When it rains, it pours? lol

Why is that? It's like frustration hits you in one area and then it is drawn to you and gets you here and here and here. lol

I was trying to have an enjoyable day today amidst a couple of things that have been causing me emotional pain lately. I just set it all aside and focused on Kaytlin's last parade as a Princess. We had a good time at the parade. It was HOT, and after a couple of hours in the sun we were ready to get out of there.

Last night Trinity had punctured her foot while I was out, and nobody found the object that did it. Since we recently replaced our roof we figured it was a good idea to get her a tetnus shot. We don't immunize our young chidren, so she hadn't had one yet.

After the parade we planned to take Trinity to an urgent care clinic for the shot. We went to a neighboring town and I signed in and was set to pay. Then we got called back in and the nurse was so nice, she gave Trinity a piggy back ride to the room. Then the PA came in the room and I told her what happened and that we don't immunize because of an immunization injury and that I would prefer a mercury free, tetnus only shot, which they didn't have. So I want a mercury free DPT shot.
They don't have that, either. And they don't even make those, so what am I crazy or something?

Um, yes, they do make them, I can get them from our clinic, and all shots for children are supposed to be mercury free now.

Well, we don't have children's shots here.

So, if you don't have shots for children, what are planning to give to Trinity?

We aren't giving her a shot here, we don't give shots to children under 7, this isn't a regular clinic, we don't keep immunizations around. You have to go to the ER. Besides, she doesn't have an immune system and she needs immunglobulin.

If you don't give shots to children under 7, why am I here? Why are you seeing her when you know you can't give her a shot? I have 7 kids and none of them have EVER needed immunoglobulin when getting a tetnus shot. That is ridiculous.

I told them I wasn't paying for them to check her weight and height when they know they don't have shots for kids her age. I walked out and went to the reception area and told her I wasn't paying and I want there to not be a bill since they are not offering her treatment here. They DON'T offer treatment for her age and I shouldn't be charged for it. The PA comes charging down the hall YELLING "Haven't you EVER given your child shots?"

Nicole felt her being hostile from the moment I asked about mercury free shots, and that was the tip of the iceberg of her hostility.

So, we went to a different clinic in the same line in a different town, and low and behold, they had NO idea why they wouldn't give her a shot and a shot without immunoglobulin. We went in, they looked at her foot, gave her a tetnus shot (with mercury and diptheria, beggars can't be choosers), and we paid with a 20% discount. He even gave me home remedies to help the infection and some antibiotics. He wasn't happy that I don't immunize, but just mentioning we had a mercury/vaccine injured child and that we see a doctor who works with us, and he was totally understanding.

Easy! That is how it should have been at the other clinic. Her anger over my vaccine choices caused her to be hostile to me and refuse to give my child a shot so I would have to go spend more in the ER. For no reason, the same clinic line gives shots and said there was no reason for her not to do it, and that I should report her behavior.

Even the shot was mostly pleasant! I told Trinity that it would only hurt for 5 seconds, and to count, so she got poked and her eyes got big and she said "One, two, Oh, haha I was supposed to count to five!" It was over by the time she got to two, no tears!

What to do?

Have you ever been sent out to sea in a row boat with no oars and the only people to ask for advice are the people who put you there?

That is where I am.

I couldn't believe what happened last week and I prayed and sought God about what it appears to be, and it looks very much like someone is spreading lies with an agenda, I don't want to believe it of those people. I asked God "Lord, this can't really be happening, tell me that this person isn't really trying to get me out of here with lies and mistruths!" but God's immediate answer to me was:

The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my
whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. It is
good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law
of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. - Psalm
119:69-72 (KJV)

All I want to do is follow God in the most painful, heart-rending, self-esteem wrecking job He has ever asked me to do. It is more thankless and bad for the ego than parenting. I have never been involved with anything that has caused me to feel worse about myself than this job.

It is no wonder you hear people who love God who leave the church never to step foot in a church again. That is not where I am headed, but I now understand how people end up there. My world is rocked. Thankfully I have rock solid friends to keep me from losing my mind.

Clearly I am going to go through this and come out with a better understanding of God's laws, but it is still horrible to go through. And the timing with Drew's wedding just 2 weeks away was so unloving that I just can't imagine looking in their eyes for a very long time.

The Last Christian

The Last Christian, written by David Gregory of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger fame, is a fantastic book! I could not put it down.

The book is about Abby, who was raised in a jungle in Papau, New Guinea, with her missionary parents. The world had some major changes while they were there, and in that time the world was forbidden from contacting that tribe to preserve it's roots. So, Abby and her family had no contact with the outside world. Over the years her family passed away, but Abby remained until the entire tribe started getting deathly ill.

The world Abby finds when she comes out for help is fantastically changed. Nobody believes in God anymore and people have chips in their brains to be connected to the Internet and to virtual reality at any time they choose.

It is very exciting and suspenseful reading. To be honest, though, there were parts of the book that I was concerned about at a Christian. I wasn't sure what the author was trying to say about God in some of the parts toward the end. I have loved David Gregory's other books, but there was just this little concern over a part of the book. But it is a fiction book, and a great read, no doubt about that!

Summary:
After her remote village is annihilated by disease, a cryptic message from her grandfather launches Abby Caldwell into the seemingly impossible task of re-introducing the Christian faith in a late twenty first century, secular, trans-human America.

Author Bio:
David Gregory the author of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, A Day with a Perfect Stranger, The Next Level, and the coauthor of the nonfiction The Rest of the Gospel. After a ten-year business career, he returned to school to study religion and communications, earning Master's degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and the University of North Texas. A native of Texas, he now lives in the Pacific Northwest.

You can pick it up at Amazon.com.

Good grief!

We are Tim Hawkins fans, gotta love great Christian comedians! He came out with a new song spoof recently, A Whiff of Kansas (check it out), and it is about farting. The song he based it on is Dust in the Wind and he sings "Someone broke the wind." Fart songs are not my cup of tea, but I played it for Donnie and the boys.

Apparently Trinity understood the song because she now likes to inform us "Oops, I just broke the wind!"

Sonicare toothbrush for kids

Getting little kids to brush their teeth is a never ending battle for parents everywhere. I have experienced the gamut from reluctant cooperation to sitting on a screaming kid and forcing a toothbrush between their tightly clenched teeth. (not even kidding!)

The Sonicare toothbrush for kids has helped stop the screaming and hiding in our household. They like the vibrations and music, they know nothing about the added plaque removal.

The Sonicare toothbrush has an ergonomic handle and two vibration levels, low for kids age 4+ and high for kids 7+, with two different sized heads for the two age groups. The toothbrush has a timer that gradually increases in length until children are brushing for the recommended two minutes. After a length of time a little tune plays telling the child to move to a different area of the mouth, ensuring they get to all the teeth. For the kids' entertainment there is an interchangeable front panel to keep giving a fresh look to keep them interested.

The Sonicare for kids is designed to bring kids to independent tooth brushing from parents help.

Trinity and Sam have really enjoyed brushing their teeth since we have been using the new toothbrush! I'm sold!

You can buy a Sonicare For Kids at Walmart, Amazon and Target.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Sonicare and received a free Sonicare For Kids toothbrush to facilitate my review.

Did I ever tell you I used to be a cheerleader?

Well I was. I was a Benson Braves football cheerleader. But I don't take a lot of pride in that time.
We had 9 girls on the "team." Eight were cheerleaders and one was the mascot. Our coach for some reason didn't feel the need to name a captain. If she were going to be the boss at each game, that might have been fine, but she didn't attend the games, just made sure we could do each cheer well at practice.
So, each game one of us would be the "captain" that night. That left us all on the same level with no one as a clear authority. Can you imagine what our games looked like? What are the odds that the WHOLE team liked the captain that night? Not good.
So, our "team" was really split in two each game, and the behavior only served to make each game worse. The pretend captain would say what cheer we would do, and the other team would start a different cheer at LEAST once a night, just to make them mad.
By the end of the year we called OURSELVES "The B**ch Squad."

If we had a captain, we would have fallen in line with the leader, or been off the squad.

You MUST have a captain, manager, leader for a team. And the Bible says that you must respect and obey the authority placed over you, because God put them there. The only reason that a person has to legitimately rebel against that authority is if they ask you to disobey or sin against God.

Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there
is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all
respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are
unreasonable.

If our body didn't have a "head" what would happen? Would the hand do it's job and the foot it's job and the heart even do it's job? Let's say they all do what they are supposed to do, would it be for the good or the destruction of the body? If all parts are drawing off the food source, but no one regulating who gets how much food and orders a replenishing of the food, what would happen to the body? Clearly the body needs a leader, a head. Just as any team or group or business. If a team member/body part doesn't follow the lead of the head, cancer develops.

What exceptions are there to following a corrupt leader? When they ask you to disobey God, or sin, is a good reason. There are examples of this in the Bible.

Exodus 1:15-21 Pharaoh told the midwives to kill male children as they were born. They creatively disobeyed the Pharaoh out of fear of God, and God blessed them.

Acts 4:18-31 Peter and John were told not to tell people about Jesus and they told the leaders to judge for themselves whether is would be better in God's sight to obey the leaders or God. But they would not stop talking about what they had seen.

Therefore, if someone is in authority over you, you need to submit to that authority, graciously and without complaint, no matter how bad you think they are, until they ask you to disobey God. God put them in authority for a reason, and He will bring it down in His time, or change things in His time.

Stinkin' virus!

We are battling the attack of the virus's on our computers. One after another, or all at the same time, they are being disabled or just annoying pop ups with every page change.
My genious husband is fixing them as he has the time in his schedule, but they keep getting infected. (lets just say "Don't buy Norton")
So, I am not able to blog much, because that is one function I really can't do well from my phone.

Is there a definite?

At what age or time do you actually become an ADULT? Is it when you turn 18 you are suddenly, magically an adult? 21? When you are on your own supporting yourself?

I'm just wondering because what I think and what my teens have thought have never really meshed well.

Weigh in on this hot topic and let me know when you think someone can call themselves an adult.

Iron Man 2

As you know, my family is pretty much geeky to the max. If it is comic book related, we are all over it. Video games? We're there! Movies? Gotta see it!

So last night at 11:35 we loaded up the van with most of the kids and headed to the midnight showing of Iron Man 2. (and that included Trinity and Sam!)

Normally we would have waited to see it at a normal hour, but Donnie is going out of town, so we went last night.

I have mixed feelings about the movie. Loved Tony Stark and his angst, he just rocks! But the story wasn't as exciting as I was hoping for. The first part of the movie almost bored me, but soon the action made up for it, and the romance!

There were several one-liners that just cracked me up: Tony to Nick Fury "I don't want to start out on the wrong foot, should I look at the eye patch or the eye?" lol And later Nick says to Tony "I've got my EYE on you."

Sam and Trinity were too young for the movie. They couldn't keep up with the non-action parts and got bored during parts. Cody LOVED the movie and thought it was amazing. I thought it was very good, but not awesome. We will definitely buy it, but I won't be going to see it 3 times in theaters like I did for The Proposal and How to Train Your Dragon.

Look out!!!!

Nicole and I hit a garage sale today and I realized that yard saling is just not as much fun when you don't have a baby. That reminded Nicole of a little conversation between her and Trinity.

Trinity: Let's pray for mom.
Nicole: What about?
Trinity: To have a baby. I want her to have twins.
Nicole: Ok, a boy and a girl?
Trinity: You can have a boy AND a girl? Really? Cool! Lets pray for that!

She thought you could only have 2 girls or 2 boys. But that is besides the point, my daughters are not only praying for me to have a baby, they are praying for me to have TWINS!!!!

"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven." (NAS) Matthew 18:19

Shouldn't this be all over the news?

Every town, city, state should be talking about this headline in California:
Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees.

I have a different take on this than many conservatives. The screaming from most people are that these kids' freedom of speech was violated. They were being racist to not allow them to wear American shirts in America because there are Mexicans in the school on a Mexican holiday. (not that Mexico really observes it, nor is it an official holiday in the states)

The principal felt that the kids were going to beat up because it was incensing violence from the Mexican American kids. The boys obviously wore the shirts and bandannas on purpose because it is a Mexican holiday. What are the odds that 5 white boys who are friends are all going to do that one the same day on a Mexican holiday in a largely Mexican populated school? They were showing their pride. Did they do anything "wrong?" No, they are allowed to wear American flag shirts on any day. Did they try to anger the Mexicans? Probably.

Be a parent for a minute. Of COURSE you are going to be mad that your kid was sent home for wearing American clothes to an American school! But tell me this: What would you have felt should have happened if those kids were beat to a pulp over it and the principal had knows that the Mexican American kids were angry enough to do it but didn't try to protect your kids?

No, the action wasn't the logical right thing to do. No, the Mexican kids were being ridiculous. But you can't expect the principal to be able to teach the kids that they are living in America for a reason and need to have pride in that, and to realize that Cinco de Mayo is not even a real holiday in Mexico or here, it is just an excuse to get drunk! The principal also, quite logically, would not be able to protect those 5 boys from how many Mexican kids?

If you have a crowd of people, it only takes one loud idiot to turn the whole group into a raging killing machine. The bigger the group, the more stupid they become. Even if there is one smart person in the group that speaks out, they will be mobbed and shut down and inflame the group to more stupidity. It is just a fact.

So, yes, the principal violated the students free speech, but he probably saved them from a beating or death. Get over it, people, and start screaming for education for the Mexican AMERICAN kids who need to be educated on why their parents felt AMERICA was a better place to raise them. Those kids need to be punished today, and the principal needs to be supported, unless he doesn't use this as an education tool after this incident.

The scoop on Aunt Flo

I am not about the throw a Menarche Party for my daughters, but I am all about educating them on their periods. I don't want my girls to not know what is going on with their bodies or feel uncomfortable talking to me about their periods. 83% of girls are uncomfortable talking to their mom's about their periods, and therefore are often uninformed about things they should know.

Kotex understands this issue and is launching a new line of products, U by Kotex, and a new site to help answer girls' questions about their period in order to help them be comfortable as a woman and not to be embarrassed about having to buy products.

Wal-Mart is carrying this new line of products. You can learn more about the line of products, get free samples and download a daily journal application for iPhone or iTouch. There is also a quiz on myths and facts about periods, which is a great way to gauge what your daughter knows, or even what YOU may not know.

50% of girls wished they knew more about their periods, and they can find those answers at U by Kotex.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kotex and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. The opinions within this post are my own.

On Guard: Defending your faith.

I was excited to get the book On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig so that I could find good points to use when questions come up, and to learn how to use those points effectively.

Honestly, the first two chapters of this book were so intellectual that I felt incredibly stupid. I had a 3.98 in college, so I know I am not, but I think you need at least two PhD's to understand those chapters.

However, the rest of the book was much easier to understand and it is all laid out for you. Not only does the author go into detail on the points and the possible arguments to those points, but he also gives you lists and reasons, like If this is true, and this is true, then it makes sense that this is true.
I know that my husband and sons are going to enjoy this book. They love learning about apologetics and love to debate with people.

About the book:

We are currently experiencing a renaissance of interest in Christian
apologetics. Due to the virulent attacks of the New Atheists, the Internet
Infidels, and all manner of Biblical Bashers, along with a rising
anti-evangelical bias in the media, evangelical Christians are demanding
training in how to defend their Christian faith. There is a need for a
well-rounded training manual that provides the “how-tos” of defending the
Christian worldview. William Lane Craig’s new book, On Guard, intends to be that
manual.

A highly accessible, visual, and concise book loaded with
helpful figures and interesting sidebars, On Guard is a one-stop guidebook to
learn how to defend your faith. Combining the four core arguments for God’s
existence with a case for the historicity of Jesus, this readable book also
addresses difficult issues such as the problems of suffering and religious
relativism.

An interview with On Guard author William Lane Craig

Q: What is apologetics? Why do you think we’re experiencing a renewed interest in Christian apologetics?
Apologetics is the study of the defense of our faith and Scriptures. This is taken directly out of Scripture where Jesus appealed to the evidence of his miracles and fulfilled prophecy as authentication of his claims, and the Apostle Paul does the same:
“As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’ he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women (Acts 17:2-4).
In Scripture we are commanded to:
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:15).”

Q: Your works are well known in seminary and intellectual circles. What caused you to write a more readable and relatable guide on apologetics?
As I speak around the country and other parts of the world, increasingly, people have responded so positively to what I have said in lectures and debates with atheists that they, too, would like to learn some basic logical principles of reasoning and arguments for our faith. Christianity stands head and shoulders above any other world view, and you can show why with confidence.

Q: Describe how the American culture has slowly but surely become post-Christian. What can we expect as our culture continues on this path?
People in the United States still believe in God, but religious relativism has become the conventional wisdom of the day. Jesus Christ has become politically incorrect. I have seen on campuses where I speak that Christians are now labeled “immoral” because they are not open-minded, but are intolerant and bigoted.

Q: What are some of your experiences as you’ve lectured and debated in the European world, where Christian belief has become somewhat antiquated?
The sobering thing is that where Christianity has retreated, especially in Europe, false views fill this void, and people succumb to views like secularism and Islam. They then find themselves without a proper foundation to fight these ideologies.

Q: What caused you to pursue apologetics with such vigor? Why would you encourage others to consider training in apologetics?
I became a Christian at the age of 16, when I sat down behind a gal in my German class, and, well, she was the kind of person that was always so happy that it just made me sick! I was feeling particularly miserable, and so I asked her, “Sandy, what in the world are you always so happy about anyway?” And to my shock, she replied, “Well, Bill, it’s because I’m saved. I know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord!” To make a long story short, within 6 months, I committed my life to Christ. Then I felt the daunting responsibility of sharing with my family and friends the truth of Christianity. But how? That began my quest for a sound defense.

Q: How do you envision that On Guard might be used?
On Guard can easily be used by pastors in referring the book to students who want in depth answers especially when challenged by their teachers in high school or professors at the university. Youth pastors can use this book to mentor students. I also see groups like Bible studies, Sunday school classes, and home groups learning together these timeless arguments and evidence. I have even received a letter from an Australian Sunday School teacher who uses this material to teach his eight and nine year old students!

About the author: William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology. With earned doctorates in philosophy and theology, he has established a reputation as one of the most prominent Christian philosophers of our day. His publications, debates, and internet presence have made him a highly visible champion of Christian faith. His seminary textbook, Reasonable Faith, is widely considered to be the best book on Christian apologetics today. God is Good, God is Great: Why Believing in God is Reasonable and Responsible (IVP), edited by Craig and Chad Meister, was chosen as Christianity Today’s Book of the Year in the Apologetics/Evangelism category.


I received a copy of this book from The B&B Media Group in the hope that I would give my opinion on it. I was not paid for my opinion.

AAAAAA!!! My eyes!!!!

Last night Kaytlin had a guitar and choir ensemble for her college classes. It was nice, mostly enjoyable, and I will blog about that with pics and video later, but right now, I just have to blog about the horror that I/we experienced.

We found a seat in the back section because we couldn't see 4 seats together in the front, though, apparently there were some in the front row. People were coming and going the whole time, I am guessing some people were just there for the guitar part at the beginning or other instruments, and others just came a little later for the choir part. (they are not the same classes)

About the end of the flute duet a lady sat in front of me. She seemed to have some trouble with her clothing. Her pants were way too low rise and her shirts, yes, two shirts, were way too high rise. Not a good combination for anyone. But there was a hole in the back of the chairs that just happened to be situated above the pants line and below the shirt line. So all we say was her fuchsia lace thong underwear. And guess how we knew it was a thong? Yeah, we could see skin above and below the 2 1/2 wide lace. It was a LOT of skin showing. How do you not notice that? Don't you get a draft? It wasn't exactly warm in there.

I have Peter on one side of me and Donnie on the other and all I can think about is how I can protect their eyes! Not that mine were not burning! I do not ever want to see any woman's undies while she is wearing them! Seriously, she kept wiggling around in her seat and her panties were flashing at me over and over driving me insane!

Donnie and Peter, well trained in compartmentalizing, I guess, put their eyes on Kaytlin and were able to tune out the show in front of me. But I couldn't. I just kept wondering what I should do. Should I tell her? Should we move? Then people behind us would get a show. How mortifying for this gal!

Finally, I remembered that I had a jacket with me, which was on the other side of Donnie. So between songs I asked Donnie to hand it to me. I ever so delicately put it over the back of her chair and blocked out the vision. Donnie and Pete both started chuckling and thanked me, and Donnie even kissed my cheek.

Me? Couldn't get the image out of my head. It is burned into my eyeballs. If we know you are wearing a fuchsia lace thong, and that it IS a thong, you need to buy longer clothes, honey.

How do you tell someone they are having that issue? Should you tell them?