Happy Thursday

* I love to see the evidences of God. They are everywhere. People. Nature. Words. Circumstances. Some days I feel like I'm squinting to see them, and other days they are like flashing neon signs. They're all beautiful. I have to remember to stop and breath it all in.

* Met another neighbor. I'm in love with him. He IS older than my dad, but ... well, let me explain. He is a retired science professor. Does research at UT in his spare time. Has built a cabin over near the water. Has a greenhouse. The cabin has an outdoor shower and a composting toilet (he had me at "composting toilet"). He gave us two banana trees. Walked us down one dock, through the woods to the other. Teaches my kids something new with every breath. I heart him.

* Dr. Bob is thinking about finishing the cabin and then renting it. You guys will be the first to know!

* Presh just took some mail to Willie. Came back, "Mom, you will never believe this. I knocked and I could hear him running around inside, trying to get his pants on. I gave him his mail and he didn't even have the buckle done. He's such a TOOT!" I have no idea where she gets that. I mean, it's not like I call him a toot constantly ... or anything.

* Mar had several days off restriction and then chose to go back on today. Several weeks ago, when we instituted the "all trash talk, fits, or blatant disrespect through noise or body has to spend 30 minutes in the field," we watched much of it disappear. Every now and then she'll get that glimmer in her eye and I'll see her want to stomp or what-not, and I'll start sniffing around her. "Do I smell someone who needs some field time to get all of that out?" And she reigns it in. Now, she spends a good half hour just crying in her bed, when she starts restriction. Nothing disruptive, and it seems to help her. She is doing some heavy grieving over leaving some of these behaviors behind. Just THINKING about it makes her miss them. We're in a little routine, and will let her keep practicing life without them ... in small increments.

* Andy Roon's tics continue. It's a little on the unusual side. They started about 9 months ago, and have stayed steady. I guess, perhaps, he had more motor tics over the years than we gave credit too. Twitchy Mac helped me to train myself to block out the vocal tics, so we're all tolerating them swimmingly. We're quite a show, this family of ours.

* Have I mentioned that I knocked over a shelf last week and broke out a window? No?

* Okay - off to decide where to put the banana trees.

The Making of Christine's Dreads

WFMW

Magical Milk Pic-o-the-Week

This photo is of a mother named Norah. She lives in Uganda. During this little snippet of time, she was nursing two of her babies ... she has triplets.

(photo by DrSmyhre)

A day I have never dreaded

It has been years in the yearning.

I started my dreads this past week.

We are slowly adding them. I say "slowly," because I am doing them and involving my kids as much as they like. My chocolate girls, in particular, are a vital part of this process. I tell them I love their hair, just exactly the way it is. I hug their braids as they pile down from their scalp. I giggle with them when they stick up after a good night's sleep. I love feeling that puffy goodness, which turns and flips in all different directions.

And now I reflect that beauty.

So many other reasons for locking my hair ... many of which involve a simplified lifestyle, and no longer being enslaved to my roots.

So, there you go. My big hair announcement.




Happy Monday.

My thoughts on "The Gay's" adopting and marrying

Thought I'd follow up on my recent post. As you can imagine, I've received a gazillion few emails. Most are referring to insurance, but I'll hit on the HOMOsapiens today. Before I start, let me say that there are plenty of you who will absolutely disagree with me on this. Heck - I used to disagree with me on this! It is where I am with Christ. I do not believe it makes me "ahead" of you or "behind" you. It's just me ... on my journey ... with my Creator. I have a habit of getting snarky (that's what the unpopular kids in school learned to use as a means of fitting in - sad attempts at humor). When it comes to these issues, I never want to hurt anyone - ever, much less disappoint anyone. However, it will happen in this post today. We disagree, and I think that is okay. Maybe you don't ... and that's okay, too.

So, on with the show ...



I love, love, LOVE it when I hear someone use the phrase "The Gay's." Sounds like you're talking about "The Partridge Family." No, it's not politically correct by any means, but I will say it's one of the cutest forms of uncomfortable labeling I have ever heard.

"The Gay's."

heh. Still makes me giggle. Kinda' like how Willie refers to my youngest as "The Little Black One." Soooooo off the charts inappropriate, but genuine, none-the-less. And it is said endearingly.

If you know me personally, or for any length of time, you know that I think it's fine for anyone to adopt ... as long as they have proven themselves capable. Period. Beyond that, I have no argument. So, yeah. That means I'm cool with "The Gay's" raising kids. I'm cool with single parents raising kids. I'm cool with grandparents raising kids. Every child and every home is different. No system is perfect and there are mess-up's. Sometimes there are catastrophic mess-up's. Yet, there are wonderful adults who daily commit themselves to the lifetime of children ... and it is beautiful.

Not everyone SHOULD adopt, but for the people who are qualified, prepared and willing, I think those children are blessed. If I thought that only those who believe and follow Jesus Christ, and are active in their local church are the only people who should be parents ... then I should be trying to pass laws to stop any other person in any other circumstances from adopting.

Yet, that's not what people do. Their concerns just lie with "The Gay's."

I believe you can have a different theology ... heck, a different faith system (or no faith system) from me and be a great parent. I know lots of Christ followers. I would not give all of them a recommendation to an adoption agency. Not by a long shot. Wouldn't give all of my gay friends a recommendation to an adoption agency. And even in that, it doesn't mean those people won't reach a point where they would be able to give an adopted child all they need.

Now, because I believe it is absolutely okay for "The Gay's" to adopt, I also believe it is absolutely okay for them to marry.

Ya' know, if marriage had only ever been something practiced by a certain religion, and those churches were the only ones to perform the ceremonies, and any rights or privileges were only church-related, then it wouldn't even be a question. Yet, marriage in America is all twisted up in our system of government. If you are married, you receive, on average, 400 legal and economic rights and privileges on the state level and 1,000 on the federal level. To deny these rights and privileges does not only affect the parents, but also the children in their homes. It hurts families.

I'm not okay with that. I want to strengthen families, even the ones who do not look like mine. So, I will vote and share my beliefs accordingly. I DO want people to change their mind on these topics, but I also know that others want ME to change my mind on these topics. It just comes down to the vote.

I also realize that some of you have a very burning question: Does Christine believe homosexuality is a sin?

For me, the more thought-provoking question is: Why have I never had a gay friend ask me that? Not once. Ever.

There are some who would say they don't ask because they don't want to know the truth. Oh my goodness, I wholeheartedly disagree. I cannot think of one single friend of mine, who is homosexual, who did NOT grow up in a Christian home ... not one (and I have a slew of "The Gay's" in my circle). They did VBS and Bible Drill and Catechism and church camp. I know that because I know THEM. We know each other. We talk a lot about God and church and Jesus. We also talk about kids and spouses and grocery lists. We have relationship together. We share life. I learn about their history and beliefs and they learn about mine. That is how we get our questions answered.

"The Gay's" ... every single one I know (and I'm sure there are plenty of which I'm unaware in my life), have experienced hurt and pain and confusion beyond anything I can comprehend. They are not considered equal to the rest of us. They lose their jobs. They, and their children, are harassed. They have been demonized. They are labeled as perverts and pedophiles. Statistics are skewed by those who claim the name of Christ to validate these lies. It is a big, horrible, giant mess ...

and I think we keep asking the wrong questions.

"I cannot separate my faith in Jesus of Nazareth from my everyday life, conduct and speech.

I cannot justify loving only those who love me, aiding only my friends, and praying only for fellow Christians.

I have no desire to carry the name of the Son of God to the level of my own base intentions."

-quote from Keith Seabourn's old Larry Poland poster

(photo by am y)

If you build it ...

Build-a-Salad night.




My kids love it. I just keep it bright and fun.

baby spinach
black beans
corn
shredded carrots
sunflower seeds

Doesn't hurt that their parents push them out of the way to make a plate first.

I'm KIDDING.

*ahem* Maybe.

A few questions

How is it this girl can be refused health care coverage ... because of the medications she takes ... to help her with her disorders? How is it they will ONLY cover her once she has been off those meds for six months?

Why are people questioning the need for health care for everyone?


Maybe it's because ... it's not your kid.



Now for a "Where's Waldo," of sorts. Can you find the kids being raised by the married homosexuals?



Come on ... they stand out, don't they?

No?

You mean, they're loved and cared for and have a rockin'-A family?

Really?



I find myself a wee bit frustrated today.

Magical Milk Pic-o-the-Week

(photo by my favorite Kristen at Rage Against the Minivan as well as Mama Manifesto)