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ClutzyButtercup
read my profile sign my guestbook Name: Claudia Birthday: 2/10/1957 Interests: Cedarville University, music, books, counted cross stitch, and hosting DAE during their spring break (or any other time) Occupation: Supervisory Industry: Other Message: message me Member Since: 3/12/2005

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Monday, November 23, 2009

I AM SOOOOO THANKFUL...

I have been thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for and realized that it would take me a very long time to list everything I can think of. Actually, I don't know that the list would ever really end because there would just be more things to add as each day progressed.

Although I may not always say it aloud, I am extremely thankful everyday. Why is it that we feel that way but it is so much easier to express the things that bug us instead of those that bless us.

OK...enough rambling...here are just a few of the things I am thankful for!

A Heavenly Father who loves me
A Savior who was willing to die for me
Another day to enjoy all God has created
My family
My friends (both those I see often and those I have never met face to face)
The opportunity to be God's instrument in the world
A house and food
My needs being met
Good health
Joy and peace in a troubled word
All the talents and gifts God has blessed me with
Protection from the enemy (even when the enemy is sometimes me!)
Opportunities to encourage others
The opportunity to build worth and value in children's lives
That God chose me to be Tina's mom
A healthy mind
and so much more!!!

Wishing you all a truly blessed Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and God's awesome presence!

12:07 PM - 12 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Monday, November 02, 2009

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you’re blogging?
Don't snack when I blog...after I blog I sometimes have some chips and dip or chips and salsa

2. What is one thing you wouldn’t want to live without?
Wow, this is a tough one. Probably would be between my Bible and music (praise and worship to be specific)

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
I would definitely struggle between mountains and farm. Wouldn't want to be in the mountains during the winter (had enough of snow growing up). The beach is beautiful and happens to be my hubby's favorite place but way too expensive to live there.

4. What’s your least favorite chore/household duty?
Dusting

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
No one

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?
I actually like both...depends on what has been going on in my life which I would chose

7. What’s your all time favorite movie?
Between "Return to Me" and "The Other Sister"

8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
I have to wash the make-up off

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you’ve never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I am a pretty good writer and would love to have the time to pursue that talent

10. What’s one strange thing you’re really good at?
Spotting seizures and other neurological abnormalities in others

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
His kindness and constant concern for others

12. What is something you love to smell?
Vanilla or lemon

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
Which one should I list??? :)

14. When you have extra money, what’s the first thing you think to do with it?
I like to treat a friend to dinner or some other special treat

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
Depends on where I am, can be either

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
No real favorite...like Target and Beall's

17. What’s one thing you’d do more often if you had more time?
Read and do counter cross stitch

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
Definitely have had spending issues off and on but have definitely made progress towards being more frugal

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?
I wouldn't say I had a favorite but like a few: George Bailey(It's a Wonderful Life"), Monk (just to name a couple)

20. Would you want to be famous?
No way!

9:52 AM - 29 views - 4 eprops - 3 comments - email it

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Had a meeting with a new neurologist today. We have been without a neurologist for about 2 years now and really need to find one. There were some things I liked about this doctor but he feels we should play with medications to try and control Tina's seizures. This is a very difficult decision in light of past experience.

When Tina first started seizing, she was immediately put on medication. I hated that she was on it but didn't feel that I had a choice. Over the next 18 months, Tina went through many medications and combinations of medications (up to 5 at a time). None of them brought seizure control and many of them had side effects that were not good. I eventually put my foot down and took her off all meds. We discovered that she still seizured but that her recovery time was greatly reduced and she seemed better overall. She had 2 brain surgeries which helped and then for 15 years we didn't do anything to try and control her seizures. In 2004, we had a device implanted (a pacemaker to the brain) and it helped with some of the underlying seizure activity. In 2005, we started giving Tina a new seizure drug. We have kept using it because it made Tina more content and cooperative even though it didn't do much to control her grand mal seizures.

I hate watching Tina seizure but I also hate seeing her be miserable on drugs. I hate that she cannot tell us how she feels or what is happening. She cannot tell us if her head hurts or if a medication makes her feel weird. I don't want the past to dictate my choice now but choosing to start this process is not easy. I may try and see another neurologist to get another opinion...This is definitely not a simple decision.

10:35 PM - 14 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Friday, October 16, 2009

HAVE WE LOST OUR MINDS?

Have we totally lost our minds? The media has been covering the story of the kindergarten boy who brought his new camping utensil kit to school for show and tell. The utensil kit violated the school system's zero tolerance policy concerning weapons in school so he was suspended and was to be sent to a special school for troublemakers for 6 months. He was fortunate because the school board reconsidered his fate and finally agreed that he meant no ill-intent.

Zero tolerance policies are becoming more and more prevalent in our schools and society in general. In principle they sound like a great idea...shouldn't everyone be treated the same? The reality is that zero tolerance policies often punish those who did not mean to hurt anyone. Zero tolerance policies also rob those in authority from being able to exercise good judgment, common sense and even mercy.

Take rules concerning fighting in schools. Most state that anyone found fighting will be suspended. Sounds good, right? What about the student that comes on a situation where a student is being beaten by another? According to policy, they are to leave and find an adult but what if the danger to the one student is imminent? Doesn't matter, let them be hurt or killed...make sure you don't do anything. How does a child who has been taught to help others process that and live with the results?

Maybe it is time for us to recognize that allowing authority figures the discretion to make decisions is no more unfair than dictating consequences without taking into account circumstances.

3:21 PM - 17 views - 2 eprops - 1 comment - email it

Friday, October 09, 2009

When I wrote my last post, I knew that there was a risk of the "spiritual battle" heating up in natural ways but had no idea how much hotter it would get. We had just received some unwanted correspondence that means months of ongoing "stuff" but what happened over the next week was totally unexpected. I will try to catch everyoone up without boring you to death!

On Sunday, August 30th my hubby was helping stack chairs at church when he felt a "twinge" in his back. By that night, his left leg was hurting as well as his low back. Over the next week, he went to the chiropractor and our family doctor. He couldn't work and was miserable. We finally went to an osteopath who ordered a MRI...he had herniated 3 disks in the lumbar section of his back. Needless to say, the healing process has been extremely slow. He is on week 6 out of work and still has at least one more week before the doctor will release him. Of course, because it did not happen at work, there is no worker's comp.

In the midst of all this we have had our well go out, our A/C act up, Tina has had an ear infection (her first in years) and a few other smaller "surprises". It has been awesome to see how God has been at work through all of this and how He has helped me to fight being stressed!

The time off has been challenging for Paul. He has been working since he was in 6th grade and has never had more than two weeks off in a row. On top of it, he has been extremely limited in what he is allowed to do so he has spent a lot of time lounging around the pool. He definitely has a terrific tan! ;)

We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God's plans are always the best ones...even when we are not sure what He is up to! Please pray that Paul can return to work on October 18th and that he remains injury free. Thank you!

Today also marks the 24th anniversary of Tina's first grand mal seizure...May sound like a funny thing to remember or acknowledge but it has had an unbelievable impact on our family's life. I am not sure that any of us would be where we are today without what we have walked through with Tina. Praise God for His wisdom and design!

11:50 AM - 13 views - 4 eprops - 2 comments - email it

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