This is a "Carnival of Beauty" "assignment" that sent me down memory lane.

My "baby" is reminding me that she's going to be 18 in a few weeks. She's my "surprise".

My Tom was born first - before that I'd been on fertility pills for four years, I'd "lost" five babies, including Tom's twin. I'd been told by my doctor (a fertility specialist) that the chances of me being able to get pregnant again was "slim to none". My body was not any less "weird" after Tom was born and at one point my GP prescribed provera.

Normally, a doctor would insist on a pregnancy test before writing the Rx, but I was not normal. I had the prescription filled and was ready to take it the next morning. I had a "bug" and wasn't feeling well and it sort of dawned on me that

1. the last time I'd felt that terrible all the time - I was pregnant
2. the only time I didn't feel terrible was when my tummy was "unrestricted" by the clothes I was wearing.

So I called and doc said, "well, sure...I guess we could do a test..." I was so sure that I couldn't be that I didn't even tell my husband I was having the test done!  (uh....honey...you'd better sit down)
SURPRISE!

I was nearly four months along before I caught on!

Granted, this gift from God (Amanda) was a bigger (life changing) surprise than many folks get, but I've never had a better one.

I read Barbara Curtis' "Mommy Life" blog nearly every day (although I rarely comment there or anywhere lately).  This week she wrote a post about a divorced mom with five kids.

This mom says that she's been a "baby Christian" for fifteen years and had seen little or no growth in her life.  The letter that Barbara posted from the mom said that she's Roman Catholic, but did not say if she had been in that church her entire Christian life.  Her youngest child is four years old and her husband abandoned her when she was pregnant with that child.

Barbara's advice included looking outside the Roman Catholic church for food and roots.

I would join her in that advice (I'd love it if that single mom were to find this post and contact this single mom).

The reason is simple - support for single moms.

If a divorce person came to me and asked about churches, I would not recommend a church that condemns all divorce.  This divorced mom has had a rough walk already and it's going to get tougher.  It doesn't sound as though she had a husband who "washed her in the Word" (a Godly husband leading her).

I certainly would not recommend being (staying or finding) a church (any church) that will hold a divorce against her for the rest of her life.

The Roman Catholic church is not the only church that holds a "divorce debt" against a person for life.  This is not about the Roman Catholic church and whether they have right or wrong doctrine.  This is about divorced parents (or divorced non-parents) looking for forgiveness in a church (and there are many churches) that holds that debt against them.

Part of a research paper I wrote included, "How the Church Sees Singles".  It can be HARD for a single person to find a church where they fit in.  I would offer this advice to single people:  Don't be afraid to look for a church that will accept you and support you where your life has put you.

For the single mom that wrote this letter to Barbara Curtis - she's divorced.  Strike one.  If she dates, strike two.  If she finds her "someone", well...the church that she is currently in will not (I believe) marry that couple.  In the church that she is in, she has no hope...NO HOPE...to find love and her "happily ever after".

After fifteen years of  "no growth", this single mom needs to find a church where she will not only grow, she needs a place where she (and her children) can flourish - be accepted, loved and cared for.  Why would anybody discourage this?

Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, is quoted in a speech to President Ronald Reagan:

I have learned the danger of indifference, the crime of indifference. For the opposite of love, I have learned is not hate, but indifference. Jews were killed by the enemy but betrayed by their so-called allies, who found political reasons to justify their indifference or passivity. What have I learned? When there is obvious injustice and principles are violated – when human lives and dignity are at stake – when your allies find reasons to justify their silence or indifference, neutrality is a sin.

There are too many churches who are either indifferent towards divorced moms, or worse.  If a single mom is in one of these churches, I'd encourage her to get out.  It doesn't matter what denomination we're talking about.

Didn't go so well...

So...back to the daily postings that I'm pretty sure nobody reads, but that I know are there...(mind game)

Goals

1. Drink all my water (or green tea) every day.
2. "Eat the rainbow" (red, green, yellow/white, purple and orange fruits and veggies) every day.
3. Cook lunch 3 days instead of buying (high sodium) frozen lunches
4. Really get my two daily servings in.
5. Blog two new WW-friendly recipes that I've actually cooked (and eaten).
6. And (of course) stay within the points I'm alloted.

I'm reading through a "Ten Country Survey of Pentecostals"  (HT: Boars Head Tavern).

There's some pretty expected inforamation that compares Pentecostals, Charismatics, (sometimes) "other" Christians and "all" Christians.

What caught my eye was a question about the "U.S. Led War on Terror".  In the United States, Christians in general  - and Pentecostals and Charistmatics even more so - support the war on terror.  That's not particulary surprising.

It's the other parts of the world that are interesting.

In Latin America, South Africa, and South Korea, the war is very much NOT supported.

In northern Africa, India, and the Phillipines, the war IS supported.  In the Phillipines, Christians support the war on terror more than Christians in the United States do.

Outside of the United States, what is the difference in the political and/or religious climate in these regions of the world?

The population of Muslims.

I think this is normal for me, this time of year.  But, here's a couple of updates...

1. I either did really well, or really terrible on my test.  I don't think there's an in-between.
2. I'm either looking at sleeping with a CPAP or having surgery - if I can I'll opt for the surgery.
3. My son's car died.  Really died.

I'm in a women's Bible study on Wednesday evenings and I'm sure I'll be blogging about that and I have lots of posts started, I'm just swimming in anatomical terminology and I need to get "balanced"

On the "anatomical terminology", here's a cute kid story:

One of my students was walking with me and I (sort of) study 2 or 3 seconds at a time.  I asked, "quick, what's a sarcomere?"  His pointed off to a corner and said, "I think there's one over there."  This is also the student that said, "I can't be Romeo...I'm Spanish."  (for the record, he's Bosnian).

(This is the "science lab" that I've been putting off - it's the last requirement before I transfer.  I should have taken geology)

hopefully I'll be better this weekend...

Lecture exam on integumentary system, skeletal system, muscle system.

Need to know all of the chemical processes needed for muscle contraction...

I normally don't have trouble with classes, but this one is kicking my butt.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but labelling parts of things (like the parts of a long bone, parts of a sarcolemma (or whatever), parts of a muscle (all of the little thingies inside), parts of the layers of skin, yada, yada...

And I sign up for next semesters classes...I need to choose between getting back on the math track (needed to transfer) or retaking Spanish 101.

And I'm definately taking a Dreamweaver course.

I don't usually "do politics" here, but this relates directly to me.

I'm not big on unions; my labor union is for this proposal, but I've voted in ways contrary to their recommendations before and I will again.

This is about making sure public schools funding keeps up with inflation.

From a "pro-5" site

WHAT IS PROPOSAL 5?
Proposal 5 is an education ballot initiative that requires the State of Michigan to provide annual funding increases at the rate of inflation (based on the previous year’s Consumer Price Index) to local public K-12 schools, intermediate school districts, community colleges and higher education institutions.

It also requires the State to fund any deficiencies in the School Aid Fund from the General Fund, allow base funding for school districts with declining enrollment to use a three-year average; cap Retirement Fund contribution for public schools, community college and universities and require the State to pay remaining portion. 

Proposal 5 reduces funding gap between school districts receiving basic per-pupil foundation allowance and those receiving maximum foundation allowance.

I intended to also post a clip from an "anti-5" site, but they're in pdf and wouldn't let me cut and paste - I'm too lazy today to retype.

Basically, for both sides, it's about funding.  The "anti's" say that the funding increase is not tied to performance.  HELLO?  "No Child Left Behind" ties the school directly to performance.  If the school doesn't perform, the government takes it over.

The "anti's" say that it's about staff pay and pensions.  Well....yes.  Actually, it is.  Staff pay and pensions are part of running a school.  For any business, staffing is a part of the overhead.

Put another way...

Over the last four years, our state legislatures have voted themselves a raise of about 40%.

But public schools don't deserve to keep up with inflation.

(you might be better off not knowing!)  😉

My family Christmas is today!  My mom and dad spend the winter in Florida, so we always have our "Christmas" in October so they can leave before they see snow (HAH! they got fooled this year, didn't they?!?!?)

I got them this (autographed by the author) and gift cards to their favorite restaurants.  I'm looking forward to spending most of the day with my siblings and parents (and all of the "cousins" who are younger than my kids - the older three have moved away).

At any rate, on the weight watchers end, I'm taking this recipe (I'll post a photo and opinions tonight when I hear from people who have a good sense of taste):

Sweet Potatoes

3/4 cup orange juice
1 very large or 2 medium sweet potatoes (1 1/2 pounds), cut in half, then lengthwise into 8 wedges
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries (optional)

Toss potato wedges with orange juice, olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, honey and salt. Spread in a shallow baking dish and bake, covered, in a 400-degree oven until fork-tender but not mushy (about 45 minutes), basting once or twice during baking.

Uncover for the last 15 minutes and sprinkle with cranberries or cherries if desired. Serves 6.

Per serving: 104 calories, 1.5g protein, 1g fat (0.2g saturated), 23g carbohydrates, 2.3g fiber, 10mg sodium.

Weight Watchers Points Per Serving: 2

Source: Yahoo groups

Health plus: Sweet potatoes are a rich source of the antioxidants beta and alpha carotene. Cinnamon and other spices raise insulin activity, needed to process sugar.

The Carnival is hosted by Lindsey at "just enjoy the journey"

There are many good posts!

If they tell you that you can sleep normally during a sleep study:  they LIE.

If they tell you the glue they use to stick electrodes to your head washes out of your hair:  they LIE.

And no.  I didn't go to work today.  I came home and slept.

Results of the test in about 2 weeks.