Here Am I, Send Me Lord--Unless I'm Busy

I know that's a weird title, but I heard it just last Saturday night.  Oh they didn't use those words, but that's what they said.  In fact, we all say it at some point.  "If we're in town that week, I'll help with VBS."  "If my daughter doesn't come for Christmas, I'll sing in the Cantata."  "If I get back from shopping in time, I'll come to bible study." 

Here's what happened last week. 

Today's Journey

From My Heart: I have six blogs, each with a different objective.  I opened my dashboard to post an update of my grandson on this blog.  When I looked at my list of blogs, I saw the title of this one and was struck by the irony of this situation.  The title and description of this blog is Life's Journey, Discussing life's twists and turns and the lessons we learn along the way.

Our son's hand next to our grandson's body.

A week ago today, our phone rang at 5:30 a.m.  My husband answered and our son asked him to push speaker phone.  Once on speaker phone, our son explained that he had taken his wife to the emergency room because of high blood pressure.  After three hours of trying to decrease her blood pressure, the doctor made the decision to do an emergency c-section on her.  Within 45 minutes our grandson was born --13 weeks premature, officially weighing 1.7 lbs. 

This is the ultimate life twister.  We made the decision to drive to the town where they live.  I sat down in my recliner and opened my laptop.  My husband asked what I was doing and I answered, "I'm sending out prayer requests."  Then I packed and made the two hour drive to the hospital.  As soon as I got to the waiting room, I set up my laptop.  Why?  To be connected to the people who were praying for our grandchild.  I was amazed at the messages waiting for me. Messages from friends and friends of friends.  Later that day I began receiving messages of success story from people who had faced the same thing.

This situation was certainly not something we had planned.  We planned to welcome a bouncing baby boy in August of this year.  Instead, we watch a Thumbalina-size baby lie in an incubator with his chest going up and down as if he is simply too tired to breathe.  To see him, we must perform a scrubbing and gowning routine.  We are not allowed to touch him--at the time we left the hospital..

What did we learn from this?  We learned that life is precious.  We learned how strong our son and his wife are.  Most of all we learned the power of prayer from brothers and sisters in Christ and the comfort of hearing success stories.

Update:   The baby has been removed from the ventilator and his navel tube has been removed.  He now has a pic so that tests can be administered through that rather than further piercing.  The navel line was removed yesterday.  His blood gases are good. At this time he weighs 1. 4 1/4 lbs.  He has lost 2 3/4 oz., which is not bad.  The goal is to introduce him to milk today.  We are very grateful for the progress he has made.  If you consider that he is not due for another three months and yet he is breathing on his own and will begin eating today.  

We praise God for the blessings we have received and the wonderful people who have ministered to us during these stressful times. 

Elected Offical???

I heard the audio to this last week.  I was so amused and amazed that I planned to write about it today.  When I googled it, I found the video on youtube.  There's not much I can say.  You have to watch this. 

And then there's our leader:

Pornography Comes In Many Shapes

You can rest easy now.  Your teenager can't look at inappropriate magazines or intimate parts of a woman's body.   All the magazines with women's parts showing are behind the counter, covered with a piece of black paper.  He won't see anything you don't want him to see.  Unless he in into sports and buys the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition of 2013.

My friend showed me this cover yesterday.  I had already seen it at the bookstore. My friend said, "That looks like two cantaloupes.  It is not attractive at all."  She opened the magazine and to our dismay, we found that this was actually one of the more modest photos in the book.  There was one photo of a model wearing only a thong--no top.  True she had her back to the camera, but was turned one quarter toward the camera so that her breasts showed, but the nipples were covered with her arm.   

Look at the Playboy Magazine on the right.  The model is more modestly dressed than the Sports Illustrated model.  Both of these covers are of 2013. Now I am not advocating that your teenager be allowed to buy Playboy Magazines.  What I am saying is that it doesn't matter what title is on the magazine, pornography is pornography.  Putting a suggestive photo on a magazine that does not come under the traditionally considered pornographic magazine genre changes nothing.  I don't care if Good Housekeeping puts it on their cover.  Suggestive is suggestive.  The name of the magazine doesn't make it appropriate.

The opinion in this blog is mine and I am blessed to live in a country where I am allowed to express it.  I welcome your opinion, whether for or against the photo.  Please leave me a comment telling me how you feel.

 

Shopping For My Mind

I realize we live in a different world than when I was raising my kids, but things couldn't have changed that much.  Could they?

Saturday, my husband attended an all day class in another town.  He asked me to ride with him and suggested I do some shopping while I was there.

First, I went to Wal-mart to pick up a few items.  I wanted to get there early before the crowds came.  It wasn't too busy so the store was quiet and peaceful, making my task quick and enjoyable.  Then I took care of some business and went to McDonald's to work on the computer.  (It is so nice to be able to access the Internet in a fast food restaurant.)   The restaurant was full of kids.  Why not?  It was getting close to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.  After ordering their meal, they all went happily outside to the playground.

Close to lunchtime I went back to the classroom, picked up my husband, and took him to lunch.  Afterward I decided to do some fun shopping.  To me there is a difference in shopping and buy things.  Shopping is wandering around and looking for things I don't need.  I rarely buy anything when I'm shopping.  I shop for fun, stress relief, recreation, and enjoyment.  I set out at about 1:30 p.m.

I went to Old Navy because I had a gift card.  As I entered the door, I immediately noticed loads of clothes created for bodies other than mine.   Before I had passed the first section of the store I heard a crying baby.  Then I heard another one.  They cried the entire time I was in the store.  I finally left and headed for Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  I was barely in the front door when I heard a crying child.  The crying continued for the duration of my shopping.  Then I headed across the street to Ross, Dress For Less, one of my favorite stores. Ross carries unique items, making every visit an adventure.  As usual, I headed to the back for the section with dishes. I didn't make it all the way back before I heard a baby crying.  None of these parents made any attempt to even determine the problem, much less comfort the child.  By the time I left, I thought I'd lost my mind.

That's three different stores in the afternoon with crying babies.  Now let's examine this to find the problem.  Four different parents--not a parenting issue.  Three different stores--not a location issue.  Four different babies--not a personality issue.  Afternoon--humm, could be the problem.  

Newsflash!  Small children need to nap in the afternoon.  Taking a child shopping when his or her tired little body requires rest is not fair to the child, parent, or other shoppers.  This child is only trying to communicate his or her needs.  Parenting means putting your child's needs before yours.  I am a parent.  If it was necessary to take my babies shopping, we went in the morning, arriving home in time for lunch and a nap--usually for all of us.  (Shopping with small children is exhausting.)

Children are more enjoyable when they are pleasant.  Children are more pleasant when their needs have been met.  My advice for young parents.  Enjoy your child.  Meet their needs.  Enjoy your child.  Do what is best for them.  Enjoy your child.