Frustrated Doesn't Even Cover It

Monday afternoon might be one of the most terrifying days on record for me ~ EVER.  [Now I am slightly overdramatic and tend to not handle a crisis very well.  However, this was not the case on Monday afternoon - I promise.]

I was trimming a bush in the front yard. I was almost finished when, out of nowhere, a wasp [which I at first thought was a hornet] stung me, through my shirt, on the right arm.  I immediately screamed, ran into the house, grabbed an ice pack, and walked to the carport.  About the same time I walked outside Molly pulled into the drive way.  She got out of the car and I started to tell her about the wasp sting then it happened.  From the top of my head all the way to my feet I began to feel a sensation like my body was on fire.  My heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my arms and stomach.  I started getting queasy and I told Molly that I felt like I couldn't breathe and to call her daddy.  I felt myself sliding down the side of my car and I told her that she was going to have to take me to the hospital...I thought I was dying. 

Calmly [and I am still amazed at her poise and demeanor - she never even flinched] she got in her car, talked to her daddy, and drove me to the hospital.  By the time we got to the hospital [which is probably right at 1.5 miles from my house] my entire body was swollen like a big red blob.  I walked straight to the front desk and told the woman what happened.  By this time, I could barely open my eyes and my body was itching so bad [in places I didn't realize could itch] that I couldn't scratch hard enough.  I was immediately taken to the back [thank you God], given an IV, and shot full of Benedryl, Pepcid AC [which enhances the effects of Benedryl - nice little nugget of information], and some sort of steroid.  Immediately [as in the medicine was flowing from the syringe into my vain] I could feel the itching and swelling stop.  It was like a miracle took place right there in my body.  What an absolute relief to feel like I wasn't going to die.

Turns out, I wasn't quite out of the woods with the whole allergic reaction.  About 30 minutes into the ordeal at the hosptial I started to itch and the hives were back.  Again, more Benedryl came my way but the itching would not stop.  Apparently my blood pressure was also doing crazy things [like dropping really low] and my oxygen saturation level was in the low 90s [which is not a good thing I hear].  Finally, after two rounds of Benedryl via IV the nurse gave me a shot in the rear [and it hurt so bad] and the hives were finally conquered.  Four and half hours after the wasp stung me I was finally able to leave the hospital armed with steroids and Epi Pens and strict instructions to continue with the Benedryl, follow up with my own doctor, and see an allergy specialist.

Fast forward to today when I called the doctor's office that I have been a patient at for almost 12 years.  I wasn't expecting an appointment today but just some time over the next few days.  I was told, immediately, that my appointment would be considered a follow up and not an acute visit.  My response? [I knew you would want to know!]  "Ummmm...doesn't almost dying in the front yard constitute an acute status?" Her reply?  "Well let me call to the back and ask."  Hello?  Are you serious?  You have to ask if anaphylactic shock is an "acute" illness? Her response after asking?  "Well it looks like we'll have to schedule that appointment for September 18 and the next thing she has is later in October.  That is the best I can do for a follow up." [At this point I am fairly certain I laughed, OUT LOUD, into the phone.]  "So you mean to tell me that I had an extremely serious allergic reaction, was then told that I could die if it happened again, and then told to follow up, IMMEDIATELY with my primary care doctor to make sure I am OK, and you can't see me till October? Is this some kind of cruel joke?" "Well, ma'am, we are short staffed at the moment so we are only seeing acute patients. Maybe you should go to urgent care or back to the ER." At this point, I am quite certain that had we been face to face one of us would have been getting up off the floor...and it WOULD NOT have been me.  "No. I won't go to urgent care or back to the ER.  I will not wait until October to see a doctor. And this will be taken care of - today."

The way I see it is this:
1. I am an established patient.
2. I wasn't asking to be seen today ~ just some time soon.
3. Anaphylactic shock ain't no joke and if the ER doctor told me that it would be in my best interest to follow up IMMEDIATELY with my primary care doctor AFTER he told me I could die if I got stung again then I WILL follow his directions.
4. Do not tell me to go to urgent care like I called you about a splinter in my finger or poison ivy.

I was so fed up that I found a number for the corporate office of CaroMont health and I left a message with the executive director and I told her exactly what I thought about everything.  Funny thing happened...about 5 minutes later the office manager from my doctor's office calls me back to let me know she recieved a complaint from the corporate office that she is following up on.  "Is there anything we can do to help you?" Hmmmm...let's see....yes. You can let the receptionist know how to handle situations with patients instead of telling them to visit urgent care or the ER if it is that serious.  You can look back in my file and that of my family [and my extended family] and see that we've been patients through FOUR office moves, SEVERAL different doctors, and the recent departures of the doctor who started the practice and our FAVORITE nurse practitioner of all time.  We are loyal.  We know these people and trust them.  But every since CaroMont took over the place has gone down hill and FAST.  "Yes, you can help me.  You can explain to my why this has been such an ordeal to get an appointment for a serious issue." Apologies...blah....blah...blah. "Well, can you come today at 3:30?" Are you kidding me?  I was just told it would be October. "I can be there."

Fast forward to 3:30 today. I actually arrived early to the office.  I was taken right back to the room and the new NP came in around 5 minutes after I set down.  I would say maybe 5 minutes later she was finished with me and gone.  Five minutes.  The entire appointment took less that 5 minutes.  According to my math [which can be a little screwy] that is $7 a minute for her to tell me NOTHING!  I paid $35 for her to do nothing but listen to me breathe and tell me to follow up with the allergy specialist.  In fact, I was given a summary of my visist [that she had to finish at some point AFTER seeing me] in a record 30 seconds upon checkout. What a joke!  What an absolute joke.  The only reason she saw me was because they made her after I complained. 

Healthcare is a joke.  What a farce.  Its all about the almighty dollar.  CaroMont Health could absolutely care less about patients or they wouldn't treat people like I was treated.  They have ZERO customer service and making money is obviously the most important thing to them.  If I have to drive to the other side of nowhere to find a doctor NOT affiliated with them I will do that.  Our doctor's office used to be the place that we could see the doctor and feel like they cared.  I felt like they knew my kids and knew me. But that has changed. There are good people that are still there but the feeling has changed.  The people that do care are overworked and the people that don't care have taken over. 

I haven't quite decided what to do.  I have to get my family into a doctor's office because if someone gets sick they won't see us unless we are established patients.  With four kids I can't run the risk of not having a doctor.  But I won't go back there. EVER. [I suppose there is always urgent care...or so I've been told.]  I plan on doing some research over the next few days and getting us all in to see the doctor very soon.

What a wacky way to begin the first week of school!  Praise God for all of the things that did work out Monday night ~ Molly pulling up when she did, getting to the hospital, being taken right back, and having multiple people helping to get me better.  It really hit me today, as I was carrying my Epi Pen while walking my first 4 plus miles in a few days, that had those things not have happened in the way they happened that this could have had a very different ending.  It is sobering.  I have thanked Him so many times over the last two days and I give Him the glory. 

As always, life as a Short [though frustrated] is awesome.

Power

Whew...what a busy week!  We are back to work [school officially starts on Monday] and its been a crazy week for the Shorties.  6am Monday morning is going to come super early but I am sure it will be good.  My bet is that there will be some very tired kiddos come Monday afternoon :)

Two weeks ago Craig and I created a chalk board for prayers.  My thoughts were that we could pray for the things that were written up there.  We will do that but something cool has actually happened.  We've been leaving each other scripture to look up.  God always has a plan because these verses have been very fitting and timely.

I love the fact that my husband is a Godly man [not perfect but forgiven] and that he left the first verse for his family.  He takes his role as the spiritual head of our family very serious.  I love that man ♥.

The kids had to stay home all day on Tuesday because Craig and I both had meetings [and they were  GREAT meetings].  When I came home I found Bibles laying around and Emma found a verse from Matthew to share with the family.

Molly seems to have hit some adversity this cross country season.  She has her first true injury that has forced her to completely stop all activity until she can heal.  She is frustrated.  But she knows that even in adversity there is reason to be thankful.  Today I came home to find her verses on the board.

There is power in scripture.  There is power in sharing scripture.  There is power in a God that gives us His word just when we need it.

  

Splash, Mash, and Dash...Tri Me

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Mark Twain~

My dad gave me his bike.  He was fortunate enough to get a new one and I was fortunate enough to get his "old" one. [It isn't old.  It is super nice.]  Its not really mine but for me to use until I maybe can get one of my own.  I am going to get a pump tomorrow so I can ride.

I am going to do the Over the Mountain Triathlon in May of next year.  I don't want to let 20 years go by and have regrets on things I could have done but didn't attempt because I was scared or afraid that I couldn't do them.  Who knows if I even have 20 more years? I am tired of making excuses. [I am really good at making them...its so easy.] I cannot encourage my own children to take on the world if I am not willing to show them the way. 

My favorite Bible verse, Phillipians 4:13, says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  I believe this with all of my heart and soul.  I believe I can do this triathlon if I put Him first and train hard.  I will never know if I don't stop getting in the way. 

I really, really, REALLY dread swimming. [Did I mention how much I detest swimming?]  I can swim [not in a Missy-Franklin-Olympics-way but sort of in a oh-gosh-please-don't-drown-way] but I just don't feel very comfortable swimming.  I need to get over it. [Actually, under it - the water - under the water.] I live about .2 of a mile from a swimming pool that is available EVERY day of the week, for FREE, so I need to just get down there and swim.  The swim portion will be in Moss Lake but before I try open water I've got to build endurance and practice swimming.  Everyday. 

I am hoping to have a training partner [who is light years ahead of me in the training department] and we're going to do this together. My sister [the tri queen] is also training and she is going to join us.  What better way to ring in year number 40 but by torturing myself competing in this triathlon. 

Please pray for safety in training and that we can use this experience to His glory.

One more week with the Shorties before its back to school.  Gabe is terribly excited!  [Craig and I are wondering if we warn the teacher about him or just let them figure him out....hmmmmm....I am leaning towards the latter.]  Each day he ask us what the date is and how many more days until August 27th.  I wish I knew what he was thinking [when he doesn't tell us] and I wish I could be a fly on the wall with him at school.  He is getting ready to set that place on its ear!!

Emma is excited too.  She is getting so grown up.  I can't believe that third grade is where we are - wow!  She can't wait to learn cursive handwriting, dreads learning her multiplication tables, and is super excited that her best buddy is in her class.  And rest assured that she'll be dressed to impress every day.  My Flossie is the coolest.

Coop just started football practice.  He is excited about being the big man on campus since he's an 8th grader this year. [Not that he didn't already think he was BMOC ~ I think he was born thinking that!]  He's hoping to be the center, long snap, and maybe even play a little defensive end or linebacker. [I know what those terms mean.  I did sleep in a Holiday Inn last night...Geez.] I just know that he makes me laugh and I love his goofy jokes :)

Molly is staring down a tough year but she's excited too.  She just got her after 9s [which makes me want to puke everytime she leaves the house now] and she's getting ready to make a list of colleges she wants to visit.  She has been blessed to be able to be a part of a new 18U softball team [and she is stoked and so thankful] that will hopefully open doors to playing softball beyond high school.  She handled a "situation" with a few people that really hurt her feelings with the utmost grace and maturity.  She is so grown up.  I love that kid.

Short is back to being my favorite coach ♥  He was on the sideline last night, doing his coaching thing, and having a blast.  We love us some football friday nights and I love my favorite coach!

As always, life as a Short, is really good!

People Pleaser

Disenchantment, whether it is a minor disappointment or a major shock, is the signal that things are moving into transition in our lives.
~ William Throsby Bridges

What a week and its only Wednesday.  Ever have those times you want to crawl back in bed, pull the covers way over your head, and sleep till Thanksgiving?  [Slight exaggeration...slight.] 

I just hate it when I think someone is mad or disappointed in me.  I mean, I HATE IT.  I don't enjoy confrontation [of any kind].  Not that anyone truly enjoys confrontation but some folks don't really mind saying what is on their mind and then they are done.  Not this chick.  I am a people pleaser.  I don't want ANYONE to be upset with me. 

What a lot of people don't know about me is that I will beat myself up over things.  What could I have done or said differently?  Why am I so stupid? [I know someone knows the answer to that one.] How could I have let this happen?  How do I fix this? Dr. Seuss said, "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." In my head, [which I would describe as this amazing mass of brains and thoughts and ideas swirling like a tornado] its all complicated when you're trying to make people "un-mad" [yes...that is my word].  

I have prayed for a peace.  I know it will come.  [I hate to be vague.  That is a lie.  I love to be vague.  As always, protecting my people is my job. No worries ~ nothing life threatening or anything like that. Probably, most of you would believe it to be very silly.]  

Scripture says:

• Psalm 9:9-10: The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  
• Luke 12:25-26: Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest. 
• Philippians 4:6-8: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

So, again, I ask for your prayers for me.  I can't please everyone [Like I've seen it said, "I can't please everyone.  Today isn't your today and tomorrow ain't lookin' good either."] and I need to stop trying.  Besides, I may live in this world but I am not of this world. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." I tell my favorite coach and the Shorties all the time that God always has a plan.  If I am trying to walk this life with Him, then even when someone gets upset with me, it will all work out.  If I try to make amends and pray about it then I can't continue to let it kick me.  I am working on it. I promise. 

Yes. Life is transitioning.  Sometimes I feel like I'm getting left behind and other times I feel like I am barely hanging on.  Either way, if I keep my eyes pointed up, it will all turn out according to His plan.

As always, life as a Shortie is good :) 

Portal to Another Dimension

We played Pictionary tonight. Gabe played with us and he can't read so I gave him some words to draw.  Here is how our conversations went:

Me: Draw a football player. [I know he can draw this because he's drawn one before.]

Gabe: No. How about a portal to another dimension?  They will guess that!

[They guessed everything from swirl to tornado to bullseye until I held up a piece of paper with the word "PORTAL" on it...and Gabe was none the wiser because he can't read yet.]

On his next turn:

Me: This time draw a baseball bat.

Gabe: Woman, I'll draw what I want to! 

Me: OK...good luck with that one.

[And he begins to draw a long neck, body, hooves, etc. that had all the makings of a giraffe or a long-neck dino.]

Gabe [after time was up]: It's a doodie head!!!

Me: Come on Craig and Coop!  How did you miss that one?

On his last turn:

Me: Draw an iPod.

Gabe: Then we will be victors!!!!

And they won....lucky they had Gabe to help  them out! Never, EVER a dull moment at this house :)



Say Yes to the Dress

Today was back to school shopping day for Molly. [It was her year.  When you have four then they each take a year. ] In the past [like last year...or last month] Molly typically picks out the same things: tshirts, shorts, jeans, and tennis shoes.  Actually getting her to pick out a dress to wear for Easter usually end up in some sort of "heated discussion".  She is an athlete and not very prissy so she likes to dress simple. As her mom, I pick and choose my battles.  If there is a situation where I think she should dress up then I let her know - does she always agree?  That would be a big fat NO! 

Yesterday her Nana wanted to take her shopping.  Nana likes to take her to Northlake and Molly is glad to oblige her.  We ended up at Belk first because Molly found some clothes in Shelby last week and wanted to look .  Now this is actually a feat in and of itself: The girl usually snarls her nose at Belk [my FAVORITE store]. She found a few shirts [none of them t-shirts] and then [*DRUM ROLL*] she headed to the dresses.  [Honestly, I was about to call 911 to report the kidnapping of my daughter for a replacement daughter until I realized she was, in fact, willingly choosing dresses to try on.]  She picked a few, my mom picked a few, I picked a few [hey, better take it while we've got it otherwise this might the last dress we get her try on forever a while] and she took the ALL to try on.

Bless her...she wasn't sure how some of them "worked" [didn't realize it was tough to try on a dress but she figured out a way to make it tough].  One of them, cute as could be, had a very large belt in the middle.  My daughter [the honors student] pulled the dress over her head [without unfastening the belt] then wondered why she couldn't get the dress on all the way.  "Honey, undo the clasp on the belt in the front." She didn't know there was a clasp on the belt.  The next dress had tie on the side but Molly's version of the tie was this random piece of fabric hanging down the side of the dress.  "Honey, you know that goes around your waste and ties on the side don't you?"  No..no...she didn't know.  We laughed so hard at her in the dressing room.

So I had to ask the question: What in the world has gotten in to you that makes you want to wear a dress?  Her reply?  "Well my friends pick on me because I don't dress up enough so its really just to spite them."  Hmmmmm...good reason I guess.  "And, after softball camp at Carolina I realized that girls that play softball in college are actually very prissy and dress super nice.  I don't have to always look like a bum.  I don't want people to think I don't know how to dress up." Hmmm.....well another good reason. The next statement [which nearly sent me to my knees] went something like this, "These dresses are all dress code so I can even wear them to school."  Holy cow Batman!  Did she just say the words "dress" and "wear" and "school" in the same sentence?  This from the same chick who wore her "Vote for Pedro" shirt in a school picture one time?  Wow. 

It was a wonderful shopping trip with Nana, Molly, and Emma.  My girls [all of my children] are growing up so fast.  I really cherish these times when we can laugh and giggle because I know, that all too soon, they will grow up and have their own lives.  Molly and I have prom to look forward to this year [which will probably be an adventure] and hopefully, many more shopping trips together.

Tonight we had the opportunity to see Mercy Me and Jamie Grace, right here in Shelby. What a blessing to hear 10,000 people sing praises in the name of Jesus.  We were very thankful to a good friend for the free tickets and the fellowship with those who joined us.  The Shorties are truly blessed. 

Coop and Madison ♥

Molly and her biffles

Emma and her daddy ♥

I do have a simple prayer request for myself.  I am mom to some amazing children [yes they are amazing to me] and I love, love, love them with all my heart.  However, I don't want to "interfere" too much because that isn't healthy.  I posted several weeks ago about praying for the man that Molly will one day marry.  I think it is important that I pray now because that will be a very important decision [MANY years from now] for her one day.  I have watched her grow as a Christian and a God girl over this last year and I am so proud of the woman she is becoming.  My prayer request is that I can deal with the things that happen in between now and then, when she gets her heart broken.  She is strong, she is grounded in her faith, and above all else, she refuses to let others dictate how she feels about herself.  

I found a sign [on Pinterest] that said something to the effect that if you mess with my kids you'll see 7 different kinds of crazy.  You will.

Things I Found On Ebay

Cooper won a new disc golf bag on Ebay a few weeks ago.  He was so proud of himself - he bid and kept watch over his bid and finally won it.  Now keep in mind that Cooper has no source of income so guess who paid for his fantastic find?  Yep, the budget Nazi. [I gently asked for the money via a text message. In the middle of football practice when I knew he wasn't paying attention.  It worked.]  Of course, when the bag arrives at our house it not addressed to Cooper but to a George Booty. "Mom, I can't give them my real name.  What if they are stalkers? Geez..."  So he came up with George Booty???  I suppose normal names were just too much for him to handle.

He has developed a love of Ebay and periodically he will tell me about crazy things he finds while searching for disc golf stuff [and listening to some of the most horrendous music ever].  Tonight I decided to do a little searching me'self to see what is out there and this is what I found:

This little gem here would be alien crap.  The description underneath said that they were not sure if it had been used or not.  My question [besides the OBVIOUS one here] is how exactly does one use alien crap?  Is that like use for medicinal purposes ["Take two of these and er...crap two of these...er...just take 'em or crap 'em and let me know how you feel in the morning."] when traditional medicine isn't the cure?  Is this something that might give you super powers [or simply make you look  like the idiot you have to be if you own this AND believe it to be alien crap]?



Now I love me some A1 steak sause.  I eat it over spaghetti noodles, with butter and parmesean [or however that stupid word is spelled] cheese.  I use it on baked potatoes.  I like it on a lot of things.  Apparently, for a low, low price, I can buy a blow up bottle of it off of Ebay.  I am thinking of who I can give this to for Christmas this year [It has to be someone I REALLY like].   

Who wouldn't want to be wearing bacon on that cut? [Some of you just shook your head in absolute excitement.] According to the overbearing nice saleswoman [Am I supposed to just use the word "person" here for saleswoman?  I am sure there is some Call-Us-Salespeople group that will rise up and demand to be treated equally when behind the counter at Claire's Highly-Overpriced-And-Basically-A-Ripoff Boutique.] bacon AND mustaches are [and I quote] "all the rage this year!"  What is this world coming to?  I know....

This snazzy little purse [wonder if it comes with the Lincoln] is none other than your standard, taxadermied [I had to Google the correct spelling of that word just now] bull frog purse.  According to the description it was featured on Jay Leno.  If you buy it then you will be very HOPPY!!!

Now we are moving into the morbid area.  If you choose to purchase a casket then you can do so via Ebay.  I'm guessing this is something that you might get and decide that you no longer need it [Hmph...I ain't dyin' ~ forget that mess!] or you got one and didn't like it [yeah...I'm thinking this one just doesn't suit me...not soft enough] or you simply want to make the rest of us have one of those moments where we are thinking to ourselves, "That person selling it is probably kin to me."  This picture is an example of a cat casket, complete with a whole array of end of life number 9 stuff for when Mr. Fluffers kicks it on up to the windowsill in the sky.  Good to know...

Not going to lie ~ this one gave me the creeps [probably because the description said, "Creepy Doll Parts"].  You know [because you grew up like me, watching Chucky] that there is NOTHING good that can come from this pile of doll parts.  What would you do if this showed up on your doorstep?

One of my personal faves is the extra long fry bent into the shape of a ribbon of support [nothing says combat a potentially life threatening disease like a greasy (see the spot to the right?) french fry pinned to your lapel].  I am a little upset that I can't see Mother Theresa or at least Michael Landon in the the grease spot.

Hmmm...Underpants for your hands?  Not too sure I want to know ANYTHING else about these tighty whiteys....

I hate it when a squirrel, after a road kill incident, is carried off the scene with dirty undies on! Do those momma squirrels not tell them to change their undies BEFORE they go out, in case of an accident?

A tiny egg. Bidding begins at $1100.  Go head.  You know you want to.

Now I have heard of folks pissing away money but never heard of them used money to cover their piss.  [Should come with a sticker that says, "Break glass in case of an emergency but do not retrieve the coins from yellow water."]

[Disclaimer: Ebay has some pretty bizzaro and weird stuff so make sure little eyes are not around.]

Not a bad night's work...I am sure there is more to find...



I Blinded Them with Science

Emma loves, loves, loves science. [Craig suckered the oldest two into thinking history *YAWN* is where "its" at when they were still impressionable and now they are ruined.]  Several weeks ago she took some wine bottles that I've collected and made music with them.  [Before you go there...nothing wrong with anyone who chooses to drink wine but the bottles are not mine.  I'm more like a pot of coffee kind of girl.]  She filled each bottle with different water levels then blew over the top of them to hear the different sounds. [I must confess that I helped her.] And as always with Emma she is dressed to impress. 







Molly went for a try out for a new softball team tonight.  By two days she will be too old to play on the team she is currently on and will have to move up to an 18U team. Of course, because there is a disc golf course at Crest, where the try out was held, Coop had to go.  This left the babes and I to cook dinner, make fondant [yes, that's right...I made cake fondant...from scratch] , bake a cake [for the HOMEMADE fondant] , and do a little science.  Our first experiment was making tie dyed milk.  

This is what the milk looks like in the plate BEFORE tie dying it.





And this is AFTER tie dying it.  Gabe was amazed.

After tie dying milk [because you never know when that will come in handy] we decided to make gak.  It is fun but messy.  It actually took us two times [and two entire bottles of glue] before we got it right.  This is Emma [posing, in her pearls and fancy headband] with her gak. 



We had fun.  I will say, though, that the stick-in-the-mud-history-is-fab folks [aka Molly, Coop, and Short] were not very impressed.  "Yeah, that's nice." Pooh on them...we had fun.

As always, life as the Scientific Shorties is good:)



Wow.

Well, if you read my previous post then you are well aware that I stepped right into a war of words.  [And I've always heard you never take a knife to a gun fight so I was ready.] Apparently, it is quite OK to quote the Bible out of context, refer to a person's freedom of speech as "spewing hate", and those that supported Chick-Fil-A last Wednesday are misguided and ignorant.  I will spare you the details [and there are many] as I have removed myself from the situation. A wise, wise woman [aka my mom] told me that it might be best to let the others carry on without me.  Honestly, I was never trying to convince anyone to "see" it my way.  I stated, numerous times, that all people have a right to believe what they choose and to speak freely.  It actually became quite comical and sent me on quite a quest.  I was thrown everything from incorrect passages of the Bible to Thomas Jefferson to Ugandans executing homosexuals - all from simply defending my friend's right, and my right, and EVERY person's right to free speech. [Of course, the consistent argument was that my speech was laced with hate because I said that I supported Chick-Fil-A's statement on marriage.  Oh, that's right....I wasn't agreeing with them so I was wrong.  Glad I got that figured out. *please insert sarcasm here*]  Believe what you want as that is our right but don't condemn because I choose to follow my morals and not your morals. 

Anywhoo [thank goodness] in other news [because there is other news besides eat mor chicken] I have changed up the blog.  I've been working on different stuff here and there but I've just not had the time to put it all together.  I added the music back [Yeah!!!] and some other stuff.  I just wasn't overly thrilled with the look I had going on the last few weeks. I wish I could do this for a living.  Seriously.  I would love to create blogs for other people. [*cough* NERD *cough*]  Maybe one day....maybe one day.

We did buy school supplies.  We DID NOT go to Wal-Mart or anywhere else during the feeding frenzy known as tax free weekend.  Now, don't get me wrong, we did visit the Wally World but we just waited until every self respecting Cleveland County redneck goes and we went at around 10pm on Saturday night.  [The words "I immediately regret the decision to visit Wal-Mart on tax free weekend" were muttered at least a time or ten by each member of the Shorties....even Gabe.]  We managed to spend quite a few Benjamins to send 4 kids back to school ~ that's without adding taxes to our purchase.  We still have 4 pairs of tennis shoes to purchase and a few clothes. [Short and I treated ourselves to a little shopping spree at the G Dub today.  We came away with some fancy, "gently used" garments.  And I didn't even spend $40.  Please, hold the applause.]  This raising kids and making sure they have all their stuff to start school is hard.  Not to mention, I [notice that is singular ~ as in just me....Short hasn't filled out a back to school paper in 11 years...that covers all of them that we've had a kid in school] will have to fill out 4,586 forms and probably drop another chunk of change for lockers, fees, t-shirts, etc. within the first week of school.  [I'm going to need to rob a bank. Soon.]

I absolutely cannot wait until Gabe goes on his first day.  He is so psyched!  It should be interesting [and probably a little embarassing depending on what story he shares on the first day about his family and himself] and I get the feeling that he will be the one that lands us in the principal's office for the first time. I can imagine my lack of surprise :)  Bless his little baby heart.  [And pray, feverishly, for the teacher's he'll have this year!!]

I would ask for a serious prayer request [or ten].  Just pray for me.  [Nothing is wrong.] I jhave a lot going on this crazy head of mine and I am looking for some peace.  Pray for Short [as well as the players, other coaches, people, etc. involved with the team] as he beings another football season.  Pray for the kids that are heading to college for the first time [and pray for the families that will be saying goodbye to them].  Pray for our leaders and our country.  This is a scary world to be raising children in and I'm not sure if I'm doing any of this right sometimes.  Pray for our service men and women.  Just pray.

Thank you God for another breath and another day...the motion inside and out.

Take It or Leave It

I have not weighed in on the this whole Chick-Fil-A thing on Facebook, Twitter, or here for a lot of reasons.  Today, after reading something someone said to a dear friend because she stated her opinion in response to a status update I cannot bite my tongue any longer.  [In defense of my friend I would be willing to punch this person but I heard violence is not the answer.] I am not taking a political position [I don't talk politics.  I was taught you never ask a person how old they are, how much they weigh, or who they voted for.  People usually volunteer the last one...read my lips: I DON'T CARE WHO YOU VOTED FOR OR WHAT YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION MIGHT BE. I also am not smart enough to talk politics and I find many people like me that still try and it isn't pretty.] However, I do believe that the definition of marriage should be that of union between one man and one woman only [and we'll get to that in a moment]. 

Here is the Facebook exchange and as always [unless we're talking about my kids then I don't care] the names were deleted to protect the privacy of these people.  I didn't change anything ~ copied and pasted ~ except for leaving out a name in the last response:

• Original Status: How is having a meal at chick-fil-a supporting your rights as a Christian American? To have a meal prepared by people who are not homosexual? To support an organization that wants to use discriminatory hiring practices? What would Jesus do? Oh yea, that's right, have a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. Please don't use religion to mask your fear and bigotry. Jesus loved all mankind and treated them all with equal compassion. Who is any man to judge another's soul? We are meant to love one another despite our differences. I will be praying for all of your misguided souls that you return to the true meaning of being a Christian. Blessings.

• Person 1 [my friend]: I am not sure how I am a misguided soul I just supported a man and his company to be able to speak freely about his religion and not have people spin it to he is anti- gay. Have people not letting his business come in due to his religion.
• Person 2: It's not "spin", he is admittedly, blatantly anti-homosexual. Didnt you see his "guilty as charged " quote? Get your head out of your ass if you're going to weigh in or get ready to be called a lot more than "misguided".
• Person 3: It doesn't matter what he thinks or says. What does matter is where the company donates their profits.
• Person 4: It seems to me that hating a man for speaking his beliefs & using the profits his business has earned to support his beliefs is also bigoted. I don't know whether he or the causes he supports have actually said they hate gay people. But true christianity IS loving everyone as Jesus loves even through disagreement. Don't be a hater of the so-called hater - live out your beliefs & truly love the person(s) who don't believe the same, & that will persuade them many times over treating them with disdain. And that goes for both sides.
• Person 2 responding to Person 4: ...he uses the profits to support "pray away the gay" re-education programs which are nothing less than psychological torture. This is a far cry from passively having an opinion, this is actively destructive. Would you call people that hate slave owners bigoted? Some things should not be tolerated even though the Bible expressly states that owning slaves is perfectly acceptable as long as they're from another country. Your argument is off the mark and painfully misguided.

So I have spent a couple of days thinking [yes, it takes me a while to string coherent thoughts together] and deciding what I wanted to blog.  Again, I don't usually respond to these types of post other than to talk them over with Craig.  I just find that Facebook tends to "stir the pot" and give people an easy way to be angry and mean because they are hiding behind the computer. I just couldn't let this one go.  This is really the first time I've ever responded to a political or otherwise controversial topic. [Well other than that time I stirred the pot by calling a Crest fan "ignorant".  My take on it was this: He had on a Crest shirt + he shouted a comment as my son was getting an award, about my son = Ignorant Crest fan.  Apparently, according to some irate folks, there are ignorant fans everywhere, not just at Crest.  This person just saw "Crest" in the post and ASSUMED it was a stab at them...didn't read the entire story.  This fan would've been ignorant if he'd been from KM.] 

I take a stand: I agree that marriage is between one man and one woman.  I applaude Chick-Fil-A for taking a stand in [my opinion] a world that is too tolerant.  According to some sermon notes I took at church, I wrote down that modern Christianity says God must bend for our views.  He doesn't bend for our view but tells us to repent.  That "us" begins with me. [Just an aside: I am not calling anyone out. In John 8, when the Pharisees brought the adulterous woman before Jesus, he told them that the first one without sin could throw stones. This is not a stoning.  I am not without sin.  I am not perfect. But I am forgiven.]  Jesus has a standard of holiness.  I believe that this is what Chick-Fil-A is supporting: not bending to accomodate but believing what the Bible says about this issue.   As Christians we are to be like Jesus not like the world. John 15: 18 - 19 says (NIV) says, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."  In Joshua 1:6-9 (NIV) God says, "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Not taking a stand for something is taking a stand.  As Christians, on Wednesday, we took a stand because we strive to meet Jesus' standard of holiness.

From the above response: What would Jesus do? Oh yea, that's right, have a chicken sandwich and waffle fries. Please don't use religion to mask your fear and bigotry. Jesus loved all mankind and treated them all with equal compassion.  Going back to the story from John above, Jesus asked the woman being accused of adultery if she had been condemned yet.  When she answered no, He tells her that he will not condemn her either.  THEN He says, "Go now and leave your life of sin." Yes, Jesus shows compassion.  He has shown me more compassion than my pitiful self will ever deserve.  But, because he demands holiness from us, he also comands we turn from sin.  He didn't condemn the woman, nor did he ask her for proof of her sin because he already knew her sin.  He commanded that she turn away from it. I am not afraid and I am certain Jesus is not afraid.  Jesus was not afraid to die a painful death on a cross so that I may have eternal life....I am certainly not going to be afraid to defend my support of marriage as one man and one woman.  I do not fear being called names and condemned for my beliefs ~ Jesus died for his.  Revelation 3:16 (NIV) says, "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." We are called to take a stand. [As to whether or not Jesus would have bought a chicken sandwich and waffle fries I feel certain that food would not have been his priority had he visited a Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday.]

In conclusion [some of you just did the happy dance], thank you Chick-Fil-A for not faltering on your beliefs. Thank you for supporting the definition of marriage as one man and one woman.  Thank you for not being lukewarm.  

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I have a meeting on Friday.  That can only mean one thing:  School is going to start this year.  Yeah. [Yes, that was a completely sarcastic yeah.]  I have sooooooo enjoyed this summer.  This has to be one of the very best summers on record [not that anyone keeps records of their favorite summers but it sounds good so I'll keep it] because I have spent tons of time with my family. 

Like tonight, at 11:30 [yes, I nominate myself for mom o' the year for allowing my 5 year old to still be wide awake] Gabe and I played army men.  I was Japan [not sure if its the Olympics or the recent trip to DC that has him so into fighting Japan] and he was the US.  I whooped him so he wants a rematch tomorrow night. [I'm not dumb. The whole rematch thing was a way to leave the army men out and not clean up.] I love it when we play because instead of saying we are against each other he says begainst. 


That is why  I dread my summer vacation coming to a rapid close.  It felt like June crept very slowly then WHAM!! Hello and goodbye July! I will stop my whining about going back to work now. [*&^%$&$_*%$#@]


[Totally off the subject but on my mind...] I guess I am just getting old [I like to think it is wiser] but I am so very irritated with social media.  It's like I can't get away from this crap.  Like subtweeting ~ what the heck?  That's just a made up term for "I am mad at you but I won't grow a set and confront you so I'll just Tweet for the whole world to see without saying your name even though the world knows who I am talking about".  [Yes, I've hit unfollow many times and then it gets retweeted and I have to hit it again.]  Seriously.  Get over yourselves PLEASE.  Are your lives so hard, as you sit behind your iPhone 4s, with your laptop on your lap, watching your flat screen TV that you have to keep reminding us that you hate someone out there?  GROW UP!  [That soap box hasn't been out in a while.]  I love Twitter because I think it is a fantastic source for updates and news.  I love some of the humor I read.  But oh my good gravy I aboslutely want to punch people that use it to just talk about everyone and their brother  And girls are the worst.  Again, if you didn't get it before, GROW UP!  Stop being bullies on your dumb little iPhones, put your big girl panties on, realize it ain't about you, and for the last  time[doubt it] put your clothes on or take a picture of someone who has their clothes on.  One tweet,[from someone I KNOW] tweets something about the creepy man that likes all her Instagram pics.....well take a hint doofus: IF YOU POST IT THEY WILL CREEP!  Apparently you want them to check you out if you are posting pictures that ANYONE can see....doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that my friend.  [I may take some heat for this one but if I don't say all of this then my head is going to explode.]  I am just baffled at the ignorance in the world today...cuss ya out on Twitter and/or Facebook but afraid to talk to you in person. 


I am not totally sure why this particular issue is so under my skin lately.  I think I just get disgusted at a lot of things:
1. Woman are already scrutinized and under a microscope about appearences anyway.  I cannot understand why girls [and some older women too] think that by posting a picture of yourself in a provocative pose and scantly clad that you are going to get anything but boys [and men and boys who think they are men] who are only "liking" it because of how you appear in the picture. 
2. Girls [women] and boys [men] who post how much they love God one minute then drop the "F" bomb the next.  Wow!  One person on Facebook, disgusted over the gay marriage thing after the NC election, said that he would be willing to meet anyone who voted for keeping marriage between a man a woman in  a parking lot so he could shove their F-in teeth down their throat.  However, in the same status update, he posted how he was a Christian....and this was an adult. If adults can't keep it in check then its no wonder the current generation can't...and won't if we keep it up.
3. How quick this generation is to jump down someone's throat [and on a bandwagon] if it gets them a little street cred on Twitter.  Give me a break....please!  I hope that EVERY college recruiter is watching you rant and #hashtag horrible things about other people.
4. [This is more a pet peeve but, again, gotta get it out.] Do we have to know EVERYTHING you are doing?  #NO!


Sorry to rant on and on and on but this has been on my mind alot lately.  I think because I am raising two girls it just bothers me more.  And, considering the world we live in and how almost anything and everything [like scantily clad photos of young girls] can be used in evil ways, why would you do those things?  That is enough to scare me.


I am not perfect [I know I've made that statement before but it is worth repeating since everyone may not realize it just yet] and have done some monumentally stupid things in my life.  I want to make sure my girls [and my boys] don't make the mistakes I made.  I believe [again, just my honest opinion] that if adults would intervene more [AKA be all up in their business] that we could have a positive impact.  Am I saying change the world?  No...I'm not stupid.  But we have a responsibility to the kids we are raising and teaching.  That is just how I feel. Take it or leave it.
[Soapbox neatly put away...for a while anyway.]


My favorite coach is back to football, Molly has begun cross country, Coop will soon begin his last year of middle school, Emma takes her first EOG this year, and Gabe will make his grand entrance as a public school student in just a few weeks.  I can't believe how fast all of this goes by.  We will begin to take Molly to look at colleges very soon [we accept cash, checks, credit cards, gold, silver, and all charity] and Coop will take driver's ed next summer.  Did I blink somewhere along the way?  Short and I will both be 40 [&%#@%*#] soon and all my babies will be in school.  All I can say is that I am not deserving of all the blessings I've been given and I am so thankful that I worship a God that has a plan for my life.


As always, life as a Shortie is good:)