Things in the news

1. Why is Scott Brown, Senator from Massachusetts, lying about Rachael Maddow, an MSNBC news commentator? What made him continue to lie the first time he was confronted with the truth?...

And still, after he was confronted -again- he still continues to lie!! If you don't like the links I posted, just goggle - Scott Brown still lying ...you will get plenty of links.

2. Why are people afraid of everyone having access to health care? Why does anyone _not_ want a child or an old person to have health care that is affordable? Why do people want children with preexisting conditions to not have health care?

Do people _not_ think, that in this day and age, ....that we could _not_ function in a society who cares for its sick _without_ becoming a country lead by a Hitler?

So, there is no maturity that can be experienced in this world today? We are not educated enough, enlightened enough, kind enough, good enough, wise enough, caring enough to allow the people in our country to have health care without selling out to fascist/socialist/whateverist county?

3. Did you know that having your tonsils out means that now you have a preexisting condition and now anything that happens to your body that may need medical treatment that happens any where near your tonsils will not be covered? Ask me, I know this.

4. Why does Sarah Palin talk about guns, reloading, and cross hairs and fighting and then say she doesn't mean anything related to violence?

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin had some harsh words for her detractors in the health care debate with a thinly veiled, March Madness-themed Facebook post in which she declared, "never retreat, instead RELOAD!"

Why does she put herself in a situation to have to defend all the words she uses, words like these:

She wrote about using "strong weapons" and "big guns" to drive to the basket. She urged teams to "shoot with accuracy; aim high and remember it takes blood, sweat and tears to win." She says "bombing through the press" is part of what teams must do to help reach their goals.

"To the teams that desire making it this far next year: Gear up! In the battle, set your sights on next season's targets! From the shot across the bow - the first second's tip-off - your leaders will be in the enemy's crosshairs, so you must execute strong defensive tactics," she wrote. "You won't win only playing defense, so get on offense!"

"If the other side tries to push back," she added later, "your attitude should be 'go for it.' Get in their faces and argue with them."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/29/2075005/palin-takes-on-language-police.html#ixzz0jkypuDtO

As a woman, I have to say ~ she does not represent me.

Like a lot of other politicians, she has decided to shout the standard party 'one liners' and the 4 or 5 bullet points that her political party is marketing and using them over and over again as the answers to everything. They are inciting anger, not inciting thinking.

Why isn't her advice to Get Educated, Get Smarter? Why isn't she encouraging those who follow her to learn about the issues and get involved with something other than stock sentences to yell at the camera when they are at a rally? She totally puzzles me. It seems there are better ways to use ones' power. But perhaps, if she got people to think ~ she would lose that power.

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not. ~Author Unknown

5. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that person is crazy. ~Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

"86,400 Seconds"

"Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with £86,400. Every evening whatever part of the balance you fail to use during the day is deleted. What would you do? Draw out every penny and use it well, of course!!! Each of us has such a bank - Its name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Invest the day's deposits well, or the loss is yours. How could you bring the most contentment, happiness and benefit to yourself and others? The clock is running."

Quote from Thought for Today website

A Wednesday List

1. I do post in random streams of consciousness. I don't post everything I think because sometimes that stream comes while I am washing dishes and then 'boom! like that!' it is gone. Sometimes it comes again, sometimes not...Sometimes it comes again at a stop light.

2. In my relationship I often find myself caught between the Catch and the 22 ... that is, I catch myself asking my husband 22 times to do something because I am forgetting that silence from him is actually an answer. I just don't always know what that answer is...

3. Found this quote today on the Daily OM sight --

"Our own sense of the truth, is the most important piece when taking in information from external sources." --

and yes, that is what people mostly forget to do. It is part of what is called, "thinking" ...

I read a lot. I read a lot of stuff written by the "experts" ...and I have found, as I have gotten older, that sometimes it might take me a while to figure out what it is I actually know about the subject, but sometimes, I realize, I know a whole heck of a lot more than I thought I did.

So don't take anything at face value, run it through your thinking process and make it real to you. Understand what it is you know, and why you think you know it ~

and for heavens sake, understand that You are You and I am I and He is He and She is She and not everyone thinks alike. If you learn anything, learn that.

4. Forgive everyone. You are not perfect and neither am I, or they or them.

5. Pray or meditate on good things. Good things for yourself and for everyone you know. Especially if you are aware of a friend in need; whether it be a monetary need or an emotional need, or any kind of something they might be lacking, pray for good things to come.

6. Always be kind. Always. No excuses. I know there are days I have failed at this, and I know I am always sorry. Just sayin' ...

7. Believe that something good is bound to happen. It always will. Your turn will come. Be ready.

In the words of Forest Gump..."It happens."

I had heard the bubbling a few days prior, but there was so much going on, I just passed the information over to my husband,

I said, "Honey, that toilet in there sounds like it's auditioning for a part in a Stephen King novel. It keeps bubbling when no one is around."

I can't pretend that my husband doesn't think I'm a little odd now and then, and most likely, because of all the stuff that was going on during the week - the wedding and company - he said, "I'll check it." And most likely, had to be called on to check on something else for someone else.

Then it happened.

Something really weird, out of nowhere, the toilet got the part in the movie (unbeknownst to Mr. King) and began bubbling forth that stuff that Forest Gump had stepped in -and the tub from one bathroom began to participate ... from here, I have no wish to cloud my mind with the details, but let's just say, I was shocked and dismayed and much, much Lysol was sprayed ...

However, I did not freak out. I mean, there was no point in that --

Then we found, the same as life is layered with every action equalling a reaction, the chain of horror continued because as we were dealing with what was going on in one bathroom ...

and you think you are safe ... you walk into another room, and your carpet in soaking wet ... and you stand puzzled for a minute, and then you realize something wicked this way came....you hesitate, look further and then do what all wives do....you call your husband's name~! (really loud)

I'll spare the in between, but the terrible ooze made its way to my mother in law's little cottage as well, as we are all on the same septic tank. But ,she is a woman of great faith and I believe God spared her the overflow.

Meanwhile, the carpets in two rooms ...died a horrible stinking death.

My husband said, "I'll get the rainbow and start working on getting this water out..."

Me, "Uh. No."

My husband, "Well, I suppose we could call a carpet company?"

Me, "No."

My husband, "Well, what then? We can't live with this. "

Me, "No, but we can live without this..."

He looked at me puzzled. "Dear," said I. "I know we have no money for new flooring, or even used flooring, but there is no rule that reaches our lives that says we can't throw this all away and have concrete floors until whenever..."

He nodded his head. Alrighty, then. Big pile of trash on the curb. (And don't think moving furniture from two rooms isn't difficult when you live in a tiny house...)

I lost several towels, two sets of flannel sheets and plenty of miscellaneous rag towels, but oh well, you know. I do regret that for reasons that make another story, my bed spread was on the floor, also, but, again, oh well.

So, that's it. Forest was right. It happens.

Some Official Wedding photos

Matthew Ennis was the professional photographer that photographed the wedding. If you click on his name, you will come to his site --

Then click Wedding and the names Bill and Adrienne will come up. Click that if it doesn't start.

I loved this photos -- and I love the song on his website.

The Wedding ~ (Not so great photos)

The above photo is my granddaughter having a good time at the reception.


This is a behind the scenes shot of the people taking pictures aside from the photographer which if you look closely, you might be able to find the fellow in there.

This was his first wedding. He is an accomplished photographer of other things, and I can't remember what they are right now, but the kids had found his ad which said he was looking for wedding experience to add to his resume, so if anyone would like their wedding shot for free - please call him. And since the budget was tight, that sounded like they might give it a try.

This next one is of my #2 son and my only daughter ~


... walking down the aisle together. She was actually freezing. This might be one of the few shots in which you can't tell. As you can see, the guys were casual as well. They were instructed to wear their shirts out and sandals. The girls also wore sandals.

And now the bride ~


Okay, well, someone had to dress up ~ this is a shot of my new daughter in law right after my son answered, "I do."

Behind her is the photographer.

If you look closely at the bride -- well, you might have to click on the photo -- you will see that she has a tear in her eye. She really does love my son.

The wedding was simple and elegant, as I had mentioned before, featuring a sky that was clear with just the perfect amount of white streaks from the brush strokes of clouds. The breezes from the inter-coastal waters were cooler than we expected, but the day was just so beautiful no one will remember that it was windy and they were freezing.

My photos were not so great. I didn't have anything on the right settings. I really don't even know why I tried to take photos.

But at least you can see the lovely sunshine yellow dresses with the navy blue sashes. The bride looked like icing on a wedding cake. Just beautiful.

Weddings are always wonderful

Yes, they are. My first born son and his lovely lady, who is now my wonderful daughter in law, were married yesterday. The wedding was simply done but just so elegant as simple always proves to be. It was an outside ceremony by the water.

But, I have to say ~ I am glad that is DONE ... and I mean that in a good way.

Everyone who has gone through a wedding knows there is always some crazy stuff going on behind the scenes. Life can't happen without the backstage commotion.

The guys and girls in the wedding party went out on St. Patrick's day. That was interesting. I stayed home with my granddaughter, but did not escape hearing the stories that came back.

I know there are some people out there who would be none to excited about hearing that their two sons came in second in the beer pong contest. But, it is not their normal activity, so I was not to freaked out, and since I have decided to live my life without regrets, I have moved on.

But, they all came back laughing and telling stories of how my boys are Irish, and since it was St. Paddy's day, the crowd was egging them on. And, I also know, they won't be doing that again for a long, long while! Their private lessons told them so.

Both my daughter in law and son had a great group of people as their attendants. The attendants were family and friends. Good friends, really good friends, and family is always precious. All brothers and sisters were in the wedding party. My son's best man was his best friend since 8th grade. I really enjoyed these 10 young people. They were all funny, kind, smart and witty and just so friendly.

And, different from each other! My son's two closest friends were telling me how different they are from my son. His friends are both Republicans and my son is a Democrat. They have different strategies and ideas for business and dealing with money investments and sports teams and some other such things I can't remember. But, they get along so great! One would never guess they hold such difference of opinions. It certainly can give one such hope for the world, you know?

I'll have to write up more details later as I remember them. My mind is still crawling back to find me. It's been in hiding for about a week.

If it's Friday ....

...I must be in the stress zone by now.

1. Today my #1 son is getting married. I tried really, really hard to take it easy through this week, but I'm the type of person who pushes that stress inward so basically I have a mouth full of cold sores!

It's nothing other than the way I am made. I stress for everyone around me and have a tendency to doubt myself. But in the end, I know all will be well and good, and that the things remembered about this day, this week, will only be the good things.

2. My husband has been a saint through all this. You know, sometimes, I get irritated by him and things he does ~ things that don't amount to a hill of beans but wives get silly about wanting their hanging plants moved ~

but, I have to say to the world, when my train is speeding down the track, my husband steps in like the zen master he is and switches my direction to safety mode without so much as creating a wave on the water. His way of stepping up next to me during these times is what makes us a most unique couple. I love him dearly.

Must go ~ time to get ready.

Why do you spank your child?

That's what I would like to ask parents who decide to spank. Why do you use that method of discipline? Each set of parents needs to answer this question for themselves. Spanking is such a major step in the relationship between a parent and a child, a parent really needs to consider the time to evaluate this question.
I want to start out the posts on this topic by clarifying - This is all Just My Humble Opinion. Some may think it is not so humble of me to say they should not spank under any circumstances, but at this point in my life, I have come to this opinion, and I stand behind it.

Who am I and where did I get this idea that spanking is wrong? I have thought about it and thought about it, and after what happened to Lydia Schatz, I have decided that I will lend my voice to say no to spanking. I realize that little Lydia was beaten to death, but from the information that has been provided so far, her parents had considered it a whipping or a spanking. But this is not about them directly. This is about spanking and not wanting to stand on the side of it being a correct form of discipline.

I have three grown children, one granddaughter (whom I write about on another blog, and I will write about how I discipline her and what is working and what is not). I have a great marriage. I have a great relationship with my children (ages 33, 23 and 20).

I have nieces, nephews, and great nephews. I have babysat and cared for all my nieces and nephews and great nephews, and have helped in the rearing of one great nephew. I am happy that I was allowed to be a part of his life. I love my family dearly, and they love me.

I love children and always have. I am endeared to them naturally. I help take care of my granddaughter and two of my nephews on a daily basis. I volunteer one day a week in a kindergarten class (I would volunteer more, if I had the time).

I am an observer of people and their interactions. I have read many books on interpersonal relationships and understanding life and am currently still reading these types of books and have had a long interest in how the brain does actually work. As the brain actually does work, you know, but it works by recording information that we put in it, which is then coupled with information that is hard wired in us. I believe we could say, we are all born with a pre-existing condition ~ a personality dealt to us by things beyond our control. Our DNA. Our blueprint, if you will.

But the situation is that we don't get a copy of this blueprint for our children. We are called upon to figure out who they are and what works out best for them in this job of bringing up our children. Each one of them is unique and individual from the beginning, from their first breath. They are separate beings from us, and we are responsible for them. They are separate beings from each other. No two are alike.

We, as parents or caregivers or teachers or anyone who interacts with or works with children, we who are anywhere near children, it is us who are putting things in their brains that will affect them for the rest of their lives. We are building a person. That is a great responsibility.

I did use the method of spanking my children for a brief time. So, I have asked myself, "Why did you do that?"

Answer: I thought I was supposed to do that. Just that simple. (Or just that stupid, if you prefer.) I was spanked (and pinched) in my upbringing. If I had it to do all over again, I would not have spanked my children. I listened to others instead of thinking for myself. I finally came to a point during the time I was raising my children that I said to myself, "you know, what? ...this is not what I want to do."

I had read James Dobson and learned about the spanking spoon at my church. I was around families at church who thought spanking was represented in God's word. One day someone handed me a book by the Pearl's. I didn't read it cover to cover. I felt there was something really wrong there. The whole picture of spanking began to seem wrong to me, and I stopped considering spanking as a punishment I would use.

So, for those who spank: Please ask yourselves ~

1. Where did I get the idea that spanking a child was a good thing?

2. Why would I think that taking an object and striking a child's body would be a correct form of discipline?

3. When I think my child is disobeying me, or having a tantrum, or extended his hand to touch something dangerous, like an electrical cord, why do I think that striking the child is the correct thing to do?

Whatever the reasons you might say yes to spanking, look into your own mind and heart and answer those questions for yourself. I would love to know the reasons why any parent feels they have to spank their child, strike their child, hit their child. I know what my reasons were, and I don't agree with any of them. I felt desperate to have good children and wanted to learn how to do this. I was foolish to think that spanking should be a part of that equation.

Perhaps you were spanked, and you are thinking, "well, I turned out okay, soooo..." And I say, "So what?" Is this little child you? Are you your parent? You are not your parent, and your little child in a new person. Think about a world where a child grows up and is not hit. Why not think about that? Why can't it be that way?"

Answer the questions honestly.

Each of you should decide for yourselves why you cannot consider or learn or choose an alternate method of discipline. Ask your yourselves, why do I have to spank? What is in my way that I can't learn to be more patient with my child and apply other forms of discipline or correction or teaching?

As I stated in another post ~ I am going to stand up against spanking, striking, hitting, whipping, swatting, paddling, or whatever it is one would call taking an object and administering pain to a child's body part. On that, I stand up and say "No". Do not do this. I encourage you to find a new method of discipline.

"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression."
Dr. Haim Ginott

Spanking for discipline?

On a serious note, I have been reading around the blogs about the issue of spanking since the death of 7 year old Lydia Schatz, whipped to death by her parents who are now charged with murder. Just google her name, and you will come upon a multitude of links talking about this.

This awful happening has brought up the issue of spanking on a lot of blogs. Spanking - yes? or Spanking - no?

I say, 'no' ~ not under any circumstances. I'll post more of my thoughts later when I have more time. But, I do want to be a voice that might persuade people to think of another way to discipline, so I will get to it.

A lot of people with opinions about spanking have no more credentials than I do. They are just parents reading a book that says something about what someone else thinks, or grandparents, or aunts or uncles, or people who have lived ~~

Some of the people who write books that people are reading to help them make the decision to spank really have no more education on this matter than I do.

So, that said ~ I'll be giving my thoughts on the matter, if for no one else but the future generations of my family who will be read this blog.

Why I have so little time right now...

Hah! That's how I feel! Like there are two babies running around here. I cannot imagine how people with lots of babies do manage. They are blessed though, truly.

1. This past weekend there was much activity in my yard. My yard looks great, but I still have this insatiable need for more flowers. I put in different species of butterfly plants. Right now, I have no home set up for hatching the caterpillars, so I have been taking them to the school, and they are taking care of them. I have several species to it gets interesting and beautiful out there.

2. One of the reasons for the extra yard activity is that #1 son is getting married this Friday. Family and friends have started coming in today. Busy, busy, busy, lots of smiling and hugging. I cannot believe I am already tired!

3. I rarely have a week in which every day has something already in it, and now this week, I have things added to the things that have been added to the things of the things already in the week~! My calendar looks like a cave painting!! Please don't ask me to even pencil you in!!

A Wednesday List

1. I do post in random streams of consciousness. I don't post everything I think because sometimes that stream comes while I am washing dishes and then 'boom! like that!' it is gone. Sometimes it comes again, sometimes not...Sometimes it comes again at a stop light.

2. In my relationship I often find myself caught between the Catch and the 22 ... that is, I catch myself asking my husband 22 times to do something because I am forgetting that silence from him is actually an answer. I just don't always know what that answer is...

3. Found this quote today on the Daily OM sight --

"Our own sense of the truth, is the most important piece when taking in information from external sources." --

and yes, that is what people mostly forget to do. It is part of what is called, "thinking" ...

I read a lot. I read a lot of stuff written by the "experts" ...and I have found, as I have gotten older, that sometimes it might take me a while to figure out what it is I actually know about the subject, but sometimes, I realize, I know a whole heck of a lot more than I thought I did.

So don't take anything at face value, run it through your thinking process and make it real to you. Understand what it is you know, and why you think you know it ~

and for heavens sake, understand that You are You and I am I and He is He and She is She and not everyone thinks alike. If you learn anything, learn that.

4. Forgive everyone. You are not perfect and neither am I, or they or them.

5. Pray or meditate on good things. Good things for yourself and for everyone you know. Especially if you are aware of a friend in need; whether it be a monetary need or an emotional need, or any kind of something they might be lacking, pray for good things to come.

6. Always be kind. Always. No excuses. I know there are days I have failed at this, and I know I am always sorry. Just sayin' ...

7. Believe that something good is bound to happen. It always will. Your turn will come. Be ready.

From the School Front...

The first time I saw the little fellow was last year. I was on my way to pick up my nephews from the library at their school when I heard the screaming. One could not miss the commotion.

In the cleared hallway, you could see a tiny figure kicking and screaming in front of the library room doors. Three teachers were squatted around him. No one touching him, they were each trying, individually to talk to him, as no one is allowed to bring him up into their arms and hug him. It seems he did not want to leave the library and took a fit about it. That day, the school officials had to call the police who ended up carrying the child to the office.

I had been volunteering at my nephews school that year working in the office and encountered that little boy in the office quite often. He was never still. Ever. And, he is just as cute as a button and smart. He continued the rest of the year with these encounters of fits, and I would often see the counselor carrying him down the hall, kicking and screaming, as what seemed to become his usual pattern. And, I learned, there is a certain way in which the counselor is supposed to carry him. If he cannot get the child in that position, and the child is still carrying on, then the police will be called into the school to handle the situation (your tax dollars at work).

Then he began to break that pattern and so began running off school grounds. This little tiny fellow running away, with adults running after him, as he headed off toward the wooded areas that surrounded the school. And, think now, teachers cannot leave their charges, so help would have to be gathered quickly to accomplish this task.

This year, I volunteer in one of the kindergarten classrooms. As I was walking to the library yesterday with a bunch of papers to bound into booklets, I heard screaming. I stopped and looked around and at first didn't see anything, but knew that definitely was screaming coming from somewhere.

I paused at the library door. The hallways were empty. The screaming was now turning a corner. And I saw Mr. R, the main counselor, walking slowing towards the office with kicking legs and arms extending out in front of him. It was that little boy.

I enquired later as to what had happened.

What happened was the usual. His grandmother is called to the school to pick him up and take him home. She is 80 and walks with a cane. When she came in yesterday, the little fellow decided he did not want to go home and would not leave the office he was waiting in.

Grandma turned to the reception at the desk and said, "What the child needs is a good swat on the backside." The little fellow was finally talked into leaving the office and went home with his grandmother.

He is six years old.

Health Care Reform

I don't know what to say. I am not against Health Care Reform. So there. I said that.

Does that make me a socialist/communist/government-clueless individual? Leftist/Marxist dumb-dough? At this point, I am not really sure what it makes me, but since I am in debt because of medical issues ~ I can say I have felt the crisis of which people are speaking.

I found this little read interesting. It just seems that health insurance goes wild now and then, and ummmm, because it is something that people really, really, really need, well, that allows them to go wilder. No?

My heart goes out to those in my situation, and to those whose situations are way worse than mine.

I got up this morning and felt fairly normal. I didn't feel any 'ist' or anything at all. I felt kind and good and happy that I have my family to love and who love me.

I begrudge no one ill will. I wish that those that are sick could go to the doctor and not worry, and I also wish that those that think they might be sick could go to the doctor and not worry. So, I'm an 'ist' of some kind?

No, I don't want government in my personal business, but I do want my police force, my fire department, my roads worked on, my libraries open (Glenn-Beck-you-idiot), and yes, even the public schools. Although, I homeschooled my children for most of their years, there are others that don't or can't or don't know how or won't and then what we would do?

But there you go ~ if those thoughts make me an 'ist' of the bad ilk, then ...

I don't know what to say.

A Sharingly Good Idea

Dana at Rosecommon Acres has just posted a fantastic idea with her Share the Harvest and Challenge Giveaway.

I really like her idea ~~

she writes: "This Spring, we’re still deep in a recession with unemployment continuing to rise, and I wanted to do a little something to encourage you to help your neighbors and community by doing something gardeners have done for as long as there have been gardens: Share the Harvest! Except rather than “just” giving out of your unplanned surplus, I’d like you to consider planning now to plant a little extra, an extra row, an extra tomato plant, whatever you can squeeze in, so that you have a little more to give."

I really like that part about planning to give. Nothing keeps your heart stronger and motivated to peace than knowing you are giving to someone else.

I'm an uncommon gardener. I don't know much about gardening rules and live in sandy soil. I have had some success with lettuce, tomatoes and peppers (chili, red and green) and herbs. Once I grew a cantaloupe. I have a picture of it on my blog somewhere. It grew from my compost pile. I was so excited, I could hardly stand it!

Many things failed to actually produce anything but lovely foliage, but I was happy with that. However, as Dana mentioned in her post, the economic situation of the day would be made easier by free food from our yard.

This year, we have lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach and potatoes sprouting up already. Oh, and I bought a blueberry plant, but it is the kind that needs another plant to produce its fruit. I think I'll look through the catalog that Dana mentioned and maybe order some other things.

Dana has suggested that others link to her post and really dig in and share.

Brief notes from the Captain's Log

Star date ~

a Monday AM on the planet earth,

where many people abide and try to survive. Some are waking up as I am, some are laying their heads down to sleep...

somewhere in the world today, a child will go without something he needs. Lord my prayer is that someone will fill that need for them. Someone will hug them and listen and be there to make things right.

The sun shines through my windows and even though there are streaks, I can see the beauty of the sun and the sky through the panes. I can see the light and the love. I don't even really have to strain my eyes to see it. It's there.

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross ...

Sometimes it's buried so deep in hurt and neglect and unloving situations that someone does not see it right away. I pray that the light and the love in each of us will be found by another before it's too late to enjoy it and feel it and experience it, while we are here for now in this realm.

In this place where I live, I have so many reasons to look forward. I am rich in those things that money can't buy. I have love. I have love to receive from my family, and I have love to give them. It overflows from my heart and my homestead. I mark it on my door that those that enter this house will be loved and cared for and offered more than they need. I will give as much love as God allows me to give, and I am finding him to be a source that is unending.

Through my life, I have felt pain, I have been physically and emotionally hurt by others but one day, I discovered that without love, one has nothing. I discovered that love is a never ending stream of consciousness with powers and properties to heal, and if one allows the beauty of love to flow through and shine out like light ~ one can change the world for the better without so much more strain than a smile and a helping hand.

It may not look to be changed in the minute ~ but love is timeless and active in time. Think of love as light.

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space. It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished. ~Michael Strassfeld ...

You never see it travel, but you know it does. You never see how fast it moves, but you know it does. Love and light travel together through all the broken parts of us, through all the hearts that are born ...

"Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There's a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."
~~Leonard Cohen ...

Ahhh, the morning ~
rich in great thoughts.

Thoughts of others...

1. In the United States today, there is a pervasive tendency to treat children as adults, and adults as children. The options of children are thus steadily expanded, while those of adults are progressively constricted. The result is unruly children and childish adults. ~Thomas Szasz

2. It is not easy to be crafty and winsome at the same time, and few accomplish it after the age of six. ~John W. Gardner and Francesca Gardner Reese

3. "I must do something" always solves more problems than "Something must be done." ~Author Unknown

4. Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's addressed to someone else. ~Ivern Ball

5. I don't see the point of being a human being if you're not going to be responsible to your fellow human beings. Selfishness thefts away the human and reduces you to just a being. ~Candea Core-Starke

A reason for tenderness

The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him. ~~Pablo Casals ..

My granddaughter copies just about everything I do now. It's amazing that every word she says does mean something. I feel frustrated at the times when I can't understand them.

When she's pointing and saying something and I can't figure it out ~ I'm thinking to myself, what must it be like for her? 15 months old. Doubtful you will remember anything about this time but I hope you remember the love.

Movement speaking out against the Pearls

A terrible thing has happened. It's an incident that will be very disturbing to your soul. The story headline reads Paradise parents face murder, torture charges.

A Paradise couple Tuesday were charged with the murder of their 7-year-old adopted daughter during a discipline session at the family home last Friday and the "torture" the previous day of her 11-year-old sister, ....

Finding this out, reading this, just breaks your heart. In the name of discipline a child is killed? How outrageous is that? How cruel is that?

Because of a connection to the philosophy of Michael and Debi Pearl and their "chastisement" theories, there has been a lot of blog activity speaking out against the Pearls and a call for book dealers to stop carrying their material.

Because my head is still all over the place with the thoughts of this horrible, cruel, evil injustice done to this little child, Lydia Schartz, I am going to link others who are speaking out much more clearly than I.

I wish to pass that information on. I am siding with those who wish to speak out against Michael and Debi Pearl. I'm choosing this blog Quiet Garden to link as she is showing a list of other bloggers who are speaking out.

Rebecca's Ramblings has read the Pearl's material and is writing about it on her blog. Tulip Girl has also been following the Pearl's misguided ideas for a long time.

Tulip Girl featured a link to this blog, which tells of this mom's experience with the teachings of the Pearls. Her link here also list others who are speaking out.

In the good and humble opinion of this blogger, any child rearing idea that thinks babies should be spanked needs to be totally disregarded as hogwash. Any child rearing idea that says one should carry a spanking tool around their neck and place one in each room, IMGAHO, should be totally disregarded as hogwash. Now, who, on God's green earth, could not agree with that? I am perplexed to think there would be anyone.

Turtles Can Fly ~ The Movie

I just watched this film, and it was amazing. The story is a hard one. But, truth told is often brutal and ugly and makes you cry.

This is a story of children in a refugee camp that is located in Kurdistan and what they do to survive which is disabling land mines. It takes place just before the American invasion. There are no trained actors in the film. These children are real.

A quote from the director, Bahman Ghobadi:

"This is the first film that has been made in Iraq after the fall of Saddam. Prior to anything, here, I should confess that from a Kurd's point of view, I'm very glad that Saddam's dictatorship has finally fallen. That is when I have decided to make a different kind of film.

I traveled to Iraq along my film and camera crew in order to take a variety of images from different subject matters. We captured many shocking images, if we chose to display all of them, they would be so unbearable to the audiences. Whatever is seen in the film is absolutely and truly documented and the comedy and funny parts have mostly come from the local people and some from myself."

There were no Special Features to tell me about the makers of the film and the fantastic young actors, so I Googled for information and was surprised to find that, although, the film was given many awards (scroll down) and a 90% on the Rotten Tomatoes film thermometer, some people thought it was supportive of the American invasion of Iraq.

This is where my dumbness begins to show as I cannot understand, how, if one watched the film, they would get this idea.

My emotions on this topic run deeply and wildly and my expressions may not be coherent, so I have linked others who give information better than I ~~

Roger Ebert gives a great detailed review.

This article from a London Film Festival writer Shahram Heidar gives information I was happy to read:

With financial help from friends and colleagues, the blind toddler has been operated on his eyes in Baghdad and hopefully soon will regain his eye sight. We also supplied health insurance for the handicapped kids so that they would also receive a little financial help for the rest of their lives. The young girl who acted in the film lives in "Soleymanieh" and holds a job at the local TV channel and the youngster boy who played "Satellite" desires to become a director. He is to accompany me in my next film as first assistant director.

We have a responsibility to children in this world, do we not? I did not support the invasion in Iraq; an invasion that would eventually became a war that would be called a war on terror, an abstract term for fear, and then would become what looks like, endless, and God knows I hope I am so wrong about that.

Man has spent much of his time on this planet robbing the innocence of children. I do not understand this concept, and I am grieved at the thought.

Watch this film if you think you can stand becoming emotionally connected with the world.