I don't know why I didn't think of this idea on my own. I guess I'm not as spiritually-minded as I'd like to believe. A friend shared this idea on facebook yesterday and asked who would like to join her. She first heard about it while listening to a Christian radio station, so many of you may have known about it for a while now. (I'm a little slow on the up-tick sometimes.)
I've participated in fasts before but I don't think for this long and certainly never in preparation for an election. I'm looking forward to it, though, and this may be the start of a new tradition for every election year!
Since I just learned about this fast less than 24 hours ago, I haven't had a lot of time to think about what I would fast from. That's the beauty of fasting, too. It doesn't necessarily have to be food. Denying yourself of anything you want is still a powerful learning experience and a way to deepen your relationship with God. Every time you want that thing, it's a healthy reminder to reflect on His ways, His desires, His Word and not our own self-interests. A time to pray and thank Him for our many blessings.
I can't realistically fast from food anyway. I have epilepsy and not eating for long periods of time would surely send me into a convulsion. Many of you may have similar health concerns. So, what can we fast from? Well, I absolutely love sweet tea and drink it nearly every day. Even the thought of not enjoying that sweet nectar for 40 days makes me cringe. That would be so tough for me and am I really prepared for that? It sounds ridiculous, I know. It is just sweet tea for cryin' out loud!
Profile Description
- Stephanie
- I'm a mother of 3 who started blogging as a way to share our many adventures and to expand beyond the everyday "mommy world". While there IS so much more to us mommies than the title, there is very little that doesn't in some way or another lead us back to or influence our children...if anything. So, I hope you enjoy following our family's randomness, because as all moms know- you can never anticipate what tomorrow will bring! Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day! :)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Morning Madness
"Mom, I put my clothes on and see...I found underwear in my drawer and put it on me." I don't see because it's dark and my eyes and my aching body are struggling to find their function but I take his word for it. Grammar is a work in progress for a child with a speech delay but I'm thankful that we can still understand him...most of the time.
"Ok, honey. Good job." I say, only half-intelligibly.
"And look. I even have socks and shoes on my feet. See?" I don't look but feel a thud as he tries to hike his foot onto the bed and plops it in my lap.
"Ok, honey. Good job." I say, only half-intelligibly.
"And look. I even have socks and shoes on my feet. See?" I don't look but feel a thud as he tries to hike his foot onto the bed and plops it in my lap.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Lunch Legislation: Nutty or Nutritious?
A little over a week ago, the boys had parent night at school where the nutritionist spoke to us and explained the new federal, state, and local school food regulations and the ban on salt. The looks on my husband's face during that meeting were just priceless. We were sitting on the front row, too...facing the crowd (we were seated in the "cafetorium" at lunch tables) so I'm sure others saw him and (I hope) enjoyed a chuckle. When the nutritionist first mentioned that they would no longer be offering salt, Justin rolled his eyes towards me and half-jokingly whispered, "Am I still in America? I mean, did you drug me and drag me to another country in my sleep or something?" haha
I found it very telling when the nutritionist mentioned the reaction from the high school students in relation to the new salt ban. The students are now bringing their own salt shakers to school and selling them to their friends. This regulation has only resulted in creating a black market for salt! lol Further evidence of why banning guns or drugs doesn't solve anything (and I would argue makes things worse) but I digress...
On a less funny note (although the above is both funny and sad), I want the government to get out of my child's lunchbox and to quit micromanaging every aspect of our lives. I don't understand how, on the one hand, there is so much concern about kids not having food at home for dinner or over the weekends but yet we're going to place maximums on what the kids are served when they CAN eat at school?? How is this helping them??? How does that make any sense at all???
Also, having a child with Asperger's, there are some things that our son simply will NOT eat. Ever. We learned this the hard way when he was really young. He's a little guy to begin with, hardly any fat on him so continuing the "eat this or don't eat at all" plan became dangerous. Sure, we can pack a lunch for him (which we may have to resort to doing on certain days) but we are currently on reduced lunch so it will cost us more money to do that. It's really difficult to feed your kid for 40 cents or less (cost of school lunch which includes a drink)! Helping the poor? I don't think so.
Not to mention, think of all the food that is being thrown away every day at school. Food which costs more to start with because, let's face it, healthy food is more expensive. I visited my kids at lunch today and the rolls are half the size that they were last year. Seriously. Half or less. My question is, is it really better to have starving kids than to have obese kids? Ridiculous.
Oh! I almost forgot. Following the discussion on healthy eating and what sorts of foods our children would and would not be served, we finished the evening with a reminder from the PTO about our current fundraiser and with a strong plea to go out and sell...wait for it...cookie dough! Maybe next year we should sell salt. I hear it's in high demand! ;)
I found it very telling when the nutritionist mentioned the reaction from the high school students in relation to the new salt ban. The students are now bringing their own salt shakers to school and selling them to their friends. This regulation has only resulted in creating a black market for salt! lol Further evidence of why banning guns or drugs doesn't solve anything (and I would argue makes things worse) but I digress...
On a less funny note (although the above is both funny and sad), I want the government to get out of my child's lunchbox and to quit micromanaging every aspect of our lives. I don't understand how, on the one hand, there is so much concern about kids not having food at home for dinner or over the weekends but yet we're going to place maximums on what the kids are served when they CAN eat at school?? How is this helping them??? How does that make any sense at all???
Also, having a child with Asperger's, there are some things that our son simply will NOT eat. Ever. We learned this the hard way when he was really young. He's a little guy to begin with, hardly any fat on him so continuing the "eat this or don't eat at all" plan became dangerous. Sure, we can pack a lunch for him (which we may have to resort to doing on certain days) but we are currently on reduced lunch so it will cost us more money to do that. It's really difficult to feed your kid for 40 cents or less (cost of school lunch which includes a drink)! Helping the poor? I don't think so.
Not to mention, think of all the food that is being thrown away every day at school. Food which costs more to start with because, let's face it, healthy food is more expensive. I visited my kids at lunch today and the rolls are half the size that they were last year. Seriously. Half or less. My question is, is it really better to have starving kids than to have obese kids? Ridiculous.
Oh! I almost forgot. Following the discussion on healthy eating and what sorts of foods our children would and would not be served, we finished the evening with a reminder from the PTO about our current fundraiser and with a strong plea to go out and sell...wait for it...cookie dough! Maybe next year we should sell salt. I hear it's in high demand! ;)
Monday, September 17, 2012
Laughing or Lying?
I took Sadie to participate in a preschool music class demonstration at Harding today. At first she said she didn't want to go but I assured her that if she gave it a chance, she really would have a good time. Of course, I was right. ;)
Her behavior during the class really had me inwardly chuckling most of the time. She was kind of shy and clingy at first, which is not all that unusual but it did seem to take her a little longer to finally warm up to the group. She smiled the whole time, giving the instructor (who was singing nearly the entire time) looks that seemed to say, "I'm still not sure about you yet. You're singing everything you're saying. I'm not used to that and really don't know what to make of it. It's kind of creeping me out a little." lol Anytime the teacher came near her or she was the center of attention, her face turned bright red.
Once she finally warmed up to the group, everything was funny. She giggled at every song and every activity. I really savor seeing my children enjoying themselves so much. A child's laughter is so much more precious than an adult's. They have little inhibition at that age and their happiness just seems to burst from their pores, from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. I love that. I want to be more like that. Free from any worry or stress. Free to just squeal, jump up and down, and basically act like a fool without giving any thought to what other people may think of my behavior. Wouldn't that be a sight to see? How exhilarating. How liberating that must be!
Of course, not everything about childhood is commendable. For instance, Sadie told her entire class that we have a rabbit at home in a cage. She even went so far as to tell them how we have to feed it food and water every day. Yeah. We don't have a rabbit. In fact, we don't have any pets at all. A vivid imagination is a wonderful thing. Lying, on the other hand...not so much. Unfortunately, many of us grown-ups find it easier to lie than to laugh like a child. Personally, I'm gonna make a change. Wanna join me? ;)
And since it was a music class...(and I know you already have this song in your head now, right? Well, if you are anything like me, that is.) Plus, it's just a fun song and lying isn't the only change we need to make... :)
Her behavior during the class really had me inwardly chuckling most of the time. She was kind of shy and clingy at first, which is not all that unusual but it did seem to take her a little longer to finally warm up to the group. She smiled the whole time, giving the instructor (who was singing nearly the entire time) looks that seemed to say, "I'm still not sure about you yet. You're singing everything you're saying. I'm not used to that and really don't know what to make of it. It's kind of creeping me out a little." lol Anytime the teacher came near her or she was the center of attention, her face turned bright red.
Once she finally warmed up to the group, everything was funny. She giggled at every song and every activity. I really savor seeing my children enjoying themselves so much. A child's laughter is so much more precious than an adult's. They have little inhibition at that age and their happiness just seems to burst from their pores, from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes. I love that. I want to be more like that. Free from any worry or stress. Free to just squeal, jump up and down, and basically act like a fool without giving any thought to what other people may think of my behavior. Wouldn't that be a sight to see? How exhilarating. How liberating that must be!
Of course, not everything about childhood is commendable. For instance, Sadie told her entire class that we have a rabbit at home in a cage. She even went so far as to tell them how we have to feed it food and water every day. Yeah. We don't have a rabbit. In fact, we don't have any pets at all. A vivid imagination is a wonderful thing. Lying, on the other hand...not so much. Unfortunately, many of us grown-ups find it easier to lie than to laugh like a child. Personally, I'm gonna make a change. Wanna join me? ;)
And since it was a music class...(and I know you already have this song in your head now, right? Well, if you are anything like me, that is.) Plus, it's just a fun song and lying isn't the only change we need to make... :)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A Response To "Democrats Trump Republicans In Representing America"
I ran across this blog post in a forum on cafemom.com today and it really bothered me. Again, many of you may not share my political views but I hope you can at least appreciate and understand the logic behind my argument and refrain from criticizing the Republican party without just cause. By all means, criticize them when there is cause! I will and I do! But in this case...well, first read the post to the forum. Then, here is my response to it:
First of all, I'm a conservative Republican. Secondly, I'm a registered Native American with a certified degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) and I carry a CDIB card with all the rights and privileges held therein. Third, in response to "we should be examining both parties based on issues, not just the branding of the party." You just branded the Republican party as "for the white and wealthy" instead of discussing the Republican platform (aka. issues).
Fourth, the Democrats claimed during their convention that they have "led the way" on civil rights issues for 200 years. That is categorically and completely untrue. Google names like George Wallace, Bull Connor, and Albert Gore, Sr. and see what you find. Conversely, look at former president Dwight Eisenhower's record and the backbone he showed, particularly in Little Rock, to enforce segregation laws and equality for all Americans. I'm not saying Republicans are saints, but to paint them as uncaring, racist, prejudice, etc is at best misinformed, and at worst a bold-faced lie. Here is a link for further information on this issue:
First of all, I'm a conservative Republican. Secondly, I'm a registered Native American with a certified degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) and I carry a CDIB card with all the rights and privileges held therein. Third, in response to "we should be examining both parties based on issues, not just the branding of the party." You just branded the Republican party as "for the white and wealthy" instead of discussing the Republican platform (aka. issues).
Fourth, the Democrats claimed during their convention that they have "led the way" on civil rights issues for 200 years. That is categorically and completely untrue. Google names like George Wallace, Bull Connor, and Albert Gore, Sr. and see what you find. Conversely, look at former president Dwight Eisenhower's record and the backbone he showed, particularly in Little Rock, to enforce segregation laws and equality for all Americans. I'm not saying Republicans are saints, but to paint them as uncaring, racist, prejudice, etc is at best misinformed, and at worst a bold-faced lie. Here is a link for further information on this issue:
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 11th
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| http://www.planebuzz.com/20061030_WTC_nysky3.jpg |
Very few of us who were living will ever forget where we were or what we were doing when we first heard about the attacks on 9/11/01. I sure won't.
For unimportant reasons, I had just broken up with my husband (boyfriend at the time) the night before. My roommate and I didn't have cable or even get local channels at our apartment, but we did have memberships to Gold's Gym in Nashville. So the following morning we decided to go workout, clear our head of boys and work up a sweat...only that didn't happen. As we approached the double doors of the gym, we could see several people staring up at the television screens and knew that something really interesting must be going on to keep all these fitness fanatics from their exercise. Little did we know...
Monday, September 10, 2012
World Suicide Prevention Day- September 10th
Hey, everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to remind all of you that today is World Suicide Prevention Day! We would be so honored if you would take a moment tonight to light a candle for those we've lost to suicide and place it in your window where it's visible to those outside. Another GREAT way to spread the word is to write "Love" on your arm. Some people will ask why and it's the perfect opportunity to spread the word. "To Write Love on Her Arms" is also asking everyone to change their profile picture and wear orange today to get the word out. This whole week has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Week so let's keep this up all week long! Please share this news with your friends so we can finally erase the stigma! Thanks so much for your support.
If you know of someone who died by suicide, please feel free to share as much or as little as you'd like about them in the comment section. I will be moderating periodically. Thanks, again!
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| photo credit: Trine Pedersen from World Suicide Prevention Day FB page |
If you know of someone who died by suicide, please feel free to share as much or as little as you'd like about them in the comment section. I will be moderating periodically. Thanks, again!
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