George Washington starts Thanksgiving

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requsted me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

George Washington

This is completely opposite of the letter Barack Obama sent out this year:

Friend --

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, Americans across the country will sit down together, count our blessings, and give thanks for our families and our loved ones.

American families reflect the diversity of this great nation. No two are exactly alike, but there is a common thread they each share.

Our families are bound together through times of joy and times of grief. They shape us, support us, instill the values that guide us as individuals, and make possible all that we achieve.

So tomorrow, I'll be giving thanks for my family -- for all the wisdom, support, and love they have brought into my life.

But tomorrow is also a day to remember those who cannot sit down to break bread with those they love.

The soldier overseas holding down a lonely post and missing his kids. The sailor who left her home to serve a higher calling. The folks who must spend tomorrow apart from their families to work a second job, so they can keep food on the table or send a child to school.

We are grateful beyond words for the service and hard work of so many Americans who make our country great through their sacrifice. And this year, we know that far too many face a daily struggle that puts the comfort and security we all deserve painfully out of reach.

So when we gather tomorrow, let us also use the occasion to renew our commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous future that every American family can enjoy.

It seems like a lifetime ago that a crowd met on a frigid February morning in Springfield, Illinois to set out on an improbable course to change our nation.

In the years since, Michelle and I have been blessed with the support and friendship of the millions of Americans who have come together to form this ongoing movement for change.

You have been there through victories and setbacks. You have given of yourselves beyond measure. You have enabled all that we have accomplished -- and you have had the courage to dream yet bigger dreams for what we can still achieve.

So in this season of thanks giving, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to you, and my anticipation of the brighter future we are creating together.

With warmest wishes for a happy holiday season from my family to yours,

President Barack Obama

The first letter is inspiring; the second is quite pathetic.

The Orange Rock

Before Halloween, I took my kids to Walmart. They picked out very large pumpkins to paint at church with the other kids. They turned out, um, colorful!

We set the painted pumpkins outside; it rained. The color slid down the pumpkins and glopped at the bottom. Oh well. Halloween night, some horrible person decided to steal them and smash them at the end of our road. My kids were devastated. So the next day, I took them to Walmart and let them pick out another pumpkin. Only by that time, there were no large, carving pumpkins left. I let them each pick out a baking pumpkin, and I got one for myself. It would be fun to carve a pumpkin with the kids.

I cut Little Boy's pumpkin, and he started scooping out the guts. I cut Baby's pumpkin, and she started scooping out the guts. I got my pumpkin, and for the life of me, I couldn't get a knife into it. I thought it might just be that spot, or maybe I was suddenly an arthritic whimp. DH came in the kitchen, and he tried. He couldn't get it either. So this orange rock has been sitting on my cabinet.

Tonight I made a crustless pumpkin pie for tomorrow - Little Boy will be able to have a large piece since the carbs are very minimal for pumpkin. I decided as long as the oven was hot, I should cook that pumpkin. I got out the big knife - I mean the BIG knife. I stood back a little, and I gave that thing a good whack! The knife about bounced out of my hand. We don't have a hatchet, or that would have been my next choice. So I got out the huge serrated knife from my set. This thing has big teeth. Barely made a scratch. I got out the electric knife - maybe speed was the answer. I was able to scratch the surface, but honestly, I was afraid I was going to burn it up. I got Baby in bed and came back in the kitchen to find DH sawing on the pumpkin with a hacksaw blade. (It was new.) He was able to get deep enough to then use the BIG knife to crack it open. I was really curious what would be inside. Would it look like this?

And....it was normal. I have no idea what the problem was. It's in the oven now. I WON.

Today is one of the most exciting days

of my life. Tonight as I brushed my daughter's teeth before bed, my son told me he wanted to talk to his Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Letta. I asked him what he wanted to talk to her about. He said he wanted to pray with her to get saved - he wanted to live in Heaven when he died. I could feel myself holding my breath in excitement, but I didn't want to let on. See, I made a profession as a child to please my parents. I didn't want Little Boy to make that mistake, too.

I calmly told him that he didn't have to wait to talk to her; Daddy or I could pray with him. He said he wanted to pray with me.

Well. Baby was still awake. And boy, did Satan want to distract us! She didn't want to go to bed, but Mommy finally won.

I sat on the couch, and talked to my sweet son. I read a couple verses and explained them. He said, "Let me get this straight," and he repeated back to me what I said to him. I confirmed his statement. He was very serious, and I asked him if he wanted to pray (the Sinner's Prayer) with me. I prayed, he repeated; we said, "Amen!" And he looked at me with the most beautiful smile - not just on his face - but in his eyes. I asked him what he just did. He told me he asked Jesus to come into his heart, and to wash away his sins with His blood, and to take him to Heaven to live with God forever when he died. We wrote the date in the back of my Bible. My heart is almost as full as the day I asked Jesus into my heart to save me from MY sins.

I hugged him so hard! I cried tears of joy, and he offered to get me a Kleenex. But I told him that wasn't necessary; I just wanted to hold his little body in my arms. And he hugged me back just as hard.

I hate it when

I become my mother. I get so frustrated with my kids. I start yelling. Screaming. Threatening. I'm just not nice at all. And then I can't look at myself in the mirror. I sat in the kitchen today, sobbing. I ended up back in bed, where Little Boy followed me. We laid there in bed, and I told him how much I hate yelling, and why - because that's how my mom was with me. And I told him that I don't want to be like her. He wiped my tears, and snuggled. He kept telling me to not cry. And he told me he was going to obey the first time without fussing. I told him if he could make it through the day, I'd have something special for him. If he can make it a week (lol) we'd go bowling.

He hasn't fussed yet, but we definitely need to work on the quick response.

I just don't know how parents get their kids to obey without it being WWIII, without threatening to beat them or actually beating them. My kids are both very willful, and I know it only gets "worse". I'm so thankful for naptime. I think I'll take a quick one.

My daughter makes me laugh!

My daughter reading my calendar planner wearing her reading glasses.

Looking through the "stick". (I HATE that stick - it's the handle from a play mop that died.)

Now it's a horn.

Who could resist that beautiful face? Boys - stay away!

Love her imagination!

And while she is being a ham, where is her brother?

I could give myself a break

but, nnnnnoooooooo. I have to make things more difficult than they actually are.

Sunday mornings are not relaxing around here. We get up, rush around eating breakfast, getting dressed, getting out the door. And I had to get a song ready, because it's the last Sunday of the month, and I remembered I was on the list for the last Sunday of the month. I got my Sunday school worksheet off the printer, and grabbed my box of craft stuff. Out the door we went!

Got through Sunday school, and gathered up my stuff. I went into the auditorium and dropped the CD off by the sound system. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a couple of people get excited. I don't mean that they are big fans of my singing. I mean, they appeared to get riled up. I started thinking, "Am I supposed to sing in the evening service? If it's her week and I look like I'm hijacking her turn, she's going to have a conniption fit."

I asked the pastor if I was supposed to sing. And I started thinking, "Duh. It's NOT the last Sunday of the month!" Great. It probably was her week, and she was going to be all huffy. He came back and told me that two girls were supposed to sing, but they weren't ready. He asked if I had something prepared. I explained what I had observed in the back. He explained that whenever someone is on the list that may not be prepared, this lady (and her husband) assumes she will fill in. But he said he would prefer me to sing. And he asked if that was being mean. I told him, "Ahhh, no."

See. We go to a small church. The singing abilities are limited. This particular lady has very nice tone, but she makes up her own tune. And her own timing. And she likes to sing with instrumental recordings that are not meant to be an accompaniment. I think I could bear her singing if it wasn't clear that she sings for the recognition. That might be a judgment, and I try to be careful of that. But it is really hard to get a blessing from it.

So the song went well. My son told me it was great. My daughter did her rendition of my song.

2 words I hate

"at least"

Every time someone uses these words with me, I want to scream.

Those two words minimalize what a person is dealing with. Those words show that the person to whom you are speaking has no idea what you are going through, but they think they do.

I can remember a couple of specific instances that still bug me.

"At least you know you can get pregnant." (after my miscarriage)

"At least your mom is still alive." (uuhh, ok)

"At least your son has a treatable condition." (son is Type 1 diabetic)

Do I know there are worse situations out there? Of course, I do.

But when I share my heartaches, I don't want to hear "at least".

It's ok when I do it

but when other people whine, I am completely intolerant.

Ugh. I followed a link from a blog I read to a new blog I've never read. The writer posted about her daughter coming home from school, relating how inept the teachers and subs at her school are.

The writer made a comment about teachers teaching 6 hours a day and taking off for the summer.

OH MY WORD! You'd think she had offended the last living teacher! People were saying things like, "It's people like you..." and "Are you trying to lose readers?" I guess my comments were at the bottom, so no one may ever even read them, but can you say, "Whaa whaa whaa"? Go home and put on your big girl undies.

There is a misconception that teachers show up, babysit for 6 hours, and pine for summer vacation. Ok. So it's a misconception. There are misconceptions about EVERY occupation, I would guess.

And then there was the person who tried to shame teachers who now homeschool. I guess we've left our true calling and left poor little children to suffer.

I don't agree with the socialist idea that it takes a village to raise a child. Rather, I believe the biblical concept is that it takes a FAMILY to raise a child. And my first responsibility is to MY child.

Wha wha wha.

Saw this on a shirt

and I thought it was poignant.

The front of the shirt said:
"Christianity is not a religion."

On the back of the shirt was this text:
"Religion is humans trying to work their way to God."
"Christianity is God coming to men and women through a relationship with Jesus Christ."

Jesus is the passageway between God and men.

Cool shirt. Would have loved it if it wasn't brown.

Easy Oreo Truffles

Easy Oreo Truffles

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

Directions
1.Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
2.Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
3.Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.

Poor little kitty

I took our cat, Jack, to the vet today. He's been barfing alot lately. I'm glad I took him in; he's lost 2 lbs. since his last visit over a year ago.

The vet said she was concerned - his barfing, his scraggly coat (ahem - I rarely brush the poor guy), and weight loss together... She said she would like to do a basic blood screen. I started crying. I just dread losing him. After I regained my composure, I asked what the blood screen would look for. Diabetes - I told her I have a diabetic son, and I don't want to have to give the cat shots, too. Ugh. Kidney failure - but he pees plenty, thyroid problems - but when she felt his neck she didn't feel anything wrong, or it could just be irritable bowels. If that is the case, he'd need an occasional steroid shot.

I asked if we could assume that is the problem for now, and go that route. She said she needed to check his blood sugar; if he's diabetic and she gave him the steroid shot, that could really mess him up. His number was good, so we can rule that out. Praise God. Seriously, I don't think I could handle that.

So I cried from then until I got home. There were two ladies working at the desk. One who had eye make-up like this, who was yapping on her cell phone the whole time, and another girl who was running around doing all the work. The lady on the phone was looking at me like I was the freak.

I came home, let Jack out in the den, and laid down on the bed for awhile. I just hope this shot helps, because we can't put more money into him than we already do buying his gourmet food. :0*(

Spritz Cookies

I've wanted a cookie press for awhile, but I wanted to research them to find one that would hold up. I love the idea of making a pile of little cookies to decorate. And they are small enough that my son can have a couple and hopefully feel normal. Here is the one I bought:

Oreo Candy Cane Bark

I want to try this recipe:

Oreo Candy Cane Bark

Ingredients:
3 (6 oz.) pkgs. Baker's Premium White Baking Chocolate
15 sandwich Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped (about 2 c.)
3 candy canes, crushed (about 1/4 c.)

Directions:
Cover large cookie sheet with foil; set aside. Microwave chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min., or until almost melted, stirring every 30 sec. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in chopped cookies.

Spread immediately onto prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle crushed candy canes; press candy lightly into chocolate with back of spoon.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Break into pieces. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Makes 1 1/2 lb. or 18 servings. Can be stored in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tiger Butter

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, and it is a family (Mommy & Daddy) favorite. Lucky for us, our kids are super sensitive to caffeine, and they can't eat it. Ha ha ha ha! Okay. That wasn't so nice, but that just means more for us!

Tiger Butter

Ingredients:
1 lb. white chocolate chips
1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 - 12 oz. jar chunky peanut butter

Directions:
Combine white chocolate and peanut butter in top of double boiler. Cook until melted, stir constantly. Spread mix on wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Melt chocolate chips the same way; pour semi-sweet chocolate over the other mixture. Swirl the two together with a butter knife or spatula. Chill until firm. Break into pieces. I use a pizza cutter. Store in the fridge.

Just sooooo yummy!

Cinnamon Candy Corn

Cinnamon Candy Corn

Ingredients:
6 quarts plain popped popcorn (I use an air popper)
1 package (12 oz size) red cinnamon candies
Sugar
1 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
Spread popcorn in a lightly buttered roasting pan; bake at 250 F while preparing syrup. Pour cinnamon candies into a 2 cup measure. Fill remaining space to the top with sugar. Place in a heavy pan; Add butter, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil; boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat; carefully stir in baking soda. Pour over popcorn, stirring to coat. Continue to bake at 250 F for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool. Break into pieces; store in an airtight container.

Christmas plans

I want to get my act together before Christmas this year.

I want to get the house clean.

I want to get my shopping done early.

I want to take time to wrap the gifts prettily.

I have a list of things I want to make:

1) Tiger Butter
2) Cinnamon Candied Popcorn
3) Peppermint Marshmallows
4) Spritz Cookies (with my new cookie gun!)

This is why I'm always ready...

for someone to come at me on my side of the road. The "short-cut" road looks like this:

So is it just me?

Today I got up and realized I had left my son's antibiotics on the counter overnight. I called the doctor's office, and they called in a refill. I was on my way to the pharmacy, and some idiot came around the corner way too fast on my side of the road. They pulled back onto their side just in time. I am always watching for that to happen, so I was ready. But on that road, there is no shoulder. I'm just glad there was not a wreck.


I got to the pharmacy, and gave the lady at the drive-thru my credit card and my bonus card. When she brought back my stuff, I was waiting for my cards. She said, "Oh, I threw them in the bag." Well, I've learned to look for myself. I had to pull out two large-ish boxes of syringes to see. My credit card was in there, but my bonus card was not. She told me it must have fallen on my floor. It wasn't on my floor. It wasn't in the bag. She and a pharmacist looked around, but both insisted that I must have lost it in my car. The pharmacist gave me a new set of bonus cards. I think she just wanted me to hurry up and leave.

The filling in my tooth is too high; the pressure on the tooth is causing me to have a huge toothache. All I can find is baby anbesol and it's not working. Ugh. So on top of all the people I meet trying to set me off, I am in enough pain to have NO patience.

Blah.

Insulted

I've had a couple of really great, full, busy days. And I'm tired. And intolerant.

Tonight I was pulling into McDonald's and there were cars backing up on both sides of the drive-through lane. I was waiting for the one that was already moving, and as I started to pull up, the other vehicle - a SUV - started backing up. I honked and pulled up. As I was ordering, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the SUV pull up a bit ahead of me on my right. I was concentrating on ordering, so I wasn't really paying attention, but I'm fairly certain the woman driver rolled down her window and started yelling at me.

The human nature in me wanted to jump out of my car, go over to her vehicle, and pull her out of her vehicle by her hair, all the while informing her that she was a typical, ignorant local woman driver.

Instead, I acted like I didn't know she was there. Whew!

Tonight, I was commenting on a friend's post. She's looking for a used instrument; I asked if she had checked out ebay. She said she had in the past, but she didn't like watching and bidding, etc. and she was hesitant to buy something online. I wrote back that I reposted her request, but that she might look again at the buy-it-now items. I mentioned that I was very happy with an antique electric guitar that I bought a couple years ago.

One of her other friends mentioned "that as a former band director, I would steer you completely and totally away from computer searches. BAD move for a real musician."

Normally, I would just let it go. She doesn't know me; I don't know her. I don't want to start something on a friend's wall. But tonight, I spoke up. I responded: "Wow. I'm not a real musician. Hmm."

I just don't think it's a good time for me to be on boards or FB as I would feel great relief from removing someone's face. LOL

I should just go to bed.

Little Boy gets a high five!

Imagination Movers!

In the hotel - ready to go!

Waiting in the lobby for Vicki.

Sitting in the Centre waiting for the show to start!

Rich & Smitty - Farmer Kyle is in the back.

Dave & Scott

Jump up!

Cool set & LOTS of guitars!

Work hard! Have fun!

Karate Kid - "Sweep his bad leg, Johnny!"

Dave & Smitty

Scott's belly

We had the BEST time! My kids weren't feeling great, but when the show started, they forgot all about being sick. They were both jumping to the music; the floor was moving from everyone in the hall jumping. Joel got a ball they threw out into the audience, and Allison got one of Rich's drumsticks! The perks of sitting in the second row!

Water bottles

As if there aren't enough things to worry about, please be aware of the effect bottled water can have. (I just bought a case of bottled water tonight, so I'm not at the freak out stage yet.)

This is an article I found today:

To be certain that you are choosing a bottle that does not leach, check the recycling symbol on your bottle. If it is a #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your bottle is fine. The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is usually a #1, and is only recommended for one time use. Do not refill it. Better to use a reusable water bottle, and fill it with your own filtered water from home and keep these single-use bottles out of the landfill.

Unfortunately, those fabulous colorful hard plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, may leach BPA. Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. Synthetic xenoestrogens are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes. (This is the part that concerns me.) For more of the science on the effects of BPA on our endocrine system etc. see these studies: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal. Nalgene, the company that manufactures the lexan water bottles also makes #2 HDPE bottles in the same sizes and shapes, so we have a viable alternative. Order one at Nalgene.

Unfortunately, most plastic baby bottles and drinking cups are made with plastics containing Bisphenol A. In 2006 Europe banned all products made for children under age 3 containing BPA, and as of Dec. 2006 the city of San Franscisco followed suit. In March 2007 a billion-dollar class action suit was commenced against Gerber, Playtex, Evenflo, Avent, and Dr. Brown's in Los Angeles superior court for harm done to babies caused by drinking out of baby bottles and sippy cups containing BPA. So, to be certain that your baby is not exposed, use glass bottles.

Check the recycling numbers on all your plastic food containers as well, and gradually move to storing all food in glass or ceramic.

Store water in glass or brass if possible, and out of direct sunlight.

Ah... yeah.

Love/Hate

I really like our dentist. He's a nice Christian man; he's personable, kind, and gentle.

I hate going to the dentist. It doesn't really matter that he's personable, kind and gentle if he hurts me. And he does.

My appointment today was for one filling, but since he had a cancelation, he said he could do both fillings today. One was on top, and the other was on the bottom on the same side. I was so tense during the whole thing. He kept reminding me to breathe. And I was shaking. The assistant commented afterward that she could tell how much I disliked the whole process. She said most people either hate the anesthesia or the drilling, but clearly, I am an equal opportunity hater.

I came home and climbed into bed. Me and my droopy face. Over 5 hours later, I was still feeling the effects. My face just below my eye all the way down my neck to my collar bone throbbed. The inside of my mouth is very tender, the muscles in my neck are sore, and I can't eat solids until noon tomorrow. He will probably have to grind the one filling down a hair as it's not allowing my teeth on the other side to meet. But he was afraid to "knock it down" any more than he did for fear it would crack.

But I got it over at one time, and I won't have to endure the stress a second time in one week.

Wednesday, Allison gets her teeth cleaned and checked for the first time. I sure hope she doesn't have any cavities. And I hope she has inherited her father's affinity for the dentist.

It was 9 pm, and I told my son to put on his overnight pull-up when I remembered...he was out of pullups. So I had to run to Walmart and get back before DH needed to leave for work.

Before he left, he told me to go to bed early, but I did get a nap this afternoon. And it's hard for me to go to bed too early when he's on last shift.

Can you see the steam?

Once again, someone at church has chosen to substitute their own judgment for my judgment.

Sunday nights are difficult for us. We eat supper, change clothes and rush out the door. Tonight DH stayed home to finish schoolwork, and I took the kids. We got there and he gasped - no diabetes bag - that means no meter and no emergency snack. I told him that if he felt low he'd have to come see me.

My son came out of class tonight with a very red, sweaty face. He said it was ok, that they were playing in class. I expressed concern that there was too much playing and not enough lesson time. I told him to sit down somewhere; I was afraid his blood sugar would be low. Baby had an apple. I told her she couldn't eat it since she hadn't eaten all of her supper. We got home and he checked his sugar. 234. I knew something wasn't right. I made him wash his hands and check again - 214.

I started asking questions. He finally told us that the teachers (husband & wife) cut up an apple and gave it to the kids. Little Boy knew he shouldn't eat it, but he said it wouldn't have been fair if the other kids got some and he didn't. It will be some time before he understands that he can't worry about what is fair.

I am angry. I have clearly, specifically told these teachers that my son is not to have a snack during their class. We eat just before walking out the door; it is virtually impossible for him to be low. And that if he feels low, he is supposed to test his sugar before being given any food. Seeing that he didn't have his meter, he should have come to me.

So I called the pastor. He tried to be understanding, but I don't think he understands how I feel. I work my beheinie off to keep my son's sugar under control. I will do whatever is necessary to do this. I told the pastor that if I have to keep my son with me during the service, I will. Right now, I want to remove the faces of these two people. If these people can't work with me, we will find a new church.

And on top of EVERYthing, the wife has Type 1 Diabetes.

Smashing Pumpkins

Ah - NOT the group. I'm talking about the thieves who stole my kids' pumpkins off the wall by our front porch. And then these integrity-deficient people smashed the pumpkins at the end of the road.

My son cried this morning. Baby was upset, too, but I was able to keep her from crying. We hadn't had a chance to even carve them yet. So we went to WalMart after church to look for replacements. We found the little baking pumpkins, and I picked out the largest ones they had. We'll have to do some carving tomorrow.

I have several ideas for next year:

1) My closed circuit camera will be on the porch, running through the VCR on record.
2) Bottom half of pumpkin will be smeared with peanut butter.
3) At least one rotten egg will be in the bottom of each pumpkin.
4) Collected dog poop will be on the lawn in front of the wall.
5) I will capture a freeze-frame picture from the video of whomever dares to take them. I will make the picture as large as I can and I will post multiple copies of the pictures on telephone poles downtown with a caption on each: "I steal pumpkins from children."

Don't mess with Mommy.