Still on my mind...

This story about the 100-0 blowout is still on my mind. There was even an editorial about it in today's Amarillo paper. I posted about it here. Rather than dwell on the negative, I decided to share this story with you.

Here is the headline for the story: "There are some games in which cheering for the other side feels better than winning." It's about a football game played between Grapevine Faith Christian School and the Gainesville State School this year. Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas.

It's a story about a Christian school going above and beyond to make a difference for some boys who are living in what could seem like a hopeless place. It's a story that should make you feel good and should restore your faith in coaches, kids, parents and sports today. It might even make you tear up.

What do you think?

I read in the paper where the basketball coach at a Dallas Christian School was fired this weekend. It appears that one reason he was let go stemmed from his girls' team beating Dallas Academy 100-0 earlier this month. You can go here for an article about the Dallas Academy coach's perspective; which I admire. (There is also a handy box on down in the article that will connect you to previous stories about this.) Covenant school posted an apology to Dallas Academy on their web site. The coach apparently disagreed with the statement and posted his thoughts somewhere.

The coach says the game, "just happened." What? I've played in some lopsided games and scoring 100 points doesn't "just happen." I remember one game where our coach wouldn't let us start playing defense until the other team got to the free throw line--then it was a 2-3 zone. On offense, we were required to pass the ball at least five times before shooting and then the coach called out the shooter's name.

Could we have run-up the score to 100? Probably. Did we want to? Sort of. Who doesn't want to play in a game where you score 100 points? Would that have been the right thing to do? No. Would we have learned anything? Probably not.

I could expound on this for a while, but won't. Read the articles and let me know what you think.

Eco-Dilemma

We are debating the use of paper plates in our house. I generally just buy a huge bag of them at Sam's and we use them for snacks, light meals, etc. We love paper plates because they are so easy--just use and toss.

But here is the dilemma. In an attempt to save money I decided to quit buying paper plates. No big deal except we are running our dishwasher twice as much. So which is cheaper and/or more Eco-friendly paper plates or washing plates?

I realize you are creating more waste and causing more paper to be made by using paper plates. But, you are saving water and electricity and not putting waste water filled with detergent back out when you use paper plates.

I leave you with some questions:

• Which is cheaper, paper or washing plates?


• Which is better for the environment, paper or washing plates?

I'm not a tree-hugger by any means, but I want to do my part for the environment. After all, we can't go live on another planet when this one is used up. (Although if I have another week like last week, I may check into it.) I also want to make my dollar stretch as far as I can. So, do I buy paper, or spend money on detergent and electricity to run the dish washer and pump our well?

What's a girl to do?

As Seen on TV

Sadie loves infomercials, especially the short "commercial" ones. She is determined we need to buy the pan that makes the 4 mini-hamburger patties. I can hardly wait to show her this site. It analyzes TV products in a sort of humorous way. The only thing Sadie and I keep wondering is why Billy Mayes has to shout. Just tell us about the product already.

One More Thing...

This should have gone with last night's random thoughts post. It bothered me all day yesterday and was still on my mind this morning. You can read this article--a man stole a handful of communion wafers from the priest during a morning mass. The parishioners cornered him until police arrived. Two "older" parishioners were injured in the process. The charges against him are numerous. Here is why the story bothered me so much:

• Why are we limited to one wafer/piece of bread/cracker (whatever your church gives out) during communion?
• If a man is hungry enough to steal a handful of those little wafers (which wouldn't even come close to filling you up) then shouldn't he be allowed to have them?
• If Jesus were giving communion, don't you think He'd have said, "Here, take them all?"
• One of the many problems with the church (every church, not just one single denomination) is we have gotten too caught up in the way we do things. We've gotten into the business of why and how instead of just taking care of people and treating them with love and respect.

I think that is all for my soapbox this morning. I'll step down and go make breakfast.

VOTE!

I have refrained from being political on this blog. I believe everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions and beliefs. I hope you chose to vote--if you didn't, I believe you have to keep your opinion to yourself for the next four years. I voted today and pray that the outcome of the election will be a positive one for our country. We are blessed to live in a nation that allows us to go to the polls and exercise our right to have an opinion.

The Benefit's of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom (or why I hang out with preschoolers and toddlers)

I am very blessed to be able to not only stay home with my child, but to keep two others as well. On some days it is three boys (ages 4,3 and 2) and me. Why do I enjoy it?

• Easy to hold up your end of the conversation


• Very positive work place--toddlers and preschoolers aren't concerned about the economy, the election or much else besides what the next activity is and when it will be time for snacks


• Fun games like RazBilly


• Freedom to express yourself--they love my artwork


• Get to play with Play Doh, markers, paint and make collages


• Nap Time


• I get to witness lots of cool milestones


• Snacks
• Can wear your pajamas all day and no one minds.
• I always have a reason (or 3) for why the house is such a mess.
  

Controversial Doll

On the news this evening, they had a story about a controversial doll made by Fisher Price. The doll is supposed to "cuddle and coo." She says, "Mama" as well. The controversy is what she says after that. Fisher Price says she is only programmed to coo and say, "Mama."

The news station has a special loop to hear it over and over again; they even slow it down for you. Listen to the doll before reading the story. Click here to see the full story and listen to the doll.

Let me know what you think you hear.

I can't decide if the doll really says what they say it says or if I just think it does because I've heard them say what the doll supposedly says. Does that make sense?

Even Stranger News

Read this article, then see what I thought:

• Imagine if PETA spent all of their energy and resources on something useful--they might could solve the energy crisis or end world hunger.
• Picture a dairy with cows lining up waiting to be milked--now put lactating women in the place of the cows. Not a pretty picture.
• If they were to pay women for their breast milk to make ice cream, wouldn't lots of children starve? Or worse yet--wouldn't they have to have formula (gasp)?
• Could women even produce enough milk in a timely fashion to make large amounts of ice cream?
• If milking cows is inhumane, then why is it okay to milk women?
• The whole idea is just way gross.

Feel free to leave a comment about what you think.

Strange News

While perusing the Amarillo Globe News online today, I came across these two stories that cracked me up.

• If you are going to steal a beer truck, make sure it is loaded (DUH)
• Most stores have signs posted saying "No shoes, no shirt, no service." They didn't say anything about pants.

Have a great day!!

I think I was offended.

Shopping in Wal Mart the other day (I know not my favorite but they have almost everything I need and very convenient) I was searching for play money. I turned down one aisle in the toys only to be flooded with pink on all sides. I looked up and the aisle was labeled "girls' role play." Okay, I thought, this is a long row just for dress-up clothes. Well, "girls' role play" seems to encompass all of the cooking stuff, Make-it-Bake-it ovens, play appliances, cleaning supplies, etc. Not only is it all on that aisle, most of it is in a pink box. And...I didn't see anything like tools or mechanics' toys...

How crazy! I have three boys at my house that love to bake cupcakes and play restaurant in the play room. Just yesterday they were taking turns feeding a baby doll and pushing her around in the stroller. One of them even went "grocery" shopping and ask me to find a sack so he could take his groceries home and then "go to work."

I am thrilled that these boys are willing to play and take on these "roles." Thank goodness they don't know that they are supposedly for girls. No wonder our society is so messed up--we start out early telling girls and boys what their role is supposed to be instead of letting them try everything out and decide that everyone can do everything. Thankfully no one told my husband what his is--he is the best vacuum runner I have ever seen and he knows his way around the kitchen.

The Rules

We had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the lake with our church this summer. We were blessed to share a camping area with our friends the McBrooms who were also gracious enough to share their boat and jet ski as well. The first day in the boat, April sat the kids down and said she needed to go over the rules. I was all set to hear about water safety and the rules for the boat. In addition to what I expected, April shared the three rules that our friend Ronay had once jokingly come up with. They are:

1. Smile
2. Act like you want to be here
3. Speak when spoken to

To my surprise, the kids took them very seriously and when they were referred to throughout the weekend, attitudes seemed to change. That Sunday we mused that Ronay had a definite beginning for a book and we'd have to travel around "testing" the rules. We all offered to be collaborators on the project.

I've thought about them a lot.I even enacted them on some junior high girls at the Happy Days dance. (they at least started smiling) They've even come in handy a time or two with the family. If everyone would make an attempt to follow "the rules" life would be much more pleasant.

Just a thought.

Perspective

The other day I was lamenting about how this had been a crazy, hectic summer. I had a mental to-do list and nothing got checked off. Then Sadie announced, "This has been the best summer ever!!" After reconsidering and thinking about all of the things we have done this summer, I'd have to agree, it's been a pretty good one. It's all about perspective...oh, to see with child-like eyes.

Hmmmm....

Why don't they just sell a box of Lucky Charm marshmallows? That's all my kids eat anyway. and, before you judge me for getting my children sugar-laden cereal--it is made with whole grains.

Ever had a pickle-sickle? If we'd have been on the ball we could have marketed them. Saw in the back of a magazine where you can order "Bob's Pickle-sickles."

How come when we think something is a good idea, someone else has already made a million dollars off of it??

The Shack

I just finished reading The Shack by William P. Young. I decided to read the book on recommendation from my sister. When I looked it up on the web, I found out it has been somewhat controversial, which made me want to read it more. (As a teen, the preacher preached against the movie The Last Temptation of Christ--my brother and I went and saw it that afternoon.)

The book is good on many levels. First, it is a pretty good story. It makes you think about your relationship with God. I felt like it was pretty much in line with my "theological" views--which may offend some people. I think it is controversial because it makes a lot of people uncomfortable. It brings into question who God is and how He appears (or doesn't appear) to people. I believe that God can be many different things to many different people. You and I may have a different picture of who God is and that's okay. It doesn't matter what He looks like, just that we have a relationship with Him.

I also think it is good to ask questions as the search for answers can cause our faith to grow and expand. There are, however, many "theologians" out there that would like for us to believe that God is rigid and only the way they teach us that He is. That he couldn't possibly be different to different people. They'd like us to believe that Church is what is important. Perhaps we get so involved in the politics and workings of the church we actually forget the real purpose of the church.

I've rambled enough without giving away the book, I'd love to know what you think about it if you read it. I won't be offended if you have a different view than I do. Who knows, we might learn something from one another. We could at least have adult conversation about it.

Guns at School??

I don't know if you have read in the paper or heard in the news about the small school at Harrold. They have decided to allow their teachers to "pack heat." The main reason they give is that law enforcement could take 30 minutes or more to arrive in the event a problem arises.
This is off of the AP wire: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gb14TxGFjaNfNsI_oNCTYWfrXXfgD92PK10O0
This article is from the local Amarillo paper:
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/082208/new_11054142.shtml

Supposedly the board will decide which teachers are "stable" enough to be allowed to carry guns and they will only use a certain bullet that is "safer".

This bothers me for several reasons:

• Harrold has now announced to the whole world that they are a small school on a major highway with no law enforcement (I can see the crazy people plotting now)
• Do you really think a teacher won't eventually pull a gun on a misbehaving student??
• What is going to keep the students from getting the gun from the teacher--can you say mutiny?
• Guns will not prevent unstable people from trying to carry out whatever crazy plan they have on the school.
• Isn't "safe bullet" an oxymoron???

Maybe I'm a little old fashioned or short-sighted

The Way I See It

I decided in the car today that I should start jotting down my thoughts on things. Maybe it is a way of filling in the void of adult conversation during the day, mainly I think it is just a place for me to write down my thoughts. Who knows--someone might share the same thoughts or they may cause someone to stop and think and maybe define or redefine his or her view of things.

For what it is worth--we stay-at-home moms may not have a "job", but we do have intelligent thoughts in between changing diapers, laundry, and all the other things that go along with the "job" we don't have.