Like most of the country, I have sat by horrified and deeply saddened by the incident that took place at Ft. Hood last week. I have been further saddened by how Major Hasan has been portrayed as some fundamentalist Muslim on a religious mission of some sorts and the ensuing death threats against Muslims in the Ft. Hood area. Whatever the reasons motivating Maj. Hasan, of which I am sure there were many, none of them justify further killing or threats of any kind. Hate begets hate. If we all, or even a few of us, respond to this incident by targeting Muslims because one of them made a horrendous decision not in line with their faith, the chasm will grow and more horrible incidents will ensue. As Ghandi said, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
So, I am writing to propose a way to refocus those energies and to respond to the situation with love. Show our troops some love and get yourself educated on S.1963 - the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. The goal of the bill is to increase mental health services to veterans. Our veterans are suffering tremendously and the VA, and the rest of the country for that matter, are woefully ill-equipped to manage the severity of the problem. We are sending these people out on multiple deployments in a war zone unlike any other before. Whatever your political take on the wars, I think we can all agree that we need to take care of our veterans. I support this bill, but encourage everyone to do their own homework on it.
If you discover you support it, please call Senator Coburn's office and ask him to remove the hold from the bill. He alone is preventing the bill from leaving committee and reaching the Senate floor for a vote. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs has a statement about it here. Senator Coburn has his rebuttal here. If you believe the bill should be supported, please call your senators and ask them to support it. If you don't know how to contact your senators, go here.
I have hesitated for some time to post this because too often well-intentioned posts about how to offer support to our troops get thread-jacked by those wanting to debate the validity of the wars. I am the daughter of a veteran who served in two wars and I am proud of my dad's service. I am also a flaming liberal who vehemently opposes the wars. If I can separate the soldier from the action, then you can, too, and I respectfully ask you to do so here. If you want to say anything hateful, discriminatory, or negative, please make your own post. I don't post publicly very often because it's easier to deal with my small community. But, our troops are part of the larger community and we ALL need to come together to support them. It isn't enough to put a ribbon on the back of your car and wear an American flag pin. The heart of our country is action and I am asking you to take some positive action today to help support our troops and turn the events at Ft. Hood into a forceful, positive response from the country in support of our combat veterans. Many thanks.
Originally published at diaper bag princess. You can comment here or there.
I know it's weird to post that you've had a boring day, but I totally did. I was nearly dying of boredom.
Cary got me up at seven thirty this morning. Which isn't bad - he's still not used to the time change, but I don't actually mind: I need to get up earlier than I have been, so this is actually the most perfect excuse in the world to get up.
Do you know how much is on at seven thirty on a Saturday morning? Nothing. Yeah, even with my bazillion channels from Bell, there is absolutely nothing to watch (actually, TV in general has nothing to watch on TV these days).
So I decided to do some cleaning. I am so in a Monica mood right now. We're talking borderline obsessed right now. FYI: not pregnant.
Okay, so anyway, after the whole cleaning up and waiting for my hung-over husband to get up (different story, another day) I laid around and waited. And watched some really lame shows on the DIY network. And waited. And then Shane came over. Then we went to Home Depot. Then we bugged my mother in law at her house, THE END.
Today does not mark my best of days lived awesomely. I think I'll just forget about it.
I don't like not having anything to do. Makes me feel lazy.
Finished Gone by Michael Grant.
This is a pretty fitting series to start right after reading Life as We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone (and right before Under the Dome), because there are similar themes.
In this one, everyone over the age of 14 disappears, all at once. (So kids 14 and younger are now responsible for themselves/each other.)
To make matters more interesting, some of these kids start developing powers. (Think X-Men style mutations.)
Not surprisingly, they start to break into two camps--Team Sam (good) and Team Caine (awful).
This is an interesting series. (I'll be starting book 2 tonight or tomorrow; Gone ended with no real sense of resolution.)
Ugh...still sick pretty much morning, noon, and night. I'm feeling like it is getting better but then I'm running to the bathroom all over again. Much of my research has been when this will end, even though with Nathan it never did. I'm praying for a normal time period when 12 weeks comes and we stop with the throwing up. I'm over it.
We told Nathan last night that we we're going to have another baby. We were going to wait till after 10 weeks but last night - out of nowhere - the kid says "Mommy, do you have a baby in your tummy?" When Mike and I wouldn't answer him he started screaming it. MOMMY, DO YOU HAVE A BABY IN YOUR TUMMY?!!?!!
When we decided to sit him down and tell him the truth that yes there was a baby in my tummy he immediately said I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY SISTER! LOL. I explained we don't really know what they baby will be yet. He said he wants a brother but keeps calling the baby a she. Mike keeps correcting him saying he. I giggle. I showed him pictures of what the baby would look like in my belly at just 8 weeks. He asked if we were growing an ant. I told him no and then he said it looked like a baby chicken. What exactly is he learning in preschool anyways?
He's really excited and when he remembers about it he's all smiles and giggles. I think once baby Caleb gets here for "Christmas" next week with Mike's family then it will sink in that we're going to have a baby at our house too!
Finished The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This is a companion book to Life As We Knew It.
Alex lives with his parents and two younger sisters in New York City. When the asteroid hits the moon, his mom is at work (she works in a hospital's OR) and his dad is in Puerto Rico for a funeral.
Alex has to figure out a way to keep his family safe and together, at least until one or both of his parents comes home.
I think I preferred Life As We Knew It, but this was good, too.
These books (there's going to be a third out in April) are so scary, too. I don't think I'd do well in a world where I'd have to acquire food someplace that isn't a grocery store (or any of the places where we normally get food) and I certainly don't know how to cook and wash clothes without electricity and running water.
I'm so surprised that my blog is still here! I haven't touched this thing in months (yes, I like to state the obvious)!
Alot has happened in my life such as....
- I became a Pampered Chef consultant back in June. Not really something I ever thought that I would do, but it's actually been a lot of fun and it's given me something that is for ME and not related to my kids and let's me hang out with adults more. Plus the products are amazing! Jim is so glad I'm doing it because we've been eating just that much better so I can use all my new gadgets.
- Our family started going to a chiropractor in July - again not really something I ever thought we would do. But it's been amazing. Dr. Dionne has been wonderful. We have all learned valuable information about our bodies and the food we eat. Jim's lost 20 pounds. The kids haven't been sick as often. My back is feeling so much better and we're all sleeping better at night. Definitely worth the time and money investment.
- We started going to a new church over the summer - Grace Chapel in Leiper's Fork. We absolutely love it and so o our kids. I'm loving the Tuesday morning women's Bible study. I've never been involved in something like that and I love being able to connect with other women, all while my kids are being cared for a few rooms away. It's so nice to have time during the week that I know I can focus on the Word and growing in my walk with God.
- Nate just turned 1 yesterday. I can't believe it! Time has totally flown by. He will be walking any day now. Life is pretty crazy with two boys, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Being a wife and mom is tough sometimes but it's so worth it.
- Jim is still working at The Sommet Group and loving it. He's such a hard worker and a wonderful man (yes - I know I'm biased but it's totally true!) He's even written a couple new songs and although it's hard for him to get time in his studio, he has put some tracks down and they sound great!
- My friend April got married on October 17th and I got to be one of her bridesmaids. It was a beautiful wedding and such an awesome experience! Plus I got my dress at Goodwill for $12 with shoes to match for $3 and I just love a good deal!
