Fun, Fun, Fun...

This was weekend was fun, fun, fun. Emma and I helped to Paint the Town Purple on Saturday in Downtown Livermore (Purple Ribbons for awareness of the American Cancer Society Relay of Life for Livermore). We sort of teamed ourselves with a wonderful woman who offered to let us help her. She was great with Emma. She talked about how she had grand kids and whenever we crossed a street, she would try and hold Emma's hand. So endearing. As we were leaving, the woman turned me to and said, "Most people do not like to work with me because I kind of bossy" I had to laugh. Seriously, this woman had no idea what a relief it is to me to take a back seat.





On Saturday night, we went to church. After church, Clark had offered to watch Lexi and Emma while her mom and I went to the movies (I could not believe that Clark was willing/wanting to watch the girls-what a husband!). Syndie and I had not been out together on a girls night in over 15 years! I am so happy they are back on this coast and in Livermore. It sure makes visiting much easier! When Syndie and I came home, Emma and Lexi asked if Lexi could stay the night and we said sure. Now the girls are only 3 and 4 years old. We went on high alert for toddler meltdown in the middle of the night but it never came. The girls talked, giggled and finally, finally went to sleep in Emma's big bed. The first sleep over for both of the girls and it went well!




In the meantime, we are still trying to organize "things" for the Rummage Sale next week. So right now, I feel like I live in an overstuffed closet. We have been blessed with the items donated and hope to make $$ for our ACS Relay Livermore Moms team.

While we were organizing, Emma decided to pop the Emma. Fun, Fun Fun...

A reporter

from the Conta Costa Times contacted me a few times about the issue of breastfeeding, the library, the room rentals, etc. I wanted so bad to pursue it but I had to think about it. Was this really my fight? Sure, the organization that I am part of had issues trying to rent rooms from our main library, but since that time some local churches have stepped up to fill our needs.

Having librarians discourage rental of rooms to moms and nursing babies is against the law. I would like to think the ACLU would LOVE to get involved in a case like this. I could see the headline now, "Average American town with a library that has old age thinking on breastfeeding". I might still contact them. If I had a nursing baby I certainty would encourage a breastfeeding sit in. Maybe someday if we take Clark's frozen sperm out and have another child, I will.

It is a shame too about the rentals, since the library accordingly to the library director's blog dated January 25, 2010, "The bottom line for the General Fund of the City, which funds library services, is that the revenues do not match the current budgeted expenditures." So you would think that renting a room let's say at $10 a hour for 2 hours is $20, and maybe at the end of the day it takes 30 minutes to clean at a cost of $10 (staff, cleaning supplies, etc.). You still have $10 you did not have before. Maybe my math and thinking are too simple. If they rented more often, they might get more regulars and more regulars is more income. Again, my math and thinking are real simple here.

I also keep thinking about the $15,000 the Library had to pay out on a "misfiring". It blows my mind to think that in this decade that a public employer would actually be naive to think their actions are legal when in fact employees have rights about breastfeeding. In the same Librarian's blog I referred to earlier she states, "I have spent over 24 years getting our library where it is today. I am not pleased about these changes which are taking us backward." Wow! So does the librarian live in the 1950's? Changes to the library would have happened with or without her and when you discriminate against moms and nursing babies, it is a need for a time of change. Perhaps the current librarian needs to retire. Perhaps her way of change needs to be off and out of our Public System. Our library and public funds might be better for it.

Transparency on Church Wall, Facebook Wall or Human Wall

“From a technology point of view, I think privacy is almost nonexistent. We need to get over it. Yes, I understand the security risks, and I do think you have to be smart. But I think leaders especially must embrace transparency. It is one of the most powerful leadership tools we have available. It creates life-change more than any other single thing you can do. It also creates a much needed accountability.”

“Yes, I think there is a risk involved. You have to be careful. It does blur the line between public and private life, but I also think that is what makes it powerful. Being personal and being transparent increases brand loyalty. I have had hundreds of people tell me that they never connected with my company, Thomas Nelson, until I became active on Twitter. Suddenly, the Company had a face. My followers felt connected to a real person.

The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8 NKJV). He didn’t hold back. He gave them everything. And because of that, it was transformational." 1.


This article was quite interesting and held my attention. It resonated in me when I read the following comment on my blog after I posted Church Wall, Facebook Wall or Human Wall on April 13, 2010.

“michele said...
Strange, but if you are a Christian, you should behave as such no matter where you are or where you write your thoughts. One would think that she would use her wall to share her message, rather than be concerned that someone at her church would see her wall and think less of her. Either she is living a double life or she doesn't have much faith in her friends and her church.

All I can say is this lesson on Church Wall, Facebook Wall or Human Wall was intriguing and a great teaching on transparency and leadership.

1. Author Interview
Kim Ford Interviews Our Featured Cover Author
- Michael Hyatt
(See full interview at http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/best_interview.html).

My dad' s birthday

Today we celebrated my dad's birthday. We were going to the Political Tea Party in Pleasanton but got detoured by the "art" statues on display in downtown Pleasanton.

Somewhere along the way, Emma managed to get a "vintage" dress and shoes. We then, um, paraded by Main Street with her.

Crayola bomb?

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

Church Wall, Facebook Wall or Human Wall?

So today I went to write something on a Wall with someone I was “friends” with. There I noticed there was no wall. So I e-mailed her, “where is your wall?”

Here was her response:

“It is just my personal preference to keep my settings private because I have a young daughter and work for a large church.”

Okay I almost had to laugh, except for one thing. I happen to go to this large church and know her through the church, and I too, have a small child. Is there something I need to be aware of? Is there a predator lurking in the Church halls that I do not see and should be aware of? Was there a Church Wall?

Then I came to the realization. This person could see everything on my wall all pictures, comments and friends. I got kind of funny about. This person had full access to my life but I was unwalled on Facebook by her. It was kind of creepy.

Why would anyone want to be friends with someone on Facebook but block them from the Facebook wall?

A series of e-mails went on between her and I. The last e-mail I sent was “I am not sure why you would keep people as friends if you did not intent to be "friends" with them.”

I do not collect friends or care about amount of friends I have on Facebook. What I care about is the human aspect, the relationships, and the friendships. I now realized I had been blocked by her Human wall.

I also realized I was not the issue. This person could hide behind the Church wall, the Facebook wall or the Human wall. It was not the Church, Facebook or the Human wall where communication lacked. This issue was hers and hers only.

I pray that someday she finds contentment behind her Walls. I pray she finds Truth.

A time to rest

Nothing hit me more tonight, than when I was at a general meeting for Livermore Moms and we had the awesome Yoga instructor Katherine teaching,that I needed to rest.

I am not talking about a sit down for 15 minutes and do nothing type of rest, but the rest where no real effort needs to be made and I can relax.

Since the middle of March we have been on the go. We go here, there and anywhere and now it is time. Time to stop, listen, rest and relax.

It is now my job for the next week or so to watch other people be busy and run the rats pace. I am stopping and doing nothing. Yes, I will fulfill my obligations, of taking care of myself, Clark and Emma but little more.

My mind and body are telling me it is time. I need to recharge. I need to just do nothing. I love being around my friends and family (and of course will be celebrating my dad's birthday this week) but I need quiet down time.

Quiet time to rest and relax with no distractions, interruptions or obligations. Quiet time to be me and time to rest.

One month

since Clark has gone back to work. It is strange. Emma wakes up almost everyday and asks where Daddy is. I have to tell her Daddy is at work. I think it is hard for her to understand. Daddy was home for a year. Emma is three now but she got used to having Daddy here everyday all day.

I miss him too. We used to just pack up the car and go whether ,it be for a day trip or a week long trip, we just went. We spent many a night in a hotel.

We have had to change some routines as well. No longer do I go grocery shopping on a weekly basis. I have fruits and vegetables delivered from a local farm and meat is delivered as well. By limiting my time in the store, I spend less money.

This week was hard though. I was sick. Emma had daily dance camp since it was spring break from school. In between we tried to maintain the household. I have to say it was rough.

Then Emma had a mini dance recital today. Clark was able to come (nice thing about working locally) and so was my mom. Emma was timid and shy in the recital, but she tried and she will always be star in my eyes.

Colon Cancer

My grandma died of colon cancer three weeks to the day she was told she had it. My grandma had dementia so really it was my uncle the doctors told. Three weeks to the day she died.

There was no treatment because there was no time. I would like to think my grandma was no in pain and if she was then she would forgot about it. I would really like to think dementia has some positive things about it.

According to the CDC
"When Should I Begin to Get Screened?

You should begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50, then continue getting screened at regular intervals. However, you may need to be tested earlier or more often than other people if—

* You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
* You have inflammatory bowel disease.
* You have genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.

Speak with your doctor about when you should begin screening and how often you should be tested."

Also accordingly to the CDC, "Of cancers affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading cancer killer in the United States."

Colon cancer can be considered a hereditary disease and I am not taking any chances. I have an e-mail into my doctor now.

Humbled

or should I just say my grandma's funeral was humbling. I was very anxious about going. My mom's side of the family is as dysfunctional as the next and I could tell by my mom's voice there was tension between her and her siblings.

Then my uncle started the service, and all troubles were placed aside. It was never more evident and it was like changing of the guard. No longer were my grandparents the oldest living generation, but now my mom, my aunt and my uncle were. No longer were my parents the second living generation, but my first cousins and I were and now there were our children, the second cousins, who were replacing us. In a span of second of when my grandma passed, our whole living family structure changed and with it our history that has yet to be written.

We spent the afternoon and part of the early evening after the service enjoying each other while our kids played. My first cousins and my family ate and laughed. There were promises of new get togethers in the future. Promises I hope as first cousins we keep.

Resurrection Weekend

As a Christian, this time of year for me, is about the resurrection of Christ.

What my belief is that Jesus lived, died and rose again for us, all of us. It allows for forgiveness for all sins and victory over death. He gives our life meaning, purpose, hope, and strength.

Now, for Easter it can be defined in so many ways.

According to Aboutcom:
“The meaning of many different customs observed during Easter Sunday have been buried with time. Their origins lie in pre-Christian religions and Christianity. All in some way or another are a "salute to spring," marking re-birth. The white Easter lily has come to capture the glory of the holiday. The word "Easter" is named after Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A festival was held in her honor every year at the vernal equinox.

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare." Hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." (Some) Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”


So as I sing His Praises this weekend along with many others, may our voices be heard from the top of the highest mountains and to the bottoms of every sea. We will celebrate this weekend in Glory and know it is about the Ultimate Love Story, the one on the cross.

No symbolic object is needed.