God’s Mercy Amidst Suffering

Mother & Child (Photo credit: Andy Magee)

 

Today, I advocated for my daughter. I educated. I informed. I explained. I defended. I took her to get medical attention, during which I did more explaining and educating and ended up getting exactly the care she needed at the right time. Most of all, I was her voice, because no one believes a 12 year old child who is missing so much classroom time because of these issues. No one but Mama. And by the grace and sovereignty of God, He saw fit to allow me to have this same illness so that I could know what she is going through-so that I could understand. I could believe her. I could be her place of refuge when no one else would believe her. And, He knew that without me suffering from this disorder myself, I, too, would be one of those saying “This can’t be real. She must not want to go to school. She must be exaggerating or just avoiding class.” Oh, thank God He saw fit to allow me to suffer with this so that I could understand, know, FEEL, what she feels, and be her voice, not the 12 year old voice that no one hears but the Mama voice that speaks loud and dares anyone to doubt her. Thank you, God, for allowing your mercies to be seen amidst suffering. For it is through your mercies that we feel your love and embrace even in the midst of trials and suffering and pain.

 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Superhero Stain Remover

S-32 SPOT AND STAIN REMOVER

S-32 Spot and Stain Remover safely removes spots and stains from garments, upholstery, draperies, carpets, and vinyl materials.

Use S-32 to safely remove:   Grease Baby Formula Oil Blood Perspiration Medicines Tar Lipsticks Shoe Polish Cosmetics Most inks Crayons Pencil Smoke Film Pet Stains Beverages Food Juices Glue Adhesives Tobacco Mildew Stains

Note: The above photo and information were taken from http://resourceonefl.com/112/products-and-services/s-32-spot-and-stain-remover

I cannot believe that I have not posted about this product before now-almost seems sinful not to share it with the world. Being a Mom and a pet owner, stains are just part of everyday life around here, and I was tired of spending money on stuff like Resolve (sorry Resolve) and other stain removers that barely even faded the stain. So, I set out a mission to find a good, reliable stain remover. My approach was this: Buy one stain remover each week until try every stain remover on the market until I find a “the one.” It just so happened that the very first one I tried was IT! I purchased S-32 Spot and Stain Remover from Publix for just a couple of bucks. Yes, it works, and it is cheap! Even bigger score!! They normally have it on the laundry aisle near the other stain removers (top shelf). I remember the first thing I tried it on-grape juice. It was like magic-the stain disappeared-not faded-disappeared. Grape juice, ya’ll! Mom bliss! Now, it gets better than that…I have also used it on those old, dried up, ground-in stains, and it has worked very well. If you’re like me, and you like cheap and effective when it comes to cleaning products, you oughtta give this one a try.

It really is all that

Mamá (Photo credit: RebelCallejeros)

I was at one of those end-of-year events today for one of my children, one of those that goes almost all day and involves some sweating, some boredom, some super cute moments, and some laughs, you know, a little of everything. As I drove away from the school to run a few errands prior to the afternoon pick-up, I actually started to cry thinking, I am so incredibly blessed to have had that time with my son. There were children there without their parents, and I would just guess that their parents would have given anything to have been there. People have to work, and yes, I know there are those parents that “don’t care.” But, I believe that most parents are “good” and want to be there. INot only did I feel happy for myself that I was able to experience it, but I also felt so thankful for my son, for the fact that he had his Mama there.He never doubted I would come. He just assumed. I like that. I liked how he constantly looked over at me and smiled, checking to make sure I was watching him while he sang “Goin’ on a Bear Hunt” and the “Number Song” and several other tunes with his class. I liked how he wanted to sit right beside me at lunch. These years go by far too quickly, and I will treasure every moment.

Club Eifel disc jockey DJ Blaze plays music at the 2009 Air Force Ball. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nick Wilson Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In other precious moments, last night, one of my daughters attended her first dance. We (the parents) were only allowed to stay for the first 15 minutes of the dance, and then we had to leave. Why? Because they needed “to get their groove on” and they couldn’t do it with us there. Pshhhhh! Well, I was very offended (not really). BUT, when I went to pick her up, the DJ was playing some pretty hot tunes, and the next thing I knew I was out on the dance floor “shaking that thang” with about 50 5th graders (along with a few other moms, teachers, and the Assistant Principal). Pure, absolute crazy-fun for a Mama who don’t get out much, you know what I’m sayin?! By this time, my daughter was having a blast and was no longer against the idea of me getting my boogie on at her dance!! Oh yeahhhhhh!!! More moments to treasure. AND, I must say, I did get several compliments on my moves <insert booty shake music>…Anyway, there is no gift more precious, no thing in this world of which I feel  less deserving (ok, salvation, for sure), but these are the moments that remind me, time and time again, that motherhood really is ALL THAT.

Pig Tails and Booty Shorts

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

O.K., since when do booty shorts and pig tails go together? I did a little retail scanning today in search of a couple of things I needed for my daughter, and while I was in the store, I noticed that there were no shorts any longer than the cheek of the booty! My daughters are 11 and 12, and this was one of those “tween” specialty stores where, if you’re 21 and still buying clothes there, well..it’s time to move on, know what I mean? So, why would there be shorts in there that could nearly get a grown woman arrested?? I am actually a bit conflicted on this, to tell the truth. One half of me says, “Heck, on a girl that young, they’re just freakin’ cute and what harm does it do? Plus, it’s something they can ‘get away with’ while they’re young and it’s still just ‘cute.'” The other half of me says, “Yeah, but they are at the age of hormones and boys, and <insert gag sound> what if it caused grown men to look at their little hineys??!!” Well, I also think, “What else are they gonna wear? That’s all that’s out these days! But I don’t want to be held hostage by my culture, by a bunch of retailers who don’t know the first thing about parenting, about bringing up girls…I don’t WANT my daughter lookin’ like she’s on the payroll at the Nair company doin’ a “take 3” for the latest commercial. I mean, I even saw some “little girl” booty shorts the other day that were called “shorty shorts,” as if adding the cute little “y” to the end made it all innocent and little girl-like. ” O.K., so, yes, all of this goes on in my noggin just after drifting through Aeropostale…So, you mean to tell me that there is NO happy medium between pig tails and booty shorts? I mean, I don’t need for my daughter to look like she’s 7, still wearing a smocked dress with pig tails in her hair, but come on…booty shorts?

pigtails (Photo credit: alandberning)

No Shots, No School, I think NOT!

Vaccination (Photo credit: Sanofi Pasteur)

No Shots, No School? I think NOT! I had not given much thought to vaccines lately, but the other day, I attended an Orientation for one of my children’s upcoming year into middle school. One of the topics covered by the School Counselor was vaccines. She stated verbally (and it was given out in print), that BY LAW, your child MUST have two MMRs and two Varicella vaccines before they can begin the school year next year. Coincidentally, my child has already had those because we used to vaccinate, before I woke up. So, it really doesn’t matter for us. However, I really had to fight the urge to stand up and shout, “It’s a lie!! You don’t have to do that to your child if you don’t have peace about it!!” Of course, my common sense and social inhibitions kept my mouth shut and my batookus in my seat, but I left feeling a little queasy, hoping that parents are aware of what they are doing, making educated decisions. I am not saying that I believe no one should get the shots, just that we had decided it is not for us and that I hate the thought of parents’ rights being violated and parents being bullied into subjecting their children to something they might not otherwise…Here is a copy and paste of an affidavit I saved a while back that states that we DO have the right, in ANY state to refuse vaccinations if we choose to do so. I wish I could recall the site I retrieved this from, but it has been too long. I hope it is helpful and informative to someone. Notice the strong language..it points out the SCHOOL is the criminal, not YOU, when they attempt to force you to vaccinate your child!

AFFIDAVIT DECLARATION OF VACCINATION EXEMPTION

Pursuant to Senate Bill # 942, Section 1 Chapter # 7, under the title “Exemption From Immunization,” I hereby declare that I, as a guardian/parent having responsibility for my self/child, named _________________________________ who is an adult/minor, withhold my consent and let it be known that said adult/minor is exempt from any and all immunizations and/or vaccinations on the grounds that such is contrary to my personal and/or religious beliefs.

SENATE BILL #942, SECTION 1, CHAPTER 7

3380 – IN ENACTING THIS CHAPTER, IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE TO PROVIDE: … (C) EXEMPTION FROM IMMUNIZATION FOR MEDICAL REASONS OR PERSONAL BELIEFS.

3385 – IMMUNIZATIONS OF A PERSON SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO A SCHOOL OR OTHER INSTITUTION … IF THE GUARDIAN, PARENT, OR ADULT WHO HAS ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OR HER CUSTODY AND CARE IN THE CASE OF A MINOR, OR THE PERSON SEEKING ADMISSION, FILES WITH THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY, A LETTER OR AFFIDAVIT STATING THAT SUCH VACCINATION IS CONTRARY TO HIS/HER BELIEFS …

Any school or medical authority which tries to enforce vaccination on children or anyone else is in violation of the laws of the United States, and may be subject to prosecution.

Amendment 14 of the United States Constitution: “No state shall make or impose any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property.”

Amendment 4 of the United States Constitution: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons shall not be violated.”

SUBSCRIBED AND AFFIRMED BEFORE ME ON THIS _____ TH DAY OF _______________, _________.

WITHOUT PREJUDICE UCC 1-207

_______________________________________________ SIGNATURE AND DATE

______________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC

Food is Medicine

FOOD IS MEDICINE!! One of my children was having some trouble with, well, how do I say this? Well, he was constipated. I kept telling him that he needed to drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables when he is given them. He kept begging for some “medicine.” So, I walked over to refrigerator, washed some strawberries, poured him a cup of ice water, and sent him to the “oval office” to have his snack. A short while later, I heard squeals of delight as he came running out saying, “Mom, it worked, it worked!!’ It was a real life teaching moment, one of those where words become action, and he “got it!” Only problem now is, he gets out of his bed at night, complaining of a “stomach ache” and asking for some strawberries…hmmmm 

 

a Plate full of Strawberries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)