All gluten-free -- Ahhhhhh! (& HLA DQ2 & 8 testing)

Today I went to a celiac conference! Although I don't have a definite diagnosis of celiac disease, I learned more today about the disease and about the gluten-free diet (which I've been on for almost 2 years now). It was an encouraging day and ALL of the food there was gluten-free. Lots of samples and a buffet afterwards! It was wonderful! I didn't eat the veggies or salad -- I figured I can (and do) eat those a lot at home. I tried new breads and buns and goodies, and various dishes, all made without a bit of gluten. Whoo-hoo! (only someone on this diet can truly understand how exciting this is!)
Annette Hamm from CHCH TV hosted the day and did a great job! It felt strange to go to a conference by myself but I did meet some new people (the couple that I sat with was from the same town AND have the same gastro doctor as I do!!)
The speakers were Bev Ruffo from the Canadian Celiac Association, Dr. Elena Verdu MD, PhD at McMaster University, Shelly Case, Registered Dietician and author of "The Gluten-Free Diet" (I highly recommend her book -- I've been using it as a resource for a while now and it's great!), and on the panel discussion were Valerie Fines, Dr. Robert Issenman (along with the others). A wealth of knowledge!

The best part? The gluten-free buffet! There was quite a stampede to the buffet table which was kind of funny to me!

*****

RE: HLA DQ2 AND DQ8 TESTING: in January I was told by a staff member at the MDS Laboratory in town that they do indeed do the HLA DQ2 and DQ8 blood testing. By that time, however, my requisition form was out of date. (I've been in the process of acquiring a new one from my doctor.) At the conference on Saturday they mentioned that this testing is not yet available in Canada so I was curious about whether my lab gave me incorrect information. I went back to the lab today and asked them again. This time I spoke to a different woman, who checked the computer database and told me that no, they DO NOT do this testing. Ugh.

Celebrating 20 years!

Today is our 20th wedding anniversary and it's been a great ride! Although Andrew & I are opposites in many ways, we are also very much alike in many ways. He inspires me and makes me laugh -- and makes me so thankful to have him in my life! I don't like to think about life without him.

Over the past years we have seen quite a few marriages around us crumble and succumb to divorce. We've also seen marriages that are obviously a facade for 'good marriage'. Recently someone said to me that 20 years of marriage is 'nothing' and I have to disagree. No it's not major milestones like 25 years or 50 or 60 years, but in this day and age, every year of a successful and happy marriage is a testament to the Lord's goodness in our lives. And it should be celebrated! For a long while I've longed for a marriage mentoring ministry (where older married couples mentor newly married couples, couple to couple) and maybe one day I will be involved in one. I think that encouragement for marriages is so necessary and sorely needed. And often absent, especially when so many newly-married couples come from broken homes and have not seen a solid marriage at work -- first-hand anyway.

I don't have the answers to what exactly makes a good marriage and a lasting one, but I do know that it takes hard work, patience and a genuine concern for the other person in the marriage. There isn't any room for selfishness or a me-attitude. And having the Lord as the center of everything changes how we view each and every situation that arises. I've told many young couples that marriage can be as good (and I think better!) than those pre-marriage dating days -- when you can't wait to see or hear from your beloved! It's true!

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox for now and share some photos with you. I was hoping to don my wedding dress today but the weight loss didn't come as fast as the anniversary did, so maybe next year! Here I wore my dress on our 10th anniversay (the kids called it our 'second wedding' back then! LOL).

The Skipping Rope (& update)

I've had a few blog posts in the works lately, but I haven't had much time to post -- life has taken over. There's the post called 'The Apron', and the one about 'The Bicycle' -- both are partially written down, partially still in my brain. I thought I'd post today about 'The Skipping Rope'.

Spring seems to have arrived here (I say seems because I read recently that since they've been keeping weather records around here, there have only been TWO Aprils in Ontario that haven't had the white stuff...) -- but the calendar says so and so do the kids. First it was the temperature watch -- you know, they see that temperature climbing and they get restless to get outside. Their school work gets done very quickly, so they can enjoy the outdoors. Then the questions start -- can we wear sandels? shorts? tank tops?

Inevitably, after we're through the questions, out come the skipping ropes. Every day. Morning and night. The neighbours knock on the door, the girls whisk outside and they're busy skipping. They bring them along most places that we go. A good, portable game. It's been this way for years.

And I remember back, years ago it seems, doing the very same thing. For me it was in the driveway with friends, and at school. We were always skipping (and playing 'jumpsee' -- but that's another post...).

Anyway, the girls came inside the other night, sad. Why? Well, the trusty skipping rope from MY childhood had broken! It made me think back to those fun times. Skipping with all kinds of friends -- sometimes with friends of friends, kids I didn't know. It was a game that surpassed all other games. There weren't a lot of rules and there wasn't a limit to how many could join in. The more, the merrier. We didn't even consider it as exercise. It was FUN!

For me there were the rhymes that went along with skipping. "Apples, peaches, pears and plums -- tell me when your birthday comes..." and many others. Our girls have a book with all kinds of rhymes and fun skipping tricks to try.

It's been wonderful to see my own kids enjoy the very same skipping rope that I did. And although the one rope has now broken, they did find another one -- another one that was mine when I was a kid! They don't seem to make very long ones now -- or we haven't been able to find them. Today we went to quite a few stores, in search of a replacement rope. But nope, all we could find were cloth skipping ropes or Chinese skipping ropes. I found myself saying 'they don't make them like they used to.' I'm getting old!

Thankfully they found another oldie in the shed. We'll keep looking for a replacement rope. When I was a kid, as soon as spring rolled around (and often before spring arrived), the pretty coloured skipping ropes were on display around the check-outs in most stores. I often got a new one for easter. It brings back memories.

Update: Thanks to Susan at jumprope.com, we now have new skipping ropes! Now if only the weather would cooperate! Here Suzanne skips with her friends - while it's snowing!

Missed Opportunity

Today I missed another opportunity. You're probably wondering what kind of opportunity that I'm talking about. I had an opportunity to tell someone about the Lord -- but I goofed, and didn't use the opportunity. I feel awful. I was talking with a non-Christian woman about life and life's three S's -- sickness, sorrow and sadness. She was telling me that life is meaningless, and I agreed with her -- but I didn't go on and tell her how life can be meaningful...with the Lord. I find it difficult to make a segue in many conversations to spiritual things, but I know that the Lord gave me this opportunity and I didn't use it as I should have. Here was a perfect opportunity and I goofed up. I became tongue-tied. I didn't proclaim His name. I am ashamed.

I received this email this week and it really inspired me. The beautiful and loving care that John gave to his father is very, very touching. But what really inspired me was what he did after he left his father's death bedside. Read on:

By John Piper.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007. 2 a.m.

The big hospital clock in room 4326 of Greenville Memorial Hospital said, with both hands straight up, midnight. Daddy had just taken his last breath. My watch said 12:01, March 6, 2007.

I had slept a little since his last morphine shot at ten. One ear sleeping, one on the breathing. At 11:45, I awoke. The breaths were coming more frequently and were very shallow. I will not sleep again, I thought. For ten minutes, I prayed aloud into his left ear with Bible texts and pleadings to Jesus to come and take him. I had made this case before, and this time felt an unusual sense of partnership with Daddy as I pressed on the Lord to relieve this warrior of his burden.

I finished and lay down. Good. Thank you, Lord. It will not be long. And, grace upon grace, hundreds of prayers are being answered: He is not choking. The gurgling that threatened to spill over and drown him in the afternoon had sunk deep, and now there was simple clear air, shorter and shorter. I listened from where I lay next to him on a foldout chair.

That’s it. I rose and waited. Will he breathe again? Nothing. Fifteen or twenty seconds, and then a gasp. I was told to expect these false endings. But it was not false. The gasp was the first of two. But no more breaths. I waited, watching. No facial expressions. His face had frozen in place hours before. One more jerk. That was all. Perhaps an eyebrow twitch a moment later. Nothing more.

I stroked his forehead and sang,
My gracious Master and My God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of thy name.

Daddy, how many thousands awaited you because of your proclamation of the great gospel. You were faithful. You kept the faith, finished the race, fought the fight. “Make friends for yourselves with unrighteous mammon that they might receive you into eternal habitations.”

I watched, wondering if there could be other reflexes. I combed his hair. He always wore a tie. The indignities of death are many, but we tried to minimize them. Keep the covers straight. Pull the gown up around his neck so it looks like a sharp turtleneck. Tuck the gappy shoulder slits down behind so they don’t show. Use a wet washcloth to keep the secretions from crusting in the eyelashes. And by all means, keep his hair combed. So now I straightened his bedding and combed his hair and wiped his eyes and put the mouth moisturizer on his lips and tried to close his mouth. His mouth would not stay closed. It had been set in that position from hours and hours of strained breathing. But he was neat. A strong, dignified face.

I called my sister Beverly first, then Noël. Tearfully we gave thanks. Get a good night’s rest. I will take care of things here with the doctor and the nurses and the mortuary arrangements. I will gather all our things and take them back to the motel. “I wish I had been there,” Beverly lamented. Yes. That is good. But don’t let that feeling dominate now. In the days to come, you will look back with enormous gratitude for the hundreds of hours you gave serving Daddy. It is my turn to be blessed.

The nurse came to give him his scheduled morphine shot. As she walked toward me I said, “He won’t need that any more.” “Is he gone?” “Yes. And thank you so much for your ministry to him.” “I will notify the doctor so he can come and verify. I will leave you alone.” “Yes, thank you.”

The doctor in his green frock came at 12:40 and listened with his stethoscope to four different places on Daddy’s chest. Then he pulled back the sheet and said, “I must apply some pain stimuli to his nail base to see if he reacts. Then he used his flashlight to test Daddy’s eyes. “The nurse supervisor will come and get the information we need about the mortuary.” Thank you.
Alone again, I felt his cheeks. Finally cool after the fevered and flushed fight. I felt his nose, as though I were blind. Then I felt mine. I thought, very soon my nose will be like your nose. It is already like your nose.

The nurse came. No thank you, an autopsy will not be necessary. Mackey Mortuary on Century Drive. My name is John, his son. My cell phone is . . . . “You may stay as long as you like.” Thank you. I will be leaving soon.

Now I just look at him. Nothing has changed in his face here in the darkness of this dim light. Just no movement. But I have watched his chest so long—even now, was that a slight rise and fall? No, surely not. It’s like sailing on the sea for days. On the land the waves still roll.

He has four-day’s beard and dark eyes. I lift an eyelid to see him eye to eye. They are dilated.
Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for sixty-one years of faithfulness to me. I am simply looking into his face now. Thank you. You were a good father. You never put me down. Discipline, yes. Spankings, yes. But you never scorned me. You never treated me with contempt. You never spoke of my future with hopelessness in your voice. You believed God’s hand was on me. You approved of my ministry. You prayed for me. Everyday. That may be the biggest change in these new days: Daddy is no longer praying for me.

I look you in the face and promise you with all my heart: Never will I forsake your gospel. O how you believed in hell and heaven and Christ and cross and blood and righteousness and faith and salvation and the Holy Spirit and the life of holiness and love. I rededicate myself, Daddy, to serve your great and glorious Lord Jesus with all my heart and with all my strength. You have not lived in vain. Your life goes on in thousands. I am glad to be one.

I kissed him on his cold cheek and on his forehead. I love you, Daddy. Thank you.

It was 12:55 as I walked out of room 4326. Just before the elevators on the fourth floor in the lounge, a young man in his twenties was sitting alone listening to his iPod with headphones. I paused. Then I walked toward him. He stopped his music. Hello, my father just died. One of the greatest tributes I could pay to him is to ask you, Are you ready to meet God? “Yes, Sir.” That would make my father very happy. You know Jesus is the only way? “Yes, Sir.” Good. Thank you for letting me talk to you.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I stopped. The moon was a day past full. It was cold—for Greenville. I looked at this great hospital. Thank you, Lord, for this hospital. I will probably never lay eyes on it again.

~~~
I want to use these opportunities for Him. It makes me feel awful to know that someone might die, not having heard The Message. I could have said that even the bible talks about life being meaningless (Ecclesiastes) but that through Jesus' death on the cross, we CAN have meaningful lives AND eternal life.

I'm sorry Lord. I know that you would have given me all of the words that I needed. Help me to trust You more. And to not waste the opportunities that you give to me.

Tech Support

~ Here's a funny one for you!

(Disclaimer: This post is in no way indicative of the condition of my own marriage!! :) )

RE: Installing Husband

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance -- particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as Romance 9.5 and Personal Attention 6.5 and then installed undesirable programs such as NFL 5.0, NBA 3.0 and Golf Clubs 4.1. Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2.6 simply crashes the system. I've tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail. What can I do?

Signed,
Desperate

Dear Desperate:
First keep in mind, Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while Husband 1.0 is an Operating System. Please enter the command: "http: I Thought You Loved Me.HTML" and try to download Tears 6.2 and don't forget to install the Guilt 3.0 update. If that application works as designed, Husband 1.0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5. But remember, overuse of the above application can cause Husband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5, Happy Hour 7.0 or Beer 6.1. Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, DO NOT install Mother-in-law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources). Also, do not attempt to reinstall the Boyfriend 5.0 program. These are unsupported applications and will crash Husband 1.0.In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend Food 3.0 and Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Good Luck, Tech Support

"Him"

How do I start this post? Well, I'm posting about a few things here -- first of all, this my response to Making History's 'Image of God' tag http://making-history.blogspot.com/ . I've pondered this tag for a while now and this is what I've come up with: I don't believe that any image can summarize or depict God. Nor do I believe that we should try to depict our awesome God with pictures. BUT, I do believe that through a close relationship with Him we can express what He means to us. Of course no amount of words, flowery or otherwise, can ever summarize how great God really is.

I just received one of my favourite CDs back from a friend so I've been listening to it again and reflecting on my own unworthiness and HIS amazing love for me! I am absolutely nothing without Him -- and I am reminded of it over and over in my life. I know that the world would say that I have a self-esteem problem but I know that any thing that is worthy in me is only because of Him. I can't convince anyone of that - but I have faith, His faith, and I know - and besides, only He can change hearts. But I do hope that anything good in me is only a reflection of Him in me. Thus 'Entirely for Him'. That is what I want to be. Only for Him.

AND, my pondering has also come up because of some medical 'stuff' in our families (I'll leave the details for now). I am comforted to know that ALL of our days are numbered by the almighty One and that nothing, absolutely nothing, comes without the will of our Heavenly Father!!! What a comfort that is!

So here is my contribution to the Images tag. I thank the Lord for holding me in the palm of His hand! What better place is there to be? No place.


You Surround Me (Interspersed with Gaelic)

Karen Padgett, Daphne Rademaker and Brian Doerksen

Ta tu thart orm (You're all around me)
Ta tu i gceartlar mo chroi (In the centre of my heart)
You surround me
Ta tu thart orm (You're all around me)
You indwell me (Ta tu i gceartlar mo chroi)
(In the center of my heart)
You surround me

You surround me Ta tu thart orm
(You're all around me)
You indwell me
You're beside me Ta tu ag mo thaobh
(You're at my side)
Ever present always near

You're the whisper Is tu ag cogar (You whisper)
Calling my name gently Ag glaoch m'ainm
(Calling my name)
Love eternal Gra go siorai (Love eternal)
Reaching to me jealous for me Ag faire orm (Watching over me)
Go headmhar dom (Jealous for me)

I will stay with You forever
Arm in arm we'll walk together
You will never let me go

I can't live my life without You
My whole will to live is for You
you've awakened me to know

You surround me You indwell me
You're beside me ever present always near

You're the whisper calling my name gently
Love eternal reaching to me jealous for me

Is tu ag cogar (You whisper)
Go samh m'ainm (My name gently)
Gra go siorai (Love eternal)

I can't live my life without You
I can't live my life without You
I can't live my life without You

A Dhai fanfaidh me leat choiche
(God I will stay with you forever)
Lamh ar lamh le cheile (Arm in arm together)
Ni scaoilfidh tu me riamh
(You will never let me go)
Ni fiu ni fiu mo bheatha gan tu (My life is not worth it not worth it without You)
Thug tu cuis 's ciall dom' shaoil-se
(You gave meaning and sense to my life)
Mhuscail tu mo chroi (You awakened my heart)

*****

Faithful One

Brian Doerksen

Faithful One so unchanging
Ageless One You're my rock of peace
Lord of All I depend on You

I call out to You again and again
I call out to You again and again

You are my rock in times of trouble
You lift me up when I fall down
All through the storm
Your love is the anchor
My hope is in You alone

*****

Your Faithfulness
Brian Doerksen

I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing, filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

I don't know if these clouds mean rain
If they do, will they pour down blessing or pain?
I don't know what the future holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness

I don't know how or when I'll die
Will it be a thief, or will I have a chance to say goodbye?
No, I don't know how much time is left
But in the end, I will know your faithfulness

When darkness overwhelms my soul
When thoughts and storms of doubt
Still I trust You are always faithful, always faithful

Certain as the rivers reach the sea
Certain as the sunrise in the east
I can rest in your faithfulness
Surer than a mother's tender love
Surer than the stars still shine above
I can rest in your faithfulness

I don't know what this day will bring
Will it be disappointing, filled with longed for things?
I don't know what tomorrow holds
Still I know I can trust Your faithfulness

*****

Psalm 13

(How Long O Lord)

Brian Doerksen, Steve Mitchinson, Karen Mitchinson and Daphne Rademaker

How long oh Lord will you forget me

How long oh Lord

Will You look the other way

How long oh Lord

Must I wrestle with my thoughts

And every day

Have such sorrow in my heart

Look on me and answer

Oh God my Father

Bring light to my darkness

Before they see me fall

But I trust in Your unfailing love

Yes my heart will rejoice

Still I sing of Your unfailing love

You have been good

You will be good to me.

*****

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace.

(Helen Lemmel)

For My Valentine!

"She was only sixteen, only sixteen, but she loved that boy sooooooooooooo..."
I don't like the rest of that song -

because I DID know what I was doing -- I wasn't too young to know! :)
1982
Anyway, here's a little 'down memory lane' for you - to show off my Valentine!

I love you sweetie - more than I did back then,

and not as much as I will! :) You're the BEST - and I know it!

I thank the Lord for you every day!
1987
Here's to many, many more HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

"Sew on Fire" ministries

Last night my girls and I along with some ladies from our church went to help at the 'Sew on Fire' warehouse. We'd never heard of this organization before so it was all new to us. It was so amazing! Run by all volunteers, 'Sew on Fire' makes up bags for missionaries to take to all kinds of countries. The bags are made specifically, depending on who they are going to - i.e. children or new moms or teachers etc. They are used as a tool to reach out to those less fortunate than we are - and to bridge the gap to give them the Good News of Christ's saving faith! People volunteer to make baby blankets, receiving blankets and baby layettes, or to sew draw-string-type cloth bags, or people donate financially or specific items like school supplies, toiletry items or little dolls or toys. As Wendy Hagar (the woman who started SOF) told us - donations are mainly 'our excesses'. How sad is that? And yet, how exciting is that?

Last night we helped to put together bags for a mission trip to Colombia and then we also helped fill 200 bags for a mission trip to Uganda!

Ways You can Help
Volunteer your time
Sew bags at home
Donate material, personal hygiene items
Visit our web page often
Donate finances
Knit lady slippers, mitts, and lap blankets
Check garage sales for items needed:-wool - small toys - hockey bags/back packs
Network
Pray l minute per week
Help sort and pack bags
Donate in the memory of a loved one.
Save your Canadian Tire money and donate it to SOF!
Just say yes … Just Do It!

Read more here! http://www.sewonfire.blogspot.com/ http://www.sewonfire.com/index.htm

*Note: all photos here are from Wendy's blog - link above.

For my friends...

Happy Men

Men Are Just Happier People

What do you expect?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours. (I have to add to this one - Andrew would never allow me to post this one as fact in our home! For some reason all the garage stuff that isn't his, is MINE! Hmmmm... ~ D)
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental $100.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier!

A Sad 'Anniversary'

From my heart...to yours~

This morning I heard on the radio that 34 years ago the Roe vs. Wade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade abortion decision came down. There were various 'modern' women commenting on how great it's been for women and women's rights to have control over their own bodies. Very sad. Control over their own bodies? Since when did control over our own bodies mean the killing of our offspring? How have we, as women, allowed this to happen?

Abortion is not the answer to an unplanned pregnancy. And if you're thinking that it is, please think again. Seek out help from a Christian crisis pregnancy center - there are many around. Choose life! There are many couples out there who would love to adopt your child. And there is a community out there who will embrace you, and your child -- and help you along the way.

I know that this is a very controversial subject, and I'm not looking to start a debate. I'm just telling you my thoughts, since this is my blog -- and since I'm female and also a mother. I've felt new life - and I've seen the life inside of me when the pregnancy was only 6 weeks along! I've seen each of my unborn children's beating hearts! I've seen and felt the squirming of an unborn child. And I have been tremendously blessed!

I'm also telling you what God says. Life begins at conception. Every life is precious. "You made all my delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it. You watched when I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139

Yes, sometimes pregnancy isn't convenient. Yes, it can make life more difficult. Yes, children can cost us money. But what we don't calculate is the blessing that it is to have our own children in our lives! And it is very, very clear is that life is started and stopped by God. And God only. Abortion is murder, not a 'choice'. That's it.

And interesting thing about the Roe vs. Wade case is this:

"Jane Roe" switches sides
"Jane Roe," whose real name is Norma McCorvey, became a member of the pro-life movement following her conversion to Christianity, and now fights to make abortion illegal. In 1998, she testified as follows to Congress:
“It was my pseudonym, Jane Roe, which had been used to create the "right" to abortion out of legal thin air. But Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee never told me that what I was signing would allow women to come up to me 15, 20 years later and say, "Thank you for allowing me to have my five or six abortions. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible." Sarah never mentioned women using abortions as a form of birth control. We talked about truly desperate and needy women, not women already wearing maternity clothes.[11]

In a press conference held on January 18, 2005, McCorvey claimed that she was the "pawn" of Weddington, who was looking for a plaintiff to challenge the Texas state law prohibiting abortion. Using her prerogative as a party to the original litigation, she sought to reopen the case in a U.S. District Court in Texas and have it overturned. Her stance was based on claims made since the decision, claiming evidence of emotional and other harm suffered by many women who have had abortions, and increased resources for the care of unwanted children. On June 19, 2003, Judge David Godbey ruled that the motion was not made within a "reasonable time." The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently affirmed that decision. See McCorvey v. Hill, 385 F3d 846 (5th Cir 2004). On February 22, 2005, the Supreme Court refused to grant a writ of certiorari, ending McCorvey's appeal.

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know

Thanks to Kendra at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PreschoolersandPeace/257413/ who posted this excellent article about homeschooling. Although we're out of the younger (and messier) grades of school, I'm posting this for the many other homeschoolers who read this blog (and their families!) who could use this advice being distributed! ~D

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know • Jan. 10, 2007
Posted in Musings and Miscellany
We've been educating our children at home for ten years now. In those ten years, I have observed that there are expectations that non-homeschoolers can place on homeschooling moms simply because they lack the practical knowledge of what it means to homeschool.

If you are the mother, grandmother, sister, friend, father, or brother of a homeschooling mom, here are some things you should know:

1. Educating children at home is a full-time job. Don't get irritated if she consistently allows the answering machine to do its job. If she were a teacher in an institutional classroom, you probably wouldn't think of calling her during school hours, so try to realize that while still at home, she is keeping regular school hours, too.

2. Unlike homes in which the children are gone for eight straight hours, her home is in a constant state of activity. The children are not only home, they are home making messes. All day long. Their mother doesn't even have the opportunity to go into their rooms while they are at school and weed out the junk. And if she is like me, you might find odd homeschooly things lying around- like the month we had a dead turtle in the garage fridge.

3. Housekeeping and homeschooling are mutually exclusive. If she is doing her job educating her children academically, then her house is not being cleaned. If she takes the day to clean the house, then school wil not be accomplished.

4. Place realistic expectations on her- she cannot simultaneously teach school, make three square meals, keep a house that looks like it has sprung out of the pages of Architectural Digest, have her nails done, drive children to extracurricular activities, and have all the clothing laundered and pressed. Something's gotta give, and in my experience, it is usually her personal care. So don't expect her to don the latest styles, have her roots meticulously dyed at just the right moment, and her aforementioned nails filed and polished to perfection. And while most of us aren't slovenly, we just tend to put some superfluous aspects of personal care at the bottom of the to-do list.

5. For many of us, homeschooling isn't an option. Many believe it is not only the best way for their family, it is the only way. Many see homeschooling as a Scriptural directive. When sharing a particular struggle unique to homeschooling, comments like, "Well, why don't you consider putting them in school? Maybe homeschooling just isn't your thing" aren't helpful. Instead, offer a listening ear and your fervent prayers on her behalf.

6. If you are truly concerned about the state of her emotions, home, children, or marriage, offer practical help to ease her burden. Personal time is at a premium for her, so consider offering to take her kids for the day so she can recuperate. If you like to do laundry, offer to come over and get the loads going, fold, and/or iron. If you like to cook, consider putting together some meals that she can store in the freezer for days when time is at a premium. If she teaches a broad spectrum of ages and grades, consider offering to come in once a week or more to teach preschool to the little ones. One grandma I know created "Nana U" for her preschool grandson (number five of seven) and not only did it ease her homeshooling daughter's burden, it created a special bond between grandma and the child.

But there’s a caveat here: ASK her what would be most helpful to her. Don’t presume to know what would help her. Taking the oldest children for the day might be fun for you, but it’s quite possibly not at all helpful to her. The living room might need to be vacuumed, but it’s not helpful if she’s trying to take a nap. Someone once told me, “If it’s not wanted, it’s not helpful.”

7. Think about what a financial burden homeschooling may be placing on the family. The loss of her possible income can be a real struggle nowadays, and you might be able to buoy her for another year by offering to purchase little things like simple school supplies. Gifts for the children like books on subjects of interest to the child, field trip fees, museum memberships, and the money to pay for music lessons or other extracurricular activities are the best thing you could give a homeschooling family. Not only does a homeschooling mom not need one more thing to manage or pick up, she would be thrilled to see you take an interest in the many academic items on her wish list.

8. Simple questions like, "How can I pray for you?" and "Is there any way I can help you?" are like a cool breeze in her life. Don't assume you know her needs- ask. You could just be the vessel God uses to carry her on through this very demanding and ultimately rewarding season of her life.

My Kisses are Gluten-Free?

Here's some new fashion for the gluten-free folks in the world like me!!
Click on any pic to see it larger!

Tag - You're It! Six Weird Things About Me

TAG YOU'RE IT....
Since you are reading this, you are tagged....only if you want to that is.....LOL

THE RULES:
Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rules clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a Hug that says you are tagged in their Hugs and tell them to read your blog.

Here are my Six Weird Things!
1. I hate pennies. Hate their smell, hate holding them. I could live in a world without pennies.

2. I cannot empty pockets out before the laundry gets done - I gag BIG TIME if I do. So if you don't want the stuff in your pockets washed, take them out yourself!

3. I cannot clean the heat registers out - I gag BIG TIME! Especially when I hear stuff from the registers being sucked up by the vacuum cleaner. Sometimes I can gag just thinking about it...got the gag factor from my mom!

4. I cannot stand when people hand you a candy that is already out of it's wrapping. And, if it's got a fluff on it - I'm gagging....

5. I sometimes write things on my to-do list after I've done them, just so I can mark them off as done!

6. I love to buy new socks even though most times I walk barefoot, all year round!

Ever Wonder?

Here's a funny that I found ~ Enjoy!
If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack?
If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
When someone asks you, A penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny? Or do you get change?
Why is the man (or woman) who invests all your money called a broker?
Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.
Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person drives a race car not called a racist?
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older, then it dawned on me...they're cramming for their final exam!
I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks so I wondered, what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?
Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
No one ever says, "It's only a game," when their team is winning.
Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?
Whatever happened to preparations A through G?
If olive oil comes from olives, where does baby oil come from?

Three Responses to Jesus' Birth

Our sermon on Sunday morning was very thought-provoking. I'll attempt to summarize and share it with you (this is a very, very brief outline of what we heard, but enough - I hope - to make you think too!) -

Rev. Bro said that there were three responses to Jesus' birth in the bible:
(1) Hostility
(2) Indifference
(3) Worship

The Jews went back to their regular routines and believed that the Messiah had not yet come. Herod hated Jesus - he acted like He wanted to know Jesus, and worship Him, but he wanted to kill Jesus.

The leaders showed indifference. No interest. They were deaf to it's message. Rejection of Christ - who is on the throne - creates an attitude of indifference.

The magi came to worship Jesus. They were led by God's grace to visit and worship Jesus, the Christ-child. They were unlikely Christ worshippers - they were astrologers, which God's Word forbids. Yet they were led by a star and the Word of God - to see Jesus. They did not give up the search for the Messiah. They offered gifts with sincere gratitude to the Lord. They responded by falling down in worship to the King!

What is the attitude of our hearts?
How has this past Christmas affected us?
Are we just relieved that all of the busyness is over?
Is our life worship to the Christ-child - who is the Saviour?
Are we worshipping the King with our heart, soul, mind and strength?

What is YOUR response to Jesus' birth?

All nations will come to Your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Isaiah 60:3

A Baby, Yet a King!

Every knee will bow before Me;

Every tongue will confess to God.

Romans 14:11b

Fun Christmas Quiz

Most of you know that I rarely fill out these kinds of things (except maybe to pass on to my sister Melanie) and I rarely forward these emails...so I thought I'd share this one here! ENJOY!

If you fill out the quiz on your blog - please list your blog link on a comment.

Your Name: Dawn

> 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? – I really, really like egg nog but I also like hot chocolate. I guess I would say egg nog over hot chocolate but I do drink hot chocolate more because it doesn't have as many calories/fat!

> 2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Around here - Santa is only on some gift tags - especially gifts for me! tee hee Did I ever tell you that I love gifts??

> 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? – As I get older, I'm preferring simpler and white lights are simpler. Sooooooo...the short answer? White lights on the outside of the house, but I do like the colours all twinkly on the tree inside. NOT flashing lights though - hate those!

> 4. Do you hang mistletoe? – Yes - just a fake one. The kids make a big deal of it and try to get Andrew & I under it. I don't mind!

> 5. When do you put your decorations up? – When the kids were little, we decorated sometime after Suzanne's December 16th birthday. Now, the kids have the tree up and decorated (we have a fake one now) often by December 1! I like having the tree up longer (and we couldn't do that with a real one - okay, not without having a grand mess!). I do like it down quickly after New Year's though.

> 6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Hmmmm...I really enjoy the turkey and I used to enjoy the stuffing. Maybe one day I'll try making some gluten-free stuffing - but for now, I'll stick to the turkey. I have to add a dessert here though - I'm a fruit cake lover - but I can't eat it now, although last year I bought a smidgen of gluten-free fruit cake for about $12!!! That's how much I love it!! And I'm NOT ashamed to say it! ;)

> 7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child – Waking up and seeing the gifts under the tree! We never saw the gifts at all until Christmas morning and it was always so exciting. We each had our own 'spot' under the tree where our pile would be. We didn't have extravagant gifts - but lots of little, inexpensive, practical things and one larger gift ($20?).

> 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm going to leave my friend Mandy's comments here - because they're perfect! What is the truth about Santa? I must not have gotten the memo!

> 9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? – Since we were married, we've opened gifts a few days before Christmas day. Never on Christmas eve (we're too busy getting preparations for Christmas completed). I do enjoy opening them on Christmas day though - as it was a tradition when I was growing up. But we have church on Christmas so it is too rushed.

> 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?- Helter skelter! HA! All of the decorations have a story to tell, and although our tree doesn't look like a Martha Stewart one (not even close!) - I love it!

> 11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE snow! Bring it on!

> 12. Can you ice skate? – Yes! Love it too. I'm not good by any means - but I can skate and do - twice a week with the kids!

> 13. Do you remember your favorite gift? – Yes - first, my first baby girl Suzanne! (Every year I ask her if I can wrap her up and put her under the tree! - She says 'no' BTW!) My next favourite gift is a Willow Tree figurine that the kids gave me - I always lament that I can't carry the kids on my hip any longer (it's been a while) and the figurine that they bought has a mom holding a baby! I cried when I received it and I will always treasure it.

> 14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? - Again, I'll let Mandy's answer stand: That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life! “It’s not in the snow, that may or may not fall, and it’s not in the gifts around the tree. It’s in the love heaven gave, the night our Savior came, and that same love can still be found wherever you are, cause Christmas is all in the heart…” Steven Curtis Chapman > ...But I do really like gifts and am like a child when it comes to them!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Mom's pumpkin pie - which I can no longer eat :( . I also love Andrew's mom's trifle - which I can no longer eat...

> 16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Opening gifts together with the kids and sharing time together. And watching a Christmas DVD together after.

> 17. What tops your tree? – A lace angel. We had a beautiful star but it broke. The angel is pretty though.

> 18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? - This is a tough one! I do love giving but I hate the fact that many have forgotten what giving is all about - it's about what someone else wants to buy for you, not what you want (although a good gift-giver will take that into consideration)! That being said, I do put a lot of thought into the gifts that I buy which makes my life difficult sometimes!!! And getting gifts? Well, you know that answer already!

> 19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? – We have an old cassette tape (!!) from Focus on the Family which had a song called 'It's So Good to Have You Home'. If I could ever find that cassette on CD, I'd be so happy. I've looked and looked... Favourite Christmas hymn? I think 'Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus' and 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'. I hate the Christmas dittis that are on the radio over and over at this time of year.

> 20. Candy Canes? – They're pretty, they're tasty but I rarely eat them! I was searching everywhere for one the other day though - made some peppermint fudge and I needed one to smash and sprinkle over the fudge - would have looked pretty, if I'd found one!

Your thoughts please?

I received this as an email and I'm not sure what I think of it. I find it very thought-provoking and it's very cleverly written - the message is straight-forward and good, but then I'm hesitant about it being something supposedly being written by God. Hmmm...what do you think?

RECALL NOTICE

The Maker of all human beings
is recalling all units
manufactured,
regardless of make or year,
due to a serious defect
in the primary and central
component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction
in the original prototype units
code named Adam and Eve,
resulting in the reproduction
of the same defect
in all subsequent units. This defect has been
technically termed
"Subsequential Internal
Non-Morality,"
or more commonly
known as
S.I.N.,
as it is primarily
expressed.

Some other symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction

2. Foul vocal emissions

3. Amnesia of origin

4. Lack of peace and joy

5. Selfish or violent behavior

6. Depression or confusion
in the mental Component

7. Fearfulness

8. Idolatry

9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer,
who is neither liable nor at fault
for this defect, is providing
factory-authorized repair
and service free of charge
to correct this SIN defect.

The Repair Technician,
Jesus,
has most generously offered
to bear the entire burden
of the staggering cost
of these repairs.

There is no
additional fee
required. The number to call
for repair in all areas is:
1-800- P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected,
please upload
your burden of SIN
through the
REPENTANCE
procedure.

Next, download
ATONEMENT
from the Repair
Technician, Jesus,
into the heart component. No matter how big
or small the SIN defect is,
Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control

Please see
the operating manual,
the B.I.B.L.E.
(Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
for further details
on the use of these fixes.

WARNING:
Continuing to operate
the human being unit
without correction voids
any manufacturer warranties,
exposing the unit to dangers
and problems too numerous to list
and will result in
the human unit being
permanently impounded.

DANGER:
The human being units
not responding to this recall action
will have to be scrapped in the furnace.

The SIN defect
will not be permitted
to enter Heaven
so as to prevent
contamination
of that facility. Thank you
for your attention! GOD Please assist where possible
by notifying others
of this important
recall notice,
and you may contact
the Father any time by
"kneemail"

Glorying in God's Perfection

Glorying in God's Perfection

"If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,

I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I only have time for waxing and polishing,

my children will learn of cleanliness, not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on the newly cleaned window.

Love wipes up the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.

Before I became a mother, I took glory in my house of perfection;

but now, I glory in God's perfection of my child."

-Author Unknown

A good reminder!