Its a Shame

Watching the news last night made me really sad. What is this world coming to? It is a shame. Recently in the news there has been discussion about a 16 year old boy, Derrion Albert, from Chicago who was walking home from school when he was beaten to death. Prosecutors described how the street fight escalated from a dispute between two factions at Albert's high school to a beating that left the honor student dead.

Prosecutors said Derrion Albert was an "innocent bystander" who ended up in the middle of a street fight between two factions of students at his school, Christian Fenger Academy High school, located on Chicago's South Side.

When school let out at 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, Albert was on his way to the bus stop when two groups of students converged on the. Two groups began fighting after a shooting earlier that day that police called gang-related.

Albert was approached by 16-year-old Eric Carson and another unknown person. Carson struck Albert in the head with a long wooden railroad tie, and the second person punched him in the face. Albert was knocked unconscious by the blows for a short period, but gained consciousness and quickly tried to move from the escalating street fight.The second group, made up of five members from the opposing group, then took their shots at Albert. Once Albert was on the ground again, a person was seen stomping on his head repeatedly.

An amateur videotape shot by a witness, which has been broadcast nationally, showed the attack unfolding. A local TV station that received the tape turned it over to police. The video shows that, as the attackers ran away, the person with the camera and several others approached Albert and carried him into a nearby building. "Derrion, get up!" a female voice pleads on the video.

Albert was taken to Roseland Community Hospital and then to Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. On Monday, family and friends, some wearing shirts bearing Albert's photo, held a vigil in his honor. Albert's grandfather, Joseph Walker, told CNN that his grandson was a good kid who didn't deserve to die. "He was in Bible class this Tuesday night. Church on Sunday, I have no trouble out of my grandson whatsoever. This thing that happened to him is so horrific that we just don't know what we're going to do. We lost a really dear friend in my grandson. He was a blessed child." (Taken from cnn.com)

I don't know where all this anger come from these people today. That's just too much anger for someone to have in their heart. All I can do is I'm going to pray for these people, I'm going to to pray for forgiveness. What kind of person, what kind of individual, has such rage and such anger and such madness?. We've got to get to the hearts of our children, because nothing, nothing, excuses or justifies the actions of an individual who would beat another individual. Nothing justifies that in this society.This kind of teen violence was not just an issue for Chicago, but from Oakland to New York.

Parents need to reach out to their children and teach them that it is not OK to touch another person in a violent manner. Raising a child is one of the most gratifying jobs you'll ever have and one of the toughest. Try as you might to be the best parent you can, our complex world challenges you every day with disturbing issues that are difficult for children to understand and for parents to explain. But explain we must, or we miss a critical opportunity. Research shows that children, especially those between the ages of 8 and 12, want their parents to talk with them about today's toughest issues, including violence. Even when they reach adolescence, they want to have a caring adult in their lives to talk about these issues. In fact, those who have early conversations are more likely to continue turning to their parents as they become teens.

Talk to your children. Start praying. Pray for peace and love to enter the hearts of the people of this world. We all need Him in our lives, and we must start somewhere.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Psalm 4: 8

Happiness

As I lay in my bed last night getting ready to doze off I started thinking about happiness. Children have no worries in the world, especially as infants. They are always so happy and content. As we grow up the weight of the world slowly lands on our shoulders. Our happiness slowly fades.

I also realized there are two types of people- one type is the people who try to be happy. These people realize the truth about happiness, and display it in their personality. The happy person is someone who feels like they have a spring in their step, when they want everyone else to feel as good as them, and smile alot, outwardly and inwardly.When a person is happy they are pleased with their situation and not hoping for change or improvement.True happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions. These few select companions are family and great friends!Happiness is something that comes and goes. It is about excitement, fun, moments, actions, and material things.

The other type of person is the one who is content. Contentment is something that lasts. It's about going with the flow, enjoying the satisfaction of work, and appreciating nature and life. Selfish people tend to strive for happiness and are less content. People who strive to be content tend to be more patient, caring, and happier. You can find happiness in money, pleasure, and doing what you want. You can find contentment in religion, family, giving, making other people happy, hard work, education, and exercise. Also, when you are content, your happy times are happier and your sadness is less sad. Self-indulgence makes you happy. Sacrifice makes you content.

A less obvious way of becoming content is your environment. Try to avoid negative people, depressing music, staying indoors too long, not getting enough sleep. All these things can make a person unhealthy and depressed. Watch less tv. All that violence and apathy really tick at a person's mind.

You may not see the difference between contentment and happiness, or you may think the ways of becoming content are stupid. I'm not demanding that you stop watching tv, go outside more, read more, and go to church. But I am suggesting these things, because believe it or not they really do make a difference.

Infants are content. I am content. You should be too!

Four Things...

Four things you can't recover:

The stone........after the throw.
The word........after it's said.
The occasion........after it's missed.
The time.........after it's gone.

The Best Video Ever!

A must see:

It Just Isnt Big Enough Anymore

Update: My dog has been found and safely returned. Thank you Lord!

OK- I have come to the realization that our queen size bed is just NOT big enough anymore. It used to be just Donovan and myself in it. Now I have a 6 month old who loves to sleep sideways (image a "H", he is the line in the middle), a cat, and the four pillows and one LONG body pillow we have. We literally look like this cartoon.

If I had the money I would go out and by a king size bed right now- Oh how nice that would be. I have never owned a king size bed, and on the nights Liam is not in the bed with us we could then lay sideways!

Thank you Lord for filling up my bed. It is a blessing in disguise!

Yesterday I Lost My Friend, My Family Member

Dear Lord, please come promptly to the aid of my precious dog, and those who love her so, and enable her to find her way back home, having suffered no ill effects from her separation from her family. Thank you sweet Jesus for your mercy on my family and our dearly loved dog, and for restoring her to us. It is in your name we pray,Amen.

Yesterday Donovan and I headed off to church. On our way out the door we got a call from a realtor stating that she was going to bring a client by to see our house at 10AM. We quickly turned around and grabbed our dog from the back yard. No collar or leash. We put her into the back of our SUV and took her to my Grandparents house while we attended church (they have a FULL fenced back yard with a 5ft. gate). When we returned to pick her up she was gone. We are devastated. How could our precious dog jump a 5ft. gate??

We drove around for two hours trying to find her. Every person we saw on the street we stopped and asked. One lady- who was having a garage sale- mentioned that she saw her crossing Menaul and going behind a restuarant... we looked and looked and looked. Never found her. It weighs soooo heavy on heart. Tessa is the best dog anyone could ever have. Very well behaved and loving. I miss her dearly.

Please pray that we find her right away with no injuries and healthy. IF you know anyone who lives around the area of Menaual and Moon (in Albuquerque) please pass this post on to them. Through Christ he will protect her and we will find her.

What I Was First...

A very dear friend recently mailed me a book called "Rattled" (thank you sooo much Andrea- this is the BEST book ever). "Rattled" is a book full of practical and helpful information geared toward moms of newborns, written by a mom with the experience to back up what she writes about. It covers the time from pregnancy through the first year. The book is broken up into five parts, with each part split into chapters. Each chapter is further subdivided into sections such as "S.O.S-Spiritual Opportunity to Savor", which is a short devotional, "First Aid Kit" a bulleted list of practical tips, "Faith on Fire" which is a brief prayer, a few study questions, and "Food For Thought", a small sidebar (information printed off to the side) of facts and figures to supplement the chapter.Dads aren't forgotten in this book either. She devotes pages to the equally important role of dad, for new baby is as much of an adjustment to dad as it is mom. This book goes beyond child rearing advice and includes chapters on how mom needs to take care of herself as well.What sets this book apart, in my mind, is the authors honesty in writing about her own mothering experience. She includes in the book her own ups and downs, good experiences and mistakes. She also includes a chapter on miscarriage, having suffered through several of her own, a section on baby's first year and what to expect and a section with helpful links for surviving your first year.

So you are probably wondering why I titled this post "What I Was First". Well... what I was first was a wife. This book has reminded me of that last night. Sometimes with motherhood you forget about who you where first, and I have fallen prey to that. Donovan and I were together for 10 years before I got pregnant, and we had created a life of love. Yes it had its ups and downs, but we love each other and most importantly we love Christ.

Establishing an environment of mutual respect and honor within the home is a vital element in the overall development of my family structure. Without mutual respect and honor it is too easy for disruptive and negative elements to take a hold in the relational mix which makes up a family.

'Giving Honor Where Honor Is Due' is important in developing a relational framework that will continue to build up and strengthen the family. Your husbands role within the family needs to be appreciated and shown respect, as does my role as mother.



When we become mothers we have to take a step back and remember who we where first. A marriage is as strong as the two people involved let it be. If you forget who you where first then that bond becomes weak. I have to honor my husband and with the help of the Lord our marriage is unbreakable!

Amoxycillin Angel

I am absolutely convinced that there is an amoxycillin angel out there.

Since Liam was three months old he was sleeping through the night. Keep in mind, sleeping through the night to me means 8pm to 5am. Then about two weeks ago he suddenly stopped. He would wake up at least once a night and usually stay up for several hours. Sometimes when he woke up he was crying and fussy for hours and sometimes it was that he was just awake and wouldn't fall back asleep, no matter what I tried.

One day he woke up really congested. I assumed it was because his humidifier in his room needed a new filter (so it was not on for a few nights). We have had that thing on continuously since birth. We bought the new filter and that didn't make any difference on his congestion. Then he developed a eczema rash. So this is when I decided to take him to the Doctor.

Behold- my poor son had a ear infection, a cold and moderate eczema. Because of the congestion and cold he got the ear infection. He did NOT show any signs of an ear infection, so I wasn't expecting it at all. He was prescribed amoxycillin. Since he began his medication he has been sleeping through the night again! Praise the Lord!!!!!!! However, he is still extremely congested. Poor baby.

So I now know that there is an amoxycillin angel out there helping my baby sleep through the night now!