Surgery Update

Just wanted to let everyone know (if you aren't already on FB and following SU's) that Jase's hernia surgery went well. He went in bright and early Tues. morning and they repaired the right side and then looked at the left just to be sure and found....you guessed it...another hernia over there. So he has 2 incisions on his abdomen that are healing up so nicely. He has internal stitches and a nice clear medical tape/bandage over the incisions so you can see if they are oozing or anything. There has been no more bleeding since the surgery, and I think on Wed. at his followup visit they will take off the bandage if I haven't taken it off already.

He was able to take a bath last night and rode his tricycle for the first time this morning! Boy, was he happy about that. We've been hiding the riding toys for 5 days now and I'm sure he was delighted when his daddy pulled it out and allowed him to ride it. EG and I had gone to Columbia for a haircut.

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Just an aside...continued from a past post....

Honestly, I have always thought that FB could be a witnessing tool and an area where you could reach some people you wouldn't normally reach. Obviously, we cannot think that our 498 "friends" are all Christians. Just like we cannot think that 100% of people who sit in the pews at churches are all Christians. I think at one point the Baptist church (SBC) even went so far as to say something like 1/2 of all of their church goers were not Christian. They may profess that they are Christian, but we know that not all who say "Lord, Lord" know Him personally....they were simply saying that there will be wheat and tares even among a church congregation. I think that is probably true of most churches, not just the Baptist Church.

My original intent on FBing was to help reach the unreachable. I have tried to give scriptural references when possible, and yes, I have even added a few opinions, which I would hope are not against God's Holy Word. In fact, most of them are very conservative and not offensive to God. There may have been some things I have said which others did not personally agree with and in which God did not address specifically in His Word. I.E. Us not watching TV...not choosing to pierce our child's ears until a certain age...not putting our children in tons of extra lessons and activities....choosing to keep them at home for schooling....and the list goes on.

But there have been instances lately wherein I was "attacked" on FB for presenting a scripture or laying out my opinion, which I believe to be scripturally sound and what Jesus would do if He were here on earth living in my place. Even so far as to having been called a "spherical a-hole". (!!) So I have felt the need to weed out those who don't help me in lifting up the Father.

I have another question.

So if you are no longer friends with someone on FB, are you no longer friends with them in real life? And I have some people on FB who have unfriended me but not my husband. That is just amazing to me b/c he puts a lot more conservative things on his SU than I do. Things about training up children and our choice not to watch TV. All biblical things. Most of them are things that would make the majority of society who are unsaved press the "dislike" button (if there were such a thing). But my guess is that these unfriended people don't want to engage in such a conversation with my husband for whatever reason. Or maybe they just want to continue to see pictures and updates on our family and he is their only "link" left.

I have no idea....maybe someone can fill me in? I will be glad to read comments left. :)

Funny thing is, no one will leave comments here like they do on my SU's b/c 496 people aren't publically reading this at the same time. Makes one think about the motive for anyone who wants to argue and attack in such a social media as that, doesn't it? 12 readers versus 496? Yes, it's still time to weed the friend garden.

Bye y'all! That's all I have for now.

Chick-F*l-A free Spicy Chicken Sandwich

I'm no www.thriftymama.com or anything like that, but I did want to let you in on a great deal going on with Chick-f*l-A. They are promoting their new SPICY CHICKEN sandwich...it isn't officially out yet, but they want to give a limited number of them away by reservation so folks can try them out and give feedback. Of course, I LOVE Chick-f*l-A and I love free food, so I logged in and I will be picking mine up on Wed., June 2nd.

Here's the web site: www.getspicychicken.com

Go register yourself now!!! Before they run out of reservations at your location!

How Much is TOO MUCH?

I have gotten a lot of comments today on my Faceb*ok status update and I felt the urge to write more about that on my blog today.

I first want you all to be aware that I am not against celebrating the accomplishments of ourselves or our children. But, being a counselor professionally, and a responsible Christian parent, I feel that we must raise our children to be children and focus on praising them just as much for their growth in the Lord as we do for their worldly accomplishments.

Here is what I mean...

Each year in school did we all not have "end of year parties" and rejoice that we had gone 180 days and successfully completed all of our work and learned all of the necessary skills for our particular age? As we exited elementary & middle school, the celebration may have been a little bigger and grade-wide. There were songs, works of art, nice sunday dresses, a cake square or two, etc.

Then why do we, as a society, feel the need to make our children grow up as miniature adults? Why must we force a 4 year old to wear a cap and gown? Do they not have time for that yet to come? The bottom line is children learn within the parameters you have set up for them. If you allow them to experiment with makeup and stress beauty in your home, then they learn that. If you stress having material things, then they expect that as adults themselves. If you stress creative learning versus always being entertained by the boob tube from the time they are out of the womb, then why are we surprised when our children are bored in school and having difficulty? There's no three ring circus there to occupy their time.

If we buy them heels, "It's all about me" t-shirts, and revealing clothing as the parent when they are 7, 8, 9, then it is only multiplied in consequences that we can see as parents years down the road. It's a sad state of affairs what we are in essence "doing" to our children. They didn't ask for this.

I have seen kids with ears pierced as infants, wearing heels as 3 year olds, doing the shimmy in their dance costume as toddlers and we as parents call it "cute". Oh isn't she "cute"?!

I like to have fun, too, but I think it would be prudent for us as Christian parents to step back and look at what example we are providing for our children.

My friend Catherine has on her FB profile a quote I love, "Be who you desire your children to become."

I daily remind myself to *think* before I act. When the news was on tonight, I asked myself if I should be watching this in front of my kids? While preparing their dinner time drink, I reminded myself that they have had plenty of juice today and needed milk for dinner. It was a conscious decision...not rushed or in the moment. Those are just two examples from today.

Am I claiming how perfect a parent I am, IN NO WAY! I have FAR to go!!

This just happens to be my medium, my way to get out all that is going on in my head. Maybe it's the counselor in me, or simply the urge, the pull, the tug on my heart to share these things with other parents like me who feel like I do too.

This just happens to be the time of year when it seems I shake my head the most and pray for parents all across the nation and world. It's a hard job that requires deliberate actions. Some parents have obviously felt I have hit a nerve lately, as seen on FB comments. What other reason would they have for such negative, rude, demeaning comments?

I pray that we would all want to consider how we can spur our children on toward love for the Savior & how they can glorify God when they one day (hopefully at an early age) come to know Him. It won't be how many degrees they have or what job they have or how big their house is or what their parents let them "get away with". God has only loaned these children to us, and it is up to us to "train them up in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it."

A Mother's Prayer

Here is a song I heard on a friend's blog that is just BEAUTIFUL! It perfectly displays the love we have for our children and the desires of our hearts for our children. I hope you will be blessed

Here are the lyrics:

A Mother’s Prayer (HANNAH'S SONG) Words by Rachel Aldous
Music by John Mandeville

Verse:
My sweet baby on loan from above
no better treasure could I more love
I stand here beside your bed as I pray
I lay my hand on your head and I say:

Chorus:
May you grow up to serve Him
all of your days
May He lead you and guide you
in all of your ways
May His hand bless your future with
friendships that last
May you cherish your youth
and not grow up too fast

Verse:
I stare in wonder at your tiny frame
Just to think that God knows you by name
He knows every hair on your beautiful head
He knows all your thoughts before they are said

Chorus:
May you grow up to serve Him
all of your days
May He lead you and guide you
in all of your ways
May His hand bless your future with
friendships that last
May you cherish your youth
and not grow up too fast

Prayer:
May God grant you peace
in the midst of a storm
May God give you strength even
when you’re forlorn
May you answer the door when
Jesus comes knocking
May wisdom guide when
your mouth is talkin’
May discretion protect you
and keep you pure
May you never stumble
or fall for a lure
May your heart remain humble
to the very end
May uprightness and truth
be what you defend
May the world not ensnare
or change who you are
May the light that's within you
shine like the stars
May angels surround you
body, spirit, mind
May favor and peace be yours to find
May rejection and pain
never reach you
May your spirit grow bold
for what you’re called to

Chorus:
May you grow up to serve Him
all of your days
May He lead you and guide you
in all of your ways
May His hand bless your future with
friendships that last
May you cherish your youth
and not grow up too fast

Singing:
As you rest in God’s care I will rest too
Knowing that Jesus is watching over you
Amen

Been a Long Month

It's been a long month and I'm quite sure I cannot begin to remember everything that has gone on in our family. Sometimes I don't even want to remember those things. :)

First, I want to share that through all of these things, I have learned (o.k., I should say I have been in the PROCESS of learning) to be content in all circumstances.

This is what I mean:

We have had what I would call the N*RO virus for a week back in April, which we think lead Jase being taken one Saturday to the ER for a swollen scrotum to find out he has an inguinal hernia from all the heaving during vomiting. So he will be having surgery on that hernia on Tuesday, May 25th. Please keep us in your prayers.

Then, somehow my little sleeping baby boy (who is almost two in just 2 short weeks!) no longer liked sleeping through the night. He began to greatly dislike his bed and wakes up 2-3 times a night. Wondering if there are bad memories of his crib and night time sleep being interrupted by vomiting and diarrhea. So we've done the twin bed for a while and are now back to the crib. One can never tell what kind of night we might have. It's just beyond me how he goes from 11 hours of sleep to 8 or 9 hours every night now with usually just one nap of an hour or hour and a half. Like I said above, trying to be like Paul..."content no matter the circumstances". I often remember how Samu*l Thom*s shared about his time in Ind*a where he was imprisoned like Paul and had mice eating away at him. So why do I worry and fret over lost sleep.

But it does make one grumpy and snippy when there is a lack of sleep. Just sayin'!

Oh, I have to share that in the middle of all of this, one morning at breakfast Jase is eating his cereal bar when he decides he doesn't want anymore. We've been breaking him of his habit of throwing food off his high chair tray when he thinks he is done. Well, low and behold, he takes the last section of cereal bar and throws it directly into Jason's coffee cup! SPLASH!! It didn't even hit the side of the coffee cup!!! It was just too funny and one of those times you wish you'd had a video camera going so we could win some money from "Americ*'s Funniest Home V*deos".

Then after I too caught half of the yucky N*RO virus, I was thankful to be able to escape to the mountains near Lake L*re with two college friends this past weekend. I thought I would get some much needed rest, but I came to find out that the mice situation at the friend's house scared me such that I barely slept at all Friday night. Saturday night was better as we went to Wal-M*rt to get a noise maker and I did not hear a thing. Funny thing was, we set 8 traps out Sat. night and caught NOTHING....NADA. And no more mice droppings! So now we're really wondering if it wasn't just the squirrels that were so active in and around the roof as Michelle said they have been in the past.

I'm sure there are many more things I could share. We've been to the zoo, the strawberry farm, the park twice, and of course planning for this month is sure to be it's own kind of zoo! We had Aunt Pam's birthday, Aunt Necia's birthday tomorrow (happy birthday to the newest member of our family!), Mother's Day this weekend, a new Winnsboro homeschool coop organizational meeting Friday night, Jase's 2nd birthday, my sister Kim's birthday, a baby shower I am planning for a couple who are having a little boy this summer, Confederate Memorial Day--o.k. the only significance is that Jason has that day off & PTL, Jase's surgery, & Memorial Day. Is that enough?

I pray that God will continue to shape and mold me.

To never let me be idle.

To give thanks for these two blessings He has entrusted me with, and to love my husband more deeply every day.

Jase at the ER with gown on and all