Sometimes the world just plain sucks.
I have a friend from work who's battling a recurrance of melanoma...and it is very sad. He's married with two small boys. His battle will be a long hard one, but his determination remains strong. He has a blog at the Caring Bridge site...please pay it a visit and keep them in your prayers - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stephenmcallister.
I have another friend who's battling uterine cancer. She's 30 years old. 3. 0. It blows my mind. She had to have a radical hysterectomy and still has to undergo chemo. She's facing a long battle as well, but her faith is in the Lord and she's remaining strong. She's one of those folks who I have envied for a long time...she has it all....she's gorgeous, has a great job, gorgeous husband, lots of money, vacation home...but she's one of the sweetest, most genuine people I know. Why this has happened to her, I'll never know. God must have something amazing to say through her.
Same goes with Stephen...why this would happen to such a young man (he's not yet 40) with two young boys I'll never know. I just shrug and try to make the most sense of it I can. And pray...pray a lot for them.
I pray a lot for all those affected by cancers of all kinds....Lord knows that every single person fighting that battle needs all the strength and perseverence they can get. May the Lord bless you and keep you....each one of you.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
What in the name of Pearl were they thinking!?!?!?!
I came across this article on the AP today and it just blew my mind...I am seriously scared for where our country's going to end up when the teenagers of today grow into adults.....
Massachusetts High School Faces Pregnancy Boom
A Massachusetts high school is facing a pregnancy boom with 17 girls entering summer vacation expecting babies in what some have called a pregnancy pact.
Officials at Gloucester High School in Gloucester, Mass., are investigating whether half of the teens made a pact to get pregnant during the school year, Time.com reported.
Officials said that beginning last fall a large group of girls started asking the school clinic for pregnancy tests, the site said.
"Some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were," principal Joseph Sullivan told Time.com.
The pregnancy rate at the 1,200-student school is four times higher than the previous year, and officials were shocked to learn that men in their 20s had fathered some of the babies, Time.com said.
"We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," Sullivan told Time.com.
The Gloucester baby boom is forcing this city of 30,000 to grapple with the question of providing easier access to birth control, something this largely Catholic enclave is slow to embrace, the site said.
Nurse practitioner Kim Daly administered 150 pregnancy tests to students by May, prompting her and the clinic's medical director, Dr. Brian Orr, to lobby for the prescription of contraceptives regardless of parental consent.
That move drew the ire of Mayor Carolyn Kirk, whose public outcry against the pair led to their resignations last month.
"It is very clear that the board [at Northeast Health System of Beverly, which manages the clinic] is not in favor and will not support contraception in the school," Orr told the Boston Globe. "There is an epidemic of teen pregnancy at the school."
Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and FOX News contributor, called the school's epidemic "shocking."
"But the other thing we should realize is that we are hot on the heels of [17-year-old] Jamie Lynn Spears deciding to start a family and of mass media embracing the notion and waiting with bated breath for her baby," he said.
Jamie Lynn gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday.
According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation’s teen birth rate rose in 2006 for the first time in 14 years.
Ablow said the example in Massachusetts should be heeded as a warning.
"In a world that is so technologically based, there will be predictable push-back from young people," he said. "They want to remind themselves that they are alive and human. One of the ways people do this is that they reproduce."
Personally I don't understand Ablow's last comment....they want to remind themselves they're alive? and human? Excuse me...pinch yourself or something...go ride a rollercoaster or bungee jump...why go make a baby ?!?!?!?!
Massachusetts High School Faces Pregnancy Boom
A Massachusetts high school is facing a pregnancy boom with 17 girls entering summer vacation expecting babies in what some have called a pregnancy pact.
Officials at Gloucester High School in Gloucester, Mass., are investigating whether half of the teens made a pact to get pregnant during the school year, Time.com reported.
Officials said that beginning last fall a large group of girls started asking the school clinic for pregnancy tests, the site said.
"Some girls seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were," principal Joseph Sullivan told Time.com.
The pregnancy rate at the 1,200-student school is four times higher than the previous year, and officials were shocked to learn that men in their 20s had fathered some of the babies, Time.com said.
"We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," Sullivan told Time.com.
The Gloucester baby boom is forcing this city of 30,000 to grapple with the question of providing easier access to birth control, something this largely Catholic enclave is slow to embrace, the site said.
Nurse practitioner Kim Daly administered 150 pregnancy tests to students by May, prompting her and the clinic's medical director, Dr. Brian Orr, to lobby for the prescription of contraceptives regardless of parental consent.
That move drew the ire of Mayor Carolyn Kirk, whose public outcry against the pair led to their resignations last month.
"It is very clear that the board [at Northeast Health System of Beverly, which manages the clinic] is not in favor and will not support contraception in the school," Orr told the Boston Globe. "There is an epidemic of teen pregnancy at the school."
Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist and FOX News contributor, called the school's epidemic "shocking."
"But the other thing we should realize is that we are hot on the heels of [17-year-old] Jamie Lynn Spears deciding to start a family and of mass media embracing the notion and waiting with bated breath for her baby," he said.
Jamie Lynn gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday.
According to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation’s teen birth rate rose in 2006 for the first time in 14 years.
Ablow said the example in Massachusetts should be heeded as a warning.
"In a world that is so technologically based, there will be predictable push-back from young people," he said. "They want to remind themselves that they are alive and human. One of the ways people do this is that they reproduce."
Personally I don't understand Ablow's last comment....they want to remind themselves they're alive? and human? Excuse me...pinch yourself or something...go ride a rollercoaster or bungee jump...why go make a baby ?!?!?!?!
Happy Father's Day - a bit belated
I have been trying to put this post together and it was a bit harder than the one I did for Mother's Day....not sure why.
Daddy,
Wow, what to say to the man who has been my rock and protector my whole life. You've always been the voice of reason to my emotional outbursts. The unflappable force when the storms came. I'll never know all the ways you sacrificed for us...and that's probably the way you want it. You're the strong and silent type who doesn't boast or brag...it's just what you do.
I've been reflecting back on my memories and I remember most the drives we used to take in the old Mustang. I remember that you'd let me sit in the front seat and shift gears for you. We'd be cruising along and you'd press in the clutch and tell me, "shift it now, Sis" and I'd take it from 1st to 2nd and so on.
I remember all the soccer and basketball games you attended. I remember how protective you were of me. I remember when I hurt my ankle so bad and the look in your eye. I also vividly remember the flash in your eyes when I was hurt playing basketball. I remember vowing that I never wanted to cross that side of you. I remember your only concern was whether I was okay when I had my bad car accident - and how you had to hold me back from the tongue lashing I wanted to give the stupid State Trooper when he said I was a "typically bad woman driver".
You always had the right words of advice for me. I remember going to college and you telling me that all you wanted from me was for me to do the best I could and for me to not have any regrets. Unfortunately I finished college with several...but if I didn't have any, I don't think I'd be human. Your philosophy of not having any regrets has stayed with me.
As an adult I know I've continued along a path that you set me on years ago. One that taught me respect and responsibility. You're always my sounding board and always give me the advice I need to hear and not what I want to hear. I've not always made the right choices, but I hope that I haven't made too many disappointing ones. The worst thing you could ever say to me is that you're disappointed in me. The couple of times you have said that, my heart crumbled and I would have rather been yelled at than to have endured that.
I love you, Daddy.
Your daughter,
Laura
;-)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Cool artist I discovered
I was wandering around on Etsy the other day and came across this very cool artist and I immediately feel in love with her prints. It's the Black Apple Shop and the artist is Emily and she's from Athens, Georgia!
I bought four prints from her and plan on hanging them in my hallway at home....I may put two in my bedroom....not sure just yet....I will have to see when they come in and I can see them in the house.
I bought:
Squirrel on a String
Hedgehog Friend
Button Collector
The Quiet Room
I really would recommend just wandering around Etsy to see what's out there. I have come across so many talented folks! I like to go through the "undiscovered" tab and see if I can unearth the next greatest artist. Or go through the "just sold" and see what everyone else is buying. :-)
I bought four prints from her and plan on hanging them in my hallway at home....I may put two in my bedroom....not sure just yet....I will have to see when they come in and I can see them in the house.
I bought:
Squirrel on a String
Hedgehog Friend
Button Collector
The Quiet Room
I really would recommend just wandering around Etsy to see what's out there. I have come across so many talented folks! I like to go through the "undiscovered" tab and see if I can unearth the next greatest artist. Or go through the "just sold" and see what everyone else is buying. :-)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A big huge bowl of sinful deliciousness!
I made a chocolate trifle for a dessert social we had at our church on Sunday evening. We had an auction to raise money for HOPE and a concert by our praise band and a comedian performed as well. It was a blast.
I decided on this amazing chocolate trifle that I hadn't ever made before. It was rated really high at Allrecipes.com, so I figured what the heck.
Darn it if I didn't get a picture of it...but I'm sure I'll be making this again. I used a grocery bakery made chocolate creme cake and made a pudding layer with instant chocolate pudding, sweetened condensed milk, water and homemade whipped cream. Then put a layer of strawberries and raspberries and topped it with homemade whipped cream. I then repeated for four more layers. I topped it with more strawberries, raspberries and chocolate curls. It was delicious!!! I'll make it again and post pictures...I promise!
I decided on this amazing chocolate trifle that I hadn't ever made before. It was rated really high at Allrecipes.com, so I figured what the heck.
Darn it if I didn't get a picture of it...but I'm sure I'll be making this again. I used a grocery bakery made chocolate creme cake and made a pudding layer with instant chocolate pudding, sweetened condensed milk, water and homemade whipped cream. Then put a layer of strawberries and raspberries and topped it with homemade whipped cream. I then repeated for four more layers. I topped it with more strawberries, raspberries and chocolate curls. It was delicious!!! I'll make it again and post pictures...I promise!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Overheard on bus....
Okay...so I arrive at the bus the morning and I am satisifed to say that I parked LEGALLY today...as opposed to every other day this week where I had to park ILLEGALLY. I only got a legal spot because it seems that about 30% of the people who take the bus don't work on Fridays...and I despise them for that.
I boarded the bus and was glad to see that I didn't have to sit in front of "the two cattiest women on the face of the planet" to sit in my favorite seat. They were sitting across the aisle from me instead. I have to tell you...these women are incredible in their ability to pick apart anyone and everything. It's a true talent...or curse, some might say.
So, heere are these suburban housewives in their summery skirted outfits that were purchased in the grown-up Garanimals section and their tennis shoes leafing through the most recent In Style magazine. They're talking about how this celebrity "has a horse face" and how this celebrity "doesn't even look like herself anymore" and "look at her butt!!!" I just wanted to poke the one lady sitting on the aisle and say, "listen, you're certainly not all that and a bag of chips yourself...so maybe you should just can it." BUT I didn't, I actually kept my mouth shut and kept reading my sleazy paperback.
It really reminded me of how catty I can be sometimes too....talking bad about others when I'm not that good myself...it doesn't make me look better, for sure.
Hope ya'll have a great weekend! I'm headed out from work early as we're closing down shop early and headed to a great tapas bar in town...for sangria and appetizers!!! Woot!! Sometimes I do love my job. ;-)
I boarded the bus and was glad to see that I didn't have to sit in front of "the two cattiest women on the face of the planet" to sit in my favorite seat. They were sitting across the aisle from me instead. I have to tell you...these women are incredible in their ability to pick apart anyone and everything. It's a true talent...or curse, some might say.
So, heere are these suburban housewives in their summery skirted outfits that were purchased in the grown-up Garanimals section and their tennis shoes leafing through the most recent In Style magazine. They're talking about how this celebrity "has a horse face" and how this celebrity "doesn't even look like herself anymore" and "look at her butt!!!" I just wanted to poke the one lady sitting on the aisle and say, "listen, you're certainly not all that and a bag of chips yourself...so maybe you should just can it." BUT I didn't, I actually kept my mouth shut and kept reading my sleazy paperback.
It really reminded me of how catty I can be sometimes too....talking bad about others when I'm not that good myself...it doesn't make me look better, for sure.
Hope ya'll have a great weekend! I'm headed out from work early as we're closing down shop early and headed to a great tapas bar in town...for sangria and appetizers!!! Woot!! Sometimes I do love my job. ;-)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
When is a child an adult?
Okay...sometimes people act in a way that completely befuddles me. I get morning updates from our Atlanta paper by email, and this is the title of an article in today's paper:
Woman pretended to be mom of girl who got abortion, say officials
Hmm...it got my attention, so I followed the link and read the article. You can do the same by clicking on the article name above.
I'm amazed at the article and how one woman could choose to take into her hands the fates of so many people. She affected the lives of her son, his girlfriend, their unborn child, her own, the girlfriend's parents. Perhaps it's a bit pollyanna to expect that she could have gotten together with the girl's parents and talked the situation through. But no...she takes the girl to an abortion clinic to terminate the pregnancy. I'm outraged at the behavior of the parents...I'm also outraged that the girl didn't feel like she could talk to her own parents about the situation.
What bothers me more are the comments from the readers that follow the article. One commenter says that the parental consent laws violate the rights of the potential parents. Excuse me! The potential parents in this case are 16 years old. They're children! I'm sorry, but in my mind, a 16 year old is unable to truly think through all the possible affects that a decision like this will have on their lives. The see the immediate relief that terminating pregnancy will bring, but do not foresee the sleepless nights and the pain and the lingering guilt that will come. This girl has been irrepairably damaged, physically and emotionally because someone was too selfish to think of anyone other than themselves.
I am not a fan of bigger government, personally I believe that we have too many laws governing too many things - HOWEVER, we have to protect our children. Giving a child free reign over their body is socially irresponsible. A child lacks the life experience necessary to completely understand the impact of their decision on their present and more importantly their future.
Another commenter says that "abortion is not murder, fetuses are not babies...". I can't tell you how my stomach turns over a comment like this. It makes me sad, my heart hurts for this person. Clinics will usually perform an abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at an ultrasound of a baby of that gestation and see the facial features, arms, legs, heartbeat.
I do hope that there is no relaxation of the parental notification laws, though. Children under the age of 18 years may feel like their emotionally able to handle sex - but I guarantee you that none of them are emotionally able to handle the after effects of terminating a pregnancy by themselves.
What do you guys think? Have a differing opinion? Let me hear it!
Woman pretended to be mom of girl who got abortion, say officials
Hmm...it got my attention, so I followed the link and read the article. You can do the same by clicking on the article name above.
I'm amazed at the article and how one woman could choose to take into her hands the fates of so many people. She affected the lives of her son, his girlfriend, their unborn child, her own, the girlfriend's parents. Perhaps it's a bit pollyanna to expect that she could have gotten together with the girl's parents and talked the situation through. But no...she takes the girl to an abortion clinic to terminate the pregnancy. I'm outraged at the behavior of the parents...I'm also outraged that the girl didn't feel like she could talk to her own parents about the situation.
What bothers me more are the comments from the readers that follow the article. One commenter says that the parental consent laws violate the rights of the potential parents. Excuse me! The potential parents in this case are 16 years old. They're children! I'm sorry, but in my mind, a 16 year old is unable to truly think through all the possible affects that a decision like this will have on their lives. The see the immediate relief that terminating pregnancy will bring, but do not foresee the sleepless nights and the pain and the lingering guilt that will come. This girl has been irrepairably damaged, physically and emotionally because someone was too selfish to think of anyone other than themselves.
I am not a fan of bigger government, personally I believe that we have too many laws governing too many things - HOWEVER, we have to protect our children. Giving a child free reign over their body is socially irresponsible. A child lacks the life experience necessary to completely understand the impact of their decision on their present and more importantly their future.
Another commenter says that "abortion is not murder, fetuses are not babies...". I can't tell you how my stomach turns over a comment like this. It makes me sad, my heart hurts for this person. Clinics will usually perform an abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at an ultrasound of a baby of that gestation and see the facial features, arms, legs, heartbeat.
I do hope that there is no relaxation of the parental notification laws, though. Children under the age of 18 years may feel like their emotionally able to handle sex - but I guarantee you that none of them are emotionally able to handle the after effects of terminating a pregnancy by themselves.
What do you guys think? Have a differing opinion? Let me hear it!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ritchie Miller's Walk Across Georgia
Guys, I just have to post yesterday and today's vlog postings from my Pastor, Ritchie Miller. You'll see a crazy dude in the background, Dusty Beach, he's our Executive Pastor...and one crazy son of a gun. He used to be in a Christian rock band...that should say it all!
You can certianly tell they're operating on little sleep and getting a bit punchdrunk. Do keep them in your prayers, though - they're battling sore bodies and badly blistered feet.
If you feel led to donate, or would like to find out more about HOPE, please follow this link: www.avalonhope.net/donate.html
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Tuesday, June 10
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Wednesday, June 11
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And boy do we love those Notary Republics! All of you! You're awesome!
You can certianly tell they're operating on little sleep and getting a bit punchdrunk. Do keep them in your prayers, though - they're battling sore bodies and badly blistered feet.
If you feel led to donate, or would like to find out more about HOPE, please follow this link: www.avalonhope.net/donate.html
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Tuesday, June 10
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Wednesday, June 11
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And boy do we love those Notary Republics! All of you! You're awesome!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday's Ramblings...
Well, it's Tuesday....the day after Monday....a Monday where we set a record high for Atlanta....a record high of 98-unfrickinbelievable-degrees. It felt every bit of it too. It's pretty bad when you come home from work, no one's in the house doing anything to generate heat, all the curtains are drawn, and the air conditioner is running full blast and the temperature gauge inside the house says 79 degrees AND you have it set at 75 degrees!!!!! God help us all - it's not August after all!!! Give us something to look forward to.....
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Day two of the Ritchie Miller Walk Across Georgia ended with the following vlog post from Ritchie, Dusty and Brent. Standard hilarity ensues
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I'm fighting off allergies or some other kind of crap. I think it's the smog that's generated from the "low air quality conditions" that surround the Atlanta area. Ugh...
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Okay...what the heck is up with gas prices? Seriously! Shooter paid $4/gal last night. It makes me very sad and angry at the same time. I heard a news report too that said that the current price of a barrel of oil truly translates to about $4.50 per gal - they said by the end of the week we might be seeing those prices....guess I'll go ahead and fill up my car too.
I did a cursory glance at BP and Exxon and here's what I found:
BP Oil Company
BP's first quarter replacement cost profit was $6,588 MILLION compared with $4,444 MILLION a year ago. PEOPLE THIS IS AN INCREASE IN PROFIT OF 48%!!!!!!!
Exxon
Record first quarter net income was $10,890 MILLION, up 17% from the first quarter of 2007. Geez, that's SURPRISING!!
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I'm sure you've all seen the "trunk monkey" commercials, but I saw one the other day I hadn't seen before...so enjoy!
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Day two of the Ritchie Miller Walk Across Georgia ended with the following vlog post from Ritchie, Dusty and Brent. Standard hilarity ensues
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I'm fighting off allergies or some other kind of crap. I think it's the smog that's generated from the "low air quality conditions" that surround the Atlanta area. Ugh...
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Okay...what the heck is up with gas prices? Seriously! Shooter paid $4/gal last night. It makes me very sad and angry at the same time. I heard a news report too that said that the current price of a barrel of oil truly translates to about $4.50 per gal - they said by the end of the week we might be seeing those prices....guess I'll go ahead and fill up my car too.
I did a cursory glance at BP and Exxon and here's what I found:
BP Oil Company
BP's first quarter replacement cost profit was $6,588 MILLION compared with $4,444 MILLION a year ago. PEOPLE THIS IS AN INCREASE IN PROFIT OF 48%!!!!!!!
Exxon
Record first quarter net income was $10,890 MILLION, up 17% from the first quarter of 2007. Geez, that's SURPRISING!!
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I'm sure you've all seen the "trunk monkey" commercials, but I saw one the other day I hadn't seen before...so enjoy!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Coolest Pastor on Earth
I have to tell you guys about my Pastor....Pastor Ritchie Miller. Besides the fact that he's not your "typical" pastoral type, he's just plain cool. He has a desire to reach out to folks who aren't your typical church-going type. He's actually driven to be a whole lot like Christ...is the best way. The way I see it, if Christ were on Earth today, he wouldn't be hanging out in the churches and cathedrals and such. He'd be hanging out in the bars and tattoo parlors and clubs trying to reach the people who really need to hear him. That's what Pastor Ritchie's goal is. I don't know that he really hangs in the bars, tattoo parlors and clubs - but I know that some of his congregation does. I know Pastor Ritchie has a deep calling to take light into the darkness and show the world that all Christians aren't the righteous, holier-than-thou Christians they think we are.
Friday morning, Pastor Ritchie was interviewed on The Giant Show on Project 9-6-1 here in Atlanta. Tomorrow, Pastor Ritchie will embark on a weeklong walk across Georgia...from South Carolina to Florida. He's raising money for his H.O.P.E ministry. It was an awesome interview and while he didn't "preach" to the guys on the show, he made a point. I have tried for days to figure out how to link to Ritchie's interview but I just can't make it happen.
Regardless, here's the first post from Pastor Ritchie's excursion across Georgia - hope ya'll enjoy - he's a riot.
Friday morning, Pastor Ritchie was interviewed on The Giant Show on Project 9-6-1 here in Atlanta. Tomorrow, Pastor Ritchie will embark on a weeklong walk across Georgia...from South Carolina to Florida. He's raising money for his H.O.P.E ministry. It was an awesome interview and while he didn't "preach" to the guys on the show, he made a point. I have tried for days to figure out how to link to Ritchie's interview but I just can't make it happen.
Regardless, here's the first post from Pastor Ritchie's excursion across Georgia - hope ya'll enjoy - he's a riot.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Isn't it Friday, yet?
This is what happens when bad things happen to good people.....bad things like your company makes you wear flippers and a mask and run with a glass of water on your head.+++++++++++++++
Yo, Yo! It's LoLo, ya'll!
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I just have to say that I have the coolest and bestest blog readers (and commenters) on the whole planet!
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In case you didn't know...when life's good, it's REAL good. Like, I won't have to wear flippers and a mask fully clothed any time soon kinda good.
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Oh, and isn't life awesome when you find the perfect shade of eyeshadow? I went to Ulta yesterday with my fabulous friend Di and bought two new eyeshadows and two new eyeliners (because they were buy 2 get 2 free). :-D I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new purple shade, it's called Wildflower and it makes my eyes look so so green! I also got an eyeliner called Raisin and I love it too. They make the best stuff!
Happy Thursday everyone!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
And now for something completely different.....
I have realized that I have a side of me that has the sense of humor of a 13 yr old boy. After realizing that I'm not the only one with this affliction - For A Different Kind of Girl has named her inner 13 yr old boy Seth - so I got in touch with mine and found out his name is Kevin. He has a rude sense of humor and enjoys burps, farts, and generally off color humor. The sensible 35 yr old lady side of me detests Kevin. She finds him rude and socially unacceptable. Perhaps their struggle is the root of my anxiety? Ha!
Regardless, they coexist. My husband actually like's Kevin...they watched Transformers this weekend and LOVED it. When Kevin takes over we have burping contests. It's a male bonding thing I guess. ;-)
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For those of you who pray, I need you to keep my family in your prayers. My oldest cousin's family is under crisis and her ex-husband is set on killing her emotionally - and physically if he could get away with it. He's using their son with no regard for his emotional health. Please pray that God will keep them all safe and that He will deal with the evil that has taken over the ex-husband.
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I planted more flowers in my garden over the weekend. Shooter helped me dig out the area around our mailbox and I added some good topsoil to it and then planted some really pretty daylillies around. I can't wait for them to get good and settled and start flowering. It's going to be really pretty. I also added some more flowers to the big bed in front of the house, mostly annuals - which I know I said I wasn't going to do but I couldn't help myself! I hope to get pictures soon!
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Well, I think I'll take Christine's advice and go burp the alphabet...it'll definitely make me feel better! ;-)
Regardless, they coexist. My husband actually like's Kevin...they watched Transformers this weekend and LOVED it. When Kevin takes over we have burping contests. It's a male bonding thing I guess. ;-)
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For those of you who pray, I need you to keep my family in your prayers. My oldest cousin's family is under crisis and her ex-husband is set on killing her emotionally - and physically if he could get away with it. He's using their son with no regard for his emotional health. Please pray that God will keep them all safe and that He will deal with the evil that has taken over the ex-husband.
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I planted more flowers in my garden over the weekend. Shooter helped me dig out the area around our mailbox and I added some good topsoil to it and then planted some really pretty daylillies around. I can't wait for them to get good and settled and start flowering. It's going to be really pretty. I also added some more flowers to the big bed in front of the house, mostly annuals - which I know I said I wasn't going to do but I couldn't help myself! I hope to get pictures soon!
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Well, I think I'll take Christine's advice and go burp the alphabet...it'll definitely make me feel better! ;-)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Seasons change...
I have been suffering through a very difficult season of life. The last few years have been very hard on me and Shooter and about 8-9 months ago I began to see light at the end of the tunnel. I realized that how I was feeling wasn't "normal" and I needed to do something about it. We had moved away from good friends, I had resisted finding another church, I hadn't made any new friends, I would lay on the couch most all weekend, I would fall asleep on the couch most every night, I could hardly get myself out of bed in the morning, I was in a bleak and dark place. I made the decision that I needed to go and talk to someone about what was going on with me. Turns out that my counselor and my doctor both told me that I had every classic symptom of depression and anxiety. I was put on a miracle drug that almost immediately began to pull me out of the dark hole that I was in. I felt like myself again. I started finding churches to drag us to. I started reaching out to friends. I began to take control of my life again.
Things were going so well that I almost forgot about the dark demon that lay unconscious beneath the medication. I did a good job until about 9 weeks ago. The demon seemed to awaken, come out of it's hibernation. I felt myself slipping again. The world graying out ever so slightly. The tiredness was creeping back in and so was the lack of interest. The highs and lows more pronounced than they used to be. It was very scary.
My doctor suggested that I switch my medication to something else. A much stronger drug and one that my counselor said will either work wonders or will make things worse. Well...guess what....I fell into the category of the latter. The depression was at first under control, but now it's not. The anxiety came back with a vengence and was once again my constant companion. I begged my doctor to please put me back on my other medication but he insisted that he needed to see me for an office visit. Which I could not get for another week.
I came home on one Monday night and just lost it. Shooter has been so good to me and he had cleaned up in the house and swept the floors and hauled out the old carpet and sealed the tile floors and done so much work since he got home and all I could see was what he hadn't done. I lose control of my anger when the anxiety takes hold and I was so angry at him. The next minute I had dissolved in tears knowing that how I felt was not right, but not knowing how to make it better.
I got a tattoo on my wrist that is the word HOPE written in Hebrew. It's there to remind me that I have hope that this demon can be defeated. I sometimes forget that it can be defeated. I guess all I really need to do is tilt my head to heaven and take in His glory. Trust that He'll guide me through and fill me with what I need to sustain me. It's hard, but others have suffered through worse.
I visited Angie Smith's blog, Bring the Rain, a while back and once again felt like she was speaking directly to me. Her post called Tilted really spoke to me. I understand her battle with God. How her frustration and anger and sadness causes her to scream out to God. I've been there, I've screamed at him too. I've questioned why. We all probably have at one time or another. I don't dare make it sound like I know the anger and frustration that she's dealing with - I don't know what it's like to lose a baby - but I know a little about struggling to get through each day and not knowing where your strength will come from.
Thankfully, now, I'm on a stronger dosage of medication and am feeling much better. Getting out of a routine takes a toll on me - it takes me twice as long to get back into the swing of things as it used to. It's just hard for me to not be hard on myself and wonder why I can't just pick myself up and get on with it.
Yesterday, our pastor began a new series called The Walk. He's starting a walk across Georgia next Sunday to raise awareness for his ministry called H.O.P.E. This series is in conjunction with that walk. One of his verses smacked me on the forehead, and I'll leave you with this:
Jeremiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Things were going so well that I almost forgot about the dark demon that lay unconscious beneath the medication. I did a good job until about 9 weeks ago. The demon seemed to awaken, come out of it's hibernation. I felt myself slipping again. The world graying out ever so slightly. The tiredness was creeping back in and so was the lack of interest. The highs and lows more pronounced than they used to be. It was very scary.
My doctor suggested that I switch my medication to something else. A much stronger drug and one that my counselor said will either work wonders or will make things worse. Well...guess what....I fell into the category of the latter. The depression was at first under control, but now it's not. The anxiety came back with a vengence and was once again my constant companion. I begged my doctor to please put me back on my other medication but he insisted that he needed to see me for an office visit. Which I could not get for another week.
I came home on one Monday night and just lost it. Shooter has been so good to me and he had cleaned up in the house and swept the floors and hauled out the old carpet and sealed the tile floors and done so much work since he got home and all I could see was what he hadn't done. I lose control of my anger when the anxiety takes hold and I was so angry at him. The next minute I had dissolved in tears knowing that how I felt was not right, but not knowing how to make it better.
I got a tattoo on my wrist that is the word HOPE written in Hebrew. It's there to remind me that I have hope that this demon can be defeated. I sometimes forget that it can be defeated. I guess all I really need to do is tilt my head to heaven and take in His glory. Trust that He'll guide me through and fill me with what I need to sustain me. It's hard, but others have suffered through worse.
I visited Angie Smith's blog, Bring the Rain, a while back and once again felt like she was speaking directly to me. Her post called Tilted really spoke to me. I understand her battle with God. How her frustration and anger and sadness causes her to scream out to God. I've been there, I've screamed at him too. I've questioned why. We all probably have at one time or another. I don't dare make it sound like I know the anger and frustration that she's dealing with - I don't know what it's like to lose a baby - but I know a little about struggling to get through each day and not knowing where your strength will come from.
Thankfully, now, I'm on a stronger dosage of medication and am feeling much better. Getting out of a routine takes a toll on me - it takes me twice as long to get back into the swing of things as it used to. It's just hard for me to not be hard on myself and wonder why I can't just pick myself up and get on with it.
Yesterday, our pastor began a new series called The Walk. He's starting a walk across Georgia next Sunday to raise awareness for his ministry called H.O.P.E. This series is in conjunction with that walk. One of his verses smacked me on the forehead, and I'll leave you with this:
Jeremiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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