The shirt says it all " That's What I am Talking About!"   This is only one of the many fish that I catch.  I don't eat fresh water fish, so no fish were harmed during the making of this blog!  If that had been a croaker or a spot, than I would have to cut the part when I through it back in the water....(HA!)

The weather is changing, I've planted my garden, my flowers and I've sprayed the weeds.  I went out a week ago and brought me a new "Ugly Stick" and an " Abu Garcia"  Reel as my present for surviving the long hard winter.  This is what I caught, along with a cold because it was actually too cold to have my legs out like that!  Actually, I had walking pneumonia!  But the fishing was great and it was a great way to start the Spring.

If you want a friend to eat for a day, give him a fish.  If you want that friend to live long and stay healthy...TEACH HIM TO FISH!





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The Passover "Keep doing this in remembrance of me"

One of my outside the classroom experiences included me attending the Memorial/and or the Passover as referred to by Jehovah's Witnesses. On Monday April 14, 2014 I attended this ceremony as I have many years before.  Though I am not a baptized Jehovah's Witness, I find myself really respecting and appreciating this particular observance on Nisan 14th.  Of all the faiths that I have had the pleasure of learning more about, this one is to me the closest in it's interpretation of the Bible,  and they don't pick and choose which Holiday to celebrate and which ones to choose as an ordinary day.    It is clear that the Bible quotes Jesus saying "keep doing this in remembrance of me" referring to acknowledging the reason for his life, which was his death."  Every year when I go to this festivity, I am humbled because I think that Jehovah God must  be an Awesome God that he loved us  so much that he gave his only begotten Perfect son to free us of the curse (sin and death) that Adam and Eve brought against all of their offspring because they believed that they didn't need Jehovah to rule them.  Adam and Eve believed that they were able to challenge Jehovah's sovereignty.  Some say that this is a parable, I say this is God's truth. 

"Keep doing this in remembrance of me. " There is no scripture that says "keep celebrating my birth in remembrance of me".  Yet Christmas has become the biggest commercialized Holiday to date. Some  private offices may close, but Federal Offices remain open for Easter.  Some jobs allow a person their personal birthday off, but WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?)  I am sure you all remember the bracelet.  Would Jesus make it a point to celebrate his birthday/ his vanity?  I don't think so.   

Before Christ actually passed around the sacraments around which represented his blood (wine) and his body (bread), he made sure that anyone that did not have his best interest in mind (referring to Judas the traitor) left the building.  This is another part of the Memorial Service that  I truly appreciate because it shows that Jesus didn't tend for EVERYONE to partake of the bread and wine, but a select few who's loyalty to Jesus Christ was unquestionable.  The witnesses actually observe the Passover by passing the wine and the bread for observance only for the general population.  The Brother gives the talk than explain who is to participate in actually partaking of the sacraments.  He always takes you to the scripture in Revelations that specifically says 144,000 will be in Heaven with Christ.  Then he excitedly let everyone in attendance know that even if you are not of the 144,000, you have a hope to live on Earth forever.

As usual, I left there ceremony feeling renewed.  I will be completely honest, I haven't been Baptized under any faith as they all have their own interpretation of the Bible, and they all have flaws in my opinion on  how their organizations were founded.  With The Mormons, you have to believe Joseph Smith's message as a prophet.   With the Muslims, you have to believe that Muhammad was God's prophet.  With the Witnesses, you have to believe in Charles Russell. All of the above named religion was touched in some way by Calvinism and Lutheranism. I just try to believe in GOD, and live a good life, give more than I take, and love with all my heart.  When I mess up, I pray to GOD for forgiveness.

Spankings

I chose to give a speech on Spankings last Wednesday.  I chose this particular subject because it required me choose a position and support it.  It was very hard for me to prepare for this speech because I am "old school" and I was raised in a family that was accustomed to spankings, beatings, corporal punishment, butt whippings, or whatever title you choose to assign to this ancient "ART".  In my home, the hand, switch or belt were used.  For the longest time, when I looked back at this practice, I thought it to be acceptable as none of my sibblings were ever in trouble with the law, and we were raised to be respectable and to be of good character.

As I prepared for my speech, I found myself almost deciding to take a different position.  As I spanked the stuffing out of my teddy bear with the switch, and than with the belt, I imagined it to be me as a child.  I remember days that I would cry because my spirit had been broken, but I didn't realize that this was the issue at that time. I knew that I used to think " how can they say they love me but beat me this way". 

Instead in my speech I choose to acknowledge that the law in Virginia emphasizes that a parent is not supposed to spank you with unbridled passion to a point that it is considered abusive. I also talked about the fact that the law also scrutinizes cases more harshly, if the parent leaves the targeted area of the rear end.  The law also takes into consideration the amount of spankings, length of spankings and the "Weapon" of choice".

Parents should also consider spanking a child in a private area.  Spanking a child  in a public area, such as a Mall or School is very embarrassing and could be more harmful than helpful.  Also a parent shouldn't spank a child in front of their sibblings.   Discipline is a one on one affair, that should be handled with discretion and with LOVE. 

So, is it possible to Love your child and choose to use corporal punishment.  Yes.  As parents learn to stop using spankings as a way to relieve their pent up aggression after a long days work, and began to plan the discipline in a loving way to get a useful result, than discipline is issued with love. A parent should choose the amount of swattings, the length of the discipline and only use coporal punishment for really severe "maladies" which could have caused harm to the child's safety or health.    In other words, corporal punishment is the "Medicine" that is prescribed use for really egregious infractions.  The same way that a doctor use morphine for extreme pain, corporal punishment should be used for severe infractions.

That is my position for the time being.

Marriage is a compromise... But it is Worth It!

Here I am at the Library during Spring Break, trying to put the finishing touches on my 3 essays.  I want to stay at home, but my hubby is so considerate that he drives me crazy.  Every 20  minutes he sticks his head in the door to ask "Are you ok"?  "You need something to drink".  "You mind if I give you a hug?" " You mind if I give you a kiss?".  I prayed to God for a good man like my Hubby, and he gave him to me.  Now, I just don't know what to do with  him?  Sometimes I want to hit a button and put him on pause like I do the television!!  So when I stay at the Library until 10:00 pm, I feel guilty but accomplished because I get everything done for my classes.
When I get home, the guilt sets in.  I look at my hubby and think..."Wow,  he ate hot dogs again for dinner."  So on my days off and when I leave school early, I fix his favorite foods and put a lot of love of into it!  Sometime when we go fishing.... I let him catch more fish, so that I won't be tempted to add insult to injury by gloating in my usual fashion!
Marriage is about being able to compromise.  My hubby is worth that to me and I know that I am worth that to him!!!!!!
Marriage is a never ending friendship.   I am so blessed that my man is a good person or I don't know how in the world I will do this "Until death do us part!"

Facebook and Me!

Since I have started my journey on the "No Judgment Zone" experience, I realize that Facebook is the biggest Judgment Zone around.  Whenever I have friends that have to use "Unfriend" as a weapon because someone said one thing that they didn't like, I think "Wow, has it really come to this?"  When I post, I post  fearlessly.  I approved the 301 friends that I currently have because I have known them for quite some time, I went to school with them , they are family members, or I have worshipped with them before or present.  I don't approve people I do not know.  So when I post an achievement or a happy moment, I assume I am sharing my information with people that has my best interest at heart.    If you are one of those people that I call a LURKER (A PERSON WHO JUST LOOKS AT POST BUT DON'T EVER HIT LIKE, BUT TALK NEGATIVELY ABOUT WHAT EVERONE ELSE WROTE),  please do not "friend" me or "unfriend" yourself from my page.    Trust and Believe, when you post positive things or you just seem to need a hug, I will find the right words to UPLIFT and BUILD YOU UP!!!!!  Isn't that what life is about?   Isn't that what love is about?  Facebook or any Social Media Sites are what we make them.   So make it Positive... so I can Positively enjoy your friendship while we "Facebook" each other.    Facebook is a verb right?

The Hearth Defended: My opinion about this piece by Mary Eberstadt and Myrna Blythe

Mr. Sweeney had our class to read " The Hearth Defended:  A Review of Home Alone America:  The Hidden Toll of Day Care, Wonder Drugs, and other Parent Substitutes ("Marriage and Family in the New Millenium").  by Mary Eberstadt/Myrna Blythe


First, I am not ashamed to say that I often wonder if "Women's Lib" was more harmful than helpful, not only to our nation, but most importantly, to the children.  As a woman, I say this because I know that I was created very differently than a man when it comes to my nurturing spirit.  I have all these emotions and attachments to children that I think were intentionally given to me as a woman as I believe that I was created this way by a higher being.   Don't misunderstand what I am saying, because I do know some men that are very loving and more attached than the mothers, but it is much fewer in the bigger picture.
I think that raising a human being  is much more challenging than running a corporation.  The balance comes from "mothering",  that natural nurturing that oozes from our bodies whenever a child is nearby, whether it is our own or someone else.   Fathers are equally important by setting a strong example of what it means to be the "head of the household", by making sure that his family is well taken care of.   I have yet to meet a women who deep down inside, really didn't want to be loved and taken care of by a man and have the opportunity to raise a child in a way that he would be a productive member of society.  Raising a child means teaching them how to spend and save money, how to present themselves in public, making sure that they have an acceptable amount of education, teaching them how to react to emotions, making sure that hey have their spiritual needs met, etc.  How can you do this successfully when both parents are at work? 


Eberstadt describes a sick toddler, who should be home in bed, spending all day at a daycare center plaintively calling for his mommy.  She talks about parents who are unable or unwilling to miss a day at work would often dose their children with Tylenol to bring down their fevers before dropping them off at day care.  Babies need their mothers.  Look at Nature for what it is. For most breed of animals the old adage is true "Mommy's babies, Daddy's maybe's."  In other words, we usually see the female of most breads doing the nurturing until their offspring are able to sustain itself.  Why is it hard to accept that maybe we  as women were created to nurture these babies until they go out on their own.    Finding a man that is "Man enough" to allow you that precious time is a different subject for a different article.


Our collective need to drive the market for jobs also contributed to the NEED for two parents to work in order to pay the bills.  Our need to have the swankiest houses have contributed to the NEED for two parents to work to pay the bills.  " How much do we really love our children?", I ask myself sometime.  Do we love them enough to sacrifice our own personal desire to be some "big wig" in a company, whereas, when everyone goes home they don't give us a 2nd thought. Yet your babies think of you with great love and admiration AT ALL TIMES.


Just my opinion !  Later!

Marriage Still Matters

As usual, Professor Sweeney, assigned some very interesting reading which got my head spinning because I don't know where to go with my thoughts on some very controversial matters. For  this blog, I will deal with the following information submitted by Jeff Kemp and Harvey Drake, Jr that was in their piece entitled " Marriage Still Matters  to Washington's Children" inspired by the court rulings in King and Thurston counties which overturned Washington's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). :
       "We are linking arms as Allies for Marriage and Children to appeal to the vast numbers of Washingtonians troubled by the redefinition of Marriage, as well as the decades- long decay of marriage and absence of a common-sense voice defending it.  We will work with the state Legislature to find a constitutional solution to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman."


The very next sentence was cleverly written after that passage "Some would have you believe this effort is an attack on gays and lesbians. "


Personally, I feel that no matter how innocently we keep saying that this is not an attack on gays and lesbians, the reality is that it is an attack on them.  Once again, we are all the sum of our parts. What makes us who we are is in our genetics,  religion, culture, values, character, and experiences. My Christian values tell me that God created a man and woman to "become many and fill the earth."  I feel that as an irresponsible Christian, I will stop there and throw out all the other portions of the Bible where it says "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and "If anyone says I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen".. 
It certainly isn't love that denies two women or two men the right to co-parent and share all the joys that comes with being a parent.  Or is it?  In order for us to judge them, we must first think ourselves superior to them.  Why don't we scream as loud when a single mother chooses to procreate and raise  children without fathers?
Love is Love, and as long as you are loving up on that child and teaching them right from wrong based on the "sum of YOUR parts", and they grow into a healthy human being knowing the true meaning of love, piety, character, compassion, etc, than we should just "Let Go and Let God!"...be the judge. 
So where do I stand on this subject?   I still don't know.