the one was MIA, I think it is funnier than Abbot and Costello!
In a way I hope this passes quickly, I'm getting tired of explaining the lastest strange occurance that has me rolling to poor hubby.
Friday, May 09, 2008
gift giving
Sometimes I wonder why we give gifts to people.
Is it that we want to make them feel our love, our appreciation for them? ~or~ Is it because we feel the need to give them some thing?
That may not sound like a big difference, but in the heart of the issue, it is. Do we desire only to make our selves feel good by giving a gift or do we desire the receiver to feel good?
Now "gifts" is not my love language, so for me they carry no special meaning of being loved. For someone who does speak that love language, things are probably different.
I would rather skip the card, candy, flowers and dust collectors for awhile and do something meaningful instead.
Did you realize that this Mother's Day, somewhere, a mother will be devasted by the loss of her child? Do you know that most of the time it could be prevented with fresh water, proper nutrition, or even basic medical treatment?
I would rather know that a "gift" to me was making a bigger impact where it is needed, than cluttering my house with another thing that will sit collecting dust!
Both Food for the Poor and World Vision offer "gift" catelogs that allow such impactful gifts to be given year round. You can choose a donation that will house a family, teach a mother a trade skill so she can earn income, farm animals to provide food and income to a family and wells to provide fresh water. You can give towards something or give the whole thing yourself; and when you do it in honor of someone, say for Mother's Day or a Birthday, the person receives a card that is personalized by you and describes their gift.
How many of us need another box of chocolates? a figurine of some breakable nature and no useful purpose? or a boquet that will die days from now? How many need food? water? shelter? medicine?
Like I said, for me it is no issue not to "get something."
I know I am loved. To me, making one mother's day; the gift of a living child, or the ability to feed your child... that is what would bless my heart most.
Is it that we want to make them feel our love, our appreciation for them? ~or~ Is it because we feel the need to give them some thing?
That may not sound like a big difference, but in the heart of the issue, it is. Do we desire only to make our selves feel good by giving a gift or do we desire the receiver to feel good?
Now "gifts" is not my love language, so for me they carry no special meaning of being loved. For someone who does speak that love language, things are probably different.
I would rather skip the card, candy, flowers and dust collectors for awhile and do something meaningful instead.
Did you realize that this Mother's Day, somewhere, a mother will be devasted by the loss of her child? Do you know that most of the time it could be prevented with fresh water, proper nutrition, or even basic medical treatment?
I would rather know that a "gift" to me was making a bigger impact where it is needed, than cluttering my house with another thing that will sit collecting dust!
Both Food for the Poor and World Vision offer "gift" catelogs that allow such impactful gifts to be given year round. You can choose a donation that will house a family, teach a mother a trade skill so she can earn income, farm animals to provide food and income to a family and wells to provide fresh water. You can give towards something or give the whole thing yourself; and when you do it in honor of someone, say for Mother's Day or a Birthday, the person receives a card that is personalized by you and describes their gift.
How many of us need another box of chocolates? a figurine of some breakable nature and no useful purpose? or a boquet that will die days from now? How many need food? water? shelter? medicine?
Like I said, for me it is no issue not to "get something."
I know I am loved. To me, making one mother's day; the gift of a living child, or the ability to feed your child... that is what would bless my heart most.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Surrender.....revisited
from A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God"
"We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety. This is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed."
(italics mine)
This truely spoke to me as I read it.
Through the last 3 years the Lord has been teaching me a deeper meaning of surrender. He brought me to a place (shortly before I started blogging) where I was willing to say "have thine own way" and release my will to His, even though quite painful.
Then He blessed us with Aliyah and I have always felt keenly, that I need to let go this treasure....constantly. Treasure her and love her, but always be ready to yield her to His will for her. I often try to relate this to my other little ones, but with her it is a penetrating emotion.
We see her Pediatric Urologist tomorrow; he will be reviewing the results of her latest ultrasound. Her left kidney (the one that works) has grown "bigger" but we don't know what that means. Do they mean longer or is it more dilated? That is the all important question. Longer is ok, it has to be bigger since it is the working one. Further dilated is not so good.
I am trying to remember and practice the Rules for Contentment numbers 2 and 5 especially.
2. Never picture thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.
5. Never dwell on the morrow. Remember that it is God's, not thine. The heaviest part of sorrow often is looking forward to it. "The Lord will provide."
"God Almighty loves thee better and more wisely than thou dost thyself." ~and if that is true about myself, how much more true of my little one!
I need not think the "what if this...." "what if that..." questions. He has her in the palm of His Hand, and she couldn't be in a better spot than that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lord, I release my children to Your Will for them.... again. (and I may have to keep doing it, day by day.) I do know You have them safely in Your arms and that I can trust You with them more than I can trust me.
"We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety. This is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed."
(italics mine)
This truely spoke to me as I read it.
Through the last 3 years the Lord has been teaching me a deeper meaning of surrender. He brought me to a place (shortly before I started blogging) where I was willing to say "have thine own way" and release my will to His, even though quite painful.
Then He blessed us with Aliyah and I have always felt keenly, that I need to let go this treasure....constantly. Treasure her and love her, but always be ready to yield her to His will for her. I often try to relate this to my other little ones, but with her it is a penetrating emotion.
We see her Pediatric Urologist tomorrow; he will be reviewing the results of her latest ultrasound. Her left kidney (the one that works) has grown "bigger" but we don't know what that means. Do they mean longer or is it more dilated? That is the all important question. Longer is ok, it has to be bigger since it is the working one. Further dilated is not so good.
I am trying to remember and practice the Rules for Contentment numbers 2 and 5 especially.
2. Never picture thyself under any circumstances in which thou art not.
5. Never dwell on the morrow. Remember that it is God's, not thine. The heaviest part of sorrow often is looking forward to it. "The Lord will provide."
"God Almighty loves thee better and more wisely than thou dost thyself." ~and if that is true about myself, how much more true of my little one!
I need not think the "what if this...." "what if that..." questions. He has her in the palm of His Hand, and she couldn't be in a better spot than that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lord, I release my children to Your Will for them.... again. (and I may have to keep doing it, day by day.) I do know You have them safely in Your arms and that I can trust You with them more than I can trust me.
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