Happy Thanksgiving!

Mmmm....which one should I pardon???

I Was Adopted

HA HA....Wendy, Aubrey and Mom wearing mud masks...(I took mine off first...you don't think I'd put MY mud mask picture on the blog do you?)

I stayed overnite at my parents Thanksgiving nite and friday nite so Isaac could get used to Blane putting him to bed AND start "weaning" him...

Friday nite Wendy and Aubrey spent the nite as well...we had a good time. We don't get to do that too often...girls' nite out...

Isaac's 2nd Birthday Celebrated

I made Isaac a train cake for his birthday and Aubrey helped me decorate it!!

taking a bite out of the cake.....

"Bogo and Ike".....

Sayng goodbye

The Sun Still Came Up....

Welllll...despite who our President-Elect is now, the sun STILL came up the day after election. I can rejoice in that. Although I am disappointed with the outcome, I wasn't surprised after waiting in line close to two hours to vote! Obviously Obama is the one that brought so many out to vote...so many wanting change. Oh they'll get change all right...it's the KIND of change I'm not looking forward to. It's my opinion that A LOT of his votes came from people who just wanted a Black president....and saw the idea of a Black president as a huge step! That in itself IS a BIG change! I will say that I don't care if the next President is Purple or Pink Polka-Dotted....if he doesn't share my values...he doesn't get my vote! I think it would be wonderful to have a Black President if he believed in the sanctity of human life and the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman and if I felt he could do a good job as Commander In Chief....but unfortunately that isn't the case. BUT...BUT he WILL be the next President and he and his advisors WILL need our prayers more than ever!!!! I take comfort in the fact that God isn't surprised at the election outcome and HE is STILL in control.
I'm currently re-reading a book called Hitler's Cross by Erwin Lutzer. "Erwin Lutzer explores the story of Hitler's Cross-how a whole race of people so in need of a champion found little help from the Church of Christ and so invited the judgment of God." I remember the last time I read it a number of years ago and saw the parallels in how Germany started down the slippery slope and how far we've come as well (i.e. Roe v. Wade all the way to partial birth abortion, homosexual "rights"..."hate crimes"...prayer taken out of school to people losing their jobs just by mentioning "intelligent design"...etc. etc...)...
When I'm finished I may put a few quotes on the blog.
Now on to more important things...like wrapping a few birthday presents for Isaac's party tomorrow :)

My Thoughts On The Upcoming Election

This is pretty long .…so you might want to read my “blurts” in “spurts”. I thought I’d write down my thoughts about the upcoming presidential election which I see as a crucial time in our history. Of course I probably think that every time there is a presidential election that it's a crucial one but I think this one REALLY is. It’s QUITE probable that the next president may have the opportunity to nominate up to 5 new Justices of the Supreme Court during his term and this could affect our nation for years to come in a huge way positive or negative depending on who the next president is. I, for one, do not want liberal judges getting in and this could very well happen if Barack Obama is elected. It’s bad enough that Roe v. Wade ever happened and has helped to start the ball rolling in the wrong direction since 1973. Since then the dignity and value of human life has taken a back seat to a focus of “rights, rights, rights”…instead of “responsibility”.
I had a thought yesterday…if the vote for president depended on CHILDREN voting and not adults…who would get in?? Children I think tend to be very black and white in their opinions and very simple. They wouldn’t get caught up in all the economic issues but would focus on the pro-life and family values issues and where each candidate stands. I think if given some of the facts about our nominees in an understood way, they would vote for the nominees McCain and Palin simply for the fact that they are pro-life, because if they were informed of Obama’s stand on human life and it were explained to them what abortion is, they would be appalled!!! I can just hear their comments, “Mr. Obama would let babies be killed? He thinks that’s okay?” I think they would not even care as much for the other issues at hand but focus on the fact that a person would think it was all right to kill babies for convenience, because really that’s the majority of cases for abortion, not for the health of the mother and THAT argument is so very lame. Tell me exactly when and why the partial birth procedure is necessary for the health of the mother?? When is it EVER necessary to kill a baby AND through such a horrible procedure as partial birth abortion for the health of the mother? The concept of when life begins isn't even a issue in that case!! Everyone would agree it is a baby at the time of that abortion procedure. At ANY stage, it IS a LIFE!!! (I don't feel it's "above my pay grade" to say that)
If children were given the right to vote INSTEAD of adults and knew of Obama’s support for homosexual rights and their agenda, what would they think? Most children understand there’s a Daddy and there’s a Mommy in a family.
“Two mommies? I don’t understand!” “Was Adam a woman? Or was Eve really a man?” they might ask.
“Well no dear, but these days sometimes a man wants to marry another man and a woman wants to marry a woman.”
“oh…well when did that change from a mommy and a daddy marrying each other?”
“Well uh…THAT didn’t change but now you can have two mommies or two daddies too” “Why?”
“Because, well…because that’s what some people want.”
“Is it ok to do that?”
“Well..I guess for some people if that’s what they want.”
“How do you know it’s ok…I think it’s weird. Would you ever marry another woman mommy?”
“Oh my NO dear!”
“Why?”
“Don’t you think it’s ok?”
“Well…uh…for some maybe..but..”
“I just think it’s weird…so did God say later that it was ok then?” “Did God change his mind or something?”
“Is that why people say Obama is bringing a lot of change? ‘Cause if that’s what it means, I don’t like it…I think it’s weird! Does that mean if Obama is president you’ll have to leave daddy and find another mommy?”
“Oh NO dear I’m not going to find another mommy. It’ll always be daddy and me for you.”
“But Obama is bringing change and there’s going to be mommies with mommies and daddies with daddies…maybe lots of them and everything will be so mixed up.” “Do YOU think it’s right mommy?”
“No I don’t but if that’s what someone else wants we should respect them and not judge them.”
“But if God didn’t change the rules, how can it be right?”
“Well dear, have you heard the phrase ‘if it feels right, do it? They really feel that it’s right for them”
“OK….so does that mean if it feels right to eat 3 candy bars right before dinner, I can??” “That would be so cool!”
“No, no..that’s not right!”
“Why not?”
“Because I said so!”
“Sort of like when God says so?”
“Yeah something like that…”
“So mommy, then I don’t think it’s right to have daddies marry daddies and mommies marry mommies….I think God says so.” ANNNDDD it’s DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT to kill babies either! God LOVES ALL babies because he loves the world! He knew us before we were even born and loves us!!!

I’ve heard you can’t legislate morality…ok…but you can’t sit back and NOT fight the slippery slope either. The fact that there was a Roe v. Wade to begin with…that’s appalling. Even convicted killers have rights and get their day in court…the unborn have no rights and they have done nothing.
Some say keep the moral issues out of it…OR…somehow these issues of abortion and homosexuality get attached to the “separation of church and state” issue. If pastors preach against it, it’s seen as crossing the line into politics! Even some Christians feel these issues should stay out of the pulpit! If a pastor preaches against abortion or homosexuality, some Christians see it as endorsing a candidate and mixing politics with religion and GET OFFENDED and say pastors should “just stick to preaching the gospel” and stay out of politics! What exactly are they saying? Preach the salvation message but forget about what the Bible says about unacceptable behavior because that’s “intolerant” of a select group of people? That’s what I hear! Well I say preach it! Jesus was not afraid to confront the Pharisees OR the TAX collectors…he hung out with the tax collectors perhaps even more than the religious leaders! Many saw him as stepping on political toes and thought he went too far in what he said…so even then there was this “church and state” issue, BUT Jesus did not let that get in the way of valuing life and confronting wrong whatever it was. You CAN’T and SHOULDN’T separate your Christianity from your political beliefs and keep them in separate corners!

You won’t find the “church and state” statement anywhere in the Constitution. It was in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. And the Establishment Clause is talking about keeping the Government from establishing a religion…But today it’s used to keep religious groups/churches quiet and is used in a negative way to stamp out religious freedom!! The Establishment Clause was never intended to be used in that way but to PROTECT religious beliefs.

Many of the present issues the nominees are faced with are economic policy and foreign policy. VERY important issues of which I know little about as far as how it should work. The nominees THINK they have the answers to correct foreign policy and how to fix the economy, health care, education, etc. BUT there is NO guarantee that they really know how to fix these issues. There is NO guarantee that they will get the cooperation from Congress in passing legislation and bills. I personally don’t think either health plan from the candidates sounds ideal. I THINK John McCain would be better able to handle foreign policy AND trust he would continue to support the State of Israel. I HOPE he would have a good economic plan as well. But all of these to me are gray areas…no “for sures” for either of them to make the best choices at all times. So I consider the moral issues and where each candidate stands. Do they value human life from the moment of conception! Mr. Obama doesn’t even know when life begins (“it’s “above his pay grade” to answer that question)…yet NOT knowing when life begins, he would approve of his daughters getting an abortion if they made a mistake because “he wouldn’t want them to be punished for their mistake.” Obama supports partial birth abortion as well...even though he knows as everyone does that unarguably at that state IT is a LIFE.
Does the candidate respect and believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman FOR EVERYONE not just personally. Mr. Obama would support the homosexual agenda.
This is what I think….if a candidate does not support human life and the lifestyle God intends for ALL of us….how can I even attempt to trust he will do well dealing with the gray issues. You have to guide a country on moral absolutes. If you don’t, how are you going to deal with other countries? I see this atmosphere of toleration and acceptance of things like the homosexual agenda affecting other areas – are we as a nation or a leader also going to fall into toleration of terrorists or appeasement? Mr. Obama supports the homosexual agenda which has gained so much ground and has already infringed on religious rights in some instances where pastors are accused of hate crimes for preaching against homosexuality in the pulpit. In regards to foreign policy, Mr. Obama is willing to SIT DOWN with known dictators like the President of Iran WITHOUT Pre-conditions! What does that mean? Iran, or at least its President has very clearly stated it “wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map.”

There are some who are just fed up with the present administration and want change. What kind of change do they want and what kind do they think they will get. Mr. Obama certainly promises change but I haven’t heard yet WHAT huge change he’s really going to make for the good. I only see bad based on his speculative past (ACORN), and where he stands on the moral issues and foreign policy…etc. Perhaps some people believe he’ll bring the troops home sooner. But would he do it too soon? Before the mission is complete in getting Iraq safely situated to run itself? Some people are angry we ever went to war in the first place and so definitely don’t want a military man in office and see “more of the same.” Do people not understand that we were ATTACKED on 9/11 ON OUR OWN TURF. We entered World War l and ll to fight for freedom for our allies and ultimately our own and lost thousands and thousands of our own, but most agree it was the right thing to do. On 9/11 WE were attacked and lost over 3000 innocent lives, and to prevent further attacks on our turf, we took the war to them, the terrorists, to prevent attacks from happening again on our soil, to root out terrorists and help establish democracy and freedom abroad so that others can experience the same freedoms we have. We cannot be isolationists. That mindset would put our country in jeopardy. It seems to me that many of the people who will vote for Obama are merely doing so because they don’t approve of the present administration and believe McCain would be more of the same. I assume that means the issue of the war and we just want our troops home…etc. etc…I don’t believe McCain wants the troops to stay over in Afghanistran and Iraq any more than anyone else. He knows first hand the horrors of war. He knows it’s ugly business, but unlike Vietnam, positive things have happened for the country of Iraq and the business there is not finished yet and he wants to see the job done not only for Iraq’s sake, but for America’s as well and THEN get those troops home.
I am SURE there will be things I disagree with in the next administration, even if it is McCain. There were things I didn’t agree with under the Bush Administration (i.e. “No Child Left Behind” –too much government involvement in education)….BUT I’d rather have McCain/Palin in office than Obama/Biden.
For anyone reading this blog and DISAGREE with my views…you are certainly entitled…My one plea would be for you to know that my birthday falls on voting day this year…so if you WANT to wish me a happy birthday…well you know how to do it…IF Obama gets into office, well…it’s my birthday that day so I guess I’ll have to say “It’s My Party, And I’ll Cry If I Want To, Cry If I Want To.”

Play Time and Cousins

1st photo-Isaac taking a break from the slide and swings
2nd photo-Ready, Set, GO!!!!
3rd photo-with cousin Jenny...who spent the night and picture taken after a trip to Farmer's Fair (notice her unusually Red Hair!)....compliments of her big sister helping to run the sand art/spray hair booth...

The Pros of Motherhood during the Toddler Stage

...I get to play with Play doh..sometimes a couple days in a row (and I do love the smell of play doh)
...I have an excuse for acting silly
...I get to shop in a toy store...
...I get/got to ride in a REAL Fire engine...like the other day during Fire Prevention week...but I didn't get a yellow firemen's hat like Isaac did..
...I get to "pretend" and play more than clean..(some days it doesn't feel like a "pro")
...I receive hugs and kisses daily from a rambunctious, loveable boy
...I get "awed" on a regular basis seeing a toddler learn new things
...sometimes I get to take a nap during the day...rarely but sometimes...
...I get to laugh more often
and on and on....

Things Isaac Says in A Day...

"Ommy,Ommy!" - Mommy come get me out of bed
"Ah bye, ah bye" - bye bye
"Gock, Gock" - put my socks on or take them off
"Goggie, Goggie" - I hear a doggie or I see a doggie
"Yeah, Yeah!"
"No!"
"Paydoe" - can we play with playdoh?
"Kayon?" - Can we color or crayon?
"Birday cake?" - Can I have some ice cream, cornbread, cake, or anything that looks like birthday cake?
"Boom boom car?" - Can I go for a ride in Daddy's Corvette?
"Bike, Bike!" - Can we go for a bike ride?
"Wing?Wing?" - Can I swing out back?
"moorer, moorer" - can I play with my bubble mower?
"Nite, nite??" - Can we set up the tent in the living room with the sheet and chairs and throw the stuffed animals in there and pretend to go nite nite?? (I'm soooo good at interpreting ha ha)
"Byder? Byder?" - Can we put a "diaper" on my stuffed animal?
"Daddy home?"
"Mommy shirt, mommy shirt? Daddy shirt daddy shirt?" - As he pulls the laundry out of the basket and lets us know what belongs to who....
"Gogurt" - Yogurt
"Ju-Ju-Juice" - usually means can I have some Milk...
"Pane, pane" - let's pretend we're airplanes!
"book, book" - let's look at a book..."The END" - and slam it shut after a page or two
"Bacob" - Caleb
"Gape" - grape
"Apple" - orange, pear, apple, or tomato

"Your other child is under there...!"

Saturday night, Blane Isaac and I went to the Christian Bookstore so Blane could look and maybe find some study materials for church. So I got to chase Isaac around the store. Once in a while I'd get interested in browsing and off Isaac would go...I chased after him as he headed into the "breakable" area of the store wearing a finger puppet theatre around his neck! Then he took interest in a little boy around 6 or 7 maybe who was running around the store and flopping down wherever...Isaac was thrilled to chase him and the boy seemed to enjoy being chased while his father was oblivious to everything as he listened to music...Again I was glancing at something and realized I didn't see Isaac. An older lady saw me looking and said "he's around the corner but he almost went out the front door!" (She wasn't too pleased with me)..."And your OTHER one is over there under that rack!" "Oh NO!" I said..."I only have THIS ONE!" Well that little boy kept popping up wanting Isaac to chase him and I finally told him "I DON'T WANT HIM CHASING YOU!" He disappeared briefly. Next time we'll use the stroller for sure! Two or three dirty looks is enough for me and it's a little like torture when I find myself in a bookstore and I can't look at anything! Everything is so close yet SOOO far away!!

Things I Typically Say Throughout the Day...

Want some breakfast now?
Do you want some juice?
No No!
Oh, oh oh, be careful!
Get Down!
No No No!
Come Here and let me smell you..
Keep still..
No No No!
I'm gonna get you!
(squeals and running feet accompany that phrase)
Gimme some sugar...(gimme a kiss)
Get down!
Wanta go bye bye?
Want to sit on the potty?
How about a book?
Don't throw the playdoh on the floor!
Ok playdoh time is over!
Psst psst..guess what! guess what! I LOVE YOU!
You need a diaper change..
No No No!
Get Down!
Daddy's Home!
(squeals and running feet accompany that phrase)
Psst psst..guess what what...I LOVE YOU!
...it's nite nite time!
...brush your teeth
...ok, it's nite nite time now!
...say goodnite to daddy!
...OK it's nite nite time NOW!
...want me to sing you a song?
ISAAC: Wake up! (by this time he's in bed with us)
Me: Boy that nite sure went by fast! Want some breakfast?
No No No!
..Gimme some sugar!
..I LOVE YOU!
..I'm gonna get you!
(squeals and running feet)...
etc. etc. etc....

"Oh there you are Mommy"

This was taken as I was looking over the porch at the cabin on our vacation and Isaac was looking for me as I called him. I remember saying "Oh don't fall down honey from looking up!" as he leaned way back looking for me....As I said it a spiritual thought popped into my head...I thought, well, in the spiritual sense it would not be a bad idea if we Fell Down from Looking Up if our sense of awe and worship brought us to that point....I wonder if reading The Shack had anything to do with that thought? I had just started reading it on vacation...not finished yet. I must admit certain parts I've enjoyed as its painted a lovely picture of the trinity and how our relationship SHOULD be with God....and at the same time...hard to still process it all...and some of it just plain weird to me....so for me the book has been a mixed bag so far....but overall glad to have the chance to read it....

Our North Carolina Vacation

A rare sight...Blane relaxing and reading... another rare sight, Isaac sitting still long enough for a picture..another picture of Isaac relaxing on Mrs. Weda's lap...

We had a great week in Green Mountain, NC visiting our friends Ken and Carolyn Weda! The weather was beautiful too all week...till we headed over to the Raleigh area to visit some more friends and decided to follow a bit behind Hurricane Hanna's path...or were we in front of it? I can't remember...but turns out we only drove in a little rain and the sun was shining by Saturday afternoon. Before we headed back to PA, we visited a church in Cary, NC. Wow! The people were so friendly, I was half expecting some of their greeters to pop up in our car as well!! Even though the sermon was an hour long, I think I paid attention the whole time and we were relieved that Isaac did so well in the nursery! Although we enjoyed our time away, Isaac definitely sleeps better at home, which means we do too!

Friends From New Hampshire

My Friend Terry and her three kids came to visit recently. (photo above:James 15, Olivia 9, Terry, older than me....ok by one month)....I've known Terry since her oldest (Jesse, far right in bottom photo, was just a baby and now he's 21!)...and Terry was in our wedding 4 years ago. It was a short visit but a nice one! We spent the afternoon and part of the evening together...in Lancaster..and then supper at our place. I don't think Terry would mind me mentioning that since the last time I saw her (two years ago) she has lost about 83 lbs!! It was great to see them all!! Isaac had no problem going to Terry-maybe he sensed that she works in a daycare with kids just his age? I might post a few other pictures but it takes FOREVER to put them on. I hope it's not another two years till we see Terry and family again!

"Isaac Lewis went up the hill.....(wooden hill that is)

....to fetch his mommy Brenda...He fell down but is ok and his mommy came tumbling after...."
Yes he fell down the steps from top to bottom at my sister's house and gave me quite a scare! I actually tried to chase him down the stairs to catch him and skipped a few in the process and almost fell myself....He was fine..cried a little and said over and over "fall down! fall down!" then he got off my lap and proceeded to play! The NERVE of him since I wasn't finished crying!! Later I had an unsettling realization that it's not going to get any easier!!! There's going to be MORE things I'll be catching my breath about and people might start yelling at me "Hey save some oxygen for us!" as I loudly inhale and gasp when Isaac almost hurts himself or DOES hurt himself!! I'm even thinking ahead to when he starts driving!! Will I be a nervous wreck and stay up waiting for him and tell him to call me every 15 minutes! Well I guess I shouldn't dwell on the "what ifs"...He DOES belong to God who loves him even MORE than his parents (hard to wrap my head around that thought)....but he's in good hands and BIG HANDS... I just have to keep telling myself that AND continue to keep a close eye on the rascally little angel who sometimes thinks he can fly! and doesn't think enough about the concept of GRAVITY!

"I prefer to do my reading in the laundry basket!"

A kitchen towel, onesie, and packaging tape

Isaac was down to his last diaper this morning BUT I had to change him twice before I could get to the store and get more diapers....soooooo....I had to improvise a bit...I lined a kitchen towel with a onesie and tape the sides with packaging tape and it worked!! Maybe I'll send this idea into "Hints from Heloise"...or something....No..I imagine I'm not the ONLY one who's ever had to do something like that...

Isaac's First Corvette Ride

Blane took Isaac for a short ride in his corvette and when they pulled into the driveway afterward, he (Isaac, not Blane) was fast asleep!!! I guess he enjoyed the ride! The night before we all went for a moonlight bike ride on the rail trail...with about 30 other people. It started at 8:30pm till about 10:30pm with snacks at the end. Pretty much cancelled out any exercise I got since I stuffed my face with shortbread cookies....
Blane took the day off yesterday....and we set out stuff for our community yard sale...only three houses were doing it so far...and I brought in a little over $4 by the afternoon...WHOOPEE!! Where am I gonna spend it all?

Definitely a "LIVING" Room...

...no there are no eggs in the cartons....they make great building blocks...

First Class Mail(Male)

Well I guess if he gets lost, someone can just mail him back to me.....

Tour De Fra....Uh Dover

Saturday, July 5th..Isaac went for his first bike ride and liked it! They just rode to a playground nearby and played for a bit and came home....Yesterday (Sunday July 6th), my brother Mark, Blane, Isaac and I all went for a bike ride. First we had to wait till the storm passed so we set out around 5:45pm with a diaper and wipes stuffed in the back of my bike shirt in case of emergency ....We rode about 20 miles....what?..what's that Blane? Oh...uh...about 2-1/2 miles....(felt like 20 to me) to one of Blane's aunt's house...visited for a bit so Isaac could load up on grapes, pretzels, strawberries and ginger snaps...then came home. I told Blane starting out that my tires just didn't feel right but he said he put plenty of air in them...so I just assumed it was me and I was out of shape all the more...but really I couldn't believe how far Mark and Blane got ahead of me even on the easy roads. When we got back, Blane looked at my tires and started laughing and told me to look. Well, my tires had plenty of pressure but the back tire wasn't tight and the WHOLE time had been rubbing against the frame!!!!! I'm pretty sure I had that same problem last week in the amazing race!

You The Owner's Manual

I just finished this book....and I regret spending the money buying it even if I got it for 30% off. I should have just as well checked it out from the library instead. I was disappointed the many times they referred to evolution, even if it was in passing. Some of the book was very good, but if you ever read it, I would say go into it with the idea that you will have to "take the meat and throw away the bones" as you read it...I did like their style of writing in layman's terms of how the body works and how everything fits together...All organs are important and depend on each other....What a MORE fascinating book it would have been if they were Christians and put a spiritual twist on it! But I guess that book's already been written - In His Image by Paul Brand, and also another book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Paul Brand and Phillip Yancey (I think..I may have the authors wrong on that one)...
One thing the book said you could try to test your "brain strength" was to stand with your hands at your sides, close your eyes, and lift one leg...if you are 45 years old and can stand like that for at least 15 seconds, then you have REALLY good Brain strength! I'll just say that I'm still practicing to get there but I think it's improving!!! I'm getting good practice from precarious positions I find myself in when "saving" Isaac from diving off the furniture..that's GOTTA help, right?

The Amazing Grace Race

Just got back from our church's Amazing Grace Race held at a park nearby...Blane and I entered along with 19 other couples. I knew we probably wouldn't win, but come on! LAST??? We came in LAST??? How can that be?? There were times I didn't even see anyone else around during the race so it seemed obvious to me we must have been way ahead, right? Well, let's see, giving it more thought I can think of a few times we may have lost some time....the 3 mile bike trail was first for us...we took our time looking at the map and getting our helmets on while everyone else left us in the dust....After that race my legs were like jello so I walked a little unsteadily to the next thing and couldn't help laughing 'cause I knew if I bent down too much I'd just collapse..., we next did canoeing which I think we did pretty good or at least it seemed like a piece of cake without a toddler sitting in the middle.....but walking to some of the other stations we were stopped a few times from people in the park asking what was going on (we had numbers pinned to our backs) so we chatted a little and told them about our church....So with all that in mind, I guess we could have gained, oh I don't know....2 minutes on our time?? Anyway, we had a good time. There were only two casualties on the bike trail...my poor sister wiped out pretty bad on the steep descent...BIG OUCH!!!! BUT, once she received a little medical attention she continued with the rest of the race with her husband....well not the bike part but everything else....
And thank goodness for other people with extra diapers! I only packed one for Isaac but gave it to his cousin who REALLY needed it...then later Isaac REALLY needed one so someone from church had an extra to give to me for Isaac....what goes around comes around...ha ha...

A Recommended Book...by me

I just finished reading a book How To Raise A Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor by Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD..a leading pediatrician! He's been in practice for over 30 years. It's VERY insightful and coming from a pediatrician it's quite interesting that he HIGHLY encourages parents to take more control of their child's health AND if at all possible AVOID the doctor! He reveals the general mentality of the medical profession and the dangers of putting your child in a doctor's care for minor things where it could very well be something parents can handle at home, rather than seeing a doctor who will intervene in many unnecessary ways! He lists guidelines to follow for many childhood illnesses and gives his opinion on various subjects, including the fact that he DOES NOT recommend vaccinations! This coming from a pediatrician, but he backs it up with very interesting statistics and information that spells out how useless AND potentially dangerous they are....and how to treat diseases (i.e. mumps, measles, etc.) if contracted. He's also against tonsilectomies unless the child's tonsils are so swollen he can't breathe...but he says the tonsils are the first line of defense against infection. He's also against antibiotics unless absolutely necessary (i.e. olive oil recommended for earaches rather than antibiotics)...he's against strep throat cultures and antibiotics for that and explains why...etc., etc...(Perhaps NOW I have a few people curious about this doctor...so you gotta read the book!....Anyway, it's a great book and now I'm going through and highlighting things to keep in mind.
Aside from finishing the book, Isaac and I spent some time playing with play doh and he did so much better this time by NOT EATING IT....just licking it to get my reaction! What a rascal!

Isaac can't fill his daddy's shoes...but I can tell he fills his heart! :)

Happy Father's Day!

Saturday, the day before Father's Day was Blane's company picnic at Hershey Park, which I consider Father's Day since Isaac LOVED being on the rides with his daddy and didn't seem to want to be on rides with mommy, but that's ok! He sees me alot more than Blane...Their favorite ride was the big Fun Slide which they went on four times! Poor Blane had to carry Isaac up a lot of narrow steps each time. We had to walk through the water park area a few times...whew! I think about 70% of the people are much too generous in showing their appearance in a bathing suit.
Maybe next year Isaac will go on a few rides by himself...but for now it was fun to watch him making memories with daddy! It was a completely different kind of memory ON Father's Day when we attempted to go canoeing as a family...not a good idea with a tired, sleepy 19 month old...I thought we'd never make it back to shore! How do you explain to a toddler that it's not a good idea to nurse on a canoe?? He rocked the boat a little bit...but most of the time he rocks our world :)

The Unknown Cowboy

I asked him if he found his horse..all I got was "Neigh, Neigh!"

A Baby's Yawn...

I glanced in the rear view mirror on the way home from food shopping today and saw Isaac yawn and his eyes grow heavy..then fall asleep. I kept glancing back in the mirror taking in the sweet, sleepy face that makes him look like a baby even though he's a toddler now. I started thinking about a baby's yawn and what babies get away with. I think it's safe to say that EVERYONE and ANYONE who sees a baby yawn, especially a newborn or infant, has the same reaction. "Ah, how dear, how cute!" And you just want to hug and snuggle, and kiss their soft little cheeks. Am I right? Am I right?? Babies can get away with yawning anywhere and anytime they like, and make noise along with it..but I had to chuckle when I realized that it's not the same for adults or even kids when they reach a certain age....No, no, no...when you get a little older yawning in public isn't cute..but instead seen as a sign of boredom, rudeness and disrespect....and it's ESPECIALLY bad when it's accompanied by loud sighing! Oh I never tire of watching Isaac sleep and occasionally yawn. It's hard to believe that some day when he's older I might very well have to reprimand him for yawning loudly....Right now I'm enjoying the cuteness of it! :)

I'm NOT an intellectual but DOGGONE IT I'm gonna finish the Book!

About 18 years ago I was at a conference (I think it was Congress '89 in Boston) and one of the speakers at a seminar mentioned a book called The Closing Of the American Mind by Allan Bloom. I thought
"sometime I want to read that book!" A few weeks ago on our way home from Virginia I bought it cheap at a yard sale and I was so excited that finally I was going to read it! Well I'm more than halfway through the book and I'm still hoping for a page, maybe even a paragraph that I CAN UNDERSTAND! Mr. Bloom has written the book assuming a person knows all about Socrates, Plato and all the other philosophers from long ago. And he uses BIG words and some words I can't even pronounce!!! But I will finish the book! BECAUSE I'M NOT A QUITTER! (is that with two t's or one?)...There's something in me that won't let me just put the book on the shelf and forget about it...I HAVE to finish it! Mmmm...maybe in my subconscious I'm hoping someone will ask me if I've ever read the book and I'll be able to say YES and THEN THEY'LL THINK I'M SO SMART and intellectual.....oh but then I'll have to cut the conversation short when they start using big words and ask me to expound on Socrates or one of his pals....Well I'm still gonna finish the book..the next chapter is called "The Sixties"..maybe I'll understand something there.
I must confess there was a recent book I DIDN'T finish! I was reading a book called Gettysburg and was halfway through when it was brought to my attention that the book was written AS IF the South won the Civil War! I thought something was funny when it seemed the battle of Gettysburg only took up half the book...Well I do like historical novels (i.e. books by Brock and Bodie Thoene)...but I don't like books that re-write history! Shame on you Newt Gingrich! So I felt I was completely within my rights in my mind to NOT finish that book and promptly return it to the library.

Special Ingredients

Earlier today I went to the health food store to pick up an item or two. I also noticed a flyer they had concerning vaccines and what's really contained in them. FYI, here's the ones they listed...ammonium sulfate (suspected gastrointestinal, liver, nerve and respiratory system poison; beta-propiolactone (known to cause cancer); latex rubber (can cause life-threatening allergic reaction AND NOTE when babies are hours or days old it is impossible to know if they have an allergy); MSG (a neurotoxin); aluminum; formaldehyde; micro-organisms (live and killed viri and bacteria or their toxins); polysorbate 80 (known to cause cancer in animals); mercury; neomycin sulfate (antibiotic that interferes with Vitamin B6); human and animal cells from aborted fetal tissue...etc. etc...there's a few more, but that's probably enough to list....YIKES!
Another FYI listed: by 6 months a baby can receive up to 45 injected vaccines; by 18 months 64 injected vaccines; by 4-6 years 74 injected vaccines...and these numbers are CONSERVATIVE! AND there are over 200 additional vaccines in development! Yikes AGAIN....I gotta go hug a baby!!!!

High Heels in the Bathtub

It's amazing what can happen in the short time I take to slap on a little makeup and try to look decent enough to be seen in public to do a little food shopping. When I was done, I found Blane's sock drawer invaded, a high heel shoe in the bathtub, Isaac running around with my spare toothbrush, and MY hairbrush missing that I THOUGHT I had put in my bag to take with me! Oh, and the matching high heel shoe in the backyard that Isaac was holding when I brought him outside to put him in the swing so I could hang up some wash...I'm contemplating just letting the shoe rot in the backyard and not losing any sleep over it....They're considered my "cruel shoes" that I only wear when absolutely necessary. It doesn't always pay to buy cheap shoes! Maybe the other high heel can be left in the bathtub as a bath toy??

Drugs, drugs, drugs!

Did that title catch your eye? Well I'm beyond tired of seeing so many drug commercials on TV! If I "asked my doctor" (like the commercials suggest) about EVERY drug I hear about, I'd be charged for two appts instead of one because I'd take up so much time listing them all! Just a thought, but I'm wondering if the Pharmaceutical companies are feeling the competition with the more natural, alternative methods coming out so they're trying to crank out more drugs and get MORE customers...and with drugs, comes side effects, so then sometimes people have to get yet another drug to offset that and so on! AAHHHHHH!!!!!
Yes, some drugs are necessary but not to the degree that they're pushed these days and shouldn't be advertised as replacements for making healthy lifestyle changes. If I can, one of these days, I'm going to keep the tv on all day and try to list from one channel ALL the times a drug or drugs are advertised...

Post Second Haircut...

My sister-in-law Wendy Harlacher cut Isaac's hair...yeah!!

Pre-Second Haircut

Smoke On The Mountain Homecoming

Blane surprised me by taking me to Allenberry Playhouse to see "Smoke On The Mountain Homecoming." I was so excited! Three years ago we saw "Smoke On The Mountain" and I thought it was the best, most enjoyable musical comedy I'd ever seen. We both agreed last night's performance still came in second to the first, but we enjoyed it SO Much! It's full of hilarity and mixed with Blue Grass Gospel music and tidbits of heartwarming stories. The setting is Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, a small rural church in 1945 "where the doors of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church swing on hinges of welcome!" It involves a singing family, except for one daughter who doesn't sing but "signs" the words, which is hysterical because she obviously comes up with her own signs at times and exaggerates them. I would HIGHLY recommend seeing both "Smoke On The Mountain" and "Smoke On The Mountain Homecoming" if it's ever in your area! It will give you an "All Is Right With The World" kind of feeling for the evening and you will feel so refreshed. I'd see it again and again!
Blane drives by the Playhouse on his way to work and back and saw what was playing. What a wonderful anniversary present from him! He wanted to first take me to J.C.'s Country Cafe right near the playhouse and walk around the beautiful pond in Boiling Springs...but the cafe was closed so we ended up at a Red Robin eating burgers...which was fine too! Maybe another day we can take a walk around the pond and feed the ducks.
We picked up Isaac at my sister's a little after 10pm. Wendy and all the kids with Isaac on her lap were sitting together on the couch looking at a book. What a sweet picture that was! I didn't get a picture, but just try to picture it in your mind and say "ahhhhh how sweet!" 'cause it really was.
Well our doors here at Oak Lane aren't much to look at, but they do "swing on hinges of welcome" if you're ever in the area. :)

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Today is our 4th Anniversary! Blane gave me a sweet card and a little bag of Dove chocolate covered almonds before he left for work...the bag says 3.5 servings. They're gone! They were gone within the hour! So much for self-control. I'll drop Isaac off around 5pm at my sister's house and meet Blane at my parent's...not sure what Blane has planned and I do like surprises! ...more later...

Marshmallow Arms

When we were younger, we used to call my grandmother's arms "marshmallow arms"...the tricep area, because it was so soft and jiggly and we loved to feel it. Well, I made a shocking discovery about 2 weeks ago that I was getting marshmallow arms....not as big or as much as my grandmother but still it's there. I noticed it jiggling when I was waving to someone. I also discovered that if I tense my arm now while waving, it's not as jiggly, but something must be done! Today I started exercising the tricep area by doing "backward pushups" on a chair by pushing up with my arms to straighten them. Of course Isaac wanted to try to and he even tried counting like I did. He also pushed me away from the chair so he could try. What a crack up! So far my bicep area is fine, as long as I keep lifting Isaac on occasion and he keeps gaining weight. Of course he might start complaining when he gets older, "Mom, PLEASE! Put Me DOWN! I'm 15, I can walk by myself now!"

Two weeks ago we were in Virginia. Here we're at Thomas Jefferson's home (Monticello) which offers tours of the home, grounds, etc. In this picture Isaac is thinking "Forget the tours people, let's just run, run, RUN!!"

My main men!

So how IS that yogurt today?

Just reminiscing....isn't he sweet?....He still is, just moves around a lot more now... then he was about 2 months..now he's 18 months...

Today was my sister's birthday (Happy Birthday Wendy!) and the annual Gross Reunion (Blane's mom's side of the family). It seemed like a smaller crowd this year but one of his aunts told me about 99 people were signed up. I tried to video-tape a little bit for Blane's mom who is still recovering from cancer treatment and stem cell transplant in the hospital. I wasn't too good at it though and hope it doesn't give her a headache to look at it...it's very shaky...We actually won some choc. chip peanut butter brownies in the cake walk!!!! Yeah!! I was so excited I should have been on the Price is Right jumping up and down!! Ha ha...Not that I NEED to eat brownies..it's just fun to win...A lady walks around and stops in front of someone when the music stops and declares the winner. I considered just grabbing her ankles so she wouldn't move...but instead tried to stall her by asking the time, hoping the music would stop....well we won anyway...

Living The Dream

I jokingly see myself as a "late bloomer"...My sister is 6-1/2 years younger than me but in some ways I'm 10 years behind her. I got married 10 years after she did, and had a baby about 10 years after she had her first (although I don't think at this point I'm considering having 5 children). So finally I'm "living the dream"....being a wife and mother and able to stay at home and take care of Isaac. I can't help at times getting stuck in the "if onlys"....if only I met Blane 20 years ago so we could have a house ful of kids, if only I was younger 'cause it's inevitable that as time goes by I will on a more regular basis be mistaken for Isaac's grandmother and not his mother (it's happened once already)...but it's starting to be a losing battle trying to look younger than I am now...if only I didn't have to share the house with constant crumbs and dust bunnies claiming squatter's rights!! Another losing battle! Oh well....to combat that all I need to do is walk into my sleeping boy's room and spend some time watching him sleep and be thankful for the millionth time today for our little gift God gave us, our little rascally angel. Some day there won't be crumbs and dust and clutter and I'll miss it ...so I'll treasure today as I pick up dominoes in the kitchen, Elmo in the office, and pieces of clothing on every piece of furniture.....time to switch the laundry....yeah livin' the dream....

Isaac likes to wear hats...especially big ones that are easy for him to put on...I can't find his hat...