Biker gangs and Memorial Day

I remember a time when biker gangs were something to be feared. They were a people who would cut you down to size and do as they wanted, when they wanted. They were to be feared, for the bad they could do. The "Hell's Angels" were a very common name when I was growing up, and we all knew how "bad" they were. They were accused of widespread violence, extortion, trafficking of stolen goods, and dealing with drugs. There were many other motorcycle gangs that tried to emulate them.

I don't know when it happened, but there was a shift in the paradigm.  Now-a-days, you still have lots of "biker gangs" (often referred to as biker clubs to lose the stigma of a "gang"), but these groups are NOT the bad boys of years gone by. These groups are the ones that ride to raise money for toys for the underprivileged children. They are the "Patriot Guard Riders" who rides in to protect our fallen heroes from the VERY ungodly protests by those Westboro Baptist Church people.... there are full motorcycle clubs who ride as a ministry, sharing the love of Christ. That being said, there is still a "fear", because these are people who are willing to stand for what is right, and will fight for it if need be. It's not the upstanding that need to fear now, it is those who want to stand in the way of the upstanding, those who are doing right. They stand up hurting, the fallen, the needy...they stand up for our country, our people.

I remember 20 years ago, I was fearful of any place that was a "hang out" for a motorcycle gang. I didn't want to be anywhere near a joint where a bunch of motorcycle riders gathered, club or not. That has changed though. When I see bikers now, I smile. I wave. If they are off of their bike, I speak. Generally, I study their vest in an attempt to find what they stand for, because let me tell you: they *all* stand for something. I no longer avoid a place because of an abundance of bikers. Truth be told, I like them. I have taught my children to like "them".

I am sure there are still "bad" gangs around. I do know they are the minority though. That makes me smile.

So, on this Memorial Day, I honor those who have fallen for our country. I say "thank you" for paying the ultimate price for our freedom.

I also want to stand up and say thanks to the motorcycle club "The Patriot Riders", who are working to make sure our fallen can be honored without evil protest. I say thank you to all who honor our fallen throughout the year, being a living testament to what Memorial Day means.

  

Power of Loss

I shared with you all last week how it was coming up on 6 years since the loss of our son Brody. This picture, right up there, is his little perfect feet. The rest of him was perfect too. The nurses took this picture of his feet because when I held him to tell him my goodbyes, I kept playing with his feet. Marveling at them. 

Here we are 6 years later. Tomorrow is my Brody's birthday. Those feet are still very powerful to me.  That picture means the world to me. I have other pictures, yes, but I choose not to share them. A couple of family members we sent his feet prints out to were offended by relieving them, I can only imagine what they think of our pictures of him. If only they realized they are all we will ever have of him. You don't know what it is like until you have been there...and I pray no one ever knows. 

Recently, I met a 90+ year old woman. When getting to know her, the FIRST thing she mentioned was the year she gave birth to her twin baby girls early, and they passed on. She cried. She did not know I was a loss Mom too. It stuck with me though. 70+ years after she lost her babies, and she still hurts. She still misses them. She still grieves. I wonder how many people in her life thought "Gosh, isn't she over it by now?" or "Do we need to hear about this *again*?". Yes, people do say those things. Yes, sometimes right to your face (or on the phone, in email, etc). Funny thing is, these people are NOT loss parents. It's real easy to sit in judgement when you have not had to say goodbye to one of your children way too soon.

I have been told by one of my husband's family members that since Brody never lived outside of my body, he was not really a part of their family. It amazed me how they didn't care about him. I am sure they really roll their eyes that we still grieve our son. I doubt they will ever read this, and even if they did, would they ever "get" it? They may see me as over-emotional and dramatic, but I wonder if they realize that Chris still cries over losing his son too. He still talks about what might of been. He still hurts too, and I imagine he always will.

Our son, he was real. He grew in me. He kicked, he moved, he reacted to me, he reacted to his Daddy's voice. Yes, he was tiny. However, he was alive. He was half me, half his Daddy. He had broad shoulders and a tiny button nose. I gave birth to him and I loved him just as fiercely as the other children I have birth to. The fact that he was born without breath only changed that I would never see his blue eyes. I would never see him smile. I would never hear his precious cries. I would never hold his hand. I would never anything...except tell him goodbye and miss him. 

 I still miss him. His Daddy still misses him. His siblings miss him. 

Six years ago...

Six years ago I was blissfully pregnant, looking forward to the arrival of my little Brody. We had bought his crib and had decided on which bedding to order. A sweet family member of Chris' had planned a baby shower for us at their family reunion, held on Memorial Day weekend every year. We had registered, we were so excited about him. We loved him with all we had, though he had not yet been born. I felt his kicks, I felt his rolls. Daddy would talk to him and lay his hand on my tummy to feel him respond. We were past the "danger zone". We were supposed to be able to bring him home. Little did I know that just a few days later our world would fall apart. Everything we knew about life changed when they told us our little boy no longer had a heartbeat, and that we would be delivering a dead baby.

We never made it to the family reunion, instead, we delivered our little boy. Perfect in every way, except  he had no heartbeat. My body had decided to take that from him. My body, it betrayed me. and cut off his blood supply.

You just don't know what losing a baby is like until it happens. People seem to think you need to just "get over it" or "move on". Just let me tell you this: you can't.

Facebook, is it *really* a good thing?

If you know me at all, you know I am a Facebook junkie! I love how it helps to keep you in touch with folks you would otherwise probably be out of touch with. I like how it helps to spread information that you otherwise may not know. It definitely has it's great qualities.

However, it has some major draw-backs, especially if you are a little hyper-sensitive, like I tend to be.

Some things I am talking about:

• Common friends plan an outing without you
• An invite to an event goes out, and you realize all of your mutual friends are on it, but not you
• Something is posted resembling something you told that person in confidence and you wonder
• Someone tells you one thing, and they post another
• (And my favorite) when you consider someone a true friend, and you find one day they have deleted you. You know you have never said or done anything in a bad way towards them. You send them messages to ask, yet, they don't respond.  

Now, I don't let most of this get to me, as I am guilty as the next person. I forget or accidentally skip someone. Or I agree to a luncheon or plan one without including everyone. Why? Because sometimes people want to hang out with others and it is nothing personal to those who aren't invited that day...I will get with them next time. When it comes to invites, maybe you don't invite people who you don't think will be interested. Then again, you might not invite them because you don't want them around. 

You see, you don't know how the things you are going to post are going to be interpreted. I mean, if you delete someone that thinks you are their friend, and then refuse to respond to their messages, the message is clear. 

If you don't care about how others feel, then, by all means, don't worry about it. But if you do care, think before you type/post/invite. If you think you may have offended someone, check with them. Be careful. Don't post what you wouldn't speak. I know for sure there is much more I would speak than post. I am conservative in my posts, believe you me. I post a lot, I have fun, and I am not perfect. I have offended and hurt others. I am just proposing we be more aware. With more interaction is more potential for fun, but also more potential for foul. 

Happy posting!!! :)

Good Morning Girls, week one!

I signed up to join a group of ladies from around the world in doing Bible Study & a book study with Good Morning Girls.  I gathered together a small group of ladies to do this with, and we created a group of Good Morning Girls, called "Across the Nation". In the mornings we have been chatting at 6:30 (Central time), and some of the other ladies are gathering together to do an evening chat too (for those who can't chat in the mornings, or want to chat twice).

I am already loving the "SOAP" method of doing our Bible Study.

S-Write out passage for the day
0-Write down one or two observations from the passage
A-Write down 1-2 applications from the passage
P-Pray over what you learned from today's passage


I also love that it is only one or two verses a day. This allows for deeper mediation and prayer, which makes for a better understanding and application in life.

I am also loving that a group of ladies I already know have have together with a group I don't, to support one another and pray for one another and grow in Christ together.
 

Busy day...TWO exciting "starts" today!

Today starts the Schoolhouse Expo, where there will be all sorts of sessions to help out Homeschooling Families. I am especially excited about the first session, where Janice Campbell will talk about "Getting a Jumpstart on College". Of course we have a goal of our children attending college, and any information about getting that "jump" is greatly valued.

Also, today I am starting the Good Morning Girls 2011 Summer Session. We have a group particiapting, and that group is made up of ladies from across the nation who want to do this study together, growing while stdying God's word to us. We will also be doing a book club with the book "A Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson.  You are welcome to join us if you like.

As long as it's healthy, it's good, right?

WRONG!

Does that tomato look as appealing when you know that it's DNA was combined with frog DNA in order to make it heartier and more resistant to cold weather? What about the corn with it's DNA modified with bacteria to produce an insecticide in  it so it wards off insects when being grown? Let's talk about the antibiotics that are put into many veggies to make them last longer?  Do you realize that those antibiotics in your food (meat included) not only alter your own bodies ability to fight off bacteria, but it also lessens the chances that a prescription antibiotic will work for you if you need it. No wonder super bacteria is so prevalent.

I have recently read two articles I think everyone should read. Firstly, I was astonished at a link between GMO (genetically modified food) and infertility (amond many other things). No wonder it is also so prevalent.

http://blog.friendseat.com/dangers-genetically-modified-soy

http://blog.friendseat.com/how-to-id-genetically-modified-food-at-the-supermarket

Please read those blogs/articles and think it over. Remember...you ARE what you EAT!