Be Thankful for the BAD stuff

Thanksgiving was great (this is a pic of the table before dinner of course). The Stumm's came here for dinner, and boy was that good. We are still eating left overs. I will say that there was a quiet sadness of missing my Dad. No one really mentioned it but I think we all felt it. Never-the-less it turned out to be a great time had by all. There is nothing more special then the whole family sitting down to dinner together (we missed you Todd and Tammi).

As I do think about missing my Dad during the holidays there is one thing that sticks in my head that my girlfriend said the other day. Don't forget to be thankful for the bad things. It hit me when she said that and I gave her a weird look. She looked back and said, "What, we are to be thankful in all things!" I knew that but it was never said like that before. Be thankful for the bad things. How true, those trials are what make you stronger! Thank you Lord for the good and the bad!!! And how about being thankful for this little pumpkin!

So after Thanksgiving, SHOPPING! No I didn't get up at 3am and head out, although the last 4 years I have. This year nothing of necessity jumped off those circular pages. I did go out though and got a couple of things. Actually I am done except for stocking stuffers. I did however splurge on an Anniversary gift for Jeremy (and myself), 5 years tomorrow. I purchased a JVC Digital hard drive camcorder. We need to keep those precious members of our children that seem to fade so quickly with time!

Pics of Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving Shopping

So today after the cardiologist I decided to venture out with my three sons to the grocery store to get some things for thanksgiving dinner. If you know my children they are great however with one cart, carrying the infant seat and the food and the other two running around this scenario could be a nightmare. Still I told myself, "Christina you can do this!" and I did. Surprisingly this was the easiest shopping trip EVER! Even with ALL the people out getting their last minute items for thanksgiving dinner (and trust me there was ALOT) we made it through alive and all the children were great! It just goes to so you that you truly can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! Go Supermom! I know i am giving myself props but I think I deserve it.

Surgery or Surgery, That is the Question!

Nathan was born with a heart condition, Ventricular Septal Defect, VSD. Nathan has been followed by a cardiologist as a result of the VSD since birth and during this period has been diagnosed with two other heart conditions, Aortic Valve Prolapse, and SubAortic Membrane growth.

Nathan had his Cardiologist appointment today and it has been decided that Nathan needs surgery, yes open heart surgery. I have been expecting this as the previous visits had been leading to this conclusion. However, I have been having anxiety about this until today (still some anxiety but not as much). I guess it is because the visits leading up to today the Cardiologist never said the words "he needs surgery". It was always just a possibility, but in the back of my mind I knew. So today the cardiologist said those words "he needs surgery" and the anxiety of NOT KNOWING was gone! Yes the thought of Nathan having open heart surgery is stressful and comes with some anxiety but I am somewhat weird like that. I have more anxiety with not knowing then if I dealt with the harsh reality.

So now the question. Surgery now or Surgery later? Yes most would think surgery later, less risk. In this case not so. The risk of this surgery is the same regardless of age. So then there is really just timing, as waiting is perfectly fine because there is no damage to Nathan's heart just yet. The doctor suggested 6-7month for a follow-up and then scheduling surgery. Or if we just can't take the wait or if there is outside factors, such as starting school, or family vacations which might effect our decision. I wouldn't mind waiting except in 7 months we could go in and find that his aortic valve is leaking and then schedule surgery asap. I would like to do it now just to get it over with. Also we have to think of who is going to help with the kids while we are tending to Nathan in the hospital and if we wait by the time surgery came around Jeremy Jr. will be starting kindergarten which can be a double stresser. Feel free to leave thoughts, don't be hurt is I don't take your advice because of course it is up to us ultimately!

Technology....A Love and Hate Relationship!!!

So again I find myself spending hardly any time on my computer. And again I apologize for the lack of blogging. I have changed computers, as I have often done, and am using a different operating system. Most people use a windows version (unless you have a mac), I however am using Ubuntu. Yeah I have never heard of it either, Todd gave it to me. Well it actually works quit well but applications and hardware items don't have drivers and things that are compatible with this operating system. So I can't use any software or hardware that doesn't come with this operating system. This has left me very frustrated and even has turned me off to using my computer completely. And for those of you that know me you know that I am lost without my computer and my cell phone. I can't even post pictures on the blog. Todd is working on getting me a a version of windows so I can go back to the "normal" use of my computer!!!!! Can't wait!!!!!!

Teen Girls "Date" Dad, Pledge Purity

I was watching TLC and they did a special on Purity Balls and so I decided to google "purity balls" and found this article. What's your opinion?

Purity Balls Include Big Night Out With White Cake and Vows, but No Groom
By GIGI STONE
March 12, 2007


It's Friday night, and teenage girls are full of excitement as they primp for a dance at the local Holiday Inn. But for this group of girls in Sioux Falls, S.D., the night's dream date is not a teenage boy.

Dances known as Purity Balls are intended to strengthen relationships between daughters and their dads to encourage abstinence until marriage.
(ABC News)

"I'm going with my dad instead of a boyfriend," explains 15-year-old Angela Merkle.

She and her two sisters are about to be escorted by their father to what's called a Purity Ball.

The event shares all the hallmarks of a wedding: Vows are exchanged, a white cake is served and there is even a first dance. But at the beginning of the event instead of fathers giving away their daughters' hand, they're holding on tight.

The event's purpose is to celebrate father-daughter bonding, but the main focus of the evening is for the fathers and daughters to exchange pledges in an elaborate ceremony. Fathers vow to protect the girls' chastity until they marry, and the daughters promise to remain abstinent.

"[In] today's day and age, if the daughters are sexually active before they're married that ceremony really is meaningless because the father's not giving anyone away," says Angela's father, Bret Merkle.

"I'm going to stay pure until I'm married and I'm not going to date or kiss a boy," says 12-year-old Sarah Merkle.

"I saw so many young girls get hurt by the whole dating process," her father explains. "People are just chasing after instinct, chasing after their pleasures and desires and that's going to sting in the end."



Dance to a New Movement


Thousands of girls have taken purity vows at this kind of event since the first ball was thrown in 1998 by Generations of Light, a popular Christian ministry in Colorado Springs.

Last year, South Dakota's Abstinence Clearinghouse run by Leslee Unruh, a major association of the purity movement, received requests to send out 700 "Purity Ball Planner" booklets.

These balls are the latest trend in the national abstinence movement, which began in the 1980s as a grassroots effort from the Christian community in response to high rates of sexually transmitted diseases.




Young women and some young men sign virginity pledges at churches, rallies or programs sponsored by groups such as True Love Waits, and the movement is growing. This is partly fueled by government support. The current Bush administration's annual funding for abstinence initiatives has more than doubled to around $200 million.

But critics say if these girls are only learning abstinence, they're not being taught important information about STDs and condoms.

"I could see it winding up in more teenage pregnancies and that type of thing because they don't know everything that they need to know," comments Deanne Keegan, a South Dakota mother who counsels youth at her local church.

In fact, 88 percent of pledgers wind up breaking their pledge and having sex before marriage, according to a study by Peter Bearman, the chair of Columbia University's Department of Sociology, and Hannah Bruckner of Yale.

The study examined the sex lives of 12,000 adolescents and found teens who pledge to remain virgins until marriage have the same rates of sexually transmitted diseases as those who don't pledge abstinence.

But some fathers discount the studies, and think their relationship with their daughters will help them stay strong.

"We don't want them to be weird or to stand out in a bad way, but we believe with the right beliefs and attitudes … they can be different," Brett Merkle said. "There's lots of temptations in life and we're trying to teach our girls to be strong against those temptations and meet them with the appropriate behavior."

Dad

I miss my Daddy! :(

Are You Where You Want to Be or Where You Should Be?

This past Sunday we had a special guest speak at church, Bruce Page missionary to Slovenia. He spoke about three things, the mission, the message, and the means. As he was speaking he said something that just hit home. As he was in Guatemalla (I think) in the middle of a war, he found himself hiding in the hall of his apartment away from windows. There he was TRUELY fearful yet he was in the will of God!

Sometimes we get caught up in the emotions of serving the Lord but when the WAR comes our way do we run or do we realize that we are in God's will. We ask the Lord, "Bless us, Bless us" but why should he bless us if we are not in His will.

As I read a blog from a teacher, Chilly Chilton, I had in Valley Forge Christian College, the message of Bruce and Chilly's statement just fit together so well. We need to work harder to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice and obey it. "It may seem dangerous to others, but the safest place to be is in the perfect will of God!" (Chilly Chilton)

I need to move from where I WANT to be to where God has called me to be by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit! Then and only then we I truely be blessed!

Not on the computer much lately!

Sorry I haven't posted in about a week. I haven't really picked up my computer last week but to check my email very quickly. I know you all think that is impossible because I live on my computer and cell. One reason is that I have started to nanny again so during the day my focus is on the children. They keep me VERY busy. During nap time is usually when I get online and at night when Jeremy comes home from work. However I have developed a horrible habit of watching TV during those times.

Well I was going to blog about a new book/bible study I have started but I developed horrible heart burn while sitting here. As I put my computer away to get some tums I got destracted and started messing with Jeremy by standing in front of the TV while he was watching the Eagles (don't worry I am watching too, that is the plus side of being a women, being able to multi-task). Anyway this blog will be an apology for being away from my blog and a promise that I will do better! See you all tomorrow.

1:38 left in the game and it looks like the Eagles aren't going to pull it off! Ok 15 sec now, Game Over!

New President-Elect

Romans 13:1 "Only God can give authority to anyone, and He puts these rulers in their places of power."

God knows what He is doing, He is in control!